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

Homily For Saturday, Tenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year A, 13th June, 2026. The Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary

 

Reading: 1Kings 19:19-21; Ps.16; Luke 2:41-51

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

IMITATING THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY

Yesterday we celebrated the solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the Heart where we embrace God’s infinite love and mercy for humanity and His will for universal salvation. Following the Sacred Heart of Jesus is the Immaculate Heart of his Mother, the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Hence today, the liturgy invites us to venerate the Immaculate Heart of Mary. The Immaculate Heart of Mary is a devotional name used to refer to the interior life of the Blessed Virgin Mary, her joys and sorrows, her virtues and hidden perfections, and, above all, her virginal love for God the Father, her maternal love for her son Jesus, and her compassionate love for all people.

Here we recall Mary’s great love for God, her faith and piety, her commitment to serve the Lord wholeheartedly, and how she loved her Son dearly from the moment before he was born, his finding in the Temple and even up to the way of the Cross, when Mary followed her Son faithfully as he picked up his Cross and bore that burden of the Cross to Calvary, she bears and pondered all this sorrows deep within her Immaculate Heart.

This is the event we celebrate today, of which our Gospel passage tells us how Mary having struggled to understand the mysterious events in the life of her Son Jesus, stored up all these events in her heart. A heart that is propelled by love and filled with genuine faith in God, a heart so pure and contemplative. For such is the immaculate heart of Mary, having been conceived without sin, and pure from any taints of evil and wickedness.

Yet, this loving and caring Immaculate Heart has to endure great sorrows. In the midst of these sorrows, she did not stop being loving, compassionate and caring to her Son and also to all of us, as she fulfils the mandate entrusted to her by Jesus at the Cross of Calvary, saying: Mother, behold your son, and son, behold your mother. By this mandate, we are all blessed to have been placed under the maternal care of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, a great saint and our role model.

Dear friends, do you have a heart that ponders and contemplates the Lord? For today we are called to imitate and embrace the Immaculate Heart of Mary, whose maternal care we have been commended by Jesus at the Cross of Calvary. We are truly fortunate to have received such abundant love and compassion from the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary his mother, who is also our loving mother.

Let us, therefore cultivate a heart that mirrors that of our mother, let us imitate the purity of her heart, and let us be caring, loving, contemplative and compassionate in our relationship with one another.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we imitate the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, graciously grant that through her intercession we may be a worthy temple of your glory and make our hearts a loving, caring and compassionate vessel for all through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a fruitful weekend.

Homily For Friday, Tenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year A, 12th June, 2026. The Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (The World Day of Prayer for the Sanctity of Priestly Life)

 

Reading: Deut.7:6-11; Ps. 103; 1 John 4:7-16; Matt. 11:25:30

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

EMBRACING THE MOST SECRED HEART OF GOD’S LOVE FOR SINFUL HUMANITY

Biologically, the heart is the main organ in the circulatory system, the structure primarily responsible for delivering and circulating blood and transporting nutrients to all parts of the body. This continuous task uplifts the role of the heart as a vital organ whose normal operation is constantly required.

In biblical language, “heart” indicates the centre of the person where his sentiments and intentions dwell. So the Church, understanding the role the heart plays in the salvific history of humanity, invites us to contemplate the sacred heart of Jesus.

Little wonder every Friday after the Sunday of the solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, the Church celebrates the great Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. An event that invites us to contemplate and celebrate the love of God pouring forth from the Most Loving Heart of Jesus pierced for the salvation of humanity. A great act of love which God revealed through his influences on mystic saints such as St. Gertrude the Great, which was made more obvious through St. Margaret Mary Alacoque in the revelation she had around the 17th century.

In this revelation, the Lord appeared to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque and showed her his heart and the anguish and sorrow which he had for the sins and disobedience of humanity, despite the incomprehensible act of love, compassion and mercy that he has lavished upon us.

Then the Lord said to her: “Behold the Heart that has loved so many men, and yet, instead of gratitude, all I received were ingratitude…” and asking in particular that the Friday after the week in which the Solemnity of Corpus Christi is celebrated should be dedicated to him as the Feast of reparation to his Most Sacred Heart. The Lord also promised St. Margaret Mary that all those who devoted themselves to His Most Sacred Heart with faith will be protected and receive the graces of God.

So, the long development of these revelations led to the devotion to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus as we have it today. Though it was Pope Pius IX who extended and placed this great Feast and Solemnity in its current form and honour. This great feast also marks the occasion of the World Day of Prayer for the Sanctity of Priestly Life, keeping in mind that the priesthood is the product of Christ's sacrificial heart of love for humanity.

Hence, we remember all those who have been called to model themselves after the life of Christ’s love by giving themselves to the ministerial priesthood, that we may truly model ourselves and our hearts after that of the Most Sacred Heart of Christ.

Let us be filled with love for all humanity while recognising that the priestly life is a very difficult undertaking, especially in our world today. Let us be supported by all, knowing that priests, though humans just like everyone, have their flaws and imperfections, but we are at the same time held up to a much higher expectation to care and guide the people of God.

