SATURDAY OF THE WORD OF GOD (25th January, 2025)

 

LAITY REFLECTIONS FOR THE 3RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (YEAR C)

1st Reading: Nehemiah 8:2-4a, 5-6, 8-10
RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 19:7.8.9.14 (R. see John  6:63c)
2nd Reading: 1 Corinthians 12:12-30
Gospel Acclamation: Luke 4:18
Gospel Reading: Luke 1:1-4; 4:14-21

Eghe Okonofua

   REFLECTION 

Tomorrow is Sunday of the word of God where we are all once again reminded of the need to make the Bible our friend and in turn make God our friend by constantly reminding ourselves who we are through the words God reveals in our hearts as we study the Bible.

Just as the word of God pierced the heart of the people of Israel, it is alive and active and waiting to mould you and I into the image God intends us to become.

We see how the people attentively listened to what was being read with reverence for God; but in our own time what do we find: A man answering or chatting his business partners while the readings and prayers go on at mass, a young man/lady Whatsapping his friends or checking out funny videos on Facebook & tiktok even when the gospel is being read, children playing games on their parents phones or those who read along as the lectors and priests read to them. Or even yet the lectors and readers themselves, who take the readings irreverently just because they feel they are good readers, forgetting that these words from the Bible are beyond a mere novel or newspaper.

Like the people of Israel in the first reading today, let our lives towards the word of God change, let us be broken and make His word our daily bread.

The Saturday of the word of God gives us this opportunity to let God express his love through us to others, don't let it pass you by.

May God bless us all. Amen

Vivian Okoronkwo

REFLECTION 

Tomorrow is Sunday the word of God. My question is, this word of God we read and hear everyday, Do we really work with it?

Are you a false teacher? In 2 Peter 1:1_5, The Bible said that God did not spare the angels who sinned, but threw them into hell, where they are kept chained in darkness waiting for the day of judgement. God saved Noah and he's family because he preached righteousness. 

My little advise to the preacher is be careful of what you preach because on the last day, you will give an account of your work. For some persons who run away from Catholic Church saying that our separated brethren study Bible more than us, I am sorry for them because they find it difficult to seat down to consult their Bible. May God help us as we hear the word, and may we work with it in Jesus name. Amen.

Phillip Okoye

REFLECTION 

Greetings brothers and sisters in Christ. 

As the mother church celebrate the Sunday of the Word of God , we are being reminded of the need to live a life that shows unity of purpose as Christians. A life that unifies and spreads the good news of Christ , for the salvation of souls.

        

First , the readings are reminding us of our purpose as Christians . Secondly , they remind us of our mission in the central mission of Christ .

       

As Christians , we must always bear in mind that by virtue of our rebirths , we have a new life in Christ. And this new life comes with the mandate of bearing and shining the light of Christ , always and everywhere .

On this , we have been handed the responsibility to be at the vanguard of spreading the good news of eternal life. The message of the good news of Christ must be taken beyond just preaching the good news. Meaning that in spreading the word , our Christian life must be lived as such that convincingly propagates the good news beyond spoken word .

Our missions in the mission of Christ must be one that evangelizes by spreading the good news , taking it up from where Christ left it off. We must also live our christian life in ways that shine forth the light of Christ , so that this light can lead sinners on the path on which they will encounter and experience Christ , for the salvation of their souls.

In addition , our mission must include the act of keeping the word of God alive in our hearts and in the hearts of all who are not privileged to the message of the good news . This is by daily communion with the word of God through daily reflections on the teachings of the holy scriptures .

A good christian life is one that guarantees the permanent in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit . And as Holy Spirit dwells in our hearts , it begins to manifest beautiful fruits , and unbelievers begin to be attracted and convinced , thereby causing more souls to be won over for Christ.

In conclusion, brothers and sisters , we have been handed the duty to carry out our own part of the mission of evangelization . And as we do this , we can be rest assured of the ultimate reward of eternal life , at the end of time.

May God continue to bless His word in our hearts through Christ our Lord , Amen 🙏.

Sr. Cleopatra Ogbonna 

REFLECTION 

From the responsorial psalm: 

Your words, Oh Lord, are spirit and life

Words have great power in shaping or marring an individual. 

The psalm encourages us to believe in the word of the Lord in every circumstance. 

Let's make His word our daily companion by Reading the bible daily and listening to Him in order that we may gain enlightenment of spirit and feel alive. 

His words, having shaped us, will enable us to have thoughts and speak words that will be beneficial to others. 

Thus, let's us earnestly strive to keep quality time with the Lord that the words of our mouth and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable to the Him and worthy of speech ; for words spoken cannot be retrieved and our words keep replaying in the minds of people we have had interactions with.

May the Good Lord help us 🙏🏼

Simon Eshiebor

REFLECTION 

One body, many parts. One church, many members.

Which part of the body of Christ are you?

And how well are you functioning in the body, and as part of the body of Christ?

What have you been doing as a part of the body of Christ? Have you been trying to function as a part, or have you been trying to take up the function of another part in the same body? 

The right hand is not the left hand. The eyes are not the ears. The eyes cannot hear, and the ears cannot see. If the eyes claim to hear, they are lying. If the ears claim to see, they are lying. And that's the problem we are having in the body of Christ now. 

The right hand is not in the left part of the body. The left hand is not in the right part of the body. If the right hand is fixed at the left part it disfigures the body posture. That is one of the problems the church is facing now 

Dear friend stay where you are. From where you are you complete the church and give her a good posture. If you try to change position, you may disfigure the church.

Many people are already disfiguring the church, by their constant shift from one position to another. The nose, compared to the mouth, is not less of a body part. It has a distinct function that the mouth cannot perform.

So dear teacher, who told you, you are less of a member because you don't perform miracles? Dear lay faithful, who told you, you are less of a church 'body part' because you are not a priest?

If you are an eye in the body of Christ. Be an eye. Stay where you are, and stop causing confusion.

Comfort Mary Edewor 

REFLECTION 

My Reflection is on the the First Reading and I can't but wonder the huge difference in the way the Israelites of old responded to the things of God as compared to what is happening in our time.

The reverence and worship mode as well as their keen interest in divine matters cannot be compared to anything we are seeing now. Imagine reading the book of the law till midday During Mass lasting for only one or two hours, it is quite impossible to keep the congregation attentive, no matter the importance of the message, unless the priest decides to turn it into a comedy show. 

The thirst for God as expressed in Psalm 63(1,2) seems to have completely disappeared in our generation. The thirst that can only be quenched by an intimate relationship with his word. Very few people make time to read the scriptures in a sincere effort to know God more deeply, yet the faith we need to please God in our relationship with him can only come through hearing or reading and meditating on his word. This desire to read , understand and live out the gospel values is one that every serious Christian should work hard to acquire. May the grace of God assist us in this.