Monday of The 4th Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 1st February, 2021.

 Monday of The 4th Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 1st February, 2021.

Readings: Heb. 11:32-40, Ps.31, Mark 5:1-20

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

THE PRESENCE OF JESUS IN OUR LIVES DRIVES AWAY THE EVIL ONES

There is no doubt that there is an active presence of evil in the world, which manifest itself in different forms and occasions. This is really obvious in the time of Jesus, for he seemed to have lived in a world of hostility; political and family divisions as well as the conflict between good and evil just like we have in our world today. Thus, everyday is a struggle against the malice of the evil ones, and people are doing everything they can to overcome them.

Hence in our Gospel passage today, we see how the presence of Jesus terrifies the evil ones which has possessed a man for a long time and have been tormenting the community. This unclean spirits were so fierce that no one could pass that way. So when the man saw Jesus, he ran to him and said: ‘What do you want with me, Jesus, son of the Most High God? Swear by God you will not torture me!’ For Jesus had been saying to him, ‘Come out of the man and they came out from the men and immediately entered the swine and the swine rushed into the lake and perished in the water.

Here, we are called to recognize that the presence of Jesus in the world brings about victory over the evil ones for demons recognize Jesus as the power of God. And his power over demons is a direct defeat of the evil one. While the restoration of the man possessed, signifies the inauguration of God's kingdom in the world and the healing of God’s people, who had sinned and disobeyed God by abandoning his precepts and laws, preferring instead the wicked ways of life and worldly practices which leads to destruction. 

Dear friends, today each and every one of us are called to seek good and not evil, to promote justice and integrity, knowing that no matter how great our sins may have been, God alone has the power to heal us and to bring us back to himself. And Jesus has given us the gift of his presence in the person of the Holy Spirit, which God has bestowed on us in our baptism. In this gift resides the power and authority to confront the evil of this world and overcome it. 

Thus, in our first reading we are challenged to imitate our heroes of faith, who though were weak people, but were given strength to be brave in war and bring victory for God’s people. For Jesus has won the greatest victory for us by setting us free from sickness, evil forces and manipulations of the evil ones. And he desires to be with us as we struggle everyday to overcome the evils in our lives, our families, our societies and the world at large. Therefore, we should not be afraid to stand firm against the manipulations of the devil, because Jesus will not abandon us in this battle of life.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, the world is full of evil and wickedness, give us the grace to seek what is good and hate what is evil, and as we struggle everyday to do your will, may your presence be felt and drive away all evil forces in our midst through Christ our Lord. Amen. Happy New month, wishing you God’s favour and blessings.

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B, 31st January, 2021

 Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B, 31st January, 2021

Readings: Deut. 18:15-20, PPs.95, 1Cor.7:32-35, Mark 1:21-28

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

SPEAKING WITH DIVINE AUTHORITY

In our dealings with people, we often requested that they should make reference to authorities in order to backup their claim to know or possess anything. And when such authority is not available we may not be taking them seriously. Little wonder our readings today talks about having the divine authority to speak and teach the word of God. In our first reading, we heard how Moses addressed the people of Israel and promised them the coming of the great prophet that would come from their midst. Here, he was in fact speaking about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Thus, in our Gospel passage today we heard how the Lord Jesus, his works and preaching, stands as the fulfilment of God’s promises of which Moses and the other prophets had mentioned, for he speaks to them with divine authority. This even more evidence with the manner in which he was able to rebuke the man possessed by unclean spirit. These spirits are malicious beings that might be demons or fallen angels who have followed Satan to rebel against God. They may seem mighty and powerful as Satan, but in the end, none of them were able to rise up against God. For God alone is the source of all power and authority. 

So Jesus being the Son of God wants to show us that he has been given all the power and authority over the evil ones. And through him we have been given all authority and power over these spirits. Thus, when the man possessed by the evil spirits came to Jesus, he was able to recognised him and proclaimed him as the Holy One of God, the Son of God and Saviour of the world. But if  these evil spirits recognised and proclaimed the Lord, how come some people to whom the Lord had taught and performed miracles still refused to believe in him and often doubt his power and authority in their lives. 

Hence, today we are called to recognize the authority of Jesus and to know that his presence in the world brings about victory over the evil ones. The unclean spirit recognized Jesus as the power of God. For his power over demons is a direct defeat of the evil ones while the restoration of the possessed man signifies the inauguration of God's kingdom in the world. Now, Jesus has given us the gift of his presence in the person of the Holy Spirit, which God has bestowed on us in our baptism. In this gift resides the power and authority to evangelize the world and to confront evil and overcome it.

Dear friends, it is obvious to everyone that Jesus had authority, his authority does not come from his position in life or from worldly powers. Rather, his authority comes from his relationship with God his Father. He listened to his voice and spoke his words. Therefore, if we want to speak with authority, we must learn to spend time with God, listening to his voice and doing his will. But the questions we need to ask ourselves are: What is our notion about the authority of Jesus? Do we have any doubt about the authority of Jesus? How much of this authority dwells in you? 

The man with unclean spirit identified the source of Jesus’ authority as divine, have we personally identified the divine authority of Jesus in our lives? If we have not, why not ask him to manifest his power and authority once more in your life. The fact remains that, we need to open up our hearts to truly embrace the authority of our Lord Jesus. We need to build up our interior lives around his authority. We need to be more close to God and continue to prepare ourselves physically and spiritually if we really want to be victorious in this world.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, in a world full of evil and intimidation, we need your authority once again to speak and stand for what is right and just. As we struggle with our daily task, may we be courageous, knowing that the same Jesus who delivered the possessed man can heal our fears, anxieties and worries for his presence sets us free from every evil manipulations, he who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. Remember, the power to overcome resides in you. Do have a blessed day.

Saturday of The 3rd Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 30th January, 2021.

 Saturday of The 3rd Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 30th January, 2021.

Readings: Heb. 11:1-2.8-19, Ps.Luke 1:69-75, Mark 4:35-41

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WHY ARE YOU AFRAID? HAVE FAITH IN JESUS AND THE HEAVY STORMS IN YOUR LIFE WILL BECOME CALM 

In this scriptures, we often hear stories of how people struggles with heavy storms as they assailed through the sea. Today our fisherman and the Marine men who are into sea business can tell us better what it means to be on the sea with heavy storms. A situation where the need to look for a Saviour is highly expected. Such was the case with the disciples of Jesus in our Gospel passage today. It is a story about the disciples' panic and fear of perishing as a result of the heavy storm that is effecting their boat. 

As this heavy storm is about breaking their boat, the disciples cannot believe that Jesus was asleep while they were afraid and needed help from anywhere. So they went to him and woke him saying, ‘Teacher, do you not care if we perish? And Jesus said: “Peace! Be still!!” And the Storm ceased and there was a great calm. And he said to them, ‘Why are you afraid, how is it that you have no faith. The men were astounded and said, ‘What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the sea obey him.’

This story signifies God's chosen people on a transit of faith, frightened by the guilt of sin and wounded by the waves of the sea, the abode of evil forces and monsters of this world. The boat can be taken as a symbol of the faith of the Church and the people of God struggling with the world’s principalities and powers, while the storms are symbols of heavy persecutions and sufferings by the people of God. And Jesus is saying: why are you so afraid, you men of little faith. Little wonder we are told in our first reading that only faith can guarantee the blessings that we hope for, or prove the existence of the realities that at present remain unseen. For it was by faith that Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac in obedience to God.

Dear friends, there is no doubt that there is an active presence of evil in the world which manifest itself in different forms. So everyday is a struggle against the malice of the evil ones, and people are doing everything they can to overcome them. Today Jesus is inviting us into his boat of life, thereby calling us to journey on this boat with an unwavering faith and a repented heart, because the world is being tossed around by the waves of the evil forces, the enemies of humanity. And it is only God who can subdue it, for he has promised to restore us back to himself. 

Therefore, I don't know the great storms of doubt and fear in your soul? I don’t know if you are under the power of the evil forces of this world. All I know is that with great faith in God, the heavy storms in our lives will become calm, for Jesus will surely rebuke the violent storms in our hearts so that we can experience once again the calmness of his peace and joy.

LET US PRAY: Lord God. As we struggle everyday to overcome the ugly situation around us, grant that the violent storms and waves of bondage in our lives, our families and the world, will end in a wonderful calm that brings peace in our souls. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you a fruitful and joyful weekend.

Friday of The 3rd Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 29th January, 2021.

 Friday of The 3rd Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 29th January, 2021.

Readings: Heb. 10: 32-39, Ps.37, Mark 4:26-34

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

LET OUR KNOWLEDGE OF GOD’S KINGDOM GROW LIKE THE GRAIN OF MUSTARD SEED

In the scriptures, using a simple story to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson has always been one of the characteristics of Jesus when addressing the people regarding things that are very important. By couching his teaching in parables, Jesus made certain points much clearer to his audience. This is evident in our Gospel passage today where he told us the parable of the mustard seed, using it to describe the nature of God’s kingdom which he came to establish in the hearts of humanity. 

Here, Jesus compares the Kingdom of God to a mustard seed growing from the Word of God spoken to the hearts of his few disciples which will grow and spread to the hearts of all humanity. This analogy focuses on the size of the seed that grows to become a might tree that gives shelter and salvation to all.

More so, Jesus is not just speaking of the size of the mustard seed, but also the faith of the people as that of a mustard seed. Telling us that just as the mustard seed responded to the word of God and grows into a might tree, so will the faith of the people grow into great vessel through hearing and doing the word of God and so build up the kingdom of God. 

