Ushahemba Benedict

23/01/2024

WEDNESDAY, 24TH JANUARY, 2024

In Mark 4:1–20, Jesus imparts profound wisdom through the Parable of the Sower, emphasizing the importance of both hearing and keeping the Word of God. The scattered seeds represent divine truths, but the outcome depends on the condition of the soil – our hearts.

Just as seeds need fertile soil to grow, the Word requires receptive hearts. We are called not only to hear the message but to cultivate a steadfast commitment to keeping it alive within us. It's not merely about fleeting moments of inspiration but about a continuous, intentional effort to live by God's teachings.

In a world filled with distractions and challenges, it's crucial to nurture a heart that not only receives the Word but guards it against the thorns of worldly concerns and the rocks of indifference. Let us strive to be like the fertile soil, allowing the Word of God to take root deeply within us, growing into a rich and abundant harvest of faith, love, and righteousness. May we be vigilant in hearing, cherishing, and living out the transformative power of God's Word in our daily lives.

Blenz

22/01/2024

TUESDAY, 23RD JANUARY, 2024

In Mark 3:31–35, Jesus' response to his family underscores the importance of spiritual bonds. He redefines family, emphasizing that those who do God's will are his true kin. This challenges us to broaden our understanding of kinship, prioritizing our spiritual connections and shared commitment to God's purpose. As believers, we're called to a profound unity, transcending blood ties. Let this Gospel passage inspire us to cultivate a deeper sense of familial unity within our faith communities, recognizing that our common devotion to God makes us part of a divine family.

Blenz

22/01/2024

MONDAY, 22ND JANUARY, 2024

In today's Gospel reading from Mark 3:22–30, we encounter a powerful teaching of Jesus about the unforgivable sin, blaspheming against the Holy Spirit. This passage calls us to reflect deeply on the nature of our relationship with God and the significance of acknowledging the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

Jesus confronts the Pharisees who attribute His miracles to an unclean spirit. In response, He warns them about the grave consequences of blaspheming the Holy Spirit—a sin with eternal implications. What does this mean for us today?

The Holy Spirit is the divine presence, the source of grace and transformation in our lives. Blaspheming against the Holy Spirit isn't a careless word or a momentary lapse; it involves a persistent rejection of God's mercy and a deliberate turning away from the transformative power of the Spirit.

As believers, we are called to recognize and honor the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives. The Spirit convicts us of sin, guides us into truth, and empowers us for righteous living. To blaspheme against the Holy Spirit is to close our hearts to His prompting, refusing to acknowledge His presence and denying the grace He offers.

Let us reflect on our own lives. Are we open to the Holy Spirit's guidance, or do we resist His promptings? Do we attribute the goodness in our lives to God's grace, or do we, like the Pharisees, diminish the divine work with skepticism?

The message of Mark 3:22–30 challenges us to embrace humility, repentance, and a sincere desire for transformation. It calls us to cultivate a heart that welcomes the Holy Spirit, acknowledging His role in shaping our character and guiding us on the path of righteousness.

May we, through prayer and reflection, open ourselves to the Holy Spirit's transformative work. Let us strive to live in a way that honors God, recognizing His grace in every aspect of our lives. In doing so, we not only avoid the peril of blaspheming the Holy Spirit but also experience the richness of a life surrendered to God's loving presence.

Blenz

17/01/2024

Shout out to my newest followers! Excited to have you onboard! Great Mario George, Joshua Zahemen, Danny Kesh

01/11/2022

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE SOLEMNITY OF ALL SAINTS.
~These are the people who seek your face, oh Lord.

