THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER: Theme: NOT A GHOST

READINGS AT MASS

Acts 3:13-15, 17-19

Psalm 4

1 Jn 2:1-5

Lk 24:35-48

Dear friends in Christ, N'wokafu YESU KRISTO...

Beloved, in our Gospel text for today (the Third Sunday of Easter), the Risen Lord makes it clear to His frightened disciples that He is not a ghost

The disciples are frightened by the appearance of someone they buried just a few days ago. Their fear was from their doubt and their erroneous conclusion that the one standing in their midst is not real but a ghost or a specter.

For them, just like the belief system of prevailing among the Jews, Jesus (the man standing before them) was just a spirit that had crossed over from the land of the dead to communicate with them. To them, He was not their Master and was not real because He does not have a physical body and cannot help or affect the concrete reality of the living.

To prove to them that He was not a ghost, Jesus showed them His wounds, asked them to touch and feel His flesh and bone: something that ghost and spirits lack. He also ate with them: something only the living can do. With this appearance and all the concrete evidence presented therein, Jesus cleared the doubtful and fearful minds of the disciples and proved to them that He was standing before them as a tangible and substantial reality. A Saviour, who has conquered death and is alive and stands among us bearing the marks of the wounds received for our sake.

Beloved, Jesus, the Risen Lord is not a ghost. He is not spirit crossing over from the realm of the dead just to visit and scare the hell out of us. The Risen Lord is a concrete reality. The resurrection event is not a horror ghostly story. We are talking about true Man and true God who conquered death and stands in our midst as our friend and a Saviour. The Risen Lord is a concrete reality, with flesh and bone, who understands our situation and is able to break into our reality. He draws closer to us and asks that we touch Him and feel the marks of the wounds His love for us has engraved on His body for ever.

Like always and unlike a ghost, He comes to dine with us and share Himself with us. The risen Lord is ever-present in the concrete realities of our lives.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus Christ, your resurrection from the dead has enlightened our minds concerning the mysteries and promises of God. Do not allow the darkness of ignorance to force us to descend into error and go astray. Amen.

May God bless you.

-Rev. Fr. Kenneth Debre

Sunday, April 18, 2021.

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe.

EASTER SUNDAY: Theme: HE'S GONE BEFORE YOU

READINGS AT MASS

Acts 10:34, 37-43

Psalm 118:1-2, 15-17, 22-23

1 Cor. 5:6-8 (or Col. 3:1-4)

John 20:1-9

Dear friends in Christ, N'wokafu YESU KRISTO...

In the Markan account of the resurrection narrative, the young man (Angel) told the women, “do not be afraid! You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified...he is not here. He's risen...Go, tell his disciples and Peter, He is going ahead of (before) you to Galilee.

Beloved, the risen Lord goes before us. He always goes before us in life. It is encouraging to know that He walks ahead of us in life and death. 

He goes ahead of us to Galilee. This is so profound because Galilee is the place where it all started (it is where the disciples were called). It is also the place where we failed (Galilee of the Gentiles-a place where the disciples showed their lack of faith...). He goes ahead of us that we might start all over again. But this time with Him going ahead of us.

Beloved, the resurrection of Jesus Christ gives us a new start and a fresh hope. It gives us hope in the presence of the grave. It rolls the stones that stops us and begins a new story right where a huge stone had been.

PRAYER

Lord, your resurrection has given us a new dimension to hope. We now have the hope of a Savior going ahead of us both in life and in death. May this hope bring us joy, faith and love. Amen.

May God bless you.

- Rev. Fr. Kenneth Debre

Sunday, April 4, 2021.

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe.

PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD'S PASSION: Theme: THE KING WHO ANNOUNCED HIS VICTORY EVEN BEFORE THE BATTLE

READINGS AT MASS  

At the beginning of the Procession:

Mk. 11:1-10

At Mass:

Isaiah 50:4-7

Psalm 22

Phil. 2:6-11

Mk. 14:1-15:47

Dear friends in Christ, N'wokafu YESU KRISTO...