Nevertheless, these two analogies of the mustard seed symbolize the humble beginnings of the Christian faith which is well watered by the Holy Spirit to grow and give life and hospitality to all the people of the world. Hence, in building the kingdom of God, we are reminded in our first reading that we will need endurance to do God’s will and gain what he has promised. For we should not be the sort of people who draw back, and are lost by it; rather, we should be the sort of people who keep faithful until our souls are saved in our heavenly kingdom. 

Dear friends, we need to let our knowledge of God’s kingdom grow like that of mustard seed, knowing that in the world today we have different kinds of seeds. But the question remains, what kind of seeds are we embracing and watering in our lives today? Are we watering valuable mustard seeds of faith, love, holiness, hospitality, obedience, charity that will lead us to God’s kingdom? Or are we watering weeds that are distracting us from attaining heaven. We  must stop watering such weeds, rather let us feed ourselves with valuable mustard seeds. For when we feed and water such values, we will grow stronger like the mustard tree where people may find solace and so build up God’s kingdom.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, as you sow the seeds of your word in our hearts, give us the grace to grow it into the mustard tree of faith, holiness and hospitality and by so doing build up your heavenly kingdom, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful day.

Thursday of The 3rd Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 28th January, 2021. The Memorial of St. Thomas Aquinas

 Thursday of The 3rd Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 28th January, 2021.

The Memorial of St. Thomas Aquinas

Readings: Heb. 10: 19-25, Ps.24, Mark 4:21-25

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

HE WHO HAS EARS LET HIM HEAR

The ears as we know are organs of hearing which consist of the pinna. It is a gift from God through which we have the faculty of being able to perceive sounds and recognize something in an auditory way. To exercise the faculty of this organ effectively we must learn to use it to listen attentively to information. The world no doubt is full of noise, echoing different things in our minds through our ears.

But what are we feeding our ears with? How are we use these organs? How has this organ helped us in our spiritual life despite this noisy world? How have we managed the noise in our lives, in families and society which distract us from listening to God? What are the things we hear or listen to? The Word of God we hear everyday how has it develop our relationship with God and our neighbour? 

Therefore, when Jesus said in our Gospel reading today, “he who has ears let him hear”, he is referring to our ability to listen to God's Word and act on it even in the midst of this noisy world. Thus, what Jesus means is that the person who seeks to gain some spiritual insight into what he is saying will have that insight increased when they listen, whereas whoever does not listen to him will end up in spiritual ignorance. To avoid this, we are reminded in our first  reading that through the blood of Jesus we have the right to enter the sanctuary, by a new way which he has opened for us which stirs a response in love and good works when we listen to Jesus.

Dear friends, by listening, hearing and following Jesus, we grow in familiarity with his voice and hears him more. And by so doing we make Jesus the light of our lives placed on the lampstand to give light and insight to our souls as individuals, family and society, illuminating all the darkness around us. And this is evident in the life of St. Thomas Aquinas whose memorial we celebrate today. For he was the famous theologian, who understands what it means to listen and do the will of God. He is remembered for his great work, the Summa Theologiae and  many other contributions, writings and works which still influenced and inspired so many people. Thereby showing us the important of listening and paying heed to what we hear.

 LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, our ears are gift from you, help us to use them properly. And as we carry out our activities today, may our ears hear the consoling words of Jesus guiding and directing us towards the light of his presence. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Remain blessed.

Wednesday of The 3rd Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 27th January, 2021.

 Wednesday of The 3rd Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 27th January, 2021.

Readings: Heb. 10:11-18, Ps.110, Mark 4:1-20

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

HAVING A RIGHT DISPOSITION TOWARDS THE WORD OF GOD

A good disposition and positive response towards whatever we do in life has a way of building up our confidence and interior life, and this of course, leads us to great success. Little wonder in our Gospel passage today, Jesus uses the parable of the sower to describe different kinds of response to God's Word. He  explained the parable by pointing out our different disposition towards the Word of God in relation to our interior life. This will help us to know whether our soul is like dry rocky ground or do we regularly seek to nourish our soul and prepare it to receive the holy Word of God. So we are called to create a fertile disposition within our heart in order to do the will of God. 

In the scriptures, there are many who hear the words of Jesus and do not understand it because of poor disposition, for instance the religious leaders who are against his teachings, the crowds that responded positively to Jesus, especially to his miracles of healing, yet turned against him at the end and demand his crucifixion. Some disciples such as Judas might also be included among those who fall away when trouble or persecution came on account of the Word. While the rich young man who was unable to part with his possessions, provides a clear example of one who hears the word, but the love for the passing things of this world and the lure of wealth choked the word, and it yielded nothing. 

But what about the good soil? These are those who hear the Word, understands it and internalize it. They indeed bear fruit and yield an abundant harvest. Our mother Mary and the disciples excluding Judas are good example of such people. Therefore, the different kinds of ground on which the seed falls represent different ways by which we  receive the Word of God. 

Dear friends, our hearts are the fields in which the Word of God is scattered. But, to which do our hearts belong? the path way, the rocky ground, the thorns or the good soil? Whichever one, we are called to have right disposition and positive response to the Word of God. We are to pay attention and take some time to appreciate God’s Word in our lives by allowing it to bear solid root in us so that we can bear great fruits . 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, oftentimes our disposition and response towards your Words is so poor. As we listen to your Words today, give us grace to remain open to receiving your Words, so as to bear fruit abundantly. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Do have a favourable day.

The Memorial of SS Timothy and Titus. (Today is My Birthday, Do Pray for Me)

Tuesday of The 3rd Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 26th January, 2021.

The Memorial of SS Timothy and Titus. (Today is My Birthday, Do Pray for Me)

Readings: 2Tim 1:1-8, Ps. 96, Mark 3:31-35

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

DOING THE WILL OF GOD IS THE ONLY WAY TO BELONG TO THE TRUE FAMILY OF JESUS

The feeling for the sense of belonging is fundamental to human happiness and well-being, for it gives value to our life and helps us in coping with some painful emotions. Hence, we often want to belong with one another, to our friends and families, to our culture or from one association to another. However, one of the common and safest place to belong is our families, especially when it is rooted in the love of God and neighbour. 

So, today in our Gospel passage, Jesus speaks about belonging to his family and his relationship with members of his family when he said: ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven, he is my brother and sister and mother.’ From the Gospel, Jesus speaks of two ways the people around him could be identified as members of his family. Firstly he talks about those who belong to the family of his birth that is, his mother, father and relations. Then his other family which is made up of those who do the will of God.

 This family he says, is his true family where doing the will of God is the only way of belonging to this family. This is not to say that Jesus is rejecting his family; to do so would be contradicting his own teaching about loving ones parents and loving ones neighbours. However, Jesus is using this opportunity to emphasize that relationship with God is more important and this should depends on our total commitment to doing the will of God through him. Surprisingly, Mary the mother of Jesus belongs to both sides of the family, for she gave birth to Jesus and also the first to do the will of God when she  said, “let it be done unto me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). For this reason she is the first disciple of Jesus and a model for all Christians.

Thus, to be a Christian or a disciple is to enter into the family of Jesus and embrace a new relationship with God and with one another for this is the most important place to belong. All other bonds, including those of blood should be considered secondary. Because, belonging to God is fundamental to our basic relationships, prior to all human relations. Since we belong first to God before belonging to our families, after which we all go back to God where we ultimately belongs, which is determined by how we have been doing God’s will here on earth.

Dear friends, where do we ultimately and truly belong? As Christians, we claimed to belong to God, do our attitudes and decisions show that we truly belong to God? Do we not often commit ourselves to things contrary to the faith we professed in God? Today we celebrate the memorial of SS Timothy and Titus, servants who truly understood what it means to belong to the true family of Jesus. For they were both close collaborators of St. Paul who entrusted to them the care of the flock of the faithful, of which they are regarded among the first Bishops of the Church. They were great servants of God with great commitment and dedication to doing the will of the Lord and suffer martyrdom for their faith. 

Thus, SS Timothy and Titus contributed greatly to the growth of the early Church and became good examples to their fellow Christians. Hence, admonishing them, St Paul in our first reading today, tells us to fan into a flame the gift that God gave us when hands were laid on us.  For God’s gift was not a spirit of timidity, but the Spirit of power, and love, and self-control. So we should never be ashamed of witnessing to the Lord, but we should bear the hardships for the sake of the Good News, while relying on the power of God who has saved us and called us to be holy in doing his will.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, today we are called to do your will always in order to truly belong to that true family of Jesus where love of you and of our neighbour unites us together. Grant that through the intercessions of SS Timothy and Titus, we may learn to do your will and be a good collaborators with others in the mission and vocation entrusted to us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Do have a blessed day.

Monday of The 3rd Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 25th January, 2021.The Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul

 Monday of The 3rd Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 25th January, 2021.

The Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul.

Readings: Act: 22:3-16, Ps. 117, Mark 16:15-18

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

AN ENCOUNTER THAT LEADS TO TRUE CONVERSION

There is something deep and unique about every person, sometimes it takes personal experience to discover this uniqueness. This is evident in our first reading today as we celebrate the feast of the conversion of St. Paul, an event that prompt me to reflect on my personal experience of God. I am confident enough to tell you that everyday 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 realize 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 that made him realize the emptiness of his life and how wrong he was, fighting against God’s people. For 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 encounter 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.

