Homily For Seventh Sunday in Easter Year C, The World Communications Sunday, 1st June, 2025. HAPPY NEW MONTH

Readings: Act. 7:55-60; Ps. 97; Rev. 22:12-14.16-17.20; John 17: 20-26

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

THE HIGH PRIESTLY PRAYER OF JESUS AND A CALL TO WAIT ON THE HOLY SPIRIT 

As we gather today, the seventh Sunday of the Holy season of Easter, the Church celebrates World Communication Sunday, which was established by Pope Paul VI in 1967 as an annual celebration. Communication, as we know, is a very important aspect of our faith. Because our mission is to communicate to humanity what God has done for us through Christ our Lord. 

Prior to this event is Solemnity of the Ascension which we celebrated last Thursday, of which the Church waits prayerfully for the promised Paraclete. So the Church in this waiting disposition anticipates the promised Paraclete who will help her to communicate the message of Christ to all humanity.

However, one of the difficult statements we don’t like to hear when we are expecting something great to come our way is the word “wait”. The word wait can be very unpleasant to the ears of anyone who is desperately in need of something. But oftentimes, we have little or no option not to wait, and in life, we have a lot of waiting to do. 

We wait for the day to break, we wait for the month to end, we wait for the traffic, we wait for our admission, interviews, jobs, husband, wife, children, we wait and wait and wait, in fact, waiting on God is a regular message of faith which we hear every day. Waiting can really be difficult and uncomfortable, it can be suicidal for those who lack the virtue of patience. 

Nonetheless, good and great things are worth waiting for. Little wonder, we are called to wait for the fulfilment of the promise paraclete of which  Jesus prayed for in his High Priestly Prayer at the Last Supper. This High Priestly prayer of Jesus is divided into three sections. First, Jesus prayed for himself; in the second section, he prayed for his disciples. 

The third section is what we have in our Gospel passage today where he prayed for all those who through the influence of his disciples come to believe in God and in him, of which each one of us belongs to those whom Jesus is praying for when he said in our Gospel passage today: “Holy Father, I pray not only for these, but for those also who through their words will believe in me. May they all be one. Father, may they be one in us, as you are in me and I am in you, so that the world may believe it was you who sent me.”

 

In this High Priestly prayer of Jesus, we heard the Lord Jesus asking the Father to sanctify his disciples in truth and oneness, knowing the importance of sanctity, truth and oneness in achieving their mission and goal. We can see the efficacy of this prayer of Jesus in the life and death of St Stephen in our first reading today. 

For Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, gazed in prayer into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at God’s right hand. This he witnessed before the members of the council saying: ‘I can see heaven thrown open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’ Because of this witness, they all rushed at him, sent him out of the city and stoned him to death. 

This event shows the sacrificial nature of our mission of bearing witness to our faith in the Lord. It can also be seen as an example of how communication in prayer is such an important aspect and part of our faith. We cannot be true Christians unless we open ourselves to the Lord and communicate with him regularly to know his will for us and for others and, by so doing,g, dwell in his love and bear authentic witness of him to humanity. 

To understand this sacrificial nature of our mission, Jesus, in our second reading today, said in his revelation to St. John: “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End. Happy are those who will have washed their robes clean, so that they will have the right to feed on the tree of life and can come through the gates into the city of God”.

Little wonder, in this High Priestly Prayer, Jesus prayed for his disciples that the Father should take care of them in the midst of the evils in the world, that they should be one as he and the Father are one. He prayed that those who follow him may be drawn into the life of the Holy Trinity. For the Father sends the Son to humanity precisely so that the Son may draw all humanity into the relationship that exists between Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 

So this prayer reminds us that our unity, our “oneness” is to be a sign to the world of God’s love for us in Jesus Christ. This shows us that prayer is a form of communication between us and God, whom we should love dearly and wait patiently for His will to be done in our lives.

This simply means that we have to learn how to communicate regularly with God and wait patiently for his will to be done. We must learn to build the unity of which Christ prayed and this we do when we learn how to love and wait patiently with one another, especially with our loved ones, our friends, our family members and relatives, our spouses and others who are dear to us. We must learn how to wait patiently with life activities and the challenges and struggles that come with it.

Dear friends, as the disciples are waiting prayerfully for the promised Paraclete, we too are also called to prepare ourselves for the coming of the Holy Spirit especially in this coming Pentecost Sunday. We are called to go to the upper room of our hearts and conscience and wait patiently for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit that will help us to be well united as one family of God. 

We are called to prepare and wait on the Holy Spirit through the ongoing novena to the Holy Spirit. We are called to wait patiently for the fulfilment of God’s plan for each and every one of us. Though waiting may be difficult, good and great things are worth waiting and being prepared for.

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

Homily For Saturday Sixth Week of Easter Year C, 31st May, 2025. The Feast of Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

 

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

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

EXPERIENCING THE JOY OF VISITATION

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

So, today’s feast, as we have it in our Gospel passage, reminds us of the moment when Mary, after the event of Annunciation, having received the message from Angel Gabriel, came to visit her cousin Elizabeth, who was now pregnant with a child.

For at that time, Mary was just having the Child Jesus in her not long after he was conceived in her womb by the power of the Holy Spirit, while Elizabeth, who had become pregnant earlier, was having John the Baptist in her womb, even in her old age.

Here, Mary sang the Magnificat in honour to God for the great thing he has done not just for her but for all humanity. For having heard that her cousin Elizabeth, who at that time had been long barren, had now conceived a child, she came and found out that what the Lord had revealed to her through the Angel Gabriel was indeed true.

For she was told that her cousin Elizabeth had miraculously conceived in her old age. And herself, about to have a child without any human relations but by the power of the Holy Spirit. These made Mary rejoice greatly, for it was truly a great and joyful moment which God had shown to all his people.

Hence, this grace-filled event reveals the special role that Mary played in God’s plan for human salvation. So, as she brings the Word of life dwelling in her womb to Elizabeth, Mary becomes the image of the Church’s missionary activity, for she is filled with the spirit, ready to visit and bring Christ to all humanity.

