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Everything Catholic. Everything Marian.

24/03/2024

It's . The begins. Let's journey together with Christ.

23/03/2024

*DEI VERBUM GOSPEL DEVOTIONAL (DVGD)*

*SUNDAY, 24TH MARCH, 2024*

*THE PASSION/PALM SUNDAY*

*‘THE KING GOES TO THE CROSS’*

*ISAIAH 50:4-7*
*PHILIPPIANS 2:6-11*
*MK. 14:1-15:47*
*~REV. FR. AMBROSE OFODILE*

Around the spring of AD 33, Jesus spent his last Sabbath in Bethany with Lazarus and his sisters. News circulated that our Lord was coming into Jerusalem for Passover feast which fell on 14th Nisan (14TH April).

Passover was one of the three major feasts of the Jews; others being: the feast of Pentecost and Feast of Tabernacles.

Passover commemorates the deliverance of the Israelites from the bo***ge of the Egyptians and also the gathering of the barley harvest.

Jesus sent two of his disciples into the village where they were told they would find a c**t tethered on which no one had hidden. They were to untie it and bring it to him.
Jesus made a historic entrance from Galilee to Jerusalem for the last time seated on a borrowed c**t.

Arch-bishop Fulton.J Sheen would say, "he preached from a borrowed boat, he fed the five thousand with borrowed fish and bread from a boy; he was even buried in a borrowed tomb".
A reminder that everything we have is a gift from him. It is only with the eyes of faith that we can understand this paradox, a rare combination of Divinity and dependence, of possession and poverty, which became the consequence of the word becoming flesh (Incarnation).
He who was rich became poor for our sake, that we might be rich.

This finds correlation in the triumphant hymn of the second reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Philippians, where Jesus divested himself of his divinity, enrobing himself with humanity to save humanity. This is rightly called *Sacrosancta commercia-Holy exchange*.

Through his incarnation divinity was humanized and humanity divinized.
As Jesus approached Jerusalem, a great multitude high with expectations came to meet him. Among those who came to meet with Jesus were not only citizens but also those who came for the feast and, of course, the Pharisees.

On previous occasions, Jesus shunned the spotlight of publicity and avoided anything that could bring him to the fore. Instances abound where he rejected the publicity of his miracles e.g Matthew 16:20 (He gave orders not to let them know that he was the Messiah)

But the entrance into Jerusalem was so public that the Pharisees feared that the whole world had gone after him; this was so because his hour had come.

We must ascertain how Jesus understood his impending death. His attitude to his death is significant for the Christian faith as it ought to dispose the followers of Christ on how they should view their persecution and possible death.

Given the various oppositions mounted against Jesus during his ministry. With the antagonism with which the Jewish authorities resisted or tried to stop his ministry, Jesus must have foreseen the possibility of a violent death when visiting the capital of Passover.
Despite his many miracles and teachings, many people rejected him.

In many instances of his preaching, Jesus made use of images that cohered with his self-understanding as the suffering messiah to teach his disciples about his impending death.

In the first reading, the second Isaiah describes the nature of the suffering Messiah, the suffering servant of God.

He knew that through His suffering the world would be saved.
On one occasion, Jesus cried over Jerusalem (Mtt. 23:37-39); he rebuked the city for having a history of killing prophets. He rejected the fact that a prophet should die outside Jerusalem.

Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem amidst shouts of joy was to make his last public affirmation of his kingship claims. He knew the consequences of entering Jerusalem, he knew what awaited him. He knew it would lead to Calvary.

The entry into Jerusalem was a fulfilment of the prophecy of Zachariah
“Tell the daughter of Zion, here is your king, who comes to you in gentleness riding on an ass”
When we consider the majesty, pomp and pageantry of kings riding in triumph; on horses or in chariots, and sometimes over the prostrate bodies of their foes, in contrast to the gentility and humility of the Savior who sat on an ass, we cannot but be amazed at the humility and self-immolation of Jesus Christ.

Pilate must have been amused by the ridiculous spectacle of a self-proclaimed king riding on the back of a beast symbolizing an outcast.

It was for him a fitting vehicle for one riding into the jaws of death.

If Jesus had entered Jerusalem with a horse attended by pomp and pageantry as obtainable among Governors, it would have amounted to or would have given rise to an unrest which the authorities dreaded.

However, riding on an ordinary c**t held no fear for Caesar the king and further validates Jesus’ claim that his kingship is not of this world.

