Good Friday Homily

Is 52: 13-53:12; Heb 4; John 18:1-19:42.

Towards the Glory of Easter: The power of the Cross.

Today, we celebrate the day where Jesus was cruelly tortured, beaten, put to death by crucifixion, so as to reign over all. St. Paul told us that:

“God has highly exalted him and gave the name which is above every name” (Phil 2:9).

The Cross in spite of its humiliation, its pains and suffering, is powerful because according to the Gospel of John, The cross is the throne of power for Jesus. He is the divine King who is in charge and in command.

“Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews”

Jesus was firm, courageous and confident, yet his enemies were rather frightened. The cross is a power. Jesus is raised on the Cross so that we can contemplate his power on the Cross. If you look closely at the cross, it will speak to your heart. The cross will challenge you and help you ask those fundamental questions of life. How did that man get there? What did he do? What sin did he commit? Why such a tragic death? Who is Jesus for me? Why did he need to suffer innocently? If Jesus is indeed God, then who is God?

God reveals himself on the cross as Isaiah tells us in the first reading

“See, my servant will prosper, he shall be lifted up, exalted, rise to great heights. As the crowds were appalled on seeing him — so disfigured did he look that he seemed no longer human — so will the crowds be astonished at him, and kings stand speechless before him; for they shall see something never told and witness something never heard before: ‘Who could believe what we have heard, and to whom has the power of the Lord been revealed?”

God reveals himself on the cross. And the question should be - what does this cross reveal about ourselves?

The cross reveals us two important things.

1. The cruelty of our human heart

It reveals to us the cruelty of the human heart; It reveals to us our sins; our violence, our desire to get everything for ourselves by using all kinds of evil means. We should reflect on our sins. Let us be aware of what our wrong actions, and words can cause to others. The cross helps us to look at our personal sins.

2. The cross as the reminder of God’s mercy

God has sent his son to show his love for the world.

“God so loved the world that he sent his Only begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life” (John 3:16).

The cross reveals the love of God for us. In Jesus we have the High priest who sympathizes with us in all our weaknesses, but sin. In Jesus, God wants us to approach the throne of grace with boldness and confidence so that we can receive grace and help in time of need. No matter how red your sins are (Isaiah 1:18) come to the cross. By his sufferings, he has justified you and taken your sin; by his stripes, you have been healed and by his blood you have been restored. Look at the cross and see the mercy of God for you.

For this celebration to be meaningful for you, come here at the foot of the cross and release all those things that you are holding captive in your heart. There is no Good Friday without forgiveness! Let us remember the words of St. Paul today:

“But far be it from me to glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world hath been crucified unto me, and I unto the world.” (Galatians 6:14)

Happy Good Friday!

Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO sac.

Holy Thursday Homily

Ex 12:1-8, 11-14, Ps 116:12-13, 15-16bc, 17-18., 1 Cor 11:23-26, Jn 13:34, Jn 13:1-15

Towards the Glory of Easter: Holy Thursday; The Eucharist, Source and Summit

Today is the last supper of the Lord with his disciples. As a new Pastor here at Holy Redeemer, It is a great joy to celebrate my first Paschal Triduum with you. I am very happy indeed to speak about the Eucharist, the heart of the mystery of the Church. Of course, we cannot have the Eucharist without the presence of validly ordained priests. So we also celebrate today the institution of the ministerial priesthood. Let’s focus on the Eucharist.

Dear friends, Vatican II calls the Eucharist, the Source and the Summit of our Christian life. It is everything. It is the beginning and the end. It is Christ among us! How can we become Christ in the midst of others?

Jesus is really and truly present in the sacrament of the Eucharist!

Across the century, the Catholic Church has always believed that Jesus is really and truly and substantially present among us. He is not here symbolically. No! The sixth chapter of John is our reference to the justification of the real presence. In John 6:53, Jesus is the living bread and the refreshing blood without which we have no life in us. This was certainly very difficult for the Jews of the 1st Century, since even the normal animal meat with blood was forbidden and considered as offensive to God. How much more to speak of eating humans and drinking human blood? He was very seriously objected to and opposed by many who decided to leave. Surprisingly, Jesus intensified his teaching instead of softening it.

“My flesh is real food and my blood is true blood” (John 6:55).

When people contradict our faith or our belief in the Church’s sacraments and teaching, what is our attitude? Do we stand firm like Jesus, our Lord? What we celebrate today is the source of our life; it is the life-giving to our Church. Late Pope Benedict XVI taught us that:

“Without the Eucharist, the church simply does not exist”.

The Eucharist is about who Jesus is

The Eucharist clearly indicates that Jesus is not just a great human figure who simply speaks symbolically, but God from God, True God from true God, true light from true light, begotten and not made, and consubstantial with the Father. Therefore, what he says is. Jesus speaks as God speaks. In the Book of Genesis 1:3, God said let there be light and there was light. Let the earth come forth and it comes forth. Jesus spoke on the dead body of Lazarus and he came back to life. (John 11:43). To the daughter of Jairus, Jesus said “Thalitha Kum” and the dead young girl arose from her sleep. Jesus, on this day speaks over the bread and wine: “This is my body” “This is my blood”. The word of God affects reality. In the Eucharist, Jesus Christ fulfills his promise: “Lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age” (Mt 28:20). Jesus is indeed, the bread of life.

Importance of the Eucharist for us

The Eucharist eternalizes us. When we receive the body of Christ we become one with him. This equips us for eternal life. We are crucified; No wonder St. Paul says:

“Is not the cup of thanksgiving for which we give thanks a participation in the blood of Christ? And is not the bread that we break a participation in the body of Christ?” (1Cor 10:16-17).

In his Encyclical Letter, Ecclesia De Eucharistia, St. John Paul II wrote;

“The Church draws her life from the Eucharist”

As the body of Christ (1 Cor 12:27), we live because of that body and we are connected to one another. This invites us to live in unity and love for one another as a new commandment of Christ to us. (John 13:34). The Eucharist invites us to deepen this dimension of the Church as a family. In this manner, we wash each other's feet; we care for the needs of one another; we serve one another; we help one another. Since Christ is truly present in the Eucharist, we are to become truly present for one another. Mother Teresa is told that

“Jesus has made Himself the Bread of life to give us life. Night and day, He is there. If you really want to grow in love, come back to the Eucharist, come back to the Adoration.”

Happy Holy Thursday!

Happy feast to all our Priests!

Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO sac

Palm Sunday (Year B)

Today, the Holy Catholic Church recalls the entrance of the Lord into Jerusalem to give up his life, that is, to accomplish his paschal mystery. In fact, according to the passion of St Mark,

“Very early in the morning the leading priests, the elders, and the teachers of religious law — the entire high council — met to discuss their next step. They bound Jesus, led him away, and took him to Pilate, the Roman governor.” (Mark 15:1)

This is the beginning of Jesus’ trial, which will lead to his condemnation and his death. Jesus is on trial; The Sinless is guilty of condemnation. St. Paul says:

“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Cor 5:21).

Throughout the passion story, Jesus is on trial. But is Jesus on trial alone? The answer is no.

The trial is a process which consists of presenting facts to a judge in order to determine whether the defendant is guilty or not. During the passion, there are ongoing trials with the trial of Jesus: The Trial of the Jewish leaders, the trial of the Roman soldiers and Government officials, the absent disciples of Jesus and the trial of the passersby.

The trial of the Jewish leaders.

Face to face with Jesus, the Jewish leaders are being tried for their hypocrisy, their dishonesty, their jealousy and their envy. In the Gospel of John, Jesus says:

“I have spoken openly to the world,” Jesus replied. “I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said.” (John 18:20-21).

Jesus makes it clear that they know the truth, but they simply deny it. When animated by envy, hypocrisy and jealousy, we too, are being tried.

The Roman soldiers and Roman officials

Face to face with Jesus, the Roman soldiers and the officials are also being tried for their insensitivity to souls and for their corruption. The whole of our society seems to be on trial today!

The absent apostles and disciples of Jesus

They are also being tried for denial, for betrayal, for abandoning a friend in need. We too have probably abandoned someone when they needed us the most.

The passersby.

They are being tried for their superficiality, their narrowness of mind; their indifference.

Yes, this trial happened 2000 years ago but it seems like this is an ongoing trial because Jesus is still being tried, mistreated, betrayed, abandoned, ignored; even called a stupid god. How

many continue in our time to think that it a stupidity to be a Christian or to believe in God.

But for us, we continue to believe that the cross is our salvation. True greatness is found in humility and meekness.

Jesus humbled himself and God has highly exalted him (Cf Phil 2: 6-11).

Happy Palm Sunday!

Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO SAC

5th Sunday of Lent (Year B)

Toward the glory of Easter: “My Hour has not yet come”

5th Sunday of Lent. Jeremiah 31: 31-34; Ps 51; Hebrews 5:7-9; John 12:20-33

In the Gospel of John, Jesus frequently refers to the hour. At least 12 times, he references “the coming hour” or what he calls himself: “My Time”. Jesus' hour is the time of his cross and resurrection when he fully reveals the Father’s love and accomplishes his saving work that is his hour of glorification.

What hour are you in? What effort do you make to value this hour of God in your life?

Let’s explore today’s reading.

Everything in life has a time. It might be a relationship, mission or vocation, a covenant that is inscribed in our heart as Jeremiah says in the first reading (Jeremiah 31: 31-34). In everything then of life, there is a season.

The way to live a fulfilled life, the way to live a happy life, is by discerning, by recognizing, by respecting and by living the moment as it comes. Live every moment, every season as it comes.

Although he was God, Jesus took his time to discern, to recognize and to respect each season, each hour as it came. Jesus did not live his life twisting the hand of the clock. He did not live his life twisting the arm of God. No.

Jesus lived his life humbly submitting himself to the will of God and that led him to his glorification.

What hour are you at the moment? What is your purpose in this life?

When is that hour for that purpose to be achieved in this life?

What effort are you making to recognize the true hour for the purpose of God for you to be achieved? Are they rushing the hour? Are you

rushing things in your life?

I would like to remind you that God has customized everyone’s calendar. Remember there are different time zones for different places on this earth. Of course the sun rises and sets at different places based on the time zone. Do you feel depressed, don’t see yourself as a failure because your hour has not yet come.

Don’t live your life based on the time zone of others. Don’t live your life based on someone else's calendar.

That is why today’s psalm (Ps. 51) invites us to have a pure heart.

Pray that you may recognize the hour of God in your own calendar and live according

to that divinely assigned calendar.

His hour is always the best in our specific time zone. This sort of obedience is in communion with Christ who has become for us the source of eternal salvation (Hebrews 5:7-9).

May we recognize by the help of the Holy Spirit, the purpose for which God has created us.

This is the process of dying on oneself. Lord help us to recognize what each hour of our lives is meant for and to make the best of each hour so as to bring about the

fulfilment of God’s glory in our world through Christ our Lord.

Happy 5th Sunday of Lent!

Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO SAC

4th Sunday of Lent (Year B)

Toward the glory of Easter: God so loved the word

4th Sunday of Lent. 2 Chr 36:14-16, 19-23; Ps 137:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6; Eph 2:4-10; Jn 3:14-21

As we reach the middle of our Lenten season, we rejoice that Easter is near. So this Sunday is called “Laetare” and we put on rose chasuble as an expression of joy.

The Book of 2 Chronicles was written some years after the return from Babylonian exile. Jerusalem and the temple might have been built some time ago yet the rule of the expected Messiah was not yet established. The author reshapes the past event to provide hope for the future.

There is an invitation to look at the past with gratitude and the future with optimism.

As we go through today’s passage, we discover the defilement of the temple, the infidelity of the people to God’s commandments that caused them to lose their homeland. God's love was shown to them through the sending of the prophets, but the people did not listen; rather they hardened their heart, mocked the prophets and they faced God’s anger. The temple was destroyed, Jerusalem was sacked and the people were taken into exile in Babylon. Despite all this the Lord God raised Cyrus who ordered the people to return home and to rebuild the temple.

This foreshadows the salvation that God will accomplish for all of us in the death of Jesus Christ, in spite of our rebellion.

This portrays the loving mercy and the compassion of God for all humanity.

In the second reading taken from the letter to the Ephesians, Paul summarizes the truth of our salvation. While we were dead in our transgressions and could do nothing to save ourselves, God took action and sent Jesus to die and rise from the dead and therefore offered salvation for us all. God’s salvation is a gift to us sinners without discrimination. Henceforth St. John gives us the best known and the most powerful Bible quote.

“For God so loved the world that, he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16)

just as God commanded Moses to raise up the serpent in the desert to save those who will look at it (Numbers 21:4-9), so will everyone who believes in Jesus be saved from death and have eternal life. Jesus' purpose coming to the world was to save humanity from sin and death because God loves the world. St Augustine tells us that

“God loves each one of us as if there were only one of us to love”. What is our response to this love? John tells us again that” the light has come into the world but people love darkness rather than the light because their deeds were evil.” (John 3:19).