Dear friends, as we celebrate the feast of 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 with God. How have we personally experienced God? When was your spiritual turning point? Do we have a personal conviction about God that does not based on what people told us of him?  Remember that by the virtue of our baptism we are called to share in the same ministry and calling that St. Paul himself had received from the Lord. So, in case you have not personally experience the Lord, all you need to do is to sincerely seek God in those common events in your life and you will realize how much God is willing to reveal himself to you. 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we really need to have a personal encounter of 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. Do have a blessed and favourable week.

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B, 24th January, 2021

 Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B, 24th January, 2021

The Sunday of the Enthronement of the Word of God.

Readings: Jonah: 3:1-5.10, Ps. 24, 1Cor.7:29- 31, Mark 1:14-20

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WHAT IS OUR RESPONSE TOWARDS THE WORD OF GOD WE HEAR EVERYDAY

Today is the third Sunday in Ordinary Time year A, the Sunday we are called to celebrate the Word of God. This is very important and significant since our Holy Father Pope Francis in his Apostolic Letter Aperuit Illis on 30th September, 2019, declared and instituted “A Sunday for the Word of God”, which is to be celebrated every third Sunday in Ordinary Time of the Church’s Liturgical Year. 

The purpose of this declaration is to remind all Christ faithful that the Word of God as contained in the Scriptures are very vital and integral in the development of our faith in God. The Word of God in this case does not just refer to the Scriptures as we know it, but is also refers to Christ himself as our Lord and Saviour, the Divine Word made Incarnate.

Hence our readings today, emphasis on the important and significant of the Word of God the lives of his people. In the first reading, we heard how Jonah was compelled by God to preach his Word to the people of Nineveh. For the scriptures says: that the word of the Lord was addressed to Jonah: ‘Up!’ he said ‘Go to Nineveh, the great city, and preach to them as I told you to.’ Jonah set out and went to Nineveh in obedience to the word of the Lord. He went on into the city, making a day’s journey as he preached saying, ‘Only forty days more and Nineveh is going to be destroyed.’ And the people of Nineveh believed in God; they proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least and repented from their sins.

In a similar way, in our Gospel passage we heard how our Lord Jesus went into Galilee. There he proclaimed the Good News from God saying: ‘The time has come and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and believe the Good News. Then, he called the first four of his apostles who were fisherman and they left everything and followed him and he made them fishers of men as they committed themselves to living and preaching  the Word of God.

Here, we see how God has chosen Galilee of the gentiles, to be the place where his Word will be proclaimed so that they will repent and believe in the Good News and by so doing conquer the darkness of sin around them.  For the Word of God conquers evil and sin. It brings order over chaos, security over danger, joy over sorrow, truth over falsehood, life over death and salvation over condemnation. Yes, Jesus begins his ministry in Galilee, his mission will be extended to the whole world. Hence he called his disciples who will be instruments to extend his mission to the whole world. 

Thus, Jesus calling these fisherman to follow him offers them the opportunity to observe him closely on a daily bases. And by doing so, they will learn more from him. In order to become familiar with his ways of doing things. They will unconsciously copy his manner of speaking, his gestures, his dealings with people. They will see how he solves problems and counters opposition. So that gradually, they will become like Jesus in thoughts, words and deeds. 

This tells us about the sacrificial nature of discipleship which the people of Corinth failed to understand as we read in our second reading. Thus, we heard St. Paul telling them that our time in this passing world is growing short. That those who have wives should live as though they had none, and those who mourn should live as though they had nothing to mourn for; those who are enjoying life should live as though there were nothing to laugh about; those whose life is buying things should live as though they had nothing of their own; and those who have to deal with the world should not become engrossed in it. Because the world as we know it is passing away. 

Dear friends, the question we need to ask ourselves are: what is our response towards the Word of God we hear everyday? How much of this Word dwells in us? What is my relationship with Jesus the Living Word of God made flesh and dwells among us? So, the emphasis on the Word of God today is very important to all of us the faithful people of God who have been called to follow the Lord. 

Therefore, if we are to follow Christ faithfully, we must cultivate the habit of studying the scriptures because the Word of God is our daily sustenance and the source of our strength and faith. Hence, we are called to make the Word of God the guiding principle in our lives. For in the scriptures we find the strength and courage to promote good over evil, order over chaos, security over danger, joy over sorrow, truth over falsehood, life over death and salvation over condemnation.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we enthroned your Word in our lives, our families and in your Church today, grant we pray, that through the power of the Holy Spirit, we may come to discover the power and the efficacy of the scriptures in our lives as individuals, families and community of God’s people. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed and lovely Sunday.

Saturday of The 2nd Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 23rd January, 2021

 Saturday of The 2nd Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 23rd January, 2021

Readings: Heb.9:2-3.11-14, Ps.46 , Mark 3:20-21

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

THE SACRIFICE OF JESUS ON THE CROSS IS THE SEAL OF THE NEW COVENANT

From the beginning of creation God has always been making covenant with humanity and this covenants are made in different ways and in different occasions. In the old testament, this covenants were often made and sealed with the blood of animals. However, this has to change by the very act of the incarnation of Christ the Lord. Who in accordance with the plan of God to redeem humanity has sacrificed his blood completely for the salvation of all. Thereby doing away with the old covenants sealed with blood of animals.

Little wonder, in our first reading today we are reminded of the redemptive work of our Lord Jesus Christ on the Cross. Where as a high Priest, he has offered himself as a worthy sacrifice for our sake and for the forgiveness of our sins. This he did in order to deliver us from death and led us into a new hope and a new life of love and obedient to God. By this redemptive work, Christ has become our high Priest who has taken away the sins of humanity. This he accomplished by pouring out his most precious blood on the cross. His blood which is far more precious than the blood of any animal has replaced the old covenantal seals and has become the new covenantal seal by this singular act of love on the cross.

Dear friends, in Christ Jesus, God has accomplished his redemptive work, for there is no need for any other sacrifices. What is needed is for us to identify ourselves with this covenantal sacrifice through our active participation in the celebration of the Holy Eucharist during the Holy Mass. For during the Holy Mass, the very same Sacrifice of our Lord at Calvary is enacted by Christ himself through his priest of which he has entrusted to his Church and his priests, the power and authority to constantly make present to the people this covenantal sacrifice. Therefore, we are called to embrace this sacrificial love of Christ and turn away from our ugly and sinful ways of life in order to embrace this love and mercy with a new heart and be ever more grateful to God for such an act of kindness and compassion. 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, we thank you for such great act of love which you have shown to us through Christ your Son who is our eternal high Priest. Grant that we may be ever more faithful in following and doing your will, who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. Do have a blessed and favourable weekend.

Friday of The 2nd Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 22nd January, 2021.

Friday of The 2nd Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 22nd January, 2021.

Readings: Heb.8:6-13. Ps.84 , Mark 3:13-19

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WE ARE CALLED AND CHOSEN IN ORDER TO BEAR WITNESS OF OUR SALVATION IN CHRIST JESUS

As Jesus continues his work of evangelization and mission towards the salvation of humanity, he needed to have people who will be entrusted with this mission. Thus, in our Gospel passage today, Jesus chose twelve apostles out of his disciples. He called and separated them from the crowd so that they will be with him. And he gave them power to preach the gospel, to heal the sick, and to cast out devils. 

Here Jesus clarifies the extreme nature of his mission which he will entrust to his apostles, so that those who would follow him must first count the cost, because they will definitely share in his sufferings in order to share in his glory. Thus, Jesus who has earlier given the disciples explicit instructions about his mission makes know to the apostles their specific mission. 

Consequently, each one of us like the apostles are called by name into a deep personal and intimate relationship with Jesus in order to be sent to bear witness of him in the world. Absolute commitment is a necessary quality for this mission. Because, Jesus did not choose people because of what they were. Rather, he chose them for what they could become under his direction and power. Thus, we heard in our first reading that Christ has been given a ministry of a far higher order, and to the same degree it is a better covenant of which he is the mediator, founded on better promises. So, he will make a new covenant with us. And will put his laws in minds and write it in our hearts. Then he will be our and  we shall be his people.

Dear friends, how are we responding to God's call? How best are we carrying out this mission of preaching the Gospel, healing the sick and casting out devil? How are we relating with those we judge to be sinners? What efforts are we making to convert them. Remember, as followers of Christ we are called to journey with Jesus in love and compassion towards other people even in the midst of sufferings, rejection and persecution.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, you called and chose us to be with you in order to bear witness of our salvation to humanity, help us to have the missionary zeal that will enable us to live with integrity, purity and detachment from the thing of this passing world. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a favourable day.

Thursday of The 2nd Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 21st January, 2021.

 Thursday of The 2nd Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 21st January, 2021.

Readings: Heb. 7:25-8:6, Ps.39 , Mark 3:7-12

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

DO NOT BE CRUSHED OR CONSUMED BY THE CROWD

There is no doubt in my mind that the work of evangelization can be so demanding and can weigh us down if we do not create time to draw strength from the Lord. This is so, because, a lot of people are in need of God’s loving care, healings and direction especially in the midst of the ugly situation in our world today. Thus, in our Gospel passage today, St. Mark gave us a summary of the activity of Jesus and how he was able to manage the pressure from the crowd who came from Galilee, Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea and even from the pagan region of Tyre and Sidon as they were almost about to crush him and his disciples.

  

So, as Jesus heals the people and performed great works, most people wish to see him and to touch him. The people are so numerous that Jesus himself was concerned with the danger of being crushed by the multitude. Thus he asked his disciples to have a boat ready for him so that the crowd would not crush him. And from the boat he spoke to them and heal the sick, and set free those possessed especially the excluded and the marginalized who came to him with their ailments. For those who were not accepted in the society of their time were accepted by Jesus. This tells us that Jesus is really concerned about the struggles of humanity and wishes to set us free from the shackles of the devil.

