Fr. Augustine Inwang, MSP - Homily for the Thirty-First Sunday of Ordinary Time Year B - October 31, 2021

Readings: Dt. 6:2-6; Heb. 7:23-28; Mk. 12:28-23

It is Better to Be a Homily in Action than Preach One

1.       Mark Link, SJ writes in his book 'Sunday Homilies', about a priest, Fr. George Anderson, who served as a chaplain at the maximum-security prison at Riker's Island, New York. The priest started a prayer-discussion group among some of the prisoners. The group would read a passage from Scripture, like the parable of the prodigal son. The prisoners would then ponder the passage in silence and end by discussing how it applied to their everyday lives. One evening a prisoner named Richard, from a section for the mentally disturbed, was with the group for the first time. Fr. Anderson describes the episode this way: "It was a windy evening in March. There was little heat in the room. An inmate sitting opposite Richard, having come with his T-shirt and trousers, was shivering. Richard had come with his shoulders wrapped in two blankets. Then while we were discussing the idea of helping each other, Richard suddenly got up, walked to the other inmate, and put one of his blankets around him." 

2.       What Richard did is called practical spirituality. Richard, 'the good prisoner' preached a homily by his action loud enough to see and not boring enough to put everyone to sleep. He put the answer Jesus gave to the question: "Which is the first of all the commandments?" into action. The scribe wanted to be justified by the keeping of the commandments. But Jesus wanted him to see the commandments in practical terms. Jesus reduced the ten commandments to just one with two prongs – the love of God and the love of neighbor. We cannot be so in love with God while we are so out of love with our neighbor. Hence St. John opined, "If someone says he loves God, but hates his brother, he is a liar, for he cannot love God, whom he has not seen, if he does not love his brother, whom he has seen. The command that Christ has given us is this: whoever loves God must love his brother also." (1 John 4:20). Vima Dasan, SJ put it better: "Without love of God, our love of neighbor would become shallow and formalistic; but without love of neighbor, our love of God can become self-centered and individualistic, thus separating religion from life. Hence, however hard it may be, we have to be constantly moving our religion from our throats to our muscles." If we profess to love God but at the same time always be critical and be spiteful of others, there is something wrong with our love. God cannot be loved in isolation.   

3.       Maybe the problem we have with the answer that Christ gave the scribe is that we do not love ourselves. If I am not in love with myself, it is impossible to love anyone else. If I do not love the members of my family, I doubt if I will be capable of loving my neighbor. Loving God is very easy and simple if I don't have to love anyone else. Like the husband told his wife, I love God with all my heart; I have no problem with God. But I have issues with you asking for money to buy stuff, for asking for school fees for the kids, and for talking back at me. You disturbed me while watching football on Sunday, make noise while I listen to the news, and you talk about others all the time. God doesn't do any of that. Oh, I love God dearly but not human beings. 

4.       We have often done harmful things to ourselves. We destroy our bodies by turning them into canvass for the arts. We eat, drink and smoke things that ruin our internal organs. We abuse ourselves by the company we keep. We despise our tongues by what we say and how we use them to destroy others. We fill our minds and hearts with all sorts of things that make it impossible to concentrate on God during prayers or on items that impact our lives positively. We often transfer these attitudes to the way we treat others. We abuse people behind their backs and curse them if they make us unhappy. Our children are usually not spared. There is so much hatred and disregard for our brothers and sisters in the same family that it makes it hard to see eye to eye with them. Often brothers and sisters do not talk to each other due to past hurts and transgressions. Reconciliation is often easier to achieve in the United Nations conflict resolution meetings than in our families. How can we ever begin to love God so entirely in isolation with those around us? Yes, our family members may be a pain in the rear end, but Christ instructs us to love them as we love ourselves. Isn't it true that we love God in the same measure that we can love one another? At least, that is what Christ tells us in today's gospel reading; we must love God with all that we have got and our neighbors as we love ourselves. 

