15th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A By Tobe Eze

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

FIRST READING
Isaiah 55:10—11

SECOND READING
Romans 8:18—23

GOSPEL
Matthew 13:1—23

THEME: MANY HEARERS BUT FEW DOERS.

Have we ever asked ourselves the question why our lives have not changed since we have been hearing the word of God? Since our childhood till now we have been hearing the word of God in Churches, homes, cars, buses, roads, morning, afternoon, evening, night and every nook and crony but we are still behaving the way we behave. If we look at our various villages, we will see that there are few pagans but we have many evils here and there. Who are those doing them? A man bought a new motorcycle, the day he bought the motorcycle, he went to a beer parlor. After drinking, he left the motorcycle there because he drank to stupor. In the morning, he started to shout that thieves have taken the motorcycle. His wife called him and told him that he did not come home with it. When he went back to the beer parlor, he saw the motorcycle safe and sound. On reaching home, he told the wife that they will go for Thanksgiving on Sunday. After mass he told the Rev. Fr. To come and bless the motorcycle. On reaching where it was parked, there was no motorcycle like that one. It was stolen in the Church. My question is, those who stole that motorcycle, are they Christians or pagans? Are they those listening to the word of God? Continue Reading

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A By Tobe Eze

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

FIRST READING
Zechariah 9:9—10

SECOND READING
Romans 8:9, 11—13

GOSPEL
Matthew 11:25—30

THEME: GENTLENESS IS A VIRTUE.

Last week we were talking about the identity of a true Christian, and in today’s gospel Jesus is telling us about gentleness and meekness of heart which are also identities of a true Christian.

A story was told about a King who was sick. His native doctor came and told him that before you can be cured, that all your relations must die. The King immediately ordered his guards to seize him for his is a wicked doctor. Another doctor came and told the King that before your sickness can be cured, all those who have hands in it must die. The King asked him, so this was caused by human being? He answered him yes. Then, he asked again, who are they? The doctor told him. I am afraid for those who caused this are not far from you. He continued to ask. Then the doctor said again to him. If I may suggest, you better suffer this sickness than to lose your relations but if you want to be healed, their lives may be required. The King did not lock him up because of the way he approached the problem. He did it in a gentle way.

13th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A By Tobe Eze

13th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

FIRST READING
2 Kings 4:8—11, 14—16a

SECOND READING
Romans 6:3—4, 8—11

GOSPEL
Matthew 10:37—42

THEME: SHOW THE CHRISTIAN IDENTITY.

Elisha is a prophet who came after Elijah. Elijah was fighting war against the worship of Baal in Israel, then Elisha was his servant. After the fight and the conquer, Elijah left the work of bringing back the people of Israel back to God for Elisha to do. This was what he was doing when he came to Shunem. The certain woman in Shunem is today showing us the first example of identity of a true Christian.

In the second reading, St. Paul is also reminding us of our identity as Christians. Christ died once to sin and he will not die again we too died for sin through our baptism in Christ Jesus. We should sin no more for we are in Christ Jesus. Those who are in Christ Jesus should be holy for he himself is holy and any unclean thing will not enter the kingdom.

In the Gospel, Jesus is telling us that we should love him above every other thing in this world. During Stations of the Cross, we say this always without even meditating on what we say often. I love thee Jesus above all things! I repent with my whole hearts of having offended thee, never permit me to separate myself from thee again, grant that I may love thee always and then, do with me all thy Wilt. The emphasis is on the first part of it, where we say, we love thee above all things. We always claim that we love God but we hate his creatures especially our fellow human beings. What a contradiction?

12th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A By Tobe Eze

12th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

FIRST READING
Jeremiah 20:10—13

SECOND READING
Romans 5:12—15

GOSPEL
Matthew 10:26—33

THEME: THE VALUES OF OUR BRETHREN ARE IN OUR HANDS.

There is nothing that pains like betrayal. What happened between Caesar and Brutus is a typical example of what betrayal can do. Caesar on seeing the danger ran to his one and only friend for refuge and he was the one who first stabbed him and he shouted et tu Brute even you Brutus! We can again see act of betrayal in the famous novel of Chinua Achebe Things fall apart. Okonkwo betrayed Ikemefuna who took him as his father.

