July 06, 2025; 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)

                                  Readings: Is. 66:10-14; Gal. 6:14-18; Lk. 10: 1-12, 17-20.

Christ has given us the Power.

“Behold, I have given you the power to ‘tread upon serpents’ and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy, and nothing will harm you” (Lk. 10:20).  This was the response of Jesus to the seventy-two on their return from their mission in today’s Gospel. He reminded them that the power to succeed was given to them from above. They should rejoice not because of their accomplishments but because it pleased the Father to count them among his chosen ones. Whatever we are, whoever we are, and whatever we have achieved is not our own making but a gift from God above.

Today, Jesus reminds us that we are called to share his power. He has entrusted this power to us. The power to give peace to the world: “Into whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this household’” (Lk . 10:8). Amid our woes and vicissitude, we are empowered to bring peace, succor, harmony, concord, sympathy, and empathy to the world. The power that Christ has gifted us with is enormous indeed. We are empowered to bring goodness to the world, offer forgiveness to our enemies, bring the bread of life to those spiritually weak, the real bread to the hungry, words of consolation to weary hearts, and healing to the sick.

But how can we be so empowered and yet feel so powerless? How can we be entrusted with so much while we feel so helpless? Little wonder we are easily intimidated by the known and the unknown forces, for we do not know and find it challenging to recognize our power. Could it be that we doubt the source of our power? The Sacrament of Baptism empowers us to become God’s adopted children and his ambassadors. The Holy Eucharist empowers us to feed the hungry with the bread of life. The Sacrament of Confirmation confers on us the right to be God’s messengers of truth and defenders of the faith to the point of shedding our blood. In the Sacrament of Penance, we are given the power to share in God's forgiving power, acknowledge our sins, confess them, and receive God’s mercy and forgiveness. “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you withhold forgiveness from anyone, it is withheld” (Jn. 20:23). The Sacrament of Holy Orders confers on the ministerial priesthood the power to change ordinary bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ through the process of transubstantiation. Through the Sacrament of Holy Matrimony, couples are empowered and invited to experience the union and bliss of the Blessed Trinity, bringing forth a family of love, justice, and peace in the world. Finally, the Sacrament of the Sick prepares us to recover and heal from sickness, and to be admitted into the presence of God our Father, to behold His beatific vision. “Is anyone among you sick? He should summon the presbyters of the church, and they should pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord, and the prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up. If he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven” (James 5:14-15). Through the power of preaching the Word, “Even the devils are subject to us because of your name” (Lk. 10:17). There is power in the name of Jesus.

The power Christ gives us is not military power wrought by the brute force of a gun or political power achieved through campaigns and demagoguery, lies and false promises to garner votes and be elected into office; neither is it authoritative power of dominance nor divide and rule strategy that seeks to dominate and suppress our collective will; it is the power of love, humility, and service. It is the power of limitation and poverty for the sake of the kingdom that gives up earthly and worldly things in pursuit of heavenly realities. “Behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way” (Lk. 10:3). This power of freedom does not tolerate delays and encumbrances with material acquisitions: they are hindrances to the spread of the Gospel. To be so empowered means dying to self, and so become a new creature (Gal. 6:15). It is only those who enjoy a new mode of existence of love brought about by the cross of Christ who himself “did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mt. 20:28) who are so empowered; and they must always rejoice and be happy. Our power, so to speak, comes from the freedom of the Spirit in union with Christ.  Dying to ourselves empowers us to fight our demons, conquer our insatiable desire for earthly power, and overcome our personal enemies, such as avarice, ambition, envy, anger, and pride. We have the promise of Jesus to accomplish this: “I have given you the power to tread underfoot serpents and scorpions and the whole strength of the enemy” (Lk . 10:19-20). Why are we afraid of using the power freely given to us by Christ to dominate the kingdom of the evil one?

On their return, the disciples are delighted at their success, but Jesus counsels them to rejoice, because their names were written in heaven. Rejoicing in our success is a testament to personal glory and achievement. I can do nothing on my own, but “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). We are to rejoice, like the children of Israel, in the first reading, because of what God has done in and through us. Let us pray at this Mass for the spirit and freedom to give God all the glory. May we respond to his call to build the kingdom of peace and justice in the world, for “The Spirit of the Lord is on me because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor” (Lk . 4:18-19). With Psalm 66, let us pray: “Shout joyfully to God, all the earth, sing praise to the glory of his name, and proclaim his glorious praise. Say to God, “How tremendous are your deeds!  

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

June 22, 2025, Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, (Year C)

                                     Readings: Gen. 14:18-20; 1 Cor. 11:23-26; Lk. 9:11-17

Christ, the Bread of Life!

Today is the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ – Corpus Christi. In partaking of the Eucharist, we receive the food of Angels. “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world” (Jn. 6:51). In the blessed Eucharist, Christ himself is offered and received, and in Him, the Church continues to live and grow. The sacrifice of the Eucharist memorializes the death and resurrection of the Lord, perpetuating the sacrifice of the cross. This is the summit and source of all worship and Christian life. Through the Eucharist, the unity of God’s people is both signified and realized, contributing to the building up of the body of Christ. “Christ’s faithful are to hold the blessed Eucharist in the highest honor. They should take an active part in the celebration of the most august sacrifice of the Mass; they should receive the sacrament with great devotion, frequently, and should reverence it with the utmost adoration. In explaining the doctrine of this sacrament, pastors are to assiduously instruct the faithful about their obligations in this regard” (C. 898).