5.       Spending time in prayer, going to confession, receiving Jesus Christ faithfully in the Eucharist, keeping the commandments both of God and the Church, contributing to supporting the Church, and being active in ministries are essential and wonderfully significant, but they are not enough. We must do all these and more. We must not forget or neglect our duties to ourselves and other members of our world, even those who see us as their enemies. Our Christianity must be practical. We are to be the homily that is seen rooted in the homily that we heard. We must plan to go to heaven, not as individuals, though we will go as individuals, with all those dear to us, by being the gospel they see since so many of them will not be able to read any other bible given to them. 

6.       Today’s readings invite us to ask more profound and meaningful questions. How have I identified my love for God with the love I have for my family? Have I expressed my love for God in the way I love those who do not belong to my group? Let us pray for an understanding of God's love so that we may love our neighbors as we love ourselves. Amen. 

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

 

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP - Homily for the Thirty-First Sunday of Ordinary Time Year B - October 31, 2021

 Homily of Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B, 2021

 Deuteronomy 6:2-6; Psalm 18:2-4, 47, 51; Hebrews 7:23-28; Mark 12:28-34

 The Book Deuteronomy contains laws and exhortations Moses gave to the Israelites that would guide them when they arrive to the Promised Land, “a land flowing with milk and honey.” Today’s first reading contains the central statement of belief of the Jewish people known as Shema Israel. “Hear, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone! Therefore, you shall love the Lord, your God, with your whole heart, and with your whole being, and with your whole strength” (Deuteronomy 6:4-5). Moses went further to instruct, “Keep repeating them to your children. Recite them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you get up” (Deuteronomy 6:7).

 At the time of Jesus, some teachers and interpreters of the law emphasized that the more burnt offerings and sacrifices the people offered, and the more tithes the people paid, the closer they were to God. The scribe, an interpreter of the law, most likely, wanted to know Jesus’ opinion. Jesus replied by quoting the Shema Israel, and added Leviticus 19:19, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The amazed scribe acknowledged that to love God and to love one’s neighbor as oneself are “worth more than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.” We recall that Jesus, in Luke 11:12, condemned the Pharisees, “Woe to you Pharisees, because you give God a tenth of your mint, rue and all kinds of garden herbs, but you neglect justice and love of God.” Even now, does Jesus not condemn prosperity preachers whose priority is on their congregation’s paying of tithes over and above love of God and love of neighbor?

 Love of God and love of neighbor are like two hinges of a door. One of the hinges is love of God, and the other hinge is love of neighbor. If any of the hinges is absent, the door seizes to function. 1 John 4:19-21 says, “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ but hates his brother, he is a liar; for whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. This is the commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.”

 At creation, God said, “Let us create man in our image, in the likeness of ourselves…” (Genesis 1:26). We share in God’s divine nature. Therefore, we have done to God what we have done to others because each of us is God’s image. In Matthew 25:40 Jesus teaches, “In truth I tell you, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.” In Acts 9:4-5, Jesus asked Saul, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” Saul asked Jesus, “Who are you Lord?” Jesus replied, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” Jesus did not ask Saul why he was persecuting the Christians, but “Why are you persecuting me?”

 Love of neighbor is so important in our relationship with God that St. Peter writes, “Above all, let your love for one another be intense, because love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8). In the same understanding 1 John 3:14 says, “We are aware that we have passed over from death to life because we love our brother.”

 A chaplain wrote about an incident which took place in a prayer-discussion group in the prison where he ministered. “It was a windy evening … There was little heat in the room. An inmate … having come in a T-shirt and trousers, was shivering. Another inmate had come with his shoulders wrapped up in two blankets. Then, while they were discussing the idea of helping each other, the inmate that had two blankets suddenly got up, walked to the other inmate, and put one of his blankets around him.” This incident reminds us of John the Baptist’s advice to the crowd, “Whoever has two tunics should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise” (Luke 3:11). James also writes, “If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,’ but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:15-17). In this context, love of God is faith; good works is love of neighbor.

Pope Francis writes in his encyclical letter, The Light of Christ, “Anyone who sets off on the path of doing good to others is already drawing near to God, is already sustained by his help, for it is characteristic of the divine light to brighten our eyes whenever we walk towards the fullness of love” (No. 35).

