“He chose us before the foundation of the world”!

Living the Gospel this week. Ephesians 1: 3-14

This week we can focus on how we respond to God’s love for us. “He chose us before the foundation of the world”!

The truth is that we are chosen, redeemed, even sealed with the Holy Spirit. We are blessed with spiritual riches. Think of the blessings of God!

Let‘s live a holy life and share God’s love with others!

Dear friends in Christ, our mission is to heed God’s call to us, to know him, love, serve him, and trust fully his guidance so that we may become holy.

Loving Father in heaven, I pray for the grace to hear your call to bring love and peace into the world. Lord, give me your courage. Come Holy Spirit!

Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO SAC

“Is it not the carpenter, the son of May…?”

Living the Gospel this week. “Is it not the carpenter, the son of May…?”

Beware of the danger of familiarity

We focus this week on this sentence from the Gospel of Mark 6: 1-6. Jesus was born in Nazareth and being close to them brought familiarity and they could not take him with consideration. Jesus could perform miracles there and he was astonished at their unbelief.

1)     Beware of neglecting whatever is closer to you… Your parents, your children, your spouse, your Pastor, your staff, your colleagues at work. Anything you cannot pay for, is God’s gift to you.

2)     Beware of neglecting the power in the Eucharist because of our familiarity with it. As we are reminded by Mark Twain: “Familiarity breeds contempt and children”

3)     Faith and Healing: Jesus is only able to heal a few sick people in Nazareth because of their unbelief. Do I have faith in God’s power to heal and help us?

"In faith, there is enough light for those who want to believe and enough shadows to blind those who don't." — Blaise Pascal.

Payer: Lord increase our Faith!

Rev. Fr. Georges R. BIDZOGO SAC

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32)

Living the Gospel this week.

“Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32)

      Compassion

Jesus reveals his compassion to the woman and to the synagogue’s official. Jesus is caring and concerned about those who seek him in faith. He stops what he's doing to acknowledge the woman's faith and heal her instantly. Think of Jesus stopping everything he is doing to focus on you this week.

Spiritual salvation

The woman was instantly "healed" or "saved". This indicates that she also received spiritual salvation. Jesus wants us to be restored to a right relationship with God for eternity, not just physical healing.

Let us pray with the words of St Paul: “Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.” (1 Thessalonians 5:23.)

Happy Sunday 13th Sunday! Happy priestly anniversary to Fr. Gee!!!

Turning to God in Prayer

Living the Gospel this week: Turning to God in Prayer

The book of Job says: “Surrender your heart to God, turn to him in prayer…” (Job 11: 13-19)

In our daily lives, we might feel afraid or lost, despair, threatened by the storms of life. Let’s turn to God in prayer. When the disciples felt threatened by the outrage of the sea and the heavy storm, they cried to Jesus. Just as they did, we can cry out to Him too. He hears us and will help us. With the letter to the Hebrews, "So we may boldly say: “The LORD is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?” (Hebrews 13:6)

Let us remember that Jesus is always with us, even in the most difficult moments of our lives. He is our peace and our strength. By trusting in Him, we find the courage to face any challenge. (Psalm 119:71)

Prayer

The Holy Mother of God helps me to trust in the power and love the love of God as you did. Dear Mother, when we face the storms of life, teach us and help us to know that you are with us. Holy Spirit our Comforter, help us to deal with our fears, and give us your peace. Help us to live as new creations in Christ (2Corinthians 5:17) showing your love to others. Amen.

Fr. Georges R. BIDZOGO SAC

The mystery of the growth of the Seed

Living the Gospel this week. The mystery of the growth of the Seed

 “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness” Colossians 2:6-76

1)     Trusting on unseen processes and having faith that things will get better. Lord, God help me, to let go of my plans and give myself with confidence into your loving arms.  

2)     We need patience. Growth is a gradual process. Teach me how to be patient, Lord.

3)     God’s Kingdom grows unseen. It might not be visible but it is powerful and transformative. May your grace transform my life, Lord, day after day!

4)     Faith is our mustard seed. Even though our faith feels small, may we influence the lives of others positively beyond their expectations!

“Who are my mother and my brothers?” (Mark 3:33)

Living the Gospel this Week

“Who are my mother and my brothers?” (Mark 3:33)

Jesus redefines family. We are bound by faith and not by Blood ties. Jesus wants us to transcend ourselves from purely human to always seek the will of God. “Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said,

“Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mark 3:34-35)

Let us show respect and love to Mary, the mother of Jesus and our mother this week by visiting a grotto, and saying a rosary for the family! (Luke 2:51)

Let us ask the Holy Spirit to help us in becoming a citizen of the broader family, the Church. We are citizen of the new Kingdom; the kingdom of Christ!

Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO SAC

“Staying with the Lord” Mt 26:40

Living the Gospel this Week “Staying with the Lord”

Mt 26:40

I recall Jesus awakening Peter and asking him a very serious question:

“Could you not stay awake with me for even one hour?”

(Mt. 26:40)

1) Pray with the psalms of your choice: praise, thanksgiving, repentance or wisdom.

