MSSCC MEDIA NIGERIA

28TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B.

First Reading: Wisdom 7: 7-11
Responsorial Psalm 89(90)
Second Reading: Hebrews 4:12-13
Gospel: Mark 10:17-30

The first reading today exalts the gift of Wisdom which is different from intellectual knowledge. True Wisdom is necessary if man is to discern the deep meaning of life and attain his goal both in this life and in the world to come. That is the kind of Wisdom the author of the first reading prayed for and preferred to all the riches in the world. He said, “I prayed, and prudence was given to me; I pleaded and the Spirit of Wisdom came to me. I preferred her to scepter and throne, and I deemed riches nothing in comparison with her.” Nothing can compare with the Wisdom of God that gives meaning to our lives. Solomon loved Wisdom above all things and choose her above everything else. When he asked for Wisdom, everything else came together to him in her company – “countless riches.”
Jesus Christ is the Divine Wisdom. In Him, the Wisdom hidden from all eternity and personified in the wisdom literatures has been revealed and available to all who open their hearts to him with sincerity of heart and who prefer him to scepter and throne, riches and everything else in the world. To possess Jesus is to possess everything. We commit the greatest folly whenever we choose some worldly good over Jesus; be it honor, wealth, health or friendship. Nothing can compare to the one who is the source of all good and gives meaning to our life.
The story of the rich young man who had meticulously observed the commandments from his youth but tragically preferred his worldly possessions is a sad story. But it can easily be our story too. He asked Jesus, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Unlike the Pharisees who often asked Jesus a question to entrap him, he sincerely wanted to know. Sadly, Jesus’ answer crushes him; “You are lacking one thing. Go, sell what you have and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.” He went away sad for he had many possessions. He is sad because he knows in his heart that he is preferring his possessions and the security it represents to Jesus. He turns his back on the one person that can truly satisfy, make him happy and give meaning to his life – Jesus Christ.
Jesus turned to his disciples and said, “How hard it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!” The disciples were amazed at his words. He used the metaphor of the camel passing the eye of the needle to drive home his message. His response does not mean that wealth is inherently bad, but highlights how possessions and material goods can distract us on the path of discipleship and challenges us to prioritize humility and detachment.
In all the major world religions of the world except perhaps modernist Pentecostal Christianity, the effort to limit quest for worldly goods and practice detachment is given a special importance. The reason is because possessions easily lead to attachment. Attachment leads to avarice. St Paul says, “love of money is the root of all evil. “Whoever loves money never has enough” (Ecclesiastes 5: 10). Such a man is encumbered and deprived of contentment and inner peace.
The French have a story of a rich ruler who spent his days in his palace counting his gold. Beside the palace was a poor cobbler who although was poor, was always joyful and spent his days singing as he repaired people’s shoes. The joyful singing of the cobbler irritated the rich ruler. One day, he decided to give some gold coins to the cobbler. He gave him some gold coins and the cobbler was overjoyed. He took the coins and hid them. Frequently he will go and check if it is still there, and returning, he will worry if someone had seen him and out of anxiety, go back and hide it elsewhere. During this time, he slowly stopped singing. He realized that he had lost his joy. One day he got up, took the gold coins and went back to the rich ruler and said to him, “Take back your coins and give me back my joy.”
Wealth is a blessing, but it has a curse. The curse behind any kind of possessions is its capacity to steal our heart and soul and enslave it. The rich young man wants eternal life, but he is unwilling to part with his possessions. How often are we like this pitiable man? How often have we preferred something else to the love and friendship of Jesus? The gospel today challenges us to face up to our unwillingness to relinquish our attachments that prevent us from following Christ with an undivided heart. Is there anything you are so unwilling to give up that you will rather loose Jesus? Jesus is calling us to a life of renunciation and detachment as a means of attaining the greatest possible good, eternal life. But more importantly, renunciation is not just a means, it is a consequence of faith in Jesus Christ as the fullness and source of true riches. This faith discovery opens us up to that which only God can give – eternal life.

Happy Sunday,
Fr Chidi Onwuka, m.ss.cc

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COMMENCEMENT OF 2024/2025 FORMATION YEAR.

In continuation of their formation to the Catholic Priesthood, our seminarians resumed for the new academic/formation year after their long vacation.

We are also glad to welcome our dear Vicar General, Very Rev Fr. Peter Morkah m.ss.cc, for making out time to visit the community and to also encourage the seminarians to be docile to the formation especially in this new academic year.

