Fr. Ken's Pastoral Care

Readings: Exodus 16:2-4.12-15; Psalm 73; Ephesians 4:17.20-24 and John 6:24-35.  THE ADVERSE EFFECTS OF MALNUTRITION .  As humans, we need any consumable substance to provide nutritional support for our bodies, which is food. If this is lacking we experience malnutrition, which makes us more vulnerable to disease and subsequently leads to death. Today’s liturgy draws our attention to the nourishment given not only to our body but also to our soul.  In the first reading, the Israelites complained against Moses and Aaron of being hungry and God gave them manna from heaven. They complained because they did not have enough food, or the food they carried from Egypt was running out and they foresaw the adverse effect of starvation and malnutrition in the wilderness. Consequently, they became so quick to forget the goodness of God who brought them out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. They forgot the miracle of crossing the red sea and God defeating their enemies in attempt ...

ARE YOU A SELFISH OR A GENEROUS CHRISTIAN?  Readings: 2 Kings 4:42-44; Psalm 145; Ephesians 4:1-6 and John 6:1-15.    In one of the video clips on the burial ceremony of the mother of Obi Cubana, the Master of Ceremony (MC) was saying, “ The next Governor of Anambra State is here… the God sent is here… ” The people have probably seen his acts of generosity and are ready to crown him as their governor. This event gives a glimpse of today’s liturgy as it draws our attention to the acts of generosity and compassion.   The first reading tells of the man who came from Baal-shalishah, bringing the man of God bread of the first fruits... The man of God there was Elisha, who noticed the hunger of the people and had compassion on them. He said to his servant, “ Give to the men that they may eat. ” In response, the servant said, “ How am I to set this before a hundred men? ” Elisha said, “ They shall eat and have some left. ” This was a prefiguration of the multiplica...

Readings: Jeremiah 23:1-6; Psalm 23; Ephesians 2:13-18 and Mark 6:30-34.  SHEPHERDING DEMANDS SACRIFICE   When people of the same nation, religion or group are scattered and can no longer stay together, it’s an indication of bad leadership and a failed system. Today’s liturgy presents to us values of a good leader or shepherd. He/she should be strong and capable of defending his flock against wild animals. He/she becomes a real father/mother to his/her flock, with a heart full of compassion. A shepherd tends, cares for, guides and leads. Do we acquire these values or not?   From the first reading, these values of a shepherd were missing at the time of the prophet Jeremiah and at the time of Jesus Christ. God spoke through the prophet Jeremiah, “ Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! ” This address to shepherds includes all aspects of leadership, both civil and spiritual.   Regarding the civil and spiritual leaders, God rebu...

Readings: Amos7:12-15; Ephesians 1:3-14 and Mark 6:7-13  WILL GOD REJECT YOU AS HIS PROPHET DUE TO YOUR LOVE OF MONEY?    While we recall the rejection and discomfort of the prophetic mission of last Sunday, today’s liturgy draws our attention to the call and mission of the prophet Amos and the Disciples of Christ. What is common in their vocation is that God calls the weak and makes them strong.   The first reading presents to us Amaziah the priest of Bethel and the prophet Amos as a poor farmer. Amos is known as the defender of the poor against the rich and so he always identifies with the poor and the marginalized in the society, the widows, orphans, refugees, foreigners, oppressed and all who cannot fight for themselves. On the contrary, Amaziah the priest of Bethel identified with the rich and he was a prophet that was chosen and paid by the king to be the chaplain of the temple. Invariably, the work of the prophet of the temple was more or less a profes...