In the first reading, Melchizedek, the king of Salem, exchanged bread with Abram, forming a fellowship between them. In the Gospel, Jesus feeds the hungry with five loaves and a few fish. In the second reading, Jesus gives Himself as food and drink, making Himself available to us in a perpetual sacrifice for the nourishment of our souls. We are Christians because of the resurrection of Christ, but Catholics because of the Eucharist. Food is an absolute necessity for our bodies, and so is the Eucharist for our spiritual life. “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day” (Jn. 6:54). By eating the Body of Christ, we become the living Christ. We recognize our closeness and blessedness, acknowledge our brokenness, and live for the benefit of others. Thus, we, like Christ, become food for the world.

When we receive Christ in the Eucharist, we identify our pains and joys with Christ. We believe that the Eucharist we receive is greater and more powerful than anything in the world. If we genuinely believe in what we receive, it will change us. It will make us holy, forgiving, loving, merciful, compassionate, devoted, caring, charitable, and more human and humane. The Eucharist will transform us. By eating the food of angels, we strive to behave like angels because we become what we eat.

The teaching of the Church on the Eucharist is clear: “Our Lord is truly, really, and substantially present in the Holy Eucharist.” Hence, Christ said, “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on me will have life because of me. This is the bread that came down from heaven.” (Jn. 6:57-58). When some of His disciples stopped following Him, Christ did not plead with them to stay. Instead, He asked His apostles, “Do you also want to leave?” (Jn. 6:67). According to Pope John Paul II, this teaching “Is at the heart of the Church, the secret of her vigor; she must keep watch with jealous care over this mystery and affirm it in its fullness.” Therefore, we should prepare ourselves for fruitful participation at Mass. It is recommended that we go through the readings in advance, examine our consciences for any mortal sins we need to confess, and confess them if we plan to receive Holy Communion. This will enable us to receive the Eucharist in a timely and devoted manner.

After receiving Holy Communion, our Lord remains present in us as long as the species of bread and wine remain, which typically lasts about 8 to 10 minutes. According to the Sacred Congregation for the Sacraments and Divine Worship, “The faithful should not forget to make a proper thanksgiving after Communion. They may do this during the celebration with a period of silence, a hymn, a Psalm, or another song of praise, or also after the celebration, if possible, by staying behind to pray for a suitable time.”

After Mass, the priest dismisses the people with one of three phrases: “Go forth, the Mass is ended,” “Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord,” or “Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.” This invitation encourages us to share the Christ we have received in the Eucharist with everyone. We must share Christ, the bread of life, with the poor, the homeless, the sick, the saints, and sinners alike. We must continually make Christ, broken and received, available in our lives and keep Him fresh at all times. May we offer this bread to those in need of healing for their broken bodies, to public sinners, and to everyone longing for hope.

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

June 15, 2025, Trinity Sunday – Solemnity (Year C)

 

Readings: Proverbs 8:22-31; Romans 5:1-5; John 16:12-15

Love is the Essence of the Trinity

Today, we celebrate the feast of the Most Holy Trinity. We worship God, who manifested himself as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. We worship three persons in one God: God the Father, the creator of the world; God the Son, the Savior of the world; and God the Holy Spirit, the sanctifier and the one who leads us to all truth. Today, we also celebrate Father’s Day, a day set aside to pay tribute to the fathers in our lives. They, with our mothers and in cooperation with the Triune God, brought us to birth in this world. Thank you for your love and guidance and for providing for our well-being. May God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit bless, protect, and reward you all abundantly.

The aim of this reflection is not to give a theological exposé on the Trinity but rather to aid us in making the Trinity a part of our lives. We begin every prayer by calling on God the Father, the Son, and the Spirit to dwell in us and help us live good and saintly lives. We were baptized into the Trinity, and on the day of our death, our coffin and grave will be blessed and marked by the sign of the Cross. We begin and end every prayer by calling on the blessed Trinity to be the beginning and end of all we do and say and to guide our steps on the right path. The life of every Christian is marked by the Triune God dwelling in and through us.

The Trinity is a mystery that presents us with a God of closeness, communion, and intimacy. We see God, who desires community, communication, and love within the persons of the Trinity. According to William J. Bausch, “This is an initiating God, an outgoing God, a creative, life-giving God who stamps his communal life on us. We are in a relationship because God is; we are made in his image and likeness.” There is absolute love, respect, and understanding within the persons of the Trinity. The unity of mind and purpose is enjoyed and expressed in the Trinity. God loves the world so much that He gave His Son to redeem it. In giving his Son, God the Father also gave himself because the Father and the Son are in perfect communion. They are one in Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the origin of the mutual relationship and expression of love between the Father and the Son.

