PRIDE GOES BEFORE A FALL AND HUMILITY GOES BEFORE AN UPLIFTMENT

HOMILY FOR THE 22^ND SUNDAY OF THE ORDINARY TIME OF THE YEAR C

Rev.Fr. Ezekoka Peter Onyekachi

In soil science, there is a type of soil known to be humus. Humus comes from the latin humus which means earth or ground. It refers to the top-soil horizon that contains organic matter that influences the bulk density of soil and contributes to moisture and nutrient retention. Humus contains many useful nutrients for healthy soil, and is the best soil for agricultural purposes. I have examined the humus soil because it helps to understand the virtue of humility better. It shares the same etymology with humility.

Humility is a word that denotes meekness, modesty, self-effacement and egolessness. Its etymology is also derived from the latin humus which means earth or ground. Hence, it is a quality of being down of earth. Humility has always being one of the great features of great men. The world is more inclined to a humble leader than a proud leader. Humility is a quality of considering oneself as nobody even when everyone takes you as somebody. Humility encourages self-denial, self-emptying, sacrifice and lowliness. Humility teaches us not to be arrogant and not to flamboyant over our achievements.

The Gospel of today (Luke 14:1,7-14) focuses on the importance of humility and how humility can help to increase honour and respect without forcefully demanding it from people. Jesus used a very understandable illustration to teach his audience who had gathered for meal at a Pharisee’s house. Having seen how some people were allotting to themselves positions of honour, and in his wisdom, he ceased the opportunity to teach them on the importance of humility with an illustration of a marriage feast. The reasoning is quiet plausible. If there are many invitees for a feast, why must one take himself to be the most-distinguished person to the extent of moving straight to occupy the most distinguished position? Will it not be better and more respectful to go to a lowly place, and then be asked to come up to a high place, than to go a high place and be dishonoured by sending you down to lower place? This is an illustration which unequivocally brings to our consciousness that pride goes before a fall.

Hence, if pride goes before a fall, then humility goes before an upliftment. If you want to be uplifted, the simple formula is to exercise humility in whatever thing you are doing. The First Reading (Sirach 3:17-18, 20, 28-29) states it clearly that humility attracts love and greatness. Humility attracts favour from the Lord. At the working place, no person prefers an arrogant man to be promoted. But mention the name of the humble man, everyone becomes happy. We must make effort to become humble, for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted. Humility must teach us to let go of unnecessary vain glory and ostentations that are inimical to the simple life of Jesus Christ who is, as the second Reading (Hebrews 12:18-19, 22-24a) tells us the mediator whose sacrificial blood speaks more insistently than Abel’s.

Yes, humility is a virtue of letting-go. It helps one to consider the other first than to consider his/her self worth or importance. A humble person gives out his beddings to a visitor and lies on a mat, seeing that the visitor has not come to stay perpetually. A humble person permits certain insolent words from people, knowing fully well that those words do not define him. A humble person fills his/her thoughts with the way to help the society. A humble person realizes that many persons are higher than him, and so bends down to learn more from experience and from fellow persons.

In order to maintain a humble spirit and lifestyle, we must have it at the back of our minds that our knowledge is limited. No human being knows it all. One can only be a specialist in a field. No one can know everything that every man knows. At some point, we must need the other for questions, guidance and admonitions. However much knowledge we have received or acquired, we still have very little. However important we may take ourselves to be, we must also realize the fact that death is a leveller. The poor dies and the rich dies too. The biological degradation that accompanies the body of man is the same for everyone regardless of how most-distinguished a person has been.

To be humble, we must also learn to compare ourselves with some gifted individuals. As a musician, watch some other musicians who perform better than you do, and learn to grow humble. As a merchant, your success is linked to another who supplies you with the materials that help you to increase your merchandize. The most important comparison is this. If we place our lives besides the limpid life of God who is the author of life, and see our unworthiness in comparison with his radiance and stainless purity, I believe pride will be chased away, and self-satisfaction will be shrivelled up.

