Homily for Saturday, Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year A. 15th August, 2026. Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

 

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

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

UNDERSTANDING THE REALITY OF LIFE AND DEATH THROUGH THE ASSUMPTION OF MARY

Following the ugly events we hear and experience in our world today, especially the killings, hatred, betrayals, greed, and social and economic injustice all over the world, there is this constant fear of what becomes of us when we die. Where are we going when we die? Is death the end of life? Is there another life after death?

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

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

Thus, on 1 November, 1950, Pope Pius XII proclaimed as Dogma that the Virgin Mary “having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory”. This truth of faith as known by Tradition, was affirmed by the Fathers of the Church, and was an important aspect in the veneration of the Mother of Christ. This Dogma appears as an act of praise and exaltation of God’s grace in the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It also emerges for the honour of her Son Jesus and for the joy and exultation of the entire Church.

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

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

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

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

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

Dear friends, how can this solemnity of the Assumption of Mary help us on our journey towards our heavenly kingdom? How has this solemnity helped us to answer the question about life after death? What message is God passing to us in this solemnity?

In this solemnity of the Assumption, we find the message of faith and hope: that in God there is room for humanity, God is humanity’s true home, and in us there is also room for God. Hence, Pope Benedict XVI says that one thing is certain, that is, our hope in God: that God expects us, God waits for us, we do not go out into a void, we are expected, God is expecting us.

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

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

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

Homily for Friday, Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year A, 14th August 2026. The Memorial of St Maximilian Kolbe

Readings: Ezekiel 16:1-15.60-63, Is. 12:2-6, Matt. 19:3-12

Fr. Emmanuel Onyia.

UNDERSTANDING GOD’S REAL INTENTION ABOUT MARRIAGE AND CELIBACY.

The idea of secularism and individualism in our society today has placed in the minds of the youth a distorted image of what marriage and family life entail and truly represent in society. This is because many young people today find themselves in a state of radical instability and seek guidance to help them answer the fundamental questions of life. Today, there are different notions and understandings of marriage, especially among the youths.

Marriage among today's youths is often a matter of choice and contract, which is suitable only when it serves their personal interests. Marriage is seen as a business which anybody can engage in or disengage from at any time. Commitment, sacrifice and partnerships for a whole life are far from their understanding of what marriage truly represents. The fact remains that Marriage is the basis of every human family and indeed the basic cell of every community.

Little wonder, in our Gospel passage today, when the Pharisees engaged Jesus on the notion of divorce in marriage and its controversy. Jesus referred them to the fundamental principle of marriage when he said, Have you not read that the Creator from the beginning made them male and female and that he said: This is why a man must leave father and mother, and cling to his wife, and the two become one body? They are no longer two, therefore, but one body. So then, what God has united, man must not divide.’

Addressing the issue of divorce, Jesus said ‘It was because you were so unteachable that’s why Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but it was not like this from the beginning. Now I say this to you: the man who divorces his wife, except for unchastity, marries another, is guilty of adultery. And he who marries a divorced wife commits adultery.

 Here Jesus emphasised the real intention of God about marriage and celibacy, that they are two forms of life that help us to value human sexuality as a gift from God. He ruled out divorce by placing men and women on the same level; no longer could a man opt to divorce his wife, except for extreme unchastity. Today there are lots of problems in families due to a lack of understanding of what marriage truly means.

It is quite interesting to realise that social, economic and political factors were major determinants that shape the youth’s present understanding of marriage, as we see the youths giving importance to changing trends in marriage such as: single parent, inter-caste marriage, living in relationship or cohabitation, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender marriages, etc. Hence, marriage for them is more of a social phenomenon than a spiritual union and physical companionship.

Meanwhile, today the prophet Ezekiel in our first reading reminds us that right from conception God gave us life; at birth, he protected us; then we were stark naked, he spread the corner of his cloak over us to cover our nakedness. Now we are old enough for love; he showed us love and adorned us with beauty, ornaments, silver and gold and then he made a covenant with us to be our Groom and we, his lovely bride.

But we abandoned and divorced him by trusting in our own beauty and gifts which he has given us and using them to play harlot and lavished our harlotry on things of this passing world that take us away from God’s purpose for us. Yet God still remembers the covenant he made with us, he is not ashamed to forgive us. All he wants is for us to come back to him now that we are still alive, for he is a merciful and faithful husband who loves us, his bride.

Dear friends, today we are called to embrace the will of God and his teaching concerning family life and the issue of divorce. We should not let the trending ideas of disordered personalities in our world mislead us. Rather, we should value and respect the sanctity of marriage. We should hold on to the true meaning of marriage, which has to do with love, commitment, trust, sacrifice and partnership for a whole lifetime.

So, let us learn from the life of St. Maximilian Kolbe, whose memorial we celebrate today, for he heroically offered his life in place of another man who had been selected for execution, seeing how the man was filled with despair over the welfare of his wife and children. Maximilian, being a priest, chose to die in place of this man so that he could be united once again with his family. What a great lesson and example for us to value the gift of love that God has given to humanity in the sacramental union of marriage.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we have always failed to listen to and follow your teaching; as a result, there are lots of problems in our families due to a lack of understanding of what marriage truly means. As we listen to your teaching today, help us to value our vocation, whether marriage or a celibate life, and to constantly struggle to fix the problems in our families. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. God bless you.

Homily for Thursday Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 13th August, 2026

Readings: Ezekiel 12:1-12, Ps.78, Matt. 18:21-19:1

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WHY WE MUST LEARN TO FORGIVE PEOPLE UNCONDITIONALLY FROM OUR HEARTS

In the Gospel of Matthew 6:12, we have the prayer our Lord Jesus gave us as a pattern of all prayers and as a fundamental principle of Christian life. In this prayer, there is a portion that points out something so important. This portion says, “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespassed against us. ”

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

Thus, Peter, one of the disciples of Jesus, being conscious of this fact, asked Jesus in our Gospel passage today, saying: ‘Lord, how often must I forgive my brother if he wrongs me? As often as seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘Not seven, I tell you, but seventy times seven.

