Homily For Wednesday Thirty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 26th November, 2025

Readings: Dan. 5:1-6.13-14.16-17.23-28; Ps. Dan. 3:40-45; Luke:21:12-19

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

THE POWER OF ENDURANCE IN TIMES OF PERSECUTION

Everywhere in the world, we see and hear of human wickedness, intimidation, manipulations, kidnapping, killing and real activities for the sake of power, fame, money and lustful desires. And anyone who tries to resist, challenge, correct, change or stop these ugly attitudes, becomes an object of elimination.

Yet in the midst of all these ugly situations, we are required to continue to speak about God’s goodness, love, compassion and forgiveness. A very difficult task to do, especially when we are suffering as victims of this ugly situation.

Thus, Jesus in our Gospel passage today declares that his followers are going to be persecuted on account of bearing witness to his name, a reality that will put even our most cherished relationships to the test: we will be betrayed and persecuted by our closest relations and friends. However, we should not prepare any defence, because God himself shall give us eloquence and wisdom that none of our opponents will be able to resist or contradict.

Here, Jesus not only describes what his followers will have to endure but also offers assurance that he will support them and make them strong. So he recommends that there comes a time in the spiritual life of his followers when they will have to choose to endure, rather than despair. By their endurance, they will gain their lives.

Hence, a period of persecution is a time to bear witness through our endurance, courage and tenacity. Just like Daniel in our first reading today, who courageously bears great witness before the king by interpreting the mystery of the message God sent to the King who has defiled the sacred vessels.

Dear friends, the circumstances in which Jesus invites us to share the Good News are quite challenging and difficult, especially now that the world is passing through difficult times, as families, societies, countries, and churches are badly affected by the economic, social, security and political situations around us of which their troubles and conflicts are affecting the whole world.

But just as Jesus was not abandoned by his Father in his hour of need, we too will not be abandoned in this time of difficulties. For God knows what we are passing through now, and in due time, he will give us victory, for Jesus says that our endurance will win us our lives.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we struggle with the ugly situation in our world today, grant us the courage and strength to persevere in witnessing to the Gospel, especially in these difficult times, through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a fruitful day.

Homily For Tuesday Thirty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 25th November, 2025

Readings Dan.2: 31-45; Ps. Dan. 3:35-39; Luke:21:5-11

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WHY WE MUST BE PREPARED 

As we approach the season of Advent, we are reminded of the need to be well-prepared for the coming of God’s kingdom. This is evident in our readings these days and more so in our Gospel passage today which presents to us warnings about the end times. 

Here we see how those who were listening to Jesus were anxious to know what signs to look out for concerning the End Times event. But the timing of such an event is God’s secret. 

So, today Jesus warns us not to waste our time seeking signs; rather, we should be prepared, we should remain firm in faith. He also warns us about following those who claim to know when the end is coming. 

We may see many of the signs written in Scripture happening already in our time, and people are terrified, looking for someone to show them the way. 

Jesus is the only Way, the Truth and the Life. For without him in our lives, we may be lost, because the future lies in his hands and nothing can destroy or hurt us as long as we remain faithful to his commands.

Dear friends, we must be prepared for the end-time event, let us not be deceived by the things of this world. So, our lives as Christians demand that we be alert and ready. We should be prepared at all times for this world is passing away. Hence, we are called to abstain from things that will separate us from our God. 

Today, we are called 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 to do the will of God just like Daniel in our first reading today, who courageously told the vision of King Nebuchadnezzar and interpreted it in order to help the King be more prepared to embrace the will and plan of God.

LET US PRAY: Almighty God, we often fail to listen to your warnings concerning our excessive desire for the things of this passing world and the need for us to prepare 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. Have a blessed day.

Homily For Monday Thirty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 24th November, 2025. The Memorial of St. Andrew Dung Lac and Companions

 

Readings: Dan.1:1-6.8-20; Ps.  Dan. 3:29-34; Luke:21:1-4

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

LEARN TO SHOW SINCERE GRATITUDE TO GOD 

Thanksgiving is one of the best ways of showing gratitude to God for the good things we have received from him. This great act of charity should be done with a grateful heart. Our attitude and intention towards this act are what God desires to see. 

Little wonder in our Gospel passage today, Jesus observes the attitude of people towards their thanksgiving offering. He commented on the attitude of people who give out of their abundance, while commending the attitude of the poor widow who, from her heart, gave sincerely everything that she had, expressing her faith and love for God through this wonderful gesture. 

Here, Jesus tells us that what matters is not the amount we give, but what lies in our heart, the strength of our generosity comes from the heart. Today Jesus invites us to open our hearts and be ready to give in a sacrificial way like this poor widow in our Gospel. 

For God, who knows our hearts, looks at our efforts. The truth is that the greatest gift we can give to anyone is the gift of love, for it is only in true love that one can truly give all that he has without reservations. 

So, as Christians, it is our obligation to follow the Lord’s teaching and dedicate ourselves and all that we have to him wholeheartedly, in faith and love, at all times, just like Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah in our first reading, who remain faithful to God. And God favoured them with knowledge and intelligence in everything connected with literature, and in wisdom; while Daniel had the gift of interpreting every kind of vision and dream.

This is what we see in the lives of St Andrew Dung Lac and Companions, whose memorial we celebrate today, for when they heard the Gospel, they accepted it despite persecution and even death. They realise that true happiness is found in interior living of the Gospel and not in material things of this passing world. 

They embraced martyrdom and became a great instrument in preparing humanity towards the kingdom of God. We, too, can be another great instrument of preparation in God’s hands, if we make ourselves available.

Dear friends, let our thanksgiving to the Lord not only come from the abundance of what we have but from true and sacrificial love that comes from our heart expressing our gratitude, faith and love for God and our neighbour. Only such offertory and thanksgiving are pleasing to God and acceptable to him.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, all we have is given to us out of your abundant goodness. May we learn to show gratitude sacrificially for such a great gift and so gain more favour from you. We ask this through Christ our Lord.  Have a fruitful week ahead.

Homily For Thirty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C, 23rd November, 2025. The Solemnity of Christ the Universal King

 

Readings: 2 Sam.5:1-3; Ps.122, Col. 1:12-20, Luke 23:35-43

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

UNDERSTANDING THE NATURE OF GOD’S KINGDOM

In the year 1925, the period when the world was still recovering from the ugly event of the First World War that ended in 1918, the period when humanity, as a result of the war, began to turn away from God and the teachings of the Gospel in search of worldly powers and dominion.

On account of this, Pope Pius XI promulgated the Feast of Christ the King in order to call humanity to conversion and renewal of loyalty to God through Jesus the True Universal King. The Pope believed that the celebration of the Feast of Christ the Universal King would be appropriate to constantly remind humanity about God.

