Gifts of our Mothers, Land, Repentance and Joy!;Homily Fourth Sunday of Lent Year C: Fr. Michael Ufok Udoekpo

Homily Fourth Sunday of Lent Year C:  Fr. Michael Ufok Udoekpo

·        Jos 5: 9a, 10-12;

·        Ps 34:2-7;

·        2 Cor 5:17-21

·        Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

 Gifts of our Mothers, Land, Repentance and Joy!

The Entrance antiphon of today’s Liturgy sets the tone for what we come to celebrate today, namely,  in Latin, Laetere Sunday, meaning a joyful or joyous Sunday. This antiphon is from the Prophet Isaiah 66:10-11, third Isaiah, which says ‘Rejoice, Jerusalem, be glad for her…”.  Why? Because the Lord has freed them from exile. The land once taken away from them, the Israelites, has been restored! Joy and Repentance have been restored? The temple has been rebuilt in 515 BC. What a gifts. The gifts of the Land for the Israelites?  The gift and the grace for repentance to the prodigal Son? The grace to celebrate one another’ success by the father of the prodigal son? What a gift! What have we that are not been provided us by the Lord?

Everything is a gift in faith! Is it the gift of our lives; the gift to smile, the gift of the oxygen we breathe, food, our business, our families? Or is it the gift of our mothers; the gift of womanhood; the gift of feminism, whom we are celebrating today in the Nigerian Church, in our dioceses, and parishes! What would we do without our mothers, their virtues, and the great socio-political, religious and economic roles many of them have played throughout history?

Many of our women, and mothers, today are lawyers, nurses, teachers, traders, housewives, service ladies, women in uniform, politicians, doctors, engineers, farmers, traders, business women, artists, celebrities and into sports etc., serving the society and the Church, and imitating, those great women extol in the scriptures!

 In the scriptures, for example,  we would like to think of Miriam, in the Book of Exodus; think of Deborah in Judges; think of Hannah, think of Naomi and Ruth, think of Rahab in the Book of Joshua; think of the prophetess Huldah in Kings’ think of Judith and Esther? What about our Mother Mary and Elizabeth, Mary and Martha, Mary Magdalene, What about Anna, in the Gospel of Luke?

Many of us may still remember Mary Slazor, on how she fought to abolish slavery and the killing of twins in this part of the world? We have numerous women saints, married and unmarried, including Monica, Augustine’s Mother, and Saint-Mother Teresa, too numerous to mention!

 So today is all joy, joy all the way, because of all that the Lord has done for us recorded, especially in all the scriptural passages just read, including the giving  of our mothers and women as a whole to us!

In today’s Gospel, again, we see, the joy of the merciful and forgiving father in the parable of the prodigal son, Luke 15, which teaches us about God’s love and mercy.  It teaches us about how a good father, also mothers, would often joyfully and affectionately celebrate the “homecoming” of their sons and daughters.

This Gospel celebration is a delight of many pastors and preachers. It is very popular. It is, easy to communicate to children, young and adult, and senior. It is widely use in reconciliation services and during EWTN homilies. Each of us can relate to this Gospel parable, and to similar parables in the Holy Scriptures.

Antecedence to this parable are not only  parables of the lost sheep (Luke 15:1-7) and  the lost coin (vv 8-10) but the particular critique of  Jesus by the Pharisees, namely that Christ welcomed sinners and tax collectors (vv 1-2). This critique prompted also the parable of the prodigal son, in the first place.

Like the Pharisees most of the time we focus our energy on criticizing our leaders in the society and in the church or every other person around us except ourselves. Some of these criticisms might be justified and sometimes they are not, like those of the Pharisees who did not like Christ so much. Our personal weaknesses or prodigality are usually the last ones we notice except with the grace of God. Like the prodigal son who was an heir to the father we are all God’s children constantly asking, enjoying or searching for our inheritance; searching for that gift. The gift of our mothers, and virtues of kindness, affection, hard work, loving, feeling for, sympathizing with, faithfulness, loyalty like Ruth to Naomi and her God!

In that first reading, we are constantly on the way like the Israelite, with Moses and Joshua searching for that Promised Land (Josh 5:9a, 10-12). And like them, when we find the land; when the Lord provides the land, we celebrate!

