June 21, 2026. 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

Readings: Jeremiah 20:10-13; Romans 5:12-15; Matthew 10:26-33

Do Not Be Afraid.

1.    In today’s Gospel from Matthew 10, Jesus addressed his apostles and told them not to be afraid. The chapter begins with: “Then he summoned his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits to drive them out and to cure every disease and illness.” Jesus commissioned and sent them out as missionaries to “the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Missionary work can be intimidating indeed. It can instill fear in the hearts of missionaries. Jesus warned his apostles that they would be persecuted, rejected, and betrayed by family members. “A disciple is not above the teacher” (10:24). He told them not to be afraid but put their trust in God, who takes care of even the sparrows, and knows the number of the hair on their heads. He asked them, “Are not two sparrows sold for a small coin? Yet not one of them falls to the ground without your father’s knowledge. Even the hairs of your head are counted. So, do not be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.” They should only be afraid of God. Earthly elements and human beings may kill us, but have no power over our souls. Therefore, we should only be afraid of being separated from God and being unfaithful to God through sin. We should approach God with awe, respect, and reverence. Because “There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.” (1 John 4:18).

 

2.    Being a Christian does not prevent us from encountering difficulties. Christ made no such assumptions. He said rather: “Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so, be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves. But beware of people, for they will hand you over to courts and scourge you in their synagogues, and you will be led before governors and kings for my sake as a witness before them and the pagans.” (Matt. 10:16-18). The first reading presents us with Jeremiah, who experienced hardships in his preaching ministry. He was rejected, persecuted, and made a laughingstock by those he loved and cared for. Jeremiah warned God’s people that they could avoid the destruction that was on its way if they lived according to God’s laws. Jeremiah’s listeners ignored his warning and plotted to kill him instead. Jeremiah was intimidated and persecuted to the point that he wanted to stop preaching altogether. In the verse before our reading today, he said, “I say to myself; I will not mention him, I will speak in his name no more. But then it becomes like fire burning in my heart, imprisoned in my bones; I grow weary holding it in, I cannot endure it.” (Jer. 20:9). Yet Jeremiah was vindicated and rejoiced: “Sing to the Lord, praise the Lord! For he has delivered the life of the needy from the hands of evildoers.”

 

3.    Preachers encounter difficulties because people do not want to be told what to do. “And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.” (John 3:19-21). This is why we gossip: because we are cowards. Bad things are done in the cover of darkness. Heinous crimes are committed in the dark. Those who abuse their wives or children, gamblers or drunkards, drug barons, addicts or prostitutes, embezzlers and cheats, do not want people to know their secrets. They prefer deeds of darkness to light. If preachers talk about their way of life, they become targets earmarked for destruction, like Jeremiah in today’s reading.

 

4.    Therefore, St. Paul tells us in the second reading, “If by the transgression of the one the many died, how much more did the grace of God and the gracious gift of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow for the many.” Jesus has redeemed us with his precious blood and has given us the power to conquer our fears, even the fear of death. He says, “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. 10:19). Therefore, we should not be afraid!

 

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

June 07, 2026. Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, (Year A)

Readings: Deut. 8:2-3,14-16; 1 Cor. 10:16-17; John 6:51-58

Thank God for the Eucharist!

1.    Today is the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ – the Corpus Christi. At Mass Christ is offered and received, and in him the church continually lives and grows. The Eucharist is the source and summit of Christian life. In the Eucharist, the unity of God’s people is signified and brought about, and the building up of the body of Christ is perfected. We hold the blessed Eucharist in highest honor by taking an active part in the celebration of the most august sacrifice of the Mass.

2.    The Sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ is so important and essential to Catholics that we must attend Mass and receive Holy Communion regularly and frequently. In the gospel Christ stressed, “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). When we eat the Body of Christ and drink his Blood, we become the living Christ. We are enabled to discover our closeness and blessedness, and we acknowledge our brokenness and our strengths. Thus, we, like Christ, become food for the world. We are Christians because Christ rose from the dead, but Catholics because of the Eucharist. Just like food is to the body, the Eucharist is an absolute necessity for our spiritual life.

3.    Before Cardinal Newman became a Catholic, one of his friends said to him, “If you become a Catholic, you’ll lose a handsome income of 4,000 pounds a year.” Newman’s reply was: “And what are 4,000 pounds compared to a communion?” Pope Francis reminded us that “The Eucharist is the spiritual lifeblood of the Christian because in receiving it we consume the glorified body of the Risen Lord, whose life then transforms us, elevates us and empowers us to become like him. The Eucharist grants us a share in the Divine and Human Savior of the world, whose gift of himself imparts eternal life to those who love him. That is why Jesus says, “If anyone eats of this bread (my flesh), he will live forever.” (Jn. 6:15). 

