The lamp: Memorial of Saint John Bosco, P., (31st January, 2019).

<br /> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Homily (Reflection) for the Memorial of Saint John Bosco, P., (31^st January, 2019) on the Gospel and the Memorial</span></b></span></div> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">(<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Thursday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time (I)</b>)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 50%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></o:p></span></b><br /> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Heb 10:19-25;<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Ps 23:1-6. (R. cf. v. 6);<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Mk 4:21-25</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 3pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaJRUmWk5XDxQ9MFYQ41RfT9aoNcPyIbrbpWsjPrZntCN4wHIQdsNIRpXMyTYIRCle_cc3FWMuyvjfrrjrTmmymSLcwhhggbkZS_1OL5hlkLt4MbmC_raGRLy2R7rhjMQMGmGtCV808xc/s1600/31.01.2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="245" data-original-width="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaJRUmWk5XDxQ9MFYQ41RfT9aoNcPyIbrbpWsjPrZntCN4wHIQdsNIRpXMyTYIRCle_cc3FWMuyvjfrrjrTmmymSLcwhhggbkZS_1OL5hlkLt4MbmC_raGRLy2R7rhjMQMGmGtCV808xc/s1600/31.01.2019.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Saint John Bosco, also known as Giovanni Melchiorre Bosco and Don Bosco (16^th August, 1815 – 31^st January, 1888) was born in Becchi, Italy. He lost his father at the age of two, leaving him and his two older brothers to be raised by his mother, Margherita. John was very devout. He later discerned the call to become a priest which requires education, something he lacked because of poverty. He was only 12 when he left home and laboured for two years in a vineyard before he met Jospeh Cafasso, a priest who helped him. He entered the seminary in 1835 and was ordained a priest in 1841. The large number of boys, between the ages of 12 and 18 he saw in deplorable conditions in the prison moved him to do more to help other boys from ending up there. He went into the streets and started to meet young men and boys where they worked and played. He used his talents as a performer, doing tricks to capture attention, then sharing with the children his message for the day. Fr Bosco worked tirelessly seeking work for boys who needed it, and lodgings for others. He fought for the rights for boys who were employed as apprentices and also encouraged those he thought would make good priests to consider a vocation to the priesthood. He established the Society of St. Francis de Sales in 1859 to carry on his charitable work, helping boys with their faith formation and to stay out of trouble. The call for his canonization came immediately after his death. Pope Pius XI declared him a blessed on 2^nd June, 1929 and also canonized him on 1^st April, 1934 (Easter Sunday). He was given the title, “Father and Teacher of Youth.” Saint John Bosco is the patron saint of apprentices, editors and publishers, schoolchildren, magicians, and juvenile delinquents.</span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Fr.%20Moses/Desktop/Weekday%20Homilies/Daily%20Tonic%20for%20Year%20I%20(2018-2019)/Ordinary%20Time%20(I)/Third%20Week%20in%20Ordinary%20Time%20(I)%20(2019).docx" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="color: #2e7061;">[1]</span></span></span><!--[endif]--></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: The lamp</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></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";">Jesus teaches us in today’s gospel that His teachings are not meant to be hidden. Using the allegory of a lamp, they are to be placed on the lamp-stand for others to see. He goes on to say that the standard one uses for others will be used for him/her and even more. More will be given to the person who knows that he/she has because nobody is empty-handed, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Cor 12:7-11</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 celebrate Saint John Bosco today because he did not hide the lamp. He placed it on the stand for all to see especially the youths. He touched and is still touching many aspects of human existence. It is important to note that it was not rosy for him. He had his challenges.<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";">God expects all of us in various ways we can to help others see the light of the gospel. He expects us to do to others exactly what and how we want others to do to us, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt 7:12</b>; <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 6:31</b>. Our duty is to take the lamp, place it on the stand for others and using the right standard for others.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 8pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Bible Reading</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">: 2Tim 4:1-8.<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%; 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;"> Use the measure you would like to be measured with for others.<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-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 place the light of the gospel on the stand for others to see through Christ – Amen.<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-family: "calibri";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Saint John Bosco – Pray for us</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">You are free to share this reflection with others if you consider it worthy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">For more homilies (reflections):<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div> <br /> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Visit our website: </span></span></b><a href="http://www.thepulpitonline.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">www.thepulpitonline.com</span></span></a></div> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Like us on Facebook:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/thepulpitonline"><span style="color: blue; 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The lamp: Memorial of Saint John Bosco, P., (31st January, 2019).

