REFLECTION FOR TODAY February 26, 2021 By Fr. Andrew Ibegbulem, OSA “Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court. Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge, and the judge will hand you over to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. Amen, I say to you, you…
Author: Steve2020
ASKING IN FAITH FOR GOOD THINGS
REFLECTION FOR TODAY February 25, 2021 By Fr. Andrew Ibegbulem, OSA “Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asked for a loaf of bread, or a snake when he asked for a fish?” Matthew 7:9–10 When Jesus tells us to ask, seek, and knock in prayer, he promises that God…
A GENERATION THAT SEEK SIGNS
REFLECTION FOR TODAY February 24, 2021 By Fr. Andrew Ibegbulem, OSA While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them, “This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah.” Luke 11:29 Signs are important in the Christian journey but…
DO NOT BABBLE IN PRAYER
REFLECTION FOR TODAY February 23, 2021 By Fr. Andrew Ibegbulem, OSA Jesus said to his disciples: “In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Matt. 6:7-8 Prayer is our way of contemplating and responding to God’s word, such…
GOD STILL ACT IN AND THROUGH THE CHURCH
REFLECTION FOR TODAY February 22, 2021 By Fr. Andrew Ibegbulem, OSA And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the Kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on…
DRIVEN BY THE SPIRIT TO THE DESERT
REFLECTION FOR TODAY February 21, 2021 By Fr. Andrew Ibegbulem, OSA The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, and he remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to him. Mark 1:12–13 Our gospel reference of today tells us that Jesus was driven…
THE CHOICE TO FOLLOW JESUS
REFLECTION FOR TODAY February 20, 2021 By Fr. Andrew Ibegbulem, OSA Jesus saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him. Luke 5:27–28 The call Jesus made on Levi in our gospel reference today, He still make…
WHAT TRUE FASTING IS ABOUT!
REFLECTION FOR TODAY February 19, 2021 By Fr. Andrew Ibegbulem, OSA “The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.” Matthew 9:15 Our gospel reference today speaks about fasting which is not just about abstaining from food. True fasting can mean performing works of mercy or “fasting”…
LOVE IS A CHOICE WE MAKE
REFLECTION FOR TODAY February 18, 2021 By Fr. Andrew Ibegbulem, OSA Jesus said to his disciples: “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.” Luke 9:22 Jesus knew He would suffer greatly, be rejected…
LENT, AN INVITATION TO DRAW CLOSER TO GOD
REFLECTION FOR TODAY February 17, 2021 By Fr. Andrew Ibegbulem, OSA But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. Matthew 6:6 As we begin the season of Lent, we are invited to trust in…
UNDERSTANDING THE WORDS OF JESUS
REFLECTION FOR TODAY February 16, 2021 By Fr. Andrew Ibegbulem, OSA “Do you not yet understand or comprehend? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes and not see, ears and not hear?” Mark 8:17–18 This disciples had forgotten to bring bread and Jesus enjoined them to guard against the leaven of the the Pharisee…
SIGHING FROM THE DEPTH OF THE SPIRIT
REFLECTION FOR TODAY February 15, 2021 By Fr. Andrew Ibegbulem, OSA The Pharisees came forward and began to argue with Jesus, seeking from him a sign from heaven to test him. He sighed from the depth of his spirit and said, “Why does this generation seek a sign? Amen, I say to you, no sign…
THE RESTORING TOUCH OF JESUS FROM “I DO WILL IT”
REFLECTION FOR TODAY February 14, 2021 By Fr. Andrew Ibegbulem, OSA A leper came to Jesus and kneeling down begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched him, and said to him, “I do will it. Be made clean.” Mark 1:40–41 Jesus…
THE PRIORITY OF OUR SPIRITUAL NEEDS OVER MATERIAL NEEDS
REFLECTION FOR TODAY February 13, 2021 By Fr. Andrew Ibegbulem, OSA “My heart is moved with pity for the crowd, because they have been with me now for three days and have nothing to eat. If I send them away hungry to their homes, they will collapse on the way, and some of them have…
WHAT CAN YOU DO FOR A FRIEND TODAY?
REFLECTION FOR TODAY February 12, 2021 By Fr. Andrew Ibegbulem, OSA They were exceedingly astonished and they said, “He has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.” Mark 7:37 Our gospel reference today is the conclusion to the story of Jesus healing a deaf man who also had a…
THE FAITH THAT MAKES THE DIFFERENCE
REFLECTION FOR TODAY February 11, 2021 By Fr. Andrew Ibegbulem, OSA Soon a woman whose daughter had an unclean spirit heard about him. She came and fell at his feet. The woman was a Greek, a Syrophoenician by birth, and she begged him to drive the demon out of her daughter. Mark 7:25–26 In our…
PURITY IS A THING OF THE HEART
REFLECTION FOR TODAY February 10, 2021 By Fr. Andrew Ibegbulem, OSA Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile.”… But what comes out of the man, that is what defiles him. From within the man, from his heart, come evil thoughts, unchastity,…
TRUE WORSHIP FROM THE HEART
REFLECTION FOR TODAY February 9, 2021 By Fr. Andrew Ibegbulem, OSA When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus, they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands. Mark 7:6–8 It seems quite clear that Jesus’ instant fame led these religious leaders…
BRINGING THE SICK TO JESUS FOR HEALING
REFLECTION FOR TODAY February 8, 2021 By Fr. Andrew Ibegbulem, OSA Whatever villages or towns or countryside he entered, they laid the sick in the marketplaces and begged him that they might touch only the tassel on his cloak; and as many as touched it were healed. Mark 6:56 God is both transcendent and immanent;…
MAKING OUR TIME TO PRAY
REFLECTION FOR TODAY February 7, 2021 By Fr. Andrew Ibegbulem, OSA Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed. Simon and those who were with him pursued him and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.” He told them, “Let us go on to…