4.    One of the core teachings of the Church on the Eucharist is that “Our Lord is truly, really, and substantially present in the Holy Eucharist. Hence, we believe in the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist, not just a symbol of his Body and Blood, but his real Body and Blood through the process of transubstantiation during consecration. Christ told his disciples, “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). Many of his disciples stopped following him because of this teaching, but Christ did not beg them to stay. Instead, he asked his apostles: “Do you also want to leave?” (Jn. 6:67). According to Pope St. 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 must prepare ourselves for fruitful participation in Mass. We do this by going through the readings of the Mass beforehand, examining our consciences, and confessing any mortal sins we are aware of if we intend to receive our Lord in holy Communion. We do so in a timely, worthy, and devoted manner. After Communion, our Lord is present in us for about 8 to 10 minutes, as long as the species remain. The Sacred Congregation for the Sacraments and Divine Worship states, “The faithful are to be recommended not to omit to make a proper thanksgiving after communion. They may do this during the celebration with a period of silence, with a hymn, Psalm, or other song of praise, or also after the celebration, if possible, by staying behind to pray for a suitable time.” If we believe that we receive Christ, His body, blood, and divinity, He will make us holy, forgiving, loving, merciful, compassionate, devoted, caring, and charitable.

5.    We must protect and safeguard the sanctity of this sacrament. If you see someone taking communion and not consuming it immediately, please report to the priest. Do not invite a non-Catholic friend to Holy Communion. If they are interested in Catholic teaching, direct them to the OCIA director so that they may be catechized.

 

6.    After Mass, we are dismissed to “Go forth, the Mass is ended, or Go and announce the Gospel of the Lord, or Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life”. We are sent forth to bring Christ to our communities and our neighborhoods. We must share Christ the Bread of Life with the poor, the homeless, the sick, the saints, and sinners alike. We are to make the Bread of Christ, broken and received by us, available and fresh for others. The Christ that we receive in the Eucharist is a sign of unity. It calls us to hold each other accountable and show that we are one in Christ, for “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free person, there is not male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” (Gal. 3:28). Let us offer this Bread to those who need healing for their broken bodies, forgiveness and conversion to sinners, companionship to the lonely, food to the hungry and reconciliation, justice and freedom to prisoners. Amen.

 

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

May 31, 2026. Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, (Year A)

Readings: Exodus 34:4-6,8-9; 2 Cor. 13:11-13; John 3:16-18.

 

We worship a Triune God

1.     Today is the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. God manifested himself as Father, the Creator; Son, Redeemer, and Holy Spirit, the Sanctifier. The Preface of the Trinity praises God thus: “We joyfully proclaim our faith in the mystery of your Godhead. You have revealed your glory as the glory also of your Son and of the Holy Spirit: three Persons equal in majesty, undivided in splendor, yet one Lord, one God, ever to be adored in your everlasting glory.” There is unity of purpose and expression of love in the Holy Trinity. Our God is in a relationship. He invites us to enter into a relationship with Him. We are at our best when we are in a relationship with God and others. No man is an island. 

2.     At every prayer, we call 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 life of Grace through the invocation of the Holy Trinity. At our funeral, the coffin and the grave will be blessed by the sign of the Cross and the invocation of the Trinity. Every Christian’s life is marked by the Triune God dwelling in us. The mystery of the Trinity demonstrates a God of closeness, communion, and intimacy. God desires that community, communication, and love shared among the Persons of the Trinity be replicated in every Christian. 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.

3.     If we are at our best in a loving relationship, it is also true that we are at our worst when we fall out of love and are not in a relationship. The worst pain of our time is loneliness. Not having someone to talk to and relate to can be an awful experience. Most of our elderly ones feel lonely when their children and friends do not call or visit them often, either at home or in nursing homes.

4.      In today’s first reading, we read that the face of the Father is turned towards His children despite their sins. He renewed the tablets of the Law that Moses had broken, showed them mercy, and forgave their sins. He revealed His name as “The Lord, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity.” These are the attributes of the Triune God. God is merciful, compassionate, and tender – the heart of the Father moved by unmerited love.  He is gracious - the favor or benevolence of one who has gifts to give and wills to give them. His kindness is the love that marks the covenant bond between Him and His children. And finally, God’s fidelity connotes rock-likeness, constancy, the inability to be turned from the will to love. This is God. He knows anger because of sin and permits Moses to express his anger by breaking the tablets of the law brought down from Mount Sinai, but in the end, God wants only merciful and faithful love to be known - the heart of God. And the Gospel tells us how far God can go to reveal His true nature. God so loved the world that he gave his only Son. In giving his Son, God the Father also gave himself, because the Father and the Son are in perfect communion, and the Holy Spirit is the expression of the Father and the Son. St Paul shows us in the second reading that these attributes are truly God’s and thus of the three Persons. “Mend your ways, encourage one another, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.” Hence, the love from God the Father, his Son Jesus Christ, and the Spirit will bring us together in fellowship and union.

