CTV DAILY MASS

[Music] n [Music] [Music] [Music] we commit our works today into the hands of God pray for all our private intentions also for the Seck and for the traveling that God will grant Judy meres to Travelers health and healing to the sick and answers to all the prayers from our hearts through Christ Our Lord amen we are gathered together in the name of the father and of the son and of the holy spirit amen the Lord be with you and with your spirit beloved in Christ we celebrate this sacrifice what day let us call to mind ourselves meet your way to the Lord trust in him and he will H and make your uprightness sh light light don't justice of your ca light noon Day song [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] they turn away from Evil do good you may abide forever for indeed the Lord love Justice and we never forsake he's faithful he's Fai F the angel shall be wiped out forever and th descendant after we catch thee Destro [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] but for the Lord comes the salvation of does the stronghold in time of destress the Lord time [Music] and Rue and save them from [Music] we because [Music] [Music] but found the salvation of the [Applause] [Music] h [Music] I am the way and the truth and the life says the Lord no one comes to the father F by [Music] me h [Music] h h Hall h the Lord be with you your SP a reading from the holy Gospel According to L GL at that time the Pharisees and the scribes said to Jesus the Disciples of John fast often and offer prayers and so to the Disciples of the Pharisees but your eat and drink and Jesus said to them can you make the weing guest fast while the bridegroom is with them the days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them and then they will fast in those days he told them a parable also no one tears a peace from a new garment and puts it upon an old garment if he does he will will tear the new and the peace from the new will not match the old and no one puts new wine into old wine skins if he does the new wine will burst the skins and it will be spilled and the Skins will be destroyed but new wine must be put into fresh wine skins and no one after drinking old wine desires new for he says the old is good the gospel of the Lord prise to you lordus Christ and by the ways of this gospel May our sins washed away away through Christ Our [Music] Lord glory to Jesus the Lord is good beloved in Christ we hear Jesus in The Gospel today talking to the Pharisees and their disciples about the issues and the question of fasting fasting actually is not a new practice to Jewish people it is a custom that has been there as old as Humanity casting your mind as far back as the Old Testament you will even find how in different occasions and at different situations the people had to offer prayers with fasting fasting is a is a a gesture often used or related to a symbol of bance for sins committed a good example is seen how we are told that after God sent Jonah to the people of n we are told that the king declared fasting all over the land both amongst men as well as animals among other gestures that were carried out as a symbol of atonement punishment for the sin they have committed or if you like as a test of repentance that they are sorry for the sins they have committed even David after he got a message of the punishment that God had planned to ins steal into him because of his sin we are told that David himself realized his sinfulness and went into fasting amongst other things he carried out so the term fasting is actually not something new for the people it is a gesture that has always been there and it is often used to help a person offer prayers more efficiently fasting is a gesture that is often used to express one's withdrawal from the world so that he can build a better relationship with God so we see the Pharisees who believe so much in the effect and the impact of fasting amongst the people especially during prayers you see the kind of Expressions that they have to the point they have to come and ask Jesus the question why is it that we and our disciples even John the great man we all know him together with his own followers they all fast but you and your disciples do not fast why now the next question we ask ourselves is when we offer fasting who do we carry these gestures out to us every prayer we render is directed towards God when we offer fasting it is because we want to make things right with God it is a way in ourselves for the sins we have committed so that we are able to have a better relationship with God and this is exactly where the people did not get it right because they did not understand who Jesus was they didn't understand his identity they didn't understand his personality they didn't understand his mission if they had understood who Jesus was even when he told them that he is the true the Good Shepherd who has come so that he would lead his people to their pastures where he told them that he was the Redeemer even when John tried to make it clear to them that Jesus was the Messiah he himself must decrease and Jesus must increase the people only heard and saw but they never understood if they do they would have understood the reason why there was no need for the people of Jesus Jesus's apostles to fast why Jesus was still with them if every prayer and fasting is directed towards God and Jesus Is God and Jesus lives with his people therefore God is with his people why then do they need to fast that was why he asked them that question how can the wedding guests fast why the bridegroom is with them there is no need but don't worry if fasting is your problem when the bridegroom is eventually taken away from them then they will they will fast when Jesus is done with his mission physically in the world and has accomplished his purpose after offering himself sacrificially on the cross and has