Posts by Fr. Nnaemeka Paschal Ajuka
Leaving Down Our Load
“Come To Me All You Who Are Weary …” Jesus blamed the religion of his day for burdening people, imposing on them unnecessary demands, and making the Law harder to observe than it should be. He reaches out to people who feel burdened and excluded by all sorts of harsh teaching. And he promises them…
Read MoreThe Power to Forgive
The Book of Kings reports the divine punishment that was predicted for Queen Jezebel, for contriving the murder of an innocent man. Elijah declared, “The Lord said, ‘The dogs shall eat Jezebel within the bounds of Jezreel.’” On the other hand, King Ahab wins a reprieve of his sentence, for acknowledging his guilt in the…
Read MoreHoly Thursday
Tonight, we as Christians, arrive at the point in our journey of Holy Week where we gather around the table. Together we commemorate and remember a meal shared, not only by Jesus and his disciples on the night before he died but shared by our ancestors for generations. And we are reminded of our call…
Read MoreTwice as Much
Bountiful Compassion “Be merciful, just as your father is merciful.” Pardon must be bestowed so generously upon anyone who has hurt us, that it runs over and pours into the folds of one’s own garments. We are expected to bestow twice as much love as the other person showed us hate, twice as much trust…
Read MoreA Call To Services
This story of four men carrying their friend to Jesus is a powerful call to be helpful where we can. They were so determined to get him to Jesus that they opened a hole in the roof above Jesus when their way through the door was blocked because of the crowd. They wanted to get…
Read MorePromises. Promises
We value people who keep their word to us. We appreciate those who are true to the promises that they make to us. The Lord also appreciates our efforts to be true to the promises we make to Him. In today’s Gospel, Jesus tells a parable about two sons. The first did not keep the…
Read MoreThe Return of the Son of Man
Metaphors like “burning your boats” or “burning your bridges,” suggest a radical option with no turning back. Having your lamp alight is a gentler image, but still a good one, for meeting the challenge of life. “What shall be the outcome?” is the question posed in both Old and New Testament. Where is this world…
Read MoreThe Blood of Martyrs
Paul bases his ministry on the belief that all human beings, of whatever race, are called to salvation through Jesus Christ. By contrast, today’s Gospel alludes to the murder of many prophets in Old Testament times. Old Testament terms often resonate in Paul’s writings. They include: the justice of God, the glory of God, redemption,…
Read MoreThe Exaltation of the Holy Cross – Feast
The tragedy of Calvary and the Cross of Christ has remained my spiritual source/power. The meaning that I could make in light of my religious/spiritual development, cultural understanding, and family dynamics is that God is at the center of my life encounters from birth to this physical world, to my spiritual discovery and reawakening when…
Read MoreThe Words of Joshua
Joshua led the children of Israel across the Jordan and into the promised land to take up their promised inheritance. And as his death drew closer, he gave a farewell speech to the nation, which had been chosen by God to be a holy nation unto the Lord and a peculiar people unto Himself. Joshua rehearsed…
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