Pentecost Sunday Homily

AT THE SCHOOL OF THE PENTECOST

MAY 19, 2024 | Acts 2:1-11; Ps. 103; Gal. 5:16-25; John 15:26-27;16: 12-15.

The first Pentecost happened 2000 years ago. However, Pentecost is not only a far-off event, but a promise. A promise that The Holy Spirit continues to guide, comfort, strengthen and renew the Church. Jesus said:

“My Father is working until now, and I am working.” (John 5:17-18).

Our society as a whole and each of us as individuals are facing many demons, such as sadness, anger and fear of what is going on, wars, abortions, sickness, cancer, hunger, human exploitation, abuse, corruption and inflation. We need to experience a new Pentecost again and again. We need a life in the spirit, which is the expression of a life filled with joy – love and forgiveness of the enemies, letting go of the grudges with joy and a smile, and living a life of charity. This is a true life in the spirit that the Holy Spirit comes to teach us. He is indeed the Teacher that we need to follow.

The Holy Spirit our Teacher

In the Gospel of John, Jesus says:

“But the Comforter, who is the Holy Ghost whom the Father will send in My name, He shall teach you all things and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.”

(John 14:26)

This specific role of the Holy Spirit as our teacher is very realistic. This means, He is going to help us see things in a new way with the eyes of Jesus.

The Holy Spirit teaches us where to begin (John 14:15)

The Spirit will teach us where to begin everyday. The starting point of your everyday life should be the love of Jesus.

“If you love me you will keep my commandments” (John 14:15)

The love of Christ is the basis of everything and it the spirit of God that pours out love into our hearts (cf. Romans 5:5). He is the Engine, and the Mover of our life. He is the Memory of God. He reminds us of whatever Jesus had taught. He constantly reminds us that God loves us, heals us and comforts us at all times, especially when we have fallen. He teaches us how to forgive and to be reconciled with the past and how to begin anew.

The Holy Spirit teaches us which paths to take (Romans 8:5)

St. Paul is somehow a specialist of life in the spirit. He reminds us that,

“Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires” (Romans 8:5)

It becomes clear that those led by the spirit produce the fruits of the spirit such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (cf. Galatians 5:22-23). Celebrating Pentecost invites us to always discern the true voice of the spirit in our lives-which path is of the spirit and which one is not. Pope Francis once said that,

“The Holy Spirit will never tell you that everything will go alright. No. He corrects you. He makes you weep for your sins; he pushes you to change; to fight against your lies and deceptions, even when that calls for hard work and interior struggles and sacrifices” (Pope Francis, Homily Pentecost, 2022)

Contrary to the Holy Spirit, the evil spirit always pushes you to do what you think and find pleasing. He makes you think that you have the right to use your freedom whenever and however you want even when you feel empty inside. He blames you, blames others for your problems, always criticizing others, suspicious, complaining and frustrates you and destroys you, brings negativity, sad thoughts... Yet the Holy Spirit always stays with you and he is there to comfort you and encourage you to get up, to change and to become a new person. He teaches us the paths of joy, peace, unity and love.

The Holy Spirit teaches the

Church how to walk (Acts 2:1-11)

The Holy Spirit reminds us of the importance of the upper room for private prayer as well community prayer. The Apostles and disciples of Jesus, altogether 120 present, prayed for 10 days and were all “filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:4). The message of the Pentecost is that the Holy Spirit wants a Church that prays together, feels together, walks together towards the eternal kingdom. The Holy Spirit is teaching the Church to be open to the newness and freshness of the Spirit. He is teaching us to accept one another, complement one another with the different charisms, as we heard in the Book of the Acts of the Apostles. He is one who brings harmony among the multiple gifts and charisms that he gives.

Brothers and Sisters, let’s sit at the

school of the Holy Spirit so that he can teach us all things! May we allow him to remind us that love is always our starting point and that like the Blessed Mary ever Virgin, we are invited to walk according to the Spirit and not the flesh! May we learn how to make decisions by listening first to his voice and learn to journey not as solitary individuals but always as the Church.