On the other hand, our seminarians had their first recollection/retreat for the 2024/2025 academic/formation on Sunday, 6th October, 2024. The recollection started with the Holy Mass celebrated by the retreat moderator, Rev. Fr. Dominic Ukpong CMF.

The moderator spoke on the theme, "This contemporary Culture:Who am I?” He reflected on the need for self-assessment to discover one's true self especially in this our contemporary world. He further posed a thought-provoking question of 'Who are you?' that required a deep reflection.

The retreat ended with the evening vespers and benediction.

We welcome our seminarians back as we commend them to the protection and intercession of our Blessed Virgin Mary.

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GUESS THE SAINT?
COMMENT THE ANSWER BELOW 👇

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Answer 👇🏽

St. Lucy, also known as Saint Lucia, was born in Syracuse, Sicily, around the year 283 AD, into a wealthy Christian family. From a young age, she dedicated herself to a life of chastity and devotion to God. During the reign of the Roman Emperor Diocletian, a fierce persecution of Christians began. Lucy’s commitment to Christianity and her refusal to marry a pagan suitor led to her persecution.

According to tradition, Lucy distributed her wealth to the poor, which further angered the authorities. A rejected suitor, captivated by her beauty, reported her as a Christian to the Roman authorities. In retaliation, she was sentenced to be defiled in a brothel. However, through the power of God, she remained immovable; guards could not move her, even with the strength of a team of oxen.

Subsequently, Lucy was sentenced to death. The methods of ex*****on vary among accounts, but it is commonly believed that she was ultimately martyred for her faith, possibly by being stabbed in the throat or having her eyes gouged out. The latter detail has become a prominent symbol in her iconography and veneration. St. Lucy’s courage and unwavering faith in the face of persecution have made her an enduring symbol of Christian devotion and martyrdom. Her name, which means “light” or “lucid,” serves as a reminder of her association with spiritual illumination and the triumph of faith over adversity.

St. Lucy died as a martyr during the Diocletian persecution, around the year 304 AD. The exact date of her death is not recorded, but her feast day is traditionally celebrated on December 13th, which is believed to be the date of her martyrdom. In Scandinavian countries, particularly Sweden, Norway, and Denmark, St. Lucy’s Day is marked with candlelit processions and girls dressed in white robes with crowns of candles on their heads, symbolizing light and purity.

St. Lucy is revered as a patron saint of the blind and those with eye disorders due to the legend of her eyes. Her life and martyrdom continue to inspire Christians worldwide, reminding them of the enduring power of faith and the courage to stand firm in their beliefs, even in the face of persecution.

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Let’s hold firm to our faith and continue seeking Mother Mary’s intercession through the rosary.

HAPPY NEW MONTH ALL

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GUESS THE SAINT?
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ANSWER 👇🏽

St. Dominic, whose full name was Dominic de Guzmán, was born in 1170 in Caleruega, Spain. He dedicated his life to serving God and the Church with zeal and intellect. Deeply concerned about combating heresy, particularly the Albigensian heresy in southern France, he believed in the power of preaching and intellectual engagement to defend and spread the Christian faith. Educated at the University of Palencia in theology and philosophy, Dominic’s studies prepared him for his future role as a preacher and educator. His vision for religious life emphasized a balance of contemplation, poverty, and a dedication to study. In 1216, he founded the Order of Preachers, commonly known as the Dominicans, with the mission to preach the Gospel and combat heresy through reasoned discourse and prayer.

St. Dominic’s devotion to the rosary remains a significant part of his legacy. Tradition holds that he received the rosary from the Blessed Virgin Mary in a vision, recognizing it as a means to deepen prayer and foster devotion among the faithful. This devotion to the rosary continues to be central to Dominican spirituality. The Dominican Order flourished under St. Dominic’s leadership, spreading throughout Europe and becoming renowned for its scholarship and intellectual rigor. Dominicans made significant contributions to theology, philosophy, and education, establishing universities and promoting learning.

St. Dominic died on August 6, 1221, in Bologna, Italy, where he is buried in the Basilica of San Domenico. He was canonized as a saint in 1234 by Pope Gregory IX, and his feast day is celebrated on August 8th. Prior to his canonization, he was beatified by Pope Gregory IX in 1234.