Dear friends, we are told in our first reading that the power of Jesus to save is utterly certain, since he is living for ever to intercede for all who come to God through him. For Jesus wishes to set us free from sickness and the forces and manipulations of the evil ones. And the power of evil which causes great fear in people have been overcome by Jesus, so that we do not need to be afraid of Satan anymore. 

Thus, we should not be afraid to stand firm against the manipulations of the devil, because Jesus will not abandon us in this battle of life. He desires to be with us as we struggle everyday to overcome the forces of evil in our families, society and the world at large. However, as we carryout our mission of evangelization we are called to always be careful about the pressure that comes from the crowd for this can crush and consume us if we do not create time to be with the Lord.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, as we struggle everyday to do your will in the mission entrusted to us. May we never been consumed or crushed by the pressure that comes from the crowd, rather let the power of your presence be felt in our midst, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed day.

Wednesday of The 2nd Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 19th January, 2021.

 Wednesday of The 2nd Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 19th January, 2021.

The Feast of Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi

Readings: Phil 2:1-11, Ps. Is.12:2-6, Matt.13:44-46

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

ACQUIRING THE ULTIMATE TREASURE OF HEAVEN JUST LIKE BLESSED TANSI

 

In our Gospel passage today, Jesus used two parables to describe to the people that the kingdom of God is the greatest and ultimate treasure anyone can and should acquire. Here, he describe the kingdom of God as the ultimate treasure that cannot be compared to anything whatsoever we have in this world. However, the kingdom is open for all, but not all can be suitable to dwell in it, only those who on the judgement day are found suitable can be admitted into the kingdom. Using these parables Jesus explains what the kingdom of heaven is like and what we need to do in order to acquire it. 

Thus, today we celebrate the feast of Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi, a man who understands that the kingdom of heaven is so precious and great, that it is worth more than our entire life and our worldly possessions and treasures. Tansi was born in Aguleri, Anambra State on September,1903, but died in Leicester, England on 20th January, 1964. He was ordained a Roman Catholic priest for the Archdiocese of Onitsha. He was known for love of neighbour, healing and reconciliation of the people with God, with oneself, with one another and with the created reality. 

Tansi dedicated himself not only to daily contemplative prayer but also to active ministry. He evangelized the youth, prepared couples for marriage, visited the sick, was a very good confessor, promoted vocations to priesthood and religious life, and provided for the needs of the poor.  Thus, in the life of Tansi, we see one who discovered the great treasure of heaven, sold everything and acquired it. In Tansi we see how the light of faith sowed in him like the mustard seed grows to give hope to many people. So, the humble beginning of the Christian faith sown in him was well watered by the Holy Spirit to grow and give life and hospitality to people of the world. 

Dear friends, in the world we have different kinds of treasures and seeds. But the question is, what kind of treasure are we searching? This treasure, what type of  it’s seeds are we watering in our lives today? Are we watering valuable seeds or weeds? Are we watering weeds that we do not need such as: weeds of fear, regrets, doubt, jealousy, hatred, disrespect, greediness, lying, gossip, impurity, wickedness, sin etc. 

Today we are called to quit watering these weeds because that's what the enemies wants and we must not fall into their traps. Rather, like Tansi, we are called to water those treasure born by the valuable seeds of faith, love, holiness, hospitality, obedience, reconciliation, charity and make them our values of life. For when we feed and water our values, we will grow stronger like the mustard tree full of treasures where people may find solace. 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, the world is full of distractions from false treasures, through the intercession of Blessed Tansi, give us grace to discover the treasures of your kingdom and nurture the treasures of faith, holiness and hospitality implemented in us during our baptism in order to give up all our attachment to worldly possessions in pursue of the heavenly and ultimate treasure of your kingdom. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Peace be with you.

Tuesday of The 2nd Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 19th January, 2021

 Tuesday of The 2nd Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 19th January, 2021

Readings: Heb. 6:10-20, Ps. 110, Mark 2:23-28

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

INTERPRETATION  AND APPLICATION OF LAWS MUST BE FOR THE WELL BEING OF THE PEOPLE

There is no doubt that human life is guided by laws and principles, for in there absence we cannot survive or enjoy peace and harmony in our society. But it is so sad to say that we have lost the essence and spirit that governs the making of law, it’s interpretation and application. Little wonder Jesus in our Gospel passage today teaches us about the essence of making laws. 

This is clear from the response of Jesus when the Pharisees criticized the attitude of his disciples who on the Sabbath were seen plucking ears of corn to eat because they were very hungry. This is so because the Pharisees emphasized on strict keeping of the law of Sabbath while neglecting the spirit of the law which has to do with God’s love  and mercy.

Thus, for the Pharisees this would be a transgression of the law of the Sabbath which prohibits one form doing any work. Jesus responded by quoting the scriptures to indicate that their arguments have no bases. He recalls that David himself did something which was prohibited, because he took the sacred bread of the temple and gave it to the soldiers to eat because they were hungry. Jesus ends his response with two important phrases: first, the Sabbath is made for man and not man for the Sabbath. Secondly,  the Son of Man is the Lord of the Sabbath. 

The truth is that, Sabbath was meant to be a day of rest when people would be free to think of God, to give thanks for God’s gifts, and to take care of their health and well-being. But some religious authorities gradually encroached on the Sabbath with so many regulations that it is no longer serving its true purpose. 

Dear friends, Law exists for the good of the people, but often times we find ourselves seeking more recognition by exercising too much control over other people’s lives under the disguise of laws. This should not be the case, rather, we should always consider the essence and purpose of making laws, bearing in mind that human needs which supersedes all other human interest should be the guiding principle of any law both social and religious. 

In fact, the ritual demands of the Sabbath encourages mercy, forgiveness and compassion which are at the heart of any true religion. Therefore, as we make laws and implement them, let these principles be our guide. For in our first reading we have told that God would not be so unjust as to forget all we have done, the love that we have for his name or the services we have done, and are still doing, for the saints. 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, you often show the light of your truth to those who go astray, grant that we may always embrace your laws, interpret them properly and apply them with mercy and compassion. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed day

Monday of The 2nd Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 18th January, 2021

Monday of The 2nd Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 18th January, 2021

Readings: Heb.5:1-10, Ps. 109, Mark 2:18-22

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

LET GO OF THE OLD LIFE OF SIN IN ORDER TO PUT ON A NEW LIFE OF GRACE

The chorus of one of our great communion hymn titled New Life says: 

New Life! New Life, You came to bring us new life, 

New life, New life, we find such Joy in your abundant Life.

This hymn calls our attention to the gift of New Life which Jesus is offering to humanity. A gift that differentiate his disciples from other people. This is evident in our Gospel passage today, where we read about the observation made by the disciples of Jesus the Baptist concerning the relationship between Jesus and his disciples and their new ways of doing things. So they came to Jesus and asked him question regarding their manner of fasting and feasting. Jesus used this opportunity to educate them about the New Life of grace which he has come to offer humanity. 

He said to them: Surely the bridegroom’s attendants would never think of mourning as long as the bridegroom is still with them? But the time will come for the bridegroom to be taken away from them, and then they will fast. For no one puts a piece of unshrunken cloth on to an old cloak, because the patch pulls away from the cloak and the tear gets worse. Nor do people put new wine into old wineskins; if they do, the skins burst, the wine runs out, and the skins are lost. No; they put new wine into fresh skins and both are preserved. 

Here Jesus gave two responses to the question. First, people do not fast when they are in the company of the bridegroom which is a time for celebration. For Jesus is the groom and as long as he is around, it would be inappropriate for his disciples to fast. However, a time will come when the groom will no longer be with them, then they will surely fast, telling us that fasting should be done at the right time for the right reasons. Moreover, being in relationship with Jesus is more important, because, what the bridegroom is to the bride, that what Jesus is to the souls of all who believe in him. 

Thus, our first reading presents to us the personality of Jesus the bridegroom, who though was Son, he learnt to obey through suffering; but having been made perfect, he became for all who obey him the source of eternal salvation and was acclaimed by God with the title of high priest of the order of Melchizedek, thereby offering us the new garment and a new life of grace, mercy and compassion towards the people. 

So, as his bride, he loves us with a deep and everlasting love. He pays all our debts to God; he supplies all our daily needs; he sympathizes with us in all our troubles; he bears with all our infirmities, and does not reject us because of our weaknesses. He regards us as part of himself:  We share in the glory that he has received from his Father. These are the privileges of all true Christians who are called to the heavenly kingdom. So Jesus is teaching us that the Kingdom of Heaven is not a matter of ritual or ceremonious fasting or feasting. But is about building a personal relationship with God who loves us personally and unconditionally.

In the second response, Jesus shows that he is bringing something totally new which should not be mixed with the old way of life. This he emphasized with the importance of pouring new wine into fresh wineskins and the need to avoid using new cloak to patch an old one. Here the fresh wineskins refers to a new heart that has put off the old cloak of sin and looks forward to the new wine of grace through the process of conversion. 

Dear friends, what is that old garment in our lives that we are patching with the new? What is that old wine of habitual sin that we are pouring into the new wine skins of our redeemed and purified soul? today we are called to a fresh response towards embracing the New Life of grace which Jesus is offering us. As we think about these, let us struggle to avoid our old sinful ways of life and fully embrace the new righteous way of life that Jesus is offering us.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, You are the source of our new life, for in your light we see light. Grant us the grace of true and total conversion so as to find such great Joy in your abundant Life of grace and mercy, through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed and favourable week.

