7 Lessons of Easter
1. There is limit to what the evil one can do but God does the impossible. Satan thought that the worst he could do was to kill Jesus, but God raised him to new life, a life that has no limit anymore. A life that is invincible, beyond the reach of all harm. The worst that evil can do is just the beginning of great things God will do in our lives. God will place you where the devil can no more have access to you.
2. Whatever pain and anguish we go through, there will be a third day experience. God can change our stories when we place our trust in him. At night there are tears but joy comes with dawn. He will turn the tomb of defeat and tears the enemy has placed us into a womb of joy and greatness.
3. God cannot be out done in showing mercy. What is worse than killing the only son of God in such a cruel manner? yet God forgives. No sin is greater than God's mercy.
4. The risen Lord does not dwell in the past. He does not call to mind how he was abandoned, betrayed, falsely accused. He wants to start a fresh with everyone. We are new creatures in Christ. Old things have passed away... Let's bury past hurts in his tomb drawing strength from the risen Christ to start a new.
5. Faithfulness will be rewarded. Mary Magdalene was the first to see the ressurected Jesus and be commissioned to witness to the risen Lord, she became an apostle to the apostles, because even in death he did not abandon Jesus. She loved Jesus beyond death.
6. The risen Lord goes in search of his apostles. God always takes the initiative to restore us to himself. Let's be at the forefront of working for peace and reconciliation.
7. The risen Lord restores faith. He patiently brings his apostles back to faith in him. Is your faith weak? Are you faltering? Christ does not condemn you, he has come to restore you to faith.
🙇♀As we contemplate the risen Christ, may the new life he brings flourish in us. Amen. Happy Easter beloved in Christ.
Sunday, April 21, 2019
Thursday, April 18, 2019
Fr. Patrick Etuk, MSP - Homily Holy Thursday, April 18, 2019
“If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another's feet.” Jn.13:1-15.
The message of Jesus was so compelling and has continued to fire many imaginations because he taught what he was already living out. A picture is often worth more than a thousand words. He practiced what he preached. He taught his disciples how to pray because he was a man of deep prayer. When he asked his disciples to trust in providence they believed him because, the Son of man himself had no where to lay his head. Yet he was never stranded. It was not difficult for his disciples to understand his message of self denial because our Lord himself lived a life of renunciation. No show of affluence or vanity. When he taught them to forgive he will forgive those who took his life with so much cruelty. When he taught them the power of humble service, he stooped low to wash their dirty smelly feet. He spoke with authority because everything he asked of us he was already living it out . They knew him more as a witness than a teacher. This is the missing link in our preaching today- the force of personal witness. This explains often why our message does not move hearts because they don't come from our personal experience, mere lip service.
🙇♀Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make our hearts like thine. Amen.
The message of Jesus was so compelling and has continued to fire many imaginations because he taught what he was already living out. A picture is often worth more than a thousand words. He practiced what he preached. He taught his disciples how to pray because he was a man of deep prayer. When he asked his disciples to trust in providence they believed him because, the Son of man himself had no where to lay his head. Yet he was never stranded. It was not difficult for his disciples to understand his message of self denial because our Lord himself lived a life of renunciation. No show of affluence or vanity. When he taught them to forgive he will forgive those who took his life with so much cruelty. When he taught them the power of humble service, he stooped low to wash their dirty smelly feet. He spoke with authority because everything he asked of us he was already living it out . They knew him more as a witness than a teacher. This is the missing link in our preaching today- the force of personal witness. This explains often why our message does not move hearts because they don't come from our personal experience, mere lip service.
🙇♀Jesus, meek and humble of heart, make our hearts like thine. Amen.
Friday, March 15, 2019
Fr Patrick Etuk, MSP - Homily Friday, March 15, 2019
"Do I take any pleasure in the death of the wicked? declares the Sovereign LORD. Rather, am I not pleased when they turn from their ways and live?" Ezekiel 18:23.
🗣It is ungodly to wish evil to the wicked even when they persist in wrong doing. God delights in their conversion and restoration and we are called to do likewise. Spend time today to pray for people who are far away from God. This surely gladens the heart of our maker 🙇♀Jesus meek and humble of heart, make my heart like yours. Amen
🗣It is ungodly to wish evil to the wicked even when they persist in wrong doing. God delights in their conversion and restoration and we are called to do likewise. Spend time today to pray for people who are far away from God. This surely gladens the heart of our maker 🙇♀Jesus meek and humble of heart, make my heart like yours. Amen
Thursday, March 14, 2019
Fr Patrick Etuk, MSP - Homily Thursday, March 14, 2019
"For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Mt.7:8
🗣Nothing should ever impede us from praying. Do you lack faith? How will you have faith if you don't pray often? In talking to God and listening to him often our faith grows stronger. Are you living in grave sin? How will you overcome if don't cry out to God for mercy and help often? Pray constantly. Be not discouraged no matter what you are facing. He will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory. Amen. Shalom.
