WHO IS JESUS FOR US.
(A reflection given by Fr Stephen Ibitokun to priests of Catholic Diocese of Abeokuta on the day of priestly sanctification at holy family Catholic church Ewupe)
What a very simple question that takes us back to the fundamental root of our Christian calling. The essence of our gathering this day, besides many of our gatherings is to reflect on this.
Let us try to answer this question:
Jesus Christ is our Savior and Master.
Yes He is. That is why we are here on this account as Christians and His disciples. How does our Christian calling make positive impacts on the lives of others in the bid to win more souls/disciples for Christ?
“Jesus my Savior is all things to me,
Oh what a wonderful savior is He,
Guiding, protecting o’er life’s rolling sea,
Mighty deliv’rer, Jesus for me.”
Jesus Christ is the Light of the World.
Yes He is. As His disciples, we have been called to carry this light wherever we go; to illuminate our lives, society, community of Faith; so as to remove the darkness of sin and shed knowledge and understanding where there is ignorance of faith and daily living. How courageous are we to bear the light of Christ so that we can see and others can see? In your light, O Lord we see Light, therefore,
“Send the Light, the Blessed Gospel light,
Let it shine from shore to shore,
Send the Light, and let its radiant beams
Light the world forevermore!”
“There’s a call comes o’er the restless waves –send the Light, send the Light
There are souls to rescue, there are souls to save – send the light, send the light.”
Jesus Christ is our High Priest.
There is no doubt about that for us priests who have been called from among men as Aaron was. No one therefore takes this honor upon himself (c.f. Hebrews 5:4). Do we, as much as we can and in accordance to the mind of the Church, offer ourselves selflessly to God and humanity? How affective is our role as Priests, Kings, and God’s chosen people in our prophetic-administrative function?
“Priestly people, Kingly people, Holy people, God’s chosen people, Sing praise to the Lord”
“We sing to you, o Light bringing men out of darkness,
We give you praise, o guiding light who shows us the way to heaven.”
Jesus Christ: A model of a simple and concerned Pastor.
Can we really deny this? The simple and pastoral approach of Jesus Christ in bringing sheep into the fold while ensuring all peoples enjoy the good news has been very affective. Can we, in simplicity, re-enkindle our pastoral endeavors honestly, charitably and faithfully?
“In simplicity, charity, I follow,
In simplicity, fidelity I follow.”
“Like a sunflower, that follows every movement of the sun,
So I turn towards you, to follow you, my Lord.”
Jesus is the Bread of Life (c.f. John 6:35)
Yes he is. That is why we have not gone away from Him because cut-off from Him, we cannot do anything; we are lifeless. Is our zeal for the Bread of life renewed? Does our participation in the Eucharistic meal invite and encourage many to partake in it lovingly and worthily? Does our belief in the Holy Mass reflect conviction? {I am the bread of life, He who comes to me shall not hunger…. Shall not thirst…. And I will raise him up on the last day.}
Jesus is the Humble one
This is so encouraging to hear. Though in the form of God, he did not count equality with God the father a thing to be grasped, but He emptied Himself (c.f. Phil. 2:6-11). Behold a savior who has everything in His hands yet very humble. Do we have a periodic evaluation of our priestly status as privileged leaders to serve and lead with humility, upholding the deposits of faith in the Catholic Church?
“Sweet Savior bless us e’er we go,
Thy word into our minds instill,
And make our lukewarm hearts to glow,
With lowly love and fervent will.”
Through life’s long day,
And death’s dark night, o gentle Jesus be our light,
O gentle Jesus be our light.” ---
As we discharge our pastoral duties with humility and a sense of purpose. (Jesus meek and humble of heart… make our hearts like unto yours.)
Jesus Christ: A Heart of Love with Mercy.
Yes He is. His heart of love with mercy is what we all receive and constantly pray to receive after our sojourn of faith on earth. How do we respond to this love with mercy? Do we give back to others what we have received from God?
“Sweet heart of Jesus, fount of love and mercy,
Today we comes, thy blessings to implore,
O touch our hearts, so cold and so ungrateful,
And make them Lord, thine own forever more…”
“Sweet heart of Jesus we implore,
O make us love thee more and more.”
