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New Year with Mary, Mother of God: Homily (Reflection) for the Octave of Christmas: Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (A, B, C) (1st January, 2016)

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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: large;">Homily (Reflection) for
the Octave of Christmas: Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (A, B, C) (1</span><sup><span style="font-size: small;">st</span></sup><span style="font-size: large;">
January, 2016)<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Num
6:22-27;</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Ps
66:2-3.5.6.8 (R. v. 2)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Gal
4:4-7;</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 2:16-21</b>.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">As we step into 2016,
there is need to appraise the year 2015 to see to what extent one was able to
actualize his/her dreams (resolutions) among other things. Are there reasons to
thank God for? Bearing in mind the problems we face in the world, where do we run
to because our leaders seem to be more confused than the people they lead? </span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Topic: New Year with Mary, Mother of God. <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The title of the solemnity we celebrate was
declared as an article of faith in 431AD by the Council of Ephesus and is among
the titles of Mary that have generated so much controversy. I do not intend to
go into the controversy in this homily. But suffice it to say that unless one
doubts the divinity of Christ, one cannot doubt the divine maternity of Mary.
If Jesus Christ is God and Mary is the mother of Jesus, we cannot but conclude that
Mary is mother of God. Hence, she is rightly called the <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i><span style="color: #181818; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">theotokos</span></i></b><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #181818; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> </span></b><span style="color: #181818; mso-bidi-font-style: italic; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">meaning God’s bearer that was first expressed
in the bible by Saint Elizabeth in these words: “And why has this happened to
me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me? (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 1:43</b>). The first letter of Saint John reads: “By this you know
the Spirit of God: every spirit which confesses that Jesus Christ has come in
the flesh is of God” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Jn 4:2</b>). No one
who denies the divine maternity of Mary can be said to be truly a Christian
because it is another way of denying that Jesus is God. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Being all-powerful and all-knowing,
God could have saved us without the incarnation of Jesus Christ. Yet out of limitless
options, the Word took fresh in the womb of the Blessed Virgin Mary to live
among us, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 1:14</b>. This, he
planned from the time of our first parents, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Gen. 3:15</b> and was fulfilled at the appropriate time, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Gal 4:4</b>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The sin of Adam and Eve destroyed
the relationship with God that man was enjoying and as a result was thrown out
of the presence of God who is light, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Jn
1:5</b>. And the world remained in darkness until the coming of Jesus Christ,
the light of the world, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 8:12</b>.
Jesus took flesh “to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow
of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace" (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 1:79, cf. Is 9:2</b>). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">The situation of the world today no
doubt is both precarious and confusing one. We need God who is both the light
and the source of light. It will be good if we step into the New Year with
Mary, the Mother of God who is God’s best channel. Let us call unto her for
peace and security in the whole world. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Today’s gospel reads: “The shepherds
returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it
had been told them.” <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 2:20</b>. If we turn
to God through Mary with sincere hearts, like the shepherds, we will have every
cause to glorify and praise God for what God has done and for all he will do in
the world through her. She is the mother of God. The world really needs her maternal
protection. Borrowing some words from the Blessed Apostle: “See to it that no
one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human
tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the universe, and not
according to Christ” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Col 2:8</b>).
Jesus Christ is God and we know that God cannot contradict Himself, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ps 31:5, 1Cor 1:9, 2Cor 1:18</b>. God who
asks us to honour our parents, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ex
20:12; Deut 5:16; Matt 15:4; Matt 19:19; Mk 7:10</b> will not despise His own
mother. Hence despite the fact that His time had not reached to perform miracle
He obeyed her at the wedding feast at Cana in Galilee, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 2:1-12</b>. Again, when they found him in the temple, “... he went
down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 2:51</b>). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Stepping into New Year normally goes
with setting of goals or targets for the year. Although for some, it is useless
to do so. But it is a good thing to make resolutions because anyone without aim
is aimless and anyone who does not plan how to succeed plans how to fail. Some
of us however have the problem of setting unworkable goals. Let us follow the
example of Mary while making the New Year resolutions. “… Mary … pondered them
in her heart.” <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk. 2: 19</b>, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk. 2: 51</b>. Ponder on the goal/goals you
are setting for yourself. Again, do not set so many of them; the fewer, the
better. Finally, take pains and write them down. Keep it where you will be
seeing it from time to time. It will help you to know how you move. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Bible
Reading</span></b><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">: Gen. 3: 1-15; </span>Gal. 4:4-7; Jn 1:1-34; 2:1-12;
1Jn 4:1-21.<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Silent Prayer:</span></b><span style="mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> Plan the year 2016 with </span>God
following the example of Mary.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Let
us humbly call on Mary: The Memorare</b>: </span></span></div>
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Remember
O most gracious Virgin Mary,<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">that
never was it known,<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">that
anyone who fled to thy protection,<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">implored
thy aid or sought thy intercession, was left unaided.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Inspired
by this confidence,<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">I
fly unto thee O Virgin of virgins, my mother,<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">to
thee I come, before thee I stand,<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">sinful
and sorrowful, O mother of the Word incarnate,<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">despise
not my petitions but in thy mercy, hear and answer me. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Amen</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">May the newborn King through the
intercession of His mother and our mother (cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 19:26-27</b>), Blessed Virgin Mary, bless the year 2016 and the rest
of our days for us <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">+ AMEN!</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: large;">Wishing you grace-filled New Year</span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dear
child of God, <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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New Year with Mary, Mother of God: Homily (Reflection) for the Octave of Christmas: Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (A, B, C) (1st January, 2016)

