FEAST OF THE ARCHANGELS

Feast of the Archangels -Michael, Raphael andGabriel

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Throughout the Bible angels play a crucialrole in furthering God’s overall plan of salvation. Most of the time they are not named (as is often the case in the Book of Revelation), but nevertheless they always appear as powerful agents of God. Among all these angelic figures, three are given names and stand out as particularly powerful and effective: Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, whom we are celebrating in a special way today.

Some people may scoff at the idea that there exists purely spiritual beings. But why not? Apart from the clear testimony of the Bible, common sense itself suggests that, since there exists purely material beings (rocks, animals, plants) and composite beings made of matter and spirit, would it not be logical that purely spiritual beings complete the picture, as it were? Anyhow, the fact is that the three angels explicitly named by the authors of the Bible stand out as awesome figures indeed—especially Michael, whose personal mission is to defeat Satan. We would do well to ask for the assistance of these super-powerful beings in our times of need. We might be quite surprised at what can happen next!

Today is therefore a good day to remember that we are not alone. We have, not only Jesus and the saints with us, but the angels too! We can be grateful because all of their efforts on our behalf are made for one reason—so that we can one day behold the Lord. So every day, trust that angels are at your side. They are there to help you in both ordinary and extraordinary situations. They are here to “light and guard, to rule and guide”—and that applies to you!

“Father, thank you for our angelic guardians. May they lead us to your kingdom.”🙏

Good morning and may your Tuesday be joyful and blessed. 🎉✔
SENT BY PATRICK O. Chukwubike

 

26th Sunday: YearB

                            DOCTRINE  AND  FAITH
(Numbers 11,25-29; James 5,1-6; Mark 9, 38-43.45.47-48; 26th Sunday: YearB)
         
 The lessons from today’s readings are very rich and variegated. One can continue to meditate on Saint James condemnation of wealth and riches. If one should literally, he/she will have to burn up all he/she has including his bank savings. James is rather describing the lot of the rich people who hoard their wealth for their selfish ends and do not care for the needy neighbours. James seems to say that such selfish people’s wealth will turn into ruin. Another issue one can reflect upon is the point Jesus makes about scandal. Last Sunday, Jesus took a child in his arms and today he warns against scandalizing any of the little ones. The little ones include those among us whose faith are weak. A person causing the alienation of a believer from Christ should understand the gravity of his offense. The enormity of scandal is shown in the suggested punishment that such persons should be drowned, a death that the Jews considered so shameful that they forbade the burial of the corpse. Jesus goes on to warn us about the form of scandal that comes from our hands, feet and our own eyes. In the Jewish culture, these organs manifested the evil instincts, lusts and all other dispositions that lead us away from God and induce us to immoral actions. Whenever we realise that some of our attitudes are wrong or that our ideas are incompatible with the Christian principles, we must have the courage to cut away where necessary, even if it causes pain and heart-rending anguish. Our consideration should not stop at occasions and situations of sins of sexuality but should include our inclinations and dispositions towards arrogant attitudes, thefts, envy and jealousy. They should also include such harboured suspicions that lead us to quarrel with our neighbours and sometimes prevent us from forgiving and reconciling with our brothers and sisters. Jesus is telling us today that it is better to amputate or eradicate, from our lives, all the occasions of sin, lest one causes the ruin of his own life and incurs on himself the loss of eternal life with God the Father. These and other lessons can be gleaned from the readings of today.
          One discovers a close resemblance of the theme of the first reading and the one that the first part of today’s gospel presents.  The theme is that God can bring his plans to fruition in many and unexpected ways. No one can influence how God would react in a given situation. His actions, though always providential, are unpredictable. Our duty as Christians is to discern the Spirit of God at work within and outside the Church and nod Amen to it. In the first reading two people, Eldad and Medad, were not among the group of people who received a part of the Spirit formally endowed on Moses. They, however, were given to prophesying in the same manner as those who shared in the gift of Moses’ prophecy. This did not go down well with Joshua, son of Nun Moses’ personal and trusted assistant and he wanted Moses to stop them. Moses was able to discern the hand of God in the event and wished that all Israel were prophets. In the Gospel, John stopped a man who worked miracles from continuing to do so, just for the simple reason that he was not one of the disciples’ group. Jesus took the stand that John should not have stopped him. The Disciples of Christ were annoyed someone was doing something good without belonging to their group. For them, driving out evil spirits from possessed persons was their right and prerogative and nobody else should dare attempt to do so without their expressed permission. These two biblical incidents wish to impart to us some important lessons. First, we should condemn and avoid all types of fanaticism, be it religious, political, ideological or social. A fanatic is the one who does not stop at not accepting any person who does not belong to his or her group but  also goes on to attack and injure him/her. He shuts his eyes to whatever good others do and condemns it. He holds his opinion and ideas to be right always. Fanatics within the Church think that they are the only recipients of the Holy Spirit. Another lesson that we are supposed to take home from the readings is that the Spirit of God blows freely and manifests his gifts within and outside the Church. We need to be open to this fact so as to appreciate the workings of the Spirit especially when He manifests himself “outside our group”. We should therefore, be able, especially if we are imbued with the real Holy Spirit to rejoice in the good works of love He does even among and through non believers. Happy Sunday! +John I. Okoye