5.     So, how do we relate to the Holy Trinity? First of all, acknowledge the indwelling of the Trinity in our lives. Then develop an intimate relationship with the Persons of the Trinity. This means having a personal relationship with the First Person of the Trinity. God is our Father who created us “To know, to love and to serve God in this world, and to be happy with God forever in the next.” The end of our human existence is to be in relationship with a God who made us in His image. In the Lord’s prayer, we address God the Father directly. Hence, we should pray the Our Father with devotion, while reflecting and paying attention to the words of the prayer.

6.     We must also develop and inculcate an intimate relationship with Jesus, the second person of the Trinity - the Savior of the world. He redeemed us with his precious blood. ‘The Anima Christi’, ‘Jesus, I love You’, O Sacrament most Holy,’ and other prayers besides, direct our minds to Jesus after receiving the Eucharist.

7.     It may not be easy to have a relationship with the Holy Spirit because we don’t feel the Spirit as a person. The Church has many prayers that can help us in this regard: ‘Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of the faithful’, and ‘Prayer for the seven gifts of the Spirit. We must note, however, that all prayers are directed to God the Father, through the Son, and in the Spirit. Praying to God alone is the same as praying to any Person of the Trinity. That is why the Sign of the Cross, the Gloria, and the Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit are traditional prayers that address the Three Persons of the Trinity directly. Let us demonstrate the love of the Trinity in how we relate in our families and in our society. Amen.

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

May 24, 2026. Solemnity of Pentecost (year A)

Readings: Acts 2:1-11; 1Cor. 12:3-7, 12-13; John 20:19-23

The Spirit came to sanctify the Church!

1.     Today is Pentecost, the birthday of the church. On this day, the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles like flames of fire. “Being filled with the Holy Spirit, they began to talk in other languages, as the Spirit enabled them to speak.” (Acts 2:1-4). According to the Constitution of the Second Vatican Council on the Church, “When the work which the Father had given the Son to do on earth was accomplished, the Holy Spirit was sent on the day of Pentecost that he might forever sanctify the Church. In this way, all believers would have access to the Father through Christ in the one Spirit. He is the Spirit of life, a fountain of water springing up to eternal life. Through him the Father gives life to men who are dead from sin, till at last he revives in Christ even their mortal bodies.” The Holy Spirit filled the apostles with zeal and courage so that they became Christ’s witnesses beyond the frontiers of Jerusalem, “Throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8). That is Luke’s account of the descent of the Holy Spirit. John, however, reported the same incident, which apparently took place on the same day of the resurrection, thus: “On the evening of that first day of the week when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, ‘Peace be with you.’ As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the holy spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” Christ wished his disciples peace before He gave them the Holy Spirit, and then He sent them on the mission of forgiveness. The Holy Spirit is directly associated with the forgiveness of sins.

2.     There is a story told of a man who was suffering from acute back pain for years. He had undergone all types of treatment – allopathic, ayurvedic, etc. During one of his visits, his doctor prescribed a lot of medicine but told him that he would have the pain all his life and that it was his purgatory. With resignation, he purchased the medicine. While on his way back, he met a Sister who had the gift of healing. Sister asked him to forgive everyone, and she prayed for him for about an hour. The patient felt great relief and took all the medicine back to the pharmacy. Till now, he has not experienced back pain again. Most of our ailments are indeed caused by unfinished business relating to forgiveness. Therefore, if we are to be witnesses of Christ, we must forgive the hurts done to us. The Holy Spirit will assist us with the gift of forgiveness.

3.     The Penny Catechism defines Confirmation as “A Sacrament by which we receive the Holy Spirit, to make us strong and perfect Christians and soldiers of Jesus Christ.”  If the apostles needed the fire of the Holy Spirit to shake them up and transform them into warriors for the faith, so do we. When Jesus received the Spirit, he exclaimed, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.” (Lk. 4:18-19). We are called to do no less. We are faced today with so many cases of injustice, abuse of human rights, violence, and indiscriminate taking of human lives on our streets. There is total disregard for the rule of law in our society, and yet many of us Christians, born again in the water of rebirth and the Holy Spirit, stand quietly by and watch as our brothers and sisters are being killed. What is the Spirit sending us out to do today?  Jesus calls the Holy Spirit another Advocate. What type of advocate is the Holy Spirit calling us to be? Yes, the Holy Spirit calls us to forgive the hurts done to us, but it is difficult to forgive repeated acts of injustice when no solution is in sight. So, as people of faith, we ask Christ to send the Spirit of tolerance into our hearts to fight our indifference and build a community of love and peace.

