Mary’s visit to Elizabeth: Homily (Reflection) for Weekdays of Advent: 21st December, 2015

<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 Weekdays of Advent: 21^st December, 2015 on the Gospel<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div> <br /> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 50%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 50%;"><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;">Songs 2:8-14 or Zeph 3:14-18;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ps 32:2-3.11-12.20-21. (R. vv. 1.3)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /> <span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Lk 1:39-45</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/AVvXsEjIwA21SH_VlCyO05AFvh9GA1T4VKHKQji8nytYrSdvihIlfgoN1F_8nnRJ_uxa4FFHAP6zhYvTYXAtmeaYZ_g5G6qk5GDZf5YO5ba7_x6ipq_jZ4hyphenhyphenqlkk0hBKQ62CGBBbEiQqEVvrMBV0/s1600/untitled2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIwA21SH_VlCyO05AFvh9GA1T4VKHKQji8nytYrSdvihIlfgoN1F_8nnRJ_uxa4FFHAP6zhYvTYXAtmeaYZ_g5G6qk5GDZf5YO5ba7_x6ipq_jZ4hyphenhyphenqlkk0hBKQ62CGBBbEiQqEVvrMBV0/s400/untitled2.png" width="400" /></a></div> <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: Mary’s visit to Elizabeth</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 mother of Jesus set out in today’s gospel to visit her kinswoman Elizabeth whom the angel made her to know was in the sixth month of her pregnancy (cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 1:36</b>). Mary went as quickly as she could to a Judean town in the hill country where Elizabeth was living with her husband. The greeting of Mary made John the Baptist to leap with joy in the womb of his mother, Elizabeth who was immediately filled with the Holy Spirit. It was under the influence of the Holy Spirit that she exclaimed with a loud cry part of that beautiful prayer, the Hail Mary: “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb</b>” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 1:42</b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As we come closer and closer to Christmas, Jesus wants us to visit others especially those who need our help just as He and His mother did in today’s gospel. It is important to note among other things that the gospel did not tell us the things Mary and Jesus took along while visiting Elizabeth. So even if you have nothing material, your visit alone worth more than what you can imagine. Again, delay might be dangerous. Mary set out immediately. So, why delay? Set out today or even now. <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;">This visit ought not be limited to one’s friends alone, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ex 23:5; Prov 25:21</b>. Jesus is the king of peace, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Is 9:6</b>.<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;">: Ex 23:1-9.<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;">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;"> Visit someone today and/or during this season.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 15pt 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 Jesus the King of peace accompany us as we visit others – Amen.</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, </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 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> <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;"> <a href="http://www.twitter.com/onlinehomilies"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.twitter.com/onlinehomilies</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">   </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <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> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></b><br /> <br /> <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%;">To Contact and/or to support this ministry</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: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"> <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><span style="font-family: Calibri;">; </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;">+234(0) 8113330558 (Calls between 7 and 9 GMT) <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; line-height: 110%;">+234(0) 813 305 0302</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">SMS ONLY, anytime</b>); </span></span></div> <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>

Mary’s visit to Elizabeth: Homily (Reflection) for Weekdays of Advent: 21st December, 2015

Homily (Reflection) for Weekdays of Advent: 21 st December, 2015 on the Gospel   Songs 2:8-14 or Zeph 3:14-18; Ps 32:2-3.11-12.20-...

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Faith in Action: Homily for the Fourth Sunday of Advent (C) (20th December, 2015)