25th Sunday Ordinary Time; Year B

DOCTRINE AND FAITH

(Wisdom 2, 12.17-20; James 3, 16-4,3; Mark 9, 30-37; 25th Sunday Ordinary Time; Year B)

Last Sunday, the apostles through Peter confessed the Messiah-ship of Jesus. But their conception of the messiah was wrong, that is, political and military. Jesus took time to correct this wrong notion indicating that his messiah-ship was the suffering type.  In the gospel of today, he goes on to announce his passion: The Son of man will be delivered into the hands of men; they will put him to death; and three days after His death, he will rise again. It is clear from this passage that the disciples would not accept this announcement in good faith for prior to this announcement they were arguing among themselves who will be the greatest. Jesus was preoccupied with the thought of His impending humiliation, his condemnation to death and suffering while his disciples were thinking about who will occupy the first position. The disciples were following a master who does not care or seek for honour and respect but wishes only to serve, even to the point of giving his own life for the salvation of others, while they were aspiring for places of honour and prestige.

In the gospel of today, Jesus teaches His immediate apostles/disciples and we His present disciples, what it really means to be His disciple. When they reached where they were staying in Capernaum, he wanted to know the topic of their heated discussion on the way. They did not want to disclose the topic which was centered on who was the greatest among them. He then enunciated this classic principle: Whoever wishes to be first, should be the last and the servant of all. In putting this principle into practice, the disciple should follow the example of Christ, his master. Christ not only chose the least of posts (he was God, became man) but also washed the feet of his disciples, duty of a servant, thereby putting into practice what he taught. I did not come to be served but to serve and to give up my life (Mark 10,45). He did give up his life for the salvation of us all, in Calvary, where he shed the last drop of his blood. The Christian, therefore, should not be preoccupied with the idea of taking the first place, or having a domineering attitude over others or having others under his thumb. He should rather practice humility (taking the last place) and motivated by love, he should engage in serving everyone, especially those who are mostly in need, those in the lowest point of the social ladder, the weakest and the voiceless in our society. A child is an example of one who is fragile, dependent, needy, and weak. To illustrate his teaching, Jesus brought a child in their midst, embraced him warmly and tenderly said: Whoever welcomes this child in my name, welcomes me; whoever welcomes me, also welcomes the One who sent me. Jesus, in fact, said that whoever welcomes a child (symbol of one who is in need and weak) first of all in his heart and then by sharing in his suffering and difficulties, such a person welcomes him (Jesus) and ultimately God the Father. But to arrive in doing this requires humility, self-abasement, and interior attitude that go for the least position.

