Monday, 24th November, 2025.
Memorial of St Andrew Dung-Lac and Companions.
Theme: Present your Widow’s Mite to the Lord
(Dan 1:1-6,8-20, Ps(Dan 3), Lk 21:1-4)
The poor widow gave all she had to the Lord, whiles the rich gave out of their abundance. In other words, she gave from her heart what she had. Jesus today is teaching us to examine the motivations behind our giving. The rich in the synagogue were giving to show off their riches, but not to support the work of God. They want the other people to know that they are rich. Their motivation was one of gaining popularity.
In giving offering to the Lord or when we need to give to support the work of God, it must come from our hearts. When it comes from our hearts then God’s blessings can follow such a generous action. Abel took the best from what he had and offered to God. Precisely why his sacrifice was acceptable and Cain’s own was rejected. Some of us give to support the work of God or help others because sometimes we want to show off. We want people to know that we have money.
During our harvests and fundraising, we give to even sometimes compete with others. It is not how much you give in church but what motivates that giving. God is not interested in your monies and riches. It is better to give 10 cedis from your heart than to give 1000 cedis just to show off. The one who gave the 10 cedis will gain more blessings than the other person. But I am not by this encouraging giving small denominations. We can give millions of cedis if only it is coming from generous heart. God also deserves big monies and not giving such monies at funerals, weddings and others. Remember what you have is from God so you must use it to promote his kingdom. Some of us are found of sending small denominations to such but we can expend huge sum of monies on other things, sometimes which are unnecessary. Stop sending one cedis and the two cedis to church because it doesn’t fit you. You can do better than that and God will also bless you for that.
Our acts of generosity shouldn’t be motivated by becoming famous or popular, but from a heart full of care and love. Don’t help people because you want to be praised by society. Learn to do good in silence and your God who sees in secrets will also bless you. If you do good and society decides to use you as an example to encourage others that is a different thing. But don’t go round yourself broadcasting it, it is not Christian. Some of us would be broadcasting to others those we have helped and others we are helping. Please stop such attitudes because there is no blessings in that.
May Jesus help us always to be generous from our hearts but not for popularity sake. Amen .
Have a Blessed Week.
Shalom. 🙏🏼🙏🏼
Rev. Fr. Akakpo Matthew
Tuesday, 25th November, 2025.
Theme: We serve a God of Possibilities
(Dan 2:31-45 Ps(Dan 3), Lk 21:5-11)
The story of Daniel, Hananiah, Michael and Azariah points to the fact that God is able to make things possible where there seems to be no way. These were people who were captured as slaves during the Babylonian invasion in Israel. But they were chosen to become advisors to Nebuchadnezzar. We are told in yesterday first reading that the king found them to be ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom. I mean the entire Babylonian Empire. What a marvel and great works by the Lord. Even in exile as slaves the will of God prevailed in the lives of these young men. God proved himself that he is still God irrespective of the geographical location. Even in the home of their enemies they became great instruments and testimony of God.
In today’s reading, Daniel was able to interpret a dream of the king which eluded all his wise men, magicians and what have you. Which demonstrated the fact that when God is on your side, all things are possible. It is unthinkable as a slave to become a great person in the palace of your slave masters. In fact, in human terms it is not possible. But God made it possible for these young and faithful men.
Beloved in Christ, we serve a God of possibilities. He is able to bring hope in hopeless situations. When all hope seems to be lost, that’s where our God comes in to write a beautiful story. Never ever say in your life that this is not possible. The God that you serve can make a way where there seems to be no way. Therefore don’t listen to discouraging words by human beings. Human beings can really discourage you, frustrate you, they will kill any bit of hope in you. But don’t allow them to succeed. Tell them it is possible and it is just a matter of time. Your God will turn things around for your good. He has a track record of doing great things beyond human understanding.
Daniel and his brothers trusted in the Lord and his power of transformation. This is what God needs from us. We need to trust him and believe him as the only person who can change our story. I know some of us have been crying and having sleepless nights. I know how it feels when everything seems to come to a stand still in your life. When you seem to be in a limbo, not knowing which direction your life is heading towards. When it seems the world is crushing on you, and you have no one to turn to. My dear take heart and persevere in your prayer. I say pray till something positive happen. It may delay but surely it will come to pass. Remember delay is not denial. Everything happens for a reason, hence seek out that reason.
What God can’t do doesn’t exist. Don’t give up, stay strong and forge ahead. Your victory is just at the corner. And I know by the close of the year God will intervene in your situation. Trust me.
May Jesus help us always never to lose hope in any situation we find ourselves. Amen .
Have a Blessed Day.
Shalom. 🙏🏼🙏🏼
Rev. Fr. Akakpo Matthew
Wednesday, 26th November, 2025.
