Tag: Peter Obele Abue

Grace, we understand, is the supernatural gift from God bestowed on all baptized Christians and as christians, we can not afford to turn our grace into disgrace. After his Ascension, Christ commands his disciples. “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15.” This power to proclaim comes with God’s grace and we have been given that power from the mandate by Jesus Christ himself. As we prepare to celebrate the solemnity of Pentecost, we are challenged by the Ascension to proclaim with power, as Jesus remains with us through the Holy Spirit.

Unfortunately, most modern-day Christians lack the power to proclaim. They are afraid or ashamed to boldly stand for Christ and proclaim what they believe. The book of Acts of the Apostles, gives an account of the Ascension of the Lord and recounts jesus last to his disciples: “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8)”. From these words, it is clear that power has been given through the Holy Spirit of God to all believers to proclaim the good news.

Jesus goes up to heaven, now at the right hand of God, promises to send the holy Spirit in a special way on Pentecost, and he fulfils that promise. As we await this Pentecost, we are challenged to use this power to proclaim our faith in thoughts, words, and actions. As the saying goes, “God does not call the qualified, he qualifies the called”; so you don’t need to be a perfect person or very fluent in English to have the power to proclaim. Jesus did not call only those who have some position in the Church, but he calls each one of us to proclaim the good news and he promises that he will be with us till the end of time, so we need fear no evil. This mandate challenges each one of us to live our faith and to proclaim it boldly before everyone.

The power of the Holy Spirit will change the Church, the community, and our individual lives, if we who follow the Lord and take advantage of this mandate. This is what the Church of Christ needs now more than ever. This is what will change the world and not a few timid churchgoers, not sure of where they stand. As St Paul says in his Letter to the Ephesians: ”One body and one Spirit, as you were also called to the one hope of your call; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But grace was given to each of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift (Ephesians 4:4ff) .” This can only be possible by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Be not afraid!

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

LAZY SERVANTS

Among the many good qualities of a good wife recorded in the book of Proverbs 31:10ff is the fact that she is never lazy; instead she is like the great worker (vs 13 and 19). Many men and women who are lazy, blame their spouses for their misfortunes instead of settling down to work and contribute to creating a happy home together. They are like the lazy servants who deny the hegemony of a higher authority and hide their own talents. Such servants blame their master for every misfortune. Own up your mistake and take responsibility for your actions.

God gives us all different talents (not equal talents) and expects us to work hard according to our abilities. Wake up and break that poverty cycle in your family by investing your talents for greater things to come your way. Do not say it’s too late to start. Do not say am too small to make a difference. Lame excuses like this, make the rich richer and the poor poorer. You must break that cycle NOW.

Jesus applies this imagery to the larger picture of life (Matt. 25:14-30). He reminds us that God is our master and we are all his servants. We the lazy ones give all kinds of excuses for not going to church or practicing our faith, inspite of the enormous possibilities and enabling environment God has afforded us. Think about your good health, the company of friends (fellow Christians), nearness to worship centers, a wide array of spiritual materials like the bible and other sacramentals etc.

The God who created you in his own image and likeness is not a lazy God. He spent seven good days working at creation and at the end he found everyting ‘very good’ to behold. He means it more in a spiritual sense when he says to those who are lazy that even what they have will be taken away (Matt. 25:29). God forbid your very inheritance to be taken away from you by others. Wake up from your slumber of idleness and claim what belongs to you.

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

THE MINISTRY OF GIVING

For Christians, giving goes far beyond the letting go of possessions; we give our hearts too. Christian giving is both a spiritual gift and a discipline of discipleship to our Lord Jesus Christ. It becomes yet more rewarding when the purpose of giving is geared towards the evangelization of the kingdom of God amongst men. Christ’s words in Matthew 25:40 hits home: “whatever you did to one of these least brothers of mine, you did it to me. So do not grudge when you are asked to donate for any project in the church. It is an exercise in the ministry of giving.

Most people fear that giving of their prized possessions such as money, food, or other material things would deplete them of their resources. Others feel they have too little or even nothing to give. The good news is that everyone has something to offer, no matter how little for God did not create anyone empty. Do not feel bad when you give little in comparison to others, God looks at the heart of a cheerful giver not the size. Remember the widows mite and moreover, giving is not just about letting go of one’s treasured possessions; it is letting go of our heart ♥️ too.

