The foolish ways of the world

For the message about Christ's death on the cross is nonsense to those who are being lost; but for us who are being saved it is God's power.
1 Corinthians 1:18 GNBDK

Reflection:
Among the two thieves crucified beside Jesus, one was lost and one was saved. While one joined the world and prodded Jesus to get of the cross,  the other acknowledged his sin and asked for God's mercy. The Christian life is not subject to the world's wisdom, and though we may get carried away by the world's ways. We ought to remember God's ways are different and the cross is a sign of victory. 

Prayer:
I pray that God our Father gives you the grace to stay rooted in Christ Jesus his son even thou the world finds its foolish. Let your submission stay firm in humility, as you are led by his Holy Spirit. Amen

God Bless you and your loved ones :)

Called to Live Well

"Be on your guard, then, because you do not know what day your Lord will come. If the owner of a house knew the time when the thief would come, you can be sure that he would stay awake and not let the thief break into his house. So then, you also must always be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you are not expecting him."
Matthew 24:42‭-‬44 GNBDK

Reflection:
We are all called to our conversion,  however there is a tendency to delay it, for sin is pleasurable. But Jesus warns us about the timing and to be prepared. And so we are called to choose wisely and live well. God is very patient with us and we cannot take his goodness and mercy for granted. For every choice we make,  there will be a consequence.

Prayer:
I pray that God our Father gives the grace to turn away from old and step into the new and abundant life in Jesus Christ his son. May his Holy Spirit bless you with wisdom, knowledge and understanding. Amen

God Bless you and your loved ones :)

Called to Fear God

Blessed are all who fear the Lord , who walk in obedience to him.
Psalm 128:1 NIV

Reflection:
When you learnt of God there was a fear of good and bad. But life has so consumed us, that today we doubt the very existence of God, perhaps because he is not tangible. But our God is a true and living God, it is he, who has formed us in our mother's womb, it is he, that knows us like no other, and it is through Him, that we have life. But this wisdom is not inherited, true wisdom begins with the fear of God, therefore we are called revere, respect and worship him alone.

Prayer:
I pray that God our Father gives you the grace to be aware of who you really are; As a child of God may you always respect, revere and worship Him alone. May Jesus Christ his son be your source of inspiration and hope. And may his Holy Spirit bless you with true wisdom. Amen

God Bless you and your loved ones :)

Gods Ways

"How terrible for you, teachers of the Law and Pharisees! You hypocrites! You give to God a tenth even of the seasoning herbs, such as mint, dill, and cumin, but you neglect to obey the really important teachings of the Law, such as justice and mercy and honesty. These you should practise, without neglecting the others.  Blind Pharisee! Clean what is inside the cup first, and then the outside will be clean too!"
Matthew 23:23‭, ‬26 GNBDK

Reflection:
God's ways are not our ways and rightly so, while as humans our focus is usually on the external. God looks at the internal. And Jesus makes it very clear that we are not to neglect any aspect of life; as we do our duties and meet our obligations, we are also called to the matters of the heart and mind. 

Prayer:
I pray that God our Father gives you the wisdom and understanding of the plans he has for you. May you willingly submit to Jesus Christ his son, so as to be led by the truth and light. And may his Holy Spirit teach you God's ways. Amen

God Bless you and your loved ones :)

The Christian view on Suffering

All of this proves that God's judgement is just and as a result you will become worthy of his Kingdom, for which you are suffering.
2 Thessalonians 1:5 GNBDK

Reflection:
Each one of us is going through some sort of suffering, and the way we deal with it, is our response to God's calling. The Christian view of suffering is not a punishment for wrong, it is to partake in Jesus passion of the Cross.   And in doing so, be purified to be presented to God the most high. While in suffering we can reach out to the tangible, the only thing that is truly sufficient is God's grace. 

Prayer:
I pray that God our Father gives you his grace to endure all that you go through. May you find peace even in trial knowing that your sacrifice is made one with Christ on the cross.  And may his Holy Spirit always remind you that it is well with your soul. Amen

God Bless you and your loved ones :)

Standing firm and faithful

Because of this, many of Jesus' followers turned back and would not go with him any more.
John 6:66 GNBDK

Reflection:
The teachings of Jesus are very clear, its either black or white and there are no shades of grey. The choice to obey these teachings is with us. While the Church stands faithful to its teachings ever since it was established by Jesus and helmed by Peter. Many have turned their back and gone different ways. 

