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

Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year, A – May 21, 2017

Readings: Acts 8:5-8,14-17; Responsorial Psalm Ps 66:1-3,4-5,6-7,16,20; 

1 Pet 3:15-18 & Gospel John 14:15-21.

Theme: I Will Not Leave You Orphans!

 

In April 2015, the Cable News Network, (CNN) published a heartbreaking news about the seamless ease with which children, orphaned by Boko Haram insurgent attacks are being sold by the administrators of makeshift Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) Camps in Yola, the Adamawa State capital. By 2016, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reported that over 49,000 children were orphaned by Boko Haram crisis in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State. On February 13, 2017, Premium Times reported Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State as saying: “We have an official record of 52,311 orphans who are separated and unaccompanied” during the annual Murtala Mohammed Memorial Lecture at the Shehu Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja. 

Such grim and staggering statistics prepare us for a reflection on the plight of orphans in the light of gospel. Being an orphan is one of the worst human tragedies. Whenever you talk about orphans, those who wear this robe cry ceaselessly. The fact that nothing can replace the love of parents shows the vulnerability of children who grow without father, mother or both parents. For most orphans, the thought of having to grow without parental care comes with the feeling of rejection and inferiority complex. The pain of being an orphan is both personal and real.

I remember Fr. Gabriel Gowok of Pankshin Diocese asking me, “which orphanage do you belong to?” just as we were about processing for the requiem Mass of his late Father, Baba Thomas Gowok. Perhaps he was saying that to calm his nerves but the question reminded me of the fact that I am also an orphan – I lost my father on the May 19, 2007 and my mother on January 3, 2017.  The ten years my parents gave each other were an admixture of trials for the family but now that I and my 6 siblings are complete orphans, the saying of Jesus in the gospel, “I will not leave you orphans” makes meaning to us. 

To put our reflection in perspective, we must understand that although the disciples of Jesus were overjoyed at his resurrection, they were nonetheless disturbed because was ascending to the father. They were perplexed and had many unanswered questions, much as they had when He was crucified – Was He going to leave them as orphans? How would life be when their Lord and Master returns to the father and is no longer physically present with them? These troubling questions made the apostles sick as they struggled to understand the events that would unfold. 

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

Fifth Sunday of Easter, Year, A – May 14, 2017

Readings: Acts 6:1-7; Responsorial Psalm Ps 32:1-2,4-5,18-19; 1 Pet 2:4-9; 

Gospel John 14:1-12.

Theme: Jesus as the Way, the Truth and the Life!

Friends in Christ, the Penny Catechism reveals that God the Father created the world, God the Son redeemed the world and God the Holy Spirit sanctifies the world. For Jesus to claim that He is the way, the truth and the life means that He invites us to a Trinitarian expose that is capable of catapulting us into divine realities. We shall mediate on these realities as they relate to our daily lives:

Jesus as the Way: Before making the claim that He is the way, the gospel (John 14:1-12) reveals that Jesus told the apostles that He is going to prepare a place for them assuring that there are many mansions in his Father’s House. We must understand that Jesus wanted to clear the doubts, distress, confusion and anxieties of the apostles which was why he said, “Do not let your hearts be troubled.” Indeed Jesus does not only know the way – In fact, He is the way; as the way, he goes to the Father while inviting His followers to follow suit. By claiming God as His Father, who is responsible for preparing mansions for us, Jesus invites us to be faithful heirs of the kingdom. His response to Philip underscores the point.

Our liturgy exhorts us to shun other dissenting voices claiming to be the way. The proliferation of churches and miracle centres with pastors who claim to be showing the faithful the way to God but end up milking the faithful dry and making their situation worse, comes to mind. We must we weary of anyone teaching us ways that are different from what Jesus is and what He has taught us namely that, He is the way - He is the way ; He knows the way; He goes the way and holds us dear to himself while giving direction.

