Homily For Wednesday, Eighth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 27th May 2026

Readings: 1Pet. 1:18-25; Ps.147; Mark 10:32-45

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

HAVING THE RIGHT ATTITUDE TOWARDS POWER AND THE INFLUENTIAL THINGS OF THIS WORLD

One of the most unattractive attitudes of many of our leaders today is their love of power; people are willing to do anything to acquire it. People kill, kidnap, blackmail and condemn others because of their ambition to hold power and sustain it. This ugly attitude of mankind is well displayed in our Gospel passage today when the two sons of Zebedee requested that Jesus promise that they should sit one at his right hand and the other at his left in his kingdom. 

This unfortunate request was made while Jesus was telling his disciples about his passion and death. But instead of reflecting on the seriousness of the words of Jesus, they were busy quarrelling over who grabs power, as most people do today. When the other ten heard about the request made by these two sons of Zebedee, they were indignant with the two brothers. Perhaps because they had misinterpreted Jesus’ teachings about the Kingdom and presumed that it would be a kingdom in which they would have honour and prestige, like most people think today. 

But Jesus called them and said, ‘You know that among the pagans the rulers lord it over them, and their great men make their authority felt. This is not to happen among you. No; anyone who wants to be great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you must be your slave, just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. 

Dear friends, true greatness is found in sincere service to others and not in over-ambition for power nor by plotting against others. This ugly attitude is what we often experience in our families, societies and our country today. Where people do all kinds of evil to grab power and sustain it. 

Little wonder St. Peter in our first reading today said: Remember, the ransom that was paid to free you from the useless way of life your ancestors handed down was not paid in anything corruptible, neither in silver nor gold, but in the precious blood of a lamb without spot or stain, namely Christ. You have been obedient to the truth and purified your souls until you can love like brothers, in sincerity; let your love for each other be real and from the heart. 

Friends, I don’t know what your experience has been regarding serving others. I don’t know which of the characters in our readings can best describe our attitude towards power. Are we like the sons of Zebedee? Is our attitude like that of the ten disciples? Is our attitude like that of the pagan rulers who lord it over others? Whichever category we fall in, today we are called to be humble like Jesus who came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. 

Therefore, as leaders, we should see ourselves as servants and not seek status beyond our reach or plot the downfall of others. Remember, ambition can be a good thing but only if it is kept in check and if pursued for the right reason, that is, to serve others. 

 LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are often consumed by excess love for power, which we often misuse and abuse.  As we listen to your teaching today, may we learn to use the power and authority entrusted to us in humble service for the common good of all. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a favourable day.

Homily For Tuesday Eighth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 26th May 2026. The Memorial of St. Philip Neri

Readings: 1Peter 1:10-16; Ps.98; Mark: 10:28-31

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

CAN WE SACRIFICE EVERYTHING FOR THE SAKE OF FOLLOWING THE LORD?

In our world today, people can go to great lengths to acquire properties, treasures, fame, influence, and power, just to secure their future and that of their tenth generation. But we hardly take time to prepare for our spiritual life or sacrifice for the sake of our souls about the Kingdom of God.

This is exactly the mindset of most people today, and this is not different from the disposition of some of the disciples of Jesus. Little wonder Peter in our Gospel passage today, asked Jesus a very important question about sacrificing everything for the sake of following him. So, in response, Jesus said to him: ‘I tell you solemnly, there is no one who has left house, brothers, sisters, father, children or land for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel who will not be repaid a hundred times over, not without persecutions now in this present time and, in the world to come, eternal life.

Here, Jesus is reassuring us that all those who have given everything, committed their time and efforts, and are making sacrifices for the sake of his kingdom, will not be disappointed nor left without rewards. Their reward in the end will be truly great, for God remembers those who love him and have given themselves for his sake. He will guide them and remain with them throughout their journey no matter how tough it may be.

Hence, we heard St. Peter in our first reading saying: Put your trust in nothing but the grace that will be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. Do not behave in the way that you liked before you learnt the truth; rather, make a habit of obedience: be holy in all you do, since it is the Holy One who has called you, and scripture says: Be holy, for I am holy.

Dear friends, what would be the most difficult thing for us to give up if Jesus were to ask us to do so? Those things we are so attached to and would not like God to ask us to give up for the sake of following him. Will you let go of things such as money, houses, credentials, love of power, pride and wealth or our relationship, our job, our habits and attitudes? These will be extremely difficult because we are living in a world of materialism and egoism.

