Homily for Tuesday Ninth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 1st June, 2021. The Memorial of St Justin the Martyr

 Homily for Tuesday Ninth Week in Ordinary Time  Year B, 1st June, 2021. The Memorial of St Justin the Martyr

Reading: Tobit 2:9-14; Ps. 112; Mark12:13-17

Rev.  Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

GIVE BACK TO CAESAR WHAT BELONGS TO CAESAR AND TO GOD WHAT BELONGS TO GOD

At the time of Jesus, one of the great means of exchange is the use of coin, A coin as we know is a small, flat, round piece of metal used primarily as a medium of exchange or legal tender use in order to facilitate trade. They are most often issued by the government with a particular images, numerals and inscriptions. It is a very important commodity use in payment of taxes and other important goods, this gives great value to anyone who has enough for it in his possession.

So in the occasion of our Gospel passage today, when the Pharisees and Herodians attempted to trap Jesus using the mandatory law of paying tax to Caesar. It was a serious trap for Jesus, because a negative response from him would make him a serious enemy of Rome; a positive response would make him lose the trust of his own people, who generally detest paying this tax. Thus, Jesus said to them: “why do you set this trap for me? Bring me a coin and let me see it.’ They handed him one and he said, ‘Whose image and inscriptions is it?’ Caesar’s they told him. Jesus said to them, ‘Give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.’ This reply took them completely by surprise.

But what do this reply means? Here Jesus requests a coin; he secures the coin; he inquires about the image and inscription of the coin; and they respond by identifying the coin with Caesar. In the context of these actions Jesus is probably holding the coin this implies that the true image of the coin is in his possession but the empirical image and inscription of the coin are the sum total of the things that belong to Caesar. In order words the true image and inscriptions of anything comes and belongs to God. 

However the empirical image of corruption, greediness, pride, operation and deception that are found in this coin belongs to Caesar and should be rendered back to him. Thus, Jesus affirms, that one’s obligation to the government is necessary as long as it is for the good of all, while insisting that one’s obligation to God is always greater and this should be done by rendering the true image of the coin to God which ultimately belongs to Him.

Dear friends, in one way or the other we all possess the coins of this life, but whose image and inscription is in the coin we possess. Are we possessing the coin with the true image and inscription of God or the coin with the empirical image of sin, corruption, greed, selfishness and deception? Today Jesus is telling us to render back to the Caesars of this world all the ugly and sinful coins in our possession for they belong to them. While rendering to God the true image of the coin with the inscription of holiness, love, mercy, forgiveness, charity for they truly belongs to God.

When this is done we will hear the consoling words of God like that of Tobit's wife as we have it in our first reading saying: ‘What about your own charitable deeds? What about your own good works? Everyone knows what return you have had for them.’ Therefore, today as we celebrate the Memorial of St. Justin the Martyr, we are called to remain steadfast in the midst of persecutions and operations as we try to maintain peaceful coexistence between the Church and the state, just like Justin. For St. Justin as we know was a renowned early Church Father and a philosopher who was once a pagan but then after a fateful encounter with a wise old Christian man, became a Christian. 

Justin later established a well-known catechetical school of philosophy in Rome, and through his writings defended and spread the Christian faith. And also through his writings, he tried to convince Emperor Marcus Aurelius, another famous philosopher, to end the persecution of Christians by the Roman state which lead to his martyrdom with some of his followers in the year 165. Today however, St. Justin no doubt, has shown us through his works and interactions, with pagan philosophers and even with the Emperor, that it is indeed possible to be fully faithful and committed to God, while living in harmony as a law-abiding citizens of the community and the state even in the midst of persecutions and operations as we experience in our societies today.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, whose providence never fails in its design, grant that through the intercessions of St Justin the Martyr, we may always render to you what really belongs to you, as we do away with all that offends you and our fellow neighbours and so live in harmony with the authority of the state. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Happy New Month and do have a blessed day.

Homily for Monday Ninth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 31st May, 2021. The Feast of Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

 Homily for Monday Ninth Week in Ordinary Time  Year B, 31st May, 2021. The Feast of Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Reading: Zeph.3:14-18; Ps. 12; Luke 1:39-56

Rev.  Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

THE JOYFUL VISITATION OF MARY TO LONELY HUMANITY

Every last day of the month of May, we celebrate the great Marian feast of the Visitation as we normally conclude our may devotion on a grand style in procession, with hymns and candle light, singing along with our mother Mary in thanksgiving to God for the good work of our salvation. 

So, today’s feast as we have it in our Gospel passage, reminds us the moment when Mary, after the event of Annunciation, having received the message from Angel Gabriel, came to visit her cousin Elizabeth, who are now both pregnant with child. For at that time, Mary was just having the Child Jesus in her not long after he was conceived in her womb by the power of the Holy Spirit, while Elizabeth, who had become pregnant earlier, was having John the Baptist in her womb, even in her old age.

Here, Mary sang the magnificat in honour to God for the great thing he has done not just for her but for all humanity. For having heard that her cousin Elizabeth, who at that time had been long barren have now conceived a child, came and found out that what the Lord had revealed to her through the Angel Gabriel was indeed true, that her cousin Elizabeth had miraculously conceived in her old age. And herself, about to have a Child without any human relations but by the power of the Holy Spirit. These made Mary to rejoice greatly, for it was truly a great and joyful moment which God has shown to all his people. 

Hence, this grace- filled event reveals the special role that Mary played in God’s plan for human salvation. So, as she brings the Word of life dwelling in her womb to Elizabeth, Mary becomes the image of Church’s missionary activity for she is filled with the spirit ready to visit and bring Christ to all humanity. This also presents to us the joyful moment when Mary bearing the Word Made Flesh visited barren and lonely humanity well represented by the person of Elizabeth. Thus, in this act of kindness, we recall the faith and the wonderful commitment showed by Mary, as an example and inspiration to all of us. For she totally obeyed the Lord and entrusted herself completely to the divine will of God.

Dear friends, as Christians, in Mary we found a great role model for each and every one of us. So following the example of Mary we also embark on our own journey of faith, learning from her obedience and dedication to the mission that has been entrusted to her throughout her life just as we are entrusted with the task of spreading the Gospel passage to all humanity.

But the truth remains that, we are so busy with the things of this passing world and have failed to our mission. Today, the streets are full of people struggling and bobbling, the markets are full of people buying, selling, cheating and chatting, the Churches are full of people praying, singing and celebrating. We are so busy with everything except the very essence of our mission, which is, the salvation of our souls. Today, we are called to reflect deeply and to dispose ourselves to embrace the Word of God with joy just like Mary and Elizabeth. 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, only the soul for whom you have done great things can truly proclaim with fitting praise the joy of your presence. As we embrace your words today through the visitation of our Mother Mary, we joyfully surrender unto you, our whole life, our senses, our barrenness and loneliness, for our spirit rejoices at the coming of Christ Jesus our Savour, and may this joy always remain in our hearts through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you a fruitful week and a happy New month ahead.

Homily for Sunday of the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity Year B, 30th May, 2021

 Homily for Sunday of the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity Year B, 30th May, 2021

Reading: Deut.  4:32-34,39-40; Ps. 32; Rom 8:14-17; Matt. 28:16-20

Rev.  Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

WE ARE CALLED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE COMMUNITARIAN FAMILY OF LOVE IN THE HOLY TRINITY

Every first Sunday after the great event of Pentecost, that marks the end of Easter season and renews the Baptism of the Church in the Holy Spirit, our attention are turned to the mysteries of heaven, where we gaze with an eye of faith into the mystery of God’s revelation as we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. 

This is a special feast that gives us the opportunity to gaze into the communitarian life of God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, who live in a communion of love and calls us to participate in this love. Thereby reminding us of the marvelous plan of our salvation, that finds its origin in this Trinitarian love of the Father, who sent the Son and the Holy Spirit for the redemption of humanity, as we have been called to share in this family of love. This family of love is God’s nature that he shares with humanity through the Son Jesus, the Word Made Flesh and the Holy Spirit the Paraclete. 

This solemnity reveals to us that “God is love not in the oneness of a single Person, but in the Trinity of one substance”, as we have it in the Preface of today’s celebration. Telling us that God is the creator and merciful Father; he is the Only-Begotten Son, the eternal Word of Wisdom incarnate, who died and rose for us; he is also the Holy Spirit the Paraclete, who moves all things in history, toward their final and full recapitulation. That is, three Persons who are ONE GOD, because, the Father is love, the Son is love made Flesh, and the Spirit is love in Action. For there is wholly ONE purest, infinite and eternal LOVE which is God and love which is God himself. This of course is always a mystery, a reality that surpasses human reason without contradiction. 

