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What God Tells You Today, vitam vocation, Lagos (2026)

07/07/2023

Friday of week 13 in Ordinary Time

“God loves sinners but hate sin” a popular and common saying that many are familiar with. This should be our hope and consolation, that Christ Jesus died for us, because of our sins and not because of the righteous ones. A call of/for discipleship is a journey of fellowship which entails walking away from old-self into a new life in Christ Jesus.

Jesus in Matthew 9:9-13 called Matthew, a tax collector, those regarded as sinners by Pharisees. “While he was at dinner in the house it happened that a number of tax collectors and sinners came to sit at the table with Jesus and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, ‘Why does your master eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

Here, Jesus taught us by his action that, both sinners and righteous are loved by Him and his Father. In fact, dinning with tax collectors and sinners on the same table is/was a sign of an invitation for them to share in the meal and banquet of salvation. By this single act, Christ teaches that we have no moral authority to judge or ostracize anyone. “It is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick. What I want is mercy, not sacrifice. And indeed I did not come to call the virtuous, but sinners.”

What's it that prevent you from going to Jesus? Why do you avoid dinning with Him? Today, we are reassured by Christ that despite our sins, God is still searching for us and beacons us to come and dine with Him on the table — alter of salvation.

+ May the Lord bless His Words in our hearts Amen +

LET US PRAY
O God, who through the grace of adoption chose us to be children of light, grant, we pray, that we may not be wrapped in the darkness of error but always be seen to stand in the bright light of truth. We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord Amen.

03/07/2023

Monday 3 July 2023: Feast of Saint Thomas, The Apostle.

Sin does not only separate us from God, it also make us a foreigner in our own land. Just as a citizen can lost his/her right or citizenship, so too our disobedience and sins can make us loss our inheritance of heaven. St. Paul in the first reading to Ephesians 2:19-22 reminded us that by the virtue of Christ's death, “we are no longer aliens or foreign visitors: but a citizens like all the saints, and part of God’s household. A part of a building that has the apostles and prophets for its foundations, and Christ Jesus himself for its main cornerstone.”

Again towards the end of that episode, Paul said, “As every structure is aligned on him, all grow into one holy temple in the Lord; and you too, in him, are being built into a house where God lives, in the Spirit.” This is a call to abide/infuse ourselfs in Jesus; this act can be possible when we in faith and action aligned ourselfs in Christ Jesus.

In the Gospel of John 20:24-29, Thomas doubted the resurrection of Jesus in a clear conscience. His reason was not because he knew it was true and decided to doubt, rather to strengthen his faith and personal relationship with Jesus. When the disciples said, “We have seen the Lord”, he answered, “Unless I see the holes that the nails made in his hands and can put my finger into the holes they made, and unless I can put my hand into his side, I refuse to believe.”

This words formed as a quest of a soul that truly seek to discover God in a deeper way. We must not see this as a doubt or see Thomas' act as obstinacy but a formulation or synthesis of faith.

From the depths of Thomas' heart, Jesus saw his genuineness of seeking the truth, eight days later came again, stood among them. “Peace be with you” he said. Then he spoke to Thomas, “Put your finger here; look, here are my hands. Give me your hand; put it into my side. Doubt no longer but believe.” Thomas, having satisfied with this, replied, “My Lord and my God!” at this point we could say that, FAITH HAS MET WITH REASON. On our own part, we are today called to believe in the Gospel of truth, develop our faith, and genuinely seek God in spirit and truth.

Unless we doubt like Thomas, seeking the truth in honesty, purity of mind and heart, and build our faith and trust in Him, we will not find God – the satisfaction of souls; as St Augustine said, “our souls are restless until they rest in God.” Discovering Jesus means living a new life and having a transformation of heart.

+ May the Lord bless His Words in our hearts. Amen +

LET US PRAY
Grant, almighty God, that we may glory in the Feast of the blessed Apostle Thomas, so that we may always be sustained by his intercession and, believing, may have life in the name of Jesus Christ your Son, whom Thomas acknowledged as the Lord. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen.

30/06/2023

Friday 30 June 2023 of week 12 in Ordinary Time

God's blessings are never late but they comes at appropriate time when God Wills it and most time when we lost all hope. It is so because He – God knows when, how and what is good for us. In first reading, Genesis 17:1,9-10,15-22, Abraham's prayer for the gift of a child was answered at his hundred years of age while his wife, Sarah convinced at age of ninety years.