And he illustrated his answer with an example of a servant who owed his master a great debt that he and his generation cannot pay. But when he pleaded for mercy, the master forgave him all the debts. However, this same servant found a fellow servant who owed him as little as one hundred denarii, he seized him by the throat and began to throttle him and even when he pleaded for mercy, instead of forgiving him, he put him in prison according to the norms of the law until he had paid his debt.

This unforgiving servant did to his fellow servant what the master could have done to him, but did not. When the master heard how he treated his fellow servant, he said to him: “You wicked servant! I have forgiven you all your debt because you appealed to me. Were you not bound then to have pity on your fellow-servant just as I had pity on you? And, angry, the master handed him over to the torturers till he should pay all his debts.”

Jesus then said, this is how my heavenly Father will deal with you unless you each forgive your brother from your heart.’ For God will apply the principle he has given us in our Lord’s Prayer, which will automatically put us where we properly belong based on how we have related with others.

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

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

Dear friends, we must learn to forgive people, but having experienced the infinite mercy of God, how are we dealing with our unforgiving attitude? Are there people we have vowed not to forgive? Have people hurt us so much that we can’t forgive them? Have we offended people and cannot be humble enough to ask for their forgiveness? Do we think that our sins are so huge for God to forgive? Are we finding it difficult to forgive those who have offended us?

There is no doubt that forgiving a grievous offence can be very difficult, but when this is done, it is like recovering a lost treasure that contains: joy, peace, freedom and healing. And today Jesus is asking us to learn how to forgive others always and unconditionally from our hearts, so that God will also forgive us always and unconditionally.

For we heard the Lord in our first reading today saying through the prophet Ezekiel: Son of man, you are living with that set of rebels who have eyes and never see, ears and never hear, for they are a set of rebels; they will surely go into exile, into banishment.

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

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

Homily for Wednesday Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 12th August, 2026

 

Readings: Ezekiel 9:1-7;10:18-22, Ps.113, Matt. 18:15-20

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Onyia.

UNDERSTANDING THE RIGHT PATH TOWARDS FRATERNAL CORRECTION AND RECOLLECTION

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

In our Gospel passage today Jesus gave us the practical steps we need to follow to correct and reconcile with one another to build a stronger relationship when he said, ‘If your brother does something wrong, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won back your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you: the evidence of two or three witnesses is required to sustain any charge. But if he refuses to listen to these, report it to the Church as a community; and if he refuses to listen to the Church, treat him like a pagan or a tax collector.

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

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

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

Dear friends, it is our duty, obligation and responsibility to ensure in a fraternal charity that our fellow brothers and sisters, friends and neighbours, colleagues and collaborators are corrected and guided whenever they are in need or go astray. Every one of us has the responsibility to strengthen our relationship and be a good example for one another as we work the path towards our salvation.

This is exactly what the vision of the prophet Ezekiel in our first reading is addressing, for Ezekiel saw what happened when the glory of God departed from the Temple and the city, because of the sins of the people which brought about the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple of God by the Babylonians, as seen by Ezekiel who was then in exile in Babylon. However, God, through this vision, showed how his grace and mercy will be made present among the people who embrace his call for repentance, reconciliation and fraternal correction.

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

Homily for Tuesday Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 11th August, 2026. The Memorial of St Clare of Assisi

 

Readings: Ezekiel 2:8-3:4, Ps.119, Matt. 18:1-5.10.12-14

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

TRUE GREATNESS IS FOUND IN THE HUMILITY OF LITTLE CHILDREN

Human life and activities are always competitive and comparative in nature; that is why we are often anxious to recognise or be recognised as the strongest, wisest, cleverest, richest. We will always want to know the most beautiful, the most handsome, the most talented, and the greatest in virtually everything. Little wonder, the most lucrative business and adventures are found among those activities that are competitive, such as sports, entertainment and politics, because greatness gives more ego to our status.

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

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

Thus, Jesus explains that in the kingdom of heaven, true greatness is found in humility, and children serve as a symbol of humility, as they are dependent on adults for everything, just as we also are dependent on God. Little children serve as a concrete symbol of the simplicity which is a condition for entering the kingdom of heaven. So, in children we find these great virtues of simplicity and humility. Hence, parents should encourage their children to participate in activities where they display these virtues.

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

This is exactly what the prophet Ezekiel demonstrated to his people who were lost as they rebelled against God and needed to be brought back to God as we have it in our first reading today, where the Lord made him great by offering him the scroll to eat and then said Son of man, go to the House of Israel and tell them what I have said.’

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

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

This, of course, prevents us from seeking true greatness that leads to the heavenly kingdom. And as a result, many of us are lost sheep, but Jesus, the good shepherd, is searching for us and guiding us on the path towards reconciliation and redemption, so that we may find the path towards the salvation God has offered to all humanity.

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

Homily for Monday Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 10th August, 2026. Feast of St. Lawrence

 

Readings: 2 Cor. 9:6-10, Ps.112, John 12:24-26

Fr. Rev. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

HOW TO YIELD A RICH HARVEST OF HEAVENLY THINGS

The way people are so engrossed with acquiring the things of this passing world at the detriment of things that edify the soul makes me wonder if we are actually learning anything from the lives of those who have passed away from this world.

Have we taken time to reflect on where all of us and the beautiful things of this world will be in the next ten, twenty, forty, eighty and hundred years for those who are strong? I believe the answer to this question will leave a deep silence in our souls as it exposes the foolishness of human greed and selfishness.

Little wonder that Jesus, in our Gospel passage today, tells us that unless a wheat grain falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single grain; but if it dies, it yields a rich harvest. Anyone who loves his life loses it; anyone who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

Here, Jesus is telling us that the only way to save our lives is by total detachment from the things of this passing world. We must sacrifice the pleasurable things of this world for the sake of the heavenly kingdom because they are not going to follow us when the time comes for us to leave this world. For attachment to things of this world is a distraction from the things of heaven. But when a soul dies to the things of this passing world, it yields a rich harvest of heavenly things.

