Saturday, August 31, 2019

Learn From Me For I am Meek and Humble of Heart, Homily Twenty-Second Sunday Year C


Homily Twenty-Second Sunday Year C
Learn From Me
For I am Meek and Humble of Heart
Fr. Udoekpo, Michael Ufok

§  Sir 3:17-18, 20, 28-29;
§   Ps 68:4-7, 10-11’
§  Heb 12:18-19, 22-24a
§  Luke 14:1, 7-14

 “For everyone who exalts himself (or herself) will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted,” (Luke 14:11).These words of Jesus underline the common thread of call for humility that runs through the Bible Lessons of today.

Even the author of Ecclesiasticus, Ben Sira, a wise man, lover of God, and an experienced observer of life, who lived thousands of years ago in Jerusalem recommended humility for his contemporaries.  He says “my child, conduct your affairs with humility and you will be loved more than a giver of gift. And the more you humble yourself, the greater you are, and the more you find favor with God,” (Sir 17-18). For Ben Sira, humility is not different from the fear of the Lord; it is not different from modesty and meekness. In fact most often the Hebrew word anawa can also be used in the sense of modesty and meekness of life.

In fact arrogance, especially a bad type can lead to so many things. It can lead us to disregard God and things that are sacred. It leads us to commit injustices, loose our patience very easily, disrespect others or trample upon those we think and imagine, are weaker than us, or we are better than! This why in Zephaniah 2:3, the text I wrote my doctoral dissertation on, humility is parallel to acts of social justice, righteousness and obedience to God. The texts says, “seek the Lord (baqqash adonay), all you humble of the land (kol anawa ha-arrets), who observed the law, seek righteousness (baqqash saddiq), and seek humility ( baqqash anawa).

In other words, Ben Sira recommends  that in our daily lives we should cultivates the virtues of patience, modesty docility, meekness, awareness of one’s limitations, respect for one another, love of one another, and above all we should always rely upon the grace of God, no matter our gifts , education, talents and positions. One who possesses humility is greater than “the giver of gifts.”

There is a story of a poor beggar who sits out in a village street in some parts of Africa, asking passers-by for bread and gifts.. In this culture, gifts are often given and received with right hands. One day a very rich man who was returning from the market walked by this hungry poor beggar. He offered the beggar a fat loaf of bread with money equivalent to our one dollar bill. But he did this with his left which is a sign of disrespect to another human being in this culture. To the greatest shock of this arrogant rich man, the poor hungry beggar rejected his gifts. But was kind enough to instruct the rich man to offer him the gifts properly with his right hand! The point here is that it is humility that enables us to respect the dignity of every human person, poor, rich, men, women and children, and even to be aware of ourselves or at least remember to look at ourselves on the mirror.

Humility enables us to love our neighbors. Think of the humility of love that Christ has first humbly loved us with. He washed the feet of his disciples. He reached out to the unreachable and touched the untouchables. Even to the cross as a mediator of the new covenant, the blood of Christ, as stated in the second reading (Heb 12:18-19, 22-24a), “Speaks more eloquently than that of Abel.” Christ went to Cross freely. He went the Cross humbly like a lamb. He went there because he loves us.

Even before Christ went to the cross, he taught humility, modesty, charity, generosity and respect to the dignity of every human person, wherever, and when he had the opportunity to do so.  The parable at the dinner party in today’s Gospel (Luke 14:1, 7-14) is one of those occasions. It was in the home of one of the Pharisees, elite of his time and probably a very wealthy man too. Jesus uses this occasions not to “play nice,” or “lobby” the Pharisees, but to instruct every one of the truth: that when you are invited to a party take the lowest place so that you might be elevated and not vise verse. Again, those who organize theses parties should always extend their invitation and generosity to others including the poor, the crippled, the lame, the beggars, and the blind.

 This might sound very difficult to understand in today’s world of unhealthy competitions and rivalries, segregation, discrimination, racism and marginalization of the weak. Today many of us do things expecting a pay back in return. How do I invite strangers to my home would be the questions, modern minds would ask?

An arrogant, me-first lifestyle, my story, my story, my story always, (not my neighbors’ story) is not a life style of the kingdom of God. True members of the kingdom must take their yoke upon them and be able to learn from Christ, who is meek and humble of heart( Matt 11:29ab), “for every one who exalts himself (herself) will be humbled, and  the ones who humble themselves will be exalted,”(Luke 14:11).