Today is Passion Sunday, also referred to as 'Palm Sunday'. Today, we celebrate the triumphant entry of our Lord Jesus Christ into the Holy City of Jerusalem. All the four Gospels narrate the triumphant entry of Jesus Christ into Jerusalem. This shows how important the event was for the early Christians. The whole event is full of symbols with deep spiritual meaning to the Jews. 

Symbolism is very important in the faith life of a Christian and the symbolism of this Palm Sunday, and the Holy Week must not be ignored by any true Catholic. The depth and richness of our faith come from these symbols. We have to pay attention to them and try to understand the part they play in our spiritual lives.

In the narrative, we heard that Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem riding on the back of a donkey. In the ancient world and also in the Greco-Roman culture, the king goes to a battle riding a powerful and a high spirited horse. But when he goes to the battle and is victorious, he returns to the city riding on a donkey. This gesture serves as a message to the subjects that their king was victorious and has won victory and peace for his subjects. Thus, Jesus entering the city riding on a donkey was His way of announcing His peaceful victory even before the battle began. 

Beloved, Jesus Christ is the King who announces His victory even before the battle. His manner of entrance and the reception accorded Him signify the victory He brings. His presence alone means victory, salvation and eternal life. No matter how hard or dark the battle might seem, to Him, it is not a competition; it is a done deal. So let us also with our palm branches celebrate His victory even in the face of our personal and individual challenges and battles. 

PRAYER

O God, in the Person of  Jesus Christ triumphantly and victoriously entered Jerusalem, heralding a week of pain and sorrow. We humbly ask You to be with us now as we follow the way of the Cross. In these events of defeat and victory, You have sealed the closeness of death and resurrection, humiliation and exaltation. We thank You for these palm branches that promise to become for us symbols of victory and majesty. Amen. 

May God bless you.

- Fr. Kenneth Debre

Sunday, March 28, 2021.

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe.

FIRTH SUNDAY OF LENT: Theme: A TIME TO FALL TO THE GROUND

READINGS AT MASS

Jer. 31:31-34

Psalm 51

Heb 5:7-9

John 12:20-33

Dear friends in Christ, N'wokafu YESU KRISTO...

In today's First Reading, God assures the people of a New Covenant that will replace the old one. A covenant of love and a personal relationship with God. It will also mark the end (death) of the stringent old covenant. Every new beginning requires some form of dying. Death and degeneration is very important for the beginning of greatness. 

In the Gospel, Jesus speaks about the long awaited Hour of His Glorification using a simple but profound fact of nature. The seed must fall into the ground and die in the order to grow and bear many fruits. For Jesus, the Hour of His Glorification, like a grain of wheat falling to the ground, will come from His passion and death. His death will mark the end and the destruction of all that is old and unproductive and give way to the new and fruitful in His victorious resurrection. Glory and salvation will come from the annihilation of His body. 

Beloved in Christ, true glory comes from falling unto the ground and dying. This is the beginning of all that is good and fruitful. When we spend our lives for others and sacrifice our existence for a cause that is good, we eventually preserve them (our lives). Even the so-called secular world remembers nothing of the millions of people who passed this way but contribute nothing to the well-being of society. 

Lent is a time to fall unto the ground and die to sin and self in order to rise to a new and a productive beginning to the glory of God. This is the beginning of salvation. It is a time to start anew. Like a grain of wheat, we must learn to fall unto the ground in selfless service to others and die to an old and unproductive way of life; a sinful life. It is only then do we rise to a new, better and a fruitful life in Christ Jesus. 

PRAYER

By your grace, I beseech you, Lord, may I walk eagerly in that same charity with which, out of love for the world, your Son handed Himself over to death on the Cross. Amen.

May God bless you.

-Rev. Fr. Kenneth Debre

Sunday, March 21, 2021.

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe

FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT: Theme: A TIME TO MISS HOME

READINGS AT MASS

2 Chronicles 36:14-16, 19-23

Psalm 137

Eph. 2:4-10

John 3:14-21

Dear friends in Christ, N'wokafu YESU KRISTO...