4.     Let us ask the Holy Spirit to come with his gifts of “Wisdom and understanding, counsel, strength, knowledge and fear of the Lord.” (Is. 11: 2-3). We pray the Spirit to plant in our hearts his fruit of “Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” (Gal. 5:22-23). Come, Holy Spirit, and conquer the indifference in our world and help us fight the battles of our hearts and the internal battles of the flesh, such as: immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, rivalry, jealousy, outbursts of fury, acts of selfishness, dissensions, factions, occasions of envy, drinking bouts, orgies, and the like.” (Gal. 5:19-21). But most of all, we pray that the Holy Spirit may help us to forgive those who hurt us so that we may be holy as God our heavenly Father is holy. Let us pray that we may be filled with the fire of the Spirit and be transformed into a people of faith, courageous preachers, lovers of God and his people. Amen. God bless you! 

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

May 17, 2026. 7th Sunday of Easter - Ascension of the Lord (Year A).

Readings: Acts 1:1-11; 1 Ephesians 1:17-23; Gospel Matt. 28:16-20

 

Obeying the Divine Mandate

1.    Today, we celebrate the Ascension of our Lord into heaven. Article 6 of the Creed states: “He Ascended into Heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. Christ’s body was glorified at the moment of his Resurrection, as proved by the new and supernatural properties it subsequently and permanently enjoys. But during the forty days when he eats and drinks familiarly with his disciples and teaches them about the kingdom, his glory remains veiled under the appearance of ordinary humanity. Jesus’ final apparition ends 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 659). After the ascension, the task of preaching the Gospel was passed on to the apostles. Christ promised that he would be with them through his Spirit to accomplish the work of evangelization. The disciples were asked, therefore, “Galileans, why are you standing there looking up at the sky?” (Acts 1:10-11). “Ascension is not a time to commemorate Christ’s departure from us, but rather a time to recall Christ’s presence in our midst. This presence is made manifest in the work of the people of God, the Church.” (The Word Alive by Eugene H. Maly).

 

2.    The feast of the Ascension is like taking part in a relay; the baton is passed on from one runner to another. Christ passed on the baton to his apostles and his apostles to us. There is no time to stand idle and watch others. We must obey the divine mandate: “Go make disciples of all nations.” (Matt. 28:19-20). We can do this by making Paul’s instruction to Timothy ours: “I solemnly urge you to preach the message, to insist upon proclaiming it, whether the time is right or not, to convince, reproach and encourage, as you teach with patience.” (2Tim. 4:2). There are many people out there who are unaware of the passion, death and resurrection of Christ. They do not know that God loves them passionately, intimately, and personally. This, then, is our mission: to make Christ known and loved, and to be His witnesses to all nations. We must teach and convince the world of Christ’s love and the need to give our lives in return for his love. In doing this, however, we are not alone. Christ promises to be with us till the end of time. He is with us even during the worst circumstances of our lives. He is with us in his Spirit, who is an agent of evangelization. His Spirit will teach us how to be his disciples, in word and in deed. Our lives must speak much more eloquently than our lips do when it comes to witnessing and teaching. People would much rather see a sermon than listen to one.

 

3.    The Ascension means that Christ leads us from heaven through a shared mission of leadership. He now involves all of his people in the work of the kingdom. In the second reading, St. Paul reminds us that we have been given gifts for ministries. Some of us are apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, or teachers. We are all equipped for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ. Our gifts must assist us in the task of evangelization. Therefore, we must be the living gospel for people to read. We are called to be good Christians, to have the love of Christ in our hearts, and to share it with others. We must be kind, hospitable, compassionate, and forgiving. We must show mercy and avoid uncharitable acts. We are not to peddle rumors and unkind words about others. Gossip can ruin without killing, it can tear down homes, break hearts, and wreck lives. It brings confusion and suspicion where distrust is unperceived. Let us spread the message of love instead.

 

4.    In the document, Evangelization in the Modern World, Pope Paul VI admonished: “The truly evangelized individual must eventually go out to evangelize others. Such a person cannot keep his faith to himself. The power that Jesus has given to us so that we might indeed lead the victorious life of grace must eventually become vocal. The way of life must lead to a proclamation of the word of life.” Pope Francis, on the other hand, stressed, “The Church has to go out onto the streets. I want us to resist everything worldly, everything static, everything comfortable, everything to do with clericalism, everything that might make us close in on ourselves. Our parishes, schools, and institutions are all made for going out…if they don’t, they become an NGO, and the Church cannot be an NGO. You are bearers of hope…You are the protagonists of the future, artisans for the future…Make the future with beauty, with goodness and truth…Have courage. Go forward. Make noise.” Though Christ is no more with us physically, he is very much around us spiritually. He said goodbye to his disciples so that they may grow into mature witnesses. His Spirit, working in and through his disciples, taught them the way of love and discipleship. May this same Spirit dwelling in us show us the way to true discipleship. Amen!