Fr. Georges Roger Bidzogo sac

Ascension Sunday Homily

Today we celebrate the Ascension of the Lord, which means that Christ is now back in the glory of his father in heaven forty days after his resurrection. It is our hope. As Christians, we can learn so much about the event of the Ascension.

On this feast of the Ascension, I would like us to see in which way the ascension is important to our Catholic faith.

Jesus is God!

If we consider the Ascension as a goodbye that Jesus bids to his disciples, his departure from this earthly life, it reminds us of a basic truth about our faith.

Jesus is Lord and God.

The letter to Hebrews affirms that Jesus,

“after he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.” (Hebrews 1:3; 12:2).

Peter reaffirms this in his epistle,

“Now Christ has gone to heaven. He is seated in the place of honor next to God, and all the angels and authorities and powers accept his authority.” (1 Peter 3:22).

Ascension means therefore that Jesus is God. If he was not God he was not going to be able to ascend to heaven. He does ascend by his own power. This is the second mystery of the Rosary.

Heaven is our destiny!

The second lesson is that heaven is more important. If the earth was more important, Jesus would have remained here on earth even after his resurrection. There is something beyond the earthly reality. The words of Jesus in his farewell discourse are the most attractive, consoling and powerful words when he says:

“Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house there are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” (John 14:1-3)

John the Beloved disciple, in his vision, “saw a new heaven and a new earth. For the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. He also saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And he heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” (Cf. Revelations 21:1-4). The Ascension reminds us that this earth is not our final destination. Let us turn our eyes to the things of heaven. No wonder Paul does advise us:

“Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” (Colossians 3:2)

Our destiny is not in the grave, but in heaven. God so loved us that he gave us his only Son, that whoever among us believes in him will not perish but have eternal life (John 3:16).

The responsibility is now ours!

The third lesson is related to our mission. We are now the “new Jesus”. In the first readings from the Acts of the Apostles, Jesus invites us to stop looking at the sky, but to now become aware of our responsibility of preaching the Good news. Because of his Ascension, the main responsibility of healing, protecting and serving our community, is now ours. We were invited to use the gifts of the Holy Spirit in order to build up the body of Christ, our Church, family, and our society. Jesus going to heaven, handing-over the mission of his church to us, as his disciples. He hands-over to us his power, his authority and his mission. Jesus is trusting every one of us according to their status, their strength, their abilities, their means to take up these responsibilities. Dear friends, the responsibility to bring God to people is now ours. If we live like Christ, we will take us with him in heaven.

May we long for the moment when we will meet with Jesus in heaven. Yes, heaven is our home! As St. Augustine once said:

“Today our Lord Jesus Christ ascended into heaven; let our hearts ascend with him.”

Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO sac

6th Sunday of Easter (Year B)

The Glory of Easter: perfect joy

MAY 5, 2024 | Acts 10, 25-16. 34 ; 1 John 4, 7-10; John 15:9-17.

The message of the Gospel is a message of joy. Jesus said himself in today’s gospel that:

“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” (John 15:11)

Christ speaks to us in order to fill us with joy. The reason for this joy is that the life of Jesus has always been a life filled with love after the image of his Father.

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.” (John 15:10)

This is true friendship with God, which is manifested in the love we have for everyone in the world.

Such a love is described in the

Book of the Acts of the Apostles, in today’s first reading through the invitation of St. Peter - to love without discrimination, for God’s love has no partiality. Peter enters the house of Cornelius to teach him together with a group of pagans about the salvation of God. They received like everyone else the gift of the Holy Spirit and were baptized. The Apostle Peter reminds us today, as he did to the first Christian community, that the message of salvation is for all people without discrimination of nationality, race, tribe and color of their skin. Salvation is universal and Christianity is all about love, loving others; it is all about service, serving others. It is all about life, that is living for others. In that way our joy is complete.

This is what St. John insists on in the second reading of this Sunday.

