Homily for Wednesday Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 1st July, 2026

 

Reading: Amos 5:14-15,21-24; Ps. 50; Matt. 8:28-34

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

HOW CAN WE OVERCOME THE EVIL SITUATION AROUND US

There is no doubt that there is an active presence of evil in the world, which manifests itself in different forms and occasions. This is particularly evident in the time of Jesus, as he seemed to have lived in a world of hostility, marked by political and family divisions, as well as the conflict between good and evil, which is also present in our societies and country today. Thus, every day is a struggle against the malice of the evil ones, and people are doing everything they can to overcome them.

Little wonder, our Gospel passage today presents to us Jesus’ encounter with two demoniacs from the tomb in the countryside of the Gadarenes, who had been tormenting the community. They were so fierce that no one could pass that way.

So when they saw Jesus, they started shouting, ‘What do you want with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torture us before the time?’ And Jesus said to them, Go, and they came out from the men and immediately entered the pigs and the pigs rushed into the lake and perished in the water.

Here, we are called to recognise that the presence of Jesus in the world brings about victory over the evil ones. Demons recognise Jesus as the power of God. And his power over demons is a direct defeat of the evil ones.

The restoration of the two demoniacs signifies the inauguration of God's kingdom in the world. It also signifies the healing of God’s people who had sinned and disobeyed God by abandoning His precepts and laws, preferring instead the wicked ways of life and worldly practices which lead to destruction.

This is evident in our first reading today, where we heard Prophet Amos saying “Seek good and not evil so that you may live, and that the Lord, God of Hosts, may really be with you as you claim he is. Hate evil, love good, maintain justice at the city gate, and it may be that the Lord, God of Hosts, will take pity”.

Dear friends, today eaevery onef us is called to seek good and not evil, to promote justice and integrity, lest we be enslaved, rejected and possessed by the evil of this world, just like the two demoniacswho livedd in the wilderness away from other people.

We must know that no matter how grievous our sins may have been, God alone has the power to heal us and to bring us back to Himself. And Jesus has given us the gift of his presence in the person of the Holy Spirit, which God has bestowed on us in our baptism.

In this gift resides the power and authority to confront the evil of this world and overcome it. For Jesus wishes to set us free from sickness, forces, power and manipulations of the evil ones. He desires to be with us as we struggle every day to overcome the evil in our lives, our families, our societies, countries and the world at large. Therefore, we should not be afraid to stand firm against the manipulations of the devil, because Jesus will not abandon us in this battle of life.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, the world is full of evil and wickedness, give us the grace to seek what is good and hate what is evil, and as we struggle every day to do your will, may your presence be felt and drive away all evil in our midst through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a fruitful Month.

Homily For Tuesday, Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year B, 30th June, 2026

 

Readings: Amos 3:1-8.4:11-12; Ps. 5; Matt 8:23-27

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

SAVE US, LORD, FOR WE ARE PERISHING IN THE STORMS OF LIFE.

Why are we so frightened by the storms of this passing world? Why is our faith shaking because of the way things are going in our lives? Are you going through a situation where the need to look for a Saviour is highly expected? Such was the case with the disciples of Jesus in our Gospel passage today. It is a story about the disciples' panic and fear of perishing due to the heavy storm that is affecting their boat.

With this heavy storm breaking their boat, the disciples cannot believe that Jesus was asleep while they were afraid and needed help from anywhere. So they went to him and woke him saying, ‘Save us, Lord, we are perishing!’ And he said to them, ‘Why are you so frightened, you men of little faith?’ And with that he stood up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and all was calm again. The men were astounded and said, ‘What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the sea obey him.’

This story signifies God's chosen people on a transit of faith, frightened by the guilt of sin and wounded by the waves of the sea, the abode of evil forces and monsters of this world. The boat can be seen as a symbol of the faith of the Church and the people of God, struggling against the world’s principalities and powers, while the storm represents the heavy persecutions and suffering endured by the people of God. And Jesus is saying: Why are you so frightened, you men of little faith?

Today Jesus is calling us to journey on this boat of life with an unwavering faith and a repentant heart, because the world is being tossed around by the waves of evil forces, the enemies of humanity. And it is only God who can subdue it, for he has promised to restore us back to himself.

This is what the people of Israel failed to understand in our first reading today. Hence, we heard the Lord saying through the prophet Amos: “You alone, of all the families of earth, have I acknowledged; therefore it is for all your sins that I mean to punish you”.

Dear friends, why are we so frightened by the storms of this passing world? Why is our faith shaking because of our present situation? Perhaps, we may need to cry out to God and say Save us, for we are perishing in the storms of life. The fact remains that we need to have faith in God, for he is with us at all times.

So, I don't know the great storms of doubt and fear in your soul? I don’t know if you are under the power of the evil forces of this world. I don’t know if you are heading to destruction? All I know is that with great faith in God we can navigate through the heavy storms of life, for Jesus and his angels will surely rebuke the violent storms in our hearts so that we can experience once again the calmness of safety, peace and joy.

LET US PRAY: Lord God. As we struggle every day to overcome the ugly situation around us, grant that the violent storms and waves of bondage in our lives will end in a wonderful calm that brings peace in our souls, through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you a fruitful and joyful day. 

Homily For Monday Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 29th June, 2026. The Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul

 

Reading: Acts. 12:1-11; Ps. 34; 2 Tim. 4:6-8.17-18; Matt. 16:13-19

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

KNOWING THE LORD AND OUR ROLE IN HIS MISSIONARY MANDATE

Today the Holy Mother Church presents to us the solemnity of two great personalities in the missionary mandate of Christ to his Church. A solemn celebration that reveals to us that there is something deep and unique about every person as regards the master plans of God for humanity.

But sometimes it takes personal experience to discover this uniqueness. I'm not sure if you have ever had an experience that made you think about your purpose on this earth, as you realise the emptiness of life. A kind of experience that turns pride into humility, sinfulness into righteousness, an experience that changes your perception about things or people?

This is the kind of experience Saints Peter and Paul had with Jesus on different occasions that made them change their perception of life as they embraced their mission and mandate from Jesus. Their encounter with Jesus brought about a profound transformation. Thus Simon left his fishing profession and became a Fisher of men and a preacher of the word of God with a new name, Peter the Rock, on which Jesus built his Church, the same thing with St. Paul.

This is evident in our Gospel passage today, where Peter demonstrated an act of faith as he gave an inspired answer to the question about the personality of Jesus. And Jesus stresses 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. And I tell you, 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."

Here the key represents the authority to open the gate of the Kingdom of Heaven, and to judge whether to admit or to refuse. While the expression “binding and loosing” refers to the doctrinal decisions and disciplinary power of St Peter, that is, the faculty to impose and to lift, it guarantees that Peter’s decisions in the exercise of his ecclesial function are valid in the eyes of God.

And that is why in the iconographic tradition we see the keys in the hand of Peter, because, the faith given to Peter by God is the rock on which Jesus built his Church. This is what St Peter expressed in our first reading today when he said: “Now I know that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod and from all that the Jewish people were so certain would happen”.