Jesus as the Truth: In his article, How is Jesus “the Truth?” Randy Alcorn opines that as truth personified, Jesus is the source of all truth and becomes for us the source of evaluating all truth-claims. Jesus’ claim that He is the truth means that there is iota of deceit in Him and so he calls us to walk in the truth (John 1:3), love the truth and believe in the truth (Thessalonians 2:10-12).

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

 Third Sunday of Easter, Year, A– April 30, 2017

Readings: Acts 2:14.22-33; Responsorial Psalm Ps 16:1-2a.5.7-8.9-10.11(R.11a); 1 Pet 1:17-21; Gospel Luke 24:13-35.

Theme: Emmaus: Journeying with the Chief Catechist!

Friends in Christ, as we continue witnessing to the resurrection of Christ, our liturgy this Sunday calls us to pay attention to details. The interesting thing about these details is that they are coming directly from the resurrected-Christ himself who is our Chief Catechist. This homily is inspired by the submission of Rev. Fr. Benet Uwasomba who quoted scripture scholars as saying: “The Emmaus story is a sophisticated Eucharistic catechesis.” We shall soon discover how.

Events leading to the Emmaus story had been that of gloom for the disciples whose hopes were dashed at the scandalous death of their Lord and Master. Was there anything left of their missionary enterprise? Well, your guess is as good as mine. Most of them went back to their fishing profession. Little wonder Thomas was missing when the Lord came visiting. His doubt about Christ’s visible appearance confirms their state of mind at the Lord’s death. In their discussion with Jesus, the Emmaus disciples made this disclosure: “We were hoping that he would be the one to redeem Israel;” they also noted that some of them also visited the tomb and found things as the women in their group had told them “but him they did not see” – they were presenting an uncertain scenario.   

The Emmaus disciples were discussing the circumstances surrounding the unjust manner in which their people crucified the Lord. We were told that they were “conversing and debating” about the events that have been and “Jesus himself drew near and walked with them, but their eyes were prevented from recognising him.” Don’t we get too often get caught up in the maze of life without noticing Jesus walking by us? He comes in form of a beggar, a cripple, a starving child and a widow. Examples are rife of how Jesus disguises himself in form of those who are at the margins of society and we don’t get to help him.

Well, back to the story - Jesus used the opportunity to challenge their slowness to believe the prophets adding that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and enter into his glory.  Going back to Moses and all the prophets, he catechised them concerning what referred to him in the whole of the scripture. This rare privilege of getting first hand catechesis from the Chief Catechist himself speaks to the heart of the Liturgy of the Word which is the first part of the celebration of the Holy Mass. How often do our hearts burn like these disciples for the Word of God at home, our work places and at Mass?

Palm Sunday Synopsis with Fr. Justine J. Dyikuk 

Passion Sunday – April 9, 2017

Readings: (Gospel before procession – Mt 21:1-11) Is 50:4-7; Responsorial Psalm Ps 22:8-9.17-18a19-20.23-24(R.2a); Phil. 2:6-11; Gospel Mt 26:14-27:66 OR 27;11-54.

Theme: The Passion of Christ: Learning the Lessons of Love

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, I welcome you heartily to yet another Palm/Passion  Sunday. In Catholic tradition, Palm Sunday marks the beginning of the Holy Week. It reminds us of the messianic/triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem to face his blessed passion which ultimately leads to his glorious resurrection.

Today’s liturgical ceremony is meant to solidify our hope because palms are signs that we are willing to march with Jesus, not only in moments of triumph and glory, but also in times of fall and agony. Let us, therefore process proclaiming Christ as our messiah.

I would like us to reflect on The Passion of Christ: Learning the Lessons of Love. This is because Christ went to his passion because of love as we just read in the Passion Narrative. Palm/Passion has threefold lessons for us namely:

Ø  Jesus’ Suffering is an Invitation to love: “Love one another, just as I have loved you” – (John 15:12).