Therefore, what are the things I value so much that need to die for me to live more fully in Christ? Because, like a wheat grain, we must sacrifice by dying to the things of this world to yield fruit that will sustain us for eternity. Hence, we need to ask ourselves today, what does God require from us in this world? Why are we in this world, and where are we going from this world?

Dear friends, all the Lord wants from us is to serve him, to love him and to love our neighbours as well. And Jesus says in our Gospel, If a man serves me, he must follow me, wherever I am, my servant will be there too. For if anyone serves me, my Father will honour him.

This is exactly what St. Lawrence, whose memorial we celebrate today, did. Lawrence was one of the deacons of Rome and, as such, was greatly involved in the many important decisions and works in the very heart of the Church in Rome. During the persecution, St. Lawrence was confronted by the Roman prefect, acting on behalf of Emperor Valerian, who demanded that he surrender all the properties and material wealth of the Church.

Lawrence assembled before the Emperor all the poor, the infirm, the sick and the destitute and presented all of them before the Roman prefect as the true property and wealth of the Church. Then, the Emperor was filled with anger; he ordered that Lawrence should be arrested, imprisoned, and eventually martyred by being roasted alive on a gridiron, which was made even hotter by the anger of the prefects.

As they were burning him, he joked and asked his torturers to turn him over since he was "done" enough on that side. The deacon cheerfully offered himself to the Lord Jesus. Tradition has it that most people in Rome became Christian as a result of the faithful life and the death of this one humble deacon, who let the seed of his life die to yield a rich Heavenly harvest.

Today the life of St. Lawrence is a great encouragement to us, calling us to the sacrificial life of love for God, the poor and the Church. And St. Paul, in our first reading today, tells us about the great rewards awaiting all those who had been generous in giving and loving the poor and the needy.

For the one who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide us with all the seed we need and make the harvest of our good deeds a larger one, just like St. Lawrence, who showed us a great example by his great generosity, love, and genuine concern for the poor and the Church.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, Today, we saw in St. Lawrence a great example of how to live, and how to die faithfully to the Gospel. As we reflect on his life, may we come to love you more and strive to detach ourselves from the negative influence of pleasurable things in this passing world. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed week.

Homily for the Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A, 9th August, 2026

 

Readings: 1Kings 19:9.11-13, Ps 85, Rom. 9:1-5, Matt. 14:22-33

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

LORD SAVE US FROM THE EVIL STORMS OF THIS PASSING WORLD

A boat is a craft made for transportation, fishing, or cruising on the water, propelled by oars or wind. It is a full house, a complete and secure vessel. The fishermen and the marine men who are in the sea business know the value of a boat and what it means to be in a boat faced with heavy storms.

Little wonder, in the Scriptures, Jesus often uses the boat to teach and instruct the people and his disciples. On the occasion of our Gospel passage today, Jesus instructed the disciples to get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side. When evening came, he was there alone, while the boat, by now far out on the lake, was battling with a heavy sea storm.

So as the waves were breaking over the boat, the disciples were afraid and needed help from anywhere. It was at this point that they saw Jesus walking on the sea, and he said to them: “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid”. But Peter said, ‘If it is you, Lord, tell me to come to you across the water.’ ‘Come’ said Jesus.

Then Peter got out of the boat and started walking towards Jesus across the water, but as soon as he felt the force of the wind, he became afraid and began to sink. So he cried out ‘Lord! Save me!’ Jesus put out his hand at once and held him. And as they got into the boat the wind ceased. The men in the boat bowed down before him and said, ‘Truly, you are the Son of God.’

In this Gospel passage, we can foresee a gesture which signifies the chosen people of God 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. Today Jesus is inviting us to journey on this boat of life with an unwavering faith and a repentant heart so that our storms of struggles will cease.

Because the world is being tossed around by the waves of evil forces the enemies of humanity, inflicting hardships, sickness and sorrows on us. But Jesus is inviting us to come into his boat with faith so that we can find life, peace and grace to overcome our struggles.

Just the way God called prophet Elijah out of the cave of fear and starvation to encounter Him at Mount Horeb, as we have it in our first reading today. So, there came a mighty wind, so strong that it tore the mountains and shattered the rocks before the Lord. But the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind came an earthquake. But the Lord was not in the earthquake.

After the earthquake came a fire. But the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there came the sound of a gentle breeze. And when Elijah heard this, he covered his face with his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave; there he encountered the Lord in the gentle breeze.

Thus, Elijah encountered the Lord in a moment of stillness and silence, reminding us that God can not be found in the violent storms of life, but in the deep silence of our hearts even in the midst of the storms of life. Hence, we should not let all the challenges, trials and difficulties we encounter in this crazy world make us lose sight of God’s presence, but they should lead us to God.

And this is what St. Paul is struggling with in our second reading when he said My sorrow is so great, my mental anguish so endless, I would willingly be condemned and be cut off from Christ if it could help my brothers of Israel, my own flesh and blood to know and understand their place in God. This no doubt is what most people are passing through in our societies today.

 Dear friends, the world is full of crowds and caves of different storms, and so many people are trying to find ways to fix their problems. Today Jesus is inviting us to come into his boat of life with an unwavering faith and a repentant heart, and we will find peace of mind. For his boat is the safest vessel where all our storms can be subdued. Where humanity can find solace, where all our struggles will cease, where hope for the future is guaranteed.

Therefore, I don't know the great storms of doubt and fear in your soul today? I don’t know how deep your sorrows of constant failure and disappointment are? I don’t know how long or deep you have been involved in the evil going on in this world? All I know is that if today we come to Jesus, the boat of life, with great faith in God, the storms in our lives will cease, and then we will worship God in sincerity and freedom.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we thank you for being with us this far in our daily struggle of life, grant that the violent storms and waves of bondage in our lives will end in a wonderful calm that brings peace in our souls. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you the best of God’s favour and blessings today and always.

