Tag Archives: purpose

YOU ARE GOD’S MASTERPIECE

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Tuesday 8th December – Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed   Virgin Mary

Reflection: Luke 1:26-38

YOU ARE GOD’S MASTERPIECE

Have you ever marvelled at the variety of natural abilities and talents God has endowed each one of us with? Indeed, every individual is created unique with a combination of gifts, talents, the environment and circumstances required to fulfil his own purpose in life. Today, the Church celebrates the Immaculate Conception of our Blessed Mother, Mary; an article of faith that confesses that our Blessed Mother was preserved from original sin right from the moment of her conception in the womb of her mother.

Why was this privilege necessary? God had chosen her, even before her conception to be the mother of His son, Jesus Christ. Since Jesus was to be pure and sinless, it was necessary for our Blessed Mother herself to be sinless so as to carry within her the Saviour of the world. This unique act of God should remind us as young people that God has created each of us as we are, not by accident, but in order to fulfil His purpose for our lives. Think of Elizabeth and Zechariah, whom God had destined would bring forth John the Baptist, the fore-runner of Christ. This righteous couple had to endure the inconvenience, sadness and shame of barrenness for a long time as the fullness of time had to be reached. Little did they know that God had greater plans for them.

My dear friend, just as our Blessed Mother is God’s masterpiece, created specially to bring our Saviour into the world; you are also God’s masterpiece, designed with extra ordinary skill. God has a unique role for you in this world and you must live each day with that consciousness. He has made you who you are for a purpose. Let us turn to God today and ask Him for direction so that we may fulfil His purpose for our lives like our Blessed Mother did. Let us also ask for our mother’s intercession that we may identify the call of God on our lives in our youth and start living out that call.

PRAYER: My heavenly Father, I thank you for the reminder today that I am not in this world by chance. Please help me to put to use the talents you have given me in a way that glorifies you. Mary my mother, please intercede for me today that I may fulfil God’s divine purpose for my existence. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: YOUCAT 83 – What does the “Immaculate Conception of Mary” mean?

The Church believes that “the most Blessed Virgin Mary was, from the first moment of her conception, by a singular grace and privilege of almighty God and by virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, Saviour of the human race, preserved immune from all stain of original sin”

HIDE A TREASURE: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations” Jeremiah 1:5 RSV-CE

Today’s Readings: Genesis 3:9-15, 20; Psalm 98: 1-4; Ephesians 1:3-6, 11-12; Luke 1:26-38

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GOD HAS A PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE

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Tuesday, 14th July- St. Camillus De Lellis, P. (Opt. Mem)

GOD HAS A PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE

Exodus 2:1-15

Do you truly believe that God has a plan for your life? Indeed He does and his plans are perfect for you. Look, the bible says in Jeremiah 1:5 “I chose you before I gave you life, and before you were born I selected you to be a prophet”. The same goes to the life of Moses in today’s reading. The Lord chose him for a special purpose even before he was born, no wonder he was protected from death despite the decree that all male Israelites born at that time in Egypt be thrown into the Nile.

It is the same purpose that God has for each and every one called by His holy name that despite the evils in the world, the children of God shall always triumph though the journey may be tough. Whatever God says over our lives will surely come to pass, however, consider a little part of Moses’ journey of life as we read today; have you seen that the journey was neither pleasant nor easy but notwithstanding Moses stood on the Lord side.

The same goes to us young Christians. In our journey of faith things may not be easy just like they were for Moses but let us believe that as long as we are on the Lord’s side we shall definitely triumph because the Lord knows us personally and we shall not be swept away by the storms of life.

PRAYER: Father Lord, I hold on to you in good and odd times, shield me at all times and let your will be established in my life. Amen.

