WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN JULY

Sermon/Homily. Morning Mass, April 14. Message: WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN JULY.
A very good morning to y"all. Hope you dreamt well? We bless God for a new morning. Let us make this quick so workers make it to work early enough.

I will like to zero in on the events that took place in Acts 8: 26-40, our first bible passage this morning. The Punch line of that passage is  the Ethiopians reply to Phillip when asked "Do you really

grasp what you are reading?"
The man replied, " How can I unless someone explains it to me?" Phillip then became his teacher.
These two Characters (Phillip & Ethiopian) have great symbolic fashion. Phillip represents the Church of Christ as teacher, a sure and safe guide for interpreting the scriptures. With her guidance and truth we shall never go astray.
A good case in point is the teaching of Jesus this morning in John 6: 44-51 where he declares, "The bread I will give is my flesh for the life of the world." We understand that the Eucharist is truly the body of Christ which we receive in communion, Cf YouCat no. 208.
The Ethiopian eunuch represents any person of good will who wishes to know more about his Faith.
Notice here willingness on both side. The willingness to Learn and the willingness to teach.
What a parent bequeaths to the Child will not depart from them. I grew up from when i was 11 under the guidance  and care of Rev fr Tony Mario Ozele and fr John Aniagwu. Running errands and learning just as the case of Eli and Samuel (lol).
Both are strong believers in the belief that "Teaching is the next thing to Miracle".
A clear idea of the truth can transform a persons life and that itself is a miracle.
Young people need teachers. The word brings conviction. The one who has been taught the truth about his faith, when persecution comes, they will remain steadfast. You will know the truth and the truth will make you free.
How are the young minds influenced and distracted by the things around them: Prophecies, Miracles, pursuit of power, money, sex, Consumed by the internet, less time and passion for learning, we can go on and on. Many need directions, helpers in the midst of their confusion. Are we paying enough attention to these.

Oh, many others move with the crowd. Influenced by the culture hostile to the truth of the Catholic faith.
Run away from them!!
Run from the crowd whose confessions concerning your faith are negative. Run!!! Know this, Even within the body of Christ there are agents who want to see others discouraged and fall off their faith because they themselves have lost it, Run! Don’t be a part of the crowd that has lost the zeal for excellence. Run!!!
You might become a victim of the crowd. When you move with the crowd. Run!!!
Run from peer groups that will influence you with false ideas about God that leads you to irrelevance and extinction. Run!!! Get away from them!!!

Dare to be different; Be a Catholic youth with a difference. Know your worth.  A lot of people spend so much time criticizing their teachers, If we spend half of the time we spend criticizing them, to pray for them there will be transformation in the younger generation.

When others want to give up  on the learning of their faith like the Ethiopian Eunoch; discard every negative crowd mentality. Benedict the XVI under the guidance of the Holy Spirit contributed to the teaching ministry and new evangelization for the young when 4 years ago he gave us the Youth Catechism of the Catholic Church. YouCat. This Year, the pope Francis will pass on to us the DoCat., Social Teaching of the Church. But this year its not only about giving away the book but about starting a revolution of love in keeping the social teaching. In the forward of the DoCat Francis ask for 1million young experts who will commit to the study of the Docat and do social justice to people everywhere. What great Fathers and teachers we have in Benedict and Francis. May teachers ARISE in the family, Church and nation. Young people pursue knowledge with passion and perseverance. And be more deeply rooted in the faith than the generation of their parents.