INSPIRING REFLECTIONS FROM MEMBERS
TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
1ST READING: Ezekiel 18:25-28
RESPONSORIAL PSALM: Psalm 25: 4-5.6-7.8-9 (R.6a)
2ND READING: Philippians 2:1-11
GOSPEL: Matthew 21:28-32
NWAFOR CECILIA
REFLECTION
“Because he considered and turned away”
In today's reading, God is correcting us; both the righteous and the sinful. To the one who considers him or herself righteous, be vigilant and steadfast in your faith. He encouraged us not to go astray in our journey to salvation because if we do, all the good things we have achieved, the souls we have won for Christ will be forgotten because He is the God that judges what happen today and not yesterday. In the same way, He will forgive the one who committed different atrocities in the past when the person recognizes his short comings and decides to turn a new leaf.
MALACHY UCHENNA OKPALA
REFLECTION
THE SPIRIT OF GENUINE HUMILITY
“Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves”
Beloved, today’s Second Reading reminds us of what it truly means to live a genuine Christian life.
Saint Paul calls us to build a community rooted in unity, selflessness and humility—pointing us directly to the ultimate example: Jesus Christ. Though He was divine, He emptied Himself and became obedient even unto death on the cross. He showed us that true greatness in God’s kingdom comes through humble submission and selfless service.
Humility always beats pride.
Let us strive to put on the mind of Christ daily by:
1. Emptying ourselves of pride and self-conceit.
2. Embracing humility in our daily interactions.
3. Putting others first through acts of love and service.
May the Lord grant us the grace to emulate Christ, giving us the spirit to live as true and faithful witnesses to His love. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏
May the Lord bless His Word in our hearts!
MICHAEL UMANDE
REFLECTION The first reading begins that we humans think that God is not just in His ways but the psalmist gives us the right approach, and that's to ask God to make his ways known to us. Rather than judge, we should ask for direction.
The second reading tells us to have the mind of Christ, in other words, to follow the way of Christ, the path of unity and humility.
The Gospel reading concludes that the tax collectors and the harlots are making their way to heaven before the so-called chief priests. What's stopping you from making heaven?
PADDY KEVWE
REFLECTION
If we keep seeing the most hardened sinner as condemned, we may be surprised that they are actually struggling to be good while we wallow in pride because we feel we are better than them. Jesus tells us, they (harlots and tax collectors) will enter heaven before us.
So, let us focus more on ourselves and pray for the grace of God to help us have a total turn around with a positive change of heart to the glory of God. Amen.
Shalom.
PHILIP OKOYE
REFLECTION
Greetings , ladies and gentlemen , brothers and sisters.
In the readings for this 26th Sunday in ordinary time , we are called to embrace a life of humility and obedience to God , and sincere repentance irrespective of how much we might have wallowed in sins.
The first reading teaches that God never delights in the death of sinners. Instead , He loves and welcomes us whenever we have a change of heart and embrace his invitation to repentance. Hence , we are being encouraged never to allow our past life define who we are. And we should understand that sincere repentance , confession and contrition are all that is needed for reconciliation with God regardless of our filthy past.
Likewise in the gospel reading , Christ teaches us the need to completely do away with self-righteous that could get us alienated from embracing His invitation to repentance and conversion.
On this , Christ emphasizes the need for us to be concerned with the acceptance of His invitation to repentance , through obedience and resoluteness. This means that we can not claim to love God and at the same time be blinded by ego and pride in disobedience to Him. That is , there is no other substitute for obedience to God and sincere repentance from sin.
In conclusion , we can only be good christians if we always seek to be in good standing with God. This is by striving for repentance whenever we have fallen. As doing this goes a long way in the reconciliation of our christian lives , with the ultimate goal of eternal life we seek at afterlife.
Prayer:
May God grant us the grace to embrace repentance in a way that our words and actions can always match so that the love and reverence we have for God can always be seen in how we live our christian life... Amen.
COMFORT MARY EDEWOR
REFLECTION
The First reading is telling me that God expects fidelity from the man who has encountered him and already knows the truth and is living a righteous life. If such a man becomes corrupted by the world, and turns away from God, all the good he has done in the past will not save him.
What often sounds unfair to us is the case of the man who has lived a wicked life but eventually turns away and begins to live righteously. God ignores all he has done in the past and considers him based on his new life.
This as the psalmist says Is God's mercy in action.
The Good Thief is a perfect example of this kind of profound divine mercy. God is always ready to show mercy to the one who is sincerely willing to renounce their wicked ways.
The second reading is St. Paul's admonition for unity among Christians, allowing love, not selfishness or pride to determine their lifestyle.
The Gospel reading is reminding us of the necessity to match our words with relevant actions. At baptism we make several vows, including rejection of Satan and all his works. That vow cannot guarantee our salvation if we don't match what we vowed with what we do.. Meanwhile there are those who do not make any such vows but in their daily lives, demonstrate the love of God and neighbor as preached in the Gospel.
May God help us to know the importance of daily conversion that we may remain sure citizens of heaven.
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