Prayer:
I pray that God our Father draws you to his son Jesus, as you accept him as your Lord and Saviour may you faithfully honour his teachings. And may his Holy Spirit help you stand firm and faithful in your faith. Amen

God Bless you and your loved ones :)

Called to Humility

The greatest one among you must be your servant. Whoever makes himself great will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be made great.
Matthew 23:11‭-‬12 GNBDK

Reflection:
We're often troubled by the slightest nudge to our ego and retaliate. But Jesus sets us an example by staying on the cross even though he was challenged. For he knew he had to die for the forgiveness of sins, rather than come down to prove he was the son of God. Therefore God exalted him and raised him up on the third day.

Prayer:
I pray that God our Father gives you the grace to humbly submit to his will at all times. May Jesus Christ always be your source of strength and courage and may his Holy Spirit bear in you its fruits. Amen

God Bless you and your loved ones :)

God Knows Our Hearts

The LORD is righteous in all he does, merciful in all his acts. He is near to those who call to him, who call to him with sincerity.
Psalms 145:17‭-‬18 GNBDK

Reflection:
While the world sees what we project to it, God knows us from our very being, he knows the sincerity of our hearts. Therefore, we cannot put on a charade in front of God. God's mercy is for all,  but we can only accept it when we our humble. For jesus himself revealed; Blessed are the poor in spirit, for they shall see God. 

Prayer:
I pray that God our Father gives you the grace to humbly acknowledge your need for mercy, as you accept his son, Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. And may his Holy Spirit lead you along the way. Amen

God Bless you and your loved ones :)

God our Creator

I will take you from every nation and country and bring you back to your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you and make you clean from all your idols and everything else that has defiled you. I will give you a new heart and a new mind. I will take away your stubborn heart of stone and give you an obedient heart.
Ezekiel 36:24‭-‬26 GNBDK

Reflection:
God is our creator and thou we are formed when born, we are still a work in progress through our life's journey. For the creator makes a masterpiece of out each one of us, cutting and chiselling away, all that is not required. And finally he gives us his own heart and mind so that we can truly be his. The question is; are we willing to cooperate with God?

Prayer:
I pray that God our Father gives you  the grace to submit to him as he transforms you mind, body and soul into the nature of his loving son Jesus. May his Holy Spirit encourage you at all times to listen to God's calling. Amen

God Bless you and your loved ones :)

Jesus is the Good Shepherd

"I, the Sovereign LORD, tell you that I myself will look for my sheep and take care of them"
Ezekiel 34:11 GNBDK

Reflection:
God is aware of our every need,  physical and/or spiritual. And while there are instances that we will be hurt especially by those who are meant to tend to us. Our constant focus has to be God, and let us always pray for those pasturing us; that all they receive and give is from and for the Lord.

Prayer:
I pray that God our Father gives you the grace to pray for those shepherds who have hurt you, that like Jesus may you forgive them and be strengthen by his grace. And may his Holy Spirit nurture and nourish you. Amen

God Bless you and your loved ones :)

Riches in Christ

Jesus then said to his disciples, “I assure you: it will be very hard for rich people to enter the Kingdom of heaven. I repeat: it is much harder for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle.”
Matthew 19:23‭-‬24 GNBDK

Reflection:
While intellectually man has progressed, it has also given him a false notion that the achievements are his alone. And this notion gives one a sense of power, the power to be in control of things. But let's not forget,  even the breath we breathe is not in our control. And let not our earthly riches hinder our relationship with God.

Prayer:
I pray that God our Father, gives you the wisdom to see the riches and glory of salvation found in his son Jesus Christ alone. May you always be open and humbly close to God always led by his Holy Spirit. Amen

God Bless you and loved ones :)

The invitation to Eternal Life

Once a man came to Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what good thing must I do to receive eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all you have and give the money to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven; then come and follow me.”  When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he was very rich.
Matthew 19:16‭, ‬21‭-‬22 GNBDK

Reflection:
There is a good old saying, 'Everybody wants to go to heaven, but no one wants to die'. And if we take a closer look at our lives, we'd find ourselves stuck in the adage. The call to the abundance of Eternal life is an invitation by Jesus and He will never force his will or love on you, the choice is yours, perhaps that is why, the rich man walked away. Are you then all for Jesus or you're going to walk away?

Prayer:
I pray that God our Father gives grace to open your heart to the invitation from Jesus. May you surrender wholeheartedly to him who is source of Eternal life. And may his Holy Spirit keep you rooted in the word of God. Amen

God Bless you and your loved ones :)

Choosing the will of God

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
Ephesians 5:15‭-‬17

Reflection:
We are all pilgrims here on earth and sooner or later our journeys will conclude. We were created for love, that is why it is our primary need. However, sin has redefined love and today love is something we only want, but don't want to give. Life is not what happens to us, it is what we make of it. The good thing is; we can choose and the best choice we'd ever make is of, God's will.

