Posts by Fr. John Bosco Obiako
Active Obedience to God’s Word
The scene from today’s Gospel (Mt 21, 28-32) is the Temple of Jerusalem. Jesus was there teaching the crowds; some chief priests and elders of the people approached, interrupting him rudely and asking him for explanations about who had given him the authority to do what he was doing (cf. Mt 21:23-27). These individuals thought…
Read MoreHoly Silence
There’s a saying that goes, “there is no one more deaf than the one who does not want to hear.” Today’s Gospel shows us the tricky question that the priests and elders of the people pose to Jesus. Their question is not one of wanting to understand but of wanting to have something to accuse…
Read MoreOur Littleness Before God
Having reached the midpoint of our Advent journey, the prophet Isaiah reminds us of a great and important reality not to be forgotten: in the eyes of God, the smallest is the greatest, because his eternal compassion measures us not from our presumed achievements, but from our radical need for salvation and life. It is…
Read MoreUnpretentious Servants
“We are unprofitable servants; we have done what we were obliged to do”. (Luke 17:10) · LI Unprofitable? In what sense? Does it mean that we are of no use at all? Jesus did not say these words in today’s Gospel to humiliate us or make us feel we are worthless! Instead, they are wise…
Read MoreDOUBLY BLESSED
In today’s Gospel pericope, we read of the proclamation of blessedness in relation to Mary, the Mother of Jesus, and by extension to all Christians. Of the two beatitudes expressed to Mary in today’s Gospel, one is spoken by a woman, perhaps a mother, who raises her voice in the midst of the crowd, declaring…
Read MoreChristians and Nonviolence
After presenting the Beatitudes, the keys that reveal where happiness lies (the Gospel of yesterday, Lk 6:20-26), Jesus now indicates the way to reach that true happiness. It is a hard path full of thorns, but worth taking. His words, in the Gospel of today, are demanding. “Love your enemies.” How can we love our…
Read MoreAvoiding Scandals
In today’s Gospel, we see Jesus paying the temple tax after the people asked his disciples if he should not pay taxes. Jesus is the Son of God, the Lord of all, and certainly, he would not have to pay taxes, but having become man, he fully lived our human condition. Today’s Gospel exhorts us…
Read MoreBENEDICTUS: Speaking Good of the Other
Today we celebrate the feast of Saint Benedict, the Patron Saint of Europe and the father of Western Christian monasticism. He remains a shining example for every Christian, regardless of their state in life. Benedict as a name originates from the Latin name Benedictus (the feminine version would be Benedicta). Etymologically, it comes from two…
Read MoreSt. Barnabas: A Saint of Hope and Encouragement
Recently overwhelmed by a myriad of activities, I forgot to prepare my June 11 reflection presentation. An email reminder revealed it was late. Rushing to my computer, I consulted my Missal and discovered it was the feast of Saint Barnabas, “Son of Encouragement.” I pondered what to share about the Gospel or the Saint. Opening…
Read MoreIn The Hands of God
A short Gospel, just four verses, about who God is and who we are. Jesus is the Good Shepherd, and we, the sheep, are in the hands of God. This is the message of this Sunday, also known as the Good Shepherd Sunday. Today’s Gospel is for each of us. We may be full of…
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