🗣Nothing should ever impede us from praying. Do you lack faith? How will you have faith if you don't pray often? In talking to God and listening to him often our faith grows stronger. Are you living in grave sin? How will you overcome if don't cry out to God for mercy and help often? Pray constantly. Be not discouraged no matter what you are facing. He will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory. Amen. Shalom.
Wednesday, March 13, 2019
Fr Patrick Etuk, MSP - Homily wednesday, March 13, 2019
"When God saw by their actions how they turned from their evil way, he repented of the evil he had threatened to do to them; he did not carry it out." (Jonah 3: 10).
🗣Every sincere effort to repent and turn from evil will not go unnoticed and unrewarded by God. His anger lasts for a moment but his favor all through life. No matter what our past have been, when we make sincere efforts to repent God remembers our sins no more. This is the good news of our faith. Shalom .
🙇♀Give me again the joy of your help. With a Spirit of fervor sustain me O God. Amen.
🗣Every sincere effort to repent and turn from evil will not go unnoticed and unrewarded by God. His anger lasts for a moment but his favor all through life. No matter what our past have been, when we make sincere efforts to repent God remembers our sins no more. This is the good news of our faith. Shalom .
🙇♀Give me again the joy of your help. With a Spirit of fervor sustain me O God. Amen.
Tuesday, March 12, 2019
Fr Patrick Etuk, MSP - Homily Tuesday, March 12, 2019
Your Father knows what you need before you ask him." (Matthew 6: 8).
In the prayer that Jesus thought us we have one of the most comforting and reassuring scriptures. It tells us that the God we pray to is not a task master but a loving father, our daddy. He is ever willing to hear us. He is more than able to do what our hearts truly yearns for.
He has the means to satisfy every desire of our heart. Prayer makes us willing and able to do his will. He answers us not because of who we are but because of who He is, a compassionate God.
This should make us eager and confident to come into his presence. The psamist says. "But I through the greatness of your love have access to your house... " Ps. 5:7
🙇♀Jesus, I trust in you. Amen.
In the prayer that Jesus thought us we have one of the most comforting and reassuring scriptures. It tells us that the God we pray to is not a task master but a loving father, our daddy. He is ever willing to hear us. He is more than able to do what our hearts truly yearns for.
He has the means to satisfy every desire of our heart. Prayer makes us willing and able to do his will. He answers us not because of who we are but because of who He is, a compassionate God.
This should make us eager and confident to come into his presence. The psamist says. "But I through the greatness of your love have access to your house... " Ps. 5:7
🙇♀Jesus, I trust in you. Amen.
Saturday, March 9, 2019
Fr Patrick Etuk, MSP - Homily Saturday, March 9, 2019
"Jesus saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post.
He said to him, "Follow me."
And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him."
Lk 5:27ff
🗣Mathew was a public sinner, hated by many and often treated as an outcast, a sold out. Yet the ill treatment he received from people hardened his heart the more. However, just one tender loving gaze from Jesus made a huge difference in his life. It is only true love that can melt hardened hearts. It is the warmth of God's Love that can set our hearts on fire for his good purpose, regardless of what our past have been. Jesus loves you unconditionally as he loved Mathew the public sinner. When we open our hearts to his love, he set us on fire for his kingdom transforming us radically from the inside. Drink of that love this morning. Feel his loving gaze on you. It is the medicine you desperately need for your soul.
🙇♀Jesus I trust in you. I am delivered, I am set free. Your goodness follows me. Your love accompanies and accomplishes great things in me. I can love because I am loved unconditionally. Amen.
He said to him, "Follow me."
And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him."
Lk 5:27ff
🗣Mathew was a public sinner, hated by many and often treated as an outcast, a sold out. Yet the ill treatment he received from people hardened his heart the more. However, just one tender loving gaze from Jesus made a huge difference in his life. It is only true love that can melt hardened hearts. It is the warmth of God's Love that can set our hearts on fire for his good purpose, regardless of what our past have been. Jesus loves you unconditionally as he loved Mathew the public sinner. When we open our hearts to his love, he set us on fire for his kingdom transforming us radically from the inside. Drink of that love this morning. Feel his loving gaze on you. It is the medicine you desperately need for your soul.
🙇♀Jesus I trust in you. I am delivered, I am set free. Your goodness follows me. Your love accompanies and accomplishes great things in me. I can love because I am loved unconditionally. Amen.
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