So, every last Sunday of the liturgical year, the Church invites us to celebrate the Lord Jesus as King of the Universe. For we are called to look to the future with more insight into the ultimate goal of history, towards the definitive and eternal kingdom of God through Christ our Lord. Given that he was with the Father in the beginning, when the world was created, and he will fully manifest his Lordship at the end of time, when he will judge humanity.

But the questions that always come to mind as we celebrate this great feast are: what is the nature of this Kingship of Christ? How does it relate to the events of human history? What is the effect of this Kingship in our society today? What message or lessons can we learn from it?

This same question is the issue in our Gospel passage today, where we heard how the Lord Jesus was crucified on the cross between two criminals. For we heard the people saying: Let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One, the king of the Jews.’

The soldiers also mocked him saying, ‘If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.’ One of the criminals hanging there abused him. ‘Are you not the Christ?’. ‘Save yourself and us as well.’ But the second criminal spoke up and rebuked him. ‘Have you no fear of God at all?’. ‘You got the same sentence as he did, but in our case we deserved it: we are paying for what we did.

But this man has done nothing wrong. And he said to Jesus, ‘Remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ And Jesus replied saying: ‘Indeed, I promise you, today you will be with me in paradise.’

Here, we see how humanity rejected the Prince of Peace by nailing him to the cross. But as Prince of Peace, he still offered peace to humanity despite our constant rejection of his peace. Though humanity still cries out every day for peace, it is not sacrificing for peace like Jesus, who on the cross sacrificed all for the peace and salvation of humanity.

Hence, we see how on the cross the Lord reigns over humanity. On the cross, he gave us the answers to the questions we have in mind concerning his kingship. He made us know that his kingdom is beyond the activities of this passing world.

He also showed us that mercy and compassion are the hallmark of his kingdom, which was prefigured in the kingship of David in our first reading today. Little wonder, he made us know that his kingdom does not need any physical proof, for we only experience its presence and effect in and around us.

 So, we are called to look to the future with more insight into the ultimate goal of history towards the eternal kingdom of Christ. For he was with the Father in the beginning, when the world was created, and he will fully manifest his Lordship at the end of time, when he will come as a triumphant King and judge humanity based on our actions, deeds and faith.

For we heard in our second reading today that he is the image of the unseen God and the first-born of all creation, for in him were created all things in heaven and on earth: everything visible and invisible. He has taken us out of the power of darkness and created a place for us in the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption and the forgiveness of our sins.

Hence, we must know that there will be a time for great separation, when the good will be separated from the bad, holy from sinful, righteous from evil, sheep from goats, of which our deeds will reveal who we are and where we truly belong.

Dear friends, no doubt that we are living in a world full of greed and selfish people who are deeply rooted in ugly attitudes of egoism and materialism, with uncontrollable desires for pleasure that leads to so many ugly things happening in our country Nigeria today. We are calledto embrace the teachings of Christ the Universal King for this is what today’s celebration requires of us.

So, as we celebrate this great feast, let us turn toward Christ for he is our true King of peace. And following him means carrying our own cross, forgetting our challenges, sorrows and worries and faithfully obeying his commandment in a very sacrificial way. For it is by the blood of his cross, that Jesus reveals the nature of his Kingship, not in saving his life, but by offering it as a ransom for our salvation.

Therefore, we must learn to reign with Christ through the Cross. Trying to do away with the cross in our lives will deprive our souls of true love and loyalty to Christ the King of Peace, who today wants to reign supreme in our hearts and souls. So, let us join in the triumphant procession holding palm branches and singing Hosanna in the Highest, recalling the inscription above the cross: which says: Jesus the King of the Jews.

 Let us also say like the good thief, “Lord, remember me in your kingdom”, for this is the prayer and last request of a humble, sinful soul. This should also be the prayer and desire of every one of us today as we celebrate Christ, the universal King of Peace. Let us show him honour, not just with palm branches but with the splendour of hearts full of love and merciful deeds.

Let us, in joy, express and spread before his presence the garments of our heavy hearts weighed down by sins and shame. Let us do this along with the inner desires of our souls, so that he can pass through our souls and purify our whole being in order to rule in our hearts as the King of Peace, for that is the nature of his Kingship.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly King, as we celebrate the universal Kingship of Christ your Son, amidst the hostile forces and evil of this passing world, may we be victorious as you fill us with the peace and joy of your kingdom. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you a blessed Christ the King celebration.

Homily For Saturday Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 22nd November, 2025. The Memorial of Cecilia

Readings:1Macc.6:1-13; Ps.9; Luke:20:27-40

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WHY WE MUST BELIEVE IN THE RESURRECTION

 

Oftentimes when we talk about the teaching on resurrection, people always want to know what it is going to be like. We often get this teaching wrong because we are using our little knowledge of the things of this world

 passing world to judge the heavenly things. 

This is the disposition of the Sadducees in our Gospel passage today, since they do not believe in the resurrection, they decided to challenge Jesus concerning the notion of resurrection using the analogy of marital union in relation to the afterlife in order to discredit the teachings of Jesus.

 

As usual, Jesus goes on to explain how people will relate to each other in the afterlife. Those who are judged worthy of a place in the other world and the resurrection from the dead do not marry because they can no longer die, for they are the same as the angels, and being children of the resurrection they are sons of God. He then challenged the Sadducees’ unbelief about life after death.

 

He reminded them of the scene where the voice from the burning bush identifies itself to Moses. “I AM the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob” (Exodus 3:6). For He is the God of the living and not of the dead. After this reply of Jesus to both the Pharisees and the Sadducees, they no longer dared to ask him any questions.

 

Dear friends, we believe in the resurrection not so much because of Jesus’ arguments here, but because of his own resurrection of which he promised to share his life and joy with us forever. Jesus tells us that we are children of the resurrection and children of God who are neither married nor given in marriage in the heavenly kingdom. 

Thus, it is natural for us to ask questions about the resurrection of life, but we should not expect to understand it fully while we are still alive. All that matters is our relationship with our God and neighbour for what we shall be after death is known by God alone.

 This is what we see in the life of Cecilia, whose memorial we celebrate today, for she developed the love of God in her heart. Though she came from an extremely rich family and was given in marriage to a young man named Valerian. She wore sackcloth next to her skin, fasted, and invoked the saints, angels, and virgins, beseeching them to guard her virginity.

