SATURDAY 20TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B. By Tobe Eze

SATURDAY 20^TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B.

1^ST READING: EZEKIEL 43:1-7A

GOSPEL: MATTHEW 21:1-12

THEME: THE PLACE OF EXULTATION.

We often as human beings like the place or places of exultation(s). Where we shall be recognized. There are two ways to this. Is it worldly recognition or heavenly recognition? As we can see in many ways of our lives that we majorly do things because of others. We wear beautiful cloths and many other things because of others.

A lady bought new dresses to show off on Sunday. She appeared so beautiful on Sunday. During offertory, she waited for all to have gone so that all will notice her and her new dress. As she was moving from the back with her regalia, she missed a step and fell down at the middle of the church and that disgraced her and all she was putting on. Sometimes, this is what the devil does to us. He will make us to always think of worldly things and he will disgrace us at the middle of the whole show.

The Pharisees and Sadducees who were doing things for men to recognize them were missing God’s recognition for men’s recognition has taken upper hand. It is because of this human recognition that we do all sorts of evil like in the gospel. Because we want people to call us names we go into one evil thing or society to make name and firm. After that what next? People lord it over the people under them in other to make firm which God warned us about it (1Peter 5:3). We do the same this day. Girls sell their bodies, even women not only girls do the same in order to be updated or sexiest etc.

God’s recognition and place of exultation is the best and that is what he showed us today in the first reading through prophet Ezekiel. Let us work for that God’s place of honour and we will enjoy it forever. Thanks.

FRIDAY 20TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B. By Tobe Eze

FRIDAY 20^TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B.

1^ST READING: EZEKIEL 37:1-14

GOSPEL: MATTHEW 22:34-40

THEME: HOPE IN GOD, ALL HOPES ARE NOT LOST.

If the Lord had made the dry bones in the valley to regain life, we still have hope. If Jesus could silence both the Pharisees and Sadducees, we still have hope.

The only problem we have or we are having sometimes is that we always like God to do our wills in our own time not God’s will in his own time. Jesus has never forsaken anyone who trusted in him. If we really trust in him this day, he will raise our dry bones and silence our enemies. In that our worst situations, let us remember that with God everything is possible and we must bear in mind that the will of God is the first.

A woman had a sick child. The woman was always praying for the will of God to be done in her child’s life. One day the sickness was rising and getting worst. She continued praying for the will of God to take place. When she noticed that the child was dying she changed the prayer immediately. God if this is your will, let it not be done. The child latter died and the woman took it that God is disappointing. Latter she conceived again and gave birth to twins and that time she noticed that the will of God was right in the life of that dead child and God has visited her in the time of the Lord not her own time.

It is this our always seeking for our own wills that cause our losing of faith and hope in God. God is assuring us today that no matter our situations, he can still show us that he is the Lord our God who can raise and give life to dry bones and silence our enemies. Thanks.

THURSDAY 20TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B. By Tobe Eze

THURSDAY 20^TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B.

1^ST READING: EZEKIEL 36:23-28

GOSPEL: MATTHEW 22:1-14

THEME: THINGS ARE READY WHERE WE ARE INVITED, WHERE ARE WE?

God in the first reading tells us that he will make us his people and he will be our God. He will prepare a home for us where hearts of flesh will be not hearts of stone. Hearts that know mercy and compassion.

In the gospel, he has already prepared it for us but we are not forth coming. What is that that is taking us out of God’s banquet? School, family, work, business, friends, relations and every other things or persons or places? Any of them that is doing that should leave us alone before he burns us up. A question needs to be asked about the man without wedding garment. Was it his fault, for he was just called at the late hour? He was on his own not preparing for any wedding and they called him and they did not give him time to go and prepare. The truth here is that, this is how our death will be to us. When we are not ready to die. We can see what happened to the man that was not ready. We have to be ready at any time, any day, anywhere for we do not the year, month, week, day, hour, minute and second that banquet we will enjoy will come. No excuse. Thanks.

WEDNESDAY 20TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B. By Tobe Eze

WEDNESDAY 20^TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B.

1^ST READING: EZEKIEL 34:1-11

GOSPEL: MATTHEW 20:1-16A

THEME: WHAT IS OUR WORK?

Parents, community leaders, government rulers, church leaders, school leaders, doctors, nurses and every form of leadership. What is our work?

God in the first reading is not happy with us about the way we handle those he has given us to take care of. God is rebuking us today. We are now feeding on the sheep that we should be feeding. We have left the point, the focus, and our work and are now doing another thing.

Just like in the gospel, the labourers who left their works and started questioning the one who hired them about his generosity. We sacrifice our works on the altar of worthless things. Let us remain focus in our works that God has given us to do. He is not happy with us on the way we handle it and he is going to take them away from us and we know what that means. Let us make hare while the sun is still shining. Ka anyi were ehihie chuwa ewu oji tupu chi ejie. Let us go back to our duty post and do our works diligently and God will reward us according to his will not our own wills as he did in the gospel. Thanks.

TUESDAY 20TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B. By Tobe Eze

TUESDAY 20^TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B.

1^ST READING: EZEKIEL 28:1-10

GOSPEL: MATTHEW 19:23-30

THEME: THE DANDER OF RICHNESS.

Richness in money, wisdom, people, intellect, sin and so on can bring us downfall. Igbos say, okwa nwa nza rijuo afo, ochere chi kere ya aka mgba. When one is rich in any form, one will think that he/she is above the heaven. In his riches, man lacks wisdom (Psalm 49:13).

Responsorial Psalm says, I kill and I make alive. God is the one who gives us all these gifts except the richness of sin. If God has the power to give us all these gifts, don’t we think he has the power also to take them away from us? Why then do we brag with them? God told Ezekiel to go and tell the house Israel or to remind them that they are not gods, he has power to do whatever he wills to then even in that their richness. Their richness moved them away from God and it is same today with us.

In the gospel, Jesus talked again about the danger of richness. How hard it will be for the rich to enter heaven. If we allow our richness of any form to influence us, then it will be easier for Carmel to go through the eye of a needle than we going into heaven. In any way or any form that we are rich, let it not move us away from God. The danger of richness is that it makes us lose focus. Thanks.

MONDAY 20TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B. By Tobe Eze

MONDAY 20^TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B.

1^ST READING: EZEKIEL 24:15-24

GOSPEL: MATTHEW 19:16-22

THEME: THE PROBLEM OF PLEASURE.

It is never difficult to get or start a pleasurable act or something but the problem is how to stop it. The only problem of pleasure is how to stop it. Obughi ikunye enwe mmiri bu nsogbu kama inata ya iko. It is how to stop our actions that are not good is the problem and now how to start them. The Israelites since ages, God has been warning them, giving them all sorts of signs to leave their evil ways but it was and is a very difficult task for them. This is not the problem of only the Israelites of the old but the present Israelites which are us.