Meanwhile, Paul’s encounter brought true conversion in his life and changed his perception about Christians with a new identity, changing his name from Saul to Paul. A name indicating his new mission as the Apostle of the Gentiles. Little wonder the iconographic tradition represents St. Paul with a sword. The image of the sword refers to his entire mission of evangelisation, and that was the instrument with which he was killed.

No doubt that St. Paul carried out his mission with all his zeal and passion, which is why he is regarded as one of the apostles, and today his works still speak about the effect of his personal encounter with Jesus. Hence, we heard him saying in our second reading: I have fought the good fight to the end; I have run the race to the finish; I have kept the faith; all there is to come now is the crown of righteousness reserved for me, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that Day; and not only to me but to all those who have longed for his appearing.

Thus, the relationship between Peter and Paul is designed by God for the purpose of the mission entrusted to them. Their lives are a symbol of unity in one missionary mandate of Christ. For St. Peter was entrusted with the leadership of all the Apostles and Church, while St. Paul was empowered and entrusted with the mission to the Gentiles (Gal. 2:8). For this mission, they both suffered martyrdom for the faith and their love for God and the mission entrusted to them by Jesus.

This very sacrificial life of love is what we are celebrating today, as being represented in different images and statues of Saints Peter and Paul as seen in front of Saint Peter’s Basilica, in the seminaries and in parishes, of which they are easily recognizable by their respective attributes: the keys in the hand of St. Peter and the sword held by St. Paul, showing us the fraternal zeal and unity of these two Apostles on their way to martyrdom for the love of Christ.

Dear friends, we are called to look into our lives and discover our role in the mission of Christ just like Saints Peter and Paul. We must also learn to be united in one missionary mandate of Christ, just like Peter and Paul. We must not encourage or be part of the ugly events of division, manipulation and multiplication of Churches going on in Christianity today. Though, we are blessed with different gifts and apostolates, these are meant for the unity and growth of the mission of Christ and not to bring divisions.

Therefore, today we are called to really examine our conscience to know where we are with regards to our faith as Christians, we are 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 the underworld shall not prevail against it.

LET US PRAY: Almighty and ever living God, as we begin our week with the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, create in us we pray, a pure heart and renew a steadfast spirit of true faith within us, so that your Church may truly be united as one. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a fruitful day. 

Homily For Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A, 28th June, 2026

Reading: 1Kings 4:8-11.14-16; Ps.89; Rom. 6:3-4.8-11; Matt. 10:37-42

Rev.  Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

EMBRACING THE SACRIFICIAL NATURE OF DISCIPLESHIP 

The second stanza of one of our great hymns, titled The Summons, " was written by John L. Bell in 1987 said:

Will you leave yourself behind if I but call your name?

Will you care for the cruel and the kind, and never be the same?

Will you risk the hostile stare if your life attracts or scares?

Will you let me answer prayer in you and you in me?

This hymn contains personal questions asked by Jesus to every individual human person. A question that one will have to answer personally especially as regards the demands for a sacrificial life of discipleship and hospitality. Will you leave? Do you care? Will you risk? Will you let the Lord lead you? 

These are questions of great demands which a true disciple must constantly reflect on in life to be aware of the seriousness of the commitment required of him/her as a disciple of Jesus. This great demand is presented to us in our liturgy today as the readings propel us to reflect on the cost of discipleship and the rewards for hospitality.

In our Gospel passage, Jesus says to his apostles: “Anyone who prefers father or mother to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who prefers son or daughter to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who does not take his cross and follow in my footsteps is not worthy of me. Anyone who finds his life will lose it; anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it.” He also commanded saying:  ‘If anyone gives so much as a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple, then I tell you solemnly, he will most certainly not lose his reward.’

Here, Jesus is not saying we should negate the fourth commandment or not love our parents or our children. Rather, Jesus is making it very clear that for us to truly live out the message of the Gospel, we must be ready to make a great sacrifice of that which is so dear to us. This is because the life of the Gospel will inevitably come into conflict with the things of this world, and this will, in a way, bring tension and separation between family members, friends, parents and siblings. 

However, those willing to sacrifice their lives for the sake of Christ and the Gospel will gain eternal life as their reward, while those who would choose to save their own mortal lives in this world rather than sacrificing them for the sake of the kingdom of God will lose their soul for eternity. And for those who will be hospitable to people who have embraced the life of the Gospel, they will surely receive great rewards.

 This is evident in our first reading today, where we read how the hospitality of a woman to the prophet Elisha brought about the great gift of a child to her. This woman showed her hospitality to the servant of God without having any selfish or ulterior motive but was simply demonstrating her God-fearing attitude and care for God’s prophet. Such is God’s way of rewarding our great act of charity and sacrifice towards the vessels he uses to fulfil his mission. 

This no doubt is what St. Paul in our second reading today highlights, telling us that by the virtue of our baptism, all of us have died to sin and have been raised to newness of life as God’s vessels, His own beloved children, sharing in the mission of His beloved Son, Jesus Christ, thereby cable for giving and receiving hospitality and the rewards that comes from such great sacrificial love for God and for humanity. 

Dear friends today we are called to reflect on the sacrificial nature of discipleship and the rewards for hospitality. But how far are we willing to go for the sake of discipleship? This task, no doubt, is quite difficult; therefore, to embrace it, we must desire to have Jesus as our only master, we must be disposed to respond to the call of the master and take instructions from him alone. We must be willing to sacrifice and pay the ultimate prize of following Jesus. We must desire to acquire the mind of our Master Jesus by spending quality time with him, along with other fellow disciples, and finally,  we must invite other people to Jesus. 

This is quite demanding, we need the grace, strength and courage that comes from the Holy Spirit and this is possible only through constant prayer and holiness of life. Therefore, as we embrace the call of discipleship, let us leave ourselves behind in sacrifice, let us care for the cruel and kind and never be the same, let us risk the hostile stare and should our life attract or scare, let it be a sign of Christ dwelling in us and we in him, so that, like the first disciples of Christ, we may receive the great rewards of eternal life. 

PRAYER: Lord God, you have called us to follow you as your disciples. Grant us the grace and courage to pay the price of discipleship and receive the rewards of eternal life through Christ our Lord. Amen, Happy Sunday.

Homily For Saturday Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 27th June, 2026

 

Reading: Lam 2:2,10-14,18-19; Ps. 74; Matt. 8:5-17

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

PUTTING OUR FAITH INTO POSITIVE ACTION LIKE THE ROMAN CENTURION

In our Catechism classes, we were taught that faith is a gift of God, a supernatural virtue infused in us by God. Little wonder our levels of faith are not the same. However, our gift of faith grows depending on our disposition and utilisation of the gift. That is why, when Jesus invites people to faith and conversion, he does not coerce them; rather, they come to faith through their good disposition and utilisation of their experience with Him.

This is exactly the case with the Roman centurion in our Gospel passage today, who sorts help for his sick servant, he approached Jesus for healing, but when Jesus accepted to come to his home, the centurion hesitates, feeling unworthy of Jesus’ presence in his home, said to him “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed”.

