“Martha said to him,
“I know he will rise,
in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus told her,
“I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and anyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.”
Excerpt, Gospel Reading, Monday 29th July 2024 – JOHN 11:19-27.
So, the above assertion of Christ made to Martha, to anyone who doesn’t believe in God, it may seem gibberish to them.
“If you believe in me, even if you die, you will live and all those living will not die.”
It is such claims that make some people who haven’t permitted themselves the opportunity to personally experience God call the Holy Bible a history book of fairy tales.
Well, for those of us who still run with such opinion, if we still choose to take lightly the contents of the Book, we should possibly ask ourselves what becomes of life after death.
This ‘purported Book of myths’ says, that the period lived by Methuselah in this world is nothing compared to the life after death.
The same Book goes ahead to say that, there’s heaven and there’s hell.
Stating that, if we live according to the specifications of its contents, even if we die, we continue to live again in heaven.
However, if we do otherwise, our soul will perish in hell.
The Book, then spells out things to do and how to do them in order to make heaven.
And these things are not rocket science. They are just as simple as A, B, C.
Live right. Do good. Do the right and just thing, always. Live and let’s live. Love your neighbour as yourself.
Even if we still do not believe in the Book, what is not right in the above instructions?
How is it so difficult to live as prescribed in the Book and how would we feel in we happen to be on the wrong and receiving side of the wrath of not living rightly?
There are simply no theatrics about living right and wanting to change and start living so, once we have made up our mind.
God is more persuaded by our deliberate positive efforts to become better and live right.
Have a fantastic day and a fulfilled week ahead, folks.
#SAINTS_MARTHA_MARY_AND_LAZARUS! #Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase F. Agabo.
29th July 2024.
Ambition
“She said to him, “Command that these two sons of mine may sit, one at your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” But Jesus answered, . . . . . . . . . . . .Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be your slave; even as the Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Excerpts, Gospel Reading, Thursday 25th July 2024 – MATTHEW 20:20-28.
So, ambition and to be ambitious is a natural phenomenon in we mortals. Therefore, nothing is wrong with wanting to be greater. As a matter of fact, what is weird is rather not to be ambitious.
Nonetheless, our ambitious quest must be just and fair.
So, there’s nothing really strange with what James and John the sons of Zebedee with their mother did in today’s teaching.
Some of us would have done pretty much the same, if not even worse. Owing to the fact that the wife of Zebedee, their mother, was a cousin to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ.
Nevertheless, while it is normal and good to be ambitious, just as it was with the sons of Zebedee, it must not be lost on us that, despite all we do rightly or wrongly in the pursuit of our ambitions, it is God that blesses and increases.
The Holy Bible justifies the above assertion thus, “He who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Because our heavenly Father is a God of increase and a rewarder, He has a way of making our dreams come true in an even greater way than we expected.’ – HEBREWS 11:6
Therefore, knowing very well that whomever we may have become and what ever we have, were made possible by God, do we still need Jesus to come and repeat it to us that as leaders, we should be servants?
Well, the fate of such tyrant leaders, father, mothers, etc should be a lesson to us.
Have a fantastic day folks.
#SAINT_JAMES_THE_APOSTLE! #Blessed_Carlo_Acutis!
- Akase F. Agabo. 25th July 2024
Having Choices and Making Tnem.
“And stretching out his hand towards his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brethren! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
Excerpt, Gospel Reading, Tuesday 23rd July 2024 – MATTHEW 12:46-50.
So, teachings from the Catechism of the Catholic Church states that, “God made me to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him for ever in heaven.”
Then, somewhere in the Holy Bible, it says, “And God said, let us make man in our image and after our likeness . . . . . . . . . . . .” – GENESIS 1:26.
The Holy Bible further has such emphasis about us, “And to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” – EPHESIANS 4:24.
Ironically, in a twist of fate, there is yet this aspect of the Holy Bible, “Today I am giving you a choice between good and evil, between life and death.”
– DEUTERONOMY 30:15-20.
Volumes of books and articles have been written by Scripture scholars on these four points of our creation, viz:
1. To know Him.
2. To love Him.
3. To serve Him in this world.
4. To be happy with Him forever in heaven.
The number 4 point is what readily comes to mind.
The first two quotations from the Holy Bible are supposedly our ‘factory fitting’ and the No.4 point is our supposed terminal point, ceteris paribus – all other things being equal.
The first quotation taken from GENESIS 1:26 has already taken care of Nos 1 & 2.