But the Lord is asking us to leave them and follow him for we will surely be rewarded for sacrificing them for the sake of his mission. Also, whatever we possess that will separate us from our mission of following Jesus and loving our neighbours, today we are called to give them up and come follow the Lord because in leaving them for the sake of Jesus, we gain all in abundance.

LET US PRAY, Lord God, we are distracted by the things of this passing world. Through the intercession of St St. Philip Neri, give us the grace to let go of things that often separate us from your Mission and the obstacles on our way to your Kingdom. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you a fruitful day. 

Homily For Monday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, The Memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church (Mater Ecclesiae), 29th May, 2026

Readings: Gen. 3:9-15.20, Ps.87; John 19:25-34

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

BEHOLD MARY OUR MOTHER

As the Holy Season of Eastertide comes to an end with the celebration of Pentecost yesterday, the Church continues with the second phase of Ordinary Time in the liturgical calendar. This begins with the memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church.

 Although today’s Memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church is new, the devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, under the title of Mother of the Church, is very ancient. It was Pope Francis, who established the celebration of this Memorial in 2018, which is to be celebrated annually on the day following the Solemnity of Pentecost. Pope Francis said he wished to establish this Memorial in order to encourage the growth of the maternal sense of the Church in the pastors, religious and faithful, as well as a growth of genuine Marian piety.

Hence, the Memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church, is established to remind us that Mary is indeed the Mother of all of us. For as God’s chosen people, Mary has been entrusted to us to be our own loving Mother, and to whom we have also been entrusted as her own beloved adopted sons and daughters, through Christ, her Son, who shares his divinity with us as he elevates our humanity, as we have it in our Gospel passage today, when Jesus entrusted his mother to John saying: Woman, behold your Son, then to the disciple he said, Behold your mother.

Here, Mary assumes the role of the Mother of the Church, while the disciple represents all of us Christians, who are members of God’s Church and therefore have become children of Mary, God’s own beloved Mother, and she is indeed, the Mother of the Church, the Mother of all Christians. Thus, Mary had always been with the Church as she has always been with the Apostles and the other leaders of the Church, for she is full of grace and has borne Christ, who is the Head of the Church.

So, it is worth honouring her with the title Mater Ecclesiae, the Mother of the Church. For she was the New Eve who resisted the temptations of Satan and remained completely faithful to the Lord as she followed her Son, the New Adam, to the foot of the Cross. Thereby fulfilling the Lord’s prophecy at the very beginning, as we heard in our first reading today.

Dear friends, as we celebrate Mary, as our Mother, the Mother of the Church and the Help of all Christians, we entrust all our struggles, suffering, persecutions, challenges, trials and difficulties into her maternal care, to remain faithful and survive through the turbulent times and challenges of our time.

We also pray for our country, Nigeria, that through the intercession of Mary, Mother of the Church, God may intervene in the ugly situations in our country. Let us learn to remain faithful like Mary and not take our faith for granted. Let us remain steadfast, knowing that Mary, the Help of all Christians, is our Mother and Consoler.

LET US PRAY, Lord God, as we celebrate the Memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church and Help of Christians, grant through her intercessions, all the graces and courage we need to conquer all our fears and challenges of life, and so look forward to the coming of Christ our Lord and Saviour. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen. God bless you.

Homily For Pentecost Sunday Year A, 24th May, 2026

 

Readings: Acts 2:1-11; Ps.104; 1 Cor. 12:3-7,12-13; John 20:19-23

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT

Today, the solemnity of Pentecost, we have gathered like the disciples of Jesus who, after the preaching, the passion, death, resurrection and the ascension of Jesus, were afraid and ashamed to talk about Jesus. So they locked themselves in a room praying and waiting as we have done for the past few weeks now, waiting for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit, the Advocate, that Promised Paraclete as Jesus directed us.

Yes, today the Promised Paraclete has come, the Comforter has come, the purifying fire has come. Today all children of God are empowered once more to conquer the world with the Good News of Christ's salvation. Today, the fears, the shame, the weakness of sins, the lukewarmness, the lockdown and all the barriers that hold us captive in the upper room have now been consumed by the power of the Holy Ghost, which we are receiving today. For we have been set free and empowered to transform the world once again with the truth of the Gospel of Christ.

This power is what we receive in our Gospel passage today, when Jesus came and stood among his disciples in their lockdown and fearful situation and said to them as he is saying to us today: ‘Peace be with you, As the Father sent me, so am I sending you. And after saying this he breathed on them and said: ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.” As he is saying to you now: Receive the Holy Spirit!! Gba Ẹmí Mimọ!

