Homily For Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A, 18th June, 2023

Reading: Ex. 19:2-6; Ps. 100; Rom. 5:6-11; Matt.9:36-10:8

Rev.  Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

WHY ARE WE HARASSED AND HELPLESS LIKE SHEEP WITHOUT RESPONSIBLE SHEPHERDS?

There is no doubt that humanity is constantly in need of one thing or the other, we are never tired of searching for things that will satisfy our desires for physical and spiritual well being. This is even worse with the ugly situation in our country today where people are hungry and angry, confused, sick and completely broke as a result of some greedy and selfish individuals in our society.

Today in our country we are all suffering like sheep without responsible shepherds, no enough fund in circulation, fuel is not affordable, no light, no food, no good roads, no basic human social amenities, no much things to be proud of in this country, because we have constantly failed to do the right things or elect people of goodwill to manage public offices. This can be likened to  the situation and condition of the people in the time of Jesus as we have in our Gospel passage today. For when Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion for them because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest’. 

Here, Jesus reveals God’s compassion towards humanity who were harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd. He then says to his disciples that there is a huge harvest waiting to be reaped. Calling on us to pray for God to send labourers into his harvest. And he then called his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits with power to cast them out and to cure all kinds of diseases and sickness.

By this action, Jesus fulfills his role as the expected messiah who is to liberate his people from all kinds of diseases and ugly situations. The teaching and healing touch of Jesus reveals to us that God is faithful to his promises. This healing and wholeness are offered as a sign of the presence of God’s kingdom among his people. And it also constitutes the basis of the Church’s liberating missionary activity, which is meant to spread throughout the world, thereby calling us into action. Hence, more labourers are needed, for Jesus sees how humanity are harassed and dejected, wandering aimlessly like sheep without a guiding shepherd. And because the souls of everyone in the world are so precious to God, he needs many more labourers to propel this mission. 

Little wonder in our society, today, the harvest is getting  bigger as never while people are getting lost and clueless as never before. But who are these labourers? They are not just the bishops, priests, or religious men and women. But every baptized person is called in different capacity to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with those around him/her. So each of us has a vocation, a call to save souls and build the Kingdom of God together, just as we heard in our second reading today that we were still helpless when at his appointed time Christ died for us sinners in order for him to save us and make us instrument to reach out to others. For we heard the Lord through Mosses in our first reading saying: if you obey my voice and keep my covenant, you will be my own possession among all the people; for all the earth is mine. I will make you a kingdom of priests, a consecrated nation.

Dear friends, the Lord is calling us on a mission, for sin and greediness have harassed us and made us helpless like sheep without responsible shepherd. So today we are called to be that good and responsible Shepherd. But how are we carrying out this mission and mandate of Christ? How strong is our compassion towards others? Do we know people who are harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd? Let us look at them for a moment and imagine Jesus looking at them and saying something to them. Do we feel harassed and helpless as a result of what we are passing through in life? Do we feel the need of Jesus’ help in some part of our life? Then let us turn to him and be restored.

Yes, it is obvious that the hopeless and ugly situations in our country today are good indications that we are just floating in this world like sheep without responsible Shepherds. Thus, we need to come to Jesus our true and Good Shepherd. We must make sure that nothing comes between us and the love of Jesus our Lord, even if we are troubled or worried, or being persecuted, or lacking food or clothes, or being threatened or even attacked, we must remain focused towards achieving our greater goal through goodwill. For these are the trials through which we triumph, by the power of him who loved us so much. So, we must ensure that neither death nor life, no angel, no princes of this world, nothing that exists, nothing still to come, not any power, or height or depth, nor any created thing, can ever come between us and the love of God made visible in Christ Jesus our Lord who is our true Shepherd. 

Therefore, let us come to Jesus our Good Shepherd and embrace his love and compassion. Let us have goodwill for one another. Let us be good leaders in any level we find ourselves.  Let us pray for good leaders especially this transition period. Let us appoint good and credible leaders in every sector and offices in our societies, not just president, governors and senators. Let us know those we are entrusting with the responsibility of managing public offices. By so doing, our prayers and desires for good leaders will be granted. 

