Thursday of the 14th week Year C

Thursday of the 14th week Year C.

Gen 44, 18-21. 23b-29; 44, 1-5/ Ps 104/ Mt 10, 7-15

God's is in Sovereign 

Although Joseph acknowledged and manifested the pains and the heaviness of his heart, he goes beyond his personal sufferings and anguish to see in the evil act of his brothers, the hand of God at work in order for him to save many lives. “I am your brother Joseph, whom you once sold into Egypt. But now, do not be distressed, and do not reproach yourselves for having sold me here. It was really for the sake of saving lives that God sent me here ahead of you.” Dear friends, St. Augustine believed that God can use evil to bring about a greater good, such as refining believers through trials or ultimately redeeming them. With St. Augustine, through this story of Joseph, we are may affirm that, yes, our God is sovereign, and he is in control, even over evil.

Jesus, I trust in you!

Fr. Georges sac

Wednesday of the 14th week Year C.

Wednesday of the 14th week Year C.

Gn. 41:55-57; 42:5-7a, 17-24a: .Mt. 10: 1-7

Today's liturgy helps us to meditate on the calling of the twelve apostles as well as the calling of Joseph, who became, in spite of the betrayal, the savior of brothers who sold him to Egypt. Joseph refused to avenge himself or to abuse the power entrusted to him. As Jesus calls the Apostles, he does it today for us so that we should be at the service of our brothers and sisters. Regardless of our background, Jesus wants us to be his followers so that we can share his message to the world. Like the Apostles, Jesus expects each of us, the willingness to leave our old lives and follow him. To be a true disciple of Christ will involve total reliance on prayer and the commitment to spread the Gospel by words and an exemplary way of life.

Jesus, I trust in you

Fr. Georges sac

Tuesday of the 14th week Year C. Genesis 32:23-32; Mt. 9: 32-38.

Tuesday of the 14th week Year C. Genesis 32:23-32; Mt. 9: 32-38.

Wrestling with God

The story of Jacob wrestling with God is a paradigm for our spiritual journey. It symbolizes spiritual struggle and transformation. The story is central in Jacob's life. Jacob was known for his trickery and deception of his brother Essau. It was high time for him to confront his own flaws. Hence, he wrestles with the divine. We all need to face our own past and settle things with God. Like in Jacob's case, God is always ready to start afresh with us, to give us a new identity. From now on, Jacob is called Israel, the "one who struggles with God". God desires an authentic relationship with us. He takes our past and transforms us into a new creation. We all wrestle with something of our past. May we open up to the Lord in order to begin an authentic relationship with him. Wrestling with God is powerful and transforming experience!

Jesus, I trust in you
Fr. Georges sac

Saturday of the 13th week Year C. Gen 27: 1-5, 15-29; Mt 9: 14-17.

Saturday of the 13th week Year C. Gen 27: 1-5, 15-29; Mt 9: 14-17.

Jesus' words about old wineskins and new wineskins is an invitation to let go of old habits, our rigidity, our self-righteousness, our false religious expectations. We should rather trust completely on the grace he betows. "My yoke is easy," he says. 

Our hearts should become like new wineskins, which are flexible and expansive. We need a transformed mindset and a way of life that is receptive to the new reality of God's Kingdom and grace, as brought by Jesus. The new wineskin is, indeed, the new heart and a new spirit promised by God. 

Jesus, I trust in you.

Feast of St. Thomas, Apostle. Ephesians 2:19-22; John 20:23-29

Feast of St. Thomas, Apostle. Ephesians 2:19-22; John 20:23-29

Members of God's household

The Feast of St. Thomas helps us to reflect on the power of faith, the importance of building God's Kingdom, and the transformative potential of doubt and questioning in our spiritual journey. Moments' uncertainties and doubt can open us to a deeper understanding and exploration of our faith. In his doubt, St. Thomas is for us a paradigm of those who embrace uncertainties as an open window for what we are yet to know. "My Lord and my God" Let's become effective witnesses to Christ on this continuous journey of faith.

