FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

READINGS AT MASS

Zaph. 2:3, 3:12-13

Psalm 146

1 Cor. 1:26-31

Mt. 5:1-12

Theme: BLESSED

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

Today, at Mass, we have the opportunity to reflect on the iconic sermon of Jesus known as the Beatitudes. In this short sermon, Jesus used the word 'blessed' eight times to describe the state of those who are going through what may be described as adverse conditions. 

Interestingly, the original term for the word 'blessed' has nothing to do with one who is doing well. Blessedness in our world today is all about prosperity and the absence of difficulties. To the world, the blessed one is the one who is doing well. Jesus' rendition of the word in the Beatitudes, however, means something very different. It means the one who continues in God's path despite the bitter challenges of life.

Beloved, we are blessed when we continue in God's grace and on God's path no matter what life throws at us. The remnants of God, the blessed, are those who are still faithful to the path of peace, humility and spiritual poverty.

Are you still on the path of God? You are blessed.

PRAYER

Almighty, ever-living God, may we continue in your path in all we do, regardless. Amen. 

May God bless you.

-Rev. Fr. Kenneth Debre

Sunday, January 29, 2023.

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe

THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

READINGS AT MASS

Isa. 8:23-9:3

Ps. 27

1 Cor. 1:10-13,17

Mt. 4:12-23

Theme: WAS PAUL CRUCIFIED FOR YOU?

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

Dearly beloved in Christ, today, we are confronted with one of the profound questions in the Bible - misguided allegiance. In his letter to the Christian community in Corinth, as we read in our second reading, Paul set out to address a serious problem of division and divided allegiance.

The individual members of the congregation started identifying themselves with the personalities that ministered to them. The Gentiles had a soft spot for Paul and began feeling that they belonged to him. The Greeks, however, felt more comfortable with Apollos (who was a Greek by birth) and began to claim him as one of their own. Also aligned to Cephas (Peter) were a group Jews, who still upheld the Jewish tradition. 

In this error and misguided solidarity in the body of Christ, Paul asked the time testbed rhetorical question, “Was Paul Crucified for you?”

Sometimes, all we have to do as Christians and humanity at large, and more especially in this generation, is to step back and remind ourselves about who exactly was crucified for us. It is definitely not the human personalities or the religious functionaries on whom we are becoming so reliant to the extent of forgetting about God, ourselves, and what we truly are about as Christians. 

The apparent false amnesia of this generation about the cost that was paid for our redemption is a complete betrayal of Christ. We, like the Corinthians, need to be reminded again and again, with this thought-provoking question, that no human being was crucified for us. 

Beloved, no one, but Jesus Christ alone, was crucified for you. He alone made the ultimate sacrifice that you might live. Never forget this!

PRAYER

Almighty ever-living God, may we never forget the One who died on the cross that we might have life. Amen. 

May God bless you.

-Rev. Fr. Kenneth Debre

Sunday, January 22, 2023.

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe

SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

READINGS AT MASS

Isa. 49:3, 5-6

Psalm 40

1Cor. 1:1-3

Jn. 1:29-34

Theme: HE RANKS HIGHER

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

In our Gospel text for today, John the Baptist introduced Jesus to his disciples and those around him. He saw Jesus coming and immediately recognized someone better and greater than himself. He said of Him, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. He ranks ahead of me...”

Of Jesus, John speaks of the fact that He is a greater person. He speaks also of positive and good things about Him. In addition, all that he said was the truth. His honest presentation of Jesus ended his ministry because immediately after this encounter, his disciples left to follow Jesus. This was how noble he was. 

Beloved, as we go through life, we must learn to speak of others only in a positive light. We must try, no matter the circumstance, to present that which is good and true about them. it is important to identify and accept that some people are and will be greater and better than us. We become nobel when we appreciate this. 

Remember this, no one becomes great by destroying others. No one becomes great by thinking he or she is the most important and the smartest one in the room.

