Reflection of July 15th. St Bonaventure. Is.1: 10-17; Mt 10:34-11,1.

God at the center of our lives!

The Lord invites us at the beginning of this week to purify and change our hearts and avoid vices, sins and other forms of evil. True sacrifice and true worship consist in avoiding doing what is evil but doing what is good, right and just, loving kindness and walking humbly with God (Micah 6:8). The Gospel invites us to keep our true relationships with God, with our family and with the rest of the world with the heart and mind of Christ Jesus; that is authentic love, which is always seeking God’s will. This demands of us ,daily sacrifices, detachments out of love and charity. Let’s go out and announce the Gospel, which is essentially, charity, justice and peace! Change your heart!

Most precious blood of Jesus Christ, save us and the whole world!

Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO SAC

Friday, July 12th, 2024. Hoséa 14:2-10; Mt 10: 16-23.

Hosea, at the end of his book, insists on the faithful love of God. This is an invitation to conversion and putting our full trust in God. He is the one who sends like sheep among wolves. We must be, therefore, wise as serpents and harmless as doves. Serpents in the time of Jesus were known as wise and shrewd animals. So shall we be. Yet doves are known to be harmless. Christians must be Christ-like, innocent, pure, and self-sacrificing. Yes, the world is cruel and hostile. We must be wise, prudent, and remain focused on God, who is always faithful (Ps. 114).

Lord, give me your wisdom!

Fr. Georges Roger Bidzogo sac

Monday of the 14th week, Year B. Hosea 2:16-22; Mt9:18-26

God of life!

Jesus is truly the Messiah of God who comes to give life to people believe in Him. He heals the woman suffering from hemorrhages to reassure us of the power that God has over all forms of illness and goes so far as to bring the young girl back to life to signify that even death has no power before him. God truly loves us to the point that he never abandons us despite our unfaithfulness. He renews his love and faithfulness for us every day. It is, therefore, enough for us to have faith in Jesus Christ to see healing and all the power of the gospel of Christ manifested in our daily lives!

Precious blood of Jesus Christ, save us and the whole world!

Pax Christi!

Wednesday, July 03, 2024. St Thomas the Apostles. Eph. 2: 19-22; John 20:24-29.

Put your finger here and see my hands.


These words of Jesus express God's mercy towards sinners and his willingness to heal us. Such a compassion for the doubting Thomas reminds us that the Lord does not expect us to be “perfect Christians” but faithful.

Jesus wants us “to seek him, to call on him, or even, like Thomas, to protest, bringing him our needs and our unbelief, our personal or family wounds.
Our challenge is to recognize the presence of risen Christ in our midst in spite of our doubts and hesitations.
In those moments of difficulties and darkness, Jesus comes back with love and knocks at the door of our hearts. Jesus does not give up on us when we find ourselves in moments of crisis and doubts. He takes us through his light of faith.

"My Savior and my Lord!"

Pax Christi

Fr. Georges Roger Bidzogo sac

Monday of 13th week, Year B. Amos 2: 6-10. 13-16; Ps 49; Mt8:18-22

The cost of discipleship

In the beginning of his ministry, Jesus gave the basic conditions for anyone who wants to be his disciple. He should deny himself, take up his cross, and follow in his footsteps.

Following Christ implies accepting the cost to pay for it. It is a cost with no guarantees in this world except Jesus himself. One must be aware that they accept to lose everything in making such a decision. All we need is to have enough trust in Jesus as the one knows the way, who is the truth, and the life.

This may include giving up the comforts of this world and being prepared to do things that are difficult or even go against things that seem naturally obvious for our life in society.

Jesus makes it clear to us that following him is the greatest value that nothing else should obstract. Mere families' obligations should not be an excuse that stands against our project of following Christ. For this reason

"It's better to leave the dead to bury their own dead."

Happy New Month of July!

Precious of Jesus Christ, save us and the whole world!

Fr. Georges sac

Solemnity of St. Peter and Paul. Ac 3:1-10; Ps 18; Gal 1: 11-20.

