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 Monday, July 31, 2023 Weekday (17) First Reading. Exodus 32: 15-24, 30-34 Psalm. 106: 19-23 (R1b) Gospel. Matthew 13: 31-35 TOPIC FOR REFLECTION ALLOW YOUR FAITH TO GERMINATE AND GROW Faith is like a mustard seed, once planted, it grows with time.  Faith takes time to grow, and once it grows with its root rooted deep in a person, such a person will now become strong like olumo rock, the iroko tree. Any person whose faith is strong and rooted deep in him or her is likened to the parable of the mustard seed. Jesus said... “The kingdom of heaven is like a grain of mustard seed which a man took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches.”  So, faith as small as it may appear,  once rooted, it gives courage to many people.  However, the faith of the Israelites towards God was cold, not strong. This is more reason they ...

 Sunday, July 30, 2023 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time First Reading. 1 Kings 3:5, 7-12 Psalm. 119: 57, 72, 76-77, 127-130  Second Reading. Romans 8: 28-30 Gospel. Matthew 13: 44-52 TOPIC FOR REFLECTION WHAT IS YOUR TREASURE, DIVINE OR WORLDLY? Do you know a man lives according to his treasure? Treasure is yearned for. Yet, the treasure that is yearned for later controls the person who yearns for it. It controls the heart of a person. Are you aware that treasure influences a person? Because, those who seek divine treasure behave in a Godly humble manner, while those who seek worldly treasure are poor proud arrogant persons who placed all their trust in their worldly material wealth.  Read the following passages...  Proverbs. 11: 28; Psalm 49: 6, Mark 10: 24. My dear, I want you to know that treasure is precious. Below are some facts about treasure. 1. There are good treasures and there are bad treasures.  2. Good treasures are divine, while bad treasures are worldl...

SATURDAY, July 29, 2023 16th Week in Ordinary Time SAINT MARTHA, MARY & LAZARUS (MEMORIAL) Mass of the memorial. First reading. 1 John 4: 7-16 Psalm. 34: 2-11 Gospel. John 11:19-27 TOPIC FOR REFLECTION VALUE YOUR SIBLINGS, AND EMULATE MARTHA'S FAITH.  An extract from Pope Francis' DECREE of 26th January 2021 on the Celebration of Saints MARTHA, MARY, AND LAZARUS in the General Roman Calendar. "In the household of Bethany, the Lord Jesus experienced the family spirit and friendship of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, and for this reason, the Gospel of John states that He loved them. Martha generously offered him hospitality, Mary listened attentively to his words and Lazarus promptly emerged from the tomb at the command of the One who humiliated death." As recorded in today's Gospel, Lazarus who was reported ill in verse 1 finally died without Jesus being around. However, as soon as Jesus came and Martha saw Him, she ran to Him and exclaimed in a loud voice, if you h...

 DO NOT SCROLL WITHOUT SHARING YOUR THOUGHTS. FRIDAY, July 28, 2023 Weekday (16) First Reading. Exodus 20: 1-17 Psalm. 19: 8-11 (R. John 6:68c) Gospel. Matthew 13: 18-23 SHARE YOUR REFLECTION WITH OTHERS My dear HOME OF SPIRITUAL MOTIVATIONAL family, today's reflection will take a new dimension.  Please, kindly share how today's Gospel touched you.  Today is bible study sharing. Please, I beg you, don't type AMEN. Only Share your thoughts. Every day people preach to you, today take it upon yourself to preach to somebody. Save a soul with your reflection. Oya, let's go..... Who will be the first to open the floor? The Gospel reading for sharing.  Matt. 13: 18-23 Jesus said to his disciples, “Hear then the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the Evil One comes and snatches away what is sown in his heart; this is what was sown along the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is he who hears the word and i...

THURSDAY 27th July 2023 Weekday 16 First Reading. Exodus 19: 1-2, 9-11, 16-20 Psalm. 36: 6-11 (R. 10a) Gospel. Matthew 13: 10-17 TOPIC FOR REFLECTION YOU ARE VERY LUCKY. Please, if you attend primary school between the 70s to 90s kindly use the tune of " Some have food, but can not eat..." to sing the song below. 1. Some have eyes, but can not see Some can see but have no eyes We have eyes and we can see Glory be to you Oh Lord. 2. Some have ears, but can not hear Some can hear but have no ear We have ears and we can hear Glory be to you Oh Lord.    Amen Do you know that Amen is worked for and not earned, just as grace is built on nature? Good life, good work and communication with God in prayer are equal to AMEN. Well, I am 100% convinced that you must have said "Amen" in your mind as soon as you saw today's topic: "You are very lucky" 😆 😂😂😂😂. Do you think Amen is picked on the floor? My dear, worked for your Amen and the Amen will become yours. ...

