FOURTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME TIME (B)

READINGS AT MASS

Ezekiel 2:2-5

Psalm 123

2 Cor. 12:7-10

Mark 6:1-6

Theme: CLOSING OUR HEARTS TO GOD

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

In today's First Reading, God called and commissioned Ezekiel as a prophet for a rebellious nation (Israel) in exile. His mission was to turn Israel's heart back to their God. Israel had been described as a rebellious nation because the Israelites closed their hearts to YHWH and His message; further, they abused His messengers.

We walk on dangerous grounds when we despise God and His message. Such rebellious nations (or persons) cannot experience the goodness of God; for, their hearts are closed.

In the Gospel, the people of Jesus' hometown could not receive the grace of God that Jesus had brought to them. Their prior knowledge of the person of Jesus and His background coupled with their familiarity with Him became an obstacle.

Gradually, we are closing our hearts to God and His life-giving message. Comfort in sin, negative familiarity with Jesus Christ and His Word, laziness, fatigue, friendship with the world, excessive delight in mere human knowledge, and human weakness among others are factors that are slowly closing our hearts and creating hostile environments that prevent us from experiencing the grace of God.

Academic knowledge coupled with the ability to think and ask logical questions is also tempting us to subject our faith and the good news to deep and critical scrutiny based only on human wisdom. (Is this not the Carpenter, Mary's son?). While it is good to ask questions concerning our faith, we mostly find ourselves asking derogatory questions that will degrade our belief in God to show that we are intelligent. We ask questions that lead to wrong conclusions. The consequence is that we're losing the reverence due to God and His Word and thus cannot experience the power thereof.

This present state of affairs is a danger to our faith. They create an atmosphere of rejection and doubts; a hostile environment that the grace of God, that comes through Jesus, cannot penetrate or thrive in.

Do not close your heart to God!

PRAYER

Lord Jesus Christ, you desire an open heart from those who come to you. May I always be docile to you so that I may receive your grace for my life. Amen!

May God bless you.

-Rev. Fr. Kenneth Debre

Sunday, July 7, 2024.

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe.

TENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (B)

READINGS AT MASS

Gen. 3:9-15

Psalm 130

2 Cor. 4:13-5:1

Mark 3:20-35

Theme: WHERE ARE YOU?

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

Today's first reading records the aftermath of the sin of Adam and Eve. The Lord God called to the man after he had eaten of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. "Where are you?" He asked. This question has nothing to do with God's knowledge of man's whereabouts. The all-knowing God knew exactly where Adam was. Rather, it is a question addressed to the man to help him consider his present state of life. 

The single Hebrew word *'ayeka'* which was translated as *' where are you?'* can also, on a deeper level, mean _'what have you done with your life?_ Or _what has become of you?_ It was as if God was asking the man,' where did you end up after doing what you did (i.e. listening to the serpent)?'

By allowing himself to be seduced by the serpent, the man now found himself out of touch with God. He was no longer where he was supposed to be. The covering of glory around him disappeared, leading him to feel the guilt of shame and nakedness. His actions had taken him to a state and a place that he would rather not be. He lost the harmony within his heart. He was ashamed and disappointed in himself. 

Whenever we allow the ancient serpent (our selfish and inordinate desires) to determine the steps we take in life, we end up in a state that we are not proud of. To recover/revive him, God invites man to reconsider his position with the question, 'WHERE ARE YOU?' 

Beloved, life is often defined by the questions we ask. By asking and trying to answer the difficult questions of life, we give meaning and direction to our existence. In every era, God continues to ask every single person this critical and life-changing question, 'WHERE ARE YOU (IN YOUR WORLD)?' What has become of you after the choices you made in life? It is a question for you to reconsider your current position or state of life. 

Like Adam, each and every one of us, at the turn of every event, need to be asked, 'WHERE ARE YOU?' Are you proud of where you are and what has become of you? The answers we give to this question will create the spiritual agenda for the kind of life we will live in the years to come. 

Even as you prepare for Mass this morning, take a moment to consider your current state of life. Where are you in your relationship with God? 

