DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

SATURDAY OF  THE 27th WEEK IN ORDINARY  OF THE YEAR (A)

MYSTERY OF THE DAY: Joyful 

CELEBRATION OF THE DAY: BVM

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TABLE OF THE WORD: Joel 3:12-21; Luke 11:27-28.

THEME:  THE power of the Word.

THE WORD

"Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!." (Luke 11:28)

INSPIRATION

Today's gospel pericope is a sure reminder of the two dimensions of the Sacred Word: the hearing and keeping or doing aspects. It is obvious that some people do hear the Word but does not keep it, while the Scripture is inviting us to take the two aspects into consideration because it is through these acts of hearing and doing that we can become true sons and daughters of God. 

The Table of the Word today beginning from the first reading taken from the Book of Prophet Joel (Joel 3:12-21) presents before us a pictorial representation of the end time where God and His angels will carryout the great harvest. As Prophet Joel proclaimed:

"Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Go in, tread, for the wine press is full." (Joel 3:13)

By implication, the harvest here is the end time, the final moment of our time on earth where we can neither hear nor do what the Scripture says. And if eventually in the course of the harvest if one is found to have produced no fruit then he will be thrown into flame of fire; but those whose produce fruits in tens, hundreds and thousands will be certainly given a pride of place. And will be counted among men and women of faith. Finally, we must put into action the two-way aspects of hearing the Word and then translating these Words into actions. Peace be with you!

PRAYER

Merciful God, we thank You for the many blessings we receive from You. Grant us the grace to pray as often as possible for through prayers that we can unlock Heaven for our favour and enjoy the beauty of Your Creation. 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.

+ May the Lord in His infinite mercy bless and keep us, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

(c) The ARCHIVE                        14102023.         

DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

THURSDAY OF  THE 27th WEEK IN ORDINARY  OF THE YEAR (A)

MYSTERY OF THE DAY: Luminous 

CELEBRATION OF THE DAY: Ferial.

TABLE OF THE WORD: Malachi 3:13-4:2;  Luke 11:5-13.

THEME:  Perseverance in prayer. 

THE WORD

"And I tell you, Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." (Luke 11:11)

INSPIRATION

Prayer can de defined as the raising up of our minds and thoughts to God. The essence of prayer cannot be over emphasised as Christ taught His disciples. In one of the occasions He told them a parable about their need to pray at all times when He said:

"Therefore, since God in His mercy has given us this ministry, we do not lose heart. ... Pray in the Spirit at all times, with every kind of prayer and petition." (Luke 18:1)

Beloved in Christ, we are being invited to pray always and not to lose heart for perseverance in prayer pays. That is why there is need to employ the acronym (PUSH -Pray Until Something Happen) into our prayer life. 

Christ in the course of today's liturgy of the Word made it emphatically clear the need to pray always, to ask so as to receive, seek to find and knock for the door to open for us. As He said: 

And I tell you, Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened." (Luke 11:11)

Finally, may the Lord in His mercy hearken to the homage of our lips now and always. Amen. Peace be with you!

PRAYER

Merciful God, we thank You for the many blessings we receive from You. Grant us the grace to pray as often as possible for through prayers that we can unlock Heaven for our favour and enjoy the beauty of Your Creation. 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.

+ May the Lord in His infinite mercy bless and keep us, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

(c) The ARCHIVE                        12102023.         

DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

TUESDAY OF  THE 27th WEEK IN ORDINARY  OF THE YEAR (A)

MYSTERY OF THE DAY: Sorrowful 

CELEBRATION OF THE DAY: Ferial.

TABLE OF THE WORD: Jonah 3:1-10; Luke 10:38-42.

THEME:  A Call to repent. 

THE WORD

"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)

INSPIRATION

God in His essence is full of love for humanity. He loves without cost. That is why even when man must have derailed He sent His prophets on errand to announce to the people the consequences that will follow the action of their sinfulness; and His readiness to forgive and reintegrate them into His folk again.

It is in the same spirit that He had to send Prophet Jonah to the land of Nineveh with the mandate to preach repentance. (cf.Jonah 3:1-10). This very act of God borne out of love for humanity for He desires not our condemnation but our redemption and salvation. 