Does the Solemnity of today today mean anything to you?, of course it should, today, we ought to reflect on our call to Sainthood, the Saints we celebrate today were also born like us.
Who are the saints?
They are the persons in heaven (officially canonized or not), who lived heroically virtuous lives, offered their life for others, or were martyred for the faith, and who are worthy of imitation. They were ordinary people who lived extraordinary lives, they had heaven as their goal, they hungered and tasted for God, the lived the beatitudes, they are models to our Christian faith, they were in the world but were not of the world, they were not perfect but they continuously strove, they saw God in everyone.
Today, the church celebrates the Solemnity of All Saints because there are saints in heaven that are not recognised or canonized, it may surprise you to know that, on the last day you shall see St. Agbaagba, St. Chinedu, St. Ya'ama and many saints that were not recognised in this world, we celebrate them today because they followed Christ faithfully, they carried their cross to end, they are worth celebrating, will you be celebrated?.
The journey towards Sainthood begins from when you are still young, we must not be old before realising this fact, we have many saints who died as children, train your children to be saints.
The people in heaven are also called "the church triumphant,", you too can be Saint, all you have to do is to follow God's commandments faithfully and share in the pains of Christ, give up your worldly pleasures for the sake of heaven, only those who strive to the end are worthy of the crown, strive everyday to be a better version of yourself and God will help you, you too can be Saint!, Lord, I want to be a saint!.

30/10/2022

Is going for CONFESSION "Alone" enough?

There is something about going for CONFESSION that we really need to understand.

For those of us who may not know.... The Prayer of absolution that the priest gives when you go for confession takes away sins, BUT DOES NOT remedy all the DISORDERS sin has caused.

After going for confession, there is still something MORE that is REQUIRED of us to amends for SOME of the sins we may have confessed. In the Gospel of Luke we hear Zacheus tellJesus: "Look, sir, I am going to give half my property to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody I will pay him back four times the amount.’ (cf Luke 19:8)

This action of Zacheus of making "satisfaction for" or "expiating his sins" is what the Church calls "PENANCE". What this means is that, your confession is not complete without doing Your Penance.

Now for SINS against JUSTICE and TRUTH (e g stealing, misappropriation of public funds), the Church teaches that it is OBLIGATORY for one to make RESTITUTION of them or RETURN the equivalent in kind or Money even if one has gone for Confession and have been forgiven.

When it is impossible for one to make this reparation publicly, he/she is obliged to do it secretly. If the person who has suffered this harm cannot be directly compensated, he must be given moral satisfaction in the name of CHARITY.

Don't just go for confession when you commit a sin against JUSTICE and TRUTH and feel everything is okay. If you have stolen, if you have embezzled any money it is OBLIGATORY for you to make this RESTITUTION.

Incase you were not aware, this is exactly what the Church teaches about Confession. (Check The Catechism of the Catholic Church 1459, 2412 and 2487).

Thank you for reading. I hope you have learnt something new. Happy Sunday.

27/10/2022

For those still having problem with infant baptism...

WHY JORDAN?

Of all rivers and places, why was it in River Jordan that Jesus Christ was baptized? There is something about River Jordan that we really need to find out.

Do you know that among all the rivers the Israelites crossed on their way back from Egypt, River Jordan was the last to be crossed before entering the Promised land? Now check it up and see.

In Joshua chapter 3, where Joshua gives the instruction on how to cross the River Jordan, the priests who carried the Covenant Box of the Lord where to enter first inside the water before the Israelites. Now we are told “as soon as the priests stepped into the river, the water stopped flowing and piled up... and the people were able to CROSS OVER” to the promised land. Now check it out, Jesus Christ, the high priest of the new covenant enters again into this same River Jordan, to sanctify its waters so that through it in baptism we too will be able to CROSS OVER to our promised land, the eternal kingdom of God.

In Joshua chapter 3:2 Joshua continued with his instructions “when you see the priests carrying the Covenant box of the LORD your God, BREAK CAMP and follow them. You have never been here before, so they will SHOW you the way to go. From all indications, River Jordan was the only channel through which the Israelites could gain access to the promised land. Now check it out, "and Jesus answered: amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit” (Jn :5). Wow.

Now, does that mean that once baptized we are eternally saved?

If you read carefully the book of Joshua again, you will discover that after crossing the River Jordan the Israelites had to fight many other battles before finally taking possession of the Promised Land. Now check it out. In Matt 4:1 we are told that immediately after Jesus left the Jordan, he was led by the Spirit into the desert, to be tempted by the Devil. We all know what happened next – the great battle between Jesus and the Devil.

