Homily For Monday, Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time, Year C, 1st September, 2025. HAPPY NEW MONTH

  

Readings: 1 These. 4:13-18, Ps. 96, Luke 4:16-30

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

WHY LOOK DOWN ON PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THEIR HUMBLE BACKGROUND?

Oftentimes we treat and respect people based on our knowledge of their background and status, so we fail to look at the image of God found in them or what God is doing through them. This is because our judgment is the product of human wisdom, and when our faith is based on this kind of wisdom, we are bound to neglect and treat others with contempt.

This is the situation in our Gospel passage today. For when Jesus came to Nazareth, his own town, where he had been brought up, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day as he usually did. He taught the people about his mission as prophesied by the prophet Isaiah, and at the end, he said to them, This text is being fulfilled today, even as you listen.’

He won the approval of all, and they were astonished by the gracious words that came from his lips. But in contempt, they said, ‘This is Joseph’s son, surely? As they ridiculed him, Jesus said ‘I tell you solemnly, no prophet is ever accepted in his own country. For this reason, they tried to kill him.

Here, we see Jesus who preached about inclusion, found himself excluded. His listeners were frightened by his message, and because of familiarity, he was rejected by his own people, who glory in their wisdom, which is based on their knowledge of his humble background. This is because they lack true faith as they depend on their human knowledge and philosophy.

Dear friends, our relationship with Jesus should not be based on this kind of philosophy; rather, it should be based on our personal experience of the power and love of God in our lives. For it is this personal experience that will help us to embrace his words convincingly and never look down on anyone, but see in all the light of God's presence.

Therefore, we are called today to be accommodating and never try to treat anyone with contempt, because anyone can be a potential vessel of God’s blessings to us. And St. Paul, who lets us know how equal we are before the Lord, said in our first reading that any of us who are left alive until the Lord’s coming will not have any advantage over those who have died. So with such thoughts as these, we should comfort one another.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, out of pride and ignorance, we have often treated people with contempt because of their humble background, help us today to realise that everyone is a potential instrument of your blessings and so learn to accommodate people, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed Month 

Homily For Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C, 31st August, 2025

 

Readings: Sir. 3:17-20.28-29; Ps.68; Heb. 12:18-19.22-24; Luke 14:1.7-14

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

WHEN YOU FAIL TO BE HUMBLE SITUATIONS OF LIFE WILL TEACH YOU HOW TO BE

One of the virtues that is lacking in our societies today is humility. This virtue is really lacking in our society today because pride has become a way of life, which most people wish to embrace. Hence, we often hear people saying in a very proud way, Do you know who I am? By the time I finish with you then you will fear me. We hear people taking all sorts of honorific titles, whether merited or not, for they want to be addressed and recognised so gloriously at every public event.

This should not be our attitude or disposition, for Jesus in our Gospel passage today, while addressing the Pharisees, told us a parable about humility, saying: When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take your seat in the place of honour. A more distinguished person than you may have been invited, and the person who invited you both may come and say, “Give up your place to this man.” And then, to your embarrassment, you would have to go and take the lowest place. 

No; when you are a guest, make your way to the lowest place and sit there, so that, when your host comes, he may say, “My friend, move up higher.” In that way, everyone with you at the table will see you honoured. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the man who humbles himself will be exalted.’

Here, we see the importance of humility, we see how humility can help to elevate someone from nothingness to something great. Pride can bring down the mighty into nothingness. Little wonder we are advised in our first reading today saying: My son, be gentle in carrying out your business, and you will be better loved than a lavish giver. 

The greater you are, the more humble you should behave, and then you will find favour with the Lord; for great though the power of the Lord is, he accepts the homage of the humble. There is no cure for the proud man’s affliction, since an evil growth has taken root in him.

The truth is that humility is not a way of glory, but a road of surrender that leads to passion and death of oneself. It is a way of sacrifice, a service to others at the price of self-sacrifice. That is why many people do not want to be humble. 

Hence, we heard in our second reading today that we have come to Mount Zion and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem where the millions of angels have gathered for the festival, with the whole Church in which everyone is a ‘first-born son’ and a citizen of heaven. So to be a citizen of heaven we must be humble just like Jesus.

Dear friends, we must learn to be humble now before the forces of life humble us. Though it may seem so difficult to embrace the virtue of humility, especially in our society today, this virtue has a lot to offer us both as individuals and as a group. In fact, our world needs humble men and women, because a good society is built on all kinds of commendable virtues such as humility. 

Humble leaders are modest about their success and make it known to everyone that their failures don’t define them. Humility is a grace that attracts more grace. For pride closes the door to spiritual growth, but humility opens the door of our lives more to God's grace. To the humble, God gives patience, peace, and gentleness. 

A humble person is teachable, Influenceable, willing to accept corrections without defending his or herself, a humble person rejoices when others are celebrated, no position can be too small for a humble person. A humble person doesn’t always have to be right, but naturally seeks the advice of others. 

A humble person easily admits his own mistakes, and failures and wishes to help others succeed. A humble person has a grateful attitude and is not easily offended. He or she can be quick to forgive and not hold grudges or have a sense of entitlement from someone; rather, he or she is confident and content with what he or she has. 

Therefore, it is time for us to put off our old self which is led by pride, arrogance, conceit and deception. For pride, as we know, is the first capital sin that destroys every other virtue. Hence, we have to put on a new person born of humility, love, compassion, contentment, purity, forgiveness etc. 

So let us work hard to add more virtues in our activities and behaviour, for blessed are those who are virtuous, for they easily solve their problems, and the fruit of the virtue grows in the soil of humility. Thus, why not try humility in solving those difficult and challenging moments in your life? Just try to be humble because it works like a miracle.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, we have often failed to follow the example of Christ’s humility which he has taught us. As we are reminded once again of the need to be humble, give us the grace to truly be humble at any level we find ourselves, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a fruitful Sunday celebration.

Homily For Saturday, Twenty-First Week in Ordinary Time, Year C, 30th August, 2025

 

Readings: 1Thess.4:9-11; Ps.98; Matt.25:14-30

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

WHAT IS YOUR GOD GIVEN TALENT AND HOW ARE YOU USING It? 

There is no doubt in my mind that God has a plan for everyone of us, for each person has been given a special talent according to his/her ability in order to fulfil that plan, just as we heard in the parable in our Gospel passage today since everyone is special, unique and a masterpiece. 

In this parable, a man who was going on a journey summoned his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to the third one; each in proportion to his ability to utilise it until he comes back. 