Reflection Questions
1.      What have we learned from today’s readings?
2.      Are we humble in the manner of Christ?
3.      What prevents us from encouraging our neighbors to live a modest life style?










22nd Sunday of Year C
 The Virtue of Humility

§    Sirach 3:17-18,20,28-29
§    Ps 68:4-5,6-7,10-11
§    Heb 12:18-19,22-24a
§    Luke 14:1,7-14
 Today we live in a world of “the winner takes it all.”  A world where the rich look down on the poor.  A world where we like to compare ourselves with others. Some feel superior or holier than others. While others feel inferior or less than others. Any of us can easily fall into this trap of arrogance, putting ourselves above others, or entertaining a poor or inferior self-image of ourselves. All three readings plus the responsorial Psalm of today(" God in your goodness, you have made a home for the poor,") invite us to avoid such mistakes and rather joyfully embrace, the beatitude, a humble and positive behavior in daily life.

 In the 1st reading, from the Book of Sirach, though written more than a Hundred Years before Christ, we are reminded of what usually and really counts in life; namely; the wisdom of humility wherever we are and in whatever we do.   200 years before Christ, Sirach said, “My child, conduct your affairs with humility, and you will be love more than a giver of gifts. Humble yourself the more, the greater you are, and you will find favor with God.” This was true then, 200 years before Christ. This is still true today. Truly, humility is a spiritual disposition towards God. It is an attitude of bending before God, submitting our will to embrace God’s will in our dealings with our neighbors

  But notice that the 1st reading is not recommending that we make ourselves stupid before others. No, our daily life should reflects our interior disposition towards God, displayed in gentleness, simplicity, generosity, kindness and compassion towards our neighbors, superiors, family members, fellow workers, and friends, even towards those who seem difficult to us. Even the gifts we give to the poor, the preaching we preach, to our congregations, the teaching we teach to our students, the counseling we counsel, the leading we lead , the work we do, the administration we administer to our subjects the Christianity we live should all be done with humility and meekness. The corporal works of mercy: (feeding the hungry, providing water for the thirty, clothing the naked, visiting those in prison, burying the dead) we practice in this  Year of Mercy, inaugurated by Pope Francis, should be practiced with humility and compassion. Doesn’t Christ say in today’s alleluia verse, Matthew 11:29a “take my yoke upon you… learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart?”

 Humility is not a weakness. Rather, it is a strength in rightly taking one’s place before God. That is, in mount Zion, spoken of in today’s 2nd reading, the Letter to the Hebrews. Those who practice the virtue of humility will see God, will be exalted, and will find a place in God’s Kingdom, in Mount Zion, the New Heavenly Jerusalem. Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, those who humble themselves will be exalted in Jerusalem! This has been the case 200 years before Christ.

 Christ makes this clearer in the parable of the invited guest in today’s gospel (Luke 14:1, 7-14). He reminds the Pharisees that when you are invited for a dinner or wedding party, it’s better not to hurry to take the front seat. Wait humbly behind until you are seated in your rightful place to avoid embarrassment. Do we wait for our rightly place with patient, with humility? The kingdom of God we must realize is also opened to everyone, the rich, the poor the crippled, the lame, the blind—and those we thought were insignificant.  Do we consider our neighbors, especially the poor, co-members and partakers of the kingdom of God. Or do we think that I alone, or you alone have the monopoly of the kingdom?

Of course, it is not so much whether we are physically behind or in front at wedding or dinner parties. Rather, the message is that in life, wherever we are, live, work, serve, teach, lead, preach, minister, even in our families, we should conduct ourselves wisely with grace, joy and humility. No need for inordinate comparison of ourselves with others. Our Blessed Mother Mary, who said to the Angel, Be it done to me according to your words, should also be our model of humility in our dealings with our neighbors.

Reflection Questions
1.      What have we learned from today’s readings?
2.      Are we humble in the manner of Christ?
3.      What prevents us from encouraging our neighbors to live a modest life style?




