Grace to you!
 
All around us, we make choices, don't we? We choose our home, our car, our food, and the movies we see. Not all these choices turn out as expected, yet we wanted them anyway.
 
For instance, one may not understand the importance of choosing a comfortable shoe until one wears a pair of shoes that hurt. The shoes may look fancy and beautiful, but they are heavy and improperly aligned. Because of the look, some may prefer them to a more comfortable, though less lavish shoe. The choice for the fancy over the suitable has consequences.  
 
In nature, every choice we make has implications—good, bad, and ugly. It's how God has made nature. God desires us to choose from the abundance of his blessings in the world.
 
Scripture emphasizes this truth: “If you will, you can keep the commandments, and to act faithfully is a matter of your own choice. He has placed before you fire and water: stretch out your hand for whichever you wish. Before a man are life and death, and whichever he chooses will be given to him” (Sirach 15:15-17). The Lord Jesus himself said about the Torah and the Prophets, "I have not come to abolish…but to fulfill" (Mt 5:17). He then gave us higher standards for life and asked us to make tough choices rooted in love of God and love of neighbor. 
 
Some may say, why would there be many choices for us? Why would God allow evil amidst the good, making the decision more difficult?
 
My response, permit me, is in the form of a question: Why freedom? Why the right to choose if there is only one thing from which one can choose? The concept of choice would be ridiculous if there were no alternatives on the list.
 
Moreover, the beauty of being human is that we can choose. 
 
In nature, God has inscribed the Law, and through Divine Revelation, he has shown us the good to choose and the evil to avoid. Not only did God do it on the tablet of stone in the Old Testament, but Christ also came in-person to reveal what real life in God is and what it entails.
 
God put in our souls the seed of his awareness, his voice, and that of morality, conscience, so we can choose what is good and avoid what is evil. His love, life in Christ, is poured into our hearts through the Spirit (Rm 5:5). It enables us to desire what the Spirit of the Law Giver is, both within and outside of us. 
 
When God created us, he looked at all he made, and "it was very good." Meaning, the best possible world ever to be made has been made by God. Creation and the complexity of the moral law follow the laws set by the Creator. God has inscribed the laws and their accompanying reward in nature. We receive what we choose.
 
When the law in our hearts responds positively to the law of God, there is a sort of holy marriage within us. In such is living according to the Spirit of the Law. There is joy and true, transforming freedom. However, when there is a disconnect between the law within and the law outside of us, spiritual conflicts arise. Those conflicts reverberate.  
 
Heaven is where the law within and the law outside finally become one, as designed from the beginning. Hell is where the separation reaches untold, unbearable proportions of conflict and pain.
 
May God give us the grace to choose wisely, all the time. Amen. 
 
God love you. God bless you.
 
Fr. Maurice Emelu 
 
[6th Sunday A: Sir 15:15-20; 1 Cor 2:6-10; Mt 5:17-31 or 5:20-22A, 27-28, 33-34A, 37]

Photo Moses by Dimitri Conejo Sanz, Cathopic.com
 

Grace to you!
 
In his second encyclical, Dives in Misericordia (Rich in Mercy), published 30 November 1980, Pope John Paul II writes of the incredible mercy and compassion of God. He reminds us that God is rich in mercy. 
 
God's compassion reaches out to people as a group and as individuals. It is the mercy of God that draws us to repentance because we know the Lord is already inviting us to His mercy.
 
As the Lord Jesus went about preaching, healing, and doing good, he wasn't caught in the euphoria of popularity and large followership. He does all things well. His heart of mercy and compassion flows like a river towards those in need, just like God the Father seeks out those who are in need.
 
The Lord noticed that the multitude was hungry. Having fed them with the word, he wanted to be sure they weren't starving. The Lord didn't merely wish that they get food. He did all he could to feed them (Mk 8:1-3).
 
Great lesson for us today. As we preach God's Word, do we also notice the social needs of the people? A hungry person, they say, is an angry person. The Gospel should also inspire us to seek out and help those in need. It is a crucial aspect of the Gospel we preach.
 
