The Pulpit Online

The Word was made flesh: Seventh day in the Octave of Christmas (31st December, 2018).

thepulpitonline.com 0 Weekday Homilies 04:50

<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Homily (Reflection) for the Seventh day in the Octave of Christmas (31<sup>st</sup>
December, 2018)</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1Jn 2:18-21;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ps 95:1-2.11-13. (R. v. 11);<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Topic: The Word was made flesh</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/-ujXfek2GXRM/XCmSDcR_MoI/AAAAAAAAEq0/NcYSmEWf91ozCFCVgntsaUKn11C4y41KwCLcBGAs/s1600/31.12.2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ujXfek2GXRM/XCmSDcR_MoI/AAAAAAAAEq0/NcYSmEWf91ozCFCVgntsaUKn11C4y41KwCLcBGAs/s1600/31.12.2018.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today is the Seventh day in the Octave of Christmas. And today’s
gospel explains to us a little the mystery of incarnation. Christ has come in
human likeness and is now living among us, His creatures in the form of slave,
cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 1:14; Phil 2:7</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">These and many more notwithstanding, many do not see this
period beyond the time for vacation, shopping, and so on. For these, Christ has
no place in Christmas. Hence the gospel reads: “He was in the world, and the
world came into being through him; yet the world did know him. He came to what
was his own, and his own people did not accept him” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 1:10-11</b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We must not lose sight of the fact that all we enjoy are gifts
we received from Him, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 1:16; 1Cor
4:7</b>. It is wrong to take a gift and reject the giver.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 3pt 0in 0pt 0.7in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">...to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave
power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of
the flesh or of the will of man, but of God (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 1:12-13</b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As we enjoy this season, it is important to remember that God
has given us His only Son. Whoever wants to benefit from this must receive Him as
he or she should. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<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;"> Do you </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">receive the gift of Jesus Christ</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>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<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 to receive your Son and
may we also believe in Him – Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2pt 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><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="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tel: +234 813 305 0302 </span></span></b></div>
<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%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><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; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">thepulpitonline@gmail.com</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">May
God bless you all+</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>

The Word was made flesh: Seventh day in the Octave of Christmas (31st December, 2018).

Homily (Reflection) for the Seventh day in the Octave of Christmas (31 st December, 2018) 1Jn 2:18-21; Ps 95:1-2.11-13. (R. v. 11);...

Model Christian Family: Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph (C) (30th December, 2018).

