DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

          TWENTY-FIFTH DAY WITH MARY

Mystery of the day (Thursday): Luminous 

Theme: That they may be one.

"May they all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, so that the world may believe that you have sent me, says the Lord." (John 17:21)

The Church has been at the forefront of calling for unity among Christians. In her prayers and teachings she keeps on calling us to unity among ourselves as today's gospel pericope reminded us saying: 

"May they all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, so that the world may believe that you have sent me, says the Lord." (John 17:21)

The emphasis on call to unity in the missionary life of the Church is so significant as a result of the salvific mission of our Lord. 

Beloved in Christ, how do we live out out this call as Christians? In our day-to-day living, does our lives portray who we are are? Do we castigate others because they are not of the same stalk with us? Why should race and cultural milieu set the pace for unity when our Lord must have called us to unite with one another?.

At creation, we were all created as one and our locality later came in as "accident of life." Let our achievements humble us, let it spur us to assist one another devoid of race, sex and culture. For it is in doing this that we can reciprocate our love for Christ as Christians.

MARY, Mother of Mercy - Pray for us

Peace, be with you!

Let us pray

May your Spirit, O Lord, we pray, imbue us powerfully with spiritual gifts, that he may give us a mind pleasing to you, and graciously conform us to your will. 

Wss2Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.

© The ARCHIVE                 25052023

DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

          SEVENTEENTH DAY WITH MARY

Mystery of the day (Wednesday): Glorious

Theme: The Spirit will guide you into all the Truth. 

"I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth..." (John 16:12-13)

The journey of every Christian is characterized by a share in the passion experience of our Lord. Amidst this, the Spirit who is the comforter and counsellor leads. It is in the light of this that our Lord and Saviour following the gospel pericope of Evangelist John avers:

"I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth..." (John 16:12-13)

As part of the farewell speech before His Ascension, He made this solemn promise of sending the Spirit upon the disciples so that the hidden treasures of the Kingdom shall be revealed. 

In our spiritual journey we are sometimes beclouded with untold situations and spiritual desert experience because we are not being guided by the Spirit. 

Consequent upon this, we need the Holy Spirit to moderate us, guide and lead us to the eternal Truth in God. Humanly, we cannot go beyond our space except the Spirit directs. 

Finally, we need the Spirit to lead us, else we will certainly get it wrong.

MARY, Mother of Mercy - Pray for us

Peace, be with you!

Let us pray

Grant, we pray, O Lord, that, as we celebrate in mystery the solemnities of your Son’s Resurrection, so, too, we may be worthy to rejoice at his coming with all the Saints. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.

© The ARCHIVE                 17052023

DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

          SIXTEENTH DAY WITH MARY

Mystery of the day (Tuesday): Sorrowful 

            Theme: I will send the Spirit... 

"I will send the Spirit of truth to you, says the Lord; he will guide you into all the truth."(See John 16:7.13)

One of the fascinating facts about Truth within the context of Christianity is its "absoluteness". Its objectivity lies in the absolute truth which is God Himself. That is why in the New Testament, Christ identified Himself as "The Way, The Truth, and The Life." (John 14:6).  

This implies that, He is the Way in which we must pass through to eternity, not only leading us as the good Shepherd but He is the Way itself. As the "Absolute Truth" it is irrefutable and devoid of doubt, while the attribute of being Life implies the event of giving the end of this earthly life a meaning, that is life beyond grave. 

From the table of the Word today, gospel acclamation brings to mind the gratuitous gift of God through His Son to humanity after His ascension, the gift of "Spirit of Truth" as Christ Himself said: "I will send the Spirit of truth to you, says the Lord; he will guide you into all the truth."(See John 16:7.13).  

However, to understand what the Truth is all about, there is need to decipher the basic tenets of Truth which are: its standard, unchanged and its absoluteness. 

As part of His farewell speech He admonished His disciples and equally promised to send to them the "Spirit of Truth." With this great gift, bars of gate will be broken as we have seen in the first reading of today when Paul and Silas were imprisoned. (cf. Acts 16:22-34)

 Beloved in Christ, it is only Truth which is God Himself that will set us free. As the disciples of the old were set free; we will also certainly set free if we hold tenaciously to the real Truth devoid of sentiment and compromise. May our Lady, Mother of undiluted Truth interceed on our behalf as we keep on recourse to her.

