Liturgical Discuss

DAILY REFLECTION WITH FR AKEMA FRIDAY, 16TH JANUARY 2026

In the first reading, the people of Israel ask Samuel for a king “like all the other nations,” rejecting the Lord’s direct kingship over them. They want visible leadership, security, and human authority even though it may cost them their freedom and trust in God’s plan.

In today’s Gospel, we see four friends determined to bring their paralysed companion to Jesus. They didn’t wait for an easy path, they broke through a roof because of their faith. Jesus responded first not with physical healing, but with the deeper healing of forgiveness of sins, revealing His divine authority to heal both soul and body.

The connection between these readings:
They contrast false kingship where people trust in what looks powerful and familiar with the true Kingship of Christ, who heals and restores us from the inside out. Whereas Israel sought control and conformity, the paralytic’s friends showed bold, creative faith that brought their friend to true freedom.

Where is God calling us today?
God invites us to lay down our need for control and to bring our deepest needs namely: our sins, fears, and limitations to Jesus. Like the friends in the Gospel, we are called to bring others and ourselves to Christ with faith, trusting Him not only to heal us physically but to forgive and transform us spiritually.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, help me to recognise You as my true King. Teach me to trust Your authority, to bring others to You with bold faith, and to receive Your healing of both body and soul. Amen.

DAILY REFLECTION WITH FR AKEMA WEDNESDAY, 14 JANUARY 2026

In the first reading, we meet Samuel, a young servant in the house of the Lord. The word of the Lord was rare, and at first Samuel didn’t recognize God’s voice. Yet, when he learns to listen with openness, guided by his priest mentor Eli, he responds: “Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening”. This marks the beginning of his journey as a prophet whose words will never fail.

The Gospel shows Jesus at work in Simon’s house: healing Peter’s mother-in-law and many others. People press in because of his power and compassion. Yet before dawn, Jesus seeks solitude to pray, reminding us that his mission flows from deep communion with the Father.

REFLECTION: Both readings invite us to listen and to respond. Samuel’s readiness to hear God teaches us that the Lord still calls today. We can hear the voice of God through silence, Scripture, prayer, the needs of others, and the wisdom of community. Jesus models how every act of service must be rooted in prayer: outreach without prayer can exhaust us, but prayer without outreach keeps us from living our calling. In your own life, you should ask yourself the following questions: Am I attentive to God’s voice? Do I seek quiet with Him before responding to the many needs around me? Let your day begin with a heartfelt: “HERE I AM, LORD.” SHALOM.