However, we need an open hear so as to listen to the Word which is an invitation to return to God as Mary did in today's gospel pericope. (cf. Luke 10:38-42). We need to let go anxiety, and all kinds of distractions and be focused on the Word. Eventhough Martha was busy putting things in place for the Lord who visited, she lost out by missing the Word from the Lord.

Consequently,  in our spiritual journey most often we keep on doing the work of God but lost out in recognising the God of the work.  Therefore, let us make sincere effort in seeking for God and His Words then put them all into action for the greater glory of His name. Peace be with you!

PRAYER

Merciful God, we thank You for the many blessings we receive from You. Grant that we pray the grace to be opened to Your Word and transform them into action with true repentance from our shortcomings. 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.

+ May the Lord in His infinite mercy bless and keep us, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

(c) The ARCHIVE                        10102023.         

DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

MONDAY OF  THE 27th WEEK IN ORDINARY  OF THE YEAR (A)

MYSTERY OF THE DAY: Joyful 

CELEBRATION OF THE DAY: St. John Leonardi,  Priest

(1541-1609). Born in Tuscani (Italy). He studied pharmacy after which he became a priest. He devoted himself to teaching catechism to children. He founded the Order of the Regular Clerks of the Mother of God and suffered many tribulations. Later on, he founded in Rome what became the Institute "De Propaganda Fide" for the propagation of the faith and the formation of missionaries.

TABLE OF THE WORD: Jonah 1:1-17.2:1.10; Luke 10:25-37.

THEME:  Who is your neighbour?

THE WORD

 "Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" (Luke 10:25)

INSPIRATION

Love is the most outstanding attribute of all virtues. That is why Christ in His teachings rated the virtue of love as the highest of all when He said:  "And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:13). 

And in another place He gave us a new commandment which is the summary of the decalogue (cf. Exodus 20:1ff.); that "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you." (John 13:34). As the summary of the decalogue, it therefore implies love of Gpd and our neighbours which the readings of today pointed at. 

In the light of this,  that today's Table of the Word brings to our consciousness the need to be our neighbour's keepers as Evangelist Luke gave account of a certain lawyer who questioned our Lord about the criterion on how to inherit the kingdom of God. In response, that our Lord asked what is written in the law and he cited part of the decalogue. 

Our Lord on the other hand then gave him the summary of the law he quoted by telling him the story of the good Samaritan (cf. Luke 10:25-37). 

Beloved in Christ, in our day-to-day living how much do we love God? Many willnsay: "I love Him with my whole heart. Above all, we know it all that without loving one a other, we cannot in any way claim to have love God. Therefore, let our thoughts, words and actions revolve around the love of God through our neighbours which today's gospel pericope made allusion to. We earnestly pray through the intercession of St. John Leonardi our thoughts, Word and actions be driven by love of one another. 

Peace be with you!

PRAYER

O God, giver of all good things, who through the Priest Saint John Leonardi caused the Gospel to be announced to the nations, grant, through his intercession, that the true faith may always and everywhere prosper. 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.

+ May the Lord in His infinite mercy bless and keep us, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

(c) The ARCHIVE                        09102023.         

DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

FRIDAY OF  THE 26th WEEK IN ORDINARY  OF THE YEAR (A)

MYSTERY OF THE DAY: Sorrowful 

CELEBRATION OF THE DAY: St. Bruno,  Priest

(1035-1101). Born in Cologne and educated in Paris. He became a priest and taught Theology in Rheims (France). When he was fifty years old, he founded a monastery of absolute contemplative life which gave origin to the Carthusian Order.

TABLE OF THE WORD: Baruch 1:15-22; Luke 10:13-16.

THEME:  We have sinned.  

THE WORD

"...we have sinned before the Lord, and have disobeyed him, and have not heeded the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in the statutes of the Lord which he set before us."(Baruch 1:16-17)

INSPIRATION 

The term "sin" is an immoral act considered to be a transgression against divine law. In summary it is a derailment from the right path. And whenever we have derailed from this path, the part of righteousness there is need to acknowledge our failings so as to be re-launched into the friendship with Jesus.