PRAYER

Lord Jesus Christ, I am ashamed because I have allowed the ancient serpent to seduce me into going astray. I do not like where I am now due to my sins. May your grace recover and restore me. Amen.

May God bless you.

-Rev. Fr. Kenneth Debre

Sunday, June 9, 2024.

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe.

CORPUS CHRISTI SUNDAY

 

READINGS AT MASS

Exodus 24:3-8

Psalm 116

Heb. 9:11-15

Mk 14:12-16, 22-26

Theme: THIS IS ME

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

Jesus Christ remains the satisfier of the greatest hunger of our world. We are all, in one way or another, in search of the presence of Christ. We want that divine transformative encounter. We yearn and hunger for Jesus. But where is He whom we so much desire? 

Our Gospel text for this Corpus Christi Sunday is a narrative of the Last Supper scene from the Gospel according to Mark. Mark tells us that while they were eating, Jesus took bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take and eat; this is my body.” By this statement, Jesus declared unequivocally that the Eucharistic Bread is His Body. The same Eucharistic Bread on which we direct our gaze every time we attend Mass or go to visit the Tabernacle is Jesus.

In the Blessed Sacrament (the Eucharist) lies Jesus' response to the greatest hunger and desire of humanity: THIS IS ME! In the Blessed Sacrament, Jesus proclaims again and again to a world in search of Him and to a humanity in need of Him that This is Me.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus Christ, you make yourself present in the Most Holy Eucharist. May we come to encounter You always in this mysterious presence. Amen.

May God bless you.

-Rev. Fr. Kenneth Debre

Sunday, June 2, 2024.

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe

PENTECOST SUNDAY

READINGS AT MASS TODAY

Acts 2:1-11

Psalm 104

1 Cor. 12:3-7, 12-13

John 20:19-23

Theme: THE HOLY SPIRIT: THE RESTORER

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

The first two verses of the first chapter of Genesis tells us, "In the beginning,...the earth was formless and void, and darkness was on the face of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. Then God said, 'let there be light; and there was light.'" The breath (the creative wind; the Spirit) of God created light, life, and order out of a dark and formless void. That was the beginning of all that is.

The Psalmist, in today's Responsorial Psalm, celebrates God as a creator par excellence and identifies His Spirit (the Holy Spirit) as the principal agent of creation and the Person behind all the beauty and the order that we see. For the Psalmist, the Holy Spirit is not just a creator but also a regenerator and restorer among us. "...when you send forth your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth (Psalm 104:30).

Beloved in Christ, the Holy Spirit is the regenerative and restorative power of God. He is the Third Person of the Holy Trinity and has the power to recreate and restore us to our original dignity. Wherever the wind of the Spirit blows, there is life and order (Ezekiel 37:1-14). He recreates what the evil one has destroyed and renews what our sins have corrupted.

The devil has stolen and destroyed a lot of beautiful and good things from us. We have also, through our actions and inactions, contributed to the corruption, emptiness, and chaos in our lives. We have lost our original dignity and have become like dry bones. We need a renewal! We need the Holy Spirit!

As we celebrate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit today, let us pray to God to send down His Spirit once again to renew the face of the earth; to recreate and restore our lost dignity.

PRAYER

Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in them the fire of your love. Amen.

May God bless you.

-Rev. Fr. Kenneth Debre 

Sunday, May 19,  2024.

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe.

SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

READINGS AT MASS

Acts 10: 25-26, 34-35, 44-48

Psalm 98

1 Jn. 4:7-10

John 15: 9-17

Theme: JUMPING FOR A FRIEND

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

Human beings have their ways of getting things done and every human institution has its own procedures; the steps to follow to achieve a purpose. These processes are there to ensure some kind of order, decency, and equality. Despite these steps, people remain partial and discriminate. In his partiality, man can twist systems and processes to the disadvantage of the less fortunate in society and achieve his own end.

God, however, has an interesting way of breaking these human protocols in favor of his own. He sometimes jumps few steps to make it difficult for people to refuse or prevent His children from receiving their portion of the good things of life.

The events of today's First Reading came as a surprise to Peter and the circumcised believers who were with him. This surprise is clearly expressed in Peter's question. Realizing that Cornelius and his household have received the gift of the Holy Spirit without first being baptized (Acts 19:1-7), he asked, "Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit even as we have?" Indeed, no one can prevent a process that God Himself has confirmed.