The rich man in the gospel could not take the teaching of Jesus because it touched his comfort zone. Richness in the Bible may not literarily mean wealth but richness in sin. Some of us who are wealthy are saints and some who are poor are devils and still the other way round. It is the richness in sin that God is talking about. Israelites grew in sin to the extent that God could not only talk to them but demonstrated it for them, also Jesus demonstrated the same for us and he is still demonstrating it for us to repent. That our pleasurable actions that do not give praise to God, we should work around the clock to stop it. We should work tooth and nail to leave them and heaven will be ours. It is difficult but not impossible. We should just make serious effort and God will help for he counts efforts and not result. Thanks.

SATURDAY 19TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B. By Tobe Eze

SATURDAY 19^TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B.

1^ST READING: EZEKIEL 18:1-10. 13B. 30-32

GOSPEL: MATTHEW 19:13-15

THEME: YOU ARE ON YOUR OWN.

Njo nna n’ eso nwa is now only a human concept but not God. It is wrong for it may make the child to continue in the sins of the father if the child knows that sins of his father or even forefathers will follow him/her. Many sins mentioned in the first reading touched the whole of our being. They touched the sins of omission which we often forget. Sometimes, it is these sins of omission that we commit most and we do not count them as sins. The catholic greeting, Onye jisie ike, orue alaeze, ma onye gbakata kwuru, the answer from time immemorial has been, nke ogbara agba ala n’ iyi. Changing it to nwanne ya enyere ya aka contradicts the first reading of today. We should bear in mind that before God, we must answer for ourselves. No one will suffer for our sins except us. Onweghi onye ga enyere anyi aka to face our punishment or enjoyment which means we must continue to work for ourselves without ceasing. It is a personal game not a group thing. We will face it alone. The earlier we realize this the better for us.

In the gospel, Jesus said, the kingdom of God is for those who have childlike heart. Childlike heart is a heart that do not think of any sin at all talk more of looking for another who will suffer for the consequences on their behalf. They do only things that will please their elders and that we should emulate to do things that please our God. Clean heart and a pure spirit is what every child of God should have. We must have that on our individual basis not in common, before we get heaven. That father had does not mean children should relax, onye na way ya. That father has a good heart and son/daughter is evil will not save you. It is our personal and individual death. My Death by Martin Heidegger. Thanks.

FRIDAY 19TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B. By Tobe Eze

FRIDAY 19^TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B.

1^ST READING: EZEKIEL 16:1-15. 60. 63.

GOSPEL: MATTHEW 19:3-12

THEME: DIVORCE OF GOD.

It is no longer a new teaching that God and Church have no room for divorce in any valid wedding. So we are going to look at another divorce which connects us to the first reading.

After all that God did for the Israelites from their birth to their youthful age, they had the got to leave their God to follow other gods. After all a husband has done for and to her wife, the wife had the got to follow another man and at the end, divorce the husband. Also placing it the other way round on men. We divorce God in many places, things and occasions we do or go in our lives. When we private good things as St, Augustine said, evil will come in. When we leave the good things we ought to do and do bad things, in that way, we divorce God. God is calling us today and begging us not to divorce him again. What God has joined together through baptism, no sin should put asunder. We should remain on him. Thanks.

THURSDAY 19TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B. By Tobe Eze

THURSDAY 19^TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B.

1^ST READING: EZEKIEL 12:1-12

GOSPEL: MATTHEW 18:21, -19:1

THEME: DO NOT KILL THE SPIRIT OF FORGIVENESS.

The Lord got tired of the sins of the house of Israel and he was looking for any way possible to save them. He sent them many prophets but they did not heed to what they were saying. Now he is demonstrating what is to befall them but still they remained adamant. When he gets tired of all these things, destruction will follow. The Israelites we talk about is no more the Israelites of old but we that live in this generation.

In the gospel, Jesus gave us the mandate to forgive without ceasing but some do push people to the wall of killing the spirit of forgiveness in them just like the Israelites in the first reading. Think of the servant who was forgiven of the greater debt he owed, he went ahead to punish another who owed him without thinking about the grace he received and the consequences of the act. The forgiveness granted him was withdrawn immediately. The spirit of forgiveness towards him was killed by his own hands.

That we are bound to forgive is not a guarantee for us to continue to offend each other. God said we must forgive in other to be forgiven but we should also know that we are all human beings. If we remain adamant continuing to offend and provoke our neighbours or we behave like that wicked servant in the gospel, we may lose the chance of being forgiven if we do not make amend on time. As we expect others to forgive us when we sin against them, let us not also kill the spirit of forgiveness in them. Again, we are expected also to forgive as we expect forgiveness from others 7 times 70. Thanks.

WEDNESDAY 19TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B. By Tobe Eze

WEDNESDAY 19^TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B.

1^ST READING: EZEKIEL 9:1-7; 10:18-22

GOSPEL: MATTHEW 18:15-20

THEME: THOSE WHO GATHER IN HIS NAME WILL BE GIVEN THE MARK.

After seeing all that he saw in the first reading, it was obvious to him that it is only those who refute evils that will receive the mark of salvation and those who will receive the mark will be saved.

In the gospel, at the last sentence of it, it is stated, where two or more gather in my name, I will be with them. The church is the community of the people of God and people of God should be those who refute evil no matter the situation at hand. It is not easy to refute it but it is not impossible. The words of the last sentence of the gospel should be our consolation. If we really gather in his name, we shall be given the mark of salvation.

The problem is that some of us do not gather in his name rather we gather for something else. We place Jesus or his church as a refugee camp or even as a secondary saviour. When we must have given reverence to other gods then we will remember that he said he will be with us when we gather in his name. uka obuleka Jesu. A woman who worshiped Ugwube (A Deity) in my place. She got converted, but each time she is faced with danger she shouts Ugwube, she was asked to be using Jesus instead of Ugwube. So, when next something happened to her, she shouted Ugwube obuleka Jesu that is Ugwube! I mean Jesus. She remembers Jesus when she must have shouted Ugwube. We should not forget his name for what so ever reason. We should strive to make sure that we do gather in his name in truth so that the mark that will save us from eternal damnation will be given to us. No one who has no mark will be saved, we should always work to get the mark. Exodus account can be an example for us, the departure of the Israelites (Exodus 12:13). Thanks.

TUESDAY 19TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B. By Tobe Eze

TUESDAY 19^TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B.

1^ST READING: EZEKIEL 2:8. 3:4

GOSPEL: MATTHEW 18:1-5. 10. 12-14

THEME: BE OPEN TO LIFE.

Ezekiel had not known what the scroll was before eating it, he ate it and noticed that it was as sweet as honey. Uwa bu ahia akpa. He was open to face what will come out of it and the result was very good.

In the gospel, Christ asks us to be like children who are always very much open to change in life. They do not have a rigid way of life that deprives them opportunity to change. Change in a child is always built on humility. If a child is humble, that child can adjust in any situation that he/she finds him/herself. But an arrogant child will like to maintain one even when it is causing more harm than good.