So, today, each one of us are called to reach out to people at any particular corner of the field of harvest where we find ourselves. For we may be the last and only person who may have access to evangelize the people, starting from our families, neighbours, colleagues in the office and others who we encounter in life. The truth is that, we may be the only person who can brings the healing and compassion of Jesus into their lives. Remember, you received without charge, give without charge.’

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are lost in this passing world, as we come to you in need of your love and direction both physically and spiritually, give us the grace and courage to be faithful labourers in your vineyard. Guide us once again towards the path of truth, love and fulfilment even in the midst of all the confusion in our country, societies and families. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed Sunday celebration.

Homily For Saturday Tenth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 17th June, 2023. The Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Reading: 2Cor. 5:14-21; Ps. 103; Luke 2:41-51

Rev.  Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

 

 IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY A MODEL FOR ALL HEARTS

 

One of the most important organ of the human person is the heart, for the heart plays an important role in understanding the human body. The heart is the seat of intelligence, motion, and sensation, it is the three-chambered organ at the center of vitality in human body. Little wonder yesterday we celebrated the solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Heart where we embrace God’s infinite love and mercy for humanity and His will for universal salvation. And today we are celebrating the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary the Mother of Jesus.

 

Hence, the liturgy today invites us to contemplate and venerate the Immaculate Heart of Mary. As we know the Immaculate Heart of Mary is a devotional name used to refer to the interior life of the Blessed Virgin Mary, her joys and sorrows, her virtues and hidden perfections, and, above all, her virginal love for God the Father, her maternal love for her son Jesus, and her compassionate love for humanity. Here we recall Mary’s great love for God, her faith and piety, her commitment to serve the Lord wholeheartedly, and how she loved her Son dearly from the moment before he was born, his finding in the Temple and even up to the way to the Cross, when Mary followed her Son faithfully as he picked up his Cross and bore that burden of the Cross to Calvary, she bears and pondered all this sorrows deep within her Immaculate Heart.

 

This is the event we celebrate today, of which our Gospel passage tells us how Mary having struggled to understand the mysterious events in the life of her Son Jesus, stored up all these events in her heart. A heart that is propelled by love and filled with genuine faith in God, a heart so pure and contemplative. For such is the immaculate heart of Mary having been conceived without sin and pure from any taints of evil and wickedness.

 

Yet, this loving and caring Immaculate Heart has to endure great sorrows and in the midst of these sorrows she did not stop being loving, compassion and caring to her Son and also to all of us, as she fulfills the mandate entrusted to her by Jesus at the Cross of Calvary saying: Mother behold your son and son behold your mother. By this mandate all of us are blessed to have been placed under the maternal care of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, a great saint and our role model.

 

Dear friends, today we are called to imitate and embrace the Immaculate Heart of Mary as a model for hearts. For Jesus at the Cross of Calvary commended us into her maternal care. We are truly fortunate to have received such abundant love and compassion from the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary his mother, who is also our loving mother. Let us therefore cultivate a heart that mirrors that of our mother, let us imitate the purity of her heart, let us be caring, loving, contemplative and compassion in our relationship with one another.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we imitate the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, graciously grant that through her intercession we may be a worthy temple of your glory and make our hearts a loving, caring and compassionate vessel for all through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful weekend.

Homily For Friday Tenth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 16th June, 2023. The Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (The World Day of Prayer for the Sanctity of Priestly Life)

Reading: Deut.7:6-11; Ps. 103; 1 John 4:7-16; Matt. 11:25:30

Rev.  Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

 

CELEBRATING THE MOST SECRED HEART OF LOVE WOUNDED BY OUR DAILY SINS AND WICKEDNESS

 

Biologically, the heart is the main organ in the circulatory system, the structure primarily responsible for delivering and circulation of blood and transportation of nutrients in all parts of the body. This continuous task uplifts the role of the heart as a vital organ whose normal operation is constantly required. In biblical language, “heart” indicates the centre of the person where his sentiments and intentions dwell. So the Church understanding the role the heart plays in the salvific history of humanity, invites us to contemplate on the sacred heart of Jesus.