Unity and universality!

I'm grateful that I was ordained on the solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul as they always remind me that God did not choose me because I'm perfect. Peter was impulsive in his reactions, and he denied Christ and Paul persecuted Christ and his Church. What made them pillars of the Church were not their human qualifications but faith in God, in spite of their human weaknesses. God works miracles and builds up his church through us. We are not qualified, but He qualifies us. He is the one who stands by us and gives us strength. "Come and I will make of you fishers of men." Peter is called by Christ to unite the whole Church, and Paul is called to help spread Christ's message to the universal Church. These are the two dimensions of the mission of the Church: Unity and Universality. Peter and Paul are certainly celebrated together by the Church in order to express these two directions of our missions.
We pray for our Pope so that he will always be the supreme bridge builder (Ad pontifex maximus) in the universal Church; that Bishop may fulfil the same mission in the diocesan level and Pastors in the Parish level. Lord, help our Church to remain faithful to her mission of "Binding and loosing"
Please make a special prayer for me and Fr. Hervé Pascal, today!

O Mary, conceived without sin. Pray for us who recourse to thee!

Pax Christi!

Fr. Georges sac

Friday of the 12th week, year B. 2Kings 25: 1-12; Ps 136; Mt 8:1-4

Purify me, Lord

“If you wish, you can make me clean.” The leper aware of the disastrous situation of leprosy opens his heart to Jesus. The leper teaches us that no matter how great our need is, we should always approach God with humility, not with pride. We should make a request and never a demand; for the prerogative lays entirely with Jesus.

Indeed, Jesus came to purify humanity from sins and death of which leprosy symbolizes. We can be purified through the cleansing and washing of the blood of Christ.(Ps. 139:23-24).

By asking to be purified by Jesus, the leper is asking for salvation, healing, and purity of heart.

Lord, if you wish, you may purify me.

Fr. Georges sac

Thursday of the 12th week, year B. 2Kings 24:8-17; Ps 72; Mt 7:21-2

Building on the Rock!

The Rock is Christ.

Any wise person should build his life upon Jesus just as any good man would build his house on the rock. Building one's house on the sand is indeed foolishness(Matthew 7:24-27). 

We are to build our lives on Jesus Christ. He is our firm foundation. This implies, hearing God's word and obey it. It demands living according to Christ standards and teachings! We need the Holy Spirit. 

Mary, Mother of the Word incarnate, help me. I want to build my life on Jesus, my Rock!

Pax Christi!

Fr. Georges sac

Reflection on Wednesday of the 12th week, year B. 2Kings 22:8-13; 23, 1-3; Ps 118; Mt 7:15-20.

Warning!

Jesus is warning us against false prophets who preach easy and cheap solutions to life and to the heavenly kingdom. The true way to heaven is through Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the Life.  Such a way of life would imply observing the commandments as Josias and bearing the fruits of the Holy Spirit in one's personal life. These include love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, modesty, and chastity. (Galatians 5:22-23). Anyone bearing such fruits  is known as Christ's true disciple or prophets or Apostle, etc...

By their fruits, you will know them, says Jesus!

Lord teach me your paths!

Fr. Georges sac

Pax Christi!

Tuesday of the 12th week, B. 2 Kings 19: 11.14-36; Ps47; Mt 7:6.12-14.

Trusting in God's salvation. 

Ezekiah, in the first reading, teaches us that true wisdom is to rely on God's even in the most dreadful moments of our lives. The Lord is our rescuer! Handing things unto Him is the best solutions of all.

In the Gospel passage, Jesus invites us to "strive to enter through the narrow door." Jesus is the narrow door because he the Way, the Truth and the Life. While this way is narrow as we know the difficulties to welcome and follow Jesus and his message in our world today, the narrow door is open to everyone. Anyone who lives a life that accepts the cross, a life of prayer, faithfulness, love, forgiveness, service, and self-sacrifice as opposed to a life of pride and arrogance, laziness and greed, is taking the narrow road that lead to the fulness of life. 

