YOUR STORIES HAVE CHANGED

It is not uncommon to find people trooping into some "happening" Churches these days seeking for signs and wonders. And because of this, a lot of pastors and Church owners have devised means to  work on the psychology of these teaming and vulnerable worshippers 😳😱.

To say the least, these signs and wonders are worrying and disturbing. What is this looming crisis that the Church is facing? Or, what is the problem?

My dearly beloved, John the Baptist in Matt. 11, 2-11 also had a problem, or a crisis while he was in prison. Actually, he had heard about the activities of Christ and he sent two of his disciples to go and ask Him, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we expect someone else?”😳😳

But, why did John the Baptist asked that question when he was the one who baptised Jesus earlier on and declared him the lamb of God? Well, this is a food for thought for you.

Maybe, you and I in times of crisis can ask a similar question, like, “Am I in the right church, or would it be better to go to another church which is more happening? Will my salvation be manifested here?

Jesus answered John’s disciples, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are made clean, the deaf hear, the dead are brought back to life and good news is reaching the poor. And how fortunate is the one who does not take offense at me."

The prophet Isaiah had prophesied this a long time ago before Jesus Christ was born, in 35, 5-10. We too want to hear and see all these. We want to see signs and wonders so that we won’t lose faith in Jesus and in the Church.

But, your stories have changed because you will return with everlasting joy upon your head, and go to Zion singing, gladness and joy marching with you, while sorrow and sighing will be very far away from your house (Isaiah 35, 10)🙏🏻🙏🏻

Go out today and come back safe. God has taken over your case.. Amen.


Good morning!
Rabbi

FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR MR UDOKA, THE EXEMPLARY DOUGHNUT SELLER

Fellow Nigerians,

Humanity requires that we stand-up for one another whenever occasion demands. Earlier today, I posted photos of a certain man that sells doughnut around the Uyo metropolis in Akwa Ibom State.

I was moved by two factors: the first was the fact that despite his age, the man is going about under the scorching sun selling to cater for himself and his family. The second was his unique mode of dressing which portrays him as a clean and polished Nigerian that belives in the aphorism that there is dignity in labour.

This propelled me to seek after the identity of the man. I have finally gotten in contact with him and his particulars are as follows:

His name is Mr. Lawrence-White Etim Udoka, an indigene of Etim Ekpo LGA of Akwa Ibom State. He was born on February 22, 1972 (44 yrs of age). He is married with two children (male and female). Mr. Udoka is presently a 200 level student of the Department of Political Science Education in the School of Continuing Education, University of Uyo. His daughter is presently a student of the Department of Public Administration, University of Uyo. Mr. Udoka's wife and son are based in Lagos State where he used to stay before he gained admission into the University of Uyo. He used to do this same business in Lagos before his return to Akwa Ibom State.

Please note that it is from the meagre profit that Mr. Udoka makes from selling doughnuts (puff puff) that he uses to sponsor himself and his daughter in the university. It is also from his modest profit that he feeds and caters for his wife and other family responsibilities.

I have decided to support his business, family and education with some financial resources. Please join me. No amount is too small or too big. Our strength lies in our unity and sense of brotherhood. Do not listen to the words of the cynics who will never see anything good in this type of humanitarian endeavour. Like in previous occasions, I will not accept or take one kobo from whatever assistance anyone may give to Mr. Udoka.

People like Mr. Udoka offers hope for our nation. He is a role model and deserves our support. By supporting him, others will appreciate that entrepreneurship and self-development are worthy causes. He has proven that dreams and ambitions are never too big for those who dare to dream.

With the express approval and consent of Mr. Udoka, please send, transfer or deposit your assistance to the Account details below:

BANK: ECO BANK
ACCT/NAME: LAWRENCE ETIM UDOKA WHITE
ACC/NO:1013006291
ACCT/TYPE: SAVINGS.

N/B:
After sending your assistance to the above account (which belongs to Mr. Udoka), kindly send an sms to 07016358381 stating your name (it will not be disclosed) and the amount. I just want to keep track of the donations. I intend to declare the total amount donated in due course.

Mr. Udoka has prayed that "God should bless everyone tremendously".

PLEASE CIRCULATE AND SHARE THIS POST.

May God replenish you. Thank you.

signed:

Inibehe Effiong, ESQ.
Convener, Coalition of Human Rights Defenders (COHRD)
9/12/2016.

THREE YEARS OF PROPHETIC WITNESSING: FRS. CALLISTUS, MICHAEL AND DOMINIC. (07.12.2016)

"I will appoint Shepherds who will take care of them. No longer will they fear or be terrified. No one will be lost". (Jer. 23,4)

Deducing from the above quotation, apart from the only Shepherd, Jesus Christ, the prophet Jeremiah sees others who are determined to be responsible for their brethren. Today, history is made as we celebrate three of such Shepherds, Rev. Frs. Callistus Afangideh, Michael Inyang, and Dominic Okon.

In the Apostolic Exhortation, Pastores Dabo Vobis, Pope St. John Paul II echoes thus:  "without priests the church would not be able to live out the fundamental obedience which is at the very heart of her existence and her mission in the world. This fundamental obedience is evangelical: “Go and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19) and Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:10) (No. 1).

Similarly, Pope Benedict XVI on announcing the Year of the Priests  averred: "Just as Jesus called the twelve to be with him, and only later sent them to preach, so too in our days priests are called to assimilate the new style of faith which was inaugurated by the Lord Jesus and taken up by the Apostles"

Today, we in Ikot Ekpene diocese celebrate yet again the history of a call that began on 7th December, 2013 with the priestly ordination of these three gentlemen of finesse and exquisite brilliance, by Most Rev Camillus Umoh, which took place in the diocesan cathedral.

With their power of authority as  priests, these three gentlemen have always been a worthy preacher of the good news, and their commitments to intellectual integrity explains why they poured their hearts and soul into teaching the people of God the undiluted doctrine of the Church.

As measured by any standard that history affords, I can testify that they belong to the class of intellectuals, spiritual leaders, and philanthropists of modern church history. They all have degrees both in Philosophy and Theology from Pontifical Urban University, Rome, and some have worked in schools and in parishes.

The words of Pope St. John Paul II in the Angelus of January 14,1990 becomes imperative even today: "there is an essential aspect of the priest that does not change: the priest of tomorrow, no less than the priest of today, must resemble Christ. When Jesus lived on this earth, he manifested in himself the definitive role of the priestly establishing a ministerial priesthood with which the apostles were the first to be invested. This priesthood is destined to last in endless succession throughout history. In this sense the priest of the third millennium will continue the work of the priests who, in the preceding millennia, have animated the life of the Church. In the third millennium the priestly vocation will continue to be the call to live the unique and permanent priesthood of Christ."

As you celebrate your 3rd priestly anniversary today, continue to  teach your people how to live godly lives, how to overcome sin and be happy and in peace with God, and how to have a part in the kingdom of God. Your service is to God  and a help to people to reach God. The primary goal of a priest is to bring God to the people, and we are happy that you have done this within your power as priests.

Before I end, may I urge all of you like St. Paul did to Timothy, to preach the Word in season and out of season, reproving, rebuking or advising, always with patience and providing instruction. For the time is coming when people will no longer endure sound doctrine but following their passions they will surround themselves with teachers to please their itching ears. And they will abandon the truth to hear fables. So be prudent, do not mind your labour, give yourself to your work as an evangelist, fulfill your ministry (2Tim. 4,2-5).

Rejoice and be happy for the Lord has chosen you for himself. Your parishioners and students loves you. We in the African Catholic Family says, Congratulations!

Rabbi

HOW IS YOUR HEART?

Often times, our friends will ask us, "How are you doing?"; "How is your

studies?"; How are your parents?"; "How is this, how is that?". Has anyone asked you, "How is your heart?"😜 Or, is it really a bad question? Okay!

St Augustine of Hippo once remarked: "Our hearts are restless O Lord, until they rest in you" Actually, most biblical scholars have agreed that there is only once when Jesus spoke of His own heart and that is in Matthew 11:29 "Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in *heart*, and you will find rest for your souls".

The rabbis spoke of the yoke of Torah and the yoke of the Kingdom. Here it refers to Jesus' interpretation of the law. However, Jesus as humble is both the model teacher and the ideal subject matter since he is Torah personified. Interestingly, it was with this gentle and humble heart that He was obedient to the Father's will🙏🏻.

His heart is full of love and peace and forgiveness and gentleness and meekness and compassion. Knowing what the heart of Jesus is like, what can we say of our own hearts? Or what would God say of our own hearts?

Our hearts may be restless like St Augustine remarked. It may be clouded with doubt, and caused us to be tired and weary, and stumble along the way of life. But, there is hope. Jesus tells us to come to Him and learn from Him, to be gentle and humble of heart and we will find rest for our souls.

In comparison with the halaka of the Pharisees, Jesus' teaching is quantitatively easier because it is shorter and centered on the essential. But, in view of the exceeding righteousness demanded in Matt. 5, 20 ("For I tell you, if your uprightness does not surpass that of the scribes and  Pharisees, you will never get into the kingdom of Heaven"), it is qualitatively more difficult, because the demands of love of God and neighbour are inexhaustible.

I pray for you today, as you step out for your daily struggle, may you have a heart like that of Jesus. A heart that is gentle and humble, and full of love and compassion. Enjoy the rest of the day. Ciao!

Guten Morgen!
Rabbi 👍🏻

POPE FRANCIS MET MOROCCO AMBASSADOR

Pope Francis on Monday met with Mostapha Arrifi, the new ambassador of Morocco to the Holy See. The Ambassador was presenting his letters of credence to the Holy Father.

