“Jesus said to his apostles, “Preach as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without pay give without pay.”
Excerpt, Gospel Reading, Thursday 10th July 2025 – MATTHEW 10:7-15.
So, Christ Jesus commissioned the 12 Apostles and gave them authority to do and perform all☝️that are stated above.
However, there was a need to fore-warn the Apostles to beware of charging for their work or accepting gifts.
Seeing that they were casting out demons, healing the sick and even raising the dead, they may become haughty and greedy.
Pride and greed can bring down a whole nation. They hurt, terribly.
Dear friend, we must be weary of pride and greed.
Have a fantastic day folks.
#Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
-Akase F. Agabo
Abuja, Nigeria,
10th July 2025.
Sow A Seed Everyday
“And Reuben answered them, “Did I not tell you not to sin against the lad? But you would not listen. So now there comes a reckoning for his blood.” They did not know that Joseph understood them, for there was an interpreter between them. Then he turned away from them and wept.”
Excerpt, First Reading, Wednesday 9th July 2025 – GENESIS 41:55-57; 42:5-7a. 17-24a.
So, most of us must have been conversant or at least heard this severally used statement, – “They tried to bury me, but they didn’t know that I am a seed.”
That was just the situation with Joseph the dreamer.
See, my dear friend, when God is on our case, there’s nothing any man or a group of people can do that will amount to anything.
Was Joseph not removed from a pit and sold to slavery?
All the actions of his jealous brothers to inhibit and annihilate his dreams, to what end?
Didn’t they just sowed a seed that germinated into a giant tree in a far away land that gave shelter to the whole world?
So, my dear friend, are people ganging against us to inhibit and stop our progress?
Very well, it shouldn’t be lost on us that all our struggles against the wiles of such people are building us up for the challenges inherent in that which they are trying to inhibit us from.
Therefore, if we do not give up and when we eventually attain that height, we would have built enough muscles 💪 to enable us have a smooth sail.
At this rate, one is not advising that we should stay on where we are been persecuted.
Far be it from that. The counsel is that we should and must persist at the cause we have resolved on and stay focused on it.
Just like the Apostle Paul, when we are persecuted in one city, we move to the next to continue our work.
The counsel is to be persistent, stay focused on the course and never giving up on our cause.
Despite the terrible situations Joseph encountered just for been a good person, he never gave up on being good.
Hence, we all can see how it turned out for him.
Dear friend, every good we do is a seed that we have sown.
We may not necessarily reap directly of its fruits.
Nevertheless, so long as humanity benefits of it, it counts in our favour.
The people who planted the trees 🌳 that we take shelter under them on a hot and sunny 🌞 day may have long gone to be far away from where these trees are.
Whenever we take shelter under the trees or eat of their fruit and we say, “Thank God for this tree,” we are equally saying a prayer for them.
Dear friend, we all must and should strive to sow at least one good seed every day.
It may not necessarily change the whole world. However, it may change the whole world of one person.
Have a fantastic day folks.
#Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase F. Agabo
Abuja, Nigeria,
9th July 2025.
Excerpt, First Reading, Wednesday 9th July 2025 – GENESIS 41:55-57; 42:5-7a. 17-24a.
So, most of us must have been conversant or at least heard this severally used statement, – “They tried to bury me, but they didn’t know that I am a seed.”
That was just the situation with Joseph the dreamer.
See, my dear friend, when God is on our case, there’s nothing any man or a group of people can do that will amount to anything.
Was Joseph not removed from a pit and sold to slavery?
All the actions of his jealous brothers to inhibit and annihilate his dreams, to what end?
Didn’t they just sowed a seed that germinated into a giant tree in a far away land that gave shelter to the whole world?
So, my dear friend, are people ganging against us to inhibit and stop our progress?
Very well, it shouldn’t be lost on us that all our struggles against the wiles of such people are building us up for the challenges inherent in that which they are trying to inhibit us from.
Therefore, if we do not give up and when we eventually attain that height, we would have built enough muscles 💪 to enable us have a smooth sail.
At this rate, one is not advising that we should stay on where we are been persecuted.
Far be it from that. The counsel is that we should and must persist at the cause we have resolved on and stay focused on it.
Just like the Apostle Paul, when we are persecuted in one city, we move to the next to continue our work.