Homily (Reflection) for the Memorial of Saint John Bosco, P., (31 st January, 2019) on the Gospel and the Memorial ( Thursday of the Th...

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Soil type and the harvest: Wednesday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time (I) (30th January, 2019).

<br /> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Homily (Reflection) for Wednesday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time (I) (30^th January, 2019) on the Gospel<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 50%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></b><br /> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Heb 10:11-18;<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ps 109:1-4. (R. v. 4);<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /> <span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Mk 4:1-20</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /> <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: Soil type and the harvest</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;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlayfMneoucPYd1Jak4DUPqII40EkVhoEZZxWsisWuyHbcYF0NzEx014TvY_Y6F9MbTuZLPz-VK0pw31TItWg1FUtc09ABl_hpu7Mc-roAM_Hk41BOc6c72lQHaW_dE9xC1Df9zuR0XU/s1600/30.01.2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="265" data-original-width="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghlayfMneoucPYd1Jak4DUPqII40EkVhoEZZxWsisWuyHbcYF0NzEx014TvY_Y6F9MbTuZLPz-VK0pw31TItWg1FUtc09ABl_hpu7Mc-roAM_Hk41BOc6c72lQHaW_dE9xC1Df9zuR0XU/s1600/30.01.2019.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In today’s gospel, we see the parable of the sower, the purpose, and the meaning. While sowing the seed, some fell on the path, others on the rocky ground, some among the thorns, and others into good soil. Those that fell on the path were eaten up by the birds. And those on the rocky ground although they sprang up quickly but were scorched and withered before they could bear fruits, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ps 129:6</b>. The thorns grew up and choked the seed that fell among them. Finally, the seed that fell into the good soil “brought forth grain, growing up and increasing and yielding thirty and sixty and a hundredfold”.<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;">Jesus explained that the seed is the word of God. The seed that fell along the road refers to people Satan takes away the word of God immediately they hear it. Those on the rocky ground refers to those who receive the word with joy in whom it lasts just a while because they have no root. The word does not survive troubles and persecutions that arise on its account. And those who fell among the thorns refer to those in whom the word is choked by the cares of the world, the lure of wealth, and/or the desire for other things. Finally, those who fell into good soil refer to people in whom the word bears fruits.<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;">Jesus told us, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit and that your fruit should abide; so that whatever you ask the Father in my name, he may give it to you” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 15:16</b>). And in the letter of Saint James we also read, “rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jas 1:21</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;">If then anyone wants to bear fruits, he/she must prepare his/her soul for God’s word. If one fails to prepare for the word, it will certainly fall either on the path or on rocky ground or among the thorns. And we know that none of the seeds that fell on any of these places was able to bear fruit. Chose what you want and work towards that.<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%; 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;">: Jas 1:19-27.<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%; 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 can only be fruitful in good soil.<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-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Let us pray:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> Lord, we have been fallow for various reasons. We ask you to make us the best of soil for your word – Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You are free to share this reflection with others if you consider it worthy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For more homilies (reflections):<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div> <br /> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Visit our website: </span></span></b><a href="http://www.thepulpitonline.com/"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">www.thepulpitonline.com</span></span></a></div> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Like us on Facebook:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/thepulpitonline"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">www.facebook.com/thepulpitonline</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></span></div> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Follow us on Twitter:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.twitter.com/thepulpitonline"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">www.twitter.com/thepulpitonline</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><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%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Join our WhatsApp Group via: +234 810 298 6313</span></span></b></div> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Send us Email:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span><a href="mailto:fromthepulpitonline@gmail.com"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">thepulpitonline@gmail.com</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div> <span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 10%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span><br /> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">To Contact and/or to support this ministry:<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div> <br /> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tel: +234 813 305 0302</span></span></b></div> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">       </span>Email: </span></span></b><a href="mailto:fromthepulpitonline@gmail.com"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">thepulpitonline@gmail.com</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">May God bless you all+<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>

Soil type and the harvest: Wednesday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time (I) (30th January, 2019).