Saturday, August 24, 2019

Christ, for Nations of Every Language,Homily-Twenty-First Sunday Year C


Homily-Twenty-First Sunday Year C
Christ, for Nations of Every Language
Fr. Udoekpo, Michael Ufok

§  Isaiah 66:18-21;
§   Ps 117:1-2;
§   Heb 12:5-7, 11-13
§  Luke 13:22-30

During the summer of 2013 (as you all know), I led pilgrimage to Fatima, Lourdes, and other Holy Places in Paris and Rome. It was a wonderful spiritual experience. The group was universal in nature: 4 from Australia, 3 from Chicago, 4 from Iowa, 3 from Seattle, 2 from Milwaukee here, many others from New York Area and Los Angeles. Quite a universal group!
This image of universality is reflected in today’s scripture passages: universal salvation, a universal church, a universal kingdom. And to get to this kingdom requires prayers, hard work, perseverance and discipline.

Isaiah 66, (Third Isaiah) addresses the image of God who loves everyone, to a group of Israel returning from exile to a new Zion.  The returnees have their own problem: brokenness, divisions, injustices, power struggle, and clashes with those who never went on the exile in the first place. There are also some situation of despair and hopelessness, like any given human society. Should those wives married in foreign lands be sent away or not!
Isaiah says, “I come to gather nations of every language, they shall come and see my glory” the glory of the Lord (Isa 66:18).

The Church of the new Zion will be Global and universal in nature as the Glory of the Lord attracts all nations of every language and culture. The Gospel will be proclaimed to every nation by the remnant, which is us (v.19). And “they shall bring all your brothers and sisters from all nations.” The Church will continue to strive to be holy, inclusive in nature and Levites and priests will come from every nation.

These we are already experiencing. Think of how Masses are said in different languages all over the world. During these Masses, especially on Sundays’ same readings are read and similar sharing of the bread and blood and the word of God are broken and shared according to various needs of every culture.  Again think of the many priests and missionaries we have serving in our countries, in the Vatican. They are from different cultures and nations. And they speak and preach their sermons and homilies in different languages.

In fact, in these diversities, the central message, the central truth according to the today’s Gospel parable (Luke 13:22-30) is the same, namely; the Kingdom of God. Jesus keeps reminding us he came to establish his kingdom, the kingdom of God. In this kingdom in which Jesus has compared to number of things: the smallest seed that can grow into a big tree, it is a leaven in a loaf of bread, hidden, but enables the bread to rise and it has a narrow gate. It is full of surprises. Those you don’t expect may be first in that kingdom while those you expected to be first might come last. Above all still, “all people will come from the east and the west and from the north to the south and recline at table in this kingdom of God.”

What this implies is that there is a new way to live in relationship with God and with our neighbors. Accepting to love as Christ loved. Accepting to forgive as Christ forgave is a lot of work. This is the “narrow gate.” This is where the discipline that the second reading, the Letter to the Hebrews talks about, when it says, “My son, do not disdain the discipline of the Lord or lose heart when reproved by him, for whom the Lord loves he disciplines, he scourges every son (“and daughters”) he acknowledges. Endure your trials as discipline” (Heb 12:5-7, 11-13).
Accepting to reach out universally to every nation with the Good news of Christ takes courage, and requires endurance. And to even believe that God loves you wherever you are seated, or live requires great faith. It is a lot of work. This is the metaphorical narrow gate.

So we pray at this worship that our broken world and divided society today may continue to work hard and strive to enter through the narrow gates of charity, forgiveness, and kindness, constant prayers and always realize the universal nature of God’s love and blessings upon each and every one of us, since Christ came specifically “to gather nations of every language and culture” to the Glory of his Kingdom.

Reflection Questions
1.      What have we learned from today’s scripture passages?
2.      Do we realize that the Christ of Luke is for every nation, race, culture, gender, races and classes?
3.      What prevents us from acting inclusively?


Twenty-First Sunday Year C
Go Out to the Whole World and Proclaim the Goodnews (Mk 16:15)![b]

§ Isaiah 66:18-21;
§ Ps 117:1-2;
§ Heb 12:5-7, 11-13
§ Luke 13:22-30

The responsorial Psalm of today, “go out to the whole world and tell the good news [euaggelion],” Mark 16:15, sums up the theme of today’s scripture, namely; the universal nature of God’s love for us; men, women, children from all walks- of – life and the challenges, the narrow gates, the Christian disciplines that we face as we strive towards the kingdom of God.