Most people only give when they have a strong assurance of recompense. They only give when they are sure they will be rewarded either by being praised or something given to them in return. This makes it nearly impossible to give the needy who have very little to pay back what they are given. Do not excel in giving, only when your donation is made public. Remember what Jesus said about not seeking to publicize our good deeds, for we have already had our reward. The good news for Christians is that our giving is an investment that cannot be destroyed, for the more we give to the work of God, the more blessed we are.

We are told in 1 Corinthians 9:6-11 that; if we have given unto spiritual things, we shall reap of God’s kingdom. Christian giving is a management of God’s resources. The first thing we must know is that the money that is ours to manage is not ours, but God’s. Yes, we have been given it to use, but it remains His. We have it as a loan and in due course, we must give account to him of what we have done with it. Paul affirms this when he says that if we cannot see things differently as Christians, then we have not begun to live the Christian life (cf. Romans 6:3-4.8-11)

Where would you rather want to be a partner if not in the service of God? Many complain when asked to donate in churches for any cause. They equate their giving to a human enterprise thinking they are giving to human beings instead of God. The ministry of giving has many goals; spreading the gospel, sustaining the church, providing care for distressed individuals (as the rich woman in the first reading) or providing for church workers who use such gifts to enhance their apostolate and more. The ministry of giving in all its forms aims to advance the kingdom of God. “Whoever gives to these little ones shall not lose his reward”(Matt. 10:42).

WELCOME TO HOLY WEEK
JESUS IS OUR GREAT EXAMPLE

Welcome to the week that challenges us to live up to the expectations of our faith. Welcome to the week where Jesus is the focus and the rest of us are called to follow and imitate. This is what Jesus did for us

1. He was humble: Jesus already existed in his divine nature before he became man. Yet, he accepted to become the most despised of men, a slave whom the Romans put to shame and condemned to a humiliating death on a Cross (Phil 2:6-11). The apostle Paul was advising the Philippians. not to be empty boasters but to “do nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory; rather, humbly regard others as more important than yourselves, each looking out not for his own interests, but (also) everyone for those off others” (3-4). What is your attitude when people despise or insult you even when you don’t deserve it?

2. He accepted suffering: Jesus was well aware that he would not be allowed to carry out his mission in peace; that he will meet with strong opposition, insults and even physical violence. They will spit on his face, beat him up, torture and scourge him. Yet, he still wanted to carry out his mission because it was not to man that he owed allegiance but to God Almighty. What is your attitude in the face of your sufferings or sickness or death of a loved one?

3. He shunned violence: Matthew tells us what Jesus said to Peter when he tried to defend him with his sword. “Put your sword back into its sheath, for all who take the sword will perish by the sword” (Matt. 26:52). Many people today experience violence by inciting others to mob action or by provoking them through acts of terrorism, kidnapping, murder, election voilence, etc. What is your attitude when you are provoked into such a fight or to start a quarrel with someone?

If we can live like Jesus only for this week alone, He will exalt us to a position of promise as we prepare to celebrate his resurrection.

Welcome to Holy Week!

In Europe and America today, there is this great divide between those who say they are “Pro-life” and others who refer to themselves as “Pro-choice.” This divide gets hotter each year in the month of January as both parties fight over the famous ‘Roe vs Wade’ controversy; the original judicial ruling that gave birth to this controversy. The Pro-choicers argue that they have the freedom to choose to do whatever they wish with their bodies, while Pro-lifers say the opposite. They say that no one, not even God, the Church, or their culture can impose judgment on what they choose to do with their bodies.

They argue that human beings are free to do whatever they like; free to abort a foetus, free to make love to someone of the same sex, even free to marry their dog or break into anyone’s house and steal their property, because might is right. The question is: does this kind of freedom make your action(s) right? You may ask me, who determines what is right or wrong? Well, the answer is ‘God does.’ Ok, you don’t believe in God, what about common sense or the dominant culture?

What is even more ridiculous about this pro-choicers is that those who perpetuate it claim they believe in God. Well if you do, read the scriptures. What does God say about choice? Sirach 15:15-20, especially verses 17-20 says: “before man are life and death, whichever he chooses shall be given him. Immense is the wisdom of the Lord; he is mighty in power and all-seeing. The eyes of God see all he has made; he understands man’s every deed. No man does he command to sin, to none does he give strength for lies”. What is clearer than this? The same God commanded us in the scriptures, “You shall not kill, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not divorce your legally married partner, etc.”