Meanwhile, in the midst of all our difficulties, challenges, daily temptations and pressures of life, we are called to abide in the loving heart of Jesus for he who abides in love, abides in God and God abides in him as St. John tells us in our second reading today by making us to know that God’s love for us was revealed when God sent into the world his only Son so that we could have life through him. So, let us love one another since love comes from God and everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. Anyone who fails to love can never have known God, because God is love.

Thus, in this solemn feast, our devotion is rooted in the mystery of God’s love; for it is precisely through the Sacred Heart of Jesus that the Love of God for humanity is manifested in all its effect and power, especially for souls thirsting for God’s mercy. For in it we find the inexhaustible source from which we draw the water of life that refreshes and revives the thirsty souls of sinful humanity and makes us new and alive again. Hence we are called today to abide in this love of Christ.

And to abide in his love entails constantly striving for holiness and a life of sacrifice, though it is not easy, but Jesus invites us in our Gospel passage today, to come to him, all who labour and are overburdened, and he will give us rest. He says: “Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light”.

For these graces have been hidden from the learned and the clever, but have been revealed to mere children. More so, in our first reading, we are told that we are a people consecrated to the Lord our God; for the Lord our God has chosen us to be his very own people out of all the peoples on the earth because of his love for us.

Dear friends, every Christian is called to embrace the love of God, which he poured out from the Sacred Heart of Jesus, to become a wellspring which gives the love of God to others. For we ought to be offering life-giving water to a parched and thirsty world. We are called to embrace that love which propelled Jesus to lay down his life for his friends and also forgives his enemies, for that is what this solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus represents. We are called to contemplate the mystery of love in the heart of a God who is full of compassion and bestows his love upon humanity through his Son.

Though humanity has rejected his love, but God does not lose heart in the face of ingratitude or rejection by the people he loved and chosen; rather, with infinite mercy he sends his only-begotten Son into the world to take upon himself the fate of a shattered love, so that by defeating the power of evil and death he could restore humanity once again from our slavery of sin and death back into a life of grace and open up his Sacred Heart of love once again for all who wishes to embrace it.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, grant that we, who glory in the loving Heart of your beloved Son and recall the wonders of his love for us, may be made worthy to receive an overflowing measure of grace from that fount of heavenly gifts of love which he offers to humanity. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do pray for me and for the sanctity of all the Priests.

Homily For Thursday, Tenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year A, 11th June, 2026. The Memorial of St. Barnabas

Reading: Act. 11: 21-26.13:1-3; Ps. 98; Matt.10:7-13

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

EXPERIENCING THE ENCOURAGING SPIRIT OF ST. BARNABAS

Have you ever been in a difficult and ugly situation where you feel like giving up or quitting and pulling out of a noble project, career or goal in life, and then you hear someone telling you don’t give up, don’t pull out, keep pushing, keep going for it will soon be over.

Such words and behaviour give one great confidence and renewed energy to stagger on towards achieving the project or career. This is because we experience a great strength and renewed energy whenever we know that someone believes in us. It feels right and changes our disposition towards difficult and ugly situations.

This act of giving someone support, confidence, hope and persuasion to do or to continue doing something is known as an act of encouragement, which is a branch of the virtue of courage, one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit brings encouragement where it is needed by giving this gift to someone near a person, whoever he is pleased to encourage.

Thus, the act of encouragement has a great impact on human relationships. For when we are inspired by the Holy Spirit to encourage people, we become an instrument through which God is letting them know that He has seen what they have done, and by extension, believe what they will be able to do in the future; and that improves their belief in themselves and their potential towards achieving their goals.

This great and wonderful attitude and gift of the Holy Spirit is what St. Barnabas, whose memorial we celebrate today, is known for among his fellow Apostles. Barnabas is one of the most important figures in the history of the early Church, his real name was Joseph, but the apostles nicknamed him Barnabas, which means “son of encouragement.”

For this is a pure summary of his entire personality, for he was someone who encouraged others, believed in them, and helped them respond to God with enthusiasm, due to his helpful and optimistic nature. Barnabas sold a field he owned and laid the proceeds at the apostles’ feet, an obvious sign of his total commitment to Christ and total trust in the apostles.

Such a gesture, common among the first disciples, would have certainly inspired the other members of the Church to courageously do the same. But we see his encouragement more especially in his interaction with St. Paul in our first reading today ( Acts 11:21b-26;13:1-3) where the Holy Spirit speaks to the young Church in Antioch, where the disciples were first called Christians and says, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.”

Here the Holy Spirit inspired them to go on the first great missionary journey in the Church. In this mission, Barnabas was inspired by the gift of Courage, and he was able to encourage Paul and the entire Church to recognise Paul’s gifts and talents. For without Barnabas’ intervention, Paul would have probably remained silenced in Tarsus by other disciples.

But because of Barnabas’ courageous and encouraging interventions, Paul was able to become the greatest missionary in the history of the Church. It was Barnabas who saw the great potential in Paul and chose to make him his collaborator, vouching for him before the Apostles who did not trust him because of his past life of persecuting Christians.