 SS JOACHIM & ANNE, PARENTS OF THE B. V. M. (MEMORIAL) (The parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary) Memorial  First reading. Exodus 16:1-5. 9-15 Psalm 78:18-19, 23-28 (R. 24b) Gospel. Matthew Matthew 13: 1-9 TOPIC FOR REFLECTION SAINTS JOACHIM AND ANNE: THE SOWER OF THE MUSTARD SEED OF OUR SALVATION. Saints Joachim and Anne: the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary. According to tradition derived from certain apocryphal writings. St. Anne is one of the patron saints of women in labour. As the grandparents of Jesus, Saints Anne and Joachim are also considered the patron saints of the grandparents.                    The Legend story Information concerning their lives and names is found in the 2nd-century Protevangelium of James (“First Gospel of James”) and the 3rd-century Evangelium de nativitate Mariae (“Gospel of the Nativity of Mary”). According to these non-canonical sources, Anne (Hebrew: Ḥannah) was born in Bethlehem in Jud...

 Tuesday, July 25, 2023. ST JAMES, AP. (FEAST) First Reading.  2 Corinthians 4: 7-15 Psalm. 126: 1-6 (R. 5) Gospel. Matthew 20: 20-28 TOPIC FOR REFLECTION St. JAMES: THE FIRST TO DIE Mothers would always be mothers. The mother of James and John was not asking for a position for herself in Heaven, but rather for her two sons. Please 🙏, let us hail and celebrate our mothers. They can go to any length just to make their children happy  Today, we celebrate the feast of St. James, the son of Zebedee and the brother of John the apostle and evangelist. He was present, with Peter and John, at the special miracles worked by the Lord, at his transfiguration, and in the garden of Gethsemane. He was the first of the apostles to be put to death (see Acts 12:1-3) around the year 42... Therefore, reading from the Gospel, the mother of the sons of Zebedee came up to Jesus, with her sons... Zebedee's Mother: My Lord, (kneeling)  Jesus: What do you want? Zebedee's Mother: Command tha...

Monday, July 24, 2023 16th week in ordinary time First Reading. Exodus14: 5-18 Psalm. 15: 1-6 (R.1a). Gospel. Matthew 12: 38-42 TOPIC FOR REFLECTION THE FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN HAS BLINDED OUR FAITH The fear of the unknown has destroyed many of us today. The fear has blinded us so that we never see the good tidings that lie ahead of us. The situations of our life seem to have created unknown fear in us because the future seems never to be bright at all. All hope seems to be lost. Hence, the ugly situations have made many of us feel God does not exist, and if He does exist, we need a sign as a prove. Yet, in today's first reading, Moses told the sons and daughters of Israel not to fear that the Egyptians they see today, they shall see no more. I, on my part, joined my voice with that of Moses that the problematic situation we find ourselves in today, we shall see no more in no distance time.  Although, some of us are very much comfortable with our present predicaments. We are often afra...

 Sunday, July 23, 2023. 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time. First Reading. Wisdom 12: 13, 16-l9 Psalm. 86: 5-6, 9-10, 15-16 (R.5a) Second Reading. Romans 8: 26-27 Gospel. Matthew 13: 24-43 TOPIC FOR REFLECTION LET US BE PATIENT WITH ONE ANOTHER AS GOD IS PATIENT WITH US. If you Oh Lord should mark our guilt, who will survive? Psalm 130: 3 In today's Gospel, Jesus gave three different parables and all of the parables centred on only one message which is the Seed. The parable contains the farmer, the seed, the field, the enemy and the person who harvested the grain.  *** The meaning of the parable is as follows: Jesus is the farmer, the seed is the kingdom of God, the earth (world) is the field, the devil is the enemy, and the angels are those who harvest. Similarly, the kingdom of God was compared to a small mustard seed that grew to become a big tree, and also like a leaven that grew bigger to become a leavened. Meanwhile, the second reading made it clear that we cannot do anything ...