Here the centurion believes that Jesus can speak a word of healing, and that will be enough to cure his servant. He has total faith and trust in the power of Jesus’ word. For him, the servant did not even have to hear Jesus speak the word: it was enough that the word was spoken. Jesus praised his faith and genuine humility. Today, these words of the centurion have become a pattern of prayer for us, that before Holy Communion we say them passionately because his faith and compassion are inspiring examples for us to follow.

This is exactly the kind of faith that all of us must have as well. The faith that leads us to seek God wholeheartedly, to be humble before Him and to love Him above all and not to allow our pride, ego and desires to lead us into faithlessness, disobedience and sin against God.

We are also called to trust God at all times, for He is always ready and able to help, so that we do not lament like the people in our first reading today. For they kept saying to their mothers, ‘Where is the bread? As they fainted like wounded men in the squares of the City, as they poured out their souls on their mothers’ breasts. Who can rescue and comfort you, virgin daughter of Zion? For as huge as the sea is, your affliction; who can possibly cure you?

Dear friends, what is our disposition towards the gift of faith that God has given to us? Do we have total faith and trust in God, just like the Centurion, or lament like the people in our first reading? The fact remains that our experiences of evil, injustice, suffering and death can shake or shape the gift of faith in us depending on our disposition towards the situation.

Remember, the Centurion interceded for his sick servant, do we intercede for others who require God’s healing and mercy? Do we know that we can speak God’s word in prayer and someone, somewhere, will find healing? Do we often, like this Centurion, recognise in all humility our unworthiness before God? We are called today to cultivate an act of faith and genuine humility in prayers just like the Roman Centurion.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, we are weak and oftentimes we display an act of faithlessness due to the pressure and challenges of life. Through the intercessions of our Mother Mary, may the Lord increase our faith and make us humble and patient in doing His will. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a fruitful weekend. 

Homily For Friday, Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time, Year A, 26th June 2026

 

Reading: 2Kings 25:1-12; Ps.137; Matt.8:1-4 Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

GOD IS ALWAYS WILLING TO HEALING AND RESTORATION

There is no doubt that we have great events in the scriptures that illustrate the compassionate concern of Jesus in the struggles of humanity and wish to set us free from the shackles of all our troubles.

This is evident in the occasion of our Gospel passage today, where a leper having listened to Jesus speaking on the mountain, came up and bowed low in front of him and said ‘Sir, if you want to, you can cure me.’ Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him and said, ‘Of course I want to! Be cured!’ And his leprosy was cured at once.

Here, the touching of Jesus is of great significance. No ordinary person would dare to touch a leper. We can imagine the inner healing that must have resulted from Jesus' touch, that moment of physical contact the leper had not experienced for a long time due to rejection. Touch is something we all need, but are so often lacking in our relationship with God and one another. But this cannot stop Jesus from reaching out to his children who call on him for healing and restoration.

Thus, the leper was despised, feared, shunned and rejected, but when he approached Jesus in humility, he became the object of divine attention. We, too, just like the leper, need healing, including the healing that comes from the touch of Jesus. All we need is to approach Jesus in humility, and we will become a person of divine attention.

More so, the story of this leper 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 leper who came to Jesus with faith, knowing that he could heal him and make him better. This is what all of us must have as well, a strong and genuine faith. Today may be my great opportunity to be restored, and what is needed is to put my faith in action and say, " Lord, if you will, you can restore me.

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 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 and cleanse us from all our physical, emotional and spiritual leprosy, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Peace be with you.

Homily For Thursday Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 25th June, 2026

 

Reading: 2 Kings 24:8-17; Ps. 78; Matt. 7:21-29

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

DOING THE WILL OF GOD IS BUILDING ON A ROCKY FOUNDATION

One of my favourite hymns in our hymn book says:

In Christ alone my hope is found, He is my light, my strength, my song! This cornerstone, this solid ground, firm through the fiercest drought and storm. What heights of love, what depths of peace, when fears are stilled when striving cease! My Comforter, my All in All, here in the love of Christ I stand.

This hymn draws my attention to our Gospel passage today, where Jesus says: ‘It is not those who say to me, “Lord, Lord,” who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven. When the day comes many will say to me, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, cast out demons in your name, work many miracles in your name?”

Then I shall tell them to their faces: I have never known you; away from me, you evil men! And he continues, 'Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a sensible person who built their house on rock.' Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and hurled themselves against that house, and it did not fall: for it was founded on rock.

Here Jesus calls our attention to something very important. He reminds us that it is not enough to hear the word of God; we must put it into practice. It is not sufficient to speak about God, but we must practice what we speak. We are called not merely to hear God’s word but to daily put it into action. Hearing or reading the Word is important, but that is not enough.

We must let the Word of God touch and shape our lives. For it is a waste of time and energy if our lives do not reflect the Gospel we preach if we do not hear the words of Jesus and act on them. The truth is that the houses built by wise and foolish persons may probably look alike.

However, the difference lies in the foundations, which can only be revealed when tested by the storms of life. As we heard in our first reading today, the troops of Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, marched on Jerusalem, and the city was besieged. He carried off all Jerusalem into exile, all the nobles and all the notables, ten thousand of these were exiled, because they had abandoned their solid foundation and stuck to vanity.

Dear friends, what are we doing with the word of God we hear every day? What kind of fruit am I bearing? How has the word of God changed my life and the lives of those around me? How has the word of God challenged and propelled me to love God and my neighbours?

The fact remains that, hearing and doing the word of God is building our faith on a rocky foundation, that cornerstone, that solid ground, through the fiercest drought and storms of life, because the fruit of the Word of God in us is seen when tested in the storms of life.

Thus, is my attitude towards the word of God like that of the foolish builder who takes shortcuts for quick results? Or that of a wise builder who spends time digging a secure foundation through constant meditation and practice of the word of God?

Therefore, when we hear the word, we must apply it to our daily lives because that's the only way we can feed our souls. Our society has enough hearers of the word, what we need now are doers of the word of God, men and women who will feed their lives with the word of God and from the abundance of their hearts live a life that will influence society positively.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, through your Word we find life and hope in Christ who is our all in all, grant us the grace to be doers of your Word and not just hearers, to build our faith on a rocky foundation in Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed day.

Homily For Wednesday, Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time, Year A, 24th June 2026. The Solemnity of the Birth of John the Baptist

 

Reading: Is.49:1-6; Ps.139; Acts 13:22-26; Luke: 1:57-66.80

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

OUR BIRTH AND NAME ARE PART OF THE DIVINE PLAN OF GOD

One of the most significant days in our lives is our birthday, this day often comes with joy and praise. And in the mood of joy that a life has been born, one of the things that comes to mind is giving a name to the baby as an identity. This event is very important and necessary. In fact, the naming of objects and persons is an important ritual found in scripture.