In the first reading, Jeremiah thought his friends were for him, but they were busy planning another thing for him.   Some whom we trust most are those who betrayal us. Someone will with all heart, mind, soul and body trust us and we will only tell the person. Please trust nobody. Jesus in Matthew 5:37 said. Let your yes be yes and your no be no, anything apart from this comes from the evil one. If no one can trust us, it means our yes is no more yes and no is no more no. Some of Christians when they say, RUN! then know that they mean stop. It was not, it is not and will never be our identity. We are playing with our values much, especially our brethren’s own. Too Bad. Sometimes I begin to wonder if it is better to use opposite instead of using this sentence. This thing I am telling you, do not tell any other person. Because, information that travels fast is the one meant to be kept secret. When one is asked not to say something, that is the one the person will like to talk about. Why? Because people do not know or do not understand again that his brothers, sisters and neighbour's values are in our hands. Someone who trusted you with everything is the one you are using to gossip. Using to win favour. Too Bad. See more

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

Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

FIRST READING
Deuteronomy 8:2—3, 14b—16a

SECOND READING
1 Corinthians 10:16—17

GOSPEL
John 6:51—58

OFFER AND ACCEPTANCE WITHOUT CONSIDERATION.

The love of God towards us is unquantifiable. God loves us so much that, a night before his death he instituted the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist and Holy Orders. He instituted the Holy Eucharist and to allow us to partake of it even when he is not with us physically, he asked his apostles to do it in memory of him (Luke 19:22). In the second reading of today St. Paul is making it clearer to us that the bread we break and the cup we bless are body and blood of Christ. During last supper, he said to his apostles, take this all of you and eat it for this is my body which will be given up for you and when supper was ended, he took the cup and blessed it gave it to his apostles saying take this and drink from it for this is my blood, the blood of the new covenant and everlasting covenant, for the forgiveness of sins of many. Do this in memory of me. In today’s gospel, Jesus is telling us that we can only see life in him. He is the only life that we can embrace and we will be sure of everlasting life. Onye obuna riri ma obu nuo obara mu ga enwe ndu maka na ahu bu ihe oriri ma obara mu bu ihe onunu. His flesh and are the best thing that will happen to us. Continue Reading

Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity By Tobe Eze

Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

FIRST READING
Exodus 34:4b—6, 8—9

SECOND READING
2 Corinthians 13:11—13

GOSPEL
John 3:16—18

THEME: THE LOVE AMONG THE TRINITY.

GLORY BE TO THE FATHER AND TO THE SON AND TO THE HOLY SPIRIT.

BIBLICAL VIEWS ABOUT TRINITY.

In Genesis 1, the Bible said that, when the world was in a formless void, the Spirit was hovering around the water. In the same Genesis, God said let us create man in our own image and likeness. From this statement, it sows that were other persons existing with God that time. If it was only him, he would just say, let me create man in my own image and likeness. The Trinitarian has been into existence from before creation. (Genesis 1:2 and Genesis 1:26).

Pentecost – Solemnity By Tobe Eze

Pentecost – Solemnity

FIRST READING

Acts 2:1—11

SECOND READING 1 Corinthians 12:3b—7, 12—13

 GOSPEL

John 20:19—23

THEME: THE HOLY SPIRIT GIVES MANY GIFTS TO US BUT NOT SPIRIT OF FIGHTING.

There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit. 

Ọkwanụ ofu Alahaji ka anyị n' achịrị efi. The Holy Spirit of God is a spirit that gives many positive gifts to the people of God. Many persons are now adding are now adding many other gifts saying that they come from the Holy Spirit. Gifts like:

Group learning how to speak in tongues

Gift of falling down at the slit of any prayer

Gift of fighting etc. Continue Reading

7th Sunday of Easter Year A By Tobe Eze

JERUSALEM

7th Sunday of Easter Year A

FIRST READING
Acts 1:12—14

SECOND READING
1 Peter 4:13—16

GOSPEL
John 17:1—11a

THEME: LET US GO BACK TO JERUSALEM.

After all said and done, returning is the best. East and West, home is the best. After Jesus had been taken up to heaven the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day's journey away. In my school, when holidays are coming closer, the joy of going back to my root always becomes excess. I always long to go back to my home where the journey started. In today’s readings, we are called to make a bold step back home. The examples of this journey are the apostles who went back to Jerusalem after the ascension of our Lord. They went back where they started the journey with the Lord. Jesus left them when they needed him most. We can remember when we were small or children should tell how they feel when our or their mothers leave to go for a place without us or them. But they realized that when this door closes, another will open immediately. They listened to the inner voice that reminded them of the promise of Jesus. I will send you the Holy Spirit. We always come back to ourselves when we go back to the house and meet our other brethren. We forget about our mothers that time. Moving back to the rightful place is the best move we can make in life. Continue Reading

6th Sunday of Easter Year A By Tobe Eze

6th Sunday of Easter Year A

FIRST READING
Acts 8:5—8, 14—17

SECOND READING
1 Peter 3:15—18

GOSPEL
John 14:15—21

THEME: ACTIONS SPEAK MORE THAN WORDS.

