“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.

“At that time: Jesus lifted up his eyes on his disciples and said: “Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. . . . . . . . . . . . .”

Excerpt, Gospel Reading, Wednesday 11th September 2024 – LUKE 6:20-26.

So, the poor referred to in this part of the Holy Bible doesn’t necessarily refer only to those who may be indigent and lacking in material acquisition. Although, this assertion by no means exempt them.

Nevertheless, the emphasis is very much on those of us who have consigned material things behind us and focused our whole being on God.

Recall what played out when Satan in tempting Christ alluded him with the gift of material things? What was Christ’s response? We already know.

Now that the world has become so materialistic. We see how elderly people accept some perks and speak so much half truths and blatant lies for authority people in government who suppress those they should cater for.

My dear friend, to such upright people among us, Christ says, “To us is the Kingdom of God.”

Have a fantastic day folks.

Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!

• Akase F. Agabo
  11th Sept. 2024

“Jesus went out into the hills to pray; and all night he continued in prayer to God. And when it was day, he called his disciples, and chose from them twelve, whom he named apostles; Simon, whom he named Peter, and Andrew his brother, and James and John, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon who was called the Zealot, and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor”

Excerpt, Gospel Reading, Tuesday 10th September 2024 – LUKE 6:12-19.

So, Christ Jesus Who in the Holy Trinity is God the Son also prayed.

Noticed how at several instances, the Holy Bible have it where Christ prayed?

In today’ teaching, he prayed all through the night to be guided rightly to choose twelve people from his throng of followers, those whom will become the Apostles.

One will dare say, after such spiritual exercise expressed in deep and long prayers, yet there was Judas Iscariot who betrayed Him.

We can see how Christ prayed all through the night, though he got the appropriate guidance he needed to make the right choice of Apostles, yet, there was Judas Iscariot.

If Christ in one of his prayer session would say, “Lord, if it were my wwll, let this cup pass me by,” then, we must understand that the inclusion of Judas Iscariot and his eventual action was part of the grand design of God.

Judas Iscariot actually fronted the purpose of Christ’s coming to the world. God eventually crowned it.

The coming of Christ was to die for our salvation (which Judas Iscariot seemingly fronted) and his resurrection (which was by the power of God) eventually gave the world salvation.

Dear friend, if despite our prayers and good works, things never turned out as we envisaged, we must understand that what ever becomes of things with us, is part of God’s grand design for our life, just like Judas Iscariot occurred for the fulfilment of the scripture.

Have a fantastic day folks.

Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!

• Akase F. Agabo
  10th Sept. 2024.

“And the scribes and the Pharisees watched him, to see whether he would heal on the Sabbath, so that they might find an accusation against him. But he knew their thoughts, and he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Come and stand here.” And he rose and stood there. And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to destroy it?” And he looked around on them all, and said to him, “Stretch out your hand.” And he did so, and his hand was restored.

Excerpt, Gospel Reading, Monday 9th September 2024 – LUKE 6:6-11.

So, when it is God’s appointed time for something to happen, nothing whatsoever is enough to stand in the way.

Today was the appointed day for the man in the Bible account above to receive his healing. Not even death threat by the Scribes and Pharisees could prevent Christ Jesus from ministering healing on the man.

Anything that has a beginning, equally has an end. Today thus, marks the end of the man’s infirmities.

This man never cried out to Christ for his healing like did blind Bartimaeus, neither did he dared to touch his cloak as did the woman with the blood issue.

All what He did was to be present and that’s all.

Christ saw beyond his physical infirmity and asked him to step forward.

My dear friend, prayer is one of the ways to make ourselves present.

Therefore, like it happened to the man in today’s teaching, our own time is also coming. Our own issue(s) will also certainly have an end.

Our helper(s) shall defile protocols as well as stand against every opposition just to favour us, as did Christ Jesus in today’s teaching.

Have a fantastic day and a fulfilled week ahead folks.

Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!

• Akase F. Agabo
  9th Sept. 2024.

“Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.” And when they had done this, they enclosed a great shoal of fish; and as their nets were breaking,. . . . . . . . . . . .”

Excerpt, Gospel Reading, Thursday 5th September2024 – LUKE 5:1-11.

So, it is not impossible, it’s rather rare for fishermen to go fishing all through the night and not catch even one fish.

