THE DRAINAGE OF IDENTITY STARTS BY LOSING THE SURNAME By Tobe Eze

THE DRAINAGE OF IDENTITY STARTS BY LOSING THE SURNAME
INTRODUCTION

Many persons believe so much that name contributes to what someone may likely be and that is why many are being so careful with the names they answer. From the ancient days of our people till date, many persons take into consideration names they give to their children and the names people also take, because in my dialect, eha ne eso mmadu (name follows the bearer). Going back to the days of our forbearers, they were answering names based on what they achieved in life, circumstances surrounding their birth, names of good deities in their land and so on. These formed some of the names of which we have today in our different tribes and villages today. Taking Nsukka as a case study: We have names like, Attama from the Atta Igala, we have Okonkwo, maybe one born on Nkwo day, we have Oyima, maybe one born on the day of masquerade feast, we have Ogbuagu, maybe one who has killed lion before, we have Oyiodo, maybe one born on the day Odo is having feast and so many names attributed to many things. Some of these names were names of famous people in different fields and that have brought prestige to them those days.
These days, so many are now leaving these names to embracing new names of their biological fathers, either the English or Igbo names of their fathers. Some do this for many reasons. Some even do it without any reason while some are forced to do it. In many newspapers, we see every now and then, change of name by so many, and it is on increase daily. If you look closely, you will notice that, they majorly change their surnames because of one reason or the other.

I will like to point out many things about this name issue. I will like to touch (1.) Reasons for rejecting previous surnames. (2.) The implications of rejecting them. (3.) Possible solutions to this problem. With this, I will conclude.

Saturday 20th week Year A By Tobe Eze

Saturday 20^th week Year A

First Reading

Ruth 2:1-3.8-11; 4:13-17

Gospel

Matthew 23:1-12

THEME: TRUE HONOUR

In the first reading, it was because Boaz feared God, it made him not to have lustful attraction towards Ruth and also commanded his servants not to molest her. He was a man of respect and true honour. He gave himself the true meaning of honourable position. If he was like some of us here, we will be happy that a sex object has come to us. In our time people even do fight over a widow. I went somewhere to see their Igwe (King), when I reached the palace, there was a case the King was trying to solve. What was the case? That a man caught another man going to have sex with a widow he has been taking care of. And shamelessly they took the case to the Igwe’s palace for him to settle the case for them. Two of them ended up disgracing themselves and two of them were punished. They disgraced and removed the honour they had before in the society.

In the gospel, though the scribes and the Pharisees teach the commandments of God, they use that position to also demand honour which they knew truly that they did not deserve. Evil men in the position of honour. All these are false honours. These people can be seen in our churches, communities, villages and so on. The true honour comes from God to humanity and that we shall work for and not allow ourselves to be carried away by this worldly things. A man was made the King of his Autonomous community and he used the opportunity to deal with people. He had the honour of answering Igweeeeeeee! But he lost the honour from God for his name went viral as an evil man and he also died a shameful death of being killed by his own son. Let us seek the true honour from God not self-given honour which does not last. Thanks.

Friday 20th week Year A By Tobe Eze

Friday 20^th week Year A

First Reading

Ruth 1:1.3-6. 14b-16.22

Gospel

Matthew 22:34-40

THEME: LET YOUR LOVE SAVE SITUATIONS.

Some of us do love people but that our love cannot save situations when the need arises. Some love people because of their different reasons and whenever anything should happen to that particular point of love, the love will go with that and the person will not make effort to see if that could be healed.

When we look at Orpah in the first reading, we can see the momentary love she had for her mother in-law. She was not ready to sacrifice anything for the love she hard on the family that married her. She saw the situation of Naomi and she left her to die in the agony of losing her two sons. She did not want to be a consolation to her. Her love could not save situation. In the other part, we can see that the love Ruth had saved the situation at hand. Had it been that Ruth also left, I do not think Naomi would have stayed alive more but she saw that and saved the situation.

In the gospel, Jesus stressed the importance of love. Love of God and love our fellow human being. Majorly, love of God is best expressed through the love of our neighbour and that is why Christ is telling us today that the second is just like the first, which means they are equal. Telling me that you love God and we do not see it in the life you live especially towards your neighbour, you are just lying for John himself recorded it. We cannot say that we love God that we do not see and hate people that we see (1 John 4:20). Any love that do not save situations should be watched and make necessary changes. Thanks.

Thursday 20th week Year A By Tobe Eze

Thursday 20^th week Year A

First Reading

Judges 11:29-39a

Gospel

Matthew 22:1-14

THEME: THE WILL OF GOD SHOULD BE DONE ALWAYS.

The responsorial Psalm summarized the two readings of today. If not for the responsorial Psalm, I would not have known how to interpret the two reading for they are controversial.

Taking the first reading as a case study, did Jephthah commit anything evil by promising God that he will sacrifice to him what will come out first to welcome him if he wins in the war? Why did God allow her only child to be the first to come out? Were there no animals in the house to come out?

In the gospel, what was the sin of the man who was not invited to the wedding feast and was called from the road to come? It may be presumed that he was not given chance to go and prepare for the wedding and he was punished for coming to rescue a situation.

All these are just literary interpretations of the two readings. Digging deep, we will notice that in the case of the first reading, it is to show us the length one should go in keeping the will of God. Do not allow anyone even your only child to stop you from doing the will of God. It is not a literary killing of your child but not allowing the love of your family members to take you away from the love of God. The gospel on the other side is to show us that we must be ready always for we do not know when the time will some. We should always do the will of God. We should always be with our wedding garment so that whenever the wedding feast is set, we will be ready and attend in good faith just like others who were with their wedding garments. Thanks.

Tuesday 20th week Year A By Tobe Eze

Tuesday 20^th week Year A

First Reading

Judges 6:11-24a

Gospel

Matthew 19:23-30

THEME: THE DANGER OF RICHES

After a visitation in a Block Rosary Centre, a child stood up and asked me, “Brother, does God hate rich people?” I told the child no and she continued. “Why is it that God did not for once talk good about the rich in the Bible?” She cited many passages in the Bible favouring the poor and condemning the rich. I explained to her that it not physical richness or poverty but other aspects of being rich. Taking things that should not be as our small gods. But looking at the two readings, we can see reasons in what that little child asked me.

In the first reading, God after looking for the person that will deliver his people went to the least and the weakest tribe and family to pick Gideon, I think it is a sign of the love God has for the poor.

In the gospel, Jesus again repeated that it will be hard for the rich to enter heaven as if richness is now a sin. If I were to be there, I would have said the same as the apostles that no one will be saved either.

These are just human understanding of the rich. Many of us are rich in sins and that is what we are presented today that they will not allow us to enter heaven. A woman died, on her burial, she was lying in state and people were paying last respect. A mad young lady came, after seeing her shouted. Agnes! Agnes!! Agnes!!! Please when you go there, try to stop gossiping, committing adultery, and other things you were doing. Biko kwusi ha biko. She was very rich in those areas and the mad lady noticed that. We can tell ourselves the truth that there are places we are very rich and they are not healthy for our spiritual life, we should shun them and we shall be saved. Thanks.

