St. Augustine's catholic church Owevwe, Ughelli

01/01/2025

Happy new year 🎉 to you all

27/08/2024

27/08/2024

Daily Homily Broadcast by Fr. Abu:
*Woe to You, Scribes and Pharisees*
_(Tuesday, 27 August 2024. Readings: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3,14-17, Ps. 96:10-13, Matthew 23:23-26)_

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fji_m_4zzs8

_*“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you, tithe mint, dill, and cu**in, but you have neglected the law’s weightier matters: justice, mercy, and faith. It is these you ought to have practised without neglecting the others.” (Matthew 23:23)*_

Today’s Gospel passage calls for a deep examination of conscience. Once again, we must remember that Jesus never set out to condemn these religious leaders; his words were uttered out of love so that they would wake up from their slumber and make them apply the needed changes in areas where they were getting it wrong.

- Today, we hear Jesus accusing the Scribes and Pharisees of emphasising tithes so much while ignoring the law’s weightier matters, such as justice, mercy, and faith. Jesus says the tithe issue is like a fly compared to a camel. If I begin to preach that failure to pay tithe is equivalent to going to hell, God will judge me severely for turning the truth upside down.

- Jesus did not condemn tithing; He said it is less important than justice, mercy, and faith. This means that on the last day, God will never ask why you refused to pay your tithes. Instead, He will ask you why you failed to practice justice, mercy and faith. We will be judged for failing to feed the hungry, giving drinks to the thirsty, visiting the sick and the prisoners, etc. If you do not feel like tithing or you do not believe in it, you are not sinning.

- Some have asked me if using their tithes for charity or giving them to their parents is okay. Now you know the answer: justice, mercy and faith (which can only be expressed by good works) are more important than tithes. Even if you believe in tithes and practice them faithfully, remember that God is not a money doubler and that your blessings do not depend on your tithing. God blesses His children according to His will, not according to their offerings. This is why many non-Christians are wealthy and successful and do not tithe.

- In today’s First Reading, St. Paul writes to the Thessalonians: “Let no one deceive you in any way.” (2 Thessalonians 2:3). There were many false preachers in those days who did not understand the scriptures and were busy misleading the Christians regarding the end of the world (The Lord’s Day). Today, we still have many preachers who deceive Christians by making them part with their hard-earned money in the name of tithes and seeds. Brothers and Sisters, let no one deceive you. Man of God, do not become a burden to your parishioners in the name of tithes.

- We Scribes and Pharisees today are more concerned about the number of people who come to our churches than the quality of their spiritual lives. We wash the outside of the cup; we make the people feel good, yet inside, their hearts are full of corruption, wickedness, and evil. As churches increase exponentially in our cities, crime and evil also increase. True change can only begin from the inside. As the saying goes, if you want to change the world, begin with the man you see in the mirror.

- Today, we celebrate Saint Monica. She was a woman of excellence, a mother to the core, a woman who believed that with God, nothing is impossible, and a true mother who would never give up on her wayward son. This woman believed in the power of prayers and continued to pray even when it seemed as if her boy was getting worse every day. Today, we celebrate a mama-father, a mama-bishop, and a super mum who knew the art of raising a child. St. Monica is an icon of true motherhood, a great patron of mothers, and a shining example of the meaning of what it takes to be a mother.

- Like the widow who kept pestering the unjust judge, St. Monica prayed relentlessly for her son, St. Augustine. Like the Canaanite woman who was prepared to receive insults from Jesus for the sake of her possessed daughter, St. Monica went through thick and thin for her son Augustine.

Let us pray: Almighty, ever-living God, give us the grace to practice what we preach so that our life may not preach a gospel different from our lips. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.

*Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. May God’s abundant blessings be upon us all. (Saint Monica. Bible Study: 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3, 14- 17, Ps. 96:10-13, Matthew 23:23-26).*
Fr. Evaristus E. Abu

https://www.bhlpmedia.com/daily-homilies/woe-to-you-scribes-and-pharisees-6

Liturgy of the Word with Fr. Evaristus E. Abu - Tuesday of Week 21 in Ordinary Time (Year II), Memorial of Saint Monica, Mother of St. Augustine - Jesus did ...

27/08/2024

SAINT MONICA OF HIPPO
Born in 331AD into a Christian family in Northern Africa, Monica married a non-christian with whom she had four children, the oldest being Augustine.Thanks to her prayers and influence, her husband received baptism, but it would be much later on, after great perseverance and ongoing prayer, that Augustine would embrace Christianity. She died at Ostia(Italy)in 387, her mission accomplished. She told her son Augustine at a later time "Son, for my part I no longer find any joy in anything in this world. What am I still to do here and why I am here I know not, now that I no longer hope for anything in this world. One thing there was for which I desire to stay a little longer in this life, that I should see you a Catholic Christian before I die. This God has granted me in super abundance in that I now see you his servant to the contempt of all worldly happiness. What then am I doing here?"
That's the brief on the life of Monica.
She is the patroness of widows.
She is the patroness of difficult marriages.
Saint Monica is an exceptional woman.
Join me to celebrate this exceptional woman who was told by Saint Ambrose of Milan that "a child of many tears never perish".
Every woman and potential mother should see in her an example.
I pray for every widow today especially my own dear mother who joined the college of widows in the year 2013 that God will make you all winners like Saint Monica.
I pray for all mothers having the challenge of coping with difficult children that your child of many tears will not perish in the name of Jesus Christ!
I pray for all those going through difficult marriages that you will experience breakthrough in the name of Jesus Christ.
AMEN.
Saint Monica. Pray for us!

