Dear Rev. Fr. Dr. George Kwasi Kyeremeh,
Congratulations on the successful completion of your Ph.D. degree! This remarkable achievement is a testament to your dedication, hard work, and unwavering trust in God’s providence. May this milestone be a blessing to you, your ministry, and all whom you serve. As you continue to grow in wisdom and strength, may the Holy Spirit guide you in sharing the treasures of your studies for the glory of God and the good of His people.
– Rev. Fr. Clifford Atta Anim
Dec 1 Monday: Mt 8: 5-11
The healing of the centurion’s servant in today’s Gospel shows how God responds to sincere, trusting prayer. A centurion was a disciplined, respected officer who commanded a hundred soldiers and held a key role in the Roman military. Luke explains that this particular centurion valued the Jewish people and even supported their worship. Aware that entering the home of a Gentile could make a Jew ritually unclean, he sent word that he was not worthy to have Jesus enter his house. His humility was genuine, and his affection for his sick servant was strong. He also understood authority, so he believed that a simple word from Jesus, spoken from a distance, could bring complete healing. This kind of confidence was remarkable for a Gentile officer, especially since he risked the mockery of other Roman soldiers by turning to a Jewish teacher for help.
Jesus was deeply touched by this man’s faith. The centurion trusted that Jesus’ word carried the same force as a command on a battlefield. Just as he could speak and soldiers obeyed, he believed Jesus could speak and sickness would depart. Scripture gives other examples of such trust, like the woman with the hemorrhage who believed a touch would heal her (Mark 5.25-34), or the royal official who believed Jesus’ word about his son’s recovery (John 4.46-53). Seeing such faith, Jesus told the centurion, “Let it be done for you as you believed,” and the servant was healed at that very hour.
Life messages
- We are called to grow toward the centurion’s kind of faith by knowing Christ personally. This happens through steady meditation on Scripture, personal and family prayer, regular participation in the sacraments especially the Eucharist, and humble service that reflects Christ’s love.
- Like the centurion, we acknowledge that we are not worthy to receive Jesus, yet we still ask him to enter our hearts and heal us. Every time we approach Holy Communion, we echo his words, trusting that the Lord can restore and strengthen our souls. God bless you.
Dec 2: Tuesday: Lk 10: 21-24
When the seventy-two disciples came back from their mission filled with joy at what God had done through them, Jesus shared their rejoicing and lifted his voice in a spontaneous prayer of praise. His prayer highlights three key themes.
- Jesus first celebrates the way God works through humility. He points out that the Father hides the mystery of the Kingdom from the proud yet reveals it to those who come with the simplicity and openness of children. This reflects a constant biblical pattern. God chose young David over his stronger brothers, called Jeremiah despite his youth, and praised the humble tax collector who beat his breast rather than the Pharisee who boasted of his virtues. It is the humble, Jesus teaches, who can truly recognize him as Lord and Savior.
- Jesus then speaks about his unique relationship with the Father. Father and Son share the same divine life and knowledge, and the Spirit joins them in that perfect unity. Because of this communion, only the Son can reveal the heart of the Father to the world. As Scripture says, “Whoever has seen me has seen the Father,” and Jesus’ entire mission shows what God is like, not only in power but in mercy, forgiveness, and compassion.
- Finally, Jesus declares that he is the long-awaited Messiah whom the prophets announced. Many holy people in Israel longed to see the fulfillment of God’s promises, from Isaiah to Simeon, yet it is the disciples who were given the privilege of seeing God’s saving plan unfold before their eyes. They walked with the One whom generations had hoped for.
Life messages
- We are invited to recognize how blessed we are. Unlike many in Jesus’ time who struggled to understand him, we have the gift of meeting him in the Eucharist, hearing him in the Scriptures, and experiencing his presence in the Church and in one another.
- For this reason, we are encouraged to share in his life by receiving Holy Communion with faith, listening to God’s word through thoughtful reading of Scripture, and worshiping together as a community of believers. God bless you.
Dec 3 Wednesday: St. Francis Xavier, priest, Missionary. Mt 15: 29-37
The Decapolis was a loose association of ten cities where Jews and Gentiles lived side by side. After spending several months traveling through that region by way of Tyre and Sidon, Jesus eventually returned to Galilee. The healing and feeding described in today’s Gospel took place on a hillside near the Sea of Galilee after that long journey. Crowds brought to him people who were lame, maimed, blind, or unable to speak, and Jesus restored them. Seeing the great number of people who had been with him for days, he felt deep pity for their hunger and turned to his apostles.
