Homily For Tuesday Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 1st August, 2023. The Memorial of St Alphonsus Liguori. Happy New Month

Readings: Ex. 33:7-11.34:5-9.28; Ps. 103, Matt 13:36-43

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

LEARN TO LISTEN CAREFULLY TO THE MESSAGE OF GOD'S KINGDOM

 

For many days now we have been listening to Jesus telling us about the kingdom of God and the need for us to prepare to embrace it. In most of the occasions Jesus used parables to communicate the important of this message. Having listened to him carefully, his disciples in our Gospel passage today asked him to explain the parable of the wheat and the darnel and he said:

 

 “The sower of the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world; the good seed is the subjects of the kingdom; the darnel, the subjects of the evil one; the enemy who sowed them, the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; the reapers are the angels. Well then, just as the darnel is gathered up and burnt in the fire, so it will be at the end of time. The Son of Man will send his angels and they will gather out of his kingdom all things that provoke offences and all who do evil, and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth. Then the virtuous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Listen, anyone who has ears!”

 

What is most important in this message is for us to “Listen carefully”. This is because the world as we know is coming to an end, for the day of reckoning is very close at hand. This could be the first trumpet might as well be the last. For it is obvious from the signs we are seeing around us today. How can we interpret the signs of this times, the signs that tell us that this world is passing away.

 

Many are suffering and many more will have to suffer from greediness of others. Many have died and may more will have to die. Many are perishing in sin, many more will have to perish if we refuse to repent from sin and greediness. Little wonder we heard Moses in our first reading while praying for the people of Israel who have failed to listen to God said: ‘If I have indeed won your favour, Lord,’ I beg. True, they are a headstrong people, but forgive us our faults and our sins, and adopt us as your heritage.

 

This is what we see in the life of St. Alphonsus Liguori, whose memorial we celebrate today. He was the founder of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, also known as the Redemptorists. He was truly a holy man and a role model that we can emulate in our own lives. St. Alphonsus Liguori was remembered for his great piety and dedication to serve the people of God just like Moses. He was known for his simple and yet effective homilies, his courageous and loving outreach to those under his care and in touch with the plight and troubles of the people in his community.

 

Dear friends, we are called to learn how to listen to God and pay attention to the signs is giving us. But do these signs make us to be afraid of the second coming of the Lord or do we joyfully awaits its coming? Because the explanation of this parable gives us an account of what will happen on the day of reckoning. And today, we are called to really examine our conscience to know where we are with regards to our vocation as Christians.

 

What will be our lot if the Lord calls us today? Will we be among the virtuous who will shine like the sun in the kingdom of our Father? Or among those that will be thrown out of his kingdom and sent into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth?

 

The answer to this question is available in our consciences and if we listen carefully now we will hear, for things are not the way they used to be, we all have to face the reality now. Everyday is a golden opportunity, today may be the only opportunity for us to change our sinful ways of life and embrace God completely.

 

LET US PRAY:  Heavenly Father, as we listen carefully to your word, let the groans of your children come before you. And through the intercession of St. Alponsus, help us to embrace your word and be prepared to embrace your kingdom on the day of reckoning, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Happy New Month and God bless you.

Homily For Monday Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 31st July, 2023 The Memorial of St. Ignatius Loyola

Readings: Ex.32:15-24.30-34; Ps. 106; Matt. 13:31-35

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

 

HOW ARE YOU NURTURING THE YEAST AND MUSTARD SEED OF FIATH PLANTED IN YOU HEARTS

 

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

 

In the scriptures especially in Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus used the mustard seed in two different analogies. First in today’s Gospel passage, where Jesus compares the Kingdom of God to a mustard seed growing from the Word of God spoken to the hearts of his few disciples which will grow and spread to the hearts of all humanity. This analogy focuses on the size of the seed that grows to become a might tree that gives shelter and salvation to all.

 

The second analogy of the mustard seed is found in Matt. 17:20. In this analogy, Jesus is not speaking of the size of the mustard seed, but the faith of the people as that of a mustard seed. Telling us that just as the mustard seed responds to the word of God and grows into a might tree, so will the faith of the people grow into great vessel through hearing and doing the word of God. However, God has given humanity the freedom to choose whether to hear his word and embrace the faith so as to bear fruits of the kingdom or to reject it and perish.

