Homily For Tuesday Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 22nd July, 2025. The Feast of St. Mary Magdalene

 

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

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

LET YOUR HEART SEARCH FOR THE LORD LIKE MARY MAGDALENE

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

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

May Magdalene was a grave sinner who ought to have been condemned to die by those who were also unworthy and sinful before God. But grace of God brought about the encounter that transformed her life and she was privileged to be the first to know about the resurrection of Jesus and to also encounter the risen Lord.

This is evident in our Gospel passage today, which presents to us the encounter of Mary Magdalene with the risen Lord. When the apostles had left the tomb, Mary stayed outside the tomb, weeping. In her devotion to Jesus, Mary seeks to learn where she might find Jesus’ body so that she might take him away, a task that would be difficult both emotionally and physically.

But she was not even concerned with how she would convey the body from one place to another. She only believes that Jesus’ body has been dishonoured, desecrated, and she is determined to see that he is accorded the honour that it deserves.

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

Thus, in Mary Magdalene, we see a heart that is determined to find Jesus. A heart that truly loves Jesus, a heart that cannot give up the search for Jesus, a heart that listened and remembered the words of Jesus about his resurrection.

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

Therefore, today, we are called to forget our past sinful life and embrace the Lord. We are called to seek the Lord with affection and tears. But oftentimes the clouds and darkness of our sins blind us from recognising the Lord who is always very close to us.

The truth is that the Lord’s way of making himself known to his people is by his word; his word appeals to our souls, speaking to us in a particular way that is unique to us. Are we ready to embrace the Lord once again and make our history a reality that will change this sinful world?

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

Homily For Monday Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 21st July, 2025

 

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

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WHY DO YOU SEEK SIGNS? HAVE NO FEAR! STAND FIRM! 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Homily For Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C, 20th July, 2025

 

Reading: Gen. 18:1-10; Ps. 15; 2Col. 1:24-28; Luke 10:38-42

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

LEARN TO LISTEN TO GOD AND YOUR ACTIONS AND HOSPITALITY WILL BE PERFECT

One of the vital aspects of the human person, which is very much lacking in most of our communications these days, is listening. This is because, oftentimes, we worry about so many things in life, trying to let people hear us without taking time to listen to them. Some people are always trying to satisfy everyone without listening to the real thing that matters.

I have also come across people who are often worried about how to make others feel more comfortable without minding their own discomfort. They are so concerned with pleasing others even when they are not pleased. What a great sacrificial virtue that is not common these days.

This sacrificial virtue is the attitude of Martha in our Gospel passage today, where we have the story of how Martha was so busy trying to make Jesus comfortable when he visited them at their house in Bethany.

But when Martha observed that her sister Mary was not helping out in the preparation, rather was busy listening to Jesus, she said to Jesus: “Lord, do you not care that my sister is leaving me to do the serving all by myself? Please tell her to help me.’ But the Lord answered: ‘Martha, Martha, you worry and fret about so many things, and yet few are needed, indeed only one. It is Mary who has chosen the better part; it is not to be taken from her”.

Here, Jesus is not condemning this great sacrificial virtue nor condoning laziness. Rather, he is saying that being busy without listening and listening without doing is worthless. Hence, he gently corrects the impression of Martha, who was too busy and distracted with so many things that she risks losing sight of what is really important, that is, listening to Jesus. This is because Martha gives the impression that Mary is just sitting there doing nothing. But, in fact, she is listening to Jesus.

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

It is this act of listening that made Abraham, in our first reading today, recognise the personality of three men standing close to him and said to them: My lord, I beg you, if I find favour with you, kindly do not pass your servant by. A little water shall be brought; you shall wash your feet and lie down under the tree. Let me fetch a little bread and you shall refresh yourselves before going further. That is why you have come in your servant’s direction.’

They replied, ‘Do as you say.’ And as they departed one of them said: ‘I shall visit you again next year without fail, and your wife will then have a son.’ What a favour he received from them, and this teaches us the importance of hospitality and listening to God who speaks to us deep down in our conscience.

Little wonder, St. Paul in our second reading today said: “I became the servant of the Church when God made me responsible for delivering God’s message to you, the message which was a mystery hidden for generations and centuries and has now been revealed to his saints.”

Here, St. Paul made us know that we must learn to listen to God’s message and be hospitable to one another, for this is the wisdom in which we are thoroughly trained and instructed and so made perfect in Christ.

Dear friends, we need to ask ourselves if we are more like Martha or like Mary, for they were both friends of Jesus. Are we more of listeners or hospitable, accommodating and caring? Today, we must learn to listen to God even in the midst of our busy schedule with the things of this passing world.

Today, many of us are so busy and anxious about so many things that we have no time to listen to God speaking to us and addressing the situation we are actually busy trying to solve. Today we are called like Martha to pause and listen, so that we can hear God speaking to us and directing us towards the right path. Like Mary, we have listened we are called to action like Martha

Thus, Martha and Mary, who were known as friends of Jesus, loved to welcome him into their home; let us learn from them, knowing that hospitality is perfected when we have a listening ear. For it is a great virtue to be hospitable and caring, especially when we spend quality time listening to God and letting him direct and guide us towards carrying out our daily tasks.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are always so busy with the things of this passing world, that we often do not have time to listen to you. Give us the grace like Mary to choose the better part, which is to truly listen to your word and then be well disposed to be caring and hospitable just like Martha, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed Sunday celebration.

Homily For Saturday Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 19th July, 2025

 

Readings: Exo. 12:37-42; Ps.136; Matt:12:14-21

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

OVERCOMING THE UGLY ATTITUDE OF HUMANITY

There is no doubt that we are living in a world full of crazy and ugly attitudes of different kinds of people. The world is full of people who are entrusted with the noble task of leading and managing the resources and affairs of the people, making decisions to eliminate and destroy them just for their personal gain and selfish interest. 

This is what we have in our Gospel passage today, where the Pharisees, who are the leaders of the people, because of their selfish interest and pride, went out and began to plot against Jesus, discussing how to destroy him, because of his great works and teaching for the people.

Jesus knew this and withdrew from their district. Many followed him and he cured them all, but warned them not to make him known. This was to fulfil the prophecy of Isaiah which reminds us about the figure of the suffering Servant of Yahweh, in the person of Jesus. Here, Jesus experienced constant opposition and hostility at the hands of the Pharisees, who sought to destroy Him. 

So, Matthew in this Gospel identifies Jesus with the Suffering Servant who is filled with God’s spirit, despite the aggression of his opponents, he does not suspend his ministry of healing, forgiving and spreading the Good News. For he is full of gentleness and compassion. 

Hence, Jesus the suffering Servant of God, the lovable and gentle teacher, has come to bring the light of truth to this crazy world, for he does not seek the death of sinners, but their conversion and salvation. Therefore, in him, we can also find the courage and strength to persevere in these times of difficulty, suffering and persecution. For God has chosen us as His beloved sons and daughters. He has given us His Spirit so that we can stand firm against all the evil activities going on in this crazy world.

But as for those who have chosen to be instruments of destruction, manipulation and deception of humanity just for their selfish interest or for vain glory or for fun thereby letting people die for these wrongs that they do. Such people will have no share in the kingdom of the Lord, for the evils they have done will be their portion and lot. 

This is exactly the attitude of the Egyptians in our first reading today, of which the Lord, through Moses, led his chosen people out of their midst to the promised land, for such is the ugly attitude of humanity today, but God will never abandon His chosen.

Dear friends, there is no doubt that we are really living in an evil and crazy world, but we must know that the transcendent power and authority belong to God. Yes we are affiliated in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. 

Thus, we must know that true greatness is found in service and not in domination or subjection of others. Good leaders serve the community, they subdue arguments and divisions, they maintain unity in times of distress and act as role models for the young ones. 

Therefore, it is time for us to put off our old self which leads to evil desire, manipulation, covetousness, selfishness and greed, in order to put on a new person born of love, compassion, contentment, purity and forgiveness. We are all called today to serve in any capacity we find ourselves, bearing in mind that one should not strive to be a leader but a servant because leadership is a gift given to one by God. Remember, you don't have to be great to get started, but you have to get started in order to be great.

LET US PRAY: Almighty God, like little boys we go down on our knees with all humility, asking for your grace and courage to overcome the evil and ugly situation going on in this crazy world, where humanity is being manipulated, deceived and destroyed because of a few people’s selfish interest. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a pleasant weekend.

Homily For Friday Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 18th July, 2025

Readings: Exo. 11:10-12.14:; Ps.116; Matt:12:1-8

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WHAT GOD REQUIRES FROM US IS MERCY

One of the attributes of God is mercy, and this attribute runs through the scriptures as it is actually the summary of most of the stories in the scriptures. Because at the end of everything it is the mercy of God that we need more than His justice. Little wonder that Jesus, in our Gospel passage today, teaches us about the essence of making laws. 

This is clear from his response to the Pharisees who criticised the attitude of his disciples, who on the Sabbath were seen plucking ears of corn to eat because they were very hungry. 

So, Jesus corrected them on the right disposition concerning the application of God's law and any law at all, when he said to them "I desire mercy and not sacrifice". This is because the Pharisees emphasised the strict keeping of the law of the Sabbath while neglecting the spirit of the law, which has to do with God’s love and mercy.

 This is also evident in our first reading, where we heard of God’s justice and mercy in dealing with the Egyptians and the Israelites. For the Egyptians, he said: I will go through the land of Egypt and strike down all the first-born in the land of Egypt, man and beast alike, and I shall deal out punishment to all the gods of Egypt. 

This is God’s justice. Then he said to the Israelites, The blood shall serve to mark the houses that you live in. When I see the blood I will pass over you and you shall escape the destroying plague when I strike the land of Egypt. This is God’s mercy in action.

Dear friends, Law exists for the good of the people, but oftentimes we find ourselves seeking more recognition by exercising too much control over other people’s lives under the guise of laws. 

Hence, we should not lack compassion and mercy or close our hearts against our neighbour like the Pharisees, an attitude that reminds me of the words of Pope Francis when he said: "If our heart is closed, if our heart is made of stone, then the stones will end up in our hands and, then, we will be ready to throw them at someone.

Therefore, this should not be the case; rather, we should always consider the essence and purpose of making laws and applying them, bearing in mind that human needs, which supersedes all other human interests, should be the guiding principle of any law, both social and religious. 

In fact, the ritual demands of the Sabbath encourage mercy, forgiveness and compassion, which are at the heart of any true religion. Thus, as we make laws and implement them, let love, compassion and mercy be our guiding principles. 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, you show the light of your truth to those who go astray, grant that we may always embrace your laws and apply them with mercy and compassion, through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed day.

Homily For Thursday, Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year C, 17th July, 2025

 

Readings: Exo. 3:13-20; Ps.105; Matt:11:28-30

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WHEN YOUR TASK AND MISSION BECOME A HEAVY BURDEN COME TO JESUS FOR HELP

Thinking about the ugly condition of our societies today, where the ugly and sinful attitudes of greed, corruption, pride and selfishness of people have placed a heavy burden and stress on us all and often these burdens are so heavy that we don’t know how to carry them.

The worst of these burdens are the sorrows we bear in our hearts: sorrows caused by our sins, unhealthy relationships we engaged in, unforgiveness, and family problems as a result of the bad influence of society.

Thus, today in our Gospel passage Jesus says to us: Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.’

No doubt that everyone of us has a task and a mission to accomplish and this can be very demanding, just like Moses in our first reading today, for he encountered God who reveals his name to him as I Am Who I Am and commissioned him and gave him a task and the mission of bringing the people of Israel out of Egypt where they were treated badly. A task and mission which is really heavy and demanding. But promised us to be with him.

Similarly, Jesus recognises the sorrows in our lives, how we labour and are overburdened as a result of our tasks and mission. Hence he invites us to come to him with all our burdens. Yes, it is like a human person to think and worry about things of this world.

Every human person thinks and worries about something. Only a few people can sometimes find it easy to resolve their problems, but for most people, their problems are too great, and they move from bad to worse. Hence, this invitation of Jesus opens a refreshing space in our soul, by inspiring hope and drawing us into God’s loving and gentle presence where our souls find peace and solace.

Dear friends, what task and mission has God given to us in this life? How are we carrying out this task and mission? What are the challenges we are facing? Is the task and mission so heavy for us to bear? Are we carrying additional load apart from the one God has given to us? I don't know the heavy burden in your heart right now, I don’t know your cherished plans which have failed, and it seems as if disappointments have prevailed, thereby wandering in the darkness of confusion and a heavy heart all alone.

