*Daily Reflections, 25June 2023. Jer 20: 10; Rom 5: 12-15; Mt.10: 26-33.*

*Adam as opposed to Christ.*

Paul in Romans 5:12-15 opposes Adam to Christ not as equals, but he opposes two types of behaviours.

Adam's behaviour leads to spiritual death. Christ behaviour leads to life. Adam did not correspond to God's project of life. In order to be truly alive, we must be suspended to God's life. By desobeying God, Adam and Eve separated themselves from God's project of live. This lead to be spiritually dead.

Adam is the prototype of that humanity that is seeking its breath of life outside God's. That's lack of confidence and trust in God. They wanted to become their own gods. That is cause of their spiritual death.

Opposed to this wrong attitude of Adam, Christ is totally obedient to God, his Father. His food is to do the will of the Father (John 4: 34). Because of Him, all of us, 'little Adam' can now be reintegrated into a loving relationship with the Father. Do we allow ourselves to live as the new Adam, Jesus Christ who gives us life or do we do want to seek our happiness outside God's love like Adam and we will harvest spiritual death?

May we live according to God's love and grace and have abundant life!

Happy Sunday!

Fr. G. R. BIDZOGO SAC

*Under God's Protection*

*Revelation 2:10*

*You will triumph*

"Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown."

As believers we will continue to suffer persecution and even death. The devil is responsible for this. However, Jesus tells us not to be afraid, for our heavenly Father values us more than many sparrows (Mt 10:29)

Keep me faithful, Lord Jesus. I know you cannot leave me or forsake me. I will not fear. What can a man do to me?

Remain blessed under God's protection

*Fr. G. R. BIDZOGO SAC*

Daily Reflections, 24 June 2023, The Birth of John the Baptist.

God has a plan for us

Just as God chose Israel to reveal his splendor to other nations, so he did the same for David as a king, to be the ancestor through whom Jesus was to come, so was John Baptist chosen to be the forerunner of Jesus. He also has a plan for each of us.

Everyone born is designed to fulfil God's purpose for their lives. Let us ask ourselves: what is God's purpose in my life? God has a time in fulfilling his plan. Delay is never denial. Things happen at God's own time and not at our own time.

His name is John, which means God is gracious.

May God always be gracious to us!

St. John the Baptist, pray for us!

Fr. G. R. BIDZOGO SAC

Under God's Protection

(*Ps. 34: 17 )*

*"The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles."

Life is full of problems, troubles and crises but God promises to be close to you and deliver you from all of them.

Prayer: God my Rock, my Refuge, my Strength, my fortress, please save me from all my troubles through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Blessed weekend!

Fr. G. R. BIDZOGO SAC

Daily Reflections, 23 June 2023.

What's is your treasure?

A person’s heart is tied to what they value most in life. Jesus tells us this truth in today's word: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). Instead of valuing and building treasure on earth, passing things, Christ urged us as his followers to store up treasures in Heaven, that is things that will last for eternal life.(Matthew 6:19-20).

May the values of the kingdom be at the centre of our life.

Most sacred heart of Jesus

May your kingdom come!

Fr G. R. BIDZOGO SAC

Under God's Protection (Matt 6: 11)

*Give us this day our daily bread. A powerful petition.*

God cares for things necessary for our daily existence, our daily sustenance, physical, mental, spiritual. That's *"daily bread"*

God cares for everything we need for each day. ((Phil4, 6,7). He provides for us through our work (Gen. 3:19). We are praying for daily labor opportunities, prosperity in business, land's fertility, bountiful harvest, fidelity to hard work! Amen.

Let us to improve our confidence and trust in Him.

May the Lord surround us with peace and shouts of deliverance through Christ our Lord. Amen.

*Fr. G. R. BIDZOGO SAC*

Under God's Protection

(Rev 3:20)

"Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he will with me."

Right now Jesus is standing at the entranceway of your house. He is knocking.

Jesus would like to come into your heart. Answer Him.

Jesus would like to have an intimate and personal and convenental relationship with you. Jesus would like to stay with you and your family. You are now safe.

Please open the door of your heart and let him in.

Peace unto you and your household

Fr. G. R. BIDZOGO SAC

*Daily Reflections, 21 June 2023. St Louis de Gonzague.*

*Discret prayer strengthens the quality of our commitment*

Jesus is our model in all aspects of life. In his prayer, fasting and almsgiving and self-giving, he was discrete and efficacious, truthful and simple and totally constrasting with the way the hypocrites behave or act.

