Imagine that St. Augustine’s Catholic Church was filled on a Sunday morning with people from different parts of the world who had come for mass only to be told told that their priest had been killed some few minutes ago. Although like every other person the priest is human; nevertheless, in the imagination above, no person in the imagined church can carry out the killed priest’s ministry unless he is to be ordained a priest within a twinkle of an eye. What if there are no other priests in the…
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YEAR B: HOMILY/REFLECTION FOR THE 19TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (5) TOPIC: RECEIVING THE BREAD OF LIFE MEANINGFULLY
YEAR B: HOMILY/REFLECTION FOR THE 19TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME TOPIC: RECEIVING THE BREAD OF LIFE MEANINGFULLY BY: Fr. Mike Lagrimas Gospel: Jn 6:24-35 Message # 408: “Bear Within Yourselves the Witness of Jesus” 1.The Marian Message a. This message of the Blessed Mother intends to encourage her priests and faithful to remain steadfast in their witnessing of Jesus. These are the times of purification, apostasy and tribulations. She calls on her children never to waver, but to have trust and confidence in her maternal presence and protection: “Remain serene.…
Read More… ON WHOM TO REST
… ON WHOM TO REST Is it wise to rest on others? Is it wise to rest on no one? Do you enjoy having people rest on you? “No man is an Island” is a notable English saying. Life often demands that we depend on one another for the mutual well being of all and sundry. However, to absolutely depend on a mortal being is undertaking a suicide mission. Sometimes, those responsible for one’s trouble are “the most trusted folks.” Is this a call to distrust? Absolutely No! If we…
Read MoreDO YOU LOVE ME?
DO YOU LOVE ME? I was reflecting on the possibility of my asking one who betrayed me thrice, the question of love. However, Jesus Christ asked Peter; do you love me? Imagine the offence of Peter against Jesus! Denied Christ three times! Vowed previously never to do so! Does he Peter deserve to have been asked the question of love when his action already showed hate? The question of love can only be asked when we do not write off our enemies and those who loved us but failed us;…
Read MoreOPEN THE NEXT PAGE
OPEN THE NEXT PAGE Life is a book with several pages. As dusk turns dawn in the journey of life so the pages of our respective life’s book open. We awake somedays to realize our book has been turned to a beautiful page and we smile. At other times, we go to bed with the awareness that our book has opened to an ugly page and we cry. Many make life a station whenever an ugly page opens in their life’s book. Life is a journey and requires a continuous…
Read MoreTHE VOICE IN VOICES
THE VOICE IN VOICES Have you ever been in a situation of hearing several voices? Do you know that hearing is different from listening? One could hear lots of voices but listen to a few or a voice. Which voice should one not only hear but listen as well? In the world, there are lots of voices. Often, we listen to voices we always hear. Today, there are the voices of fear, hate, unforgiveness, revenge, divorce, fraud, lust, disobedience, rebellion, betrayal, denial, greed, division, war, pride, brutality, murder … However,…
Read MoreTIME TO LEAVE …
TIME TO LEAVE … Leaving is a reality that confronts us individually and collectively in life. People leave from place to place as they endeavour to finding meaning to their existence in the world. Are you planning to leave? It’s not a bad idea provided your leaving is geared towards the good that has others in view. Nevertheless, you must not leave unless you are sure of something. In Exodus 33:15, Moses said; “…if your presence does not go with us, we don’t want to leave this place.” Beloved, how…
Read MoreYOU CALL ME BY MY NAME
YOU CALL ME BY MY NAME Have you ever been called by name? What does it feel like to be called by name? Your name is strongly a part of your identity. If ten persons were to be walking on a path and a name is called, the one likely to get more attention of the call is the one who goes by the called name. No one calls you by name without knowing your name. When you have been called by name, you are more likely to listen to…
Read MoreFORGIVE THYSELF …
FORGIVE THYSELF … My experience as a pilgrim on earth has made me realize how weak one can be without the grace of God. Frequently but unwillingly doing the wrong things and not doing the right things may bring about frustration and depression. However, it is good for the believer to acknowledge the truth that “no sin can stand a planck time before the mercy of God when genuinely confessed and renounced”. The weakeness of the flesh when it neglects the spirit may may lead one to committing an attrocious…
Read MoreSHOULD WE FORCE IT?
SHOULD WE FORCE IT? Can there be faith without patience or patience without faith? Many who profess faith today lack patience while many who claim to be patient lack faith. When a locked door is opened with a key and when the same locked door is forcefully opened without a key, the difference in the state of the door after its opening under the above respective imagined situations will be clear. Faith without patience is like forcefully opening a locked door simply because one can’t take the pain to waiting…
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