​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 which draws us to repentance because we know the Lord is already inviting us to His mercy.
 
As 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.
 
Jesus noticed that the multitude was hungry. Having fed them with the Word, he wanted to be certain they weren’t starving. He didn’t simply wish that they get food. He did all he could to feed them.
 
Big lessons 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? In fact, 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 feeding 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 miracles of the feeding of the four thousand, as well as the feeding of the five thousand, are symbolic as they point 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).
 
Praying for a deeper love for the Eucharist and the 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]

Grace to you!
 
Suppose you were to have one chance to make a petition to the Lord, what would that be? What is that one prayer point, the answer of which will positively change everything else in your life and history?
 
Answers will definitely vary depending on one’s age and status in life. Knowing that one thing, that one thread uniting others in the chain of blessedness, is the step to self-fulfillment. Following through with that one thing is reaching fulfillment. 
 
Solomon is called the wise for good reason. His story in the bible, especially in 1 Kings 3:1-13, fits any discussion on visionary leadership. He was able to see the one thing that determined the success, or otherwise, of his service as king. He asked the Lord for the understanding to distinguish good from evil. This will enable him to know the right thing to do and do it, as well as know the wrong thing and avoid it. “Knowledge,” a philosopher says, “is power.”
 
The desire to be wise, to understand evil from good, is a holy and praiseworthy desire. Anyone who is concerned about what is right, who wants to do what is right, is indeed a blessed child of God. The person is truly wise.
 
Wisdom is a priceless gift from God. Possess it and you have all you need to live happily and live in joy. Wisdom and understanding help us, too, to know when to say no and when to say yes. In wisdom, we find a sense of balance too. Too many things surround us. We need wisdom and understanding to make right choices also.
 
When the apostles related to Jesus the good news of their successes after the mission he sent them to preach and heal the sick, the Lord Jesus said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest a while.” (Mk 6:31). 
 
Wisdom helps us to know when to go and when to stop. It is discernment to know when we need to be refreshed. Without wisdom, we would lack the basic sense of right and wrong and what leads to peace. 
 
I pray with the Book of Wisdom for the wisdom to know what is right and the courage to do it. I pray also for you to find a sense of balance amidst the fast pace of life today. Amen.
 
God love you. God bless you. 
 
Fr. Maurice Emelu 
 
[Saturday Week 4 B: 1 Kgs 3:4-13; Mk 6:30-34]

Grace to you! 
 
I love Church liturgical feast days. Through them I appreciate more and more the blessings of divine providence.
 
Feast days are special to me. In them I find a little of the heavenly blessings in store for us. I also find a little of what I could become by the grace of God. 
 
Today, in our Catholic tradition, we celebrate the feast of the presentation of the Child Jesus in the Jerusalem temple. A normal Jewish ritual of presenting a son to the Lord following specific guidelines prescribed in the Law of Moses (Exodus 13:12-15 and Leviticus 12:1-8), took on a prophetic tone when the prophesy of Malachi 3:1-4 was fulfilled: “The Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple...” (Mal 3:1). 
 
The Gospel of Luke gives us some details about the joy and excitement of those who witnessed the parents of Jesus presenting him to the temple. The devout and righteous Simeon exclaimed in joy, singing the nunc dimitis— “now Lord let your servant depart” (Lk 2:29-32). Anna, the prophetess and widow, who spent most of her days praying in the temple, also praised God who has come to His temple (Lk 2:36-38).
 
God’s true and living temple is you. How about a situation where God is welcomed into His temple, which is you—a situation where every part of this body of yours and mine, from the arteries to the veins, the blood to the tissues, the heart and soul; indeed, our DNA is so nurtured in the spiritual sense, making our entire being a welcome home for the Lord through the enduring consent of our will? How about God taking full possession of us?
 
How about a situation where our emotions, passions and sentiments are a resounding yes to the Lord, our Maker, the light of the world? Such a situation could be what the presentation of the Lord in the Jerusalem temple over 2000 years ago represents for the individual. Then we will be beaming with that light which lights up the darkness in the world and in the hearts of many. 
 
There is one more spiritual way to look at it. How about we present ourselves to the Lord, who is abiding in his temple (us) in such a way that God and us are so united we think what God thinks, walk in His footsteps and become His voice for others to hear and be saved? The Lord who is light illumines us so we shine the light for everyone to see. 
 
May I ask: Is God the owner of your heart; or rather, are you offering your life back to the Lord who is the owner of this temple? How much control of your life and affairs have you surrendered to God? Or, are you afraid or hesitant to do so? There is freedom and joy in letting God be in charge.
 
Praying for the grace of devotion and surrender to the will of God. Amen 
 
God love you. God bless you. 
 
Fr. Maurice Emelu 
 
[Friday Presentation of the Lord: Mal 3: 1-4; Lk 2:22-40 or 22-32]

Grace to you! 
 
As I do my morning walk through the streets of Sarasota, Florida—where I will preach a mission on the Healing Power of Forgiveness this weekend, and enjoy the gentle breeze and the fresh air of the clean city, I reflect on the beautiful story of the mission of the twelve apostles.
 