Notice the Lord did the miracle from what the people have. We won't wait until we become billionaires before we help the less privileged among us. What is that dime, that bread, that fish, that extra we have, that little thing you have? It can go a long way. Going the extra mile to help the poor is the way of the Lord. Graciously offer what you have for someone who needs it the most. Sharing what we have, no matter how small, is a blessing.
 
There is a deeper spiritual meaning to the miracle of the feeding of the four thousand. At the Eucharistic celebration, during the "Presentation of the Gifts," the presiding priest prays: “Blessed are you, Lord, God of all creation. Through your goodness, we have this bread to offer, which earth has given and human hands have made. It will become for us the bread of life." He says a similar prayer regarding the wine, and the congregation responds, "Blessed be God forever."  
 
We bring gifts to the altar. Those gifts are fruits of our hands. They grew from our farms or are bought by us. They are symbolic of what we bring alongside ourselves to the Lord for the offering. The gifts are transformed into the Body and Blood of Christ. 
 
The Lord feeds us with himself. The miracle of the feeding of the four thousand, just like the feeding of the five thousand, is symbolic. It points to many who will be refreshed and nourished by the Eucharist. We come to Jesus in the Eucharist and receive life to the fullest.
 
The Lord says: “Unless you eat of the flesh of the son of man and drink his blood, you will not have life within you” (Jn 6:53).
 
I pray for a more profound love for the Eucharist. I also pray for a firm commitment to service and help for the poor in our midst. Amen.
 
God love you. God bless you.
 
Fr. Maurice Emelu 
 
[Saturday Week 5 A: 1 Kgs12:26-32; 13:33-34; Mk 8:1-10]

Photo source: Dimitri Conejo Sanz. Cathopic.com  

Grace to you!
 
Every human being has his or her defaults. They are those behavioral traits or attitudes we always fall back to, especially when we let down our guard. I know some of my defaults, thanks, in part, to feedback from friends and family. For instance, I struggle with dealing with people who tell lies. It gets to me. Another is that I love nice clothes and polished shoes. If heaven is for people who care less about how they dress, I think I would work harder to make it to heaven. There are other things, like some expressions I use more readily than others during spoken communications.
 
I don't know if you have discovered your defaults too. Leadership research shows everyone has their defaults. There is nothing wrong about that, especially when those defaults aren't evil. Defaults are expressions of our personality. They are our traits. They could be a blessing, contributing to our uniqueness as individuals. They could also be a hindrance to a virtuous life. Here is how.
 
Often, our defaults build on our background and our culture. Gradually they mix with our norms and morals. Indeed, they become part of our tradition. We love our tradition, and we own it. But if some aspects of that tradition, no matter how they grew, do not glorify God and promote love for all, we may remain with that default. It blocks the way for redemption to take place.
 
Don't suppose I am talking about native or cultural traditions only. I am also thinking of traditions among faith communities in the Church. See them as the way we do things and the beliefs, attitudes, and values we imbibe. Sometimes, Godly traditions can intermingle with our defaults that do not honor God, and we find it hard to separate the two. I would use what happened to me to show an example.
 
I often sit in a particular spot of the chapel when I come for my early morning private Eucharistic Adoration, Bible meditation, and prayers. One day, I went into the chapel and found someone was already occupying my space. It was about 4:00 am. Did you know I was so uncomfortable taking another position in that chapel? By the way, the chapel has over 20 empty pews. It took me some minutes to get that off my mind and quiet down and pray. 
 
I know many people, like me, who can't concentrate during church fellowship because somebody has taken the spot where they sit. It's a default that can be a barrier to inner peace.  
 
In the Gospel of Mark 7:1-13, the Lord addressed this issue. He condemned sticking to traditions that are not Godly. Such are traditions that make it difficult to worship God in Spirit and Truth. They are traditions that prevent us from loving one another. They hinder peace and growth. The Lord wants us to stick to those traditions that build God's kingdom. Godly traditions are redemptive.
 
