Homily For Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C, 13th July, 2025

 

Reading: Deut. 30:10-14; Ps. 69; 2Col. 1:14-20; Luke 10:25-37

Rev.  Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

LOVING GOD AND OUR NEIGHBOURS IS WHAT GOD REQUIRES FROM US

As human beings, we are always desiring to know what life requires of us, especially when we are faced with the realities of life. We often want to know the things that should be our first priority. So we always ask questions that will help us in addressing most of the challenges we encounter. 

These questions may come as sentiments or bias, which sometimes means to test our ability towards understanding the realities on the ground.  This is the deposition of the lawyer in our Gospel passage today, who came to Jesus to test him by asking him a question concerning the requirements for inheriting eternal life. 

This lawyer backing up his question with his knowledge of the ten commandment, made reference to the 'Shema Israel’, the prayer that the people of Israel knew and recite from their earliest years, from which they learned that the most important thing in life is to love God with all their heart, and with all thy soul, and with all their mind and to love their neigbhour as well. 

In other words, loving God with all our heart, with all our understanding and strength, and loving our neighbour as ourselves is what is required of us, and it is the foundation of all the things we have to know and do. But this lawyer needed more clarification concerning these requirements, then he asked Jesus a second important question when he said: Who is my neighbour? At this point, Jesus did not just explain, he illustrated what a true neighbour should be with the famous story of the good Samaritan. 

In this story, the man who was going down can be referred to as Adam, who represents humanity departing from paradise to the world. While Jerusalem is paradise, Jericho is the world. The robbers who maltreated the man are hostile powers of this passing world. The priest who passed by represents the Law, the Levite represents the prophets, and the good Samaritan is Christ, who came to save wounded humanity. 

The wounds are disobedience, the beast is the Lord’s body, and the inn, which accepts all who wish to enter, is the Church. The manager of the inn is the head and ministers of the Church, who are entrusted with the care of human souls. The oil and wine represent the instruments they use in carrying out their ministry of healing, restoration and salvation. Finally, the Samaritan’s promises of returning soon represent the second coming of Christ. 

In fact, from the story, Jesus did not just answer the question: ‘Who is my neighbour?’ He gave us the background of his mission and plans for saving wounded humanity and also demonstrated what a true and righteous neighbour should be like, thereby showing us that our neighbours are often those we least expect to be our neighbour. For our neighbour can be anyone, even the ones we most despise or fear, just like the good Samaritan, and this tells us that a true neighbour shows compassion, love, care and makes a sacrifice for others, just like our Lord Jesus Christ.

This is exactly what Moses is telling us in our first reading today when he said: Obey the voice of the Lord your God, keeping his commandments and laws. For this Law that I enjoin on you today is not beyond your strength or beyond your reach. It is not in heaven, so you need to wonder, “Who will go up to heaven for us and bring it down to us, so that we may hear it and keep it?” Nor is it beyond the seas, so that you need to wonder, “Who will cross the seas for us and bring it back to us, so that we may hear it and keep it?” No, the Word is very near to you, it is in your mouth and in your heart for your observance.

Dear friends, God has truly loved us, we must learn to do the same by sincerely loving one another. And as we know, love is the centre of all the teachings of Jesus. Hence, St Paul made us know in our second reading that Christ Jesus is the image of the unseen God and the first-born of all creation, for in him were created all things in heaven and on earth: visible and invisible. 

Therefore, we are created in the image of God, who is Love, and this love is his nature, which we share, for love is a gift from God to humanity. It is like the stream water, so innocent and pure. True love is not hidden; it radiates from the innermost being of a person who has experienced it. 

So, we must learn to love the Lord our God with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our strength, and with all our mind, and our neighbour as ourselves.’ For if we love God, then, we will see him in others and treat them justly and honourably. We will not hurt our neighbours but do our best to live in peace with them. 

The truth is that the absence of love is the cause of all the problems in our world today, as most families exist by grace and not by love. Imagine how wonderful the world would be if we all loved one another. How I wish we could invest our time and resources in ensuring love and unity in our dealings with one another. Believe me, we will not only be fulfilling the first and greatest commandments of God, but we will also be building a happy and peaceful society. 

LET US PRAY: Almighty God, in you resides 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. Happy Sunday to you all.

