Saint John Paul II Catholic Church, Grafton,Freetown, Sierra Leone.

New Year’s Blessings and Greetings!!!
No doubt, it has been a tough but also an interesting year for us as individuals and as a community. However, 2023 has so much in it that calls for our gratitude to God, who has not only shown His mercy and blessings on us but has also led us through thick and thin moments with His invincible hands guiding and leading us in our everyday experiences.
We can never imagine, nor fathom that which is divine in our lives with our physical eyes when we cannot take some quiet time—pause—to think through our journey this past 365 days in 2023. In all things, we are grateful for all that God has done even though we may have anticipated more or less as the case may be. However, God in his infinite goodness has made our desires and prayer intentions fit into his narrative for us the way things eventually turned out in 2023.
So many things happened in and around us, some of which brought us joy while others brought us so much pain and sadness. It might be difficult to find God in some of these sad moments in our life experiences, but God is always present to us in all things. These past 365 days might have challenges, but one thing is true, it has also been a year that brought us so much laughter despite our experiences of sadness. In all things, we can never question God. We must learn to be grateful to God and those whom God used in these moments of joy, waves of laughter, and sadness. Gratitude leads to thankfulness to God first, then our sisters and brothers.
Let me at this moment express my profound gratitude to the indefatigable members of the Pastoral Council for their time, energy, zeal, and dedication to piloting the affairs of our Church. Words are not enough to thank the teachers and animators of our Infant Jesus Group, the children, and their parents who trusted and believed that the church was capable of handling their children, we say thank you. We are also grateful to the choirs—adults and youths—, lectors, altar servers, warden association, the technical crew, including those helping out with the sound system, the security team, and our regular cleaning crew members who are always there to help keep our church clean. We thank our Catechists for their great devotion and willingness to catechize our fragile community.
We thank the Catholic Men's Association—who continue to show their significant role as fathers not only at home but also in the Church. We cannot forget in a jiffy the Catholic Women's Association for their undying support in all ramifications in the life of the church. The engine room of the church, Catholic Young Adult Fellowship, and Catholic Youth Organization—whose presence guarantees our future as a church. We also thank members of the Order of Saint John Paul II for their support thus far. We especially cannot forget the Special Event Committee for their gift to this community—you brought life to us as a community by providing us with an indelible mark and gifted the pastoral team, you truly care! We are all grateful for your gracious presence in matters of the Church. We cannot thank you enough but know that we love, appreciate, and pray for you.
We are deeply grateful for the ways you have all blessed our lives with the gift of your gracious presence. As a parish community, we are still growing in love and caring for one another. For this growth, we are grateful to God and your efforts as human beings. We crave your indulgence to deepen this love of self and that of our neighbor. A love that creates the path towards the true healing of our brokenness. A community where forgiveness is given a chance to take up that creative courage in reaching out to and mending strained friendships, broken marriages, brokenness from all forms of betrayers, etc.
The New Year brings with it warmness and peace that no human being can give or guarantee. We must allow our disposition to ignite the freshness of 2024 by not bringing along with us old wounds. The New Year begins the moment we allow ourselves to take a breath of freshness—this is a deliberate choice we must make as individuals. Remember, it is not about our resolution, rather it is knowing that we are also weak and capable of causing pain to others, and all that which we complain about in others, we do have them in us.
Finally, on behalf of the pastoral team, I am sorry for all the trouble we might have caused you in the process of getting things done the way they should be. Please forgive our impatience, insensitivity, forgetfulness in not being able to reach out when we were supposed to, etc. Let us continue to work together to make our community a home for all of us.
Thank you for your love, support, prayers, and presence as always.
Wishing you all a blessed New Year in 2024!!!

We are grateful to our parents and their children who gave us the opportunity to celebrate the gift of children in the life of the church. Indeed, the children made our Christmas party a memorable one.

Reflection for 32nd Sunday...Archdiocesan Warden Association Thanksgiving @ Saint John Paul II...

Wisdom Personified: In Human Strengths and Weaknesses

There are moments in our lives as humans when we tend to follow the whims of those close to us—friends or foes. In other words, we bring to mind a moment when we are not true to our conscience because of our connectedness to those within the different spaces in our lives. This reality does not allow our knowledge and experience of God to take possession of our very being. In order words, wisdom, here used in our first reading further running through the other readings rather than being associated with knowledge, such as scientific or philosophical knowledge acquired over time by study and learning or even by a sound judgment that one has acquired by experience and maturity, become a reflection of God's Wisdom—that is the Wisdom by which God created the world and continues to guide humanity in the right path. Therefore, we must constantly judge our actions and inaction in line with this divine wisdom.