Homily For Saturday, Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year A, 8th August, 2026. The Memorial of St. Dominic

Readings: Habakkuk 1:12-2:4; Ps. 9; Matt 17: 14-20

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WHY WE HAVE FAILED TO EXPRESS THE FAITH PROPERLY AND OBTAIN POSITIVE RESULTS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

So faith moving mountains implies the spiritual and divine ability to make difficult and stumbling situations vanish. And this is obtained when we are rooted in God through sincere love. This is what we see in St. Dominic whose memorial we celebrate today. Through his personal experience of God, he has helped the faithful to renew their faith and commitment in God and their society through the deepening of their spiritual lives, especially through the use of the rosary as a prayer, which eventually became one of the most popular of all devotions in the Church, through which countless souls have been converted to the Lord, through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

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

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

Homily For Friday, Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year A, 7th August, 2026

Readings: Nahum 1:15.2:2.3:1.6-7, Ps. Deut. 32:35-41, Matt 16:24-28

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

UNDERSTANDING THE SACRIFICIAL NATURE OF FOLLOWING THE LORD

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

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

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

Thus, these hard words of Jesus can only be understood in the light of our life experience. Here comes the moment when we have to make radical and difficult choices as disciples of Jesus. It’s time for us to take up our Cross in a sacrificial way and follow the Lord.

But what is the cross we are called to take up? Taking up our cross could mean faithfully facing our daily challenges with all their difficulties. It is accepting who we are and what we have and using them to the glory of God.

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

Dear friends, don’t ever think that it is easy to follow the Lord. Little wonder God, through the prophet Nahum in our first reading today, promised us that he will not abandon his faithful people in the darkness of this passing world. For he shall crush the wicked and all those who have oppressed his people.

He has promised to stand by us in the midst of persecution and suffering. For a while, we might suffer, but in the end, those who remained faithful to him will be victorious while the oppressors will be rejected, crushed and destroyed.

Thus, to share the glory of Christ, we must share His suffering, because it is impossible to follow Jesus without accepting the cross and acknowledging and embracing all that life has to offer us. So it’s time to make a radical decision to sincerely and faithfully follow Jesus.

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

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, the excess desire for the pleasurable things of this passing world have weakened our hearts towards you, give us courage and grace to let go of our ugly desires and as we do this, may the cross of Christ be a shining example in our daily struggles, to hold firm in our faith despite all the sufferings and persecutions we may encounter. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a fruitful day. 

Homily For Thursday, Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year A, 6th August, 2026. The Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord

 

Readings: Dan. 7:9-10, 13-14, Ps.97, 2 Peter 1:16-19. Matt. 17:1-9

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

HAVING A TRANSFIGURATIVE EXPERIENCE THAT LEADS TO KNOWING AND LISTENING TO THE LORD

To know the true identity of Jesus has always been the desire and quest of most people of his time and even in our time. So, today we celebrate the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, the mystery and revelation of the true identity of Jesus.

The word “Transfiguration” is the combination of two words: ‘trans ’, meaning change, and ‘figure ’, meaning appearance or the outlook of a body. That is, the change in appearance of Jesus reveals his true nature as the Divine Son of God, shining forth from his human nature, unveiling that he was not just a Man but also the great Son of God incarnate in the human flesh. This will help us to understand the true identity of Jesus.

This is important because most people today still do not have a grand knowledge of the personality and identity of Jesus and his mission towards the salvation of humanity. So, to make known his identity to humanity, Jesus, in our Gospel passage today, chose three of his disciples, Peter, James and John and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone.

There in their presence, he was transfigured: his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared to them; they were talking with him. Then Peter spoke to Jesus. ‘Lord,’ he said ‘it is wonderful for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ He was still speaking when suddenly a bright cloud covered them with shadow, and from the cloud, there came a voice which said, ‘This is my Beloved Son. Listen to him.

So, in this Feast, we remember the revelation of Christ as the beloved Son of the Father, the one we are called to trust and listen to in prayer. An event that occurs to undermine objections to the inevitable event of Parousia, which calls us to a life of faith and radical transformation. A transformation that brings about a new outfit that makes one a new person with a new life, a new mind and a new way of doing things.

In this revelation, we recall the presence of the two greatest and most renowned figures from the Old Testament, namely Moses and the prophet Elijah. They represent the law and the prophets which bear witness to the personality and identity of Jesus. To crown all, the voice from the cloud, which has also been the symbol of God’s presence with His people, bearing witness that Jesus is the Beloved Son of God, calling us to listen to him.

Little wonder St. Peter, in our second reading today, tells us that it was not any cleverly invented myths that they were repeating when they brought us the knowledge of the power and the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, for they had seen his majesty for themselves.

Peter made us know that Jesus was honoured and glorified by God the Father when the Sublime Glory itself spoke to him and said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; Listen to him.’ He said they heard this themselves, spoken from heaven when they were with him on the holy mountain.

This event also fulfils the vision of Daniel in our first reading, where he said: I saw, coming on the clouds of heaven, one like a son of man. He came to the one of great age and was led into his presence. His sovereignty is an eternal sovereignty which shall never pass away, nor will his empire ever be destroyed.

The preface of this feast says that Jesus revealed his glory in the presence of chosen witnesses and filled with the greatest splendour that bodily form which he shares with all humanity, that the scandal of the Cross might be removed from the hearts of his disciples.

Dear friends, are we in any way ignorant of the personality, identity and mission of our Lord Jesus Christ? Have we personally experienced the presence of Jesus in our lives? Have we ever encountered Jesus in such a transformative way that changes our sinful ways of life and builds our faith stronger in the Lord? This is the type of encounter we need to have. An encounter that reveals the true identity of Jesus.

The truth is, we can change our religion, churches, even our pastors, friends, residence, car or our physical appearance: hair, clothes, colour, even gender, as some people do today. But if we don’t have a transfigurative experience that will bring about a change of mind and heart towards loving God and our neighbours, we will remain the same, and the old experience of unfruitful life will perpetuate itself over and over again. Because everything absolutely changes when we change our minds for good, and that is the essence of today’s feast.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, you never cease to make known to your children the mysteries of your Love for humanity, grant that by listening to the voice of your beloved Son, we may personally experience his love in our lives and merit to become coheirs with him, who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. As you begin the day, may God bless you with a sound mind and unwavering faith in him.

Homily for Wednesday, the Eighteenth week in Ordinary Time Year A, 5th August 2026

 

Readings: Jer. 31:1-7; Ps. Jer. 31: 10-13; Matt. 15:21-28

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

HOW TO MAKE A HUMBLE REQUEST FROM THE LORD

Most people in our societies today hardly accept who they are. Today, people spend all their resources and energy trying to convince others of what they are not by seeking their approval. This is not the case with the Canaanite woman in our Gospel passage today, who, when she approached Jesus pleading for the restoration of her daughter, was not discouraged because her request was not granted immediately due to her humble background.

For Jesus said to her ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of the House of Israel.’ But the woman persisted, kneeling at his feet saying. ‘Lord help me.’ Jesus replied, ‘It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the house-dogs.’ She retorted, ‘Ah yes, sir; but even house-dogs can eat the scraps that fall from their master’s table.’ Then Jesus answered her, ‘Woman, you have great faith. Let your wish be granted.’ And from that moment her daughter was well again.

From this little story, it is clear that the woman was not going to give up, but kept pleading, even from her Canaanite background, to the point of Jesus recognising her great faith. The irony of this passage is that, in Israel, Jesus was trying to convince people that he was the Messiah, as he was being challenged to prove it with a sign. But here in Gentile territory, he met a woman who was convinced he was the Messiah, so he could not discourage her efforts.

But his apparent attempt to put her off was just a test, of which her great faith was proven by the acceptance of her humble background. She accepted the place of a “dog” as a Gentile in relation to Israelites being the chosen children of God to whom the message and grace of the Messiah came first.

 Hence she accepted that she may not be able to sit down at the Messiah’s table and eat with the “children,” but she should be allowed to pick up some of the crumbs of unmerited mercy and grace of God for the sake of her daughter.

Dear friends, we must stop wasting valuable time trying to prove who we are not; let us first in faith, accept who we are and then work hard to improve who we want to be in relation to our faith in God. Let our faith in God help us to accept who we are. Whatever we want to do, let us have faith in God and ourselves and be determined because faith, determination and sacrifice are the secrets of any success in life.

Therefore, tell yourself today that you can get that which you desire, plan for it, and work every day for it; you will begin to see a different face in the things you do. The truth is that people are rewarded in public for things they have done for years in private.

So, let us learn from the Canaanite woman who accepted who she was and was determined with faith to achieve her dream through humility and persistence. For the Lord will always intervene in our humble situations in order to elevate us as we heard in our first reading today.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are often very slow to accept who we are and sometimes, because of our humble background, we fail to obtain what we desire. As we come to you today in humility and faith like the Canaanite woman, may we obtain your grace and favours. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. God bless you.

Homily for Tuesday, Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year A, 4th August, 2026. The Memorial of St. John Mary Vianney

 

Readings: Jer. 30:1-2.12-15.18-22; Ps 102; Matt. 14:22-36

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

NAVIGATING THROUGH THE STORMS OF LIFE

In life, we often encounter difficult situations that are very frightening. A situation where the need for a Saviour is highly anticipated. Such was the case with the disciples of Jesus in our Gospel passage today. When Jesus received the news of John the Baptist’s death, he instructed the disciples to get into the boat and go ahead to the other side, while he would send the crowds away. When evening came, he was there alone, while the boat, by now far out on the lake, was battling with a heavy sea storm.

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 taken as a symbol of the young Christian Church struggling with the world’s principalities and powers, while the storm is a symbol of persecution suffered by this young Christian community. And Jesus says: "Do not be afraid".

This, no doubt, is what humanity is passing through today in the hands of a few selfish, evil men and women who have decided to destroy humanity by trying to recreate human beings into an artificial machine against the natural way God has created us for a few of them to control the lives and activities of all.

Dear Friends, today, humanity needs to humbly cry out like Peter: Lord, save us, for we are sinking into the destructive hands of the evil powers of this sinful world. Hence we are called to trust in the Lord and hope in his promises and providence. For it is time for us to listen to God and hold onto him more closely.

Let us not be like Aaron and Miriam in our first reading, who spoke against God and Moses and were punished for their sins. Rather, let us learn to be humble like Moses, who was known as the most humble man on earth.

So, what are the terrible storms of doubt and fear in your soul? Are you under the power of the evil forces of this world? I don’t know how long or deep you have been involved in this evil. All I know is that with great faith in God, we will be triumphant.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, we are really passing through the storms of life in need of your love and satisfaction both physically and spiritually. Through the intercession of St. John Mary Vianney, guide us once again with your heavenly grace. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed week. 

Homily for Monday Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 3rd August, 2026

 

Readings: Jer.28: 1-17; Ps 119; Matt. 14:22-36

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

"TAKE COURAGE, IT IS I, DO NOT BE AFRAID" SAYS THE LORD

When Jesus, in our Gospel passage today, received the news of John the Baptist’s death, he instructed the disciples to get into the boat and proceed ahead to the other side, while he sent the crowds away. When evening came, he was there alone, while the boat, by now far out on the lake, was battling with a heavy sea storm.

As the waves broke over the boat, the disciples could not believe that Jesus had seen them and was approaching. Hence, they were afraid and needed help from anywhere. It was at this point that they saw Jesus walking on the sea, and he said to them: “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid”.

But Peter said, ‘If it is you, Lord, tell me to come to you across the water.’ ‘Come’ said Jesus. Then Peter got out of the boat and started walking towards Jesus across the water, but as soon as he felt the force of the wind, he became afraid and began to sink. So he cried out ‘Lord! Save me!’ Jesus put out his hand at once and held 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 taken as a symbol of the young Christian Church struggling with the world’s principalities and powers, while the storm is a symbol of persecution suffered by this young Christian community. And Jesus says: "Do not be afraid".

This, no doubt, is what humanity is passing through today in the hands of a few selfish, evil men and women who have decided to destroy humanity by trying to recreate human beings into an artificial machine against the natural way God has created us for a few of them to control the lives and activities of all.

Today, humanity needs to humbly cry out like Peter, Lord, save us, for we are sinking into the destructive hands of the evil powers of this sinful world. Hence we are called to trust in the Lord and hope in his promises and providence. For it is time for us to listen to God and hold onto him more closely.

