CELEBRATION OF THE VALUELESS. By Tobe Eze

CELEBRATION OF THE VALUELESS.

We have come to understand that what we cherish most in this part of the world is worthless things and discard relevant or relegate important things to the mud. Why do we leave the object and pursue its shadow? Many have left what is paramount important to their lives and spend time in doing things that will not benefit them or anyone around them. There is this that Bishop Matthew Hassan Kuka said when he was asked to reply to what some politicians were criticizing the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria (CBCN), “I cannot beatify them with my comment”. If we are to borrow this, then we will shun many stupid things we cherish these days and celebrate the valuables.

There are many ways by which morality is being dragged to the mud and people celebrate them more than anything on earth. Many poor students are excelling in many schools but no one is interested in them but talk about Big Brother Nigeria (BBN), almost all will be interested. Many actors and actresses or more still those in the entertainment world are making effort to see to the promotion of morality and such videos do not sell in our country these days rather, those who are teaching us how to sell our morality are being sold on daily basis. I opened a blog where I post reflections, quotes, homilies, articles and so on, I was not getting enough traffic there. I approached someone to complain to him my experience and to see if he can offer a solution. He told me to post pornographies there and I will hammer. If you open Youtube to watch film, what they will display for you there are pornographic videos. You cannot find a good one there till you search for it and it will come out from the hidden place. We can still remember how people celebrated the deadly dance style ‘one corner’, other songs that are decently danced are forbidden. Naked girls dancing are being celebrated more than ever.

If you ask some people, they will tell you that they are not the ones doing it so, they have nothing to be held against them there. Since you follow and watch them, you are supporting them and that is a way to beatify them which we should not. Why have we degenerated to this level? This is not how our forbearers lived. I remember when I was small, my father normally bark and sometimes beat my elder sisters if he sees them hang their pants outside the bathroom. These days, what we celebrate are those who go naked around the street both male and female. We have left the point. Let us come back when there is still time and stop celebrating the valueless. Let us shun the celebration of the valueless and celebrate the valuables and we shall right the wrong. Thanks.

Tobe Eze (DAN~HILL)

3rd Sunday of Lent Year C. By Tobe Eze

3^rd Sunday of Lent Year C.

First Reading

Exodus 3:1-8a, 13-15

Second Reading

1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12

Gospel

Luke 13:1-9

THEME: GO CLOSER.

There are many Igbo proverbs that explain this our team very well. Some of them are; Onye no mmadu nso n’ anu isi eze ya (someone who is closer to a person perceives the mouth odour of the person), oke no n’ ulo gwara nke no n’ agu n’ azu di na ngiga (a rat that resides in the house is the one that told the wild one that there is fish in the kitchen) and so many other.

The first reading is the story of the first personal encounter Moses had with God in the scene of the burning bush. He saw something very strange, instead of running away, he decided to go closer to understand and God called out to him. By going closer to God, he was chosen and sent by God to his people to redeem them from their suffering in the land of Egypt. Instead of running away from what we do not understand in our faith, we should go closer, ask questions and we shall understand.

Though God was very close to the people of Israel but they were misbehaving and that brought death to them. Moses went closer to God, he saw his glory and lived his life to please the Lord but some or majority of those he was with were not measuring up and that brought serious destruction to them in the desert and this is what the second reading is reminding us today that it does not end in coming closer to God but being able to remove our sandals for we are standing on a holy ground or land. Continue Reading........................

2nd Sunday of Lent Year C. By Tobe Eze

2^nd Sunday of Lent Year C.

First Reading

Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18

Second Reading

Philippians 3:17-4:1

Gospel

Luke 9:28b-36

THEME: STAY IN THE GLORY OF THE LORD.

It is not always easy for one to trust someone one knows very well talk more of trusting someone one does not know, not seen. The glory of the Lord manifests in our lives on daily basis but it seems very difficult sometimes for us to recognize it for we leave the glory or the presence of God to looking for another thing or other things that are not all that necessary. It is always had to be in the presence of the glory of God but it pays more than anything on earth.

Abraham in the first reading brought all that were requested from him for his covenant with his God. He did not stop in bringing them but persisted in the presence of the glory of God. He kept guard over them so that, animals will not feed on them. It is not enough to be converted to Christianity, to receive baptism and other sacraments we receive from God through the church but being able to keep watch so that animals of faith do not feed on our faith and that is the act of remaining in the presence of God. Continue Reading..................................