Jesus, I trust in you

Fr. Georges sac

Wednesday of the 13th week Year C. Gen. 21:5.8-20; Ps. 33; Mt. 8:28-34

Wednesday of the 13th week Year C. Gen. 21:5.8-20; Ps. 33; Mt. 8:28-34

After the storm, the disciples are now confronted with two powerful demons living in the cemetery. For St. Chrysostom, their healing highlights Christ's omnipotence and authority over demonic forces. We are invited to put our faith and and trust in Christ, who not only calms the storms of our life but also over the power of evil, which attacks not only individuals but our entire communities. Jesus is the Son of God who has power to set us free from the demonic powers of hatred, tribalism, racism, anger, greed, selfishness and corruption. And by destroying the herd of swines into which the demons had entered, Jesus showed that the human soul is worth more than the world. But do we in return acknowledge the primacy of God in our lives or do I trade him for anything of this world.

Jesus I trust in you!

Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO SAC

Tuesday of the 13th week in Year C. Mt 8:23-27.

Tuesday of the 13th week in Year C. Mt 8:23-27.

Never lose hope!

Our daily life is filled with storms: financial, family and storms, marital and relationships storms; storms related to our faith, or our job and personal decisions. Storms are part of our lives. No matter how peaceful our life may seem to be, or even how close we are to God, how faithful we are to vocation, we can not be storms free. St. Augustine says the storms story is an allegory of our Christian life and the Church. Storms are a test to our strength and of our trust in God. Instead of agitation and panic in the midst of adversity and storms, we are called to surrender to the Lord because he is Almighty. He has the word of eternal life. He speaks to the wind, and it obeys Him. "He is really the Savior of the world." ( John 4:42)

Jesus, I trust in you!

Fr. Georges sac

Monday of the 13th week Year C. The martyrs of Rome. Mt 8:18-22

Monday of the 13th week Year C. The martyrs of Rome. Mt 8:18-22

The Gospel of today invites us to be true witnesses. As we celebrate the martyrs of Rome, we look at those men and women of faith who particularly gave their lives under the persecution of Emperor Nero. Christianity is a religion of love. This love is costly. Christians are to realize day after day, the power of faith, the importance of love for others, and the enduring strength that we find within the community of believers. The stories of the martyrs of Rome, demonstrate the transformative impact of the Gospel in the lives of believers. The Holy Spirit gave them the courage to willingly sacrifice their lives for their faith. A true Christian witnesses God's truth, mercy, compassion and love at all times.

Jesus, I trust in you!

Fr. Georges sac

Immaculate heart of Mary.

Immaculate heart of Mary. 

"Mary kept all these things in her heart." (Luke 2:19). Through the celebration of the Immaculate heart of Mary, we learn like Mary, to prioritize God's word in our lives. Jesus himself invites us to hear his word and keep it (Luke 11:28). Like Mary, we resolve to turn our lives totally to do the will of God. For St. Louis Marie de Montfort, the Immaculate Heart of Mary, is a crucial path to Jesus Christ.  Because of her "fiat", Mary, is for us, believers, the perfect model of love and devotion to God. Souls seeking union with God may do this through total consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

Jesus, I trust in you

Fr. Georges sac

Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Ez. 34:11-16;

Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, Ez. 34:11-16;

The Shepherd Heart's

In his Encyclical, "Dilexit Nos," Pope Francis describes the heart as the core of a person's being, the seat of emotions, desires, and important decisions, and a place of sincerity and love. The heart reveals our true identity.

In celebrating the solemnity of the Sacred Heart, we would like to open our hearts that welcoming heart, heart of love, and compassion that Seeks out the lost, brings back the strayed, heals the sick, forgives all sinners, and restores the broken hearted. Today, we are reminded that every one of us has a special space in Jesus' sacred heart, which reflects the true meaning of Christianity.

