Monthly Archives: February 2015

TRUE HAPPINESS

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Saturday 28th February – Saturday of the 1st week of Lent

Reflection: Psalm 118: 1-8

TRUE HAPPINESS

Tade was confused. She had made new friends during registration week on her new campus but as they settled down to work, she realised she was becoming more and more alone. All her friends had new boyfriends whom they were into sexual relationships with and were very excited about it as they had all the pleasure they wanted and money to throw around. Should I just join them and enjoy this new exciting life of theirs or should I keep up with my quest for holiness and remain lonely, missing out on all the fun? Tade wondered.

Many young people are familiar with Tade’s experience It is not unusual to find ourselves been lured by peers into immoral relationships, partying, drugs, exam malpractice etc. Those who engage in it are happy; why should I deny myself all the fun, we ask ourselves. Dear friend, true happiness is only found in living the life God our creator has called us to. The excitement sin offers is the devil’s way of luring us into sin; yet, the happiness sin offers is shallow, temporal and filled with regrets.

Do you desire pure and lasting happiness? Do you desire to live with peace of mind, devoid of regrets? God calls you today to a life of blessedness. “They are happy whose life is blameless, who follow God’s law! They are happy who do his will, seeking Him with all their hearts” (Ps 119: 1-2). Set your mind on pleasing God and ask for the grace to overcome the temptation around you. Have you already succumbed to the lure of Sin? Dear friend, it is not too late; repent, approach God in the Sacrament of Reconciliation and begin again. His grace is sufficient for you. Only in following God’s law would you find true happiness.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, please help me to seek true and lasting happiness in you. May I obey you in all I do and seek to please you always. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: YOUCAT 407 – Why is the Church against premarital sexual relations?

Because she would like to protect love. A person can give someone else no greater gift than himself. “I love you” means for both: “I want only you, I want all that you are, and I want to give myself to you forever!” Because that is so, we cannot, even with our bodies, really say “I love you” temporarily or on a trial basis.

HIDE A TREASURE: “Blessed are they who treasure His word and seek Him with all their heart.” Psalm 119: 2 CCB

Today’s Readings: Deuteronomy 26: 16-19; Psalm 119: 1-8; Matthew 5: 43-48

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RECIPIENTS OF GOD’S MERCY

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Friday 27th February – Friday of the 1st week of Lent

Reflection: Psalm 130: 1-8

RECIPIENTS OF GOD’S MERCY

“He that cannot forgive others breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass if he would ever reach heaven; for everyone has need to be forgiven”. George Herbert

Christ tells the story of a servant who owed his master a large sum of money but pleaded for mercy and was forgiven his debt. Yet he went on to treat his fellow servant shamefully because the fellow servant had been unable to pay him what he owed him – a very small amount of money compared to what he had been forgiven by his master. Much as we are familiar with this story and the message our Lord was driving home, are we not often guilty of acting like this unmerciful servant?

The Psalmist asks: “If you, O Lord, should mark our guilt, Lord who would survive?” (Psalm 130: 3). You and I are recipients of God’s bountiful mercy. It is only our hope and trust in his mercy that enables us to approach Him in confidence. Yet, are you extending this mercy to your brothers and sisters? Who is that person that has angered you so much and you find it difficult to forgive? Who is that person you claim to have forgiven yet cannot speak to politely and lovingly? In today’s gospel reading, Christ calls you to forgive that person if you desire your sacrifice, penance and offerings this season of Lent to be acceptable to Him (Mt 5: 23-24).

Dear friend, look around you – at home, in school, at work, in Church, at play and see those places as fertile grounds to plant the seeds of mercy you have received from God. As you extend your forgiveness to others, your hurts are healed and you open yourself more and more to receive mercy from our loving Father.

PRAYER: Lord, I thank you for your great mercy upon me. Please help me to extend this mercy to those who hurt me. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: YOUCAT 524 – What does it mean to say, “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us”?

Merciful forgiveness—the mercy that we show to others and the mercy that we ourselves seek—is indivisible. If we ourselves are not merciful and do not forgive one another, God’s mercy will not reach our hearts.

HIDE A TREASURE: “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father also will forgive you; but if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” Matthew 6:14-15 RSV-CE

Today’s Readings: Ezekiel 18: 21-28; Psalm 130: 1-8; Matthew 5: 20-26

THINKING OF OTHERS

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Thursday 26th February – Thursday of the 1st Week of Lent

Reflection: Matthew 7:7-12

THINKING OF OTHERS

Jesus words: “Always treat others as you would like them to treat you” referred to as the Golden rule is also called the ethic of reciprocity. These words have been accepted by people of all times, ethnicity and creed as a rule that guards against greed and selfishness. As Christians, the call to consider others first is central to our faith. Just as our Lord poured out His life for us, we too are called to love sacrificially and unconditionally.

How can we claim to be Christians if we are selfish, proud and greedy? How can we claim to be followers of Christ if we refuse to share in His virtues of compassion, seeking the good of others and love for enemies? More than anything else, the Church calls you and me to be renewed this season of Lent. The purpose of our penance is to raise our thoughts outside of ourselves and our comfort so as to think of the needs of others first and to extend our hands to them in charity.

Today, make it a point of duty to seek the needs of others first in every decision you make. Our natural selves are selfish; ask the Lord for the grace to rise above selfishness and to treat others as you would love to be treated. Strive to be perfect reflection of Jesus Christ.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I come to you as I am, please take away every selfishness in me and help me to consider others first and treat them well. Grant me the grace to be a perfect reflection of your son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: YOUCAT 173 – Why do we need sacraments in the first place?
We need Sacraments in order to outgrow our petty human life and to become like Jesus through Jesus: children of God in freedom and glory.

HIDE A TREASURE: “So treat others the way you would like them to treat you.” Matthew 7: 12

Today’s readings: Esther 4:17; Psalms 138:1-3, 7-8; Matthew 7:7-12

OUR MERCIFUL GOD

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Wednesday 25th February – Wednesday of the 1st week of Lent

Reflection: Jonah 3:1-10

OUR MERCIFUL GOD

Our greatest hope as Christians lies in knowing that we have a merciful God who forgives our sins each time we return to Him. Today’s reading tells us of how God relented from pouring down his wrath on the people of Nineveh because of their prompt repentance at the preaching of the prophet Jonah. The King declared a time of fasting and prayer for repentance and as the people made efforts to turn from their wicked ways, God honoured their efforts.

Beloved, the Church calls you and I reconciliation with God. Like the Ninevites, let us respond promptly to this call. You may say: “my past is so ugly; I don’t think God will forgive me”. The good news is that He is willing to welcome you home, regardless of how far you have strayed. Christ reassures us that there is more joy in heaven over one repentant sinner than over ninety-nine righteous men who need no repentance (Lk 15:7).

When last did you approach Christ in the Sacrament of Reconciliation?
Today, take some time to examine your conscience; ask the Holy Spirit to shed light into your life so you can recognise your sins and be truly sorry for them. Then seize the next opportunity to go to confession. Christ awaits you with open hands. Go and experience the freshness of a new beginning.

PRAYER: Dear Jesus, I acknowledge my sinfulness. Please forgive me and help me to live to please You always. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: YOUCAT 228 – Who can forgive sins?

God alone can forgive sins. Jesus could say “Your sins are forgiven” (Mk 2:5) only because he is the Son of God. And priests can forgive sins in Jesus’ place only because Jesus has given them that authority. 

HIDE A TREASURE: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just, and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9 RSV-CE

Today’s Readings: Jonah 3:1-10; Psalms 50:3-4, 12-13, 18-19; Luke 10:29-32.