The mystery of the Trinity is seen in the intimate relationship between the persons, where each person is perfectly transparent to the other. In this love relationship, there are no hiding places; none of the three keeps anything as his own, and no one takes particular pride in individual achievements. All enjoy the success of one; everything is shared, communicated, given, and welcomed. Nothing and no person of the Trinity is ever taken for granted. The love seen in the Trinity is not jealous, not conceited, and certainly not boastful. It is a reciprocal love where the duty of one is the duty of all. Therefore, in the act attributed to God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit are equally present and cooperate in the execution of that task. The love of the Trinity is transformative and redemptive, creative, and generative. It is salvific love that assures humanity’s redemption from decadence and despair. This is agape love.

This is the kind of love that should be experienced in the family, between husband and wife. The children are the expression of that love. Let us pray that we may demonstrate the love of the Trinity in our dealings with one another, in our relationships, and even in our ministries in the Church. We pray that the Trinity may teach the leaders of nations to be civil in their utterances and that there may be mutual respect and tolerance among people and nations of the world. May the Trinity teach us that whatever we do is done not for ourselves but for the love of him who created us. May the Trinity teach us to love as they love themselves, so that we may show our love in service to humanity and our Church. Amen.

One way that we can express our union with the Trinity is by taking the time to bless ourselves with the sign of the Cross. Are you proud to make the sign of the Cross openly, or are you ashamed and afraid to identify yourself as a Catholic? Please make sure to teach your children to make the sign of the Cross before and after meals, before they go to bed, and when they awake. Another application of the Trinity in our lives is to pray the basic prayers of the Trinity with devotion and faith. The prayers like Gloria, the Creed, and Glory be to the Father (Doxology). We should be proud of our faith by showing people around us that we are not just Christians but proud Catholic Christians. In the Bible, Jesus says, “Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and the glory of the Father and the holy angels.” (Lk. 9: 26). May we never be ashamed of Christ and his Gospel. Amen.

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

June 08, 2025, Pentecost Sunday - Solemnity (Year C)

                     Readings: Acts 2:1-11; Romans 8:8-17; John 14:15-16, 23 -26

Fire up!

Today is Pentecost, the birthday of the Church. Today, the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles like flames of fire. The first reading reported what happened: “When the day of Pentecost came, all the believers were gathered together in one place. Suddenly, there was a noise from the sky, which sounded like a strong wind blowing, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then, they saw what looked like tongues of fire, which spread out and touched each person there. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to talk in other languages, as the Spirit enabled them to speak” (Acts 2:1-4). Pentecost completes the saving work of Christ and empowers the Apostles to spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth. The Holy Spirit ignited a passion within the Apostles to preach the Gospel boldly, transforming them into martyrs of the faith. Peter’s message on Pentecost was so compelling that those who heard him “Were deeply troubled and asked, 'What shall we do?” (Acts 2:37). Many of those who heard him “Believed his message and were baptized, and about three thousand people were added to their group that day.” (Acts 2:41).

The apostles needed the fire of the Holy Spirit to shake them up and transform them into warriors for the faith. Christ is present in his apostles through his Spirit. Like Charles Shultz once said, “The whole trouble with you is, you don’t know what the whole trouble with you is.” This feeling of not knowing our need for the Spirit makes us weak in faith. Our Church does not resemble the Church of the Day of Pentecost. If it did, why is the Church on fire, and we are not consumed? One reason may be that there is too much focus on money. We tend to spend less time discussing spiritual matters and more time on finances and fundraising. This shift certainly detracts from the power of the Spirit within the Church. To the lame beggar, Peter said: “I have no money at all, but I give you what I have: in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, I order you to get up and walk!” (Acts 3:6). Now, we may have an abundance of money but lack the fire of the Spirit that can effect real change in the lives of our people.

We need the Holy Spirit to ignite in our hearts a fire of tolerance, a passion to combat indifference, and a constructive fire to build the community of God’s people. This fire should not represent pettiness, apathy, or jealousy, nor should it burn with bigotry or hatred, or foster destruction and mistrust. Instead, we seek the fire of love that will recreate the face of the earth. Come, Holy Spirit, and fill the hearts of the faithful; renew the face of the earth. Help us to conquer indifference in the world and to address the internal struggles of the flesh, which include immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness, dissensions, factions, and occasions of envy (Gal 5:19-21).

Send us the fire of the Spirit to plant in our hearts the fruits of the Spirit, such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal 5:22-23). The fire of the Spirit will give us the seven gifts of wisdom, understanding, counsel, strength, knowledge, fear of the Lord, and the delight in fearing the Lord (Is. 11:2-3). Until we have the Spirit, the Church will be ineffective; the fire within us will be lukewarm without flame, causing it to extinguish. Instead of warmth, we will feel cold; in place of vigor, we will feel weak, empty, miserable, sad, unhappy, lifeless, and dead.

