Ever on guard: Thursday of the Twenty-First Week in Ordinary Time (II) (25th August, 2016).

<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;">Homily (Reflection) for Thursday of the Twenty-First Week in Ordinary Time (II) (25^th August, 2016) on the Gospel <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">(<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Saint Louis, Saint Joseph Calasanz, P., Opt Mems</b>)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <br /> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 50%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 50%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></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;">1Cor 1:1-9;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ps 144:2-7. (R. cf. 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;">Matt 24:42-51</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: Ever on guard</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="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9CA5LhvsdJF9iWWekNM1ooKlJkKk2p7-m42Vz2DmnQ90rcgabSn9jMUP9AkarKJfEfB7feQIbTYu4R4XKktx3QEN1axtmUkF9Hs8Hy6MvENHpUw7RDdtKLjwBerMWlE5nTBgo_ThtJV4/s1600/25.08.2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9CA5LhvsdJF9iWWekNM1ooKlJkKk2p7-m42Vz2DmnQ90rcgabSn9jMUP9AkarKJfEfB7feQIbTYu4R4XKktx3QEN1axtmUkF9Hs8Hy6MvENHpUw7RDdtKLjwBerMWlE5nTBgo_ThtJV4/s1600/25.08.2016.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;">Jesus warns in today’s gospel that the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2pt 0in 0pt 0.7in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Keep awake ... for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming.... if the owner of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.<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;">Blessed is the faithful and wise slave whom the master finds at work when he comes. His master will put him/her in charge of all his possessions. But the wicked slave who thinks the master is delayed and begins to beat others, and eats and drinks with drunkards will be caught unawares. He will cut such off and put him with the hypocrites, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.<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 do postpone when to give their lives entirely to God. Regrettably, those who are fortunate to see the proposed dates keep proposing new ones forgetting that no one is sure of seeing the next second, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jas 4:14</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;">The riches of God’s kindness and forbearance and patience is meant to lead us to repentance, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rom 2:4; 2Pt 3:9</b>. We ought to accept God’s olive branch now because no one knows when the time will be up. Again, as His kindness is great so also is His justice, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rom 2:5-11</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 8pt 0in 0pt;"> <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;">: Rom 2:1-16; Jas 4:13-17.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 0in 0pt;"> <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;"> Today is the right time.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2pt 0in 0pt;"> <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 turn fully to you without any further delay – Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <br /> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 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="color: #2e7061; 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Ever on guard: Thursday of the Twenty-First Week in Ordinary Time (II) (25th August, 2016).

Homily (Reflection) for Thursday of the Twenty-First Week in Ordinary Time (II) (25 th August, 2016) on the Gospel ( Saint Louis, Sa...

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Today’s Quote: 24th August, Feast of Saint Bartholomew, Ap.

<br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> <span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Today’s Quote</b>: 24^{<span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span>} August, Feast of Saint Bartholomew, Ap.</span></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIjA1uwUvWfux4gODiy-zvaYFXIimj4iVL9-T0l8uv8oI_HvJ7DjpQK5xEaWkHZO9jHyxrlQUkEIpsPzz0crUd3W-GgBt5qGFLWBNUVRdo5kIlec2OgIrkIZ1M0Al1pFvoniWn5O4K4t8/s1600/Quote%252C+24.08.2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIjA1uwUvWfux4gODiy-zvaYFXIimj4iVL9-T0l8uv8oI_HvJ7DjpQK5xEaWkHZO9jHyxrlQUkEIpsPzz0crUd3W-GgBt5qGFLWBNUVRdo5kIlec2OgIrkIZ1M0Al1pFvoniWn5O4K4t8/s1600/Quote%252C+24.08.2016.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> <span style="font-family: "calibri";">“Many of us spend our whole lives running from feeling with the mistaken belief that you cannot bear the pain. But you have already borne the pain. What you have not done is feel all you are beyond the pain.”</span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> <span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">  </div> <span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">- <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Saint Bartholomew</b>.</span>

Today’s Quote: 24th August, Feast of Saint Bartholomew, Ap.

Today’s Quote : 24 th August, Feast of Saint Bartholomew, Ap. “Many of us spend our whole lives running from feeling with the mistak...

