tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61535855269652240252024-02-20T06:21:02.659-08:00NoelOnyeuloFrancisthepopeofmercyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11822086002846679193noreply@blogger.comBlogger19125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6153585526965224025.post-18717189915233644992020-01-31T06:59:00.003-08:002020-01-31T06:59:38.494-08:00LOOK AT THE LAMB OF GOD BY FR. PRIMUS ILEME<br />
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Sunday 19<sup>th</sup> January 2020 Second Wk Ord. Time Year
A 1<sup>st</sup> Reading: Isaiah 49:3.5-6. 2<sup>nd</sup> Reading: 1
Corinthians 1: 1-3. Gospel: John 1:29-34.</div>
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John the Baptist was, during his earthly life, a rallying
point for many who desired to seek the face of God. When Christ eventually came,
as we have it in the gospel, John the Baptist showed them Christ, the Way, the
Truth and the Life. In the first reading from Isaiah, God was telling the
prophet: “I will make you the life of the Nations so that my salvation may
reach to the ends of the earth”. We are all called as Christians/Prophets to
show people around us the same LAMB OF GOD by our words and actions. With the
sacrament of Baptism we are already the light of the nations. What is then
holding the mandate to bring the salvation to the ends of the earth? Is simply because
we have refused to imbibe the words of the day’s Psalmist: “Here I am Lord! I
come to do your Will”. By implication, we lack the proper disposition and
readiness. The second reading presents Paul in full acceptance of the same
mandate: “I, appointed by God to be an Apostle…” We have to accept to this ask
and see it as the only means of getting to fulfilment the Collect of the Second
Sunday: “…bestow your peace on our times”. Let’s by our words and actions
direct people to Christ, the Lamb of God”. Father of Heaven and Earth, hear our
prayers, and show us the way to peace in the world through Christ our Lord.
Amen. BE AUTHENTIC CHRISTIAN! <o:p></o:p></div>
<br />Francisthepopeofmercyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11822086002846679193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6153585526965224025.post-55651949280286559552019-06-27T21:44:00.001-07:002019-06-27T21:44:30.776-07:00GUIDE TO PREACHERS ON TRINITY SUNDAY <p dir="ltr">By NOEL OGADIMMA ONYEULO</p>
<p dir="ltr">Dear Preacher and Reader, </p>
<p dir="ltr">I plead to heastily declare that this writeup cannot replace the Sunday homily which I provide. Instead, it is a kind of guide to preachers on how not to preach the Trinity. Succintly, there are two dogmatic anchors upon which every theology and doctrine of the Catholic Church on the mystery of God hinges. One is the Christological dogma and the other, the Trinitarian Dogma. The Christological dogma teaches on "Christ, the Second person of the Blessed Trinity, Incarnate Word, the revealer of God to men and the Revealer of men to themselves". On the other end the Trinitarian dogma which states "That we worship one God in Trinity and the Trinity in unity, neither blending their persons nor dividing their essence". This means that the three persons are not three God. Though subsisting in an indivisible nature and can only be understood in their relationship to one another. In that, the Father is not the Son and the Son is not the Holy Spirit and vice versa but remains one in Substance. This is the theology undiluted! It is a mystery, revealed in the scriptures and so needs the full submission of the Will and Intellect and the whole 5 senses of the believer even when it seems incomprehensible. Yes, it is of this incomprehensible nature of the mystery of God that St. Augustine says " sit comprehend is non est Deus" meaning "if you understand Him, He is not God". Thus, Bruce Ware, in his book, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit writes, “The doctrine of the Trinity is one of the most important distinguishing doctrines of the Christian faith and therefore is deserving of our careful study, passionate embrace, and thoughtful application.” The Believer is required to believe what God has revealed in faith while seeking to understand in other to nourish and appreciate the wisdom of God which surpasses all we know of Him.</p>
<p dir="ltr">So, what is required of the preacher on the Teaching of this Dogma? </p>
<p dir="ltr">Firstly, the Preacher is required to state first and fore most the Churches teaching on the mystery of the Trinity. The Doctrine of the Trinity is truth revealed in the Scriptures, the preacher is required to support this teaching with scriptural passages. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Secondly, this is not a time to show your Philosophical expertise otherwise you run the risk of falling into heresy. Remember, most heretics were great thinkers. It is by trying to express their philosophical expertise on the grounds of reason based on this teaching that many heresies emanated. Hence, the preacher needs to be informed on the missing links in the teachings of the heretics so that he doesn't fall into any of them.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Thirdly, spare yourself from so much analogies. It is true that analogies can help us grasp the idea of the teaching on the Trinity. But at the same time, all analogies limp! Permit me to say that many heretics arrived at their heresies through analogies. For instance, the analogy which says that the Trinity is like the substance water which can exist in many states; ice, liquid and gas. On the surface, this analogy do seem to help. But the problem with it, is that, it can very easily fall into one of the ancient heresies that the church fathers and writers of the Athanasian Creed were so keen to distance themselves from. Water can exist in three different states but not all at the same time. It is either liquid or gas or solid ice. But God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit all co-exist, at the same time. The Father did not cease to exist in heaven, while Jesus the Son was active on Earth. Historically, the heresy is called Modalism.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Fourthly, the preacher is required to lead the people into understanding the message of love which abides in the Trinity. This message is the anthropological consequence of the message of the Trinity. The language by which the Trinity subsists in itself is the Language of Love. God is love and we too his people must abide in His love by loving one another. Persistently, he invites us to share in the life of the Trinity. The love shining forth from the life of the Trinity is a call for us to live in communion with God and with one another. Hence, love is the utmost manifestation of the presence of God in the life of a Christian in an eminent degree. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Fifthly, the people should be led into understanding that all their activities of the day should begin and end in the Name of Father, Son and Holy Spirit; the 3 persons of the Blessed Trinity. It is by invocation of the Persons of the Blessed Trinity in words and deeds that the Christian share in the Trinitarian Communion which is defined in Theology as the "Divine Perichoresis".</p>
Francisthepopeofmercyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11822086002846679193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6153585526965224025.post-17755498631342916602019-03-02T15:04:00.001-08:002019-03-02T15:04:45.901-08:00EIGHT SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME YEAR C<p dir="ltr">EIGHT SUNDAY OF YEAR C</p>
<p dir="ltr">1st Reading Sirach: 27:4-7; 2nd Reading 1 Cor. 15:54-58; Gospel Luke 6:39-45</p>
<p dir="ltr">THEME: DON’T JUDGE PEOPLE BEFORE YOU TRULY KNOW THEM</p>
<p dir="ltr">By: NOEL OGADIMMA ONYEULO</p>
<p dir="ltr">A 25 year old boy seeing out of the train window shouted, “Dad, look the trees are going behind!” His Dad smiled and a young couple sitting nearby, looked at the 25 year Old’s childish behaviour with pity. Suddenly, the boy exclaimed again, “Dad, look the clouds are running with us!” The couple sitting beside this time couldn’t resist and said to the old man… “Why don’t you take your son to a good doctor?” The old man smiled and said… “I did and we are just coming from the hospital, my son was blind from birth, he just got his eyes today.” Every single person on the planet has a story. Don’t judge people before you truly know them: The truth might surprise you! </p>
<p dir="ltr">Friends, how often do we judge people without truly knowing them? The story above encapsulates the message of today’s readings.  </p>
<p dir="ltr">In the first reading, Sirach exhorts us to watch our speech because it is from our speech that our inner self is tested and often reveals. Ones we open our mouth we reveal ourselves. Therefore, Sirach admonishes us not to praise people before they speak, for this is the way people are tested. When we gossip, make hasty conclusions and rash judgments against people, we tell people a lot more about ourselves than those we are condemning. This emphasis on speech spurs us more to develop more our listening capacity and not allowing the inner noise of self-righteousness to distract us from knowing the true situation of events and things. This teaching is also relevant in a world lacking integrity of public relations like ours today. Our politicians betray us by speech making. For them, speeches and promises made during the campaign period have nothing to do with the time of office. It is also the case with some men of God whose lives are at variance with their speeches. This reading from the Jewish sage exhorts us to be men and women marked by the integrity of our speeches and actions.      </p>
<p dir="ltr">In the second reading, St. Paul ends his discussion on the resurrection of the dead with the hymn of the victory of Christ over death. Paul reminds us that God will destroy death forever, and if we are to share in this victory and live forever with the Lord, then we must take all steps necessary to give our hearts and lips to what is good. Hence, Christ is so much interested in purity of heart and speech because they help to decide our final judgment. </p>