Think of the abundance of inheritance God has blessed us with.  And how often do we celebrate?  In Genesis, 1:26, God made us in his own image. We inherited our image from God, the gifts of all parts of our body; the gifts of our senses and intelligence, the gifts of roof over our heads, our jobs, positions of wealth and power, our families, healthy children, successful marriages, and good friends and neighbors, especially our mothers. The fullness of these blessings of course, is the attainment of the Kingdom of God, the ultimate inheritance.

Like the prodigal son sometimes we are tempted to walk away from our blessings and inheritance or use them wrongly; especially if we spent our time, I mean we, fathers, and mothers, children quarreling, back biting and gossiping against one another like some in the early Corinthian Church.  But there is always a joy when we realize that we are on the wrong track and long to return to God, as the prodigal son finally did.  This U- turn is the source of our joy, and that of Christ. Never mind what people might say, or complain of as the first son in that Gospel did. Please, come back to Christ. Reconciled with Christ. This is the message of Saint Paul in that Second reading. And Paul has been consistent on this since the Ash Wednesday, when he said “this is favorable time to repent”!

For Paul, each of us  no matter how long we had lost the land, or friendship with our families, parents, fathers, mothers, children, can be recreated; re converted, reconciled and be renewed in Christ the Son of the Loving God and of the Forgiving Father. We can become a new creation (2 Cor 5:17-21) and enter into a renewed relationship with God, who like the father of the prodigal son, is joyfully waiting to receive us.

Let us on this day dispose ourselves to God’s gifts of  not only repentance and reconciliation with the Lord, but joyfully appreciation  the gifts of our mothers, of our lands,  of all that God has provided us with, including the gift to celebrate the “homecoming” of any of us who was once lost.

Reflection Questions:

1.      How often do we stop to recognize that all that we have, parents, fathers, mothers, children etc., are all a given from the Lord?

2.      How often do we remember to celebrate other people’ success and encourage others to do so?

3.      Is there any time in our life that we tend to be jealous of one another like the first son in today’ Gospel?

4.      What prevents us from genuine reconciliation with the Lord and our neighbors? And what have we done?

5.      How often do we respect our mothers and women?

Homily [2] Fourth Sunday of Lent Year C: Fr. Michael Ufok Udoekpo

·        Jos 5: 9a, 10-12;

·        Ps 34:2-7;

·        2 Cor 5:17-21

·        Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

Merciful, Loving and Forgiving God!

The Bible readings of today, particularly the Gospel parable of the prodigal son reminds us, in this Year of Mercy, among other things, who our God is: merciful, reconciling, kind, forgiving and compassionate.  God lavishes us with his love!

 The more reason today’s Gospel, Luke 15 is a delight of many pastors and preachers and very popular. It is, easy to communicate to children, young and adult, and seniors, especially during Lent. It is widely use in reconciliation services and during EWTN homilies. Each of us can relate to this Gospel parable, and to similar parables in the Holy Scriptures.

For example the parable of the lost sheep (Luke 15:1-7); and the parable of the lost coin (vv 8-10). It is also worth noting that it was the particular critique of Jesus by the Pharisees, namely that Christ welcomed sinners and tax collectors (vv 1-2) that prompted  the  Gospel parable of the prodigal son.

 Like such Pharisees most of the time we focus our energy on criticizing our leaders in the society and in the church or every other person around us except ourselves. Some of these criticisms might be justified and sometimes they are not, like those of the Pharisees who did not like Christ so much. Our personal weaknesses or prodigality are usually the last ones we notice except with the grace of God.

 Like the prodigal son who was an heir to the father we are all God’s children constantly asking, enjoying or searching for our inheritance and asking for forgiveness.  We are constantly on the way like the Israelite, with Moses in the book of Exodus, and Joshua, in today's first reading, searching for that Promised Land (Josh 5:9a, 10-12). These journeys, like our Lenten journey could be rough and tumbling, but the merciful God is constantly watching over us.  As we journey through lent we must not forget the goodness of God, his love and blessings in our prayers, in our Passovers, liturgies and worships!

During this lent we want to stop and think of the abundance of inheritance God has blessed us with from creation. We inherited our image from God, the gifts of all parts of our body; the gifts of our senses and intelligence, the gifts of roof over our heads, our jobs, positions of wealth and power, our families, healthy children, successful marriages, and good friends and neighbors. The fullness of these blessings of course is the attainment of the Kingdom of God, the ultimate inheritance.