 We are invited and challenged, especially during these difficult times, to go and express our love of God by sharing with the needy our extra ‘blankets’ and extra ‘tunics.’ Refusal of the invitation and challenge means that the claim to love God is false.

 Fr. Martin Eke, MSP

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP - Homily for the Thirtieth Sunday of Ordinary Time Year B - October 24, 2021

 Homily of Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B, 2021: World Mission Sunday

Jeremiah 31:7-9; Psalm 126:1-6; Hebrews 5:1-6; Mark 10:46-52

Today is World Mission Sunday. Our reflection is in two parts: the first part is about the mission mandate of the Catholic Church; and the second part is on the readings of the Mass.

On this World Mission Sunday, we celebrate the Catholic Church’s obedience to Jesus’ commands:

“Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15).

“Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, drive out demons. Without cost you have received; without cost you are to give” (Matthew 10:8).

“Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19).

Feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome strangers, clothe the naked, and visit the sick and prisoners (Matthew 25:35-40).

Jesus assures us, “And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

The Catholic Church is in almost every part of the world carrying out Jesus’ commands. The Vatican II document, The Decree on the Mission Activity of the Church says, “The pilgrim Church is missionary by her very nature, since it is from the mission of the Son and the mission of the Holy Spirit that she draws her origin, in accordance with the decree of God the Father” (Ad Gentes, 2).

The Church is on mission in many difficult parts of the world where Christians are persecuted, where people are very impoverished, where people need education, and where people need medical care. We have the responsibility, not only to pray for the mission of the Church in the difficult parts of the world, but also to support the mission with financial help. That is the essence of today’s second collection. We have the responsibility to support the less privileged in the other parts of the world. The Missionary Society of St. Paul of Nigeria has a saying, “Some give to the missions by going; some go to the missions by giving.” Based on this statement, we are all missionaries.

Pope Francis in his message for World Mission Day, 2021, writes, “… In these days of pandemic, when there is a temptation to disguise and justify indifference and apathy in the name of healthy social distancing, there is urgent need for the mission of compassion, which can make that necessary distancing an opportunity for encounter, care and promotion.” … “The theme of this year’s World Mission Day – ‘We cannot but speak about what we have seen and heard’ (Acts 4:20), is a summon to each of us to ‘own’ and to bring to others what we bear in our hearts.”

The first reading has two interpretations. The first interpretation is that the reading is an excerpt of Prophet Jeremiah’s prophecy of consolation to the exiled people of Israel. Jeremiah consoled them to be hopeful and look forward to their redemption from their Babylonian captors and oppressors. The second interpretation is that the passage is a prophecy about Jesus, the redeemer, who was to come to liberate the world from sin, affliction and sorrow, as exemplified in today's gospel.

The story of Bartimaeus in the gospel is very challenging. On hearing that Jesus was passing, he began to cry out to him. To draw Jesus’ attention, Bartimaeus called him by his ancestral name, “Son of David.” The gospel made it clear that “many people rebuked him, telling him to be silent.” He refused to be silenced. He refused to be discouraged. The reading says, “He kept calling out the more.” He caught Jesus’ attention who stopped and said, “Call him.” The cloak the blind man was wearing showed that the weather was, probably, cold. But when Jesus sent for him, there was immediate interior and exterior transformation. He suddenly became warm.  “He threw aside his cloak, sprang up and came to Jesus.” His request, “Master, I want to see.” Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has saved you.” When he received his sight, immediately he followed Jesus on the way.

We may not be physically blind like Bartimaeus, but we are spiritually blind in one way or another. We are spiritually blind when we have issues that obstruct our relationship with God, or when we do not see God’s hand in our lives, or see the signs God shows us. We are spiritually blind when we do not tell or accept the truth; or, we are shortsighted and unable to see the bigger picture. Our blindness may be that we are in some ‘darkness,’ and we need the light of Christ to light up our mind and our way. Our blindness may be that we are in search of something, and we need divine insight. Our blindness may be that we are in a ‘valley of decision’ and we need divine inspiration and guidance.

Many of us are spiritually blind, wrapped up with all kinds of cloaks, and sitting by the roadside but refuse to acknowledge our blindness and bondage and pray for healing and deliverance. Bartimaeus is an encouragement to us all.