This universal nature of God’s love for each of us, it does not matter where you come from, what you look like, what gender you are, is evidence in today’s first reading, Isaiah 66. The returnees from the Babylonian and Persian exiles have encountered problems in the Holy Land. There are tensions, there are politics, there are divisions, there are name callings, and there are all forms of injustices from the elites. Who is the rightful owner of the land, the golah (returnees) or the people of the land (those who never experienced the exile)? Should those wives married outside the land or those children born in Persia and Babylon be permitted to be part of the newly rebuilt city of Zion or not? For some no. But for God yes! This is where God steps in, and speaks to Isaiah to proclaim to the people that, ‘he [God] came to gather nations of every language, to see his divine glory.” The glory of the Lord, his goodness, his love, his mercy, especially in this Year of Mercy, is universal!

These we are already experiencing. Think of how Masses are said in different languages all over the world. At these Masses, same readings are read and similar sharing of the bread and blood and the word of God are broken and shared according to various needs of every culture.  Again think of the many priests and missionaries we have serving in our countries, in the Vatican, in parishes schools and seminaries. They are from different cultures and nations. And they speak and preach their sermons and homilies in different languages.

In baptism each of us is commissioned to be bearers, preachers, and doers of this universal, inclusive love and mercy of God, manifested in Christ, wherever we live are- Africa, Europe, Asia, America … California, New York! Following Christ, who is the way, the gate, the truth and the life (John 14:6) was never going to be easy at all. It comes with all kinds of challenges and disciplines alluded to in the 2nd reading, the Letter to the Hebrews 12.

 In this (Year of Mercy)…. one can imagine how challenging it could be to live, for example, the corporeal works of mercy: feeding the hungry—when some us may not yet have enough for ourselves and our children, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, sheltering the homeless, visiting the sick, those  in imprisons, and burying the dead?

Doing these are classic examples of preaching the Good News, and of entering through the narrow gate specified in today’s Gospel parable (Luke 13:22-33). Following the example of Christ is this narrow gate. Loving one another as Christ loves is this narrow gate. Reaching out to the poor, the voiceless and the marginalized as Christ does, is this narrow gate. Embracing everyone, from north and south, east and west is this narrow gate. Giving out your used clothing or contributing to the food pantry is this narrow gates! This is what it means to go out to the whole world and proclaim the good news to all without counting the cost! May we all go out there proclaiming the Goodnews to every nation of every language and culture.

Reflection Questions
1.      What have we learned from today’s scripture passages?
2.      Do we realize that the Christ of Luke is for every nation, race, culture, gender, language and class?
3.      What prevents us from acting inclusively?

Saturday, August 17, 2019

Fortitude in Our Christian Journeys, Homlily Twentieth Sunday of Year C,Fr. Udoekpo, Michael Ufok


Twentieth Sunday of Year C
Fortitude in Our Christian Journeys
Fr. Udoekpo, Michael Ufok

§  Jer 38:4-6, 8-10;
§   Ps 40:2,3,4,18;
§   Heb 12:1-4
§  Luke!12: 49-53

Fire, Fire, Fire!!!!!!!!!!!!
“I have come to set the earth on fire and how I wish it were already blazing… There is baptism with which I must be baptized. I have come not to establish peace, but rather division” (Luke 12:49-50).

These words of Jesus taken literally may sound worrisome and confusing. But when we take a closer look it highlights the fire of the cross, the fire of fortitude, the mission of Christ and his judgment. It means doing things in the manner of Christ. Of course “fire” in the ancient culture is a symbolism of judgment, and baptism “baptizein” refers metaphorically to Jesus courageous and prophetic embrace and full submerging in his mission of true peace and justice, different from the worldly peace. It includes the purpose of Christ, his reaching out to others in a way that has never been done before.

 Christ came to do things differently and courageously. Recall as a young boy after he had visited the synagogue with the parents, instead of walking back home like other families, Jesus stayed back in the temple. The fire of dialogue with temple officials!  In the ancient days it was tooth for tooth, but Jesus came with a new teaching that says “turn the other cheek, and forgive.” The fire to turn the other cheek, the fire to forgive! The elders used more than 40 years to build the temple, but Jesus says, “He will destroy it and rebuild it in three days.” The fire of rebuilding an ancient old temple in three days! John baptized with water, but Jesus baptized with water the Holy Spirit. The fire of the Holy Spirit!  Sinners were despised, but Jesus chose to eat with them. The fire of eating with sinners! He shared water with the Samaritan woman. The fire of a Jewish/Rabbi to reach out to the Samaritan woman! He raised Lazarus from the death. He commanded the blind to see, and cured the lepers. The fire to heal! The fire of God's healing love!! He taught Pilate the true meaning of Truth. The fire of Truth!! He came up with a new form of sacrifice, peace, and service. The fire of service! He washed the feet of his disciples and not the opposite. No more animal sacrifices, but love, communion, sharing, evangelization, spreading the Good news, and personal self- emptying on the cross, which we reenact at every Eucharistic celebration. The fire of Evangelization!!!