Usually, during the day, fishes go down up to the water bed to find food among the plants growing there. As well as to stay far away from human activities.

However, at night, when everywhere is quiet and peaceful, these fish will come up close to the surface of the water.

This is the science and the logic behind going to fish at night.

Now, one can see why it is rare to go fishing all through the night with spread and drag nets nets and still not come out with even a single fish.

Now, the situation with Simon Jonah and his colleagues on that particular night can be likened to what has been happening to some of us.

Some of us have two basic degrees. Then we have masters and PhD,. Not talking of the additional professional qualifications that we have gathered. Yet we can not secure adequate employment to afford us even an average life.

Some of us, who are into business, be it trading or service rendering, we have learned and mastered the rubrics of the trade and done every single thing needed to be done and have gone a step further to add incentives to prospective patrons. Yet, we are still struggling.

A couple who kept themselves chaste and lived a morally upright life from their youth until marriage without getting to defile themselves, are now finding it difficult to conceive and bear children of their own. Even when they have been confirmed to be medically okay.

Yet, when we turn around and look, those who are less than half as equipped as we are, those who have less than a tenth of our preparation are doing much better than we.

It is possible that such catchless night may have ever happened before to Simon Jonah and his colleagues before. Nevertheless, they did give up fishing.

It could be implied that, God purposely designed it that Simon Jonah and his colleagues will not catch anything that night.

God’s desire that night was planned to manifest at dawn when Christ Jesus will announce to him that, “Simon, as from today henceforth, you will no longer catch fish but men.”

Therefore, the lives of Simon and Jonah and his colleagues changed permanently.

My dear friend, permit me to encourage you to keep on holding on and remaining at your best at all times. While at it, pray ceaselessly.

Though, Simon Jonah and his colleagues caught a great shoal that hasn’t been caught at such time, yet, Christ asked them to leave everything behind and follow him, and indeed they did.

Therefore, when we pray, we must as well as listen

The reason behind such stagnation and ‘catchlessness’ isn’t far from the grand plan of God for Simon Jonah and his colleagues. See how it turned out for them?

Dear friend, don’t give up.

Have a fantastic day folks.

#Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!

– Akase F. Agabo
5th Sept. 2024

“Herod sent and seized John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife; because he had married her. For John said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” And Herodias had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. . . . . . . . . . . . And she went out, and said to her mother, “What shall I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the Baptist.” And she came in immediately with haste to the king, and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.”

Excerpt, Gospel Reading, Thursday 29th Aug. 2024 – MARK 6:17-29.

So, if one is known and actually is a truthful person who doesn’t shy away from saying the truth the way it is, especially speaking the truth to power, such a fellow will most definitely be a marked person.

In climes like ours, the society and the masses will constantly sing their praise and eulogise their bravery and honesty.

Nevertheless, s/he who’s that bold in honesty and brave enough to risk their life for the truth will be disliked by those who would rather hide behind a finger than face the truth.

The people who are uncomfortable with such truths can go to any extent to extinguish the truth or silence it permanently.

Such people are capable of engineering the crash of a helicopter carrying that honest person, even if it may claim other casualties.

When Hon. Kazaure blew the whistle on the ex-CBN ‘emperor’, Meffie, he said, some wealthy Nigerians offered him bullet proof cars to be using during the time of the investigations of the claims he made.

That’s your example of how a truthful person is a marked person.

Only recently, Sen. Ndume was made to render a half-hearted apology when he was hounded away from reckoning because he chose the path of truth.

This was barely after Sen. Ningi was re-admitted into the Senate after serving a suspension due to spilling the truth.

It is therefore, not just now that such hounding has begun. Right from the time of John-de-Baptist, truthful people have been hounded and killed like dogs.

Nonetheless, those brave enough to still stick their heads out and dare to be truthful must be commended.

My dear friend, if we say the truth we will die. If we do not say the truth, we will yet die.

Therefore, like John-de-Baptist, why then can’t we just satisfy our conscience by been truthful, so, if or when death comes, we will know we are dying honourably and our soul will be welcome in heaven?

People can choose between the sweet lie and the bitter truth, nevertheless, sometimes, people don’t want the truth because they don’t want their illusions destroyed. However, the truth results in an eventual common good.

Have a fantastic day folks.

#SAINT_JOHN_THE_BAPTIST! #Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!

• Akase F. Agabo
  29th Aug. 2024.

