DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

Thursday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time of the Year.

Mystery of the day: Luminous 

Celebration: JANUARY 26 Saints Timothy and Titus, Bishops

(+97). St Timothy was the son of a pagan father and a Hebrew-Christian mother, Eunice. He was a disciple of St. Paul and accompanied him in the evangelization of many cities. St Paul consecrated him Bishop of Ephesus. According to a fourth century story, he was beaten to death by a mob when he opposed the observance of a pagan festival. St. Titus was also a friend and disciple of St. Paul who ordained him Bishop of Crete. St. Paul wrote to these two disciples three pastoral letters, which gave glimpses of the future structure of the Church.

Table of the Word: 

R I: Hebrews 10:19-25

Gospel:   Mark 4:21-25

 "Take heed what you hear; the measure you give will be the measure you get, and still more will be given you. For to him who has will more be given; and from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away." (Mark 4:24-25)

Theme: The measure you give will be the measure you get.

Beloved in Christ, today we join the Mother Church to celebrate two outstanding Pauline's companion: Ss. Timothy and Titus who zealously bore witness to the faith. The same faith we are being invited to live out according to Evangelist Mark in today's gospel pericope saying: 

"Take heed what you hear; the measure you give will be the measure you get, and still more will be given you. For to him who has will more be given; and from him who has not, even what he has will be taken away." (Mark 4:24-25).

The faith in question calls to mind our inter-personal relationship with one another. How do we relate with our fellow man/woman? Is our relationship with one another gears toward the love of God? Most often we claim to love God, but hate our neighbours. The Scripture has said it all, that we cannot claim to love God when we don't love one another. 

Today's table of the Word invites us to a life of treating others as we wish to be treated; for the measure we give to others, same measure will be given to us. 

Therefore, do unto others what you wish to be done unto you. Take heed, make good use of every opportunity at your beck and call. Absolutely, nothing is small, every greatness began with iota of dot, as in idea or concrete terms. 

Finally, dearest in the Lord let us build up a community where peace and tranquility reigns, each appreciating one another, and the talent received being used for common good. Peace be with you!

Let us pray

O God, who adorned Saints Timothy and Titus with apostolic virtues, grant, through the intercession of them both, that, living justly and devoutly in this present age, we may merit to reach our heavenly homeland. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

© The ARCHIVE                     26012023

DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

Wednesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time of the Year

Mystery of the day: Glorious 

Table of the Word: 

RI: Hebrews 7:1-3.15-17

Gospel: Mark 3:1-6

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

Theme: The healing authority of Christ.

Healing happens to be one of the outstanding missions of Christ our Lord. It goes hand-in-hand with the teaching. Healing here goes beyond restoring the infirm to wholeness, and extends to reconciliation to the Father having lost the relationship. That is to say, when we sin we become spiritually sick, and thus needs to be healed. And healing here will restore us back to the original state which we were created. 

In the light of this, that Evangelist Matthew gives account of the salivific mission of Jesus in the gospel acclamation when he says:

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

To buttress this point, Evangelist Mark recounted the healing of the man with withered hand against the wish of the Pharisees. (cf. Mark 3:1-6).

However, He needed to fulfill this mission so as to prove to them the essence of His mission which surpassed human laws. 

As an eternal priest, prophet and king, He exercised these trio-munera without fear or favour all to the glory of God; as His priesthood was the product of indestructible life. (cf. Hebrews 7:17).

Therefore, beloved in Christ, let our lives be modeled after the mind of eternal priest - Jesus, for He is ever ready to restore us to wholeness and reconcile us to the Father. 

Finally, on our own part we need to live out the gospel as sharers in the royal priesthood of Christ by forgiving one another, healing the wound of malice, re-building broken relationship and making peace at all cost. 

Peace be with you!

Let us pray

Eternal High Priest, we thank You for giving us Yourself for our sanctification. In our daily struggle grant us the grace to bear witness to the gospel wherever we find ourselves for the greater glory of Your name. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

© The ARCHIVE                     18012023

DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

Tuesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time of the Year

Mystery of the day: Sorrowful 

Table of the Word: 

RI: Hebrews 6:10-20

Gospel: Mark 2:23-28

"May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our hearts that we might know what is the hope to which he has called us." (Ephesians 1:17-18 )

Theme: The future Glory.

