Daily reflections, February 10, 2024. 1R12: 26-32; ps 106; Mc8: 1-8.

Active faith is living faith!

In the text of Saint Mark of the multiplication of loaves and fish for 4 thousand people, Jesus invites us to take our responsibilities and initiatives to resolve the problems that affect human existence. He would like us to be able to put our efforts, our talents, and everything at our disposal for the transformation of the table of the world. “How many breads do you have” he asks us?

In the process of multiplying the loaves, our obedience to His instructions and His word is necessary.

Transformation and multiplication of loaves take place in a context of sacrifice and thanksgiving, because it is in thanksgiving and self-denial, the spirit of mutual aid, solidarity and generosity that we achieve building a better world; of a just society and families in which love, mutual aid and fraternity reign.

Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us!

Excellent week-end

Father Georges sac

Reflection on February 09,2024.1Kings11, 29-32; 12,19; Ps 80; Mark 7, 31-37; "Ephphatha"

Just before pronouncing this powerful word, Jesus looked up to heaven to show that our healing and / or our help come from the power of God, who created heaven and earth. 

Ephphatha is an invitation to open our hearts to experience the power and love from heaven. Ephphatha means open your ears to hear the words from heaven and to see God's marvels in daily circumstances. Ephphatha is also the ability to lose your tongue to proclaim the wonders and praise of God. "He has done everything well... he makes the deaf hear and the mute speak" (Mark 7:37) At the end of his life, Salomon failed to open God's voice turning to alien gods and his kingdom collapsed and was torn apart. 

Be opened - Ephphatha

Father Georges sac

Tuesday, 5th Week in Ordinary Time, February 6, 2024

Solomon has just completed the construction of the temple. He enters the Temple to pray. First, he praises God and then he asks two things in particular for the people: that God always hears him, and that he forgives him for his transgressions. Lord forgive me and please hear me, always.

To the Pharisees and us Jesus emphasizes that rituals are nothing without a correct disposition of the mind and heart. Following rituals, belonging to movements and solidarity in our parishes is not enough - we must have faith in God and believe in what we do and why we do it. May the Saints Miki and companions strengthen us in the faith!

Fr Georges

Monday, 5th Week in Ordinary Time. St Agatha Virgin and Nathan. 1R8, 1-7.9-13; Mark 6:53-56.

Saint Agatha was a virgin and martyr born in Sicily in 231. With her, we pray for the victims of sexual abuse, breast cancer, and fire burns.

She dedicates her entire life despite her extreme beauty. She died after long torture by Quintianus in 251.

In this morning's first reading, Solomon, having become king, has the grace to fulfill the wish that David once had: to build a temple in Jerusalem, a house of stone for the Ark of the Covenant, that is say the box containing the two tables of the Law. Around the ark and the temple are the statutes of the cherubim and the angels of the Lord.

The images and icons of the saints and in our churches, far from bordering on idolatry, rather remind us of the presence and primacy of God the Creator and Savior.

Indeed, in the Church, all honor given to images goes back to the original model, God himself, Author and Creator of all things.

Good start to the week, everyone!

Father Georges Bidzogo sac

Reflection of February 2, presentation of Jesus at the temple. Feast of life consecration. Luke 2:22-40; Ml3:1-4.

y eyes have seen salvation.

On this day, 40 after Christmas, we remember the presentation of the child Jesus in the Temple by his parents according to the law of Moses as prescribed in today's gospel. Jesus, the Savior and light of humanity comes to meet us. Let us open our hearts and our lives to him

Today, candles are blessed and carried in procession as a sign of our welcoming of Christ the Light into our lives. As Christians, we are the light of the world.

It is also a special day in the Church calendar when the Church prays for the Consecrated Life – a life that is dedicated to God through prayer and service and which enriches and rejoices the Christian community.

We also pray to God to help people hear and respond to his call and thus consecrate themselves to the Lord, Savior and light of men.

Father Georges sac

Happy Feast of Consecrated Life!

Reflection of Thursday of the 4th week Year B. 1R2: 1-4.10-12; 1 Ch29; Mk 6:7-13.

God, Master of All

The Psalm taken from the 1st book of Chronicles 29, affirms a reality that should change our lives. God is the master of everything and everything comes from him.

It is because he is Master of all that in the Gospel, Jesus, the Son of God, sends his disciples to preach in his name. It is he who gives them the power to cure people of their illnesses and impure spirits. Their authority and power comes from God.

In turn, the disciples succeeded in their mission because they believed in Jesus as the source of their power. We too are called to have faith in Christ, to live according to the decrees of the Lord as David recommended to Solomon before his death.