This mission they carried out just as Jesus commanded his disciples in our Gospel today, saying, “As you go, proclaim that the kingdom of heaven is close at hand. Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out devils. You received without charge, give without charge.”

Dear friends, are you passing through a difficult and ugly situation because of your past mistakes? Are you feeling like giving up the noble project and goal you have begun because of some challenges? Does it seem as if your great potential, dreams and talents are being neglected?

Please don’t give up, for today St. Barnabas “the son of encouragement” comes to us as he did to Paul and other disciples to encourage us and to get involved in our struggles. He also wants us to be sons and daughters of encouragement to others just like him.

LET US PRAY: O God, as we struggle daily towards our mission and goal in life, may we be encouraged by the virtues of St. Barnabas to be another Barnabas to the people we encounter in our journey of Life through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed day.

Homily For Wednesday, Tenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year A, 10th June, 2026

Reading: 1Kings 18:20-39; Ps. 16; Matt. 5:17-19

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

THE CONSEQUENCES OF TEACHING THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD OR BREAKING THEM

Today, Jesus reminds us that he did not come on earth to abolish what had already been revealed but rather to fulfil them. He came into the world in order to reveal to humanity what true Law really means and to purify the Law to its original meaning and purpose, which has been corrupted through human manipulations. He came to fulfil the entire Law and not to destroy it, contrary to what the scribes and Pharisees accused and thought about him.

This same notion was critical for Jewish converts in the early Church and also to some people in our own time. The response of Jesus is still very relevant for us today, especially when he speaks of "fulfilling" rather than "abolishing" the law of the prophets as we have it in our Gospel passage today and he added that: “the man who infringes even one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be considered the least in the kingdom of heaven, but the man who keeps them and teaches them will be considered great in the kingdom of heaven.

Here, Jesus points out that keeping and teaching the commandments of God is the sure way to achieving greatness not just here on earth but also in heaven. This is exactly what we see in the life of Elijah in our first reading today, who decided not just to keep the laws and commandments of God, but to teach the people who had abandoned the true God for idols, as he challenged four hundred and fifty priests of Baal at Mount Carmel. It was a great moment of reckoning, as he confronted King Ahab for his continued worship of Baal, the pagan idol.

Consequently, the victory of Prophet Elijah in this battle was essential to remind the king and the people of the need for them to obey the Law of God, for it is the obligation of all the faithful to worship and serve only the One and True God of all. The king and the people had not obeyed these laws, instead, they chose to follow the false ways of the foreign pagan gods and idols, committing great sin before God. So by keeping and teaching these commandments, Elijah was made great before God and the people through his victory.

Dear friends, today we are reminded that true greatness is found in keeping and teaching the commandments of God, of which Jesus tells us that the greatest of these commandments is to love God and love our neighbour. Therefore, true greatness is rooted in our love for God and our neighbours and Jesus emphasises that it is bad enough to break one of these commandments, but to teach someone else to do the same is a terribly evil thing to do.

Thus, we should ask ourselves today, am I breaking these commandments and teaching others to do the same through my attitude and way of life just like Ahab? Do I follow my own opinions contrary to the commandments and laws of love which Jesus has taught us by his way of life? Am I keeping and teaching these commandments through my attitude and by way of life?

LET US PRAY: Lord God, from whom all good things come, grant us the grace to keep and teach your commandments by our way of life and so obtain the Joy of true greatness in this world and your heavenly kingdom through Christ our Lord. Amen. Peace be with you.

Homily For Tuesday Tenth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 9th June, 2026

 

Reading: 1Kings 17:7-16; Ps. 4; Matt.5:13-16

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

NEVER FORGET THAT YOU ARE THE SALT AND LIGHT OF THE EARTH

Salt and light are very familiar words in the scriptures. Oftentimes salt is used metaphorically to signify permanence, loyalty, durability, fidelity, usefulness, value, and purification. Salt, as we know, is used to enhance flavour; it preserves and purifies things. Salt distinguishes Identity and adds value to things. It’s inexpensive but valuable, necessary for life and stands as a basic identity for believers, of which we either use it or lose its effects.

Similarly, light is a symbol used to mean awareness, knowledge, and understanding. Light clarifies, Illuminates, Inspires, defeats darkness, shines fully and freely, it guides, stimulates and motivates, provokes action, irritates those who like darkness, confirms truth, purifies, exposes sin, warms and assures us of safety and also facilitates progress.

Little wonder that Jesus, in our Gospel passage today, told us the famous parable of the salt of the earth and the light of the world. In this parable, Jesus made it clear that to be salt and light means to be a witness to others concerning the truth of God's Word to humanity, and this is the mission he entrusted to the Church through his disciples.

Thus, we are entrusted with this mission during our baptism, when we were given salt as a sign of God’s life in us and are commanded never to lose the taste or forget the life and joy that God has given us to share with others. Similarly, we were given candlelight which we are to keep brightly burning as a flame of faith in our hearts as we journey with others towards our heavenly kingdom.

Therefore, Jesus clearly defines the role of the Church in the world as that of salt and light. Salt preserves the faith and gives flavour to the life of humanity. Light illuminates darkness and reflects the glory of God in the darkness of this passing world.

