Homily For Saturday Seventh Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 1st March 2025. (Happy New Month)

 

Readings: Sir. 17:1-13; Ps. 103; Mark: 10:13-16

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

THE RIGHT DISPOSITION TOWARDS EMBRACING THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Oftentimes, whenever we contemplate the kingdom of God, two questions come to mind; the first question is how will it look like? And the second question is how are we going to be part of it? These questions are very important because we need to have the right disposition towards embracing the kingdom. 

Hence, in our Gospel passage today, Jesus gave us the guiding principles of what should be our disposition towards the kingdom when he said: Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. I tell you solemnly, anyone who does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’

Here, Jesus surprised his disciples by welcoming little children and set them as an example of what should be our attitude and disposition towards the kingdom. This is because children are docile, humble, teachable, loving, forgiven and dependent. Such disposition is necessary for anyone who wishes to embrace the kingdom of God. 

Thus, Jesus explains that in the kingdom of heaven, true greatness is found in humility and children serve as a symbol of humility. For they are dependent on adults for everything, just as we also are dependent on God. Little children serve as concrete symbols of simplicity, which is a condition for entering the kingdom of heaven. 

So, in children we see these great virtues of simplicity and humility being present. Then, we can understand why Jesus ordered that children should be brought to him and that nothing should be said or done to hinder them. Therefore, we must receive the kingdom of God as little children; we must stand affected by Christ and his grace as little children to their parents and guidance.

Dear friends, how many of us today possess these qualities of little children? How are we docile to this invitation of Jesus calling us to be humble and obedient to God’s instructions? How many of us are still innocent and pure like little children? How many of them are peaceful, forgiven and loving like little children? Today the Lord is calling us to embrace these qualities of little children to have the right disposition towards embracing the kingdom of God.

Little wonder, we are told in our first reading today that the Lord fashioned man from the earth, to consign him back to it. He gave them so many days’ determined time, he gave them authority over everything on earth. He said to them, ‘Beware of all wrong-doing’; he gave each a commandment concerning his neighbour. Their ways are always under his eye, they cannot be hidden from his sight. Therefore, let us, in childlike disposition, look out for one another as we embrace the kingdom of God.

 LET US PRAY: Lord God, we have become so much engrossed with the competitive activities of this world out of pride, Grant that we may embrace your kingdom with childlike humility and disposition that is rooted in the humble service of one another; we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed and fruitful New Month.

Homily For Friday Seventh Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 28th February 2025

 

Readings: Sir. 6:5-7; Ps. 119; Mark: 10:1-12

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

UNDERSTANDING THE TRUE MEANING OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY LIFE

The fragile nature of our society today has placed in the minds of the youths a distorted image of what marriage and family life entail and truly represent in society. This is because many young people today find themselves in a condition of radical instability and look for people to help them answer the fundamental questions of life. Today, there are different notions and understandings of marriage, especially among the youth.

Today, marriage is seen as a business in which anybody can engage or disengage at any time. Marriage among the youths of today is a thing of choice and contract which is suitable only when it serves their personal interest. Commitment, sacrifice and partnerships of whole life are far from their understanding of what marriage truly represents. The fact remains that Marriage is the basis of every human family and, indeed, the basic cell of every human community.

Little wonder in our Gospel passage today when the Pharisees engaged Jesus on the notion of divorce in marriage and its controversy. Jesus referred them to the fundamental principle of marriage when he said: It was because you were so unteachable that Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but it was not like this from the beginning. Because from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. This is why a man must leave his father and mother, and the two become one body. They are no longer two, therefore, but one body. So then, what God has united, man must not divide.

Here, Jesus emphasized the real intention of God about marriage. He ruled out divorce by placing men and women on the same level; no longer could a man opt to divorce his wife. But, today, there are lots of problems in families due to a lack of understanding of what marriage truly means. It is quite interesting to realize that social, economic and political factors were major determinants that shape the youth's present understanding of marriage.

Today, we see the youths giving importance to changing trends in marriage such as single parent, inter-caste marriage, living in a relationship or cohabitation, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender marriages, etc. Hence, marriage for them is more of a social phenomenon than spiritual union and physical companionship.

Dear friends, today we are called to embrace the will of God and his teaching concerning marriage and family life. We should not let the trending ideas of disordered personalities in our society mislead us. Rather, we should value and respect the sanctity of marriage We should know that marriage is not just a contract but more of a covenant sealed with an oath that must not be broken.

Hence, we are told in our first reading today that a faithful friend is a sure shelter; whoever finds one has found a rare treasure. A faithful friend is something beyond price, there is no measuring his worth. A faithful friend is the elixir of life and those who fear the Lord will find one. Whoever fears the Lord makes true friends, for as a man is, so is his friend.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we have always failed to listen and follow your teaching. As a result, there are lots of problems in our families due to a lack of understanding of what marriage truly means. As we listen to your teaching today, help us to value our vocation, whether marriage or celibate life and to constantly struggle to fix the problems in our families; we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. God bless you.

Homily For Thursday Seventh Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 27th February 2025

 

Readings Sir. 5:1-8; Ps.1; Mark: 9:41-50

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

LET US NOT LOSE THE TASTE OF OUR CHRISTIAN FAITH

The way things are going in our societies today, we really need to think twice about our faith as Christians and whether we are actually ready to live out our faith in the midst of the ugly situation in our country today. The way people are so attached to the things of this passing world is really disturbing, for this, no doubt is affecting our Christian values and principles.

So, if we are really willing to live out our Christian faith and obligations, then we need to make a radical decision towards our discipleship in a personal and radical way these days, it is not enough to say I am a Christian; we must convincingly and radically demonstrate it.

Little wonder Jesus in our Gospel passage today, takes his discourse on discipleship to a radical and difficult level when he said: anyone who is an obstacle to bring down one of these little ones who have faith, would be better thrown into the sea with a great millstone round his neck. And if your hand should cause you to sin, cut it off; you should enter into life crippled, than to have two hands and go to hell, into the fire that cannot be put out. For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is a good thing, but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it again? Have salt in yourselves and be at peace with one another.’

Here, Jesus wants us to accept the consequences that come with the truth of the Gospel teaching, more importantly, when it comes to living out the Gospel message radically, especially in a situation where humanity is deeply engrossed in sinful things of this passing world and the values of human life have been thrown out of caution as a result of secularism, individualism and excess desires for worldly pleasures and possessions, thereby neglecting the things that lead us to God.

So, these hard words of Jesus can only be understood in the light of our life experience because there are moments when we have to make radical and difficult choices as disciples of Jesus. These moments may require the sacrifice of some aspects of our physical appearance for we must not let them distract us from our heavenly glory.

Hence, we are advised in our first reading today not to give our heart to our money, or say, ‘With this, I am self-sufficient.’ We should not be led by our appetites and energy to follow the passions of our hearts. We should not set our hearts on ill-gotten gains; They will be of no use to us on the day of disaster.

Dear friends, we are called today to make a radical decision to sincerely and faithfully live out our Christian faith and morals. But how much are we willing to let go for the sake of our faith in God? Why are we finding it difficult to follow the instructions of Jesus? What are habitual desires and possessions that are holding us from making this radical decision today?