 

 

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

May 10, 2026. 6th Sunday of Easter (Year A)

Readings: Acts 8:5-8, 14-17; 1 Peter 3:15-18; John 14:15-21

Love is the Fulfilment of the Law

1.     Christ told his disciples, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth.” (Jn. 14:15). Our love for Christ is made manifest in our obedience to His commandment of love. But why does Christ equate our love with the keeping of his commandments? What are these commandments? Listen: “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.” (Jn. 13:34-35). The timing of this discussion is of note. This took place shortly before his arrest. Knowing that he would soon be taken away, Christ urged his disciples to love one another. We are identified as followers of Christ by the way we love one another. Hence, the disciples were called Christians in Antioch because of their life in Christ. The commandment to love is not new; the children of Israel were told, “Love your neighbor as yourselves.” (Lev. 19:18). To his disciples, Christ said, “Love one another as I have loved you.” Hear him, “Greater love than this no man has that a man should lay down his life for his friends.” (Jn. 15:13). Christ’s love is agape love.

 

2.     Agape is the highest form of love. It is God’s love for man and man’s love for God. Christ’s love for us is sacrificial, redemptive, merciful, and gratuitous. He died so that we may live in freedom and peace. Agape love seeks nothing in return. It is an overflowing love of God working in the lives of men. Because of Christ’s love, the early Christians chose to live together, sharing what they had in common (Acts 2:42-46). A true Christian is not only interested in his own salvation, but also deeply concerned about the salvation of others. Merely giving alms does not constitute the virtue of charity. Being interested in Church matters and parish activities, to strengthen the faith of members, is the obligation of every Christian. The early Christians proved their undying love by accepting hardships and martyrdom for the faith. This love is patient and kind; not jealous or pompous. It is not inflated or rude; it doesn’t seek its own interests; it is not quick-tempered, nor does it brood over injury. It doesn’t rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. It never fails. (1 Cor. 13:4-8). This is the kind of love that draws people to Christ. 

 

3.     Because the Apostles were filled with the Spirit, they were not defined by their particular apostolate but shared equally in the mission of preaching the Gospel. In the first reading, for instance, Philip, one of the seven deacons designated to share food, preached Christ in Samaria. The manifestation of which was the signs and wonders he worked in the city. Sick people were cured. When Peter and John arrived in Samaria and saw the glory of the Lord, they prayed so that they might receive the Holy Spirit. When we obey the commandment of love, miracles happen, and joy and peace are restored and experienced.

 

4.     The Spirit will teach us to love as Christ loves and to forgive as he forgives us. There are broken families in our society that would not have experienced brokenness if family members had lived in love. Marriages failed because spouses forgot the meaning of love and friendship. Men, women, and children are in jails and on the streets because their caregivers failed to keep the commandment of love. Thousands are poor, hungry, oppressed, enslaved, victims of sex trafficking, and victims of wars because people refused to love them. Some do not know Christ and his teachings because we failed to show them love and point them to the Way, the Truth, and the Life. When there is love, our families, institutions, Country, and the world will experience it, because love is the one creative force that can transform the world. It enriches the recipient without impoverishing the giver. Hence, Mother Theresa reminds us to “Spread love everywhere you go, first of all in your family. Give love to your children, to your husbands, and to your next-door neighbors.” Truth be told, if there are problems in our families, it could be that we have forgotten to obey the commandment of love. If our churches are empty, it is because we have failed to show love. And if there are problems in our homes, schools, workplace, our communities, and our nation, it could be that we have ignored, failed, or forgotten to put the commandment of love into practice. So, the time to keep that commandment is now! If today you would listen to his voice, harden your heart. (Ps. 95). May God give us the grace to show how much we love him, by keeping his commandment of love; and may the Eucharist we celebrate lead us to discover the Lord of love and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Amen

 

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

May 03, 2026. 5th Sunday of Easter (Year A)

Readings: Acts 6:1-7, 1 Peter 2:4-9; Jn. 14:1-12

Have no anxiety at all

1.    In today’s Gospel, Jesus told his apostles: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me.” (Jn. 14:1). Jesus is addressing these words to us today, as we deal with the world in crisis, with wars in the Middle East and the continuous conflict between Russia and Ukraine. With these conflicts come other consequential effects: food and gas prices keep going up. We cannot honestly say that we are not anxious, worried, or afraid. We worry about our health, finances, mortgages, our children’s education, and their future. We are also afflicted by national and international fear and trouble, of increasing violence and crimes in our cities. We fear loss and failure, criticism and rejection; we are most worried about the unknown. But should we? O Lord, we are afraid! We are anxious.

 

2.    The second reading from the Acts of the Apostles shows us how the early Christian community was united in mind and heart. They devoted themselves to the teaching of the apostles, to the communal life, to the breaking of the bread, and to prayers. And with great power, they bore witness to the risen Lord. (Acts 2:42-47).  Amidst that perfect community, we heard of fear and anxiety, as the Greek speaking Jews - the Hellenists – complained that their widows were left out during the daily distribution of food. Fear can, sometimes, propel people to greater heights. Peter realized that the apostles needed assistance, “It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at the table. Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task, whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” (Acts 6:2-5). Thus, the diaconal ministry was inaugurated. This ministry of service enabled the apostles to devote themselves to prayer and preaching the word.