That is to say, all the people we see around us, they are God, since you and I were made in the image and likeness of Him.
Therefore, by the virtue of our ‘factory fittingness’ we are supposed to love one another.
So, our No. 4 is consequent upon how we function out our No.3, while basking in the freedom occasioned by the third quote from the Book of DEUTERONOMY.
Though, we are supposedly ‘factory fitted’ but since we are made in the image and likeness of God, we couldn’t become like some kind of robots or puppets, so, God gave us the freedom of knowledge, creativity and choice.
Dear friend, it is thus, this freedom of choice that could become our bane to making No. 4.
My dear friend, we must be weary of our choices.
Have a fantastic day folks.
#Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase F. Agabo.
23rd July 2024.
Excerpt, Gospel Reading, Tuesday 23rd July 2024 – MATTHEW 12:46-50.
So, teachings from the Catechism of the Catholic Church states that, “God made me to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him in this world, and to be happy with Him for ever in heaven.”
Then, somewhere in the Holy Bible, it says, “And God said, let us make man in our image and after our likeness . . . . . . . . . . . .” – GENESIS 1:26.
The Holy Bible further has such emphasis about us, “And to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” – EPHESIANS 4:24.
Ironically, in a twist of fate, there is yet this aspect of the Holy Bible, “Today I am giving you a choice between good and evil, between life and death.”
– DEUTERONOMY 30:15-20.
Volumes of books and articles have been written by Scripture scholars on these four points of our creation, viz:
1. To know Him.
2. To love Him.
3. To serve Him in this world.
4. To be happy with Him forever in heaven.
The number 4 point is what readily comes to mind.
The first two quotations from the Holy Bible are supposedly our ‘factory fitting’ and the No.4 point is our supposed terminal point, ceteris paribus – all other things being equal.
The first quotation taken from GENESIS 1:26 has already taken care of Nos 1 & 2.
That is to say, all the people we see around us, they are God, since you and I were made in the image and likeness of Him.
Therefore, by the virtue of our ‘factory fittingness’ we are supposed to love one another.
So, our No. 4 is consequent upon how we function out our No.3, while basking in the freedom occasioned by the third quote from the Book of DEUTERONOMY.
Though, we are supposedly ‘factory fitted’ but since we are made in the image and likeness of God, we couldn’t become like some kind of robots or puppets, so, God gave us the freedom of knowledge, creativity and choice.
Dear friend, it is thus, this freedom of choice that could become our bane to making No. 4.
My dear friend, we must be weary of our choices.
Have a fantastic day folks.
#Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase F. Agabo.
23rd July 2024.
A Shinning Example of the Sacrament of Penance
“Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!”(Which means Teacher).’
Excerpt, Gospel Reading, Monday 22nd July 2024 – JOHN 20:1-2.11-18.
So, this Easter hymn 446 from the Sing With Joy To The Lord hymn book, titled, “The Angel Rolled the Stone Away” is an adaptation from the Holy Bible verse of today’s teaching.
Mary Magdalene was the prostitute whom Christ Jesus delivered her of demon possession and seven demons were cast out from her.
The take on today’s teaching is not to cast light on that part of her life, rather, it is intended to celebrate a shinning example of whom Christ once saved.
To those of us that have the privilege of going for the sacrament of penance. Each time we have such experience, it is one and the same with what Saint Mary Magdalene had at her encounter with Christ.
Cherishing her new found life, Mary Magdalene dedicated the rest of her life in full Adoration of the experience she had from that encounter with Jesus Christ.
There is even a Gospel according Saint Mary Magdala.
Dear friend, for those of us fortunate enough to have the privileges of the sacrament of confession, we must have Mary Magdalene as our shinning example and never take such privileges for granted.
Have a fantastic rainy day and a fulfilled week ahead folks.
#SAINT_MARY_MAGDALENE! #Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase F. Agabo.
22nd July 2024
Excerpt, Gospel Reading, Monday 22nd July 2024 – JOHN 20:1-2.11-18.
So, this Easter hymn 446 from the Sing With Joy To The Lord hymn book, titled, “The Angel Rolled the Stone Away” is an adaptation from the Holy Bible verse of today’s teaching.
Mary Magdalene was the prostitute whom Christ Jesus delivered her of demon possession and seven demons were cast out from her.
The take on today’s teaching is not to cast light on that part of her life, rather, it is intended to celebrate a shinning example of whom Christ once saved.