This must be disturbing and challenging to families, fathers, mothers, children, sons, daughters, son-in laws and daughter-mother- in-laws of the new emerging Christian community, from older Judaism. You can imagine what the advent of Christianity, a new religion, meant for the Africans hundreds of years ago. Or for people of other religion. How do we abandon one religion or faith to another?  What about from Judaism to Christianity like in the case of Christ's time. These changes of doing things in the way of Christ, comes with a price. It is the type of suffering-price that every Israel prophets like Jeremiah paid.

In doing the unpopular prophetic work of denouncing sin and announcing judgment in the late pre-exilic period, Jeremiah met with fierce opposition. He was opposed, resisted and persecuted. Jeremiah was place in stocks at the cost of his ministry (Jer 20:1-2). He was put on trial by priest who demanded his death because he preached in the temple (Jer 26:10-11). Because he preached to Judah, “Thus says the Lord, “If you will not listen to me, to walk in my law that I have set before you, and to heed the words of my servants the prophets whom I send to you…. Then I will make the house of Israel like Shiloh, and I will make this city a curse for all the nations of the earth” (Jer 26:4-11). In fact, Jeremiah and his companion, Baruch was banished from the Temple (Jer 36). He was arrested, beaten and imprisoned (Jer 37:12-16). As if these were not enough he was even sized and thrown into a muddy pit to die, and only to be rescued by Eved-melech (servant of the king) by the order of King Zedekiah. For Jeremiah this was the Lord’s doing, and Psalm 40 reflects the role of God whenever we call upon him from the pits of our troubles:
“I have waited, waited for the Lord, and he stooped toward me. The Lord heard my cry. He drew me out of the pit of destruction, out of the mud of the swamp, he set my feet upon a crag; he made firm my steps…though I am afflicted and poor, you are my help and my deliverer.”

In those moments when we face our trials (hunger, poverty, lack of jobs, illnesses, family difficulties and disagreement in religious matters, disappointed by our friends, children, relatives, spouses  or loss of our loved ones, or even persecuted, because you are a Christian, etc) we have to think and act like Jeremiah and imitate Jesus. We have to think of those heroes of faith and clouds of witnesses of today’s second reading, the Letter to the Hebrew (Heb 12:1-4). What about several saints and our forefathers and mothers in faith, those who died for the faith? This is courage. This is fortitude.  We need this fortitude more than ever, especially in our times. We need that moral virtue which enables us to be firm in moments of trials and temptations of sins and of false peace. We need it in the face of injustices and terrorism. We need it in those moments when our Christian faith is threatened. Fire, Fire, Fire! I have come to bring fire on earth how I wish it was already burning!!!

Reflection Questions
1.     In moments of trials and tragedies do we imitate Jeremiah and Jesus?
2.     How do we handle our challenges?
3.     In what ways have we assisted those in trouble, difficulties and despair?



Twentieth Sunday of Year C
Courage and Fortitude in Our Christian Journeys
Fr. Udoekpo, Michael Ufok

§    Jer 38:4-6, 8-10;
§    Ps 40:2, 3, 4, 18;
§    Heb 12:1-4
§    Luke12: 49-53

Fire, Fire, Fire!!!!!!!!!!!! “I have come to set the earth on fire and how I wish it were already blazing… There is baptism with which I must be baptized. I have come not to establish peace, but rather division” (Luke 12:49-50).

