Homily for Friday sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 23rd July, 2021

 Homily for Friday sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 23rd July, 2021.

Readings: Ex.20:1-17, Ps. 19; Matt. 13:18-23

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

MAKE YOUR SOUL A FERTILE SOIL SO THAT THE WORD OF GOD MAY BEAR FRUIT IN YOUR LIFE

A critical observation of the structure of our society, one will easily notice how people are struggling with the things of this life, our passion, our determination and willingness are deep rooted in the worldly things. For we are so much attached to the things of this passing world that we pay little or no attention to things that edifice the soul. We work so hard to fill our hearts with the rocks and thorns of life that we have no room for the Word of God to blossom in our hearts. 

This unhealthy and ugly attitudes is what Jesus is addressing in our Gospel passage today as he explains the parable of the sower, pointing out our different dispositions towards the Word of God in relation to our interior life. Here, Jesus describe different kinds of obstacles to God's Word, for there are four obstacles that can distract us from making our hearts a fertile soil. These obstacles include: shallow mindedness, hardened heart, worldly desires and finally, trails and persecutions. Today, because of our uncontrolled desire for things of this world, most people fall in some, if not in all of these obstacles. For a lot of people do hear and talk about the Word of God, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth will always choke the word we hear and it yields nothing, because it has no root to sustain it in our hearts. 

Also, we often hardened our hearts by following the dictates of your own stubborn  thereby making our hearts a rocky ground where God’s will not bear much fruit. Thus, we are called to examine whether our soul is like dry rocky ground or have been choked by the thorns of this life. For it is time to regularly seek to nourish our soul and prepare it to receive the Holy Word of God, So that we can create a fertile disposition within our heart in order to let the Word bear fruit in our soul. 

Dear friends, as the Lord gave us the ten commandments as we have it in our first reading, how are we receiving it and applying it in our daily life. Remember, hearts are the fields in which the Word of God is spread today. But to which do our hearts belong: the path way, the rocky ground, the thorns or the good soil of faith and hope. Whichever one, we are called to dispose our hearts more so that God’s Word may find root in us. 

Therefore, we should detach ourselves as much as we can from the things of this passing world and never let our hearts fall apart when we encounter challenges, temptations and difficulties of life nor give up when uncertainties and doubts sets in. We should never give up our faith nor turn to other sources for temporal comfort, thereby abandoning God and lose our soul to the devil.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, the world is full of hidden rocks and thorns which are seriously making your Holy Word unfruitful in our hearts, give us the grace to truly detach ourselves from them in order to faithfully embrace your Word in our souls and bear great fruits of love, peace, joy and fulfillment. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Peace be with you.

Homily for Thursday sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 22nd July, 2021. The Feast of St. Mary Magdalene

 Homily for Thursday sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 22nd July, 2021. The Feast of St. Mary Magdalene

Readings: 2Cor. 5:14-17, Ps. 63, John 20:1-2.11-18

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

THE LIFE OF MARY MAGDALENE: A SYMBOL OF HOPE FOR SINNERS AND A SENSE OF THE PAST FOR SAINTS

Every human person has a past and a future, the past is gone we cannot change it, but the future bring hope alive, for in both past and future we make our history a reality that can change the world. Today we celebrate the feast of St. Mary Magdalene, a woman whose life history gives hope to sinners and sense of the past for saints. 

Often Mary Magdalene is referred to as the woman from whom Jesus had cast out seven demons or the repentant prostitute, whichever one, scriptures and history point out that Mary Magdalene had been greatly transformed by her faith in Jesus and her life was changed after her first encounter with Jesus for she abandoned her past life of sin. May Magdalene was a great sinner who ought to had been condemned to die by those who were also unworthy and sinful before God. But grace of God brought about the encounter that transformed her life and she was privileged to be the first to know about the resurrection of Jesus and to also encounter the risen Lord. 

This is evident in our Gospel passage today, which presents to us the encounter of Mary Magdalene with the risen Lord. When the apostles have left the tomb, Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping. In her devotion to Jesus, Mary seeks to learn where she might find Jesus’ body so that she might take him away, a task that would be difficult both emotionally and physically. But she was not even concerned with how she would convey the body from one place to another. She only believes that Jesus’ body has been dishonored, and she is determined to see that he is accorded the honor that it deserves. 