 

During her wedding ceremony, she was said to have sung in her heart to God, and before the consummation of her marriage, she told Valerian her husband that she had taken a vow of virginity and had an angel protecting her. Valerian asked to see the angel as proof, and Cecilia told him he would have eyes to see once he travelled to the third milestone on the Via Appia (Appian Way). There, he was baptised by Pope Urbanus. Following his baptism, Valerian returned to his wife and found an angel at her side. The angel then crowned Cecilia with a chaplet of roses and lilies.

 

Cecilia was later arrested and condemned to be suffocated in the baths. Later, an executioner was sent to cut off her head in the baths, who struck her three times but was unable to decapitate her, so he left her bleeding, and she lived for three days. Crowds came to her and collected her blood while she preached to them or prayed. 

On the third day, she died and was buried by Pope Urban and his deacons. Today St. Cecilia is regarded as the patroness of music because she heard heavenly music in her heart when she was married and is represented in art with an organ or organ pipes in her hand.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we look forward to the resurrection of mankind. May we be inspired by the great example of our Lord Jesus and so obtain the joy of his resurrection. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a fruitful weekend. 

Homily for Friday Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 21st November, 2025. The Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

 

Readings: 1 Macc. 4:36-37.52-59; Ps. 1Chron. 29:10-12; Luke:19:45-48

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

LORD, WE ARE YOUR SACRED TEMPLE IN NEED OF PURIFICATION

The Temple, as we know it, is described as the sacred dwelling place of God. That’s sacred space where humanity encounters the Divine presence of God. It is a symbolic space where God desires to live together with humanity and rule the world through them. Therefore it is very important to ensure that such Sacred Space (Temple) is kept sacred at all times.

Little wonder in our Gospel passage today, we heard a very brief story of how Jesus entered the temple in Jerusalem and drove away the traders from the courts of the Temple saying: “My house must be a house of prayer. But you have turned it into a den of thieves.”

So he chased out all the dishonest, selfish and greedy merchants who were making profits by cheating the faithful pilgrims who came to the Temple to worship God.

Here Jesus was not just concerned with cleansing the temple of Jerusalem, but also the temple of the human heart, that is, our souls. He is objecting to the corruption of the sacred. Our body and soul are the temple of the Lord and belong to him alone.

It is a sacred space, a house of prayer which must not be given over to the false gods of money, greed and sin. Just as we heard in our first reading today, Judas and his brothers, after defeating their enemies who wished to force them to defile the temple of God, said: Now that our enemies have been defeated, let us go up to purify the sanctuary and dedicate it.

So, the whole people fell prostrate in adoration, praising God who had made them so successful. For eight days they celebrated the dedication of the altar, joyfully offering holocausts, communion sacrifices and thanksgivings to God.

Dear friends, by clearing the Temple, the Lord has also urged us all to clear our spiritual temples, that is our body, mind, heart and soul, in which God dwells. For our souls are sacred dwellings of God’s Temple.

Thus, it must be made sacred at all times by ensuring that we get rid of all corruptions, wickedness, pride, ego, greed, wrath, unforgiveness and all other sorts of evils within us.

We must resist them and strive to inspire and help one another to keep our Temple sacred. For Jesus wishes to cleanse the temple of our soul by removing what has corrupted it, in order to purify it for worship and make it a dwelling place for prayer.

It is in the light of this purification of the temple that we will understand the importance of the memorial of the presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which we celebrate today. That great moment when St. Joachim and St. Anne offered their firstborn child to the Lord at the Temple as prescribed by the Law.

A gratuitous action in appreciation of God’s grace for choosing Mary to be the mother of our Lord and her total availability to God’s plan. Let us all be inspired by the example of Mary, whom the Lord has set before us, that we shall also be righteous, virtuous and great in faith as she has shown us in her lifetime in thanksgiving to God.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are your temple, yet we have let the selfish desires for the things of this passing world corrupt us so deeply. As we embrace your Words today, may we, through the intercession of Our Mother Mary, experience the joy of the purification of our body and soul. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a fruitful day.

Homily For Thursday Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 20th November, 2025

 

Readings: 1Macc. 2:15-29; Ps. 50; Luke:19:41-44

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

PEOPLE DESIRE TO HAVE PEACE BUT WHY HAVE WE FAILED TO WORK FOR PEACE? 

 

Peace is what every human person desires to have. It is a necessary commodity in human societies. A city that has peace is sure to have great success. It is the dream of everyone. But a city that lacks peace is disastrous as we see in our country today. 

Little wonder Jesus, in our Gospel passage today, wept over the city of Jerusalem. For Jesus, who is the King of peace, came to Jerusalem, a city whose name stands for peace but found no peace in it.

He looked at the city and its coming disaster, which would indeed happen in a few decades after his death, and then came its destruction by the hand of the Romans. So he wept and prayed for its people. Since they have rejected the peace that God is offering them, they have no option but to face the consequences. 

Jesus felt deep sorrow at the city’s resistance to God’s word, wishing that they might receive what God was offering them. He said: “Would that even today you knew the things that make for peace”.

 

Today we too can look around us,  our families, our cities, societies, country and the world at large, and feel sorrow at so much killing, persecution, deception,  greed, corruption, suffering and disregard for truth, justice and what is right and discover that peace is nowhere to be found

In fact, if humanity is not careful with the deep danger around us despite the great works of science and technology, the only place we can find peace will be in the grave at the dread peace of death. Those innocent people killed in some parts of our country will have a better understanding of the seriousness of this reality around us.

 

But we should not be afraid. Rather, we should draw strength from Mattathias in our first reading today who courageously resisted the order of the king who requested that the people of Israel should turn away from the Law and ordinances of God. 

Raising his voice, Mattathias retorted, ‘Even if every nation living in the king’s dominions obeys him, each forsaking its ancestral religion to conform to his decrees, I, my sons and my brothers will still follow the covenant of our ancestors. 

So nothing should make us for the sake of the teachings of our Lord, for Jesus the Lamb of God has triumphed over all evil. He has been glorified and, as such, has purchased for us our eternal peace and salvation.

 

Dear friends, we must be courageous because, despite the challenges and trials that we have to face in this passing world, we have the Lamb of God, triumphant and victorious by our side. He tells us that even though tribulations will come our way in the form of doom and destruction, like that of Jerusalem. 

We should be steadfast, for in God we shall be triumphant, since Jesus wills that humanity should know the things that make for peace. So, if we can consider the words of Jesus and embrace the peace and love he is offering us, we will realise that he longs for our good and growth.

 

Remember, there are many temptations and distractions in this world trying to mislead us and separate us from our God. Let us not be misled by these things. Let us remain firm in our faith and let our lives shine with the light of Christ so that his light will illuminate all the darkest moments in our lives, in our families, societies, country and the world at large. 

For the Lord wishes to lead us to the final victory that he has won for us. But are we willing to commit our lives to Christ? All we need to do is embrace all the possibilities of peace and love that God is offering to us every day. Then it shall be well with us.

 

LET US PRAY, Heavenly Father, you are the King of peace, and in Christ your Son, you have offered humanity peace. But we have failed to embrace it. As we struggle with the ugly situation in our country, Nigeria, and the world today, may the peace of Christ reign in our hearts, homes, societies, country and the world at large. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Remain blessed.

Homily For Wednesday Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 19th November, 2025

 

Readings: 2Macc.7:1.20-31; Ps.17; Luke:19:11-28

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

LEARN TO PUT INTO POSITIVE USE THE GIFTS GOD HAS GIVEN TO YOU 

 

In this life, God has given special gifts and opportunities to everyone. If we use these gifts and the opportunities wisely for our benefit and the benefit of others, we will grow and blossom. But on the other hand, if we fail to use them, we will remain dormant and unsuccessful. This is what the parable in our Gospel passage today is addressing. 

In this parable, we heard how a king summoned ten of his servants and gave them ten pounds to do business until he came back. Some of them utilized these gifts and opportunities and so became successful and for that, they were entrusted with more gifts. While some decided to neglect and abandon their gifts, and so remained dormant and unsuccessful.

 

This parable teaches us that we all have been given gifts by God, which we must give an account of. Because our gifts are meant to be put to use in the service of God and humanity. And our service to God should not be done grudgingly or fearfully but generously 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 gifts and opportunities given to us to make a difference in the world. We are not to relax into a comfort zone doing nothing with them. God wants the best from us and when we have given our best, we receive more from him.

 

Dear friends, we are all special, unique and a masterpiece, and God has given us a very unique gift. These gifts may represent different physical and spiritual gifts of God, but their basic foundation is the love of God towards us.  This love is what God has given to us which needs to be reciprocated through an active love for our neighbours. 

However, we often find it difficult to discover our other gifts or to accept the one God has given to us because we have failed to embrace love. So, we are called today to search and discover our gifts. Love is the greatest gift God has given to humanity. Let us discover love and invest in it, for in it come other gifts that will help us to achieve the purpose for which we are created.

 

This gift of love is what made the woman and her children sacrifice their lives for the sake of their belief in God’s instructions and ordinances as we have it in our first reading today. 

 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, you have endowed us with special and unique gifts and opportunities. Help us to discover these gifts and utilize them for the purpose for which they were given to us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a fruitful day.

Homily For Tuesday Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time Year C , 18 November, 2025

 

Readings: 2Macc. 6:18-31; Ps.3; Luke:19:1-10

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

THE ENCOUNTER THAT LEADS TO CONVERSION, RESTITUTION AND RESTORATION

Oftentimes we are quick to criticize, condemn and label people as sinners, outcasts and good for nothing. But this is not the attitude of Jesus, who is always compassionate, especially to sinners and those rejected in society, and wants us to do the same.

This is evident in our Gospel passage today, where we were told the story of Zacchaeus. A man who was regarded as a public sinner. Wanting to see Jesus, but being small in size, he ran ahead and climbed up a sycamore tree and waited for Jesus to come by. He really had a great desire to see Jesus.

Thus, the attitude of Jesus upon seeing Zacchaeus on the tree was very touching. Jesus does not ask, nor does he demand anything. He only responded to the inner desire of a sinful man who sought to see him, and he said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down. Hurry, because I am to stay at your home today” Zacchaeus got down and received Jesus, in his house with great joy. This encounter brought about his conversion, restitution and restoration.

Here we can see that sometimes in our lives, when we struggle with our inner desires and weaknesses, all we need is to sacrifice our pride and humbly climb the sycamore tree of grace, for on it we find satisfaction and peace.

No doubt, people complained and criticised Jesus, saying, “He has gone to stay at a sinner’s house”. But Jesus does not care about the criticism. He went to the house of Zacchaeus and defended him from the criticism. And rather than calling him a sinner, he called him “son of Abraham”.

Here we see how Jesus accepts those who were not accepted. He offers a place to those who do not have one. He receives as brothers and sisters people whom society and religion rejected.

Similarly, we heard in our first reading how Eleazar demonstrated a life of nobility by refusing to live a life of pretence and defilement, for he resolved to die with honour rather than to live disgraced.

Such pretence he said, “does not square with our time of life; many young people would suppose that Eleazar at the age of ninety had conformed to the foreigners’ way of life, and so be led astray on my account;

This will only bring defilement and disgrace to my old age. For even though for the moment I avoid execution by man, I can never, living or dead, elude the grasp of the Almighty”.

Dear friends, when we climb the sycamore tree of grace salvation comes to our souls. This is what we must learn from Zacchaeus and Eleazar who remained faithful and did not live a life of pretence. We must learn to be a good example to other people and try to accommodate people’s differences and weaknesses.

But how do we accept people who are despised and marginalized in our society? Can we, like Jesus, perceive people’s inner desire for compassion and give them attention?

Remember, the compassion and tenderness of Jesus brought about a total change in the life of Zacchaeus. Why not show some compassion to those we meet today, for it may be the only opportunity to embrace the salvation they will ever have in their life?

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are sinners in need of your mercy. As we climb the sycamore tree of grace with contrite hearts, may you find in us the inner desire for mercies and, in your compassion, purify us and welcome us back to your kingdom. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed day.

Homily For Monday Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 17th November, 2025. The Memorial of St Elizabeth of Hungary

Readings: 1Macc. 1:10-15.41-43.54-57.62-64; Ps.119; Luke:18:35-43

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

KNOWING YOUR NEEDS AND HOW TO PRESENT THEM TO GOD

 

The compassionate love of Jesus in its historical and physical solidarity with human suffering springs from the love of God the Father and constitutes the basis of the Church’s liberating activity, which is rooted in our faith in God. 

Little wonder in today’s Gospel passage, the blind beggar gives us a complete lesson about faith, expressed with total simplicity in front of Christ Jesus. He had faith enough to call out to Jesus as he passed by, even when he was scolded by the people close to him, his need for Jesus was so great that he cried all the louder, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!

 

Then Jesus asks an unusual question “What do you want me to do for you?” So even though his need was obvious, Jesus wanted him to ask. In the same way today, Jesus is asking us: My child, what do you want me to do for you? 

Why not, like this blind beggar, tell Jesus you need? Even though he knows your needs, you still need to present them before him. This blind man needed his eyesight restored, so he asked Jesus aloud, “Lord, that I may see!” And Jesus said Receive your sight. Your faith has saved you.’

 

Here Jesus reveals his compassion towards human sufferings and wants us to imitate him in trying to overcome these suffering though caused by our sins and disobedience to God’s command as we heard in our first reading today where the king proclaimed his whole kingdom that all were to become a single people, each renouncing his particular customs to accept his religion, sacrificing to idols and profaning the Sabbath. 

The king erected the abomination of desolation above the altar, and any books of the Law that came to light were torn up and burned. Whenever anyone was discovered possessing a copy of the covenant or practising the Law, the king’s decree sentenced him to death. But God never abandoned his people, for those who hoped in him were protected.

This is what we see in the life of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, whose memorial we celebrate today, for she was known for her constant visit to the sick and those who were particularly repulsive; to some, she gave food, to others clothing; some she carried on her shoulders, and performed many other kindly services. For when we live this way, then the coming of the Son of Man will not be a disaster but a day of our final salvation.

Dear friends, what is the one thing you really need in your life? Have we ever felt helpless? Do we feel the need for Jesus’s help in some part of our lives? Why not in faith present it before him who is willing to help us? 

Also, do we know people who are helpless and need some help? How strong is our compassion towards them? Let us look at them for a moment and imagine Jesus looking at them. How does he see them?

 

Therefore, like Jesus, each one of us is called to reach out to people around us who are really in need of our assistance. This includes our family members, our neighbours, our colleagues and others whom we encounter in life. The truth is that you may be the only person who can bring the healing and compassion of Jesus into their lives.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we present our needs before you today, may we experience once again your compassionate love and grant our hearts' desire according to your Holy will, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. It’s another week, and I wish you God’s favour and blessings.

Homily For Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C, 16th November 2025. The World Day For The Poor

  

Readings: Mal. 3:19-20; Ps . 98; 2Thess.3:17-12; Luke:21:5-19

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WHY SHOULD WE CONTINUE TO ENDURE EVEN IN THE MIDST OF  PERSECUTION AND HARDSHIP? 

In most places around the world, we see and hear of human wickedness, intimidation, manipulations, kidnapping, killing and other immoral activities people do for the sake of power, fame, money and lustful desires. And anyone who tries to resist, challenge, correct, change or stop these ugly attitudes becomes an object to be eliminated, as we see in our country today. 

Yet in the midst of all these ugly situations, we are required to continue to speak about God’s goodness, love, compassion and forgiveness. A very difficult task to do, especially when we are suffering as victims of this ugly situation.

Hence, Jesus in our Gospel passage today while talking about the end time event in relation to the destruction of the beautiful temple of Jerusalem, declares that his followers are going to be persecuted on account of bearing witness to his name, a reality that will put even their most cherished relationships to the test: they will be betrayed even by their closest relations and friends. 

However, we should not prepare any defence, he said, because God himself shall give us eloquence and wisdom that none of our opponents will be able to resist or contradict, for our endurance will win us our lives.

Here, as Jesus foretells the destruction of the physical temple in Jerusalem, we need to recall what replaces that temple. This temple was replaced by the presence of the Holy Spirit in the Church and in the soul of humanity. 

So we are born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Though we still talk about the glories of the temple of Jerusalem, how it is being adorned, its splendour and beauty. 

But what about the new temple, be it the physical temple of our Church, or other objects of worship, or that of our homes, our families or even our bodies which is temple of the Holy Spirit, today Jesus is letting us to know that a day will come when they will be destroyed and will no longer exist for nothing last forever in this passing world. So we should not be distracted by the beauty of the things of this passing world or let them separate us from the love of God, be it in the form of persecution or death.

Little wonder Jesus gave us the details of the challenges that await us as his followers, such as arrests, persecution, trials before government authorities, betrayal by family and friends, hatred on account of his name, and even execution. 

He made us know that we should not lay blame on a particular person or group of people, on society, or even on our enemies for such ugly treatment. For they are rather an opportunity to testify and bear witness to him in the world. 

Also in this Gospel, Jesus not only describes what his followers will have to endure, but also offers assurance that he will support them and make them strong. So he made us know that there comes a time in the spiritual life of his followers when they will have to choose to endure, rather than despair. By their endurance, they will gain their lives. Hence, the period of persecution is a time to bear witness through our endurance, courage and tenacity. 

For we heard Prophet Malachi in our first reading saying: The day that is coming is going to burn up evildoers, says the Lord of Hosts, leaving them neither root nor branch. But for those who fear my name, they are the sun of righteousness who shall rise with healing in its wings. 

 

And St. Paul talking about the need to work hard in preparation for the coming of the Lord says in our second reading: we order and call on people who have failed to work to go on quietly working and earning the food that they eat and stop giving unnecessary excuses under the pretence that the coming of the Lord is near.

Dear friends, our message today is centred on hope, faith and love, letting us know that God remains present in the world and also in our lives even when things have gotten so bad that we feel as if the world is over for us. 

So these theological virtues of hope, faith, and love become very important to us, because the circumstances in which Jesus invites us to share the Good News are quite challenging and difficult, especially now that we are passing through difficult times, as individuals, families, societies and countries. 

No doubt we are all affected by the current political crisis, injustice and other social, economic, security and human selfish factors, of which these troubles and conflicts are affecting the whole world. But just as Jesus was not abandoned by his Father in his hour of need, we too will not be abandoned in these times of difficulties. 

Let us be sure that God knows what we are passing through now, and in due time, will give us victory, for Jesus says that our endurance will win us our lives. So do not give up in times of persecution and hardships, for your endurance will win you your life. 

Finally, we will recall that Pope Francis, since 2017, the year of Our Lord, dedicated every last Sunday before the Solemnity of Christ the King, as the World Day of the Poor. An occasion where we are all reminded of the poor, those people in our community who lack the basic needs of life as they depend on others to survive. 

Therefore, today we are called to be of help to the best we can to the poor, knowing that God has a plan for each of us. Each person has been given a special talent according to his/her ability in order to fulfil that plan. So everyone no matter your present condition is special, unique and a masterpiece

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we struggle with the ugly situation in our country today, grant us the courage and strength to endure patiently, especially in these difficult times, through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a fruitful Sunday celebration.

Homily For Saturday Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 15th November, 2025

 

Readings: Wis. 18:14-16.19:6-9; Ps.105; Luke:18:1-8

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

THE POWER OF FAITH AND PERSISTENCE IN DIFFICULT SITUATIONS

Have you been truly in need of something from a friend who is capable of giving you what you need but will not? Or have you been in a situation where you needed something from a friend, but could not get it because you could not reach him easily? Such a situation can put one under serious pressure.

Then the question that comes to mind is, are we going to give up or persevere in our struggles of waiting or reaching out to him? This kind of disposition is what we experience sometimes when we pray and our requests are yet to be granted.

