WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR IN HIM?

Do you agree that what we see mostly depends on what we are looking for? Well, we can reason together based on logistics..😜
If you're a young man or woman in love with a particular person, every other person may almost be non-existent to you until you find him/her.

Scripturally, the crippled man at the Beautiful Gate was looking at Peter and John to  beg them for something (Acts 3, 1-10). What was he looking for? Material things to support himself. But in the gospel of Luke 24, 13-35, the two disciples on the way to Emmaus saw Jesus but something prevented them from recognising him. Wow!

My dear friend(s), in these two occasions, both the crippled man and the disciples on the way to Emmaus were looking but not really seeing more other than what they wanted for themselves. Terrible! 😳😳

While the cripple man wanted some material assistance, maybe by way of money, the two disciples on the other hand wanted some sympathy for their misery and disappointment. We must learn to look beyond what we want for ourselves. If everything is about you, what about those around you?😱😱

Truly, what Jesus wants to give us is not mere silver or gold or some consolation in our disappointment, but a revelation. When Jesus is who we are looking for, we will see Him.

Now, as you go out today, I ask you again: What are you looking for in Jesus? Eat your breakfast in peace, I'm enjoying my orange juice 😜

Good morning!
Rabbi😘

THE RISEN LORD HAS CALLED YOU BY YOUR NAME

Have you ever gone to a place you presume no one will know you, and suddenly someone called your names? How was the experience? Were you startled? Were you happy? Were you having mixed feelings whether you were the one actually called? Well, whatever your experience, that was exactly what happened to Mary Magdalene in John 20, 11-16😳

My dear friend(s), in the gospel pericopee, something very unusual and  personal, something very scary but intimate happened to Mary. The
Risen Lord called her by her name, Mary,  and she turned round and said to him in Hebrew, 'Rabboni'. Indeed, that was the turning point in her life of brokenness, weeping, grieving and lost 👏🏻👏🏻👍🏻

This experience of Mary with the Risen Lord gave her back her identity and a mission. That is what happens to you and I when we have an intimate encounter with the Risen Lord. No matter our past, once there is an encounter with the divine, our lives must surely change for the better🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

Have you forgotten that the Peter who spoke on the day of Pentecost was a different person from the one who denied Jesus three times and wept? Surely, something must happen whenever you experience the Risen Lord. You must regain your identity and find a new purpose and mission in life🙏🏻

My most cherished friend(s), whenever you feel that life has come to a halt, whenever your dreams are broken, and whenever you have more fears than hopes, the Risen Lord comes to you and calls you out
as He called Mary. Are you ready to respond? ☝🏻☝🏻

As you go out today, the Risen Lord will call you by your name. Please, listen and respond with your heart so that your life can have a meaning and a mission.

Like I always said, eat before you leave your house and if you're lucky to be around my neighborhood, I shall be delighted to host you for lunch. Let me know on time, life is fun with friends like you😜😜

Guten Morgen!
Rabbi😘😘

TRUTH CAN NEVER BE CONCEALED.

Wow! There is no doubt in my mind that the past 40 days of the Lenten season and the Holy Triduum were saturated with lots of activities. In fact, many people were praying that it should end faster than expected, because every Wednesdays and Fridays were Stations of the Cross, fasting,  abstinence, penance, and Reconciliation services.

My dear friend(s), have you noticed that the season of Easter which we started yesterday seems to be less busy compared to the Lenten season? In fact, it's all about wining and dining...😁😁 Yes, there is actually nothing much to do.

The same thing happened to the disciples when they heard the news of the resurrection of their master. It seems also that it was
only the guards and the elders who were trying to do something as the gospel of Matthew 28, 8-15 reports. What were they doing? 😳😳

Unfortunately, what they were doing was wrong by trying to cover the truth of the resurrection. But, can the truth be concealed or suppressed? No, that is the power of the resurrection.

St Peter affirms this truth when he said, "This man, who was put into your power by the deliberate intention and foreknowledge of God, you took and had crucified and killed by men outside the law. But God raised him to life, freeing him from the pangs of Hades, for it was impossible for him to be held in its power."🙏🏻

Today i pray for you: whatever lies the enemies may have told over your head to destroy you, whatever your enemies may have done to cover your face from success, and breakthrough, and marriage, and employment, may the power of the resurrection uncover and  lead others  to the truth about you. Amen

I am happy now because I have resumed my juice therapy which was on hold since the beginning of the Lenten season. I was so excited when I took a chilled glass of pineapple juice at about 6am 😜.. Hope you have taken breakfast? See you tomorrow, God willing. Love you!😘

Good morning!
Rabbi

POVERTY AMIDST AFFLUENCE

I was sitting quietly this morning in my room when messages started coming in geometric progression, all demanding why I have not posted my daily reflection to their inbox. I am sorry for depriving you of it 🙈

It's no news that even in our affluent country, Nigeria, we do have so many poor people around us. Joke apart, there are genuinely poor people in our society. The parable of the rich man and Lazarus in the gospel of Luke 16, 19-31makes us to realise this reality and asks us what we as individuals are  doing about it and how we are helping the poor? 😳😳

Last week I talked about the three spiritual disciplines of lent, and today, one of them (almsgiving) is emphasized. When last did you help the poor? What about your driver, maid, cook, cleaner, etc? Do you say because they are paid, therefore you can't give helping hand again? You always tell your pastor to pray for you, have you remembered to offer alms to him this season? 🙊🙊🙊

My dear friend(s), more than just charity, it is our duty to help the poor, and it is also about justice to the poor when we understand that we are stewards who should look after the weak and poor members of our community and society 🙏🏻🙏🏻

As soon as we understand that it is our duty to help the poor and that it is an act of justice, then we will receive that blessing from the Lord and we will continue to bear fruits for the Lord 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻👍🏻.

Please, don't waste food today. Monitor what your children are doing in the kitchen. Serve the quantity of food you can finish. Think of another person next to you. I am in my house, expecting your call today. Am I one of your friends? Waiting! 😁😁

Good morning!
Rabbi

WE NEED COMPASSION AND FORGIVENESS

Has anyone accused you? Have you tried to exonerate yourself from the accusations of your enemies? Are you feeling the guilt of your sins? Have you noticed that when you do the right thing, no one remembers, but when you do the wrong thing, no one forgets? 😳😳

My dear friend(s), whenever we do something wrong, we don't need reminders, because it only make the guilt heavier. What we need at that time is compassion and forgiveness. Forgiveness to carry on with our lives 👍🏻👍🏻

In Isaiah 1, 18, God gives us a reminder, not of our sins, but of His compassion and forgiveness. He says, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow ; though they are red as crimson, they shall be white as wool."

Today, learn to show compassion and forgive. Learn to do good, search for justice, discipline the violent, be just to the orphan, plead for the widow (Isaiah 1, 17).

May God give you the necessary grace to carry this out through Christ our Lord. Amen. Happy Tuesday! 👍🏻

Good morning!
Rabbi😘😘

HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN TO PRAY?

What a bright new Monday morning! What time did you wake? What was the first thing you did after waking up? Were you happy doing it? Are you experiencing spiritual aridity? How do you hope to come out of this mess? Well, these are some of the questions you can ponder this morning... 🙊

There is no one on earth, even Jesus, who has not experienced some hard times. But, the question is, how do you deal with it? In Daniel 9, 4-10, Daniel turned his face to the Lord God, begging for time to pray and to plead, with fasting, sackcloth and ashes👍🏻

He began his prayer by acknowledging God in these words: O my Lord, God great and to be feared, you keep the covenant and show faithful love towards those who love you and who observe your commandments 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

Daniel acknowledged the greatness and faithfulness of God because that was what God had done for him. God blessed Daniel with status and authority even though he was in exile in Babylon. God gave Daniel the gift of prophecy. He saved Daniel in the lions' den and rescued him from his enemies' plots. Time and again, God showed Daniel His greatness and also His faithfulness.

What is your own experience of God? Is God faithful to you? Has He been compassionate and merciful to your situations? How do you repay His goodness to you? When Daniel experienced the awesomeness of God,  he remembered and praised God for His greatness and faithfulness to him 👏🏻👏🏻🙏🏻

As you begin this new week, may you remember to praise God for His greatness and faithfulness in your life, business, office, studies, etc. Today shall be better. Amen.

Heading to the table for coconut rice and coffee. I didn't take my juice, I have sacrificed that for lent😜😜. Have a good day!

Good morning!
Rabbi 😘😘

RECONCILE WITH HIM/HER TODAY

Are you surprise at the topic? What time do you think reconciliation should be preached other than at the season of lent? By the way, how are you at the moment? Thank God is Friday! 👍🏻👍🏻

My dear friend(s), why should we be angry in the first place if we know very well that anger only generates heat that burns us away. Most times, the person we are angry at, may not be aware of what's happening.. 😳

Contrarily, reconciliation opens the door of our hearts for God to enter, heal and restore peace. The gospel pericopee in Matthew 5, 20-26 captures this vividly when Jesus remarked, "Go first and be reconciled to your brother." Don't forget that reconciliation is not about who is right and who is wrong 🙊🙊

It is a way of reaching an agreement or compromise towards healing the wounds of misunderstanding. It's a soothing medicine for angry parties to a conflict. God first reconciled us to Himself by sending His only Son to forgive and heal our sinful hearts🙏🏻🙏🏻

I charge you today, please reconcile with him/her today no matter the distance. Let he who does not reconcile, not eat 😜.

God bless you day. See you at lunch.

Ututu oma!
Rabbi