1st Sunday of Lent Year C. By Tobe Eze

1^st Sunday of Lent Year C.

First Reading

Deuteronomy 26:4-10

Second Reading

Romans 10:8-13

Gospel

Luke 4:1-13

THEME: ROAD TO EGYPT.

A child of 11 years was saved from a burning house. The child was insisting on going back to the house. People were confused about what is pushing the child to act in that way. After several trials but failed, the child started crying. When the child was asked what the problem was, the child said that he left his toy inside the fire. What is a toy compare to his life? Was the child so stupid from your judgment? These and other questions will be answered latter in this reflection.

The first reading is recounting what the people of Israel passed through in the hands of the Egyptians and what led them to Egypt. They were seriously suffering hardship in their hands but the Lord came to their rescue. They cried to the Lord and he heard them. The funniest thing here is that, the major thing that led them into that slavery was food (ihe n’ aba n’ afo). Can we trace anything like that these days in our lives? Can we point out people who are in slavery both psychological, moral, spiritual and even physical and others that are led into that by things that enter the stomach? Continue Reading..........................

8th Sunday in the Ordinary Time Year C. By Tobe Eze

8^th Sunday in the Ordinary Time Year C.

First Reading

Sirach 27:4-7

Second Reading

1 Corinthians 15:54-58

Gospel

Luke 6:39-45

THEME: GIVE YOURSELF A DEFINITION.

It is commonly said that, the way you dress is the way people will address you. In Igbo, Etu isi debe akwa gi ka I ga adina. We majorly give ourselves definition. Others who try to explain or define us are doing that based on what we have shown them that we are. No one talks from nothing. What occupies us gives us our definition and that is why Jesus is telling us that, out of the abundant of the heart, the mouth speaks.

Human beings, animals and even trees are known of what they produce. That a man is known as a wicked man is because he manifested wickedness, that a man is known as a good man is also because he manifested goodness, an animal is known dangerous is the product of the danger it brought out likewise a tree that produces sour fruit is known for that or sweet fruit for that. Continue Reading..............

7th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C. By Tobe Eze

7^th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C.

 First Reading

1 Samuel 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23.

Second Reading

1 Corinthians 15:45-49.

Gospel

Luke 6:27-38

THEME: WONDERFUL BUT VERY HARD.

From my own observance, I think the most rewarding religion on earth is Christianity and the hardest religion to practice. True Christianity is the only religion that preaches loving your enemy and praying for him/her. It is sometimes easier said than done. Think of this.

If you have been a victim or you have someone who has been a victim of this Fulani herdsmen problem. One day you are passing and you happen to see a Fulani Herdsman lying lifeless on the way, what will you do? Help him? Leave him there? Or help in fastening his death? We as human beings believe so much in acting back on those who have offended us and sometimes we do forget those who have been good to us. Continue Reading...................................

6TH Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C. By Tobe Eze

6^TH Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C.
 First reading

JEREMIAH 17:5-8

Second Reading

1 Corinthians 15:12, 16-20

Gospel

Luke 6:17, 20-26

THEME: HAPPY THE MAN WHO PLACED HIS TRUST IN THE LORD.

Let me start with a story that I heard somewhere. Three young men who were business men but were not all that wonderful in their businesses. They had been prayerful as the story went but things were not working as they expected. They met a man whom they thought was doing very well to help them. The man recommended a devotion to our Lady for them. They went home not satisfied for that was not what they expected. They met another man who took them to a native doctor. The native doctor agreed to help them but he gave them a condition. The condition was that they will be turned into vultures for two weeks and after that, they will be turned back to human beings and money will be theirs. Out of curiosity, they accepted. The man turned them into vultures and asked the man who took them there to go and come back after two weeks to go with them. After one week, when the native doctor was on his way to attend to someone, he had accident and died. When the time to turn them back reached, they flew back to the shrine to be turned, on reaching there, they could not see the man. When the person that took them to the place came back, he could only find those vultures and no native doctor. When he went out to ask people about the man, they told him that he is dead. That was when he knew that those three are gone. Continue Reading..........................