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1 John 4:7-8)

God’s love is manifested in giving us

his Son, Jesus who sacrificed himself for us for the forgiveness of our sins. God has shown us how to love. It is up to us today to show the world what God’s love looks like. This Sunday, we are challenged on the manner we love one another. Do we pick and choose those we want to love or help or serve? St. John is challenging each and everyone who call themselves Christians to love as Christ loved. He gave his life for all without discrimination. God himself makes his sun shine on bad and good people alike and gives rain to those who do good and to those who do evil (Cf. Mt 5:45).

Let us open our hearts to love every human being created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:27). This is to say, may we ask the Holy Spirit to help us welcome a person in our heart without discrimination of origin. May our love empower us to work for a better, harmonious, loving, peaceful and joyful society. Let us take seriously the command of Jesus to get out of ourselves and to spread love everywhere we find ourselves. That is perfect joy. We can conclude with this beautiful quote of St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta:

“Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.”

Have a Blessed Sunday!

Fr. Georges R. BIDZOGO SAC

5th Sunday of Easter (Year B)

The Glory of Easter: actions speak louder than words

Acts 9:26-31; 1 John 3:18-24; John 15:1-8

In cultures of the world, integrity is a high value and Christ’s teaching today resonates with these values. Christian life and our social, political, and family life are inseparable. Our faith should be translated into life. Words and deeds are inseparable. In the ancient Rome, they used to say: “operemus credite not verbum”, “trust in deed not in words'', the modern day Italian tell you: “prati non parole” , Spanish people will tell you: “Las palabras Se ilevan en el viento”:

“words are carried in the wind”.

In English, we say: "Actions speak louder than words”. In most African languages, this is ascertained in a very strong way: '' Mod asikik a mikobo; mod ane a mimbo" in Beti language in Cameroon. “A true person is not recognized by his words but by their actions”. What Paul, John, and Jesus are telling us this Sunday is that:

“The world needs more witnesses than it does teachers” (Pope Paul IV).

Be doers of the Words not hearers only.

Throughout the Bible, practicing the love, the words and the commandments of God has always been what pleases God. Jesus himself tells us that:

“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” (Mt7:21)

Saint James invites us to “be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22)

This clearly means faith without works is barren. It is dead.

In the first reading, Acts 9:26-31, relationships, messed-up personality. Remember “a house divided against itself cannot stand” (Mt 12:26).

Friends, we are Christians; let us have good hearts. Let us produce good actions! As Christians we must make good choices, do what faith and love do and faith will continue to grow in our lives.

Divine life invites us to be grafted into the true vine, the Source of life, Jesus Christ and abide in his word so that I can bear fruits. But sometimes even the devil uses the Bible. He might know the scriptures more than us. We must truly be Christians. Being Christian is not by word but life. We must know the Word, Jesus, and become what we hear and read everyday. When the Bible says, “ You will know the truth and the truth shall set you free”. Once we apply the truth of the word of Christ in our lives, there will be stability.

Once we truly know the word, we will no longer speak ill about anybody; we will no longer discriminate anyone because his or her origins, his or her culture. We must clearly make a difference between memorizing the Bible verses or claiming to be a Christian with our lips and knowing Jesus from our heart. Abiding in Jesus is to know his word from our heart - to love him from our heart because the word of God that we hear everyday is for our hearts. He says in Revelation 3: 20: “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I willcome in and eat with that person, and they with me.”

God stands at the door of your door of your heart so that he may enter in. The word of God is not for your head but for your heart. St James is very clear to us:

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:22)

Christianity is not a mere religion, but a way of life. Let us allow the power of the word penetrate our hearts as we come to Church every Sunday or everyday so that, we will no room for hatred, no room for gossips, no room discrimination, no room for jealousy, no room for envy, no room for false accusations. Because we abide in Jesus, the true vine, we will bear fruits of love, kindness, gentleness, goodness, compassion, mercy, forgiveness, peace, joy, unity and reconciliation.