So, every Christian is called by God to influence the world positively, by saying yes to God as we heard in our first reading when St Paul said: it is always Yes, and however many the promises God made, the Yes to them all is in him. For it is God himself who assures us all of our standing in Christ, and has anointed us, marking us with his seal and giving us the pledge, the Spirit, that we carry in our hearts.

However, most of us Christians have failed to appropriate the benefits, privileges and responsibilities of being salt and light to humanity. As a result, many people suffer because we have continued to embrace the darkness of the things of this passing world and are spoiled by its destructive ways.

Dear friends, the core message today is that all of us are called to positively influence the lives of humanity by our attitude and character which should be like that of salt and light. Where there is darkness we should let the light of Christ illuminate. Where pride, selfishness, corruption and greed have made life tasteless, let the salt of our good attitude and character make it tasty.

Where sin and immorality have made humanity filthy and ugly, let our light of holiness purify. Remember, if we lose the value and taste of who we are as Christians, the world will trample upon us because we will be good for nothing.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, as we struggle every day to truly carry out the mission entrusted to us, give us the grace and courage to dedicate ourselves, our time, our energy and effort to becoming true light and salt in our dark and tasteless families, society and the world at large. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you a fruitful day.

Homily For Monday Tenth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 8th June, 2026

Reading: 1Kings 17:1-6; Ps. 121; Matt.5:1-12

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

THE INTERIOR LIFE OF TRUE CHRISTIANS IS ROOTED IN THE BEATITUDE

Each day of our lives is a struggle for perfection, we grow from one level of understanding and knowledge to another. However, what truly adds value to this growth is the fundamental principles we follow. The fundamental principles of life help us to be focused and determined to achieve our goals.

Therefore, Jesus knowing the value and importance of the faith he has come to offer humanity, laid down the fundamental principles that will guide his disciples in the new way of life which he is offering humanity.

These fundamental principles are what we have in our Gospel passage today in the famous Sermon on the Mount by the Lord Jesus, which is also known as the Beatitudes. This famous Sermon opens to us the interior life of Jesus: poor in spirit, gentle, merciful, hungry for justice, pure in heart, a peacemaker, yet prepared to grieve and suffer persecution for the cause of right.

These are guiding principles to a new life he has called us to live. Here, Jesus gives eight characteristics of blessed people, which stand as graces to the fundamental principles of the Christian life. Each of these Beatitudes is a statement of an ideal way we ought to live and be in close contact with God.

These fundamental principles talk about the poor in spirit which brings to mind the low condition of mankind that looks up to a Redeemer and the glory to come. Those who mourn are blessed, for their true repentance, watchfulness, humble mind, and continual dependence on the mercy of God through Christ Jesus shall be comforted.

The meek are blessed, for being patient, silent and submissive to the will of God, and so are comforted even in this world. Those who hunger and thirst after righteousness are blessed, for their desires of spiritual blessings shall be satisfied.

The merciful are blessed, for their compassion, help and pity on the souls of humanity who are in sin and need mercy. The pure in heart are blessed; for they shall see God since their hearts are made pure in holiness and are capable of seeing God. The peace-makers are blessed, for they love and delight in the peace which Christ is offering to humanity.

Those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake are blessed, for victory is theirs since they understand that, there is nothing in our sufferings that can be compared to the victory of eternal life. This is exactly what God reassured the prophet Elijah in our first reading. After hearing the punishment due to the wicked, he was assured of God’s providence as a reward for his faithfulness.

Dear friends, we are called to embrace these fundamental principles of Christian life. For we are truly blessed when we are poor in spirit and when we mourn for our sinfulness, gentleness, hunger and thirst for holiness. We are blessed when we are, merciful and peacemakers in a world that is full of wickedness, greed and corruption.

Today, we are called to live our lives in these virtues and when we encounter challenges, difficulties, persecutions and troubles, we should remain faithful to the end for none of these tribulations shall be compared to the victory of eternal life.

 LET US PRAY: O God, from whom all good things come, grant us the grace to live out these fundamental principles of our Christian life and overcome this sinful world, to enjoy the beatific vision of eternal life in You, through Christ our Lord. Amen. As you begin your task this week, may the glory of God inspire you and elevate you to greater heights. Have a blessed week. 

Homily For Sunday the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) Year A, 7th June, 2026

Reading: Deut. 8:2-3.14-16; Ps. 147; 1Cor. 10:16-17; John 6:51-58

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

EXPERIENCING THE REAL LOVING PRESENCE OF CHRIST IN THE EUCHARIST

Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, also known as the Corpus Christi celebration. This solemnity typically occurs on Thursday or Sunday following the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity. It is a solemn celebration where we reaffirm with great joy our faith in the Eucharistic Mystery of Christ's loving presence for humanity. An event that reminds us of God’s infinite gift of love for humanity which was made present in the Person of Christ Jesus under the appearance of Bread and Wine.

