DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

Tuesday of the 19th Week in Ordinary Time of the Year (C)

Mystery of the day: Sorrowful 

Table of the Word: Ezekiel 2:8-3:4; Matthew 18:1-5.10.12-14

Theme: You must be child-like.

"Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:1ff.)

Most often, Christ employs the image of children in the course of His teaching to bring home the message. Not that there are no images to be used, but He did that for a purpose. What then is the purpose of this illustration using child-like character?

In a child we find: innoncency, docility, dependency, curiosity and authnticity of behaviour; and no absolute pretence. 

These and many are the background where our Lord based His teaching on.

In our reflection today, Evangelist Matthew gave an account of the invitation of Christ to His disciples to turn and become like children, even though they have passed the stage.

"Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:1ff.)

However, this teaching arouses in many minds thought provoking questions on: How can we become like children having left the infant stage?. As a matter of fact, the invitation is a call to docility, humility, dependency and authenticity of behaviour.

If we are to be child-like, we ought to be humble like little children and docile to the detects and ordinances of the Lord.

To buttress this point, the Psalmist in the course of today's liturgy of the Word has this to say:

"I rejoice in the way of your precepts, as though all riches were mine." (Psalm 119:14.)

How many of us rejoice over the precepts of the Lord as children could do? For a child who is being advised creates no room for argument. Rather, he listen to the instruction and carry it to the latter. In reverse, an adult will ask: Why?, When? and How?.

Finally, let us pray for child-like attitude so that we can understand the sacred mysteries of God and be prudent in our actions. Peace! Be with you.

Let us pray

Father of mercy, we give You thanks for the many blessings You shower upon us. Grant we pray the docility and humility of children so that we may gain wisdom. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

© The ARCHIVE                09082022

DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

Monday of the 19th Week in Ordinary Time of the Year (C)

Mystery of the day: Joyful 

Celebration:  Memorial of St. Dominic (Priest)

St. Dominic was born in 1170 in Spain. His father was Felix Guzman and mother Blessed Joan of Aza. He was named after the saint Dominic of Silos. He joined in the congregation of St. Augustine and did social work. He founded a congregation of “the Order of Preachers” popularly called the Dominicans (Friar Preachers). He abstained from meat and was wearing only meanest clothes. He also lived in very inconvenient and worst accommodations. He walked with barefoot in the villages. It is also believed that the Holy Mary appeared to St. Dominic and asked him to preach the Rosary throughout the world and also told him that reciting rosary is the best way to get the grace of God. Hence Rosary of Mary is the foundation of the Dominican Order. He died on August 6, 1221. 

He is the patron saint of Astronomers.

Table of the Word: Ezekiel 1:2-5.24-28; Matthew 17:22-27.

Theme: Call to civic responsibility.

"... that and give it to them for me and for yourself." (Matthew 17:27)

In the course of Christ's public ministry, He did not only teach or heal but also lived out His teachings. One of such acts was the payment of tax for Himself and His disciples. Evangelist Matthew in the course of today's reading presents in a clear term the incident which led to our Lord's response to His civic duty not minding who He was. 

"... that and give it to them for me and for yourself." (Matthew 17:27)

This singular act is an open invitation to all who bear the mark of Christ (Christians) to be responsible citizens and respond positively to the call for civic duty prescribed by the society irrespective of his/her status.

To be civic means act of belonging to a certain domain or being citizen of such a place. While responsibility on the other hand has to do with the sate or quality of being responsible. 

In other words, it is an act of having the ability and willingness to put into use our resources for the betterment of the society.

However,  as Christians we are obliged to be responsible to civic responsibility, as Pope Francis in his Encyclical - Laudato Si challenges us to be responsible to reconsider our relationship with our environment. (cf. Laudato Si No. 3). This relationship gears toward our concern with respect to the society in which we live in; ranging from the care of our common home, it's surroundings, animals, trees, etc. 

Therefore, how do we then take care of this God's given gift to us? We ought to respond to the proper care of this gratuitous gift of God through payment of tax, cleaning the environment, protecting forest, animals, sea life etc. In doing this, we are reciprocating the divine gesture with gratitude. 