 

3.    In our worries, fear, and anxiety, we must not forget to devote ourselves to prayer and to the reading of the word, as the apostles did. By so doing, Peter said we will “Come to the living stone, rejected by human beings but chosen and precious in the sight of God, and, like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.” (1 Peter 2:4-6). For “You are ‘a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises’ of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1 Peter 2:9).

 

4.    Friends, this is why we should not be afraid. Christ tells us: “Do not worry about your life. Can any of you, by worrying, add a single moment to your lifespan?” (Matt. 6:25-34). And Paul adds, “Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:6-6). The secret to a worry-free life is to depend on God. We must cry out to God like Peter and devote our lives to prayer and reflecting on the word of God like the early Christians. They depended on one another in their fears and anxiety. We have our families, our church, and our circle of friends. Let us fall back on them for support when we are afraid. The disciples were together in prayer, in bible reading, and in the breaking of bread. We must do the same. Jesus assures us that He is the way, the truth, and the life. Even when we do not know where He is going or know the way, He is our way, He is our truth, he is our life. He knows the Father, and he knows how to get us to the Father. We must trust him. We must also see ourselves in the service of love and mercy to one another.

 

5.    We thank God for our children who made their first Holy Communion today. We thank their families and those who prepared them for the reception of Jesus Christ, the word of God, and the bread of life. May Christ guide and continuously point them to the path they are to follow in life. We hope and pray that, as they grow in faith and love, they may consider the vocation to the Holy Priesthood that will make them ministers of the sacrament they have received today. Amen. 

 

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

April 26, 2026. 4th Sunday of Easter, (Year A)

Readings: Acts 2:14, 36-41; 1Peter 2:20-25; Jn. 10:1-10

The Shepherd and the Lost Sheep

1.     Today is Vocations Sunday. The Mother Church invites us to pray that young men may hear the voice of the Shepherd, and give their lives in service to him, as his ministers. Christ “Came not to be served but to serve and gave his life as a ransom for many” (Mk. 10:45). We pray also that religious men and women in consecrated life may continue to say ‘Yes’ to the Good Shepherd as they bear witness in the world through their vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. The laity are equally encouraged to use their gifts of time, talent, and treasure in their service of the Church and humanity.

2.     In today’s Gospel, Jesus calls Himself: “The gate for the sheep.” (Jn. 10:7). Earlier on, He said: “Whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber.” (Jn. 10:1).  Jesus is not just the Good Shepherd; He is the Gate itself. The sheep must go through Him. He is the one who calls them out and leads them to pasture.

3.     Dear friends, the image and attitude of the shepherd is the one who goes out of his way to look for the wandering sheep in Luke 15:1-7. Jesus is The Good Shepherd. He is the Gate of the sheepfold. He came to reconcile us to the Father, and he laid down His life for the sheep. “A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy. I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” (Jn. 10:10). He hears the cries of His sheep and comes to their rescue. “I myself will pasture my sheep; I myself will give them rest. The lost I will seek out, the strayed I will bring back, the injured I will bind up, the sick I will heal.” (Ezekiel 34:15-16). “Like a shepherd he feeds his flock; in his arms he gathers the lambs, carrying them in his bosom and leading the ewes with care.” (Is. 40:11).

4.     David calls God his shepherd, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.” There is a story told of an actor who recited the 23^rd Psalm and held his audience spellbound. When he finished, a great burst of applause broke from his guests. As it died away, an old man rose from behind the room and declaimed the same psalm. His voice was not remarkable; his tone was not as faultless as the actor’s, but, when he finished, there was not a dry eye in the room. The actor rose, and his voice quivered as he said, “Ladies and gentlemen, I reached your eyes and ears; he has reached your hearts. The difference is just this: I know the Psalm, but he knows the Shepherd.”

5.     The questions for us today are: do we know the Shepherd? Do we listen to Him and allow Him to lead us to green pastures? Many times, in our struggles, we fail to see the shepherd in our midst. The second reading urged us to be patient in suffering if we suffer for doing what is right. “For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his footsteps.” Our world is replete with prophets whose aim in preaching the gospel is to brainwash people for money. They care for themselves alone and what they could benefit from their congregation. They preach the prosperity gospel only to enrich themselves. They extort money in the name of tithes and seed-sowing for their lifestyle, building mansions, buying a fleet of exotic cars, airplanes, and jets, while most of their congregants are impoverished. These are the thieves and robbers referred to in the Gospel. By their fruits you shall know them.