The twelve apostles were sent by the Lord to spread the Good News of the kingdom. They were to greet any place or people with peace. They walked the streets, preaching repentance and casting out demons. They also healed the sick (Mk 6:7-13). There was authority and power behind their words and actions.
 
The authority and power of their ministry sprung from the authority and power of the one who sent them. They were sent. They did the bidding of the sender.
 
When someone is sent on a mission, the person is simply a messenger and not the owner of the mission. When God calls us for His unique work, whether as ordained ministers or as men and women in our everyday life, we are mere messengers sent for His purpose. The effectiveness of the mission will lie on our connection with the owner of the mission. This entails following the parameters He has set forth for the mission, including the leadership structure flowing from the apostles.
 
Some would say: of what use is ecclesiastical bureaucracy which stifles the mission by setting forth many rules and regulations for the mission? Why won’t an ordained minister be free to minister whenever, wherever and however he pleases; after all, the field is the Lord’s? Why must there be parameters at all, though the Spirit blows wherever he wills?
 
Thoughts like these seem to forget that one who is sent does not send oneself. Many times, God speaks to us through a chain of command. This is necessary to guide the faith of His people and guarantee the continuity of the mission.
 
A missionary Armageddon where anyone does anything and preaches anything would be a safe haven for the spirit of confusion and disorder. Such a spirit is far from the spirit of peace, the spirit of order, which is at the center of the mission. 
 
Tradition is a beautiful thing. The office of the episcopacy is an excellent gift through which the grace and gifts of the mission are nourished and granted to God’s children. 
 
Saint Ignatius of Antioch, one of the earliest fathers of the Church, was prophetic when he said: “Wherever the bishop shall appear, there let the multitude of the people also be; even as wherever Jesus Christ is, there is the Catholic Church" (Letter to the Smyrnaeans, Ch 8).  The office of the bishop speaks to us about this missionary spirit, as one who is sent to oversee, nourish and guide the Body of Christ.
 
I pray for the grace of constant awareness of the missionary zeal and authority as one sent. Amen. 
 
God love you. God bless you. 
 
Fr. Maurice Emelu 
 
[Thursday Week 4 B: 1 Kgs 2:1-4, 10-12; Mk 6:7-13]

Grace to you!
 
A certain man landed his dream job in a renowned oil company. His salary was in the high six figures and he could afford to send his children to his desired private, prestigious schools. His relationship with his wife was like an endless honeymoon and no one ever raised his or her voice in his family. One day, news broke that the company where he was working was terribly hit by an oil crisis. Layoff of staff was inevitable. Unfortunately, he was one of the victims.
 
No sooner had this happened than the dynamics of the family changed. The man and his family couldn’t manage the crisis. He became depressed and wished to end his life. Thank God, a Catholic priest paid him a visit and ministered to his spiritual needs. The prayer and encouraging words from the priest inspired him to look to the future with hope.
 
Are there storms in your life? The storm could be anything that tests your faith and makes you anxious; from death of a loved one, declining health condition, loss of job, hopelessness due to poverty, betrayal, shocking family hostility, etc.
 
Have you been living through this storm terrified and worried about your life situation? Do you suppose your life has no value anymore as to think of ending it?
 
Here is the good news: The Lord Jesus is here to calm the storm. He did it over two thousand years ago by the Sea of Galilee and he still does it. Connect with the story of the calming of the storm as recorded in Mark 4 and tap the power therefrom.
 
Jesus was in the boat with his apostles crossing over the sea. He was asleep. A great stormy wind and the waves started to beat their boat so much that it was about to sink. The apostles woke him and said, “Do you not care if we perish?” (Mk 4:38). 
 
Many ask the Lord similar questions: Do you not care what is happening to me and my children? Do you not care that I’ve lost my job?  Do you not care I can’t pay my bills? Do you not care I am drowning in depression? There could be many “Do you not cares” in your life. However, you have to know and believe that the Lord actually cares; he speaks peace to the storm condition.
 
Know this: When Jesus is asleep in our lives; that is, when we allow the storm of our lives to dwarf the reassuring presence, providence and protection of God; when we get engrossed in bad situations, we wouldn’t be able to see the silver lining on the horizon. We have to trust that God will not let us down. Look up and not down. Faith and trust in the Lord keep us going through the stormy conditions.
 
Similarly, let us be open to the support systems God brings our way when we are engrossed by worries. You will find such, for instance, in the community of believers, in the Church, in fellowship where the warmth of worship at the Eucharistic Celebration heals the crunching pains of our worries. You will find that too through the reading of God’s Word in the bible. You may find that as well by reaching out to a believing friend, a pastor, or a minister who could encourage you.
 
Do not allow your worries to silence you. Tell the Lord about it. Sometimes, it may be appropriate to share with a trusted friend too. Sorrows shared are sorrows reduced.
 
I pray God to intervene in the storms of your life.  Amen.
 
God love you.  God bless you. 
 
