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Called to Bear Fruit for God

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  Called to Bear Fruit for God Readings First Reading - Isaiah 5:1-7 Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 80:11-15,17-19 Second Reading - Philippians 4:6-9 Alleluia - John 15:16 Gospel Reading - Matthew 21:33-43 Today's readings present a powerful image of a vineyard . God is the owner, we are His beloved vineyard, and our lives are meant to produce fruits of faith, love, justice, and holiness. The question before us is not simply whether God has blessed us, but what are we doing with the blessings He has entrusted to us? God Has Planted Us With Love In the first reading, the prophet Isaiah presents the beautiful image of God carefully planting and tending His vineyard. He prepares the soil, plants the finest vines, protects them, and expects a good harvest. Instead, the vineyard produces wild grapes. The vineyard represents God's people. God has given them everything necessary to flourish, yet they have failed to produce the fruits He desires. This can also describe our own lives. God h...

Saint Francis of Assisi:Lord, Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace

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    Saint Francis of Assisi : Lord, Make Me an Instrument of Your Peace Saint Francis of Assisi was a man whose life was transformed when he encountered the love of Christ. Born in Assisi, Italy, around 1181 or 1182, Francis grew up with dreams of wealth, adventure, and worldly success. He came from a prosperous family and initially desired a life of honour and recognition. But God gradually led him in another direction. Through prayer, suffering, encounters with the poor, and a growing desire to follow Christ, Francis began to understand that true greatness was not found in wealth or status. It was found in loving God and serving others . ❤️ From Wealth to Simplicity One of the most remarkable aspects of Francis' life was his decision to embrace a life of poverty and simplicity. He recognized that possessions could easily become obstacles between the human heart and God. Rather than allowing wealth to define him, Francis chose to depend more completely on God's providence. Hi...

The Little Way: Doing Small Things with Great Love

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  The Little Way: Doing Small Things with Great Love Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, lovingly known as the Little Flower , teaches us one of the simplest yet deepest paths to holiness: we do not have to do extraordinary things to become saints; we are called to do ordinary things with extraordinary love. Thérèse was born in France in 1873 and entered the Carmelite monastery at a young age. Her life was hidden and simple. She did not travel the world preaching, lead armies, or perform great public works. Yet through her humble life of prayer, sacrifice, obedience, and love, she discovered a profound path to God. She called this path her “Little Way.”  The Little Way of Trust At the heart of Thérèse's spirituality was a childlike trust in God's love. She understood that we are not saved because we are powerful or perfect, but because God is merciful and loving. Like a little child who confidently places everything in the hands of a loving paren...

When We Truly Know God: From Suffering to Deeper Faith

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  When We Truly Know God: From Suffering to Deeper Faith “Now I know you, not only by hearsay.” Readings: First Reading - Job 42:1-3, 5-6, 12-17 Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 119:66, 71, 75, 91, 125, 130 Alleluia - Matthew 11:25 Gospel Reading - Luke 10:17-24 Reflection The readings today invite us to discover a deeper kind of faith—one that does not depend on having all the answers, but on learning to trust God even when we do not understand His ways . Job has experienced tremendous suffering. He has questioned, searched, and struggled to understand why such painful things happened to him. But after encountering God, Job reaches a profound realization: “I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you.” Job's suffering did not give him every answer to life's questions. Instead, it brought him into a deeper relationship with God . There is a difference between knowing about God and truly knowing God. We can hear about God's goodness from others. We can re...

Heavenly Messengers Leading Us Closer to God

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  The Holy Guidance Angels Heavenly Messengers Leading Us Closer to God The presence of angels in our faith reminds us that we are never alone in our journey toward God. Throughout Scripture, angels appear as God's messengers, servants, protectors, and instruments of His divine care. They remind us that the spiritual world is real and that God's loving providence extends beyond what our eyes can see. The Holy Guidance Angels point us toward the beautiful truth that God desires to guide and protect His children. Psalm 91:11 tells us: “For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways.” This is a comforting reminder that God's care accompanies us through the difficulties and uncertainties of life. Our guardian angels do not take the place of God, nor should we seek to worship them. Instead, they serve God and help lead us toward Him. Their mission points us to Jesus Christ, who is the source of our salvation and the true guide of our lives. Sometim...

A Mother Who Leads Her Children to Christ

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  Our Lady, Queen of Nigeria A Mother Who Leads Her Children to Christ Our Lady, Queen of Nigeria, is a beautiful reminder that the Blessed Virgin Mary is not only the Mother of individual Christians but also a mother who intercedes for the people and families of Nigeria. Under this title, we entrust our nation to her maternal care and ask her to lead Nigeria closer to her Son, Jesus Christ. Mary's queenship is not a reign of power or domination. It is the humble queenship of a mother who serves, loves, protects, and points her children toward God. At Cana, Mary noticed the needs of others and brought them to Jesus: “Do whatever he tells you.” (John 2:5) This remains one of her greatest lessons for Nigeria. Our nation has many gifts: talented young people, rich cultures, strong families, natural resources, hardworking communities, and a deep love for God. Yet Nigeria also faces challenges—division, insecurity, poverty, corruption, injustice, unemployment, and many forms of sufferi...

Nothing Is Greater Than Christ: The Cost of Following Jesus

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  Nothing Is Greater Than Christ: The Cost of Following Jesus When We Truly Know Christ, We Learn to Trust Him, Let Go, and Follow Without Looking Back Readings: First Reading - Job 9:1–12, 14–16 Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 88:10–15 Alleluia - Philippians 3:8–9 Gospel Reading - Luke 9:57–62 God Is Greater Than Our Understanding Job is going through tremendous suffering, and he struggles to understand God's ways. He recognizes the greatness and wisdom of God and realizes that human beings cannot fully comprehend everything God does. This is an important lesson for our own lives. There are times when we ask: “Why is this happening?” “Why has God allowed this?” “When will things change?” Sometimes we may not receive an immediate answer. Faith does not mean that we understand everything God is doing. Faith means that even when we cannot understand God's plan, we continue to trust God Himself. God sees what we cannot see. A Prayer from the Darkness Psalm 88 is one of the Bible's ...