Grassroots Empowerment

I’ve sometimes had problems with outcomes after I resigned myself to someone doing something right, only to find they failed to do so. Today’s first reading echoes such a situation, but positively, after the Prophet Jeremiah (Jeremiah 20:7-9) felt deceived by God, even though he had submitted his will to being so “duped.” Nevertheless, despite […]

When we live with a sense of purpose, we see our lives and responsibilities differently. In this weekend’s Bible passages, even with eventual recognition, the contrasting experiences of Shebna and Eliakim in the first reading (Isaiah 22:19-23) remind us that positions, privileges, and opportunities are ultimately entrusted to us for a purpose. Shebna loses his

God seems to be proclaiming through the outstretched arms of Jesus Christ on the Cross a message that knows no bounds of race, nationality, culture, or social position (John 12:32). Long before the coming of Christ, Isaiah announced this universal invitation when it was declared that foreigners who join themselves to the Lord and remain

Although I was never particularly a fan of him, Dino Melaye’s (a Nigerian politician) well-known statement captures an important truth about prophetic witness: “If you speak, you are killed; if you don’t speak, you get killed too.” These words, which were not an invitation to seek suffering, serve as a reminder that silence in the

Deep within every human heart is an enduring desire for life, nourishment, and fulfillment. This longing hugely explains why not only humans but all living creatures instinctively seek what sustains their existence. We naturally gravitate toward whatever promises satisfaction and peace, holding fast to their sources for as long as possible.  In line with these

What Would You Do? is a classic American hidden-camera television program that I have enjoyed watching in the past, hosted by John Quiñones, that explores human ethics, moral choices, and bystander intervention in everyday situations. John is a motivational speaker and journalist working for ABC News in the United States.  In many ways, this weekend’s

As part of its ongoing commitment to expanding access to quality education for disadvantaged children, the Grassroots Access to Empowerment Foundation (GATE) conducted a project visit to St. Joseph Catholic Parish/Mark Unegbu Memorial School, Awarra, located in Ohaji Local Government Area of Imo State, Nigeria. Engr. Dr. Chigozie Offurum, the foundation’s chairman of the board,

The readings for the Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (7/19/26) reveal a profound truth about the heart of God when it states that justice and kindness are not opposing forces but inseparable siblings. The Book of Wisdom reminds us that although God is all-powerful, He governs with mercy and judges with clemency (Wisdom 12:13, 16–19).

Life always has lessons for us every day. If we are willing to listen, we will hear; if we truly hear, we will understand; and if we understand, we will learn. This progression is beautifully reflected in the readings for the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, as the Church leads us through Isaiah 55:10-11; Psalm

This Sunday’s first reading, the Book of Zechariah (9:9-10), may initially sound somewhat exclusive in its language, given its direct call to the daughter of Zion to rejoice, even though both men and women equally experience the joys and burdens of a nation’s political and social realities. In the Gospel, however, Jesus broadens the invitation

The story of Elisha and the couple from Shunem (2 Kings 4:8-11, 14-16a), together with Jesus’ teaching in today’s Gospel (Matthew 10:37-42), provides context for my reflection with you this weekend. Although the readings appear to emphasize acts of kindness toward the messengers of the Gospel, such as prophets, priests, and religious men and women,

On this weekend of the Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time, I find myself reflecting on what gives us, as Christians, confidence in the face of adversity. What sustains our courage amid persistent challenges? One answer emerges clearly from today’s Gospel, clarifying that just as Jesus Christ is the light of the world (John 8:12), we