Fr. Ken's Pastoral Care

All Saints Readings: Revelation 7:2-4.9-14; Psalm 24; 1 John 3:1-3 and Matthew 5:1-12.  CITIZENS OF HEAVEN: ALL SAINTS.    Today we celebrate the solemnity that brings the whole Church together, both in heaven and on earth. A solemnity for the Church triumphant, which consist of those who have the beatific vision and are in heaven. Today the Church recognizes the faithful departed that are not officially canonized or beatified by the Church, and so, we unite ourselves with them in this celebration as we implore their intercession on ourselves who makes the Church militant, so that we can attain a life of holiness, which qualifies us to be citizens of heaven.   The first reading makes us understand that heaven is large enough to contain everyone that aspire to live a life of holiness. John tells us in the reading, “ I looked and behold A GREAT MULTITUDE which no man could number, from every nation, tribes and tongues, standing before the throne and before the ...

Two Dimenssion of Love Readings: Exodus 22:21-27; Psalm 18; 1Thess 1:5-10; and Matthew 22:34-40.  CAN WE RELATE WITH GOD WITHOUT RELATING WITH OUR NEIGHBOUR?    Today’s liturgy reminds us of the great theological virtue, which is love. All the laws and prophets has love as it’s foundation, which is explicit in the readings. This virtue of love is better expressed from two dimension: our relationship with God and with man (human). What defines our relationship with God is how we relate with our neighbour. Is our relationship with neighbour surrounded with hatred, bitterness, anger, violence and other forms of vices or is it with love, peace and unity?   In building human relationship, the first reading presents to us the love for stranger; love for the weak and vulnerable; and love for the poor. God warns us through His servant Moses saying, “ You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him… you shall not afflict any widow or orphan… if they cry to me, I will su...

Go into the world... Readings: Isaiah 2:1-5; Psalm 98; 1Timothy 2:1-8 and Matthew 28:16-20.  MISSIONARIES IN A TURBULENT NATION   In a meeting on Tuesday last week of the consecrated persons with the Bishop of Abeokuta Diocese, Most Rev. Dr. Peter Olukayode Odetoyinbo, a question was raised by a brother priest on the role of the Church in the midst of the turbulence in the nation. Precisely the recent clamor of our youth on ‘end SARS and police brutality, amidst other demands.’ It was so sad to hear from the bishop that we have a governor who do not listen to the people. Various letters, calls and messages have been sent to tackle issue bothering us, yet we have NO REPLY. Will the Church remain silent in the face of these devastating issues affecting our society? Are we to remain silent while the lives of our people are at stake?  It is our MISSION to save lives and rekindle in the hearts and minds of Nigerian government the value of human lives. Saving lives was the prim...

Banquet Readings: Isaiah 25:6-10; Psalm 23; Philippians 4:12-14.19-20 and Matthew 22:1-14.  GOD’S INVITATION.   It is a common phenomenon in Nigeria that part of our wedding plans or other great celebrations, we include ‘asoebi,’ the cloth that dignifies every invited guest to the event, put differently, ‘the wedding garment.’ We have a perception of those without the ‘asoebi’ as distant relatives or friends and probably seen as non-invited guest. Today’s liturgy reminds us of God’s invitation to a banquet, not to some sects of persons but to ALL, including you. What a special invite! Not just the invite, there are gifts and blessings attached to it.   The first reading from the prophecy of Isaiah is full of blessings, hope and restoration. In it, we have a promise of a beautiful banquet that awaits us, and we are moved to say ‘amen’ at every phrase of the reading. It says, “ On this mountain the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of fat things, a fea...

Disappointed  Readings: Isaiah 5:1-7; Psalm 80; Philippians 4:6-9 and Matthew 21:18-24.  IS GOD DISAPPOINTED IN YOU?    A comedian once asked a question in his presentation, “If as a wealthy father, you have spent greater percentage of your earning in the life of your son, made sure he attended one of the best and expensive schools in the nation to study a professional course, he was comfortable and all he needed was at his beck and call. After graduating, he decided to drop his profession to embrace the work of a ‘Danfo Driver’ and gives returns to the owner each day.” How will you feel as the father of this young man? Disappointed! That is how it is with the people of Israel and God as seen in the readings of today. The question is, is God your heavenly father disappointed in you?   The first reading presents to us the allegory of the song of the unproductive vineyard, “ Let me sing for my beloved a love song concerning his vineyard: My beloved had a v...