Always be ready to give an explanation to anyone who asks you for a reason for your hope, but do it with gentleness and reverence, keeping your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who defame your good conduct in Christ may themselves be put to shame. From the second reading.

A story by Mark Link says: An Angel was going with fire in the right hand and water in the left hand. When the Angel met a man, the man asked the angel what he will be doing with those items. And the Angel replied; I will use the fire to destroy the kingdom of heaven and water to quench the fire in the hell fire so that, there will not be any reward for the righteous and wicked, through this he may know those who love God. This little story will usher us in into what the first and second reading and the Gospel are telling us today. Jesus told his disciples, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” Some of claim to love God only because they need reward from him and it is manifest in one of the names we call him. Etoo dike na nke omere omekwa ọzọ. We no longer praise God for his good but to receive more blessings from him. We do not do charity because it is good but to receive after the act. We measure the charity we do with the reward we will get in return. We always ask; How far can I go before I sin? How much can I steal before I sin gravely? How little can I give and still satisfy my Christian obligation? But we should focus more on; What more can I do to help? We should ask our neighbours is there anything you need? Don’t hesitate to call me at any time. This is the service we see when there is love. Continue Reading

5th Sunday of Easter Year A By Tobe Eze

5th Sunday of Easter Year A
FIRST READING

Acts 6:1—7

SECOND READING
1 Peter 2:4—9

GOSPEL
John 14:1—12

THEME: BE KNOWN FOR DOING GOOD.

Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task, whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word." From the first reading.

In the first reading, the problem of sharing food among the early Christians came up and it was tackled immediately by choosing seven deacons to help in sharing of food. They were chosen from among men, among their own brothers. In the second reading, St. Peter is trying to tell us that if we should develop and grab that identity God prepared for us. You are "a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises" of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Agbụrụ ahọtara ahọta, ndị nchụ aja nọ na ọkwa Eze, Mba dị nsọ, ndị Chineke họtara onwe ya anyị bụ ndị isi na ọchịchịrị kpọbata n' Ihe nke gị dị ebube. In the Gospel, Jesus is telling us apostles of this age that he has many mansions for us in his father’s house. Continue Reading

4th Sunday of Easter Year A By Tobe Eze

4th Sunday of Easter Year A (GOOD SHEPHERD SUNDAY)

FIRST READING
Acts 2:14a, 36—41

SECOND READING
1 Peter 2:20b—25

GOSPEL
John 10:1—10

THEME: WHERE IS THE LIFE? WHAT IS HAPPENING?

I will give you life, life in abundant (John 10:10b) this is the conclusion of today’s gospel.  From what is happening to and around us, I have questions to ask. In the first reading St. Peter did the perfect work of a shepherd by talking to the people about Jesus and bringing them to him. Second reading and the gospel are presenting to us the pure and that which is expected of us as shepherds and sheep. To follow Christ’s example, by suffering.

The questions are now. (1) Do we still have shepherds like Peter? (2) Or the sheep are no more listening and lastly? (3) Where is the life promised us? Ọbụ n’ ọkpụisi amaghị akpụ ka ọbụ agụba adịghị nkị? Continue Reading

3rd Sunday of Easter By Tobe Eze

3rd Sunday of Easter

FIRST READING
Acts 2:14, 22—33

SECOND READING
1 Peter 1:17—21

GOSPEL
Luke 24:13—35

THEME: HE CANNOT LEAVE US AMONG THE DEAD.

The obstacle in our path

In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock. Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none did anything about getting the stone out of the way.
Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the King indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway.
The peasant learned what many of us never understand! Every obstacle presents an opportunity to improve our condition. Continue Reading

2nd Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy) By Tobe Eze

2nd Sunday of Easter (Divine Mercy)

FIRST READING
Acts 2:42—47

SECOND READING
1 Peter 1:3—9

GOSPEL
John 20:19—31

THEME: GOD LOVES TOGETHERNESS

A story: Helping Others.

Once there was a small boy named Shankar. He belonged to a poor family. One day, he was crossing through the forest carrying some woods. He saw an old man who was very hungry. Shankar wanted to give him some food, but he did not have food for his own. So he continued on his way. On his way he saw a deer who was very thirsty. He wanted to give him some water, but he did not have water for himself. So he went on his way ahead. Then he saw a man who wanted to make a camp but he did not have woods. Shankar asked his problem and gave some woods to him. In return, he gave him some food and water. Now he went back to the old man and gave him some food and gave some water to the deer. The old man and the deer were very happy. Shankar than happily went on his way. Continue Reading

Easter Day - The Resurrection of the Lord By Tobe Eze

Easter Day - The Resurrection of the Lord

FIRST READING
Acts 10:34a, 37—43

SECOND READING
Colossians 3:1—4

GOSPEL
John 20:1—9

THEME: THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN SAVE.

