Posts by Fr. John Bosco Obiako
HOLY SUSPENSE: THE REASSURING PRESENCE OF MARY
Many countries, including the Vatican City, celebrated the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord last Thursday. Other countries, due to pastoral reasons or convenience, are celebrating the Solemnity of Ascension today, which is supposed to be the Seventh Sunday of Easter, of course, approved by the church’s liturgical calendar. Our reflection is on the…
Read MoreAcceptance and Encouragement in Faith Community
As we approach the conclusion of the Easter season, the daily scriptures during this time shift our focus from the initial awe of the Resurrection to the practical realities of building a living Church Community. Today’s First Reading from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 18:23-28) offers us a beautiful blueprint for how early believers…
Read MoreTransfiguration of Pain
In today’s Gospel, Jesus does not simply say that sorrow will be replaced by joy, but that sorrow will turn into joy (John 16: 20). He uses the raw image of childbirth. The very source of the mother’s intense pain becomes the direct mechanism that ushers in her ultimate happiness. Our earthly trials are not…
Read More“VIOLENCE” IN GOD’S NAME
“They will expel you from the synagogues; in fact, the hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God”. The above statement, taken from the Gospel of John (16:2), confronts us with one of the most painful and paradoxical contradictions of faith experience: violence perpetrated in the name…
Read MoreUnderstanding
In today’s First Reading (Acts 8:26-40), we encounter a profound moment of seeking: an Ethiopian official sitting in his chariot, reading the prophet Isaiah. Despite his high status and literacy, he remains in the dark about the heart of what he is reading until Philip asks, “Do you understand what you are reading?” His humble…
Read MoreCOURAGEOUS WITNESSES OF THE GOSPEL
In today’s first reading from Acts, we find Peter and the Apostles standing before the High Priest and the Sanhedrin. They are being interrogated for ignoring a direct order to stop preaching in Jesus’ name. Peter’s response is the heartbeat of our faith: “We must obey God rather than men.” Think about the pressure they…
Read MoreSEARCHING FOR TRUTH AND MEANING IN LIFE
In today’s Gospel (John 3:16–21), we continue to reflect on the journey of faith taken by Nicodemus. The passage brings us to the heart of a late-night encounter, an event that has resonated throughout history. Nicodemus, a man of notable status and learning, stands in the shadows. Despite his wealth of knowledge and esteemed position,…
Read MoreFaith and the Challenge of Belief
Who among us has never exclaimed, “I don’t believe it,” upon hearing something astonishing or seemingly impossible? Such a reaction is natural, especially when faced with news that defies our expectations or seems too marvelous to be true. This very sentiment was experienced by the Apostles when they learned of Jesus’ resurrection—a revelation so extraordinary…
Read MoreGet Up and Move On
For thirty-eight years, the man reported in today’s Gospel has been lying by the pool. He is not only paralyzed in body, but also in hope. He waits for someone to immerse him in the water. He waits for an opportunity. He waits for life to change from the outside. Jesus approaches and asks him…
Read MoreSeeing Correctly
Often, we think we see things clearly and understand how the world works. But sometimes, we fool ourselves or are fooled by others. We can fool ourselves because our view of reality is shaped by biases or missing information. We can also be misled by appearances, since power often works by changing how we see…
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