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.

Homily For Thursday Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 14th August, 2025. The Memorial of St Maximilian Kolbe

 

Readings: Jos. 3:7-10.11 .13-17; Ps.114; Matt. 18:21-19:1

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

LEARN TO FORGIVE OTHERS FROM YOUR HEART

In the prayer our Lord Jesus gave us as a pattern of all prayers and as a fundamental principle of Christian life, there is a portion that point out something so important. This portion says “forgive us our trespasses as we for give those who trespassed against us” (Matt.6:12).

By this pray we are making a covenant and commitment that will be a standard by which we are going to be judged as regards our relationship with others and with God. But often times we are not conscious of this principles especially when we have to face the difficult moment of forgiving a grievous offense.

Thus, Peter one of the disciples of Jesus being conscious of this fact, asked Jesus in our Gospel passage today saying: ‘Lord, how often must I forgive my brother if he wrongs me? As often as seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘Not seven, I tell you, but seventy times seven. And he practicalized his answer with an example of a servant who owed his master a great debt that he and his generation cannot pay. But when he pleads for mercy, the master forgave him all the debts.

However, this same servant found a fellow servant who owed him as little as one hundred denarii, he seized him by the throat and began to throttle him and even when he pleaded for mercy, instead of forgiving him, he puts him in prison according to the norms of the law until he had paid his debt.

This unforgiven servant did to his fellow servant what the master could have done to him, but did not. When the master heard how he treated his fellow servant, he said to him: “You wicked servant! I have forgiven you all your debt because you appealed to me. Were you not bound then to have pity on your fellow-servant just as I had pity on you?

And, angry, the master handed him over to the torturers till he should pay all his debts.” Jesus then said, this is how my heavenly Father will deal with you unless you each forgive your brother from your heart.’ For God will apply the principle he has given us in our Lord’s Prayer, which will automatically put us where we properly belongs based on how we have related with other.

In this story, we see the extreme estimate of the debt the servant owed his master, ten thousand talents, even if him and his family had to work their whole life, they would never have been able to pay that debt. Because a denarius is a day's wage for a common workingman. While a talent is 6,000 denarii, or 20 years of daily wages. That means he would need to work 6,000 days to earn one talent and we are talking about ten thousand talents.

So, that’s a huge amount compared to hundred denarii his fellow servant owed him, in fact, there was no comparison between the two debtors at all. However, this will exposed to us the ugly attitude of unforgiveness and also help us to understand that our debt before God is so huge and countless for we cannot be able to pay them but he still forgive us.

This is what we see in our first reading today, for after the death of Moses, God assured his people of his mercy and protection when he said to Joshua, ‘This very day I will begin to make you a great man in the eyes of all Israel, to let them be sure that I am going to be with you even as I was with Moses.

So, let us learn from the life of St. Maximilian Kolbe, whose memorial we celebrate today, for he heroically offered his life in place of another man who had been selected for execution, seeing how the man was filled with despair over the welfare of his wife and children.

Maximilian, being a priest, chose to die in place of this man so that he could be united once again with his family. What a great lesson and example for us to value the gift of love that God has given to humanity in the sacramental union of marriage.

Dear friends, Are there people we have vowed not to forgive? Have people hurt us so much that we can’t forgive them? Have we offended people and cannot be humble enough to ask for their forgiveness? Do we think that our sins are so huge for God to forgive?

Are we finding it difficult to forgive those who have offended us? There is no doubt that forgiven a grievous offense can be very difficult, but when this is done, it is like recovery a lost treasure that contains: joy, peace, freedom and healing. And today Jesus is asking us to learn how to forgive others always and unconditionally from our hearts, so that God will also forgive us always and unconditionally.

Therefore, we must never refuse to forgive or reject an offer of reconciliation in our relationship with God and with our fellow human beings and if this becomes difficult, bring it to Jesus in prayer as you contemplate his patience and humility and mercy on the cross for us.

LET US PRAY: Almighty God, today you have made us to realize how unlimited you mercy is, as you exposed how huge our debts are in comparison with the little debts of forgiveness others owe us. As we make it a habit to forgive from the debt of our hearts all those who have offended us, may we discover and experience the hidden treasures that forgiveness brings. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a grace filled day.

Homily For Wednesday Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 13th August, 2025

 

Readings: Deut. 34:1-12; Ps.66; Matt. 18:15-20

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WIN YOUR FRIENDS BACK THROUGH FRATERNAL CORRECTION AND RECONCILATION

As human, we are not perfect because of our contingent nature, so we are likely to offend one another in any relationship we find ourselves. As a result of this, one of the major challenges we face in most relationship today is the ability to properly correct one another especially when one is straying from the norms set up for the good of the relationship.