Homily (Reflection) for Wednesday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time (I) (30 th January, 2019) on the Gospel   Heb 10:11-18; Ps ...

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Being Related to Jesus: Tuesday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time (I) (29th January, 2019).

<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 Tuesday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time (I) (29^th January, 2019) on the Gospel<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 50%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></o:p></span></b><br /> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Heb 10:1-10;<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Ps 39:2.4.7-8.10.11. (R. vv.8.9); <o:p></o:p></span></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Mk 3:31-35</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">.<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: Being Related to Jesus</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;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGjjUfjRP8yGkVoW88lU7z9ScB-86zgkvSibI0nqcHNKki4SGJj-1vOOe_s3E7yfNuJvwoXMZ3CdzIJNB6VJJj40kavnefLy9CLeQgtjXuilf3j_xiElHsV8oQgT4ku_UiXcARHkB3f_A/s1600/29.01.2019.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="174" data-original-width="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGjjUfjRP8yGkVoW88lU7z9ScB-86zgkvSibI0nqcHNKki4SGJj-1vOOe_s3E7yfNuJvwoXMZ3CdzIJNB6VJJj40kavnefLy9CLeQgtjXuilf3j_xiElHsV8oQgT4ku_UiXcARHkB3f_A/s1600/29.01.2019.png" /></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">When Jesus was told in today’s gospel that His mother and His brothers were standing outside asking for Him, He queried, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” After looking at those who sat around Him He concluded, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”<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";">Many consider a number of things as advantages they can hope on in the journey towards God. However, Jesus defined in today’s gospel true relatives of His as those who do the will of God. <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 Paul wrote to his son, “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, so that everyone who belongs to God may be proficient, equipped for every good work” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2Tim 3:16-17</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 James exhorts all, <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";">...be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror; for they look at themselves and, on going away, immediately forget what they were like (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jas 1:22-24</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";">Those who do the word of God shall be blessed in their doing, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jas 1:25</b>. Whoever does right is righteous, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Jn 3:7</b>. It is by doing right that one can put to silence the ignorance of the foolish, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Pt 2:15</b>.<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%; 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;">: Jas 1:19-27; 1Jn 2:29–3:10.<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%; 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;"> Are you truly Jesus’ brother and sister and mother?<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-family: "calibri";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Let us pray:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> Lord, give us the grace to become your Son’s </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">brother and sister and mother</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> – Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">You are free to share this reflection with others if you consider it worthy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">For more homilies (reflections):<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div> <br /> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Visit our website: </span></span></b><a href="http://www.thepulpitonline.com/"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">www.thepulpitonline.com</span></span></a></div> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Like us on Facebook:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span></span><a href="http://www.facebook.com/thepulpitonline"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">www.facebook.com/thepulpitonline</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></span></div> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; 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margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 10%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></o:p></span></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">To Contact and/or to support this ministry:</span></span></b></div> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Tel: +234 813 305 0302</span></span></b></div> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">       </span>Email: </span></span></b><a href="mailto:fromthepulpitonline@gmail.com"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">thepulpitonline@gmail.com</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">May God bless you all+<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>

Being Related to Jesus: Tuesday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time (I) (29th January, 2019).

Homily (Reflection) for Tuesday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time (I) (29 th January, 2019) on the Gospel   Heb 10:1-10; Ps 39:2.4.7-...

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Divisions among God’s children: Memorial of Saint Thomas Aquinas, P.D., (28th January, 2019).

