Homily For Tuesday Fourth Week of Easter Year A, 28th, 2026

 

Readings: Acts. 11:19-26 ; Ps.87; John 10:22-30

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

KNOWING WHY WE ARE CALLED CHRISTIANS

Giving a name to things is one of the habits and traditions of the human person. Little wonder Adam’s first assignment was to give names to what God had created. And throughout human history and even today, a name is a powerful thing with great significance that can not be neglected. The names of things have deep meanings drawn from experiences that help define the reality surrounding them.

So today in our first reading, the disciples of Jesus were for the first time given the name “Christian” in Antioch. But why a new name with a new word for these disciples of Christ in Antioch? Why was the name given by outsiders and why is the name different from other groups of the Jewish sect?

From the reading, we heard that persecution forced many believers from Jerusalem to be scattered to various areas, as some from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to the Greeks, telling them the Good News about the Lord Jesus. The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

Thus, seeing that their devotion, passion, love, behaviour, activity, and speech were like that of Christ Jesus, they called them Christians. This is because it was common for the Greeks to give nicknames to particular groups based on their way of life in relation to their leader.

So since this new group were characterized by behaviour and speech centred in Christ, they called them “Christians,” or “those of the party of Christ.” And in Antioch, the disciples were first called Christians because their behaviour, activity, and speech were like Christ.

Today, we are called Christians, followers of Christ, but are we still Christians in name and character? Are we really behaving like Christ?, Are we still having that devotion, passion, love, behaviour, activity, and speech like that of Christ and the early disciples? The disciples were scattered to various places due to persecution, but everywhere they went, they proclaimed the Good News of Jesus with their lives. Are we doing the same today?

Dear friends, today we have the personal responsibility to ask ourselves, “What does the name Christian mean to me? Am I living out the responsibility of the name Christian which I claim to bear? Does the name Christian speak of my deep personal relationship with Jesus Christ? Do I perceive the name Christian from the world’s perspective today, or for what it really means, Christ-like people?

Remember, the people of Antioch gave the name to the disciples of Christ based on the experience of the reality they represent, but what name will the people of our society today give to us based on how we have represented the reality of the name Christians? In fact, do you still belong and believe in the true meaning of the name Christians?

Hence, Jesus says in our Gospel passage today, "You do not believe, because you are not sheep of mine. The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life; they will never be lost and no one will ever steal them from me. So, let us learn to live our lives like true Christians as we are often called.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, grant we pray, that we may always find delight in bearing the name Christians even in the midst of persecutions and difficulties, give us grace like the early disciples to bear authentic witness of the Good News of Jesus by our way of life, he who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. God bless you.

Homily For Monday Fourth Week of Easter Year A, 27th April, 2026

 

Readings: Acts. 11:1-18 ; Ps.41; John 10:11-18

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

UNDERSTANDING THE SACRIFICIAL NATURE OF TRUE LEADERSHIP

Leadership is one of the characteristics of the human person; it is what makes us unique from every other creature. It is a gift from God by which we serve Him and our neighbour responsibly. However, a critical look at what is happening in our world today shows that humanity is losing the true meaning and essence of leadership.

This is because we have failed to understand the true meaning and source of leadership and this can be seen in the kind of fruit we bear as leaders. The fruit of leadership in this generation is so complicated: leadership has become a tool for power tussle, selfishness, deception, greed, corruption and intimidation of people. For we have abandoned God who is the source and giver of true leadership skills and knowledge.

Hence, in our Gospel passage, while addressing the people on the good leadership qualities and attitudes, Jesus said: " A good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep. While the hired man, since he is not the shepherd and the sheep do not belong to him abandons the sheep and runs away as soon as he sees a wolf coming, and then the wolf attacks and scatters the sheep.

Then he continues by saying: I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for my sheep.

Here, Jesus tells us that the attitude of a good leader is a life of sacrifice, love, care, discipline, mercy and knowledge of the sheep or people entrusted to the leader. And this is what Jesus demonstrated with his life. Showing us that love is the root of leadership. Without true love for the people, there will never be a leader to be called a good shepherd.

Therefore, today we are called to come back to the source of love, God himself, who teaches us that love is an attitude of a true leader that seeks the good of others despite how we feel about them. He teaches us to be merciful, just as he is merciful.