So, wherever sin, selfishness and corruption have made our life tasteless, let the salt of our good attitude and character make it tasty. Where sin and immorality have made humanity filthy and ugly, let our salt of holiness purify. Remember, if we lose the value and taste of who we are as Christians, the world will trample upon us because we will be good. Therefore, it is time to come to God with all our hearts, for tomorrow may be too late.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, the excess desire for the pleasurable things of this passing world have weakened our hearts towards you, give us courage and grace to let go of our ugly desires and attachment to them, so as to hold firm in our faith despite losing things that are dear to us, This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a fruitful day. 

Homily For Wednesday, Seventh Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 26th February 2025

 

Readings: Sir 4:11-19; Ps.119; Mark: 9:38-40

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

LET US LEARN TO COLLABORATE AND ACCOMMODATE EACH OTHER

There is no doubt that the Christian faith can be very demanding and ambiguous for those who do not understand the sacrificial nature of our missionary life. To deal with these challenges, we must learn to discipline ourselves and collaborate with one another. 

So discipline and collaboration must be central to the Christian mission since the Christian faith comes across different categories of people, which requires that there should be room to accommodate one another in that single language of sacrificial love towards Christ's missionary mandate. 

This very discipline and collaborative nature of our faith is what Jesus is addressing in our Gospel passage today when John had said to him, master; we saw a man who is not one of us casting out devils in your name; because he was not one of us, we tried to stop him.’ But Jesus said, ‘You must not stop him: no one who works a miracle in my name is likely to speak evil of me. Anyone who is not against us is for us.

Here, Jesus is speaking to his disciples and to all of us about doing the works for the glory of God, saying that we should not stop people from doing the good works of God even if the people do not belong to the same group as us. This is because, the disciples of Jesus saw some people who were doing works in the name of Jesus, casting out demons and healing in his name, and they tried to stop them from doing so. 

Why? Because the disciples had received from Jesus the authority and power to perform miracles, they wanted to keep these gifts and authority exclusive to themselves. But Jesus rebuked such a selfish attitude shown by the disciples because Jesus desires that everyone who wishes to do the work of God should be accommodated regardless of their background and affiliations.

Dear friends, by virtue of our baptism and confirmation, we have received the same Spirit of God that gives us the authority to do great works for God. Therefore, we, too, have been entrusted with the missionary mandate of Christ. So, it is our responsibility to make good use of the various gifts and opportunities God has given us by ensuring that we discipline ourselves and learn to accommodate other people’s gifts and charisms. 

We must make wisdom our priority and learn how to collaborate and accommodate other people who speak the one true language of Christ which is sacrificial love. For we are told in our first reading that those who serve wisdom minister to the Holy One, and the Lord loves those who love her. Whoever obeys her judges aright, and whoever pays attention to her dwells secure.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit, who has always been our guide. Help us to be more accommodating and collaborate with one another as we carry out your missionary mandate of love for each other. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. God bless you.

Homily For Tuesday Seventh Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 25th, 2025

 

Readings: Sir.2:1-11; Ps. 37; Mark: 9:30-37

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

LESSONS ABOUT TRUE GREATNESS

Human life and activities are always competitive and comparative in nature, which is why we are often anxious to recognize or be recognized as the strongest, wisest, cleverest, and richest. We will always want to know the most beautiful, handsome, most talented and greatest in virtually everything. 

Little wonder, the most lucrative businesses and adventures are found among those activities that are competitive, such as sports, entertainment and politics. This is because we feel great participating in such events and greatness gives more ego to our status. But this has brought about the ugly attitude of selfish ambition among people.

So, this selfish ambitious, competitive and comparative way of life is what the disciples of Jesus displayed in our Gospel passage today, where we heard how they were arguing about who is the greatest among them. It is quite surprising for them to be arguing for such intention just after Jesus had told them that he would be delivered into the hands of men, they would put him to death, and three days after he had been put to death, he would rise again. 

This shows that his disciples had not grasped his teaching thereby exposing the danger between the mission of Christ and human selfish ambition as a result of ignorance. But, Jesus knowing the ugly intentions of his disciples, showed them the way to identify true greatness using the images of a humble child.

 Here, Jesus surprised his disciples by linking true greatness to the humility and simplicity of a little child and also showed how children can be the subject of a parable that reveals the vanity and deception found in some great persons. Because children are docile, humble, teachable, loving, forgiven and dependent.

Thus, Jesus explains that in the kingdom of heaven, true greatness is found in humility, and children serve as a symbol of humility as they are dependent on adults for everything,g, just as we also are dependent on God. Little children serve as concrete symbols of simplicity, which is a condition for entering the kingdom of heaven. 

So, in children, we found these great virtues of simplicity and humility. Hence, parents should encourage their children to participate in activities where they display these virtues. 

Dear friends, true greatness is found in humble service and not in human selfish ambition. Today, we see in the lives of the disciples the danger of human selfish ambition and how to deal with it in relation to the mission of Christ, especially in the midst of ignorance and proud people. 

Little wonder we were told in our first reading: my son if you aspire to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for an ordeal. Be sincere of heart, be steadfast, and do not be alarmed when disaster comes. Cling to him and do not leave him, so that you may be honoured at the end of your days.

Therefore, we are reminded that true greatness and ambition are found in humble service to others. But this is exactly what many of us are lacking. We are so proud, greedy and selfish, as we are deeply attached to the pleasurable things of this passing world, which prevents us from seeking true greatness that leads to the heavenly kingdom. 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, amidst the danger of selfish human ambition in relation to your mission, we have become so much engrossed with the competitive activities of this world, seeking to be great in things that are passing away, grant that, we may embrace true greatness rooted in the humble service of our neighbours, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed and fruitful day.

Homily For Monday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 24th, 2025

 

Readings: Sir.1:1-10; Ps. 93; Mark: 9:14-29

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE PUT THEIR FAITH INTO POSITIVE ACTION

Oftentimes, we think that we have faith enough to face whatever challenges that come our way. But the fact remains that we can only know the level and capacity of our faith when we are truly faced with a situation that overwhelms our physical and mental abilities. Then, we will realize that what we think we have as faith is nothing but a shadow of reality. Such was the situation with the disciples of Jesus in our Gospel passage today.

For a man came up to Jesus begging him to deliver his son, who he brought to the disciples, but they were unable to cure him. But Jesus said ‘faithless and perverse generation!’ ‘How much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I put up with you? And he said to the man: ‘Everything is possible for anyone who has faith.’ Immediately the man cried out, ‘I do have faith. Help the little faith I have!’

Then, Jesus said: Bring him here to me.’ And he rebuked the devil, who immediately came out of the boy and he was cured from that moment. Then the disciples came privately to Jesus. ‘Why were we unable to cast it out? Jesus answered, that this kind can only be driven out by prayer.

Here, Jesus gives two reasons why the apostles failed to cure the boy. The first is connected with their own moral condition and disposition as they are only depending on their own personal abilities. Secondly and more importantly is their lack of faith.

Though they had, indeed, shown some faith by making even the attempt at the expulsion of the devil, they had acted half-heartedly and had not displayed that perfect confidence and trust which alone can bring success and make all things possible. Thus, Jesus made them know that in extreme situations faith in our prayers is very necessary towards achieving our desires.

Therefore, If we begin to nurture our faith to grow and strengthen from a small, humble beginning, it will grow to the point that it can help us to perform and achieve greater things and conquer the most difficult situations that, at first, would appear impossible. So faith moving mountains implies the spiritual ability to make difficult and stumbling situations vanish.

This, of course, requires wisdom, humility and sacrifice. Little wonder, we were told in our first that all wisdom is from the Lord, and it is his own forever. The sand of the sea and the raindrops, and the days of eternity, who can assess them? The height of the sky the breadth of the earth, and the depth of the abyss, who can probe them.

Dear friends, if we want to grow in faith, we must cultivate a humble habit in our prayer life. This is important because in prayer we are well disposed to follow the instructions of the Lord. Because, for us to have the faith that moves mountains, we must be well deposed to embrace the power of God in our lives; we must desire to have a personal experience of the power of God at work in the world and acknowledge that in him come our victory over every situation with encounter.

Therefore, we are called to let every moment of difficulties and trials lead us to grow in faith and knowledge of God’s power and authority at work in us.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, faith is your supernatural gift to humanity; grant that we may embrace this gift in humility to be well disposed to move out of our lives the tough mountains that are crushing us on our daily struggles. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a joyful week ahead.

Homily For Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C, 23rd February 2025

  

Readings: 1 Sam. 26:2.7-9.12-13.22-23;  Ps. 103; 1Cor.15:45-49; Luke 6:27-38

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

SACRIFICIAL LOVE: THE MOST DIFFICULT ASPECT OF CHRISTIAN MISSION 

A critical look at what is happening in our world today, it is obvious that the world is in a big crisis. This is because humanity has lost the true meaning of love. For we have abandoned God, who is the source and power of love and created for ourselves a mirage in the name of love. 

Today love has become a tool for selfishness, deception, greed and emotional satisfaction. Thus, it is extremely difficult to practice the genuine love of neighbours and talk more of the sacrificial love of our enemies.

But this is the demand Jesus is making of all his disciples in our Gospel passage today when he said: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who treat you badly. To the man who slaps you on one cheek, present the other cheek too; to the man who takes your cloak from you, do not refuse your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and do not ask for your property back from the man who robs you. Treat others as you would like them to treat you. If you love those who love you, what thanks can you expect? Even sinners love those who love them. 

So, in this Gospel, Jesus gave us reasons why we must choose love over hatred and forgiveness over vengeance. For he made us know that it is natural and universal for human beings to love those who love them. But what makes his disciples different from other people is the ability to love not just everyone but to love their enemies and not take vengeance or bear grudges against one another. By so doing, they will be imitating God, their heavenly Father, who in his compassionate heart shows equal love to both the good and the bad, not because he is indifferent to morality, but because his love knows no bounds.  

Hence, we are called to love and to be loving in all things, for that is the essence of our Christian faith. We cannot be true Christians unless we are willing to love sacrificially in our actions and interactions, in all situations and to everyone, without exception. We must learn to bear with one another and forgive each other as soon as a quarrel begins. The Lord has forgiven us; now we must do the same. 

This is exactly what David demonstrated in our first reading today when he chose to spare the life of King Saul. David could have killed Saul since God had placed his enemy in his mercy. Yet, as we heard, David did not. He even rebuked his fellow men and told them that they could not touch Saul or his men. Although Saul might have fallen from grace and sinned against God, he was anointed by God. 

So, it was not right to kill God’s anointed regardless of the circumstances. Instead, David, even at the risk of his life, spared the life of Saul, for he could have killed him and taken over his throne since he, too, had been anointed to be King. What a magnanimity of heart. Here, David showed not just Saul but all of us what it means to love sacrificially, just like Jesus has instructed us today, who also demonstrated the same thing on the cross.

Dear friends, how many of us Christians are willing and able to follow these instructions of the Lord? How many of us today are ready to follow the examples of the Lord’s disciples? How many are ready to follow the example of David? But all of us have received the love of God, and we have witnessed the love of God made manifest, and now we are all reminded that we have the obligation to show that same love in our daily activities.

 Hence, today we are called to a life of deeper virtue. We are called to a life of sacrificial love. We are called to perfection, we are called to choose love over hatred and forgiveness over vengeance. But when Jesus talks about loving our enemies, he is not telling us to be passive in the face of physical danger or abuse. Rather he wants us to realize that hatred is a dangerous thing and must be handled with great care. Because hatred breeds violence and other things that weaken the human soul. 

The truth is that our enemies are not necessarily those who we are at war with, those making life difficult for us or those we think hate us. But, our real enemies are those whom we choose to hate. And the best way to destroy our enemies is to discover how best we can make them become our friends, not by hating or carrying out vengeance. 

How I wish humanity would embrace this principle of loving and stretching the hands of friendship and peace to our presumed enemies by investing more resources in things that bring about peace and friendship with one another rather than building a nuclear weapon that breeds more violence and hatred in the world. When this is done, then the world will become more peaceful and loving.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, it is difficult and demanding for us to love our enemies, but this is what you are commanding us to do, give us the grace to bear the sacrificial nature of this demand and so become a true sign of your loving presence to those we encounter in life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a fruitful Sunday celebration.

Homily For Saturday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 22nd February 2025 The Feast of the Chair of St. Peter

Readings: 1Pete 5:1-4, Ps.23, Matt. 16:13-19

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

THE CHAIR OF ST. PETER, THE AUTHORITY AND ROCK ON WHICH CHRIST BUILD HIS CHURCH

There is no doubt that the supreme authority belongs only to God, and he alone decides who to endow his authority and also delegates to exercise it among his people. Such is the occasion in our Gospel passage today where the gift of faith given to Peter by God was the rock on which Jesus built his Church and bestowed his authority on him.

 So, today, in a special way, the Church celebrates the Supreme Chair of Saint Peter. A feast that marks the establishment of an organized Christian community under the leadership of St. Peter and his successors (that’s the Popes throughout the ages).

In our Gospel, we heard how Jesus stresses that Peter's faith was a gift from the Father when he said: “Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build my Church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

Here, the key represents the authority to open the gate of the Kingdom of Heaven and to judge whether to admit or to refuse. While the expression “binding and losing” refers to the doctrinal decisions and disciplinary power of the office of St. Peter. That is, the faculty to impose and to lift, a guarantee that Peter’s decisions in the exercise of his ecclesial function are valid in the eyes of God. This is because the faith given to Peter by God is the rock on which Jesus built his Church, and that is why, in the iconographic tradition, we see the keys in the hand of Peter.

This gift of faith comes from a personal response of Peter when he professed that Jesus is Christ, the Son of the living God. Hence, our faith requires that we give a personal answer to the question: who is Jesus to me personally? It is not enough to quote the scriptures and the teachings of the Church about our faith or the teachings of other theologians and preachers. Or to respond not only from the head but from the heart that is convinced of what it believes in.