Today's Responsorial Psalm is a tearful melancholic song probably sung by a group of devout Jews during the Babylonian captivity. Serving as a link between the First Reading and the Gospel, it brings out clearly the message for this Fourth Sunday of Lent. As a tearful and emotional song, it portrays the character of a sinful Christian who desires to go back home to God; who desires to restore his long lost innocence.

The Jews sat by the rivers of Babylon, the land of their captors and wept. They cried when they remembered Zion. The memory of Zion, the place where they enjoyed true freedom in the presence of God was a beautiful thing to them and the fact that they have destroyed that beautiful gift through their own sinful actions caused them great pain. As long as the beautiful memories remained, they were never to feel comfortable in the strange land of sin. They did not enjoy themselves let alone entertain their captors with the beautiful melodies of their 'divine homeland.' They simply could not forget Jerusalem. 

Beloved in Christ, as sinners, we must learn to remember home fondly from the depth of our sins. The most important thing is not how deep we fall into sin but how profound the nostalgia and the desire to go back home to the presence of God is. Every now and then, we find ourselves in the strange and foreign land of sin. That is only our human nature but we must never forget who we are and where we are coming from. We cannot settle down and feel comfortable in our state of sin. Babylon, a sinful land of captivity, is not a place to stay forever.

A good Christian is the one who does not allow the fresh and beautiful waters of a foreign country to refresh him. Rather, he fill his eyes with tears. We must miss home: the state of holiness. 

The Season of Lent gives us the opportunity to also sit by the rivers of our "Babylons" (our sinful states) and recall with tearful nostalgia the holiness, beauty and solemnity that we used to have and could have had in the presence of God had our sins not sent us so far into foreign lands. This Deep feeling of nostalgia is a good thing for our faith. It is a feeling that will not permit us to feel comfortable in a foreign land until we repent and return (to God). 

The land of sin, like the land of Babylon, has so many things  to offer but these cannot satisfy a Christian's heart so long as he keeps the beautiful memories of his solemn Homeland. May we never forget our 'Jerusalem'. May our desire to return to the presence of God be ever stronger during this season of grace.

PRAYER

Lord, you have given us this season of grace and reconciliation. Pondering upon the beauty of life in your presence, may I hasten to return home to you. Amen.

May God bless you.

-Rev. Fr. Kenneth Debre

Sunday, March 14, 2021.

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe.

LENT: A TIME TO MAKE A WHIP

READINGS AT MASS

Exodus 20:1-17

Psalm 19

1 Cor. 1:22-25

John 2:13-25

Theme: LENT: A TIME TO MAKE A WHIP

Dear friends in Christ, N'wokafu YESU KRISTO...

On this Third Sunday of Lent, we read the text about the cleansing of the Temple as presented by John the the Evangelist. Unlike the other evangelists, John placed this episode at the beginning of Jesus' public ministry. For Matthew, Mark and Luke, this was the last straw that broke the Camel's back but for John it was a necessary first step to pave the way.

Looking at the text carefully, there appeared to be a state of affairs that 'prevented' Jesus from entering the Temple; the activities of the traders. These deprived the Temple of its holy and serene atmosphere. This unacceptable condition in which the Temple environment was found was repulsive to Jesus Christ and He immediately set out to do something about it. Quite surprisingly, He took a rather violent and dramatic approach; the whip. He made a whip out of cords and drove the traders out with their merchandise. Thus, restoring the temple environment to its original purity.

Beloved, Lent is an opportune time to clean and restore our lives to their original purity. From the action of Jesus Christ in today's Gospel, we realize that the fight against sin and sinful conditions is sometimes not a smooth and a comfortable one. This is a hard truth we must come to accept during this season. The process of restoration sometimes demands a radical approach. Sin and sinful conditions are not always something you just reject with word of mouth. Sometimes it is a dangerously comfortable state of life that needs to be whipped out with cords.

We are sometimes guilty of being too gentle with our sinful states of life. We try to gently sweet-talk them out of our lives. Unfortunately, the noisy, corrupt and chaotic state of these situations, like that of the Temple environment in today's Gospel, continue to render our gentle approach ineffective. For an effective restorative season, a whip must be made against some conditions and lifestyles.

