Homily For Thursday Second Week of Easter, 1st May, 2025. HAPPY NEW MONTH

 

Readings: Acts.5:27-33; Ps.34; John 3:31-36

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WE MUST LEARN TO OBEY GOD ABOVE ANY HUMAN AUTHORITY

Every 1st of May, the world celebrates Labour Day and May Day as the Church celebrates the optional memorial of St. Joseph the worker, the great Patron of all workers. St. Joseph the Worker ( carpenter) as he is called, was upright, virtuous and good in all the things he had done, a hardworking servant of God in all things. Thus, God found in St Joseph a true manager who will be truly a faithful guide of His son.

All humanity is called to be God’s manager, called to manage all the things He created, but humanity has failed to manage God’s creative works properly, and because we mismanaged God’s creatures, humanity has turned the world against itself, and today we are all suffering as a result of our mismanagement. This is what we see in the lives of the disciples of Jesus.

So, as the persecution of the apostles continued, the authorities of the Pharisees and the Sanhedrin forbade them from preaching in the name of Jesus as we have it in our first reading today. But the apostles spoke out boldly saying: We should obey God than men. They stood firm and witnessed all that they had experienced. Their testimony was directed by the Holy Spirit, who is given to all those who respond to God with the obedience that comes from faith.

Hence, they continued to preach in the name of Jesus, and their accusers could not stop them even though they had been strictly forbidden to do so. Such is the grace and courage we receive when we experience the power of the risen Lord. We will not be afraid to witness because we are convinced that Jesus is the One who comes from above, the One whom God has sent to speak the words of God.

He is the Word of God who came to bear testimony to what he has seen and heard just as we heard him telling Nicodemus in our Gospel passage, that anyone who believes in the Son has eternal life, but anyone who refuses to believe in the Son will never see life: the anger of God stays on him.

Dear friends, we should never forget that we are the managers of whatever God has given us, especially as Christians living in a world where our faith is being challenged every moment, along with the ugly situation we are facing every day. We still have to make costly choices of choosing to obey God rather than men and not give in because of persecution, hunger, poverty or our worldly ambition.

Everywhere we find ourselves, be it in business, relationships, politics and family life, we have to make decisions about remaining honest, truthful, faithful to our faith and commitments to God above that of any human authorities.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, give us grace and courage to constantly obey You above any human authority, especially in times of difficulty, hunger, striving, sickness, and persecution. Never let us deny You because of worldly pressures and difficulties or be put to shame, as we place all our hope in You. Amen. It’s a New Month, be strong and be focused for the Lord has promised to be with us till the end of time. 

Homily For Wednesday Second Week of Easter, 30th April, 2025. The Feast of Our Lady Mother of Africa

 

Readings: Acts.1:12-14; Ps. Luke 1:46-55; John 2:1-11

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

LET US LEARN TO DO WHATEVER JESUS TELLS US

As the month comes to an end, today we celebrate the feast of Our Lady, Mother of Africa, a celebration that encourages we Africans to turn to Mary for her maternal intercession and assistance in our daily struggles in life as Africans. Little wonder our Gospel passage today presents to us the story of an event that portrays what ought to be our relationship with Jesus and his mother, Mary, in every event of our daily lives.

Here, we see how the wedding couple invited Jesus and his disciples on the most important day of their lives. When an embarrassing moment came up during the course of the celebration, Mary, in her usual way of helping people, asked Jesus to save the couple from social embarrassment and even when her request was not granted by her son, she had strong faith that he would not refuse her request. So she said to the servants: “ Do whatever he tells you”.

By this request, Mary, who represents the Church,h, reveals to us the key to a successful and happy Christian Life. That is to say that, the secret key that opens the treasure of a successful and happy Christian life is to do whatever he (Jesus) tells us. This is why we must learn to do whatever Jesus tells us. But what did Jesus say we should do? He told the servants: Fill, Draw and Serve.

Telling us to fill our lives with the water of salvation which he offers us every day through His words and Eucharist and when we have filled our lives with the fountain of his presence, then we should draw from the joy it offers and serve the world which is really in need and thirsty for the word of God especially at this moment in our world when humanity really hope and seek for God’s intervention.

Dear friends, we really need to fill our lives with the words of Jesus, which we hear every day. We need to learn from our mother, Mary, who never ceases to ponder God’s words in her heart. We need to learn how to serve others from the abundance we have received from God and pray together like Mary and the apostles in our first reading today.

We need to draw from the fountain of grace and gifts that God has given to us in order to build up our lives, our families, societies, countries and continents. We need to learn how to sacrifice for the good of others. We need to learn how to intercede for others who are going through difficult moments. But this is possible only when we have filled our empty souls with love, peace, joy and happiness that comes from knowing that Jesus cares so much about us personally and collectively.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, the situation of human life in our world today is really frightening, your children in the African continent pray that through the intercession of our Lady Mother of Africa, may we find the strength to do your will always especially in our daily struggle in Africa, as we ask you to protect us from the evil manipulations and agenda of the world powers. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a fruitful day.

Homily For Tuesday Second Week of Easter, 29th April, 2025. The Memorial of St Catherine of Siena

 

Reading Act:32-37; Ps.93; John 3:7-15

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

IMITATING THE FRATERNAL LOVE OF THE EARLY CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY 

One of the major problems in our world today is individualism; this, no doubt, is the cause of disunity, greediness and corruption that is really destroying humanity today. 

To overcome this ugly attitude we need to learn from the early Christian community as recorded in our first reading today, which gives us an account of how the company of believers were of one heart and soul deeply united with each other. 

They bear witness to the central element of their faith, that is, loving God with all their hearts and with all their soul and loving their neighbours as themselves. Thereby bearing witness to the teachings of Jesus. They sold their belongings brought the proceeds together, and distributed them to each according to their need. 

This great gesture demonstrates what fraternal love really means. No one claimed anything as belonging to him/herself; everything was held in common. This shows us the social life of the early Church. But the question is, do we still have such sharing communities in our Church today? 

Perhaps we may find such communal sharing in some different communities of religious life with vows of poverty and total sharing of resources coupled with a life of material simplicity.  Also, there may be other groups of lay people and some families who try to implement this Christian vision and value. 

Dear friends, let us embrace the communal and fraternal love of the early Church, for how many families are practising this great Christian fraternal living? How many societies in our churches are willing to maintain this tradition. 

This should be encouraged, especially at this moment when the world is passing through difficult times, and we are fast losing our great Christian values of communal and fraternal living. 

There is a need for us to also extend it to societies where fraternal Communion and charity have been taken over by individualism, selfishness, corruption and greed. How I wish humanity would learn how to live in fraternal charity like the early Christians, then we will see that the world resources will be enough for everyone. Therefore, let us unite again as one family.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, as we reflect on the attitudes and virtues of the early Church, give us the grace to imitate them as we cultivate the attitude of sharing our material blessings with those in genuine need in our community, especially in this difficult moment in our societies, country and the world at large. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a grace-filled day.

Homily For Monday Second Week of Easter, 28th April, 2025

 

Readings: Acts.4:23-31; Ps.2; John 3:1-8

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

THE GRACE TO PROCLAIM THE WORD OF GOD WITH COURAGE AND BOLDNESS

Threats, intimidation, torture and fear are some of the powerful ways of silencing people from expressing their views, opinions and faith. We can recall how this ugly attitude was used to silence the youths in the recent past in our country, especially in the ugly event of the End-Sars protest, which brought about the Lekki toll gate shooting and the killing of innocent people.

These very techniques and tools are what the chief priests and the elders used in intimidating the apostles in our first reading today, and the same systematic tools prevented Nicodemus from coming to Jesus except by night, as we read in the Gospel passage today.

Nicodemus was afraid and ashamed to be seen with Christ because of his colleagues who would possibly threaten him. So he came in the night to seek knowledge. Here he came not to have knowledge about the state affairs, though he was a ruler, but about the concerns of his own soul and its salvation. Though he came by night, Jesus welcomed him and afterwards, at the passion, he proclaimed Christ publicly, hereby demonstrating and teaching us the power of courage.

Dear friends, these same courage and boldness were the prayerful requests the apostles made to the Lord when they were threatened by the authorities never to preach in the name of Jesus. Now, the disciple knew that powerful forces were arrayed against them. They knew, as well, that Peter and John were determined to continue their witnessing.

So they prayed for strength to speak the Word of God with confidence and boldness and asked that in their expression of faith, God should accomplish their works with signs and wonders in the name of Jesus. We all need this confidence and boldness if we are to effectively evangelize the people, especially at this moment when the world has lost interest in the things of God.

LET US PRAY: heavenly Father, as we struggle with the ugly situation of fear, intimidation and torture in our families, societies, country and the world at large, give us the grace, confidence and boldness to proclaim your Word in the power of Your Spirit to penetrate the hearts of men and women of our generation. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. May the Joy of the risen Lord be our strength.

Homily For the Second Sunday of Easter, the Divine Mercy Sunday, 27th April, 2025

 

Readings: Acts.5:12-16; Ps.118; Rev. 1:9-11.12-13.17-19; John 20:19-31

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

ARE YOU STILL DOUBTING LIKE THOMAS? IT’S TIME TO BELIEVE IN THE RISEN LORD

The event we celebrate today is meant for us to focus our attention once again on the Lord, to ask Jesus for his mercy on us and the whole world especially through his glorious and wondrous passion, which stands as a perfect offering for the redemption of humanity.

Little wonder Pope St. John Paul II in the Jubilee Year of 2000, instituted the Divine Mercy Sunday, which is to be celebrated every second Sunday of Easter to remind us that the joyful celebration of the Easter season is also a time for us to appreciate once again that our Lord Jesus passed through the worst of sufferings and humiliations in his Passion, Death and Resurrection, and so won eternal life for humanity.

Hence, we need to have faith in the Lord and believe that through him there is hope for our salvation. This truly explains the words of Jesus to his disciples when he said: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe”. This statement could be a central theme in our Gospel passage today.

Here, Jesus said to Thomas: “ Do not doubt but believe… for blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” This is because Thomas was lacking in faith and so was doubtful of the Lord’s resurrection but only to be humbled when the Lord himself appeared right before him. Thomas believed and said to the Lord, ‘My Lord and My God’. The Gospel ended by saying that these are written so that you may believe in Jesus and that you may have life in his name.

This also is repeated in our second reading today, where we heard the Lord saying through St. John “Do not be afraid; it is I, the First and the Last; I am the Living One, I was dead and now I am to live forever and ever, and I hold the keys of death and of the underworld. Now write down all that you see of present happenings and things that are still to come.’

Here, we are told that through our faith, we have victory over the world. So, the purpose of this Gospel is for us, the readers, to believe and enjoy the promised blessing. Today no doubt, Millions of Christians have been strengthened in their faith by reading this Gospel, and millions of others have been brought to faith through it.

But, what about you and I, who today have experienced the Lord, having journeyed with Jesus as long as we have come to embrace the Christian faith? What can we say about our personal encounter and experience of the person of Jesus?

Are we really convinced about the faith we profess? Are we still at the level of faith that is based on what we hear or read about Jesus? Or have we really and truly encountered the person of Jesus in such a way that our faith has no doubt anymore, such that we can truly say, like St. Thomas, "My Lord and My God"?

Dear friends, are we still doubting like Thomas? Today, we are encouraged to believe without even seeing Thomas. But this can really be very difficult in a world of empiricism, yet we are still called to truly embrace this faith without doubting despite all the ugly human attitudes that are kicking against our faith.

That is why, sometimes in our lives, we behave like Thomas; in fact, Thomas represents all of us who, in one way or another, have been doubtful of the presence of God in our lives. No doubt that there are many of us with different experiences at different levels of faith and devotion.

But at some point, we may have grown weak in our commitment to the Lord and begin to doubt his presence with us based on our own experiences, or when we are distracted and tempted by many ugly desires for worldly things that will turn us away from the Lord.

More so, we have often placed God aside and forgotten about him, by prioritizing more on other things in our lives. We have often treated him or things related to him as something not significant. There are times when we doubt the presence of God in our families, societies and even the Church.

There are times when we have doubted the presence of God in the Eucharist, in the sacraments and even in the activities of his ministers. Oftentimes, we are doubtful of the mercy of God, his love for us, and his power to save, heal and protect us as we go seeking help from other “sources”, which will only worsen our situation.

Brethren, to be a believer in our world today can be really difficult, so we need to support each other. We need to strengthen our community life, especially during this difficult moment in our country and the world at large. The first Christians supported one another by praying, worshipping and sharing their resources and the word of God together.

This is what we heard in our first reading today. For the people were loud in their praise and the numbers of men and women who came to believe in the Lord increased steadily. And so many signs and wonders were worked among the people at the hands of the apostles.

Therefore, let us unite together as believers, and bear authentic witness to our faith. As we struggle in this dark moment in our lives when God seems far away from the world, let us ask him to help us to remove all forms of doubt, especially at this time when the Gospel is under all kinds of threats by faithless and ignorant people.

Nevertheless, let us ask God for his Divine mercy in our lives, our families, societies, country and the world at large. Remember, the Lord is indeed merciful; he forgives us freely and generously, but we should not take his mercy for granted by dwelling perpetually in sin.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, today we are encouraged to believe without seeing, this can really be very difficult in a world of empiricism, help us especially this trial moment in our world, never to doubt whatever you have revealed through your son, may we rather be steadfast in faith, joyful in hope and untiring in loving you and our neighbours, as the world hope to experience your Divine Mercy once again, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Homily For Saturday Octave of Easter, 26th April 2025

 

Readings: Acts.14:13-21; Ps.118; Mark 16:9-15

Rev Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

A CALL TO BEAR AUTHENTIC WITNESS OF THE GOSPEL TO THE WHOLE WORLD

After the resurrection of Jesus, he appeared to his disciples on different occasions. Today in our Gospel passage, he appeared to the eleven apostles and commissioned them to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to the whole creation.

