TWENTY-FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

READINGS AT MASS TODAY

Is. 22:19-23

Psalm 138

Rom. 11:33-36

Matt. 16:13-20

Theme: A 'SHEBNA' KIND OF LIFE

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

Imagine what it was like to be in an ancient city under siege. Outside the wall is the enemy - strong and ruthless. You know that other cities have already fallen to him. Now he is determined to conquer and plunder your city, rape and kill its inhabitants. You can only hope and pray that your walls - protective shield put in place by those in authority - will keep him out. This is what we read about in Isaiah 22; our first reading. 

Today's first reading is a prophecy concerning Shebna, a high ranking official of the Royal Court possessing enormous authority to help his people at this difficult time but who rather used the authority at his disposal to benefit himself to the detriment of his nation and its people. 

The personality of Shebna is quite an interesting character we must all learn from. The Bible tells us that he is the Master of the Royal Household. As the direct link between the king and the outside world, he oversees and controls everything. He is what we now know and call the Chief of Staff of the Presidency. As an officer in the the Court of Hezekiah, a good and noble King, Shebna was a wicked, deceitful, and proud man. According to some Jewish historians, he conspired with Assyria in the attack on Jerusalem. He was the enemy within - a brother in the face and speech but dangerous in deeds. With this character, he secured his position and future. 

In the midst of an impending national disaster, Shebna was preoccupied with building a monumental grave for himself. He thought he will be well remembered by the kind of grave he hewn for himself. Probably, he has gone outside Jerusalem with his mighty chariots to check up on this project when the Prophet caught up with him with a prophecy from God. "Go, proceed to this steward, to Shebna, who is over the house and Say: what have you here, and whom have you here, that you have hewn a sepulcher here, as he who hews himself a sepulcher on high, who carves a tomb for himself in a rock? Indeed, the Lord will throw you away violently,..." (Is. 22: 15-23).

Beloved, God sees and is in control of everything. He sees even the powerful enemy hidden deep within his people. At the right time, He will catch up with them. In this difficult time when we as a people and a nation are in great distress, trying only to survive, some who have the power to help are only capitalizing on the unfortunate circumstances of Covid-19 to enrich themselves and secure firmly their political power. Their actions like the actions of the enemy within are only making things easier for the enemy standing outside the wall and make life more difficult with no insurance for the poor man on the street. These brother-like enemies are powerful and cannot be touched. But God sees and will catch up with them at the right time.

PRAYER

Lord God, you know everything and sees all that is hidden. We commit to you the brother-like enemies in our midst. Expose them and bring their enterprise to naught. Amen.

May God bless you.

-Rev. Fr. Kenneth Debre

Sunday, August 27, 2023.

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe.

TWENTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

 

READINGS AT MASS TODAY

Is. 55:1, 6-7

Psalm 67

Rom. 11:13-15, 29-32

Matt. 15:21-28

Theme: DOGS EATING BREAD

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

In His encounter with the Canaanite woman in our Gospel text for today, Jesus, directly or indirectly referred to her as a 'dog' when He said, "It is not good to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs" (Mt. 15:26). First century Jews called Gentiles, and especially Canaanites, dogs. No matter how hard scholars tried to tone it down, it never became a pleasant statement. The expression is a terrible and extremely humiliating insult. (Read 2 Sam 16:9, 2 Sam 9:8). 

To compare humans to dogs or to call them so is to imply that they were of a very low status (Read Ex. 22:31, Deut. 23:18, 2 Kgs 8:13) and destined to eat only that which is not wholesome for men. (Read Prov. 26:11, 1 Kgs 14:11). So, for Jesus to refer to her as such was bad for the press. The fact remains that Jesus was merely another Jew who had once again referred to a Canaanite as a dog - one who is undeserving of the goodies meant for the children.

Of course, Jesus did not have any intentions of insulting the Canaanite woman. He probably threw this painful reality of her life and history at her as a test of her faith and resolve. Her humble but great faith prevailed over pain. It was only after gracefully accepting and handling what should ordinarily make her take offence that her miracle was activated.

