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

The Nativity of the Lord (Vigil Mass), Year A – Dec 24, 2016

Readings: Is 62:1-5; Responsorial Psalm Ps 89:4-5.16-17.29 (2a); Acts 13:16-17.22-25; Gospel - Matthew 1:1-25.

Theme: Christmas Eve: Joining the Shepherds in the First Vigil!

 

Beloved in Christ, today is Christmas-eve. Here in Nigeria, we are quite familiar with the razzmatazz that is often associated with the day or period of time immediately before an event or occasion like the bachelor’s eve or what is popularly called, before the wedding – Usually, the friends of the groom or groomsmen raise money and throw some kind of a send off party for their crony who is about to graduate from bachelorhood to both familyhood and fatherhood.

Those who have attended these parties claim that such parties are avenues for married guys to give good advice to the groom to be. Aside from the plenty food and drink available, such events are known to be wild and funky. What is clear in this kind of celebration is the spirit of expectation or joyous waiting by the bridegroom for his beloved bride.

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

The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas), Year A – Dec 25, 2016

  Readings: Is 52:7-10; Responsorial Psalm Ps 98:1-6 (R.v.3); Heb1:1-6; Gospel John 1:1-18 or John 1:1-5.9-14.

Theme: Christ Our Light: Lessons Of Christmas From Rural-Africa!

  In Rural-Africa, the excitement of children when light or power supply is restored after it has been interrupted for days or weeks is akin to that joy you feel when Santa Claus knocks at your door on Christmas morning to surprise you with a box of gifts. Perhaps an erstwhile gathering of African kids at the family compound or village square for tales by the moonlight tells the story of light (energy) deficit in Sub-Sahara Africa more.

Drawing from the latest Africa Progress Panel report 2015 titled “People, Power, Planet,” we are told that TWO in every three people in Africa, around 621 million in total, live in darkness – which means that they have no access to electricity. According to the report, the poor spend the most on energy with Africa’s poorest households spending $10/kWh on lighting, or around 20 times the amount spent by high-income households with a connection to the grid. It surmised that on current trends, it will take Africa until 2080 to achieve universal access to light (electricity).

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

                          Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year A – Dec 18, 2016

Readings: Is 7:10-14; Responsorial Psalm Ps 24:1-2,3-4,5-6; Rom 1:1-7; Gospel Mat 1:18-24.

Theme: Lessons from the Emmanuel & Joseph Effect!

Friends in Christ, the joy of last Sunday being Gaudete or Rejoice Sunday has led us to the last Sunday of Advent. The four Sundays of Advent have given us four weeks of intense preparation for the Lord’s nativity. Today, the Prophet Isaiah (Is 7:10-14) brings us glad tidings that a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son who shall be named Emmanuel. Isaiah’s prophecy is amplified in the gospel (Mat 1:18-24) which presents the circumstances leading to the saviour’s birth culminating in naming him, Emmanuel – much like Isaiah’s Emmanuel which means, God with us. What do we make of this? Well, our reflection will be based on the Emmanuel-Effect in the light of God’s omnipresence, omnipotence and omniscience while drawing lessons from the Joseph-Effect. 

Bishop Kukah: Four Decades of Exceptional Service to God and Humanity

By Justine Dyikuk

The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, His Excellency, Most Rev. Mathew Hassan Kukah will be forty years as a Catholic Priest on 19 December 2016. This man of God needs no introduction in Nigeria. The quintessential ecclesiastical and elder statesman is a remarkable Nigerian who has stood tall in both spiritual and secular affairs.

While the preparations for the celebration of these forty years of faithfulness in the service of God and humanity for this servant of God are in top gear, it is essential to give honour to whom honour is due. Indeed, we know the celebrant as someone who is not only an idealist in the sense of one who has the theoretical framework of where he wants Nigeria to be but also “a brutal realist” as Africa Confidential describes him, who constantly gives a proviso of how Nigeria should work based on his many years of contact with the faithful on the pastoral field, people of divergent creeds at ecumenical gatherings, academics at scholarly fora and governments at local, state, federal and international levels.

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

Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year A – Dec 18, 2016
Readings: Is 7:10-14; Responsorial Psalm Ps 24:1-2,3-4,5-6; Rom 1:1-7; Gospel Mat 1:18-24.
Theme: Lessons from the Emmanuel & Joseph Effect!
Friends in Christ, the joy of last Sunday being Gaudete or Rejoice Sunday has led us to the last Sunday of Advent. The four Sundays of Advent have given us four weeks of intense preparation for the Lord’s nativity. Today, the Prophet Isaiah (Is 7:10-14) brings us glad tidings that a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son who shall be named Emmanuel. Isaiah’s prophecy is amplified in the gospel (Mat 1:18-24) which presents the circumstances leading to the saviour’s birth culminating in naming him, Emmanuel – much like Isaiah’s Emmanuel which means, God with us. What do we make of this? Well, our reflection will be based on the Emmanuel-Effect in the light of God’s omnipresence, omnipotence and omniscience while drawing lessons from the Joseph-Effect.
1. God’s Omnipresence: The last Sunday of Advent puts before us the Emmanuel-Effect. It reveals God’s abiding presence among us. There is no doubting the fact that God is ever present with us. Of course, he is not physically present as he was over two thousand years ago in Bethlehem where he was born but his spirit is at work in the Church and among believers. That is not all, we are reminded not to lose sight of God’s omnipresence in the sacraments – the visible presence of God in the Church which gives us new life, provides us with the bread of life, confirms our faith, grants us healing, forgives our sins, raises ministerial priests to shepherd the Church and unites man and woman to adorn the domestic Church with the jewels of offspring. We must allow his presence to be felt in our private and public lives. We must also be seen to live out the Emmanuel-Effect as we approach Christmas.  

Sunday Synopsis with Fr. Justine J. Dyikuk

Third Sunday of Advent, Year A – Gaudete Sunday - Nov 11, 2016
Readings: Is 35:1-6a.10; Responsorial Psalm Ps 146:6c-7.8-9a.9bc-10(R.cf.Is 35:4); James 5:7-10; Gospel Mat 11:2-11.
Theme: The Signs of Time and Imperative of Christ’s Coming!
Friends in Christ, the words of John the Baptist in the gospel (Mat 11:2-11) to Jesus through his disciples while he was in prison namely “Are you he who is to come, or shall we look for another?” appears scandalous. How can John, who was a forerunner of Jesus, be asking that kind of question? How can the person who gave tax collectors, prostitutes, soldiers and other categories of sinners the baptism of repentance in preparation for the coming one, whom he claimed was mightier than he, whose sandals he was not worthy to untie turn around to ask if Jesus was indeed the Messiah?
Well, we may be scandalised at the Baptist’s reaction and question but in reality, we are guiltier than John in many respects. What is our attitude to persecution, disease, sickness, death and poverty? How do we respond to the inability to get a job, pay our children’s school fees, house rent, PHCN bill or have three square meals per day? What do we make of the economic meltdown Nigeria is currently undergoing in the light of our faith?

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

Second Sunday of Advent, Year A – Nov 4, 2016
Readings: Is 11:1-10; Responsorial Psalm Ps 72:1-2. 7-8.12-13.17.CR.cf.7; Rom 15:4-9; Gospel Mat 3:1-12.
Theme: The Imperative of Being Heralds of Christ’s Second Coming!
My Brothers and Sisters in Christ, the Second Sunday of Advent presents us with realities that are meant to perfectly prepare us for the celebration of Christ’s nativity. We shall reflect on four points in the light of our readings:
1. John as Jesus’ Forerunner – The events leading to the birth of St. John the Baptist clearly reveals the task God had for him. The child, John, had leapt in the womb of his mother, Elizabeth at the greeting of her cousin, the Blessed Virgin Mary. The eventful episode of Ein Kerem (Jerusalem) as found in Luke 1:39-56 reminds us about the remote stages of setting John aside for the great task of preparing the people for the coming of Christ. In no small way did he carry the sacred task of preparing the people for the eventual arrival of Jesus. This has great lessons for us as we shall soon discover.

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

First Sunday of Advent, Year A – Nov 27, 2016
Readings: Is 2:1-5; Responsorial Psalm Ps 122:1-2,3-4, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9; Rom 13:11-14; Gospel Mat 24:37-44.
Theme: Of Times & Seasons: Welcoming Jesus in Our Hearts!
Beloved in Christ, the Book of Ecclesiastes reminds us about the necessity of change in times and seasons when it says: “To everything there is a season, and a time under heaven” (Ecc 3:1). The Season of Advent is here again – a time when the liturgical colour changes to purple/violet; a time when a new liturgical new calendar begins; a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the nativity of the Lord at Christmas.
The word Advent comes from the Latin, adventus which means “coming” – the word is synonymous with the Greek parousia which also stands for (coming). As a season of looking forward and waiting for something really important, Advent is about both the preparation of the annual celebration of the birth of Christ and his second coming. Little wonder in the gospel (Mat 24:37-44) Jesus likens his parousia (coming) to the days of Noah, before and after the flood.

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

Thirty-fourth Sunday of the Year, C – Nov 20, 2016: The Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, Last Sunday of the Year & Official Closing of the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy in Rome.
Readings: 2 Sam 5:1-3; Responsorial Psalm Ps 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5(cf.1); Col 1:12-20; Gospel Luke 23:35-43.
Theme: Living for the King of Kings & the Lord of Lords!
My dear people of God, today is Christ the King - A day in which the liturgical cycle of the Church closes. The celebration of the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ as King of the Universe reminds Christians about the indefectible place of Christ’s reign over the earth and the call to live accordingly as heirs of the Kingdom.

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

Thirty-third Sunday of the Year, C – Nov 13, 2016: The Closing of the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy in Local Churches.
Readings: Malachi 4:1-2a; Responsorial Psalm Ps 98:5-6,7-9ab,9cd(R.cf9cd); 2 Thessalonians 3:7-12; Gospel Luke 21:5-19.
Theme: A Merciful Judge, False Prophets & End-time Prophesy!
Friends in Christ, as we prepare to round up the Church’s Liturgical Calendar, our readings speak to us about a merciful judge, false prophets and end-time realities. The readings are timely because today, the Universal Church mandates Local Churches to officially close the Extraordinary Jubilee Year of Mercy although the grand finale will be holding in Rome on November 20, 2016. It will be recalled that the Holy Father, Pope Francis inaugurated the Jubilee Year of Mercy on December 8, 2015.

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

Thirty-second Sunday of the Year, C – Nov 6, 2016.
Readings: 2 Mc 7:1-2, 9-14; Responsorial Psalm Ps 17:1, 5-6, 8,15; 2 Thes 2:16-3:5; Gospel Lk 20:27-38 or Lk 20:27, 34-38.
Theme: Witnessing to the Point of Death
Introduction
Beloved in Christ, as we approach the end of the Church’s liturgical calendar, our readings are apocalyptic in nature. They not only remind us about the four last things namely, death, judgment, heaven and hell, but challenge us to the fact of witnessing without which we cannot see the face of God.
In the first reading (2 Maccabees 7:1-2, 9-14) we hear about the dramatic witnessing of a courageous Jewish woman and her seven sons. This moving story is a one of faith, courage and heroic witness. From this dutiful family, we learn devotion to the law of God and our ancestors in the faith; therein, we also take lessons in the resurrection and on how to witness courageously:
1. Devotion to the Law of God: One thing we cannot take away from this family is their dedication to the law of God.  It would seem that the Old Testament injunction: “You shall thus observe all my statutes and all my ordinances and do the; I am the Lord” (Leviticus 19:37) was a creed that spurred them on. Little wonder the second son in Verse 9 of the first reading said: “It is for his laws that we are dying.”