St. Paul in his letter to the Church of Rome made it crystally clear that the glory awaiting us cannot be compared to the present tribulations (cf. Romans 8:18)

In another place, being the gospel acclamation of today he prayed with the Church in Ephesus that the good Lord may enlighten our eyes so as to know what hope to which He has called us. (Ephesians 1:17-18 )

However, we are being tossed around with the trials of life, challenges and pains; amidst this scenario God is still at work for He says in all these we are more than conquerors through Him who has loved us. (cf. Romans8:37).

The beauty of our existence her in this ephemeral world is that, God is always at work, to nurture and amend when we get it wrong. 

On ourown pet, we're obliged to be focused on our pilgrimage bearing in mind that our destination is in Christ alone, else we will drift from.the right part the the future glory awaiting us will elude us. 

Finally, let our lives speak of Him whom we hope to see, through thoughts, words and actions. Peace be with you!

Let us pray

Eternal God, we are grateful to You for the wonders of Your creation which we are blessed with. We pray for a renewed spirit to see beyond the present situation and hope in You alone. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

© The ARCHIVE                     17012023

DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

Monday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time of the Year

Mystery of the day: Joyful 

Table of the Word: 

RI: Hebrews 5:1-10

Gospel: Mark 2:18-22

"And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; if he does, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost, and so are the skins; but new wine is for fresh skins." (Mark 2:22)

Theme: Be Renewed!

The call for renewal is one of the major teachings in the public ministry of Christ. His salvific mission was founded on the reconciliation of humanity with the divinity. In view of this, that Evangelist Mark in today's gospel pericope reported our Lord's exhortation: 

"And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; if he does, the wine will burst the skins, and the wine is lost, and so are the skins; but new wine is for fresh skins." (Mark 2:22)

This is an invite to renewal in spirit which the sacrament of baptism gave us the opportunity to bear witness to the truth which is God. With it our "old self" has undergone an ontological change into a "new self" which is in Christ Jesus. 

How then do we live out this life of renewal? This fundamental question becomes a point of departure for our reflection today. Let us then, ask the good Lord to grant us the grace to put on new self so that we may be renewed in Him. New Wine, new wine skin. Peace be with you!

Let us pray

Almighty and eternal God, we are grateful to You for your faithfulness, we pray may You restore us to a new self in You so that we may be comforted. We ask this through Cnrist our Lord. Amen.

© The ARCHIVE                     16012023

DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

Friday of the First Week in Ordinary Time of the Year

Mystery of the day: Sorrowful 

Table of the Word: 

RI: Hebrews 4:1-5.11

Gospel: Mark 2:1-12

"Brethren: While the promise of entering his rest remains, let us fear lest any of you be judged to have failed to reach it." (Hebrews 4:1)

Theme: Be focused.

The journey to eternal life entails being focused, maintaining the pace, and being conscious of the mark so as not to miss it.

In the course of our day-to-day living we are being called to the reality of temptation which is adorned with various "spices of life".

In the light of light of this, that the author of the letter to Hebrews says:

Brethren: While the promise of entering his rest remains, let us fear lest any of you be judged to have failed to reach it." (Hebrews 4:1)

The admonition serves as a vade mecum to attain the highest good which St. Thomas Aquinas in his moral philosophy rightly said:

"The last end of happiness can only consist in that which is perfectly good, which is God. Because God is perfect goodness, he is the only one capable of fulfilling our heart's deepest longing and facilitating the perfection at which we aim."

However, derailing or drifting from the right path leading to this state tantamount to crises in life. To buttress this point, prophet Jeremaiah has this to say:

“Let not the wise man boast of his wisdom or the strong man boast of his strength or the rich man boast of his riches, but let him who boasts boast about this: that he understands and knows me." (Jeremiah 9:23–24).

Indeed, our contenment comes only from God. It is in Him that we have comfort and solace. This believe is being showcased in the greater form with the healing of the paralytic in the gospel pericope of today. (cf. Mark 2:1-12). Here we saw a scenario of faith in God through His Son - Jesus Christ. The carriers who assisted the paralytic were focused, despite the obstacles they still pushed on. 

Finally, let us irrespective of odds and hurdles keep on pushing for the Lord is there to see us through. Peace be with you!