This is what Peter and John exercised in our first reading today. Here, the rulers, elders and scribes were astonished at the great witness shown by Peter and John, so they tried to prevent them and other disciples from spreading the Good News about the risen Lord by attempting to suppress them through fear and intimidation.

However, the disciples were not ready to give in to fear or pressure, for they were encouraged and strengthened by the Lord through the Holy Spirit as they were no longer the same people who hid for fear of the authorities. Instead, they openly defied the orders from the Sanhedrin and continued to carry out the missions which God had entrusted to them.

Hence, the mandate of this mission has been repeated in our liturgy throughout this octave of Easter in order to remind us of our mission as Christians. It also allows us to review our Easter experience, so as to examine ourselves about the impact the week has made on us.

Dear friends, to what extent have we been able to bear witness to the world about the risen Lord? As disciples of Christ, we are mandated to share the Good News of salvation provided by Christ Jesus to all creation. We are to do so not just in silence but in words and actions, which is seen in our ways of life.

So, friends, what can we do to ensure that the Gospel reach out to all creation? How best can we spread this Good News, especially in this time of difficulty when the world is looking for answers to the fundamental reality of human life?

 The answer to this fundamental question is rooted in the Gospel of Christ and the best way to preach the Gospel today is witnessing by our way of life. Today, many voices are preaching the Good News, but only a few are bearing authentic witness to the Gospel. Therefore, let our lives bear authentic witness to the Gospel of the Lord.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, give us the grace and courage to bear authentic witness of your Gospel in a world where people are confused and no longer pay attention to your word. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a peaceful weekend.

Homily For Friday Octave of Easter, 25th April 2025

Readings: Acts.4:1-12; Ps.117; John:21:1-14

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WHO IS THE TRUE CORNERSTONE OF YOUR LIFE?

For any system or structure to remain firm and sustainable, such structure must be well situated on a solid foundation known as the cornerstone. This is also applicable to most things we do in life.

Today, in our Gospel passage, the disciples of Jesus led by Peter had left Jerusalem and gone all the way back to their native homes to resume their former ways of life as fishermen because they have failed to understand that Jesus is the cornerstone of their lives. So they went fishing all night. After a whole night’s fishing, they caught absolutely nothing, tired and disappointed.

This night of futile fishing left them with empty nets and hopelessness. They have forgotten that without Jesus the cornerstone, they can do nothing. It was at this point that suddenly, a stranger on the shore invited them for breakfast.

Here, Jesus took the initiative and visited them as he engaged them in a dialogue, saying: “Have you caught anything?” They reluctantly admit they have got nothing. Then, he said to them drop your nets on the right side of the boat and you will find something.

They did so and were overwhelmed by the catch they had made. There were so many fish that they simply could not be taken into the boat. Thus, they recognize that it was Jesus the cornerstone of their lives and mission.

Dear friends, who is the cornerstone of your life? Like the disciples, we, too, must come to recognize Jesus as the cornerstone of our lives, who is there for us even in the most mundane moments of our daily lives. The truth is that we all need to have a strong root in everything we do; without a strong root in the Lord, who is our cornerstone, we will not be able to stand firm when the challenges of life hit us.

Little wonder, Peter tells us in our first reading, that Jesus is that stone which the builders rejected, but today is the cornerstone by which we are saved. Today, all over the world, people are struggling with different ugly situations.

In fact, the world is in a state of crisis. As a result, people are suffering, their means of livelihood have been deprived, there is no food, no electricity, no good water, crisis everywhere, poverty is on the increase, house rent is due, and there is no one to run to, some families only look up to God for daily survival.

However, in the midst of these ugly situations, let us know that we are not left alone in our fears and sorrows, for Jesus, the cornerstone of our lives, is nearer to us now than before. We only need to have faith in him and acknowledge him as the cornerstone of our lives and families especially in this difficult moment. Let us be strong, steadfast, courageous and hopeful, knowing that the Joy of the risen Lord is our strength.

LET US PRAY: Lord Jesus, without you we will toil in vain, never cease to be the cornerstone of our lives, our families and the world at large. May the most vulnerable in our midst experience your grace, your help, your healing, your favour and your interventions as we look up to you as our cornerstone. For you live and reign forever and ever. Amen. Have a fruitful day.

Homily For Thursday Octave of Easter, 24th April 2025

 

Readings: Acts.3:11-26; Ps.8; Luke24:35-48

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

A CALL TO BEAR AUTHENTIC WITNESS OF GOD TO THE WORLD

Today, in a special way, Jesus appeared to his disciples, wishing them peace and commissioning them to bear witness to his resurrection. He commissioned his disciples with these words “You are witnesses to this”. And as we know a witness must be someone who has seen and experienced something and could testify to the facts of what he or she has seen.

So, the disciples had witnessed Christ’s suffering, death and resurrection and here comes the mission to witness this to the whole world and to proclaim reconciliation with God through Jesus. We, too, receive this commission of being his witnesses; through our baptism, we are incorporated into the Church to authentically bear witness to the faith we profess.

Dear friends, it is our task to carry on this mission of Christ throughout the whole world. If we do not, then the world will not hear Christ’s message of reconciliation, forgiveness and victory over sin and death, thereby making the world remain ignorant of what God has done for us, and the consequences of this ignorance are the root of the problems in our world today.

However, we can not bear effective witness unless we have a personal experience of the risen Lord. It is this personal experience that enables Peter to bear effective witness of Christ before the people, as we heard in our first reading today (Acts 3:11-26); we too can do the same when we experience the risen Lord personally in our lives.

LET US PRAY: Lord Jesus, let us once again experience you personally in our lives and give us the grace to bear authentic witness of your presence in the world, especially at this moment when the world is in a state of confusion not knowing what to do. Manifest your victorious power afresh in our lives, families, societies and the world at large. You who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. Have a fruitful day.

Homily For Wednesday in Octave of Easter, 23rd April 2025

Readings: Acts.3:1-10; Ps. 104; Luke 24:13-35

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

AN EMMAUS ENCOUNTER OF JESUS AT THE EUCHARISTIC TABLE

Oftentimes, we hardly understand fully the meaning of the faith we profess in Christ. Though we still journey with Christ and his Church without a full understanding of the mystery, we celebrate. Sometimes, we are confused, sometimes we doubt, and sometimes, we feel like going back to our ugly and sinful ways of life.

This type of disposition is the condition of the two disciples of Jesus in our Gospel passage today, where we heard the story about the two disciples who were on their way to Emma’s. The story of these two disciples on the road to Emmaus is one of the most interesting stories in the Gospel that explains the structure of our liturgical celebration in a more practical way.

In this story, they were on a journey when the risen Lord joined them on the way and explained the scriptures to them. These two disciples had no idea who Jesus was when he approached them. They are aware, however, of the recent events in Jerusalem but cannot comprehend them.

But the Lord, after explaining the scriptures, revealed his identity to them at the breaking of bread; when he took a loaf of bread and gave thanks, he broke it and gave it to them just like he did at the Last Supper.

Dear friends, in this same way, the risen Lord journeys with us in our liturgical worship, beginning with the penitential rite where we recall how sinful and unworthy we are before God. Then we recalled the events of our faith as the Lord Jesus takes us through the Scriptures and the celebration of the Eucharist.