<p dir="ltr">In the Gospel from St. Luke, we meet Jesus in his own words challenging our careless and malicious judgment against one another. Last Sunday, Jesus told us not to judge or we would be judged as such. This is not a prohibition on admonishing others when they are committing sinful behaviour or a cover for immoral behaviours. What is being forbidden by Jesus is not judgment as such but negative, destructive judgment. The statements that follow the prohibition on judging indicate that it is an elaboration on the Golden rule- the idea that we should treat others the way we would love to be treated. What Jesus means is that God will judge us at the final and particular judgment. It is only a question of how we would love to be judged. In our right minds, we would love to be judged with mercy, compassion and forgiveness. This is the way Jesus wants us to treat others. In this context, Jesus does not want us to be uncompassionate, unforgiving and unmerciful towards others. He wants us to be like him. There are times when we are expected to give constructive, helpful criticism. But, we cannot pass judgment unless we have some vision and understanding. How can the blind, those without understanding, presume to give leadership to others who are blind? Jesus asks us. The result is inevitable: “Both will fall into the pit.” However, it is necessary that one should speak from genuine knowledge, accurate data and to the people who can do something about it. The same applies to everything else we like to pass judgment on. It is important to emphasize further that the Gospel is in no way saying we should not have opinions or that we should not express them or admonish others. What it is saying is that we must avoid having such a high awareness of the shortcomings of others that we lose the ability to see and accept our own shortcomings. This tells us that the real solution is for me to change. We ought to respond in a positive way rather than think negatively of the other or find fault in them. We personally must be in charge of my own life and stop trying to change others. We can recollect what Fr. Antony de Mello used to say, “When I change, my whole world changes”. And, not only that, when I change, other people are likely to change but, even if they do not, my attitude towards them will not be the same. </p>
<p dir="ltr">Finally, the disciple is not above the teacher. This is to say that our judgments should be like those of the merciful Jesus. The one who is fully qualified will be like the teacher: judging to save and help, not to knock down and destroy. If we are to avoid blindness we need to walk in the footsteps of people who can see and judge mercifully with love. This is precisely the challenge of today’s gospel for each one of us.</p>
Francisthepopeofmercyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11822086002846679193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6153585526965224025.post-85182685938155463262019-03-02T15:00:00.001-08:002019-03-02T15:00:04.133-08:00SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C<p dir="ltr">SIXTH SUNDAY OF YEAR C </p>
<p dir="ltr">1ST Reading: Jeremiah 17: 5 – 8; 2nd Reading: 1 Cor. 15: 12. 16 – 20; Gospel: Luke 6: 17. 20 – 26</p>
<p dir="ltr">NOEL OGADIMMA ONYEULO</p>
<p dir="ltr">noeldominor@gmail.com (The Mercifier Outreach)</p>
<p dir="ltr">THEME: TRUST GOD, NOT CIRCUMSTANCES </p>
<p dir="ltr">Friends, today’s readings are anchored on the consequences of rejecting God and the judgement that follows. In the first reading, we see the prophet Jeremiah exhorting the Israelites on the need to trust in God amidst all circumstances. The book of Jeremiah is designed to show the exiles and the reasons for the captivity of Israelites. They were in Babylon, not because God has forgotten his promises to Israel, but because Israel has been unfaithful to God. The book also taught the captives to wait patiently for the seventy years to elapse and not to seek a quick release through military or political power, by trusting in other nations for deliverance. Finally, the book encouraged the captives that after their bondage, there would come a time of restoration and renewal under the new covenant. For Jeremiah, the Babylonian Exile was as a result of Israel disobedience, idolatry, immorality and rebellion against God. The people of Israel nursed a false sense of security and so were under the impression that just because the temple of the Lord was in the middle of Jerusalem, they were entrusted to trust in themselves and evil doings and at the same time ‘come and stand before me in this house which is called by my name (Jer. 7: 8- 10). This attitude is religious hypocrisy of the highest order! A first class sin crying to God for judgement! This necessitated the message of Jeremiah on God’s judgment on them. So, if they fail to repent from their sins and turn back to the Lord in pure heart and contrite spirit, disaster awaits them. According to the first reading, cursed is the man who placed his trust in man… and blessed is the man who placed his trust in the Lord. Our society is not unlike that confronted by Jeremiah. Are we guilty of forgetting the God we claim to worship? Is there a progressive deterioration of our moral fiber as we forget the one who gave us our resources in the first place? Unless this trend is reversed in our lives and communities, the consequences are unthinkable. </p>
<p dir="ltr">In the second reading, the point is made by St. Paul that the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ remains the beacon of hope for all who believe in Christ. For St. Paul, death is not the annihilation of human destiny neither is it the end of life. By this, St. Paul warns that not believing in the resurrecrion of Christ will only give way to incredulity on Christian faith which will eventually end up in self-help and idolatry. This is because the resurrection faith is a testimony of the Almightiness of God irrespective of circumstance; the Almightiness which the greatest enemy of man - death- cannot stop. Christ's victory over death is an exaltation of the human suffering. So, if Christ has power over the last enemy of man - putting an end to death and revealing the resurrection- there is no circumstance he cannot overcome for his people. Moreover, death played the same role as the destruction Jerusalem played for the Jews. So as the destruction of Jerusalem did not bring to the end of the Jewish world, so the death of Christ did not bring to the end of Christianity. Christ's death and resurrection became the seed of imperishable life and hope for all in different circumstances for all ages. For if God can raise Jesus Christ from the dead, there's no human condition he cannot intervene.</p>
<p dir="ltr">In the Gospel, the evangelist Luke is said to be writing for the Jews, gentiles and whole human race. It is an inclusive Gospel. The import of the number ‘12’ Apostles is a consolidation of a gospel to the Jews; the Disciples, a consolidation of a gospel for the gentiles and the great multitude of people, a consolidation of the relevance of the Gospel even to those who do not know or believe in Christ. So, we see in his Luke's gospel a consolation for all circumstances irrespective of time and generation. Jesus had a long struggle with a people who are determined to go their own way just like the Jews in the time of Jeremiah. And Jeremiah’s teaching and Pauline exhortation are parallel to the message of Jesus, which says ‘you cannot save yourself!’ You cannot engineer a solution to sin, or to your present problems, or save yourself from death!’ All we need is to trust patiently in God’s restoration and renewal at all circumstances; rich or poor, and not exaggerating the extent human help can lead us. For the Psalmist exhorts today: ‘Blessed the man who has placed his trust in the Lord… he is like a tree planted beside the flowing waters, that yield its fruit in due season, and whose leaves shall never fade; and all that he does shall prosper’.</p>
Francisthepopeofmercyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11822086002846679193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6153585526965224025.post-65629583132754459342017-12-10T05:31:00.001-08:002017-12-10T05:31:12.157-08:00LAMENTATIONS OF AN INNOCENT NIGERIAN PRISONER By: Onyeulo Noel Ogadimma<p dir="ltr">(Poem written for the inauguration of MERCY FOR PRISONERS APOSTOLATE a.k.a THE MERCIFIERS)</p>
<p dir="ltr">How many tribulations and hardship must I endure,<br>
Before you plead my cause for a fair trial?<br>
How many evidence must proof my innocence,<br>
Before you give me justice?</p>
<p dir="ltr">How many years must I exceed my bail agreement, <br>
Before you give me freedom? <br>
How much malnourished must I look, <br>
Before you give me food?</p>
<p dir="ltr">How many sickness and infections must I suffer,<br>
Before you give me medication?<br>
How much naked must I appear, <br>
Before you give me clothing?</p>
<p dir="ltr">How many ears must you have,<br>
Before you hear my cry?<br>
How many eyes must you have,<br>
Before you see my tears?</p>
<p dir="ltr">But, I know my Redeemer liveth,<br>
I know he is not far from me,<br>
I know one day he will come,<br>
And you shall know my Redeemer liveth! <br></p>
<p dir="ltr">Phone+2347032786152<br>
Email: noeldominor@gmail.com</p>
Francisthepopeofmercyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11822086002846679193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6153585526965224025.post-20561062050435513642017-11-22T05:29:00.001-08:002021-07-28T21:10:04.792-07:00THINKING AND THANKING THURSDAY By: Noel Ogadimma Onyeulo <p dir="ltr">(Poem Dedicated to the Citizens of United States of America on the Celebration of their National Thanksgiving Day)</p>
<p dir="ltr">Beat the drum!<br />
Blow the Trumpet!<br />
It’s a Thursday for thinking beings<br />
Who think before eating and are thankful after eating.</p>
<p dir="ltr">But, who made the Turkey?<br />
You are silent?<br />
Speak that I may hear!<br />
Yes, it’s the Lord.</p>
<p dir="ltr">So, eat the Turkey<br />
But, don’t eat the thanks!<br />
Think before eating the Turkey<br />
But, don’t eat the turkey before thinking!</p>
<p dir="ltr">When you eat the Turkey says the Lord<br />
You shall jubilate over the task of unity<br />
You shall think and thank God this Thursday<br />
For in God we Trust! <br />
<br />
Address: Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu Nigeria.<br />
Email Address: noeldominor@gmail.com<br />
Phone no. +2347032786152 </p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Francisthepopeofmercyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11822086002846679193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6153585526965224025.post-85457188786903979132017-11-18T03:13:00.001-08:002021-07-28T21:13:34.894-07:00DO STORIES MATTER? By: Onyeulo Noel Ogadimma (Theology Student of Bigard Memorial Seminary Enugu Nigeria) <p dir="ltr">The great Indian Jesuit priest and Story writer, Anthony de Mello once said that the shortest distance between truth and a human being is a story. Stories guide human beings in their search for truth and meaning of life. We should be concerned about the stories we digest because they form part of how we relate with events, peoples and places. Stories are like imaginative vehicles through which we travel to places either factual or fictional. Stories create most times a definitive picture of our believe system; whatever we know about an event, people and places are most often an aftermath of stories we have heard about them. With stories we can wound or heal and we can also create a true or false image of people, place or event. The African writer and story teller, Chimamanda Adichie in one of her stories titled “The Danger of a Single story” quoted the Palestinian poet Mourid Barghouti who writes that “if you want to dispossess a people, the simplest way to do it is to tell their story…” Using a story, you can make a definite picture of peoples, events and places.</p>
<p dir="ltr">However, stories matter! So, to get at true picture of reality we need what the African Star Novelist Chinua Achebe called “Balance of stories”. Not just a “balance of stories” but “a dialogical balance of stories”. A “dialogical balance of stories” is an assessment of all the basic components of a story including its negative and positive occurrences. The basic components of a story include; who told the story? How the story is told? When a story is told? And how many stories are told? All these components provide a kind of dialogical balance to reality and are dependent on one another to proof the veracity of a story. For reality is composed of two opposites (Light and Darkness, White and Black, Rich and Poor etc); so we need a “dialogical balance of stories” to mediate between these opposites in order to give balance to our logic and judgment. With story, one can unlock the door to reality but cannot do that with a single story. It is dangerous to base ones judgment or logic on a single story because they are incomplete and inequitable. According to Adichie, a single story portrays a people as one thing over and over again and has the capacity of making a definite story and picture of another person. For her, the danger of a single story is not only that they are untrue but they are incomplete. They make one story become the only story. The consequence of a single story is that it robs people of their dignity and makes our recognition of equal humanity difficult. It emphasizes on how we are different rather than how we are similar. For instance, oftentimes some black people have been afraid of talking to or relating with White people either on face to face encounter or social media for fear of racism ranging from the single story told years ago that all whites are racist. But today, some of us are proud to say from “balance of stories” that the greatest unconditional love and favor we have received in life is courtesy of our white friends. They deserve my praise! Also in Nigeria, one of the present social and political unrest in the country is traceable to the danger of a single story; where the Igbo man is only told the negative stories of the Hausa Man and the Hausa Man have also come to believe on a single story of the Igbos as his major enemy to rival with. Hence, Nigeria needs a “dialogical balance of stories” to define her future and challenges despite her cultural diversity.</p>
<p dir="ltr">In fine, we need a kind of “dialogical balance of stories” to regain a paradise in our relationship with people and quest for reality. I wish to conclude with an excerpt from Adichie’s story- “The Danger of a Single Story” which reads; “Stories matter. Many stories matter. Stories have been used to dispossess and to malign people. It can also be used to empower and to humanize. Stories can break the dignity of a people but stories can also repair that broken dignity… when we reject and realize that there is never a single story about any place {people and event}, we regain a kind of paradise”. </p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Francisthepopeofmercyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11822086002846679193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6153585526965224025.post-38269121984087651322017-11-18T03:07:00.001-08:002017-11-18T03:07:32.172-08:00A THEOLOGICAL HERMENEUTICS OF “OUT-CRY”
BY ONYEULO NOEL OGADIMMA ( A theology Student of Bigard Memorial Seminary Enugu Nigeria)
(Open for constructive criticisms)<p dir="ltr">OVERTURE </p>
<p dir="ltr">The term “out-cry” is an important theme in biblical salvation theology. It culminates in the Exodus story of the Old Testament which connects Israel to its historical identity and origin. “Out-cry” is very significant especially when it comes from an oppressed people. To understand the importance of “Out-Cry” in Israel’s salvation history, one must first and foremost understand the Exodus story and its theology as it relates to the people of Israel, the chosen people of God. As a reality, “Out-Cry” of an oppressed people is significant to the Name of God who is Omni-Presence and Omniscience. Thus, he who is “Omni-presence- I AM, I AM” (Exodus 3:14) of the Old Testament is still the “Emmanuel- God is with us” of the New Testament. God is always present in the live of his people especially the oppressed, marginalized, orphans and those who have no one to care for them. This implies that whenever God will always manifests his power in the history of His people especially against oppressive system that caused His people to “Cry-Out”. God hears the “Out-Cry” of his people as it reveals His true name and identity as being in the history of his people.</p>
<p dir="ltr">THE EXODUS STORY</p>
<p dir="ltr">The Exodus story is the heart of Jewish religion and all who follow the Jewish religion. Whatever Israel came to know of God and their history is embelished in the encounter with God and Moses in Egypt. Thus, the Exodus story is a story of Israel’s salvation, liberation and redemption. It is the story that made Israel a people; their very first experience of God as a liberator and savior. It connects Israel to its historical past as slaves in Egypt; slaves of Pharaoh. As slaves, Israel has no identity, no origin, no history and no name. Israel did not know anything about God, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Moses questioning of God to tell him who he was or who is sending him shows a glimpse of the fact that Israel has lost the history of who they were. This is typical of a slave in the ancient times. In the ancient times, slaves were led through a process of memory lose to become completely the property of their master. Slaves have no name as they bear the name of their master. They bear marks, seal or wear an object of the master to show they are a property of the master. With this indelible mark, a slave cannot escape from the master and that is why he is a slave forever. Israel was slave of Pharaoh in Egypt. In fact Israel belongs to Pharaoh who was a great master and was also worshipped as a god. Pharaoh as a god in Egypt determined whether Israel will live or not. The story of Exodus began when a Pharaoh who did not know Joseph came to power. He became threatened by the geometrical increase of the population of the Israelites. The Egyptians became afraid that one day these people (Israel) will team up with invaders and fight them. This fear has an antecedent ranging to the historical story of the “Hyksos” (who were labourers) from Palestine who came into Egypt and after a long number of years, they entered the government and through that form, overtook the government of Egypt and ruled for more than 300years). The Egyptians did not want history to repeat itself and so they undertook a certain measures to checkmate its growing population. The measures include; killing of male children and hard labour. These made Israel to “Cry-out” and God heard their cry and send Moses to rescue them.</p>
<p dir="ltr">HE IS TRUE TO HIS NAME!</p>
<p dir="ltr">One thing significant about “Out-cry” is that it addressed God by His proper name and calls on him to look with pity on His people in difficutly and irregular situations. For His love endures forever and He is true to His name! On hearing the “out-cry” of the Israelites, God revealed himself to Moses as an Omni-present God, “I AM, I AM” (Exodus 3:14). Before giving Moses his mission of liberating his people, he took Moses down the memory lane of the Patriarchs of Israel; Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. This he did in order to reinstate Israel’s identity and origin as his people following the promise he made to Abraham and his descendants forever. He gave them a land and made them his people. He made Moses perform so many signs and wonders before Pharaoh just to claim ownership of his people. With these, they no longer belong to the might of Pharaoh as slaves but freemen in God who is mightier than Pharaoh. The theological import of “Out-Cry” culminates in Exodus 3:7 when God says “I have heard the out-cry of my people”. This shows that God is concerned with the situation of human beings. He is the God against every oppressive system. </p>
<p dir="ltr">“OUT-CRY AND THE REST OF US”</p>
<p dir="ltr">From the above, we have seen that God is always involved in the history of humanity no matter the situation. He is ever-present among us espeially in difficult time. So, whenever we find ourselves in any oppressive system, let us not loose sight of the presence of God. Let us not lose patience of God’s ever abiding presence in any oppressive situation and turn to serve the god of our oppressors. He is God of the oppressed and always true to His name in an oppressive system. He will vindicate the just when the time comes! We ought always to pray and keep watch so that we don’t sing God’s song on alien soil by being on the side of our oppressor. Fear God, fear judgment!</p>
Francisthepopeofmercyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11822086002846679193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6153585526965224025.post-70997751381913037012017-04-28T03:25:00.001-07:002017-04-28T03:25:52.288-07:00 Pope Francis departs on Apostolic visit to Egypt <p dir="ltr">Pope Francis has departed from Rome's Fiumicino airport on an Apostolic visit to Egypt. He is due to arrive in Cairo at 2pm this afternoon. Whilst there the Pope will meet with the head of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Pope Tawadros II, as well as with Sheik Ahmed el-Tayeb, Grand Imam of Egypt’s al-Azhar university. The Holy Father will be in Egypt for just 24 hours on a visit that will include the solemn celebration of Mass on Saturday morning. Vatican Radio’s Stefano Leszczynski is in Cairo covering the Pope’s visit and spoke to us about expectations and the <u>tight</u> security for this trip. </p>
Francisthepopeofmercyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11822086002846679193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6153585526965224025.post-79388712804753224032017-04-26T11:41:00.001-07:002021-07-28T21:07:21.567-07:00Between the Sheep and the Shepherd: the Philosophy of “Uro Nkita na Ibe ya”
(A Philosophical Parable)
By: Noel Ogadimma Onyeulo<p dir="ltr"><br />
Once upon a time in a community called Umuenyi. There exists a Great and astute Shepherd called Omeni. He majored in Sheep-rearing. He was known as the Great Shepherd of Umuenyi due to his outstanding and caring manner of rearing his flock of Sheep. Omeni was a goodman and he works hard. He tends his Sheep so affectionately that he devotes greater time studying and responding appropriately to their different modes of reaction at given times. So tenderly did he love his Sheep which made the people almost accuse him of being an “animal lover”. If anyone demands an explanation for this, the reason is so simple. Not that Omeni valued his Sheep more than human beings but he cultured a balanced virtue by which he operates so as to offend neither his Sheep nor any human being. For such a balanced virtue he cultured both towards his Sheep and human beings, the villagers fondly call him “Ochendu” (One who Guides Life). Loved by all for his tenderness towards others especially those in need, Omeni is a handsome man whose countenance beams with smiles. So innocent shines his face with body physique so commanding like that of the biblical Sampson. His body hairs rolls and shines like that of the Biblical David, the Man after God’s own heart. Possessing charming physical characteristics with honor so legendary, his eyebrows and eye pupils were so charming that every young girl within his age bracket easily develop affection for him. Children sings his praises whenever and wherever he goes with his flock of Sheep and young men and maiden desperately ask for his friendship at all cost. It reached to a point that Omeni’s simplicity and humility became the point of reference by which parents used when admonishing their children. Omeni’s sheep were so tamed that they know when their Lord and Master arrives home. Wherever he leads them they go! They understand whatever sign he commands. The Shepherd-Sheep relationship rearing between Omeni and his Sheep is a relationship of love. Unlike other Shepherds whose Sheep walk with them with rope tied on their necks, Omeni, the great Shepherd of Umuenyi rears his Sheep only with his staff, in knowledge of other positive and practical moral tactics that could be described as anything else except malice. Yet Omeni’s Sheep responds most fervently and promising than any other Sheep own by any other Shepherd around Umuenyi. Hence, Omeni’s Shepherd tactics ranks the best in Umuenyi community because of the high level of comportment exhibited by his Sheep. <br />
When Omeni, the Great Shepherd of Umuenyi was asked to explain the secrets of his success, he said that the reason is not far-fetched. According to him, his insight about the tactics of Shepherding comes from the times he has observed dogs playing. He maintained that while playing, the dogs seemed like biting each other but a close look at that shows that they only accompany each other to enjoy the fun. They bite each other and fall to each other and most times surrender themselves or other parts of their body to each other in confidence that the other cannot hurt. In Igbo parlance, it is called “Uro Nkita na Ibe ya”; dog-play in English. He observed that the Philosophy he gained from that is: dogs enjoy such fun irrespective of age and might. For him, the mother dog and her children can indulge in dog-play without the mother picking offence on why the children gave her a bite or wants to play with her mother or the might claiming dominance of the show. Each whether might or weak fell at each other and can surrender any part of her body in confidence for the play. The might gains or loses nothing by engaging with the weak in such a play except for helping each other enjoy the fun. Omeni expressed that he enjoyed and learnt from the show that we need each other irrespective of our differences in other to enjoy the fun of the world. He stressed that human beings whether might or weak must both leave the stage of life one day. “Of what profit would it be for one who must definitely leave the stage of life to spend his or her life claiming to be mightier than the other?” he asked. “As a Shepherd”, he continued, “I think of how to increase my flock of Sheep instead of losing them for losing them tells a lot about my Shepherding tactics and that means a great loss for me”. “Thus, instead of losing my Sheep, I think more of how to increase my flock and to achieve this I imbibed the play-dog relationship, “Uro Nkita na Ibe ya”. This philosophy also helped me not to claim mightier than anybody rather to help people around me enjoy the fun of this world. </p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI1Jzkc5ZyMuk9jBqaf78FfCfWALdXsmMFFo5jsrXm1Vqiukf6KXB_7P9S8YGXco2c6FAkUyAqIdMQexusZOgMBBuzlvKwHH40T9qbEgmzbNrAsNCVyfkLoultRbzECMIrxKeUq5OEggY/s1600/DSC_0066.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI1Jzkc5ZyMuk9jBqaf78FfCfWALdXsmMFFo5jsrXm1Vqiukf6KXB_7P9S8YGXco2c6FAkUyAqIdMQexusZOgMBBuzlvKwHH40T9qbEgmzbNrAsNCVyfkLoultRbzECMIrxKeUq5OEggY/s640/DSC_0066.jpeg" /> </a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Francisthepopeofmercyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11822086002846679193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6153585526965224025.post-35004002501449362752017-03-23T00:58:00.000-07:002017-03-23T01:06:09.486-07:00STORY MY MOTHER TOLD ME BY NOEL OGADIMMA ONYEULO<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjACDaSFn5AhAjP-iCHzP3nA8Pf5SstusKTB8FERwQ4Dfjyk5_GNmn3-mMyXPyLhoPgn6ZuuinnSKnx9KnCfaz2sfFhwCBDy110-cDnB0J2h3WTGMFZwEOotj0kF6zwfjhtU89AyFKesis/s1600/DSC_0036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjACDaSFn5AhAjP-iCHzP3nA8Pf5SstusKTB8FERwQ4Dfjyk5_GNmn3-mMyXPyLhoPgn6ZuuinnSKnx9KnCfaz2sfFhwCBDy110-cDnB0J2h3WTGMFZwEOotj0kF6zwfjhtU89AyFKesis/s320/DSC_0036.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial black" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">STORY
MY MOTHER TOLD ME </span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: -45.0pt; margin-right: -45.0pt; margin-top: 0in; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial black" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">BY
</span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial black" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%;">NOEL
OGADIMMA ONYEULO</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This is a story from a time when the
gods walked on earth and looked as human as you and I. They meet with people in
their language and time and sometimes award reward or punishment to them. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-left: -45.0pt; margin-right: -45.0pt; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Once upon a time in Greece there was a
certain city whose king was Midas. Incidentally the King Midas who appears in
this story is the same Midas who had the touch - he could turn everything to
gold. But actually it ended badly for him because all he touches turn
Gold including his food and daughter. That however is another story. This one
is called “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">King Midas has ass’s ears”.</b>
I learnt it at the toutledge of my mother Sabina when I was about 9.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: -45.0pt; margin-right: -45.0pt; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
In those days: Pan, the god of shepherds,
challenged Apollo, the god of music to a musical contest. Pan insisted his
flute of reeds could produce a more beautiful melody than Apollo's silly harp.
The two agreed on a contest with judges. One of the judges was King Midas, a
mortal chosen by Pan.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: -45.0pt; margin-right: -45.0pt; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
After hearing the two melodies, all except one of
the judges chose Apollo as the winner. But the one judge who preferred Pan was
King Midas because Pan is his friend.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: -45.0pt; margin-right: -45.0pt; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
Furious that anyone could prefer a reedy pipe to
his musical lyre, Apollo disputed angrily, "I see the problem. It's your
ears. They are too small to hear properly. Let me fix that for you."</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: -45.0pt; margin-right: -45.0pt; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
King Midas felt his ears vibrating and behold his
ears sprang out, and out, and turned into the large furry ears of an ass
(donkey). King Midas was horrified. He grabbed his ears. "Pan, help
me!" he cried. But Pan, with a quick nervous glance at Apollo, turned his
back leaving King Midas. You can imagine a King with ears like that of a
donkey! How will he feel before his subjects and fellow Kings. What a tragedy!