Karɓi Ruhu Mai Tsarki! Nara Mmụọ Nsọ!

This Gospel passage takes us today to the Upper Room, where, after the Last Supper and the tragic events of his passion and death, a sense of loss and fear had saddened the hearts of the Apostles. But their sadness will not be long, for he will not abandon them, he will not leave them, orphans. He will send the Consoler, the power of Love, the Spirit of the Father, and this Spirit will enable them to understand that his work is a work of love: love of the One who gave himself, love of the Father who has given him and love for humanity whom he has come to save.

This is the mystery of the Pentecost we are celebrating today as we have it in our first reading, When on the Pentecost day the disciples were in a room of fear and shame, and suddenly they heard what sounded like a powerful wind from heaven, the noise of which filled the entire house in which they were sitting; and something appeared to them that seemed like tongues of fire; these separated and came to rest on the head of each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak foreign languages as the Spirit gave them the gift of speech.

These gifts of the Holy Spirit are grouped into seven with twelve fruits. The seven gifts include: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. While the fruits which are perfections that the Holy Spirit forms in us as the first fruits of eternal glory are as follows: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity.

Among all these gifts and fruits, love is the most important of the fruits of the Holy Spirit, just as it is also the most important of all the Christian virtues. Without love, all the good things we have received and accomplished mean nothing. Love helps us share in the image of God that Jesus offers us, so that we can live a life of the spirit. The Holy Spirit illuminates the human spirit and reveals in it the image of Christ Crucified and Risen, to become more like him, bearing the image and instrument of the love which flows from Christ. It is in this image of love, that the greatness of the Pentecost event is perceived.

Hence, St Paul advised us in our second reading to embrace the Spirit of love that will help us to accommodate each other’s gifts and talents, for though separate individuals, we are united as one body and one Spirit in one baptism. For there is a variety of gifts but always the same Spirit; there are all sorts of service to be done, but always to the same Lord; working in all sorts of different ways in different people, it is the same God who is working in all of us. This tells us that the gift of the Holy Spirit is meant to be put into use for the good of humanity. But this is not always the case. Because, sometimes we let our gifts be dormant.

Little wonder, St. Hilary in his treaties on the Trinity said that: faculties of the human body, if denied their exercise, will lie dormant. The eye without light, natural or artificial, cannot fulfil its office; the ear will be ignorant of its function unless some voice or sound is heard; the nose will find no work or purpose if it cannot perceive any scent. This is not because the faculty is absent, but rather because it is never put into use. So, there will be no experience of its existence.

This is the same with the soul of man, unless through faith it has appropriated the gift of the Spirit, then it will have the innate faculty of apprehending God. For the Spirit has been given to each according to the measure of his willingness to receive it in his soul. This Holy Spirit we must seek to have in abundance and then hold fast by faith and obedience to the commands of God.

Dear friends, how well are you disposed for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit? What is your disposition towards the outpouring of the Holy Spirit? Some people have come today to receive the Holy Spirit without adequate preparation. Some are prepared just to feel the presence of the Holy Spirit. Some have come with an extra basket, while some have come with a secured vessel to obtain as many gifts as possible.

Today the power of the Holy Spirit of love has been poured upon us, so we are called and empowered to go into the whole world and proclaim the Good News of God’s love for humanity. For there are many people in our world today who have not experienced the true love of God in their hearts, because they are distracted by various worldly concerns and selfishness, as they keep hurting each other and causing more trouble in the world.

Therefore, let our actions and deeds bear the fruit of this love of God not only to such people, but to our fellow brethren by showing genuine care and concern for each other. Let us not close our doors of love because, we continually want to feel secure and do not want to be disturbed by others or by God.

Rather let us like the apostles break open the doors of our hearts, for Christ overcome our enclosure to bring us love and peace and build a bridge between heaven and earth, so that we can climb up on this bridge of love to reach him and together with him, we too can reach all humanity, beginning with our families members, our societies and to the ends of the Earth.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we lift up our hearts together with Mary our mother in the Spirit of Pentecost, singing the Veni Sancte Spiritus, may the Holy Spirit of love come down upon us wherever we may be and fill our hearts with the fire of His love. Come Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in us the fire of your love. Amen. Wishing you a Spirit-filled Pentecost celebration. 

Homily For Saturday Seventh Week of Eastertide Year A, 23rd May, 2026

Readings: Acts 28:16-20.30-31; Ps.11; John 21:20-25

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

HAVE YOU EVER FELT LOVED SPECIALLY BY JESUS?