Beloved in Christ, God can jump human steps to make things easier for his friends. The privilege we have as friends of God is the fact that our God continues to initiate the process in our favor that no human authority, not even our sinfulness can stand against. This is how privileged we are in Jesus Christ.

Human processes, like a circumcised Jew confirming a non-circumcised pagan, can be long and are sometimes subject to corruption, tribalism, nepotism, and the sentiments of people who otherwise would have nothing to do with us. The good news, however, is that like Cornelius and the disciples of Jesus, we have a friend in a high place.

We have a friend in Jesus. His love for us has changed our status from slaves to friends. You are my friends if you do what I tell you. I no longer call you slaves...I have called you friends...(cf. Today’s Gospel). This friendship places us in a privileged position. A position to move ahead no matter what people think or feel.

As His friend, God will not leave your fate in the hands of a human process.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus Christ, your love for humanity has turned slaves into friends. It is a privilege to be called your friend. May I also be counted among your friends. Amen.

May God bless you.

-Rev. Fr. Kenneth Debre

Sunday, May 5, 2024.

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe.

Easter Sunday

READINGS AT MASS

Acts 10:34, 37-43

Psalm 118

Col. 3:1-4

Jn. 20:1-9

Theme: THE GRAVESIDE STORY

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

The Easter story starts from a rather unusual place; the graveside. We were told women came very early in the morning to check the grave and that was the beginning of the whole story. At the grave where every story is expected to end, the Christian story begins. 

The resurrection of Jesus gives a whole new dimension to the Christian story. It is all about hope, resilience, and immortality. It is a story of life in the face of death and light amid darkness. 

It is difficult to end a Christian's story. Our faith in the resurrection makes us able to break every threshold and barrier. Even death cannot stop us.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus Christ, may your resurrection from death bring a new beginning and vitality to our own stories. Amen! 

May God bless you. 

Rev. Fr. Kenneth Debre

Sunday, March 31, 2024. 

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe.

PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD'S PASSION

READINGS AT MASS  

At the beginning of the Procession:

Mark. 11:1-10

At Mass:

Isaiah 50:4-7

Psalm 22

Phil. 2:6-11

Mark. 14:1-15:47

Theme: WINNING BEFORE THE BATTLE

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

Today, we recall and celebrate Jesus' entry to Jerusalem for the final moments of His earthly life. Jesus entered Jerusalem triumphantly, riding a on donkey, amidst a cheering crowd like a brave warrior who had been victorious in a battle. This action of Jesus is rather strange. Obviously, Jesus is now about to face the fight of his life. Betrayal, rejection, and death awaited Him, and Jerusalem was the stage for this battle, yet He entered truimpantly. 

Jesus enters Jerusalem as a victor because He did not only see His battle but also His victory. The Lord's manner of entering the eternal city is a deep message to us. It is a call to have a victorious mindset in all we do and face. A person who is in Christ is a winner. It does not matter what struggles we face or might face. 

The victory of a Christan is not in the battles we fight nor how we fight. Our victory is in Christ. And since the victory of Jesus Christ was not determined by nor based on the fierceness of the battle, we too must not fret before the battles of this life. We are victorious even before we face the challenges of life. This is what we have in Jesus Christ, and it is a matter of faith. 

PRAYER

Father, Your Son entered Jerusalem as a victor even before the battle began. May we who believe in Him be encouraged never to fret in the face of the battles of life. Amen.

May God bless you.

-Rev. Fr. Kenneth Debre

Sunday, March 24, 2024.

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe

THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT

READINGS AT MASS

Exodus 20:1-17

Psalm 19

1 Cor. 1:22-25

John 2:13-25

Theme: A TIME TO CRACK THE 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 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 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, continues 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 to 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 3, 2024.

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe

SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT

READINGS AT MASS

Gen. 22:1-2, 9, 10-13. 15-18

Psalm 116

Rom. 8:31-34

Mark 9:2-10

Theme: LISTEN

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

This morning at Mass, we read about the Transfiguration of Jesus. The text tells us that at the end of the events on the mountain, the voice of God thunders in the cloud saying: “This is my beloved son. Listen to him”.

