DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

THURSDAY IN THE FIRST WEEEK OF ORDINARY TIME YEAR (II)

Mystery of the day: Luminous

Saint of the day

St. Hilary of Poitiers

He was born in the year 300 A.D. He was a married person with one daughter named Apra. He was elected Bishop of Poitiers by the laity and the clergy. But he was exiled from Poitiers to the East in the year 356 for his refusal to support the condemnation of St. Athanasius, by the Arian Christians, when Constantius was the emperor. He was the first Latin Christian Hymn writer. He was called as the 'Hammer of the Arians' and the 'Athanasius of the west'. He died in the year 368 and declared a Doctor of the Church in 1851 by Pope Pius-IX.

Reflection for the day

Theme: The healing power of Christ

Jesus was preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom and healing every infirmity among the people. (cf. Matthew 4:23)

One of the fascinating parts of Christ's ministry was "compassion". In most cases, He moved with pity to grant comfort, peace above all healing to the wailing souls despite the odds He must have faced with. 

He breaks jinx just for the freedom of His children. As we can see in the gospel reading of today (cf. Mark 1:40-45) where Jesus out love and compassion had pity on the leper. The Scripture says, when the man with leprosy approached Him, he requested for a healing if He (Christ) so desire. This was granted out of love by Christ.

Dearest in the Lord, we must have faced serious challenges in our various families and work places. These ill-development surrounding us is our share of leprosy; as it separate us from the normal way of life. 

Just like the leper, we need to get closer to Jesus, to request from Him healing and in certainty our situations will not be the same again. For the Psalmist has invited us today to join him in seeking for God's redemption (cf. Psalm 44). May this kind gesture of our Lord on the leper be ours today. Amen. 

Peace, be with you

Let us pray 🙏 

Eternal Word, we thank You for Your love, care and peace we have enjoyed. Grant us we pray, the grace to be closer to you always, no matter the situation we find ourselves. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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