<br /> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria Math","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Homily for the Fourth Sunday of Advent (C) (20^th December, 2015) on the Gospel<o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 4pt 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Mic 5:1-4;<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 79:2-3.15-16.18-19. (R. v. 4);<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;">Heb 10:5-10;<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /> <span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Lk 1:39-44</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 /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIIX4SxGVQXb9orM7MKDjZ48XyImyGLSD3NdpfaywfOrdPdktiQ7RG9oed-nqE6cetXTI5CIuHS4FKTHHhcfdQlEKd6n1hqdmhUCAgqs87dXbBAe3FWn_m-hSXa8mQScU4ivNYtaXEJ54A/s1600/imagesXHRAPU89.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIIX4SxGVQXb9orM7MKDjZ48XyImyGLSD3NdpfaywfOrdPdktiQ7RG9oed-nqE6cetXTI5CIuHS4FKTHHhcfdQlEKd6n1hqdmhUCAgqs87dXbBAe3FWn_m-hSXa8mQScU4ivNYtaXEJ54A/s400/imagesXHRAPU89.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">A king who had no sons to succeed him posted a sign inviting young men in his kingdom to become his adopted son and rule after him. There were only two qualifications. The boy must love God and neighbour deeply. A young peasant boy felt moved to apply, but he lacked decent clothes for the interview. Finally, he saved enough money for the clothes. As the boy neared the palace, he came upon a shivering old man begging for clothes. The boy was moved to pity and gave the beggar the clothes he had bought for the interview. Then the boy went on to the castle, wondering if he would be admitted in rags. The boy did gain admittance. When he came to the throne, he couldn’t believe his eyes. On the throne sat the shivering old man. The king smiled and said, “Welcome, my son.”</span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Fr.%20Moses/Desktop/fb/Year%20C%202015-2016/Advent%20&amp;%20Xmas/Fourth%20Sunday%20of%20Advent%20(C).docx" name="_ednref1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><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><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><o:p></o:p></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;">Topic: Faith in Action</span></b><span style="font-size: 15pt;">.</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;">The messages delivered to Mary and Zechariah by Archangel Gabriel elicited in them different reactions. In Mary, the message met faith expressed in the words: “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>) whereas in Zechariah, the message met unbelief expressed thus: “How will I know that this is so? For I am an old man, and my wife is getting on in years” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 1:18-20</b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /> <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;">In today’s gospel, Mary embarked on a difficult journey from Nazareth to the hill country of Judea just to visit her kinswoman, Elizabeth based on her faith. Hence under the influence of the Holy Spirit (cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 1:41</b>) Elizabeth said: “And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her by the Lord” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 1:45</b>).<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;">But being blessed is not limited to Mary alone but extends to all who live by faith. According to the author of the Letter to the Hebrews, faith is “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Heb 11:1</b>). And being a Christian is another way of saying that one has faith in God and his Christ. Hence for Saint Jude, faith is the foundation on which the saints build themselves, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jude 1:20</b>. It is faith that leads to salvation (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Pt 1:9</b>). The faithless cannot please God, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Heb 11:6</b>. We are called to live by faith, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Heb 10:38</b>. Saint John rightly points out that our faith is the victory that conquers the world (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Jn 5:4</b>). Faith must be supported with goodness (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2Pt 1:5</b>). In line with this, Saint James insists that faith and action must go together (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jas 2:14-26</b>). And when faith is tested, it results to endurance (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jas 1:3</b>). Faith in God and his Christ is what distinguishes Christians from others, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Heb 4:2</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin: 5pt 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dear friend in the Lord, as we celebrate the last Sunday of Advent, it is important for us to check how we live out our faith. How do our actions testify to our faith in Christ we are preparing for the celebration of His birth? Mary did not expressed her faith in words alone (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>)) she also expressed her faith as we see in today’s gospel in action. In our introductory story, the king needed no one to tell him that the peasant boy possessed the two qualities he was looking for in a young man to be adopted to succeed him. As we wait for Christ, let us express our faith in our actions. And do not forget that the Christ we are preparing for is that man or woman out there, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt 25:40, 45</b>.<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%; 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;">: </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">1Jn 5:1-5; 2Pt 1:3-15; Jas 2:14-26; Heb 11.</span><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;"><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%;"> To what extent do my faith and my actions agree?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin: 5pt 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%;">God of heaven and earth, give us the grace that will enable us to be strong in faith not just in words but most importantly in actions at the coming of our Lord, Jesus Christ–Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dear child of God, <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 3pt 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">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 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; text-indent: 0in;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><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; text-indent: 0in;"> <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;"><span style="color: blue;">www.fromthepulpitonline.blogspot.com</span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/fromthepulpitonline"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.facebook.com/fromthepulpitonline</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://twitter.com/onlinehomilies"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">http://twitter.com/onlinehomilies</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></b><br /> <br /> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;"> <span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">To Contact and/or to support this ministry</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <br /> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;"> <a href="mailto:fromthepulpitonline@gmail.com"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">fromthepulpitonline@gmail.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">; </span></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">+234(0) 8113330558 (Calls between 7 and 9 GMT) <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;">+234(0) 813 305 0302</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">SMS ONLY, anytime</b>); </span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">God bless you+<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <br /> <div style="mso-element: endnote-list;"> <!--[if !supportEndnotes]--><br /> <hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" /> <!--[endif]--> <br /> <div id="edn1" style="mso-element: endnote;"> <div class="MsoEndnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;"> <a href="file:///C:/Users/Fr.%20Moses/Desktop/fb/Year%20C%202015-2016/Advent%20&amp;%20Xmas/Fourth%20Sunday%20of%20Advent%20(C).docx" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><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><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Fuller, G. (2010). <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Stories for all Seasons</i></b>. Mumbai: St Pauls, p.103.</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div> </div> </div>

Faith in Action: Homily for the Fourth Sunday of Advent (C) (20th December, 2015)

Homily for the Fourth Sunday of Advent (C) (20 th December, 2015) on the Gospel Mic 5:1-4; Ps 79:2-3.15-16.18-19. (R. v. 4); Heb 10:...

