DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

FRIDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME YEAR II

Celebration for the day: Ferial

Mystery of the day: Sorrowful 

Table of the Word:  1 Samuel 24:2-20; Psalm 57:2.3-4.6 and 11 (R. 2a); Mark 3:13-19.

The WORD: 
"God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation."  (2 Corinthians 5:19)

Theme: He reconciles humanity with Divinity.

Inspiration: 

    The unfathomable mercy and love of God is beyond measure, taking a look at the creation account where of all creatures in creation God gave man the mandate to take charge of all and name them one by one. 

      His love remains unconditional such that even in our inadequacies we are still favoured through the reconciliation by His Son passion, death and resurrection.

     From today's table of the Word, St. Paul in his second letter to the Corinthians Church says:

"God was in Christ reconciling the world to himself, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation."  (2 Corinthians 5:19).

This implies that, we have been redeemed through the blood of the lamb and then reconciled us back to God. 

       In our weaknesses we find strength in Him, in our pains joy, when engulfed with infirmities healing and in distress we get solace. 

      Finally, let us be mindful of this great love of His and then reciprocate this kind gesture with a renewed life of living out the gospel values. 

 Peace! Be with you!

Let us pray

Almighty and merciful God, we thank You for the wonders of creation. Grant we pray the grace to live out the gospel values so as to behold You as You really are on the last day. Through our Lord Jesus Christ who lives and reigns forever and evermore. Amen.  

© The ARCHIVE                       19012024

DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

THURSDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME YEAR II

Celebration for the day: Ferial

Mystery of the day: Luminous 

Table of the Word: 1 Samuel 18:6-9; 19:1-7; Psalm 56:2-3.9-10ab.10c-11.12-13 (R. 5b); Mark 3:7-12.

The WORD: "Our Saviour Christ Jesus abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel."  (2 Timothy 1:10)

Theme: In Him we have life...

Inspiration

     Life remains the foremost gift bestowed upon human family by God, He out of love, care and sustenance provides Him with every good gift for its sustainability. Though man out of his longing and insatiability nature derailed from the path through act of obedience. 

     Amidst this, God still had humanity in mind by sending His only begotten Son - our Lord as a ransom to pay the debt of our iniquities.  (cf. John 3:16) 

     It is through this great love of God, that today's gospel acclamation reminded us that through Jesus Christ our Lord what seems to be the end of man becomes the beginning. 

    St. Paul in his second letter to Timothy has this to say:

"Our Saviour Christ Jesus abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel."  (2 Timothy 1:10)

Through Christ death, the earthly end of man has meaning with life eternal - a life free from pains, sickness and tribulations. 

     Beloved in Christ, let us not lose consciousness of the fact that God is always at work for our salvation. Let us make sincere effort to live out the gospel valued so as to be saved. Peace! Be with you!

Let us pray

Almighty and eternal God, yours is the earth and its fulness. We are grateful to You for everything. Grant we pray the grace to be concious of Your ever abiding presence in our difficult moment so that we may not derail from the right part. Through our Lord Jesus Christ who lives and reigns forever and evermore. Amen.  

© The ARCHIVE                       18012024

DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

WEDNESDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME YEAR II

Celebration of the day: St Anthony, Abbot

(251-356). Called the Patriarch of Monks, St. Anthony retired to the desert when he was eighteen years old. He was the first abbot to form a stable rule for his family of monks dedicated to the divine Service. He led an austere life which was always consciously directed to the better service of God.

Mystery of the day: Glorious 

Table of the Word: 1 Samuel 17:32-33.37.40-51; Psalm 144:1.2.9-10 (R. 1a); Mark 3:1-6

The WORD: "Is it lawful on the sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?." (see Mark 3:1-6)

Theme:  No limitation in God

Inspiration: God's grace through His Son and our Saviour Jesus Christ is that gratuitous gift given to humanity at no cost. This grace breaks every protocol without permission or condition, that is why today's gospel pericope gives us an account of healing that took place on Sabbath day. For the Jews and Pharisees, this should not be the case. In their myopic calculations they wanted to limit the grace of God  by citing that the healing supposed not to be taken place on Sabbath.

   Then Jesus in His usual authoritative manner as the King and Lord  asked: "Is it lawful on the sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?." (see Mark 3:1-6)

   This question is the continuation of His encounter with them in yesterday's gospel reading when He said: 

"The sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath; so the Son of man is lord even of the sabbath." (Mark 2:23-28)

   Dearest friends, this encounter of Jesus with these men meant to bring to our consciousness that there is no limit to our salvation. God right from time immemorial till date has been continously at work to save us from the shackle of total damnation.

