Journey with the Lord by Fr Sesugh Akpenpuun,VC

24/08/2026

JOURNEY WITH THE LORD
Aug 24, 2026, Feast of St Bartholomew
First Reading: Rev 21:9-14
Psalm 145:10-11, 12-13, 17-18
Gospel: Jn 1:45-51

God alone frees from prejudice.

1. We celebrate Bartholomew, apostle and martyr. Synoptics name him; John calls him Nathanael - son of Tolmai from Cana, friend of Philip. Tradition has it that he preached in India/Armenia, flayed alive, patron of sick. He is one of 12 foundations of New Jerusalem (Rev 21:9-14). Note these about him

2. Prejudice to faith. Nathanael asked, "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" Nazareth was not cursed but despised - tiny, unmentioned in Old Testament, near Gentile road. Local rivalry. We all have Nazareths - people, tribes, families, villages; we despise and think nothing good can come from; some despise the Catholic Church. Since we are not God and our prejudices don’t stop God from being God, Philip did not argue, he said "Come and see" (Jn 1:46) best evangelization. Anyone who doubts God as revealed in Christ Jesus should come and see to encounter Him. Evangelization is not the work of the pope, bishops, priests alone but the work of all the baptized. Will you encounter Jesus yourself and bring others to encounter Him in the Eucharist, His Word, the poor and those gathered here in His name in prayer, service and organizational groups?

3. Seen under fig tree. Jesus said of him to be a "True Israelite, no duplicity" - unlike Jacob the trickster. Fig tree is seem here as Torah study. "I saw you" - Jesus sees your hidden prayer, struggle. That gaze converted him to address Jesus as: "Rabbi, Son of God, King of Israel (John 1:45-51)!"

4. Greater things. Jesus promises heaven opened, angels ascending/descending on Son of Man - Jesus is new Jacob's ladder Gen 28:12. He is Bethel, meeting point of heaven and earth. We celebrate Batholomew today not because he was skinned alive but prior to that he was already skinned of his prejudice. Be skinned of prejudice, corruption, hate, greed, indifference, individualism that blocks God’s kingdom from coming. Be foundation stone - hidden but bearing weight. Be skinned of prejudice so that they will not block you from seeing Jesus and remain with Him.

Shalom
St Bartholomew, pray for us!
Have a Spirit filled day
Fr Sesugh SP Akpenpuun, VC

23/08/2026

JOURNEY WITH THE LORD
Sunday 23, August; 21ST SUNDAY. IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR A
First Reading: Is 22:19-23
Ps 138
Second Reading: Rom 11:33-36
Gospel: Mt 16:13-20

Who Do You Say I Am? Receive the Keys to Open, Not to Shut.

1. Isaiah confronts Shebna, master of palace in 701 BC under Hezekiah. While Assyria besieged Jerusalem, Shebna built himself a grand tomb and pursued Egypt alliance. God says: "I will thrust you from office" and gives his robe, sash and Key of House of David to Eliakim, who shall be a father to Judah. Key on shoulder meant control of access to king - when he opens no one shuts. If you use your office to build for yourself rather than being a father to all; your keys will be taken. Jesus deliberately takes same language to Caesarea Philippi - center of Pan worship at cave called gates of Hades, and temple of emperor Augustus. In place of false gods and false keys, He asks: "Who do people say Son of Man is?" Then personal: "But who do YOU say I am?" Peter: "You are the Christ, Son of living God" - not dead Pan, but living. Jesus: Blessed - flesh and blood did not reveal, but Father. You are Petros/Kepha - rock - and on this rock I will build my Church, gates of netherworld/hades shall not prevail, I give you keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Bind and loose - is a rabbinic authority to teach and forgive. Until you believe, hope and love the true God; irrespective of your shortcomings and challenges you will teach and forgive. Without faith, hope and charity you only lay the load on others without lifting a finger (Matt 23:4). Only deep God - Oh depth of riches, wisdom (Rom 11:33) - can reveal this to fisherman Peter and replace Shebna with Eliakim. Only God will be with the church amidst every challenges; gates of hades of heresies, schism, individualism, infidelities, indifference but will not prevail.

