Homily for Thursday Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 2nd September, 2021

 Homily for Thursday Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 2nd September, 2021

 Readings: Col. 1:9-14; Ps. 98; Luke 5:1-11

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

HAVE YOU EVER HAD AN EXPERIENCE OF JESUS THAT TURNS YOUR PRIDE INTO HUMILITY AND SINFULNESS INTO RIGHTEOUSNESS?

There is something deep and unique about every person, sometimes it takes personal experience to discover this uniqueness. I don't know if you have ever had an experience that made you realize the emptiness of this life, a kind of experience that turns your pride into humility, sinfulness into righteousness? This is the kind of experience that Simon had with Jesus in our Gospel passage today, that made him realize his emptiness and fell at the knees of Jesus confessing his unworthiness. 

This is because Jesus had said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water and pay out your nets for a catch.’ ‘Master,’ Simon replied, ‘we worked hard all night long and caught nothing, but if you say so, I will pay out the nets.’ And when they had done this they netted such a huge number of fish that their nets began to tear, so they signaled to their companions in the other boat to come and help them. When Simon Peter saw this he fell at the knees of Jesus saying, ‘Leave me, Lord; I am a sinful man.’ But Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid; from now on it is men you will catch.’ 

This very experience brought true conversion in the lives of Simon and his companion, for this encounter changed their destiny from fishermen to fishers of men. For they obeyed the Lord who told them to put out into the deep waters, and as soon as they followed His instructions, they netted so much fish that the whole boat could not take it. This glorious event manifested the power and grace of God at work in us especially when we humble ourselves. Little wonder St. Paul in our first reading made us to know that what we should ask God is that through perfect wisdom and spiritual understanding that will help us to reach the fullest knowledge of his will. So that we will be able to lead the kind of life which the Lord expects of us, a life acceptable to him in all its aspects; showing the results in all the good actions that we do.

 

Dear friends, like Simon and his brothers, we are called to reflect on our personal experience and encounter with God. How have we personally experience God? When was our spiritual turning point? Do we have a personal conviction about God that does not based on what people have told us of him? In case we have not personally encountered him, all we need to do is to sincerely seek God in those common events in our lives. Then, we will realize how much God is willing to reveal himself to us through Jesus Christ his Son.

LET US PRAY: Almighty God, everyday is an opportunity to encounter you through different events that occur in our lives. Grant that we may have a personal experience of you just like Simon and his companion. May we experience you in a unique way in our daily activities and through this experience discover our purpose in life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed day.

Homily for Wednesday Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 1st September, 2021

 Homily for Wednesday Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 1st September, 2021.

Readings: Col 1:1-8; Ps. 33; Luke 4:38-44

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

JESUS REALLY CARES FOR OUR PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL WELL BEING

The whole of scriptures reveals the compassionate love of God in it’s historical and physical solidarity with human suffering. This is more evident in the compassionate way Jesus carried out his activities which springs up from the love of God the Father and constitutes the basis of the Church’s liberating activity. Little wonder in our Gospel passage today, as Jesus continued to carryout his mission of preaching he also showed compassion and care for those who are passing through difficulties. 

Thus, when he returned from preaching in the synagogue to Simon Peter's house, behold Peter's mother-in-law was sick with fever. This is not a minor sickness in the ancient world. A fever was not a kind of sickness that last for a short while, but was often a symptom of a condition that would lead to death. So Jesus went to her, took her by the hand and helped her up. And the fever left her and she began to served them. That evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were sick and possessed by devils and he cured them.

This clearly described how and why Jesus’ coming down to dwell with us and by taking up our human nature made it possible for him to identified himself with the struggles of humanity as he embraced us with his love, compassion and care. For he came to heal us from our sins and from all the afflictions we encountered and struggle with in this passing world. So, when Jesus cured Peter’s mother-in-law, she immediately begins to serve them, something she was unable to do because of her illness. Thus, she was able to render her service to the first Christian community. She was healed and restored with new strength so that she may again rise and take up her proper place in the community of God’s people. 