Like Jesus, we also have to make the effort to clean the Temple environment of our souls for Jesus Christ to have access and feel comfortable within our hearts. We must identify and clean the conditions that are unpleasant and repulsive to our walk with Jesus and the grace of God within us.

PRAYER

Father, you have taught us to overcome our sins with prayer, fasting and charity. Grant me the grace to fight the deep rooted sins in me with these pillars. Amen.

May God bless you.

- Rev. Fr. Kenneth Debre

Sunday, March 7, 2021.

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe

LAUNCH OF ST. CECILIA PARISH COMMUNICATION TEAM AND APPEAL FOR FUND

The Pastoral Council of St. Cecilia Parish, Ho Dome and the Media and Communication Committee wish to invite the general public to the official launch of St. Cecilia Communications Team. This is part of efforts to raise funds to acquire equipment needed to enhance quality streaming of church services and parish activities on social media in this era of the Covid-19 pandemic with it's consequent restrictions. This will help in reaching out the home bound with God's love.

The saying that Communication works for those who work at it is the motivation behind our desire to form a vibrant communication team for St Cecilia Parish.

This team is made of self-motivated individuals who would stop at nothing to ensure that the gap between the leaders of the church and the congregants is completely eliminated. Also, we are ready to help bring the word of God to each and sundry within our congregation and other souls outside in this Covid-19 era.

The launching comes on Sunday, 7^th March 2021 at St. Cecilia Parish, Ho-Dome at 7:00 am

The occasion will also be used to outdoor and auction the Parish Civil Calendar to support the same project.

This will also go a long way to equip the Church's Secretariat to create a database for the entire parish and serve as an income generating venture to support the development of the Church.

Our success is greatly dependent on your benevolent donations either in cash or kind.

God richly bless you all.

Rev. Fr. Anthony Mawuli Ahiabor

(Associate Parish Priest & Chairman of Media and Communication Committee)

Tel: +233 54 185 9198

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT: FACING YOUR TEMPTATIONS

READINGS AT MASS

Gen. 9:8-15

Psalm 25

1 Pt. 3:18-22

Mk 1:12-15

Theme: FACING YOUR TEMPTATIONS

Dear friends in Christ, N'wokafu YESU KRISTO...,

Today is the first Sunday of Lent, and as usual we read about and meditate on the temptation of Jesus. The temptation of Jesus is an interesting event that throws light on the tactics of the devil and our own struggle against sin. This event in the life of Jesus is reported in all the synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark, and Luke).

This year, we read Mark's account of this event. It is the shortest account, lacking some details, compared to the others, nevertheless deep in insight. Mark has a character of being brief and blunt. Mark only tells us that Jesus was led into the desert by the Spirit after His baptism and that for 40 days He was tempted by Satan and Angels ministered to Him.

From this simple account we learn a lot. The first thing we learn here is that no one is immune to temptation. Your baptism, your faith, you being under the direction of the Spirit does not mean that temptation will not come your way. In fact, all, especially good Christians, must be more on guard against temptation. 

Secondly, in our fight against sin, all must move to the desert, where we are left alone to confront the evil within. The first battle against evil is the fight against  “the self” when you are alone. This you must do before any other.

Furthermore, temptations are from Satan. No matter how good and praiseworthy it might appears, do not pretend that they are from God. 

Finally, the truth about life (the life of a Christian) is typical to leaving among wild beasts. But in all these, it is God who takes charge of His own. He sends His angels to minister to us in the midst of the beasts.

During this season of Lent, a season where we confront our temptations in our fight against sin, let us lift our souls to God, He who does the fighting, that He might show us His way. 

PRAYER

Lord, I have fallen so many times to the temptations in my life. Help me to be conscious of the devil and his tricks and give me the grace to overcome temptations. Amen!

May God bless you.

- Rev. Fr. Kenneth Debre

Sunday, February 21, 2021.

