The Eternal Word Reflections

28/01/2024

EVENING AND NIGHT PRAYERS (28 JANUARY 2024).

28/01/2024

29 JANUARY 2024
MONDAY, FOURTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR II
2 Samuel 15:13-14.30;16:5-13
Psalm 3
Mark 5:1-20

PROCLAIM JESUS TO THE WORLD
‘’And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him; and all men marvelled’’ (Gospel).
The Gospel reading tells us about the cure of a demoniac by the Lord Jesus. The demoniac was possessed by legions of demons. He was held captive. He was nuisance not only to himself but also to the community in which he found himself. His cure by Jesus not only set him free but also the community. He gave an appropriate response to the cure in obedience to the command of Jesus that he tells his friends how much God had done for him and had shown him mercy.

The first reading tells us about the rebellion of Absalom against his father David. David eventually overcame the rebellion through the mercy of God. Each of us has a story of how God has saved him from one challenge or the other. Infact, each time we attend Mass and sincerely receive the Eucharist, we are transformed. No wonder we are dismissed by the priest to go and proclaim Jesus to the world.

Come Holy Spirit. Amen.

‘’She listened to us and the Lord opened her heart to accept what Paul was saying’’ (Acts 16:14). Lord, open our hearts to accept Your word. Amen.
MSGR. PAUL BESSONG ENOW.

28/01/2024

ADORATION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT (28 JANUARY 2024).

28/01/2024

MASS OF THE FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B (28 JANUARY 2024).

27/01/2024

EVENING PRAYER AND ROSARY (27 JANUARY 2024).

27/01/2024

28 JANUARY 2024
FOURTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR (B)
Deuteronomy 18:15-20
Psalm 95
1 Corinthians 7:32-35
Mark 1:21-28

BE TRUE TO YOUR PROPHETIC ROLE
‘’The Lord Your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you from your brethren-him you shall heed’’ (1st reading).

The first reading tells us about God raising a prophet like Moses from among His people. The people were bound to listen to the prophet. The responsorial psalm’s response goes thus: ‘’O that today you would listen to his voice! Harden not your hearts.’’ This is a plea to listen to the prophet.

The Gospel reading tells us about the prophetic mission of Jesus. As a faithful Jew, Jesus always took part in the community worship. The unclean spirits recognise Jesus as the Holy One of God. He is the One spoken of by Moses. He taught with authority unlike the rabbis. His teaching was new, calling all to a new way of life. He brought light into the darkness of human life.

At Baptism, we were incorporated into the mystery of Christ. We share in His priestly kingly and prophetic mission. We have to be true to this prophetic mission in a world shrouded with many distortions of the truth. Rather be anxious about things of the world, we ought to have a undivided devotion to what promotes the Kingdom of God on earth.

Lord, help me to be a true evangelizer. Amen.

‘’She listened to us and the Lord opened her heart to accept what Paul was saying’’ (Acts 16:14). Lord, open our hearts to accept Your word. Amen.
MSGR. PAUL BESSONG ENOW.

27/01/2024

MEMORIAL MASS OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY ON SATURDAY (27 JANUARY 2024).

26/01/2024

EVENING PRAYER AND ROSARY (26 JANUARY 2024).

26/01/2024

27 JANUARY 2024
SATURDAY, THIRD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR II
2 Samuel 12:1-7.10-17
Psalm 51
Mark 4:35-41

GOD ALWAYS CALMS THE STROM
‘’Who then is this that even wind and sea obey him?’’ (Gospel).
The Gospel reading tells us about Jesus calming a storm at sea. The disciples marvelled greatly at this act by Our Blessed Lord. He was asleep in the boat when they woke Him up. This showed the fact that Jesus is true God and true Man.

We are in a storm-tossed world, hemmed in, at different sides. We have to turn to Him in humility and call on Him to calm the storm in our lives. We have to be focused on Him at all times. The storms continue in our world because we have shoved God to the corner of our lives. God must always be at the centre of our lives.

The first reading tells us about David acknowledging his double sin of adultery and murder. No human person is free from sin. We have to frequently acknowledge this fact and approach the Confessional. When we admit the fact of our sinfulness, God can always calm the storm in our lives.

Come Holy Spirit. Amen.

‘’She listened to us and the Lord opened her heart to accept what Paul was saying’’ (Acts 16:14). Lord, open our hearts to accept Your word. Amen.
MSGR. PAUL BESSONG ENOW.

26/01/2024

MEMORIAL MASS OF SS. TIMOTHY AND TITUS, BISHOPS (26 JANUARY 2024).

25/01/2024

EVENING PRAYER AND ROSARY (25 JANUARY 2024).