If I may ask, have you discovered your defaults, those things you fall back on, and cherish? They may be an obstacle to a Godly life, barriers to love, and peace. They may be those things that distract you from your goals in life. How about consider doing some re-examination? Don't be shy to seek feedback from friends and families. They may help you see your blind spots.  
 
If you know your defaults, you may want to ask the Lord Jesus and the Holy Spirit to keep them in line with the redeeming tradition. God has revealed the redemptive way in Christ. He continually renews it in the Church. Trust God. There is redemption taking place even when something is a habit.
 
I pray for the renewal that comes from within through the Spirit. Amen. 
 
God love you.  God bless you.
 
Fr. Maurice Emelu

[Tuesday Week 5:1Kgs 8:22-23, 27-30; Mk 7:1-13] 
Photo source; Cathopic.com

Grace to you!
 
A fair portion of the success of evangelization in the southeast of Nigeria was the sacrifice of missionaries from Ireland and France. They came to Onitsha, across and beyond the River Niger in the second half of the 19th century. To be precise, the French Catholic priest Fr. Lutz led the team in 1885. They saw the needs of the people. They noticed they couldn’t read or write. They knew that the inability to read or write wouldn’t equip the natives for the future. So, they focused on education. They believed that with education, the native people could have better opportunities. 
 
Next, they saw the health condition of the citizens. They invested in providing basic health care. They set up clinics and later hospitals. They started to fight poverty. They knew in their bones that if one has not satisfied the basic necessities of life, it could be a hindrance to the joyful experience of the gospel. The missionaries invested in programs that would make food and clean water more available to those who were poor. They offered so much. 
 
Meanwhile, some other missionaries were carrying their Bible and preaching the fast. They quoted various verses of Scripture but offered little, if any, concrete charitable services to the community. Why preach fast to a people whose lives were routine fasting? Why preach abstinence from fat and meat and dietary needs to a people who have no meat at all to eat? This strategy failed woefully in eastern Nigeria. It fails everywhere. 
 
On the other hand, the delegation of Fr. Lutz and others who followed in his footsteps was very successful. The result was infectious. Despite the challenges, the natives realized that this crop of missionaries wasn't like the rest. They saw they hadn’t come to take but to give. They saw, they prayed like never before, and got their feet wet too in serving the poor in the community. The outpouring of their hearts to the natives was palpable. It wasn't long before large numbers of people started to congregate in the corners of the church huts. Then, they began to learn the Bible and the Catechism. The result was the fast growth of the Church in eastern Nigeria. One hundred thirty-five years later, millions profess the one true faith.
 
To be sure, the Church in eastern Nigeria isn’t perfect. No particular Church is. But the growth of the faith is mind-blowing. 
 
During the early days of Christian life in Onitsha, where I learned Catechism like any other kid, the faith was always tied to the corporal and spiritual works of mercy. We knew them by heart. It was drilled into us that faith without good works is dead. We were taught to pray and work. Social justice wasn't a new gospel. It was an integral aspect of the gospel. It wasn't social gospel versus praying gospel. It was and is still both. We were taught to profess our faith and lift the burdens of the poor as well. We were taught to spend hours in the adoration chapel and hours serving food and clothing to the poor. It wasn’t the church of the chapel adorers versus the church of the social justice advocates. It was both. 
 
It wasn't anything new. Neither is it something novel. In the Prophecy of Isaiah, the Lord rejects ostentatious piety. It lacks the core ingredients of charity in action. We learn from the Prophecy of Isaiah what true fasting, and by extension, true religion, is. It is to share our bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into our house. It is also to clothe the naked and not to avoid the needy in our midst. It is also to pour oneself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted (Is 57:7, 10).  
 