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe

ASH WEDNESDAY: DAY OF FASTING AND ABSTINENCE

Ash Wednesday is one of the most popular and important holy days in the liturgical calendar. Ash Wednesday opens Lent, a season of fasting and prayer.

Ash Wednesday takes place 46 days before Easter Sunday, and is chiefly observed by Catholics, although many other Christians observe it too.

Ash Wednesday comes from the ancient Jewish tradition of penance and fasting. The practice includes the wearing of ashes on the head. The ashes symbolize the dust from which God made us. As the priest applies the ashes to a person's forehead, he speaks the words: "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return."

Alternatively, the priest may speak the words, "Repent and believe in the Gospel."

Ashes also symbolize grief, in this case, grief that we have sinned and caused division from God.

Writings from the Second-century Church refer to the wearing of ashes as a sign of penance.

Priests administer ashes during Mass and all are invited to accept the ashes as a visible symbol of penance. Even non-Christians and the excommunicated are welcome to receive the ashes. The ashes are made from blessed palm branches, taken from the previous year's palm Sunday Mass.

It is important to remember that Ash Wednesday is a day of penitential prayer and fasting. Some faithful take the rest of the day off work and remain home. It is generally inappropriate to dine out, to shop, or to go about in public after receiving the ashes. Feasting is highly inappropriate. Small children, the elderly and sick are exempt from this observance.

It is not required that a person wear the ashes for the rest of the day, and they may be washed off after Mass. However, many people keep the ashes as a reminder until the evening.

Recently, movements have developed that involve pastors distributing ashes to passersby in public places. This isn't considered taboo, but Catholics should know this practice is distinctly Protestant. Catholics should still receive ashes within the context of Mass.

In some cases, ashes may be delivered by a priest or a family member to those who are sick or shut-in.

Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Season of Lent. It is a season of penance, reflection, and fasting which prepares us for Christ's Resurrection on Easter Sunday, through which we attain redemption.

WHY WE RECEIVE THE ASHES

Following the example of the Ninevites, who did penance in sackcloth and ashes, our foreheads are marked with ashes to humble our hearts and reminds us that life passes away on Earth. We remember this when we are told

"Remember, Man is dust, and unto dust you shall return."

Ashes are a symbol of penance made sacramental by the blessing of the Church, and they help us develop a spirit of humility and sacrifice.

The distribution of ashes comes from a ceremony of ages past. Christians who had committed grave faults performed public penance. On Ash Wednesday, the Bishop blessed the hair shirts which they were to wear during the forty days of penance, and sprinkled over them ashes made from the palms from the previous year. Then, while the faithful recited the Seven Penitential Psalms, the penitents were turned out of the church because of their sins -- just as Adam, the first man, was turned out of Paradise because of his disobedience. The penitents did not enter the church again until Maundy Thursday after having won reconciliation by the toil of forty days' penance and sacramental absolution. Later, all Christians, whether public or secret penitents, came to receive ashes out of devotion. In earlier times, the distribution of ashes was followed by a penitential procession.

THE ASHES

The ashes are made from the blessed palms used in the Palm Sunday celebration of the previous year. The ashes are christened with Holy Water and are scented by exposure to incense. While the ashes symbolize penance and contrition, they are also a reminder that God is gracious and merciful to those who call on Him with repentant hearts. His Divine mercy is of utmost importance during the season of Lent, and the Church calls on us to seek that mercy during the entire Lenten season with reflection, prayer and penance

Source: https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1520319848164304&id=263924483803853 

VALENTINE OR NO VALENTINE?

Today the world celebrates Valentine's day. It is that many people who hype the day do not attend Mass or any Christian service, otherwise they would have realized that it is the Memorial of Sts. Cyril and Methodius on the Catholic calendar.

This year 2021, however, the day falls on a Sunday (6th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B). Sunday being of a higher rank (Solemnity) in the Church's levels of celebrations, supersedes all memorials, and therefore overshadows the Memorial of Sts. Cyril and Methodius.

According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, there were at least three early Christian saints by name Valentine. One was a priest in Rome, another a bishop in Terni, and of a third St. Valentine almost nothing is known except that he met his end in Africa. Rather astonishingly, all three Valentines were said to have been martyred on Feb. 14.