 

Nevertheless, these two analogies of the mustard seed symbolize the humble beginnings of the Christian faith which is well nurtured and watered by the Holy Spirit to grow and give life and hospitality to all the people of the world. However, we know that there are good for nothing seeds present in this world to deceive people from listening to God’s word, seeds such as: fear, regrets, doubt, jealousy, hatred, disrespect, greediness, lying, gossip, impurity, wickedness and all sorts of sinful acts. For those who embrace these good for nothing seeds follow the dictates of their own hard hearts and will soon be thrown away as good for nothing, because they have not listened to God’s words.

 

Therefore, let us not embrace such good for nothing seeds, rather we should learn to embrace the mustard seed of faith entrusted to us and nurture it just like St. Ignatius of Loyala whose memorial we celebrate today, for he let the word of God to dwell in his heart and bear great fruit that became great instrument for God’s salvation for humanity. In a similar way we are also entrusted with different seeds of responsibilities that seems very little as mustard seed, but are we nurturing them to grow into great trees for God’s Kingdom?

 

Dear friends, in the world today, we have different kinds of responsibilities in form of seeds. But the question remains, what kind of seeds are we embracing and watering in our lives today? Are we watering valuable mustard seeds of faith and love or weeds of fear, regrets, doubt, jealousy, hatred, disrespect, greediness, lying, gossip, impurity, wickedness and all kinds of sinful deeds that will destroy us?

 

Today we are called to quit watering these weeds because that's what the enemies want and we must not fall into their traps. Rather we are called like St. Ignatius of Loyola to nurture and water those valuable mustard seeds of faith, love, holiness, hospitality, obedience, charity and make them our values of life. For when we feed and water such values, they will grow stronger like the mustard tree where people may find solace and so build up God’s kingdom.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as you sow the seeds of your word and faith in our hearts, through the intercession of St. Ignatius, give us the grace to grow it into the mustard tree of love, holiness and hospitality. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful week ahead.

Homily For Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A, 30th July, 2023

Readings: 1kings 3:5.7-12, Ps 119, Rom. 8:28-30, Matt. 13: 44-52

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

 

WHAT IS YOUR ULTIMATE TREASURE OF LIFE?

 

Everyday under terrible scourges of the sun and noisy street, people struggle to acquire things that they value as treasures of life. The quarreling and fighting in our streets, the early morning rush, the traffic jam, the aggressive words we give and receive everyday, all just to acquire things of this life and make them our treasures of life. And people are never tired of acquiring properties for themselves and their generation yet to come, forgetting that all these things sooner or later passes away as we ourselves expire from this world. Thus, this Sunday we are called to reflect on what should be our ultimate treasure and how we can acquire it.

 

In our first reading and the Gospel, we heard of the need to focus our attention on the search for the ultimate treasure. And for king Solomon, his greatness treasure was the wisdom and discernment to govern the people entrusted to him. So when the Lord appeared to him in a dream not long after he had succeeded his father, king David, the Lord told him to ask whatever he wanted and it would be given to him. In a display of wisdom, Solomon asked for listening heart to understand how to discern between good and evil in order to be able to govern God's people.

 

Though he would have asked for more power, glory or wealth, but he asked for the wisdom to discern the good from the bad, and to be able to lead the people of God wisely in the ways of the Lord. The Lord was pleased with Solomon's request and promised to bless him and his people with wise and discerning mind like none before and after him. So, the wisdom that he obtained, was not so much of selfish desire or was it for personal gain, but for his office as a leader. And as we know, wisdom and discernment are part of the characteristics of heavenly treasures.

 

Little wonder, in the Gospel, Jesus used three parables to describe to the people that the kingdom of God is the greatest and ultimate treasure anyone can and should acquire. He said to them: the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field which someone has found; he hides it again, goes off happy, sells everything he owns and buys the field.

 

Again he said, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls; when he finds one of great value he goes and sells everything he owns and buys it. And lastly he said, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet cast into the sea that brings in fish of all kinds. When it is full, the fishermen haul it ashore; then, sitting down, they collect the good ones in a basket and throw away those that are no use.

 

Here, the first and second parables describe the kingdom of God as the ultimate treasure that cannot be compared to anything whatsoever we have in this world while the third parable tells us that 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. The essence of these parables is to remind us that the kingdom of heaven is so precious and great, that it is worth more than our entire life and our worldly possessions and treasures.

 

 Therefore, we must do all that it takes to ensure that we acquire it, losing it over the temporal pleasure, joy, glory, fame, power and influence of the things of this passing world will be complete foolishness. For none of them last forever and what good is it for us to gain the whole world but loses our soul out of God’s kingdom. Thus, St. Paul in our second reading tells us that God co-operates with all those who love and desire his kingdom, those who are called according to his purpose. For those he called he justified, and with those he justified he share his glory.