Sometimes, we choose to live in this darkness: pride, greed, envy, jealousy, anger, gambling, addictions, drugs, pornography, sexual deviations, sexual immorality, environmental irresponsibility, religious fundamentalism, human trafficking, domestic violence, rape and other forms of abuse, lack of discipline in spiritual and social lives; lack of consideration of the dignity of others. Sometimes, we pretend that these shadows do not exist.

As we come close to Easter, let us examine ourselves and even remind ourselves that Jesus did not come to judge and to condemn us but to love and to save us.

Let us allow Jesus to love as he wishes to love us. Let us allow him to forgive and to restore us anew.

The reality of God's love through Jesus Christ becomes so true in our world today, when we give a response of love to God for one another. Yes God so loved the world that he gave his only Son for you, but how much do you love God and your neighbor? What do you give to show your love for God and for your neighbor?

On this Latarae Sunday, let us make ours these beautiful words of St. Teresa of Calcutta: “Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.”

Happy Laetarae Sunday!

Father Georges Roger BIDZOGO SAC

3rd Sunday of Lent (Year B)

toward the glory of Easter: my house should be a house of prayer

3rd Sunday of Lent. Exodus 20:1-17; Ps 19; 1Cor 1:22-25; John 2:13-25.

On the first Sunday of Lent, we learned how to resist the three temptations by dwelling in the power of the word of God. On the second, the Father invited us to listen and obey his beloved Son, Jesus because he is the resurrection and life. This Sunday invites us to purify our lives from idolatry and make them “holy shrines” of prayer.

Freedom from idolatry

In today’s first reading we are reflecting on the ten (10) words or commandments of God. The very first words of God to the people,

“I am the Lord your God your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage”

gives meaning to the rest of instructions given by the Lord to his people. For the people of Israel, the Law of God (Torah) is a school of learning how to be free. In that sense, every commandment is God’s desire to set his people free. For instance, God forbids any form of idolatry.

“You shall have no other gods before me”.

More than ever before, it invites us today to be set free from anything, such as, money, sex, drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, television, cell phones, ideologies that can have control on us and enslave us. The aim of the word of God is to set us free from any false image of God. The love of God for his people is the foundation of this freedom. God wants his children happy and detached from all disordered passions of the world. A sound relationship with God will enable one to have a good relationship with others beginning with our parents.

“Honour your father and your mother”, “You shall not kill”, “You shall not commit adultery.” “You shall not steal”. “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour”. “You shall not covet your neighbour’s house or wife, or manservant, or his maidservant, or his ox, or his donkey…”

Each of the commandments constitute an act of liberation for ourselves and for others. They purify our perspective on life, that is the true interior freedom.

My house is a house of prayer

In today’s Gospel Jesus presents himself as the promised Messiah by Jeremiah 7:11 by cleansing the temple. In his rage against the sellers of oxen and sheep and pigeon, and the money changers Jesus says:

“Take these things away; you shall not make my Father’s house a house of trade”.

We are strongly invited to stop trading with the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor 6:19-20), which our physical body represents and to stop trading or turning it into a bazaar, the sacred place of worship, the church. This Sunday is a serious invitation to look around the temple of our souls and strive to make it holy. Indeed our body is a holy dwelling and house of prayer. Let's cast out all materialism, all superstition and corruption from our hearts. It is by destroying the old temple of sin that we rise anew in the glory of Easter with Christ Jesus. What habits do I need to destroy so I can rise anew? What old temples do I need to destroy in order to welcome the glory of Easter? What area of my soul do I need to clean up so that my life may become a house of prayer!

Happy 3rd Sunday of Lent!

Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO SAC

2nd Sunday of Lent (Year B)

Listening, a serious business for Christ’s disciples

In today’s Gospel we hear a voice from the cloud saying:

“This is my beloved Son; listen to him”

On this transfiguration Sunday, we focus on “Listening”. Listening is a very important act of worship. Our reaction always depends on how we listen. The initial counsel of King Salomon to his people involves hearing.

“Draw near to hear…Do not rush with your mouth…Let your words be few”

(Ecclesiastes 5:1-7).

Jesus through his various parables, invites his disciples to open their ears and hearts to hear his words. He will always conclude: “If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear” (Mt. 13:8-9; 41-43).

Hearing is an important act for positive actions and fruitful relationships. It is our highest responsibility in our relationship with God and one another.

Abraham, a good listener

Abraham needed faith to follow the road God showed him just as we do as Christians in order to follow Christ. For Abraham to begin his journey of faith, he needed to hear God’s voice that spoke to him saying:

“Abraham take your son, your only begotten son Isaac, whom you love and go to the land of Moriah and offer him as a burnt offering”.

Abraham demonstrates his obedience and hearing by setting on a journey to the destination of the sacrifice of his son. For Abraham to be able to spare his only son, Isaac, he needed again in spite of his troubled heart, to pay attention to the voice of the angel of God. Even in your troubles, please listen to God’s voice.

Why is it important to listen?

Among many reasons, I chose to highlight three important reasons why we should listen. First, we come to faith through listening to the word of God; second, listening is an expression of love; third, listening is our hope for a better and peaceful world.

1) Faith comes from hearing.

St. Paul in his letter to the Romans (Romans 10: 16-17) tells us that, faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. This is the word that Abraham heard and left his land to follow God. This is the word that we hear and opens our hearts to faith. We receive faith and our faith is nourished by listening to the proclamation of the word, or the witnessing of other Christians’ good examples and actions. Faith is nourished by listening.

2) Listening is the best expression of love.

The best expression of love is listening. The two ears put together form a heart because those who love always listen. That is why Jesus after he has told us that we are no longer slaves but friends (John 15:15), tells us

“Ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you”

(John 15:7).

3) Listening is our hope for a better world.

How many relationships and

marriages are broken today and how many families, communities and countries are at war today because they failed to listen? We have failed to listen to the voice of his beloved Son. We have failed to listen to one another in order to settle the matters. Listening is a prelude to dialogue. The new name of peace according to John Paul VI repeated by St. John Paul II, is dialogue. On this 2nd Sunday of Lent, we may say that the new name of peace is listening. People who listen will be able to dialogue. And people who dialogue will be able to achieve peace!

But why is it difficult to listen to God or to one another?

There is one word that explains this lack of attention to listening. It is the word, “obsession”. When I am so obsessed with myself that I cannot care about others anymore, then I cannot listen to them. I cannot listen to God. When I am obsessed with the actions of the day and everything I have to do, I have no time to listen to God’s voice through prayer and spiritual activities. I have no time to listen to my family or a friend. When I am obsessed with time, that is, I’m always busy and always in a hurry; I consider every minute that I spend with others, or in prayer, a waste of time. I’m obsessed with time... I may say “For me, time is gold and time is money.” So whenever I become obsessed with myself and with my actions, and my time, I have no room for listening.