We can recall in the book of Genesis (Gen.2:19-20) when God created Adam and gave him the responsibility of giving names to all creation. So the act of giving a name to people has been a traditional event not only in the scriptures but in every human culture. Thus, today we celebrate the great Solemnity of the birth of St. John the Baptist, the only person whose birthday is celebrated in the Church’s liturgical calendar, besides that of Jesus and the Blessed Virgin Mary, because of his role in the history of the salvation of humanity.

On account of this, our Gospel passage today gives us the record of the events of the birth and naming of John the Baptist. From the passage, great significant and surprising things happened during the birth and naming of John the Baptist, of which we can identify three unusual features: first the old have given birth. Secondly, the child has a strange name, “John”, derived from the Hebrew name Yochanan, meaning " YAHWEH is gracious", a name which no one bears in the family.

Thirdly, Zechariah's dumbness is taken away on account of giving this name, which brought great joy to the people and they praised God. However, such remarkable events caused the crowd to fear and perceive that something different and surprising was happening, things worth remembering. Showing us that, when God names a child, that child is significant in his plan.

John’s birth was prophesied by the prophets as we have in our first reading today, to be the last among the prophets, for his role was to prepare the people and to finally proclaim the coming of the Messiah who will fulfil the long-awaited plan of God for the salvation of humanity. And in our second reading, St. Paul gave us an account of how John, in humility, carried out his mission as he proclaimed a baptism of repentance for the whole people of Israel. And before John ended his career, he said, “I am not the one you imagine me to be; that one is coming after me, and I am not fit to undo his sandal.

No doubt the mission of John the Baptist was quite challenging as he encountered many obstacles just like other prophets before him. He faced strong opposition and rejection from the Pharisees, who doubted and challenged his teaching and works for the baptism of repentance, which many people believed in. But John fearlessly confronted them, calling them wicked, a brood of vipers and hypocrites. He also courageously confronted King Herod with the truth about his illegal and sinful relationship with Herodias, his brother’s wife, and this led to his martyrdom, and so ends his mission of decreasing while Jesus increases.

Dear friends, we all have a significant place in the plan of God, and our birth and name are mysteries that point to this plan. Our names are not just a common ceremony. It is a testimony of God’s plan for us. Why not take time today to reflect on the meaning and circumstances surrounding our births and our names? By God’s grace, we will understand better who we are and what our mission and purpose on earth are.

By so doing, we will faithfully stand for the truth of what we represent and fulfil our plans and purposes, just like John the Baptist who stood for the truth of his mission and offered it to everyone, whoever, whenever and however it will best bring conversion to sinners even at the cost of his head.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, you created each one of us to fulfil your plan on earth and in our names we bear the mystery of our mission and purpose, Grant us the grace to faithfully and courageously fulfil our mission and purpose in this world. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed and joyful day. 

Homily For Tuesday Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 23rd June, 2026

 

Reading: 2 Kings 19:9-11,14-21,31-36; Ps. 48; Matt. 7:6.12-14

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

AVOID THE WIDE ROAD THAT LEADS TO DESTRUCTION, FOLLOW THE NARROW GATE THAT LEADS TO ETERNAL LIFE

Life is a temporal assignment, a journey which begins in the morning, so beautiful, full of expectations and hope, but the sojourner has no knowledge of his/her destination, purpose and end. The only guide is his/ her willingness to constantly follow the directives of the Sender who communicates his plans and purposes to those who care and are willing to listen.

Thus, the emptiness and shortness of life make me reflect on my future as a human person and the question that comes to my mind is: "Where will you and I, and the beautiful things of this world be in the next one, ten, twenty, forty, eighty and a hundred years for those who are strong?

The deep silence in my soul could not offer me any answer to this question. Rather, it exposed me to the foolishness of human greediness, corruption and selfishness. Hence, I asked myself what God really requires from us in this world. And how can we really identify the path we are called to follow?

I found a consoling answer to this question in our Gospel passage today, where Jesus said “always treat others as you would like them to treat you; that is the meaning of the Law and the Prophets.” And he added “Enter by the narrow gate, since the road that leads to destruction is wide and spacious, and many are following it; but narrow is the gate and hard is the road that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”

Here, Jesus described how humanity has failed to embrace the life of truth, holiness and love for God and for one another because it seems difficult and narrow to them. For they prefer to follow the destructive ways of life that are born out of pride, greed and uncontrollable desire for worldly things. And the things of this passing world are so captivating and many people are captured by its seductive power and are greatly following it.

This is exactly what was causing the problem between Sennacherib and Hezekiah in our first reading today, where Sennacherib, out of pride, defiled the God of Israel. In response, Hezekiah said this prayer in the presence of the Lord, ‘O Lord of Hosts, God of Israel, enthroned on the cherubs, you alone are God of all the kingdoms of the earth, you have made heaven and earth. ‘Give ear, Lord, and listen. Open your eyes, Lord, and see. Hear the words of Sennacherib who has sent to insult the living God. And the Lord intervened.

Dear friends, life is indeed very short and the road that leads to death and destruction is truly wide and very captivating, of which many are captives of its seductive power. But the road to life is becoming narrower and narrower because humanity is working so hard to expand the seductive road and gates of destruction against the narrow gate of life. So, let us learn to follow the narrow gate of love and sacrifice that leads to eternal life.

Therefore, to embrace the narrow gate and road that leads to eternal life, we must work harder by resisting all the temptations and sinful things of this passing world and embrace the life of love and sacrifice which Jesus has offered us. Let us turn towards God with all our hearts by removing from our hearts all forms of pride, greed and unhealthy desires that lead us astray down the path of destruction.

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

Homily For Monday Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 22nd June 2026

 

Reading: 2 Kings 17:5-8,13-15,18; Ps. 60; Matt. 7:1-5

Rev.  Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

WHY WE MUST LOOK INTO OUR LIVES BEFORE CRITICISING AND JUDGING OTHERS

One of the unattractive attitudes of the human person is the tendency to often criticise, judge, and condemn others without examining our own faults. Have we ever experienced a situation where, while we were condemning others for their faults, we suddenly realised that our own faults are just as numerous as theirs? This does happen often in our relationships with one another.

This ugly attitude is what Jesus is addressing today in the Gospel passage, when he said “ Do not judge, and you will not be judged; because the judgements you give are the judgements you will get, and the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given. Why do you observe the speck in your brother’s eye and never notice the log in your own?

Here, Jesus is referring to the improper and prideful attitudes of many of the Pharisees, the scribes and teachers of the Law and many others like them, whose self-acclaimed righteousness has led to criticism and condemnation of other people. For they have failed to see the log in their eye while seeking to remove the speck in others. But what is this log in our eyes? It is the log of pride, greed and self-righteousness. 

These logs of pride, greed and self-righteousness make us forget who we are and claim who we are not. Pride, as we know, is the first capital sin; it makes us look down on people, and pride makes us blind. It makes us not look into our own lives to see and accept how wrong we can be. This is because we are often controlled by our ego and pride, our human ambitions and desires, for we like to always be in control and superior to others. 

This is what we see in the life of the people of Israel in our first reading today. For we heard that the Lord had given Israel and Judah this warning, ‘Turn from your wicked ways and keep my commandments and my laws in accordance with the entire Law I laid down for your fathers and delivered to them through my servants the prophets.’ But they would not listen, they were more stubborn than their ancestors had been who had no faith in the Lord their God. 