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B, 17th January, 2021

 Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B, 17th January, 2021

Readings: 1 Sam 3:3-10.19, Ps. 40, 1Cor. 6:13-15.17-20, John 1:35-42

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

BEHOLD THE LAMB OF GOD: A CALL TO ENCOUNTER AND FOLLOW THE LORD

Today is the second Sunday in Ordinary Time of the Liturgical year B, which begins immediately after we celebrated the Baptism of the Lord last Sunday. The beauty of this season lies in the fact that it invites us to live our ordinary life as a journey of holiness, faith and friendship with Jesus in order to continually discover our vocation and mission which is rooted in Christ’s own mission. Hence, our readings today present to us a call to encounter and follow the Lord, which points out the mission of the Church in proclaiming the word of God and our part in this mission. 

Thus, we heard in our first reading how God called Samuel and he was able to respond through the guidance of Eli. His call was to be a prophet, for he was to play a very important role in the history of the chosen people of God. In this mission, God initiate the call but the response is to be made by us freely without cohesion. And in our Gospel passage we heard how God has called us through John the Baptist, to follow Christ, the Lamb of God and Saviour of the world. This is clear when John the Baptist in our Gospel, saw Jesus passing by and declared: this is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. 

Here he is pointing out the essence of Jesus’ mission, telling us about the great Servant of God, whose mission was to bring sinners back to God. Considering this great task of Jesus, John introduced him as the Lamb of God and not the Lion of God and also described the Holy Spirit as a dove, not a hawk which is more powerful. why? Because, the Lamb is the most gentle, harmless and loving creature of God while the dove is a gentle bird, a symbol of peace and goodwill.  So this images tell us about the person of Jesus and the approach by which he will carry out his mission. Consequently, Jesus, the gentle Lamb of God, gently died for our sins, so that we could live in joy and freedom of God’s children, teaching us to do the same in our relationship with one another.

 

Thus, how to effectively carryout this vocation and mission is what St. Paul spoke about in our second reading as he addressed the Church and the faithful in Corinth and indeed to all of us Christians, who have been called to follow Christ and have been sanctified and blessed to be God’s chosen people, who are reunited and brought together from the world to bear the fruit of love and holiness of life. Thus, he reminded us that our body is not meant for fornication: it is for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.  For God who raised the Lord from the dead, will by his power raise us up too. Hence, we must keep away from fornication. Because, all the other sins are committed outside the body; but to fornicate is to sin against our own body. And our body, he said, is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in us to help us in our vocation and mission.

  

Dear friends, today there are so many things that are distracting us from our mission and vocation, and are leading us into sin and we are so much attached to them because the world has sexualized almost everything around us. The television, the internet, the music, movies, cartoons, even our social and religious activities are corrupted by this sexualization motives which drive and tempt us to commit the sins of adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism and masturbation. Because we have lost the control of our responsibility towards our sexuality, which of course is the cause of the increase in rape, incest, divorce and all forms of gander transformation going on in our society today. The main point here is for us not to indulge in sins that will ruin our soul.

Therefore, as the year unfolds, we are all challenged to live a holy life as the Lord has taught us. And as  we carryout our mission, we are called to follow the way of the Lamb. That is, we are to be the most gentle, harmless and loving children of God, we must be a symbol of peace, compassion and goodwill. We are not to force people to believe in God by the use of intimidation or force, and neither should we use any forms of tricks or false persuasions. Rather, we should be more selfless and forgiving in our interactions with one another, putting aside our pride, ego and selfish desires, knowing that the grace of God is always sufficient for us.

LET US PRAY: Lord God,  as we struggle everyday to do your will and respond positively in the mission and vocation entrusted to us, give us the grace to be responsible with our sexuality, especially in this time when the world as lost the true meaning and value of human sexuality, and as a result so many lives and families are being destroyed. Help us we pray to find joy, courage and solace in your saving grace as you guide us through the year. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed Sunday celebration.

Saturday of The First Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 16th January, 2021

 Saturday of The First Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 16th January, 2021

Readings: Heb.4:15-16, Ps. 18, Mark 2:13-17

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

THE CALL OF LEVI, A SIGN OF HOPE FOR All SINNERS

The mission of Jesus is often misunderstood by people who feel that they should be the one to dictate to God what to do. But Jesus will always surprise them and use them to set good example for the rest of us. This is evident in our Gospel passage today, which presents to us the call of Levi who was a tax collector, a presumably public sinner. As Jesus passed by, he said to Levi, “Follow Me.” This is a present tense command which is a call for Levi to leave his old way of life behind and to begin a new life of following him. 

But why would Jesus have any interest for a man like this? There is only one word that can answer this question, that is, grace. In spite of his ugly occupation; his ugly lifestyle; his failures; and his sins; Jesus loved Levi and he called him to a new life.  The fact remains that, Jesus never condemned anyone nor does he judge people by their past behaviour. He is only interested in what they can be now and in the future. There and then, Levi drops everything and goes after Jesus just the same way Peter and Andrew, James and John had also done. 

Later, when Jesus is dining at Levi’s house, several known sinners and tax collectors were at table with him and his disciples. This  was a real scandal for the scribes and Pharisees. For them, if Jesus really was a Rabbi he would have had nothing to do with such people. But Jesus replied: It is not the healthy who need a doctor but the sick. I did not come to call the virtuous but sinners. Hence, Jesus' whole mission is the salvation of souls and redemption of people to wholeness. And the best way to achieve this is by having a direct contact with them. But we are often not present where people are most in need of hearing God’s message. Sometimes, we tend to side with the Pharisees and feel we should keep away from sinful and ‘immoral’ people. 

Dear friends, we need to learn that the Gospel message can most effectively be communicated to those who have lost touch with God and the meaning of life by reaching out to them. We should not be afraid to reach out to people, especially those who have been capture by the things of this sinful world. For we heard in our first reading today that, the word of God is something alive and active: it cuts like any double-edged sword but more finely: it can slip through the place where the soul is divided from the spirit, or joints from the marrow; it can judge the secret emotions and thoughts of everyone.

Hence, Jesus calling Levi to follow him shows that with God there is great mercy to pardon the greatest sinners. There is grace to change the greatest sinners, and make them holy.  And this is a great sign of hope for anyone who thinks that God has abandoned him or her because of sin or past ugly ways of life. God is not interested in our past ugly and sinful ways of life. Rather he is interested in what he can make out of us now and in the future.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, your love and compassion for humanity is so great, even in our sinful and ugly ways of life, you never abandoned us. So Lord, when sin separate us from you, may your grace and providence bring us back. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful weekend.

Friday of The First Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 15th January, 2021

 Friday of The First Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 15th January, 2021

Readings: Heb.4:1-5.11, Ps. 78, Mark 2:1-12

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

IN JESUS RESIDES THE POWER AND AUTHORITY TO FORGIVE, HEAL AND RESTORE HUMANITY

The sin and evil going on in the world are putting our faith to the test and most people are giving in to this scheme because they lack the strong will to withstand the suffering, sickness and problems that befall us as a result of this evil. People are running ups and down seeking for solutions. while the evil ones are taking advantage of the ugly situation to destroy the faith of the people. In fact, one may begin to wonder if there is still hope for the restoration of humanity from this ugly situation. But the fact remains that God is able and willing to heal and restore humanity once again.

This is evident in our Gospel passage today, when some people brought to him a paralytic stretched out on a bed. And seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, ‘Courage, my child, your sins are forgiven.’ But some scribes doubted his authority to forgive sins, and Jesus knowing what was in their minds said: ‘Why do you have such wicked thoughts in your hearts? Now, which of these is easier to say, “Your sins are forgiven,” or to say, “Get up and walk”? But to prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,’ he said to the paralytic, ‘get up, and pick up your bed and go off home.’ And the man got up and went home.

Here we see the power and authority of Jesus towards the restoration of paralytic man carried by his friends. A gesture that signifies the restoration of humanity paralyzed by sins and evil. So Jesus will always begin by forgiving our sins, for sin seems to be the root of the sickness. But sin may be pardoned, yet the sickness not be removed; the sickness may be removed, yet the sin not pardoned. But for Jesus, healing is holistic for those who have faith in God. However, this is what the scribes and the Pharisees failed to understand as they doubted and opposed the power and authority of Jesus just like some of us often do. And those who behave like this, the Lord says, that they will never enter his rest as we heard in our first reading today.

Dear friends, today we are called not to be like the scribes who were enslaved by their pride and desire to maintain their prestige in the society. They doubted the power and authority of Jesus and rejected the message of truth. Of which Jesus rebuked them, showing us that truly he has power and authority not just to heal and forgive us but to restore us and all humanity back to our formal glory.

 

Therefore, we are also called to imitate the great faith and love of the friends of the paralytic, the love and faith that radiate from the innermost being of those who exercise it. Let us like them, learn to love and help one another. Because the absence of love is the cause of all the problems in our world today. For most families exist only by grace because of the absence of love. How I wish we can invest our time and resources in ensuring love and goodwill in our dealings with one another, believe me, the world will be a temporal home for everyone.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, we are paralyzed by the sins and evil we are committing against you and the world you created out of pride, greed and selfishness. As we come to you in faith, forgive us our sins, heal and restore us once again. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed day.