These words of Jesus highlights the central theme of today's scripture readings; that we should be courageous and prophetic in our Christian callings. Taken literally, these words may sound worrisome and confusing to some. How can Jesus the Prince of Peace (Matthew 5.9) says, he came not to establish peace, but division?  But when we take a closer look it metaphorically highlights the fire of the cross, the fire of fortitude, the mission of Christ and his judgment, that Christianity was never going to be bed or roses or a bed of comfort, even for the status quo. No! He came to challenge the status quo; the diseases, the selfishness, the afflictions of the poor.   He came to bring fire on earth. The fire we saw in the ministries of Blessed Oscar Romero of El Salvador, who died for the marginalized. The Fire we saw in the Blessed Mother Teresa, who cared for the poor. The fire we saw in Saint John Paul II, who forgave his would be assassin. The fire we saw in Martin Luther King Jr, who preferred peace to violence. The fire we are seeing today in Pope Francis.

Christ came to do things differently and courageously. Recall as a young boy after he had visited the synagogue with the parents, instead of walking back home like other families, Jesus stayed back in the temple. The fire of dialogue with temple officials!  In the ancient days it was tooth for tooth, but Jesus came with a new teaching that says “turn the other cheek, and forgive” those who may have offended us. The fire to turn the other cheek, the fire to forgive, especially, in this Year of Mercy.

The elders used more than 40 years to build the temple, but Jesus says, “He will destroy it and rebuild it in three days.” The fire of the resurrection after death! John baptized with water, but Jesus baptized with the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11). The fire of the Holy Spirit!  Sinners were despised, but Jesus chose to eat with them. The fire of eating with sinners! He shared water with the Samaritan woman. The fire of a Jewish/Rabbi to reach out to the Samaritan woman!
He raised Lazarus from the death. He commanded the blind to see, and cured the lepers. The fire to heal even on the Sabbath. The fire of God's healing love!! He taught Pilate the true meaning of Truth. The fire of Truth!! He came up with a new form of sacrifice, peace, and service. The fire of service! He washed the feet of his disciples and not the opposite. No more animal sacrifices, but love, communion, sharing, evangelization, spreading the Good news, and personal self- emptying on the cross, which we reenact at every Eucharistic celebration. The fire of Evangelization!!!

This must be disturbing and challenging to families, fathers, mothers, children, sons, daughters, son-in laws and daughter-mother- in-laws of the new emerging Christian community of the Letter to the Hebrews, the 2nd reading. You can imagine what the advent of Christianity, a new religion, meant for the Africans hundreds of years ago. Or for people of other religion. How do we abandon one religion or faith to another?  What about from Judaism to Christianity like in the case of Christ's time or the time of Saint Paul. These changes of doing things in the way of Christ, comes with a price. It is the type of suffering-price that every Israel prophets like Jeremiah paid in the 1st reading.

 In doing the unpopular prophetic work of denouncing sin and announcing judgment in the late pre-exilic period, Jeremiah met with fierce opposition. It was during this period that Babylon, the reigning empire demanded tributes from smaller nations, including Judah. While the princes and other palace prophets urged King Zedekiah, to seek military help from Egypt against Babylon, Jeremiah through God’s inspiration counseled otherwise, and predicted the fall of Jerusalem, which came to be in 587 BC. Because of his prediction he was accused of treason, punished, thrown into a dirty pit only to be rescued by Ebed- Melech, the servant of the King. This was the Lord’s doing as echoed in today’s Psalm 40. The Lord drew Jeremiah out from the pit of destruction

Jeremiah, like Christ was on fire!  We are called to be on fire; to have fire of love and courage in our hearts. The fire of obedience and humility. In those moments when we face trials (hunger, poverty, lack of jobs, illnesses, family difficulties and disagreement in religious matters, disappointed by our friends, children, relatives, spouses  or loss of our loved ones, or even persecuted, because you are a Christian, etc) we have to think and act like Jeremiah and imitate Jesus. We have to think of those heroes of faith and clouds of witnesses of today’s second reading (Heb 12:1-4). What about several saints and our forefathers and mothers in faith, those who died for the faith?  Oscar Romero mentioned earlier. What about that French Priests killed by Isis while celebrating Mass. This is courage! This is fortitude.  We need this fortitude more than ever, especially in our times. We need that moral virtue which enables us to be firm in moments of trials and temptations of sins and of false peace. We need it in the face of injustices and terrorism. We need it in those moments when our Christian faith is threatened. Fire, Fire, Fire! I have come to bring fire on earth how I wish it was already burning!!!

Reflection Questions
1.     In moments of trials and tragedies do we imitate Jeremiah and Jesus?
2.     How do we handle our challenges?
3.     In what ways have we assisted those in trouble, difficulties and despair?