We conclude with these words of one of the Catholic saints, “May God be your house and you God’s house. Dwell in God that God may dwell in you. God dwells in you to support you and you dwell in God in order not to fail. So, keep the commandment! Have charity!”

Happy Sunday!

Fr. Georges R. BIDZOGO SAC

The glory of Easter: Reaching out the homebound of our Parish! Our new perspectives.

When I came to Holy Redeemer in October 2023, I expressed my vision to the Parish Pastoral and finance Councils. Among other important things, I vowed to focus on “Family life” and missions. I even told Bishop Boyea, that

“Holy Redeemer is now a missionary Parish”

Aware that this first year is more of observing, learning and laying down the foundations of this vision, I believe that, so far, we are progressing step by step in doing so with your collaboration. Thanks to the Parish staff and the two Parish Councils. Thanks to every one of you as we learn to know each other better and to journey together. Thanks for your incredible love. Thanks to those who even supported me with prayer and financially assisted me to go back to Cameroon in order to bury my grandmother. Thanks to those who have already invited me to have an experience with their families. Thanks to those who continue to come over to the office just to know me better and to show their love and support to me as their Pastor. As I celebrated the feast day of St. George, I said a special prayer for each of you through his intercession!

As I just mentioned above, this year aims at laying down some important foundations and setting up a road-map for our Parish for the next few years. For Example, the time table of the Masses has now been clearly set up: having daily Masses, one healing Mass monthly, power hour adoration every Thursday, Divine Mercy prayer group, Heart to heart ministry, Grief support group, Divorce group, the CCW, the Knights of Columbus, the Men’s club, the youth, adult formation, Marriage desk, and our outreach, all these spiritual activities, find strong support and adherence in my heart and my actions. We need to first focus on building up our spiritual life; for the first and foremost role of the Parish is to proclaim the Gospel and to make authentic disciples. Jesus himself tells us:

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” (Mt 6:33)

Let us build on solid ground, the word of God, Jesus our Rock! (cf. Mt 7:24-27).

In order to keep, our Parish in line with our yearly budget, we will launch a stewardship campaign in September this year, while in October of this same year, we will have our Parish fundraiser, which we have baptized: “Harvest Weekend”. I will reach out to each of you about this at the appointed time as I did with the DSA. Thanks a million times for your dedication! In the perspective of reinforcing and expanding our missionary vision, we intend to strengthen our Holy Redeemer scholarship and outreach program (Collection every third of the month) by putting into it, a healing and restoration aspect. Thanks to Dcn. Omar and all volunteers in that beautiful and wonderful ministry! Thanks to the committee of parents working to help with tuition fees of students who benefit from Holy Redeemer Scholarship.

For the Divine Mercy Foundation, our aim this year is to finalize the building of an orphanage in Cameroon, helping poor children with tuition fees, and supporting the vocation promotion by raising funds for Pallottine seminarians to the priesthood. I will write a letter to you about this, as I would like this vocation promotion to take place on the weekend of 29th – 30th June, which is the anniversary of my priestly ordination. What a remembrance!

Now, coming back to homebound, sometimes those who are homebound are easily forgotten. I thought that I would start by visiting all of them to bring hope, love and the sacrament of the Eucharist to them. Since the month of February, I have visited 21 homebound parishioners, and this has been a powerful and joyful experience for me and for them. I was so touched by the visitation of Mr. Antonio Perez, who last saw the priest 4 years ago. This was an experience of the resurrection for him as well as for others. I was also amazed that most of them knew me by name and they were so excited. They were so happy to share with me their stories, where they are coming from, and how much they love God and the Catholic Church.

Most of them love to watch our Masses online and they would not like to miss it. The moment of tears was indeed the time of the reception of the Body of Christ. After receiving the Body of Christ, I could see tears running through their eyes. Christ in the Eucharist is indeed our true life. As I’m sharing this experience, which is transforming my life everyday, I would like to encourage you to visit a homebound or a fallen away parishioner and to give them love, and to bring them Jesus. I also encourage you to let the office know if there is any homebound around you or any whom you know. This opens me up to the second phase of our journey of strengthening the family ministries. I want to visit “your family”. Please just contact me whenever you think we can do so.