Wisdom personified could be grasped at that moment when we choose not to allow our selfishness to thwart the interest of the common good of all. It is that moment when those around us are moving in one direction, we choose knowing the right thing to go elsewhere following our conscience—not a dead conscience—with absolute focus on what our faith tells us to do. A Faith that is always alive and active in the world, (James 2:26). Here, Saint James tells us that our faith—true faith—must always produce good works, even if it means that someone's sense of emotion is hurt in the process. What is important here is the ultimate good. As God's people, we must constantly seek this wisdom, which alone can be granted to us by God. However, the attitude required in the process of seeking this divine wisdom is one associated with deep yearning. It is that kind of mode coasted with the anticipation of a loved one coming back home after a long period of absence.

Ostensibly, we do not need to worry ourselves with the reasons why we should seek this divine wisdom when we are not sure of what is it that awaits us when all these sacrifices are done with. This can be made worse when one attempts to stick to these principles driven by divine wisdom, we become public enemies to those within our space—public and private. Sometimes, one wonders, why should I be alone in all of these? The truth of this narrative can be grasped from our experience at the just concluded election of our parish Catholic Women's Association. It is salient, it will leave a lasting impression on me. It was about the question about those who were qualified to vote and be voted was asked by the Archdiocesan president of the women's forum. The response and further reaction is one that not only adds flesh but also does justice to this topic, "Wisdom personified." It further portrays that saying that "we do not have to follow the crowd but should always stay put and awake in what we believe in and gives life to humanity.

The truth is that we will never be able to please everyone around us. What is evident is that there will always be those who have chosen not to agree with us, no matter what. The call for us to remain faithful even while we are alone hinges on this reality, “God remains faithful even when our faithfulness is in doubt.” Hence, Scripture says, “If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself” (2 Tim 2:13) and while recalling the unfaithfulness of Israel, Paul, asked: “Will their unfaithfulness do away with the faithfulness of God? Of course, not” (Rom 3:3-4). The call to remain faithful invites us to look beyond our earthly possessions and attachments in all ramifications. Consequently, Proverbs 13:9 says, “When the wind of test blows, the lamp of the godless is extinguished, the light of the virtuous is brightened for all to see. Hence, the wisdom depicted here defies human wisdom. Thus, one who follows and imbibes divine wisdom must be ready to be hated by all. We are encouraged not to be fearful because one who is with God is greater than one who is in the world, (1 John 4:4)

This divine wisdom, follows Pope Francis' mantra, "Time is greater than space," that is, it is a wisdom that dwells in the present moment. That is, what is it that I can do to brighten the lives of others cannot be left undone. The process of brightening is not limited to what is it we want to hear from other people, but things and experiences that are not popular. We must be bold enough to speak and stand for the truth at all costs. There is joy in satisfying our conscience and knowing that our actions and inactions add value and give meaning to the lives and experiences of others. One of the major constraints in arriving at the divine wisdom is always waiting to have things our way. This is where freedom in creation comes into play. For example, having all the time to yourself without a clue about what others are going through defiles divine wisdom. It is important for us to be present at all costs to the reality before us and must learn to seek divine wisdom in our sense of judgment.

The spirit that calls to us to stay awake must imbibe the atmosphere of divine wisdom. A wisdom that emanates from God whose love for us is undying. God remains faithful even in our unfaithfulness. It is not so much about what the people want, but rather, what is proper and profits the common good. Even as members of the Archdiocesan Catholic Church Warden Association (ACCWA) celebrate her eighteenth annual Thanksgiving mass here in our community beaming with excessive hospitality. For these wardens from the various parishes and quasi-parishes, what is it that we are thankful for? What were our resolutions after our time together at Saint Elizabeth and Daniel during our seventeenth annual Thanksgiving? As members of this noble group, can we say that we have been faithful in all things when it comes to our duty as men and women saddled with hospitality?

Cornelius O. Apili, S.J

Reflection for 31st Sunday in Ordinary time...

To Look inwardly!

Today's readings point their finger at those in authority—the priests, seminarians, presidents, and other executive members of societies and groups in the religious sphere and how their lives are supposed to help orient the people we work and live with within a community. In most cases, as leaders, we often forget that the way we live our lives can either create or destroy the people we work with and live within our community. Perhaps it is time for us—clergy and lay leaders of PPC, groups, and societies—to look inwardly into our lives and change where necessary, to give our sermons, actions, and inactions more flesh. Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown, what is also true is that even the head that wears the crown needs guidance from its followers and must be someone who listens.