2. Who Do You Say Jesus Is?
It is not crowd opinion. Cultural Christianity says Jesus is helper. Personal encounter reveals Son of living God. Where? Where two or three gather Mt 18:20, in Word - who hears you hears Me Lk 10:16, in Eucharist today, in burdened - come to Me Mt 11:28, in least ones - sick, hungry, prisoner Mt 25:40, in your street, office. Like me, sinner - Rom 3:23, 1 Jn 1:8 - He reveals mercy as He did to Peter. He is Son of the living God that has revealed the Father to us in ways we least expect; some even doubt Him but this does not change Him from bing who He is; Son of the living God.

3. Practical - Gates of Hades Shall Not Prevail. Faith in living Christ is rock. Peg fixed in sure spot (Is 22:23). Church built on it, your family, marriage, vocation built on it cannot fall. But are you Shebna or Eliakim? Shebna used office for self-monument. Eliakim was father. Keys are stewardship, not ownership - LG 18, Catechism 881. Many carry heavy keys but lock people out. A child was asked who a pope is and he told the Bishop: Pope carries heavy keys to open heaven, but must not lose key in pocket. Today:
a) Examine - where do I build tomb while community starves?
b) Confess personally - not what others say, but who is Jesus to you?
c) Use keys to open - forgive, loose one bound by grudge, bind sin not sinner. The Faith Formation Teachers and Aides who will be installed today are given the keys to open the knowledge and wisdom of the church to those they will be teaching and forming. Do your best! Parents and God parents; remember this keys were first given to you on the day they were baptized; you are their first teachers. If you profess Him truly by your full, conscious and active participation in service, organizational and prayer groups, gates of Hades - sickness, corruption, hardship, evil - shall not prevail against you, family, states, nations, institutions and the Church. Yes; the Lord, whose love is eternal is begged by the psalmist: “forsake not the work of your hands” (Ps 138). Never let the gates of hades prevail. The gates of hades will not prevail no matter the difficulties and challenges you face under the watch of our God only cooperate by having faith, hope and charity.

Shalom.
Have a Spirit-filled Sunday.
Fr Sesugh SP Akpenpuun, VC

22/08/2026

JOURNEY WITH THE LORD
QUEENSHIP OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
Aug 22, 2026
First Reading: Ezek 43:1-7
Ps 85;
Gospel: Mt 23:1-12

You too shall be crowned like Mary.

1. 8 days after Assumption we crown the Blessed Virgin Mary Queen - not because she is wife of King, but Mother. In David's kingdom Queen is Gebirah, mother of king (1 Kgs 2:19). Her Son is King with Key of David. Ezekiel in exile saw God's glory leave temple eastward (Ezekiel 10). Now in a vision: glory returns east gate like roaring waters, earth shines, temple filled (Ezekiel 43:1-7). Early Fathers: Mary is living temple, east gate shut because Lord entered through her (Ezekiel 44:1-2). In her glory dwells in our land (Ps 85) - kindness and truth meet. In Mary the lost glory is restored.

2. How did lowly handmaid become Queen? Opposite of Pharisees (Mt 23:1-12) who sit on Moses' chair, preach but not practice, widen phylacteries for show, love honors, titles Rabbi, Father. Mary said Yes - "Behold I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to his word" (Lk 1:38) and lived Yes in humility. Magnificat: God puts down mighty, exalts lowly (Lk 1:52). Greatest must be servant.