This is what prophet Hananiah, in our first reading, failed to understand, they spoke to please the king and his listeners, saying before everyone that the Lord would help Judah crush the Babylonians and help reverse all the losses and humiliations that they had suffered under them.

But this was not the truth; he only said something that everyone wanted to hear by reassuring false hope. Thus, prophet Jeremiah rebuked him, making it known that God was going to throw him and all the evil agents that were destroying humanity off the face of the earth.

Dear friends, Jesus is calling us today 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 humankind. And it is only God that can subdue it, for he has promised to restore us back to Himself, if only we can trust in him completely.

So, I don't know the terrible storms of doubt and fear in your soul? Are you under the power of the evil forces of this world? I don’t know how long or deep you have been involved in this evil. All I know is that with great faith in God, the words of Jesus: “Do not be afraid, take courage, it is I,” will surely resound in the hearts of all his children who live in a hostile environment and are victims of the evils in this world.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, save humanity once again, grant that the violent storms and waves of bondage in our lives will end in a wonderful calm that brings peace in our souls. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you the best of God’s favour and blessings. 

Homily for the Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A, 2nd August, 2026

Readings: Isaiah 55:1-3, Ps 145, Rom. 8:35.37-39, Matt. 14:13-21

Fr. Emmanuel Onyia

COME TO JESUS THE BREAD OF LIFE AND HE WILL SATISFY YOUR SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL HUNGER

Humanity is constantly in need of one thing or another; we are never tired of searching for things that will satisfy our desire for both physical and spiritual well-being. This is the situation and condition of the people in our Gospel passage today.

When they heard about Jesus, they followed him on foot. So as Jesus stepped ashore he saw a large crowd; and he took pity on them and healed their sickness and also miraculously fed them.

Here, Jesus fulfils his role as the expected messiah who is to liberate his people from all kinds of diseases. The healing touch of Jesus reveals to all those who are in need 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. But Jesus did not just heal the sick, he also fed the crowd.

This feeding of the crowd refers back to the journey of the people of God in the desert from Mount Sinai to the promised land, which especially signifies the event of our Eucharistic celebration. The Eucharist has the same characteristics as this miracle: the community gathered together, the transformation of humble elements into a glorified body of Christ to satisfy our spiritual hunger, which is an abundant gift of God to humanity.

In fact, because of the link to the Eucharist, this is the only miracle that is reported by all four gospels. However, we can interpret this miracle of feeding the crowd in two ways. First, we can simply interpret it as a miraculous event, pointing to the divine origin and mission of Jesus.

Secondly, we can interpret the miracle as the fruit of sharing with one another, for it is possible that once the disciples began to share the little food they had with those around, others who had actually brought some food with them also started sharing what they had,e and indeed grace multiplied what they had to the point of having leftovers.

How I wish humanity could learn to share our resources with one another; believe me, the world will witness another miracle of multiplication of resources that will be enough for everyone, with leftovers for future generations.

So, as Jesus heals and feeds the physical aspect of humanity, he also knows that we need the food of the Eucharist to sustain us spiritually for our journey to heaven which is our promised land. Here, Jesus did not bring the loaves and fish out of nowhere. Rather, he took what was offered to him and multiplied them greatly. This bread is the gift of the Eucharist,t which we receive back from Jesus,s whose heart is always moved with pity and compassion towards us.

Little wonder Go, through the prophet Isaiah in our first reading,g invites us to come to the water,r all you who are thirsty; though you have no money, come! Buy corn without money, and eat, and, at no cost, wine and milk. For why spend money on what does not satisfy?. He says, listen, and your soul will live, for he has made an everlasting covenant with us out of the favours promised to David.

Dear friends, God loves us so much, that he is willing and ready to satisfy our unquenchable hunger for physical and spiritual things. And St. Paul in our second reading encouraged us to make sure that nothing comes between us and the love of Christ, even if we are troubled or worried, or being persecuted, or lacking food or clothes, or being threatened or even attacked. These are the trials through which we triumph, by the power of him who loved us so much.

For 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. Therefore, come to Jesus and embrace his love and you will be satisfied.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, we are really hungry, in need of your love and satisfaction both physically and spiritually. Feed us once again with your heavenly grace, multiply the little bread and fish we share with others,s and provide for us the basic needs of life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed Sunday. 

Homily For Saturday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 1st August, 2026. 1st August 2024. The Memorial of St Alphonsus Mary Liguori. HAPPY NEW MONTH

Readings: Jer. 26:11-16.24, Ps. 69, Matt. 14:1-12

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

LEARN TO STAND FOR WHAT IS RIGHT AND TRUTH NO MATTER THE COST

One thing that the world hates to hear is the sound of the word "truth". Why! Because it makes the world tremble as most things in the world are built on falsehood and deceit, and people are becoming comfortable with falsehood as a way of life.

This is obvious, especially with the ugly situation in our societies today, where humanity is placed in perpetual darkness and confusion as the voices that speak the truth are silenced by all means.

Today, people want to be "free" to do whatever they like; they don't want anybody to remind them of the hard truth about the realities of life. Hence, they can do anything just to silence the truth.

Thus, the cost of speaking the truth has become so expensive that sometimes it costs the life of an individual or even a whole community or nation. It is even more demanding when the truth to be told has to do with the conversion of one in authority.

This is the case with John the Baptist in our Gospel passage today, whose head was the prize for the truth he told to Herod and Herodias. Herod had arrested John and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. For John had told him, ‘It is against the Law for you to have her.’ Herod had wanted to kill him but was afraid of the people, who regarded John as a prophet.

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

This same terrible crime is what we have in our first reading today, where the people demanded that the prophet Jeremiah deserve to die since he had prophesied against the city. Jeremiah had told the people that the Lord would destroy their city and their temple if they refused to amend their sinful ways of life and listen to the voice of the Lord God, who was calling them to repentance.