Concluding from our point of departure, the humus soil has many things to teach us about humility. The humus soil is on the ground. It is the best soil for farming. It contains enough nutrients that assist the crops. It contributes to moisture retention for the other types of soil. The humus soil is the one that enables crops to yield fruits for man. Now, humility teaches us to be down to earth (just as the humus soil is) as being on the ground makes us to be foundational and fundamental in people’s life. We become formidable and many people will like to build on us (edifices of trust, love, prayer, hope and faith). People are attracted to humble persons as Humility shapes relationship to become the best (just as humus is the best soil for farming). Humility is the base of many Christian virtues and helps one to live out the other with some lesser effort; and so has many ingredients which keep it as the base of all virtues (just as humus contains nutrients). Humility is out-going, for it does not focus on self-gratification, but exists for others (just as the humus soil helps the other types of soil to retain nutrients). Humility facilitates growth and development, spiritually and materially (just as the humus soil helps crops to grow).

My prayer is that the world will learn this virtue as it transforms our lives. Amen. God bless you as I wish us a blessed week.

Dedicated to Rev. Fr. Ngonadi Henry Chigozie (for whom I preached at his solemn mass of thanksgiving).

LORD!!! MAY I NOT BE DISAPPOINTED

HOMILY FOR THE 21^ST SUNDAY OF THE ORDINARY TIME, YEAR C 
Rev. Fr. Onyekachi Peter Ezekoka

♫♫ Oh when the saints are matching on, when the saints are matching on; oh Lord I want to be in the number. Oh when the saints are matching on. ♫♫ The simplest definition one can offer about the word disappointment is ‘the emotional state experienced when a strong held expectation is not met’. It can also be a circumstance in which a strongly held expectation is not met. It is a word which begins with a prefix (dis-) that denotes reversal, removal, lack or absence. The main word (appointment) in this case can be synonymous with the words agreement, stipulation, and concordance; whereby when this strong expectation is not met, there can be the result of disagreement, disaccord, and frustration. Everyone prays not to be disappointment. When someone gives you an appointment to meet with you at a place or on a particular time, and thereupon does not meet up with the appointment without any prior information, how sad will you feel? Yes, human beings disappoint a lot, but God never disappoints. God is always faithful to his promises and covenants. He constantly calls us to Himself, but we are inclined to always neglect His call and His will for all of us to be saved. Hence, we disappoint God through the way we lead our lives. It is on account of our disappointment of God that our salvation is determined. So when we live our lives anyhow we deem fit, we must also allow God to carry out His judgement on us anyhow He deems fit.

Beyond the disappointment we may experience during our lifetime as regards our relationship with our fellows, there is one I regard as the ultimate disappointment. This ultimate disappointment is the one that will be experienced on the last day. Some who act so as to deceive the people of God will certainly face the punishment of their actions. This will be the greatest misfortune and disappointment to them; for they may be portraying that they are serving the Lord, but actually are slaves of iniquity. It is against such an experience that I pray: LORD, MAY I NOT BE DISSAPOINTED. Jesus never wants us to get disappointed, but to be one of those appointed for heaven. It is on account of this that he had to devote time in the Gospel of today (Luke 13:22-30) to teach us how to live so as not to be disappointed on the last day. Having got the question from someone whether those who will be saved will be few, Jesus exhorted his disciples to be ready at all times.

Being ready always is a very serious ingredient for someone who wants to run away from disappointment. Never relax in your struggle for heaven, for we do not know when the son of man will come. Jesus made an illustration to drive home his points into the hearts of his listeners. When we fail to be ready and the door is locked against us, we have lost the gain of entrance into the house. By the time those locked out beg that the door be opened for them, the only answer that is offered is one based on his ignorance of them. Then, those locked out may start to make certain claims. These claims can be brought down to our age today.

WE ATE AND DRANK IN YOUR PRESENCE: It is not about how many times you attended Church programs that guarantees salvation, but about how many times you are able to do the will of God. It is not the positions and posts that you hold in the Church that puts you on the heavenly track, but how you are able to employ those positions and posts as a means of your salvation.

YOU TAUGHT IN OUR STREETS: It is not all about how many connections you are able to establish with the preachers of the Gospel today, but how you put to action the words they preached to you. Your knowledge of a prophet or your relationship with a preacher does not guarantee salvation; that which guarantees salvation is how you are able to follow the preacher as he follows Christ, and how you are able to move from your knowledge and relationship with the preacher to a perfect knowledge and relationship with God.

