DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

FRIDAY OF THE 12TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME OF THE YEAR

Mystery of the day: Sorrowful

Theme:  In His power we are healed.

"...Lord, if you will, you can make me clean." (Matthew 8:2)

The public ministry of our Lord revolved around the salvation and reconciling of humanity with Divinty after the great fall (cf. Genesis 3:1) which God Himself promised out of love as Evangelist John in his writing reminded us saying: 

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16)

The salvation here entails healing and healing in turn goes beyond physical infirmities. At every point in time, we are being plagued with infirmities both physically and spiritually, as such we need a physician who will heal us. In the physical state, the physician only treats but healing proper comes from the Lord, but in the spiritual realm, God does both the treatment of the ailment and healing. 

It is line with this that the Leper in the gospel reading having seen Jesus made a humble gesture then requested Him if so desire to heal him. 

Firstly, he acknowledged the healing power of Christ, when he said:  "...Lord, if you will, ..." (Matthew 8:2). Secondly,  he concluded with the request: "you can make me clean." 

Consequently, this historic biblical event puts before us what God can do and further invites us to a life of faith in Him, that no matter how difficult the situation may be, God will still make a way. We can as well see this in the first reading when God, despite the impossibility of Sarah to conceive according to human calculation, He (God) broke the bars of barreness by promising Abraham a child from Sarah even at old age (cf. Genesis 17:1.9-10.15-22)

Beloved in Christ, from today's table of the Word we have seen how God worked in a miraculous way beyond human thought, nay: the healing of the leper and conception by Sarah at old age. Why then are we afraid? We have no cause to be afraid for having considered what He did in the past, we have no fear for tomorrow. 

In many occasions and events, He has been calling us to walk away form the darkest part of the night into the wonderful light in Christ Jesus through words and actions.

However, in other to do this we need to walk before Him in upright of heart through our relationship with one another, sharing our joy and pains together. In doing this, healing beyond human telling will be our lot.

Peace, be with you!

Let us prayer

Merciful Lord, You are the beginning and the end, we thank You for the many blessings we receive from You especially that of the healing of our infirmities. Grant we pray the grace to acknowledge your ever-abiding presence in our neighbours so that we can feel the aura of Your day-to-day touch. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

© The ARCHIVE                            30062023

DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

TUESDAY OF THE 12TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME OF THE YEAR

Mystery of the day: Sorrowful

Theme: Judge not, if you are to judge be perfect first.

"So whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them; for this is the law and the prophets." (Matthew 7:13)

One of the fascinating facts about humanity is desire for comfort zone for oneself no matter what it takes. While some get satisfaction in the pain of others, to the extent of glowing in tearful sacrifices of the downtrodden. 

To redress this abnormality, God in His justice through Evangelist Matthew in today's gospel pericope avers: 

"So whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them; for this is the law and the prophets." (Matthew 7:13)

This is a clarion call on us to be cautious in treating one another for whether we like it or not, sooner or later we will be given the same judgement we give out to one another. 

Let us begin to judge whenever we are perfect if not let us pray for one another, for the scripture says: "If the Lord were to mark our iniquities, then none of us will survive. 

Finally, condemn not, so that you shall not be condemned. 

Peace, be with you!

Let us pray

Almighty and eternal God, we thank You for the precious gift of Your Word. Accept we pray our daily struggle with the grace to treat one another as we want us to be treated. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

© The ARCHIVE                            27062023

DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

WEDNESDAY OF THE 11TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME OF THE YEAR

Mystery of the day: Glorious

Theme: Be generous!

"He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. ...You will be enriched in every way for great generosity, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God." (2 Corinthians 9:6;11)

It was Pope St. John Paul II who avers: "No one is too poor to give, and no one is too rich to receive." Therefore, building on this premise, we come to the understanding that as human race be it a Christian, Muslim, Buddhist or any other religion we are bound to give out our service to others. The service here goes beyond material gift, but words of consolation, leaning shoulder with words like: "it is well with you" ; "Cheer up" ; "God loves you" etc. heals wounds without medication.

In our reflection this morning, St. Paul in his second letter to the Corinthian Church invites us to the life of generosity with these beautiful words:

He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. ...You will be enriched in every way for great generosity, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God." (2 Corinthians 9:6;11)

This posses a fundamental question before us, questioning who, when and how to give? The answers to these mind blowing questions can be found around us, as we are to "give to all",  "at all times", and in a "respectable manner" else our charity becomes insult on one another. 

Beloved in Christ, we have a shared responsibility in our various domain to preach the gospel in action without words again; for many times we end with words without action.

Let our teachings, be reflected in action for the greater glory of God our Creator. 

Peace, be with you!

Let us pray

Dearest Lord, we acknowledge Your presence in every situation we find ourselves. Grant we pray in moment of affluence we may know that there are many out there in need, when we are in need may we never forget that You are a great provider. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.

© The ARCHIVE                            21062023

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