BEWARE OF ALL COVETEOUSNESS

*“Take heed, and beware of all covetousness; for a man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” (Luke 12:15)*

To be covetous is to live in a special world of I, me, and myself, where I care only for one person – me. To be covetous is to refuse to give others their due, as in the case of the man whose brother had to run to Jesus because he did not give him a share of his father’s inheritance. 

*- To be covetous is to be like the rich man in the parable Jesus gave us in today’s Gospel passage.*

 The man said: “What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops? … I will pull down my barns and build larger ones…” This man thought his life was secured by the goods he stored. He never knew his time to leave the world had come. No one knows when their time will be.

*- It is never a sin to be rich, but it is a sin to worship wealth – to live as if there is no God (ignore God’s commandments).*

 It is a sin to bow to the devil in exchange for earthly kingdoms (Mathew 4:8-10). Today, many youths are involved in money rituals (yahoo-plus). Some have exchanged the lives of their loved ones for money. Jesus would ask, “What does it profit a man, to gain the whole world and forfeit his life?” (Mark 8:36).   

*- What does it mean to be rich toward God?*

 It is to “seek first the kingdom of God and its righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). To be rich toward God is to remember that you belong to God. In today’s First Reading, St. Paul says: “We are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works.” (Ephesians 2:10). Today’s Responsorial Psalm adds: “Know that he, the Lord, is God. He made us; we belong to him. We are his people, the sheep of his flock.”

*- Jesus called this man a fool.*

 What would he have done if he were wise? 1) He would have thanked God for blessing him with such abundance. Instead of praying to God, the man prayed to his soul. “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for you…” He forgot that his prosperity was God’s gift and not merely the product of his hard work. 

*- 2) If he were wise, he would have realised he was blessed to bless others.*

 He would have factored others into his plan. “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal.” (Matthew 6:19-20).

*- Why did Jesus tell this parable to the man who had come to ask for Jesus’s intervention over an inheritance dispute?*

 To assure him that even though he had been cheated, he could still live a very long and happy life. Meanwhile, his greedy brother is like the rich man whose lands yielded abundantly but refused to consider others in his enjoyment plan. If God calls this greedy brother tonight, what becomes of the inheritance he has gathered?

*- Today begins a brand-new working week.*

 As you go out to labour for your daily bread, remember that no matter how much you gather, it will not stop you from dying when your time comes. “A man’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” Money will give you access to the best hospitals and doctors, but your life is in God’s hands. Also, remember that even if you fail to meet your targets or things do not go as planned, thank God; your life is more valuable than earthly riches.

*Let us pray:* Almighty, ever-living God, deepen our love for you. We ask this through Our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen

*Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. May God’s abundant blessings be upon us all. (Monday of week 29 in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Ephesians 2:1-10, Psalm 100, Luke 12:13-21).*

Fr. Abu

THE EUCHARIST EXPLAINED:

Separating Truth from Misconception

Here are several important clarifications about what the Real Presence of the Lord in the Eucharist is not:

1. IT IS NOT MERELY SYMBOLIC:

▪︎Clarification: 

The Catholic Church teaches that the Eucharist is not just a symbolic representation of Christ's body and blood. 

The bread and wine truly become the Body and Blood of Christ through the process of transubstantiation, while the appearances of bread and wine remain. 

The Real Presence means that Jesus is fully and substantially present in the Eucharist, not just figuratively.

2. IT IS NOT CANNIBALISM:

▪︎Clarification: 

Some critics mistakenly interpret the Real Presence as a form of cannibalism. 

However, Catholics believe that Christ is present in a sacramental, non-bloody manner in the Eucharist. 

His body and blood are present under the appearances of bread and wine, without any physical or brutal act involved. 

This is a mystery of faith that goes beyond physical consumption and into a spiritual union with Christ.

3. IT IS NOT A RE-SACRIFICE OF CHRIST:

▪︎Clarification: 

The Eucharist is not a repeated sacrifice of Christ on the altar. 

Instead, it is a re-presentation of the one, eternal sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. 

Catholics believe that the sacrifice of Christ is made present in an unbloody manner during the Mass, allowing the faithful to participate in the offering of Christ’s sacrifice in a real and mystical way.