6.     Let us open our eyes and see the Good Shepherd who meets us at the points of our needs. When we are bereaved, the shepherd appears to us as a gardener (Jn. 20:15), calls us by name, and eases our problems. When we fail at our jobs, he stands on the shore of our uncertainties and asks, “Children, have you caught anything to eat?” and then tells us what to do. (Jn. 21:5-7). When we are hungry, he appears as a cook and provides us with food, “Come, have breakfast.” (Jn. 21:9-12). When we are sad and in distress, he is a stranger on the road who explains things to us. (Lk. 24:13-28). When we lose our faith, he helps us to believe again (Jn. 20:26-29). The Good Shepherd loves flawed people like the harlots and tax collectors, the thieves and those feared by others: the lepers and those possessed by demons. He rejects no one, “Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me.” (Jn. 6:37,39). Even the young adults and college students, who stopped going to church and lost their faith after Confirmation, he waits for them to return to baptize their children or seek to regularize their marriage. He waits as the merciful father waited for his prodigal son’s return, with no condemnation, anger, judgment, or bitterness but mercy, compassion, understanding, and love.

7.     Dear friends, let us listen to our Good Shepherd as he calls us by name and leads us to green pasture. Yes, we may wander away from his love, but we are his Beloved Wanderers. He will look for us and bring us back to himself. For “There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over the ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.” (Jn. 15:7). B blessed!

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

April 19,2026. 3rd Sunday Easter; Year (A)

Readings: Acts 2:14, 22-33; 1Peter 1:17-21; Lk. 24:13-35

Behold, I Stand at the Door and Knock!

In today’s Gospel, Jesus called two of his Disciples fools. Why? The two men on the road to Emmaus were obviously frustrated and disappointed. They were upset with Jesus for acting as a stranger in Jerusalem and for asking them a question. “What are you talking about to each other as you walk along?”  How could Jesus ask them such a question: “Are you the only visitor in Jerusalem who doesn’t know the things that have been happening there these last few days?  “What things?” Christ asked them. Christ wants to know what is going on in our lives. He wants us to tell Him about our troubles, sadness, worries, and our joys. He wants us to share our stories with Him. He wants us to tell him about the sickness in our families and how devastated it makes us feel. He tells us, “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves.” (Matt. 11:28-30). When we are confused, as the men on the road to Emmaus were, we must turn to Jesus. When in doubt, we must go to Him for comfort. When we are disappointed, Christ will console us. He understands us now more than ever before. Christ will always meet us on the way of our worries, fears, and anxiety. He will engage us, ask questions, and listen to us attentively. We must listen to Him, too.

There are times when our sterile worries, futile pleasures, and vain preoccupations cloud our eyes so much that we cannot recognize the Lord as we should. The two disciples on the road to Emmaus were thoroughly distracted, unfocused, frightened, and downhearted, as their conversation reveals. Their answer to Jesus clearly showed their frustration. They closed their minds to the Scriptures. One could feel their incredulity and doubts as they recounted their litany of woes to the stranger. “We were hoping He would be the one to redeem Israel.” (Acts 2:21). We have been tempted many times to turn away from God, Christ, and the church because our expectations were not met. We often think that because we go to Church, say our prayers, pay tithes, obey the church, and keep the commandments, our problems will be solved. How false are these assumptions! Many were so disappointed with the sexual abuse of clergy that they stopped going to church. Others stopped giving to the Church, which they felt had let them down. Many turned away because they do not agree with the Church’s teaching on marriage, divorce, gay marriage, and the like. Many have refused to approach the Lord in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and have their sins forgiven. They can confess directly to God, they reason. Just like the men on the way to Emmaus once followed the Lord with hope and joy and truly believed that God had sent him to establish God’s kingdom, we often feel that way too. But when the storms of life hit us hard, like Good Friday hit the Apostles, we are often disillusioned and quickly return to our former life, stopping to believe in God.

Mark Link, reported in his book Sunday Homilies Year A, a story that best illustrates the attitude of the two men on the road to Emmaus. Regina Riley tells a story that many parents can relate to. For years, she prayed that her two sons would return to the faith. Then one Sunday morning in church, she couldn’t believe her eyes. Her two sons came in and sat across the aisle from her. Her joy and gratitude overflowed. Afterward, she asked her sons what prompted their return to the faith. The younger son told the story. One Sunday morning, while vacationing in Colorado, they were driving down a mountain road. It was raining cats and dogs. Suddenly, they came upon an old man without an umbrella. He was soaked through and through and walked with a noticeable limp. Yet he kept trudging doggedly along the road. The brothers stopped and picked him up. It turned out that the stranger was on his way to Mass at a church three miles down the road. The brothers took him there. Since the rain was coming down so hard, and since they had nothing better to do, they decided to wait for the stranger to take him home after Mass. It wasn’t long before the two boys figured they might as well go inside, rather than wait out in the car. As the two brothers listened to the reading of the scriptures and sat through the breaking of the bread, something moved them deeply. The only way they could later explain it was: “You know, Mother, it felt so right. Like getting home after a long, tiring trip.”