Prayer:
I pray that God our Father pours out on you his grace, by which you are drawn to Jesus his son, consciously choosing him as your Lord and Saviour. May walking in the light and the truth of God bring hope to you and those around you. And may his Holy Spirit bless you with the wisdom, knowledge and understanding to God's ways. Amen

God Bless you and your loved ones :)

Called to be a Child

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Psalm 51:10

Jesus said, “Let the children come to me and do not stop them, because the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
Matthew 19:14

Reflection:
If you ask a child a question, you will get an honest answer, and sometimes it may even be a little embarrassing,  but the child will speak his heart. God wants us to be like children, who do not wear any masks, but are simply who they are. While we return to God,  let us come as we are, knowing we have a loving God. 

Prayer:
I pray that God our Father gives you the humility of a child, so that you can be yourself knowing that you are God's creation. May you willingly accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour who will create in you a new heart. And may his Holy Spirit bear its fruits and gifts with you. Amen

God Bless you and your loved ones :)

Call to a Vocation

Jesus answered, “Haven't you read the scripture that says that in the beginning the Creator made people male and female? And God said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and unite with his wife, and the two will become one.’ So they are no longer two, but one. No human being must separate, then, what God has joined together.”
Matthew 19:4‭-‬6 GNBDK

Reflection:
People get married for the different reasons and most times without the discernment to this vocation, but marriage is an institution set up by God. Every relationship we have in a family is by default, we can't make a choice. But when it comes to marriage there is not only a choice and but also a covenant made. So how do we make the right choice? By leaving it to God, for He told Adam, 'I will make you a suitable partner'. Therefore when we submit our will to him, he gives us his, which is the best. 

Prayer:
I pray that God our Father gives you a sense of discernment to your vocation. May your faith in the merits of Jesus his son, bring you to a life of abundance and fulfillment. And may his Holy Spirit direct your path and assist you with all the choices you make. Amen

God Bless you and your loved ones :)

The need for Mercy

"Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’"
Matthew 18:32‭-‬33 NIV

Reflection:
It is very easy to point out others sins,  but if we humbly and sincerely introspect our lives, we will realize our need for God's mercy is far greater than the other. Therefore we have no right to judge another's life. And if anyone does us wrong, we are called to forgive. For this is how Jesus thought us to pray, 'Forgive us, our sins, as we forgive, those who sin against us'. If we ourselves need mercy, we must learn to give it to the other.

Prayer:
I pray that God our Father gives you the sincerity of heart so that you humbly acknowledge the need for mercy. May you accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour as God's gracious gift of mercy. And may his Holy Spirit help you in forgiving those who do you wrong. Amen

God Bless you and your loved ones :)

Jesus: Our way home

"What do you think a man does who has 100 sheep and one of them gets lost? He will leave the other 99 grazing on the hillside and go and look for the lost sheep."
Matthew 18:12 GNBDK

Reflection:
God loves us so much, that he gave us the power and freedom to make our own choices. But at times, we choose to reject God, by the choices we make and go astray. It is here that God's precious son Jesus (GPS) makes a way home for us, through the bridge built by his precious body and blood which he gave up on the cross. 

Prayer:
I pray that God our Father keeps you aware of the choices you make. May you acknowledge Jesus as your Lord and Saviour, honouring his sacrifice for you. And may his Holy Spirit always lead you on. Amen

God Bless you and your loved ones :)

Jesus, The Bread of Life

"I am telling you the truth: he who believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats this bread, he will live for ever. The bread that I will give him is my flesh, which I give so that the world may live."
John 6:47‭-‬48‭, ‬51 GNBDK

Reflection:
Our bodies need food for nourishment and so does the soul require its nourishment too. For food is fuel and God knows our every need, be it physical or spiritual. Which is why he give us the Holy Eucharist. Through it we participate in perfect worship in union with all the saints and angels. It is through humble repentance and seeking Gods mercy as we confess that we receive forgiveness for our sins. We offer all we have to God and it is only in the Eucharist that we eat the body of Christ, which is nourishment to our bodies and soul.

