Homily for the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A, 12th July, 2026

 

Readings: Isaiah 55:10-11, Ps 65, Rom. 8:18-23, Matt. 13:1-23

Fr. Emmanuel Onyia

EXPOSING HUMAN DISPOSITION AND RESPONSE TOWARDS THE WORD OF GOD

The second stanza of one of our great hymns titled Wonderful Words of Life, written by Philip Bliss in 1874, says:

Christ, the blessed One, gives to all

wonderful words of life;

sinner, listen to the loving call,

wonderful words of life;

all so freely given,

wooing us to heaven:

(Refrain: Beautiful words, wonderful words,

wonderful words of life;

beautiful words, wonderful words,

wonderful words of life).

This beautiful hymn provides a wonderful background for understanding today’s Gospel message, in which our Lord Jesus shares a great parable of the Sower and explains it to his disciples, as well as to all who are listening to him today.

Meanwhile, some of us who are into farming understand very well how a healthy seed blossoms on fertile soil. Little wonder Jesus chose to use this great farming metaphor to illustrate the relationship between the Word of God and the human heart. Because the Word of God is to the human heart what a healthy seed is to fertile soil.

In this parable, Jesus said to the crowd, ‘Imagine a sower going out to sow. As he sowed, some seeds fell on the edge of the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Others fell on a rocky ground where they found little soil and sprang up immediately, because there was no depth of soil; so as soon as the sun came up they were scorched and, not having any roots, they withered away.

Others fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Others fell on rich soil and produced their crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Listen, anyone who has ears!’

After explaining why he speaks in parables in reference to the prophecy of the prophet Isaiah about the hardness of the human heart, Jesus then explained the parable to his disciples, pointing out our different dispositions towards the Word of God in relation to our interior life.

Whether our soul is like dry rocky ground or whether we regularly seek to nourish our soul and prepare it to receive the holy Word of God. Thereby calling us to cultivate and create a fertile disposition within our heart to do the will of God.

Also, Jesus uses the parable of the sower to describe different kinds of responses to God's Word, for there are four obstacles that can distract us from making our hearts a fertile soil. These obstacles include: shallow-mindedness, a hardened heart, worldly desires and finally, trials and persecutions. Most people fall into some, if not all, of these obstacles.

For instance, those who are against the teachings of Jesus, the crowds that respond positively to Jesus, especially to his miracles of healing and feeding the people but did not want to be part of the sacrificial aspect of his teaching.

Those who behave like this have shallow minds, and the Word of God can not be sustained in their hearts when scorched by the heat of the heavy sun and storms of life. Those who harden their hearts can be likened to the people who have a disposition like the Pharisees, who refused to listen to Jesus and turned against him in the end and demanded his crucifixion.

The rich young man (Matt. 19:16-23), who was unable to part with his possessions, provides a clear example of people with the obstacle of worldly desires who hear the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing.

And finally, those who have trials and persecutions become an obstacle to the Word of God in their hearts. These are people who fall away when trials or persecution arise on account of the Word, such as Judas, and many people fall in this category in our society today.

But what about the good soil? These are those who made their hearts a fertile soil through love and purity of heart, which helped them to hear the Word of God and understand it, and indeed bear fruit and yield an abundant harvest of a hundred, sixty and thirty folds. Our Mother Mary is a good example of such people. Therefore, the different kinds of ground on which the seed falls represent the different ways in which we receive the Word of God.

Dear friends, today Jesus Christ gives us all the wonderful and beautiful Words of life, wooing us to heaven, are we disposed to letting his word blossom in our souls? Remember, our hearts are the fields in which the Word of God is scattered; to which do our hearts belong: the pathway, the rocky ground, the thorns or the good soil? Whichever one, we are called to pay attention and take some time to appreciate and dispose our hearts more, so that God’s Word may find a root in us.

For prophet Isaiah told us in our first reading today, that as the rain and the snow come down from the heavens and do not return without watering the earth, making it yield and giving growth to provide seed for the sower and bread for the eating, so the word of God in our hearts does not return to God empty, without carrying out the will of God and succeeding in what it was sent to do in our soul, when we are well dispose to receive it.

 And St. Paul in our second reading tells us that what we suffer in this life can never be compared to the glory that is yet to be revealed, which is waiting for us, as the whole creation is eagerly waiting for God to reveal to his sons and daughters the wonderful and beautiful Words of life which Christ His blessed One gives to us today and wooing us to his Heavenly Kingdom.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, each and every one of us have received the seeds of your Word; give us grace to remain open to receiving your Word, so that it will blossom in our souls and bear fruit abundantly, through Christ our Lord. Amen. May God bless and guide you always

Homily For Saturday, Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year A, 11th July 2026. The Memorial of St. Benedict Abbot.

 

Readings: Isaiah 6:1-8, Ps. 93, Matt 10: 24-33

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

HERE I AM, SEND ME: BECOMING A FIRM DISCIPLE OF THE LORD

The joy of every good leader is to watch his disciple become like his master. A good disciple develops great qualities and skills, just like those of the master. Hence, Jesus knowing the difficulties and challenges his disciples would encounter, needed to train and instruct them properly, so that they could stand firm in the midst of opposition and persecution.

Thus, in today's Gospel passage, Jesus continues his instruction on what it means to be a faithful disciple in relation to the mission he is about to entrust to his apostles.

Hence he said to his Apostles: The disciple is not superior to his teacher, nor the slave to his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, what will they not say of his household? What I say to you in the dark, tell in the daylight; what you hear in whispers, proclaim from the housetops. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; fear him rather who can destroy both body and soul in hell.

As disciples, these encouraging words of Jesus are very apt now that we are passing through difficult moments of poverty, sickness, persecution, intimidation, greed, immorality, killings, wars, famines, and genocide in our families, societies, countries and the world at large.

This ugly condition can make someone completely lose hope in humanity and also in God. But Jesus does not want us to lose hope; rather, he wants us to be firm and strong disciples who will stand firm and courageously face the ugly situation we encounter every day. For Jesus needs firm disciples who will speak and stand for his Gospel no matter the cost.

Hence, we heard the Lord saying through the prophet Isaiah in our first reading: Whom shall I send? Who will be our messenger?’ I answered, ‘Here I am, send me. This prophecy assures us that the Lord wants us to have faith and trust in Him, despite everything that we may be suffering and enduring because of the sins and wickedness of the evil ones.

Dear friends, the Lord is looking for that disciple who will say Here I am send me. So what is your response? In the midst of persecution and difficulties are we going to be that firm disciples of Jesus? This question is important because as disciples of Jesus, our purpose in life is to become like him in deeds and character.

By so doing we will have confidence that God will enable us to carry out the work that He has entrusted to us even in the midst of persecution, knowing that neither men nor the devil can affect our soul. We can be confident of God’s intimate care for us because He knows even the number of hairs on our heads.

Therefore, as true disciples of Jesus, we must have confidence and remain firm in faith even in the midst of persecution, suffering and sickness, because, his love and care for us surpass all our challenges. Thus we are called today to follow God wholeheartedly by living a life of holiness, purity, courage and simplicity, and by so doing inspire others to be part of this mission.

This is what we see in the life of St. Benedict, whose memorial we celebrate today. For he is known for his renowned piety and commitment to living a life of purity and prayer, of which he inspired many others to follow him in a life of asceticism and prayer.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, there is no doubt that our world is full of opposition and persecution of your faithful people. Grant that we may follow you wholeheartedly and stand firm in the midst of all the opposition and persecution we may encounter in our daily lives. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you a lovely and peaceful weekend.

Homily for Friday Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 10th July, 2026

 

Readings: Hosea 14:2-10; Ps. 51; Matt:10:16-23

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

UNDERSTANDING THE NATURE OF OUR MISSION IN THIS PASSING WORLD

Reflecting on the ugly attitudes of humanity, especially in some ugly events that happen around us. How selfish, cruel and heartless people behave towards each other. Everywhere we see and hear of human wickedness, intimidation, manipulation, kidnapping, killing and different other immoral activities for the sake of power, fame, money and lustful desires. And anyone who tries to resist, challenge, correct, change or stop these ugly attitudes, becomes an object of elimination.

 In fact, the evil ones are so cruel that sometimes we wish that God should wipe them away from the face of the earth, and when this does not come to pass, we complain and feel so helpless. Yet in the midst of all these ugly situations, we are required to continue to speak about God’s goodness, love, compassion and forgiveness. A very difficult task to do, especially when we are suffering as victims of the ugly situation.