 

Little wonder every Friday after the Sunday of the solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, the Church celebrate the great Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. An event that invites us to contemplate and celebrate the love of God pouring forth from the Most Loving Heart of Jesus pierced for the salvation of humanity. A great act of love which God revealed through his influences on mystic saints such as St. Gertrude the Great which was made more obvious through St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in the revelation she had around 17th century.

 

In this revelation the Lord appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and showed her his heart and the anguish and sorrow which he had for the sins and disobedience of humanity, despite the incomprehensible act of love, compassion and mercy that he has lavished upon us. Then the Lord said to her: “Behold the Heart that has loved so many men, and yet, instead of gratitude, all I received were ingratitude…” and asking in particular that the Friday after the week in which the Solemnity of Corpus Christi is celebrated should be dedicated to him as the Feast of reparation to his Most Sacred Heart. The Lord also promised St. Margaret Mary that all those who devoted themselves to His Most Sacred Heart with faith will be protected and receive the graces of God.

 

So, the long development of this revelations led to the devotion to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus as we have it today. Though it was Pope Pius IX that extended and placed this great Feast and Solemnity in its current form and honour. This great feast also mark the occasion of the World Day of Prayer for the Sanctity of Priestly Life, keeping in mind that the priesthood is the product of Christ sacrificial heart of love for humanity.

 

Hence, we remember all those who have been called to model themselves after the life of Christ’s love by giving themselves to the ministerial priesthood, that we may truly model ourselves and our hearts after that of the Most Sacred Heart of Christ. Let us be filled with love for all humanity while recognizing that the priestly life is a very difficult undertaking especially in our world today. Let us be supported by all, knowing that priests, though humans just like everyone, have their flaws and imperfections, but we are at the same time held up to a much higher expectation to care and guide the people of God.

 

Meanwhile, in the midst of all our difficulties, challenges, daily temptations and pressures of life, we are called to abide in the loving heart of Jesus for he who abides in love, abides in God and God abides in him as St. John tells us in our second reading today by making us to know that God’s love for us was revealed when God sent into the world his only Son so that we could have life through him. So, let us love one another since love comes from God and everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. Anyone who fails to love can never have known God, because God is love.

Thus, in this solemn feast our devotion is rooted in the mystery of God’s love; for it is precisely through the Sacred Heart of Jesus that the Love of God for humanity is manifested in all its effect and power especially for souls thirsting for God’s mercy. For in it we find the inexhaustible source from which we draw the water of life that refresh and revives the thirsty souls of sinful humanity and make us new and alive again. Hence we are called today to abide in this love of Christ.

 

And to abide in his love entails constantly striving for holiness and a life of sacrifice, though it is not easy, but Jesus invites us in our Gospel passage today, to come to him, all who labour and are overburdened, and he will give us rest. He says: “Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light”. For these grace have been hidden from the learned and the clever, but have been revealed to mere children. More so, in our first reading we are told that we are a people consecrated to the Lord our God; for the Lord our God has chosen us to be his very own people out of all the peoples on the earth because of his love for us.

 

Dear friends, every Christian is called to embrace the love of God which he poured out from the Sacred Heart of Jesus, so as to become a wellspring which gives life of love to others. For we ought to be offering life-giving water to a parched and thirsty world. We are called to embrace that love which propelled Jesus to lay down his life for his friends and also forgives his enemies, for that is what this solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus represents. We are called to contemplate the mystery of love in the heart of a God who full of compassion, bestows his love upon humanity through his Son.

 

Though humanity has rejected his love, but God does not lose heart in the face of ingratitude or rejection by the people he loved and chosen; rather, with infinite mercy he sends his only-begotten Son into the world to take upon himself the fate of a shattered love, so that by defeating the power of evil and death he could restore humanity once again from our slavery of sin and death back into a life of grace and open up his Sacred Heart of love once again for all who wishes to embrace it.

