First Reading: 1Cor 15:35-37. 42-49; Psalm: 56. R. v. 14cd; Gospel: Lk 8:4-15 IDENTIFYING THE OBSTACLES TO GOD’S WORD BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP What are the obstacles that hinder the word of God from bearing fruit in us? It is important we pay attention to them because God is more concerned with the … [Read more…]
SS CORNELIUS, PP & CYPRIAN, B.M. (Memorial) Red Cornelius was the 21st Pope elected during the period when persecutions were so bad that papal ascension was often a death sentence. He worked for unity in a time of schism and apostasy. Cornelius fought Novatianism, a heresy that held that the lapsed Christian might not be … [Read more…]
OUR LADY OF SORROWS (Memorial) White First Reading: 1Cor 15:1-11; Psalm: 118. R. v. 1; Gospel: Jn 19:25b-27 THE SEVEN SORROWS OF MARY BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP It was at the wedding at Cana that Jesus first addressed his mother with the title ‘woman.’ At the foot of the cross he addressed his … [Read more…]
THE EXALTATION OF THE CROSS (Feast) Red First Reading: Num 21:4b-9; Psalm: 78. R. v. 7b; Second Reading: Phil 2:6-11; Gospel: Jn 3:13-17 THE GLORY OF THE CROSS BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP The story of Jesus culminated in his death on the cross. In the secular view, that was the end of him, … [Read more…]
ST JOHN CHRYSOSTOM, B.D. (Memorial) White He is one of the most famous orators of his day. Because of his eloquent sermons, John earned the title “Chrysostom” (golden mouthed). John explained the scripture with clarity and they were always on point and sometimes went on for hours. He was made bishop of Constantinople in 398. … [Read more…]
First Reading: 1Cor 11:17-26. 33; Psalm: 40. R. v. 1Cor 11:26b; Gospel: Lk 7:1-10 THE POWER OF INTERCESSION BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP The centurion in the gospel of today was in great need. He wanted his servant to get well and he knew he could get what he wanted from Jesus. But there … [Read more…]
First Reading: Ex32:7-11.13-14; Psalm: 51. R. v. Lk 15:18; Second Reading: 1Tim 1:12-17; Gospel: Lk 15:1-32 THE MISSING TAB BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP A lot of us played the photo puzzle game as kids. This game is the reassembling of different unorganised tabs to form a full picture. Each of these tabs is … [Read more…]
First Reading: 1Cor 10:14-22; Psalm: 116. R. v. 17a; Gospel: Lk 6:43-49 THE MOUTH SPEAKS FOR THE HEART BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP “. . . for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” (Lk 6:45). Sometimes what we say betrays us. There are times we do not wish to divulge … [Read more…]
First Reading: 1Cor 9:16-19. 22b-27; Psalm: 84. R. v. 2; Gospel: Lk 6:39-42 IMPERFECTION: OUR COLLECTIVE FEATURE BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP The gospel of today reminds us that ‘imperfection’ is a similar feature which every one of us possesses. None of us is faultless. And this is why if we must correct, then … [Read more…]
THE NATIVITY OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY (Feast) White First Reading: Mic 5:2-5a; Psalm: 13. R. v. Is 61:10a; Gospel: Mt 1:1-16. 18-23 MARY’S BIRTH: A BLESSING TO THE WORLD BY FR VALENTINE NNAMDI EGBUONU, MSP There is no account of Mary’s birth in the Bible. The only account of her birth was recorded in … [Read more…]