Monday 20th week Year A By Tobe Eze

Monday 20^th week Year A

First Reading

Judges 2:11-19

Gospel

Matthew 19:16-22

THEME: ACT ACCORDING TO THE LAWS OF GOD AND YOU WILL BE SAVED

After observing what is happening in our world today, I sometimes think that our problems come from us. The type of evil we do is becoming alarming as if we do not know the law again. Sometime in 2007/2008, in my Parish, the parish vicar was doing first Friday adoration for us. It was all night program. People started using that avenue to act so stupid. After the adoration, Saturday morning when our mothers will keeping the church clean against Sunday, they will be discovering used condoms around the church compound. People started robbing those going for the adoration. I was once a victim of that. The parish vicar in one of the adorations said, anyone who is doing one of those things should stop or whatever the person sees, he/she should take. People continued doing that and he warned again and said, to avoid increase in mad people around here. The rate young men and women run man in our place is making me to think that it has connection with that thing. I may be very wrong but just citing example.

The story is just to bring home what happened in the first reading. After all that the Lord did for them, they still insisted on disobeying God and following other goods. Before now Joshua warned them that God is a jealous God and they are now today in the reading following Baal. The same may be found among us today. We still know the rule or laws, why are we not acting according to them.

In the gospel, the rich young man claimed he has been keeping those laws since his childhood. Fine and good. How can we show love without expressing it to those in need. Love is not only limited to your husband, wife, children, parents, boyfriend or girlfriend, it is extended to helping those who are in need of our help. So since we have known all we need to know about law or commandments of God we should act according to them and we shall be saved. Thanks.

Wednesday 20th week Year A By Tobe Eze

Wednesday 20^th week Year A

First Reading

Judges 9:6-15

Gospel

Matthew 20:1-16a

THEME: SHUN ENVY.

The story in the first reading is very interesting for it touches what we experience these days in our world. Your own friend and relation will be pushing, praising, suggesting, persuading you to climb to a position knowing that that place will not favour you but he/she will flatter you and when you reach there, you will be disgraced and he/she will be happy. If you are making me your King in good fate, come and take shelter under me. If you are sure that this will favour me, why not two of us try it? Why not accompany me? Why not try it yourself? Sometimes these things are born out of envy. When the person sees that you are exceling, he/she will look for a way to pull you down. That is what we experience in this our world. Do you begrudge my generosity? That was the question the master asked his labourers at the end of the gospel. You have taken your due and nothing was taken away from your own, why are you not happy that your friend, neighbour, relation got the same good thing you have gotten. Shun envy and you shall live long and happy and at last make heaven. Thanks.

Saturday 19th week Year A By Tobe Eze

Saturday 19^th week Year A

First Reading

Joshua 24:14-29

Gospel

Matthew 19:13-15

THEME: A CHILDLIKE HEART.

We make many promises during our baptism that we have rejected devil and everything that has anything to do with him, but we will not stay long and we will throw away what we have learnt. If we trust God and church as children trust their parents, we will know that they believe that all their parents say are truths and they hold that very well.

In the first reading, the people of Israel made promise and covenant that they will forever serve God but as we all know their story, we can testify if that is the truth or not. They made promises and we also do on our baptism and after we will do otherwise.

Gospel is now an eye opener for us that we must trust God as children trust their parents and we will not leave the teaching we have received. It is because we do not trust our base and that is why we are running around from place to place looking for a god that will save us when we have the true saviour always with us and same happened to the people of Israel. If we develop childlike heart towards God, we will be rest assured of the kingdom for it is meant for those who have that. Thanks.

Friday 19th week Year A By Tobe Eze

Friday 19^th week Year A

First Reading

Joshua 24:1-13

Gospel

Matthew 19:3-12

THEME: COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS AND NAME THEM ONE BY ONE.

If good things continue to come our ways, we forget sometimes that they come from God, we only enjoy it with ease. Sometimes some think it is because of their personal effort. If you continue to count God’s blessings on us, we will not do any other thing in life for it is numerous in our lives. The only problem is that we often forget to recognise them entirely. In the first reading, the Israelites seem they have forgotten how everything happened and God is recounting to them what he had done for them. They divorced him with their behaviour and God is today reminding them what he has done for them so far, he is trying to tell them not to divorce him.

Gospel presented us with the issue of divorce and as we know, God and church do not have divorce in their diaries. To show how serious it is, Jesus said, “What God has joined together, no one should put asunder”. For this reason, I will not stress marriage divorce but the divorce of God. If husbands and wives always count their good times and forget their bad times, they will never divorce each other but if they continue to count their wrong doings, they will crash.

Let us count God’s blessings in our lives and we will not divorce him again with our behaviour. It is because we are now insensitive to his blessings on us is the reason for leaving him for other things. Let us count our blessings and it will surprise us what the Lord has done for us. Thanks.

Thursday 19th week Year A By Tobe Eze

Thursday 19^th week Year A

First Reading

Joshua 3:7-10a.11.13-17

Gospel

Matthew 18:21-19:1

THEME: THE MERCY OF GOD IS BEYOND ALL THINGS.

Naturally if God were to be a man, he would not have led Israel so far as he did. They caused his servant Moses not to enter the Promised Land but he did not count that against them, he continued to lead them. He promised to be with Joshua again so that he would lead them into the Promised Land. He has never left his own people, it is always our problem that we leave him sometimes. Despite all we do to him, he has continued to forgive us and that is what he expects from us also.

Is it seven times? No, seven times seventy which should be 490 in a day. If we continue to record people’s sins against us in a day so that we will know when it has reached 490, we will not be of use again in life and for us to be useful, God made it that way. In his mercy, he wants us to extend it to others. In the parable, the wicked servant for me should be killed (condemned to hell) immediately, but that is why I am a human being. God in his mercy gave him opportunity to come out from the prison when he must have finished paying and we can see the mercy that brought about purgatory. His mercy is beyond all our sins, let us do what he expects us to do. Be merciful as our Father is. Thanks.

Wednesday 19th week Year A By Tobe Eze

Wednesday 19^th week Year A

First Reading

Deuteronomy 34:1-12

Gospel

Matthew 18:15-20

THEME: BLOOD IS THICKER THAN WATER.

Someone should tell me why Moses should not have cursed the people of Israel. He was on his own making effort to please the Lord and the sins of his people made him not to enter the Promised Land and still he did not complain. Why? When I was small, I went to someone’s farm in my village to get something for our goats to eat. When I was doing that, a fowl passed and out of children’s stupidity, I used my sickle to throw on the fowl and surprisingly the thing got the fowl and killed it. When the owner came out, after barking at me and every other thing, she said, if not because we are related, I would have dealt with you. She considered the relationship between us and pardoned me for my stupidity.

If I should relate the story above with the first reading, I think, it was because Moses knew that the people of Israel are still part of him that he kept quiet and did not complain and submitted to his fate. Sometimes we are meant to endure things because of the people involved. In my local dialect obu munyi munyi no nee ite ahu (it is only water that is boiling in the pot). If we are related, we should endure each other sometimes.

Looking at the gospel, since the first reading talked about enduring, if the person proves to be incorrigible, we should approach him/her for dialogue, if he/she persists, we can then involve others, if that did not solve it, we can involve the Church, if it does not work, then we should not kill the person but take the person as a gentile. Gentile does not mean you should see the person as a devil but the person who should be pitied and prayed for. We should pray for our relations for the mad person has no shame rather relations and blood is thicker than water. Thanks.

Monday 19th week Year A By Tobe Eze

Monday 19th week Year A

First Reading

Deuteronomy 10:12-22

Second Reading

Matthew 17:22-27

THEME: WHAT IS REQUIRED OF US AS CHRISTIANS.