   In our respective situation, do we believe that there is no limitation to God's grace in our lives? Do we know that even when life tasted sour there is always sweetness beneath it? Are we aware that God is able to turn our tears into cleansing water? 

   Indeed, there is no limit in God as the grace bestowed upon humanity through His only begotten Son speaks volume in our everyday situation. Clinch on the foot of the Cross of Jesus, and every barrier will be broken just as the man with the withered hand in today's gospel pericope. + May St. Anthony the Abbot pray for us that we may be conscious of God's grace in our lives. Amen.

 Peace! Be with you!

Let us pray

 O God, who brought the Abbot Saint Anthony to serve you by a wondrous way of life in the desert, grant, through his intercession, that, denying ourselves, we may always love you above all things. 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                       17012024

DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

TUESDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME YEAR II

Celebration for the day: Ferial

Mystery of the day: Sorrowful 

Table of the Word: 1 Samuel 16:1-13; Psalm 89:20.21-22.27-28 (R. 21a); Mark 2:23-28

The WORD: "...for the LORD sees not as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart." (see 1 Samuel 16:1-13)

Theme: God sees beyond our sight.

Inspiration: 

    In every life situation God has a beautiful plan for us. He does not see the way we see, that is why His plans are not ours for His plan for us always bring us joy. 

In human calculation, life does not offer us what we bargained for rather it presents before us a different plate of sauce other than what we ordered for. Amidst this, God has a better plan for us irrespective of our desires. That is why today's first reading gives an account of how David was chosen instead of his brothers.

    The story is such a captivating and mind-owing one, as the expectations of the giants become feather before the wind; and the thought of the common man becomes the final decision of the king. This is indeed the scenario we met in the first reading where "..the LORD sees not as man sees; man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart." (see 1 Samuel 16:1-13)

Beloved in Christ, how do people see you? How are they rating you? What is the yardstick of their measurement? Some has already weighed you in a balance and recorded it down. But today God says, I have something new for you. I will raise you up from the dung hill and place you on the kingly throne for the world to know that I am the Lord. He says, if I did it to David the least of all the children why won't i make the world to celebrate your victory? All that I require from you, He said is Perseverance and faith in me. Let us dearest in Christ look beyond the present situation, our weaknesses and short-comings for every potholes in our lives will be filled and every crooked lines will be made straight. Not unto us, not unto us O! Lord but to the greeter glory of your name.

 Peace! Be with you!

Let us pray

Eternal Word we give You the glory and praise. Grant we pray with one heart that our desire should only be in You alone, that we may be fulfilled and accept with open heart the lot You marked for us.Through our Lord Jesus Christ who lives and reigns forever and evermore. Amen.  

© The ARCHIVE                       16012024

DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

MONDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME YEAR II

Celebration for the day: Ferial 

Mystery of the day: Joyful 

Table of the Word:  1 Samuel 15:16-23; Ps 50:8-9.16bc-17.21 and 23 (R. 23bc); Mark 2:18-22.

The WORD: "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." (see Mark 2:18-22)

Theme: ... new wine, new wine skins.

Inspiration: The redemption of human race from the shackle of total damnation was paid for outrightly by the precious blood of the lamb, but our salvation has to be gained by our daily and sincere effort. In consonance with the Words of St. Augustine who said: "God who created us without us cannot save us without us." That is to say God's grace demands human cooperation.  

      It is on this note, that I wish to reflect with you on the theme "... new wine, new wine skins" This implies that, we need a change of attitude so as to be saved. As God has redeemed us from total destruction after the great fall, on our own part we are obliged to be concious of God's detects and ordinances.  That is why the gospel pericope according to Evangelist Mark has this to say:

"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." (see Mark 2:18-22). And the first reading exhorted us to keep in mind the laws of God, as obedience is better than sacrifice (cf. 1 Samuel 15:16-23). And the Psalmist says:  "To one whose way is blameless, I will show the salvation of God." (see Ps 50:8-9.16bc-17.21).

        Beloved in Christ, as we are all looking forward for the salvation of our souls there is need to be ready to pay the price of keeping the law of God. We cannot attain the eternal salvation by putting new wine into an old wine skin; new wine must go with new wine skins. 