To those of us that have the privilege of going for the sacrament of penance. Each time we have such experience, it is one and the same with what Saint Mary Magdalene had at her encounter with Christ.
Cherishing her new found life, Mary Magdalene dedicated the rest of her life in full Adoration of the experience she had from that encounter with Jesus Christ.
There is even a Gospel according Saint Mary Magdala.
Dear friend, for those of us fortunate enough to have the privileges of the sacrament of confession, we must have Mary Magdalene as our shinning example and never take such privileges for granted.
Have a fantastic rainy day and a fulfilled week ahead folks.
#SAINT_MARY_MAGDALENE! #Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase F. Agabo.
22nd July 2024
Truly, Prayer Changes Things
“Thus says the Lord: Set your house in order; for you shall die, you shall not recover.” Then Hezekiah turned his face to the wall, and prayed to the Lord, and said, “Remember now, O Lord, I beseech you, how I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. Then the word of the Lord came to Isaiah: “Go and say to Hezekiah, Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; behold, I will add fifteen years to your life. I will deliver you and this city out of the hand of the king of Assyria, and defend this city.”
Excerpt, First Reading, Friday 19th July 2024 – ISAIAH 38:1-6.21-22.7-8.
So, today’s teaching is yet another clear testament that prayer is efficacious, because, prayer changes things.
There’s this is this common street rhetoric, “Have we prayed about it as much as we have talked it?”
When we pray faithfully and talk to God from the death of our heart, there’ always an answer to our prayer.
One of such answers could be a simple no. Possibly may be because we deserve something better or what we seek wouldn’t be appropriate for us.
Another answer we could possibly get may be for us to wait. We would be asked to wait because God’s timing is perfect. Just so that what we seek should happen at the most appropriate time. God’s time is the best.
Then, the answer that we all so cherish is a yes. Just as was with King Hezekiah in today’s teaching. God said ‘Yes’ to his prayer.
God heard and answered King Hezekiah’s request. God didn’t just grant him that prayer point, He also delivered the king from a ravaging Assyrian King who would have ordinarily levelled that city.
Now, that is what God does, and He’s really consistent at it.
When we pray and seek capabilities to get something like a laptop.
When God grants our petition, He gives us a higher capacity laptop than what we envisaged. He doesn’t stop there, He goes ahead to give us a laptop bag, an Internet router or other internet devices. He also gives us a computer table with chair as well as a mobile superior extension cable and several other accessories.
Dear friend, that is the ways of our Father.
So, my dear friend, we should pray in and out of season. We must and should pray for something as little as getting a laptop as well as priceless things like King Hezekiah prayed for his life. Truly, prayer changes things.
Folks, have a fantastic rainy day and a pleasant weekend.
#Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase F. Agabo.
19th July 2024.
Excerpt, First Reading, Friday 19th July 2024 – ISAIAH 38:1-6.21-22.7-8.
So, today’s teaching is yet another clear testament that prayer is efficacious, because, prayer changes things.
There’s this is this common street rhetoric, “Have we prayed about it as much as we have talked it?”
When we pray faithfully and talk to God from the death of our heart, there’ always an answer to our prayer.
One of such answers could be a simple no. Possibly may be because we deserve something better or what we seek wouldn’t be appropriate for us.
Another answer we could possibly get may be for us to wait. We would be asked to wait because God’s timing is perfect. Just so that what we seek should happen at the most appropriate time. God’s time is the best.
Then, the answer that we all so cherish is a yes. Just as was with King Hezekiah in today’s teaching. God said ‘Yes’ to his prayer.
God heard and answered King Hezekiah’s request. God didn’t just grant him that prayer point, He also delivered the king from a ravaging Assyrian King who would have ordinarily levelled that city.
Now, that is what God does, and He’s really consistent at it.
When we pray and seek capabilities to get something like a laptop.
When God grants our petition, He gives us a higher capacity laptop than what we envisaged. He doesn’t stop there, He goes ahead to give us a laptop bag, an Internet router or other internet devices. He also gives us a computer table with chair as well as a mobile superior extension cable and several other accessories.
Dear friend, that is the ways of our Father.
So, my dear friend, we should pray in and out of season. We must and should pray for something as little as getting a laptop as well as priceless things like King Hezekiah prayed for his life. Truly, prayer changes things.
Folks, have a fantastic rainy day and a pleasant weekend.
#Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase F. Agabo.
19th July 2024.
Curing Loneliness
“Jesus declared, “Come to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and l will give you rest. . . . . . . . . . . . For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Excerpt, Gospel Reading, Thursday 18th July 2024 – MATTHEW 11:28-30.
