John ESENE

Continue from Pt. 2 of last week.

     “There were many women who followed Jesus from Galilee and helped Him. Among them were Mary Magdalene and Mary the Mother of Jesus. They watched Jesus buried. They were there early Sunday morning at the tomb. Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see Me.” Mt. 27:55-57, 28:1, 10.

    Do not underrate yourself and refuse to go for the mission God allotted to you. Look at the life of Mary and make up your mind today to do God’s will because time and tide wait for no one! Luke 8:2 stated that “Mary Magdalene from whom seven demons were driven out” was among the women who followed Jesus. She moved from her dark and troubled past to stand by the cross when Jesus was crucified and also witnessed the resurrection. God who created you out of nothing for a purpose wants you to execute His plans for you. “But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15.

    Jesus made it clear in Matthew 9:12-13 when He called Matthew the Tax Collector to follow Him that He came for sinners and not the righteous. “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice. For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”   

     As Christians, we are expected to live lives that will reflect the faith we have in God. We should fear nothing but pray about everything. We should be strong, trust God’s word and trust the process as well. O God, help us to believe mightily, hope joyfully and love divinely as your true children. Jesus said in Mt. 20:28, “The Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many.”

   The newly elected AICWO President, Amb. Mrs. Edith Isidahomen said during her interview with Catholic Weekly Independent (CWI) published on 6th September, 2026, “I feel deeply humbled and grateful to God for this call to serve. It is both an honor and a huge responsibility. I do not see this position as a title, but as a ministry. My heart is full of gratitude to God, to His grace, Archbishop Gabriel ‘Leke Abegunrin; our Chaplain, Rev. Fr. Joseph Akinbinu, and to all the CWO women of Ibadan Archdiocese who entrusted me with this mandate. With God’s help, the support of my team, and the intercession of Mary Our Mother, I am ready to serve and not to be served.”

        As believers, there is need for us to draw closer to God by the day. Pope John Paul 11 said, “Each person is precious in God’s eyes”. So, “We ought to pray and invoke the Holy Spirit for each one of us greatly needs His protection and help” says Pope Leo X111. 

   Joseph was given the gift of dream interpretation and he maximized his gift irrespective of persecutions without regret. He went through hazards in the hands of his siblings before he got to Potiphar’s house as a slave.  When Potiphar’s wife asked Joseph to have sex with her; he said, “How then could I do such an immoral thing and sin against God” Gen. 39:9. Then, the woman lied against Joseph and he was imprisoned. But later God raised Joseph high: he became a Governor over Egypt. God protected and rewarded Joseph for his faithfulness.    

    When you allow God to empower and use you, fear will run away from you. David the shepherd boy was empowered by God; hence he was bold to face Goliath. 1 Sam 17. Moses who ran away from Egypt had to return to lead his people out successfully. Whether you are poor or rich, God can decide to use you for great things: you can move this nation forward or lift the burden off the shoulder of your fellow men who are oppressed. So, leave your door open that our God may enter, find you willing to do His will and use you.

    The gifts of the Holy Spirit are given to men to enable them participate in building up the body of Christ. St. Paul says in 1 Con 12:18, 26, “But as it is, God arrange the organs in the body, each one of them, as He chose. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together.”

   “The Spirit comes to the ones who love Him, invite Him, who eagerly await Him” says St. Bonaventure. In our daily living, especially when we want to take decisions that would affect lives; we should invite the Holy Spirit, to reveal the plans of God for us. Jesus assured us in John 16:13-14 “When, however, the Spirit comes, who reveals the truth about God, He will lead you into all the truth. He will give Me glory, because He will take what I say and tell it to you”.

     If we can live with eternity in our hearts, it will change how we spend our time, love people, endure suffering and worship God. It is only when we value eternal life that we make effort to avoid distractions of this world. So, let us make our hearts available to the Holy Spirit to fill us with the grace to live with purpose and passion for eternity. Jim Reeves reminded us in his words, “This world is not my home, and I’m just passing through.”

      Dear reader, ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes that you may see and acknowledge the gifts He deposited in you. Pray for the grace to use them maximally for the growth of the Church and humanity. God created everyman for a purpose and when you find yourself doing what you should be doing, you will dance for joy till you can dance no more. You may call it “Fulfillment of life purpose.”