4. IT IS NOT DEPENDENT ON THE HOLINESS OF THE PRIEST:

▪︎Clarification: 

The Real Presence does not depend on the personal sanctity or worthiness of the priest. 

Even if the priest is in a state of sin, as long as the proper form, matter, and intention are present, the Eucharist becomes the true Body and Blood of Christ. 

The efficacy of the sacrament relies on Christ's power, not the personal merits of the celebrant.

5. IT IS NOT MERELY A COMMUNION MEAL:

▪︎Clarification: 

While the Eucharist is certainly a communion with Christ and the community, it is not just a symbolic meal shared among believers. 

The Eucharist is an encounter with the living Christ, who is truly present, offering Himself to His people as spiritual nourishment and grace.

6. IT IS NOT DEPENDENT ON HUMAN PERCEPTION:

▪︎Clarification: 

The Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist does not rely on our ability to perceive it with our senses. 

Even though the bread and wine look, taste, and feel the same, the transformation into the Body and Blood of Christ is a supernatural reality that occurs regardless of whether we can physically detect it. 

The Real Presence is a mystery of faith, not of sensory experience.

7. IT IS NOT A METAPHOR OR ALLEGORY:

▪︎Clarification: 

The Real Presence is not a metaphorical or allegorical way of speaking about Jesus' presence in the lives of believers. 

It is a literal and substantial presence of Christ in the Eucharist. 

While metaphors are often used in scripture, the doctrine of transubstantiation emphasizes that Jesus is truly, fully, and uniquely present in the Eucharist.

8. IT IS NOT A MERE MEMORY OF THE LAST SUPPER:

▪︎Clarification: 

The Eucharist is not just a memorial or recollection of the Last Supper where Jesus instituted the sacrament.

Although the Eucharist is a memorial of Christ's Passion, the Real Presence means that Christ is actively present and offering Himself to us here and now, making His saving act perpetually available to the faithful.

9. IT IS NOT LIMITED TO THE DURATION OF THE MASS:

▪︎Clarification: 

The Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist does not cease once the Mass is over. 

Once consecrated, the Eucharist remains the Body and Blood of Christ as long as the appearances of bread and wine remain. 

This is why Catholics reserve the Eucharist in tabernacles and why the faithful participate in Eucharistic adoration—Christ is still truly present outside of the Mass.

10. IT IS NOT A SHARED PRESENCE WITH ORDINARY BREAD AND WINE:

▪︎Clarification: 

The bread and wine used for consecration are not simply items blessed and shared in the same manner as ordinary food at a meal. 

Through transubstantiation, they no longer remain bread and wine in substance, even though their appearances do. 

The Real Presence is unique and exclusive to the consecrated elements, setting them apart from any other bread and wine.

These clarifications help underscore the deep significance of the Real Presence in the Eucharist, which is central to Catholic worship and spirituality.

STAGES OF ELIMINATION IN LIFE👇

OUR STAGES OF ELIMINATION IN LIFE👇

1.⁠ ⁠At 60, the workplace eliminates you. No  matter how successful or powerful you were during your career, you'll return to being an ordinary person. So, don't cling to the mindset and sense of superiority from your past job, let go of your ego, or you might lose your sense of ease!

2.⁠ ⁠At 70, society gradually eliminates you. The friends and colleagues you used to meet and socialize with become fewer, and hardly anyone recognizes you at your former workplace. Don't say, "I used to be..." or "I was once..." because the younger generation won't know you, and you mustn't feel uncomfortable about it!

3.⁠ ⁠At 80, family slowly eliminates you. Even if you have many children and grandchildren, most of the time you'll be living with your spouse or by yourself. When your children visit occasionally, it's an expression of affection, so don't blame them for coming less often, as they're busy with their own lives!

4.⁠ ⁠At 90, the Earth wants to eliminate you. Some of the people you knew have already departed forever. At this  point, don't be sad or mournful, because this is the way of life, and everyone will eventually follow this path!

 REMEMBER,

1. the only thing that won't eliminate you eternally is God because at the end of our journey here on earth we shall all return to Him with accounts of how we lived our lives

2. So, meet Him more,

3. Communicate with Him more,

4. Obey His orders, and

 5. Maintain your presence with Him 

 Therefore, while our bodies are still capable, live life to the fullest! Worship God in truth and in spirit. And there will be no regrets living out our lives for Him!

