Homily for Tuesday Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 6th July, 2021

 Homily for Tuesday Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 6th July, 2021

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

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

THE LORD DESIRES TO HAVE FAITHFUL LABOURERS WHO WILL HELP TO SAVE HELPLESS AND SINFUL HUMANITY

Walking through the streets I observed how people are struggling with the things of this passing world. I saw their passion, their determination and willingness to achieving great things of life at the expense of things that prepares us for eternal life. Life has become nothing for some people. Greed, corruption and selfishness have rendered so many people into perpetual poverty and suffering. 

Thus, 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 are 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 baptized person is called in 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 strong 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. Or do we feel harassed and helpless as a result of what we are passing through in life? Do we feel the need of Jesus’ help in some part of our life? Then turn to him for restoration.

Remember, as labourers, each one of us are 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 who we encounter in our lives, because, we may be the only person who can brings 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 bringing souls to you. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed day.

Homily for Monday Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year, 5th July, 2021

 Homily for Monday Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year, 5th July, 2021

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

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

HAVE FAITH IN THE LORD FOR FAITH IS THE ONLY WAY TO  OBTAIN GOD’S RESTORATION 

Today we are presented with the story of the faith of a woman with a hemorrhage 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 hemorrhage 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 likewise the woman with a hemorrhage. 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 an outcast. The man approaches Jesus boldly, and the woman approaches him timidly. The girl was raised based on the father’s radical faith, 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 shading of innocent blood through violent, wars and abortions, thereby unworthy of God’s presence. Her reaching out to touch Jesus and her restoration signifies 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, 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. For it is through active faith that we can  reach out to God in prayers and so obtain what we desired. Therefore, having faith in the Lord is the only way 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.  Do have a fruitful week ahead.

Homily for Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B, 4th July, 2021

 Homily for Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time  Year B, 4th July, 2021.

Reading: Ezek.2:2-5; Ps.123; 2Cor 12:7-10; Mark 6:1-6

Rev.  Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

DO NOT LOOK DOWN ON PEOPLE OUT OF CONTEMPT OR OVER FAMILIARITY

In life people are quick to neglect and look down on others, who they believed 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 attitudes of the people of Israel in our first reading and also the people of Nazareth in our Gospel passage today. 

Little wonder when God sent prophet Ezekiel to his people he said to him: “I am sending you to the Israelites, to a nation of rebels who have turned against me. Till now they and their ancestors have been in revolt against me. Their sons are defiant and obstinate; I am sending you to them, to say, “The Lord says this.” Whether they listen or not, this set of rebels shall know that there is a prophet among them”. Prophet Ezekiel no doubt was rejected and treated badly and humiliated by his own people because of his message of truth and liberation. Although the Lord made him strong even in the midst of all his challenges.

This is exactly what happened in our Gospel passage 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 in his own house’, and he did not work many miracles there because of their lack of faith and he marvelled because of their unbelief.

Thus, out of pride and contempt the people rejected the blessings God has for them. And like the prophets of old, Jesus was not accepted by the very people to whom he had been sent. Because the people showed only little faith, he was only able to cure only few sick persons. But he went on to teach in other villages, while there were few great work done in his hometown. So, if he is not allowed to do good where he would, he must do it some other place. 

Therefore, he had to move on, he did not insist on convincing those whose minds were closed. Consequently, they missed out the blessings he is offering them. So in their pride they treated him with contempt. Today this kind of ugly attitude is what stops people from doing good, because they don’t want to be treated with contempt and as a result, a lot of people have been deprived of their blessings out  of human pride and contempt. This should not be our attitude towards God’s message and messengers.

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

But we should not give up, we should remain faithful and humble, just like St. Paul in our second reading who says:  “to stop me from getting too proud I was given a thorn in the flesh, an angel of Satan to beat me and stop me from getting too proud! About this thing, I have pleaded with the Lord three times for it to leave me, but he has said, ‘My grace is enough for you: my power is at its best in weakness.’ So I am quite content with my weaknesses, and with insults, hardships, persecutions, and the agonies I go through for Christ’s sake. For it is when I am weak that I am strong”.