26/08/2024

Daily Homily Broadcast by Fr. Abu:
*Woe to You, Scribes and Pharisees*
_(Monday, 26 August 2024. Readings: 2 Thessalonians 1:1-5,11-12, Ps. 96:1-5, Matthew 23:13-22)_

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cD2tC-Io3es

_*“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you lock people out of the kingdom of heaven. For you do not go in yourselves, and when others are going in, you stop them.” (Matthew 23:13)*_

As the Book of Sirach would say, “For everything, there is a season and a time for every matter under heaven…” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). From the tone of Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel passage, this is a time for serious examination of conscience. Before this time, Jesus spoke in very soft (diplomatic) language. He even used several parables to drive home his messages to the Pharisees. Still, given that they did not understand (or make efforts to change their ways), Jesus went direct – He pointed out their sins and pronounced “woes” on them.

- Today’s Gospel passage is a reminder (a tiny glimpse) of what Judgment Day would look like. Do not get carried away with the reality of God’s mercifulness to the extent of throwing caution to the wind. On the Last Day, we shall be reminded of our misdeeds and the countless opportunities we were given to repent of them.

- The fact that Jesus was very hard on the Pharisees in today’s Gospel passage also tells us that being a good teacher requires a combination of several teaching methods. There is nothing wrong with using honey to catch flies, but sometimes, you must apply the rod – say it as it is. Your listeners should cry (or feel insulted) than for them to remain in darkness because you are afraid of telling them the truth.

- Jesus was doing them a favour by announcing woes to the Pharisees. Only a true friend will tell you the truth about yourself. Many preachers (pastors, priests, church leaders, etc.) wallow in darkness because they have surrounded themselves with praise singers. We, men of God, believe we are perfect because everyone respects us, and since no one is bold enough to correct us, we no longer see anything wrong with our sinful behaviours. Like these Pharisees, we take many things for granted, not knowing their negative effects on the flocks entrusted to our care. Are you a man of God? Appreciate your critics. Listen to them; do not consider everything as an insult. No one is above correction.

- Jesus accused the Pharisees of shutting down the kingdom of heaven. Am I an obstacle to those who sincerely desire to become saints? What scandalous things do I do in secret that must stop? Secondly, Jesus accused them of travelling far and wide to convert people only to make them perfect candidates for hell. Am I simply interested in increasing the number of people coming to my church? Am I more concerned about offertories, tithes, and seeds than the spiritual nourishment of my flocks? Thirdly, Jesus accused the scribes and Pharisees of not teaching the truth regarding swearing and oath-taking. How sound is my theology? What efforts do I make to update my knowledge?

- One word which summarises Jesus’ pronouncements against the Pharisees is
“hypocrisy.” W. L. Walker, in his article in the ISBE Bible Dictionary, writes: “The word ‘hypocrisy’ generally meant, in classical Greek, stageplaying, acting, the histrionic art; hence, it came to mean acting a part in life, etc. We find it in this sense in 2 Maccabees 6:25. It means “to pretend,” “to feign,” “to make as if”, etc.” The truth about pretence (acting the part) is that it doesn’t take time before it becomes obvious you are only a fake.

- In today’s First Reading, Paul commends the Christians in Thessalonica for their steadfastness amid persecution, a testament to their faith’s authenticity. Trials tend to sieve true Christians from hypocrites. In the face of great difficulties, all pretence melts away. Only a true Christian will remain in Christ when the wind blows hot. For instance, the crowd sought Jesus because they wanted bread. After eating bread the first time, they wanted to make Jesus a king (this was just a pretence). When Jesus refused to repeat the miracle of the loaves, their true colours came out; they walked away from Jesus. If you walk away when it is hot, you don’t deserve to be here when it is cool.

Let us pray: Almighty, ever-living God, cleanse us from all hypocrisy. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen.

*Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. May God’s abundant blessings be upon us all. (Monday of week 21 in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: 2 Thessalonians 1:1-5,11-12, Ps. 96:1-5, Matthew 23:13-22).*
Fr. Evaristus E. Abu

https://www.bhlpmedia.com/daily-homilies/woe-to-you-scribes-and-pharisees-5

Liturgy of the Word with Fr. Evaristus E. Abu - Monday of the 21st Week in Ordinary Time (Year II) -Only a true friend will tell you the truth about yourself...