First Reading: Acts 16:1-10; Psalm: 100. R. v. 1; Gospel: Jn 15:18-21 THE CONSEQUENCES OF THE CHRISTIAN MARK BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP It can be dangerous to be different. When we stand out in opposition to the crowd, we become a threat to them. Aristides of Athens was called ‘Aristides the just’ yet … [Read more…]
First Reading: Acts 15:22-31; Psalm: 57. R. v. 10a; Gospel: Jn 15:12-17 THE WISDOM OF THE APOSTLES BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP There was an issue to be addressed among the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. This time around it wasn’t anything regarding circumcision. It was about desisting from food sacrificed to … [Read more…]
First Reading: Acts 15:7-21; Psalm: 96. R. v. 3; Gospel: Jn 15:9-11 ONE IN CHRIST JESUS BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP An unprecedented dispute arose in the Church in Antioch between the Jews and the Gentiles. The bone of contention was circumcision. Some narrow-minded Jews who considered it a taboo for the Jews to … [Read more…]
First Reading: Acts 15:1-6; Psalm: 122. R. v. 1; Gospel: Jn 15:1-8 ABIDING WITH THE TRUE VINE BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP The vine is a very delicate plant. It needs a great deal of attention to get the best fruit out of it. It has two kinds of branches. The ones that bear … [Read more…]
First Reading: Acts 14:19-28; Psalm: 145. R. v. 12a; Gospel: Jn 14:27-31a HIS GIFT OF PEACE BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP Three years was enough for Jesus to establish a strong relationship with his disciples. These men who followed Jesus wherever he went came to see their master as their source of joy and … [Read more…]
First Reading: Acts 14:5-18; Psalm: 115. R. v. 1ab; Gospel: Jn 14:21-26 LOVE IS HIS WORD BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP “I love you” is a very common statement in our world today. It is an endearment often used to announce one’s feeling of affection to another. It is easily heard but not often … [Read more…]
First Reading: Acts 6:1-7; Psalm: 33. R. v. 22; Second Reading: 1Pt 2:4-9; Gospel: Jn 14:1-12 NO GROWTH WITHOUT JUSTICE BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP “Show me a growing community without dispute and controversies and I will prove to you how so surreptitiously they are starved of growth and progress.” (Anonymous) There are lots … [Read more…]
First Reading: Acts 13:44-52; Psalm: 98. R. v. 3cd; Gospel: Jn 14:7-14 GOD DETERMINES OUR SUCCESS BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP There are people who feel we cannot do or succeed without them. Those with this kind of mentality have the propensity to frustrate our efforts or choose not to readily co-operative with us … [Read more…]
First Reading: Acts 13:26-33; Psalm: 2. R. v. 7bc; Gospel: Jn 14:1-6 JESUS IS THE WAY TO HEAVEN BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP Jesus saw very clearly how tensed and scared his disciples were because of his imminent death and departure. He then said to them “Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in … [Read more…]
First Reading: Acts 13:13-25; Psalm: 89. R. v. 2a; Gospel: Jn 13:16-20 THE HUMBLE SERVANT BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP When we hear that God took the nature of man, it sounds so simple. But when we reflect deeply on this, we would discover that it was the most humiliating choice God had to … [Read more…]