Erma Bombeck told a story about a little boy in Church with his mother. He was a quiet and well-behaved boy who didn’t cause problems. Occasionally, he would stand up in the pew, turn around, and smile at the people behind him. His infectious smile would soon draw smiles back from others. Everything was fine until his mother noticed what he was doing. She took him by the ear, twisted it slightly, told him to sit down, and reminded him that he was in Church. He began to sniffle and cry, to which his mother responded, “That’s better.” This reflects the kind of Church many are comfortable with—a sad and lifeless place where everyone sits withdrawn with solemn faces as if in mourning. It is no wonder our churches feel empty and uninviting.

People no longer attend Church because we fail to offer them anything meaningful; we preach a gospel devoid of good news. Our sermons lack substance and are poorly delivered, leaving everyone uninspired instead of igniting a passion for action. The joy of the Gospel is absent from faces because the fire of love is missing from our hearts. Those who attend Church are no longer burning with zest, zeal, passion, and fervor that characterized the Day of Pentecost.

Filled with the Holy Spirit, the Apostles went out and preached the Word, embodying the life of the Spirit and bearing the fruit of love. They spoke in tongues, the language of love in praise of God. The Church must speak the language of love today; without it, we cannot be on fire with faith. Let us pray that we may be filled with the fire of the Spirit, which will transform us into people of faith, courageous preachers, and lovers of God and His people, making a difference in the world. Indifferent people cannot build a better world. God bless you!

 

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

June 01, 2025; 7th Sunday of Easter - Ascension of the Lord (Year C)

Readings: Acts 1:1-11; Eph. 1:17-23; Mk. 16:15-20

Go and Proclaim the Gospel to Every Creature

Today, we celebrate the solemnity of our Lord’s Ascension. After His Resurrection, Jesus appeared to His Apostles for forty days to assure them that He had truly risen. On the day of the Ascension, Jesus promised them the Holy Spirit, blessed them, and was taken up to heaven.

 

Article 6 of the Creed states, “He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.” This is our faith: “Christ’s body was glorified at the moment of His Resurrection, as evidenced by the new and supernatural properties it enjoys. However, during the forty days He ate and drank with His disciples and taught them about the kingdom, His glory remained veiled under the appearance of ordinary humanity. Jesus’ final appearance concludes with the irreversible entry of His humanity into divine glory, symbolized by the cloud and by heaven, where He is seated from that time forward at God’s right hand.” (CCC. 654)

 

Now that Christ has ascended to the Father, it is up to the apostles to carry out His mission of witnessing to His Resurrection. The disciples were warned not to stand idle but to take action. “They had their eyes fixed on the sky as He went away when two men dressed in white suddenly stood beside them and said, ‘Galileans, why are you standing there looking up at the sky?’” (Acts 1:10-11). Before His ascension, Jesus commanded His disciples: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15). We hear the same mandate when He says: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20). Christ has passed the baton to us, and the message must be preached. St. Paul urged Timothy: “I solemnly urge you to preach the message, insist upon proclaiming it (whether the time is right or not), to convince, rebuke, and encourage, as you teach with patience.” (2 Timothy 4:2).

 

We may not be great preachers or skilled singers, but we are called to be good Christians—to show the love we have for Christ in our relationship with others. We must practice kindness, hospitality, compassion, and forgiveness. Our mission encourages us to show mercy and refrain from uncharitable acts. Instead of spreading gossip and rumors, we must refrain from sharing unkind words about one another. Gossip can damage lives without taking a life; it tears apart homes, breaks hearts, and ruins lives. It can be found among both the pious and the ungodly. It grows stronger with time and spreads venom where greed is unknown. It brings confusion and suspicion where there was once trust, often leaving innocent lives in ruins.

 

Let us dedicate our time to constructive criticism that builds our brothers and sisters up instead of tearing them down. The first reading warns us not to be idle daydreamers waiting for rumors or tales to share. Instead, let us spread love and encourage others by sharing what God has done for us and inviting them to experience His goodness. Though Christ has physically left us, He is very much present with us spiritually. He has promised to be with us until the end of time. He said goodbye to His disciples to allow them to grow into mature witnesses. His Spirit, working in and through them, guided them in love and discipleship. May this same Spirit dwell in us and show us the way to true discipleship. Amen!

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER YEAR C, 2025 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

Acts 15:1-2, 22-29; Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8; Revelation:10-14, 22-23; John 14:23-29

The central belief of the doctrine of the Most Holy Trinity is that God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are equal. How then does Jesus say in today’s gospel, “… the Father is greater than I”? A simple explanation is that Jesus is fully divine and fully human. In his human nature, God the Father is greater. In his divine nature as God the Son, he is equal to God the Father.

From its very beginning to the present, the Catholic Church convokes and holds various types of councils, synods, assemblies, and meetings to discuss important matters that affect the wellbeing of the Church and humanity, and make necessary decisions for going forward. The Council of Jerusalem, in the first reading, is the first of such Church’s gatherings. The reading tells us why the Council was convoked and held and its outcome.