If we are humble, we will welcome changes in our situations. A lady was married to a family, her behaviour was not all that welcomed there, so she started adjusting to fit in into the family system for she knew that that will only solve the problem. It was born out of humility. If it were to be a proud one, she would have asked them to take her behaviour or leave it. We must learn how to be humble like children in order to accept situations and adjust to situations that come to us. Do not be too rigid or watertight. Be liberal to a reasonable extent. Pope Francis is a liberal Pope and we are benefiting from it. One who is not open will find it difficult to cope with life. C.P Varkey (SJ) said, “Accept what you cannot change and change what you can change”. And this can only be achieved by being open to life. Thanks.

MONDAY 19TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B. By Tobe Eze

MONDAY 19^TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B.

1^ST READING: EZEKIEL 1:2-5. 24-28C

GOSPEL: MATTHEW 17:22-27

THEME: MAINTAIN YOUR DIGNITY.

Sometimes we fight over our rights and at the end loose that right entirely. It is better to maintain our dignity than to stupidly fight over our rights. A man was on the high way with his motorcycle, he was on his right. Suddenly a car that wanted to overtake another car started taking or following or plying the man’s right and the man insisted that he will not run. The car hit him. As he was being taken to the hospital, he was busy shouting, I was on my right! That was no more counting that time for he was the one suffering it. After two days, he died. It is not that we should keep quiet when our right is being played upon but if the approach will not yield positive result, we should redress.

In the first reading in order for God to maintain his glory, he showed his glory to Ezekiel in a way that was very complicated. When Ezekiel saw it, he fell on the ground because it was much for him. We are expected to have some reservations for ourselves. We are not to be open to the extent that we cannot hold water, control ourselves again. Surprise people from time to time with positive things. When one provokes you in your own right, try not to act in an outrageous manner. Just give the person a serious surprise like one of my school mates did one day. We were in the refectory in the morning for breakfast. His classmate consciously poured him dirty water to know what he will do. To our utmost surprise, he just laughed and kept quit. Another of his classmate met him and asked him, are you keeping quiet? He told him, if I make noise or fight with him, will it change anything? He said that that was just the end of the whole thing. In the afternoon, that his classmate bought a bottle of drink to beg him and that ended the whole thing. Had it been they fought, their dignities would have gone but they maintained their dignities especially the victim.

In the gospel, if Peter were told beforehand that Jesus will pay the tax, he would not have believed it. It was Jesus’ right not to pay but in order not to cause trouble that will reduce his dignity, he sent Peter to go and pay the tax. In order to avoid quarrels, fights, hatred and so on, learn how to swallow some certain things. Obu ka ahuchatacha mere mgbo jiri tuo enwe n’ isi. That will give you more respect and it will add feathers to your cap of dignity. Thanks.

SATURDAY 18TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B. By Tobe Eze

SATURDAY 18^TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B.

1^ST READING: HABAKKUK 1:12-. 2:4

GOSPEL: MATTHEW 17:14-20

THEME: MANAGE SILENCE VERY WELL.

In Igbo, we normally say, Onye gbara nkiti kwere ekwe but not in all cases. In some issues we have to keep silence not that we have accepted that but to think or that the place or the thing is not the best place or rightful place or thing to react.

In the first reading, Prophet Habakkuk is asking us, why are we keeping quiet when a wicked man is oppressing the poor and good man? If we keep quiet, we are part of the crime. We have to rebuke him in other to save the good and poor man.

In the gospel, when Jesus told his disciples men of little faith, they kept quiet till they got inside the house and they asked him in private to explain more. This is just the same with the Igbo adage that says, “Obu ichupu egbe, I gwa nwa okuko n’ onapuka. When you chase the kite away, you tell the chick that it wanders too much.

The first reading and the gospel are teaching us how to approach issues in life. When we see evil, we should not keep quiet and the gospel is teaching us how to react to many of them. When we see evil, we should be able to know the best way to follow it. Is it to keep quiet and attack it latter or to attack it now and keep quiet latter? Sometimes when things got hard for Jesus, he withdrew to the mountain and when he comes out, he addressed those challenging issues. When John the Baptist was killed, people were expecting him to talk but he withdrew into the mountain and when he came out again to face the realities, Hero said that John the Baptist was raised from the dead. When we notice that talking or acting will bring more harm, we should withdraw and look for another way but not to abandon it entirely. We must stand for justice but in a mild way. We must know how to manage issues and situations. When to keep quiet (silence) and when to take actions. Thanks.

FRIDAY 18TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B. By Tobe Eze

FRIDAY 18^TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B.

1^ST READING: NAHUM 1:15; 2:2; 3:1-3. 6-7

GOSPEL: MATTHEW 16:24-28

THEME: GARBAGE IN GARBAGE OUT.

It is only in God that our lives is saved. Outside him, we are nothing. The first reading puts two ways of reward for us to see. On the feet of the mountain of those who bring good things and who proclaim peace, there we shall keep our feast. This calls us to always bring good things and proclaim peace always for the rest of the reading tells us what will happen to those who will not fulfill that. There will even be no one to morn them. Which means no hope.

In the gospel, Jesus is also warning us on how we should live our lives in other to get him as our reward. If any man will follow me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me (Matthew 16:24). Again, what shall it profit a man to gain the whole world and loose his soul (Mark 8:36). All these are determined by what we put in through our actions. The son of man is to come with his angels to repay each man according to his deeds (Matthew16:27). Here brought the theme to a bare ground.

What maybe your reward, my reward when the son of man comes? Will it be losing our lives or gaining eternal life? Will it be holding our lives and leaving the cross of Christ? This induction is conditional anyway, we can choose to or not but we will be repaid according to what we have put in. once you want to make it in life, you must carry Christ’s cross. That cross will fetch you and I a good reward when he comes to reward each man according to his deeds. Thanks.

THURSDAY 18TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B. By Tobe Eze

THURSDAY 18^TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B.

1^ST READING: JEREMIAH 31:31-34

GOSPEL: MATTHEW 16:13-23

THEME: THE NEW COVENANT IS IN US.

God promised in the first reading to make a new covenant with his people and this covenant will not be like the first that needed people to be interpreting them to people rather, the spirit will write them in men’s hearts. It is the same spirit of the father that revealed to Peter that Jesus is the Christ the son of the living God that writes the covenant. We all know what is good and what is bad and that is part of the covenant. We all know that Christ died for us and that also is part of the covenant, it is the main covenant. How are we now responding to the callings of the covenant in our hearts? All these preaching, sermon, homilies, reflections and many others that we here and see all the time are not to tell us what we have not known before but to remind us of what we have known and to awaken them (if they are sleeping) in our hearts. Since you know the will of God, act according to it and you will be saved (Acts 16:31). The covenant was sealed in our hearts with the blood of Christ. Peter thought like men when he was yet to receive the Holy Spirit that awakened the covenant in him. We have received the Holy Spirit, so let us live out the covenant that is in our hearts. Thanks.

WEDNESDAY 18TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B. By Tobe Eze

WEDNESDAY 18^TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B.

1^ST READING: JEREMIAH 31:1-7

GOSPEL: MATTHEW 15:21-28

THEME: PERSISTENCE IS A VIRTUE.