Here the faith of the faithful is sustained. It is the place where Jesus continues to reveal himself. Where the Christian faith is born and nurtured, where what Jesus did for us through his suffering, death and resurrection is remembered in thanksgiving. This is the faith Peter and John exercised in our first reading today when they restored the crippled in the name of Jesus.

But the question we need to ask ourselves is, what is our disposition towards the faith we have found in Christ? Have we personally encountered or recognized the presence of God in our lives, especially at Eucharistic celebrations?

Today the Lord Jesus wishes to journey with us in our struggles. He wishes to instruct us more about the faith we found in him. He wishes to reveal himself once again to us if we are going to be disposed enough to listen to him as he speaks to us, especially through the scriptures.

LET US PRAY: Loving Jesus, as we journey together on the road of faith with you, especially in the midst of the ugly situation ravaging the world, help us to always recognize you personally in different events we encounter on the way, especially at the breaking of the Eucharistic bread. You who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. Peace be with you.

Homily For Tuesday of October of Easter, 22nd April, 2025

 

Readings: Acts.2:36-41; Ps. 33; John 20: 11-18

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

AN ENCOUNTER WITH THE RISEN LORD 

One of the most precious gifts God can offer to anyone is the privilege of having a personal experience and encounter with him, especially in this season, which is a moment of encounter. Little wonder our reading this season gives us an account of how different people encountered the Lord Jesus. 

Today, our Gospel passage presents to us the story of a woman who seeks the Lord with all affection and tears. Mary Magdalene came back and remained by the tomb where Jesus was laid and was 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.

 

So, we are likely to seek and find the Lord, when we seek him with deepest affection and desire. 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 our disposition this season matters a lot. 

If we have that true disposition and desire to encounter Jesus we will surely experience him in our lives. It’s just a few days after Easter; how close have we personally embraced the Lord? What difference has his presence made in our lives?

 

Dear friends, the Lord Jesus is at the door knocking and waiting for us to open the door of our hearts so that we will experience him personally. For he, the good shepherd knows his sheep, and he said his sheep would know him when he calls their names. Just like Mary Magdalene recognized Jesus when he called her name. But are we disposed enough to hear him when he speaks to us? 

In different ways and forms, Jesus speaks to us. The common way of making himself known to his people is by his words; his words appeal to our souls, speaking to us in a particular way that is unique to us. Therefore, let us be well disposed to hear the Lord Jesus speaking to us in our hearts,, and there we experience and encounter him personally.

 LET US PRAY: Lord God, our souls desire to encounter your Son, our Lord Jesus, personally once again; give us the grace and strength to always be ready to turn around, to look again, that we may see, experience, feel and recognize your presence in our lives personally and collectively. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed day.

Homily For Monday Octave of Easter, 21st April 2025

Readings: Acts.2:14.22-33; Ps. 16; Matt. 28:8-15

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

THE INVITATION TO GALILEE A PLACE OF ENCOUNTER

After the great event of passion and death of our Lord Jesus Christ, we heard yesterday of the good news of his resurrection, for we are yet to encounter him. So today being a special day, is no doubt a day of encounter, a day we are called to leave the empty tomb of sorrow and go to Galilee, a place of personal encounter with the risen Lord. For we heard in our Gospel passage today how the women who came to the tomb early in the morning ran with fear and great joy. 

They had just encountered the Lord, who invited them to go and tell their brothers that they must leave for Galilee; there, they would see him. This invitation is very symbolic for all Christians because it is an invitation to a place of encounter with our risen Lord. It is the first instruction of the Lord to his disciples. All who believe in the Lord are invited to be part of this invitation to Galilee, for it is a moment when all doubt is cleared, all fear is gone and all hope is fulfilled.

Dear friends, this same invitation is given to us today. But where is Galilee? Galilee is a fertile, mountainous region in northern Israel. It is most notable for being the home of our Lord Jesus Christ. More specifically, the Lower part of the mountain of Galilee is where Jesus grew up and spent the better part of his earthly life and ministry. 

But Galilee is much more than these. It is any place of encounter, especially deep within our hearts, where we can find the Lord Jesus so often because the risen Lord is no longer bound by time or space. Galilee can also be our Church, our neighbourhood, our family, any place of prayer, any place we find the poor and the needy, the sick or anywhere we find ourselves aware of the presence of Jesus. 

Therefore, let us, like the disciples, leave behind the empty tomb of sorrow, pain, fear and uncertainty of the things of this passing world and journey towards Galilee to encounter the risen Lord with joy and praises of alleluia in our hearts. We heard in our first reading how Peter and the other disciples, after their encounter with the risen Lord, expressed their experience with him to the people. We also are called to do the same after our encounter with him today at the Galilee.

LET US PRAY: Lord Jesus, as we journey towards Galilee in expectation to encounter you personally, amidst the pains and sorrows of this life, may the joy of your presence known no bounds in our lives, you who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. Remain blessed.

Homily for The Solemnity of Easter Sunday, 20th April, 2025

 

Readings: Acts.10:34.37-43; Ps. 118; 2Cor 3:1-4; John 20:1-9

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

A ENCOUNTER WITH THE RISEN LORD

For over forty days, we have journeyed with our Lord Jesus; we listened to him speaking of his mission to redeem humanity. Like his first disciples, we experienced his love, healing and compassion; we believed in him even when we lacked the full knowledge of his mission.

On Ash Wednesday as customary, we put on ashes in penitent for our sins. We fasted and abstained from food and other things, and we did great charity work all these forty days. On Palm Sunday, we shouted Hosanna!! Hosanna!! Filio David, on Holy Thursday, we dine with the Lord, though with divided minds, as he told us about the betrayal and his passion. On Good Friday, Jesus was taken away from us; in our presence, he was judged and condemned, and we cried out, crucify him!! Crucify him!!, he was indeed crucified on account of our sins.

 In sorrows and agonies, we were scatted and hopelessly went back to Emmaus by our ugly ways of life. But for some like Mary Magdalene, Peter and John, we wondered in great silence on Holy Saturday, what must have happened to the mission of Christ, in fear and hope we waited patiently in all night vigil meditating on the words of God in search of an answer to the mystery of the salvation of humanity promised to us by Jesus.

Of which in the vigil we heard the voice of an angel singing: Exult!!, let them Exult!!, the host of heaven, Exult!!, let Angel ministers of God Exult, let the trumpet of salvation sound aloud our might King’s triumph! Be glad, let earth be glad, for the stone has been taken away from the tomb, our Lord has risen, Jesus is risen, and light has triumphed over darkness. What a glorious day, a day of victory, a day when the salvation of humanity is won, a day of personal encounter with the risen Lord.

Let us then celebrate the Lord’s victory. Let us like Mary Magdalene, like Peter and John in our Gospel passage today run towards the empty tomb with open hearts to encounter Christ, who had died and is risen in order to renew us, in order to remove from our hearts the guilt of sin and death, so that we can embrace his divine and eternal life.

Dear friends, this is the fundamental core of our Christian faith; this is the victory that transforms us and unites us with our Lord. Hence, if Jesus is risen, and is alive, who will ever be able to separate us from him? Who will ever be able to deprive us of the love of him, who has conquered hatred and overcomes death?

Therefore, I don't know what your experience of the Lord has been in this world; I don't know how you woke up today; I don't know what troubles your mind. But all I know is that today is another gift of God to humanity, a day of joy, a day of victory. A day when the Lord Jesus conquered sin and shame. A day he rose from the dead.

So, I am excited and hopeful and am going to live it with all joy, not trying to change things that I could not change or try to fix things that do not want to be fixed. I will not let the ugly situation in our world today or any ugly event of the past distract me today or steal my joy.

I will focus on the blessings that come with the joy of the risen Lord. I will follow the directives of the Lord, for his ways are right and the upright walk in them, but the transgressors stumble in them. Thus, let us proclaim the Easter victory and spread it throughout the world with the joyful song of Alleluia.

Friends, Christ has come to give us new life, a new life of grace, a new life of peace, a new life of hope, a new life of courage, a new life of joy and purity of heart. This is the fundamental principle of our Christian faith; this is the victory that transforms us and unites us with our Lord.

Hence, if Jesus is risen, and is alive, who will ever be able to separate us from him? Who will ever be able to deprive us of the love of him who has conquered hatred and overcome death by showing us the path of sacrificial love?

Yes, Jesus loves us with a deep and everlasting love. For today, he has paid all our debts to God; he supplies all our daily spiritual needs; he sympathizes with us in all our troubles; he bears with all our infirmities and will not reject us because of our weaknesses. He regards us as part of himself: We share in the glory that he has received from his Father.

These are the privileges of all true Christians who are called to the heavenly kingdom. So today, Jesus is teaching us that the Kingdom of Heaven is not just about ritual or ceremonious fasting or feasting. But it is about building a personal relationship with God, who loves us personally and unconditionally. God has offered us a new life of grace.

So, let us join the angels to sing a new song to God for his sacrificial love for us. Let us thank God for the grace of new life he is offering us today. Let us sing and say:

You are the source of our new life;

In your light we see light,

You show to us your goodness;

You bid us taste and see

We come to you; we bless you, Lord;

We glorify your name!

We praise you Lord; we worship you

We thank you for your gift of New Life.

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

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

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, today, the victory of our salvation is won as we experience the Lord. May the joy of the risen Lord fill our hearts today and always. Happy Easter to you and your household.

Homily For Holy Saturday of Easter Vigil, 19th April, 2025

 

Readings: Gen 1:1-22; 22:1-18; Ex.14:15-15:1; Is 54:5-14; 55:1:11; Bar 3:9:9-15.33-4:4; Ez36:16-17.18-28;Ps. 51; Rom. 6:3-11; Ps. 118; Mk. 16:1-7

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

CELEBRATING THE LORD'S VICTORY OVER SIN AND DEATH

 We gathered tonight to celebrate Easter Vigil, which is the peak of the entire liturgical celebration since Holy Thursday. It is a night which is regarded as the mother of all Holy vigils, since it is the night when the Church awaits in prayer the resurrection of our Lord Jesus, who has gone to search for our first parent, as for a lost sheep.

Here, Jesus descended into the dead to visit those who live in darkness and the shadow of death in order to free from sorrow the captives who are captured by the sin and death of our forefathers, Adam and Eve. And to restore them not to their first earthly paradise. But to enthrone them into his heavenly kingdom where they are not forbidden to eat from the tree that was only a symbol of life, but rather, to behold him, who is life itself.

Thus, the liturgy of this night takes us through the journey along the paths of sacred Scriptures beginning with the account of creation to resurrection. Telling us that the creation story is itself a prophecy that is fulfilled in the person of Christ. It is not just information about an account of the process of the origins of things, but rather a pointer towards the true beginning of our being and the fulfilment of God’s plan for humanity.

Now the liturgy is divided into four parts, beginning with the blessings of the fire and the preparation of the Paschal Candle as we wait on the Lord, the liturgy of the word after the Easter exsultet, followed by baptismal renewal and celebration, then the Eucharistic celebration where we encounter the risen Lord at breaking of bread.

The central message of this liturgical event is God’s victory over sin and death. An event that transforms our Sorrowful hearts into glorious joy as Jesus fulfils God’s plan for humanity.

Dear friends, our disposition today should be that of great joy and hope in the resurrection of Christ who has conquered our sins and death. Therefore, let us celebrate this victory with joy despite the hardships, the sufferings and the problems we encounter especially with the ugly situation in our world today. Let this great joy and hope that is rooted in the resurrection of the Lord help us to conquer all fears and worries, for we are victorious by the power of Christ’s victory.

LET US PRAY: Lord Jesus, as we greatly anticipate your resurrection with joy and hope, may you fill our hearts now and always with the joy of your presence, who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.

Happy Easter Vigil to you all.

Homily For Good Friday of the Lord’s Passion, 18th April 2025

 

Readings: Is.52:13-53:12; Ps. 31; Heb. 4:14-16.5:7-9; John:18:1-19:42

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

I THIRSTY... IT IS FINISHED: THE SACRIFICIAL PRICE OF OUR SALVATION

Today, we celebrate the passion of Christ which constitutes the climax of the revelation of God’s love for humanity. We recall how the Lord was condemned to carry the sins of humanity on his Cross, enduring all the insults, torture, pains and struggles on the way to Calvary.

The anguish of the Lord’s Passion cannot fail to move even the most hardened hearts to pity and remorse, yet we call this most sorrowful day, Good Friday, despite all the terrible events and circumstances Jesus had to pass through. But we will appreciate the “Good” about the Friday when we do not just focus our attention on what happened but on what was accomplished for humanity, that is, the price paid for the salvation of humanity.

For this Friday the Lord Jesus says I thirst…, it is finished. The words that expressed the price of the sacrificial love of Jesus for humanity. Today, all his pains and agonies were now finished; it had indeed ended. No one to drag, betray or accuse him of anything anymore. There is nothing to be jealous of or dragged with him anymore; the Pharisees and the Chief priests have gotten what they wanted, and it is over. He has given in everything. It is completely finished today, this Friday.

So, what is good about this Friday? The good thing about this Friday is that all our shame, disgrace, pains and agonies are now ended on the Cross of Christ. What is good about this Friday is that humanity has died to sin to rise to righteousness. What is good about this Friday is that the hope of humanity,, which was lost to si,n, is restored.

What is good about this Friday is that humanity has received mercy and forgiveness. What is good about this Friday is that the human body is constrained while the soul is elevated. What is good about this Friday is that the enemy, the devil, is conquered on the Cross, and humility has conquered pride.

This Friday is good because human pride is conquered by the humility of Christ. This Friday is good because human wickedness, greed, hatred, selfishness corruption and betrayal are conquered by love, sacrificial love and charity that follows from the heart of Jesus. Thus, what is good about this Friday is that God has accomplished his plan for our salvation.

This makes the event of Good Friday a very important aspect of the Easter Triduum, beginning from yesterday’s Holy Thursday celebration of the Last Supper and continuing with the Saturday Vigil and the Resurrection of the Lord at Easter, making the whole events one great celebration of the Holy Mass.

