The Wonder in God’s Word – May 18, 2024

As we conclude our Easter season, we are given the conclusion of the Gospel of Saint John to ponder. Recall that John’s Gospel has been a central focus throughout the Easter Season. Therefore, if you have been prayerfully reading the Gospel for Mass each day for the past several weeks, then you have truly immersed…

Love Through Suffering – May 17, 2024

Having appeared to His disciples, Jesus enters into a threefold discourse with Peter. Each time that Jesus asks Peter if he loves Him, Peter responds that he does. And Jesus responds back each time, “Feed my lambs,” “Tend my sheep,” and “Feed my sheep.” Jesus’ discourse with Peter concludes using very powerful language. Jesus tells…

Gestures – Important in Prayer – May 16, 2024

John Chapter 17 presents us with Jesus’ final prayer for His disciples and for all of us “who will believe” in Him through the preaching of the disciples. The gospel text says “Lifting up his eyes to heaven, Jesus prayed saying…” It is interesting that Jesus would look up to Heaven when He prayed. Of…

Possessing the Spirit of Discernment – May 15, 2024

“I do not pray that you should take them out of the world but that you should keep them from the evil one.” Unfortunately, the evil one is real. He is the highest of the fallen angels who retain their natural spiritual power given them at their creation. God created all angelic creatures with the…

Chosen by God to be Fruitful – May 14, 2024

We all have been chosen for a particular mission in the family of God, the Church. God has sent us his Holy Spirit to continue his work ‘that all may be saved.’ This is fulfilled through us, his disciples and instruments of the gospel today. Jesus says, “you did not choose me, but I chose…

The Holy Spirit and God’s Peace – May 13, 2024

The entire world yearns for peace. One could ask, ‘when will we have peace in this world?’ Looking around, we see conflict everywhere; hardly is there any area that is devoid of conflict. In the Middle East, there is the conflict between Israel and Palestine. In our Country Nigeria, there is insecurity in all corners….

Communicating the Word – May 12, 2024

Today is the seventh Sunday of Easter and the last week of the Eastertide. We are also preparing for the celebration of Pentecost, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and the readings guide us in this. Today is also the World Day for Communication and His Holiness Pope Francis has given us the 58th message…

Help Others Grow in the Faith – May 11, 2024

We are now preparing for the celebration of the Holy Spirit and we do this by carrying out one of the oldest novenas in the church’s life – the novena to the Holy Spirit. The apostles along with the women, Mary the Mother of Jesus and his brothers started this novena prayer. After the Ascension,…

Joy Without End – May 10, 2024

In the hours leading up to his Passion and death, Jesus was clear with his Apostles. His death was not to be a passing moment to be erased from the Christian memory and replaced by happier memories of the Resurrection. He declared that his cross would continue to mark the lives of his followers for…

The Ascension of the Lord – May 9, 2024

Today is the solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord. This is one of the many celebrations of the life of Christ. Just like Christmas, it should draw a greater number of faithful and make Christians thrill with joy. Christmas gave Jesus Christ our Savior to earth; the Ascension restored him to heaven. At Christmas…

The Spirit of Truth – May 8, 2024

As we continue to get closer to the wonderful Solemnity of Pentecost, we continue to focus on the Holy Spirit. This passage specifically points to the Holy Spirit as the “Spirit of Truth.”  It’s interesting how Jesus introduces the Holy Spirit under this title. He explains that He has much more to tell them, but…

Change – May 7, 2024

Jesus continues to speak prophetically to His disciples about the necessity for Him to go to the Father so that He can send the Holy Spirit. What’s interesting in this passage is that Jesus points out to His disciples that “grief” has filled their hearts because of what He has said to them. Clearly, this…