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.