At this point or stages of lives, humanly and Biologically speaking, it is impossible for Abraham to impregnate his wife nor his wife to conceived, but this is to show us that “with God all things are possible” there is absolutely nothing impossible for God to do. It is very important that we should at any given time in prayers ask God for the gift of this three theological virtues — Faith, Hope and Love and then endurance to stand firm in Him, not to moved by the challenges of life and a total resignation and abandonment to His Will till when He will answer us.

This total abandonment and self-giving of one's own will to the Will of God was seen in the Gospel reading of today, Matthew 8:1-4 of a l***r who came to Jesus for healing. He said,
“Sir, if you want to, you can cure me.” Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him and said, “Of course I want to! Be cured!” And his leprosy was cured at once. Here we have a clear picture of what pray is, as a request made in humility of heart, not a command or demand, nor to test God as if He will answer or not, to determine if we will continue to serve Him or not.

Dear friends in Christ, from the readings of today we are called to embrace the Will of God as we ask Him to grant us the gift of Faith, Hope and acceptance of His Will, persevering in doing and being good, with thankfulness of heart, offering Him the thanksgiving daily.

+ May the Lord bless His Words in our hearts Amen +

LET US PRAY
Grant, O Lord, that we may always revere and love your holy name, for you never deprive of your guidance those you set firm on the foundation of your love. We ask this through Jesus Christ our our Lord. Amen

29/06/2023

Thursday 29 June 2023: Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles

We rejoice as we celebrate the feast of the great Apostles, Peter and Paul known for their remarkable and unerased foot imprint they left behind for us in defending and teaching of faith. These two Apostles represents: in Peter, we have the Authority and Tradition while in Paul we have Grace and Mercy. In the first reading taken from Acts 12:1-11, we see how the Lord sent his angel to save Peter from Herod and from all that the Jewish people had for him. Such are the assurance of God to us whenever we are trapped by the nets of enemy who unjustly wants to kill or eliminate us.

Again, on a sober mood, Paul quickly call us to mind of the fact that our life here on earth is a race and continuous fight which certainly will come to a finish lines someday. In that second reading of the second letter he addressed to Timothy 4:6-8,17-18, he said, “I have fought the good fight to the end; I have run the race to the finish; I have kept the faith; all there is to come now is the crown of righteousness reserved for me, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that Day; and not only to me but to all those who have longed for his Appearing”

This words are sign of hope and source of encouragement to all of us. It means, if we can persevere in leading a good life, enduring the persecutions and trials that accompany it, then we shall definitely have the reward, the crown of salvation when the Lord shall recall us to himself. “The Lord stood by me and gave me power, so that through me the whole message might be proclaimed for all the pagans to hear; and so I was rescued from the lion’s mouth. The Lord will rescue me from all evil attempts on me, and bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom.”

Then in the Gospel, Matthew 16:13-19, Jesus put a question to his disciples to know people's opinions about himself. Responding to this question, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” Jesus got a good recommendation but he went further to ask them of their own personal experience or knowledge about him, Simon Peter spoke up, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Dear friends in Christ, it is pertinent to know that, Jesus' question and Peter's answer as was revealed to him by God, “because it was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven,” was meant for an introspective examination of our individual lives in relationship with God and our neighbors.

Thus, it's always good to retreat and take stock of our lives and listen to the voice of God. It's also good to know that the Lord is with us and ready to rescue us from all troubles. Like Peter and Paul, let us seek the face of God and be ready to embrace the Crosses of life, hoping that there is a crown that awaits us of which the Lord himself shall place upon our heads, namely the salvation of our souls.

+ May the Lord bless His Words in our hearts Amen +

LET US PRAY
O God, who on the Solemnity of the Apostles Peter and Paul give us the noble and holy joy of this day, grant, we pray, that your Church may in all things follow the teaching of those through whom she received the beginnings of right religion. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

22/05/2023

MONDAY OF THE 7TH WEEK OF EASTERTIDE

Prior to advent of Jesus Christ, baptism of John and others were only for repentance, but after Jesus it became also of the Holy Spirit; because Christ during his baptism sanctified the waters of baptism with the Holy Spirit so that those who are baptized will not only have their sins forgiven but as well received the Holy Spirit.

That's is why Paul in the first reading of today, Acts 19:1-8 insisted that the people should believe in that of Jesus’, and he laid hands on them the Holy Spirit came down on them, and they began to speak with tongues and to prophesy.

In the river Jordan when John baptised Jesus, the Holy Spirit rested upon him and testified him of being the beloved Son of God in whom he is well pleased. This confirmed the presence of Trinity in baptism in Whose name it is performed and administered to people.

Jesus had no need of baptism to be cleansed of his sins, for he was/is without any wrangle or stain of sins; he had no need to be baptised to repent of his evil, for he was/is without any trace of evil whatsoever. But he had to be baptized so that the waters of baptism will no longer be only the means of repentance and forgiveness of sins, rather a means of receiving Holy Spirit for those who believe in him and were baptized in his name.

