27 May/Monday/8th Week in Ordinary Time,

  1Pet 1,3-9/Psa 111,1-2.5-6.9.10/Mark 10,17-27

 

First Reading  1 Peter 1:3-9

You did not see Christ, yet you love him

Blessed be God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who in his great mercy has given us a new birth as his sons, by raising Jesus Christ from the dead, so that we have a sure hope and the promise of an inheritance that can never be spoilt or soiled and never fade away, because it is being kept for you in the heavens. Through your faith, God’s power will guard you until the salvation which has been prepared is revealed at the end of time. This is a cause of great joy for you, even though you may for a short time have to bear being plagued by all sorts of trials; so that, when Jesus Christ is revealed, your faith will have been tested and proved like gold – only it is more precious than gold, which is corruptible even though it bears testing by fire – and then you will have praise and glory and honour. You did not see him, yet you love him; and still without seeing him, you are already filled with a joy so glorious that it cannot be described, because you believe; and you are sure of the end to which your faith looks forward, that is, the salvation of your souls.

 

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 110(111):1-2,5-6,9-10

The Lord keeps his covenant in mind.

 

I will thank the Lord with all my heart

    in the meeting of the just and their assembly.

Great are the works of the Lord,

    to be pondered by all who love them.

 

He gives food to those who fear him;

    keeps his covenant ever in mind.

He has shown his might to his people

    by giving them the lands of the nations.

 

He has sent deliverance to his people

    and established his covenant for ever.

    Holy his name, to be feared.

 

To fear the Lord is the first stage of wisdom;

    all who do so prove themselves wise.

His praise shall last for ever!

 

Gospel Acclamation   cf. 1Thess 2:13

 

Alleluia, alleluia!

Accept God’s message for what it really is:

God’s message, and not some human thinking.

Alleluia!

 

Gospel:   Mark 10:17-27

Give everything you own to the poor, and follow me

Jesus was setting out on a journey when a man ran up, knelt before him and put this question to him, ‘Good master, what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call me good? No one is good but God alone. You know the commandments: You must not kill; You must not commit adultery; You must not steal; You must not bring false witness; You must not defraud; Honour your father and mother.’ And he said to him, ‘Master, I have kept all these from my earliest days.’ Jesus looked steadily at him and loved him, and he said, ‘There is one thing you lack. Go and sell everything you own and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.’ But his face fell at these words and he went away sad, for he was a man of great wealth.

Jesus looked round and said to his disciples, ‘How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!’ The disciples were astounded by these words, but Jesus insisted, ‘My children,’ he said to them ‘how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.’ They were more astonished than ever. ‘In that case’ they said to one another ‘who can be saved?’ Jesus gazed at them. ‘For men’ he said ‘it is impossible, but not for God: because everything is possible for God.’

Reflection

The encounter between Jesus and the man who run up to him and asked him a question about eternal life is intriguing. It begins with an enthusiastic approach to Jesus and ends on a disappointing note. The man’s face fell at the invitation of Jesus to take a series of steps toward the attainment of the eternal life he desired. A careful reflection on the attitude of the man who approached Jesus reveals the man’s intention in interrogating Jesus. He did so hoping to obtain an answer that would justify his behaviour or attitude toward life.

His hidden agenda is revealed by his answer to the question of Jesus regarding the observance of the commandments. He might have felt that by telling Jesus he observed all the second part of the Decalogue as Jesus listed them was enough for him to obtain eternal life. Had it been so, he would have gone away very happy and would have been reassured of what he was looking for. From the initial response of Jesus, he might have given such an impression but when he introduced into the discussion a quadruple process to obtain eternal life, the man realised he was not ready for that.

Upon hearing the requirements for obtaining eternal life, the man was shocked and found it impossible to respond positively to the invitation of Jesus to become a disciple. It is evident that the man did not realise that gaining eternal life was intrinsically linked to discipleship, which is a personal relationship with Jesus. This calls for a way of life that is consonant with that of Jesus. Thus, one cannot be attached to his/her earthly possessions and be a true a faithful disciple.

As Peter says in the First Reading, faith is more precious than gold. On his part, the Lord has manifested it and we affirmed it in the response to the Responsorial Psalm that the Lord keeps his covenant in mind. His faithfulness cannot be doubted because he is all truth. To have faith in Jesus we have to be ready to give up all that we consider precious to us in order to obtain it. True faith in Jesus and the one who sent him demands great commitment and renunciation. Without these, we may not attain the eternal life that Christ promised all who follow him.

Most Rev. Emmanuel Kofi Fianu SVD. Bishop of Ho Diocese on 21st May 2024, commissioned a mission house at Peki-Adzokoe, one of the Mission Lands of St. Francis of Assisi Parish Dzemeni in Ho Diocese. The Bishop expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the community for this great feat and called on the catholic faithful outside their home dioceses and parishes to always remember to come home and contribute to the growth of their mother churches.

DEPSOCOM, 2024

Invitations to the Launch of Seminarians' Fund

The Catholic Diocese  Ho is inviting all and sundry to the SEMINARIANS' FUND launch at St Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, Ho Kpevele. This event will take place on Friday 14th June, 2024 at 9:00 am. 

Come and join us as we contribute towards the spiritual and human formation of our future priests.

DEPSOCOM HO, 2024 

26 May/Sunday/Trinity Sunday – B

            Deut 4,32-34.39-40/Psa 33,4-5.6.9.18-19.20.22/Rom 8,14-17/Matt 28,16-20

 

First Reading    Deuteronomy 4:32-34,39-40

The Lord is God indeed: he and no other

 

Moses said to the people: ‘Put this question to the ages that are past, that went before you, from the time God created man on earth: Was there ever a word so majestic, from one end of heaven to the other? Was anything ever heard? Did ever a people hear the voice of the living God speaking from the heart of the fire, as you heard it, and remain alive? Has any god ventured to take to himself one nation from the midst of another by ordeals, signs, wonders, war with mighty hand and outstretched arm, by fearsome terrors – all this that the Lord your God did for you before your eyes in Egypt?

‘Understand this today, therefore, and take it to heart: the Lord is God indeed, in heaven above as on earth beneath, he and no other. Keep his laws and commandments as I give them to you today, so that you and your children may prosper and live long in the land that the Lord your God gives you for ever.’

 

Responsorial Psalm    Psalm 32(33):4-6,9,18-20,22

 

Happy the people the Lord has chosen as his own.

 

For the word of the Lord is faithful

    and all his works to be trusted.

The Lord loves justice and right

    and fills the earth with his love.

 

By his word the heavens were made,

    by the breath of his mouth all the stars.

He spoke; and it came to be.

    He commanded; it sprang into being.

 

The Lord looks on those who revere him,

    on those who hope in his love,

to rescue their souls from death,

    to keep them alive in famine.

 

Our soul is waiting for the Lord.

    The Lord is our help and our shield.

May your love be upon us, O Lord,

    as we place all our hope in you.

 

Second Reading: Romans 8:14-17

The Spirit himself and our spirit bear united witness that we are children of God

Everyone moved by the Spirit is a son of God. The spirit you received is not the spirit of slaves bringing fear into your lives again; it is the spirit of sons, and it makes us cry out, ‘Abba, Father!’ The Spirit himself and our spirit bear united witness that we are children of God. And if we are children we are heirs as well: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, sharing his sufferings so as to share his glory.

 

Gospel Acclamation      cf. Rev 1:8

 

Alleluia, alleluia!

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit;

the God who is, who was, and who is to come.

Alleluia!

 

Gospel      Matthew 28:16-20

Go and make disciples of all nations

 

The eleven disciples set out for Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had arranged to meet them. When they saw him they fell down before him, though some hesitated. Jesus came up and spoke to them. He said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, make disciples of all the nations; baptise them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all the commands I gave you. And know that I am with you always; yes, to the end of time.’

 

Reflection

In the First Reading, Moses brought to light the powerful character of God. His intention was to let the people of Israel realise that there is no god like the God who led them out of Egypt. Moses interrogated the people about the closeness of God to them. Normally, when the gods of the nations get close to their subjects it is to sow terror. This is not so with the God of Israel. His closeness does not frighten his subjects so they are able to stay close and listen to him. Apart from his closeness, Moses also asked the people if they ever heard of a god who went in search of a people among the nations to make them his own. God searched for Abraham in the land of Ur and made a covenant with him. When Israel was in slavery in Egypt, God went to free him from bondage and made a covenant with him. The questions of Moses to the people of Israel were meant to let them reflect on the difference between the God who has called them to a covenant relationship and the gods of the nations around them.

On the day on which we celebrate the solemnity of the Holy Trinity, we can understand why Moses insisted on the greatness of God. He is a unique God so the people need to cultivate a special relationship with him. When we speak of the Trinity however, we do not only think of the greatness of God. We think particularly of the doctrine of the three persons in one God. The essence of the celebration today is not to explain how there are three persons in one God. The focus of the celebration is the relationship that exists between the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. It is the essence of this relationship that gives meaning to the Trinity and makes it a message for us Christians.