In our Gospel passage today Jesus gave us the practical steps we need to follow in order to correct and reconcile with one another so as to build a stronger relationship when he said, ‘If your brother does something wrong, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone.

If he listens to you, you have won back your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you: the evidence of two or three witnesses is required to sustain any charge. But if he refuses to listen to these, report it to the Church as a community; and if he refuses to listen to the Church, treat him like a pagan or a tax collector.

Here, Jesus calls for fraternal correction in any relationship we find ourselves, for we are responsible for one another and these steps and stages give room for reconciliation. This fraternal correction must always be inspired by real charity which is one of the spiritual works of mercy. Though, this is never an easy task especially when one has to bear the sacrifice of forgiveness, because forgiving a very grievous offense is one of the most difficult things to do.

However, forgiven a grievous offense is like recovery a lost treasure that contains: joy, peace, freedom, healthy mind and healing. But how often do we seek to recover this lost treasure in our lives caused by unforgivingness? Hence Jesus today calls us to persistently seek for reconciliation until we gain our brothers and sisters back whenever they have offended us.

And if they refused to be reconciled we should pray for their conversion for that is how Jesus taught us to treat the pagans, the task collectors and sinners. For in all our proceedings we should seek direction in prayer, knowing that God manifests his mercy when he transforms people and lead them to conversion, as he changes us and turns us from selfish and rebellious individuals into humble and loving persons.

This is the case with the people of Israel in our first reading today, who were rebellious, but God through Moses corrected them. Though, he did not make it to the promised Land but he was hourned by God before the people, for we were told that never has there been such a prophet in Israel as Moses, the man the Lord knew face to face.

Dear friends, today Jesus gave us the steps for fraternal correction and reconciliation. For it is our duty, obligation and responsibility to ensure in a fraternal charity that our fellow brothers and sisters, friends and neighbours, colleagues and collaborators are corrected and guided whenever they go astray. For each and every one of us have the responsibility to strengthen our relationship and be a good examples for one another as we work the path towards our salvation,

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are rebellious and proud people, we lack the courage and disposition to accept corrections, help us to correct one another in fraternal charity as we also learn to accept corrections when corrected. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a favourable day.

Homily For Tuesday Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 12th August, 2025.

 

Readings: Deut. 31:1-8; Ps. Deut 32:3-9, Matt. 18:1-5.10.12-14

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WHY DO WE ALWAYS WANT TO KNOW WHO IS THE GREATEST?

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

Little wonder, the most lucrative business and adventures are found among those activities that are competitive such as sports, entertainment and politics because greatness gives more ego to our status.

This competitive and comparative way of life is what the disciples of Jesus displayed in our Gospel passage today, when they asked Jesus, who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? For they were curious to know which one of them. But Jesus showed them the way to identify greatness and one who has such quality by offering them two strong images: that of the humble child and a dependent sheep.

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

Thus, Jesus explains that in the kingdom of heaven, true greatness is found in humility and children serve as a symbol of humility as they are dependent on adult for everything just as we also are dependent on God.

Little children serve as concrete symbol of the simplicity which is a condition for entering the kingdom of heaven. So, in children we found these great virtues of simplicity and humility. Hence, parents should encourage their children to participate in activities where they display these virtues.

Meanwhile, in the parable about the lost sheep, Jesus presents to us the images of a dependent sheep and a caring and loving shepherd who searches for the wandering sheep. For he invites us to embrace true greatness in humble service to others, especially the weak and the vulnerable, as we imitate God who never abandons anyone even the lost "sinners".

This is exactly what Moses did in our first reading when he summoned Joshua and in the presence of all Israel said to him, ‘Be strong, stand firm; you are going with this people into the land the Lord swore to their fathers he would give them; you are to give it into their possession. The Lord himself will lead you; he will be with you; he will not fail you or desert you. Have no fear, do not be disheartened by anything.

Dear friends, let us learn to be humble like little children even in the midst of our competitive and comparative nature. For today we are reminded that true greatness is found in humility and in humble service to others. But this is exactly what many of us are lacking. Because most of us are so proud, greed and selfish, as we are deeply attached to the pleasurable things of this passing world which prevents us from seeking true greatness that leads to heavenly kingdom.

As a result many of us are lost sheep, but Jesus the good shepherd is searching for us and guiding us on the path towards reconciliation and redemption, so that we may find the path towards the salvation God has offered to all humanity.

 LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, we are lost, for we are so much engrossed with the competitive activities of this world, seeking to be great in things that are passing away, grant that, we may embrace true greatness rooted in the humble service of our neighbours, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. God bless you.

