ST IRENAEUS Bp, M (Memorial) Red He was the bishop of Lyons and a disciple of St Polycarp of Smyrna. Born in c. 130 at Asia Minor. He worked and wrote against Gnosticism. Gnosticism taught that salvation is achieved through special knowledge and that the material world is evil. If matter is evil, it therefore … [Read more…]
First Reading: Gn 13:2. 5-18; Psalm: 48. R. v. 9cd; Gospel: Mt 7:6.12-14 OUR GUIDING RULE BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP So whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them; for this is the law and the prophets. (Mt 7:12). The Golden Rule is as old as the human … [Read more…]
First Reading: Gn 12:1-9; Psalm: 33. R. v. 12b; Gospel: Mt 7:1-5 DO NOT JUDGE BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP “‘Judge not, that you be not judged.’” (Mt 7:1) According to Rabbi Hillel, “Do not judge a man until you yourself have come into his circumstance or situation.” For if we found ourselves in … [Read more…]
First Reading: 2Cor 11:18. 21-30; Psalm: 34. R. 18b; Gospel: Mt 6:19-23 HEAVENLY INVESTMENT FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP The humongous appetite of man to acquire his desired wants is a drive we see in our daily activities. We work so hard every day to get some money and every wise man would want to … [Read more…]
First Reading: 2Cor 11:1-11; Psalm: 111. R. v. 7a; Gospel: Mt 6:7-15 PRAYING WITH THE CHILDLIKE CONFIDENCE BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP At the Holy Mass, the priest usually introduces the Lord’s Prayer in the following words: “At the Saviour’s command and formed by Divine teaching we dare to say.” What this means is … [Read more…]
ST ALOYSIUS GONZAGA, R. (Memorial) White He was an Italian and a son of a compulsive gambler. He was trained from age four as a soldier and courtier. Aloysius suffered from kidney disease which he considered a blessing as it left him bed-ridden with time for prayer. He received First Holy Communion from Charles Borromeo … [Read more…]
First Reading: 2Cor 8:1-9; Psalm: 146. R. 1b; Gospel: Mt 5:43-48 DRAWING FROM GOD’S DIVINE LOVE BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP The love of God for us is pure and impartial. It is the finest and the purest of all love. This unconditional love of God is made visible in his relationship with us. … [Read more…]
First Reading: 2Cor 6:1-10; Psalm: 98. R. v. 2a; Gospel: Mt 5:38-42 CHOOSING THE WAY OF MERCY BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP Retaliation was a very common practice for ancient Israel. It was so cruel and incommensurate that it bred injustice and violence. To curtail this violence and promote justice, the law of retaliation … [Read more…]
THE IMMACULATE HEART OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY (Memorial) First Reading: 2Cor 5:14-21; Psalm: 103. R. v. 8a; Gospel: Lk 2:41-51 THE FAULTLESS HEART FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP At the age of twelve Jesus was now old enough to attend the feast of the Passover in Jerusalem. He got missing after the celebration but … [Read more…]
First Reading: 2Cor 3:15-4:1.3-6; Psalm: 85. R. v. 10b; Gospel: Mt 5:20-26 PURE HEART, PURE OFFERING FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP Our God is not so much interested in the bigness of our gifts but in the purity of our hearts. God looks at the heart that gives and not the hand that offers the … [Read more…]
