Homily For Second Sunday of Easter, The Divine Mercy Sunday, 12th April, 2026

Readings: Acts.2:42-47; Ps.118; 1Pet. 1:3-9; John 20:19-31

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HAVE NOT SEEN AND YET BELIEVE

The event we celebrate today is meant for us to focus our attention once again on the Lord, to ask Jesus for his mercy on us and the whole world especially through his glorious and wondrous passion, which stands as a perfect offering for the redemption of humanity.

Little wonder Pope St. John Paul II in the Jubilee Year of 2000, instituted the Divine Mercy Sunday, which is to be celebrated every second Sunday of Easter to remind us that the joyful celebration of Easter season is also a time for us to appreciate once again that our Lord Jesus passed through the worst of sufferings and humiliations in his Passion, Death and Resurrection, and so won eternal life for humanity.

Hence, we need to have faith in the Lord and believe that through him there is hope for our salvation. This truly explains the words of Jesus to his disciples when he said: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe”. This statement could be a central theme in our Gospel passage today.

The major issue here is the act of doubting. There is a foundational philosophical statement attributed to René Descartes, that says: "I doubt, therefore I think, therefore I am" (dubito, ergo cogito, ergo sum). This statement highlights that the act of doubting one's own existence proves the existence of a thinking mind. It serves as a methodical, certain starting point, concluding that doubt and thinking are undeniable proof of existence.

Here, Jesus said to Thomas: “ Do not doubt but believe… for blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” This is because Thomas was lacking in faith and so was doubtful of the Lord’s resurrection but only to be humbled when the Lord himself appeared right before him. Thomas believed and said to the Lord, ‘My Lord and My God’. And the Gospel ended by saying that these are written that you may believe in Jesus and that believing you may have life in his name.

This also, is repeated in our second reading today, where we heard St. Peter saying: "You did not see him, yet you love him; and still without seeing him, you are already filled with a joy so glorious that it cannot be described, because you believe; and you are sure of the end to which your faith looks forward, that is, the salvation of your souls.”

Here we are told that through our love and faith, we have victory over the world and salvation for our souls. So, the purpose of this Gospel is for us, the readers to believe and so enjoy the promised blessing. Today no doubt, Millions of Christians have been strengthened in their faith by reading this Gospel, and millions of others have been brought to faith through it.

But, what about you and me who today have experienced the Lord and his mercies, having journeyed with Jesus as long as we have come to embrace the Christian faith? What can we say about our personal encounter and experience of the person of Jesus? Are we really convinced about the faith we profess? Are we still at the level of faith that is based on what we hear or read about Jesus? Or have we really and truly encountered the person of Jesus in such a way that our faith has no doubt anymore, such that we can truly say like St. Thomas, "My Lord and My God"?

Dear friends, are we still doubting like Thomas? Today, we are encouraged to believe without even seeing like Thomas. But this can really be very difficult in a world of empiricism, yet we are still called to truly embrace this faith without doubting despite all the ugly human attitudes that are kicking against our faith.

That is why, sometimes in our lives, we behave like Thomas; in fact, Thomas represents all of us who, in one way or another, have been doubtful of the presence of God in our lives. No doubt that there are many of us with different experiences at different levels of faith and devotion.

But at some point, we may have grown weak in our commitment to the Lord and begin to doubt his presence with us, based on our own experiences, or when we are distracted and tempted by many ugly desires for worldly things that will turn us away from the Lord.

More so, we have often placed God aside and forgotten about him, by prioritising other things in our lives. We have often treated him or things related to him as something not significant. There are times when we doubt the presence of God in our families, societies and even the Church.

There are times when we have doubted the presence of God in the Eucharist, in the sacraments and even in the activities of his ministers. Oftentimes, we are doubtful of the mercy of God, his love for us, his power to save, heal and protect us, as we go seeking help from other “sources” which will only worsen our situation.

Brethren, to be a believer in our world today can be really difficult, so we need to support each other. We need to strengthen our community life, especially during this difficult moment in our country and the world at large. The early Christians supported one another by praying, worshipping and sharing their resources and the word of God together, as we heard in our first reading today. For the people were loud in their praise, and the number of men and women who came to believe in the Lord increased steadily. And so many signs and wonders were worked among the people at the hands of the apostles.

Therefore, let us unite together as believers, and bear authentic witness to our faith. As we struggle in this dark moment in our lives when God seems far away from the world, let us ask him to help us to remove all forms of doubt, especially in this time when the Gospel is under all kinds of threats by faithless and ignorant people.

Nevertheless, let us ask God for His Divine Mercy in our lives, our families, societies and the world at large. Remember, the Lord is indeed merciful; he forgives us freely and generously, but we should not take his mercy for granted by dwelling perpetually in sin.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, today we are encouraged to believe without seeing, this can really be very difficult in a world of empiricism, help us especially this trial moment in our world, never to doubt whatever you have revealed through your son, may we rather be steadfast in faith, joyful in hope and untiring in loving you and our neighbours, as the world hope to experience your Divine Mercy once again, through Christ our Lord. Amen. Happy Divine Mercy Sunday to you and your household. 

Homily For Saturday in Octave of Easter, 11th April, 2026

Readings: Acts.14:13-21; Ps.118; Mark 16:9-15

Rev Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WE ARE CALLED TO BEAR AUTHENTIC WITNESS OF THE RISEN LORD TO HUMANITY

After the resurrection of Jesus, he appeared to his disciples on different occasions. Today in our Gospel passage, he appeared to the eleven apostles and commissioned them to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to the whole creation. This is what Peter and John exercised in our first reading today.

Here, the rulers, elders and scribes were astonished at the great witness shown by Peter and John, so they tried to prevent them and other disciples from spreading any further the Good News about the risen Lord, by attempting to suppress them through fear and intimidation.

However, the disciples were not ready to give in to fear or pressure, for they were encouraged and strengthened by the Lord through the Holy Spirit, since they were no longer the same people who hid in the fear of the authorities. Instead, they openly rejected the orders from the Sanhedrin and continued to carry out the missions which God had entrusted to them.

Hence, the mandate of this mission has been repeated in our liturgy throughout this octave of Easter, to remind us of our mission as Christians. It also allows us to review our Easter experience, so as to examine ourselves to know the impact the week has made on us.

Dear friends, to what extent have we been able to bear witness to the world about the risen Lord? As disciples of Christ, we are mandated to share the Good News of salvation provided by Christ Jesus to all creation. We are to do so not just in silence, but in words and actions, which are seen in our ways of life.

So, friends, what can we do to ensure that the Gospel reaches out to all creation? How best can we spread this Good News, especially in this time of difficulty when the world is looking for answers to the fundamental reality of human life?

The answer to these fundamental questions is rooted in our first reading today, where we are made to know that the best way to preach the Gospel today is by our way of life. Today, many voices are preaching the Good News, but only a few are bearing authentic witness to the Gospel. Therefore, let our lives bear authentic witness to the Gospel of the Lord.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, give us the grace and courage to bear authentic witness of your Gospel in a world where people are confused and no longer pay attention to your word. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a peaceful weekend. 

Homily for Friday in Octave of Easter, 10th April, 2026

 

Readings: Acts.4:1-12; Ps.117; John:21:1-14

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WITHOUT THE LORD WE WILL TOIL IN VAIN

For any system or structure to remain firm and sustainable, such a structure must be well situated on a solid foundation known as a cornerstone. This is also applicable to most things we do in life.

Today in our Gospel passage, the disciples of Jesus, led by Peter, had left Jerusalem and gone all the way back to their native homes to resume their former ways of life as fishermen, because they had failed to understand that Jesus is the cornerstone of their lives and vocation. So they went fishing all night. After a whole night’s fishing, they caught absolutely nothing, tired and disappointed.

This night of futile fishing left them with empty nets and hopelessness. They have forgotten that without Jesus the cornerstone, they can do nothing. It was at this point that, suddenly, a stranger on the shore invited them for breakfast. Here, Jesus took the initiative and visited them as he engaged them in a dialogue, saying, “Have you caught anything?”

They reluctantly admit they have got nothing. Then, he said to them drop your nets on the right side of the boat and you will find something. They did so and were overwhelmed at the catch they had made. There were so many fish that they simply could not be taken into the boat. Thus, they recognise that it was Jesus, the cornerstone of their lives and mission.

Dear friends, when you are rooted in Christ our cornerstone, you will not toil in vain. So, like the disciples, we too must come to recognise Jesus as the cornerstone of our lives, who is there for us even at the most mundane moments of our daily lives. The truth is that we all need to have a strong root in everything we do. Without a strong root in the Lord, who is our cornerstone, we will not be able to stand firm when challenges of life hit us.

Little wonder, Peter tells us in our first reading, that Jesus is that stone which the builders rejected, but today is the cornerstone by which we are saved. Today, all over the world, people are struggling with different ugly situations. In fact, the world is in a state of confusion, people are suffering, their means of livelihood have been deprived, no food, no electricity no good water, crisis everywhere, poverty is on the increase, house rent is due and no one to run to, some families only look up to God for daily survival.

However, in the midst of these ugly situations, let us know that we are not left alone in our fears and sorrows, for Jesus, the cornerstone of our lives, is nearer to us now than before. We only need to have faith in him and acknowledge him as the cornerstone of our lives and families especially in this difficult moment. Let us be strong, steadfast, courageous and hopeful, knowing that the Joy of the risen Lord is our strength.

LET US PRAY: Lord Jesus, without you we will toil in vain, never cease to be the cornerstone of our lives, our families and the world at large. May the most vulnerable in our midst experience your grace, your help, your healing, your favour and interventions as we look up to you as our cornerstone. For you live and reign forever and ever. Amen. Have a fruitful day.

Homily for Thursday in Octave of Easter, 9th April, 2026

Readings: Acts.3:11-26; Ps.8; Luke24:35-48

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

BEARING AUTHENTIC WITNESS OF CHRIST’S PRESENCE AFTER AN ENCOUNTER WITH HIM

Today, in a special way, Jesus appeared to his disciples, wishing them peace and commissioning them to bear witness to his resurrection. He commissioned his disciples with these words: “You see how it is written that the Christ would suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that, in his name, repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be preached to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.

You are witnesses to this,” as we have it in our Gospel passage today. And as we know a witness must be someone who has seen and experienced something and could testify to the facts of what he or she has seen.

So, the disciples had witnessed Christ’s suffering, death and resurrection and here comes the mission to witness this to the whole world and to proclaim reconciliation with God through Jesus. We, too, receive this commission of being his witnesses, through our baptism, we are incorporated into the Church to authentically bear witness to the faith we profess.

Dear friends, it is our task to carry on this mission of Christ throughout the whole world. If we do not, then the world will not hear Christ’s message of reconciliation, forgiveness and victory over sin and death, thereby making the world remain ignorant of what God has done for us and the consequences of this ignorance are the root of the problems in our world today.

However, we can not bear effective witness unless we have a personal experience of the risen Lord. It is this personal experience that enables Peter to bear effective witness of Christ before the people, as we heard in our first reading today, when he said: " Why are you so surprised at this? Why are you staring at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power or holiness? It was you who accused the Holy One, the Just One, you who demanded the reprieve of a murderer while you killed the prince of life.

God, however, raised him from the dead, and to that fact we are the witnesses; and it is the name of Jesus which, through our faith in it, has brought back the strength of this man whom you see here and who is well known to you. It is faith in that name that has restored this man to health, as you can all see. We, too, can do the same when we experience the risen Lord personally in our lives.

LET US PRAY: Lord Jesus, let us once again experience you personally in our lives and give us the grace to bear authentic witness of your presence in the world. Manifest your victorious power afresh in our lives, families, societies and the world at large. You who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. Have a fruitful day.

Homily for Wednesday in Octave of Easter, 8th April, 2026

 

Readings: Acts.3:1-10; Ps. 104; Luke 24:13-35

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

HAVING AN EMMAUS ENCOUNTER WITH JESUS 

Oftentimes, we hardly understand fully the meaning of the faith we profess in Christ. Though we still journey with Christ and his Church without a full understanding of the mystery we celebrate. Sometimes we are confused, sometimes we doubt, sometimes we feel like going back to our ugly and sinful ways of life. This type of disposition is the condition of the two disciples of Jesus in our Gospel passage today, where we heard the story about the two disciples who were on their way to Emmaus.

The story of these two disciples on the road to Emmaus is one of the most interesting stories in the Gospel that explains the structure of our liturgical celebration in a more practical way.  In this story, they were on a journey when the risen Lord joined them on the way and explained the scriptures to them. 

These two disciples had no idea who Jesus was when he approached them. They are aware, however, of the recent events in Jerusalem but could not comprehend it. But the Lord, after explaining the scriptures, revealed his identity to them at the breaking of bread, when he took a loaf of bread, and, giving thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, just like he did at the last Supper. 

Dear friends, in the same way, the risen Lord journeys with us in our liturgical worship, beginning with the penitential rite where we recall how sinful and unworthy we are before God. Then we recalled the events of our faith as the Lord Jesus takes us through the Scriptures and the celebration of the Eucharist. 

Here the faith of the faithful is sustained. It is the place where Jesus continues to reveal himself. Where the Christian faith is born and nurtured, where what Jesus did for us through his suffering, death and resurrection is remembered in thanksgiving. This is the faith Peter and John exercised in our first reading today, when they restored the crippled in the name of Jesus.

But the questions we need to ask ourselves are, what are you discussing as you journey through the Emmaus of life? What is our disposition towards the faith we have found in Christ? Have we personally encountered or recognised the presence of God in our lives, especially at Eucharistic celebration? 

Today the Lord Jesus wishes to journey with us in our struggles. He wishes to instruct us more about the faith we found in him. He wishes to reveal himself once again, for him to see if we are going to be disposed enough to listen to him as he speaks to us, especially through the scriptures.