Therefore, today we are called to humbly look into our lives and identify all those ugly attitudes of pride in us and get rid of them, so that we can humbly correct and accommodate other people's weaknesses. So instead of pointing out what is lacking in others, we must look into ourselves, and find ways that we can make good use of the opportunities that God has given us to show good examples to others. 

We are to discard all our prideful, wicked and sinful ways of life and replace them with genuine love for one another, with new zeal and sincere commitment to telling one another the truth in all humility.

Dear friends, we are not called to judge, because sometimes what we judge in others, we are doing worse. Hence, Jesus is challenging us today to think differently about how we live our lives. Calling us to look into our inner being, our interior life, that part of us that we hide from one another. 

Let us purify them in humility, so that we can be pure and free to help others in their struggles with their weakness. Therefore, it’s time to look into ourselves and take away our prideful ways of life, to humbly accommodate the weaknesses and faults of others, especially in our families, societies and the world at large, knowing that no one is perfect without the other.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, give us the grace of humility and the capacity to always look within us to be more aware of our inadequacies, and so become more gentle in dealing with others, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed and grace-filled week.

Homily For Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A, 21st June, 2026

 

Reading: Jer. 20:10-13; Ps. 69; Rom. 5:12-15; Matt.10:26-33

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

WHY WE SHOULD NOT BE AFRAID

One of the most common human emotions is fear, which describes our emotional reaction to something that appears to be dangerous. It is like an instinct programmed into the nervous system through which we sense danger or the threat of harm or pain whether physically, psychologically or spiritually.

Often, we encounter things that trigger the emotion of fear, especially in our world today, where every day we struggle with various troubles and uncertainties projected by evil forces, and people are doing everything they can to overcome them.

Sometimes, when children of God are confronted with an ugly situation, they don't know what to do and out of fear, they fall victim and are helpless. In fact, the ugly situation in our country today has instigated great fear in the lives of people, so that it seems to most people that God, His Church and even the government have abandoned them. This is obvious because, we have lost our connection with God.

But the fact remains that God and His Church have not abandoned us, for he is ever and always closer to us than we can ever imagine. Little wonder today in our Gospel passage, Jesus tells us to fear not, for he will watch over us. He says: “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; fear him rather who can destroy both body and soul in hell. Can you not buy two sparrows for a penny? And yet not one falls to the ground without your Father knowing. Why, every hair on your head has been counted.

So, there is no need to be afraid; you are worth more than hundreds of sparrows” The bird sparrows were the food of the poorest people, for they could be purchased for the lowest price. But God is providentially involved when one of these birds falls to the ground. Showing us that God, who is sovereign over the sparrow, is also sovereign over something as little as the hairs of our head.

Thus, we are encouraged not to give up as we encounter great persecutions, troubles and challenges, just like Jeremiah in our first reading, who was treated badly, persecuted and endured all sorts of trials, indignities, humiliation and discomfort on account of his message of truth. Yet, he trusted in the Lord and committed himself wholeheartedly to God’s protection, knowing that the Lord’s faithful will always triumph against the wicked and all those who are persecuting them.

This is exactly what Jesus is reassuring us when he said do not fear those who can destroy the body, but rather fear the One Who can destroy both body and soul. Moreover, the phrase do not be afraid is seen in the scriptures about 366 times as an assurance of God’s presence and protection in our journey of life.

Therefore, we must trust that God will always protect and provide for us no matter how difficult and challenging the situation may be for us. Little wonder St. Paul in our second reading today calls us to trust in God, even though we may have allowed ourselves to dwell in sin and fear, we should embrace the love of Jesus who in his glorious sacrifice on the Cross has delivered us from sins and death. For just as the disobedience of Adam brought sin into the world, the presence of Jesus has brought life and salvation for all.

Dear friends, do you know why there are so many troubles, wickedness and persecution in our societies today? This is because humanity has lost a treasure, and that treasure is the fear of God. The scripture says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. But today we lack this wisdom, because we have no fear of God in us. We will rather fear humans who have lost their consciences in sinful things of this passing world and have foolishly built and attribute to themselves powers and authority that belong only to God.

Thereby, forcing us to worship them instead of God our creator, just for us to wake up and realize how foolish and wrong we are in believing and worshipping them, because they are no more, and all their powers and wealth are now decaying in the presence of another set of foolish individuals who will begin to fight over these vanities, for we will never learn from the mistakes of the dead.

This is because we have forgotten that we are just managers of whatever we have in this passing world including our lives. Yes, we are not the owners of anything; we only manage things entrusted to us, for God is the real owner of all things that we have. So, do not be afraid for God is watching over us and our daily struggles.

But the questions we need to ask ourselves are: do we still have faith in God? Are we really courageous enough to withstand the scourges of persecution, knowing that God will surely protect us? Do we listen and hear God speaking to us through our daily activities? Do we still see the hands of God in what we do? Are we really convinced of what we do with the gift of knowledge, skills and talents God has given us?

Do we pay attention to the word of God we hear every day in the house of God, the streets and through other means of communication? Perhaps we are the ones who have abandoned God, and now we are confused and afraid as a result of our greediness and selfishness that are destroying our societies today.

Brethren, no matter how we feel about the situation in our lives, our families, societies and country, no matter how terrifying they may seem to appear, we are called not to give up on God or His Church or the human agents through whom His help comes to us, for God has not abandoned His people. We all need to have our ears open, so that we can hear and understand fully the message God is communicating to us through this difficult moment in our society.

For God is saying to us, fear not, come back to me, have courage for the storms will soon be over. If we turn to God with all our hearts, He will restore us and heal our world. Therefore, we should not let fear control or destroy us, we should have faith in God, knowing that at night there are tears, but joy comes with dawn.

LET US PRAY: Almighty God, many things frighten us every day and cause us to fear, grant us the grace of courage to remain steadfast even in the midst of all the troubles and challenges of life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a spirit-filled Sunday.

Homily For Saturday Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 20th June, 2026.

 

Reading: 2 Chron. 24:17-25; Ps.89; Matt. 6:24-34

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

WHY ARE YOU ANXIOUS AND WORRIED? GOD CARES ABOUT YOU

The activities and life of the human person are always competitive and comparative; that is why we are often anxious to recognise or be recognised as the strongest, wisest, cleverest, and richest. We will always want to know the most beautiful, handsome, most talented and greatest in virtually everything.

Little wonder, the most lucrative businesses and adventures are found among those activities that are competitive, such as sports, entertainment and politics, because greatness gives more ego to our status, and people are so anxious about them. This anxiousness sometimes can lead to anxiety when people fail to achieve their plans because they have chosen to separate themselves from God.