Most scholars, however believe that the St. Valentine of the holiday was a priest who attracted the disfavour of the Roman emperor Claudius II around 270. At this stage, the factual ends and the mythic begins. According to one legend, the Roman Emperor Claudius II had issued an edict forbidding marriage. The empire had become too large to be shielded from external aggression and internal chaos with existing forces. Thus more capable men were required to be recruited as soldiers and officers. Claudius felt that married men were more emotionally attached to their families, and thus would not make good soldiers. So to assure quality soldiers, he banned marriage.

Valentine, seeing the trauma of young lovers, met them in a secret place, and joined them in the sacrament of matrimony. Claudius learned of this “friend of lovers”, and had him arrested. The emperor, impressed with the young priest, attempted to convert him to the Roman gods, to save him from certain execution. Valentine refused to recognize Roman gods and even attempted to convert the emperor, knowing the consequences fully.

While Valentine was in prison awaiting his fate, he came in contact with his jailor, Asterius. The jailor had a blind daughter. Asterius requested him to heal his daughter. Through his faith, he miraculously restored the sight of Asterius’ daughter. Just before his execution, he asked for a pen and paper from his jailor, and signed a farewell message to her “From Your Valentine”, a phrase that lived ever after.

On 24 February, 270, Valentine was executed. Valentine thus became a Patron Saint of lovers and spiritual overseer of an annual festival.

In 1969, the Catholic Church revised its liturgical calendar, removing the feast days of saints whose historical origins were questionable. St. Valentine was one of the casualties! 

Whatever the case, the day has become universally accepted as a day for lovers. (NB: Not for promiscuity)

Love is one of the most abused, misinterpreted and misused words ever. God is love. To abuse love, therefore, is to abuse God.

The Church is not against expressing love today or any day but does not approve the reckless way the day is marked by most people in the name of love.

Let us pray that young men and women will understand the real essence of love and express it in ways pleasing to God.

Happy Valentine's Day!

~Padre Antonio

St. Cecilia Parish, Ho-Dome

FIFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

READINGS AT MASS

Job 7:1-4, 6-7

Psalm 147

1 Cor 9:16-19, 22-23

Mk 1:29-39

Theme: PRAISE THE LORD WHO HEALS THE BROKENHEARTED

Dear friends in Christ, N'wokafu YESU KRISTO...

Psalm 147 is a liturgical Psalm of praise. A communal song praising God who gives resilience and the capacity to bounce back; to rebuild after a loss. Written in Hebrew and for the Israelites means their appreciation of it would have been greater than ours because it spoke to them in their context. We need to enter their world to be able to feel the same impact. 

It was written after the exile and immediately after the rebuilding of Jerusalem. Probably, it was used (sung) during the dedication of the rebuilt city wall (Neh. 12:27-33). It has it central theme - a call to praise. Praising God, my beloved, is a common character of people who have experienced God. The people of israel had just experienced God in an unimaginable way.  

Psalm 147 is all about God's care for Jerusalem and its post-exilic population. It celebrates the return of the exiles to Jerusalem. It recognises God's power and strength in arranging their return and rebuilding the city. The Psalmist also recognized the helpless position of those who had returned from exile were in. In short, they were heartbroken. 

Job recounts his miserable position before God set in and restored him. The Apostles recognized Peter's mother-in-law's miserable position and immediately told the one who could do something about it.

Do you recognize (remember) how miserable you were before God set in? Do you feel the tremendous care of God in your life despite your obvious unworthiness? If you do, you will never stop praising God. If you knew the kind of pit the Lord pulled you out of, you will never stop serving Him. Let us praise the Lord who heals the brokenhearted! 

PRAYER

Almighty ever-living God, you are and remain a God who heals the brokenhearted. Heal our hearts and rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Amen.

May God bless you.

-Rev. Fr. Kenneth Debre

Sunday, February 7, 2021.

