Homily for Saturday Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 18th July, 2026

 

Readings: Micah 2:1-5; Ps.9; Matt:12:14-21

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

DEALING WITH THE UGLY ATTITUDE OF HUMANITY IN IMITATION OF CHRIST THE SUFFERING SERVANT

There is no doubt that we are living in a world full of crazy and ugly attitudes of Different kinds of people. The world is full of people who are entrusted with the noble task of leading and managing the resources and affairs of the people, but they are making decisions to eliminate and destroy them just for their personal gain and selfish interest.

This is what we have in our Gospel passage today, where the Pharisees, who are the leaders of the people, because of their selfish interest and pride, went out and began to plot against Jesus, discussing how to destroy him, because of his great works and teaching of the people.

Jesus knew this and withdrew from their district. Many followed him and he cured them all, but warned them not to make him known. This was to fulfil the prophecy of Isaiah which reminds us about the figure of the suffering Servant of Yahweh, in the person of Jesus. Here, Jesus experienced constant opposition and hostility at the hands of the Pharisees, who sought to destroy Him.

So, Matthew in this Gospel identifies Jesus with the Suffering Servant who is filled with God’s Spirit; despite the aggression of his opponents, he does not suspend his ministry of healing, forgiving and spreading the Good News. For he is full of gentleness and compassion.

Hence, Jesus the suffering Servant of God, the lovable and gentle teacher, has come to bring the light of truth to this crazy world, for he does not seek the death of sinners, but their conversion and salvation.

Therefore, in him, we can also find the courage and strength to persevere in these times of difficulty, suffering and persecution. For God has chosen us as His beloved sons and daughters. He has given us His Spirit so that we can stand firm against all the evil activities going on in this crazy world.

But as for those who have chosen to be instruments of destruction, manipulation and deception of humanity just for their selfish interest or for vain glory or for fun thereby letting people die for these wrongs that they do. Such people will have no share in the kingdom of the Lord, for the evils they have done will be their portion and lot.

This is exactly what we have in our first reading today, of which the Lord, through the prophet Micah, said: Woe to those who plot evil, who lie in bed planning mischief! No sooner is it dawn than they do it their hands have the strength for it. Seizing the fields that they covet, they take over houses as well, owner and house they confiscate together, taking both man and inheritance.

Dear friends, there is no doubt that we are really living in an evil and crazy world, but we must know that the transcendent power and authority belong to God. Yes, we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.

Thus, we must know that true greatness is found in service and not in domination or subjection of others. Good leaders serve the community; they subdue arguments and divisions; they maintain unity in times of distress and act as role models for the young ones.

Therefore, it is time for us to put off our old self, which leads to evil desire, manipulation, covetousness, selfishness and greed, and put on a new person born of love, compassion, contentment, purity and forgiveness.

We are all called today to serve in any capacity we find ourselves, bearing in mind that one should not strive to be a leader but a servant because leadership is a gift given to one by God. Remember, you don't have to be great to get started, but you have to get started to be great.

LET US PRAY: Almighty God, like little boys we go down on our knees with all humility, asking for your grace and courage to overcome the evil and ugly situation going on in this crazy world, where humanity is being manipulated, deceived and destroyed because of a few people’s selfish interests. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a pleasant weekend.

Homily For Friday, Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year A, 17th July, 2026

 

Readings: Isaiah 38:1-6.7-8.21-22, Ps. 38, Matt 12:1-8

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WHY WE MUST DESIRE GOD’S MERCY AND THE KNOWLEDGE OF HIM

Mercy is one of the attributes of God, and this attribute runs through the scriptures, as it is actually the summary of most of the stories in the scriptures. Ultimately, it is the mercy of God that we need more than His justice. Little wonder Jesus, in our Gospel passage today teaches us about the essence of making laws.

This is clear from his response to the Pharisees who criticised the attitude of his disciples who, on the Sabbath, were seen plucking ears of corn to eat because they were very hungry.

So, Jesus corrected them and made them know the right disposition as regards the application of God's law and any law at all, when he said to them "I desire mercy and not sacrifice". This is because the Pharisees emphasised strict keeping of the law of the Sabbath while neglecting the spirit of the law, which has to do with God’s love and mercy.

