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