So, she remained by the tomb, weeping. Her heart was in earnest to find Jesus. The angels asked her: why are you weeping? she was just busy trying to find the corpse of Jesus. But when she turned around and saw Jesus, her heart was filled with joy and peace. This courageous act of faith brought about her encounter with the risen Lord. Thus, in Mary Magdalene we see a heart that is determined to find Jesus. A heart that truly loves Jesus, a heart that cannot give up the search for Jesus, a heart that listened and remembered the words of Jesus about his resurrection. 

Dear friends, as we celebrate the feast of St. Mary Magdalene, we are called to imitate her virtues, knowing that God can use anyone as His instruments if we are ready to embrace Him irrespective of our past ways of life. For St. Paul tells us in our first reading that if anyone who is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old creation has passed away, behold the new has come. For Christ died for all so that living men should live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised to life for our sake. 

Therefore, today, we are called to forget our past sinful life and embrace the Lord. We are called to seek the Lord with affection and tears. But often times the clouds and darkness of our sins blind us from recognizing the Lord who is always very close to us. The truth is that, the Lord’s way of making himself known to his people is by his word; his word appeals to our souls, speaking to us in particular way that is unique to us. Are we ready to embrace the Lord once again and make our history a reality that will change this sinful world?

 LET US PRAY: Lord God, like Mary Magdalene our souls seek to encounter you personally once again, give us the grace and strength to always be ready to turn away from sin and embrace your word, that we may personally experience, fill and recognize your presence once again in our lives. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed day

Homily for Wednesday sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 21st July, 2021

 Homily for Wednesday sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 21st July, 2021

Readings: Exo.16:1-5.9-15; Ps. 78; Matt:13:1-9

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

MAKE YOUR HEART A FERTILE SOIL SO THAT THE SEED OF GOD’S WORD MAY BLOSSOM IN YOUR SOUL.

Those who are into farming understands very well how a healthy seed blossoms on a fertile soil. Little wonder Jesus in the parable of the sower decided to use this great farming mechanism to explain the relationship between the Word of God and the human heart. Because the Word of God is to the human heart what a healthy seed is to the soil. 

In this parable Jesus said to the crowd, ‘Imagine a sower going out to sow. As he sowed, some seeds fell on the edge of the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Others fell on patches of rock where they found little soil and sprang up straight away, because there was no depth of earth; but as soon as the sun came up they were scorched and, not having any roots, they withered away. Others fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Others fell on rich soil and produced their crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Listen, anyone who has ears!’

Here, Jesus uses the parable of the sower to describe different kind of response to God's Word for there are four obstacles that can distract us from making our hearts a fertile soil. These obstacles include: shallow mindedness, hardened heart, worldly desires and finally, trails and persecutions. Most people fall in some, if not in all of these obstacles. 

But what about the good soil? These are those who made their hearts a fertile soil through love and purity of heart which helped them to hear the Word of God and understands it, and indeed bears fruit and yield an abundant harvest of hundred, sixty and thirty folds. Our Mother Mary is a good example of such people. Therefore, the different kinds of ground on which the seed falls represent the different ways in which we receive the Word of God.

Dear friends, today Jesus Christ gives us all the wonderful and beautiful Words of life, wooing us to heaven, are we disposed to letting his word blossom in our souls? Remember, our hearts are the fields in which the Word of God is scattered, to which do our hearts belong: the path way, the rocky ground, the thorns or the good soil. Whichever one, we are called to pay attention and take some time to appreciate and dispose our hearts more, so that God’s Word may find a root in us. 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, each and every one of us have received the seeds of your Words, give us grace to remain open to receiving your Word, so that it will blossom in our souls and bear fruit abundantly. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful day.

