“WALK DAILY WITH JESUS”, 26/05/26, (Tuesday, 8th Week in Ordinary Time of Year A. Also, Memorial of Saint Philip Neri, Presbyter, Religious Founder).

COLLECT: “O GOD, WHO NEVER CEASE TO BESTOW THE GLORY OF HOLINESS, ON THE FAITHFUL SERVANTS YOU RAISE FOR YOURSELF, GRACIOUSLY GRANT THAT THE HOLY SPIRIT MAY KINDLE IN US THAT FIRE WITH WHICH HE WONDERFULLY FILLED THE HEART OF SAINT PHILIP NERI. THROUGH OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST, YOUR SON, WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU IN THE UNITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, GOD, FOR EVER AND EVER. AMEN

1Pt 1:10-16; Ps 97:1-4 and Mk 10:28-31.

We celebrate a great Saint today, who is addressed as a “Saint of Joy”. The delightful St. Philip Neri, who is addressed as the “Saint of Joy” because of his special gift of the sense of humour, even in times of pain, difficulties, worries and disappointments. Accordingly, Philip was born in Florence, but came to Rome and never left there. When Rome was occupied and sacked in 1527, and was left in a miserable and pitiable condition, St. Philip visited the sick and the imprisoned. He taught children and heard confessions. He later founded an Order of Priestly Congregation called the Oratorio of Divine Love. He did all these to create joy and happiness in these people. May we emulate his example of putting smiles on people’s faces as well as creating joy and happiness in people.

Today’s scriptures put before us a certain character every believer should always put on, or a certain life we should live as Christians. We should be both inwardly and outwardly conformed to God’s standards. As we commit ourselves to following the Lord, we need to know that sometimes, there could still be a feeling of a pull back to our former or old ways of life, former or old life. This retrogressive pull will come from Satan, the prince of the world and its followers, as well as what the world contains.

As a way of protecting ourselves in order not to be pulled back to our old ways, Saint Peter cautioned us in the first reading to “gird up the loins of our mind, live soberly and set our hopes completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” We should be obedient children, and be holy in everything we do like our heavenly Father is Holy. Being holy implies that, we should be totally devoted and dedicated to God. We should be mindful that by our Christian calling, we are set apart for God’s special use. We should also be mindful that we are set apart from sin and its influence.

People, the world for that matter, should see us with a difference, not blending in with the crowd, yet not being different just for the sake of being different. The difference we make in the crowd will be as a result of the qualities of God in our lives. Our focus and priorities must be God’s.

One other difference in the life of the believer, which leads to holiness, is to learn to detach ourselves from the world and all it contains. We should be ready to give up worldly values for the sake of our Christian calling. Jesus makes it clear that in the world to come, the values of the world will be reversed, and that is where “many that are first will be last, and the last will be first” (Cf. Mk 10:31). Surely, Jesus assures us that anyone who gives up something valuable for his sake or for the sake of the Kingdom of God, will be repaid a hundred times over in this life, although not necessarily in the same way. We are cautioned that the next life will present surprises. Therefore, we need to always strive in this life so as not to be caught in confusion when we eventually meet these surprises. May this day be full of blessings for each one of us. May Saint Philip Neri intercede for us. Stay blessed and happy feast to all who bear the name Philip Neri

WE MEDITATE TODAY, TUESDAY, ON THE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES: ‘THE AGONY IN THE GARDEN, THE SCOURGING AT THE PILLAR, THE CROWNING WITH THORNS, THE CARRYING OF THE CROSS AND THE CRUCIFIXION’ (WE PRAY FOR SORROW FOR SIN, PURITY, COURAGE, PATIENCE, AND PERSEVERANCE) “Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus: Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us, sinners, now and the hour of our death, Amen”.

PRAYER: “HAVING FED UPON THESE HEAVENLY DELIGHTS, WE PRAY, O LORD, THAT IN IMITATION OF SAINT PHILIP WE MAY ALWAYS LONG FOR THAT FOOD BY WHICH WE TRULY LIVE. THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN.”

Rev. Fr. Aloysius Kpiebaya, Catholic Diocese of Wa, UW/R, Ghana. (00233) 0207867239/0545462863. Email: aloybaya20@yahoo.com.