Here, Jesus is telling us that we have all been given gifts by God which we must account for. If we use these gifts wisely for our own benefit and the benefit of others, we will grow and blossom. If, on the other hand, we fail to use them just like the third servant, we remain dormant and unsuccessful. 

But what is this talent all about? The talent may represent different physical and spiritual gifts of God, but its basic foundation is the love of God towards us, the love that God has shown to us, which needs to be reciprocated through an active love for our neighbours. 

So, this parable teaches us that our gifts are meant to be put to use, in the service of God and humanity, especially the poor. Our service to God should not be done grudgingly or fearfully, but generously, and with the willingness to take risks in responding to God's mandate. 

We must be ready to lose our lives in order to find them. God wants us to use the individual talents given to us to make a difference in the world, not to relax into our comfort zone doing nothing with them. God wants the best from us and when we have given our best, we receive more from him. 

However, we often find it difficult to discover our talents or to accept the one God has given to us because we have failed to embrace love. Little wonder St. Paul in our first reading says: “As for loving our brothers, there is no need for anyone to write to us about that, since we have learnt from God how to love one another”.

Dear friends, what is your talent? Have you put it to full use? Or have you buried it out of fear, ignorance and shame? For we are called today to search and discover our talent, to discover love and invest on it in order to achieve the purpose by which we are created just like the first two servants in the parable of the talents who utilized the talents given to them Therefore, we are reminded that we are going to give an account before God and the real tragedy of life is not in being limited to one talent but in failure to use that one talent properly.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, you have given us a special talent according to our ability in order to fulfil your plans for us. Help us to discover our talents and utilise them in such a way that it will lead us to love you and our neighbours, especially the poor, and so attain eternal life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a fruitful weekend.

Homily For Friday Twenty-First Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 29th August, 2025. The Memorial of The Beheading of St. John the Baptist

 

Readings: 1Thess.4:1-8; Ps.97; Mark 6:17-29

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

THE HEAD OF JOHN THE BAPTIST, THE PRICE FOR TRUTH 

In our society today, people hate to hear the sound of the word truth. I wonder why people often tremble when they hear the word ‘truth’? This is because it makes the world tremble since most things in the world are built on falsehood and deceit, and people are becoming comfortable with falsehood as a way of life. In fact, throughout the history of the world, mankind has been seeking to know the truth, but when confronted by the truth, they reject it outright.

Almost two thousand years ago, Truth was put on trial and was judged and condemned by people who were devoted to lies. But in each generation, truth always manifests itself to the world through people who have paid the price of truth with their lives. This is obvious in our world today, especially with the ugly situation in our societies, where humanity is placed in perpetual darkness of corruption, greed and confusion, as the voices that speak the truth are silenced by all means. 

Today people don’t want to be transparent and honest in their dealings with others and even with themselves. They don't want anybody to remind them of the hard truth about the realities of life and they can do anything just to silence the truth. Thus, the cost of speaking the truth has become so expensive that sometimes it costs the life of an individual or even a whole community. It is even more demanding when the truth to be told has to do with someone in authority.

This is the case with John the Baptist whom we celebrate the memorial of his Martyrdom. In our Gospel passage today, we heard how his head was the prize for the truth he told to Herod and Herodias. Before now, Herod had arrested John and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. John had told him that it was against the Law for him to have his brother’s wife. Herod had wanted to kill John but was afraid of the people, who regarded him as a prophet. 

But, on the occasion of Herod’s birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company, and so delighted Herod that he promised with an oath to give her anything she asked. She conspired with the mother and demanded the head of John the Baptist. The king was distressed, but thinking of the oaths he had sworn and of his guests, he ordered John to be beheaded and the head be given to the girl, who took it to her mother. 

Here, Herod made a bad decision, which, out of pride, he found it difficult to change his mind and admit that he was wrong. He did not plan to execute John that night. He was persuaded by Herodias to do so because he was a weak man. He was a slave to other people’s opinions, for he feared the people who revered John; he also feared the reaction of his guests if he should retract his oath.

These ugly attitudes towards John the Baptist prefigured what they did to Jesus in his Passion, demonstrating how good people, especially when they struggle for truth and justice, are often condemned to suffer at the hands of greed and powerful people. 

This same terrible crime is what people are facing every day in our families, communities, country and the world at large. For this same reason, a lot of people have died, some will still die, and some will continue to suffer because of the truth they have spoken to the enemies of truth.  

 But should we stop speaking the truth because of fear of losing our lives? I don't think so, because truth saves life, it brings freedom, it releases tension, it brings peace, and it settles quarrels and disputes. Truth is the freedom that must be offered to everyone, whoever, whenever and however it will best bring conversion to its enemies, just like John the Baptist did to Herod and Herodias even at the expense of his life. 

Little wonder St. Paul in our first reading urged and appealed to us in the Lord Jesus to make more and more progress in the kind of life that you are meant to live: He warns us to keep away from fornication for we have been called by God to be holy, not to be immoral like the pagans do.  

Dear friends, why do we prefer lies and deception over truth? How far can we stand the cost of speaking the truth amid influential and ‘powerful' people? Like Herod, how often do we make bad decisions out of pride and fail to reverse them? When we make such bad decisions, how quickly are we able to change our minds, to admit that we are wrong? Also, are we like Herodias who is waiting for an opportunity to silence the innocents who confront us with the truth? 

If today we happen to be one of the guests of Herod, what would be our reaction? Will I have protested or stayed silent? Thus, what do we do when we see others suffering injustice? Do we have the courage to speak up, even at the cost of losing, our job, our position, our vocation, friends and even our lives? Today, we are called to speak the truth, for the world needs to hear the truth no matter the cost.

LET US PRAY:  Lord God, it is difficult to speak and stand for truth in our world today.  But St. John the Baptist died for the truth he spoke to Herod. Through his intercession, grant us the grace and courage to become the instruments of your word in truth and deeds, and so speak the truth always to humanity, no matter the cost. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you a fruitful day.

Homily For Thursday, Twenty-First Week in Ordinary Time, Year C, 28th August, 2025. The Memorial of St Augustine

 

Readings: 1Thess. 3:7-13; Ps.90; Matt.24:42-51

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

WHY WE MUST STAY AWAKE FOR THE DAY OF THE LORD?

As a human person, there are two most important events in our lives. One is well-known, prepared, and is constantly celebrated, that is, our birthday. The other, which is the ultimate, is not known, and less attention and preparation are being made for it, that is, the day of our death.

