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Christ’s Unity of love and obedience

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  Wednesday of the 4th week of Lent  Isaiah 49:8-15 Psalm144(145):8-9,13b-14,17-18 John 5:17-30 Jesus affirms that his identity with the Father is founded on complete trust and obedience. He consistently fulfilled the will of the Father, demonstrating obedience rooted not merely in submission but in love. His compliance was motivated by his love for the Father. The unity between Jesus and the Father is characterized by a shared love—a total self-giving for the benefit of another. This explains why their mutual love is perfect and complete. The Son loves the Father and submits entirely to the Father's will. The Father, in turn, loves the Son and shares all that He possesses. Followers are therefore called to dedicate their lives to God with the same love, trust, and obedience exemplified by Jesus toward the Father. The opening verse of today’s gospel—‘My Father is still working, and I also am working’—also reminds us of the importance of parental involvement. It is often observ...
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  St Patrick, Bishop: Secondary Patron of Nigeria  - Feast   1 Peter 4:7-11 Psalm 95(96):1-3,7-8,10 Luke 5:1-11 The moment when the boats nearly sink due to the fish intentionally provided by God demonstrates that there is more to fishing than merely catching fish; it reveals our own insignificance and opens us to receive His gifts. Peter recognizes this and admits his sinfulness. Jesus wishes us to understand that we can achieve great things, as did Peter and St. Patrick, who became fishers of men. Today, we commemorate St. Patrick, Ireland’s secondary patron, as well as the missionaries who propagated Christ’s message in Nigeria. Through Patrick, the Gospel was disseminated from Ireland to Nigeria and beyond. We pray that God's strength, wisdom, protection, and guidance may be with us now and forever. Amen.
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TAKE CHRIST AT HIS WORD

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  Monday of the 4th week of Lent Isaiah 65:17-21 Psalm 29(30):2,4-6,11-13 John 4:43-54 Today’s readings emphasize the promise of an improved existence. Isaiah (Isaiah 65:17-21) describes a renewed world free from suffering and sorrow, where infants do not succumb prematurely. Jesus fulfills this prophecy in the Gospel of John (John 4:43-54) by healing an official's son, thereby alleviating grief within his household. The official’s faith resulted in his son's salvation, exemplifying the trust that should be placed in Christ. This message is universal—intended for individuals regardless of wealth or power. We are called to believe in this promise and to support others on their path to eternal joy through Jesus’ sacrifice.  May divine grace enable us to remain focused on our eternal destination while compassionately assisting those along our journey. Amen. 
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4th Sunday of Lent (Laetare Sunday)   1 Samuel 16:1,​6-7,​10-13 Psalm 22(23) Ephesians 5:8-14 John 9:1-41  Christ be our light (hymn) Theme: Rejoice, because you have been saved from darkness to Light The message of John 9:1-41 is that Jesus is the light of the world. Missing this light means missing everything in this life and the next. Lent challenges us to glorify God and remember our salvation story. The Church’s readings in Year A guide us through Sundays of temptation, transfiguration, thirst for God, and healing.  The stories reminds us every miracle has a message. Encountering Jesus changes us. Jesus, the light of the world, cures blindness—both physical and spiritual. The blind man never saw the world’s beauty, but Jesus saw him. His physical sight symbolizes spiritual awakening; the Pharisees remain spiritually blind. This invites us to reflect on whether we truly see Christ in others and in ourselves, especially in suffering. Our choices between light and darkn...
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Prayers and sacrifices are meaningless if they are not motivated by love for God and others.

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Saturday of the 3rd week of Lent  Hosea 5:15-6:6 Psalm 50(51):3-4,18-21 Luke 18:9-14 How can one determine if their prayer is acceptable to God? The prophet Hosea stated, "I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice" (Hosea 6:6). Prayers and sacrifices are meaningless if they are not motivated by love for God and others. The Gospel illustrates this point through the example of a Pharisee and a tax collector praying, illustrating the perils of pride. Pride fosters self-deception; humility, on the other hand, reveals our true nature and prompts us to seek God's mercy. God resides with the humble and those who acknowledge their sinfulness, recognizing His mercy (Isaiah 57:15). It is impossible to boast or look down on others and expect to be heard by God. Do you humbly seek God's mercy and extend mercy to others, particularly those difficult to love and forgive?
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LOVING GOD! LOVING YOUR NEIGHBOR !!

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  Friday of the 3rd week of Lent Hosea 14:2-10 Psalm 80(81):6,8-11,14,17 Mark 12:28-34 The tone of today’s Gospel is unusual; the scribe doesn’t question Jesus in an adversarial way. Instead, he recognizes the truth of Jesus’ answer, affirming the Shema’s essence with heartfelt agreement. Jesus adds the commandment from Leviticus: love your neighbor as yourself. Reflect on self-love—it's a commandment, not a choice—and how it shapes our actions. During Lent, we face tough questions about love and self-care, and distinguish self-love from selfishness. Our first reading, recited on the Jewish day of mourning for the Temple’s destruction, calls Israel to return to the Lord and be healed. As we continue Lent, we are invited to remember the greatest commandment and remove obstacles to God. Despite imperfections, we move forward with faith, hope and love. 
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ARE YOU WITH CHRIST?

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Thursday of the 3rd week of Lent Jeremiah 7:23-28 Psalm 94(95):1-2,6-9 Luke 11:14-23 Today’s readings challenge us to reflect on our relationship with God amid a world marked by division, faithlessness, and evil. The Gospel recounts Jesus healing a mute man, prompting some to accuse Him of demonic power, revealing hardened hearts. Despite Jesus' ministry and miracles, the world remains torn by conflict—within families, communities, nations, and globally—driven by Satan and demons causing chaos and faithlessness.  Jesus's message is clear: His miracles signal the coming of God's Kingdom. Yet, peace and harmony seem distant in our fallen world. We may wonder: are we part of God's Kingdom or an evil generation? Through God's grace, we can choose love, kindness, and mercy and live these values daily. This is not a mere plan but a way of life rooted in our everyday actions.
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