Homily for Tuesday sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 20th July, 2021

 Homily for Tuesday sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 20th July, 2021

Readings: Exo.14:21-15:1; Ps. Exo.15:8-17; Matt:12: 46-50

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

DOING THE WILL OF GOD IS THE ONLY WAY OF BELONGING TO THE TRUE FAMILY OF JESUS

One of the psychological and spiritual needs of the human person is the sense of belonging, this need is just like the need for food, clothes and shelter. The feeling of belonging is fundamental to our sense of happiness and well-being, for it gives value to life and help us in coping with some painful emotions as it improves our motivation. Hence, we often want to belong to one another, to our friends and families, to our culture and from one association, group to another.

However, one of the common and safest place to belong is our families, especially when it is rooted in the family of God. So today in our Gospel passage, Jesus speaks about belonging to his family and his relationship with members of his family when he said: Here are my mother and my brothers. Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven, he is my brother and sister and mother.’ From the Gospel, Jesus speaks of two ways the people around him could be identified as members of his family. Firstly he talks about those who belong to the family of his birth that is, his mother, father and relations. Then his other family which is made up of those who do the will of God.

 This family he says, is his true family where doing the will of God is the only way of belonging to this family. This is not to say that Jesus is rejecting his family; to do so would be contradicting his own teaching about loving ones parents and loving ones neighbours. However, Jesus is using this opportunity to emphasize that relationship with God is more important and this is based on our total commitment to doing the will of God through him. Surprisingly, Mary the mother of Jesus belongs to both sides of the family, for she gave birth to Jesus and also the first to do the will of God when she  said, “let it be done unto me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). For this reason she is the first disciple of Jesus and a model for all Christians.

Thus, to be a Christian or a disciple is to enter into the family of Jesus and embrace a new relationship with God and with one another and this is the most important place to belong. All other bonds, including those of blood should be considered secondary. Because, belonging to God is fundamental to our basic relationships, prior to all human relations. Since we belong first to God before belonging to our families, after which we all go back to God where we ultimately belongs, which is determined by how we have been doing God’s will here on earth.

Dear friends, where do we ultimately and truly belong? As Christians, we claimed to belong to God, do our attitudes and decisions show that we truly belong to God? Do we not often commit ourselves to things contrary to the faith we professed in God because of some challenges we are passing through? Today in our first reading, we heard how God delivered his chosen people from the hands of their enemies, so will the Lord deliver us from the struggles of this passing world if we remain faithful in doing his will. Therefore, like Mary and the disciples of Jesus, we are called to do the will of God always in order to truly belong to that true family of Jesus where love of God and love of neighbour unites us together.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, we truly belong to you, give us the grace to always do your will and as we carryout your activities today, grant success to the works of our hands. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. God bless you.

Homily for Monday sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 19th July, 2021

 Homily for Monday sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 19th July, 2021

Readings: Exo. 14:5-18; Ps. Exo.15:1-6; Matt:12: 38-42

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

DO NOT SEEK FOR SIGNS, RATHER BE PREPARED FOR THE COMING OF THE LORD

Listening to the conversation between Jesus, the scribes and Pharisees in our Gospel passage today as they asked Jesus for signs. He  said to them, ‘It is an evil and unfaithful generation that asks for a sign! The only sign it will be given is the sign of the prophet Jonah, telling us that, on Judgement day the men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation and condemn it, because when Jonah preached they repented; and there is something greater than Jonah here with us, that is, Jesus himself. 

Reflecting on this, the question that comes to my mind is: where will me and you and the beautiful things of this world be in the next ten, twenty, forty, eighty and hundred years for those who are strong? The deep silence in my soul could not offer me any answer to this question rather, it exposed me to the foolishness of human greediness and selfishness. Hence, I asked myself what does God really requires from us in this world? This is what the Lord requires of us: only this, to act justly, to love tenderly and to walk humbly with your God. 

Therefore, we must be courageous like Moses in our first reading today, who when the people of Israel was trapped between the red sea and the Egyptians army, did not begin to look for signs, rather he courageously said to the Israelites: ‘Have no fear! Stand firm, and you will see what the Lord will do to save you today: the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. The Lord will do the fighting for you: you have only to keep still.’