So, Jesus, knowing how important this day is, instructed his disciples in our Gospel passage saying: “Stay awake, because you do not know the day when the Lord is coming. You may be quite sure of this that if the householder had known at what time of the night the burglar would come, he would have stayed awake and would not have allowed anyone to break through the wall of his house. Therefore, you too must stand ready because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

In this passage, we have two commands at the beginning and at the end, which are not quite the same. The first command is based on God’s coming at a “day” when we do not know and the second is in an “hour” you do not expect, that is to say that it will be uncertain, unexpected and surprising.

Just like the householder’s ignorance of the time when the thief would come is the reason why he does not watch. He cannot keep awake all night, and every night, to be ready for him; so he has to go to sleep, and then he is robbed.

Thus our ignorance of the day and time is the reason for our watchfulness, because we can keep awake all the night of our life just like the householder watches to prevent being robbed. So the image of the thief is chosen to illustrate the unexpected approach of the second coming of Christ, which will be a great surprise to those who are asleep, as they will be robbed of Heaven and also deprived of their earthly treasures.

But the Lord's coming will be a happy day for those who shall be found awake and ready, while it will be very dreadful for those who are not prepared. Thus, St. Paul in our first reading today prayed that we may so confirm our hearts in holiness that we may be blameless in the sight of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus Christ comes with all his saints.

Dear friends, today we are called to be ready, we are called to repentance, we are called to embrace the new life the Lord is offering us. We are called to a life of constant struggle towards perfection in order to embrace the Lord whenever he comes.

Therefore, preparation is the keyword. Let us not be deceived when the world suggests to us that the day of death is not coming soon and so forget who we are, and then, the day and time will take us by surprise. Rather, let us be like that wise servant who is prepared at all times for the coming of the master.

This is what we see in the life of St Augustine, whose memorial we celebrate today, for when he realised that the best way to be prepared is to love God and neighbours. So, he devoted all his life to writing about love, telling us that true happiness is found in interior living and not in material things we possess. He embraced God and became a great instrument in preparing humanity towards the kingdom of God.

LET US PRAY, Lord God, today you ask us to be ready for your coming, increase in us the desire to be prepared and ready for that inevitable event of death, so that whenever it comes, it will not be a shock to us, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. It's a lovely day, may God bless your efforts and grant success to the works of your hands.

Homily For Wednesday, Twenty-First Week in Ordinary Time, Year C, 27th August 2025. The Memorial of St. Monica

 

Readings: 1 Thess.2:9-13, Ps 139, Matt 23:27-32

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

DON’T LIVE A LIFE OF WHITEWASHED TOMB

In our society today, the word “packaging” is one of the popular terminologies used by people to describe how they make things that are not too good to look extremely good, and this has a serious negative effect on our society today, as we have actually lost focus on how we ought to do things. Thus, most people and things that appear to be good to us are not really what we think they are. 

For most people and the things we see are like whitewashed tombs which outwardly appear beautiful and draws the admiration of people, but within it are full of dead man's bones and all sorts of corruption just the way Jesus described the attitude and life style of Scribes and Pharisees in the Gospel passage, when he addressed their attitude which is not far from what we have today in our societies.

This is because the scribes and the Pharisees are interested mostly in the external beauty of things around them while neglecting the essence. They are self-satisfied and think that they are above the law. They look good from the outside but ugly and dirty within. They neglected the deeper things around them. 

They are interested only in worldly goods and not the things of the heart like justice, mercy, love and compassion. So Jesus challenged them as he challenges us to change our ugly ways of life, to change from within us. This is very difficult to change. Nevertheless, we need to change in so many ways especially as regards our attitude towards things of this passing world.

Dear friends, we might not feel very comfortable with the idea of Jesus rebuking and uttering terrible words of admonition to the Scribes and Pharisees. But the questions we need to ask ourselves are: Have we 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 in our society, the great deeds that Jesus is doing to save humanity and the need to turn back to God by changing our ugly life of whitewashed tomb? Hence, Jesus is saying woe to us for failing to embrace and live out the Gospel teachings, because he seems to expect some sort of change in us when we hear his Words or when we encounter him in prayer. 

This is what we see in the life of St Monica, whose memorial we celebrate today, for she devoted her life and talents to praying for the conversion of her son Augustine. She once said to him: “Son, one thing there was, for which I desired to remain still a little longer in this life, that I should see you a Catholic Christian before I died. This God has granted me in superabundance, in that I see you his servant to the contempt of all worldly happiness. What, then, am I doing here?”

Therefore, God is calling us to repentance; He wants to come into our souls and dwell. But he cannot dwell in a heart that is like a whitewashed tomb. Thus, Jesus is rebuking all humanity, he wants us to stop living a life of packaging, deception and corruption.  

This is what St. Paul is telling us in our first reading today when he said, You can remember how we taught you what was right, encouraging you and appealing to you to live a life worthy of God, who is calling you to share the glory of his kingdom. 

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 keeps reminding us about the upcoming danger. But, if humanity constantly refuses to change, we will end up in self-destruction. 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are living in a world of whitewashed tombs, help us to be wise enough to discern and not be carried away or be distracted by the beauty of the whitewashed tombs we see in most people and in things around the world today. And as we struggle with the events of life, may God guide and direct our paths. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. God bless you.

Homily For Tuesday, Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time, Year C, 26th August, 2025

Readings: 1Thes 2:1-8; Ps.139; Matt.23:23-26

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

THE DANGER OF BEING A BLIND AND HYPOCRITICAL LEADER

God created humanity to be managers of all that He created. To carry out this responsibility, He gave us the mantle of leadership as one of the characteristics of the human person, that which makes us unique from every other creature. Thus leadership is a gift from God by which we serve Him and our neighbour responsibly in this world.

But this great gift has often been abused by humanity because of greed, love of power, fame and selfishness. This was the attitude of most of the Scribes and the Pharisees in the Gospel today. For they had the responsibility to lead the people to the Kingdom of heaven, but they neither entered nor allowed those who wanted to enter to go in.

Hence, Jesus called them hypocrites, blind guides because they misuse the gift of leadership entrusted to them. Many of them multiply the laws to suit their agenda by enforcing a very strict interpretation and application of the law to the smallest details while neglecting the true purpose and meaning of the law. They only focus on the letter while neglecting the spirit of the Law, thereby making the law a mere formality that gives room for people to take God’s law for granted.

And such attitudes towards the Law are meaningless if not accompanied properly with the desire and understanding from the heart and soul that truly love God. Thus, he called us to embrace love, justice, mercy, and good faith as good qualities of a leader.