Homily (Reflection) for the Octave of Christmas: Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God (A, B, C) (1 st January, 2016) Num 6:22-27; Ps...

The Word was made flesh: Homily (Reflection) for the Seventh day in the Octave of Christmas (31st December, 2015)

Unknown 0 Weekday Homilies 02:21

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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Homily (Reflection) for the Seventh day in the Octave of Christmas (31<sup>st</sup>
December, 2015)</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1Jn 2:18-21;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ps 95:1-2.11-13. (R. v. 11)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Jn 1:1-18</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Topic: The Word was made flesh</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today is the Seventh day in the Octave of Christmas. And today’s
gospel explains to us a little the mystery of incarnation. Christ has come in
human likeness and is now living among us, His creatures in the form of slave, cf.
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 1:14; Phil 2:7</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">These and many more notwithstanding, many do not see this
period beyond the time for vacation, shopping, and so on. For these Christ has
no place in Christmas. Hence the gospel reads: “He was in the world, and the
world came into being through him; yet the world did know him. He came to what
was his own, and his own people did not accept him” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 1:10-11</b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We must not lose sight of the fact that all we enjoy are gifts
we received from Him, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 1:16; 1Cor
4:7</b>. It is wrong to take a gift and reject the giver.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The gospel reads further: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">...to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave
power to become children of God, who were born, not of blood or of the will of
the flesh or of the will of man, but of God (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Jn 1:12-13</b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">As we enjoy this season, it is important to remember that God
has given us his only Son. Whoever wants to benefit from this must receive Him as
he or she should. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Bible Reading</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">: Phil 2:3-11.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Thought for today:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> Do you </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">receive the gift of Jesus Christ</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Let us pray:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> God help us to receive your Son and
may we also believe in Him – Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dear child of God, <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Help to increase the number of God’s children by <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">SHARING </b>our reflections with all your
friends and by <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">RECOMMENDING</b> them to
Google if they worth it. We also need your <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">comments</b>
to help us know how we are doing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And we plead with you to continue to
reflect with us daily on any of these media:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God bless you+</span>

The Word was made flesh: Homily (Reflection) for the Seventh day in the Octave of Christmas (31st December, 2015)

Homily (Reflection) for the Seventh day in the Octave of Christmas (31 st December, 2015) 1Jn 2:18-21; Ps 95:1-2.11-13. (R. v. 11) J...