Let us pray

Eternal Word, thank You for the gift of life, provision and care. We pray for the grace to be focused in our journey back home, so that we may not loose sight of You on the last day. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

© The ARCHIVE                     13012023

DIVINE WHISPWR with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

Thursday of the First Week in Ordinary Time of the Year

Mystery of the day: Luminous 

Table of the Word: 

RI: Hebrews 3:7-14

Gospel:  Mark 1:40-45

"But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we share in Christ, if only we hold our first confidence firm to the end." (Hebrews 3:13-14)

Theme: That we may be one.

The call to oneness is at the centre of Jesus' salfivic mission. He often calls for oneness among His followers in many occasions. The same invitation is what the author of the letter to Hebrews reechoes in today's first reading: 

"But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called "today," that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin. For we share in Christ, if only we hold our first confidence firm to the end." (Hebrews 3:13-14)

We are brothers and sisters keepers with the obligation to dwell in unity. However, going by the denotative usage of the word "community" which is a compound word "common" and "unity". This implies that, as product of God's image (cf. Genesis 1:26) we have the onligation to love and show compassion to one another as people of the same stock irrespective of colour, race and sex.

In the gospel pericope, we have seen how our Lord Jesus was moved with pity to the leper who requested for a healing (cf. Mark 1:40-45). This singular act invites us to a life of reaching out in pity to one another; in doing this we will live together as one in Christ. 

Finally, as Christ invites us to oneness, may these words be manifested in our lives. Peace be with you!

Let us pray

Almighty and eternal God, Yours is the earth and its fullness. We are grateful to you for the wonders of our being. Grant we pray the grace to be conscious of the plight of one another, for in doing this we draw ourselves in closeness to You. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

© The ARCHIVE                     12012023

DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

Wednesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time of the Year

Mystery of the day: Glorious

Table of the Word: 

RI: Hebrews 2:14-18

Gospel: Mark 1:29-39

"The Lord remembers his covenant for ever." (Psalm 105: 8a)

Theme: He is the promise keeper.

God's faithfulness is beyond human comprehension. He has never appoint to disappoint and His Words is always sure notwithstanding the circumstance. As a promise keeper, none of His words has been in vain as He is always true to it. 

Taking a look at the response to today's psalm, the Psalmist proclaimed:

The Lord remembers his covenant for ever." (Psalm 105: 8a).

This covenant made long time ago is still efficacious till date, for arewe still sons and daughters of Abraham. As covenant children, Christ paid it all for our sake. This is manifested in the first reading of today as the author of the letter to Hebrews says:

"For because he himself has suffered and been tempted, he is able to help those who are tempted." (Hebrews 2:18)

May Christ the Lord help us to live out our faith in God who is always there for us no matter the circumstance. Peace, be with you!

Let us pray

Merciful Lord, we are Your children. We have come this morning to thank You for the gift of life and the new day. Accept we pray the homage of our lips and grant us the grace to persevere in our trails with faith and hope in You. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

© The ARCHIVE                     11012023

DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

Tuesday of the First Week in Ordinary Timeof the Year

Mystery of the day: Sorrowful

Table of the Word:  

R11 Samuel 1:9-20

Gospel Mark 1:21-28

"Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have made to him." (I Samuel 1:17)

Theme: Our hope in God will not be in vain.

"Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have made to him." (I Samuel 1:17)

These were words of Eli to Hannah at Shiloh having seen her wailing in affliction over her barrenes. Hannah supplication to the Lord was answered irrespective of her weakness. 

The first reading of today gave a detailed account of her tribulations and comfort the Lord offered her through Eli. 

"Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have made to him." (I Samuel 1:17)

In our day-to-day living, where do we place our God especially when the going is good? Are we only running to Him in difficult moments? The scenario in the first reading of today, gives us an insight of a true believer whose hope is in God. 

In the light of this, we are being called to hope and trust in God, for outside Him we cannot get it right. We need to order our lives according to the Word of God which cannot deceive us but brings about comfort in distress, dispels darkness and grant healing to the sick as we see in today's gospel pericope ( cf. Mark 1:21-28). 

That is why St. Paul in the gospel antiphon says:

"Accept the word of God, not as the word of men, but as what it really is, the word of God." (cf. 1 Thessalonians 2:13)

Finally, beloved in Christ, let our faith be built only in God as that of Hannah, then we will not be in need. Peace be with you!

Let us pray

Merciful Lord, we thank You for the many blessings we receive from you. We acknowledge Your ever abiding presence among us, grant we pray the grace to believe in Your word so that our hope may be founded only in You. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. 

© The ARCHIVE          10012023