SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (B)

READINGS AT MASS

2 Kgs 4:41-44

Psalm 145

Eph. 4:1-6  

Jn. 6:1-15

Theme: THE SEED OF MIRACLE

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

In today's First Reading, man from Baal-shalisha brought his first fruit of twenty barley loaves to Elisha, the prophet. This little act of faith and generosity in a season of crisis would become a seed for a greater miracle. The twenty loaves (intended for one man) were used to miraculously feed about a hundred men. 

In the Gospel, a young boy's five loaves and two fishes became the seed for the miraculous feeding of over five thousand hungry souls. The little boy allowed Jesus and others to have the little he had to depend on in the time of food crisis and that was the beginning of the miracle.

Beloved, the miracle would often begin from what we set before God and others. It is in the generous sharing of the little we have that we come to encounter the God who multiplies. He chooses to multiply what we present before Him. 

The natural thing for humans to do in times of crisis and scarcity, as we presently find ourselves, is to close our doors and manage the little we have for our own survival. We want to hide and eat our 'five loaves' alone, minding our business while the crowd starves. We device various survival strategies according to human wisdom. In any case, what can our 'five loaves' do to the crowd, we would wonder.

The Word of God comes to us this morning, calling on us to allow others to share in the little we have to depend on. Jesus stands with the hungry crowd hoping for the generosity of a little boy. May we set our little before Jesus and others. May our generosity become seeds for greater miracles in times of crisis.

PRAYER

Lord, grant me the courage to be generous even in my moments of scarcity. Amen.

May God bless you.

-Rev. Fr. Kenneth Debre

Sunday, July 28, 2024.

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe.

SIXTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (B)

READINGS AT MASS

Jer. 23:1-6

Psalm 23

Eph. 2:13-18

Mark 6:30-34

Theme: SHEEP WITHOUT A SHEPHERD

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

Life can be difficult when lived without guidance and direction. We all, at some point in life, need a shoulder to stand on, a hand to support and push us up, and a finger to point us in the right direction. Our dependence on others for our growth is even more profound in an era of "whom you know." We are hopeless without a generous shoulder and a kind finger. Human beings cannot survive without a generous leadership.

In today's Gospel, Jesus used the metaphor of "sheep without a shepherd" to describe the miserable state of the crowd (and humanity as a whole). To appreciate this metaphor, we have to understand the nature of sheep. Unlike other animals, sheep are not survivors. They do not have any sense of flight or fight. They are not strong independent creatures, not proud hunters, or fierce predators. Instead, they are dumb, defenseless, and directionless. Finding themselves at the end of the food chain, sheep are vulnerable and dependent on their shepherd for direction and protection. In stringent terms, sheep cannot survive without a shepherd. Sheep without a shepherd is a sign of military defeat and vulnerability. It is a situation that favors the enemy (Judith 11:15).  For this reason, Moses, before his death, prayed to God to appoint someone over the community to go out and come in before them so they not be like sheep without a shepherd (Num. 27:15-18). So to describe the people as sheep without a shepherd is an honest observation about their misery and vulnerability. Bluntly, but honestly, such is human life without Christ.

Beloved, we are sheep in need of a shepherd. Like sheep, we are dumb, defenseless, and directionless. Our survival depends on the presence of a Shepherd. We are miserable and helpless without one. Unfortunately, the human shepherds who are supposed to direct, protect, and provide for us have failed in this duty (First Reading). Their failure has rendered us helpless and prone to harassment like "sheep without a shepherd." Jesus' metaphor is indeed a fitting description for our generation. We are left in the wilderness of life without a defense; no one to protect or direct us and no shoulder to carry us.

However, God, who has promised not to leave His people without a shepherd, has given us a true shepherd in Jesus Christ. He is the Lord who has become our Shepherd to cater and provide for us in the wilderness of this life. Unlike the human leaders who cannot feel the plight of the herd, He has compassion because He feels what we feel. Indeed, no one but Jesus Christ can lead us. Without Jesus Christ, we are just like "sheep without a shepherd".

 PRAYER

Lord Jesus Christ, lead me through the wilderness of this life. Point me in the right direction, give me a shoulder to stand on. May your hand support and push me in climbing and may I not be harassed like a sheep without a shepherd. Amen.

 May God bless you.

 -Rev. Fr. Kenneth Debre

Sunday, July 21, 2024.

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe.

FIFTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (B)

 

READINGS AT MASS

Amos 7:12-15

Psalm 85

Eph. 1:3-14

Mark 6:7-13

Theme: TRAVEL LIGHT

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

"Travel light" is the first rule for those who are always on the move. Traveling with minimal luggage gives freedom to the traveler and keeps him focused on the mission ahead. It also helps to remind the traveler not to feel too comfortable since his stay abroad would be short.

In our Gospel text for today, Jesus Christ insists that His disciples take nothing for the journey except one pair of sandals, one tunic, and a walking stick. To remain focused on the mission ahead, Jesus advises His disciples to travel light. As Christians, we are expected to shed the excessive baggage of the material world to remain focused on our faith and mission.

In this era of materialism where our list of needs continues to expand beyond food and water, we are tempted to believe that parking hugely for the journey brings security and comfort. We continue to faction and horde material things for ourselves thinking that they will make the journey of life and our stay easier. Unfortunately, this unnecessary luggage of the material world ends up becoming obstacles that destroy and take all our attention from the most important things in life.

Beloved, God desires that we have a hassle-free life. But we continue to complicate it with unnecessary material baggage. To attain this freedom to focus on the most important things in life, we must learn to "Travel light". It is a virtue to travel light. When we travel the road of life with nothing to hold us back, we travel far. The Christian life demands that we travel the road of life with minimal material resources while depending mostly on the unfailing providence of God.

PRAYER

Lord Jesus Christ, you command that your disciples take nothing for the journey on which you sent them. By the prompting of the Holy Spirit, may I come to recognize the things that I do not need for the journey of life and do away with them. Amen.

May God bless you.

-Rev. Fr. Kenneth Debre

Sunday, July 14, 2024.

Holy Rosary Parish, Hohoe.

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.