The important of the Holy Spirit was seen in the Gospel, John 16:29-33. It was through the power of the Holy Spirit that the Apostles were able to regained confidence and courage to preach the Gospel of Jesus. Even when Jesus told them “a time will come when you will be scattered, each going his own way and leaving me alone. I have told you all this so that you may find peace in me.”

Holy Spirit comforts and give peace to all who received him, he strengthens and teaches them all things. Jesus said, “In the world you will have trouble, but be brave: I have conquered the world.” It sound so comforting hearing this because Jesus has done everything well for us and made things easier for us, so that we no longer depend on ourselves and efforts but solemnly on his grace and mercy.

Come O Holy Ghost and fill us with peace and wisdom to know and do the right things. Amen

+ May the Lord bless His Words in our hearts. + Amen

Let us pray
May the power of the Holy Spirit come to us, we pray, O Lord, that we may keep your will faithfully in mind and express it in a devout way of life. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN

02/05/2023

Tuesday of the 4th week of Eastertide (Saint Athanasius, Bishop, Doctor)

It was actually because of the persecutions of the Disciples and other Christians that led to the rapid and wide spread of faith and Gospel of Jesus Christ; without this, unseemly, its growth would not have been as fast as it is today. Another factor that necessitated the fast growth of Christianity was because, those who escaped or the remainent of persecutions carried this message of Jesus Christ as they runaway for safety to wherever they went, they preached and lived it there.

In Acts 11:19-26 of first reading, we see how they spread out to different places where they sought for refuge, Phoenicia, Cyprus, Antioch, etc, proclaiming the Good News of the Lord Jesus as the Lord helped them, and a great number believed and were converted and a large number of people were won over to the Lord. It was at Antioch that the disciples were first called ‘Christians.

Each and every one of us has some Cross we carry or share, we also face some levels of persecutions in life. Once you identify yours, be patient in it and be willing to accept it, and in that, try to preach and proclaim the Goodnews of Jesus, because it's through that you too can bear witness to Christ, from how you handle it and how faithful you remain in faith make people to refer you as Christian.

Jesus in the Gospel, John 10:22-30, set himself as an example for all of us to follow. As our brother and friend who lived with and among us, he was/is our mentor, someone to imitate and follow his legacies; and as a Good leader, he is the person to follow and obey. The Jews gathered round him and said, “How much longer are you going to keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”

Jesus replied: “I have told you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name are my witness; but you do not believe, because you are no sheep of mine. The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life; they will never be lost and no one will ever steal them from me. The Father who gave them to me is greater than anyone, and no one can steal from the Father. The Father and I are one.”

Dear friends, are you really one of the sheep of Christ or among the sheepfold? Do you recognize the voice of Jesus Christ whenever he calls you? How are you following Him? Does your life and work bear witness for him? Or can someone identify and refer you as Christian? This are questions that the readings present to us today as we reflect on the lives of our fathers in faith, the saints who has walked this path before us.

Saint Athanasius (295 - 373) fought hard against Arianism all his life, undergoing many sufferings and spending a total of 17 years in exile. His passion for the truth seems tactless to many of us today, to the point where some Catholic devotional works even express embarrassment over it. Athanasius was accused of treason and murder, embezzlement and sacrilege. Yet he stood strong and defended the truth and gave up everything for the sake of Christ. We too are called to defend and stand on the truth.

May the Lord bless His Words in our hearts Amen

LET US PRAY
Almighty ever-living God, who raised up the Bishop Saint Athanasius as an outstanding champion of your Son’s divinity, mercifully grant, that, rejoicing in his teaching and his protection, we may never cease to grow in knowledge and love of you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. AMEN

17/04/2023

MONDAY OF THE 2ND WEEK OF EASTERTIDE

We have no other sure ways to gain strength and courage when doing God's works and during our mission of preaching the Goodnews of Jesus Christ if not through prayers. But in other hands it's very sad and discouraging seeing those whom you taught that they are with you fighting you and against what you're doing, so scandalous when it's those you ought to looked to or those who should know better than you. Such was what the Apostles and disciples of Jesus experienced from their contemporary, thus, even from the chief priests and elders of the Church.

In the acts of Apostles 4:23-31, as soon as Peter and John were released they went to the community and told them everything the chief priests and elders had said to them. “When they heard it they lifted up their voice to God all together and pray. As they prayed, the house where they were assembled rocked; they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to proclaim the word of God boldly.” We must always beacon on the Holy Spirit each time we are threatened and overwhelmed with fears of any oppressors or suppression of authorities and superiors.