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C. By Tobe Eze

5^th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C.

First Reading

Isaiah 6:1-2a, 3-8

Second Reading

1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Gospel

Luke 5:1-11

THEME: GOD REVEALS OUR TRUE SELF.

Sometimes our true self is hidden also to us not only to others. Isaiah, Paul and Peter who are characters in today’s readings did not know their true self till they encountered God. What are the things that are necessary for this encounter? Our state of life may not be necessary but our disposition is what is needed. Isaiah was in the temple praying and he experience the glory of God and his true self came out. Paul was on his way to fight for what he believed to be truth when he encountered the Lord. Peter was doing his job that he has mastered for years when he encountered the Lord. Likewise we can encounter the Lord in different ways in our live. Continue Reading.........................

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C. By Tobe Eze

4^th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C.

First Reading

Jeremiah 1:4-5, 17-19

Second Reading

1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13

Gospel

Luke 4:21-30

THEME: THE PAIN OF LOVE.

Sometimes people are grieved to the heart because of what they receive from love that they show to people. Out of your goodwill, you will show someone love and the person will turn against you and deal with you mercilessly. Shall we stop loving?

A boy came to me one early morning even before morning mass. He came knocking at my door at that early hour. This was during Christmas season. I was asking who may be doing this knowing the type of cold we do experience during that time. When I asked, he called his name and told me that it was him. I asked him any problem and he said yes. I opened my door and he came in. he sat down and started narrating his story. He said, around October, I asked my girlfriend (wife to be), to start that time to look for things that she will use for Christmas that I will not wait till Christmas to start buying because I may not have money that time or things will become too costly. She accepted. Continue Reading.................................

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C. By Tobe Eze

3^rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C.

First Reading

Nehemiah 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10

Second Reading

1 Corinthians 12:12-30

Gospel

Luke 1:1-4, 4:14-21

THEME: THE POWER OF THE WORD OF GOD.

In the beginning was the word, the word was with God and the word was God (John 1:1). And the word took flesh, and dwelt among us (John 1:14).

An old man one day went to the church for the first time. After the homily, he was unease on his seat. When one of the church wardens approached him to know the problem, he told the man that he wanted to appreciate the priest for the wonderful homily. The church warden told him that no one is permitted to reply the homily that it is meant for people to take in, digest and use it in their daily lives and the man accepted that. After the mass when they were going home, he overheard people saying that the priest did not make sense in his homily that day and he was confused. After sometimes, he barked at them. When he went home, he started having mercy on those persons and the entire church for they do not know what they are doing to themselves. Next Sunday he went again and the priest as if he knew about him and started the homily with. “No matter what the world is turning to be, you should not be discouraged for God is still with us”. These words of introduction by the priest gave the man consolation. Why the story? Continue Reading...................................

2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C. By Tobe Eze

2^nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C.

First Reading

Isaiah 62:1-5

Second Reading

1 Corinthians 12:4-11

Gospel

John 2:1-11

THEME: THE LORD HAS VISITED US.

There are many ways we may have suffered in this life that we have doubted the power of God. Some ask questions like; Does God exist at all? Some, is he still alive? Does he care about us? And so many other questions like this one. People who ask these questions are not all that wrong but they are still wrong for it shows how little their faith in God is. Even if we have lost faith in God, today’s reading are consolations to us. They are to encourage us, to still have faith in God. Continue Reading.............

ARTIFICIAL EQUAL FINGERS. By Tobe Eze

ARTIFICIAL EQUAL FINGERS.

We have been hearing from time immemorial that, “all fingers are not equal. Umu aka nile aharo“. Watching human being’s and animals' fingers, one will notice that the assertion is very correct. If it is true, why then the topic “Artificial Equal Fingers”?

This topic is the product of imitation people do these days that are very much alarming. People are no longer interested in discovering their potentialities and to work towards actualizing them rather, we are now interested in actualizing other persons' potentialities. Let me use stories to bring it down to earth.