Thus, this anxiousness that brings about a competitive and comparative way of life is what Jesus is addressing in our Gospel passage today when he said: “You men of little faith? Do not be anxious; do not say, “What are we to eat? What are we to drink? How are we to be clothed?” It is the pagans who set their hearts on all these things. Your heavenly Father knows you need them all. Set your hearts on his kingdom first, and on his righteousness, and all these other things will be given you as well. So do not be anxious about tomorrow: tomorrow will take care of itself. For each day has enough trouble of its own.

Here, Jesus is calling us to reflect on our lives and our attitudes towards the material things of this passing world. We often stray from the right path because we are too distracted by our ambitions and desires for worldly pleasures and achievements, which are serious obstacles that can prevent us from attaining our salvation, as we end up falling deeper and further into the path of sin, which separates us from God.

Thus, we have to take a stand and choose firmly between serving God or material things, because we cannot serve both God and money, for sooner or later we will love one more than the other and the anxiousness to acquire more of it may lead us to anxiety. Hence, the Lord tells us not to worry about our lives or other worldly desires, for he shall provide all that we need.

Dear friends, why are we too anxious and worried about the things of this passing world? Why have we let this anxiousness separate us from God and his plan for us? So, today we should not be too anxious or worried about the things of this life for God cares about us despite all that we are going through.

Hence, we have to make sure that we are not distracted by our over-ambitious desires for worldly things. We must let our focus be on God’s providence and not be like the Judeans in our first reading today, who abandoned the Temple of the Lord, the God of their ancestors, for the worship of sacred poles and idols. Because of their guilt, God’s anger fell on Judah and Jerusalem.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we live a life of comparison and competition, and these have often led us to be anxious about tomorrow and our future, and when we cannot meet up with these desires, we fall into anxiety. This is because we have chosen to separate ourselves from you. As we listen to your words today, may we not be too anxious about the things of this passing world. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a peaceful weekend.

Homily For Friday Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 19th June, 2026.

 

Reading: 2Kings 11:1-4,9-18,20; Ps. 132; Matt. 6:19-23

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

UNDERSTANDING THE ULTIMATE TREASURES OF LIFE

Every day under the terrible scourges of the sun and the noisy street, people struggle to acquire things that they value as treasures of life. The quarrelling and fighting, the early morning rush, the traffic jam, the aggressive words, all to acquire things of this life, and people are never tired of acquiring properties for themselves and their generation yet to come, forgetting that all these things sooner or later pass away as we expire from this world.

Thus, in our Gospel passage today we are called to reflect on what should be our ultimate treasure and how we can acquire it. For Jesus said: Do not store up treasures for yourselves on earth, where moths and woodworms destroy them and thieves can break in and steal. But store up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where neither moth nor woodworms destroy them and thieves cannot break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Here, Jesus, knowing how humanity is so attached to the things of this passing world, calls our attention to what should be our ultimate treasure. He made us know that the kingdom of God is the greatest and ultimate treasure anyone can and should acquire. For it will be a waste of time trying to store up our treasures in this world, because the world as we know it is passing away, likewise the things in it.

The world is not a safe place to store one’s ultimate treasures. The safest place to store up our treasures is in heaven. For heaven itself is the ultimate treasure that cannot be compared to anything whatsoever we have in this world, and it is so precious and great that it is worth more than our entire life and our worldly possessions and treasures.

Little wonder he heard about the chaotic situation of killings in our first reading, due to the greed and selfishness of people. Therefore, we must do all that it takes to ensure that our focus is on things of heaven and how to acquire them. Because losing it over the temporal pleasure, fame, power and influential things of this passing world will be complete foolishness. For none of them last forever, and what good is it for us to gain the whole world but lose our souls out of God’s kingdom?

Dear friends, the questions we need to ask ourselves today are: where and what is our ultimate treasure in this life? If the Lord should allow us to make a request of what our hearts desire, what would you request? How many of us are paying attention to the ultimate heavenly treasures? How many of us search for the ultimate treasure of our souls?

How many desires to personally discover God in their life, knowing that he is the ultimate treasure anyone can acquire in this world, and God is Love? How I wish we would understand the shortness of this life, the emptiness of this passing world and the danger of losing our souls out of greediness for the things of this passing world. Then, we will sincerely desire to experience God personally, because in him lies the ultimate treasure of life. And discovering God personally is the greatest treasure one can ever have.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, the world is full of distractions coming from false treasures of this passing world. Give us a wise and discerning heart to give up all our attachment to worldly possessions in pursuit of the heavenly and ultimate treasure of your kingdom. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Peace be with you

Homily For Thursday Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 18th June, 2026

 

Reading: Sir. 48:1-12; Ps.97; Matt. 6:7-15

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

LORD, TEACH US HOW TO PRAY PROPERLY

Today, Jesus knowing how important the act of prayer is to humanity, taught his disciples the principle and pattern of all prayers as we have it in our Gospel passage today, when he said: “Pray then in this way: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses, as we also have forgiven all who trespassed against us. And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one”

Here, Jesus, knowing that prayer is an essential part of our faith through which we grow in our relationship with God and become more connected to Him, gave us seven principles that should guide all our prayers.

This prayer comprises a series of statements and petitions that affirm our relationship with God, with the people around us, and with the world in general. It contains a statement of faith, obligations and commitment as the foundation through which these seven principles are fulfilled.

The first principle is to acknowledge God as “Our Father”. A call for unity that requires faith, obligation and commitment. Here we acknowledge God not just as my Father, but as Our Father and the ‘our’ includes every single person who lives or has ever lived on this earth.

The second principle calls us to reverence the name of the Lord as we say: “Hallowed be thy name “Yes, God’s name is holy no matter what we say or think. However, we make this prayer for our sake more than for His. Because from the holiness of His name comes the root of our faith and strength, we are praying that God’s name be held in deepest respect by people everywhere.

The third principle calls us to have the vision of God’s kingdom, hence we pray to say: “Your kingdom come”, that is, we pray that humanity should consciously and willingly embrace the love and kingship of God which He is offering us.

The fourth principle invites us to dispose ourselves to embrace the will of God as we pray saying: “Your will be done on earth, as in heaven”. This is very important because it helps us discern and be disposed to pray and live in accordance with God's will.

The fifth principle calls us to learn how to be contented with what we have against all forms of selfishness and greed as we say: “Give us today our daily bread,” of which God surely provides. The sixth principle calls us to make an examination of conscience and to seek reconciliation, knowing how weak we are, we pray saying: “And forgive us our trespasses, as we have forgiven those who trespassed against us”.

Here we make a serious commitment and obligation, asking that the condition for God’s forgiveness of our sins should be based on our readiness to forgive those who have offended us. Finally, the seventh principle calls us to have total confidence in God’s providence, protection and guidance as we pray saying: “And do not put us to the test, but save us from evil” Here, we acknowledge our weaknesses and our total dependence on God’s help against all the evil forces of this world.

Dear friends, I have no doubt that we know our Lord's prayer, but knowing it is not enough, we have to pray it devotedly, but praying it is not enough, we have to believe in what we pray for, but believing is not enough, we must put it into practice in our daily lives.