Our catechism started with, who made us and reason for creating us. Sometimes I wonder if people use other catechism questions to replace this first part or they do not see this one as one of them. With our action, we have shown that we do not recognize the reason for the creation of human being on earth as the catechism teaches.

The first reading is telling us that what is required of us is very simple, just to obey God’s commandments. These commandments are not impossible for us to obey though some of them seem difficult because of the nature of the world we are into. Obeying God does not mean only to obey the words of the commandments literarily but the real understanding of them both from, spiritual, literarily and fuller senses of them.

As the first reading is asking us to obey the commandments of God, also, the gospel is also asking us to obey the civil law. We have to obey our societal laws that are not against God’s own. Sometimes we may not be necessarily bound to obey some rules but since they are not against the natural laws, we have to in order to make things flow. A student does not supposed to buy emblem and rate for motorcycle but to avoid disturbances and to make them happy, you buy it and you have not sinned, likewise in many other things.

So, the two readings are telling us, as we obey the commandments of God, we should also remember to tolerate others and their rules that are not against God’s own rule. Thanks.

Tuesday 19th week Year A By Tobe Eze

Tuesday 19th week Year A

First Reading

Deuteronomy 31:1-8

Second Reading

Matthew 18:1-5.10.12-14

THEME: ALWAYS WISH PEOPLE WELL.

The trend these days is people cursing their children with derogatory names. After everything, they will expect the child to be the best in the whole community. It is always necessary to wish people well no matter the situation.

In the first reading, Moses knew that he was not going to enter the Promised Land not because of his sins but the sins of the people of Israel but he accepted all and was wishing them well. He prayed for the Lord to be with them. It was not that he did not like to enter the Promised Land but he was denied that because of the people he was leading. Still after all, he wished them well. This is a serious lesson to us that we must not only wish those who are good to us well but also our enemies.

In the gospel, the same trend these days of who is the greatest appeared. They were asking of the greatest person in heaven not knowing that heaven is not like earth here we scramble for positions. We must learn to be humble like children. It is because we lack humility that we struggle for things and do not like to wish others well but we will like to have everything for ourselves.

Humility brings good wishes as in the first reading. So, let us learn the humility in the gospel like children and we shall be happy here on earth and hereafter in heaven. Thanks.

Saturday 18th week Year A By Tobe Eze

Saturday 18th week Year A

First Reading

Deuteronomy 6:4-13

Second Reading

Matthew 17:14-20

THEME: DO NOT FORGET YOUR GOD.

Moses trying to show us how important God is in our lives, he is telling us to write the commandments of God around us, in everything we do or say. St. Ignatius of Loyola summarized the passage of the first reading in his notion of seeing God in everything (Not everything being God as pantheists will say). If we see God in everything, certainly we will not forget him and that is the summary of the first reading.

If we have faith in God, we certainly cannot forget the person we believe will do all things for us. The problem that the apostles encountered in the gospel was very little and unrecognizable compare to what we have these days. The joy in their own is that, they recognized they could not do it and asked necessary questions and they were directed properly. These days, people are no longer interested in asking necessary question, rather, they do it in their ways. People receive powers from anywhere now to do magic in the name of miracle and deceive people and this the apostles avoided. Those who are busying deceiving people in the name of God, do they still remember God? Some of us have forgotten our true God and are now doing as they like. A man told a seminarian that, he has lost faith in God and nothing will make him to get interested in that thing called God again. I told the seminarian that that person had no faith before. If he had a little faith, he would not have lost it. The apostles had faith but not as big as mustard seed and they did not leave rather they made effort to grow the faith. They never left God entirely rather, they were falling and rising like every other human being. Let us today like the apostles go closer to ask questions about our faith so that we will not lose it and will at the end forget God. Thanks.

Friday 18th week Year A By Tobe Eze

Friday 18th week Year A

First Reading

Deuteronomy 4:32-40

Second Reading

Matthew 16:24-28

THEME: IT IS ONLY OUR GOD THAT CAN DO IT.

Traditionally as some of us know, there is no god or gods that has ever or is ever ready to sacrifice its existence or any part of it to save its worshippers, rather, they demand for more sacrifices, external sacrifices. Some of them go to the extent of demanding for human sacrifice in order to make them stronger to fight for them or to grant them the favour they need. Traditional gods from time to time demand specific sacrifice (s) from their worshippers. In my place, we call it maa ida mmadu ihe. Our own Lord and God do not demand from us a specific sacrifice for a specific request. He gave us free will to do as we like. If we can recall what happened in the Bible when Jesus cured ten leapers and one came back to appreciate him, he did not even ask about the gift he came with but why are others not here to appreciate him?

In the first reading, Moses is asking us the new Israelites if we have seen any other god that does what our God is doing for us. If we have not seen, why are we still hurting him with our sins? We have left him and his eternal life and are now ready to lose our lives and that is what Jesus also is asking us in the gospel, what it will profit us.

The reason why the Israelites were not following God as they supposed was because they did not want to suffer and that same thing is happening to us these days. We want a crossless Christianity and Christ but Jesus said no to that in the Gospel. We are not even happy that our saviour is leading the way of suffering and we are following him rather, we want him to suffer alone. Christianity of suffering free is not from Christ for he himself said we must carry our crosses and follow him every day. Since he is the only one who has offered to lead us in the way of suffering, let us appreciate him by following and obeying what he commands us to obey in the conclusion of the first reading. Thanks.

Wednesday of 18th week Year A By Tobe Eze

Wednesday of 18^th week Year A

First Reading

Numbers 13:1-2.25-14:1.26-29.34-35

Second Reading

Matthew 15:21-28

THEME: WITH COURAGE AND PERSISTENCE, WE WILL OBTAIN FAVOUR FROM GOD.

The problem many of us have including my own self is that we lack the courage to confront our problems in life sometimes and also we lose faith very quickly. I was going somewhere to visit my classmate where he was doing his pastoral experience one day. I was calling him and his number was not connecting. I was almost reaching his parish and I concluded, since his number is not connecting, that shows he is busy and I turned back. In the evening, he called me to know how things were moving and I told him my experience and he told me he was home throughout the day. I regretted turning back but it was already late. That taught me that Hope is a very good breakfast but a very bad supper.

In the first reading, majority of those that went to spy the land promised them by God came back and removed the little hope and courage in the people. They had no courage to go into war with the people living in the land promised them because probably they did not trust in what God can do. But two outstanding men, Joshua and Caleb made them to know that they can do it and persisted in it and days to come we shall hear the result.

In the gospel, we can see both courage and persistence in full action. The Canaanite woman had the courage to meet Jesus and also the virtue of persistence. If you do not want what happened to me to happen to you, learn from this woman to come to the Lord with courage and persistence even when we think God has insulted us. God is always with us if we have courage to meet him and persist in following him. Thanks.

Thursday 18th week Year A By Tobe Eze

Thursday 18^th week Year A

First Reading

Numbers 20:1-13

Second Reading

Matthew 16:13-23

THEME: WHO IS GOD FOR US?

For many persons, God means different things or persons for them. For some, he is a provider, for some he is a fighter, for some he is a protector, for some he is a merciful God and so many notions of God by different people, nations, tribes, race and even religions.

For the Israelites in the first reading, he is a disappointing God. They were not happy with him for they thought they wanted him to take them home without any atom of suffering. They wanted to close their eyes and open them and see themselves in the Promised Land. If that had happened, they would not have appreciated the work of God in their lives, they would not have valued the whole show for it would have contradicted my dialectical adage Ihe ga atugu nee onu anugu aga (a good thing is always stressful or what did not stress you will not work). God has never disappointed anyone but the Israelites could not understand.