Theme: Show reverence to holy things
(Dan 5:1-6,13-14,16-17,23-28 Ps(Dan 3), Lk 21:12-19)
King Belshazzar, the son of Nebuchadnezzar did abominable things in the sight of God, and he incurred the wrath of God. His father had brought some of the holy vessels from the Jerusalem Temple during his conquer of the city. But he is now using these holy vessels for his social gatherings. And by so doing he had profaned the holy things of God and had disrespected him. No one disrespect God and go scot-free.
Beloved, this is a warning to all of us especially those of us who frequently get in touch with holy things. Our age has lost reverence for holy things. We keep on profaning and defiling the things of God every day. I want you to reflect on how you treat sacred things. Just check how you treat your bible. Some of us don’t care about where our bibles are lying. Our phones are more important to us than our bibles. We give more care and attention to our phones than our bibles. Some of us our bibles are so dusty to the point that we don’t care about their condition. Some of us can’t even maintain our bibles. Sometimes I look at some people’s bibles then I become sad. As if to say that they don’t place any value on the word of salvation. Their bibles are torn and they have no shame in carrying them. Meanwhile this same people can spend thousands of cedis on other things, but can’t maintain or buy a new bible. It is something so difficult for them to do.
As Catholics, another thing I would like us to check is the Holy Communion. Check how you receive the body and blood of Christ. Some of us have no reverence for it. Even our disposition in receiving the communion betrays us. Some people will even be chewing gum and immediately they remove it they are going to receive communion. Sometimes you will see some people who were only chatting without concentrating in the church, but when it is time for communion they are rushing to receive it. Sometimes we wonder whether they really understand what they are receiving. Please show much reverence and respect to the communion because it is not anything ordinary. You may incur the wrath of God if you continuously disrespect it. Disrespecting holy things is what we call sacrilege.
The church is another place of my focus. We have lost so much reverence for the house of God to the point that it has become a place of social gathering. Sometimes you have the blessed sacrament exposed and you still find people chatting as if they are in the market. How can we see transformation in our lives with such attitudes? Sometimes we disturb God for nothing. Please the church is not the place to discuss your funerals, weddings, naming ceremonies and so on. Please you can discuss such matters when you come out but not in the church. You are in the church to pray and encounter your God. Why do you then waste your time talking about things which will not benefit you spiritually. Please if you know you are part of those who can’t keep quiet in the church, then stop it. Because it is not a good spirit. You are rather promoting Satan in the house of God. Let’s also stop WhatsApping and the use of the social media in the church. Please you are defiling the house of God. The devil is using the phone to distract us from focusing in the house of God. Remember whenever you use your phone in church which can be avoided, then you are disrespecting God.
Let’s learn to show reverence and respect to religious items as much as possible. Familiarity they say breeds contempt. The more you become familiar with religious items and places can make you lose that reverence for them. Hence beware so that you don’t fall victim to that.
May Jesus help us always to grow in our virtue of reverence for holy things . Amen .
Have a Blessed Day.
Shalom. 🙏🏼🙏🏼
Rev. Fr. Akakpo Matthew
Thursday, 27th November, 2025
Theme: Don’t be afraid of Your Persecutors
( Dan 6:11-27,Ps (Dan 3) Lk 21:20-28)
In the first reading, some men agreed to plan evil against Daniel. Possibly out of jealousy. Because, Daniel was a stranger who has found favour with the king. Something that made others to be jealous of him. No wonder they had no choice than to connive to kill him.
Daniel held on to his faith as against the decree of the king. The fact that no one should worship any other god, aside the gods of the land. And his enemies took advantage of this to execute their evil intentions. But at the end they failed woefully.
The early Christians faced similar situations They suffered in the hands of the Jewish leaders on account of their faith. Jesus also points out in the gospels that some of these persecutors will be our own relatives and family members. People who are so close to us. They will stand against us because of our faith in Jesus. Some of these persecutors of Daniel am sure were very close to him, but wanted to eliminate him because of his faith.
When we stand to do the right thing, we will have a lot of oppositions. From our families, church, work places and so forth. But we should never give up, because of the treatment we receive from them. Beloved, in life you will definitely have people who will always plot against you. Don’t expect everyone to love you, some people will naturally hate you. Sometimes for no genuine reasons.
Our way of life challenges these people, hence the only way for them to continue their evils is to destroy you. Some will project negatives about you to make you unpopular. Humans in general do not like people who stand to do the right thing always, especially in our world of today. In such moments, stand firm and look up to God for your protection and deliverance.
Your God will never abandon you in their hands. They may seem to be on the winning side but God will come to your aid at the right moment. Continue to be the conscience to them, especially in this corrupt world of our time. When everybody seems to be enjoying the fruits of corruption.
God will fight for you, just as he did for Daniel. Their evil plans fell upon themselves. God will not abandon you in the hands of people who out of jealousy wants to destroy you. Their evil plans would be used to judge them, just like the case of Daniel. Just trust in your God.
Don’t follow the crowd to also do the wrong thing. Even if everybody is corrupt at your work place, you should be the only person who stands tall among them. One day they will appreciate you. We are called to be credible witnesses and not counter witnesses. The double standard way of life can’t promote the kingdom of God. If we also do what they are doing, how can we create the difference in our societies? Don’t be afraid to be insulted, disgraced, unfavored, hated, because of doing the right thing. That makes us true followers of Christ.
May God grant us the grace to stand persecutions and be the conscience of the people. Amen.
Have a Blessed Day.
Shalom.🙏🏼🙏🏼
Rev. Fr. Akakpo Matthew.
Friday, November, 2025.
Theme: Everything shall pass one Day
( Dan 7:2-14,Ps (Dan 3),Lk 21:29-33)
Jesus is warning us in the gospel reading that, this world will one day come to an end, where everything material will be destroyed. It is a passing world.But his word will never pass away. It means that those who believe in his word will live forever. Good people will inherit his kingdom whiles bad people will perish. It also means that one day you and I will die. Death is inevitable, no one will remain a rock on this earth.We should therefore never put our hope and trust in things which will one day fade away, but rather strive for the salvation of our souls in heaven. This is the message of Christ for us today.
The truth is that when you die the world has come to an end to you. But not to others who are alive. Our life will come to an end one day. And we will face judgement after our death on this earth. No one knows when this moment will come, hence it calls for vigilance and watchfulness.
Some of us live our lives as if there is no judgement after our life on this earth. We are not working for the salvation of our souls. We have concerned ourselves with too much worldly things, and have neglected God. We don’t care about things of God anymore. We spend a lot of time with things of the world than things of God. We are all victims of these situations.But at the end of the day those things can’t secure us our salvation. It is a wake-up call to all of us. Because we don’t know the hour the Lord will call us.
We shouldn’t allow people to deceive us so that we live a loose life in this world. It is after our death before we will realize it, and that will be too late to make amends. By then your fate has already been determined. If you have anything to do about your life, then it is the now. Tomorrow or the next second is not for you.
How many things are we carrying with us when we die? Your coffin can’t carry all your belongings with you. Even if they bury you with your car, how many of your things can your car carry? The wife of Lot lost her life because she was blinded by material things.Reflect about these realities of life.
Remember heaven and hell are real, don’t be deceived. Hence live a good life so that you can join the saints in heaven. Don’t live to regret it just like the rich man in the story of the Rich man and Lazarus. Like I know is always too late. And they say it is the philosophy of the fools . Ask yourself, if I die right now can I stand upright before God? If yes then continue your good works but if no then we have to change.
May the holy spirit give us the strength to live lives as people who hope beyond this material world. Amen
Have a Blessed Day.
Shalom.🙏🏼🙏🏼
Rev. Fr. Akakpo Matthew.
Saturday, 29th December, 2025.
Theme: Be Vigilant
(Dan 7:15-27,Ps (Dan 3), Lk 21: 34-36)
Jesus calls on us to be preparing for his second coming at all times, because we do not know when He will come again to judge the living and the dead. He compares that day to the manner in which a thief enters a house to rob a household. It is always unexpected, because if any individual knows when a thief will come, then we would have been prepared at all times for them. Hence, it calls for vigilance at all times.
Again, Jesus in the gospels compares it to a faithful or unfaithful servants. A faithful servant is always on the task given to him by his master, whiles the unfaithful one abandons his duty and engages in other unnecessary things. He only tries to remain focus when he hears of the coming of his master. But mostly they are taken unaware.
He warns us his followers who are fully aware of his message and the right thing to do. But we refuse to do it because of engagements of the world. We busy ourselves with things of the world and intentionally ignore him. There would be no mercy for us, because we have wasted all the opportunities he gave us. That is why the scripture says that judgment will begin from the house of God (1Pet. 4:17). Because much has been given to us, hence much is expected of us. We cannot disappoint God.
If we all know when we will die, then we can sin as long as we want and when our time is getting closer we change from our evil ways and gain salvation. But this is not the case. Death comes to us when we least expect, hence we need to live good lives so that one day we can enjoy eternal glory with our maker.
Unfortunately, some of us are so sleeping to the extent that we have forgotten that one day we will die and leave this world. We are living lives as people who do not believe in life after death. But experience and faith has taught us that heaven and hell are real. You are a Christian because you want to go to heaven one day, but our life styles betray us in this faith. It seems to me that we are joking with our salvation.
We need to work for our salvation, it is not received on a silver platter like the head of John the Baptist. Do not wait and meet your maker and ask for a second chance that will be too late for you. The only time you have is now. Remember, life is too short, so remember your creator when you have breath.
May the Holy Spirit our Helper grant us the grace to live lives worthy of us as people of faith waiting for our Redeemer. Amen.
Have a blessed Weekend.
Shalom
Rev. Fr. Akakpo Matthew