Little wonder St. Paul in our first reading today says: It was our God who gave us the courage to proclaim his Good News to you in the face of great opposition. We have not taken to preaching because we are deluded, immoral, or trying to deceive anyone; it was God who decided that we were fit to be entrusted with the Good News, and when we are speaking, we are not trying to please men but God, who can read our inmost thoughts

Dear friends, What type of a leader are you? Are you a blind and hypocritical leader or a committed and responsible leader? This is important because the major problems in our societies are caused by bad leadership. So today we are called not to be hypocrites or blind guides but good leaders who are committed and responsible with whatever we are entrusted with.

As leaders we are called to serve God and humanity in any capacity we find ourselves. Remember, the first person to lead is your very self from which we can extend it to others in our families, societies and the world at large.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, you have given to all humanity the grace of leadership, but we have often misused it because of greed and selfishness. As we embrace the gift of leadership today, may we never be tired of doing what is good. And as we struggle it out the remaining days of this month and the rest of the year, may You be the sole fount of true wisdom and knowledge guide all our decisions in life, through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a fruitful day.

Homily For Monday, Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time, Year C, 25th August 2025

Readings: 1Thess.1:1-5.8-10, Ps. 149, Matt.23:13-22

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

DON'T BE A HYPOCRITIC LEADER

Leadership is one of the characteristics of a human person; it is what makes us unique from every other thing. It is a gift from God by which we serve Him and our neighbour responsibly. However, the Scribes and the Pharisees in the Gospel today, who had the responsibility to lead people to the Kingdom of heaven, have become an obstacle, for they neither enter nor allow those who want to enter to go in.

Thus, Jesus called them hypocrites, blind guides because they misuse the gift of leadership entrusted to them. For they say, “If a man swears by the Temple, it has no force; but if a man swears by the gold of the Temple, he is bound.” But Jesus said to them You fools and blind! For which is of greater worth, the gold or the Temple that makes the gold sacred? 

Therefore, when a man swears by the altar he is swearing by that and by everything on it. And when a man swears by the Temple he is swearing by that and by the One who dwells in it. And when a man swears by heaven he is swearing by the throne of God and by the One who is seated there.’

Here, Jesus is referring to the ceremonious way in which the Pharisees took oaths. It was one of the things in the culture of their time. That is, people swearing oaths with impressive-sounding words before the congregations without fulfilling them, like our politicians today. But what were the words of these oaths anyway?

They were forms of words designed to impress people. There were no indications that the person swearing the oath had any power over the things that the oath mentioned. 

It was just using words to impress and so produce acceptance of things in relation to the oath, when in fact this is completely fraudulent because the persons taking the oath, do not intend to keep the promises or commitments that they were apparently confirming by taking that oath. They were just fooling the people. 

And Jesus is saying in essence, that we should not let this foolery ever be part of us because it is hypocrisy, and Jesus is against hypocrisy in all its forms, especially when it has to do with taking the name of God in vain.

To take the name of God in vain means to invoke His name unnecessarily or profanely, to use it without humbly acknowledging the holy character of the One whose name we are invoking. To invoke the name of God in an oath or vow when our statement is false, inconsequential or when we do not intend to honour our words is a direct violation of the third commandment of God. 

Therefore, the issue Jesus is addressing here goes to the very core of our character as Christians, to the heart of what it means to live as a child of God, especially in a society like ours, where deception and falsehood are the order of the day.

Dear friends, Jesus calls us today to be sincere in everything we do or say. That is why he commanded us not to swear an oath; rather, we should say yes when we mean yes, and no when we mean no, so as not to become hypocrites and liars. 

So, today we are called not to be hypocrites or blind guides but good leaders who are committed and responsible with whatever we are entrusted with. Little wonder St Paul in our first reading tells us to observe the sort of life that they lived when they were with us, which was for our instruction, since it was from them that the word of the Lord started to spread.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, oftentimes we have been hypocrites, blind guides of the things you entrusted to us. May we never take your name in vain or be tired of doing what is good. As we struggle through the remaining days of this month of August and the rest of the year, may the sole fount of true wisdom and knowledge guide us in all our decisions in life. Amen. Do have a fruitful week ahead.

Homily For Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C, 24th August, 2025.

Readings: Is. 66:18-21; Ps.117; Heb. 12:5-7.11-13; Luke 13:22-30

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

STRUGGLE TO PASS THROUGH THE NARROW GATE  OF ETERNAL LIFE 

Life is nothing but a temporal assignment, a journey which begins in the morning so beautiful, full of expectations and hope, but the sojourner has no knowledge of his/her destination, purpose and end. The only guide is his/ her willingness to constantly follow the directives of the Sender who communicates his plans and purposes to those who care and are willing to listen. 

Thus, the emptiness and shortness of life makes me to reflect on my future as a human person and the question that comes to my mind is: "where will you and I, and the beautiful things of this world be in the next one, 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 before me the teachings of Jesus in our Gospel passage today when he said: Try your best to enter by the narrow door, because, I tell you, many will try to enter and will not succeed. For once, the master of the house has got up and locked the door, you may find yourself knocking on the door, saying, “Lord, open to us”, but he will answer, “I do not know where you come from.

Here, Jesus calls our attention to the reality of life which we must not take for granted, that is the need for us to follow the teachings of the Lord, for humanity have failed to embrace the life of truth, holiness and love for God and for one another that seems difficult and narrow to them, but prefers to follow the destructive ways of life that is born out of pride, greed and uncontrollable desire for worldly things. 

No doubt that the things of this passing world are so captivating and many people have been captured by its seductive power and are greatly following it.  We must not be victims of this ugly situation. Rather, we must learn to submit ourselves to the directives of the Holy Spirit for he is always ready to guide us along the narrow ways of life.

Little wonder we heard the Lord in our second reading today saying: My son, when the Lord corrects you, do not treat it lightly; but do not get discouraged when he reprimands you. For the Lord trains the ones that he loves and he punishes all those that he acknowledges as his sons. 

And he continues: suffering is part of your training; God is treating you as his sons. Has there ever been any son whose father did not train him? Of course, any punishment is most painful at the time, and far from pleasant; but later, in those on whom it has been used, it bears fruit in peace and goodness. 

So hold up your limp arms and steady your trembling knees and smooth out the path you tread; then the injured limb will grow strong again. And also God, through the prophet Isaiah, in our first reading today, says: I am coming to gather the nations of every language. They shall come to witness my glory. I will give them a sign and send some of their survivors to the nations

Dear friends, we must learn to depart from the wide road of sin and death, and strive to enter by the narrow gate of love, holiness, peace and goodness that leads to eternal life. The worst thing that can happen to us at the last moment of our life is to hear the Lord say: I do not know where you come from. 

The fact remains that life is indeed very short and the road that leads to death and destruction is truly wide and very captivating, of which many are captives of its seductive power. But the road to life is becoming narrower and narrower because humanity is working so hard to expand the seductive roads and gates of destruction against the narrow gate of life. 

Therefore, we are called to embrace the narrow gate of love and the road of holiness and peace that leads to eternal life.  There may be some of us who presumed and thought they could enter the kingdom of God because they feel that they are a special candidate of heaven. We must be careful about such presumption, because salvation depends on the favour of God and one’s honest struggle to follow Christ, the narrow gate of eternal life. 

Hence, we must work harder by resisting all the temptations and sinful things of this passing world and embrace the life of love and sacrifice which Jesus has offered us. So, let us turn towards God with all our hearts by removing from our hearts all forms of presumption, pride, greed and unhealthy desires that lead us astray down the path of destruction.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, our journey of life depends on you and today you have called us to follow the narrow gate of love and sacrifice. But the seductive road of this passing world is really captivating, and many are victims of its power. Grant us the grace to resist it, but journey through the path and gate that leads to eternal life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. May God bless your little efforts in life and guide you always. Happy Sunday.

Homily For Saturday Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 23rd August, 2025

Readings: Ruth 2:1-3.8-11.4:13-17; Ps. 128; Matt. 23:1-12

Rev. Fr.  Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

LET THE WORD OF GOD TOUCH AND SHAPE OUR LIVES

The difference between the early Christian community and the present-day Christianity is the mode of witnessing. The early Christian community practically preached the word of God by witnessing with their life, while present-day Christianity witnesses by preaching the word of God aloud with megaphones and all media channels and platforms, without sufficient practice of what we preach. 

This unhealthy attitude towards our mission is what Jesus is addressing in our Gospel passage today, when he said to the people: “The scribes and the Pharisees occupy the chair of Moses. You must therefore do what they tell you and listen to what they say, but do not be guided by what they do, since they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but will not lift a finger to move them”.

Here, Jesus made it clear that we should listen to what the authorities are saying to us. However, we should not be such people who do not put into practice what we teach. So, as Christians, we need to start practising what we preach, we need to do more of witnessing than preaching. 

It is not enough to recall principles, state intentions, point to blatant injustice and utter prophetic denunciation; these kinds of words lack the real meaning of our faith unless they are accompanied by effective action manifested in our way of life. 

This is what we see in the person of Boaz in our first reading today, who said to Ruth, ‘Listen, my daughter, and understand this. You are not to glean in any other field, do not leave here but stay with my servants. Keep your eyes on whatever part of the field they are reaping and follow behind. I have ordered my servants not to molest you.

Also, from our Gospel, we need to acknowledge that our authority as Christians comes from God, for we are not to pride ourselves as rabbis, teachers, priests, pastors and prophets in our own name. Rather, our actions should reflect the paternity of God in the way we live and serve others. Therefore, let us imitate our Lord Jesus by loving God and neighbours in simplicity of heart. 

Dear friends, preaching the Word of God is not enough, we must learn to practice what we preach. We must strive to follow the examples of our Lord Jesus in his dedication and total commitment to God the Father, for he put into practice all of the words he spoke to us. Teaching us that, it is not sufficient to speak, we must put into practice what we spoke about. 

So, we are called not merely to hear God’s word but to daily put it into action. Let our actions reflect what we preach. Though hearing or reading the Word is important, that is not enough. We must let the Word of God touch and shape our lives. For it is empty and useless if our lives do not reflect the Gospel, if we hear the words of Jesus and do not act on them.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, as Jesus admonished us today, grant us the grace to strive to imitate his virtues, as we resolve to practice what your word teaches us and so merit to share in your heavenly banquet. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a peaceful weekend.

Homily For Friday Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 22nd August, 2025. The Queenship Of The Blessed Virgin

Readings: Ruth 1:1.3-6.14-16.22; Ps.146; Matt. 22:34-40

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

LOVING GOD AND OUR NEIGHBOURS IS WHAT GOD REQUIRE FROM US

Oftentimes, when we are faced with the realities of life, we want to know the things that should be our first priority. What should be the most important thing to focus our energy on? What should become the foundation of all the things we need to do? In fact, we always desire to know what is required of us in this life.

This is the deposition of the Pharisees and the Sadducees in our Gospel passage today, who came together and asked Jesus a question concerning which commandment is the greatest. In response, Jesus reminded them of the 'Shema Israel' - שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל, the prayer that they knew and recited from their earliest years.

Here they learned that the most important thing in life is to love God with all their heart, and with all their soul, and with all their mind; that is, with all the powers and the more noble faculties of the soul, the mind, the understanding, judgment, and will. Jesus then added that, to love one’s neighbour is the second priority.

In other words, loving God with all our heart, with all our understanding and strength, and to love our neighbour as ourselves is what is required of us and it is the foundation of all the things we have to do. And Jesus set as the standard of love not just by the love he was able to show, but the depth of love which he shows by dying and rising for our salvation

This is what we see in Mary whose memorial of her Queenship we celebrate today. This event follows the solemnity of the Assumption, which we celebrated eight days ago. For without the Assumption, there can be no Queenship of Mary. This is so because, we believe that Mary, who was assumed or taken up body and soul into Heavenly glory, is now seated in Heaven at the right hand of her Son Jesus, as the Queen of Heaven.

By virtue of our Lord Jesus being the King of heaven, it follows that his mother is honoured as the Queen. And this Queenship of our Lady was established by Pope Pius XII in 1954, at the end of the Marian Year. Therefore, let us strive to follow Mary’s examples of faith, dedication, detachment and total commitment to God.

Dear friends, love is the centre of all the teachings of Jesus, 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 experiences it. 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 utmost best to live in peace with them. Just like Ruth in our first reading today, who, because of love, said to Naomi: ‘Do not press me to leave you and to turn back from your company, for wherever you go, I will go, wherever you live, I will live. Your people shall be my people, and your God, my God.’

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, justice 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 society.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, in you we found the fullness of love, may we 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. Have a fruitful Friday.

Homily For Thursday, Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time, Year C, 21st August, 2025. The Memorial of St. Pius X

Readings: Judges 11:29-39; Ps.40; Matt. 22:1-14

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

DO NOT BE TOO BUSY TO HONOUR GOD’S INVITATION TO HIS BANQUET 

In this life, we are so busy with so many things that if care is not taken, we will miss out on the essence of our existence. Today, the streets are full of people struggling and bobbling, the markets are full of people buying and selling and people rising very early in the morning and coming back late at night. 