The first one goes like this: A man in an inn refreshing himself after the fatigue of his work was listening to two persons discussing. A man and a woman were discussing each talking about his and her family. The man said that his wife uses kiss to wake him up and when he wakes up, the first thing that he will see is his breakfast before him. He said, he goes out anytime and comes in anytime without his wife complaining. He went to the extent of saying that his wife doesn’t talk, contribute anything in the family that he is the Lord of the house. He further said that he does not remember last he gave his wife money for food talk more of other things women usually need. The other woman was talking in the same vain with the man narrated almost the same thing that the man said that his wife does. After listening to them, the man was contemplating whether he is married or not? When he reached home, he gradually started practicing all that he heard in the inn he went. As he started practicing it gradually, his family followed it to collapsing gradually and at the end, his family collapsed.

The second is: A newly married woman went to her friend’s house who was married earlier for a visit. When they were discussing about marriage or married life. The newly married lady narrated how lovely her husband has been. After telling many long stories, the other one was left dumbfounded. She was a kind of “am I in marriage or something else”. When the husband came back, attitude changed. The husband being an understanding man noticed that there is something wrong somewhere managed himself to discover the problem and solution to it for they have been living in peace. One day, it happened that the second woman in turn visited the newly married woman. On her arrival, she saw the lady kneeling down in front of her husband begging him and the husband was with a belt as a cane for his wife. She immediately turned back and went to seek for forgiveness from her husband. That saved the family.

That this person is doing this and it is working for him does not mean that if you do it, it will work for you. God created us differently with different gifts which we must discover for us to be happy. Two or more persons can have the same talent or destiny or gift but there will still exist, a little difference. We are different no matter how we imitate others, we still have something in us that differentiates us and that we should discover. We cannot form fingers that are equal no matter how we try. Just know that we have different sizes in fingers and that is how it is in life. Artificial equal fingers will fail us if we continue to form it. All Fingers are not Equal. THANKS

TOBE EZE (DAN~HILL).

I WILL MARRY YOU. By Tobe Eze

I WILL MARRY YOU.

The "I will marry you" syndrome is becoming too high these days and almost all of such promises do not lead to the actual marriage. It is a mark of gentility to make a promise and fulfil it. The scripture testifies to this when it says through the psalmist Make a vow to the Lord and fulfil it (Psalm 76:11 and others Deuteronomy 23:21-23, Numbers 30:2,)”. Why this topic?

Many stories have been told about those who promised themselves marriage at their youthful age and after they will marry and make a very wonderful homes. There are also many stories of people who make the same promise but after they will not marry. They will part in peace. Some again with the same promise will part out of one problem or the other. If all these are possible, how do we know the one that will end in a peaceful way?

1.       It takes people who are mature to make this promise and fulfil it. If we look at those who made this promise and fulfilled it, they did not make that promise at the beginning of their friendship at or at their early age. Even Aristotle in his explanation of perfect friendship said that it takes time to grow. They meet themselves, study themselves and come to a conclusion that they can be together and they go for it. Mostly this type makes a wonderful home 

2.       The second is like the first one but the only difference is that they noticed that they cannot live together and so decided to part ways. Many things may cause this but the success lies in understanding. It maybe a biological problem, behavioural problem, in some places tribal problem, parental or relation’s problem and so on. All these can be solved through understanding.

3.       The Last is what is causing trouble every now and then in our society. There are people who have not known what the world is all about but they go ahead promising themselves marriage. I had a classmate in the secondary school who promised a girl that he will marry her in our JSS2. Before our SS3, the girl had already overgrown him. That destroyed the whole thing. Because this last one is where my interest lies, I will take time to explore it.

Girls, why do you allow yourself to be deceived so much with the statement I will marry you? Does life end in marriage? Boys why do we use this statement I will marry you knowing that it is too expensive for girls to deceive them? The consequence may be above us. Many girls have met or are experiencing hell now on earth because of this “I will marry you” syndrome. Girls please not all men are serious with that statement, they are just using it to get you to bed and probably, trouble. Boys, if you know you will not marry, please do not promise. We are using this to spoil our society. Because of limited space, I will not tell stories but there are many that would have brought this to earth. We may individually have many of them. Ka anyi were ire anyi guo eze anyi onu (let us watch this ugly trend) and we will enjoy the fruit of true love and true “I will marry you”. THANKS.

TOBE EZE (DAN~HILL).

The Baptism of the Lord – Feast Year C. By Tobe Eze

The Baptism of the Lord – Feast Year C.

