Tag: #Peter Obel Abue

….Being A Sermon Delivered on First Sunday of Advent.

The Advent season has come. The season that reminds us of peace even in the midst of darkness. The prophet Isaiah describes these times using the image “pruning hooks” (read Isaiah 2: 4). A pruning hook is an instrument that was used by Israelite farmers to cultivate the land and feed the people. It is meant to remind us of growth and development, not war and discord. At the time of Isaiah’s prophecy, the kingdom of Judah was preparing for war.

Jerusalem, the capital city, was in danger of being destroyed, yet Isaiah saw a bright future; Jerusalem, far from being destroyed would be the center of the world and the starting point of movement towards universal peace (Is. 2: 1-5). Yet Isaiah sees hope, where all others see war? This prophet had the audacity of hope, the firm belief that things would get better, and so he awakened the people to turn their spears of war into pruning hooks of peace and growth through hard work. That’s the “good news” this season (advent) brings to us.

This year, no doubt has been a year full of “wars” for some. There are lots of threats from one end to another. Even now, there are threats of terror going around, bandits hiding in bushes ready to attack. Denials of Christian genocide even when brothers and sisters are being massacred in their numbers. Our security is being threatened from within and from outside.

Within our households are disagreements and discord in all corners. They are even quarrels and lots of fights among family members Yet now, more than ever is the time to turn these war instruments into pruning hooks, otherwise, we are not ready for the season. Jesus also used familiar images, not necessarily to cause fear, terror or anguish in our minds, but to remind us of the need to be VIGILANT if we must claim the peace he offers us this season (Matt. 24: 37-44). It is not going to be a walk-over. We must be VIGILIANT.

In Noah’s days, there were two kinds of people: those who failed to shine their eyes, but were concerned with enjoying themselves alone and those who were vigilant, who foresaw the coming of the flood, who heeded God’s warning and became the fathers of a new humanity (vs. 37-39). The people in Noah’s day were going on with their day to day lives, doing normal things. Some were working in the fields and grinding flour (Vs. 40-41).

Many didn’t live sinful lives but perished with the flood. Their only crime was: not “shining their eyes” to the times they lived in. they were not quite awake to prevent the Burglar (v. 43). The peace Christ offers can only be claimed with vigilance. Yes, true peace is won at a high price, and we must stand ready to claim it because Jesus offers it to us at a platter of gold at this special season of advent.

PHARISEE
(Religion of merits)

The Pharisee was an upright and honest man. He kept God’s laws. He avoided all sins. He was not a thief, adulterous and unjust. In fact he did even more than was required of him. For example, the Law prescribed fasting once a year (Lev. 16: 29), but the Pharisee fasted twice a week. The farmer at harvest time was to give the tenth part of his main crops but the Pharisee would go beyond that and pay from his own pocket for other farmers (Deut. 14: 22-27). However, in spite of his moral integrity, the Pharisee takes up the wrong attitude in the sight of God (Luke 18: 9-14). What was his mistake? He went to the temple thinking wrongly that his good deeds would merit him a good standing before God.

The Pharisee practiced a religion of merits; wrongfully thinking that because he was a man full of good deeds, he had an automatic ticket to salvation and that affected his prayer life. Anybody performing good deeds and relies solely on that to gain God’s attention, cannot merit anything in the sight of God. He must only be thankful to the God who helps him to stay on the right course to happiness. In other words, he must stay humble before God. What finally brings God’s attention to us is not our money, our good deeds, our titles, but a sincere and humble disposition before God; “For he is a God of justice who knows no favorites” (Sir: 35: 12).

The Tax Collector on the other hand! He was not the meek man that we imagine. In fact, he was an experienced thief, a heinous exploiter, a jackal. He did not steal from the rich, he exploited the poor, forcing miserable peasants to pay exorbitant taxes. Jesus was not praising the Tax Collector at all, nor does he approve of his sin. He only says that he was taking the right attitude in the sight of God. At the end of the day, that’s what matters; our attitude in the sight of God especially at prayer because a sincere attitude can turn the devil into an angel. Scripture says: “the prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds; it does not rest till it reaches its goal…and the Lord will not delay” (Sir. 35: 16-18).

Disclaimer: The opinion expressed in this article is strictly that of the author, Peter Obele Abue PhD, and does not represent TheLumineNews, its agent or the organisation the author works for.

EPHPHATHA!

