REFLECTION FOR TODAY, August 25, 2020 By Fr. Andrew Ibegbulem, OSA “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites. You cleanse the outside of cup and dish, but inside they are full of plunder and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee, cleanse first the inside of the cup, so that the outside also may be clean.” Matthew 23:25-26…
Category: Fr Ibegbulem
NO DUPLICITY
REFLECTION FOR TODAY, August 24, 2020 By Fr. Andrew Ibegbulem, OSA “Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said of him, “Here is a true child of Israel. There is no duplicity in him.” Nathanael said to him, “How do you know me?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Before Philip called you, I saw…
THE SECRET OF JESUS
REFLECTION FOR TODAY, August 23, 2020 By Fr. Andrew Ibegbulem, OSA “Then he strictly ordered his disciples to tell no one that he was the Messiah”. Matt. 16:20 The Bible passage for reflection in today’s Gospel comes immediately after Peter made his profession of faith in Jesus as the Messiah. Jesus, in turn, tells Peter…
THE QUEENSHIP OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
REFLECTION FOR TODAY, August 22, 2020 By Fr. Andrew Ibegbulem, OSA “And Mary said, behold I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word” Lk. 1: 37 Mary our Mother, is queen of heaven and earth. Today is the Feast of the Queenship of Mary. We celebrate…
THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT
REFLECTION FOR TODAY, August 21, 2020 By Fr. Andrew Ibegbulem, OSA “When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together, and one of them, a scholar of the law, tested him by asking, “Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest?” He said to him, “You shall love the Lord,…
THE IMPORTANCE OF CHARITY
REFLECTION FOR TODAY, August 20, 2020 By Fr. Andrew Ibegbulem, OSA “The servants went out into the streets and gathered all they found, bad and good alike, and the hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to meet the guests he saw a man there not dressed in a wedding garment….
BEWARE OF THE UGLY SIN OF ENVY
REFLECTION FOR TODAY, August 19, 2020 By Fr. Andrew Ibegbulem, OSA Are you envious because I am generous?” Matthew 20:15 The more we focus on our blessings as God’s children, the easier it becomes to reject selfish, envious thoughts and behavior. May God’s generosity and great love for us allow us to see more clearly…
UNDERSTANDING BEING FIRST
REFLECTION FOR TODAY, August 18, 2020 By Fr. Andrew Ibegbulem, OSA “But many who are first will be last, and the last will be first.” Matt. 19:30 Amid a culture of consumerism and a focus on self-advancement, the kingdom of God stands apart. We participate in God’s kingdom not by amassing wealth or promoting ourselves,…
CALL TO PERFECTION AND POVERTY OF SPIRIT
REFLECTION FOR TODAY, August 17, 2020 By Fr. Andrew Ibegbulem, OSA “If you wish to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this statement, he went away sad, for he had many possessions. Matthew…
THE SILENCE OF GOD
REFLECTION FOR TODAY, August 16, 2020 By Fr. Andrew Ibegbulem, OSA And behold, a Canaanite woman of that district came and called out, “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.” But Jesus did not say a word in answer to her. Jesus’ disciples came and asked him,…
THE MYSTERY OF THE HUMAN PERSON AS SEEN IN MARRIAGE UNITY
REFLECTION FOR TODAY, August 14, 2020 By Fr. Andrew Ibegbulem, OSA Have you not read that from the beginning the Creator made them male and female and said, For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh? So they are…
FORGIVENESS
REFLECTION FOR TODAY, August 13, 2020 By Fr. Andrew Ibegbulem, OSA “‘You wicked servant! I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to. Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant, as I had pity on you?’ Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers until he should…
TAKE COURAGE…. DO NOT BE AFRAID
REFLECTION FOR TODAY, August 9, 2020 By Fr. Andrew Ibegbulem, OSA During the fourth watch of the night, Jesus came toward them walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. “It is a ghost,” they said, and they cried out in fear. At once Jesus spoke to…
HOW FAR CAN YOU DENY YOURSELF TO CARRY YOUR CROSS?
REFLECTION FOR TODAY, August 7, 2020 By Fr. Andrew Ibegbulem, OSA “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.” Matthew 16:24 There is a very important word in this statement of Jesus. It’s the word “must.” Note that Jesus did not say that some of you may…
THE GLORY OF GOD IN THE TRANSFIGURATION
REFLECTION FOR TODAY, August 6, 2020 By Fr. Andrew Ibegbulem, OSA Jesus took Peter, James, and his brother John, and led them up a high mountain apart by themselves. And he was transfigured before them, and his clothes became dazzling white, such as no fuller on earth could bleach them. Mark 9:2-3 The Transfiguration is…
AN HUMBLE PLEAD WITH FAITH AND TRUST
REFLECTION FOR TODAY, August 5, 2020 By Fr. Andrew Ibegbulem, OSA But the woman came and did him homage, saying, “Lord, help me.” He said in reply, “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” She said, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps…
COURAGE TO SPEAK THE TRUTH IN LOVE
REFLECTION FOR TODAY, August 4, 2020 By Fr. Andrew Ibegbulem, OSA Then his disciples approached and said to him, “Do you know that the Pharisees took offense when they heard what you said?” He said in reply, “Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone; they are blind…
FAITH AND DOUBT
REFLECTION FOR TODAY, August 3, 2020 By Fr. Andrew Ibegbulem, OSA Peter said to him in reply, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” He said, “Come.” Matt. 14: 28-29 When the wind picks up and the waters rage around us in the storms of life, we easily…
TRANSFORMATION
REFLECTION FOR TODAY, August 2, 2020 By Fr. Andrew Ibegbulem, OSA Taking the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, he said the blessing, broke the loaves, and gave them to the disciples, who in turn gave them to the crowds. They all ate and were satisfied, and they picked up…
THE SAD FRUIT OF HATE
REFLECTION FOR TODAY, August 1, 2020 By Fr. Andrew Ibegbulem, OSA “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” Matt. 14: 8 What a sight and a bad day to say the least. St. John the Baptist was beheaded at the request of Salome, the daughter of Herodias. John was in…