May the “Son of David” hear our cry as he heard that of Bartimaeus. Amen.

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP

Fr. Augustine Inwang, MSP - Homily for the Thirteth Sunday of Ordinary Time Year B - October 24, 2021

World Mission Sunday: October 24, 2021

"We Cannot but Speak About What We Have Seen and Heard."

1.       Today is World Mission Sunday. In 1926 Pope Pius Xl inaugurated World Mission Sunday so that the whole Church may participate in the work of the Church, to make Christ known in all parts of the world. This is what the Lord Jesus mandates us to do when He told his apostles: "You will receive power when the holy spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8). This year the theme for the World Mission Sunday is "We cannot but speak about what we have seen and heard."

•        We speak about 19,000 young men who are preparing for the priesthood in Africa.

•        We speak about six million children who receive an education from Religious Sisters in more than 15,000 Church-run elementary schools in Asia. 

•        We speak about Latin America, where catechists travel to remote areas to bring the Good News of God's great love to families.

•        We speak about the Pacific Islands, where 3,500 religious bring the Lord's mercy and peace to those in need.

•        And we speak about Europe where new churches are being built to welcome faith communities renewed after years of persecution.

2.       Every parish in the world can participate, united in this special Eucharistic celebration. Every parishioner is a missionary. We must share our love for Christ's Gospel with one another, supporting the Church most in need. The first worldwide Mission Sunday collection was taken in October 1927. Since then, the Mission Sunday collection is always taken on the next to the last Sunday during the month of October. This year also, we are invited to make a financial contribution in support of mission work.

3.       I am a member of the Missionary Society of St. Paul of Nigeria. We were founded by Dominic Cardinal Ekandem, in consultation with the Episcopal Conferences of Nigeria, in 1977, for missions. This was in response to the call of the Second Vatican Council and Pope Paul Vl in Uganda in 1969 to Africans to participate in the mission mandate of the universal Church. Christ calls us to "Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to all creatures." (Mk. 16:15). Since the Nigerian Church benefited from the faith brought by European missionaries, it only fitted that Nigerians, too, should share in the mandate to bring the Gospel of Christ to the ends of the earth.  Today, the Missionaries of St. Paul have also answered the call to bring the Gospel of Christ to God's people as missionaries in America, Canada, Sweden, Ireland, Italy, Germany, England, France, Grenada, Bahamas, South Africa, South Sudan, Botswana, Central African Republic, Chad, Malawi, Cameroon, the Gambia, Kenya, and Libera.

4.       Every baptized catholic must see themselves as a missionary. In fact, we only exist as Church because we are a missionary Church, sent on a mission by God in Jesus, who commands us to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, of the Son and of the Holy Spirit (Matt. 28:19-20). Some of us must necessarily go on a mission as missionaries, but then others must also go on a mission by giving to support the mission. Pope Benedict XV, in his Apostolic letter, Maximum Illud, stressed, "There are three general ways in which a Catholic can assist the missionary effort, and missionaries themselves must constantly remind us of them. This is within everyone's capacity."

•        Prayer: Pray that God may grant the missions His merciful aid. "This kind of prayer cannot fail, especially in this cause. For no cause is dearer or more pleasing to God than this one. While the Israelites fought their battle with Amalek, Moses took his stand on a great hill and, lifting up his hands, implored God's aid for his people. The teachers of the Gospel are manfully at work in the Lord's vineyard, and it is the duty of all the faithful to follow the example of Moses and grant them the support of their prayers."

•        Fostering vocations: Everyone must pray for an increase of vocation in the Church. Jesus reminds us: "The harvest is large, but there are few workers to gather it in. Pray to the owner of the harvest that he will send out workers to gather in his harvest" (Matt. 9:37-38).

•        Economic Help: Every Catholic must give to support the mission.

I am grateful to all who have supported the work of the mission. May God bless and reward you abundantly. Amen.