The Goodnews of Jesus is the Goodnews of repentance and salvation. Some Jews, chief priests and elders, Scribes and Pharasees fought him tirelessly during his ministry on earth but only few of them summon courage to approach him for personal interaction. In the Gospel of John 3:1-8, one of the Pharisees called Nicodemus, a leading Jew, came to Jesus by night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who comes from God; for no one could perform the signs that you do unless God were with him.”

Jesus then taught and explained to him what it means to be born again, “I tell you most solemnly, unless a man is born from above, he cannot see the kingdom of God. unless a man is born through water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” Nicodemus before then thought, “how can a grown man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again.” The born again of Jesus is totally different from that of some modern day preachers, who after preaching in a bus, streets or markets asks their listeners to repeat after them some verbal words.

To be baptised is to be born again and not by professing some word, because in Baptism, we undergo a spiritual cleansing, not of physical birth. Jesus said, “what is born of the flesh is flesh; what is born of the Spirit is spirit.” Dear friends, we know that baptism is the GATE way for/to salvation but may not be a sure way of it. This means that, after being born again – baptised, we are also required to maintain and live the life of born again – living the life of the Spirit. There are many who were born again but they live the life of flesh, and some ended up in Hell.

Jesus wants us to live a born again life, though we may have fallen in several ways after our baptism, but today he is calling us to start again, to be rebaptised in the baptism of the Spirit, that is, repentance of sins and obedience to his commandments. + May the Lord bless His Words in our hearts Amen +

LET US PRAY
Grant, we pray, almighty God, that we, who have been renewed by paschal remedies, transcending the likeness of our earthly parentage, may be transformed in the image of our heavenly maker. We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

16/04/2023

DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY

The holy mother Church set out today's Sunday (every second Sunday of Easter) to teach thousands of her children the need to envelope themselves in the mercy of God the Father and how important it is to show mercy to others.

God's mercy has no boundary, both sinners and righteous enjoys it, it's eternal, unchanging and unconditional. When we talk about the Mercy of God we also talk about His Love. In God's Mercy lies His love and in His love we see His Mercy.

Christ Jesus is the manifestation of God's mercy and love, as the scripture says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16:17) This is the Mercy of God, this is His Love.

Therefore, if you can't forgive and show mercy to others, then you don't deserve God's mercy and forgiveness. We are all alive today is only by His Mercy and Love. Since we enjoy this freely from God, though unmerited, why can't you give it out unconditionally? “if you O Lord keep the records of our sins, who will survive.?” (Ps. 130)

Jesus, merciful like the Father, have mercy on us and of the whole world. Jesus, I trust in you.

HAPPY DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY

16/04/2023

DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY: SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER

Christianity is rooted in culture and one can not really make a good Christian nor be rooted in faith if he/she is not at home with his/her culture. Faith or Christianity build on culture can never fail nor shaken by any tribulations. In the early days as it is stated in the first reading, Acts 2:42-47, the earlier Christian and Apostles lived a communal life, otherwise known in some of our cultures are communism and socialism; and among them, there were no room for any capitalism.

This is what the scripture says of them, “they owned everythings in common, they sold their goods and possessions and shared out the proceeds among themselves according to what each one needed. They went as a body to the Temple every day but met in their houses for the breaking of bread; they shared their food gladly and generously; they praised God and were looked up to by everyone. Day by day the Lord added to their community those destined to be saved.” This practice (s) of earlier Christians finds its way in some of our cultures but gradually dying slowly because we have given in to selfishness, hatred, jealousy, envy and pride and other vices.

We barely no longer trust ourselfs, not to talk of trusting others. We doubt everything even to an extent the power of God; and all this things in one way or another effects our faith in God. It is necessary we submit completely to God and beg Him to increase our faith, just as in the second reading 1 Peter 1:3-9 says, “through your faith, God’s power will guard you until the salvation which has been prepared is revealed at the end of time. You did not see him, yet you love him; and still without seeing him, you are already filled with a joy so glorious that it cannot be described, because you believe; and you are sure of the end to which your faith looks forward, that is, the salvation of your souls.”

Without faith no one can please God. It's by faith we prove our love and loyalty to Him. The foundation of our calling or Christian life is solely anchors on faith. It is through this faith that we believe in God or there is God. As CCC says, “faith is a supernatural gift of God that enables us to believe without doubt whatever God has revealed. Thomas' doubt was based on empiricism, he needed an empirical prove of experience to believe in the resurrected Jesus to strengthen his faith in God. He said, “Unless I see the holes that the nails made in his hands and can put my finger into the holes they made, and unless I can put my hand into his side, I refuse to believe.”