The Christian communities of Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia were made up of Jewish and Gentile converts. The communities were in peace until some over-zealous preachers from Judea came over and contradicted Paul and Barnabas by instructing, “Unless you are circumcised according to the Mosaic practice, you cannot be saved.” The dissension caused by this made the apostles and elders to meet in Jerusalem. After the meeting, the Council sent the following mandate to the Christian communities, “It is the decision of the Holy Spirit and us not to place on you any burden beyond these necessities, namely, to abstain from meat sacrificed to idols, from blood, from meat of strangled animals, and from unlawful marriages.” The Council was not interested in mosaic genital circumcision, but spiritual circumcision of the heart and mind. The spiritual circumcision addressed by the Council can be summarized in the following words: refrain from idolatry and from sexual immorality. These were the major problems plaguing the Christian communities at that time. Idolatry and sexual immorality are sins against the First Commandment, the Sixth Commandment, and the Ninth Commandment.

This message is very relevant to us today because as St. Paul writes in Romans 1:25, many people nowadays “exchange the truth about God for a lie, and worship and serve created things rather than the Creator.” Idolatry is the worship of something or someone other than God as if the thing or the person were God. A question that can help us in self-examination is, “How much attention do we pay to ourselves, or someone else, or worldly things, and how much attention do we pay to spiritual life and relationship with God? If we pay more attention to ourselves, or to someone, or to worldly things than to God, we are, therefore, committing the sin of idolatry.

The high rate of sexual immorality in our world is a great concern. We know all kinds of sexual sins beleaguering our society and causing great harm to our society’s sexual sacredness, sanity, and morality. Sadly, one can say that Satan is on the rampage and our world at the mercy and spell of forces against sexual sacredness, sanity, and morality. Let us not be among those under the spell of sexual evil forces. Parents and guardians have greater responsibility nowadays to guide their children in the right direction since young people are under siege from peer pressure, media, and ideologies that promote highly disgusting sexual recklessness.

The people who came from Judea with their contradicting instructions caused dissension, upset, and disturbed the peace of the Christian communities. There may be “people from Judea” in your life at the moment, causing dissension, upsetting, and disturbing your peace. Jesus blesses us in today’s gospel, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” The peace Jesus gives is the inner peace which keeps us calm and strong in the face of “people from Judea’s” contradictions and disturbances. We pray with St. Francesca Xavier Cabrini, “Lord, fortify me with the grace of your Holy Spirit and give your peace to my soul that I may be free from all needless anxiety and worry.” On the other hand, let us not be “people from Judea” in other people’s lives. Rather, let us strive to be channels of God’s peace by our words and actions.

To conclude, we pray with the last line of the second reading (Revelation 21:23) that the glory of God gives us light and the Lamb be our lamp. Let us invoke the light of the glory of God and the light of the Lamb to shine upon our lives to transform us, direct us, and heal us. May the light of the glory of God and the light of the Lamb shine around us to shield us and dispel all forces of contradiction and darkness. May the light of the glory of God and the light of the Lamb shine on our world that many people may come to repentance and be delivered from the plagues of the sins of idolatry and sexual immorality. Amen. 

May 25, 2025; 6th Sunday of Easter (Year C)

Readings: Acts 15:1-2, 22-29; Rv. 21:10-14, 22-23; Jn. 14:23-29 

Whoever Loves Me will keep my word!

We often fear the unknown, especially when it comes to health concerns. Visiting the doctor for tests like a mammogram, MRI, sonogram, or CT scan can create anxieties: What will the diagnosis be? Will it negatively impact my life? What about my loved ones? How should I deal with conflicts in my life? Am I financially secure? Have I saved enough for emergencies? Can I keep up with my mortgage, car payments, my children’s education, or utility bills? These questions and worries can strip us of our inner peace and lead to confusion. Christ warns us not to be anxious, saying, “What shall we eat? Or what shall we drink? Seek first the kingdom of God and his justice and all these things will be given to you besides” (Matthew 6:31-34).

Today’s readings remind us that we are not alone in our pursuit of peace. Jesus’ disciples shared similar worries. Jesus understood that they would face confusion and anxiety as he prepared to demonstrate his love for them by accepting death on the cross. He encouraged them not to let their hearts be troubled and urged them to trust in God. After his resurrection, as he was about to return to his Father, he reassured them of his peace and promised them the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The first reading teaches that life was not always easy for the early Christians. As Paul and Barnabas spread the Gospel and the message of salvation to the Gentiles, new challenges emerged. Some members insisted that the Gentiles follow Jewish laws and practices, such as circumcision. This created a rift between the Apostles and the new believers. To address this issue, Paul brought it to the attention of the Apostles, leading to the convening of the first official Council of the Church—the Council of Jerusalem. The Apostles relied on the Holy Spirit's guidance and listened to one another, resulting in unity: “Then the whole meeting quieted down and listened while Barnabas and Paul told of the great signs and wonders that God had done among the Gentiles through them” (Acts 15:12). The decision was made: “For the Holy Spirit, and we have decided…” (verse 28).

How often do we allow our worries, differences, and perspectives to divide us? When we refuse to seek unity within the Church or to concede our stances, do we not tear apart the body of Christ? When we set ourselves as the standard of judgment, neglecting the needs and good of others, we risk sinning against charity and the very God we seek to serve. St. Paul advises, “But if you bite and devour one another, take heed, or you will be consumed by one another” (Galatians 5:15).