Hence, as Jesus in this Gospel, presents to us the final recommendations of the end time, he insists that we should not be afraid, but we should pay rapt attention to the signs nature is giving us concerning the end time events, that these signs will make us to have hope founded firmly on the word of God which drives away fear and despair, knowing that the kingdom of God is very near to us. He also warns us about following those who claim to know when the end is coming. For we may see many of the signs written in Scripture happening already in our time and people are terrified looking for someone to show them the way. We should know that Jesus is the only Way, the Truth and the Life. 

Dear friends, what signs are we seeing around us today? How can we interpret the signs of this times, the signs that tell us that this world is passing away? Do these signs make us to dread the second coming of the Lord or do we joyfully embrace it in anticipation? However, Jesus warns us not to waste our time seeking for signs, rather we should be prepared, we should remain firm in faith. He reminds us that that he is not just the sign of Jonah, but something far greater than Jonah, and without him in our lives, we will be lost, because the future lies in his hands and nothing can destroy or hurt us as long as we remain faithful to his commands. Nonetheless, what he requires of us in this world is for us to act justly, to love tenderly and to walk humbly with our God.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we embrace your word today give us the grace to act justly, to love tenderly and to walk humbly with you and as we carryout our task this week, may your favour be with us now and always. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed week.

Homily for Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B, 18th July, 2021

 Homily for Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time  Year B, 18th July, 2021

Reading: Jer. 23:1-6; Ps. 23; Eph.2:13-18; Mark 6:30-34

Rev.  Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

LORD COME TO OUR AID FOR HUMANITY ARE NOW LIKE SHEEP WITHOUT A RESPONSIBLE SHEPHERD

As humans we are constantly in need of one thing or the other, and one of the greatest need of humanity today is good and responsible leaders. Though, we are never tired of searching for those that will satisfy our desires for physical and spiritual well being. This is even worst with the ugly situation in our world today were humanity are lost, confused and sick as a result of what we have created out of our selfish desires. This ugly situation can be likened to the situation and condition of the people in our Gospel passage today of which Jesus and his disciples devoted time trying to attend to them. 

But when the situation got worst Jesus said to his disciples you must come away to some lonely place all by yourselves and rest for a while’; for there were so many coming and going that the apostles had no time even to eat. As they went through their boat, the people went after them on foot. So as Jesus stepped ashore he saw a large crowd; and he took pity on them for they are like sheep without a shepherd and he healed their sickness and taught them for a while.

Here, Jesus fulfills his role as the expected messiah who is to liberate his people from all kinds of diseases. The teaching and healing touch of Jesus reveals to us that God is faithful to his promises. This healing and wholeness are offered as a sign of the presence of God’s kingdom among his people. For God has promised to take care of his people as we heard in our first reading today through prophet Jeremiah when he said: Doom for the shepherds who allow the flock of my pasture to be destroyed and scattered. You have let my flock be scattered and go wandering and have not taken care of them. Right, I will take care of you for your misdeeds. For the days are coming when I will raise a virtuous Branch for David, who will reign as true king and be wise, practicing honesty and integrity in the land.

And St. Paul in our second reading made us to know that Jesus is that Virtuous Branch. For we who are used to be so far apart from God have been brought very close, by the blood of Christ. Because he is the peace between us and God, since he has broken down the barrier which used to keep us apart, by actually destroying in his own person the hostility caused by the rules and decrees of the Law. Therefore, Christ Jesus is that true shepherd that humanity is looking for, for in him we found this quality of a good shepherd that we all need to embrace. For us to be that good shepherd like Jesus, we need to die to selfish desires of the human flesh, because most of the problems we face as humans are caused by the selfishness of the human flesh.

Dear friends, the hopeless and ugly situation in our world today are good indications that we are just floating in this world like sheep without a responsible shepherd. Thus, we need to come to Jesus our true and Good Shepherd. We must make sure that nothing comes between us and the love of Jesus our Lord, even if we are troubled or worried, or being persecuted, or lacking food or clothes, or being threatened or even attacked. 

