Author: Ikenna Paschal Okpaleke

Human, son, brother, friend, Igbo, Christian, Catholic, priest, theologian and citizen.
Sunday VibesLeave a comment

#SV – A God That Cares

Ikenna Paschal Okpaleke

The attention that God gives to us His creatures cannot be equated with any kind of care that we can get from fellow humans, not even from those who have been given the rare privilege to care for the souls of many. Those of us in that category must have been angry with Jesus, who after inviting his disciples to a well-deserved rest, still could not resist caring for the vast crowd that double-crossed them: “his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.” (Mk.6:30-34) … Continue reading #SV – A God That Cares

Sunday VibesLeave a comment

#SV – What They Preached…

Ikenna Paschal Okpaleke

The story of the sending of the Twelve (Mk.6:7-13) is very instructive on the nature and content of the ministry of evangelization. Most times, the emphasis is on the instruction about how the apostle should dress for the journey, but what is even more important is the content of the message they should take to the people. This passage tells us that “they went off and preached repentance” (v.12). Repentance! Even the casting out of demons and healings that they witnessed flowed from repentance – the acceptance of the message of salvation, and the abandonment of the old ways of … Continue reading #SV – What They Preached…

Sunday VibesLeave a comment

#SV – Set Me On My Feet

Ikenna Paschal Okpaleke

A prophet is the one who is set on his/her feet at two important moments. First is at the moment of the reception of the mission, and second is during the mission itself. Ezekiel was probably having a chill time when the Spirit of God entered him and set him on his feet to receive the assignment to the Israelites (Ez.2:2-3). When the Spirit of God sets us on our feet we are activated, burning with the duty to share the Gospel, no matter how uncomfortable it might be, both for us and for the people. This is why the … Continue reading #SV – Set Me On My Feet

Sunday VibesLeave a comment

#SV – Dear Death!

Ikenna Paschal Okpaleke

#SV – Dear Death! (30 June 2024) Dear death? No, you are not a friend, and so addressing you with ‘dear’ is only a sign of pity. The finality of your physical injury is what pains us most when you take away from us, in the flesh, the presence of the beloved without a bit of care about how we feel. Your cruelty is manifested when you fail to discriminate the time and age – and so you hit the very young and at unexpected times, and we are left broken. But you know what, you are only an intruder … Continue reading #SV – Dear Death!