<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 Memorial of Saint Thomas Aquinas, P.D., (28^th January, 2019) on the Gospel and the Memorial </span></span></b></div> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">(<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Monday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time (I)</b>)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 50%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></b><br /> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Heb 9:15.24-28;<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ps 97:1-6. (R. v.1);<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /> <span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Mk 3:22-30</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiamRM1hMK_CYuyaJlVj-Ak2HOCRik16BSmjlX1Es80OqlgxsrYYxc6506ycxPhDTXOC6T6apXbGGWea8uJ2Now3tmV7xzZuV0hmkr_-QuDwweuAbaiidJfd66HaqI-ZeQDAxrDEz0GqL0/s1600/28.01.2019.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="265" data-original-width="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiamRM1hMK_CYuyaJlVj-Ak2HOCRik16BSmjlX1Es80OqlgxsrYYxc6506ycxPhDTXOC6T6apXbGGWea8uJ2Now3tmV7xzZuV0hmkr_-QuDwweuAbaiidJfd66HaqI-ZeQDAxrDEz0GqL0/s1600/28.01.2019.png" /></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Tommaso d'Aquino (1225 – 7 March 1274) otherwise known as Saint Thomas Aquinas was an Italian Dominican friar and a Catholic priest who was an immensely influential philosopher, theologian and jurist in the tradition of scholasticism, within which he is also known as the “Doctor Angelicus” and “Doctor Communis”. Unlike many currents in the Church of the time, Thomas embraced several ideas put forward by Aristotle—whom he called “the Philosopher”—and attempted to synthesize Aristotelian philosophy with the principles of Christianity. Saint Thomas best known works are the </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summa_Theologica" title="Summa Theologica"><i><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #2e7061; font-family: Calibri;">Summa Theologica</span></span></i></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> and the </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summa_contra_Gentiles" title="Summa contra Gentiles"><i><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #2e7061; font-family: Calibri;">Summa contra Gentiles</span></span></i></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">. His commentaries on Sacred </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scripture" title="Scripture"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #2e7061; font-family: Calibri;">Scripture</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> and on Aristotle also form an important part of his body of work. He is also distinguished for his eucharistic hymns, which form part of the Church's liturgy. Saint Thomas Aquinas is a </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_of_the_Church" title="Doctor of the Church"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #2e7061; font-family: Calibri;">Doctor of the Church</span></span></a><a href="file:///C:/Users/Fr.%20Moses/Desktop/Weekday%20Homilies/Daily%20Tonic%20for%20Year%20I%20(2018-2019)/Ordinary%20Time%20(I)/Third%20Week%20in%20Ordinary%20Time%20(I)%20(2019).docx" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #2e7061;">[1]</span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><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: Divisions among God’s children</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;">The scribes branded Jesus a demoniac in today’s gospel because He was doing what He was sent to do (the will of the Father), cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 4:34. 5:30. 6:38</b>. Jesus’ reply to them in parables reads in part, “How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.”<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%;">There is serious emphasis on the need for us to be united. Every Christian is part of one body, the Christ, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Cor 12:12.</b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">27.</span> </b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Eph 2:19.</span> </b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">5:30</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">. We ought to be one with God and with our brothers and sisters, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Cor 6:17;</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Gal 3:28</b>. Saint Paul admonishes us, “...if we have been united with him in a death like his, we shall certainly be united with him in a resurrection like his” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rom 6:5</b>). He also appeals to all, <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;">Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Cor 1:10</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;">Remember, we ought to be one with God and with our brothers and sister, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Cor 6:17</b>. Although He assures us victory (cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Deut 20:4</b>), yet we keep weakening ourselves through divisions. As long as we keep fighting each other, we can never be as effective as we ought in the world. Let us retrace our steps back to unity with God and with our brothers and sisters.<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;">: 1Cor 1:10-17. 3:1-23.<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%; 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 still of the flesh... as long as there is jealousy and quarrelling among you (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Cor 3:3</b>).<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-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Let us pray:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> Lord, give us your Spirit and a heart of flesh to be united with you and with our brothers and sisters – Amen.<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-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Saint Thomas Aquinas – Pray for us</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">You are free to share this reflection with others if you consider it worthy.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For more homilies (reflections):<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div> <br /> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Visit our website: </span></span></b><a href="http://www.thepulpitonline.com/"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 14pt; mso-themecolor: hyperlink;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">www.thepulpitonline.com</span></span></a></div> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; 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font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: #2e7061;">[1]</span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Aquinas"><span style="color: #2e7061; font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Aquinas</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>

Divisions among God’s children: Memorial of Saint Thomas Aquinas, P.D., (28th January, 2019).

