“Israel is a luxuriant vine that yields its fruit. The more his fruit increased the more altars he built; as his country improved he improved his pillars. Their heart is false; now they must bear their guilt. The Lord will break down their altars, and destroy their pillars.’
Excerpt, First Reading, Wednesday 10tĥ July 2024 – HOSEA 10:1-3.7-8. 12
So, how does it seems as if when some of us start experiencing some little progress, we suddenly start becoming too busy for God.
Pretty soon, we will start giving the quality time we used to dedicate to God before to some of our acquisitions.
Then, before we know it, as it is said in the Bible, we will start saying “Our God to our money”.
Have any of us noticed it yet? As we advance in our various careers and make progress in our chosen businesses, we tend to start having less and less attention for our spiritual life.
Work related issues most times take some of us deep into the night. And, when we have managed to have a few hours of sleep, we wake up to the same work issues.
As the circle now becomes endless, we tend not to have the time to even say a short prayer when we wake up in the morning.
A clear example that depicts us but in a different instance and put in another way is our own children in our homes.
We used to have constant decent conversations with our children mostly at the dinner table as well as when we all gather in the seating room for television time.
Then, suddenly, as a festive period gift, or gifts on any of their anniversaries, we bought them gifts of a smart phone and/or pad.
That’s just it. Such conversations starts becoming reduced or rare and dramatic. Their concentration now dwells more on their electronic gadgets.
While, we must make progress, it mustn’t be lost on us that our progress with all that accompanies it are a gift from God.
Today’s psalm says, “We must constantly seek the face of God.” – PSALM 105.
This is what Christ Himself also have to say, “And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” – LUKE 12:15.
Have a fantastic day folks.
#Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase F. Agabo.
Unyieldimg to Such Blackmail
“At that time: Behold, a mute demoniac was brought to Jesus. And when the demon has been cast out, the mute man spoke; and the crowds marvelled, saying, “Never was anything like this seen in Israel.” But the Pharisees said, “He casts out demons by the prince of demons.”
Excerpt, Gospel Reading, Tuesday 9th July 2024 – MATTHEW 9:32-38.
So, in some African countries, especially in Nigeria as a case study, poverty and hunger are weaponized and used by some politicians as well some of those seeking political or appointive office against the people for their own selfish interests.
Since, when a majority of the masses remain poor and impoverished they become easy pawns for these type of politicians to manipulate for their inimical purposes.
Now, when someone with a good heart returns to their community to provide some sort of succour to his indigent kith and kin, such politicians may take offense.
Their vexation will be that their supposed captives are about to be liberated from what gives him and his family advantage over them.
In Jesus’ time, those who were like those politicians in order to distract him accused him of using the king of demons to perform his miracles.
Those kind of people have now adjusted their tactics.
Using their massive wealth of money and connections, they usually would devolve several antics and set plenty land mines for this phantropist to fall.
While some of their paid urchins dressed up in over-starched guinea brocade are constantly singing your praise and automatically allocating some political office to you, others will be busy throwing tantrums and making unverified claims that one’s supposed generosity is just for the purpose of running for a political office.
Just as if that is not enough, elders whom one respects so much would be infiltrated and approached, as well as some supposed well meaning individuals in that community.
These people representing supposed different fora in that community would at different intervals approach one with similar message.
The message is short and simple, “You are the one that this community has been waiting for to deliver us from this backwardness . . . . . . . . . .”
My dear friend, that’ a trap.
I beg us with all that we hold sacred, any of us who is already helping their community or anyone who is so desirous of doing so shouldn’t fall for such cheap blackmail when so approached.
Unless, of course that was our main aim in the first place and we only used our supposed charity and philanthropism as a guise.
This is not saying one with genuine intentions shouldn’t run for an elective political office. By all means, we should do that when compelled by our inner calling. That, however must be separated from charity works.
My dear friend, I am begging, we mustn’t yield to such cheap blackmail. Else, the evil people will demystify us, then they will sit back together with their cohorts and have a throaty laugh at us.
Like Jesus Christ, we must ignore all such calls and face our just cause. We should only do as our might permits at a time. It is God alone that multiplies.
Have fantastic day folks.
#SAINT_AUGUSTINE_ZHAO_RUNG! #Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase F. Agabo
Excerpt, Gospel Reading, Tuesday 9th July 2024 – MATTHEW 9:32-38.
So, in some African countries, especially in Nigeria as a case study, poverty and hunger are weaponized and used by some politicians as well some of those seeking political or appointive office against the people for their own selfish interests.
Since, when a majority of the masses remain poor and impoverished they become easy pawns for these type of politicians to manipulate for their inimical purposes.
