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