The people were moved by this atmosphere, they took off their garments, cut down olive trees and palm branches and spread them on his way shouting:
Overcome with joy and remembering the joys of the shepherds at the birth of Jesus, they chanted;
"Hosanna to the Son of David! Hosanna in the heavens"
Hosanna in Hebrew “Yoshi’a nna,” means, “Save!” "Please Lord, save us!" (Psalm 118:25).

Hosanna which was originally a prayer was now a triumphant welcome to a saviour king, a divine saviour
“Blessings on him who comes as King in the name of the Lord”.

On the other hand, the Pharisees were aghast at Jesus for allowing such salutation and encomiums and so they asked Jesus to tell them to stop. They were disgusted with him for allowing such a Messianic homage from the crowd.

In response, Jesus reminded them that even stones would shout should human beings refuse to acclaim him.
Amidst the shouts of “Hosanna to the Son of David” and the spreading of garments and palm branches, there were in the crowd angry Judas poised to exchange Jesus for a few coins, the angry voices accusing Jesus of blasphemy.

The same people who now sang 'Hosanna' would be the same people who would later demand his crucifixion. The same people who hailed him as King would provide the cross for his throne and his coronation shall become his crucifixion.

Today, many garments and palm branches adorn his paths but on Good Friday, he shall be denied even his clothes.

The triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem is also his entry into our hearts.
At his arrival, we must be disposed to make him welcome spreading our clothes and palm branches. We must divest ourselves of earthly and vain things to be more united to him.
As we enter into the holy week with the passion/palm Sunday, we are encouraged to seek the face of Jesus. We must accompany him in his passion so that we may rise with him on Easter Sunday.

PRAYER🙏🏿: As we acclaim Jesus as our king may his reign be permanent in our lives. May he remove all the obstacles and sins that prevent us from getting closer to him. May his passion bring us healing and deliverance. Amen
*MAY THE ALMIGHTY GOD BLESS AND KEEP YOU;*
*✝THE FATHER, SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, AMEN*

18/03/2024

*DEI VERBUM GOSPEL DEVOTIONAL (DVGD)*

*MONDAY, 18TH MARCH, 2024*

*CAUGHT IN THE VERY ACT!*

*JOHN 8: 1-11*
*~REV. FR. AMBROSE OFODILE*

‘Caught in the very act’: These horrifying, defeating, damaging, judgmental and life threatening lines were words with which the ‘holier than thou’ accusers presented the woman before Jesus in the gospel of today. They were moved by a false zeal to punish the guilty.

It was a zeal that glories in exposing and condemning other people. This false zeal made them blind and insensitive, ill-mannered and uncultured that they had to interrupt Jesus’ teaching. They interrupted the loving message of Jesus Christ.

These Pharisees represent many people who are eager to expose the ills of others, who take up the faults of other people and exaggerate them. It is a case of a pot calling the kettle black. In the character of the Pharisees we see a certain self deception.

The more corrupt or base a man is, the more ready he is to recruit people in his camp or condemn others. People exaggerate the faults of others because of a certain lack or guilt in their lives which they may be trying so hard to cover up. Others exaggerate the faults of others because of their inability to measure up with a certain standard, whereas some do so because they want to prove to people that after all everyone could make the same mistake and they cannot be exception. This is the beginning of mediocrity!

Many critics fall into this category while criticizing others. They forget their own faults and project their inadequacies on people. This attitude is found amongst gossipers, scandal mongers, jealous people, pull him/her down mentality people etc.
They came dragging the woman to Jesus in a show of self righteousness and deception. If the woman ‘was caught in the very act’, what Nigerians would call “caught red handed”, where was his male counterpart? Is it possible that he may have been among the mob that was dragging the woman to stone her to death? Did she commit adultery on herself? This is shear wickedness and the height of women denigration and marginalization, a sign of a self defeating and self deceptive generation!
It is true that the Law of Moses commanded them to stone such a woman and instead of stoning her they rather dragged her to Jesus? Why did they not stone her instantly? The bible gave an answer to the reason why they dragged her to Jesus, ‘to test him’, to know what he would say, in other to find a charge against him!

Most people who campaign against child abuse, domestic violence, r**e, sexual harassments, immorality, in**st, homosexuality, lesbianism, drug and substance abuse are usually victims of what they campaign against, this gives credence to the saying “what you resist, persist”, instead of listening to God and making efforts to come out from them we resort to self deception and pose as great activists etc.
Jesus’ response to those ‘protectors of the Law of Moses’ were simply amazing and instructive.