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Do not be afraid...: Homily (Reflection) for Weekdays of Advent: 19th December, 2015

<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 Weekdays of Advent: 19^th December, 2015 on the Gospel<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div> <br /> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 50%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 50%;"><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;">Jug 13:2-7.24-25;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ps 70:3-6.16-17. (R. cf. 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;">Lk 1:5-25</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/AVvXsEjkK5QSOPK3Ykus47CDfGBF3pdu15RWzk3fCdDHCsd6XeYOU-Kf4jkG0q7j8MOTYW30C7zZWLmdjxXeNDidQUlUqmdZ5mEgH9DVXQ3Iirlt7PafkXSgHvCdZdz_LPlR7B9voSrp9aZ7WNA1/s1600/imagesM26ZO94U.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkK5QSOPK3Ykus47CDfGBF3pdu15RWzk3fCdDHCsd6XeYOU-Kf4jkG0q7j8MOTYW30C7zZWLmdjxXeNDidQUlUqmdZ5mEgH9DVXQ3Iirlt7PafkXSgHvCdZdz_LPlR7B9voSrp9aZ7WNA1/s400/imagesM26ZO94U.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <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: Do not be afraid....</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;">We see in today’s gospel a priest named Zechariah and his wife, Elizabeth, a descendant of Aaron. Both were not just noble by birth but also were righteous and blameless before God. Yet the gospel goes on to say “... they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 1:7</b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But they continued to live righteous and blameless lives according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord even as they grew older and older without any child. It was when so to speak, all hope was lost that an angel of the Lord appeared to Zechariah who was terrified and overwhelmed with fear. But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 1:13</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;">My dear child of God, things might not have been as you expect them not minding how much you tired to live according to the will of God. You may have even fallen out of despondency or at the verge of falling. That same angel is telling you today: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">DO NOT BE AFRAID</b>.... If you have fell, do not be afraid, rise for the time has come. If you have not, do not because our Saviour is at hand. Remember always that nothing is impossible for God, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt 19:26; Mk 10:27; Lk 1:37. 18:27</b>. The angel repeats: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">DO NOT BE AFRAID</b>.<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;">: Lk 1:46-55.<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;">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 be afraid....<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%;"> Come according to your words, Lord Jesus, do not delay (cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rev 22:20</b>) – 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, </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 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> <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;"> <a href="http://www.twitter.com/onlinehomilies"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.twitter.com/onlinehomilies</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">   </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <br /> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></b></div> <br /> <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%;">To Contact and/or to support this ministry</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: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"> <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><span style="font-family: Calibri;">; </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;">+234(0) 8113330558 (Calls between 7 and 9 GMT) <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; line-height: 110%;">+234(0) 813 305 0302</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">SMS ONLY, anytime</b>); </span></span></div> <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>

Do not be afraid...: Homily (Reflection) for Weekdays of Advent: 19th December, 2015

Homily (Reflection) for Weekdays of Advent: 19 th December, 2015 on the Gospel   Jug 13:2-7.24-25; Ps 70:3-6.16-17. (R. cf. v. 8) ...

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Give God time to speak: Homily (Reflection) for Weekdays of Advent: 18th December, 2015