FIRST READING
Isaiah 40:1—5, 9—11

SECOND READING
Titus 2:11—14; 3:4—7

GOSPEL
Luke 3:15—16, 21—22

THEME: THE WATER OF REBIRTH

Christ being God, a man without sin, why was he baptized? We are taught that baptism is a sacrament that washes away our original sin, makes us Christians, children of God and bringing us into one faith. Christ had no need of all these but he was baptized. Incantation was to divinize humanity and to humanize divinity. He took our nature to save us. His life on earth was just as a yardstick that all should follow and that contributed to his acceptance to be baptized in the river Jordan by John. As he has shown us examples of the way we should follow, he practiced many of them which baptism is one of them. To show us the importance of baptism, he said to Nicodemus, if you are not reborn by water (baptism) you will not enter the kingdom of God. When he was about leaving his apostles, he charged them to baptize people in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matthew 28:19). Continue Reading.............................

Solemnity of The Epiphany of the Lord Year C. By Tobe Eze

Solemnity of The Epiphany of the Lord Year C.

FIRST READING
Isaiah 60:1—6

SECOND READING
Ephesians 3:2—3a, 5—6

GOSPEL
Matthew 2:1—12

THEME: LET OUR STARS SHINE WITH THE LORD.

What type of thing attract people to us? Money, speech, behaviours, shape of the body, colour of the skin, height and so on? All these are not in themselves evils but there are ways they will manifest themselves and they turn to be evil.

The three readings are talking about the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ as we celebrate it today. This solemnity does not mean that it is only today that Christ has manifested himself to us rather, it is to bring to our notice what happens to us daily and how we should approach it.

Following Christ is a journey of faith for sometimes we may not know where we are going but with faith, we say that our Master knows the way. Talking from the old, Abraham the father of faith made a journey of faith when he left his father’s house, going to the place the Lord will show him which he didn’t know (Genesis 11:31-12:9), but by faith he made the journey. Still on Abraham, he made a statement he didn’t also know on the way to sacrifice his son Isaac “the Lord will provide (Genesis 22:8)”. And latter the Lord provided. All the apostles and disciples of our Lord followed him without knowing where they were going. He was just calling them and asking them to follow him and they were leaving everything behind and were following him. When he wanted to enter Jerusalem, he sent two out to go and get him a donkey  unclear message but with faith, they went without complaining or fear and everything went well for them (Matthew 12:21). Likewise the two that prepared the upper room for the last supper (Luke 22:12). Continue Reading....................

NEW YEAR DAY. WORLD DAY OF PEACE. Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God Year C. By Tobe Eze

NEW YEAR DAY. WORLD DAY OF PEACE. Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

 Year C.

FIRST READING
Numbers 6:22—27

SECOND READING
Galatians 4:4—7

GOSPEL
Luke 2:16—21

THEME: LET US BE NEW BY LEAVING EVIL AND SEEKING PEACE WHICH MARY HAS GIVEN BIRTH TO PRINCE OF PEACE.

We have three great celebrations today and three of them are very significant in our lives. Today is the beginning of a New Year, today being a beginning of a New Year is the world day of peace and the Church is celebrating today Mary Mother of God. Three great feasts but related. Let us take them one after the other.

New Year: What is new in us about this New Year? At the beginning of every year, people make different resolutions. This and that is (are) my New Year resolution (s). To what end? How many weeks do we keep to those resolutions we make? Some do not exceed January, some February and mostly the highest will last till March and we will go back to our normal way of life. New Year does not change any person rather we are the ones to change ourselves. It is good to make resolutions and work towards achieving them for that is a way of planning life. These beautiful resolutions we make have to be renewed if we want to achieve them. Let us try and see if we can write them down and check them or read them each day before embarking on the day’s activities and again at night to check the effort made. How can we connect this to the second celebration? Continue Reading.............

The Feast of Holy Family Year C. By Tobe Eze

The Feast of Holy Family Year C.

First Reading

Ecclesiasticus 3:3-7, 14-17

Second Reading

Colossians 3:12-21

Gospel

Luke 2:41-52

THEME: OUR MODEL.

