Posts by Fr. Nnaemeka Paschal Ajuka
A 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…
Read MoreThe Burning Bush in Our Lives
Today, for a moment, Jesus gives us insight into his innermost thoughts. After he spent some time in prayer, hear the actual words of his prayer. He prays: “Father, Lord of Heaven and Earth, to you I offer praise; for what you have hidden from the learned and the clever you have revealed to the…
Read MoreRADICAL LOVE OVER REVENGE
Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount presents a call to generosity of spirit, willingness to go the extra mile, turning the other cheek and showing love over revenge. It is an ideal for radical love, pure love modelled after Christ. The saints live that model. Their lives demonstrate the hidden potential in each of us to…
Read MoreFear God Not Humans
In our biblical text today, we have the second arrest of the apostles of Jesus. The Gospel of Luke informs us that this is the second phase or second attempt of the leaders in Jerusalem to get rid of the apostles and their teachings. They threaten them by commanding them to stop teaching in Jesus’ name.…
Read MoreSpiritual Blindness and Rebirth
I was in the middle of the “unknown” until I had a divine visitation on February 12th, 1996, during my seminary formation days. I dreamed of the appearance of Jesus bleeding profusely and the blood was dazzling. Initially, I couldn’t recognize Him because he presented himself as a priest I know. The second time I…
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