Homily (Reflection) for the Memorial of Saint Thomas Aquinas, P.D., (28 th January, 2019) on the Gospel and the Memorial ( Monday of ...

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Always say the truth: Third Sunday of the Year (C) (27th January, 2019).

<br /> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Homily (Reflection) for the Third Sunday of the Year (C) (27</span>^{<span style="font-size: small;">th</span>}<span style="font-size: large;"> January, 2019) on the Gospel<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2pt 0in 0pt;"> <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Neh 8:2-6.8-10;</span></div> <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Ps 18:8-10.15. (R. Jn 6:63);</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">1Cor 12:12-30 or 1Cor 12:12-14.17;</span><br /> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 1:1-4; 4:14-21</b>.</span></span><br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div style="margin: 10pt 0in 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;">A priest was dragged to the bishop by some of his parishioners. The aggrieved parishioners said virtually everything with the exception of anything good about the priest. Wondering if the priest was on a mission for all sorts of evil at the parish, the bishop asked them if he actually did all the things they accused him of that even if he decided to do only evil he would not have been able to do all they have said. After looking at themselves for a while, the spokesperson replied, “My Lord, it is not that he has actually did all these. We decided to accuse him of both the ones he has done and those we think he will do in the future if he is allowed to stay further. It is left for him to wriggle himself out of them or bear the consequences”.<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-size: large;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Topic:</span><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> Always say the truth</span></b><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh87-znkefvcMw1pFdIfbpbyFPVn635fK6UWcMTLPjhyphenhyphenTMnI8hYseRoGLDSOtaVrvT50Hm_gsHofzoFUBrH9Qa0K4GChrvkDCNnDS3cYh82NQwNilF2tHAGCJkULMka3g9PfTiuHgurC7A/s1600/27.01.2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh87-znkefvcMw1pFdIfbpbyFPVn635fK6UWcMTLPjhyphenhyphenTMnI8hYseRoGLDSOtaVrvT50Hm_gsHofzoFUBrH9Qa0K4GChrvkDCNnDS3cYh82NQwNilF2tHAGCJkULMka3g9PfTiuHgurC7A/s1600/27.01.2019.jpg" /></a></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Two major themes in today’s gospel are the purpose of Saint Luke’s gospel (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 1:1-4</b>) and the beginning of the Galilean ministry (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 4:14-21</b>). Saint Luke knew that he was not the first to embark on the project but he “too decided, after investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly account ... so that you may know the truth concerning the things about which you have been instructed” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 1:3-4</b>). And the second part portrays Jesus as the fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophesy, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Is 61:1-2</b>. Our homily however will be based on the first part (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 1:1-4</b>). </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Luke clearly stated that he was not an eyewitness (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 1:2</b>). He did a careful investigation to write an orderly account for Theophilus to know the truth concerning the things he has been instructed. Luke did not intend convincing Theophilus through deception because “He who speaks the truth gives honest evidence, but a false witness utters deceit” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Prov 12:17</b>).</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Today, truth has fallen in the public squares, and uprightness cannot enter, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Is 59:14</b>. Through prophet Jeremiah God accuses the Israelites of not obeying His voice and of rejecting discipline. Again, that truth has perished and is cut off from their lips, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jer 7:28</b>. He goes further “Every one deceives his neighbour, and no one speaks the truth; they have taught their tongue to speak lies; they commit iniquity and are too weary to repent” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jer 9:5</b>).</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Although many despise those who speak the truth (cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 8:45;</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Amos 5:10</b>) yet children of God cannot abandon truth for lies. God is the truth, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Is 65:16; Jn 18:37</b>. Jesus also speaks of Himself, I am ... the truth, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 14:6</b>. Again, the Holy Spirit is the truth, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Jn 5:7</b>. And no lie can be found in the truth, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Jn 2:21</b>. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">On the contrary, the devil hates the truth, because there is no truth in him. And when he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 8:44</b>.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Children of God must remember that God’s word is truth, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 17:17</b>. And the summary of His word is also truth, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ps 119:160</b>. The household of God, the church of the living God, is both the pillar and bulwark of the truth, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Tim 3:15</b>. But unfortunately, it seems that many have exchanged the truth about God for a lie; they worship and serve creatures rather than the Creator, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rom 1:25</b>. The sanctity of the house of God must be maintained at all cost no matter what one thinks is at stake. Sanctification of souls should be paramount. Handle the word of truth correctly, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2Tim 2:15</b>. We must do everything only for the truth, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2Cor 13:8</b>.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Saint Paul begs us all to guard the truth that has been entrusted to us by the Holy Spirit who dwells within us cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2Tim 1:14</b>. We all ought to put away falsehood and speak the truth to our neighbours, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Eph 4:25</b>. But we must speak the truth in love, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Eph 4:15</b>. Let no one sacrifice the truth on any altar, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Prov 23:23</b>. Saint Paul also calls on us all to celebrate not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Cor 5:8</b>.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Dear friends, the parishioners who reported their parish priest to their bishop levelled against him all sorts of lies just to make the bishop see him as a devil. Even if you have an issue with somebody, always say what you know about the person. Do not lie against anybody even against the devil. Anyone who wishes to worship God must do so in spirit and in truth, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 4:24</b>. Children of God are children of truth.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Bible Reading</span></b><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">: </span>Jas 5:12; Matt 5:33-37; Ps 15; Prov 23:1-35; 1Tim 6:3-10<span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Thought for today:</b> ...the truth will make you free (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 8:32</b>).</span></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Let us pray:</span></b><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> </span>God, give us your light and your truth; let them lead us to your holy hill and to your dwelling – Amen (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ps 43:3</b>). </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-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">You are free to share this reflection with others if you consider it worthy.</span></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">For more homilies (reflections):<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div> <br /> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Visit our website: </span></b><a href="http://www.thepulpitonline.com/"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">www.thepulpitonline.com</span></a></div> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; 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margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">       </span>Email: </span></span></b><a href="mailto:fromthepulpitonline@gmail.com"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">thepulpitonline@gmail.com</span></a></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt;"> <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">May God bless you all+</span></div>

