The Homily for Saturday in Second Week of Easter, 17th April, 2021

 The Homily for Saturday in Second Week of Easter, 17th April, 2021

Readings: Acts.6:1-7; Ps.32; John 6:16-22

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

INVITE JESUS INTO THE BOAT OF YOUR LIFE

A boat is a craft work made for transportation, fishing, or cruising on the water, it is propelled by oars or wind. It is a full house, a complete and secured vessel. The fisher men and the marine men who are into 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 make use of the boat to teach and instruct the people and his disciples. 

On the occasion of our Gospel passage today, the disciples got into the boat and went before Jesus to the other side. When evening came, they were there alone on the boat which has gone far on the lake, and was battling with a heavy sea storms. 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”. And as they got into the boat the wind ceased. 

In this Gospel passage we can foresee a gesture which signifies the chosen people 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 repented 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 humankind, inflicting hardships, sickness and sorrows on us. But Jesus is inviting us to come into his boat so that we can find life, peace and grace to overcome our struggles. 

 Dear friends, the world is full of crowd 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 repented 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 guarantied. 

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 invite Jesus into the boat of our lives, our families and societies 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 in all our struggle against the storms of life, as we invite you into the boat of our lives, 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 a peaceful weekend.

The Homily for Friday in Second Week of Easter, 16th April, 2021

 The Homily for Friday in Second Week of Easter, 16th April, 2021

Readings: Acts.5:34-42; Ps.26; John 6:1-15

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

ENDURING PERSECUTIONS FOR THE SEEK OF CHRIST

Today the persecution account of the apostles continues as the members of the Sanhedrin call for council meeting to decide what to do with the apostles.

So at this council as we have in our first reading, Gamaliel a Pharisee and a member of the Sanhedrin, suggested that the apostles should be left alone on the basis of past experiences of those who claimed to be great but were letter perished when their leader had died, that what is happening now with the apostles might be the same. He advice them to have nothing to do with the apostle, that if their purpose or activity is from human origins it will soon perish. If not, they will not be able to destroy them without fighting God Himself. So they beat them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus.

However, instead of being depressed, the apostles left the court full of joy that they had been judged worthy of beaten for the sake of the Name of Jesus. Here, they experienced the blessedness that Jesus had spoken of in the Sermon on the Mount when he said: “blessed are those who are persecuted in the cause of right: theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people abuse you and speak all kinds of calumny against you on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven” (Matt 5:10-12).

 

Dear friends, in any situation we find ourselves, we are called to bear witness to our faith in Christ, though this mandate may seem difficult in our world at this moment, but just like in the time of the apostles the grace of God is sufficient for us. Therefore, let us not be afraid of witnessing our faith to the world, for God will surely protect us as He protected the apostles.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we proclaim your name to the world especially in this difficult times, give us the grace to rejoice even in the midst of persecution, suffering, sickness or death. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen. May the blessings, joy and favour of the Lord find there way in our lives and in our families.

The Homily for Thursday in Second Week of Easter, 15th April, 2021

 The Homily for Thursday in Second Week of Easter, 15th April, 2021

Readings: Acts.5:27-33; Ps.33; John 3:31-36

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

WE MUST OBEY GOD ABOVE ANY HUMAN AUTHORITY

As the persecution of the apostles continued, the authorities of the Pharisees and the Sanhedrin forbade them from preaching in the name of Jesus as we have it in our first reading today. But the apostles spoke out boldly saying: It is better for us to obey God than men. They stood firm and witness to all what they had experienced. Their testimony was directed by the Holy Spirit, who is given to all those who responded to God with the obedience that comes from faith. 

So, they continued to preach in name of Jesus and their accusers could not stop them even though they had been strictly forbidden to do so. Such are the grace and courage we receive when we experience the power of the risen Lord. We will not be afraid to witness because we are convinced that Jesus is the One who comes from above, the One whom God has sent to speaks the words of God. He is the Word of God who came to bear testimony to what he has seen and heard just as we heard him telling Nicodemus in our Gospel passage, that anyone who believes in the Son has eternal life, but anyone who refuses to believe in the Son will never see life: the anger of God stays on him.

Dear friends, as Christians living in a world where our faith is being challenged every moment especially in this ugly situation of corona virus, we must still have to make costly choices of choosing to obey God rather than men and not give in because of persecution, hunger, poverty or our worldly ambition. Everywhere we find ourselves be it in  business, relationship, politics and in family life we have to make decisions about remaining honest, truthful, faithful to our faith and commitments God above that of any human authorities. 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, give us grace and courage to constantly obey You above any human authority, especially in times of difficulty, hunger, strive, sickness, and persecution. Never let us deny You because of worldly pressures and difficulties or be put to shame, as we place all our hope in You. Amen. It’s a new day, be strong be focused for the Lord has promised to be with us till the end of time.

