Meditation for Tuesday of the 2nd Week in Ordinary Time (B) 1S16, 1-13; Mark 2:23-28.

God judges hearts and not appearance

Having rejected Saul as king over his people, God now sends Samuel to find another king. However, Saul remains king for the time being because the people did not want to lose their first king. Samuel went to Jesse and among his sons he anointed the boy, David, as king to replace Saul. The message for us is that God does not judge by human standards and physical appearances. It goes beyond what we see or think we see. he sees beyond our purely human qualifications. God chooses and qualifies those who seem unfit for high office.

The spirit of God rests on David who will reign as king of Israel in due time. No one is qualified by himself, by his strengths, or personal abilities to receive the divine anointing.

All is grace! True religion is a true relationship with God; It is religion of the heart and not of external appearances and rites as our gospel of the day emphasizes.

“The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. »

Blessed week in Jesus' name!

Father Georges sac

Friday of the 1st Week in Ordinary Time. 1 Sam 8, 4-7.10-22a

Trust in God!

The theme of trust in God is very important in our Christian life. It is at the heart of our meditation this morning.

In this morning's passage, set around 1020 BC, we see the people of Israel rejecting God and seeking a human king. They no longer trusts God. Samuel tells them what a king they would prefer, but they still want one, and so God requires Samuel to give them what they asked for. We can draw the consequences for ourselves today.

In our Gospel passage from Mark 2:1-12, Jesus heals a paralytic by forgiving him of his sins. The scribes who listened to him did not trust him. They whisper, and yet, Jesus is indeed the one who forgives our sins. It is the Son of Man who takes on such authority in himself and by himself.

Following the example of the four men who, through faith, brought the paralyzed man to Jesus, we are asked to believe in God and his Son and in their authority.

Trust God even when it may seem difficult.

Father Georges Roger Bidzogo sac

Daily reflections, January 11, 2023. 1S4, 1b-11; ps 43; Mc 1:40-45.

In spite of the Ark, they were still defeated.

The Bible records a long-lasting conflict between the Israelites and the Philistines. This conflict was over more than land issues; it also involved divergent worldviews. Unlike the Israelites, the Philistines served human-made deities and were known as violent, warlike people.

The Old Testament, records seven major battles between Israel and Philistines, namely, the Battle of Shephelah (2 Chronicles 28), the Battle of Aphek (1 Samuel 4), the Battle of Eben-Ezez (1 Samuel 7:13–14), the battles at Michmash (1 Samuel 14), the battle involving David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17), the battle at Mount Gilboa (1 Samuel 31), and Hezekiah’s defeat of the Philistines (2 Kings 18:5–8).

I'm interested in reflecting this morning on 

why were the Israelites defeated even though they had the ark of the covenant with them at Ébène-Èzèr? The suggested answer is that the Israelites vainly supposed that carrying the ark of the covenant into battle would save them. However, they had departed from the commandments and ways of the Lord. They had lost their relationship, their intimacy, and their true strength in the Lord. 

Mere lips service can never be a sign of the efficacity of God's presence in our lives, but worship in spirit and truth is.

Fr. Georges Roger Bidzogo sac

Meditation for Wednesday of the 1st Week in Ordinary Time B.

1 Sam 3, 1-10.19-20; Mk 1:29-39

Jesus in the gospel encourages us to give time to prayer without getting caught in the trap of activism.

Samuel's call and his “yes” to the Lord. His “yes” meant that he had become an important prophet and military leader for the people. He inspires us to open ourselves to God's call. Speak Lord, your servant listens.

Jesus himself teaches us to say yes to the Lord. He is the

God himself who is present and who acts among us. He preaches the Good News, he heals all infirmities, he delivers from the spirit of evil. The preaching of the Good News to every creature and deliverance from the forces of darkness are at the heart of the ministry of Jesus Christ!

You too are the successor of Jesus and Samuel. Go and proclaim the release of the captives.

Father Georges sac

Meditation for Tuesday of the 1st Week in Ordinary Time (B) 1S1, 9-20; Mk 1:21-28

With great devotion, divine intervention comes without appeal.

Hannah, in the first book of Samuel, is the example of a heart that suffers but keeps trust in God alone.

In her distress, she turns to God. She went to the sanctuary of the Ark of the Covenant in Shiloh and asked the Lord to remove her stigma and grant her a child. In her attitude, she showed trust in the Lord despite the enormous pain that her sterility caused her. As a result, the Lord answered Hannah's prayer and granted her a son whom she named Samuel. Like Hannah, let us sing is a hymn of praise to the God of love. Let us put our faith in Him even in the very challenging times.

Jesus demonstrates this love of God in the gospels by casting out unclean spirits and teaching with authority. Jesus comes in fact to free our lives from spiritual sterility, but also from all the impure spirits that affect and afflict humanity.

Lord, Jesus, thank you for freeing me from my distress!

Father Georges sac

Reflection on Baptism of the Lord. Isa 55:1-11; Ps 1 John 5:1-9; Mk 1:7-11

The feast of the Baptism of the Lord marks the end of the Christmas season and the beginning of the public ministry of Jesus.

Jesus, who did not need baptism, identifies himself with us sinners and shows us its importance and the way to follow.

 Through the waters of baptism, we become members of God's family and are thus expected to live lives worthy of the children of God. Baptism actually conforms us to Jesus and opens heaven for us, freeing us from sin and the chains of death.

Through his baptism, Jesus opens to all nations, especially to those who are truly thirsty, the door of salvation.

For those who are truly opened to God's invitation, He offers through his Son Jesus Christ, the source of living water, eternal life.

This is how in today's second reading, St John draws our attention to the importance of believing in Jesus Christ through the three elements which testify to our filiation in Christ, namely: water, blood and spirit. Every day, we are defiled internally and externally by sin, but the water of baptism, which Christ brings, effectively continues God's work in our lives. By his blood and by his spirit, Christ continues his reign in our lives and in our world.

Let us renew our baptismal commitments on this day and, like Jesus, puts ourselves at the service of the kingdom of God.

May the peace of Christ be with you!

Father Georges sac

Reflection of JANUARY 05, 1 John 3: 11-21; John 1:43-51

Are you another Cain?

The Christian should live according to the will of God, which consists of loving others with the love that God loves us Cain is the same one who killed his brother Abel.
Cain is the one who shows hatred, jealousy, malice to another person. Cain is the one who kills, who abuses, who steals, who defrauds, who mistreats and who exploits another human being. Cain is recruited today in all circles of life. Cain is violence in our families, in our streets, in our schools, in our hospitals and in our markets. Cain is the choice of tribalism, xenophobia, racism in contempt of love, dialogue and inclusiveness, and Peace

Philip and Nathanael are witnesses to the love of Jesus Christ.
We, too, are called to bear witness to Christ and the kingdom by loving others at all times, no matter what they do to us, and to bring to the world the love and peace that God gave us at Christmas.

Are you another Cain?

Father Georges sac

Reflection of January 4, 2024. 1 John 3:7-10.

Saint John tells us that a sinful lifestyle is not consistent with God's love for us. Sin is not consistent with our identity as children of God. Our life must be the fruit of life in truth and the Holy Spirit who plunges us into eternal life.

It is this life that Jesus invites the first apostles and us to seek. "What are you looking for ?" Eternal life in Jesus Christ!

Saint Andrew and his brother, Saint Peter found the Messiah and proclaimed him to others.

Have we already found Jesus the Messiah in our life? how long have we been proclaiming Him as Messiah to others?

 The encounter of every Christian with Christ should be the beginning of a new catechetical mission for others.

Fr. Georges sac

Reflection of January 2, 2024.

Faithful to our conscience and our faith!

 Being a Christian should influence our whole life: our choices, our decisions, our positions, and our relationships with the world. Our way of being should be dependent on our understanding of the role God has in our lives.

 Our faith should help us face the antichrist, those temptations that seek to replace Christ with what appears to be a quick answer, and a simplistic yet falsified teaching of the gospel.

 God invites us to be faithful to our call to live a life centered on authentic faith, which is an invitation to put God in control, to trust in God's navigation, to use our gifts to improve life on this earth, while always being aware of the promise he made to us: eternal life. John the Baptist is indeed the Christ model to follow. It is Christ and nothing else, not even himself, who is at the center of his preaching.  Jesus is the Son of God, our eternal salvation. He is our Light. We must follow him.

Father Georges sac

Saturday, December 30, 2923. Sixth day in the octave of Christmas. 1 John 2:12-17; Luke 2:36-40

Christian's Victory

At Christmas, we experience God's mercy on everyone. In Jesus and through his blood, we have redemption, the forgiveness of our sins. This is already the victory love over evil as Emmanuel enters humanity.

Saint John invites us to be faithful to Jesus and his word. We must live according to divine will, avoiding the obstacles that the world places before us. For this, we need to live according to the spirit of Christ every day of our lives. According to the prophetess, Anne, we must lead a life of fasting, prayer, and total service to God. Thanks to the love of Christ, we already have victory, and we can get up every day and learn to sow love, forgiveness, and joy around us!