Today, Jesus is inviting us to come to him with all our burdens, all our troubles, all our challenges and disappointments, and he will give us rest. He says we should embrace his yoke, we should learn from him, for he is gentle and humble of heart and by so doing find rest for our souls. Then we will tell the story of how we overcome our most troublesome and darkest of moments, for we will understand it better by and by.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, as we come to you with our heavy burden and sorrows in our hearts, grant that we may embrace the yoke of Christ and so find peace and solace in our souls. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you God's favour.

Homily For Wednesday Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 16th July, 2025

 

Readings: Exo. 3:1-6.9-12; Ps.105; Matt:11:20-24

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

IMITATING THE CHILD-LIKE HUMILITY OF JESUS IN PRAYER

Gazing on the crucifix this morning, all I could see was the childlike humility of Jesus towards his loving Father. For he sacrificed himself on the cross for the sake of humanity. Thereby teaching us that our relationship with God in prayer requires the humility of an infant to his loving father.

This type of humility is not a way of glory, but a road of surrender that leads to passion and death of one's self. It is a way of sacrifice, a service to others at the expense of the self. In prayer, Jesus experienced God as his Father and approached him with a childlike humility, faith and confidence.

Hence, in our Gospel passage today, Jesus after his reproaches towards unrepentant cities of Chorazin and Bethsaida, demonstrates to us a humble way of relating with God in prayer when he said,, ‘I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to mere infants. Yes, Father, for such was your gracious will'.

Here, Jesus is referring to those who claim to be wise and intelligent, self-sufficient and self-made, such as the Pharisees and Sadducees, scribes and Lawyers who rejected his message. Also, those who think that they don’t need God, for they can save themselves by their meritorious works.

Thus, Jesus points out that there is a link between prayer and the inner disposition of being a humble child of God in communion with a heavenly Father, through confidence and total abandonment to God. For no matter who we are and what we have achieved in life, humility is the key and sure way to reach God in prayer.

Nonetheless, even those who are highly gifted and blessed can become a "baby" who humbly depends upon God’s grace. While the uneducated and less privileged persons can be in the same undesirable company as the wise and intelligent if they are not humble in spirit in their relationship with God and their neighbours, because our natural and spiritual gifts are only useful in our Christian journey when we have a humble heart.

This is what God is teaching us in our first reading today, in the story of Moses and the burning bush. For God called him from the middle of the bush saying: ‘Moses, Moses!’ ‘Come no nearer,’ he said. ‘Take off your shoes, for the place on which you stand is holy ground. I am the God of your fathers,’ ‘the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.’ At this, Moses, in humility, covered his face, afraid to look at God; therefore, we can see that humility is very essential in our relationship with God, especially in prayer.

Dear friends, today God wants us to relate to him in total humility and obedience, just like the humility of an infant to his lovely father. For He is always with us in our daily troubles and struggles, He understands us more than we can ever imagine. Therefore, why not humbly come to Him in prayers for He is always willing to help us in solving those difficult and challenging situations in our lives. Remember, our natural and spiritual gifts are only useful in our Christian journey when we have a humble heart.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we thank you for being with us in our daily struggles, troubles, joys and hopes. May you provide for the poor, console the troubled, heal the sick and put a smile on the faces of your children who humbly come to you in prayers. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed day.

Homily For Tuesday Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 15th July, 2025 The Memorial of St. Bonaventure

 

Readings: Exo 2:1-15; Ps. 67; Matt:11:20-24

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WHY HAVE WE FAILED TO EMBRACE THE WORD OF GOD?

Reflecting on the ugly and fragile nature of our societies and the world as a whole, especially how the streets are full of people struggling and suffering, the markets are full of people buying, selling, cheating and manipulating others.

Our leaders are so busy with acquiring, manipulating and embezzling the common resources, not minding the struggles, the tears, the disappointments that people are passing through every day, as some people have lost hope in themselves and even in everything they do. We are just so busy with everything except the very essence of our existence, that is, the salvation of our souls.

This ugly and fragile kind of condition is what Jesus is addressing in our Gospel passage today as he continues with his reproaches, this time to cities where he had done great miracles, yet the people failed to embrace the life of the Gospel he preached.

Hence, he reproached them, saying: Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. And still, I tell you that it will not go as hard on Judgement day with Tyre and Sidon as with you’.

Yes, Jesus has taught us about the kingdom of God and proclaimed a message of healing and conversion but his teaching and powerful deeds have not yet been embraced by humanity.

Hence, Jesus in this Gospel is not just rebuking the cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum, but all humanity for not being open to the fruits of his Gospel, calling us to reflect on how we are losing out on what God is offering us. Because God will always have plans to save his people just as we heard in our first reading in the story about the birth and struggles of Moses in Egypt, how God was preparing him for the task ahead.

Dear friends, we might not feel very comfortable with the idea of Jesus rebuking and uttering terrible words of threats on these big and powerful cities that represent all humanity. But the questions we need to ask ourselves are: Has humanity really embraced the Word of God we hear every day? Is the Word bearing fruit in our lives?

Can we recognise in this fragile condition the great work that Jesus is doing to save humanity and the need to turn back to God? Do we think that repentance is for others and not for us? Jesus is saying woe to us for failing to embrace and live out the Gospel teachings, because he seems to expect some sort of changes in us when we hear his Words or when we encounter him in prayers.

Therefore, God is calling us to repentance; He wants to come into our souls and dwell. Today, He is rebuking all humanity. He wants us to come to Him, for He comes to us more than we go to Him. Hence, if we believe in God and put our trust in Him, we will have the assurance and guarantee of restoration, for God does not want us to suffer the consequences of our sins; that is why He kept reminding us about the upcoming danger. But, if humanity constantly refuses to believe in God, we may end up in self-destruction.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we embrace your words today, may we through the intercession of St. Bona venture experience your love, joy and healing both physically, materially and more importantly spiritually, as we wait patiently for the restoration of all humanity from the ugly and fragile condition of this passing world. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. God bless you.

Homily For Monday Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 14th July, 2025

 

Readings: Exo 1:8-14.22 Ps. 12; Matt:10:34-11:1

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

UNDERSTANDING THE SACRIFICIAL NATURE OF CHRISTIAN FAITH

The way things are going in our world today, we really need to think twice about our faith as Christians, whether we are actually ready to live out our faith in the midst of all the ugly situations in our societies today. Because the hostility, persecution and the influential power of things of this world are getting hold of us and are not stopping soon, rather, it seems to be getting tougher.