<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 Weekdays of Advent: 18^th December, 2015 on the Gospel<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div> <br /> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 50%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 50%;"><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;">Jer 23:5-8;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ps 71:1-2.12-13.18-19. (R. cf. v.7)<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 1:18-24</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/AVvXsEhEL8MA3oratQPVKjBYhwWENcuQ4v6koh3usN00r0xl9sXl7hrVPXzypqUltvyfQZiKzA6akcv7O6xX3zdyW2yGvLV5b8BWou6wDRG8VFxIqm97NLQPvfwupi_jdtM20XYrS6bRgAiB9cah/s1600/imagesHYWD8NW6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEL8MA3oratQPVKjBYhwWENcuQ4v6koh3usN00r0xl9sXl7hrVPXzypqUltvyfQZiKzA6akcv7O6xX3zdyW2yGvLV5b8BWou6wDRG8VFxIqm97NLQPvfwupi_jdtM20XYrS6bRgAiB9cah/s400/imagesHYWD8NW6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <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: Give God time to speak</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;">Today’s gospel tells us how Jesus Christ was conceived in the womb of Blessed Virgin Mary of the Holy Spirit. Mary’s husband, Joseph, did not act impulsively. Hence the bible rightly calls him “a righteous man”. He was unwilling to shame her publicly and was still planning how best to dismiss her quietly when the angel of the Lord came with this message:<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 0in 0pt 0.7in;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt 1:20-21</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;">And in obedience to the angel of the Lord, Joseph took Mary as his wife. <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;">There are a lot of questions that come to mind at this time: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 49.5pt; text-indent: -13.5pt;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">i. What would have been the fate of Mary and Jesus Christ had Joseph acted rashly? Certainly, the story would not have been the same. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt 49.5pt; text-indent: -13.5pt;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">ii. Again, how many times have you acted rashly only to regret your actions later?<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 come closer to the memorial of the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ may we ask the Blessed Joseph to help us obtain that righteous person’s heart he has to enable us act rationally instead of rashly.<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;">: Ezek 11:14-21.<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;">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 has words for you always but you must give Him time to speak.<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%;"> Lord as we approach the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, give us heart of flesh as you promised us (cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ezek 11:19; 36:26</b>) – 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, </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 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> <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-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><a href="http://www.twitter.com/onlinehomilies"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.twitter.com/onlinehomilies</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">  </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <br /> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></b></div> <br /> <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%;">To Contact and/or to support this ministry</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: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"> <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><span style="font-family: Calibri;">; </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;">+234(0) 8113330558 (Calls between 7 and 9 GMT) <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; line-height: 110%;">+234(0) 813 305 0302</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">SMS ONLY, anytime</b>); </span></span></div> <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>

Give God time to speak: Homily (Reflection) for Weekdays of Advent: 18th December, 2015

Homily (Reflection) for Weekdays of Advent: 18 th December, 2015 on the Gospel   Jer 23:5-8; Ps 71:1-2.12-13.18-19. (R. cf. v.7) ...

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From the Pulpit Online is now on twitter.

<br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">  </div> <span style="font-family: Calibri;"></span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> <span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></span></div> <span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Dear friends, <o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">From the Pulpit Online</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"> is now live on twitter.<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><a href="https://twitter.com/onlinehomilies"><span style="color: blue;">https://twitter.com/onlinehomilies</span></a> <o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Remember to share with your friends.<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">God bless you+<o:p></o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> <span style="font-family: Times New Roman;"> </span></div> </span><br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">  </div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;"> <o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>

From the Pulpit Online is now on twitter.

  Dear friends, From the Pulpit Online is now live on twitter. https://twitter.com/onlinehomilies Remember to s...

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Leave it Better: Homily (Reflection) for Weekdays of Advent: 17th December, 2015

<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 Weekdays of Advent: 17^th December, 2015 on the Gospel<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div> <br /> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 50%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 50%;"><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;">Gen 49:2.8-10;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ps 71:1-4.7-8.17. (R. cf. v.7)<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 1:1-17</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/AVvXsEiDOGI60lxSCuTPK0I3GaKhWXz3tY4GaqaNkc3E8vnyVp5q5V6OnZIyir99Z4nBFURFOw0hU7VMQGuq7ez70AV91IE694xTeauNsf1FMz2pLzsVYZ6A4tUTUNR8buGWVavsTLqhdoNTs9vL/s1600/imagesMSZQP6R1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOGI60lxSCuTPK0I3GaKhWXz3tY4GaqaNkc3E8vnyVp5q5V6OnZIyir99Z4nBFURFOw0hU7VMQGuq7ez70AV91IE694xTeauNsf1FMz2pLzsVYZ6A4tUTUNR8buGWVavsTLqhdoNTs9vL/s400/imagesMSZQP6R1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <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: Leave it Better</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;">One might wonder why the pains Saint Matthew took to trace the genealogy of Jesus Christ back Abraham. The book of Deuteronomy reads about Israel: “... you are a people holy to the Lord your God; the Lord your God has chosen you out of all the peoples on earth to be his people, his treasured possession” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Deut 7:6</b>). And the call of Abraham in the book of Genesis marks the beginning of His election of Israelites as His chosen nation, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Gen 12</b>. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br /> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Think of how one feels when being referred to as a son or a daughter of a successful man or woman. Or better still from a noble and successful family. In the same way, the Jews pride themselves as the Lord’s chosen. Hence in their culture, there is serious importance in genealogy as we can see in the bible, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Gen 4:17ff</b>; <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">5:1-32</b>. The inability to trace one’s origin to Abraham or at least to David raises serious question mark as to being a genuine Israelite. So, today’s gospel in part is an attempt to show that Christ is the long awaited Messiah as prophesied, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Kg 11:36; Lk 1:27; Is 22:22</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;">One of the truths we know is that today begets tomorrow. As a result, take everything you do very serious. In other words, do your best at all times. The life you live today might uplift or shame others tomorrow. So Leave the history Better than you meet it.<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;">: Phil 2:12-18.<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;">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;"> Leave everything better than you meet them.<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%;"> God help us to make this world a better place – 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, </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 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> <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> <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%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></b></div> <br /> <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%;">To Contact and/or to support this ministry</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: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"> <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><span style="font-family: Calibri;">; </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;">+234(0) 8113330558 (Calls between 7 and 9 GMT) <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; line-height: 110%;">+234(0) 813 305 0302</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">SMS ONLY, anytime</b>); </span></span></div> <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>