Prayer:
I pray that God our Father draws you to his son, the word made flesh in Christ Jesus. As you eat of this bread from heaven may it nourish you; mind, body and soul. And may his Holy Spirit always help you discern the truth. Amen

God Bless you and your loved ones :)

Faith a gift from God

Then the disciples came to Jesus in private and asked him, “Why couldn't we drive the demon out?” “It was because you haven't enough faith,” answered Jesus. “I assure you that if you have faith as big as a mustard seed, you can say to this hill, ‘Go from here to there!’ and it will go. You could do anything!”
Matthew 17:19‭-‬20 GNBDK

Reflection:
As human beings, we like everything to be tangible, because that is our nature. But faith is not tangible neither it is there for the picking, for faith is a gift from God. And if we want this gift from God we've got to learn to yeild to God. Because only when we yeild to God we align our will to his.

Prayer:
I pray that God our Father gives you the gift of Faith as you yeild to Jesus his son, submitting your will. May his Holy Spirit assist you with discernment in heart and mind. Amen

God Bless you and your loved ones :)

Give Cheerfully

You should each give, then, as you have decided, not with regret or out of a sense of duty; for God loves the one who gives gladly.
2 Corinthians 9:7 GNBDK

Reflection:
Have you ever pondered on the fact,  that when you genuinely smile, shout freely in a valley and love honestly its a really good feeling, but the beauty of giving doesn't end there, it comes back right at you. Perhaps that is why the earth is round, for what goes around comes around. Therefore every time we give, let us give cheerfully and with all our heart.

Prayer:
I pray that God our Father opens your heart so that you can give to the world the love and blessings you receive from Jesus his son. And may his Holy Spirit always keep you joyful and cheerful. Amen

God Bless you and your loved ones :)

God understands you

Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.  And I tell you that you are Peter,  and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades  will not overcome it.” Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”
Matthew 16:17‭-‬18‭, ‬23 NIV

Reflection:
As human beings we are not infallible, and God understands this. Thou we are called to live by the spirit, it is the flesh we give importance too. That is why perhaps the first temptation of Jesus dealt with the flesh. So even thou, Peter was accused of being a stumbling block soon after he was assured of being the foundation of Christ' church. Jesus did not take his word back or change the authority he gave to Peter. While the Catholic  church faces various challenges, today, let it not be a hindrance to our faith, but help us yeild to the Holy Spirit.

Prayer:
I pray that God our Father, pours out on you his grace, so that you open you heart to Jesus, who will make all things new within you. And may your every action be led by his Holy Spirit. Amen

God Bless you and your loved ones :)

The Gift of Faith

So Jesus answered her, “You are a woman of great faith! What you want will be done for you.” And at that very moment her daughter was healed.
Matthew 15:28 GNBDK

Reflection:
The one things that precedes a miracle is faith. And Jesus often acknowledged a person's faith saying,  'your faith has made you well'. Yet when we are faced with a situation we panic and faith takes a back seat.  What does it tell us then? Do we really have faith in the things we hope for?

Prayer:
I pray that God our Father gives you the gift of Faith, so that as you walks courageously in the way, the truth and the light of Jesus, you may come to see the miracle of life. And may his Holy Spirit help you guard and keep your faith. Amen

God Bless you and your loved ones :)

The Call to Abundant Life

Then Peter spoke up. “Lord, if it is really you, order me to come out on the water to you.” “Come!” answered Jesus. So Peter got out of the boat and started walking on the water to Jesus. But when he noticed the strong wind, he was afraid and started to sink down in the water. “Save me, Lord!” he cried.  At once Jesus reached out and grabbed hold of him and said, “How little faith you have! Why did you doubt?”
Matthew 14:28‭-‬31 GNBDK

Reflection:
Jesus has called each one of us to the abundant life of the Gospel, but perhaps somewhere down the line our understanding of abundance ends with the external, that is why, it is the cares, wares and worries of the world that hinder our relationship with Jesus. Up until when everything we've tried does not work and then we call out to him. The beauty about God is he never leaves us, and at once will reach out. 

Prayer:
I pray that God our Father draws you to his son Jesus, the source of perfect Happiness and Joy. May you grow in faith to thoroughly enjoy the abundant life of the Gospel and may his Holy Spirit be with you at all times. Amen

God Bless you and your loved ones :)

True God True Man

While he was talking, a shining cloud came over them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my own dear Son, with whom I am pleased — listen to him!”
Matthew 17:5 GNBDK

Reflection:
The transfiguration witnesses Jesus divinity; true God and true man. If it pained Abraham to offer Issac his only son, we can only imagine what our Heavenly Father might have felt. But the father so loved the world that he gave up his only son, that who ever believes in him will have eternal life.  And Jesus is not just endorsed by the Father, we are given instructions; Are we listening to him? 