This also presents to us the joyful moment when Mary, bearing the Word Made Flesh, visited barren and lonely humanity well represented by the person of Elizabeth. Thus, in this act of kindness, we recall the faith and the wonderful commitment shown by Mary as an example and inspiration to all of us. For she totally obeyed the Lord and entrusted herself completely to the divine will of God.

Dear friends, visitation is part and parcel of our mission, just that we are so busy with everything except the very essence of our mission, which is, the salvation of our souls. The fact remains that there is joy and power in visiting one another just like Mary.

There is grace and a sense of belonging in visiting one another; there is healing and restoration in visiting one another. So today, who do you wish to visit or who will you like to visit you today? How will you feel if any of your loved ones should pay you a surprise visit today? How will you feel if your presence brings joy and happiness to someone today?

Why not try to visit someone today? Why not try to visit your friends, colleagues, classmates, workers, family members and neighbours whom you have abandoned for a long time? Why not try to learn from Mary, for in her we have found a great role model? So, following her example, we also embark on our own journey of faith, learning from her obedience and dedication to the mission that has been entrusted to her throughout her life, just as we are entrusted with the task of spreading the Gospel passage to all humanity.

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

Homily For Friday in the Sixth Week of Easter Year C, 30th May 2025

 

Readings: Acts 18:9-18; Ps.47;  John 16:20-23

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

THE LORD KNOWS HOW TO TURN OUR PRESENT SORROWS INTO JOY IN THE FUTURE

Oftentimes, when we reflect on the ugly events that happen around us which have caused us deep sorrows, we wonder why God, who is so good and powerful, permits such events to happen to us. Sometimes, we felt we should have avoided such a sorrowful event. Hence, we complain and even doubt the power of God, whom we thought would have helped us overcome evil. 

Thus, Jesus knowing that his disciples would surely find themselves in this kind of situation said to them in our Gospel passage today:  ‘I tell you most solemnly, you will be weeping and wailing while the world will rejoice; you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn to joy…and that joy no one shall take from you. When that day comes, you will not ask me any questions.’

Here, Jesus is talking about the sorrows the disciples will experience when he goes away after his death and suffering and the joy they will experience when he soon returns at his resurrection. This does not simply mean that they shall pass from sorrow to joy; rather, the sorrow itself shall become joy because it was the necessary cause of their joy. 

So, Jesus illustrates this with the necessary pain and sorrow of childbirth and the joy of motherhood. An analogy that better explains the pains and sorrows of the disciples, where their pains and sorrows lead directly to a joy that no one could take away from them. It is a perfect way of explaining what will happen when they see him again, and their deepest pains and sorrows will be transformed into purest joys, which no one can take away. 

These are words of encouragement for the disciples who were afraid of what would become of them when Jesus was no longer physically with them. These same words of encouragement are what St. Paul received from the Lord at Corinth when he was scared of what would become of him and his mission as we have it in our first reading, when at night the Lord spoke to him in a vision, ‘Do not be afraid to speak out, nor allow yourself to be silenced: I am with you. I have so many people on my side in this city that no one will even attempt to hurt you.’  

Therefore, we are to learn from Jesus, whose path to joy went through the awful agony of the cross, knowing that our own path to eternal joy may first go through the pains of sorrow for our sins. For us to find permanent joy in Jesus, we have to die to ourselves, which may lead us through a necessary sorrowful moment that will give birth to a permanent joy that is found in the risen Christ.

Dear friends, today we are encouraged to be patient in times of sorrow, for God knows how to turn our sorrows of today into a thing of great joy in the future. The sorrow of contrite hearts today becomes the gladness of pardoned tomorrow; the sorrow of hardships, intimidation, abandonment, sickness, poverty and even death will become the great joy of success, victory, healing, freedom and eternal life which no one can take away from us

LET US PRAY: Lord God, you restore us to eternal life in the Resurrection of Christ, grant we pray that our present sorrows will be turned into great joy and lead us to eternal victory through Christ our Lord. Amen. 

As we begin the novena to the Holy Spirit today, may the Holy Spirit fill our hearts with the joy of His presence.

Homily For Thursday Sixth Week of Easter Year C, The Solemnity of Ascension. 29th May, 2025

 

Readings: Acts1:1-11; Ps. 47; Eph. 1:17-23; Luke 24:46-53

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

UNDERSTANDING THE MYSTERIES OF THE ASCENSION OF THE LORD 

The Joy of the risen Lord has filled the hearts of his disciples as they experienced his physical presence for the past forty days after his death and resurrection. So on the occasion of today, the Lord Jesus, in the presence of his disciples, physically ascended into heaven as they watched him taken away in the cloud to return to his heavenly Throne, triumphant and victorious.

This, no doubt was a moment of great hope for them as they wished to be with him for eternity. However, they have a mission to accomplish; they are to bear witness to the events testify about it on their missions and pass it down as a true hope for humanity.

Thus, the solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord is a mystery that reminds us of that great moment of hope when the Lord triumphs victoriously and is no longer physically present among his disciples and followers, as they can no longer directly see him or touch him as they had been during all the while he was physically present with them. 

But this does not mean that the Lord has abandoned or left his disciples; rather, he has gone to fulfil his promise of preparing a place for his faithful disciples and will also send a great Helper to assist them.

Therefore, the feast of the Ascension of the Lord does not mean that Jesus has departed to some place far from people and from the world. Rather it means that he no longer belongs to the world conditioned by the life of space and time, corruption and death, as he now belongs entirely to God as the eternal Son, who has purified the filthiness of humanity. 

Hence, the Lord raised us into God’s presence by taking with him our flesh and blood in its transfigured form and presenting humanity to God the Father. This is the Mystery of the ascension we are celebrating today. It is a thing of great hope and joy for all who believe in him. It is the mystery of this great joy and hope that we celebrate today. An event that shows that humanity has been introduced into the very life of God. 

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

In the Gospel passage, Jesus instructs his disciples, saying; you see how it is written that the Christ would suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that, in his name, repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be preached to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses to this. 