Holy Mary, Mother of Christ, help us to trust in God as you did, especially in helpless times.

Pax Christi!

Fr. Georges Roger Bidzogo sac

Reflection on the solemnity of the birthday of John de Baptist. Jer. 1:4-10; Ps 70; Luke 1: 5-17

Witnessing to the Light

The Church only celebrates the date of birth of Jesus Our Savior, the Blessed Virgin Mary, our mother and John the Baptist, the forerunner because of their exceptional missions. Every June 24, we celebrate the solemnity of the nativity of St John the Baptist six months before the death of Jesus.

Nothing is impossible to God. If Elizabeth could conceive in her condition, this means that God can do all things with and for you. God is gracious, which means John's name. From disgrace he can bring grace. Let us thank God for his many blessings. (Luke 1:25).
One of the greatest lessons of John the Baptist is humility, selflessness, and courage. He never spoke for himself. He never stood for who he was not. He was just a voice, a witness to the Light.

May we decrease each day in our pride and self-centeredness so that Christ may increase in us.

Happy birthday to St John the Baptist!

Fr. Georges Roger Bidzogo sac

Saturday, 11th week in Year B. 2 Chronicles 24, 17-25; Ps 88; Mt 6: 24-34

Jesus continues to teach on Christian's priorities and fidelity. Henceforth, he says, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other”.

Jesus wants our loyalty to God to be undivided. It is impossible to place ultimate priority on two things at the same time. One must be more important and at the service of the other.

Jesus is not diabolizing money, but that he re-centers the place and role of everything in life. God is Creator and our ultimate goal. We must always be loyal and faithful to God. Money is only a means and shall never be an end. It should always be sought or used in fidelity to God's guidance.

Usually slaves depend on their masters to provide everything. Being devoted to money cannot provide you everything. Yet being devoted to God gives you All.

Finally, the demands of having two masters will always compete until you give the ultimate priority to one. So, Jesus concludes that a person can not serve both God and money.

Teach me, O Holy Mary to be faithful to God.

Pax Christi

Fr. Georges sac

Friday 11th week. Aloyzius Gonzaga.

Crave for heavenly things!

We still in the Sermon on the Mount and Jesus today is teaching His listeners the difference between earthly treasure and heavenly treasure. He makes it clear that the heavenly treasures are more important: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:19–21). Whatever we focus on dictates our actions. When we focus on earthly success and wealth, we will expend our energies on earthly matters. However, when we focus on God’s priorities, our actions will reflect different priorities—and our reward in heaven will last forever. Let God be the treasure of our heart!

St. Aloyzius Gonzaga, pray for us!

Fr. Georges R. BIDZOGO SAC

Thursday of the 11th week of Ordinary Time, B. Sirach 48:1-14; Ps 97; Matt 6:7-15.

This morning, Christ teaches his disciples how to pray and he gives them the "Our Father" - We are called to pray to God, our Father and to serve him like Elijah and Elisha whose power and the book of Sirach praises in chapter 48.

We pray this Lord's Prayer at least once a day and it is beautiful and powerful. However, let us take time to meditate on each of the words of the Our Father and try to live it every day. The “OUR FATHER” prayer is a simple but effective prayer that allows us to recognize God as our Father by asking him for daily bread, forgiveness, guidance and protection.

Give us Lord our daily bread

Fr. Georges Roger Bidzogo sac

Wednesday of 11th Week , Year B. 2 Kings 2:1, 6-14; Psalm 30(31):20, 21, 24; Matt 6:1-6, 16-18.

Sacramentals are important!

Elijah finished his work and was taken up into the heavens, resulting in the tradition of Elijah’s return before the Day of the Lord’s coming. Elisha inherited his prophetic ministry and power. The cloak that separated the Jordan, just like Moses’ staff, reminds me of blessed Sacramentals. God through the Church, blesses instruments or persons to aid us on our earthly and spiritual journeys. such sacred objects have spiritual effects. Let us remember that Jesus is asking us not to focus only on external practices of our faith but on a heart to heart with Him.

