SOLEMNITY OF THE EPIPHANY

Isaiah 60,1-6
Psalm 71
Ephesians 3: 2-3. 5-6
Matthew 2:1-12

God Has Manifested Himself To Us

We celebrate today the Epiphany of our Lord Jesus Christ. The word “epiphany” means manifestation, revelation or showing forth. Through a star, God revealed the birth of his Son to the magi in the east. God became man for the salvation of all. Therefore, he manifests himself to all.

There is no stranger in God’s plan of salvation. He leaves no one out. He adapts himself to our human condition. To the world, he reveals himself by the cry of a baby. To the shepherds, he revealed himself in a manger. To the magi, through a star. To the pagans of St Paul’s time, he revealed his love through the proclamation of the Gospel (Eph. 3:2-3.5-6). To us too, He manifests himself in various ways, especially in the daily events of our life and in the celebration of the Eucharist.

What makes the difference is our response to him. Our response must be to accept Jesus as our Star, the Light that enlightens all men. When we accept him, we must also radiate the light of Christ to the world. We must rise and shine, as the first reading exhorts us (Is. 60,1-6). Rising and shining are characteristics of the sun, which gives light, life and warmth to all. We are therefore called to shine in the world, covered by the darkness of sin, wickedness, selfishness, injustice, corruption, violence, hatred, unforgiveness, etc. May the Lord help us to become little stars that lead people to Christ.
Amen.

21ST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B

Joshua 24:1-2.15-18
Psalm 33:2-3.16-23
Ephesians 5:21-32
John 6:60-69

A TIME TO DECIDE

Faith is a personal adherence to God. To believe in God must be a free and conscious act, knowing it leads to freedom and salvation. Thus, how we live our life depends on our choice to believe or not to believe.

The people of Israel had arrived at the Promised Land. Thus, Joshua invited them to renew their commitment to God. When asked to choose whom they wish to serve, the people of Israel affirmed their resolution to worship the Lord their God who had saved them from slavery in Egypt (Jos. 24:1-2.15-18).

In the gospel, we are presented with the last section of the sixth chapter of John’s gospel. When the crowds decided not to go with Jesus, because his declarations about the Bread of Life were unacceptable to them, he asked the Twelve: “What about you, do you want to go away too?” To this, Simon Peter answered: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we believe; we know that you are the Holy One of God” (John 6:60-69).

Sometimes, we need to make such leap of faith, to stand by Jesus and hold unto him. When the enthusiasm of our commitment begins to wane, when doubts begin to set in and tiredness weighs us down, when strong winds begin to blow and the world rages around us, and when despair takes over, we need to say “Lord, to whom shall we go?” Do not quit; do not give up. Hold unto Jesus.

However, we must know that deciding to stay with Christ is to allow him to give a new orientation and meaning to our life. It is to choose the way of selfless love and sacrifice, especially within the family. We must no longer live to dominate others but to love them, care for them and respect them. In doing so, our families or homes will become a source of healing, fulfilment and sanctification (Eph. 5:21-32). 
May the Lord bless and keep all of us. Amen.

TWENTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B

Proverb 9:1-6
Psalm 33:2-3.10-15
Ephesians 5:15-20
John 6:51-58

THE MYSTERY WE CELEBRATE AT MASS

Today we come to the core of Jesus’ teaching on the Bread of life. At Holy Mass, we often hear words like “…Blessed are those called to the Supper of the Lamb.” Or again, “the body of Christ”, “the Blood of Christ;” and we respond “Amen”. But do we really understand these words? Do we believe them? The Jews understood very well what Jesus meant when he said he would give them his flesh to eat. They understood he meant his own body and blood. So they argued saying: “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” They were neither cannibals nor blood drinkers. That was an abomination.

But Jesus became more emphatic: “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.” Again, “For my flesh is food indeed and my blood is drink indeed”. And this is the mystery we celebrate in the Eucharist. St John Chrysostom said: “What we believe is not the same as what we see. For one thing we see is bread and wine, and another we believe is the Body and blood of our Lord. And such is our mystery.”