LET US PRAY: Loving Jesus, as we journey together on the road of faith with you, especially in the midst of the ugly situation ravaging the world, help us to always recognise you personally in different events we encounter on the way, especially at the breaking of the Eucharistic bread. You who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. Peace be with you.

Homily for Tuesday of Octave of Easter, 7th April, 2026

 

Readings: Acts.2:36-41; Ps. 33; John 20: 11-18

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

AN ENCOUNTER WITH THE RISEN LORD

One of the most precious gifts God can offer to anyone is the privilege of having a personal experience and encounter with him, especially in this season, which is a moment of encounter. Little wonder our readings this season give us an account of how different people encountered the Lord Jesus.

Today, our Gospel passage presents to us the story of a woman who seeks the Lord with all affection and tears. Mary Magdalene, who came back and remained by the tomb where Jesus was laid, was weeping.

Her heart was in earnest to find Jesus. The angels asked her: Why are you weeping? She was just busy trying to find the corpse of Jesus. But when she turned around and saw Jesus, her heart was filled with joy and peace.

Similarly, our first reading today presents to us people's personal encounter through the word of God. For hearing the Word they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the apostles, ‘What must we do, brothers?’ ‘You must repent,’ Peter answered ‘and every one of you must be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

So, we are likely to seek and find the Lord, when we seek him with deepest affection and desire through the power of the Holy Spirit. But often times the clouds and darkness of our sins blind us from recognising the Lord who is always very close to us.

The truth is that, our disposition this season matters a lot. If we have that true disposition and desire to encounter Jesus we will surely experience him in our lives. It’s just a few days after Easter, how close have we personally embraced the Lord? What difference has his presence made in our lives?

Dear friends, we need to have a personal experience of the risen Lord and the Lord Jesus is at the door knocking and waiting for us to open the door of our hearts so that we will experience him personally. For he, the good shepherd, knows his sheep, and he said his sheep would know him when he calls their names. Just like Mary Magdalene recognised Jesus when he called her name. But are we disposed enough to hear him when he speaks to us?

In different ways and forms, Jesus speaks to us. And the common ways of making himself known to his people are by his words; his words appeal to our souls, speaking to us in a particular way that is unique to us. Therefore, let us be well disposed to hear the Lord Jesus speaking to us in our hearts, and there we will experience and encounter him personally.

 LET US PRAY: Lord God, our souls desire to encounter your Son, our Lord Jesus, personally once again. Give us the grace and strength to always be ready to turn around, to look again, that we may see, experience, fill and recognise your presence in our lives personally and collectively. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed day.

Homily for Monday in the Octave of Easter, 6th April, 2026

 

Readings: Acts.2:14.22-33; Ps. 16; Matt. 28:8-15

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

WHERE IS GALILEE THE PLACE OF ENCOUNTER? 

After the great event of the passion and death of our Lord Jesus Christ, we heard yesterday of the good news of his resurrection, for we have yet to encounter him. So today being a special day, is no doubt a day of encounter, a day we are called to leave the empty tomb of sorrow and go to Galilee, a place of personal encounter with the risen Lord. For we heard in our Gospel passage today how the women who came to the tomb early in the morning ran with fear and great joy. 

They had just encountered the Lord, who invited them to go and tell their brothers that they must leave for Galilee, where they would see him. This invitation is very symbolic for all Christians, because it is an invitation to a place of encounter with our risen Lord. 

It is the first instruction of the Lord to his disciples. All who believe in the Lord are invited to be part of this invitation to Galilee, for it is a moment when all doubt is cleared, all fear is gone and all hope is fulfilled.

Dear friends, this same invitation is given to us today. But where is Galilee? Galilee is a fertile, mountainous region in northern Israel. It is most notable for being the home of our Lord Jesus Christ. More specifically, the lower part of the mountain of Galilee is where Jesus grew up and spent the better part of his earthly life and ministry. 

But Galilee is much more than these. It is any place of encounter, especially deep within our hearts, where we can find the Lord Jesus so often, because the risen Lord is no longer bound by time or space. Galilee can also be our neighbourhood, our family, any place of prayer, or any place we find the poor and the needy, the sick or anywhere we find ourselves aware of the presence of Jesus. 

Therefore, let us, like the disciples, leave behind the empty tomb of sorrow, pain, fear and uncertainty of the things of this passing world and journey towards Galilee to encounter the risen Lord with joy and praises of alleluia in our hearts. 

For we heard in our first reading how Peter and the other disciples, after their encounter with the risen Lord, expressed their experience with him to the people. We are also called to do the same after our encounter with him today at the Galilee of our hearts.

LET US PRAY: Lord Jesus, as we journey towards Galilee in expectation to encounter you personally, amidst the pains and sorrows of this life, may the joy of your presence know no bounds in our lives, you who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. Wishing you the joy of the risen Lord.