Fr. Ken's Pastoral Care

Readings: Numbers 11:25-29; Psalm 19; James 5:1-6 and Mark 9:38-43.45.47-48.  MY CIRCLE SYNDROME   Christianity is deeper than we think, it is not just the outward behavior exhibited by excessive enthusiasm. There are moments we unconsciously segregate people because they do not make part of our group or circle. Today’s liturgy makes us understand that the Spirit of God is not restricted to a given people only. This is evident in the typology of Jesus as the new Moses, that is, the relationship of the Old and New Testaments.   The first reading and the Gospel have a lot in common. In the words of Scott Hahn, seeing Jesus Christ as the typology of Moses, we recall, “ Moses gave the law to the twelve tribes of Israel and chose from them the twelve princes to assist him in governing Israel. Similarly, Christ chose twelve Apostles to assist him in his public ministry. ” In today’s first reading, “ The Lord came down in the cloud and spoke to Moses and took some of the...

Readings: Wisdom 2:12.17-20; Psalm 54; James 3:16-4:3 and Mark 9:30-37.  WHY CONFLICT AMONG US?   In as much as conflict is inevitable in life, should we allow it to tear us apart? No! Today’s central theme is on Christ the Wisdom of God, who came down from heaven to be servant of all. He indicated to us the best way to live in the midst of conflicts and of ungodly men. To comprehend the wisdom of his teaching, we must be like Him and be ready to sacrifice our lives for one another.   The first reading from the book of Wisdom, speaks in wisdom on how the ungodly men plot evil against the righteous man. The presence of the righteous man disrupts the plans of evil men. Wisdom says, “ Let us lie in wait for the righteous man, because he is inconvenient to us and opposes our actions; he reproaches us for sins against the law and accuses us for sins against our training. ” It is a reflection of a wicked heart that seats to plan and execute evil; it foretells the suffer...

Readings: Isaiah 50:5-9; Psalm 116; James 2:14-18 and Mark 8:27-35. THE MESSIAH’S FACE LIKE FLINT   There have been so many views about the personality of Jesus Christ, both among Christians and non-Christians alike. In Islam, Jesus Christ is known as Isa, one of God’s highest-ranked and most beloved prophets. They consider Him to be neither God nor the Son of God as they hold a strong view of monotheism. Some Christians debate if He is God or just the Son of God. However, among the numerous teachings about His identity, Christianity teaches that He is the Messiah foretold in the Old Testament whose face is set like a flint.   The first reading presents to us one of the Songs of the Suffering Servant in the book of Isaiah, the prophecy about the submission of Jesus Christ the Messiah to the Lord. This prophecy speaks of the chilling details of the sufferings of the Messiah. We know Jesus Christ was beaten on his back, on his face, he was mocked and was spat upon. We c...

Readings: Isaiah 35:4-7; Psalm 146; James 2:1-5 and Mark 7:31-37.  THE APOCALYPSE OF ISAIAH   It is quite unfortunate that not even the Church has done enough, and the Nigerian society too has done little or nothing at all to care for people with special needs such as the lame, the blind, the deaf and dumb. This seems less important to the government of the day to construct special pathways for the blind or make provisions for special vehicles for the lame. What about education for and communication with the blind, deaf and dumb? Very few institutes or organizations have interest in sign language. Is it the case that these our brothers and sisters with special needs have no need of the Gospel and education? Today’s liturgy draws our attention to the interest of God in these people.   The Prophet Isaiah in the first reading uses the image of a deaf person to show us what God will do for his people who have shut their ears and no longer listen to Him. This pericope ...