According to that Gospel of John 20:19-31, Jesus for his sake and that of many of us today had to appear for the second time, then he spoke to Thomas, “Put your finger here; look, here are my hands. Give me your hand; put it into my side. Doubt no longer but believe.” Thomas replied, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him: “you believe because you can see me. Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe.”

One would ask where were Thomas when Jesus appeared to them, were went him or what cut him off among the brethren when Jesus came to them? This would have brought a disunity or a counter testimony to the disciples had Jesus not visited them for the second time. But Jesus needed them to testify with one voice about his resurrection, because it would have been a debate or even look like a fabricated story had the disciples of Jesus spoke differently about his rising from the dead.

Dear friends, we are those Jesus said, “Happy are those who have not seen and yet believe”, we are indeed blessed because we did not see him but believe in him, love him; and even filled with a joy, so glorious that it can not be described. Therefore, today, the Church draw us back to reflect on the lives of those who lay the foundation of faith that most of us enjoys today, to imitate their virtues of love and faith.

May the Lord bless His Words in our hearts + Amen.

LET US PRAY
God of everlasting mercy, who in the very recurrence of the paschal feast kindle the faith of the people you have made your own, increase, we pray, the grace you have bestowed, that all may grasp and rightly understand in what font they have been washed, by whose Spirit they have been reborn, by whose Blood they have been redeemed. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

02/04/2023

As we enter into holy week let's reflection on what killed Jesus

1. It was destined for Jesus to die, as the scriptures says of Him, “Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin.” (Isaiah 53:10)

2. Jesus died for our sins, as scripture says, “God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” By sacrificing himself for us on the cross, he took the punishment for all of our sins at once. This made him the ultimate sacrifice —once and for all satisfying the demands God’s justice required.”

3. Jesus died for our lack of understanding of His Divine Nature by the Jews, scribes and Pharasees. They accepted Jesus' identity of human person but was not at home with his Nature of Divinity – the Sonship and Godhead. “He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.” (Matthew 27:43)

4. Jesus died out of false accusations and misinterpretation. “The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Two came forward declared, this fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’” (Matthew 26: 59–61)

5. Jesus died for lack of indecisiveness and omission/abuse of authority. Pilate could have set him free but he couldn't, the scriptures says, “When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”
(Matthew 27:24)

However, it was our sins and human vices that crucified Jesus. It was our pride and jealousy that nailed him on the Cross. Therefore, as we enters into the WEEK of weeks, may we take out time to deepen our faith in the Person of Christ, and our knowledge of His Two Natures, God and man. He become man to experience our pains in order to have compassion on us, and He Is God in order to forgive and redeem us.

HAPPY PALM SUNDAY

31/03/2023

FRIDAY OF THE 5TH WEEK OF LENT

The righteous ones are not free from the plotting of the wicked; those who follow the path of God will surely experience persecution, attacks, and others. If they persecuted the prophets and Christ himself, they will also persecute us. Jeremiah lamented and sought refuge in God, upon seeing the plots against his life, thus even his friends watched for his downfall (Jeremiah 20:10-13) We have no other best friend and helper than the Lord God.

In the Gospel, John 10:31-42, we saw how the Jews became very angry with Jesus and wanted to stone him for saying, He is God, “We are not stoning you for doing a good work but for blasphemy: you are only a man and you claim to be God.” This are people who are scholars in law, yet they lack understanding of the depth meaning of law. They recognized the Human Nature of Jesus but despised His Divine Nature.

It is very important and necessary to pray for the Spirit of understanding and active faith to believe the Person of Christ. The Jews okayed and accepted the miracles and other good works of Jesus but not his Divinity. They never see Jesus Christ as the One of Whom all the scriptures spoke about and prophesied by the various prophets of old, even of new, namely John the Baptist.

Thus, we have to be careful in order not to get too used of things that are meant to save or help us. Again we cannot please God with the wisdom of this world, because our wiseness is foolishness before God, and those who claims to know it all are mostly far from God's wisdom. The Jews who were versatile and well schooled in the law could not believe in Jesus but many people who came to Him at Jordan said, “John gave no signs, but all he said about this man was true’; and many of them believed in him.”

In our sought for miracle, let us first of all seek Jesus, for all the miracles only points to Him and not his work, “if you refuse to believe in me, at least believe in the work I do; then you will know for sure that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”

May the Lord bless His Words in our hearts + Amen

LET US PRAY
Pardon the offences of your peoples, we pray, O Lord, and in your goodness set us free from the bonds of the sins we have committed in our weakness. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. AMEN

What God Tells You Today

07/07/2023

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