St. John Vianney used to say: "The priesthood is the love of the heart of Jesus." To be a Christian is to have the Shepherd's heart like Jesus. May God heal our hearts!

Sacred of Jesus, have mercy on us!

Fr. Georges sac

Thursday of the 12th week, Year C. Genesis 16, 1-12.16: Ps. 105; Mt.7:21-29

Thursday of the 12th week, Year C. Genesis 16, 1-12.16: Ps. 105; Mt.7:21-29

God's time is the best

In Chapter 15, God made a covenant with Abraham. As the promise delayed to be realized, he preferred to listen to his wife Saraì and decided to have a child with his his maidservant, Haggar. This often happens to all of us to lose patience and to seek quick and human solutions for our problems. Very often, such quick solutions have drastic end results. We are invited to learn to be patient with God, whose time is always the best. Let us build our lives on very solid foundations as advised by Jesus in today's gospel. The word of God is that solid foundation. When the time is right, the Lord will make it happen for you. Stop worrying! Have faith in God's promise. He can never fail.

Jesus, I trust in you
Fr. Georges sac

Wednesday of the 12th week Year C. Mt. 7: 15-20

Wednesday of the 12th week Year C. Mt. 7: 15-20

Beware of false prophets.

Jesus is saddened at how easily we can be led astray by false teachings. False prophets and their doctrine are dangerous. 1)They are deceptive. The Holy Scriptures say: “even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11;14). 2)They are divisive and confusing because that is the aim to cause divisions and confusion. Finally, false doctrines are destructive as they twist the message of truth. Let us be careful of false prophets as well as their teachings. Beware of false prophets for they do not only preach false doctrine but they also give us false hope and an illusory future. Lord help us to know your true voice!

Jesus, I trust in you!

Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO SAC

The solemnity of the birth of John the Baptist. Luke 1:57-80

The solemnity of the birth of John the Baptist. Luke 1:57-80

You are not forgotten!

Except for Jesus our Lord and the Blessed Virgin, John the Baptist is the only Saint whose birth is celebrated in the Catholic Church. From John the Baptist’s life story, we can learn so many lessons, such as obedience to God, humility, courage, witnessing to God and making him the center of our gospel message and of our life. Have you ever thought of the great lesson that we all should learn from John's miraculous conception and birth, despite his parents' advanced age! Elizabeth, the barren, has conceived. God has a plan for each individual's life.  He remembers even those who feel that they have been forgotten. Do you feel as if God has forgotten you? Remember, you are the Elizabeth of our time. What man cannot do! God can do it!

Jesus, I trust in you!

Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO SAC

Monday of the 12th week in Ordinary Time, Year C. Mt. 7:1-5

Monday of the 12th week in Ordinary Time, Year C. Mt. 7:1-5

Stop judging that you may not be judged. The word judgement could mean both “to discern” and “to condemn.” More often, we use the second meaning and we take over God's prerogative by condemning others. Jesus, instead, is inviting us to practice self-reflection and humility. By teaching that we'll be judged by the same standard we use to judge others, he encourages compassion over condemnation. St. Benedict, in his rule, invites us as he did for his monks to focus on self-improvement: recognize our own flaws and wrongdoings, not dwelling on other's shortcomings, avoid destructive and harmful talk or gossip and excessive criticism based judgmental attitudes. St. Benedict insists rather in the spirit of love and understanding towards those who face difficulties. Stop judging would truly mean avoiding creating a circle of negativity but rather promote charity, compassion, and truth.