Hide a treasure: “Save me from sinking in the mud; keep me safe from my enemies, safe from the deep water.” Psalm 69:14 GNB

Today’s Readings: Exodus 2:1-15; Psalm 69:3, 14, 30-31, 33-34; Matthew 11:20-24

HIS NAME IS JOHN

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Wednesday 24th June -Solemnity of the Birthday of St John the Baptist

Reflection: Reflection: Luke 1: 57-66, 80

HIS NAME IS JOHN

Like it is in the African setting, it was a common practice among the Jews to name a first born son after his father. This was the intention of the friends and neighbours of Zechariah and Elizabeth who considered it an honour to name this “special” child after his father. But his mother spoke up “he is to be called John”, the name the Angel had given and this was confirmed by his father.

Dear friends, God knows us individually, calls each of us by name and has a specific plan for the lives of every one of us. He has a certain task for you to carry out in this world; a task no one else has been saddled with.  Regardless of how influential our parents may be, their purpose in life is different from ours hence we must not be satisfied in being anyone’s “shadow.” Though both Zechariah and John attained holiness, their paths to holiness and their God given purpose differed.

Today, we celebrate the birth of St John the Baptist, the forerunner of our Lord Jesus Christ. John was born for a purpose: to prepare the people for the coming of the Messiah and to point Him out to Israel when he came. He lived to fulfil his purpose. God has a plan for you too and life will be a waste if you do not fulfil this purpose. Each day, sincerely ask God to reveal His plan for your life and be committed to living out your purpose.

PRAYER: Lord, I open my heart to You; please help me to discover your purpose for me so that I can live each day of my life in fulfilment of that purpose. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: YOUCAT 201 – What is the significance of receiving a name in Baptism?

Through the name that we receive in Baptism God tells us: “I have called you by name, you are mine” (Is 43:1).
In Baptism a person is not dissolved into an anonymous divinity, but rather is affirmed precisely in his individuality. To be baptized by a name signifies that God knows me; he says Yes to me and accepts me forever in my unrepeatable uniqueness.

HIDE A TREASURE: “For I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope” Jeremiah 29:11 RSV-CE

Today’s Readings: Isaiah 49: 1-6; Psalm 139: 1-3, 13-15; Acts 13: 22-26; Luke 1: 57-66, 80

DO NOT BE SILENCED BY FEAR

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Friday 15 May – Friday of the 6thweek of Eastertide

Reflection: Acts 18: 9-18

DO NOT BE SILENCED BY FEAR

How many times as students have we been asked questions by our teachers for which we possibly had correct answers but were unsure of ourselves and rather choose to be quiet? It pains deeply when we see a more courageous classmate speak up and we discover that we would have been right had we dared speak. At such times, we have been silenced by fear!

Today’s first reading presents us with the Lord’s warning to St. Paul: “Do not be afraid to speak out, nor allow yourself to be silenced: I am with you.” Beloved in Christ, how tight is the grip of fear on You? How readily do you allow your noble ideas and initiatives to be paralysed by the fear of failure, the fear of men or fear of the future? Though we might have genuine reasons for concern at some points in life, we need not allow our progress to be crippled by the fear of the unknown. Purposeful living demands a good deal of courage and more importantly, as Christians, we need to trust in the God at all times (Hebrews 11:6; James 1: 6-8).

Dearest friend, let us this day ask the Lord for the grace to give voice to our noble convictions; to give action to our worthwhile aspirations; to live by faith and not in fear, so that we may know the joy of meaningful living.

Prayer: Oh Lord, fill my heart with faith and love! Please liberate me from every imprisonment of fear and grant me the faith and courage to embrace the life You have called me to live. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: CCC 162 – Faith is an entirely free gift that God makes to man…..To live, grow and persevere in the faith until the end we must nourish it with the word of God; we must beg the Lord to increase our faith; it must be “working through charity,” abounding in hope, and rooted in the faith of the Church.

HIDE A TREASURE: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; be not frightened, neither be dismayed; for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 RSV-CE

Today’s Readings: Acts 18: 9-18; Psalm 47: 2-7; John 16:20-23