Anna’s worship: Homily (Reflection) for the Sixth day in the Octave of Christmas (30th December, 2015)

Unknown 0 Weekday Homilies 01:45

<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Homily (Reflection) for the Sixth day in the Octave of Christmas (30<sup>th</sup>
December, 2015)</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1Jn 2:12-17;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ps 95:7-10. (R. v. 11)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Lk 2:36-40</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizHdZmHl4Pka_V5PS_shfurN40LPFULcWbj4rUU9Sxd2FIkM2ebcZjofaiXqoxq6ikZ_WEORE3HCDgIlJZO56LVLoauFJ1WZRqOHC15bV-MVK85FJHyC_tUfn_QAt8v0bvJAXdrZyG-BAq/s1600/30-12-2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizHdZmHl4Pka_V5PS_shfurN40LPFULcWbj4rUU9Sxd2FIkM2ebcZjofaiXqoxq6ikZ_WEORE3HCDgIlJZO56LVLoauFJ1WZRqOHC15bV-MVK85FJHyC_tUfn_QAt8v0bvJAXdrZyG-BAq/s320/30-12-2015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Topic: Anna’s worship</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In today’s gospel, we read about the role of a prophetess,
Anna the daughter of Phanuel during the presentation of Jesus in the temple. A
little we know about this woman is a good material for our Christian
reflection. She lived with her husband for just seven years before becoming a
widow and had been a widow to the age of eight-four. The gospel also tells us
that even in such a challenging situation “She never left the temple but
worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 2:37</b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">There are many challenges we face in life. In these
challenging situations, Saint Paul admonishes us in his letter to the
Philippians thus: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 0in 0pt 0.7in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">...let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ,
so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you
stand firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of
the gospel (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Phil 1:27</b>). <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And in his second letter to his son Timothy we also read: “preach
the word, be urgent in season and out of season...” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2Tim 4:2</b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We are expected to worship God like Anna both when people are
looking at us and when none is looking (night and day) with fasting and prayer.
We must be victorious always no matter the challenging situation we are in, cf.
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rom 8:37-39</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Bible Reading</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">: Rom 8:31-39.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Thought for today:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> Be who you are.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Let us pray:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> May God help us to be His true
children always – Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Let us pray:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> God help us to live as people
consecrated to you – Amen<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 3pt 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dear child of God, <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 3pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Help to increase the number of God’s children by <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">SHARING </b>our reflections with all your
friends and by <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">RECOMMENDING</b> them to
Google if they worth it. We also need your <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">comments</b>
to help us know how we are doing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And we plead with you to continue to
reflect with us daily on any of these media:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.fromthepulpitonline.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="color: blue;">www.fromthepulpitonline.blogspot.com</span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God bless you+</span>

Anna’s worship: Homily (Reflection) for the Sixth day in the Octave of Christmas (30th December, 2015)

Homily (Reflection) for the Sixth day in the Octave of Christmas (30 th December, 2015) 1Jn 2:12-17; Ps 95:7-10. (R. v. 11) Lk 2:36-...

Consecrated to God: Homily (Reflection) for the Fifth day in the Octave of Christmas (29th December, 2015)