 

Dear friends, in the midst of false and perishable treasures around us, what is your ultimate treasure of life? If the Lord should give us opportunity to make request of what our heart desires, what would you request for? Solomon sought an understanding mind to govern and care for God’s people. He wanted the ability to discern between good and evil. He recognized that selfish attitude could not sustain his kingdom, so he requested for heavenly treasure.

 

Today how many of us are paying attention to this ultimate heavenly treasure? What is our ultimate treasure in this life? How many thinks and search for this ultimate treasure of our souls? How many desires to personally discover God in their life? How I wish we will understand the shortness of this life, the emptiness of this passing world and the danger of losing our soul out of greediness for the things of this passing world. Then, we will sincerely desire to experience God personally, because in him lies the ultimate treasure of life. And discovering God personally is the greatest treasure one can ever have.

 

PRAYER: Almighty God, the world is full of distractions from false treasures, give us a wise and discerning hearts in order to give up all our attachments to worldly possessions in pursue of the heavenly and ultimate treasure of your kingdom, through Christ our Lord. Amen. Peace be with you.

Homily For Saturday Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 29th July, 2023

The Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus

Readings: Ex. 24:3-8; Ps. 50; Luke 10:38-42

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

ARE YOU TOO BUSY AND ANXIOUS LIKE MARTHA? LEARN TO LISTEN LIKE MARY

 

Today we celebrate the memorial of Saints, Martha, Mary and Lazarus very close family friends of Jesus. In this family we see what should be a good example of our attitude towards Jesus in our families. In our relationship with Jesus we often do not know what Jesus requires from us.  Oftentimes we worry about so many things in life, and this often distracts us from relating with Jesus properly. But Jesus will always have a way of teaching us how to relate with him despite our different charisms and disposition.

 

This is what is playing out in our Gospel passage today, where we heard the story of how Martha was so busy trying to make Jesus comfortable as he visited them at their house in Bethany. But when Martha observed that her sister Mary was not helping out in the preparation, rather was busy listening to Jesus, she said to Jesus: “Lord, do you not care that my sister is leaving me to do the serving all by myself? Please tell her to help me.’ But the Lord answered: ‘Martha, Martha,’ ‘you worry and fret about so many things, and yet few are needed, indeed only one. It is Mary who has chosen the better part; it is not to be taken from her”.

 

Here, Jesus is not condemning this great sacrificial virtue nor condoning laziness. Rather, he is saying that busy without listening and listening without doing is completely worthless. Because in our relationship with him, Jesus wants us to learn how to listen to him even in our busy schedules. Hence, he gently corrected the impression of Martha who was too busy and distracted with so many things that she risks losing sight of what is really important, that is, listening to Jesus. This is because Martha gives the impression that Mary is just sitting there doing nothing. But, in fact, she was listening to Jesus.

 

However, Jesus is not telling us to be content with sitting down to listen to his word, for he always insists that the best way of listening to his word is by putting it into practice. While his objection to Martha is because she was too anxious and distracted by many things that she was not able to really listen to him and for Jesus listening is the best option.

 

This act of listening to God is what the people in the first reading today failed to do. That is why Moses made them to listen when he told them all the commands of the Lord and all the ordinances. In answer, all the people who listened  said with one voice, ‘We will observe all the commands that the Lord has decreed.

 

Dear friends, in our relationship with Jesus, are we more of listener or more of accommodating and caring? Are we more like Martha, Mary or Lazarus for they were all close family friends of Jesus? Today many of us are so busy and anxious of so many things that we have no time to listen to God speaking to us and addressing the situation we are actually busy trying to solve.

 

Today we are called like Martha to pause and listen, so that we can hear God speaking to us and directing us towards the right path. Remember, Martha who was known as a friend of Jesus, loved to welcome him into her home, let us also learn from her, for it is a great virtue to be hospitable and caring especially when we spend quality time to listen to God and letting him direct and guide us towards carrying out our daily tasks without being distracted by the things of this passing world.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are anxious and worried about so many things, but indeed only one thing is needed, give us the grace to truly listen to your word and so have a caring and hospitable family just like St. Martha, Mary and Lazarus. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful weekend.

Homily For Friday Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 28th July, 2023

Readings: Ex.20:1-17, Ps. 19; Matt. 13:18-23

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

 

DO NOT LET THE THINGS OF THIS PASSING WORLD TURN YOUR HEART INTO A ROCKY GROUND

 

A critical observation of the structure of our society, one will easily notice how people are struggling with the things of this life, our passion, our determination and willingness are deep rooted in the worldly things. For we are so much attached to the things of this passing world that we pay little or no attention to things that edifice the soul. We work so hard to fill our hearts with the rocks and thorns of life that we have no room for the Word of God to blossom in our hearts.

 

This unhealthy and ugly attitudes is what Jesus is addressing in our Gospel passage today as he explains the parable of the sower, pointing out our different dispositions towards the Word of God in relation to our interior life. Here, Jesus describe different kinds of obstacles to God's Word, for there are four obstacles that can distract us from making our hearts a fertile soil. These obstacles include: shallow mindedness, hardened heart, worldly desires and finally, trails and persecutions.

 

Today, because of our uncontrolled desire for things of this world, most people fall in some, if not in all of these obstacles. For a lot of people do hear and talk about the Word of God, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth will always choke the word we hear and it yields nothing, because it has no root to sustain it in our hearts.

 

Also, we often hardened our hearts by following the dictates of your own stubborn attitude thereby making our hearts a rocky ground where God’s Word not bear much fruit. Thus, we are called to examine whether our soul is like dry rocky ground or have been choked by the thorns of this life. For it is time to regularly seek to nourish our soul and prepare it to receive the Holy Word of God, So that we can create a fertile disposition within our heart in order to let the Word bear fruit in our soul.

 

Dear friends, as the Lord gave us the ten commandments as we have it in our first reading, how are we receiving it and applying it in our daily life. Remember, our hearts are the fields in which the Word of God is spread today. But to which do our hearts belong: the path way, the rocky ground, the thorns or the good soil of faith and hope. Whichever one, we are called to dispose our hearts more so that God’s Word may find root in us.

 

Therefore, we should detach ourselves as much as we can from the things of this passing world and never let our hearts fall apart when we encounter challenges, temptations and difficulties of life nor give up when uncertainties and doubts sets in. We should never give up our faith nor turn to other sources for temporal comfort, thereby abandoning God and lose our soul to the devil.

 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, the world is full of hidden rocks and thorns which are seriously making your Holy Word unfruitful in our hearts, give us the grace to truly detach ourselves from them in order to faithfully embrace your Word in our souls and bear great fruits of love, peace, joy and fulfillment. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Peace be with you.

Homily For Thursday Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 27th July, 2023.

Readings: Ex.19:1-2.9-11.16-20; Ps. Dn. 3:52-56, Matt 13:10-17

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

WHY HAVE WE FAILED TO LISTEN TO THE LORD?

 

Reflecting on the present situation of our country, I must say that it is obvious that we are like sheep desperately in need of shepherd, as the present leaders have shown that they are not and cannot be the Messiah we are looking for, since we have continually involved in doing evil.

 

We have abandoned the God who has blessed us with all the good things of life in order to embrace the gods of money, wealth and have made ourselves gods to others. What we have in our country today are corrupt, greedy and selfish people who are like a leaky cistern that can not hold water because we have failed to listen to the voice of God calling us to repentance.

 

Little wonder in our Gospel passage today, we heard Jesus saying: “The reason I talk to them in parables is that they look without seeing and listen without hearing or understanding. So, you will listen and listen again, but not understand, see and see again, but not perceive. For the heart of this nation has grown coarse, their ears are dull of hearing, and they have shut their eyes, for fear they should see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart, and be converted and be healed by me”.

 

Here, we see the Lord’s sadness and anger at us for our selfishness, greed and ingratitude. For we are constantly disobeying God through our sinful, rebellious and unwilling attitudes to embrace and properly utilize what God has given us for the good of all. Thus, we constantly take God’s patience and kindness for granted. We have taken His mercy and compassion for granted.

 

Today, we are called to come back to God with all our hearts so that He will respond to our needs. For he will restore the fortune of the poor and put our enemies to shame as they will come quaking and trembling in fear of the Lord because of all the evil they have committed against and humanity. For we heard the Lord saying to Moses in our first reading today: ‘I am coming to you in a dense cloud so that the people may hear when I speak to you and may trust you always. Go therefore to the people and tell them to prepare themselves today and tomorrow. Let them wash their clothing and hold themselves in readiness for my coming.

 

Dear friends, without God in our lives we are nothing. So we are called to listen to the voice of the Lord calling us to repentance. Let it not be business as usual, for the righteous God will sent good shepherd to His people, who will shepherd us with his staff of justice, mercy, forgiveness and fidelity. Though not in the manner we expect. He will not lead us in any campaign against our corrupt and selfish leaders.

 

But he will lead us in campaign against an even more formidable foe, the devil and his agents. And when he has succeeded in overcoming them, our leaders and their corruption and selfish way of life will be taking care of. Then, his kingdom of peace and justice will be established and it will last forever. All we need to do is to trust in the Lord, ask him for directions and be docile to his words.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we have abandoned your ways out of selfishness and greediness. Help us to change this ugly way of life, so as to embrace your word and become vessel of love. May Christ our good shepherd guide our paths and lead us into his own dwelling place forever and ever. Amen. Do have a blessed.

Homily For Wednesday Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 26 July, 2023. The Memorial of SS. Joachim and Anne

Readings: Exo.16:1-5.9-15; Ps. 78; Matt:13:1-9

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

DO NOT LET THE THORNS OF LIFE CHOKE THE WORD OF GOD IN YOUR HEART

 

Those who are into farming understands very well how a healthy seed blossoms on a fertile soil. Little wonder Jesus in the parable of the sower decided to use this great farming mechanism to explain the relationship between the Word of God and the human heart. Because the Word of God is to the human heart what a healthy seed is to the soil.

 

In this parable Jesus said to the crowd, ‘Imagine a sower going out to sow. As he sowed, some seeds fell on the edge of the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Others fell on patches of rock where they found little soil and sprang up straight away, because there was no depth of earth; but as soon as the sun came up they were scorched and, not having any roots, they withered away. Others fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Others fell on rich soil and produced their crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Listen, anyone who has ears!’

 

Here, Jesus uses the parable of the sower to describe different kind of response to God's Word for there are four obstacles that can distract us from making our hearts a fertile soil. These obstacles include: shallow mindedness, hardened heart, worldly desires and finally, trails and persecutions. Most people fall in some, if not in all of these obstacles.

 

But what about the good soil? These are those who made their hearts a fertile soil through love and purity of heart which helped them to hear the Word of God and understands it, and indeed bears fruit and yield an abundant harvest of hundred, sixty and thirty folds. Our Mother Mary is a good example of such people. For Mary was a wonderful seed sown in the fertile soil of SS. Joachim and Anne's family, whose memorial we celebrate today. For they were entrusted with the task of nurturing and bringing up Mary as a great instrument for God’s salvation for humanity.

 

Thus, today we celebrate these two great saints for their dedication and commitment towards the nurturing and bringing up Mary to be Immaculate and pure, worthy to be the vessel of our salvation in Christ. They played their role as the guardians and parents of Mary, that she grew in faith and love for the Lord. In a similar way we are also entrusted with different responsibilities, persons and missions that seems very little as mustard seed, but have we made our soul a fertile ground for it to grow? Are we nurturing them to grow into great trees for God’s Kingdom?

 

Dear friends, today Lord Jesus  gives us  this wonderful and beautiful parable of life, are we disposed to letting his word blossom in our souls? Or are we like the people of Israel who in our first reading today complained against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness because of little challenges of life and decided to go back to their old ways of life in Egypt, for thorns of life has made them to hardened their hearts against God and his Prophets.

 

Remember, our hearts are the fields in which the Word of God is scattered, to which do our hearts belong: the path way, the rocky ground, the thorns or the good soil. Whichever one, we are called to pay attention and take some time to appreciate and dispose our hearts more, so that God’s Word may find a root in us.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, each and every one of us have received the seeds of your Words just like SS. Joachim and Anne, give us grace to remain open to receiving your Word, so that it will blossom in our souls and bear fruit abundantly. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful day.

Homily For Tuesday Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 25th July, 2023. The Feast of St. James, Apostle

Readings: 2Cor 4: 7-15, Ps 126:1-6, Matt: 20:20-28

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

TRUE GREATNESS CAN NOT BE FOUND IN DOMINATION BUT IN SACRIFICE, DEDICATION AND HUMBLE SERVICE TO OTHER

 

To be great is one of the desires of every human person, it is that which makes us to utilize the unique gift God has given us, from  which we serve Him and our neighbours responsibly. However,  human greediness and selfishness have made us to see greatness as domination and subjection of others in a competitive and comparative manner. Today as we celebrate the feast of St. James,  we heard in our Gospel passage how the disciples of Jesus were struggling with this competitive and comparative attitude.