When the disciples pointed out that they had no way to feed such a crowd, Jesus asked what food they had on hand. They answered, “Seven loaves and a few small fish.” Jesus told the people to sit, then took the loaves and fish, offered thanks to the Father, broke them and handed them to the disciples to distribute. Everyone ate until they were satisfied. When it was over, Jesus instructed the apostles to gather the leftovers, and seven baskets of fragments were collected.
Life messages
- Jesus still wants to reach the blind, the lame, the deaf and the mute of our own time, not only physically but spiritually. He opens our eyes to see the needs around us, loosens our tongues to speak hope, and invites us to be instruments of his compassion. Through generous hearts like those of Francis of Assisi, Vincent de Paul, Fr. Damien and Mother Teresa, countless lives were changed. He asks for the same willingness from us.
- We also need to be fed by Jesus. In the Church he continues to nourish us with his Body and Blood in the Eucharist and with his word in the Scriptures so that we can find strength, direction and spiritual nourishment for the journey. God bless you.
Dec 4 Thursday: St. John Damacene, Priest, Doctor of the Church. Mt 7: 21, 24-27.
In today’s Gospel, which closes the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gives two strong warnings. First, he teaches that our profession of Faith must be joined to real obedience to the will of God. Second, he insists that our lives must rest on a firm foundation built on his teachings. Worship without conversion is empty. What proves sincerity in a disciple is not eloquent words but a life shaped by the Gospel. Good speech cannot replace good actions. Jesus is calling his followers to genuine discipleship, rooted in obedience to his word. To make the point, he contrasts a wise builder who puts up his house on solid rock with a careless builder who raises a house on loose summer sand. When storms come, only the house with a strong foundation survives, and the same is true for the spiritual life. Those who hear Jesus’ words but do not live them resemble the house that collapses. The two builders represent two paths, one shaped by true righteousness and the other by self-deception. At the final judgment, only the life founded on Christ will stand.
Life messages
- Our actions must reflect the Faith we profess. The value of our Sunday worship appears in the way we live during the week, in our homes, workplaces, parishes, and neighborhoods. The clearest sign of genuine Faith is the compassion, patience, encouragement, and forgiveness we show to others, especially those who rarely experience such kindness.
- We need to build our families on strong foundations. No marriage and no household can flourish without a stable center. That foundation is formed when husband and wife live the love of Christ toward each other and toward their children, not only in words but in daily choices. A healthy culture and a strong nation depend on the same grounding in God’s moral law and the love of Christ, which can only grow when our families are rooted in him. God bless you.
Dec 5 Friday: Mt 9: 27-31
Today’s Gospel recounts the healing of two blind men who approached Jesus with remarkable trust. Blindness was widespread in Palestine, partly because of the harsh sunlight, swarms of insects, and limited understanding of hygiene. These two men followed Jesus from the road into the house where he stopped, calling out to him as the “Son of David” and begging for mercy. Jesus recognized in them the essential conditions for a miracle: a confident and expectant Faith, a deep desire to see, and a sincere cry for compassion. After restoring their sight, he urged them to keep the matter quiet, yet their gratitude overflowed and they proclaimed his healing power throughout the region. Their witness showed how genuine thanksgiving naturally leads to sharing God’s goodness with others.
Life messages
- We also need the Lord to give us clear spiritual sight. We can be blind to the needs of those who live with us, blind to the presence of Christ in the people we meet, blind to the blessings and protection God gives every day. Let us ask for the grace to see with the eyes of Faith, to recognize Jesus’ presence within and around us, and to respond by doing good for others with generous hearts. God bless you.
Dec 6 Saturday : St. Nicholas, Bishop. Mt 9: 35-10:1, 5, 6-8
Today’s Gospel highlights three central aspects of Jesus’ mission, His proclaiming of the Father’s message, His teaching of God’s ways, and His healing of human suffering. First, Jesus comes as the Herald of the Father, announcing the Good News that God is not distant or harsh but is a loving and merciful Father who desires that all people be saved. Second, He teaches and preaches the Kingdom not only through words but through a life that reveals God’s compassion, patience, and readiness to forgive. Third, Jesus heals, giving generous attention to people burdened by physical sickness, emotional wounds, and spiritual oppression. The passage also tells us that Jesus chose twelve ordinary men, men with no special rank or education, and entrusted them with the authority to preach, heal, and carry His mission forward.
Life messages
- As followers of Christ, we share in His mission of announcing the Good News and bringing God’s healing presence into the world. Our witness should come through the sincerity of our daily lives, by showing mercy, offering forgiveness, and loving others without conditions.
- We are also called to be instruments of healing, praying for the sick, supporting them, helping them access care, and lifting their spirits with words of hope and compassion. God bless you.
