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DAILY CHEWING STICK FOR WEDNESDAY OF THE 4TH WEEK OF LENT, 30TH MARCH 2022(Is 49:8-15; Jn 5:17-30).
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Good Morning Dearly Beloved and welcome to another beautiful day of GRACE AND MERCY. May God bless and favour us today as always. Amen.
My Dear Friends and Fellow NIGERIANS, I WAS SO SAD AND DIDN’T HAVE APPETITE FOR FOOD LAST NIGHT BECAUSE THE SUPER EAGLES OF NIGERIA BROKE MY HEART AND I KNOW MANY HEARTS AS WELL. I CAN’T REMEMBER WHEN LAST I WATCHED AN “UNINTERESTING SECOND HALF” OF FOOTBALL WITH ZERO URGENCY TO SCORE WHEN YOU KNOW YOU NEEDED THE WIN!
CHAI, EVERYTHING AND EVERY SECTOR IN NIGERIA IS JUST COLLAPSING. EVEN THE PLATFORM USED BY APC FOR THEIR NATIONAL CONVENTION COLLAPSED. GOD PLEASE COME TO OUR AID AND SAVE NIGERIA. AMEN.
Dearly Beloved in Christ, JESUS in the 4th station as contained in our pamphlet for Stations of the Cross said:
“My Mother sees me whipped.
She sees me kicked and driven like a beast.
She sees me disgraced.
But she did not utter a word of protest or complaint.
*SHE SHARES MY MARTYRDOM.”*
Does it surprise you to hear Jesus say MARY SHARED HIS MARTYRDOM WITH HIM? What can make another go to that extent if not the NATURAL LOVE OF A MOTHER?
I once told somebody that when for instance you spend MONEY that you didn’t WORK FOR, perhaps you were given; you won’t value and appreciate it much. But if after working so hard, sweating or giving all it takes to make that MONEY, before you spend N10.00 out of it, you will calculate well.
So also is with OUR BELOVED MOTHERS. After carrying their BABIES FOR NINE SOLID MONTHS, with all the “wahala” of spitting, tiredness, early morning sleeping and vomiting, swollen legs, heavy protruded tommy, sometimes looking ugly with pimples here and there, constant visit to the hospital for Ante-natal, the constant kicks from some “stubborn” babies ๐๐๐, the unusual staring and pity from passersby, the labour pain, sometimes multiple Cesarean sections, etc; IT IS JUST NATURAL FOR MOTHERS TO LOVE THEIR CHILDREN.
Little wonder our first reading today asks:
*DOES A WOMAN FORGET HER BABY AT THE BREAST,*
*OR FAIL TO CHERISH THE SON OF HER WOMB?*
The Mother – Child attachment is just natural, and so, there is NOTHING WE CAN OFFER OUR MOTHERS THAT IS TOO MUCH COMPARED TO THE LOVE THEY HAVE SHOWN US.
Brethren, I once asked in my homily, HOW DOES A MOTHER KNOW WHEN HER TINY BABY IS HUNGRY SINCE HE/SHE CAN’T TALK? Answers like, the baby will start crying or become restless were given. But the touching one is, somebody said, *ONCE MY BABY IS HUNGRY, MY BREAST WILL START ITCHING ME AND WHEREVER I’M THEN, I HAVE TO EXCUSE MYSELF TO GO AND FEED MY BABY.*
Wow! So so natural!
No wonder someone said; A MOTHER’S LOVE FOR HER CHILD IS AS DEEP AS THE OCEAN AND AS STRONG AS A GIGANTIC MOUNTAIN. The MOTHER’S LOVE counts no cost; IT shows no fatigue; it fears no enemies; and it accepts no defeat.
MAY GOD BLESS ALL MOTHERS. AMEN.
YOU WILL LIVE LONG TO ENJOY THE FRUITS OF YOUR LABOUR. AMEN.
YOU WILL LIVE TO SEE YOUR CHILDREN’S CHILDREN. AMEN.
Finally Dear Friends, we have THE MOST TOUCHING EXPRESSION OF DIVINE LOVE FOR US IN THE ENTIRE BIBLE IN OUR FIRST READING TODAY. Despite this wonderful love of MOTHERS, God said; *EVEN IF THE MOTHER FORGETS HER BABY AT THE BREAST, I WILL NOT FORGET YOU BECAUSE YOU HAVE BEEN CARVED IN THE PALM OF MY FLESH.*
Go about your activities today with confidence because GOD LOVES YOU AND HE WILL NEVER ABANDON YOU.
WHATEVER IT IS THAT YOU ARE UNDERGOING NOW, GOD KNOWS AND HE IS WORKING SLEEPLESSLY ON YOUR CASE. YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
Remember in our Stations of the cross pamphlet again, He said: ALL THAT HAPPENS TO YOU, HAS MY MARK ON IT.
SEEK ME NOT IN FAR AWAY PLACES, I’M VERY CLOSE TO YOU.
Cheers and Peace be with you as you sing with me: IN THE HOLLOW OF HIS HANDS.
1. With my Saviour ever near
to guide me,
I am safe, whatever may betide me;
From the storm and tempest
He will hide me
In the hollow of His hand!
CHORUS:
In the hollow of His hand!
In the hollow of His hand!
I am safe, whatever may betide me,
In the hollow of His hand!
2. In His arms of love
He doth enfold me;
Words of peace
His voice Divine hath told me;
I am safe, for God Himself
doth hold me
In the hollow of His hand!
Rev. Fr. Francis Uchechukwu Onugha
(Fada Kosi Much)