 

This is because the mother of Zebedee’s sons came with her sons to make a request from Jesus saying, ‘Promise that these two sons of mine may sit one at your right hand and the other at your left in your kingdom.’ And Jesus answered, ‘You do not know what you are asking’. ‘Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?’ They replied, ‘We can.’ ‘Very well,’ he said ‘you shall drink my cup, but as for seats at my right hand and my left, these are not mine to grant; they belong to those to whom they have been allotted by my Father.”

 

So, other disciples became angry because James and his brother John through the intercession of their mother desired to have key leadership positions in the kingdom of our Lord Jesus. But Jesus let them know that the transcendent power and authority to lead belong to God and whoever He wishes to share it with.

 

Here, Jesus prophesied that James and his brother John would "drink of the same chalice" of suffering as himself, since the two brothers had asked to be seated at his right and his left in his kingdom, and he told them that they would be with him in a far different way than they expected.

 

Thus, James suffering martyrdom for the sake of the kingdom, for he was beheaded in Jerusalem at the orders of Herod Agrippa. His death is the only biblical record we have of the death of one of the Apostles, and he was the first to give his life for his Master. He embrace true greatness not by domination and subjection, but, in service, sacrifice and dedication to the faith he has found in Jesus which he wishes to share with others.

 

So, today we celebrate the feast of a great man, who along with his brother John and Peter was part of the inner circle of Jesus. So like St. James, we are encouraged to seek true greatness in humility of service and sacrifice even at the point of losing everything.

 

 And St. Paul also encouraged us in our first reading to be steadfast for we are affiliated in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. Knowing that true greatness is found in humble service and not in domination or subjection of others. For good leaders serve the community, they subdue arguments and divisions, they maintain unity in times of distress and act as role models for the young just like St. James.

 

Dear friends, today, we all are called to seek true greatness in humble service of other and not in subjection and domination of others. We are called to utilize the unique gift God has given us and use it to serve Him and our neighbours responsibly in any capacity we find ourselves, bearing in mind that one should not strive to be a leader but a servant because leadership is a gift from God. Remember, true greatness is found in our sacrificial service to others, not in competitive and comparative subjection and domination of others.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, you have taught us that true greatness is found in the sacrificial service to humanity, give us the grace to live a life of sacrifice and humility. And through the intercession of St. James my our lives be a good example of true greatness. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you a fruitful day.

Homily For Monday Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 24th July, 2023

Readings: Ex. 14:5-18; Ps. Exo.15:1-6; Matt:12: 38-42

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

WHAT DOES GOD REQUIRE OF US IN THIS PASSING WORLD?

 

Listening to the conversation between Jesus, the scribes and Pharisees in our Gospel passage today as they asked Jesus for signs. He  said to them, ‘It is an evil and unfaithful generation that asks for a sign! The only sign it will be given is the sign of the prophet Jonah, telling us that, on Judgement day the men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation and condemn it, because when Jonah preached they repented; and there is something greater than Jonah here with us, that is, Jesus himself.

 

Reflecting on this, the question that comes to my mind is: where will me and you and the beautiful things of this world be in the next ten, twenty, forty, eighty and hundred years for those who are strong? The deep silence in my soul could not offer me any answer to this question rather, it exposed me to the foolishness of human greediness and selfishness. Hence, I asked myself what does God really requires from us in this world? This is what the Lord requires of us: only this, to act justly, to love tenderly and to walk humbly with your God.

 

Therefore, we must be courageous like Moses in our first reading today, who when the people of Israel was trapped between the red sea and the Egyptians army, did not begin to look for signs, rather he courageously said to the Israelites: ‘Have no fear! Stand firm, and you will see what the Lord will do to save you today: the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. The Lord will do the fighting for you: you have only to keep still.’

 

Hence, as Jesus in this Gospel, presents to us the final recommendations of the end time, he insists that we should not be afraid, but we should pay rapt attention to the signs nature is giving us concerning the end time events, that these signs will make us to have hope founded firmly on the word of God which drives away fear and despair, knowing that the kingdom of God is very near to us.

 

He also warns us about following those who claim to know when the end is coming. For we may see many of the signs written in Scripture happening already in our time and people are terrified looking for someone to show them the way. We should know that Jesus is the only Way, the Truth and the Life.

