Homily for Tuesday, Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year A, 4th August, 2026. The Memorial of St. John Mary Vianney

 

Readings: Jer. 30:1-2.12-15.18-22; Ps 102; Matt. 14:22-36

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

NAVIGATING THROUGH THE STORMS OF LIFE

In life, we often encounter difficult situations that are very frightening. A situation where the need for a Saviour is highly anticipated. Such was the case with the disciples of Jesus in our Gospel passage today. When Jesus received the news of John the Baptist’s death, he instructed the disciples to get into the boat and go ahead to the other side, while he would send the crowds away. When evening came, he was there alone, while the boat, by now far out on the lake, was battling with a heavy sea storm.

This story signifies God's chosen people on a transit of faith, frightened by the guilt of sin and wounded by the waves of the sea the abode of evil forces and monsters of this world. The boat can be taken as a symbol of the young Christian Church struggling with the world’s principalities and powers, while the storm is a symbol of persecution suffered by this young Christian community. And Jesus says: "Do not be afraid".

This, no doubt, is what humanity is passing through today in the hands of a few selfish, evil men and women who have decided to destroy humanity by trying to recreate human beings into an artificial machine against the natural way God has created us for a few of them to control the lives and activities of all.

Dear Friends, today, humanity needs to humbly cry out like Peter: Lord, save us, for we are sinking into the destructive hands of the evil powers of this sinful world. Hence we are called to trust in the Lord and hope in his promises and providence. For it is time for us to listen to God and hold onto him more closely.

Let us not be like Aaron and Miriam in our first reading, who spoke against God and Moses and were punished for their sins. Rather, let us learn to be humble like Moses, who was known as the most humble man on earth.

So, what are the terrible storms of doubt and fear in your soul? Are you under the power of the evil forces of this world? I don’t know how long or deep you have been involved in this evil. All I know is that with great faith in God, we will be triumphant.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, we are really passing through the storms of life in need of your love and satisfaction both physically and spiritually. Through the intercession of St. John Mary Vianney, guide us once again with your heavenly grace. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed week. 

Homily for Monday Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 3rd August, 2026

 

Readings: Jer.28: 1-17; Ps 119; Matt. 14:22-36

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

"TAKE COURAGE, IT IS I, DO NOT BE AFRAID" SAYS THE LORD

When Jesus, in our Gospel passage today, received the news of John the Baptist’s death, he instructed the disciples to get into the boat and proceed ahead to the other side, while he sent the crowds away. When evening came, he was there alone, while the boat, by now far out on the lake, was battling with a heavy sea storm.

As the waves broke over the boat, the disciples could not believe that Jesus had seen them and was approaching. Hence, they were afraid and needed help from anywhere. It was at this point that they saw Jesus walking on the sea, and he said to them: “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid”.

But Peter said, ‘If it is you, Lord, tell me to come to you across the water.’ ‘Come’ said Jesus. Then Peter got out of the boat and started walking towards Jesus across the water, but as soon as he felt the force of the wind, he became afraid and began to sink. So he cried out ‘Lord! Save me!’ Jesus put out his hand at once and held him.

This story signifies God's chosen people on a transit of faith, frightened by the guilt of sin and wounded by the waves of the sea the abode of evil forces and monsters of this world. The boat can be taken as a symbol of the young Christian Church struggling with the world’s principalities and powers, while the storm is a symbol of persecution suffered by this young Christian community. And Jesus says: "Do not be afraid".

This, no doubt, is what humanity is passing through today in the hands of a few selfish, evil men and women who have decided to destroy humanity by trying to recreate human beings into an artificial machine against the natural way God has created us for a few of them to control the lives and activities of all.

Today, humanity needs to humbly cry out like Peter, Lord, save us, for we are sinking into the destructive hands of the evil powers of this sinful world. Hence we are called to trust in the Lord and hope in his promises and providence. For it is time for us to listen to God and hold onto him more closely.

This is what prophet Hananiah, in our first reading, failed to understand, they spoke to please the king and his listeners, saying before everyone that the Lord would help Judah crush the Babylonians and help reverse all the losses and humiliations that they had suffered under them.