Unknown 0 Weekday Homilies 05:09

<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Homily (Reflection) for the Fifth day
in the Octave of Christmas (29<sup>th</sup> December, 2015)<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1Jn 2:3-11;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ps 95:1-3.5-6. (R. v. 11)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Lk 2:22-35</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGquDWi4ksYrYIkW7hQmyKy-pXiAmkm8EfJHRkg3ZqcWKRWRTbaFWvc3P6-ODyxu0aUlwKn1Av-6RFpbwux1sY5VWaN0qnB6YGBNP0OPzRRH9i7P7ZthDwYIK5U2MJzaWSwdLsYaigMGYu/s1600/29-12-15+imagesTIIVQ769.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGquDWi4ksYrYIkW7hQmyKy-pXiAmkm8EfJHRkg3ZqcWKRWRTbaFWvc3P6-ODyxu0aUlwKn1Av-6RFpbwux1sY5VWaN0qnB6YGBNP0OPzRRH9i7P7ZthDwYIK5U2MJzaWSwdLsYaigMGYu/s400/29-12-15+imagesTIIVQ769.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Topic: Consecrated to God</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Today’s gospel narrates how Jesus was presented in the temple
according to the law of Moses, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lev
12:1-4</b>. God directed that every first-born male must be consecrated to Him,
cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ex 13:2, 12</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But it is not only the first-born males that were consecrated
to God. God also said of all Israelites: “You shall be men consecrated to me” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ex 22:31</b>). And the entire Israelites
were truly consecrated Him, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ex 19:14</b>.
Hence we read in the book of Deuteronomy: “...you are a people holy to the LORD
your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for his own
possession, out of all the peoples that are on the face of the earth” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Deut 7:6</b>). God loves those who are consecrated
to Him and who follow in His steps, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Deut
33:3</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">We all are also consecrated to the Lord. Hence we read in the
first letter of Saint Peter: “...you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a
holy nation, God's own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of him
who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">1Pt 2:9</b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But dear child of God, consecration does not go with benefits
only. It has responsibilities also, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Deut
14:21;</b> <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">26:18</b>. So remember always
that God loves you so much because you are His apple but never forget to do
your own part as a child of God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Bible Reading</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">: Ex 13:11-16.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Thought for today:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> You are dedicated/consecrated to God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Let us pray:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> God help us to live as people
consecrated to you – Amen<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 3pt 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dear child of God, <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 3pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Help to increase the number of God’s children by <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">SHARING </b>our reflections with all your
friends and by <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">RECOMMENDING</b> them to
Google if they worth it. We also need your <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">comments</b>
to help us know how we are doing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And we plead with you to continue to
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
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Consecrated to God: Homily (Reflection) for the Fifth day in the Octave of Christmas (29th December, 2015)

Homily (Reflection) for the Fifth day in the Octave of Christmas (29 th December, 2015) 1Jn 2:3-11; Ps 95:1-3.5-6. (R. v. 11) Lk 2:2...

Herod’s anger: Homily (Reflection) for the Feast of Holy Innocents (28th December, 2015)