Homily For Saturday Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 12th July, 2025

Readings: Gen. 49:29-33.50:15-26; Ps. 105; Matt:10:24-33

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WHO WE SHOULD TRULY FEAR

The goal of every disciple is to become like the master. This does not mean that the disciple will become equal to the master, but through the training, he becomes like or similar to the master in his own unique way. For a good disciple develops great qualities and skills like those of the master. Hence, Jesus, knowing the difficulties and challenges his disciples would encounter, needed to train and instruct them properly, so that they could stand firm in the midst of opposition and persecution.

Thus, today in our Gospel passage, Jesus continues with his instruction on what it means to be a firm disciple in respect to the mission he is about to entrust to his apostles, just the way Jacob instructed his sons and Joseph having forgiven his brothers, he instructed them on what to do when he dies as we have it in our first reading.

Similarly, Jesus said to his Apostles: The disciple is not superior to his teacher, nor the slave to his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, what will they not say of his household? What I say to you in the dark, tell in the daylight; what you hear in whispers, proclaim from the housetops. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; fear him rather who can destroy both body and soul in hell.

As disciples, these encouraging words of Jesus are very apt now that we are passing through difficult moments of poverty, sickness, persecution, intimidation, greed, immorality, killings, wars, famines, genocide in our families, societies, country and the world at large.

This ugly condition can make someone completely lose hope in humanity and also in God. But Jesus does not want us to lose hope; rather, he wants us to be those firm and strong disciples who will stand firm and courageously face the ugly situations we encounter every day. Today, Jesus needs firm disciples who will speak and stand for his Gospel no matter the cost.

Dear friends, we are called today to become a firm disciple of Jesus. For as disciples of Jesus, our purpose in life is to become like him in deeds and in character. By so doing, we will have confidence that God will enable us to carry out the work that He has entrusted to us even in the midst of persecution, knowing that neither men nor the devil can affect our souls. We can be confident of God’s intimate care for us because He knows even the number of the hairs on our head.

Therefore, as true disciples of Jesus, we must have confidence and remain firm in faith even in the midst of persecution, sufferings and sickness, because his love and care for us surpass all our challenges. Thus we are called today to follow God wholeheartedly by living a life of holiness, purity, courage and simplicity, and by so doing inspire others to be part of this mission.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, there is no doubt that our world is full of opposition and persecution of your faithful people. Grant that we may follow you wholeheartedly and stand firm in the midst of all the opposition and persecution we may encounter in our daily lives. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you a lovely and peaceful weekend.

Homily For Friday Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 11th July, 2025. The Memorial of St. Benedict.

 

Readings: Gen. 46:1-7.28-30; Ps. 37; Matt:10:16-23

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

REMEMBER THAT YOU ARE A SHEEP AMONG THE HUNGRY WOLVES OF THIS PASSING WORLD

Reflecting on the ugly attitudes of humanity, especially in some ugly events that happen around us. How selfish, cruel and heartless people behave towards each other. Everywhere we see and hear of human wickedness, intimidation, manipulations, kidnapping, killing and other immoral activities for the sake of power, fame, money and lustful desires. And anyone who tries to resist, challenge, correct, change or stop these ugly attitudes, becomes an object of elimination.

 In fact, the evil ones are so cruel that sometimes we wish that God would just wipe them away from the face of the earth, and when this does not happen, we complain and feel so helpless. Yet in the midst of all these ugly situations, we are required to continue to speak about God’s goodness, love, compassion and forgiveness. A very difficult task to do, especially when we are suffering as victims of the ugly situation.

Little wonder that today in our Gospel passage, Jesus made known to his disciples the difficult nature of his mission; he taught them how to persevere in times of persecution, troubles, afflictions, and sufferings. He warns them that they will meet with hostility and hatred because of him, but they are to continue to bear witness to the Gospel values. Jesus said to them: “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; so be cunning as serpents and yet as harmless as doves.”

He continued saying: Beware of men: for they will hand you over to lawless men and drag you before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them. But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to speak or what to say; for what you are to say will be given to you when the time comes; because it is not you who will be speaking; the Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you.”

Hence, Jesus, knowing that the mission to change the sinful and ugly attitudes of humanity will be like sending a helpless sheep in the midst of hungry wolves, so he advised his disciples, as he advises us today, to be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. He also gave us the ultimate reassurance and promise, that the one who endures to the end will be saved.

