6th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A By Tobe Eze

6th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

 FIRST READING

Sirach 15:15—20

SECOND READING
1 Corinthians 2:6—10

GOSPEL

 Matthew 5:17—37

THEME: WHO IS FREE TO SIN?

Let us start from the meaning of sin. What is sin? Sin is an immoral act considered to be transgression against the divine law. Sin is saying No where God said yes and saying Yes where God said no. Putting God after instead of putting him first. Ndị Igbo sị na Onye buru Chi ya ụzọ, ọgbagbuo onwe ya na ọsọ.

How can we sin? We have sin of commission and sin of omission. Sin of commission is when we act against the Ten Commandments if God which centered on thou shall not do, the six commandments of the Church which centered on thou shall do. Sin of omission is when we leave the good deeds we should do and do otherwise. James 4:17 says Therefore, if anyone knows how to do what is right and yet does not do it, it is a sin for him. But we usually forget this sin of omission. This is where we committee many times. Continue Reading

Question: "Why is faith without works dead?" By Tobe Eze

Question: "Why is faith without works dead?"

Answer: James says, “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also” (James 2:26). Faith without works is a dead faith because the lack of works reveals an unchanged life or a spiritually dead heart. There are many verses that say that true saving faith will result in a transformed life, that faith is demonstrated by the works we do. How we live reveals what we believe and whether the faith we profess to have is a living faith. 

James 2:14–26 is sometimes taken out of context in an attempt to create a works-based system of righteousness, but that is contrary to many other passages of Scripture. James is not saying that our works make us righteous before God but that real saving faith is demonstrated by good works. Works are not the cause of salvation; works are the evidence of salvation. Faith in Christ always results in good works. The person who claims to be a Christian but lives in willful disobedience to Christ has a false or dead faith and is not saved. Paul basically says the same thing in 1 Corinthians 6:9–10. James contrasts two different types of faith true faith that saves and false faith that is dead. Continue Reading

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

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A.

FIRST READING
Isaiah 58:7—10

SECOND READING
1 Corinthians 2:1—5

GOSPEL
Matthew 5:13—16

THEME: CHARITY BRINGS BLESSINGS.

Salt cannot claim that it is sweet without acting on the tongue or been used in cooking or anyplace it works. It is not sweet in the container that is containing it. Light cannot say that it is light when it is not shining. A led torch that the battery is off can see nothing at night, so it is not light unless it is charged. We cannot claim to be salts of the earth without showing how salty we are. We cannot claim that we are the light of the world without shining out the light. Jesus told us today in the Gospel that if salt looses it saltiness it will be trampled upon. If we loose our saltiness there is no other option than to throw us away and trample upon us. If we as a light (led torch) spoils. The next option is to throw us away. We all know salt as a substance that is sweet, but after looking at our lives and behaviours, one will just conclude that we are no more sweet but sour and bitter. Light as we all know dispels darkness but, we are now distributing the darkness which we should dispel. Ndụ anyị bụzị ndụ rụrụ ịnyị. Ọchịchịrị bụ ihe n' apụtazị ihe n' ndụ anyị, ọbụghịzị ihe. The worse is that it is most among Christians. If we cannot trust Christians again, who shall we trust? Ebe ọbụzị ndị ụka n' emebiri anyị ihe, onye ka anyị ga agakwuru? To whom shall we go? We claim that we are the holiest on earth, we claim that we are the best people God created but all sot of evil are found within us. Witches are many in the Church, wizards are many in the church, murderers of all kinds, thieves in its fullness, fornicators, adulterers and every evil in the church. How can we shine to others light while we have all these vices? How can we tell others to come and take opposite of salt in the name of salt. We have lost that salt nature in us. Continue Reading

REFLECTION | ‘Whatever you do to the least of your brothers, you do unto me. By Rev. Fr. Christian B. Buenafe, O. Carm.

REFLECTION | ‘Whatever you do to the least of your brothers, you do unto me’

By Rev. Fr. Christian B. Buenafe, O. Carm. | Lifestyle Section, InterAksyon.com · Sunday, November 2, 2014 · 7:14 am

In today’s gospel, we are inspired to see God not only in our natural surroundings but also in others, especially those who are in need. Reflection photo by Bernard Testa, InterAksyon.com.

Jesus said to his disciples, “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separate the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

“Then the king will say to those on his right, ’Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’

“Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, of naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’

“And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’ … And these will go off… to eternal life.”
—Matthew 25:31-46 Continue Reading

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A By Tobe Eze

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

FIRST READING Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12—13

SECOND READING
1 Corinthians 1:26—31

GOSPEL
Matthew 5:1—12a

THEME: HUMILITY IS NECESSARY.