Little wonder today in our Gospel passage, Jesus made known to his disciples the difficult nature of his mission, he taught them how to persevere in times of persecution, troubles, afflictions, and sufferings. He warns them that they will meet with hostility and hatred because of him, but they are to continue to bear witness to the Gospel values. Jesus said to them: “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; so be cunning as serpents and yet as harmless as doves.”

He said: Beware of men: for they will hand you over to lawless men and drag you before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them. But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to speak or what to say; for what you are to say will be given to you when the time comes; because it is not you who will be speaking; the Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you.”

Hence, Jesus, knowing that the mission to change the sinful and ugly attitudes of humanity will be like sending a helpless sheep in the midst of hungry wolves, advised his disciples, as he advises us today, to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. He also gave us the ultimate reassurance and promise, that the one who endures to the end will be saved.

The truth is that, God still cares for humanity despite our sinful and ugly attitudes. This is evident in our first reading today, when we heard the Lord saying: Israel, come back to the Lord your God; your iniquity was the cause of your downfall. Provide yourself with words and come back to the Lord. Say to him, ‘Take all iniquity away so that we may have happiness again and offer you our words of praise

Dear friends, the circumstances in which Jesus invites us to share the Good News are quite challenging and difficult, especially now that the world is passing through difficult times, as families, societies, countries, and churches are badly affected by the ugly situation born out of the evil forces manifesting themselves in different forms, of which troubles and conflicts are affecting the whole world.

Yes, our sinful attitudes have brought humanity into destruction and death, but the Lord still loves us and wants us to repent from our sins and wickedness, so as to embrace his righteousness and mercy once again.

Therefore, just as Jesus was not abandoned by his Father in his hour of need, we too will not be abandoned in difficult times. Because God knows what we are passing through now. All we need to do is to listen to him speaking to us through the Holy Spirit. Remember, as helpless sheep in the midst of hungry wolves of this passing world, the greatest Gospel we can preach is the Gospel of love by our way of life even in the midst of the ugly attitudes of sinful humanity.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, may the Holy Spirit enlighten, strengthen and grant us the courage and strength to persevere in witnessing to the Gospel, especially in these difficult times. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a fruitful day

Homily For Thursday, Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year A, 9th July, 2026.

Readings: Hosea 11:1:4.8-9, Ps. 80, Matt 10:7-15

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WHY HAVE WE FAILED TO RESPOND POSITIVELY TOWARDS GOD’S LOVE FOR US?

Today in our first reading we heard how God, through the prophet Hosea, demonstrated his compassionate fatherly love for his rebellious people, saying: When Israel was a child I loved him, and I called my son out of Egypt. But the more I called to them, the further they went from me; they have offered sacrifice to the Baals and set their offerings smoking before the idols. I myself taught Ephraim to walk, I took them in my arms; yet they have not understood that I was the one looking after them. I led them with reins of kindness, with leading-strings of love. I will not give rein to my fierce anger, I will not destroy Ephraim again, for I am God, not man: I am the Holy One in your midst and have no wish to destroy.

Here, we heard of God’s anger and dissatisfaction with the constant disobedience and rebellious attitude of the people and the upcoming consequences for their sins. But God in his compassionate love, wishes to save the people. This shows us that in God, we have a compassionate and loving Father who always cares about us despite our constant disobedience and rebellious attitude towards Him. And out of His love for us, He has not stopped sending His messengers to help guide us out of the wrong path we are taking. In fact, out of love, He sent Jesus, His only begotten Son, to be our Lord and Saviour.

Thus, in our Gospel passage we heard how Jesus went about doing good, healing the sick and setting captives free from the shackles of the evil ones and to continue this great mission he invited his disciples and sent them out, commanding them to see themselves as someone who gives freely of the good they have received from God. They should offer to others what they have received from God, knowing that it has cost them nothing.

They are to live a life of detachment that is, in this mission, they are to depend totally on God's providence. Unfortunately, many of the disciples have to face rejection and persecution from people who, through their rebellious attitude, have refused to believe in God even though he has always been so patient, loving, caring and forgiving.

Dear friends, why is it that the more God loves us the more we separate ourselves from him? Today, we are called to repent from our sinful and rebellious attitudes and embrace the compassionate love and care that God is offering us. And as disciples of Christ, we have received a lot from God without payment; we should learn to give without expecting reward.

Today we are called to acknowledge with gratitude all that we have received from God and give freely to others that which we have received. For this act of charity will purify us from pride and self-righteousness, because we are all recipients of God's love, mercy, forgiveness, favour, protection, healing and deliverance.

Therefore, we must offer to others these same gifts which we have received. We are to show love to people, forgive, help the needy and share with one another the gifts God has blessed us with, and if our love and care are rejected, we should offer it as a sign for the judgement day. Remember, your kind gestures today can turn someone's life around now or later and by so doing we extend God’s divine compassion to rebellious humanity.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, you have sacrificed a lot to save us from our rebellious and sinful attitudes, open our hearts once again to repent and embrace your compassionate love and care for us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed day.

Homily for Wednesday Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 8th July, 2026

 

Readings: Hosea 10:1-3,7-8,12; Ps. 104; Matt:10:1-7

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WE ARE CALLED TO PROCLAIM THAT THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS CLOSE AT HAND

The things of this world are so captivating that if we are not careful, we will be like a foolish traveller who, having encountered a pleasant garden, forgets to continue towards his destination. This is exactly what Jesus is calling our attention to in our Gospel passage today, when he commanded his twelve disciples to go and proclaim to the people that the kingdom of heaven is near.

Here, Jesus continues with his missionary discourse, summoning his twelve apostles and sending them out with the clear instruction to proclaim the Good News of the kingdom of heaven. He sent them on a mission of teaching and healing to proclaim the message of God’s saving love to those who were in most need of hearing it.

Thus, in our first reading we heard the prophet saying to the people Sow integrity for yourselves, reap a harvest of kindness, break up your fallow ground: it is time to go seeking the Lord until he comes to rain salvation on you. Similarly, the Lord Jesus sent his disciples to all humanity to bring the Good News of his Kingdom.

So, today Jesus is calling us to change our ugly and sinful ways of life, especially as regards our attitude towards the things of this passing world. He is also commanding us just as he commanded his apostles to tell humanity, especially those we encounter every day, our family members, neighbours, colleagues, friends, in fact everyone around us, we should tell them that the kingdom of heaven is very close at hand.

Thus, it's time to truly seek God with all our hearts; it's time to turn away from our sinful way of life; it's time to say yes to God, for tomorrow may be too late. We should not be ashamed or afraid to carry out this mandate, for when God calls us, he supplies us with the means and courage necessary to accomplish the task entrusted to us. For we are never alone, he is always with us.

Dear friends, what are we doing in this passing world with the gift of life that God has given us? We should never think that we still have all the time to keep ‘enjoying' the pleasant things of this passing world. Remember we are all travellers in this world. This world is not our destination, we are just passing by.

So, how many ears must we have before we can hear the call for repentance? How many deaths will it take till we know that the souls of many people have gone from this world? How many words of God will we hear before we know that one day we will be no more in this passing world? The answer, dear friends, is blowing in the wind. Therefore, let us not be like a foolish traveller who, having encountered a pleasant garden of this passing world, forgets to continue towards his destination, which is God’s heavenly kingdom.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, you called us today to reflect on our heavenly kingdom, give us grace to repent and turn to you for mercy, help us to have the missionary zeal that will enable us to live with integrity, purity and detachment from the things of this passing world as we spread the Good News of your kingdom to humanity. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Peace be with you.

Homily for Tuesday Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 7th July, 2026

Readings: Hosea 8:4-7.11-13, Ps. 115, Matt 9:32-38

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

AS GOD’S LABOURERS, WHAT ARE WE DOING IN HIS VINEYARD?

Walking through the streets I observed how people are struggling with the things of this passing world. I saw their passion, their determination and willingness to achieve great things in life at the expense of things that prepare us for eternal life. For some people, life has become meaningless. Greed, corruption and selfishness have rendered so many people into perpetual poverty and suffering.

Thus, reflecting on these, my mind turned towards the words of Jesus in our Gospel passage today, when he saw the crowds and had compassion on them because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest’.

Here, Jesus had compassion on humanity who were harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd. He then tells his disciples that a huge harvest is waiting to be reaped. Calling on us to pray for God to send labourers into his harvest.

Therefore, more labourers are needed, for Jesus sees how humanity is harassed and dejected, wandering aimlessly like sheep without a guiding shepherd. And because the souls of everyone in the world are so precious to Jesus, he needs many more labourers, especially now that it is obvious that the harvest is getting richer while the labourers are getting fewer.

Hence, the harvest is as big as ever, and people are getting lost and clueless as never before. But who are these labourers? They are not just the bishops, priests, or religious men and women. But every baptised person is called in a different capacity as God’s labourers to share the good news of Jesus Christ with those around them.

