ST BENEDICT, ABB. (Memorial) White He was the twin brother of St Scholastica. While studying in Rome, he was dismayed by the lack of indiscipline of his fellow students; so he fled to a cave and lived there as a hermit for three years. Inspired by his life, a group of monks asked him to … [Read more…]
First Reading: Gn 28:10-22a; Psalm: 91 R. v. 2b; Gospel: Mt 9:18-26 WHEN FAITH FAILS US BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP Some years back, I was at a hospital to see the doctor. Coincidentally I saw a teenage girl in her school uniform lying on a stretcher by the reception area. She was unconscious … [Read more…]
First Reading: Gn 27:1-5. 15-29; Psalm: 135 R. v. 3a; Gospel: Mt 9:14-17 NEW WINE, FRESH WINESKIN BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP Why were the disciples of John so concerned about fasting that they considered it a point of discussion to table before Jesus? Judging from our time, fasting isn’t always compulsorily demanded. But … [Read more…]
First Reading: Gn 23:1. 4. 19; 24:1-8. 62-67; Psalm: 106. R. v. 1b; Gospel: Mt 9:9-13 A LESSON FROM JESUS BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP People criticise for various reasons. There are those who criticise because they feel they can do better. And there are those who criticise just to take people’s attention away … [Read more…]
First Reading: Gn 22:1-19; Psalm: 116. R. v. 9; Gospel: Mt 9:1-8 THE BLACK DOT BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP The goodwill of Jesus in today’s gospel was met with two contrasting reactions which is not different from what we occasionally experience in life. Jesus had just left the district of Gadarenes where he … [Read more…]
First Reading: Gn 21:5. 8-20; Psalm: 34. R. v. 7a; Gospel: Mt 8:28-34 HUMAN WEAKNESS AND GOD’S STEADFAST LOVE BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP Hagar was an Egyptian slave who served as a maid to Abraham’s wife Sarah. When Sarah couldn’t conceive, she gave Hagar to Abraham to bear him a child. When Hagar … [Read more…]
First Reading: Gn 19:15-29; Psalm: 26. R. v. 3a; Gospel: Mt 8:23-27 FAITH IN TURBULENT MOMENTS BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP The reaction of the disciples in the gospel of today re-echoes how we often naturally slip into fear in moments of danger. When their boat was swamped by the waves, fear gripped them … [Read more…]
First Reading: Gn 18:1-15; Psalm: Lk 1. R. v. 54b; Gospel: Mt 8:5-17 A LESSON FROM THE CENTURION BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP “‘For I am a man under authority with soldiers under me; and I say to one, ‘Go,’ and he goes, and to another, ‘Come,’ and he comes, and to my slave, … [Read more…]
First Reading: Gn 17:1. 9-10. 15-22; Psalm: 128. R. v. 4; Gospel: Mt 8:1-4 LET GOD TAKE THE GLORY IN ALL THINGS BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP Sincere love and kindness requires no publicity. We must not announce or publicise our good deeds for people to know. God will reward us abundantly when we … [Read more…]
SS PETER AND PAUL, APP. (Solemnity) Red First Reading: Acts 12:1-11; Psalm: 34. R. v. 5b; Second Reading: 2Tim 4:6-8. 17-18; Gospel: Mt 16:13-19 FAITH OF OUR FATHERS BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP Today the Church celebrates the solemnity of two great apostles SS Peter and Paul. These two apostles are regarded as the … [Read more…]
