“Jesus began to say, “This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign shall be given to it except the sign of Jonah. For as Jonah became a sign to the men of Nineveh, so will the Son of man be to this generation.”

Excerpt, Gospel Reading, Monday 14th October 2024 – LUKE 11:29-32.

So, just assuming a reigning artiste or musician is scheduled to perform in a particular locality.

Ahead of their coning, there will be hypes about the event mostly on the radio, the television and very recently on the social media also.

Promotional contents for the event may mostly be like this – “Other side attractions include rib-cracking comedy performance from so, and so, fashion parade and lots and lots of gift items to be won at our surprise raffle draw. Don’t be left out, if you snooze, you lose.”

Amazingly, church programmes have also taken to the same kind of hypes. Even a mere Sunday service is not left out.

Then, there will be stuffs like this that form part of the contents for the promotion of the event – “There will be music ministration by this and that as well as the dash, dash, dash ministries angelic choir. Miracles, signs and wonders shall abound. Come one, come all.”

Another equally disturbing trend is the fact that the artiste or musician invited for this church programme could be a complete secular artiste with many blatant ‘knacking’ songs to their credit.

Possibly just because they have a popular song that mentions in passing the phrase ‘thank you Jesus’ or the word ‘alleluiah’, then, that qualifies them to be invited for a supposed music ministration for a church programme or for a Sunday service.

Dear friend, the hypes men and hypes-style deplored for promoting secular events are now used for church programmes even for Sunday service.

However, we mustn’t be quick to wanting to condemn anyone or point fingers as to whose guilt it might be.

This has to start with us. If we haven’ permitted such, they wouldn’t be happening.

If we are not thrilled by the razzmatazz of miracles, signs and wonders, and we go seeking for them, they will not be used as baits to lure us do gullible fishes.

If the thrills of wanting to get quality entertainment in our supposed worship centres is not what goads us to accept to convene but the worship of God in truth and in spirit, then, the presence of a popular artiste or musician or not wouldn’t be the push that gets us to want to congregate for worship.

My dear friend, until we curb our taste and voracious appetites, those leading us by our noses too will have no reason to want to take a rest.

Christ in today’s teaching says of us that we are, “An evil generation.” My dear friend, we must dare to be different and extricate ourselves from such a generation.

Have a fantastic day and a fulfilled week ahead folks.

Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!

• Akase F. Agabo
• 14th Oct. 2024.

“Lord, teach us to pray, as John taught his disciples.” And he said to them, “When you pray, say: “Father, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. TGive us each day our daily bread; and forgive us our sins, for we ourselves forgive every one who is indebted to us; and lead us not into temptation.”

Excerpt, Gospel Reading, Wednesday 9th October 2024 – LUKE 11:1-4.

So, firstly, prayer is really good and absolutely important because it is very efficacious. That is why even Christ Himself prayed.

Notwithstanding, as there’s a pattern to all things, so, it is also with prayer. It is for this reason that John-de-Baptist taught his disciples how to pray and in today’s teaching Christ Jesus also taught his disciples and by extension we, too, how to pray.

Christ taught us the Lord’s Prayer, the one we popularly call the ‘Our Father.”

The Lord’s Prayer is not just a pattern of how to pray, it is equally our prescribed lifestyle.

The life style pattern is, praising God, committing the whole of our being to Him.

Then trusting Him completely with the whole of our being. And forgiving others who failed us as much as we seek forgiveness from Him.

And having Him and Him alone as our guard, guide and source of protection.

And we do all of these with absolute faith.

Dear friend, when you say that Prayer (Our Father) today again, meditative say it and try to visualise each word.

May the Good Lord meet all of us at our point of need.

Have a fantastic day folks.

#Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!

-Akase F. Agabo
9th Oct. 2024.

“I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and turning to a different gospel — not that there is another gospel, but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we preached to you, let him be accursed.”

Excerpt, First Reading, Monday 7th October 2024 – GALATIANS 1:6-12.

So, technology has made living very easy. Take communications for example. We know where we used to be before the year 2001.

Consequently, the same technological advancement is equally getting some of us somewhat lazy.

The successes achieved technology-wise in the world, we now want to make them transcend into our actual abstract every day life and living.

A preacher man tells members of their congregation that they are going to make overnight wealth and they quickly believe and hang on every of his words.

Another one tell members of his congregation to bring all sick people to the church and never to seek medical attention at health care facilities and hospitals.

Meanwhile, the same person would fly abroad for the slightest medical attention in the best hospitals in the world.

Are we now all getting perversely stupefied?

Dear friend, any wealth that we did not work for and isn’t a rightful inheritance, it is always not deep rooted, it fritter away as fast as it came.

The knowledge of medical treatment was conferred on us by the Almighty God.

Therefore, my dear friend, when you or any one of yours fall ill, quickly go to the hospital or the nearest health care facility to seek medical attention.

Believing in prosperity preaching and refusing to seek medical attention when we are ill is stupidly falling victim of the fake gospel Saint Paul cries about in today’s teaching.