The counsel is to be persistent, stay focused on the course and never giving up on our cause.
Despite the terrible situations Joseph encountered just for been a good person, he never gave up on being good.
Hence, we all can see how it turned out for him.
Dear friend, every good we do is a seed that we have sown.
We may not necessarily reap directly of its fruits.
Nevertheless, so long as humanity benefits of it, it counts in our favour.
The people who planted the trees 🌳 that we take shelter under them on a hot and sunny 🌞 day may have long gone to be far away from where these trees are.
Whenever we take shelter under the trees or eat of their fruit and we say, “Thank God for this tree,” we are equally saying a prayer for them.
Dear friend, we all must and should strive to sow at least one good seed every day.
It may not necessarily change the whole world. However, it may change the whole world of one person.
Have a fantastic day folks.
#Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase F. Agabo
Abuja, Nigeria,
9th July 2025.
The Israel in Us.
“Your name shall no more be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.”
Excerpt, First Reading, Tuesday 8th July 2025 – GENESIS 32:23-32.
So, the name Israel, of Hebrew origin, has several interpretations, primarily meaning “one who strives with God” or “God perseveres”.
In today’s teaching, Jacob wrestled with one who was supposedly an angel of God and prevailed until the supposed angel pleaded with him to let him go.
Therefore, it will suffice to say the lesson from today’s teaching is never giving up.
My dear friend what is it that grieves us and gives us sleepless nights and we are on the verge of giving up.
We may have to look properly. For, enclosed right inside that thing may also be the solution to the cause of our grief, or, even our blessing.
Jacob told the man he wrestled with that he will not let him go, unless he bless him.
And, in blessing him, the man changed his name from Jacob to become one who never gives up.
Dear friend, today I am prophesying the virtue of the name Israel into your condition.
May you defeat the beguiling spirit that is prompting you to give up. Rise up today and shake off that spirit.
Hence, we should and must revive the spirit of the ‘Israelness’ that is deep with us. For all of us have it.
We are Israel, that issue shall never consume us. We shall prevail. Dear friend, you shall prevail.
Have a fantastic day folks.
#Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase F. Agabo
Abuja, Nigeria.
8th July 2025.
Excerpt, First Reading, Tuesday 8th July 2025 – GENESIS 32:23-32.
So, the name Israel, of Hebrew origin, has several interpretations, primarily meaning “one who strives with God” or “God perseveres”.
In today’s teaching, Jacob wrestled with one who was supposedly an angel of God and prevailed until the supposed angel pleaded with him to let him go.
Therefore, it will suffice to say the lesson from today’s teaching is never giving up.
My dear friend what is it that grieves us and gives us sleepless nights and we are on the verge of giving up.
We may have to look properly. For, enclosed right inside that thing may also be the solution to the cause of our grief, or, even our blessing.
Jacob told the man he wrestled with that he will not let him go, unless he bless him.
And, in blessing him, the man changed his name from Jacob to become one who never gives up.
Dear friend, today I am prophesying the virtue of the name Israel into your condition.
May you defeat the beguiling spirit that is prompting you to give up. Rise up today and shake off that spirit.
Hence, we should and must revive the spirit of the ‘Israelness’ that is deep with us. For all of us have it.
We are Israel, that issue shall never consume us. We shall prevail. Dear friend, you shall prevail.
Have a fantastic day folks.
#Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase F. Agabo
Abuja, Nigeria.
8th July 2025.
STRAIGHTEN OUR PATHS
THIS SEASON OF VIOLET COLOUR 03.
“The baptism of John, where was it from? From heaven or from men?” And they argued with one another, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From men,’ we are afraid of the multitude; for all hold that John was a prophet.” So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.”
Excerpt, Gospel Reading, Monday 16th Dec. 2024 – MATTHEW 21:23-27.
So, this rhetoric, “What will people say” has wrecked a lot of persons.
Dear friend, the said people already know what they want to know and they are already saying what they want to say.
Therefore, when we give heed to the thought of what people would supposedly say, we are just giving fodder to that dragon that has seemingly slayed others who gave a damn to grow and slay us also.
More often than not, some people already have an opinion and no amount of explanation can change the narrative they want to pursue.
These people are comfortable with that narrative, so, the more we tend to mind to give further explanation, the more fuel we may be pouring to our self-ignited fires.
