Gaudate Sunday. Copied from Catholic Encyclopedia.

The third Sunday of Advent, so called from the first word of the Introit at Mass (Gaudete, i.e. Rejoice). The season of Advent originated as a fast of forty days in preparation for Christmas, commencing on the day after the feast of St. Martin (12 November), whence it was often called "St. Martin's Lent"-- a name by which it was known as early as the fifth century. The introduction of the Advent fast cannot be placed much earlier, because there is no evidence of Christmas being kept on 25 December before the end of the fourth century (Duchesne, "Origines du culte chrétien", Paris, 1889), and the preparation for the feast could not have been of earlier date than the feast itself. In the ninth century, the duration of Advent was reduced to four weeks, the first allusion to the shortened season being in a letter of St. Nicholas I (858-867) to the Bulgarians, and by the twelfth century the fast had been replaced by simple abstinence. St. Gregory the Great was the first to draw up an Office for the Advent season, and the Gregorian Sacramentary is the earliest to provide Masses for the Sundays of Advent. In both Office and Mass provision is made for five Sundays, but by the tenth century four was the usual number, though some churches of France observed five as late as the thirteenth century. Notwithstanding all these modifications, however, Advent still preserved most of the characteristics of a penitential season which made it a kind of counterpart to Lent, the middle (or third) Sunday corresponding with Laetare or Mid-Lent Sunday. On it, as on Laetare Sunday, the organ and flowers, forbidden during the rest of the season, were, permitted to be used; rose-coloured vestments were allowed instead of purple (or black, as formerly); the deacon and subdeacon reassumed the dalmatic and tunicle at the chief Mass, and cardinals wore rose-colour instead of purple. All these distinguishing marks have continued in use, and are the present discipline of the Latin Church.

3rd Sunday of Advent Year B. By Tobe Eze

Gaudete Sunday (/ɡaʊˈdɛtɛ/ gow-DEH-teh) is the third Sunday of Advent in the liturgical calendar of the Western Church, including the Roman Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion, many Lutheran Churches, and other mainline Protestant churches.3rd Sunday of Advent Year B.

FIRST READING Isaiah 61:1—2a, 10—11

SECOND READING
1 Thessalonians 5:16—24

GOSPEL
John 1:6—8, 19—28

THEME: WHAT TYPE OF MESSAGE DO YOU CARRY?

There was a king who fell sick. At a point he asked his first son to go get him his native doctor to consult his ancestors to know the problem. When the native doctor arrived, after incantation, he told him that before he gets well all his brothers must die. When the king heard that, he asked him to be arrested. The king sent for another native doctor, when that one came he started like this. My king, I think before you get out of this, we have to do something about your enemies. The king asked him what they will do, he told him that his enemies are his brothers but he suggests that a sacrifice and charm for protection should be made for him but if he wants to end everything, they have to be killed. The king chose the first option. Why this story? It is about the type of messages we carry around. Sometimes we carry bad ones, sometimes good ones but in a wrong manner or place and sometimes we carry good ones at perfect place it should be. Sometimes we give people hope where there is no hope through our messages, sometimes we give people hope where there is hope. Sometimes we take away hope where there is hope through our messages. What we should ask ourselves is, what type of message do we carry about? Some are true but the communication may make it or them bad. Like when you want to tell a woman who has one son that the son is dead, it is true but there is a way you will present it and you will bury two persons and there is a way you will present it and she will understand. Mode or manner of communication.

APOSTOLIC VOCATIONS. Rev. Fr. Mike Okata's Handout on Spiritual Theology.

I found and also find this very interesting and have decided to share it. it is not just ordinary class work but life changing work.

Bigard memorial seminary, enugu. Spiritual theology

 STH 315: APOSTOLIC VOCATIONS

Priestly and religious Vocations: Nature, Signs, Care/Fostering of vocations (Read Optatam Totius no. 2; Cans. 232 – 235; Pastores Dabo Vobis nos. 34 – 59).

Vocations to which everyone is called from all eternity: the vocation to be “holy and blameless” (Eph. 1:4-5; LG. 39, 40) are of various kinds, but the most commonly distinguished in the Church are those of the lay, the clerical and religious states of life. Marriage is also a special divine call, (LG 35) and cannot be answered together with the priestly and religious vocations. Both have the characteristics of vocation in general but also have their own peculiarities.

