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If you want then...: Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent (26th March, 2019).

Fr. Onyeka Iloka 0 Weekday Homilies 05:19

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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Topic: If you want then...</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LKfCirjARp8/XJmoMmweFZI/AAAAAAAAE34/CBwKzpsJy1AnVHwZfBLPA0TFdnH7fQjuQCLcBGAs/s1600/26.03.2019.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="247" data-original-width="204" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LKfCirjARp8/XJmoMmweFZI/AAAAAAAAE34/CBwKzpsJy1AnVHwZfBLPA0TFdnH7fQjuQCLcBGAs/s1600/26.03.2019.png" /></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In today’s gospel Peter asked Jesus how often one is bound to
forgive his/her brothers and sisters. Jesus replied, “...seventy-seven times.” He
explained further using the parable of the unforgiving slave. The slave owed
the king ten thousand talents. A talent worth more than fifteen years wages of
a labourer. As he could not pay, he pleaded with the king for time. However,
out of pity the king forgave him the debt. But as the slave stepped out, he met
a fellow slave who owed him a hundred denarii. A denarius was a day’s wage of a
labourer. He seized him by the throat saying, “Pay what you owe.” His fellow
salve’s prayer for time fell on deaf ears. Just imagine the big difference
between the two debts.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The king summoned the unforgiving slave and said to him, “You
wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should
you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?” The gospel
reads further, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And in anger the king handed him over to be tortured until he
would pay his entire debt. So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of
you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Think of how often we wrong God and run to Him for
forgiveness. And we know that He forgives all who come to Him with sincere
heart, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2Chr 7:14;</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jer 33:8; Ps 85:2; 1Jn 1:9</b>. God wants
us to forgive others just as He forgives us, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Col 3:13</b>. We must forgive as many times as we are wronged, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 17:4</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lenten season is not just a time of receiving forgiveness
from God but most importantly a time of giving forgiveness to others. Whoever
fails to forgive piles up his or her sins against him/herself, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt 6:15. 18:35</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Thought for today:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> You will be forgiven if only you forgive.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Let us pray:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> Lord, remove from us the heart of
stone and give us a new heart of flesh and a new spirit to enable us forgive
others (cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ezek 36:26</b>) – Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You are free
to share this reflection with others if you consider it worthy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For more homilies (reflections):<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">May God bless you all+<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>

If you want then...: Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent (26th March, 2019).

Homily (Reflection) for Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent (26 th March, 2019) on the Gospel Dan 3:25.34-43; Ps 24:4-9 (R. v. 6...

Entirely God’s: Annunciation of the Lord (Solemnity) (25th March, 2019).

Fr. Onyeka Iloka 0 Solemnities and Feasts 12:09

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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Homily (Reflection) for The
Annunciation of the Lord (Solemnity) (25<sup>th</sup> March, 2019) on the
Gospel and the Solemnity<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Is 7:10-14.8:10;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ps 39:7-11 (R.vv.8.9);<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />

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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hxfQ03HFxDg/XJi221UAa8I/AAAAAAAAE3s/smWL9zxKf0UTsJiosPQK6tW9O4erjCiAgCLcBGAs/s1600/25.03.2019.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="269" data-original-width="188" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hxfQ03HFxDg/XJi221UAa8I/AAAAAAAAE3s/smWL9zxKf0UTsJiosPQK6tW9O4erjCiAgCLcBGAs/s1600/25.03.2019.png" /></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We celebrate “Mary’s acceptance of the role that God
has chosen for her in his plan of redemption</span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Fr.%20Moses/Desktop/Weekday%20Homilies/Daily%20Tonic%20for%20Year%20I%20(2018-2019)/Lent%20&amp;%20Easter/Third%20Week%20of%20Lent%20(2019).docx" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #2e7061;">[1]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.”
It is the celebration of the announcement by the angel Gabriel to Virgin Mary
that she would conceive and become the mother of Jesus, the Son of God, marking
his Incarnation. This took place “in the sixth month” of Elizabeth's pregnancy,
cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 1:36</b>. In England, this came
to be known as Lady Day. It marked the New Year until 1752.</span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Fr.%20Moses/Desktop/Weekday%20Homilies/Daily%20Tonic%20for%20Year%20I%20(2018-2019)/Lent%20&amp;%20Easter/Third%20Week%20of%20Lent%20(2019).docx" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #2e7061;">[2]</span></span></span></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Topic: Entirely God’s</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In today’s gospel, angel Gabriel was sent by God to Virgin
Mary. The angel said to her, “Greetings, favoured one! The Lord is with you.”
Mary was much perplexed by these words. And the angel went further,<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God.
And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him
Jesus. He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the
Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over
the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mary asked, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel
replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High
will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be
called Son of God.” Mary immediately gave her acceptance speech: “Here am I,
the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We see how willingly Mary accepted her role in God’s plan for
our redemption. She did not even ask for time either to think over it or to
consult anybody. We must remember that Mary could have said no but she
willingly said yes to the will of God. And it is on this single-minded yes of
Mary hangs today’s solemnity.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On our part, we are God’s “unworthy servants” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 17:10</b>). Consequently, we ought to
accept the will of God always willingly after the example of Mary. This world
and the desire for it that we sometimes cling to will surely pass away, but he
who does the will of God abides forever, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Jn 2:17</b>. Saint Peter rightly asks us “to live for the rest of the
time in the flesh no longer by human passions but by the will of God” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Pt 4:2</b>). And one needs endurance to do
this, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Heb 10:36</b>. Finally,
accepting the will of God does not make one lesser but greater, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Prov 11:24</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Bible Reading</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">: </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Rom 12:1-2;
1Thess 4:1-12</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Let us pray:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> Lord, give us the grace to
appreciate your Son and Mary who willingly accepted to be His mother – Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You are free
to share this reflection with others if you consider it worthy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For more homilies (reflections):<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">May God bless you all+</span>

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<a href="file:///C:/Users/Fr.%20Moses/Desktop/Weekday%20Homilies/Daily%20Tonic%20for%20Year%20I%20(2018-2019)/Lent%20&amp;%20Easter/Third%20Week%20of%20Lent%20(2019).docx" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #2e7061;">[1]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">The Weekday Missal: A new edition
(1995). London: HarperCollins Religious, p. 1454.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
</div>
<div id="ftn2" style="mso-element: footnote;">

<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.7in;">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Fr.%20Moses/Desktop/Weekday%20Homilies/Daily%20Tonic%20for%20Year%20I%20(2018-2019)/Lent%20&amp;%20Easter/Third%20Week%20of%20Lent%20(2019).docx" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #2e7061;">[2]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annunciation"><span style="color: #2e7061; font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Annunciation</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>

Entirely God’s: Annunciation of the Lord (Solemnity) (25th March, 2019).

Homily (Reflection) for The Annunciation of the Lord (Solemnity) (25 th March, 2019) on the Gospel and the Solemnity Is 7:10-14.8:10...

Meant for each other: Third Sunday of Lent (C) (24th March, 2019).

Fr. Onyeka Iloka 0 Sunday homilies 12:03

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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Homily (Reflection) for the Third Sunday of
Lent (C) (24</span><sup><span style="font-size: small;">th</span></sup><span style="font-size: large;"> March, 2019) on the Gospel<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Ex 3:1-8.13-15;</span><br />