 

Dear friends, what does God requires of us in this world? what signs are we seeing around us today? How can we interpret the signs of this times, the signs that tell us that this world is passing away? Do these signs make us to dread the second coming of the Lord or do we joyfully embrace it in anticipation? However, Jesus warns us not to waste our time seeking for signs, rather we should be prepared, we should remain firm in faith.

 

So, Jesus reminds us that that he is not just the sign of Jonah, but something far greater than Jonah, and without him in our lives, we will be lost, because the future lies in his hands and nothing can destroy or hurt us as long as we remain faithful to his commands. Nonetheless, what he requires of us in this world is for us to act justly, to love tenderly and to walk humbly with our God.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we embrace your word today give us the grace to act justly, to love tenderly and to walk humbly with you and as we carryout our task this week, may your favour be with us now and always. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed week.

Homily For Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A, 23rd July, 2023

Readings: Wis. 12:13.16-19; Ps 86; Rom. 8:26-27; Matt. 13:24-43

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

 

WHY DOES GOD PERMIT ALL THE EVIL GOING ON IN OUR WORLD?

 

No doubt that our society is full of evil and wickedness and oftentimes, when we reflect on the ugly and evil events that happens around us, we wonder why God who is so good and all powerful permit the evil we see and experience in the world He created? And most times, the evil ones are so cruel that we wish that God should just wipe them away from the face of the earth and when this is not coming forth, we complain and even doubt the power of God over this evil, as so many good and virtuous people have been victims of these evil ones.

 

I remember discussing with someone who was so angry and grieved about the ugly situation in our country and he said that, he feels like gathering all the bad leaders and people in our country and delete them from the surface of the earth. Looking at the anger in his face, I struggled to smile and said to him, but God will not allowed that.

 

And he said, why will God not allow that to happen? Why? For today  we see the evil ones becoming more ‘successful’, more recognized, more powerful and honoured in the society while the virtuous and good people are rejected, maltreated and neglected. This raises a lot of questions of which the answer is found in the parables in our Gospel passage today.

 

For in our Gospel this Sunday we have three parables used by Jesus to describe the kingdom of God in relation to the ugly events that is happening in the world, beginning with the parable of the wheat and the weeds, the parable of mustard seed and the parable of the leaven. These parables are quite explanatory to his audience who were basically people living then, as farmers, shepherds, fishermen and others who actually understood the massage.

 

So, in the parable of the wheat and weeds, the sower has sown good seed of wheat in his field for a healthy wheat harvest. But in the dark of night an enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat. So when the plants came up and bore grain, then the weeds appeared as well. Here, the wheat represents the good things that God has created and handed on to humanity, Meanwhile, the weeds represent the wickedness and the evil brought by Satan, as well as those who have rejected the love and truth of God’s message.

 

However, what Matthew most likely refers to as weed is darnel or cockle, a harmful weed that closely resembles wheat and is common in Israel. The difference between darnel and real wheat is evident only when the plants mature and the ears appear. So, when the servants notice the weeds, their first response is to question the quality of the seed. Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where, then, did these weeds come from?

 

When the master replies that an enemy has sown the weeds, the servants were anxious to take care of the problem, to root those nasty weeds out immediately. But the master restrains his servants, saying that, in gathering the weeds they would uproot the wheat along with them. So he orders them to let both grow together until the harvest. Then he will send out his reapers to collect and burn the weeds and to gather the wheat into his barn.

 

In this parable the one who sows the good seed is Jesus, the field is the world, and the good seeds are the children of the kingdom; the weeds are the children of the evil one, and the enemy who sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are angels. However, Jesus did not tell us whom the servants represent.

 

Perhaps they represent the disciples or anyone who has questioned why God allows evil to grow and thrive, and wished to take matters into his or her own hands and root out the evil around. But this will not be easy, because, it is not so easy to tell the weeds from the wheat as their roots are intertwined below the ground. Thus, rooting out the weeds would uproot the wheat as well, doing more damage to the crop than leaving the weeds to grow.

 

Therefore, we can say that this is why God is silent in the midst of all the evil going on in the world today. For he permits them for an appointed time when he will uproot and separate them without affecting the good and innocent ones who are attached and affected by their presence. Hence, Jesus wants us to learn how to be patient and trust God in times of trouble and tribulations for he alone knows the best time and how best to deal with the evil ones. For when that time comes He will gather all evildoers and throw them into the furnace of fire.