25/01/2024

26 JANUARY 2024
FRIDAY, THIRD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR II
2 Timothy 1:1-8
Psalm 96
Mark 4:26-34

ALWAYS RECALL YOUR FAITH HISTORY
‘’I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying of hands; for God did not give us a spirit of timidity but a spirit of power and love and self-control.’’ (1st reading).

Yesterday, we celebrated the conversion of St Paul. Today, we celebrate Saints Timothy and Titus, disciples of Paul. In the first reading, Paul recalls the faith history of Timothy. He recalled the faith of Timothy’s grandmother Lois and his mother, Eunice. He believed Timothy had the faith of his mothers. He should not go back on his faith. Rather he should deepen his faith and be example for others. He was also to look at the example of Paul.

The Gospel reading talks of bearing fruit and being a shelter for others in the faith. We have to become shrubs where others can find refuge. This can come about when we constantly recall our faith history. A daily examination of conscience is important. A responsibility is placed on us to tell others of the wonders of the Lord. This is what Timothy and Titus did. Let us imitate them.

Ss TIMOTHY AND TITUS, PRAY FOR US. AMEN.

‘’She listened to us and the Lord opened her heart to accept what Paul was saying’’ (Acts 16:14). Lord, open our hearts to accept Your word. Amen.
MSGR. PAUL BESSONG ENOW.

25/01/2024

MASS OF THE FEAST OF THE CONVERSION OF ST. PAUL, APOSTLE (25 JANUARY 2024).

24/01/2024

EVENING PRAYER AND ROSARY (24 JANUARY 2024).

24/01/2024

25 JANUARY 2024
THE CONVERSION OF ST. PAUL
Acts 22: 3-16
Psalm 117
Mark 16: 15-18
BE INVOLVED IN EVANGELIZATION
“Go into the world and preach the Gospel to all creation” (Gospel).
This was the last command Our Blessed Lord gave to disciples of every age before ascending into heaven. Last commands are always to be obeyed, especially those coming from God Himself.
Today, we celebrate the Conversion of St. Paul, the Apostle to the Gentiles. His conversion story is told thrice in the Acts of the Apostles. Today’s account is given by the Apostle himself. No one tells the story of his life better than the person himself. So we can be sure of the story given by Paul.
Paul lost no time in starting to proclaim Jesus to the world. He started the proclamation immediately. He made three extensive missionary journeys throughout the then known world. He left us a legacy of thirteen letters in the New Testament. What a response, he gave to the Word of God! It is much beyond compare, such that a year was declared for him by Pope Benedict XVI.
The example of St. Paul is worthy to be followed. In our own little way, let us be involved in the work of evangelization. Wherever we find ourselves, we can and we should tell people about Jesus and the Good News of salvation. The Church exists to evangelize says St. Paul VI. Let us be so involved.
ST. PAUL, PRAY FOR US. AMEN
‘’She listened to us and the Lord opened her heart to accept what Paul was saying’’ (Acts 16:14). Lord, open our hearts to accept Your word. Amen.
MSGR. PAUL BESSONG ENOW.

24/01/2024

MEMORIAL MASS OF ST. FRANCIS DE SALES, BISHOP AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH (24 JANUARY 2024).

23/01/2024

23/01/2024

EVENING AND NIGHT PRAYERS (23 JANUARY 2024).

23/01/2024

24 JANUARY 2024
WEDNESDAY, THIRD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR II
2 Samuel 7:4-17
Psalm 89
Mark 4:1-20

WHAT RESPONSE DO YOU GIVE TO GOD’S WORD
‘’The seed is the word of God and the sower is Christ, all who find him will abide for ever’’ (Gospel acclamation).

The Gospel reading tells us about four types of responses given to the word of God: those who never welcome the word and hence no growth; those who receive the message with much joy but who fall away at times of persecution; those who receive the word but are very concerned with things of the world; those who hear the word and produce much fruit. To which group can we comfortably place ourselves individually?

The first reading tells us about David wanting to build a physical house for God. God responds saying that He will make of the house of David, an everlasting dynasty. God cannot be outdone in generosity. If we give a generous response to God’s Word, we can be sure of unlimited blessings.

Today, we celebrate St. Francis de Sales. He was a Bishop and Doctor of the Church. Definitely, he gave a generous response to God’s word. Let us imitate him.

ST FRANCIS DE SALES, PRAY FOR US.

‘’She listened to us and the Lord opened her heart to accept what Paul was saying’’ (Acts 16:14). Lord, open our hearts to accept Your word. Amen.
MSGR. PAUL BESSONG ENOW.

23/01/2024

MASS OF TUESDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR II (23 JANUARY 2024).

22/01/2024

EVENING PRAYER AND ROSARY (22 JANUARY 2024).

22/01/2024

23 JANUARY 2024
TUESDAY, THIRD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR II
2 Samuel 6:12b-15.17-19
Psalm 24
Mark 3:31-35

A NEW RELATIONSHIP
‘’Whoever does the will of God is my brother, and sister and mother’’ (Gospel).
In the Gospel reading, the Lord Jesus tells us that we enter into a new relationship with Him when we do the will of God. Doing the will of God was uppermost in the life of Jesus. This was heightened at the Garden of Gethsemane when Jesus was faced with the prospect of the Cross. He prayed that will of God be done in His life. It was the will of God that Jesus should die on the Cross so that we could be saved from our sins and be reconciled with God.

In some quarters, it said that Jesus spurned Mary and his brethren when He gave the response that those around Him were His brother, and sister and mother. This is very far from the truth! If there is anybody who did the will of God perfectly, it was the Blessed Virgin Mary. At the Annunciation, she gave the response: ‘’I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me according to thy word.’’

The first reading tells us how David brought up the Ark of God from the house of Obededom to the city of David. He did this with great rejoicing. We should find great joy in being in the presence of God. Like, the psalmist we can and should pray: ‘’I rejoiced when they said to me ‘’Let us go to the house of the Lord.’’

‘’Who is the king of glory? It is the Lord.’’

‘’She listened to us and the Lord opened her heart to accept what Paul was saying’’ (Acts 16:14). Lord, open our hearts to accept Your word. Amen.
MSGR. PAUL BESSONG ENOW.

22/01/2024

MASS OF MONDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR II (22 JANUARY 2024).

21/01/2024

EVENING AND NIGHT PRAYERS (21 JANUARY 2024).

21/01/2024

22 JANUARY 2024
MONDAY, THIRD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR II
2 Samuel 5:1-7.16
Psalm 89
Mark 3:22-30

LET GOD BE YOUR STRONGHOLD
‘’And David became greater and greater for the Lord, the God of hosts, was with him’’ (1st reading).
The first reading tells us how all the tribes of Israel came to David at Hebron and anointed him King. We are told that David grew greater because God was with him. He had made God his stronghold. The psalm says this of David: ‘’I have found my servant David and with my holy oil anointed him and my arm shall make him strong.’’

Like David, we are servants of God, called and anointed by him at our baptism. We have to make a deliberate effort to make God our stronghold. Our present world is full of choices for us to make. God should be our focus at all times.

In the Gospel reading, we find the scribes in confrontation with Jesus, the Servant of God. They doubted and even treated the miracles of Jesus as being from the evil one. What a contradiction!

People supposedly believers in God thinking and acting in such a manner. As Christians, we should not allow ourselves to degenerate to such a level. Daily, we should strive to grow in intimacy with God, through His Word and Sacraments. We can always overcome with God on our side.

ST VINCENT, PRAY FOR US. AMEN.

‘’She listened to us and the Lord opened her heart to accept what Paul was saying’’ (Acts 16:14). Lord, open our hearts to accept Your word. Amen.
MSGR. PAUL BESSONG ENOW.

21/01/2024

ADORATION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT (21 JANUARY 2024).

21/01/2024

MASS OF THE THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B (21 JANUARY 2024).

20/01/2024

EVENING PRAYER AND ROSARY (20 JANUARY 2024).

20/01/2024

21 JANUARY 2024
THIRD SUNDAY OF THE YEAR (B)
Jonah 3:1-5.10
Psalm 25
1 Corinthians 7:29-31
Mark 1:14-20

ANSWER GOD’S CALL GENEROUSLY
‘’Follow me and I will make you become fishers of men’’ (Gospel).
In the readings of today, we are given a guide on how to answer God’s call. The first reading tells us of the promptness with which the people of Nineveh responded to God’s call to repentance. They quickly changed their evil ways.

The Gospel reading tells us about the call of four disciples of Jesus. They were fishermen. They were at their duty posts when Jesus called them. They wasted no time in answering the call. They left everything and followed Jesus.

The second reading tells us that ‘’the form of this world is passing away.’’ We do not have much time at our disposal. Our use of time must be purposeful. We ought to have a sense of mission. The response to the psalm says: ‘’O Lord, make me know your ways.’’ We must spend our time seeking to know the ways of God. Our destination is Heaven where we will spend eternity with God. We will be wise in seeking the things of God and not on things that will not profit us

‘’Repent and believe the Gospel’’

MSGR. PAUL BESSONG ENOW.