 

First of all, before the acknowledgement of our weaknesses (sin) set in, our heart being the seat of judgement has a great role to play. That is why in today's first reading Prophet Baruch on behalf of the people publicly acknowledged their failings and short-comings by saying: 

"...we have sinned before the Lord, and have disobeyed him, and have not heeded the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in the statutes of the Lord which he set before us."(Baruch 1:16-17)

In the light of this, forgiveness cannot take place without acknowledging the sin itself with a contrite heart. And while approaching the confessional, we need this mindset of accepting the fact that we have sin and not playing the part of part of a defendant, that is giving excuse why we sinned, that is act of  justifying our sinful act.

Just as Baruch today and the Psalmist (cf. Psalm 51) who acknowledged the fact that his sin is always before him. It is in this way that we will always be conscious of the fact that when we sin, we have lost friendship with God.

In order to be reconciled, we must be face-to-face with the shame of shame as in the case of the prodigal son (cf. Luke 15:11-32).

To buttress this, the psalmist in today's psalm pleaded with God that for the sake of His glory, our sins should be forgiven. (cf. Psalm 79:9bc).

Finally beloved in Christ as we keep on pushing along this ephemeral path of life let us make sincere effort in keeping to the detects and ordinances of God. For it is in doing this that we can be reconciled, washed-off of our dirt and being purified as God's own. Today, harden not your hearts, but listen to the voice of the Lord. Peace be with you!

PRAYER

Eternal Word, through the power of Your Word we have gained salvation. Thank You for the wonders of our being, grant us we pray the grace to be docile to these Words so that we may attain eternal bliss at the end. 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.

+ May the Lord in His infinite mercy bless and keep us, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

(c) The ARCHIVE                        06102023.         

DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

WEDNESDAY OF  THE 26th WEEK IN ORDINARY  OF THE YEAR (A)

MYSTERY OF THE DAY: Glorious 

CELEBRATION OF THE DAY: St. Francis of Assisi

(1182-1226). Born in Assisi (Italy). He lived and preached a life of poverty and love of God to all men. He founded the religious Order of the Franciscans; with St. Clare, the Order of the Poor Clares; and the Third Order for lay people.

TABLE OF THE WORD: Nehemiah 2:1-8; Luke 9:57-62

THEME:  Follow me!

THE WORD

"No one who puts his hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."(Luke 9:62)

INSPIRATION 

Dearest in the Lord, may the name of the Lord be praised both now and forevermore.  Amen. 

The call to discipleship is that which entails detachment to attachment. Detachment from comfort zone and attachment to wherever Christ leads. 

In our Liturgy of the Word today, Evangelist Luke brings to our consciousness the account of our Lord's teaching on this, stressing the need to let go for the sake of the gospel. (cf. Luke 9:57-62).

In the gospel pericope we have seen three different characters who desired to follow Christ, though the first requested for it, the rest of the two were invited but they all gave excuses; one wanted to go back and bury his father, the other to bid farewell to his people. It is on this note that Christ looked at them and said: 

"No one who puts his hand to the plough and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God."(Luke 9:62)

Beloved in Christ, in our mission of discipleship is there anything that hold us back? Is it friendship? Family ties? Comfort zones? etc. 

Indeed, none of these should be the source of our setback as following Christ has alot in stock for us that no human eyes can enumerate.

Let us joyfully follow Him without counting the cost, because following Christ means a journey towards our eternal home.

May St. Francis of Assisi whom we celebrate today interceed for us so as to make a good choice by following our Lord no matter the circumstances. Peace be with you!

PRAYER

O God, by whose gift Saint Francis was conformed to Christ in poverty and humility, grant that, by walking in Francis’ footsteps, we may follow your Son, and, through joyful charity, come to be united with you. 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.

+ May the Lord in His infinite mercy bless and keep us, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

(c) The ARCHIVE                        04102023.         

DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

MONDAY OF  THE 26th WEEK IN ORDINARY  OF THE YEAR (A)

MYSTERY OF THE DAY: Joyful 

CELEBRATION OF THE DAY:   The Holy Guardian Angels

This celebration was placed in the Roman calendar in 1615. Scripture is full of stories of angels coming to help patriarchs. Each person has his own Guardian Angel. Angels are God's messengers whose mission is to take care of us, to protect our way on earth, and to share with Christians the apostolic zeal to get souls closer to God. St. Peter was liberated from jail by an angel. Our Lord spoke of angels of children who constantly behold his Heavenly Father's face. Our Guardian Angels are our friends.

TABLE OF THE WORD: Exodus 23:20-23; Psalm 91; Matthew 18:1-5.10.

THEME:  He will keep us as the shepherd keeps his flock.

THE WORD

"Behold, I send an angel before you, to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place which I have prepared. Give heed to him and listen to his voice, do not rebel against him, for he will not pardon your transgression; for my name is in him." (Exodus 18:1-3).

INSPIRATION 

Few days ago, we gather together to celebrate the Feast of the Archangels part of the third tier of the 9 choir of angels. And today the Church invites us in a very special way to celebrate our personal Guardian Angel who occupies the 9th position in the order of the Choir of angels  and being considered as one of the heavenly messengers.

There many instances where these Beings (angels) are being mentioned in the scripture and how they are at the sevice of humanity. But for the want of time and space we will reflect briefly on who they are and how they are at the service of man.

The reality of angels is fascinating to most people, especially to children. The Guardian Angels, in particular, are often pictured in sacred art as walking hand-in-hand with children. And though this is true, they also walk hand-in-hand with each one of us throughout our lives. This is their sacred duty given to them by God. In quoting Saint Basil, the Catechism of the Catholic Church explains the existence of Guardian Angels by saying: “From its beginning until death, human life is surrounded by their watchful care and intercession. ‘Beside each believer stands an angel as protector and shepherd leading him to life’” (No. 336).

Imagine, in an earthly sense, that you had a personal bodyguard to look after you day and night throughout your life. Perhaps this evokes two different sentiments. First, it would most certainly comfort you when there is imminent danger around. You would know you are not alone and that you would be kept safe from physical harm. Another sentiment it may invoke is that of a loss of personal privacy. If someone were watching over you, day and night, you would always be aware of their watchful eye. Everything you said and did would be noticed. For some, this may not always be welcome. Why? Because this means they see all you do, including your sin. Fear of judgment, the loss of personal privacy and the like may be difficult to accept.

But now imagine that this “bodyguard” is one who offers no judgment, acts with perfect love for you, keeps confidentiality with perfection and cares only for your well-being. Though it may be hard to imagine that such a person could exist, that person does exist in the person of your guardian angel.

Your guardian angel is real, has a keen and powerful intellect, has a will perfectly united with the will of God, and was created for the single purpose of protecting you and leading you into the fulfillment of God’s will. When you sin and stray, your guardian angel’s only concern is to guide you back to God. When you are fearful or in trouble, your guardian angel’s only care is to protect you and fill you with God’s peace and courage. And though God could have provided you with all of these graces directly, without the mediation of an angel, He chose to do so through the mediation of your personal guardian angel. Only in Heaven will we fully understand the profound depth of love, protection, and care given to us by these angelic beings.

(Partly extracted from: https://catholic-daily-reflections.com)

Reflect, today, upon the intimate knowledge that your guardian angel has of you. As you ponder this reality, rejoice that someone knows you so well and loves you with a perfect love. This angel of yours not only loves you perfectly but also has been entrusted with great power from God to protect you and shepherd you to the fulfillment of your life mission. Prayerfully acknowledge the great gift that your guardian angel is to you and entrust yourself more fully to this angelic mediation. 

Going by this, let us come to terms that our angelsbare always at watch and find time today to celebrate them. As the Lord says: 

"Behold, I send an angel before you, to guard you on the way and to bring you to the place which I have prepared. Give heed to him and listen to his voice, do not rebel against him, for he will not pardon your transgression; for my name is in him." (Exodus 18:1-3). May these words be fulin our lives through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Peace be with you!

PRAYER

Angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God’s love commits me here, ever this day be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen. Guardian angel, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.

+ May the Lord in His infinite mercy bless and keep us, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

(c) The ARCHIVE                        02102023.