The Lord tells us that we are the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Mt 5:13-16). These are metaphors. Yet, they have a much deeper meaning. As salt, we are what makes things of taste, good. We serve as preservatives to the good things the Creator has bequeathed the world too. Well, these—taste and preservative roles—are the most common understanding of the salt. For the snowy cities, salt could serve the role of defrosting the ice; yet, it may also serve the role of damaging the roads. There are numerous other ways of looking at it. It could speak to that condition in which we are unnoticed and yet make things taste good. It could be becoming that which melts and permeates into the fabric of society with the warmth of our love. Of all food ingredients, salt is about the fastest to dissolve. It dissolves completely. No one sees it, yet it impacts everything else in the soup.  
 
It is so with anyone born anew in Christ. We become that unassuming and unnoticed ingredient that holds the world in good taste. In our prayer and our social justice works, we carry the heart of true love and hands of pure love. We pour ourselves. We daily die so those around us may live well. None pretentious self-emptying is part of who we are as believers.
 
Such is light too. Natural light is everywhere but seems nowhere. Except for artificial lights or bulbs, you notice that nobody points to it, yet it is everywhere. Sometimes, people don't notice, but the impact is everywhere. Have you ever walked out on a bright day and paid attention to the sun? You walk in the light. It shines. It permeates. You enjoy its rays while it goes unannounced. So is the life of a true believer. 
 
How is this possible? It is when our religious devotions are grounded in sensitivity to the ethical demands and needs around us. It is when we don't just say things, we do them. It is when we realized that one life, we positively impact is worth much more than all the prayers and fasting, that we load up. It is when we shine because Christ lives in us. And like Christ, we live and move and shine. It isn't merely our devotions and prayers that shine. It is everything we do, even our constant commitment to serve and give to charity.
 
Faith without good work is simply dead (Jas 2:17). As the Jewish Biblical scholar Michael Fishbane (2002) notes, "Ritual must be grounded in moral sensibility and action” (Haftarot, p. 393). 

I am praying for the grace to pour ourselves out for the good of those around us, for it is in dying that we find life.
 
God love you. God bless you. 
 
 
[5th Sunday A: Is 58:7-10; 1 Cor 2:1-5; Mt 5:13-16. Image source. Cathopic.com]
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Grace to you!
 
Have you seen one of the series of the television program called Hoarders?  It is one of those programs that could make anyone think through some choices we make in keeping things we do not need. 
 
The hoarder believes everything he or she keeps in the home is essential, indispensable. Thus, over the years, they accumulate so much stuff. They do not have breathing space in their homes anymore. Those things become hazardous, and the hoarder doesn't seem to be aware of it.
 
There was this true story told of a clergy who never allowed people into his bedroom. Not even the rectory cleaner was allowed either. When he died, people found there were bottles of wine and bottles of water stacked in there. These were in addition to so much junky stuff that may have been there for three decades. Those things were smelly, making the room unlivable. He never drank, but he accumulated wine he never used. I understand, sometimes, this can be a health condition. Those in a situation as this need our prayers.
 
Let's refocus attention on other forms of hoarding. Who would you call a hoarder? Are they only the people featured on the television series Hoarders? I don't think so. For me, hoarding could be in different degrees, from simple to complex. A hoarder is anyone who keeps things he or she doesn't need and would hardly give it out. Those could vary from pairs of shoes, clothes, food, cars, etc.
 
The psychology of a hoarder is a form of attachment to stuff and the inability to let go. This attachment grows over time. It becomes more severe because the older we get, and if we are attached to things, the more challenging to downsize.
 
For those called to ordained ministry, this could distract from the mission. Many a parish priest who is attached to things finds it very difficult to sacrifice for the cause of the Lord. Attachment to things could be a barrier to the ministry.
 
One of the specific instructions the Lord gave to the twelve apostles when he sent them out in twos to go and preach was detachment. Let me read a piece of that instruction. "He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff, no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics" (Mk 6:8-9).
 
For me, it hit home the point that detachment is necessary to effective ministry. It doesn't mean that the ministers of God should not provide for tomorrow. It means that trust in providence keeps us alert to the calling of God. It keeps us close to the needs of God's people, many of whom struggle every day to make both ends meet. Some sort of minimalism concerning the property we keep is healthy for the soul.
 