I was travelling from Nsukka to Enugu one day. I entered pick and drop bus. At a point where it dropped to pick more persons, a boy came to me to buy pear from him. I told him that I did not need it. He continued persuading me to buy it. I ignored him but to my greatest surprise, he did not go. At a point, I had to save myself that embracement and bought the pear from him. I bought that pear not because I needed it but because he persisted.

In the first reading, God said that all that will survive the tribulations will enjoy his goodness. He is also telling us today that if we persist in following him, despite all the troubles of the world that he will bless us.

We can see the practical persistence in the gospel. Persistence working and walking. Persistence personified. The woman despite that Jesus called her and her daughter dogs, she used one Igbo adage as a consolation, “Onyeocha kpoo mu ewu ma ya kwuo mu ugwuo mu”. Jesus can call her anything provided she gets what she was looking for.

We sing regularly “Mmiri mara mu ebe mu n’ eso Jesu” but we do not live it out. There is always a reward that follows those who persisted till the end. “The one who will remain steadfast will be given the unfading crown of glory” (1Peter 5:4). Let us ask God to give us the grace to be persistent in good things despite the situations we may find ourselves. Thanks.

TUESDAY 18TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B. By Tobe Eze

TUESDAY 18^TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B.

1^ST READING: JEREMIAH 30:1-2. 12-15. 18-22.

GOSPEL: MATTHEW 14:22-36

THEME: DO NOT DOUBT, HAVE FAITH.

I have come to realize that the major problem we have on earth is the lack of faith in God. That people do this bad thing and the other may be the lack of faith in God. The Israelites lost faith in God and started going the wrong way that God got angry with them. God is also today promising them and us his mercy and redemption. The problem now is, do we have faith to accept it? That many temptations win us today is on the basis of lack of faith. Peter filled with faith walked on the water but as soon as he lost faith and focus, he started sinking. All those who touched his garment with faith were healed. Where is your faith and my faith? We have faith in the Lord but just like Peter, when a little challenge comes, we fall off.

A man who was born and brought up in the Catholic Church was faced with an illness. At a point, the illness refused to be healed. People were telling him that this is no longer a thing of prayer and meditation. He should look for a diviner (Dibia). Oria agbaro aka. Refusing for sometimes, at last he yielded to their suggestions. After all said and done, the diviner could not also heal him. He died in the sickness despite what the diviner did. Had he known, he would have not involved himself in that. Have faith in God and he will visit you in due time. Thanks.

MONDAY 18TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B. By Tobe Eze

MONDAY 18^TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B.

1^ST READING: JEREMIAH 28:1-17

GOSPEL: MATTHEW 14:12-21

THEME: TEST THE SPIRIT.

There are many spirits working in the world now. Many people are now claiming to be called to the service of the Lord. How do we know these false ones? They have sweet and convincing mouths that it is very difficult for us to know the difference. How can we tell the one sent by God?

This appeared in the first reading where Hannaniah appeared as a prophet sent by God to his people. He told them what they wanted to hear and they were happy. Is it not the same with what is happening today in our own world? These days they tell us what we want to hear and we will clap and jump for them and follow them.

The words of the prophet can never favour everyone, it must pain some. Jeremiah knowing that Hannaniah was lying reminded them of the already existed true prophets but they ignored that because they have heard what they wanted to hear. We will be told the stand of the church and God from time immemorial but because the present person is telling us what we want to hear, we will abandon God and the church and follow the person.

The gospel is showing us the type of prophet we should follow. We should follow one who has compassion for his people. Instead of asking the people to get him what to eat and drink and sow seeds for all those he healed, he rather fed them from what he and his apostles had. The church and God are calling us today to test if the spirit is taking from us the little we have or is it giving us what we do not have. Test every spirit before you believe in it (1John 4:1). Thanks.

SATURDAY 17TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B. By Tobe Eze

SATURDAY 17^TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B.

1^ST READING: JEREMIAH 26:11-16. 24

GOSPEL: MATTHEW 14:1-12

THEME: REMAIN IN TRUTH, THE APOINTED TIME IS NEAR.

Like in the responsorial Psalm, “At an acceptable time, O Lord answer me”. At the accepted time, the Lord answered Jeremiah and saved him from the hands of those who wanted to kill him.

At the acceptable time, the Lord answered the whole world by sending John the Baptist to prepare his ways for him. When John completed his works, he used his blood to wash the way for the Messiah to come and take over.

A story goes thus. A son of a certain man died. His best friend came and as he was consoling him, he told him that if this one did not happen, greater one may have happened. That man that his son died said in his heart that that his friend has hand in the death of his son. After the burial and funeral. He called that his best friend to thank him and his family for their support during burial and funeral. After cooking everything for the family, he poisoned the food to kill the whole family for he thought the man was responsible for the death of his son. When the family came, as they were about to pray and eat the food, a man ran inside there and told the family that their first son who was to graduate that year had accident and died at that spot. The man as usual said, if this did not happen, greater one would have happened he left with his family without eating that poisoned food. At that point, it became clear to that wicked man that his friend was innocent. If John the Baptism did not die, what would have happened?

Sometimes many bad things happen to us and we start to question God and his existence. It maybe that the Lord is waiting for the appointed time to do it for us. Jeremiah thought that that was his last time but God rescued him. Herod and Herodias thought that killing John will end the truth but that was the beginning of it. Herod out of fear said that Jesus was John, that he has been raised from the dead to life again. God’s ways are not our ways, he has plans of better things for us. John said he will decrease so that Jesus will increase (John 3:30), it was not just mere saying, it is also applied to us today. We suffer in other to increase. Let all that we pass through do not take us away from the truth (Romans 8:32). We were, we are and we will continue to be more than conqueror if we remain in him. Thanks.

FRIDAY 17TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B. By Tobe Eze

FRIDAY 17^TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B.

1^ST READING: JEREMIAH 26:1-9

GOSPEL: MATTHEW 13:54-58

THEME: SOMETIMES IT PAINS TO BE HOLY.

It is very difficult for a righteous one to get his reward here on earth, rather many tribulations. Many tribulations follow being righteous. We are at home with how people mock those who try to be holy or live the life of holiness. Holinwaeje, Santanwa egbe, uka ehihie, uka anyanwutu and many other names.

Jeremiah after saying what the Lord has directed him to say, they instead of repenting vowed to put him to death. After the teachings of Jesus in the gospel, instead of them taking it and changing their ways of life, they started questioning his authority and threw him out of the city. After Dino Melaye had said the truth of ringing the bell of justice, instead of taking his words, Buhari and his co-murderers wanted him dead.

Instead of taking the truth your parish priest told you, you plan to kill him, seduce him or lure him to bed just to drag his name on the floor. Instead of taking the good news of the young seminarian sent to your parish, you start to question his age, background, class or qualifications and every other things. God is watching us.

Instead of taking the truth told us in clan, village, community, church and other places we meet, we look for a way to deal with the person who spoke the truth. For those who stand in the path of truth and life, the reward of a righteous one on earth is persecutions and the reward in the after world is eternal salvation, do not relent, it may pain today but tomorrow will be better. Thanks.