As we celebrate the memorial of St. Dominic today, may he interferceed on our behalf for grace to respond to our civic responsibilities. Peace! Be with you.

Let us pray

May Saint Dominic come to the help of your Church by his merits and teaching, O Lord, and may he, who was an outstanding preacher of your truth, be a devoted intercessor on our behalf. 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                08082022

DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

Saturday of the 18th Week in Ordinary Time of the Year (C)

Mystery of the day: Joyful 

Table of the Word: Daniel 7:9-10.13-14; 2 Peter 1:16-19; Luke 9:28-36.

Celebration:  Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord.

This feast became widespread in the West in the 11th century and was introduced into the Roman calendar in 1457 to commemorate the victory over Islam in Belgrade. Before that, the Transfiguration of the Lord was celebrated in the Syrian, Byzantine, and Coptic rites. The Transfiguration foretells the glory of the Lord as God, and His ascension into heaven. It is an anticipation of the glory in heaven, where we shall see God face to face. We already share in this life, through grace, in the divine promise of eternal life.

Theme: It is good for us to be here.

"This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." (Luke 9:35)

Beloved in Christ, today we join the universal Church in celebrating the solemn feast of the Lord's transfiguration which took place at Mount Tabor. The scenario defined the glory bestowed upon our Lord by His Father; giving credence to the two major arms of the Jewish tradition: the law and the prophets which Moses represented the former and Elijah the latter. 

This glory manifested in today's celebration was already foretold by Prophet Daniel in a vision where the Ancient of days (God) was seen given the Measiah and Saviour to come dominion and glory and kingdom, with a command that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him; since His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away (cf. Daniel 7:9-10.13-14).

It is on account of this scenario that, Evangelist Luke in today's gospel pericope recorded in detail the Transfiguration event and the endorsement of the "messianic service" of our Lord with the words: 

This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him." (Luke 9:35). 

The announcement came simultaneously as the Apostles - Peter, James and John we're lost in divine ecstasy; an experience described by Anastasius of Sinai in his sermon on the feast of the Transfiguration as: "blessed and more sublime" moment to be with God. For when we are with God we are being transfigured into His image and likeness which we were originally created (cf. Genesis 1:26).

This feast of our Lord, invites us to a wonderful experience of our God. As the shining light, the darkness of our path will be dispelled, those who were caught up with fear like the Apostles will be strengthened as God did, by defining who Christ was to them. This was said for the Apostles to be focused and look beyond what they saw.

Finally, beloved in Christ as He has been transformed, may we hold firm to this experience in our lives so that we may come to the reality of the transfigured redeemer, become His coheirs with sure hope beyond human telling.

Peace! Be with you.

Let us pray

O God, who in the glorious Transfiguration of your Only Begotten Son confirmed the mysteries of faith by the witness of the Fathers and wonderfully prefigured our full adoption to sonship, grant, we pray, to your servants, that, listening to the voice of your beloved Son, we may merit to become coheirs with him. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

© The ARCHIVE                06082022

DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

Friday of the 18th Week in Ordinary Time of the Year (C)

Mystery of the day: Sorrowful 

Celebration: 

The Dedication of the Basilica of St Mary Major

After the declaration of the dogma of the divine Maternity of the Blessed Virgin in the Council of Ephesus (year 431), Pope Sixtus III dedicated this Basilica in Rome in honor of the Mother of God. It was called "St Mary Major" later on. It is considered the oldest church in the West dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Table of the Word:    Nahum 1:15;2:2; 3:1-3.6-7; Matthew 16:24-28

Theme: Call to self-denial

"If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." (Matthew 16:24).

The story of a man who seeks comfort without getting set to let go malice, hatred and envy is best summarized by the central-hub of today's gospel pericope. He will be restless in the day, and his will deny him sleep. 

Thus, Evangelist Matthew reported the admonition of our Lord:

If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me." (Matthew 16:24).

This clarion call by Jesus invites us to a life of self-denial, which we ought to let go our comfort zones and move on devoid of hatred, envy and malice.