The event of Good Friday liturgy of Christ’s Passion is not simply a commemoration of an important event that happened in the past, but a prayerful experience that makes Christ’s sacrifice present and operative in the lives of his children.

An event where Christ fought for humanity and won our salvation on the cross, calling us to embrace his love for us. On the cross, he says: I thirst…; it is finished. This means that all pains and agonies were now finished, the goal has now been accomplished, not of a futile end, but of a fulfilled mission.

Dear friends, today, this Friday, Jesus dies on the cross and lies in the tomb, an event that is so permeated by human sadness that leads to silence, meditation and prayer. Therefore, let us pause awhile to contemplate his anguish, his disfigured face: the face of a Man of sorrows, who took upon himself the burden of all our mortal anguish.

By so doing, we too, like women of Jerusalem, like Simon of Cyrene, like the good thief, like Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus who were present at the crucifixion of Jesus, let us beat our breasts, recalling what happened, and so see how his face is reflecting in that of every person who is humiliated and offended, sick and suffering, abandoned and despised, especially this period that the world is passing through turbulent moment as a result of human greed, corruption and selfishness, which has brought a lot of troubles and hopeless in the hearts of people.

Let us know that we are not alone in our daily struggles against sin and the crosses we have to bear in this life. For Jesus is in fact, carrying his Cross together with us. He is suffering also with us for he has made all our sufferings, pains and struggles his own. He has carried away our burden of sins.

Therefore, let us spend some time today to reflect on our Lord’s Passion and suffering, his great love for us and how important we need to change our ugly ways of life and resolve by God’s grace not to go on with our sinful ways, knowing that they separate us from the love of God.

Today, Jesus sacrificed everything for our sake. What are we sacrificing for him? What are we sacrificing for his Church, what are we sacrificing for humanity? What are we sacrificing for our families? What are you sacrificing for your wife, your husband, your children, your father and your mother, your boss in the office and those working for you?

What are we sacrificing for the sake of peace in our homes, our offices, our colleagues in the office and marketplaces? Brethren, the “good” about this Friday is the sacrificial love of Christ for humanity, which we are called to reciprocate in our neighbours. Therefore, let us go out there and offer this sacrificial love to all those we encounter today and always.

LET US PRAY: Lord Jesus, for the sake of your sorrowful passion, have mercy on us and the whole world. Help us to reciprocate this mercy to all those we encounter in our journey of life. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a grace-filled celebration of the Lord’s passion anywhere you are.

Homily For Holy Thursday Year C, 17th April, 2025. (Please, remember to pray for me and all the Priests)

 

Readings: Ex: 12:1-8,11-14; Ps. 116; 1Cor. 11:23-26; John:13:1-15

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

UNDERSTANDING AND CELEBRATING THE MYSTERY OF OUR FAITH

The events of Holy Thursday mark the beginning of the Sacred Paschal Triduum of the passion and resurrection of the Lord which is the peak of the entire liturgical year. These events begin with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper after the Chrism Mass in the morning, which reaches its peak at the Easter Vigil and ends with  Sunday evening prayer. 

This shows that today’s celebration is truly very significant, for in it some of the core elements of our faith are established. Beginning with the Lord giving us his own Most Precious Body and Blood in the Eucharist. Where the bread and wine turned into this Body and Blood. 

Here, as the Eternal High Priest of all, at the Last Supper, Jesus offers his own Body and Blood in the form of bread and wine, as the beginning of the very first Sacrifice of the Mass, lifted as an offering to God the Father, which turns into the essence and substance of his own Body and Blood offered on the Altar at the Cross of Calvary on Good Friday, where this Sacrifice of the Mass is accomplished. 

By this singular event, the Lord Jesus instituted the Holy Eucharist established the institution of Holy Priesthood and made his disciples share in his High Priest function and service.

So, the Mass of Holy Thursday evening shows deep signs of the mystery of God's love. The Gospel especially, links all these events with the concrete reality of our lives. Though it says little about the Paschal mystery, passion and the Eucharist. 

Instead, its focus is on Jesus, our Lord and Master, who gets down on his knees, lays down the clothes of his glory, wraps around his waist the towel of humility makes himself a servant and washes the disciples' dirty feet. A sign of his service and love which unveils the mystery of his love for humanity. 

This act of cleansing offers his disciples the gift of purity, the capacity to dine with the Lord. Thus, this gift becomes a model, the duty for them to do the same for one another. Here, Jesus teaches us that it is in this spirit of purity, love and service of our brothers and sisters that we can practice the outstanding characteristic of Christian discipleship. 

Dear friends, we are encouraged to spend these three days of Easter Triduum to deepen our faith and love for God. We are called to dedicate ourselves once more to the Lord. We are called to make good use of this time to reflect on how blessed we are to have been loved by God, so much so that He was willing to go through all the troubles and sufferings for our sake. 

Therefore, let us spend this time to reflect deeply on our personal relationship with God and discern carefully how we can begin to live our lives more faithfully and in humble service to God and humanity, just the way our Lord Jesus has shown us and his disciples today.

LET US PRAY: Lord Jesus, We all have been recipients of your love and service in our lives, thanks for the gift of the people whom you have used to bring us close to God. Help us be of humble service to others, especially in this difficult moment when people are suffering, sick and dying as a result of human greediness, selfishness and inflation. 

May the efforts of your children, who are deeply involved in the restoration of peace and stability in our families, societies, and the world at large, not be in vain. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen. Please remember to pray for me and all the priests today.

Homily For Wednesday Holy Week Year C, 16th April 2025

 

Readings: Is.50:4-9; Ps 69; Matt. 26:14-25

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

DON’T BE A TRAITOR LIKE JUDAS 

What is the price of a traitor, what are the motives of a traitor? What are the consequences and repercussions of a traitorous act and why do people choose to be traitors? The answer to these questions can be found in the life of Judas.

In the Gospel passage today, Judas went to the chief priests to make a deal for handing Jesus over to them for 30 pieces of silver, the poor amount of wages paid to the shepherd. This was the amount Judas betrayed his master, an amount that he too, will throw back to the priests after realizing what evil he has done.

This act of betrayal, as predicted by Jesus before his disciples, is in fulfilment of the prophecy of Isaiah in our first reading about the suffering Servant of God, to Whom the Lord had chosen to bear the punishments and sufferings due to our sins, that he might suffer them all instead of us.

And yet, he would neither protest nor grumble against this, as it was by his own desire and will that he had taken up his Cross and suffered for our sake. ‘But alas for that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! Better for that man if he had never been born!’

Dear friends, 30 pieces of silver were the wages of Judas for his traitorous act. But Judas is not alone in this ugly and traitorous attitude. We can imagine what people are doing for money in our world today. Perhaps we too, have betrayed and handed Jesus and our friends and neighbours over more than once.

We have often broken bread with Jesus but later betrayed him for money, out of ambition, greed, anger, hatred, revenge, or even violence because of our own personal selfish gain. There is no doubt that the devil tempted Judas just as he had tempted us in various ways, and we have fallen just as Judas had fallen. For when we sin, no matter how grievous or small, we are still betraying the Lord.

