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 C By Tobe Eze

Solemnity of Christ the King Year C

FIRST READING
2 Samuel 5:1—3

SECOND READING
Colossians 1:12—20

GOSPEL
Luke 23:35—43

THEME: CARING KING (IT IS NOT OUR FAULT THAT HE IS OUR KING)

Today we celebrate CHRIST as the universal KING. It did not end that he is the UNIVERSAL KING but also a CARING KING. In the first reading, the people of Israel went to David in humility, and anointed him their king. David ruled his people with caring heart and that was a typical example of how the son of David (Christ) has been ruling his own chosen generation. In the second reading, St. Paul tells us who the king of glory is. He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things were created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he himself might be preeminent. For in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile all things for him, making peace by the blood of his cross through him, whether those on earth or those in heaven. He is like the pelican bird that uses its blood to feed its young. A STORY: There was a community that suffered death, they meet their Oracle who told them that the only way out is to sacrifice seven male heads. And they must be from that community. The community gathered for meeting to know those that will be sacrificed. Co

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C By Tobe Eze

33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C

FIRST READING
Malachi 3:19—20a

SECOND READING
2 Thessalonians 3:7—12

GOSPEL
Luke 21:5—19

THEME: HORRIBLE TO HOREB.

Today’s readings are telling us about the day that all are waiting for. The day of taking stocks is fast approaching, what will you give in return? Year of Mercy is on its close, what did you achieve? Did you experience the Mercy of God or condemnation? Any positive thing at all from it?

First reading tells us how it will look like when the day comes. And also God gives hope for all who fear him, “But for you who fear my name, there will arise the sun of justice with its healing rays.” Are we fearing the Lord or the Lord fearing us? (Egwu Chukwu ọna atụ anyị ka ọ bụ Chukwu na atụzị anyị egwu?) Let us watch it. A man once died in a place. When the elders were meeting to see how the burial will be, the youth have already buried him. (Anyị eligo ya maka ikulite n' ọnwụ). “We have buried him should in case he rises from the death.” They concluded that even God is afraid of the man for his evil deeds. (Ọ bụkwa onye ụka anyị) He was our own Christian. What a shameful Christianity we practice these days. Will the son of man find faith in the world when he returns? St. Paul in the second reading is telling us about the need to work. (Aka aja aja n’ ebute ọnụ mmanụ mmanụ ọzọ Aka n’ aga n’ akụkụ ọkụ na agakwa n’ akụkụ ọnụ). It is only the hand that worked that should eat. Today, people are becoming lazier than ever existed. Anyone who do not have a white collar job makes him or herself man or woman of God. Continue Reading

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C By Tobe Eze

32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C

FIRST READING

2 Maccabees 7:1—2, 9—14

SECOND READING

2 Thessalonians 2:16—3:5

GOSPEL
Luke 20:27—38

THEME: LIFE AND LIFE.

The readings are pointing towards Life and Life. The life on earth and life after now. In the first reading, the seven sons and their mother were killed in this life to enjoy the other life, which we all are working towards to gain. There are still everlasting joyful life after and total damnation after this life. So which one are you preparing for? Martyrdom started with this family, they should be our models in faith. If we are asked to defend our faith these days like this family, can we do it? Or are we going to use one Igbo adage which says, Onye dị ndụ na efe Chineke to defend our life here and forget about life after this one? There were two lives for them and they made their choice. Choice of one life to the other. If we are to choose today, what type of life are we going to choose? Their choices glorified the Lord. Do choices we make daily glorify God or bring shame to him? In the second reading St. Paul encourages us to also make choices that take us to the other life which we are running race to get. Continue Reading

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C By Tobe Eze

31st Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C

FIRST READING
Wisdom 11:22—12:2

SECOND READING
2 Thessalonians 1:11—2:2

GOSPEL
Luke 19:1—10

THEME: REPENTANCE AND EFFORT

Today’s readings are pointing towards chances God gives his children to repent and come back to him And to see our efforts in life. In the first reading, God gives teaches us how to live our lives. He shows example how we should treat our so called enemies. Through our sins we are automatically enemies of God but he still gives us chances to come back to him. HOW MANY TIMES DO WE GIVE OUR ENEMIES CHANCE TO COME BACK TO US? It continues to be, pay back is not sin. In Igbo, onye mere onye mere ya na obughi njo. In Christianity and Christ's teaching, paying back evil with evil is sin. In the gospel Zaccheaus who was dwarf both physical and spiritual made effort which in turn made him very tall spiritually. From Zaccheaus we should know that heaven helps those who help themselves. He made effort, what is expected of us now is our efforts. If God enters your house (your heart) salvation will not leave their again. Effort is too necessary in our lives. A STORY: Emperor Akbar was in the habit of putting riddles and puzzles to his courtiers. He often asked questions which were strange and witty. It took much wisdom to answer these questions.
Once he asked a very strange question. The courtiers were dumb folded by his question.
Akbar glanced at his courtiers. As he looked, one by one the heads began to hang low in search of an answer. It was at this moment that Birbal entered the courtyard. Birbal who knew the nature of the emperor quickly grasped the situation and asked, "May I know the question so that I can try for an answer". Continue Reading

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C. By Tobe Eze

October 16, 2016

29th Sunday in Ordinary Time

FIRST READING
Exodus 17:8—13

SECOND READING
2 Timothy 3:14—4:2

GOSPEL
Luke 18:1—8

The first reading teaches us to be persistent in prayer. Moses kept his hands up for the glory of his people. If we have a steadfast faith in our God, if we trust him with all our hearts he will give us victory as he gave the Israelites today. Always look for people who will give you positive support as Joshua and Hur did to Moses today. The second reading tells us that the word of God which is the scripture should be our reference point. It is inspired by God which means it is God and God cannot desive us. In the Gospel, Jesus tells us the parable of a Judge who do not fear anything including God, but he granted the wish of the widow who was disturbing him. Our heavenly father will give us what we ask of him if we keep to our faith in him. PUSH Pray Until Something Happens. A story = One day a local evangelist bragged during a crusade that his God was more able than all the other gods in the town and the powers of the universe that the villagers worshiped put together. Just then, rainstorm sounds started sounding overhead, threatening the progress of the crusade. The evangelist lifted up his voice and declared with confidence that if the rains fell, then he wasn't a man of God; he would stop preaching! Continue Reading