Glory of God Prayer Group, St. Cecilia Parish, Wa Diocese, Ghana - Let Your Light Shine

Saint of the Day

The richest

He is richest who is content with the least, for content is the wealth of nature. Socrates

Faith

Faith is to believe what you do not see; the reward of this faith is to see what you believe. Saint Augustine

The end of life

The end of life is to be like God, and the soul following God will be like Him. Socrates

He that is jealous is not in love

He that is jealous is not in love. Saint Augustine

The safest road to hell

The safest road to hell is the gradual one - the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts. C. S. Lewis

Progress

We all want progress, but if you're on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; in that case, the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive. C. S. Lewis

I willingly cure him for the love of God

I try to give to the poor people for love what the rich could get for money. No, I wouldn't touch a leper for a thousand pounds; yet I willingly cure him for the love of God. Mother Teresa

Words too big for the subject

Don't use words too big for the subject. Don't say 'infinitely' when you mean 'very'; otherwise you'll have no word left when you want to talk about something really infinite. C. S. Lewis

Worth of the bible

A thorough knowledge of the Bible is worth more than a college education. Theodore Roosevelt

Meaning of the universe

If the whole universe has no meaning, we should never have found out that it has no meaning: just as, if there were no light in the universe and therefore no creatures with eyes, we should never know it was dark. Dark would be without meaning. C. S. Lewis

In season at all times

Love is a fruit in season at all times, and within reach of every hand. Mother Teresa

Improve yourself by other men's wri…

Employ your time in improving yourself by other men's writings, so that you shall gain easily what others have labored hard for. Socrates

As we are, such are the times

If we live good lives, the times are also good. As we are, such are the times. Saint Augustine

Perfection of a man

This is the very perfection of a man, to find out his own imperfections. Saint Augustine

Two kinds of people

There are two kinds of people: those who say to God, 'Thy will be done,' and those to whom God says, 'All right, then, have it your way.' C. S. Lewis

Hear the other side

Hear the other side. Saint Augustine

Man is a great depth

Who can map out the various forces at play in one soul? Man is a great depth, O Lord. The hairs of his head are easier by far to count than his feeling, the movements of his heart. Saint Augustine

Truth

If you look for truth, you may find comfort in the end; if you look for comfort you will not get either comfort or truth only soft soap and wishful thinking to begin, and in the end, despair. C. S. Lewis

campaigning weather for the devil

The long, dull, monotonous years of middle-aged prosperity or middle-aged adversity are excellent campaigning weather for the devil. C. S. Lewis

Prayer does not change God

Prayer does not change God, but it changes him who prays. Soren Kierkegaard

Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, Yr B. Dec. 31, 2023

Readings
1st: Sirach 3:2-6,12-14
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm: 125:1-5
2nd: Colossians 3:12-21
Gosp: [Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23]

Theme: Be Proud And Thank God For Your Family

My dear people of God, today's Liturgy celebrates the Solemnty of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, Yr B. Our reflections would make a very brief attempt on what makes a Holy Family, in human sense. Let me hasten to say that Holiness does not mean total absence of challenges, trials and tribulations. Smooth sea does not necessarily make skillful sailors. Usually the Sunday immediately after Christmas is dedicated to the Holy Family of Nazareth. In a sense we could dare to call it an extraordinary trinity of persons. Each of them plays very ordinary roles in extraordinary ways. Joseph is reputed to be a subsistent carpenter by trade. He earns his living by mending ploughs and other farming assessories, yet he is special enough for God to send an angel to guide him from time to time to enable him faithfully carry out his duty as a foster father of the child Jesus and his mother Mary. Joseph is a model for all good, hardworking and responsible fathers. He protects and provides for the family from his meagre earnings. It is safe to presume that the future of the child Jesus is sincerely dear to his heart.There is Mary, her daily Yes involvong her in the ongoing care of God's Son. Constantly pondering and contemplating, she must have wondered silently about Simeon's words and other things that are said today in Jerusalem. We can rightly picture her ardently providing for Jesus all maternal love that every child needs for meaningful survival. Mary is also a model for all patient and caring mothers. She never understands everything but would remain faithful till the end. Her type are very few and, in fact, very scarce in modern times. Then, there is Jesus himself. Curiously, we would like and love to know what he was like when growing up as a boy and teenager. Luke's writings about Jesus contain nothing of a personal biography of Jesus. In their sterotype paleness (Luke's narratives) they express best what the hidden life of Jesus in Narazeth means - his insertion into our human conditions and limitations as a simple village boy. The expression "hidden" (as many writers often use) could be misleading, as if the boy Jesus has something to hide, growing up. Jesus must have been haunted by deep questions because they will all come out already when he assumes twelve and will seemingly get lost in the temple. Jesus also remains a model for all obedient, humble and loyal childen in human history.

