THE SOLEMNITY OF CHRIST, THE KING OF THE UNIVERSE First Reading: 2Sm 5:1-3; Psalm: 122. R. v. 1; Second Reading: Col 1:12-20; Gospel: Lk 23:35-43 THE KING AND THE TWO THIEVES BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP A priest was sick and dying on his deathbed. He phoned two of his friends and requested their … [Read more…]
First Reading: Mal 3:19-20a; Psalm: 98. R. v. 9; Second Reading: 2Thes 3:7-12; Gospel: Lk 21:5-19 PREPARING FOR THE END BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP We are again today presented with the reality of the end as we draw closer to the end of the Church’s liturgical year. The readings are obviously indicative of … [Read more…]
First Reading: 2Mc 7:1-2.9-:14; Psalm: 17. R. v. 15b; Second Reading: 2Thes 2:16-3:5; Gospel: Lk 20:27-38 THE LIFE OF THE RESURRECTION BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP As we gradually draw close to the end of the Church’s liturgical year, we can notice how our readings suddenly take the eschatological dimension. This abrupt shift to … [Read more…]
First Reading: Ws 11:22-12:2; Psalm: 145. R. v. 1; Second Reading: 2Thes 1:11-2:2; Gospel: Lk 19:1-10 THE SYCAMORE TREE BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP On Saturday, the 1st of October 2022, during the Independence Day mega rally in Nigeria for the presidential flag bearer of the Labour Party Mr. Peter Obi, a toddler Chioma … [Read more…]
First Reading: Sir 35:12c-14.16-18b; Psalm: 34. R. v. 7a; Second Reading: 2Tim 4:6-8.16-18; Gospel: Lk 18:9-14 THE INTROSPECTIVE TAX COLLECTOR BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP In retrospect, whenever we went for night prayers back in my seminary days, we were always required to observe a five minutes silence for examination of conscience immediately after … [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…]
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…]
First Reading: Hb 1:2-3; 2:2-4.; Psalm: 95. R. v. 7d.8a; Second Reading: 2Tim 1:6-8.13-14; Gospel: Lk 17:5-10 WHEN FAITH BECOMES DIFFICULT BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP “And the Lord said, “If you had faith as a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this sycamine tree, ‘Be rooted up, and be planted in … [Read more…]
First Reading: Am 6:1a. 4-7.; Psalm: 146. R. v. 1b; Second Reading: 1Tim 6:11-16; Gospel: Lk 16:19-31 THE LAZARUS BY OUR GATE BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP The story of the rich man and Lazarus obviously defies the usual style of a parable. There is nowhere in the scriptures that Jesus mentioned a name … [Read more…]
First Reading: Am 8:4-7.; Psalm: 113. R. v. 1a; Second Reading: 1Tim 2:1-8; Gospel: Lk 16:1-13 THE GHOST REPORTER BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP The parable of the dishonest steward is a very familiar parable. Each time it is read, our attention are quickly drawn to this shrewd steward who not only stole from … [Read more…]
