Friday of the 1st Week of Lent. Matt 5:20-26. Ez18.

Let's reconcile now

 The gospel text reminds us that our virtue must be more than just the talk of the Pharisees - we must live and act from an inner conviction and a deeply held faith and not just go through external emotions. God sees the deepest heart and judges accordingly. Jesus also reminds us to reconcile with our family for any wrongs we have done to them or they have done to us. Where we fail to do so, we must take concrete steps toward conversion. This is the message of the prophet Ezekiel. God wants the sinner to turn from his sin to have life. Reconciliation is therefore the ultimate goal for which Jesus died on the Cross. (Cf. 2Cor5:18)

Excellent week-end

Father Georges sac

Feast of the chair of Saint-Pierre. 1 Peter 5:1-4; Ps23, Mt16:13-19.

The passage from the Gospel of Saint Matthew shows that Peter is appointed head of the Church of Christ following his great proclamation of faith in Christ. While he was the leader of the fledgling group, he was also a powerful symbol of unity for the Church that continues to this day. This festival has been celebrated in Rome since the 4th century. It celebrates the unity of the Church under the papacy and the readings recall Christ's choice of Peter as the rock on which he would build the Church.

“You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church.” (Mt 16:18)

The pulpit of St represented, the pulpit of the faith taught by Peter. It is the symbol of the unity of this teaching of faith throughout the world. The Pope therefore remains the sign of this unity, which is the fundamental prayer of Christ. “That all may be one” (John 17:21).

In a world full of divisions and confusion, the chair of St. Peter invites us to unity in faith in Christ, the Savior of humanity.

Happy holiday

Father Georges

Saturday after the ashes Is 58:9-14; Luke 5:27-32.

Your light will rise in the darkness.

The Lord continues to tell his people how they must live if they want to enjoy his favor. They must do all that he has commanded them and put an end to tyranny and oppression and sin. It reminds us of the blessings and rewards that await us if we practice justice, kindness, and compassion toward others.

Your light will rise in the darkness.

In the gospel, the Word of God comes and meets everyone. It is light for all. For those who believe and live their lives in accordance with God's wishes, but also for those who do not live in accordance with His commandments. By accepting Jesus' call, Levi comes out of his darkness to enter the light. Lent is, therefore, the exercise in holiness by following Jesus as his disciple in words and actions. Follow me!

Father Georges sac

Friday after the ashes. Isaiah 58:9-14; Ps 86; Luke 5:27-32

Trade with your relationships 

Through the prophet Isaiah, the Lord denounces fasting which is false, that is to say, fasting which is trumpeted in front of others while giving a false impression of misery.

 Instead, God wants a quiet, private fast. He also wishes that all oppression ceases and that all show charity towards their neighbors. Isaiah presents practical works of mercy that please God. We ourselves could imitate them in various ways throughout this time of penitence.

Good relationships with Jesus and with our brothers and sisters are true fasting that pleases the Lord

Happy ascension towards the glorious resurrection!

Father Georges sac

Daily Reflection, Thursday after Ash Wednesday

Make your choice!

Welcome to the season of Lent; this season of heart and purification. In today's first reading, Moses offers the people a choice - life or death. To earn a good and long life, they must live according to God's commandments. To obtain death, they only have to ignore God. There is, therefore, happiness in turning to God. Happy is the man who puts his faith in the Lord.

In the gospel, Jesus also gives us a choice – life or death. If we choose to follow Him in the path of faith, in all we do and say, we will obtain an eternal reward. This sometimes requires losing our physical life here on earth to enter into life with Christ.

The Lord, through his word, invites us to reflect on what we must change over the coming weeks in order to make ourselves more worthy of the great sacrifice made for us by Christ.

Lord, help us to choose life and your blessing!

Welcome to the season of Lent!

Meditation of February 12, 2024. Jc 1, 12-18; Mk 8, 14-21

Let us seek wisdom from Above!

The holy scriptures of this day invite us to seek wisdom. Such wisdom relates to faith - it helps the believer to clearly "see" the meaning of the events of his life with a look of faith. This is what St. Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians, “the wisdom of God, mysterious and hidden,” the wisdom of the Cross. Indeed, what the ordinary eye sees in his death, misfortune, decay, Roman cruelty, the eyes of faith see God's plan for the salvation of the world, the triumph of life over death. This is divine wisdom.

Only the gift of this kind of wisdom allows the believer to persevere in the midst of trials that appear to be a test of their faith.

Let's pause and meditate. Where have we recently experienced a trial or test of faith? Perhaps someone has been rejected by a friend, associate, or family member because of a moral stance taken. Perhaps someone else is struggling to find the closeness of God that seemed so reassuring not long ago. Our great temptation is to “understand” these and similar situations. On the other hand, James exhorts us: Pray for the gift of wisdom, for the light that comes from God, to see the presence of God more clearly and to find the grace of perseverance under trial.

Happy new week!

Father Georges sac

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