 Give us the Lord, the grace of victory  over   the lust of the flesh and the addiction for the world. 

Father Georges sac

Daily reflections, December 28, 2023. 1John 1:5-2,2; Ps123; Matt 2:13-18. The holy innocents, Martyrs

Herod will seek to destroy the child!

Because of jealousy, envy, fear, insecurity and his selfishness, Herod, who represents the dark forces, Satan and his proxies, will demand the massacre of all boys from 0 to two years old. Because of the reasons today, Herod continues to massacre God's children. Through wars to conquer or preserve power, to ensure control of mineral resources, to have a position of power or promotion in a service, to remain the beneficiary of a bank account, land, 'a social climb, a marriage. Herod continues to wreak havoc in our societies today: The crisis in the South-West and North-West speaks to us; the recent massacres in Nigeria; the millions of people who continue to perish in Congo; the genocide that took place in Rwanda; the Israel Palestine’s war, the war going on in Ukraine... All this shows that we are not yet able to live as children of the light and that we do not yet accept Jesus as our King who must reign over us! The murder of the Innocents by Herod in his attempt to kill the newborn king demonstrates our refusal to welcome God and live according to the values of his kingdom. However, we are invited to understand that despite the constant presence of the forces of darkness, we must believe in God to the point of dying for him. So let us remain in fervent prayer because Herod still seeks to kill the child!

May the holy Innocents pray for us! And may the angel who appeared to Joseph be there for you, especially in times of danger and peril!

Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO SAC

Tuesday in the Octave of Christmas. Saint Stephen, first martyr

Acts 6:8-60; Ps30; Mt10:17-22

Stephen, a witness of Christ!

Stephen was the first deacon and the first martyr of the Church. He was stoned to death by the Sanhedrin in Jerusalem under the approving gaze of Saul (the future Saint Paul, apostle of the Gentiles). Stephen, under the power of the Holy Spirit, manifests through his predictions and his wonders his faith in the Son of God, Jesus Christ. The forgiveness he offers to his executioners identifies him with his Master and Savior, Jesus Christ. He already fulfills through his martyrdom the words of Christ who recalls that his disciples will be delivered up and betrayed for having believed in him. Indeed, Stephen by committing his spirit into the hands of the Lord, testifies that there is no reason to worry, because for all who believe and bear witness to Jesus, victory and eternal life are assured. Yes, to those who persevere in their faith, the heavens are indeed open.

Merry Christmas to everyone!

Father Georges Roger Bidzogo sac

Daily Reflections, December 23, 2023.

Setting his people free

Zachariah proclaims that God “has come to his people and set them free.” Freedom is the reason for Christ. It is what God always wants to do. He hates the fact that we’ve become enslaved by sin and fear, and accordingly, he wants to liberate us. The central event of the Old Testament is an event of liberation from slavery. We are, as sinners, enslaved to our pride, our envy, our anger, our appetites, our greed, our lust—all of which wrap us up and keep us from being the people that we want to be.

Lord set me free from any form of slavery of sin.

O Mary conceived without sin,
Pray for us who have recourse to thee

Fr Georges sac

Daily Reflections December 22, 2023. 1 Sam1: 24-28; 28. Luke 1:46-56.

My soul glorifies the Lord

The most powerful response to God is gratitude. Grateful are hearts of faith. Anna, who was barren, comes back to Shilo to offer Samuel to the Lord. The Blessed Virgin Mary magnifies the Lord for his goodness. Being grateful can change our lives.

Be grateful for what you have, be grateful for the people around you, and stop complaining. Paul and Silas were unjustly put in prison, but because of gratitude and for not complaining, God made an earthquake that shook the prison, and even the jailer was converted and born again.

Be grateful, and you will be able to turn even the worst situation into an opportunity and your mess into a message.

Happy Friday!

Fr. Georges sac

Reflection of December 18, 2023. Jer 22:5-8; Matt 1:18-24.

Joseph's "Yes"

Today we turn to the book of the prophet Jeremiah which was written in 605 BC. Today we are told that a descendant of King David will reign as a true king. Jesus is announced. 

Our gospel text tells us how Joseph and Mary came to be together and the dilemma Joseph had when he discovered Mary was already pregnant. We have in the text the Annunciation to Joseph in which it is said that this child is not an ordinary child but one who will save people from their sins. Being a man of faith, Joseph heeds the dream and takes Mary as his wife. Joseph’s “yes” to God is the one we are called to have in our lives. 

Dear  St. Joseph teach me how to say yes to God.  