Now, when someone with a good heart returns to their community to provide some sort of succour to his indigent kith and kin, such politicians may take offense.
Their vexation will be that their supposed captives are about to be liberated from what gives him and his family advantage over them.
In Jesus’ time, those who were like those politicians in order to distract him accused him of using the king of demons to perform his miracles.
Those kind of people have now adjusted their tactics.
Using their massive wealth of money and connections, they usually would devolve several antics and set plenty land mines for this phantropist to fall.
While some of their paid urchins dressed up in over-starched guinea brocade are constantly singing your praise and automatically allocating some political office to you, others will be busy throwing tantrums and making unverified claims that one’s supposed generosity is just for the purpose of running for a political office.
Just as if that is not enough, elders whom one respects so much would be infiltrated and approached, as well as some supposed well meaning individuals in that community.
These people representing supposed different fora in that community would at different intervals approach one with similar message.
The message is short and simple, “You are the one that this community has been waiting for to deliver us from this backwardness . . . . . . . . . .”
My dear friend, that’ a trap.
I beg us with all that we hold sacred, any of us who is already helping their community or anyone who is so desirous of doing so shouldn’t fall for such cheap blackmail when so approached.
Unless, of course that was our main aim in the first place and we only used our supposed charity and philanthropism as a guise.
This is not saying one with genuine intentions shouldn’t run for an elective political office. By all means, we should do that when compelled by our inner calling. That, however must be separated from charity works.
My dear friend, I am begging, we mustn’t yield to such cheap blackmail. Else, the evil people will demystify us, then they will sit back together with their cohorts and have a throaty laugh at us.
Like Jesus Christ, we must ignore all such calls and face our just cause. We should only do as our might permits at a time. It is God alone that multiplies.
Have fantastic day folks.
#SAINT_AUGUSTINE_ZHAO_RUNG! #Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase F. Agabo
Looking on in Faith, Hope and Trust
“My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” And Jesus rose and followed him, with his disciples. And behold, a woman who had suffered from a haemorrhage for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment; for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I shall be made well.”
Excerpt, Gospel Reading, Monday 8th July 2024 – MATTHEW 9:18-26.
So, a man was walking just a few steps behind three people. A leather wallet slipped out of the pockets of one of the people walking just in front of him and fell down. This was unknown to any of the three people.
He quickly called on their attention and told the man in particular from whom the wallet fell out of his pocket that he has dropped his wallet.
The man was visibly surprised. He offered him some money from that same wallet and insisted that he should collect.
The man emphatically declined collecting the money and he went on his way.
However, the man, too, was surprised and at the time confused while the man who dropped his wallet would be surprised and should be offering him a reward for an ordinary usual act.
Now, how does it seem that we humans tend to have more faith in our fellow mortals than in God.
Hence, when there’s a total surrender to God in an act of faith and trust, it then tend to be so surprising and unusual to us.
When we board an aeroplane, we are always very confident that our flight will take off and land as specifically stated in our flight schedule.
Has any of us ever bothered to approach the pilots and insisted that they must show us a prove that they are qualified and are in the right state to fly the aircraft?
If we can have so much faith in a fellow human being just like us to commit the safety of our life into their care, to fly us in an aircraft, for a surgeon to dissect us in treatment and sew us back, for a seafarer to ferry us in a piece of metal on a gigantic endless sea of water, what stops us from equally trusting God so blindly.
In today’s teaching, the man who’s daughter passed on and the woman with the issue of blood had the audacity to display that kind of faith and trust in God.
Behold, it worked out in their favour. Just as today’s psalm says, “The Lord is kind and full of compassion.”
Just like that boy in ragged clothing who looks into the mirror and sees a better future for him despite the odds and his present situation. The boy looks on with faith and trust.
My dear friend, why shouldn’t you and I also have such faith and trust in God in all that which we face right now?
He is still the same God yesterday, today and forever.
Have a fantastic day and a fulfilled week ahead folks.
#Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase F. Agabo
Drought of the Word of God
“Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord GOD, “when I will send a famine on the land; not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the Lord. They shall wander from sea to sea, and from north to east; they shall run back and forth, to seek the word of the Lord, but they shall not find it.”
Excerpt, First Reading, Friday 5th July 2024 – AMOS 8:4-6.9-12.
So, whatever we do with what we now deem as plethora is all left to us. Nevertheless, God has already said that, “My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and it will prosper where I send it.” – ISAIAH 55:11.
My dear friend, have we ever been inside the exam hall once and we forgot how to spell the word ‘the’. Yes, I mean this three letter word THE.
Very well then, today’s teaching is an example for those of us who have any doubts about what it says in plain language.