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe

 

FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME. Theme: DISTINGUISHING ONESELF

READINGS AT MASS

Deut. 18:15-20

Psalm 95

1 Cor 7:32-35

Mk 1:21-28

Theme: DISTINGUISHING ONESELF

Dear friends in Christ, N'wokafu YESU KRISTO...

Jesus distinguished Himself today at a gathering in Capernaum. It was just a few weeks into His ministry and the difference was already clear. He began to distinguish Himself from among others of His kind.

In our Gospel reading this morning, we were told that Jesus came to Capernaum and taught in the synagogue on the Sabbath. His teaching made a great impression on the people. Unlike the Scribes, He taught with authority and had command over unclean spirits. The people immediately saw the deep contrast.

Our First Reading for this morning is part of Moses' farewell speech. The literary setting of the whole text is at the end of the Leader's (Moses') life. As the wandering kingdom (Israelites) prepare to enter the Promised Land, they are faced with one obvious question. Who will lead us like him? The problem was not finding a prophet but finding one that will distinguish himself like Moses and truly speak the mind of God.

Beloved, the world is hungry for people (Christians and leaders) who will distinguish themselves positively. Embedded in our Christian calling is a call to stand out and live unlike others. You are your own brand and as such must distinguish yourself in which ever area you find yourself. You must distinguish yourself in your career, education, marriage and in the practice of your Faith. Many are just being Christians. Do not just be a Christian; be a Christian with a difference. Everyone is just being a nurse or a teacher. Be a teacher or a nurse with a difference. Embrace that which makes you different. You are unique and buried within your uniqueness is your greatness.

The world does not need a bunch of people that are the same. There is no astonishment in being the same and doing it the same way. Do not let the world make you feel bad for not following the status quo. Just be yourself and do it like Jesus.

PRAYER

Almighty, ever-living God, direct my attention towards your Son Jesus Christ so that I might have the strength to distinguish myself like Him in all I do. Amen.

May God bless you.

-Rev. Fr. Kenneth Debre

Sunday, January 31, 2021.

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe.

THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME. Theme: FOLLOW ME

READINGS AT MASS

JONAH 3:1-5, 10

Psalm 25

1Cor 7:29-31

Mk 1:14-20

Theme: FOLLOW ME

Dear friends in Christ, N'wokafu YESU KRISTO...

When you are lost in a big city and cannot seem to find your way, the words, "follow me" from a resident who is familiar with the locale is definitely comforting to the ear as well as the heart. In such a case, you, the helpless stranger must focus all your attention on this potential saviour and follow with an unwavering trust. In case you are following in another car, you will not even allow any distraction or any other car to come between you lest you loose your way. You are likely to switch on your hazard lights, slow down and follow your 'saviour' closely with keen attention on his direction indicator lights.

Because your life depends on it.

Many a times, the person you are following; being one who knows the destination so well, may use short cuts and connecting routes that may confuse you but with great trust in his knowledge, you continue to follow not bothering much about the fact that you do not know where you are or what is happening. You simply have the faith that you will get to your destination.

In our Gospel text for today, Jesus, in the course of His preaching of repentance and change of heart, called four of His disciples with a simple message, "FOLLOW ME".

The verb, "to follow" (akoloutheo) in Greek signifies an authority figure who leads and an ignorant novice who accompanies the authority figure. The ignorant novice follows closely with the determination to find that which only the authority can lead to. The authority figure knows the destination as well as the way to the destination.

Beloved in Christ, Jesus Christ is the authority figure in the mysterious maze of life. He desires humanity to follow Him so that He can lead us on the right path to our true destination. He calls us to stop wallowing in the ignorance and follow Him. 'Follow me!',  He says.

The fact still remains that we are all going somewhere and Jesus Christ alone knows the destination and the route to arrive there safely. He is the authority figure who must be followed closely if we are determined to find some meaning in life.

We, however, have allowed the distractions of life (cf. Second Reading) to take our attention from the one we are supposed to be following thereby loosing our way and our destination in life.

Our Responsorial Psalm sums up the message for today. The Psalmist, probably a sinner whose enemies are exploiting his faults and loose ways to disgrace him, prays to God to teach him the "right way". He is eager to repent and learn the way of the Lord.