 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, grant that we, who glory in the loving Heart of your beloved Son and recall the wonders of his love for us, may be made worthy to receive an overflowing measure of grace from that fount of heavenly gift of love which he offers to humanity. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do pray for me and for the sanctity of all the Priests.

Homily For Thursday Tenth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 15th June, 2023

Reading: 2 Cor3:15-4:1.3-6.; Ps. 85; Matt.5:20-26

Rev.  Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

 

LET OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS EXCEED THE ATTITUDES OF SCRIBES AND PHARISEES OF OUR TIME

 

Most of the time, we often find it difficult to understand the way God operates, especially as regards to his relationship with humanity. This is because humanity have failed to understand how God’s mercy and justice are applicable in our relationship with him and with one another. Hence, Jesus in our Gospel passage today, calls us to a deeper virtue, when he said to his disciples, If your virtue goes no deeper than that of the Scribes and Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of heaven. Exceed

 

This because the Scribes and the Pharisees always enforced a strict interpretation and obedience to the Law, its rules and regulations, and yet, failed to truly practice nor understand and appreciate that the Law of God is meant to lead God’s people to him and to teach them to practice love in their lives. Thus, we ought to be faithful and to follow the Lord more faithfully than the Scribes and Pharisees for their religious piety are mainly eye-service and superficial, because their practicing of the laws does not truly come from their heart. Their actions and obedience to the Law is motivated by what they want to gain in order to sustain their pride and desire for worldly glory and praise.

 

So, we should not be like them, we should rather get rid of our pride and excess desires for honorific positions. We should strive to deepen our virtue towards righteous deeds. We must become agent of peace and reconciliation. We must be symbol of God’s mercy and justice in a world full of corruption and greed. Hence, St Paul in our first reading today said: If our gospel does not penetrate the veil, then the veil is on those who are not on the way to salvation; the unbelievers whose minds the god of this world has blinded, to stop them seeing the light shed by the Good News of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For it is not ourselves that we are preaching, but Christ Jesus as the Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.

 

Dear friends, let our righteousness exceed the attitudes of Scribes and Pharisees of our time. For we are call today to embrace the virtue of humility and readiness to reconcile with those who have offended us, knowing that the mercy and justice of God regulates all things. We have to be vigilant always and strive to be righteous before God and man. Today, we must be ready to make a fundamental choice to live a holy life and never to return to our sinful ways of life. We must struggle everyday to grow in righteousness and never give up no matter the situation we are passing through now. We should strive everyday to remain faithful to God’s commandment of love and peace. 

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we struggle everyday towards holiness and perfection, may we be guided by the Holy Spirit and strive to remain towards the path of righteousness and ever to go back to our sinful and ugly ways of life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed day.

Homily For Wednesday Tenth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 14th June, 2023

Reading: 2 Cor. 3:4-11; Ps. 99; Matt.5:17-19

Rev.  Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

 

 WHAT IS THE PATH TO TRUE GREATNESS?

 

Talking about the laws and commandments, Jesus today reminds us that he did not come on earth to abolish what had already been revealed, rather he has come to fulfill them. He came into the world in order to reveal to humanity what true Law really means and to purify the Law to its original meaning and purpose, which has been corrupted through human manipulations. He came to fulfil the entire Law and not to destroy it, contrary to what the scribes and Pharisees accused and think about him.

 

This same notion was critical for Jewish converts in the early Church and also to some people in our own time. And the response of Jesus is still much relevant for us today, especially when he speaks of "fulfilling" rather than "abolishing" the law and the prophets as we have it in our Gospel passage today, and he added that: “the man who infringes even one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be considered the least in the kingdom of heaven; but the man who keeps them and teaches them will be considered great in the kingdom of heaven. Here, Jesus points out that keeping and teaching the commandments of God is the sure way to achieving greatness not just here on earth but also in heaven.