Dear friends, today’s feast reminds us of the need to truly profess our faith in God and be united as one family of God and, by so doing, overcome the ugly events of division, manipulation and multiplication of Churches going on in Christianity today. We are called to really examine our conscience to know where we are as regards our faith as Christians.

Today, we are called to be convinced of who we are and recognize the authority Christ has bestowed on his Church entrusted to St. Peter, of which the get of the underworld shall not prevail against it. To exercise this authority St. Peter in our first reading tells us to be the shepherds of the flock of God which has been entrusted to us: we should watch over it, not simply as a duty but gladly, because God wants it; not for sordid money, but because we are eager to do it.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, all authority belongs to you alone, as you have bestowed on your Church the authority and delegated her to exercise it among your people, may this gift unite us more closely to your Son Jesus, who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. Have a fruitful day.

Homily For Friday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 21st February 2025

 

Readings: Gen. 11:1-9; Ps. 33; Mark: 8:34-9:1

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WHY DO YOU WANT TO GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD AND LOSE YOUR SOUL?

There is no doubt that the material things of this world are so captivating and attractive, and people are so much engrossed in acquiring them at the detriment of things that edify the human soul. People are ready to do anything just to acquire material things in this world.

People are ready to kill, blackmail, kidnap, and even sacrifice parts of their bodies just to gain power, acquire properties and belong to a particular class or level that they feel is influential in society, thereby causing more hostility, persecution and evil in the society.

This really makes me wonder if we are actually learning anything from the lives of those who have passed away from this world. Have we really taken time to reflect on where all of us and the beautiful things of this world will be in the near future?

In fact, I think it is time for us to really think twice about our faith as Christians, whether we are actually ready to live out our faith in the midst of these ugly situations in our societies, which are not stopping soon, for it is getting tougher every day.

Little wonder Jesus, after telling his disciples about his passion and the coming persecution, said in our Gospel passage today: ‘If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me. Anyone who wants to save his life will lose it, but anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it. What, then, will a man gain if he wins the whole world and ruins his life? Or what has a man to offer in exchange for his life?”

Here Jesus knowing what awaits us in this world, takes his discourse on discipleship to a radical and difficult level, especially in a situation where our faith and Christian values have been thrown out of caution as a result of secularism, individualism and excess desires for worldly pleasures, thereby neglecting the things that lead us to God.

Hence, if we are really willing to live out our Christian faith and obligations, then we need to make a radical decision towards our discipleship in a personal and radical way. Not like those in our first reading today, who wished to follow their own selfish desires rather than the plan of God, for they said: “Come, let us build ourselves a town and a tower with its top reaching heaven. Let us make a name for ourselves, so that we may not be scattered about the whole earth. But the Lord corrected this selfish desire by changing their language.

However, these hard words of Jesus can only be understood in the light of our experience in life. Here comes the moment when we have to make radical and difficult choices as disciples of Jesus. It’s time for us to take up our cross in a sacrificial way and follow the Lord. But what is this cross we are called to take up. Taking up our cross could mean faithfully facing our daily challenges with all its difficulties. It could mean accepting who we are and what we have and using them to the glory of God.

The way of the cross is a way of sacrifice, commitment, love, forgiveness, mercy and compassion, which aim towards the good of the other person. It can be a costly service to a loved one who is ill; it can be embracing illness, even terminal illness or other personal weaknesses, but these make no sense except when we relate it with the sufferings of Christ through faith in God. We must let our struggles in life lead us to God’s purpose for us. We must not let the captivating and influential power of things in this passing world make us lose focus on our heavenly kingdom.

Dear friends, we are called today to deny ourselves the pleasurable things of this passing world in order to take up our Cross and follow the Lord. Yes, the material things of this world are captivating and pleasurable, but it is complete foolishness for us to gain the whole world and ruin our lives. Hence, it’s time to make a radical decision to sincerely and faithfully follow Jesus.

But how much are we willing to let go for the sake of following him? Why are we finding it difficult to let go of our excess attachment to worldly things? What are those habitual desires and possessions that are holding us from making this radical decision today? It is time to come to God with all our hearts, for tomorrow may be too late.

LET US PRAY: Gracious God, it is indeed foolishness trying to gain the pleasurable things of this passing world and ruin our lives, give us courage and grace to let go of our excess worldly desires to embrace the Cross of Christ. And as we do this, may the Cross of Christ be for us a shining example in our daily struggles, to hold firm in our faith despite all the sufferings and persecutions we may encounter. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a lovely day.

Homily For Thursday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 20th February 2025

Readings: Gen. 9:1-13; Ps. 102; Mark: 8:27-33

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

HOW CAN YOU DESCRIBE JESUS IN RELATION TO YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH HIM

Following the ugly events of division, manipulation and multiplication of Churches going on in Christianity today, one can not but repeat this fundamental question of Jesus to Christians all over the world: who do you say I am? Jesus addresses this question to all his disciples.

The people are free to believe whatever they want about Jesus, for Jesus has been carefully preparing his disciples to carry on his work so they ought to know better. They have heard His teachings and witnessed his miracles. What they think of Him should be more critical.

Thus, St. Peter spoke up and said to him, ‘You are the Christ.’ And he gave them strict orders not to tell anyone about him. And he began to teach them that the Son of Man was destined to suffer grievously, to be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and to be put to death, and after three days to rise again.

Here, we see how Peter expressed his personal conviction about the personality of Jesus. He did not have to quote any authority, because his response was a clear and sincere knowledge of who he professed Jesus to be. Peter’s gift of faith comes from his personal response about who Jesus is, even though he does not want to associate with the suffering aspect of the life of Jesus, and that was why Jesus rebuked that spirit of fear in him.

Thus, our faith requires that we give a personal answer to the question: who do you say I am? For it is not enough to quote the teachings and Catechism of the Church about our faith or the teachings of other theologians and preachers or to respond only from the head but from the heart that is convinced of what he believes in and is really ready to embrace the will of God.

The fact is that Jesus wants us to develop a divine way of looking at things; he wants us to know him deep down in our souls so that we can truly profess our faith with deeper meaning and conviction. Little wonder God said to Noah in our first reading today: See, I establish my Covenant with you, and with your descendants after you. I set my bow in the clouds and it shall be a sign of the Covenant between me and the earth and every living creature for all generations.

Dear friends, having heard the teachings and works of Jesus in the scriptures and traditions of the Church, the question remains: who is Jesus to you? What is your personal experience of Jesus? When was your spiritual turning point? Do we have a personal conviction about God that is not based on what people told us of him? How has your knowledge of Jesus helped other people to come to faith in Jesus?

The truth is, we can change our religion, churches, even our pastors, friends, residence, car or our physical appearance: heart, clothes, colour, even gender, as some people do today. But if we don't have a personal experience of God that will bring about a change of mind and heart towards loving God and our neighbours like St Peter, we will remain the same and the old experience of unfruitful life will perpetuate itself over and over again

In case you have not personally experienced him, all you need to do is to sincerely seek God in those common events in your life, and you will realize how much God is willing to reveal himself to you.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, you revealed to St. Peter the true identity of Jesus your Son, help us to profess our faith with deeper meaning and conviction. And as we experience the power of your presence, may we embrace more deeply your sacred mysteries. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a fruitful day.