Lord, help us to bring your healing and love to everyone we encounter.

Like the Virgin Mary, let us recognize every day that the Lord has done wonders for me!

Father Georges

Tuesday of the 4th Week in Ordinary Time B. 2S18, 9-10. 14b. 24-25a.30-19, 4; Ps 85; Mc5, 21-43

It is faith that saves!

The Gospel presents to us two miracles of Jesus resulting from the great faith of two totally different characters.

 Jairus, an official, one of the leaders of the synagogue, is certain that Jesus can heal his daughter by the laying on of hands. He prostrates himself at the feet of Jesus. He recognizes his divinity. And Jesus actually reveals to us that he has the power to give life after death when he “Talitha koum”, ie “Young girl, get up!” Jesus is our resurrection and our life.

 As for the woman suffering from hemorrhage, despite the long duration of her illness, she knows that the simple fact of touching Jesus' robe will be enough to deliver her from her bleeding. Just like Jairus, the faith of this old woman allows Jesus to manifest his power.

 Two great lessons of faith for us through Jairus and the woman suffering from a serious hemorrhage, as well as so many others, from the Gospel pages, speak to us of the need to have unshakeable faith in the face of the most horrible situations of our life, including death!

Father Georges

Monday, 4th Week in Ordinary Time. 2S15, 13-14. 39; 16, 5-13a; Mark 5:1-20; Ps 3;

Free me, Lord!

The consequences of David's murder of Ourias are now visible.

  The reign of David experienced a decadence. The people are disenchanted and seek to rebel. His own son Absalom proclaimed himself king of the city of David and led a rebellion against his father.

 King David flees with his troops and is cursed by Shimei because of his murder.

King David remains humble and surrenders to the Lord. He prays:

"May the Lord consider my misery

and make me happy

instead of today's curse. »

May Jesus, as in today's gospel, heal us from the legions of spirits and curses to which our world is a victim.

The healing of the man with the legion spirit gives us a strong message. The encounter with Jesus requires a change of lifestyle; an escape from the tombs and chains of death. Only Jesus can truly master evil forces and give true freedom!

Pax and Bonum!

Father Georges sac

Friday, 3rd Week in Ordinary Time. Timothy and Titus.

In our first reading today from St. Paul's second letter to Timothy, we see Paul describing Timothy as someone who was sincere in the faith. Following Paul's example, I encourage you to work to increase your faith, to "fan into a flame the gift that God has given you." It is a very powerful gift to have and to spread the faith. This gift of faith has also been given to us, and so the example of Timothy and Titus is placed before us as an encouragement to follow their example and the example of the Apostles of sincerity of faith. 

They are that true seed of faith through which the kingdom of God continues to grow secretly in the world.

May you be a significant seed for the growth of God power in our world today!

May the marvelous gift of God's word find in us a generous and positive ground in order to yield abundant fruits!

 Have a blessed day!

Father Georges sac

Reflection of JANUARY 25, Feast of the Conversion of St Paul. Mk 16, 15-18; Acts 22, 3-16.

From Saul to Paul!

Every January 25, Paul's conversion reminds us of what God is capable of doing for each of us. The Apostle Saint Paul had been one of the greatest persecutors of the first disciples of Jesus and had put many to death.

 Today, we celebrate his conversion, and the lectures show how he changed and became one of the greatest preachers in the Church. Every fisherman has a chance if he agrees to change sides.

In the two stories of Paul himself, we discover the violence, his determination to harm, to destroy, to imprison all those who follow Christ. However, Jesus himself identifies with each of his disciples.

As with Paul and the eleven Apostles in the gospel text, Christ continues to appear to each of us on our different paths. He invites us to daily conversion and sends us into the world to announce and spread his good news.

Our true conversion therefore consists of letting fall from our eyes the scales which darken us, from our life and our heads, from the prejudices which confine us and from our heart, the darkness of hatred towards the other.

May your grace help me to change from Saul to Paul. Amen

Fr. Georges sac

Friday, 2nd Week in Ordinary Time

Called for peace!

In our first reading today we read that Saul is once again looking for David because he has heard rumors that he intends to harm the king. However, David is able to kill Saul but does not do so because Saul is anointed by God. Instead, he turns the occasion into another reconciliation between them. Now Saul recognizes that David will be king and that sovereignty will be assured under David.

Today's Gospel shows us Jesus naming the Twelve who were to be his closest companions and commissioning them to preach in his name and heal others. As these twelve were commissioned, so are we, as their descendants, and we too are called to proclaim the kingdom of God in our lives through what we do and say in accordance with our baptismal promises to be disciples of the peace of the Lord.

Father Georges R. Bidzogo sac

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