THURSDAY 17TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B. By Tobe Eze

THURSDAY 17^TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B.

1^ST READING: JEREMIAH 18:1-6

GOSPEL: MATTHEW 13:47-53

THEME: WE DETERMINE WHAT HE DOES TO AND FOR US.

As we can see in the first reading, the clay in the potter’s hand tried to show the potter that it can misbehave and the potter showed it that he was still in-charge and changed it to another shape. If we prove to God that we are stubborn, he can still do another thing to us.

In the gospel, the parable is still showing us what will be obtainable on the last day which will be the fruit of our labours. If we do good he will put us in his vessel but if we do bad, to a burning furnace where there will be gnashing of teeth. We must obey God if we must make heaven. He is our creator and he has power to do anything to and with us depending on our dispositions.

If we show him that we are incorrigible, he will treat us as such, if we show him that we are corrigible, he will also treat us as such. Life and death are now placed before us and it is left for us to choose (Deuteronomy 30:19). Choose the God that you will serve for I and my family have chosen to serve the living God (Joshua 24:15). The ball is in our court. Thanks.

WEDNESDAY 17TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B. By Tobe Eze

WEDNESDAY 17^TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B.

1^ST READING: JEREMIAH 15:10. 16-21

GOSPEL: MATTHEW 13:44-46

THEME: TO FOLLOW GOD IS NOT EASY.

Jeremiah complained to God all that he was passing through because of his words. He suffered many tribulations because of the word of God. But all hope were not lost.

In the gospel, we are made to understand that, to get that heaven we must sacrifice many if not all we have. The man who found the treasure in the field sold all he had in order to buy that land. We have to sacrifice all we have in order to buy or make heaven. What are those things we have to sell? We have to sell our pride, insincerity, adultery, idolatry, fornication and all forms of sins we commit to buy every other good things that lead us to heaven. When we talk about selling what we have, it is not like a woman who changed church newly from catholic to another church. On her first day in the church, the pastor told them to sell everything they had and bring the proceed to sow seed and God will multiply it. She went home and sold all that she had and took the proceed to the pastor. After two weeks she was left with nothing and nothing came in. Instead of running to the pastor, she ran to the parish priest to tell him what happened. After all said and done, the parish priest helped her to start life again and she was forced by experience to come back to the Catholic Church. We are not to sell what we use for our living but the evils we do and it must surely pain us to do that because they are our comfort zones but our rewards will be greater. Thanks.

TUESDAY 17TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B. By Tobe Eze

TUESDAY 17^TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B.

1^ST READING: JEREMIAH 14:17B-22

GOSPEL: MATTHEW 13:36-43

THEME: GOD IS THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN HEAR US.

In the first reading, the situation of the Israelites are being made known to us. Despite all forms of gods they followed, they could not give them joy that they wanted. It is only in the Lord that there is fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11). They were looking for where to get solution to their problems but could not find it. What a bad thing!

The apostles had their own problem of not getting clearly what the parable of the wheat and weed meant. Immediately they went to Jesus, their problem was solved because he is the only one who can hear, understand and feel with us in our situations. It was because of that that after looking at our situation, he decided to come down to live like us, die like us and to redeem us from our ugly situation.

When I was at Ibagwa-Aka, I was coming back from the parish house on Nkwo market day and Nkwo is their special market day. Three women were going home from market and one was discussing her husband. How bad the man is and how he treats her. She said that the man is not worthy of being a husband talk more of a father. I was using rolling on the motorcycle I was using and I was just following them at the back. When the other two reached their various houses, they left that one. I started my motorcycle and rushed her and asked her to enter. When I reached her house, I decided to pass, she shout for me to stop. I told her that I cannot stop for I wanted to take her to her father’s house so that he can leave that evil man. She told me No that it has not reached to that level. I told her, if it has not reached to that level, why were you selling your family so cheap to people who cannot help you?

None of those people we carry our troubles to will give us the solution except God. “Come to me all who are over laboured and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28)”. He is the only one who can hear us and understand us. Let us leave those godfathers, godmothers, godbrothers, godsisters and so on that give us vain hopes and come to Jesus who is the final solution to all our troubles. Thanks.

MONDAY 17TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B. By Tobe Eze

MONDAY 17^TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B.

1^ST READING: JEREMIAH 13:1-11

GOSPEL: MATTHEW 13:31-35

THEME: SINS HAVE DEPRIVED US MANY THINGS.

I met a boy one day and gave him bread to eat, he collected it with joy. After three days, I saw him with biscuit and asked him to give me one and he refused out rightly. I could not understand him, then I went and bought that type of biscuit 2 and asked him to come and collect one. He rushed like a hungry dog but I did not give it to him. He cried heaven and earth but the cry did not touch me. Why this? In the first reading, from the drama that took place, we can see how God took his people but they made themselves useless before him. He planned to make them his people forever but they chose the wrong part of following other gods. I was just trying to make that small boy my friend but he failed me. What is that that our sins have deprived us? That boy’s selfishness deprived him other gifts from me.

The gospel came to tell us how we will be and where we will be if we remain in God and that is what sin is depriving us. Mustard seed that is very small growing to a big tree. We that are not recognized by men will at the end gain everlasting happiness. From another angle, that place people joke with, think it is very small, have many mansions for us to occupy. A man once told me that he will not work towards making heaven that all of us will not accommodate there. It is this kind of thing that makes us to sin always and loose that which is prepared for us. Had it been that small boy gave me that biscuit, I would not have taken it and also I would have bought more for him. If we leave sins that bring us condemnation as in the first reading, we will be great like in the gospel and we will occupy that position prepared for us in heaven. Thanks.

SATURDAY 16TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B. By Tobe Eze

SATURDAY 16^TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B.

1^ST READING: JEREMIAH 7:1-11

GOSPEL: MATTHEW 13:24-30

THEME: REWARD FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS.

The Lord has promised us many good things if we come back to him. If we do not allow ourselves to be deceived by all sorts of strange doctrines (Ephesians 4:14). He warns against all sorts of evils we do and after come to his house to claim Christians. The two cannot go together, choose one and leave the other and I advise we should choose God. In the gospel, it explains what St. Augustine said that the church is the church of saints and sinners. It is not God who made them sinners in his own house or was it his intention for that to be rather the devil.

One person told me one day that many evil men and women are in the Catholic Church and we allow them, for that he will never in his life come back to Catholic Church again. If God allowed them to grow together (Matthew 13:30), who are we to go and uproot them? He is the Lord of the vineyard and knows what he will do after.

Those who remained in him, those who remained righteous till the end, we will be taken to his barn where they will be preserved forever.  Let us remain as wheat and we will be rewarded with his house. Thanks.

FRIDAY 16TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B. By Tobe Eze

FRIDAY 16^TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B.

1^ST READING: JEREMIAH 3:14-17

GOSPEL: MATTHEW 13:18-23

THEME: RETURN TO THE LORD.

