VALENTINES DAY
It has become a norm in our society today for almost every religious body to advertise miracles, healing, deliverance and breakthrough. Powerful men of God are known today for their ability to perform signs and wonders. Many of them  in order to meet up with the demands  have resulted to either fake miracles, or get other means to perform magic in place of miracles. In the gospel reading, the pharisees just like many of us today asked Jesus to give them a sign if they must believe in him. Jesus refused to give them a sign not because he could not do it, but because they have refused to see all the signs around them. Many miracles are being performed in our lives every day, but we seem not to notice them. 
I witnessed recently in a charismatic prayer session, a woman came out to give testimony, she said that she just wanted to thank God for bringing her safely from her house to the church. When she was about to handover the microphone and go to her seat, the prayer leader told her to complete  the story. He thought that it would be a better testimony if she had accident on the way and survived or anything negative happened to her. In the minds of the listeners, she needed to have an accident and probably be among the few survivors for it to be a testimony or acknowledgement of the signs of God. We do not need to be in a terrible state before we see the signs of God around us. May almighty God open our eyes to see the unseen battles he is fighting for us.

Today many people around the world are celebrating St valentine who has now been regarded as the patron of lovers. One very important thing that lovers especially those in serious relationships that they hope will lead to marriage must understand, is that it is not all rosy, but a process. There could be betrayal, unfaithfulness, disappointment and the likes.  Reparations and forgiveness is also necessary if things must work among them. 
Love entails truthfulness, openess and sacrifices for one's partner. Jesus tells us in John 15:13 that one cannot claim to love if he/she cannot lay down his/her life for a friend. To our youths, beware of those who claim to love you today and do not do something silly. Think of whether he/she has good plans for you. Love is not just for a day but forever.  May almighty God grant us the grace to genuinely love one another and wish them well. Amen 

Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie, MSP