One of the most revered and influential king in the Greek Polis with ears like
that of a donkey.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: -45.0pt; margin-right: -45.0pt; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
King Midas tried to hide his ears from his subjects
by wearing a variety of huge hats, heavy helmets, and bulky scarves. The only
person who knew about the ass's ears was the Royal Barber who came every week
to trim the King’s hair and keep it neat. King Midas made his barber promise he
would never tell a soul.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: -45.0pt; margin-right: -45.0pt; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
His barber kept his word. But keeping such a huge
secret to himself was driving him crazy. On the third occasion that he cut the
King’s hair, there could be no doubt he could not bear the mental truant.
He said to himself: “MIDAS THE KING HAS ASS’S EARS”. Walking home afterwards he
was in confusion. I am the only person who knows the King’s secret he
said to himself. How can I carry this burden? I must find someone
to share it. But who? I know so few people; and no-one well
enough to tell this dreadful thing. Finally, the barber went up a mountain and
almost to the edge of a cliff. He dug a hole in the midst of some reeds. He
looked about, to make sure no one was near. Then, he whispered into the hole
severally, "King Midas has the ears of an ass. King's aaaass ears! King's
aaaass ears!" Having gotten his secret off his chest, he felt much better
and relieved like a penitent after a penitential service. He returned home,
sure that he had kept his word.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: -45.0pt; margin-right: -45.0pt; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
Unfortunately for King Midas, the barber had dug
right <span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">into a “</span><a href="http://greece.mrdonn.org/greekgods/echo.html"><span style="color: black; text-decoration: none;">piece of Echo</span></a>”.
You've heard of Echo, right? Pieces of Echo were scattered all over the
mountainous kingdom. In fact, pieces of Echo were scattered all over the world
which reverberates.</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: -45.0pt; margin-right: -45.0pt; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
Although I suppose some people might think it was
only the sound of the wind in the reeds, it was really a piece of Echo, whispering
over and over, "King's aaaass ears, king's aaaass ears".</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 5.0pt; margin-left: -45.0pt; margin-right: -45.0pt; margin-top: 5.0pt; text-align: justify;">
Sound travels well in the mountains, even whispers.
It was not long before the entire kingdom knew the king's secret. What a world
hidden under the sun! And so I asked “What sort of secret could be hidden under
the Sun?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
Francisthepopeofmercyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11822086002846679193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6153585526965224025.post-45291573906671924882017-03-18T16:12:00.002-07:002017-03-18T16:55:44.736-07:00FATHERHOOD AND ACHEBE’S RESPONSE BY NOEL ONYEULO OGADIMMA<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 20.0pt;">FATHERHOOD AND ACHEBE’S RESPONSE </span></b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 20.0pt;">By: Noel Onyeulo Ogadimma</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1HHMMoLjUGSSnrhESZoRaigQrSma9IqzdX05bGKVu3uA_vQxi_yChG7URd7G5aPZwWZbeDofHaeKjgHSuCDez6yH7lfWiicxmByab-lO4cRLh3QPBWbjJjQqMzMekseTDrM35JSbIOcQ/s1600/Chinua-Achebe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1HHMMoLjUGSSnrhESZoRaigQrSma9IqzdX05bGKVu3uA_vQxi_yChG7URd7G5aPZwWZbeDofHaeKjgHSuCDez6yH7lfWiicxmByab-lO4cRLh3QPBWbjJjQqMzMekseTDrM35JSbIOcQ/s320/Chinua-Achebe.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The killing of Ikemefuna remains the
most scandalous and agonizing episode in Chinua Achebe’s classic- ‘Things Fall
Apart’. It is an event too pitiful and outrageous to endure at least by all who
value sound conscience and prudent judgment. If not for anything, the circumstances
surrounding the event make it even more heinous and invite our moral evaluation
more intensely on the concept of fatherhood. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We recall in Chapter 2 of that memorable
novel “Things Fall Apart”, how Achebe told us that w</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">hen the wife of Ogbuefi Udo has been killed in a war between
Umuofia and Mbaino, the people of Mbaino offered a fifteen years old lad and
young virgin as compensation to Umuofia people. They were brought to Umofia by
Okonkwo whom Achebe described as “the proud and imperial emissary of war”. The
virgin was the replacement of the dead wife of Ogbuefi Udo and the young lad
was the sacrifice for the murder. Okonkwo was given the responsibility to look
after the young lad named Ikemefuna. He took care of him just like his own son.
Until the killing, Ikemefuna believed Okonkwo as his biological father and
calls him- Father. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Achebe plotted the story in tragedy
when he began by telling us in chapter 7 of the novel, that “For three years
Ikemefuna lived in Okonkwo’s household and the elders of Umofia seemed to have
forgotten about him”. By this, he situated a kind of paternal affinity rearing almost
perfectly between Okonkwo and Ikemuefuna. In this same chapter, Achebe also narrated
the intimacy between Okonkwo’s son, Nwoye and Ikemuefuna saying “Okonkwo was
inwardly pleased at his son’s development, and he knew it was due to
Ikemefuna”. But Okonkwo knew Ikemefuna was a sacrifice because the tradition of
the society was blood for blood oriented and everybody knows that. So, when
Ogbuefi Ezudu </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">an
elder of moral repute in Umuofia who understands its values and traditions and
the habits of the gods</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> came with the news of the sacrifice
of Ikemefuna he warns Okonkwo twice saying<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">:
</b></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">"That
boy calls you father. Do not bear a hand in his death." </span></i></b><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Achebe stated
that<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">
“Okonkwo was surprised, and was about to say some things when the old man
continued: "Yes, Umuofia has decided to kill him. The Oracle of the Hills
and Caves has pronounced it. They will take him there. But I want [you] to have
nothing to do with it. He calls you father".</i></b></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> Tragically, Okonkwo did not give it a second thought. He
accompanied Ikemefuna till the killing took place. At the scene of the killing,
Achebe presented that “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">as the man who has cleared his throat drew
up and raised his matchet, Okonkwo looked away. He heard the blow. The pot fell
and broke in the sand. He heard Ikemefuna cried ‘My father they have killed
me!’ as he ran towards him. Dazed with fear, Okonkwo drew his matchet and cut
him down. He was afraid of being thought weak”.</i></b> However, the deed has
been done! Okonkwo has participated in the ceremony for sacrificing Ikemefuna
after being strongly warned by the gods. He delivered the death blow that
surrendered Ikemefuna into the cold hands of death because he is "afraid
of being thought weak”. At a deep emotional level, Okonkwo killed a boy who
"could hardly imagine that Okonkwo was not his real father". Okonkwo
has not only outwardly ignored his people and their traditions, but he has also
disregarded his inner feelings of love and protectiveness over a boy he reared as
his own son. The murder scene marks the beginning of Okonkwo’s decline and a
turning point in the novel because Okonkwo, the Hero has offended the gods of
the land. He is now moving from Hero to Zero. No wonder some scholars represent
Okonkwo as “The tragic Hero”.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
effects and nuances surrounding the murder of Ikemefuna could easily be
examined over a careful insight into the novel. However, o</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">ne can also
observe Achebe’s feeling when he commented </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">in
Chapter 2, that the fate of Ikemefuna is a "sad story" that is
"still told in Umuofia unto this day." This observation suggests that
the decision to kill Ikemefuna was not a customary one but a decision too
exceptional to be justified. However, the murder scene develops a compassion
for that young boy because even before dying, Ikemefuna thinks of Okonkwo as
his "real father" and of what he wants to tell his mother, especially
about Okonkwo. </span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">At
the murder scene also, Achebe told us that, when one of the elders gave Ikemefuna
a matchet blow, he quickly ran to Okonkwo shouting “My father, they have killed
me”, yet that did not spurned Okonkwo into remembering neither the warning from
the gods nor the fact that a voice intimate and familial to him is dying in
pains, yet he Okonkwo out of pride and</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> “afraid of being thought weak”</span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> gave the last blow that killed Ikemefuna. A question arose
here: Why is Okonkwo afraid of being thought weak? The answer not being
far-fetched is given by A</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">chebe
in Chapter 2 of that Novel when he describes Okonkwo as “the proud and imperial
emissary of war”. By this, he points out the place of pride in Okonkwo’s
personality. Hence, Okonkwo harbors a vice that could make him kill in other to
protect his ego. Succinctly, that vice is pride! We can see from his actions
that pride made him daft even when Ikemefuna ran to him for protection.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; mso-margin-bottom-alt: auto; mso-margin-top-alt: auto; text-align: justify;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Most importantly, the story of Ikemefuna