There is a family in my place that before now, people have never noticed that they have ever quarreled. Our parish priest then was preparing some families who have already started their family life without wedding. Both young men and women and old men and women for mass wedding during Easter. One day, he asked them, how will you like to build your family? One of the old women stood up and said. Achoro mu ka ezinulo mu diri ka nke John Eze. When she was asked why, she said, they have never quarreled. After the wedding and everything concerning it. One day the old woman was going around in the evening, she come beside John Eze’s house and she was hearing some noise. When she approached to know what was happening, she heard the voice of John’s wife barking at the husband. She was scandalized. As she went closer, she heard the voice of John telling the wife, please we can settle this at night. People may be hearing us now and the wife accepted. The woman shouted in our local dialect. “Nya bu ne onye lile akwo ne azu ne ike nye yeru oye” (Onye nile akwo n’ azu, ike ya yere oye. Everyone being carried at the back, his/her bottom is open). This means that everyone has his/her own problem but it is now the way you carry it around. Continue Reading...........

Solemnity of Christmas Day Year C. By Tobe Eze

Solemnity of Christmas Day Year C.

First Reading

Isaiah 52:7-10

Second Reading

Hebrews 1:1-6

Gospel

John 1:1-18

THEME: WHAT IS CHRISTMAS FOR YOU?

Many people have different ideas of Christmas. Ethnic groups may have different views, ages or epochs may have different views and nature may also have different views. In all these, individually, we have different views. Now, let us ask ourselves what Christmas is for us.

The first reading is taking Christmas as a time of bringing good tidings or good news to the people. Blessed are the feet of those who bring good news to the people of God. What message do you carry during Christmas?

The second reading is talking about the son of God whom God is well pleased with. Through Jesus Christ, we are all adopted children of God. The question now is, is God well pleased with us? Can he proudly call us his children? With what we do during this Christmas season, can God beat his chest and call us his children? Continue Reading..............

4th Sunday of Advent Year C. By Tobe Eze

4^th Sunday of Advent Year C.

First Reading

Micah 5:1-4a

Second Reading

Hebrews 10:5-10

Gospel

Luke 1:39-45

THEME: WHO SHALL BE OUR NEW BETHLEHEM?

A story was told of a community that wanted to go for war against another community. The king was asking of young men who can go for war. Many young men willingly submitted to go to the war. People were coming out and they were being clapped for. When one young man stood up to join, the scenario changed from clapping to laughing. Why was it so? Because the boy that stood up was not fit for the war. He was rejected by the people because they knew he was not strong and had no quality of a strong man. Out of anger he told the King, in one week time, I will like to wrestle with the strongest man of the community, if he wins me, banish me from this kingdom, but if I win him, I will follow them to war, and the king accepted. When he went home, he noticed the gravity of what he said and started strong training and practices. He called all his friends and they helped him in any form they could to make him strong for the wrestling. When the appointed day came, all came out to see how he will be disgraced and at last, banished from the kingdom. The wrestling started and the story changed from what the people expected to another thing. After a long struggle, he defeated the strongest man of the community and that gave him firm in the community and he joined his fellow men to prepare for the community war. Why the story? Continue Reading............................

3rd Sunday of Advent Year C (Gaudate Sunday). By Tobe Eze

3^rd Sunday of Advent Year C (Gaudate Sunday).

First Reading

Zephaniah 3:14-18a

Second Reading

Philippians 4:4-7

Gospel

Luke 3:10-18

THEME: REJOICE, I REPEAT REJOICE.

Why are all the readings asking us to rejoice? Even the second reading repeated it, why? It is because of the importance of the joy that is to come that all the readings are now asking us to rejoice. Igbos will say, oke ehi dobie, oke mmadu achuwa ya. The greatest plan of God for man after his fall is about to take place and that is why we should rejoice. Our salvation is assured and it is a great thing that calls for joy.

The three reading are preparing us for the coming of our saviour Jesus Christ who will be born to us to save us from sin death and to bring us back into life which we lost through our first parents when they fell (Genesis 3). The first reading made us to understand that the Lord has remembered us, the second reading is telling us that our saviour is at hand and that is why we should rejoice and the gospel has come to make us know the way we are to prepare to welcome our saviour. Continue Reading.....................................

2nd Sunday of Advent Year C. By Tobe Eze

2^nd Sunday of Advent Year C.

First Reading

Baruch 5:1-9

Second Reading

Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11

Gospel

Luke 3:1-6

THEME: CUTTING AND LEVELING OF OUR ROADS.