Today, man circumvents the commandments with the excuse of freedom to choose, so as to create caveats that will permit him to do “whatever he/she likes.” Today, even the basic choice of a credible presidential candidate to change the course of our dark past has been subjected to illogical arguments about what party, tribe or religion you belong to. No one makes use of common sense or the goal of building our common patrimony anymore. The truth remains that we cannot choose to do wrong and call it freedom of choice. The arguments will continue but the truth will always prevail and the Truth needs no defence.

Rev Fr Dr Peter Obele Abue is the Vicar General of the Catholic Diocese of Ogoja and the Parish Priest of Holy Family Parish, Ikom Town, Ikom Local Government Area. 

LIGHT

The people of Israel thought they were a light in the world, because of their grand solemn ceremonies in the Temple, but they failed to understand that God is not just interested in external acts of piety, but also with works of mercy and love. That was the light he wanted to see shining on his chosen people.

A religious person who fuels trouble in the family, congregation or community; who knocks heads together, causing anxiety among people is a true version of one who lives in darkness. Don’t heighten peoples problems by your half-educated principles and inflicting pain on innocent people. Dont do all these and afterwards take on long prayer programmes, with hours of fasting, to please God?. You are hiding your light in a bushel.

This is what the Prophet Isaiah commands? Share your bread with the hungry, bring the homeless poor into your house, cloth the naked, be your own brother’s keeper? Stop pointing accusing fingers at others and speaking wickedness, increasing the yoke of pain and suffering for others (read Isaiah 58:7-10). Christianity is not just a religion that marks people present when they go to church or attend ceremonies. It’s a religion that brings Light to a world full of darkness through positive actions practiced by its adherents..

Worship is not just showing up in church on sunday with clean cloths, it is actually going there to encounter God spiritually and following up with concrete acts of charity. If your worship is not followed up by kind acts, then you are like a clashing cymbal. A churchgoer (and that’s okay), who doubles as a troubleshooter; cares less about the needs of the less privileged, quarrels with friends and neighbours at will is more or less hiding his light under a bushel.

Do not confuse people with half educated principles, oratoric skills, privileged position or the fact that you live an urbane life; leveraging on all these to take advantage of others. St. Paul simply calls this, the “Wisdom of men” (read 1 Cor. 2:1-5). Instead you are the salt of the earth… the light of the world, and a city set on a hill cannot be hidden (Matt 5:13-16).

FAVOUR
Somewhere in the Bible, it says, “…God shows no partiality. Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him” (Acts 10:34). Mary was humble, upright, and did what was acceptable in the sight of God. Hence, she was favoured by God through the angel, Gabriel (Luke 1:26-28). Through this divine favour to Mary came the incarnation or Christmas as we know it today and since then the world has not been the same again.

David was another recipient of God’s favour; but because he failed to live a humble and upright life, God did not want David to build a house for him. Rather, God sent the Prophet, Nathan, to tell David that his son Solomon would be the one to build the temple and that his posterity will reign forever (2 Sam 7:1-16). The book of Chronicles gives the reason for the change in plans: You have shed much blood and you have waged great wars; you may not build a house in my honour, because you have shed too much blood upon the earth in my sight” (1 Chr. 22:8-10). Eventually, Nathan’s prophecy was fulfilled and a descendant of David who would reign forever; Jesus, the son of Mary, was born.

The lesson here is that God uses upright and peaceful people to bless the world. Although David was favoured, he let himself be misused by men and so he lost his favoured position.
God’s word is irrevocable. Sometimes, we wrongly think that we can buy favour from God or misuse God’s favour; we think that things will always remain the same. God’s favour is earned not negotiated. The greater lesson here is that God blesses human beings abundantly and can use us for divine things, but sometimes we mess up big time. Don’t be deceived by the way men run around you, to think you are favoured, so anything goes. No. Indeed, it’s not so. At the end of the day, the verdict of human beings may not necessarily be that of God.

Mary earned God’s favour through her cooperation with the grace of God, which she fought to preserve. David, on the other hand, abused this favour through over-indulgence in his humanity. If you want to win God’s favour, do not depend too much on human approval, but always seek to know and do God’s will. Through you, God might choose to bless your family, your community, or the larger world like he did through Mary at the first Christmas. Remember, nothing is impossible with God, so gear yourself up and be ready for God’s favour this coming year. “Do not be afraid…You have found favour with God” (Luke 1:30).

Rev. Fr. Dr. Peter Obele Abue

Is the Vicar General of the Of the Catholic Diocese of Ogoja, and Parish Priest of St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Igoli.