If we think we have heard too much already, then, we are challenged to allow that which has been preached to us to bear fruits.
It must not be lost on us what today’s Responsorial Psalm says, “Man shall not live on bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. – PSALM 119:2.
So, whatever we make and do with all we read and hear now depend on us. This is because, as it is said in today’s teaching, the time is coming when we will need to spell the word THE and we would not know how to spell it and unfortunately, there will be none who will be available to help us again.
Dear friend, as the old saying goes, we must use our tongue to count our teeth.
Folks, have a fantastic day and a pleasant weekend.
#SAINT_ANTHONY! #Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase F. Agabo.
Excerpt, First Reading, Friday 5th July 2024 – AMOS 8:4-6.9-12.
So, whatever we do with what we now deem as plethora is all left to us. Nevertheless, God has already said that, “My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and it will prosper where I send it.” – ISAIAH 55:11.
My dear friend, have we ever been inside the exam hall once and we forgot how to spell the word ‘the’. Yes, I mean this three letter word THE.
Very well then, today’s teaching is an example for those of us who have any doubts about what it says in plain language.
If we think we have heard too much already, then, we are challenged to allow that which has been preached to us to bear fruits.
It must not be lost on us what today’s Responsorial Psalm says, “Man shall not live on bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. – PSALM 119:2.
So, whatever we make and do with all we read and hear now depend on us. This is because, as it is said in today’s teaching, the time is coming when we will need to spell the word THE and we would not know how to spell it and unfortunately, there will be none who will be available to help us again.
Dear friend, as the old saying goes, we must use our tongue to count our teeth.
Folks, have a fantastic day and a pleasant weekend.
#SAINT_ANTHONY! #Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase F. Agabo.
Being Hurt by the Truth
“And Amaziah said to Amos, “O seer, go, flee away to the land of Judah, and eat bread there, and prophesy there; but never again prophesy at Bethel for it is the king’s sanctuary, and it is a temple of the kingdom.” Then Amos answered Amaziah, “I am no prophet, nor a prophet’s son; but I am a herdsman, and a dresser of sycamore trees, and the Lord took me from following the flock, and the Lord said to me, ‘Go, prophesy to my people Israel.”
Excerpt, First Reading, Thursday 4th July 2024 – AMOS 7:10-17.
So, the default setting of our smartphones is to make and receive calls. It does function otherwise only when we adjust the settings to suit our purposes.
So, we see two handsome able body young men, for whatever could be their reason, decide to forego all the beautiful women in this whole wide world and choose to live together in a supposed marriage.
Truly, there are ladies that despite adorning loose fitting garments, just by the way they sashay alone is enough to get even the most discrete of men disconcerted – though, many will not show it.
Then, when two bones decide to overlook such divinely created masterpiece and hibernate together, someone else says in order not to offend their sensibilities, their weird act shouldn’t be talked about.
Then, a supposed ordained clergy will jump on the bandwagon and join these two bones in a supposed matrimony. Haba!
The response to today’s Responsorial Psalm is “The judgements of the Lord are true, they are, all of them, just. – PSALM 19:8.
Just also, is the default of Prophets, Pastors, Imams, and indeed all our spiritual ministers. To tell us the truth.
The truth indeed hurts, nevertheless, no matter how much it may be upsetting and uncomfortable to our audience, we must state it in clears terms.
Therefore, we must offend the sensibilities of such masculine homo-sapiens and indeed all their cohorts that they are doing it wrongly.
If we refuse to speak, God says the stones wouldn’t, “But Jesus answered, “I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!” – LUKE 19:40.
So, it was in today’s teaching with the Prophet Amaziah. For paltry gains, he shirked his primary purpose and began telling the king sweet nothings and pleasing him with what he wants to hear.
God then went and called a shepherd to come and tell the king the truth that the prophet Amaziah has refused to declare.
Amos the shepherd declared to the king that his wife shall become a harlot in the city, his sons shall fall by the sword and he will die in an unholy land among other prophesies.
These are hard truths, but Amos did not hide away from them.
Now, the insistence of God wanting the King to hear the truth wasn’t so as to prove his guilt to him. No, it was just so that he could turn from his ways and the prophesied doom would be averted. God is love.
My dear friend, although, the truth is not just about a tale of woos, nonetheless, whenever all that we hear is good, best, perfect, we should perceive a red flag as life itself is neither crown of thorns nor a bed of roses.
Have a fantastic day folks.
#Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase F. Agabo.
Excerpt, First Reading, Thursday 4th July 2024 – AMOS 7:10-17.
So, the default setting of our smartphones is to make and receive calls. It does function otherwise only when we adjust the settings to suit our purposes.