The message of detachment is vital for many today. It could help us in making the right economic decisions for our tomorrow, downsize when needed, and avoid hoarding stuff we do not need. When next you are in the shopping mall, do you pause before you pay for one more item you don’t really need?
 
If I may ask you, don't you think it is the right time to donate those pairs of shoes you have not worn for years to charity? Don't you think somebody who has no shirts could make better use of your spare? Remember, all material things have a life span. 
 
God love you.  God bless you.
 
Fr. Maurice Emelu

[Thursday Week 4: 1Kgs. 2:1-4,10-12; Mk 6:7-13]

Grace to you!
 
Did you observe that many times, your greatest critics are your people? Many times, the 
most dismissive of your achievements or contributions are those who know your background pretty well. As the saying goes, "familiarity brings contempt."
 
A speaker joked that a consultant hired within 50 miles of the hiring organization is underrated. If the hire is from 50 miles or more away, everybody welcomes the person as a renowned expert. How true this is today and how true it was during the time of Jesus.
 
The Lord Jesus had preached and performed many miracles outside of his town. He had thousands of followers, including those who marveled at his words. Many confessed that no one matched his wisdom and eloquence. When he came to his hometown of Nazareth (Mark 6:1-6), people rejected him. Or at least many were dismissive of him. It wasn't because his words were less profound. They marveled at his words. Instead, they judged him based on his family lineage. His father and mother didn't go to Ivy League schools. His relatives didn't belong to any of the elitist class either. He didn't have any clout. Therefore, they weren't giving him the acknowledgment due to his groundbreaking impact.
 
In essence, in my opinion, their problem was envy and jealousy. It was also deep-seated prejudice and lack of openness, which prevented the people from looking beyond their biases. Often, people confuse wisdom with family or educational background, but the two aren't necessarily the same.
 
What I may call unreasonable appeal to authority could be a stumbling block to discovering the truth. It happens when we accept something simply because of the credentials of who said it as if to say wisdom lies in certificates alone. A professor friend of mine calls it academic demagoguery. Because so and so person from this top university or corporation said it, it must be true, is the death of real liberating knowledge. 
 
The truth is the truth, irrespective of who said it. Just as what is false is false even if it came from the mouth of Albert Einstein.
 
To be sure, knowledge is power. It is also cumulative. It builds upon one another, depending on how many ideas with which one has dialogued. Those ideas may come from books, articles, one-on-one interactions, and other educational resources, such as going to school. Advanced degrees equip one for a deeper level of dialogue with these ideas, or more effective methods and methodology of enquiry. Indeed, a person of one hundred books is better than a person of one book. The Angelic Doctor, Saint Thomas Aquinas, once cautioned against the man of one book.
​
May we not be blind to the wisdom that comes from the humble, the pure, the simple-hearted.  Wisdom comes from unexpected sources too. God "exalts the humble and humbles the arrogant
" (Mt 23:12).
 
Judging people based on what their words and actions are and not merely because of where they come from is a good practice. Martin Luther King Jr. advocated for the excellence of judging people on the content of their character too. By so doing, we will be enriched by the wisdom from the unexpected, from the pure. The Lord Jesus is the epitome of that wisdom. He grants it to anyone who notices that God goes on working even in the simplest things in life. 
 
I pray for the grace of discernment. Amen. 
 
 God love you.  God bless you.

Fr. Maurice Emelu 
 
[Wednesday Week 4: 2 Sm. 24:2,9-17; Mk 6:1-6]

Grace to you! 
 
I read the beautiful stories in Mark 5: 21-43, and I'm thrilled by the healing grace, mercy, and compassion of the Lord. I'm also captivated by the faith of the two characters (Jarius and the woman suffering from hemorrhage) who were immediate beneficiaries of God’s healing grace. God’s Word in Scripture is refreshing.
 
The woman had suffered from profuse bleeding for over 12 years. She spent all her money seeking medical help without any success. She heard about the Lord Jesus. She may have heard he is the messiah or that he has performed signs and wonders from God. What she heard opened her to the gift of faith in the Lord. Her confidence grew as she came closer and closer to where Jesus was. "Faith comes by hearing" (Rm 10:17).
 
