Sixth Sunday of Easter A: Reflections at Youth Retreat- Fr .Michael U. Udoekpo

Good Shepherd Youth annual Retreat; Held at St. Josephat Retreat House, East Beach Dr. Glen Cove NY, May 28, 2011 Reflections at Mass- Fr. Michael Udoekpo

Readings of the Sixth Sunday of Easter- Acts 8:5-8, 14-17; Ps 66:1-3, 4-5,6-7,16,20; I Pet 3:15-18 and John 14:15-21

Renewing our Relationship with God: Path of a Christian Youth

These few days I know many have already shared a great deal of faith, prayer and spirituality with you. This is good because at this Mass we come to the summit of our Catholic faith, the Holy Eucharist. I really would loved to build on the sharing you have had already. I want to continue to thank God for you who has invited you for a friendship renewal in Him.

Today, God has given us this wonderful spiritual channel and path to walk through to Him, to come together to renew our relationship with Him, our faith, hope, love and life of prayer, studies and work. Even when we play and have fun we got to realize that Jesus is there with us. You all know that once we have Jesus and his values, our neighbors, even our parents, family members, friends, teachers and our follow youth members would easily know- in our relationship with them. It can’t be hidden!!!

 One other thing I like about today which I thought I should mention is that don’t  restrict this this weekend gathering  to intensive prayer, reconciliation, and mending our  relationship with God  and our neighbors, but  see it also as  a time to take a little rest. Remember, even Jesus though he prays a lot would take some quiet time off for rest.   

Yesterday I saw some of you got on that bus that looks like a school bus, but you were not heading to school per se. You are not in the class room today. You are not in the library or in your college compound.  The environment here, the flowers, the furniture are different from the routines of our homes and that of our home

The whole scenario, this chapel, looking at your directors, looking at you, seeing how vibrant you, how enthusiastic you are – ready to know, ready to ask, eager to have this and that, ready to learn, ready to discover new things, events, friends and identify who we are, ready to grow - all reminds me when I was about your age, growing up in a suburb village of South-Eastern Nigeria, with no electricity.

Neither I nor my parents had cars. I had no ipods, laptops, cell phones. I used to walk about 10 miles on foot to watch a black TV in the home of my friend’s parents. It is true that time changes. However, the advantage of this was that I wasn’t spending all my time talking to objects, machines and electronic, but had spent some of the time to relate with my friends, teachers, my parents and siblings.  For my wellness, I grew up playing all kinds of sports, especially, soccer, and tennis. With this I cultivated team spirit and respect for one another.

My parents were not millionaires but simple middle class school teachers with deep Christian faith.  Bicycle and later on motor cycle was their major means of transportation. They worked hard to raise six of us. Like you, I used to ask them a lot of questions, from science to religion and from religion to anthropology, and from anthropology to cosmology. They helped me realized that being in  good relationship with God, or love of God is the genuine path through which I can obtain reasonable and balanced answers to most life’s philosophical and faith questions. They taught me that if I obeyed them, understood the Church, the Scriptures, Christ and the Sacraments my relationship with God, with every other person, with things and even objects will be less complicated. 

In fact, the distance from our parish in Holbrook to this place was about the same distance from the home I was raised, to my native parish church. I attended Catechism for my Frist Holy Communion, Confirmation, Choir Practices, serving at Sunday Masses, on foot, at this Parish Church.

 Listen! I am not making up this story. My home work after Mass and lunch every Sunday was to “replay” the homily the priest had preached that Sunday to satisfy my parents that I was attentive and meditative in the Church.  Time does not allow me to say everything here. But at least you get a little sense of how I grew up relating with my parents, my family, friends, the Church and Christ.

You might have noticed from the questions we had asked ourselves when we were celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation and from the Gospel reading of this Mass, John 14:15-21, some of the conditions of what we must do to be in a good relationship with God. In the gospel of this mass, Jesus said to his disciples, “if you love me, you will keep my commandments” you will obey me, you will listen to me, you will worship me, you will follow my footsteps; you will follow my ways of love, obedience and good relationship with God.