Mother Mary Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, we implore your constant intercession never to yield to any contrary gospel.

Have a fantastic day folks and a fulfilled week ahead.

OUR_LADY_OF_THE_ROSARY! #Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!

• Akase F. Agabo
  7th Oct. 2024.

“The Lord answered Job . . . . . . . . . . . . out of the whirlwind: “Have you commanded the morning since your days began, and caused the dawn to know its place, . . . . . . . . . . . . Have you entered into the springs of the sea, or walked in the recesses of the deep? Have the gates of death been revealed to you, or have you seen the gates of deep darkness? Have you comprehended the expanse of the earth? . . . . . . . . . . Then Job answered the Lord: “Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you? I lay my hand on my mouth. . . . . . . . . . . . I will proceed no further.”

Excerpts, First Reading, Friday 4th October 2024 – JOB 38:1.12-21; 40:3-5.

So, often times when some kind of adversity or the other befalls us, we are quick to follow the path of unbelievers and question God, saying, “O Lord, why me?”

If Joseph was not so maltreated by his brothers and sold into slavery, how would he have become Governor in a far away land and even help to save his family from starvation?

God works in mysterious ways. He alone knows our tomorrow from today.

A little scratch gets us wailing and lamenting and asking God, “Why me?”

Such might have happened to forestall a fatal adversity that could have befallen us or to prepare us for a greater task ahead (like Joseph) or both.

Dear friend, as believers, whatever happens to us, good or otherwise was very likely permitted by God.

Therefore, anything that happens to us, good or otherwise, we must thank God. He Who is our beneficent, He alone Who knows our tomorrow from today.

Folks, have a fantastic day and a pleasant weekend.

#SAINT_FRANCIS_OF_ASSISI! #Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!

-Akase F. Agabo. 4th OCT. 2024.

“But whenever you enter a town and they do not receive you, go into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off against you; nevertheless know this that the kingdom of God has come near. ’ I tell you, it shall be more tolerable on that day for Sodom than for that town.”

Excerpt, Gospel Reading, Thursday 3rd October 2024 – LUKE 10:1-12.

So, the streets as well as life as a whole is not the same for someone who grew up with a father than one who grew up without a father. And this is without prejudice to an actual good father or a father figure.

A person from a good home, raised with both parents who ensured they never lacked the basic necessities of life but chose to go the way of wrath, the streets and life in general is more harsh and intolerable for them than one raised from the streets.

Today’s teaching is akin to the above assertions.

It shall be more tolerable for the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah than for those cities which the message of the kingdom of God was preached to and they rejected it.

Dear friend, we must carefully check and ensure that we are not such cities.

Have a fantastic day folks.

#Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!

-Akase F. Agabo
3rd Oct. 2024.

“The disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them, and said, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Excerpt, Gospel Reading, Wednesday 2nd Oct. 2024 – MATTHEW 18:1-5.

So, since we all were once children, we must be conversant with the fact that children have a 100% trust in their parents.

Children look on to their parents for everything and more often than not parents strive to fulfil all that are needed by their children.

That’s why a parent might starve just to ensure that their ward(s) have something to eat.

Parents do not regard taking care of their children only just as an obligation but as fulfilment of a right to them.

All these are the more reasons children look on to their parents with confidence that their needs and sometimes even their wants would be satisfied.

The Almighty God in today’s teaching says, for us to make it into the kingdom He has prepared for us, we must, like children, have a blind trust in Him.

May God avail us His grace to permit His will to be realised in our life.

And may our deliberate and reflex actions never cause our guardian angels to shy away from us.

Have a fantastic day folks.

HOLY_GUARDIAN_ANGELS! #Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!

• Akase F. Agabo
  2nd Oct. 2024.

“There was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the Lord, and Satan also came among them. The Lord said to Satan, “From where have you come?” Satan answered the Lord, “From going back and forth on the earth, and from walking up and down on it.”

Excerpt, First Reading, Monday 30th September 2024 – JOB 1:6-22.

So, the excerpt above from today’s teaching calls to mind what we say when we pray, Prayer to St Michael the Archangel.”

The particular statement is, “ By the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all evil spirits who prowl through the world seeking the ruin of souls.”

Dear friend, what comes to mind when we see or hear things like this?

Satan is everywhere.

If when the sons of God went to present themselves to the Lord and Satan also went there, where then can he not be?

There is this catch phrase that has become common in adverts and promotions, “If you snooze, you lose.”

My dear friend, that’s just how it also is with Satan.

He’s working restlessly round the clock to ensure that he drags as many as possible sons of God with him to the place of damnation where he has been condemned for eternity.

We must therefore, be continually prayerful and persevere in good works without ceasing.

These must become an integral part of us if we must defeat Satan.

Just like St Jerome a Priest and doctor of the church whose memorial the Church marks today said, “I strive every day o make my good better and my better best.”

May the grace of God always be with us.

Have a fantastic day and a fulfilled week ahead folks.

SAINT_JEROME! #Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!