I'm writing these words to you in fulfillment of Jesus' mandate sending his disciples to the villages, cities and towns:

“Go! …Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.” (Mt 10:8)

Have a great Sunday,

Christ is risen, alleluia, alleluia!

Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO SAC

4th Sunday of Easter (Year B)

The Glory of Easter: Be a good Shepherd!

Acts 4:8-12; Ps. 118; John 6:11-18

The fourth Sunday of Easter is called “the Good Shepherd Sunday” which we read from the Gospel of John Chapter 10. We can hear Jesus himself speaking to us saying:

“I am the Good Shepherd. I know my sheep and they know me. They hear my voice and they follow. The Good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep”.

According to the Church's history, the early Christians had a special love for the image of Jesus as the Good shepherd. They usually put it everywhere: in their churches, homes, graves, catacombs, statues and mirrors because this image reminded the persecuted Christians that God is always with them. He loves, guides and cares for them especially in times of trials and persecution. This is the image of God’s providence who envelopes our lives.

Good shepherd image in the Old Testament

First of all God is the Shepherd who guides Israel (Genesis 48:15). The famous Psalm 23, Isaiah 40:11, along with Psalm 78:52 -53, and Psalm 80:1, portrays God as the provider, caregiver, the protector and deliverer against slavery, darkness, evil and death. Then, the Prophet Micah invites God to shepherd his people (Micah 7:14) as he is the Good shepherd. So all human rulers ought to become shepherds of the people modeled after their God, the Good shepherd.

Many prominent figures in the Old Testament were shepherds

We can recall Jacob shepherding

the flock of his father Isaac, then he became patriarch; Moses was tending the flock of his father

in-law, Jethrow at Mount Sinai. David was tending the flock of his father Jesse, and David became the great king of Israel. Amos was the shepherd of Tekoa and even the judges were called to shepherd the people. All these

shepherds of Israel pointed at one unique shepherd, Jesus Christ – The True Shepherd who is alluded by Ezekiel in 34.

“I myself will be the Shepherd of my people and also David, my servant”.

This is fulfilled by Jesus in John 10: “I’m the Good Shepherd”. Jesus is the true King, the True Leader, The True God made man, who enlightens, takes care, directs, feeds and leads the whole humanity to heaven.

Bad shepherd or hireling

During the history of the Old Testament, we discover that there were also bad shepherds, these include sinful kings and bad and corrupt leaders who were doing a terrible job at shepherding. The prophets such as Jeremiah (23; 25), Isaiah (56:9-12), Zachariah 11, Amos and Ezekiel 34 will often chastise them and call the entire universe to repentance. We all as Bishops, priests, parents, teachers, nurses, businessmen or women, students, politicians, civil servants, can become either good shepherds or hireling shepherds today depending on how we take up the responsibilities that are ours before God and before men. We can truly become good shepherds by imitation of Christ in words and deeds.

Remember, “The closer we are to the Shepherd, the safer we are from the wolves”

(Catholic Link quote).

Fr. Georges R. BIDZOGO sac

3rd Sunday of Easter Homily (Year B)

The Glory of Easter: Retell the story of the Lord

Acts 3:13-19; Ps 4; 1 John 2:1-5; Luke 24:35-48

On this third Sunday, Jesus comes to encounter us on our roads of life as he appears to two disciples of Emmaus (Luke 24:13-32). Often, we have moments of deception in our lives and we can make wrong decisions and fall away from the Church or from the right way. However, He always meets us on our journeys of life so that we may discover as Hugh of St. Victor wrote that,

“All sacred Scripture is but one book, and this one book is Christ!”

By sharing the word of God with the two disciples, our Lord insists on the importance of Scriptures in the life of the Church and in our individual lives. Saint Jerome confirms this when he tells us that

“Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ!”

