DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

DIVINE WHISPER

 with 

Fr. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

WEDNESDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK OF LENT

"If you repent of your sin,  I will forgive you." (cf. Jonah 3:10)

God is merciful and loving. It is out of His love that He sent prophet Jonah to the land of Nineveh to preach for repentance. And Ninevites heard and repented. However, "When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God repented of the evil which he had said he would do to them; and he did not do it." (Jonah 3:10). This word is being addressed to us on this day as we continue our Lenten observance. We need a U-Turn in our way of life, there should be some elements of detacment. If we do this, He will not inflict the pain on us, closed doors will  be opened, barren womb will conceive, desert will have water flowing out of it, our lands shall be fertile and yield in hundreds and thousands. 

Dearest friends in Christ, what then are we waiting for? Let us join the psalmist today in prayer: "Create a pure heart for me, O God, renew a steadfast spirit within me" (Psalm 51:10). Peace be with you!

Fada PIUSRALPH prays for you!

Let us pray

Look kindly, Lord, we pray, on the devotion of your people, that those, who by self-denial are restrained in body, may by the fruit of good works be renewed in mind. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

DIVINE WHISPER

 with 

Fr. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

WEDNESDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK OF LENT

"If you repent of your sin,  I will forgive you." (cf. Jonah 3:10)

God is merciful and loving. It is out of His love that He sent prophet Jonah to the land of Nineveh to preach for repentance. And Ninevites heard and repented. However, "When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God repented of the evil which he had said he would do to them; and he did not do it." (Jonah 3:10). This word is being addressed to us on this day as we continue our Lenten observance. We need a U-Turn in our way of life, there should be some elements of detacment. If we do this, He will not inflict the pain on us, closed doors will  be opened, barren womb will conceive, desert will have water flowing out of it, our lands shall be fertile and yield in hundreds and thousands. 

Dearest friends in Christ, what then are we waiting for? Let us join the psalmist today in prayer: "Create a pure heart for me, O God, renew a steadfast spirit within me" (Psalm 51:10). Peace be with you!

Fada PIUSRALPH prays for you!

Let us pray

Look kindly, Lord, we pray, on the devotion of your people, that those, who by self-denial are restrained in body, may by the fruit of good works be renewed in mind. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

DIVINE WHISPER 

with 

FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

TUESDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK OF LENT

The Power in His "Word" (cf. Isaiah 55:10-11)

From the table of the word today, prophet Isaiah reminded us of the power in God's word saying:

Thus says the LORD: "As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I intend, and prosper in the thing for which I sent it. (Isaiah 55:10-11)

Dearest in the Lord, God's word remains alive and active. In moment of challenge and cares of life, let us not forget His promise towards us all as His children. Evangelist Matthew following today's gospel pericope gave us modus of prayer as the Lord taught His discples. ( cf. Matthew 6:7-15) Using the Lord's word to pray makes our prayers more active than ever.

As we continue to journey with the Church for these forty days of intense prayer, self-denial (fasting) and active charity. Let us keep in mind that "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4). Peace be with you!  Fada PIUSRALPH prays for you!

Let us pray

Look upon your family, Lord, that, through the chastening effects of bodily discipline, our minds may be radiant in your presence with the strength of our yearning for you. Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

DIVINE WHISPER 

with 

Fr. PiusRalph Effiong, SMMM

 MONDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK OF LENT

Be HOLY for I am HOLY

"... you shall be holy; for I the Lord your God am holy." (Leviticus 19:1-2).

God's love upon humanity has been beyond measure right from time immemorial. His desire to bring man closer to Himself was one His pririoties and remains same till date (cf. Genesis 1:26). Today, He instructed Moses what to tell us, so that we can be like Him, a recap of the great decalogue which the book of Exodus 20:1ff. has the full detail. These caveats (cf. Leviticus 19: 11ff.) given by God point toward our relationship with our neighbours. For if we don't love our neighbour whom we have seen, we can't claim in anyway love for God whom we have not seen. For it is in loving one another that we can claim that we love God.