It is therefore Jesus Christ himself that we receive in the Holy Communion. The words from the book of Proverbs must always resonate in our ears: “come and eat, drink the wine I have prepared.” “Taste and see how good is the Lord!” says the Psalmist. This is an invitation we must eagerly yearn to hear and accept gladly if we really understand what it means.

And whenever we eat this bread and drink this wine, we become untied with Christ. We become one with him. We dwell in him and he in us. Holy Communion creates therefore a real life giving union with Christ and with one another.
May the Lord blesé and keep all of us. Amen

NINETEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B

1Kings 19:4-8 
Psalm 34 
Ephesians 4:30-5:2 
John 6:41-51

NOURISHMENT FROM ABOVE

Today, Jesus continues his catechesis on the Bread of Life as presented in the sixth chapter of John’s gospel. St Paul exhorts his audience not to grieve the Holy Spirit, but rather imitate God in his goodness and love. The first reading presents us the figure of the prophet Elijah.

The prophet Elijah was escaping the wrath of Jezebel who sought to kill him for having exterminated the prophets of Baal. The prophet flew therefore to save his life. But hunger and tiredness made him rather seek for death: “Lord, I have had enough. Take my life”, he said. But God gave him food and drink to re-energize him for the journey ahead of him.

In the Gospel, the Jews, knowing well the family background of Jesus, complained about him, for he said he is the bread that came from heaven. Thus, Jesus reiterates his statement by adding that the bread given for the life of the world is his own body. Jesus meant what he said: in the Eucharist, we receive the Body of Christ. As such, the Eucharist communicates to us the very life of Jesus. It gives meaning to our life and sows in us the seed of eternal life.

Therefore, the secret of a happy, fulfilled and meaningful life, a life full of hope amidst the crosses and difficulties of this life is in Jesus. In the Eucharist we celebrate Jesus Christ who offers himself to us. And the foundation of this self-giving is love.

Meanwhile, love puts away every bitterness, anger, wrangling and slander. Love is kind, generous, forgiving and tender. It is in this light that the exhortation of St Paul in the second reading is to be understood. We are children of God; we must therefore live our lives as such.

Let us pray, therefore, that God may strengthen and renew us through the nourishment we receive in the Eucharist. And so, we may journey with him and radiate his love in our homes and communities. Amen

EIGHTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B

Exodus 16:2-4.12-15
Psalm 77
Ephesians 4:17.20-24
John 6:24-35

SEARCHING FOR JESUS CHRIST

Why do we go to church? Why do we need to believe in Jesus? Are we miracles-driven Christians or faith-driven Christians? These are few questions we are invited to reflect upon today.

In effect, today’s gospel, which is a continuation of last Sunday’s gospel reading, invites us to make a deeper reflection on the reasons why  we are Christians. People go to church because they get satisfied with the singing and preaching during our celebrations. Others go to look for miracles. Still others go because they “should” be there to avoid social tagging. So, “I tell you solemnly, you are not looking for me because you have seen signs, but because you had all the bread you wanted to eat”.

Jesus had just fed 5,000 people with little bread and fish. But the people could not get him. In much similar way, the Israelites had just passed miraculously through the red sea dry-shod and their enemies drown in the sea. But they still murmured against Moses and God because they were hungry. They forgot that God could feed them from nothing.

This is common among us. We easily and quickly forget the wonderful things God has done and continues to do in our lives, especially when we are faced with challenges and obstacles. And this drives us away from Christ, looking for miracles elsewhere. We go to mallams and fetish priests that provide quick answers to our problems. We lose faith in him, who is really present in the Eucharist. The Jesus who fed the people and worked signs and wonders is the same Jesus in the Eucharist.