Fr. Georges R. BIDZOGO SAC

Tuesday, 11th week year B. 1Kigs 21:17-29; Mt 5: 43-48.

Be perfect as your heavenly Father

In Mark 10:18. Jesus says, "Why do you call me good? There is none good but one, that is, God. "Jesus shows clearly in this passage that only God is perfect. Yet he still invites us to be perfect as our heavenly Father.
With this invitation, the sermon on the mount reaches its hardest part, but its most beautiful demand. Being perfect as the heavenly Father means learning each day to be like Jesus, the Son of the Father and to correspond to God's plan for humanity.
In the New Testament, the Greek word 'perfect' means complete, whole, or fully developed, having reached an end-goal. Jesus Christ invites us to strive for that kind of perfection, which demands daily repentance, prayer, and love for our enemies. We are truly Christians if we love as God loves, without discrimination. Only God himself can help us reach such dimension of love.
Holy Spirit come to my help. May I find mercy on your sight just as Ahab did. Lord, have mercy!

Fr. Georges R. Bidzogo sac

Monday, 11th week, B. 1Kgs 21:1-16. Mt 5:38-42.

Turning the other cheek.

Jesus, as the New Moses teaches about turning the other cheek. 

As Christians, our way of life should surpass the law of talion, which often, is disproportionate. Christian life is integrity, justice, and fidelity to the supreme sacrifice of Christ. He taught us to respond to insults without retaliation by always seeking the best solutions for peace and never to solution to worsen conflictual situations. Our actual society is ever in need non-violent reactions and solutions...

Like Naboth, our integrity and faithfulness to God is always required. Just as Naboth refused to sell his ancestors inheritance, so shall we stand firm to preserve our loyalty and love for our Catholic faith and doctrines.

Lord, we need your Holy Spirit!

Fr. Georges R Bidzogo sac

Saturday, 10th week, year B. 1R19, 19-21; Mt 5:20-26

In today's Gospel, Christ tells us that if we live a truly Christian life, it will not be necessary to take an oath for others to believe us. If we are Christians, we will always live by faith and truth, and others will recognize the truth in us. We are called to become servants of God just as Elisha became one, and we should always live in honesty and righteousness.

The true oath to make each day is to live an authentically Christian life. This is what makes us like Jesus and brings us closer to heaven.

Fr. Georges R. Bidzogo sac

Friday of the 10th week. 1 Kgs. 19:9a, 11-16.

God's works in Ordinary ways!

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, in today's first reading, we see Elijah at Horeb, where Moses received the Law of God. (Ex. 19–24; Deut. 4:1–14). He had just performed many miracles under God's power in order to convince the house of Ahab that Baal was to be rejected. Yahweh, the God of Israel, was The only one to be worshiped. Yet, they did not changed their ways, and Jezebel seeks rather the life of Elijah (19:1–2). Elijah is now seeking refuge, protection and God's vindication.

Indeed, God responded that He would destroy Ahab’s house for its idolatrous ways, but it would not happen through dramatic acts of wind, fire, or earthquake. Instead, God revealed through the gentleness and quietness of His word. In the course of time, Ahab’s dynasty would fall through the ordinary means. God does not always work in a miraculous fashion. He works more through the ordinary means and the decisions of human agents.

Help us, Lord, see your hand at work in our ordinary daily lives!

Pax Christi

Fr. Georges Roger Bidzogo sac

Wednesday of the 10th week, year B. Mt 5:17-19; Ps 15; 1 Kings 18:10-39.

There is no other God.

Elijah's confrontation with the baal is the affirmation of monotheism against the foreign gods introduced the land. There only One God, who is Almighty. 

In the Bible in general, the Baal represent the false gods or idols. The Baal could specifically describe the Canaanite-Phoenician god of fertility and rain. When associated with Jezebel, the Baal symbolize Beezlebub, demons, and the devil. This means manipulation of any power of darkness that opposes God and our salvation.

We rise against any Jezebel's spirit in your life in the name of Jesus Christ!

Pax Christi 

Fr. Georges Roger Bidzogo sac