So, we see two handsome able body young men, for whatever could be their reason, decide to forego all the beautiful women in this whole wide world and choose to live together in a supposed marriage.
Truly, there are ladies that despite adorning loose fitting garments, just by the way they sashay alone is enough to get even the most discrete of men disconcerted – though, many will not show it.
Then, when two bones decide to overlook such divinely created masterpiece and hibernate together, someone else says in order not to offend their sensibilities, their weird act shouldn’t be talked about.
Then, a supposed ordained clergy will jump on the bandwagon and join these two bones in a supposed matrimony. Haba!
The response to today’s Responsorial Psalm is “The judgements of the Lord are true, they are, all of them, just. – PSALM 19:8.
Just also, is the default of Prophets, Pastors, Imams, and indeed all our spiritual ministers. To tell us the truth.
The truth indeed hurts, nevertheless, no matter how much it may be upsetting and uncomfortable to our audience, we must state it in clears terms.
Therefore, we must offend the sensibilities of such masculine homo-sapiens and indeed all their cohorts that they are doing it wrongly.
If we refuse to speak, God says the stones wouldn’t, “But Jesus answered, “I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!” – LUKE 19:40.
So, it was in today’s teaching with the Prophet Amaziah. For paltry gains, he shirked his primary purpose and began telling the king sweet nothings and pleasing him with what he wants to hear.
God then went and called a shepherd to come and tell the king the truth that the prophet Amaziah has refused to declare.
Amos the shepherd declared to the king that his wife shall become a harlot in the city, his sons shall fall by the sword and he will die in an unholy land among other prophesies.
These are hard truths, but Amos did not hide away from them.
Now, the insistence of God wanting the King to hear the truth wasn’t so as to prove his guilt to him. No, it was just so that he could turn from his ways and the prophesied doom would be averted. God is love.
My dear friend, although, the truth is not just about a tale of woos, nonetheless, whenever all that we hear is good, best, perfect, we should perceive a red flag as life itself is neither crown of thorns nor a bed of roses.
Have a fantastic day folks.
#Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase F. Agabo.
Doubting Thomas
“Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side; do not be faithless, but believing.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “You have believed because you have seen me. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.”
Excerpt, Gospel Reading, Wednesday 3rd July 2024 – JOHN 20:24-29.
So, could it be that the Apostle Thomas was so obstinate that he wouldn’t believe what Christ Jesus said of himself while he was still with them, or he was just too dumb and he couldn’t fathom out and get to understand what he severally said about his death and resurrection on the third day or he was simply hard of hearing?
“For he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.” – MARK 9:31
See also, MATTHEW 16:21, MARK 8:31-33, MARK 10:32-34, etc.
Severally, well over three different times, Christ Jesus spoke openly to his disciples and told them in clear terms without any ambiguity that he would be killed and buried, and on the third day he will rise.
These people witnessed this same man bring back dead people to life by just mere words of mouth.
They saw him command evil spirits with mere words and such spirits obey. As a matter of fact, some would even start shouting and wailing by merely sensing his presence.
He commanded the winds and waves and they obeyed him. They even witnessed him walk on water.
Therefore, having such knowledge of him and him, having so informed and prepared his disciples of what was to come of him, if one were to be Jesus Christ, wouldn’t it be disheartening to have Thomas so blatantly and crudely still doubt the resurrection?
At some points in this our journey on earth, we, too, have been ‘Thomas’. When in trust we ask God for something in prayer, yet on the side we still do some ‘small something’ just in case. Just like the artiste Timaya, who sang in one of his songs, “I trust in God but I carry cutlass.”
A lady who dates more than one man at a time for the doubt of ‘not carrying all her eggs in one basket’ as she claims, is a bigger Thomas.
And very often, when situation happens with such ladies, their case is usually not like that of Thomas, it most times turns out worse.
The actions of Thomas could more or less be betrayal.
More so like a husband having spent the better part of a quarter of a century with his now aging wife, turns around to bring in a new woman when fortune smiles on him on the excuse of seeking a male child. He takes a young girl barely in her twenties for a wife.
Nevertheless, despite the doubts and theatrics of the Apostle Thomas, today is yet not about him, as he is not the protagonist.
Even after the supposed betrayal of vehemently doubting the resurrection, Christ Jesus, when he came again, not minding Thomas’ obstinacy still beckoned on him to come, see, touch and believe. And indeed, Thomas believed.
Dear friend, our God is a God of second chance.
His aim is to save and restore us back to His fold despite our obstinate ways. Hence, like Christ tolerated Thomas, God keeps on giving us another second chance again and again and again.