The gospel also is showing us different views of different persons about God (in Jesus). For some, one of the prophets, some Elijah, some Moses and so on. Peter gave a perfect answer which should not leave our lips everyday. We should always acclaim Jesus as the son of the living God. He is the Christ who has come to save us. If we take God as any other person or thing apart from the son of the living God, we maybe making serious mistake in our lives. The answer of Peter merited him the head of the apostles and the first Pope of the only church founded by Christ. If we allow the Holy Spirit to direct us as Peter did and answer like him, many favours will also follow as we saw in the gospel. Thanks.

Tuesday of the 18th Week Year A By Tobe Eze

Tuesday of the 18^th Week Year A

First Reading

Numbers 12:1-13

Gospel

Matthew 14:22-36

THEME: FEAR NOT AND DO NOT LOSE TRUST IN GOD.

The cause of jealousy sometimes (not all the time) is always fear of others. Sometimes, one will grow very jealous because one may be afraid that the other person is becoming greater than myself every day. I can relate that to what happened in the first reading. Aeron and Miriam grew jealous of Moses and they were saying evils against God’s own servant. The fear of being controlled by Moses all the time despite the position Aeron was occupying as the high priest brought about his our jealousy. God gave him his own function and he was not comfortable with it rather he was busy being jealous of Moses and we saw the result on Miriam. Fear is natural but the object of fear should be watched.

In the gospel, we can see another side of fear which can happen to any person. Peter is the central point of the gospel for he was the only one who removed fear in him and made effort to walk on the sea though he lost the faith along the line.

Since we have developed the faith, let us eliminate fear and trust in God. Let us not be unnecessarily jealous about others so that we will not bring wrath on ourselves like Miriam especially with God’s anointed. The faith we have built, let the fear of the wave not take it away. Thanks.

Monday of the 18th Week Year A By Tobe Eze

Monday of the 18^th Week Year A

First Reading

Numbers 11:4b-15

Gospel

Matthew 14:13-14

THEME: FOOD FROM GOD.

The story of how people sell their identity, integrity, reputation and other values do come up from the Bible, till date almost every day because of things that go into the mouth. From the Bible Esau sold his own, today again, the people of Israel want to go back to Egypt because of ordinary, garlic, onions, cucumber and other things. I witnessed one day a young beautiful lady disgraced in an occasion, why? She was well dressed and was looking so sweet. When the time for refreshment came, people started struggling for food and she wanted to struggle also. As she was doing that, a boy carrying soup was pushed and he poured the whole soup on the beautiful lady. She could not endure the shame and she left with shame in her eyes.

The Lord will always provide us with what to eat. The people of Israel were complaining that they were not eating meat forgetting that some have not even seen food to eat. They had enough to eat but they were still complaining. Ihe Chukwu nyere anyi juo anyi afo.

No matter our situation, God will always provide us with something just as he did in the gospel today. Our God is a provider and he will continue to be and if we appreciate that and not grieve those in charge of us like the Israelites did to Moses. Both the first reading and the gospel have food from God and we should be satisfied with it. Thanks.

Saturday of Week 17 Year A By Tobe Eze

Saturday of Week 17 Year A

First Reading

Leviticus 25:1.8-17

Gospel

Matthew 14:1-12

THEME: DO NOT WRONG YOUR NEIGHBOURS ON THE HOLY DAYS OF THE LORD.

Onye gbuta isi nwa nkita owere agba ya mee gini? (If you kill a young innocent dog, what will you use its jaws to do?) What did Herod, Herodias and Salome gain from killing John? Onye gburu nwanne ya adighi aza odogwu.

Everyday is 50 years anniversary. There must have existed 50 years ago today, yesterday and will still exist tomorrow which means everyday is jubilee day and every year is jubilee year. Since that is the case, we must avoid doing wrong to our neighbours for the jubilee year and day are holy for the Lord. This is the instruction from the first reading.

My question now is, did Herod, Herodias and Salome notice what was expected of them to do on the jubilee year and day? Herod being stupid allowed his own birthday celebration to take the head of a prophet. We have no right to wrong anyone on the Holy Days of the Lord and we have established that everyday is holy for the Lord.

To avoid doing wrong to our neighbours, let us guard against our pleasures. Herod did not guard against his own pleasure and was carried away by the shaking of a young girl’s buttock. Herodias did not guard against her pleasure and was carried away by the earthly richness and firm. And Salome did not guard her own by being carried away by hatred gotten from her mother on John the Baptist. When we must have made a mistake, it is not good to close our eyes to it and continue in the line of that mistake. Herod made the mistake of promising heaven and earth to the young girl, instead of withdrawing when he noticed that he had made a mistake, he went ahead and continued in that line of mistake and this happens too, to many of us. Because of what people will say or how people will look at us, we forget how God will see us and what he will say about us. Everyday is holy for the Lord and we must keep it holy for him. Onye gbuta isi nwa nkita owere agba ya mee gini? (If you kill a young innocent dog, what will you use its jaws to do?) Onye gburu nwanne ya adighi aza odogwu. Thanks.

Friday of Week 17 Year A By Tobe Eze

Friday of Week 17 Year A

First Reading

Leviticus 23:1.4-11.15-16.27.34b-37

Gospel

Matthew 13:54-58

THEME: THE HOLY DAYS OF THE LORD.

The first reading has just given us what the Lord demanded of the people of Israel to do for him after their deliverance from the land of Egypt. Through Moses, he gave them these days to be kept Holy. In the gospel, again, Jesus came to his people in the synagogue which means on the Holy day. He taught them there, instead of taking his teaching, they took to analyzing his personality which they even did wrongly.

When the church has asked us to keep some days Holy for the Lord, we start to analyze it and be asking why the church should do that. I once told someone to stop opening his shop on Sunday, even if not for God, but for him to have a day of rest but more especially for God. He just told me that the highest he can do is to offer to the Lord that morning period of mass. The first reading is telling us not to do labourious work on days marked out for the Lord. Looking for reasons to accept it or not may make us not to receive miracles, blessings and other things from God as it appeared in the conclusion of the gospel. In the things of the Lord, reasons are suspended and faith is taken. Let us accept the teachings of the church about Holy days of obligation and do not ask like the people of Jesus’ own country. Okwanu ka afucha mere mgbo ji tuo enwe n’ isi. Thanks.

Thursday of Week 17 Year A By Tobe Eze

Thursday of Week 17 Year A

First Reading

Exodus 40:16-21.34-38

Gospel

Matthew 13:47-53

THEME: GOD OF BOTH THE RIGHTEOUS AND SINNERS

A woman met me one day and told me that she will leave the Catholic Church for there are many sinners in the Catholic Church. She even went to the extent of calling names of those in the Catholic Church that are evil and we are still accommodating them. After looking at her ignorance, I pitied her and tried explaining to her that God does not discriminate here rather at the last day when we will be divided. Even St. Augustine on this type of thing said, the church is the church of sinners and saints.

In the first reading, we can see how God was protecting his people with cloud during the day and pillar of fire during the night. He was doing that knowing full well that some of those he was protecting were still those who would say many things against him.

In the parable we heard from the gospel, the net brought many types of fish and selection was made after the catch. After our life here, selection will be made on us.

The only reason why God is the God of sinners is to give us opportunity to repent, if not, we must have died long ago rather, he gives us opportunity everyday to make changes in our lives as his children. Since he is our God, we should always do what pleases him. Thanks.