Those kind of people accosted Christ in today’s teaching , but knowing their intent, he, too, tackled them using a superior version of their tactics.
So long as we are convinced that we are on the path of good and truth, that little rhetoric, “What will people say” like it was with Christ, we, too, it can not get at us.
As we await the coming of the Infant King during this Season of Violet Colour, we must make straight our paths, smoothen the rough grounds and make level our high places so that worries or even doubts about what people will say or think would be the least of our concerns, if any at all.
Have a fantastic day and a fulfilled week ahead folks.
##Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase F. Agabo
16th Dec. 2024
“The baptism of John, where was it from? From heaven or from men?” And they argued with one another, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From men,’ we are afraid of the multitude; for all hold that John was a prophet.” So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.”
Excerpt, Gospel Reading, Monday 16th Dec. 2024 – MATTHEW 21:23-27.
So, this rhetoric, “What will people say” has wrecked a lot of persons.
Dear friend, the said people already know what they want to know and they are already saying what they want to say.
Therefore, when we give heed to the thought of what people would supposedly say, we are just giving fodder to that dragon that has seemingly slayed others who gave a damn to grow and slay us also.
More often than not, some people already have an opinion and no amount of explanation can change the narrative they want to pursue.
These people are comfortable with that narrative, so, the more we tend to mind to give further explanation, the more fuel we may be pouring to our self-ignited fires.
Those kind of people accosted Christ in today’s teaching , but knowing their intent, he, too, tackled them using a superior version of their tactics.
So long as we are convinced that we are on the path of good and truth, that little rhetoric, “What will people say” like it was with Christ, we, too, it can not get at us.
As we await the coming of the Infant King during this Season of Violet Colour, we must make straight our paths, smoothen the rough grounds and make level our high places so that worries or even doubts about what people will say or think would be the least of our concerns, if any at all.
Have a fantastic day and a fulfilled week ahead folks.
##Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase F. Agabo
16th Dec. 2024
Hate the Ways Not the Person
“If any one says, “I love God” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him, that he who loves God should love his brother also.”
Excerpt, First Reading, Thursday 9th January 2025 – 1 JOHN 4:19 -5:4.
So, we are all familiar with the part of the Holy Bible that says and I quote, “Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; . . . . . . . . . . . . So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them.” – GENESIS 1:26-28.
Wait o! After God must have created you and I in His own image and likeness, He was yet not done o! God Almighty still went ahead to bless what He has created.
Therefore, if I should decide on my own to hate my fellow man, am I not choosing to embark on a futile expedition?
I cannot claim to love God Whom is not visible to me, whereas I am busy hating on fellow men created in the image and likeness (and on top of that also blessed) of Him Whom I claim to love.
Even you sef, if all man claim to love you but dem come hate your pikin, how you wan come take swallow dat kind type of thing?
Although, some of us are so vile that human self control may not be enough not to get to hate their ways.
But that should do. We may just hate their ways and not the person themselves, even if we are direct recipient of their vile ways.
However, my dear friend, we mustn’t play God or some kind of an assistant God by taking things into our hands. We can only pray to God concerning the ways of that His creation.
As it has now become popular, what God cannot do does not exist.
Remember, Christ Himself instructed us that the first and greatest commandment is to love with all our mind, all our strength and all our soul. Even when he wasn’t asked about the second, he added that, the second greatest commandment is to love your neighbour as yourself.
Have a fantastic day folks.
#Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase F. Agabo
9th Jan. 2025.
Excerpt, First Reading, Thursday 9th January 2025 – 1 JOHN 4:19 -5:4.
So, we are all familiar with the part of the Holy Bible that says and I quote, “Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; . . . . . . . . . . . . So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them.” – GENESIS 1:26-28.
Wait o! After God must have created you and I in His own image and likeness, He was yet not done o! God Almighty still went ahead to bless what He has created.
Therefore, if I should decide on my own to hate my fellow man, am I not choosing to embark on a futile expedition?
I cannot claim to love God Whom is not visible to me, whereas I am busy hating on fellow men created in the image and likeness (and on top of that also blessed) of Him Whom I claim to love.
Even you sef, if all man claim to love you but dem come hate your pikin, how you wan come take swallow dat kind type of thing?
Although, some of us are so vile that human self control may not be enough not to get to hate their ways.