The way of Christ is nothing but His Love for us, His patience with us, His forgiveness, blessings and gifts (I John 4:7-10). Like the story of the prodigal son and the loving Father, He has given us an everlasting inheritance. He treasures and loves us with a love that will never fail. He offers us a relationship so close that he calls us friends, family and bride, reflected in the passages of the Scriptures, especially the Book of Prophet Hosea. In John 15:15, the gospel of reading of yesterday’s morning mass, we read; “I no longer call you servants, instead, I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I heard from my Father.”
This friendship grows through prayer and worthy reception of the sacraments. It helps us to understand better even the significance of human friendship.

Our daily relationship with Christ leads us to have an open, sympathetic, respectful, humble, honest behavior which increases our capacity for having genuine friends. Prayer purifies our souls and makes us particularly ready to understand other people. It increases our generosity, our optimism and our social interactions and relationship characterized with Christian virtues.

Christian relationship, does not run away when difficulties arises. A good friend never turns “Judas”, a traitor, never speaks destructively of the other, and never gossips or allows the character of his friend to be assassinated in his or her absent. Christian relationship- friendship involves sincerity, trust, sharing of joys and sorrows, encouragement, and helping and supporting one another. You can help your friend type his or note or hold the door of an elevator for our granpa/ma.  

In His friendship with us God provides for us.  In His relationship with us He protects us. He strengthens us in our weaknesses and brokenness.  He helps us grow to maturity, strength, fullness and excellent in responsible freedom, which I believe is the goal of each and every one you, in a way.

Ordinarily, as friends we give gifts and receive gifts from our friends and from our parents especially at Christmas and when we celebrate birthdays or do well in our exams. We do cherish and preserve some of these gifts especially the imperishable ones.

We also want to be appreciative of those gifts God has lavished upon us: the gifts of Dad, mom, home, school, church, good health, good friends, good youth minister, our directors, the oxygen we breathe even the gift of our parish, the church of the Good Shepherd, and the gifts the Holy Spirit that awaits us at Pentecost.

How do we reciprocate? We all know the answers. We want to love God with all our heart, worship Him, Praise and Adore Him, walk His path, be thankful, trustful and be loyal to Him by the way we relate with one another, our parents, family members, teachers, friends and neighbors, and even by the way we respect and handle ourselves, at work and study places, knowing that we are a special gifts from God. He created us to walk the path of Christ, love and to relate well with Him and with our neighbors.

Sixth Sunday of Easter A: Reflections - Fr .Michael U. Udoekpo

Sixth Sunday of Easter A: Reflections- Fr. Michael U. Udoekpo
Readings: Acts 8:5-8, 14-17; Ps 66:1-3, 4-5,6-7,16,20; I Pet 3:15-18 and John 14:15-21

An Advocate for Peace

Today we celebrate our genuine invitation to Love God and keep His commandments (Jn 14:15-21). We also celebrate the Spirit that stimulates this Love.  It is the same Spirit that came upon the people of Samaria when Peter and John prayed and laid hands on them in the first reading (Acts 8:5-8, 14-17).

  This Spirit comes to us in our liturgy, in the songs and during our worship. This Spirit enables us overcome the sins of the flesh and live in union with Christ. It enables us every Sunday to leave our homes and head to the Church. It enables us defend the truth and prepares with answers and explanation to anyone who questions any aspect of our faith, the sacraments, the Scriptures and the teachings of Church (1 Pet 3:15-18).

 It is the same Spirit that advocates for us happiness where there is sadness; hope where there is disperses; patience where there is impatience; generosity where there is selfishness, and peace, where there is violence or lack of peace; be it in our homes, in the Middle East or in Joplin, Missouri with the recent tornadoes. 