Unknown 0 Solemnities and Feasts 04:33

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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Homily (Reflection) for the Feast of
Holy Innocents (28<sup>th</sup> December, 2015) <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">(Octave of Christmas) on the Gospel and the Feast</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">1Jn 1:5–2:2;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ps 123:2-5.7-8. (R. v. 7);<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Matt 2:13-18</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSdk203t48CWMLQd-mpRUNHSPHq3qom2GRJSTI1M_1d_aQ8nsrDgVvi42Wt0KMgvk2C7STQTxjNYdkbkQAjkwjqkdPhJiVCWnkEYENxhUNTxB2xIfXATsuDY5wmN6aZcJILWcvRfiUbWCm/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSdk203t48CWMLQd-mpRUNHSPHq3qom2GRJSTI1M_1d_aQ8nsrDgVvi42Wt0KMgvk2C7STQTxjNYdkbkQAjkwjqkdPhJiVCWnkEYENxhUNTxB2xIfXATsuDY5wmN6aZcJILWcvRfiUbWCm/s320/images.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="line-height: 110%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The</span> <span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Feast of Holy Innocents commemorates the children Herod the Great,
the Roman-appointed King of the Jews killed. He directed the Magi from the east
who were searching for Jesus to Bethlehem, and requested them to let him know the
newborn king when they found him. But they were warned in a dream not to go
back to Herod. Saint </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Joseph" title="Saint Joseph"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Joseph</span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> also took
the child and his mother to Egypt as directed by an angel. And when Herod
realized that he had been tricked by the Magi, he was furious, and gave orders
to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old or
under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. The number of the
infants is not certain and some historians even doubt its authenticity. The
Holy Innocents, although Jewish, have been claimed as </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_martyrs" title="Christian martyrs"><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">martyrs for Christianity</span></a><a href="file:///C:/Users/Fr.%20Moses/Desktop/Weekday%20Homilies/Daily%20Tonic%20for%20Year%20II/Advent%20and%20Xmas%20Seasons/Octave%20of%20Christmas.docx" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue;">[1]</span></span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Topic: Herod’s anger</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In the gospel according to Saint Matthew, King Herod was
frightened when he heard that a king was born, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt2:3</b>. He saw him as a rival. As a result, he ordered for the
massacre of every male child in and around Bethlehem who were 2 years old or
under as we read in today’s gospel. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">These Holy Innocents committed no offence. And in fact, no
offence was committed. Yet they were killed in such gruesome manner without any
atom of mercy. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">May be you have suffered Herod’s anger in one way or another.
And surely it was too painful because of the fact that you are innocent. Or
even you may still be suffering or nursing such pains.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 5pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">On the other hand, has anybody suffered Herod’s anger in your
own hands? And what have you done about it or hope to achieve through that?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">If you have suffered unjustly or still suffering like the
Holy Innocents, look unto God. And if others have suffered or are still
suffering in your hands, make amends today. It is very important. Remember, God
is coming to reward all according what each has done, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Rev 22:12</b>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Bible Reading</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">: Eph 4:25 – 5:2.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Thought for today:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> Has anyone suffered qunjustly in your hands?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Let us pray:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> May God help us bring healing to all
those who suffer – Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 3pt 0in 0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dear child of God, <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 3pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Help to increase the number of God’s children by <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">SHARING </b>our reflections with all your
friends and by <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">RECOMMENDING</b> them to
Google if they worth it. We also need your <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">comments</b>
to help us know how we are doing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And we plead with you to continue to
reflect with us daily on any of these media:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"></span></b> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">To Contact and/or to support this
ministry</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="mailto:fromthepulpitonline@gmail.com"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">fromthepulpitonline@gmail.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">;
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">+234(0) 8113330558 (Calls between 7
and 9 GMT) <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">+234(0) 813 305 0302</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">SMS ONLY, anytime</b>); <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"></span> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">God bless you+<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div style="mso-element: footnote-list;">
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<hr align="left" size="1" width="33%" />

<br />
<div id="ftn1" style="mso-element: footnote;">
<div class="MsoFootnoteText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt 0.7in;">
<a href="file:///C:/Users/Fr.%20Moses/Desktop/Weekday%20Homilies/Daily%20Tonic%20for%20Year%20II/Advent%20and%20Xmas%20Seasons/Octave%20of%20Christmas.docx" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue;">[1]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massacre_of_the_Innocents"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massacre_of_the_Innocents</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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Herod’s anger: Homily (Reflection) for the Feast of Holy Innocents (28th December, 2015)

Homily (Reflection) for the Feast of Holy Innocents (28 th December, 2015) (Octave of Christmas) on the Gospel and the Feast 1Jn 1:5...

Model Christian Family: Homily for the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph (C) (27th December, 2015)