Christianity as a matter of fact is not and will not be a "crossless religion" but a religion defined by day-to-day struggle with challenges of life, relying solely on the Grace of God.

Therefore, beloved in Christ, let us hold fort no matter the situation, there and then that we will be worthy to follow Christ - our Lord and Master. Peace! Be with you.

Let us pray

Merciful Lord, we thank You for the love and care we have received from You. Grant that we pray the grace to carry our daily crosses with patience. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

© The ARCHIVE                0082022

DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

Thursday of the 18th Week in Ordinary Time of the Year (C)

Mystery of the day: Luminous 

Celebration: Memorial of St. John Mary Vianney (Cure of Ars) and My Fourth Priestly Ordination Anniversary.

Texts: Jeremiah 31:31-34; Matthew 16:13-23

Theme: The Identity of Jesus.

"...Who do men say that the Son of man is?" ( Matthew 16:13)

Beloved in Christ, the question of Christ's identity before us is the problem of our various definitions of His relationship with us. While some see Him as a healer, teacher, many described him as a saviour, while others are still finding it difficult to define Him.

Today, from the table of the Word, Christ Himself addressed this question to each and everyone of us.

"...Who do men say that the Son of man is?" ( Matthew 16:13).

This fundamental question leaves us with self-examination of our relationship with Christ. How we see Him, our experiences with Him, etc.

As Christians, our thoughts, words and actions are supposed to define the authentic personality of Jesus Christ - our Lord and Master. Our inability to do that, raised yet another question: Who are we? If we are truly Christians, why do we dwell in delusion of His identity.

Finally, let our relationship with our fellow man define the personality of who Christ really is; as we continue to seek for the intercession of St. John Mary Vianney - the Curé of Ars and patron of the parish priests.

Peace! Be with you.

Let us pray

Merciful Lord, I thank You for the gift of Your Church and the priesthood. As I mark the memorial of my priestly ordination anniversary today, may the oil of anointing in me never dry up, and may my daily offering on behalf of Your children be accepted. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

© The ARCHIVE                04082022

DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

Wednesday of the 18th Week in Ordinary Time of the Year (C)

Mystery of the day: 

Texts:   

Theme: 

Peace! Be with you.

Let us pray

 Amen.

© The ARCHIVE                03082022

DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

Tuesday of the 18th Week in Ordinary Time of the Year (C)

Mystery of the day: Sorrowful

Texts:   Jeremiah 30:1-2.12-15.18-22; Matthew 14:22-36 

Theme: The healing encounter

"...brought to him all that were sick, and besought him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment; and as many as touched it were made well." (Matthew 14:36).

Teaching and Healing were at the centre of the public ministry of Jesus. In teaching He invites us to conversion and in healing to be reconciled with the Father. Healing here goes beyond physical sickness or wound, but includes our act of "missing the mark" that is sin. 

Therefore, in the course of healing, man is being drawn to God, to experience yet another wonderful moment with the Lord. Hope was at increase each time people gather around Him, with the expectations to have a touch either with or from Him. 

This is the background of today's text as extracted from the Gospel pericope.

"...brought to him all that were sick, and besought him that they might only touch the fringe of his garment; and as many as touched it were made well." (Matthew 14:36).

The eagerness of the people to have a touch with or from Him borne out of His love for humanity. He was always moved with pity and had the salvation and redemption of humanity as priority of His ministry.

This therefore, gives the people the hope that, encounter with Him will never be in vain, the distress will be comforted, hungry get satisfied, sick will healed.

Dearest friend (s), in Jesus, what is it that troubles you? Are you in a fix? Are you finding yourself at the crossroad of life? Then, be reminded that, God is here to lead you aright, heal your infirmities and grant you the serenity you desire. Peace! Be with you.

Let us pray

Almighty and eternal God, we return to You praise and thanksgiving for the wonders of our being. Grant that we pray the grace to be faithful to Your Word so that we may experience the healing touch of Your Son and our Lord. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

© The ARCHIVE                02082022