Remember today’s words:

“This is my beloved Son, listen to him”

Spending time to listen to God and to one another is beyond silver, diamond, and gold.

This second Sunday of Lent invites us to listen. Listen to show your love; listen to increase your faith; listen to promote peace for the hope of the world; listen ready to give your time; listen ready to lay down your dreams and opinions, your ego and selfishness in order to rise with others, to the glory of Easter.

Mary, our Lady of Good Counsel, pray for us!

Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO SAC

Happy 2nd Sunday of Lent!

1st Sunday of Lent (Year B)

Temptation is real and hunting

The first Sunday of Lent invites us to reflect on the temptation of Jesus in the desert after 40 days of prayer and fasting. The temptation story invites us to be aware of the temptations within us and around us and to understand as St. Augustine of Hippo puts it that,

“it is only by means of overcoming trials and temptations that we progress in the spiritual life and grow in holiness.”

All human beings without distinction are subject to temptations. From Adam who merely prefigures Christ,

“Jesus the true head of humanity, in whose image we have been fashioned”

(cf. Col 1:15-20),

temptation is an undeniable reality. The devil exists and is active today just as he was in the past, just that he changes tactics and means. Come Holy Spirit, come to our aid.

Return to God

In a world where everybody is complaining that the world is turned upside down and everything is in a mess. Christ’s victory over the temptations of pleasure, power and pride is a pattern for us Christians. He chose to do the will of his Father and to remain in his path. Let’s learn to choose God. Let’s return to God and all things in the world will fall back into place.

We are invited to follow Jesus the Messiah, the path to every man’s salvation.

Reset your priorities

In a world where there is confusion everywhere and in everything, there is a clear indication that our hearts, our families, our societies are set in the wrong paths and wrong priorities. Let’s reconcile with God. I beg you in this time of Lent, let’s reset our mind and our heart toward God’s direction!

Let’s ask the Holy Spirit to help us reset our identity as sons and daughters of God. Let’s reset our family’s purposes in God. It is only when we reset our priorities on God and hold firm on his love for us that we overcome the temptations.

It is when we conquer our temptations by choosing God’s love that we understand how much God’s love transforms, beautifies and sanctifies us daily.

Reset your mind and entire life in Christ! Come Holy Spirit, come to our aid!

Happy 1st Sunday of Lent

Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO SAC

6th Sunday in Ordinary Time Homily (Year B)

We live in a world surrounded with so many barriers namely ethnic, cultural, racial, even religious. The social distances among the children of God in our world grows bigger each day. Yet this is exactly Christ’s reason for coming down to us, to tear down the walls of religious and cultural separation, exclusion and discrimination among the children of God. He brings down the love that sets free, renews, and heals. As we draw from the lessons of these Sunday readings, let us bring our joy, hopes, sickness, wounds, and expectations to the Lord.

Jesus heals the leper and reinstates him back to the community. Who is God in reality?

By allowing himself to be approached and by touching the leper, Jesus goes against the prescriptions that we heard in the book of Leviticus 13 - The leper will be declared impure and will leave away from the habitation out of the camp. For the Jews in the time of Jesus, purity was the condition to get into a relationship with God. So anyone who was considered to be impure was excluded. No contact with them and all this in the name of God. So in no way was the leper supposed to approach Jesus, and neither was Jesus supposed to touch him. Yet the true miracle was born at the contact between Jesus and this leper who saw in him the Messiah. “A leper came close to Jesus; he begged him and fell on his knees at his feet and said: “If you want, you can purify me”. One can only fall on his knees before God alone.

Moreover, in the time of Jesus, this gesture of the leper is very significant. for in this time, people were fervently expecting the coming of the Messiah who was to inaugurate the new and universal era of happiness and peace, wiping away all tears from their eyes on that mountain (Cf. Is 25: 26-29).

What the leper is asking here from Jesus is that healing promised for the Messianic era. Jesus is indeed the one who not only responds but also fulfils this expectation. “I want to, he says. Be purified”. He will later tell John the Baptist’s disciples to go and report to John the Baptist, “…the things you have seen and heard: that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are risen, the Good news are proclaimed to the poor” (Luke 7:22). We too need the same humility and faith like the leper so that Jesus can act in our lives.

Beyond the healing aspect, the story is a paradigm of long and lasting fight of Jesus Christ against discrimination and exclusion. The Good News preached by Jesus as well as by the leper is that, with Jesus, “No one can be declared impure and excluded in the name of God”. With this healing, all of us who were excluded from God because of our past, have now become “friends of God” and friends of one another. Now if we want to be like God, like the people who listen to the cry of the captives, we should exclude no one. Rather, we must be closer to all.

To resemble God is not about avoiding any contact with others even though they are considered “public sinners”, but it is learning to develop our capacity of loving like Christ.

Like the leper in today’s Gospel may we find a new joy to live in the communion of the Holy Trinity-Father, Son and Holy Spirit!

Happy Sunday!

Fr. Georges Roger Bidzogo SAC

The words of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke 9:23, are often very indicative to me when it comes to how I think, speak and deal with daily struggles and difficulties. “If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me”

Every day seems to be a call to embark on a journey with Jesus. Jesus’ journey is a way of self-denial and sacrifice. It is a way to say no to the pride that speaks louder within me. The way to true happiness and freedom requires a life of discipline and a decision to put my steps in Jesus’ Steps. This automatically implies the crucifixion of one’s self-will, and one’s ways of operating. This may clearly that, every step I take in following Jesus, every step on the way of life, is a step of saying “no” to my own will.

Being crucified with Him

The experience of St. Paul can help us as we approach the season of Lent. Just as Christ was so willing to take up the cross, bearing and even dying upon it, so should we be able to die with him all of our sin. In Romans 6:6, St. Paul affirms that: “knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin” We will make progress in our spiritual life only if we manage to crucify daily the old Adam in us by faithful commitment to Christ. (Cf Romans 6:4, Col 2:12). We are going to commit ourselves through this Lenten season to cease to serve sins as we are able to identify and name them: pornography, lust, gossip, slander, pride, anger, gluttony and envy. It is by crucifying these sins that we are free indeed (John 8: 36).

Happy Sunday!

Fr. Georges Roger Bidzogo SAC

5th Sunday in Ordinary Time Homily

God does not abandon us in our difficulties!

5th Sunday in ordinary Time. Job 7, 1-4.6-7; Psalms 146; 1Cor 9:16-19.22-23; Mark 1:29-39.

Our daily life is filled with all kinds of difficulties, struggles, pains and griefs that seem to darken our lives. (Cf Job 7). We often ask ourselves where God is and why has he seemed to abandon us! However, today's readings remind us that Jesus is there for us. He shares our weaknesses, our sufferings and our condition.