The truth is that God still cares for humanity despite our sinful and ugly attitudes. This is evident in our first reading today, when we heard the story of how God brought together the family of Jacob which was distorted by wickedness, jealousy, hatred and corruption as a result of the selling of their brother Joseph to slavery.

But today God’s providence and love have brought them together, and we had the Lord saying to Jacob: ‘Do not be afraid of going down to Egypt, for I will make you a great nation there. I myself will go down to Egypt with you. I myself will bring you back again, and Joseph’s hand shall close your eyes. And Jacob said to Joseph: Now I can die, now that I have seen you again, and seen you still alive.

Dear friends, the circumstances in which Jesus invites us to share the Good News is quite challenging and difficult, especially now that the world is passing through difficult times, as families, societies, countries, and churches are badly affected by the ugly situation born out the evil forces manifesting themselves in different forms, of which there troubles and conflicts are affecting the whole world.

Yes, our sinful attitudes have brought humanity into destruction and death, but the Lord still loves us and wants us to repent from our sins and wickedness, so as to embrace his righteousness and mercy once again. Just like St. Benedict, whose memorial we celebrate today. For he is known for his renowned piety and commitment to living a life of purity and prayer, of which he inspired many others to follow him in a life of asceticism and prayer, some of whom decided to follow his way of life and become ascetics and monks

Therefore, just as Jesus was not abandoned by his Father in his hour of need, we too will not be abandoned in difficult times. Because God knows what we are going through now. All we need to do is listen to him speaking to us through the Holy Spirit. Remember, as helpless sheep in the midst of hungry wolves of this passing world, the greatest Gospel we can preach is the Gospel of love by our way of life even in the midst of the ugly attitudes of sinful humanity.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, may the Holy Spirit enlighten, strengthen and grant us the courage and strength to persevere in witnessing to the Gospel, especially in these difficult times. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a fruitful day.

Homily For Thursday Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 10th July, 2025

 

Readings: Gen. 44:18-21.23-29.45:1-5; Ps. 105; Matt:10:7-15

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

THE ENEMY MAY PLAN YOUR DOWNFALL BUT GOD WILL TURN IT TO YOUR GLORY

The rebellious nature of humanity has always kept us away from responding to God's invitation to Life of love, holiness, faithfulness and integrity. Hence, humanity has always failed to understand the true ways of God, its creator. However, God has not stopped caring and stretching his hands of love to us. 

In every generation, God always send messengers to remind us of his love and plan for humanity. This is exactly what we have in our readings today, especially in our first reading, where we heard how it was God’s plan to send Joseph to Egypt for the sake of saving his people from famine.

Here, we heard how this plan was fulfilled when Joseph was reunited with his brothers after they had sold him as a slave. In this encounter and reunion, Joseph, filled with compassion, said that it was God’s plan and grace that allowed everything to happen as it was, that their evil plots had been turned to good things as God sent him ahead to Egypt to pave the path for Jacob, his father and his descendants. 

For God sent him ahead of the rest of his family to prepare everything, so that when they eventually came in accordance with the will of God, they would be accepted and taken good care of, since they were to stay in Egypt for a long time.   

This story shows us that God, in his compassion, will always turn our ugly situation and attitude into something better in accordance with his will. God’s anger and dissatisfaction with the constant disobedience and rebellious attitude of the people and the upcoming consequences for their sins will be subdued by God’s mercy. Since God in his compassionate love, wishes to save humanity. 

This shows us that in God, we have a compassionate and loving Father who always cares about us despite our constant disobedience and rebellious attitude towards him. And out of his love for us, He has not stopped sending his messengers to help guide us out of the wrong path we are taking. In fact, out of love, He sent Jesus, His only begotten Son, to be our Lord and Saviour. 

Thus, in our Gospel passage we heard how Jesus went about doing good, healing the sick and setting captive free from the shackles of the evil ones and to continue this great mission he invited his disciples and sent them out, commanding them to see themselves as someone who gives freely of the good they have received from God. 