Thursday of The First Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 14th January, 2021

 Thursday of The First Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 14th January, 2021

Readings: Heb.3:7-14, Ps. 95, Mark 1:40-45

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

JESUS IN SOLIDARITY WITH HUMAN SUFFERINGS 

There is no doubt that the compassionate love of Jesus in solidarity with human sufferings is evident in the scriptures and even in our daily lives.  Little wonder, we have great events in the scriptures that illustrates the compassionate concern of Jesus in the struggles of humanity and how he wishes to set us free from the shackles of our troubles. 

This is evident in the occasion of our Gospel passage today, where a leper, came up and bowed low in front of Jesus and said to him, if you will, you can make me clean. Feeling sorry for him, Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him and said, ‘Of course I will! Be clean!’ And immediately his leprosy was cured at once. 

Here, the touching of Jesus is very significant since no ordinary person would dare to touch a leper. We can think of the inner healing that must have resulted from the touch of Jesus, that moment of physical contact which the leper had not experienced for a long time due to rejection. Touch is something we all need, but are so often lacking in our relationship with God and one another, and it is even becoming worst with the ugly situation of corona virus and the need for social and physical distancing. But this cannot stop Jesus from reaching out to his children who call on him for healing and restoration. 

Thus, the leper was despised, feared, shunned and rejected in the society, but when he approached Jesus in humility, he becomes the object of divine attention. We too just like the leper, are in need of healing, including the healing that comes from the touch of Jesus, all we need is to approach Jesus in humility and we will become a person of divine attention. 

More so, the story of this leper is a good example of how we sinners can and should appeal to Jesus for cleansing especially from our sins. We should come in faith knowing that God is always willing to cleanse every sinner who comes to Him. So, let us sincerely turn to God once again with all of our hearts and with all of our strength, just like the leper who came to Jesus with faith, knowing that he could heal him and make him better. 

This is what all of us must have as well, a strong and genuine faith in God. If only we would listen to him today; and do not harden our hearts as we heard in our first reading today, who knows, today may be our great opportunity to be restored and what is needed is to put our faith in action and say Lord if you will you can restore me. 

Dear friends, I don’t know what type of leprocious problems you are passing through? Are you weigh down by sin or sickness? Are you feeling helpless and rejected? Or do we know people who are helpless and need some help? Do we feel the need of Jesus’s help in some part of our life? Let us pause for a moment and imagine Jesus looking at us. How does he sees us? What are you saying to him and what is he saying to you? 

Brethren, Jesus in solidarity with human sufferings, wishes to set us free from sickness, troubles, challenges and manipulations from the evil ones. He desires to be with us as we struggle everyday to overcome the challenges in our lives, in our families, society and the world at large. Therefore, we should not be afraid to approach Jesus for healing and restoration, all we need is an active faith like the leper in our Gospel passage today.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, humanity is in deep darkness caused by different forms of leprosies and only you can heal and restore us. For you know our inner most being and the challenges we are facing today, come to our aid we pray and cleanse us from all our physical, emotional, economical and spiritual leprosies, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Peace be with you.

Wednesday of The First Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 13th January, 2021

 Wednesday of The First Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 13th January, 2021

Readings: Heb.2:14-18, Ps. 104, Mark 1:29-39

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

GET UP AND BE ACTIVE AGAIN

As Jesus continued to carryout his mission of preaching he also showed compassion and care for those who are passing through difficulties. This shows the love and mercy of God for humanity. Little wonder in our Gospel passage today, when Jesus returned from preaching in the synagogue to Simon Peter's house, behold Peter's mother-in-law was sick with fever. 

This is not a minor sickness in the ancient world. A fever was not only debilitating for a short while, but was often a symptom of a condition that would lead to death. Thus, our first reading today clearly described how and why Jesus coming down upon us and by taking up our human nature made it possible for him to identified himself with the struggles of humanity as he embraced us with his love, compassion and care. For he came to heal us from our sins and from all the afflictions we encounter.

So, when Jesus simply raised her up and the fever left her, she immediately begins to serve them, something she was unable to do because of her illness.  Thus, she was able to render her service to the first Christian communities. She was healed and restored with new strength so that she may again rise and take up her proper place in the community of God’s people. 

Dear friends, God really cares for our well being, his always ready to help us in our struggles so that we can be well disposed to serve him. Hence, whenever we are sick both physically or spiritually and are cured from this sickness, it is tempting to sit back and accept people’s good wishes and congratulations. These should not be our attitudes, we should rather learn from Peter’s mother-in-law that healing is not just to make us well but to enable us to become active again in rendering serving to God and his community.

LET US PRAY: Almighty God, we are really sick in need of your healing and compassion. As we struggle everyday to serve you and humanity, heal all our illnesses and give us grace to get up and become more active again in order to render more quality services to you and to our communities. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a favourable day.

JESUS TEACHES WITH AUTHORITY AND POWER

 Tuesday of The First Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 12th January, 2021

Readings: HHeb.2:5-12, Ps. 8, Mark 1:21-28

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

JESUS TEACHES WITH AUTHORITY AND POWER

Oftentimes, when people are asked to do something, it is always the case that they will need to back up there activities and message with authority. And when this is lacking, people may not take their activities and message seriously. Thus, in our Gospel passage today we heard people making reference to the authority by which Jesus speaks and carried out his mission. For he spoke and acted with God-given authority.

This is even more evidence with the manner in which he was able to rebuke the man possessed by unclean spirit. These spirits are malicious beings that might be demons or fallen angels who have followed Satan to rebel against God. They might be mighty and powerful, as Satan, but in the end, none of them were able to rise up against God. For God alone is the source of all power and authority. 

So Jesus being the Son of God wants to show us that he has been given all the power and authority over the evil ones. And through him we have been given all authority and power over those spirits. This what we heard in our first reading today telling us that God has given dominion over all things to man, and not to any of the Angels.

Dear friends, it is obvious to everyone that Jesus had authority, his authority does not come from his position in life or from worldly power. Rather, his authority comes from his relationship with God his Father. He listened to his voice and spoke his words. Therefore, if we want to speak with authority, we must learn to spend time with God, listening to his voice and doing his will.

Hence, today we are called to recognize that the presence of Jesus in the world brings about victory over the evil ones. The unclean spirit recognized Jesus as the power of God. His power over demons is a direct defeat of the evil one while the restoration of the possessed man signifies the inauguration of God's kingdom in the world. Now, Jesus has given us the gift of his presence in the person of the Holy Spirit, which God has bestowed on us in our baptism. In this gift resides the power and authority to evangelize the world and to confront evil and overcome it.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, in a world full of evil and intimidation, we need your authority once again to speak and stand for what is right and just. As we struggle with our daily task, may we be courageous, knowing that the same Jesus who delivered the possessed man can heal our fears, anxieties and worries for his presence sets us free from evil manipulations, he who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. Remember, the power to overcome resides in you. Do have a blessed day.

Monday of The First Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 11th January, 2021

 Monday of The First Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 11th January, 2021

Readings: Heb. 1:1-6, Ps. 97, Mark 1:14-20

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WHAT ARE WE LEAVING BEHIND SINCE WE ARE CALLED TO FOLLOW THE LORD

Today marks the beginning of the Season of the Ordinary Time in this current Liturgical year. Today we are reminded of our call and vocation as Christians, which is well illustrated in our Gospel passage today for it gives us the account of the calling of the first Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, the four fishermen, Peter and his brother Andrew, as well as James and John, the sons of Zebedee, whom he called just right after he began his ministry after his baptism at the Jordan. 

Here we heard how Jesus called them, and they responded by leaving everything behind, their boat, their families and profession, in order to follow the Lord. Today we are called like these Apostles to follow Jesus and following Jesus means leaving behind the life we have now and embrace the new life he is offering to us. When we opt to follow Jesus, our life revolves around him. It’s no longer what we feel like doing, but what his word instructs us to do. It also means leaving behind our sinful ways of life and embrace holiness of life.

And this is what our first reading today is emphasizing, telling us that at various times in the past and in various different ways, God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets; but in our own time, the last days, he has spoken to us through his Son, who is the radiant light of his glory and the perfect copy of his nature, sustaining the universe by his powerful command. Thus, he is the one calling us to follow him.  

Dear friends, in this call of following the Lord, what have we left behind? What have we sacrificed? Today we are called to really examine our conscience to know where we are as regards to our vocation as Christians. How have we personally experienced Jesus? When was you spiritual turning point? Do we have a personal conviction about God that does not based on what people told us of him? In case we have not personally experience him, all we need to do is to sincerely seek God in those common events in our life and we will realize how much God is willing to reveal himself to you.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, today we are reminded of our call to follow your Son Jesus, as we respond to this call, may we find inner joy in our soul that will prompt us to spread the Good News of the Gospel with faith and conviction. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you a fruitful week ahead.

Sunday The Feast of The Baptism of The Lord Year B, 10th January, 2021

 Sunday The Feast of The Baptism of The Lord Year B, 10th January, 2021

Readings: Is 55:1-11, Ps. Is. 12:2-6, 1John 5: 1-9, Mark 1:7-11

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

THE BAPTISM OF JESUS, A REMINDER OF OUR IDENTITY AND MISSION

Today we celebrate the feast of the Lord’s baptism an event which marks the end of Christmas season. This feast is not just about the Lord’s baptism, but our own baptism as well and the renewing of its grace in our lives. The celebration of the baptism of Jesus reminds us of our identity and mission as Christ faithful. The feast reminds us of who we are and our commitment to God on the day we were baptized. This feast reminds us that Jesus received baptism not because he needs it, rather, it is to identify himself with his people, who, as a result of John's preaching, are now aware of their sins and of their need for repentance. 