Thus, in this Sunday’s solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, we celebrate the summary of God’s revelation which was brought about through the paschal mysteries of Christ’s Death, Resurrection and Ascension to the right hand of the Father, and the gracious outpouring of the Holy Spirit. This great mystery of the Triune God can not be totally comprehend by human mind and language, hence the Church has called us to live it with deep faith and apply it in our daily lives. 

Little wonder, our readings today tell us about this Trinitarian nature of God in human history, In the First Reading, we heard about the revelation of God’s active participation in life of his people, as his servant Moses revealed to the people when he said: ‘Understand this today, therefore, and take it to heart: the Lord is God indeed, in heaven above as on earth beneath, he and no other. Keep his laws and commandments as I give them to you today, so that you and your children may prosper and live long in the land that the Lord your God gives you for ever.

In a similar way, Jesus after his resurrection instructed his disciples who has been in cooperated in to the life of the Trinity to go and introduce humanity into the New Life when he said: All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, make disciples of all the nations; baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all the commands I gave you. And know that I am with you always; yes, to the end of time. This is a great act of love which shows us God’s love in action, illustrating that God is not closed or satisfied with his own self-sufficiency, but he is that life of love that wants to communicate itself with his fragile creatures in an open and deep relationship. 

Hence St Paul talking about this new relationship in our second reading, encouraged and invited us to share and participate actively in the communitarian family of love in the Trinity that is now open for all humanity when he said: everyone moved by the Spirit is a son of God. The spirit you received is not the spirit of slaves bringing fear into your lives again; it is the spirit of sons, and it makes us cry out, ‘Abba, Father!’ The Spirit himself and our spirit bear united witness that we are children of God. And if we are children we are heirs as well: heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, sharing his sufferings so as to share his glory.

  

Dear friends, today’s solemnity invites us to embrace the new life we have found in the Trinity, that new life that calls us to the reality of love that is contained in the mystery of our faith. The One love of the Father, that is made Flesh in the Person of the Son, and in action in the Person of Holy Spirit, in a purely physical unity of which humanity are called to participate. Hence Jesus has revealed to us that we are essentially “God’s children”, creatures who live in relationship with the Creator God the Father, and are called to share this relationship with one another. Thereby reaching out to God and to our fellow mankind, in whose life we discovers the image of our common love in the Father. 

Thus, in this love comes the model of the human community, originating from the Triune Family to our individual human families down to the society and the world at large, pointing to us that humanity are one, related in the love of God our common Father, through His Son Jesus in the active power of the Holy Spirit. This is the faith we have embraced and are called to share with all humility. Therefore, we are called to grow in this mission, knowing that, the Trinity is at the same time unity in love and in mission, the more deep this love dwells in us, the stronger the urge to pour it out and spread it to all, beginning from our family, down to the society and to the ends of the Earth.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, as you reveal the mystery of your nature which is love and calls us to share and participate in it, grant that humanity may come to embrace this loving kindness, and so be united as one family sharing one common Father in love and truth, we ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen. God bless you.

Homily For Saturday of the Eight Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 29th May, 2021

 Homily For Saturday of the Eight Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 29th May, 2021.

Readings: Sir. 51:12-20, Ps.19; Mark 11:27-33

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

THE SOURCE OF JESUS’ DIVINE AUTHORITY

In our dealings with people, we are often requested to make reference to authorities in order to backup our claim to know or possess anything. And when such authority is not available we may not be taking seriously. Little wonder our gospel passage today, presents to us the fundamental question concerning the source of Jesus’ authority, namely whether it is divine or human. Here, after Jesus drove away the traders from the courts of the Temple, the chief priests and elders questioned the source of his authority, for they were more concerned to learn whether Jesus had received the proper human authorization by questioning the source of his authority. 

In response, Jesus draws their attention to John the Baptist and his authority and by so doing he implies that the source of John's authority is the source of his as well. Thus, anyone who correctly identifies the source of John's authority will definitely identify the source of Jesus’ own as well. Therefore 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 crowds identified the source of John and Jesus’ authority as divine, have we personally identified the divine authority of Jesus in our lives? Why not ask him to manifest his power and authority once more in your life?

Dear friends, we need to open up our hearts to truly embrace the authority of the Lord Jesus. We need to build up our interior lives around his authority, so as to be more close to God and continue to prepare ourselves physically and spiritually for the coming of our Lord Jesus in our hearts and in our souls. For there he await our response to his invitation to holiness and love. 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, in your divine authority we build our confidence and hope. May you continue to direct and guide our ways and bring our plans and purposes to a successful end. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you a happy and fruitful weekend.

Homily For Friday of the Eight Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 28th May, 2021

 Homily For Friday of the Eight Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 28th May, 2021.

Readings: Sir. 44:1.9-13, Ps.149; Mark 11:11-25

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

LORD JESUS, CLEANSE ONCE AGAIN THE TEMPLE OF THE SOULS OF HUMANITY

The temple as we know is described as the sacred dwelling place of God. That’s sacred space where humanity encounter the Divine presence of God. It is a symbolic space where God desires to live together with humanity and rule the world through them. Therefore it is very important to ensure that such Sacred Space (Temple) is kept sacred at all times. 

Little wonder in our Gospel passage today, after Jesus had cursed a fig tree for not being fruitful, we heard a very brief story of how he entered the temple in Jerusalem and drives away the traders from the courts of the Temple saying: “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations? But you have turned it into ‘a den of thieves’.” So he chased out all the dishonest, selfish and greedy merchants who are making profits by cheating the faithful pilgrims who came to the Temple to worship God.

Here Jesus was not just concerned with cleansing of the temple of Jerusalem, but also the temple of human’s heart, that is, our souls. He is objecting to corruption of the sacred. Our body and soul are temple of the Lord and belong to him alone. It is a sacred space, a house of prayer which must not be given over to the false gods of money, greed and sin. 

So, by clearing the Temple, the Lord has also urged us all to clear our own spiritual temples, that is our body, mind, heart and soul, in which God dwells, so that we will be among the list of generous men whose good works have not been forgotten as we heard in our first reading today.

Dear friends, our souls are sacred dwelling of God’s Temple. Thus, it must be made sacred at all times by ensuring that we get rid of all corruptions, wickedness, pride, ego, greed, wrath and all other sorts of evils within us. We must resist them and strive to inspire and help one another to keep our Temple sacred. For Jesus wishes to cleanse the temple of our soul by removing what has corrupted it, in order to purify it for worship, and making it a dwelling place for prayer. But are we willing to let him cleanse us?

LET US PRAY: Merciful Father, we are your temple, yet we have let the selfish desires for the things of this passing world to corrupt us so deeply. As we embrace your Words today, may we experience the joy of the purification of our body and soul through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a joyful day.

Homily For Thursday of the Eight Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 27th May, 2021.

 Homily For Thursday of the Eight Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 27th May, 2021.

Readings: Sir. 42:15-25, Ps.33; Mark 10:46-52

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

“GO YOUR WAY; YOUR FAITH HAS MADE YOU WELL”

The compassionate love of Jesus in it’s historical and physical solidarity with human suffering, springs from the love of God the Father and constitutes the basis of the Church’s liberating activity which is rooted in our faith in God. Little wonder in our Gospel passage today, Bartimaeus, the blind beggar gives us a complete lesson about faith, expressed with total simplicity in front of Christ Jesus. He had faith enough to call out to Jesus as he passed by, even when he was scolded by the people close to him, his need for Jesus was so great that he cried all the louder, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! 

Then Jesus asks an unusual question “what do you want me to do for you?” So even though his need was obvious, Jesus wanted him to mention it. In the same way today, Jesus is asking us: my child what do you want me to do for you? Why not like this blind beggar tell Jesus you need. Even though he knows your needs, you still need to present them before him. This blind man needed his eyesight restored, so he said aloud to Jesus, “Lord, that I may see!” And Jesus said: ‘Go your way; your faith has saved you.’ 

Here, we see a man whose faith lead him to puts off his former identity and cried in hope for restoration. Bartimaeus’s faith involves proclamation, prayer, liberation, personal encounter and following of Jesus. More so, Jesus in this healing reveals his compassion towards human sufferings and wants us to imitate Bartimaeus’s faith in our struggles and challenges of life. 

Dear friends, have we ever felt helpless? What is that one thing you need in your life? Do we feel the need of Jesus’s help in some part of our lives? Do we know people who are helpless and need some help? How strong is our compassion towards them? Let us look at them for a moment and imagine Jesus looking at them. How does he see them? Why not in faith present our needs before Jesus who is willing and ready to help us.