Shikrot Mpwi – All Saints Day Synopsis with Fr. Justine J. Dyikuk

 Solemnity of All Saints, Year C - Nov. 1, 2016.
Readings: Rv 7:2-4, 9-14; Responsorial Psalm Ps 24:1BC-2, 3-4AB, 5-6; 1 Jn 3:1-3; Gospel Mt 5:1-12A.
Theme: In Communion with the Saints.                                      
Beloved in Christ, today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of All Saints. It might interest you to know that today's celebration has an ecumenical dimension because the Anglican Communion, the Methodist Church, the Lutheran Church and other Protestant churches observe this day alongside the Catholic Church. This celebration is predicated on the fundamental belief that there is an unbreakable spiritual bond between the citizens of heaven (the Church triumphant) and the living (the Church militant). As a day in which we commemorate all those who have attained the beatific vision in Heaven, All Saints Day is a solemnity and a holiday of obligation in Catholic countries.                       On this day, we give solemn thanks to God for the known and unknown  lives of the saints. Glorious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his faithful (Psalm 116:15). As we reflect on the spiritual meaning attached to this celebration, we must understand who the saints are and their intercessory role:  

Shikrot Mpwi –Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls Day, Year C - Nov. 2, 2016 Synopsis with Fr. Justine J. Dyikuk)

Readings: Wis 3:1-9; Responsorial Psalm Ps 23:1-3A, 3B-4, 5, 6; Rom 5:5-11 Or Rom 6:3-9; Gospel Jn 6:37-40.
Theme: In Praying for the Dead, We Pray for Ourselves. No other time is appropriate to remember the dead than around this time of the year in which Christian Catholics around the world traditionally dedicate the souls of the departed to God, be they Christians or not. This pious act of charitable remembrance resonates with the spirit of our celebration. Two significant Catholic solemnities namely, All Saints and All Souls Day which are observed on 1st and 2nd November every year respectively are moments of grace and spiritual strengthening for the Church.                                      The observance of All Souls Day on November 2 as a day of prayer for the souls of all the faithful departed is credited to St. Odilo, the abbot of the powerful monastery of Cluny in southern France who added it to Church celebrations in 998. This feast, called All Souls Day soon spread from France to the rest of Europe.

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

Thirty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time: Year C - Oct. 30, 2016.
Readings: Wis. 11:22-12:2; Responsorial Psalm Ps 145:1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13, 14; Thes. 1:11-2:2; Gospel Lk. 19:1-10.
Theme:  The Challenge of Meeting the Lord & the Sycamore Tree!
Friends in Christ, the wisdom text (Wis. 11:22-12:2) we read today reminds us about God's kindness and mercy as well as his ardent desire to save sinners. It particularly notes that he does that: "...that they may abandon their wickedness and believe in [him]."                                
This implies that God's love is infinite and his mercies unparalleled. Such warm assurances are sure a product of God's benevolence. There is no better moment for appropriating such a salvific gesture than when the Jubilee Year of Mercy is winding up.                            
 The message of the first reading is reinforced in the gospel (Lk. 19:1-10) where the publican Zacchaeus takes advantage of Jesus passing through Jericho. From him, we learn that:            
1. Jesus passes through the Jericho of our daily lives but only those who hunger for him can take advantage of the situation and be the better for it.  

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

 Thirtieth  Sunday of the Year, C – October 23, 2016: World Mission Sunday.
Readings: Sir 35:12-14, 16-18; Responsorial Psalm PS 34:2-3, 17-18, 19, 23; 2 Tm 4:6-8, 16-18; Gospel Lk 18:9-14.
Theme: Siding with the Poor in Prayer, Humility, Charity & Mission
In our first reading (Sir 35:12-14, 16-18) today, God makes a  preferential option for the poor and vulnerable while stamping his authority to not only defend them but grant their heart's desires.             In Catholic theology, preferential option for the poor is a teaching that is based on the Catholic Social Doctrine of the Church which makes a case for all those who are marginalised in society. These include the unborn children, persons with disabilities, the elderly and terminally ill, and victims of injustice and oppression.                                      
The Church Fathers urge the faithful according to their ability to share and  dispose of their goods to help others by giving them aid which will  enable them to help and develop themselves. (The Church in the Modern World - Gaudium et Spes #69)                                                    
We must realise that the earth belongs to everyone, not only to the rich alone (On the Development of  Peoples - Populorum Progressio, #23) which is why the poor and vulnerable must always be on our agenda.