This shows us how much effort people put in every day just to earn their daily bread. I thought that if we could sincerely put in such an amount of effort in order to catch up with the train of eternal life which God is inviting us to in today’s Gospel passage.

For today, from the parable of the marriage feast, the Lord offers us again an invitation to the banquet of heaven. An invitation which is God's free act of kindness, as He wishes to dine with us. No one deserves it anyway, and He is not obliged to invite us, nor are we obliged to honour his invitation. 

Hence in the parable, those who think that they deserve to be invited are too busy to enter the banquet hall. But the poor in spirit and the humble who know that the love God has for them is completely gratuitous, accepted his invitation with joy. 

Dear friends, we are called today not to be too busy to come to our heavenly banquet. For God’s banquet is his Church, good and bad, saints and sinners are invited, for the Church is made up of saints and sinners. The bad are expected to become good while sinners are expected to repent and put on a new garment of holiness and love. As Christians, today we are reminded of our wedding garment, the new suit we put on on the day of baptism. 

Therefore, we cannot go on wearing the old garments of sins, of pride, greed, adultery, fornication, theft, drunkenness, selfishness and unforgivingness which will throw us into the dark, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth, for many are called, but few are chosen. 

Thus, we should put on the garment of love, holiness and open the doors of our hearts to the poor, the marginalized and those rejected by the society. Also, we should not make unnecessary promises to God to prove our loyalty like Jephthah in our first reading today, for we may find it difficult to fulfil. 

Rather, let us be like St. Pope Pius X, whose memorial we celebrate today, for he is known for his love for God and his neighbours in simplicity of heart. So, let us strive to honour God’s invitation and follow St. Pius’s examples of faith, dedication and total commitment to God, for he put into practice the word of God he heard.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, every day you invite us to your heavenly banquet. As we honour your invitation today, may we never be distracted by the vain glory of this passing world. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a successful day.

Homily For Wednesday Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 20th August, 2025

 

Readings: Judges 9:6-15; PS.21; Matt. 20:1-16

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

DON’T GIVE UP EVEN AT THE LAST HOUR

Oftentimes, when we are passing through the dark moments of life, it seems as if all hope is gone. We put up all our energy and enthusiasm struggling and hoping for a better and brighter moment. Sometimes it seems as if that brighter moment won’t come especially with the present situation in our country today.

The truth is that our time of favour and success is not determined by how long or strenuously we have struggled, but by our disposition towards God's time of grace and generosity, for God alone decides how to reward us for our efforts. All we need is to be disposed to do his will at all times.

This is what the parable of the vineyard labourers in our Gospel passage today is teaching us, especially as regards our disposition towards embracing the kingdom of God. So from the Gospel, the landowner went beyond justice, for, motivated by compassion, he employed labourers at different times and at the end, he decided to pay them the same wages as agreed with those who were hired first, which they felt was bad for the landowner’s generosity towards those hired last.

Here the human mind suspects injustice, while the heart of God sees only an opportunity to be generous. This generosity of God calls us to be generous too; but out of envy we often selfishly consider ourselves more deserving than others.

However, we can identify three kinds of persons from this parable: First, those who are like the landowner who hires people to get a job done, but with sympathies for those to be employed. Secondly, the unemployed wait desperately in the marketplace, and thirdly, the labourers who consider themselves more deserving than others.

Now, we all need to ask ourselves, among these three groups where do I belong? This is important because the way workers and labourers are being treated in our societies these days is really appalling. Those who are meant to lead and shepherd the people are taking advantage of the people they are called to shepherd. Thus, we heard Jotham in our first reading today saying: Hear me, leaders of Shechem, that God may also hear you. For we must learn to do the right thing always.

Dear friends, today, the duties neglected by our leaders are going to be taken over by God himself, who is the Good Shepherd. He assures us that even though we are the least, the nobodies and most neglected in the eyes of the world, He will not forget us, for He has time and a plan for everyone and will continue to provide for our daily needs.

But warns the leaders that they should change their greedy and sinful ways, because when the Lord’s time comes, the last will be the first and the first, last. For in his kingdom, there is time and a plan for everyone with equal grace and equal status. So we must learn to wait on God’s time even at the last hour.

LET US PRAY: Almighty God, today you promised to take good care of your sheep yourself as you warn us to change from our sinful, greedy and corrupt ways of life. Help us to change and be more caring, loving and to always be disposed to doing your will. As we wait on your time Lord, may your favour follow us even to the last hour, through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a fruitful day.

Homily For Tuesday, Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time, Year C, 19th August, 2025

 

Readings:  Judges 6:11-24; Ps. 85; Matt. 19:23-30

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

PASSING THROUGH THE EYE OF A NEEDLE 

Material possessions are gifts from God and he alone gives us the right to them. But what we possess is meant to help us grow in our relationship with God and neighbours, not to separate us from them, because if we are not careful, too much love for material possessions can be an obstacle on our way to God’s Kingdom. 

Little wonder Jesus in our Gospel passage today says:  “I tell you solemnly, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Yes, I tell you again, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven”. When the disciples heard this they were astonished. And they said, “Who can be saved, then?” Jesus gazed at them and said, “For men this is impossible; for God everything is possible”.

Here, Jesus tells his disciples about the need to live a life of detachment. For they saw how the rich young man was so sad when Jesus demanded that he should share his possessions with others in order to acquire treasures in heaven by following him. 

Thus, there is a need for us to be pruned from our excess love for material possessions, because, for a camel to enter through a narrow gate, it must kneel in order for its load to be taken off. We, too, must learn how to be humble and detach ourselves from excess attachment to material things of this passing world. 

The fact remains that material possessions in themselves are good, for we would not survive for long without them, but excess attachment to them at the expense of eternal life is grade one suicide. No doubt, it is difficult to give out or share our possession, but the ones who give up everything are the ones who receives more in this life as well as in heaven, just like Gideon in our first reading, who when encountered the angel of the Lord said:  I beg you, do not go away until I come back. I will bring you my offering and set it down before you.’

Dear friends, why is it difficult for us to detach from the material things of this passing world? For detaching and sharing what we possess with others, especially the poor, is a sure way to finding life, peace and happiness. And Jesus is telling us that it will be difficult for us to enter his kingdom when we choose to attach ourselves to the riches of this passing world. 

