For us, sinners, he came!
Jesus came indeed to save people who were lost, such as Zachaeus, who was living a life of trickery and corruption. Zachaeus's life was spiritually dead like that of the Christians in Sardes and lukewarm like those of Laodecea. Jesus is calling us all to come down from the sycamore tree and to meet with him, dine with him, and receive a new life. Like Zachaeus, we must let go of our sinful way, though comfortable for the joy of being with Christ. For you too, salvation has entered your house!
Pax et bonum
Fr. Georges sac
Thursday of 32nd week year B. Phil. 7-20; Ps. 145; Luke 17: 20-25
We are all brothers and sisters!
St Paul from his prison plead for the change of the status of Onesimus from his well to do friend Philemon. Because of Christ Jesus, whatever status we occupy, we are all brothers and must treat each other like such. May we welcome the truth of the Gospel inviting us to accept each other as Christ brothers and sisters. When Christ comes back will he still find his image in each of us?
Pax et Bonum
Fr. Georges sac
Wednesday of the 32nd week year B. Titus 3,1-7; Ps 22; Luke 17:11-19.
Gratitude is divine
Ten lepers were healed, but only one came back to thank Jesus. This is sad. This expresses our ingratitude. The one leper returns because he realizes that his healing is from the divine. Let's realize that whatever good happens in our lives is the result of God's love and mercy for us.
A lifestyle of gratitude is a lifestyle of wellness. Our troubles end when gratitude begins to be our attitude.
Pax et Bonum
Fr. Georges sac
Tuesday of the 32nd week in Ordinary Time B. St. Josaphat. Titus 2:8-14; Ps 36; Lk 17:7-10;
Tuesday of the 32nd week in Ordinary Time B. St. Josaphat. Titus 2:8-14; Ps 36; Lk 17:7-10;
Be just, and you will be saved
Being just is being morally right and fair. In that way, St. Paul advised us to live according to the holy doctrine and teachings received and each person according to their age and status. The practicing of righteousness, integrity, and self-control should characterize the life of a Christian every day.
In today's Gospel, Jesus himself invites us to be just by being the servant that we called to be. This means, serving without complaining, or expecting anything in return and always think of serving others as person as our privilege and duty. God created us because other people need our help and service. Be just, and you will be saved. Serve and you will be fulfilled.
Pray for the souls in purgatory!
Fr. Georges sac
Friday of 31st week B. Phil 3:17-4,1; Ps 22; Luke 16:1-8
We are steward.
Jesus teaches us a lesson from a bad example as he admires the dishonest sterward not for his dishonesty but for his cleverness to find solutions to a situation.
The parable first reminds us that we are only stewards and administrators. What we have belong to God. Let avoid any form of selfishness. The parable also encourages us to focus on finding solutions to our problems and never focus on the problems that occur on our way of life. God trusts us and entrusts everything to us so that we should love him and give account of our lives.
Pax Christi!
Fr. Georges Roger Bidzogo sac
Wednesday of the 31st week B. Phil 2:12-18; Ps 26; Luke 14:25-33
Challenge of discipleship.
To follow Jesus is neither an easy choice nor part-time decision, but a costly and life-time commitment. Examining the cost of such commitment is necessary. Being a disciple will involve: making God's number "One" priority in all our relationships. This means we learn to put the will of God above our own heart desires. This is far from a comfortable way of life, but a life where Jesus is not just at the periphery of our lives, but he is our reason for living and our way of life! Such a life makes us indeed the salt of earth in the world in which we live. We are to shine in the world as disciples Christ!
For the repose of eternal rest of our faithful departed, we pray. Amen.
Blessed day in Christ
Fr. Georges sac
Monday of the 31st week B. Phil 2:1-4; Ps 130; Luke 14:12-14
How to give?
True giving is gratuitousness, which is giving without any expectation of receiving anything in return. To achieve this, we need to have special concern for the poor, the lame, the orphans, the widows, and people who can not repay us. Mother Theresa is teaching us to give and give until it hurts, and then we will be repaid at the resurrection of the blessed. Our relationship should not be based on what we will get in return but on what we give to better the lives of others. Paul tells us in today's first reading that, no one should be preoccupied by his own interests but also be preoccupied about others.
