DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

MONDAY OF  THE 29th WEEK IN ORDINARY  OF THE YEAR (A)

MYSTERY OF THE DAY: Joyful 

CELEBRATION OF THE DAY: Ferial 

TABLE OF THE WORD: Romans 4:20-25; Luke 12:13-21

THEME:  Contentment and Charity.

THE WORD

"Take heed, and beware of all covetousness; for a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." (Luke 12:15)

INSPIRATION

God out of His unfathomable love and mercy blessed humanity with abundance of wealth through natural, mineral and other resources to be used for growth and development of human race. The essence of this blessing is to satisfy man's longing. 

Sadly, the case is the reverse especially here in our country Nigeria where bribery and corruption has taken centre stage and unequal shared of God's given resources becomes the order of the day, whereby the poor is getting poorer and the rich richer. 

It is on account of this that, Christ spoke to us today as related by Evangelist Luke;

Take heed, and beware of all covetousness; for a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions." (Luke 12:15).  

Our Lord ended this teaching with the parable of a rich fool who had all at his beck and call without thinking of those at the peripheries of his community. He felt all that he was blessed with was the product of his sweat (cf. Luke 12:13-21), for he suddenly forgets that all that we have, the status we occupy are of God's.

Recalling the words of Job when he says: “He swallows riches, But will vomit them up; God will expel them from his belly." (Job 20:15). Here God reminded us of His power to build and destroy, while calling to mind the need to be generous for if the rich fool in today's gospel was charitable enough God wouldn't have asked for his soul as charity covers multitude of sins.

Beloved in Christ, God is ever loving and merciful in His essence, He blesses us according to our need not according to our desires. Seeking to satisfy our excessive desires or longings tentamounts to covetousness or greediness. We are being asked to watch our desires for the amount of wealth we acquire is not the yardstick for our happiness. As St. Paul's epistle to the Philippians Church says:

"And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:19). For indeed,

"The blessing of the Lord makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it." (Proverbs 10:22). "And God will generously provide all you need." (2 Corinthians 9:8) Peace be with you!

PRAYER

Eternal Word, the Son of the invisible God. Accept we pray the homage of our lips and grant us the grace to appreciate every bit of God's love upon us through charity and contentment. 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                        23102023.         

DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

SATURDAY OF  THE 28th WEEK IN ORDINARY  OF THE YEAR (A)

MYSTERY OF THE DAY: Joyful 

CELEBRATION OF THE DAY: Commemoration of the memorial of Blessed Virgin Mary

TABLE OF THE WORD: Romans 4:13.16-18; Luke 12:8-12

THEME:  Hoping in God

THE WORD

"The promise to Abraham and his descendants, that they should inherit the world, did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants..." (Romans 4:13.16)

INSPIRATION

The Holy Scripture defines faith as

" the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1) This spiritual act is one of the theological virtues which is the pledge of the presence and action of the Holy Spirit in the faculties of the human being. 

By implication, without faith in God we cannot survive because amidst stormy and raging of life God is there to hold the Fort for our sake.

In today's first reading St. Paul recounted the event that surrounds the covenant God had with Abraham, stressing that, it was not out of law that the covenant was made but by faith he had in God.

"The promise to Abraham and his descendants, that they should inherit the world, did not come through the law but through the righteousness of faith. That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his descendants..." (Romans 4:13.16).

However, it is through faith in God that we can conquer. For God who is Omnipotence,  Omniscience and Omnipresence in His essence gives life to the dead and calls into existence the things that do not exist. 

Beloved in Christ, as we keep on journey on this ephemeral life let us build our hope and trust in Him, for He will certainly preserve and sustain us in His love so that on the last day we may see Him as He really is. Peace be with you!

PRAYER

Merciful Lord, we thqnk You for th3 mqny favours we receive from You. As You have brought us to this weekend kindly sustain us in Your love and grant us the grace see every event of our lives in the eyes of faith. 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                        21102023.         

DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

THURSDAY OF  THE 28th WEEK IN ORDINARY  OF THE YEAR (A)

MYSTERY OF THE DAY: Luminous 

CELEBRATION OF THE DAY: Ferial

TABLE OF THE WORD: Romans 3:21-30; Luke 11:47-54

THEME:  He is our all and all. 

THE WORD

"I am the way, and the truth, and the life, says the Lord; no one comes to the Father but by me" (John 14:6)

INSPIRATION

Sometimes in life we tend to seek for what is already here with and for us. This occurs out of our ignorance and pride which beclouds our sense of vision. Amidst this, God reveals Himself to us in various ways, using images, lessons and teachings.

In today's Table of the Word the gospel acclamation reminded us the true identity of Jesus: 

"I am the way, and the truth, and the life, says the Lord; no one comes to the Father but by me" (John 14:6).

By implication, when we miss our direction, we need to seek for the right path in Jesus as the Way. As Truth, He overcomes all false allegations leveled against us. When we die, His death gives meaning to our lives for He Himself is Life for all mortals. 

Beloved in Christ, let our boast be in the Lord for He is the fullness of our existence, for in Him, we live, move and have our beings. Peace be with you!

PRAYER

Almighty ever-living God, we are grateful to You for Your love and mercy. Grant us we pray the grace to be faithful to Your Word and live out our faith experience that in Your Son we find the Way, behold the Truth and inherit eternal Life. 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                        19102023.         

DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

TUESDAY OF  THE 28th WEEK IN ORDINARY  OF THE YEAR (A)

MYSTERY OF THE DAY: Sorrowful 

CELEBRATION OF THE DAY: St.  Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr

(+107). He was the successor to St. Peter as Bishop of Antioch. He suffered martyrdom in Rome during the persecution of Trajan. On his way to the Holy City, he wrote seven letters concerning the Person of Christ, the constitution of the Church, and Christian life. In these letters, he expressed his great love for the Lord and his ardent desire for martyrdom. His name is in the Roman Canon.

TABLE OF THE WORD: Romans 1:16-25; Luke 11:37-41.

THEME:  Truth Conquers All!

THE WORD

"...because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever! Amen." (Romans 1:25)

INSPIRATION

Our minds remain temple of judgement for every kind of action we take - good or bad. In the past the law was written on the tablet in our days, in our hearts. 

Therefore, every action we take is best known to us, though sometimes in a bit to escape its wrath we tend to justify why that was done. Amidst this we cannot escape from it, as our conscience remains our judge. 

In the light of this, that St. Paul in his epistle to the Romans Church says;

"...because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed for ever! Amen." (Romans 1:25)

Most often we exchanged truth about God for a lie to suite ourselves. We trade on what supposed not to be traded on. Why do we value the product and discard the producer. This insensitivity on our part needs to be put under  check, else we are moving towards losing that which is treasure in us.

God loves us so much that, He gave us every basic thing at our beck and call. Why then do we allow fake life to becloud the real essence in us? This remains the focal point of our reflection this morning. Peace be with you!

PRAYER

Almighty ever-living God, who adorn the sacred body of your Church with the confessions of holy Martyrs, grant, we pray, that, just as the glorious passion of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, which we celebrate today, brought him eternal splendour, so may it be for us unending protection. 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                        17102023.         

DIVINE WHISPER with FR. PIUSRALPH EFFIONG, SMMM

MONDAY OF  THE 28th WEEK IN ORDINARY  OF THE YEAR (A)

MYSTERY OF THE DAY: Joyful 

CELEBRATION OF THE DAY: Ferial

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TABLE OF THE WORD: Romans 1:1-7;  Luke 11:29-32

THEME:  In search of signs and wonders.

THE WORD

"...and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.!." (Luke 11:32)

INSPIRATION

Beloved in Christ good morning and blessed new week to you. 

Today we are in the age where insatiability and greediness have beclouded our senses. Thus, making us insensitive to the goodness of the Lord. Instead of acknowledging the favours we received we keep on searching for what we have already received.  

We suddenly forget that God has been in-check of every situation right from moment of creation till date. We long to see stone being turned into bread, a man jumping from a pinnacle without breaking his limbs, one who refuses to work yet divinely paid etc. 

O! What an insensitive age! That is why our Lord in today's gospel said:

"...and behold, something greater than Jonah is here.!." (Luke 11:32). 

Indeed, there is something greater than Jonah among us, it goes beyond the mere understanding but goes deeper than what we imagine. 

In our daily lives, can we on our own pay for the security that God out of love freely given to us? What about the intake of oxygen, who can pay for it? The daily bread on our table which with less or no effort we find daily, who made it possible? etc. With all these let us come to the understanding that God is love, indeed He is too faithful to deceive us; for there is something greater than Jonah among us. Peace be with you!

PRAYER

Almighty and eternal God, we thank You for the many blessings we received from You. We are so sorry for the many times we doubt Your care. Grant us we pray the grace to see beyond what we behold as miracles.  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                        16102023.         

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.