By giving full attention to a deaf man and finally commanding that his ears “be open”, Jesus fulfills the prophecy of Isaiah on him through the pronouncement of Ephphatha (which means ‘Open up’). “He took him away by himself, away from the crowd… looked up to heaven and with a groan said: Ephphatha! (Mk 7:33). Here, the old order has passed away; a person long abandoned, who was depressed and dispirited has come back to life. To this very person, the Prophet Isaiah had foretold that “the eyes of the blind will be opened, the ears of the deaf will be unsealed, the lame will leap like a deer and the tongue of the dumb sing for joy” (Is.35: 4-7).

Today, Ephphatha will be a heavenly pronouncement on you. The period of lack in your life is ended and God will finally bring you into a season of abundance. To you who has been waiting for so long… your era of lack has come to an end. Whether it is that period you have been waiting and no one seem bothered about you, or the period when sickness, joblessness, barrenness and even sin seem to have enveloped and blinded you to the extent that you failed to see God’s light clearly enough to plot a new path for yourself in life, Jesus says “Ephphata” to you! Open up that path that someone is blocking for you in your office, your life’s calling, your family, village or organization; wherever you find yourself.

You are not meant to remain a decorator of other people for life; others will also decorate you and it is your God that says so not man. You are that very special case in God’s hands; the one Jesus would “take off by himself away from the crowd… look up to heaven and with a groan say: Ephphatha!. All you need is trust in the saving power of God, go on your knees and put your doubts aside . Remember, it is not by power or might, nor is it by your wisdom or influence. God is in total control of your life, so “Be strong. Do not be afraid…your God is coming to save you” (Is. 35: 4).

Disclaimer: The opinion expressed in this article is strictly that of the author, Peter Obele Abue PhD, and does not represent TheLumineNews, its agent or the organization the author works for.

A CURE FOR DEPRESSION

Elijah was a depressed man who was running away from his shadow (1 kings 19:4-8). We often do this when faced with challenges beyond our control. Like Elijah, we feel restless and cumbersome (v. 5), with no appetite even to eat, and when we manage to eat, we feel like going to bed again (v.6). We feel hopeless and helpless and find it difficult to do our normal duties, especially when no one is bothering about us (v.7). In fact, Elijah felt like committing suicide and he said, “It is enough, Oh Lord, take away my life, for I am no better than my fathers” (v.4). His cure for depression only came as soon as he “arose and ate and drank and worked on the strength of that food for forty days and forty nights to Horeb, the mount of God” (v. 8).

In this journey of life, depression can happen to anybody. Sometimes, things can be so frustrating that we feel like killing ourselves. Be careful! You are not alone in your struggles. You are neither the first nor last to go down the drain in this journey. I have often maintained a philosophy that can be summarised in my favourite slogan: “Life goes on!” Life must go on in spite of our many challenges. Believe it that you are not alone in your problem or difficulty. We are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses, yes! and to us all, God offers a dose of remedies to cure our depressions. His lively words of encouragement in the scriptures are there as food to encourage us. There, he assures us that if we eat his body and drink his blood like Elijah did, we shall regain our strength.

For the past several weeks, God has been assuring us of this truth, so why not give it a trial.To cure our restlessness, God offers us a step by step procedure of walking-along with him: First, learn to depend everyday on his word, never cease to fellowship with others, always walk in love just as Christ himself did (Eph.4:30-5:2). Our problem often is not our inability to follow these paths but our tendency to always grumble and doubt if indeed it’s true that these things can give us true happiness (John 6:41-51). Remember, it’s God’s promise, not man’s. Doubt no longer, my friend. Instead, like Elijah, “Arise and eat, else the journey will be too great for you” (I kings 19:7).

Disclaimer: The opinion expressed in this article is strictly that of the author, Peter Obele Abue, and does not represent TheLumineNews, its agent, or the organization the author works for.

OUR DAILY BREAD

“Give us this day our daily bread”, we pray everyday (Matthew 6:11). What is this daily bread offered to us? In truth, it is the Eucharistic Jesus offered at daily Holy Mass. The international Eucharistic Congress held recently in Indianapolis, USA brought together more than 50,000 Catholics on fire for God and for this bread of life. It was a living testimony of the Eucharistic presence of Jesus OUR DAILY BREAD and how hungry our world is for HIM. Real strength can only come from the bread that God alone offers us through the Eucharist in his church.

It is true we need our daily physical food and nourishment to survive, especially in these hard times. In fact, even as we speak, many families and their children will go to bed without adequate feeding and that’s why we often think of daily bread in terms of physical food only. But the point Jesus is making is that, unless we care enough to share even the little we have with each other, we will continue to be eternally hungry. And if we feed on his body and drink of his blood, we will be better equipped to share our lives with others especially those who need us most. He alone can give us that daily bread and until we settle for it, our hunger will continue to linger (John 6:1-15).