PRIESTLY VOCATION: NATURE

Every Christian vocation is founded on God, because it comes from God and is God’s gift and is never given outside the Church (Pastores Dabo Vobis 35). The Church by her nature is a vocation and a begetter and educator of vocation, “because she is a sacrament, a sign and instrument in which the vocation of every Christian is reflected and lived out” (PDV, ibid).

The priesthood is a call not a career, a re-definition of the self, not just a new ministry, a way of life not a job, a state of being, not just a function; a permanent lifelong commitment, not a temporary style of service, an identity, not just a role (Cardinal Dolan).

“Every high priest is taken from among human beings and is appointed to act on their behalf in relation with God, to offer gifts and sacrificed for sins’ (Heb 5:1).

SIGNS OF VOCATIONS

The Ration Fundamentalis for the training of priests (No, 39) describes and lists the human and moral qualities of those who are candidates for the priesthood; the spiritual and intellectual gifts which they must have to apt for the priestly ministry. Such attitudes that one must have before any call from the Lord is established include:

a.     Right intention: This involves motives of intention. A right intention is absolutely necessary

b.     Spiritual qualities – piety and sacramental practices

c.      Human and moral qualities

d.     Pastoral qualities

e.      Intellectual qualities (can 1029)

f.       Health (can 1029)

g.     Emotional Maturity

2nd Sunday of Advent Year B. By Tobe Eze

2nd Sunday of Advent Year B.

FIRST READING
Isaiah 40:1—5, 9—11

SECOND READING
2 Peter 3:8—14

GOSPEL
Mark 1:1—8

THEME: MAKE THE CROOKED WAY STRAIGHT.

 This call for making the crooked way straight, leveling every hilly areas and so on that appeared in the first reading and the gospel can only touch us very well when we apply what St. Peter said in the second reading that, “ten thousand years are like a day before God and we do not know that day of the Lord.” It is the spirit of there time that devil uses to deceive us that think always that the day of the Lord is ten thousand years coming, it just like a day. Our days of the Lord are differently. Onye na nke ya. Continue Reading.......................

A VISIT TO THE MORTUARY. By Tobe Eze

A VISIT TO THE MORTUARY.

INTRODUCTION.

The end product of our struggling here in this physical world is death. Whatever we gather on this earth, whatever we think we have and are will surely be defeated one day by death. Death is cure for all our ill health and sound health. People go about doing anything on earth to get firm, wealth, name and many other prestigious positions on earth and tend to forget that death is real. Martin Heidegger is a philosopher who talked about authentic death and he explained it with one being conscious of his personal death. When one recognizes that death is private then dasein (one) will come back to itself. When we realize that we are to end up this passing world one day, we will try to live an authentic life. Continue Reading.................................

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A. By Tobe Eze

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A.

FIRST READING
Wisdom 12:13, 16—19

SECOND READING
Romans 8:26—27

GOSPEL
Matthew 13:24—43

THEME: GIVE THEM CHANCE.

The last statement of the first reading is, “And you taught your people, by these deeds, that those who are just must be kind; and you gave your children good ground for hope that you would permit repentance for their sins.” It is on this ground with the first parable in the Gospel that I wish to start with a story.

Two girls were living in the same room in the university. One was too promiscuous and the other was too pious. The one that was too pious was seeing her roommate as a candidate for hell fire. She does not for her, hardly does she talks to her. She sees fault in everything she does. The other, whenever she wants to do anything good, she does it for the two. One day the canal one called the pious one to narrate her story of life to her so that she will help her but she said no, that she has nothing to do with someone like you. One who sleeps with any man that passes around her. When they graduated, they went to their various homes. The pious one did not get job immediately. Her father and mother died through fire outbreak. She was left with nothing material to start life and she had three siblings to take care of. To cut the story short. After suffering for years, she succumbed to what almost every man that comes to her rescue tells her. Your body in exchange of help. She succumbed to that and was even worst than his roommate. After many years if experience and every other things, the two roommates met again. That was when she accepted to listen to her roommate. Her roommate told her that was born and brought up in the community of prostitutes. Her mother died as a prostitute. She told her that she was making effort to stop that type of life when they were in school but she did not give her chance to explain herself to her. Continue Reading......................................