Last Saturday from the Vatican office the Pope Benedict the XVI held a chat with some space scientists, astronauts who were already in the space station.   During the conversation, the Pope asked the astronauts five questions; one of them centered on Peace.  He said, “When you are contemplating the Earth from up there, do you ever wonder about the way nations and people live together down here, or about how science can contribute to the cause of peace?".
  

United States astronaut Mark Kelly answered that, from space, you cannot see the borders between the nations, but "we realize that people fight with each other and there is a lot of violence in this world ... The science and the technology that we put into the Space Station to develop a solar power capability, gives us pretty much an unlimited amount of energy. And if those technologies could be adapted more on Earth, we could possibly reduce some of that violence".

We pray that the Holy Spirit, this Spirit of truth may be present in our lives. And may its presence improve the quality of our relationship with God and our neighbors, as well as advocate for our happiness, forgiveness, hope and peace.

Fifth Sunday of Easter A- Reflections- Fr .Michael U. Udoekpo

Fifth Sunday of Easter, Year A; Reflections- Fr. Michael Ufok Udoekpo

Readings: Acts 6:1-7; Ps 33:1-5,18-19; 1 Pet 2::4-9 and John 14:1-12

Christ, the Way, the Truth and the Life

Today we celebrate the Fifth Sunday of Easter. And as we approach the mysteries of the Ascension and the Pentecost in the coming weeks our Sunday readings are also pointing towards nourishing us with the fruits and effects of these mysteries, lived by Christ.

Starting from the early church and with the spread of Christianity there is nothing that we would accomplish in this life without Christ who is the Way, the Truth and the Life, and without the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

 This is true with the choice of Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicarnor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicholas, the seven deacons in today’s first reading. These men were not selected to serve the poor and the needy because they were vested with worldly politics and secular shrewdness or filled with themselves. Scripture tells us that these men were selected because they were filled the Holy Spirit.

 Read Galatians chapter 5 verse 22 to see the fruits of this Holy spirit- they include, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, chastity.

These are what we also find in Christ who is the Way. We find Life. We find Truth, Peace, Hope, Joy, happiness, Faithfulness, Honesty, Chastity and the dignity of our Christian calling.

When we look around the complexity of our human relationship,we encounter the stories of unfaithfulness that fills the media. There are thousands of them. But take for example the recent ones- the media stories of Arnold Schwarzenegger, that of the IMF Chief, Dominique Strauss-Kahn or the ongoing cases of sexual abuse by priests, or the high rate of divorce and separation among couples. What about children picking up unnecessary fights with their parents. Or when I am nasty, ungentle, arrogant, unforgiving, selfish, domineering, or impatience with my neighbors, or living  in fear that the world was going to end yesterday- they all point to the fact that the Way of Christ is not always easy without the grace of God.

 As Thomas and Philip would have asked Jesus today for the “Way” and the Knowledge of the “Father”  let us pray at this Mass for the grace to recognize that we are a holy nation, a people part to praise and worship God (1 Pet 2:4-9), to love Him and follow His Ways.

And may the mercy of God be upon us (Ps 33:22)so that as we travel the way, the road, be it the high way, the narrow avenues or the bumpy or smooth streets of life, may we always pattern our choices, our opinions and life- style after the examples of Christ who is the ideal Way, the Truth and the Life (Jn 14:1-12)

Fourth Sunday of Easter Year A: Reflections 2 Fr. Michael U. Udoekpo

Fourth Sunday of Easter Year A: Reflections 2 Fr. Michael U. Udoekpo
Readings: Acts 2:14a, 36-41; Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-6; 1 Pet 2:20b-25 John 10:1-10

Recognizing the voice of the Good Shepherd
 

As reflected in the Scripture readings, especially in Psalm 23 and John 10, today we celebrate the Good Shepherd Sunday. Our parish is not only named after Christ the Good Shepherd but we the sheep are invited to listen to his voice, the voice of life (Jn 10:10). We are call to follow him. We are invited to make Jesus the Gate, the entrance of our life’s endeavors. Sheep are very humble creatures compared to goats or lions. And those who pasture them are usually very caring, responsible, compassionate, sensitive and approachable. I have witnessed this first-hand in the Holy Land- Israel, Egypt, and Madabba in Jordan, during my years of travel and study of the material culture of the Bible.