This is because, often time we say prayers wrongly when we consider prayer as a means to only achieve what we desire, without considering what God desires for us. Some of us spend lots of time reciting the prayers, and yet we do not mean what we say because we have wrong dispositions born from unforgiving hearts, which must be redirected before we can get a positive response from God.

Therefore, it’s time for us to embrace these seven principles and change our perspective and wrong disposition towards prayers. It is time for us to spend more quality moments in prayer and be connected with God. We must let our prayers be meaningful and genuine from our hearts. It is time for us to improve the quality of our prayer life by imitating Jesus, who always prayed to his heavenly Father at every possible opportunity.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, in prayer, we communicate more closely with you. Please teach us how to pray, for we do not know how to pray as we ought. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a favourable day.

Homily For Wednesday Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 17th June, 2026

 

Reading: 2 Kings 2:1,6-14; Ps. 30; Matt. 6:1-6.16-18

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

HAVING THE RIGHT ATTITUDE TOWARDS RELIGIOUS PIETY

Three principal disciplines guide all our religious pieties, these disciplines include: almsgiving, prayer and fasting. They can be rightly extended to every act of righteousness and services rendered to humanity. These disciplines have not been properly understood or implemented by people, for most people see these disciplines as an opportunity to display their piety to gain cheap human popularity and admiration.

The negative attitude towards these religious disciplines has been greatly adopted by many people, including religious leaders who should know better. Therefore, it is this ugly and negative attitude that Jesus is addressing in our Gospel passage today, when he warns his disciples not to indulge in any form of outward display of their religious piety to attract the admiration of others. Here Jesus presents how we should properly carry out our religious pieties and obligations, and any service we render for the sake of humanity.

Using each of these three spiritual disciplines, he gave us the basic formula, saying that we should not blow trumpets in the streets to draw the attention of everyone when we give alms to the poor. We should not say our prayers in the most conspicuous places so that people will marvel at our holiness and when fasting, we should not put on gloomy and drawn looks so that everyone will know that we are fasting.

Then he calls us not to be like the hypocrites who display their charitable deeds, for they have received their reward. After this, he instructs us regarding the secret practice of piety and promises us that God will reward us for any piety practised in secret.

Thus, Jesus calls us to carry out our religious pieties and obligations to humanity secretly, for when it is done in the secret we will receive great reward from God and as recipients of these rewards, we will be surprised, because we have no idea that we did anything remarkable or that anyone noticed our charitable acts. For we certainly did not perform the charity to gain rewards.

Rather, it is the combination of our selfless, sacrificial and unassuming attitudes that opens the channel by which God dispenses His blessings upon us. This is what we see in our first reading today in the lives of Elijah and Elisha. For Elijah said to Elisha, ‘Make your request. What can I do for you before I am taken from you?’ Elisha answered, ‘Let me inherit a double share of your spirit.’ ‘Your request is a difficult one’ Elijah said. ‘If you see me while I am being taken from you, it shall be as you ask; if not, it will not be so.

Dear friends, we are called to cultivate the right attitude towards our religious pieties and carry them out with the right intention and purpose, and not just for any selfish purpose. Therefore, we must have the right disposition and direction towards our religious pieties and shun all forms of worldly interest or rewards, so as not to be distracted by the vanity of the things of this passing world. Let humility, faithfulness, and sacrificial love be the driving force towards all our religious pieties and every other thing we do for the good of humanity.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, strength of those who hope in you, graciously grant us the gift of humility and sacrificial attitude towards our family, religious and societal obligations and responsibilities. May we carry them out faithfully and selflessly with the right attitude and good intentions. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed day.

Homily For Tuesday Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 16th June, 2026

 

Reading: 1 Kings 21:17-29; Ps. 51 Matt. 5:43-48

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

UNDERSTANDING THE SACRIFICIAL DEMAND OF CHRISTIAN LIFE

Naturally, people desire to love and be loved, to relate and be in the company of those whom they love. Nobody enjoys being among those who detest them and cause them pain and sorrow. That is why people naturally sacrifice for those whom they love to keep their friendship and companionship. But it takes great love and sacrifice to do good to people who detest us and cause us sorrow and pain since it is difficult and unnatural to sacrifice for such people

This sacrificial life of love is what Jesus calls us to embrace in pursuit of the life of perfection. Little wonder he says in our Gospel passage today: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. If you love those who love you, what right have you to claim any credit? Even the tax collectors do as much, do they not? And if you save your greetings for your brothers, are you doing anything exceptional? Even the pagans do as much, do they not? You must therefore be perfect just as your heavenly Father is perfect”.

Here, Jesus emphasises that it is natural and universal for human beings to love those who love them. But what makes his disciples different from other people is the ability to love not just everyone, but to love their enemies and not take vengeance or bear grudges against one another. For by so doing they will be imitating the perfection of God our heavenly Father, who shows equal love to all and calls us to a greater life of sacrificial love and virtue towards perfection.

This is what God did in the case of Ahab in our first reading today, a king who was cut down in his wicked act of killing Naboth and taking his vineyard out of his selfish desires. But when his evil deeds were exposed, he tore his clothes, humbled himself before God and Elijah, His prophet, and showed great remorse over his evil actions which God forgave him. Such is God’s kindness, mercy, compassion and love to every one of us, without exception, even to the worst and most wicked of sinners.

Dear friends, with the situation in our societies today why should we still love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us? Why should we make them our friends? This is because we are called to a sacrificial life of love and perfection, we are called to choose love over hatred and forgiveness over vengeance. Hatred breeds violence and other things that weaken the human soul, but love unites and heals.

The fact is that God desires peace for humanity and this peace is what Jesus came to bring in the world, to restore the peace that God intended for all creation from the first day of creation. Today all of us are called to offer this peace to our world full of hatred, greed and violence. This we are called to accept and live out day by day in every way we can.

Therefore, it’s time for us to stretch out the hands of friendship and peace to everyone both friends and enemies alike, by investing more resources in things that bring about peace and friendship with one another, rather than building a nuclear weapon that breeds more violence and hatred in the world. For by so doing the world will become more peaceful and loving.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, the cross of sacrificial life of love is so heavy, give us the grace to truly forgive our enemies and strive towards the life of perfection that offers peace, mercy, compassion and love to distressed humanity through Christ our Lord. Amen. Peace be with you. 

Homily For Monday Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 14th June, 2026

Reading: 1Kings 21:1-16; Ps. 5; Matt. 5:38-42

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

EYE FOR EYE AND TOOTH FOR TOOTH: UNDERSTANDING THE CONSEQUENCES OF RETALIATION

The fragile and selfish nature of the human person, makes it seem natural and common for human beings to react positively or negatively to things that hurt them. Little wonder one of our most influential scientists Isaac Newton, states in his third law of motion, that: "For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction." Reterliation

This law describes what happens to a body when it exerts a force on another body. Forces, as we know, always occur in pairs, so when one body pushes against another, the second body pushes back just as hard and in equal magnitude.