 

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP - Homily for the Twenty-Eighth Sunday of Ordinary Time Year B - October 10, 2021

 Homily of Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B, 2021

Wisdom 7:7-11; Psalm 90:12-17; Hebrews 4:12-13; Mark 10:17-30

The first reading explains to us the importance of wisdom. In order to understand the importance of wisdom, we need to know what wisdom is. The author of the Book of Job describes wisdom as the fear of the Lord and avoiding evil (Job 28:28). The fear of the Lord does not mean to be afraid of God who punishes sinners. It means to have a profound love for God by knowing his word and obeying it. It means to have a holy fear of the dangers one exposes himself or herself to by turning away from God. We are lost when we depart from the presence of God. Away from God’s presence, we fall into the hands of the Evil One. These dangerous situations should make any one tremble with fear.

Wisdom, the first reading says, is greater than scepter and throne. One can have scepter and throne, that is power, but have no wisdom. Such situation is disastrous.

Wisdom is greater than silver and gold. One can have silver and gold, that is material possession, but have no wisdom. Such situation brings about wastage and uselessness 

Wisdom is greater than health and comeliness. One can be healthy and handsome, or healthy and beautiful, but foolish.

Today, we are advised, “Get wisdom, get understanding! … Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will safeguard you” (Proverbs 4:5-6). For by [wisdom] your days will be multiplied and the years of your life increased (Proverbs 9:10-11).

Despite his wealth, the young king, Solomon, prayed for wisdom: “Give your servant, therefore, a listening heart to judge your people and to distinguish between good and evil” (1 King 3:9).

The second reading says, “Indeed, the word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12-13). This means that if we rely on the word of God, we will gain the wisdom that will always guide us to discern properly and to judge wisely. We must always refer to the word of God for our decisions and actions.

In the gospel, the man did nothing extra-ordinary by keeping the commandments. “You shall not kill; you shall not commit adultery; you shall not steal; you shall not bear false witness; you shall not defraud; honor your father and your mother” (Mark 10:19) were also civil laws. He would have faced the wrath of the law if he killed, or committed adultery, or bore false witness, or defrauded, or dishonored his parents. He would not be punished for failing to do works of charity.    

Therefore, Jesus challenged him to step out of his comfort zone and begin to live a more radical life of self-giving and self-sacrifice that are beyond keeping to the letter of the law. ‘“You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor …, then come and follow me.’ At the statement his face fell, and he went away sad, for he had many possessions” (Mark 10:21-22). His major problem is not that he had many possessions, but he lacked the spirit of self-giving and self-sacrifice.

 “Peter began to say to him, ‘We have given up everything and followed you.’ Jesus said, ‘Amen, I say to you, there is no one who has given up house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands for my sake and for the sake of the gospel who will not receive a hundred times more now in this present age: houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands, with persecutions, and eternal life in the age to come’” (Mark 10:28-30).

Some persons have the special calling which makes them able to, practically, give up their material possessions. Some persons are able to give up family and property in order to serve God and humanity. Many people are not called that way. But in one way or another, everyone is invited to a life of self-giving and self-sacrifice. We can respond positively to Jesus’ invitation. Or, we can have excuses and go away sad. Our unwillingness to live life of self-giving and self-sacrifice are the “many possessions.” Therefore, to think that Jesus’ words refer only to those having material possessions is to misunderstand the message.

Therefore, let us pray that we will be able to reject the wisdom of this world which St. Paul calls foolishness before God (1 Corinthian 3:19). Let us pray that we will embrace God’s wisdom that helps us to distinguish between good and evil; to do good and to avoid evil. And let us pray that we may reject the attitude of self-interest and embrace the spirit of self-giving and self-sacrifice to serve God and humanity.