Though material possessions are gifts from God and he alone gives us the right to have them, what we possess is not meant to separate us from God; rather, they should help us to grow in our relationship with God and neighbour. 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are living in a world where materialism is the order of the day. Help us to learn how to live a life of detachment and keep us always from the sin of pride. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed day.

Homily For Monday Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 18th August, 2025

Readings: Judges 2:11-19; Ps. 106; Matt. 19:16-22

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

DON’T GO AWAY SAD, LEARN TO SACRIFICE

The way people are so much attached to the things of this passing world with little or no attention to the things that edifice the soul is quite alarming. People can go to any length to acquire properties, treasures, fame, influence and power that will last from forth to tenth generations, without thinking of that which will lead to life eternal.

This is likely the mindset of the young man in our Gospel passage today, who claimed to have kept all the Commandments without realizing that he has actually abandoned the fundamental principle of the Commandments which have to do with loving and caring for others especially the poor.

So Jesus draws his attention to this fundamental principle of our human existence, when he said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go and sell what you own and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me”. This really touched his ego and pride, so he suddenly became very sad and dejected, and went away sorrowfully.

This is why a proud and possessive person will find it difficult to remain faithful in their relationship with God and neighours just like the people of Israel in our first reading, who have constantly being disobedient and proud in their relationship with God and their neighbours, an ugly attitude that is leading them to destruction.

So the Lord in anger handed them over to villagers who plundered them; he delivered them to the enemies surrounding them. However, out of mercy God appointed judges for them, and rescued them from the hands of their plunderers. But they would not listen to their judges. They prostituted themselves to other gods, and bowed down before the idols.

Dear friends, today Jesus touched the very thing that this young rich man was not ready to give up, his money, his houses, his credentials, his power, pride and all his wealth and that was why he went away sad before the Lord. But, if we are honest enough, we will admit that we all have some things we would be very slow to let go if Jesus should make the same demand of us. Things we would not like God to ask us to give up.

In fact, it might be a good thing today for us to ask ourselves, what would be the most difficult thing for us to give up if Jesus should ask us to do so. It might be something we own like our house, or it might be a relationship, or our job, or our wealth or our secret immoral and sinful habits. Whatever one possesses that will separate us from our mission of following Jesus and loving our neighbours, today we are called to give them up and come follow the Lord.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, we are so much attached to things of this passing world, help us to know that excess attachment to our earthly possessions could be an obstacle on our way to your Kingdom. Give us the grace to let go of things that often separate us from you as we learn to share with our neighbours especially the poor. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen, Do have a great week ahead.

Homily For Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C, 17th August, 2025

 

Readings: Jer. 38:4-6.8-10; Ps.40; Heb. 12:1-4; Luke 12:49-53

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

WHEN THE WORD OF GOD BECOMES A SWORD OF DIVISION

Reflecting on the ugly situation in our societies today especially the hostility, brutality, persecution and the influential power of the things of this world that we face everyday. 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 these ugly situations. 

The fact remains that, if we are really willing to live out our Christian faith and obligations, then we need to make a radical decision towards expressing our faith in a personal and radical way. For these days, it is not enough to say am a Christian, we must convincingly and radically practice our faith by following the example of our Lord Jesus who made us to know that the word of God is a fire of truth and a sword of division.

Little wonder Jesus in our Gospel passage today, takes his discourse on discipleship to a radical and difficult level when he said: I have come to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were blazing already. Do you suppose that I am here to bring peace on earth? 

No, I tell you, but rather division. For from now on a household of five will be divided: three against two and two against three; the father divided against the son, son against father, mother against daughter, daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law, daughter-in-law against mother-in-law’. 

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 which comes as a fire and a sword. This is evident when it comes to living out the Gospel message in a radical way, 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 and possessions, thereby neglecting the things that lead us to God. 

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

This is so because, the Word of God is a fire of truth and a sword of division which purifies and separate us from the ugly situations and sinful things of this passing world that often separate us from God.

However, in the Gospel, Jesus does not endorse we 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 God or against God, to be united with God or be separated, to say yes to God or no to God, to accept the word of truth or to reject it. 

Hence, he states that the cost of discipleship extends to a point of one even losing his life. Because, following Jesus demands the sacrifice of all that one has. And none of us can become his true disciple if we do not give up our excess desire for worldly pleasures and possession, and pay our unreserved loyalty and allegiance to God over all other competing loyalties in our lives including family, self-interest, and possessions. 

Little wonder we are advised in our second reading today to throw off everything that hinders us, especially those sins that we clings so easily, and keep running steadily in the race we have started, while looking to Jesus as the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. Let us think of the way he stood such opposition from sinners on the cross, so that we will not give up or give in to fears. Because, in the fight against sin, we have not yet resisted to the point of shedding our blood. 

This is what we heard in the life of prophet Jeremiah in our first reading today. For Jeremiah was a man who loved his people and stood for the truth and conversion of his people. He was the conscience and spokes person for the weak in his society. For this reason he was accused of being a troublemaker and lived with constant threats to his life. 

That is why we heard them saying: Let Jeremiah be put to death: he is unquestionably disheartening the remaining soldiers in the city, and all the people too. So they threw him into a water cistern. Thanks to Ebed-melech who God used to save him.

 

Dear friends, what is your attitude towards the Word of God? How has the Word of God purified your soul from the ugly attitudes of the sinful things of this passing world? Are you passing through the pains of the sword of division? Are you a victim of truth like Jeremiah? 

Are you in a position like Ebed-melech to save those who are victims of truth. Are you running away from these fire of truth and sword of division? Are you experiencing rejection and hostility in your family, societies, friends and colleagues as a result of your Words of truth?

Today we are called to make a radical decision to sincerely and faithfully live out our Christian faith and morals. We are called to embrace the sword of division that comes from the truth of the Gospel. We are called to let the fire of God’s word purify our hearts and souls. 

But how much are we willing to let go for the sake of our faith in God? Why are we finding it difficult to follow Jesus? What is that habitual sinful desires and possessions that are holding us from making this radical decision today? It is time to come to God with all our hearts, for tomorrow maybe too late.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, the excess desire for the pleasurable things of this passing world have weakened our hearts towards you. As we embrace your Word as fire of truth and sword of division, give us courage and grace to let go of our ugly sinful desires and attitudes, so as to hold firm in our faith despite losing people and things that are so dear to us. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful Sunday celebration.

Homily For Saturday Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 16th August, 2025

Readings: Jos. 24:14-29; Ps. 16; Matt. 19:13-15

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WHOM HAVE YOU CHOSE TO SERVE: THE LIVING GOD OR PEOPLE AND THINGS THAT HAVE MADE THEMSELVES GOD?

What determines our attitude and behaviour in life is our fundamental option, which has to do with our choice for or against God. This is a choice we make consciously or unconsciously that guides and shape our lives.

Knowing the importance of this choice, Joshua in our first reading had to make this option for himself and his family and also encouraging others to do the same when he said to the people of Israel "choose this day whom you will serve... but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord".

The choice for God is a choice for love, and a life of love is a sacrificial life neither easy nor comfortable. A kind of choice made by the people of Israel who said to Joshua: we have no intention of deserting the Lord and serving other gods! Was it not the Lord our God who brought us and our ancestors out of the land of Egypt, the house of slavery, who worked those great wonders before our eyes and preserved us all along the way we travelled and among all the peoples through whom we journeyed? What is more, the Lord drove all those peoples out before us, as well as the Amorites who used to live in this country. We too will serve the Lord, for he is our God.’

What a great Choice and lesson for us. This tells us that we need to learn how to make a fundamental choice for God above all other things. This is important because most people are making wrong choices as a result of their too much attachment to the passing things of this world.

Most people have made gods out of the material things of this world. And they want other people to join them to worship these material gods. For this reason most people are finding it difficult to listen to what God is saying to them, because the gods of the things of this passing world are looking very captivating but behind them are destruction and disaster.

Dear friends, today we are required to chose whom we will serve: the living God or the gods of the things of this passing world. Let us chose the living God by identifying ourselves with Christ who is full of love, goodness and holiness and so build a good relationship with others. We must learn to sacrifice in humility just like Jesus who loves little children and care about them.

Little wonder Jesus said in our Gospel passage today: ‘Let the little children alone, and do not stop them coming to me; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.’ So, Jesus appreciate it when in childlike humility we make the fundamental option to serve God and to sacrifice for the good of others, for we are called to taste and see that the Lord is good.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are called today to choose whom we will serve. As we make this fundamental option to serve you, help us to live by this option all the days of our lives. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. It's another weekend, may the Holy Spirit guide and direct our activities.

Homily For Friday Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 15th August, 2025. Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

 

Readings: Rev. 11:19;12:1-6.10, Ps. 45, 1Cor. 15:20-27, Luke 1:39-56

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

THERE IS HOPE FOR HUMANITY AS SEEN IN THE ASSUMPTION OF MARY

With ugly events we hear and experience in our world today there is no doubt in my mind that the world is a battlefield between the forces of life and death, good and evil. And forces of death and evil seem to be having the upper hand as we can see in cases of killings, hatred, betrayals, greed, social and economic injustice all over the world.

Thus, there is this constant fear of what becomes of us when we die. Where are we going when we die? Is death the end of life? Is there another life after death?

The answer to these questions is found in today’s solemnity: The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The solemnity where we celebrate the mystery of the assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary body and soul into heaven. An event which shows the triumph of life over death and good over evil.

For since Christ’s divine body did not undergo corruption, it follows that his mother’s body, which forever contains a cell component of his Divinity would not be allowed to experience corruption, but would be taken into heaven and be reunited with Christ. For as we know, a particle of God, is God entirety. And the Psalmist says: that you will not leave my soul among the dead, nor let your Holy one know decay (Ps. 16.10).

So, according to the tradition of the Orthodox Church regarding the Assumption of Mary, it was said in a writing attributed to Joseph of Arimathea, that when Mary was about to die, all the Apostles except Thomas were miraculously transported to Jerusalem to witness her death.

However, Thomas who was in India, witnessed the assumption of Mary into heaven and he received the girdle of Mary as a proof. So, when Thomas arrived on the third day after burial, he narrated the story to the other apostles, they were skeptical. So, they opened the grave of Mary and found it empty and they glorified God. This of course, becomes part of the historical revelations among the Apostle and the early Church.

Thus, on 1 November, 1950, Pope Pius XII proclaimed as Dogma that the Virgin Mary “having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory”. This truth of faith as known by Tradition, was affirmed by the Fathers of the Church, and was an important aspect in the veneration of the Mother of Christ.

This Dogma appears as an act of praise and exaltation of God’s grace on the life of the Blessed Virgin. It also emerges for the honour of her Son Jesus and for the joy and exultation of the entire Church.

Little wonder, our readings today help us to understand better this mystery. For in our first reading we heard of the revelation of the victorious power of God, who through a woman has overcome the evil that threatened to destroy humanity. Telling us that the salvation, victory, power and the kingdom have now been won for us by our God, for the authority of his Christ has come.

And St. Paul in our second reading made us to know that Christ has been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of all who have fallen asleep. For death came through one man and in the same way the resurrection of the dead has come through one man. Just as all men die in Adam, so all men will be brought to life in Christ.

Meanwhile, in our Gospel passage, we heard Mary’s glorification of God’s power and victory, for God through Christ has remembered his mercy for humanity as he had promised to Abraham and all his descendants for ever.

Therefore, through this Mary’s Assumption into Heaven, we understand better that even though our daily lives may be marked by trials, persecutions and difficulties, our death is not the end, but the entrance into life that knows no death for we are made to share in God’s Heavenly Kingdom.

So, the Assumption reminds us that Mary’s life, like that of every Christian, is a journey of following, following Jesus, a journey that has a very precise destination, a future already marked out, for the definite victory over sin and death, in order for us to be in full communion with God.

Dear friends, how can this solemnity of the Assumption of Mary help us on our journey towards our heavenly kingdom? What message is God passing to us in this solemnity? In this solemnity of Assumption, we find the message of faith and hope, that in God there is room for humanity.

So, we can say God is humanity’s true home and in us there is also room for God. Hence, Pope Benedict XVI says that One thing is certain, that is, our hope in God: that God expects us, God waits for us, we do not go out into a void, we are expected.

God is expecting humanity, for as we pass to the other side of life, we will find the goodness of our Blessed Mother, we will find our loved ones, we will find eternal Love Christ our Saviour. For he is waiting for us, since we are made to share in his glory. And this is our greatest joy and the great hope that is born from this solemnity.

This reality makes us victorious over death and the evil of this world. Therefore, we should not be afraid for God has made us victorious over sin and death in order to share in Christ glory. Let us then entrust our Christian journey to Mary's Motherly intercession since she is the consolation and hope of the people still on this journey of faith.

LET US PRAY, Heavenly Father, we thank you, for knowing how fragile our lives are in this passing world, you gave us the message of faith and hope through the mystery of the Assumption of Mary. As we celebrate this mystery, may we be filled with the joy of your kingdom. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful day.