Leave it Better: Homily (Reflection) for Weekdays of Advent: 17th December, 2015

Homily (Reflection) for Weekdays of Advent: 17 th December, 2015 on the Gospel   Gen 49:2.8-10; Ps 71:1-4.7-8.17. (R. cf. v.7) Ma...

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Ask questions: Homily (Reflection) for Wednesday of the Third Week of Advent (II) (16th December, 2015)

<br /> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Homily (Reflection) for Wednesday of the Third Week of Advent (II) (16^th December, 2015) on the Gospel<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div> <br /> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 50%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 50%;"><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;">Is 45:6-8.18.21-26;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ps 84:9-14 (R. cf. Is 45:8)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /> <span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Lk 7:19-23</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguGrOPMlS8CghMJrOH1PDGdd531V3Df8MsAlM_ghhye8Xnp75t_4sNaJiGgUpdfNov6HUwgWjivXaJkXOPDWVhL4UZcbpnApLWnku8B8N5-Oc33UZGnhc4KF3bG_akJTIeAgeIkc07CTwN/s1600/images29DV0RWT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguGrOPMlS8CghMJrOH1PDGdd531V3Df8MsAlM_ghhye8Xnp75t_4sNaJiGgUpdfNov6HUwgWjivXaJkXOPDWVhL4UZcbpnApLWnku8B8N5-Oc33UZGnhc4KF3bG_akJTIeAgeIkc07CTwN/s320/images29DV0RWT.jpg" width="280" /></a></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Topic: Ask questions.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 2pt 0in 0pt;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">John the Baptist was sent as a precursor of Jesus Christ and he testified to Him based on the signs he saw, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 1:29-34</b>. But in today’s gospel he sent two of his disciples to Jesus with the question: “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 7:20</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;">The book Deuteronomy reads: “Remember the days of old, consider the years of many generations; ask your father, and he will show you; your elders, and they will tell you” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Deut 32:7</b>). When the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua and the Israelites did to Jericho and Ai, they went to them in cunning. And because Joshua and the Israelites did not ask direction from the LORD they fell prey to their cunning, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Josh 9:14</b>. By doing so, they went contrary to the will of God, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Deut 7:2-5</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;">There are a lot of mistakes we could have avoided if only we asked questions. Not only did we fail to ask questions but some are yet to ask questions to help correct the mistakes. In the letter of Saint James we read: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all men generously and without reproaching, and it will be given him” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jas 1:5</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;">Begin today to ask questions not just to avoid mistakes but also those that will help you correct every mistake you have done.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 15pt 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;">: Josh 9:1-27.<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;">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;"> Question first.<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%;"> Almighty God and Father always direct us in the right part – Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></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%;">Dear child of God, </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 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> <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> <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%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></b></div> <br /> <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%;">To Contact and/or to support this ministry</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: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"> <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><span style="font-family: Calibri;">; </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;">+234(0) 8113330558 (Calls between 7 and 9 GMT) <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; line-height: 110%;">+234(0) 813 305 0302</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">SMS ONLY, anytime</b>); </span></span></div> <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>

Ask questions: Homily (Reflection) for Wednesday of the Third Week of Advent (II) (16th December, 2015)

Homily (Reflection) for Wednesday of the Third Week of Advent (II) (16 th December, 2015) on the Gospel   Is 45:6-8.18.21-26; Ps 8...