Today's celebration should turn our gaze permanently on this extraordinary trinity of persons as a model for every family where parents work hard, support each other, understand, accept, appreciate and compliment each other. They bear eloquent witness to this responsibility by creating a home built by human hearts (not a house built by human hands) where tenderness, forgiveness, respect, charity, fidelity, honesty, truthfulness and a life of service becomes paramount. If the husband truly loves his wife and children he wins their favor in all things. If the wife loves, respects and supports her husband and nurtures her children, inculcate in them good ethical and moral values, the home becomes a better place to live in. If children obey and respect their parents, they receive blessings upon blessings because when they pray God would listen and they would live meaningful and long life. A good home is where children are raised with love, fear of God, respect for rule of law and deep sense of work as a sacred duty. A story is told of a couple driving home after church service with their ten years old daughter on the back seat. Looking through the inside mirror the father noticed the poor girl weeping ceaselessly amidst heavy sobs. "Jullie, what's up?" The supposed caring father asked. "Daddy, today the preacher insisted that children should live in Christian homes but I want to live with you". The poor girl replied. The rest of the drive home was in total silence. Where does your family live, in a HOME or in a house? May we be sincerely proud and thank God for all families that live in HOMES. We pray that something of the Holy Family may practically reflect in each. Please, continue to pray the Holy Rosary daily. God richly bless you and your family.

Rev. Fr. Thomas L. Debuo - Catholic Diocese of Damongo, Ghana. (0244511306/0243711926/0246222135)

In praise of the Lord

Who is it that visits the hot sun without getting burnt?Who else but the Lord of power Who is it that visits the cold moon without being frozen?Who else but the Lord of might Who is it that confines the seas with His hands?Who else but the Lord, the creator of the heavens and the earth Who is it that tames lions?Who else but the Lord Who is it that the winds obey?Who else but the Lord Who is it that waves obey?Who else but... Read more>>>

My prayer for you

I pray that you may prosper, more so in your soul, in the name of Jesus Christ. May Jehova Jire  provide all your needs according to his riches in glory. May he who saved the Israelites from the tyranny of the Egyptian king rescue you completely. May he who is all-knowing and source of all knowledge and wisdom give you the needed grace this day and help you understand the dream you just woke up from. May your enemies look... Read more>>>

The Father

I begin my day not knowing what went into the night as I slept.I wake up every morning to see the clear beautiful bright sky.I hear the birds of the air sing and fly stylishly across the sky.I see trees wave their leaves in the air.I see animals of all kind around the land.I see people like me doing one thing or the other.I wonder and ponder over it … The FATHER’S love.   Oh yes!  The FATHER’S love:So great, so steep,So... Read more>>>

There is hope

There is hope for a tree that has been cut down; it can come back to life and sprout. Even though its roots grow old, and its stump dies in the ground, with water it will sprout like a young plant. ({bib=Job14:7-9}). Take heart, the Lord of Hosts is still able, the mighty God of wonders is still at work, the rock of ages is gracious and Jehovah Jire is still providing our needs according to his riches in glory in... Read more>>>

Short memory

One of the most painful things in this world is when people you helped in the past later decide to work against you. So many people have vowed never to do anything to help others again because of the ungratefulness of some people they once helped. Our world is really full of people with selective short memory. They only remember the bad you once did against them but quickly forget the good you did for them. Joseph was a man God... Read more>>>

Marriage Software

This is what a guy wrote to a Systems Analyst -(Marriage Software Div); Dear Systems Analyst, I am desperate for some help! I recently upgraded my program from Girlfriend 7.0 to Wife 1.0 and found that the new program began unexpected Child Processing and also took up a lot of space and valuable resources. This wasn't mentioned in the product brochure. In addition Wife 1.0 installs itself into all other programs and launches during systems initialization and then it monitors all other system... Read more>>>

Hail Mary ...