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We are merely channels: Feast of Saint Bartholomew, Ap. (24th August, 2016).

<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 Bartholomew, Ap. (24^th August, 2016) 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 /> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Rev 21:9-14;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ps 144:10-13.17-18. (R. cf. v. 12);<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /> <span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Jn 1:45-51</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: 5pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXWJ3TTetoskaCwXaMPG5kLKkF0gTljMM8fWxTImD6VG0C9n3iE9bwS9LDNqDkU87aCP2Q13S1F8BPpIHCu8O6I-RGJbRznLLhrAZtQFOqP7R9OXzUihg4At1W0Fd6VGNs-bRUhyb_l-A/s1600/24.08.2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXWJ3TTetoskaCwXaMPG5kLKkF0gTljMM8fWxTImD6VG0C9n3iE9bwS9LDNqDkU87aCP2Q13S1F8BPpIHCu8O6I-RGJbRznLLhrAZtQFOqP7R9OXzUihg4At1W0Fd6VGNs-bRUhyb_l-A/s1600/24.08.2016.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Saint Bartholomew, born at Cana in Galilee, (cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 21:2</b>) was mentioned in the synoptic gospels and Acts of the Apostles as one of the twelve apostles, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt 10:3; Mk 3:18; Lk 6:14; Acts 1:13</b>. Scholars believe he is the same as Nathaniel mentioned in the gospel according to Saint John, of whom Jesus said “Here is truly an Israelite in whom there is no deceit!” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 1:47</b>). According to Roman Martyrology, he preached in India, Mesopotamia, Persia, Egypt, and Greater Armenia, where he was flayed and beheaded by King Astyages.<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: We are merely channels</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 today’s gospel, Philip found Nathaniel and said to him, “We have found him about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus son of Joseph from Nazareth.” He queried, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” Philip simply answered, “Come and see.” This simple invitation led him to exclaim, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God! You are the King of Israel!” <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;">Philip only invited Bartholomew to come and experience Jesus. He only served as a channel through which the gospel reached him. On the contrary, we often create bigger problems trying to convince others.<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 Bartholomew, it is important to remind ourselves that we have only one teacher and that we all are brothers and sisters, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt 23:8</b>. The work of spreading the Good News is God’s. We are only mere instruments. Hence, Saint Paul acknowledged, “I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Cor 3:6</b>). Losing sight of this brings about division which is contrary to the mind of Christ, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 17:21</b>. We ought to take others to Christ who is our Teacher and Master, never to ourselves, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt 10:24-25</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;">: Matt 11:25-30.<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;"> Bring people to the Master.<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%;"> May God almighty give us the grace to know Him better – Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2pt 0in 0pt;"> <span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Saint Bartholomew</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> – Pray for us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <br /> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 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="color: #2e7061; font-family: Calibri;">www.thepulpitonline.com</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div> <div style="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="color: #2e7061; 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font-family: Calibri;">thepulpitonline@gmail.com</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 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>

We are merely channels: Feast of Saint Bartholomew, Ap. (24th August, 2016).

Homily (Reflection) for the Feast of Saint Bartholomew, Ap. (24 th August, 2016) on the Gospel and the Feast   Rev 21:9-14; Ps 1...

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Today’s Quote: 22.08.2016

<br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXjYUA45StzDrW2IJ-_BckIDl02FHp5jfwywyYcuTsgN9FOJ-QssvaQe6_XuRLRoM7BwC7yD3aZVUtheY5QmmL1ghHCIQjV1M08b1viI73VBsSwXu02RxUvwwsMEsS3_fYzIBTnprgJUU/s1600/Quote%252C+22.08.2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXjYUA45StzDrW2IJ-_BckIDl02FHp5jfwywyYcuTsgN9FOJ-QssvaQe6_XuRLRoM7BwC7yD3aZVUtheY5QmmL1ghHCIQjV1M08b1viI73VBsSwXu02RxUvwwsMEsS3_fYzIBTnprgJUU/s1600/Quote%252C+22.08.2016.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Today’s Quote</b>: </span></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> <span style="font-family: "calibri";">“DO WHATEVER HE [JESUS] TELLS YOU.”</span></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> <span style="font-family: "calibri";">- <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Blessed Virgin Mary, cf. Jn 2:5</b>.</span></div>

Today’s Quote: 22.08.2016

Today’s Quote : “DO WHATEVER HE [JESUS] TELLS YOU.” - Blessed Virgin Mary, cf. Jn 2:5 .

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Nothing is hidden from God: Tuesday of the Twenty-First Week in Ordinary Time (II) (23rd August, 2016).

<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 Twenty-First Week in Ordinary Time (II) (23^rd August, 2016) on the Gospel<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">(<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Saint Rose of Lima, V., Opt Mem</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 /> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2Thess 2:1-3.14-17;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ps 95:10-13. (R. v.13);<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /> <span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Matt 23:23-26</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: Nothing is hidden from God</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;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-X-H6nyRUkl-u6qlbBUaRsrTYVxX2qd5EAAUpF70lSITY1lt2Gkvw9xomXIA_cTwRV-p1Qwm5TMbxCLX-jldqzCTW0CelULgCOdXrAtUjkE_DBH_oVL-txhbh7QSiaFPUDIqCP6mQS4/s1600/23.08.2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-X-H6nyRUkl-u6qlbBUaRsrTYVxX2qd5EAAUpF70lSITY1lt2Gkvw9xomXIA_cTwRV-p1Qwm5TMbxCLX-jldqzCTW0CelULgCOdXrAtUjkE_DBH_oVL-txhbh7QSiaFPUDIqCP6mQS4/s1600/23.08.2016.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jesus further denounced the scribes and the Pharisees, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2pt 0in 0pt 0.7in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin, and neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. It is these you ought to have practiced without neglecting the others. You blind leaders! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel!<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 corroborates with the words of <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Prophet Micah</b> in <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">chapter 6 verse 8</b>, “He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” Many erroneously think like the scribes and the Pharisees that by doing tithing and other offerings they hide their atrocities from 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;">Activities in churches today also downplay these weightier matters of the law. Almost every bit of energy is geared towards offerings. There are several strategies for achieving this and new ones are coming up daily. Yet little or no effort is channelled towards conversion.<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;">Unfortunately, no one can hide his/her sins from God, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ps 69:5. 139:15; Heb 4:13</b>. He will bring everything to light, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Cor 4:5</b>. Hence Jesus tells us, “Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known” including our sins (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 12:2</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;">There is need for total transformation, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rom 12:2</b>. We ought to avoid “eye-service, as men-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Eph 6:6</b>). Let no one be deceived; everyone will reap what he/she sows, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Gal 6:7</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 0in 0pt;"> <span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Bible Reading</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">: Rom 12:9-21.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 0in 0pt;"> <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 not please humans.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt;"> <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 serve Him with our whole being – Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <br /> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 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="color: #2e7061; font-family: Calibri;">www.thepulpitonline.com</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div> <div style="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="color: #2e7061; font-family: Calibri;">www.facebook.com/thepulpitonline</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <div style="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="color: #2e7061; font-family: Calibri;">www.twitter.com/thepulpitonline</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <div style="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<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div> <div style="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="color: #2e7061; font-family: Calibri;">thepulpitonline@gmail.com</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div> <div style="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:<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 <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div> <div style="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>+234 905 655 4466<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Email: </span></span></b><a href="mailto:fromthepulpitonline@gmail.com"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #2e7061; font-family: Calibri;">thepulpitonline@gmail.com</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 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>

Nothing is hidden from God: Tuesday of the Twenty-First Week in Ordinary Time (II) (23rd August, 2016).

Homily (Reflection) for Tuesday of the Twenty-First Week in Ordinary Time (II) (23 rd August, 2016) on the Gospel ( Saint Rose of Li...

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Woe to you...: Memorial of the Queenship of Mary (22nd August, 2016).

<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 the Queenship of Mary (22^nd August, 2016) 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 /> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">2Thess 1:1-5.11-12;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ps 95:1-5. (R. v.3); <o:p></o:p></span></span><br /> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Matt 23:13-22.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b><br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 5pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsUjSHv04Pmo1o2ZbCv2rN6in9akcIeJjNXArz2dxqey4jW0PSMi1H-sqP6ECsfnKCms1T4D_phKL3olihrr_cXRmEyTieLUji5PPKVSOpQo6EQvYtSCoWpBSbPEOqgr2FwD6LSIYEuUI/s1600/22.08.2016.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsUjSHv04Pmo1o2ZbCv2rN6in9akcIeJjNXArz2dxqey4jW0PSMi1H-sqP6ECsfnKCms1T4D_phKL3olihrr_cXRmEyTieLUji5PPKVSOpQo6EQvYtSCoWpBSbPEOqgr2FwD6LSIYEuUI/s1600/22.08.2016.png" /></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pius XII established this feast in 1954. But Mary’s queenship has roots in Scripture. At the Annunciation, Gabriel announced that Mary’s Son would receive the throne of David and rule forever. At the Visitation, Elizabeth calls Mary “mother of my Lord.” As in all the mysteries of Mary’s life, Mary is closely associated with Jesus: Her queenship is a share in Jesus’ kingship. We can also recall that in the Old Testament the mother of the king has great influence in court. The feast is a logical follow-up to the Assumption and is now celebrated on the octave day of that feast. In his 1954 encyclical To the Queen of Heaven, Pius XII points out that Mary deserves the title because she is Mother of God, because she is closely associated as the New Eve with Jesus’ redemptive work, because of her preeminent perfection and because of her intercessory power.</span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Fr.%20Moses/Desktop/Weekday%20Homilies/Daily%20Tonic%20for%20Year%20II/Ordinary%20Time%20(II)/Twenty-First%20Week%20in%20Ordinary%20Time%20(II).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%; 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><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: </span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Woe to you...</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;">Today’s gospel is a continuation of last Saturday’s gospel in which Jesus urged His listeners to do and to follow what the scribes and the Pharisees taught because they occupied Moses’ seat. He also warned them against following their example because they did not practice what they taught.<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;">In today’s gospel, Jesus summarized them by naming them hypocrites. He denounced them and also proclaimed woes on them. Their sins include locking people out of the kingdom of heaven, suffering so much to make a convert only to make him/her worse child of hell than themselves, and also feeding the people with false teachings.<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;">Ensure that no one is prevented from following God through your actions, words, and omissions. We celebrate the queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary because of her role in our salvation history. Every person can be a good channel for the salvation of others. Saint John warns, “Look to yourselves, that you may not lose what you have worked for, but may win a full reward” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2Jn 1:8</b>). There will be woes to anyone who fails to be a channel of salvation to others.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt;"> <span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Bible Reading</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">: </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">2Jn 7-11</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> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 0in 0pt;"> <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 a channel of salvation.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2pt 0in 0pt;"> <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 your sincere children – Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2pt 0in 0pt;"> <span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Mary Queen and Mother </span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">– Pray for us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <br /> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 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="color: #2e7061; font-family: Calibri;">www.thepulpitonline.com</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div> <div style="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="color: #2e7061; font-family: Calibri;">www.facebook.com/thepulpitonline</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <div style="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="color: #2e7061; 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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 <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div> <div style="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><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>+234 905 655 4466<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Email: </span></span></b><a href="mailto:fromthepulpitonline@gmail.com"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: #2e7061; font-family: Calibri;">thepulpitonline@gmail.com</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 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> <!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" /> <hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" /> <!--[endif]--><br /> <div style="mso-element: footnote-list;"> <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%20II/Ordinary%20Time%20(II)/Twenty-First%20Week%20in%20Ordinary%20Time%20(II).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%; 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="http://www.americancatholic.org/features/saints/saint.aspx?id=1115"><span style="color: #2e7061; font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">http://www.americancatholic.org/features/saints/saint.aspx?id=1115</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>

Woe to you...: Memorial of the Queenship of Mary (22nd August, 2016).

Homily (Reflection) for the Memorial of the Queenship of Mary (22 nd August, 2016) on the Gospel and the Memorial   2Thess 1:1-5....

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Ticket to heaven: Twenty-First Sunday of the Year, (C) (21st August, 2016).

<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;"><span style="font-size: large;">Homily (Reflection) for the Twen<span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">t</span>y-First Sunday of the Year, (C) (21</span>^{<span style="font-size: small;">st</span>}<span style="font-size: large;"> August, 2016) on the Gospel<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Is 66:18-21;</span></div> <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Ps 116. (R. Mk 16:15);</span><br /> <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Heb 12:5-7.11-13;</span><br /> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 13:22-30</b>.</span></span><br /> <br /> <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></b><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ticket to heaven</b>. <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="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVskz1u4sqj1diZzcv7GQqFyDIWrbwrGgXhyphenhyphenjlnw_YDNw4EYv7PrEG0zs8jPCZRt8wH-iElv4WCTgs4UhrSFa9eptFAuQ2LUXT0ffOGyXIcPlva6QCpYJZU0SqWLDBTzzueJ-JIP5BdT4/s1600/21.08.2016.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVskz1u4sqj1diZzcv7GQqFyDIWrbwrGgXhyphenhyphenjlnw_YDNw4EYv7PrEG0zs8jPCZRt8wH-iElv4WCTgs4UhrSFa9eptFAuQ2LUXT0ffOGyXIcPlva6QCpYJZU0SqWLDBTzzueJ-JIP5BdT4/s1600/21.08.2016.png" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Jesus warns in today’s gospel, “Strive to enter through the narrow door; for many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able.” These will knock and plead but the owner of the house will reply them, “I do not know where you come from.” Interestingly, they will begin to say, “We ate and drank with you, and you taught in our streets.” Yet he will say to them, “I do not know where you come from; go away from me, all you evildoers!” </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;">In his letter to the Philippians, Saint Paul writes, “...our citizenship is in heaven” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Phil 3:20</b>). Remember what God has prepared for those who love Him in heaven, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Cor 2:9</b>). Saint Peter also describes it as “an inheritance which is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Pt 1:4</b>). More touching is that whether one succeeds to enter or not, it is forever, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Dan 7:18, 27. 12:2; Matt 25:46</b>. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">The pains of not being able to enter through the narrow door is unimaginable. Hence Jesus goes on to warn, </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2pt 0in 0pt 0.7in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrown out. Then people will come from east and west, from north and south, and will eat in the kingdom of God. </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;">Some might think that based on their positions and/or connections that they will succeed through the narrow door. Jesus defines His friends as those who do His will, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 15:14</b>. He also prayed for them to the Father saying, “Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me...” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 17:24; cf. Jn 14:3</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;">A priest and a taxi driver both died and went to heaven. Saint Peter was at the Pearly Gates waiting for them. “Come with me,” said Peter to the taxi driver.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 3pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">The taxi driver did as he was told and followed Peter to a mansion. It had anything you could imagine from a bowling alley to an Olympic-sized pool. “Wow, thank you,” said the taxi driver.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Next, Saint Peter led the priest to a rugged old shack with a bunk bed and a little, old television set. “Wait, I think you are a little mixed up,” said the priest. “Shouldn’t I be the one who gets the mansion? After all I was a priest, went to church every day, and preached God’s word.”</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 3pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">“Yes, that’s true,” replied Peter. “But during your sermons people slept. When the taxi driver drove, everyone prayed.”</span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Fr.%20Moses/Desktop/fb/Year%20C%202015-2016/Ordinary%20Time%20of%20the%20Year%20C/Twenty-First%20Sunday%20of%20the%20Year%20(C).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%; 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><!--[endif]--></span></span></a></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 warns, “Do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived! Fornicators, idolaters, male prostitutes, sodomites, thieves, the greedy, drunkards, revilers, robbers – none of these will inherit the kingdom of God” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Cor 6:9-10</b>). He also warns, </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 3pt 0in 0pt 0.7in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Gal 5:19-21</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;">Everyone is strongly urged to enter the kingdom of God, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 16:16</b>. Nothing is good enough to deprive one the kingdom of God, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mk 9:43-48</b>. According to the Apostles, “It is through many persecutions that we must enter the kingdom of God,” cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Acts 14:22</b>. We have hope laid up for us in heaven, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Col 1:5</b>.</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;">: Mk 9:42-48; Gal 5:16-26; 1Pt 1:3–2:17. 4:12-19</span><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">.</span><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: 8pt 0in 0pt 112.3pt; text-align: justify; text-indent: -112.3pt;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Thought for today:</b> Something greater is in heaven.</span></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 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>Lord, give us the strength to enter through the narrow door <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">– Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div> <br /> <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; 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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;">Tel: +234 813 305 0302 <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div> <div style="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><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>+234 905 655 4466<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Email: </span></b><a href="mailto:fromthepulpitonline@gmail.com"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">thepulpitonline@gmail.com</span></a></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> <span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">May God bless you all+</span></div> <!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" /> <hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" /> <!--[endif]--><br /> <div style="mso-element: footnote-list;"> <div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;"> <div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 4pt 0in 0pt;"> <a href="file:///C:/Users/Fr.%20Moses/Desktop/fb/Year%20C%202015-2016/Ordinary%20Time%20of%20the%20Year%20C/Twenty-First%20Sunday%20of%20the%20Year%20(C).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%; 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><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Thomas, T. (2010). <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Spice up your homilies</i></b>. Mumbai: St Pauls, p. 167.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div> </div> </div>

Ticket to heaven: Twenty-First Sunday of the Year, (C) (21st August, 2016).

Homily (Reflection) for the Twen t y-First Sunday of the Year, (C) (21 st August, 2016) on the Gospel Is 66:18-21; Ps 116. (R. Mk 1...

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Today’s Quote: 20.08.2016

<br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> <span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span> </div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg60ipvuf511UWsYHiFeoyfeO5goSJm3nfuPDJgpfrqV1VyWGQSUS3KrH_NcYuqJcH_QjWnRq0O7h4QJZgxcC3PiNiPXn-uLAubhlZbPZmp2vMaqNEWYKKNJRGQmTx0OPvMVPtH5xuljpg/s1600/Today%2527s+quote%252C+20.08.2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg60ipvuf511UWsYHiFeoyfeO5goSJm3nfuPDJgpfrqV1VyWGQSUS3KrH_NcYuqJcH_QjWnRq0O7h4QJZgxcC3PiNiPXn-uLAubhlZbPZmp2vMaqNEWYKKNJRGQmTx0OPvMVPtH5xuljpg/s1600/Today%2527s+quote%252C+20.08.2016.jpg" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“THE MEASURE OF LOVE IS LOVE WITHOUT MEASURE.”</span></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> <span style="font-family: Calibri;">-<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Saint Bernard of Clairvaux</b>.</span></div>

Today’s Quote: 20.08.2016

  “THE MEASURE OF LOVE IS LOVE WITHOUT MEASURE.” - Saint Bernard of Clairvaux .

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Between duty and honour: Memorial of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, Abb. D., (20th August, 2016).

<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 Bernard of Clairvaux, Abb. D., (20^th August, 2016) on the Gospel and the Memorial<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div> <br /> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 50%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 50%;"></span></b> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ezek 43:1-7; <o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ps 84:9-14. (R. cf. v. 10);<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /> <span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Matt 23:1-12</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 4pt 0in 0pt;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgurbxq1BaS0dRVcygzQ2dcvSkYRGEO2cqa9PYEae_HHXs4N63VdOarvY7y_zvy0I7S9EueekjRiAcFbrhEWOejPaxEBpoLDVrevG0Ls8qORQkBB0D772kLWNalf239PbrGp1VnqGncJVw/s1600/20.08.2016.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgurbxq1BaS0dRVcygzQ2dcvSkYRGEO2cqa9PYEae_HHXs4N63VdOarvY7y_zvy0I7S9EueekjRiAcFbrhEWOejPaxEBpoLDVrevG0Ls8qORQkBB0D772kLWNalf239PbrGp1VnqGncJVw/s1600/20.08.2016.png" /></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Saint Bernard of Clairvaux (1090 – 20th August, 1153) was born of noble parentage in Burgundy, France. His pious parents sent him at an early age to a college at Chatillon. Fearing the snares and temptations of the world, he embraced the Cistercian Order. He was sent by his superior with twelve other monks to found a new monastery at Clairvaux. Saint Bernard was appointed Abbot. He founded numerous monasteries, composed a number of works and undertook many journeys for the honour of God. He refused several Bishoprics offered to him. Popes were governed by his advice. He was commissioned by Pope Eugene III to preach the second Crusade. In obedience to the Sovereign Pontiff he travelled through France and Germany, and aroused the greatest enthusiasm for the holy war among the masses of the population. The failure of the expedition raised a great storm against the saint, but he attributed it to the sins of the Crusaders. St. Bernard was eminently endowed with the gift of miracles.</span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Fr.%20Moses/Desktop/Weekday%20Homilies/Daily%20Tonic%20for%20Year%20II/Ordinary%20Time%20(II)/Twentieth%20Week%20in%20Ordinary%20Time%20(II).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%; 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><o:p></o:p></span></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt;"> <span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Topic: Between duty and honour</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> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2pt 0in 0pt;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jesus urged His listeners to do and to follow what the scribes and the Pharisees taught because they occupied Moses’ seat. However, they should not follow their example because they did not practice what they taught. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2pt 0in 0pt 0.7in;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. They love to have the place of honour at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, and to have people call them rabbi.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The sacred office the scribes and the Pharisees occupied meant nothing to them. Hence, Jesus often rebuked them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Each of us also occupies sacred office. I do not mean few in the religious life. These offices mean nothing to many. Hence many hustle for other ones they consider higher. Some mothers do not consider themselves fully mothers because they have not been termed ‘Life members,’ Mother of this or that, even when there is nothing to justify any. Fathers and youths are not different. Even priests are not fulfilled because they have not been made pastors, monsignori, bishops, and so on. All these are geared towards either real or imagined honour and very far from the duties.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Many Bishoprics were offered to Saint Bernard but he rejected them all. Yet today, he is both a saint and a doctor of the Church. We must be very careful. Jesus concludes, “All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.” True honour comes after labour/duties.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt;"> <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;">: 1Pt 5:1-11.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 0in 0pt;"> <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 occupy a sacred office.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2pt 0in 0pt;"> <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 realise how sacred our positions are and also give us the graces necessary to fulfil their demands – Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 0in 0pt;"> <span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Saint Bernard – Pray for us</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <br /> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 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; 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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:<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 <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div> <div style="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>+234 905 655 4466<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Email: </span></span></b><a href="mailto:fromthepulpitonline@gmail.com"><span style="color: blue; font-size: 14pt; mso-themecolor: hyperlink;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">thepulpitonline@gmail.com</span></span></a></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> </div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">May God bless you all+<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><br clear="all" /> <hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" /> <!--[endif]--><br /> <div style="mso-element: footnote-list;"> <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%20II/Ordinary%20Time%20(II)/Twentieth%20Week%20in%20Ordinary%20Time%20(II).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%; 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="http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=559"><span style="color: #2e7061; font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=559</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>

Between duty and honour: Memorial of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, Abb. D., (20th August, 2016).

Homily (Reflection) for the Memorial of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, Abb. D., (20 th August, 2016) on the Gospel and the Memorial   ...

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Not just the greatest: Friday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time (II) (19th August, 2016).

<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";">Homily (Reflection) for Friday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time (II) (19^th August, 2016) on the Gospel <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">(<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Saint John Eudes, P., Opt Mem</b>)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <br /> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 50%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 50%;"></span></b> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Ezek 37:1-14;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Ps 106:2-9. (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;">Matt 22:34-40</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: Not just the greatest</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="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpbOq8z5oRhBH3PPKAQr8by5W4QxSWIBTPGt62eJRz80rnJHgOsBJ9qk2PEpc7NH28i19m9otErRvCu_YWlYdXmU4YIP21XQduhfpB1s082ONPBdcsTosVbJpnbVcVfYQIZvEzqOMIWgk/s1600/19.08.2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpbOq8z5oRhBH3PPKAQr8by5W4QxSWIBTPGt62eJRz80rnJHgOsBJ9qk2PEpc7NH28i19m9otErRvCu_YWlYdXmU4YIP21XQduhfpB1s082ONPBdcsTosVbJpnbVcVfYQIZvEzqOMIWgk/s1600/19.08.2016.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";">The Pharisees gathered and one of them, a lawyer asked Jesus, “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He replied by citing two scriptural passages, <o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2pt 0in 0pt 0.7in; text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it. ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself’ cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Deut 6:5; Lev 19:18</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";">The concept of love many have seems to be very far from what Jesus demands from us. Although the word love often comes out of many mouths yet hatred keeps escalating. And we always have thousands of reasons why we do not love others as Jesus commanded. <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 asks us to love others as He loves us, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 13:34. 15:12</b>. Because of His love for us, He died for us while we were still sinners, (cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rom 5:8</b>), ate from the same bowl with a traitor, (cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt 26:23; Mk 14:18</b>), and even washed his feet, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 13:5-12</b>. Jesus set these as examples for us to follow, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 13:15</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";">Love therefore is not just the greatest of all the commandments but also the hardest. It is unconditional and can only be found in God who is love, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Jn 4:8, 16</b>. The best one can find elsewhere are just reflections of love. Although love is truly the hardest of all the commandments, with God it is possible, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 18:27</b>. Whoever wants to truly love must be in 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%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Bible Reading</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">: Rom 5:6-8, 31-39.<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;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">God is love (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Jn 4:16</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%;"> May God who is love transform us into loving beings – Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <br /> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 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; 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Not just the greatest: Friday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time (II) (19th August, 2016).

Homily (Reflection) for Friday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time (II) (19 th August, 2016) on the Gospel ( Saint John Eudes, P., O...

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Readiness for the banquet: Thursday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time (II) (18th August, 2016).

<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";">Homily (Reflection) for Thursday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time (II) (18^th August, 2016) 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 /> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Ezek 36:23-28;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Ps 50:12-15.18-19. (R. Ezek 36:25);<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /> <span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Matt 22:1-14</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt;"> <span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Topic: Readiness for the banquet</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> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2pt 0in 0pt; text-align: justify;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyphenhyphen3LEny9Q4s59pnXrPUgGTmh5_ctLAt09BnJQ669FPWHBJHktxk3ALhyf-AGzBVwZsHrpbUJ0DLrFUBPTdRYf13V5dXIo_hlp-tvhkF1pMscreMmpadmkFrxcRVTjIzCHVLrKUGJfHHo/s1600/18.08.2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyphenhyphen3LEny9Q4s59pnXrPUgGTmh5_ctLAt09BnJQ669FPWHBJHktxk3ALhyf-AGzBVwZsHrpbUJ0DLrFUBPTdRYf13V5dXIo_hlp-tvhkF1pMscreMmpadmkFrxcRVTjIzCHVLrKUGJfHHo/s1600/18.08.2016.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">In today’s gospel, Jesus likened the kingdom of heaven to a king who gave a wedding banquet for his son. But those who were invited made light of it, one to his farm, another to his business, while the rest seized the slaves, mistreated them, and killed them. In anger, the king destroyed them and burned their city. He sent his slaves into the main streets to invite everyone. The king noticed a man without a wedding robe in the hall filled with guests and asked him how he entered without a wedding robe but he was speechless. The man was bound hand and foot, and thrown into the place of suffering.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></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";">Knowing that the man without the wedding robe was among those found on the streets, many might judge his punishment as unfair. However, in the Jewish culture, what was required of wedding guests was to take wedding robes provided by the host before entering the hall.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></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%;">Again, the parable is about the kingdom of heaven. Jesus stresses the need to be ever ready, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 12:</b></span> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">37</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></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";">It is a very big privilege to be invited to the banquet, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rev 19:9</b>. However those invited made light of it. One’s robe must be washed to have the right to enter by the gates, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rev 22:14</b>. And anyone who does not enter by the gate is a thief and a robber, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 10:1</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></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 have the singular privilege to be invited to the banquet. The issue is whether we take it serious or make light of it. However, whoever fails to take it serious will be thrown into the place of suffering, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 14:24</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></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;">: Ps 119:1-16; </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Lk 12:35-40</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></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;"> God is inviting you to a banquet.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></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 ever ready for the great banquet – Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 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><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div> <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";"> <o:p></o:p></span></span><br /> <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";"> <o:p></o:p></span></span><br /> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; 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Readiness for the banquet: Thursday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time (II) (18th August, 2016).

Homily (Reflection) for Thursday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time (II) (18 th August, 2016) on the Gospel   Ezek 36:23-28; Ps ...

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