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

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

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

Dear friends, like Herod, how often do we make decisions out of pride? When we make bad decisions, how quickly are we able to change our minds and admit that we are wrong? Are we like Herodias, who is waiting for an opportunity to silence the innocents who confront us with the truth?

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

This is what we see in the life of St. Alphonsus Liguori, whose memorial we celebrate today. He was the founder of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, also known as the Redemptorists. He was truly a holy man and a role model that we can emulate in our own lives. St. Alphonsus Liguori was remembered for his great piety and dedication to serve the people of God

LET US PRAY: Lord God, it is difficult to speak and stand for truth in our world today; give us the grace and courage to become an instrument of your word in truth and deeds just like St. John the Baptist. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you God’s favour and blessings this month. 

Homily For Friday, Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year A, 31st July, 2026. The Memorial of St. Ignatius of Loyola

Readings: Jer. 26:1-9, Ps. 69, Matt. 13:54-58

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

LEARN TO TREAT EVERYONE WITH RESPECT

In life, people are quick to neglect and look down on others, who they believe cannot offer them anything good at the moment. They are quick to forget that everyone, no matter the present condition is a potential instrument for God's blessings. This is the ugly attitude of the people of Nazareth in our Gospel passage today.

For when Jesus came to his home town and taught the people in the synagogue in such a way that they were astonished, but instead of embracing the message of Jesus, they treated him with contempt and in their pride they said: ‘Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers? This is the carpenter’s son, surely? Is not his mother the woman called Mary, and his brothers and sisters here with us? Where did he get all these?’

And they would not accept him. But Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is only despised in his own country and his own house’, and he did not work many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

Thus, out of pride and contempt, the people rejected the blessings God had for them. Such is also the attitude of the people in the first reading today, where God, through the prophet Jeremiah, calls the people of Judah to repent and turn away from their sins so that He might forgive them and stop the wrath and punishments resulting from their many sins. Unless they repent from their sins, what happened to the sanctuary of Shiloh would also happen to them all.

But they did not listen to him; rather, they all seized hold of Jeremiah and said, ‘You shall die! Why have you made this prophecy in the name of the Lord? So, in their pride, they treated him with contempt and even planned to kill him.

Today, this kind of attitude is what prevents people from doing good because they don’t want to be treated with contempt. As a result, many people have been deprived of their blessings due to human pride and contempt.

Dear friends, we must stop looking down on people. We should not treat anyone with contempt, for everyone is a potential instrument of God’s blessings and favour. And if you want to make a difference in life, be ready to ignore what people are saying about you now, and forget your past failures and your humble beginning. People may not appreciate you now; they may even say all kinds of things about you just to humiliate and discourage you.

Put all of them behind you, work hard for your dreams, give your time to it, sacrifice your sleep and comfort, sweat for it, plan for it, and overcome all your terrors of opposition, enduring pains and obstacles, with the help of God you will succeed and become a source of God's blessings.

Then you will sing joyfully to God your strength and all the people will gather about you in praise of your God. And they will say: Is not this the Carpenter's son or daughter? Where, then, did he get all this? Yes, that's who we are, for Jesus is the Carpenter of our success.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, oftentimes in our pride we treat people with contempt because of their humble background, through the intercession of St Ignatius of Loyola give us the grace to realise that everyone is a potential instrument of your blessings and favour to humanity, and as we struggle towards our goals, may you crown all our efforts and sacrifices with success. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Peace be with you.

Homily For Thursday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 30th July 2026

Readings: Jer.18:1-6, P 146, Matt 13:47-53

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

A CLAY IN A POTTER’S HAND

A story was told of a beautiful clay pot used to decorate a garden. The clay pot was the point of attraction to all, including its fellow ordinary clay. One day, the ordinary clay approached the beautiful clay pot and said, 'We do not doubt that you are clay, just like us.' But how come you have become so beautiful and special that everyone admires you?

The clay pot smiled and said: There was a time when I was nothing but a dumb lump of red clay. Then, one day, a Potter came with a digger and a hoe, dug me out of the dumb lump, painfully separated me from my fellow clay and brought me to his house. I cried out, but he ignored me.

He rolled and pounded me on a wooden table several times without mercy. I cried out, " Don’t do that! Leave me alone!’ But the Potter suddenly placed me on a spinning wheel and spun around and around and around until I lost all consciousness. Just when I thought it was over, he placed me carefully into an oven which is hotter than hellfire.

Why me? I cried out in anguish! But the potter only smiled and gently said: because you are special! I struggled, yelled, knocked and broke several times, but the Potter was patient and meticulous in ensuring that I adjusted to his will. Realising that I cannot win, I surrendered completely to the will of the Potter, and he only nodded in understanding and quietly said: “It is not over yet!

Then he pulled me out of the oven, and when the heat cooled, he carefully picked me up and dusted away some dirt, and behold, I was transformed, looking so beautiful and special. And the potter smiled and said: This is what you are meant to be. For God has made you into a special vessel for a special purpose.

This story reflects what the prophet Jeremiah is telling us in our first reading today: God is the Potter, and we are the clay. God has created humanity as beautiful clay in his hands to be moulded into a beautiful and special vessel for the heavenly kingdom. But humanity has sinned and rebelled against God and his plan for us. Unless we repent and turn away from our sinful ways we will all perish.

Hence, we are called to repentance, for there will be a day of judgement of which Jesus, in our Gospel passage, used a parable to describe that the kingdom of heaven will be like a dragnet cast into the sea that brings in fish of all kinds.

When it is full, the fishermen haul it ashore; then, sitting down, they collect the good ones in a basket and throw away those that are of no use. Here, Jesus is telling us that the kingdom is open for all, but not all can be suitable to dwell in it; only those who, on the judgement day, are found suitable can be admitted into the kingdom.

Dear friends, all God requires from us is for us to let him mould us into the heavenly vessels that he planned for humanity. There is no doubt that sin has destroyed our original nature, but just like when the potter was shaping clay in his hands, and he formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. So will God re-mould us into a new vessel for his heavenly kingdom if we repent from our pride and sinful ways of life?