But that should do. We may just hate their ways and not the person themselves, even if we are direct recipient of their vile ways.
However, my dear friend, we mustn’t play God or some kind of an assistant God by taking things into our hands. We can only pray to God concerning the ways of that His creation.
As it has now become popular, what God cannot do does not exist.
Remember, Christ Himself instructed us that the first and greatest commandment is to love with all our mind, all our strength and all our soul. Even when he wasn’t asked about the second, he added that, the second greatest commandment is to love your neighbour as yourself.
Have a fantastic day folks.
#Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase F. Agabo
9th Jan. 2025.
Let the Will of the Lord be Done.
”And passing along by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. And immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and followed him.”
Excerpt, Gospel Reading, Monday 13th January 2025 – MARK 1:14-20.
So, unless we have and maintain very close bonds with someone, it is very unlikely that they would just beckon on us and we will come forth immediately without any fuss.
Even with someone whom we know but we are not closely knitted, it would be that we must display some form of hesitation when they just ask us to follow them.
Nevertheless, when God wills something to happen, human boundaries or limitations can never stop it from occurring.
God has already willed and destined it that Simon and Andrew, as well as James and John Zebedee would be part of the Apostles of Jesus Christ. Hence, on that fateful day, they displayed no form of resistance or even hesitation when Christ called them. They just followed Christ like some kind of zombies whom someone was somewhere controlling with a remote control.
My dear friend, sometimes, what we will for ourselves is usually not the will of God for us.
Possibly, Simon and Andrew as well the Zebedee brothers were dreaming of some day owning very big sea-going vessels so they can become big time fishermen who harvest fish, shrimps and other sea foods for gain.
However, God has a very wide different course form them.
Simon, who was later renamed Peter by Christ in his wildest imaginations never envisaged that he would become the custodian of the key to the door of heaven.
So, my dear friend, the salient message in today’s teaching is that, no matter what our yearnings may be, when we pray, despite our petitions, we should submit ourselves totally to the will of God.
We must say, “Father, this is, or these are the requests that I am making of you. However, let it be done on to me according to your will.”
May the will of God prevail in our lives.
Have a fantastic day and a fulfilled week, folks.
#Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase F. Agabo
13th Jan. 2025.
Excerpt, Gospel Reading, Monday 13th January 2025 – MARK 1:14-20.
So, unless we have and maintain very close bonds with someone, it is very unlikely that they would just beckon on us and we will come forth immediately without any fuss.
Even with someone whom we know but we are not closely knitted, it would be that we must display some form of hesitation when they just ask us to follow them.
Nevertheless, when God wills something to happen, human boundaries or limitations can never stop it from occurring.
God has already willed and destined it that Simon and Andrew, as well as James and John Zebedee would be part of the Apostles of Jesus Christ. Hence, on that fateful day, they displayed no form of resistance or even hesitation when Christ called them. They just followed Christ like some kind of zombies whom someone was somewhere controlling with a remote control.
My dear friend, sometimes, what we will for ourselves is usually not the will of God for us.
Possibly, Simon and Andrew as well the Zebedee brothers were dreaming of some day owning very big sea-going vessels so they can become big time fishermen who harvest fish, shrimps and other sea foods for gain.
However, God has a very wide different course form them.
Simon, who was later renamed Peter by Christ in his wildest imaginations never envisaged that he would become the custodian of the key to the door of heaven.
So, my dear friend, the salient message in today’s teaching is that, no matter what our yearnings may be, when we pray, despite our petitions, we should submit ourselves totally to the will of God.
We must say, “Father, this is, or these are the requests that I am making of you. However, let it be done on to me according to your will.”
May the will of God prevail in our lives.
Have a fantastic day and a fulfilled week, folks.
#Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase F. Agabo
13th Jan. 2025.
Putting Our Faith to Action
“While Jesus was speaking, behold, a ruler came in and knelt before him, saying, “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 7th July 2025 – MATTHEW 9:18-26.
So, today’s teaching is about faith in action.
The man who approached Christ about the death of his daughter was propelled by grief and faith.
And, we all can see how his faith paid up.
Now, the most tremendous display of faith is the woman with a haemorrhage.
She didn’t even consider the privilege of getting to speak to Jesus Christ face-to-face.
She convinced herself that, if she could only wade through the crowd and get to touch just the fringe of his garment, she was certain that she would receive her healing.
