Shikrot Mpwi - Sunday Synopsis with Fr. Justine J. Dyikuk

December 30, 2016. 
Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph

Readings: 1 Sir 3:2-6, 12-14; Responsorial Psalm PS 128:1-2, 3, 4-5; Col 3:12-21 & Gospel Matthew 2:13-15,19-23.

Theme: Standing Up for the Family.

The Family Institution is suffering a backlash in our age no thanks to the upsurge of gay rights, single parenthood, individualism and exaggerated freedom. The human race may be at the verge of extinction since some people are opting for pleasure for its own sake without the corresponding responsibility that goes with it.                                      

Amidst this sad development, our liturgy presents us with the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph as a prototype for all Christian families. Any family, either nuclear or extended is made up of father, mother and children with each member having his or her rights and responsibilities. Our reflection will centre around four things - the responsibility of parents to their children, the responsibility of children to their parents, the responsibility of one parent to another and the responsibilities of parents to both the Church and the State.   

Shikrot Mpwi - Sunday Synopsis with Fr. Justine J. Dyikuk The Octave Day of Christmas: Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God – January 1, 2017.

Readings: Numbers 6:22-27; Responsorial Psalm PS 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8(R.v.2a); Galatians 4:4-7 & Gospel Luke 2:16-21.

Theme: To God, through Mary.

On the first day of January 2017, the Church presents us with the Mother of Jesus, the Blessed Virgin Mary (BVM) so that we can learn from her school of love and fidelity to God’s will. Today, of the four Marian Dogmas of the Catholic Church namely, theotokos – Mary as Mother of God, Perpetual Virginity, Immaculate Conception and Assumption of Mary, the Church wants us to reflect on theotokos - namely, Mary as Mother of God.

To achieve this, it is important to understand what a dogma is. Briefly put, a dogma is the official teaching of the Catholic Church pertaining to faith and morals proclaimed by the Magisterium (the teaching body of the Church) through the Roman Pontiff which is binding on all Catholics. Dogmas are lights along the path of faith; they illuminate and make faith secure (John 8:31-32). Built upon divine foundations, dogmas are firmly rooted in scripture as evident in the Holy Scripture (Cf. Matthew 18:18 & 16:18-19, John 21:16 & Luke 10:16).