The first reading shows us the type of God we have. A God that begs his people to return to him from their far away journey. We have gone wrong in many ways but God does not care about it or them, he is only interested in our returning back to him, our God. He destined us not for his retribution but to win salvation (1Thessalonians 5:9). It is only when we have returned to God by making our hearts ready for the sower to sow the seed in a fertile or good hearts that will bear fruit in 30s, 60s and 100s. Remember that Jesus did not spare the tree that failed to produce fruit when every possible opportunities have been given to it to produce fruit (Mark 11:12-25). God is now asking us to return to him begging us. Can you imagine God begging man? Instead of us begging him to accept us, he is now begging us to come back. We can recall what happened to Pharoah who hardened his heart. And many others like Judas Iscariot. If we harden our hearts today, tomorrow may be too late for us. Why not change today and begin to produce our own flowers that will turn to fruit in 30s, 60s and 100s. Thanks.

THURSDAY 16TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B. By Tobe Eze

THURSDAY 16^TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B.

1^ST READING: JEREMIAH 2:1-3. 7-8. 12B

GOSPEL: MATTHEW 13:10-17

THEME: WHY THIS CHANGE?

We are made to know that our forefathers who first accepted this faith were travelling very far with their legs in order to attend masses and receive other sacraments. Today everything is now at our beck and call but we are no longer embracing them. Why the change?

God is asking us in the first reading through Jeremiah why we have left him the fountain of the living water.

The gospel has given us reasons for that. Because we have closed our hearts from accepting the word of God, we have closed our ears to hearing it, closed our eyes from seeing the workings of the word of God.

A man who lived in Lagos for years came back empty handed. His kinsmen paid for him to go and learn a work. He did that for two months and stopped (a work he should learn in three years). When he was asked the reason for that, he said that even the Bible said it that the rich shall become richer and the poor shall become poorer, that he sees no reason why he should suffer himself while the bible is in support of the situation. He closed up to all the words of admonitions and advice given to him by his kinsmen and friends. That is also our problem today. We take positions and say we cannot move again when we have many opportunities to move more.

The rich shall become richer and poor poorer is not just the literary understanding but it has a spiritual dimension. St. Augustine who noticed God late in his life became rich in the Lord and in order to become richer he shouted. “Oh have I known you late”. Those who have the knowledge of God will look for him the more and gain more of it but those who do not have and do not make effort to have, even the little they know will be taken away from them. This change towards evil is the result of our closed areas we should have opened. Let us open our hearts, minds, eyes, ears and every other places we can open for God and get richer in his knowledge and heaven will be ours. This change is not favourable to and for us. Thanks.

WEDNESDAY 16TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B. By Tobe Eze

WEDNESDAY 16^TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B.

1^ST READING: JEREMIAH 1:1. 4-10

GOSPEL: MATTHEW 13:1-9

THEME: THOSE WHO WILL ACCEPT IT WILL BEAR MORE FRUIT.

Jeremiah the prophet was called by God to preach and prophesy to his people Israel. He wanted to run away from that by giving excuses for he knew what result prophets get. God promised to be with him. Now the problem is no more from Jeremiah but now on those whom he will preach and prophesy to. Will they accept it? It is this question that the gospel came to answer.

Some fell on the road, among thorns, on stones or rocks and on a good soil. Many that are messengers of God are now everywhere preaching and prophesying to us. How do we make our hearts ready for the message? Do we prepare it to be a road or thorns or rock or the good and fertile soil? The onus lies on us to make our hearts ready to accept and work with the word of the Lord which has been given to us by God.

A story circulated on social media one time ago about a Barber who said that God does not exist. His customer tried to argue with him but could not fine enough reason to back his argument up. The Barber talked about the moral decadence in the world as a proof that God does not exist. He said that, there are many priests, pastors and other preachers everywhere but evil still has upper hand in the world which shows that God does not exist. The customer left the shop after his barbing, outside he saw a man with bushy and dirty hair. He went back and told the Barber that Barbers do not exist. He said to him, I am a Barber who just barbed you now, and I exist how can you say that? He went out and brought that man with bushy and dirty hair and showed him to the Barber. He said, if barbers exist, why is it that people like this still exist? He told him that they have refused to come to them barbers to barb them, then the man told him also that those who commit all those sins have refused to accept the preaching of those men and women of God outside their. And that made the Barber to be humble and accept that God exists.

It is not that preachers are no more doing their works but it is our disposition that is very important and not long and rich homilies, reflections and every other things. Igbos do say, ma onye agwalu kwe. If the one addressed accepts it. Let us accept the word of God with faith today and work with it so that we shall bear more fruit and our fruit will last and salvation will be ours. Thanks.

TUESDAY 16TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B. By Tobe Eze

TUESDAY 16^TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B.

1^ST READING: MICAH 7:14-15. 18-19

GOSPEL: MATTHEW 12:46-50

THEME: HE REMEMBERS HIS PEOPLE.

The topic of the first reading is “He will cast our sins into the depths of the sea”. If we remain steadfast in love of God and faith in him, he will remember us and cast our sins away. He is rich in mercy and abounding in love (Ephesians 2:4, Psalm 145:8 and 103:8). He has nothing to do with our sins. Once we show him that we are sorry, he welcomes us back.

Gospel still on the same point. Jesus said that those who do the will of his father are his mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters. If you obey the will of God, he will remember you as one of his family members. He does not forget those who obey him and walk in his ways. Think of our blessed mother Virgin Mary who was the first to obey him in the New Testament (Luke 1:38), he himself obeyed her at the wedding of Cana (John 2:5). He will also obey our requests if we obey his dictates.

God does not forget his people no matter the situation. Israelites stayed many years in Egypt and when the time came, he remembered them. The whole earth was wallowing in sin and death, he remembered us and gave us his only begotten son to die for us (John 3:16). He is still doing it in our own time. Let us not relent in doing good and being God’s children, he does not forget his people. Thanks.

MONDAY 16TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B.By Tobe Eze

MONDAY 16^TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B.

1^ST READING: MICAH 6:1-4. 6-8.

GOSPEL: MATTHEW 12:38-42

THEME: WHAT ELSE WILL GOD DO FOR US?

God in the first reading through the prophet Micah is asking us what again do we want from him. He has done many things for us but we have failed to recognize them.

Gospel also is following the same line. Some Jews asked Jesus for another sign when he had worked many wonders among them. I received a message through whatsApp one day which told a story about a rich man who fell sick and was rushed to the hospital. He used oxygen there. After his treatment, the bill was very high, when he asked why, he was told that it was because of the oxygen he used. The man started crying, he said, I am now 60 years old and since I was born, I have been using oxygen free but just for these two days I stayed here, I have to pay this amount for oxygen. He finally said, I AM OWING GOD.

Have we ever thought of all these free gifts of nature to us before asking God for more favours? ATR practitioners thank God, Ala, ancestors and their personal Chi every morning before doing anything. We Christians take them as candidates for hell. They may rise to condemn us on the last day or judgment day. We need to appreciate God for all he has done for us. He does not ask much from us. There is nothing that we will give him that will equate what he has done for us, what he is doing for us and what he will do for us. What else do we need from him? Remember some are lacking that which we have. To end with a story.