Now lifting up his hands he blessed them, and he withdrew from them and was carried up to heaven. In addition, St. Paul, in the second reading, says: ‘He has put all things under his feet and made him, as the ruler of everything, the head of the Church; which is his body, the fullness of him who fills the whole creation’.

Dear friends, the occasion of the Ascension of the Lord is a confirmation of the reality of heaven, which reminds us that God has always been faithful and loving as he fulfils his covenants and promises to humanity. It reminds us of our mission to evangelize the world, to give hope to humanity by letting them know that human hope and life are beyond the boundaries of this passing world.  

It reminds us that God will always be with us no matter what we are going through in this world, for he will always provide for us and care for us at all times. Hence, we must have faith in him no matter how challenging and difficult the situation in our lives may be; we must have hope and trust in God that, in the end, everything will be fine. 

Let us hold on to the Lord for this occasion is indeed a great time for us to recall the hope that we found in Jesus' triumphant victory over evil, sin and condemnation. Let us celebrate the greatest hope that God has given to humanity by letting us share in the very Life of the Trinity. 

The hope is that humanity will one day be united body and soul with our Lord and Saviour, Jesus. A confirmation of the reality of heaven, for this is the central message of the event and mystery of the Ascension that gives great joy and hope to all who believe, which, as disciples, we are called to bear witness to the world. 

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

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

Homily For Wednesday Sixth Week of Easter Year C, 28th May, 2025

 

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

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

THE TIME OF IGNORANCE IS OVER, LET US EMBRACE THE HOLY SPIRIT OF TRUTH

One of the Spiritual works of Mercy is instructing the ignorant, and this is one of the most difficult tasks to do as a Christian, especially when it comes to dealing with people who are presumed to be learned. This kind of difficulty is what St. Paul has to face with the people of Athens in our first reading today.

So Paul, finding himself in the most learned city in the world of his time, needed to preach the Good News of God to them. But the theme for his message has to be something that will interest his audience.

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

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

Therefore, we are God’s offspring, his true image in the world. Thus any image made by human skill and creativity will possibly be anything other than a distortion of the image of the one, true God. And so Paul warns us from involving in any form of idol worship as he calls for total repentance because God will no longer overlook our ignorance.

This is evident in our Gospel passage today, when Jesus said: ‘I still have many things to say to you but they would be too much for you now. But when the Spirit of truth comes he will lead you to the complete truth, since he will not be speaking as from himself but will say only what he has learnt; and he will tell you of the things to come.’

Dear friends, there are many idols that enslave us in this world, and when we are suddenly deprived of them, we end up acting irrationally and selfish, even to the point of hurting others so that we may protect and justify ourselves.

But the truth is that the time of ignorance is over, for today we have before us the Spirit of truth. We can no longer pretend to be ignorant of God’s instructions. Therefore, let us repent from our sinful ways of life and embrace the Spirit of truth who will clear our ignorance.

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

Homily For Tuesday Sixth Week of Easter Year C, 27th May, 2025. Children’s Day

 

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

Rev  Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

UNDERSTANDING THE ROLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT IN THE WORLD

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

The focal point here is the role of the Holy Spirit in the world. This is because Jesus knows that with the rejection of his teaching by the people of the world, the disciples need an advocate who will surely prove to the world how wrong they are in rejecting and killing him. 

Hence, What seemed like abandonment to the disciples brought about the message of hope, assuring them that the Holy Spirit would show the world how wrong she was about sin and about judgment. That is, the Spirit will convict and persuade the people of the world of their sinful condition which they hold so tight because they were wrong for not believing in Jesus. 

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

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

Therefore, let us open our hearts to the Holy Spirit and let him be the source of hope, light and inspiration for us especially in this difficult moment of fears of uncertainties in our hearts and minds, which have enslaved and prevented us from realizing what our lives truly mean and what we represent in this world. 

Let us know that God has not and will not abandon us in the ugly situation we have found ourselves in this passing world, for he has given us the gift of the Holy Spirit, whose work is to ensure our victory and prove to this sinful world how wrong they are in rejecting and persecuting Jesus and the work of redemption which he has established.

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

Homily For Monday Sixth Week of Easter Year C, 26th May, 2025. The Memorial of St Philip Neri

 

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

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

MAY THE HOLY SPIRIT GUIDE US TO THE PATHS OF TRUTH

In our societies today, many false influential powers have great effect on our lives coming from various sources under the guise of good but are, in fact, leading us astray. 

So, there is a need for us to examine these influences and today, in our Gospel passage, Jesus said to his disciples: when the Advocate comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, he will be my witness. And you, too, will be witnesses because you have been with me from the outset. ‘I have told you all this that your faith may not be shaken.

Thus, the Holy Spirit will lead us to learn how to distinguish clearly where and in whom dwells the Spirit of truth from the Spirit of falsehood. As long as we are of God and in Christ, we have nothing to fear for we do not belong any more to this present world, full of sin, hatred, greed, corruption, deceit and violence. 

Every day, many false prophets and teachers are increasing and deceiving the people. May God guide us against embracing, too readily, any doctrine proposed to us without due consideration from any teacher who may pretend to have a divine inspiration but does not.

Dear friends, we must be very wise for many false prophets are operating under the power of the devil. Today Jesus is promising us the Spirit of truth that will give us a special sign for distinguishing true doctrine and true teachers from the false ones. 

Therefore, let us constantly ask the Holy Spirit to give us the grace of discernment in order to distinguish between good and false prophets and teachers. Let us also be true Christians in our way of life, words and deeds. Let us learn to put our trust in God who has promised to keep us from falling away from the true faith we have found in His Son Jesus.

 

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

Homily For Sixth Sunday of Easter Year C, 25th May, 2025

 

Readings: Acts. 15:1-2.22-29; Ps.67; Rev. 21:10-14.22-23; John 14:23-29

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

THE PEACE THE WORLD CAN NOT GIVE IS THE GIFT THE LORD HAS GIVEN TO US

As we gather together today to celebrate the sixth Sunday of the Holy season of Easter, with the Solemnity of the Ascension coming up on Thursday within the week, our attention is being drawn more to the departure of Jesus, who has been with his disciples.

So, in anticipation of the Solemnity of the Pentecost coming very soon, the readings of today draw our attention to the last and very important words of departure from Jesus to his disciples.

These departing words can be summarized in two words which are Love and peace. This, of course, followed the promise of the Holy Spirit,t who will teach and remind us of everything he has taught us.

This promise is very necessary because the time for Jesus to accomplish his mission had drawn near, and he had taught his disciples a lot of things which they had not yet fully understood, and there was more to teach them.

So, as Jesus continues to teach the disciples he promised them the indwelling of the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, who will take up the task to inspire them and deepen their understanding of the words and actions of God the Father.

However, Jesus emphasized that the condition for obtaining all that he has promised is the love we express to God and our neighbours and for this reason, he offers us his peace when he said in our Gospel passage today: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid”

Here, the word Peace from the Hebrew word shalom means more than an absence of conflict or disturbance or war. Rather, it signifies a state of complete integration of unity between God and Man, between man and neighbours, and also between man and his environment.

It thus implies everything that Jesus came to achieve in this world. It is the legacy of his life, death and resurrection. Little wonder these words of Jesus are repeated at every Eucharistic celebration, where Jesus offers us his peace again and again.

There is no doubt that this peace is really lacking in our societies today. This is clear with the ugly events we hear and experience daily, especially the cases of killings, hatred, betrayals, greed, social and economic injustice, bloodshed, kidnapping, banditry and the massacre of innocent people all over the globe.

This, of course, is a clear sign that humanity has lost peace, that great treasure which she enjoys in the presence of God before the fall of man. But how can we regain this great treasure? Jesus made it clear that love is the only way to obtain this peace

Hence, he talks about the sacrificial love that comes from the heart and soul of one who is rooted in the life of the Trinity, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Thus, Jesus speaks about the power of love, that life-giving passion that transforms and unites us with God and our neighbours.

It is this love that brings the peace that humanity is seeking, as demonstrated in our first reading among the apostles and also prophesied in our second reading today, pointing towards the Holy City of Jerusalem and its future glory as the home of peace.

But the questions we need to ask ourselves are: Have we really embraced love to have peace in our lives? Do we experience this love and peace at the Eucharistic banquet every time we participate in the Holy Mass? Have I embraced the sacrificial love of Jesus so as to become an instrument of peace to my neighbour, my family and the society at large?

Have I embraced love to the point of sacrificing my possessions, my ambition and my life for the sake of peace? Have I sacrificially embraced love so as to forgive those who offended me and seek reconciliation for the sake of peace?

Dear friends, today we are called to come back to the source of love, God himself, who teaches us that love is an attitude that seeks the good of others despite how we feel about them. For love teaches us to be merciful, just as our Father in heaven is merciful.

Love is a sacrificial attitude, an attitude that forgives, an attitude that accommodates, perseveres, preserves, heals and builds up when everything has failed This is the kind of attitude the world needs now, the attitude that comes from pure love of God and our neighbours and brings peace to our lives, our families, societies and the world at large.

LET US PRAY: Almighty ever-living God, there are lots of things we need to know and understand about the faith we have found in you, may the Holy Spirt guide our way to embrace love and peace and always teach us what to do, how to do it, when to do it and grace do it properly. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. It's Sunday, may the Holy Spirit guide and bless all your efforts.

Homily For Saturday Fifth Week of Easter Year C, 24th May, 2025

 

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

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WHY DID THE WORLD HATE CHRISTIANS?

The word ‘Hate’ is often used to express a negative feeling towards something or someone who we presumed to pose some threat to us or something related to us. Meanwhile, hatred, as we know, is the direct opposite of love. There is no doubt that threat breeds fear, insecurity and anger, which brings about the negative feeling we call hatred.

This definition is very important in order to understand the teaching of Jesus in our Gospel passage today when he said to his disciples: “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me before you. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you do not belong to the world, because my choice withdrew you from the world, therefore the world hates you.”

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

This is because the presence and words of Jesus bring great light and judgment to the darkness of this world, and the people of the world love darkness rather than the Light since their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the Light and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.

So the presence of Jesus, the light of the world, threatens the people of the world, and this breeds fear, insecurity and anger, which brings about negative feelings of hatred for Jesus and those who associate with him.

More so, it is important to note that, when Jesus talks about the “world” as we have it in the Gospel passage, he is not referring to the physical world but the people who are so attached to the things of this world. People who have made the things of this passing world their God and have come to trust in their ability to exploit others and acquire the earth as their own.

They try very hard to cover their sin and silence the voice of conscience accusing them of their sins. But here are Christians constantly reminding them of their sins as they strive to live a life of holiness, which, of course, stirs up again all those thoughts and feelings of guilt which they wished to silence. Hence, this threat breeds fear, insecurity and anger that gives birth to hatred of Christians by worldly-minded people.

Dear friends, today we are called to bear witness even in the face of hatred and hostility. Despite the world’s hatred, we should never respond with retaliation or hatred. Yes, there may be times to ask God to judge the wicked.

There may be times to shake the dust off our feet and move on; of course, we have to, knowing that we can do so through the Spirit of truth dwelling in us. For through our Baptism, we have received the Holy Spirit in us, which helps us strive to live a life of love and righteousness even in the midst of persecutions and hatred.

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

Homily For Friday Fifth Week of Easter Year C, 23rd May, 2025

 

Readings: Acts 15:22-31; Ps.57; John 15:12-17

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVE LOVED YOU

Love is a gift from God to mankind, it is like the stream water, so innocent and pure. True love is not hidden; it radiates from the innermost being of a person who experiences it. Most of the problems in our families, societies and the world at large can be traced to one major challenge, which is the absence of sincere love for one another, as most families today exist by grace and not by love. Imagine how wonderful the world would have been if we all loved one another.

Little wonder, Jesus, knowing how important love is for the well-being of humanity, made it the centre of all his teachings. He presents the love of God and the love of neighbour as the summary of all the commandments. And in our Gospel passage today, he says: “This is my commandment: love one another as I have loved you. A man can have no greater love than to lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends, if you do what I command you.”