Dear friend, we all can see how it played out.
What Christ Jesus said to her that fateful day is quite remarkable.
“Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” – MATTHEW 9:22.
Your faith made you well. It was putting her faith in action that healed her.
There’s something else quite worthy of note.
The little girl that Jesus Christ brought back to life was 12 years old.
The woman who received her healing, until that fateful day, she has been haemorrhaging also for 12 years.
Now, while the elderly woman had to suffer and wade through a crowd before getting to only touch the helm of Jesus’ garment at the back, Christ went as far as going to the little girl’s bedside.
However, not before her father who is described in today’s teaching as a ruler have to come and publicly kneel before Jesus Christ. – If only we know the implication of his action. Well, that will have to be for another day.
These two scenarios possibly signifies the old and the new order.
While the old have to suffer and beg, Jesus Christ comes up to the bedside of the new.
Dear friend, are we not a privileged generation?
Like that ruler’s daughter, Jesus Christ is everly right beside us.
All we need do is have faith of beckoning on him and we, too, will receive his miraculous touch.
However, this privilege that is commonly available to us now, shall stand against us as the yardstick for our judgement if we fail to use it now that we still have the privilege.
My dear friend, Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever.
Have a fantastic day and fulfilled week.
#Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
-Akase F. Agabo
Abuja, Nigeria.
7th July 2025.
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 7th July 2025 – MATTHEW 9:18-26.
So, today’s teaching is about faith in action.
The man who approached Christ about the death of his daughter was propelled by grief and faith.
And, we all can see how his faith paid up.
Now, the most tremendous display of faith is the woman with a haemorrhage.
She didn’t even consider the privilege of getting to speak to Jesus Christ face-to-face.
She convinced herself that, if she could only wade through the crowd and get to touch just the fringe of his garment, she was certain that she would receive her healing.
Dear friend, we all can see how it played out.
What Christ Jesus said to her that fateful day is quite remarkable.
“Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” – MATTHEW 9:22.
Your faith made you well. It was putting her faith in action that healed her.
There’s something else quite worthy of note.
The little girl that Jesus Christ brought back to life was 12 years old.
The woman who received her healing, until that fateful day, she has been haemorrhaging also for 12 years.
Now, while the elderly woman had to suffer and wade through a crowd before getting to only touch the helm of Jesus’ garment at the back, Christ went as far as going to the little girl’s bedside.
However, not before her father who is described in today’s teaching as a ruler have to come and publicly kneel before Jesus Christ. – If only we know the implication of his action. Well, that will have to be for another day.
These two scenarios possibly signifies the old and the new order.
While the old have to suffer and beg, Jesus Christ comes up to the bedside of the new.
Dear friend, are we not a privileged generation?
Like that ruler’s daughter, Jesus Christ is everly right beside us.
All we need do is have faith of beckoning on him and we, too, will receive his miraculous touch.
However, this privilege that is commonly available to us now, shall stand against us as the yardstick for our judgement if we fail to use it now that we still have the privilege.
My dear friend, Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever.
Have a fantastic day and fulfilled week.
#Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
-Akase F. Agabo
Abuja, Nigeria.
7th July 2025.
Do Not Give Up
“As Jesus passed on, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax office; and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him. . . . . . . . . . . . “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he heard it, he said, . . . . . . . . . . . ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Excerpt, Gospel Reading, Friday 4th July 2025 – MATTHEW 9:9-13.
So, when Christ Jesus was calling his disciples, those from among whom he later chose his Apostles from among them, why was there this repeated constant as with the Apostle Matthew in today’s teaching?
He called Simon the zealot. Then, he also called Simon, whom he later renamed Peter, an impetuous man.
Then, there were the likes of Thomas, famous for his doubts. As well as the others who practically scampered away at the time and point of his arrest.
Then, there was Judas Iscariot. He whom it was that did not only sell him out, he went as far as leading his captors to arrest him.
Finally, even after he has returned to heaven, he yet chose a man like Saul, who later became the Apostle Paul.
Now, could it possibly be that there were not at that time genuinely righteous people who served and worshipped God in truth and in spirit in the whole of Palestine of that era?
Well, that is hard to tell, since we were not there at that time.
Yet, one still have doubts that there may not be many of such people available at that place and at that time.