They should offer to others what they have received from God, knowing that it has cost them nothing. They are to live a life of detachment that is, in this mission, they are to depend totally on God's providence. Unfortunately, many of the disciples have to face rejection and persecution from people, who, through their rebellious attitude, have refused to believe in God, even though he has always been so patient, loving, caring and forgiving to us.

Dear friends, the enemy may plan your downfall, but God will turn it to your glory. Because the Lord cares and loves us no matter the situation we find ourselves in. So, today we are called to repent from our sinful and rebellious attitudes and embrace the compassionate love and care that God is offering us. And as disciples of Christ, we have received a lot from God without payment; we should learn to give without expecting reward. 

Calling us to acknowledge with gratitude all that we have received from God and give freely to others that which we have received. For this act of charity will purify us from pride and self-righteousness, because we are all recipients of God's love, mercy, forgiveness, favour, protection, healing and deliverance. 

Therefore, we must offer to others these same gifts which we have received. We are to show love to people, forgive, help the needy and share with one another the gifts God has blessed us with, and if our love and care are rejected, we should offer it as a sign for the judgment day. Remember, your kind gestures today can turn someone's life around now or later and by so doing we extend God’s divine compassion to rebellious humanity.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, you have sacrificed a lot to save us from our rebellious and sinful attitudes. Open our hearts once again to repent and embrace your compassionate love and care for us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed day.

Homily For Wednesday Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 9th July, 2025

 

Readings: Gen. 41:55-57.42:5-7.17-24; Ps. 33, Matt:10:1-7

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

REMEMBER THAT THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS VERY CLOSE AT HAND

The things of this world are so captivating that if we are not careful, we will be like a foolish traveller who, having encountered a pleasant garden, forgets to continue towards his destination. This is exactly what Jesus is calling our attention to in our Gospel passage today, when he commanded his twelve disciples to go and proclaim to the people that the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.

Here, Jesus continues with his missionary discourse. He summoned his twelve apostles and sent them out with the clear instruction to proclaim the Good News of the kingdom of heaven. He sent them on a mission of teaching and healing to proclaim the message of God’s saving love to those who were in most need of hearing it.

Thus, in our first reading, we heard how God changed what was bad and terrible into something good, as seen in the story of Joseph and his brothers. Here, the Lord showed his love to his people when he sent Joseph, one of the sons of Jacob, into Egypt ahead of his brothers and family.

This happened as Joseph was despised earlier on in his youth by his elder brothers, because he was one of their father’s favourites, so they sold him as a slave to Egypt. Similarly, the Lord Jesus sent his disciples to all humanity to bring the Good News of his Kingdom.

So, today Jesus is calling us to change our ugly and sinful ways of life, especially as regards our attitude towards the things of this passing world. He is also commanding us just as he commanded his apostles to tell humanity, especially those we encounter every day, our family members, neighbours, colleagues, friends, in fact, everyone around us, we should tell them that the kingdom of heaven is very close at hand.

Thus, it's time to truly seek God with all our hearts, it's time to turn away from our sinful way of life, it's time to say yes to God for tomorrow may be too late. We should not be ashamed or afraid to carry out this mandate, for when God calls us, he supplies us with the means and courage necessary to accomplish the task entrusted to us. For we are never alone, he is always with us.

Dear friends, what are we doing in this passing world with the gift of life that God has given us? We should never think that we still have all the time to keep ‘enjoying' the pleasant things of this passing world. Remember, we are all travellers in this world. This world is not our destination, we are just passing by.

So, how many ears must we have before we can hear the call for repentance? How many deaths will it take till we know that the souls of many people have gone from this world? How many words of God will we hear before we know that one day we will be no more in this passing world?

The answer, dear friends, is blowing in the wind. Therefore, let us not be like a foolish traveller who, having encountered a pleasant garden of this passing world, forgets to continue towards his destination, which is God’s heavenly kingdom.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, you called us today to reflect on our heavenly kingdom, give us grace to repent and turn to you for mercy, help us to have the missionary zeal that will enable us to live with integrity, purity and detachment from the thing of this passing world as we spread the Good News of your kingdom to humanity. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Peace be with you.

Homily For Tuesday Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 8th July, 2025

Readings: Gen. 32:23-33 , Ps. 17, Matt 9:32-38

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

THE LORD NEEDS FAITHFUL LABOURERS IN HIS VINEYARD. ARE YOU ONE?