Lost sheep, found on the way

The disciples of Emmaus, after the death of Jesus, were disappointed and decided to leave Jerusalem, the Church. By leaving Jerusalem, the disciples are the first “fallen away” Catholics and its offices. It happens sometimes that in our times of difficulties and troubles, we fall away from the Resurrected Christ, our King, from Mary, our Queen Mother, from the teaching of the Church and the Apostles, the first bishops. Our joy this Sunday is that the risen Christ always seeks the lost sheep (Luke 15) as he did with the two disciples of Emmaus. Let us pray for those of our family who have fallen away from the Church for years. Let us pray for ourselves that we may return to the Lord through the sacrament of confession and receive the Eucharist!

Breaking the bread

Luke tells us that in spite of journeying together for a long distance, the disciples did not recognize the Lord and maybe because their hearts were cloudy with sadness, hopelessness and lack of faith. It was only when the disciples opened the door of their heart (Revelation 3:20) and Jesus came to stay with them and revealed himself upon “breaking of the bread” (Luke 24:30–31), were they transformed and decided to go back to Jerusalem and retell the story of Jesus on the way to Emmaus.

Be a reporter of the Gospel

The story of the disciples of Emmaus helps to retell the story of Jesus. This makes us effective witnesses today. The story of Jesus is the greatest story ever told. We must share Jesus with others, in that way, we are spreading peace, joy, and healing even the doubts of unbelievers. Is this not an invitation to parents to keep telling the story of Jesus to their children? Instead of indulging in social media, maybe every evening, we may read a piece of the Bible to our children. A little story about what Jesus did. To our neighbors and surroundings, Jesus can become the topic of our discussions. Why can’t we announce the name of Jesus and his story at times and at counter times? Let us make it as viral as possible. St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:16

“Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me.”

Encounter with the Lord should transform us and make us effective witnesses for Christ. Day and night retell the story of the Lord. Like the two disciples on the road to Emmaus let us invite Jesus to stay with us!

Fr. Georges Bidzogo SAC

Divine Mercy Sunday (Year B)

The Glory of Easter: Divine Mercy, a gift of God for us for our salvation

Divine Mercy closes the octave of Easter

The Divine Mercy Sunday completes the octave of Easter. According to the Jewish people, whenever there was a big religious feast that could not be celebrated in one day, they would celebrate it in 8 days. As Catholics, we carry this tradition to celebrate Christmas and Easter. Of course, our biggest Octave is the Easter octave, which starts on Easter Sunday, that is the day our Lord opened the door to heaven. He wants to find us spotless in our wedding garment, that is our soul.

Jesus the bridegroom who takes us back to his Father’s house

It is important to note that (7) seven is the perfect number for the Jewish people, however, that is with regards time and creation. But when we speak of the Divine mercy Sunday, we speak of the (8) eighth day, which is a divine representation of eternity. Jesus is the bridegroom who will come back to take us as his bride to his Father’s house (John 14: 1-2). For us to enter eternity, we need to be cleansed of the stain of sin of our wedding garment, that is our soul.

“The bride must resemble the bridegroom”

Mercy as a response to sin. (Romans 6:23)

The word of God reminds us that the wage of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life. God's mercy is the antidote against the wage of sins and their consequences in our lives. We cannot enter heaven with sins. And even if the valid confession takes away our sins, the temporal punishment may remain, and this can still cause our souls to be punished in purgatory. No wonder, the Book of revelation tells us that

“Nothing impure will ever enter it (heaven)” (Rev. 21:27).

The Divine Mercy Sunday is a gift of God to the Church. For the Divine Mercy Sunday, Jesus gave this extraordinary promise to us:

“On that day, the soul that will go to confession and receive Holy communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment” (Diary 699).

Faustina wrote: “God’s mercy is stronger than our misery” (#1507)

Receiving plenary Indulgence on Divine mercy or any other time.