3. Queenship is Servanthood. Pius XII in Ad Caeli Reginam and Lumen Gentium 62: Mary is Queen by Divine Motherhood and service, not self-promotion. You too shall be crowned if you stick to God's will not man's; serve and not seek self-promotion. The family of the Via Christi Society members with the universal church honors Mary under this title:“Queenship of Mary” as patron of the society- by imitating her docility, humility, endurance. Let us all Examine ourselves personally: Do I tie heavy burdens on others but not lift finger? Do I seek places of honor? Imitate the Blessed Virgin Mary today; allow the kingdom values of God to dwell in you- let His glory that left because of disobedience return and be restored because of obedience to dwell in you; then, you shall be crowned with eternity.

Shalom
Our Lady, Queen of the Universe, pray for us!
Have a Spirit filled day
Fr Sesugh SP Akpenpuun, VC

21/08/2026

21/08/2026

JOURNEY WITH THE LORD
Fri 21 Aug 2026, Week 20 in Ordinary Times
St Pius X, Pope
First Reading: Ezek 37:1-14;
Ps 107:2-9
Gospel: Matt 22:34-40

These dry bones shall rise again

1. Ezekiel speaks to exiles in Babylon; no temple, no king, no hope "Our bones dried, hope lost, cut off". God sets him in valley full of very dry bones and asks: Can these live? Prophet: You alone know. God said: Prophesy; "I will put sinews, flesh, skin, and spirit “ruach” that you may live." First prophecy, rattling, bones join; second, from four winds comes breath, they stand, vast army. Interpretation: I will open graves, bring you to land, put my Spirit in you.

2. These dry bones are us; slain by corruption, hatred, greed, insecurity, pride, divisiveness, heresy, schism. Bones have structure but no breath. Church without love is skeleton. What is breath? Agape-love. Restoration is for all who keep greatest commandment (Deut 6:5; Lev 19:18): Love Lord with all heart, soul, strength, mind, and neighbor as self (Matt 22:34-40). On these two whole law hangs “krematai”. Without love (1 Cor 13:4-12), and other values of God’s kingdom, unity, justice, forgiveness, truth, peace, humility, service, sacrifice, full, conscious and active participation in the life of the church we are dry.

3. St Pius X 1835-1914, motto _Instaurare omnia in Christo_ - Restore all in Christ - restored Church in dry age of Modernism by Eucharist, early Communion for children, catechesis, chant. Same today; the church will restores all things in Christ through the aggionamento et Ressourcement of the second Vatican Council as seen in the sixteen documents calling for full, conscious and active participation in the life of the church. Read them, study them and be part of the restoration. Dry bones of divisiveness; heresy and schism in the church shall rise again to experience the life of unity. Pray with me: Forgive us our sins- Rom 3:23; 1 Jn 1:8-10. Pour clean water on us - Ezek 36:23-28. Satisfy longing soul - Ps 107. I stand in this valley of tears and prophesy: From four winds come, O Spirit of love - John 3:16; 13:34 - breathe into our hearts, family, marriage, institutions, politics, judiciary, states, nations and Church. These dry bones shall rise!

Shalom
St Pius X, pray for us
Have a Spirit filled day
Fr Sesugh SP Akpenpuun, VC.

20/08/2026

JOURNEY WITH THE LORD
20 Aug 2026; Thu Week 20 in Ordinary Time, St Bernard, Abbot & Doctor
First Reading: Ezek 36:23-28;
Ps 51;
Gospel: Matt 22:1-14

Put on wedding garment to renew the Church.

1. The Church is always suffering yet always renewed. Renewal of monasteries and other institutions with religious families is the renewal of the Church. Today St Bernard of Clairvaux 1090-1153 - ill yet great holiness, wisdom, mellifluous Doctor of love. Noble birth near Dijon, joined Cîteaux 1112 with 4 brothers and 24 friends to reject Benedictine laxity and return to poverty. 3 years later founded Clairvaux; at death 343 Cistercian houses, 68 daughters of Clairvaux. God renews though we profaned His Name among nations. "I will sprinkle clean water to cleanse you from impurities and idols or false gods. I will remove heart of stone and give heart of flesh, put my Spirit within you." Not for our merit but for His Name's holiness (Ezekiel 36:23-28). This is fulfilled in baptism (John 3:5) as a new heart creation takes place: “A clean heart create for me, O God, and a steadfast spirit renew within me” (Ps 51:12-19). By baptism, we are invited to live a life set apart to participate in the feast.

2. A King gives wedding feast for Son. First invited refuse to farm, business, kill servants (Matt 22:1-14); Jerusalem burned 70AD. Then go to crossroads; bad and good alike gathered, this is universal grace. But one without wedding garment. How fair was the king if he didn’t share clothes to those invited? At our baptism when this invitation was given to us, the king provided a white robe that we should keep unstained until he comes again (Rev 3:4-5; 19:8; Gal 3:27). The man without the wedding garment is bound and cast to outer darkness. Many are invited, few are chosen.

3. The Garment Christ clothed us with is love, mercy, purity (Col 3:12-14). Many baptized with clean water but wear rags of corruption, hatred, greed, selfishness, pride, indifference, divisiveness, unforgiveness. May God "Create a clean heart within us, put a steadfast spirit, and take not His Holy Spirit from us" to be renewed; so that we can put on the garment of love, justice, forgiveness. Like St Bernard, stand ready in your garment to renewed so that you can renew family, office, judiciary, Church and the world. Today, if you listen to his voice, harden not your heart! Many are called but few are chosen. You have been chosen in your generation.

Shalom
St Bernard, pray for us
Have a Spirit filled day
Fr Sesugh SP Akpenpuun, VC

19/08/2026

JOURNEY WITH THE LORD
19 Aug 2026, Wednesday Week 20 in Ordinary Time
First Reading: Ezek 34:1-11;
Ps 23
Gospel: Matt 20:1-16

Your reward is one denarius - Grace to Heaven - receive it with joy.

1. All need work to survive. Jesus shows landowner hiring at dawn, 9am, noon, 3pm, 5pm (Matthew 20:1-16). Each what is “the usual daily wage” a denarius which is the same as daily bread to live. This landowner is the Good Shepherd of Psalm 23 who lets none want - gives green pasture, restful waters. Direct contrast to shepherds in Ezekiel who fed selves not sheep (Ezek 34:1-11). They ate milk, wore wool, slaughtered fatlings, but did not strengthen weak, heal sick, bind injured, bring back strayed, seek lost. Instead ruled harshly like Pharaoh (Ex 1:13). So sheep scattered, prey to beasts. God swears: "I am coming against these shepherds. I MYSELF will tend my sheep" not with the standards of this world but with the standards of His kingdom values: grace, mercy, forgiveness, service, sacrifice, truth, unity, compassion, peace.

2. Who are the shepherds? Not only kings. Priest who lives on flock's taxes, leader who eats national milk, father who feeds self while children scattered to drugs. Political shepherds like Tyre's prince yesterday - pasturing self. Gospel answers how last become first. First workers grumbled: "You made last equal to us." They had justice - agreed denarius. But evil eye cannot stand generous eye (Matt 20:15). First become last because envy at grace. Last become first because humbly receive gift. The good shepherd Landowner, knowing the importance of job, searchingly employed at different hours. Do we search for the loss in our parish communities through evangelization, pastoral care, counseling, job provision, support through participation in organizational, prayer and service groups?

3. Whether you started good Christian at childhood, adulthood, or 5pm old age - reward same: grace of faith, hope, charity and finally the grace to heaven. Repent from feeding self, be shepherd after God's heart - hard work, evangelization and pastoral care, sacrifice, seek lost. Leaders, create jobs for youths used by evil men. Your denarius awaits - receive with joy.

Shalom
Have a Spirit filled day
Fr Sesugh SP Akpenpuun, VC

18/08/2026

JOURNEY WITH THE LORD
Tuesday Week 20, 18 Aug 2026; Ordinary Time.
First Reading: Ezek 28:1-10;
Psalm: Deut 32:26-36;
Gospel: Matt 19:23-30

Choose to be God through humility not pride.

1. Two paths to godhood. Prince of Tyre said: "I am a god! I sit on godly throne in sea." By wisdom in trading he heaped gold, silver, and heart grew haughty. God says: "You are man, not god. I bring barbarians to thrust you to pit to die death of uncircumcised" (Ezek 28:1-10). Pride tries to seize divinity and ends in destruction. Christ chose opposite. He was rich, yet became poor to make us rich - 2 Cor 8:9. Though He was God, Jesus did not count equality with God a thing to grasped; He emptied himself in humility (Phil 2:5-11). To become Godlike, we must humble ourselves, accepting who we are as human beings dependent on God. St Athanasius tells us: “God became man so that man might become God;” This is theosis - not becoming God by nature, but sharing divine life by grace, like iron in fire takes fire's heat but remains iron; we become God by accepting His gifts and works that He has prepared before hand (Eph 2:10); His values of truth, humility, service, love, unity, justice, forgiveness, peace, sacrifice. We need to rely on God not on ourselves, wealth, power, might. These may fail us but God will not fail us. Choose wisely.

2. Jesus says: hard for rich (who are building their wealth outside of God) to enter heaven; easier for camel through needle's eye. Disciples: who then can be saved? Answer: for men impossible, for God, all things are possible (Matt 19:23-26). Wealth outside God makes us say "our hand won victory" - Deut 32:27. Only God deals death and life - v.39. To be perfect as Heavenly Father is perfect (Matt 5:48) is not flawless power but perfect love and values. Perfection is gift, received when we empty pride. Prince climbed up; Christ came down. Choose to empty yourself, God will fill you. Leave pride, receive hundredfold now and eternal life. Choose to be God through humility not pride; be humble for the sake of God the final commander who can sound about turn anytime and the first will be last and the last first.

Shalom.
Have a Spirit filled day
Fr Sesugh SP Akpenpuun, VC

17/08/2026

JOURNEY WITH THE LORD
Monday 20th Week, 17 Aug 2026
First Reading: Ezekiel 24:15-23;
Psalm: Deut 32:18-21; Gospel: Matthew 19:16-22

What more must I do? Empty to be filled

1. You may be priest, catechist, Lector, Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist, president, bishop, staunch Christian in the different traditions. Have you asked: What do I still lack to inherit heaven? A young man asked Jesus same. Jesus said: keep commandments - do not kill, steal, lie, honour parents, love neighbour. He had kept all. But Jesus said: one more - go, sell what you have, give to poor, come follow me. He went away sad, because possessions possessed him. It is not only material things. It is greed, jealousy, hatred, hypocrisy, wickedness that makes us acquire at detriment of neighbours.

2. Today God shows prophet Ezekiel: He took delight of his eyes - his wife - and told him not to mourn, to keep turban on head, sandals on feet. Why? As sign that Israel would lose Temple - delight of their eyes - and be too stunned to mourn (Ezekiel 24:15-23). They had forgotten the Rock who gave them birth - Deut 32:18. God your Rock already emptied Himself in Christ (Phil 2:5-11). What is that delight of eye that keeps you away from God? Empty it! Now you must empty yourself. Let go of what blocks you. Empty yourself of vices to be filled with his virtues, and our family, church, politics, nation will be healed, and you will gain treasure in heaven.

