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07-31-2022Weekly ReflectionFr. Anthony Okolo, CSSp

The author of the first reading from the book of Ecclesiastes says “Vanity of Vanities, says the preacher, All is vanity”. The author known as Qoheleth or a preacher, expounds the futility of excessive attachment to the passing things of this world. The author was engaged for many years in a philosophical exercise for the search of the meaning of life, but surprisingly reaches a conclusion of vanity of all human toils, which is said to have depressed him a little.

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Never Allow Any Distraction to Take the Important Things in Our Life

07-24-2022Weekly ReflectionFr. Tony Okolo

In the First Reading from the book of Genesis we are presented with the Mysterious visitors who announced that Sarah would bear a child. These visitors prefigure the annunciation made by the archangel Gabriel to Mary. It also shows us that God is always with us, and there are times when God’s presence becomes tangible. Sometimes God’s visits come in the form of a good idea or with a strong awareness that we are not alone.

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Trust in the Mercy of God and Power of Prayer

07-24-2022Weekly ReflectionFr. Anthony Okolo, C.S.Sp.

The story of Abraham in today’s first reading tells how Abraham, trusting in God’s mercy, pleaded for the people of Sodom, a sinful city that God had wanted to destroy. Abraham recognized that justice called for destruction but argued that Sodom should be spared if a few righteous citizens could be found. What is seen in this passage is the possibility of the righteous to intercede with God and influence the divine will. God in His mercy and love gave ears to Abraham’s plea that if a few good people could be found He will spare the city. It presents us with a relationship with a God who is able to give ear to the prayers of those who have good relationship with Him.

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Who Is My Neighbor?

07-10-2022Weekly ReflectionFr. Anthony Okolo, CSSp

In the first reading of today we see Moses telling the people if you obey the voice of the Lord your God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this book of the law you will have life. He goes further to say that “But the word is very near you, it is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you can do it.” It means that the word of God is with us here and now and it is by keeping this word of God that our life becomes meaningful. The word of God is alive and active and the Word of God is Jesus Himself. Our life is sustained by the word of God and if we keep to the word of God we become happy and live well.

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Trust in God's Providence

07-03-2022Weekly ReflectionFr. Anthony Okolo, CSSp

The First Reading of today is taken from the Prophet Isaiah 66:10-14, among biblical scholars it is called the Third Isaiah. Some scholars claim that this part of Isaiah was not written by the original Isaiah, but maybe a disciple of Isaiah. It comes mainly from the period following the return of the people from the Babylonian exile. It was the work of the Deutero Isaiah and was written to instill faith among the people. The people had lost complete hope as a result of the deportation to Babylon, but their greatest heart-breaking experience was the destruction of the temple of Jerusalem. In this passage, they were back to Israel and life was no longer the same. They became discouraged, heartbroken and depressed.

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