<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Homily (Reflection) for the Feast of
the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph (C) (30<sup>th</sup> December, 2018)
on the Gospel and the Feast<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 4pt 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sir
3:2-6.12-14 or 1Sam 1:20-22.24-28;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ps
127:1-5. (R. v. 1) or Ps 83:2-3.5-6.9-10. (R. v 5);<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AorNh9wyFcM/XChMQOGpdGI/AAAAAAAAEqo/JQl0PkZ1SVIZArTK5epp_C2BSs-tceJjACLcBGAs/s1600/30.12.2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="183" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AorNh9wyFcM/XChMQOGpdGI/AAAAAAAAEqo/JQl0PkZ1SVIZArTK5epp_C2BSs-tceJjACLcBGAs/s1600/30.12.2018.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Holy Family</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">
consists of </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_Jesus" title="Child Jesus"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Jesus</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blessed_Virgin_Mary" title="Blessed Virgin Mary"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Blessed Virgin Mary</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, and </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Joseph" title="Saint Joseph"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Saint Joseph</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.
Veneration of the Holy Family was formally begun in the 17th century by Saint </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fran%C3%A7ois_de_Laval" title="François de Laval"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">François de Laval</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, the first bishop of New France, who founded a </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confraternity" title="Confraternity"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Confraternity</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.
And the <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Feast of the Holy Family</span>
is a </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liturgy" title="Liturgy"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">liturgical</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
celebration in the </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church" title="Catholic Church"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Catholic Church</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
in honour of the trio. Since the </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mysterii_Paschalis" title="Mysterii Paschalis"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">1969 revision</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> of the </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Roman_Calendar" title="General Roman Calendar"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">General Roman
Calendar</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, the feast is celebrated on
the Sunday between </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas" title="Christmas"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Christmas</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> and </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Year%27s_Day" title="New Year's Day"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">New Year's Day</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
(both exclusive), or on 30 December when both Christmas Day and </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Year%27s_Day" title="New Year's Day"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">New Year's Day</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> (<span style="font-size: 14pt;">the </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solemnity_of_Mary,_Mother_of_God" title="Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">Solemnity
of Mary, Mother of God</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">)</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> are Sundays</span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Fr.%20Moses/Desktop/fb/YEAR%20C%202018%20-%202019/Advent%20&amp;%20Xmas/Holy%20Family%20of%20Jesus,%20Mary%20and%20Joseph%20(2018).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; 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: blue;">[1]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Topic: Model Christian Family</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin: 5pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The primary purpose of this feast is
to present the Holy Family as a model for Christian families. I therefore consider
it important to look at some aspects of family life through this model family.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In today’s gospel, we see one of the
few pictures of the holy family as recorded in the bible. The gospel reads in
part, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin: 5pt 0in 0pt 0.7in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">...every year his parents went to
Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old,
they went up as usual for the festival. When the festival was ended and they
started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents
did not know it (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 2:41-43</b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph were not
only truly religious as manifested in their yearly observance of the Passover
but they understood also the passage, “Train up a child in the way he should
go, and when he is old he will not depart from it” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Prov 22:6</b>). Hence they did not just observe the Passover but also took
Jesus along with them. But today many parents have forgotten everything about
God who builds and sustains the family, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ps 127:1-2</b>. Among those who still go to church and other religious
activities many do not consider it important to take their children along.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And when they noticed that Jesus was
not going back with them, both set out immediately in search of him which took
them a whole three days. Yet the bible did not tell us that there was any rancour
between them. I still remember one day a catechist taught the children preparing
for the First Holy Communion the importance of peacefully coexisting with each
other. He used the relationship between different political parties in Nigeria as
an example. He then asked the children to give other examples of people who are
not living peacefully. One little boy told the catechist that no other example
will be better than his parents. The boy went on to tell the catechist that they
lived like cat and dog and hardly agree on anything. And no one supports the opinion
of the other.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin: 7pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Many parents resort to apportioning
blames to each other without achieving anything positive. Mary and Joseph on
the other hand did neither apportion blames to each other nor grumble for the
disappearance of the child Jesus. Yet they searched for him with great anxiety
expressed thus through his mother, “Child, why have you treated us like this?
Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 2:48</b>). Parents ought to look for their
children and the solutions for the evils that bedevil our families today.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Children must remember always that
obedience to parents is not a privilege but their right, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt 15:4</b>; <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ex 20:12</b>; <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Col 3:20</b>; <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Eph 6:1</b>. In today’s gospel, Jesus
obeyed his parents and went down with them to Nazareth and was obedient to
them, (cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2:51a</b>) where he grew in
wisdom and in years.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">May we all emulate the Holy Family of
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Bible Readings</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">: Ps 127:1-5; Eph 6:1-4; Col 3:18-22; Jas 5:7-9.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Let us pray:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> May the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph help us transform our
individual families into model Christian homes</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
– Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><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 />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For
more homilies (reflections):<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Visit our website: </span></span></b><a href="http://www.thepulpitonline.com/"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.thepulpitonline.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Like us on Facebook:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/thepulpitonline"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.facebook.com/thepulpitonline</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Follow us on Twitter:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/thepulpitonline"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.twitter.com/thepulpitonline</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Join our WhatsApp Group via: +234 810 298 6313 </span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Send us Email:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></span><a href="mailto:fromthepulpitonline@gmail.com"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">thepulpitonline@gmail.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 10%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span><br />

<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><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="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tel: +234 813 305 0302 </span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><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; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">thepulpitonline@gmail.com</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">May God bless you all+<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
<br clear="all" />

<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Fr.%20Moses/Desktop/fb/YEAR%20C%202018%20-%202019/Advent%20&amp;%20Xmas/Holy%20Family%20of%20Jesus,%20Mary%20and%20Joseph%20(2018).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; 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: blue;">[1]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Family"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Family</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>

Model Christian Family: Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph (C) (30th December, 2018).

Homily (Reflection) for the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph (C) (30 th December, 2018) on the Gospel and the Feast ...

Consecrated to God: Fifth day in the Octave of Christmas (29th December, 2018).

thepulpitonline.com 0 Solemnities and Feasts 05:19

<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 the Fifth day
in the Octave of Christmas (29<sup>th</sup> December, 2018)<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1Jn 2:3-11;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ps 95:1-3.5-6. (R. v. 11);<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />

<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Topic: Consecrated to God</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://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HuNXxFt0au4/XCbv1izcE6I/AAAAAAAAEqc/pRQ3wcGdjEYzBmrD010qBqhUautKZUtagCLcBGAs/s1600/29.12.2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HuNXxFt0au4/XCbv1izcE6I/AAAAAAAAEqc/pRQ3wcGdjEYzBmrD010qBqhUautKZUtagCLcBGAs/s1600/29.12.2018.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today’s gospel narrates how Jesus was presented in the temple
according to the law of Moses, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lev
12:1-4</b>. God directed that every first-born male must be consecrated to Him,
cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ex 13:2, 12</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">However it is not only the first-born males that are
consecrated to God. He also said of all Israelites: “You shall be people
consecrated to me” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ex 22:31</b>). And
the entire Israelites were truly consecrated to Him, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ex 19:14</b>. Hence we read in the book of Deuteronomy: “...you are a
people holy to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a
people for his own possession, out of all the peoples that are on the face of
the earth” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Deut 7:6</b>). And God loves
those who are consecrated to Him and who follow in His steps, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Deut 33:3</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We all are also consecrated to the Lord. Hence we read of all
Christians in the first letter of Saint Peter: “...you are a chosen race, a
royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, that you may declare the
wonderful deeds of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light”
(<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Pt 2:9</b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dear child of God, consecration does not go with benefits
only, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Deut 33:3</b>. It has responsibilities
also, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Deut 14:21;</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">26:18; 2Chr 7:14</b>. So remember always
that God loves you so much because you are His apple but never forget to do
your own part as a child of God, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk
3:8</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<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 are dedicated/consecrated to God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<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 live out our call as
His children – Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><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 />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For more
homilies (reflections):<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<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%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Visit our website: </span></span></b><a href="http://www.thepulpitonline.com/"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">www.thepulpitonline.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> </span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Like us on Facebook:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/thepulpitonline"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">www.facebook.com/thepulpitonline</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Follow us on Twitter:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/thepulpitonline"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">www.twitter.com/thepulpitonline</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span></div>
<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%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Join our WhatsApp Group via: +234 810 298 6313
</span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Send us Email:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></span><a href="mailto:fromthepulpitonline@gmail.com"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">thepulpitonline@gmail.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 10%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 10%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To Contact and/or to support this ministry:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b><br />

<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%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tel: +234 813 305 0302 </span></span></b></div>
<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%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><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; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">thepulpitonline@gmail.com</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">May
God bless you all+</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>

Consecrated to God: Fifth day in the Octave of Christmas (29th December, 2018).

Homily (Reflection) for the Fifth day in the Octave of Christmas (29 th December, 2018) 1Jn 2:3-11; Ps 95:1-3.5-6. (R. v. 11); L...

Herod’s anger: Feast of Holy Innocents (28th December) (Octave of Christmas)

thepulpitonline.com 0 Solemnities and Feasts 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 the Feast of
Holy Innocents (28<sup>th</sup> December) </span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2pt 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">(Octave of Christmas) on the Gospel and the Feast</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1Jn 1:5–2:2;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ps 123:2-5.7-8. (R. v. 7);<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />

<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IKJ6Y1RzUzM/XCWhp_TIGyI/AAAAAAAAEqQ/sBnu0v9GQMYaZK8EC90_Is_MIpz9RQyPACLcBGAs/s1600/28.12.2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="191" data-original-width="265" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IKJ6Y1RzUzM/XCWhp_TIGyI/AAAAAAAAEqQ/sBnu0v9GQMYaZK8EC90_Is_MIpz9RQyPACLcBGAs/s1600/28.12.2018.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="line-height: 110%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The</span> <span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Feast of Holy Innocents commemorates the children Herod the Great,
the Roman-appointed King of the Jews killed. He directed the Magi from the east
who were searching for Jesus to Bethlehem, and requested them to let him know the
newborn king when they found him. But they were warned in a dream not to go
back to Herod. Saint </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Joseph" title="Saint Joseph"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Joseph</span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> also took
the child and his mother to Egypt as directed by an angel. And when Herod
realized that he had been tricked by the Magi, he was furious, and gave orders
to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old or
under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. The number of the
infants is not certain and some historians even doubt its authenticity. The
Holy Innocents, although Jewish, have been claimed as </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_martyrs" title="Christian martyrs"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">martyrs for Christianity</span></a><a href="file:///C:/Users/Fr.%20Moses/Desktop/Weekday%20Homilies/Daily%20Tonic%20for%20Year%20I%20(2018-2019)/Advent%20and%20Xmas%20Seasons/Octave%20of%20Christmas%20(2018).docx" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><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-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue;">[1]</span></span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Topic: Herod’s anger</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="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the gospel according to Saint Matthew, King Herod was
frightened when he heard that a king was born, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt2:3</b>. He saw him as a rival. As a result, he ordered for the
massacre of every male child in and around Bethlehem who were 2 years old or
under as we read in today’s gospel. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">These Holy Innocents committed no offence. And in fact, no
offence was committed. Yet they were killed in such gruesome manner without any
atom of mercy. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">May be you have suffered Herod’s anger in one way or another.
And surely it was too painful because of the fact that you are innocent. Or
even you may still be suffering or nursing such pains.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On the other hand, has anybody suffered Herod’s anger in your
own hands? And what have you done about it or hope to achieve through that?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you have suffered unjustly or still suffering like the
Holy Innocents, look unto God. And if others have suffered or are still
suffering in your hands, make amends today. It is very important. Remember, God
is coming to reward all according to what each has done, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rev 22:12</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<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;">: Eph 4:25 – 5:2.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<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;"> Has anyone suffered unjustly in your hands?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<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 bring healing to all
those who suffer – Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><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 />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For more
homilies (reflections):<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<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%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Visit our website: </span></span></b><a href="http://www.thepulpitonline.com/"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.thepulpitonline.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> </span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Like us on Facebook:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/thepulpitonline"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.facebook.com/thepulpitonline</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Follow us on Twitter:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/thepulpitonline"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.twitter.com/thepulpitonline</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span></div>
<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%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Join our WhatsApp Group via: +234 810 298 6313
</span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Send us Email:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></span><a href="mailto:fromthepulpitonline@gmail.com"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">thepulpitonline@gmail.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 10%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 10%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2pt 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><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="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tel: +234 813 305 0302 </span></span></b></div>
<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%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><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; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">thepulpitonline@gmail.com</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">May
God bless you all+</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
<br clear="all" />

<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)/Advent%20and%20Xmas%20Seasons/Octave%20of%20Christmas%20(2018).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: blue;">[1]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massacre_of_the_Innocents"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massacre_of_the_Innocents</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>

Herod’s anger: Feast of Holy Innocents (28th December) (Octave of Christmas)

Homily (Reflection) for the Feast of Holy Innocents (28 th December) (Octave of Christmas) on the Gospel and the Feast 1Jn 1:5–2:2...

...he saw and believed (Jn 20:8): Feast of Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist (27th December) (Octave of Christmas).

thepulpitonline.com 0 Solemnities and Feasts 04:33

<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 the Feast of
Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist (27<sup>th</sup> December) (Octave of
Christmas) on the Gospel and the Feast <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 5pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1Jn 1:1-4;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ps 96:1-2.5-6.11-12. (R. v. 12);<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />

<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7Hx7pBcWsOY/XCRHr1LgEhI/AAAAAAAAEqE/T_pPxNKNXT09ZzSs47hBzMb8oFgn25mqACLcBGAs/s1600/27.12.2018.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="202" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7Hx7pBcWsOY/XCRHr1LgEhI/AAAAAAAAEqE/T_pPxNKNXT09ZzSs47hBzMb8oFgn25mqACLcBGAs/s1600/27.12.2018.png" /></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Saint John the Apostle was son of Zebedee and Salome, and one
of the Twelve Apostles. He was called to be an Apostle by our Lord in the first
year of His public ministry. Saint John is considered the same person as John
the Evangelist, John of Patmos and the Beloved Disciple. Saint James the Great
was his elder brother. Jesus referred to the duo as “Boanerges,” (sons of
thunder). He is believed to be the longest living apostle and the only not to
die a martyr's death. John was the only one of the Twelve Apostles who did not
forsake the Saviour in the hour of His Passion and He made him the guardian of
His Mother at the foot of the cross. After the Assumption of Mary, he went to
Ephesus. He was later banished to the Greek Island of Patmos. John is known as
the author of the Gospel of John and four other books in the New Testament -
the three Epistles of John and the Book of Revelation. He died in Ephesus after
AD 98 and is the patron saint of love, loyalty, friendships, and authors.</span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Fr.%20Moses/Desktop/Weekday%20Homilies/Daily%20Tonic%20for%20Year%20I%20(2018-2019)/Advent%20and%20Xmas%20Seasons/Octave%20of%20Christmas%20(2018).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: blue;">[1]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Topic: ...he saw and believed</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 20:8</b>).<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 3pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In today’s gospel pericope, Mary Magdalene ran to Peter and
John and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we did
not know where they have laid him.” The duo set out for the tomb. Although John
outran Peter, Peter first entered the tomb. John later entered the tomb. He saw
and believed. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">While discussing with Nicodemus, Jesus said, “Very truly, I
tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do
not receive our testimony” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 3:11</b>).
And in his first letter, Saint John wrote, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 4pt 0in 0pt 0.7in; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We declare to you ... what we have heard, what we have seen
with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning
the word of life – this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to
it ...so that you also may have fellowship ...with the Father and with his Son
Jesus Christ (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Jn 1:1-3</b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Saint John testified that “the Father has sent his Son as the
Saviour of the world” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Jn 4:14</b>).
And only those who received Him, who believed in His name, He gave power to
become children of God, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 1:12</b>.
Let no one wait to see before he/she believes because, “Blessed are those who
have not seen and yet believe” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 20:29</b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><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;">: Jn 20:25-29; 1Jn 4:7-12.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<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;"> ...the Word became flesh and dwelt among us (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 1:14</b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 15pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<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, open our eyes to see your Son
who dwells among us – Amen (cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 1:14</b>).</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 15pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist – pray for us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><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 />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For more
homilies (reflections):<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<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%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Visit our website: </span></span></b><a href="http://www.thepulpitonline.com/"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.thepulpitonline.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> </span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Like us on Facebook:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/thepulpitonline"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.facebook.com/thepulpitonline</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Follow us on Twitter:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/thepulpitonline"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.twitter.com/thepulpitonline</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span></div>
<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%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Join our WhatsApp Group via: +234 810 298 6313
</span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Send us Email:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></span><a href="mailto:fromthepulpitonline@gmail.com"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">thepulpitonline@gmail.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 10%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 10%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2pt 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><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="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tel: +234 813 305 0302 </span></span></b></div>
<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%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><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; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">thepulpitonline@gmail.com</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">May
God bless you all+</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
<br clear="all" />

<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)/Advent%20and%20Xmas%20Seasons/Octave%20of%20Christmas%20(2018).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: blue;">[1]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;"> </span><a href="http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=228"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=228</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>

...he saw and believed (Jn 20:8): Feast of Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist (27th December) (Octave of Christmas).

Homily (Reflection) for the Feast of Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist (27 th December) (Octave of Christmas) on the Gospel and the Fe...

Beware: Feast of Saint Stephen, First Martyr (26th December).

thepulpitonline.com 0 Weekday Homilies 04:14

<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 the Feast of
Saint Stephen, First Martyr (26<sup>th</sup> December) </span></span></b></div>
<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;">(Octave of Christmas) on the Gospel
and the Feast</span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 5pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Acts 6:8-10. 7:54-59;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ps 30:3-4.6.8.16-17. (R. v. 6);<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />

<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XxGDvat46jk/XCLx26prjJI/AAAAAAAAEp4/x7_y_rU3AnsQJKY7d7Ljy4msKCMGWRXkQCLcBGAs/s1600/26.12.2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="215" data-original-width="232" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XxGDvat46jk/XCLx26prjJI/AAAAAAAAEp4/x7_y_rU3AnsQJKY7d7Ljy4msKCMGWRXkQCLcBGAs/s1600/26.12.2018.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The primary source of information about Saint Stephen is the
Acts of the Apostles. <b>Stephen</b> or <b>Stephan</b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">,</span> a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, is the </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protomartyr" title="Protomartyr"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">first Christian martyr</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was a </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deacon" title="Deacon"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">deacon</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Acts 7:54-59</b>. Stephen is
mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles as one of the Greek-speaking </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellenistic_Jew" title="Hellenistic Jew"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hellenistic Jews</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> selected to participate in a fairer distribution of welfare
to the Greek-speaking widows, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Acts
6:5</b>. He was accused of </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blasphemy" title="Blasphemy"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">blasphemy</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> and his </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martyrdom" title="Martyrdom"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">martyrdom</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> was witnessed by </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saul_of_Tarsus" title="Saul of Tarsus"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Saul of Tarsus</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> (Saint Paul), a </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharisee" title="Pharisee"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pharisee</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> who would later himself become a follower of Jesus, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Acts 8:1</b>.</span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Fr.%20Moses/Desktop/Weekday%20Homilies/Daily%20Tonic%20for%20Year%20I%20(2018-2019)/Advent%20and%20Xmas%20Seasons/Octave%20of%20Christmas%20(2018).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: blue;">[1]</span></span></span></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Topic: Beware</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">
</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 3pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Just yesterday we popped champagnes among other things that the
long-awaited saviour was born. And today, we celebrate the first person who died
for this saviour. He warns us in today’s gospel: “Beware of them, for they will
hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; and you will be
dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and
the Gentiles” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt 10:17-18</b>). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This warning tells us among other things that to be a
Christian is not all rosy. A call to be a Christian is a call to be a martyr no
matter the circumstance one finds him/herself. At the face of every persecution
that might come one’s way, one must bear witness to the new born king, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 21:13</b>. Again, for anybody to be
saved, he or she must endure to the end, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt 10:22</b>. Saint Stephen is a very good example.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So my dearest in the Lord, as we celebrate our saviour’s
birthday we must also contemplate what it means to be Christ’s follower. Each
of us must be ready for anything that pleases our newborn King to befall us.
Beware, anyone who wants to live an authentic Christian life must be ready for
persecution even from those one least expects, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt 10:21; Mk 13:12</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<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;"> Tighten your belt and lace your shoes for the race.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 15pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<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 the newborn King help us live
out our call as Christians in every circumstance – Amen.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 15pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Saint Stephen – pray for us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><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 />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For more
homilies (reflections):<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<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%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Visit our website: </span></span></b><a href="http://www.thepulpitonline.com/"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.thepulpitonline.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> </span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Like us on Facebook:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/thepulpitonline"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.facebook.com/thepulpitonline</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Follow us on Twitter:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/thepulpitonline"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.twitter.com/thepulpitonline</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span></div>
<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%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Join our WhatsApp Group via: +234 810 298 6313
</span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Send us Email:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></span><a href="mailto:fromthepulpitonline@gmail.com"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">thepulpitonline@gmail.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 10%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span><br />

<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2pt 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><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="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tel: +234 813 305 0302 </span></span></b></div>
<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%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><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; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">thepulpitonline@gmail.com</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">May
God bless you all+</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
<br clear="all" />

<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)/Advent%20and%20Xmas%20Seasons/Octave%20of%20Christmas%20(2018).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: blue;">[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_Stephen"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Stephen</span></a><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</div>

Beware: Feast of Saint Stephen, First Martyr (26th December).

Homily (Reflection) for the Feast of Saint Stephen, First Martyr (26 th December) (Octave of Christmas) on the Gospel and the Feast ...

Your gift to the newborn Christ: Nativity of the Lord (Mass during the Day) (A, B, C).

thepulpitonline.com 0 Solemnities and Feasts 03:40

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">How will you feel if on your birthday, one or some of your guests vow
to make things go wrong?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Topic: Your gift to the newborn Christ</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><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://1.bp.blogspot.com/-39ajGIad5P4/XCLqEdR1YlI/AAAAAAAAEps/iuMjXRqTdS8W3SyolwVXKRN9PyJVcVh-wCLcBGAs/s1600/25.12.2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="177" data-original-width="284" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-39ajGIad5P4/XCLqEdR1YlI/AAAAAAAAEps/iuMjXRqTdS8W3SyolwVXKRN9PyJVcVh-wCLcBGAs/s1600/25.12.2018.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin: 5pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Birthday is the most common
anniversary we have; a great day for the celebrant, and probably family members
and friends who normally invite friends and well-wishers to celebrate with
them. As the invitees make out time to honour the invitation they also consider
the gift to offer to the celebrant. The celebrant normally receives varied
gifts.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We celebrate today the Birthday of
our Lord. A lot are ready just for this period, the hair, cloths, shoes,
houses, cars, to mention but a few. All these and many more are for ourselves. What
do we have for Him?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today’s gospel pericope reads in part:
“All things came into being through him, without him not one thing came into
being…. From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn. 1:3, 16</b>). In reply to his
disciples, John the Baptist said: "No one can receive anything except what
is given him from heaven” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 3:27</b>).
Saint Paul questioned, “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>) Since we received everything from God, not even offering
everything to him will make us think that we have done much. Hence, Jesus
taught us, “… when you have done all that you were ordered to do, say, ‘We are
worthless slaves; we have done only what we ought to have done!” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 17:10</b>) We are nothing before God,
cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rom 4:2</b>. According to St
Ambrose, “Every soul who has believed both conceives and generates the Word of
God and recognizes his works” just as Mary believed and conceived.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Just as John the Baptist came as a
witness to Christ's first coming which we celebrate today, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt. 3:11; Mk 1:7; Lk 3:15-16; Jn 1:6-9</b>,
we ought to be witnesses that He has come, that He is with us, and that He will
come again with our lives. We are called to witness to Christ until He comes
again, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mk 8:38; Lk 9:26</b>. In this
alone we shall find peace and joy. Nothing outside God can offer us anything
good. Our rejoicing ought to be in the Lord alone, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Phil 4:4</b>. It is in the Lord that we ought to boast, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ps 34:2</b>. Through prophet Jeremiah God
said, “but let him who glories glory in this, that he understands and knows me,
that I am the LORD who practice steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in
the earth; for in these things I delight, says the LORD” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jer 9:24</b>). The book of Ecclesiastes reads, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin: 4pt 0in 0pt 0.7in; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Rejoice, O young man, in your youth,
and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth; walk in the ways of
your heart and the sight of your eyes. But know that for all these things God
will bring you into judgment (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Eccl 11:9</b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Christmas is not the end of advent.
How one plan to celebrate Christmas says it all how much one understands the
mystery we are celebrating, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the Nativity</b>
of the Lord. Most often we see it just from the social point of view. One can
either be a source of pride or of shame to Christ on this birthday. We can ask
ourselves whether we present basket of flowers or of shame to Christ.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>What one does during this Christmas
period and not just what one say says it all. We are all invited to Christ’s
birthday. Every host regrets inviting one or those who will mar the event. Will
Christ regret offering you this rare invitation? Christmas is Christ's feast as
well as ours. He has come to take our sins away, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Jn 3:5</b>. Prepare your own gift now if you have not. You still can
prepare a better one if the one you prepared is not good enough for the newborn
King.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Do not forget the poor out there as
you look for Christ to present your gift/s. That man or woman or child out
there in need of your help is the Christ we are celebrating his birthday. Do
not look for another one, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt 25:
40, 45</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Bible Readings</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">: Acts 17:28; Rev. 21:1-8; Matt 10: 32-33; Lk 17:7-10.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin: 5pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Word
became flesh – and lived among us! (Jn 1:14).<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">

</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><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 />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For
more homilies (reflections):<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Visit our website: </span></span></b><a href="http://www.thepulpitonline.com/"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.thepulpitonline.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Like us on Facebook:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/thepulpitonline"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.facebook.com/thepulpitonline</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Follow us on Twitter:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/thepulpitonline"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.twitter.com/thepulpitonline</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
</span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Join our WhatsApp Group via: +234 810 298 6313 </span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Send us Email:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span></span><a href="mailto:fromthepulpitonline@gmail.com"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">thepulpitonline@gmail.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 10%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 10%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><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="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tel: +234 813 305 0302 </span></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><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; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">thepulpitonline@gmail.com</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.5in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">May God bless you all+<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>

Your gift to the newborn Christ: Nativity of the Lord (Mass during the Day) (A, B, C).

Homily (Reflection) for the Nativity of the Lord (Mass during the Day) (A, B, C) on the Gospel Is 52:7-10; Ps 97:1-6. (R.v. 3); H...

The Word was made flesh: Seventh day in the Octave of Christmas (31st December, 2018).

Model Christian Family: Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph (C) (30th December, 2018).

Consecrated to God: Fifth day in the Octave of Christmas (29th December, 2018).

Herod’s anger: Feast of Holy Innocents (28th December) (Octave of Christmas)

...he saw and believed (Jn 20:8): Feast of Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist (27th December) (Octave of Christmas).

Beware: Feast of Saint Stephen, First Martyr (26th December).

Your gift to the newborn Christ: Nativity of the Lord (Mass during the Day) (A, B, C).

Popular Posts

Blog Archive