 

Thus, St. Paul in our first reading tells us that God is the one who has given us the qualifications to be the administrators of the new covenant, which is not a covenant of written letters but of the Spirit: the written letters bring death, but the Spirit gives life. For if there was any splendour in administering condemnation, there must be very much greater splendour in administering justification.

 

Dear friends, today we are reminded that true greatness is found in keep and teaching the commandments of God, of which Jesus tells us that the greatest of these commandments is to love God and love our neighbour. Therefore, true greatness is rooted in our love for God and our neighbours and Jesus emphasis that it is too bad to break one of these commandments, but to teach someone else to do the same is a terrible evil thing to do.

 

Thus, we should ask ourselves today, am I breaking these commandments and teaching others to do the same through my attitude and way of life? Do I following my own opinions contrary to the commandments and laws of love which Jesus has taught us by his way of life? Or am I keeping and teaching these commandments through my attitude and by my way of life? 

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, from whom all good things come, grant us the grace to keep and teach your commandments by our way of life and so obtain the Joy of true greatness in this world and in your heavenly kingdom through Christ our Lord. Amen. Peace be with you.

Homily For Tuesday Tenth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 13th June, 2023. The Memorial of St. Antony of Padua

Reading: 2 Cor. 1:18-22; Ps. 119; Matt.5:13-16

Rev.  Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

 

ARE WE STILL THE SALT AND LIGHT TO TASTELESS AND DARKENED HEARTS OF HUMANITY?

 

Salt and light are very familiar words in the scriptures. Often times salt is used metaphorically to signify permanence, loyalty, durability, fidelity, usefulness, value, and purification. Salt as we know is used to enhance flavour, it preserves and purifies things. Salt distinguishes Identity and adds values to things. it’s inexpensive but valuable, necessary for life and stands as a basic identity for believers, of which we either use it or lose its effects.

 

In a similar way, light is a symbol used to mean awareness, knowledge, and understanding. Light clarifies, Illuminates, Inspires, defeats darkness, shines fully and freely, it guides, stimulates and motivates, provokes action, it irritates those who like darkness, confirms truth, purifies, exposes sin, warms and assures us of safety and also facilitates progress.

 

Little wonder, Jesus in our Gospel passage today, told us the famous parable of the salt of the earth and the light of the world. In this parable Jesus made it clear that to be salt and light means to be a witness to others concerning the truth of God's Word to humanity and this is the mission he entrusted to the Church through his disciples.

 

Thus, we are entrusted with this mission during our baptism, when we were given salt as a sign of God’s life in us and are commanded never to lose the taste or forget the life and joy that God has given us to share with others. In a similar way, we were given candle light which we are to kept brightly burning as a flame of faith in our hearts as we journey with others towards our heavenly kingdom. Therefore, Jesus clearly defines the role of the Church in the world as that of salt and light. Salt to preserves the faith and give flavour to the life of humanity. While light to illuminates darkness and reflects the glory of God in the darkness of the passing world.

 

So, every Christian is called by God to influence the world positively, by saying yes to God as we heard in our first reading when St Paul said: it is always Yes, and however many the promises God made, the Yes to them all is in him. For it is God himself who assures us all of our standing in Christ, and has anointed us, marking us with his seal and giving us the pledge, the Spirit, that we carry in our hearts. However, most of us Christians have failed to appropriate the benefits, privileges and responsibilities of being salt and light to humanity. As a result, many people suffer because we have continued to embrace the darkness of the things of this passing world and are spoiled by its destructive ways.

 

Dear friends, as Christians are we still the salt and light to tasteless and darkened hearts of humanity? For the core message today is that all of us are called to positively influence the lives of humanity by our attitude and character which should be like that of salt and light. Where there is darkness we should let the light of Christ illuminate. Where pride, selfishness, corruption and greed have made life tasteless, let the salt of our good attitude and character make it tasty. Where sin and immorality have made humanity filthy and ugly, let our light of holiness purify. For this is the attitude and disposition of St. Anthony of Padua whose memorial we celebrate today, for he was a great theologian and preacher of the Gospel.