Little wonder Jesus, in our Gospel passage today, using the parable of the widow and the unjust judge, addresses the issues of faith in difficult times and the need to persevere in prayer. Here Jesus reassures us that God hears our prayers. He tells us that we need to pray continually and never lose heart.

In this parable, Jesus is not comparing God to an unjust judge, but he is saying that if, through perseverance, one obtains justice from an unjust judge, how much more will we receive from a good and loving Father? Persevering in prayer teaches us that God does not need to be informed of our needs.

The parable also serves to encourage those suffering injustice to continue with their struggles and the call for justice. We should persist in our complaints, and prayerfully confront unjust authorities to effect the change needed for justice to reign.

Thus, Jesus is encouraging us never to lose heart, rather, we should approach God with confidence, persisting until we obtain what we need. We should keep on asking, seeking, and knocking in prayer until we obtain the answer we need. For we are told in our first reading that God keeps his children from all harm, for the whole creation in obedience to his commands was once more newly fashioned in its nature.

Dear friends, there are times when we ask and we receive, seek and find, knock and it is opened to us. But there were also times when we asked but did not receive, sought but did not find, and knocked but the door remained shut. In such moments, never give up, for prayer drives and directs us to the will of God.

So, persistence and perseverance in prayer are what we are called to embrace. For they will help us to understand how to trust God knowing that he does not need to be informed of our needs, thereby encouraging us never to lose heart. This is certainly one of the biggest challenges of our faith today.

People are not just patient with God. We want to have everything right now as it is hot. The fact remains that patience, persistence and perseverance help us to conform our will to God’s will, but these are very difficult virtues for most people today.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, oftentimes we are not patient with you in our prayers. Give us the grace to persevere and be persistent in our prayer life and in every other thing we do in life, especially relationships with others. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you a delightful weekend.

Homily For Friday Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 14th November 2025

Readings: Wis. 13:1-9; Ps.19; Luke:17:26-37

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

HOW PREPARED ARE YOU FOR ONE WILL BE TAKEN, THE OTHER LEFT?

Every day of our lives we are so busy preparing, acquiring and safeguarding the things of this passing world. Every day the streets are full of people struggling and bobbling, the markets are full of people buying, selling, cheating and chatting, the Churches are full of people praying, singing and celebrating.

Noise everywhere, no one wants to be patient with the other, no one wants to give way to the other. We are so busy with everything except the very essence of our existence that is, the salvation of our souls.

Little wonder, Jesus speaking of the 'end times event' in our Gospel passage today, wants his listeners to notice how life was going on normally in the days of Noah and Lot when flood and fire consumed them. The people were engaged in their everyday activities when the disaster struck. No extraordinary warning, no premonition, no time to plan an escape.

So too the Son of Man will come suddenly and unexpectedly. Our times certainly sound very much like Noah’s days, where everyone seems so busy and distracted, unable to concentrate on what is really important.

But Jesus is warning us today that the time for a decision can catch us unawares. He insists that with a real sense of urgency, we need to take our lives seriously, especially those who do not pay attention to the Word of God. Thus in our first reading, we heard that naturally stupid are all men who have not known God and who, from the good things that are seen, have not been able to discover Him-who-is, or, by studying the works, have failed to recognize the Artificer.

Dear friends, if we have not yet trusted in Christ Jesus as our Saviour, we should do so now, for tomorrow may be too late. If there are ugly behaviours and sins we are yet to give up, the time to do that is now.

Jesus tells us that we will not have any warning signs of the coming day of judgment any more than the preaching of the Gospel. For there will be no time to repent when that day comes.

Therefore, if we believe and obey, if we acknowledge our sins and trust in the mercy of God, we have to do it right now for the day of judgment draws very near. Let us not be unaware or apathetic about its coming. Let us not be too busy with the things of this passing world. Know that the only way to be prepared is to live a good and holy life, a life that is based on true love.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, we have become so busy with the things of this passing world while neglecting to prepare our souls for your coming. As we listened to your words today, may we realise the need to prepare our souls for your coming more than any other thing in the world. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. God bless you.

Homily For Thursday Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 13th November, 2025.

 

Readings: Wis. 7:22-8:1; Ps.119; Luke:17:20-25

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

WHAT IS YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD?

Oftentimes, whenever we hear about the kingdom of God, two questions come to mind: the first question is When is it coming? And the second question is what will it look like? This disposition is not different from the disposition of the Pharisees in our Gospel passage today, who, after hearing Jesus talking about the kingdom of God, asked him when the kingdom would come.

This is because they presume that the kingdom of God is yet to come, and will be visible like an earthly kingdom. But, Jesus replied that the kingdom is already present though invisible, for the kingdom of God is within us.

The kingdom is essentially God's reign in the soul of humanity through his Son Jesus. For with the presence of Jesus, the kingdom of God is already here among us. And within our hearts, God’s reign has already begun. So through our union with Jesus, we already have a foretaste of eternal life.

However, Jesus said to his disciples, a time will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man and will not see it. They will say to you, “Look there!” or, “Look here!” Make no move; do not set off in pursuit; for as the lightning flashing from one part of heaven lights up the other, so will be the Son of Man when his day comes.

Dear friends, today Jesus encourages his disciples not to get worked up, or even overly curious, about the end times and the second coming of the Son of Man. Instead, let us concentrate on the here and now, especially on our relationship with him, as we constantly ponder his teaching.

Jesus also warns us not to be distracted by fake prophets and preachers who claim private revelations about the end of the world. Rather, wisdom demands that we focus on how to shape our lives to attain the demands of God’s kingdom.

Little wonder in our first reading we are called to choose wisdom for she is a breath of the power of God, pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty; nothing impure can find a way into her. She is a reflection of the eternal light, an untarnished mirror of God’s active power, an image of his goodness. For in each generation she passes into holy souls, she makes them friends of God and prophets; for God loves only the man who lives with Wisdom.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we await your Kingdom, help us to be well prepared for it whenever it comes. And give us the grace to be faithful and dedicated servants, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a faithful day.

Homily For Wednesday Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 12th November, 2025. The Memorial of St Josaphat

 

Readings: Wis. 6:1-11; Ps.82; Luke:17:11-19

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

THE DANGER OF INGRATITUDE AND THE BENEFIT OF GRATITUDE

In the scriptures, we have great events that illustrate the compassionate concern of Jesus in the struggles of humanity and how he wishes to set us free from the shackles of all our troubles. But how often do we show gratitude for such great love?

 This is evident in the occasion of our Gospel passage today, where we heard the story of Jesus’ encounter with the ten lepers. Ten of them were cured, but only one, who was a foreigner among them, came back to thank Jesus. From this man’s gratitude, Jesus made a comment on human ingratitude when he asked “Was there no one to return and give thanks to God except this foreigner?”

The problem is that we don’t always remember that the ultimate source of our graces and gifts is God. That is what makes the Samaritan leper special, and distinguishes him from the other nine because he realized that God is the source of his healing. Unfortunately, God’s greatest gifts, which are our life and health, and our ability to think and achieve great things are often taken for granted by most of us. 

More so, the story of these lepers is a good example of how we sinners can and should appeal to Jesus for cleansing, especially from our sins. We should come in faith knowing that God is always willing to cleanse every sinner who comes to Him. 

So, let us sincerely turn to God once again with all of our hearts and with all of our strength, just like the lepers who came to Jesus with faith, knowing that he could heal them and make them better. This is what all of us must have as well, a strong and genuine faith. 

Today may be our great opportunity to be restored and what is needed is to put our faith into action and say, Jesus! Master! Have mercy on us. This is what we see in the life of St. Josaphat whose memorial we celebrate today. He was a monk who eventually rose to the position of leadership within the Church as an Archbishop. He fought for the unification of the Church despite the rising tensions and clashes between those who were supportive of the union and those who opposed it. 

Dear friends, I don’t know what type of leprosy problems you are going through. Are you weighed down by sin or sickness? Are you feeling helpless and rejected?  Or do I know people who are helpless and need some help? Do I feel the need for Jesus’s help in some part of my life? Let us pause for a moment and imagine Jesus looking at us. How does he see us? What are you saying to him and what is he saying to you? 

Jesus wishes to set us free from sickness, troubles challenges and manipulations of the evil ones. He desires to be with us as we struggle every day to overcome the challenges in our families, society and the world at large. Therefore, we should not be afraid to approach Jesus for healing and restoration, all we need is an active faith and a heart of gratitude like the leper in our Gospel passage today.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, you know our innermost being and the challenges we are struggling with, come to our aid we pray and cleanse us from all our physical, emotional and spiritual leprosy as we thank you for all you have done for us, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Peace be with you.

Homily For Tuesday Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 11th November, 2025. The Memorial of St Martin of Tours

 

Readings: Wis. 2:23-3:9; Ps.34; Luke:17:7-10

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

EMBRACING THE HUMILITY OF A  FAITHFUL SERVANT OF GOD

 

In our society today, the rate people seek rewards for what they have done and some even for what they have not done is quite disturbing. Today it is difficult for people to do things without looking for what they will gain from it. 

In fact, it takes courage to trust people even when they extend their hands of generosity to others because we often think that they have some ulterior motives behind the generosity. But this should not be our attitude as disciples of Christ.

 

Little wonder in our Gospel passage today, Jesus, in the parable of a dutiful servant, corrects some of the wrong thinking and notions about being a disciple and teaches us what our true place and disposition should be. 

In the parable, Jesus compared our relationship with God to that of a master and his servant. Where the servant had a duty to serve his master well and to do what he had been told to do without seeking any compliments. Because the master has no obligation to congratulate or please the servant.

 

Therefore, this tells us that we are “unworthy servants” before our Worthy and righteous God who loves us even in our unworthiness. So disciples should not seek reward for their good deeds. For our obedience to God is required by the very nature of who God is and not something to boast about or seek a reward for, since our obedience to him is that of a son or daughter to a loving Father. 

Little wonder St. Paul in our first reading made us know that God made man imperishable, he made him in the image of his nature; it was the devil’s envy that brought death into the world, as those who are his partners will discover. But the souls of the virtuous are in the hands of God, no torment shall ever touch them.

This is what we see in St. Martin of Tours whose memorial we celebrate today.  He was one of the early bishops of Tours in what is now southern France. He was truly dedicated to his service as the shepherd of his flock, dedicating his time and efforts to take care of the needs of his flock, in particular their spiritual needs. 

He was a champion of true faith amidst several heresies that were rampant at that time, protecting his flock from false teachings and helping to guide them down the right path, leading by example through his own virtuous life. We too can do the same.

Dear friends, today we are reminded that following Jesus requires being a humble and faithful servant of God. Hence, we should do all our good works in humility without any strange attachment. We should do what we can to help others we meet on our way for no reason other than to help for the sake of helping. 

Therefore, as faithful servants, all that is required is for us to act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly before God, without seeking any reward, for that is what we are called to do. Remember that everything that happens to us, whether prosperous or adverse, comes from God so that you neither become puffed up in prosperity nor discouraged in adversity. Thus, in anything you do avoid evil, do good, and seek peace.

 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, teach us how to be humble and faithful servants, even when it is difficult. Grant us the grace to be faithful and humble servants at any level we find ourselves without seeking rewards. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a faithful day.

Homily For Monday Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 10th November, 2025. The Memorial of St. Leo the Great.

 

Readings: Wis. 1:1-7; Ps.139; Luke 17:1-6

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

THE SACRIFICIAL NATURE OF FORGIVENESS AND FRATERNAL CORRECTION

The fragile nature of the human person has made it clear that we are not perfect, as we are likely to offend one another in any relationship we find ourselves in. As a result of this, there is a need for us to learn how to accommodate one another’s imperfections.

But one of the major challenges we face in most relationships today is the ability to properly accommodate and correct one another especially when one is straying from the norms set up for the good of the relationship.

This is what Jesus is addressing in our Gospel passage today, for he 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, Be on your guard for when your brother does something wrong, reprove him and, if he is sorry, forgive him. And if he wrongs you seven times a day and seven times comes back to you and says, “I am sorry,” you must forgive him.’

Here, Jesus made us know that in fraternal correction, we need to forgive in any relationship we find ourselves in, for we are responsible for one another’s welfare, and these steps and stages give room for reconciliation and accommodation.

So, 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 offence is one of the most difficult things to do.

However, forgiving a grievous offence is like recovering a lost treasure that contains: joy, peace, freedom, a healthy mind and healing. But how often do we seek to recover this lost treasure in our lives caused by unforgiveness?

Hence Jesus today calls us to persistently seek reconciliation until we gain our brothers and sisters back whenever they have offended and separated from us. But if they refused to be reconciled, we should pray for their conversion. For in all our proceedings, we should seek direction in prayer, knowing that God manifests his mercy when he transforms people and leads them to conversion.

This helps us to perceive forgiveness as a fraternal correction as Jesus teaches us and turns us from selfish and rebellious individuals into truly loving persons. For we are meant to watch over our neighbours.

This is what Pope St. Leo the Great, whose memorial we celebrate today, is telling us. For he showed us what it means to be a true and dedicated disciple of the Lord, telling all Christians to recognise our dignity and remain faithful and committed to the mission entrusted to them by Christ Jesus.

