First Reading: Tb 12:1. 5-15. 20; Psalm: Tobit 13. R. 1b; Gospel: Mk 12:38-44 BEWARE OF EMPTY PRAISES FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP “Beware of the scribes, who like to go about in long robes, and to have salutations in the market places and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honour … [Read more…]
First Reading: Tb 11:5-17; Psalm: 146. R. 1b; Gospel: Mk 12:35-37 GREATER THAN WHAT WE CALL HIM BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP It was the belief of the Jews that the Messiah would come from the line of David and rightfully called the “Son of David.” And just like David who fought for his … [Read more…]
First Reading: Tb 6:10-11; 7:1cd.9-17; 8:4-9a; Psalm: 128. R. 1a; Gospel: Mk 12:28b-34 KNOWING AND FOLLOWING THE RIGHT WAY BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP The scribe who came to Jesus in the gospel of today is one of the Pharisees who stood out different from his colleagues. Because often times when we speak of … [Read more…]
First Reading: Tb 3:1-11a.16-17a; Psalm: 25. R. 1; Gospel: Mk 12:18-27 THE REALITY OF HEAVEN AND THE RESURRECTION BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP The Sadducees in the gospel of today presented a very wrong view of heaven as a place where the normal life here on earth continues. From the question they asked Jesus … [Read more…]
First Reading: Tb 2:9-14; Psalm: 112. R. v. 7c; Gospel: Mk 12:13-17 BEWARE OF FLATTERERS BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP “Teacher, we know that you are true, and care for no man, but truly teach the way of God.” (Mk 12:13). Could the above words have come from the mouth of the Pharisees and … [Read more…]
ST BONIFACE, B.M. (Memorial) Red Boniface was renowned for destroying idols and pagan temples, and building churches on the sites. In Saxony, Boniface encountered a tribe worshiping a Norse deity in the form of a huge oak tree. He walked up to the tree, removed his shirt, took up an axe, and without a word hacked … [Read more…]
SS CHARLES LWANGA AND COMPANIONS, M. (Memorial) Red Charles Lwanga worked in King Kabaka Mwanga’s palace in Uganda, Africa. Charles trained the other workers to be exemplary servants of the king but later pointed them towards Jesus Christ as their saviour. As strong followers of God they prayed constantly even under death threats. Charles Lwanga … [Read more…]
First Reading: Sir 44:1.9-13; Psalm: 149. R. v. 4a; Gospel: Mk 11:11-26 BEARING FRUIT IS NOT SEASONAL BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP The gospel of today is one of the narratives in the scriptures that accentuated the humanness of Jesus. Jesus was hungry and needed something to eat. Then he saw a fig tree … [Read more…]
ST JUSTIN, MARTYR (Memorial) He was born of pagan Greek parents in Samaria around 100AD. He read rhetoric, poetry and history and studied various schools of philosophy. At Ephesus, he was impressed by the steadfastness of the Christian martyrs and converted to Christianity. He opened a school of Christian philosophy and was arrested with the … [Read more…]
First Reading: Sir 35:1-12; Psalm: 50. R. 23b; Gospel: Mk 10:28-31 CONSISTENT FOLLOWERSHIP BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP “But many that are first will be last, and the last first.”(Mk 10:31). When we have attained certain level of success, there is that tendency to be complacent. If we wished to grow above our present … [Read more…]