So, from studies, loneliness has been found to raise levels of stress, impede sleep and, in turn, harm the body.
Loneliness can also augment depression or anxiety and may gradually slide into unhealthy habits that may constitute hazards to one’s health.
A 2017 research at the Florida State University College of Medicine also found that, loneliness is associated with a 40 percent increase in a person’s risk of dementia.
Loneliness may not necessarily be from lack of having someone or people around one.
Therefore, one could be in the midst of many people who may include family, friends, colleagues at work and church members but still be seemingly lonely.
The advent of smartphones and social media has helped to aggravate to a higher proportion the degree of individualism in homes which could be one of the causes of loneliness amidst people.
Well, today isn’t about causes and forms of solitude, rather it is about Jesus Christ the solution to loneliness and depression.
In today’s teaching, Christ Jesus offers himself to us, imploring us to come to him when we feel weary and over-burdened.
Christ encourages us to come to him, all those times that we are though in the midst of family and friends yet we still feel lonely.
He says, those times that we get so depressed and frustrated with ourselves, instead of going to the social media to rant, we should rather come to him.
Granted, our communication to him may as well pass for a monologue, but we know very well that he is listening to us and communicates back to our spirit.
Those of us who indulge in long prayers, we know how it feels whenever we emerge from our prayer session. There is always this kind of relief and unburdening that pervades one.
A similar feeling equally comes about when one goes for the sacrament of penance.
Then, one also feels some kind of relief when one just sits idly before the Blessed Sacrament.
All of these are avenues of going to Christ as he demands of us in today’s teaching.
There are some of us, at such moments, since we don’t know how to pray continuously, we therefore, just sing, even when we do not have the singing voice.
Some of us, we dance, even when we do not know how to dance, we just tend to move our bodies to the rhythm of the music.
To some, we go for outdoor exercise or run the treadmill.
Then, there are those of us who just take a walk outdoors and rant to ourselves.
And once we are done with doing any of the above, we usually tend to get some relief from loneliness and depression.
Dear friend, today’s teaching has assured us of the continuous and ever presence of Christ with us.
At such moments and indeed at any other time, he is saying we could talk to him.
We can do this by meditation or even by mumbling inaudible words or we can go on ahead and just rant.
He is most definitely, listening.
Just as today’s Psalm says, “The Lord looked down from heaven to the earth. . . . . . . . . . . . Then he will turn to the prayers of the helpless; He will not despise their prayers.” – PSALM 102.
Have a fantastic day folks.
#Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase F. Agabo 18th July 2024
Excerpt, Gospel Reading, Thursday 18th July 2024 – MATTHEW 11:28-30.
So, from studies, loneliness has been found to raise levels of stress, impede sleep and, in turn, harm the body.
Loneliness can also augment depression or anxiety and may gradually slide into unhealthy habits that may constitute hazards to one’s health.
A 2017 research at the Florida State University College of Medicine also found that, loneliness is associated with a 40 percent increase in a person’s risk of dementia.
Loneliness may not necessarily be from lack of having someone or people around one.
Therefore, one could be in the midst of many people who may include family, friends, colleagues at work and church members but still be seemingly lonely.
The advent of smartphones and social media has helped to aggravate to a higher proportion the degree of individualism in homes which could be one of the causes of loneliness amidst people.
Well, today isn’t about causes and forms of solitude, rather it is about Jesus Christ the solution to loneliness and depression.
In today’s teaching, Christ Jesus offers himself to us, imploring us to come to him when we feel weary and over-burdened.
Christ encourages us to come to him, all those times that we are though in the midst of family and friends yet we still feel lonely.
He says, those times that we get so depressed and frustrated with ourselves, instead of going to the social media to rant, we should rather come to him.
Granted, our communication to him may as well pass for a monologue, but we know very well that he is listening to us and communicates back to our spirit.
Those of us who indulge in long prayers, we know how it feels whenever we emerge from our prayer session. There is always this kind of relief and unburdening that pervades one.
A similar feeling equally comes about when one goes for the sacrament of penance.
Then, one also feels some kind of relief when one just sits idly before the Blessed Sacrament.
All of these are avenues of going to Christ as he demands of us in today’s teaching.
There are some of us, at such moments, since we don’t know how to pray continuously, we therefore, just sing, even when we do not have the singing voice.
Some of us, we dance, even when we do not know how to dance, we just tend to move our bodies to the rhythm of the music.