The mystery of the solemnity of Corpus Christi constitutes a very important aspect of our Christian faith, which is rooted in the historical and cultural context of the Jewish people's experience with God, of which Jesus is the fullest expression of this experience and revelation. Therefore, on the occasion of our Gospel passage today, we heard how Jesus engaged the people in a very important discussion about the reality of his sacrificial love for humanity that is not so familiar to the people.

 He said to them “I am the living bread which has come down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is my flesh, for the life of the world… I tell you most solemnly, if you do not eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you will not have life in you. Anyone who does eat my flesh and drink my blood has eternal life, and I shall raise him up on the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood lives in me and I live in him.

This teaching seemed so hard and difficult to understand, as many disciples of Jesus withdrew from him and abandoned him, just like some of our brethren in faith chose to abandon this same truth of our faith concerning the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. However, their abandoning Jesus does not make him change his statement. But for those Apostles who stayed, he made known this mystery at the Last Supper when he instituted the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist and gave them power and authority to do this in memory of him.

This is a very important mission, which the Apostles had faithfully carried out and have passed on to all of their successors, the bishops and the priests of the Church, who have been ordained and received the same power and authority of the Lord to celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. At the Last Supper, Jesus presented the Bread and Wine as his Body and Blood, which he offered as a sacrificial love for humanity, and asked his disciples to do the same in memory of him.

This very mandate of Christ is what the Church is doing at every celebration of the Holy sacrifice of the Mass, where Christ through the priest who acts ‘in persona Christi’ by the power of consecration, transubstantiates the Bread and Wine into his Real Body and Blood and offers it to God His Father as an unbloody sacrificial love for humanity.

This means that the substance and essence of the bread and wine the priest blessed and offered to God at the celebration of the Holy Mass have truly become the very Body and Blood of Christ Himself, under the appearance of bread and wine through the mystery of Transubstantiation. Thus, through the word ‘transubstantiation’ from the two words ‘Trans’, which means ‘change’ and ‘Substance’, meaning ‘substance or essence’, we can explain the mystery of the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Here, we have the change of the whole substance of bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ through the prayer of consecration by Christ Himself through the priest in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Therefore, at every Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, through the power of the Holy Spirit the substance of bread and wine become the Real and Most Precious Body and Blood of Christ Jesus, just in the same way he spoke at the Last Supper saying ‘This is My Body, which shall be given up for you’, ‘This is the Chalice of My Blood, the Blood of the New and Eternal Covenant, which shall be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins’.

This he fulfilled at the Cross in Calvary, where he offered himself; Body, Soul and Divinity for the salvation of humanity. Hence, we share in this grace of salvation when we participate fully in this sacrificial offering of God’s love for humanity. That is why the Church defined the Eucharist as the sacrament of the true body and blood of Jesus Christ, together with his Soul and Divinity, under the appearance of bread and wine. Though, the appearances of bread and wine remain in the Holy Eucharist, for we cannot see Christ with our bodily eyes in this sacrament. But we do see him with the eyes of faith

Little wonder St Paul says in our second reading today that: The cup of blessing that we bless is a participation in the blood of Christ, and the bread that we break is a participation in the body of Christ. For there is only one bread in the form of a single body, and we all have a share in this one bread of which we aspire to become what we receive. This is because Jesus offers his own blood, having won an eternal redemption for us. He has purified our inner self from dead actions so that we can offer our service to the living God.

The fact remains that in the Eucharist, we are physically and spiritually fed much more than the Israelites in the wilderness, who were fed with manna as we have it in our first reading. For they were given the manna to survive in the wilderness, but Christ gave us the Eucharist not just for us to survive in this world, but, for us to gain eternal life and come to share in his love. This will help us to understand that the Eucharist is the presence of Christ's love for humanity.

Dear friends, what is our relationship with Jesus in the Eucharist? What is our attitude towards the Holy Eucharist? What is our experience of Jesus in the Eucharist? How has the Eucharist we receive almost every day changed our lives positively? How has the Eucharist influenced our lives to sacrifice for the good of humanity? Do we still have that strong desire to receive Christ in the Eucharist? Do we still believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist? Do we still feel the love of Jesus in the Eucharist?

 How often have we abused the Eucharist and treated the body of Christ without due reverence? How often have we received the Eucharist unworthily? The answer to these questions is blowing in the wind because we have forgotten that anyone who received the Eucharist in an unworthy state received judgment unto himself or herself (1Cor. 11:27-29). FoAnyoneware of having committed a mortal sin must not receive Holy Communion, even if he experiences deep contrition, without having first received sacramental absolution, unless he has a grave reason for receiving Communion and there is no possibility of going to confession ( CCC. 1457).

Therefore, we must receive the Eucharist worthily and reverently. And these are the benefits we gain when we receive the Eucharist worthily: first, we gain eternal Life and renew the life of grace we received at Baptism. We also gain forgiveness of Venial Sins, we receive spiritual joy, Supernatural Protection and closeness to the Trinity. Yes, the Eucharist fills our hearts with love and thanksgiving. It gives us hope that God is with us in our daily struggles. In the Eucharist, we have a personal communion with Christ. For it keeps us in one communion with God, the church and with one another. It reminds us of God's constant presence with humanity and his love for us.