Also, like Jesus, each one of us are called today to reach out to people around us who are really in need of our assistance. This includes our family members, our neighbours, our colleagues and others who we encounter in life. The truth is that, you may be the only person who can brings the healing and compassion of Jesus into their lives. 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, as we present our needs before you today, may we experience once again your compassionate love and grant our hearts desire according to your Holy will, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you God’s favour and blessings.

Homily For Wednesday of the Eight Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 26th May, 2021. The Memorial of St. Philip Neri

 Homily For Wednesday of the Eight Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 26th May, 2021. The Memorial of St. Philip Neri

Readings: Sir. 36:1-2.5-6.11-17, Ps.79; Mark 10:32-45

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 THE SECRET OF GREATNESS IS ROOTED IN SINCERE SERVICE TO  OTHERS

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

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

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

Dear friends, true greatness is found in sincere service to others and not in over ambition for power nor by plotting against others. This ugly attitude is what we often experienced in our families, societies and in our country today. Where people do all kinds of evil in order to grab power and sustain it. But this is not the same with Philip Neri whose memorial we celebrate today. 

St. Philip Neri was born in Florence in 1515 and died in Rome around 1595. He lived a spotless life. His desire to serve others made him after living for fifteen years as a pilgrim and hermit, he was ordained a priest. To continue this selfless service, he gradually gathered around him a group of priests and established the Congregation of the Oratory. St. Philip was a man of original character and of a happy, genial and winning disposition. A great educator of youth, he spent whole nights in prayer, had a great devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, and burned with an unbounded love for mankind. He died on the feast of Corpus Christi.

Therefore, I don’t know what your experience have been as regards to serving others? I don’t know which of the characters in our readings can best describe our attitude towards power. Are we like the sons of Zebedee? Is our attitude like that of the ten disciples? Is our attitude like that of the pagan rulers who lord it over others? Which ever category we fall in, today we are called to be humble like Jesus who came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Therefore, as leaders, we should see ourselves as servants and not seek after status beyond our reach or plot the down fall of others. Remember, ambition can be a good thing but only if it is kept in check and if pursued for the right reason, that is, to serve others. 

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

Homily For Tuesday of the Eight Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 25th May, 2021

 Homily For Tuesday of the Eight Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 25th May, 2021.

Readings: Sir. Sir. 35:1-12, Ps.50; Mark 10:28-31

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WHAT IS THE REWARDS FOR LEAVING EVERYTHING AND FOLLOW THE LORD

The way people are so much attached to the things of this passing world with little or no attention to the things that edifice the soul is quite alarming. People can go to any length to acquire properties, treasures, fame, influence and power that will last from forth to their tenth generation, without thinking of that which will lead to life eternal.

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

Here, Jesus is reassuring us that all those who have given everything and committed their time and efforts, and are making sacrifices for the sake of his kingdom would not be disappointed nor left without rewards. Their reward in the end will be truly great, for God remembers those who love him and has given themselves for his sake. He will guide them and remain with them throughout their journey no matter how tough it may be. Hence, we heard in our first reading that a virtuous man’s sacrifice is acceptable, its memorial will not be forgotten, for the Lord is a good rewarder, he will reward him seven times over.

Dear friends, today Jesus addressed the very thing that most people are not ready to give up. Those things such as money, houses, credentials, love of power, pride and wealth. But, if we are honest enough, we will admit that we all have some things we would be very slow to let go if Jesus should make the demand of them. Those things we so much attached ourselves with and would not like God to ask us to give them up for the sake of following him.

In fact, it might be a good thing today, for us to ask ourselves, what would be the most difficult thing for us to give up if Jesus should ask us to do so. It might be some thing we own like our properties, treasures, fame, influence and power or our wealth; it may be a relationship, or our job, or our habit and attitudes. So, whatever we posses that will separate us from our mission of following Jesus and loving our neighbours, today we are called to give them up and come follow the Lord, because in leaving them for the sake of Jesus, we actually gain all in abundance.

LET US PRAY, Heavenly Father, we are so much attached to things of this passing world, help us to know that excess attachment to our earthly possessions could be an obstacle on our way to your Kingdom. Give us the grace to let go of things that often separate us from you as we learn to share with our neighbours especially the poor. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen Do have a fruitful day.

Homily For Monday of the Eight Week in Ordinary Time Year B, The Memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church (Mater Ecclesiae) and Help of Christians, 24th May, 2021.

 Homily For Monday of the Eight Week in Ordinary Time Year B, The Memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church (Mater Ecclesiae) and Help of Christians, 24th May, 2021.

Readings: Gen. 3:9-15.20, Ps.86; John 19:25-34

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WOMAN, BEHOLD YOUR SON: SON, BEHOLD YOUR MOTHER

As the Holy season of Eastertide comes to an end with the celebration of Pentecost yesterday, the Church continues with the second face of the Ordinary Time of the liturgical calendar. This begins with the memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church and since today is 24th of May, we also celebrate the Memorial of another title of Mary as Help of Christians.

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

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

Here, Mary assumes the role of the Mother of the Church, while the disciple represents all of us Christians, who are members of God’s Church and therefore have become children of Mary, God’s own beloved Mother, and she is indeed, the Mother of the Church, the Mother of all Christians. Thus, Mary had always been with the Church as she has always been with the Apostles and the other leaders of the Church, for she is full of grace and had borne Christ who is the Head of the Church. So it worth honouring her with the title Mater Ecclesiae, the Mother of the Church. For she was the New Eve would resisted the temptations of Satan and remained completely faithful to the Lord as she followed her Son, the New Adam, to the foot of the Cross. Thereby fulfilling the Lord’s prophecy at the very beginning, as we heard in our first reading today.

Dear friends, as we celebrate Mary, as our Mother, the Mother of the Church and the Help of all Christians, we entrust all our struggles, suffering, persecutions, challenges, trials and difficulties into her maternal care, in order to remain faithful and survive through the turbulent times and challenges of our time. Let us learn to remain faithful like Mary and never take our faith for granted. Let us remain steadfast knowing that Mary, the Help of all Christians is our Mother and Consoler. 

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

The Homily for Pentecost Sunday Year B, 23rd May, 2021

 The Homily for Pentecost Sunday Year B, 23rd May, 2021

Readings: Acts.2:1-11; Ps.104; Gal. 5: 16-25;  John 15:26-27.16:12-15

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

RECEIVE THE FRESH OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of our great Pentecost, today we receive the fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Today the promised Paraclete has come, the Comforter has come, the purifying fire has come. Today all children of God are empowered once more to conquer the world with the Good News of Christ's salvation. 

Today the fears, the shame, the weakness of sins, the lukewarmness, the lockdown and all the barriers that hold us captive in the upper room of fear and shame have now been consumed by the power of the Holy Ghost, which we receive afresh today. For we have been set free and empowered to transform the world once again with the truth of the Gospel of Christ. 

This is the fulfillment of the promise Jesus made to his disciples in our Gospel passage today, when he said to his disciples: ‘When the Advocate comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who issues from the Father, he will be my witness. And you too will be witnesses, because you have been with me from the outset. ‘I still have many things to say to you, but they would be too much for you now. But when the Spirit of truth comes he will lead you to the complete truth.

This promised was made when, after the Last Supper and the ugly event of his passion, death and resurrection, a sense of loss and fear has saddened the hearts of the Apostles. But their sadness will not be long, for Jesus will not abandon them, he will not leave them orphans. He will send the Counsellor, the power of Love, the Spirit of the Father. And this Spirit will enable them to understand that his work is a work of love:  love of the One who gave himself, love of the Father who has given him and love for humanity whom he has come to save.

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

Such is the work of the Holy Spirit, who illuminates the human spirit and reveals in it, the image of Christ Crucified and Risen, in order to become more like him, bearing the image and instrument of the love which flows from Christ. It is in this image of love, that the greatness of the Pentecost event is perceived. There are seven gifts and twelve fruits of the Holy Spirit, the seven gifts includes: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. While the fruits which are perfections that the Holy Spirit forms in us as the first fruits of eternal glory are as follows: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, chastity.

Among all these gifs and fruits, love is the most important of  the fruits of the Holy Spirit, just as it is also the most important of all the Christian virtues. Without love, all the good things we have accomplished mean nothing. Hence, St Paul advised us in our second reading saying: If you are led by the Spirit, no law can touch you. But when self-indulgence is at work in you the results are obvious: fornication, gross indecency and sexual irresponsibility; idolatry and sorcery; enmity and strife, jealousy, bad temper and selfishness; disagreements, factions, envy; drunkenness, carousing and similar things.

However, Paul continued saying: I warn you now, as I warned you before: those who behave like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. For what the Spirit brings is very different and they include: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustfulness, gentleness and self-control. There can be no law against things like that, to embrace the Spirit of love that will help us to accommodate each other’s gifts and talents, for we, though separate individuals are united as one body and one Spirit in one baptism.

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

Let our actions and deeds bear the fruit of this love of God not only to such people, but to our fellow brethren by showing genuine care and concern for each other. Let us not close our doors of love because, we continually want to feel secure and do not want to be disturbed by others or by God. Rather let us like the apostles break open the doors of our hearts, for Christ overcomes our enclosure to bring us love and peace and build a bridge between heaven and earth, so that we can climb up on this bridge of love to reach him and together with him, we too can reach all humanity, beginning with our families, societies and to the ends of the Earth.

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

The Homily for Saturday in Seventh Week of Eastertide Year B, 22nd May, 2021

 The Homily for Saturday in Seventh Week of Eastertide Year B, 22nd May, 2021

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

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

THE MORE A SOUL LOVES GOD, THE MORE IT DESIRES GOD TO BE LOVED AND HONOURED BY ALL

One of the greatest mysticists and doctors of the Church,  St. John of the Cross says in the first stanza of his poem entitled: The Living Flame of Love, “O living flame of love that tenderly wounds my soul in it’s deepest center! Since now You are not oppressive, now consummate! if it be Your will: tear through the veil of this sweet encounter!” This flame of love is the Holy Spirit that bathes the soul that encounters it in glory and refreshes it with divine life of love in which the will of the soul is united in the most sublime flame of love for God in Jesus. 

This may be the situation in the life of John the beloved one of the disciples of Jesus in our Gospel passage today, which made the scriptures described him as ‘the disciple whom Jesus loved’. What a great description of any one’s personality. This disciple had a peculiar share in the love of Christ and was admitted to great nearness and freedom with him that gives him the liberty which no one has among the disciples. This is evident by his leaning on the breast of Jesus at the suggestion of Peter, to asked him at Last supper, who was to be the traitor.

The fact is that, it is a great thing to love Jesus and be loved by Jesus. Yes, Jesus loved all his disciples, yet within that circle of love there was an innermost place in which the beloved John was favoured to dwell.  For those who display an extraordinary love to one, are all the more capable of great affection to many; therefore, because Jesus loved John most, he has an enhanced estimate of his love than the other disciples. Though John was raised, but others were not lowered, rather they were raised with him. 

John was of more intimate communion with Jesus than others. He was always wherever Jesus was. When all the disciples sit at the table, even Peter is not nearest to the Lord like John, for John will lean his head upon the bosom of Jesus with earnest, eager, intense affection. Jesus loves him not just as a disciple but as a dear friend whose personality as young individual has the most profitable opportunity of becoming eminent piety. He was the only disciple who was most nearer to Jesus and his mother at his passion and death. 

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

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

Today we are called to examine our conscience to know if there is any sign of true love of God and neighbours in us. We are called to make ourselves available for God’s love to abide in us. We are called to build a personality that gives room for love to flow in us and through us. As we anticipate the solemnity of Pentecost tomorrow, we are called to open up for the Holy Spirit to enkindle in us the fire of his love so that our soul will be transformed in love. And may this fire of love be  extended to our families, societies, country and the world at large.

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

The Homily for Friday in Seventh Week of Eastertide Year B, 21st May, 2021

 The Homily for Friday in Seventh Week of Eastertide Year B, 21st May, 2021

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

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

JESUS WANTS TO RESTORE AND SAVE US FROM THE EFFECTS OF OUR PAST SINFUL LIVES

The ups and downs of life have been a great experience and challenge to humanity. Hence, everyday is a new struggle. Struggles for life, struggle for survival, struggle against the manipulation of the evil ones, more challenging is the struggles of our own self especially our weakness and sinfulness. These struggles are evidence in the life of the disciples of Jesus. All the time they were with Jesus they struggled to be like him, to follow his ways and to understand him and it wasn’t easy. In the cause of these struggles they failed, denied, forsaken, and sinned against the Lord Jesus despite their love for him. But this was well predicted by Jesus who warned them to remain steadfast even in the midst of these struggles. 

However, after all the struggles and fall during his passion and death, Jesus now needed to strengthen his disciples for the great task ahead before departing from them. So in the occasion of Gospel passage today, Jesus said to Peter the leader of his Apostles: ‘Simon son of John, do you love me more than these others do?’ He answered, ‘Yes Lord, you know I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my lambs.’ A second time he said to him, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ He replied, ‘Yes, Lord, you know I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Look after my sheep.’ Then he said to him a third time, ‘Simon son of John, do you love me?’ Peter was upset that he asked him the third time, ‘Do you love me?’ and said, ‘Lord, you know everything; you know I love you.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Feed my sheep.

Here  we can imagine the disposition of the disciples when seeing the Lord as they sat together round the fire, eating silently the meal which Jesus had prepared, and no doubt gazing silently at the Lord’s silent. It must really be a great moment of tension as to how the oppressive silence was to be broken and how Peter’s heart must have been troubled when the great silence was broken with the words: Simon, son of John, do you love me? These three times questions have a special force in the restoration of him who had three times denied his Master, and now three times declares his love for Him, and he is three times restored and entrusted with a great task of feeding his master’s sheep. 

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

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

All we have to say in consciousness of our faults and sinfulness is: Lord you know everything, yes I truly love you. And just like St Peter, the Lord Jesus will not only forgive us, he will restore us to a greater glory. So why struggling in silence, it’s time to break open the hidden wounds of sin in our hearts, for the Lord wants to heal and restore us once again so that we can be open and free to receive the Holy Spirit the promised Paraclete, who will restore us afresh to God’s greater glory.

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

The Homily for Thursday in Seventh Week of Eastertide Year B, 20th May, 2021

 The Homily for Thursday in Seventh Week of Eastertide Year B, 20th May, 2021

Readings: Acts 22:30.23:6-11; Ps.16; John 17:20-26

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

COURAGE! JESUS PRAYS FOR YOU AND I IN OUR STRUGGLES 

Whenever we are passing through a very difficult ugly situation and feels that all hope is gone as our trusted friends have abandoned us, we actually feel great and relieved when we remember that someone is praying for us. It feels right to know that someone is interceding on our behalf, it feels great to hear that someone is communicating with God on our behalf. Yes, for few days now, we have been listening to the High Priestly Prayer of Jesus for his disciples who were with him at the Last Supper, how he prayed for their sanctification and unity. 

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

Here as Jesus prays for his disciples he also extended his pray to everyone who will come to believe in him for he knows that we will all need similar grace and be exposed to similar trials. Hence he prays that those who follow him may be drawn into the life of the Holy Trinity. The Father sends the Son to humanity precisely so that the Son may draw all humanity into the relationship that exists between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. So this prayer reminds us that our unity, our “oneness” is to be a sign to the world of God’s love for us in Jesus Christ. Therefore, it is a thing of great joy to know that each Christian, no matter how insignificant, humble, unknown, poor, unlearned, or despised is been remembered in prayer by Jesus who is now seated at the right hand of God the Father, who will always grant his request.

So if  we can value the prayers of our friends. How much more should we value the prayer of the Son of God. Because from this single prayer of Jesus, we Christians are infinitely more privileged then any other people of the world. Thus, in the midst of any difficulty, trials, and struggles, we should be more confidence once we remember that the Son of God prays for us, and his  prayers will surely be heard by God. It is this confidence that St. Paul had when he testified before the tribunal of the chief priests and the entire Sanhedrin as we have it in our first reading, and next night, the Lord appeared to him and said, ‘Courage! You have borne witness for me in Jerusalem, now you must do the same in Rome.’

Dear friends, I don’t know what you are passing through now especially as regards your faith in Jesus? I don’t know what you are asking God to do for you? I don’t know how ugly the situation in your life has been? I don’t know whatever sickness your are passing through or how abandoned and rejected you feel right now? All I have to let you know is that Jesus has not stopped thinking and praying for you. All you have to do is to be confident and remain faithful like St. Paul and you will hear the Lord say to you ‘Courage my child! You have borne witness for me today through your struggles, now I must do the same for you by restoring you to a greater glory.

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

The Homily for Wednesday in Seventh Week of Eastertide Year B, 19th May, 2021

 The Homily for Wednesday in Seventh Week of Eastertide Year B, 19th May, 2021

Readings: Acts 20:28-38; Ps.68; John 17:11-19

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

LETTING OURSELVES BE SANCTIED IN TRUTH OF CHRIST IN ORDER TO BE ONE WITH HIM

Sanctity, truth and oneness are very vital concepts that any meaningful family, society, groups, community or religion will always need in order to achieve their mission and goals. These are very fundamental because of the role they play in ensuring that things are properly done in any environment they exist. Sanctity which is the quality of being holy comes from the Greek word Hagiason which is related to hagios, which means holy, that is to set apart for God’s service. 

So the concept of Sanctity, sets one apart for the particular service he/she has to render. Truth on the other hand comes from the Latin word veritas which means a representation of things as they are. This concept make one open to the really situation of the realities around him/her. And where these concepts are present openness and tolerance becomes possible, hence oneness and unity can be achieved. 

Therefore, knowing the important of sanctity, truth and oneness in achieving any mission and goal, Jesus in his High Priestly Prayer ask the Father to sanctify his disciples in truth and oneness as we have it in our Gospel passage today, when he prayed ‘Holy Father, keep those you have given me true to your name, so that they may be one just as we are one… I am not asking you to remove them from the world, but to protect them from the evil one. They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world, and for their sake I consecrate myself so that they too may be consecrated in truth'.  

In a similar way in our first reading, St. Paul prayed to the elders of the Church in Ephesus to be on their guard for themselves and for all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made them overseers, to feed the Church of God which he bought with his own blood and guide them against fierce wolves who will invade them and will have no mercy on the flock. For there will be men coming forward with a travesty of the truth on their lips to induce the disciples to follow them. 

So, from this passage truth becomes the midst by which the sanctification of the disciples will take place. But the evil in the world is a great hindrance to achieving this. However, their likeness to Jesus is the great ground of hope for they have been consecrated to the truth. And this is the real hope and holiness of all true Christians, for through this, the gift of the Holy Spirit is made available to the Church in order to be sanctified in the truth and so share in the oneness of which Christ prayed. This oneness is what the whole Christian community has to achieve and sustain both in nature, will, affection and understanding; not only in their union with Christ, but to one another; abiding together, cleaving to each other, standing fast in one Spirit, having the same designs, and the interest of the mission of the salvation of humanity at heart.

Dear friends, today we are called to embrace the divine truth by which we have been sanctified in order to achieve the goal of unity and oneness of which Christ prayed. This oneness is very important not only as Christians, but also as families, communities, co- workers, friends and couples. Let us allow the Holy Spirit to sanctify us once more to the truth and so achieve the oneness of which Christ prayed.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, sanctify us once again in the truth of which Your Son Jesus has given us, so, that we may once again achieve oneness in our family, society, in the Church and in the world at large through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed day. 

The Homily for Tuesday in Seventh Week of Eastertide Year B, 18th May, 2021

 The Homily for Tuesday in Seventh Week of Eastertide Year B, 18th May, 2021

Readings: Acts 20:17-27; Ps.68;  John 17:1-11

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

WHAT IS ETERNAL LIFE  AND HOW CAN WE OBTAIN IT?

The notion of eternal life is one of the things in the consciousness of most religious people and more especially Christians. Oftentimes, we hear people talking about eternal life as if it is like a movie that will soon begin. But the questions we need to ask ourselves are: what is eternal life? What does it really means to have eternal life? How can we obtain it? 

The answer to these questions is found in the High Priestly Prayer of Jesus which we have in our Gospel passage today. In the beginning of this prayer Jesus said: ‘Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”

From this prayer we come to know that knowledge is very important to understanding the meaning of eternal life and knowledge as we are told is one of the gifts for the Holy Spirit. So here, Jesus is saying that eternal life which traditionally refers to the continued life after death, is only possible by the knowledge of the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom He have sent.

The point here is that eternal life consists in the knowledge of the Father as the only Being answering to the ideal thought of God; and this knowledge is manifested in him, whom God anointed and sent into the world to declare his attributes and character for the sake of redeeming humanity which was possible through the incarnation, passion, death and resurrection of Jesus. Thus, eternal life which has been achieved for humanity has been given to believers who have been redeemed from sin and death. This is the sinful humanity's journey and process to eternal life, and when this knowledge has been made perfect, holiness and happiness will be fully achieved. 

These holiness and happiness of the redeemed, are exactly what the glory of Christ, and of his Father signifies. For Jesus endured the cross and death and so ends humanity's sorrows of sin and death, thereby obtaining the victory and glory of eternal life for humanity. Thus our glorifying God and is Son Jesus is needed as an evidence of our interest in Christ, through whom eternal life is given to us as an act of mercy, forgiveness and love, so that we become living souls with unspeakable joy. For his is the meaning of eternal life and the source and manner in which we can obtain it. 

Dear friends, everyday of our life we struggle to know God, through different means and in the Apostles' Creed we often say: I believe in God and his Son Jesus, I believe in the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. But the question is, do we really know God and his Son Jesus? Do our attitudes, behaviour and decisions an evidence of us knowing Christ, through whom eternal life is given to us as an act of mercy, forgiveness and love? Therefore we are called today to sincerely seek  to know God personally through his Son Jesus and so attain the eternal life which he has won for us.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, let us seek to know you more personally and so work hard to do Your will in order to attain eternal life of which you have given us through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed day.

The Homily for Monday in Seventh Week of Eastertide Year B, 17th May, 2021

 The Homily for Monday in Seventh Week of Eastertide Year B, 17th May, 2021

Readings: Acts 19:1-8; Ps.68;  John 16:29-33

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

FEAR NOT FOR JESUS HAS OVERCOME THE TRIBULATIONS OF THIS PASSING WORLD

Tribulations and sufferings have been the hallmark of most people’s experience in the world, sometimes we feel overwhelmed by the level of sufferings we are passing through everyday, the sad news we hear and see in our streets, the television and in the social media. These often make us feel hopeless and fearful because the situation is beyond our control. 

This kind of fearful situation is what Jesus is addressing in our Gospel passage today, knowing that very soon his disciples are going to face a worse situation, so he said to them “Listen; the time will come, in fact it has come already, when you will be scattered, each going his own way and leaving me alone. And yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. I have told you all this so that you may find peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but be brave: I have conquered the world.”

Here Jesus is telling his disciples these, not to discourage them but to prepare them for many troubles and tribulations they are going to face in the future, so that when the time comes they will find peace and confidence in him.  He told them not to worry because he has conquered the world, not in any political or economic sense but in overcoming the evil in the world and so, all the tribulations, sorrow, suffering have been conquered in Jesus through his passion death and resurrection. Therefore, his disciples can share in this victory, as long as they remain faithful and united in peace.

Dear friends, this same promise is available for us his disciples, who today are passing through great tribulations and sufferings in the world. We have to be courageous and find strength in words of Jesus who has conquered the world and all it’s evil and tribulations. For today, Jesus is reassuring us that no matter what is happening in our world, he is still in control and will always ensure that we come out victoriously. 

Thus, as we prepare and wait patiently for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, let us take our fears, sufferings, tribulations, sickness and disappointments to Jesus and ask him to give us the courage and strong faith, so that through the power of the Holy Spirit we will overcome all the ugly situations in our lives, families, societies and the world at large and so enjoy once again the peace of knowing that he is with us always till the end of time.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, may the power of the Holy Spirit come upon us, we pray, so that following your instructions, we may overcome the world and all the trials and tribulations we face everyday through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful week.

The Homily for Seventh Sunday in Eastertide Year B, The World Communications Sunday, 16th May, 2021

 The Homily for Seventh Sunday in Eastertide Year B, The World Communications Sunday, 16th May, 2021

Readings: Acts.1:15-17.20-26; Ps.103; 1 John 4:11-16;  John 17:11-19

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

THE PRAYERS OF JESUS AS WE WAIT FOR THE PROMISED  PARACLETE 

Today the seventh Sunday of the Holy season of Eastertide, the Church celebrates the world communication Sunday which was established by Pope Paul VI in 1967 an annual celebration , for communication as we know is a very important aspect of our faith. Prior to this event is Solemnity of the Ascension which we celebrated last Thursday, of which the Church waits prayerfully for the promised Paraclete. So the Church in this waiting disposition anticipate the promised Paraclete who will help her to communicate the message  of Christ to all humanity.

However, one of the difficult things we don’t like to hear when we are expecting something great to come our way is the word “wait”. The word wait can be very unpleasant to the ears of anyone who is desperately in need of something. But often times, we have little or no option not to wait, and in life we have a lot of waiting to do. We wait for the day to break, we wait for the month to end, we wait for the traffic, we wait for our admission, interviews, jobs, husband, wife, children, we wait and wait and wait, in fact, waiting on God is a regular message of faith which we hear everyday. Waiting can really be difficult and uncomfortable, it can be suicidal for those who lack the virtue of patience. 

Nonetheless, good and great things are worth waiting for. Little wonder, Jesus knowing how difficult it can be for his disciples to wait for the promised Paraclete, have to pray for them as we have it in our Gospel passage today when he said: Holy Father, keep those you have given me true to your name, so that they may be one like us. They do not belong to the world any more than I belong to the world. Consecrate them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world I have sent them into the world, and for their sake I consecrate myself so that they too may be consecrated in truth.

 

In this High Priestly prayer of Jesus, we heard the Lord Jesus asking the Father to sanctify his disciples in truth and oneness knowing the important of sanctity, truth and oneness in achieving their mission and goal. We can see the efficacy of this prayer of Jesus in the election of Matthias to the rank of the Twelve Apostles as we have it in our first reading, which can be seen as an example of how communication in prayer is such an important aspect and part of our faith. We cannot be a true Christian unless we open ourselves to the Lord and communicate with him regularly in order to know his will for us and for others and by so doing dwell in his love. Hence, we heard St John in our second reading saying: My dear people, since God has loved us so much, we too should love one another. No one has ever seen God; but as long as we love one another God will live in us and his love will be complete in us. 

Also, in this High Priestly Prayer, Jesus prayed for his disciples that the Father should take care of them in the midst of the evils in the world, that they should be one as he and the Father are one. In this prayer, Jesus shows us that prayer is a form of communication between us and God, whom we should love dearly and waiting patiently for His will to be done in our lives. This simply means, that we have to learn how to communicate regularly with God and wait patiently for his will be done. And in like manner, we must learn how to wait patiently with our loved ones, our friends, our family members and relatives, our spouses and others who are dear to us, we must learn how to wait patiently with life activities and the challenges and struggles that come with it.

Dear friends, as the disciples are waiting prayerfully for the promised Paraclete, we too are also called to prepare ourselves for the coming of the Holy Spirit this coming Pentecost Sunday, we are called to go to the upper room of our hearts and conscience and wait patiently for the out pouring of the Holy Spirit. We are called to prepare and wait on the Holy Spirit through the ongoing novena to the Holy Spirit. We are called to wait patiently for the fulfillment of God’s plan for each and every one of us just like Matthias. Though waiting may be difficult, but good and great things are worth waiting and prepared for.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, graciously hear our supplications,  as we wait patiently for the fulfillment of your promise, grant that when the Paraclete comes, may we be disposed to receive him as our Advocate and let him teach us what to do, how to do it, when to do it and give us the grace to do it properly through Christ our Lord. Amen.  Do have a grace filled Sunday.

The Homily for Saturday in Sixth Week of Eastertide Year B, 15th May, 2021

 The Homily for Saturday in Sixth Week of Eastertide Year B, 15th May, 2021

Readings: Acts 18:23-28; Ps.47;  John 16:23-28

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

WHY DO WE OFTEN CONCLUDE OUR PRAYERS BY SAYING: “THROUGH CHRIST OUR LORD”

People often asked why most of our liturgical prayers ends with the phrase ‘through Christ our Lord'. Is this necessary since God can here us directly? Anyway, the answer to this question is found in our Gospel passage today, when Jesus said to his disciples: ‘I tell you most solemnly, anything you ask from the Father he will grant in my name. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and so your joy will be complete... because the Father himself loves you for loving me.’

Here Jesus makes a solemn promise to his disciples that whatever they ask the Father in his name will be granted to them. This is because, in Jesus the disciples will experience a direct contact with the Father. Thus, his name becomes the link that will usher them into the divine relationship between the Son and the Father. For it is through this relationship that the disciples will come to experience the divine privilege that will give access to their request from God.  

Therefore the Greek word ‘dia’ which can be translated as both ‘by’ or ‘through’ can be linked to the words of Jesus when he said in John 14:6  ‘I am the way. No one can come to the Father except “through“ me’. Thus, Jesus is the way through which we can come to God the Father. For through Jesus, we have obtained access to the grace of being God’s children. 

This does not mean that God is inaccessible. Rather as we know God is spirit Whose nature is beyond our apprehension and different from our nature that are material and sinful. So to make himself known to us he sent his son to take our flesh upon him and to become human like us in order to free us from the power of sin and death so that we can be more closer to him through Christ his Son. Hence, asking God for something through Christ ushers us into the divine grace that gives us access to divine relationship with God the Father and this has become the normal way for the Church to pray to the Father as we do in all our liturgical prayers

Dear friends, God makes himself known to us through Jesus and we come to him through Jesus. Hence, Christ Jesus has become the divine grace through which we obtain the divine access into the divine life of the Trinity. And this is the source of our joy as Christians. For this give us the divine access to include Jesus  in our daily decision making, and try to see things the way he does and when this happens we transcend ourselves into the divine relationship that will make us to be open to the will of God and so obtain from him whatever we need since we will be inspired to pray according to his will.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we learn to present our needs to you through your Son Jesus, grant that we may obtain through him the divine access to your will and so obtain favour for all our petitions according to your Holy will through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a grace filled weekend.

The Homily for Friday in Sixth Week of Eastertide Year B, The Feast of St. Matthias, 14th May, 2021

 The Homily for Friday in Sixth Week of Eastertide Year B, The Feast of St. Matthias, 14th May, 2021

Readings: Acts 1: 15-17.20-26; Ps.112;  John 15:9-17

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

AS THE FATHER HAS LOVED ME, SO I HAVE LOVED YOU

One of the greatest gifts of God to humanity is love. A gift that shows how much he loves us by sending his Son whose life giving sacrifice means salvation for the world. So, the love that Jesus has for us is nothing less than the Divine love that unites the Persons of the Trinity and Jesus presented this love as life that must continue among his disciples.

 That’s while love is beyond human nature and when we love, we are actually acting out that very nature of God in us and this can be overwhelming and mysterious because love is the nature of God that we share. That is why in our Gospel passage today Jesus said to his disciples: ‘As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 

Hence, today as we celebrate the feast of St. Matthias, we see how the apostles worked so hard to keep the Lord’s commandments and remain in his love as they chose Matthias to replace the traitor, Judas Iscariot, who betrayed the Lord and then killed himself in regret and grief. Thus, Matthias, one of the earliest followers of Jesus, was chosen in order to complete the number of the Twelve Apostles as we have it in our first reading. History has it that, St. Matthias out of love, went on to serve the Lord and his Church faithfully, for he went on many missions and travelled as far as Ethiopia. He laboured hard to establish the Church and the faith in different places and preached the Good News of the Lord, calling many to conversion and the true faith. 

Tradition has it, that Matthias suffered martyrdom in Colchis in Asia Minor. No doubt that St. Matthias together with the other Apostles gave their lives, their works, their dedication and their whole heart to serve God and his Church, practicing and doing what Jesus had commanded them to do, which is to keep the commandments of God so as to remain in his love. 

Dear friends, let us keep the Lord’s commandments, let us embrace Jesus and the love he is offering us. Let us like St. Matthias serve the Lord and His Church faithfully by spreading his love everywhere we find ourselves. The truth is that, it actually feels right and awesome to experience and share the love of God. I don’t know if you have ever loved someone and you show it, or someone loves you and shows it? Or somebody loves you and you know it, it is something great and awesome, because love bring life, 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: Lord God, You chose St Matthias to become one of the Apostles, grant that through his intercession, we may keep your commandments and remain in your love. And help us to spread this love to the world and by so doing conquer the hatred, self-centeredness, greed and sin rooted in our families, societies and the world at large. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen  Do have a lovely day.

The Homily for Thursday in Sixth Week of Eastertide Year B, The Solemnity of Ascension,13th May, 2021

 The Homily for Thursday in Sixth Week of Eastertide Year B,  The Solemnity of Ascension,13th May, 2021

Readings: Acts1:1-11; Ps. 47; Eph. 4:1-13; Mark 16:15-20

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

 THE HOPE OF HUMANITY ARE NOT LIMITED TO THE BOUNDARIES OF THIS PASSING WORLD

The Joy of the risen Lord has filled the hearts of his disciples as they experience his physical presence for the past forty days after his death and resurrection. So on the occasion of today the Lord Jesus in the present of his disciples was physically ascended into heaven as they watched him taken away in the cloud, to return to his heavenly Throne, triumphant and victorious. It was a moment of great hope for them as they wished to be with him for eternity. However, they have a mission to accomplish, they are to bear witness to the events and testified about it on their missions and pass it down as a true hope for humanity.

