Homilies from an African Priest

<img class=”size-full wp-image-13237″ src=”http://www.ignitumtoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/477px-Saint_Augustine_by_Philippe_de_Champaigne.jpg” alt=”Saint Augustine of Hippo by Philippe de Champaigne” width=”477″ height=”600″ /> Saint Augustine of Hippo by Philippe de Champaigne

The famous African bishop, doctor and Father of the Church, Saint Augustine of Hippo, once said, “If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don’t like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself. ” He also said, “I would not believe in the Gospel, had not the authority of the Catholic Church already moved me.”

One thing I have realized over the years is that if you can’t ‘market’ the gospel message effectively as Christ has commissioned everyone to (c.f. Matthew 28:16-20), you can at least start by ”marketing’ those that are marketing the Gospel quite well. In the process of ‘marketing’ those ‘marketing’ the Good News, you would pick up a thing or two to help you in your evangelism.

In the West one person who I think markets the Gospel quite effectively is Fr. Robert Barron of the <a href=”http://www.wordonfire.org” target=”_blank”>Word on Fire Catholic Ministries</a>, USA. I just love him not because he is a Thomist or a great theologian and academic, but because he knows how to make the Gospel message easily digestible to every listener. You can verify this by listening to his <a href=”http://www.wordonfire.org/WOF-Radio/Sermons.aspx” target=”_blank”>Sunday Sermons</a>.

Now back to Africa — West Africa to be specific. I know a priest who is also a scholar and an exciting theologian and preacher as well. He can deliver the unchanging Word of the Living God to a changing generation in such a manner that there is a sync between the listeners/readers and the Word of God, which usually results in a metanoia (change of heart), and the transformation of the Christians into the perfect imitators of Christ Jesus our Lord and our God. Let me introduce you to Very Rev. Fr. John Kobina Louis from Ghana.

Fr. Louis has been a priest in the Holy Catholic Church for over 20 years and, like old wine, his sermons taste good and bring about transformation of lives. I recently made a website for him and created a Facebook page for his ministry as well without his knowledge. It’s about time we as a Church, the Redeemed people of God, help our priest spread their messages to reach all the four corners of the world to the greater glory of God. Kindly visit his website at <a href=”http://frlouis.com/” target=”_blank”>www.frlouis.com</a> and like his page here: <a href=”http://www.facebook.com/FrJohnLouis” target=”_blank”>Fr. John Louis</a>

God bless you.

Tags: Africa, featured, Fr. John Kobina Louis, Fr. John Louis, Fr. Robert Barron, Ghana, Homily, Word on Fire

Category: Spirituality