Last Sunday's reflection from Gabriel Kofi Akpan, SJ., reiterates what our community should strive to attain—Love and moral Imperative. This is presented as the need to care for widows and orphans within and outside our community. In a nutshell, we cannot point our fingers at orphans or widows. However, there are ways we can know and relate with people we presume to be in one of these categories and beyond. One way of decoding this abnormality is in our manner of relating with people we perceive as not in our "camps or cliques." Hence, we all need to open up ourselves to strangers as we never can tell when God is at work in those instances.

To look inwardly brings to mind those subtle ways we neglect people we think are not close to us even when the situation places us at the vantage position of reaching out to them. One of the ways of becoming co-creators with God is to continue the works of creation handed on to us—each one either creates or destroys depending on how one relates with strangers. The only way to sustain and continue the creative power in us is to love unconditionally. When someone loves unconditionally, that person cannot resent someone for long. No matter the experience of brokenness, one must let go and move on. The reality is that God's plan for us—good or bad—must manifest itself through the doings of someone in our life—a friend or a foe. If we understand the reality that God works in all things, then we should not hold on to resentment for long. As a people of faith, we must learn to find God in all things—good or bad!

This is where leaders at all levels must help remind our people of the need to live a godly life. A godly life learns to count God's blessings—good and bad times. This is more necessary that leaders realize their roles in the ongoing formation of our people in our community. The Clergy cannot do this alone and relies on you, the good people of Saint John Paul II Quasi Community to help re-orient ourselves on what it means to look out for each other irrespective of the person's tribe, race, color, or country of origin. While the pastoral team may be doing its best to make our community a place for all, we must make that effort—baby steps—in moving away from our comfort zones—friendship, tribal sentiment, and cliques within and outside the community.

By comfort zones, I mean those people and things around us that don't allow us to see others or feel the presence of created things. If this is our experience, we might have locked ourselves out of God's presence. It is at that point where we are so attached to ourselves—people or things—that we become a shadow of ourselves even in prayer. God cannot meet or respond to our prayers in a situation like this. We must free ourselves and learn to look inwardly and beyond ourselves. The moment we can move beyond ourselves and look inwardly brings us to that sacred space where we can dance with God as we are.

To Look inwardly brings to us our two worlds—the world we live in public space while we are with others and the world, we live within ourselves when we are completely alone and all by ourselves. This reality connects each one of us if we are sincere with ourselves. This shows in the way and manner we attend to our responsibility. Are we generous in a way that those we work with see in us a true reflection of what it means to be Christian? One of the priests from this archdiocese—Fr. Moore—often says that only Jesus Christ is a Christian. Albeit, he says this because of the way the clergies have given a deformed image of God to His people. That is how clergies have watered down the truth about the gospel. This is true because clergies also want to cover our deficiencies of not being faithful to our calling—the priesthood's commitment. For this, the Lord says, "Their blessings will not only be rendered ineffective but will turn into curses (Malachi 2:2).

Hence, Prophet Malachi accuses the priests of the crime of helping the people stray from the right path by their false teaching (Malachi 2:7). However, Paul's way of life with the Thessalonians in our second reading today shows the contrary, thus calling on those who carry out the ministry of the Word—priests, catechist, presidents of groups and societies, etc.— (Eph 5:11), to serve our community with the love and sweetness of a mother: to be a model of life, to behave in an exemplary manner; as fathers: to provide their service in a disinterested manner, without seeking any material benefit. Perhaps, contentment will help all of us to live according to our means.

To Look inwardly, who is Jesus Christ addressing the seven terrible "woes" in our community? These are members of our community who still behave like the Pharisees of Jesus' time. Members who are still hanging on to their old mentality of space and title within the church. Those members who cannot accept new members for who they are, rather reject them with deep animosity. We must move away from our life of ordinariness of satisfying our selfish desires and allow the Holy Spirit to take root in our lives. Otherwise, we will still be perpetuating the spirituality of the Pharisees in our contemporary world.

Therefore, to look inward brings us to what it means to be a Pharisee today. A person who says and does nothing—be it a priest or lay. One who talks about love, peace, and respect for others but cleverly avoids the occasion of standing for the truth. One who knows the right thing to do but is never there to help bring about a positive change. One who makes suggestions on how our parish community can become better but will never commit to the reality of moving the community forward. One who believes others are against him and never sees himself as the problem. This way, one reduces the faith and love of God to the practice of religion and not living as a Christian.