1st Sunday of Advent Year B. By Tobe Eze

                                                                     ADVENT
Advent is a season observed in many Christian churches as a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. The term is a version of the Latin word meaning "coming". The term "Advent" is also used in Eastern Orthodoxy for the 40-day Nativity Fast, which has practices ...

1st Sunday of Advent Year B.

FIRST READING
Isaiah 63:16b—17, 19b; 64:2—7

SECOND READING
1 Corinthians 1:3—9

GOSPEL
Mark 13:33—37

THEME: THERE IS NO TIME TO WASTE.

One day after my preaching in a gathering, I emphasized much on end of time. One man stood up and asked me. Let me quote him, “Since my great grandfather, my grand father, my father and my own self were born, we have been hearing about end time, end of time, the coming of the son of man and many other ways people qualify it. My question is now, when is that end time coming?” I stood for sometimes and answered the man, Now! He asked, How? I told him. People die everyday, death meet people here and there and we are meant to know that there is no repentance or change of heart in the grave, and we do no when we will die. If that is so, then I asked him back, when are you going to die? He answered me that he does not know. From there i made him to understand that once you don’t know when, how and where you will die, it is good to make every minute or even second of your life your last opportunity. If we regard every minute or second of our lives as our last opportunity, we will do good, obey God's commandments and men’s positive laws. Continue Reading......................

Solemnity of Christ the King Year A. By Tobe Eze

Solemnity of Christ the King Year A.

FIRST READING
Ezekiel 34:11—12, 15—17

SECOND READING
1 Corinthians 15:20—26, 28

GOSPEL
Matthew 25:31—46

THEME: KING WITH DIFFERENCE.

I was one of those who has zero percent in music, singing, dancing, beating, playing and think of anything in music, I know nothing in it. In my first year in my school, I was nobody in music especially our Ikorodo cultural dance. In my second year I made serious effort to upgrade and I was a little bit recognized, finally in my third year I was a star in the area of singing in Ikorodo. In my first and second year, anytime we have anything to perform, I always go on time to get the costume that I will wear for I knew that if I don’t go on time I may miss the chance of performing in that occasion. In my year three when I noticed that without me, the singing department will have problem, pride came over me. I go late, they will start looking for me everywhere and they will keep my cloth for me even when others have none. Why am I telling this story? Just that I am being recognized, I started misbehaving. What of God who is all in all who is yet to misbehave? King that promised to come and serve his subjects and did so. Continue Reading............................................

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A. By Tobe Eze

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A.

FIRST READING
1 Kings 3:5, 7—12

SECOND READING
Romans 8:28—30

GOSPEL

Matthew 13:44—52

THEME: IT TAKES SERIOUS SACRIFICE TO THAT OUR VISION.

I wish to start with this story; UNWISE START LEADS TO A SAD END: Once, there was a mouse that had his hole near a pool in a thick forest. A frog often came out for basking in the sun. Within no time, they became buddies. But the friendship of a frog and mouse is highly undesirable because the frog's home is in water and the mouse on land. One day the frog said to the mouse, "Let’s bind ourselves together with a string so that we may never get separated." The mouse agreed. So, both tied themselves together leg-to-leg. Though on land, it went quite well, but in the pool, it was tragic for the mouse. The frog swam about delightfully in the pool dragging the mouse with him. Soon, the mouse drowned and his body floated on the surface of the pool. A kite hovering in the sky saw the dead mouse it swooped down to carry it off. Up went the frog as well and became the kite's meal. Continue Reading..........................

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A. By Tobe Eze

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A.

FIRST READING
Proverbs 31:10—13, 19—20, 30—31

SECOND READING
1 Thessalonians 5:1—6

GOSPEL

Matthew 25:14—30

THEME: WHAT ARE YOU ATTACHED TO? (WHAT ARE YOU MARRING?).

A man (an academician) told his wife and children, for no reason should they disturb him anytime he is in his study except on issues of life. The day he died, he stayed two days before his family could notice that he was dead. Because of the marriage between him and his books, his wife and children could not summon courage to go to him in his study till when they noticed that it was becoming too much and the wife entered and saw him dead on the seat with one of his books in his hands. He was married to his books. Continue Reading.....................

MARRIED BACHELOR. By Tobe Eze

MARRIED BACHELOR.

In philosophy, this topic or title of this write up is a fallacy (that is crime in philosophy) but I am ready to commit it provided I point out what I have experienced in this life. Bachelor is a man of age who is yet to get married. This is just a lay man’s definition of it, but these days, people are now complicating issues for us.