In one of his poems entitled "The Living Flame of Love”, St. John of the Cross, one of the greatest mysticists and doctors of the Church, said in the first stanza of the poem: “O living flame of love that tenderly wounds my soul in its deepest centre! Since now you are not oppressive, now consummate! If it be Your will: tear through the veil of this sweet encounter!”

The flame of love, here is the Holy Spirit, which bathes the soul that encounters it in glory and refreshes it with divine life of love in which the will of the soul is united in the most sublime flame of love for God in Jesus.

This may be the situation of the life of John, the beloved disciple of Jesus, in our Gospel passage today, which made the scriptures describe him as ‘the disciple whom Jesus loved’. What a great description of anyone’s personality. This disciple had a peculiar share in the love of Christ and was admitted to great nearness and freedom with Christ. This gave him the liberty which no one has among the disciples.

The fact remains that, it is a great thing to love Jesus and be loved by Jesus. Yes, Jesus loved all his disciples, yet within that circle of love, there was an innermost place in which the beloved John was favoured to dwell.

For those who display an extraordinary love for one are all the more capable of great affection to many; and therefore, because Jesus loved John most, he has an enhanced estimate of his love for the other disciples. Though John was raised, others were not lowered, they were raised with him.

John, no doubt, was in more intimate communion with Jesus. When all the disciples sit at the table, even Peter is not nearest to the Lord, but John will lean his head upon his bosom with earnest and intense affection. Jesus loves him not just as a disciple but as a dear friend whose personality as a young individual has the most profitable opportunity of becoming eminent piety. He was the only disciple who was closest to Jesus and his mother at his passion and death.

Hence, Jesus entrusted his mother to him, saying, " Son, behold your mother, mother behold your son, because in John, Jesus has found a soul that truly loves. And the more a soul loves God, it desires that God be loved and honoured by all, and the greater this desire becomes, the more the soul labours toward that end in all possible means, and this is evidenced in all the works John loved.

Dear friends, are you the disciple that Jesus loves? Have you ever felt loved by God personally? Have you ever been identified as one whom God loves? Have you personally desired to be an instrument of God’s love for humanity? Have you ever paid the price of sacrificial love? Has your love ever been rejected by those you loved most, or have you rejected those who loved you?

Today we are called to examine our conscience to know if there is any sign of true love of God and neighbours in us. We are called to make ourselves available for God’s love to abide in us. We are called to build a personality that gives room for love to flow in us and through us.

As we anticipate the solemnity of Pentecost tomorrow, we are called to open up for the Holy Spirit to enkindle in us the fire of His love so that our souls will be transformed in love. And let this fire of love be extended to our families, societies, country and the world at large.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, inflame our hearts once again with the fire of your love. Grant that we may personally and collectively experience your divine love for us and for all humanity through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you a lovely weekend. 

Homily For Friday Seventh Week of Eastertide Year A, 22nd May, 2026

Readings: Acts 25:13-21; Ps.103; John 21:15-19

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

SIN MAKES US BETRAYALS, LOVE BRINGS RESTORATION

The ups and downs of life have been a great experience and a challenge to humanity. Every day is a new struggle. Life struggles, struggle for survival, struggle against the manipulation of the evil ones, more challenging is the struggle of our own self, especially our weakness and sinfulness. These struggles are evident in the life of the disciples of Jesus.

All the time they were with Jesus, they struggled to be like him, to follow his ways and to understand him, and it wasn’t easy. In the course of these struggles, they failed, denied, forsaken, and sinned against the Lord Jesus despite their love for him. But this was well predicted by Jesus who warned them to remain steadfast even in the midst of these struggles.

However, after all the struggles and fall during his passion and death, Jesus now needed to strengthen his disciples for the great task ahead before departing from them. So on the occasion in the Gospel passage today, Jesus said to Peter, the leader of his Apostles: ‘Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these others do?’ He answered, ‘Yes Lord, you know I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’

A second time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ He replied, ‘Yes, Lord, you know I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Look after my sheep.’ Then he said to him a third time, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was upset that he asked him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ and said, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep.

Here we can imagine the disposition of the disciples when seeing the Lord as they sat together round the fire, eating silently the meal which Jesus had prepared, and no doubt, gazing silently at the Lord’s silence. It must really be a great moment of tension as to how the oppressive silence was to be broken and how Peter’s heart must have been troubled when the great silence was broken with the words: Simon, son of John, do you love me?

These three times questions have a special force in the restoration of him who had three times denied his Master, and now three times declares his love for Him, and he is three times restored and entrusted with a great task of feeding his master’s sheep. A great moment of grace that Peter never thought he deserved.