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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">A lady visited their parish priest in
his office and complained about her husband. He who used to be very active in
virtually all the church’s activities hardly goes to church. To worsen the
situation he does not even stay at home either. And she had tried to see if he
had taken to drinking, eating outside, and things like that but could not
establish any. The priest who knew the man even before he got married to the
woman was surprised to receive such report about him. After asking the woman
few questions, he fixed a date for the couple.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">The man was on the wheel with his
wife next to him to see the priest on the appointed day. After welcoming them,
the woman was asked by the priest to repeat what she told him about her husband
and she did. In response the man admitted virtually all his wife said. However
he went further to say that his only problem with his wife is that although a
champion in going to church activities yet she has nothing to show for it. He
went on to explain that his wife did not only detest doing anything good for
others but would not even allow him to do so. That those times his wife wanted
him to go to church with her and he refused were the times he used to visit the
sick, the prisoners, the destitute homes, orphanages, among so many others
which his wife would never approve of. For the woman giving is synonymous with
being wasteful.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Topic:</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> Meant for each other</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B1P1i63PWdI/XJi1ceqinmI/AAAAAAAAE3g/vrb0GLOi5tEGpt_9vsfUQIfwAfzoAxV8ACLcBGAs/s1600/24.03.2019.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="161" data-original-width="314" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-B1P1i63PWdI/XJi1ceqinmI/AAAAAAAAE3g/vrb0GLOi5tEGpt_9vsfUQIfwAfzoAxV8ACLcBGAs/s1600/24.03.2019.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Today’s gospel (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 13:1-9</b>) is made up of two parts,
Jesus’ teaching that repentance is sine qua non for one to live and the parable
of the barren fig tree. Our homily is based on the two parts.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">In the first part (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk
13:1-5</b>) some people told Jesus about the Galileans Pilate mingled their
blood with their sacrifices. And while addressing this, He made reference to
the eighteen killed by the tower of Siloam which fell on them. He told the
people frankly that both those Galileans and the eighteen were not the worst
sinners and that unless they repent, they would all perish.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">The second part (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk
13:6-9</b>) is about a man who planted a fig tree in his vineyard. After three
years of waiting in vain for it to bear fruit said to the gardener, “See here!
For three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree, and still I
find none. Cut it down! Why should it be wasting the soil?” It took the
intervention of the gardener for the tree to be given a year to either bear
fruit and stand or remain barren and be cut down.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">In his preaching, John the Baptist said to the people, “Bear
fruits that befit repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have
Abraham as our father’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise
up children to Abraham” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 3:8</b>).
Also, Saint Paul while defending himself and the gospel before king Agrippa
said that he “declared first to those at Damascus, then at Jerusalem and
throughout all the country of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should
repent and turn to God and perform deeds worthy of their repentance” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Acts 26:20</b>). Again in his letter to the
Ephesians he wrote, “I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, beg you to lead a
life worthy of the calling to which you have been called” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Eph 4:1</b>). And again to the Colossians he wrote, “lead a life worthy
of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and
increasing in the knowledge of God” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Col
1:10</b>).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Unlike the couple in our introductory story who see being a
Christian and doing good works as two separate things, being a Christian
(repentance) and bearing fruits (good works) go together. They are two sides of
the same coin.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">The two parts of today’s gospel
find a meeting point in every true Christian. Jesus warns that we must repent
to escape being perished. And repentance can only be made manifest in good
works, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jas 2:17, 26</b>. None of
these can survive without the other. I see Jesus in today’s gospel saying the
same thing in two ways: if the people do not repent they would perish and if
the fig does not bear fruit it will be cut down. We must repent and bear fruits
to live. And let us be very quick about this because like the fig tree you
and/or me might have been given just a year to prove our stand. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Bible Reading</span></b><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">: Lk 3:7-14; Jas 2:14-26.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Thought for today:</b> Bear fruits that befit who you are.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Let us pray:</span></b><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> </span>May the good Lord help us bear
fruits worthy of our calling – Amen. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">You
are free to share this reflection with others if you consider it worthy.</span></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For
more homilies (reflections):<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To Contact and/or to support this ministry:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b><br />

<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tel: +234 813 305
0302</span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">       </span>Email: </span></span></b><a href="mailto:fromthepulpitonline@gmail.com"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">thepulpitonline@gmail.com</span></a></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">May God bless you all+</span></div>

Meant for each other: Third Sunday of Lent (C) (24th March, 2019).

Homily (Reflection) for the Third Sunday of Lent (C) (24 th March, 2019) on the Gospel Ex 3:1-8.13-15; Ps 102:1-4.6-8.11. (R.v.8); ...

God is waiting: Saturday of the Second Week of Lent (23rd March, 2019).