Therefore, if we are really willing to live out our Christian faith and obligations, then we need to make a radical decision towards our discipleship in a personal and radical way, for this days, it is not enough to say am a Christian, we must convincingly and radically practice our faith by following the example of Lord Jesus.

Little wonder Jesus in our Gospel passage today, takes his discourse on discipleship to a radical and difficult level when he said: 'Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth: it is not peace I have come to bring, but a sword. For anyone who prefers father or mother to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who prefers a son or a daughter to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who does not take up his cross and follow in my footsteps is not worthy of me. Anyone who finds his life will lose it; and anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it.’

Here, Jesus does not directly intend to cause tensions and divisions in family life, but he wants us to accept the consequences that comes with the truth of the Gospel teaching, more importantly, when it comes to living out the Gospel message radically, especially in a situation where our family values have been thrown out of caution as a result of secularism, individualism and excess desires for worldly pleasures, thereby neglecting the things that lead us to God.

So, these hard words of Jesus can only be understood in the light of our life experience, because there are moments when we have to make radical and difficult choices as disciples of Jesus. These moments may wield the sword of division or separation among those people and things which are so dear to us.

However, Jesus does not endorse our engaging in armed conflict, but he warns that we have to struggle to put him first, before family ties, knowing that divisions will surely occur as people have to decide to be for or against God. Hence, he states that the cost of discipleship extends to one even losing their life. Nevertheless, he promises that even the small efforts we make in following him will be rewarded.

Thus, Jesus demands a total commitment towards finishing the journey of discipleship once begun or not beginning it at all. Because following Jesus demands the sacrifice of all that one has. For none of us can become his disciple if we do not give up our excess desire for worldly pleasures and possessions, and pay our unreserved loyalty and allegiance to Jesus over all other competing loyalties in our lives, including family, self-interest, and possessions.

Dear friends, we are called today to make a radical decision to sincerely and faithfully follow Jesus and to accept the consequences of living by the truth of the Gospel. But how much are we willing to let go for the sake of following the truth of the Gospel? Why are we finding it difficult to follow Jesus? What are those habitual desires and possessions that are holding us back from making this radical decision today? It is time to come to God with all our hearts, for tomorrow may be too late.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, the excess desire for the pleasurable things of this passing world have weakened our hearts towards you. Give us courage and grace to let go of our ugly desires, so as to hold firm in our faith despite losing people and things that are dear to us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a fruitful week ahead.

Homily For Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C, 13th July, 2025

 

Reading: Deut. 30:10-14; Ps. 69; 2Col. 1:14-20; Luke 10:25-37

Rev.  Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

LOVING GOD AND OUR NEIGHBOURS IS WHAT GOD REQUIRES FROM US

As human beings, we are always desiring to know what life requires of us, especially when we are faced with the realities of life. We often want to know the things that should be our first priority. So we always ask questions that will help us in addressing most of the challenges we encounter. 

These questions may come as sentiments or bias, which sometimes means to test our ability towards understanding the realities on the ground.  This is the deposition of the lawyer in our Gospel passage today, who came to Jesus to test him by asking him a question concerning the requirements for inheriting eternal life. 

This lawyer backing up his question with his knowledge of the ten commandment, made reference to the 'Shema Israel’, the prayer that the people of Israel knew and recite from their earliest years, from which they learned that the most important thing in life is to love God with all their heart, and with all thy soul, and with all their mind and to love their neigbhour as well. 

In other words, loving God with all our heart, with all our understanding and strength, and loving our neighbour as ourselves is what is required of us, and it is the foundation of all the things we have to know and do. But this lawyer needed more clarification concerning these requirements, then he asked Jesus a second important question when he said: Who is my neighbour? At this point, Jesus did not just explain, he illustrated what a true neighbour should be with the famous story of the good Samaritan. 

In this story, the man who was going down can be referred to as Adam, who represents humanity departing from paradise to the world. While Jerusalem is paradise, Jericho is the world. The robbers who maltreated the man are hostile powers of this passing world. The priest who passed by represents the Law, the Levite represents the prophets, and the good Samaritan is Christ, who came to save wounded humanity. 

The wounds are disobedience, the beast is the Lord’s body, and the inn, which accepts all who wish to enter, is the Church. The manager of the inn is the head and ministers of the Church, who are entrusted with the care of human souls. The oil and wine represent the instruments they use in carrying out their ministry of healing, restoration and salvation. Finally, the Samaritan’s promises of returning soon represent the second coming of Christ. 

In fact, from the story, Jesus did not just answer the question: ‘Who is my neighbour?’ He gave us the background of his mission and plans for saving wounded humanity and also demonstrated what a true and righteous neighbour should be like, thereby showing us that our neighbours are often those we least expect to be our neighbour. For our neighbour can be anyone, even the ones we most despise or fear, just like the good Samaritan, and this tells us that a true neighbour shows compassion, love, care and makes a sacrifice for others, just like our Lord Jesus Christ.

This is exactly what Moses is telling us in our first reading today when he said: Obey the voice of the Lord your God, keeping his commandments and laws. For this Law that I enjoin on you today is not beyond your strength or beyond your reach. It is not in heaven, so you need to wonder, “Who will go up to heaven for us and bring it down to us, so that we may hear it and keep it?” Nor is it beyond the seas, so that you need to wonder, “Who will cross the seas for us and bring it back to us, so that we may hear it and keep it?” No, the Word is very near to you, it is in your mouth and in your heart for your observance.

Dear friends, God has truly loved us, we must learn to do the same by sincerely loving one another. And as we know, love is the centre of all the teachings of Jesus. Hence, St Paul made us know in our second reading that Christ Jesus is the image of the unseen God and the first-born of all creation, for in him were created all things in heaven and on earth: visible and invisible. 

Therefore, we are created in the image of God, who is Love, and this love is his nature, which we share, for love is a gift from God to humanity. 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 has experienced it. 

So, we must learn to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind, and our neighbour as ourselves.’ For if we love God, then, we will see him in others and treat them justly and honourably. We will not hurt our neighbours but do our best to live in peace with them. 

The truth is that the absence of love is the cause of all the problems in our world today, as most families exist by grace and not by love. Imagine how wonderful the world would be if we all loved one another. How I wish we could invest our time and resources in 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 also be building a happy and peaceful society. 

LET US PRAY: Almighty God, in you resides the fullness of love, grant that we may truly love you and our neighbours and so conquer the world full of hatred, self-centeredness, greed and corruption, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Happy Sunday to you all.