Like the Apostle Thomas who on recognising his folly, exclaimed, “My Lord and my God!” We, too, mustn’t take our endless second chances for granted.
Have a fantastic day folks.
#SAINT_THOMAS! #Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase F. Agabo.
Excerpt, Gospel Reading, Wednesday 3rd July 2024 – JOHN 20:24-29.
So, could it be that the Apostle Thomas was so obstinate that he wouldn’t believe what Christ Jesus said of himself while he was still with them, or he was just too dumb and he couldn’t fathom out and get to understand what he severally said about his death and resurrection on the third day or he was simply hard of hearing?
“For he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men, and they will kill him. And when he is killed, after three days he will rise.” – MARK 9:31
See also, MATTHEW 16:21, MARK 8:31-33, MARK 10:32-34, etc.
Severally, well over three different times, Christ Jesus spoke openly to his disciples and told them in clear terms without any ambiguity that he would be killed and buried, and on the third day he will rise.
These people witnessed this same man bring back dead people to life by just mere words of mouth.
They saw him command evil spirits with mere words and such spirits obey. As a matter of fact, some would even start shouting and wailing by merely sensing his presence.
He commanded the winds and waves and they obeyed him. They even witnessed him walk on water.
Therefore, having such knowledge of him and him, having so informed and prepared his disciples of what was to come of him, if one were to be Jesus Christ, wouldn’t it be disheartening to have Thomas so blatantly and crudely still doubt the resurrection?
At some points in this our journey on earth, we, too, have been ‘Thomas’. When in trust we ask God for something in prayer, yet on the side we still do some ‘small something’ just in case. Just like the artiste Timaya, who sang in one of his songs, “I trust in God but I carry cutlass.”
A lady who dates more than one man at a time for the doubt of ‘not carrying all her eggs in one basket’ as she claims, is a bigger Thomas.
And very often, when situation happens with such ladies, their case is usually not like that of Thomas, it most times turns out worse.
The actions of Thomas could more or less be betrayal.
More so like a husband having spent the better part of a quarter of a century with his now aging wife, turns around to bring in a new woman when fortune smiles on him on the excuse of seeking a male child. He takes a young girl barely in her twenties for a wife.
Nevertheless, despite the doubts and theatrics of the Apostle Thomas, today is yet not about him, as he is not the protagonist.
Even after the supposed betrayal of vehemently doubting the resurrection, Christ Jesus, when he came again, not minding Thomas’ obstinacy still beckoned on him to come, see, touch and believe. And indeed, Thomas believed.
Dear friend, our God is a God of second chance.
His aim is to save and restore us back to His fold despite our obstinate ways. Hence, like Christ tolerated Thomas, God keeps on giving us another second chance again and again and again.
Like the Apostle Thomas who on recognising his folly, exclaimed, “My Lord and my God!” We, too, mustn’t take our endless second chances for granted.
Have a fantastic day folks.
#SAINT_THOMAS! #Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase F. Agabo.
Boind Trust
“And behold, there arose a great storm on the sea, so that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him, saying, “Save us, Lord; we are perishing.” And he said to them, “Why are you afraid, O men of little faith?”
Excerpt, Gospel Reading, Tuesday 2nd July 2024 – MATTHEW 8:23-27.
So, in the face of danger, when a mother who backed her child is running, that baby carried on her back will be giggling in excitement.
The fast pace of her strides that is throwing the baby up and down is what is getting the baby so excited. Unless the mother out of fright is frantically is shouting and wailing. Then, the baby too, may become frightened and start crying.
Now, even if that child has reached up to two years and is capable of sensing and knowing fright, yet the child wouldn’t be afraid so long as they are strapped on their mother’s back.
That is the kind of blind faith children have in their parents.
Before Christ Jesus got into the boat on that fateful day, he has cleansed a man of his leprosy just by word of mouth – Jesus said, “I will, be clean.” And the leprous man was healed.
These disciples of Jesus who have witnessed all his great works were certain that he was capable of saving them from the storm if only they call upon him.
Just like any child in a similar situation would have done, they child would certainly run and cling to the mother even if she was sleeping like Christ was.
The disciples after trying their best to empty water from the sinking boat became helpless from their futile efforts and have to wake Jesus Christ and inform him of the precarious situation.
Dear friend, though, prayer is efficacious, nevertheless, God has given us intellect to become creative. We must therefore endeavour to exhaust ourselves like the disciples did before beckoning on God.
When we have a medical challenge, it is good that we pray about it. But that shouldn’t be it. We will hence, go and seek medical help
We could pray and ask God to lead us to the right physician who can rightly diagnose our medical challenge and recommend the most suitable form of treatment. After all, it is God Who also imparted the physician with his knowledge.
