Tuesday Of Week 14 Year A By Tobe Eze

 Tuesday Of Week 14 Year A

First Reading: Genesis 32:22-32

Gospel: Matthew 9:32-38

Theme: Let us keep it till this day

It is very common in our nature and among us to keep what we got from our forefathers both good and bad and we call them tradition or culture. This is mostly found in our youths these days going back to what our parents ran away from to embrace the gospel in the name of culture.

After the story of Jacob and the fight, we heard that his name was changed. Can’t we keep changing from bad to good till this day? We also heard in the conclusion that the Israelites do not eat the hip till this day because of their father Jacob. Can't we keep morals our forefathers taught us to this day? We stick to so-called cultures of our parents but will leave the morals they taught, behind. Who is deceiving who? No one is against our genuine culture but people leave our cultural heritage and take up the ones they like which most times are not even our culture.

In the gospel we can see Christ doing good despite the evil talks from the Pharisees against him. He also showed us what to keep to this day. Let us teach those who need teaching till this day as Christ did. Let us also show compassion to those who need it till this day as Christ did to those who needed it. Let us heal hearts till this day as Christ healed those who were sick. If we do these, if we keep them till this day, we shall make heaven. Thanks.

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.