A plenary (meaning “full”) indulgence is a special type of indulgence that, if all the requirements are met, removes all temporal punishment due to one's sin. Receiving such indulgence can avoid one to pass through the purgatory. However, this demands total purification of heart and mind from impatience, ill thoughts, lust, gluttony, and daily struggle. This is quite difficult to achieve. Christians may obtain plenary indulgences by visiting the Blessed sacrament for adoration for thirty continuous minutes; devoutly participate in a Eucharist procession, especially on Corpus Christi or spend three entire days in retreat; Then go to confession, receive holy communion and pray for the intentions of the Holy Father.

On Divine mercy Sunday, which St. Augustine considers as the compendium of the days of mercy, we are advised to go to confession before or on the same day; then receive communion in a state of grace. The main purpose of the Divine mercy Sunday is the forgiveness of our sins and our readiness to welcome back our Lord anytime he comes back for us. This is a day whereby our souls are cleansed again purely just as they were on the day of our baptism. However, remember how important your conversion is for the future. Please calmly say the following prayer as all grace flows from mercy.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on me, a poor sinner. Jesus, you promised St. Faustina that, the soul who has been to confession and (I have been) the soul that receives Holy Communion (I just did), will receive complete forgiveness of all sins and punishment. O please give me this grace. Amen.

Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO SAC

Easter Sunday Homily

The Glory of Easter: Clothed with God’s power and glory

Acts 10:34 a, 37-43; PS. 117; Col. 3:1-4; John 20:1-9

Christ is risen, alleluia, alleluia!

We celebrate today the day of the resurrection of Christ!

Christ is alive! His victory over death is our victory too! How can we understand this?

On Holy Thursday, the Lord removed his outer garment (John 13:1-5) On Good Friday, the Lord was stripped of his garment (Mt. 27:34-35). On Sunday morning, they did not find the body of the Lord in the tomb (Luke 24:3). The linen was nicely folded and the burial cloth, or the napkin or the handkerchief (John 20:7) was folded and separate from the rest of his grave clothes. This certainly suggests to us that the person who was dead on Friday afternoon is alive and he will return. What can we understand about this symbolism of the removing and stripping of the grave clothes, and the folding of the napkin? The Gospel of John tells us that, The Apostles Peter and John and entered the tomb, saw all this and they believed.

Symbolism of the linen as a clue to understand the resurrection

The risen Lord leaving his burial linen and even his face-cloth folded separate from other burial clothes could suggest at least three meanings.

The Risen Lord is the Eternal Priest who perfectly atones our sins

Centuries earlier in the Old Testament, only the high priest entered the temple, the Holy of Holies once a year to offer sacrifice in atonement for the sins of the people. (Hebrews 9:7) After the blood is poured, there is a belief that the atonement is completed. Then the priest removes his outer garment inside the temple or inside the holy of Holies. So when the risen Lord removed the burial clothes and the napkin that covered his face, he made the tomb the new temple; he made himself, the Eternal Priest, therefore, we need not offer anything else for the atonement of our sins; it has been completed. The sign of the completeness of this atonement is that, the Lord, our eternal priest, leaves behind him, all the burial clothes. The declaration: It is finished on Good Friday only refers to the completion of the Lord’s obedience to his Father, but the completeness and perfection of our salvation is the resurrection of Christ. Christ's resurrection is for my salvation!

The Linen as an evidence of the resurrection as opposed to the allegation of the stolen body

According to the Gospel of Matthew 28:12-15, the elders having received the reports of the soldiers, they concocted a lie with them

“You must say that Jesus' body was stolen by his disciples while we were asleep”.

The folded linen, and the folded face-cloth separated from other clothes are signs that the body was not stolen. The one who used the linen folded them peacefully, calmly, with confidence because he was not in a hurry. He was now living in a timeless time. He was now living eternally. Through his resurrection, you too live eternally and timelessly!

Christ now clothed with glory and power not clothes sewn by human hands

The perfection of the atonement is perfectly completed and there is no proof of the stolen body which stands. Christ is no longer going to need clothes made by human hands, he is now clothed with the glory and the power of God. He will not be naked anymore; he will not be stripped anymore. No one can strip us from the glory of God.