 Peace! Be with you!

Let us pray

Merciful Lord, we thank You for the wonders of our being. We are grateful for the many favours we have received from You. Grant we pray O! Lord the grace to be concious of Your detects and ordinances so that we may model our lives after the pattern of Your desire. Through our Lord Jesus Christ who lives and reigns forever and evermore. Amen.  

© The ARCHIVE                       15012024

DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

TUESDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME YEAR II

Celebration for the day:

St Adrian of Canterbury, Abbot

(+710). An African by birth, he became Abbot of Nerida, a to Benedictine monastery near Naples, when he was very young. Pope Vitaliqn intended to appoint him Archbishop of Canterbury to succeed St. Deusdeit who had died in 664, but Adrian considered himself unworthy of so great a dignity, and begged the Pope to appoint Theodore, a Greek monk in his place. The Pope yielded, on condition that Adrian should accompany Theodore to Englqnd and be his adviser in the administration of the Diocese of Canterbury.

Mystery of the day: Sorrowful 

Table of the Word:  1 Samuel 1:9-20;   1 Samuel 2:1.4-5.6-7.8abcd (R. see 1a);  Mark 1:21-28

The WORD: "Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have made to him."  (see 1 Samuel 1:9-20)

Theme: Go in peace...

Inspiration: The gift of peace from God goes beyond cost. It is unconditional and unseasonal unlike that which man gives to his fellow man which is founded on condition. That is with the expiration of the condition the peace will be withdrawn. 

However, the notion of peace does not necessarily means absence of war; but it entails stillness and solace of the mind.

In today's liturgy of the Word, the first reading recounted the experience of Hannah at Shiloh. She was greatly depressed and  agonized. As Eli saw her, he thought she was drunk, and the poor distressed woman told him: 

 "No, my lord, I am a woman sorely troubled; I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but I have been pouring out my soul before the LORD. Do not regard your maidservant as a base woman,..." (see 1 Samuel 1:9-20)

At this point, Eli said: 

 "Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have made to him."  (see 1 Samuel 1:9-20)

Beloved in Christ, there is no better utterance than that of Eli to Hannah this morning. 

In our daily challenges and difficulties, let us present all to God in prayer with hope. 

Absolutely, I am convinced there is no prayer of ours that God has not answered, only that out of our longing and insatiable state we want all to be our own way.

Today God has spoken to us in our various situations as Eli did to Hannah. We need nothing other than peace. Let these Words be manifested in our lives and our daily situations. For we cannot go beyond this level on our own, except with Him who is always handling the steering of every event. 

Therfore, let us all go back in peace as our prayers have been answered. 

Finally, as we celebrate the memorial of St. Adrian, we pray that the good Lord may hearken to his plea on our behalf. 

St. Adrian: pray for us.

 Peace! Be with you!

Let us pray

Almighty and eternal God, yours is the earth and its fulness. We are grateful to You for everything. Grant we pray the grace to be concious of Your ever abiding presence in our difficult moment so that we may not derail from the right part. Through our Lord Jesus Christ who lives and reigns forever and evermore. Amen.  

© The ARCHIVE                       09012024

DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

JANUARY 6

Mystery of the day: Joyful 

Table of the Word:  1 John 5:5-13; Psalm 147:12-13.14-15.19-20(R.12a); Mark 1:7-11

The WORD: "Who is it that overcomes the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God."

(see 1 John 5:5-13)

Theme: The journey of faith.

Inspiration: Faith is that virtue which builds up our existence in God. And then what is faith? According to the author of the letter to the Hebrews – “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1).

Today's liturgy of the Word reechoed the essence of this virtue as the opening verse of the first reading as it says: 

"Who is it that overcomes the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God."

(see 1 John 5:5-13)

In our day-to-day live experience, where do we place God? Do we hold on to Him as the foundation of our believe system; or do we run to Him when the going is tough? Our faith in God should be unseasonal. 

Let us build our trust in Him, for with Him there is no disappointment. Our trust in Him will give us room to surmount every mountain that may threatened us. 

Finally, beloved in Christ as Christians let our faith be bilit only in our God, for when we do this we will soar like eagle. Let our testimonies be in Him alone, the Son-God. 

Peace! Be with you!

Let us pray

Merciful Lord, we thank You for Your love and mercies. In Your kindness give us the grace to build our faith in you alone. We ask this through Christ our Lord.  Amen.

© The ARCHIVE        06012024