and Okonkwo is plotted to instruct us that the concept of fatherhood rests upon
all who have responsibility of care over others. For Ikemefuna rests under
Okonkwo’s custody and calls him father, suggests that Achebe wants to
underscore the providence behind <span class="bqquotelink"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">the responsibility of care over
others.<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> For Ikemefuna rests under Okonkwo's custody and calls him father suggests <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">that Achebe wants to underscore the providence behind the responsibility of car<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">e over others as that which has less to do with biological affinity. </span></span></span>Following </span></span><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">Achebe,
we can infer that the responsibility of care over others has </span></span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;">as its most dangerous threats; </span></span><i>pride and the fear
of not being thought weak</i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">:</span></span> for these ruined Okonkwo’s inner</span></span><span style="color: black; font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;"> feeling of love and
protectiveness. Thus, w</span><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">ith
the absence of that inner feeling of love and protectiveness, impunity takes
over. Put it this way, Okonkwo’s majesty ended in a tragedy due to <i>pride and
fear of not being thought weak.</i> Finally, Achebe chooses to warn the hum<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";">an family of these threats because they remain the most dangerous threats capable of blocking the sense<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif";"> organs and shattering the might of princes just as in Okonkwo's case. Thus, with the presence of these two threats Okonkwo remains a tragic hero.</span></span></span></div>
Francisthepopeofmercyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11822086002846679193noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6153585526965224025.post-5252157317447527332017-03-18T14:45:00.003-07:002017-03-18T15:45:47.164-07:00TOWARDS PRESERVING THE MUSICAL TRADITION OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH By: Noel Ogadimma Onyeulo <!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">TOWARDS
PRESERVING THE MUSICAL TRADITION OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH</span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">By:
Noel Ogadimma Onyeulo </span></b></div>
<h1 style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%;"> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMW4OxJ5QqwMHEDzJMkQQ_kz-oCtvBXvYb_yq1VFx8k5xYh86uZTLIVFkADoerWrF_quyMc1SDK2EUjPRc2Kn2lFL1eTqNM2hMXfOw_fxEUwwOxOoBUMz1VJl3qCPLQcMfvQ9BlR28MZM/s1600/IMG_20151107_132638.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMW4OxJ5QqwMHEDzJMkQQ_kz-oCtvBXvYb_yq1VFx8k5xYh86uZTLIVFkADoerWrF_quyMc1SDK2EUjPRc2Kn2lFL1eTqNM2hMXfOw_fxEUwwOxOoBUMz1VJl3qCPLQcMfvQ9BlR28MZM/s320/IMG_20151107_132638.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</span></h1>
<h1 style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 150%;">The Constitution of the Second Vatican Council<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> on Sacred Liturgy </i>states that “The
musical tradition of the universal Church is a treasure of inestimable value, greater
even than that of any other art. The main reason for this pre-eminence is that,
as sacred song united to the words, it forms a necessary or integral part of
the solemn liturgy” (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Sacrosanctum Concilium,</i>
no. 112). The Church has encouraged singing at liturgical celebrations
throughout her history, providing wonderful examples of melodic comment to the
sacred texts in accordance with the creativity of every culture, (each
according to its own rites of both West and East) as a continuation of the
ancient biblical tradition to which the Lord himself and the Apostles abided
(cf. Mt 26: 30; Eph 5: 19; Col 3: 16). Music is a treasure that enlivens the
body and edifies the soul. It is an expression of joy. In Music we express
the inexpressible; that which we cannot express merely by speaking, we express
it in songs. In Music, it is the soul speaking. Little wonder why the Novelist
Williams Shakespeare calls music “the food of the soul”. Explaining this fact,
St. Pope John Paul II maintained that as a treasure of inestimable value,
Sacred Music consolidates its role both as a means of lifting up the spirit to
God and as a precious aid for the faithful in their "active participation
in the most holy mysteries and in the public and solemn prayer of the Church (St.
Pope John Paul II, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The Fitting Role of
Sacred Music in the Holy Liturgy</i>, <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Homily
at St Peter's on 22 November, the Memorial of St Cecilia, in the year 2003</span>).
Like St. Augustine the Pontiff, John Paul II continued that “he who sings well
prays twice”. He observed that Sacred Music constitutes the prayer life of the
Church and should be cherished and preserved as such. </span></h1>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Liturgical
services are not private functions, but are celebrations of the Church</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">, which is the "sacrament of
unity," namely, the holy people united and ordered under their priests and
bishops. Thus, Sacred Music does not dominate, it serves. <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Servers, lectors, commentators, and members
of the choir</span> also exercise a genuine liturgical function. They <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">ought, therefore, to discharge their offices
with the sincere piety and decorum</span> d<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">emanded by so exalted a ministry</span> and rightly expected of them by
God's people. In Colossians 3:16, St. Paul exhorts the faithful assembled in
expectation of their Lord's return to sing together. He says, "Let
the word of Christ dwell in you richly.., singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual
songs with gratitude in your hearts to God."</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">At this
juncture, for the sake of clarity, we will be pleased to introduce the question to which this paper is trying to address and that is: <b>Whose
duty is it to preserve the musical tradition of the Church?</b> The Second
Vatican Council Constitution on Sacred Liturgy answers by saying that it is a
collaborative effort of both the Clergy and Laity to preserve the musical
tradition of the Church. Hence the Council states: “The treasure of sacred
music is to be preserved and fostered with great care</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">. Choirs must be diligently promoted,
especially in cathedral churches; but bishops and other pastors of souls must
be at pains to ensure that, whenever the sacred action is to be celebrated with
song, the whole body of the faithful may be able to contribute that active
participation which is rightly theirs”. In this way, we can say that the task of preserving musical tradition in the Church can be achieved through the unanimous
agreement of pastors of souls, musicians and faithful. When the Liturgical Musicians work together with their Pastor of Souls and their Pastor of Souls gives them the utmost attention needed it will be possible to
achieve what the Constitution <i>on Sacred Music </i>describes as the true
"purpose of sacred music", that is, "the glory of God and the
sanctification of the faithful" (Second Vatican Council, Constitution on
the Sacred Liturgy <i>Sacrosanctum Concilium, </i>no. 120). In summary, we are trying to say that the task of preserving musical tradition has a lot to do with <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">the worshiping community comprising of the
priest and all the Faithful. Hence, they must be deeply imbued with the spirit of the liturgy</span>, each in
his own measure, and they must perform their functions in a correct and orderly
manner. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif";">The faithful must know that bad music
distracts the serenity of liturgical worship and this must concern the priest
who is the leader of the praying community. </span>Most importantly, priests should be interested
in Sacred Music because the nature of the Music sung during a liturgical
celebration arouses a kind of feeling that makes him (the Priest) communicates
most effectively with the divine. Thus, when the priest communicates most effectively with the Divine, we can be proud to say that "We have a Worthy celebration". </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-top: 12.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Francisthepopeofmercyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11822086002846679193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6153585526965224025.post-57988211426850434252016-10-31T14:46:00.000-07:002016-10-31T14:46:06.681-07:00REVIEW OF THE BOOK, FRANCIS THE POPE OF MERCY<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">BOOK
PRESENTATION & REVIEW<span style="background-color: red;"><span></span></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Title:
Francis, The Pope of Mercy (Vol. 1)</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Foreward:
Rev. Fr. Dr. David Asonye Ihenacho</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Nihil
Obstat: Rev. Fr. Dr. Benjamin Eze </span></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">(Lecturer
in Pastoral Theology, Bigard Memorial Seminary Enugu and Representative (CSN)
Catholic Bloc of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN Enugu State)</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Author:
Noel Ogadimma Onyeulo </span></b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">(Theology
Student, Bigard Memorial Seminary, Enugu, Nigeria)</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Email-