Fr. Onyeka Iloka 0 Weekday Homilies 10:28

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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Topic: God is waiting</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UNT8K45-_sE/XJifF2dwfVI/AAAAAAAAE3U/MUXYBcw39dUTzelb5LcPaFvHmpBmtjacQCLcBGAs/s1600/23.03.2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="215" data-original-width="234" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UNT8K45-_sE/XJifF2dwfVI/AAAAAAAAE3U/MUXYBcw39dUTzelb5LcPaFvHmpBmtjacQCLcBGAs/s1600/23.03.2019.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today’s gospel is made up of a prelude (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 15:1-3</b>) and the parable of the prodigal son (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 15:11-32</b>). In the prelude, the
Pharisees and the scribes grumbled because Jesus did not only welcome sinners
but also ate with them. The parable of the prodigal son is better known today
as the parable of the loving father; it shows the father’s love more than the
prodigality of the son.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The loving father had two sons. The younger requested and got
his share of their father’s wealth. After squandering it in a distant country,
things got so bad that he had to hire himself out to a citizen who sent him to
feed the pigs in the field. He would have ate the pods for the pigs but was not
given. When he came to his senses he returned home to plead with their father
to take him as a hired servant. However, on sighting him at a distant the man
ran to him, put his arms around him and kissed him. Before he could finish his
prayer the loving father asked the slaves to quickly put the best robe on him,
a ring on his finger, and to kill the fatted calf for a feast. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When the elder brother who was in the field came near to the
house and learnt what was happening he refused to enter the house. He was angry
that their father never appreciated his absolute loyalty. Their father pleaded
with him, “Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we
had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has
come to life; he was lost and has been found” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 15:31-32</b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lenten season is also a period of homecoming. God is waiting
for me and for you to return. Just as the prodigal son was restored to his lost
state, God will restore us if only we could come back. Although God desires
that we remain without going astray “but if any one does sin, we have an
advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Jn 2:1</b>). God’s kindness is not a licence to sin, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rom 6:15</b>. The Pharisees, the scribes,
the elder brother and their likes ought not be angry at God’s mercy, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt 20:13-15</b>. He owns us all. He is
the one to condemn or to acquit, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk
6:37; Is 3:13</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Thought for today:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> God is waiting for us all to come back.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Let us pray:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> Lord, strengthen us in our effort to
come back wholly to you – Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To Contact
and/or to support this ministry:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tel: +234 813 305 0302</span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">       </span>Email: </span></span></b><a href="mailto:fromthepulpitonline@gmail.com"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">thepulpitonline@gmail.com</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">May God bless you all+<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>

God is waiting: Saturday of the Second Week of Lent (23rd March, 2019).

Homily (Reflection) for Saturday of the Second Week of Lent (23 rd March, 2019) on the Gospel Mic 7:14-15.18-20; Ps 102:1-4.9-...

Those tenants: Friday of the Second Week of Lent (22nd March, 2019).

Fr. Onyeka Iloka 0 Weekday Homilies 05:37

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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Topic: Those tenants</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M2guQBezCDI/XJRmMX9WCSI/AAAAAAAAE3I/biPkC49MtWAjDmpa67W-pb8rnugvcqR8QCLcBGAs/s1600/22.03-2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-M2guQBezCDI/XJRmMX9WCSI/AAAAAAAAE3I/biPkC49MtWAjDmpa67W-pb8rnugvcqR8QCLcBGAs/s1600/22.03-2019.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We see in today’s gospel the parable of the wicked tenants. In
this parable, a landowner “planted a vineyard, put a fence around it, dug a
wine press in it, and built a watchtower. Then he leased it to tenants and went
to another country” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt 21:33</b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">When he sent his slaves to the tenants for his own share of
the produce, the tenants seized the “slaves and beat one, killed another, and
stoned another”. He later sent more slaves and they were treated like the first
group. When he finally sent his son thinking, “They will respect my son,” the
tenants said to themselves, “This is the heir; come, let us kill him and get
his inheritance” and so they did. Jesus then asked, “Now when the owner of the
vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” Those listening to Him
replied, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and lease the
vineyard to other tenants who will give him the produce at the harvest time.” The
chief priests and the Pharisees would have arrested Jesus when they realised
that the parable was all about them, but for the fear of the crowd who regarded
Him as a prophet.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Surely it is very easy for anyone to condemn those tenants. But
let us leave them for now. In Saint Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians he asks,
“For who sees anything different in you? What have you that you did not
receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if it were not a gift?” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Cor 4:7</b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">All we have is from God, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Chr 29:12; 1Sam 2:7; Prov 22:2</b>. And like the landowner, God
expects each and every one of us to give Him His own share of the produce
through His slaves, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt 25:31-46</b>.
But what does He get in return? Sometimes His slaves are suppressed, maltreated,
imprisoned, even extorted, and so on. And at other times some even deny Him the
ownership of what He has given us to look after. Or do you think that we have
been fair enough? Whoever fails to give God His share will find it very hard to
make heaven, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt 19:23</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This is the time to lay up “treasures in heaven, where
neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt 6:20</b>). God’s slaves come for His
share in different ways. If you want to have enough in heaven that will be
truly yours give God His due (pay what you owe), cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 16:12</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Thought for today</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">: Giving God His share of the produce.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Let us pray:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> God, help us this Lent and all the
days of our lives to willingly give you your share of the produce – Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

Those tenants: Friday of the Second Week of Lent (22nd March, 2019).

Homily (Reflection) for Friday of the Second Week of Lent (22 nd March, 2019) on the Gospel Gen 37:3-4.12-13.17-28; Ps 104:16-...

After the leveller: Thursday of the Second Week of Lent (21st March, 2019).

Fr. Onyeka Iloka 0 Weekday Homilies 05:40

<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Topic: After the leveller</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-balzVbyJEqE/XJMVjTNN8rI/AAAAAAAAE28/j_ZGA4-N_ckbhye-xf6pesLs8I-LmAejgCLcBGAs/s1600/21.03.2019.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-balzVbyJEqE/XJMVjTNN8rI/AAAAAAAAE28/j_ZGA4-N_ckbhye-xf6pesLs8I-LmAejgCLcBGAs/s1600/21.03.2019.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In today’s gospel we see a figure that better depicts a
wealthy king, “a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who
feasted sumptuously every day” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 16:19</b>).
Surprisingly at his gate sat, “a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores,
who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even
the dogs would come and lick his sores” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk
16:20-21</b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">At the appointed time, Lazarus died and was taken to the
bosom of Abraham where he is being comforted. The rich man also died and was
buried. While he is being tormented in Hades, he looked up and saw Abraham with
Lazarus by his side. “He called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and
send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finder in water and cool my tongue; for I am
in agony in these flames” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 16:24</b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Wait a minute, someone who had been feasting sumptuously
every day now begs for a dip of finger in water. The only thing that looks like
an act of kindness in the onetime rich man is his plea for Lazarus to warn his
five brothers lest they end up in the same place of torment. However Abraham
replied, “They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.” And to
this he replied, “No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the
dead, they will repent.” Abraham said to him, “If they do not listen to Moses
and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the
dead.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Lenten season is a special time for giving alms. It is
important to listen to Jesus’ admonition, “make friends for yourselves by means
of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone, they may welcome you into the
eternal homes” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 16:9</b>). The fate of
the rich man awaits all who would not reach out to others, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 13:1-5</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Again, this is a time of repentance. Postpone no further. We
have Moses and the prophets. What are you waiting for? Today is the favourable
time, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ps 102:13; Is 49:8</b>. Let us
“Seek the LORD while he may be found, call upon him while he is near” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Is 55:6</b>). Have you been feasting daily
with your wealth or feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the
prisoners, giving drink to the thirsty, and so on, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt 25:31-46</b>? What you do with your wealth today defines your
tomorrow.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Thought for today:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> Wealth is meant to be used and not misused, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 16:9</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Let us pray:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> May God help us make good use of all
He blessed us with – Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

After the leveller: Thursday of the Second Week of Lent (21st March, 2019).