died and returned back to the father who has sent him the apostles will then since he's no longer physically present with them that fasting that they looking for they will find it being expressed by the apostles but it's not all about rendering fasting anybody can claim to fast but fasting should not be limited to outward signs fasting should not be simply a gesture we carry out okay let us fast so that it will be that we have fasted just the way we have Christians of our today's generation many who come to church let me go to church so that it will be that I went to church oh let me receive the sacrament so that when I go for confession when I say father it is just two weeks ago I received the sacrament it will not look as if I have not gone for the Sacrament in a long time let me go for parents so that it will be that my I am consistent in my sacrament of reconciliation just the way many especially Catholics and Christians of our time we go for confessions only when there are special celebrations for example Easter is coming close okay let me go for Easter confession okay A New Year let me go for New Year confession it is Christmas let me go for Christmas confession and then the question is am I receiving this Sacrament because truly I have seen that there is a genuine need to receive this Sacrament or am I receiving the sacrament let it be that I received the sacrament and that the season came and I took part in what is going on the sacrament for example should be gestures that should be carried out at every given moment of Our Lives Let Us carry them out because it is good to carry them out to put us on the same page with the Lord to to help us to remain worthy and prepare us all the time and adequately to be able to experience God even as we experience one another wherever we find ourselves so when we talk about fasting what actually prompts you to fasting do you fast because you just want to fast because others are fasting or do you fast because you have seen it as an opportunity to create and to strengthen and to renew your personal relationship and Comm commitment with your God do you fast because you have seen the need to draw yourself closer to God this is the reason why we talk about the difference between being religious and being spiritual I go to church and after the moment I'm leaving the church the mass is ended going the Peace of Christ I already have issues with people outside I call people bad names I do not let the effect of the sacrament I have just received to manifest me then it is pure hypocrisy this is exactly what Jesus criticized and condemned it means we are doing this let it be that we have done what we are supposed to do not doing it because we want to really get the spiritual benefit out of it so I ask you when you fast what actually Sports you to that gesture this is what the Pharisees need to understand when they fast what actually ignite that passion for them to fast when we pray what ignites the passion for us to offer prayers even Jesus Christ who is God we are told himself after his baptism went into the Wilderness he stayed in the desert 40 days 40 nights praying and fasting because Jesus strongly understands the need for fasting it helps us mortify ourselves and even fortify ourselves so that we can have a better working relationship with God how often do I fast how often do I offer prayers and then we also have to bear this in mind fasting should not only be limited to abstinance from food or drink we can fast from different things if I am somebody who is notoriously known to be a drunkard I can decide that I will do away with my drunking drinking habit it is a way of fasting I am somebody who is always used to anger disposition any slight activity with any person I'm willing and ready immediately to express my dissatisfaction to that person by anger using abusive words I can decide to fast from this and after fasting from this I have discovered that it is supposed to build me to be better will I now say okay now I have finished my prayers therefore I return to my old way then it means that every effort becomes what f child it becomes useless it becomes in vain so when we render fasting when we carry out prayers when we carry out good works as symbols of spiritual renewal it should mold us such that it even becomes part of our existence so that even after we are done with that particular spiritual exercise that life continues to reflect whenever we find ourselves and this is exactly what Jesus expects of us so we must not be like the Pharisees who in their hypocritical disposition want to carry out these gestures so that it will be that they fulfilled the demands of the law are you doing this because the law says you should fast or you are fasting because you want to strengthen your relationship with your God we have to continue to renew ourself with the Lord and ask him for that Grace sometimes we make sincere genuine efforts to draw ourselves closer to the master but different things hinder us our human weaknesses hinder us the society we find ourselves become an obstacle to this disposition we have made and commitment towards God this is why we must continue to renew our relationship with God through his grace which he builds in our hearts so that each time we call on the Lord his grace will sustain us eleviate us raise us up strengthen us to be able to move forward where our human weakness draw us back and to accomplish this we continue to ask for that Grace from the Lord that he will strengthen us and help us not to be hypocritical in our spiritual observances towards him but let them be products of a sincere heart and products of perfect Contrition and as you do this may he the Lord continue to bless us sustain us and keep us in his love through Christ Our Lord am peace be with you [Music] oh [Music] oh [Music] Happ [Music] [Music] this [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] pray brothers and sisters that my sacrifice and your may be acceptable to God the almighty father for our good and for the good of all his holy church may this sacred offering oh Lord confer on us always the blessing of Salvation that what it celebrates in mystery it may accomplish in power through Christ Our Lord am the Lord be with you lift up your hearts let us give thanks to the Lord Our God it is truly right and just our duty and our Salvation always and everywhere to give you thanks Lord Holy Father Almighty and eternal God for although you have no need of Our Praise yet our Thanksgiving is itself your gift since our Praises add nothing to your greatness but profit us for salvation through Christ CHR our Lord and so in company with the choirs of Angels We Praise You and with joy we [Music] Proclaim is [Music] is [Music] our the [Music] hos [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] in the [Music] highest comes he who comes name of the lord of the [Music] Lord comes in the name of the lordana [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Music] in the highest [Music] you are indeed holy oh Lord the found of all Holiness make holy therefore these gifts we pray by sending down your spirit upon them like did you fall so that they may become for us the body and the blood of our Lord Jesus Christ he was betrayed and entered willingly into his passion he took bread and giving thanks broke it and gave it to his disciples saying take this all of you and eat of it for this is my body which will be give it up for you in a similar way when supper was ended he took the chalice and once more giving thanks he gave it to his disciples saying take this all of you and drink from it for this is the Chalice of my blood the blood of the new and eternal Covenant which will be poured out for you and for many for the Forgiveness of sins do this in memory of me the mystery of faith we Proclaim your oh Lord until you come again therefore as we celebrate the memorial of his death and Resurrection we offer you Lord the bread of life and the Chalice of Salvation giving thanks that you have held us worthy to be in your presence and minister to you humbly we pray that partaking of the body and the blood of Christ we may be gathered into one by the Holy Spirit remember Lord your church spread throughout the world and bring her to the fullness of Charity together with Francis our Pope and Ignatius our Archbishop and anel Miss auxiliary and all the clergy remember also our brothers and sisters who have fallen asleep in the hope of the resurrection and all who have died in your mercy welcome them into the light of your face have mercy on us all we pray that's with the Blessed Virgin Mary the mother of god with blessed Joseph her most chased spouse with your blessed Apostles St Matthew and with all your sons who have pleased you throughout the ages we may Merit to be coair to eternal life and we praise and glorify you through your son Jesus Christ through him and with him and in him oh God God Almighty father in the unity of the holy spirit all glory and honor is yours forever and [Applause] ever at the savior's command and formed by his Divine teaching we dare to pray Our Father and for us our trespasses for tres against us Deliver Us Lord we pray from every evil graciously Grant peace in our days that by the help of your mercy we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress as we await the Blessed hope and the coming of Our Savior Jesus Jesus Christ Lord Jesus Christ who said to your Apostles peace I leave you my peace I give you look not on our sins but on the faith of your church and graciously Grant her peace and unity in accordance with your will who live and Reign forever and ever the Peace of the Lord be with you always let us offer to one another the sign of peace Lamb of God Behold the Lamb of God behold Jesus who takes away the sins of the world Happy are those invited to the sacred banquet of the Lamb the world [Music] God I [Music] [Music] ch [Music] [Music] I [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] great great [Music] [Applause] [Music] I [Music] [Applause] [Music] than [Music] my [Music] [Music] How great is the goodness oh Lord that you keep for those who fear you let us pray renewed by this bread from the Heavenly table we beseech you oh Lord that being the food of Charity it may confirm our hearts and stare us to serve you in our neighbors through Christ Our Lord glory to Jesus I want to in a very special way introduce and to welcome in our Parish today the members of the Catholic Television of Abuja Arch dasis who have come to join us at this mass and to help that through their work to spread the gospel of the Catholic faith to the ends of the Earth so we wish to welcome you and as you return back we pray that God who has brought you will continue to keep and sustain you and give you the grace to remain most committed and faithful in your service to the church through Christ Our Lord amen so please let us welcome [Applause] them yes and we are very much welcome this is mat Parish Caron so in the name of the parish priest where Reverend father bon in we welcome you our door is always open and as you go May the grace of the Lord who has brought you see you through and take you back to your destinations through Christ Our Lord I also want to appreciate each and every one of you for your participation and your time for being here today and we pray that God will continue to sustain you even as you go about your daily activities May the grace of the Lord be with you abundantly through Christ Our Lord amen the Lord be with you and with your SP May almighty God bless and keep you the father and the son and the holy spirit amen the mass is ended go in peace thank be to God [Music] glor [Music] [Music] [Applause] [Music] oh e e e e e e e e e e