Posts by Sr. Olisaemeka Rosemary Okwara
The Promise of Salvation and the Call to Repentance
The readings of today, the second Sunday in Advent (Baruch 5,1-9; Phil 1, 6.8-11 and Luke 3, 1-6), offer us a typical advent perspective. The readings present us with a message of hope, promise of salvation, words of restoration and wholeness, and the call to justice and uprightness. We are enjoined to stand in readiness…
Read MoreFaith and Wisdom
In his ruminations on metaphysics (the philosophical and religious questions of being, knowledge and existence), the German philosopher Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) argued that there are entities or realities—such as human freedom, God, and the immortality of the soul—that cannot be recognized by theoretical reason, which seeks the truth. Instead, these must be reflected upon with…
Read MoreA Service of Discipleship
The readings of today direct our minds to rendering service of discipleship. A service of discipleship entails listening to the voice of God, seeking direction from the Holy Spirit, and doing the mission of God. This also means finding the one or the few important things that are crucial to our success. Unlike the tendency…
Read MoreThe Miracle of Justice
Often, the question of the rule of law and the rule of love seem to clash or contradict one another. In 2015, many parts of the world, especially Europe, experienced an influx of migrants due to the conflict in Syria. Europe was challenged between self-protection, the rule of love, and neighbor-love. The question of accepting…
Read MoreUpon This Rock I Will Build My Church
In the Igbo, Nigerian culture, begetting a male child is of utmost importance to the father ofthe house. This is because male children inherit the family-name and are successors of thefamily tradition and legacy. Although this perception of a male child often has a negativeconsequence on the appreciation of a female child in such contexts,…
Read MoreThe God Who Heals Us and Makes Us Whole
Among the images of God depicted in Scripture, the portrayal of God as gracious, merciful, close to people, and in charge of healing and wholeness stands pre-eminent. In the history of Israel and Jesus’ ministry on earth, we see God’s patient pedagogy in dealing with human beings. This process involves transformation, healing, generosity, and wholeness…
Read MoreThe Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Theological references to the devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary focus on Mary, the mother of Jesus. She dedicated her innermost being, mind, memory, will, and capacity for love to God and mankind. Mary submitted herself to the saving work of her Son. St. John Eudes, a 17th-century French priest, popularized the devotion. He…
Read MoreThe Reality of God’s Presence Among Us
Today’s readings from the Acts of the Apostles (17:15, 22-18:1) and the Gospel of John (16:12-15) present us with the critical question of who God is, and where and how human beings come to the knowledge of God. Conversely, they also reveal how God’s presence is manifested in human existence. They inspire us to reflect…
Read MoreDoing God’s Will by Waiting on His Promise
The church celebrates today the solemnity feast of the Annunciation of the Lord. The feast announces God’s promise of a child to Mary, who will be called the son of God, and who will be a savior. This promise of salvation began even in the Old Testament promise to the house of Judah. Indeed, God’s…
Read MoreWhy Love is the Greatest Commandment
In the Gospel of today (Mark 12, 28b-34), one of the Scribes, namely, one of the most learned in the context of the Jewish law, approached Jesus and demanded an answer from him to the question: Which is the greatest commandment of the law? Jesus gave the best and shortest possible summary to the question…
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