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP

Fr. Augustine Inwang, MSP - Homily for the Twenty-Eight Sunday of Ordinary Time Year B - October 10, 2021

Readings: Wis. 7:7-11; Heb. 4:12-13; Mk. 10:17-30

What Are You Attached To? Let Go and Let God

1.     In the First book of Kings, Solomon had an encounter with the Lord. God said, “Ask something of me and I will give it to you.” Solomon answered and said to the Lord, “…Give your servant an understanding heart to judge your people and to govern this vast people of yours.” (1 Kings 3:5-10). Solomon asked God for the gift of wisdom. He recognized that he was a mere youth, not knowing at all how to act.  He wanted to know how to govern the people entrusted to his care, to rule in equity, justice, and love. He wanted to know the difference between good and evil, to know what really mattered in life. He desired to go after the greater good rather than achieving scanty victories devoid of right judgment. His answer pleased God so much so that God said to him: “Because you have asked for this – not for a long life for yourself, nor for riches, nor for the life of your enemies, but for understanding so that you may know what is right – I do as you requested. I give you a heart so wise and understanding that there has never been anyone like you up to now, and after you there will come no one to equal you. In addition, I give you what you have not asked for, such riches and glory that among kings there is not your like.” (1 Kings 3:10-14).

2.     Wisdom is extoled in today’s first reading. It is what everyone should strive for. Wisdom is one of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. Others are Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety and Fear of the Lord. Wisdom is the first and highest gift of the Holy Spirit, because it is the perfection of faith. It makes it possible for us to value properly those things which we believe through faith. “Wisdom is a spiritual gift which enables one to know the purpose and plan of God.” (CCC 1831).

3.     Christ is the wisdom of God, the hidden treasure a man finds and hides, and sells everything to buy. He is the way, the truth and the life. He knows the way to the kingdom of God. St James tells us that “Wisdom from above is pure, peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstance or insincerity.” (3:17). Christ, therefore, is what the rich young man in today’s gospel wanted, he is the answer to his yearning and the aspiration of his life. The rich young man is poor indeed, without Christ. He is lacking in one thing and therefore, must go, sell “what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven, then come, follow me.” He must sell everything, be detached from earthly possession in order to receive the gift of Wisdom, Christ Jesus himself.

4.     But the rich young man was too blind to see that the answer to his prayer was right there in front of him. He asked Eternal Life what he was to do to get eternal life. All he needed was to open his eyes, be detached from the clutches and shackles that hindered him. But the young man was comfortably hiding under the cloak of the law. “Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth.” There was nothing wrong with keeping the law, he did not hurt anyone, but what else did he do? Nothing! Apart from keeping the law, Christ wanted him to dirty his hands by being useful. Go and sell what you have and give to the poor. Christ invited him to be detached from the law so that he may be free to love again. But no, he will rather die than seek the wisdom he so badly needed. His love for wealth and riches robbed him of heaven. He loved the law more than people. He did nothing wrong, but he did nothing more. He offended no one but he sinned against lady charity. Give to the poor so as to gain heaven and eternal life. But he would rather go to hell than allow a penny of his to fall into the hands of those immigrants, those poor people, those beggars, those sick people, the displaced and homeless people. After all he was not responsible for their condition. He worked hard for his money, why should he help anyone! So better die and go to hell than to help those people. Better hold on to the law and doctrines than bend down to see the needs of others.

5.     Oh yes, I pray, I fast and I keep the commandments. I adhere strictly to the law of the church, what else? My reward should be assured. But Christ want us to do more. He wants us to get involved in the lives of others. We must be Christians in word and in deed. Our Christianity must be practical. A Christian who is rich in keeping the law but lacking in charity is a dead Christian. keeping the law must go hand in hand with charitable pursuits.  We must listen to the Word and allow ourselves to be affected by the Word. Many times, we leave the church sad because the pastor said something we do not like or agree with. Remember the rich young man, he went away sad because he did not like what Christ asked him to do. The Word and the Wisdom of God, Christ Jesus himself invites us to dig deep and throw in our nets into the deep water for a catch; are we ready to listen to him? You may say that you have no riches, you have no wealth, you have no money. You may even say that Christ was not talking about you because you do not have these things. But wait a minute. What about your attachment to things, to anger, to hurts, to aggression and to your way of life? If we do not detach from all those things that hinder us from seeing Christ, our way to the Father we will go away sad and miss the kingdom. Let us therefore pray for the gift of wisdom and most especially for the wisdom of God. Let us pray that the Holy Spirit may enlighten us to see Christ inviting us to take that path that will lead us to God. May we see in our poor, the pathway to eternal life. If today, you listen to his voice harden not you heart! Amen.

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP.