Posts by Fr. John Bosco Obiako
Be Careful Not to Forget
One of the many recommendations that the Lord gives to his people through Moses is “not to forget”. Many times, God asks his children to “remember,” that is, to bring back to their hearts all that He has done for them, all that they have seen and experienced. Forgetting is perhaps one great “disease,” if…
Read MoreStay on the Right Line
After fasting as a key pillar of Lent, today’s liturgy focuses on an essential attitude: charity. The main message is clear from the beginning: what truly counts is our tangible actions of love toward others. We live in a world where people are classified into myriad categories: professions, academic qualifications, social status, accumulated successes, the…
Read MoreThe Lord Sighs
The Lord sighs. In today’s Gospel, we are introduced to the Pharisees, who attempt to trap Jesus by seeking grounds to accuse Him. They request a sign from Jesus. Like them, we sometimes seek signs from above to better understand our circumstances or make wise decisions. We often look for signs from God and even…
Read MoreThe Law of the Lord and Us
Today’s readings lead us to reflect on the theme of the “law of the Lord,” as the refrain of the Responsorial Psalm (Ps 118) reminds us, “Blessed are those who walk in the law of the Lord.” A fundamental instrument to observe any law is wisdom, not that of the rulers of the world, but…
Read MoreOur Lady of Lourdes
Today is the optional memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Lourdes. Many pilgrims from all over the world travel to this French town to ask for Mary’s intercession for their own healing or that of others. And Jesus himself in the Gospel reveals himself as the source of all healing for man, even to…
Read MoreTHE LORD CALLS AND SENDS
In today’s Gospel, the Lord calls the Twelve to himself and begins sending them out two by two. Here is the sign of every vocation: it is the Lord who calls and sends. Many times, we can self-appoint or auto-call ourselves to things we like; we do many things because they make us feel useful,…
Read MoreWhen the Lord Calls
The first thing we find in today’s Gospel is that Jesus goes up the mountain, and after praying, he calls those he wants; he makes use of his freedom and calls. Those called also respond freely: “they went to him.” Vocation is the meeting of two freedoms. Today, Jesus also calls us to be disciples…
Read MoreHeroes of Faith
We often see reports of heroism in the news and elsewhere: individuals risking their safety, well-being, or future to help others. While countless acts of heroism occur daily, only the most extraordinary—those that shock and generate headlines—are typically reported. Consider a pilot safely landing a plane with engine failure to save passengers, or firefighters rushing…
Read MoreDIVINE TOUCH
“If you will, you can make me clean” (Mk 1:40). In the leper’s prayer in today’s Gospel, there is everything: his faith, his fragility, his surrender. He asks for no explanations, demands no guarantees, and he does not express any sense of entitlement. He only trusts. Jesus looks at him, is moved, reaches out his…
Read MoreDivine Solidarity with Humanity
Today, on the feast of the Baptism of Jesus, the evangelist Matthew tells us about Jesus at the River Jordan, where he does nothing else: he doesn’t preach, he doesn’t perform miracles, he doesn’t call disciples. He is simply in line with the others, with the sinners, immersed in the water like everyone else. And…
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