Homily For Monday Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 11th August, 2025. The Memorial of St. Clare

 

Readings: Deut. 10:12-22; Ps. 147; Matt. 17:22-27

Rev. Fr.  Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

PAYING OUR CIVIL DUES AND TAXES ARE PART OF OUR RESPONSIBILITY

Oftentimes, people feel that is not necessary to pay taxes to civil authority especially when they are not utilizing the proceeds of the taxes they collected from the people. But in our Gospel passage today, Jesus made us to know that we are expected to contribute to the growth of our civil society. 

For when the tax collectors of the Temple came to the disciples and asked them on the matter of paying the Temple taxes, Jesus said, ‘Simon, what is your opinion? From whom do the kings of the earth take toll or tribute? From their sons or from foreigners?’ And when he replied, ‘From foreigners’, Jesus said, ‘Well then, the sons are exempt. However, so as not to offend these people, go to the lake and cast a hook; take the first fish that bites, open its mouth and there you will find a shekel; take it and give it to them for me and for you.

Here, Jesus respects those in authority both civil and religious, even when he did not agree with them. He paid his dues calling his disciples to do the same while providing for them. Today, we all are called to do the same, let us have deep respect for authorities both civil and religious and pay our dues and ensure that they are well utilized, so that, like Jesus we may contribute to the growth of our society. 

For this is what Moses is reminding us in our first reading today. For he made us to know  that the only thing the Lord our God ask of us is to fear the Lord our God, to follow all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord our God with all our heart and all our souls, to keep the commandments and laws of the Lord which he laid down for our good and the good of our neighbours.

LET us also learn from St. Clare of Assisi, whose memorial we celebrate today.  For she was a woman of great faith and humility, who was known for her selflessness, great piety, love for God and humble service to the poor, and together with other women dedicated themselves to God’s service. And through prayer and holiness they founded the religious order of the Poor Clares, as a group inspired by the life of St. Francis of Assisi. 

Dear friends, we must learn to love one another and keep the commandments of God as well as our civil responsibilities. For Jesus paid his civil dues and taxes, we also should learn to fulfil our civil responsibility. I know that it is difficult to accept this especially when it is not well utilized, but we must learn to fulfil them. 

So, let us start our day by first taking our time to figure out our priority and get to work on them. Let us make our daily task more interesting and attractive and ensure that we contribute to the growth of our civil society. When our tasks seem difficult, just start with the minor once and from there we will be motivated to continue and by so doing we will remain faithful in keeping the commandments of our Lord. 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we thank you for the gift of your word. As we begin our task this week, may your glory through the intercession of St. Clare inspire and elevate us to greater height. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a fruitful week.

Homily For Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C, 10th August, 2025

 

Reading: Wis. 18:6-9; Ps.33; Heb. 11:1-2.8-19; Luke 12:32-48

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

ARE YOU PREPARED AND READY FOR THE COMING OF THE LORD?

It is often said that adequate preparation is the secret and foundation of every successful event. This is obvious when we observe how footballers, boxers, athletes, also engineers, doctors and farmers, business men and women devote time and energy in rigorous preparation towards achieving their goals.

Then I said to myself, if we can go to this length of rigorous periods of preparation just for things of this passing world, it will be even more demanding when it has to do with preparing for eternal life.

Therefore, if we can devote such time and energy towards our spiritual life which we often neglected, we will be more awake and prepared for the day of the Lord. This is what Jesus is telling us in our Gospel passage today, when he said to his disciples: “Be like men waiting for their master to return from the wedding feast, ready to open the door as soon as he comes and knocks.

It may be in the second watch he comes, or in the third, wait for him, for happy are those servants if he finds them ready when he comes. Be quite sure of this, that if the householder had known at what hour the burglar would come, he would not have let anyone break through the wall of his house. You too must stand ready, because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

Then he used the parable of faithful and wise steward to make this point clearer. And he concluded by saying: when a man has had a great deal given him, a great deal will be demanded of him; when a man has had a great deal given him on trust, even more will be expected of him. Here we have a scenario which illustrate the unexpected approach of the coming of Christ which will be a great surprise to those who are asleep as they will be missing out the heavenly joy and also be deprived of their earthly treasures.

But for those that shall be found awake and ready, the Lord’s coming will be a happy day, while for those that are not prepared, it will be very dreadful. Thus our ignorance of the day and time of his coming is the reason for our watchfulness, so we must be awake and ready at all times.

Hence, 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 an “hour” you do not know and the second have to do with managing the responsibility entrusted to us. For, just like the householder’s ignorance of the time when the thief would come is the reason why he does not watch.

Thus, our ignorance of the day and time should be the reason for our watchfulness in order 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 not ready as they will be robbed of Heaven and even their earthly treasures.

Therefore, Jesus commanded us to stay awake, because we do not know either the day or the hour when the Lord will come. And this is obvious in our first reading today where we heard that this was the expectation of the people: The saving of the virtuous and the ruin of their enemies; For by the same act with which the Lord took vengeance on our foes, he made us glorious by calling us to himself. And St. Paul in our second reading today made us to know that only faith canh guarantee the blessings that we hope for, or prove the existence of the realities that at present remain unseen.

Dear friends, we are called today 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. We should be prepared at all times and be ready to make sacrifices like the faithful and wise stewards.

We should be watchful for we know neither the day nor the hour when the Lord will call u. Therefore, preparation is the key word. Let us not be deceived when the world suggest 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 those wise servants who are prepared at all times for the coming of the master knowing that this world is passing away. So we need to stay awake and be ready. We need to look into our inner being, our interior life in order to embrace the life of holiness and self-control that will help us to be more prepared for the coming of the Lord.

 Thus, we must change our disposition especially as regards our attitude towards the things of this passing world in order to embrace more of the things that will lead us to our heavenly kingdom for we are nothing but travelers in this world.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, we have often failed to listen to your warnings concerning the things of this passing world and the need for us to stay awake and be ready for your coming, give us the grace and wisdom to be well prepared to stand before you whenever you call us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Happy Sunday celebration.

Homily For Saturday Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 9th August, 2025

  

Readings: Deut. 6:4-13; Ps. 18; Matt 17-20

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel  Emenike Onyia.

EXPRESSING THE FAITH THAT MOVES MOUNTAINS

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

A man came up to Jesus begging him to deliver his son, whom he had brought to the disciples, but they were unable to cure him. But Jesus said to them ‘faithless and perverse generation!’ ‘How much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him here to me.’ And he rebuked the devil, who immediately came out of the boy and he was cured from that moment. 

Then the disciples came privately to Jesus. ‘Why were we unable to cast it out? They asked. He answered, ‘Because you have little faith. I tell you solemnly, if your faith were the size of a mustard seed you could say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it would move; nothing would be impossible for you.

Here, Jesus gives two reasons why the disciples failed to cure the boy. The first is connected with their own moral condition and disposition as they are only depending on their own personal abilities. Secondly, and more importantly, is their lack of faith. Though they had, indeed, shown some faith by making even the attempt at the expulsion of the devil. 

But they had acted half-heartedly and had not displayed that perfect confidence and trust which alone can bring success and make all things possible. Thus, Jesus decided to use the analogy of a mustard seed to give them a lecture about having a perfect and complete faith that moves mountains.  

The mustard seed, as we know, is the smallest of all seeds, which grows to produce the largest of all shrubs. So with the analogy of the mustard seed in relation to faith, Jesus supposed that, if we have the smallest faith that is genuine, we can do all things. Just like the mustard seed produced the largest of all herbs. 

Therefore, if we begin to nurture our faith to grow and strengthen from a small, humble beginning, it will grow to the point that it can help us to perform and achieve greater things and conquer the most difficult situations that, at first, would appear impossible. 

So faith moving mountains implies that spiritual and divine ability to make difficult and stumbling situations vanish. And this is obtained when we are rooted in God through sincere love. Little wonder we heard Moses in our first reading today instructing the Israelites on the need to love God sincerely with all their hearts and souls as they have it in their common daily prayer called the Shema Israel.

Dear friends, if we want to grow in faith, we must cultivate the humble habit of a mustard seed, which, though small, has the potential of becoming great when exposed to a fertile environment. For us to have the faith that moves mountains, we must be well-deposed to embrace the power of God in our lives, we must desire to have a personal experience of the power of God at work in the world and acknowledge that in him comes our victory over every situation we encounter.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, faith is your supernatural gift to humanity, grant that we may embrace this gift even as little as that of a mustard seed, to move out of our lives the tough mountains that are crushing us in our daily lives. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a joyful weekend.

Homily For Friday Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 8th August, 2025, The Memorial of St. Dominic

 

Readings: Deut. 4:32-40; Ps. 77; Matt 16:24-28

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

UNDERSTANDING THE SACRIFICE OF FOLLOWING THE LORD

Reflecting on the effect of the continuous hostility, persecutions and the influential powers of the things of this world, I think it is time for us to really think twice about our faith as Christians, whether we are actually ready to live out our faith in the midst of these ugly situations in our societies, which is getting tougher everyday. For if we are really willing to live out our Christian faith and obligations, then we need to make a personal radical decision towards our discipleship.