Unknown 0 Solemnities and Feasts, Sunday homilies 10:23

<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria Math","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Homily
for the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph (C) (27<sup>th</sup>
December, 2015) on the Gospel and the Feast<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 4pt 0in 0pt; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Sir
3:2-6.12-14 or 1Sam 1:20-22.24-28;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ps
127:1-5. (R. v. 1) or Ps 83:2-3.5-6.9-10. (R. v 5);<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Col
3:12-21 or 1Jn 3:1-2.21-24;<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Lk 2:41-52</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<div style="line-height: 110%; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeArKMsCTrucgFSHs-V8nbddkrP-cPqCyKt65-ZbVDBeGKveXgaxyb9Vus7TgSc6DYYVsgxISnPhE9-pCPc1od5o2UzmNgcBA-WIWflYwteTCraGWebgcHuvr0M03iJOtRGG6FLtPq8ucz/s1600/images2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeArKMsCTrucgFSHs-V8nbddkrP-cPqCyKt65-ZbVDBeGKveXgaxyb9Vus7TgSc6DYYVsgxISnPhE9-pCPc1od5o2UzmNgcBA-WIWflYwteTCraGWebgcHuvr0M03iJOtRGG6FLtPq8ucz/s200/images2.jpg" width="160" /></a><b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Holy Family</span></b><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> consists of </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Child_Jesus" title="Child Jesus"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue;">Jesus</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">, </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blessed_Virgin_Mary" title="Blessed Virgin Mary"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue;">Blessed Virgin Mary</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">, and </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Joseph" title="Saint Joseph"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue;">Saint Joseph</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">. Veneration
of the Holy Family was formally begun in the 17th century by Saint </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fran%C3%A7ois_de_Laval" title="François de Laval"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue;">François de Laval</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">, the first bishop of New France, who founded
a </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Confraternity" title="Confraternity"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue;">Confraternity</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">. And the <span style="mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Feast of the Holy Family</span> is a </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liturgy" title="Liturgy"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue;">liturgical</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> celebration
in the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Catholic_Church" title="Catholic Church"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue;">Catholic Church</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> in honour of the trio. Since the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mysterii_Paschalis" title="Mysterii Paschalis"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue;">1969 revision</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> of the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Roman_Calendar" title="General Roman Calendar"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue;">General Roman Calendar</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">, the feast is celebrated on the Sunday
between </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christmas" title="Christmas"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue;">Christmas</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> and </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Year%27s_Day" title="New Year's Day"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue;">New Year's
Day</span></span></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> (both
exclusive), or on 30 December when both Christmas Day and </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Year%27s_Day" title="New Year's Day"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue;">New Year's
Day</span></span></a> (<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">the </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solemnity_of_Mary,_Mother_of_God" title="Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue;">Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God</span></span></a>)<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> are Sundays<a href="file:///C:/Users/Fr.%20Moses/Desktop/fb/Year%20C%202015-2016/Advent%20&amp;%20Xmas/Holy%20Family%20of%20Jesus,%20Mary,%20and%20Joseph.docx" name="_ftnref1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue;">[1]</span></span></span></span></span></a>.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></b></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"></span></b></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Topic: Model Christian Family</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">.</span><span style="font-size: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">It is important to know that the
primary purpose of this feast is to present the Holy Family as a model for
Christian families. As a result, I consider it important to look at some
aspects of family life through this model family.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In today’s gospel, we see one of the
few pictures of the holy family as recorded in the bible. The gospel reads in
part: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 110%; margin: 5pt 0in 0pt 0.7in; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">...every year his parents went to
Jerusalem for the festival of the Passover. And when he was twelve years old,
they went up as usual for the festival. When the festival was ended and they
started to return, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but his parents
did not know it (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 2:41-43</b>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph were not
only truly religious as manifested in their yearly observance of the Passover
but they understood also the passage: “Train up a child in the way he should
go, and when he is old he will not depart from it” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Prov 22:6</b>). Hence they did not just observe the Passover but also took
Jesus along with them. But many parents today have forgotten everything about
God who builds and sustains the family, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ps 127:1-2</b>. Among those who still go to church and other religious
