Fr Joyful Noel

"GOD'S POWER IS TO SAVE, NOT TO DESTROY NOR PUNISH."

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A (Wis 12:13, 16-19; Ps 86:5-6, 9-10, 15-16a; Rom 8:26-27; Mt 13:24-4

Introduction

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, one of the greatest misunderstandings about God is to imagine Him as a God who delights in punishment rather than in salvation. Today's liturgy corrects that false image. The readings reveal a God whose power is expressed not through vengeance but through mercy; not through destruction but through salvation. Human beings often become impatient, quick to judge, quick to condemn, and eager to separate people into "good" and "bad," "friends" and "enemies." God, however, sees beyond the present moment. His justice is always united with mercy.

The Psalmist joyfully proclaims: "For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you." (Psalm 86:5)

This is the heart of today's message.

1. God's Omnipotence Is Revealed Through Mercy

The Book of Wisdom presents one of the most beautiful descriptions of God in the Old Testament: "Your strength is the source of righteousness... Though you are master of might, you judge with clemency." (Wisdom 12:16,18)

Unlike earthly rulers who often use power to dominate, intimidate, or destroy, God uses His infinite power to forgive, heal, restore, and save.

True strength is not found in revenge but in mercy.

Jesus Himself says: "The Son of Man came not to destroy men's lives but to save them." (Luke 9:56)

Again, He declares: "God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him." (John 3:17)

The Cross itself proves that God's greatest display of power is sacrificial love.

St. Augustine beautifully says: "God's mercy is greater than all our misery."

Likewise, St. John Chrysostom teaches: "Nothing makes us resemble God so much as being ready to forgive the wicked and those who injure us."

2. God's Patience Gives Every Sinner Time to Repent

In the Gospel, Jesus narrates the Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds.

The servants want immediate action: "Do you want us to go and pull them up?"

But the master replies: "No; lest in gathering the weeds, you root up the wheat along with them." (Matthew 13:29)

How different God is from us!

We want instant judgment.

God offers time for repentance.

We classify people permanently.

God still sees possibilities for conversion.

We often give up on people.

God never gives up on His children.

St. Peter reminds us: "The Lord is not slow concerning His promise... but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9)

Think of Saul, who became Paul.

Think of Zacchaeus.

Think of Mary Magdalene.

Think of the Good Thief.

All were transformed because God waited patiently.

St. Ambrose says: "Where there is mercy, there is the Spirit of God; where there is harshness, there is only human weakness."

3. We Judge Too Quickly

One danger Jesus warns against is becoming judges of other people.

We often divide society into:

- Good and evil
- Saints and sinners
- Friends and enemies
- Those worthy of love and those deserving rejection.

Yet only God sees the human heart.

The Lord says: "Judge not, that you be not judged." (Matthew 7:1) Again, "Man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart." (1 Samuel 16:7)

Many people we condemn today may become saints tomorrow.

Many whom we admire today may later fall if they do not remain faithful.

Only God knows the whole story.

St. Augustine wisely observes: "There are many sheep outside and many wolves within."

How true!

Therefore, humility must replace judgment.

4. God's Justice Is Never Separated From Mercy

Today's reading does not deny God's judgment.

Rather, it teaches that judgment belongs to God and comes at the proper time.

The weeds are not ignored forever. The harvest will come. Justice delayed is not justice denied.

Jesus explains: "The harvest is the end of the age." (Matthew 13:39)

There will indeed be eternal judgment.

But before judgment comes mercy.

Before punishment comes invitation.

Before condemnation comes countless opportunities for conversion.

Pope St. John Paul II wrote: "Mercy does not abolish justice, but it is its fullest expression." (Dives in Misericordia)

5. The Holy Spirit Helps Our Weakness

St. Paul reminds us: "The Spirit helps us in our weakness... intercedes for us with sighs too deep for words." (Romans 8:26)

Even when we fail, God's grace continues working within us.

Sometimes, we do not know how to pray.

Sometimes, we become discouraged.

Sometimes, we lose hope.

Yet the Holy Spirit never abandons us.

He prays within us.

He strengthens us.

He slowly transforms weeds into fruitful wheat.

This is another sign that God desires salvation more than condemnation.

Lessons for Our Daily Christian Life

1. Never be quick to condemn others.
2. Give people room to repent and change.
3. Be patient with your family members.
4. Pray for your enemies instead of cursing them.
5. Do not lose hope because of your past sins.
6. Allow God's mercy to transform your life.
7. Trust God's timing rather than demanding immediate judgment.

As Jesus commands: "Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you." (Matthew 5:44)

Challenges in Our Society

In our society today, marked by violence, revenge, ethnic division, religious tension, and political hostility, many demand immediate retaliation. Social media often encourages public condemnation instead of correction, and people are quickly labelled as hopeless. As Christians, however, we are called to imitate the patience of God. While we must oppose evil and work for justice, we should never abandon hope that sinners can repent or forget the dignity of every human person created in God's image.

Conclusion

Dear brothers and sisters, God's power is unlike human power.

Human power destroys. God's power restores.

Human power humiliates. God's power heals.

Human power condemns. God's power saves.

Therefore, let us imitate our heavenly Father.

May we become patient where we are impatient.

Merciful where we are judgmental.

Forgiving where we are wounded.

Hopeful where others despair.

May the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Mercy, obtain for us hearts that reflect the compassionate heart of her Son, Jesus Christ.

Amen.

“REMEMBER YOUR COMPASSION, O LORD.”

3rd Week of Lent Year A (Dan 3:25, 34–43; Ps 25; Mt 18:21–35)

1. A Cry for Mercy in a Broken World

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

The liturgy of today invites us to enter deeply into the heart of God through the prayer of the Psalmist: “Remember your compassion, O Lord, and your merciful love, for they are from of old.” (Ps 25:6)

This prayer is the cry of a sinner who knows that human strength alone cannot save him. It is the voice of humanity wounded by sin but confident in God’s unfailing mercy.

Lent is precisely this sacred season when the Church invites us to rediscover God’s compassion. We come before Him not because we are perfect, but because His mercy is greater than our sins.

The prophet Daniel, the Psalmist, and Jesus Himself all teach us today that God remembers mercy—but He also calls us to extend that same mercy to others.

2. The Prayer of the Humble: Trusting God’s Compassion

In the first reading, we hear the beautiful prayer of Azariah from the fiery furnace. Israel had sinned and suffered humiliation and exile. Yet instead of blaming God, Azariah humbly acknowledges their sins: “We have sinned and transgressed by departing from you.” (Daniel 3:29)

But notice something powerful: even in the midst of suffering, he appeals to God’s mercy. “Do not withdraw your mercy from us for the sake of Abraham, your beloved.” (Dan 3:35)

This teaches us a profound spiritual truth:

The door to God’s compassion is opened by humility.

Pride blocks grace, but humility attracts mercy.

St. Augustine once said: “God does not choose the worthy, but by choosing them, He makes them worthy.”

When we acknowledge our weakness and turn to God sincerely, His compassion flows like a river.

3. The Lord Who Guides Sinners

The responsorial Psalm continues this theme beautifully: “He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.” (Ps 25:9)

God does not abandon sinners; He guides them back to the right path.

The saints teach us that God's mercy is always greater than our failures.

St. John Chrysostom said: “No sin is so great that it can overcome the mercy of God.”

Many people today carry the heavy burden of guilt, regret, and past mistakes. But today's message reminds us: God’s compassion is older than our sins.

His mercy existed before we ever fell.

As Scripture says: “Where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.” (Rom 5:20)

4. The Challenge of Forgiveness

In the Gospel, Peter asks Jesus a practical question: “Lord, if my brother sins against me, how often must I forgive? As many as seven times?”

Peter thought he was being generous.

But Jesus answers: “Not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

This means forgiveness without limits.

Jesus then tells the parable of the unforgiving servant. A servant owed the king an enormous debt—something impossible to repay. Yet the king forgave everything.

But that same servant refused to forgive a small debt owed to him.

The lesson is clear: Those who receive God’s mercy must show mercy to others.

Jesus concludes with a serious warning: “So will my heavenly Father do to you, unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart.”

Forgiveness is not optional for Christians. It is a condition for receiving mercy.

5. Why Forgiveness Is Difficult

Forgiveness can be very hard. People hurt us deeply. Sometimes, the wounds remain for years.

But holding onto resentment destroys the soul.

The Book of Sirach teaches: “Forgive your neighbour the wrong he has done, and then your sins will be pardoned when you pray.” (Sir 28:2)

St. Cyprian also said: “How can you ask God for mercy if you yourself refuse to be merciful?”

When we refuse to forgive, we imprison ourselves in bitterness.

But when we forgive, we allow God's compassion to heal our hearts.

6. The Compassion of Christ on the Cross

The greatest example of mercy is Jesus Himself.

While hanging on the cross, after being insulted, tortured, and rejected, He prayed: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34)

This is divine compassion.

Jesus does not only teach forgiveness—He lives it.

St. Leo the Great said: “The cross of Christ reveals both the depth of human sin and the greater depth of God’s mercy.”

7. Lenten Lessons for Our Lives

As we continue our Lenten journey, today’s readings invite us to reflect on three important lessons:

1. Recognize our need for mercy
Like Azariah, we must humbly acknowledge our sins.

2. Trust in God’s compassion
God never rejects a repentant heart. “A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.” (Ps 51:17)

3. Forgive others sincerely
If God forgives us so much, we must forgive others generously.

8. Conclusion: Becoming Instruments of Mercy

Dear brothers and sisters,

The prayer “Remember your compassion, O Lord” should not only be our cry to God; it should also shape our attitude toward others.

When we forgive, we become reflections of God’s mercy in the world.

The world today is wounded by hatred, revenge, division, and bitterness. What it needs most are Christians who live the mercy of Christ.

As St. Francis of Assisi prayed: “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred, let me sow love.”

May this Lenten season help us to experience deeply the compassion of God, and may that same compassion flow through us to everyone we meet.

And may the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of Mercy, lead us to hearts that forgive as Christ forgives.

Amen.

WHEN IS AN ACT CONSIDERED A SIN

An act is considered a sin when it goes against the law of God, harms our relationship with Him, and damages the good of ourselves or others. In Christian teaching, especially in the Catholic tradition, sin is not simply a mistake; it is a free and conscious turning away from God’s will.

1. Definition of Sin

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches: “Sin is an offence against reason, truth, and right conscience; it is a failure in genuine love for God and neighbour.” (CCC 1849)

The Bible also states: “Everyone who commits sin commits lawlessness; sin is lawlessness.” (1 Jn 3:4)

Thus, sin occurs when a person freely chooses something that contradicts God’s law of love.

2. Three Conditions That Qualify an Act as Sin

For an act to truly be a sin in the moral sense, three elements are usually present:

1. The Matter Must Be Wrong (Grave or Evil Act)

The action itself must be morally wrong according to God's law.

Examples in Scripture include:

Lying (Prov 12:22)

Adultery (Ex 20:14)

Hatred or injustice (1 Jn 3:15)

2. Full Knowledge

The person knows that the act is wrong.

Jesus said: “If you were blind, you would not have guilt; but now that you say, ‘We see,’ your guilt remains.” (Jn 9:41)

If someone truly does not know an action is wrong, their responsibility may be reduced.

3. Deliberate Consent

The person freely chooses to do the act.

St. Augustine describes sin as: “A word, deed, or desire contrary to the eternal law.”

If someone is forced or acting without freedom, the guilt may be lessened.

3. Types of Sin

Christian teaching generally distinguishes two main types:

1. Mortal Sin

Serious matter

Full knowledge

Full consent

It destroys the grace of God in the soul.

> “The wages of sin is death.” (Rom 6:23)

2. Venial Sin

Less serious matter or lacking full knowledge/consent

It weakens our relationship with God but does not completely break it.

4. Sin Can Occur in Three Ways

Sin is not only what we do bu

“THE CALL OR VOCATION TO BE TRANSFIGURED.”

The 2nd Sunday Lent, Year A (Gen.12:1–4a; Ps 33; 2 Tim 1:8b–10; Mt 17:1–9)

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, On this second Sunday of Lent, the Church presents to us a powerful truth: Lent is not only a call to repentance; it is a call to transfiguration. God does not merely call us to leave sin—He calls us to become radiant with His glory.

The Gospel of the Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1–9) is not merely about a change in Jesus’ appearance; it is about our vocation to be transformed. Lent is a journey from what we are into what God calls us to become. Today’s readings reveal that our Christian vocation is a journey from call to transformation.

1. The Call of Abraham: Leave to Become

In the first reading (Genesis 12:1–4a), God says to Abraham: “Go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you.”

Every transfiguration begins with a departure. Abraham had to leave familiarity to enter promise. Transformation requires movement — spiritual movement. We cannot remain in sin, complacency, or spiritual laziness and expect glory.

The call of Abraham is our call:

Leave fear for faith.

Leave sin for grace.

Leave self-will for God’s will.

As Psalm 33 reminds us: “The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.”

But we only experience this goodness when we trust and obey.

Abram is called to leave security, familiarity, and comfort. He does not yet know the destination, but he trusts the Caller.

This is the first step toward transfiguration: detachment.

You cannot be transformed if you refuse to move. You cannot shine if you cling to darkness.

Like Abraham:

We are called to leave sin.

We are called to leave mediocrity.

We are called to leave self-sufficiency.

As St. Augustine says: “God who created you without you will not save you without you.”

Abram obeyed, and his obedience made him a blessing to the nations. Your obedience can also become a blessing to your famil

"IT IS WRITTEN, MANSHALL NOT LIVE BY BREAD ALONE BUT BY EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS FROM THE MOUTH OF GOD."

CELEBRATE WITH ME AS I TURNED UP A NEW PAGE IN LIFE TODAY

Today, with deep joy and filial gratitude, we celebrate the birthday of His Lordship, Most Revd Dr. Julius Yakubu Kundi, the devoted Shepherd of the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan, in Kafanchan Diocese.

My Lord Bishop, as you mark this blessed 15th day of February, our hearts rise in thanksgiving to God for the priceless gift you are to the Church and to humanity.

You are a shepherd after the heart of Christ — tireless in service, steadfast in faith, and fearless in truth. Like the Good Shepherd in John 10:11, you lay down your strength daily for the flock entrusted to your care. Your hardworking vigour is not merely physical energy; it is the fire of apostolic zeal burning within you. You labour without counting the cost, moving from parish to parish, community to community, bringing hope, encouragement, and direction.

Your benevolence and magnanimous soul reflect the generosity of Christ Himself. In quiet acts of charity, in your fatherly counsel, and in your compassionate outreach to the poor and the vulnerable, you embody the words of Acts 20:35: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Many have found solace, support, and strength because your heart is wide enough to carry the burdens of others.

Your availability and accessibility are rare gifts in leadership. You do not shepherd from a distance; you walk among your people. Clergy, religious, and laity alike experience your open door and listening ear. In a world where many leaders are distant, you remain present. In times of difficulty, you stand firm; in times of celebration, you rejoice with your flock.

Your life echoes the exhortation of St. Paul: “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season” (2 Timothy 4:2). Through challenges and triumphs, you continue to guide the Diocese with courage, wisdom, and unwavering trust in Divine Providence.

On this special birthday, we pray that the Lord who called you and consecrated you will renew your strength like the eagle’s (Isaiah 40:31). May He preserve your health, deepen your joy, enlarge your vision, and crown your sacrifices with abundant fruits. May the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church, continue to intercede for you and cover your ministry with her maternal mantle.

Happy Birthday, Your Lordship.
Thank you for your fatherhood.
Thank you for your sacrifice.
Thank you for being a light in our Diocese.

Ad multos annos! May your years be many, fruitful, and filled with God’s peace.

GO TELL YOUR MASTER THE KING THAT I AM HERE PART THREE:
Prophetic Meaning for Us Today

Saying “I am here” means refusing to hide from God’s call. It is the language of availability. Like Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord” (Lk 1:38), we also say: “Here I am, Lord, send me.”

Saying “I am here” is also a declaration of deliverance. It means no power of Ahab, Jezebel, no idol of Baal, no drought or famine, can silence the servant of God.

Prophetic Prayer Points for Deliverance

1. Prayer for Boldness:
Holy Spirit, give me the boldness of Elijah to stand before every “Ahab” and “Jezebel” in my life. Let me never fear the enemy, but declare with faith: “The Lord, He is God!” (1 Kgs 18:39).

2. Prayer of Boldness
Lord Jesus, give me the courage of Elijah to stand in Your name. Let every spirit of fear be broken in my life, for it is written: “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and sound mind” (2 Tim 1:7).

3. Prayer Against Idolatry
O Lord, just as Elijah destroyed the prophets of Baal, let every idol in my heart and in my family be uprooted. I declare with authority: “The Lord, He is God!” (1 Kgs 18:39)
⁰
4. Prayer for the Fire of the Holy Spirit
Heavenly Father, let Your consuming fire fall upon my life, my family, and my church. Burn away every work of darkness, every yoke of oppression, and every demonic covenant, for it is written: “Our God is a consuming fire” (Heb 12:29).

5. Prayer for Open Heavens
Just as Elijah prayed and the heavens gave rain, Lord, open the heavens over my life. Let every drought—spiritual, financial, or physical—end today. Pour out Your blessings, for You promised: “I will open the windows of heaven and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need” (Mal 3:10).

6. Prayer of Surrender
Lord, like Elijah I declare: “Here I am.” Use me as Your vessel to confront evil, to proclaim Your Word, and to intercede for the world. Send me out in the power of the Holy Spirit, for it is written: “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be my witnesses” (Acts 1:8).

7. Prayer for God’s Presence:
Lord, arise in Your power and let every power of Baal, every false god in my life, be brought down. As Elijah declared Your presence, I also declare: “Jesus Christ, You are here in my life, in my family, and in my nation!”

8. Prayer for Fire from Heaven:
O consuming fire of God (Heb 12:29), fall upon every altar of darkness in my life. Let every chain of bo***ge be consumed, and let my heart burn only for You, O Lord.

9. Prayer for Open Heavens:
Father, as Elijah prayed and the heavens gave rain, let every drought in my spiritual life, my health, my finances, and my family be broken. Let the showers of Your blessing and deliverance fall afresh upon me.

10. Prayer for Restoration:
Lord Jesus, send Your rain of restoration over my land. Heal every dryness, restore every broken place, and let my life bear witness to Your glory.

Concluding Exhortation

Beloved, just as Elijah’s presence was a sign of God’s intervention, so too our faith, prayer, and witness must become signs to the world that the living God is among us. In Christ, we are able to stand and declare with authority: “Go and tell the king—I am here, because my God is here!”