To some, we go for outdoor exercise or run the treadmill.
Then, there are those of us who just take a walk outdoors and rant to ourselves.
And once we are done with doing any of the above, we usually tend to get some relief from loneliness and depression.
Dear friend, today’s teaching has assured us of the continuous and ever presence of Christ with us.
At such moments and indeed at any other time, he is saying we could talk to him.
We can do this by meditation or even by mumbling inaudible words or we can go on ahead and just rant.
He is most definitely, listening.
Just as today’s Psalm says, “The Lord looked down from heaven to the earth. . . . . . . . . . . . Then he will turn to the prayers of the helpless; He will not despise their prayers.” – PSALM 102.
Have a fantastic day folks.
#Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase F. Agabo 18th July 2024
About Pride and Humility
“At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.”
Excerpt, Gospel Reading, Wednesday 17th July 2024 – MATTHEW 11:25-27.
So, truly speaking, assuming in today’s world, a supposed ‘nobody’ who’s only identity was working as a neighbourhood cut and nail carpenter, suddenly starts going about from one town to another, claiming to be the son of the Almighty, how would we who are supposedly learned and civilised regard such a fellow?
This was exactly the lot of Christ Jesus with the people of that time.
Christ who was an itinerant preacher was known before his worldly ministry to be only a carpenter.
Then, he went and invited some illiterate and uncivilised fishermen to come and become his cohorts.
Just as if that wasn’t enough, he also invited zealots as well as tax collectors to join the fray.
How tough it would have been for the enlightened and educated people of his time to believe in him and follow a guy like that.
Nevertheless, there are some of us who are educated, then, there some of us who have allowed our education to ‘EduGate’ us.
For the former, though educated, we may still permit ourselves the willingness and openness to learn and accommodate other new and alien teachings.
However, for the latter, we close our minds and turn our backs to whatever is abysmally contrary to the books, with a sense of some aloofness.
The central and focal point of today’s teaching rests solely on pride and humility.
Pride as it is said, goes before a fall.
Whereas, humility is not stupidity, neither is it thinking less of oneself. Humility has been said to be the foundation of all virtue.
Dear friend, we must come before God like children who cuddles with their parents, putting the whole of our faith, fate, hope, trust and confidence blindly in Him.
Although, some of us will still not understand or see any sense or meaning in the immediate above assertion. This is especially those of us presently enjoying affluence. Nonetheless, be it in affluence or lack, once upon a time, this will make some sense.
Have a fantastic day folks.
#Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase F. Agabo. 17th July 2024
Excerpt, Gospel Reading, Wednesday 17th July 2024 – MATTHEW 11:25-27.
So, truly speaking, assuming in today’s world, a supposed ‘nobody’ who’s only identity was working as a neighbourhood cut and nail carpenter, suddenly starts going about from one town to another, claiming to be the son of the Almighty, how would we who are supposedly learned and civilised regard such a fellow?
This was exactly the lot of Christ Jesus with the people of that time.
Christ who was an itinerant preacher was known before his worldly ministry to be only a carpenter.
Then, he went and invited some illiterate and uncivilised fishermen to come and become his cohorts.
Just as if that wasn’t enough, he also invited zealots as well as tax collectors to join the fray.
How tough it would have been for the enlightened and educated people of his time to believe in him and follow a guy like that.
Nevertheless, there are some of us who are educated, then, there some of us who have allowed our education to ‘EduGate’ us.
For the former, though educated, we may still permit ourselves the willingness and openness to learn and accommodate other new and alien teachings.
However, for the latter, we close our minds and turn our backs to whatever is abysmally contrary to the books, with a sense of some aloofness.
The central and focal point of today’s teaching rests solely on pride and humility.
Pride as it is said, goes before a fall.
Whereas, humility is not stupidity, neither is it thinking less of oneself. Humility has been said to be the foundation of all virtue.
Dear friend, we must come before God like children who cuddles with their parents, putting the whole of our faith, fate, hope, trust and confidence blindly in Him.
Although, some of us will still not understand or see any sense or meaning in the immediate above assertion. This is especially those of us presently enjoying affluence. Nonetheless, be it in affluence or lack, once upon a time, this will make some sense.
Have a fantastic day folks.
#Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase F. Agabo. 17th July 2024
When He Comes Back
“And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades. For if the mighty works done in you had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I tell you that it shall be more tolerable on the day of judgement for the land of Sodom than for you.”