Beloved, sometimes your breakthrough might be hiding behind your 'insults'. Allowing them to embitter you will only prevent you from receiving your miracles. As Christians, we must not allow insults of any kind to affect our faith and resolve. For insults, as bad as they are, can bring the good out of us. They can push us to push God with outstanding faith. Remember Hannah? Her miracle came when painful insults from Peninnah (her rival) pushed her to go and cry to God in faith (1 Sam. 1:1-11). She never fought or engaged in an argument with her rival; she prayed. 

Sometimes, God allows us to be pushed to see what we are made of, to see whether we will break away with bitterness or push back with faith. Come to think of it, we are nothing but dogs standing under the Table of the Cross, and the crumbs are indeed more than enough for us. 

PRAYER

Lord God, concerning me, remember that even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their master's table. Amen. 

May God bless you.

Rev. Fr. Kenneth Debre

Sunday, August 20, 2023.

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe.

NINETEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

READINGS AT MASS TODAY

1 Kgs. 19:9, 11-13

Psalm 85

Rom. 9:1-5

Matt.14:22-33

Theme: HE MADE THEM GET INTO THE BOAT

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

In our Gospel text for Mass this morning, we were told Jesus made the disciples get into a boat and go ahead of Him to the other side while He dismissed the crowd. It was Jesus who made the disciples get into the boat that went into the storm that nearly capsized their boat. Jesus knew very well the danger that laid ahead but made them get into the boat to sail anyway.

Beloved, sometimes Jesus is very much aware of the storms that lie ahead, but He sends us anyway. He sends us into the storm to learn in the storm and from the storm. 

Some of life's important lessons are learned in the storms of life. Stormy days are privileged moments to encounter God, who never takes His eyes off us.

Jesus was physically absent from the disciple for a moment and was out of their physical reach at the time of the crises, but He was fully mindful of their journey. His physical absence must never be taken for His unthoughtfulness of them. 

The mountain on which Jesus went to pray was a geographical position that gave Him an eagle-eye view over the entire lake on which the disciples were travelling. Jesus had His eyes on them and the boat. He knew their battle and their urgent need for His supernatural help. And He indeed stilled the storm.

Beloved, Jesus made us get into this boat of life, and His eyes are on us. He is mindful of the storms we face and would not allow them to overwhelm us.

PRAYER

Lord, may we receive encouragement in the knowledge that you are mindful of the storms we face and will still them. Amen.

May God bless you.

-Rev. Fr. Kenneth Debre

Sunday, August 13, 2023.

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe.

THE TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD

READINGS AT MASS TODAY

Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14

Psalm 97

2 Peter 1:16-19

Matt. 17:1-9

Theme: THE TRANSFIGURATION -  A TRANSFORMATION

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

Apostle Peter, one of the three disciples who witnessed Jesus' transfiguration, later wrote: _"we did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of His majesty."_ (cf  Second Reading)

Before setting off to Jerusalem, Jesus went up a high mountain with Peter, James and John to re-focus Himself on His salvific mission. Three of His disciples were privileged to catch a glimpse of His glory and the glory that was ahead of them and us too. So wonderful was this brief vision that Peter preferred to remain at that location. (cf. The Gospel). On that day, Peter experienced something that transformed him and gave a different perspective to his faith in Jesus Christ.

Every now and then, we Christians experience Christ and a glimpse of His glory in our lives, be it a touch of inner peace, a feeling of love or a miraculous intervention, making the message of Christ so much more real to us than a mere story. In the First Reading, God gave assurance to the Jewish people who were persecuted for their faith that ultimately, His glory will be revealed. He allowed Daniel, in a vision, to catch a glimpse of that glory. In much the same way, in stressful moments of our faith journey, God always has something to show or tell us to renew our faith and transform us into better versions of ourselves.

Beloved in Christ, Jesus' story is not a myth. The Christian experience in a personal and realistic one that is capable of bringing lasting  transformation. There is a transfiguration -total transformation- of life and situations for all who will climb the mountain of faith with Jesus Christ. 

The transfiguration of Jesus represents to us the hope of transformation for us and our situations. It means there is something better and brighter in store for us with Jesus. There is always something wonderful about going up the mountain with Jesus Christ: we are sure to return spiritually refreshed. For a glimpse of God's glory is an assurance of better days to come.

PRAYER

Lord, may I always behold in faith your transfigured face in all situations of my life and relish the hope of glory it carries. Amen.

May God bless you.

-Rev. Fr. Kenneth Debre

Sunday, August 6, 2023.

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe.