Homily For Friday Second Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 20th January, 2023

The Feast of Blessed Cyprian Michael Iwene Tansi

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

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

LEARN TO ACQUIRE THE ULTIMATE TREASURE OF HEAVEN JUST LIKE BLESSED TANSI

 

In the  scriptures,  it is obvious that Jesus often use parables to passage important message to his audience. Little wonder in our Gospel passage today, he used two parables to describe to the people that the kingdom of God is the greatest and ultimate treasure anyone can and should acquire. Here, he describe the kingdom of God as the ultimate treasure that cannot be compared to anything whatsoever we have in this world.

 

However, the kingdom is open for all, but not all can be suitable to dwell in it, only those who on the judgement day are found suitable can be admitted into the kingdom. Using these parables Jesus explains what the kingdom of heaven is like and what we need to do in order to acquire it.

 

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

 

Tansi dedicated himself not only to daily contemplative prayer but also to active ministry. He evangelized the youth, prepared couples for marriage, visited the sick. He was a very good confessor, he promoted vocations to priesthood and religious life, and provided for the needs of the poor.  Thus, in the life of Tansi, we see one who discovered the great treasure of heaven, sold everything and acquired it.

 

In Tansi we see how the light of faith sowed in him like the mustard seed grows to give hope to many people. So, the humble beginning of the Christian faith sown in him was well watered by the Holy Spirit to grow and give life and hospitality to people of the world. And St Paul in our first reading today said do not look to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: who, though was in the form of God,  did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped.

 

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

 

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

 

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