This is also evident in our first reading, where we heard of God’s mercy on King Hezekiah, who was suffering from a terrible illness that would have led to his death. But he begged the Lord in prayer to remember what he had done for the sake of his people, for Hezekiah had been faithful to God and led the people of Judah to return once again to God.

So God had Mercy on him and said to the prophet Isaiah: ‘Go and say to Hezekiah, “The Lord, the God of David your ancestor, says this: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will cure you: in three days you shall go up to the Temple of the Lord.” I will add fifteen years to your life.’ Such is the mercy of God.

Dear friends, Law exists for the good of the people, but oftentimes we find ourselves seeking more recognition by exercising too much control over other people’s lives under the disguise of laws.

Hence, we should not lack compassion and mercy or close our hearts against our neighbour like the Pharisees, an attitude that reminds me of the words of Pope Francis when he said: "If our heart is closed, our heart will soon become like stone, then the stones will end up in our hands and, then, we will be ready to throw them at someone.

Therefore, this should not be the case; rather, we should always consider the essence and purpose of making laws and applying them, bearing in mind that human needs which supersede all other human interests should be the guiding principle of any law, both social and religious.

In fact, the ritual demands of the Sabbath encourage mercy, forgiveness and compassion which are at the heart of any true religion. Thus, as we make laws and implement them, let love, compassion and mercy be our guiding principle.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, you show the light of your truth to those who go astray, may we always embrace your laws and apply them with mercy and compassion, through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed day.

Homily For Thursday, Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year A, 16th July, 2026

Readings: Isaiah 26:7-9,12,16-19; Ps.102; Matt:11:28-30

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

COME WITH YOUR HEAVY BURDEN AND FIND REST IN THE LORD WHEN

Thinking about the ugly condition of our societies today, where the ugly and sinful attitudes of greed, corruption, pride and selfishness of people have placed a heavy burden and stress on us all and often these burdens are so heavy that we don’t know how to carry them.

The worst of these burdens are the sorrows we bear in our hearts: sorrows caused by our sins, unhealthy relationships we have engaged in, unforgiveness, and family problems resulting from the negative influence of society.

Thus, today in our Gospel passage Jesus says to us: Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.’

No doubt that every one of us has a task and a mission to accomplish, and this can be very demanding, just as we heard the prophet Isaiah in our first reading today saying:The path of the upright man is straight; You smooth the way of the upright. Following the path of your judgements, we hoped in you, O Lord; your name and your memory are all my soul desires.

Similarly, Jesus recognises the sorrows in our lives, how we labour and are overburdened as a result of our tasks and mission. Hence he invites us to come to him with all our burdens. Yes, it is human to think and worry about things of this world.

Every human person thinks and worries about something. Only a few people can sometimes find it easy to resolve their problems, but for most people, their problems are too great, and they move from bad to worse. Hence, this invitation of Jesus opens a refreshing space in our soul, by inspiring hope and drawing us into God’s loving and gentle presence where our souls find peace and solace.

Dear friends, what task and mission has God given to us in this life? How are we carrying out this task and mission? What are the challenges we are facing? Is the task and mission so heavy for us to bear? Are we carrying an additional load apart from the one God has given to us?

I don't know the heavy burden in your heart right now, I don’t know your cherished plans which have failed, and it seems as if disappointments have prevailed, thereby wandering in the darkness of confusion and a heavy heart all alone.

Today, Jesus is inviting us to come to him with all our burdens, all our troubles, all our challenges and disappointments, and he will give us rest. He says we should embrace his yoke, we should learn from him, for he is gentle and humble of heart and by so doing find rest for our souls. Then we will tell the story of how we overcome our most troublesome and darkest of moments, for we will understand it better by and by.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, as we come to you with our heavy burden and sorrows in our hearts, grant that we may embrace the yoke of Christ and so find peace and solace in our souls. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you God's favour

Homily For Wednesday, Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year A, 15th July, 2026. The Memorial of St. Bonaventure

Readings: Isaiah 10:5-7.13-16, Ps. 94, Matt 11:25-27

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

COMING TO GOD IN PRAYER WITH THE HUMILITY OF A CHILD

Gazing at the crucifix this morning, all I could see was the childlike humility of Jesus towards his loving Father. For he sacrificed himself on the cross for the sake of humanity. Thereby teaching us that our relationship with God in prayer requires the humility of an infant to his loving Father.