She saw the Lord as the crowd followed him. She wasn't part of the original crowd. Nor was she invited as the disciples were. Yet she knew that with God, everyone is invited. Whether she showed up in front or behind was irrelevant. Showing up from the back would do for what she wanted. Shame or insecurity because of her condition wouldn't stop her from meeting the Healing Lord. The teaming crowd following the Lord wouldn't be in her way or stop her either. She was focused and knew exactly what she wanted. She also knew the key to unlocking the favor she was seeking.
 
What she wanted was a touch. It was a touch on that cloth worn by the Savior. Precisely, to touch the tassel or fringes (tzitzit) attached to the Jewish prayer shawl (tallit), which Jesus, as a religious Jew, wore. A typical religious Jewish man at the time of the story wore the tassel, as many Jews do today. It’s a reminder of God's commandments and the call to holiness.
 
The woman saw the connection between a "relic" and a person. In this case, it was the connection between Jesus, the Lord, and what he wore. Whatever the Lord wears is already a source of blessings. This woman's faith is incredible. It's inspiring. Love it. I call it faith in the little things that matter because they come from the Lord.
 
The woman had a target, a goal. She was a believer, not a fan. Many in the crowd were mere fans, following the crowd of the celebrity. Not for this woman. Her faith paid off because the Lord doesn't refuse genuine faith. She was healed. Power went out of Jesus as she touched him.
 
The second case in this Biblical story of Mark 5: 21-43, concerns Jarius, a synagogue official. He approaches Jesus, interceding for the healing of his daughter, who was sick. Scripture says Jarius' daughter was twelve years old (Mk 5:42). What a coincidence that the woman is suffering from hemorrhage had been bleeding for twelve years, and Jarius’ sick daughter was also twelve years. 
 
Biblical stories are full of symbols­­—twelve tribes of Israel, the twelve apostles, etc. The number twelve appears at least 187 times in the Bible. It speaks of authority and perfection. In some ways, it could relate to those men and women across the world, who the Lord, the Son of David, offers grace of redemption. We all are spiritually networked to the excellencies of the symbolic number twelve in the apostolic rootedness.  
 
News came that Jarius' daughter was already dead. The messenger suggested he wouldn't need to bother Jesus any longer since the daughter was already dead. The Lord jumped in to reassure Jarius of his providence and confirm his faith. The Lord knows the critical time we need him the most, and he saves the day. "Do not be afraid," the Lord said to him, "just have faith."
 
The Lord accompanied Jarius to his home and raised his daughter from the dead, asking them to give her food to eat.  
 
There are many lessons from these two stories. One is that faith is the key to unlocking the blessings of God. Have faith. Keep faith and see that your salvation is near.
 
Also, Jarius and the woman who was suffering from bleeding wouldn’t be stopped by the negative news or obstacle. The crowd could have prevented the woman from touching Jesus. She didn’t allow it to happen. Messengers of the bad news about the death of Jarius’ daughter had already suggested he quit, but the Lord reassured him. 
 
Sometimes, the greatest discouragement you get regarding your faith comes from the voice of the crowd or those who do not see the way the Lord sees. Naysayers are all around us. Please do not listen to them. To the unwise, the audacity of faith is senseless. For the person of faith, there are limitless opportunities.
 
So, what do you do? How do you keep your faith alive and secure? How do you not miss an opportunity of grace or miracle?
 
Keep an eye on Christ, the Lord. "Looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith" (Heb 12:2). Focus on God. Such a spiritual attitude keeps you on target to your blessings.
 
I pray the Lord confirms your faith as he did for Jarius and the woman suffering from hemorrhage. Amen. 
 
God Love you. God bless you. 
 
Fr. Maurice Emelu 
 
[Tuesday Week 4 Ordinary Time B:2 Sm 18:9-10, 14b, 24-25a, 30; 19:3; Mk 5:21-43]