3. Empty to be filled:
i. For Parishioner Today: What is your “delight of eyes” that if God took tonight you could not function? Job, phone, child, reputation, savings? Ezekiel asks: Can you remain turbaned and sandaled - priestly, on duty - if it goes? Young man failed that exam.

ii. Examination on Possessions: Jesus did not tell all to sell all - Zacchaeus gave half - Luke 19:8. But He tells this youth because possessions were his identity. St. Ignatius, “Spiritual Exercises” n.23 - Principle and Foundation: use creatures insofar as they lead to end. Do your things lead you to follow, or make you sad to follow?

iii. Grief without Despair: Church forbids not tears but despairing mourning that denies resurrection. Turban remains because hope remains. 1 Thess 4:13 - not to grieve as those without hope.

iv. Pastoral Warning Against Fabricated Security: ours is a journey, don’t create spiritual alibis to keep you stagnant but progress in your faith journey to be saved. We create spiritual alibis - "I keep commandments, I go to Mass, I go to confession; I belong to this or that in the church" - to avoid deeper call - "What do I still lack?" Authentic spirituality asks that question daily. Pray with me: Lord, Rock who bore me, take delight of my eyes if it blocks my eyes from You. Give me grace not to go away sad.

Shalom.
Have a Spirit filled day
Fr Sesugh SP Akpenpuun, VC.

16/08/2026

Journey with the Lord
16 Aug 2026 - 20th Sunday Year A
First Reading: Is 56:1,6-7
Ps 67
Second Reading: Rom 11:13-15,29-32
Gospel: Mt 15:21-28

"Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! Help me!"

1. Salvation is for all peoples. Before the Babylonian exile Judaism and the temple was just for Jews; it was not Catholic, that is, it was not universal but for a particular people, the Jews. Isaiah 56 is after exile ∼538 BC. Jews rebuilt Temple and asked who belongs. Law said foreigners excluded (Deut 23). Prophet says new house shall be "house of prayer for all peoples" (Is 56:7) - what Jesus quotes cleansing Temple. Condition is not tribe but justice: "keep sabbath, cling to covenant" (Is 56:6). Paul in Rom 11 explains: Israel stumbled, door opened for Gentiles. But God's gifts are irrevocable (Rom 11:29) - Israel still beloved, covenant never revoked (LG 16, Nostra Aetate 4).

2. Gospel proves it: Jesus withdraws to Tyre and Sidon - pagan enemy land. A Canaanite - ancient enemy, descendant of cursed Canaan - shouts "Son of David!" Three refusals: silence, "sent only to lost sheep of Israel", "not right to throw children's food to little dogs" - _kynaria_ - house dogs. She accepts: "Even dogs eat crumbs that fall." This was amazing; what looks like insult, she made it a stepping stone to her faith. How do we react when people offend us because of our faith? Do we use that as stepping stones? Jesus praised her: "O woman, great is your faith!" Only she and centurion get "great faith" in Matthew - both Gentiles. Who and who have we tagged as dogs and built barriers prohibiting them from entry into the Church? No one is dog by birth. Tiv, Igbo, Hausa, Fulani, Idoma, Africa, America, Asia, European; white black, indigene, settler, Catholic, Protestant - house of God is for all.

3. When God seems silent? Disciples said "Send her away." Jesus silent. She moves from shouting behind to kneeling before - from distance to worship. Canaanite secret is persistence in humility. Mother Teresa begging for her poor, a man spat on her palm. She wiped and said, "That was for me, now what is for my children?" He was broken and later supported her greatly. When mocked in church, when prayer delays, don't leave. Use insult as stepping stone. Keep praying: "Lord, help me; Lord, help us" - for your children, marriage, state, nation, judiciary, church. Faith does not force God to give what we want, but to receive what God wants to give and how he wants to give it and through whom he wants to give it. Even crumbs from Master's table heal. We have because of pride and our own way refused salvation that comes from what we may call crumbs of the master’s table, the sacraments of the church, her ministers, the values of God’s kingdom: truth, love, patience, humility, service, sacrifice, peace, compassion, justice, forgiveness; we want it big and quick and in our own way. This has plunged and left our families, institutions, politics, communities, states, nations and land sick and in pains of the vices that we notice today. Like this Canaanite woman let us beg: “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! Help me!" Have pity and help us!

Shalom.
Have a Spirit-filled Sunday.
Fr Sesugh SP Akpenpuun, VC