The first reading gives us only a few lines of the huge Book of Job which contains 42 chapters. The few lines confront the terrible question of suffering that we are all victims. The question of suffering is real and actual for people of all generations. People have always believed in retributive Justice and one might easily explain suffering either as the consequence of wrongdoing and sin or as a school of virtue. Without giving any explanation to the question of suffering, the Book of Job helps us to confront our daily sufferings with trust and confidence in God. Hopelessness does not have the final say. Jesus shares our condition; he is with us till the end of time. “He heals and restores the broken heart. He heals their wound” (Ps 146:3). So suffering is a deprivation of joy; it is an evil that we must ask God’s power and grace to fight. Our efforts to relieve humanity from suffering are part of God’s plan to save humanity.

Jesus in the Gospel reveals himself as the one who comes to heal our humanity from diseases andeverything that hinders their wholeness. He is the response to the question of suffering raised in the first reading by Job. He heals the mother in law of Peter and they bring to him all those who were sick and possessed by all kinds of evil spirits. This is indeed an anticipation of what Jesus will do for us on the wood of the cross. St. Peter in his letter explains, “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:24). With Christ, we begin a new creation, where new life is given and suffering is transcended. Jesus is the Messiah who announces and fulfills the kingdom of God. (Mark 1:15). This kingdom must be preached to all and bring freedom to all.

Like Jesus, let us find the strength to face our daily struggles and to know the right direction to take through silent meditation, adoration of the blessed sacrament, and other forms of prayer.

This Sunday we learn that the preaching of the Gospel is not just a mere utterance of words, but also a commitment to fight like Jesus, against everything that causes suffering to our humanity and everything that deprives us of our joy of being children of God.

Happy Sunday!

Fr. Georges Roger Bidzogo sac

4th Sunday in Ordinary Time Homily

Today's liturgy highlights Jesus as the new prophet with authority. His word heals and delivers. We must listen to this word!

In the first reading, Moses invites his people to listen to the word of God through his prophet. Whoever listens to the Lord's messenger will be heard.

The prophet is therefore the one who announces the Lord and speaks only in his favor. We must turn our hearts to the Word of God. We must have a listening and not a divided or rocky heart. “Today let us not close our heart. But let us listen to the word of the Lord!”

The liturgy invites us to have an open heart, sincere and to be faithful to the Lord. We must have the heart of a prophet, one who listens to the cries, the pain, the suffering, the problems of the men and women of our time. Is my heart divided, rocky, or a listening heart?

In the gospel, Jesus is indeed the “new prophet” who speaks and acts with extra-ordinary authority. He has power over His adversary, the Evil One who seeks to possess our lives and all of God's creation.

At each Eucharist, Jesus exorcises the demon as well as the evil that is in us and in the world! Jesus had come to free us from hatred, fear, selfishness, witchcraft, Satanism, etc...

Indeed, listening to the voice of God as well as the announcement of his Word is our first weapon of liberation from evil and satanic forces.

Let us become, through our words and actions, prophets of our time!

Happy Sunday!

Father Georges sac

3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time Homily

Repentance and Transformation, 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time — Year B. Jon 3:1-5, 10; Ps 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9; 1 Cor 7:29-31; Mk 1:14-20

On this 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time of Year B, we meditate on the repentance and transformation that are the fruit of our response to God's call. In the first reading, despite historical and cultural barriers, Jonah responds to God's call to go to Nineveh to preach repentance and the people of Nineveh respond without hesitation. God expects the same immediate response from each of us.

Our duty of evangelization should go beyond our ethnic, tribal, and racial affiliations. Each of us is called to discern our vocation and respond to it with generosity on a daily basis, whatever the nature of the sender of the message.

Christ's message throughout his ministry is to invite us to accept his reign and. to be active disciples of his Father's kingdom.

“Repent and believe the Good News” (Mk 1:15)

Believing in the Gospel requires from us listeners the resolve to take Jesus' words seriously every day, to translate them into action, and to trust in Jesus' authority. Jesus preached the Gospel, the Good News, that God is a loving, forgiving, caring, and merciful Father. God wants to free us and save us from our sins through his son Jesus.

Let us remember that, it is our calling in life as Christians, to transmit the light of Christ

through our lives, radiating the unconditional love, mercy, forgiveness and humble service of Jesus to all in our families, our parish and our society.

Like Jonah, let us go to “Nineveh” and announce the Good News!

Wishing you a blessed spirit filled Sunday!

Fr. Georges Roger Bidzogo sac

2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Homily - January 14, 2024

Reflection of 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

1S. 3: 3b-10. 19; Ps 39 (40); 1Cor 6: 13c -15.17-20; Jn 1, 35-42

He is calling you too

Dear friends in Christ, warm greetings of peace and joy in the Lord as I share with you the message of this Sunday’s readings, whose focus is on the call. As I was travelling last week from Detroit to Paris, I sat next to a gentle lady. I greeted her and introduced myself to her as a priest and the next question to me was: “How did you know that you were called to become a priest?”  I smiled, and I said: “We are all called, but every person simply needs to listen carefully to the voice of God in their heart”. Yes, brothers and sisters, we are all called by God; called to conversion, called to responsibility, called for action and called to fulfill God’s plan in our lives.

Today’s readings help us indeed to focus on God’s call and the listening to his voice. Through the examples of Samuel in the first reading and the calling of the first disciples in today’s gospel, we are reminded in the beginning of this year 2024 that God is indeed calling us. It is therefore important to be open to God’s call in our lives. We need the Holy Spirit and the help of others to discern the tone of God’s voice which can easily be mistaken for any other human voice. Three times in the first reading, Samuel hears God’s voice but mistakes it for a human voice (Ely’s voice). Only on the fourth time, that he could respond, “Speak, and the Lord for your servants is listening”. This indeed is the beginning of Samuel’s vocation. May we practice the lectio divina in order to adequately listen to the voice of God!

In today’s Gospel, Jesus is calling his first disciples not only to a personal relationship and intimacy with him but also to a task that is to preach the Good News of salvation. No wonder Jesus tells us: “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.” (John 15:16). One can never encounter “The Lamb of God '', Jesus Christ and remains indifferent to the work of proclaiming the Gospel to the world. God is calling us today in our various contexts of life to participate in his mission of love and peace, justice and reconciliation in our world. How do I respond to this call?