MARY, Mother of Mercy - Pray for us

Peace, be with you!

Let us pray

Grant, almighty and merciful God, that we may in truth receive a share in the Resurrection of Christ your Son. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.

© The ARCHIVE                 16052023

DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

           THIRTEENTH DAY WITH MARY

Mystery of the day (Saturday): Joyful 

                Theme: Be firm in the faith.

"If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you." (John 15:18)

The call to Christ's discipleship demands conviction that amidst tribulation there is victory; victory in the sense that Christ Himself has conquered every obstacle and thus given us the grace as His followers to march on without fear. As Prophet Isaiah spoke of God's ever readiness to go with us always: 

"Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." (Isaiah 41:10).

Indeed, our sufficiency comes from God alone, for we cannot do without Him. (cf. 2 Corinthians 3:5).

In the light of this, that Christ our Lord and Master reminded us of persecution we may encounter as His followers and assurance that, He will be there for us. He openly admitted His persecution on accout of His righteousness but still, God was with Him, as Evangelist John recorded saying: 

"If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you." (John 15:18)

Therefore, beloved in Christ let us be firm in faith and put our trust solely in Him as He is the author and finisher of our souls. He has never fail and so will not fail us in our tribulations. Hold firm to His detects and ordinances then you will know that He is God and over every situation. 

MARY, Mother of Mercy - Pray for us

Peace, be with you!

Let us pray

Almighty eternal God, who through the regenerating power of Baptism have been pleased to confer on us heavenly life, grant, we pray, that those you render capable of immortality by justifying them, may by your guidance attain the fullness of glory. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

© The ARCHIVE                 13052023

DIVINE WHIPSER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

           ELEVENTH DAY WITH MARY

Mystery of the day (Thursday): Glorious 

                Theme: Abide in my Love.

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love." (John 15:9)

Unconditional Love defines God, for He is Love. There is no virtue that can describe God other than this.; for every other virtues is immersed in the virtue of love. 

In the language of the world, the term love is used most often conditionally either to get a favour or to lure one's attention. Then after gaining the desired interest, the said love that was used is being thrown into thrash can. But here, God Himself through His Son has given us today an old letter with new meaning about love when He said: As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love." (John 15:9)

In the opening part of the today's gospel pericope, Evangelist John gave an account of our Lord defining Himsself as: "Love."  Here Our Lord Jesus Christ who is one with the Father is love; for God our Father is Love (cf. I John 4:8).

Beloved in Christ, what is our definition of love? Is it a conditional  or unconditional virtue ? Let us look through the Word of our Lord today who defines Himself as "Love" and at the same time invites us to abide in Him. Abiding in Him requires a conscientious effort in living out the Word of the gospel with one another. We cannont actually say, we abide in Christ's love and then we hate one another, keeping malice, bearing false witness, coverting neighbour's properties, lying etc. 

As we match on in our spiritual journey let language of love be manifested in our lives as true followers of Christ. Let the word "love" goes beyond our lips, but be manifested in our lives. Keeping in mind that it was out of love that the Father set His Son as a ransom for our sinfulness.

MARY, Mother of Mercy - Pray for us

Peace, be with you!

Let us pray

O God, by whose grace, though sinners, we are made just and, though pitiable, made blessed, stand, we pray, by your works, stand by your gifts, that those justified by faith may not lack the courage of perseverance. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

© The ARCHIVE                 11052023

DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

           NINTH DAY WITH MARY

                Mystery of the day: Sorrowful 

                Theme: Peace be with you!

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." (John 14:27-31)

Peace remains the greatest asset we cannot buy from the market. It is earn through letting go hurt. Its absence debars stillness of soul, and enhances restlessness. 

It is on this note that our Lord in the course of His valedictory speech today said: 

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." (John 14:27-28)

This precious gift of peace eschews every gift, this puts the disciples on the road map of hope, thus giving them the spirit to urge on. The same unction St. Paul and his co-workers had in today's first reading as they smashed every obstacle to propagate the Goodnews from Lystra to Iconium, Antioch, and Pisidia to Pamphylia.(cf. Acts 14:19-28).