Homily (Reflection) for Thursday of the Second Week of Lent (21 st March, 2019) on the Gospel Jer 17:5-10; Ps 1:1-4.6. (R. Ps ...

Below the robe: Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent (20th March, 2019).

Fr. Onyeka Iloka 0 Weekday Homilies 05:08

<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Homily (Reflection) for Wednesday of
the Second Week of Lent (20<sup>th</sup> March, 2019) on the Gospel<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 50%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 50%;"></span></b> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jer 18:18-20;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ps 30:5-6.14-16 (R. v. 17);<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />

<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Topic: Below the robe</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t3XvrNJSegM/XJG8pIfcIPI/AAAAAAAAE2k/S6eD4D2VCV0IQEmfDelRFO_0rosWfcZ6gCLcBGAs/s1600/20.03.2019.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="247" data-original-width="204" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-t3XvrNJSegM/XJG8pIfcIPI/AAAAAAAAE2k/S6eD4D2VCV0IQEmfDelRFO_0rosWfcZ6gCLcBGAs/s1600/20.03.2019.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today’s gospel is made up of two parts, namely: Jesus foretold
His death and resurrection a third time (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt
20:17-19</b>), and The Request of the Mother of James and John (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt 20:20-28</b>). Our reflection will
focus on the second part.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The mother of James and John approached Jesus with her two
sons, kneeling before Jesus and asked for a favour. Jesus said to her, “What do
you want?” She replied, “Declare that these two sons of mine will sit, one at
your right hand and one at your left, in your kingdom.” Although the two
promised to drink the cup Jesus was to take yet He said to them, “... to sit at
my right hand and at my left, this is not mine to grant, but it is for those
whom it has been prepared by my Father.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The reaction of the ten showed among other things that they
were not different. Calling them to Himself Jesus said to them, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2pt 0in 0pt 0.7in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them,
and their great ones are tyrants over them. It will not be so among you; but
whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes
to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man came not to be
served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt 20:25-28</b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The attitudes of both the rulers and great ones among the
Gentiles as depicted in today’s gospel are better than what we see in the house
of God today. Hence many are ready for anything just to become leaders. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The question, ‘What do you want?’ (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt 20:21</b>) can be more beneficial if each of us take it as one
directed to him/herself. Each of us must take time to answer this question. It
will help each of us see below his or her own robe, whether one is on the right
track or not. It is very dangerous to leave this unanswered. Our call to be
Christians is a call to humility, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jas
4:6, 10; 1Pt 3:8; 5:6</b>. Christians ought to be humbler as they go higher. We
must see others as better than ourselves, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Phil 2:3</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Thought for today:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">What do you want? (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt 20:21</b>)</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Let us pray:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> Lord, help me to desire you and you
alone – Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You are free
to share this reflection with others if you consider it worthy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For more homilies (reflections):<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">May God bless you all+<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>

Below the robe: Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent (20th March, 2019).

Homily (Reflection) for Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent (20 th March, 2019) on the Gospel Jer 18:18-20; Ps 30:5-6.14-16 (R...

Truly righteous: Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Husband of B.V.M. (19th March, 2019).

Fr. Onyeka Iloka 0 Solemnities and Feasts 05:30

<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bJPZgmRaX7U/XJBwPYZVpNI/AAAAAAAAE2Y/osswxuAHctc6RWZH64xuYVFuqEq6CEyrgCLcBGAs/s1600/19.03.2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="259" data-original-width="195" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bJPZgmRaX7U/XJBwPYZVpNI/AAAAAAAAE2Y/osswxuAHctc6RWZH64xuYVFuqEq6CEyrgCLcBGAs/s1600/19.03.2019.jpg" /></a><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Saint Joseph, spouse
of the </span></span></b><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blessed_Virgin_Mary" title="Blessed Virgin Mary"><b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Blessed Virgin Mary</span></span></b></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> and f</span><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">oster-father of </span></b></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_Christ" title="Jesus Christ"><b><span style="color: blue; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jesus Christ</span></span></b></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> is the p</span><b><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">rince and patron of the Universal
Church.</span></b><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> According to </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">apocryphal, he was born
in Bethlehem and died in Nazareth. He was a simple village carpenter and is
venerated in the Catholic Church, Anglican Communion, Lutheranism, Methodism,
Eastern Orthodox Church, and Oriental Orthodox Church. Saint Joseph is also the
patron of unborn children, fathers, immigrants, workers, employment,
carpenters, realtors, against doubt and hesitation, and of a happy death,
Canada, Croatia, Korea, Vietnam, Mandaue City, Cebu, Philippines, and many
others. </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_John_XXIII" title="Pope John XXIII"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pope John XXIII</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> added his name to the </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canon_of_the_Mass" title="Canon of the Mass"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Canon of the Mass</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">. </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pope_Francis" title="Pope Francis"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pope Francis</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> had
his name added to the three other </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eucharistic_Prayer" title="Eucharistic Prayer"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Eucharistic Prayers</span></span></a><a href="file:///C:/Users/Fr.%20Moses/Desktop/Weekday%20Homilies/Daily%20Tonic%20for%20Year%20I%20(2018-2019)/Lent%20&amp;%20Easter/Second%20Week%20of%20Lent%20(2019).docx" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #2e7061;">[1]</span></span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Topic: Truly righteous</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The gospel (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt
1:16.18-21.24a</b>) tells us about the great saint we are celebrating. Mary the
mother of Jesus who had been engaged to Joseph was found to be with child from
the Holy Spirit. The gospel goes further, “being a righteous man and unwilling
to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly.” And in a
dream the angel of the Lord told him how it all happened and instructed him to
take his wife. And, “When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the
Lord commanded him.” <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">In the life of Saint Joseph we see in action, </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #292929; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family: Tahoma; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">Think before acting</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">. If he was impulsive in his action, he wouldn’t have
had the time he needed to plan on what to do. And it was legitimate for him to
expose Mary to public ridicule and shameful death, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lev 20:10</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">We have a lot of lessons to learn from the life of Saint
Joseph. Although according to laws we have right to a lot of things yet we must
be careful lest we hurt our brothers and sisters. One’s right can be forfeited
for a higher right, cf.</span> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Matt 19:12</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">. Again, we are called to do God’s
will and not ours, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2Tim 2:26; Heb
13:21</b>. Saint Joseph is a wonderful example. He took Mary as commanded by
God contrary to his own decision. Do we do God’s will or ours? We must follow
the example of Saint Joseph to be truly righteous.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Bible Reading</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">: Rom 9:19-29; 2Tim 2:14-26.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Thought for today:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> We are called to be </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">righteous</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Let us pray:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> Lord, give us all the graces we need
to be truly righteous – Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To Contact
and/or to support this ministry:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tel: +234 813 305 0302</span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">       </span>Email: </span></span></b><a href="mailto:fromthepulpitonline@gmail.com"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 14pt; mso-themecolor: hyperlink;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">thepulpitonline@gmail.com</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">May God bless you all+<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/Fr.%20Moses/Desktop/Weekday%20Homilies/Daily%20Tonic%20for%20Year%20I%20(2018-2019)/Lent%20&amp;%20Easter/Second%20Week%20of%20Lent%20(2019).docx" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #2e7061;">[1]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Joseph"><span style="color: #2e7061; font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Joseph</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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Truly righteous: Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Husband of B.V.M. (19th March, 2019).

Homily (Reflection) for the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Husband of B.V.M. (19 th March, 2019) on the Gospel and the Solemnity 2Sam...

If you want then...: Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent (26th March, 2019).

Entirely God’s: Annunciation of the Lord (Solemnity) (25th March, 2019).

Meant for each other: Third Sunday of Lent (C) (24th March, 2019).

God is waiting: Saturday of the Second Week of Lent (23rd March, 2019).

Those tenants: Friday of the Second Week of Lent (22nd March, 2019).

After the leveller: Thursday of the Second Week of Lent (21st March, 2019).

Below the robe: Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent (20th March, 2019).

Truly righteous: Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Husband of B.V.M. (19th March, 2019).

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