Then, why will Jesus go for such people whom the world already know and consider them as public sinners?
Well, that too, we can’t tell. None of us was on Jesus’ mind when he was making his choice.
Moreover, Jesus Christ is God and God works in mysterious ways.
Nevertheless, if one may hazard a guess, it could be any of these two reasons and possibly more.
Those on the path of righteousness were possibly considered to be on the right course.
Possibly so, because, Christ himself said it in today’s teaching that he did not come for such people.
That is the first of the two reasons. The second one could possibly be like a sibling to the first.
Due to circumstances of life, some of us have found ourselves on paths and at places where we are compelled to bow to pressure.
Nevertheless, since God sees the heart, he went for those of us caught in such paths of life.
That could possibly explain the reason why Matthew in today’s teaching, once called, he immediately left everything and followed.
In addition, it could also be to prove to prove to us that none of us has gone too far and can not be redeemed.
Consequently, none of us has been so stained and constrained by our ways that we cannot change course and work for the propagation of the kingdom of God, as did Matthew in today’s teaching.
If the Apostles Matthew and Paul could change and they are now saints, then, we do not have any excuse.
We mustn’t give on ourselves. Even Judas Iscariot would have been saved if he hadn’t given up on himself.
Dear friend, don’t give up.
Have a fantastic day and a pleasant weekend.
#SAINT_ELIZABETH_OF_PORTUGAL! #Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase F. Agabo
Abuja, Nigeria.
4th July 2025.
Excerpt, Gospel Reading, Friday 4th July 2025 – MATTHEW 9:9-13.
So, when Christ Jesus was calling his disciples, those from among whom he later chose his Apostles from among them, why was there this repeated constant as with the Apostle Matthew in today’s teaching?
He called Simon the zealot. Then, he also called Simon, whom he later renamed Peter, an impetuous man.
Then, there were the likes of Thomas, famous for his doubts. As well as the others who practically scampered away at the time and point of his arrest.
Then, there was Judas Iscariot. He whom it was that did not only sell him out, he went as far as leading his captors to arrest him.
Finally, even after he has returned to heaven, he yet chose a man like Saul, who later became the Apostle Paul.
Now, could it possibly be that there were not at that time genuinely righteous people who served and worshipped God in truth and in spirit in the whole of Palestine of that era?
Well, that is hard to tell, since we were not there at that time.
Yet, one still have doubts that there may not be many of such people available at that place and at that time.
Then, why will Jesus go for such people whom the world already know and consider them as public sinners?
Well, that too, we can’t tell. None of us was on Jesus’ mind when he was making his choice.
Moreover, Jesus Christ is God and God works in mysterious ways.
Nevertheless, if one may hazard a guess, it could be any of these two reasons and possibly more.
Those on the path of righteousness were possibly considered to be on the right course.
Possibly so, because, Christ himself said it in today’s teaching that he did not come for such people.
That is the first of the two reasons. The second one could possibly be like a sibling to the first.
Due to circumstances of life, some of us have found ourselves on paths and at places where we are compelled to bow to pressure.
Nevertheless, since God sees the heart, he went for those of us caught in such paths of life.
That could possibly explain the reason why Matthew in today’s teaching, once called, he immediately left everything and followed.
In addition, it could also be to prove to prove to us that none of us has gone too far and can not be redeemed.
Consequently, none of us has been so stained and constrained by our ways that we cannot change course and work for the propagation of the kingdom of God, as did Matthew in today’s teaching.
If the Apostles Matthew and Paul could change and they are now saints, then, we do not have any excuse.
We mustn’t give on ourselves. Even Judas Iscariot would have been saved if he hadn’t given up on himself.
Dear friend, don’t give up.
Have a fantastic day and a pleasant weekend.
#SAINT_ELIZABETH_OF_PORTUGAL! #Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase F. Agabo
Abuja, Nigeria.
4th July 2025.
Just His Grace
“Peter rose and said to the apostles and the elders, “Brethren, you know that in the early days God made choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. And God who knows the heart bore witness to them, giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us; and he made no distinction between us and them, but cleansed their hearts by faith. Now therefore why do you make trial of God by putting a yoke upon the neck of the disciples which neither our fathers nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we shall be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.” And all the assembly kept silence;”
Excerpt, First Reading, Thursday 22nd May 2025 – ACTS 15:7-21.