Like the people of Nineveh and the four disciples in today's Gospel, we must also turn from our old, wrong, evil and ignorant ways to rediscover Jesus Christ, who alone leads us on the right path of life.

PRAYER

Almighty ever-living God, direct my attention towards your Son Jesus Christ so that I might have the strength to follow Him along the path of life with great trust. Amen.

May God bless you.

-Rev. Fr. Kenneth Debre

Sunday, January 24, 2021.

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe.

SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME: POINTING JESUS OUT TO OTHERS

READINGS AT MASS

1 Sam 3:3-10, 19

Psalm 40

1Cor 6:13-15, 17-20

Jn. 1:35-42

Theme: POINTING JESUS OUT TO OTHERS

Dear friends in Christ, N'wokafu YESU KRISTO...

In today's First Reading, Eli, the Priest, performed a rather painful final duty of pointing the young Samuel's attention from himself to the voice of God. The implication being that God was no longer going to speak to Eli directly but through the young Samuel, a temple servant. This was a step towards the degradation of his family and Eli was well aware of it yet he, in great humility, pointed Samuel towards God and quietly left the scene for God to do His own thing even if it brought disgrace upon his household.

In our Gospel text for today, John the Baptist saw Jesus coming towards them and immediately points Him out to his disciples as the Lamb of God, the one he had been talking about. Immediately, two of his disciples left him and followed Jesus Christ.

It is not enough to speak about Jesus, we must also find ways of pointing Him out to people even if it means losing our position and popularity.

Beloved, Jesus Christ is not a theory that we can only talk about. He is a concrete reality. Every now and then, He passes by yearning for Christians to point Him out to people who would follow and experience Him.

In a world where preachers have become celebrities and Christian are full of themselves, Jesus Christ needs to be reintroduce. In a world where the name (Jesus) is popular but His actual person and face are so scarce; in a world where the closest introduction we have to Jesus is the phrase, "you have to see my Pastor." Christians, who are just like Temples, must take up the task of pointing people toward the personality of Jesus. Jesus Christ must be clearly identified and pointed out. Like John the Baptist and Eli, we must learn how to introduce people to Jesus and allow Him to do His work.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus Christ, we give thanks for the gift of being your blessed temples. Help us to be ready to share this blessing with others by identifying and pointing you out to the world. Amen.

May God bless you.

-Rev. Fr. Kenneth Debre

Sunday, January 17, 2021

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe.

THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD: A DIFFERENT PATH

READINGS AT MASS

Is 60:1-6

Psalm 72

Eph 3:2-3, 5-6

Mt 2:1-12

Theme: A DIFFERENT PATH

Dear friends in Christ, N'wokafu YESU KRISTO...

On the Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord, we read, as we always do, the beautiful story of the wise men and their journey in search for the Infant King of Bethlehem. After a long and trencherous journey, they found the Baby in Bethlehem's manger and did Him homage. Today as we look at their story again one thing stands out - having encountered and worshiped the Child Jesus, they were warned in a dream to take a different path back home.

Beloved, sometimes all you need to survive and keep your peace of mind is a different path. The wise men were asked to take a different path to avoid all the drama, deception, frustration and dangers of their original route. Some routes of life are unproductive and full of unnecessary drama. They are full of the Herods of this life: people and fake opportunities that appear to be friendly and hospitable but are only there to use and exploit us for their selfish desires. These old and familiar routes are stagnatory. They keep us in the old ways and lead to the old things. They steal from us the newness and refreshment that God brings to our souls.

On this first Sunday of the year, like the wise men from the East, we have also been invited to consider a different path - a path inspired by the Spirit of God. This path is the path to Life, which is found only in Christ. Ours is a call to abandon the old paths that lead to deception and destruction and take the new path to Life and Light.

PRAYER

God our Father, you inspired the wise men to take a different route for their own safety. May your Spirit guide our steps on the right path throughout this year and always. Amen.

May God bless you.

-Rev. Fr. Kenneth Debre

Sunday, January 3, 2021.

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe