WEEKEND DIGEST FOR SATURDAY OF WEEK 7 IN ORDINARY TIME 26TH FEBRUARY, 2022:(James 5:13-20 / Mark 10:13-16)
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Good Morning and Happy Weekend Dear Friends in Christ. May God fill out hearts with JOY this day and always.
Amen.
Brethren, Jesus in the Gospel of today welcomes LITTLE CHILDREN TO HIMSELF AND SAYS NO ONE SHOULD STOP THEM BECAUSE IT IS FOR THEM THAT THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN BELONGS.
Here, Jesus shows us how to LOVE CHILDREN & TREAT THEM WITH RESPECT. They surely occupy a place of HONOUR in God’s Kingdom. For Jesus to have even gone further to say; ” Whoever does not receive the Kingdom of God like a CHILD will not enter it”confirms their place of GREAT IMPORTANCE.
My Dear People of God, we have CHILDREN all around us today.
HOW MANY OF THEM ARE EVEN WILLING TO GO CLOSE TO JESUS AND HOW MUCH SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGEMENT ARE THEY GETTING FROM US?
Jesus says this Morning: DO NOT STOP THEM!
Parents, allow your CHILDREN to attend CATECHISM CLASSES to know more about Jesus Christ. Allow them to go for BLOCK ROSARY, allow them to join MASS SERVERS in the Church, allow them to join and go for CHOIR PRACTICE, allow them to join YOUTH MOVEMENTS in their PARISHES and ensure they are ACTIVE. Allow them to go to the SEMINARY AND CONVENT if they want to serve God. DO NOT STOP THEM by saying: ” I gave birth to you, you must give birth to another.”
Parents let us HELP & NOT HINDER the Children from Knowing Jesus.
Have you ever bought BIBLE, ROSARY, SACRAMENTALS, etc; as BIRTHDAY GIFTS FOR THEM BEFORE?
Have you ever thought of taking them to the MONASTERY OR CHURCH RELATED PLACES FOR EXCURSION BEFORE?
On the 27th of May which is CHILDREN’S DAY, WHAT USUALLY ARE YOUR PLANS FOR THEM? IS GOD INCLUDED IN YOUR SURPRISE PACKAGES FOR THEM?
Dearly Beloved in Christ, St. James tells us in the first reading today…
– If anyone of you is in trouble, HE SHOULD PRAY.
– if anyone is feeling happy, HE SHOULD SING A PSALM.
– If anyone of you is ill, HE SHOULD SEND FOR THE ELDERS (priests) of the church.
But don’t we often do otherwise until we get hooked and failed?
*Prayer* is that last resort for many whenever they are in trouble. Instead they seek human help first, apply human calculations and tricks, look for experts… they forget God drives those external inputs.
And do we sing psalms whenever we are happy? No, we sing DORIME AND ZAZU as we have seen EVEN IN RELIGIOUS GATHERING/ PARTIES and forget that it is a moment of blessing from the Lord. Being happy and being thankful does not seem to go together. We only remember psalms when the drinks run out and music changed.
And of course, when we fall sick, the priest is the last person we call. But three different sacraments can be of help to us here – Anointing of the Sick, Reconciliation and the Eucharist. But we would rather do self medication or run to see the doctor. The work of the priest and the doctor complements each other – your spiritual and physical health is their work.
May the Grace of God help us to learn to do the right things. AMEN.
Rev. Fr. Francis Uchechukwu Onugha (Fada Kosi Much)
