Revelation 7: 2-4; 9-14; 1John 3: 1-3; Matthew 5: 1-12A (Thursday, November 1, 2007 – Solemnity of All Saints)

When I was growing up, we lived near an army memorial park. In the park there was a life size statue of a soldier on a Nigerian Army uniform. Every 15th of January, the veterans marched and paid homage to this soldier. As a little child, I always wondered who he was and what he did to achieve such great honors. It was at an older age that I learnt that he was a symbol for all the unknown soldiers that died serving the country. Today is the day we celebrate all those people who lived exemplary Christian lives that might be unknown to other people. Usually on this day I invoke the intercession of those people that I personally know whom I believe strive to live daily their Christian lives when they were living here on earth: I remember family members who have died; I remember those missionaries who labored to share their faith with my rural people; I remember those Christians I prayed with and anointed on their dead beds; I remember friends who died very young but lived their whole lives hoping to return to their eternal home one day.

Today is also a day we Christians celebrate our call to be saints. We are all called to sainthood because we have been elected by Christ to be members of the sanctified community. As members of the sanctified community, every moment of our lives most be sanctified – it must be an opportunity to respond to this call that we have received from the Lord. Thus, we must see our responsibilities and professions as moments that God has given to us to gain grace.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for calling us to be saints. May you help us to see each moment of our lives as an opportunity to respond to you, so that one day, we together with all the saints will rejoice with you in our eternal home.

Luke 4: 38-44 (Wednesday, September 5, 2007)

Jesus continues to rebuke demons. In today’s gospel, we are told that after casting out demons, he went to a deserted place to pray. The nature of his ministry is that of combating evil forces. He realizes the power of prayer, if this ministry must continue to be successful. Again and again in the gospels, we will see Jesus leave to a quiet place to pray. The world we live in is that in which we are constantly been plagued by evil forces. If we want to be successful in this battle, we must make out time every day from our busy schedules to pray. It is in prayer that we receive the power that we need to continue to fight the power of evil in the world. When you strive to be the person that God wants you to be, the devil generously works overtime to overcome you. This means, you must also pray overtime in order to be victorious. Find time during the day to pray that God give you victory over Satan. Prayer to St. Michael the Archangel, is a very powerful prayer you can use.

Prayer:
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in the day of battle, be our safeguard against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray. And to you o thou prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell, Satan and all the evil spirits who seek the ruin of souls.

Matthew 20: 20-28 (Wednesday, July 25, 2007 – Feast of St. James)

The mother of James and John desires higher authority for her son. Jesus Christ in the gospel gives us the Christian meaning of authority. For the gentiles, authority means Lording it over others. We see this all over the world with the corrupt and dictatorial governments. Unfortunately, many persons who call themselves Christians are engaged in this unchristian practice. Jesus Christ in the gospel tells us that Christian authority is for service. This was the ultimate example of his own life when he did not want to be crowned a political king but he took on the form of a slave and died a shameful death on the Cross. The Apostles of Christ understood clearly this teaching of Jesus and they were always at the service of his people. St. James the Greater whose feast day we celebrate today took this example of Jesus seriously. He became the first apostle to be martyred.

In our daily lives, let us take seriously this teaching of Jesus. Opening the door for someone, attending to the needs of others in the community, treating others with respect and love and little but great acts of service we can do. To be the people God wants us to be, we must make ourselves available to others who need us.