Love in leadership is a sacrificial attitude, an attitude that forgives, an attitude that accommodates, preserves, heals and builds up others when every other thing fails. This is the kind of attitude in leadership that the world needs now, the attitude that comes from the pure love of God and neighbours.

Dear friends, how can humanity recover these leadership skills rooted in the power of love? How can we harness it to bear more fruit in our societies where it seems as if true leadership exist no more? This is possible when we realise that we are all products of love and are called to live out our essence, which is to love.

We are called to be good examples to one another, imitating Jesus the Good Shepherd, who has been so loving and caring towards us. And these we are called to reciprocate to others, and by so doing we will finally reach that grazing ground where all who followed Jesus the good shepherd in simplicity of heart will feed on the green pastures of eternity in heaven.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we listen to your words today, may we embrace the attitudes and qualities of good leadership, knowing that in us resides that leadership of love that is lacking in our families and society today. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a fruitful week.

Homily For Fourth Sunday of Easter Year A, The Good Shepherd/Vocation Sunday, 26th April, 2026

 

Readings: Acts.2:14. 36-41; Ps.23; 1 Pet. 2:20-25; John 10-1-10

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

FOLLOWING THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS THE GOOD SHEPHERD OF OUR SOULS

Every fourth Sunday of Easter, the Church celebrates Good Shepherd Sunday/Vocation Sunday, a day dedicated to reflecting on Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who guides all the flock of God into the path that He has prepared for us. It is also an occasion to celebrate Vocation. The imagery of the shepherd and the sheep appears frequently in Scripture. A figurative term which represent the leaders and those entrusted to them.

Today in our Gospel passage, we heard Jesus talking about the gate of the sheepfold and the attitudes of the sheep and shepherds. He said: I am the gate of the sheepfold. All others who have come are thieves and brigands; but the sheep took no notice of them. I am the gate. Anyone who enters through me will be safe. The one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the flock; the gatekeeper lets him in, the sheep hear his voice, one by one he calls his own sheep and leads them out.

Traditionally, shepherds were the image of the rulers of God’s people and of God himself. So in this Gospel passage, after a dispute with the Pharisees, who were the leaders of the people, Jesus uses this parable to illustrate the difference between true leaders of the people and the false ones.

Telling us that the people need to be organised into a fold, protected and guided by the one true Shepherd. This Shepherd image has become a model for Christian ministry as the Church imitates Jesus the true Shepherd whose voice the sheep know and follow.

Also, in the scriptures, we have a good number of passages that describe the characteristic behaviour of a sheep. So, the understanding of sheep behaviour is essential for us to know what Jesus is saying to us today. One of the characteristics of sheep is their Flocking behavior.

Sheep are best known for their strong flocking and following instinct. They will run from what frightens them and bond together in large groups for protection. This is the only protection they have from predators, for there is safety in numbers. It is this strong flocking instinct that allows one person to look after so many sheep.

Another characteristic of sheep is following the leader. When one sheep moves, the rest will follow, even if it does not seem to be a good idea. The flocking and following instinct of sheep is so strong that even from birth, lambs learn to follow the older members of the flock. The dominant members of the flock usually lead, followed by the submissive ones.

This will help us to understand the Social life of good sheep, as we know sheep are very good social animals. They often ensure that they have visual contact with other sheep. And they become highly agitated if separated from the rest of the sheep.

These great characteristics are highly needed among us, who follow Jesus the Good Shepherd. We need to have a sense of belonging, we need to learn to flock together, we need to have a love instinct for one another and for the shepherd. We need to be docile and submissive.

We must not be separated from others nor allow anyone to separate from the flock. We must learn to be humble and meek like sheep. As we know, sheep are usually very quiet and gentle, holding themselves aloof from the world; we must learn to do the same. Good sheep tend to listen to their leaders and show respect to them, we must learn to do the same.

Sheep are highly obedient, and because of their obedient character, they are one of the most loved animals, so we too must learn to be obedient to experience love from the Good Shepherd and from one another. Although we are sheep, sometimes the Good Shepherd entrusts his leadership to us to follow his example in serving the people. Therefore, we must learn to follow the footsteps of Jesus the Good Shepherd of our souls

Little wonder, we are expected to be well disposed to this task, because God has also called some of us to follow Him to be shepherds in the image of Jesus the Good Shepherd. The shepherds are those who exercise the office of the bishops, the priest and all leaders of different capacities who are called to serve the Lord and His people as guidance, politicians, helpers, coordinators, parents and teachers of his flock. We are called to follow the examples of the Good Shepherd Himself in serving the people.