 

St. Anthony of Padua made us to know that we can prove we are God’s servants by our courage, patience, holiness and kindness. Though, looking most miserable and poor, yet we make others rich, and even when it appears we are having nothing, yet we have everything in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore, we are to reject all forms of violence, retaliation and vengeance. And as salt and light of the world, we should focus all our attention on forgiveness, mercy and peace in a sacrificial way so that through our sacrificial love the world will become more peaceful and loving. Remember, if we lose the value and taste of who we are as Christians, the world will trample upon us because we will be good for nothing.

 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, as we struggle everyday to truly carryout the mission entrusted to us, give us through the intercession of St. Anthony of Padua the grace and courage to dedicate ourselves, our time, our energy and effort to becoming true light and salt in our dark and tasteless families, society and the world at large. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you a fruitful day.

Homily For Monday Tenth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 12th June, 2023

Reading: 2 Cor. 1:1-7; Ps. 34; Matt.5:1-12

Rev.  Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

 

EMBRACING THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF CHRISTIAN LIFE

 

Each day of our lives is a struggle for perfection, we grow from one level of understanding our faith to another. But what really gives value to this growth is the fundamental principles we follow. Because the fundamental principles of life helps us to be focused and determined to achieve our goals. Therefore, Jesus knowing the value and important of the faith he has come to offer humanity, lay down the fundamental principles that will guide his disciples in the new way of life which he is offering to humanity.

 

These fundamental principles is what we have in our Gospel passage today in the famous Sermon on the Mount by the Lord Jesus, which is also known as the Beatitudes. This famous Sermon opens to us the interior life Jesus is offering to humanity which includes: being poor in spirit, gentle, merciful, hungry for justice, pure in heart, peacemaker and being prepared to grieve and suffer persecution for the cause of right. These becomes  guiding principle to a new life he has called us to live. Here Jesus gives eight characters of blessed people, which are graces to the fundamental principles of the Christian life. Each of these Beatitudes is a statement of an ideal way we ought to live and be in close contact with God.

 

These fundamental principles, talk about the poor in spirit which brings to mind the humble condition of mankind that looks up to a Redeemer and the glory to come. Those who mourn are blessed, for their true repentance, watchfulness, humble mind, and continual dependence on the mercy of God through Christ Jesus they shall be comforted. The meek are blessed, for being patient, silent and submissive to the will of God and so are comfort even in this world. Those who hunger and thirst after righteousness are blessed, for their desire of spiritual blessings shall be satisfied.

 

The merciful are blessed, for their compassion, help and pity on the souls of humanity who are in sin and needs mercy. The pure in heart are blessed; for they shall see God, since their hearts are made pure in holiness and are capable of seeing God. The peace-makers are blessed, for they love and delight in peace which Christ is offering to humanity. Those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake are blessed, for victory is theirs since they understand that, there is nothing in our sufferings that can be compared to the victory of eternal life. 

 

This is exactly what St Paul is addressing in our first reading today when he said: Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, a gentle Father and the God of all consolation, who comforts us in all our sorrows, so that we can offer others, in their sorrows, the consolation that we have received from God ourselves. Indeed, as the sufferings of Christ overflow to us, so, through Christ, does our consolation overflow. 

 

Dear friends, today we are called to embrace these fundamental principles of Christian life. For we are truly blessed when we are poor in spirit, when we mourn for our sinfulness, gentle, hunger and thirst for holiness. We are blessed when we are, merciful and peacemakers in a world that is full of wickedness, greed and corruption. Today, we are called to live our lives in these virtues and when we encounter challenges, difficulties, persecutions and troubles, we should remain faithful to the end for none of these tribulations shall be compared to the victory of eternal life.

 

 LET US PRAY: Almighty God, from whom all good things come, grant us the grace to live out these fundamental principles of our Christian life and so overcome this sinful world, so as to enjoy the beatific vision of eternal life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. As you begin your task this week, may the glory of God inspire you and elevate you to greater heights.