From our readings today, we see how the plan of God for the redemption of humanity was manifested. In our first reading prophet Isaiah invites us to a banquet of the Lord where food and drinks are free and satisfying. A banquet which symbolizes the new covenant God wants to make with humanity, thereby calling us to repentance and faith in God. In the second reading, we heard John stressing on the important of professing our faith in Jesus Christ which is an essential aspect of the rite of Baptism. 

And in the Gospel we heard how the true identity of the chosen servant of God was confirmed at the baptism of Jesus where God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and power and his voice was heard saying: “This is My beloved Son with Whom I am well pleased." This shows God's revelation to mankind especially about the mystery of the Trinity and also to reveal Jesus’ true identity and mission. 

Thus, the Catechism of the Catholic Church CCC 1279 emphasizes that by our  baptism, we become adoptive sons and daughters of God, brothers and sisters of Jesus, members of his Church, heirs of heaven and temples of the Holy Spirit. We become incorporated into the Church, the Body of Christ, and made  sharers in the priesthood of Christ. Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit and the door which gives access to the other Sacraments (CCC 1213).  

Hence, let us come and receive the immortality that flows from baptism through the testimonies of water, Spirit and Blood which bear witness to the love of God for humanity.  For we are told by one ancient author, that, this is the water that is linked to the Spirit, the water that irrigates Paradise, makes the earth fertile, gives growth to plants, and brings forth living creatures. 

In short, this is the water by which a man receives new birth and life, the water in which even Christ was baptized, the water into which the Holy Spirit descended in the form of a dove. And whoever goes down into these waters of rebirth with faith renounces the devil and pledges himself to Christ. He comes up from baptism throws off his servitude and becomes an adopted son of God and a co-heir with Christ, resplendent as the sun and purified.

Therefore, the baptism of Jesus reminds us of our mission that is, to experience the presence of God within us and share it with others, to acknowledge our own dignity as God’s children, to live as children of God in thought, word and action, to lead a holy and transparent Christian life and not to desecrate our bodies with impurity, injustice, intolerance, jealousy or hatred in order to grow daily in intimacy with God and be co-creators in building up of his Kingdom on earth. Hence, every baptism is a moment of decision, a moment of identification with the people of God, a moment of approval, a moment of conviction, a moment of certainties and assurance, a moment of equipment and indeed a moment of personal encounter with the Trinity.

Dear friends, today is a special day for us to remember the graces we have received at baptism in order to renew it. We can recall that  on the day of our baptism,  we were anointed with the Oil of Catechumens, the sign of Christ's gentle strength, to fight against evil. Blessed water was poured over us, an effective sign of interior purification through the gift of the Holy Spirit. We were then anointed with Chrism to show that we were thus consecrated in the image of Jesus. A white cloth was placed on our forehead as a sign of purity. 

Also the candle lighted from the Paschal Candle was given to us as a symbol of the light of Faith which our parents and godparents must have continually safeguarded and nourished with the life-giving grace of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, this is another day for us to renew our baptismal promises, consecrating ourselves to the Holy Trinity and rejecting Satan and all his empty promises, which our world is constantly offering us through all means of media and social communications. 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift and grace of baptism. As we celebrate today’s feast may we rediscover in a new way the beauty of  our baptism and so be filled with the grace and joy of Christ’s presence, who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. God bless you.

HUMBLY EXERCISING YOU ROLE IN THE MISSION OF CHRIST

 Saturday After the Epiphany of the Lord, 9th January, 2021

Readings: 1 John 5:14-21, Ps.149, John 3:22-30

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

HUMBLY EXERCISING YOU ROLE IN THE MISSION OF CHRIST

As Christians, one of the mandate that Jesus gave to us is to proclaim the Good News of our salvation, for in this mandate everyone of us has a special role to play. But the question is how are we playing this role? Today’s Gospel passage presents to us the humility in which John the Baptist plays his role in the mission of Christ.  John knew who he was in the sight of God. He knew his strengths and his weaknesses, he knew that his life was centered on Christ. 

This was not a burden for him, for he clearly understood God’s sovereignty, he understood who Jesus is. He rejoiced in the coming of Jesus and his role in the mission and life of Jesus. He knew he was the announcer of Good News, but not the Good News itself. However, he did not have to make a public show of himself. He was not out to promote his own ministry or reputation. Even though it seems as if he is becoming insignificance when Jesus arrived, he did not feel so. His aim was to identify Jesus to the people which he did with all humility. 

Thus, John shows us what it means to be a true disciple of the Lord. That as disciples, we should not allow pride, ambition, ego and selfish desire to dictate how we live our lives. If not, we will easily be carried away by worldly temptations and lose our way by falling deep into the trap of sin. Rather, we are called to be humble and to be faithful to God at all times. Hence, St. John in our first reading today, tells us to struggle to free ourselves from sin and reject the path of sin, so that we will not end up being trapped more and more in the path of sin, for this may make us end up in eternal damnation if we are not careful.

          

Dear friends, John understands his role in the mission of Christ and shows the essence of humility in exercising it. Do we have any clue of what our role is in the mission of Christ?  In what ways do we exemplify humility in the little task entrusted to us? Let us learn from John the Baptist how to humbly exercise our role in any task or mission entrusted to us. 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, John the Baptist humbly remarked that it was only right that while his Lord and Master increased in importance and prominence, that he should decrease, thereby showing and teaching us what it means to be humble servants and disciples. As we contemplate his life, may we learn to be humble in carrying out the mission and vocation entrusted to us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a peaceful weekend.

LORD, IF YOU WILL, YOU CAN MAKE US CLEAN

 Friday After the Epiphany of the Lord, 8th January, 2021

Readings: 1 John 5:5-13, Ps.147, Luke 5:12-16

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

LORD, IF YOU WILL, YOU CAN MAKE US CLEAN

With the ugly situation in our lives, our families, societies and the world at large, there is no doubt that we all are sick and in need of God’s healing touch. Thus, our Gospel passage today, presents to us the story of a leper who approached Jesus for healing. He made this request with faith and trust in the power of Jesus. He said: “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” Probably, he may had heard stories of Jesus' many healings. So in response, Jesus immediately touched him saying: “I will, be clean.” The man was healed immediately. 

This can be symbolic in relation to what God has done for humanity. For while we were still in the state of sin, corruption and in deep darkness as a result of the evil activities in this world. The Lord has not abandoned us, rather he always reached out to us and touched us by his generous love and often healed us from our sins, which had separated us from God just as the leper had been separated and cast out from the society.

Here also, the touching of Jesus is very significant. No ordinary person would dare to touch a leper. Think of the inner healing that must have resulted from the touch of Jesus, that moment of physical contact. Touch is something we all need but are so often lacking in our relationship with God and one another. Thus, we too, are in need of healing, including the healing that comes from the touch of Jesus. 

And the truth is that, we all have received this amazing loving touch of God, his mercy, compassion, forgiveness and healing. This is what St. John in our first reading today is reminding us, when he spoke about overcoming the challenges of this world by believing in Jesus, who through the testimonies of water, Spirit and Blood bears witness to the love of God.

Dear friends, I don’t know what type of leprocious problems you are passing through, let us put our trust in the healing power of Jesus. For the story of this leper is a good example of how we sinners can and should appeal to Jesus for cleansing especially from our sins. We should come in faith knowing that God is able to cleanse us, because he is always willing to cleanse every sinner who comes to him. 

LET US PRAY: Lord God,  we come to you today just like the man in our Gospel passage, you know our inner most being, so we ask that if you will, you can cleanse us, our families, societies and the world from physical, emotional sinful, greed, unforgiveness and spiritual leprosies. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.  Do have a blessed day.

LOVING GOD IN OUR NEIGHBOUR IS KEEPING GOD’S COMMANDMENTS

 Thursday After the Epiphany of the Lord, 7th January, 2021

Readings: 1 John 4:19-5:4, Ps.72, Luke 4:14-22

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

LOVING GOD IN OUR NEIGHBOUR IS KEEPING GOD’S COMMANDMENTS

For the past few days now, we have been hearing about love from the first letter of St John. John is one of the inner circle of the disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is know as the beloved disciple of Jesus as his character and personality portrays this and all his teachings are centered on love. Thus, our first reading today, centers on the summary of God’s commandments, that is, the love of God and the love of neighbour.  

Here, John was just very practical because, anyone who loves God will naturally love all God’s children who are, of course, in a very real sense our neighbours. We must love every single person because we are all created in the image and likeness of God. It is not possible to separate the love of God from the love of neighbour, for it is one commandment with two parts which will be the criterion for the final judgement of God.

John tells us that these commandments are not burdensome. Not because they are always easy to carry out fully but because we live in the strength of the Holy Spirit and also, because they are in total conformity with our nature made in the likeness of God, there is nothing artificial or arbitrary about them. To observe them is to become more and more what we are meant to be that is, living in that image of our Creator which we share with him. This is the teaching and mission of Jesus Christ as we have it in our Gospel passage today, where we heard Jesus proclaimed his mission and goals as the fulfilment of all the wonderful promises of God’s salvation for humanity.

Dear friends, our Lord Jesus has taught and revealed to us what it means for us to love. He often reached out to us, even to the worst and the most wicked sinners. He always touch us with his love and also calls us to follow his example. But are we willing and able to commit ourselves to follow his example. I don’t know if you have ever loved someone and you show it, or someone loves you and shows it? The truth is that, it actually feels right and awesome, because love bring healing and wholeness into people’s lives. Thus, it is by loving God in our neighbours that we can share and experience this nature of God in us and by so doing we will conquer the world full of hatred, self-centeredness, greed and sin. 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, love is your gift to humanity, help us to embrace this gift of love and learn to share it with one another, just as Jesus has taught us who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. Do have a lovely day.

