Posts by Fr. Nnaemeka Paschal Ajuka
Saint Matthias, Apostle
Matthias’ Example of Humility and Trust. Saint Matthias, the Apostle chosen to replace Judas Iscariot among the Twelve Apostles, stands as an example of faith, obedience, and readiness to serve. His story, though brief in the New Testament, carries significant lessons for believers. One notable aspect of Saint Matthias’ life is his willingness to step…
Read MoreThe Ideal of Sharing and Communion
The early Christian community described in the Acts of the Apostles offers a compelling vision of life rooted in communion. Acts 4:32 tells us that “the whole group of believers was of one heart and soul,” and that no one claimed private ownership of possessions. Instead, everything was held in common, ensuring that no one…
Read MoreReturning to God with Sincere Hearts
The readings from Hosea and Luke speak powerfully to us during this Lenten season: a time when the Church calls us to pause, examine our lives, and return more deeply to God. Through the prophet Hosea, we hear a compassionate invitation: “Come, let us return to the Lord.” Even when humanity turns away, God’s desire…
Read MoreValentine’s Day and Memorial of Saints Cyril and Methodius
As the New Year feeling of January wears off and February brings us Valentine’s Day, it is a time to reflect on how we think about love and the role it plays in our lives. How can those who are celebrating look at their celebration from another perspective? And how can those who wish the…
Read MoreSpeak Lord, Your Servant is Listening
In today’s readings, we are invited into two sacred moments of calling—one in the quiet of the night and the other in the busyness of human suffering. Young Samuel hears his name spoken in the dark. Three times, he runs to Eli, thinking the voice belongs to his teacher. Only after patient listening does Eli…
Read MoreJoy in the Lord
Today is called Rejoicing Sunday. The candle on the Advent wreath is pink, not purple like the other three Sundays of Advent. Its color expresses our joy at the nearness of Christ’s birth. Some people seem naturally cheerful; others more solemn or mournful by temperament. There is a story of a priest who always preached…
Read MoreLetting Creation Lead Us Back to the Creator
Created things can easily draw our gaze away from the One who fashioned them. The world is drenched in goodness, so much so that its radiance can eclipse our desire to look beyond it. A simple domestic scene teaches the point: once a meal is served, the cook is forgotten; when children receive gifts, delight…
Read MoreCalled, Consecrated, and Commissioned: Our Shared Identity in Christ
When Saint Paul writes to the Christians in Rome, many of whom he has never met, he introduces himself with three powerful truths: he is a slave of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle, and set apart for the Gospel of God (Rom 1:1). These words reveal not only Paul’s vocation but the shared…
Read MoreGrace in Action: Thanksgiving Reflection on the Gratia Vobis Feeding of the Poor in Nigeria
A Grace-Filled Mission of Love. As we pause to reflect on the grace-filled experience of the Feeding of the Poor event, our hearts are filled with gratitude to God, whose providence and mercy guided every moment of this sacred mission. What unfolded in our midst was far more than a distribution of food—it was the…
Read MoreWhat’s Wrong with Oaths?
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells his followers not to swear oaths. He is not talking about legal oaths in court, or the solemn promises made in a wedding ceremony, those have their place. What he is warning against is the casual or manipulative use of oaths to convince others we are telling…
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