ST LUKE, EVANGELIST B.M. (Feast) Red First Reading: 2Tim 4:10-17ab; Psalm: 145. R. v. 12a; Gospel: Lk 10 1-9 A TRUE MISSIONARY BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP St Luke hails from Antioch; a city known for its high learning. He was a physician which goes without saying his learnedness. Little wonder he wrote the … [Read more…]
ST IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH, B.M. (Memorial) RED Ignatius was a convert from paganism to Christianity. He succeeded Peter as bishop of Antioch, Syria. During persecution, the Emperor Trajan ordered him to be taken to Rome. On the way, a journey which took months, he wrote a series of encouraging letters to the churches under his … [Read more…]
First Reading: Ex 17:8-13; Psalm: 121. R. v. 2; Second Reading: 2Tim 3:14-4:2; Gospel: Lk 18:1-8 THE ANATOMY OF PERSISTENT PRAYER BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP Whenever Jesus told a parable, it was precisely a style of making his message vivid by way of images and stories. The essence of Jesus’ parables in the … [Read more…]
ST THERESA OF AVILLA, V.D. (Memorial) White She was the daughter of a Spanish noble. Crippled by disease in her youth, she was cured after prayer to Saint Joseph. When her mother died, her father opposed her entry into religious life, so she left home without telling anyone, and entered a Carmelite house at age … [Read more…]
First Reading: Eph 1:11-14; Psalm: 33. R. v. 12b; Gospel: Lk 12 1-7 HYPOCRISY BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP The Pharisees’ opposition to Jesus did not prevent the increasing crowd that they grew in thousands as they trod upon one another eager to hear from Jesus. The tirade of Jesus on the Pharisees for … [Read more…]
First Reading: Eph 1:1-10; Psalm: 98. R. v. 2a; Gospel: Lk 11 47-54 BEWARE OF FAITH DESTROYERS BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP “Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken the key of knowledge; you did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering.” (Lk 11:52). Jesus continues his tirade against the … [Read more…]
First Reading: Gal 5:18-25; Psalm: 1. R. v. Jn 8:12; Gospel: Lk 11 42-46 RELIGIOUS TRANSPARENCY BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP “Woe to you! For you are like graves which are not seen, and men walk over them without knowing it” (Lk 11:44) According to Numbers 19:16; whoever touches a grave whether knowingly or … [Read more…]
First Reading: Gal 5:1-6; Psalm: 119. R. v. 41a; Gospel: Lk 11 37-41 INNER PURITY BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP Jesus was a Jew and knew all the laws of the Jews. When he was invited to dine in the house of a Pharisee, he decided to act unlike a Jew to correct an … [Read more…]
First Reading: Gal 4:22-24.26-27.31-5:1; Psalm: 113. R.v. 2; Gospel: Lk 11: 29-32 SEEING BEYOND SIGNS BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP Jesus called the increasing crowd a wicked generation because they asked for signs. Obviously, they were not ready to listen to Jesus or believe him unless he performed a sign to prove to them … [Read more…]
First Reading: 2Kgs 5:14-17; Psalm: 98. R. v. 2; Second Reading: 2Tim 2:8-13; Gospel: Lk 17:11-19 OBEYING IN DOUBT BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP “Now I know that there is no God in all the earth except in Israel” (2Kgs 5:15). There is a hidden truth in this declaration of faith by Naaman, the … [Read more…]
