Acomplishing Great Task For The Lord

03-09-207 TWENTY SECOND SUNDAY OF THE YEAR (A)

SCRIPTURAL READING:

1. Jer. 20:7-9.

Ps. 63:2.3-4.5-6.8-9 (R. 2ab).

1. Rom. 12:1.2; Accl; Eph. 1:17-18.
2. Matt. 16:21-27.

Preamble:

Dear friends please repeat these words after me;

Stay with me Lord Jesus, as I give you my mind, may your word never depart from me.

Stay with me Lord Jesus, as I give you my ears, help me listen and obey your voice.

Stay with me Lord Jesus, as I give you my heart, help me welcome you always.

Holy Spirit, rekindle in me the fire of your love. Amen.

THEME: ACCOMPLISHING GREAT TASK FOR THE LORD.

Beloved in Christ, last Sunday was indeed great and I want to sincerely appreciate you all for your participation at our feast celebration. In a special way I really want to appreciate the committee for a job well done under the leadership of Mr. Patrick Okeibuno. May God bless you all.

I really want to thank God for what he has done, what he is doing and what he will still in St. Augustine Catholic Chaplaincy, Akoka as well as what he will do mightily in the College. I pray that the joy which this celebration has brought into our hearts may endure in the name of Jesus.

Last Monday I was with His Grace to present him the gifts which is a collective and visible expression of our love for him. In his words, I am happy with the work done over there-well done brother and keep up the good work. Friends, I only received the commendation as the shepherd but such commendation is for all of us so I want you all to stand up and give a thunderous round of applause to God and for yourselves for what we as a family united in love have been able to accomplish. May this continue to endure in St. Augustine Catholic Chaplaincy, Akoka, in our Families, works and businesses as well as in our schools in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Friends, the presence of His Grace, Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins has opened a new chapter for us both individually and collectively as a family united in Love. I really want us to cash in on this and never allow anything whatsoever to dampen our joy and peace of mind.

Friends if there be anything that would want to dampen your spirit, take your mind back to the joy that we experienced as a family of St. Augustine Catholic Chaplaincy, Akoka, think of all that happened above all His Grace Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins came to bless and open the Chapel of Perpetual Adoration.

Brothers and sisters, this didn’t come cheap. It happened as a result of all the Hard works and sacrifices, all the sleepless nights and collective efforts beginning from the promoters to the executors, from architects and workers to engineers and contractors, from our wonderful mothers to anonymous donors and to all who in one way or the other gave their priceless contributions to the success of this project, God has deemed it fit that this chapel of perpetual adoration be blessed and opened for our spiritual benefits. To God be the glory great things he has done!

Brothers and sisters it is wonderful to recall once again the dignity of our celebration last Sunday. To dedicate or to bless something means to set it aside for use, for a special purpose and last Sunday to the glory and honour of God we have set aside that sacred place as a house of God for worship and a place of prayer and refuge for hearts searching for purpose and meaning in life.

Ordinarily, a Chapel of Perpetual Adoration is a place where Christians find time to be alone with God in quiet meditation, reflection on the word of God, offer thanks and praise to God, pray together, receive the sacraments and even celebrate the Eucharist. But above all else, it is God’s temple built on living stones with Christ himself as the cornerstone where the Father is worshipped in spirit and in truth (1 Cor. 3:16-17; Eph. 2:19-22; Matt. 16:18). It is the people of God gathered together in the sacrament of his body and Blood. And that was the essence of asking His Grace to bless and open the chapel for us.

Everywhere as always when a chapel such as this is built or after it has been renovated solely for the assembly of the people of God, and the celebration of holy mysteries and for carrying out sacred functions we usually bless it and set it aside for sacred duties with holy water, prayers and blessings drawn from the solemn rite of the book of Blessing in accordance with the ancient custom of blessing a chapel of perpetual adoration.

This spiritual exercise carries a profound meaning. It speaks of God’s everlasting presence with his church. It reminds us that God is here (in the Chapel of Perpetual Adoration for St. Augustine Catholic Chaplaincy, Akoka) and does not go away for he promised to be with us to the end of time (Matt. 28:20).The Tabernacle is a visible sign of this omnipresence of God because God is there and will never go away. God is in that place waiting silently and patiently for us to come and adore him and bring our problems and desires to him. We should be confident in the Lord and avail ourselves of this opportunity by presenting ourselves to God whole and entirely.

The images of Our Lord and that of the Blessed Virgin Mary remind us of the wonderful role played in the history of our salvation. Whenever we enter the Chapel of Perpetual Adoration and we cast our gaze on those images, we are drawn to pray and reflect on their lives and virtues of obedience and humility in total surrender to God’s will.

The Stations of the Cross remind us that we also need to journey with God by carrying our cross daily and follow the Lord. Carrying the Corss is not going to be an easy task, it requires constant connect with the Lord who is the Lord of the way, the one who is our burden bearer, one who is our strength. We must approach him in confidence and total surrender and humbly ask him to please help us carry our cross daily and follow him.

Brothers and sisters, there may be times when we may want to abandon the cross and chase shadows, others may come to confuse us and distract us from truly accomplishing our task in life, friends like Jesus who in the Gospel passage ignored peter and said to him “Get Behind me Satan! You are a hindrance to me; for you are not on the side of God, but of men.”

Jesus didn’t call peter Satan rather he rebuked the influence of Satan working through Peter at that point in time. For peter thought carnally and not spiritually. He acted as a distraction and not as a force to help him focus. The only way to keep focused was to shut peter up so that the words do not poison his mission.

Brothers and sisters, we have come a long way. From pako church to this structure AC Church we have here today done by our wonderful brother and friend-Fr. George Anibuike and now to the beautiful Chapel of Perpetual Adoration done by our wonderful mothers. May his name be praised both now and forever in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Brothers and sisters we cannot afford to go back to those days of humble beginnings. We can remember them and smile over them but we must forge ahead with God, in total surrender to him, with courage, faith, trust and resilience.

Brothers and sisters remember this word, you are the driver of your destiny, your life, don’t let anyone steal your seat! People can steal your seat when we begin to be lazy, take things for granted, procrastinate, sit and begin to do blame game, not minding the business and work that the Lord has given us and begin the mind worldly businesses and abandon God.

Brothers and sisters we have a lot to accomplish. We need to get focused and that is the most important thing. While we thank God, we must remember always that great work lies ahead. For us as a church, we need to re-roof this place of worship, and construct a car park. I pray with the help of God we shall accomplish it in the name of Jesus. Amen.

During our family prayers on Wednesday, we decreed that we shall invite his Grace Most Rev. Alfred Adewale Martins, the Archbishop of the Metropolitan See of Lagos to bless this church come next year at this same time in the name of Jesus. Amen. This can be our lot and joy if we all begin to work hard and shelve distractions of any sort and embrace what is essential.

Brothers and sisters, let us note this few things;

1. The truth shall only come to you from this sanctuary.
2. Making St. Augustine Great is a collective effort and not that of Father Wisdom Chikezie alone.
3. Every child, teenager, youth, youth, young adult, aged has got a role to play in making our chaplaincy a great place.
4. Your positive, well thought out contribution, encouragement which aimed at progress and not to dampen ones spirit and energy as well as positive energy is welcomed and appreciated.
5. Your constant prayers for our Great Chaplaincy are necessary both at home, school, and work.
6. Be honest and sincere in your dealing with the priests for it attracts great blessings upon you and your household.
7. Cooperate with me in building this Chaplaincy for it will be to our collective joy and the glory of God.
8. Forgive everyone who has hurt so that you can feel better and soar high.
9. Work hard in the various assignments I have given to you.
10. Cooperate with the leaders we have placed in your society, organization, movement, association, liturgical ministries.
11. Remember always we have a vision and a mission and a chaplaincy project road map we are working with and do yourself some good to key into it.
12. Abandon any project or group that is not adding value to your life.
13. Remember to be a man or a woman who is conscious of making right decisions and not to be influenced by wrong words and rumours and gossips. Always ask the right questions and do not follow sentiments but reason and walk with faith.
14. Remember always this is the church where you received your sacraments and if you didn’t receive your sacraments here but have found yourself here, do your best to know that the church is the house of God and as I play my part sincerely in building it, the Lord is building my household.
15. Remember always that unity and love will make us tall.
16. Above all else, pray for the priests, the religious that the Lord may give them strength and courage to do his work. Remember that they are always praying and asking God’s blessings upon you.

I pray the Lord will help us accomplish great things for him in the name of Jesus. Amen.