*DAILY CHEWING STICK FOR MONDAY OF THE 7TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, 21ST FEBRUARY 2022 (Jas 3:13-18; Mark 9:14-29).*
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Good Morning Dearest in Christ and how are you today?
Let us begin this beautiful morning and week with this SONG OF GRACE:
Give us the GRACE to follow,
Abundant GRACE to follow,
Give us the GRACE to follow,
Your GRACE is enough for us.
My Dear People of God, just TWO points I want us to reflect on coming from our Gospel passage of today.
The first is where the Father of the sick boy (dumb) said to Jesus: *BUT IF YOU CAN DO ANYTHING, HAVE PITY ON US AND HELP US.’* And Jesus responded: EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE FOR ANYONE WHO HAS FAITH.
The man quickly said to Jesus: I DO HAVE FAITH, HELP THE LITTLE FAITH THAT I HAVE.
My Dear Friends, do you know that life is full of paradoxes? At every point in time, while some are happy, some others are sad.
While some New Babies are been born, some other people are dying.
While some are passing exams and interviews and getting employed and promoted, some others are failing and getting sacked and demoted.
While some are favoured and enjoying privileges, some others are not.
While some had a memorable and glorious WEEKEND AND ARE IN HIGH SPIRIT TO BEGIN THE NEW WEEK; some others had it rough, unpleasant, very Sorrowful and weighed down with so much worries, anxieties, fears, sickness, pains, pessimism that THEY ARE NOT EVEN SEEING ANYTHING GOOD COMING THEIR WAY IN THIS NEW WEEK.
This for me is what I call the paradox of life!
And the words of Jesus today is for you: EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE FOR ANYONE WHO HAS FAITH.
So, I ask you:
DO YOU LIKE THE FATHER OF THAT SICK BOY HAVE FAITH?
DO YOU BELIEVE THAT GOD IS BIGGER THAN YOUR PROBLEM?
DO YOU BELIEVE THAT THIS WEEK GOD HAS MARKED YOU OUT FOR SUCCESS?
DO YOU HAVE FAITH THAT EVERYTHING WILL TURN AROUND FOR GOOD FOR YOU?
Brethren, our second point of reflection today is towards the end of the Gospel passage.
The DISCIPLES OF JESUS asked Him: Master, why were we UNABLE to heal the sick boy? He said to them: THIS IS THE KIND THAT CAN ONLY BE DRIVEN OUT THROUGH PRAYER!
Yes ooo, some of our problems, difficulties, challenges in life cannot be overcome by our power or might, by our skills and intelligence, by our money and Connection BUT BY PRAYER OF GRACE OFFERED BY THOSE WHO HAVE FAITH.
Look at ELIJAH when faced with the 450 Prophets of Baal in 1 Kings 19. His human power alone could not save him, but FAITH made him look up to the HEAVENS IN PRAYERS AND GRACE OF VICTORY WAS GIVEN TO HIM.
What about Zechariah and Elizabeth who had passed the age of child bearing? FAITH still kept them in the temple and GRACE OF FRUITFULNESS WAS GIVEN TO THEM.
The same was true of Abraham and Sarah, Hannah and co. Their FAITH IN GOD BROUGHT GRACE UPON THEM!
Yesterday, God asked us to be like Him in HOLINESS. And one of the conditions in our Gospel of yesterday was to LOVE OUR ENEMIES AND PRAY FOR THOSE WHO PERSECUTE US.
Hmmmmmm, for us human, it is almost impossible BUT WITH GRACE, IT IS POSSIBLE.
Finally Dear Friends, this is THE WEEK OF GRACE AND I PROPHESY GOD’S GRACE UPON YOU, GOD’S GRACE UPON YOUR FAMILY, GOD’S GRACE UPON YOUR MARRIAGE, GOD’S GRACE UPON YOUR BUSINESS, GOD’S GRACE UPON YOUR HEALTH, GOD’S GRACE UPON YOUR FINANCES, GOD’S GRACE UPON YOUR JOURNEYS, GOD’S GRACE UPON YOUR EXAMS AND INTERVIEWS, GOD’S GRACE UPON YOUR PREGNANCY AND TIME OF DELIVERY, GOD’S GRACE UPON YOUR SEARCH FOR LIFE PARTNER AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES, GOD’S GRACE UPON ALL OUR WRITTEN AND UNWRITTEN PETITIONS, GOD’S GRACE UPON ALL THAT WE HAVE PLANNED TO ACHIEVE THIS WEEK. AMEN AND AMEN AND AMEN!!!
WHERE OUR SKILLS, STRENGTH, CONNECTION, MONEY, CANNOT SPEAK; GRACE OF GOD WILL SURELY SPEAK FOR US. AMEN.
MAY THE ALMIGHTY GOD BLESS YOU AND GRANT SUCCESS TO THE WORKS OF YOUR HAND, IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND OF THE SON AND OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. AMEN.
Note Please: So sorry there was no SUNDAY APPETIZER yesterday. I was pastorally engaged. May God bless you for checking up.
REV. FR. FRANCIS UCHECHUKWU ONUGHA
(FADA KOSI MUCH)