1.      Fight over a girl.

2.      Having many Girls around you (sex).

3.      Single but Married.

4.      Conclusion: Any Remedy?

1. FIGHTING OVER A GIRL: A man who is single, will woo a girl who is also single not with the intention of marriage but for hedonism and when he gets her, he will like to privatize her but he will not marry her. Ọdị mma ọyị mana ọdịghị mma ọlụlụ. When he sees another man around her, he will like to fight like a wounded lion in other not to lose her to any other man as if she is his wife. Sometimes men kill themselves because of a girl whom they know quite alright that they will not marry, none of them is ready to marry her. It was a life experience in the year 2012 around middle August when I was spending my holidays at home after my WAEC. Two boys (guys), who have been friends from childhood were fighting over a particular girl whom they were aware that they will not marry. The first guy claims that he has been taking good care of this girl for over three years and now this other guy is trying to water all his efforts all these years. The second was telling the first that it is not how far but how well? It is not about spending or taking care of her for years but it is about the one the girl loves most. And you should know that ọ bụ a na-emelu nwanyị, ọ na-emelu onye dị ya mma. You may have spent your whole life taking care of this girl, but have you ever considered thinking about if the girl loves you. It is a game of those who are wise. At this juncture the first guy could not take it again, he got annoyed and they started fighting. When we were trying to separate them, we did not know that one of them had a hammer in his pocket and he hit one of us with that hammer and he fainted immediately. One who does not know anything about the issue, only trying to help got serious injury. After all said and done, they became serious enemies from then till now. The girl in question is now married with kids to another man all together and they are still enemies because of her. Continue Reading.....................................

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A By Tobe Eze

19th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

FIRST READING
1 Kings 19:9a, 11—13a

SECOND READING
Romans 9:1—5

GOSPEL
Matthew 14:22—33

OUR GOD IS A GENTLE GOD.

I was watching a show on the television, at a point, the minister or pastor or whatever he maybe called told the people that they should pray for God's earthquake to come. He said that if the earthquake does not come, no miracle will take place. Another said that before miracle will happen, the Lord’s hurricane must come and many other instances.

In the first reading, Elijah was waiting for the Lord on the mountain. Many noisy things came but God was not in any of them until the last little voice. God’s miracles and blessings are not necessarily to come through noisy environments. They come also in a very cool place and in a tiny voice. These days’ preachers should so that whether you like it or not you must here it. I went to Ogbete market in Enugu one day and I saw a group of people on awareness rally about a crusade they were organizing and they were sing around the market. You must be born again! You must be born again!

Continue Reading...........................................................................

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A. By Tobe

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A.

FIRST READING
Wisdom 6:12—16

SECOND READING
1 Thessalonians 4:13—18

GOSPEL
Matthew 25:1—13

THEME: IT DOES NOT TAKE MUCH.

A famous story about how tortoise tested the wisdom of its children is what I wish to you and introduce this reflection. Tortoise called its three children, it asked the first. How many times will something happen to you and you will learn? The first one answered two times and it told it that the first one is not wise. It asked the second one the same question and it answered once and it told it that the second one is not wise. It asked the last one and it answered, that it will learn from others experience. That it will not happen to him before he will learn. The tortoise congratulated it and told it that it is very wise.

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A. By Tobe Eze

21st Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A.

FIRST READING
Isaiah 22:19—23

SECOND READING
Romans 11:33—36

GOSPEL
Matthew 16:13—20

THEME: POWER TO THE RIGHTEOUS ONE.

In one autonomous community that I know very well. One year when election was fast approaching, one of their sons who was contesting for governorship asked the king of the community what they were lacking then so that he will do it for them. The king after thinking told him that his palace chairs are old. The people of that community overthrew him overnight and made another person king immediately for he was not representing them well. Why this story? Continue Reading..................

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A. By Tobe Eze

20th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A.

FIRST READING
Isaiah 56:1, 6—7

SECOND READING
Romans 11:13—15, 29—32

GOSPEL
Matthew 15:21—28

THEME: TRUST AND OBEY. DO NOT REACT TO EVERYTHING.