Always say the truth: Third Sunday of the Year (C) (27th January, 2019).

Homily (Reflection) for the Third Sunday of the Year (C) (27 th January, 2019) on the Gospel Neh 8:2-6.8-10; Ps 18:8-10.15. (R. Jn ...

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Plenty harvest yet few workers: Memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus, Bps (26th January, 2019).

<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 Memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus, Bps (26^th January, 2019) on the Gospel and the Memorial<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 50%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></o:p></span></b><br /> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">2Tim 1:1-8 or Tit 1:1-5;<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Ps 95:1-3.7-8.10. (R. v. 3);<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Lk 10:1-9</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 5pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0JMEZ3aMgHjCMS9wIe5WYKmUCoVZgTj0eHaypXtGd-8qIawZUJMm5ClnnHugTy9qKel3cl4qJU_Ayr0oFujMBpbGI0kgDv9x98q7b2pC7AWXwPMqNV5_aMEskb6Y-e-aLJ0uVl7t8eyo/s1600/26.01.2019.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="113" data-original-width="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0JMEZ3aMgHjCMS9wIe5WYKmUCoVZgTj0eHaypXtGd-8qIawZUJMm5ClnnHugTy9qKel3cl4qJU_Ayr0oFujMBpbGI0kgDv9x98q7b2pC7AWXwPMqNV5_aMEskb6Y-e-aLJ0uVl7t8eyo/s1600/26.01.2019.png" /></a></div> <b><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Timothy (c. AD 17 - c. AD 97) </span></span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">had a Greek father and a Jewish mother named Eunice as a result of which the Jews considered him illegitimate. His grandmother, Lois, was the first to be converted. Timothy was converted by Paul around the year 47 and he later joined him in his apostolic work. He proved himself one of Paul’s most faithful and trusted friends. Saint Paul sent him on difficult missions. Saint Timothy is the patron Saint of intestinal disorders, stomach diseases</span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Fr.%20Moses/Desktop/Weekday%20Homilies/Daily%20Tonic%20for%20Year%20I%20(2018-2019)/Ordinary%20Time%20(I)/Second%20Week%20in%20Ordinary%20Time%20(I)%20(2019).docx" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="color: #2e7061;">[1]</span></span></span><!--[endif]--></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="line-height: normal; margin: 3pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"> <b><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Titus (d. 96 or 107 AD)</span></span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> had the distinction of being a close friend and disciple of Paul as well as a fellow missionary. He was Greek, apparently from Antioch. Even though Titus was a Gentile, Paul would not let him be forced to undergo circumcision. Titus was seen as a peacemaker, administrator, and a great friend</span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Fr.%20Moses/Desktop/Weekday%20Homilies/Daily%20Tonic%20for%20Year%20I%20(2018-2019)/Ordinary%20Time%20(I)/Second%20Week%20in%20Ordinary%20Time%20(I)%20(2019).docx" name="_ftnref2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="color: #2e7061;">[2]</span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri";">. He is the patron saint of the United States Army Chaplain Corps</span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Fr.%20Moses/Desktop/Weekday%20Homilies/Daily%20Tonic%20for%20Year%20I%20(2018-2019)/Ordinary%20Time%20(I)/Second%20Week%20in%20Ordinary%20Time%20(I)%20(2019).docx" name="_ftnref3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="color: #2e7061;">[3]</span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><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: Plenty harvest yet few workers </span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">(cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 10:2</b>). <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></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";">Jesus sent seventy of his disciples in pairs on mission in today’s gospel. Before embarking on the mission, Jesus made them to understand among other things that the work is enormous and the need to pray to God for workers. Again, they were not going out as lords but lambs among wolves. These notwithstanding, they were to “Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 10:4</b>). They were to remain in one house eating and drinking whatever they were given. And they were to cure the sick and to announce the arrival of the kingdom of God. <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";">There are a lot of things we can reflect on in today’s gospel. But we are to focus on the first thing Jesus made them to know: “The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few ....” Can this statement still be true today considering the number of