The metaphors of today’s reading- sheep, shepherd, and gate- made a lot sense to the early Christian Community. They are still relevance for us today. If Christ is the Shepherd we want to be like Christ in our dealings with one another.  If Christ is the gate, the way to life, we want to walk the way of Christ. Since we are the Sheep and the flock we want to listen to Jesus- in the Holy Scriptures, in the daily and Sunday sermons and homilies in the Holy Eucharist, through the sacraments, in the magisterium- teachings of the Church, in the signs and miracle Christ had work and in one another, rich or poor; for our children through our parents, experience teachers and good mentor. We want to follow him. We want to recognize Christ’s voice not those of strangers.

By strangers here Christ is not referring to somebody from California who happens to come around New York City or Holbrook. He is not referring to French people, Hispanic, Asians, Africans, Russians, Germans, Arabs, and Romans or Americans or people of other nationalities who happen to be here in this church or find themselves in completely new physical environment. There is no stranger in the Church if you obey Christ and strife to Do God’s will.  Rather, Jesus is referring to Pharisees in John’s Gospel who all along rejected Jesus and refuse to acknowledge his divinity, his miraculous power of changing water into wine (Jn 2).

Strange voices were those of the Pharisees who questioned Jesus’ cure of the royal official son. Strange voices were those who question Jesus’ universal interaction with the Samaritan woman (Jn 4). Strange voices are those who rejected Christ compassion on the sick on the Sabbath. Strangers in matters of Christ were those religious leaders who doubted Christ multiplication of loaves and his feeding of the hungry (Jn 6).  Strange voices are those who questioned Christ’s forgiveness of the woman caught in adultery (Jn 8), his healing of the man born blind (Jn 9) and of rising of Lazarus from the death (Jn 11:44-53).

Watch out! Strange voices can also come to us in bad movies, inappropriate TV programs, the literatures we read, the company we keep and strange and non- biblical ideas we share. As a Christian when somebody advices you think through, double check the facts and see if they conform or at least if such thoughts are close to the teachings of Christ or of his Church.

Let us pray at this Mass that we may always listen to Christ the Good Shepherd, the guidance of our souls ( 1 Pet 2:20b-25), follow him- the gate, and like Peter and the Eleven ( Acts 2:14a, 36-41) go out to share the love of Christ  the Good and Ideal Shepherd with our neighbors.

Fourth Sunday of Easter(1st Holy Communion)- Reflections- Fr. Michael U. Udoekpo

Fourth Sunday of Easter Year A: Reflections (1st Holy Communion) Fr. Michael U. Udoekpo

Readings: Acts 2:14a, 36-41; Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-6; 1 Pet 2:20b-25 John 10:1-10

Christ, Good Shepherd, Source of our Strength

At least two great things are happening in our parish community today. First, we celebrate Christ, the Good Shepherd, whom our Parish “the Church of the Good Shepherd” is named after. Second, we are very happy for our children and friends who will be receiving their First Holy Communion today- on this “Good Shepherd Sunday,” in the Church of the Good Shepherd!

As for our Parish, we want thank and pray for those founding parishioners and leaders who named this wonderful parish after Christ, the “Good Shepherd.”  I have no doubt they understood the biblical imagery of the Good Shepherd, and were familiar with the particular spiritual richness of Psalm 23 and John’s Gospel chapter 10,  which spells out  those good characteristic of a Good and caring Shepherd unlike what we read in Ezekiel 34, particularly that passage that says;

“Thus says the Lord God, Woe to the Shepherds of Israel who have been pasturing themselves. Should not the Shepherd rather pasture the sheep? You have fed off their milk, worn their wool, and slaughtered the fatlings, but the sheep you have not pastured. You did not strengthen the weak nor heal the sick nor bind up the injured. You did not bring back the strayed nor seek the lost, but you lorded it over them harshly and brutally…” (Ezek 34:1-15).