PRAYER

Almighty, ever-living God, may we accept and appreciate those who, by your own will, are better and higher than us. Amen. 

May God bless you.

-Rev. Fr. Kenneth Debre

Sunday, January 15, 2023

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe

THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD

READINGS AT MASS

Is. 60:1-6

Psalm 72

Eph. 3:2-3, 5-6

Mtt. 2:1-12

Theme: THE JOURNEY

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

It was one of the most mysterious but meaningful journeys of all time. A long, hard journey across a fierst desert and forbidden mountains from the Persian and the Iranian regions to Bethlehem - the journey of the Magi. 

Beloved, today is Epiphany Sunday and as always we read, from Matthew's account of the Gospel, the journey of the wisemen. It is about the mysterious journey of the kingmakers of the Persian kingdom under the guidance of a 'strange' star in search of Jesus, the Infant King of the Jews.

The whole journey was predicted on the sighting of a star. In their study of the dark world of constalation in a far away pagan land, they saw a star rising; His star, and they followed it. They went across a treacherous desert and forbidden mountains. Throughout the entire journey, their focus was unwaveringly on this guiding star. 

In the star, they saw Jesus the infant King of the Jews. They saw Jesus in a far away pagan land, they saw Jesus along and in their mysterious and dangerous journey. In the star, they saw God and His Glory and came to it.

Beloved, it does not matter your journey in life. It does not even matter what you are going through and the challenge you are facing. The important question remains, "Do you see God in it?” 

PRAYER

O God, who on this day revealed your only begotten Son to the nations by the guidance of a star, grant in your mercy, that we, who know you already by faith, may be brought to behold the the beauty of your sublime glory in all we do. Amen.

May God bless you.

-Rev. Fr. Kenneth Debre

Sunday, January 8, 2023.

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe.

Catholic Daily Reflection: The Genealogy of Jesus

When Jesus began his ministry he was about thirty years of age. He was the son, as was thought, of Joseph, the son of Heli, the son of Melea… Luke 3:32–24

One of the two options for today’s Gospel is the genealogy of Jesus according to Saint Luke. Recall that Matthew’s Gospel also shares a genealogy of Jesus. Matthew’s version might be more familiar since it comes at the very beginning of his Gospel. Though the two genealogies differ significantly for various reasons, they both have the goal of tracing Jesus’ lineage. Luke inserts the genealogy of Jesus in Chapter Three of his Gospel, after Jesus is baptized and just before His public ministry. He presents the genealogy in ascending order, starting with Jesus and ending with Adam, identifying seventy-seven generations. Matthew presents the genealogy in descending order, beginning with Abraham and concluding with Jesus, identifying forty-one generations.

Saint Augustine, in commenting upon Luke’s genealogy, points out that Luke identifies seventy-seven generations because Jesus states that we must forgive seventy-seven times (Matthew 18:21–22). Furthermore, since Jesus had just entered the waters of baptism, Augustine sees this as a way of saying that the Sacrament of Baptism offers all people of all times the unlimited gift of the forgiveness of sins.

Perhaps one of the most important reflections we can take from either of Jesus’ genealogies is the fact that He came to give us the gift of new life as the new Adam. His gift of baptism is a way of starting over with fallen humanity. From the time of our creation, we sinned. Adam and Eve sinned. And all generations to follow have sinned. Thus, in Christ, through Baptism, we are able to begin again, to be born again, and to be transformed from the natural fallen order to the supernatural order of grace.

We will soon celebrate the Epiphany and the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord. After that, we enter into the beginning of Ordinary Time when we ponder the public ministry of Jesus. As we do so, we must regularly remind ourselves of the reason Jesus came. He did not come simply to inspire us or to teach us His wisdom. Rather, He came to save fallen humanity in accord with the perfect plan of the Father. The Father’s plan began at the beginning of time when humanity fell from grace. From there, the Father prepared the world for the coming of His divine Son through generation after generation of prophets, priests and kings. Slowly, He revealed His plan of salvation until it came to fruition and perfection in the Person of His Beloved Son.