Thus, the solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, reminds us that great moment of hope when the Lord triumph victoriously and no longer physically present among his disciples and followers, as they can no longer directly see him or touch him as they had been during all the while he was physically present with them. But this does not mean that the Lord has abandoned or left his disciples, rather he has gone to fulfill his promise of preparing a place for his faithful disciples, and will also send a great Helper to assist them.

Therefore, the feast of the Ascension of the Lord does not mean that Jesus has departed to some place far from people and from the world. Rather it means that he no longer belongs to the world conditioned by the life of corruption and death, as he now belongs entirely to God as the eternal Son, who has purified the filthiness of humanity and raised us into God’s presence by taking with him our flesh and blood in its transfigured form and this is a thing of great hope and joy for all who believe in him. It is these great joy and hope that we celebrate today. An event that shows that humanity has been introduced into the very life of God. 

Hence, from the readings of today, we have the details of this great event and the last instructions of Jesus to his disciples. In the first reading, before the Ascension, Jesus said to his disciples: ‘you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and then you will be my witnesses not only in Jerusalem but throughout Judaea and Samaria, and indeed to the ends of the earth. As he said this he was lifted up while they looked on, and a cloud took him from their sight.’ 

While in the Gospel passage , Jesus instruct his disciples saying; Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News to all creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; he who does not believe will be condemned. As they preached everywhere, the Lord worked with them and confirming their words with great signs that accompanied it. In addition, St Paul in the second reading says: ‘he ascended’, what can it mean if not that he descended right down to the lower regions of the earth? The one who rose higher than all the heavens to fill all things is none other than the one who descended. And to some, his gift was that they should be apostles; to some, prophets; to some, evangelists; to some, pastors and teachers; so that the saints together make a unity in the work of service, building up the body of Christ. And so come to unity in our faith and in our knowledge of the Son of God, until we become the perfect Man, fully mature with the fullness of Christ himself. 

Dear friends, the occasion of the Ascension of the Lord is a confirmation of the reality of heaven, which reminds us that God has always been faithful and loving as he fulfills his covenants and promises to humanity. It reminds us of our mission to evangelize the world, to give hope to humanity by letting them know that human hope and life are beyond the boundaries of this passing world.  It reminds us that God will always be with us no matter what we are passing through in this world for he will always provide for us and care for us at all times. Hence, we must have faith in him no matter how challenging and difficult the situation in our lives may be, we must have hope and trust in God that at the end everything will be fine. 

Let us hold on to the Lord for this occasion is indeed a great time for us to recall the hope that we found in Jesus' triumphant victory over evil, sin and condemnation. Let us celebrate the greatest hope that God has given to humanity by letting us to share in the very Life of the Trinity. The hope that humanity will one day be united body and soul with our Lord and Saviour Jesus. A confirmation of the reality of heaven, for this is the central message of the event of the Ascension that gives great joy and hope to all who believes, which as disciples, we are called to bear witness to the world. 

Therefore, let us share this great hope to the people of the world by letting the light of Christ in us illuminate the darkness and ignorance in the world. Let us share this hope through our words, actions and deeds. Let our presence bring hope and encouragement, not hatred and division. Let our actions bring healing and succour in hopeless situations. Let our deeds inspire humanity to come to know God and embrace the victory Jesus has won for us. 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, let this solemnity of the Lord’s Ascension, enkindle in us the passion to love you more dearly and to spread in the world the Joy and hope we have found in Jesus. Let these Joy and hope bring healing, succour, strength and courage that will help us to overcome the ugly and hopeless situations in our lives, families, societies and the world at large. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen. Peace be with you.

The Homily for Wednesday in Sixth Week of Eastertide Year B, 12th May, 2021

 The Homily for Wednesday in Sixth Week of Eastertide Year B, 12th May, 2021

Readings: Acts 17:15.22-18:1; Ps.148;  John 16:12-15

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

THE TIME OF IGNORANCE IS OVER BECAUSE THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH HAS BE GIVEN TO US

One of the Spiritual works of Mercy is instructing the ignorant, and this is one of the difficult tasks to do as Christian, especially when it comes to dealing with people who are presumed to be learned. This kind of difficulty is what St. Paul has to face with the people of Athens in our first reading today. So Paul finding himself in the most learned city in the world of his time needed to preach the Good News of God to them. But the theme for his message have to be something that will interest his audience.

Thus, he started by clearing their ignorance regarding what he knew they were searching for. He said to them: “I have seen for myself how extremely scrupulous you are in all religious matters, because I noticed, as I strolled round admiring your sacred monuments, that you had an altar inscribed: To An Unknown God. Well, the God whom I proclaim is in fact the one whom you already worship without knowing it.”

In this passage St. Paul claims that this unknown God is none other than God the Creator. He gave us evidence of the ignorance of pagan worship and made it clear that the object of true worship is the one Creator God. He showed us the proper relationship between humanity and God as he lets us know that the time of ignorance is now over. Also, Paul speaks of God’s creative act of humanity, from a single person Adam, he made every race of people and in him we live and move and exist. 

Therefore, we are God’s offspring, his true image in the world. Thus any image made by human skill and creativity will possibly be anything other than a distortion of the image of the one, true God. And so Paul warns us from involving in any form of idol worship as he called for total repentance because God will no longer overlook our ignorance. This is evident in our Gospel passage today, when Jesus said: ‘I still have many things to say to you but they would be too much for you now. But when the Spirit of truth comes he will lead you to the complete truth, since he will not be speaking as from himself but will say only what he has learnt; and he will tell you of the things to come.’

Dear friends, there are many idols that enslaved us in this world that when we are suddenly deprived of them we end up acting irrational and selfish, even to the point of hurting others just so that we may protect and justify ourselves. But the truth is that, the time of ignorance is over, for today we have before us the Spirit of truth. We can no longer pretend to be ignorant of God’s instructions. Therefore, let us repent from our sinful ways of life and embrace the Spirit of truth who will clear our ignorance. 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are ignorant of so many things about you and the world we live in, grant that the Holy Spirit of truth, will continue to teach us about you and the faith we have found in our Son Jesus as he unveils the darkness of lies and falsehood in our world. He who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. God bless you.

The Homily for Tuesday in Sixth Week of Eastertide Year B, 11th May, 2021

 The Homily for Tuesday in Sixth Week of Eastertide Year B, 11th May, 2021

Readings: Acts 16:22-34; Ps.138;  John 16:5-11

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

THE WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IS TO CONVINCE THE WORLD OF SIN, RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUDGEMENT

As Jesus continues with his teaching on the Person of the Holy Spirit, whom he called the Counsellor, Jesus said to his disciples in our Gospel passage, ‘I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Counsellor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgement.’

The focal point here is on the works of the Holy Spirit in the world. This is because Jesus knows that with the rejection of his teaching by the people of the world, the disciples need an advocate who will surely proved to the world how wrong they are in rejecting and killing him. Hence, What seemed like abandonment to the disciples, brought about the message of hope assuring them that the Holy Spirit will show the world how wrong it was, about sin and about judgment. That is, the Spirit will convict and persuade the people of the world of their sinful condition which they hold so tight because they were wrong for not believe in Jesus. 

Thus the Holy Spirit will clearly show to the world the righteousness of Jesus and his claims to come from God in order to bring the Word of God anew to the world. The Holy Spirit will reveal the meaning of Christ’s death as the condemnation of all that is evil in the world, and victory over devil the prince of this world. This is so evidence in our first reading, were we heard about the victory of Paul and Silas who were praying and singing God’s praises in the prison when the prison doors were opened. 

Dear friends, as we struggle with the ugly situation in the world, we are reminded that the Holy Spirit dwells in us as our Counsellor, all we need to do is to turn towards him with hope and courage, knowing that God has called us to be his people and he will always be faithful to his promises. And if we trust in him, we shall not be disappointed for in him alone is our sure hope of assistance during this difficult moments of our lives. 

Therefore, let us open our hearts to the Holy Spirit and let him be the sources of hope, light and inspiration for us especially in this difficult moment of fears of uncertainties in our hearts and minds, which have enslaved and prevented us from realizing what our lives truly mean and what we represent in this world. Let us know that God has not and will not abandon us in the ugly situation we have found ourselves in this passing world, for he has given us the gift of the Holy Spirit, whose work is to ensure our victory and prove to this sinful world how wrong they are in rejecting and persecuting Jesus and the work of redemption which he has established.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, the ugly situation in our world is really shaking the faith of your children, grant, we pray, that we may always find delight in the indwelling of your Holy Spirit and so courageously conquer our fears and worries just like Paul and Silas. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. May God bless and keep you safe.