Unfortunately, we live in a world where people care less about their neighbor’s needs, while greed and avarice, selfhood is assumed to be normative, and even often glorified. In such a world, our daily bread is only seen as food to feed our stomachs only and daily we struggle with each other as we compete for survival. Jesus makes it clear to the multitudes who were following him only for the loaves; that he offers more than physical food.

The solution Jesus offers us is this: Learn to feed each other by sharing what you have in love (see verse 11) like Elisha the Prophet shared with the man who came from Baal-shalisha; ” they ate and had some left ” (2Kings 4:42-44). This kind of love if practised in communities will lead to the multiplication of our daily bread instead of poverty and want. May we come together daily to feed on that Daily bread that lasts for ever.

Disclaimer: The opinion expressed in this article is strictly that of the author, Peter Obele Abue, and does not represent TheLumineNews, its agent or the organization the author works for.

THE GOOD SHEPHERD

In the biblical sense, a good shepherd is the one who listens, seeks counsel, prays and takes good care of the sheep. In a way, all human beings created by God are called to be good shepherds. Not just adults with responsibility, but anyone with a vocation in life is called to be a shepherd. For some. it is in a higher degree than others but the question for everyone should be: What kind of shepherd are you; a good or a bad one?

Zedekiah the king of Jerusalem was a bad shepherd. He listened to wrong advice and he rebelled against the King of Babylon, thus ensuring the ruin of his people. Nebuchadnezzar sent his army against him and reduced him to ruins. It was at this time that Jeremiah the prophet was preaching and he reminded the leaders of his time who were corrupt and incapable of leading the people that they should not be like Zedekiah; like shepherds who lead their flocks to destruction. “Woe to you says the Lord…you have scattered my flock…and you have not attended to them. Behold I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the Lord” (Read Jer. 23:1-6).

It is very easy to be a bad shepherd when you listen to wrong advice. When you don’t seek the counsel of those wiser than you or when you think you know it all. No human being is perfect and that’s why they say pencils have erasers so that we can correct our mistakes and move on. The problem is that most people (especially those who attain higher position in life) neither pray nor listen to advice. What did Jesus do when he sent out his disciples and they came back with the news that they had done well? He said to them: “Come away to some lonely place and rest” (Read Mark 6:30-34). That’s what true leaders do. When they get feedback, they come away to some lonely place and pray about it, reflect upon it, before they act.

Sometimes people get so busy in life that they forget to reflect, seek advice, listen to others and do things that will positively benefit or effect the lives of the people they are responsible for. That’s not shepherding. While we seek to shield ourselves from bad shepherds and vouch to be better shepherds ourselves to others, let us realize that it is the Lord Himself that’s our ultimate Shepherd and will always lead us to greener pastures.

Disclaimer: The opinion expressed in this article is strictly that of the author, Peter Obele Abue PhD, and does not represent TheLumineNews, its agent or the organization the author works for.

VICTORY

One of the greatest lessons I learnt this Holy week and about life in general is that some of the people who hate you, betray you and oppose what you stand for, also end up leading you to Victory without meaning to do so. If you agree with me on this, then you are about to define the meaning of Victory in your life; you are about to redesign a new strategy of happiness. Victory happens when you stop expecting the world to affirm you as a person; because in this world, half of the people will like you and the other half will hate you, no matter what you say or do.

Let’s take the story of Jesus Christ for example (as Peter recalls in Acts 10: 34, 37-43), who came into the world and went about doing good (v. 38). He recruited a few confidants, with the hope of using them to establish a kingdom of love, but some of them betrayed him, while others stuck with him till the end. He was consequently handed over to be crucified. They mocked, scourged and finally crucified the very man who had the power to give life (v.39). At last the cross he was crucified on became the symbol of Victory after he rose again on the third day (vs.40-41). That’s victory for you.

Some have likened the story of Jesus to some leaders in the recent past. In 2015, the then Nigerian President Jonathan lost election to his opponent. He had the power to manipulate himself to win, but he did not. Rather he accepted the humiliation of his defeat and turned around to congratulate his opponent. That’s Victory. Nelson Mandela of South Africa spent 27 years in prison, came out to forgive his jailers and subsequently became President himself. That’s Victory.

Lets focus again on Jesus and how his story effects our life. In the gospel we hear about a certain unnamed disciple who followed Jesus to Calvary and remained with him throughout his Passion while others like Judas betrayed him and Peter ran away. After the resurrection, this unnamed disciple ran faster than Peter, “saw and believed” whereas Peter though seeing the same thing did not believe. Confronted with the signs of death (the tomb, the linen cloths and the shroud) the unnamed disciple recognized the victory of life while Peter could not (John 20: 1-9).