The essence of the relationship between the three persons of the Trinity is love. It is the love of the Father that made him to send the Son for the salvation of humanity. It was the love of the Son that made him obedient to the Father even unto death. His love for redeemed humanity made him send the Holy Spirit from the Father so that he may teach us all things and lead us to the Father. The Father and the Holy Spirit love the Son so much that at different moments in his earthly life, they manifested themselves to those who were with him. These moments confirm that Jesus had a privileged relationship with the Father and the Holy Spirit. A number of times, a voice was heard urging the disciples to believe in Jesus. Only those who listen to the Son know the Father and the Holy Spirit dwells in them. 

In the Gospel Reading, as the disciples gather with Jesus in Galilee after his resurrection, he gives them a last command. They were to go out to the world and make disciples of all nations. They were to baptise the people in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all the commands he gave them. This act of evangelisation is to bring the people into the communion of the Trinity. It is through this act that they would share in the love of God. We are invited today to contemplate the great love that God has for us as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. May we have the courage to share this love with all humanity as we proclaim the greatness of God by our way of life. 

25 May/Saturday/7th Week in Ordinary Time,

Jas 5,13-20/Psa 141,1-2.3.8/Mark 10,13-16

 

First Reading  James 5:13-20

A good man's heartfelt prayer has great power

If any one of you is in trouble, he should pray; if anyone is feeling happy, he should sing a psalm. If one of you is ill, he should send for the elders of the church, and they must anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord and pray over him. The prayer of faith will save the sick man and the Lord will raise him up again; and if he has committed any sins, he will be forgiven. So confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another, and this will cure you; the heartfelt prayer of a good man works very powerfully. Elijah was a human being like ourselves – he prayed hard for it not to rain, and no rain fell for three-and-a-half years; then he prayed again and the sky gave rain and the earth gave crops.

My brothers, if one of you strays away from the truth, and another brings him back to it, he may be sure that anyone who can bring back a sinner from the wrong way that he has taken will be saving a soul from death and covering up a great number of sins.

 

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 140(141):1-3,8

 

Let my prayer come before you like incense, O Lord.

 

I have called to you, Lord; hasten to help me!

    Hear my voice when I cry to you.

Let my prayer arise before you like incense,

    the raising of my hands like an evening oblation.

 

Set, O Lord, a guard over my mouth;

    keep watch, O Lord, at the door of my lips!

To you, Lord God, my eyes are turned:

    in you I take refuge; spare my soul!

 

Gospel Acclamation                                                                                                    Matt 11:25

 

Alleluia, alleluia!

Blessed are you, Father,

Lord of heaven and earth,

for revealing the mysteries of the kingdom

to mere children.

Alleluia!

 

Gospel:   Mark 10:13-16

It is to such as these little children that the kingdom of God belongs

 

People were bringing little children to Jesus, for him to touch them. The disciples turned them away, but when Jesus saw this he was indignant and said to them, ‘Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. I tell you solemnly, anyone who does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’ Then he put his arms round them, laid his hands on them and gave them his blessing.

 

Reflection

The decision of the disciples of Jesus to prevent the children from approaching him was not due to any bad intention on their part. Certainly, many people wanted to get close to Jesus, so it came naturally to the disciples to deny the children the chance to get near to Jesus. This would have been with the supposition that they were of lesser importance. On the other hand, the parents of the children may have desired that Jesus lay his hands on them or touch them as a way of imparting his blessings on them. The disciples saw things differently so would not allow the children to approach Jesus.

The reaction of Jesus placed the children at the centre of his concern. Jesus was on the side of the weak and the oppressed so seeing the disciples acting in a manner that rendered the children vulnerable; he naturally reacted in their defence. Jesus did not want to confirm the status quo but used the occasion to point out that those who were like children were the greatest beneficiaries of the kingdom of God. Jesus identified in the children the simplicity of faith that was necessary to belong to the kingdom. It is also evident that children symbolise powerlessness, dependence and receptiveness. They were powerless so they could not defend their desire to get close to Jesus. Their dependence is demonstrated in their need of being led by others to have access to Jesus. Their receptiveness is manifested in their openness to receive. Jesus confirms this by saying that they were more receptive of the kingdom of God.

The positive attitude of Jesus toward children is an invitation to us to reflect on how we receive them, care for them and learn from them. In a world in which the bearing and raising of children is becoming a social and financial problem for many people, it is worth reflecting on the way Jesus shows concern for children. His appreciation is shown in his embrace that becomes an invitation to us to love and care for children in society. This is the way to show that we appreciate them and care for them. Not only parents but also all Christians should be able to show concern and respect for children in order to help them grow into good and faithful Christians. When we see them stray away from the faith or the path of God, we should follow the advice of James in the First Reading and bring them back to the right path. James assures us that the heartfelt prayer of a just man works very powerfully. Let us pray today with the Psalmist, asking the Lord to let our prayer come before him like incense.