The Homily for Monday in Fifth Week of Easter Year B, The Feast of SS Philip and James, 3rd May, 2021

 The Homily for Monday in Fifth Week of Easter Year B, The Feast of SS Philip and James, 3rd May, 2021

Readings: 1Cor 15:1-8; Ps.19;  John 14:6-14

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

FOLLOWING JESUS THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE

The main goal of discipleship is acquiring the mind of the master and the price to pay is desiring to obey and learn from the Master. This is clear with the use of the imagery of Father and Son by Jesus to explain his relationship with God the Father. But oftentimes, the people and even his disciples find it difficult to understand the systematic fashion of this relationship. 

So in our Gospel passage today, Jesus tried to explain this relationship to his disciples when he said to them: I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, If you know me, you know my Father too. From this moment you know him and have seen him. Curiously, Philip said, ‘Lord, let us see the Father and then we shall be satisfied'. But Jesus said: you must believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; I tell you most solemnly, whoever believes in me will perform even greater works, because I am going to the Father and whatever you ask for in my name I will do it. 

Here Jesus is saying that if we want to know God and understand his ways in relation to humanity, all we need to do is to look at him (Jesus) as the Son of the Father who has come to reveal the true image of God to humanity. We are to observe what he does, listen to what he teaches, watch how he behaves, what and who he loves, what he rejects or defends for by so do we will discover God in him because as the Son, he is the true human image of God. He is one with the Father in unity of existence and life and this is evidence in the Words he spoke and the works he performed. 

Consequently, those who believe in him are endowed with the power of the Holy Spirit and will do greater works then he has done, for he has gone to the Father and whatever they ask in his name he will do it, because they will be asking in accordance with the Holy Spirit in union with the name of the very person of Jesus whose request the Father will always granted.

So today we celebrate the feast of SS Philip and James, two great Apostles of our Lord Jesus, who laboured and worked hard to serve the Lord and brought his Good News to different corners of the world. Their relics are kept together in the Church of the Twelve Apostles in Rome and from the day of it’s dedication in 565, these two Apostles have been celebrated together.  Tradition has it that, Philip evangelized and preached in places like Greece, Asia Minor and Syria. It was during one of his ministry, according to tradition, that he was martyred when along with Bartholomew, tried to convince the wife of the local ruler to convert to the Christian faith and the furious ruler ordered Philip and Bartholomew to be crucified upside-down. 

But Philip asked his persecutors to release Bartholomew, which they did, but he himself remain on the cross, and there he died a martyr. In a similar way St. James the Lesser as he was called, was also a devoted disciple of the Lord, who was credited with the evangelization and conversion of many peoples just like Philip and the other Apostles. He was also martyred in Egypt, where he worked greatly in spreading the Gospel and defending the faith he has found in Jesus. 

Dear friends, the questions we need to ask ourselves today are:   Do we really believe in God as our Father? Do we personally and truly know and believe in Jesus as the way, the truth and the life? Have we any personal experience of the power of the Holy Spirit. The truth is that we can only do great work in his name when we have a personal experience and encounter with the risen Lord, just like the disciples Philip and James who after experienced the risen Lord, sacrificed their lives for the sake of his Gospel. 

Therefore, I don’t what your experience of the Lord has been? I don’t know what you want God to do for you, I don’t know that pray points you recite everyday, I don’t know how deep your requests are, all I know is that if we truly have a personal relationship with Jesus and believe in him as the way, the truth and the life, we are going to be endowed with the power of the Holy Spirit and will do greater works then he has done, for he has gone to the Father and has promised us that whatever we ask in his name he will do it.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we follow Jesus the way, the truth and the life, help us to carry out our responsibilities effectively, may we through the intercession of SS. Philip and James, have a personal experience of your presence in our lives, so that presenting our needs before you, we may find favour in your presence. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you a fruitful week ahead.

The Homily for Fifth Sunday of Easter Year B, 2nd May, 2021

 The Homily for Fifth Sunday of Easter Year B, 2nd May, 2021

Readings: Acts.9:26-31; Ps.22; 1 John 3:18-24;  John 15:1-8

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

DO NOT LET THE UGLY SITUATION OF THIS PASSING WORLD SEPARATE YOU FROM JESUS THE TRUE VINE

Today as we celebrate the Fifth Sunday of Easter, we are called to renew our commitment and relationship with God. So the use of the imagery of Vine and branches as a metaphorical expression used by Jesus to describe the relationship between him his disciples is vital in describing our relationship with God. The vine as we know is the source of life for the branches. It provides the water and nutrients by which the grapes are produced. Without the vine, no fruit could ever be produced. And branches are utterly dependent upon the vine. 

Thus, after Jesus and his disciples had concluded the meeting in the upper room in Jerusalem where they celebrated the Passover, as they were going, they passed through the vineyards that surround the city. Surely after the mysterious teaching of Jesus, the disciples were exceedingly anxious and perplexed as to what comes next. It was in this disposition and background that Jesus told them the parable of the Vine and the branches as we have it in our Gospel passage today saying: ‘I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me, with me in him, bears fruit in plenty; for cut off from me you can do nothing.’ 

Here, Jesus is saying to them you know how Israel is pictured as a vine which is to produce good fruit, but has failed. I am the true, genuine and authentic Vine. By this comment, Jesus was not introducing a new idea by using the metaphor of a vine and branches. Rather he was making reference to the Old Testament, where God's vine was Israel. He used them to accomplish his purpose in the world as a branch that is truly connected to the vine which is secured and will never be removed. 

So, with this parable of the vine Jesus illustrated the most fundamental and basic secret of a fruitful Christian life. Hence, the major purpose of this parable is for us to be fruitful in our Christian faith. Because, as God’s chosen people, we are expected to produce great, sweet, beautiful, rich fruit of righteousness, holiness, justice, peace and joy to the world. But most of us, just like the Israelites have failed as we produced sour, rotten, stinking, tasteless fruit of sin, corruption, greed, cruelty, exploitation and hatred in the world. 

However, this is not the fruit we are supposed to bear, but in any case there is always room for change just like St Paul in our first reading today, who after he encountered the Lord, turn away from his past and erroneous path, and begin to follow the right path which the Lord Jesus has entrusted to him. For he went out preaching with all boldness the repentance and love of God for humanity. For Paul will not let the ugly situations of his past life separate him from Jesus the true vine who has shown him such great love.

Thus, in our second reading today, we heard of the commandments that God has entrusted to us, the commandments of love that He has revealed before us and which as Christians, we are all expected and obliged to express with one another, by loving God with all of our hearts and at the same time, loving our neighbours in such a way that people will know that truly we are Christians, God’s chosen people, who are rooted in Christ Jesus the true Vine.

Dear friends, the questions we need to ask ourselves today are: Am I still connected with the true Vine? What kind of fruit am I producing in this world? What is stopping me from producing good fruit? Do I need to be pruned of my ugly habitual sins? Remember, God prunes a branch so that it may bear more fruit and this pruning is not done only once for it is a constant process. 

Hence, as branches of Vine which is Christ, our fruit should be the natural outflow of the life of the Vine. For when we are united and identified with Jesus we produce from his Vine the fruit of the Holy Spirit, that sweet and rich wine of love, joy, peace, gentleness, goodness, self control, holiness, courage and faith which is lacking in the world today. Therefore, no matter the ugly situations we may find ourselves in this passing world, we must not separate ourselves from Jesus the true and only vine and the source of human life.

LET US PRAY: Grant, we pray, O God, that we may always find delight in Jesus our true Vine, prune us where we need to be pruned, so that we may faithful bear good fruit, and through the power of the Holy Spirit produce the great wine of your love and peace in our families, societies and the world at large. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen. Peace be with you.

The Homily for Saturday in Fourth Week of Easter Year B, The Memorial of St. Joseph the Worker, 1st May, 2021

 The Homily for Saturday in Fourth Week of Easter Year B, The Memorial of St. Joseph the Worker, 1st May, 2021

Readings: Gen. 1:26-2:3; Ps. 89; Col. 3:14-15,17,23-24; Matt. 13:54-58

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

BECOMING GOD’S FAITHFUL MANAGER LIKE ST. JOSEPH

On December 8, 2020, Pope Francis proclaimed a special “Year of St Joseph,” beginning with the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception 2020, till the same feast in 2021 and in a new Apostolic Letter entitled Patris Corde (“With a Father’s Heart”), the Pope describes Saint Joseph as a beloved father, a tender and loving father, an obedient father, an accepting father; a father who is creatively courageous, a working father, a father in the shadows . So today as the Church celebrates the memorial of St. Joseph the worker, the great Patron of all workers which occurs every 1st of May the world also celebrates the World Labour Day and May Day on which we also begin our May Devotion. 

Thus in our first reading today, we read that God created man in His own image and likeness, and said: let them be masters of all that He created. God blessed them, saying to them, ‘Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth and subdue it. With this mandate God made man the master and manager of all that He has created. Hence, from Adam till the birth of Jesus God has entrusted to humanity everything he created and humanity in one way or another has failed to properly manage the things entrusted to them. But, now when God wishes to fulfill his promise of redeeming the failed humanity, He needed a true manager to entrust not just His creatures but also His only begotten Son. Thus, God fund in St Joseph that true manager who will be truly and faithful guardian of His son. 

So, St. Joseph the Worker ( carpenter) as he is called, was upright, virtuous and good in all the things he had done, a hardworking servant of God in all things. He was the one who accepted Mary and her baby and brought the Holy Family safely to Bethlehem, where Mary gave birth to the Lord Jesus in a stable, during persecution he took Jesus and Mary to Egypt because of king Herod and his agents who are trying to kill the baby Jesus. It was him who also brought them back to Nazareth, he protected the holy family and raised up Jesus properly.

Today, due to the important roles and tireless efforts made by St. Joseph to protect the family entrusted to him, he has proved to be a perfect image of God’s faithful manager and has taken up the task of being the Protector of the Universal Church and the Patron of all workers and managers. He was full of virtues and faith, and he dedicated his life to the service of God and managing the task of raising Jesus as his own foster Son, with great dedication, not minding his reputation or his own personal ambitions or desires. 

Dear friends, all humanity are called to be God’s manager, we are called to manage all the things He created beginning with our lives, but humanity has failed to manage properly God’s creative works and because of our mismanagement of God’s creatures, humanity has turned the world against herself and today we are all suffering as a result of our mismanagement. Therefore, it is time for all humanity to imitate the example of St Joseph, the faithful manager of God. It is time for us to change our ugly and evil ways of life and begin to take proper care of all the Lord has entrusted to us. It is time for all humanity to assume that role of a faithful manager which we are called to be. 

Hence, I don't know how faithful you have been in managing your life and other things the Lord has entrusted to you, I don’t know what your experience of the world has been. I don't know how you woke up today, I don't know what troubles you mind. But all I know is that today is another gift of God to us, a new month. I am excited, hopeful and am going to live it with all joy and strong will to be a true manager of God’s creatures not trying to change things that I could not change or try to fix things that do not want to be fixed. 

I will not let ugly events of the past distract me today or steal my joy. Rather, I will focus on the blessings that comes with the gift of this new month. Like St. Joseph, I will be that true and faithful manager of the Lord. I will constantly follow the directives of the Lord, for his ways are right and the upright walk in them and are safe, but the transgressors stumble in them and perish. 

LET US PRAY. Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of this new month, through the intercession of St. Joseph the worker, make us true managers of the things you created and help us to correct the things we have mismanaged as You heal and restore the world from it’s ugly situation which was caused by our failure to manage properly the thing you entrusted to humanity. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen. Happy New Month.

The Homily for Friday in Fourth Week of Easter Year B, The Feast of Our Lady Mother of Africa, 30th April, 2021

 The Homily for Friday in Fourth Week of Easter Year B, The Feast of Our Lady Mother of Africa, 30th April, 2021

Readings: AActs.1:12-14; Ps. Luke 1:46-55; John 2:1-11

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

THE KEY TO SUCCESSFUL CHRISTIAN LIFE IS DO WHATEVER JESUS TELLS YOU

Today we celebrate the feast of Our Lady, Mother of Africa, a celebration that encourages we Africans to turn to Mary for her maternal intercession and assistance in our daily struggles in life as Africans. Little wonder our gospel passage today presents to us the story of an event that portrays what ought to be our relationship with Jesus and his mother Mary in every events of our daily lives.

Here, we see how the wedding couple invited Jesus and his disciples in the most important day of their lives. And when an embarrassing moment came up during the course of the celebration, Mary in her usual way of helping people asked Jesus to save the couple from social embarrassment and even when her request was not granted by her son, she had strong faith that he will not refuse her request. So she said to the servants: “ Do whatever he tells you”. 

By this request Mary who represents the Church reveals to us the key to a successful and happy Christian Life. That is to say that, the secret key that opens the treasure of a successful and happy Christian life is to do whatever he (Jesus) tells us. But what did Jesus say we should do? He told the servants: Fill, Draw and Serve. Telling us to fill our life with the water of salvation which he offers us every day through his Words and Eucharist and when we have filled our lives with the fountain of his presence, then we should draw from the joy it offers and serve the world which is really in need and thirsty for the word of God especially at this moment in our world when humanity really hope and seek for God’s intervention. 

Dear friends, we really need to fill our lives with the words of Jesus, which we hear everyday. We need to learn from our mother Mary who never ceases to pounder God’s words in her heart. We need to learn how to serve others from the abundant we have received from God. We need to draw from the fountain of grace and gifts that God has given to us in order to build up our families, societies, country and continent. We need to learn how to sacrifice for the good of others. We need to learn how to intercede for others who are passing through difficult moments. But this is possible only when we have filled our empty soul with love, peace, joy and happiness that comes from know that Jesus cares so much about us personally and collectively.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, the situation of human life in our world today is really frightening, we your children in African continent pray that through the intercession of our Lady Mother of Africa, may we find strength to do your will always especially in our daily struggle in Africa, as we ask you protect us from the evil manipulations and agenda of the world powers. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful day.

The Homily for Thursday in Fourth Week of Easter Year B, The Memorial of St. Catherine of Siena, 29th April, 2021

 The Homily for Thursday in Fourth Week of Easter Year B, The Memorial of St. Catherine of Siena, 29th April, 2021

Readings: Acts. 13:13-25 ; Ps.89; John 13:16-20

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

THE GOOD ATTITUDE OF A DISCIPLE IS LEARNING AND FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLES OF THE MASTER

A good follower of anyone is generally referred to as a disciple and a true disciple is simply a learner, a student of a teacher and the goal of such student is to become like the teacher. This does not mean that the disciple will become equal to the teacher, but will develop the same qualities and skills as that of the teacher. 

So today, as Jesus continues with his instruction on what it means to be his followers in respect to the mission he is about to entrust to his disciples he said to them after washing the feet his disciples: “truly, truly I say to you no servant is greater than his master, no messenger is greater than the man who sent him… whoever welcomes the one I send welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me”.

Thus, as we listened to the Scripture, we are reminded to follow the Lord and obey his ways, his teachings and ensure that we are walking in the path of truth that he has shown to us. Also, as disciples of Christ there is need to know the purpose of our life and mission which is to become like Jesus in deeds and in character. By so doing we will have confident that God will enable us to carry out the work that He has entrusted to us even when persecuted, knowing that neither men nor the devil can affect our soul. 

A good example of a man who followed the example of Jesus as his Lord and Master is St. Paul, who in our first reading today demonstrated great courage and faith in Jesus. For as he visited the Jewish community in the city of Antioch in Pisidia in Asia Minor and was asked to speak to the people in the synagogue, he began by speaking of the coming of Jesus the true Messiah in whose name he has been preaching and travelling around the community. Paul began by reminding the people of God’s historical plan for the salvation of humanity, and how He had always guided His people from the time of Moses to the coming of the Messiah.

Therefore, as followers of Christ, we are reminded that we have also received the same message of truth and encouragement from the Lord through our faith in him. Now like St. Paul, we have to be courageous in following the instructions of our master Jesus especially at this difficult moment when so many people around the world are suffering from the effects of corona virus pandemic. Many people have lost their lives, their loved ones, their jobs. Some are isolated from people they loved, hunger and starvation have turned people to what they are not, fear and uncertainties have become the lot of the common man in the street, kidnapping and violence have become the order of the day. 

Dear friends, in the midst of all these difficulties, we are called to be courageous, hopeful, steadfast and to share with others the massage of hope that we have received from the Lord. We are called to bring God’s light into the darkness of lies, deceit, corruption and greed in the world. Following the example of our Master Jesus, we are called to awaken hope once again in the hearts of humanity. No doubt that this is a very difficult task, but we cannot run away from it. All we need to do is to stand on the strength of our hope and belief in God, so that in all our words, actions and deeds the power of God will be made present in the world through us.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we follow the example of Jesus our Lord and Master, grant us through the intercessions of St Catherine of Siena, the grace of courage and faith so that as your true disciples, we may have confidence to carry out your mission in the world, even in the midst of persecution, sufferings, sickness and death, knowing that your love and care for us surpass all our challenges. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed and peaceful day.

The Homily for Wednesday in Fourth Week of Easter Year B, 28th April, 2021

 The Homily for Wednesday in Fourth Week of Easter Year B, 28th April, 2021

Readings: Acts. 12: 24-13:5 ; Ps.67; John 1244-50

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

LET JESUS THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD ILLUMINES THE DARKNESS OF SINAND SHAME IN US

The theme of light is a common terminology in the Gospel of John, as the struggle between the powers of light and darkness is so evident in his Gospel. In most discourse on the theme of light, Jesus refers himself as the light of the world as we have it in our Gospel passage today, when he said: “I, the light, have come into the world, so that whoever believes in me need not stay in the dark any more. For if anyone hears my words and does not keep them faithfully, it is not I who shall judge him, since I have come not to judge the world, but to save the world. He who rejects me and refuses my words has his judge already: the word itself that I have spoken will be his judge on the last day.”

Here Jesus presents himself as the image of God and the light of the world as he declared his mission in the world. And his mission is not to judge the world but to save it. But this may seem contradictory as we know that, the present of light bring judgement to darkness and Jesus said, he who rejects me and refuses my words has his judge already and also in John 9:39 he said “For judgment I came into this world, so that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may become blind.” 

The fact is that, there is no contradiction in these statements, for Jesus had come from the Father, bearing the light of his love, revealed by his word and deed. Those who receive him walk in this light. Those who reject him stumble around in the darkness. However, the primary purpose in his first coming was not to judge the world, but to provide salvation to the world through his passion and death. But referring to the concept of judgment on the last day, this is implicit in the second coming of Jesus, because the light of the risen Lord will divide people into those who come to it and those who hide from it. Therefore the first coming is not to judge but to save, while the second coming will be for judgment, for light will surely separate from darkness all that is not of light. 

Dear friends, everyday is an opportunity for us to examine ourselves to know if there are areas in our lives that still remain in the darkness of this corrupt world. It’s time for us to get rid of them, it’s time to let the light of Christ's presence illuminate the darkness of sin and shame in our lives. It’s time to embrace the salvation which Jesus has won for us for tomorrow may be too late.  It’s time to let the light of Christ in us illuminate the world through our ways of life. Let us like the disciples in our first reading today, discern carefully through the power of the Holy Spirit on how best we can spread the Good News of Jesus the light of the world, who has won salvation for all the people who embrace the light of his word.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we have come to know Jesus as the true light of the world, make us instrument of your light in the darkness of our families, societies and the world at large, so that by our worthy way of life, we may bring others to the fullness of life in you. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Remain safe and blessed.

The Homily for Tuesday in Fourth Week of Easter Year B, 27th April, 2021

 The Homily for Tuesday in Fourth Week of Easter Year B, 27th April, 2021

Readings: Acts. 11:19-26 ; Ps.87; John 10:22-30

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

PERSONALLY, WHAT DOES THE NAME CHRISTIANS MEANS TO YOU?

Giving a name to things is one of the habits and traditions of the human person. Little wonder Adam’s first assignment was to give names to what God has created. And throughout human history and even today a name is a powerful thing with great significant that can not be neglected. Names of things have deep meaning drawn from experiences that help define the reality surrounding such things.

So today in our first reading, the disciples of Jesus were for the first time given the name “Christian” in Antioch. But why a new name with a new word for these disciples of Christ in Antioch? Why was the name given by outsiders and why is the name different from other groups of the Jewish sect? From the reading, we heard that persecution forced many believers from Jerusalem to be scattered to various areas, as some from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to the Greeks, telling them the Good News about the Lord Jesus. The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. 

Thus, seeing that their devotion, passion, love, behaviour, activity, and speech were like that of Christ Jesus, they called them Christians. This is because it was common for the Greeks to give nicknames to particular groups based on their way of life in relation to their leader. So since this new group were characterized by behaviour and speech centered in Christ, they called them “Christians,” or “those of the party of Christ.” And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians” because their behaviour, activity, and speech were like Christ.

Today, we are called Christians, followers of Christ, but are we really behaving like Christ?, Are we still having that devotion, passion, love, behaviour, activity, and speech like that of Christ and the early disciples? The disciples were scattered to various places due to persecution but everywhere they go they proclaimed the Good News of Jesus with their lives, are we doing the same today? 

Dear friends, today we have the personal responsibility to ask ourselves, “What does the name Christian means to me? Am I living out the responsibility of the name Christian which I claim to bear? Does the name Christian speaks of my deep personal relationship with Jesus Christ? Do I perceive the name Christian from the world’s perspective today or for what it’s really means Christ-like people?

Remember, the people of Antioch gave the name to the disciples of Christ based on the experience of the reality they represent, but what name will the people of our society today give to us based on how we have represented the reality of the name Christians? In fact, do you still belong and believe in the true meaning of the name Christians? Hence, Jesus says in our Gospel passage today,  you do not believe, because you are no sheep of mine. The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life; they will never be lost and no one will ever steal them from me.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, grant we pray, that we may always find delight in bearing the name Christians even in the midst of persecutions and difficulties, give us grace like the early disciples to bear authentic witness of the Good News of Jesus by our way of life, he who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. God bless you.