This type of humility is not a way of glory, but a road of surrender that leads to the passion and death of oneself. It is a way of sacrifice, a service to others at the expense of the self. In prayer, Jesus experienced God as his Father and approached him with childlike humility, faith and confidence.

Hence, in our Gospel passage today, Jesus after his reproaches towards the unrepentant cities of Chorazin and Bethsaida, demonstrates to us a humble way of relating with God in prayer when he said, ‘I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to mere infants. Yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.

Here Jesus is referring to those who claim to be wise and intelligent, self-sufficient and self-made, such as the Pharisees and Sadducees, Scribes and Lawyers who rejected his message. Also, those who think that they don’t need God, for they can save themselves by their meritorious works.

Thus, Jesus points out that there is a link between prayer and the inner disposition of being a humble child of God in communion with a heavenly Father, through confidence and total abandonment to God. No matter who we are and what we have achieved in life, humility is the key and sure way to reach God in prayer.

Nonetheless, even those who are highly gifted and blessed can become a "baby" who humbly depends upon God’s grace. The uneducated and less privileged persons can be in the same undesirable company as the wise and intelligent if they are not humble in spirit in their relationship with God and their neighbours because our natural and spiritual gifts are only useful in our Christian journey when we have a humble heart.

This is what God is teaching us in our first reading today, when He reminded us through the prophet Isaiah that no power in this world is meaningful without Him. Pride, as shown by the Assyrian king, will lead us nowhere but destruction and failure. Therefore, it’s time for us to get rid of pride, corruption, greed and unhealthy desires that dwell in us, in order to embrace the life of humility and love.

Dear friends, today God wants us to relate to Him in total humility and obedience, just as an infant relates to its loving father. For He is always with us in our daily troubles and struggles, He understands us more than we can ever imagine.

Therefore, why not humbly come to Him in prayer, for He is always willing to help us in solving those difficult and challenging situations in our lives. Remember, our natural and spiritual gifts are only useful in our Christian journey when we have a humble heart like St Bonaventure, whose memorial we are celebrating today.

He defended the Franciscan Order and, after he was elected general of the order in 1255, he ruled it with wisdom and prudence. He is regarded as the second founder of the Order. He declined the archbishopric of York in 1265 but was made cardinal bishop of Albano in 1273, dying a year later in 1274 at the Council of Lyons.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we thank you for being with us in our daily struggles, troubles, joys and hopes, . May you provide for the poor, console the troubled, heal the sick and put a smile on the faces of your children who humbly come to you in prayer. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed day.

Homily for Tuesday Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 14th July, 2026

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Readings: Isaiah 7:1-9; Ps. 48; Matt:11:20-24

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WOE TO ALL WHO HAVE FAILED TO DO THE WILL OF GOD

Reflecting on the ugly and fragile nature of our societies and the world as a whole, especially how the streets are full of people struggling and suffering, and the markets are full of people buying, selling, cheating and manipulating others.

Our leaders are so busy with acquiring, manipulating and embezzling the common resources, not minding the struggles, the tears, the disappointments that people are passing through every day, as some people have lost hope in themselves and even in everything they do. We are just so busy with everything except the very essence of our existence, that is, the salvation of our souls.

This ugly and fragile kind of condition is what Jesus is addressing in our Gospel passage today as he continues with his reproaches, this time to cities where he had done great miracles, yet the people failed to embrace the life of the Gospel he preached.

Hence, he reproached them, saying: Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. And still, I tell you that it will not go as hard on Judgment day with Tyre and Sidon as with you.

Yes, Jesus has taught us about the kingdom of God and proclaimed a message of healing and conversion but his teaching and powerful deeds have not yet been embraced by humanity.

Hence, Jesus in this Gospel is not just rebuking the cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum, but all humanity for not being open to the fruits of his Gospel, calling us to reflect on how we are losing out on what God is offering us.

Because God will always have plans to save his people, just as we heard the Lord in our first reading saying to Isaiah: Pay attention, keep calm, have no fear, do not let your heart sink because of these two smouldering stumps of firebrands. It shall not come true; it shall not be. But if you do not stand by me, you will not stand at all.