With this in mind, the Church rightly teaches that “although by baptism all sins are forgiven and there is nothing remaining to impede ones entry into the kingdom of God, yet the inclination to sin remains for us to WRESTLE with which cannot harm those who do not consent but manfully resist it by the grace of Jesus Christ. (cf CCC 1263-1264).

It is so unfortunate that we live at a time where there are so many pulpits and so much arguments. The Bible ALONE theology has made a lot to reject what they should rightly be promoting and to promote what should outrightly be rejected.

Now this is where I would love you to pay much attention.

Check it up and see. In Joshua chapter 4, it was the ENTIRE people of Israel that crossed the River Jordan into the promised land: Male and female, old and young, Children and Adults alike. Check it up again and you will see that even when the Apostles tried stopping children from coming to Him, Jesus said “let the children come to me and do not stop them, because the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these. (Matt 19:14).

Now I ask, how then is the church wrong now to allow ALL PEOPLES including Children (Infants) to cross over to the promised land of God's Kingdom through River Jordan in BAPTISM? Dare to always check things up for yourself before you reject.

26/10/2022

REST ON DEAR JOSHUA
I have been writing, but couldn't write anything on this subject since October 12th. So, the whole of today was not wonderful for me, I tried to nibble some words on the paper but I couldn't, I thought it was my usual block, I went to bed, got up and tried again, but yet, the right words were not forthcoming, I just sat on my reading table, my left hands was supporting my jaw, with my eyes fixed steadily on the paper. At a point, I lost touch with the environment, I was lost in deep thought and before I knew what was up, I had soaked myself in tears.
Everything came alive at that point, I practically could visualizer the moments when you stood at your sitting position and made announcements as the M.R, I remember when during the inter-house I told you I was going to beat your house and you smiled and told me "a servant is not superior to his master."
Though still fresh in my memory, but I don't wish to recount how the illness claimed your life.
And then, in the midst of my grief today, I am faced with the daunting task of crafting a farewell note for my dear elder brother who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith.
I have been in deep thought throughout today, and now I know that life is an unavoidable journey towards death. Death is an inescapable reality, and for we who profess Christ, it is a necessity, it us a blow which visits every man once in a life time; an experience which all living beings must taste equally-rich or poor, great or small alike. No wonder it is called a great leveler.
Your death is painful, rest on dear brother!, I know you are in heaven where you will be ordained by God himself, we may have parted now, but we will all meet to part no more, you will forever live in our hearts.

Requiescet in pace

Ushahemba Benedict

18/10/2022

In your mercy, Lord, dispel the darkness of this night.
Let your household sleep in peace
so that at the dawn of a new day
they may, with joy, waken in your name. Through Christ our Lord, Amen.

10/10/2022

🤍🕊

06/10/2022

CAN THE DEAD PRAY FOR THE LIVING?

"The only figures that can intercede for us are Jesus and the Holy Spirit. Check the Bible and report back to me. The bible did not tell us that Mary or the saints are interceding for us. No one dies and pray for those on earth"

I got this message yesterday and I have thought it good to share the reply here for the sake of many others who may be having problem with the Church's teaching on asking Our Mother Mary and the Saints to intercede for Us.

I must say that this is a very sensitive doctrinal issue and it requires all level of carefulness and sound faith. Therefore, I kindly request that you remove all biases and read to the very end.

To begin with, it is important to understand that there is a difference between MEDIATOR and INTERCESSOR.

No doubt, Jesus is our only MEDIATOR. St Paul makes this clear when he says "There is only one mediator between God and the human race, Christ Jesus who gave himself as ransom for all" (1Tim 2:5-6).
The Church also affirms this biblical Truth and rightly teaches that "No creature could ever be counted along with the incarnate Word and Redeemer" (ccc 970).

An intercessor on the other hand, is simply anyone who prays for another person.

There is no problem at all in the Bible with the living interceding for themselves. Abraham interceded for Lot (Gen 18:16-33). Moses on several occasions interceded for the Israelites (Ex 32:9-14 etc). Elijah interceded for others, (1kgs 18:30-46)

On several occasions, Paul asked people to pray for him (Cf 2Thes 3:2) etc. In James 5:16, we are clearly told to "Confess our sins to one another and PRAY for one another, that we may be healed".

God himself requested certain people to ask the intercession of the righteous (cf. Gen.20:7, Job 42:7,8).

The problem now is, can Mary and the Saints, and indeed all those who die intercede (pray) for us?

Funny enough, this too is actually not a big Problem at all if we really understand what the term "Church" means.

Now, according to the bible, the Church is the BODY of Christ, the assembly of Christ Faithful (cf ROM 12:5, 1Cor 12:12-27, Eph 3:6, Col 1:8) etc

The question is, does someone stop being a member of this assembly when he or she die? St Paul in answer to this says: "neither LIFE, nor DEATH..... can separate us from the Love of Christ" (Rom 8:36-38)

Now, since death does not separate one from Christ, it means the dead especially those in heaven (Saints) and those undergoing purification are also part of the Church.

The transfiguration of Jesus on the mountain clearly attests to this truth about the Union of the Saints and the living. We are told that when they were on the Mountain, Moses and Elijah appeared and were CONVERSING with them" (Mt 17:3)

The parable of Lazarus and the rich man further give credence to the intercessory role of the saints. The bible tells us that the rich man asked Abraham to send Lazarus (a SAINT) sitting on the bossom of Abraham to INTERCEDE for his brothers? (Lk 16: 27-28)

Now if the Saints are part of the church and James 5:16 urges ALL members of the church to PRAY for one another (cf James 5:16) how then is it against the bible to pray for the dead (who are part of the church) or ask the Saints (who are also part of the church) to pray for us?

One thing is clear, the Church worships only Christ as God's Son and Love the Saints as the Lord's disciples and imitators (CCC 957)

However, If you consider INTERCESSION as MEDIATION, and if every MEDIATION is unacceptable because Christ is the only mediator, then every man's prayer for the sake of another is also unacceptable.

Parents praying for their Children is also unacceptable
Children praying for their parents is also unacceptable
Husbands praying for their wives and vice versa is also unacceptable

☆ Shokua Bartholomew

01/10/2022

LET US BUILD A BETTER NIGERIA
Everyone wishes for something great aa as a child but the reverse is the case when he/she grows up, not as though the mind set is changed but because struggles prove abortive.
At childhood, everyone wishes to be independent but when the time comes. It becomes a threat for those who failed to plan.
Independence is not all about been self reliant, though it forms part of it. Nigeria as a country celebrates her independence today which reminds each and everyone of today's significance, the day we were free from colonial masters.
Our heroes fought so hard to relieve us from pain and suffering and with the aim to develop and build the country and here we are celebrating their great success, but the question is, will they be happy with the present state of the country?.
Every parent if fulfilled when his/her child grows to become a better person, our compatriots fought to build but on the contrary we are destroying that which they built.
A country with mineral resources, crude oil, a good soil for farming, to mention but a few now suffers from poverty and hunger, Nigeria as a country has all it takes to be better, greed and selfishness has been a blocking stone for it to do so.
No good roads, no peace, education which is said to be the key to success has become an option in Nigeria, no academic year passes successfully without a strike, religious crises and so on.
The Israelites enjoyed peace at the time of the judges because they were trustworthy, kind hearted and God fearing, Proverbs 2:2-7 stresses that wisdom is the gift from God obtained by diligent search, for if one is wise but does not have the wisdom that comes from God, he will be regarded as nothing and neither can he be a good leader.
It is never too late to take Nigeria to a greater height, we must learn to be selfless, love one another no matter the differences in religion, only righteousness exalts a nation.
Let us work together to make Nigeria better.

12/09/2022

12/09/2022

Glory glory Manchester United
❤️❤️

09/09/2022

Son of Grace ❤️🙏

07/09/2022

B/W

06/09/2022

Never let your smiles fade away☻️

06/09/2022

It is proper always to end prayers with praises. Let us expect more, and ask for more, encouraged by what Christ has already done for our souls, being assured that the conversion of sinners, and the comfort of believers, will be to his glory, for ever and ever.

05/01/2021