Therefore, like St Paul in the second reading, “I want to urge you in the name of the Lord, not to go on living the aimless kind of life that pagans live”. Do not go looking for miracles. You yourself are a wonderful miracle in this world. Put aside your illusory desires and follow Jesus in faith. Trust in him and your life will never be the same.
Amen

SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B

2Kings 4:42-44
Psalm 145
Ephesians 4:1-6
John 6:1-15

FEEDING FROM THE LITTLE

We  are serving a living God, the miracle worker. He is the God of Providence. Today's readings invite us therefore not to worry, but have confidence in God and bring him the little we have so that he may multiply it for us. Moreover, the unity and love that bind us together must lead us to  be willing to share  with others the little we have.

In the first reading, a man from Baal-Shalisha brought his first fruits to Elisha, the man of God. The latter miraculously fed hundred people with the twenty loaves the man had brought him. He did this out of confidence on the word of God (2Kgs 4:42-44). The psalmist says that the eyes of all look hopefully up to God, who provides food to every living thing in due season. In the gospel, Jesus fed five thousands men out of five loaves and two fish. It was a little boy who gave out the little he had to feed the multitude  (John 6:1-15).

It is of no wonder that St Paul exhorts us in the second reading to bear with one another, show love, and live in peace and unity with everybody. Brotherliness, fellowship, selflessness and sharing must therefore characterize our homes and communities

Let us learn from the man from Baal-Shalisha to support our priests and pastors. Let priests and men of God learn from prophet Elisha to help the needy with the little they have. Let us all learn from the little boy in the gospel to be willing to share our resources with others. In every situation, may we trust in God who provides for our needs.
Amen

SIXTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B

Jeremiah 23:1-6
Psalm 22
Ephesians 2:13-18
Mark 6:30-34

BE CONCERNED OF OTHERS

Last Sunday, Jesus sent his disciples into mission. Today, they come back and give account of what they had done. Jesus asks them to withdraw to a lonely place so that they could rest for a while. But before they could reach their place of rest, a large crowd was already waiting for them. The people were like without guide, exhausted, and lost. They were hungry for words of light and meaning in their lives. Thus, Jesus was moved with compassion for them. He let go his legitimate right to rest so as to satisfy the needs of the crowd. In this sense, Jesus is the good, loving, caring and tenderhearted shepherd (Mark 6:30-34).

These were the qualities that were lacking in the leaders of Israel at the time of prophet Jeremiah. Hence, in the first reading God warns them for their misdeeds. They did not take care of the flock; neither did they seek the lost nor gather them. Consequently, God promises to raise up new and faithful shepherds for his people (Jer. 23:1-6).

Another quality of a good shepherd is that he gathers the flock. He promotes togetherness, peace and unity. St Paul tells us in the second reading that Jesus, by his death on the cross, has reconciled all of us into one people. He broke the wall of division and brought both Jews and Gentiles into one family (Eph. 2:13-18).

Each one of us, whether we are the Pope, a bishop, a priest, a pastor, a parent, a leader, a doctor, a teacher, a seller, a worker, etc. must strive to be caring, sensitive to the needs and miseries of others. Sometimes, we may need to let go our rights and privileges, our cherished time of rest in order to bring relief and consolation to others. We are invited also to break the barriers of hostility, division and revenge that are tearing apart our relationships, families, churches and communities.
May the Lord bless and keep all of us. Amen

FIFTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B

Amos 7:12-15
Psalm 84:9-14
Ephesians 1:3-14
Mark 6:7-13

THE MISSIONARY PEOPLE

In today’s readings, we are reminded that we are sent to go and tell our story, the story of our relationship with God. Every baptized is a missionary, called to be holy and spotless before God. We are therefore called to holiness; and this holiness is achieved in the daily living of the Gospel of which we are bearers.

The Gospel reading narrates the first missionary experience of Jesus’ disciples. Having spent some time with him, Jesus sends them out to cast out demons, heal the sick and preach repentance. He also instructs them not to take anything for the journey, but to depend solely on the providence of God.

In the first reading, Amos defends the legitimacy of his prophetic mission before Amaziah, priest of Bethel. God called him to prophesy to the people of Israel in the northern kingdom and to call them to conversion.