Ø  Jesus’ Suffering is a Sign of love: “No greater love can a man have than to lay down his life for his friends” – (John 15:13).

Ø  Jesus’ Suffering is a Revelation about love: “If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me” – (Mark 8:34).

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

Fifth Sunday of Lent, Year, A – April 2, 2017

Readings: Ezekiel 37:12-14; Responsorial Psalm Ps 130:1-2.3-4.5-7a.7b-8.(R.7b); Rom. 8:8-11; Gospel Jn 11:1-45.

Theme: Rise Up, Resurrect that Dream!

Beloved in Christ, as we gradually close in on Easter, the first reading from Ezekiel 37:12-14 tells us about the Prophet Ezekiel, a priest of the temple of Jerusalem who lived around 597 BC and was deported from Babylon with King Joachim alongside the first deportees. The prophet sings redemption song as the people count their blessings wrought about by the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.

Prophet Ezekiel encourages the remnant of Yahweh promising them that God would restore their land in the following words: “Behold I will open their graves and raise you from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you home into the land of Israel” (Ezekiel 37:12). This message of hope is even clearer in Verse 25 of Ezekiel 37.

Apparently, the message of the first reading is a prelude to the gospel narrative wherein Jesus restores Lazarus to life after four days of being in the tomb. Reflecting on the raising of Lazarus from the dead, we realize that we ourselves may have experienced many deaths and have being buried in the tomb severally while still alive.

Think of the deaths/tomb(s) of breakages in marriage, lack of peace in the family, unemployment and other unfortunate scenarios like being victims of crime, violence, rape, incest and abortion. Other such dead or tomb situations are, bereavement of a loved one -  be it husband, wife, father, mother, sister or brother. When we experience self-doubt, guilt of the past, we often feel like we are in the tomb.  Selfishness and mediocrity equally makes us feel dry and dead.

Friend in Christ, you can’t spend your life in the graveyard of quilt dealing with the corpses of the past. You must rely on God’s Spirit to help you know when things are dead in your life so as to know when to release them. Chances are that if you continue to work with the dry bones of dead issues, you too, will begin to decay. You must realise that no amount of work can resuscitate a corpse. All you need to do is to sign the dead certificate and bury the past.

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

 Fourth Sunday of Lent, Year, A (Laetare Sunday) – March 26, 2017

Readings: 1 Sam 16:1b,6-7,10-13a; Responsorial Psalm Ps 23:1-3a.3b-4.5.6(R.1); Eph. 5:8-14; Gospel Jn 9:1-14 OR Jn 9:1.6-9.13-17.34-38.

Theme: Rejoice, because God Chooses the Weak, to Shame the Strong!

Friends in Christ, today is Laetare or Rejoice Sunday. The fourth Sunday of Lent is referred to as Laetare Sunday because the Latin words of the Introit “Laetare Jerusalem” (Rejoice, O Jerusalem) from Isaiah 66:10 appears in the entrance antiphon at Mass in the Western Christian Liturgical Calendar. As we continue our annual Lenten Observances of prayer, fasting and almsgiving, the Church bids us rejoice because our redemption is near.

Laetare Sunday is considered as a day of relaxation from the normal rigors of Lent as Easter is insight. Traditionally, weddings which are usually discouraged during the period of Lent are performed on Laetare Sunday. To further authenticate “Rejoice Sunday,” servants were released from their Master’s Service to visit their mothers which is why in some Churches, Mothering Sunday is held on this day. 

The theme of joy connects with the first reading (1 Sam 16:1b,6-7,10-13a)  which recounts how God shows preference for the youngest son of Jesse, David amidst his siblings. The favour God shows David is also demonstrated in the lives of the Israelites who despite being a small nation, enjoy divine blessings to the dismay of the Egyptians and Babylonians (Deut 7:7-8). One lesson we can quickly learn from this is that God has a way of making small things great.