But this was not the truth; he only said something that everyone wanted to hear by reassuring false hope. Thus, prophet Jeremiah rebuked him, making it known that God was going to throw him and all the evil agents that were destroying humanity off the face of the earth.

Dear friends, Jesus is calling us today to journey on this boat of life with an unwavering faith and a repentant heart because the world is being tossed around by the waves of evil forces, the enemies of humankind. And it is only God that can subdue it, for he has promised to restore us back to Himself, if only we can trust in him completely.

So, I don't know the terrible storms of doubt and fear in your soul? Are you under the power of the evil forces of this world? I don’t know how long or deep you have been involved in this evil. All I know is that with great faith in God, the words of Jesus: “Do not be afraid, take courage, it is I,” will surely resound in the hearts of all his children who live in a hostile environment and are victims of the evils in this world.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, save humanity once again, grant that the violent storms and waves of bondage in our lives will end in a wonderful calm that brings peace in our souls. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you the best of God’s favour and blessings. 

Homily for the Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A, 2nd August, 2026

Readings: Isaiah 55:1-3, Ps 145, Rom. 8:35.37-39, Matt. 14:13-21

Fr. Emmanuel Onyia

COME TO JESUS THE BREAD OF LIFE AND HE WILL SATISFY YOUR SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL HUNGER

Humanity is constantly in need of one thing or another; we are never tired of searching for things that will satisfy our desire for both physical and spiritual well-being. This is the situation and condition of the people in our Gospel passage today.

When they heard about Jesus, they followed him on foot. So as Jesus stepped ashore he saw a large crowd; and he took pity on them and healed their sickness and also miraculously fed them.

Here, Jesus fulfils his role as the expected messiah who is to liberate his people from all kinds of diseases. The healing touch of Jesus reveals to all those who are in need that God is faithful to his promises. This healing and wholeness are offered as a sign of the presence of God’s kingdom among his people. But Jesus did not just heal the sick, he also fed the crowd.

This feeding of the crowd refers back to the journey of the people of God in the desert from Mount Sinai to the promised land, which especially signifies the event of our Eucharistic celebration. The Eucharist has the same characteristics as this miracle: the community gathered together, the transformation of humble elements into a glorified body of Christ to satisfy our spiritual hunger, which is an abundant gift of God to humanity.

In fact, because of the link to the Eucharist, this is the only miracle that is reported by all four gospels. However, we can interpret this miracle of feeding the crowd in two ways. First, we can simply interpret it as a miraculous event, pointing to the divine origin and mission of Jesus.

Secondly, we can interpret the miracle as the fruit of sharing with one another, for it is possible that once the disciples began to share the little food they had with those around, others who had actually brought some food with them also started sharing what they had,e and indeed grace multiplied what they had to the point of having leftovers.

How I wish humanity could learn to share our resources with one another; believe me, the world will witness another miracle of multiplication of resources that will be enough for everyone, with leftovers for future generations.

So, as Jesus heals and feeds the physical aspect of humanity, he also knows that we need the food of the Eucharist to sustain us spiritually for our journey to heaven which is our promised land. Here, Jesus did not bring the loaves and fish out of nowhere. Rather, he took what was offered to him and multiplied them greatly. This bread is the gift of the Eucharist,t which we receive back from Jesus,s whose heart is always moved with pity and compassion towards us.

Little wonder Go, through the prophet Isaiah in our first reading,g invites us to come to the water,r all you who are thirsty; though you have no money, come! Buy corn without money, and eat, and, at no cost, wine and milk. For why spend money on what does not satisfy?. He says, listen, and your soul will live, for he has made an everlasting covenant with us out of the favours promised to David.

Dear friends, God loves us so much, that he is willing and ready to satisfy our unquenchable hunger for physical and spiritual things. And St. Paul in our second reading encouraged us to make sure that nothing comes between us and the love of Christ, even if we are troubled or worried, or being persecuted, or lacking food or clothes, or being threatened or even attacked. These are the trials through which we triumph, by the power of him who loved us so much.

For neither death nor life, no angel, no princes of this world, nothing that exists, nothing still to come, not any power, or height or depth, nor any created thing, can ever come between us and the love of God made visible in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore, come to Jesus and embrace his love and you will be satisfied.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we are really hungry, in need of your love and satisfaction both physically and spiritually. Feed us once again with your heavenly grace, multiply the little bread and fish we share with others,s and provide for us the basic needs of life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed Sunday. 

Homily For Saturday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 1st August, 2026. 1st August 2024. The Memorial of St Alphonsus Mary Liguori. HAPPY NEW MONTH

Readings: Jer. 26:11-16.24, Ps. 69, Matt. 14:1-12

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

LEARN TO STAND FOR WHAT IS RIGHT AND TRUTH NO MATTER THE COST

One thing that the world hates to hear is the sound of the word "truth". Why! Because it makes the world tremble as most things in the world are built on falsehood and deceit, and people are becoming comfortable with falsehood as a way of life.

This is obvious, especially with the ugly situation in our societies today, where humanity is placed in perpetual darkness and confusion as the voices that speak the truth are silenced by all means.

Today, people want to be "free" to do whatever they like; they don't want anybody to remind them of the hard truth about the realities of life. Hence, they can do anything just to silence the truth.

Thus, the cost of speaking the truth has become so expensive that sometimes it costs the life of an individual or even a whole community or nation. It is even more demanding when the truth to be told has to do with the conversion of one in authority.

This is the case with John the Baptist in our Gospel passage today, whose head was the prize for the truth he told to Herod and Herodias. Herod had arrested John and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. For John had told him, ‘It is against the Law for you to have her.’ Herod had wanted to kill him but was afraid of the people, who regarded John as a prophet.

But, on the occasion of Herod’s birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company, and so delighted Herod that he promised on oath to give her anything she asked. She conspired with the mother and demanded the head of John the Baptist. The king was distressed, but, thinking of the oaths he had sworn and of his guests, he ordered John to be beheaded, and the head be given to the girl, who took it to her mother.

This same terrible crime is what we have in our first reading today, where the people demanded that the prophet Jeremiah deserve to die since he had prophesied against the city. Jeremiah had told the people that the Lord would destroy their city and their temple if they refused to amend their sinful ways of life and listen to the voice of the Lord God, who was calling them to repentance.

These ugly attitudes towards John the Baptist and Jeremiah point to what is done to Jesus in his Passion, demonstrating how good people, especially when they struggle for truth and justice, are often condemned to suffer at the hands of greed and powerful people.

 But should we stop speaking the truth because of fear of losing our lives? I don't think so because truth saves a life, brings freedom, it releases tension, brings peace, and it settles quarrels and disputes. Truth is freedom which must be offered to everyone, whoever, whenever and however it will best bring conversion to its enemies, just like John the Baptist did to Herod and Herodias even at the expense of his life.

Herod made a bad decision and, out of pride, found it difficult to change his mind and admit that he was wrong. He did not plan to execute John that night. He was persuaded by Herodias to do so because he was a weak man. He is a slave to the opinion of others; he fears the people who revered John; he also fears the reaction of his guests if he should retract his oath.

Dear friends, like Herod, how often do we make decisions out of pride? When we make bad decisions, how quickly are we able to change our minds and admit that we are wrong? Are we like Herodias, who is waiting for an opportunity to silence the innocents who confront us with the truth?

If today we happen to be one of the guests of Herod, what would be our reaction? Will I have protested or stayed silent? Thus, what do we do when we see others suffering injustice? Do we have the courage to protest, even at the cost of losing our lives? Today we are called to speak the truth, for the world needs to hear the truth no matter the cost.

This is what we see in the life of St. Alphonsus Liguori, whose memorial we celebrate today. He was the founder of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, also known as the Redemptorists. He was truly a holy man and a role model that we can emulate in our own lives. St. Alphonsus Liguori was remembered for his great piety and dedication to serve the people of God

LET US PRAY: Lord God, it is difficult to speak and stand for truth in our world today; give us the grace and courage to become an instrument of your word in truth and deeds just like St. John the Baptist. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you God’s favour and blessings this month. 