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Think Better: Homily (Reflection) for Tuesday of the Third Week of Advent (II) (15th December, 2015)

<br /> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Homily (Reflection) for Tuesday of the Third Week of Advent (II) (15^th December, 2015) on the Gospel <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div> <br /> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 50%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 50%;"><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;">Zeph 3:1-2.9-13;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ps 33:2-3.6-7.16.18-19.23. (R. v.7);<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 21:28-32</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/AVvXsEgA-CjidtaaM4pY_36WdpvinWH0Xn3sxS05hgqWcCj19XwmNAyiwp1sp6iZYym44wC1Q_d0LSZvKONXKdb6L-KJFC9Huh2M2l9zjhpwa3skRNo0EeJfQ6TisUJ_BKLTR2i2IrOmCITgxnf4/s1600/Thinking.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA-CjidtaaM4pY_36WdpvinWH0Xn3sxS05hgqWcCj19XwmNAyiwp1sp6iZYym44wC1Q_d0LSZvKONXKdb6L-KJFC9Huh2M2l9zjhpwa3skRNo0EeJfQ6TisUJ_BKLTR2i2IrOmCITgxnf4/s320/Thinking.jpg" width="276" /></a></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Topic: Think Better.<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today’s gospel started from where that of yesterday stopped. Jesus used a parable of a man who had two sons to teach the chief priests and the elders of the people. The man in question went to the first and asked him to work in the vineyard but he replied: “‘I will not’; but later he changed his mind [thought better of it] and went” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt 21:29</b>). The man made the same request of the second son who hardly allowed him to finish before the reply: “‘I go, sir’; but he did not go” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt 21:30</b>) even till date. Both the chief priests and the elders of the people rightly answered that it was the first who did his father’s will.<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;">Jesus went on to tell them that the tax collectors and the prostitutes are making heaven ahead of them because John the Baptist came the chief priests and the elders of the people did not believe in him but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And to worsen the situation, the chief priests and the elders of the people never thought better and believed.<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;">That you have said something or decided on something does not mean that you have gotten to the best. And nothing is better than the best. <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;">There are a lot of things we have decided on or even have done. Some of these things are wrong. God expects us to make amends today. This can be in the form of changing decisions, course, even asking for forgiveness for the wrongs we have done to others, explanations, and so on.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 15pt 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;">: Matt 14:1-12.<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;">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 can always think better.<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%;">Let us pray:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> God, source of true wisdom, help us to think better – Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></span></b><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%;">Dear child of God, </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 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> <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></div> <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>

Think Better: Homily (Reflection) for Tuesday of the Third Week of Advent (II) (15th December, 2015)

Homily (Reflection) for Tuesday of the Third Week of Advent (II) (15 th December, 2015) on the Gospel   Zeph 3:1-2.9-13; Ps 33:2-3...

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Please, pray for the happy repose of Sr Cordis Ezeodili (IHM) who died yesterday (12-12-2015) morning. Funeral arrangements will be communicate later. May God give her eternal rest in His Kingdom-Amen!<br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1zs3mN5m5SxpJW3GFlF22FRVhdU430ALh-A1-V23BDZ-5NPB1LPncdhyphenhyphenPjL9i5EIEAvYQu8AOjtQzLTAZBmJwp8AWDcN9wAT21MbIY5ELSDikf_jugu2L3dYT8Ifv5LO-JDr2lSeIiVby/s1600/With+Sr+Cordis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1zs3mN5m5SxpJW3GFlF22FRVhdU430ALh-A1-V23BDZ-5NPB1LPncdhyphenhyphenPjL9i5EIEAvYQu8AOjtQzLTAZBmJwp8AWDcN9wAT21MbIY5ELSDikf_jugu2L3dYT8Ifv5LO-JDr2lSeIiVby/s400/With+Sr+Cordis.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> During our visit to Sr Cordis Ezeodili at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Old Peoples Home, Nkpor, Anambra-Nigeria on 9th September, 2015 Sr. Cordis is the one sitting down.</div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> Please, remember her in your prayers and Masses.</div>

Please, pray for the happy repose of Sr Cordis Ezeodili (IHM) who died yesterday (12-12-2015) morning. Funeral arrangements will be communic...

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Openness to truth: Homily (Reflection) for the Memorial of Saint John of the Cross, P.D (14th December, 2015)

<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 John of the Cross, P.D (14^th December, 2015) <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">(Monday of the Third Week of Advent (II)) on the Gospel and the Memorial<o:p></o:p></span></span></b><br /> <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;">Num 24:2-7.15-17;<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ps 24:4-9 (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 21:23-27</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/AVvXsEgD8lANugOapEUJyzuId7UatSKKh6W3rukoB69Nzqqcg9Z1wXJbXJ9tyxHCAWKQymtkpmNn8Ssvwl_tDawefSVF1QsD0ffOOPh0e373RvedXdi2iwTXtFHatM5Lt-mbnElc1Os46X7D-_B6/s1600/imagesI6MLU1ET.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD8lANugOapEUJyzuId7UatSKKh6W3rukoB69Nzqqcg9Z1wXJbXJ9tyxHCAWKQymtkpmNn8Ssvwl_tDawefSVF1QsD0ffOOPh0e373RvedXdi2iwTXtFHatM5Lt-mbnElc1Os46X7D-_B6/s320/imagesI6MLU1ET.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Saint John of the Cross was born in Spain in 1542. He became a Carmelite and was ordained a priest in 1567. Saint Theresa of Avila encouraged him to undertake the reform of his Order. He was strenuously opposed and suffered many trials and setbacks. He led a life of prayer which bore fruit in a number of writings that are classics of the mystical life which include <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Ascent of Mount Carmel</b>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Dark Night of the Soul</b>, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Spiritual Canticle</b>, and <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Living Flame of Love</b>. His outstanding homilies, austerity of life, poetic genius and charity remain a living example</span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Fr.%20Moses/Desktop/Weekday%20Homilies/Daily%20Tonic%20for%20Year%20II/Third%20Week%20of%20Advent%20(II).docx" name="_ednref1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><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;">[i]</span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">.<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%;">Topic: Openness to truth</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;">In today’s gospel, as Jesus was teaching in the temple the chief priests and the elders of the people came to Him and asked: “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” Jesus gave them a condition for answering their question: “Did the baptism of John come from heaven, or was it of human origin?” After arguing among themselves they decided to pitch their tent with ignorance.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And in the gospel according to Saint John, Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in Him: “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 8:31-32</b>). The reaction of the chief priests and the elders of the people shows that they were not seeking for the truth.<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 Carmelite Order was disordered at the time Saint John of the Cross through the help of Saint Theresa of Avila undertook her reformation. The world in general and various areas we are in particular are certainly disordered. But the big question now is ‘who is Saint John of the Cross to reform our world?’ Certainly you are but you must be ready for oppositions and persecutions just as our Saint of today endured. Again, do not oppose or try to suppress the truth even when you feel that your stand is threatened.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 15pt 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;">: Matt 10:16-25.<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;">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 called to reform the world starting from where you are.<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%;">Let us pray:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> Lord, help us to be agents of true change wherever we are – Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 0in 0pt;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Saint John of the Cross – Pray for us.<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, </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 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> <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 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> <br /> <div style="mso-element: endnote-list;"> <!--[if !supportEndnotes]--><br /> <hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" /> <!--[endif]--> <br /> <div id="edn1" style="mso-element: endnote;"> <div class="MsoEndnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.7in;"> <a href="file:///C:/Users/Fr.%20Moses/Desktop/Weekday%20Homilies/Daily%20Tonic%20for%20Year%20II/Third%20Week%20of%20Advent%20(II).docx" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><!--[if !supportFootnotes]--><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><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;">[i]</span></span></span><!--[endif]--></span></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> The Weekday Missal: A new edition (1995). HarperCollins Religious: London. <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">p.1831.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div> <div class="MsoEndnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.7in;"> <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;"> </span></o:p></span></div> </div> </div>

Openness to truth: Homily (Reflection) for the Memorial of Saint John of the Cross, P.D (14th December, 2015)

Homily (Reflection) for the Memorial of Saint John of the Cross, P.D (14 th December, 2015) (Monday of the Third Week of Advent (II)) on...

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Do not rob Peter: Homily for the Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday) (C) (13th December, 2015)