When we look critically at the streets, we will observe how people are struggling with the things of this passing world. We will fill their passion, their determination and willingness to achieve great things in life at the expense of things that prepare us for eternal life. Today, life has become nothing for some people. Greed, corruption and selfishness have rendered so many people into perpetual poverty and suffering.

Reflecting on these, my mind turned towards the words of Jesus in our Gospel passage today, when he saw the crowds and had compassion on 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 had compassion on humanity who were harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd. He then says to his disciples that there is a huge harvest waiting to be reaped. Calling on us to pray for God to send labourers into his harvest.

Therefore, 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 Jesus, he needs many more labourers.

Hence, the harvest is as big as ever, and 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 as God’s labourers to share the good news of Jesus Christ with those around them.

So each of us has a vocation, a call to save souls and build the Kingdom of God together, just like Jacob in our first reading today, who wrestled with God and his name was changed to Israel, because he had been struggling against God; thus shall prevail against men.

Dear friends, the Lord desires to have faithful labourers. Are we among them? As labourers of the Lord, 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 turn to him for restoration

Remember, as labourers, each one of us is called today to reach out to people at any particular corner of the field of harvest where we are now, for we may be the only person who may have access to reach out to them. Therefore, let us start from our families, neighbours, colleagues in the office and others whom we encounter in our lives, because we may be the only person who can bring the healing and compassion of Jesus into their lives.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, give us the grace and courage to be faithful labourers in your vineyard, who will labour to bring souls to you. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed day.

Homily For Monday Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 7th July, 2025

 

Readings: Gen. 28:10-22 , PS 91, Matt 9:18-26

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

THE FAITH THAT YIELDS POSITIVE RESULTS

Today we are presented with the story of the faith of a woman with a haemorrhage set inside the story of a little girl who died, and the father in faith came to Jesus for help. However, Mark 5:21-43 and Luke 8:40-56 tell the story in greater detail.

In Mark and Luke, the woman with the haemorrhage interrupts Jesus’ journey to the home of a child who might die before he arrives, creating an urgency that is not present in Matthew’s account. In Matthew’s account, the girl is already dead, so there is no hurry.

Here, the father confesses a resurrection faith, “My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” The father believes that even Jesus’ slightest touch will restore life to his daughter, as well as the woman with a haemorrhage.

The stories of the little girl and the woman have interesting similarities: Both are called “daughter” (9:18, 22). Both are restored in the presence of people (the woman and the father) who seek Jesus’ help. The woman has been ill for twelve years, and the little girl is twelve years old. Both the woman and the little girl have been cut off from normal society by their physical condition.

 But there are also differences between the stories. The father is a man of high standing in the community, and the woman is unclean and an outcast. The man approaches Jesus boldly, and the woman approaches him timidly. The girl was raised based on the father’s radical faith, and the woman was restored through her own faith, for she was very sure that the very moment she touched the Lord’s cloak, all her troubles were ended, for her body was made whole again.

This woman actually represents the sinful humanity in need of God’s mercy, salvation and restoration. Her bleeding signifies the iniquity of all humanity who are defiled by the constant shedding of innocent blood through violent wars and abortions, thereby unworthy of God’s presence.

Her reaching out to touch Jesus and her restoration signify the effort each one of us needs to make to reach out to God in order to be restored. And finally the willingness of Jesus to heal all of us just as he had healed the woman from all of her troubles. But this requires that we radically put our faith into action.

Thus, this passage simply tells us to have faith in God no matter the circumstances we find ourselves in, for faith is the only way to get to God in prayers. Just like Jacob, who prayed in our first reading today, saying: ‘If God goes with me and keeps me safe on this journey I am making, if he gives me bread to eat and clothes to wear, and if I return home safely to my father, then the Lord shall be my God. This stone I have set up as a monument shall be a house of God.

Dear friends, today we are made to know that it is not enough to have faith, we must radically put our faith into action, no matter the circumstances we find ourselves in. For it is through active faith that we can reach out to God in prayers and so obtain what we desire. Therefore, having faith in the Lord is very necessary in order to obtain God’s restoration.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we thank you for the gift of faith. Give us the grace and courage to put our gift of faith into positive action that yields positive results. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a fruitful week ahead.