SATURDAY OF THE WORD OF GOD (SATWOG MAY 13TH, 2023) INSPIRING REFLECTIONS OF MEMBERS

 

LAITY REFLECTIONS FOR 6TH SUNDAY OF EASTER, YEAR A

First Reading: Acts 8:5-8;14-17
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 66:1-3a;4-5;6-7a;16 and 20(R.1)
Second Reading: 1 Peter 3:15-18
Gospel Acclamation: John 14:23
Gospel: John 14:15-21

Sr. Juliana Osiyemi

MY REFLECTION

Cry out with joy to to God ALL THE EARTH is the response to Psalm 66, our Responsorial Psalm for the 6th Sunday of Easter, Year A. This is also the 1st line of Psalm 100. 

I wonder if anyone here can tell me which Country in the world does not have a Name for the Supreme God. All the earth know that there is a Divine Being. Yes, some tribes and clans may have their own small gods, but they all still refer to a Greater Being. This Supreme Being is what Psalm 66 is talking about.

Don't mind the Satanists. They are only trying to destroy what they cannot destroy. The fool has said in his heart "There is no God" (Ps 14:1)

The God Almighty is awesome God. He has done great deeds for us. Let us sing joyfully of his love to us as in the above attached Obiblio video Singers. Let us resolve this day to tell at least two persons about some of what the good God has done for us in the last 90 days.

Simon Eshiebor

MY REFLECTION

Always be prepared to make a defense to anyone who calls you to account for the hope that is in me.

I want to direct this to us Catholics, including myself.

I was born a Catholic—cradle Catholic. But why do I hope to remain Catholic? What have I seen in the Catholic Faith that is making me hope to remain Catholic? What defense can I make of my Faith as Catholic if I am called upon to talk about it?

The truth is many of us Catholics, born into the Faith, are yet to acquire the Faith. And this is why we are sometimes ashamed to talk about it. Or maybe timid, whenever we are with our contemporaries of other faiths and doctrines.

Knowledge breeds confidence, and confidence in the knowledge sustains the hope to stand firm in defense of what you know, to be true. 

I think St. Athanasius was confident of his knowledge of the church, thus he put together the Creed in her defense. I think this is what we Catholics must do too. Be ready at all times to put out something in defense of what we believe.

We cannot profess what we do not believe. And we cannot defend what we do not know.

Janefrances Udeh

MY REFLECTION

In 1 Peter 3:15-18, St. Peter encourages us as Catholics and Christians to be prepared to give a defense or reason for our hope in Christ, with gentleness and respect. The passage highlights the importance of having a well-grounded theological foundation and the practical implications of living out one's faith in the midst of challenges.

From my perspective, this passage emphasizes the concept of apologetics, which involves providing a rational defense of the Christian faith. St. Peter encourages us to be knowledgeable about our faith, to understand its doctrines, and to be able to articulate our beliefs effectively. This understanding forms the basis for the practical application of the passage.

The passage teaches us several lessons. Firstly, it reminds us to cultivate a deep understanding of our faith through studying Scripture, engaging with Catholic teachings, and seeking wisdom from the Church's rich tradition. This equips us to respond to questions or objections about our faith confidently and respectfully.

Secondly, Peter encourages us to communicate our faith with gentleness and respect. This means approaching conversations with humility, kindness, and a genuine concern for the other person. Our aim is not to win arguments or assert our superiority, but to engage in meaningful dialogue that reflects the love and grace of Christ.

Finally, this passage reminds us of the importance of living out our faith consistently. Our actions should align with our beliefs, and our conduct should be characterized by love, integrity, and righteousness. By embodying the teachings of Christ in our daily lives, we become living testimonies of the transformative power of the Gospel.

By embracing these lessons, we can effectively communicate the hope we have in Christ and be a positive influence in the world around us.

Jennifer Nwatu

MY REFLECTION

Always be prepared to make a defence to any one who calls you to account for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and reverence...

As followers of Christ, we are reminded that our reverence for Christ should begin from our hearts. This helps us to be better disposed to tell of what we know about Christ, our testimony, through our daily evangelism shared through our living basically.

Our preparedness should be always, and not sometimes or other times. We ought to be alert and ready !

Whenever we do this, we not only bear witness to the truth that Christ died for us all but, direct turn around to take up our cross likewise for our good and others.

This, in itself, is the climax of our accountability.

Are you prepared to share your faith with others?

Are you prepared to share your story with others?

Are you prepared to defend the gospel?

Are you prepared to raise many from ignorance to knowledge of the Lord?

If yes, remember to do it in gentleness.

May God help you and I.

Collins Iwekauba

MY REFLECTION

The Responsorial Psalm states "Blest be God, who did not reject my prayer, nor withhold from me his merciful love."

The words above bring soothing relief to any soul. God answers prayers and will never withhold his merciful love from us.

The question is, do we trust God enough and our we ready for conversion from our sinful ways?

Sin ruptures our relationship with God and can make us lose hope in the salvation which Christ has obtained for us.

God is merciful, despite our sinful ways and He still calls us and extends His hand of friendship towards us.

The Gospel reading reminds us that if we say we love God, we must do His will and obey His commands.

So what is the will of God for us in our lives?

God speaks to us in many ways, through scriptures, through his priests, e.t.c.

We should pray for the spirit of discernment for us to know what God requires of us and ask Him to strengthen us with the grace to do His will.