Disappointments within the Church, parishes, families, and communities are inevitable. However, a tension-free Church or society is not achievable in this world; rather, it is in the next where we will find a new heaven and a new earth. So, how do we address problems and heal divisions in our lives? The Church has consistently sought to bring people together for dialogue—listening sessions where the Holy Spirit is given room to work, facilitating healing and providing solutions. This approach was exemplified in the first reading about the Council of Jerusalem, where the outcome was a collaborative effort guided by the Holy Spirit. Pope Francis advocated for synodality, bringing people together to listen and find solutions in the light of the Holy Spirit for today’s challenges.

Jesus promised the Apostles the gift of the Holy Spirit, urging them not to be afraid. He provides a counselor, a friend, and an advocate who intercedes on our behalf. Christ cares for us deeply and seeks to relieve our anxiety. “Do not let your hearts be troubled,” he says, “but put your trust in God.” Despite our disappointments, pain, fears, and uncertainties, Christ assures us of his presence: “It is I; do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:27).

Pope Leo XIV reminded us, “Brothers, sisters, I speak to you, especially to those who no longer believe, no longer hope, no longer pray, because they think God has left. To those who are fed up with scandals, misused power, and the silence of a Church that sometimes seems more like a place than a home. I, too, was angry with God. I, too, saw good people die, children suffer, and grandparents cry without medicine. And, yes, there were days when I prayed and only felt an echo. But then I discovered something: God doesn’t shout. God whispers. And sometimes He whispers from the mud, from pain, from a grandmother who feeds you without having anything. I don't come to offer you perfect faith. I come to tell you that faith is a walk with stones, puddles, and unexpected hugs.” The Holy Spirit will always steer the ship to the shore of peace and tranquility. Even when we have sinned, the Holy Spirit will be there to get us back up again. When we don't know how to pray, the Spirit himself pleads for us with unutterable groaning (Rom. 8:26).

The Holy Spirit gives us peace that is not the absence of war but, according to Baruch Spinoza, “a virtue, a state of mind, a disposition of benevolence, confidence, justice.” It is the presence of Christ working in his people. This peace is indicative of an indwelling of the Trinity in the lives of Christians; a life lived in absolute surrender to the will of God.

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

May 18, 2025; 5th Sunday of Easter (Year C)

Readings: Acts 14:21-27; Rv. 21:1-5; Jn. 13:31-33, 34-35 

Love one another as I have loved you!

On the eve of His death, Christ addressed His Apostles, saying, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him” (John 13:31). Christ was glorified because He was obedient to His Father. As stated in Philippians 2:5-11, “Christ Jesus did not regard equality with God but emptied Himself, taking the form of a servant, being made in human likeness. He humbled Himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross. Therefore, God exalted Him to the highest place.” Christ wanted His apostles to emulate His self-sacrificial love and share it with the world. “This is how all will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another” (John 13:35).

Christ, the new Moses, gave His disciples a new commandment: “Love one another.” St. Augustine asked, “Isn’t this commandment part of the ancient law of God, which states, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself’? If it is, why does the Lord call it new?” Leviticus 19:18 instructs, “love your neighbor as yourself,” but Christ commands, “Love one another as I have loved you.” He showed His love for His disciples by dying on the Cross for them. “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13). St. Augustine emphasizes that “Christ’s love renews us, making us new creations, heirs of the New Testament, and singers of the new song. This is the love that renewed the blessed apostles and is now renewing the nations. From the diverse human race that spans the world, it is creating and gathering together a new people—the body of the newly wedded spouse of the only begotten Son of God.”

This agape love inspired the early Christian community to live together in harmony, sharing everything in common (Acts 2:42-46). It drove missionaries to the ends of the earth to proclaim the good news and led many to die as martyrs for the sake of Christ. The apostles experienced God’s love and could not keep it to themselves; instead, they dedicated themselves to teaching and baptizing others, inviting them to share in God’s abundant life and redemptive love (Matthew 28:19). During their first missionary journey, Paul and Barnabas encouraged the converts: “We must undergo many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” An authentic Christian is not only concerned about their own salvation but is also deeply invested in the salvation of others. Simply giving alms does not embody the virtue of charity. Every Christian has an obligation to be actively involved in Church matters and parish activities that strengthen the faith of fellow members. The early Christians demonstrated their unwavering love by accepting hardships and martyrdom for their faith. We express our love for others through courteous corrections, words of encouragement to those who suffer, and, above all, by praying for them.

Christ calls us to accept and practice His new commandment of love—to love as He loves and to forgive as He forgives us. We must always prioritize others before ourselves. This explains why a woman at the bedside of her unconscious fiancé will not lose hope but pray day and night for a miracle of healing. To love as Christ commands enables mothers, whose children are killed by drunk drivers, to forgive the offenders. They choose the freedom of forgiveness and love over brokenness and grief. Many broken families would not experience strife if their members lived in love. Thousands of men, women, and children in jails, hospitals, and on street corners would not be there if they were cared for by those who should love them. Many poor, hungry, oppressed, and war-affected individuals find themselves in their situations due to a lack of love. Even more shocking, thousands suffer and remain uneducated because their elected leaders are too selfish and corrupt to invest in their education and well-being. Thousands live without Christ and His teachings because we have failed to practice charity.