A man went home one day with a serious wound on his face because he was responding to what the vigilant group told him. He went to a ceremony and was coming home late. When he reached the vigilant group, they asked him, where he was coming from at that time of the night. He told them and they asked him to go. When he was about to go, one of them said, odika onwere nwanyi ya na ya mekoro n' abalia (it seems like he had something with a woman this night). Instead of going, he came back to ask the man to repeat what he said. The vigilant man repeated it three times and the man went fighting. During the fight he was wounded on the face with a log of wood. Something he would have avoided. Had it been he obeyed and went home, he would have not sustained any scratch.

Continue Reading............................

The Transfiguration of the Lord – Feast By Tobe Eze

The Transfiguration of the Lord – Feast

FIRST READING
Daniel 7:9—10, 13—14

SECOND READING
2 Peter 1:16—19

GOSPEL
Matthew 17:1—9

THEME: ALL POWER, GLORY, MAJESTY AND HONOUR BELONG TO HIM.

Lord, it is better we make three tents here, one for you, one for Elijah and one for Moses. If you are in the presence of God, you will lack nothing. Peter noticed that he was in the presence of his master and forgot himself for he knew that all things are in him and anyone with him has a share in them. He has everything we need in this passing world and the everlasting world.

Why do we go about looking for things that have nothing in them? In the first reading, Daniel saw a vision where everything good was given to the son of man. In the second reading St. Peter repeated what happened on the mountain of transfiguration. Gospel tells us about the transfiguration.

We can be transfigured in this life. Jesus’ transfiguration was a way created for us to follow. We have to go up to the mountain of transfiguration so that we will be transformed. Continue Reading....................

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A. By Tobe Eze

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A.

FIRST READING
Malachi 1:14b—2:2b, 8—10

SECOND READING
1 Thessalonians 2:7b—9, 13

GOSPEL
Matthew 23:1—12

THEME: BECAUSE OF THE WORD.

In the beginning was the word, the word was with God (John 1:1-14). This word is what has been doing mighty things from the beginning of the world till now and will continue forever. Genesis recorded the account of creation as what was done through the power of the word. Let there be and there was. Everything good comes from this word. St. Augustine said that God created the world out of nothing. Nihi est nihilo Continue Reading............................

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A. By Tobe Eze

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A.

FIRST READING
Exodus 22:20—26

SECOND READING
1 Thessalonians 1:5c—10

GOSPEL
Matthew 22:34—40

THEME: LOVE IS THE WAY.

Let me start with what happened or what I experienced in August 2017. I went to a particular parish to give the block rosary children talk. I was told to prepare Qualities of a good block rosary child. When I was explaining eight of them one by one for them, when I reached love. I told them I Love You All, they started laughing. I did not understand what was happening. When I asked them the reason for that, one of them told me that I am corrupting them.

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A. By Tobe Eze

24th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A.

FIRST READING

Sirach 27:30—28:7

SECOND READING
Romans 14:7—9

GOSPEL
Matthew 18:21—35

THEME: SELF LIBRATION.

I remember when I was in the secondary school, I fought with one girl in my school she was a year below me. Whenever I see her in my school, I became uncomfortable. Till one of my classmates that opened up to called us and reconciled us, then I started getting myself back. Again when I was writing WAEC, one of my classmates that I was living with in the same compound, she was using my pots anytime she wanted to use them provided I was not using it (them). One weekend, she locked my pot inside her room and went home. I was forced to go home for weekend because my pot was not there for me to cook. On Sunday night, when we have returned from our various homes, I went to her room, I finished her up with mouth and when she wanted to react, I gave her a serious beating. After that incident, that compound was no longer comfortable for me. I hated getting her voice talk more of seeing her after that incident for it torments my conscience. Whenever she showed, mood changed. At a point I told myself that I could not continue. One night, I went inside her room, knelt down and begged her for forgiveness and we started enjoying ourselves again. Why all these stories?

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A. By Tobe Eze

23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A.

FIRST READING
Ezekiel 33:7—9

SECOND READING
Romans 13:8—10

GOSPEL
Matthew 18:15—20

THEME: ONE STEP IS NOT ENOUGH, IT CONCERNS YOU.