Dear friends, 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 every one of us has the responsibility to strengthen our relationship and be a good example for one another as we work the path towards our salvation.

Therefore, mutual love and fraternal charity are the only ways and processes of fulfilling this obligation. Little wonder today we are told in our first reading to love virtue, you who are judges on earth, let honesty prompt your thinking about the Lord, let us seek him in the simplicity of heart. For wisdom will never make its way into a crafty soul nor stay in a body that is in debt to sin; since the Holy Spirit of instruction shuns deceit.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, we are rebellious and proud people; we lack the courage and disposition to correct and accept corrections. Give us the grace and courage 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 blessed week.

Homily For Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C, 9th November, 2025. The Feast of the Dedication of the St. John Lateran Basilica

 

Readings: Ez.47:1-2.8-9.12, Ps.46, 1Cor3:9-11.16-17, John 2:13-22

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

UNDERSTANDING THE NATURE OF THE CHURCH AS THE TEMPLE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

 

Today, in a special way, the Holy Mother Church celebrates the Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, which falls on the 9th day of November, and we also celebrate the feast of the dedication of St. John Lateran Basilica in Rome. It is the Mother and head of all the Churches and a symbol of unity for all the Churches in the world with the Roman Church. 

This feast reminds us of our need to live in deep communion with the Pope, the successor of St. Peter, the rock on which Jesus built his Church on which our faith as Christians depends.   However, we should never lose sight of the fact that it is the symbol of the true meeting point between man and God, and Jesus Christ who is the actual temple.

 

Little wonder Jesus in the Gospel passage today points to himself as the temple of God in the world, the one through whom God is present in the world.  Here, he is speaking of the Temple that was his body when he said to the Jews: Destroy this Temple, and in three days I will raise it up. 

Thus, prophet Ezekiel in our first reading today prophesying about this Temple said: ‘Along the river, on either bank, will grow every kind of fruit tree with leaves that never wither and fruit that never fails; they will bear new fruit every month, because this water comes from the sanctuary. And their fruit will be good to eat and the leaves medicinal.’

 

While St. Paul in our second reading, emphasises that the Christian community, the body of Christ, is the place where God is to be truly present in the world. The Church is a spiritual temple and each member of the Church is a temple of the Holy Spirit, a living expression of God’s loving presence in our world today. 

He said: ‘Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anybody should destroy the temple of God, God will destroy him, because the temple of God is sacred; and you are that temple'.

 

So today’s feast of dedication reminds us about our dedication to God by showing us the theological understanding of what Church dedication represents. It reminds us that the Church building is a sign of God’s worshipping community, pointing out that the people should be aware that the holiness of the building depends not on the “blessed stones”, but on the saving words proclaimed in it, the holy sacrifice offered there, the sacraments of salvation celebrate there and the presence of the Holy Spirit who dwells in the hearts of the faithful gathered in the Holy Assembly for worship. 

 

As a temple of God, we are nourished in the Church with the Word of God, calling us to repentance and encouraging us in our daily struggles in life. In the Church, we receive the sacraments of initiation: baptism, and confirmation and are nourished by the Holy Eucharist. In the Church, we come to God with our burden of sin and sickness, and he heals us through the sacraments of reconciliation and anointing of the sick.

 

Also, in the Church, we receive God’s grace and blessings to serve him in different vocations and ministries through the sacraments of matrimony and Holy Orders. In the Church, our Lord Jesus Christ remains present with us in the Holy Eucharist, present in the Tabernacle, in the company of Our Blessed Mother Mary and all the Saints. 

And when we pass away from this world, especially as the temple of God, the Church accompanies us through prayers to our heavenly temple, where we will be united with the triumphant Church in the presence of God, our Loving Father. 

 

Dear friends, now we can understand the nature of the Church Temple of the Holy Spirit and why St Paul says that our bodies are sacred temples of the Lord. This, in fact, is the heart of our own baptismal character, to become temples of God through whom God’s loving presence touches the lives of others. So, today we are reminded that we are a sacred reality, where God dwells, which should not be profaned or used as a material object. 

Therefore, we must preserve our bodies from stains of sin and corruption. We must not let the pleasurable things of this passing world defile our bodies, which by the virtue of our baptism have become a sacred dwelling of the Holy Spirit. For this reason, we must unite together to build up the body of Christ, which is His Church.

 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, as we celebrate the feast of the dedication of your Church, help us to realize that our bodies are the sacred temple of your dwelling presence and so preserve it always from the stains of sin and corruption. We ask this through Christ our Lord.  Have a fruitful Sunday celebration.

Homily For Saturday Thirty-First Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 8th November, 2025

  

Readings: Romans: 16:3-9.16.22-27; Ps.145; Luke 16: 9-15

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

CAN YOU BE TRUSTED WITH WHAT IS NOT YOURS?

 

One of the difficult challenges people face as regards beginning and sustaining any meaningful thing in our society today is getting people who can be trusted or those who can trust us. 

Today, when we walk through the streets, we observe how people are struggling with the things of this life because of a lack of trust. We can feel their passion, determination and willingness to achieve great things even in the midst of corruption and challenges of life. 

How I wish we could put such energy into working towards the things that edify our souls. But the questions we need to ask ourselves are: can I be trusted with the smallest things in this passing world? How am I using the things of this world?

 

This is what Jesus is telling us in our Gospel passage today when he said; Use money, tainted as it is, to win you friends, and thus make sure that when it fails you, they will welcome you into the tents of eternity. 

For the man who can be trusted in little things can be trusted in great; the man who is dishonest in little things will be dishonest in great. If then you cannot be trusted with money, that tainted thing, who will trust you with genuine riches? And if you cannot be trusted with what is not yours, who will give you what is your very own?

 

Here, we have the continuation of yesterday’s parable of the dishonest steward, which today Jesus explained its meaning and how it can be related to the lives of the people, telling us that we should be careful not to fall into the temptations of money and other worldly pleasures which are trying to lead us away from God and the salvation he has given us. 

Little wonder we heard St. Paul in our first reading saying: Glory to him who can give us the strength to live according to the Good News he preached in which he proclaimed Jesus Christ as the revelation of a mystery kept secret for endless ages, but now so clear that it must be broadcast to pagans everywhere to bring them to the obedience of faith.

 

Dear friends, today we are called to live a life of integrity. Every one of us is called to be good managers and custodians of whatever blessings and resources God has given us, for we are all reminded that we have been called to follow the Lord and to devote ourselves to Him wholeheartedly. Therefore, we must learn to be trusted and ensure that we manage whatever is entrusted to us. 

 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, as we listened to your words today, may we not be carried away by the things of this passing world. Rather than give us the grace to live a life of integrity and trust in order to develop our societies positively, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a grace-filled weekend.