Love—the distinguishing mark of Jesus’ kingdom—should spring from our hearts. When we love, a ripple effect spreads to families, institutions, countries, and the world. The Book of Revelation anticipates a new city filled with joy, peace, and love. John’s vision can only be realized if we embrace the new commandment of love. Love is the only creative force that can transform the world; it enriches the recipient without impoverishing the giver. Therefore, Mother Teresa urged us to spread love wherever we go, in our families, sharing love with children, spouses, and neighbors.

If there are problems in our families, it may be due to our failure to obey the commandment of love. If our churches are empty, we may have neglected to show love. If issues arise in our schools, workplaces, communities, or nation, it is because, somewhere, someone has forgotten, ignored, or failed to act on the commandment of love. As a result, we have not experienced the new city, our heavenly Jerusalem, here on earth. If Christians were to love as Christ commands, our churches would be filled with the transformed hearts and lives of those who have chosen to live in love.

 

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

May 11, 2025; 4th Sunday of Easter (Year C)

Readings: Acts 13:14, 43-52; Rev. 7:9, 14-17; Jn. 10:27-30

A Shepherd Lays Down His Life for His Sheep

Today is Vocations Sunday. The Church invites us to pray that young men and women may answer the call of the Good Shepherd and give themselves to God in service as ordained ministers of the word and the sacraments and as religious men and women in consecrated life. We encourage lay participation and collaboration with the clergy to build the kingdom of God in love and service. May we listen to the voice of the Good Shepherd, “Who came not to be served but to serve and gave his life as a ransom for many” (Mk. 10:45).

Today, we pay tribute to mothers for their contribution to our lives. We thank them for giving birth to us, nurturing us, providing for us both naturally and spiritually, and contributing to making us who we are today. We are grateful not only to our biological mothers but also to those who played the role of mothers, and women like them; the world would be a tough and fearful place for us without their support and love.

Jesus tells us in the Gospel that he is the Good Shepherd. The shepherd has the heart of a mother. He knows her children by name and only thinks of their good and welfare. “I am the good shepherd, and I know mine and mine know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I will lay down my life for the sheep” (Jn. 10:14-15). By calling himself a good Shepherd, Jesus contrasts himself with other shepherds who are not good. “Woe to the shepherds of Israel who have been pasturing themselves! Should not shepherds, rather, pasture sheep?” You have fed off their milk, worn their wool, and slaughtered the fatlings, but you have not pastured the sheep. I will claim my sheep from them and stop their shepherding my sheep so that they may no longer pasture themselves. I will look after and tend my sheep.” (Eze. 34:2-10). The leaders of Israel did not look after the children of Israel with the heart of God, the good shepherd. Hence, God snatched the sheep from their care and appointed his dear son to look after his people. As a good shepherd, Jesus loves the sheep of his flock. He prepared a meal for them. He told them, “Come, have breakfast” (Jn. 21:9, 12). He gave them the bread of life, his body, and blood and promised “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day” (Jn. 6:54). He protected them from danger; “He rebuked the wind and the waves, and they subsided and there was a calm” (Lk. 8:24). Christ is always with the sheep of his flock till the end of time.

There is also a contrast between the good shepherd and the present-day prophets, priests, and preachers. Many prophets and preachers of today are like shepherds of Ezekiel’s time. They only care about themselves and what they can get from their sheep. They preach the prosperity gospel and look for ways to enrich themselves. They extort money from their people in the name of tithes. They build mansions for themselves and buy a fleet of cars, airplanes, and jets in the name of preaching the gospel, while most of their congregants are impoverished. To them also, the good shepherd directs his words of admonition. They must abandon their ways and take care of those entrusted to their care after the heart of the good shepherd.

Christ is our shepherd, and we are the sheep of his flock. We must listen to the voice of the good shepherd. Many discordant voices are competing for our attention today. Sometimes, these voices are so strong that they drown the good shepherd’s voice and mislead us. Jesus gave the power of good leadership to the church and her teaching. We should not choose which teaching to adopt and which to abandon because we do not like it. Following the master may not always be easy. It may lead us to wash our robes white with the blood of the lamb, or we may suffer trying to proclaim him to the ends of the world. We know and believe that the good shepherd will be with us always, till the end of time. He laid down his life for us; nothing will ever separate us from his hands.    

Augustine Etemma Inwang MSP

May 04, 2025; #rd Sunday of Easter, (Year C)

Readings: Acts 5:27-32; Rev. 5:11-14; Jn. 21:1-19

Lord, you know We Love You, but we are weak!