 

Little wonder in our first reading we heard that God shows His strength when men doubt the completeness of his power and so rebuke any insolence among those who know it, for he has power to act whenever he chooses. And St. Paul in our second reading tells us that the Spirit comes to help us in our weakness. For when we cannot choose words in order to pray properly, the Spirit himself expresses our plea in a way that could never be put into words, and God who knows everything in our hearts knows perfectly well what we need.

 

Dear friends, the parable of the mustard seed symbolizes the humble beginning of the Christian faith which was well watered by the Holy Spirit to grow and give life and hospitality to all the people of the world. Thus, there is no doubt that in the world we have different kinds of seeds and weeds. But the question we need to ask ourselves are, what kind of seeds are we and what kind of seed 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 and sin.

 

Today we are called to quit watering these weeds because that's what the enemies want and we must not fall into their traps. Rather we are called to water and nurture those valuable mustard seeds of faith, love, holiness, hospitality, obedience, charity and make them our values of life. For when we feed and water our value, our value will grow stronger like the mustard tree where people may find solace in the midst of all the evil and challenges of life.

 

LET US PRAY: Almighty God, you are full of mercy and compassion, slow to anger, abounding in love and truth, as we struggle like the wheat in the midst of weeds, guide and protect us from the malice of the evil ones. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a Grace filled Sunday.

Homily For Saturday Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year A. 22nd July, 2023. The Feast of St. Mary Magdalene

Readings: 2Cor. 5:14-17, Ps. 63, John 20:1-2.11-18

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

 

FROM SINNER TO SAINT: THE LIFE OF MARY MAGDALENE

 

Every human person has a past and a future, the past is gone we cannot change it, but the future bring hope alive, for in both past and future we make our history a reality that can change the world. Today we celebrate the feast of St. Mary Magdalene, a woman whose life history gives hope to sinners and sense of the past for saints.

 

Often Mary Magdalene is referred to as the woman from whom Jesus had cast out seven demons or the repentant prostitute, whichever one, scriptures and history point out that Mary Magdalene had been greatly transformed by her faith in Jesus and her life was changed after her first encounter with Jesus for she abandoned her past life of sin.

 

No doubt that May Magdalene was a serious sinner who ought to had been condemned to die by those who were also unworthy and sinful before God. But grace of God brought about the encounter that transformed her life and she was privileged to be the first to know about the resurrection of Jesus and to also encounter the risen Lord.

 

This is evident in our Gospel passage today, which presents to us the encounter of Mary Magdalene with the risen Lord. When the apostles have left the tomb, Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping. In her devotion to Jesus, Mary seeks to learn where she might find Jesus’ body so that she might take him away, a task that would be difficult both emotionally and physically. But she was not even concerned with how she would convey the body from one place to another. She only believes that Jesus’ body has been dishonored, and she is determined to see that he is accorded the honor that it deserves.

 

So, she remained by the tomb, weeping. Her heart was in earnest to find Jesus. The angels asked her: why are you weeping? she was just busy trying to find the corpse of Jesus. But when she turned around and saw Jesus, her heart was filled with joy and peace. This courageous act of faith brought about her encounter with the risen Lord.

 

Thus, in Mary Magdalene we see a heart that truly repent of her sins and determined to find Jesus. A heart that truly loves Jesus, a heart that cannot give up the search for Jesus, a heart that listened and remembered the words of Jesus about his resurrection. A heart that moves from grave sinner to special Saint through God’s Mercy.

 

Dear friends, as we celebrate the feast of St. Mary Magdalene, we must learn to let go of our old sinful way of life and embrace the new life of grace and hope God is offering us. So, today we are called to imitate her virtues, knowing that God can use anyone as His instruments if we are ready to embrace Him irrespective of our past ways of life. For St. Paul tells us in our first reading that anyone who is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old creation has passed away, behold the new has come. For Christ died for all so that living men should live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised to life for our sake.

 

Therefore, today, we are called to forget our past sinful life and embrace the Lord. We are called to seek the Lord with affection and tears. But often times the clouds and darkness of our sins blind us from recognizing the Lord who is always very close to us. The truth is that, the Lord’s way of making himself known to his people is by his word; his word appeals to our souls, speaking to us in a particular way that is unique to us. Are we ready to embrace the Lord once again and make our history a reality that will change this sinful world just like Mary Magdalene?

 

 LET US PRAY: Lord God, like Mary Magdalene our souls seek to encounter you personally once again, give us the grace and strength to always be ready to turn away from sin and embrace your word, that we may personally experience, fill and recognize your presence once again in our lives. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed day.