Homily For Wednesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 19 February 2025

 

Readings:Gen. 8:6-13.20-22; Ps. 116; Mark: 8:22-26

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

EXPERIENCING THE HEALING TOUCH OF JESUS

Blindness is one of the most difficult human deformities that deprives one of the ability to exercise some of the characteristics of a human person. So, anyone suffering from such deformity constantly looks forward to a day when he or she will be restored. This is the case with the blind man in our Gospel passage today who some people brought to Jesus and begged him to touch him.

Jesus took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. Then putting spittle on his eyes and laying his hands on him, he asked, ‘Can you see anything?’ The man, who was beginning to see, replied, ‘I can see people; they look like trees to me, but they are walking about.’ Then he laid his hands on the man’s eyes again and he saw clearly; he was cured, and he could see everything plainly and distinctly.

Here, we see the compassionate love of Jesus in its historical and physical solidarity with human suffering, which 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.

In this miracle, Jesus did something quite different from his usual ways of healing. He began by separating himself from his present environment and then putting spittle on his eyes, and the healing took place gradually. After the healing was completed, Jesus asked him not to return to the village from which he came.

This is very significant because oftentimes, our problems are caused and compounded by our present environment. So, for significant change to occur, we need to be separated from our present environment. So Jesus is using this opportunity to teach us in order to lead us out of the present environment that makes us blind to the spiritual realities of our lives.

We need to know that the physical activity of the human person can be linked to the present nature of his environment because the physical is controlled by the interior being of the person.

And when the interior being of a person is engrossed in a wrong environment, then, the ugly fruit of this environment is manifested in the physical activity of the person. This can be likened to the situation Noah was struggling with in our first reading today.

God decided to destroy the face of the earth with a flood in order to give Noah a new environment better than the formal environment corrupted by sins. And God said: Never again will I curse the earth because of man because his heart contrives evil from his infancy. Never again will I strike down every living thing as I have done.

Dear friends, are we suffering in any way as a result of the ugly nature of our present environment? Do we know people who are suffering and in need of God’s intervention? Are we spiritually blind by the present activities going on in our environment? We need to be separated from this ugly situation and environment so that we can be restored completely like the blind man in our Gospel passage today.

Let us, therefore, present ourselves and our Loved ones to Jesus, who is always ready and willing to heal us and set us free from the ugly situation we are passing through because the touch of Jesus heals and restores us completely.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, our environment has made us blind both physically and spiritually; as we present our needs before you today, may we experience once again your compassionate love and healing; we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you God’s favour and blessings.

Homily For Tuesday Sixth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 18th February 2025

Readings: Gen. 6:5-8,7:1-5,10 ; Ps. 29; Mark: 8:14-21

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

LORD GIVE US THE GIFT OF UNDERSTANDING

One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is understanding, which is the ability to perceive an idea or situation mentally and to know and comprehend the nature or meaning of things. Hence, understanding is a gift of God and it is to be prayed and desired by all.

Understanding has a moral character which one has to seek and learn. Understanding, then, involves the cognitive, the spiritual, and the moral. While human efforts are required, the ability to understand comes from God and the true test of understanding is obedience to God.

This is what humanity in our first reading was lacking; they failed to obey what God had instructed them because they lacked understanding of God and his ways as they continued to sin against God.

Thus, when the Lord saw that the wickedness of man was so great on the earth and that the thoughts in his heart fashioned nothing but wickedness all day long. He regretted having made man on the earth, and his heart grieved. Hence, he planned to get rid of mankind, though Noah found favour in God’s sight and he promised to preserve humanity and other creations through him.

Similarly, Jesus, in our Gospel passage today, was disappointed at his disciples’ inability to grasp what he was saying to them or who he really was. They failed to understand what he was capable of doing in their midst. Hence, he asked them over nine questions, which they failed to understand. We can imagine them asking what is it that we do not yet understand?

But they had been witnesses to two extraordinary events done by Jesus: the feeding of five thousand people with five loaves and four thousand with seven Loaves. Yet they do not seem to have grasped the implication of the miracle they had witnessed nor the divine identity of Jesus who had made it possible.

Thus, Jesus said to them, “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you not yet understand? Have you no perception? Are your minds closed? Have you eyes that do not see, ears that do not hear? Or do you not remember?” These questions reveal that the disciples are really in need of the gift of understanding, which is one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit that is given to us to make sense of what is happening around us all the time.

Dear friends, the fact remains that we all need the gift of understanding just like the disciples in our Gospel today. Oftentimes, we are confused about so many things going on in our lives, even concerning our faith. Therefore, let us ask the Holy Spirit for an increase in the gift of understanding.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, you are the source of all understanding; help us to understand your word today, calling us to embrace love sacrificially; give us the grace to truly love you to understand and follow the examples of our Lord and Saviour who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.

Homily For Monday Sixth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 17th February 2025

 

Readings: Gen. 4:1-15.25; Ps. 50; Mark: 8:11-13

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

WHAT SIGN ARE YOU LOOKING FOR IN THIS PASSING WORLD? 

 

Oftentimes people want to see signs before they can accept or believe whatever we have to present to them. And sometimes people ask for signs just to discredit someone’s efforts. This is the case with the Pharisees in our Gospel passage today, who asked Jesus for a sign in order to test him. But Jesus, with a sigh that came straight from the heart, said, ‘Why does this generation demand a sign? I tell you solemnly, no sign shall be given to this generation.’ 

This response was as a result of pride, which has blindfolded the Pharisees who refused to accept Jesus as the Messiah, that very sign that they seek. Jesus presents to us the final recommendations of the end time, pointing out that he is the greatest sign of all time. But this is what the Pharisees want to discredit out of pride and ego.  

This same pride is what we saw in the life of Cain in our first reading today. Cain overcame pride and ego, and he killed his brother because he saw that his offerings were not accepted by God, while the offerings of Abel were accepted by the Lord. As a result, he fell deeper into sin. 

Dear friends, pride can make us blind in such a manner that we will continue to seek signs even when things are clear and obvious in our lives. And Jesus is saying that in the midst of proud people, no sign will be given. But, what signs are we seeing around us today? How can we interpret the signs of this time, the signs that tell us that this world is passing away? Do these signs make us dread the second coming of the Lord, or do we joyfully embrace it in anticipation? 

Hence, Jesus warns us not to waste our time seeking signs; rather, we should be prepared, and we should remain firm in the faith. He reminds us that he is the only sign that can be given to humanity. Therefore, we are not to be like the Pharisees who are looking for signs, especially in times of trials; rather, we should seek wisdom to make things right.

LET US PRAY: Lord Jesus, you are the sign that we seek; as we embrace your word today, give us the grace to be humble in order to follow you, our Lord and Saviour. And as we carry out our task this week, may your favour be with us now and always. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed week ahead.

Homily For Sixth Sunday In Ordinary Time Year C, 16th February, 2025

 

Readings: Jer. 17:5-8; Ps. 1:1-6; 1Cor.15:12.16-20; Luke 6:17.20-26

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

ARE YOU AMONG THE BLESSED OR AMONG THE WOES? 