Wednesday Week 17 Year A By Tobe Eze

Wednesday Week 17 Year A

First Reading:

Exodus 34:29-35

Gospel:

Matthew 13:44-46

THEME: THE PRESENCE OF GOD IS GOOD.

There is a great difference between appearing in the church and being present in the presence of God. Going to the church for formality sake is very different from encountering the Lord. Just like we said on Monday of the 14^th week, encounter with the Lord changes one. Moses after his encounter with God, his whole body changed. His face was shining that no one looked on his face. Moses was keeping himself holy for God. He left all he had and dedicated himself to the service of God. In the gospel, Jesus told a parable that supported being in the presence of God. To be in the presence of God, we have to leave many things behind. We should leave all our worthless things that are not in the presence of God and buy that which pleases God most. Let us sell our pride, our envy and every other bad things we do and buy the best which is God’s presence through our behaviour. Isaiah 55:1, come and buy without money. Thanks.

Tuesday Week 17 Year A By Tobe Eze

Tuesday Week 17 Year A 

First Reading:

Exodus 33:7-11; 34:5-9.28

Gospel:

Matthew 13:36-43

THEME: THE LORD IS A JUST GOD

The Lord is full of love and compassion slow to anger abounding in love and charity (Psalm 154:8-9). Moses was going to his presence to intercede for the people and he was hearing him. Jesus in the gospel was explaining the parable of the weeds in the field. He was explaining it for him to justify every action he will latter take, the conclusion of the gospel said. He who has ears, let him hear. Onye nwere ntị ya nụrụ. He is always merciful on both those who make effort and sometimes on those who do not make effort and that was why the master asked workers to leave the two to grow but the end will determine. How much effort do we make? Let us like Moses go closer to God. Let us like the apostles go to him for him to explain to us what may be confusing us. He gives judgment with mercy. He has no partiality in him but he is merciful and compassionate. If we stay from afar to understand him, it may be very difficult for us but if we go closer like Moses and the apostles, we will see the richness of the kingdom. He is a just God. Thanks.

Monday Week 17 Year A By Tobe Eze

Monday Week 17 Year A

First Reading:

Exodus 32:15-24.30-34

Gospel:

Matthew 13:31-35

THEME: DO NOT BE TIRED OF WAITING.

After prophesying our faith during our baptism, after professing all we profess during credo in the church, any little problem will destabilize us. The Israelites after shouting all that the Lord said we shall do. They went ahead to force Aaron to construct for them a god that will lead them, just that Moses went up to the mountain. Nothing good comes easily. In the gospel, parables were told. In the first one, No big tree can grow into a big tree within a short time. It takes time and Jesus said that the kingdom of God is like that. The second parable also is saying the same thing. The woman was mixing it till all were leavened. She did not get tired along the line. Let us today not get tired along the line. Let us continue to move. God knows us and our problems. It takes time. The journey of life is filled with ups and downs and that we should know and recognize so that we will not lose faith like the Israelites. We must keep moving like a tree that is growing gradually into a big tree. Though waiting for the Lord may take time, it must surely come to pass. Thanks.

Saturday Week 16 Year A By Tobe Eze

Saturday Week 16 Year A

First Reading:

Exodus 24:3-8

Gospel:

Matthew 13:24-30

THEME: THE DEVIL AGAINST OUR EFFORTS.

Have you ever reflected on the fact that it is always when you want to make sincere effort that the devil will like to tempt you? Have you ever reflected on the fact that you will see a life changing situation and make a resolution to change and you will not even last anything and you will see yourself falling? These are facts of life.

I have had two experiences that made me to vow never to sin again but after that, I did not even last for anything and saw myself sinning again. The first one happened at UNTH Enugu. I went for blood donation there. They took our sample and we were outside waiting for them to test the sample. As we were there discussing and chatting. People were carried around on stretchers. Those who were seriously sick that were unconscious. The one that touched me most was that some groups of nurses were carrying a dead man on a stretcher chatting and laughing while the relations were crying behind them. I just asked myself, is this all we are in this world for. I sin because I am healthy, these people here who are dead, sick (unconscious for that matter) are asking God to give them this opportunity he has given me and I am here wasting it. I decided that I will not sin again from that very moment. It was few days to our break, immediately I came back home, the type of lie that I leveled to my people in order to get money from them was more than anything else. The second was one day I went to my cathedral to confess my sins in the evening. Normally, you do not search for priests in my cathedral but that day, I stayed till night before seeing a priest and it was Saturday, I needed it for the health of my soul and again because of Sunday. I made resolution that day not to sin again. Only to lie terribly on Sunday. My classmate called me that he wanted to visit me meanwhile I had already booked appointment with a friend to go somewhere and drink beer. I told him that my father said I would be taking him to somewhere and other stories to back it up.

This happened to Israelites after all these their promises in the first reading. All that the Lord said we will do. We can see the cause of this problem in the gospel, when we are asleep in our prayer lives, the enemy will plant weeds. We must wake up our prayer life in other to fight the devil that is against our efforts to be holy. Had it been that I handed those my resolutions to God through prayers, it would have lasted longer than when I violated it. Prayer is necessary in season and out of season else, the devil will plant weed in our farm and they will not be uprooted till the end of time. Thanks.

Friday Week 16 Year A By Tobe Eze

Friday Week 16 Year A

First Reading:

Exodus 20:1-17

Gospel:

Matthew 13:18-23

THEME: THEY ARE FOR US TO CHANGE OUR WAYS.

Laws are made to help people in life. Laws that God gave his people, were for them to change from their evil ways of life to a better one. These laws are divided into two, love of God and love of our fellow human being. If we claim that we love God and we hate our fellow human being, the love is incomplete. Because we divide these laws and take only the one for God and forget our fellow human being, Jesus decided to explain the parable more for us to know that, they are all for us. Both those that fell on the road, rocky, thorny and good soil. So these laws are for us all. We are to make sure that we keep them and they will make us fertile for the word to bear fruits that will last in us and people around us will see it in work in our lives. It will be a disaster that we hear the word of God daily but there is no positive change in our lives. May we change our bad ways so that we can bear fruits in 30s, 40s, 60s and even 100s. Thanks.

Thursday Week 16 Year A By Tobe Eze

Thursday Week 16 Year A

First Reading:

Exodus 19:1-2.9-11.16-20

Gospel:

Matthew 13:10-17

THEME: WE ARE PRIVILEGED.

First reading is a continuation of what Israelites did at Massah where they tested their God. After that, they said Moses was deceiving them, that they also wanted to hear from God directly not from Moses again. Hearing from God is only meant for those who are privileged to hear from God. We are privileged to hear from him through his ministers in different ways. In the gospel, Jesus talked about that same privilege. The problem here is that, some of us who are given the opportunity are now depriving ourselves the privilege and also trying to deny others the privilege. We reject this privilege through the kind of life we live. Let us watch the way we live as Christians and it shall be well with us. If you are given privilege (s), try and utilize it for it may not be forever and know that many may also be longing for that and they have not gotten it. In my local dialect, we normally say, onye era voyi gu alu, koma ne oge maka ne onwere ike inu ya onye ozo (when a mad man gives land to cultivate, do it fast for he may give it to another person). Do not abuse the privilege of being children of God. Thanks 

Wednesday Week 16 Year A By Tobe Eze

Wednesday Week 16 Year A

First Reading:

Exodus 16:1-5.9-15

Gospel:

Matthew 13:1-9

IT IS IN OUR HANDS TO ACCEPT IT.