Reflect, today, upon the eternal plan of the Father to save us from sin by sending His divine Son as our Savior. The plan, spanning many generations from the beginning of time, will continue to unfold until the end of time when Jesus will return in splendor and glory. Spend time pondering this incredible plan and incredible gift you have been given. As you do, seek to foster the deepest gratitude in your heart.

Jesus, my Savior, I do thank You for the unfathomable gift You have given me. You took on our fallen human nature and transformed it by this unity of Your divinity and humanity. You died for my sins and the sins of all who turn to You, and You opened the doors to Heaven. May I always grow more deeply in gratitude for all You have done for us. Jesus, I trust in You.

Source: Catholic Daily Reflection

Daily Reflection: Conversion is Contagious

Thursday, January 5, 2023
Christmas Weekday of January 5
Readings for Today

Jesus decided to go to Galilee, and he found Philip. And Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the town of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one about whom Moses wrote in the law, and also the prophets, Jesus, son of Joseph, from Nazareth.” John 1:43–45

Recall that in the previous passage of John’s Gospel, Andrew had gone to his brother Peter to tell him that he had found the Messiah. As a result, Peter went to see Jesus and also became His disciple. We have a similar story in today’s Gospel passage that happens shortly after the story in John’s Gospel. After Jesus called Philip to be a disciple, Philip immediately went to find his brother, Nathanael, to tell him the good news. As a result, once Nathanael has a brief encounter with Jesus, Nathanael converts, saying, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.”

In a sense, we can say that conversion is contagious. Once God calls a good and humble soul to follow Him and that soul responds, that person is almost always compelled to share their conversion with others whom they love. And when they share the conversion of their heart with another, their loved one will often become intrigued themselves, possibly even converting.

Conversion is indeed contagious! This is because when we come to know God, fall in love with Him and choose to follow Him, the joy and conviction of our conversion of heart are things we naturally want to share with others. We want others to experience the spiritual peace and joy we have found by discovering Christ with us.

So this begs the question: Has your love of God affected others in your life? If the answer is “Yes,” then this is something to be grateful for. But if the answer is “No,” then perhaps it’s worth pondering why not. Though it may not at all be your fault, it’s good to examine whether you have first allowed yourself to truly experience a deep conversion to Christ and then to ponder whether you have been open to sharing your heart with others.

So begin with the first question. Have you allowed yourself to truly go through a conversion to Christ? A conversion will take on varying degrees. At first, a conversion changes the direction of our lives by opening our eyes to see what truly matters in life. We discover the glory of God and the fulfillment that comes from embracing His will. When this happens, the initially converted soul will often begin to turn from all serious sin, to pray, to read the Scriptures, and to manifest these changes to others.

But conversions are not only a one-time event. Saint John of the Cross, for example, goes to much length to explain that as a person advances in the life of holiness, there will be a time when they must go through a whole new conversion. Their following of Christ will draw them to another and more profound change in life. Don’t be content with only an initial conversion. Seek also the ongoing process of change that is required by a commitment to follow Christ.

As for the second question, whether or not your own conversion has inspired those you love to follow Christ, simply pray that God uses you as He wills. Be open to Him, do not be afraid to share your heart, and work to allow the joy of following Christ to radiate from your own life. If others are open, then God will touch them through you.

Reflect, today, upon these two fundamental questions of the spiritual life and recommit yourself to a lifelong process of change, as well as an openness to allowing God to touch others through you. In the end, these two things are all that really matter in life and for eternity.

Lord of all holiness, please continuously draw me closer to You. Help me to convert in my life, to turn from all sin and to choose to follow You with all my heart. Help me, also, to be open in my faith journey so that others will see all that You are doing in me and receive Your invitation, through me, to follow You. Jesus, I trust in You.

Source: Catholic Daily Reflections