The Homily for Monday in Sixth Week of Eastertide Year B, 10th May, 2021

 The Homily for Monday in Sixth Week of Eastertide Year B, 10th May, 2021

Readings: Acts 16:11-15; Ps.149;  John 15:26-16:4

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

THE PROMISE OF AN ADVOCATE THAT WILL LEAD US TO THE PATHS OF TRUTH

In our societies today there are many false influential powers that have great effect in our lives coming from various source under the guise of good but are in fact leading us astray. So, there is need for us to examine these influences and today in our Gospel passage, Jesus said to his disciples: when the Advocate comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, he will be my witness. And you too will be witnesses, because you have been with me from the outset. ‘I have told you all this that your faith may not be shaken.

Thus, the Holy Spirit will lead us to learn how to distinguish clearly where and in whom dwells the Spirit of truth from the spirit of falsehood. As long as we are of God and in Christ, we have nothing to fear for we do not belong any more to this present world, full of sin, hatred, greed, corruption, deceit and violence. Everyday many false prophets and teachers are increasing and are deceiving the people. May God guide us against embracing, too readily, any doctrine proposed to us without due consideration from any teacher that may pretend to have a divine inspiration but are not.

Dear friends, we must be very wise for there are many false prophets operating under the power of the devil. Today Jesus is promising us the Spirit of truth that will give us a special sign for distinguishing true doctrine and true teachers from the false ones. Therefore, let us constantly ask the Holy Spirit to give us the grace of discernment in order to distinguish between good and false prophets and teachers. Let us also be true Christians in our way of life, words and deeds. Let us learn to put our trust in God who has promised to keep us from falling away from the true faith we have found in His Son Jesus.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, you promised to send us the Spirit of truth, grant we pray that we will always stand and witness to the truth we have found in Jesus against all the false influential prophets and teachers in our society today, he who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. Do have a fruitful week

The Homily for Sixth Sunday in Eastertide Year B, 9th May, 2021

 The Homily for Sixth Sunday in Eastertide Year B, 9th May, 2021

Readings: Acts.10:25-26.34-35.44-48; Ps.98; 1 John 4:7-10;  John 15:9-17

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

LOVE IS ALL THE LORD HAS OFFERED TO US AND LOVE IS ALL HE DEMANDS FROM US

As we celebrate the sixth Sunday of the holy season of Eastertide, our attention is being drawn more on the departure of Jesus who has been with his disciples. With the Solemnity of the Ascension coming up on Thursday within the week, in anticipation of the Solemnity of the Pentecost coming very soon, the readings of today draw our attention to the last and very important words of departure from Jesus to his disciples. This departing words is summarized in one word which is Love.

Thus, our readings today have love as it central theme. In our Gospel passage, Jesus said to his disciples: “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my own joy may be in you and your joy be complete. This is my commandment: love one another, as I have loved you. A man can have no greater love than to lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends, if you do what I command you.” 

In a similar way, we heard St. John in our second reading saying: my dear people, let us love one another since love comes from God and everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. But anyone who fails to love can never have known God, because God is love.

Here, our attention is focused on love.  But what kind of love are they taking about. Is it the type of love we have in our world today, the love that is based on feelings for selfish gain and lustful desires? I don’t think so, for Jesus didn’t say, I love you as a mother loves her baby or I love you the way a husband loves his wife or wife to her husband, or I love you the way the children love their parents or even I love you the way a girlfriend loves her boyfriend, nor the way people love their worldly possessions.

No, the love Jesus is taking about is the sacrificial love that comes from the heart and soul of one who is rooted in the life of the Trinity, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. This is why Jesus is taking about the love of the Father towards the Son, and of the Son towards his disciples, and of his disciples toward God and our neighbour. This love is joined together with an inseparable seal of the heavenly joy. That is why Jesus said: my own joy may be in you and your joy be complete

Thus, Jesus is speaking of the power of love, that life giving passion that transforms and unite the disciples with the master in a relationship that portrays their new status. For they are no longer to be seen as “servants” but as “friends.” It was by the effects of the cross and resurrection of Jesus that they have come to know what this sacrificial love has accomplish in them through their unity and abiding relationship with Jesus in God the Father. 

Hence, this action now make it further clear that the power to respond to his command to love one another comes from his choice for them when he said: “you did not chose me, I chose you, I have called you; I have chosen you; I have commissioned you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last. Little wonder we heard St. Peter saying in our first reading: ‘The truth I have now come to realize is that God does not have favourites, but that anybody of any nationality who fears God and does what is right is acceptable to him.’

Dear friends, what is God demanding from us?  What does he expect from us as his disciples? The answer is love, sacrificial love, for love is what he requires from us. Love is all he has offered us, love is all he is demanding from us. He is not asking us to offer what he has not given us. He is rather asking us to offer that which he has offered us in abundance. I know that it is not easy to bear the sacrificial nature of love in our world today, but that is what the world needs now. Loving one another requires sacrifice, sacrifice of our comfort, resource, talent, gifts and pride. Loving one another requires forgiveness, mercy, care and humility and not the life of I, I, I, Me, Me, Me that we practice this days.

So. Let us not just think about ourselves and our selfish desires, but consider the needs of others and bear that sacrificial aspect of love. How I wish that humanity can embrace this command of our Lord Jesus, by investing more on the things that ensues love and unity in our societies rather than spending  our energy, time and resources in producing heavy ammunitions of war that breads more hatred and division in our world. 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, love is what you have offered us, love is all you demand from us. As we listened to your words today, may we embrace your love in our hearts and share it with one another even in the midst of persecutions and hatred in our world. Let your love reign supreme in our lives, our families, societies, countries and the world at large. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a spirit filled Sunday.

The Homily for Saturday in Fifth Week of Eastertide Year B, 8th May, 2021

 The Homily for Saturday in Fifth Week of Eastertide Year B, 8th May, 2021

Readings: Acts 16:1-10; Ps.100;  John 15:18-21

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

WHY WORLDLY MINDED PEOPLE HATE CHRISTIANS?

There is no doubt that threat breeds fear, insecurity and anger which brings about the negative feeling we called hatred. Little wonder the word ‘Hate’ is often used to express a negative feeling towards something or someone who we presumed to have some threat over us or something related to us. Meanwhile, hatred as we know is direct opposite of love. This definition is very important in order to understand the teaching of Jesus in our Gospel passage today, when he said to his disciples: “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me before you. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you do not belong to the world, because my choice withdrew you from the world, therefore the world hates you.”

Here, Jesus who has been talking to his disciples about love and commanding them to love one another is today warning and telling them that, there is no guarantee that they will be loved in return by the people of the world. He used himself as an example of how they may be treated, that if the world hated and persecuted him so badly, his disciples should expect to be treated the same way. But why would the worldly minded people hated and persecuted Jesus and his disciples?

This is because the presence and words of Jesus bring great light and judgment to the darkness of this world, and the people of the world loves darkness rather than the Light, since their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. So the presence of Jesus the light of the world threatens the people of the world and this breeds fear, insecurity and anger which brings about the negative feeling of hatred for Jesus and those who associate with him. 

More so, it is important to note that, when Jesus talks about the “world” as we have it the Gospel passage, he is not referring to the physical world but the people who are so attached to the things of this world. People who have made the things of this passing world their God and have come to trust in their ability to exploit others and acquire the earth as their own. They try very hard to cover their sin and silence the voice of conscience accusing them of their sins. But here are Christians constantly reminding them of their sins as they strive to live a life of holiness which of course stirs up again all those thoughts and feelings of guilt which they wished to silenced. Hence, this threat breeds fear, insecurity and anger that gives birth to hatred of Christian by worldly minded people.

Dear friends, today we are called to bear witness even in the face of hatred and hostility. For spite of the world’s hatred, we should never respond with retaliation or hatred. Yes, there may be times to ask God to judge the wicked. There may be times to shake the dust off our feet and move on, of course we have to, knowing that we can do so through the Spirit of truth dwelling in us. For through our Baptism, we have received the Holy Spirit in us, which helps us strive to live a life of love and righteous even in the midst of persecutions and hatred.

LET US PRAY: Almighty and eternal God, who through the regenerating power of Baptism have been pleased to confer on us the heavenly life, grant us, we pray, the grace to bear authentic witness of your love and peace in the world full of hatred and strive. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a lovely and peaceful weekend.