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Courage: God Helps Those Who Trust in Him 1 Kings 19:9a, 11–13a; Romans 9:1–5; Matthew 14:22–33 There are moments in life when courage does not mean that we are no longer afraid; it means that we refuse to allow fear to have the final word. The years of COVID-19 taught humanity this lesson in a painful way. We witnessed illness and death, isolation and uncertainty, economic hardship and disrupted families. Although the pandemic has passed from the centre of our daily lives, many of its consequences remain. Added to these are the anxieties of our own time: wars and political tensions, economic uncertainty, unemployment, migrationRead More →

Free Food: God’s Metaphor for Salvation Isaiah 55:1–3; Romans 8:35, 37–39; Matthew 14:13–21 The suggestion of free food in today’s Scripture readings is welcome news, given the untold pain, poverty, and hardship that many families and individuals endure each day in their struggle to find food. In today’s Gospel, Jesus notices that the crowds are hungry and commands his disciples: “Give them something to eat!” Likewise, in our first reading, God invites his people to “buy and eat without money.” Yet we all know that walking into a shopping mall or grocery store and taking food or clothing without paying would almost certainly lead toRead More →

Wisdom Is Doing the Will of God 1 Kings 3:5, 7–12; Romans 8:28–30; Matthew 13:44–52 Is God still relevant in the twenty-first century? Can scientific advancement coexist with faith and divine wisdom? Not long ago, President Vladimir Putin remarked publicly that many European leaders are reluctant to acknowledge the Christian roots of their respective nations. If that observation is true, it follows that they may also hesitate to embrace the Christian wisdom and moral principles that once shaped their civilizations. Within many academic circles today, openly professing religious faith is often regarded as intellectually outdated, a sign of being out of step with the spiritRead More →

God is Merciful: Let Us Imitate His Mercy Wisdom 12:13, 16-19; Romans 8:26-27; Matthew 13:24-43 There was a fiery preacher who was preaching on today’s gospel, and the theme of his homily was “Hell Fire!” As he emphasized on the fact that sinners will burn in “Hell,” he explained the ordeals of Hell: “you see,” he said, “there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth for those who go to Hell”. Right in front of him, in the front pew, an old lady burst out laughing. The preacher stopped momentarily and asked the old lady the cause of her laughter. She responded, pointing at herRead More →

BE THE CHILD OF GOD OTHERS WILL SEE Isaiah 55:10–11; Romans 8:18–23; Matthew 13:1–23 Living in Africa today, it is difficult not to be tempted by doubt—doubt in human beings and, at times, even doubt in God. Political leaders make promises during election campaigns, only to abandon them after assuming office. Couples exchange solemn vows on their wedding day, yet, under the pressure of economic hardship and social instability, some withdraw from the demands of marital fidelity. Many promise faithfulness until death, yet infidelity is sometimes normalized, excused, or even celebrated. Ministers of God and preachers pledge fidelity to God, yet some are the firstRead More →

World Peace is Possible: Become its Architect! Zechariah 9:9–10; Romans 8:9, 11–13; Matthew 11:25–30 Our world longs for peace, yet it often seems farther away than ever. Every day we hear of wars, terrorism, ethnic violence, political instability, religious intolerance, economic exploitation, and broken families. Nations spend billions of dollars preparing for war while millions lack food, clean water, education, and healthcare. We ask ourselves: Is world peace merely a dream? Today’s readings answer with a resounding No. World peace is possible—but it demands our cooperation with God. Peace is not an impossible ideal. It is God’s plan for humanity, and He invites every one ofRead More →

With God, Every Cloud has a Silver Lining! 1 Kings 4:8–11, 14–16a; Romans 6:3–4, 8–11; Matthew 10:37–42 Every worthwhile calling has a price. Marriage demands sacrifice. Parenthood requires sleepless nights and constant self-giving. Priesthood and religious life demand total dedication. Genuine friendship asks for loyalty. Likewise, following Jesus Christ has a cost. There is no Christianity without the Cross. The Cross is the silver lining of Christianity. In today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks with remarkable clarity: “Whoever does not take up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” These words may sound demanding, even unsettling. Yet Jesus is not asking us to seekRead More →

When FEAR is the Problem, MARTYRDOM is the Solution Jeremiah 20:10-13; Romans 5:12-15; Matthew 10:28-33 If we think that humanity has made significant progress, we need to think again about what we mean by progress. If progress means exercising control over nature, then the increasing frequency of natural disasters, climate crises, pandemics, and ecological degradation should give us pause. If progress means technological advancement, we must also reckon with its human cost: loneliness, addiction, warfare, exploitation, and the widening gap between rich and poor. As far as fear is concerned, human progress has scored very little. Fear remains one of the most powerful forces shapingRead More →

We Are Reconcilers: Ministers of Reconciliation Readings: Exodus 19:2-6a; Romans 5:6-11; Matthew 9:36–10:8 One of the greatest tragedies of our world today is broken relationships. We live in a time marked by divisions between nations, conflicts within families, polarization in politics, hostility among ethnic groups, and even estrangement within the Church. Many people carry wounds caused by betrayal, injustice, misunderstanding, and hatred. Human beings desperately long for peace, yet they often struggle to achieve reconciliation. Into this fractured world, today’s readings proclaim a powerful message: God is the great Reconciler, and He calls us to become ministers of reconciliation. The entire history of salvation canRead More →

Corpus Christi: Heaven’s Bread for Earth’s Pilgrims                                                     Deuteronomy 8:2-3, 14-16; 1 Corinthians 10:16-17; John 6:51-59 Among the many realities that define human existence, perhaps none is more universal than hunger. Every human being knows what it means to hunger. We hunger for food, for love, for security, for meaning, for belonging, and ultimately for life itself. Hunger accompanies us from the moment we enter the world until the day we leave it. It is therefore not surprising that GodRead More →