The Christian prayer must be a silent and confident prayer denuded of distractions, self-gratification, or people's appreciation and admiration as the hypocrites do (cf. Mt 6, 5). Jesus insists on the meaning of true prayer. It is made in the secret of the conscience and of the heart: unfathomable, visible only to God. With God it is impossible to pretend. Our prayer should be a silent dialogue or an exchange of glances between God and us. In prayer, we Look at God and we allow ourselves to be looked at by God: that is praying. Such a spiritual journey, strengthens the believer and increases the quality of one's commitment as Christians. In that way, we sow bountifully and joyfully in order to reap joyfully and abundantly.

*Prayer:* Lord , you supply seed to the sower and bread for food, supply and multiply your seed and increase our harvest. Amen.

Sacred heart of Jesus, may your kingdom come

*Fr. G. R. BIDZOGO SAC*

Under God's Protection

Joshua 1:9

Be strong and courageous

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”

Moses had just died. God announces to Joshua that he is the one to lead the people to the promised land (Joshua's: 1-2).

Whenever God gives you a huge task, a heavy load to carry, be still. Challenges, trials, tribulations and difficulties will come your way, but never take off your eyes on the Lord. He will be with you every step of the way.

"Be strong and courageous "

Remain blessed under God's Protection. Amen.

Fr. G. R. BIDZOGO SAC

Daily Reflections, June 20, 2023. (2 Co. 8:1-9); Mt 5:43-48)

"Yet for your sake he became poor, so that by his poverty you might become rich." (2 Corinthians 8:9)

Giving as an act of love

Every time we give, something is taken from us and something is added to one who receives. Giving is never directed inward, it is always outward. "God so loved the word that he gave his only Son" (John 3:16). No wonder, giving can only find its meaning only when others are made rich by its very act.
We begin to be Christ-like only when we discover that giving is an act of divine grace. Hence when we give, we give like Christ, that is without boundaries, and without measure. That is true love; the love that regenerates and sanctifies us.

Lord I need your grace to love without boundaries. Amen.

Sacred heart of Jesus, may your kingdom come!

Fr. G. R. BIDZOGO SAC

Under God's Protection

(Ephesians 6:12).

"For we do not wrestle against beings of blood and flesh, but against the princes of this world of darkness, the principalities, the sovereignties, the spirits of evil which are in the celestial regions."

Evil, as a by-product of God's creativity, according to Saint Augustine, exists as a reality that we face daily (Mt13:24-30). All our life we ​​have to fight against these dark forces.

It is sometimes a very complicated spiritual combat of which Saint Paul speaks in this passage. So let's put on the armor of God as highlighted in (Eph 6:11-18).

Prayer: Mighty, Holy and Immortal God, through the merits of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, deliver us from all evil. Amen.

Stay under the protection of the Most High

Fr. G.R. BIDZOGO SAC

Daily Reflections, June 19, 2023.

Christian Revolution

In this passage from the Gospel Mt 5, 38-48 Jesus invites his disciples to go beyond the law of revenge (the law of retaliation). The Christian “revolution” consists in seeking true justice without however practicing the law of retaliation, that is to say “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth”.

It is not about condoning evil, violence and abuse from others, but about reacting positively, breaking the chain of evil with good deed to correct evil. Good drives out evil.
This could therefore lead the Christian to give up a legitimate right in order to avoid violence. Hence it is important to turn the other cheek, give up one's clothes or money or accept other sacrifices (cf. vv. 39-42). Christian love manifests itself in a special way in mercy which represents a higher realization of justice which is different from vengeance.

Let's be artisans of justice and peace!

Father G. R. BIDZOGO SAC

Under God's Protection

Luke 2:19: "Mary kept in mind all these things carefully in her heart"

Prayer: O Immaculate Heart of Mary, refuge of sinners, we entrust ourselves to you, and by the infinite merits of the Sacred heart of Jesus, we are confident that you will bring us, through the Cross, to the joy of the Resurrection. Bring under your mantle of protection, O health of the sick, those who suffer from any kind of ailments and all who provide care for the sick andminister to their needs, as your Son implores us to do for one another.

We seek refuge under your protection, O Holy Mother of God. Do not despise our prayers in our necessities but ever deliver us from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen.

Sacred heart of Jesus may your kingdom come.

Immaculate heart of Mary, pray for us!

Mary Immaculate of graces, pray for us!

Fr. G. R. BIDZOGO SAC

Daily Reflections, 17 June 2023. The Immaculate heart of Mary. (Lk. 2: 41-51).

Daily Reflections, 17 June 2023. The Immaculate heart of Mary. (Lk. 2: 41-51).

The Immaculate heart of Mary is one of our specific devotion as Catholics. It stresses the holiness, love and exceptional purity of the heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is a heart that was filled with God's presence. A heart that sought God affectionately. According to Pope Francis, the "anxiety that Mary and Joseph felt when they could not find Jesus, reveals Jesus's centrality in the Holy Family". This should also be our anxiety whenever our hearts are distant from Jesus.

Prayer: Dear Lord help us to search Christ with all our heart In God's house, may we be able to encounter the divine Teacher and be saved.

Sacred heart of Jesus, may your kingdom come!

Immaculate heart of Mary, pray for us!

Fr. G. R. BIDZOGO SAC

Daily Reflections, 16 June 2023. The most Sacred heart of Jesus. (Mt 11: 25-30)

Teach me love

The Most Sacred Heart of Jesus known as 'Cor Jesu Sacratissimum' is one of the most Catholic powerful devotions. Through this dévotion, the pierced and wounded heart of Jesus Christ is celebrated as a symbol of "God's boundless and compassionate love for mankind".
In honoring this solemnity, we are celebrating the God " who loved us with an everlasting love"(Jérémiah 1:3). As Christians,
the wounded Sacred Heart of Jesus is indeed the loving heart of God, which calls us each day to love like Christ. The lesson from the Sacred Heart is that, true love is always costly, yet it always gives life. Lord teach me love.

Let us all go to him with our heavy burdens of sins, problems, trials and life difficulties and he will give us rest. Let us all subscribe to the school of of Christ's love.

Sacred heart of Jesus, I trust in you!
Sacred of Jesus, may your kingdom come!

Happy feast of the most Sacred heart of Jesus!

Fr. G. R. BIDZOGO SAC

Under God's Protection

Under God's Protection

(Hebrews 13:6)

So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

The Truth we must interiorize is that, our God is faithful and never fails. He provides for our needs. (1John1:9) He protects us from dangers. (PS 18:2-4). Why shall we fear? He comes to our help in any situation (Ps 54:4).

Never allow fear to grasp your attitude! Emmanuel-God is always with us!

May the peace of Christ flow over your life! Amen.

Fr. G. R. BIDZOGO SAC

Under God's Protection

"Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous ones; And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart." (Ps 32:11)

At the end of every day, we Christians, have many reasons to celebrate with joy because we are in the Lord.
Our joy overcomes any earthly trials which we endure (Rom 8:18) For deep down we are convinced that our God is forgiveness (Ps 32 :1-2) He surrounds us with shouts of deliverance (Ps 32:7) God's unfailing love gives joy to his faithful one (Ps32:10).

Indeed trusting obedience to God is our source of joy

Lord give me joy in my heart and keep me praising. Amen.

Peace be with you!

Fr. G. R. BIDZOGO SAC

*Daily Reflections, 14 June 2023. (2Cor 3: 4-11)*

*Grace as the power of our dispensation.*

St Paul justifies his ministry through the dispensation of righteousness. No wonder, every work, every achievement, every ministry, every calling is grace and spirit rooted.

The Dispensation of Grace is the New Covenant in Christ’s blood (Luke 22:20), which gives life to all, opens heaven to all, and qualifies everyone who trust in Christ Jesus.

Thank God for you to live in this “Age of Grace”.

Thanks for the blood of Jesus Christ, which qualifies me though unworthy.

Thanks for the Holy Spirit Who dwells in me and continues to sustain the Church. (John 14:16-26).

Only grace can qualify you for any heavenly endeavour. Just cooperate!

Sacred heart of Jesus, May your kingdom come!

Fr. G. R. BIDZOGO SAC

Daily Reflections, 13 June 2023.

St. Anthony of Padua.

Be the salt! Be the light! (Mt 5:13-16)

By identifying us, (Christians) in today's gospel with the salt of the earth and the light of the world, Jesus reminds us of "Yes" to Him and our responsibility vis-à-vis the society. We must bring God's kingdom amidst this world of confusion and sin, promotion of error and lies, and deterioration of values.

Our light must shine so as to expose the evil and drive away the darkness. Our lives must be the visible sign of Christ's presence.

Dear St Anthony, patron saint of the poor, sailors and fishermen, priests and travelers and wonder-workers, obtain for us to be shining examples of God's love and light. Amen.

Sacred heart of Jesus, may your kingdom come!

Fr. G. R. BIDZOGO SAC

Under God's Protection

Thank you, Lord

"I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from my enemies." (Psalm 18:3)

At the end of this day, I just want us to appreciate God's love. He saves, delivers and protects us from so many dangers. He gives peace to our and safety to our hearts.

Prayer: For all your goodness, Lord, praise, glory, honour and dominion is due for ever and ever. Amen (1Peter 5:11).

God is our deliverer

Peace unto you in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Fr. G. R. BIDZOGO SAC