Jesus, I trust in you
Fr. Georges sac

Saturday of the 11th week year C. 2 Cor. 12:1-10. Mt. 6:24-34

Saturday of the 11th week year C. 2 Cor. 12:1-10. Mt. 6:24-34

God's love is sufficient

In today's first reading, St. Paul describes the vision he received, followed by a "thorn in the flesh" that God refused to remove because God's power is made perfect in weakness. "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Having God is enough. He cares about us. Jesus asks us in the Gospel, not to worry but he would like us to become aware of God's providential love and care for each of us. Christian's trust in God's providence is not an invitation to irresponsibility but an invitation to live a life of hope, free from worries, fears, and anxieties. Our trust in God does not cancel hardships and problems, but it transforms them. Make the kingdom of God your priority, and you will the peace of heart!
Jesus, I trust in you
Fr. Georges sac

Thursday of the 11th week, Year C. Mt. 6:7-15

Thursday of the 11th week, Year C. Mt. 6:7-15

Speaking to God

Our best way to speak to is through prayer. By teaching us how to pray, Jesus insists that we should not babble like the pagans but pray with sincerity, as God knows our needs before we ask. What matters is not the length of our prayer but the depth of our hearts.

Our prayer should be sincere so that it would lead us to a deeper relationship with God. Prayer is the best way we talk to God to thank him, to praise him and to ask for our needs. Prayer is a process of transformation and change of our hearts. (Anthony de Mello)

Jesus, I trust in you
Fr. Georges sac

Wednesday of the 11th week year C. Matthew 6:1-6, 16-8

Wednesday of the 11th week year C. Matthew 6:1-6, 16-8

Our Motivations matter

External acts of piety are good within our Christian community, but they are better if we do them with sincerity, not to impress others. God sees through our hearts, and he rewards each of us according to our hearts. Vincent Pallotti reminds us that the motive of our actions should always be the glory of God, the salvation of souls, and our own sanctification. Christian life is neither a performance nor an entertainment, but sanctification. Our prayer, our fasting, and our almsgiving should always be for God's glory and our sanctification. 

Fr. Georges sac

Jesus I trust in you!

Tuesday if 11th week in ordinary Time C. Mt. 5: 33-38

Tuesday if 11th week in ordinary Time C. Mt. 5: 33-38

Love your enemy

Christian's love is called to be perfect just because God's nature is love (1 John 4:18). If for the Jewish, the neighbor is the fellow Jew whom they should love (Leviticus 19:18), for Jesus, the love of neighbor should be extended to the neighborhood. That's why we are "the salt of the earth"(Mt 5: 13). True love extends kindness and forgiveness to people who actively oppose and harm us or our family. This is a difficult task that can only be possible through divine grace and prayer. Love and forgiveness bring us closer to our divine nature. The love of the enemy makes us perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect. Mother Theresa believes that, such a love is possible when we begin to see even the unloved as children of God.

Jesus, I trust in you
Fr. Georges sac.

Monday of the 11th week in Ordinary Time, Year C. 1 Kings 21:1-16; Ps. 98; Matthew 5:38-42.

Monday of the 11th week in Ordinary Time, Year C. 1Kings 21:1-16; Ps 98; Matthew 5:38-42.

Love transforms us

Jesus teaches us about turning the other cheek, non-violence, non-retaliation and generosity, even towards those who are evil. St. John Chrysostom understands this as an opportunity to demonstrate love, forgiveness, and a desire for reconciliation.  This does not mean to ignore injustices or the pains caused to us, but to respond with a transformative love. Love and mercy always win. By choosing love, we choose to break the circle of violence and hatred. In the first reading from 1 Kings 21, King Ahab's desire for Naboth's vineyard and the subsequent evil actions of his wife, led to Naboth's death. We are warned against greed as it leads to violence, lies, division and crime. Let’s choose to live in the power of love that transforms us!

Jesus, I trust in you

Fr. Georges sac

Saturday of the 10th week in ordinary Time C. Matthew 5:33-37

Saturday of the 10th week in ordinary Time C. Matthew 5:33-37

Jesus reminds me of the sacrament or the power of our words. Christians are meant to be men and women of integrity. Live aligned with God. Let your "Yes" be "Yes" and your "No" be "No." There should be no dichotomy between what we say and what we do. A life of truth testifies to our faithfulness to God, our Creator. Our words and actions should be the reflection of our Christian values. Let's be true to ourselves and to others.
Jesus, I trust in you
Fr. Georges sac