You are that unnamed disciple. You will see Victory if you endure the pain of whatever humiliation you have been through and will go through if you look ahead. Victory will be yours if you forgive those who betray you and focus your mind on something rather positive. Victory will be yours if you accept the fact that life is not all about you, but about the peace and happiness of the people you serve. Victory will be yours if you stop deceiving yourself that everyone must like you and agree with you and affirm you because that can never happen.

Begin now to understand the meaning of the Cross and how it can lead you to your resurrection (Victory) as it did to Jesus. Happy Easter !

PERSON TO PERSON

“Do not wait for leaders, do it alone, person to person”. This is one of my favorite quotes of my mentor Mother Theresa of Calcutta.
Person to Person has become a philosophy I have come to imbibe in my own life and it simply means; you have to value the people you live and work with; those who value and respect you and can collaborate with you to achieve goals. In the gospel, we see the person to person ideology working among the disciples of Jesus: the two disciples(Andrew and Philip) did not know Jesus until they were brought to know him by John, for it was John who pointed out: “There is the lamb of God”. Thereafter, another one; Simon was led to God by his brother Andrew, while Nathaniel finds Jesus through Philip (Read John 1: 35-42). Simon later grew to become Peter the rock (Cephas) and head of the church; Person to Person.

Another way of saying it is: do not build castles in the air. A lot of people wonder around burning bridges and depending on evil godfathers to change their fortunes, instead of combining their efforts at the local level with real people on ground to make a difference and to help themselves. The world we live in is mysterious and it is only when we learn to appreciate the ordinary people who live and work with us that miracles begin to happen. Choose your team mates carefully if you want to make it in life and avoid making enemies. Person to person is the one philosophy that can change your fortune and with God on your side all things are possible.

In the Christian circles, our goal is to decipher God’s call and answer it through commitment to working amicably with those God has placed in our cirlcle. God will not come down to dictate in black and white what his will is for you so that you can follow, but through the ordinary people you live and work with: friends, co-workers, parents, mentors, superiors, etc God can direct your future for greater things. If you don’t value the people you work with or respect them or listen to them, don’t expect God to come down and do it for you. The young Samuel was ready to learn and answer God’s call and that’s why he went to live with Eli as his mentor. It was through Eli person to person that he was able to understand how God calls people, by listening to his advice (Read 1 sam 3: 3-10, 19).

Disclaimer: The opinion expressed in this article is strictly that of the author, Peter Obele Abue, and does not represent TheLumineNews or its agent 

HOLY INNOCENTS

Every 28th day of December we remember the Holy Innocents: The children whom Herod slaughtered in an attempt to kill the baby, Jesus. Herod had (dubiously) given instructions to the wise men to find out about the child and return the news to him so that he could go and do the child homage. That was a lie. In truth what Herod wanted was to eliminate the child.

As God would have it, Herod realized that his trick failed when, after two years, the wise men never returned. In a rage, Herod commanded the killing of all the male children two years old and younger, in order to protect his kingship. Herod did not know that Jesus was not an earthly king interested in worldly power.

Lessons to be learnt:
1. Evil does not pay. Do not plan evil against your neighbor because it will boomerang on you
2. Ĺeadership is a bait. Sometimes we leaders can be used by the devil to perpetrate evil. Be careful
3. Avoid the PHD (pull him down) syndrom in life. Do not be threatened by the success of others to the extent of doing all in your power to pull them down. That’s pettiness
4. Do not defame the character of other people in the name ‘telling the truth’ Which truth? Defaming people’s character, or blackmailing just to look good will not get you far in life
5. Children and other vulnerable individuals are innocent and need our support and protection. Do not harm innocent people in order to perpetrate your agenda.

My conclusion
The death of the Holy innocents gives us a glimpse of the darkness that filled the earth before Christ brought light to the world. We Christians are reminded especially during this Christmas season that we must show the light not spread darkness and there are many ways we can do this

As part of my ministry , I have been involved in (among other many apostolates), protecting the lives of innocent children for the past 38 years having been ordained on this day. There is no doubt I have faced many Herods in my ministry; misunderstandings, defamation of my character, temptations as a leader etc. In all, I pray to God for the grace to persevere, to be holy and to be innocent knowing that the God I serve will NEVER LET ME DOWN

Please pray for me!

Disclaimer: The opinion expressed in this article is strictly that of the author, Peter Obele Abue and does not represent TheLumineNews or its agent.