Like the prodigal son sometimes we are tempted to walk away from our blessings and inheritance or use them wrongly. But there is always a joy when we realize that we are on the wrong track and long to return to God, like the prodigal son finally did.  This U- turn is the source of our joy, and that of Christ echoed in today’s antiphon “rejoice, Jerusalem, and all who love her. Be joyful, all who were in mourning.” In other words, never mind what people might say or complain of as did the first son,  we are invited during lent to come back to the newness of life in Christ.

For Paul, as stressed in that 2^nd  reading, each of us depending on how this Gospel speaks to us can be recreated; re converted, reconciled and be renewed in Christ the Son of the Loving God and of the Forgiving Father. We can become a new creation (2 Cor 5:17-21) and enter into a renewed relationship with God, who like the father of the prodigal son, is joyfully waiting to receive us as a merciful!

Therefore (in this year of mercy), we may asked ourselves: Who in the past have offended us? Whom do you want to forgive in your family, work place, school of neighborhood: a betrayed friend, spouse, or a prodigal child?

When we forgive, recognize our prodigality; be less jealous of one another, put our various inheritance to good use, God  our Father is ready for us with a new ring, a new rob and with a  sumptuous  Passover feast ( Jos 5:9-12) of eternal life in Christ – at Easter. He is a forgiving, gracious and merciful God!

Reflection Questions:

1.      How often do stop to recognize that all that we have, parents, fathers, mothers, children etc., are all a given from the Lord?

2.      How often do we remember to celebrate other people’ success and encourage others to do so?

3.      Is there any time in our life that we tend to be jealous of one another like the first son in today’ Gospel?

4.      In what form have we mercifully related with our neighbors in recent months, days or years?

5.      What prevents us from genuine reconciliation with the Lord and our neighbors? And what have we done?

6.      How often do we respect our mothers and women?

A Merciful God Yesterday, Today and Forever!;Homily Third Sunday of Lent Year C: Fr. Michael Ufok Udoekpo

Homily Third Sunday of Lent Year C:  Fr. Michael Ufok Udoekpo

·        Exod 3:1-8a, 13-15;

·        Ps 103:1-4, 6-11

·        1 Cor 10:1-6, 10-12

·         Luke 13:1-9

 A Merciful God Yesterday, Today and Forever!

 As we journey through Lent with wonderful scriptural passages our confidence continue to grow in a merciful God, who is yesterday, today and forever. The God who reigns, who has planted us as a vineyard, fig trees in this life to yield fruits. He also disciplines us when we sin. We are confident in his presence, the God of our Fathers and Mothers: Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Moses. We are confident in his protection, provisions, love and forgiveness, when we turn to him in repentance. He is a God of all moments, events, circumstances and times. He does these mercifully!

In the times of Moses and of the suffering Israelites in Egypt and in the wilderness, God manifested himself, his saving glory and mercy, to the Israelites, through Moses who he discovered during the event of the burning bush (Exod 3). In that event, Moses did not discover God. Moses is rather discovered by God a merciful God (Ps 103, Jonah, Micah, Exod 34:5-7) and he is drawn in to divine purpose. Moses is the human agent of divine salvation.  

God commissions Moses to go to Pharaoh and to the Israelites.  With Moses’ initial objection, God revealed himself  as the one who is (ayeh ahser ayeh, ego eimi), who creates, who controls, who protects, who intervenes  in human history, who liberates, who provides, who redeems, who forgives, who fulfills his promises, and the one who saves! He is the one who was, who is, and who will continue to be. God will be what he will be. Who he is cannot be reduce to a single word nor his love limited to a single event.

God manifests himself to us, his human agents, in varied ways, exemplified in the events of the exodus:  in the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart, in the cloud, in the manna he provided, in the food, in the water from the rock, in the signs, symbols, in the ten plagues, in the crossing of the sea, in the murmuring and in the various trials of his chosen people and of course, through human agents, like the leadership of Moses! Remember, we human are not perfect! We should also dispose ourselves to as agents of evangelization to the service of the Lord and of our neighbors, especially in this season of Lent!

Paul was aware of this, as well as the kind of self-discipline that our Lenten season requires.  The more reason while speaking to the Corinthian Church, during his time, Saint Paul points to these events, of the Exodus, and to the ever presence of God, in the clouds of events, and in our neighbors. Paul says, “I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters that our ancestors were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all of them were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. All ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink, yet God was not pleased with all of them.....These things happen as an example for us.” An example, so that we may today be more committed, repenting and trusting the Lord, who is ever presence with us.