Fr Georges sac

Daily Reflections, 14 December 2023. St John of the Cross. Isaiah 41 :13-20 ; Ps 145 ; Mt 11 : 11-15.

God, our Redeemer

When you feel lost, lonely, abandoned, afraid of what the future might be, this passage of Isaiah must become your guide. The Lord says to you, “I the Lord your God, hold your right hand”. “Fear not, I will help you” The Lord our God promises to send us the Redeemer, the Comforter, the God who will change our lives forever. This is the Good news that all the prophets up to John the Baptist have announced. Like John the Baptist we all have an important role to play for the edification of the kingdom of God and the proclamation of the Good news. God is coming to set us free and to guide us! This might not be easy to keep especially when adversities arise, but our Faith will save us. No wonder St. John of the Cross says, “Faith is a dark night for man, but in this very way it gives him light.”

St John of the cross, Pray for us!

Daily Reflections, December 13, 2023. Is 40: 2531; Ps 102; Mt 11:28-30. St Lucy, Virgin and Martyr.

As we celebrate St Lucy, whose name means light is the patron saint of blindness. In her twofold sacrifice of virginity and martyrdom, we indeed acknowledge the power of God who has no equal in creation. St Lucia torture by Diocletian because of her deep faith helps us to look on God as our sole consolation and peace! Jesus takes very seriously our problems, our burden of sins and sufferings; He is able to and abundantly able to solve our problem and he invites to acknowledge him as the Son of God and our Saviour. By inviting us “come to me”, Jesus is boldly affirming sovereignty and his capacity to give us rest. Do you have any burden, come to Jesus! Like St Lucy, we must live our faith openly and without fear!      

May St Lucy help us to carry the light of Christ into our world!

Fr. Georges sac

Daily Reflections, November 12, 2023, Isaiah 40:1-11; Ps 96; Mt 18:12-14

Our Lady of Guadalupe, pray for us!

The title of  our Lady of Guadalupe is among the most famous and widespread marital titles in the world. According to Antonio Valerino, the Virgin appeared to Juan Diego, an American, at Mount Tepeyac, ordering him to build a church on that mountain. The virgin will confirm her match and her message to Mgr. Juan de Zummarage by printing her image on the Tilma and the exotic flowers that she had asked Juan Diego to make a collection even though it was winter time. On this day, the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe was built on the hill of the apparition. We give thanks to God for St. Juan Diego who was canonized on July 31, 2002 by St. John Paul II, thus revealing the message of love and compassion of our Lady of Guadalupe and her promise to always come to the aid of humanity. Our Lady of Guadalupe repeats to you today the same words she said to Juan Diego: “My dear child… Where are you going? Know it and understand that I am “Your mother”, the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the True God for whom we live, the Creator of all things, Lord of heaven and earth.

Our Lady of Guadalupe, Pray for us!

Daily reflections, December 11, 2023. St Damascus, Pope.

Rise up and walk

We begin this new week with a note of hope from Isaiah 35 and from Luke 5 . God is coming to save his people. He is coming to remove the yoke of captivity and to lift us up from our impediments, limitations, and infirmities. 

The  thoughts and plans of the Lord towards us are the thoughts of peace and not evil; the plans to give us a better future (‭Jeremiah‬ ‭29‬:‭11‬).

God is a God of life. He wishes above all things that we may prosper and be in health spiritually and physically (‭ 3 John‬1: 2). If he can make the dry land and the desert rejoice, he can equally rise you up from your spiritual and physical paralysis. We believe that all things are possible (Luke 18: 27). This God of all possibilities has the power to heal and destroy every barrier, limitation, every evil and curse, every spell, every yoke, every poison, and every sickness. 

So I declare to you today, stand up and increase, be on the move, and enjoy your status as a free child of God.

Let's cultivate the gift of faith and carry others in the stretcher of faith of the Church.

Fr. Georges sac

Hearts ready for God

Dear friends in Christ, during this Advent season, focus your preparation on embracing the Sacraments, particularly reconciliation/confession and the Holy Eucharist. Just as God tenderly guided the exiles in Isaiah 40, let us allow Him to navigate our spiritual journey, clearing the path for Christ's presence in our hearts: "Prepare the way for the Lord". As we reflect on today’s readings for the Holy Eucharist, we open ourselves to receive Christ—not only celebrating His historical birth but eagerly anticipating His glorious return. This calls for sound self-examination. May this Advent be a period of profound spiritual reflection and readiness, transforming our hearts into a warm dwelling for the Lord, who comes to us at Christmas and will return on the last day. Amen.

Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO SAC