It is God who calls and commissions. We are called to be God’s adopted children in Christ Jesus. Thus, the second reading celebrates this boundless grace of God in a form of a hymn of blessing. It also exalts Christ as the one whom God has established as the source of salvation of mankind. In him, and through his blood, we have gained freedom and forgiveness of our sins. In him, God has showered us with his spiritual blessings.

This is the good news we must receive, celebrate, live and share with others in our homes, workplaces, schools, communities and so forth. By so doing, we will become true ambassadors of Christ and become the true version of ourselves, that is, missionaries called to be holy. May the Lord bless and keep all of us.
Amen.

FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT, YEAR B

2 Chronicles 36:14-16, 19-23
Psalm  136:1-6
Ephesians 2: 4-10
John 3:14-21

LAETARE SUNDAY

The fourth Sunday of Lent is usually called "Laetare Sunday" or Sunday of rejoicing. Why rejoicing in this time of penance and regret of our sins? Because we serve a God who is patient and loving. He never gets tired of loving us despite our sinfulness and weaknesses; for He does not take pleasure in the death of the sinner.

Hence, the first reading tells us that the Lord, the God of Israel tirelessly sent his prophets to the Israelites. But the people did not listen to them. Thus, God delivered them in the hands of the Babylonians. They went to exile, a bitter experience in the history of the Israelites. Even then, God delivered them by raising king Cyrus of Persia to liberate them from exile. This is how loving, how forgiving our God is!

In the second reading, St Paul says that “God so loved us with so much love that he was generous with his mercy, when we were dead through our sins, he brought us to life with Christ.” This is how immensely rich God’s saving grace is!

The gospel proclaims that God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten Son to us so that anyone who believes in him may be saved. He came not to condemn the world, but to save the world. To hepl us better appreciate the amazing grace and the love of God for us, Jesus makes a reference to the lifting up of the golden serpent by Moses in the desert (Num 21:6-9).

The serpent was a symbol of consolation and healing to the Israelites in thé desert. Jesus on the cross is the sign of our salvation, sign of God’s love for you and me. Yes, on that cross which is the emblem of humiliation and torture, death and condemnation, is found the emblem of love, forgiveness and liberation. By looking on the cross, we come to appreciate how our sins, transgressions and disobedience have nailed Jesus. We must believe in this love of Jesus and be obedient to his Word.
Amen.

SOLEMNITY OF EPIPHANY

Isaiah 60:1-6
Psalm 71
Ephesians 3:2-3.5-6
Matthew 2:1-12

THE MANIFESTATION OF GOD

We celebrate today the Epiphany of our Lord Jesus Christ. The word “epiphany” means manifestation, revelation or showing forth. Through a star, God revealed the birth of his Son to the magi in the east. God became man for the salvation of all. Therefore, he manifests himself to all.

There is no stranger in God’s plan of salvation. He leaves no one out. To the shepherds, he revealed himself in a manger. To the pagans of St Paul’s time, he revealed his love through the proclamation of the Gospel (Eph. 3:2-3.5-6). To us too, He manifests himself in various ways, especially in the events of our life and in the celebration of the Eucharist. God adapts himself to the concrete  conditions of each one of us.

When the wise men saw the star, they left their country and followed it until they found the infant Jesus. When King Herod received the news through the magi, he was perturbed and wanted to kill the new born king so as to secure his reign (Matt. 2:1-12). No matter what our intentions are, God will reveal himself to us anyway.

What makes the difference is our response to him. Our response must be to accept Jesus as our Star, the Light that enlightens our life. When we accept him, we become little candles that radiate the light of Christ to the world. We must therefore rise and shine, as the first reading commands us (Is. 60,1-6). Rising and shining are characteristic of the sun, which gives light, life and warmth to all. We are therefore called to shine in the world, covered by the darkness of sin, wickedness, selfishness, injustice, corruption, violence, hatred, unforgiveness, etc.
May we be "epiphany" wherever we find ourselves.

Amen.