After the treatment, we can afterwards ask God for speedy healing and recovery.
For our financial economy, even if we retreat to the mountains for one month and pray, we are very likely not going to experience any difference.
But if we get a job (no matter how menial it may be) or we learn a skill and start a trade, we would then ask God in prayer to bless and prosper the work of our hands.
By this, we have done what is required of us and hence committed every other thing into the power of God to do the remaining.
God truly wants us to have blind faith and trust in Him like a child does their mother. Nevertheless, we must first utilise the intellect He has given us.
Have a fantastic day folks.
#Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase F. Agabo.
Excerpt, Gospel Reading, Tuesday 2nd July 2024 – MATTHEW 8:23-27.
So, in the face of danger, when a mother who backed her child is running, that baby carried on her back will be giggling in excitement.
The fast pace of her strides that is throwing the baby up and down is what is getting the baby so excited. Unless the mother out of fright is frantically is shouting and wailing. Then, the baby too, may become frightened and start crying.
Now, even if that child has reached up to two years and is capable of sensing and knowing fright, yet the child wouldn’t be afraid so long as they are strapped on their mother’s back.
That is the kind of blind faith children have in their parents.
Before Christ Jesus got into the boat on that fateful day, he has cleansed a man of his leprosy just by word of mouth – Jesus said, “I will, be clean.” And the leprous man was healed.
These disciples of Jesus who have witnessed all his great works were certain that he was capable of saving them from the storm if only they call upon him.
Just like any child in a similar situation would have done, they child would certainly run and cling to the mother even if she was sleeping like Christ was.
The disciples after trying their best to empty water from the sinking boat became helpless from their futile efforts and have to wake Jesus Christ and inform him of the precarious situation.
Dear friend, though, prayer is efficacious, nevertheless, God has given us intellect to become creative. We must therefore endeavour to exhaust ourselves like the disciples did before beckoning on God.
When we have a medical challenge, it is good that we pray about it. But that shouldn’t be it. We will hence, go and seek medical help
We could pray and ask God to lead us to the right physician who can rightly diagnose our medical challenge and recommend the most suitable form of treatment. After all, it is God Who also imparted the physician with his knowledge.
After the treatment, we can afterwards ask God for speedy healing and recovery.
For our financial economy, even if we retreat to the mountains for one month and pray, we are very likely not going to experience any difference.
But if we get a job (no matter how menial it may be) or we learn a skill and start a trade, we would then ask God in prayer to bless and prosper the work of our hands.
By this, we have done what is required of us and hence committed every other thing into the power of God to do the remaining.
God truly wants us to have blind faith and trust in Him like a child does their mother. Nevertheless, we must first utilise the intellect He has given us.
Have a fantastic day folks.
#Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase F. Agabo.
A Touch that Messages One’s Feelings
“A leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” And he stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.”
Excerpt, Gospel Reading, Friday 28th June 2024 – MATTHEW 8:1-4.
So, I guess we must have read or heard about the “concrete slab.’
In a military base, there was a concrete slab that was guarded around the clock by four soldiers. This was a routine that had been in place for decades. Over the years, different Commanders were posted to the base, but the tradition remained the same with four soldiers changing shifts to guard the slab.
One day, a new Commander took over the unit and asked why the soldiers were guarding the concrete slab around the clock. He was told that the routine had been the tradition for years, and no one had questioned or bothered to change it.
Not satisfied with the answer, the Commander decided to go on a quest to find out why the soldiers were guarding the concrete slab.
To his surprise, he discovered that years ago, a former Commander decided to build a platform, where events would be held. When the slab was laid, animals would walk all over it at night, leaving footprints, before it could dry.
This prompted the soldiers to patch up the holes. It happened over and over until the Commander asked four soldiers to guard the concrete slab for three weeks — day and night, to prevent the animals from walking over it.
A week after the order was given, the Commander was transferred to another unit. The new Commander who took over continued to uphold the tradition without asking any questions.
Decades later, this continued to be the norm.
During the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt, a journey that was supposed to last forty days but continued for forty years, laws, rules and regulations were made as were supposedly suitable for such temporal setting of a mass exodus.
Some of these laws were concerned on preventing outbreak of epidemic, check sexual immorality and idolatry among others.
Therefore, even when one has a boil or any benign swelling on the body, such must be subjected to the scrutiny of the Chief Priest. On confirmation, they would have to be isolated from the exodus camp to forestall a supposed spread.
The rule was that, even mere touching them or their garment amounted to defilement which needed cleansing.
Some of such laws then snow balled into the ‘concrete platform’ mentality.
Hence the pitiable plight of the leprous man in today’s teaching who dared the odds to break the ranks and beckon on to Christ Jesus.