activities many do not consider it important to take their children along.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And when they noticed that Jesus was
not going back with them, both set out immediately in search of him which took
them a whole three days. Yet the bible did not tell us that there was any rancour
between them. I still remember one day a catechist taught the children preparing
for the First Holy Communion the importance of peacefully coexisting with each
other. He used the relationship between different political parties in Nigeria as
an example. He then asked the children to give other examples of people who are
not living peacefully. One little boy told the catechist that no other example
will be better than his parents. The boy went on to tell the catechist that they
live like cat and dog and hardly agree on anything. And no one supports the opinion
of the other.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">In Nigeria, there are so much noise caused
by people apportioning blames to others and vice versa. Yet the positive change
we look forward to is yet to come. In this same vein, many parents resort to apportioning
blames to each other without achieving anything positive. Mary and Joseph on
the other hand did neither apportion blames to each other nor grumble for the
disappearance of the child Jesus. Yet they searched for him with great anxiety
expressed thus through his mother: “Child, why have you treated us like this?
Look, your father and I have been searching for you in great anxiety” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 2:48</b>). Parents ought to look for their
children and the solutions for the evils that bedevil our families today.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Children must remember always that
obedience to parents is not a privilege but their right, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt 15:4</b>; <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Ex 20:12</b>; <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Col 3:20</b>; <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Eph 6:1</b>. In today’s gospel, Jesus
obeyed his parents and went down with them to Nazareth and was obedient to
them, (cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">2:51a</b>) where he grew in
wisdom and in years.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">May we all emulate the Holy Family of
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Bible Reading</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">: Ps 127:1-5; Eph 6:1-4; Col 3:18-22; Jas 5:7-9.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Thought for today:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> Fulfilling your responsibility in the family.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Let us pray:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> May the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph help us transform our
individual families into model Christian homes </span><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">–
Amen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jesus, Mary and Joseph – I give you my heart
and soul.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jesus, Mary and Joseph – assist me in my last
agony,<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Jesus, Mary and Joseph – may I breath forth my
soul in peace with you–Amen. <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dear child of God, <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Help to increase the number of God’s children by <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">SHARING </b>our reflections with all your friends and by <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">RECOMMENDING</b> them to Google if they
worth it. We also need your <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">COMMENTS</b>
to help us know how we are doing.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And we plead with you to
continue to reflect with us daily on any of these media:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<a href="http://www.fromthepulpitonline.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="color: windowtext; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: blue;">www.fromthepulpitonline.blogspot.com</span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/fromthepulpitonline"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.facebook.com/fromthepulpitonline</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.twitter.com/onlinehomilies"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">www.twitter.com/onlinehomilies</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">   </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="mailto:fromthepulpitonline@gmail.com"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">fromthepulpitonline@gmail.com</span></span></a></div>
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<div align="left" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 50%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; tab-stops: 271.55pt; text-align: left; text-indent: 0in;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 50%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;">                                                                                           </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">To Contact and/or to support this ministry</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">: <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<a href="mailto:fromthepulpitonline@gmail.com"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri;">fromthepulpitonline@gmail.com</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">; </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">+234(0) 8113330558 (Calls between 7 and 9 GMT) <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">+234(0) 813 305 0302</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">SMS ONLY, anytime</b>); <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 20%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 20%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">God bless you+<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a href="file:///C:/Users/Fr.%20Moses/Desktop/fb/Year%20C%202015-2016/Advent%20&amp;%20Xmas/Holy%20Family%20of%20Jesus,%20Mary,%20and%20Joseph.docx" name="_ftn1" style="mso-footnote-id: ftn1;" title=""><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoFootnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue;">[1]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;"> </span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Family"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holy_Family</span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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Model Christian Family: Homily for the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph (C) (27th December, 2015)