This is the Christian paradox, the paradox of the wisdom that comes from above. What is really great and important in God’s eyes is the person who regards himself small, takes the least position and disposes himself to serve others. Such Christian nowadays may be compared to be the just of the first reading who surely will be persecuted by those (the wicked) who do not have faith in God or even by fellow Christians whose practice of Christianity does not conform to the self-abasement and donation of self for the service of others, which Jesus Christ preaches in today’s gospel. Moreover, we should not allow ourselves to be contaminated by earthly/terrestrial wisdom (James, 3, 15). Such wisdom coming from nature that is corrupted by sin, gives rise to envy, jealousy, lording it over others, disorder and even war. It is only by attaching ourselves to Jesus Christ, the wisdom of God, that we would be able to truly fulfill our vocation as His true disciples who would be able to take up our cross and journey with him along the tortuous route to Calvary where we will give up our lives for his sake as he did for us. Therefore, celebrating the Eucharist this Sunday, let us ask God the Father for the grace to enter into full and deep communion with Christ, the Wisdom of God incarnate and who was crucified and died out of love for us and become our spiritual food and drink in Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. HappySunday!  

 +John I. Okoye

24th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year B......DOCTRINE AND FAITH

                                (Isaiah 50, 5-9a; James 2, 14-18; Mark 8, 27-35; 24^th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year B)

The first reading from the prophet Isaiah deals on the suffering servant of God who endured much suffering in the hands of his persecutors. He willingly offered his back to those who flogged him and his beard to those who pulled at it. He did not hide his face from those who poured out insults on him.  He was indeed humiliated. His pains and humiliation notwithstanding, the servant still had great trust and confidence in God in whom he firmly hoped would assist and deliver him.

 The Person of the suffering servant is given various interpretations. The New Testament writers see in him the Person of Jesus Christ. As Jesus did his ministry and worked miracles among his people he was conscious of his identity as the Messiah but did not want this to be divulged among the people. One day, he wanted to find out from his disciples whom the people took him for. Some thought he was either John the Baptist or any of the Old Testament prophets. When Jesus wanted the opinion of his own disciples, Peter confessed Jesus as the Christ, the Messiah. Christ then took the opportunity to inform the disciples on the type of messiah he was. He was not, as they all expected, the triumphant political messiah. Rather he was the type of messiah who would be humiliated, suffer and die on the cross. This idea of suffering did not go down well with the disciples, especially Peter. But Jesus reprimanded him and corrected the notion of the type of messiah he thought Jesus was. Thereafter, Jesus went on to teach about discipleship: If anyone wishes to follow me, let him renounce himself, take up his cross and follow me. By this statement, it was clear that Jesus’ messiah-ship was that of the cross and whoever was following Jesus for material gain was backing the wrong horse. The disciple after the heart of Jesus will have to adhere to three standards. First, he has to renounce himself. This means that he has to stop thinking of himself, making himself, selfishly, the centre of the world forgetting every other person completely. If one is to be a good disciple of Jesus, he has to do away with all forms of selfishness. The second duty the intending disciple of Jesus would undertake is to take up his cross. To take up the cross does not mean just accepting the difficulties of life with equanimity, rather, it means to give oneself, completely, to the service of the other person just as Christ himself shed his last blood on the cross in the spirit of total self-giving for the salvation of mankind. To carry the cross is, therefore, to share in this type of total love for others. The would-be disciples also should be ready to follow Christ. This does not just mean taking Christ as model. It rather means, following him by sharing in his choice and participating in his plan and programme. What this means in practical terms is living one’s life for love of others in Christ. Jesus further went on to teach: Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but he who loses his life for my sake and that of the kingdom will gain it. This principle reminds us that the vocation of man is to love God who, out of love, created man in order to communicate to him his love and render him capable of living in love.

In the second reading, James indicates that true faith has to manifest itself in good works. It means then that our faith is to be concretised in practical help we render to our needy neighbours. Our love for them should not end in wishing them well, but in practical gestures that alleviate their pains and suffering. This teaching of James, in a way, corresponds to Jesus’ in today’s gospel. Our faith in, and profession of Jesus as the Messiah should set us free from our selfishness and enable us to participate in Christ’s heroic, selfless and total self-giving in  love for the salvation of mankind. We celebrate this maximum sacrifice of love of Christ in the Eucharist. May the Eucharist, mystery of faith, we celebrate, therefore, make us grow in the knowledge and experience of Jesus, the suffering Messiah. May the Eucharist, mystery of incredible love of Jesus and the sacrament of his total gift of self, also make us grow in love towards God and our brothers and sisters. Happy Sunday!+John I. Okoye