Humility is all about self control. It is only to control ourselves from seeking the earthly things more than heavenly things. The characteristic of being humble or humbleness in character and behavior is humility. Bringing yourself to the level you should be, not placing yourself where you think you should be. You may think that, this position is for you, but you don’t know it is meant for another. Please wait for it to be given to you. Nwa ewu gbuo ikpere, ọṅụọ nne ya ara.

Where is the position of humility now in our lives? Can we still get it in our lives? The first reading tells us to search for humility. Blessings reach those who are humble faster than every other person. The effects of absence of humility in our lives has caused us a lot. Many have missed fortunes because of lack of humility. Many boys have missed many opportunities in this life because of lack of humility. In our world today, what you will wish a girl and she will never forget you again is RICH HUSBAND and many of them have missed the opportunity of getting to those dreams they want them to come true. I know of a boy in my place who missed opportunity if learning a particular hand work because of pride. AFTER LOOKING AT ME, YOU THINK I CAN BRING MYSELF LOW TO THIS EXTENT. I ……………. TO BE A PLUMBER? You are joking. But what happened in the Bible repeated itself there. His position another should take. (Acts 1:20) Another person took the position immediately and is now doing well and the other is still going about in the village impregnating young girls and all types of evil acts. Also of a girl who insulted a man who came to seek for her hand in marriage, because the man was not rich. But after two years HIGH TENSION WIRE passed through the man's land and government paid him enough money which he used to start life and is now doing well with his wife but the other is still doing Agụ Aunty in the village. Many stories about this humility have been going around everywhere. We cannot tell all with the words of mouth. Continue Reading

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A By Tobe Eze

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

 FIRST READING

Isaiah 8:23—9:3

SECOND READING
1 Corinthians 1:10—13, 17

GOSPEL
Matthew 4:12—23

THEME: ONENESS IS THE ONLY WAY OUT.

Oneness is the fact or state of being unified or whole, though comprised of two or more parts. Jesus himself prayed to God that they may be one. First reading recorded that those who are in darkness have seen light. It did not say he who is in darkness. In the second reading St. Paul also talked about the same oneness. For the people of Corinth were saying that some belong to Paul while others were to Apollos. Paul and Apollos were preaching one person whom everything has been united in him. In the Gospel Jesus was able to get his first apostles because they were together. Where two or more gather in my name, I am there with you. (Matthew 18:20). He did not say where one is alone in my name, I am there with you. But this does not mean that Jesus cannot be with one who is praying to him alone. Continue Reading

SEX IS SWEET BUT... By Tobe Eze

 SEX IS SWEET BUT...

Have you ever wondered why God carefully positioned a membrane of blood in a lady’s sexual opening? It is a tiny membrane that partially or completely covers the opening of the vagina. It is called the “HYMEN”. Why would God-Our Maker put a breakable tissue full of blood at the very door of the sexual opening of the female? Why is it so carefully placed at that entrance, like a ribbon tied at the entrance of a new house about to be launched? Why is it filled with blood that spills away when it is broken? Why? Without doubt, the HYMEN IS A GATE! It was God (our creator) who set that blood- filled vessel there as a covenant blockage, a sign and a token of a covenant between the bearer and whoever plunges into her opening. Before God, the dis-virginity of a lady is not a casual act of fun. It is a serious covenant struck and confirmed by the blood shed on that day. This is God’s way of saying, “Whoever plunges into this woman shall only be able to do so by making a blood covenant to be joined to her for the rest of his life, from that point onward. Little wonder why sexual intercourse was designed by God to take place only and only after the marriage contract is sealed. The one who made the body (the hormones, organs, nerves, tissues, e.t.c) God said it in clear terms, the body is not for fornication”. Anyone who chooses to use the body for fornication must know that he/ she is working directly against God’s plan and there would definitely be a consequence either now or at old age! There is a spiritual bonding, a supernatural process that takes place in a lady’s heart to the first guy that enters in to her especially at that particular time when the hymen breaks. There is no covenant without blood: this is why the membrane contains enough of it. As a matter of fact, what happens the first time a lady has sex is not just sex but an immersion and a bathing of the man with her hymen blood to initiate a covenant that is highly recognized in the spirit realm of both light and darkness! The first time this happens just marks her opening day covenant ceremony and each subsequent experience goes on to further refresh or strengthen that covenant or establish another version of it with another person. Continue Reading

The Kirikiri Sermon (A letter to all Ladies) By Amadi Brendan

The Author.

The Kirikiri Sermon (A letter to all Ladies)

From Brendan Amadi, Sunday 15th January 2017.

Her journey on the highway of life had been a long walk to perdition. She had not always been a persona non grata, as she had found herself in the recent past. (Excerpt from Akachi adimora Ezeigbo's novel "Trafficked). For those of you who spend their youthful stage meeting and sleeping from one man to another in search of money and sexual pleasure! Just know you are extremely entering into a strong covenant with the DEVIL who in partnership will captivate your destiny, blessings, success and carriers in life. Continue Reading

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