• Akase F. Agabo. 30th Sept. 2024.

“But he said to them, “My mother and my brethren are those who hear the word of God and do it.”

Excerpt, Gospel Reading, Tuesday 24th September 2024 – LUKE 8:19-21.

So, the Holy Bible says, “ For the word of God is living, and active, and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing even to the dividing of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and quick to discern the thoughts and intents of the heart.” – HEBREWS 4:12.

Again, in another instance, God says this of His word, “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void. But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.” – ISAIAH 55:11.

Dear friend, often in church when the preacher man makes a prophetic proclamation of prosperity and we bounce on our feet and exclaim repeatedly with exhilaration that, “I claim it.”

Often times, some of such proclamation come to pass in our lives. Some of us get really excited and full of praises that return to church for thanks giving.

That’s the power of the word of God.

Nevertheless, it so happens that the same sun that hardens clay also melts wax.

Therefore, as Ecclesiastes the preacher says, “There is time for everything.”

So, there comes other times when the same preacher man may declare that we must toil and sweat and grind and suffer to make ends meet for us.

And while at this, we should yet not withhold or refrain from generosity to others.

Some of would be quick to exclaim, “I reject it!” Then, we may quickly add, “I did not come into this world to suffer.” Then, we may start humming that ‘me I no go suffer’ song under our breath.

Just like those who were happy to voraciously consume the bread and fish multiplied by Christ.

However, when the rhythm changed the same people suddenly turnaround and walked away, claiming, “This kind of teaching is too hard to believe and follow.”

My dear friend, just like the response given by the Apostles who remained, “Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” – JOHN 6:68.

We, too must strive to be like the Apostles. No matter the nature of the prophesy, we must remain and live it out.

Because, with Christ, it is always a win-win.

Have a fantastic day folks.

Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!

• Akase F. Agabo
  24th Sept. 2024.

“You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.”

Excerpt, Gospel Reading, Friday 13th September 2024 – LUKE 6:39-42.

So, some of us in Nigeria have been nagging and complaining about the seeming insensitivity of the authority people in government.

Our complaints have been directed mostly to the President @OfficialPBAT.

We talk about how the president requests of us to make sacrifices, yet, he, as well as other authority people in government have refused to make any sacrifices.

We nag about and truly so, how amidst hunger and starvation, the whopping sum N150miliion was expended for importing one 4 wheel drive SUV vehicles for each of the over 450 legislators in the National Assembly.

We also talk about how a teary sum of over N21billion was expended for the renovation of the Vice President’s official residence.

There are several of such vexatious expenditures that truly make nonsense of the plea by the president for the masses to make sacrifices.

However, the most notorious of them is the acquisition of a yacht, a bullet proof 4 wheel drive SUV and a new Presidential jet outside of the budget by a President who wants the masses to make sacrifices so that the country can prosper.

Nevertheless, while the actions of the president could be called to question and they are actually frustrating, we must first narrow down the expected or supposed uprightness and point the finger to ourselves before wanting to cast aspersions on some one else.

As a man, how fair have we been with our hard earned resources for the overall benefit of our immediate (nuclear) family?

Do we prioritise ourselves first, second, third and our family come a distant eleventh or something?

As a men, do we really love and cherish the woman God has put in our life to be by our side or we have other assistant wife(s) that compete for our love and other resources with her?

As an employer or a boss at the place of work, how upright have we been seeing to our employees or subordinates getting their rightful obligations as and when due?

Kudos to those of us who are uprightly upright as well as to those of us who go the extra mile.

While we must complain about the supposed ‘inhuman’ face of the @OfficialPBAT policies, we too, must first look inwards so that when we seemingly moan and groan under the bulk of the strain of the current situation in our country, we shouldn’t equally attract the ire of God for the strain we, too, subject to those under us.

This☝️ is the message of today’s teaching.

Folks, have a fantastic day and a pleasant weekend.

SAINT_JOHN_CHRYSOSTOM! #Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!

• Akase F. Agabo
  13th Sept. 2024.

“Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful. “Judge not, and you will not be judged; condemn not, and you will not be condemned; forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you; good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For the measure you give will be the measure you get back.”

Excerpt, Gospel Reading, Thursday 12th September 2024 – LUKE 6:27-38.

So, when we are wronged by someone and we presumably pick stones in the both of our hands to cast at that person. If someone then offers us a glass of water, wouldn’t we first drop the stone at least in one of our hands just so as to accept the glass of water?

Water really has a simmering down effect. It would then be rare to remain as angry as we were before accepting and drinking that cold glass of water.

Therefore, after dropping the stone, accepting and drinking the glass of water, we are very likely not going to proceed with the planned action of stoning our supposed offender.

Dear friend, this simple narration above is to aid in explaining the message in today’s teaching.

To be able to accept the glass of water, we must first drop the stone we hold in our hand. So, also, we must first forgive in order to be forgiven.

Have a fantastic day folks.

Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!

• Akase F. Agabo
  12th Sept. 2024.