The Homily for Wednesdays in Second Week of Easter, 14th April, 2021

 The Homily for Wednesdays in Second Week of Easter, 14th April, 2021

Readings: Acts. 5:17-26; Ps.33; John 3:16-21

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

GOD’S LOVE FOR HUMANITY

Our Gospel passage today talks about the relationship between God and humanity that inhabits the world.  Telling us that God loves the world and the humanity living in it. He loves it so much that He gave His only Son, who died a shameful and terrible death on a cross for the seek of His love.  God loves the whole world, His love is total and unconditional for everyone of his creatures. 

This love is what the apostles bears witness to in our first reading today and for this, they were persecuted by authorities. We are told that the main motive for their displeasure was jealousy. The apostles were witnessing what they have experienced and this attracted large crowds to the group. So the authorities out of jealousy had the apostles arrested and thrown into the public jail. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the gates for them and told them to go back and continue preaching in the temple and bearing witness of God’s love for humility.

Dear friends, this is what we are called to do, we have in one way or another experienced the love of God so greatly and personally in our lives. It’s now time to bear authentic witness of this love to all humanity. We are to tell the world how deep God loves them. We are to demonstrate this love to the world and let this love be felt by those who have lost hope in God especially at this time when humanity is struggling with the ugly situation if corona virus. 

We are the face of God’s love now, we are the channels of His love now. Therefore, let us extend this love in any form, gestures or manner possible to everywhere that it is lacking. A kind word, a single phone call, a text message, an act of forgiveness, a single prayer, sacrifice, patience and any form of generous act shown to anyone around you or as many people you can reach out today, reflect this love of God for humanity through you.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we have come to know and experienced Your love for humanity, give us the grace to reciprocate this love in the world by our ways of life using the gifts, talents and resources you have given us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Peace be with you.

The Homily for Tuesday in Second Week of Easter, 13th April, 2021

 The Homily for Tuesday in Second Week of Easter, 13th April, 2021

Readings: Acts.4:32-37; Ps.92; John 3:7-15

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

THE BELIEVERS WERE OF ONE HEART AND SOUL

One of the major problems in our world today is individualism, this no doubt is the cause of disunity, greediness and corruption that is really destroying humanity. To overcome this ugly attitude we need to learn from the early Christian community as recorded in our first reading, which gives us an account of how the company of believers were of one heart and soul deeply united with each other. They bear witness to the central element of their faith, that is, loving God with all their hearts and with all their soul and loving their neighbours as themselves. Thereby bearing witness to the teachings of Jesus. They sold their belongs and brought the proceeds together and distributed them to each according to their need. 

This great gesture demonstrate what fraternal love really means. No one claimed anything as belonging to him/herself; everything was held in common. This shows us the social life of the early Church. But the question is, do we still have such sharing communities in our Church today? Perhaps we may find such communal sharing in some different communities of religious life with vows of poverty and total sharing of resources coupled with a life of material simplicity.  Also, there may be other groups of lay people and some families who try to implement this Christian vision and value. 

Dear friends, how many families are practicing this great Christian fraternal living? How many societies in our churches are willing to maintain this tradition. This should be encouraged especially at this moment when the world is passing through difficult times, and we are fast losing this our great Christian values of communal and fraternal living. There is need for us to also extend it to the societies were these fraternal Communion and charity have been taken over by individualism, selfishness, corruption and greed. How I wish humanity will learn how to live in fraternal charity like the early Christian, then we will see that the world resources will be enough for everyone. Therefore, let us unite again as one family.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, as we reflect on the attitudes and virtues of the early Church, give us the grace to imitate them as we cultivate the attitude of sharing our material blessings with those in genuine need in our community especially in this difficult moment in our societies, country and the world at large. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a grace filled day.

The Homily for Monday in Second Week of Easter, 12th April, 2021

 The Homily for Monday in Second Week of Easter, 12th April, 2021

Readings: Acts.4:23-31; Ps.2; John 3:1-8

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

LORD, GIVE US THE GRACE  TO PROCLAIM YOUR WORD WITH ALL BOLDNESS

Threats, intimidation, torture and fear are some of the powerful ways of silencing people from expressing their views, opinion and faith. We can recall how these ugly attitude was use to silence the youths in recent past in country especially in the ugly event of End-Sars protest which brought about Lekki toll gate shooting and killing of innocent people. These very technics and tools are what the chief priests and the elders used in intimidating the apostles in our first reading today and the same systematic tools prevented Nicodemus from coming to Jesus expect by night as we read in the Gospel passage today.

Nicodemus was afraid and ashamed to be seen with Christ because of his colleagues who will possibly threaten him. So he came in the night to seek knowledge. Here he came not to have knowledge about the state affairs, though he was a ruler, but about the concerns of his own soul and its salvation. Though he came by night, Jesus welcomed him and afterward at the passion he proclaimed Christ publicly, hereby demonstrating and teaching us the power of courage.