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

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

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

The way of the cross is a way of sacrifice, a way of commitment, a way of love, forgiveness, mercy and compassion, which aims towards the good of the other person. It can be a costly service to a loved one who is ill; it can be embracing illness, even terminal illness or other personal weaknesses. This makes no sense except when we relate it to the suffering of Christ through faith in God. 

For God, through Moses, in our first reading today, reminded us of the great works he did and is still doing to save and bring us to the promised Land. Hence, he commanded us saying: understand this today, therefore, and take it to heart: the Lord is God indeed, in heaven above as on earth beneath, he and no other. Keep his laws and commandments as I give them to you today, so that you and your children may prosper and live long in the land that the Lord your God gives you for ever.’ 

Here, God has promised us that he will stand by us in the midst of persecution and suffering. That for a while we might suffer, but in the end, those who remained faithful in him will be victorious while the oppressors will be rejected, crushed and destroyed. Thus, to share the glory of Christ, we have to share his suffering, because it is impossible to follow Jesus without accepting the cross, nor acknowledging and embracing all that life has to offer us.

Let us learn from St. Dominic whose memorial we celebrate today. Through his personal experience of God, he has helped the faithful to renew their faith and commitment in God and their society through the deepening of their spiritual lives, especially through the use of the rosary as a prayer, which eventually became one of the most popular of all devotions in the Church, through which countless souls have been converted to the Lord, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Dear friends, we must learn to deny ourselves the excess desire for the things of this passing world in order to follow the Lord. For we are called today to deny ourselves the pleasurable things of this passing world in order to take up our Cross and follow the Lord. It’s time to make a radical decision to sincerely and faithfully follow Jesus. 

But how much are we willing to let go for the sake of following him? Why are we finding it difficult to 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 your, give us courage and grace to let go of our ugly desires and as we do this, may the cross of Christ be a shining example in our daily struggles, so as to hold firm in our faith despite all the sufferings and persecutions we may encounter. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a fruitful day.

Homily For Thursday Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 7th August, 2025

Readings: Num. 20:1-13, Ps. 95, Matt. 16:13-23

Fr. Emmanuel Onyia

UNDERSTANDING AND EXPRESSING THE TRUE IDENTITY OF JESUS

As social beings, we often make friends with whom we can confide and entrust our innermost thoughts and plans. But the friendship does not come automatically. There is always a moment when one will want to know if his or her friends can really be trusted, if they truly know and understand who we are and what we represent.

This is the situation between Jesus and his disciples in our Gospel passage today, when Jesus asked them saying: Who do people say the Son of Man is? And they said, ‘Some say he is John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.’ ‘But you,’ he said ‘who do you say I am?

Then Simon Peter spoke up, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.’ Jesus replied, ‘Simon son of Jonah, you are a happy man! Because it was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church. And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it. 

Here, we see how Peter expressed his personal conviction about who Jesus is. He did not have to quote any authority, because his response was a clear and sincere knowledge of who he professed Jesus to be. Hence, Jesus stressed that Peter's faith is a gift from the Father when he said: “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. 

This is because Peter’s gift of faith comes from his personal response to Jesus. Thus, our faith requires that we give a personal answer to the question: Who is Jesus to me personally? For it is not enough to quote the teachings and Catechism of the Church about our faith or the teachings of other theologians and preachers or to respond only from the head but from the heart that is convinced of what it believes in. 

Today most people are following Jesus without knowing who Jesus truly represents. Some people find it very difficult to embrace the teaching of Jesus because they lack the faith and conviction about his personality, even when Jesus has revealed himself to us through his great miracles and teachings. 

The fact is that Jesus wants us to develop a divine way of looking at things; he wants us to know him deep down in our souls, so that we can profess our faith with deeper meaning and conviction.

This is why he told Simon, You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven." 

So, the faith given to Peter by God is the rock on which Jesus built his Church. And this royal authority is what Jesus entrusted to His Church through St. Peter and his successors, of which our current Pope, Pope Leo XIV, is the 266th successor of St. Peter.

Dear friends, having heard the teachings and works of Jesus in the scriptures and traditions of the Church, the question remains: who is Jesus to you? What is your personal experience of Jesus? How has your knowledge of Jesus helped other people to come to faith in Jesus? Today, we are called to really examine our conscience to know where we are with regard to our faith as Christians. 

We are called today to develop a divine way of understanding the mysteries of God, but not to reject them because we do not understand them. We are also called to be convinced of who we are and the need to truly unite together in God and His Church entrusted to St. Peter, of which the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Therefore, let us turn towards God once again with all our hearts and devote our whole lives to seeking to know Him more and more.

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