<br /> <div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria Math","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Homily for the Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday) (C) (13^th December, 2015) on the Gospel<o:p></o:p></span></b></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 4pt 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Zeph 3:14-18;<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;">Is 12: 2-6 (R.v. 6);<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 4:4-7;<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 3:10-18</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 /> <br /> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4dopp7MrpHRpb17YkLcsluctK00Qz8vtitVfvPF_9V67N_3P28QekXnrhjGjNdIv83INAIiwvQXpGZdaOvN8BduQGDOtuMjisRkXVEVQCY8CUmAIcxZK6akzq6afictGUwR_LqSG4h492/s1600/Rejoice2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4dopp7MrpHRpb17YkLcsluctK00Qz8vtitVfvPF_9V67N_3P28QekXnrhjGjNdIv83INAIiwvQXpGZdaOvN8BduQGDOtuMjisRkXVEVQCY8CUmAIcxZK6akzq6afictGUwR_LqSG4h492/s640/Rejoice2.png" width="640" /></a></div> <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;">Topic: Do not rob Peter</span></b><span style="font-size: 15pt;">.</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;">Today is also known as Gaudete (Rejoice) Sunday. Recall that rose or pink vestment can be used today instead of violet or purple. We are called to rejoice because our salvation is close at hand.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br /> <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;">Saint Paul calls on us all to lead a life worthy of our calling, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Eph 4:1</b>; <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Pt 3:8-12</b>. And every Christian is given grace according to the measure of Christ’s gift, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Eph 4:7; 1Cor 12:12-31</b>. As a result, each Christian is expected to fulfil both the general as well as more specifics duties. To whom much is given much is also expected, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 12:48</b>. Hence, while John the Baptist was preparing the people through his proclamation, the crowds asked him: “What then should we do?” and he replied “... ‘Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise’” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 3:11</b>). Afterwards, when the tax collectors put the same question to him he told them to “Collect no more than the amount prescribed ...” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 3:13</b>). And to the soldiers who also asked the same question he said: “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 3:14</b>). The tax collectors and the soldiers beyond sharing what they have with their brothers and sisters must also do their work well.<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;">Just as we are in a special period of preparation for Christ called Advent John the Baptist was preparing the people in today’s gospel for the Messiah, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 1:19-23</b>. The call to rejoice is not just a spiritual thing. To be a Christian is not synonymous with to be sad. Christians like other humans are made up of body and soul. And Jesus did not neglect any part as replete in the bible, (cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Mk 6:37; 7:24-30; 32-35</b> among so many). Therefore rejoicing ought not be just spiritual.<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;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And like the crowds, the tax collectors, and the soldiers our main concern should be: ‘What then should we do?’ And that answer given by John the Baptist is still valid today as ever: ‘Share with others whatever you have’ because love is the mark of our discipleship, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 13:35</b>. Hence Saint James rightly queries: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin: 3pt 0in 0pt 0.7in; text-indent: 0in;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">“If a brother or sister is naked and lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and eat your fill,’ and yet you do not supply their bodily needs, what is the good of that?” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jas 2:15-16</b>).<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;">And in his first letter, Saint John also asks: “... if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Jn 3:17</b>).<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;">We are to make others see our salvation and rejoice. To do this, we must feed the hungry and quench the thirst of the thirsty, (cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Is 32:6</b>) because this is what God wants of us this season and always: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin: 2pt 0in 0pt 0.7in; text-indent: 0in;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">[To] ... loose the bonds of injustice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke .... to share your [our] bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your [our] house; when you [we] see the naked, to cover them, and not to hide yourself [ourselves] from your [our] own kin (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Is 58:6-7</b>).<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;">Every Christian is a light in and for the world, (cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt 5:14</b>). This light can only shine if we pour ourselves out for the hungry and satisfy the desires of the afflicted, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Is 58:10</b>. Christ became poor just to enrich us and expects us to do likewise for our brothers and sisters, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2Cor 8:9</b>. But as we feed the hungry, clothe the naked and so on; we must not rob Peter just to pay Paul. Do not steal from one to feed or clothe another.<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%; 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;">: Is 58:1-14; Matt 25:31-46; 1Cor 7:1-16. 17-24. 25-40. 12:12-31; Jas 2:14-26; </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">1Jn 3:11-24</span><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;">.<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%;"> Each person can make at least one person to rejoice today. And you need not look for another person to do it, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt 14:16</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin: 5pt 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;"> God, as we wait with joy the coming of your Son and our </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Lord Jesus Christ, help us to make those we will meet today and forever rejoice – Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div> <br /> <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;"> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dear one in the Lord, <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div> <span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Please</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">, help 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><br /> <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 align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;"> <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;"><span style="color: blue;">www.fromthepulpitonline.blogspot.com</span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div> <div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/fromthepulpitonline"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.facebook.com/fromthepulpitonline</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; 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 class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;"> <span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">God bless you+<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>

Do not rob Peter: Homily for the Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday) (C) (13th December, 2015)

Homily for the Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete Sunday) (C) (13 th December, 2015) on the Gospel Zeph 3:14-18; Is 12: 2-6 (R.v. 6); P...

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