Oftentimes, when we reflect on the ups and downs of life, the struggles, the tears and the disappointments that people are going through every day. We wonder and feel that Life is not fair to some people. But is there anybody who has it all in this world? The truth is that we all struggle every day to make a significant impact in our society. And this significant impact often brings division and separation based on class, social and political affiliation. Hence, we talk about the poor and the rich in relation to what people have and possess.

But this is not the same with Jesus, for today in our Gospel passage, Jesus talks about the blessings of the poor and the lots of the rich in relation to the virtue of humility and pride towards the things of this passing world and the things of heaven. For he said, blessed are you who are poor: yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who are hungry now: you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now: you shall laugh. But woe to you who are rich: you are having your consolation now. Woe to you who have your fill now: you shall go hungry. Woe to you who laugh now: you shall mourn and weep.

Here Jesus is referring to our disposition towards the things of this passing world and the things of heaven. He wants us to realize that we are not living simply to be happy in this life, but we should be conscious of our heavenly home by constantly examining ourselves on the deeper value of our ways of life in the light of what we can bring with us to eternal life. In this teaching commonly known as the Beatitudes, Jesus gave us the qualities that make for a happy and blessed life. To be blessed means to have inner joy and happiness because of God’s favour upon us. While to be called woe is to have sorrow and pain because we have turned away from God.

However, the poor, the hungry and those weeping in this Gospel passage are not just referring to the regular poor and hungry people around us. Rather, Jesus is referring to the fundamental character of the virtue of humility that is rooted in the poverty of the spirit, that consciousness of one’s own weakness and total dependence on God, which can be found in the lives of both regular poor or rich people and can also be lacking in neither depending on one’s disposition.

In all these things, what God wants is for us to be excellent in good virtues, for we heard through prophet Jeremiah in our first reading today, that curse be on the man who puts his trust in man, who relies on things of flesh, whose heart turns from the Lord. He is like dry scrub in the wastelands: but blessing on the man who puts his trust in the Lord, He is like a tree by the waterside that never ceases to bear fruit.’

Dear friends, our societies and, indeed, humanity are in need of more virtuous people rather than rich people. Hence, the Lord said blessed are those who are virtuous and rich, but woe to those who are rich and lack virtue, for they shall soon mourn and weep. And St. Paul, in our second reading, tells us to remind the faithful to do good in accordance with the will of the Lord, whose death and resurrection have purchased for us the price of eternal life. For if our hope in Christ has been for this life only, we are the most unfortunate of all people.

But we are most privileged people, for as long as we remain faithful in doing Good according to the will of the Lord, we will be rewarded. Hence the psalmist says: blessed the man who has placed his trust in the Lord. For he shall be like a tree that is planted beside the flowing waters, that yields its fruit in due season and all that he does shall prosper

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are always engrossed with the pride of life, an ugly attitude that often separates us from you. Grant us the grace of humility so that in our poverty, hunger, mourning and hatred in this world, our lives may aim towards our heavenly kingdom and make us a shining splendour in our families, society and in the world at large. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Peace be with you.

Homily For Saturday Fifth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 15th February 2025

Readings: Gen 3: 9-24; Ps.90; Mark 8:1-10

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

MAN WHERE ARE YOU? WHAT HAS BECOME OF YOU IN THIS PASSING WORLD?

When God created man, he entrusted all his creation to him and gave him regulations to follow in order to ensure the successful fulfilment of this responsibility. But out of pride and selfishness, man disobeyed God’s instructions and regulations, as we heard in our first reading today, and this brought about the downfall of man, who chose to listen to the lies of the serpent and, as a result, committed sin against God.

Thus, when the Lord God called man. ‘Where are you?’ he replied ‘I heard the sound of you in the garden;’ ‘I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid.’ Hence, he was banished from God’s garden, where he should have remained and enjoyed the bliss of God’s presence.

 Nonetheless, God has not abandoned man in this downfall. He is still compassionate and caring and loves us even with our imperfections and our disobedience. His compassion for the sufferings of humanity is so great. This is more evident in our Gospel reading today, where Jesus reveals his compassion towards humanity. This compassionate love of Jesus, in its historical and physical solidarity with human suffering, springs from the love of God the Father.

Here, Jesus had compassion for the people who had been with him for days listening to his words. He then says to his disciples that there is a need for him to give them something to eat before sending them away, lest they may faint on the way since some of them have come a long distance. This compassion of Jesus is meant for us to spread throughout the world in a practical way through our ways of life, especially during these difficult moments in our country.

Dear friends, where are you in your relationship with God? What has become of you in this passing world? God is searching for us. He has not abandoned us even in our imperfections, he still cares about us. All he wants from us is to come back to him and be faithful to him and compassionate to one another. But what is keeping us away from God? How strong is our compassion towards others? Do we know people who are helpless and need some help? Let us look at them for a moment and imagine Jesus looking at them. How does he see them through us? Have I ever felt helpless? Do I feel the need for Jesus’ help in some part of my life?

Today, like Jesus, each one of us is called 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 bring the healing and compassion of Jesus into their lives, especially now that people are really going through financial difficulties.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, our fragile and contingent nature propelled by pride and sins have always brought about our downfall, but you have never abandoned us. As we embrace your compassion, give us the grace to look at people around us with the compassionate eyes of Jesus and be of help to them the best we can. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a peaceful weekend.

Homily For Friday Fifth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 14th February 2025. The Memorial of SS. Cyril and Methodius, and St. Valentine’s Day

 

Readings: Gen 3:1-8, Ps.32, Mark 7:31-37

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WHY DO WE CELEBRATE VALENTINE’S DAY? 

Today all over the world, people are celebrating, especially young people; we are celebrating what they call Valentine’s Day. A day we celebrate love. But today, we are celebrating not just love but the power and victory of love over human selfishness. The seed of this celebration comes as a result of the ugly event that happened on February 14, around the year 270 A.D.,  when Valentine, a holy Roman Catholic priest, who lived in Rome in the days of Emperor Claudius II, was executed. 

But the questions that come to mind are: why was he executed, and how does this ugly event relate to what we are celebrating today? According to history, what happened was that under the rule of  Emperor Claudius II, Rome was involved in many unpopular and bloody campaigns, and the emperor had to maintain a strong army but was having a difficult time getting soldiers to join his military leagues. So, the emperor discovered that the men of Rome were unwilling to join the army because of their strong attachment to their wives and families.

Thus, to deal with this problem, Claudius banned all marriages and engagements in Rome. But Valentine a priest of Rome, realizing the injustice of this declaration by the emperor, defied this order and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine’s actions were discovered, the emperor ordered that he be put to death. Valentine was arrested and dragged before the Prefect of Rome, who condemned him to be beaten to death with clubs and to have his head cut off. This ugly event was carried out on February 14, around the year 270.

However, in 496 A.D., Pope Gelasius, in honour of this St., decided to put an end to the Feast of Lupercalia, which was a pagan celebration of the god of fertility in the name of love, though in an immoral way that is not acceptable to the Christian faith. So in order to replace this feast with something more acceptable, the Pope declared that February 14 be celebrated as St. Valentine's Day in memory of his sacrificial passion for love among the people. Gradually, February 14 became a date for the celebration of love, which is often expressed in different ways, such as exchanging love messages, poems and simple gifts such as flowers to our loved ones.

Thus, Valentine's celebration reminds us of the gift of God's love to humanity. For God loves unconditionally and sacrificially, he loves us till the very end. So, we have to also love one another the way God loves us. We must know that Valentine's Day is not a carnal celebration of love. But more of a sacrificial and spiritual celebration. That is why, as Christians, we do not celebrate Valentine's in a carnal or selfish manner or the sinful way the world celebrates it in the name of boyfriend and girlfriend, committing immorality, fornication and adultery in the name of love, which, of course, is not love, but lust.

Therefore, Valentine’s day for us should be a day we protect and promote true love for one another. It is a day we remember how much we care for one another and what we are to one another. It is a day we build up and nurture long-lasting love, friendships and good relationships with one another.

This is what was lacking in our lives because we have failed to listen to the word of God.  Yes, we go to Church as often as possible; we engage in one spiritual activity or another. But the question is, do we really listen and hear God speaking to us through those activities? Do we still see the hands of God in what we do? Are we really convinced of what we do in the house of God? Are we confused about our faith as a result of ugly events and scandals? The world really wants us to be deaf to the word of God and mute to speak the great things God is doing for us. 

This is evident in our first reading today, where humanity paid deaf hears to the instructions of God by allowing herself to be deceived by the serpent and, as a result of this ugly attitude, separate herself from the presence of God out of pride and selfish desires for deceptive things of this passing world.

Thus, today in our Gospel passage, we hear how Jesus dramatically and figuratively heals us of our deafness and dumbass caused by our constant embracing of the sinful things of this passing world. Hence, when the deaf and dumb man was brought to Jesus for healing. He took the man aside, put his fingers in his ears, touched his tongue with spittle, looked up to heaven and prayed, " Ephphatha! Be opened". Immediately, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue loosed, and he was able to speak plainly. These same words are used during baptism while touching the ears and lips of the baptized, a gesture that signifies the spiritual openness of one’s heart to God’s words.

Dear friends, out of pride and greediness, we have often separated ourselves from the presence of God and, as a result, have become deaf and dumb to his teachings and instructions. Hence, we all need to have our ears opened so that we can hear and understand fully the message of Jesus and share it with the world. I don’t know how far we have separated ourselves from God as a result of sin, I don’t know how deep our deafness and dumbness are, all I know is that today God is saying to us, fear not, have the courage for the eyes of the blind shall be opened, ears of the deaf unstopped and the tongue of the mute shall sing for joy. 

So, let us learn to embrace true love for that is the only way we can conquer the ugly attitude of pride in us. Let us learn from SS. Cyril and Methodius and also St. Valentine whose memorials we celebrate today. For they are good examples of what it means to hear the word of God calling us to embrace love sacrificially.

LET US PRAY: Lord Jesus, we have become deaf and dumb towards your words as we embrace your word today, calling us to embrace love sacrificially. Through the intercessions of SS. Cyril, Methodius and Valentine give us the grace to be humble and to love in order to follow you, our Lord and Saviour, who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. Love you all.

Homily For Thursday Fifth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 13th February, 2025

Readings: Gen 2:18-25, Ps.128, Mark 7:24-30

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WHEN YOU ACCEPT WHO YOU ARE NOW, GOD ELEVATE YOU TO WHOM HE WANTS YOU TO BE

In our society today, most people hardly accept who they are. These days, people spend all their resources and energy trying to convince others of what they are not by seeking their approval. What happens is that, in the end, they will lose their nerve,s, and other people will convince them that what they are doing doesn't have any value, and because of t, that, they give up their dreams. This is not the same with the Syrophoenician woman in our Gospel passage today, who, when she approached Jesus pleading for the restoration of her daughter, did not give up even when her request was not granted immediately.

For we are told that Jesus entered a house in Tyre and Sidon and did not want to be recognized. It is then that this Gentile Syrophoenician woman came to him and prostrated herself before Jesus and begged him to exorcise the evil spirit in her daughter. But Jesus’ answer seems somewhat strange when he said: “Let the children be fed first. For it is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” However, the woman responded, “Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s scraps. Her humble and powerful faith was immediately rewarded, and her daughter was healed.

This story portrays the anticipation of the future faith of the Gentiles who will later become Christians. However, the irony of this passage is that, in Israel, Jesus was trying to convince people that he was the Messiah, as he was being challenged to prove it with a sign. But here in Gentile territory, he met a woman who was convinced he was the Messiah, and he could not discourage her efforts. Nonetheless, his apparent attempt to put her off was just a test, of which her great faith was proven by accepting her humble background and persistence in her request.

She accepted the place of a “dog” as a Gentile in relation to Israelites being the chosen children of God to whom the message and grace of the Messiah came first. Though she accepted that she may not be able to sit down at the Messiah’s table and eat with the “children,” she should be allowed to pick up some of the crumbs of unmerited mercy and grace of God for the sake of her daughter.

Dear friends, we must learn how to humbly accept who are and be more persistent in our quest and desire for something we desire. We must stop wasting valuable time trying to prove who we are not; let us first accept who we are in faith, then work hard to improve who we want to be in relation to our faith in God. Let our faith in God help us to accept who we are. Whatever we want to do, let us have faith in God and in ourselves, and be determined because, faith, determination and sacrifice are the secrets of any success in life.

Therefore, tell yourself today that you can get that which you desire when you plan for it and work every day for it; then, you will begin to see a different face in the things you do. The truth is that people are rewarded in public for things they have done for years in private. So, let us learn from this Syrophoenician woman who accepted who she was and was determined with faith to achieve her dream through humility and persistence.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, the Syrophoenician woman accepted her humble background with great faith in your Son Jesus, as we humbly make a leap of faith today, with determination and sacrifice towards our dreams in life. May you grant our heart's desires. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a favourable day.

Homily For Wednesday Fifth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 12th February, 2025

 

Readings: Gen 2:4-9.15-17, Ps.104, Mark 7:14:23

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

THE NATURE OF YOUR INTERIOR LIFE IS KNOWN BY THE FRUITS OF YOUR PHYSICAL LIFE

Listening to our first reading today, we heard how God has entrusted to humanity his wonderful creation with the following instructions: ‘You may eat indeed of all the trees in the garden. Nevertheless, of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you are not to eat, for on the day you eat of it, you shall most surely die. But we have often failed to keep this instruction out of pride and greediness, which have corrupted our hearts, and as a result,t, most of our ugly attitudes are the fruit of this corrupt hea, rt, and these often separate us from God.

Little wonder, in our Gospel passage today, Jesus makes it clear that we are not defiled or separated from God by external things, such as the kinds of food we eat, but by the sins of the heart, evil intentions and sinful actions which we entertain in our hearts. Telling us that the physical activity of the human person does not defile a person because the physical is being controlled by the inner interior being of the person. When the interior life of a person is corrupted by sin, then the fruit of this corruption is manifested in the physical activity of the person.

For just as a corrupt fountain sends forth corrupt streams, so will a corrupt heart bring forth corrupt fruits, corrupt appetites, passions, covetousness and immoderate desires for more wealth of the nation from which comes wickedness; malice, hatred, and a delight in mischievous actions, deceit; Lasciviousness; that filthiness and foolish talk which darkened the soul.

Hence, Jesus teaches us also, that from a corrupt heart comes the desire for fornication and adultery. All these come from within our hearts, especially the corrupt nature that brings about the carnal mind, the evil treasure in the heart which defiles the human person and renders one unfit to be in communion with God. Because they stain the conscience; and, if not mortified and rooted out, will send us out of our heavenly kingdom.

Thus, the defilement we ought to avoid is not from what entered our mouths as food, but from what comes out of our mouths, which shows the goodness or wickedness deep down in our hearts. The human heart is the source of every good and evil deed. Hence, the pollution of the human heart is very dangerous, for in it comes all the powers and faculties of the soul. So there is a need for us to know that lustful and sinful thoughts of the heart defile the human person and make one abominable in the sight of God.

Dear friends, the nature of your interior life is known by the fruits of your physical life. For when our interior life is defiled by sins, our hearts bear the ugly fruit of corruption. So, we must ensure that our interior life and our hearts are constantly purged of all these corruptions to bear good fruits of love, forgiveness, compassion and holiness. It is only when this occurs that there will be a need for a new heart and right spirit to be formed and created within us for having repented and received the pardoning grace of God. Nothing will last in the soul more than the regenerating graces of the Holy Spirit, which gives sight to the heart darkened by sin to effectively lead others to the truth that illuminates their hearts from the darkness of sin and death.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, the human hearts have been corrupted and darkened by sins. As we struggle to constantly purge our hearts from sin and corruption, may you create a pure heart within us so that we can bear good fruits of love and holiness? We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen Wishing you a fruitful day.

Homily For Tuesday, Fifth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 11th February 2025

 

Readings: Gen.1:20-2:4, Ps.8, Mark 7:1-13

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

THESE PEOPLE HONOUR ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEARTS ARE FAR FROM ME

Oftentimes, we find it difficult to separate the commandments of God from human traditions. This no doubt plays out in our making and interpreting of laws, and it has great consequences in our relationship with God and our neighbours, just as we have it in our Gospel reading today, where we heard how the Pharisees multiplied religious laws and rituals to such an extent that it was impossible to know them all, talk more of observing them. So Jesus accuses them of neglecting the true commandment of God over their petty regulations. 

These petty laws and traditions were some highly detailed but unwritten human laws which the Scribes and Pharisees regarded as having the same binding force as the Law God gave to Moses. However, Jesus was not totally against these laws and regulations. What he was against was the legalism by which the mere observance of some external actions was equated with being a devout lover of God. Hence, he reminded them of the quotes from the prophet Isaiah, saying: “This people honours me only with lip service, while their hearts are far from me. The worship they offer me is worthless; the doctrines they teach are only human regulations.” (Is 29:13). 

So, he made it clear that the real commandment of God is the unconditional love of God and neighbour, which is evident in our first reading where we heard God saying, ‘Let us make man in our own image, in the likeness of ourselves, and let them be masters of the fish of the sea, the birds of heaven, the cattle, all the wild beasts and all the reptiles that crawl upon the earth.’ Thus, God created man in the image of himself with laws and regulations to guide us. But we have neglected these laws in favour of what are purely human traditions. 

Hence, Jesus goes ahead to illustrates the hypocrisy involved in these ugly attitudes by showing how some supposedly devout people neglected the basic responsibility of respect and care for parents by claiming that they had consecrated all that they owned to God and the temple while, in fact, they are keeping it for their own personal use. So, for one to declare something to be “Corban,” an offering devoted to God when his parents are in need, is in direct conflict with the commandment of God that says: honour your father and mother.

Dear friends, let love and goodwill be the foundation for making and implementing our laws. There can be some elements of Pharisee in us, and these happen whenever we focus our attention on laws while neglecting the spirit of the law, which is the real focus of today’s Gospel. Sometimes, we neglect the essential service of God because of some religious regulations. We often judge people based on our human standards. Sometimes, we piously go through all kinds of devotional exercises, but deep down in our hearts is gossip and destructive criticism of others. 

Therefore, we are called today not to be like the Pharisees by holding onto unnecessary human traditions; rather, we should focus our attention more on the teaching of Jesus about the love of God and neighbour, and this should guide our implementation of every other law and regulations. 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, out of pride and greediness, we have often neglected the true meaning of your commandment of love but hold on to unnecessary human traditions which lead us into destructive criticism of others. Help to change these ugly attitudes to embrace your teaching of love and humility. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a fruitful day.

Homily For Monday Fifth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 10th February, 2025

 

The Memorial of Saint Scholastica

Readings: Gen.1:1-19, Ps.104, Mark 6:53-56

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

EXPERIENCING THE HEALING TOUCH OF JESUS

In the creation story, we were told that God created everything so good and perfect, just as we have it in our first reading today. But out of pride and greediness, humanity has destroyed and keeps on destroying the good things that God has entrusted to us. As a result of this, humanity is suffering the consequences of our destructive actions, which manifest in different forms such as natural disasters, illnesses, diseases, afflictions, slavery and troubles.

But time and time again, God, though not pleased with this destructive nature of humanity, has not stopped to restore humanity back to its glorious state. This gracious act of restoration is made more evident in the life and mission of our Lord Jesus Christ, who came to redeem us through the path of humility and love.

Little wonder, in our Gospel passage today, we heard of the great works of Jesus, who was then at Galilee, ministering to the people who came to him seeking to be healed from their various illnesses, diseases, afflictions, slavery and troubles. People kept on bringing their sick ones to him and many people who had faith in him were healed by merely touching his cloak. This passage summarizes what Jesus was doing for the people. It indicates the tremendous desire of the people to be healed and made whole by Jesus. Thus, the presence of Jesus brought Joy and relief to them.

Dear friends, God really cares about us, for no matter the situation we may find ourselves in, we must know that the touch of Jesus heals and restores everything. Therefore, we all are called to embrace the loving touch of Jesus and cooperate with him in his work and mission of healing and restoration of humanity, just like St. Scholastica whose memorial we celebrate today. Despite the challenges of the time, she lived a virtuous and prayerful life, dedicated wholly to God and committed herself to live an upright life of piety and charity, inspiring others in her community to be more dedicated and faithful to God. St. Scholastica showed us all what it truly means to be Christians.

Hence, let us discern what we can do to contribute, in our little ways, towards ensuring the restoration of humanity and all God’s creation, which we are destroying by our lives and actions. Let us seek to renew our faith in God and grow stronger in our love and devotion towards him. The people in our Gospel today rushed towards Jesus with their needs and their hopes because they recognized him. Maybe we need to follow their example by bringing to him those things in us that are still in need of healing and restoration.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we submit our lives into your care, let your healing touch restore us once again. And through the intercessions of St. Scholastica, may the victims of human persecutions and slavery experience restoration and the healing touch of Jesus in their lives. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed week.