So, as Jesus continues his teaching on love, today we heard more about the commandments of loving one another. There is no doubt that we all have experienced God’s love and favour in one way or another. God has done so much for us, giving us everything that we need, and He has shown us all this wonderful love so that we, too, may know what it truly means to love.

Today, Jesus is commanding us to also love one another in the same way that God has loved us, and this is exemplified by the Apostles in the decision they made concerning how the gentile believers should be treated as we have it in our first reading today.

Dear friends, love is what the Lord has offered us, love is what he is commanding us to offer one another. I know that it is not easy to bear the sacrificial nature of love, but that is what the world needs now. So let us be genuine with our actions and love towards one another.

Let us not just think about ourselves and our selfish desires, but consider the needs of others. Loving one another requires sacrifice, sacrifice of our comfort, resources, talent, gifts and pride. Loving one another requires forgiveness, mercy, care and humility.

How I wish that humanity could invest the amount of energy, time and resources used in producing heavy personnel and ammunitions of war into ensuring love and unity in our dealings with one another, believe me, we will not only be fulfilling the first and greatest commandments of God, but we will be building a happy family, a peaceful community and one united humanity build on love.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, as we make efforts to love one another, grant us the grace to experience true love in our lives, families, communities and the world at large. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed day.

Homily for Thursday, Fifth Week of Easter Year C, 22nd May, 2025

Readings: Acts 15:7-21; Ps.96;  John 15:9-11

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

AS THE FATHER HAS LOVED ME, SO HAVE I LOVED YOU ABIDE IN MY LOVE

The word “love” means a lot of things to different people. For some, love is one of the common words we use to express our deep feelings of affection for someone or something. But the fact remains that love is much more than that, why? Because it is something greater than the nature of the human person. 

For me, Love is God’s nature, which He shares with His creatures. It is that nature of God which we share with one another. Love is beyond human nature. When we love, we are actually acting out that very nature of God in us and this can be overwhelming and mysterious because it is the nature of God that we share. 

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

That is why in our Gospel passage today, he said to his disciples: ‘As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 

Dear friends, let us keep the Lord’s commandments, let us embrace Jesus and the love he is offering us. Let us serve the Lord and his Church faithfully by spreading his love everywhere we find ourselves. The truth is that it actually feels right and awesome to experience and share the love of God. 

I don’t know if you have ever loved someone and you show it, or someone loves you and shows it? Or somebody loves you and you know it, it is something great and awesome, because love brings life, healing and wholeness into people’s lives. Thus, it is by loving God in our neighbours that we can share and experience this nature of God in us and by so doing, we will conquer the world full of hatred, self-centeredness, greed and sin.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we listened to your words today, may we resolve to keep your commandments and remain in your love. Help us to spread your love to the world and by so doing conquer the hatred, self-centeredness, greed and sin rooted in our families, societies and the world at large. Amen. Have a favourable day.

Homily for Wednesday in Fifth Week of Easter Year C, 21st May, 2025

 

Readings: Acts 15:1-6; Ps.122; John 15:1-8

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

DO NOT BE SEPARATED FROM JESUS THE TRUE VINE

Since Sunday, we have been listening to Jesus’ instructions to his disciples, especially as regards the relationship between him and those who wish to be his disciples. To drive this message down to the level they will understand him, he used the imagery of a Vine and branches.

The vine, as we know,, is the source of life for the branches. It provides the water and nutrients by which the grapes are produced. Without the vine, no fruit could ever be produced. And branches utterly dependent upon the vine.

So as Jesus and his disciples were passing through the vineyards that surround the city after they had concluded their meeting in the upper room in Jerusalem where they celebrated the Passover, Jesus told them the parable of the Vine and the branches as we have it in our Gospel passage today saying: ‘I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me, with me in him, bears fruit in plenty; for cut off from me, you can do nothing.’

Here, Jesus is emphasising the need to remain faithful in our relationship with God, as we know in the scriptures, Israel is pictured as a vine which is to produce good fruit. But has failed. Thus, Jesus made them know that he is the true, genuine and authentic Vine. But in the Old Testament, God’s vine was Israel. He used them to accomplish his purpose in the world. However, he is the true Vine through whom we have life in us.

So, the major purpose of this parable is for us to remain faithful in our relationship with God and also to be fruitful in our Christian faith. Because as God’s chosen people, we are expected to produce great, sweet, beautiful, rich fruits of righteousness, holiness, justice, peace and joy to the world. But most of us, just like the Israelites, have failed as we produced sour, rotten, stinking, tasteless fruit of sin, corruption, greed, cruelty, exploitation and hatred in the world.

Dear friends, as branches of the Vine which is Christ, our fruit should be the natural outflow of the life of the Vine. For when we are united and identified with Jesus, we produce from his Vine the fruit of the Holy Spirit, that sweet and rich wine of love, joy, peace, gentleness, goodness, self-control, holiness, courage and faith which is lacking in our world today.

But the questions we need to ask ourselves today are: are we still connected with Jesus, the true Vine? What kind of fruit are we producing in this world? What is stopping us from producing good fruit? Do we need to be purged of our ugly habitual sins? Remember, God prunes a branch so that it may bear more fruit, and this pruning is not done only once, for it is a constant process.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, we are so much attached to so many things in this passing world, as we find delight in Jesus our true Vine, prune us where we need to be pruned, so that we may remain faithful in our relationship with you and so bear good fruit of your love and peace in our families, societies and the world at large. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do remain blessed.

Homily for Tuesday, Fifth Week of Eastertide Year C, 20th May, 2025

 

Readings: Acts 14:19-28; Ps.145;  John 14:27-31

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

PEACE I LEAVE WITH YOU; MY PEACE I GIVE TO YOU 

The ugly events we hear and experience on daily basis especially the cases of killings, hatred, betrayals, greed; social and economic injustice, bloodshed, kidnapping, banditry and the massacre of innocent people all over the globe is a clear sign that the world has lost a treasure which she enjoys in the presence of God before the fall of man.

By original sin, man has lost the peace he enjoyed with God. But God, who is compassionate and gracious, wills to restore this peace. Hence Jesus who is the fulfillment of God’s plan in time, offers peace to the world as his first gift after his resurrection, when he said to his disciples in our Gospel passage today,  “peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid”. 

The word Peace from the Hebrew word shalom means more than an absence of conflict, disturbance, or war. Rather, it signifies a state of complete integration of unity between God and Man, between man and neighbours, also between man and his environment. 

It thus implies everything that Jesus came to achieve in this world. It is the legacy of his life, death and resurrection. Little wonder these words of Jesus are repeated at every Eucharistic celebration, where Jesus offers us his peace again and again. 

But the questions we need to ask ourselves are: Have we really embraced this peace in our lives? Do we experience this peace at the Eucharistic banquet every time we participate in the Holy Mass? Am I an instrument of peace to my neighbour, my family and the society at large? Am I ready to sacrifice my possessions, my ambition and my life for the sake of peace? Am I ready to forgive those who offended me and seek reconciliation for the sake of peace?

 St Paul, in our first reading today, was stoned and dragged out of the city because he offered the word of peace to the people who rejected it. Should we give up because our peace has been rejected by people? Should we stop being peace-loving because of persecution? Will I be courageous enough to let peace be known in the world? Will I use the peace I have found in Jesus to reshape the world around me? Will I let this peace reign supreme in my heart? 

Dear friends, at every Eucharistic celebration, Jesus is offering us his peace again. He is searching for true and available instruments of peace. He wants to use us as his instruments of peace in the world. Are we available? Can we be those instruments?  Can his peace reign in our hearts, so that we extend this peace in our families, societies, country and the world at large? Lord, make us instruments of your peace.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, in the midst of the chaos, tribulations, hatred, betrayals, greed, violence, banditry and kidnapping in our world today, grant we pray the grace to be true instruments of your peace in our homes, societies, country and the world at large, so that our world may be restored back to its original harmony and the face of the earth be renewed. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen. Peace be with you.

Homily for Fifth Monday of Easter Year C, 19th May, 2025

 

Readings: Acts.14:5-18; Ps115; John 14:21-26

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WAITING ON THE HOLY SPIRIT, THE TEACHER AND REMINDER OF ALL THE LORD HAS TAUGHT US

As the time for Jesus to accomplish his mission drew near, he had taught his disciples a lot of things which they had not yet fully understood, and there was more to teach them. So, as Jesus continues to teach the disciples about knowing and observing the commandments as a sign of love of him and his Father, as we have it in our Gospel passage today.

So, one of his disciples who could not understand this teaching said to him, ‘Lord, what is all this about? Do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the world? And Jesus replied, ‘If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we shall come to him and make our home with him. ' But as this becomes more difficult for them to comprehend, Jesus said to them: ‘the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all I have said to you.’

Here, Jesus, who has been the only teacher of his disciples, promised them the indwelling of the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, who will take up the task to inspire them and deepen their understanding of the words and actions of Jesus. However, Jesus emphasised that the condition for obtaining all that he has promised is the love expressed in our faith in the Father through him.

Thus, today, we are called to renew our faith and devotion to God, to renew our love and focus once again on Him with all our hearts, to be faithful in all things and at all times. Let us be inspired by the courage and faith of the Apostles, and strive to dedicate ourselves ever more to God. Just like Paul and Barnabas in our first reading, who had the right focus and emphasis in their minds and hearts with unwavering faith and commitment to God as they resisted the temptation of being treated like gods.

 Hence, they shouted at the people who wanted to offer sacrifice to them, they said to them: ‘Friends, what do you think you are doing? We are only human beings like you. We have come with good news to make you turn from these empty idols to the living God who made heaven and earth. Here we see how they faithfully kept the commandments of God and remained faithful to Him, as Jesus mentioned in our Gospel passage today.

Dear friends, let us resist the temptations of pride, greed, selfishness and corruption present in this world, and do our very best to follow Jesus with all our hearts and with all our strength, putting him at the very center of our existence and lives knowing that the holy Spirit, the Advocate will surely teach and reveals to us the deep mysteries of our faith and also help us to over come the temptations of this world and lead to God our loving Father.

LET US PRAY: Almighty ever-living God, there are lots of things we need to know and understand about the faith we have found in you, grant we pray that the Holy Spirit may guide our ways, teach us what we need to know and what to do, how to do it, when to do it and grace do it properly. Amen. It's a new week, may the Holy Spirit guide and bless all your efforts.

Homily for Fifth Sunday of Easter Year C, 18 May, 2025

 

Readings: Acts.14:21-27; Ps145; Rev. 21:1-5; John 13:31-33.34-35

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

LOVE IS WHAT GOD HAS GIVEN US. LOVE IS WHAT GOD RQUIRES FROM US

As we celebrate today, the fifth Sunday in the Holy season of Easter, our readings today have love as their central theme. In our Gospel passage, Jesus said to his disciples: “My little children, I shall not be with you much longer. I give you a new commandment: love one another; just as I have loved you, you also must love one another. By this love you have for one another, everyone will know that you are my disciples”.

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

No, the love Jesus is talking about is the sacrificial love that comes from the heart and soul of one who is rooted in the life of the Trinity, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. So, Jesus is talking about the love of the Father towards the Son, and of the Son towards his disciples, and of his disciples towards God and their neighbour. This love is joined together with an inseparable seal of heavenly joy.

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

So, today we are called to embrace the true love of God in our hearts. This is possible only when we understand the true meaning of love and sacrifice. This is exactly what is really lacking in our relationship with God and our neighbours. In fact, a critical look at what is happening in our world today, it is obvious that humanity has lost the true meaning of love. This present generation has failed to understand the true meaning and source of love, and this can be seen in the kind of fruit we bear.

The fruit of love in this generation is so complicated: love has become a tool for selfishness, deception, greed, and emotional and sexual satisfaction. This is because we have abandoned God, who is the source and power of love, and created for ourselves a mirage in the name of love. Hence, this action now makes it further clear that the need to respond to God’s command to love one another sacrificially is very necessary in our societies today.

Dear friends, love is what has been given to us,, and love is all that he requires from us. So, love is the hard way, and love is the only way to solve the problems of humanity. Hence, today, we are called to learn how to love one another as God has loved us. We are called to come back to the source of love. For God himself teaches us that love is an attitude that seeks the good of others, despite how we feel about them.

Love teaches us to be merciful, just as our Father in heaven is merciful. Love is a sacrificial attitude, an attitude that forgives, an attitude that accommodates, perseveres, preserves, heals and builds up when every other thing fails. This is the kind of attitude the world needs now, the attitude that comes from the pure love of God and our neighbours.

Therefore, what God demands from us is love, sacrificial love. For love is all he has offered us, love is all he is demanding from us. He is not asking us to offer what he has not given us. He is rather asking us to offer that which he has offered us in abundance. I know that it is not easy to bear the sacrificial nature of love in our world today, but that is what the world needs now. Loving one another requires sacrifice. Sacrifice of our comfort, resources, talent, gifts and pride.

Loving one another requires forgiveness, mercy, care and humility and not the life of I, I, I, Me, Me, Me that we practice these days. So. Let us not just think about ourselves and our selfish desires, but consider the needs of others and bear that sacrificial aspect of love. How I wish that humanity could embrace this command of our Lord Jesus, by investing more in the things that ensue love and unity in our societies, rather than spending our energy, time and resources in producing heavy ammunition for a war that breeds hatred and division in our world.

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

Homily for Saturday, Fourth Week of Easter Year C, 17th May, 2025

 

Readings: Acts. 13:44-52; Ps.98; John 14:7-14

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

UNDERSTANDING THE PERSON OF GOD THE FATHER THROUGH JESUS THE SON

The use of the imagery of Father and Son by Jesus is one of the means Jesus used to explain his relationship with God the Father. But oftentimes, the people and even his disciples find it difficult to understand the systematic fashion of this relationship. 

So in our Gospel passage today, Jesus tried to explain this relationship to his disciples when he said to them: If you know me, you know my Father too. From this moment, you know him and have seen him.

Curiously, Philip said, ‘Lord, let us see the Father and then we shall be satisfied'. But Jesus said: you must believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; I tell you most solemnly, whoever believes in me will perform even greater works, because I am going to the Father and whatever you ask for in my name I will do it. 

Here Jesus is saying that if we want to know God and understand his ways in relation to humanity, all we need to do is to look at him (Jesus) as the Son of the Father who has come to reveal the true image of God to humanity. 

We are to observe what he does, listen to what he teaches, watch how he behaves, what and who he loves, and what he rejects or defends. For by so doing, we will discover God in him because as the Son, he is the true human image of God. He is one with the Father in unity of existence and life, and this is evidenced in the Words he spoke and the works he performed. 

Consequently,  those who believe in him are endowed with the power of the Holy Spirit and will do greater works than he has done. For he has gone to the Father and whatever they ask in his name he will do it, because they will be asking in accordance with the Holy Spirit in union with the name of the very person of Jesus, whose request the Father will always grant.

Dear friends, the questions we need to ask ourselves today are: what is my relationship with Jesus and God the Father? Do we really believe in God as our Father? Do we personally and truly know and believe in Jesus? Do we have any personal experience of the power of the Holy Spirit? 

The truth is that we can only do great work in his name when we have a personal experience and encounter with the risen Lord, just like the disciples who where filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit and spoke out boldly to the people about the good news of Jesus and when they where rejected out of jealousy by the Jews as we have it in our first reading, they turned to the gentiles who embraced the good news with joy. 

Therefore, I don’t know what you want God to do for you, I don’t know the prayer points you recite every day, I don’t know how deep your requests are. All I know is that if we truly have a personal relationship with Jesus and believe in him, we are going to be endowed with the power of the Holy Spirit and will do greater works than he has done, for he has gone to the Father. 

And whatever we ask in his name, he will do it, because we will be asking in accordance with the Holy Spirit in union with the name of the very person of Jesus, whose request the Father will always grant.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, in the celebration of Easter, you graciously give to the world the gift of heavenly remedies, grant that we, your children, may have a personal experience of your presence in our lives, so that, presenting our needs before you, we may find favour in your presence. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you a fruitful and peaceful weekend.

Homily for Friday, Fourth Week of Easter Year C, 16th May, 2025

 

Readings: Acts. 13:26-33; Ps.2; John 14:1-6

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

BE CONSOLED WITH THE WORDS OF JESUS

With the ugly situation of things in our world, there are different grades of sufferings and problems in our societies today, which both the poor and the rich are testifying to. Hence, we can fill the struggles, the tears, and the disappointments that people are passing through every day.

In fact, some people have lost hope in themselves and even in everything they do as they run up and down seeking solutions. The poor are seeking daily bread, upliftment and favour, the rich are seeking protection and good health, while the evil ones are taking advantage of the situation to destroy the little faith of the people.

The evil in the world is putting our faith to the test, and most people are giving in to their schemes as they are unable to overcome them. So today, Jesus in our Gospel passage said, ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God still, and trust in me.’ And he concludes by saying: ‘I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one can come to the Father except through me.’

Here, we have one of the most consoling words of Jesus to his disciples who were afraid after he had told them about his passion and what would happen to them as well. He reassured them that he would always be with them as he goes to prepare a place for them in his Father’s house.

Similarly, we heard in our first reading, the story of St Paul’s encouragement to the Jewish community in Antioch in Pisidia, telling them how the people in Jerusalem had treated Jesus so badly, rejecting him and condemning him to death, a most painful and humiliating death on the Cross. But God has turned all of that into joy and salvation, as everything had indeed been part of God’s plan of saving humanity. Therefore, Jesus is reminding us again of the Covenant which God has made with us, for He will not abandon us to destruction.

Dear friends, Jesus is indeed the Way, the Truth and the Life. He is the only Way for us to pass through and overcome the ugly situation we find ourselves in. He is the Truth that all of us should be following to unveil the lies, deceptions and evil that is going on in our world, he is the Life that we have all been seeking to have and protect. Thus, Jesus is saying to us, do not let your heart be troubled, trust in God and trust in me.

Therefore, all we need is to have a total faith and trust in God through Jesus, who has assured us that he will not abandon us in this ugly situation. Let us, from now on, put our complete trust in God, knowing that in Him alone can we find the truth and a way out of the predicaments and trials we are facing in our world today.

Let us be patient, no matter how difficult our lives and conditions may have been at this moment, for God knows how best to handle the situation. Let us encourage one another, for it is our duty as Christians to bring hope to humanity, especially in this most difficult moment in our societies.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, You are the author of our lives, freedom and salvation, all we have are yours, thank you for being with us in our daily troubles, struggles, fears, tears, hope and joy, may you provide for the poor, console the troubled, heal the sick, protect and put simile on the faces of your children today and always. Amen. Have a blessed day.

Homily for Thursday in Fourth Week of Easter Year C, 15th May, 2025

Readings: Acts. 13:13-25; Ps.89; John 13:16-20

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

WHOEVER WELCOMES ME WELCOMES THE ONE WHO SENT ME

A good follower of anyone is generally referred to as a disciple, and a true disciple is simply a learner, a student of a teacher, and the goal of such a student is to become like the teacher. This does not mean that the disciple will become equal to the teacher, but will develop the same qualities and skills as those of the teacher.

So today, as Jesus continues with his instruction on what it means to be his follower in respect to the mission he is about to entrust to his disciples he said to them after washing the feet his disciples: “truly, truly I say to you no servant is greater than his master, no messenger is greater than the man who sent him… whoever welcomes the one I send welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me”.

Thus, as we listened to the Scripture, we are reminded to follow the Lord and obey his ways, his teachings and ensure that we are walking in the path of truth that he has shown to us. Also, as disciples of Christ, there is a need to know the purpose of our life and mission, which is to become like Jesus in deeds and in character.

By so doing, we will have confidence that God will enable us to carry out the work that He has entrusted to us, even when persecuted, knowing that neither the activities of men nor the devil can affect our soul.

A good example of a man who followed the example of Jesus as his Lord and Master is St. Paul, who, in our first reading today,, demonstrated great courage and faith in Jesus. For as he visited the Jewish community in the city of Antioch in Pisidia in Asia Minor, and was asked to speak to the people in the synagogue

So, he began by speaking of the coming of Jesus, the true Messiah,, in whose name he has been preaching and travelling around the community. Paul began by reminding the people of God’s historical plan for the salvation of humanity and how He had always guided His people from the time of Moses to the coming of the Messiah.

Therefore, as followers of Christ, we are reminded that we have also received the same message of truth and encouragement from the Lord through our faith in him. Now, like St. Paul, we have to be courageous in following the instructions of our master Jesus,, especially at this difficult moment when so many people around the world are suffering from the effects of ugly situations in our world today.

Many people have lost their lives, their loved ones, and their jobs. Some are isolated from people they loved, hunger and starvation have turned people into what they are not, fear and uncertainties have become the lot of the common man in the street, kidnapping and violence have become the order of the day.

Dear friends, in the midst of all these difficulties, we are called to be courageous, hopeful, steadfast, and to share with others the message of hope that we have received from the Lord. We are called to bring God’s light into the darkness of lies, deceit, corruption and greed in the world. Following the example of our Master Jesus, we are called to awaken hope once again in the hearts of humanity.

No doubt that this is a very difficult task, but we cannot run away from it. All we need to do is to stand on the strength of our hope and belief in God, so that in all our words, actions and deeds the power of God will be made present in the world through us.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we follow the example of Jesus our Lord and Master, grant us the grace of courage and faith so that as your true disciples, we may have confidence to carry out your mission in the world, even in the midst of persecution, sufferings, sickness and death, knowing that your love and care for us surpass all our challenges. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed and peaceful day.

Homily For Wednesday, Fourth Week of Easter, Year C, 14th May, 2025. The Feast of St. Matthias.

Readings: Acts 1: 15-17.20-26; Ps.113; John 15:9-17

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

AS THE FATHER HAS LOVED ME SO HAVE I LOVED YOU ABIDE IN MY LOVE

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

 That’s while love is beyond human nature, and when we love, we are actually acting out that very nature of God in us and this can be overwhelming and mysterious because love is the nature of God that we share.

That is why in our Gospel passage today, Jesus said to his disciples: ‘As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love.

Hence, today, as we celebrate the feast of St. Matthias, we see how the apostles worked so hard to keep the Lord’s commandments and remain in his love, as they chose Matthias to replace the traitor, Judas Iscariot, who betrayed the Lord and then killed himself in regret and grief. Thus, Matthias, one of the earliest followers of Jesus, was chosen in order to complete the number of the Twelve Apostles as we have it in our first reading.

History has it that St. Matthias, out of love, served the Lord and his Church faithfully, for he went on many missions and travelled as far as Ethiopia. He laboured hard to establish the Church and the faith in different places and preached the Good News of the Lord, calling many to conversion and the true faith.

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

Dear friends, let us keep the Lord’s commandments, let us embrace Jesus and the love he is offering us. Let us, like St. Matthias,, serve the Lord and His Church faithfully by spreading his love everywhere we find ourselves. The truth is that it actually feels right and awesome to experience and share the love of God.

I don’t know if you have ever loved someone and you show it, or someone loves you and shows it? Or somebody loves you and you know it, it is something great and awesome, because love brings life, healing and wholeness into people’s lives. Thus, it is by loving God in our neighbours that we can share and experience this nature of God in us and by so doing, we will conquer the world full of hatred, self-centeredness, greed and sin.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, You chose St Matthias to become one of the Apostles, grant that through his intercession, we may keep your commandments and abide in your love. And help us to spread this love to the world and by so doing conquer the hatred, self-centeredness, greed and sin rooted in our families, societies and the world at large. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen, have a lovely day.