So, it is really good to be religiously adherent to the teachings of our religious sect.
Such loyalty to conformity to the tenets of our religion enables a seamless worship.
This type of conformity also furthers the cause of uniformity and oneness of purpose and identity of such religious sects.
Take practising Catholics for example. We should be baptised. Then ensure that we have also done confirmation.
For those of is who will get married, we must get married in the Church.
We are to attend Mass at least on Sunday and other days of obligation.
We should be in the state of grace to solemnly participate in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist and receive the Holy Communion.
Then, we must also fast and observe abstinence according to the teachings of the Church.
We are required to join and be active members of at least two pious societies in the Church. Etc.
Now, it is really good to adhere to all of the above and others not mentioned.
All of these make us good Christians and staunch practising Catholics.
However, will only doing these take us to heaven?
As a staunch practising Catholic, because I must be in the state of grace to receive the Holy Communion at Mass, I may come to church early enough to corner a Priest and make him hear my confession.
After quickly doing the penance, I will actively and solemnly participate at Mass.
Unfortunately, right after that Mass, I may go back to my every day life and plunge myself back into the life that caused me to sin and commit those same sins that I just confessed and did the given penance.
Therefore, while I may be flaunting my religiosity before the eyes of the world, and I am seen and perceived as a pious person, in my closet, I am busy grappling with deliberate repeated sins.
Dear friend, today’s teaching makes it clear to us that, we can only be saved by the grace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
We must know that religiosity will not save us.
Once in Christ, His Spirit that is in us avails us the grace to live above our temptations.
My fear friend, for the sake of emphasis, it is good to conform to all that make good Christians. However, we can only be saved by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Have a fantastic day folks.
#SAINT_RITA_OF_CASCIA! #Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
-Akase F. Agabo
22nd May 2025.
Excerpt, First Reading, Thursday 22nd May 2025 – ACTS 15:7-21.
So, it is really good to be religiously adherent to the teachings of our religious sect.
Such loyalty to conformity to the tenets of our religion enables a seamless worship.
This type of conformity also furthers the cause of uniformity and oneness of purpose and identity of such religious sects.
Take practising Catholics for example. We should be baptised. Then ensure that we have also done confirmation.
For those of is who will get married, we must get married in the Church.
We are to attend Mass at least on Sunday and other days of obligation.
We should be in the state of grace to solemnly participate in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist and receive the Holy Communion.
Then, we must also fast and observe abstinence according to the teachings of the Church.
We are required to join and be active members of at least two pious societies in the Church. Etc.
Now, it is really good to adhere to all of the above and others not mentioned.
All of these make us good Christians and staunch practising Catholics.
However, will only doing these take us to heaven?
As a staunch practising Catholic, because I must be in the state of grace to receive the Holy Communion at Mass, I may come to church early enough to corner a Priest and make him hear my confession.
After quickly doing the penance, I will actively and solemnly participate at Mass.
Unfortunately, right after that Mass, I may go back to my every day life and plunge myself back into the life that caused me to sin and commit those same sins that I just confessed and did the given penance.
Therefore, while I may be flaunting my religiosity before the eyes of the world, and I am seen and perceived as a pious person, in my closet, I am busy grappling with deliberate repeated sins.
Dear friend, today’s teaching makes it clear to us that, we can only be saved by the grace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
We must know that religiosity will not save us.
Once in Christ, His Spirit that is in us avails us the grace to live above our temptations.
My fear friend, for the sake of emphasis, it is good to conform to all that make good Christians. However, we can only be saved by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Have a fantastic day folks.
#SAINT_RITA_OF_CASCIA! #Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
-Akase F. Agabo
22nd May 2025.
Bearing Good Fruits
“Jesus said to his disciples, “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser. Every branch of mine that bears no fruit, he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit. . . . . . . . . . . . Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.
Excerpt, Gospel Reading, Wednesday 21st May 2025 – JOHN 15:1-8.
So, prosperity in our source of livelihood and vocations is good and can as well be regarded as blessing from God.
However, can such also be regarded as bearing good fruits as can be seen in today’s teaching?
This question arises because, it is not only good people who believe and follow the teaching of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ that prosper.
Even those whom the world perceive them to be terribly bad people are also seen to be prosperous.
