Reflection on the Gospel of Tuesday of Week 2 Yr. B by Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

 

JESUS IS LORD

(Mark 2:23-28)

The sabbath observances so took the attention of the Pharisees that they lost respect and regard for Christ's lordship. They bowed for the law and disregarded the author of the law.

Jesus taught them that He is the Lord of the Sabbath. Being the Lord of the sabbath, He made them know that He made the sabbath for man and not the other way round. Thus, the sabbath should not be used to dehumanize and devalue man.

Jesus is the Lord of our lives. In his lordship over us, He wishes the best for us. He wishes us the freedom of the children of God. He wishes us to live in faith and conviction and not in fear and intimidation.

What are the things you are bowing to as Lord? If it is not Christ the Lord, then there's a problem. What are the forces questioning the will of God for you? What are the intimidating voices trying to frustrate your confidence in the Lord?

Nwa Chukwu, fear not, Jesus is the only Lord of your life. When troubles come, He intervenes; when the devil threatens, He defends you; when you hand over your care and worries to Him, He supports you. May the Lord be the Lord of your family, Lord of your marriage, Lord over your problems, Lord over your challenges, Lord over your joblessness, Lord over your hopeless situations, Lord over the meaninglessness you encounter.

LET US PRAY

Lord Jesus, the sabbat is meaningless without You. Thank You for accepting to be the Lord of my life. I hereby accept you as my personal Lord and Saviour. Deliver me from the grip of the forces that wants to exercise lordship over me. Keep me under your care now and forever. Amen

God bless your Tuesday (Week 2, Ordinary Time, Yr. B)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

Image from: Knowing Jesus – Why Did the Lord Jesus Work on the Sabbath? (findshepherd.com)

Reflection on the Gospel of Monday of Week 2 Yr. B Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

 

THE ONLY REASON FOR GRIEF

(Mark 2:18-22)

The disciples of John and the Pharisees wondered and questioned why the disciples of Jesus Christ do not fast whereas those of John fast. They wondered aloud and put it as a question to Jesus Christ. But Jesus gave an interesting answer. He (Jesus) is the only answer they needed for that question. Jesus wonders in return why they shouldn't rejoice when He is in their midst. He wonders why they should fast while the reason for fasting is in their midst.

Jesus used the opportunity to enlighten them on the only reasonable and acceptable course for fasting, wailing and grieving. Thus, the occasion of Christ's absence, just like the absence of air is what should warrant gasping for air. In order words, just struggle to have Christ and forget about any other thing.

We should worry about those forces and conditions that take away Jesus in our lives. We should be concerned about those circumstances that keep God at a distance. We live sad when God is away. We suffer more when God is taken away. We should pray and fast against those persons that remove God from us.

On the other hand, if God is for us, who can be against us? One with God is the majority.  O yes, "with the Saviour ever near to guide me, I am safe whatever may betide me, from the storms and tempest He will hide me, in the hollow of His hands".

Do not mind the people who try to know the secret of your joy. Don't disturb yourself about those who are worried that you do not look like what you go through. Do not mind those who do unnecessary comparisons. Ride on, living in God. Make God your only source of happiness, you will not regret it.

LET US PRAY

Thank you, Jesus for defending my course. Thank you for proving to the world and situations around me that You are my only source of joy and happiness. Put an end to all those things that make me sad and create more avenues for those things that make me glad in you. Those who put their trust in you are never disappointed. May you never be taken away in human affairs as the world wants to do. Remain with us now and for ever. Amen.

God bless your Monday (Week 2, Ordinary Time, Yr. B)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

Image from: Empowering tips to help caregivers deal with anticipatory grief (ageucate.com)

Reflection on the Gospel of 2nd Sunday Yr. B by Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

COME AND SEE

(John 1:35-42)

We are invited to a life of reflection. A life that reflects the goodness of God, the will of God and the love of God.