Dear friends, we might not feel very comfortable with the idea of Jesus rebuking and uttering terrible words of threats on these big and powerful cities that represent all humanity. But the questions we need to ask ourselves are: Has humanity really embraced the Word of God we hear every day? Is the Word bearing fruit in our lives?

Can we recognise in this fragile condition the great work that Jesus is doing to save humanity and the need to turn back to God? Do we think that repentance is for others and not for us? Jesus is saying Woe to us for failing to embrace and live out the Gospel teachings, because he seems to expect some sort of change in us when we hear His words or when we encounter him in prayer.

Therefore, God is calling us to repentance; He wants to come into our souls and dwell. Today, He is rebuking all humanity. He wants us to come to Him, for He comes to us more than we go to Him.

Hence, if we believe in God and put our trust in Him, we will have the assurance and guarantee of restoration, for God does not want us to suffer the consequences of our sins; that is why He kept reminding us about the upcoming danger. But, if humanity constantly refuses to believe in God, we may end up in self-destruction.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we embrace your words today, may we experience your love, joy and healing both physically, materially and more importantly spiritually, as we wait patiently for the restoration of all humanity from the ugly and fragile condition of this passing world. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. God bless you. 

Homily for Monday Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 13th July, 2026

 

Readings: Isaiah 1:10-17; Ps. 50; Matt:10:34-11:1

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

THE REALITY ABOUT OUR LIVES AS CHRISTIANS

In the midst of all the ugly situations in our societies today, we really need to think twice about our faith as Christians, whether we are actually ready to live out our faith. Because the hostility, persecution and the influential power of things of this world are getting hold of us and are not stopping soon, rather, it seems to be getting tougher.

Therefore, if we are really willing to live out our Christian faith and obligations, then we need to make a radical decision towards our discipleship in a personal and radical way, for these days, it is not enough to say I am a Christian, we must convincingly and radically practice our faith by following the example of the Lord Jesus.

Little wonder Jesus in our Gospel passage today, takes his discourse on discipleship to a radical and difficult level when he said: 'Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth: it is not peace I have come to bring, but a sword. For anyone who prefers father or mother to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who prefers a son or a daughter to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who does not take up his cross and follow in my footsteps is not worthy of me. Anyone who finds his life will lose it; and anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it.’

Here, Jesus does not directly intend to cause tensions and divisions in family life. Still, he wants us to accept the consequences that come with the truth of the Gospel teaching, more importantly, when it comes to living out the Gospel message radically, especially in a situation where our family values have been thrown out of caution as a result of secularism, individualism and excess desires for worldly pleasures, thereby neglecting the things that lead us to God.

Therefore, these harsh words of Jesus can only be understood in the light of our life experiences, because there are moments when we must make radical and difficult choices as disciples of Jesus. These moments may wield the sword of division or separation among those people and things which are so dear to us.

However, Jesus does not endorse our engaging in armed conflict, but he warns that we have to struggle to put him first, before family ties, knowing that divisions will surely occur as people have to decide to be for or against God. Hence, he states that the cost of discipleship extends to one even losing their life. Nevertheless, he promises that even the small efforts we make in following him will be rewarded.

Thus, Jesus demands a total commitment towards finishing the journey of discipleship once begun or not beginning it at all. Because following Jesus demands the sacrifice of all that one has. For none of us can become his disciple if we do not give up our excess desire for worldly pleasures and possessions, and pay our unreserved loyalty and allegiance to Jesus over all other competing loyalties in our lives, including family, self-interest, and possessions. Hence, the Lord through a prophet in our first reading today said: Take our wrongdoing out of my sight. Cease to do evil. Learn to do good, search for justice, help the oppressed, be just to the orphan, plead for the widow.’

Dear friends, we are called today to make a radical decision to sincerely and faithfully follow Jesus and to accept the consequences of living by the truth of the Gospel. But how much are we willing to let go for the sake of following the truth of the Gospel? Why are we finding it difficult to follow Jesus? What are those habitual desires and possessions that are holding us back from making this radical decision today? It is time to come to God with all our hearts, for tomorrow may be too late.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, the excess desire for the pleasurable things of this passing world have weakened our hearts towards you. Give us courage and grace to let go of our ugly desires, to hold firm in our faith despite losing people and things that are dear to us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a fruitful week ahead. 

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