ANSWER 👇🏻

St. Benedicta of the Cross, born Edith Stein, led a life marked by profound intellectual exploration and spiritual transformation. Born into a Jewish family in Germany in 1891, she distinguished herself as a brilliant philosopher under the mentorship of Edmund Husserl, the founder of phenomenology. Her philosophical inquiries delved into themes of empathy, human dignity, and the synthesis of faith and reason.

In 1922, after a deep spiritual journey influenced by reading the works of St. Teresa of Avila, Edith Stein converted to Catholicism and eventually entered the Discalced Carmelite Order, taking the religious name Teresa Benedicta of the Cross. As a Carmelite nun, she continued her philosophical reflections within the context of her newfound faith, blending her intellectual rigor with a profound spirituality centered on Christ.

Tragically, during the N**i regime in 1942, amid World War II, she and her sister Rosa, also a Carmelite nun, were arrested by the Gestapo and sent to the Auschwitz concentration camp. There, in August 1942, they died in the gas chambers, embracing martyrdom for their Jewish heritage and Catholic faith, offering their lives in solidarity with the persecuted.

Recognizing her profound witness and sacrifice, Pope John Paul II canonized her as a saint in 1998. St. Benedicta of the Cross's feast day is celebrated on August 9th, commemorating her life of intellectual brilliance, spiritual depth, and courageous witness to Christ in the face of persecution. Her legacy continues to inspire people worldwide, symbolizing faith, intellectual pursuit, and unwavering commitment to truth and justice amidst adversity.

RENEWAL OF VOWS AND INSTALLATION OF MINISTERIES

In accordance with our constitution, eight of our brothers renewed their evangelical vows of Chastity, Poverty, Obedience and Perserverance in the hands of our Delegate Superior, Very Rev. Fr. Geoffrey Nwafor m.ss.cc.

The ceremony held on Sunday, September 8th, 2024, started with the celebration of the Holy Mass celebrated by the Delegate Superior in company of the Vocation Director, the Vice Rector and other priests of the Delegation.

In his homily, the Delegate Superior charged the brothers to be good ambassadors of the institute and to live out their vows. He further highlighted the importance of installation of minor ministries in the church.

After the homily, the brothers renewed their evangelical vows. Furthermore, four of them were installed as lectors while three were installed as Acolytes which are requirements for candidates preparing for the Catholic Priesthood.

We congratulate our brothers and we wish them God's grace as they continue their formation to the Catholic Priesthood.

23RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B

First Reading: Isaiah 35: 4-7
Second Reading: James 2:1-5
Gospel Reading: Mark 7:31-37

The gospel today recounts one of the most beautiful healings Jesus performed. They brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him. Jesus took him off by himself away from the crowd. He put his finger into the man’s ears and spitting, touched his tongue; then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, “Ephphatha!” which means, “Be opened,” and immediately, the man’s ears were opened and his speech impediment was removed and he spoke plainly.
This healing is one of the few healings where the evangelist includes the actual Aramaic word that Jesus used: “Ephphatha.” This is Marks way of hinting at the profound significance of the word and the miracle. It signifies not only the physical healing of the man’s ears and tongue but also a deeper spiritual healing, a spiritual awakening. It represents an invitation to open our hearts and minds to God’s grace and truth, to be receptive to the transformative power of God. It is also a miracle that says something important about the identity and mission of Jesus.
The reaction of the people, “He has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak” recalls the prophecy of Isaiah in the first reading and shows that the people saw Jesus’s action as a fulfilment of this messianic prophecy. The first reading from the Book of Isaiah is a prophecy about the messiah who will bring about healing and restoration; he will open the eyes of the blind and the ears of the deaf and make the mute speak. The healing of the man reveals Jesus as the Messiah who wants to open our ears to hear his word and our tongue to proclaim the faith.
This is why the Church included the Ephphatha rite in the baptismal ceremony. The priest or deacon touches the ears and mouth of the child with his thumb, saying: “The Lord Jesus made the deaf hear and the mute speak. May he soon touch your ears to receive his word, and your mouth to proclaim his faith, to the praise and glory of God the Father.” Jesus wants to heal our reluctance to listen, our spiritual deafness and muteness.
St Augustine in his book, “The Confessions” which is a kind of a spiritual autobiography likened his spiritual condition before conversion to deafness. He wrote, “Late have I loved you, beauty so old and so new: late have I loved you. And see, you were within and I was in the external world and sought you there, and in my unlovely state I plunged into those lovely created things which you made. You were with me, and I was not with you. The lovely things kept me far from you, though if they did not have their existence in you, they had no existence at all. You called and cried out loud and shattered my deafness.” (St Augustine, Confessions Book 7).
Breaking open our deafness is necessary if we are to become true disciples of Jesus and mature human beings. Hugh Mackay in his book, ‘Why don’t people listen?” wrote, that Listening is one of the most psychologically challenging things to do in our personal relationships. According to him, real listening involves the risk of having to change our minds in response to what we hear. Pope Francis in his Apostolic Exhortation, Amoris Laetitia: On Love in the Family (2016), offers some reflections on listening in paragraphs 90-118. The Holy Father calls us to be ready to listen patiently and attentively to everything the other person wants to say. He argues that listening patiently and attentively can be more important than offering solutions. Often what people need most is to feel heard and to know that someone has acknowledged their pain, disappointments, fear, anger, hopes and their dreams.
Healing our reluctance to listen is also necessary for our spiritual life. A good Christian is a good listener. When Jesus was asked which is the first and greatest commandment, he quoted Deuteronomy 6: 4-5, “Hear O Israel, the Lord our God is One, and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” Listening comes first. St Paul expressed it well in Romans 10: 17 when he said, ‘faith comes from hearing.’ One who cannot listen cannot be a disciple.
The man who was deaf and had speech impediment had difficulty communicating with others. He could not talk or express his feelings or needs. If deafness and dumbness results in the inability to communicate plainly with one's neighbors, and have good and beautiful relationships, then we must acknowledge that we are all more or less deaf and dumb; this is why the cry of Jesus, Ephphatha, be opened! is addressed to all of us.
Physical deafness or muteness is a terrible thing but is altogether blameless. Spiritual deafness and muteness is blameworthy and far worse. We are deaf when we do not hear a neighbor’s cry for help or when we are indifferent to the needs of others. Parents are deaf when they fail to understand that the needs of their children. We are deaf when we shut ourselves in, out of pride, in an aloof and resentful silence, when perhaps, with just one word of excuse or forgiveness, we could return peace and serenity to the home or community. In the religious communities, we have a lot of time for silence and sometimes we go to confession and say, "I have broken the silence." Sometimes it will be more profitable if we should accuse ourselves of the opposite and say: "I have not broken the silence." The liturgy today is asking us to allow the Lord to touch our ears and tongue which is an invitation to authentic communication with one another and to true discipleship.

Happy Sunday.

Rev. Fr. Chidi Onwuka m.ss.cc

2024 INVESTITURE CEREMONY

To the glory of God, we congratulate and celebrate with 15 of our brothers who were vested with the clerical soutane and surplice on Saturday 31st August, 2024, after a successful one year aspirancy program.

The investiture ceremony began with the Holy mass at Sacred Hearts Special Jurisdiction, Works Layout, celebrated by the Delegate Superior, Very Rev Fr. Geoffrey Nwafor m.ss.cc, in company of other priests of the Delegation.

Those vested with the clerical cassock are:

Bro. Agber barnabas
Bro. Ahanotu Remigius
Bro. Akor Gilbert
Bro. Amalagu JosephMary
Bro. Ani Augustine
Bro. Anyanwụ Leonard
Bro. Chinwe Paul
Bro. Chukwumaeze Michael
Bro. Eniobong Godsgift
Bro. Essien Jeremiah
Bro. Ifediba Godswill
Bro. Ikejemba Obinna
Bro. Ilukholor Samson
Bro. Madu David Ebube
Bro. Solomon Iviubo-osuo Peter

In his homily, Fr. Delegate enumerated the importance and purpose of investiture ceremony. He further encouraged the brothers to have a sense of responsibility and commitment as they undergo their formation.

Speaking further, he highlighted the need for the brothers to conscientiously strive to improve themselves in all ramifications and to watch their actions bearing in mind that they now have a greater responsibility towards their studies and personal growth.

After the homily, the candidates for the investiture were presented and their cassocks and surplices were blessed and handed over to them.

We celebrate our 15 brothers.

Congratulations brothers!

Happy Investiture.

22ND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B

First Reading: Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-8
Responsorial Psalm 15:2-5
Second Reading: James 1:17-18, 21-22, 27
Gospel: Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

The first reading today from the Book of Deuteronomy reminds us of the importance of observing the commandments of God faithfully. As Israel prepares to enter the Promised Land, Moses reminds them of the Wisdom, beauty and purpose of God’s commandment. God did not give Israel the commandments to be a burden but a blessing; a blessing that reveals God’s closeness to his people and his desire for their well-being. This passage reminds us that the purpose of the commandments is not to enslave or restrict our freedom but to enhance it. The commandments serve to make us live wisely and every day in God’s presence as His own people. It also reminds us that obedience to the commands of God is necessary to maintain a good relationship with God.

The necessity of careful observance of the commandments of God as evidence of their wisdom and the nearness of God to them, led the Pharisees who were passionately devoted to the exact observance of the law to developed complex interpretations and practical guidelines for putting the Torah into practice in daily life to ensure ritual purity which came to be regarded as the “tradition of the elders.” The tradition of the elders refers to regulations that are not found in the Scriptures but are practical guidelines for putting the Torah into practice. They were passed on by word of mouth until they were eventually written down around 200AD and came to be known as the Mishnah. The Mishna is a collection of rulings about matters of the practice of law, customs and rituals. There is also the Talmud which consists of the Mishnah with commentaries. The Pharisees and the Scribes held that these oral traditions were equally inspired and authoritative as the written Law of Moses.

In the Gospel, some Pharisees and Scribes approached Jesus and questioned him, “why do your disciples not respect the tradition of the elders but eat with unclean hands?” The first thing we must keep in mind is that this is not a question about hygiene but a question about ritual purity according to the tradition of the elders. This ceremonial handwashing before meals was intended to maintain ritual cleanliness and was seen as essential for fostering proper religious observance and religious purity. The problem with this ceremonial handwashing before eating is that, in practicing it, more emphasis was placed on external ritual purity rather than on internal spiritual purity. This is why Jesus frequently criticized the Pharisees and the Scribes for focusing on outward rituals while neglecting the more important aspects of God’s commandments, such as justice, mercy and faithfulness. Jesus insists that true defilement comes rather from within a person, from their thoughts, and actions rather than from external sources.
Jesus is not condemning the tradition of the elders but the application of the traditions in a way reduces religion and the life of faith to a joyless and sterile legalism which emphasizes external observances over interior transformation that aligns our hearts and actions with God’s will. He called the Scribes and Pharisees hypocrites. The English word “hypocrite” comes from the Greek hypokrites which means an actor or a stage player. In Greek drama, actors wear masks and play roles that they are not, so that by way of analogy, a hypocrite is one who wears mask, pretending to be somebody or something he or she is not. When this happens in religion, religion becomes lip service while our hearts are far from God. That is why Jesus repeats the accusations of Isaiah to His contemporaries, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written; this people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are from me; in vain do they worship me, teachings as doctrines human precepts. You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.” This accusation can just be as true for us today if our worship and religious observances do not express sincere love for God and neighbor but substitute for it.

So, how can our worship be pure and overcome the charge of paying lip service? St James tells us in the second reading, “Be doers of the word and hot hearers only, deluding yourselves.”
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Happy Sunday
Fr Chidi Onwuka m.ss.cc

“I AM PRESENT: REFLECTION ON FIRST PROFESSION DAY”

Join us in reflecting on the sacred day of First Profession, centered around the theme ‘I Am Present’. Delve into the significance of commitment and faith as we contemplate the vows of poverty, chastity, obedience, and perseverance, embodying the spirit of Isaiah 6:8, “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

Kindly click here to read more and discover the transformative power of answering the call: https://mssccmission.com.ng/homily-on-the-first-profession-of-brothers-agu-fidelis-duru-pachal-igwe-clinton-and-osh*ta-kijie-at-sumaka-north-bank-makurdi-benue-state-25-08-2024/

FIRST RELIGIOUS PROFESSION

St. Anne's Catholic Church, Sumaka North Bank, Makurdi Diocese, Benue State played host to numerous guests who came to witness the first religious profession of four of our brothers. The event started with the Holy Mass celebrated by the Delegate Superior, Very Rev Fr. Geoffrey Nwafor m.ss.cc in company of priests from the Delegation and other priests from various dioceses and religious congregations.

In his homily, Rev Fr. Simon Ogwo m.ss.cc highlighted the significance of religious vows and what it entails. He further encouraged the brothers to live out their religious vows as a sign of their love for God and humanity.

After the homily, the brothers took the evangelical vows of obedience, poverty, chastity and perseverance (which is particular to our institute) in the hands of the Delegate Superior. They were given their religious habits and the constitution of the congregation.

They are:
Bro. Agu Fidelis m.ss.cc
Bro. Osh*ta Kijie m.ss.cc
Bro. Igwe Clinton m.ss.cc
Bro. Willy-Duru Paschal m.ss.cc

We rejoice with them and congratulate them on this great day in their lives.