That is the vocation that all baptized receive from the second reading today. St Paul reminds us that we are members of the Christ body and our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. Henceforth our entire life is meant to serve God not earthly and vain pleasures that do not give honor to God. That is the main vocation of our existence to follow Jesus, to serve him and to be holy.  We belong to God and he calls us to the sanctity of life. “Come and follow me, says Jesus”. Have you truly made this tremendous decision to follow Jesus? Look at this in the little things of everyday life: where to work? What to do? Where to go to school? Who to marry and even how to spend my money and in what to spend that money? The best way to discern is still the reading and meditation of the word of God daily.

I believe God is still calling us right now to a task, responsibility, ministry, stewardship, reconciliation, peace and unity, forgiveness and joy, sanctity and eternal life. Let us open our hearts and respond with obedience of faith!

Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO SAC

Blessed Sunday!

Epiphany Homily, January 7, 2024

On the feast of the Epiphany, we celebrate the intense appearance or manifestation of the Lord. The wise men who were looking for the newborn King following the star represents each of us. We must pray that we may be attentive to the intense manifestation of God’s power in our lives. All the time, God shows himself into our lives but hidden. We must open ourselves to those moments of God’s powerful manifestations in our existence.

The Epiphany means exactly this, Christ Jesus, true God, symbolized in the frankincense offering, and true Man, symbolized in the beautiful gift of the myrrh, and the newborn King, symbolized in the offering of gold. These can be revealed to anyone and in different ways, places, times and cultures. Like these unexpected strangers, may we offer to Jesus, adoration and honor and praise. He deserves the best treasures of our lives.

In Christ, the new light shines on the whole world. Isaiah 60:1-6 expresses this in these words: “Arise, shine for your light has come and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you…And nations shall work upon you and kings in brightness of you rising”. With Christ, all people, all the nations have got the opportunity to walk in the light. For Paul to the Ephesians (3:2-3), Epiphany is indeed the manifestation of Jesus as the Son of God even to the Gentiles, understood as even to the pagans. All can now walk in light of God. We are heirs of the light. Do not walk in darkness anymore!

Finally, we see in today’s Gospel of Matthew, chapter 2, the fulfilment of the words of Isaiah. The magi empty their riches before the Lord. Nations will come and give: gold, frankincense and myrrh and incense. We are invited to open ourselves in thanksgiving and adoration to the Lord. Our response to the light of God is to give ourselves as a gift to the Lord Jesus, to our family and to his Church. Our response to the Epiphany is stewardship, “Give to Jesus 10% of your Time”, “Give to Jesus 10% of your Talents”. “Give to Jesus 10% of your Treasure or financial resources”. Rejoice in the Epiphany and walk in the light. Indeed, you are one of the wise men!

Happy and prosperous new year 2024!

Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO SAC

Gratitude in the midst of storms! Blessings for 2024!

In spite of the demise of my grandmother, Marie Eyenga and I believe many of us have been through horrible predicaments, I would like to thank God and express my appreciation to everyone. I am positive! I am thankful and I am Grateful! No matter what happened, let us remember the words of Jesus “I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.” (John 16:33) There are many things that might have sadden us or frustrates our peace, but we must train our mind to see good even in the midst of challenges for the word of God reminds us that “in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28). Find in all that you went through the silver linings, the hidden blessings, and the opportunity for growth, sanctification and glorification. As you know well, whatever that does not kill you, strengthens you and remember the words of Karla Pope and Alesandra Dubin: “Life is like a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving”.

As we bid farewell to 2023 and step into the unknown 2024, let our gratitude, confidence, optimistic faith be our guiding compass. May the word of God in the liturgy, our daily rosary, our adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, strengthen our resilience and our faith, and so illuminate our path forward. In that line, our unwavering appreciation for God’s blessings should enable us to totally commit our lives in the service of our beloved Parish, Holy Redeemer Church. Our stewardship is indeed a bold reminder for each of us that, no matter what the storms we face, the seeds of gratitude are always within us, waiting to blossom.

May the Lord bless you with good health, peace, joy, spiritual and financial breakthrough throughout this year 2024 and beyond. Amen!

Happy new year 2024!

Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO SAC

Holy Family Homily, December 31, 2023

Dear Holy Redeemer Family, to the homebound, and visiting friends, the end of this wonderful year 2023 offers me an opportunity to thank you as you deserve it. Thanks for welcoming me at Holy Redeemer and in the Diocese of Lansing. Thanks for participating on October 28 at my installation as your Pastor of Holy Redeemer by our local Bishop, Bishop Earl Boyea Thanks equally for your time, talents and financial contributions to Holy Redeemer, the Outreach and all other important missions. Be assured, like St. Paul: “We always give thanks to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray” (Col. 1:3)

I am aware that this year, especially June 2023, has definitely been difficult for most Parishioners after the announcement of Rev. Father Steven Anderson’s retirement as Pastor of Holy Redeemer. This might have been even more difficult as your new Pastor was coming from the Southern hemisphere (Africa). I believe this transition was, and it is still difficult for some of you who need a longer time to adapt with newness. I would like to reassure you, time is a healer and we all need to journey together, praying and trusting God’s guidance and the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

So, as we step into this new year 2024, I would like us to entrust our Parish under the control and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female

servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit” (Joel 2:28-32) How I wish this prophecy may come to pass in our parish!

Henceforth, the coming year will be marked by fostering spiritual life and stewardship campaigns, evangelization, and Catechesis in all its aspects: these include seekers, youth, and adult formation.

1) Spiritual Life

Every day without fail we now offer the highest sacrifice of the Mass for our Parish and for the whole world. We pray the rosary daily before every mass and on Weekend’s masses, that is 3:20PM on Saturdays, 8:20AM and 4:20PM on Sundays. Every Friday at 3:00PM we are going to have the “Golgotha Hour” with the Divine Mercy chaplet or the Most Precious Blood of Jesus’s prayer for the conversion of sinners and for our salvation. This will start on Friday January 5, 2024. We will also give priority to Thursdays solemn hour of adoration (Power Hour) from 6:00PM to 7:00PM and we indeed foster and encourage you to come to Encounter on every first Friday at 6:30PM and we will be offering on every third Friday, a Healing Service at 6:30PM. Our first healing service will be on January 19, 2023. We pray that God, the Healer (Exodus 3:15) may heal our sickness and any kind of wounds in our families throughout this year 2024.

2) Stewardship Campaign

At the end of this year 2023, we have been involved in various diocesan strategic meetings on how to be effective in evangelizing our parishes. Our smart goal is to make all parishioners fully active participants in the work of evangelization in the parish. For this reason, we would like to embark on a stewardship campaign starting on the second week of January 2024. Stewardship will enable every parishioner to live out their commitment of self-donation, to be truly Christ-centered. Stewardship calls for profound gratitude to serve the divine plan by giving back to God (three-Ts) your Time, your Talents and your Treasure. The Campaign will be run by a stewardship committee which will be headed by Dcn. Ken Preiss. Stewardship is the key to make us all servants and participants in building God’s kingdom here at Holy Redeemer.