</span></b><a href="mailto:noeldominor@gmail.com"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">noeldominor@gmail.com</span></i></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">, </span></i><a href="mailto:noeldominor@yahoo.com"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">noeldominor@yahoo.com</span></i></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Phone-
</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">+2347032786152,
+2348055742905<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">)</b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">REVIEW</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">If there is a revolution in the pontificate of Pope Francis, it is
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">a revolution of the heart</i> which seems
to be at the level of pastoral application of doctrines, for he views life
through the lens of mercy. He understands that mercy lives at the very
foundation of the Church’s life and mission and she has an endless desire to
show mercy. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">However, so many Popes have preached mercy but that of Pope
Francis remains incomparable in the sense that he has succeeded in
personalizing the “Mercy Enterprise” to his style and vision of leadership such
that it becomes the sole enterprise from which he teaches and shepherds. Even
before becoming Pope, he has decorated his priestly ministry with the fragrant
theme “Mercy”; a theme very dear to his heart that it marks the central topic
of his Episcopal motto: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Miserando Atque
Eligendo,</i> which he chose when he was ordained a bishop in 1992. Verily, we
hear Pope Francis say; “<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">The calling of
Matthew is also presented within the context of mercy. Passing by the tax
collector’s booth, Jesus looked intently at Matthew. It was a look full of
mercy that forgave the sins of that man, a sinner and a tax collector, whom
Jesus chose – against the hesitation of the disciples – to become one of the
Twelve. Saint Bede the Venerable, commenting on this Gospel passage, wrote that
Jesus looked upon Matthew with merciful love and chose him: <i>miserando atque
eligendo</i>. This expression impressed me so much that I chose it for my
Episcopal motto”.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"> (Pope Francis, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Misericordiae Vultus: Bull of Indiction of the Extraordinary Jubilee of
Mercy<span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">, </span></i><span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">11 April, 2015,</span> no. 8.)<span style="color: black;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">So, this translation which signifies<i> “with the eyes of mercy”</i>
became the administrative and well-spring of Pope Francis’ papacy. Allowing
this “Mercy Concept” to permeate, endure and remain constant all over his
Apostolic Exhortation, Encyclical, homilies, Apostolic Letters, gestures and
testimonies give rise to the premise of our conviction while the proclamation
of the year 2016 as the Holy year of Mercy stamps the veracity of our inference
and we are left with no other option than to say: <b>“Behold Pope Francis, Apostle
of Mercy!”. </b></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Let us recall that in that Gospel episode
of the Call of Matthew, the propaganda fiddled by the Pharisees against Jesus,
is that he (Jesus) a supposed Jewish Rabbi who understands the Jewish tradition
and customs was dinning with tax collectors and sinners. Most importantly,
Jesus replied them saying <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;">“…Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, not
sacrifice.’ For I have come not to call the righteous but sinners” (Matt. 9:
9ff). </span></b><span style="color: black;">This passage has pastoral
significance for Pope Francis and so he viewed <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">the Church as a house of mercy freely given, where everyone can feel
welcomed, forgiven and encouraged to live a good life of the gospel </b>(<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Evangelii Gaudium</i> no. 114). Succinctly,
Pope Francis is an artisan of Mercy! He understands that the world has heard enough
judgments and so this is time to witness the Mercy of God in a world ravaged by
indifference, betrayal, uncertainty, confusion and poverty. His papacy seeks to
balance justice with mercy. For him, God’s justice is his mercy and it would
not be out of place…to recall the relationship between <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">justice </i>and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">mercy. </i>These
are not two contradictory realities he said, but two dimensions of a single
reality that unfolds progressively until it culminates in the fullness of love.
(<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Misericordiae Vultus</i> no. 20) Thus he
writes: “Mercy is not opposed to justice but rather expresses God’s way of
reaching out to the sinner, offering him a new chance to look at himself,
convert, and believe” (Ibid. 21). In his analysis of the biblical episode of
the Call of Matthew- where Jesus dined with tax collectors and sinners- Pope
Francis believes that Jesus is bent on revealing the gift of mercy that
searches out sinners and offers them pardon and salvation, for Jesus desires
mercy and not sacrifice; He has come not to call the righteous but sinners (cf.
Matt. 9:13) (Ibid). Put it this way, Pope Francis is helping the Church
continue in her authentic witnessing to the Mercy of God in the world. <b><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">In his Apostolic Exhortation, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Evangelii
Nuntiandi</i> no. 41, Pope Paul VI writes;<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">
“modern man listens more willingly to witnesses than teachers, and if he does
listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses”. </b>People are listening
to Pope Francis because of his outstanding manner of witnessing. In not less
than three years of his papacy, the Francis papacy can look back to numerous
achievements. The milestone of his historic achievements is his visits to poor
countries and appeal to world leaders to save the earth, our common home. He
remains the first Pope to share an encyclical through the Twitter account. Pope
Francis has a special way of speaking to our conscience: it is his talent. His
words and deeds which in the words of Barack Obama shakes the conscience, has
triggered many resignations especially in top offices like the American House
where the speaker, John Bohener’s considered resignation after listening to the
Pope address the United States congress during the papal visit to U. S in
September 2105. His outstanding manner of witness has shaken the conscience of people
like the former president of Cuba, Fidel Castro (who physically attacked
Catholics that oppose communism in Cuba) and Chimamanda Adichie, an African
Star writer and story teller to publicly consider returning to the Catholic
Church. That Cuba and America today can talk of a healthy diplomatic relation
is a testimony of the Francis papacy. At the just concluded Fourteenth Ordinary
General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops on the Family in Rome, he reviewed for
a more merciful tone of the Church towards finding a suitable pastoral language
on the place of divorced, remarried and homosexual persons in the Church
without altering the doctrine of the Church. Though the synod seems to end in
disagreement, yet the message of the Holy Father remains that the Church, the
spouse of Christ the son of God who is rich in mercy, has as its proper tone,
the ability to show mercy at least to over burdened persons who come in good
conscience. However, the papacy of this Jesuit Pope from the Latin America is
still telling and promising. Even the media wonders how such a simple and
humble Pope could make busy the internet world through the comments from
Christians and non Christians; such that even atheists and those who profess no
religious alliance revere him. “Don’t forget to pray for me” remains his last
statement at the end of each gathering.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>We
pray in faith for a safe landing into the Church’s hall of saints where we can
seek to emulate a Saint whose deeds and actions are so coherent with the mercy
of God. We thus pray in faith for that day when we shall pray through <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">St. Francis of Argentina </b>as he is
leading the world to learn and ponder from these words of Christ: <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“I desire mercy and not sacrifice”.</b> As
long as Pope Francis continues to remind us that the Lord’s most powerful
message is mercy as President Obama will say, he remains an Apostle of
Mercy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;"></span></div>
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Francisthepopeofmercyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11822086002846679193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6153585526965224025.post-62384312808932384762016-09-09T04:20:00.001-07:002016-09-09T04:20:31.161-07:00Full text of Pope Francis' Homily For the Inauguration of the Jubilee Year of Mercy <p dir="ltr"><i>The full text of Pope Francis’ prepared homily for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception and the Inauguration of the Jubilee of Mercy can be found below:</i></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b>Homily of His Holiness Pope Francis</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b>Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception</b><br>
<b>Inauguration of the Jubilee Year of Mercy</b></p>
<p dir="ltr"><b>8 December 2015</b></p>
<p dir="ltr">Dear Brothers and Sisters,</p>
<p dir="ltr">In a few moments I will have the joy of opening the Holy Door of Mercy. We carry out this act, so simple yet so highly symbolic, in the light of the word of God which we have just heard. That word highlights the <i>primacy of grace</i>. Again and again these readings make us think of the words by which the angel Gabriel told an astonished young girl of the mystery which was about to enfold her: “Hail, full of grace” (Lk 1:28).</p>