So, today we are called to embrace the love of God present in the Holy Eucharist, the power of God’s mercy for sinful humanity. We are called to deepen our understanding of the rich mystery of our faith in the Eucharist. Today we are called to change the way we relate with Jesus in the Eucharist. We are called to strive to worthily receive the Holy Eucharist. We are called to be grateful for this Sacrificial love of Christ in the Holy Eucharist and form the habit of adoring Christ our Lord present in the Holy Eucharist. We are called to let the love of his presence transform our souls into that purest love that will renew our families, our societies, our country and the world at large.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, through the sacrificial love of your Son Jesus Christ in the Holy Eucharist, grant us the grace to constantly experience your presence within us especially in the midst of doubt, ignorance, persecution, trials and uncertainties of life. May the Eucharistic Power of Christ's love fill our hearts once again and so renew the hatred, greed and corruption in the hearts of sinful humanity. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Happy Sunday to you all.

Homily For Saturday Ninth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 6th June, 2026

Reading: 2Tim 4:1-8; Ps 71; Mark12:38-44

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

DO NOT LET PRIDE AND EGO DEPRIVE YOU OF YOUR BLESSINGS

Beginning from the time of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, the Devil has been tempting mankind with the capital sin of pride and ego, knowing how vulnerable and weak we can be in resisting our desires for knowledge and power. These are temptations for every age. However, it is more obvious in our society today, as we all want and like red carpet treatment. We all enjoy wearing well-tailored clothes and being addressed by honorific titles on different occasions and events, even in the Church.

These, of course, can be done innocently without any harm, depending on how they affect our relationships with God and our neighbours. When it is done out of pride and ego, then it becomes harmful to others, and this can lead to idolatry, where man will seek to be like God or assume the honour and glory due to God.

This ugly attitude is what Jesus is addressing in our Gospel passage today, when he said “Beware of the scribes who like to walk about in long robes, to be greeted obsequiously in the market squares, to take the front seats in the synagogues and the places of honour at banquets; these are the men who swallow the property of widows, while making a show of lengthy prayers. The more severe will be the sentence they receive”.

Here, Jesus points to men entrusted with religious leadership who have turned their positions of trust into selfish interest as they focus on what they can get, rather than what they can give. So Jesus warned his disciples against such behaviour, especially how they exercised and practised their faith.

The Pharisees and the teachers of the Law often prided themselves on their privileged and highly respected position in the community, and showed off their faith, seeking important and privileged positions. What Jesus is telling us all is to be careful and vigilant against the temptations of ego and pride in our lives. We must focus our attention on God and put Him first and foremost in all we do.

Dear friends, the warning of Jesus concerning our pride and ego is not only for religious leaders and ministers, but for every one of us: fathers, mothers, teachers, lecturers, government officials, military leaders, businessmen and women, celebrities, doctors, mechanics and leaders of all walks of life.

We are to be on the watch to avoid being carried away by the titles of honour and dignity that come with the pride of life, like some of the scribes in our Gospel passage today. Rather, we should humble ourselves in the midst of external respect and honour, for noble souls despise this kind of honour, as they offer it to God, to whom all respect and honour belong.

Therefore, let us learn an act of humility by ensuring that we give all honour and glory to God just as St Paul said to Timothy in our first reading: proclaim the message and, welcome or unwelcome, insist on it. Refute falsehood, correct error, call to obedience – but do all with patience and with the intention of teaching. The time has come for me to be gone. 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.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as you warn us today to beware of the pride and ego of human life, grant us the grace of humility in the midst of all prideful events in our lives, through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a grace-filled weekend.

Homily For Friday Ninth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 5th June, 2026. The Memorial of St. Boniface

 

Reading: 2 Tim 2:10-17; Ps. 119; Mark 12:35-37

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

CAN THE PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS IN THE WORLD STOP?

A critical study of the history of Christianity reveals that persecution, suffering, trials, and martyrdom have been recurring events. Jesus, his apostles, and their successors endured painful sufferings and martyrdoms, yet they continued to give their best to serve the Lord and humanity with unwavering faith. But I wondered why it should be so, given that the teaching and doctrines of Christian faith offer nothing but love, peace and truth to humanity.

So what is it about the Christian faith that frightens the world so deeply that it seems as if Christianity should be extinguished from the world? The simple reason is that Christian faith offers truth and light to the darkness, ignorance and sinful humanity who have grown rotten in the darkness of this sinful world.

The scourge of truth is so painful and difficult for humanity to bear, hence, they prefer to avoid or resist it and the only way to escape this, is by persecuting the bearers of truth and this gives birth to unending ugly acts of persecution, sufferings and trials we are passing through today especially as Christians.

Thus, in the Gospel passage, we heard how the personality of Jesus was challenged by the people in the temple. Here, Jesus taught them that the Messiah, though from the lineage of David, was not a mere man, as they supposed, but that he was both God and man, they ought not to wonder or to be offended because he called himself the Son of God.

This they heard with great attention and pleasure; for the clear and solid answers with which Jesus responded, gave them a high opinion of his wisdom, and showed them how far he was superior to their most renowned rabbis who still dwell in the darkness of ignorance as they seek means to extinguish the truth by persecuting him the more.