Yes, the resurrection is our last stage when the Lord will finalize the atonement of each and every one of our sins. Then we too will be clothed not by any human attire, not by any money, but by God himself; we will be clothed by his love and by his mercy. So my final question to you, is what are you wearing now? Is it simply clothes made by human hands? It is time to ask God to clothe you with his power and glory as he did to Jesus.

Happy Easter!

Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO sac.

Easter Vigil Homily

The Glory of Easter: Easter Vigil (Mark 16:1-7)

Alleluia. The stone is rolled away!

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, Alleluia. Blessed Easter and happy Easter to all God’s children as we celebrate the Holy night of our salvation. I’m grateful to celebrate for the first time this sacred night with you. I would like to greet those who are connected with us and who are watching online and all our visitors, Alleluia. I greet those who are going to come to full communion with the Holy Catholic Church tonight. Alleluia. Those who are going to be baptized and confirmed, then receive the first Holy Communion with the song of Easter, alleluia. To the children and the youth, we greet you with the great song of Easter, Halleluiah… It is a great joy to the whole Church and us, tonight to celebrate our God’s story of infinite love for us. We celebrate tonight the victory of love over hatred; victory of life over and light over the darkness.

After all the long readings of tonight, the bottom line is that, in spite of the chaos, and the disobedience of man, God does not give up on us; He does not abandon us. He redeems, restores, and makes whole whatever is broken in us. We celebrate God’s persistent love for us. It is the God who rolls away the stones.

Rolling away the stone!

As a true man, Jesus truly died.

“Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last” (Mark 15:37)

and he was buried in a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid (John 41-42). Jesus' death was real and he was indeed buried as the custom of that time, they rolled a stone of 4000 pounds at the entrance of his tomb which was sealed with the Roman imperial seals of the procurator himself. We understand now that for the Pharisees and the chief priests, the stones were not only part of the ritual, they wanted to be sure that Jesus would remain there in the tomb. Henceforth, besides the stones they also added 30 of their best Roman guards (Mt. 27:65) to prevent Jesus from coming out of the tomb. They wanted him to remain dead even though they knew, He prophesied that on the third day, he will rise again. There are things that you may want to die. There are situations that keep you captive or in bondage. With Christ. your stone has been rolled away! But Jesus is absent!

Jesus is absent!

Brothers and sisters, the discovery of the physical absence of Jesus in the tomb (Empty tomb) (Luke 24:1-9 is proof that Jesus' resurrection is a historical reality. The women Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Salome while they were on their way to anoint the body of Jesus, found that the large stone was rolled away. Jesus was absent from the tomb but they only saw a young man, dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, a sign that Jesus had conquered death. Jesus is no more to be found in the tomb. The one Alive is no more among the death. No stone, no guard, no power, no amount of darkness of the tomb, no hatred of his enemies, could stop him.

Who will roll the stones of my life?

The women in the Gospel were asking the same question, but the answer was just before their eyes. “It is God”, All-powerful and Almighty. He rolls the stone so that the light of Christ may come into our existence and be our life and guide.

Paul understands this when exclaims:

“Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting? The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

(1 Cor. 15:55-57).

Death is swallowed in Christ’s victory

With the resurrection of Christ, our deaths have been swallowed into Christ victory. The power of this world has been defeated (John 16:33) the stones of discouragement and hopelessness have been defeated by the Savior. No addiction, no oppression, no disease, and no sickness shall threaten us anymore. Satan and his angels are now under Christ’s dominion. They may attack you, but he will not overcome you. The early morning is indeed a sign of a new day; of a new beginning, where every stone that has been put in your way, has been taken away! This night is the mark of the dawning of a new life in our families, in our parishes, and our world!

Dear brothers and sisters, Jesus is coming out of the tomb for you and for our world, let’s not block his way. But let’s go out and meet him; he is our life, our light. Do not be afraid, he is the Rock of our salvation and no rock can block his coming; no rock can block God’s plan for humanity!

Happy Easter, Christ is risen, Alleluia!

Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO sac.

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