The keyword, my dear friends, is “Listen”.  Listening is an act of devotion that stems from faith and trust. Our faith in God must make us attentive to Jesus in every way. This is the only sure way of coming to the glory to which He intends to bring us.

If there is any one thing that brings some clarity and meaning to the outrageous journey of Abraham, as heard in the first reading, then it is his ability to listen. Abraham was ready to sacrifice his one and only son on the mountain simply because he listened to God.  It is his attentiveness to God and his readiness to do as He(God) wills that set him off on that seemingly unreasonable journey. However, it is that which also set him apart as a “friend of God” and “father of faith”.

Like Abraham, listening to God might sometimes put us on seeming unreasonable and inexplicable paths, but it is that which will also prove the depth of our faith.

Our faith and love for God is revealed in our attentiveness to His commands. 

PRAYER

Lord, keep us focused on your voice through intense prayer and devotion. May our attentiveness throughout this Lenten season transform us in our walk with you. Amen! 

May God bless you. 

-Rev. Fr. Kenneth Debre

Sunday, February 25, 2024. 

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe.

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT

 

READINGS AT MASS

Gen. 9:8-15

Psalm 25

1 Pt. 3:18-22

Mark 1:12-15

Theme: A DIFFICULT PLACE

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

Today, like every first Sunday of Lent, we read about the temptation of Jesus. This year, we read the shortest version of this narrative from the Gospel according to Mark. 

Mark did not give us the details of the temptation, but only the summary of events. He simply tells us that the Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert and was put to the test by Satan.

Immediately after His Baptism and before the commencement of His mission, the Spirit led Jesus to a difficult place: a hard and dry place of temptation, darkness, and emptiness. 

Sometimes, God leads us through difficult situations and places to prepare us for the mission ahead. Our best preparations will often come from our wilderness experiences. Let us not try to escape such seasons of life, for they are so much worth our endurance and count towards the glory of God to be revealed in us.

PRAYER

Lord, keep us focused on your will through intense prayer and fasting. May our wilderness experiences throughout this Lenten season transform us for your glory. Amen.

May God bless you. 

-Rev. Fr. Kenneth Debre

Sunday, February 18, 2024. 

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe.

SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (B)

READINGS AT MASS

Lev. 13:1-2, 44-46

Psalm 32

1cor.10:31-11:1

Mark 1:40-45

Theme: OUTSIDE THE CAMP

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

The readings of today, the sixth Sunday in ordinary time, call on us to reflect on the extent to which the leprosy of sin separates us from GOD (the camp of God) and deprives us of our humanity and dignity. 

The First Reading narrates the miserable condition of a leper under the Law of Moses. Such a leper was isolated from the community to live outside the camp. The law says "He shall dwell apart, making his abode outside the camp..." (Lev. 13:46).

Leprosy puts a full stop to the leper's life and business in the world. It cuts him off from socializing with friends and loved ones, and shuts him out from the sanctuary. In short, the said person loses his human dignity. 

In the Gospel, we hear the powerful prayer that a desperate leper addressed to Jesus Christ. "IF YOU WISH, YOU CAN MAKE ME WHOLE..." (Mark 1:40). This was a prayer of someone who was tired of living outside the camp of God. It is a fervent wish of Jesus Christ to bring all those condemned to life outside the camp of God back into the camp. "I DO WILL IT. BE MADE CLEAN" He says.

Beloved in Christ, The leprosy of sin shuts us out from the the camp of God and from His sanctuary. His glory goes far from us, life becomes empty and miserable. We must turn to Jesus Christ in humility so that he might make us whole and clean again. 

PRAYER

Almighty ever-loving Father, I stand outside the "camp of your grace" with the "leprosy" that keeps me away and prevents me from entering your presence. If you wish, Lord, you can make me whole again. Amen.

May God bless you.

-Rev. Fr. Kenneth Debre

Sunday, February 11, 2024.