Homily For Saturday Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 12th July, 2025

Readings: Gen. 49:29-33.50:15-26; Ps. 105; Matt:10:24-33

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WHO WE SHOULD TRULY FEAR

The goal of every disciple is to become like the master. This does not mean that the disciple will become equal to the master, but through the training, he becomes like or similar to the master in his own unique way. For a good disciple develops great qualities and skills like those of the master. Hence, Jesus, knowing the difficulties and challenges his disciples would encounter, needed to train and instruct them properly, so that they could stand firm in the midst of opposition and persecution.

Thus, today in our Gospel passage, Jesus continues with his instruction on what it means to be a firm disciple in respect to the mission he is about to entrust to his apostles, just the way Jacob instructed his sons and Joseph having forgiven his brothers, he instructed them on what to do when he dies as we have it in our first reading.

Similarly, Jesus said to his Apostles: The disciple is not superior to his teacher, nor the slave to his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, what will they not say of his household? What I say to you in the dark, tell in the daylight; what you hear in whispers, proclaim from the housetops. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; fear him rather who can destroy both body and soul in hell.

As disciples, these encouraging words of Jesus are very apt now that we are passing through difficult moments of poverty, sickness, persecution, intimidation, greed, immorality, killings, wars, famines, genocide in our families, societies, country and the world at large.

This ugly condition can make someone completely lose hope in humanity and also in God. But Jesus does not want us to lose hope; rather, he wants us to be those firm and strong disciples who will stand firm and courageously face the ugly situations we encounter every day. Today, Jesus needs firm disciples who will speak and stand for his Gospel no matter the cost.

Dear friends, we are called today to become a firm disciple of Jesus. For as disciples of Jesus, our purpose in life is to become like him 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 in the midst of persecution, knowing that neither men nor the devil can affect our souls. We can be confident of God’s intimate care for us because He knows even the number of the hairs on our head.

Therefore, as true disciples of Jesus, we must have confidence and remain firm in faith even in the midst of persecution, sufferings and sickness, because his love and care for us surpass all our challenges. Thus we are called today to follow God wholeheartedly by living a life of holiness, purity, courage and simplicity, and by so doing inspire others to be part of this mission.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, there is no doubt that our world is full of opposition and persecution of your faithful people. Grant that we may follow you wholeheartedly and stand firm in the midst of all the opposition and persecution we may encounter in our daily lives. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you a lovely and peaceful weekend.

Homily For Friday Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 11th July, 2025. The Memorial of St. Benedict.

 

Readings: Gen. 46:1-7.28-30; Ps. 37; Matt:10:16-23

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE A SHEEP AMONG THE HUNGRY WOLVES OF THIS PASSING WORLD

Reflecting on the ugly attitudes of humanity, especially in some ugly events that happen around us. How selfish, cruel and heartless people behave towards each other. Everywhere we see and hear of human wickedness, intimidation, manipulations, kidnapping, killing and other immoral activities for the sake of power, fame, money and lustful desires. And anyone who tries to resist, challenge, correct, change or stop these ugly attitudes, becomes an object of elimination.

 In fact, the evil ones are so cruel that sometimes we wish that God would just wipe them away from the face of the earth, and when this does not happen, we complain and feel so helpless. Yet in the midst of all these ugly situations, we are required to continue to speak about God’s goodness, love, compassion and forgiveness. A very difficult task to do, especially when we are suffering as victims of the ugly situation.

Little wonder that today in our Gospel passage, Jesus made known to his disciples the difficult nature of his mission; he taught them how to persevere in times of persecution, troubles, afflictions, and sufferings. He warns them that they will meet with hostility and hatred because of him, but they are to continue to bear witness to the Gospel values. Jesus said to them: “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; so be cunning as serpents and yet as harmless as doves.”

He continued saying: Beware of men: for they will hand you over to lawless men and drag you before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them. But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to speak or what to say; for what you are to say will be given to you when the time comes; because it is not you who will be speaking; the Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you.”

Hence, Jesus, knowing that the mission to change the sinful and ugly attitudes of humanity will be like sending a helpless sheep in the midst of hungry wolves, so he advised his disciples, as he advises us today, to be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. He also gave us the ultimate reassurance and promise, that the one who endures to the end will be saved.

The truth is that God still cares for humanity despite our sinful and ugly attitudes. This is evident in our first reading today, when we heard the story of how God brought together the family of Jacob which was distorted by wickedness, jealousy, hatred and corruption as a result of the selling of their brother Joseph to slavery.

But today God’s providence and love have brought them together, and we had the Lord saying to Jacob: ‘Do not be afraid of going down to Egypt, for I will make you a great nation there. I myself will go down to Egypt with you. I myself will bring you back again, and Joseph’s hand shall close your eyes. And Jacob said to Joseph: Now I can die, now that I have seen you again, and seen you still alive.

Dear friends, the circumstances in which Jesus invites us to share the Good News is quite challenging and difficult, especially now that the world is passing through difficult times, as families, societies, countries, and churches are badly affected by the ugly situation born out the evil forces manifesting themselves in different forms, of which there troubles and conflicts are affecting the whole world.

Yes, our sinful attitudes have brought humanity into destruction and death, but the Lord still loves us and wants us to repent from our sins and wickedness, so as to embrace his righteousness and mercy once again. Just like St. Benedict, whose memorial we celebrate today. For he is known for his renowned piety and commitment to living a life of purity and prayer, of which he inspired many others to follow him in a life of asceticism and prayer, some of whom decided to follow his way of life and become ascetics and monks

Therefore, just as Jesus was not abandoned by his Father in his hour of need, we too will not be abandoned in difficult times. Because God knows what we are going through now. All we need to do is listen to him speaking to us through the Holy Spirit. Remember, as helpless sheep in the midst of hungry wolves of this passing world, the greatest Gospel we can preach is the Gospel of love by our way of life even in the midst of the ugly attitudes of sinful humanity.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, may the Holy Spirit enlighten, strengthen and grant us the courage and strength to persevere in witnessing to the Gospel, especially in these difficult times. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a fruitful day.

Homily For Thursday Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 10th July, 2025

 

Readings: Gen. 44:18-21.23-29.45:1-5; Ps. 105; Matt:10:7-15

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

THE ENEMY MAY PLAN YOUR DOWNFALL BUT GOD WILL TURN IT TO YOUR GLORY

The rebellious nature of humanity has always kept us away from responding to God's invitation to Life of love, holiness, faithfulness and integrity. Hence, humanity has always failed to understand the true ways of God, its creator. However, God has not stopped caring and stretching his hands of love to us. 

In every generation, God always send messengers to remind us of his love and plan for humanity. This is exactly what we have in our readings today, especially in our first reading, where we heard how it was God’s plan to send Joseph to Egypt for the sake of saving his people from famine.

Here, we heard how this plan was fulfilled when Joseph was reunited with his brothers after they had sold him as a slave. In this encounter and reunion, Joseph, filled with compassion, said that it was God’s plan and grace that allowed everything to happen as it was, that their evil plots had been turned to good things as God sent him ahead to Egypt to pave the path for Jacob, his father and his descendants. 

For God sent him ahead of the rest of his family to prepare everything, so that when they eventually came in accordance with the will of God, they would be accepted and taken good care of, since they were to stay in Egypt for a long time.   

This story shows us that God, in his compassion, will always turn our ugly situation and attitude into something better in accordance with his will. God’s anger and dissatisfaction with the constant disobedience and rebellious attitude of the people and the upcoming consequences for their sins will be subdued by God’s mercy. Since God in his compassionate love, wishes to save humanity. 

This shows us that in God, we have a compassionate and loving Father who always cares about us despite our constant disobedience and rebellious attitude towards him. And out of his love for us, He has not stopped sending his messengers to help guide us out of the wrong path we are taking. In fact, out of love, He sent Jesus, His only begotten Son, to be our Lord and Saviour. 

Thus, in our Gospel passage we heard how Jesus went about doing good, healing the sick and setting captive free from the shackles of the evil ones and to continue this great mission he invited his disciples and sent them out, commanding them to see themselves as someone who gives freely of the good they have received from God. 

They should offer to others what they have received from God, knowing that it has cost them nothing. They are to live a life of detachment that is, in this mission, they are to depend totally on God's providence. Unfortunately, many of the disciples have to face rejection and persecution from people, who, through their rebellious attitude, have refused to believe in God, even though he has always been so patient, loving, caring and forgiving to us.

Dear friends, the enemy may plan your downfall, but God will turn it to your glory. Because the Lord cares and loves us no matter the situation we find ourselves in. So, today we are called to repent from our sinful and rebellious attitudes and embrace the compassionate love and care that God is offering us. And as disciples of Christ, we have received a lot from God without payment; we should learn to give without expecting reward. 

Calling us to acknowledge with gratitude all that we have received from God and give freely to others that which we have received. For this act of charity will purify us from pride and self-righteousness, because we are all recipients of God's love, mercy, forgiveness, favour, protection, healing and deliverance. 

Therefore, we must offer to others these same gifts which we have received. We are to show love to people, forgive, help the needy and share with one another the gifts God has blessed us with, and if our love and care are rejected, we should offer it as a sign for the judgment day. Remember, your kind gestures today can turn someone's life around now or later and by so doing we extend God’s divine compassion to rebellious humanity.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, you have sacrificed a lot to save us from our rebellious and sinful attitudes. Open our hearts once again to repent and embrace your compassionate love and care for us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed day.

Homily For Wednesday Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 9th July, 2025

 

Readings: Gen. 41:55-57.42:5-7.17-24; Ps. 33, Matt:10:1-7

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

REMEMBER THAT THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS VERY CLOSE AT HAND

The things of this world are so captivating that if we are not careful, we will be like a foolish traveller who, having encountered a pleasant garden, forgets to continue towards his destination. This is exactly what Jesus is calling our attention to in our Gospel passage today, when he commanded his twelve disciples to go and proclaim to the people that the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.

Here, Jesus continues with his missionary discourse. He summoned his twelve apostles and sent them out with the clear instruction to proclaim the Good News of the kingdom of heaven. He sent them on a mission of teaching and healing to proclaim the message of God’s saving love to those who were in most need of hearing it.

Thus, in our first reading, we heard how God changed what was bad and terrible into something good, as seen in the story of Joseph and his brothers. Here, the Lord showed his love to his people when he sent Joseph, one of the sons of Jacob, into Egypt ahead of his brothers and family.

This happened as Joseph was despised earlier on in his youth by his elder brothers, because he was one of their father’s favourites, so they sold him as a slave to Egypt. Similarly, the Lord Jesus sent his disciples to all humanity to bring the Good News of his Kingdom.

So, today Jesus is calling us to change our ugly and sinful ways of life, especially as regards our attitude towards the things of this passing world. He is also commanding us just as he commanded his apostles to tell humanity, especially those we encounter every day, our family members, neighbours, colleagues, friends, in fact, everyone around us, we should tell them that the kingdom of heaven is very close at hand.

Thus, it's time to truly seek God with all our hearts, it's time to turn away from our sinful way of life, it's time to say yes to God for tomorrow may be too late. We should not be ashamed or afraid to carry out this mandate, for when God calls us, he supplies us with the means and courage necessary to accomplish the task entrusted to us. For we are never alone, he is always with us.

Dear friends, what are we doing in this passing world with the gift of life that God has given us? We should never think that we still have all the time to keep ‘enjoying' the pleasant things of this passing world. Remember, we are all travellers in this world. This world is not our destination, we are just passing by.

So, how many ears must we have before we can hear the call for repentance? How many deaths will it take till we know that the souls of many people have gone from this world? How many words of God will we hear before we know that one day we will be no more in this passing world?

The answer, dear friends, is blowing in the wind. Therefore, let us not be like a foolish traveller who, having encountered a pleasant garden of this passing world, forgets to continue towards his destination, which is God’s heavenly kingdom.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, you called us today to reflect on our heavenly kingdom, give us grace to repent and turn to you for mercy, help us to have the missionary zeal that will enable us to live with integrity, purity and detachment from the thing of this passing world as we spread the Good News of your kingdom to humanity. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Peace be with you.

Homily For Tuesday Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 8th July, 2025

Readings: Gen. 32:23-33 , Ps. 17, Matt 9:32-38

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

THE LORD NEEDS FAITHFUL LABOURERS IN HIS VINEYARD. ARE YOU ONE?

When we look critically at the streets, we will observe how people are struggling with the things of this passing world. We will fill their passion, their determination and willingness to achieve great things in life at the expense of things that prepare us for eternal life. Today, life has become nothing for some people. Greed, corruption and selfishness have rendered so many people into perpetual poverty and suffering.

Reflecting on these, my mind turned towards the words of Jesus in our Gospel passage today, when he saw the crowds and had compassion on them because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest’.

Here, Jesus had compassion on humanity who were harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd. He then says to his disciples that there is a huge harvest waiting to be reaped. Calling on us to pray for God to send labourers into his harvest.

Therefore, more labourers are needed, for Jesus sees how humanity is harassed and dejected, wandering aimlessly like sheep without a guiding shepherd. And because the souls of everyone in the world are so precious to Jesus, he needs many more labourers.

Hence, the harvest is as big as ever, and people are getting lost and clueless as never before. But who are these labourers? They are not just the bishops, priests, or religious men and women, but every baptised person is called in a different capacity as God’s labourers to share the good news of Jesus Christ with those around them.

So each of us has a vocation, a call to save souls and build the Kingdom of God together, just like Jacob in our first reading today, who wrestled with God and his name was changed to Israel, because he had been struggling against God; thus shall prevail against men.

Dear friends, the Lord desires to have faithful labourers. Are we among them? As labourers of the Lord, how are we carrying out this mission and mandate of Christ? How strong is our compassion towards others? Do we know people who are harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd? Let us look at them for a moment and imagine Jesus looking at them and saying something to them. Do we feel harassed and helpless as a result of what we are going through in life? Do we feel the need for Jesus’ help in some part of our lives? Then turn to him for restoration

Remember, as labourers, each one of us is called today to reach out to people at any particular corner of the field of harvest where we are now, for we may be the only person who may have access to reach out to them. Therefore, let us start from our families, neighbours, colleagues in the office and others whom we encounter in our lives, because we may be the only person who can bring the healing and compassion of Jesus into their lives.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, give us the grace and courage to be faithful labourers in your vineyard, who will labour to bring souls to you. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed day.

Homily For Monday Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 7th July, 2025

 

Readings: Gen. 28:10-22 , PS 91, Matt 9:18-26

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

THE FAITH THAT YIELDS POSITIVE RESULTS

Today we are presented with the story of the faith of a woman with a haemorrhage set inside the story of a little girl who died, and the father in faith came to Jesus for help. However, Mark 5:21-43 and Luke 8:40-56 tell the story in greater detail.

In Mark and Luke, the woman with the haemorrhage interrupts Jesus’ journey to the home of a child who might die before he arrives, creating an urgency that is not present in Matthew’s account. In Matthew’s account, the girl is already dead, so there is no hurry.

Here, the father confesses a resurrection faith, “My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” The father believes that even Jesus’ slightest touch will restore life to his daughter, as well as the woman with a haemorrhage.

The stories of the little girl and the woman have interesting similarities: Both are called “daughter” (9:18, 22). Both are restored in the presence of people (the woman and the father) who seek Jesus’ help. The woman has been ill for twelve years, and the little girl is twelve years old. Both the woman and the little girl have been cut off from normal society by their physical condition.

 But there are also differences between the stories. The father is a man of high standing in the community, and the woman is unclean and an outcast. The man approaches Jesus boldly, and the woman approaches him timidly. The girl was raised based on the father’s radical faith, and the woman was restored through her own faith, for she was very sure that the very moment she touched the Lord’s cloak, all her troubles were ended, for her body was made whole again.

This woman actually represents the sinful humanity in need of God’s mercy, salvation and restoration. Her bleeding signifies the iniquity of all humanity who are defiled by the constant shedding of innocent blood through violent wars and abortions, thereby unworthy of God’s presence.

Her reaching out to touch Jesus and her restoration signify the effort each one of us needs to make to reach out to God in order to be restored. And finally the willingness of Jesus to heal all of us just as he had healed the woman from all of her troubles. But this requires that we radically put our faith into action.

Thus, this passage simply tells us to have faith in God no matter the circumstances we find ourselves in, for faith is the only way to get to God in prayers. Just like Jacob, who prayed in our first reading today, saying: ‘If God goes with me and keeps me safe on this journey I am making, if he gives me bread to eat and clothes to wear, and if I return home safely to my father, then the Lord shall be my God. This stone I have set up as a monument shall be a house of God.

Dear friends, today we are made to know that it is not enough to have faith, we must radically put our faith into action, no matter the circumstances we find ourselves in. For it is through active faith that we can reach out to God in prayers and so obtain what we desire. Therefore, having faith in the Lord is very necessary in order to obtain God’s restoration.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we thank you for the gift of faith. Give us the grace and courage to put our gift of faith into positive action that yields positive results. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a fruitful week ahead. 

Homily For Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C, 6th July, 2025

 

Reading: Is. 66:10-14; Ps. 66; Gal.6:14-18; Luke 10:1-12.17-20

Rev.  Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

HAVING A POSITIVE ATTITUDE TOWARDS GOD’S CALL TO SERVE

The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches us that the reason why God created us is to know, love, and serve him and to be with him in eternal joy. This can be seen as a foundational principle in Catholic faith and the essence of human existence. This affirms our belief that humanity's ultimate fulfilment comes from our relationship with God. 

For God whose nature is love, created us to share in that love and to participate in his divine life through service to him and to one another in fraternal charity. But the rebellious nature of humanity has always kept us away from responding to God's invitation to serve him as we find it difficult to actively participate in the mission of Christ. 

This is because we have always failed to understand God’s ways of doing things. However, God has not stopped caring and stretching his hands of love towards us. In every generation, God always send messengers to remind us of his love and plan for humanity.

Thus, in our Gospel passage today, we heard how the Lord appointed seventy-two persons and sent them out ahead of him, in pairs, to all the towns and places he was to visit. He said to them: ‘The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest. Start off now, but remember, I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Carry no purse, no haversack, no sandals. Salute no one on the road. Whatever house you go into, let your first words be, “Peace to this house! 

Here, Jesus gave us the nature and requirements for carrying out his missionary mandate successfully. So, to continue this great mission, he invites his disciples and sends them out, commanding them to see themselves as someone who gives freely of the good they have received from God. 

Hence, we should offer to others what we have received from  God, knowing that it has cost us nothing. We must live a life of detachment that is, in this mission, we are to depend totally on God's providence. Unfortunately, many of the disciples have to face rejection and persecution from people, who, through their rebellious attitude, have refused to believe in God, even though He has always been so patient, loving, caring and forgiving us.

Thus, we heard  Paul in our second reading today saying: the only thing I can boast about is the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom the world is crucified to me, and I to the world. It does not matter if a person is circumcised or not; what matters is for him to become a new creature. Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule. And prophet Isaiah in our first reading said: rejoice, Jerusalem, be glad for her, all you who love her! Rejoice, rejoice for her, all you who mourned her! 

Dear friends, what is our attitude towards the missionary mandate of Christ? How has the Word of God shaped our lives? How are we contributing towards the missionary mandate of Christ? As disciples of Christ, we have received a lot from God without payment; we should learn to give without expecting reward. 

Therefore,  we are called to acknowledge with gratitude all that we have received from God and give freely to others that which we have received. For this act of charity will purify us from pride and self-righteousness, because we are all recipients of God's love, mercy, forgiveness, favour, protection, healing and deliverance. So, may we learn to respond to God’s call and serve in fraternal charity. Hence, we must offer to others these same gifts which we have received.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, today you gave us the requirements and nature of our missionary mandate. Help us to effectively follow these requirements and so fulfil your plan for humanity. We ask this through Christ our Lord Amen. God bless you. 

Homily For Saturday of Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 5th July, 2025

 

Readings: Gen. 27:1-5.15-29; Ps. 135; Matt 9:14-17

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

DO NOT MIX YOUR NEW LIFE OF GRACE WITH OLD LIFE OF SIN

Today our attention is drawn to the gift of New Life which Jesus is offering to humanity. A gift that differentiates his disciples from other people. This is evident in our Gospel passage today, where we read about the observation made by the disciples of John the Baptist concerning the relationship between Jesus and his disciples and their new ways of doing things.

So they came to Jesus and asked him a question regarding their manner of fasting and feasting. Jesus used this opportunity to educate them about the New Life of grace which he has come to offer humanity.

He said to them: Surely the bridegroom’s attendants would never think of mourning as long as the bridegroom is still with them? But the time will come for the bridegroom to be taken away from them, and then they will fast. For no one puts a piece of unshrunken cloth onto an old cloak, because the patch pulls away from the cloak and the tear gets worse. Nor do people put new wine into old wineskins; if they do, the skins burst, the wine runs out, and the skins are lost. No; they put new wine into fresh skins and both are preserved.

Here Jesus gave two responses to the question. First, people do not fast when they are in the company of the bridegroom which is a time for celebration. For Jesus is the groom and as long as he is around, it would be inappropriate for his disciples to fast.

However, a time will come when the groom will no longer be with them, then they will surely fast, telling us that fasting should be done at the right time for the right reasons. Moreover, being in relationship with Jesus is more important, because, what the bridegroom is to the bride, that is what Jesus is to the souls of all who believe in him.

So, as his bride, he loves us with a deep and everlasting love. He pays all our debts to God; he supplies all our daily needs; he sympathises with us in all our troubles; he bears with all our infirmities, and does 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 Jesus is teaching us that the Kingdom of Heaven is not a matter of ritual or ceremonious fasting or feasting. But it is about building a personal relationship with God, who loves us personally and unconditionally.

In the second response, Jesus shows that he is bringing something totally new which should not be mixed with the old way of life. This he emphasised with the importance of pouring new wine into fresh wineskins and the need to avoid using a new cloak to patch an old one.

Here, the fresh wineskins refer to a new heart that has put off the old cloak of sin and looks forward to the new wine of grace through the process of conversion. This is totally different in the case of Isaac in our first reading today, who was deceived by Rebekah and Jacob to steal the blessing of Esau.

Dear friends, what is that old garment in our lives that we are patching with the new? What is that old wine of habitual sin that we are pouring into the new wine skins of our redeemed and purified soul? Today we are called to a fresh response towards embracing the New Life of grace which Jesus is offering us. We must not mix our old life of sin with the new life of grace Jesus is offering us. As we think about these, let us struggle to avoid our old sinful ways of life and fully embrace the new righteous way of life that God is offering us.

LET US PRAY: Almighty God, You are the source of our new life, grant us the grace of true and total conversion so as to find such great Joy in your abundant Life of grace and mercy, through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed and peaceful weekend.

Homily For Friday Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 4th July, 2025

 

Reading: Gen. 23:1-4.19;24:1-8.62-67; Ps. 106; Matt. 9:9-13

Rev.  Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

UNDERSTANDING THE DESIRE OF JESUS FOR SINFUL HUMANITY 

There is no doubt that Jesus had been calling people from different walks of life to be part of his mission, but today’s call and choice of Matthew, a man identified with sinners because of his work as a tax collector, was quite strange to some people. 

Little wonder that in our Gospel passage today, after Jesus had called Matthew to follow him, he had a dinner in his house and while at the dinner, it happened that a number of tax collectors and sinners came to sit at the table with Jesus and his disciples. This is because to follow Jesus, Matthew needs to abandon his lucrative job, knowing that he can never regain it. Also, he needs to cut himself off from his old network of friends. 

So, it seems likely that, in a spirit of joy, Matthew invites Jesus and his disciples for a great feast at his house. But the Pharisees felt bad and offended about Jesus sharing a meal with "sinners". So they complained to his disciples saying: “Why does your master eat with tax collectors and sinners?” When Jesus heard this he replied, “It is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick. Go and learn the meaning of the words: I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I did not come to call the virtuous, but sinners.” 

Here we heard the innermost desire of Jesus for sinful humanity in need of salvation. Because the call of Matthew is like the call of each of us, a choice that demonstrates Jesus' desire for sinners to repent. For all he desires is mercy and not sacrifices, repentance and not pride. Jesus is calling us to repentance, he is inviting us to make a fundamental choice for God, just like St Matthew, who, though a sinner, rose up and followed Jesus at his call for repentance; we too are to respond to this invitation without delay. 

Dear friends, as Christians who are called to follow the Lord, how are we responding to God's call? How are we relating to those we judge to be sinners, and what efforts are we making to convert sinners? Therefore, we are called today to let St. Matthew be an inspiration and hope for everyone of us. Let him be an example that will remind us that there is no one beyond the reach of God’s mercy and love. 

For he is capable of transforming our ugly ways of life into a glorious instrument for human salvation, just like Abraham and Isaac in our first reading today, for the Lord consoled them with the gift of Rebekah, Sarah, who had passed on. Remember, Jesus desires mercy and not sacrifice and we are all invited to follow him along the way of salvation and not to condemn or judge anyone. 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, despite our sinfulness, you called and chose us to be instruments of your salvation to all humanity. As we learn from St. Matthew, give us the grace to make good choices that will help us to respond positively to your call for repentance and evangelisation. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.  Have a fruitful day.