SATURDAY OF THE WORD OF GOD (SATWOG DECEMBER 18TH, 2022) INSPIRING REFLECTIONS OF MEMBERS

 

Laity Reflections for 4th Sunday in Advent, Year A

First Reading: Isaiah 7:10-14

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 24: 1-2.3-4ab.5-6 (R. cf. 7c.10c)

Second Reading: Romans 1:1-7

Alleluia: Matthew 1:23

Gospel: Matthew 1:18-24

Chinyere Esther Onyia

MY REFLECTION

Praise God!

I am inspired this morning by how Joseph reacted to the situation he found himself.

While no person will ever be lucky to be in the 'mess' he found himself in, we all are faced with our different kinds of 'mess' especially in our country Nigeria. 

Take for instance;

1. When you finish University, even with an excellent result, and you don't even get a 'reasonable job'.

2. When have kept yourself till a good age and yet no wife or hubby.

3. When you are married yet have no child.

4. When you have worked so hard and smart yet have no promotion and worst still, you become a victim of retrenchment.

5. When you have prayed for one thing or the other for so long and it seems God has forgotten you. 

6. Every other situation seems not to follow a pattern and we don't understand.

How do you react as a Christian?

We can resolve today to take a leaf from Joseph and drawback to pray, and look up to God knowing full well can that God is not guided by human patterns nor limited by time.

We can believe in all honesty that God will do us well no matter what it seems. It doesn't matter how it looks, the One who has the key to the gate of hell says that he will sort it.

Can we learn from Joseph to be still and look up to God?

Remember Joseph heard God in his stillness. Rushing to bend corners and follow our will might end up cutting us off from God. 

You should resolve today to watch any situation and know that God will show up.

Uju Emebo

MY REFLECTION

In today's liturgy, we are reminded again that God is faithful and will always fulfill His promises to us. God told Ahaz about the coming of Jesus, and centuries later His promise was fulfilled. No matter how long it takes, God will always fulfill his promise to us.

Janefrances Regina Udeh 

MY REFLECTION (Pidgin English)

Joseph get something wey he wan teach us today.

No be everybody go fit do wetin Joseph do. If to say na our young men of today, dem for don "serve the babe breakfast". But no be wetin Joseph do.

Today, Joseph dey teach us say no be everything be gragra. In anything wey we dey do, make we take time use our head dey reason am. Make we dey calm down allow baba God do him work.

Also, Oga Joseph dey teach us say e good make we dey get mind, oyibo man go call am "courage". Even if our legs waka kurukete enter gbege, no give up!!!

Finally, if you reason am well, you go see say, as Joseph dey yan, he dey use scope dey talk to God. After he talk finish, he come sleep.

Wetin we learn for this one?

Anytime wey our eyes dey see shege, make we carry the matter go gist Baba God. After we gist am finish, make we try dey do wetin oyibo man go call "Quiet Time/Meditation". Na for this quiet time, God dey give update about wetin we go do next.

Las las, hold God tight for im agbada and God go help you.

Sr. Julie Osiyemi, EHJ

MY REFLECTION

4th Sunday of Advent, Year A.

1ST READING

Sometimes we act like Ahaz, we hide complacency under the garment of contentment. God save us. We need to have the courage to face challenges, and put our faith to the test if God asks us to do so.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM

I wonder if our hearts are still open to the promptings of God. Do we allow the King of Glory to reign supreme in our lives? Our modern-day society is shutting God out of the school curriculum and replacing Him with irrelevancies. We complain of long homilies but sit for hours in clubhouses and cinemas. Let's welcome God back totally into our lives during this Advent.

2ND READING

We belong to Jesus. We've been called to be Saints, to be followers of Jesus, not yahoo men or yahoo ladies. It's not easy to be Saints, yes! But, that's our calling. Let's do it. Let's become Saints through the daily practice of virtues.

GOSPEL

I admire Joseph for the respect he had for Mary. We too should learn not to slash and expose all those who erroneously committed an offense. Let's learn to cover up for people. I'm not talking about being accomplices in evildoing. I'm talking about saving others from shame. I'm talking about not stigmatizing other people's errors. I'm saying we should not embalm the mistakes of our friends and family.

Lady StellaMaris Nwaozuzu

MY REFLECTION

"Hearing" in this noisy world

Whose voice do you hear?

How can you distinguish between voices?

How do you know which voice is true to follow? e.t.c.

You will agree with me that there is so much noise in the world today...

- Peer group "noise"

- Social media "noise"

- Family member's "noise"

- Political noise e.t.c.

In the middle of all of these "noises", how can we discern the voice of God? This can be achieved when we are in tune with God, little wonder Joseph knew and believed that it was God that spoke to him and obeyed. 

May we be able to hear the still small voice regardless of all the "noise" around us.

May we be open to hearing Him and receiving Him joyfully in this season and beyond.

Bernadette Agetu

MY REFLECTION

The birth of Jesus Christ which we joyfully celebrate at Christmas is not without challenges.

Challenge 1: How can the divine and sinless Son of God become “flesh” in the womb of the Immaculate Virgin Mary without being affected by original sin? To remain sinless, the conception of Jesus had to occur without the contribution of the spouse (Joseph) of the sinless Mary. Hence, the Holy Spirit overshadowed Mary and she conceived by a unique divine miracle. This, led to a second challenge.

Challenge 2: Joseph like every other human felt Mary had cheated on him when he realized she was pregnant, he was sure, the pregnancy wasn't his, so he decided to send Mary away secretly being a just man, he wanted the marriage called off.

Challenge 3: God had to intervene so the unimaginable won't happen. God sent an angel to Joseph in a dream.

Challenge 4: Through the dream, Joseph believed Mary was conceived of the Holy spirit. He loved her so much with the fear of GOD.

Irrespective of the challenges, the great news is that our Saviour was eventually born. This was so, because the divine interventions were more powerful than all the challenges – indeed with God nothing is impossible! 

Whatever challenges we may experience as individuals – whether in marriage, family, business, studies, health, or faith – let us trust that with God nothing is impossible. Then, by the intervention of Emmanuel (which means God-with-us) smiles will eventually follow the storms of our lives. Amen.