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, sin and pride have separated humanity from your plans for us; today, we come to you like clay in a lump, be our Potter once again and re-mould us into that heavenly vessel which you planned for us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen

Homily For Wednesday, Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year A, 29th July, 2026. The Memorial of SS. Martha, Mary and Lazarus

 

Readings: Jer. 15:10.16-21; Ps. 59; Luke 10:38-42

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WHAT IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH JESUS?

Today we celebrate the memorial of Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus, very close family friends of Jesus. In this family, we see what should be a good example of our attitude towards Jesus in our families. In our relationship with Jesus, we often struggle to understand what Jesus requires of us.

Oftentimes, we worry about so many things in life, and this often distracts us from relating to Jesus properly. But Jesus will always have a way of teaching us how to relate to him despite our different charisms and dispositions.

This is what is playing out in our Gospel passage today, where we heard the story of how Martha was so busy trying to make Jesus comfortable as he visited them at their house in Bethany.

But when Martha observed that her sister Mary was not helping out in the preparation, but was rather busy listening to Jesus, she said to Jesus: “Lord, do you not care that my sister is leaving me to do the serving all by myself? Please tell her to help me.’ But the Lord answered: ‘Martha, Martha,’ ‘you worry and fret about so many things, and yet few are needed, indeed only one. It is Mary who has chosen the better part; it is not to be taken from her”.

Here, Jesus is not condemning this great sacrificial virtue nor condoning laziness. Rather, he is saying that being busy without listening and listening without doing is completely worthless. Because in our relationship with him, Jesus wants us to learn how to listen to him even in our busy schedules.

Hence, he gently corrected the impression of Martha, who was too busy and distracted with so many things that she risked losing sight of what is really important: listening to Jesus. This is because Martha gives the impression that Mary is just sitting there doing nothing. But, in fact, she was listening to Jesus.

However, Jesus is not telling us to be content with sitting down to listen to his word, for he always insists that the best way of listening to his word is by putting it into practice. His objection to Martha is that she was too anxious and distracted by many things, so she was not able to really listen to him, and for Jesus, listening is the best option.

This act of listening to God is what we see in the life of the prophet Jeremiah in the first reading today as we heard the Lord saying to him: I will make you

a bronze wall fortified against this people. They will fight against you but they will not overcome you, because I am with you to save you and to deliver you.

Dear friends, in our relationship with Jesus, are we more of a listener or more of an accommodating and caring person? Are we more like Martha, Mary or Lazarus for they were all close family friends of Jesus? Today, many of us are so busy and anxious about so many things that we have no time to listen to God speaking to us and addressing the situation we are actually busy trying to solve.

Today we are called, like Martha, to pause and listen, so that we can hear God speaking to us and directing us towards the right path. Remember Martha, who was known as a friend of Jesus, loved to welcome him into her home.

Let us also learn from her, for it is a great virtue to be hospitable and caring, especially when we spend quality time listening to God and letting him direct and guide us towards carrying out our daily tasks without being distracted by the things of this passing world.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are anxious and worried about so many things, but indeed only one thing is needed, give us the grace to truly listen to your word and so have a caring and hospitable family just like St. Martha, Mary and Lazarus. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a fruitful day.

Homily For Tuesday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 28th July, 2026

 

Readings: Jer.14:17-22, P 78, Matt 13:36-43

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WHY HAVE WE CONSTANTLY FAILED TO LISTEN TO GOD’S INSTRUCTIONS

One of our great music legends Bob Marley said in one of his songs titled Natural Mystic:

There's a natural mystic

Blowing through the air

If you listen carefully now you will hear

This could be the first trumpet

Might as well be the last

Many more will have to suffer

Many more will have to die

Don't ask me why

Things are not the way they used to be

I won't tell no lie

Everyone has to face reality now.

This song aligns with the topic of our message today and also with current events in our country, as the situation in our societies today calls us to listen carefully to the cries and lamentations of all those who are suffering, just as Jesus did.

This can be linked to our Gospel passage today because, for many days now, we have been listening to Jesus telling us about the kingdom of God and the need for us to prepare to embrace it. On most occasions, Jesus used parables to communicate the importance of this message. Having listened to him carefully, his disciples in our Gospel passage today asked him to explain the parable of the wheat and the darnel and he said:

 “The sower of the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world; the good seed are the subjects of the kingdom; the darnel, the subjects of the evil one; the enemy who sowed them, the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; the reapers are the angels. Well then, just as the darnel is gathered up and burnt in the fire, so it will be at the end of time.

Then, the Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all things that provoke offences and all who do evil and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth. Then the virtuous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Listen, anyone who has ears!”

What is most important in this message is for us to “Listen carefully”. This is because the world as we know it is coming to an end, for the day of reckoning is very close at hand. This could be the first trumpet might as well be the last. For it is obvious from the signs we are seeing around us today, especially with the situation in our societies. How can we interpret the signs of these times, the signs that tell us that there is no peace or tranquillity in this passing world?

Many are suffering, and many more will have to suffer from the greediness of others. Many have died, and many more will have to die. Many are perishing in sin; many more will have to perish if we refuse to repent of sin and greediness.

And God says through the prophet Jeremiah in our first reading: “Tears flood my eyes night and day, unceasingly, since a crushing blow falls on the daughter of my people, a most grievous injury. If I go into the countryside, there lie men killed by the sword; if I go into the city, I see people sick with hunger”.

Dear friends, do these signs make us afraid of the second coming of the Lord or do we joyfully await its coming? Because the explanation of this parable gives us an account of what will happen on the day of reckoning. And today, we are called to examine our conscience to know where we are concerning our vocation as Christians.

What will be our lot if the Lord calls us today? Will we be among the virtuous who will shine like the sun in the kingdom of our Father? Or among those who will be thrown out of his kingdom and sent into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth?

The answer to this question is available in our consciences, and if we listen carefully now, we will hear, for things are not the way they used to be; we all have to face reality now. Every day is a golden opportunity; today may be the only opportunity for us to change our sinful ways of life and embrace God completely.

PRAYER: Lord God, as we listen carefully to your word, let the groans of your children come before you; help us to embrace your word and be prepared to embrace your kingdom on the day of reckoning. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. God bless you