Be blessed!

41 THINGS TO TELL YOUR DAUGHTERS AS THEY GROW...✍🏾

1: Tell your daughter that Money has no gender. She can make money the way any Man can make it and even more.

2: Tell her to step into the FIELD not the BED to make money. Money from the field comes with dignity, money from the Bed comes with STD.

3: Let your daughter know that she need to trade her brain not her privates to make money.

4: Train your daughter never to pray to marry a rich man, but to work to become rich girl.

5: Train your daughter never to pray to marry a Governor but to work to become the President.

6: Train your daughter that the instrument of money making is under the Hat not under the skirt.

7: Train your Daughter never to Man-hunt but to focus her focus and she will become the focus of many Men.

8: Train your daughter that no man can love her like God, so she must never trade her relationship with God with a relationship with any Man.

9: Train your daughter that internet never forget or forgive, let her know that the foolish post she makes in the internet can depose her from her post tomorrow.

10: Tell your daughter that time wait for no man, if she waste her time with a foolish man, she will wake up one day to discover that it is night time.

11: Tell your daughter that life give back what you give into it, wickedness will be fully repaid.

12: Tell your daughter that beauty is not in exposing nakedness, it is dressing to look like a Queen.

13: Tell your daughter that she is a princess and not a prostitute, tell her to dress to prove she is.

14: Tell your daughter that it is a great wickedness to sleep with the husband of another Woman.

15: let her know that married men do not love her, they only see her as available sex toy to satisfy the urge in them.

16: Let your daughter know that the best friend she can keep is God, He can not disappoint her.

17: let your daughter know that beauty without brain makes one look like a Decorated pig.

18: teach your daughter to believe in herself because she is capable of doing whatever she believes she can do.

19: Teach your daughter never to think that wealth is  sexually transmitted. Sleeping with wealthy men will only make her a whore not wealthy.

20: tell your daughter good look does not make a man a good Man. He can have 6 PACKS and be a PACK of trouble.

21: teach your daughter never to be a Run girl because run girls normally RUN into trouble.

22: Tell your daughter knowing God is not negotiable and being righteous should be her entire Life principle.

23: Tell your daughter time go fast and wait for no one, she should stop thinking she has time to waste, she should get up now before it is too late.

24: Tell your daughter nobody wants to marry a liability, every man is looking for Help-meet not help-eat.

25: Tell your daughter she must have her own sources of income. A woman without her own sources of income will be embarrassed by her husband, in law and even her own Children.

26: Tell your daughter it is not all that glitters that are gold Some May even be a ball of fire.

27: Tell your daughter her body is not for sale but to preserve it for the man that deserve it after her wedding.

28: Tell your daughter failure is not the end but a bend.

29: Tell your daughter there is no height she can not attain, if she can just dare it.

30: Tell your daughter courtship is not marriage, she can still let go any man with red flags.

31: Tell your daughter that a broken courtship is not a divorce she can still get out of relationship at any time before wedding.

32: Tell your daughter she is beautiful, if a guy tells her she is, she will say my Dad told me too.

33: Tell your daughter never to be a run girl, because this will ruin her future and destiny.

34: Tell your daughter that Marriage is more important than Wedding, she should take more time to prepare for marriage than wedding.

35: Tell your daughter Love is not enough for marriage, commitment, faithfulness, purity, contentment, communication, training etc are needed.

36: Tell your daughters that attitude is more than beauty.

38: Tell your daughter Labour bring favour

39: Tell your daughter she is not to submit to Men but her husband

40: Tell your daughter that marriage choice making may bring PAIN OR GAIN

41: Tell your daughter that it is not all Professors of love that are POSSESSORS OF LOVE, He may say I love you, he might actually mean I love sex.

Post and Photo  Credit: Owners

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 Mimi Exquisite Fashion offers stylish and affordable clothing for women, children, and men, with delivery services available. The company also provides training programs for designers to enhance their skills. Visit our page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61563149830398 to learn more and get in touch to discuss partnerships and collaborations. With a focus on elevating fashion and professionalizing design work, Mimi Exquisite Fashion invites you to experience the best in fashion and take your style to the next level. Contact us through +234 907 636 0390