TO SEE, LET GO

The Gospel of today takes us to the pointer made by John the Baptist where showing his disciples Jesus, he said: "Behold the lamb of God".

The fruit of this clarion call made by John was that two of his disciples who heard him say this left him to follow Jesus. When you see brighter part, better future, do you show it to people around you?  Will you as an employer freely approve your employee to move higher, step up and encourage him or her? Or will you be selfish wishing him/her to remain under you? Will you tell that person the truth about what lies ahead, make him know when your importance in his life expires and convince him to move on for good? Let go of your selfish interest that hinders people from seeing the glory of God you're meant to help them see. Do not allow any force or attachment make you not to realize your dream. Know what you want and what God wants for you.

WHAT DO YOU SEEK?

Ihe onye na acho ka o na ahu is an Igbo saying meaning one gets what he desires.  Jesus asks the two disciples of John that followed Him: what do you seek? This question is important in our day-to-day dealings. Before we enter into any relationship, do we first of all define the terms involved? What do you want from that school? What do you want from that organization? What do you want from that Church? What do you want from that government? Are those expectations genuine and noble? Are you going for them properly? If so, ride on. If not stop and ponder.

THEY CAME, THEY SAW

The inquisitiveness of these two disciples who had the desire to follow Jesus took them to see where Jesus stays, and they were satisfied with it and stayed with Him that day. Andrew was one of the two, they stayed and stayed on and brought others to continue staying with Jesus. He invited his brother Peter. 

DO YOU MAKE PEOPLE TO COME, SEE AND STAY?

Our everyday life is punctuated by 'come and see' thus, we hear of 'veni, vidi, vici' (I came, I saw, I conquered). It is either that you're waiting, you're coming or you're seeing. Our presence in the world tells us that we have come to see. We look up to Christ to take us, to guide us to see with His light, to give us a clearer vision of life, a vision that will help us judge correctly which way to follow or not.

Be that as it may, the word of God today helps us to see our life as an invitation card and a pointer to people. Our life should invite people to come and stay for good. Our life should be a pointer and reflection to the life of God and will of God.

 

What do you show? What have you to show? 'Come and see' is an introduction into an individual's innermost life. 'Come and see' is an act of opening the door of one's heart for others to look into, to admire and to come in or run away from. When people receive this invitation from you, what do they see at the end of the day?

That person that trusted you and followed you home you as a friend, what did he see?  That little boy/ girl that looked up to you and followed you as a mentor, daddy, or uncle, what did he/she see? That woman who heard your sweet loving voice and followed you home as a wife what are you showing her?  When you have used your beauty to charm that young man into your life, what does he see there in? When your profession or vocation invites people innocently to you, what do they see at the long run?

As Jesus shows himself to us and calls us to show goodness to people around us, let us endeavour to make people who come close to us to see what will make them get connected to God. Let us cleanse ourselves of whatever that defiles the authentic divine presence in our lives. As Jesus beckons us to come, let us present ourselves to Him and live with Him in holiness for ever.

LET US PRAY

Thank You Jesus for always drawing us to your side to see your goodness. Make us missionaries of your goodness wherever we may be. Forgive us for the many times we misrepresented you by showing sinful and irritating behaviours to people who come to us. Give us the grace to carry your image with us all the days of our life being holy for the sake of your kingdom through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Happy Sunday (2nd Sunday, Ordinary Time, Yr. B)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

Image from: Matthew 4 - Wealthy Fisherman Follow Jesus - YouTube 

Reflection on the Gospel of Saturday of Week One Yr. B by Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

 

PICK THE CALL OF JESUS, IT IS FOR YOU

(Mark 2:13-17)

The Gospel of today concluded with: ‘I Came not to call the righteous, but sinners.’

The above was a statement made by Jesus when the scribes and Pharisees queried His disciples on the reasons He eats with tax collectors and sinners. Jesus heard it and told them that it is the sick, not the healthy, that need the physician.