May the souls of all the faithful departed through God's mercy, rest in perfect peace!
Fr. Georges sac
November 02, 2024. All souls day. Mt 25:31-46
The resurrection is our hope!
We remind ourselves that life is short and death is certain. Our life expectancy is 80 for the strong Ps 90, 10).
For us Christians, death is not the end but our transformation from perishable to imperishable life. To go to heaven, our lifestyle rooted in the corporal and spiritual works of mercy towards others is an important requirement.
Our daly strugle is not to be better than others but to make the world a better place than we found it. Let's inspire others before we expire. Like St. Theresa of the Child Jesus, let's spend the whole of our life on earth doing good for the resurrection is our hope and hope will not disappoint us (Romans 5:5). The grave is not our final destiny, but heaven.
Lord give eternal rest to the faithful departed. Amen.
Fr. Georges sac
Wednesday of the 30th week B. Eph. 6:1-9; Ps. 144; Luke 13:22-30
Choosing the narrow door.
Our christian life must go beyond the profession of faith. We must do the will of God, which requires discipline of life and detachment. Jesus asks us, therefore, to strive to enter by the narrow door, which is difficult and requires daily efforts. No good thing or success comes on a silver platter. The cross of Christ is always our reminder. Henceforth Paul invites all humanity to live in mutual love, equally and respect. All this requires disciplining our heart desire of domination, arrogance, greed, selfishness, and superiority complex.
Queen of the Holy Rosary, pray for us!
Fr. Georges sac
Tuesday of the 30th week B. Eph 5:21-33; Ps 127; Luke 13:18-21
The influence of the word
Jesus gives us two parables, which represent both our external and interior growth. Like the mustard seed, which is a very small seed, the word God has the power to transform and yield abundant and extraordinary fruits in our visible world. Like the leaven on the yeast, our lives must be receptive to the influence of the power of the word of which transforms us from within. Such an influence results on a mutual relationship of mutual love, peace, selflessness, humility and service within the community. (Cf Eph 5:21-33).
Queen of the Holy Rosary, pray for us!
Fr. Georges sac
Friday of the 29th week B. Eph 4:1-6; Ps23; Luke 12: 54-59.
We are the body of Christ.
Various Biblical passages including Romans 12:5, 1 Corinthians 12:12–27, Ephesians 3:6, 4:15–16, and 5:23 indicate that the Church is the body of Christ. As believers, we are members of the universal body of Christ. Though diverse, we one in Christ, who is the head of the Church.
Let's cultivate unity and humility as signs that we are God's children. Christ prayed that: "they may be one" (John 17:21)
Just like in the physical bidy, each member of the body has a unique role and function, but all members are interdependent and need each other so shall our spiritual body be.
All our spiritual gifts and talents must be used to serve and to build up the church. We are the body of Christ! Let's be attentive to the values of the kingdom.
Queen of the Holy Rosary, pray for us!
Fr. Georges sac
Thursday of 29th week B. Eph3:14-21; Ps 32; Luke 12:49-53
The Fire on Earth
Jesus in today's Gospel says: "I came to cast fire upon the earth; and would that it were already kindled!”
The fire in Biblical context refers to Judgment
(Jeremiah 5:14),
or the transforming work of the Spirit (Acts 2:3; Isaiah 4:4) and also refers to
the love of God.
Jesus may also be referring to the love of God. Jesus wants every person to be inflamed by the fire of his spirit and love. May this fire be lit upon the entire universe.
Queen of the Holy Rosary, pray for us!
Fr. Georges sac
Monday of the 29th week B. Eph 2:1-10; Ps99; Luke 12: 13-21.
Beware of greed.
Greed is the excessive desire for more of something, such as money, power, or social status, food, land, and any material.
Jesus warns us against greed for our greed harms us and others. Our greed is the source of immoral behaviors, opens doors to corruption, exploitation, and abuse of authority and powers, and insatisfaction, which leads one to constantly experience stress, exhaustion, anxiety, depression, and despair. Greed can lead to maladaptive behavior patterns such as gambling, hoarding, trickery, theft, and even murder in order to get whatever is desired. Let us turn to Christ who has saved us from the slavery of sin. Praying for the grace of detachment this week.
Queen of the Holy Rosary, pray for us!