Dear friends, God really cares for our well being, his always ready to help us in our struggles so that we can be well disposed to serve him. So whenever we are passing through difficult moment, we must not allow despair, fear or doubt to cloud our hearts. We need to have faith in God and wholeheartedly believe in him. We need to have more faith and trust in God, and be more hopeful no matter how difficult things may be for us and whenever he restores us, it may be tempting to sit back and accept people’s good wishes and congratulations. 

These should not be our attitudes, we should rather learn from Peter’s mother-in-law, that healing is not just to make us well but to enable us to become active again in rendering serving to God and humanity. For it is another opportunity to serve God and humanity and St in our first reading says: “the Good News which has reached you is spreading all over the world and producing the same results among us”.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are really sick in need of your healing and compassion. As we struggle everyday to serve you and humanity, heal all our illnesses and give us grace to get up and become more active again in order to render more quality services to you and to our communities. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Happy New Month wishing you God’s favour and blessings.

Homily for Tuesday Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 31st August, 2021

 Homily for Tuesday Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 31st August, 2021

Readings: 1 These. 5:1-6.9-11, Ps. 27, Luke 4:31-37

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

THE PRESENCE OF JESUS DRIVES AWAY ALL EVIL FORCES

From the scriptures, Jesus seems to have lived in a world of hostility and conflict between good and evil, as well as political witch-hunting, family divisions and demonic possession, just like we have it in our world today. For there is no doubt that there is an active presence of evil in the world which manifest itself in different forms. So everyday we struggle against the malice of the evil ones, and people are doing everything they can to overcome them. But often time, when children of God are confronted with evil, they don't know what to do and out of fear they fall victim and helpless because they are ignorance of the power and authority of God in them.

Thus, in our Gospel passage today, we heard how the people of Capernaum and even the demoniac recognized that, the Divine Authority of Jesus in the world brings about victory over the evil ones. For his teaching made a deep impression on them because he spoke with authority. And the man who was possessed by the devil shouted at the top of his voice, ‘Ah! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God.’ But Jesus said sharply, ‘Be quiet! Come out of him!’ And the devil, throwing the man down in front of everyone, went out of him without hurting him at all. Astonished, they said to one another, ‘What teaching!  For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits and they come out.’

Here the demons recognize Jesus as the power of God. And his power over the demons is a direct defeat of the evil one while the restoration of the possessed man signifies the inauguration of God's kingdom in the world. Now, 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 evil and overcome it. 

Little wonder St. Paul in our first reading tell us that it is not as if we live in the dark, for that Day to overtake us like a thief. No, we are all sons of light and sons of the day: we do not belong to the night or to darkness, so we should not go on sleeping, as everyone else does, but stay awake and sober. For God never meant us to experience the Retribution, but to win salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that, alive or dead, we should still live united to him.

Dear friends, the presence of Jesus drives away every evil forces. But as children of God, what is our notion about the authority and power of Jesus? Do we still have any doubt about the authority of Jesus? How much of this authority dwells in you? How united are we in Christ. Today the demoniac identified the source of Jesus’ authority as divine, have we personally identified the divine authority of Jesus in our life? If we have not, why not ask him to manifest his power and authority once more in our life.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, we are often ignorance of the power and authority of the Holy Spirit which you gave us at our baptism, may we recognize this divine power and authority once again in our daily struggles with the evil forces in our world. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. God bless you.

Homily for Monday Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 30th August, 2021

 Homily for Monday Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 30th August, 2021

Readings: 1 These. 4:13-18, Ps. 96, Luke 4:16-30

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

STOP TREATING PEOPLE WITH CONTEMPT BECAUSE OF THEIR HUMBLE BACKGROUND

Oftentimes we treat and respect people based on our knowledge of their background and status, so we fail to look at the image of God found in them or what God is doing through them. This is because our judgment is the product of human wisdom and when our faith is based on this kind of wisdom we are bound to neglect and treat others with contempt. 

This is the situation in our Gospel passage today. For when Jesus came to Nazareth, his own town, where he had been brought up, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day as he usually did. He taught the people about his mission as prophesied by prophet Isaiah and at the end he said to them, this text is being fulfilled today even as you listen.’ And he won the approval of all, and they were astonished by the gracious words that came from his lips. But in contempt they said, ‘This is Joseph’s son, surely? As they ridiculed him, Jesus said ‘I tell you solemnly, no prophet is ever accepted in his own country. For this reason they tried to kill him.

Here, we see Jesus who preached about inclusion, found himself excluded. His listeners were frightened at his message and because of familiarity, he was rejected by his own people who glory in their wisdom which is based on their knowledge of his humble background. This is because they lack true faith as they depend on their human knowledge and philosophy. 

Dear friends, our relationship with Jesus should not be based on this kind of philosophy, rather it should based on our personal experience of the power and love of God in our lives. For it is this personal experience that will help us to embrace his words convincingly and never look down on anyone, but see in all the light of God's presence. 

Therefore, we are called today to be accommodating and never try to treat anyone with contempt, because anyone can be a potential vessel of God’s blessings to us. And St. Paul why letting us know how equal we are before the Lord said in our first reading: that any of us who are left alive until the Lord’s coming will not have any advantage over those who have died. So with such thoughts as these we should comfort one another.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, out of pride and ignorance, we have often treated people with contempt because of their humbled background, help us today to realize that everyone is a potential instrument of your blessings and so learn to accommodate people, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed week ahead. 

Homily for Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B, 29th August, 2021

 Homily for Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B, 29th August, 2021

Readings: Deut 4:1-2.6-8, Ps.15;  James 1:17-18.21-22.27; Mark 7:1-8.14-15.21-23

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

THE UGLY FRUIT OF A CORRUPT HEART IN RELATION TO GOD’S COMMANDMENTS AND HUMAN TRADITIONS

Oftentimes, we find it difficult to separate the commandments of God from human traditions. This no doubt plays out in our making and interpreting of laws and it has great consequences in our relationship with God and our neighbours just as we have it in our Gospel passage today, where we heard how the Pharisees multiplied religious laws and rituals to such an extent that it was impossible to know them all, talk more of observing them. 

So Jesus accuses them of neglecting the true commandment of God over their petty regulations. For they neglected the instructions of Moses in our first reading today who said to the people: “take notice of the laws and customs that I teach you today. You must add nothing to what I command you, and take nothing from it, but keep the commandments of the Lord your God just as I lay them down for you”. But they have added petty laws and traditions highly detailed which the Scribes and Pharisees regarded as having the same binding force as the Laws God gave to Moses. 

However, Jesus was not totally against these laws and regulations. What he was against was the legalism by which the mere observance of some external actions were equated with being a devout lover of God. Hence he reminds them of the quotes from the prophet Isaiah saying: “this people honours me only with lip service, while their hearts are far from me. The worship they offer me is worthless; the doctrines they teach are only human regulations.” (Is 29:13). 

Little wonder Jesus makes it clear that we are not defiled or separated from God, by external things, such as the kinds of food we eat, but by the sins of the heart, evil intentions and sinful actions which we entertain in our hearts. Telling us that physical activity of the human person does not defile a person because the physical is being controlled by the interior being of the person. For when the interior life of a person is corrupted by sin, then the fruit of this corruption is manifested in the physical activity of the person’s life.

For just as a corrupt fountain sends forth corrupt streams, so will a corrupt heart bring forth corrupt fruits, corrupt appetites, corrupt passions and covetousness and excess desires for worldly things from which comes wickedness; malice, hatred, and a delight in mischievous actions, deceit; Lasciviousness; that filthiness and foolish talk which darkened the human soul. Hence, Jesus teaches us that from a corrupt heart comes the desire for fornication and adultery. Therefore, the defilement we ought to avoid is not from what entered our mouths as food, but from what comes out of our mouths, which shows the goodness or corruption deep down in our hearts. For the human heart is the source of every good and evil deeds. 

Hence, the pollution of the human heart is very dangerous, for in it comes all the powers and faculties of the soul. So there is need for us to know that lustful and sinful thoughts of the heart defiles the human person and makes one abominable in the sight of God. And St. James in our second reading tells us to do away with all the impurities and bad habits that are still left in us. But accept and submit to the word of God which has been planted in us and can save our souls. Thus, he encouraged us to be doers of the Word of God and not just hearers thereby deceiving ourselves.