 How many times do we not hear in the Gospels, especially in the Gospel of John that Christ/God is the great I AM, the Ego Emi, who controls all events and has planted us in this life, as vineyard, as fig tree, for a purpose, to grow, to yield fruit?

In today’s Gospel similar message is heard (Luke 13:1-9).  Christ invites us in his goodness, not only to repentance and renewal, especially in this time of lent, but he wants us to be that healthy parabolic fig tree, that vineyard bearing good fruits; fruits of selfless services, fruits of love, gratitude, graciousness, forgiveness, faith and perseverance in moments of trials, recognizing his ever presence  with us!

 That is to say that our Christian life today [particularly in this Year of Mercy] must be daily lived with the consciousness of the exodus events, the need for repentance and forgiveness, and of the consciousness of ever presence of a merciful God in our lives in various and varied ways and moments!  Granted that, today the drums of war, terrorism, stories about ISIs, poverty, illnesses, loss of our loved ones, and many other socio- political, religious and economic challenges are still been heard, we want to be like Moses, and be opened to the many ways that our merciful God wants to work in us and through us, so that others may experience God’s constant mercy, and ever presence, that is Who God Is- through our words, deeds and actions!

Reflection Questions

1.      How often do we remember this very true nature of God, namely, his mercy, love, and kindness (Exodus 34:6-7, Ps. 103, Ps. 85, Jonah)?

2.      How often do we see our daily challenges as a form of divine discipline and trials?

3.      In our trials do we remember that God is who he is, he is with us always?

4.      In what ways can we relate to Moses or to the parabolic fig tree of today’s Gospel and help members of our religious communities to do the same?

Homily Third Sunday of Lent Year C:  Fr. Michael U. Udoekpo

·        Exod 3:1-8a, 13-15;

·        Ps 103:1-4, 6-11

·        1 Cor 10:1-6, 10-12

·        Luke 13:1-9

The Ever Presence of a Merciful Christ, in our midst

As we journey through Lent with the scriptures our confidence in a merciful God continues to grow. We are confident in his merciful presence, protection, provisions, love and forgiveness, when we turn to him in repentance.

Let me begin with the 2nd reading of today. While originally addressed to the Corinthians’ Church, Paul wants us today to learn a lesson from the Book of Exodus (Exodus= going out), the goings and the comings of Israel, their trials and difficulties in the desert, how they reacted to these trials, and of course the role of Moses in the 1^st reading could serve as a Lenten disciplinary measures for us today.

Paul warns, “I do not want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters that our ancestors were all under the cloud, and all passed through the sea, and all of them were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea. All ate the same spiritual food, and all drank the same spiritual drink, yet God was not pleased with all of them.....These things happen as an example for us.”

Significant in the 1^st reading, the Exodus story, that Paul is referencing, is God’s merciful choice of his people and his readiness to liberate and save humanity through human instrument, Moses, whom he called.  With Moses’ initial objection, God revealed himself (in the burning bush Exodus 3:15) as the one who is (ayeh ahser ayeh, ego eimi), who creates, who controls, who protects, who intervenes  in human history, who liberates, who provides, who redeems, who forgives, who fulfills his promises, and the one who saves! He does all this, because he is a merciful God (Ps 103).

Again, it is  a meaningful name, “I am who am,” for  each of us, old and renewed Israel to remember, especially in the face hunger, thirstiness, and temptations to complaint, to disobey, object, resist, murmur or doubt the presence of God in our midst. God is always there! Moses, Christ and Paul knew this!

 Our Christian and daily living is an “exodus.” Think of our going and coming. Each day many of us  wake up, exit our homes, come to the church and from the church we exit  to our cars, offices, places of meetings, shops,  farms, gardens, court and class  rooms, business areas, enter and exit trains, boats and planes and return home most of the time safely with our  friends, children, and grandchildren as days and weeks and months pass by.

These are not without ups and downs. Sometimes our cars are broken down and at another time, we find ourselves locked out of our rooms, or stuck in the desert of frustration and starvation. Our computers are broken or our telephone lines are not going through or the batteries need recharging. In our offices and work environment we are tempted to over-judged, serve but ourselves, consumed in our self-confidence forgetting the role of God in our journeys and the invitation to exit and empty ourselves for others. Paul warns us not t be like some the ungrateful Israelite.