Therefore, let us watch it carefully during this Holy Season and, indeed, always not be involved in any traitorous act against God or anyone at all. If we are already involved in any, this is a period to reconcile with them, and so come back to the Lord with tears of repentance and resolve not to go back to such evil acts again as we apologize and make restitution.

And in case anyone who had betrayed us should come back and ask for mercy, we must find a place in our heart to forgive, just the way Jesus has given us.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we enter into the great mystery of Easter Triduum beginning tomorrow, give us grace to journey with you in holiness, may you also forgive us for often being a traitor against you, your Church, our families, friends and our societies at large. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a grace-filled day.

Homily For Tuesday in Holy Week Year C, 15th April, 2025

Readings: Is.49:1-6; Ps.71; John 13:21-33.36-38

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WHY DO WE OFTEN BETRAY AND DENY THE LORD?

Today being the third day of Holy Week, the readings are selected to help us focus our attention on the upcoming celebrations of the Easter Triduum when we are going to enter into the most sacred moments in the history of our salvation.

In our first reading, we heard of the suffering servant of God, the light of the nations who shall come forth as the Saviour sent by God. He will, therefore, bring hope to the people of God who are suffering and oppressed. An event which played out in the life of Jesus.

Consequently, the Gospel passage today presents the moment when Jesus, the Saviour sent by God, was troubled in spirit on account of the passion he has to pass through as a result of the ugly attitudes of humanity as played out in the lives of his very disciples. Hence he declared, ‘I tell you most solemnly, one of you will betray me.’ Here, Jesus is talking about the betrayal of Judas and the announcement of Peter’s denial as well.

These two events place before us the terrible action of his two disciples which will lead to his arrest and condemnation. With this pronouncement, Judas became aware that Jesus knew about his plans. But this does not change his mind and decision to betray him. So from that moment, Satan entered him, and he separated himself and left the presence of Jesus and his disciples.

The fact remains that, our attitudes and selfishness sometimes are like that of Judas. Our sins against God and our neighbours are betrayals of the commitments and promises we made to either God or our neighbours. This is why we must be careful in order not to end up falling into temptation like Judas who fell into this temptation because of money and personal benefit, ending up committing a great sin against his very master and friends.

Dear friends, how often have we betrayed and denied the Lord? Today, we hear how the ugly attitude of the human person of betrayal and denial led to the capture and torture of Jesus. Today, it is Judas at the house of Caiaphas and at the courtyard in the house of the high priest; it will be Peter’s turn while every day and everywhere, we do the same to Jesus and our neighbours, if not worse.

But, unlike Judas, who plotted his betrayal over a price. Peter's denial of Jesus comes from his weakness and lack of courage to withstand evil. Oftentimes, in different places and circumstances,, it will be our turn to either be betrayed, denied or betray or deny other people. Whatever the case, we must know that it is not simply Jesus and his love that we have betrayed; we have actually betrayed ourselves.

Therefore, this Holy Week we must have an examination of conscience on how often we have betrayed Jesus and our neighbours. All our promises and resolutions, all our resolves not to sin, lie, fight, gossip, cheat, fornicate, masturbate or commit adultery and abortion. All our resolves to be merciful, forgiven, reconciling with people we have offended and those who have offended us. Are we keeping and observing these resolutions and promises as we ought to?

We must learn to reconcile with God and those we have betrayed in any way as we resolve by God’s grace never to engage in such an ugly attitude. This we do by allowing our Christian faith and virtues to shine brightly in the midst of all the darkness of betrayal and denial as we look up to Jesus, our Lord and Saviour, especially in this dark and difficult moment in our world where people do all sorts of evil things to one another.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, give us the grace and courage this Holy Season not to deny or betray you or our neighbour, for without your grace there is no sin we may not commit against You or our neighbour today. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a fruitful day.

Homily For Monday in Holy Week Year C, 14th April, 2025

Readings: Is.42:1-7; Ps.27; John 12:1-11

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

LEARN TO SHOW APPRECIATION FOR ALL THE LORD HAS DONE FOR US?

Six days to the passion and crucifixion of Jesus, we are called to embark on a spiritual journey of faith, passion and hope with Jesus. Little wonder, the first reading today talks about the Saviour whom God sent into the world to bring forth justice and peace and to reconcile the world with himself.

Reminding us again that God has sent us a redeemer in the person of Christ, his Son and servant, Who reveals God’s desire to save his people by his readiness to take up the Cross and suffer for our sake.

This is evident in our Gospel passage today, where we have the story of how Mary, in appreciation, anointed the feet of Jesus just before he commenced his Passion. This happened as Lazarus and his sisters gave a dinner to Jesus, perhaps in thanksgiving.

Martha did the serving while Mary honoured Jesus by anointing his feet with a precious ointment. This is because when Mary saw her brother sitting at the same table with Jesus, who turned her mourning into joy, could any gift be too great or precious to express her gratitude? No!

The generosity of Mary in the eyes of Judas, appeared wasteful. But Mary knew that Jesus was worthy of her honour and service, even when it cost so much. Here, Judas sees waste, but Jesus sees love.

She pours her love on the feet of the one who will pour himself out on the whole world for the salvation of all humanity. Mary made a dramatic gesture of love which anticipates the love of Jesus on the Cross. But what are we offering to Jesus in appreciation for all he has done for us?

Dear friends, let us ask ourselves today if we have any kind of Mary's spirit in our hearts, the spirit that prompts us to show love and gratitude to our Lord and Saviour and to one another. This holy week, can anything be too precious to distract us from spending quality time with the Lord in thanksgiving for his love and mercy in our lives?

Therefore, let us endeavour to utilize this golden opportunity to experience the Lord personally in our lives as we resolve this day to live our lives faithfully and to be more humble, open and willing to listen to God.

Let us struggle to get rid of all pride, ego, over-ambition, selfishness and greed in our hearts, for all these desires lead us to fall into the temptation to sin and so distract us from reaching our goal of journeying with the Lord in his passion, death and resurrection at Easter.

LET US PRAY: Lord Jesus, nothing was too great in Mary's heart to offer you. May nothing distract us from expressing our love and gratitude to you as we journey with you during this period of your passion and crucifixion for the salvation of humanity, you who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. God bless you.

HOMILY FOR PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD’S PASSION YEAR C, 13th April 2025

 

Readings: Is. 50:4-7; Ps. 22; Phil 2:6-11; Luke 22:14-23:56

Rev  Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

A CALL TO JOURNEY WITH JESUS IN HIS TRIUMPHANT ENTRY INTO THE PATH OF OUR SALVATION

Today we celebrate the Palm Sunday, a very special Sunday that ushers us into the holy week. This begins with a journey in which Jesus, the King of Peace, invites us to journey with him. A journey with the procession that reflects an image of something deep about our salvation. Telling us that, together with Jesus, we are setting out on a pilgrimage along the highway that leads to our salvation 

Thus, in our Gospel passages today, we have a comprehensive account of the Lord’s passion from the time of his triumphant entry into the city of Jerusalem, as well as the time he had his Passover with his disciples when he was betrayed by Judas Iscariot, arrested, put on trial, handed over to the Romans, condemned to death and was crucified like a criminal, as prophesied in our first reading by prophet Isaiah, which was also emphasized in our second reading telling us how, though he was divine but humbled himself to accepting death on the Cross for the salvation of Humanity. 

These, of course, represent two very distinct extremes between the glory and triumphant nature of his entrance procession into Jerusalem and the humiliating and painful nature of his passion and crucifixion at Calvary.  Reminding us that we are on a pilgrimage with the Lord, the king of peace, who calls us to strive for purity of hearts and clean hands, calling us to embrace the truth we found in him as we Journey with him through the activities of this Holy Week.

As the King of Peace, there are three things about the kingship of Jesus. First, he is the king of the poor; though rich, he humbled himself and became poor. The poverty of Jesus comes from the inner freedom which sprang from a pure heart that is above the human greed for possession and power. The inner freedom that overcomes the corruption and greediness in the hearts of men and women of our world today. 

Secondly, the kingship of Jesus will be that of peace. For he will do away with wars, crisis, hatred, corruption, greediness to proclaim peace on earth. Thirdly, his kingship will be universal. For his kingdom will extend peace from sea to sea and those seeking the face of God will truly find peace. 

Dear friends, this Holy Week, we are not to lose hope or miss out on the spiritual aspect of the celebration. Rather, let us embrace and key into the spirit of the season by spending more time with God in prayer, deepening our devotion through works of charity and through the reading of the Scriptures, develop a personal relationship with God as we journey with our Lord Jesus Christ in his passion.

In fact, let today’s celebration be a reminder for us, of the spiritual and social values that Palm Sunday really represents, so that, despite all the darkness and uncertainties, all the despairs and terrible things happening around us and in our societies today, we may still have that very one hope and one faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, our King and Saviour. 

Thus, let us enter into the Holy Week with an open heart and mind by letting the Lord enter spiritually into our hearts and into our beings as gloriously and joyously as the people of Jerusalem had welcomed him with branches of palms and with great rejoicing and reverence. 

But not just the physical branches of palms, garments or soulless olive branches, which delight the eye for a few hours and then wither. Rather, with a pure soul, clothed in God's grace, love, mercy and holiness. Therefore, let our souls take the place of the palm branches as we embrace the Lord Jesus in his journey towards our salvation and, by so doing,g, experience the presence of God personally and collectively in our lives.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we proclaim the kingship of your Son our Lord Jesus Christ, let us embrace your kingship with all our hearts and so journey with him this period of holy week, desiring to be righteous and holy as we embrace your mercy and love. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you a spirit-filled Palm Sunday celebration.

Homily For Saturday Fifth Week of Lent Year C, 12th April, 2025

 

Readings: Ezek.37:21-28; Ps.31; John 11:45-56

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WHEN THEIR PLAN FOR OUR DOWNFALL TURN TO OUR VICTORY

Oftentimes, we do things without knowing or understanding the full meaning of what we are doing. Sometimes, we feel or think that we can change God’s plan by frustrating the effects of others, but later, we discover that we are unknowingly fulfilling the plan of God for them.

This is evident in our Gospel passage today, where we heard how the Jewish authorities were filled with rage on account of the news of the resurrection of Lazarus which increased the popularity of Jesus. So they convoked a council to discern how to get rid of him.

For them, this man works many signs, and people are now believing in him. If we let him go on this way, everybody will believe in him, and the Romans will come and suppress the Holy Place and their nation. They were jealous and afraid not just of the Romans but also of possibly losing the temple and even the privileged position of the priests.

Thus, Caiaphas, being the high priest, decided that one man should die for the people, and the whole nation should perish. Though being the high priest, he did not just speak, but unknowingly, was prophesying that Jesus had to die to save humanity from sin and death.

Dear friends, have you ever planned the downfall of someone, and your plans become a stepping stone for their victory? This happens because our actions and attitudes are often like that of the Jewish authorities. We condemn people out of jealousy and unnecessary fear we feel because of what God is doing through them.

Sometimes, we feel threatened and intimidated by people’s good deeds and blessings, because we don’t see the need to appreciate them or see the hands of God in what they do. This is very bad and should not be seen among us. The truth is that God has a plan for everyone.

God’s plan for Jesus is to save humanity, which he had promised through prophet Ezekiel as we heard him in our first reading today saying: “I shall rescue them from all the betrayals they have been guilty of; I shall cleanse them; they shall be my people and I will be their God”.

This, no doubt, is what this season of Lent is all about, calling us to prepare ourselves well to celebrate the upcoming mysteries of the Holy Week by embracing it with openness to God’s mercy and renewed faith and obedience to God’s will.

Let us all spend some time to reflect on how we can enter into the most sacred time of this season, so that we may truly have a personal experience of God’s presence so as to grow more spiritually and be ever closer to God our Father.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, you promised to guard us as a shepherd guards his flock, to turn our mourning into joy and to give gladness for grief. May this Holy Season of Lent remind us again of your loving mercy for humanity. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a grace-filled weekend.

Homily For Friday Fifth Week of Lent Year C, 11th April, 2025

 

Readings: Jer.20:10-13; Ps.18; John 10:31-42

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

HAVING THE RIGHT IMAGE OF GOD IN OUR HEARTS

Coming very close to the peak of our Lenten season, when we recall the great price Jesus paid for our redemption. The Gospel passage today reminds us of the trouble Jesus has to bear from the Jewish authorities on account of his personality.

This is the same with the prophet Jeremiah, who was also persecuted terribly and suffered at the hands of those who used to be his friends, as we have it in our first reading today. Here we heard of his lamentations and words for all those who have persecuted and plotted against him.

So, in the same way, Jesus was being misunderstood and persecuted by the people who should understand him better. Hence, he challenged them to accept his personality as the Son of God who reveals the love of the Father and gives eternal life. But because of the unclear image of God they have in their minds they could not accept the teachings of Jesus in relation to God the Father. Thus, they tried to stone him.

Dear friends, oftentimes we behave the same way, where in the name of God, some persons are ready to kill others. In fact, throughout history, Jews, Christians and Muslims have fought in the name of God. Today the same thing is still happening in our societies and countries. These ugly attitudes will continue to happen because we do not have the right image of the God whom we claim to be serving.

The Jews condemned Jesus because of the particular image they had of God, which prevented them from accepting the teachings of Jesus, and since they were also deeply biased and prejudiced against Jesus, it was difficult for any words of truth or reason to change their minds. So, they persecuted the Lord just as their ancestors had persecuted Jeremiah and the other prophets.

Similarly, through our disobedience, pride and ignorance, we may have behaved or behaved just like those in our readings who have persecuted the prophets and also refused to listen to the truth of what Jesus has told us about his personality. But brethren, what image of God do we have in our minds? Is it the image of a God who is Pure, Loving and Merciful? Or an image of one who dominates others and condemns them?

LET US PRAY: Lord God, may this season of Lent guide us to have a true image of you in our minds and may this image reflect in our relationship with others. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed day.