Silence and Word: Path of Evangelization (Papal Message for 46th World Communication Day)

The Roman Pontiff has released his message for the 46^th World Communication Day which he titled: SILENCE AND WORD: PATH OF EVANGELIZATION. In this reflection, the Pope emphasised on the value of silence in effective communication. He talked about the effective use of the social media, search engines and the internet at large.  Kindly go through the text below:

MESSAGE OF POPE BENEDICT XVI 
FOR THE 46th WORLD COMMUNICATIONS DAY 
24 JANUARY 2012

 

Silence and Word: Path of Evangelization

  

A Reflection/Homily/Sermon on the Fourth (4th) Sunday in Ordinary time Year B (January 29 2012)

The first reading presents us with the story of God’s promise to the Israelites that He will raise up another prophet like Moses who will lead them. They are to recognize this prophet through the authority and integrity he will exercise in his words and actions. God however, warned against abusing this authority by saying things not ordered by them.

In the gospel reading, we find the perfect fulfillment of this promise in the life of Christ. The gospel records that “his teaching made a deep impression on them because, unlike the scribes, he taught them with authority”. This authority was seen in Jesus’ words and actions. A perfect example is seen also in the gospel in his encounter with the unclean spirit. The unclean spirit even recognized Jesus’ authority. The gospel also mentioned that “he gives orders even to

Quote on Friendship with the Saints

"It is not enough to exercise our friendship with the Saints by asking for their intercessions always, we must also learn to exercise this friendship by imitating the way they lived their lives."

My New Week Wishes for YOU

Today, we are lunched into a new week.
May the Lord see you through this week.
May He protect you and bless you.
May He promote you just as he promoted the fishermen to fishers of men.
May He allow you to experience His transforming power in times of difficulties.
May He bestow upon you the riches of His Glory.

A Reflection on the 3rd Sunday of Ordinary Time (B) January 22 2012

Peter and Robinson were two good business associates. One day they travelled to a far away land to buy some goods as usual. This time they bought more than usual because they wanted to maximize profits. On their way back they remembered their lorry would not pass through the tunnel on the road because of the height of the goods loaded on it. When they got to the tunnel, it was about to rain and they were confused on what to do. They lessened the tyres to reduce the height of the lorry but it couldn’t work. As they were thinking of what to do, a little boy approached them and said: “it is about to rain and it is better to lose a part than to lose the whole”. They read meaning into this and decided to remove the excess and less profitable goods, lost it to the rain and the lorry was able to pass through the tunnel.

This little boy could be regarded as the Prophet Jonah we saw in the first reading and the businessmen, as the people of Nineveh. The Ninevites were thrown into confusion and 

40 RULES FOR LIVING

1. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
2. Memorize your favourite poem.
3. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.
4. When you say, "I love you," mean it.
5. When you say, "I'm sorry," look at the person in the eye.
6. Never laugh at anyone's dreams.                                        
    

The Miracle of Life

Modern medical science has clearly shown us that human life begins at conception.

• At conception a new human being begins, complete with his or her own unique set of DNA, which is present from the first day of life. The new little person’s sex is also determined from the beginning.
• Eighteen days after conception the baby’s heart is beating.
• During the first month the baby grows to 10,000 times his/her size at conception.
• S/he moves six weeks after conception though the mother does not yet feel the movements.
• At eight weeks every part of the body found in an adult is already in the baby.

“Do not be Afraid: Another Nigeria is Possible” - Bishop Matthew Kukah of Sokoto Diocese

The Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, the Most Rev. Matthew Hassah Kukah has urged all Nigerians not to be afraid. This was made known in his Pastoral letter to the clergy, religious and laity of the diocese: “Do not be afraid: Another Nigeria is Possible”.

Before now, on 10th December 2011, during a radio broadcast, Bishop Kukah made an appeal to Nigerians not to feel frightened by recent events (in particular the attacks carried out by the Boko Haram sect). "Since then, things have got worse" recognizes Bishop Kukah. "On Christmas day, a bomb exploded in Santa Teresa, Catholic Church, in Madalla, state of Niger, killing more than thirty people and wounding a large number of other innocent citizens. Just two days later, in Ebonyi State more than sixty people

Quote on Love

Love is nothing but the allegiance of Loyalty, Obedience, Value, and Endurance to somebody or something.

Quote on the Sand of Time

"In desiring to write you name on the sound of time, the best sand is on the lives of people and the best time is now, never postpone the help you can offer to someone today till tomorrow".

Obama's Pro-Abortion Engagements Before and During His Presidency Exposed

I just got this news in the Pro-Life Site. It's about Obama's pro-abortion engagements before and since his presidency and decided to share it here. This is really horrible. So these evil acts will continue if he eventually wins the forthcoming elections? Anyway, lets see what happens.

The following is a compilation of bill signings, speeches, appointments and other actions that President Barack Obama has engaged in that have promoted abortion before and during his presidency.

While Obama has promised to reduce abortions and some of his supporters believe that will happen, this long list proves his only agenda is promoting more abortions.

During the presidential election, Obama selected pro-abortion Sen. Joe Biden as his vice-presidential running mate.

Post-Election / Pre-Inauguration

November 5, 2008 – Obama selects pro-abortion Rep. Rahm Emanuel as his White House Chief of Staff. Emanuel has a 0% pro-life voting record according to National Right to Life.

FAITH HEALING AND HEALTH CARE DELIVERY: THE NIGERIAN SITUATION

INTRODUCTION

The World Health Organization (WHO) in its “Preamble to the Constitution of the World Health Organization” as adopted by the International Health Conference in 1946 defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. From this definition, it is clear that anything contrary to this is generally regarded as ill-health.

In Nigeria today, there are basically two ways of tackling the problem of ill-health. One is through faith healing and the other is health care delivery. While the former is unorthodox, the latter is orthodox. For some, faith healing is only an alternative when health care delivery fails, while others consider it as a normal practice for the restoration of sound health. It is, therefore, the intention of this writer to investigate into the relationship between faith healing and health care delivery towards proffering a better way of managing ill-health in the Nigerian situation.

A Mother Living with Sweet Memories of a Dead Son - An Interesting Story

I just found this interesting story on the facebook wall of a friend and decided to share it here. You may have had similar experience or might be touched by the story. Take time to go through it.

"She jumped up as soon as she saw the surgeon come out of the operating room. She said: "How is my little boy? Is he going to be alright? When can I see him? The surgeon said, "I'm sorry. We did all we could, but your boy didn't make it. Sally said, "Why do little children get cancer? Doesn't God care anymore? Where were you, God, when my son needed you? The surgeon asked, “Would you like some time alone with your son? One of the nurses will be out in a few minutes, before he's transported to the

SECOND (2ND) SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME OF THE YEAR B (JANUARY 15 2012): A REFLECTION ON THE READINGS

Welcome to the Ordinary Time of the Year. the Christmastide just ended with the feast of the Baptism of Our Lord. Here is my reflection for next Sunday, the  2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B: 

Some years ago, a little stubborn boy went to his parish priest and said “Father, I will like to do the things you do”. “What things the priest asked and the boy replied “the things you do as a priest”. The priest then said to him, “Ok my boy, the priesthood is a vocation and you are not yet called to it”. With this the boy retorted, “but you told us on the feast of the baptism of Our Lord that by virtue of our baptism, we share in the tripartite offices of Christ as Priest, Prophet and King and that we all have our vocations, having being baptized and with a vocation, how then am I not called to it?”.

The little intelligent boy in our story posed an interesting question to the priest on the concept of vocation. The word ‘vocation’ is from the Latin verb voco vocare, meaning ‘to call’. Vocation is a call to something. In Christian context, vocation is regarded as a special call by God to a special duty especially a religious duty.

Pope Benedict Condemns Gay Marriage Before Vatican Diplomats

The Roman Pontiff, Pope Benedict XVI yesterday in his annual address to ambassadors to the Vatican warned that laws permitting abortion and undermining the traditional family are threatening “the future of humanity.”  Speaking particularly of the West, the Holy Father said, “I am convinced that legislative measures which not only permit but at times even promote abortion for reasons of convenience or for questionable medical motives compromise the education of young people and, as a result, the future of humanity.”