For these are the trials through which we triumph, by the power of him who loved us so much. We must ensure that neither death nor life, no angel, no princes of this world, nothing that exists, nothing still to come, not any power, or height or depth, nor any created thing, can ever come between us and the love of God made visible in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore, let us come to Jesus our Good Shepherd and embrace his love and compassion.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are lost in this passing world, as we come to you in need of good leaders  who will lead us through the path of  love and guide our sense of direction both physically and spiritually, and so guide us once again towards the path of truth, love and fulfilment even in the midst of all the confusion in our world today. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a joyful Sunday celebration.

Homily for Saturday Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 17th July, 2021

 Homily for Saturday Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 17th July, 2021

Readings: Exo. 12:37-42; Ps.136; Matt:12:14-21

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

THE UGLY ATTITUDE OF HUMANITY

One of our great music legends, Lucky Dube, truly captured the cause of the ugly situation and attitude of humanity in the world today in his song titled Crazy World. In the second part of this song he said:

Leaders starting wars anytime they want

Some for their rights

Some for fun and their own vain glory, letting people die for the wrongs that they do

Oh it's painful. Come on now little boy

Say your prayers before you sleep

Little boy went down on his knees

And he said:

"Oh Lord! Now I lay down to sleep

I pray the Lord my soul to keep

And if I die before I wake

I pray the Lord my soul to take"

'Cause we are living in this crazy world

Oh Lord'.

This is exactly the condition of the world we are living in today. The world were people who are entrusted with the noble task of leading and managing the resources and affairs of the people, make decisions to eliminate and destroy them just for their personal gain and selfish interest, as we have it in our Gospel passage today, where the Pharisees who are the leaders of the people, because of their selfish interest and pride went out and began to plot against Jesus, discussing how to destroy him, because of his great works and teaching for the people.

Jesus knew this and withdrew from their district. Many followed him and he cured them all, but warned them not to make him known. This was to fulfil the prophecy of Isaiah which reminds us about the figure of the suffering Servant of Yahweh, in the person of Jesus. Here Jesus experienced constant opposition and hostility in the hands of the Pharisees who sort to destroy Him. So, Matthew in this Gospel identifies Jesus with the Suffering Servant who is filled with God’s spirit, in spite of the aggression of his opponents, he does not suspend his ministry of healing, forgiving and spreading the Good News. For he is full of gentleness and compassion. 

Hence, Jesus the suffering Servant of God, the lovable and gentle teacher, has come to bring the light of truth to this crazy world, for he does not seek the death of sinners, but their conversion and salvation. Therefore in him, we also can find the courage and strength to persevere in this times of difficulty, suffering and persecution. For God has chosen us as His beloved sons and daughters. He has given us His Spirit so that we can stand firm against all the evil activities going on in this crazy world.

But as for those who have chosen to be instruments of destruction, manipulation and deception of humanity just for their selfish interest or for vain glory or for fun thereby letting people die for these wrongs that they themselves do. Such people will have no share in the kingdom of the Lord, for the evils they have done will be their portion and lot. This is exactly the attitude of the Egyptians in our first reading today, of which they Lord through Moses led his chosen people out of their midst to the promised land, for such is the ugly attitude of humanity today, but God will never abandoned is chosen.

Dear friends, there is no doubt that we are really living in an evil and crazy world, but we must know that the transcendent power and authority belong to God. Yes we are affiliated in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. Thus, we must know that true greatness is found in service and not in domination or subjection of others. Good leaders serve the community, they subdue arguments and divisions, they maintain unity in times of distress and act as role models for the young ones. 

Therefore, it is time for us to put off our old self which leads to evil desire, manipulation, covetousness, selfishness and greed, in order to put on a new person born of love, compassion, contentment, purity and forgiveness. We all are called today to serve in any capacity we find ourselves, bearing in mind that one should not strive to be a leader but a servant because leadership is a gift given to one by God. Remember, you don't have to be great to get started, but you have to get started in order to be great.

LET US PRAY: Almighty God, like little boy we go down on our knees with all humility, asking for your grace and courage to overcome the evil and ugly situation going on in this crazy world, where humanity are being manipulated, deceived and destroyed because of few people’s selfish interest. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a pleasant weekend.