Excerpt, Gospel reading, Tuesday16th July 2024 – MATTHEW 11:20-24.
So, today’s teaching brought out the human side of Christ Jesus.
If Christ would be so agitated by the ways of the people of these places mentioned in today’s teaching, how much more would he be with us the people of today’s world?
What ever were the ways of these people at that time, it is possible our ways would be at least multiplied by ten of theirs.
At that time, there was homo-sexuallism as well as incest, as well as prostitution and other forms of sexual promiscuity just as it is also now. There was cannibalism and sacrificing of people to gods for worship purposes.
However, it was never reported then, that a child would cannibalise their mother for the sake of purportedly getting rich.
While at that time homo-sexuality was frowned at, it is now state endorsed. As a matter of fact, the state rather frowns at those who frown at it.
As at then, while a married woman or any woman at that caught in adultery was stoned to death as a recompense, now, some men are even the pimps for their wife.
Prostitution is now called hook up while blatant stealing we now call it hustling or misappropriation.
If the ways of the people of that time weary Jesus, our ways right now will really get him provoked.
If Christ should come now, he is not likely only going to upturn tables. He will possibly be slapping and kicking and whipping.
Nevertheless, the consolation is that, Christ will most definitely come back. This is a certainty.
Woe betide us, when he comes, we would be caught right in our elements.
When he arrives, a hook up girl would be on to one sugar daddy doing reverse cow girl. Some government officials would be burying ‘misappropriated’ money in septic tanks. Etc
Whereas, most of us, of course will be doing our devotion to God both in prayer and living right as well positively affecting humanity.
Just as we do not know when and how we will die, that is how we also do not know when and how Jesus Christ will return.
Woe is us if any of these two catches up with us unprepared for it.
While it is possible and advisable to do a 360° turnaround from our ways and live better, we could still start from where we are right now and ensure that we do rightly whatever we are doing now.
Remember, God is more persuaded by our deliberate positive efforts to become better.
Have a fantastic day folks.
#OUR_LADY_OF_MOUNT_CARMEL! #Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase F. Agabo. 16th July 2024
Excerpt, Gospel reading, Tuesday16th July 2024 – MATTHEW 11:20-24.
So, today’s teaching brought out the human side of Christ Jesus.
If Christ would be so agitated by the ways of the people of these places mentioned in today’s teaching, how much more would he be with us the people of today’s world?
What ever were the ways of these people at that time, it is possible our ways would be at least multiplied by ten of theirs.
At that time, there was homo-sexuallism as well as incest, as well as prostitution and other forms of sexual promiscuity just as it is also now. There was cannibalism and sacrificing of people to gods for worship purposes.
However, it was never reported then, that a child would cannibalise their mother for the sake of purportedly getting rich.
While at that time homo-sexuality was frowned at, it is now state endorsed. As a matter of fact, the state rather frowns at those who frown at it.
As at then, while a married woman or any woman at that caught in adultery was stoned to death as a recompense, now, some men are even the pimps for their wife.
Prostitution is now called hook up while blatant stealing we now call it hustling or misappropriation.
If the ways of the people of that time weary Jesus, our ways right now will really get him provoked.
If Christ should come now, he is not likely only going to upturn tables. He will possibly be slapping and kicking and whipping.
Nevertheless, the consolation is that, Christ will most definitely come back. This is a certainty.
Woe betide us, when he comes, we would be caught right in our elements.
When he arrives, a hook up girl would be on to one sugar daddy doing reverse cow girl. Some government officials would be burying ‘misappropriated’ money in septic tanks. Etc
Whereas, most of us, of course will be doing our devotion to God both in prayer and living right as well positively affecting humanity.
Just as we do not know when and how we will die, that is how we also do not know when and how Jesus Christ will return.
Woe is us if any of these two catches up with us unprepared for it.
While it is possible and advisable to do a 360° turnaround from our ways and live better, we could still start from where we are right now and ensure that we do rightly whatever we are doing now.
Remember, God is more persuaded by our deliberate positive efforts to become better.
Have a fantastic day folks.
#OUR_LADY_OF_MOUNT_CARMEL! #Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase F. Agabo. 16th July 2024
The Clean Hands Doctrine
“Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates; they have become a burden to me, I am weary of bearing them. When you spread forth your hands, I will hide my eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen; your hands are full of blood. Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your doings from before my eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; defend the fatherless, plead for the widow.”
Excerpt, First Reading, Monday 15th July 2024 – ISAIAH 1:10-17.