This is not who Christ is. Christ cares for us.  Christ loves us. He protects us . The Risen Christ is the ultimate Shepherd of his people.  He will always be the gate, the door, the entrance, the way to our success, the means of ever lasting happiness and the source of eternal joy. Above all, Christ came not that we may lose life, but rather that we may have abundant of life (John 10:10).

He knows us by name and goes before us on our life journeys. He has spiritual marks on our foreheads such that none of us seated here with faith will leave this church un-blessed by Christ, the Chief Shepherd. As a model Shepherd and love giver, Christ teaches us how to love responsibly, how to mentor, guide, advice, lead, direct, catechize, raise our children, and how to shepherd and care for one another.  And we want to be able to recognize His voice and  His values. We want to feel His divine presence and enjoy His friendship. We want to cease every opportunity of our callings to imitate the post-resurrection apostles , Peter, Philip, he Ethopian Eunuch, Paul (Acts 2:14a, 36-41), expanding the faith to our friends and siblings, enabling others to experience this same loving presence of Our Risen LORD, particularly in the Holy Eucharist.

For our parents and teachers we want to continue with  our good works of being that “gate” of honesty, decency, that conduit of faith and morality for our children. However, I must congratulate you. You have done so well. You have proven to be good shepherds to your children . You  brought them for baptism and have them celebrate the sacrament of reconciliation. Today  they are beautifully dressed, getting ready for their First Holy Communion- to receive Christ, their Bread of Life (John 6:35-40).

I must tell you children that you are so special today and the more reason we are all here for you. Looking at those beautiful dresses you put on  those  happy  smiles on your  faces, you  remind me of my first Holy Communion. It was one of the happiest days in my life.  After mass, I had photographs taken with the priest, my parents and friends. I was treated with nice meal, chocolate, ice cream. We all ate as a group as a family.

Today you will do the same and celebrate with your parents and your friends. But remember, the Christ that you will receive today loves you and will always be there for you. The Christ that you will receive today will protect you and shepherd you. The Jesus will receive at the Communion today will continue to be the guardian of your soul (1 Pet 2:20b-25). Jesus that you will receive today will be a special meal for your soul.  You will need this meal, all your life. Jesus will  always protect you at school, home and at your play grounds. So please, remind your parent to bring you to Mass, at least every weekend to receive Christ, your strength.

You will notice that you are not alone. Your parents and many of us will also receive Jesus as a community, eating from the same ciborium (a) and from the same cup. Your First Holy Communion should also remind you that we are one. We are call to share our gifts and to be nice to one another, our friends and to our parents. We don’t want to be selfish, but rather we want to be generous and charitable to others, friends, brothers and sisters- learning from Christ.

When I was appointed as Associate Pastor of this Parish on June 21, 2010, our Bishop prayed for me in the last paragraph of his letter to me, saying, “May Christ, the Good Shepherd, continue to be your model and source of strength.” In the same vain I want to conclude that, may Christ the Good Shepherd bless all you and make this day a very happy day for you and your families. May he bring you great joy and fill your hearts with His tender love.

Third Sunday of Easter(Mother's Day) Reflections - Fr. Michael U. Udoekpo

Third Sunday of Easter A: Reflections- Fr. Michael U. Udoekpo
Acts 2:14, 22-33; Ps 16:1-2, 5, 7-11; 1 Pet 1:17-21 and Luke 24:13-35


When do we recognize the role of Christ in our lives?