To put him on the lane of happiness, Jesus turns the darkness of lack of sight suffered by the blind man in the gospel (Jn 9:1-14) into a life-changing experience. By giving him sight, Jesus changed his mourning into rejoicing. To appreciate the narrative, we must realize the various stages the man went through to appropriate the blessings of God in his life.

Bishop Malachy John Goltok (July12, 1965– March 21, 2015):  Two Years In Mind!

By Justine John DYIKUK

“Whether we are alive or dead, we belong to God” (Romans 14:8).

The imposing posture of Bishop Malachy John Goltok’s portrait at the entrance to the Bauchi Diocesan Secretariat and St. John’s Cathedral Rectory which reads ‘‘No pen can write, no tongue tell, our sad and painful loss’’ reminds this writer of the darkness that was cast over Bauchi Diocese at the rude shock of the demise of their Chief Shepherd, Bishop Malachy John Goltok at Our Lady of Apostle’s Hospital, Jos on Sunday 21 March, 2015. The sad event which occurred after a brief illness threw the priests, religious and laity of the Diocese into confusion and consternation.

It is exactly two years today since the sudden exit of our beloved bishop. No doubt, his death reminds us of the saying of the existential philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre: ‘‘A man begins to die the day he is born.’’ This statement underscores the shortness of life. This may be why the Psalmist prayed: ‘‘Lord, make us know the shortness of our lives that we may gain wisdom of heart.” Death is one sad reality that puts us in confusion. It is even more shocking and painful when it concerns a dear one like Bishop Malachy.  

No one saw this coming; not even the bishop himself – Bishop Malachy was strong and healthy. He went about his normal business. He was in the office a week before this unfortunate incident. Although he was ill for about three weeks or so, the illness did not show it would lead to death. Since then, for many of us, each day we woke up, we felt someone would tell us, ‘‘the news of your bishop’s death is not true. He is alive.’’ He was too good to die.

Born on July 12, 1965 in Bauchi to the family of Nde John, Bishop Malachy was the second eldest of a family of ten. The young Malachy attended St. Peter’s primary school, Wunti from 1972 to1978. In 1984, he enrolled into St. John Vianney Minor Seminary, Barkin Ladi and successfully completed in 1983. As part of responding to the call of God, 1984-1990 saw him at the prestigious St. Augustine’s Major Seminary, Jos. Having fulfilled the necessary requirements for priestly formation, he was ordained a priest on the 4, November 1990 by the Bishop Gabriel Gonsum Ganaka of blessed memory.

Between 1991 to 1996, he worked as a young priest at St. Stephen’s Parish, Jagindi and St. James’ Parish Gombe. While in Gombe, apart from his pastoral responsibilities and studies, he found time for playing football (his second love) at the stadium. This earned him both popularity and friends among Muslim youths. From 1996-2004, he was involved in the formation of young men for the priesthood at the Holy Spirit Formation Centre, Kuru. St. Finbar’s Rayfield played host to him between 2004 to 2011. While in the Archdiocese of Jos, he doubled as the parish priest of St. Finbar’s and the Archdiocesan Financial Administrator. 

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

Third Sunday of Lent, Year, A – March 19, 2017

Readings: Ex 17:3-7; Responsorial Psalm Ps 95:1-2.6-7abc.7d-9(R7d,8a);

 2^nd Rom 5:1-2.5-8; Gospel Jn 4-5-42 OR Jn 4:5-15.19b26.39a.40-42.

Theme: The Living Water: Marketing for Christ!

Friends in Christ, our readings present Jesus as a marketer per excellence. Perhaps business scholars were guided by biblical principles in formulating the Awareness, Interest, Desire and Action (AIDA) marketing model. According to this theory, one has to be aware of a product before he begins to develop an interest in the product. This is followed by the desire to acquire the product and the actual action of buying it. Marketing moguls use this principle as a bait to entice customers to buy their products.

The encounter between Jesus and the Samaritan woman presents a scenario which brings out the AIDA principle. Jesus was aware of all this woman had gone through. He became interested in saving her. As such, he ignited the desire for “living water” in her. The good news is that she fell for his “product” because we are told, she left her water jar and ran back to the village where she told the people: “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” She becomes the first herald of the gospel in her city. 

It is important for us to pay attention to details in this narrative. A woman who goes in search of water, meets a stranger who takes her through the worship of the true God in Spirit and in Truth and also tells her all that she has ever done; at the jaw-breaking encounter, she throws her jar of water and goes to the city to give a testimony of her experience. And “many Samaritan from that city believed in him because of the woman’s testimony” as the Johannine text records.

The woman’s testimony was not sufficient for her fellow citizens as their curiosity for an eye-witness account pushed them to the scene of the incident. The motto of Young Catholic Students, SEE, JUDGE and ACT comes to play here. The people went to see things for themselves. After having a personal encounter with him, they begged Jesus to stay with them for two days – which he did. That sound-judgement would lead to a positive act(ion) namely, as evident in their testimony to the woman about their personal experience of Jesus: “It is no longer because of your words that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is indeed the Saviour of the world.”    

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

 Second Sunday of Lent, Year, A – March 12, 2017

Readings: Gen 12:1-4A; Responsorial Psalm Ps 33:4-5, 18-10, 20, 20, 22; 2^nd Tm 1:8B-10; Gospel Mt 17:1-9.

Theme:  Rise, Do Not Fear!

Beloved in Christ, the call of Abram/Abraham which we heard about in the first reading from the book of Genesis (Gen 12:1-4A) reveals Abraham as a righteousness man who showed fear the exit door in his life. Following God’s instruction that he should leave his father’s house to a land he would be shown, Abram courageously took a leap of faith. That leap of faith meant that he was not afraid of losing his father’s heritage. It further meant that Abraham believed that God had a better offer for him.

He was at liberty to doubt God since what God said to him namely, “I will make of you a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, so that you will be a blessing, I will bless those who curse you. All the communities of the earth shall find blessing in you” was merely a promise. Instead of being afraid, or searching for a fortune-teller, Abraham believed and went as the Lord directed him.

At baptism and confirmation, we heard the voice of God and made a commitment to follow him. No sooner had we begun our journey than the vicissitudes of life tossed us about creating fear and doubt. The fear of the future or the unknown is on the rise. Many young people are caught up in the web of astrology horoscope or zodiac signs wanting to know their fate in life; the fear of what the future holds for them has landed many young people in the hands of crooks.

Shikrot Mpwi - Sunday Synopsis with Fr. Justine J. Dyikuk - March 5, 2017

Readings: Gn 2:7-9; 3:1-7; Responsorial Psalm PS 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 17; Rom 5:12-19 Or Rom 5:12, 17-19; Gospel Mt 4:1-11.

Theme: Beyond Temptation!

Friends in Christ, the First Sunday of Lent is the platform for us to properly reflect on the implication of our Annual Traditional Lenten Observances of prayer, fasting and alms giving plus observing the Stations of the Cross. It also obliges us to hit the ground running in terms of relying on God's Holy Spirit to aid us in our resolve to withstand temptation and sin.                          

This is why our first reading today from the book of Genesis (Gn 2:7-9; 3:1-7) takes us back to how Adam and Eve derailed from the Original State of Blessedness to what theologians call, Fallen Humanity. They could not withstand the tricks of the devil because their gaze was on the dangling apple known as the "tree of life."      

The concupiscence of the eye and the pride of life took the better of them which saw them out of paradise. Their desolate state brought about loss of grace and the Original State of Blessedness which they hitherto enjoyed. This sin implicated humanity in that God had to initiate a new process of redeeming the human race.  

While the first Adam failed in resisting temptation, the New Adam broke the First Guinness Book of Records by disgracing the devil thrice. The tempter tried him in the area of food, power and worldly splendour. Jesus would use the scriptures to counter-balance the three temptations.  

In the second reading (Rom 5:12-19), St. Paul clarifies this point thus: "Just as through one transgression condemnation came upon all, so, through one righteous act, acquittal and life came to all. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so, through the obedience of the one, the many will be made righteous."   

Shikrot Mpwi - Sunday Synopsis with Fr. Justine J. Dyikuk - March 1, 2017

Readings: JL 2:12-18; Responsorial Psalm Ps 51:3-4, 5-6AB 12, 14 And 17; 2^nd Cor 5:20-6:2; Gospel Mt 6:1-6, 16-18.

Theme: Lent: Of Dust and Us!

Beloved in Christ, the season of Lent is here again. There is no better time to begin this season of grace than on Wednesday, March 1, 2017 which invites us to march with the Lord for forty days through the observance of the three traditional spiritual acts of prayer, fasting and acts of charity, haven received ashes on our foreheads.

Traditionally, Lent begins at “Ash Wednesday” and ends at sundown of Holy Thursday. Since this is more than forty days, some contend that Sundays are not counted and that Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturdays are counted instead. Others say that it begins on the first Sunday after Ash Wednesday. Whichever is the case, the word Lent comes from the Middle English word Lenten which means springtime or the time of lengthening days. During this period, the official liturgical colour is violet - a colour that signifies penance.   

While many seriousness minded Christians view Lent as a moment of grace and spiritual rejuvenation, other lapse Christians see it as a disturbing period when they have to forego the pleasure of choicest foods and drinks and at the same time undergo the stress of attending the Via Dolorosa, that is, the Stations of the Cross. Against all misgivings, Lent is a Holy Season.

It is important to note that the 1983 Code of Canon Law prescribes abstinence and fasting for Catholics on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. All Fridays of the year are days of penance. All persons who are 14 years old and older are bound by the law of abstinence on all Fridays that are not Solemnities. Indeed, this Lenten Season provides us with a tapestry of spiritual insights meant for our good. What does this portend for us?

Significance of Ashes: Throughout scriptures, (cf. Esther 4:2-3; Daniel 19:3; Jonah 3:6 and Matthew 11:21), ashes were used as a sign of repentance and penitence which indicate the fallen nature of man. By reminding us that “we are dust and unto dust we shall return,” the priest invites us to an act of self-emptying and self abnegation through the pious act of robbing ashes on our foreheads. Stephen Beale beautifully summarizes the significance of the ashes thus: “It’s hard to imagine a better way of to begin Len than this rite that recalls our origins and destiny, reminds us of our sinful nature and the hope of salvation, and points us forward to the crucifixion, which is the culmination of Lent.”

Prayer: What then is prayer? Someone has defined prayer as our own telephone conversion with God. Prayer is a moment of spiritual contact with our creator. Lent gives us such an opportunity to commune with the triune God in response to his commandments. In prayer, we are strengthened and better equipped to live out our lives as Christians. No period affords us this opportunity like the Season of Lent. 

Fasting: The spiritual benefits of fasting and mortification can never be overemphasized. Needless to say that Jesus fasted for forty days and nights haven gone into the wilderness before he began his earthly ministry. During Lent, we are encouraged to abstain from meat and alcoholic drinks as a way of spiritual growth. 

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

Eight Sunday of the Year, A – February 26, 2017

Readings: Isaiah 49:14-15; Responsorial Psalm Ps 62:2-3.6-9; 1st Cor 4:1-5;

Gospel Mt 6:24-34.

Theme:  Service to God, Not Mammon

Dearly beloved, on the eight Sunday of the year, the Church calls us to beware of mammon as we journey towards heaven. The call as the gospel relates (Mt 6:24-34), involves a determination to contentment, detachment from mundane interests and above all, a desire to resign our fate to God who is the author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).                                       

To absorb this message, we must understand what "mammon" which Jesus warns about is. In the New Testament, mammon "is thought to mean money, material wealth or any entity that promises wealth, and is associated with the greedy pursuit of gain. 'You cannot serve both God and mammon.'"

In a related sense, it a noun which refers to "wealth regarded as an evil influence or false object of worship and devotion. It was taken by medieval writers as the name of the devil of covetousness, and revived in this sense by Milton." From which ever sense one views it, mammon is associated with materialism and it's concomitant worry about life and what to eat/drink or wear.                        

The craving to be over and above others in terms of acquisition of wealth and subjugation of others constitute the reason why there are attacks like xenophobia against Nigerians and other African nationals currently taking place in South Africa as well as all sorts of injustices meted on smaller nations by wealthier nations of the world. It is for the same reason that illuminati, secret societies and cult groups exist.                            

There are sad incidences where parents sacrifice their children for ritual purposes. Children have also offered their parents to be killed for money. It is sickening that there is no city in our country that you don't hear one form of ritual killing or the other for pecuniary gains. Worse still, some Pastors have posed as wolves in sheep clothing to defraud gullible worshippers.                                                  

Writing to his son in the faith, St. Paul warns: "For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith, and pierced themselves with many a pang" (1 Timothy 6:10). This warning is apt to our situation today in which we are living in a rat race - survival of the fittest and the elimination of the unfit. In the first reading (Isaiah 49:14-15) the Prophet Isaiah assures that the love of God whom he describes in feminine language is sufficient for us because God never forgets his own just as a mother never forgets a child at her breast. He further gives his word that even if a mother forgets her sucking, "...yet I will not forget you."    

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

Seventh Sunday of the Year, A – February 19, 2017

Readings: Lv 19:1-2, 17-18; Responsorial Psalm Ps 103:1-2, 3-4, 8, 10, 12-13; 1st Cor 3:16-23; 
Gospel Mt 5:38-48.

Theme:  Entrenching the Rightful New World Order: The Task of Christians!

Friends in the Christ, in our first reading (Lv 19:1-2, 17-18), the Lord instructs Moses to relate his message of love, anchored on holiness, to the people of Israel. This call to holiness has the appeal of loving kindness which eschews hatred for one’s brother or sister from the heart; the Lord goes ahead to prescribe fraternal correction, taking no revenge, holding no grudge against anyone and loving a neighbour as one’s self, as prerequisite for holiness.  

Jesus reinforces the message of the first reading in the gospel (Gospel Mt 5:38-48) wherein he upturns societal thinking. In an unparalleled way, he entrenches a New World Order (NWO) which goes against the normal Eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth. That is not all, Jesus insists that we should offer no resistance to the one who is evil, to turn the other check to one who strikes us, offer our cloak to anyone who intends to go to law with us over our tunic, go two miles with a person who invites us for one, give to those who ask and never turn our backs on those who intend to borrow.     

To demonstrate the paradoxical hero that He is, Jesus continues his Divine Catechises by stating that resisting hatred for enemies by loving them and praying for those who persecute us is to holiness. What is more, He calls us to emulate God who lets his sun to shine on both the good and the bad. By inviting us to be perfect as our heavenly father is holy, Jesus wants us to do something different, something extra which the tax collectors and pagans cannot do namely, returning good for evil – this constitutes the NWO He came to establish intends that His would-be followers continue.      

Sadly, in our society today, instead of entrenching the rightful NWO, some Christians have joined ranks with forces of evil in the world to propose a conspiracy theory of a secularist NWO which defers in intent and content with what Jesus offers us in the gospel. The current worldly NWO is the emergence of a totalitarian world government pioneered by a secretive powerful elite which is pushing a globalist agenda of eventually ruling the world.