A story was told by an old man to children gathered around him in the village square. The story goes like this; A tree squirrel was on a tree crying on the top of its voice. At a point, a snake nearby told the squirrel to keep quiet but it did not listen, the snake said, it does not concern it. The squirrel continued and cocoyam's leaf told it to keep quiet but it did not listen, then the cocoyam's leaf said the same thing. It does not concern it. Lastly, a pumpkin stem told the squirrel to keep quiet and it did the same as before, the stem of pumpkin also did as others have done. As the squirrel continued, a hunter heard the sound of the crying, he approached and shot the squirrel. The squirrel fell beside the snake, the snake was laughing and lamenting, “I warned this idiot”. As the snake was still laughing, it was also killed by the same hunter. The hunter looked around to see what he will use to carry the two animals, he saw the cocoyam’s leaf and cut it. Again looking for something to use to tie them, he cut the stem of pumpkin. It has concerned all of them. Continue Raeding......................

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A By Tobe Eze

22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

FIRST READING
Jeremiah 20:7—9

SECOND READING
Romans 12:1—2

GOSPEL
Matthew 16:21—27

THEME: DOCILITY: A PERFECT WAY OF LIFE.

The proverb of onye n' enyo, isi ya ana-aputa is not only on bad things that it is being used, it is also ad rem to today’s readings. Onye gakwuru Jesu nso, onweta otutu ihe di mma. When you go closer to Jesus with a docile heart, he will shower you with his blessings. Sometimes the blessings may look like it is being delayed. We may suffer many things in the cause of going to God with a docile heart, but at last we will enjoy. Sorrow may endure for the night but morning comes with joy. Continue Reading..........................................

THE JOY OF DRINKING. By Tobe Eze

THE JOY OF DRINKING.

What type of drinking are we talking about? It is taking of alcohol. It was never a sin to taking alcohol, it is not a sin and it will never be a sin, but where trouble comes in is when taken excess. The English says that too much of everything is bad. Too much of food is bad.

Drinking is a good thing to do. When you drink, it removes anxiety, high blood pressure, it makes you not to feel angry unnecessarily. Many things it does to the body which medical practitioners can tell better. We should embrace drinking but with moderation. Illicit drinking is a very serious problem.

MODERATE DRINKING. VIRTUE LIES IN THE MIDDLE.

Continue Reading................................................

IF THERE IS NO DEATH…………………………… By Tobe Eze

IF THERE IS NO DEATH……………………………

Introduction.

The action or fact of dying or being killed; the end of the life of a person or organism:  synonyms: demise · dying · end · passing · passing away · passing on · loss of life · expiry · expiration · departure from life · final exit · eternal rest · murder · killing · assassination · execution · dispatch · slaying · slaughter · massacre · snuffing · curtains · kicking the bucket · decease ·

Life can end in many ways as written in the definition. Let me start from murder. One Igbo adage said that onye gburu nwanne ya abụghị dike. Why should we kill each other? It pains me a lot when I hear that someone has been killed either by any means. Charm, strangling, deeds and words. We can kill each other anytime any day.

Continue Reading.............................

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A. By Tobe Eze

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A.

FIRST READING
Isaiah 45:1, 4—6

SECOND READING
1 Thessalonians 1:1—5b

GOSPEL
Matthew 22:15—21

THEME: HE HAS ALL, KNOWS ALL AND IS ALL.

With regards to the experience Zacchaeus had on the Sycamore tree, this can show us that he knows all. He was a man who had not met Jesus before, but Jesus called him by his name on reaching where he was. He was surprised that he noticed him on the tree and to worsen it all, he called him. (Luke 19:1-10). Still on that line, prophet Jeremiah made it clearer that even before we were born, he knows us. (Jeremiah 1:5). St. Paul in one of his letters made it clear to us that in him all things hold together, which means he has all (Colossians 1:17). Sometimes we try pretending to be saying the truth that the way we are taking to get to the that life is the best forgetting that he is also the way, the truth and the life, which means, he is all. (John 14:6). Continue Reading..........................

MARRIAGE IS NOT FOR THE UNQUALIFIED By Fr. Dr. Willy O. Odo

MARRIAGE IS NOT FOR THE UNQUALIFIED

INTRODUCTION

        Irresponsibility is the bane of failure in most of our life projects. Marriage as an institution of the greatest importance in the history of societal creation, development and expansion needs nothing short of the greatest responsibility on the part of the parties in marriage for its success and thrive.  Lack of commitment in marriage is the cause of huge percentage of the breakdown of many marriages.  Statics of the marriage breakdown and its causes show that many young men and women who embrace marriage do not qualify to marry before they enter into marriage. Whereby such persons are not qualified for marriage, it means that they lack the capacity for taking up the obligations and duties of marriage.  In other words such marriages would be in the stormy waters of immaturity and are bound to fail. Continue Reading................................................