 Beloved in Christ, God is always with us at every point in time. His love has no end and He is ever ready to listen to us when we call. In our moment of trial where we are restless and dumbfounded God whispers to our wailing souls: "Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." (John 14:28).

Finally, let us walk away from the dungeon of fear and embrace the wonderful light of Peace in Christ, as we keep on trusting the maternal intercession of Mary - Our Mother of Peace.  

MARY, Mother of Mercy - Pray for us

Peace, be with you!

Let us pray

O! God, who restore us to eternal life in the Resurrection of Christ, grant your people constancy in faith and hope, that we may never doubt the promises of which we have learned from you. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

© The ARCHIVE                 09052023

DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

           EIGHT DAY WITH MARY

                Mystery of the day: Joyful 

                Theme: Not to us, O! Lord...

"Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory." (Psalm 115:1)

The beauty of life lies in humility, bearing in mind that there is nothing we have, or status we occupy that was not given to us by God. As such there is need to give God all the glory for who we are, what we have and where we are. This was visibly manifested in today's first reading, where Paul and Barnabas having performed miracle at Lystra, the Lycaonians named them as: Zeus and Hermes respectively (cf. Acts 14:5-18)

Amidst this recognition, they turned down the fame for the glory of God.Thus, becoming a moral lesson for us. We need to bend down and learn from the fig. 

Beloved in Christ, when we ask from God a favour what actually preoccupied our minds? Is it for our glory or that of God?  

It is in the light of this that the Psalmist today leads us into the spîrit of humility and self-emptiness:

Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory." (Psalm 115:1). 

A similar proclamation made by our Mother Mary when Angel Gabriel visited her: "Behold I am the Handamaid of the Lord, let it be done to me according to Your will." (cf. Luke 1:26-38).

It is all about humility and docility, it is about allowing God'swill to be done and not ours; for His is for good. That is why we are obliged to key into this spirit. Let pride not finds a place in our hearts but humility be rooted in our minds for the greater glory of God. 

Finally, let us be humble for God to exalt us.

MARY, Mother of Mercy - Pray for us

Peace, be with you!

Let us pray

May your right hand, O Lord, we pray, encompass your family with perpetual help, so that, defended from all wickedness by the Resurrection of your Only Begotten Son, we may make our way by means of your heavenly gifts. Through our Lord...We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

© The ARCHIVE                 08052023

DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

                SIXTH DAY WITH MARY

                Mystery of the day: Joyful 

                Theme: Just ask in my Name.

"Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son; if you ask anything in my name, I will do it." (John 14:14)

St. Paul in his epistle to the Roman Church avers: "everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved." (Romans 10:13) On the other way round while addressing the Philipians, he pointed out the potency of Jesus Christ's name above every other name.(cf. Philippians 2:9-11 ). 

This therefore happen to be rooted in our Lord's teaching in today's gospel pericope when Philip encountered Him. Here he made it crystally clear that:

"Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it, that the Father may be glorified in the Son; if you ask anything in my name, I will do it." (John 14:14)

Consequently, we have been given the opportunity to ask whatsoever is our need, and then wait upon the Lord who is a great provider. For not all that we ask will be given to us but all our needs will be met.

It is obvious that God answers our prayers in three ways: Yes, No and Wait. Juxtaposing these side by side; we come to the realization that He knows all our cares and worries " the Omniscience."

Beloved in Christ, are you in need? What troubles you? Is care and worries oppress you? Then turn to Him in prayer, better still seek for the intercession of her Mother, then you will hear a word like this: "Do whatever He tells you." (John 2:5).

Finally, there is nothing we will ask in His name that we won't receive provided it is for the good of our souls. 

MARY, Mother of Mercy - Pray for us

Peace, be with you!

Let us pray

O God, who in the celebration of Easter graciously give to the world the healing of heavenly remedies; show benevolence to your Church, that our present observance may benefit us for eternal life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

© The ARCHIVE                 06052023

DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

                FIFTH DAY WITH MARY

                Mystery of the day: Sorrowful 

                Theme: Do not be troubled.

