Title: TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY OF THE YEAR(A), 30TH AUGUST, 2026.

THE HOLY SPIRIT - OUR BEST AND GREATEST FRIEND. KEEP PERSEVERING IN FOLLOWING JESUS DAILY WITH YOUR CROSS. Noble Child of God, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle in my path, because you are thinking not as God thinks but as human beings do"(Mt.16:23(16: 21-27). Naturally, no normal human being loves pain, suffering, hardship, persecution, humiliation, etc. We are naturally inclined to avoid anything that can make us and our loved ones uncomfortable. Thus, in human view, Simon Peter could not comprehend why the Son of God, the Messiah, the anointed one should tell them that he is destined to be rejected, to suffer and be killed. For them, who can suffer or kill the anointed one, the Messiah? Peter thought that Jesus was having negative thoughts about himself and decided to counsel him out of such thoughts. But Jesus rebuked him. He said that he is thinking like human beings, not like God does. Oftentimes we forget that God uses discomforts or persecutions as he wants to deepen our faith and bring us closer to Himself. He uses them to send us to where He wants us to live and serve Him in Families, Marriages, Parishes, Schools, Offices, Shops, Markets, etc And He uses them to shape our characters to suit His good plans. Jesus made it very clear to his disciples, and to us that whoever wants to be a Christian or a disciples of him should first renounce himself or herself, take up his cross daily and follow him"(Mt.16:24). That means that there is no cross less Christianity. Every Christian must have something challenging him or her to prove his or her faith or love of God. So for God's sake, no threat with any discomfort or even death should make us to compromise or give up our faith or love of God(Rm.8:35-37). Our perseverance in following Jesus daily with our crosses will win us our lives(Lk.21:19) EVER LIVING AND LOVING FATHER, YOU KNOW HOW WEAK AND FAITHLESS WE CAN BE SOMETIMES IN THE FACE OF SOME CHALLENGES IN OUR LIVES. WE PRAY EARNESTLY THAT YOU MAY CONTINUE TO INCREASE OUR FAITH AND KNOWLEDGE OF YOUR WAYS AND WILLS SO THAT WE MAY PERSEVERE TO THE END IN OUR GOOD WORKS, THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD, AMEN! 🙏 Our monthly Thanksgiving Program will be on WEDNESDAY 2ND SEPTEMBER, 2026. AT ST. JOSEPH CH.,ISIHOR, NEAR UNIBEN MAIN GATE. 9:AM }FREE MEDICAL CHECK-UP. 11:AM }PRAYERS,ETC. Please join us, Physically or Spiritually. Thanks very much for taking part in the Missionary work of Holy Ghost Fathers(Spiritans) with your supports. Forward ever and backwards never. "Do Not Be Afraid, Only Have Faith"(Mk.5:36). Be assured of our prayers and do have a fruitful week.