1.      I am convinced that Christ was raised from the dead without a doubt. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that “Christ’s resurrection is the fulfillment of the promises, both of the Old Testament and of Jesus Himself during his earthly life. The resurrection of the crucified one shows He was the true ‘I Am,’ the Son of God and God Himself. Christ’s resurrection is closely linked to the Incarnation of God’s Son and is its fulfillment in accordance with God’s eternal plan” (CCC nos. 652, 653).  St. Paul said it better, “If there is no resurrection of the dead, then neither has Christ been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, then empty too is our preaching; empty, too, your faith” (1 Cor 15:13-14). On that first Easter Sunday, Peter and his companions experienced the risen Christ as they never expected to, which changed their lives’ trajectory. The spirit of the risen Lord emboldened Peter to stand up to the Sanhedrin and accuse them of being responsible for Christ’s death. “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our ancestors raised Jesus, though you had him killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as leader and Savior to grant Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins. We witness these things, as is the Holy Spirit God gave to those who obey Him.” (First reading). This is the same Peter who, a few days ago, could not stand up to a young girl and admit that he knew Jesus.

 

2.      In my opinion, something fascinating about Peter endeared him to Jesus – Peter’s crass humanity makes his person appealing to us. We can identify easily with him. Peter was impetuous. One minute, he confessed the divinity of Jesus, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” (Mt. 16:16); the next minute, he tried to prevent Jesus from accepting the will of His father, to which he was reprimanded to “Get behind me, Satan.” However, there was an undeniable friendship between Jesus and Peter; the friendship was so strong that just a look from Jesus told Peter that he had betrayed that friendship and hurt their relationship. According to William J. Bausch in ‘Story Telling the Word,’ “The scene of two men in a silent confrontation in the palace courtyard tells us the real meaning of Christianity. When you come right down to it, it is a living relationship with a living Person. It is always and forever the relationship of redeemed human beings with the person of Jesus Christ in faith, trust, forgiveness, and love – in all the ways that one person is bound to another.”

 

3.      In today’s Gospel, Peter is returning to his trade: fishing. His statement, “I am going fishing,” could mean that he was returning to the trade he thought he was good at, or he was simply bored and needed to distract himself from the thought of betraying his friend and the constant reminder of the look of Jesus. Could it mean Peter doubted catching people for the kingdom as Christ commanded him? If he was not adept at fishing, how would he be at catching people? Unfortunately, Peter, in my opinion, was not very good at catching fish. His first encounter with Jesus was when he was on his duty post, trying to catch fish. To the request of Jesus to “Put out into deep water and lower your nets for a catch,” his answer was, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command, I will lower the nets” (Lk. 5:5). For the second time, Jesus met Peter and his companions again during his fishing expedition and enquired: “Children, have you caught anything yet?” “No.” So he told them, “Cast the net over the right side of the boat, and you will find something.” (Jn. 21:3-6). When they caught so many fish, John exclaimed, “It is the Lord.” How could they, who caught nothing throughout the night, be so lucky just because a stranger had told them to cast the nets on the other side of the boat? John could recall their last encounter with Jesus when they had worked all night long and caught nothing. Christ had told them what to do before they had their boats filled with fish. It had to be the Lord. Christ showed Peter and his companions that they could do nothing apart from him. He demonstrated to Peter that he (Christ) was better at Peter’s job than Peter himself; hence, Peter should learn another trade with the help of the grand master himself. Many times, we think we know it all. We often try to keep God out of our lives. But Christ tells us, “Apart from me, you can do nothing”. God provides us with the strength, energy, and wisdom we need to do all we do and succeed in them.

 

4.      Whenever we run away from God, he comes in search of us. “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you” (Jn. 15:16). Unworthy as we are God chose us as he chose the prophets of old and the Apostles. When they sinned, he forgave them and waited for them to turn back to him.  He shows us the father’s love in the story of the prodigal son (Lk 15). He demonstrates his forgiveness in the story of the woman caught in the act of committing adultery (Jn. 8). He reached out to Peter at the sea of Tiberias, still caring, cooking a meal for his friends, providing fish for their upkeep, giving them encouragement and hope and offering them forgiveness and love. Yes, “It is the Lord”; he is the only one who appears when all hope is gone, refreshes us when water is dried up, and the rain refuses to fall. The Lord brings healing and strength to our failing bodies and restores us to wholeness when we are sick. “What I am sure about tomorrow is that providence will rise before the dawn” because it is the Lord.

 

5.      Jesus knew his friend Peter more than Peter knew himself. He knew Peter loved him, but he wanted him to say it with his mouth. After all, he had told Peter, “Simon, Simon, behold Satan has demanded to sift all of you like wheat, but I have prayed that your faith may not fail; and once you have turned back, you must strengthen your brothers” (Lk. 22:31-32). He knew that Satan had put his ugly hands on Peter, and at the moment of weakness, he denied Christ. Christ was back to make it right. Christ asked him three times, ‘Do you love me? “Lord, you know everything; You know that I love you.” Yes, Peter was right; Christ knew everything; he knew that Peter loved him.

 

6.      So, we pray that we may not forget that the Lord stands always at our shores, loving, instructing, watching, and looking out for us. He has a meal prepared for us. When tempted to run away from the Lord, may we not forget our relationship with him. May we have the courage to say, like Peter, Lord, you know everything; you know we love you. Please pray for us as you prayed for Peter, so our faith may not fail. Strengthen us at the moment of our weakness so we may not betray you. Help us to see the look of love in your eyes so that we may weep for our sins and return to you. Amen.   

                                                     Augustine Etemma Inwang MSP