Similar warning is heard in the Gospel reading of today (Luke 13:1-9).  Although he is a merciful Christ, he invites us in his goodness, to the Lenten disciplines of repentance and renewal, especially in this time of lent. He wants us to be that healthy parabolic fig tree, bearing good fruits; fruits of selfless services, fruits of love, fruits of gratitude and graciousness, and fruits of faith with the recognition of his ever divine presence in our midst, homes, study rooms and places of work.

Reflection Questions:

1.      How often do we remember this very true nature of God, namely, his mercy, love, and kindness (Exodus 34:6-7, Ps. 103, Ps. 85, Jonah)?

2.      How often do we see our daily challenges as a form of divine disciplines and trials?

3.      In our trials do we remember that God is who he is, he is with us always?

4.      In what ways can we relate to Moses or to the parabolic fig tree of today’s Gospel and help members of our religious communities to do the same?

Paths to Heavenly Citizenship!,Homily for Second Sunday of Lent Year C: Fr. Michael Ufok Udoekpo

Homily for Second Sunday of Lent Year C:   Fr. Michael Ufok Udoekpo

·        Gen 15:5-12, 17-18;

·        Ps 27: 1, 7-9,13-14;

·         Phil 3:17­–4:1

·         Luke 9:28b-36.

Paths to Heavenly Citizenship!

It is interesting to listen to the American Politicians: Democrats and the Republican or even European Union debate immigration. Both parties and different nations, debate the path of immigrants to citizenship. Each party and nation has different views and criteria to one becoming an American Citizen or of any nation. Lent is a time we contemplate the “exodus” the paths or the ways (change, transformation , conversion, charity, reaching out to those in the margin, the poor, the voiceless...)that lead every Christian to heaven, or the path to becoming a citizen of that eternal and heavenly city.

In the transfiguration episode in today’s gospel Jesus' face changes in appearance, during prayer, while his cloth becomes dazzling white to the amazement of his disciples, Peter, James and John who were with him. Moses and Elijah appeared and spoke with Jesus about the glory of the cross in the language of the exodus, known to both of them.

In the exodus God was in charge. Even before then, after the fall of man and woman, he called Abraham, our patriarch, from a pagan territory, UR, in Genesis 12.   In today’s first reading, he established a covenant, a bond, a sacred relationship with Abraham, during which God promised him descendants as numerous as the stars as well as the  Land, place of rest (katapausis, Gen 15:5-12,17-18). Although, the righteous Abraham put his faith in the Lord, the journey to inherit the Promised Land was never going to be easy: they would encounter, hostile kings, wars, temptations, famine which will take them to Egypt. Moses and Joshua would continue to be God’s viceroys through the exodus, the departure from Egypt through the wilderness, desert, the sufferings, “the cross” the thirstiness, hunger, murmuring, rebellion, and other ups and down as they journeyed towards that Promised Land.

As clearly stated in the Letter to the Hebrews 4:1-13, that promise remains; that exodus departure would be completed in the paschal mysteries of Christ, which lent prepares us for, as cited by Evangelist Luke in today’s gospel, and by Pope Benedict XVI in his Apostolic Letter, Porta Fidei. While acknowledging the challenges, the deserts and the difficulties of times we are in (n.7), he summons all of us, pastors, everyone to imitate Christ, by setting out to lead people out of the desert, towards the place of life; towards friendship with God (n.2), towards the heavenly kingdom.

St. Paul an Apostle of the Gentiles experienced the desert himself- beaten, imprisoned, and shipped wrecked and killed. Paul and exemplary leader knew, and reminds us today that our citizenship is not on earthly desert, or old ways of life restricted to misinterpretation of misapplication of the Laws of Moses, as such, but in peaceful, inclusive, and friendly heaven (Phil 3:17:1). As he would have invited the Philippians, Paul invites us to stand firm in Christ, in spite of the trials, temptation, and the wilderness of life that each of us might experience in life in forms of poverty, discrimination racism, ethnocentrisms, lack of good leadership, and effect of corruption and corrupt- socio- political structures etc.

Prayer, courage, perseverance exemplified in the passion of Christ during Holy Week (his exodus), as well as conversion, charity, reaching out to the margins, the poor and the needy, and the type of faith and firmness displayed by Abraham and Paul and Christ, himself, are the true paths that will guarantee us that heavenly citizenship.