2) Meditate on the “our Father”

3) Use the scriptures for the life of saints: Therese of Lisieux, Catherine of Siena, Francis of Assisi, Thomas Aquinas, Peter Julian Eymard, Dorothy Day, Mother Teresa of Kolkata. You may read any of them and their prayer before the blessed sacrament.

4) Be silent and listen to Him.

O Sacrament most holy, o sacrament Divine. All praise and all thanksgiving be every moment thine!

Have a wonderful week!

Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO SAC

“That they may be One” (John 17: 21-23)

Living the Gospel this week:

“That they may be One” (John 17: 21-23)

Jesus prayed for unity for unity. Please read John 17 through this week.

What are the causes of divisions in your family? Pray that the Holy Spirit may help you become a parable of truth, unity, communion and reconciliation!

Prayer:

O my God, Trinity whom I adore, let me entirely forget myself that I may abide in you, still and peaceful as if my soul were already in eternity; let nothing disturb my peace nor separate me from you, O my unchanging God, but that each moment may take me further into the depths of your mystery! Pacify my soul (Elizabeth of the Trinity)

Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO SAC

Hearing the voice of the Holy Spirit this week

In the Book of Revelation 2:7a, the word of says: “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

In a world filled with so many voices, the voice of our own mind, the voices of social media, the voices of various ideologies, the voices of friends. The truth is that God is talking to us but Satan is also talking to us. Let's be people who are able to sort out the voice of the Holy Spirit from all the competing voices.

1) Prayer is the first important step, our gateway to realize God’s presence (Psalm 100)

2) Attending group adoration of the Blessed Sacrament or personal adoration in the Chapel (John 10:4-5)

3) Use the word of God as to confirm the truth of the presence of the Holy Spirit (John 10:27)

4) Praying for repentance and asking God to reveal areas of weakness (Psalm 66:18)

5) Forgiveness enables our hearts to embrace the Holy Spirit (Mt. 5:7)

Prayer: Open my heart, O Holy Spirit to welcome you. Come Holy Spirit and fill my heart!

Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO sac

How can I imitate Jesus’ ascension week?

“seek the things that are above,” Col 3:2)

Our culture has become so focused on material, waste, pleasures and consumerism. How can I imitate Jesus’ ascension week?

Pray for the spirit of detachment... Pray to rise from the sin of greed, earthly ambitions. 

Think of the beauty of rising and being united with Jesus, Mary and the saints. 

Mary, please teach me to detach myself from earthly pleasures. Come Holy Spirit!

Fr. Georges Roger BIDZOGO sac

What response do I give to the invitation of Jesus to love as he loves?

What response do I give to the invitation of Jesus to love as he loves?

Jesus is very clear to us:

“Love one another as I have loved you” (John 15:12). How can I become a loving person?

Praying for gift of love (Luke 6:28)

Have you ever prayed for the gift of love, mercy and compassion? Lord make me a loving person. Pray especially this for someone you might not like or love enough or your enemy.

Selfless spirit (John 15:13)

In today’s gospel, Jesus tells us: “There is no greater love than this: that a person would lay down his life for the sake of his friends.”

Do something for another person whether big or small without expecting anything in return, not even a thank you.

Be merciful (Luke 6:36-42)

There is no love without mercy. Forgiveness and compassion are the true expression of love. Take a day to pray for forgiveness and do it concretely. Do you promise to forgive every time just as you say when you pray to Our Father?

Sharing of Time, Talent and Treasure (Acts 20:35)

“There is more joy in giving than in receiving” (Acts 20:35). No love without giving. Be a good steward of your Time, Talent and Treasure this week. Open your eyes around you beginning with your own family!

Be an evangelizer (Mark 16:15)

The Gospel is the love of Christ. Let’s share Christ's joy with others by sharing the Gospel with them.

“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)

Have a fruitful Week ahead

Rev. Fr. Georges R. BIDZOGO SAC

How can we practice remaining in Jesus?

How can we practice remaining in Jesus?

“Remain in me, as I remain in you.”

(John 15:4)

Dwelling in Jesus must become our goal so that Jesus can become our home. For this week here are some suggestions.

1. Examination: At the end of each day take a brief inventory and ask yourself some questions: “Was Jesus present in my life today?” “Where was I remaining throughout this day?” – If you sense fear, anxiety, shame, anger, self-ambition, bitterness, then you need to understand that you were far away from him. You did not invite him enough or at all. However, thank Jesus for his love and his desire to abide in you! Say a prayer to the Holy Spirit.

2. Listening: Remember Jesus is knocking at the door of your heart. He desires to be with you everywhere you go (Rev 3:20). Talk to Jesus in the beginning of your day and ask him, “What do you want to say to me?” Invoke the Holy Spirit and then listen to Jesus. Stay still for 5-10 minutes and abide in Jesus.

3. Gratitude: Practice this every day to thank God for everything; I say everything, even the littlest things. God is in every aspect of our lives. St. Vincent Pallotti, advises us to seek God in everything and we will find God in everything. Please sing or say the Magnificent (Luke 1:46-55).

Finally, the fecundity of our Christian life depends on how much we truly abide in Jesus for everything we do or say flows from this intimate and powerful relationship.

“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing.” (John 15:5)

Fr. Georges R. BIDZOGO SAC