Alleluia Alleluia. It is been said in Igbo language, Onye ihe ọma mere adịghị aza Ọzọemena. He who is favoured by fortune do not say, let it not happen again. A good thing has happened to us that the Lord has risen from death freeing us from death. Ihe ukwu mere anyị, ka anyị kele nu Chukwu.   A Story:

Night Watchman: The manager of a firm advertised for a night watchman. All the applicants were present. But the manager was not satisfied. He found something wrong with each man. There was Raju, an applicant. He was sitting in a corner waiting for his turn of interview. Manager found nothing wrong in his appearance. He questioned about his health. He got the reply that he was suffering from sleeplessness. Manager was happy and appointed him.  It was St. Anselm who said, when God was looking for the one who will bring salvation to humankind, he could not use any of the created thing both man and animal for both are not perfect. It was only he himself that is perfect and he took human nature to save mankind. The manager who was looking for someone whom he will employ, he could not find anyone for the job except he that was suffering from sleeplessness. God also knew that Jesus was, is and will continue to be only the perfect being that can save humankind from sin and suffering, he also knew that Jesus was, is and will continue to suffer from love. It was because God saw that Jesus has everything it takes, that was why he gave him up for us.

The journey of our salvation which started on the annunciation day has been fulfilled today. Today the Lord has risen from the dead and this is the salvation which God prepared for us through Christ immediately after the fall of the first Adam. Christ’s mission on earth are (1) Died to win death for us. (2) For his side to be opened, so that salvation and the Church will be born. (3) He died to be the firstborn from the dead. (4) He died to fulfill what the scripture said. (5) He died for our sins. And lastly (6) He died for love. Continue Reading

Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion By Tobe Eze

Palm Sunday of the Lord's Passion

At the Procession with Palms

GOSPEL
Matthew 21:1—11

At the Mass

FIRST READING
Isaiah 50:4—7

SECOND READING
Philippians 2:6—11

GOSPEL
Longer Form Matthew 26:14—27:66

THEME: LOOK BEYOND THE CROWD.

In one week time, the journey of our salvation which started on the Annunciation day will come to fulfillment. Jesus humbled himself, taking the form of a servant just to bring us salvation. Isaiah the prophet in today’s first reading is telling us exactly what Jesus did for our salvation. Jesus gave up everything, he did not talk just to give us salvation.

As Christians, many things are expected from and of us. We should learn from Jesus today who did not in his life time succumbed to the wishes of the crowd. The people we see today singing praises for us may also be the ones that will condemn us tomorrow. Jesus who looked beyond the crowd saw that it is best to be lifted up as recorded in the second reading by God not by crowd. In (John 6:15) after feeding of five thousand men excluding children and women, the crowd was trying to make him king which he did not accept for he know what crowd can be. The best king is the one made by God.

Crowd is a faceless identity. It is this same crowd today in the first Gospel was shouting Hosanna, throwing branches and clothes for Jesus to walk on them. On good Friday it will also be the same crowd that will shout crucify him crucify him. Jesus encountered many crowds in his life time but he was seeing beyond what ordinary men can see about crowd. Continue Reading

5th Sunday of Lent Year A By Tobe Eze

5th Sunday of Lent Year A

FIRST READING

Ezekiel 37:12-14

SECOND READING

Romans 8:8-11

GOSPEL

John 11:1-45

THEME: GOD CAN RAISE OUR DEAD SITUATIONS TO LIFE AGAIN.

My fellow Christians, we are drawing closer to the great event of our salvation, which is Easter. Today’s readings are telling us also like that of last week how God can bring out fortunes from our misfortunes. In the first reading today, the prophet Ezekiel is giving us hope that our dry bones will rise again. And the second reading is trying to make us understand that, it is only through living in the spirit that our dry bones will rise again. The Gospel makes it clearer that if we are living our lives in spirit, Jesus will cry to his father in our own dead situations like he cried for his friend Lazarus who was dead. Continue Reading

4th Sunday of Lent Year A Laetera Sunday By Tobe Eze

4th Sunday of Lent Year A

Laetera Sunday
FIRST READING
1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a

SECOND READING
Ephesians 5:8—14

GOSPEL

John 9:1—41

THEME: God's ways are not our ways.