The worrisome aspect of the NWO is that those behind it are a cabal that orchestrates important political and financial conspiracy policies in the world. Their aim is to cause systemic crises at both national and international levels with a ploy to achieving world domination through a secularist agenda of exaggerated feminism, celebration of man’s passions, unwarranted demand for gay rights and what we now know as illuminati. The lure of developing nations to take foreign loans which eventually become Greek gifts are all part of this agenda.

Today, Jesus calls Christians wherever they are to be gentle as doves and wise as serpents. Amidst these western secularist power brokers who are bent on bringing the world to its knees through the modern NWO which contradicts what our paradoxical hero proposes, we are called to stand up for our faith.

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

 Sixth Sunday of the Year, A – Feb 12, 2017

Readings: Sir 15:15-20; Responsorial Psalm Ps 119:1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34; 1st Cor 2:6-10; Gospel Mat 5:17-37 or Mat 5:20-22A, 27-28, 33-34A, 37.

Theme:  Salvation: Our Choice, Our Chance!

Friends in Christ, our Sunday Liturgy puts before us a God who not only created us in His image and likeness but gave us freedom and respects our choices. Nothing could be loftier than creating free beings who have the capacity to decide what they want to do with their lives. If He wanted, God would have created human beings without freedom which means that we wouldn’t have being different from robots.

We probably would have been like a remote-control in the hands of an operator. But to demonstrate his benevolence to creators whom He cherishes and respects, God decided to put before us right and wrong, good and bad as well as clearly laying out the implication of our choices which could make or mar us.

This is precisely the message of our first reading (Sir 15:15-20) wherein Ben Sirach tells the people of Israel as he says to us today, “if you choose you can keep the commandments.” The Wisdom book further discloses that “…he has set before you fire and water to whichever you choose, stretch forth your hand. Before man are life and death, good and evil, whichever he chooses shall be given him.”

In the daily events of our lives, we make choices – the choice to a better education; the choice of sustainable career, jobs and finances; the choice to healthy meals; the choice to good medical care; the choice to luxurious cars; the choice to state of the art mansions and the choice to finest clothing – the summary of our choices is that we often make good choices. However, most times, we fall short of making good choices for our faith.   

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

 Fifth Sunday of the Year, A – Feb 5, 2017

Readings: Is 58:7-10; Responsorial Psalm Ps 122:4-5, 6-7, 8-9; 1st Cor 2:1-5; 

Gospel Mat 5:13-16.

Theme:  Salt and Light as Recipes of Faith

The metaphor of light is very strong in Christianity. Today, the Prophet Isaiah in our first reading (Is 58:7-10) invites us to let our “light break forth like the dawn.” He goes ahead to insist that only when we remove oppression, false accusation and malicious speech and make efforts at giving bread to the hungry as well as satisfying the afflicted shall our light rise in the darkness. What was meant for a people in travail is also meant for us today because our circumstances are not any different from that of ancient Israel.

The Prophet was speaking hope into an oppressed people. This message resounds today as he also invites us to be light bearers. We are talking of no other light than the Light of Christ. This resonates with the call of Christ in the gospel (Mat 5:13-16) that his disciples should be the salt of the earth and the light of the world. Jesus explains the metaphor of salt and light by insisting that if salt loses it taste, it can no longer be seasoned or useful in any way but only to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

Concerning light, he makes the point that no one lights a lamp and puts it under the bushel basket; instead, it is put on a lampstand where it gives light to everyone in the house. These strong analogies speak to the heart of our liturgy namely, “Salt and Light as Recipes of Faith” – Here, salt becomes the seasoning which spices our faith for timeless seasoning. Light then, becomes the touch or candle that endlessly lights our way of faith.

Through this teaching, Jesus draws us to great insights on usefulness for the kingdom. By insisting that our light should shine in order that others may be drawn and give glory to the father, the Master wants us to use our life, time and resources for his service. He draws our attention to letting the candle of our lives burn out for others. The message is clear – if a candle does not burn out, it cannot illumine the house – in the same manner, our life must be the Bible others have to read in order to know Christ.