The last words of the gospel say: and behold, some are last who will be first and some are first who will be last. This actually is an expression which depicts that there will be great surprises on the last day. Those who may in this world be thinking that they are leading flocks; being in the front and commanding as the head may actually experience serious disappointment, while those that are led will now mount as the leaders into the kingdom of God. The way to avoid such a backdrop is to revisit the second reading of today from the Letter to the Hebrews (12:5-7.11-13): “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord”.

Steadfastness demands discipline. In order to be steadfast, we must be disciplined, following the dictates of the Lord very meticulously. We must run away from taken the things of God for granted, or trivializing the presence of God in the Church, in the worshipping community, in the sacraments and in the Sacred Species. We must learn never to desacralize or desecrate Holy things. We must learn too not to desecrate Holy persons who have been appointed as instruments through which God’s blessings may be continually felt by all humans. Remember, touch not my anointed and do my prophets no harm. 

Surely, a period of judgment must come when the Lord will gather all nations and tongues. Then we shall see God’s glory. This is what the Lord tells us through the mouth of the Prophet Isaiah in the First Reading (66:18-21). Yes, He comes, but He is yet present calling us to lead lives that will attract Him more and more to us.

Pray for me, my dear brethren that these words above may be reflected in my life and dealings with people having dedicated my life in service for the Catholic priesthood (on the 20^th of August, 2016). Pray for me especially on this Sunday which is my First Solemn Mass as a Catholic Priest that I may not be disappointed here on earth and hereafter in heaven. Am quite sure that I have entered on a route that is not easy, but I believe that with God my burden will be lighter and most importantly I will not be disappointed. Pray for the success of my Priesthood. Pray for all Catholic Priests and pray for the Church. As you do this, may the Lord make the new week resplendent for you. Together we shall go to heaven. We shall be counted among the saints. Amen. God bless you.

THE ‘EBED-MELECHS’ OF OUR LIVES

HOMILY FOR THE 20^TH SUNDAY OF THE ORDINARY TIME, YEAR C

Rev. Ezekoka Peter Onyekachi

Who is Ebed-melech?

Ebed-melech is an Ethiopian Eunuch who served in the court of King Zedekiah at the period Jeremiah exercised his prophetic role in Judah during the siege of Jerusalem (cf. Jer. 38:7). The name is translated as Servant of the King, and as such may not be his proper name but a hereditary title. It may be a title that suggests his role or function in the King’s court.

What is Ebed-melech known for?

Ebed-melech is notable for interceding on behalf of the prophet Jeremiah and thereupon rescuing him with the King’s permission from the cistern into which he was cast to die (Jer. 38:8-13).

Let us get the full story (as the First Reading –Jer. 38:4-6, 8-10– relays)...

Jeremiah’s words infuriated some officials (Shephatiah, Gedaliah, Jucial and Pashbur), and they reported him to the king. They suggested to the king that he be put to death because Jeremiah’s words were demoralizing the soldiers in the face of an impending war. Jeremiah had said:

“Thus says the Lord, He who stays in the city shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence, but he who goes out to the Chaldeans shall live. He shall have his life as a prize of war, and live. This city shall surely be given into the hand of the army of the king of Babylon and be taken.” (Jer. 38:2-3)

Jeremiah was letting the people to know about that which must come true, and not to waste their precious lives in fighting a battle which they must loose. The easy way out for them is to run to the Chaldeans for safety and not to obstinately die without saving their city –Jerusalem. It was indeed the message from the Lord. But some men who thought themselves to be more important than the Lord, and who thought that their intelligence was more than the wisdom of God had to plot evil on Jeremiah so as to kill him. Their decision which the king permitted was to bring about Jeremiah’s death without bloodshed; putting him in a cistern to sink in the mud and die of hunger. This they did.

They never knew that he who stands in the Lord is like mount Zion that can never be shaken. They were not aware that only the Lord God Almighty has the supreme decision upon the life of everyone. They were ignorant of the fact that the Lord protects his servants, and never forsakes those who obey him. Thus, a servant of the King Ebed-melech, who had heard what happened was inspired by the Lord, and he went to the king and interceded for Jeremiah; defending Jeremiah against the plot of these officials and exposing their evil intention. He went further, together with three men, at the King’s permission to recue Jeremiah from the cistern. Jeremiah then was housed in the court of the guard.