Fr. Georges Roger Bidzogo sac
Saturday of the 28th week year B. Eph 1:15-23; Ps 8; Luke 12:8-12
Sincerity of faith!
St. Paul affirms Christ to be the head of the mystical body of the Church. Believing in him opens our future to treasures and rewards and glories in Christ. One needs to open the heart of their mind in order to always find in Christ the true direction of life.
In today's Gospel, Jesus invites us to live our christian life with onviction. Faith in Christ should be shown in all that we do and say. We must openly affirm our faith in Christ, Jesus.
Queen of the Holy Rosary, pray for us!
October 18, 2024. St. Luke, the evangelist. 2Tim 4:10-17;Luke 10:1-9.
Disciples of our time.
Celebrating the evangist, St Luke is an invitation to become disciples of our time just as Luke, the physician, heard Jesus call to go to the whole world to preach the Good News. After bringing physical and spiritual wholness to many, Luke died happily at the age of 84.
Pray the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his vineyard.
Fr. Georges sac
Thursday of the 28th week B. Eph 1:1-10; Ps 97; Luke 11:47-54. St. Ignatius of Antioch.
Chosen before the foundation of the world.
St. reminds the truth already contained in the Old Testament. God knows us before we were conceived(Jérémiah 1:5) . He already had plans for us; plans to prosper us and not to harm us and plans to give us hope and a future (Jérémiah 29:11). Paul tells us today that "he destined us in love and holiness; he destined us to be his adopted children through Christ. Our finale goal is a total communion with God.
St. Ignatius of Antioch, pray for us!
Fr. Georges Roger Bidzogo sac
Monday of the 28th week, Gal. 4: 22- 5:1; Ps. 112; Luke 11:29-32.
Sons and daughters of the free woman!
St. Paul uses the allegory of the sons of Abraham to explain that Christians are no longer under the power of the law but of the Holy Spirit. The son of the slave woman (Haggar), that Isnaël represents the Jewish people and Law they received at Sinai. The son of the free woman (Sarah) that is Isaac represents Christians. Through baptism, we have been set free from sins.
Christ, the Messiah died for us so that we may live as children of the free woman and not of the slave woman. May the Holy Spirit help to live sin-free.
Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, pray for us!
Fr. Georges sac
Friday of the 27th week, Year B. Gal. 3:6-14; Ps. 110; Luke 11: 15-26. St John XXIII
Freed by Christ !
By faith in Christ Jesus, all people from every nation and race are now heirs of God's promises to Abraham. Our faith in Christ death and resurrection unites us and sets us free from the bondage of the Jewish law and sin, evil, and death. Henceforth, In Galatians 5:1, we read: "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free." Let us stand firm in our faith in Christ. Child of God, do not let yourself be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. Christ has set us free!
St John XXIII, pray for us!
Thursday of the 27th week B. Gal 3:1-5; Luke 11:5-13.
Be persistent in prayer!
Having taught us how to pray yesterday, Jesus in today's Gospel is inviting us to be persistent in prayer. Persistence is a secret of success and victory. Jesus is saying don'tgive up prayer because God will never give up on you because he has a beautiful plan for each of us. Keep praying, keep seeking, and keep knocking because our God is generous. He is the Great Provider. Be persistent in prayer it is the secret for our victory! May the Holy Spirit help us to grow in piety and perseverance! Amen.
Queen of the Holy Rosary, pray for us!
Fr. Georges Roger Bidzogo sac
Tuesday of the 27th week B. Gal. 1:13-24; Ps. 138; Luke 10: 38-42.
Sitting at Christ's feet...
Like Martha, we often get caught up with extrabusiness in our daily lives. God must always be our priority and must always be in our activities. Christ at the center of our life is what Mary chose. That's the good portion for each of us. Saul, once he met with Jesus, the Messiah, like Mary, changed his whole and gave him his full and undivided attention and affection. Just as Mary chose to sit at Christ's feet, listen to his words, so did Paul consecrated his entire life preaching the word of Christ and finally died by the blade to give witness to Christ whom he once persecuted.
Worry not about your past. Enjoy who Christ has made of you now.
Our Lady of the Holy Rosary, pray for us!
Fr. Georges Roger Bidzogo sac