The Israelites were not ready to accept the fact that God was working for them both in season and out of season. They thought he was only working in season. After saving them from this problem they will say, we have never seen a God like this, but a step forward, they will complain again. They should have accepted the works God was doing for them. This also happen to us always, as it is explained in the gospel. Some fell on the way, stony or rocky, thorny and some on a good soil. Where are we? Some only get converted inside the church during homily and after that they go back to their normal way of life like the Israelites. When we are not faithful to God, he is still faithful to us and the earlier we accept him, the better for us.

A man who was a traditionalist got converted to Christianity. He left ATR during the time Omabe masquerade was on holiday. He was very active in the church just like he was in the ATR. When the local masquerade returned after two years, the man was already a serious Christian. One day, he went for 05:30am mass to enable him tap his wine on time for he was a palm wine tapper. When he climbed one of his palm trees, he started hearing the local music of the masquerade which was so sweet, he started dancing to it on the palm tree. At a point he could not endure it again. He called his wife from the palm tree and told her, “ada mu uka” which means, “I have loosen faith”. Put in another form, I am no longer a Christian. He came down and went back to his ATR. This is what happens to us when we do not understand God just like the Israelites and if the word of God did not fall on a fertile soil in our lives. Let us make effort to make ourselves fertile for the word of God to grow in us and bear fruits. Thanks.

Tuesday Week 16 Year A By Tobe Eze

Tuesday Week 16 Year A

First Reading:

Exodus 14:21-15:1

Gospel:

Matthew 12:46-50

THEME: THOSE THAT ARE IN GOD’S LOVE

Who are those that we can classify as those who are in the love of God? The rich, the poor, the healthy, the sick, the strong, the weak or who? Those who are in the love of God are those who receive blessings from God, but from time to time though they may be passing through some challenges.

In the first reading, the Israelites are presented to us as those in the love of God for they received God’s saving help from the clutches of the Egyptians. In the Gospel, Jesus presented those who are in the love of God as those who do the will of his Father. He was told that his mother and siblings were looking for him and he gave an answer that looks like an insult but it is not. Of course Mary was the first to do the will of God in the New Testament, so even if he was talking about her biological mother, Mary is still qualified.

Coming from another angle which is not Biblical, maybe it is this type of claiming that we do when we see that someone has made it. Our people are fund of relating themselves to people who have made it in life. Jesus was famous and maybe some people wanted to make name out of it and he used that way to explain to them the task of being his mother or relation.

Whichever way, we should always make effort to be in the love of God and his favours will never leave us in life. Thanks.

Monday of Week 16 Year A By Tobe Eze

Monday of Week 16 Year A

First Reading:

Exodus 14:5-18

Gospel:

Matthew 12:38-42

THEME: SEE THE LORD BEFORE US.

In the first reading, the Israelites were faced with the Red sea and the great warriors of Egypt and these clouded them with fear and they could not see God working for them. They asked Moses if there were no graves in Egypt where they would be buried. Moses saw God in their situation and he proclaimed before them that the Egyptians you see today, you shall see them no more. In the gospel, some Pharisees who did not see Jesus as God in their midst were asking for sign from him for them to believe in him. But Jesus told them, there will be no sign for this generation.

Moses saw God before him and he saved them. The people of Nineveh saw God in Jonah and repented and Queen of Sheba saw wisdom in Solomon and traveled from a far place to witness it and what is higher than Solomon is here with us. Let us as they did today see the Lord who is standing to save us. Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament is greater than all we can think of. He is our God and he is ever ready to save us if only we can recognize him as Moses, the people of Nineveh and Queen of Sheba. Thanks.

Saturday of Week 15 Year A By Tobe Eze

Saturday of Week 15 Year A

First Reading

Exodus 12:37-42

Gospel

Matthew 12:14-21

THEME: THE APPOINTED TIME

When the appointed time comes, nothing will stop it. When the time God has planned or willed that sometime will take place comes, nothing will stop it. That sometimes we get confused about some issues is because we are not God and we cannot be God to know the time for everything. Despite whatever may happen, when the appointed time comes, we will see the manifestation of God.

Despite all that Pharaoh did to stop the children of Israel from leaving Egypt, at the appointed time, God used his hands to bring them out from Egypt.

That Jesus withdrew in the gospel was not because he was afraid of what may have befell him but because the appointed time had not reached. When the time reached, he could not withdraw again and he allowed himself to be killed.

Any situation we find ourselves that we are not comfortable with, just pray to God and wait for the appointed time and he will surprise us. We cannot know the mind of God, since we cannot know the mind of God, then let us wait for him for the bible recorded it that his thoughts for us are for good and not of evil (Jeremiah 29:11). Let us wait for the appointed time and our money, wives, husbands, houses, children, healing and every other thing that are worrying us will be ours. Thanks.

Friday of Week 15 Year A By Tobe Eze

Friday of Week 15 Year A

First Reading

Exodus 11:10-­­----12:14

Gospel

Matthew 12:1-8

THEME: MERCIFUL SAVIOUR

Sometimes God gives us many opportunities for us to change out of his mercy but we will always take it as if he is a weak God. Many times people do things and beat their chests and say, ‘God will understand’. I am not God for me to tell you that he will understand or not but from my little knowledge, he will only understand us when we make serious effort. Some of us Catholics worsen issue, “highest mmechaa mgaa confession”. It may not end in ije confession since you do not have regard for God and that sacrament.

In the first reading, despite the signs made by Moses and Aeron before Pharaoh and his people, they still refused to grant freedom to the Israelites. They we joking with his mercy.

In the gospel still, despite all that Jesus has done before the Pharisees, they still did not understand that he is a God of mercy. Ihe n’ asom bu ebere, obughi aja. They were more interested in what the law says, to the detriment of human beings that those laws are meant to serve.

Any law that is against the safety of human life or preservation of human life is against the natural law. If there is food and people are allowed to die of hunger because the law said, that law should be abolished for it is not a law meant for human being. Anytime we are trying to stick to the law, we should also remember mercy. What our God wants is mercy and not sacrifice. Though he is a justice God, he is also rich in mercy, he is a merciful saviour and we can see that most in the sacrament of reconciliation. Thanks.

Thursday of Week 15 Year A By Tobe Eze

Thursday of Week 15 Year A

First Reading

Exodus 3:13-20

Gospel

Matthew 11:28-30

THEME: THE LORD HEARS OUR AFFLICTIONS.

It is true that in our everyday life, we are faced with many afflictions but that does not expel the fact that God hears us whenever we are in trouble. He always hears us but the problem is if we even believe that he hears us.

In the first reading, God through Moses is showing us that he is not deaf with regard to our cry and not blind to see our afflictions. He will always answer us in due time.

In the gospel, he asks us to come to him in our trouble moments that he will help us. Whenever we are in trouble, our Lord God is the only and best person that we should run to and we will be saved.

What Moses told God in the first reading is still our problem today. How can I tell these people that you sent me? They will not believe me. In our world today, how can we convince you and me that it is the Lord who sent me to you? Many persons are now claiming that they are sent by God. How do we differentiate? The gospel has the answer. All those who claim that the Lord has sent them when they know they sent themselves will always preach suffering free Christianity while Jesus is inviting us to take his yoke for his yoke is easy and his burden not heavy. No matter the load we carry as Christians, they are not heavy since they are in the Lord. He hears us in all our situations, let us not lose hope for he will never forsake us. Thanks.