<p dir="ltr">The Virgin Mary was called to rejoice above all because of what the Lord accomplished in her. God’s grace enfolded her and made her worthy of becoming the Mother of Christ. When Gabriel entered her home, even the most profound and impenetrable of mysteries became for her a cause for joy, faith and abandonment to the message revealed to her. <i>The fullness of grace can transform the human heart</i> and enable it to do something so great as to change the course of human history.</p>
<p dir="ltr">The feast of the Immaculate Conception expresses the grandeur of God’s love. Not only does he forgive sin, but in Mary he even averts the original sin present in every man and woman who comes into this world. This is <i>the love of God which precedes, anticipates and saves</i>. The beginning of the history of sin in the Garden of Eden yields to a plan of saving love. The words of Genesis reflect our own daily experience: we are constantly tempted to disobedience, a disobedience expressed in wanting to go about our lives without regard for God’s will. This is the enmity which keeps striking at people’s lives, setting them in opposition to God’s plan.  Yet the history of sin can only be understood in the light of God’s love and forgiveness. Were sin the only thing that mattered, we would be the most desperate of creatures. But the promised triumph of Christ’s love enfolds everything in the Father’s mercy. The word of God which we have just heard leaves no doubt about this. The Immaculate Virgin stands before us as a privileged witness of this promise and its fulfilment.</p>
<p dir="ltr">This Extraordinary Holy Year is itself a gift of grace. To pass through the Holy Door means to rediscover the infinite mercy of the Father who welcomes everyone and goes out personally to encounter each of them. This will be a year in which we <i>grow ever more convinced of God’s mercy</i>. How much wrong we do to God and his grace when we speak of sins being punished by his judgment before we speak of their being forgiven by his mercy (cf. Saint Augustine, <i>De Praedestinatione Sanctorum</i>, 12, 24)! But that is the truth. We have to put mercy before judgment, and in any event God’s judgement will always be in the light of his mercy. In passing through the Holy Door, then, may we feel that <i>we ourselves are part of this mystery of love</i>. Let us set aside all fear and dread, for these do not befit men and women who are loved. Instead, let us experience <i>the joy of encountering that grace which transforms all things</i>.</p>
<p dir="ltr">Today, as we pass through the Holy Door, we also want to remember another door, which fifty years ago the Fathers of the<i>Second Vatican Council</i> opened to the world. This anniversary cannot be remembered only for the legacy of the Council’s documents, which testify to a great advance in faith. Before all else, the Council was an encounter. A genuine <i>encounter between the Church and the men and women of our time</i>. An encounter marked by the power of the Spirit, who impelled the Church to emerge from the shoals which for years had kept her self-enclosed so as to set out once again, with enthusiasm, on her missionary journey. It was the resumption of a journey of encountering people where they live: in their cities and homes, in their workplaces. Wherever there are people, the Church is called to reach out to them and to bring the joy of the Gospel. After these decades, we again take up this missionary drive with the same power and enthusiasm. The Jubilee challenges us to this openness, and demands that we not neglect <i>the spirit which emerged from Vatican II, the spirit of the Samaritan</i>, as Blessed Paul VI expressed it at the conclusion of the Council. May our passing through the Holy Door today commit us to making our own the mercy of the Good Samaritan.</p>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjdrv4r1_oID4Zyh1JN14ZLGemCwKoW1eEjD9d0qijt6hokwcFiJfWO67jlDBUexLxlubQsoDczHzC-GjXI77tVhVNeW4SYsdT6b1E5-f2N91IrX6m81Qu06aQSrDmnG79ZNqqO1SPTvU/s1600/images%252520%2525284%252529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjdrv4r1_oID4Zyh1JN14ZLGemCwKoW1eEjD9d0qijt6hokwcFiJfWO67jlDBUexLxlubQsoDczHzC-GjXI77tVhVNeW4SYsdT6b1E5-f2N91IrX6m81Qu06aQSrDmnG79ZNqqO1SPTvU/s640/images%252520%2525284%252529.jpg"> </a> </div>Francisthepopeofmercyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11822086002846679193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6153585526965224025.post-13871936114995667912016-09-09T04:07:00.001-07:002017-11-18T03:24:27.954-08:00Fanfare as Noel Onyeulo Meets Bishop Enrico, the Rector of Pontifical Lateran University Rome<div dir="ltr">
It was a splendid day as the author of the book, Francis the Pope of Mercy meets with the Rector of the Pontifical Lateran University Rome, Bishop Enrico. The meeting took place at Bigard Memorial seminary Enugu during the Bishop's short visit after ordaining the 2016 set of <u>Deacons</u> of the Catholic Diocese of Enugu. </div>
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Bishop Enrico congratulated Mr. Noel Onyeulo the author of the book, Francis the Pope of Mercy and received a package of his book in the name of the Holy Father, Pope Francis. The meeting could be described as friendly which leaves a very high inspiration in the environment and among the students and formators of Bigard Memorial seminary Enugu Nigeria. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqGAox9j2hGTOsQDsbz-mfivHzwMUZqMYXVpkHV2_xK6R6vniP2_ASR0YeLEcTN5pzxgkfzlgLjFomLFukI7zRjXbw-kgVzN1neUwQmWmiCUHukDVxJzZAMOzfm3ycHauw1jmfBlNuXJk/s1600/IMG_3022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqGAox9j2hGTOsQDsbz-mfivHzwMUZqMYXVpkHV2_xK6R6vniP2_ASR0YeLEcTN5pzxgkfzlgLjFomLFukI7zRjXbw-kgVzN1neUwQmWmiCUHukDVxJzZAMOzfm3ycHauw1jmfBlNuXJk/s640/IMG_3022.JPG" /> </a> </div>
Francisthepopeofmercyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11822086002846679193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6153585526965224025.post-29085106910565949402016-09-08T00:44:00.001-07:002016-09-08T00:44:44.663-07:00PRAYER OF POPE FRANCIS FOR THE JUBILEE YEAR OF MERCY <p dir="ltr">Lord Jesus Christ, you have taught us to be merciful like the heavenly Father, and have told us that whoever sees you sees Him. Show us your face and we will be saved. Your loving gaze freed Zacchaeus and Matthew from being enslaved by money; the adulteress and Magdalene from seeking happiness only in created things; made Peter weep after his betrayal, and assured Paradise to the repentant thief. Let us hear, as if addressed to each one of us, the words that you spoke to the Samaritan woman: “If you knew the gift of God!” You are the visible face of the invisible Father, of the God who manifests his power above all by forgiveness and mercy: let the Church be your visible face in the world, its Lord risen and glorified. You willed that your ministers would also be clothed in weakness in order that they may feel compassion for those in ignorance and error: let everyone who approaches them feel sought after, loved, and forgiven by God. Send your Spirit and consecrate every one of us with its anointing, so that the Jubilee of Mercy may be a year of grace from the Lord, and your Church, with renewed enthusiasm, may bring good news to the poor, proclaim liberty to captives and the oppressed, and restore sight to the blind. We ask this through the intercession of Mary, Mother of Mercy, you who live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT9j9orei5kpQADKHKpq10r2d7zWSVX2N_s8bmhijIB1LkhKWgwXBZR_UejOHbySlwXYweWx-SVuEBinw7cvKVXlgmzOhgBOjTquGZRaoWoLXSom0ehi2JrWY2gEdF3XQYRnKtpNgybWw/s1600/images%252520%2525285%252529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT9j9orei5kpQADKHKpq10r2d7zWSVX2N_s8bmhijIB1LkhKWgwXBZR_UejOHbySlwXYweWx-SVuEBinw7cvKVXlgmzOhgBOjTquGZRaoWoLXSom0ehi2JrWY2gEdF3XQYRnKtpNgybWw/s640/images%252520%2525285%252529.jpg"> </a> </div>Francisthepopeofmercyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11822086002846679193noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6153585526965224025.post-46888110362478834852016-09-07T16:58:00.001-07:002016-09-07T16:58:30.250-07:00Francis the Pope of Mercy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyde_I5t89pNKYClwcVkMedfMBzlXHPHJwPjGDudHkEuXTJlad3GHeymIsV0Kn5nnMMlmzmZypWr3r4wlE-JgsIe-K5MaMKb9JmxJv3hNMF2uqSDWsE45aF6wq7ESa-hTdlx6C0ZDxofw/s1600/COVER%252520FRANCE%2525201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyde_I5t89pNKYClwcVkMedfMBzlXHPHJwPjGDudHkEuXTJlad3GHeymIsV0Kn5nnMMlmzmZypWr3r4wlE-JgsIe-K5MaMKb9JmxJv3hNMF2uqSDWsE45aF6wq7ESa-hTdlx6C0ZDxofw/s640/COVER%252520FRANCE%2525201.jpg"> </a> </div>Francisthepopeofmercyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11822086002846679193noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6153585526965224025.post-1917915889464331452016-09-07T16:54:00.001-07:002016-09-07T16:54:02.956-07:00THE LOGIC OF PASTORAL MERCY<p dir="ltr">At times we find <br>
it hard to make room for God’s unconditional <br>
love in our pastoral activity.364 We put so many <br>
conditions on mercy that we empty it of its concrete meaning and real significance. That is the <br>
worst way of watering down the Gospel. It is <br>
true, for example, that mercy does not exclude <br>
justice and truth, but first and foremost we have <br>
to say that mercy is the fullness of justice and <br>
the most radiant manifestation of God’s truth. <br>
For this reason, we should always consider “inadequate any theological conception which in the <br>
end puts in doubt the omnipotence of God and, <br>
especially, his mercy�.</p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz4_BQnxgLqvBDIFuXQ5ai2ZeOH9D_KpI1nTE0i92fzcY79qg8T5EflND7J27wm_OQ2IAPuIq10_uC8xp8l4zQ3sDDjk2fWGOXPlUe65VSNkxZ5-rW0xBQr5rHN0lhdA5ABzWI9QQOHGA/s1600/GAUDALUPE.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> <img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz4_BQnxgLqvBDIFuXQ5ai2ZeOH9D_KpI1nTE0i92fzcY79qg8T5EflND7J27wm_OQ2IAPuIq10_uC8xp8l4zQ3sDDjk2fWGOXPlUe65VSNkxZ5-rW0xBQr5rHN0lhdA5ABzWI9QQOHGA/s640/GAUDALUPE.png"> </a> </div>Francisthepopeofmercyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11822086002846679193noreply@blogger.com0