DO NOT BE AFRAID BUT ABIDE IN GOD’S LOVE FOR HE IS WITH US

 Wednesday After the Epiphany of the Lord, 6th January, 2021

Readings: 1 John 4:11-18, Ps.72,  Mark 6:45-52

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

DO NOT BE AFRAID BUT ABIDE IN GOD’S LOVE FOR HE IS WITH US 

Those who are into sea business such as the fisher men and the marine men know what it is to be on the sea with heavy storms. A condition where the need to look for a Saviour is highly expected. Such was the case with the disciples of Jesus in the Gospel passage today. It is a story about panic. With the waves breaking over the boat, the disciples cannot believe that the Lord has seen them, and is approaching. Hence, they were afraid and needed help from anywhere. It was at this point that they saw Jesus walking on the sea and he said to them: “take courage, it is I, do not be afraid”. 

This story signifies God's chosen people on a transit of faith, frightened by the guilt of sin and wounded by the waves of the sea, the abode of evil forces and monsters of this world. The boat can be taken as a symbol of the young Christian Church struggling with the world’s principalities and powers, while the storm is a symbol of persecution suffered by this young Christian community. However, John in our first reading tells us that God abides in us and his love is perfected in us, for there is no fear in love but perfect love casts out fear. Thus, Jesus says: "Do not be afraid".

Dear friends, Jesus is calling us today to journey on his boat of life with an unwavering faith and a repented heart because, the world is being tossed around by the waves of evil forces, the enemies of humankind. And it is only God can subdue it, for he has promised to restore us back to himself. 

Therefore, I don't know the great storms of doubt and fear in your soul, as a result of the power of the evil forces of this world? All I know is that with great faith in God, the words of Jesus: “take courage, it is I,” will surely resound in the hearts of all us and all Christians who live in an indifferent or hostile community.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we abide in your love, may your presence cast out every forms of fear in us, so that the violent storms and waves of bondage in our lives will end in a wonderful calm that brings peace to our souls. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you the best of God’s favour today and always.

THE COMPASSIONATE LOVE OF GOD FOR HUMANITY

 Tuesday After the Epiphany of the Lord, 5th January, 2021

Readings: 1 John 4:7-10, Ps.72,  Mark 6:34-44

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

THE COMPASSIONATE LOVE OF GOD FOR HUMANITY

One of the common words we use to express our feelings is the word “love” and this word means a lot of things to different people. But what is love? For me, love is God’s nature which he shares with us. That is why love is beyond human nature. When we love, we are actually acting out that very nature of God in us. For love is greater than human nature because it is the nature of God that we share. 

Therefore, to understand the depth of God's love for us there is a principle that we need to abide with, that is, the principle that says that everyday is a gift from God to us. A gift that shows how much He loves us by sending His Son whose life giving sacrifice means salvation for all humanity. But the world prefers darkness to light, death to life and these have made the world a difficult place to live in. 

Today in our first reading we are told that God loves us so much that he sent his Son Jesus to be the expiration for our sins. And the event of feeding of the five thousand as we have in our Gospel passage today, speaks of the generosity of God and his kindness towards us. Telling us that when God gives, he gives abundantly. He gives us more than we need for ourselves so that we can share with those who lack. In fact, we can interpret this miracle as the fruit of sharing with one another, for it is possible that once the disciples began to share the little food they had with those around, others also who had actually brought some food with them started sharing what they have and indeed grace multiplied what they have to the point of having left over. 

Dear friends, God loves us so much, that he is willing and ready to satisfy our unquenchable hunger for physical and spiritual things. How I wish humanity can give up greed, selfishness, hatred, embezzlement of our common resources in order to embrace true love for one another and learn to share our resources with one another for the purpose for which they are meant for, believe me, the world will witness another miracle of multiplication of resources that will be enough for everyone with left over for the future generations. 

But we have failed to embrace this love, we have failed to share this love with one another or give up these ugly attitudes. Therefore, let us embrace Jesus and the love he is offering us. Let us like Jesus have compassion and love for everyone, for that is the very nature of God which we share.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, we are really hungry, in need of your love and satisfaction both physically and spiritually, feed us once again with your heavenly grace and multiple the little bread and fish we share with others and provide for us the basic needs of life. And as we carryout how daily activities this year, give us a generous heart that we may freely share your love with those we encounter. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have lovely day.

DISCERNING THE TRUE SPIRIT OF GOD IN A WORLD FULL OF FALSEHOOD AND DECEPTION

 Monday After the Epiphany of the Lord, 4th January, 2021

Readings: 1 John 3:22-4:6, Ps.2,  Matt. 4:12-17.23-25

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

DISCERNING THE TRUE SPIRIT OF GOD IN A WORLD FULL OF FALSEHOOD AND DECEPTION

In our societies today there are many influential powers that have great effect in our lives coming from various source under the guise of good but some are in fact evil leading us astray. So, there is need for us to examine these false and deceptive spirit. For the Holy Spirit will lead us to learn how to distinguish clearly where and in whom is the Spirit of truth from the spirit of falsehood.

 

As long as we are of God and in Christ, we have nothing to fear. We do not belong any more to this present world, full of sin, hate and greed, corruption, deceit and violence. Thus, we must let ourselves be guided by the Lord against embracing, too readily, any doctrine proposed to us. We must guide ourselves against attaching ourselves without due consideration, to any teacher that may pretend to have a divine inspiration; because, many false teachers are increasing everyday to deceive the people.

Dear friends, we must not let ourselves be deceived by the evil power of this world. For John in our first reading gives us a special sign for distinguishing true doctrine or true teachers from the false ones. For him, any spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ had come in the flesh is of God. Therefore, we must be very wise for there are many false prophets operating under the power of the devil who are deceiving humanity and turning our attention from God.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we thank you for the gift of Your Holy Spirit, who guides us against the deception of this world. Give us the grace of discernment in order to distinguish between good and false Spirit. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful week ahead.

Sunday, the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, 3rd January, 2021

 Sunday, the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, 3rd January, 2021

Readings: Isaiah 60:1-6, Ps. 72, Eph 3:2-3.5-6, Matt.2:1-12

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

IN FAITH LET US JOURNEY TO ENCOUNTER JESUS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD

Today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Epiphany of our Lord, an occasion where we continue to contemplate and celebrate the mystery of the birth of Jesus. Epiphany was first celebrated in Africa, Egypt precisely, where it was used to replace a pagan feast where they celebrate the victory of light over darkness. The word “Epiphany” means manifestation or revelation. So it is the solemnity of the manifestation of the Lord.

 In our Gospel passage we see how the Wise Men being led by a star journeyed a long distance in search of the new born king. They were probably sages in search of something more about life, in search of the true light that could point out the path to true meaning of life. This journey of the Wise Men was bold, courageous and imaginative. For some persons, they may appeared to be foolish even a little crazy. No doubt they encountered many difficulties and experienced some moments of doubt and danger. Yet in spite of the difficulties, doubt and dangers they preserved in their search and were joyful when they finally found the baby Jesus.

Thus, today the Wise Men find, crying in a manger, the one they have followed as he shone in the sky. They see clearly, in swaddling clothes, the one they have long awaited as he lay hidden among the stars. Today, the Wise Men gaze in deep wonder at what they see: heaven on earth, earth in heaven, man in God, God in man, one whom the whole universe cannot contain now enclosed in a tiny body. As they look, they believe and do not question, as their symbolic gifts bear witness: incense for God, gold for a king, myrrh for one who is to die.

In this journey the light of a star guided them, they did not know where the star was leading them. Hence, their journey was very much a journey of faith, knowing that the star was a means by which a great mystery was to be revealed. The journey of these Wise Men symbolizes our journey of faith and it can serve as a model for us as we struggle on our journey of faith. For the faith of the Wise Men is the first fruits of the belief of the Gentiles, so the Gentiles, who were the last, became the first. Thus is our journey, for just as they were guided by the light of a star so we are guided by the light of faith.

Dear friends, we can learn something great from these Wise Men. First, their journey was one of searching and questioning, of fear and hope, of pain and joy. It is not an easy journey. Our journey of faith contains all of these elements. Like the Wise Men, we can expect to encounter difficulties and experience doubts. But, we can draw inspiration from their courage and perseverance.

Also, we can learn some thing about Herod. As the Wise Men journeyed above the great city of Bethlehem the star disappears, they could no longer see it. For them, it was logical to seek the new king in the royal palace, where they believe that wise men were to be found. But to their amazement, the newborn child was not found in the places of power and culture. Hence, king Herod in anger seeks to kill the child. 

Here, perhaps, we should ask ourselves: is there something of Herod in us? Have we in anyway seen God as a sort of rival? Have we been blind to the signs God is offering us or pay deaf ears to his words because we think he is setting limits on our life and does not allow us to live as we wish?

Another thing we can learn from the Wise Men is that, they did not travel alone, they traveled in a little community of three believers. We then, must not try to make the journey of our faith alone, we need to journey with our brothers and sisters in our community. We need to support one another. However we have one great advantage over these Wise Men. At the start of their journey they knew nothing about Christ. We already know Christ and have encountered him in faith. 

Nevertheless, the fact that we have not seen him face-to-face means we have not yet arrived at our final destination. So we are still searching, still journeying to encounter Jesus the light of the world. Thus the journey of faith is the journey of a lifetime. The goal of this journey is to arrive at the heavenly Bethlehem where we can see Jesus and experience his glory.