Posts by Fr. Precious Ezeh
Detachment and the Paradox of Divine Blessedness
There is a strange paradox at the heart of today’s Gospel. Jesus calls blessed those whom the world would ordinarily consider unfortunate: the poor, the hungry, those who weep and those who are hated because of the Son of Man. Then He says, “Woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation.”…
Read More“Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid!”
The readings of this Sunday invite us to confront one of the most difficult experiences of faith: the experience of God’s presence when God seems absent. There are moments when we pray and hear no answer, when the storms of life become stronger than our courage, and when we begin to ask, “Where is God?”…
Read MoreGod’s Tender Love
Perhaps one of the greatest sorrows of old age is not poverty or sickness, but being forgotten by one’s own children. Many parents spend their youth sacrificing everything for their children. They deny themselves comfort, work tirelessly, lose sleep, and pour out their lives so that their children may flourish. Yet, as the years pass,…
Read MoreSalt and Light as Symbols of Our Christian Identity
The words of Jesus in today’s Gospel are among the most powerful descriptions of the Christian identity: “You are the salt of the earth” and “You are the light of the world.” The full impact of these expressions is drawn from the hermeneutics (interpretation) of salt and light, especially in the prevailing culture of the…
Read More“Go, Wash Yourself and Be Clean”
The readings of today present a striking spiritual paradox: sometimes the greatest graces of God are hidden in the simplest commands. The pathways that lead to profound spiritual transformation are often disarmingly simple but potent. Yet many people miss them because their hearts are burdened by pride, suspicion, or spiritual obstinacy. Pride In the first…
Read MoreA Yearning for Divine Presence
Today’s readings awaken the primordial longing in humanity to dwell in the presence of God. At Eden, God raised a virgin garden where the human intimate desire to abide in God’s presence was nurtured. As an unweaned baby found bliss in its mother’s bosom, so Adam’s prenuptial yearnings found fulfillment in uninterrupted communion with God.…
Read MoreOvercoming the World
Today the Church presents us with a profound meditation on the boundaries between the divine and the mundane. The eternal rivalry between the two finds man at its center. He must battle and overcome the attractions of the world through faith in Jesus Christ. The readings of today (1 John 5:5-13 and Luke 5:12-16) invite…
Read MoreAwakening Our Hope of Restoration
The general theme of Advent is enmeshed in hope, and particular to the third week is the message of God’s love for us. Today’s readings surround us with palpable hope expressed in the most compassionate terms. God’s word in Isaiah 40:1-11 appears as a twist of fate. The passage, which is characterized as the beginning…
Read MoreWe are God’s Temple
(Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome) [Readings: Ez 47:1-2, 8-9, 12; 1 Cor 3:9c-11, 16-17; 3:3-8; Jn 2:13-22] By Fr. Precious Ezeh Today, the Church celebrates the feast of the Lateran Basilica in Rome (also known as the Papal Archbasilica of St. John Lateran). It is the Archcathedral Church of the…
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