The above few models of who Jesus is and who He is to us, if well harnessed or followed, can increase our holiness of life. Acknowledging Him as our savior and Master whose Light shows us the way so that we may walk in His Truth (c.f. Ps 85:7) constantly remains the One to emulate. As His privileged Priests, our conducts should be simple and pastorally affective. Let us mote that His Body gives life; hence, due honor and respect should be given to the Lord always.
With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption (c.f. Ps. 130:7). Hence we are encouraged, being recipients of Love and mercy, to let our hearts continue to show and relate with others with merciful love.
In addition to this, we need the sacraments of Holy Eucharist and Reconciliation for our sanctification; “They are truly the heart of our priesthood.” In fact, God the Father entrusts himself to priests in a unique way, when through our ministry in the Mass, he gives to us his Son Jesus who gives himself to all with his Body and Blood: “Poured out for you and for all” (Mt 26:28; Mk 14:24; Lk 22:20). (Extract from World Day of prayer for the Sanctification of Priests, from the Vatican, 8th May, 2002. By Cardina Dario Castrillon Hoyos, Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy)
Therefore, our zeal for these sacraments would keep our focus intact being mindful of the fact that we need to partake in the Eucharistic Meal worthily sand also privileged to receive forgiveness of God as the sacrament of penance while we also serve as ministers to hear other people’s confessions. In this act of confession, “for the faithful and more so for us, the ministers of Reconciliation, the action of the Spirit of Good becomes particularly tangible, calling us to a special intimacy of intention and action with him.” (Extract from World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests, from the Vatican, 8th May, 2002).
Dear friends, “today, the church and humanity feel the need for mercy, purification and peace. There is a great demand for justice, but justice can never be separated from forgiveness. Justice without mercy would not be the justice of God but only a human justice, which could never resolve the many individual, communal, national and international conflicts that can only be overcome by a great infusion of mercy. We priests are among the first to be warmly invited by Christ and his Vicar on earth, the pope, to go back to drinking deeply at the spring of Divine mercy, which flows in super abundance from the sacraments of the Eucharist and Reconciliation.” (Extract from World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests, from the Vatican, 8th May, 2002).
Rev. Fr. Stephen Ibitokun C.D.A
On the solemnity of the Sacred heart of Jesus 8th June 2018.
(A reflection given by Fr Stephen Ibitokun to priests of Catholic Diocese of Abeokuta on the day of priestly sanctification at holy family Catholic church Ewupe)
What a very simple question that takes us back to the fundamental root of our Christian calling. The essence of our gathering this day, besides many of our gatherings is to reflect on this.
Let us try to answer this question:
Jesus Christ is our Savior and Master.
Yes He is. That is why we are here on this account as Christians and His disciples. How does our Christian calling make positive impacts on the lives of others in the bid to win more souls/disciples for Christ?
“Jesus my Savior is all things to me,
Oh what a wonderful savior is He,
Guiding, protecting o’er life’s rolling sea,
Mighty deliv’rer, Jesus for me.”
Jesus Christ is the Light of the World.
Yes He is. As His disciples, we have been called to carry this light wherever we go; to illuminate our lives, society, community of Faith; so as to remove the darkness of sin and shed knowledge and understanding where there is ignorance of faith and daily living. How courageous are we to bear the light of Christ so that we can see and others can see? In your light, O Lord we see Light, therefore,
“Send the Light, the Blessed Gospel light,
Let it shine from shore to shore,
Send the Light, and let its radiant beams
Light the world forevermore!”
“There’s a call comes o’er the restless waves –send the Light, send the Light
There are souls to rescue, there are souls to save – send the light, send the light.”
Jesus Christ is our High Priest.
There is no doubt about that for us priests who have been called from among men as Aaron was. No one therefore takes this honor upon himself (c.f. Hebrews 5:4). Do we, as much as we can and in accordance to the mind of the Church, offer ourselves selflessly to God and humanity? How affective is our role as Priests, Kings, and God’s chosen people in our prophetic-administrative function?
“Priestly people, Kingly people, Holy people, God’s chosen people, Sing praise to the Lord”
“We sing to you, o Light bringing men out of darkness,
We give you praise, o guiding light who shows us the way to heaven.”
Jesus Christ: A model of a simple and concerned Pastor.
Can we really deny this? The simple and pastoral approach of Jesus Christ in bringing sheep into the fold while ensuring all peoples enjoy the good news has been very affective. Can we, in simplicity, re-enkindle our pastoral endeavors honestly, charitably and faithfully?