Ordinarily, leprosy, also known as Hansen’ Disease, is a chronic infectious disease caused by bacteria.
The disease affects the skin, the peripheral nerves, mucosal surfaces of the upper respiratory tract and the eyes.
This disease is known to occur at all ages ranging from early childhood to old age.
Leprosy is however, not spread through casual contact with a person who has it like shaking hands or hugging, sharing meals or sitting next to each other. Moreover, the patient stops transmitting the disease when they begin treatment.
The society has since regarded such fellow brethren as invalids and always confine them to such colonies of invalids to perpetrate there until their end.
Nevertheless, irrespective the society’s verdict, the Scriptures say, “We, who do not live by our corrupt nature but by our spiritual nature, are able to meet God’s standards.” – ROMANS 8:4.
Christ Jesus resurrected Lazarus from dead without as much as touching the tomb stone. Equally, he cleansed the ‘legion’ demoniac by mere words of mouth and cured the crippled man whose friends tore the roof and lowered him without touching him.
Therefore, he could have equally said the word and the leprous man would be cleansed.
Seizing that opportunity, he demystified the ‘concrete slab’ mentality and publicly displayed how such people are not sub-humans as ironically presented by society but how they, too, need human touch to massage their feelings.
Jesus Christ, therefore touched the leprous man and he was cleansed.
My dear friend, whatever be our leprosy, whether physical or spiritual, when we call on Christ Jesus, unlike the society, he will touch us and we shall become clean.
Have a fantastic day folks.
Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
- Akase F. Agabo.
Why Spiritual Gifts Should Inspire Spiritual Being
“Not every one who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the Kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you evildoers.’
Excerpt, Gospel Reading, Thursday 27th June 2024 – MATTHEW 7:21-29.
So, if we ever have cause to doubt those you claim they have revelations of heaven and hell, and in hell they saw some supposed ‘powerful’ men of God; then, here is our proof.
By the way, I am not making a case for such people, neither am I saying one should refute their claims.
Moreover, we weren’t there when God made the supposed revelations to them, neither did God revealed to us anything on such people.
Although, as predicted in the Bible, there are false prophets who perpetrate false teachings with displays of miracle and healing, there are yet genuine people whom God has anointed them with the gifts of prophecy, healing and exorcism, etc.
Some of these people could even be mere lay faithful, while a good majority are ordained clergy.
Now, irrespective of the type of life such gifted people may lead in their everyday life, their gifts are still valid and retained in them. – For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. – ROMANS 11:29.
That is why even when Lucifer fell out of favour with God, he still retains his gifts and powers.
Therefore, one may have the gifts of exorcism, another the gifts if healing and yet another the gifts of praying and a dead person would come back to life. Nevertheless, it is not always that having such gifts translates into equally having love, empathy and forgiving spirit to a fellow man, although, they should.
A man could be a priest of the Catholic Church that practices celibacy, even when he supposedly carnally defies himself right before he goes for Mass, his sacrifice of the Mass would still be valid.
Now, talk less of those that only render selfless service in the church.
Ordinarily, those of us so gifted as well as the ordained clergy and those of us privileged to render our services in the church are supposed to permit ourselves to be subsumed by the graces and anointing of such privileges and therefore endeavour to live our lives worthy of such callings.
Dear friend, today’s teaching is therefore for those of us who should, but are not.
One could be an ordained Priest/Pastor, a spiritually gifted person and one who renders services in the vineyard of God, that alone is not a free pass to heaven.
Christ Jesus says today that, unless we amend our ways, else, when we die, he is certain to ask us to depart from his presence and go to where we rightly belong.
So, do we still have cause to doubt those people who claim to have such☝️revelations?
Have a fantastic day folks.
#OUR_LADY_OF_PERPETUAL_HELP! #Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase F. Agabo
Excerpt, Gospel Reading, Thursday 27th June 2024 – MATTHEW 7:21-29.
So, if we ever have cause to doubt those you claim they have revelations of heaven and hell, and in hell they saw some supposed ‘powerful’ men of God; then, here is our proof.
By the way, I am not making a case for such people, neither am I saying one should refute their claims.
Moreover, we weren’t there when God made the supposed revelations to them, neither did God revealed to us anything on such people.
Although, as predicted in the Bible, there are false prophets who perpetrate false teachings with displays of miracle and healing, there are yet genuine people whom God has anointed them with the gifts of prophecy, healing and exorcism, etc.
Some of these people could even be mere lay faithful, while a good majority are ordained clergy.
Now, irrespective of the type of life such gifted people may lead in their everyday life, their gifts are still valid and retained in them. – For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. – ROMANS 11:29.
