Posts by Fr. Venatius Oforka
Loving God as the Highest Good
The words of Jesus in today’s Gospel are certainly very challenging: “If anyone comes to me and does not despise his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters, yes, even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” Then he adds: “If anyone does not carry his cross and follow me,…
Read MoreMarriage and the Natural Order
God is orderly and teleological in his works. His act of creation was well planned out and purposefully ordered. Part of this order is the marriage institution, which he established with the creation of man and woman, two contrary genders that would purposefully form a whole. According to this divine order, God defined marriage as…
Read MoreStewards of God’s Mysteries
The first statement of St. Paul in today’s first reading reminds me immediately of the autobiography of Blessed Fulton Sheen, Treasure in Clay. This wonderful book and many other books of his, especially, The Priest Is Not His Own, helped immensely to deepen my insight into the Catholic priesthood. St. Paul writes in the mentioned…
Read MorePath to Personal Transfiguration
John the apostle begins his gospel narrative with the mystic expression: “In the beginning wasthe Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in thebeginning” (1:1-2). This is the primordial personality of Christ. He is God in eternity. He is thegreat I AM. He has always been…
Read MoreWhen the Storm Rages
Life does not run a straight course. It is full of changes and exhibits diverse emotions. It can be sweet sometimes. It can sometimes also be insipid or outright bitter. Life can become so stormy and scalding that believers could be tempted to doubt the faithfulness of God. Some have actually lost their faith on…
Read MoreThe Most Beautiful Word
A conversation on love as the greatest commandments and the most beautiful of all words spoken. In today’s Gospel reading, one of the scribes asked Jesus about the commandment that was of top priority. It is curious to note that Jesus did not choose any of the Ten Commandments as the most important. He rather…
Read MoreWhen the Advocate Comes
Jesus speaks to his disciples in John’s gospel 14:15-31 about the Advocate, whom the Father will send in His name. He promises them that this Spirit will teach them all things and will remind them of everything He taught them, as we read in today’s gospel. This promised Spirit will continue His ministry of redemption…
Read MoreJudge No One! Condemn No One!
Do not judge anyone, because you do not know his or her story. Do not condemn anyone, because you do not understand his or her circumstances. Do not write anyone off, for you know little or nothing about the path of his or her destiny. Only God has the right to judge. He alone has…
Read MoreThe Wisdom of the Precepts of the Lord
The precepts of the Lord are rooted in God’s undying love for His people. His intention with these precepts is to ensure the happiness of the people who He created in His own image and likeness. He created them and endowed them with freedom, which underscores the dignity of their personhood. However, He is aware…
Read MoreRunning to Win the Prize: Paul Miki and Companions
The Church celebrates today the martyrdom of Paul Miki and his 25 companions, who were executed on February 5, 1597, in Nagasaki, Japan. Through this odious path, they concluded their mission for their Lord and could speak like St. Paul: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the…
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