Cornelius O. Apili, SJ.

We are thankful to our parishioners and friends for their continued prayers and support in not only building but also making our community a home for everyone. God bless you and thanks for your presence!🙏🤗🎉

Here is this week’s reflection from Gabriel Kofi Akpah, s.J.

Love and the Moral Imperative

Dear people of God's, today's readings challenge us to consider how we could live as disciples of Jesus in our communities and in our society. In the First Reading, God instructs the Israelites on how to treat the downtrodden and underprivileged in order to please God. The Psalmist reminds us that God is our rock, our strength, our saviour, and our strong helper, and that we can accomplish nothing without him. St. Paul writes to the Thessalonians in the second reading that we should all strive to be imitators of the Lord and that we should do so in the joy of the Holy Spirit. In the Gospel, Jesus tells us to show the love of God that fills our hearts, lives, and minds by treating others the way we want to be treated (the golden rule). Love is not merely an emotion but a deliberate choice—an act that recognises and affirms the intrinsic worth of every human being.
In addition, the teachings of Jesus in the gospel reveal an essential truth about the power and significance of love in our lives. When Jesus states that love fulfils the law and prophets, He reveals a universal principle rooted in compassion and by affirming love as the greatest commandment, Jesus recognises each person's inherent worth—a dignity that should never be violated for personal gain or convenience. These echo the ethical framework envisioned by the philosopher Immanuel Kant in his categorical imperatives, which urge us to act only on principles that we can will to become universal laws without contradiction and to treat humanity as an end in itself and not as a mere means. By doing so, love then becomes the guiding principle for our interactions, leading us to treat every person with dignity, respect, and compassion.
Let us go forth, cherishing Jesus' call to love as we navigate our daily actions. As we practice love, let it be rooted not only in our emotions but also in a resolute commitment to the universal moral imperative that demands we treat others as ends in themselves. May our lives become a testament to the transformative power of love, permeating our relationships, communities, and the wider world.
May God's grace empower us on this journey of love, and may His love continue to flow through us, transforming hearts and building a more just and compassionate society. Amen.
S. Gabriel Kofi Akpah, S.J.

A hearty congratulations to the entire St. John Paul ll Quasi Parish family for completing a week-long celebration of activities commemorating the feast of St. John Paul ll so successfully! We appreciate all the love and support shown during the week-long activity of Bible quiz competitions, Essay completion, Parish Retreat, Parish Family Social Evening, Volley Ball competition with our sister parish. It was a wonderful experience and the successful Feast Day Thanksgiving Mass on Sunday 22nd Oct 2023 made it even more special. We are thankful to all our guests and well-wishers who supported the parish to make the entire celebration a success. May our journey of faith continue to grow stronger each day. The photos captured are reminders of this special celebration and the beauty of our faith community. There is still more work to be done in terms of our working and building together as a family. We are also grateful to His Grace, Archbishop Edward Tamba Charles who was ably represented by the Vicar General, Rev. Dr. Joseph Tamba Kamanda. We thank you all for joining us on this joyous occasion. God bless us all 🙏🏽

It is not all about prayer, there are moments for social and sport activities to keep the mind and body functioning. These activities are important for us as spiritual beings…After a night of social activities last night at Negus Nagas, this evening, the women and men from St Mulumba and St. John Paul are having time out with volleyball game…

The whole evening was about the presence of Jesus Christ which is in the center of our life. Br. Emmanuel Lahai following the line of thought like Augustine Ganawa and Ozainatu Sao Asumana..shared his personal experience of trust in God.

Still in the Spirit of oneness...Br. Emmanuel Lahai, following the trajectories of Augustine Ganawa and Ozainatu Sao Asumana shared his own experience of trust in his life and relationship with God. Indeed, we are blessed beyond words.

There is always a spiritual dimension to greatness. On our part, it was a spirituality of togetherness in God's presence. We are grateful for the many ways that God continues to reveal Himself in the beauty of the individual. It was an evening of oneness through the graciousness of the Holy Spirit!

Last week's reflection for your perusal...

What Shall I Offer to The Lord?