However, as many Shepherd leaders are working so hard to follow the good example of Jesus the Good Shepherd, there is no doubt that in our societies, there are some false and bad leaders who are not walking in the path of the Good Shepherd, but instead, allow themselves to be overwhelmed by the sins of greed, selfishness and corruption in the world.

Dear friends, we must learn to be good sheep and good shepherds. In our societies, we see that some shepherds who ought to guide and feed the sheep are now feeding on the sheep, scattering them to select their choice and feed on their milk, wear their wool, eat their flesh, enriching and fattening themselves from their products. While treating the sheep harshly and brutally, abandoning the sick, the weak and the strayed.

Most leaders in our society have betrayed their mission: instead of promoting a just society in accordance with the plan of God, they are using their authority to enrich themselves while oppressing the people entrusted to them. Today, the duties neglected by such leaders are now hunting everyone.

The consequences of our bad leadership are what are affecting the whole world today. Therefore, it is time for us to return to God, the true Shepherd of our souls; it is time to listen to the voice of Jesus and follow him, the true gate of the sheepfold. It is time to change our ugly, greedy, selfish and corrupt ways of doing things.

Though we have gone astray like lost sheep, now let us come back to the shepherd and guardian of our souls, Jesus Christ, who suffered for us and left an example for us to follow his way as we have it in our second reading.

Let us entrust ourselves and all the leaders of the world to Jesus, who is the good shepherd. He assures us that even though we are the least, the nobodies and most neglected in the eyes of the world, he will not forget us but will continue to provide for our daily needs through his good and faithful leaders.

LET US PRAY, Lord God, as we celebrate Good Shepherd/ vocation Sunday, we pray for all the leaders of the world both religious, secular and in the family, that you will make us true Shepherd of your flock so that we may truly be able to find meaning to our respective vocations in life and for those who are still discerning the path to their vocations, especially all who are discerning their call: the seminarians, religious sisters and brothers, and those looking for life partner, may you help and guide all of us to our true vocation in life. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed and grace-filled Sunday. 

Homily For Saturday Third Week of Easter Year A, 25 April, 2026. Feast of St. Mark the Evangelist

 

Readings: 1 Peter 5:5-14; Ps.89; Mark 16:15-20

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

OUR TASK IS TO GO OUT TO THE WHOLE WORLD AND PREACH THE GOSPEL

Today, the Church calls our attention to the mission and mandate of Christ to his disciples as we celebrate the Feast of Saint Mark the Evangelist. It is truly a feast which is meant for all of us who are followers of Christ to recount our commitment to Jesus which we made at our baptism.

This is a commitment to bear authentic witness to the faith we profess, just as St. Mark recounts in his Gospel passage we read today, which tells us the stories of how Jesus called his disciples and commissioned them to go out to the whole world, proclaiming the Good News to all creation. We are also called by Jesus, not only as disciples, but also as evangelists.

Therefore evangelization is the very nature and essence of the life of the Church. Jesus gives us the mandate and the commission to evangelise, that is, to announce the Good News to all the nations and to spread the Gospel to every creature. This commission is shared by all those who are baptized both priests and lay faithful. Everyone has a particular responsibility to share in the work of proclaiming the Gospel.

Today, we should ask ourselves, how have we proclaimed the Gospel to the world? What efforts are we making to ensure that the mandate Christ entrusted to us is carried out effectively in our generation? This Easter season, how have we proclaimed the Risen Lord to the world?

Are we shy, ashamed or humiliated because of the Gospel? St Peter in our second reading said: Be calm but vigilant, because your enemy, the devil, is prowling round like a roaring lion, looking for someone to eat. Stand up to him, strong in faith and in the knowledge that your brothers all over the world are suffering the same things

Dear friends, at this moment when the world is confused, because we have removed God out of our daily lives, at this time when we have placed our hope in the activities of the human person who seems to have taken the place of God, at this time when our governments, scientists, doctors, lawyers, professors and even pastors assumed the place of God which is the cause of the ugly situation we are passing through in our societies today. It's time to come back to God and follow his directions.

Thus, it’s time to recall what Jesus says in the Gospel of John (15:1-8), " I am the true Vine, you are the branches, anyone who remains with me will bear fruit in plenty, but cut off from me you can do nothing but to perish. We have cut ourselves off from the true Vine and now we can do little or nothing about the situations we find ourselves in our families, society and the world at large.

Therefore, let us come back to God our true Vine, for our help comes from Him alone. He has commanded us to go into the whole world and preach this Gospel. Like St. Mark, whose feast we celebrate today, let us learn to take this mandate very seriously, for it is our responsibility to fulfil our promises to God and ensure that the Christian faith is preached and sustained in the world and by so doing save humanity once again from sin and death.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are lost in this world, we are confused because we have cut ourselves off from You our true Vine, as we come back to you once again, please give us the grace to preach the Gospel following the example of St Mark the Evangelist, grant that we may learn from his teaching and walk faithfully in the footsteps of Christ and by so doing draw humanity once again back to You. Amen. Have a grace-filled week.

Homily For Friday Third Week of Easter Year A, 24th April, 2026

Readings: Acts. 9:1-20; Ps.117; John 6:52-59

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

HAVING AN ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS THAT LEADS TO CONVERSION

Every day is an opportunity to encounter God through different events that occur in our lives. I don't know if you have ever had an experience that made you realise the emptiness of this life, a kind of experience that turns pride into humility, sinfulness into righteousness, an experience that changes your perspective about things or people?

This is the kind of experience that Saul had with Jesus in our first reading today, which made him realise the emptiness of his life and how wrong he was, fighting against God’s people. Saul was a young and zealous Pharisee who was deeply involved in the persecutions of early Christians. He was present at the moment when St. Stephen was martyred and stoned to death.

Saul was also a leading figure among the Sanhedrin in their attempt to destroy the Church and the followers of Christ, for he went from place to place and carried out violent attacks against the followers of Christ until he encountered the Lord on his way to Damascus.

This very experience brought true conversion in his life and changed his perspective about Christians. This encounter gave him a new identity, changing his name from Saul to Paul. A name indicating his new mission. A mission he so carried out with all his zeal and passion that he is regarded as one of the apostles and today his works still speak about the effect of his personal encounter with Jesus.

This goes on to affirm the hard teaching of Jesus in our Gospel passage today, where he was talking about having life in him. For himself draws life from the Father, and he said, “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you will not have life in you.

So whoever eats his flesh and drinks his blood will draw life from him. This new life is what Saul experienced when he encountered him and was converted and entrusted with the mission of converting the pagans.

Dear friends, as we heard about the conversion of St Paul, we are called to reflect on our own conversion. Today like St. Paul, we are called to reflect on our personal experience of God. How have we personally experienced God? When was your moment of encounter and conversion? When was your spiritual turning point? Do we have a personal conviction about God that is not based on what people told us about him?

Remember that by the virtue of our baptism, we are called to share in the same mission and calling, which St. Paul himself had received from the Lord. So, in case we have not personally experienced the Lord, all we need to do is to sincerely seek God in those common events in our lives, and we will realise how much God is willing to reveal Himself to us.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, we really need to have a personal encounter with your presence in our lives. As we reflect on the encounter and conversion of St. Paul, may we experience your presence in a unique way and, through this experience, discover our purpose and mission in life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed day.

Homily For Thursday Third Week of Easter Year A, 23rd April, 2026

Readings: Acts. 8:26-40; Ps.66; John 6:44-51

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING THE GIFT OF UNDERSTANDING

One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is the gift of understanding. It is the second gift of the Holy Spirit, behind wisdom. Through understanding, we gain a certitude about our beliefs that moves beyond faith. It enables one to see more deeply into the mysteries of the faith and judge with certainty all created things.

The essential quality of this gift is the penetrating intuition. This gift not only assists in penetrating revealed truths, but also natural realities that are related to the supernatural end.

Thus, understanding is not so much the fruit of studies, but the loving desire and penetrating intuition towards understanding all that the Father has revealed. This is exactly what happened to Philip while explaining the scriptures to the Ethiopian Eunuch in our first reading today.