people already in the vineyard? <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";">Judging by the number of churches we have today and the ministers each has, one can hastily conclude that this is no longer relevant. But it is important to note that there is great difference between people in the vineyard and labourers in the vineyard. Hence, Jesus warns <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";">Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name? (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt 7:21-22</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 celebrate Saint Timothy and Saint Titus who collaborated with Saint Paul in the Lord’s vineyard we must pray more fervently for workers in the Lord’s vineyard. The number of people in the vineyard makes the work even more difficult because one needs to decipher first who are there to work and who are there for other purposes, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Tim 6:5</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 tighten our belts and lace our shoes because the work is more tedious today and it is for all of us. There will be great reward for all who work in the Lord’s vineyard, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt 19:28-29</b>. And at the same time, there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth for those who neglect their work, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 13:26-28</b>. Let us work today for the great reward tomorrow.<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;">: Matt 7:21-23; Lk 13:22-30.<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%; 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 have your part in God’s vineyard.<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-family: "calibri";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Let us pray:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> Lord, help us to be good labourers in your vineyard – Amen.<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-family: "calibri";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Saints Timothy and Titus – Pray for us</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">.<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="color: blue; font-size: 14pt; 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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="color: blue; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><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: 10pt 0in 0pt;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; 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;"> <!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br /> <hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" /> <!--[endif]--> <br /> <div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;"> <div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.7in;"> <a href="file:///C:/Users/Fr.%20Moses/Desktop/Weekday%20Homilies/Daily%20Tonic%20for%20Year%20I%20(2018-2019)/Ordinary%20Time%20(I)/Second%20Week%20in%20Ordinary%20Time%20(I)%20(2019).docx" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="color: #2e7061;">[1]</span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;"> </span><a href="https://www.ewtn.com/saintsHoly/saints/T/sttimothy.asp"><span style="color: #2e7061; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">https://www.ewtn.com/saintsHoly/saints/T/sttimothy.asp</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 id="ftn2" style="mso-element: footnote;"> <div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.7in;"> <a href="file:///C:/Users/Fr.%20Moses/Desktop/Weekday%20Homilies/Daily%20Tonic%20for%20Year%20I%20(2018-2019)/Ordinary%20Time%20(I)/Second%20Week%20in%20Ordinary%20Time%20(I)%20(2019).docx" name="_ftn2" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn2;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="color: #2e7061;">[2]</span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;"> </span><a href="http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/Saints/saint.aspx?id=1272"><span style="color: #2e7061; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">http://www.americancatholic.org/Features/Saints/saint.aspx?id=1272</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 id="ftn3" style="mso-element: footnote;"> <div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.7in;"> <a href="file:///C:/Users/Fr.%20Moses/Desktop/Weekday%20Homilies/Daily%20Tonic%20for%20Year%20I%20(2018-2019)/Ordinary%20Time%20(I)/Second%20Week%20in%20Ordinary%20Time%20(I)%20(2019).docx" name="_ftn3" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn3;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="color: #2e7061;">[3]</span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Titus"><span style="color: #2e7061; font-family: "calibri"; font-size: x-small;">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Titus</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>