See a prostitute, she plies her trade, becomes prosperous and earns her livelihood from there. She spreads her tentacles by recruiting more willing youngsters to expand her trade.
She then builds an empire from the proceeds of prostitution.
Before the world, she could be perceived as a ruthless business woman who has become prosperous by dint of hard work and the ‘blessing of God’.
My dear friend, Jesus Christ, though he is the king of kings and the Lord of lords came into this world, ministered and died in penury.
Even the cross he died on and the tomb he was buried in were not his own.
Christ Jesus in the course of his ministration was never known to preach about prosperity. It was even some generous women who catered for the welfare of him and his apostles.
Well, even if he did or attempted doing so, the people would have possibly not believed him. He simply did look or represent that.
Dude was even morn in a manger. At the stable of donkeys and cattle.
He grew up with a father whose best known trade is a cut and nail carpenter. The type that makes the bench and table where Chucks and Mr. Bassey sit under the ‘dogon yaro’ tree to play draft.
So, what then could be said to be an example of this good fruits that Christ is this particularly anxious about?
Possibly, it could be for one to be as charismatic as Reinhard Bonke, and gather a stadium full of people for ministration.
Or, possibly, like the Apostle Paul who looked intently at the man born a cripple and said to him, “Stand up on your feet” and the man sprang up?
Well, if we could be any of these and much more, it is very good and welcome.
However, that will be going too far and demanding too much from mere mortals like us.
So, what then should it be?
Dear friend, when we wake up in the morning and grab a broom to sweep. We should sweep both our frontage as well as that of our neighbour.
At the end of the month when we collect our salary, we must ensure that we spend equitably on our family.
Husbands should and must be faithful to their wives and wives should and must be faithful to their husbands.
Children must obey and keep instructions given by their parents, schools, places of worship and the government. We all should and must be law abiding.
My dear friend these good fruits is just living our every day as good people. That’s all!
Have a fantastic day folks.
#Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
-Akase F. Agabo
21st May 2025
Excerpt, Gospel Reading, Wednesday 21st May 2025 – JOHN 15:1-8.
So, prosperity in our source of livelihood and vocations is good and can as well be regarded as blessing from God.
However, can such also be regarded as bearing good fruits as can be seen in today’s teaching?
This question arises because, it is not only good people who believe and follow the teaching of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ that prosper.
Even those whom the world perceive them to be terribly bad people are also seen to be prosperous.
See a prostitute, she plies her trade, becomes prosperous and earns her livelihood from there. She spreads her tentacles by recruiting more willing youngsters to expand her trade.
She then builds an empire from the proceeds of prostitution.
Before the world, she could be perceived as a ruthless business woman who has become prosperous by dint of hard work and the ‘blessing of God’.
My dear friend, Jesus Christ, though he is the king of kings and the Lord of lords came into this world, ministered and died in penury.
Even the cross he died on and the tomb he was buried in were not his own.
Christ Jesus in the course of his ministration was never known to preach about prosperity. It was even some generous women who catered for the welfare of him and his apostles.
Well, even if he did or attempted doing so, the people would have possibly not believed him. He simply did look or represent that.
Dude was even morn in a manger. At the stable of donkeys and cattle.
He grew up with a father whose best known trade is a cut and nail carpenter. The type that makes the bench and table where Chucks and Mr. Bassey sit under the ‘dogon yaro’ tree to play draft.
So, what then could be said to be an example of this good fruits that Christ is this particularly anxious about?
Possibly, it could be for one to be as charismatic as Reinhard Bonke, and gather a stadium full of people for ministration.
Or, possibly, like the Apostle Paul who looked intently at the man born a cripple and said to him, “Stand up on your feet” and the man sprang up?
Well, if we could be any of these and much more, it is very good and welcome.
However, that will be going too far and demanding too much from mere mortals like us.
So, what then should it be?
Dear friend, when we wake up in the morning and grab a broom to sweep. We should sweep both our frontage as well as that of our neighbour.
At the end of the month when we collect our salary, we must ensure that we spend equitably on our family.
Husbands should and must be faithful to their wives and wives should and must be faithful to their husbands.
Children must obey and keep instructions given by their parents, schools, places of worship and the government. We all should and must be law abiding.
My dear friend these good fruits is just living our every day as good people. That’s all!
Have a fantastic day folks.
#Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
-Akase F. Agabo
21st May 2025