From this gracious act, we see how God, through Jesus, treats a soul conscious of its sinfulness and fault; and in Peter’s disposition, we see an illustration of how a soul, conscious of its sinfulness and fault, should behave before God. This gracious event is very symbolic, not just that the Lord had forgiven Peter for his threefold denial at the moment of His arrest and suffering, but also that the Lord restored him again as the leader of His flocks and the entire Universal Church.

Dear friends, in our struggles in this life, we have done ugly and sinful things that we really regret and don’t want to remember or talk about, just like St Peter. Wishing we could have changed or avoided them, but there is nothing we can do about them anymore except to seek restoration. And this restoration is what Jesus is offering us today as he says: " My child, do you still love me? Do you really love me? Do you love me more than all the things of this passing world?

All we have to say in consciousness of our faults and sinfulness is: Lord, you know everything, yes, I truly love you. And just like St Peter, the Lord Jesus will not only forgive us, but he will restore us to a greater glory. So why struggling in silence, it’s time to break open at the confessional the hidden wounds of sin in our hearts.

For the Lord wants to heal and restore us once again so that we can be open and free to receive the Holy Spirit the promised Paraclete, who will restore us afresh to God’s greater glory.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we anticipate the coming of the Holy Spirit, we come to you today conscious of our faults and sinfulness. Grant us your healing and restoration through Christ our Lord. Amen. Remain blessed. 

Homily For Thursday Seventh Week of Eastertide Year A, 21st May, 2026

 

Readings: Acts 22:30,23:6-11; Ps.16; John 17:20-26

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

COURAGE! FOR JESUS PRAYS FOR US

Whenever we are passing through a very difficult, ugly situation, we feel that all hope is gone as our trusted friends have abandoned us. We actually feel great and relieved when we hear or remember that someone is praying for us.

It feels right to know that someone is interceding on our behalf, it feels great to hear that someone is communicating with God on our behalf. Yes, for a few days now, we have been listening to the High Priestly Prayer of Jesus for his disciples who were with him at the Last Supper, how he prayed for their sanctification and unity.

However, in this final part of his prayer, Jesus now prays for all those who, through the influence of his disciples, come to believe in God and in him. So, each one of us belongs to those whom Jesus is praying for when he said in our Gospel passage today, Holy Father, I pray not only for these, but for those also who through their words will believe in me. May they all be one. Father, may they be one in us, as you are in me and I am in you, so that the world may believe it was you who sent me.

Here, as Jesus prays for his disciples, he also extended his prayer to everyone who will come to believe in him through them. For he knows that we will all need similar grace and be exposed to similar trials. Hence he prays that those who follow him may be drawn into the life of the Holy Trinity. The Father sends the Son to humanity precisely so that the Son may draw all humanity into the relationship that exists with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

This prayer reminds us that our unity, our “oneness,” is to be a sign to the world of God’s love for us in Jesus Christ. Therefore, it is a thing of great joy to know that each Christian, no matter how insignificant, humble, unknown, poor, unlearned, or despised, is remembered in prayer by Jesus, who is now seated at the right hand of God the Father, who will always grant his request.

Thus, if we can value the prayers of our friends, how much more should we value the prayer of the Son of God? Because of this single prayer of Jesus, we Christians are infinitely more privileged than any other people in the world. So, in the midst of any difficulty, trials, and struggles, we should be more confident once we remember that the Son of God prays for us, and his prayers will surely be heard by God.

It is this same confidence that St. Paul had when he testified before the tribunal of the chief priests and the entire Sanhedrin concerning his hope in the resurrection, as we have it in our first reading, and the next night, the Lord appeared to him and said, ‘Courage! You have borne witness for me in Jerusalem, now you must do the same in Rome.’

Dear friends, I don’t know what you are going through now, especially as regards your faith in Jesus. I don’t know what you are asking God to do for you. I don’t know how ugly the situation in your life has been, I don’t know whatever sickness you are passing through or how abandoned and rejected you feel right now. All I can tell you now is that Jesus has not stopped thinking and praying for you and me.

All we have to do is to be confident and remain faithful like St. Paul, and we will hear the Lord saying to us: ‘Courage, my child! You have borne witness for me today through your struggles, patience and faithfulness, now I must do the same for you by restoring you to a greater glory.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we place our hope in You, grant that through the prayers of Jesus we may always come out victorious in all our trials and tribulations and so obtain the joy of Your help through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you the best of God’s favour and blessings.