That is why even when Lucifer fell out of favour with God, he still retains his gifts and powers.
Therefore, one may have the gifts of exorcism, another the gifts if healing and yet another the gifts of praying and a dead person would come back to life. Nevertheless, it is not always that having such gifts translates into equally having love, empathy and forgiving spirit to a fellow man, although, they should.
A man could be a priest of the Catholic Church that practices celibacy, even when he supposedly carnally defies himself right before he goes for Mass, his sacrifice of the Mass would still be valid.
Now, talk less of those that only render selfless service in the church.
Ordinarily, those of us so gifted as well as the ordained clergy and those of us privileged to render our services in the church are supposed to permit ourselves to be subsumed by the graces and anointing of such privileges and therefore endeavour to live our lives worthy of such callings.
Dear friend, today’s teaching is therefore for those of us who should, but are not.
One could be an ordained Priest/Pastor, a spiritually gifted person and one who renders services in the vineyard of God, that alone is not a free pass to heaven.
Christ Jesus says today that, unless we amend our ways, else, when we die, he is certain to ask us to depart from his presence and go to where we rightly belong.
So, do we still have cause to doubt those people who claim to have such☝️revelations?
Have a fantastic day folks.
#OUR_LADY_OF_PERPETUAL_HELP! #Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase F. Agabo
Alive and Active Impacts that Impart.
“Then Shaphan the secretary told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read it before the king. And when the king heard the words of the book of the law, he tore his clothes. And the king commanded Hilkiah thy priest, and Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Micaiah; and Shaphan the secretary, and Asaiah the king’s servant, saying, “Go, inquire of the Lord for me, and for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that‘ has been found; for great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against us, . . . . . . . . . .”
Excerpt, First Reading, Wednesday 26th June 2024 – 2 KINGS 22:8-13; 23: 1-3.
So, as mortals, made in the image and likeness of God, we have conscience.
It is this conscience that makes even the most hardened of us to soften up and reflect whenever we are attentive when the word of God is preached.
Now, do we still wonder why most hardened people do not bother going to church?
Little wonder, the devil crafts different avenues to get us distracted often when we are in the church.
My dear friend, the word of God has impacts and it is imparting.
For these reasons, the Bible says of it thus, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” – HEBREWS 4:12.
The Bible further buttressed the above assertion, “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.” – LAMENTATIONS 3:22-23.
Finally, God says, “So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” – ISAIAH 55:11.
Of the truth, the devil knows all these in detail.
Hence, he gets us distracted from evening touching the Bible or giving our undivided attention to listen to the word of God.
The Mass has various stages of sitting, standing, kneeling and walking all in a space of less than two hours.
Yet, some of us still get so bored that we either sleep through these stages or we fumble with our phones to get distracted.
Dear friend, it mustn’t be lost on us that as often as we permit ourselves to be distracted in church, it is the handiwork of the devil wanting us to distract from the good that he knows about but can no longer benefit of it.
In today’ teaching, the word of God tore through the king as it should also tear through us whenever we are attentive to it.
Then, as Christ said in today’s Gospel reading, we will begin to bear good fruits.
Have a fantastic day folks.
#Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase F. Agabo.
Excerpt, First Reading, Wednesday 26th June 2024 – 2 KINGS 22:8-13; 23: 1-3.
So, as mortals, made in the image and likeness of God, we have conscience.
It is this conscience that makes even the most hardened of us to soften up and reflect whenever we are attentive when the word of God is preached.
Now, do we still wonder why most hardened people do not bother going to church?
Little wonder, the devil crafts different avenues to get us distracted often when we are in the church.
My dear friend, the word of God has impacts and it is imparting.
For these reasons, the Bible says of it thus, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” – HEBREWS 4:12.
The Bible further buttressed the above assertion, “The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.” – LAMENTATIONS 3:22-23.
Finally, God says, “So is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” – ISAIAH 55:11.
Of the truth, the devil knows all these in detail.
Hence, he gets us distracted from evening touching the Bible or giving our undivided attention to listen to the word of God.
The Mass has various stages of sitting, standing, kneeling and walking all in a space of less than two hours.
Yet, some of us still get so bored that we either sleep through these stages or we fumble with our phones to get distracted.
Dear friend, it mustn’t be lost on us that as often as we permit ourselves to be distracted in church, it is the handiwork of the devil wanting us to distract from the good that he knows about but can no longer benefit of it.
In today’ teaching, the word of God tore through the king as it should also tear through us whenever we are attentive to it.
Then, as Christ said in today’s Gospel reading, we will begin to bear good fruits.
Have a fantastic day folks.
#Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase F. Agabo.