"Jesus said to his disciples, "Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me." (John 14:1)

Indeed, our sufficiency comes from the Lord. In moment of darkest night the love of God dispels every darkness engulfing us, in sickness he restores, in doubt, faith is being bestowed, when despair sets in God gives hope and comfort amidst anxiety. 

However, from the Table of the Word today, Evangelist John presented before us the consoling Words of our Lord to bring succor to our weary minds:

"Jesus said to his disciples, "Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me." (John 14:1)

These beautiful Words of our Lord serves as a healing balm to our troubled minds. As the dawn breaks, let the confusion or trouble of our minds not put us away from the love of God. Let the many challenges of this day not infused in us fear and doubt for the Lord Himself has spoken and His Words is sure.

Beloved in Christ, go about your normal duty with trust in Him. "Fear not for I am with you always" are His words. No matter how darkest our night may be, dawn will certainly break with light, for He is our light and salvation. Our path may be twisted let our heart not be troubled for He is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

MARY, Mother of Mercy - Pray for us

Peace, be with you!

Let us pray

O God, author of our freedom and of our salvation, listen to the voice of our pleading, and grant that those you have redeemed by the shedding of your Son’s Blood, may have life through you and, under your protection, rejoice for ever unharmed. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

© The ARCHIVE                 05052023

DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

                FOURTH DAY WITH MARY

                Mystery of the day: Luminous 

                Theme: Be humble!

"[When Jesus had washed the feet of his disciples, he said to them,] “Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them." (John 13:16-20)

It is obvious that, something must certainly humble a man. The virtue of humility was central in our Lady's life, that is why St. Louis Maria De Monfort in his ten principal virtues on our lady described her with the title:  "Profound Humility." 

In the light of this, today's gospel pericope reminded us the cost value of being humble as children of God since our sufficiency comes from God. St. Paul once instructed us to boast only in Christ, and not on vain glory and fame. 

Our Lord in His teaching expounded his humility as God-sent to redeem humanity. His emptiness to become human like us except in sin borne out of love, for God our Father sent Him to reconcile the humanity with Divinity. As we journey with our Lady this period, let us not loose sight of our emptiness without God. Let us tailored our lives after the Word of the Gospel in humility. 

Finally, having done this the blessing of our Lord this morning will sustain us now and always. 

MARY, Mother of Mercy - Pray for us

Peace, be with you!

Let us pray

O God, who restore human nature to yet greater dignity than at its beginnings, look upon the amazing mystery of your loving kindness, and in those you have chosen to make new through the wonder of rebirth, may you preserve the gifts of your enduring grace and blessing. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

© The ARCHIVE                 04052023

DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

                THIRD DAY WITH MARY

                Mystery of the day: Glorious

                Theme: I am.the Light of the world.

"I have come as a light into the world, that  whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world." (John 12:46-50 )

Our sinfulness out of disobedience led us into dungeon of darkness, but obedience to God through His Son dispels the darkness of sin and lead us into the wonderful light of life. 

This unfathomable love of God springs out from the acceptance of our Mother Mary who accepted to be the harbinger of the New Covenant - Jesus Christ.

As the new Eve who contrasted the former brings hope to humanity. 

Today, as we have heard from the gospel pericope, Christ Himself said:

"I have come as a light into the world, that  whoever believes in Me should not abide in darkness. And if anyone hears My words and does not believe, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world." (John 12:46-50 )

Here He spells out His mission in clear terms which are: salvific and redeemic. In our daily struggle, let us not be wearied in calling on our Lady to interceed on our behalf as she knows how to get the heart of the Son with few words as in Cannan.

"Do whatever He tells You." (John 2:5).

As we devoutly honour Her this month with devotion, let our care and worries be presented before her with faith that as she did before, she will also on our behalf whispers to the Son to listen to us. 

Finally, let us get rid of every distraction this month that may obstruct our sense of hearing when Christ ask us to present the "jar of our daily struggle" or call us out of dungeon of darkness. 

MARY, Mother of Mercy - Pray for us

Peace, be with you!

Let us pray

O God, life of the faithful, glory of the humble, blessedness of the just, listen kindly to the prayers of those who call on you, that they who thirst for what you generously promise, may always have their fill of your plenty through the intercession of your beloved Mother this season of unlimited Grace. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

© The ARCHIVE                 03052023