Homily For Friday, Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year A, 31st July, 2026. The Memorial of St. Ignatius of Loyola

Readings: Jer. 26:1-9, Ps. 69, Matt. 13:54-58

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

LEARN TO TREAT EVERYONE WITH RESPECT

In life, people are quick to neglect and look down on others, who they believe cannot offer them anything good at the moment. They are quick to forget that everyone, no matter the present condition is a potential instrument for God's blessings. This is the ugly attitude of the people of Nazareth in our Gospel passage today.

For when Jesus came to his home town and taught the people in the synagogue in such a way that they were astonished, but instead of embracing the message of Jesus, they treated him with contempt and in their pride they said: ‘Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers? This is the carpenter’s son, surely? Is not his mother the woman called Mary, and his brothers and sisters here with us? Where did he get all these?’

And they would not accept him. But Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is only despised in his own country and his own house’, and he did not work many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

Thus, out of pride and contempt, the people rejected the blessings God had for them. Such is also the attitude of the people in the first reading today, where God, through the prophet Jeremiah, calls the people of Judah to repent and turn away from their sins so that He might forgive them and stop the wrath and punishments resulting from their many sins. Unless they repent from their sins, what happened to the sanctuary of Shiloh would also happen to them all.

But they did not listen to him; rather, they all seized hold of Jeremiah and said, ‘You shall die! Why have you made this prophecy in the name of the Lord? So, in their pride, they treated him with contempt and even planned to kill him.

Today, this kind of attitude is what prevents people from doing good because they don’t want to be treated with contempt. As a result, many people have been deprived of their blessings due to human pride and contempt.

Dear friends, we must stop looking down on people. We should not treat anyone with contempt, for everyone is a potential instrument of God’s blessings and favour. And if you want to make a difference in life, be ready to ignore what people are saying about you now, and forget your past failures and your humble beginning. People may not appreciate you now; they may even say all kinds of things about you just to humiliate and discourage you.

Put all of them behind you, work hard for your dreams, give your time to it, sacrifice your sleep and comfort, sweat for it, plan for it, and overcome all your terrors of opposition, enduring pains and obstacles, with the help of God you will succeed and become a source of God's blessings.

Then you will sing joyfully to God your strength and all the people will gather about you in praise of your God. And they will say: Is not this the Carpenter's son or daughter? Where, then, did he get all this? Yes, that's who we are, for Jesus is the Carpenter of our success.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, oftentimes in our pride we treat people with contempt because of their humble background, through the intercession of St Ignatius of Loyola give us the grace to realise that everyone is a potential instrument of your blessings and favour to humanity, and as we struggle towards our goals, may you crown all our efforts and sacrifices with success. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Peace be with you.

Homily For Thursday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 30th July 2026

Readings: Jer.18:1-6, P 146, Matt 13:47-53

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

A CLAY IN A POTTER’S HAND

A story was told of a beautiful clay pot used to decorate a garden. The clay pot was the point of attraction to all, including its fellow ordinary clay. One day, the ordinary clay approached the beautiful clay pot and said, 'We do not doubt that you are clay, just like us.' But how come you have become so beautiful and special that everyone admires you?

The clay pot smiled and said: There was a time when I was nothing but a dumb lump of red clay. Then, one day, a Potter came with a digger and a hoe, dug me out of the dumb lump, painfully separated me from my fellow clay and brought me to his house. I cried out, but he ignored me.

He rolled and pounded me on a wooden table several times without mercy. I cried out, " Don’t do that! Leave me alone!’ But the Potter suddenly placed me on a spinning wheel and spun around and around and around until I lost all consciousness. Just when I thought it was over, he placed me carefully into an oven which is hotter than hellfire.

Why me? I cried out in anguish! But the potter only smiled and gently said: because you are special! I struggled, yelled, knocked and broke several times, but the Potter was patient and meticulous in ensuring that I adjusted to his will. Realising that I cannot win, I surrendered completely to the will of the Potter, and he only nodded in understanding and quietly said: “It is not over yet!

Then he pulled me out of the oven, and when the heat cooled, he carefully picked me up and dusted away some dirt, and behold, I was transformed, looking so beautiful and special. And the potter smiled and said: This is what you are meant to be. For God has made you into a special vessel for a special purpose.