3) Outreach Campaign Programs

One of the very important parts of our faith is to reach out to the vulnerable and the poor, and the homebound whom Jesus identifies himself with. I thank you for taking responsibility and financially supporting our outreach here at Holy Redeemer. Thanks indeed for your monthly contributions. It is our way of becoming apostles of Jesus’ mercy.

Please do contact the office at any time whenever you find yourself homebound and in need of a visit.

With the Finance Council, we have discussed some ways we can extend the outreach to the Divine Mercy Foundation for the construction of the orphanage and the tuition of poor children, as well as assisting in the formation of Pallottine seminarians in Cameroon. What a joy to contribute in one way or in another to the formation of a priest! In our next insert, we will have more clarifications on this topic.

Like St. Paul said in Philippians (4:7), “I pray that the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” so that you will experience God's peace, joy, happiness, healing, and the favor through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Have a spirit filled and prosperous new year 2024!

Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO SAC

The Holy Family

How beautiful it is to celebrate the feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. Today, we emphasize the importance of family. The family is a beautiful space for our growth. It is the domestic Church. Let us pray for the restoration of healthy families in our country.

In the first reading, God promises that Abraham and Sarah will have a son. God is the author of all life. He is the beginning and the end of our story. Our life is sacred. Our lives are part of God's gracious plan. Let us pray for the sanctity of life from conception to death.

The family must build its life on faith, love, and charity. This is why the second reading recalls the story of Abraham and Sarah who put their faith in God. God is faithful, he has fulfilled his promises in Jesus Christ. May we learn to trust God in all situations of our life.

Let us be like Joseph and Mary who did not fail in their duty as parents. They take the baby Jesus to Jerusalem for the purification ritual. There they meet Simeon and Anna, who both talk about Jesus' future and how he will fulfill all our hopes, desires, and needs. May we as parents take seriously the spiritual education of their children.

Happy Feast of the Holy Family!

Christmas Homily. Is 52:7-10; Ps 98; Hebrews 1:1-6; John 1:1-18.

Christmas is a Gift!

With every day passing, every week winding up, our world seems to fall into deeper darkness. Day after day announces wars, atrocities, increase of crime, crumbling cities, inflation, partisan divides, poverty and hunger. About 970 million people around the world suffer from mental illness; there is a flagrant of loss of faith. In each and every instance around the world, there is a fellow human being in pain: a woman, a man or a child potentially going through the worst that life has to offer, often feeling alone and abandoned. Now let me tell you the Good News: even if you are in terrible pain, and wherever you may be, this Christmas is still for you. Even if you are grieving because you lost someone dear to you. God is with you. Even if you have doubted, you have failed to pray, to trust in him in those times of difficulties, He is here for you. Happy Christmas!!!

Thanks be to God! Christmas is a Good news – God with us. A Good News of God’s love who sent us his Son, the word made flesh to us (Cf. John 3:16). Christmas reminds us of the gift of Jesus who is coming to give us love, hope and joy. This is the message which doesn’t change from year to year. It is the same Good News yesterday and today! When there is so much bad news and devastation in the world, this is good news worth celebrating! Jesus is our gift; He is our helper and our salvation. (Ps 27:1-3). Christmas is here to remind us that we all need help. Even the most privileged one among us is lost at times. We need God and Christ is indeed the reflection of the splendor and the fullness of the Father. Christmas is the light that shines in darkness. December 25 was the pagan celebration of the sun. For us Christians, Christ is the true Sun of justice, “The Light of the world” (John 9:12).

Every little help, every little assistance, every gesture of love for others, especially for the homeless, the less fortunate than ourselves, brightens the darkness of our world. Whatever you have done for the “little one of mine” (Mt 25: 40), be it, a gift of a toy, a plate of food, a gift card to someone in need, contribution to the outreach program, contribution to the Church and to charity, building the orphanage, feeding or clothing an orphan, a gift of tuition, a visit to the sick, the prisoners, the elderly in need of a visit, a word of consolation, all these have brought Christ’s brightness into our world. That is the meaning of Christmas. 

That is the meaning of Christmas. As one who grew up in very abject poverty in a village named Ebomkop in Cameroon, the story of Christ born in manger speaks louder to humanity. He wanted to be one with sinners and with the poor so we can live in solidarity with one another. No one is supposed to fight the battle of life alone, be it financially, spiritually, or emotionally! Christmas is the gift of Christ's presence in our lives. Our positive human interactions can ease a troubled mind, a troubled family, a troubled community, a troubled organization and a troubled world. Christmas is a gift: a gift of salvation that no human can give; a gift of peace; a gift of love; a gift of mercy; a gift of grace; a gift of joy; and whenever we become apostles of the Christian virtues, we celebrate Christmas in our world. This is indeed the beginning of the new world. 

Blessed Christmass!

Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO sac

Christmas Midnight Homily. Is 9:2-7; Ps 96; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2: 1-14.

Unconquerable Light. 

Let us all rejoice in the Lord tonight for our Savior has been born in the world. “Unto us, dear friends, a Son is given” (Isaiah 9:2).He is “a wonderful counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of peace” (Isaiah 9: 6). Yes, dear friends in the Lord, today true peace, true joy, true power, true authority, and true light have come down to us from heaven. Let us rejoice and exalt!

Isaiah tells us today that: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwell in the land of deep darkness, on them has light shined.” (Isaiah 9:2). We all have darkness in our lives; darkness of our sins, darkness of hopelessness, darkness of doubt, darkness of ignorance, darkness of pains and sorrows; the darkness of war and divisions, the darkness of hatred and fear, the darkness of greed and corruption. This night is here to remind us the true light has shined in our darkness!

May we accept again Jesus, the light that is shining in our darkness! The light that prevents us from stumbling and tripping. The true Light Jesus Christ shows us the way to eternal happiness. Just like the light, Jesus has come into our lives to expose the danger of humanity, of not following God. He exposes our lives as they are. He came to dispel darkness and gloom of hopelessness and sin that overwhelm us every day. 

We are invited to look at the world with this new light. Let our love, hope and aspirations be illuminated by the light of Christ. The Light of Christ is that power that overcomes everything, even the darkness of the tomb and death. The light came into the world and the darkness has not overcome it,  as will we as the Gospel of John reminds us (John 1:5), the Light of Christ is unconquerable!

The darkness of our sins cannot overcome the light of God’s grace in Jesus Christ. The problems in our communities cannot overcome the power of Christ’s resurrection. The culture of death, euthanasia and abortion cannot defeat the power and the joy of life. Christ is light and the light is alive! May God receive praise and glory, honor, and adoration for he has sent the light in our heart!