Plenty harvest yet few workers: Memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus, Bps (26th January, 2019).

Homily (Reflection) for the Memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus, Bps (26 th January, 2019) on the Gospel and the Memorial   2Tim 1:1-8...

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Your destiny is in your hands: Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, Ap (25th January, 2019)

<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 the Conversion of Saint Paul, Ap (25^th January, 2019) on the Gospel and the Feast<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 50%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></b><br /> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Acts 22:3-16 or Acts 9:1-22;<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ps 116:1-2. (R. Mk 16:15);<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /> <span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Mk 16:15-18</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /> <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: Your destiny is in your hands</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 4pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM9xF_KbRDWlmcXY1XlnSKpozbTELJkxn3AzFmpyP1_S5IAjM4iyDUcf6SQM1c0NeORES0qtOctQQDEfn9k5qz35hg_fWmTeq7I8kB9lK-Cj0d3Klxo_fTP_FRdTFo-fHUTbUAYth-jXc/s1600/25.01.2019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="265" data-original-width="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM9xF_KbRDWlmcXY1XlnSKpozbTELJkxn3AzFmpyP1_S5IAjM4iyDUcf6SQM1c0NeORES0qtOctQQDEfn9k5qz35hg_fWmTeq7I8kB9lK-Cj0d3Klxo_fTP_FRdTFo-fHUTbUAYth-jXc/s1600/25.01.2019.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In today’s gospel, Jesus commissioned His disciples with these words: “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation. The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mk 16:15-16</b>). The gospel also tells us the signs that will accompany the believers.<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 celebrate today the conversion of the apostle to the Gentiles, Saint Paul, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rom 11:13;</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Eph 3:8; Gal 2:9</b>. Before his conversion, Saint Paul persecuted the faith he later professed more than any other apostle, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Acts 11:23; 22:4;</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Cor 15:9; Gal 1:13</b>. His dramatic conversion took place on his way to Damascus with authority from the chief priests to bring any follower of Christ he might see to Jerusalem for punishment, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Acts 9:1-2, 13-14; 22:4-5</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;">On his conversion he immediately inquired of what is expected of him in these words: “What shall I do, Lord?” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Acts 22:10</b>). And in like manner, we ought to have asked and to be made known what to do when we were born-again, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 3:5</b>; <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 3:10-14</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;">Christ has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2Tim 1:10</b>. Many still refuse to come to Jesus to have life, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 5:40</b>. And there lies the condemnation. Hence Saint Paul writes in his second letter to the Thessalonians: “so that all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2Thess 2:12</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-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dear friends, remember that you belong to “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>). It is in your hands to be a saint or a sinner. You too can make it. Let us move on.<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%; 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;">: Lk 3:1-20.<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;"> Refusing to repent is a refusal to life.</span><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-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Let us pray:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> Lord, help us to follow the example of Saint Paul in abandoning our old ways and live entirely for you – Amen.<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-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Saint Paul</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> – 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="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; 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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> <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="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> <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: Calibri; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">May God bless you all+</span>

Your destiny is in your hands: Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, Ap (25th January, 2019)

Homily (Reflection) for the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, Ap (25 th January, 2019) on the Gospel and the Feast   Acts 22:3...

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