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe

Data Collection for St. Cecilia Catholic Church, Ho-Dome

St. Cecilia Catholic Church, Ho-Dome data collection helps the church thrive records by reducing the clutter, organizing data, and making it easier to stay on top of our daily operations. 

The database is a cloud-based technology that allows church administration to collect, store, and organize information in a way that is easily accessible later.

We encourage all members to fill this form online to enable us gather dta on our members for onward processing.

Good richly bless you you all.

THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

READINGS AT MASS

Jonah 3:1-5, 10

Psalm 25

1 Cor. 7:29-31

Mark 1:14-20

Theme: FOLLOW ME

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

No one has life all figured out; even the most organized among us do not.  No matter how hard and well we try, our paths may remain unclear. Like the Psalmist in the responsorial psalm, we need to be shown the right way every now and then. Jesus' call remains loud and clear, 'Follow me!'

In today's Gospel, Jesus came to His disciples at the lakeside and asked them to follow Him. He did not say much nor offer them any lengthy explanation. He simply issued the commanded to follow Him, as One who knows the path, is the path, and knows what He is up to.

Beloved, Jesus' call to follow Him is a call to embark on a journey of trust with the only One who knows the right path and who Himself is the path. He says, 'I Am the Way.' It is also a journey of a lifetime, one day at a time, with the One who knows what He is about in our lives.

Beloved, only Jesus brings clarity to the uncertain paths of our lives, for He is the Way. Follow Him!

PRAYER

Almighty God and Father, your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, came to lead us on the right and sure path that leads to You. May we, in total surrender and commitment, follow Him walking in His very footsteps. Amen.

May God bless you.

Fr. Kenneth Debre

Sunday, January 21, 2024.

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe.

SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

READINGS AT MASS

1 Samuel 3:3-10, 19

Psalm 40

1 Cor. 6:13-15, 17-20

John 1:35-42

Theme: SPEAK, LORD.

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

Every relationship entails mutual and consistent interaction where the partners understand and open up to each other. Thus, communication, talking to and listening to the other, is crucial for the sustenance of a relationship. It is indeed important that we not only talk but also listen to what the other is saying.

In similar vein, in our relationship with God, we must allow Him to speak to us and we listen. God desires very much to speak to us. He has words for our edification, enlightenment, direction and many more, yet we often do not take time to listen to Him. 

In the first reading, God tried to initiate communication with the young Samuel, but it was not until Samuel was directed by Eli to ask God to speak that Samuel knew what to do. Until we allow God to speak to us, our relationship with Him will remain at the level of we telling Him all we want to say and leaving immediately without receiving  a sure word from Him. This may bring confusion and misdirection.

Beloved, sometimes the only breakthrough prayer we might need to offer is a resounding “Speak, Lord.” Stillness in the presence of God and the quietening of our hearts to listen to Him is an invaluable treasure in our relationship with God. Let us prayerfully sharpen our listening faculty as we consistently open our hearts to hear from the Lord.

PRAYER

Speak, Lord. Amen.

May God bless you.

Fr. Kenneth Debre

Sunday, January 14, 2024.

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe.

THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD

READINGS AT MASS

Isaiah 60:1-6

Psalm 72

Eph. 3:2-3, 5-6

Matt. 2:1-12

Theme: THE WORSHIP OF WISEMEN

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

The journey of the wise men is the journey of every Christian. It's a journey of seeking that culminated in worship and adoration. Every Christian quest must culminate in a profound adoration of the Triune God.

Our worship honours God, brings satisfaction to our hearts, and is terror to the devil. Today's Gospel reading tells us that the arrival of the magi and their request to see and worship the infant King terrified Herod, and the entire Jerusalem was troubled.

Beloved, it is wise to worship God for our sincere worship and adoration of God is a powerful weapon against evil. Every heart that will bow in pure adoration will be transformed to become more and more like Christ and can conquer all things.

As we have begun this new year, let us also attempt the journey of the wise men. Let's seek and come to that profound adoration of the King of kings, where we bow not only our knees but all that we are as a gift to God.

PRAYER

Almighty God and Father, may I offer a perfect and profound adoration to you in all that I do. Amen.

May God bless you.

Fr. Kenneth Debre

Sunday, January 7, 2024.

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe.