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Problem of Recognition: Homily (Reflection) for Saturday of the Second Week of Advent (II) (12th December, 2015)

<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Homily for Saturday of the Second
Week of Advent (II) (12<sup>th</sup> December, 2015) on the Gospel<o:p></o:p></span></span></b><br />
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<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>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sir 48:1-4.9-11;<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ps 79: 2-3.15-16.18-19. (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;">Matt 17:10-13</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Topic: Problem of Recognition</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There is an Igbo adage that a slave ought to know that he or
she will be buried just the same way another slave is buried. While Jesus and
His disciples were descending from the mountain after His transfiguration, they
raised a question on why the scribes said that Elijah would come first. Remember
that Jesus had answered this question in the gospel we read on Thursday (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt 11:11-15</b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And Jesus told them that Elijah had already come and they did
with him what pleased them because they did not recognise him. In the same
vein, that the same fate awaits Him who is the long awaited Messiah. I believe
you still remember the story of the monk sent by the bishop to a monastery as
their new abbot who was subjected to the most menial jobs in the monastery
until he was discovered? <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Please, be very careful the way you treat that man or woman,
boy or girl, and so on you meet today and all the days of your life because you
may not have known him or her. Again, if others look down on you, do not grudge
or fight over it, just face your God and do your best. God will surely lift you
up at the appointed time.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; 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 18:1-5.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; 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;"> Be careful how you treat others.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Let us pray:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> May we see beyond the creatures we
meet to He who made them all – Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Dear child of God, </span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Help us to increase the number of
God’s children by <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">SHARING </b>our
reflections with all your friends and by <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">RECOMMENDING</b>
them to Google if they worth it. We also need your <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">comments</b> to help us know how we are doing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And we plead with you to continue to
reflect with us daily on any of these media:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.fromthepulpitonline.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="color: blue;">www.fromthepulpitonline.blogspot.com</span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"></span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<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;">God bless you+</span>

Problem of Recognition: Homily (Reflection) for Saturday of the Second Week of Advent (II) (12th December, 2015)

Homily for Saturday of the Second Week of Advent (II) (12 th December, 2015) on the Gospel Sir 48:1-4.9-11; Ps 79: 2-3.15-16.18-19. ...

Utmost Importance: Homily for Friday of the Second Week of Advent (II) (11th December, 2015)

Unknown 0 Weekday Homilies 01:44

<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Homily for Friday of the Second Week
of Advent (II) (11<sup>th</sup> December, 2015) on the Gospel<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<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>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Is 48:17-19;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ps 1:1-4.6. (R. cf. Jn 8:12)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Matt 11:16-19</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Topic: Utmost Importance</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jesus compares this generation with children sitting in the
marketplaces and calling to one another, “We played the flute for you, and you
did not dance; we wailed, and you did not mourn” (cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt 11:16-17</b>). This comparison was based on their inability to
accept both John the Baptist and the Messiah irrespective of their life styles.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">May be you have been worrying what you will do to please one
person or the other. I want to remind you that we are still in that generation
Jesus talks about in today’s gospel or even in a worse one. Both Jesus and His
forerunner were not bothered about this but that of Utmost Importance, doing
the will of God. So, listen to God and not to men, (cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Acts 4:19</b>) learn how to please God and not men, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Thess 4:1</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Bible Reading</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">: Acts 4:1-22.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Thought for today:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> What is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Utmost
Important</b> to you?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Let us pray:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> Lord, help us to listen to you and
to please you alone – Amen. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Dear child of God, </span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Help us to increase the number of
God’s children by <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">SHARING </b>our
reflections with all your friends and by <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">RECOMMENDING</b>
them to Google if they worth it. We also need your <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">comments</b> to help us know how we are doing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And we plead with you to continue to
reflect with us daily on any of these media:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.fromthepulpitonline.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="color: blue;">www.fromthepulpitonline.blogspot.com</span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/fromthepulpitonline"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.facebook.com/fromthepulpitonline</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><o:p></o:p></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%;">Email</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">: </span></span><a href="mailto:fromthepulpitonline@gmail.com"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">fromthepulpitonline@gmail.com</span></span></a></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%;">+234 813 305 0302</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">SMS ONLY</b>).</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">God bless you+<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>

Utmost Importance: Homily for Friday of the Second Week of Advent (II) (11th December, 2015)

Homily for Friday of the Second Week of Advent (II) (11 th December, 2015) on the Gospel Is 48:17-19; Ps 1:1-4.6. (R. cf. Jn 8:12...

Be careful: Homily for Thursday of the Second Week of Advent (II) (10th December, 2015)

Unknown 0 Weekday Homilies 03:36

<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 for Thursday of the Second
Week of Advent (II) (10<sup>th</sup> December, 2015) on the Gospel<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; 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;">Is 41:13-20;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ps 144:1.9-13. (R. v.8)<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 11:11-15</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Topic: Be careful</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The prophet Malachi reads: “Behold, I will send you Elijah
the prophet before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mal 4:5</b>). And based on this prophesy,
although the Israelites were waiting for the Messiah, they were expecting to
receive Elijah first, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mk 9:11</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">However, Jesus tells us in today’s gospel that the Elijah they
were waiting for had come and gone but unnoticed, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt 11:14</b>.<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;">As we expect God to do one thing or the other either for us
or for others, it is very important that we open our eyes to be able to see God
at work. Otherwise, that might go unnoticed just like the Elijah who came but
the Jews did not recognise him. Again, many have missed opportunities because
they never came as they expected them. Hence I say to you: ‘<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Be careful</b>’ lest you miss again and
probably the last one.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; 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;">: Mal 4:1-5.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; 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 at work.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Let us pray:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> God, give us the grace to see your
hand at work in us and around us – Amen.<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%;">Dear child of God, God needs your
help</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">: Help to
increase the number of God’s children by <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">SHARING
</b>our reflections with all your friends and by <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">RECOMMENDING</b> them to Google if they worth it. We also need your <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">comments</b> to know how we are doing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And we plead with you to continue to
reflect with us daily on any of these media:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.fromthepulpitonline.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="color: blue;">www.fromthepulpitonline.blogspot.com</span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/fromthepulpitonline"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.facebook.com/fromthepulpitonline</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><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; line-height: 110%;">Email</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">: </span></span><a href="mailto:fromthepulpitonline@gmail.com"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">fromthepulpitonline@gmail.com</span></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">+234 813 305 0302</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">SMS ONLY</b>).</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">God bless you+<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>

Be careful: Homily for Thursday of the Second Week of Advent (II) (10th December, 2015)

Homily for Thursday of the Second Week of Advent (II) (10 th December, 2015) on the Gospel Is 41:13-20; Ps 144:1.9-13. (R. v.8) ...

Come to me, (Matt 11:28): Homily for Wednesday of the Second Week of Advent (II) (9th December, 2015)

Unknown 0 Weekday Homilies 01:33

<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Homily for Wednesday of the Second Week
of Advent (II) (9<sup>th</sup> December, 2015) on the Gospel<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<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 />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Is 40:25-31;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ps 102:1-4.8.10 (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
11:28-30</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Topic: Come to me</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">, (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt 11:28</b>)<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">.<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In today’s gospel, Jesus asks all who are weary and are
carrying heavy burdens to come to Him and have rest. The gospel reads further:
“Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart,
and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is
light” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt 11:29-30</b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The book of Lamentations is unambiguous that what brings
about true heavy burdens is sin, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lam
1:14; </b>cf.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> Hos 11:7</b>. Hence Saint Paul
admonishes us not to submit again to the yoke of sin, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Gal 5:1</b>. The book of Lamentation reads further: “With a yoke on our
necks we are hard driven; we are weary, we are given no rest” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lam 5:5</b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">God asks us in today’s gospel to come to Him and have the troubling
and tiring yokes removed from us, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Nah
1:13</b>. We are left with two options – either to go to God and be freed or remain
with our heavy burdens.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; 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;">: Nah 1:12-15.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; 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 under any yoke?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Let us pray:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> God, help us to be free as your
children – Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Dear child of God, God needs your
help</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">: Help to
increase the number of God’s children by <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">SHARING
</b>our reflections with all your friends and by <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">RECOMMENDING</b> them to Google if they worth it. We also need your <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">comments</b> to know how we are doing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And we plead with you to continue to
reflect with us daily on any of these media:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.fromthepulpitonline.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="color: blue;">www.fromthepulpitonline.blogspot.com</span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">+234 813 305 0302</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">SMS ONLY</b>).</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">God bless you+<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>

Come to me, (Matt 11:28): Homily for Wednesday of the Second Week of Advent (II) (9th December, 2015)

Homily for Wednesday of the Second Week of Advent (II) (9 th December, 2015) on the Gospel Is 40:25-31; Ps 102:1-4.8.10 (R. v.1)...

Rejoice, favoured one: Homily for the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Sol.) (8th December, 2015)

Unknown 0 Solemnities and Feasts 01:05

<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Homily for the Immaculate Conception
of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Sol.) (8<sup>th</sup> December, 2015) on the Gospel
and the Solemnity.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 50%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: "calibri";"> </span></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Gen 3:9-15.20;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Ps 97:1-4. (R. v.1);<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Eph 1:3-6.11-12;<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Lk 1:26-38</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJFfLA4OB9QWlo2QwoV5ZS0JKR09LpkDUhX1H1cl49885LJK_K52S7UrqzTKx7sq1FWB4gBbl0trqxTswgXHc9woDaZrz1NmwRJvtcJlZOtyHg5-GtUg7jdh3LuvNSvRi3F_xXH94pBGE/s1600/Murillo_immaculate_conception.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJFfLA4OB9QWlo2QwoV5ZS0JKR09LpkDUhX1H1cl49885LJK_K52S7UrqzTKx7sq1FWB4gBbl0trqxTswgXHc9woDaZrz1NmwRJvtcJlZOtyHg5-GtUg7jdh3LuvNSvRi3F_xXH94pBGE/s400/Murillo_immaculate_conception.jpg" style="cursor: move;" unselectable="on" width="271" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b> <span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Today, the Church celebrates that
Mary was conceived in the womb of her mother, Saint Anne, free from original
sin by virtue of the foreseen merits of her son Jesus Christ. This is better
known as the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary and was dogmatically
deﬁned in 1854 by Pope Pius IX in his papal bull <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ineﬀabilis Deus</i></b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Surely, this solemnity is one of the areas many non-Catholics
question seriously. Just as Mary herself asked in today’s gospel how could it
be possible that she would conceive and bear a son since she is a virgin, some
also ask how could this be possible, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk
1:34</b>. In my humble opinion, angel Gabriel has the answer: “The Holy Spirit
will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you;
therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 1:35</b>). We read in the gospel: “You
will know them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thorns, or figs from
thistles?” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt 7:16</b>). It is God
who protected Mary from the original sin because of the task ahead. The angel also
said: “... nothing is impossible with God” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 1:37</b>, NLT). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Just as the Blessed Virgin Mary surrenders to God’s will:
“Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word”
(<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 1:38</b>) God expects each and every
one of us to surrender our wills to Him. Because “Blessed rather are those who
hear the word of God and keep it!” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk
11:28; Rev 1:3</b>). We should rejoice because we are favoured by God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; 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 11:27-28.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Thought for today:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> Do you keep the Word of God?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Let us pray:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> May God help us through the intercession
of Blessed Virgin Mary to give ourselves freely and entirely to Him – Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Mary conceived without Original Sin – Pray for us</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Dear child of God, God needs your
help</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">: Help to
increase the number of God’s children by <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">SHARING
</b>our reflections with all your friends and by <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">RECOMMENDING</b> them to Google if they worth it. We also need your <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">comments</b> to know how we are doing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">And we plead with you to continue to
reflect with us daily on any of these media:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.fromthepulpitonline.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="color: blue;">www.fromthepulpitonline.blogspot.com</span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Email</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">: </span></span><a href="mailto:fromthepulpitonline@gmail.com"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: "calibri";">fromthepulpitonline@gmail.com</span></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">+234 813 305 0302</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">SMS ONLY</b>).</span><span style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">God bless you+<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<img height="96" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJFfLA4OB9QWlo2QwoV5ZS0JKR09LpkDUhX1H1cl49885LJK_K52S7UrqzTKx7sq1FWB4gBbl0trqxTswgXHc9woDaZrz1NmwRJvtcJlZOtyHg5-GtUg7jdh3LuvNSvRi3F_xXH94pBGE/s400/Murillo_immaculate_conception.jpg" style="left: 147.61px; opacity: 0.3; position: absolute; top: 281.43px;" width="65" />

Rejoice, favoured one: Homily for the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Sol.) (8th December, 2015)

Homily for the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Sol.) (8 th December, 2015) on the Gospel and the Solemnity. Gen...

Your sins are forgiven: Homily for the Memorial of Saint Ambrose, B.D (7th December, 2015)

Unknown 0 Memorials, Weekday Homilies 02:07

<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Homily for the Memorial of Saint
Ambrose, B.D (7<sup>th</sup> December, 2015) <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; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">(Monday of the Second Week of Advent
(II)) 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%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></b></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Is 35:1-10;<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ps 84:9-14 (R. Is 35:4)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Lk 5:17-26</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeYPlnQbL-QZ6LctgwZi9emTXY_eRww9nis5vly8CMXLJ4stNkipv109PPNKtBg27r8gL5yPuq7_pHQrkgW2P9mpehuYhpfLOpPnAuOQ7zRlDVauDtOxTdspuUmknkpIRotWBQ1uLowv9A/s1600/Saint+Ambrose.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeYPlnQbL-QZ6LctgwZi9emTXY_eRww9nis5vly8CMXLJ4stNkipv109PPNKtBg27r8gL5yPuq7_pHQrkgW2P9mpehuYhpfLOpPnAuOQ7zRlDVauDtOxTdspuUmknkpIRotWBQ1uLowv9A/s1600/Saint+Ambrose.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/AVvXsEjeYPlnQbL-QZ6LctgwZi9emTXY_eRww9nis5vly8CMXLJ4stNkipv109PPNKtBg27r8gL5yPuq7_pHQrkgW2P9mpehuYhpfLOpPnAuOQ7zRlDVauDtOxTdspuUmknkpIRotWBQ1uLowv9A/s1600/Saint+Ambrose.png" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Saint Ambrose was born about 339 at Trier and was elected
Bishop when he was still a catechumen. He accepted the position after
hesitation. Ambrose became a famous preacher and defender of the faith. He
received Saint Augustine into the Church. He fought paganism and also protected
the Church against political power. Saint Ambrose was a Christian bishop of
great faith and energy.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span></span></b><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Topic: Your sins are forgiven.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jesus was teaching in today’s gospel when some men brought to
Him a paralyzed man. They let the man down through the roof because the crowd
made it impossible to pass through the door. Seeing their faith Jesus said to
the paralyzed man “My Friend, your sins are forgiven you” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 5:20</b>). Although the scribes and the Pharisees questioned in
their ignorance but the paralyzed man so much needed the forgiveness of his
sins.<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;">Based on the Old Testament, the Jews believed that bodily
diseases are connected to sin. Hence, Jesus’ disciples asked him of the man
blind from birth: “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents...?” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 9:2</b>). And for the Pharisees he was
born entirely in sins, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 9:34</b>. Unfortunately,
the main effect of sin we ought to be afraid of is not bodily ailments, because
ultimately sin leads to death, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Prov
12:28; Matt 10:28</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sin has paralyzed us in various ways, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 8:34</b>. So as we prepare for Christ we
should remember that sacramental confession is very important. Saint Ambrose readmitted
the Roman Emperor Theodosius I to the sacraments after some months of penance. Again,
Saint Ambrose hesitated before accepting the bishopric but he turned out to be
a veritable instrument in the hand of God. In the same vein, you might have your
reasons why sacramental confession is not important or should not be now. But I
assure you that Jesus Christ Himself is waiting for you to come and be healed
because you are His friend, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 15:15</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Bible Reading</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">: Jn 20:19-23.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Thought for today:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> Christ is waiting for you to come.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Let us pray:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> Lord, forgive us all our sins as we
approach your throne of mercy – Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Saint Ambrose – Pray for us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Dear child of God, God needs your
help</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">: Help to
increase the number of God’s children by <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">SHARING
</b>our reflections with all your friends and by <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">RECOMMENDING</b> them to Google if they worth it. We also need your <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">comments</b> to know how we are doing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And we plead with you to continue to
reflect with us daily on any of these media:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God bless you+</span></div>

Your sins are forgiven: Homily for the Memorial of Saint Ambrose, B.D (7th December, 2015)

Homily for the Memorial of Saint Ambrose, B.D (7 th December, 2015) (Monday of the Second Week of Advent (II)) on the Gospel and the Me...

Forgiveness of sins: Homily for the Second Sunday of Advent (C) (6th December, 2015)

Unknown 0 Sunday homilies 04:19

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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">From the
Pulpit<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "cambria math" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Homily
for the Second Sunday of Advent (C) (6<sup>th</sup> December, 2015) on the
Gospel<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Baruch
5:1-9;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Ps
125 (R.V. 3);<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Phil
1:3-6.8-11;<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Lk 3:1-6</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE7Bem7ZXXRZ5tW67Ibb4SK2A151yxDrZv_c2PTt4B-E7d86LiySNV7RLNBRRKoxRfoAEOL8Vgin9nXdMBJcc8TIlqak9Ft0kmJfS-BeCzCgOMujgGwSvofJGiPCbSSpgSRGAgHeCenZO6/s1600/06.12.2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE7Bem7ZXXRZ5tW67Ibb4SK2A151yxDrZv_c2PTt4B-E7d86LiySNV7RLNBRRKoxRfoAEOL8Vgin9nXdMBJcc8TIlqak9Ft0kmJfS-BeCzCgOMujgGwSvofJGiPCbSSpgSRGAgHeCenZO6/s200/06.12.2015.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Father Sagayanathan writes about
Rabbi Eleazar who declared: “Repent one day before your death.” And his
disciples who heard him asked: “How does one know which day that it is?” “Exactly,”
answered the sage, for that reason we ought to live every day as though it were
our last.</span></span><span style="font-family: "calibri";">”</span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Fr.%20Moses/Desktop/fb/Year%20C%202015-2016/Advent%20&amp;%20Xmas/Second%20Sunday%20of%20Advent%20(C).docx" name="_ednref1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue;">[1]</span></span></span></span></span></a><o:p></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Topic: </span></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 15pt;">Forgiveness of sins</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Last Sunday, we reflected on
preparing for Christ in threefold because He was, He is and He is to come. In today’s
gospel, Saint John the Baptist went into all the region around the Jordan and
proclaimed a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 3:3</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">We know that for some, it is useless reflecting
on the forgiveness of sins because they stopped sinning when they become born-again.
And for some, although one can sin but why confess to fellow human beings (priests)?
There are other obstacles but in this homily our focus is on why confessing to priests.
The issue of being sinners or not among others will be subjects of another day.
It is important we know before going further that these problems can be found even
in the Catholic Church. So let no one think either we talk to them or about
them. We talk to ourselves and about ourselves.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">We should remember that when a
paralyzed man was brought to Jesus and He said to him: “Son, your sins are
forgiven” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mk 2:5</b>; cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 5:20</b>) the scribes termed the
statement blasphemous because it is God alone who can forgive sins, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mk 2:6-7</b>. And they are correct in
saying that it is God alone who can forgive sins, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ps 32:5; Is 45:25; Jer 31:34. 33:8; Mic 7:19</b>. In line with this,
the Psalmist prayed to God for the forgiveness of sins, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ps 79:9</b>. And Christ Himself taught us to
pray to God for the forgiveness of our sins, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 11:4; Matt 6:12</b>. But the scribes missed a very important point –
‘who is Jesus Christ?’ Jesus tells us who He is: “I and the Father are one” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 10:30</b>; cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 1:1</b>; <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Jn 4:10</b>). So Jesus
forgives sins because He is God but the scribes among others did not know this
fact. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">On the other hand, we read that when
Christ appeared to his disciples He breathed on them and said to them: “Receive
the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you
retain the sins of any, they are retained” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 20:22b-23</b>). And Jesus unequivocally tells us that He sends His
priests into the world just as He was sent by the Father, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 20:21</b>. And based on these among
others we uphold that God forgives sins through His priests. But just as the
scribes did not understand who Jesus Christ is many do not understand who is a
priest, another Christ.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">So my dear brothers and sisters as we
prepare for Christ, the gospel tells us that Saint John the Baptist’s
proclamation is the fulfilment of the prophesy of Isaiah: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">The voice of one crying out in the
wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley
shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked
shall be made straight, and rough ways made smooth; and all flesh shall see the
salvation of God (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 3:4-6; </b>cf.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> Is 40:3-5</b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">In preparation for Jesus Christ, we
must be watchful as the gospel tells us of both the things we overdid and the
things we did not do enough - valley on one side and mountain and hill on the
other; crooked ways to be straightened and rough ways smoothened. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">The Psalmist rightly writes: “I
acknowledged my sin to thee, and I did not hide my iniquity; I said, ‘I will
confess my transgressions to the LORD’; then thou didst forgive the guilt of my
sin” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ps 32:5</b>). And in his first
letter Saint John writes: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and
will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Jn 1:9</b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">My dear brothers and sisters, what
are you waiting for? Remember that by Christ’s wounds we are healed, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Pt 2:24</b>. The letter to the Hebrews
tells us to: “... exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today,’
that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Heb 3:13</b>). So let us acknowledge our
sins, mend our ways and confess our sins so that He who is faithful will
forgive us. We ought to live every day as though it were our last as the sage declared
in our introductory story. Confess to God through His instruments (priests) and
you shall be healed. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Bible Readings</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">: Heb 3:6-19; Jn 20:19-23; 1Pt 4:1-11.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Thought for today:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> Are you ready to confess your sins?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Let us pray:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Lord, help us to be always ready for
you – Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Dear child of God, God needs your help</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">: Help to increase the number of God’s children by <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">SHARING </b>our reflections with all your
friends and by <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">RECOMMENDING</b> them to Google
if they worth it. We also need your <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">comments</b>
to know how we are doing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 50%; margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 50%;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">And we plead with you to continue to reflect with us daily on any of these
media:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">+234 813 305 0302</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">SMS ONLY</b>).</span><span style="font-family: "cambria" , "serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">God bless you+<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/Fr.%20Moses/Desktop/fb/Year%20C%202015-2016/Advent%20&amp;%20Xmas/Second%20Sunday%20of%20Advent%20(C).docx" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "calibri" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue;">[1]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Sagayanathan, A. (2009). <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Launching Pad: Stories for Sunday
Homilies, year A,B,&C</i></b>. Bangalore: Asian Trading Corporation, p. 233.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Forgiveness of sins: Homily for the Second Sunday of Advent (C) (6th December, 2015)

From the Pulpit Homily for the Second Sunday of Advent (C) (6 th December, 2015) on the Gospel Baruch 5:1-9; Ps 125 (R.V. 3); Phil...

Homily for Saturday of the First week of Advent (II) (5th December, 2015)

Unknown 0 Weekday Homilies 03:03

Homily for Saturday of the First week of Advent (II) (5th December, 2015)

Daily Tonic Homily for Saturday of the First week of Advent (II) (5 th December, 2015) on the Gospel Is 30:19-21.23-26; Ps 146:1-...

Homily for Friday of the First week of Advent (II) (4th December, 2015)

Unknown 0 Weekday Homilies 02:44

Homily for Friday of the First week of Advent (II) (4th December, 2015)

Daily Tonic Homily for Friday of the First week of Advent (II) (4 th December, 2015) on the Gospel Is 29:17-24; Ps 26:1.4.13-14 ...

Homily for the Memorial of Saint Francis Xavier, Priest (3rd December, 2015)

Unknown 0 Memorials, Weekday Homilies 01:58

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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Daily Tonic <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Homily for the Memorial of Saint
Francis Xavier, Priest (3<sup>rd</sup> December, 2015) <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">(Thursday of the First week of Advent
(II)) on the Gospel and the Memorial<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<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>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Is 26:1-6;<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ps 117:1.8-9.19-21.25-27 (R. v.26)<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 7:21.24-27</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9BFVOYcaLPfoOmjOy-Ev6vZyyS9vSiM-ayfdSgdemMjaRjNuXh58qdvP33BXl1Ceu27PSTGnp_08GuuDtYxS6CYcQNAJcZ42o3c8cy1K1-MJTv2P5Lt7r2vy-uczg2ok0Cyp5yExY-ymR/s1600/Saint+Francis+Xavier%252C+.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/AVvXsEh9BFVOYcaLPfoOmjOy-Ev6vZyyS9vSiM-ayfdSgdemMjaRjNuXh58qdvP33BXl1Ceu27PSTGnp_08GuuDtYxS6CYcQNAJcZ42o3c8cy1K1-MJTv2P5Lt7r2vy-uczg2ok0Cyp5yExY-ymR/s1600/Saint+Francis+Xavier%252C+.jpg" /></a><br />
 <span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Saint Francis Xavier was “born in 1506, in Spain, he was an
original member of the Society of Jesus with St Ignatius – he took vows of
poverty and chastity, and committed himself to evangelise the pagans. He is one
of the greatest of all Christian missionaries, preaching in Goa, South East
Asia, Japan – where he landed in 1549. He learned Japanese, and formed a Church
that endured long drawn-out persecution. He died while on his way from Goa to
China, in 1552. Not only was his preaching effective in drawing people to
Christ, but he was able to organise the communities so that they could survive
when he left them” (The Weekday Missal: A New Edition, p. 1995).<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Topic: The Word of God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Considering how often people go to church and other religious
exercises, hear the word of God among other things one might tend to conclude
that heaven has come at last. But at the same time, evil of different kinds keeps
increasing everyday in the world. Hence, Jesus’ warning in the gospel: “Not
everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but
only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt 7:21</b>). In the gospel according to Luke we also read: “Blessed ...
are those who hear the word of God and keep it!” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 11:28</b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The Letter to the Hebrews describes the word of God as
something “living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the
division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts
and intentions of the heart” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Heb 4:12</b>).
Saint Peter in his first letter wrote: “You have been born anew, not of
perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of
God” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Pt 1:23</b>). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Can we then say that the word of God has either changed or
has lost its vitality? Saint Paul writes that “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">It is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all Israelites
truly belong to Israel</b>” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rom 9:6</b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTyfXkHZyMiYJFUpZs05T-FK5cWCrpE_zTEdsKXRekwvNZON2756EAIZhomNlSDryfN212iH34rFYTbZdxpAGJ3HaNvj9hqe1wQpMEauJtKk0VMiuG8ez0vjZz7WiIJvi-45Xg5NDGtiit/s1600/Vision+of+St+Francis+Xavier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTyfXkHZyMiYJFUpZs05T-FK5cWCrpE_zTEdsKXRekwvNZON2756EAIZhomNlSDryfN212iH34rFYTbZdxpAGJ3HaNvj9hqe1wQpMEauJtKk0VMiuG8ez0vjZz7WiIJvi-45Xg5NDGtiit/s320/Vision+of+St+Francis+Xavier.jpg" width="232" /></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In his letter to the Ephesians, Saint Paul admonishes us to
“... take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the
word of God” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Eph 6:17</b>). But many
Christians have rejected the word of God because of other things like
traditions, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mk 7:13; Matt 15:6; 2Tim
4:9-11</b>. For the apostles, it is wrong to leave the word of God for any
other thing, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Acts 6:2</b>. We ought to
accept the word of God as the Thessalonians did “not as the word of men but as
what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Thess 2:13</b>) after the example of Saint
Francis Xavier.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Bible Reading</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">: Jas 1:19-27; Rom 2:1-16; 9:1-18.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Thought for today:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> What is God’s word for you?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Let us pray:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> God, give us the grace to receive
your word as what it really is. And may it be our guiding principle through
Christ our Lord – Amen!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Homily for the Memorial of Saint Francis Xavier, Priest (3rd December, 2015)

Daily Tonic Homily for the Memorial of Saint Francis Xavier, Priest (3 rd December, 2015) (Thursday of the First week of Advent (II))...

Homily for Wednesday of the First week of Advent (II) (2nd December, 2015)

Unknown 0 Weekday Homilies 02:40

Homily for Wednesday of the First week of Advent (II) (2nd December, 2015)

Daily Tonic Homily for Wednesday of the First week of Advent (II) (2 nd December, 2015) on the Gospel Is 25:6-10; Ps 22 (R. v.6)...