THE CHURCH'S TEACHING ON HOMOSEXUALITY, PART I

Generally, the Catholic view of marriage is based not only on the scriptures, but also on the teaching of the Church, and on reason and natural law. God, from the very beginning of creation, created 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 no longer two but one flesh" ( Matt. 19, 4-6)

Our revised translation of the Roman Missal reminds us as Christians "In the union of husband and wife, you give a sign of Christ's loving gift of grace, so that the sacrament we celebrate might draw us back more deeply into the wondrous design of your love"

The Church has always taught that the partnership of one man and one woman joined in traditional monogamous marriage is of inestimable value to society. The Father of Vatican II argues that "children are meant to be the gift of the permanent and exclusive union of a husband and a wife and are seen as the crown of marriage." A child is meant to have a mother and father. Children long for this and it is their right.

Now, if the marriage is contracted between members of the same sex, who plays the role of the father or mother? Is is an undeniable fact that a child has a right to be raised by both a mother and a father.

The church teaches that marriage is ordered towards an authentic union and the generation of new life, and Richard Malone has added "children are meant to be the gift of the permanent and exclusive union of a husband and a wife." Here we see that no other relationship is capable of realizing this specific communion of persons. Hence, attempting to redefine marriage to include same sex members empties the term of its meaning.

The Church has always stood up for marriage: one man and one woman, United in lifelong and faithful love, leading to new life in children, whenever and wherever it was in danger. The Church according to Bishop Timothy Dolan "is willing to take the heat and even lose our head from following a conscience properly formed by God's revelation and the teaching of his Church, even if it is politically incorrect and clashes with the King's demand to redefine marriage."

 Nevertheless, the Church's view of marriage is heterosexual not homosexual. The Church now rings the steeple bell at this latest dilution of the authentic understanding of marriage and is worried that the next step will be another redefinition to justify multiple partners and infidelity. The US religious leaders once opined "we encourage all people of good will to protect marriage as the union between one man and one woman, and to consider carefully the far reaching consequence for the religious freedom of all American if marriage is redefined."

The meaning and value of marriage precedes and transcends any particular society, government or religious community. This teaching is an affirmation of the teaching of the magisterium.

TO BE CONTINUED
Rabbi

THE POSITION OF WIDOWS IN THE CHURCH..

Welcome to this bright new day. Today,  we are going to discuss on some important questions that bothers my mine as well as yours, like; Are all widows the same? What are the degrees of their widowhood? Are some widows better than those with husbands? Well, these questions may be shocking at times, but sit back and let's discuss.

From the cradle of creation, women have had their own very unique role in the life of the Church. Nevertheless, many of the women who were referred to as widows even occupied some official positions in the Church. But, before we go on, who is a widow? In a lay man's understanding, a widow is a woman who has lost her husband through death.

The apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 5, 1-16 specifically treats the issues of widowhood. For him, he identified three kinds of widows, but modern biblical scholars have identified four. They are: those who are left alone at the mercy of God, who prays day and night to God and asking him for help; those widows who have children; those who live for pleasure and the last category; those who are listed among widows.

Put it differently, those who need no help from the Church ,because they have relatives; those who need help from Church and; those who with or without the help of the Church were in charge of certain functions. In whatever category they belong to, both the Old Testament and New Testament see them as vulnerable, with some variations. Borrowing the thought patter of George Orwell, "all widows are vulnerable, but some widows are more vulnerable than others".

Now, is there any difference between a widow without children and relatives; a widow without children but with relatives and; a widow with wealthy children? Your answer may be as good as mine.. St Paul said in verse 9 -10"let no one be put on the list of widows unless she is 60 years old and has been married only once. She must be commended for her good works and the education of her children.... "

The Wycliffe Bible Dictionary says that under the Mosaic Law care of the widow especially "widows indeed" and those that have little children were left to relatives, and was one of the duties assigned to the eldest son, who received the birthright. The Old Testament held widows in high esteem and respected their status. Thus, in Exodus 22, 21-23 , God instructed as follows "You shall not harm the widow or the orphan. If you do harm them and they cry to me, I will hear them and my anger will blaze and I will kill you with the sword, and your own wives will be widows and your own children orphans".

 Why are we so concerned about widows tonight in our teaching? Obviously, widows were dedicated to Christ's work just like we have religious women nowadays. A true widow is the one who has set her hope in God, who prays to him day and night. But is it really proper to neglect them while we have a little to assist them? We often say that "an hungry man is an angry man". Will God not punish us for neglecting them when we have enough to help?

1 Timothy 5, 8 records "Those who do not take care of their own, especially those of their household, have denied the faith and are worse than unbeliever".  Initially, we saw different kinds of widows, those who should be assisted by the Church and those who should not.

St. Paul says in verse 4 "If a widow has children or grandchildren, they should first learn their family duties and give their parents financial help. This is correct and pleases God". Explicitly, this verse has debunk the idea of the Church assisting widows. However, when a widow does not have any one to assist, either as children or relatives, then the responsibility should be shifted to the Church.
What about widows in verse 6?

Let your conscience guide your judgement...I'm out. Thanks for paying attention to me.
Your reactions, contributions, observations, questions and even congratulations are welcome... Lol