Jesus was born into Jewish culture, significantly shaping His way of life. When the Scriptures say He came to His native land and amazed the people with His wisdom (Matthew 13:54-58), it refers to His return to the Jewish territory of His birth. Notably, Christianity inherited several observances from Judaism, such as the Passover and […]
Like a net cast into the sea to gather fish (Matthew 13:47-53), God has drawn us together as His people. Though our praises add nothing to His greatness, God’s joy is complete when we listen to Him and follow His commands. This result is precisely how God expressed His joy when Moses obeyed Him, as
Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Priest. 07/31/25. Chima Offurum. Read More »
Today’s first reading from the Book of Exodus (33:7-11; 34:5-9; 28) highlights a powerful connection between the Church as a sacred meeting place with God and our own homes as spiritual spaces where prayer and worship also take root. Each time Moses entered the Tent of Meeting, the people stood at the entrances of their
Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. 07/29/25. Chima Offurum Read More »
Last weekend, we started a reflection on the theme of prayer, where I described prayer in whatever setting as a sacred encounter through which we acknowledge the nearness of God and the sanctity of His presence in our daily lives. This weekend, the theme stands out again in St. Paul as our enabler to ask
Prayer Attitude and Framing. 07/27/25. Chima Offurum. Read More »
Today, the Church invites us to reflect on the life and witness of one of her great ambassadors, St. James. A son of Zebedee and often considered a cousin of Jesus, James was a man who made decisive choices and lived with conviction. Though fully human and aware of his limitations, he trusted in the
Yesterday, we reflected on Moses’ leadership model, focusing on how true leaders take responsibility even for communal actions and engage with their people to seek meaningful solutions. Today, I continue that reflection by highlighting how authentic leaders use relatable narratives to inspire self-driven change. In the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13:1-17), Jesus speaks to
Leaders use relatable narratives to Influence Followership. 07/24/25. Chima Offurum. Read More »
Leadership plays a vital role in the smooth functioning of any organization or community. In today’s first reading from the Book of Exodus (16:1-5; 9-15), we witness the people’s revolt against Moses and how his response becomes a powerful example of true leadership. Authentic leaders take responsibility; they acknowledge when things go wrong and open
Leaders take responsibility and are engaging. 07/23/25. Chima Offurum. Read More »
Whether in a community setting, like in the Church, or in the privacy of your room, prayer is a sacred encounter. The Catechism of the Catholic Church refers to prayer as a communication process through which we acknowledge the nearness of God and the sanctity of that nearness in our daily lives. In the Sixteenth
Prayer: A Relationship and Surrender. 07/20/25. Chima Offurum Read More »
(Reflection for Thursday in Week Fifteen of the Ordinary Time). 07/21/25. Chima Offurum. Names carry deep meaning and purpose. We are recognized through our names, and these shape our identity. When Moses asked God to reveal His name, I guess he sought to configure God into an identity marker. The first reading says that God
There is More to Names than as Mere Identifiers. Read More »
Human curiosity is a powerful force that often leads to moments of revelation and transformation, as seen in Moses’ decision to approach the burning bush in today’s first reading. His awe and wonder at what he saw revealed how natural it is to seek understanding when confronted with the extraordinary. Yet, it was not
God’s love is not an abstract idea. It is intimate, tangible, and deeply personal. John’s gospel (3:16) reveals that God loved the world so much that He gave up His Son to save the world. That passage continued to say that God did not send His Son into the world to condemn it, but that
Loving Without Measuring the Cost. 07/13/25. Chima Offurum. Read More »
The Sacred Scriptures set apart one spectacular description of discipleship. That description, as seen today from Luke’s Gospel (10:1-12; 17-20), is that discipleship is not a call to comfort but a mission marked by trust, simplicity, and vulnerability. When Jesus sent forth the seventy-two disciples ahead of Him, He offered no illusions of safety; the
Remaining Focused with Unwavering Purpose. 07/06/25. Chima Offurum. Read More »