A man called Onumonu in my village. There was this holidays that I went home. I went to buy cement for my brother’s house that was under construction that time. I was to buy six bags and I was using lady’s motorcycle to carry them. I was carrying them two per a trip. I had to go there three times. When I was coming back for the first time, I met him with a cutlass, I stopped and greeted him and we discussed. He told me that he was going to get something for his goats. After the third one, I was washing the motorcycle when his two grandchildren came to my house crying. I scolded them for I knew them for doing that but they told me their father was dead. I thought it was their father not knowing that it was the man that I discussed with. When I rushed there, I saw him lying on a mat in his parlour. We rushed him to the hospital and the doctor confirmed him dead. What came to my mind that moment was just. I HAVE LIFE WHICH HE HAS NOT.  We have many things others do not have, we should thank God for them before asking for more. Thanks.

SATURDAY 15TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B. ByTobe Eze

SATURDAY 15^TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B.

1^ST READING: MICAH 2:1-5

GOSPEL: MATTHEW 12:14-21

THEME: DO WE REMEMBER JUSTICE AT ALL?

Sometimes, after looking at what is happening in the world, one may ask, will anyone make heaven? We often pray against bribery and corruption in Nigeria pointing accusing fingers to our leaders and we are even worse than them. I have come to realize that many who shout that prayer are our major problems.

The first reading is seriously warning us of the evil we do to people especially those under us. Curse shall be upon us when we think about evils at night and execute them in the day. When we think about evil in the night of our hearts and execute them in the day of our actions. The poor in the reading are not majorly those who have no money or little money rather, those whom we oppress in one way or the other. Responsorial Psalm is reminding God not to forget the poor. If God remembers them, we that are oppressing them will be in trouble.

Gospel says that God’s son will make sure that victory comes. Are we going to be saved when it comes? Let us think deep in many ways we oppress people and relent from that. Snatching peoples’ lands, tress, animals, money, wives, children, parents and many other ways we do that.

A man from my place married a young beautiful lady. After few years of their marriage, the wife noticed that the man has a widow that he goes to every now and then. When he says he has nothing to give to the family, he goes to the widow and spend all. The wife has done all within her power but the widow has snatched him from the family. She came to me and told me about it. I recommended prayers and good behaviour towards her husband which she does. She latter called me and said that there is a little change.

Let us today go back to our God who is the God of justice and work towards the path of justice so that we will not be condemned but gain life everlasting. Thanks.

FRIDAY 15TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B. By Tobe Eze

FRIDAY 15^TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B.

1^ST READING: ISAIAH 38:1-6. 21-22. 7-8.

GOSPEL: MATTHEW 12:1-8

THEME: RIGHTEOUSNESS AND NOTHING MORE.

When a humble son approaches his father to beg for a favour, the father does not hesitate to grant him that for he is a righteous son, but if a wayward child comes, his father will not freely grant him his wishes.

In the first reading, we saw how God answered the prayer of Hezekiah not only his own but for the whole nation because he was upright. Can God answer your own prayers or my own today talk more of another through you or me because of your or my righteousness?

The gospel expands this through the last part of it where Jesus said, Ihe n’ asom bu ebere, obughi aja. We spend time attending all church’s activities and donating money and other things every now and then to things concerning church but our hearts are as dark as charcoal. It is not enough. We claim to be following the law and behind it, we punish people because of our own selfish interest.

A woman who was very devoted to the CWO. It happened that she had problem with the president in the market. The next CWO meeting she came late and the president saw it as the best avenue to punish her. After giving her reasons and proofs, the president persisted under the umbrella of the law. She was nursing a child that time, after preparing the child for the meeting, the child poured oil on himself which made her to start afresh. After that, when they were coming, the chain of their motorcycle broke into two, she had to roll the motorcycle to a mechanic who repaired it and she continued the journey and that made her to come late. Her hands were still filled with oil and grease from the chain. After telling all these, the president persisted on the law not because they could not adjust but because she had something against her.

Righteousness is the only thing that can exalt a nation not the amount of sacrifices we make with evil hearts (Proverbs 14:34). It was because God saw Hezekiah as a righteous man that he answered his prayers. The Jews were not righteous and they did not recognize that something greater than the temple was in their midst. Let us today uphold righteousness for that is the only thing God wants from us not evil sacrifices. Thanks.

THURSDAY 15TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B. By Tobe Eze

THURSDAY 15^TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B.

1^ST READING: ISAIAH 26:7-9.12. 16-19

GOSPEL: MATTHEW 11:28-30

THEME: GOD IS THE SOLUTION.

After complaining in the first reading, Isaiah recognized that God was the only answer to their problems and he beckoned on him to come to their rescue. There would be no solution to their problems outside God.

In the gospel, Jesus God made man is calling us to come to him with our troubles that he is the only one who can help us with it. We should not think of anyone else to give us solution to our problems except him the Lord. These days we seem to have forgotten God and are now going after men and women of (so called) God. We have chapels almost in every parish where Jesus is waiting for us to come and meet him anytime anyday, we have priests almost everywhere looking for souls to be taken to Christ, we have morning masses and morning adorations almost in every parish but we leave all these and be looking for self-ordained ministers who will minister to and for us.

Jesus is the only way if we accept him. Sometimes he comes to us himself to help us but we like to stick to our normal old ways of life.

A man went to farm in a very far place. When he was returning, he was carrying a heavy basket of cassava on his head. A man with pickup car met him and decided to help him. He entered at the back. When the man wanted to cross an expressway, when they has traveled far, as he was looking left and right, from the glass he saw that the man was still carrying the basket of cassava even in the car. Even when God wants to help us, we continue to carry our problems as if we can solve them.

Let us accept Christ’s invitation and come or go to him who is the only solution to our problems. Thanks.

WEDNESDAY 15TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B. By Tobe Eze

WEDNESDAY 15^TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B.

1^ST READING: ISAIAH 10:5-7. 13-16

GOSPEL: MATTHEW 11:25-27

THEME: BE HUMBLE.

One Igbo adage will always ask, Okwuru o n’ akari onye kuru ya?  Can an okro over grow or out grow the person that planted it? Assyrians were thinking they had gotten all they needed, they could do all without the help of God and God asked them the question above. He is asking us also today the same question. As they lacked humility so also we are lacking it in our lives today.

Jesus in the gospel is thanking his father for hiding the riches of heaven from proud men/women, those who are lacking humility and revealing it to those who are humble and still uphold humility like children. If we humble ourselves, certainly we shall be exulted and if we exult ourselves, we shall be humbled as recorded in the Bible (Matthew 23:12). We are just dust of the earth (Ecclesiastes 3:20), no need for bragging.