In my village, every last Saturday of October every year is a day of repairing our village roads. After repairing the road, many things that do block the road will be cut and potholes will be filled. Gutters will be constructed again to avoid water flowing on the road. After doing that, everywhere will be looking good and it will be appreciated by all who use the road. After sometime into the year, before the last Saturday in October, our roads will get worse and it will become difficult for people using vehicles to use them. My persons thought of what should be done to solve the problem, they thought of having the repairing twice in a year but people objected, because of coming home and going back to different places where they live. After a long argument, a conclusion was reached that after every three months, those living in the village should help and fill those potholes to help the road not getting worst. They started it but another problem came out. Before that three months, there may be a heavy rain once or twice and it will wipe out the whole thing and the road will get worse again. Another solution has to be brought out and that solution is now helping everyone. They reached the conclusion that, anyone that erosion destroys the road before his house should repay it, not waiting till three months or whatever but with immediate effect and that has brought a wonderful solution to the problem. During the general repairing of roads, the work will be very small and all will do that happily and go. Why this story? Continue Reading.......................

1st Sunday of Advent Year C. By Tobe Eze

1st Sunday of Advent Year C.

FIRST READING
Jeremiah 33:14—16

SECOND READING
1 Thessalonians 3:12—4:2

GOSPEL
Luke 21:25—28, 34—36

THEME: THE SALVATION GOD PLANNED FOR US.

God destined us not for retribution but to win salvation through Jesus Christ (1 Thessalonians 5:1). He planned for our salvation before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4). This is the time we always expect that promise in Christ Jesus.

God said in the first reading through the prophet Jeremiah says, “The days are coming, says the LORD, when I will fulfil the promise I made to the house of Israel and Judah”. That his plan of salvation for humanity is what he is telling us today being the first Sunday of Advent. A time when we prepare for the commemoration of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Advent is a time for preparation for the coming of our saviour. It is not that we don’t prepare ourselves other times but we do it more now. Continue Reading..................

Solemnity of Christ the King Year B. By Tobe Eze

Solemnity of Christ the King Year B.

FIRST READING
Daniel 7:13—14

SECOND READING
Revelation 1:5—8

GOSPEL
John 18:33b—37

THEME: A GENTLE KING.

When we were growing up, when I was still in the secondary school. Our Parish (when we were still in our mother parish) encouraged us to be going for joint prayer. Each station should bring out a day in a week when they go to one of the Block Rosary centres in their station. It should continue to rotate among the centres. It will help to strengthen the centres in the station. I was the president of my own centre. One day when we were going for the joint prayer, during Akatakpa masquerade’s festival, we met one of them on the way. The children I was with wanted to run but I calmed them down. The Akatakpa ran towards us to scare me so that he will scatter us and beat those he can. I continued telling those kids not to move that nothing will happen. When it came closer enough and noticed that we were not moved, it turned and went to another direction. The next day, the boy in the masquerade came to me and asked me what gave me that courage as young as I was then. I told him, as a leader I had to, had it been I moved, what would have been the fate of those kids? In other to rule, you have to show your subject that you can protect them from prevailing dangers. Why the story? It is not that it is equal to whom Jesus is to us and what he did for us but just to show how he supports us in all our hard times. Continue Reading......................

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

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B.

FIRST READING
Daniel 12:1—3

SECOND READING
Hebrews 10:11—14, 18

GOSPEL
Mark 13:24—32

THEME: WHEN THE TRUMPET SOUNDS, WHERE SHALL WE GO?

The way we cherish this life we are living is making some to ask, are we still going to die? You will see an old man about 90-120 years still praying for long life and good health. What other long life is he looking for? It is not evil to pray for long life and good health but where the problem lies is on how we go about it. We are more interested in this passing life more than the everlasting life. Why this intro? The church in her wisdom is bringing to our consciousness the things of the end of time or eschatology through the three readings of today.

The first reading is telling us about those who did well and those that did not. It ended with these words, "But the wise shall shine brightly like the splendour of the firmament, and those who lead the many to justice shall be like the stars forever." The question now is, do we lead people to justice or jungle? Do we lead peace or pieces? These are the questions we should ask ourselves to know where we are going. Continue Reading...............