So, the clean hands doctrine is based on the maxim of equity which states that “One who comes into equity must come with clean hands.”
Does it ever amaze us why such people as described above in today’s teaching supposedly prosper in the ways of the world, over and above good people?
Well, it is just because God is not discriminatory. He allows the rain He permits to fall on the roofs and the farms of everyone.
Nevertheless, all evil people, unless they amend their ways, they must certainly have a sorry end as a recompense for their ways.
Unfortunately, as far as the ways of this world are concerned, there’s no reward for being good.
Sometimes, the good guys end up getting the worse women who have been squeezed, abused and broken by bad boys. Often, by their own making of these women. Well, this should be for another day..
Most good people are used, dragged, humiliated, insulted, lied upon, lied to, deceived and given the shorter end of the stick – if they even ever get to seeing the stick.
Most good people get their properties coveted. When they go to court, they mostly do not end up getting justice.
More often than not, they good people in some offices by some stroke of ‘fate’ just happen to be the most ill-fated.
However, as fate would have it, whenever there’s a need for truth and truthfulness, it is the good people that are sort. As all such people suddenly become suspiciously of one another.
So, even if the world hates the truth engendered by good people, it nevertheless, pays bountifully well to be good.
From today’s teaching, what God detests more than anything else, is such people as described above bringing gifts of offering to Him.
As the “Clean hands doctrine” demands, God is more interested in having us come to Him with clean hands, rather than, we so stained, appearing before Him, bearing sheaves of gifts.
Today’s PSALM says, “To one whose way is blameless, I will show the salvation of God.” – PSALM 50.
Have a fantastic day folks.
#SAINT_BONAVENTURE! #Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase F. Agabo.
Living in A Strange World
“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves. Beware of men; . . . . . . . . . . ..Brother will deliver up brother to death, and the father his child, and children will rise against parents and have them put to death; and you will be hated by all for my name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.”
Excerpt, Gospel Reading, Friday 12th July 2024 – MATTHEW 10: 16-23.
So, should we all just step aside and watch as our society drift away to the abyss or we too, will jump on to the bandwagon so as not to be left out high and dry?
In some supposedly advanced societies, religion and prayer as well as anything that has the tiniest religious connotation or has to do with God is now restricted in public schools as well as other public institutions and all other public spaces.
For what reason one may ask? As they put it, “Just so as not to hurt the sensibilities of others.”
Pressing further, one may yet be compelled to ask again, “Who are these others?”
Well, the people who stipulated such restrictions and are enforcing them know best whom these others may be.
Nevertheless, it is important to note that while you and I know and are very aware of two sex, which are male and female, these authorities who are supposedly careful not to hurt the sensibilities of ‘these others’ in some kind of a wield conclusion, recognise twelve different kind of genders.
Notwithstanding, we are aware that on very rare occurrence, there would be some who are caught in between the two genders.
Even with that, we already know that severally, there have been successful corrective surgeries so that such people are free to choose the gender they want to permanently remain with.
During the time of propagation of the Gospel by the Apostles, their offense was openly preaching to people in public spaces.
Their penalty then was arrest, imprisonment and sometimes execution.
Happening in our world today, especially in the supposedly advanced societies, the acts of the Apostles is still frowned at, it is has yet not become as punitive as it was at the time of the Apostles.
Nevertheless, there are yet some subtle hindrances and prohibitions carried out by the same enforcers because they do not want to offend the sensibilities of others. And while at their enforcement, they yet offend the sensibilities of those so restricted and gradually alienating their feelings.
This subtle alienation has now gone on so much that in such societies, the Christian celebration of the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is no longer officially referred to by its name Christmas by those in office.
Now, the name Christmas has suddenly become offensive. Yet, the people so offended by the word Christmas also celebrate the Christmas that offends them.
The beautiful celebration of hoisting and lighting a Christmas tree is offensive to these people, so, that, too, they seek to prohibit it in public spaces.
Yet, they go to the stores, buy gifts, wrap them and send to family and friends for the sake of the celebration of Christmas.
Is something then not wrong with humanity?
When one wears a religious item like medals, rosaries, scapula, etc, on their body, some law enforcement may want to challenge them to make such items less visible to the public just so as not to supposedly offend some people.
Then, one may ask, is the person so harassed so unfeeling that they, too, wouldn’t have their feelings hurt, therefore, be so offended also?
Or could it be that the supposed offended people are different kind of humans?