Wednesday of Week 15 Year A By Tobe Eze

Wednesday of Week 15 Year A

First Reading

Exodus 3:1-6, 9-12

Gospel

Matthew 11:25-27

THEME: TURN AROUND AND YOU WILL HEAR THE LORD.

The problem some of us have is that we are too rigid in life. Some of us have accepted that we are Christians but in character there is no change. I was telling a man who was a pagan the time I met him to get converted and become a Christian that that is where life is and every other thing. He openly told me. If these persons (he called names) are still Christians, I am not following you. If we have accepted Christ, why have we not done like Moses and turn around to understand what the Lord wants us to do?

Even in the gospel, Jesus himself is stressing the turning around by thanking the Father for revealing the hidden knowledge of the Kingdom to children. If we really want to encounter God and hear what he is telling us, we must become like children. We must leave our evil ways and embrace the innocent way of Christ that is manifested in children. Turn around and become a child and the knowledge will be revealed to you. Thanks.

Tuesday of Week 15 Year A By Tobe Eze

Tuesday of Week 15 Year A

First Reading

Exodus 2:1-15a

Gospel

Matthew 11:20-24

THEME: THE EVIL WORLD.

Some persons answer names like, Onyedioramma, Uwaenweogwu and so on. These names are the pure explanation of the two readings of today. People will be making serious effort to please the world and others will be complaining about the person. Obu gini ka aga eme?

In the first reading, we saw how Moses tried to save his own people from the trouble of an Egyptian and it turned to be a trouble for him. He was trying to imbibe in them the spirit of Umunne but the arrogant brother of his used it against him and that became a threat to  his life. No matter what you do to the people of the world, they must complain.

The gospel exposed how furious Jesus was to the people he had already done many miracles for but they could not repent and accept the message of life. He was causing them and comparing them with other nations that had not seen any miracle or even did not see miracle before there destruction.

In our world today, do we still have those who are unappreciative? Do we still have those who do not accept the good done to them rather, they use evil to pay for good? The answer for me is YES and some of them are here. Let us know that our God is not happy with us not paying good with good. Let us learn how to appreciate good things done to us and leave our evil deeds. The evil world can change through you and myself. Thanks.

Monday of Week 15 Year A By Tobe Eze

Monday of Week 15 Year A

FIRST READING
Exodus 1:8–14, 22

GOSPEL
Matthew 10:34C11:1

THE TROUBLE WITH FAITHFULNESS.

The Israelites were faithful to their God and he was blessing them with fruitful marriages. Pharaoh and his people instead of seeking for their own way of increasing in number they were busy having evil thoughts for the Israelites. The Israelites were faithful to their God even when they were undergoing the hard labour given to them by Pharaoh and his men. Seeing that Onye Chukwu goziri na ogozigo ya they brought another way to subdue them.

Jesus in the gospel, is also disposing us for the troubles attached to following him or being faithful to him. The war Jesus is telling us that he brought to us is not ogu egbe na mma but ogu okwukwe. It is not that type we think or we see in films or the world. The war he is talking about is war of faith as St. Peter said that we should be ready to defend our faith always. The war of truth, we should say the truth always, we should stand on the truth always and fight for truth. When we tell people the truth about their wrong doings, certainly they will not be happy with us. They will look for any means to fight us, to engage us in a war. It is this type of war that Jesus is talking about. The trouble with faithfulness is that people will hate us because of our faithfulness but we should remember that it is only those who are steadfast till the end will be given the unfading crown of Glory.

Saturday of Week 14 Year A. By Tobe Eze

Saturday of Week 14 Year A.

FIRST READING
Genesis 49:29–32; 50:15–26a

GOSPEL
Matthew 10:24–33

THEME: GRACE TO FACE OUR FATES.

Jacob on dying asked his sons to bury him in his fathers' grave yard. His sons accepted the fate without question or rejection. Joseph’s brothers were afraid to face any punishment that will come from Joseph. They were committing without thinking about the consequence or consequences. When they have committed the sin they were not ready to accept the fate that followed it rather they went to Joseph to beg him with their father’s name. Joseph as a just man made them to know that they would not suffer as he was alive. But when Joseph was dying, he made them to know that their liberation can only come from God. He disposed them for the fate ahead. He did that by telling them. “When God remembers you, promise to take my bones with you.”

Jesus in the gospel also disposed his apostles on what will befall them on the course of preaching the gospel or good news. When Joseph was disposing his brothers, it was for them to have faith in God no matter what they will pass through. Jesus also is doing the same thing today. He urges us not to fear our brothers or sisters in the villages who will not be on our sides when we say the truth. When problems come up in the village, we sell off our faith because of fear of ordinary men and women. Somewhere like Nsukka, when cases of Akatakpa, Oriokpa, Omabe, Odo, Kakpo and so on come up, we Christians will twist them and say. “All these are just for recreation”. Or even culture. Recreation or culture that is harmful to human life. Recreation or culture that threatens life, what shall we call it? Let us tell ourselves the truth.

Let us ask for the grace to face our fate as Christians no matter what people will say or do. A pastor was before his wicked King to preach against wickedness. He knew that his king will not leave him after the preaching and he drafted a means. He, the pastor shouted, Pastor be careful on what you preach for the king is here. After sometimes, he shouted again, Pastor be careful on what you will not say for the King of Kings is here. The choice is your, either to fear God and face the fate or to fear men and still face the fate.

Friday of Week 14 Year A By Tobe Eze

Friday of Week 14 Year A

FIRST READING
Genesis 46:1–7, 28–30

GOSPEL
Matthew 10:16–23

THEME: THE REWARD OF STEADFASTNESS.

After passing through all the troubles and trails in Egypt by Joseph and the ones his father passed through in the land of Canaan, emotional trauma he passed through when he lost Joseph, they came together again in love. What a joyful moment? When Joseph was suffering in Egypt, he trusted in God and remained steadfast. He did not shake for he knew the God that he was serving.

Jesus towards the end of the gospel said that, only those who remained steadfast till the end will be crowned with the unfading crown of glory.

Steadfastness is a virtue we should embrace in life. Let us learn to continue in our trials and life challenges. Do not stop when you are tried but stop when you are done. Let us not quit without trying. Let us learn to endure till the end for there must be the best for us. The meeting of Joseph and his father was the happiest thing that happened in their lives and this was a result of steadfastness. The end that Jesus is promising us today will be the best thing for us and it will only come through steadfastness. Let us today learn to continue. Ejighi ututu ama njo ahia.

Thursday of Week 14 Year A By Tobe Eze

Thursday of Week 14 Year A

FIRST READING
Genesis 44:18–21, 23b–29; 45:1–5

GOSPEL
Matthew 10:7–15

THEME: GIVE WITHOUT CHARGE.

Joseph was sold with charge but he was giving his brothers and family food without charge. Joseph was maltreated by his own blood brothers. What was done to him was an offence that no reasonable man should have forgiven those that did it to him. Child trafficking. But he did not even go to that side at all.

It is not all evil that have been done to us that we should pay back with evil if any at all there is any. There is difference between justice and revenge. There are those we should give punishment for deterrent not for revenge. Joseph punished his brothers by sending them to go and fetch his younger brother so that they may not try that act they did in the first place again. We have to overlook certain things because we are one family in Christ as Joseph did to his brothers.