There is so much going on—religious, socio-economic, and political space—in our world today that draws our attention—good or bad alike. These good and bad experiences are due to human flaws. However, we are often drawn to these bad experiences since they are more popular and attract accolades from all walks of life. It is even more difficult for us as humans when surrounded by people—friends, close relatives, and foes—who cannot talk us out of this chaos by telling us the bitter truth about our way of life vis-à-vis Christian principles. With subtle but convicting words, they keep telling us that it is okay and that we should not worry; others are doing it; you are not the first and certainly not going to be the last, etc. These human realities in all spheres of our life as individuals and groups condition all that we do vis-à-vis other human beings. However, there are other habits that we have also picked up on our own while growing up due to choices made in the past.

Ostensibly, we all have excuses for all that we do—good or bad—not to say the least, even while given scientific, historical, and cultural backing as to why we cannot take responsibility for our actions and inactions. What we are not attentive to is that life is all about compromises. Hence, we cannot eat our cake and still have it. For instance, in a marriage that has lasted ten to twenty-five years or more, one of the couples, without acknowledgment—public or private—has given in to accepting and letting go of personal interests and desires just for the marriage of two friends with individual ergo for it to work out. It is the same for religious communities of priests, brothers, and sisters. When you come to a functioning religious community, someone has compromised for it to stand the test of time as a sacred space of people from different backgrounds, personalities, and temperaments. If we all hold on to our interests and desires, no friendship or adventure, needless to say, a marriage of two individuals who have lived their lives differently can stand the test of time. Take, for example, our parish community; no group, society, or ad hoc committee set up for a particular task will succeed in its given assignment without the compromises of some individuals. Hence, for every project—personal or communal—to be successful, one or two individuals have to compromise, or there will be a clash of interests—chaos.

Sometimes, within this space of compromises is the reality of being overwhelmed just because only one person carries the burden while the other is completely unaware. In this instance, a partner or member of a community, the religious community, or group or society in the church may explode. One can understand because we are all human beings saddled with a 'breaking point' that varies from one individual to another. To this, a wise man submitted, "A spiritual guild should be silent when discretion requires and speak when words are of service." Why is this act necessary in all spheres of life? Experiences show that indiscreet speech may lead someone into error, and imprudent silence leaves an error unattended by someone teachable. Hence, it is always a charitable virtue to call into question an attitude that demeans human life or breeds pain within human coexistence.

Therefore, prophetic actions require that pastors who lack the foresight and hesitate to say in an open space what is right because of fear of losing the favour of their members are not zealous pastors who desire to protect their flocks. Other than being prophetic, these pastors become mercenaries who flee by taking refuge in 'the culture of silence' when the wolf appears. Hence, the prophets reproach these pastors: "They are dumb dogs that cannot bark." On another occasion, the prophet complains of them: "You did not advance against the foe or set up a wall in front of the house of Israel so that you might stand fast in battle on the day of the Lord." This call requires a bold resistance to the secular corrupt powers of this world in defense of the flock by the pastors and to oppose the wicked enemy out of love for what is right.

In these human experiences, whenever we—priests and the lay faithful—choose not to speak against evil or are afraid to assert what is right, we have taken the path of silence by turning our back to the path that leads to wholeness. We all have the tendency to be liked and loved by all. In doing this, we chose to be silent over the wrongdoings of our friends and relatives, not to mention those we see as 'foes'. This attitude is not Christian! This unscrupulous attitude continues to affect the growth, progress, and development of human society in general. The word reproach is the magical key that unlocks a door because reproach reveals a fault of which the evildoer is often unaware. Hence, Saint Paul, reiterates that as a bishop: "He must be able to encourage men and women in sound doctrine and refute those who oppose it." Just the same way God, through the prophet Malachi, says: "The lips of the priest are to preserve knowledge, and men, women shall look to him for the law, for he is the messenger of the Lord of hosts." Hence, the Lord God warns us through the prophet Isaiah: "Cry out and be not still; raise your voice in a trumpet call." What are you silent about?

Just the same way the ordained are saddled with the task of preaching and allowing the scripture to permeate his lived experiences, the lay faithful are also saddled with the reality of matching their lived experiences with a way of life worthy of the Christian to call and the duty of calling "a spade a spade," which helps them guide their priest in their ongoing formation. Whether we are priests or members of the lay faithful, the best gift we can bequeath to God is the gift of our faithfulness to whatever calling we have received—marriage, single, or vocation to the priesthood and religious life. It was to drive this reality—matching our words with our actions—home that the Holy Spirit descended in the form of tongues of fire on the apostles on the day of Pentecost, for he causes those whom he has filled to speak out spontaneously the truth and stay faithful to themselves in all ramifications.