This story reflects what the prophet Jeremiah is telling us in our first reading today: God is the Potter, and we are the clay. God has created humanity as beautiful clay in his hands to be moulded into a beautiful and special vessel for the heavenly kingdom. But humanity has sinned and rebelled against God and his plan for us. Unless we repent and turn away from our sinful ways we will all perish.

Hence, we are called to repentance, for there will be a day of judgement of which Jesus, in our Gospel passage, used a parable to describe that the kingdom of heaven will be like a dragnet cast into the sea that brings in fish of all kinds.

When it is full, the fishermen haul it ashore; then, sitting down, they collect the good ones in a basket and throw away those that are of no use. Here, Jesus is telling us that the kingdom is open for all, but not all can be suitable to dwell in it; only those who, on the judgement day, are found suitable can be admitted into the kingdom.

Dear friends, all God requires from us is for us to let him mould us into the heavenly vessels that he planned for humanity. There is no doubt that sin has destroyed our original nature, but just like when the potter was shaping clay in his hands, and he formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. So will God re-mould us into a new vessel for his heavenly kingdom if we repent from our pride and sinful ways of life?

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, sin and pride have separated humanity from your plans for us; today, we come to you like clay in a lump, be our Potter once again and re-mould us into that heavenly vessel which you planned for us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen

Homily For Wednesday, Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year A, 29th July, 2026. The Memorial of SS. Martha, Mary and Lazarus

 

Readings: Jer. 15:10.16-21; Ps. 59; Luke 10:38-42

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WHAT IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS?

Today we celebrate the memorial of Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus, very close family friends of Jesus. In this family, we see what should be a good example of our attitude towards Jesus in our families. In our relationship with Jesus, we often struggle to understand what Jesus requires of us.

Oftentimes, we worry about so many things in life, and this often distracts us from relating to Jesus properly. But Jesus will always have a way of teaching us how to relate to him despite our different charisms and dispositions.

This is what is playing out in our Gospel passage today, where we heard the story of how Martha was so busy trying to make Jesus comfortable as he visited them at their house in Bethany.

But when Martha observed that her sister Mary was not helping out in the preparation, but was rather busy listening to Jesus, she said to Jesus: “Lord, do you not care that my sister is leaving me to do the serving all by myself? Please tell her to help me.’ But the Lord answered: ‘Martha, Martha,’ ‘you worry and fret about so many things, and yet few are needed, indeed only one. It is Mary who has chosen the better part; it is not to be taken from her”.

Here, Jesus is not condemning this great sacrificial virtue nor condoning laziness. Rather, he is saying that being busy without listening and listening without doing is completely worthless. Because in our relationship with him, Jesus wants us to learn how to listen to him even in our busy schedules.

Hence, he gently corrected the impression of Martha, who was too busy and distracted with so many things that she risked losing sight of what is really important: listening to Jesus. This is because Martha gives the impression that Mary is just sitting there doing nothing. But, in fact, she was listening to Jesus.

However, Jesus is not telling us to be content with sitting down to listen to his word, for he always insists that the best way of listening to his word is by putting it into practice. His objection to Martha is that she was too anxious and distracted by many things, so she was not able to really listen to him, and for Jesus, listening is the best option.

This act of listening to God is what we see in the life of the prophet Jeremiah in the first reading today as we heard the Lord saying to him: I will make you

a bronze wall fortified against this people. They will fight against you but they will not overcome you, because I am with you to save you and to deliver you.

Dear friends, in our relationship with Jesus, are we more of a listener or more of an accommodating and caring person? Are we more like Martha, Mary or Lazarus for they were all close family friends of Jesus? Today, many of us are so busy and anxious about so many things that we have no time to listen to God speaking to us and addressing the situation we are actually busy trying to solve.

Today we are called, like Martha, to pause and listen, so that we can hear God speaking to us and directing us towards the right path. Remember Martha, who was known as a friend of Jesus, loved to welcome him into her home.

Let us also learn from her, for it is a great virtue to be hospitable and caring, especially when we spend quality time listening to God and letting him direct and guide us towards carrying out our daily tasks without being distracted by the things of this passing world.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are anxious and worried about so many things, but indeed only one thing is needed, give us the grace to truly listen to your word and so have a caring and hospitable family just like St. Martha, Mary and Lazarus. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a fruitful day.