In the gospel, Jesus mandated his apostles to give without charge for they received without charge. The problem we face today is that some who call themselves men and women of God are no more giving without charge. What can we call them? They are now using so called gift of God as avenue for making money.

If we really received without charge, we will give without charge and God’s blessing will never leave us. A labourer deserves his wages not a labourer demands his wages.

Wednesday of Week 14 Year A By Tobe Eze

Wednesday of Week 14 Year A

FIRST READING
Genesis 41:55–57; 42:5–7a, 17–24a

GOSPEL
Matthew 10:1–7

THEME: GOD MANIFESTS THROUGH IMPERFECTIONS

Joseph’s brothers were regretting the bad thing they did to their brother Joseph without knowing that God was just using them to fulfill the plan of saving them from the famine that befell them. God worked through the imperfect thing done to Joseph.

In the gospel Jesus himself called again imperfect men to carry out perfect work. He called tax collector whom the Pharisees regard as the worst set of people. Jesus called trouble makers and peace makers. He called the imperfect to perfect them.

God wants us to make a change whenever he wants to use us. Joseph’s brothers had a change of heart when they realized what they have done. They regretted the act and abandoned it. The apostles Jesus called in the gospel also abandoned their different ways of lives and embraced the new life of Christ.

Let us today learn to abandon our old way of living that does not please God like Joseph’s brothers and the twelve apostles that Jesus called. Let us remember that akwuro otu ebe ekiri mmanwu. Let us like the eagle that was living among chicken since its lifetime left there when it realized that, that place does not fit its kind. Sin does not fit us. Let us leave the way of sin and embrace the way of life.

Tuesday Week 14 Year A By Tobe Eze

Tuesday Week 14 Year A

First Reading:

Corinthians 4:7-15

Gospel:

Matthew 20:20-28

THEME: A MISTAKE CAN BE CORRECTED.

In the first reading, St. Paul is telling us that the mistake of those who oppose us are being corrected by Christ. We are afflicted in every way but not crushed etc. The reason for not crushing us is to propagate the life of Christ in our lives so that we may correct our lives and mistakes we have made.

In the gospel, the mother of James and John made a serious mistake that brought about the correction of the bad notion of those in positions. Jesus corrected that mistake immediately. People who were already with Christ and their mother was busy asking for positions. Christ made it clear for us to know that a leader should lead by examples. That is the correction of the mistake. We are all leaders and we are also all followers, so let us learn to serve those who are under us and it shall be well with us. Let us correct that mistake of thinking that a leader is God. Also, let us not always seek for only our personal things like the mother of James and John. Let it not be Nkem nkem but Nke anyị nke anyị.

Monday of Week 14 Year A By Tobe Eze

Monday of Week 14 Year A

FIRST READING
Genesis 28:10–22a

GOSPEL
Matthew 9:18–26

THEME: ENCOUNTER WITH THE LORD.

Encounter with the Lord changes life and things. In the first reading, Jacob encountered the Lord and his life automatically changed, he made promises for he became a fulfilled man immediately. In the gospel, Jarius an officer in the synagogue encountered God in the life of his daughter that Christ gave back life and happiness came back to his life and the life of his family. The woman who had suffered hemorrhage for twelve years got healed just that she encountered Jesus. Some of us today come to God and go without encountering him. Some of us are like the story of a goat that was always going for morning prayers. The goat was always sitting front (at the kneeler at the altar). It would continue to stay till during communion it would go. Some of us just come and go like that goat. We come to morning masses and prayers but no impact in us. It is not enough to be a Christian and to be participating in every activity of the church but also to live it out like those who have experienced God as we have. Let us today follow those who encountered Christ today and encounter him so that our lives will change from bad to good and people will really say, these are CHRISTIANS. THANKS.

FAMILY CAN BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE HIGH LEVEL OF MORAL DECADENCE IN OUR SOCIETY. By Tobe Eze

FAMILY CAN BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE HIGH LEVEL OF MORAL DECADENCE IN OUR SOCIETY.

Family is the first school and the first church a child attends and that is why it is very necessary in the formation of human character. If a child is well formed in a family, it is always difficult to deform the person and any child deformed in character from the family is always difficult to form again.  Family can be held responsible for the high level of moral decadence in our society today with these few reasons.

It is not whole and entire that families should be held responsible but if they have done these few things, it will go a long way to help the society. Many parents are over busy these days in looking for what they will use to train their children and forget about training their children. There are some basic things in life especially with regards to morality that are not learnt in the school but at home but many parents prefer their children to spend their whole life in school.

They go out in the morning, come back tired at night. No time to spend with the children. Many parents these days send their one year old child to daycare, from there to nursery, primary and their secondary education they will live in school. Even those who live with their parents spend more of their time in school for extra lessons. This has brought distortion to the basic knowledge one should get from parents especially with regards to morals. Continue Reading...............................................

4th Sunday of Easter Year C. (Good Shepherd Sunday) By Tobe Eze

4^th Sunday of Easter Year C. (Good Shepherd Sunday)

First Reading

Acts 13:14.43-52

Second Reading

Revelation 7:9.14b-17

Gospel

John 10:27-30

THEME: UNDER THE CARE OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD

Today being good shepherd Sunday, the three readings are pointing towards the real good shepherd who is Christ Jesus. Previous years, I normally centre on the works of shepherds pertaining to us on earth, but this year, I am moving to another side of the good shepherd which is how we can be under the care of the perfect good shepherd. Continue Reading...........................

Third Sunday of Easter Year C. By Tobe Eze

Third Sunday of Easter Year C.

First Reading

Acts 5:27b-32.40b-41

Second Reading

Revelation 5:11-14

Gospel

John 21:1-19

THEME: WHAT DO YOU TEACH?

Almost all we do or say on earth affect others who are around us both directly and indirectly. If that is true, then we have to be careful in all we do for if we mislead any of these people of God, it will be better for us that we were not born (Matthew 26:24). Some of us are teaching others good ways of salvation while others are taking people back.

In the first reading, the apostles were busy taking people to the way of life while the chief priests were busy trying to stop them and to take people back to darkness. Ask yourself where you belong. Do you belong to the chief priests or to the apostles? Answer yourself. Continue Reading..................

A PHILOSOPHICAL INQUIRY INTO ARUA (A STAFF OF ONYISHI) IN EHA-ALUMONA TOWN OF NSUKKA L.G.A, ENUGU STATE. By Tobe Eze

A PHILOSOPHICAL INQUIRY INTO ARUA (A STAFF OF ONYISHI) IN EHA-ALUMONA TOWN OF NSUKKA L.G.A, ENUGU STATE.

ABSTRACT

Symbolism is very common in every religion. Sometimes it is this symbolism that gives a religion identity. Like the Catholic Church, their Bishop is known with his crozier, mitre and other things a bishop wears, you do not need to make further inquiry to know the position or the status of the person when you see the person. It is on this ground that I wish to go into the research on Aura which is a staff given to Onyishi when it reaches the person as a symbol of authority in Eha-Alumona town of Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State. The Arua is not a staff any one can get or when one takes any title in the community one will get it, no, it is only meant for one person in a village which is ordained by God as it is popularly called in Eha-Alumona (Egba Maa buru celebration fixed by God). The Arua stands for something and that is what I inquired for. I used majorly interview for there is no work written on it as of now. This involved elderly men in some villages in Eha-Alumona. I employed the help of three Respondents whose cooperation were instrumental in the successful study of Arua. There submissions were synthesized and hermeneutically analysed for better understanding. Continue Reading.................