For many Christians around the world, the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God- Theotokos in Greek (God bearer)—may not be well known because of the secular focus on the celebrations surrounding the New Year. In fact, during the many years I lived in my home country, Nigeria, we always celebrated the New Year beginning with a vigil Mass and then the Mass of…
If one were to pose the following question to Christians around the world, what is the place of ambition in the Christian understanding of the incarnation? I can bet you that the response would be the same. Their typical responses would be that ambition is a negative thing and cannot be used to speak of the gift of the incarnation.…
As I read the texts for Christmas Mass, I am drawn to pay attention to two important motifs; one has to do with the motif of mountains and its ethical summons. The other has to do with the incarnation as an event that summons us to embody an ethics of neighborliness. In this brief reflection, I will weave these two…
The readings for the fourth Sunday of Advent are saturated with important pastoral and theological themes that can benefit our contemporary world and church as well. In this short reflection, I focus solely on the Matthean pericope (1:18-24). That said, most churchgoers would not consider Saint Joseph to be the one they ponder the mystery of Advent. After all, the…
Living with a Siberian Husky, one is forced to study its behavior. Among its many eccentric ways of communicating and showing that it is attentive to its surroundings is its vivid way of trying to focus on what stimulates its senses. Its head and eyes move from one object to another as though it has an existential obligation to grasp…
I’m not sure he still remembers my name.I have wandered too far from the flock.How is it that you tell meThe One who once bore my sinIs out there somewhere, searching for me? That, my dear, I cannot believe. The prodigal son—he rememberedEven in his lowest moment,The long and lonely road back to his father’s house.But me? I don’t know…
You ask me why my smile is so bright.My dear brother, it all began last Thursday.When I fell on my knees, burdened with guilt,The yoke of my transgressions leaning on my shoulders.And then began my creed: Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned. Gradually, as I laid bare my sins,Slowly I felt the shackles fall off my soul.And I, who…