Cornelius O. Apili, SJ

This week's reflection...
To See Things Differently…

Truth be told, it is not easy to ask someone to see all things new in Christ. This is even more difficult when you have just gone through life's trauma. Losing your best friend and loved one. Who dares to tell me that this is God's will for me? Who is that person who has just refused to feel my pain? Who is that that does understands what it means to be bereaved? It is easier when you are not the one wearing the shoes. Does this mean that we all have to wear the shoe of bereavement to understand what it feels like? All that is required is the beauty of silence in the face of a situation like this. In all things, God's love for us is beyond human comprehension and He wants us to understand this unconditional love in freedom. That is allowing God's will in our lives without any restraint. We do not have to keep holding on when things do not go our way. It is better to ask this question: what does God desire for me?

Hence, what does the prophet Isaiah communicate in our first ready that God will, "On this mountain remove the mourning veil covering all peoples." "And God will destroy death forever." "The Lord will wipe away tears from every cheek and take away our shame (v.8)." What do these sayings mean for us today? Does this mean that as human beings, we will no longer experience death, sadness, and sorrow in our daily experiences? Or, is he inviting us to begin to savor life after death? I think these scriptural passages invite us to learn the mystery of God's presence in our lives. And, also to get in the rhythm of the slow but faithfulness of the work of God in our lives and be patient with ourselves even in moments of death. We must rediscover ourselves through our experience of brokenness for us to see things anew.

How do we understand a God who does not count our sins but continues to bear with us and wait patiently for our conversion? To understand God's love for us in our moments of birth and death, we must open up our minds and hearts to the mystery of his presence. That is, for us human beings, God's loving presence is so enveloping and so enduring that God cannot desert nor abandon us in our moment of tragedy. Therefore, we are all invited to understand that God's undeniable presence cannot be reduced by death—that is death cannot cut off the faithful from God, nor change by our physical presence. Hence, Saint Paul says, "Neither death nor life, nothing can separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus." (Romans 8:35-39). We must come to this reality and absolute realization by reexamining our life here on earth.

However, we all need to understand that in all things God is the One who gives all things—good or bad. All that we need to do is to pray for the grace to see all things anew. This grace—that Perfects nature—surpasses all our situation. We must learn to accept our human situation and limitations with the eyes of God knowing that all that He created is good and beautiful, (Genesis 1:31). However, we must purge our minds from thinking that there will come a time when human experience of biological death will come to end here on earth, the prophet Isaiah announced the demise of what is death and defeat for human being—life without meaning, the mockery of failure and pain, hunger, disease and exclusion of all kinds. This is what the Lord said… reminding us of the words of Saint Paul, "when our perishable being puts on imperishable life, when our mortal being puts on immortality, the words of Scripture will be fulfilled: Death has been swallowed up by victory" (1 Cor 15:54).

In all of these, we must learn to live with whatever God has given to us the eyes and mind to see in them in the gift of God's presence. And, when God decides to take back his gift to us, however painful it might be, we must also learn to let go because we were living our life before we had the gift and God knows best whenever he chooses. Whatever, one loves, he or she must learn to let go knowing the one with God is a majority and that we are safe with God. When one dies, he or she has gone to prepare a place for us to have this banquet that Isaiah spoke about. We all know that this act of letting go is not easy for anyone, however, it is the test of our love for God and ourselves, (Genesis 22:1-19). That is why we must continue to ask God for the grace we need to help receive and let go of a gift—even the gift of our life. We can only do what Jesus is asking us to do in the moment when we can look beyond ourselves and just know that God cares.

The image of the wedding feast is a biblical image of an encounter of love between the Lord and Israel. Within these images are characters that involve us bringing ourselves into the scene. The kingdom in this sense is not presented as a chapel where people pray or a serene convent, rather it is presented as a banquet of encounters. It is a form of encountering that brings us to the true experience of God's love and the fact that "while we were yet sinners, Christ died for the ungodly" (Rom 5:6). Our lives as human beings are complex and require absolute sensitivity and openness.

This week's readings invite us to cultivate an understanding of human weaknesses and limitations of all kinds. We are also called to keep an open to the mysterious presence of God by keeping open doors to every eventuality. Through our experiences of misfortune, God uses disasters caused by sin to bring forward a project of goodness. The prophet Isaiah invites us through his words that is further manifested in Paul’s Epistle to the Christian church in Philippi and the gospel readings that it is necessary to transpose and reformulate the words and images used to make them understandable to our contemporary world—that is, re-reading and living out scriptural texts within our context.

Cornelius O. Apili, SJ