“Jesus said, “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! . . . . . . . . . . . . So you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but within you are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites!

Excerpt, Gospel Reading, Wednesday 28th Aug. 2024 – MATTHEW 23:27-33.

So, we must all be conversant with this saying and what it implies, “Looks are deceptive.”

That is why one mustn’t be so quick to use prejudice to assess the character and genuineness of another. Neither should one judge another by mere appearance.

Mark Zuckerberg as well Bill Gates very often adorn simple and average looking clothing while going about their every day lives.

More often than not, when one encounters Aliko Dangote both in person and on television, one hardly see him adorning any embroidered clothing items. He’s very often dressed in simple unembroidered kaftan. Very often, even without cap.

Now, for one who makes speedy conclusions or presumptions based on appearance rather than character, having not known any of these people before, may quickly make presumptions on them as just some average every day blokes.

Well, I will personally prefer such a disposition☝️should I have to interact with any of them in every day life.

However, the departing point is when one begins to put up the superiority complex ego, if it seems to us that we appear more well adorned that other people. There, we lose the mark.

When our aim of dressing good is not to feel good with ourselves but rather to sneer and snicker at others with an ego of superiority complex, then, we are not different from the Scribes and Pharisees in today’s teaching.

My dear friend, life will be seemingly more balanced if we avail ourselves of the disposition that everyone we meet is both our teacher and our student.

Have a fantastic day folks.

#SAINT_AUGUSTINE! #Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!

– Akase F. Agabo
28th Aug. 2024.

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for you cleanse the outside of the cup and of the plate, but inside they are full of extortion and rapacity. You blind Pharisee! first cleanse the inside of the cup and of the plate, that the outside also may be clean.”

Excerpt, Gospel Reading, Tuesday 27th Aug. 2024 – MATTHEW 23:23-26.

So, today is about what we call in local parlance, ‘eye service’. One of my primary school teachers calls it, ‘Asobi-Aso’. One wonder what language that is.

Take the former Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Godwin Emefiele (Meffie, for short), for example.

Dude was supposed to be a diligent monitor supervising heads of Commercial Banks against involving themselves in what he’s presently defending himself in the courts of law and has since been convicted of several profligacy.

While he heard sway as CBN Governor, he would have indicted several bank heads found wanting. Whereas, he was the offender in chief, dwarfing the offenses of all the erring bank heads put together.

However, Meffie isn’t just the one caught in such kind of a predicament.

We, too, in our small ways in every day life postulating ‘holier than thou’ attitude could be equally culpable.

In most markets in our country, almost every morning before commencement of trading, there’s usually a session of Christian praise worship and prayers. Not leaving out the Muslims who never miss any of their five times day prayers.

However, after such fervent display of piety, we go back to our trade and continue as life usual.

The people who measure grains as well as garri to sell, usually have two measures. That is what we typically refer to as ‘mudu’.

The first is the usual one known. This is supposed to be used for standard measurement.

This is what they take to the market when they want to buy and ensure that farmers or middlemen use in measuring for them.

The order is just like it, however, it is smaller. Five ‘mudu’ of the standard size will give six ‘mudu’ of this smaller one.

Now, that is the one they use to measure and sell to people after praying and singing praises to God.

Then, some will sprinkle water on garri and make it swell. One who doesn’t know and buys such garri, once it is kept in an enclosed place, it will not last beyond 24 hours and will go bad.

Those that sell ‘amala’ flour. Just so as to maximise more profit, they mix the usual ‘amala’ flour with cassava flour and present it to buyers as ‘amala’ flour.

Then, there are these shop-less middlemen in the market. Hmm! Dem, dia matter full bucket. It will be talk for another day.

The market example suffice because, often times, people are chosen randomly from among us to give exhortation. We are always quick to point fingers at the ills of authority people in government while we preach. Forgetting too quickly or choosing to ignore our own little failings that add up to the failure of the society at large.

While not saying that one who has erred shouldn’t be called out, we, too, doing the calling out must first seek to be in good standing. Then do it purposefully for love instead of just pointing finger.

When Jesus Christ said, He Who is without sin should cast the first stone.” Each of the malicious accusers left.

Dear friend, love hurts, but love heals when love reigns.

#SAINT_MONICA! #Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!

– Akase F. Agabo
27th Aug. 2024.