At public functions as well as at the airport, one wearing a shirt with bold inscriptions : I SUPPORT LGBTQ would be proudly given the right of way. Another person wearing a shirt with the inscriptions: I LOVE JESUS CHRIST, or one wearing a shirt with the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary would be either harassed to cover such inscriptions or image or shielded away from press cameras.
That is our kind of world in today’s day.
Something definitely is not right.
Nevertheless, while the objects, inscriptions and images would be restricted and prohibited, whom and what we are cannot be tempered with no matter how much the decadence of the world.
Therefore, from our fruits, we should strive to defeat this kind of world.
Dear friend, although, it is sometimes quite attractive to feign ignorance and join the fray, but unfortunately, that has it consequences.
However, Jesus Christ in today’s teaching says, “But he who endures to the end will be saved.”
Therefore, for those of us still braving the odds, we have a consolation for our present predicament.
Folks, have a fantastic day and a pleasant weekend.
#Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase F. Agabo.
Excerpt, Gospel Reading, Friday 12th July 2024 – MATTHEW 10: 16-23.
So, should we all just step aside and watch as our society drift away to the abyss or we too, will jump on to the bandwagon so as not to be left out high and dry?
In some supposedly advanced societies, religion and prayer as well as anything that has the tiniest religious connotation or has to do with God is now restricted in public schools as well as other public institutions and all other public spaces.
For what reason one may ask? As they put it, “Just so as not to hurt the sensibilities of others.”
Pressing further, one may yet be compelled to ask again, “Who are these others?”
Well, the people who stipulated such restrictions and are enforcing them know best whom these others may be.
Nevertheless, it is important to note that while you and I know and are very aware of two sex, which are male and female, these authorities who are supposedly careful not to hurt the sensibilities of ‘these others’ in some kind of a wield conclusion, recognise twelve different kind of genders.
Notwithstanding, we are aware that on very rare occurrence, there would be some who are caught in between the two genders.
Even with that, we already know that severally, there have been successful corrective surgeries so that such people are free to choose the gender they want to permanently remain with.
During the time of propagation of the Gospel by the Apostles, their offense was openly preaching to people in public spaces.
Their penalty then was arrest, imprisonment and sometimes execution.
Happening in our world today, especially in the supposedly advanced societies, the acts of the Apostles is still frowned at, it is has yet not become as punitive as it was at the time of the Apostles.
Nevertheless, there are yet some subtle hindrances and prohibitions carried out by the same enforcers because they do not want to offend the sensibilities of others. And while at their enforcement, they yet offend the sensibilities of those so restricted and gradually alienating their feelings.
This subtle alienation has now gone on so much that in such societies, the Christian celebration of the birth of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is no longer officially referred to by its name Christmas by those in office.
Now, the name Christmas has suddenly become offensive. Yet, the people so offended by the word Christmas also celebrate the Christmas that offends them.
The beautiful celebration of hoisting and lighting a Christmas tree is offensive to these people, so, that, too, they seek to prohibit it in public spaces.
Yet, they go to the stores, buy gifts, wrap them and send to family and friends for the sake of the celebration of Christmas.
Is something then not wrong with humanity?
When one wears a religious item like medals, rosaries, scapula, etc, on their body, some law enforcement may want to challenge them to make such items less visible to the public just so as not to supposedly offend some people.
Then, one may ask, is the person so harassed so unfeeling that they, too, wouldn’t have their feelings hurt, therefore, be so offended also?
Or could it be that the supposed offended people are different kind of humans?
At public functions as well as at the airport, one wearing a shirt with bold inscriptions : I SUPPORT LGBTQ would be proudly given the right of way. Another person wearing a shirt with the inscriptions: I LOVE JESUS CHRIST, or one wearing a shirt with the image of the Blessed Virgin Mary would be either harassed to cover such inscriptions or image or shielded away from press cameras.
That is our kind of world in today’s day.
Something definitely is not right.
Nevertheless, while the objects, inscriptions and images would be restricted and prohibited, whom and what we are cannot be tempered with no matter how much the decadence of the world.
Therefore, from our fruits, we should strive to defeat this kind of world.
Dear friend, although, it is sometimes quite attractive to feign ignorance and join the fray, but unfortunately, that has it consequences.
However, Jesus Christ in today’s teaching says, “But he who endures to the end will be saved.”
Therefore, for those of us still braving the odds, we have a consolation for our present predicament.
Folks, have a fantastic day and a pleasant weekend.
#Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase F. Agabo.