For when he heard him reading the book of Isaiah the prophet, he asked him, ‘Do you understand what you are reading?’ The Eunuch replied: ‘How can I understand unless I have someone to guide me?’

Here, the Eunuch seeks the gift of understanding, which Philip has already received at Pentecost and with the help of this gift, he was able to explain the scriptures to him. This is because the mysteries of God’s revelation have been made known to him, and with the Spirit’s prompting, these mysteries can be penetrated and understood by humanity.

 The fact remains that God created us for friendship, and this gift enables us to know of his love, mercy, glory, and power, which moves our hearts to love and live as adopted sons and daughters of God and so enjoy his friendship.

Little wonder, Jesus in our Gospel passage today said: No one can come to me unless he is drawn by the Father who sent me, for it is written by the prophets: They will all be taught by God, and will hear the teaching of the Father, and learn from it.

Dear friends, we must desire to have the gift of understanding, for this gift, penetrates the truths of faith, operates in several ways: disclosing the hidden meaning of Sacred Scripture; revealing the significance of symbols and figures. It gives us deeper insight into the meaning of our faith and the moral teachings which serve as standards for human actions.

This gift imparts a sense of confidence and certainty in our belief. It helps us grasp the reality of heaven, our beatific vision, which is why we need the gift of understanding more than ever before.

It is a gift that is really lacking in our lives, not just as Christians but as individuals living in societies full of confusion and a lack of sense of direction. But, how can we acquire the gift of understanding? How can the gift of understanding help us to grasp the meaning of the truths of our faith in relation to our struggles with the ugly situations in our world today?

The answer is simple: we must learn, just like the Ethiopian Eunuch, to cultivate the habit of listening to the Holy Spirit, who never ceases to speak to us deep down in our conscience.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit. As we listen to your words today, give us the gift of understanding so that we can grasp the meaning of the truths of our faith in relation to our struggles with the ugly situations in our world today. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a favourable day

Homily For Wednesday Third Week of Easter Year A, 22nd April, 2026

 

Readings: Acts. 8:1-8; Ps.66; John 6:35-40

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

BELIEVE IN JESUS THE BREAD OF ETERNAL LIFE

What can ever satisfy the human hunger and thirst for peace, wholeness righteousness, love and joy? These are the things we search for every day of our lives. But we seem to have little or no answer.

This is because we have often failed to listen to God’s words calling us and directing us towards the path of truth, which he has revealed through his son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who has been speaking to us in our Gospel since his resurrection.

Thus, today, Jesus continues with his teaching on the bread of life, seeking to draw those who listen to him into a profound relationship with himself. He asks them to believe in his wonderful promises about eternal life. In the same way, he invites us to partake in an indestructible life, to share in the very life of God.

Jesus wants us to know that he is the food of our souls. Our souls are really starving due to sins, and indeed thirsty for holiness, love, peace and purity. In Jesus alone can the starving and empty souls find their strength and satisfaction. For in him, there is fullness of life.

The fact remains that Jesus is the bread of life which came down from heaven. And he wants us to commit our souls into his hands. Thus, whenever we experience anything of spiritual hunger and thirst, we must come to Jesus and be satisfied.

This is what was lacking in the life of Saul, who, in our first reading today, worked for the total destruction of the Church after he had witnessed and ensured the stoning and death of Stephen. So, he went from house to house arresting both men and women and sending them to prison. But those who had escaped from him went from place to place preaching the Good News of peace, love holiness and salvation.

Dear friends, like Saul, are we weighed down by sorrows in conscience or straining in affections and love, especially in this difficult moment in human history, and thereby acting in ignorance? Or are we like the disciples who, even in the midst of persecution, remained faithful in witnessing the love they have found in Jesus?

Whatever the situation may be for us now, we must know that Jesus is always ready to relieve and restore us whenever we come to him in faith. So, you have to let your starving soul be satisfied in Jesus, the bread of eternal life. For in him alone shall we find lasting satisfaction, peace and love both now and for eternity.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, oftentimes we are thirsty and hungry within our souls, may we find in the Words of Jesus that satisfaction which our souls so desired and by so doing find eternal life. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you the best of God’s favour and blessings