Prayer:
I pray that God our Father reveals to you the plans and purpose he has for your life as your heart burns for Jesus his son, as you accept him as Lord and Saviour.  And may his Holy Spirit teach you to listen to the voice of God. Amen

God Bless you and your loved ones :)

Bread of Life

“I am the bread of life,” Jesus told them. “Those who come to me will never be hungry; those who believe in me will never be thirsty.”
John 6:35 GNBDK

Reflection:
These words of Jesus, bring to life the celebration of the Holy Eucharist that is celebrated from the rising of the sun to its setting. Just as the Israelites received manna from Heaven,  Jesus gives himself to us, so that we may face everyday fueled by the bread of life. For the word was made flesh, and Jesus said, 'unless we don't eat of it, we will never have life.' 

Prayer:
I pray that God our Father gives you the grace to receive his Holy word, made flesh in Christ Jesus his only son. May the body and blood of Christ bring you eternal life, as you are led by his Holy Spirit. Amen

God Bless you and your loved ones :)

Sin is Sin

For some time John the Baptist had told Herod, “It isn't right for you to be married to Herodias!”
Matthew 14:4 GNBDK

Reflection:
There are times where we tend to justify our sins, sometimes because they are small and sometimes because of our circumstance. But sin is sin and cannot be justified. For when the law is broken, justice has to be served. For even a spot on a white cloth makes it unclean, unless it is washed clean again.  

Prayer:
I pray that God our Father gives you the ability to discern your life in fullness and truth. May Jesus his son be the source and strength for your pilgrim life. And may his Holy Spirit always be your inner compass. Amen

God Bless you and your loved ones :)

Sin is Sin

For some time John the Baptist had told Herod, “It isn't right for you to be married to Herodias!”
Matthew 14:4 GNBDK

Reflection:
There are times where we tend to justify our sins, sometimes because they are small and sometimes because of our circumstance. But sin is sin and cannot be justified. For when the law in broken, justice has to be served. For even a spot on a white cloth makes it unclean, unless it is washed clean. 

Prayer:
I pray that God our Father gives you the ability to discern your life in fullness and truth. May Jesus his son be the source and strength for your pilgrim life. And may his Holy Spirit always be your inner compass. Amen

God Bless you and your loved ones :)

Called to God's ways

And so they rejected him. Jesus said to them, “A prophet is respected everywhere except in his home town and by his own family.”  Because they did not have faith, he did not perform many miracles there.
Matthew 13:57‭-‬58 GNBDK

Reflection:
We often think that God will work only  with a certain kind of people. And therefore reject someone we know or someone who's had a past. But Gods ways are not ours,  and it is with our weakness that God chooses to work. Come to think of it,  he made the man who denied him thrice, the foundation of his Church.

Prayer:
I pray God our Father pours out his grace on you as you receive the gift of faith. May you surrender to Jesus so that he can use you to build his kingdom. And may his Holy Spirit keep you in humility and gentleness at all times. Amen

God Bless you and your loved ones :)

In Christ Alone my Hope is Found

Whenever a piece of pottery turned out imperfect, he would take the clay and make it into something else. Then the LORD said to me, “Haven't I the right to do with you people of Israel what the potter did with the clay? You are in my hands just like clay in the potter's hands.
Jeremiah 18:4‭-‬6 GNBDK

Reflection:
God has a plan and a purpose of each and everyone of us, but we who have a a free will, have chosen a part that we think is best suited to us. And in doing so we find ourselves hurt, lost and broken. But, there is Hope, and it comes from Christ alone. All we need to do is to submit to him, and He will makes all things new.

Prayer:
I pray that God our Father gives you the grace to submit to Jesus no matter what is your situation is. May the peace and unconditional love that comes from God envelope your heart. And may his Holy Spirit guide and guard your path. Amen

God Bless you and your loved ones :)

Nothing else matters

"The Kingdom of heaven is like this. A man happens to find a treasure hidden in a field. He covers it up again, and is so happy that he goes and sells everything he has, and then goes back and buys that field. Also, the Kingdom of heaven is like this. A man is looking for fine pearls, and when he finds one that is unusually fine, he goes and sells everything he has, and buys that pearl."
Matthew 13:44‭-‬46 GNBDK

Reflection:
Jesus told the rich man, to sell everything in order to enter heaven,  but the rich man walked away saddened. But Peter left his fishing boat and nets and followed immediately. When you find joy, peace and love, that unconditional, steadfast,  eternal, you know that no one else can give these, but God alone. And that is why nothing else matters.

Prayer:
I pray that God our Father reveals to you the treasures he has in store for you as follow his son Jesus. May walking in his light bring you joy, peace and love. And may his Holy Spirit bless you with wisdom and understanding. Amen

God Bless you and your loved ones :)