CHARACTERISTICS OF A BLOCK ROSARY CHILD. By Tobe Eze

CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF NSUKKA

A TALK PRESENTED BY HILLARY TOBECHUKWU EZE {DAN~HILL} TO BLOCK ROSARY CHILDREN.

TOPIC: CHARACTERISTICS OF A BLOCK ROSARY CHILD.

Babylon! Babylon! ọkwa mmadụ atọ mere Babylon chegharịa……………………………………

Ịhịnanya, udo, irubisi, obiọmma, obiumela, ndidi, ikwueziokwu, ịkpachapuru onwe anyi anya.

Love.

Peaceful.

Obedience.

Kindness.

Humble.

Patience.

Truthful.

Taking care of ourselves.

What is love? 1Corinthians 13:4-7 the Bible says; Love is patient, kind, without envy. It is not boastful of arrogant. It is not ill-mannered, nor does it seek its own interest. Love is not provoked to anger; keeps no score of offences. It does not take delight in wrong, but rejoices in truth. Love excuses all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. 8. Love never ends. What is the Cost of giving? Continue Reading.....................................

BLOCK ROSARY QUIZ COMPETITION. By Tobe Eze

BLOCK ROSARY QUIZ COMPETITION.

1.      What are the names of the three children of Fatima? A. Jacinta, Lucy and Francisco

2.      In the five Joyful mysteries, recite the first one. A. The Annunciation.

3.      Recite the Remember of Our Lady. A. Cheta…………………..

4.      Who is the Mother of Jesus? A. Virgin Mary.

5.      Who is your Parish Priest and where is he from? A. Rev. Fr. Valentine Okenyi. From Aku.

6.      In the five Sorrowful mysteries, the fifth one is from which chapter and verse in the Holy Bible? A. Lk. 23:45-46 or John 19:17,18 or Lk. 23:26-38.

7.      Which year did Blessed Virgin Mary appear to them? A. 1917.

8.      Recite act of contrition. A. Omume nke ime ebere.

9.      When a priest celebrating mass says, offer to each other sign of peace, what do you say to people? A. Peace and Love of Christ.

10.  In the five Sorrowful mysteries, recite the fourth one. A. The carrying of cross.

11.  In the five Luminous mysteries, the second one is from which chapter and verse in the Holy Bible? A. John 2:10 or John 2:11 Continue Reading...........................................

YOUTH WEEK QUIZ COMPETITION 2017. By Tobe Eze

CATHOLIC DIOCESE OF NSUKKA.

ST. THERESA’S PARISH UGWU NA AGBO EDEM-ANI.

YOUTH WEEK QUIZ COMPETITION 2017.

1.      What was the theme of the church’s first council in Jerusalem? Ans. Circumcision of the Gentile Christians.

2.      Who was the second Pope? Ans. St. Linus.

3.      …………………. Was the Roman emperor noted for persecuting Christians? Ans. Nero.

4.      In the Roman Empire, Christianity was declared a licit religion by …………………… in the year …………… Ans. Constantine in 313 A.D.

5.      Who were the apostles who died in Rome? Ans. Peter and Paul.

6.      The first major heresy in the church was known as……………………… Ans. Arianism.

7.      Who initiated Arianism? Ans. Arian, an Alexandrian Priest.

8.      Where and when was the 1^st ecumenical council of the church held? Ans. Nicaea in 325 A.D.

9.      What was the major theme in the council of Nicaea? Ans. Combating Arianism.

10.  How many ecumenical councils has the church held? Ans. 21. Continue Reading................

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A By Tobe Eze

25th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

FIRST READING
Isaiah 55:6—9

SECOND READING
Philippians 1:20c—24, 27a

GOSPEL
Matthew 20:1—16a

WHY COMPLAINING?

People come to church seeking the face of God differently, when God comes to them, some will like to tell God how he will see to their different intentions. God who created you, created others and as you expect blessings from him, so also others expect blessings from him. When we try to show God that we are wiser than him, we should bear in mind that even before we were conceived, he knew us. (Jeremiah 1:5).