 FRIDAY 21 July 2023 Weekday 15 First Reading. Exodus11: 10-12: l4 Psalm. 116: 12-13, 15-18 (R. 13) Gospel. Matthew 12: 1-8 TOPIC FOR REFLECTION THE THEOLOGY OF THE LAMB. The Lord gave instructions to the sons and daughters of Israel on what to do. Each family should kill a lamb, eat as instructed, and put the blood as a sign on their doorposts, and when an angel of death shall come,  their entire household shall be saved and not killed.    This is the origin of this song:  When I see the Blood when I see the Blood, When I see the Blood, I will pass, I will pass over you. (over you) So quoting part of the first reading to affirm the origin of the above song, the Lord told them saying:  "When I see the blood, I will pass over you, and no plague shall fall upon you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt. This day shall be for you a memorial day, and you shall keep it as a feast to the Lord; throughout your generations, you shall observe it as an ordin...

Wednesday 19 July 2023 15th Week in Ordinary Time First Reading. Exodus 3: 1-6, 9-12 Psalm. 103: 1-4, 6-7 (R. 8a) Gospel. Matthew11: 25-27 TOPIC FOR REFLECTION GOD CALLS YOU TO LIBERATE YOUR FAMILY JUST AS HE CALLED MOSES TO LIBERATE THE ISRAELITES. My dear, do you know that God can call you to liberate your family, friends or our nation?  Many times, those whom God calls are the least expected, those whom society might have rejected. People called in this category are those whom the scripture refers to as follows: Matthew 21: 42, Psalm 118: 22, 1 Peter 2: 7 ***Have you never read in the Scriptures: "The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone..." Hebrews 5: 4 ***And no one takes this honour on himself, but he receives it when called by God, just as Aaron was. Moses would have been the least expected to have been called by God, because of his past antecedent.  He killed an Egyptian, even his fellow Hebrew men tagged him a murderer, and he ran away from Egypt be...

 TUESDAY 18 July 2023 15th Week in Ordinary Time First Reading. Exodus 2: 1-15 Psalm. 69: 3, 14, 30-31, 33-34  (R. see 33) Gospel.   Matthew 11: 20-24 TOPIC FOR REFLECTION WHOM GOD HAS CHOSEN TO SAVE, HE WILL SAVE When the Pharaoh who never knew Joseph started to rule in Egypt, he gave the order that all newly born male children should be killed, and it was during this period that Moses was born. Imagine how God inspired the mother to place the child inside a basket, put the baby inside the basket on flowing water where the enemy's daughter will see him, and God designed it such that the mother of Moses was called to care for the baby. Funny enough, she was even given money to take good care of the baby. Hence, the baby Moses was preserved by the Lord using his enemy to nurture him, not just inside the enemy's territory, but under the enemy's nose. Invariably, the enemy (Pharao) used his resources and the state's money to train his enemy (Moses) who will later in the...

 MONDAY 17 July 2023 15th Week in Ordinary Time First Reading. Exodus1: 8-14, 22 Psalm. 124: 1-8 (R. 8a) Gospel. Matthew 10: 34-11: 1 TOPIC FOR REFLECTION THE ORIGIN OF CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION IN REFERENCE TO THE ISRAELITES Christianity is the offshoot of Judaism, and Jesus our master whose name and mark we bear is a Jew. Invariably, there is no complete history of Christianity without the story of the Israelites. Therefore, in today's first reading from the book of Exodus, for the first time in history as recorded, a new king Pharaoh who never knew Joseph began to rule over Egypt.  This new king became threatened by the overwhelming population of the sons and daughters of Israel, and he declared persecution against them. I hope we all know that it is the same way the non-Christians feel threatened by the overwhelming population of Christians, and the more threats they feel, the more persecution they declare on followers of Christ. Yet, the more Christians are persecuted, the mo...

Sunday, July 16, 2023 15th Week in Ordinary Time First Reading. Isaiah 55: 10-11 Psalm. 65: 9-13 (R. Lk5:Sa) Second Reading.  Romans 8: 18-23 Gospel. Matthew 13: 1-23 TOPICS FOR REFLECTION FOUR CATEGORIES OF FAITH HOW DEEP IS YOUR FAITH IN GOD? Jesus in today's Gospel presents to us four categories of faith and its consequences.  In these categories of faith, each one of us will certainly belong to one category among them, or maybe swingling between two or three as situations may permit.  Below are the four categories of FAITH as presented by Jesus.  1. Blank Faith 2. Emotional Faith 3. Conditional Faith 4. Rooted Faith Therefore, let us examine each category one after another. 1. BLANK FAITH A Sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. This means that when anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in his heart; this is what was ...