1. Hence, the ‘ebed-melech’ of our lives is someone who speaks for us when we are under great affliction, tribulation, tension and pressure. It is that person who intercedes for our good even when it seems many people are against us. It is that individual who consoles us even when everyone is blaming us. It can also be that person who welcomes us even when many are pushing us away. It can also be that person who understands our mistakes, tolerates us and pardons us when we err or commit errors. More particularly, an ‘ebed-melech’ not only intercedes or speaks for us, but also destroys the plans of the evil people and goes for our rescue. Many examples abound in the Scripture about the power of God in selecting human instruments to intercede for fellow humans: Daniel was an ebed-melech to Susana (Daniel 13ff), the wife of Pilate acted like an ebed-melech when Jesus was about to be killed, etc.

2. I would not know the type of experience you have passed through in life that gave you an opportunity to witness an ‘ebed-melech’. I also may not know whether you have met situations where you had the chance of being an ebed-melech to the other, but neglected it. I also may not state with certainty whether you have expected to encounter an ebed-melech in a dire situation and never got one. All these are experiences which surround us as humans. God does send someone to help us in hard situations that outweigh our capacity. Look well, pray well and live well, and then trust in the Lord. No situation will crush you. Our God lives. Learn to handle your situation as a Christian.

3. As human beings, never forget that the greatest ebed-melech you have is the God of Jesus Christ. Jesus the Christ is always there for us. He intercedes for us. He protects and saves us. He destroys the plans of our enemies. In the Gospel of today (Luke 12:49-53), Jesus speaks of how his role as an ebed-melech would initiate division and confusion among humans who may think that they are wiser than their creator. People will be divided against one another, and members of a family will be divided for Christ’s sake. This would be the experience because of the complexity of mankind who exalts his (her) reason above everything an even tends to exalt it above God. Being an ebed-melech initiates hatred and division, for an ebed-melech blocks the plans of the evil ones from manifesting. Just as Ebed-melech’s intercession must have brought annoyance and hatred to him by the four officials, and a political unrest and division between the King and he officials (who also had powers), the acceptance of Jesus as our greatest intercessor can bring division between the person that decides on Jesus and the person that decides on the world. The essence of Christianity is that loyalty to Christ must take the first place over the dearest loyalties of the world.

4. We must too as Christians be ebed-melechs to our fellows in difficulties. We must speak out and for the other person who is facing situations that threaten life. We must come to their rescue. We must swim against the current of evil mob decision and action to destroy our fellow humans. Remember what the the Igbos say: Ahu ekwughi na-egbu okenye. To be able to be an ebed-melech to others, one must work to habituate some virtues. A) Trust: the King must have trusted Ebed-melek to have been able to listen to him and grant his plea. So too, we must learn to live our lives in order to be trusted by people around us. B) Loyalty and Obedience: the eunuch was a loyal one. We must be conscious of these virtues as we relate with our superiors and inferiors, for they help in raising our dignity. C) Humility: we must be down-to-earth for people to lift us up and take us serious whenever situations of raising our voices arise. D) Prudence: we must learn the most careful ways and manners of presenting our intercessions for them to be accepted and honoured E) Courage: we must be daring and convincing, laden with facts when we speak for the other.  

5. There is always a reward for interceding for others, and pleading for the good of others. In Jer. 39: 15-18, we read about the rewards of the servant, Ebed-melech, for having interceded for Jeremiah and having put his trust in the Lord. The Lord promised him that He will deliver him on the day of harm. He will be safe and shall not be given into the hands of his assailants. Our God is happy when we speak out in the face of evil. He is glad when we intercede for the less-privileged and afflicted. He is joyous when we assist in rescuing the suffering people; especially those who suffer from social injustices and vices. Jesus has shown us the way, for he is the leader and the perfecter of our faith (Second Reading Hebrew12:1-4). The writer of the Letter to the Hebrews continues to admonish us that even when we face tribulations and trials for having interceded for other, remember that Christ had done more than any one of us, who endured to the point of shedding blood for our sake.

6. Ebed-melech was close to Zedekiah, and that was why he was able to influence the decision of the king. Never repudiate someone who is closer to an authority, be it human or divine, for they too can influence the decision of the authority. Concerning ourselves with the divine authority, there are cases where people have disregarded and even have insulted the roles of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the saints in our lives. Be careful as a Christian when you join such a camp. If human beings can intercede for one another and be successful with their intercession, one can imagine to what extent and the result when spiritual beings who live in perpetuity with God intercede for us to God. We must learn to call on our Blessed Mother to intercede for us when we unknowingly offend God to pardon us. We must call on the saints too to pray for us. They are closer to God, and God does listen to them.