His first reaction was to ignore them and in the silence that ensued he began to scribble something with his finger on the floor. St. Jerome opined that he wrote the secret sins of the woman’s accusers. This was the first time it was said that our Lord Jesus Christ wrote but none could say what he wrote down. Straightening up he said “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone”. In the verbal response of Jesus, we see an affirmation of Jesus as teacher per excellence.

The presentation of the woman was already a ploy to get him. It was a moral dilemma. On the one hand, Moses’ law must be obeyed in other to protect the sanctity of marriage which Jesus himself has taught severally and on the other hand is the unconditional love he bears for sinners that propels him to save us, hence, his response was ‘ad rem’, it was a salvific response as well as an indicting one for the Pharisees.

He did not tell them not to obey the Law of Moses and he did not prevent them from stoning the woman. The Bible said they all left starting from the eldest to the last. Is it possible to have such a scenario in our present society? Nay! We have Christians who are bold in error!, ministers of God who preach against ills that has become endemic in their lives. The Pharisees of Jesus’ time had a conscience that found them guilty but our society would have stoned the woman even while we are guilty.
In Nigeria, the guilty condemn both the innocent and the guilty.

The political space has made a caricature of Justice. Those who are flagrant violators of the law prosecute offenders. While road safety personnel impound vehicles on the road for one reason or the other, most of their vehicles have no papers, traffic wardens who penalize motorists for offending the traffic rules make way for government vehicles to pass against the traffic regulation.
Did Jesus endorse adultery by declaring the woman free? No, not all but he wants us to always look inwards before applying judgments. We are all sinners in need of mercy.

Let us look at the faults of others with an eye of mercy and like Bernard of Claivaux put ourselves in the positions of offenders. Whenever we are faced with such situations let us remember that it could be any of us. We are sinners in need of God’s mercy. Judgment should be reserved for God and not for any human being. God knows and understands our weaknesses. He does not condemn us but he wants us to repent and become better.

*Prayer:*🙏 God’s mercy has been poured on us; we must continue to show mercy. May God give us the grace to always see things with the eyes of Jesus. Amen
*MAY THE ALMIGHTY GOD BLESS AND KEEP YOU;*
*✝️ FATHER, SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, AMEN*

12/03/2024

GOD HAS CONQUERED HIM!
A tribute in honour of the Late Rev. Fr. Patrick Chukwuma Ogbozor
BY
Rev. Fr. Ambrose Ofodile

Vocation is derived from the Latin word “Vocare”. It means “to call”. Vocation (call) is an invitation to participate in the life of the one who calls. Put simply, vocation involves a caller and the called. It means to be fully immersed in the one who calls. Vocation does not mean a conquering for God rather it is God conquering those he called. God conquers his ministers with love, power, anointing, and grace. The prophet Jeremiah lamented: “You seduced me lord and I have allowed myself to be seduced”(20:7)
St. Paul expressed the same desire when he said “…that I may know Christ and the power of his resurrection”( Phil. 3:10)

Priestly ordination is a configuration of the candidate to the person of Jesus Christ; it is a kind of death to self and resurrection in Christ. The priest is possessed and conquered by God since he is no longer acting by himself but lends his faculties to Christ who accomplishes his tasks through the instrumentality of the priest. He is imbued with “Sacra Potestas”, (Sacred Powers) that enables him to act in the person of Christ the head (In Persona Christi Capitis)
The processes of seminary formation help to align the candidate to the personality of Jesus. God does not call those who are qualified. Qualified in this sense could be educational, psychological, and spiritual qualifications.

These qualifications pale into insignificance when we consider that God’s call is given gratuitously. He freely calls those he wants. He does not look at the qualifications of the candidates, he rather qualifies those he has chosen to be his ministers (Jn. 15:16)

A true vocation is to set out to conquer others' hearts with the heart that has been conquered by God. It means to capture with the flaming sword of true witnessing the hearts of other witnesses. God makes use of his ministers to conquer the hearts of his people. The success of the priesthood depends on how much we have conquered for God through and with a burning fire with which he conquered us first.

The success of his conquering can only be known when we behold him face to face (beatific vision). His gentle gaze when we appear before the judgment throne of God would either vindicate or condemn us.

Late Rev. Fr. Patrick Chukwuma Ogbozor was a priest of the Catholic Diocese of Enugu. He was born on 14th June 1964. He was ordained a priest on 13th August 1994. He hailed from Uborji Ngwo in Udi L.G.A of Enugu State.

Throughout his sacerdotal life/ministry, he remained a simple but not simplistic, hardworking, and sincere Catholic priest. He was aware of the enormous responsibilities of the Catholic Priesthood yet he bore his challenges with joy, smiles, and inspiring people with his lifestyle. He was very committed to his pastoral duties.

His love for Christ and the ministry of the catholic priesthood shines out more when we consider that he died in active service. He died doing the work of the master of the vineyard. The circumstances surrounding his death show a typical example of a priest who was conquered by God. He died after the Ash Wednesday. He died after reminding the people of God that they were dust and unto dust they shall return. While reminding the people of their eternal destination on Ash Wednesday, he did not know that he would be meeting Christ who called him the following day. He was ready to meet his master and with joy, he embraced Jesus Christ who called him even before he was born (Jer. 1:4-5)

His call to the Catholic Priesthood culminated in his call to meet with his maker. The climax of his vocation is found in his demise. He was conquered by God and he conquered souls (for God) through the power of God who first conquered him. His vocation was a conquering by God. He has gone to rest with him who first conquered him. He is beholding God “facie a facie”. He is experiencing the beatific vision. He is standing before God who first shed the light of this conquering through the invitation he extended to him when he was ordained a priest.

Adieu Rev. Fr. Patrick Chukwuma Ogbozor*
Requiescat in Pace!

09/03/2024

*DEI VERBUM GOSPEL DEVOTIONAL (DVGD)*

*THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF LENT*

*LAETARE SUNDAY; SUNDAY OF REJOICING*

*SUNDAY, 10TH MARCH, 2024*

*2 CHR. 36:14-16,19-23*
*EPHESIANS 2:4-10*
*JOHN 3:14-21*
*~REV. FR. AMBROSE OFODILE*

The fourth Sunday of Lent is traditionally known as *LAETARE SUNDAY or SUNDAY OF REJOICING*.

While we are anticipating the commemoration of the passion, death and resurrection of our Savior Jesus Christ, the Church takes a break to call her members to *rejoice* as we draw nearer to the event of Easter.

The call to rejoice or to be happy is espoused in the prophetic words addressed to the people of Israel who were in exile in Babylon which we find in the entrance antiphon of today (Is.66:10-10),
“Rejoice Jerusalem, and all who love her. Be joyful, all who were in mourning…”

St. Paul in the second reading leads us to the discovery of the marvelous love which God lavished upon humanity by sending His Son our Lord Jesus Christ who accepted to die on the cross for the sinful humanity.

Through his death and resurrection, He brought life to a world which hitherto was dead in sin.

The Church also invites us to rejoice since the Messiah who shall bind up the broken hearted, who shall free those held in bo***ge etc has been made manifest.

Like the Israelites who suffered exile in Babylon around 587-538 BC, our society has been thrown into psychological, social, economic, spiritual and political exile.
We have been subjected to a lot of inhuman treatments. People are passing through inexplicable sufferings; the Government is insensitive to the plight of the masses.
The state Governments and their legislators are piling up their loots in various places.
In some states in Nigeria, the legislators are passing bills and making laws in favour of the state government to the detriment of the masses. An individual is rewarded with life pension after four or eight years of looting whereas another who served for thirty five years is owed arrears of pensions!

Is it possible that in a world that have little or no regard for human life that it is appropriate to ask the citizens to rejoice? What could we possibly rejoice for or about in this country Nigeria? Is it the epileptic power supply that has led to the folding of many companies?
Is it the high profiled corruption going on at every government and private establishments? Is it the poor infrastructures that are littered all over the country?

Should we rejoice for the insecurity of lives and property, the constant harassment of the citizenry by the uncouth law enforcement agents? What about the mindless massacre of law abiding citizens by the sponsored bandits and untamed and callous herdsmen who have taken over our farmlands preventing our farmers from taking over their ancestral lands?

Should we talk about the affluence of the political office holders in the face of hardship and penury of the citizens? What about the educational sector that has become almost moribund in the face of the insensitivity of the government of the day?

While the Government remains insensitive, the people continue to wallow in poverty and crime rate is increasing in geometric progression.
The prices of commodities are going higher every day; the price of PMS has gone as high as #690- #700! Yet the ruling class remains untouched by the sufferings of the masses, yet the Church asks us to rejoice!