 Friday, July 14, 2023 CAMILLUS DE LELLIS, P. (Opt Mem) First Reading. Genesis 46: 1-7, 26-30 Psalm. 37: 3-4, 18-19, 27-28, 39-40 (R. 39a) Gospel. Matthew 10: 16-23 TOPIC FOR REFLECTION CHRISTIANS MUST BE PERSECUTED How do you feel when your fellow Christians persecute you? 😆 😆 😆 Kindly, journey with me. 1, 2, 3, go... Let's start. In life, if non-Christians should receive persecution once, then any faithful Christian should expect double or triple such persecution. Invariably, no faithful Christian will avoid persecution, no matter how little. So, my dear, if you are not ready to suffer, it simply means you are not ready to be a Christian.  JESUS SAID: “Behold, I send you out as sheep among wolves; so be wise as serpents and innocent as doves."  ***Sheep are loyal and obedient to their master, while wolves are not loyal.  The truth is, regardless of human weaknesses, obedient persons who are loyal act more like their master who is the truth, the way, and the life...

 Thursday, July 13, 2023 Weekday (14) HENRY, Mm. (Opt Mem) First Reading. Genesis 44: 18-21, 23-29; 45: 1-5 Psalm. 105: 16-21 (R. 5a) Gospel. Matthew 10: 7-15 TOPIC FOR REFLECTION THE MANDATE OF CHRIST: FALSE NO ONE TO ACCEPT THE GOOD NEWS. It is said that salvation is personal. No one can false a carmel to drink water, it can only be taken to the river. Jesus said to his apostles, “Preach as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons.  Jesus is also telling us today to go out and proclaim the good news. We are to preach the good news in any place we find ourselves. My dear, if we want people to listen to us, to be converted as we who are preaching are converted, we should preach more with our ways of life, than our flowery oratory words.  Jesus went further to say, You received without pay, give without pay.  Those of us who had already commercialised the good news of Christ, let us be careful. ...

 Wednesday, July 12, 2023 Weekday (14) First Reading. Genesis 41: 55-57; 42: 5-7, 17-24 Psalm 33: 2-3, 10-11, 18-19 (R. 22) Gospel. Matthew 10: 1:7 TOPICS FOR REFLECTION SINFUL LIFE-----NEGATIVE THOUGHTS HOLY LIFE-------POSITIVE THOUGHTS Do you know that THE CONTENTS OF YOUR THOUGHTS AFFECTS BOTH YOU AND OTHERS? Good people discuss while bad people gossip. Do you know that those who are making efforts to be good always think good of others, while those who are making speedy efforts to be bad always think bad of others?  Good people are positive-minded, while bad people are negative-minded. The good people think and speak good of others, while the bad people think and speak ill of others. So, judge and score yourself. Remember, you can not deceive anybody except yourself. My dear, don't be afraid to tell yourself the hard truth and make amend. In all of these, the bigger picture in question form is, HOW DO YOU SEE YOURSELF, AND HOW DO YOU THINK OTHERS SEE YOU? It will be good t...

 Tuesday, July 11, 2023 ST BENEDICT, Abb. (Mem) Office: Memorial, Psalter Week 2 First  Reading. Genesis 32: 23-33 Psalm. 17: 1-2, 6-8 and 15 (R. 15a) Gospel. Matthew 9: 32-38 TOPIC FOR REFLECTION HAVE YOU ENCOUNTERED GOD LIKE JACOB? Jacob unknown to him wrestled with God, and when he realised it was God, he said, I will never let you go unless you bless me. Can we recall how many times we have encountered God in one form or another, did we ever seek the blessings of this God whom we encountered in the human form?  My dear, if we truly want to see God, we need to encounter Him in our fellow human persons. We should allow people to encounter God in us and we in God. On the contrary, some of us had encountered God in various ways but never knew. In our society today, the only encounter with God which many do give testimonies about is when worldly material things were received. As such, most never see they have encountered God once it does not involve material gifts of money...