Reflection Questions:

1.      In the light of today’s readings in what ways do we consider ourselves earthly citizens on a journey to that heavenly city, where we shall encounter Christ!

2.      What change, spiritual, social and religious have we noticed in our lives, in recent months, seasons, and years!

3.      What are life’s trials that prevent us from change, transformation and conversion from old ways of life to Christ-like values?

4.      How often do we keep our baptismal/sacramental promises, covenants, vows and those terms that established our relationship with God, through Christ, his Son?

Homily [alternate] Second Sunday of Lent Year C:   Fr. Michael U. Udoekpo

·        Gen 15:5-12, 17-18;

·        Ps 27: 1, 7-9, 13-14;

·        Phil 3:17­–4:1

·        Luke 9:28b-36.

Our Citizenship is In Heaven

 “Our Citizenship is in heaven, and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. He will change our lowly body by the power that enables him also to bring all things into subjection to himself,”

These words of Saint Paul to the Church in Philippi capture the essence of what we celebrate today: that all of us, throughout history, are on a journey like the Israelites (Exodus, Leviticus and Numbers 1–10). We are immigrants, migrating to our heavenly Father. As believers, and children of the covenant, where we are now is not our final home.  Heaven is our final home. That “promised land” promised by the God of “our fathers,” through our ancestors! It takes courage, patience, courage, endurance, perseverance and attentiveness to the voice of God to get there! It is costly. I mean the "cost of discipleship" to get there!

In today’s first reading, Genesis 15, God unconditionally establishes a covenant, a loving relationship with Abraham, our ancestor. Abraham’s descendants; Isaac, Jacob and Joseph, David, the prophets, Christ, Paul, renewed in us, in the Church, in our communities, and families today, will be as plentiful as the stars in the sky and as the sand of the sea shore. Abraham and his descendant shall be given that land for a possession (Gen 15). Abraham believes and puts his faith in God. He is accredited as a just man, as a righteousness man.

Abraham, by believing, and putting his faith in God, teaches us how to be believing people, a compassionate, church, a believing, family and community. Abraham’s response to God reminds us that our work and Lenten disciplines here on earth will never be in vain. Those spiritual and corporal works of mercy will never be in vain. Abraham teaches us to be docile, faithful, righteous, open to change, renewal, confession, acceptance of the will of God, and the teachings of the Church; conversion, metamorphosis, and transformation from our “UR of Chaldeans” to the “Promised Land.”

On Mount Tabor, in the transfiguration episode of today’s Gospel Jesus' face changes in appearance, during prayer. His cloth becomes dazzling white to the amazement of Peter, James and John, his disciples who were with him. Moses and Elijah appeared and spoke with Jesus about the glory of the cross in the language of the exodus, known to both of them. Peter wishes to remain on this peaceful, glorious, beautiful earthly mountain of Tabor. But, truly their citizenship were beyond the earthly mount Tabor. Christ speaks to them about his journeys to Jerusalem! Heavenly citizenship can only be accomplished through the Cross and good works we do here on earth, especially during this season of Lent….. It can only be accomplished through, change and conversion, endurance, and charity.

Today we encounter our daily crosses in different forms; the cost of discipleship in different forms. In acts of charity, forgiveness, suffering, pains and penance; the insult we bear for the sake of Christ. What about the pains of the loss of our loved ones. The rejection and discrimination and abuses we experience.

 There are some that have experienced  the cross of Christ in forms of poverty, terrorism, illnesses,  inhumane-deportations, wars and various forms of institutional or organized, socio-political unjust structures– as they journey through this life. Some live in fear! Some in anger! Some in excess materialism and uneasiness to forgive, or feel forgiven by God of their past sins. Whatever, our various challenges in life might have been as Christians- Lent, especially (in this Year of Mercy) re-invites us to patience, a change of old ways of life to a new way of life in Christ, trust and willingness to listen to the voice of Christ, who daily speaks and invites us to his eternal citizenship!

Reflection Questions:

5.      In the light of today’s readings in what ways do we consider ourselves earthly citizens on a journey to that heavenly city, where we shall encounter Christ!

6.      What change, spiritual, social and religious have we noticed in our lives, in recent months, seasons, and years!

7.      What are life’s trials that prevent us from change, repentance, transformation and conversion from old ways of life to Christ-like values?

8.      How often do we keep our baptismal/sacramental promises, covenants, vows and those terms that established our relationship with God, through Christ, his Son?