We pray that God will continue to lead and guide them as they journey to the Catholic priesthood.

SUNDAY 21 YEAR B PREPARATION

First Reading: Joshua 24: 1-2, 15-18;
Second Reading: Ephesians 5: 21-32;
Gospel Reading: John 6: 60-69

The readings today focus on the call to be decisive in our commitment to God. A disciple cannot sit on the fence, or delay making a decision. In the first reading from the Book of Joshua, Israel has entered the Promised Land with Joshua as her leader. Towards the end of his life, many Israelites had abandoned the worship of Yahweh, the God of Israel who brought them out of slavery in Egypt to worship other gods. Joshua gathers the people at Shechem and reminds them of their history – how God has been faithful to them, delivering them from slavery in Egypt and guiding them into the Promised Land. He issues a challenge; “Choose you this day whom you shall serve!” It is a choice to serve the Lord or to follow other gods. Joshua tells the people, “As for me and my and my household, we will serve the Lord.” He is the one who saved us from slavery and performed miracles to protect us. This way Joshua made the new generation of Israel renew their commitment to God.

The challenge of Joshua in the first reading, “Choose this day whom you will serve,” parallels Jesus’ question to the twelve – “Do you also want to leave?” For five weeks we have been reflecting on the sixth chapter of John’s gospel which started with the multiplication of loaves and feeding of five thousand. John calls it a sign; a sign that points to a deeper reality – Jesus’ identity and mission as the Bread of Life which fulfils the deeper hunger of man for spiritual nourishment and eternal life. As the passage reaches its high point and Jesus says, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world.” The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” They said, “This saying is hard; who can accept it?” As a result, many of his disciples stopped following him. Jesus then turns to the twelve and asks them, “Do you also want to leave?”

There is a book, “33 Days to Eucharistic Glory.” It is an efficacious guide to consecration to Our Eucharistic Lord. In the Introduction, Mathew Kelly reflects on the crises of faith that has rocked the Catholic Church in America in the past thirty years; a crisis that has resulted in more than fifty million Catholics in America abandoning their faith, a serious drop in vocation to the priestly and religious life to the effect that there are about three thousand five hundred parishes in the Unites States without a resident priest, and a shocking research that shows only thirty one percent of Catholics in the United States believe Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist. He writes, “Those who believe don’t leave. Believe what? Believe that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist.”
Kelly acknowledges that there are many different reasons why people leave the Church; materialism and secularism, abuse by the clergy or Church authorities, disagreement with the way their priest is doing things, different liturgical preferences, feeling unwelcome in the parish community etc. Despite the many reasons to leave, many people stay and not leave. Why is that? Kelly argues that the one overarching reason is that “They believe Jesus Christ is truly present in the Eucharist and they know that only the Catholic Church can offer this gift to them. They might be able to go down the road and experience better preaching and more dynamic music, but they are simply not willing to give up the Eucharist in exchange for that. Why? Because it’s a bad deal. But you have to know and believe that Jesus is truly present in the Eucharist to understand how bad a deal it is to give that up for what is trivial by comparison.” p. 7
Today, Jesus directs the same question to us, “Do you also want to leave?” The question, “Do you also want to leave?” is equivalent to the challenge Joshua put before the Israelites, “Choose this day whom you will serve.” And the response of the people, “We also will serve the Lord, for he is our God” parallels Peter’s response, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.” The question, “Do you also want to leave?” and the challenge to decide whom we want to serve, is not just a historical moment; it resonates deeply with every believer of all time. The choice to be decisive in our commitment to God is a daily decision that shapes one’s life and actions. We are every day confronted with the choice for or against God. Sometimes it comes in the most subtle way – to be pro-life or pro-choice, to go to mass on Sunday or not, to love or to hate, etc.

The Israelites in the first reading made a choice for God because they remembered His saving intervention when they were slaves in Egypt and how he protected and led them on the way to the Promised Land. We also have seen the wonders of the Lord especially in Christ’s work of salvation, like the Psalmist, we have tasted and seen the goodness of the Lord so that we do not simply repeat the words of the Israelites in the first reading or the response of Peter in the gospel but make them our own with the same conviction. Let us pray in this mass for the grace to remain wholehearted disciples of our Savior and faithful members of the Church.

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Happy Sunday,
Fr Chidi Onwuka, m.ss.cc