 Sunday, July 9, 2023 FOURTEENTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR A First Reading. Zechariah9: 9-10 Psalm.145: 1-2, 8-11, 13-14 (R. see 1) Second Reading. Roman 8: 9, 11-13 Gospel. Matthew 11: 25-30 TOPIC FOR REFLECTION LIVING IN THE SPIRIT OF GOD Jesus in today's Gospel prayed thus: “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will all things have been delivered to me by my father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.  The questions are,  Do you know Jesus? I know you will say yes, "I know Jesus".  But, what knowledge of Jesus do you have? Do you know Him as God or as who? These are the fundamental questions we need to ask one another. Many of us Christians only know Jesus by name and by His miraculous deeds, but not in His ways of life. The pro...

 Saturday, July 8, 2023 Weekday (13) B.V.M on Saturday First Reading. Genesis 27: 1-5,15-29 Psalm. 135: 1-6 (R. 3a) Gospel. Matthew 9: 14-17 TOPIC FOR REFLECTION DO NOT SELL YOUR BIRTHRIGHT FOR MATERIAL WEALTH. Many Christians today had already sold their heavenly birthright for earthly material wealth. Hmmm, what a shame. Yet, none of this earthly wealth will go to the grave with one, talkless of going to heaven with them.  In today's Gospel, because Jesus our heavenly inheritance was present with His disciples, they were relaxed, enjoying His presence, because what they ought to have strived to long for was with them, so they did not fast, and of truth,  there was no need for fasting. However, as our inheritance Saviour had returned to heaven, awaiting our coming home one day, then we can now strive to fast especially from sin, in other to be purified to possess our inheritance, which is the kingdom of heaven. Nonetheless, despite the unmerited inheritance offered to us...

 Friday, July 7, 2023 Weekday (13) First Reading. Genesis 23: 1-4.19; 24: 1-8, 62-67 Psalm. 106: 1-5 (R.1b) Gospel. Matthew 9: 9-13 TOPIC FOR REFLECTION ARE YOU A SINNER OR A SAINT? Helloooooooooooooo, should I stop to hellooooo you? 😆 😆 😆  Okay, I have stopped, it seems my hello is too long. Please, if you are a saint, drop this post and go to sleep, because it's not for you, but for sinners like us who need CHRIST JESUS. However, if you see yourself as a sinner in this world, then you need Christ, but if you see yourself as a living saint in this world as I said earlier, do not read further, because you do not need Christ. QED Excuse me, did I just hear you say I am wrong? Wait, are you accusing me of promoting the sinners and not the righteous? Well, before you crucify me, I will be glad to let you know that it was Jesus who said it and not me. Let me quote Him for you before you conclude that I am judging 😂😂😂 Jesus said: Those who are well (self-acclaimed saints) do ...

 Thursday, July 6, 2023 ST MARIA GORETTI, VM (Opt Mem) First Reading. Genesis 22: 1-19 Psalm. 115: 1-6, 8-9 (R.9) Gospel. Matthew 9: 1-8 TOPIC FOR REFLECTION THE MERCIFUL GOD TEST HIS PEOPLE AS HE TESTED ABRAHAM The way God tested Abraham to confirm if he truly loves and has trust in Him, is the same way God does to test us today.  In our world today, the major test given to humanity,  in fact, after Abraham's test, is the test of charity. Please, wait, on a good day, how many of us would naturally have passed such a test given to Abraham by God? Some of us may boast that if we were in Abraham's shoes, we will do the same.  Hmm, it is easier said than done. Let us examine the following together, for us to know how hard such a test is to pass. So, if some may claim it is an easy test, what if you are in the following situations...  1. Imagine you were barren for years, and finally, God gave you a son; still, the same God demanded of you that the child become a ca...

 Wednesday, July 5, 2023 St Anthony Mary Zaccaria, P. (Opt Mem) First Reading.  Genesis 21: 5, 8-20 Psalm. 34: 7-8, 10-13 (R. see 7a) Gospel. Matthew 8: 28-34 TOPIC FOR REFLECTION THE WAY YOU CALL JESUS' NAME DETERMINES YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM. The way we call the name of Jesus matters most. Some call Jesus' name in a comic manner Some call Jesus in a dramatic way Some call Jesus' name in a social way Some call Jesus' name for the sake of identity Some call Jesus' name to lie and cheat Some call Jesus' name to deceive others  Some call Jesus' name to commit a crime Some call Jesus' name to fight the battle alone  Some call Jesus' name when in a difficult situation, and so on to infinity.  My dear, the truth is that many call Jesus' name without reverence, and as such they will not feel the spirit of Jesus' presence, because once one can not have reverence for a name, how can such a person feels the spirit of that name? Imagine, if someone ...