Today, I pray that God gives us the grace to become ebed-melechs to others, and to send us ebed-melechs when we need them. Amen. I pray too that God makes us to sing the words of the Psalmist in chapter 40. He is always there to hear our cries and to rescue us from the pit of hell and destruction. May this song be daily on our lips as I wish us a blessed week ahead. God bless you.

THE JOURNEY OF FAITH: WHY REFUSE THE PLEASURE OF THE MOMENT FOR AN UNCERTAIN FUTURE?

                  HOMILY FOR THE 19^TH SUNDAY OF THE ORDINARY TIME, YEAR C

Rev. Ezekoka Peter Onyekachi

During the early days of persecution, a humble Christian was brought before the judges. He explained to them that nothing can shake him for he believed that God is true and faithful to him inasmuch as he remains faithful and true to God. One of the judges asked him: do you really think that people of your type will be with God and enter into His glory? The humble Christian answered: I do not think, but I know. I know that I will be with God and share in His glory. And the judges were marvelled at this great answer. Yes, the Christian faith deals with a hope that is certain, and not uncertain. We do not think that God is faithful; we rather know and believe. In the eyes of the common man, this humble Christian was about to be tortured and perhaps killed for a future that is uncertain; a future that is vague and shrouded in great ambiguity. The Christian faith is such that determines all of our conducts; we live in it, and die in it.

Hence, the Christian answer to the question that forms our topic is that the future is not uncertain because it belongs to God. We know this because God commands everything and that God has promised it. Our God lives, and He is certain; our future then lives and is certain. We are certain that in the long run, truth will prevail. No one can exile the truth. It appeared that Socrates, the ancient Philosopher had been eliminated for seeking the truth, but what is the case today? He is known and studied, as his executioners are not even known. Shedrach, Meshach and Abednego converted the whole Babylon nation for their singular unquenchable faith they had in God. What of our Lord Jesus? It appeared that he was dealt with and killed during the reign of Pilate, but he is the most popular name on earth today. Paul was once condemned by Emperor Nero, but today many persons have their names as Paul, as it is even hard for dogs to go by the name Nero. Only the future can tell.

The Second Reading (Hebrew 11:1-2; 8-19) of today has so much attracted me that the satellite of this reflection is focused on it. The Hebrew writer(s) gave us a powerful definition of faith (pistis): the assurance of things hoped for, and the conviction of things not seen. What a powerful definition that stands over time. Two words are vivid in the manner most English versions of the Bible put this definition: assurance and conviction. The original Greek has it thus: ὑποστασὶς (hypostasis) and ἔλέγχος (elenchos). Without delving into the correctness of these translations, considering both words in their widest and contextual meaning may help to understand better the definition. Beforehand, we must state that the writer of the Letter to the Hebrews spoke in philosophical terms, as Philosophy was greatly respected in that period. He explained many theological realities in philosophical terms. Of course, the original language of the Letter is Greek which the language of Philosophy was.

In Philosophy, hypostasis simply means the underlying reality or substance of something. Little wonder, the Latin version of the translation favoured the term substantia (substance) to portray this philosophical language. Many commentators too have preferred the term reality which brings out well the intent of the writer(s). I join them too in favour of the word reality. Elenchos for the Greeks can be synonymous with the English argumentation. Little wonder too the Latin version favoured the term argumentetum. But this argumentation is geared towards a particular goal: to prove that which one believes in. Hence, when the Greeks use the word elenchus, it denotes the proof of a point, not the argument proper. Hence, the word proof brings out the meaning better. We must then re-present our own definition: Faith is the reality (substance/subsistence) of things hoped for, and the proof of things not seen. So, for the words, assurance and conviction, we replace them with reality and proof. The reality of things hoped for is concerned with this world, as the proof of things not seen is concerned with the heavenly world. Thus, it is because we believe in the reality of what we hope for in this life that we ignore the pleasures of the moment, and it is because we believe in the certainty of our future that we argue in order to prove its existence.

Ignoring the pleasures of the moment...