This law truly explains why a hot slap given to anyone whether out of anger for the bad thing he/she has done or just as an act of wickedness and intimidation will naturally trigger in our consciousness an equal magnitude of retaliation and this has been the force behind the law that says: ‘ an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’

This principle served as the foundation for justice in the Ancient Near East. It was put in place to restrain unlimited blood vengeance. It limited what damages one could expect to what was considered proportional, equal and fair to any unjust act.

However, in our Gospel passage today, Jesus offers a new dimension that calls for deeper virtue towards this law when he says: “You have learnt how it was said: Eye for eye and tooth for tooth. But I say this to you: offer the wicked man no resistance. On the contrary, if anyone hits you on the right cheek, offer him the other as well; if a man takes you to court and would have your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone orders you to go one mile, go two miles with him.”

Here Jesus declares that the law had no reference to private revenge, that it was given only to regulate natural human conduct, but the Jews had extended it to private conduct and made it the rule by which revenge is taken. They considered themselves justified by this rule to inflict the same injury on others just as they had received. Jesus then showed another aspect of the law which is more sacrificial and requires a deeper virtue, in which the old interpretation of the Law will no longer be valid.

 So Jesus reversed the attitude of conniving to see one’s adversary suffer, with the sacrificial attitude of love for enemies. An attitude that does not seek what one can get for retaliation but what one can sacrifice for the sake of peace and love. 

This attitude makes the disciples of Jesus different from other people since they will have to love not just everyone but also their enemies and not take vengeance or bear grudges against one another. And by so doing, they will be imitating God, their heavenly Father, who shows equal love to both the good and the bad, because his love knows no bounds.

Dear friends, can retaliation solve the problems of killings, wickedness and persecution in our families and societies today? Think about it, for today we are called to embrace a life of deeper virtue.

A life of sacrificial love, for when Jesus told his disciples to offer the other side of their checks to be struck, their cloak when asked for tunic and to go even one mile further, he is calling us all to a new life of sacrificial love, one that is filled not with revenge or selfishness of men like king Ahab and his wife Jezebel in our first reading, who killed Naboth for refusing to give them his vineyard which he inherited from his ancestors in obedience to the law.

Instead, we are to reject all forms of violence, retaliation and vengeance but focus all our attention on forgiveness, mercy and peace in a sacrificial way so that the world will become more peaceful and loving.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, it is really difficult to live a life of non-retaliation in a world full of wickedness, persecution, and violence, give us the grace to resist all forms of violence but focus all our attention on the sacrificial love of forgiveness, mercy and peace. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed week. 

Homily For Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A, 14th June, 2026

 

Reading: Ex. 19:2-6; Ps. 100; Rom. 5:6-11; Matt.9:36-10:8

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

WHEN THE SHEPHERD FAILS, THE SHEEP ARE HARASSED AND HELPLESS

There is no doubt that humanity is constantly in need of one thing or another; we are never tired of searching for things that will satisfy our desires for both physical and spiritual well-being. This is even worse with the ugly situation in our country today, where people are hungry and angry, confused, sick and completely broke as a result of some greedy and selfish individuals in our society.

Today in our country we are all suffering like sheep without responsible shepherds, not enough funds in circulation, fuel is not affordable, no light, no food, no good roads, no basic human social amenities, not much to be proud of in this country, because we have constantly failed to do the right things or elect people of goodwill to manage public offices.

This can be likened to the situation and condition of the people in the time of Jesus as we have in our Gospel passage today. For when Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion for them because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest’.

Here, Jesus reveals God’s compassion towards humanity who were harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd. He then tells his disciples that a huge harvest is waiting to be reaped. Calling on us to pray for God to send labourers into his harvest. And he then called his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits with power to cast them out and to cure all kinds of diseases and sickness.

By this action, Jesus fulfils his role as the expected messiah who is to liberate his people from all kinds of diseases and ugly situations. The teaching and healing touch of Jesus reveals to us that God is faithful to his promises. This healing and wholeness are offered as a sign of the presence of God’s kingdom among his people.

And it also constitutes the basis of the Church’s liberating missionary activity, which is meant to spread throughout the world, hereby calling us into action. Hence, more labourers are needed, for Jesus sees how humanity is harassed and dejected, wandering aimlessly like sheep without a guiding shepherd. And because the souls of everyone in the world are so precious to God, he needs many more labourers to propel this mission.

Little wonder in our society, today, the harvest is getting bigger as never before, while people are getting lost and clueless as never before. But who are these labourers? They are not just the bishops, priests, or religious men and women. But every baptised person is called in a different capacity to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with those around him/her.

So each of us has a vocation, a call to save souls and build the Kingdom of God together, just as we heard in our second reading today that we were still helpless when at his appointed time Christ died for us sinners for us to save us and make us instruments to reach out to others. For we heard the Lord through Moses in our first reading saying: if you obey my voice and keep my covenant, you will be my own possession among all the people; for all the earth is mine. I will make you a kingdom of priests, a consecrated nation.

Dear friends, when the shepherd fails, the sheep are harassed and helpless. Therefore, the Lord is calling us on a mission, for sin and greediness have harassed us and made us helpless like sheep without a responsible shepherd. So today we are called to be that good and responsible Shepherd. But how are we carrying out this mission and mandate of Christ? How strong is our compassion towards others?

Do we know people who are harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd? Let us look at them for a moment and imagine Jesus looking at them and saying something to them. Do we feel harassed and helpless as a result of what we are going through in life? Do we feel the need for Jesus’ help in some part of our lives? Then let us turn to him and be restored.

Yes, the hopeless and ugly situations in our country today are good indications that we are just floating in this world like sheep without responsible Shepherds. Thus, we need to come to Jesus our true and Good Shepherd. We must make sure that nothing comes between us and the love of Jesus our Lord, even if we are troubled or worried, or being persecuted, or lacking food or clothes, or being threatened or even attacked, we must remain focused towards achieving our greater goal through goodwill. 

These are the trials through which we triumph, by the power of him who loved us so much. So, we must ensure that neither death nor life, no angel, no princes of this world, nothing that exists, nothing still to come, not any power, or height or depth, nor any created thing, can ever come between us and the love of God made visible in Christ Jesus our Lord who is our true Shepherd.

Therefore, let us come to Jesus our Good Shepherd and embrace his love and compassion. Let us have goodwill for one another. Let us be good leaders at any level we find ourselves. Let us pray for good leaders, especially during this transition period. Let us appoint good and credible leaders in every sector and offices in our societies, not just the president, governors and senators. Let us know those we are entrusting with the responsibility of managing public offices. By so doing, our prayers and desires for good leaders will be granted.

So, today, each one of us is called to reach out to people at any particular corner of the field of harvest where we find ourselves. For we may be the last and only people who may have access to evangelise the people, starting from our families, neighbours, colleagues in the office and others whom we encounter in life. The truth is that we may be the only people who can bring the healing and compassion of Jesus into their lives. Remember, you received without charge, give without charge.’

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are lost in this passing world, as we come to you in need of your love and direction both physically and spiritually, give us the grace and courage to be faithful labourers in your vineyard. Guide us once again towards the path of truth, love and fulfilment even in the midst of all the confusion in our country, societies and families. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed Sunday celebration