What Is Laetare Sunday? Laetare Sunday (/lɛˈtɑːrɛ/), so called from the incipit of the Introit at Mass, "Laetare Jerusalem" ("Rejoice, O Jerusalem"), from Isaiah 66:10, is a name often used to denote the fourth Sunday of the season of Lent in the Western Christian liturgical calendar. Again, Laetare Sunday is the popular name for the Fourth Sunday in Lent. The name comes from the first word of the Introit or entrance antiphon of the Mass for that day: Since there are six Sundays in Lent, Laetare Sunday falls just past the midpoint of Lent. For that reason, Laetare Sunday has traditionally been viewed as a day of celebration, on which the austerity of Lent is briefly lessened; the organ is played, flowers are allowed on the altar, and the purple vestments of Lent, signifying penance, are set aside and, as on Gaudete Sunday in Advent, rose ones are used instead. Continue Reading

3rd Sunday of Lent Year A By Tobe Eze

3rd Sunday of Lent; Saint Joseph, Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

FIRST READING
Exodus 17:3—7

SECOND READING
Romans 5:1—2, 5—8

GOSPEL

 John 4:5—42

THEME: LOOK FOR THE WATER OF LIFE.

Why is God using water today? What is he trying to tell us with water? What is water symbolizing? And lastly. What is water? I will start from the last question.

What is water? Scientifically, Water is a polar inorganic compound that is at room temperature a tasteless and odorless liquid, nearly colorless with a hint of blue. Water is a liquid that washes many dirty things to make them clean. Water cleans everything and bring it to a better state. It is a pure substance.

What is water symbolizing? For the fact that water washes everything and makes them clean, then water can symbolize 1. Cleanliness. Because of this first symbol of water which is cleanliness, God himself chose water for baptism so that men can come back to him in a pure state. Jesus himself knew the neat nature of water and changed water not any other liquid into wine in (John 4). Prophet Elisha also for the same reason asked Naman to deep himself inside water (2Kings 5:1-19). And many other places in the sacred Scripture. 2. Water is life. Even the ancient philosopher Thales recognized this and he said that the world comes from water. He judged from the fact that everything needs water for its survival. Think of plants, they need water. Think of animals and human beings, without water their will be no life. 3. Water saves. When there is fire outbreak, it is only water that can quench the fire. When evil becomes too much, water comes to wash them away and save man kind. In the case of Noah (Genesis 6:9-9:17). Continue Reading

2nd Sunday of Lent Year A By Tobe Eze

2nd Sunday of Lent Year A

FIRST READING
Genesis 12:1—4a

SECOND READING
2 Timothy 1:8b—10

GOSPEL
Matthew 17:1—9

THEME: GOD’S WILL IS THE BEST.

Our most frequently said prayer may be “Our Father…….” We often say in it, “Thy will be done and again give us this day”. Are we practicing that which we say always or are we now doing another thing? In Igbo land we have names like Uchenna and Uchechukwu, which mean Thy will be done Father and thy will be done God. From the look of how things and people are behaving in this our time, may tell us that we are now acting otherwise. We are no more waiting for God. In the readings of today, we can see clearly the benefit of acting according to the will of God and those acted according to the will of God. In the first reading, we are made to understand that Abram went as the LORD directed him. He did not question God. God where are you taking me to? Why should I leave my father’s land? How do I know you are saying the truth? He obeyed the words of God. We most times ask God many questions whenever any little thing happens to us. God why me? If not you, to whom shall it go? Death is not my portion. Whose portion is it now? It is our portion weather we accept it or not. God are you there watching me and all these things are happening to me? Who do you want it to happen to? God you must show me that you are my God today. Because you created God. We should ask ourselves this question. Do I obey God’s words? Have you asked God to reveal to you his will in that particular situation? Mary told Angel Gabriel, “let be done to me according to your words” (Luke 1:38). We all know the outcome of “ka orere mu ka isiri kwo” of our blessed mother Mary. Continue Reading

1st Sunday of Lent Year A By Tobe Eze

1st Sunday of Lent Year A

FIRST READING
Genesis 2:7—9; 3:1—7

SECOND READING
Romans 5:12—19

GOSPEL
Matthew 4:1—11

THEME: ONLY THROUGH THE WEAK POINT.

The Lord is good, all the time. God created us with many good things. He created us and also created what we use to sustain our lives. As finite beings, we have weaknesses. These weaknesses, we know them, but sometimes as St. Thomas Aquinas said that conscience can be clouded with ignorance. We sometimes will be clouded also with ignorance or even pride will not allow us accept them as weaknesses. But rather, blame others or take others as evil or worst still use them to punish those around us. Everyone has his/her own weak point. Naturally women are seduced by what they hear and men are seduced by what they see. Generally women’s number one weakness is about hearing or listening. Continue Reading