READINGS AND REFLECTIONS FOR THE WEEK (28th July to 3rd August, 2013)

Sunday, July 28, 2013 (Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time)
Readings
First Reading: Genesis 18:20-32
Psalm: Psalm 138:1-3, 6-8
Second Reading: Colossians 2:12-14
Gospel: Luke 11:1-13

Reflections
Out of the mouth of infants and of sucklings, O God, Thou hast perfected praise, because of Thy enemies.
-- Psalm viii. 3

Monday, July 29, 2013 {St. Martha (Memorial)}
Readings
First Reading: Exodus 32:15-24, 30-34
Psalm: Psalm 106:19-23
Gospel: John 11:19-27 or Luke 10:38-42

Reflections
The father of the just rejoiceth greatly, let Thy father and mother be joyful, and let her rejoice that bore Thee.
-- Proverbs xxiii. 24,25

Tuesday, July 30, 2013 (Weekday)
Readings
First Reading: Exodus 33:7-11; 34:5-9, 28
Psalm: Psalm 103:6-13
Gospel: Matthew 13:36-43

Reflections
For this is why the Word became man, and the Son of God became the Son of man: so that man, by entering into communion with the Word and thus receiving divine sonship, might become a son of God.
-- St. Irenaeus, Adversus haereses

Wednesday, July 31, 2013 {St. Ignatius of Loyola, Priest (Memorial)}
Readings
First Reading: Exodus 34:29-35
Psalm: Psalm 99:5-7, 9
Gospel: Matthew 13:44-46

Reflection
Come ye after me and I will make you to be fishers of men; and they, immediately leaving their nets, followed the lord.
-- Matt. 4: 19-20

Thursday, August 01, 2013 {St. Alphonsus Liguori, Bishop, Doctor of the Church (Memorial)}
Readings
First Reading: Exodus 40:16-21, 34-38
Psalm: Psalm 84:3-6, 8, 11
Gospel: Matthew 13:47-53

Reflections
He who walking on the sea could calm the bitter waves, who gives life to the dying seeds of the earth; he who was able to loose the mortal chains of death, and after three days' darkness could bring again to the upper world the brother for his sister Martha: He, I believe, will make Damasus rise again from the dust.
-- St Damasus (from an epitaph written for himself)

Friday, August 02, 2013 {Our Lady of the Angels of Portiuncula (Solemnity)}
Readings
First Reading: Sirach 24:1-4, 16, 22-24
Psalm: Psalm 34:5, 7, 9-10, 18-19
Second Reading: Galatians 4:3-7
Gospel: Luke 1:26-33

Reflection
The more Christian and conscious people are of their dignity and of their vital role in the Church, the more they urgently feel the need for priests who are truly priests.
-- Pope John Paul

Saturday, August 03, 2013 (Saturday Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary)
Readings
First Reading: Leviticus 25:1, 8-17
Psalm: Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 7-8
Gospel: Matthew 14:1-12

Reflection
Fidélium ánimae per misericordiam Dei requiéscant in pace. Amen May the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
-- Fidélium ánimae

NOBODY FORCED ME INTO ISLAM CHARITY UZOECHINA INSISTS!!!

I wonder if she did this for the love of the religion or for money, you know we are very sharp in Africa, very very very Sharp, especially the Females!!!

MISS Charity Uzoechina, who still lives in the palace of Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, after converting to Islam, has finally broken her silence. She called on Nigerians to leave her alone to practice the religion of her choice.

Charity, Now Amina!!

In a telephone conversation with Vanguard yesterday, Charity insisted that nobody forced her into the religion and that she should be left alone.

She said: “I did it on my own. Nobody forced or enticed me to become a Muslim. I converted to Islam on my own. Am I the first to convert to Islam in Nigeria? So what is it?”

Her father, Pastor Raymond Uzoechina, had earlier said that Charity was abducted and hypnotised to say and do what she was doing. He challenged the Nupe to produce Charity in court for cross-examination by his lawyer.

However, Charity said: “I know people are influencing my father and I am praying for him and other members of my family to know that this is the right religion.”

On whether or not she would go home with her father if eventually the rift was settled, Charity, who has changed her name to Aisha, insisted that she was not interested in going back home with her father.

She said: “I am not going back to my father because of his actions in recent times. He has been threatening me and at my age (25), I am free to practice any religion of my choice and so, I should be left to decide.

“If I want to sue him to court, I can at this my age because it is my right to practice any religion I want.”

Niger CAN intervenes

Meanwhile, Niger State chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, has waded into matter and hoped that the issue would be resolved out of court before the August 1 date for ruling on the appeal filed by Pastor Uzoechina on the earlier ruling of the Sharia, granting the palace custody of Charity.

Niger State CAN Chairman, Rev. Musa Dada, told Vanguard that CAN had visited the Etsu Nupe’s palace along with other CAN officials from Abuja officially on the matter and that plans were on to settle the case out of court.

Rev. Dada, who was reluctant to discuss the issue in details, simply said: “We have met with the Etsu Nupe and other stake holders involved at the Etsu’s palace and we have made progress.

“I can assure you that probably before the August 1 (Thursday) date, when the case is expected to come up at the Sharia Court, Bida, something positive is likely to come out which will put an end to the rift.”

Source: See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2013/07/nobody-forced-me-into-islam-charity-uzoechina-insists/#sthash.NuLpEqjW.dpuf

Quote of the Week; Pope Francis on GAY people Things!!!

Our Very Holy Pope Francis is very sharp, true or false?


According to the Associated Press, below is what Pope Francis said when quizzed about gay priests during his transatlantic flight home following a week-long trip to Brazil...

Pope Francis

"Pope Francis reached out to gays on Monday, saying he wouldn’t judge priests for their sexual orientation.... "If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?" Francis asked.

Below is a longer version (and slightly different translation) of the Pope's quote via NCR:

"When I meet a gay person, I have to distinguish between their being gay and being part of a lobby. If they accept the Lord and have good will, who am I to judge them? They shouldn’t be marginalized. The tendency [to homosexuality] is not the problem...they’re our brothers.”

READINGS and REFLECTION FOR TODAY Sunday, July 14, 2013 (Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time)

REFLECION FOR THE DAY
Before Me there was no god formed, and after Me there shall be none;
for every knee shall be bowed to Me, and every tongue shall confess
Me.
-- Is xliii. 10, Is xlv. 24

READINGS FOR TODAY
Sunday, July 14, 2013 (Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time)

First Reading: Deuteronomy 30:10-14

Psalm: Psalm 69:14, 17, 30-31, 33-34, 36-37 or Psalm 19:8-11

Second Reading: Colossians 1:15-20

Gospel: Luke 10:25-37

NBC’s Axe Dangles OnPastor Chris Oyakhilome!!!

9ja IT professionals: NBC’s Axe Dangles On
Pastor Chris Oyakhilome
!!!:

The axe of Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation, NBC, is currently dangling on Pastor Chris Oyakhilome of Christ Embassy Church. Lately, the funky pastor......pls read more