Jesus, the physician of our souls, puts a call to us. He calls us to follow Him. He calls us to come as we are in order to go better than we came. He calls us to teach us. He gathers us to lead us out of sin, ignorance and infirmities.

Take the call of Jesus. Don't feel that your unworthiness is too much that will make God delete you from His contact list. He adds you to His friend list. Even if the virus of the devil, of sin and of mundane influences have put you out of divine network, Jesus calls you to add you up once again.

Come and join once again in the table He prepares for you. He prepares it even in the sight of your enemy the devil and of your human enemies who do not care for the salvation of your soul.

Bring Jesus into that your union, that your group, that your organization. Make the people around you sensitive to the tone of Christ's call. He calls you that you may not fall. Take the call and rise from the miry floor.

He calls us to beware of those we mingle with. We are already sinful but Jesus calls us to holiness. He comes to bless us with His presence. Let all of us who have sinned and fallen short of God's glory take more of the call of the one who has come to call not the righteous but sinners. Let's not make God a liar by claiming to be saints in no need of mercy.

Let's tell ourselves the truth. Let's not pretend as if we do not know who own that ringing tone. He is Jesus. Let us not close our ears and hearts like the self-acclaimed righteous men and women, who have gotten so used to God that they no longer care to see the wrongs in them. Pick up the call to prayers, which is the best communication system in God/man relationship. Let us not fail to invite Jesus in all our undertakings, we can't keep that friend that loves us away from our joys and sorrows. Let us not fail to accept His invitation through His Sacred Word to come follow Him and eat the Holy meal He prepares.

Let us endeavour to open our sores to Him for healing. He calls us to know how we feel; how we feel spiritually, morally, emotionally, physically and otherwise. Take up the call and tell Jesus how you feel. Take your time and discuss with Him. He's the one that called, do not worry about airtime. Just answer the call of Jesus today and rejoice at during and after the conversation. He loves you as you are.

LET US PRAY

 Thank You Jesus that You love me so much. Thank You that in my sinfulness You still call me to enter into serious relationship with You. I have offended You so much, I have made You too small, I have wounded Your Sacred Heart, I have contacted a lot of spiritual diseases. Yet You said You have come just for me. I take Your holy call this day to save me from my frequent falls, I accept your invitation with which you shame the enemy of my success and salvation.  Help me to faithfully follow You all the days of my life. Amen.

Holy Mary, pray for us.

God bless your Saturday (Week 1, Ordinary Time, Yr B)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

Image from: http://www.daviscos.com/pick-up-the-f-phone-2/

Reflection on the Gospel of Friday of Week One Yr. B by Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

 

POSITIVE CONNECTION

(Mark 2:1-12)

A friend in need is a friend indeed, they say. Today we saw a group of people that formed committee of good friends to help a brother in need. A helpless paralytic was brought to Jesus for healing. These men forgot about their own individual problems and presented this man to Jesus.

Their effort was amazing. They opened the roof because of the teaming population that filled the place Jesus was. They helped the paralytic to locate the solution to his problems. Jesus saw the man, forgave him, healed him and made his life better.

What is your attitude towards connecting people positively?  Do you see people's need for job, scholarship, life partner, business assistance, health challenge, spiritual direction, etc?

Have you taken risk to save people from shame, from condemnation, from downfall, from death? When you see the light do you show others the light as well? When opportunities come do you ensure that the most qualified persons enjoy the benefits?

What type of friend are you? Are you a friend that thinks only about yourself? Are you a friend that finds it difficult to take your friend along when fortune smiles? Let us learn from these good friends how to take people in need to God, to good places, to meet good people, to meet good opportunities, that the goodness and love of God may go round. They may not even be our relatives, our friends or people we know, but we must be driven by the desire to help people out of their misfortunes and not indifference.

LET US PRAY

Lord God, we thank you today for the good people you have blessed us with on earth. Bless them and keep them in your love. Surround us with people who will connect us positively in life. Keep away from us bad friends and save us from perishing in our problems. May your help and our helper locate us in our various points of need from you through Christ our Lord. Amen.

