Posts by Fr. Luke Ijezie
Living in the Presence of God
Living with a contemplation of beauty gives great satisfaction. But living everyday in the presence of such beauty gives the greatest joy. We have been told that the greatest beauty one can ever contemplate is God. I have often wondered how this God is. But we are also taught that He is far greater than…
Read MorePaul’s Conversion Encounter with Jesus
Today the Church celebrates the conversion of St. Paul, who is regarded as the Apostle to the nations. The first reading of the day’s liturgy from Acts 22: 3-16 (cf. Acts 9: 1-22) recounts, in graphic details, the story of Paul’s conversion. The turning point was his encounter with Jesus on the way to Damascus.…
Read MoreGift of Light and Joy
Light is a reality that is often taken for granted in most parts of the developed world. This is not so in most parts of the developing world where light energy is still a luxury commodity. In my part of the world, where most people don’t have the privilege of enjoying light for twenty-four hours…
Read MoreLiving with the Hope of a Better Life after Death
The most significant and most inspiring aspect of the Christian religion is its doctrine of life after death. It gives a sense of tranquility and orientation to the present life. Without such belief, one can hardly cope with the disappointing experiences of the present life. While Christianity inherited the belief in the resurrection from Judaism,…
Read MoreBeing Responsible Custodians of God’s Gifts
Life is a gift from God, and everything we have comes from God. This imposes on us the obligation to care for these gifts knowing that we are beneficiaries of divine love. The readings of today remind us that we are God’s servants entrusted with many gifts. We are to give account of how we…
Read MoreMarvellous Experience of Liberation
God is always at work in our lives in ways we can never explain. This is the foundation of genuine Christian spirituality. We never come to realise it until something marvellous happens to us. I can never forget my experience one Sunday afternoon. I was travelling on a lonely road, far from home, and the…
Read MoreBeing Pleasant and Loving
Relating well with people is a powerful virtue. Those who have it spread goodness everywhere because they move about with pleasantness and compassion. Another name for this is love, which is a deep feeling of friendliness and goodwill towards another. All these are captured in the readings of today. Naomi and Ruth as Examples of…
Read MoreSuffering and Joy in Discipleship
Being a Christian is not easy, and more especially in the present age of free thinking. It is a life of suffering and trials. But it still remains the best type of living because it assures the greatest blessings and the best future. Jesus alerts all who follow him that it is a sweet experience…
Read MoreLiving with Confidence in the Midst of Opposition
We are often encouraged to live with courage and confidence. But there are situations when courage becomes a task and confidence evaporates. There is nothing as horrible as one living in the midst of adversaries whose only pleasure is in bringing harm and antagonism. In such a situation, one’s life is always precarious. Fear is…
Read MoreChristian Commitment to Unity
The question of unity is a question that confronts every generation of Christians. Many factors today make unity a real task, as Christians are easily divided on ideological lines and on the basis of other considerations. This internal disunity very much hampers the work of spreading the gospel. The Gospel of today from John 17:20-26…
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