“In simplicity, charity, I follow,
In simplicity, fidelity I follow.”
“Like a sunflower, that follows every movement of the sun,
So I turn towards you, to follow you, my Lord.”
Jesus is the Bread of Life (c.f. John 6:35)
Yes he is. That is why we have not gone away from Him because cut-off from Him, we cannot do anything; we are lifeless. Is our zeal for the Bread of life renewed? Does our participation in the Eucharistic meal invite and encourage many to partake in it lovingly and worthily? Does our belief in the Holy Mass reflect conviction? {I am the bread of life, He who comes to me shall not hunger…. Shall not thirst…. And I will raise him up on the last day.}
Jesus is the Humble one
This is so encouraging to hear. Though in the form of God, he did not count equality with God the father a thing to be grasped, but He emptied Himself (c.f. Phil. 2:6-11). Behold a savior who has everything in His hands yet very humble. Do we have a periodic evaluation of our priestly status as privileged leaders to serve and lead with humility, upholding the deposits of faith in the Catholic Church?
“Sweet Savior bless us e’er we go,
Thy word into our minds instill,
And make our lukewarm hearts to glow,
With lowly love and fervent will.”
Through life’s long day,
And death’s dark night, o gentle Jesus be our light,
O gentle Jesus be our light.” ---
As we discharge our pastoral duties with humility and a sense of purpose. (Jesus meek and humble of heart… make our hearts like unto yours.)
Jesus Christ: A Heart of Love with Mercy.
Yes He is. His heart of love with mercy is what we all receive and constantly pray to receive after our sojourn of faith on earth. How do we respond to this love with mercy? Do we give back to others what we have received from God?
“Sweet heart of Jesus, fount of love and mercy,
Today we comes, thy blessings to implore,
O touch our hearts, so cold and so ungrateful,
And make them Lord, thine own forever more…”
“Sweet heart of Jesus we implore,
O make us love thee more and more.”
The above few models of who Jesus is and who He is to us, if well harnessed or followed, can increase our holiness of life. Acknowledging Him as our savior and Master whose Light shows us the way so that we may walk in His Truth (c.f. Ps 85:7) constantly remains the One to emulate. As His privileged Priests, our conducts should be simple and pastorally affective. Let us mote that His Body gives life; hence, due honor and respect should be given to the Lord always.
With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption (c.f. Ps. 130:7). Hence we are encouraged, being recipients of Love and mercy, to let our hearts continue to show and relate with others with merciful love.
In addition to this, we need the sacraments of Holy Eucharist and Reconciliation for our sanctification; “They are truly the heart of our priesthood.” In fact, God the Father entrusts himself to priests in a unique way, when through our ministry in the Mass, he gives to us his Son Jesus who gives himself to all with his Body and Blood: “Poured out for you and for all” (Mt 26:28; Mk 14:24; Lk 22:20). (Extract from World Day of prayer for the Sanctification of Priests, from the Vatican, 8th May, 2002. By Cardina Dario Castrillon Hoyos, Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy)
Therefore, our zeal for these sacraments would keep our focus intact being mindful of the fact that we need to partake in the Eucharistic Meal worthily sand also privileged to receive forgiveness of God as the sacrament of penance while we also serve as ministers to hear other people’s confessions. In this act of confession, “for the faithful and more so for us, the ministers of Reconciliation, the action of the Spirit of Good becomes particularly tangible, calling us to a special intimacy of intention and action with him.” (Extract from World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests, from the Vatican, 8th May, 2002).
Dear friends, “today, the church and humanity feel the need for mercy, purification and peace. There is a great demand for justice, but justice can never be separated from forgiveness. Justice without mercy would not be the justice of God but only a human justice, which could never resolve the many individual, communal, national and international conflicts that can only be overcome by a great infusion of mercy. We priests are among the first to be warmly invited by Christ and his Vicar on earth, the pope, to go back to drinking deeply at the spring of Divine mercy, which flows in super abundance from the sacraments of the Eucharist and Reconciliation.” (Extract from World Day of Prayer for the Sanctification of Priests, from the Vatican, 8th May, 2002).
Rev. Fr. Stephen Ibitokun C.D.A
On the solemnity of the Sacred heart of Jesus 8th June 2018.
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