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen. OR Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of... Read more>>>

Pursue Your Strengths

God has equipped each one of us with specific gifts and talents. It’s up to each of us to identify those gifts and be disciplined enough to develop them. You have to learn to stay in your strength zone. What are you naturally good at? What do you enjoy doing? Take the time to identify your strengths and weaknesses, and as the Scripture says, give yourself to your gifts. In other words, don’t spend all your time trying to improve... Read more>>>

Respect dignities

When we despise dominion and speak evil of dignities we break the divine pattern and bring a tide of curse upon ourselves and those under our care. As those under our authority behold how we treat those in authority over us, they will become fuelled by the same spirit and start to treat us in a similar manner. Once this spirit enters into a community, that community will burst apart at some point fracturing along personality lines. This is the... Read more>>>

Popular prayers

The Apostles’ Creed I believe in God, The Father Almighty, creator of heaven and earth; and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary; suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from there He shall come to... Read more>>>

Prevailing prayers

Greetings My dear brothers and sisters, I greet you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, the author and finisher of our faith and the sustainer of all living beings. Today I want us to look at the subject of prayer and its place in the life of a believer. What is prayer? Prayer is a communication, and the kind that takes place between God and the believer. In fact prayer is the meeting point between divinity and... Read more>>>

Is the Bible the Final Authority?

This article has been inspired by the conflict that exists within Christianity mainly due to the interpretation of the bible (the genuine cases). First of all it is important for us to understand the place of the bible in Christianity before we can properly apply it to Christian spirituality. This article seeks to use the dealings of God with his people Israel, the dealings of Jesus and the apostles with the early Christians, the bible itself and common sense to... Read more>>>

The unchangeable changer

The Israelites left Egypt with jewelry and clothes they didn't buy. May our enemies look on as we advance in wealth and health miraculously because the unchangeable changer and the great I AM is our God and his name and power is our solace. Cosmas Nanyaa   Read more>>>

Lesson from the story of Joseph.

The brothers of joseph thought they were pushing him away from his dream of being who God said he would be. Little did they know that they were rather pushing him into it.   Read more>>>

In your presence: prayer

Lord Jesus I need your presence in my life. Your presence is so sweet because you are a sweet Lord. When I rose from bed this morning, I felt so lonely, I felt so fearful because of all the difficulties I faced yesterday. I felt so uncertain about what was going to happen today. Review of previous day's events Early in the morning Ok, Lord, let’s review some of the things that happened yesterday. When I woke up in the morning, my children... Read more>>>

Guarding our social lives to attain spir…

Teaching for Sunday 30th October, 2011Teacher: Felix Dordaa Mahama Text: {bib=John 15:17-19}. We are in the world but we are not of the world What is our social life? The Lord tells us that even though we are in the world we do not belong to the world. Through our brother Paul in {bib=Romans 12:2}, He tells us again that we should not conform to the standards of the world. We live in the world everyday; eating, drinking, sleeping, working and interacting with... Read more>>>

Marriage is like FUFU preparation!

In fufu making, we basically use two crops- CASSAVA AND PLANTAIN!In marriage making, it involves two people- MAN AND WOMAN! Two different people are being put together to live as one.The cassava comes from the GROUND; the plantain comes from ABOVE! Two different people with different backgrounds are to live together as one.The cassava is always dirty but the plantain always enjoys the washing by rain water and the direct brightness of the sun.Don't expect your spouse to be like you! Your... Read more>>>

The rotten generation

 Aaah! Oooh!I can smell the smokeThe smoke of the burning generationGeneration of darkness and crimeDark, deep, deeper than the bottomless pit   This rotten generationMakes my heart bleedI am filled with sorrow about how morality Is being thrown away Like a piece of cloth wrapped around the waist Aah! What a generation of it-doesn’t-matter   This rotten generationPursues the youth with its rotten fingersCapture them, harden their hearts like stonesThe youth no more see the light Jesus Christ has become deviant crime Drugs and... Read more>>>

The Lord's prayer

Our Father, who is in heaven, holy is your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Amen. OR Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give... Read more>>>

The art of quiet time: prayer

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, I greet you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. May the grace and peace of God be in your heart. Friends, in {bib=Luke 22:39-46}, Jesus admonished us to keep watch and pray so as to avoid trial. Beloved, there will at some point in your life be a moment of trial, but at those times you need strength from above just as in the case of Jesus. ({bib=Luke 22:43}) Importance of prayer Dear friends, prayer... Read more>>>