Therefore, as children of God living in a world hostile to our faith and mission, we should never give up. We should rather put all our obstacles behind us and work hard for our dreams, give our time to it, sacrifice our sleep and comfort, sweat for it, plan for it, overcome all our terrors of opposition, enduring pains and obstacles, with the help of God we will succeed and become sources of God's blessings to others. Then we will sing joyfully to God our strength and all the people will gather about us in praise of our God. And they will say: Are not these the Carpenter's sons or daughters? Where then did they get all these? Yes, that's who we are, for Jesus is the Carpenter of our success and salvation.

LET US PRAY: Almighty God, oftentimes in our pride we treat people with contempt because of their humble background, give us the grace to realize 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 Saturday Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year, 3rd July, 2021. The Feast of St Thomas the Apostle

 Homily for Saturday Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year, 3rd July, 2021. The Feast of St Thomas the Apostle

Readings: Eph. 2:19-22, PS 117:1.2, John 20:24-29

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

DOUBT NO LONGER BUT BELIEVE FOR CHRIST JESUS IS TRULY WITH US

In our world today there are great reasons why people may possibly have doubts about their faith in God and in Jesus. Because following the ugly attitude of deception, manipulation, exaggeration, corruption and flamboyant life style of false prophets and preachers in our societies, these can really make it difficult for people to become true and faithful believers in our world today. 

Little wonder, people are scandalized by the actions and behaviour of some believers. Some have given up their faith, some are about to give up, some are just confused while a lot of people are just holding on to the little faith they have based on their little personal experience and encounter with the Divine. This disposition can be likened to that of St. Thomas whose feast we are celebrating today. 

St. Thomas, one of the great Apostles of Jesus, journeyed with Jesus and experienced his great miracles, listened to his teaching, witness his passion and death. But as his faith could not bear it, he doubted the resurrection of Jesus based on other people's testimony. He could not believe it because it is too real to be true, so he sort for a personal experience and encounter with Jesus. As a result of this, Jesus appeared to him in the occasion of our Gospel passage today and said to him: Thomas, ‘put your finger here; look, here are my hands. Give me your hand; put it into my side. Doubt no longer but believe.’ Thomas replied, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him you believe because you can see me. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe’. Here Jesus offered the scars side of his wounds for the disbelieving disciple to touch and so healed the wound of his disbelief.

Through this personal encounter of the risen Lord, he believed; looking at one who was true man, he cried out that this is God, the God he could not see. So, faith is no longer necessary, all that matters now for Thomas is to share his personal experience with everyone who cares to listen. Tradition has it that, at the dispersal of the Apostles after Pentecost, Thomas was sent to evangelize the Parthians, Medes, and Persians; he ultimately reached India, sharing his experience and carrying the Faith to the Malabar coast, which still boasts a large native population calling themselves "Christians of St. Thomas.” He shed his blood for what he is convinced of. He was speared to death at a place called Calamine. 

But, what about you and I who today have experienced the Lord, having journeyed with Jesus as long as we have come to embrace the Christian faith. What can we say about our personal encounter and experience of the person of Jesus. Are we really convinced about the faith we profess, are we still at the level of faith based on what we hear or read about Jesus? Or have we really and truly encounter the person of Jesus in such a way that our faith has no doubt anymore, such that we can truly say like St. Thomas "My Lord and My God"? The fact remains that we need to personally experience the rising Lord if we are to bear authentic witness.

Dear friends, today we are encouraged to believe without seeing, but this can really be very difficult in a world of empiricism, yet we are still called to truly embrace this faith without doubting despite all the ugly human attitudes that are kicking against our faith. For Jesus said to Thomas, blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe. Therefore, 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. 

This is necessary, because the first Christians supported one another by praying, worshipping and sharing the word of God and their resources together. And St Paul in our first reading encouraged us to remain faithful and strong, for we are no longer aliens or foreign visitors in the affairs of God: rather we are citizens like all the saints, and part of God’s household. For we are part of a building that has the apostles and prophets for its foundations, and Christ Jesus himself is the main cornerstone. Thus, let us unite together as believers and bear authentic witness to our faith. 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we struggle in this dark and trial moment in our lives, when your presence seems far away from the world, help us through the intercession of St Thomas, 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, especially in this time when the Gospel is under all kinds of threats by faithless and ignorant people. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a peaceful weekend.