In the first reading, Isaiah is telling us to seek God when there is time. We all know that the dead cannot praise or seek God. The words of our Lord in Matthew 7:7 are for those who are alive. The face of God we should seek is not just to be coming to church but to follow the dictates of God and his church.

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A. By Tobe Eze

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A.

FIRST READING
Ezekiel 18:25—28

SECOND READING
Philippians 2:1—11

GOSPEL
Matthew 21:28—32

THEME: IS IT NOT INJUSTICE?

Is it not injustice that I will make effort throughout my lifetime and at my dying better I relent and loose every effort I have been making since I was born and someone who has never made effort towards death had a change of heart and gain everything?

In Luke 18:1 the disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ said “we ought to pray and never loose heart”. This is just the best answer to the question above. In Igbo we use to say onye gbakata kwuru nke ogbara agba ala ya n' iyi. That is, one who makes effort and stop, will lose even the one he has made. It is only when we run the race till the end that we will get the reward. Continue Reading....

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A By Tobe Eze

28th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

FIRST READING
Isaiah 25:6—10a

SECOND READING
Philippians 4:12—14, 19—20

GOSPEL

Matthew 22:1—14

WHY ON THE MOUNTAIN? AND WHY PUNISHMENT?

Isaiah 55:1, the Lord said “All you that thirst, come to the waters: and you that have no money make hadte , buy and eat, come you, buy wine and milk without money and without any price.” Why should God leave every plain land around and go up to the mountain to prepare banquet for his people? The answer is too simple. In Igbo there is this adage that onye otu ukwu adighi aza akwaa okwuru, and another one says anu adighi ike agaghi ebi ebe osisi ahaba di. And another adage says that ihe di mma na afia aru inyeta. We all know that climbing the mountain is not an easy job. If you are to climb mountain, you must prepare for it for it is not meant for those who are not prepared. If you are to follow Christ, be prepared to climb mountain so that you get to the place the banquet is prepared, and if you try to go up unprepared, you will fall off to where there will be gnashing of teeth and that will be your punishment for not being prepared. There are many different ways we climb that mountain, it is not through one way. Continue Reading.....................

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A By Tobe Eze

27th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

FIRST READING
Isaiah 5:1—7

SECOND READING
Philippians 4:6—9

GOSPEL
Matthew 21:33—43

IF IT WERE YOU, HOW WILL YOU FEEL.?

There is what our people say when one is inappreciative, Eri ago, (someone who eats and deny). A woman was beating her child one day and I went to intervene. The woman told me to leave her alone for her to kill the child for he does not deserve to live. When I asked her reason for that she said that the boy has never obeyed anyone talk more of listening to what she tells him to do. She said that he likes doing opposite of things he is asked to do, that he should die once and leave her alone. I tried talking sense into her. After sometimes, she told him that brother has saved you today.

SELF CONTROL; A GUARANTEE FOR CHASTITY/CATHOLIC YOUTH AND PENTICOSTALISM; A WAY OUT. By Tobe Eze

CATHOLI DIOCESE OF NSUKKA.

A TALK BY HILLARY TOBECHUKWU EZE (DAN~HILL) TO CYON DURING YOUTH WEEK.

TOPIC: SELF CONTROL; A GUARANTEE FOR CHASTITY/CATHOLIC YOUTH AND PENTICOSTALISM; A WAY OUT. 1CORINTHIANS 6:19.

Definition of Terms:

What is Self-Control? It is ability of one knowing his/her weak points. It can also be when the virtue temperate in one is working very well. Temperate is one of the cardinal virtues we have in life and it helps one to control his/herself. When one has self-control, one does not disgrace him/herself before people either through gluttony, sex, talking much, ITK and so on.

What is Chastity? It is ability of one to be faithful to a particular level or stage of life one is. A youth can be chaste as a youth, a married man/woman can be chaste as a married person and religious, priests, seminarians and every other groups that has chosen to remain chaste in life can be chaste in their different positions. Chastity is not meant only for priests or seminarians. Every person are called to be chaste. No matter your position, you have no right to sin. One person was telling after seeing a girl that came to visit me in my house that I should the girl over to him that this thing is no more meant for us. Another was also telling me when I told him to regulate how he sleeps with girls that he is not in the seminary.

My confusion here is, is the sixth commandment meant only for those in the seminary or only for priests. Chastity is call for everyone who is created by God. It is not meant for a particular group of persons.