To clarify the reason why we should rejoice inspite of these ugly situations, the gospel presents Jesus who leads us to a higher understanding of God’s love for humanity. God sent his Son not to condemn the world but to save the world from annihilation.

Jesus leads us to the Old Testament, Numbers 21:4-9, where the murmurings of the Israelites attracted a punishment from God. He sent them fiery serpents. They cried unto God and he instructed Moses to make an image of the serpent so that all those who looked upon the serpent were healed.

While some may erroneously ascribe their healing to the bronze serpent, it is wise to know that it was God who healed them.

Only God can heal and deliver us from selfish and insensitive leaders. He expects us to trust in him as he will take care of our situations in due time.

And so the psalmist enjoins us in Psalm 121:1 to look up to God who made heaven and earth from whom our help shall come from.

We must *rejoice at all circumstances since it is the will of God in Christ Jesus for us*.

The Christian life is fraught with sufferings, persecutions and even deaths. While these conditions are rife and could be disturbing we are expected to hand over to Jesus in prayer and total surrender and appreciation to God.

It is by abiding in Jesus that we could find the reason why we must rejoice. He passed through the situations we are passing through as a people. Upon coming into the world in incarnation he suffered, was maltreated and later crucified. He forgave those who crucified him and is now at the right hand of the Father interceding for us.

He is our consolation and the reason why we should rejoice!

*PRAYER*🙏🏿: As the Church invites us to rejoice may we help other people around us to rejoice by helping them out of their sufferings in our world that is gradually becoming a Hobbesian state of nature.
May God assist us to bring the same joy to those who are suffering around us. Amen
*HAPPY LAETARE SUNDAY*
*HAPPY SUNDAY OF REJOICING*
*MAY THE ALMIGHTY GOD BLESS AND KEEP YOU;*
*✝️ FATHER, SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT AMEN*

06/03/2024

*DEI VERBUM GOSPEL DEVOTIONAL (DVGD)*

*THIRD WEEK OF LENT*
*WEDNESDAY, 6TH MARCH, 2024*

*"I HAVE COME NOT TO ABOLISH BUT TO FULFIL THE LAW"*
*MTT. 5: 17-19*

Against the general feeling that he was a breaker of the law, Jesus makes a declarative statement. A disclaimer to warn both his adversaries and his disciples that he does not break the law.

It sounds puzzling to hear Jesus make such a statement when various events give indications of his apparent deliberate breaking of the law.

For instance, he did not observe the traditional washing of hands for meals, he healed on the Sabbath, etc.

He was condemned and crucified as a breaker of the law yet we find him in this gospel pericope asserting that he is *the fulfillment of the law, the perfection and completion of the law*.

It is important to understand Jesus within the context of this statement and his teachings. The scribes and Pharisees are disciples of Moses.

They work assiduously to maintain and equally enjoin the Jews towards keeping the commandments as the only way to be on good terms with God.

With the coming of Jesus, the proper attitude, real meaning, and real definition of the law are given. The essence and definition of the law revolve around him such that the law has its *terminus ad quem* in him.

He is the perfect fulfillment of the law. While he enjoins a proper attitude to the law and not the hypocrisy of the scribes and Pharisees, he wants us to realize that those who keep to the spirit and not the letters of the law shall be considered great in heaven.

In this wise, the law and the prophets are at the service of Jesus Christ. Jesus has not come to contradict or abolish the law but to fulfill it.

The above points to our understanding of Jesus and the law. Our attitude to the laws and traditions of the society are eloquent testimonies of how we have understood Jesus.

we find ourselves as true disciples of Jesus when we contribute to and obey the positive laws of society while working with relevant authorities to remove or moderate laws that infringe on the life and fundamental rights of the people.
*PRAYER*🙏🏿: May we always act like Jesus in fulfilling and keeping to the positive laws of our society so that we would be considered great in heaven. Amen
*✝May the blessings of the Almighty God come down upon you and remain with you*,
*✝ Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen*
*REV. FR. AMBROSE O. OFODILE*

05/03/2024

*DEI VERBUM GOSPEL DEVOTIONAL (DVGD)*

*THIRD WEEK OF LENT*

*TUESDAY, 5TH MARCH, 2024*

*FORGIVE, SO THAT YOU WILL BE FORGIVEN*
*MTT. 18:21-35*

We owe a great deal to the impulsive Peter who always elicits great teachings with his impetuosity.

In ancient Israel, it was commendable to take revenge after an offense exceeded three times. Thus Peter expected to be commended when he said, *"Lord, how often must I forgive my brother if he wrongs me?
*As often as seven times?*.

Peter exceeded three times and doubled it. The number seven stands for perfection. Peter seemed to have reached the elastic limit of forgiveness.

However, Jesus' answer was a disappointment to Peter who expected to be commended since he transcended the perceived limit.

Jesus' response is an indication that there is no limit to forgiveness.

We are to forgive as long as God forgives us. *"Not seven, I tell you, but seventy times seven"* (490) and its multiples are symbolic of fullness thus indicating the limitlessness of forgiveness.

And so, to buttress his point Jesus presented the story of the king whose servant owed a huge amount with no possibility of paying back despite his promise to do so, but upon the servant's plea, the King canceled all his debts.

Unfortunately, the same servant could not forgive a fellow servant who owed him a lesser amount. The servant threw him into prison until he could pay.

The failure of the servant to show mercy where he had received mercy led to the King's mercy being rescinded.

By the above Jesus calls attention to the necessity of forgiving those who wronged us. It is to be noted that human beings are fellow servants living in a comparable relationship to God and having various amounts of debt, yet all of them are indebted.

In the Lord's prayer we constantly ask for God's forgiveness *" Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us (Mt.6:12)"*, however, God's forgiveness is not conditional but we must as children of God reciprocate this loving forgiveness by forgiving the wrongs done by our neighbors

Forgiveness of our neighbors is an imitation of God's loving forgiveness in the realm of human beings and as such moved by the unlimited forgiveness of God we must always be disposed to forgive the wrongs of our neighbors.
*PRAYER*🙏🏿 : May we always be disposed to forgive the debts of our neighbors imitating our heavenly Father whose unlimited forgiveness always accompanies us. Amen.
*MAY THE ALMIGHTY GOD BLESS AND KEEP YOU;*
*✝️FATHER, SON, AND HOLY SPIRIT, AMEN*
*REV. FR. AMBROSE OFODILE*

02/03/2024

*DEI VERBUM GOSPEL DEVOTIONAL (DVGD)*

*THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT YEAR B*

*SUNDAY, 3RD MARCH, 2024*

*THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE!*

*EX. 20:1-17*
*1 COR. 1:22-25*
*JOHN 2:13-25*
*~REV. FR. AMBROSE OFODILE*

The Ten Commandments presented to us today from the book of Exodus chapter 20, were certainly written by Moses under the guidance of God (Ex. 34:27-28, Deut. 4:13).
However, we are not unaware of the fact that these commandments have the semblances with the codes of law or conduct present in Egypt, Babylon, and Assyria. Therefore, it could be argued that the Ten Commandments were adaptations of existing covenant forms in use in the Ancient world.

A critical look at the Ten Commandments would reveal certain influences from non-biblical law codes of the Ancient Near East. Some of these codes/laws were the means by which kings entered into covenant with the vassal peoples.
Some of these non-biblical law codes include:
*The Sumerian code of the Ur Nammu
*Bilalama code/laws of Eshnunna
*Lipit-Ishtar code
*The code of Hammurabi
*Hittite laws
*Middle Assyrian laws
*Neo-Babylonian laws

Having delivered the Israelites from the Egyptian bo***ge and already leading them to the Promised Land, God entered into a covenant with the Israelites on Mount Sinai in the Southern Peninsula. This covenant climaxed in the Ten Commandments which became the basis/foundation of the spiritual life of the Israelites.

In the Ten Commandments, the Israelites are bound with God in an unbreakable covenant /bond. God established himself as a deity to whom they owe honor, worship, obedience, and sacrifice, and their responsibilities to one another were established.

*THE JEWS AND THE TEN COMMANDMENTS*

The book of Exodus tells us of the two tablets of stone upon which the Ten Commandments were written. God gave the commandments to the Israelites as part of the covenantal pact between him and the chosen people. Of the Ten Commandments, the first three are vertical and concerned with man’s relationship with God, whereas the other seven are horizontal and concerned with the relationship between human beings. These Ten Commandments find perfect fulfillment in Jesus Christ who summarized them into two in the New Testament: Love of God and Love of neighbor.

The Jews developed 613 sub-commandments from the Ten Commandments of God. 365 of these are prohibitions representing 365 days of the year and 248 mandates corresponding to the 248 limbs of the human body.
The meaning of the Ten Commandments can only be found when we consider that God wanted a relationship with his people and the same relationship he continues to anticipate from us even in the new dispensation.

It is a relationship of love and fidelity to the covenantal pact and love for our neighbors.

*OUR WISDOM IS FOOLISHNESS BEFORE GOD*
In the second reading, St. Paul extolled the wisdom of God and by extension the wisdom associated with being Christians.
He highlighted the disappointment of the Jews who expected a political Messiah in Jesus but were disappointed because he did not fit into their idea of a political Messiah who would bring an end to the Roman reign.

Regrettably, the idea of a suffering Messiah which he proclaimed was alien to them hence the disappointment.

The Greeks on the other hand looked up to philosophy or human wisdom as the ‘urstuff’ or the foundational element of all things and again they were disappointed because death by crucifixion was the most insane or shameful death reserved for criminals and outlaws. In other words, what was considered foolishness, weakness, unrealistic, and unrealizable in the sight of man has become a pearl of great wisdom in the sight of God. It is better to be in the spotlight of God than in the spotlight of man.

In the Gospel, Jesus' righteous anger was incensed against those who engaged in fraudulent business transactions in the temple.
These business transactions would have taken place at the court of the Gentiles constructed for this purpose.

A closer look at the actions of Jesus would reveal that his righteous anger was kindled because of the spate of injustice, exploitation, and misuse going on right inside the temple.

For instance in Palestine all kinds of currencies were in circulation since pilgrims who came from several cities also came with different currencies to pay the half shekel which is obligated by every male Jew as temple tax every year.
And so to change a coin of the exact value of a half shekel they charged a commission thus the money changers made a huge profit.

Also, those selling animals for sacrifice participated in the exploitation. In league with the High Priest, inspectors were appointed who disqualified animals bought outside the temple as a blemish and unfit for sacrifice.

Thus to be on the safer side pilgrims preferred to buy the victims of sacrifice from the booths officially set up inside the temple even though it was at exorbitant prices.
These were deliberate swindling, imposition, and exploitation of the poor people.

Jesus was aghast at the height of exploitation, sacrilege, and the unusual interference with the dignity and solemnity of worship happening right inside the temple.

It was the passion for justice and passion for the sanctity of the temple that incensed his righteous anger.
Some scholars have questioned the justification of the anger with which he chased away people selling and buying in the temple. Was there any other way he could have used to achieve his goal instead of resorting to violence? Why were his actions unchallenged by the temple security officials? Does it mean that they already knew that what he was doing was right? They merely asked whose authority he was doing what he did. Jesus did not violate the law! He was simply working following the law and in opposition to the temple misuse, thus the security officials could not arrest him.

If Jesus enters our various temples today will he repeat the same actions? Do we still harbor anger, hatred, envy, lust, sexual perversions, wickedness, etc in our hearts and minds?

Do we like the bystanders understand the meaning of the words of Jesus, "Destroy this temple and I will raise it in three days?"

Do we still grope in our darkness and ignorance and fail to realize the call to rid our hearts of filth, especially during this Lenten period?

This Lenten period affords us another opportunity to approach the sacrament of reconciliation, to cleanse our hearts and get them ready for the passion, death, and resurrection of our Saviour Jesus Christ, Amen.

Dearest ones, our society is lacking those with this passion for social justice and salvation for souls. We are lacking people moved with selfless passion and compassion to do things right. Those who are not compromised in any form to hold the Government responsible for her actions. We need individuals with a zeal for human freedom and the sanctity of human life. Those who would stop at nothing to make sure that justice is served. Those who will not be protecting their interests at the expense of the poor and the downtrodden. We need religious men and women who will stand firm to fight for those who have no one to fight for them. We need a society where people are not afraid to confront evil and dethrone it. This is the kind of society we need to thrive and carry on the message of Jesus Christ. May it be granted to us!
*PRAYER*🙏🏿: May we realize every day of our lives the reason not only to keep the temple holy but to imitate the passion for social justice that made Jesus drive the exploiters out of the temple. Amen.
*MAY THE ALMIGHTY GOD BLESS AND KEEP YOU;*
*✝️THE FATHER, SON, AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, AMEN*
*HAPPY SUNDAY*
*HAPPY NEW MONTH*

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