Homily for Friday Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 2nd July, 2021

 Homily for Friday Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time  Year B,  2nd July, 2021

Reading: Gen. 23:1-4.19;24:1-8.62-67; Ps. 106; Matt. 9:9-13

Rev.  Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

THE LORD DESIRES MERCY AND NOT SACRIFICE FOR HE CAME NOT TO CALL THE RIGHTEOUS, BUT SINNERS

There is no doubt that Jesus had been calling people from different works of life to be part of his mission, but today’s call and choice of Matthew a man identified with sinners because of his work as a tax collector, was quite strange to some people. Little wonder in our Gospel passage today after Jesus had called Matthew to follow him, he had a dinner in his house and while at the dinner, it happened that a number of tax collectors and sinners came to sit at the table with Jesus and his disciples. This is because to follow Jesus, Matthew needs to abandon his lucrative job, knowing that he can never regain it. Also, he needs to cuts himself off from his old network of friends. 

So, it seems likely that, in a spirit of joy, Matthew invites Jesus and his disciples to a great feast at his house. But the Pharisees felt bad and offended about Jesus sharing a meal with "sinners", so they complained to his disciples saying: “Why does your master eat with tax collectors and sinners?” When Jesus heard this he replied, “It is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick. Go and learn the meaning of the words: I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I did not come to call the virtuous, but sinners.” 

Here we heard the inner most desire of Jesus for sinful humanity in need of salvation. Because the call of Matthew is like the call of each of us, a choice that demonstrates Jesus' desire for sinners to repent. For all he desires is mercy and not sacrifices, repentance and not pride. Jesus is calling us to repentance, he is inviting us to make a fundamental choice for God just like St Matthew, who though sinner, rose up and followed Jesus at his call for repentance, we too are to respond to this invitation without delay. 

Dear friends, as Christians who are called to follow the Lord, how are we responding to God's call? How are we relating with those we judge to be sinners, what efforts are we making to convert sinners? Therefore, we are called today to let St. Matthew be an inspiration and hope for every one of us. Let him be an example that will remind us that there is no one beyond the reach of God’s mercy and love. For he is capable of transforming our ugly ways of life into a glorious instrument for human salvation. Remember, Jesus desires mercy and not sacrifice and we are all invited to follow him along the way of salvation and not to condemn or judge anyone. 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, despite our sinfulness,  you called and chose us to be instrument of your salvation to all humanity. As we learn for St. Matthew, give us the grace to make good choices that will help us to respond positively to your call for repentance and evangelization. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.  Do have a fruitful day.

Homily for Thursday Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 1st July, 2021

 Homily for Thursday Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time  Year B,  1st July, 2021

Reading: Gen. 22: 1-19; Ps. 116; Matt. 9:1-8

Rev.  Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

HAVE FAITH IN THE LORD FOR HE HAS THE POWER AND AUTHORITY TO FORGIVE, HEAL AND RESTORE US ONCE AGAIN

The sin and evil going on in the world are putting our faith to the test and most people are giving in to the scheme of devil because they lack the strong will to withstand the suffering, sickness and problems that befall us as a result of this evil. People are running ups and down seeking for solutions. while the evil ones are taking advantage of the situation to destroy the faith of the people. In fact, one may begin to wonder if there is still hope for the restoration of humanity from this ugly situation. But the fact remains that God is able to heal and restore humanity once again.

This is evident in our Gospel passage today, when some people brought to him a paralytic stretched out on a bed. And seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, ‘Courage, my child, your sins are forgiven.’ But some scribes doubted his authority to forgive sins, and Jesus knowing what was in their minds said: ‘Why do you have such wicked thoughts in your hearts? Now, which of these is easier to say, “Your sins are forgiven,” or to say, “Get up and walk”? But to prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,’ he said to the paralytic, ‘get up, and pick up your bed and go off home.’ And the man got up and went home.

Here, we see that great faith is not hidden, it radiates from the innermost being of those who exercise it. Because of love, the friends of the paralytic man were moved with faith to bring their friend to Christ, they firmly believed that Jesus Christ could and would heal him. For a strong faith regards no obstacles in pressing after Christ. It was with humble and active faith that they brought him to Christ. 

Thus, we can see the power and authority of Jesus towards the restoration of paralytic man carried by his friends. A gesture that signifies the restoration of humanity paralyzed by sin. So Jesus began by forgiving our sins. Though sin seems to be the root of the sickness. But sin may be pardoned, yet the sickness not be removed; the sickness may be removed, yet the sin not pardoned. But for Jesus, healing is holistic for those who have faith in God. And this is what the scribes and the Pharisees failed to understand as they doubted and opposed the power and authority of Jesus. But this is not the same with Abraham in our first reading today, whose faith in God was so strong that he was ready to sacrifice his only son as requested by the Lord. 

Dear friends, today we are called to have faith in God just like Abraham and the friends of the paralytic and not to be like the scribes who were enslaved by their pride and desire to maintain their prestige in the society. They doubted the power and authority of Jesus and rejected the message of truth. Of which Jesus rebuked them, showing us that truly he has power and authority not just to heal and forgive us but to restore us and all humanity back to our formal glory.

 

We are also called to imitate the great faith and love of the friends of the paralytic, the love and faith that radiate from the innermost being of those who exercise it. Let us like them, learn to love and help one another. Because the absence of love is the cause of all the problems in our world today. For most families exist only by grace because of the absence of love. How I wish we can invest our time and resources in ensuring love and goodwill in our dealings with one another, believe me, the world will be a temporal home for everyone.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are paralyzed by the sins and evil we are committing against you and the world you created, as we come to you in faith, forgive us our sins, heal and restore us once again. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Peace be with you.

Homily for Wednesday Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 30th June, 2021

 Homily for Wednesday Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time  Year B,  30th June, 2021

Reading: Gen. 21:5.8-20; Ps. 34; Matt. 8:28-34

Rev.  Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

THE PRESENCE OF JESUS DRIVES AWAY EVERY EVIL

There is no doubt that there is an active presence of evil in the world, which manifest itself in different forms and occasions. This is really obvious in the time of Jesus, for he seemed to have lived in a world of hostility; political and family divisions as well as the conflict between good and evil just like we have in our world today. Thus, everyday is a struggle against the malice of the evil ones, and people are doing everything they can to overcome them.

Hence our Gospel passage today presents to us Jesus’ encounter with two demoniacs from the tomb in country side of Gadarenes, who had been tormenting the community. They were so fierce that no one could pass that way. So when they saw Jesus, they started shouting, ‘What do you want with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torture us before the time?’ And Jesus said to them, Go, and they came out from the men and immediately entered the pigs and the pigs rushed into the lake and perished in the water.

Here, we are called to recognize that the presence of Jesus in the world brings about victory over the evil ones. Demons recognize Jesus as the power of God. And his power over demons is a direct defeat of the evil one while the restoration of the two demoniacs signifies the inauguration of God's kingdom in the world and the healing of God’s people, who had sinned and disobeyed God by abandoning His precepts and laws, preferring instead the wicked ways of life and worldly practices which leads to destruction. 

This is evident in our first reading today, where we heard the story of Abraham and his two sons, Isaac and Ishmael. For while Ishmael was born of a slave woman named Hagar, Isaac was born of Abraham’s wife Sarah, so he was the lawful and legal heir of Abraham. But this created friction between Ishmael and Isaac, because Ishmael was older and the supposed heir before Isaac was born. However, he had been superseded by Isaac, the true heir. To resolve this conflict, Abraham sent both Hagar and her son Ishmael away after providing them with some food and water. They both wandered in the desert and in places without food and sustenance. It was then that Hagar cried out to the Lord for mercy and compassion, which the Lord heard and sent his Angels to help Hagar and her son Ishmael.

Dear friends, today each and every one of us are called to seek good and not evil, to promote justice and integrity, less we will be enslaved, rejected and possessed by the evil of this world, just like the two demoniacs that lived in the wilderness away from other people. We must know that no matter how great our sins may have been, God alone has the power to heal us and to bring us back to Himself. And Jesus has given us the gift of his presence in the person of the Holy Spirit, which God has bestowed on us in our baptism. 

In this gift resides the power and authority to confront the evil of this world and overcome it. For Jesus wishes to set us free from sickness, forces, power and manipulations of the evil ones. He desires to be with us as we struggle everyday to overcome the evil in our lives, our families, our societies and the world at large. Therefore, we should not be afraid to stand firm against the manipulations of the devil, because Jesus will not abandon us in this battle of life.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, the world is full of evil and wickedness, give us the grace to seek what is good and hate what is evil, and as we struggle everyday to do your will, may your presence be felt and drive away all evil in our midst through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful day.