Fr. Maurice Emelu
 
[Saturday, Week 3 of Ordinary Time: 2 Sm 12:1-7a, 10-17; Mk 4:35-41]
 

Grace to you!
 
I will love to use the opportunity of the memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus to reflect on one of the three Ps (product, process and people) of leadership, namely people. There are so many emphases on how services and products are created and promoted, that often, many tend to forget the people at the core of these.
 
Fr. Robert Spitzer, former president of Gonzaga University USA, and currently the president of Magis Center, in his book The Spirit of Leadership, wrote extensively on how 21st century leadership must adequately focus on developing people. The book is a good read.
 
It is people that are at the heart of development in society. It is people who are called to evangelize. In my ongoing research on New Media and Evangelisation, part of my doctoral thesis, I have argued about this focus on the person (people) as a necessary step to engaging culture.
 
It is people who once evangelized turn to become evangelizers. It is people who are touched by the life of the leader who later become great leaders. It is people inspired by a priest in one rural parish who later want to become priests. It is people who saw the sacrifices of veterans who later join the forces themselves. The same applies to many other fields of human endeavor.
 
The world has become so noisy that hardly anyone hears the preaching of the gospel anymore, except the lived life of the gospel. Witness of life is focused on people, not structures. It is definitely not focused simply on the products to be delivered and the process of making and delivering the products. These are important, but ignoring people is a colossal failure.
 
A great leader inspires vision; not only in the sense of the organization’s vision, but also in the sense of mentorship. It is the kind of mentorship that inspires the mentee to emulate the mentor, at least, in some ways.
 
Such is the kind of context inspiring me today to appreciate the memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus. They were mentored by Saint Paul, who called them his sons (see Titus 1:4; 2 Timothy 1:2). We celebrate their lives, as well as remember through their example, Saint Paul, who proved himself a leader of excellence, the one who not simply wanted to build infrastructures, but to build hearts and souls for the living God. 
 
Inspire one heart, and you change the world. Win a soul for the Lord and you have achieved more than the cerebral philosopher who is locked in his library trying to prove a point while losing a soul.
 
Make people see Christ in you, even through your vulnerabilities, and you have created an environment of humanity truly alive. Such is a good Christian example of spiritual investment—investing in people.
 
I pray that God will continue to inspire us so we inspire and mentor others. Amen
 
God love you. God bless you.
 
Fr. Maurice Emelu
 
 
[January 26, Memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus, Bishops: 2 Tim 1:1-8; Mk 4:26-34]
 

Grace to you!
 
Have you dialogued with a fanatic? I mean those whose opinion about anything has become an ideological mold for perception of reality; those not ready to engage or listen to any alternative argument or perspective no matter how truthful and factual it may be? Engaging a fanatic in a discussion is difficult, if the person would even give you a chance. 
 
Many fanatics are also activists and some become violent because the temptation to force others to belong to their camp is high.
 
Converting fanatics is a tough task. Nevertheless, if fanatics convert, they tend to be very convinced. It seems to be in their nature to be faithful to what they believe.
 
From the story of the conversion of St. Paul, I will suggest some keys to converting a fanatic. The story is recorded in Acts 9:1-22 and also retold by Paul himself in Acts of the Apostles 22:3-16.
 
St. Paul used to be called Saul before he was converted to Christianity. He was a Jew and a Pharisee. Pharisees are those members of Judaism who believe in the strict observance of the Law of Moses. Paul was also a Patriot, a zealous defender of the faith of the Jews and a renowned attorney, who studied under Gamaliel, known during his time as the best and most respected Professor of Law. Paul was from a semi-wealthy family and grew up in a neighborhood that could be compared to living in the Silicon Valley of California or Manhattan of New York. However, he was a fanatic.
 
The result of Paul’s fanaticism led to violence, the first public violent persecution of Christians.
 
Engaging Paul in an argument was not an option for the believers. Nevertheless, the believers had a powerful tool to engage him—prayer.  They prayed for his conversion.
 
Finally, on the way to Damascus, to carry out the persecution of Christians, God intervened and touched the heart of Paul, ultimately leading to his conversion. He, who used to persecute Christians, became a firm believer in the Lord. “Nothing is impossible for God” (Lk 1:37).
 
One of the keys to conversion is prayer. Conversion can only happen by the grace of God. Believers would be making a big mistake if they suppose conversion of people happens because of the sophisticated nature of their Christian arguments. These are good, don’t get me wrong, but actual change of heart is God’s grace acting in the soul. So, spend more time praying for the fanatic than arguing with the person.
 
There are many other keys to conversion, like sharing God’s word with the heart of love, witness of life, etc., but accompanying the person through prayer, through spiritual support, avails much.
 
Do you know some people hard to convince about the way of the Lord, try praying for them; try loving them and try speaking words inspired by the love of God. God, the fountain of love, may stir their hearts and bring conversion.
 
May you receive the grace of evangelization. Amen.
 
God love you.  God bless you.
 
Fr. Maurice Emelu
 
[Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul: Acts 22:3-16 or 9:1-22; Mk 16:15-18]