Dear friends, these same courage and boldness were the prayerful request the apostles made to the Lord when they where threatened be the authorities never to preach in the name of Jesus. Now, the disciple knew that powerful forces were arrayed against them. They knew, as well, that Peter and John were determined to continue their witness. 

So they prayed for strength to speak the Word of God with confidence and boldness and asked that in their expression of faith God should accomplish their works with signs and wonders in the name of Jesus. We all need this confidence and boldness if we are to effectively evangelize the people especially at this moment when the world has lost interest in the things of God.

LET US PRAY: heavenly Father, as we struggle with the ugly situation of fear, intimidation and torture in our families, societies and the world at large, give us the grace, confidence and boldness to proclaim you Word in the power of Your Spirit in order to penetrate the hearts of men and women of our generation. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do remain blessed for the Joy of Lord is our strength.

The Homily for Second Sunday of Easter, the Divine Mercy Sunday, 11th April, 2021

 The Homily for Second Sunday of Easter, the Divine Mercy Sunday, 11th April, 2021

Readings: Acts.4:32-35; Ps.118; 1John 5:1-7; John 20:19-31

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

DO NOT DOUBT ANYMORE BUT BELIEVE

Pope St. John Paul II in the Jubilee Year of 2000, instituted the Divine Mercy Sunday, which is to be celebrated every second Sunday of Easter to remind us that the joyful celebration of Easter season is also a time for us to appreciate once again that our Lord Jesus passed through the worst of sufferings and humiliations in his Passion, Death and Resurrection, and so won eternal life for humanity. 

Thus, the event we celebrate today is meant for us to focus our attention once again on the Lord, to ask Jesus for his mercy on us and the whole world especially through his glorious and wondrous passion, which stands as a perfect offering for the redemption of our sins. Hence, we need to have faith in the Lord and believe that through him there is hope for our salvation. This truly explains the words of Jesus to his disciples when he said: “Blessed are those who believe”.  This statement could be a central theme in our Gospel passage today. 

Here, Jesus said to Thomas: “ Do not doubt but believe… for blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.”  This is because Thomas was lacking in faith and so was doubtful of the Lord’s resurrection but only to be humbled when the Lord himself appeared right before him. Thomas believed and said to the Lord, ‘My Lord and My God’. And the Gospel ended by saying that these are written that you may believe in Jesus and that believing you may have life in his name.

This also, is repeated in our second reading today, where we heard that whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ has been begotten by God; and whoever loves the Father that begot him loves the child whom he begets. For anyone who has been begotten by God has already overcome the world; telling us that through our faith we have victory over the world. So, the purpose of this Gospel is for us, the readers to believe and so enjoy the promised blessing. Today Millions of Christians have been strengthened in their faith by reading this Gospel, and millions of others have been brought to faith through it. 

Dear friends, sometimes in our lives we behave like Thomas, in fact Thomas represent all of us who in one way or the other have been doubtful of the presence of God in our lives. No doubt that there are many of us with different experiences at different levels of faith and devotion. But at some point, we may have grown weak in our commitment to the Lord and begin to doubt his presence with us, based on our own experiences, or when we are distracted and tempted by many ugly desire for worldly things that will turn us away from the Lord. 

More so, we have often placed God aside and forgotten about him, by prioritizing more on other things in our lives. We have often treated him or thing related to him as something not significant. There are times when we doubt the presence of God in our families, societies and even the Church. There are times when we have doubted the presence of God in the Eucharist, the sacraments and even in the activities of his ministers. Oftentimes, we are doubtful of the mercy of God, his love for us, his power to safe, heal and protect us, as we go seeking for help from other “sources” which will only worsen our situation.

Brethren, to be a believer in our world today can be really difficult, so we need to support each other. We need to strengthen our community life especially during this difficult moment in our country and world at large. The first Christians supported one another by praying, worshipping and sharing their resources and the word of God together, as we have it in our first reading. For the whole group of believers was united, heart and soul; no one claimed for his own use anything that he had, as everything they owned was held in common.

Therefore, let us unite together as believers, and bear authentic witness to our faith. As we struggle in this dark moment in our lives when God seems far away from the world, let us ask him to help us to remove all forms of doubt, especially in this time when the Gospel is under all kinds of threats by faithless and ignorant people. As we ask his Divine mercy in our live, our families, societies and the world at large. Remember, the Lord is indeed merciful he forgives us freely and generously but do not take his mercy for granted by dwelling perpetually in sin.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, today we are encouraged to believe without seeing, this can really be very difficult in a world of empiricism, help us especially this trial moment in our world, never to doubt whatever you have revealed through your son, may we rather be steadfast in faith, joyful in hope and untiring in loving you and our neighbours, as  the world hope to experience your Divine Mercy once again. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. Happy Divine Mercy Sunday to you and your house hold.