Faith is belief in God against the world; a world that is transient. In the Gospel (Luke 12:35-45), Jesus advises his disciples to ignore the pleasures of the moment for the sake of the future. We ought to be ready in wait for our master to come home from the marriage feast so that we can better attend to him once he returns. Blessed are those whom the master finds awake when he comes. Readiness to meet the son of man certainly costs us to ignore the pleasures of the moment, for we know that he will certainly come, even though we lack the knowledge of the hour of his coming. That servant who is way-ward and acts as if he is the master and that everything is dependent on the moment certainly gets punishment when the master unexpectedly returns, but that servant who is ever ready gains more reward from his master. To this futuristic servant, much more power and respect will be given him, for he showed great commitment to his work, but the momentous servant will be given severe beating and stripped of all powers and respect, for he has abused the much that was given him.

Believing in the certainty of our future...

God has been so faithful to us. He has been faithful to his promises. He has assured us of his salvation. In the First Reading (Wisdom 18:6-9), the people of Israel had to look back at their history and thereupon discovered that God has always been faithful. This gives them courage and hope for the future. The Lord has delivered the righteous and destroyed their enemies. The constant remembrance of this gives us courage and deepens our faith in God. What we have seen in the past assures us of the things not seen. We do not see the future, but from what the Lord has done in the past, we hope in the certainty of our future. In Romans 8:24, we are clarified that any hope that is seen ceases to be hopes; and the things unseen are eternal, but the ones seen are transient (2 Cor. 4:18). Hence, our faith is like that which Peter explains in his Letter: though we have not seen him, we love him; and though we do not now see him, we believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of our faith and the salvation of our souls (1 Pet. 1:8). Our faith in the certainty of our future makes us work hard to demonstrate it in the present.

The offspring of faith...

1. Faith produces obedience: Obedience to the will of God is one of the demonstrations of faith so that we now resign to the will of God in our lives, not our own will. Abraham obeyed God when he was called to go to a place which he was to receive as an inheritance, and not knowing, he still went. Our faith must be hinged on obedience to God and his representatives on earth.

2. Faith breeds courage: Abraham had the courage to sojourn in the land of promise, leaving everything he has acquired before then, for he looks forward to the city which has foundation, whose builder and maker is God. His faith in God was adventurous, and so too our faith must be adventurous; to move out and to reach out. We must leave the comforts of our homes, the pleasures of the moment for the sake of our faith in God.

3. Faith generates miracle: By faith, Sarah received power to conceive even when she was past the age. This was a belief in the impossible. That Sarah should have a child, humanly speaking, was impossible. But by God’s power and grace, the impossible became true. Thus, faith is that ability to lay hold on that grace which is sufficient for all things in such a way that the humanly impossible things become divinely possible. With God, all things are possible. Our faith in God comes with a reward. God visits us when he deems fit with those natural elements that he knows we need and that we lead us not away from Him. But we must allow God to always take the initiative to offer us his works which are miracles in our lives. Today, many Christians force their wills on God and are in fact being deceived by magic which never comes from God. Only miracles come from God. If it ceases to be miracle, count God out.

4. Faith encourages sacrifice and offering: Abraham when he was tested offered up Isaac; and he who has received the promise was ready to offer up his only begotten son. Our faith must ginger us to offer. Faith makes us selfless and sacrificial.  We must be ready to offer what is dearest to us for the sake of loyalty to God. Sometimes, a person may have to sacrifice even personal relationship for the service of God. Men have sacrificed marriage for the service on the altar of God. This is all realistic because of faith. Faith makes us to remember the other and to help for the betterment of the other person. It makes us to offer what we have for the good of the Church. We must make out time to offer ourselves as a sure test of our faith.

5. Faith desires heaven: Any faith that does not desire heaven is camouflage. God is able to raise men from the dead. He wants us to come and live with him in heaven. Our faith must ensure that all we here on earth are oriented towards there in heaven. Faith reproduces many things innumerable. It revives the soul. It creates inner joy. It comforts and consoles. It initiates all the more God’s glorification by us and our edification by God. Today, as we rejuvenate our understanding of faith so as to channel it to the proper pipe, permit me to draw the curtain here as we join our voices to sing this song of faith: ♫♫ He has promised He will never fail. I will follow, I will follow Him. He has promised He will never fail. His faithfulness is forever more.♫♫ God bless you, as I wish you a blessed week ahead.