2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A By Tobe Eze

2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time

FIRST READING
Isaiah 49:3, 5—6

SECOND READING
1 Corinthians 1:1—3

GOSPEL
John 1:29—34

THEME: CAN HIS GLORY BE REVEALED THROUGH US?

After looking at the world of today, this question will come to my mind. CAN HIS GLORY BE REVEALED IN THE WORLD AGAIN?  Luke Ezeji in one of his songs said Ụwa agworụwo ka mmiri. The world has turn to another thing all together. Ụwa Chukwu kere chọọ ya mma. A world that God made so beautiful. Isaiah in the first reading said. “The LORD said to me: You are my servant, Israel, through whom I show my glory”. Who is the Lord going to say again to, l will show my glory through you?  When everything is turning to the negative side. Ọbụ onye ka aga agakwuru? In the second reading, Paul was called by the will of God. Who else will the will of God call? In the Gospel the glory was revealed through John who said “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world”.  Who can the true spirit talk to us through? We have many men and women of God everywhere now. Who is the one God is using? Ngwere nile makpu amakpu, anyị amaghị nke afọ n’ arụ. Mechanics are now making it difficult for us to know mad men. But the truth remains that if we are sincere to God and ourselves, we still know the truth. I think I once saw in the Bible where it is written, Give without charge for you received without charge (Matthew 10:8). All these people claiming they are revealing the glory of God, and are more conscious of their pockets more than salvation of souls, are they still the ones God is using to show his glory? Did they receive without charge? Ike gwuru.  We that troop to them know the truth but are hiding in the shadow of magic done in the name if miracle. Continue Reading

Solemnity of The Epiphany of the Lord. By Tobe Eze

Solemnity of The Epiphany of the Lord.

FIRST READING
Isaiah 60:1—6

SECOND READING
Ephesians 3:2—3a, 5—6

GOSPEL
Matthew 2:1—12

THEME: LIGHT THAT DISPELS DARKNESS

Our Lord Jesus Christ is a light, a light that shines out darkness. In the first reading Isaiah said “Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you. See, darkness covers the earth, and thick clouds cover the peoples; but upon you the LORD shines, and over you appears his glory.” When the through light comes every darkness will disappear. This light do not discriminate. This light shines both to the Jews and Gentiles. When this light shines in us, there will be no darkness in us. Isaiah said that nations will walk in the light, Kings also will walk in the light. We all are called to walk in the light which is Christ. In the second reading Paul said that the revelation and the stewardship he received was for the Ephesians. The stewardship and revelation of Paul are for us who are among the Gentiles. For us to walk in that light. How can we walk in the light? How can we know the light? (Ọbụ gịnị ka anyị ga eme?) We have to learn from the Gospel. The wise men from the east saw the light and followed it. They followed it till they saw the young light in a manger with his mother. The light is ever ready to lead us but the problem is that we leave the light and follow some other things which lead to doom. (Anyị na ahupuzị ikiri anyịnya kiribe Nwaukweze.) Which is too bad. The light calls us to himself through baptism and we still leave him. He calls us through sacrament of confirmation also we leave. We have left the sacrament of reconciliation that he gave us. What else do we want from him? He gave us his body and blood but we do not recognize him there. He has done all for us. Continue Reading

FOR COUPLES AND THOSE ABOUT TO GET MARRIED By Tobe Eze

FOR COUPLES AND THOSE ABOUT TO GET MARRIED

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FOR OUR MEN:

Carry your wife to the bed when she sleeps off in the sitting room, make her feel like a baby at times. The truth is, every woman wants to be treated like a 2yrs old girl at times, that's why women behave childish or silly at times. You may have an argument with your wife and the next thing is that you will see her putting her bags outside the house, it doesn't mean she is asking for a divorce, she is just being childish, she simply wants you to hold her, look her in the eyes and say "I am sorry for the argument". That's women for you. Every brother needs to study in the University of Women before getting married, read books about them, learn what the Bible says about them and you will hardly have a problem with them. Continue Reading

New Year Day. Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God By Tobe Eze

New Year Day.

Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God

FIRST READING
Numbers 6:22—27

SECOND READING
Galatians 4:4—7

GOSPEL
Luke 2:16—21

THEME: THIS IS NEW YEAR, THANK YOU LORD.

It is not all those we started last year with are present now witnessing the New Year. It not also all those who were healthy last year are healthy now in this year. Many have died and many are seriously sick. But we are here some alive and sound and some alive just little unsound. PRAISE BE TO OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST BOTH NOW AND FOREVER AMEN! We are to sing, jump, clap and dance onto the Lord for his goodness to us. Where shall we start? (Ebee ka anyị ga ebido ma ebee ka anyị ga akwụsị?) The Lord is good. In the first reading because of his love for us, he gave format for blessing us. The LORD said to Moses: "Speak to Aaron and his sons and tell them: This is how you shall bless the Israelites. Say to them: The LORD bless you and keep you! The LORD let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! The LORD look upon you kindly and give you peace! So shall they invoke my name upon the Israelites, and I will bless them." His love for us is too much to be counted. In the second reading, he also in the appointed time gave us the Son through her mother to also make us his own sons and heirs to his kingdom. Continue Reading

Christmas Mass During the Day By Tobe Eze

Mass During the Day

FIRST READING
Isaiah 52:7—10

SECOND READING
Hebrews 1:1—6

GOSPEL
Longer Form John 1:1—18

THEME: CHRISTMAS OF JOY.

This is Christmas, let us shout Alleluia, this is Christmas, let us shout Hosanna. Christmas is back again. Since four weeks we have been preparing for this very day. This day is a great day to the Church and the whole world. Christ is born to us, Glory be to God. Christmas is for all, not for only Christians. Those who say it is not for them also notice it and also obey it. I went to the market to buy wrist watch. When I approached an Hausa man popularly called ABOKI to bargain for it, he told me #1200. I asked him why and he answered. “This is season, Christmas is at the corner. When you also meet those practicing African Traditional Religion (ATR) they also repeat the same thing. Which means it is for all. But all these are physical things. This Christmas of Joy, how joyful is it when many around us are in agony and we can liberate them from it? How joyful is it, when the one who offended us since last year, we are yet to forgive them and not even ready to forgive? (Ikpe mụ na gị bụzị n’ eligwu) How joyful is it, when our neighbours, friends, blood brothers or sisters and relations etc have nothing to use in this Christmas and we have more than required and still we don’t want to help out in this situation? Christ brings Joy to the world. Continue Reading

4th Sunday of Advent Year A By Tobe Eze

4th Sunday of Advent Year A

FIRST READING
Isaiah 7:10—14

SECOND READING
Romans 1:1—7

GOSPEL
Matthew 1:18—24

THEME: DO NOT FEAR, HE IS WITH US.

In the first reading Ahaz noticed that the Lord is with him and he said "I will not ask! I will not tempt the LORD!" DO WE ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT THE LORD IS WITH US THESE DAYS? In the second reading St. Paul also recognized that the Lord is with him and he said “Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God”. He made himself a slave because he knew that one with God is majority. In the Gospel, Joseph also noticed the presence of God through the Angel that came to him in his dream, and he acted according to the words of the Angel for he knows it is the word of God. Joseph passed through hardship provided he protects the child and mother. A righteous man like him passed through those hardships. As children of God, are we to encounter any disturbing thing in life as Joseph did? Some of our Christians today say that in Matthew 11:28-30 the Bible said “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”  That Jesus did not plane for his people to pass through any disturbing thing in life. Jesus in this chapter and verses of the Bible did not mean that we are going to enjoy painless life. Continue Reading

3rd Sunday of Advent Year A Gaudate Sunday. By Tobe Eze

3rd Sunday of Advent Year A Gaudate Sunday.

FIRST READING Isaiah 35:1—6a, 10

SECOND READING
James 5:7—10

GOSPEL
Matthew 11:2—11

THEME: BE PATIENT, HE IS COMING WITH JOY.

Because of the joy he will bring to us, the Holy Mother Church named today GAUDATE SUNDAY. The name "Gaudete Sunday" is taken from the words of the introit, Gaudete in Domino semper, "rejoice in the Lord always." The Scriptural basis for this Sunday comes from Philippians 4:4,5. Similar to Laetare Sunday during Lent, Gaudete Sunday is a minor "break" from the more penitential nature of the Advent season, and signals a shift from a penitential style of waiting to a more joyful tone. In the past, when organs and flowers were forbidden during the Advent Season, they were permitted during Gaudete Sunday. Because of the more joyful tone of Gaudete Sunday, rose colored (pink) vestments may be used instead of the normal violet ones. Also, the rose colored Advent candle is lit. Continue Reading

How the Catholic Church could help the crisis in the DRC

How the Catholic Church could help the crisis in the DRC

In late September, Pope Francis met with the controversial president of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Joseph Kabila.

But instead of greeting him in the same room where he usually meets other visiting leaders, a “glum looking Francis” waited for President Kabila in his library. Many interpreted the breach of protocol with Kabila as a subtle Vatican snub. 

During the brief exchange, translated through interpreters, the Pope raised his concerns over the recent violent protests in the country, due to delayed elections. 

Political unrest in Congo under Kabila has been increasing since January 2015, after a bill proposed that Kabila could remain in power while a national census was conducted, potentially delaying presidential and parliamentary elections. Continue Reading

How one young Ethiopian made 300 Christian converts

How one young Ethiopian made 300 Christian converts

A distant part of Ethiopia last week celebrated the baptisms of 300 adult catechumens, youth, and infants.

“Today when you receive this great Sacrament of Baptism you become sons and daughters of God, people of God and members of the Church; this brings great joy in heaven and great joy on earth for the entire Church,” Bishop Lesanu-Christos Matheos Semahun of the Bahir Dar-Dessie Ethiopian eparchy said in his Nov. 27 homily.

The newly baptized bore candles and lit them as a sign of Christ’s light, the Catholic News Agency for Africa reports.

Continue Reading

This cloistered nun got her doctorate in aerospace engineering

This cloistered nun got her doctorate in aerospace engineering

A cloistered nun in India came out of her convent for an extraordinary reason: to attend a graduation ceremony for her doctorate in Aerospace Engineering.

“I had joined the religious order after my final oral exam last year, and this was the first time I came out after that. The rules of our order forbid us from going out of the convent, but I was given special permission to attend the convocation,” Sister Benedicta of the Holy Face told Matters India over the summer.

The 32-year-old nun lives in a cloistered convent of the Benedictine Sisters of the Reparation of the Holy Face. Continue Reading