Dear friends, we can see why there is constant persecution of Christians in our world. Should we stop being Christian? Can the persecutions of Christians stop? How do you think the world would be if there were no Christians to remind humanity about God?

So, we must not give up, we must not stop being Christians, for God will always be with his people no matter how much they may have to suffer or be persecuted. This is well illustrated in our first reading today with the story of the restoration of the sight of Tobit and the reunion of his family.

Therefore, we must remain faithful in our faith for we are not alone in the sufferings and persecution we encounter as a result of our faith and the mission entrusted to us by Jesus. Through our perseverance, many people will be touched by the truth, and come to know more about the truth and with open hearts and minds, embrace it.

So, friends, as we struggle with our faith and mission, we are encouraged to persevere in the midst of all our fears, sufferings, trials and persecutions. Though it may seem as if our condition is now hopeless and irredeemable, for those who put their trust in God, all things work out for our good. Hence, we are told in our first readings that all scripture is inspired by God and can profitably be used for teaching, for refuting error, for guiding people’s lives and teaching them to be holy. This is how the man who is dedicated to God becomes fully equipped and ready for any good work.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we struggle with the sufferings and persecution of this passing world because of our faith in you, grant through the intercession of St. Boniface that our lives may bear great witness to the truth we have found in Jesus, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Remain blessed.

Homily For Thursday Ninth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 4th June, 2026

Readings: 2 Tim. 2:8-15; Ps.24; Mark 12: 28-34

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

LOVING GOD AND YOUR NEIGHBOURS IS WHAT GOD REQUIRES FROM US

In our journey of faith, we often struggle with numerous commitments and responsibilities. Oftentimes, we want to know which one should be our priority. What should be the most important thing to focus our energy on? What should become the foundation of all the things we need to do? In fact, we want to know what is really required of us in this life.

This is the deposition of the Scribe in our Gospel passage today who came to Jesus and asked the same question. In response to his question about which is the greatest commandment? Jesus reminded him of the 'Shema Israel' - שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל, the prayer that they knew and recited from their earliest years.

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

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

This is exactly what St. Paul is encouraging us to imitate in our first reading, when he said: If we have died with him, then we shall live with him. If we hold firm, then we shall reign with him. If we disown him, then he will disown us. We may be unfaithful, but he is always faithful, for he cannot disown himself.” This is possible only when we understand the true meaning of love and sacrifice and this is what is really lacking in our relationship with God and neighbours.

In fact, a critical look at what is happening in our world today, it is obvious that the world has lost the true meaning of love. This present generation has failed to understand the true meaning and source of love and this can be seen in the kind of fruit we bear.

The fruit of love in this generation is so complicated: love has become a tool for selfishness, deception, greed, and emotional and sexual satisfaction. This is because we have abandoned God, who is the source and power of love, and created for ourselves a mirage in the name of love.

Dear friends, today, we are called to come back to the source of love, God himself, who teaches us that love is an attitude that seeks the good of others despite how we feel about them, he teaches us to be merciful, just as he is merciful. That love is a sacrificial attitude, an attitude that forgives, an attitude that accommodates, preserves, heals and builds up when every other thing fails. This is the kind of attitude the world needs now, the attitude that comes from the pure love of God and neighbours.

But how can humanity recover this power of love and harness it to bear more fruit in our societies where it seems as if true love does not exist? This is possible when we realise that we are products of love and are called to live out our essence, which is to love.

Therefore, we can make our choice today to renew our commitment to keeping these two commandments and to reflect on how best we can put them together for our good and the good of humanity, for by so doing, we will not be far from the kingdom of God. Remember, in you resides that love that is lacking in others.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, in You, is the fullness of love, grant that we may truly love You and our neighbours and so conquer the world full of hatred, self-centeredness, greed and corruption, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed day.

Homily For Wednesday Ninth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 3rd June, 2026. The Memorial of St Charles Lwanga and Companions

 

Readings: 2 Tim. 1:1-3,6-12; Ps.123; Mark 12: 18-27

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

UNDERSTANDING THE REALITY OF LIFE, DEATH AND RESURRECTION

The question of what becomes of the human person after death has been a perennial topic in every human generation, and this remains true in our generation. However, the answer to this question has been given to us by Jesus on the occasion of our Gospel passage today, when the Sadducees, one of the most powerful and influential groups within the Jewish community at the time of Jesus, came to ask him questions about this issue.

They are comprised of secular and powerful societal elites who were predominantly irreligious and worldly in their attitudes. They rejected the spiritual aspects of the Jewish customs and teachings, refusing to believe in the presence of Angels and the Spirit, as well as the concept of the afterlife. They rejected the notion of resurrection and life after death.

To them, this life on earth is the only life they have and are living through, for no other things matter more than to enjoy the world as it is, and thus, they tend to live an extravagant lifestyle and selfish attitudes.

So they came up to Jesus with a trick question concerning the notion of resurrection using example of seven brothers who shared a woman as their wife and died without a child, for according to the Jewish laws and customs, when a man died without having any descendant to continue his name and lineage, it was his brother’s responsibility and obligation to take the widow of the deceased man to be his wife, and the firstborn child of the union would be considered as the child of the deceased brother.

Thus, they asked Jesus, " Whose wife will she be at the resurrection? Here, Jesus rebuked them for their ignorance of the scriptures and the power of God. Then he goes on to explain how people will relate to each other in the afterlife. After death and resurrection, men and women do not marry, for they will be like the angels in heaven.

He reminds them of the scene where the voice from the burning bush identifies itself to Moses. “I AM the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob” (Exodus 3:6). He is the God of the living and not of the dead. After this reply from Jesus, they no longer dared to ask him any questions, because, he had given a mind-blowing answer to their ignorance and unbelief.

Dear friends, 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. But we have to believe in the resurrection not so much because Jesus argued with the Sadducees, but because of his own resurrection and his promise to share his life with us forever.

Jesus tells and shows us that we are children of the resurrection and children of God who neither marry nor are given in marriage in the heavenly kingdom. For all that matters is our relationship with our God and neighbour, as for what we shall be after death is known by God alone.

Therefore, as Christians, we are challenged to overcome our excessive attachments to the world and to be closer to God and to allow Him to guide us in our path. Little wonder, St. Paul in our first reading today, reminds and encourages us not to worry about worldly trials sufferings and persecutions. Instead, let us focus our attention on the assurance of life and joy that we will have in the kingdom of God.

Thus, let us be encouraged by the lives of St. Charles Lwanga and Companions, martyrs of Uganda, whose memorial we celebrate today. Charles Lwanga and his twenty-one companions (the youngest, Kitizo, was only 13) were executed for being Christians, for rebuking the king for his debauchery and for murdering an Anglican missionary, for “praying from a book,” and for refusing to allow themselves to be ritually sodomised by the king. They died between 1885 and 1887. Most of them were burned alive in a group after being tortured. Within a year of their deaths, the number of catechumens in the country increased greatly.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, many things challenge our faith every day, grant that through the intercession of St. Charles Lwanga, we may remain steadfast in faith and charity, even in the face of trials and persecutions through Christ our Lord. Amen. God bless you.

Homily For Tuesday Ninth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 2nd June, 2026

Reading: 2Peter 3:11-15,17-18; Ps.112; Mark 12:13-17

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

KNOWING WHAT BELONGS TO CAESAR AND WHAT BELONGS TO GOD

At the time of Jesus, one of the great means of exchange was the use of coins. A coin, as we know, is a small, flat, round piece of metal used primarily as a medium of exchange or legal tender to facilitate trade.

They are most often issued by the government with particular images, numerals and inscriptions. It is a very important commodity used in payment of taxes and other important goods, which gives great value to anyone who has enough of it in his possession.

So on the occasion of our Gospel passage today, when the Pharisees and Herodians attempted to trap Jesus using the mandatory law of paying tax to Caesar. It was a serious trap for Jesus because a negative response from him would make him a serious enemy of Rome; a positive response would make him lose the trust of his own people, who generally detest paying this tax.

Thus, Jesus said to them: “Why do you set this trap for me? Bring me a coin and let me see it.’ They handed him one, and he said, ‘Whose image and inscriptions are they?’ Caesar’s they told him. Jesus said to them, ‘Give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.’ This reply took them completely by surprise.

But what does this reply mean? Here, Jesus requested a coin; he secured the coin; he inquired about the image and inscription on the coin; and they responded by identifying the coin with Caesar.

In the context of these actions, Jesus is probably holding the coin. This implies that the true image of the coin is in his possession, but the empirical image and inscription of the coin are the sum total of the things that belong to Caesar. In other words, the true image and inscriptions of anything come and belong to God.

However, the empirical image of corruption, greediness, pride, operation and deception that are found in this coin belongs to Caesar and should be rendered back to him. Thus, Jesus affirms that one’s obligation to the government is necessary as long as it is for the good of all, while insisting that one’s obligation to God is always greater, and this should be done by rendering the true image of the coin to God, which ultimately belongs to Him.

Dear friends, in one way or another, we all possess the coins of this life, but whose image and inscription is in the coin we possess. Are we possessing the coin with the true image and inscription of God or the coin with the empirical image of Caesar which signifies sin, corruption, greed, selfishness and deception?

Today, Jesus is telling us to render back to the Caesars of this world all the ugly and sinful coins in our possession, for they belong to them. While rendering to God the true image of the coin with the inscription of holiness, love, mercy, forgiveness, charity, for they truly belong to God.

When this is done, we will hear the consoling words of the Lord, like those of Tobit's wife, as we heard her consoling Tobit in our first reading today, saying: ‘What about your own charitable deeds? What about your own good works?

Everyone knows what return you have had for them.’ In the life of Tobit, we see that it is indeed possible to be fully faithful and committed to God, while living in harmony as law-abiding citizens of the community, even in the midst of persecutions and operations as we experience in our societies today.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, whose providence never fails in its design, grant that we may always render to you what really belongs to you, as we do away with all that offends you and our fellow neighbours and so live in harmony with the authority of the state. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.