A story was told by a priest from my place. In his first posting after ordination, he was very young then. A woman came to the parish house looking for a priest. That was in the afternoon. The priest after taking his lunch decided to go for a little walk. He met that woman at the gate but she could not even talk to the person for Fada was not putting on soutane, talk more of greeting. She passed him and entered the parish house and was asking to see a priest. She was told that she left a priest at the gate. She came to Fada and asked him, Bia nnwa, kedu ebe ifuru Fada? Fada told her that Fada was not far from there. She started barking at him telling him that children of these days are no more respectful. As she was shouting, a lady passed and greeted, Fada good afternoon! And Fada responded, it was that time that she noticed that she was talking to Fada and started to beg. Fada cautioned her to learn how to apply humility in everything she does in life so that she can go far in life.

It is a serious virtue to be humble and we cannot get heaven if we are not humble. Let us humble ourselves today like little and humble children and God will be on our sides and reveal the riches of heaven to us now and forever. Thanks.

TUESDAY 15TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B. By Tobe Eze

TUESDAY 15^TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B.

1^ST READING: ISAIAH 7:1-9

GOSPEL: MATTHEW 11:20-24

THEME: DO NOT ALLOW YOURSELF TO BE DESTROYED.

A famous story about tortoise and its three children on how many times will something happen to you that you will learn has a little connection with today’s readings.

In the first reading, the people of Emphraim was promised to be blot out from the face of the earth because of their evil plans against the people of God despite all that they have seen God had done for his people, they went ahead to plan evil against them.

In the gospel, the people of Chorazin and Bethsaida faced it with Jesus because of their obstinacy in their evil ways of life. They refused to change after all that Jesus had done for them.

It is likely that we are in the same category with these places about to be destroyed. We have remained obstinate in our sins and have left the faith we embraced earlier. Jesus has shown us many signs and wonders but still we plot evils in our hearts and with others. Christianity increases everyday but evils increase also. What is happening? We should run for our dear lives and run back to God so that we will not be destroyed in the presence of God as in the first reading and those whom we think are evil will not be better than us on the judgment day. Let us learn from the Holy Bible which is the word of God and not waiting like the first and second sons of the tortoise to have experience before learning. Thanks.

MONDAY 15TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B. By Tobe Eze

MONDAY 15^TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B.

1^ST READING: ISAIAH 1:10-17

GOSPEL: MATTHEW 10:34-11:1

THEME: CHOOSE GOD AND LEAVE EVIL.

The first reading is seriously warning us that no matter the type of prayer, fasting and every other religious thing we do without clean heart and clean hands, he the Lord will not listen to us.

Gospel tells us what Jesus told his disciples who were thinking that Jesus will give the world peace despite their sins.

If we must see God, if our prayers must be answered, we must choose to follow God. Condition for our prayer to be answered is to follow God and by following God we must be at war with worldly things. When Jesus talked about division he has brought. He talked about division from choosing God and leaving evil. Leaving our evil ways of life and following the righteous way of God no matter what it may cost us. It may cost us our pleasure, or our comfort zones, mothers, fathers, brothers and sisters but it is the best way to follow. Let us today choose the way of life and leave the way of death by choosing God and leaving the devil. Thanks.

SOLEMNITY OF THE BIRTHDAY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST. By Tobe Eze

SOLEMNITY OF THE BIRTHDAY OF JOHN THE BAPTIST.

FIRST READING.

ISAIAH 49:1-6

SECOND READING.

ACTS 13:22-26

GOSPEL.

LUKE 1:57-66.80

THEME: THE MAN JOHN THE BAPTIST.

Many prophets came to prepare the way of the son of God. They were preparing and clearing ways for him to come. John the Baptist was one of them. There is a clear difference between the prophets of old and John the Baptist. John is the bridge that connects the old and new testaments. He was the old prophet that made preparations for the coming of the Messiah and saw him when he come. Others longed to see the Messiah but could not, it was only John that saw him and showed him when he came. All the prophets called were called after their birth, it was only John who was called from the womb. Even in the womb he made signs to show whom he is when Jesus in the womb with his mother visited him also in the womb and his mother Elisabeth.

11th Sunday of Ordinary Time Year B. By Tobe Eze

1.       Slavery from within is the worst slavery on earth. Tobe Eze.

11th Sunday of Ordinary Time Year B.

FIRST READING

Ezekiel 17:22-24

SECOND READING

2 Corinthians 5:6-10

GOSPEL

Mark 4:26-34

THEME: FREEDOM WITH RESPONSIBILITIES.

Many things were the problems of the medieval period and early modern philosophers. These problems many of them worked tirelessly to proffer solutions to them. Out of those problems, two were prominent and drew attention of many of them and these two were, THE EXISTENCE OF GOD and THE PROBLEM OF EVIL.  Problem of evil is the main point that questions the existence of God. Continue Reading..................

10th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B. By Tobe Eze

1.       Recognize your present needs and it will help you to know your future needs and prepare for them. Tobe Eze.

10th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B.

FIRST READING
Genesis 3:9—15

SECOND READING
2 Corinthians 4:13—5:1

GOSPEL
Mark 3:20—35

THEME: TRUTH IS ALWAYS DIFFICULT TO ACCEPT.

Truth is bitter to the ears but it gladdens the heart (Psalm 104:15, Proverb 12:25). Only truth can set us free (John 8:32). Eziokwu bu ndu.

If you see how people react to truth especially when it is not on their favour, you will notice how hard it is to accept the truth. We often lie in many occasions just because truth is not in our favour. We shift responsibilities many times because of that same reason. We deny some things we know that is very clear because of the same reason. Continue Reading.........................

Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ Year B. By Tobe Eze

1.       Gentleness of the body is not gentleness of the heart, make them to be one. Tobe Eze.

Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ Year B.

FIRST READING
Exodus 24:3—8

SECOND READING
Hebrews 9:11—15

GOSPEL
Mark 14:12—16, 22—26

THEME: THE HIGHEST GIFT ONE CAN GIVE

It was Nikolaus Michaelson in a film named The Originals that said, “I will protect Hope my daughter with my last drop of blood”. This is not equivalent to what God did for and to us but just to compare it for us to see what likely God has done for us.

There was a video sent to me through WhatsApp by a friend. The video is a story of a man who had a daughter. The mother of the child died at the 4^th year of the child. The father was left to take care of the daughter. After her graduation from school, she fell Ill. She was taken to the hospital by her father. When they conducted test, they found out that she had heart problem (heart failure), she needed a new heart but she was not told. One day at the bed side, she told her father to do anything he can to save her, though she was ignorant of the type of sickness she was suffering from. He promised her that she will do that. After pondering on the whole thing, he went to the doctor and asked him to take his heart. The doctor objected but after all said and done, his heart was taken but before that he wrote something and asked them to his daughter to read when she must have recovered. After some months of recovery, she was given the write up to see what her father did for her. He used his life in exchanged of her daughter’s own. Though ethically “it is not right to take life no matter what”. This story is just to show us how our Lord Jesus Christ offered himself to redeem us. Out love the father sacrificed himself, out of love our Lord Jesus Christ sacrificed himself. Continue Reading.................