Often in our frustration and despondency, we turn away from Jesus, but He never abandons us; He speaks to our hearts. “Was it not necessary for the Messiah to suffer these things and then to enter his glory?” Jesus then explained what was said about himself in all the scriptures, beginning with Moses and the writings of all the prophets. Like the two brothers on Colorado road who met a stranger and returned to the faith, Jesus is the stranger who walks with us on our road of sadness and stress. He will open our minds to the Scriptures, and our hearts will burn within us. He will lead us to the Eucharist and give us His body to eat and His blood to drink.

Whenever we turn away from the Church, Christ comes in search of us. He will never force himself on us but will wait to be invited in. And after explaining the Scriptures to the two men, He did as if He was going on further, waiting for them to invite Him in. Once He was invited in, He broke the bread with them. They rediscovered their Lord. He was never far away from them; they were too preoccupied to see Him. Let us pray that we may see Jesus who stands at the door of our hearts and knocks. May we hear His voice and open the door, so that He may enter and dine with us and we with Him. Amen. 

Augustine Etemma Inwang MSP

December 24, 2025; Christmas Vigil (Year A, B, C)

Readings: Is. 62:1-5; Acts 13:16-17, 22-25; Matthew 1:1-25

The Family of Jesus

1.     Christmas always brings families together. As we celebrate, let us take a moment to reflect on the family of Jesus while we pray for our own families. In the Gospel, we read about the genealogy, or family tree, of Jesus. Genealogy is more than just a list of names; it connects our human family to its origins and highlights the path from the beginning to where we are today. This was also true for Jesus. St. Matthew traced the lineage of Jesus from its origin to the moment we celebrate his coming in the flesh. The first and second readings find fulfillment in Matthew’s genealogy. The Acts remind us that David was destined to have a descendant far greater than himself, while Isaiah recalls the promise made to Abraham that he would be the father of a great nation with many descendants.

 

2.     According to St. Jerome’s Biblical commentary, the purpose of the genealogy is to demonstrate that “Jesus is the Messiah (Mt. 1:1, 16), the culmination of the history of salvation that began with the promises to Abraham. Jesus is King Messiah, the Son of David, and the Messiah of Israel, the Son of Abraham.”

 

3.     Matthew intentionally organized the genealogy into three sets of 14 names (Mt. 1:7); 14 is a multiple of 7. It is divided into two key points in Israel's history: the establishment of David's monarchy and the collapse of Judah's monarchy during the Babylonian conquest of 587 BC. In compiling this genealogy, Matthew chose to follow the timeline of the kings of Judah. Four women appear in the genealogy: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, and Bathsheba. Tamar deceived her father-in-law Judah into an incestuous relationship (Gen. 38), while Rahab, often labeled as a prostitute in Jericho, sheltered the Israelite spies (Joshua 2). Ruth, the heroine of the Book of Ruth, was a Moabite who joined the Israelite community. Bathsheba was the wife of Uriah and the partner of David’s adultery (2 Sam. 11). The common thread among these women is that they were foreigners, not Jews.

 

4.     I have taken great care to describe the genealogy of Jesus, especially the four women mentioned. Matthew reveals that Jesus’ background includes both Jewish and Gentile heritage; He came for everyone, regardless of race. Therefore, one cannot lay claim to Jesus and salvation based on race or perceived privileges. Jesus is Emmanuel, God who is with us. The term ‘us’ encompasses all people, regardless of race, tribe, tongue, or culture. The birth of Jesus signifies that He will make His dwelling in every heart and every family that seeks Him. It doesn’t matter what your family looks like or whether you are a sinner or a saint. Your family may be struggling, or a loved one may be in jail; you may be sick, unemployed, or without shelter; there may be violence in our streets. But as soon as you open the door of your heart to Christ, He will come in and dwell with you. Christ will transform your family and give you a new identity. “You shall be a glorious crown in the hand of the Lord, a royal diadem held by your God. No more shall people call you ‘Forsaken,’ or your land ‘Desolate,’ but you shall be called ‘My Delight,’ and your land ‘Espoused’” (Is. 62:2-4). “To those who did accept Him, He gave power to become children of God” (Jn. 1:12).

 

5.     So, dear friends, no matter our circumstances, we must celebrate Christmas. The birth of Christ was announced not to the high and mighty but to the lowly shepherds tending their flocks on a cold winter night. Christ was not born in a royal hospital but in a manger, where animals were fed. His roommates were not nobles but cows. Regardless of how sad or depressed we may feel, Christ has a special place in His heart for us. Christmas is about giving our hearts to God. That is why John urged us to prepare our hearts for the Lord. Our families may be disordered, but our God is not. We may experience doubts, yet Christ is born for us. It is His birthday, and we must celebrate it with joy and love. Let us live a life filled with joy, peace, hope, and love. Merry Christmas!

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP