Fr. Ken's Pastoral Care

Mary, Mother of God Readings: Numbers: 6:22-27; Psalm 67; Galatians 4:4-7 and Luke 2:16-21.  MARY, MODEL OF ALL MOTHERS   The daily missal gives a beautiful summary of today’s liturgy. First, we celebrate the first day of the year; then we think of the circumcision of Jesus, which took place eight days after His birth according to Luke 2:21. This day we also remember the pronouncement of the Council of Ephesus as Mary, Mother of God ( Theotokos ) and finally, in 1968 Pope Paul VI chose January 1st as the World Day of Peace. The year 2020 might have been a difficult and challenging year for us, yet we scaled through. It is God’s grace! Today, God is giving us His blessings as a father will bless his children and Peace to hearts that are troubled of what this pregnant year will deliver.   The title of Mary, Mother of God is from the Greek word “ Theotokos ” which also consist of two Greek words: “ Theos” which means “God” and “ Tokos ” which means “Bearer.” Literal...

Holy Family Readings: Gen 15:1-6;21:1-3; Psalm 105; Hebrew 11:8.11-12.17-21 and Luke 2:22-40.  NO FAMILY WITHOUT CHALLENGES!     Traditionally, the first Sunday in the octave of Christmas, which apparently is the last Sunday of the year, we celebrate the Holy family of Nazareth, the family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. God is born into a family and so, He calls us as family through the readings to re-examine the nature and structure of our families. The liturgy of today calls us to reflect on scriptural background of family and the family as the basis for civil society. God wants every family to know that He gives grace to every cross attached to it.   The family is the fundamental arch on which the structure of human society is raised; it is the nuclear unit of the society on which the whole structure of the society rest, when we destroy or weaken the family structure, we do the same to the society.   As basis for civil society, the family has the foundati...

Advent Candle of Peace Readings: 2 Samuel 7:1-5.8-12.14-16; Psalm 89; Romans 16:25-27 and Luke 1:26-38.  THE ANGEL’S CANDLE OF PEACE ON EARTH   While having a discussion on security issues within my area last week, one of the vigilantes said to me, “ Father, if you observe any illegal movement around the parish, call us on phone we will come and save you. ” Immediately they left, I smiled and repeated same words to my brother priest. Invariably, they saw themselves as messiahs that have come to save their people. However, the readings of today present to us one Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary, who received the angel’s message of peace on earth and to men of goodwill, which signifies the fourth advent candle.   In the first reading, there are striking words of David to Nathan the prophet that caught my attention when he said, “ See now, I dwell in a house of cedar, but the ark of God dwells in a tent .” Cedar tree or wood are expensively valued. This means David li...

The rose candle Readings: Isaiah 61:1-2.10-11; Psalm (Luke 1); 1 Thess. 5:16-24 and John 1: 6-8.19-28.  THE THIRD CANDLE OF ADVENT: JOY Nigerians can testify to the bubbling joy that comes with ‘NEPA’ light after experiencing days of power failure. Even those with mighty generators consciously or unconsciously express this bubbling joy of ‘NEPA’ by shouting “Up NEPA” because we have practically been in darkness and light has shown. Even though some has been unable to fuel their generator due to the hike of fuel/diesel price, the noise of generator will no longer tear our ears. We can equally imagine the peace and tranquility of the environment free from generator noise pollution when there is light. In view of this, the liturgy of today anticipate the joy we will experience on Christmas day. The joy of having a redeemer who will liberate and restore His people that have been in darkness. The rose/pink Advent candle symbolizes this joy.   The first reading from Trito -I...

Second Advent Candle Readings: Isaiah 40:1-5.9-11; Psalm 85; 2Peter 3:8-14 and Mark 1:1-8.  THE SECOND CANDLE OF ADVENT    The liturgy of today calls us to reflect on GOD’S LOVE for humanity, as God was moved to bring His people out of exile because of His love for them. He has seen the suffering of those who pass through exilic experience, either out or within the nation and has chosen to redeem them through His Son. In view of this, we hear the voices of two great prophets foretelling the coming of the His Son (incarnation) and emphasizing on same theme, “Prepare the way for the Lord…” In a different manner, St. Peter calls it “ The day of the Lord .” Certainly, we know Christ will come again in majesty (Parousia), but how soon and how prepared are we?   Last Sunday, the prophet Isaiah brought to us hope of Christ’ coming when the prophet prayed that God tears down the heavens and come down quickly to save the heart broken people of Israel, which was realiz...