Beloved in Christ, we have all given ample opportunity this solemn season by the Church to reflect daily on the Word, and put this word into action by being faithful to our Lenten observances. Let our works speak for us and not the word that comes from our mouth. Match every bit of it with action, else our righteousness is that of scribes and Pharisees.

Peace of Christ be with you! Fada PIUSRALPH prays for you!

LET US PRAY

Enlighten the minds of Your people, Lord God, we pray, with Your glory, that they may see what must be done and have the strength to do what is right. Through Christ our Lord, Amen

DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

DIVINE WHISPER 

with 

Fr. PiusRalph Effiong, SMMM

 SATURDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY

And the Lord will guide you...

Thus says the LORD: "If you take away from the midst of you the yoke, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness and your gloom be as the noonday. And the LORD will guide you continually, and satisfy your desire with good things, and make your bones strong; and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring of water, whose waters do not fail. (Is.58: 9ff.)

Today's prophecy by Isaiah goes with a caveat, which must be fulfilled. A call to upright life, sincerity and a true witness of the gospel not minding whose "ox" gored or "feather" hemmed. As the Catholic Bishops Conference of Nigeria in her letter which had "Prayer and penance for peace and security in our country"  as the theme and read during the year's Service of Ash Wednesday in all Nigerian Churches obliged us to be true Christians even in our most difficult moment. This will therefore give us true identity of members of the Christ's body - the Church. The show of faith must not always be in comfort zone, we must detach from something to attach with God. We must also deny ourselves some kind of comfort and pleasure for others, if truly we want our desires to be satisfied by God.  Peace be with you!

Fada PiusRalph prays for you.

Let us pray

God of Mercy and compassion, teach us Your way so that we may walk in your path. May our daily Lenten observance (s) be carried out in sincerity of heart, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

                 DIVINE WHISPER 

  

                           with 

Fr. PiusRalph Effiong, SMMM

 FRIDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY

Seek GOOD and not EVIL 

"Seek good and not evil, that you may live; and the Lord will be with you." (Amos 5:14).

Today, the first Friday after Ash Wednesday, prophet Amos in the Gospel acclamation admonished us with these words: 
"Seek good and not evil, that you may live; and the Lord will be with you." (Amos 5:14). This of course is an invitation to holiness. In our daily struggle, communication, relationship, etc. What and what are our interest? Why do we seek the fall of others? Why thinking that the love of God shoud be restricted only to ourselves? Why always "I" before others? These pertinent questions demand personal answer in our reflection today. The questions posed before us are all gearing toward the evil that prophet Amos warned against today. 
Dearest in the Lord, let us seek after all that is good so that our Lenten walk with the Lord may be fruitful,  and God may be all in all among us. Peace of Christ be with you!
Fada PIUSRALPH prays for you!


LET US PRAY
Eternal God, Yours is the earth and its fullness, grant we pray the grace to see good in every event of life. May our daily Lenten struggle be pleasing to you through Christ our Lord, Amen

DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

DIVINE WHISPER 

with 

Fr. PiusRalph Effiong, SMMM

THURSDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY

Nothing but OBEDIENCE 

"Today, I have set before you life and prosperity, death and doom. If you obey the commandments of the Lord... you will live." (Deut.30:15-16)

Dearest in Christ, life is the first gift God gave to humanity and with responsibilty. Amidst this we all have choice or option to embrace it or let it go. Obviously, it is our greatest desire to live all through on earth without sickness, death or any form of challenge, even without being old. But the fact is, life is transitory and larger than logic. As we have started the 40 days walk with the Lord through prayer, fasting and almsgiving let us be concious of the fact that we are nothing but beautiful flower at dawn and a withered chaff at dusk. Keep His commandments so that He will keep you alive.

LET US PRAY

Merciful God, hearken to our cries and grant us the grace to Obey You without reservation. Through Christ our Lord. Amen