So each of us has a vocation, a call to save souls and build the Kingdom of God together. Let us not be like the people of Israel in our first reading today, who abandoned their mission and vocation and chose to sacrifice to idols.

Thus we heard the Lord saying through the prophet Hosea: “They love sacrificing; right, let them sacrifice! They love meat; right, let them eat it! The Lord takes no pleasure in these. He is now going to remember their iniquity and punish their sins”.

Dear friends, as God’s labourers, what are we doing in his vineyard, for the Lord desires to have faithful labourers? Are you part of the faithful labourers in God’s vineyard? As labourers of the Lord, how are we carrying out this mission and mandate of Christ? How strong is our compassion towards others?

Do we know people who are harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd? Let us look at them for a moment and imagine Jesus looking at them and saying something to them. Or do we feel harassed and helpless as a result of what we are passing through in life? Do we feel the need for Jesus’ help in some part of our life? Then turn to him for restoration.

Remember, as labourers whether as lawyers, Doctors, teachers, engineers, politicians, military, businessmen and women, each one of us is called today to reach out to people at any particular corner of the field of harvest where we are residing now, for we may be the only person who may have access to reach out to them.

Therefore, let us start from our families, neighbours, colleagues in the office and others whom we encounter in our lives, because we may be the only person who can bring the healing and compassion of Jesus into their lives.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, give us the grace and courage to be faithful labourers in your vineyard, who will labour to bring souls to you. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed day.

Homily for Monday Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 6th July, 2026

Readings: Hosea 2:16,17-18,21-22; Ps 145; Matt 9:18-26

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

EXPRESSING A POSITIVE FAITH THAT LEADS TO RESTORATION

Today we are presented with the story of the faith of a woman with a haemorrhage set inside the story of a little girl who died, and the father in faith came to Jesus for help. However, Mark 5:21-43 and Luke 8:40-56 tell the story in greater detail. 

In Mark and Luke, the woman with the haemorrhage interrupts Jesus’ journey to the home of a child who might die before he arrives, creating an urgency that is not present in Matthew’s account. In Matthew’s account, the girl is already dead, so there is no hurry.

Here, the father confesses a resurrection faith, “My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” The father believes that even Jesus’ slightest touch will restore life to his daughter, just as it did to the woman with a haemorrhage.

The stories of the little girl and the woman have interesting similarities: Both are called “daughter” (9:18, 22). Both are restored in the presence of people (the woman and the father) who seek Jesus’ help. The woman has been ill for twelve years, and the little girl was twelve years old. Both the woman and the little girl have been cut off from normal society by their physical condition.

 But there are also differences between the stories. The father is a man of high standing in the community, and the woman is unclean and an outcast. The man approaches Jesus boldly, and the woman approaches him timidly. The girl was raised based on the father’s radical faith; the woman was restored through her own faith, for she was very sure that the very moment she touched the Lord’s cloak, all her troubles were ended, for her body was made whole again.

This woman actually represents the sinful humanity in need of God’s mercy, salvation and restoration. Her bleeding signifies the iniquity of all humanity who are defiled by the constant shedding of innocent blood through violent wars and abortions, thereby unworthy of God’s presence.

Her reaching out to touch Jesus and her restoration signify the effort each one of us needs to make to reach out to God to be restored. And finally the willingness of Jesus to heal all of us just as he had healed the woman from all of her troubles. But this requires that we radically put our faith into action.

Thus, this passage simply tells us to have faith in God no matter the circumstances we find ourselves in, for faith is the only way to get to God in prayer. Just as he promised us in our first reading today through the prophet Hosea concerning his chosen people, saying: It is the Lord who speaks; she will call me, ‘My husband’; no longer will she call me, ‘My Baal.’ I will betroth you to myself for ever, betroth you with integrity and justice, with tenderness and love; I will betroth you to myself with faithfulness, and you will come to know the Lord.

Dear friends, today we are made to know that it is not enough to have faith; we must radically put our faith into action no matter the circumstances we find ourselves in. For it is through active faith that we can reach out to God in prayer and so obtain what we desire. Therefore, having faith in the Lord is very necessary to obtain God’s restoration.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we thank you for the gift of faith, give us the grace and courage to put our gift of faith into positive action that yields positive results. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a fruitful week ahead.