Homily for the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph (C) (27 th December, 2015) on the Gospel and the Feast Sir 3:2-6.12...

26th December, 2015: Homily (Reflection) for the Feast of Saint Stephen, First Martyr

Unknown 0 Solemnities and Feasts 01:18

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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Homily (Reflection) for the Feast of
Saint Stephen, First Martyr (26<sup>th</sup> December, 2015) <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">(Octave of Christmas) on the Gospel and the Feast</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Acts 6:8-10. 7:54-59;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Ps 30:3-4.6.8.16-17. (R. v. 6)<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Matt
10:17-22</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt;">.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhKTxWlokAXLkNKm7RqeHuHrJfmy11FfQVspiEAlRkqDUYIzGYYm-CuHO43bNEIWHsM1hQEooGnoheeDdsb0vy0lpyBM8t5qbNV6OHlcZRW5sd7Jf5GwLp-YtZvzVAGHqb8LBMOyZU7Yh_/s1600/images18U38RFL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhKTxWlokAXLkNKm7RqeHuHrJfmy11FfQVspiEAlRkqDUYIzGYYm-CuHO43bNEIWHsM1hQEooGnoheeDdsb0vy0lpyBM8t5qbNV6OHlcZRW5sd7Jf5GwLp-YtZvzVAGHqb8LBMOyZU7Yh_/s320/images18U38RFL.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">The primary source of information about Saint Stephen is the
Acts of the Apostles. <b>Stephen</b> or <b>Stephan</b><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">,</span> a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, is the </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protomartyr" title="Protomartyr"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">first Christian martyr</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was a </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deacon" title="Deacon"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">deacon</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Acts 7:54-59</b>. Stephen is
mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles as one of the Greek-speaking </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellenistic_Jew" title="Hellenistic Jew"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Hellenistic Jews</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> selected to participate in a fairer distribution of welfare
to the Greek-speaking widows, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Acts
6:5</b>. He was accused of </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blasphemy" title="Blasphemy"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">blasphemy</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> and his </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martyrdom" title="Martyrdom"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">martyrdom</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> was witnessed by </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saul_of_Tarsus" title="Saul of Tarsus"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Saul of Tarsus</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> (Saint Paul), a </span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pharisee" title="Pharisee"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Pharisee</span></span></a><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> who would later himself become a follower of Jesus, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Acts 8:1</b>.</span><a href="file:///C:/Users/Fr.%20Moses/Desktop/Weekday%20Homilies/Daily%20Tonic%20for%20Year%20II/Advent%20and%20Xmas%20Seasons/Octave%20of%20Christmas.docx" name="_ednref1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue;">[i]</span></span></span></span></span></a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Topic: Beware </span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Just yesterday we popped champagnes among other things that the
long-awaited saviour was born. And today, we celebrate the first person who died
for this saviour. He warns us in today’s gospel: “Beware of them, for they will
hand you over to councils and flog you in their synagogues; and you will be
dragged before governors and kings because of me, as a testimony to them and
the Gentiles” (<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt 10:17-18</b>). <o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">This warning tells us among other things that to be a
Christian is not all rosy. A call to be a Christian is a call to be a martyr no
matter the circumstance one finds him/herself. At the face of every persecution
that might come one’s way, one must bear witness to the new born king, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Lk 21:13</b>. Again, for anybody to be
saved, he or she must endure to the end, cf. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Matt 10:22</b>. Saint Stephen is a very good example.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">So my dear one, as we celebrate our saviour’s birthday we
must also contemplate what it means to be Christ’s follower. Each of us must be
ready for anything that pleases our newborn King to befall us. Beware, anyone
who wants to live an authentic Christian life must be ready for persecution even
from those one least expects. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Bible Reading</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">: 1Pt 4:12-19.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;">Thought for today:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;"> Tighten your belt and lace your shoes for action.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;">Let us pray:</span></b><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"> May the newborn King help us live
out our call as Christians no matter what it might cost – Amen.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Saint Stephen – pray for us.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Dear child of God, <o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">Help to increase the number of God’s children by <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">SHARING </b>our reflections with all your
friends and by <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">RECOMMENDING</b> them to
Google if they worth it. We also need your <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">comments</b>
to help us know how we are doing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;">And we plead with you to continue to
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">God bless you+</span>

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<a href="file:///C:/Users/Fr.%20Moses/Desktop/Weekday%20Homilies/Daily%20Tonic%20for%20Year%20II/Advent%20and%20Xmas%20Seasons/Octave%20of%20Christmas.docx" name="_edn1" style="mso-endnote-id: edn1;" title=""><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="mso-special-character: footnote;"><span class="MsoEndnoteReference"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 10pt; line-height: 110%; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="color: blue;">[i]</span></span></span></span></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> <span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">(Please, visit this site for more) </span></span></span><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Stephen"><span style="color: blue; font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Stephen</span></a><span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: x-small;">
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26th December, 2015: Homily (Reflection) for the Feast of Saint Stephen, First Martyr

Homily (Reflection) for the Feast of Saint Stephen, First Martyr (26 th December, 2015) (Octave of Christmas) on the Gospel and the Fe...