Today we celebrate mother’s day (in the USA) yet the lessons from the scriptures have the same nourishment for all of us. It addresses not only the Paschal Mysteries of Christ and his saving events, but also highlight the faith struggles of his disciples: Peter, Cleopas and his companion, the Eleven and those women and mothers who not only stood at the foot of the divine cross but were the first at the empty to recognize the truth and the redeeming effects of the resurrection of Christ. When and where do we recognize the redeeming power of Christ in our lives?  Is it in our moms, children, dad, in the poor and needy, in our neighbors, in songs we join to sing during worship, in the Eucharist we share or in the sermons we listen to? There are several opportunities for us to encounter Christ.

Peter whom we saw delivering a Pentecost Speech in today’s first reading (Acts 2:14, 22-33) and preaching the redeeming blood of Jesus in the Second reading 1 Peter 1:17-21, was the foremost Disciples of Christ. Initially, he had his own doubts; he had his own ups and downs. Once Peter was violent at another time he denied his Master many times but today we see the courageous and the convincing Peter witnessing and proclaiming faith in the truth of the Risen Lord.

These are not ordinary passages of rhetoric but an enduring testimony to Christ’s Events- his love for us, the miracles he worked and the healing compassion he brought us.  It is a recognition of the Power of God and the truth that the tomb was never, from day one, going to be the final destination of Christ. It was never going to be possible for Christ to be held by death. In Peter’s life I personally learn to see how God can change us and move things around in our lives. Unlike the “denying Peter” during the Passion Week he has become a courageous and preaching disciple, using every opportunity to bear witness to Christ. Do I explore every opportunity in my life to bear witness to Christ or to recognize His enduring presence by my side?

Apart from Peter, the conversation of Cleopas with his companion from Jerusalem to Emmaus indicates the faith struggle of the Jewish community and of course fears, sadness and doubts of the Disciples of Christ on the Messianic and redeeming presence of Jesus. We do all have our own conversations!
 But who was this other disciple that Cleoplas traveled with? The name is not mentioned in Luke, but many theologians and spiritual authors thought she was "Mary the wife of Cleopas" mentioned in John chapter 19:25.

For me this make sense within the context of our "mother's day celebration." For our men and children think of where we would have been or sometimes how difficult our journeys would have been without the support of our mothers or your wives.  How successful would have been in your business or in your career without the support of your wife, your sister or your mom?   You really want to talk to your wife, your sister and your mom. Respect and consult them when you are taking those family or important decisions as fellow pilgrims of faith and know that Jesus will always be there with you and for you. You have to strife to recognize Jesus in one another!

He was there for a long walk alongside Cleopas and his fellow traveler un recognized until  the breaking of the Word of God and the breaking of the bread, two key things we do when we gather here to worship: the celebration of the Word of God and the breaking of the Bread- the Holy Eucharist. Scriptures that Christ himself explains from Moses to the Prophets- changes and transforms the mind set of Cleopas and his friend. It changes their uncertainties to certainties.  It calms their fears and restores their hope in Christ the prophet. He is a true redeemer and a peaceful Messiah. He has come not to fight his enemies and opponents with weapons and ammunition but with love, peace, and forgiveness.

The Eucharist we  break and the bible lessons we share, the first reading, the second, the Psalms and Gospels  remain always great moments   for us to encounter the Risen Christ and  have our faith, hope nourished and restored, after the examples of Cleopas and his traveling friend.


The faith journeys of each and every one of us can always be seen not only in the light of Peter and the Eleven but in the light of  "Emmaus walk" of Cleopas and his  companion. And we want to cease every opportunity in our life's' journeys to recognize and feel the presence of God on our sides; Jesus during meals, Jesus at Mass, Jesus as we read the Bible, Jesus as we pay attention to the sermons, Jesus on our sick beds, Jesus in “bad times” and in “good times”, Jesus in the poor and in the rich; Jesus at home, at church, work places and at schools; Jesus in our children, in our priests, in our parents- dads and moms and Jesus in our neighbors.
 Peace be with you!