REFILLING THE EMPTY JARS OF AFRICA

FEAST OF OUR LADY OF AFRICA
(Acts 1:12-14; Jn 2:1-11)

We entrust the Continent of Africa into the maternal help of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The perception and the reality of life in Africa is quite unique. The ‘otherness’ of Africa evokes from people of other continents mostly pity or scorn. The replacement of natural boundaries with western political boundaries is still at the root of political instability and cultural clashes in most African states. However, Africa is the land of natural resources with economic potentials that promises a bright future.

The first reading tells us how Mary was present with the Apostles in the Upper Room as they awaited the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. In the Gospel we hear about the presence of Mary and Jesus at the wedding in Cana. When the celebrants ran out wine, Mary intervened. She brought up the matter to Jesus, the source of every blessing. Then, she turned to those who were in a position to take action, i.e. the servants, and prepared their hearts for Jesus by directing them to obey whatever Jesus tells them to do, “Do whatever He tells you.” Mary is qualified to bring us divine blessings, and helps us to be open and available to take the proper actions that would bring those blessings to reality.

Oh Mary, Mother of the Saviour, we employ you this day to intercede for the peoples of Africa. Be in our midst as our mother, and pray with us as you did with the apostles in the upper room. Mary, please direct us and turn our hearts to Jesus as you did to the servants at the wedding in Cana in Galilee. With your motherly presence in the affairs of Africa, Jesus will bless us, and the ‘empty jars’ of Africa will be filled with sweet wine of economic growth, peaceful co-existence, fear and knowledge of God, etc. Teach the servants of Africa, our leaders, who serve at the ‘high table’ of affairs in African countries, to obey Jesus and follow His footsteps of Jesus Christ in leading by example and with sacrifice. Amen.

The best wine is yet to be served in Africa; our hope is still alive. We shall rejoice and dance that the Lord our God has blessed us in our land.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Tuesday April 30^th, 2021.
Feast of our Lady of Africa
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

 

 

SHARING IN THE LIFE OF THE TRINITY

Meditation for Wednesday of the 4^th Week of Easter

(Acts 12:24-13:5; Jn 12:44-50)

Think about how our faith in Jesus Christ launches us into the mystery of God; the divine mysteries are made known to us in Jesus Christ. The perfect unity of the Three Persons in one God makes it possible for believers to share an intimate union with Jesus. The Trinity is the beginning and end of Christian contemplation. Jesus spoke clearly about His oneness with the Father. When the Son of God took flesh and dwelt among us, He makes it possible and easier for us to relate to God with our human heart, and befriend Him in a more personal and intimate way. Thus, to believe in Jesus means to respond to Him with one’s whole life; it means to give one’s life to Jesus. In effect, the believer tries to life his life like that of Jesus, to apply in one’s life the principles and models of Jesus Christ for salvation. To believe in Jesus in this way makes one to share in the life of the Trinity.

Jesus said, “He who believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And he who sees me see him who sent me.” Jesus is the light through which we see God and His glory in our lives. And it is through listening to His words and applying them in our lives that we bring into effect power of this Trinitarian life we have in Jesus. This is the only way we avoid condemnation.

However, despite our good will and intentions, we do not have the natural power to translate the divine words we have heard and receive into human action effectively. This is the work of the Holy Spirit. The first reading of today gives example of how the Holy Spirit moved Barnabas and Saul to practical action as missionaries. “So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Seleucia; and from there they sailed to Cyprus.” Being disposed and attentive to the Holy Spirit is what it means to live a spiritual life. The Holy Spirit connects our human actions with the divine life we share in the Trinity through Jesus Christ. In this way, He directs our lives in the path of eternal salvation, even as we are nourished with the blessings we need today, radiating joy, peace, love and unity. Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Wednesday April 28^th, 2021.
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

 

“I know them, and they follow me”

Meditation for Tuesday of the 4^th Week of Easter

(Acts 11:19-26; Jn 10:22-30)

The Jews gathered around Jesus, and said, “If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.” But if he says it, they would still say, ‘show us a sign.’ In fact, they were more interested in signs that words. They saw the signs, which spoke louder than words, they started asking for words! Jesus told them that their unstable demands simply means they do not belong to Him. “I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name, they bear witness to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep.”

Unlike the Jews that kept looking for excuses not to believe, Jesus says, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of my hand.” Imagine the depth of familiarity between Jesus and the sheep that belongs to Him! A familiarity that flows from Jesus' oneness with the  Father, "I and the Father are one." It is not Jesus who follows the sheep, no! It is the sheep that follows Jesus; He leads and they follow. That is the only way they can be safe and earn eternal life.

That was how He led the early Church. Through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the good news had already reached Antioch before the Apostles sent Barnabas. On reaching the city, he saw the grace of God at work, and he exhorted them to remain faithful to the Lord. Later Barnabas brought Paul to join him and they stayed in Antioch for a year. “And in Antioch the disciples were for the first time called Christians.” This is how Jesus leads His faithful to growth, progress and eternal life even in the face of persecution. Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Tuesday April 27^th, 2021.
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

KNOWING THE GOOD SHEPHERD

Meditation for 4^th Sunday of Week of Easter, Year B

(Acts 4:8-12; Jn 10:11-18)

Jesus declares, "I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." The Characteristics of the good shepherd is unique and separates him from the hired man, who runs away when he sees wolf coming. While the good shepherd offers his life to save the life of his sheep, the hireling saves his life at the expense of the sheep. 

Now, meditate on a sheep, grazing freely in the field but there are wolves around, looking for opportunity to devour the sheep. The sheep looks back, sees the good shepherd behind it and knowing what he can do, continues to graze freely on the grass, not minding the wicked eyes of the wolves! Think about such KNOWLEDGE OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD that gives the sheep confidence to carry on. That is the kind of knowledge Jesus shares with His sheep, and shares with the Father. "I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me, as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for the sheep."

This knowledge of Jesus that gives CONFIDENCE to the believer is unknown to the world. So the life of an uthentic believer is elusive to the world. That is why worldly life blindfolds the believer from seeing the hand of God at work in his life; he sees only wolves in the field of life,  fear and uncertain define his every move. The second reading says, "The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know Him." But we are God's children; He knows us and watches over us.

Therefore, we shall remain firm in this knowledge of Jesus the Good Shepherd that sets us free. Like Peter in the First reading, we stand against every opposition to witness to this surpassing knowledge of Christ, which manifests its power in our lives. Peter told elders that the Jesus the rejected has become the Cornerstone. "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." Amen.

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Andrew's Catholic Church,

Illemba, Lagos. 

Sunday April 25^th, 2021.

www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

 

“TO WHOM SHALL WE GO?”

 “TO WHOM SHALL WE GO?”

Meditation for Saturday of the 3^rd Week of Easter
(Acts 9:31-42; Jn 6:60-69)

Though faith is a gift, there is an aspect of it that is human choice. God reveals His mysteries and offers us the gift of faith for our salvation. We freely choose to believe, and in believing we surrender ourselves to the authority of faith.

But many of Jews could not accept the teachings of Jesus on the Bread of Life. They said, “This is a hard saying, who can believe it.” Still, Jesus did not bend the teaching but maintained His stand that He is the Bread of Life, which came down from Heaven. Knowing that they were looking at it from literal human point of view, He said to them, “It is the spirit that gives life, the flesh is of no avail; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. That is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”

In the midst of the unbelief of the Jews and some disciples, Simon Peter reassured Jesus of the faith of the apostles, saying, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life; and we have believed, and come to know, that you are the Holy One of God.” Here we see the ‘choice of faith’, the human ascent to the truth of faith. This choice to believe is drawn out and inspired by the Holy Spirit. In choosing to believe, one surrenders to the authority of faith, which is Jesus Christ. In other words, the choice to believe is at the same time an acknowledgement of the authority of faith. Therefore, Peter’s profession of faith recognized and acknowledged Jesus as the rightful authority that offers the truth of faith. Hence, the choice to believe is a choice for Jesus Christ! He is the author and finisher of our faith (Heb 12:2).

This choice for Jesus by choosing what faith proposes, is so powerful that it makes the believer carry in himself the life Christ and perform great works in His name. Think about how the lady Tabitha touched the lives of many people at Joppa through her humble and simple works. See how Peter healed the paralysed man, Aeneas at Lydda. On hearing about the death of Tabitha, Peter moved in, knelt down and prayed, and said to the body, “Tabitha rise.” She got up! The power of Jesus is always at works in those who believe in Him; those who chose Him and surrendered their authority to Him. To whom shall we go? Only Jesus we choose, only Jesus we shall follow, only Jesus we shall surrender to, forever and ever. Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter and Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Saturday April 24^th, 2021.
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

ABIDE WITH ME

Meditation for Friday of the 3^rd Week of Easter

(Acts 9:1-20; Jn 6:52-59)

The human mind questions information it receives before properly assimilating it. Such questioning can be part of the process of knowing or an expression of rebuff or rejection. Sometimes those who claim to be ‘intellectual’ do not always get all the answers to the questions they impose on faith. However, the rational mind is a necessary solid foundation to implant faith in the believer; faith itself goes beyond reason, elevates and dignifies it, saves it from the self-agony of endless and restless regress. So, reason finds ‘joy’ in faith; faith stands secure in reason. That is why a scientific question was thrown at Jesus in the Gospel of today.

After listening to His teachings on the ‘Bread of Life’, the Jews could not find it reasonable, so they asked, “How can this man give us His flesh to eat?” The question, ‘how’ seeks a scientific explanation. But this can only be possible if the source or origin is human or nature. But since the ‘Bread of Life’ is God’s initiative and comes down from God as Gift, man is only positioned to RECEIVE it. Hence, Jesus did not answer the scientific question, but traces the consequences of this Gift in the live of those who receive it in faith.  “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink His blood, you have no life in you; he who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day.” Anticipating the Eucharist that would become His Body and Blood, Jesus said, “For my flesh is food indeed and my blood is drink indeed.” Those who consume Jesus in this way will have their lives mingled together with Him, such that the life of Jesus will be evident in their lives. “So he who eats me will live because of me.”

Imagine such great assurance that through the Eucharist we can bear in our mortal bodies the imprint of the life of Christ. Think about what it means for us, in the midst of the hardships of this life,  that Jesus abides with us. Think about Jesus as living in those early Christians martyred by Saul, even as he travels down to Damascus for more persecution! Even today, we still have Jesus abiding in the lives of victims of domestic violence, rape, robbery, terrorism, bad government policies, injustice, abuse, etc. He does not leave us even when friends depart. Instead, Jesus calls out the Persecutor, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me...I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” Now, meditate deeply on how Jesus abides in us to make our wounds His very own. You will see why those who eat His flesh and drink His blood receive healing, and are constantly renewed, even in the face of their persecutors! Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Friday April 23^rd, 2021.
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

THE EXCHANGE OF GIFTS

Meditation for Thursday of the 3^rd Week of Easter

(Acts 8:26-40; Jn 44-51)

Exchange of gifts creates strong bond among friends. It brings renewal to the common life of couples. But when giving is one-sided, it means there is no mutual love in the relationship. Jesus has been explaining how He is the Bread of Life given for us; for God so loved the world that He gave us Jesus! Jesus is the Bread of Life in whom is our satisfaction, answers to our prayers, and resurrects us to eternal life. Today, Jesus talks about how we too are gifts of the Father to Him. “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

“Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me.” Those who are truly open to God discover Jesus. In other words, those who accept the mystery of Christ as Bread of Life are inspired by God. Therefore, we are received by Jesus as gifts of the Father; we received Jesus as Gift of the loving Father. In Jesus is the EXCHANGE, where we are received by God and we receive God. It is from Jesus that our love for God is fed and nourished. While we are strengthened by the Bread of Life, we live as ‘offerings’ to God in Christ Jesus. This is given concrete expression as we give ourselves to one another.

A practical demonstration of this life of mutual self-giving in Christ Jesus is seen in the first reading, where Philip became a gift to the Ethiopian Eunuch, and through baptism, returned him back to God as gift in Christ Jesus. Our lives ‘flow’ into each other. This channel of inter-personal mingling can only be sanctified and saved from corruption if we are fed and nourished by Jesus, the Bread of Life. He says, “I am the living bread which came down from heaven; if any one eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread which I shall give for the life of the world is my flesh.” Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Thursday April 22, 2021.
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

 

THE HUNGER AND THE FREE GIFT OF BREAD

Meditation for Wednesday of the 3^rd Week of Easter
(Acts 8:1-8; Jn 6:35-40)

As we enter deeper in relationship with God, we begin to notice the working together of our desires and needs, and the free gift of God. While we seek answers for our needs, God gives us freely from the abundance of His providence. We offer thanks and show appreciation when we receive answers to our prayers but hardly recognize the free gifts God bestows on us from His abundance. While the Jews were busy compelling Jesus for bread, He, in turn, talks to them about God’s free gift, which is enduring and abundantly available to them. He said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst.”

Jesus explains that the Father is generous in giving; and has transferred His gifts to the Son. These divine gifts are available to all who believe in Jesus Christ. Thus, Jesus is given to the world as the Love-Gift from the Father (Jn 3:16). To receive Him as such, is to believe in Him; to believe in Him is to receive Him with love. In Jesus God has given us His very self, even answers to our prayers are already given in Christ Jesus. But it appears we prefer to follow the pathway of our needs than to open up ourselves to the free gift of God.

Think about Jesus as the Bread of life; the Living Bread that satisfies! What a great generosity that even before we realize our hunger, God has given us the satisfaction in Christ Jesus. He declares, “For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him should have eternal life; and I will raise him up on the last day.” This mystery unfolded in the first reading, where the Church in Jerusalem was scattered following St Stephen’s martyrdom. It was a period of great lamentation for them. But at the end, what started with pain bore a joyful fruit as the influence of the preaching of Philip made great impact in Samaria. “For unclean spirits came out of many who were possessed, crying with a loud voice; and many who were paralysed or lame were healed. So there was much joy in that city.”

This joy endures, and echoes to eternity in the hearts of who are ready to receive what God is offering; those who, from the abundance of their needs, surrender themselves to the supra-abundance of God’s gift in Christ Jesus. Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Wednesday April 21^st, 2021.
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

 

THE TRUTH-BREAD

Meditation for Tuesday of 3^rd Week of Easter

(Acts 7:51-8:1; Jn 6:30-35)

It is commonly said that ‘truth is bitter’. It is so not just in uttered words, but also in lived experience. That we know healthy foods does not imply we readily eat them. Good and honest people have fewer friends, and are rarely voted into offices, even by their friends and family. We all claim to hate lies, but we secretly admire the glamour of deception. There is no doubt that education is the key to success, but we prefer to work with those we can easily manipulate! Think about another irony: while we worship God as Almighty, we often place our personal needs over His demands on us!

So the Jews preferred signs that would be within their control and manipulation to the signs that Jesus gave, and the ultimate SIGN that is Jesus Himself. They asked Jesus to give them bread as Moses gave their fathers manna in the desert. For them, Moses was the miracle worker who commanded bread down. That means, the miracle came from WITHIN but through a powerful man, Moses. And this was the image of a miracle worker they tried to impose on Jesus. And this seems to be the prevalent image of Jesus our present day miracle seekers continue to impose on Him! Jesus corrected them immediately, “Truly, truly, I say to you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven; my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” This response appealed to their desire for bread so they said to Him, “Lord, give us this bread always.”

Then, Jesus drew them to the deeper truth, where the authenticity of their acclamation would be tested and verified. He said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall never thirst.” This is that juncture where Truth leads and we follow; it the point where truth exposes our hidden desires and tests our resolutions. This is where we begin to feel truth as confrontational, and our choices may begin to contradict our profession of faith and popular maxims. It is this point of ‘confrontation of truth’ that led the elders and scribes to stone Deacon Stephen in the first reading of today. But Stephen’s gaze on the Truth, Jesus Christ, remained unshaken: “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God.” Yes, the gates of heaven will always remain open upon you as you carry out your affairs in truth and integrity. Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Tuesday, April 19^th, 2021.
www.nwachinwe.blogspot.com

 

LABOURING FOR THE FOOD THAT ENDURES

Meditation for Monday of the 3^rd Week of Easter
(Acts 6:8-15; Jn 6:22-29)

It is not always easy to focus on the things that really matter. Sometimes the things we presume to be urgent and important end up not having lasting value. Momentary and exuberant pleasures and entertainment have certain compelling force that tends to bend us to their side. It takes grace and a resolute mind to train oneself to learn discipline and patiently pursue true and lasting values. Think about the Jews looking for Jesus from Tiberias to the other side of the sea at Capernaum, only to be told by Jesus that their intention was misplaced. “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves. Do not labour for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to eternal life, which the Son of man will give to you; for on Him has God the Father set His seal.”

We see then that if we often follow the lead of immediate satisfactions, we may end up misguided. We must have a far-reaching sight by placing eternal life ahead of all. If we order our affairs in such a way that our salvation in Christ Jesus is our number one target, then it becomes easier for us to place other enduring values, such as love, peace, unity, etc in line. This brings development and growth, for if we pursue enduring values, then we shall endure too. But if we labour for food that perishes, we bring destruction and perish at the end of the day.

Imagine the destruction targeted at St Stephen out of mere jealousy and pride. Those men were working to protect their self-image for the moment. They had to heap up lies against St Stephen, but he continued to radiate beauty and glory since eternal salvation in Christ Jesus was his ultimate target. And such is the angelic face radiated by all who carry out their daily responsibilities without pursuing vanity, but labouring for the food which endures, even to eternal life. Amen.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Monday April 19^th, 2021.
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THE MARK OF THE RESURRECTIOIN

THE MARK OF THE RESURRECTIOIN
Meditation for 3^rd Sunday of Easter, Year B
(Acts 3:13-15, 17-19; 1 Jn 2:1-5; Lk 24:35-48)

The readings of today talk about forgiveness of sins as the grace of the Resurrection. In the first reading, Peter explained the Resurrection as the work of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. The children of Abraham rejected the one whom the God they claim to worship anointed! That means their mindset, ways of life, choices, etc are in opposition of the God and that of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. However, they followed the wrong track in ignorance but that brought suffering to Christ. Nevertheless, the prophets foretold that the Christ should suffer. The resurrection conquered the suffering caused by their ignorance and at the same time fulfilled the promise of God since Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. “Repent, therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out.”

In other words, the sufferings of the Cross reveal the ugliness of sin; the resurrection exposes its ignorance and uselessness. Accepting the good news of the Resurrection implies leaving behind the ignorant and useless sinful ways follow Jesus as the right way. The grace of the resurrection gives us opportunity to change our ways and be counted anew as Children of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. That is why the second reading talks about how we are to remain as those who have accepted this message of the resurrection and know Jesus. “And this is the way to be sure that we know Him, if we keep His commandments.”

In the Gospel Jesus appeared to the disciples to clear their doubts and prove to them that He has risen. The resurrected body is really human, yet he passes through closed doors in His divinity. He explains that His resurrection fulfils the law and the prophets, which includes that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead. “And that repentance and forgiveness of sins should be preached in His name to all nations.”

If the wages of sin is death, it means victory over death that is caused by sin cancels out the effects of sin, and at the same time, reveals its worthlessness. The resurrection is the ultimate call to repentance. It is an invitation to participate in the righteous life of Jesus, with the power to live fully human and enjoy divine graces. Repentance removes the obstacle of sin so that we live out fully the life of the new man, Jesus Christ. It is the mark of the resurrection we touch today. Repentance makes us feel the healed scars of sin on the Body of Christ, the Church. Alleluia, Christ is risen as He said, Alleluia!

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Mother’s Day
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