Let us renew our faith on this Christmas to Jesus, God from God and the Light from light; the true God from true God. May we go out and become witnesses to this unconquerable and undefeatable light of Christ! May live in the light for the rest of our lives until we reach eternal glory! Amen. 

Blessed Christmass!

Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO sac

4th Sunday of Advent, year b 2 samnuel 7: 1-5.8b-12, 12.14.16; Rom 16:25-27; Luke 1:26-38.

Like Mary, surrender to the Lord. We might all be aware that God’s plan for us and humanity is wonderful and rewarding when we embrace it. However it is not always easy to follow because it often contradicts our personal and family interests and plans. That is the case of David in the first reading, who wanted to build God's house and the Virgin Mary in the Gospel, who although she was already betrothed to Joseph for marriage. To welcome Jesus in our lives demands of us, letting go sometimes even the best plans of our lives. Henceforth, on the fourth Sunday of Advent, the Blessed Virgin Mary is given to us as a Christian model of hearing, listening and doing the word of God. “Ecce ancilla Domini, fiat mihi secundum verbum Tuum” “I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be to me according to your word.” This is total surrender. Mary teaches how to respond to God’s coming and invitation with obedience – love and generosity. For us to be able to welcome Jesus at Christmas and in our daily lives we must discern God’s will in our lives and this imply letting go of our own aspirations and our personal plans. This might be difficult and sometimes painful, but it always brings happiness and peace, joy and eternal reward because we can say to ourselves I am doing exactly what Jesus himself is coming to teach us: “Not my will but your will be done” (Luke 22:42). Let us pray every day: “Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Mt 6:10). Like Mary, always surrender to the Lord. Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO SAC

3rd Sunday of Advent, year b Isaiah 61:1-11; 1Thes 5:16-24; John 1:6-8.19-28.

So, Rejoice Always!

Looking back at this year, so much has happened; maybe you have been sick, bereaved, disappointed by people at work, in the family, or at church, or you have been discouraged by another, this Sunday is a breath of courage and hope for you. On this Sunday, we light the third candle, representing “joy”. It is the “Gaudete Sunday”, which means “rejoice”. St Paul invites us to “rejoice in the Lord always” (Phil 4:4) as a true Christian community characterized by prayer, thanksgiving, and joy. The season of Advent is for the entire world, an invitation to be joyful for Christ is coming into our lives. Why shall we always rejoice?

1) All the readings of this Sunday point out that something is about to take place. There is a new beginning in perspective. We find this tune of liberation and newness that John is witnessing in today’s gospel, in Micah, and Isaiah 61 whereby the Lord will bring consolation, freedom and deliverance. We are joyful because we are waiting for our jubilee of freedom that comes from Jesus. So Rejoice always, even when you are going through difficult times.

2) We rejoice for Jesus the Divine, the Messiah who is coming, will restore us. No wonder Psalm 51:12, proclaims: “Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit”. The God who brought the Israelites out of slavery in Egypt and from exile, will cause your heart to smile again even when things seem to be falling apart. The God-man, Jesus, is coming to take up us again, from zero to hero, from nothingness to something, and from dust to life. Rejoice always!

3) God’s presence is our joy because the coming of Jesus makes known to us the path of life. In Psalm 16:11, we read: “in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Spending time with God brings tremendous joy in the hearts of believers and “Light shines on the godly, and joy on those whose hearts are right.” (Ps 97:11) Jesus is coming to us to give wisdom, and knowledge, and joy to those who please and who abide in his word (Cf Ps 119:111; Ecclesiastes 2:26). Like John the Baptist, faithfulness to God and witnessing to the power of the Holy Spirit should produce even greater joy in our lives.

4) This Sunday helps us to discover that joy is an essential part of our Christian life. Jesus reminds us in John 16:24 that, until now, we have asked nothing in his name. He urges us to ask and we will receive, and our joy will be full. Let's be filled with the spirit of joy and share our joy of being Catholics with the world today!

Do you really want to be happy in your life today?

Here is the secret: forgive, make peace, reconcile, be humble, please just do that and joy will find you.

Joy cannot find us in materialism, in extravagance, in materialism, in greed and selfishness. Joy can truly find us in humility and in nothingness. In the nothingness of the tomb, we saw the joy of Easter; in the nothingness of the womb of the blessed Virgin, Mary we saw the joy of Christmas; in the nothingness of the womb of Elizabeth, we saw the joy of God intervening in history. So, always find your true joy in the Lord!

Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO sac

2nd Sunday of Advent. Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11; Psalms 85:9-10, 11-12, 13-14; Peter 3:8-14; Mark 1:1-8.

Come to the desert with John the Baptist

According to some traditional wisdom, whenever the elephant wants to drink water from the river or the lake or reservoir, it first unsettles the water. The reason is that, as the surface of the still water acts like a mirror, the elephant would not love to see its own image through the still water because it comes across as another wild animal coming from the water to fight the elephant.

In the Bible, the desert usually represents a time of the testing of faith, a time of preparation, purification, temptation, and transformation. On this second Sunday of Advent, John the Baptist invites us to the desert. He wants us to prepare ourselves for the “Good News” (Mark 1:1) that is coming into the world by joining him in the desert. There we can look at our image in the mirror. Advent is a time to focus on our life and examine conscience. More often, we are like the elephant, we run away from the silence of the examining our conscience because we are afraid to face our real image.

Yet, Advent is a time to work on ourselves. It is an opportunity to take a break from watching the bad things, the evil actions of others, but focus on ourselves. Advent gives us the opportunity to become better spouses, better children, better parents, better priests, better Deacons, and better people in the family, the community, and the world.

It is a time to experience and recognize divine providence; divine provision. While they had no bridge to cross the red sea, God provided a passage through the waters for the children of Israel. While making their journey through the desert, God fed them with the manna from heaven and gave them water from the rock. God is in control of our lives. He can help us even where we have no human connections - for our help ultimately comes from God. (Ps 124:8) He is the source of our satisfaction.

John’s preaching is clear and simple. The time of the desert is a time of change and transformation. This is an invitation to level the mountain and fill the valley. This is a calling to give up our pride and to become humble, virtuous, faithful, and generous. We must check ourselves through the mirror in order to avoid allowing the distractions of this world to take over the preparation and the meaning of Christmas. This examination will help us to grow in our knowledge and relationship with God. Always remember, my dear friend, Christianity is not a destination, but a journey towards heaven. May we prepare ourselves to receive the Good news of Jesus Christ by being apostles of peace and unity!

Come to the desert with John the Baptist.

Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO SAC