God bless your Friday (Week 1, Ordinary Time Yr B)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

Image from: 20+ Miracles of Jesus ideas | miracles of jesus, jesus, miracles (pinterest.com)

Reflection on the Gospel of Thursday of Week One Yr. B by Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

 

MOVED WITH PITY

(Mark 1:40-45)

A leper came to Jesus begging and kneeling, praying to be made clean. Jesus was moved with pity, He stretched out His hand, touched him and granted him his request.

This is a lesson for us in a world that celebrates heartlessness. It is an example for us at a time when stinginess seems to have become the order of the day. It is a guide for us in a world where people lack human feelings, live without being touched by the conditions of others and move on normally after seeing the plight of their fellow human beings. With the action of Jesus today selfishness is condemned, stoneheartedness is discouraged while insensitivity is frowned at.

Jesus invites us to open our ears and hear the cries around us. He calls us to open our eyes to see the miseries of people we encounter daily. He encourages us to stretch out our hands and touch lives positively. Let us not close ourselves up. Let us not lock ourselves inside leaving others outside and unable to receive the mercy that should reach out to them through us.

The keyword today is: Be Moved with Pity!

What moves you to carry out the actions you perform? What moves you in your dealings with your fellow human beings? Are you moved with love? Are you moved with sympathy? Are you moved by the tears of that innocent poor girl? If these are the things that move you to help positively, may God bless you. But if on the other hand you're moved by body shapes, by what you stand to gain, by your drive to take advantage of a vulnerable state, then you are the problem of our world.

Be moved and driven by noble, holy passion to lead people out of pains, heartbreaks, sickness, poverty, joblessness and injustice. Do these without hooks attached and remain blessed from above.

LET US PRAY

Thank You Jesus for the pity that moved you to heal the leper. Thank You especially for teaching us to be merciful for the conditions of people around us. Forgive us for the many times we have been wrongly moved in our dealings. Pardon us for not being kind to our fellow human beings.  Bless us today to spread the fragrance of your love this day and always wherever your grace catapults us to. Make us sensitive and move us by Your passion into holy actions through Christ our Lord. Amen.

God bless your Thursday (Week 1, Ordinary Time, YR B)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

Image from: Jesus Heals Laper by joeatta78 on DeviantArt

Reflection on the Gospel of Wednesday of Week One Yr. B by Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

 

COME IN LORD

(Mark 1:29-39)

Seeing what Jesus did today in the gospel we are left with no option than to let Jesus in.

Christ is ever willing to come into our homes, our situations and conditions.

He left the synagogue and entered straight into the house of Andrew. His mother-in-law was sick with fever. They told Jesus about this and immediately, He took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her.

As Jesus comes into your life, into your home, into your relationship, into your business, into your decisions, into your XYZ certain ills must leave.

Give Jesus your life and allow Him to take away the evil habits. Give Him your marriage and allow discords and quarrels to leave. Bring Jesus into your business and let ‘not being able to save’ leave you alone. Bring Jesus into that your plan and decisions and watch failures and near-success syndrome disappear.

Everything evil must leave you as Jesus comes in. May you be free with the visitation of Jesus Christ into your life. May He drive away every force keeping you down with any form of fever; spiritual fever, moral fever, emotional fever, financial fever, political fever, social cum intellectual fever. You must rise up once again beloved child of God!

LET US PRAY

Thank You Jesus. It is a good news that you have not stopped touching lives and you will never stop. You visited the mother-in-law of your apostles Andrew and Peter today and left her in better state. Come in, to our world, our families and our lives. Make us better. Raise us to the height You destined for us through Christ our Lord. Amen

God bless your Wednesday (Week 1, Ordinary Time, YR B)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

Image from: The True Meaning of "Jesus Knocking on the Door" (findshepherd.com)