Dear friends, there can be some elements of the Pharisee in us and these happen whenever, we focus our attention on laws while neglecting the spirit of the law. So we must ensure that our hearts are constantly purge of all these corruptions in other to bear good fruits of love, forgiveness, compassion and holiness. For it is only when this occurs that there will be need for a new hearts and right spirit to be formed and created within us. Because nothing will last in the soul more than the regenerating graces of the Holy Spirit which gives sight to the heart darkened by sin in order to effectively lead others to the truth that illuminates their hearts from the darkness of sin and death. So why not be one of  that holy and pure souls which humanity desire to have in our generation.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, the human hearts have been corrupted and darkened by sins and this has made us to abandoned your commandment of love. As we struggle to constantly purge our hearts from sin and corruption, may you create a pure heart within us so that we can bear good fruits of love and holiness. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen Happy Sunday.

Homily for Saturday Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 28th August, 2021. The Memorial of St. Augustine

 Homily for Saturday Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 28th August, 2021. The Memorial of St. Augustine

Readings: 1Thess.4:9-11; Ps.98; Matt.25:14-30

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

UTILIZING OUR GOD GIVEN TALENT

There is not doubt in my mind that God has a plan for everyone of us, for each person has been given a special talent according to his/her ability in order to fulfill that plan, just as we heard in the parable in our Gospel passage today since everyone is special, unique and a masterpiece.

In this parable a man who was going for a journey summoned his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to a third one; each in proportion to his ability to utilize it until he comes back. Here, Jesus is telling us that we have all been given gifts by God which we must account for. If we use these gifts wisely for our own benefit and the benefit of others, we will grow and blossom. If on the other hand we fail to use them just like the third servant, we remain dormant and unsuccessful.

But what is this talent all about? The talent may represent different physical and spiritual gifts of God, but it's basic foundation is the love of God towards us, the love that God has shown to us which needs to be reciprocated through an active love for our neighbours. So, this parable teaches us that our gifts are meant to be put to use, in service of God and humanity especially the poor. Our service to God should not be done grudgingly or fearfully but generously and the willingness to take risks in responding to God's mandate.

We must be ready to lose our life in order to find it. God wants us to use the individual talents given to us to make a difference in the world, not to relax into our comfort zone doing nothing with them. God wants the best from us and when we have given our best, we receive more from him. However, we often fine it difficult to discover our talents or to accept the one God has given to us because we have failed to embrace love. Little wonder St. Paul in our first reading says: “As for loving our brothers, there is no need for anyone to write to us about that, since we have learnt from God how to love one another”.

Dear friends, what is your talent? Have you put it in full use? Or have you buried it out of fear, ignorance and shame? For we are called today to search and discover our talent, to discover love and invest on it in order to achieve the purpose by which we are created just like the first two servants in the parable of the talents who utilized the talents given to them and also like St Augustine whose memorial we celebrate today, for when he realized that the greatest talent is love of God and neighbours, he devoted all his life writing about love telling us that true happiness is found in interior living and not on material things we possess, he embraced God and became great instrument in preparing humanity towards the kingdom of God. Therefore, we are reminded that we are going to give an account before God and the real tragedy of life is not in being limited to one talent but in failure to use that one talent properly.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, you have given us a special talent according to our ability in order to fulfill your plans for us. Help us through the intercessions of St. Augustine to discover our talents and utilize them in such a way that it will lead us to love you and our neighbours, especially the poor and so attain eternal life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful weekend.

Homily for Friday Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 27th August, 2021. The Memorial of St. Monica

 Homily for Friday Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 27th August, 2021. The Memorial of St. Monica

Readings: 1Thess.4:1-8; Ps.97; Matt.25:1-13

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

DO NOT FORGET YOUR EXTRA OIL OF GRACE AS WE AWAIT THE COMING OF THE LORD

Reflecting on how footballers, boxers, athletes, also engineers, doctors and farmers, business men and women devote time and energy in rigorous preparation towards achieving their goals, then I realized that adequate preparation is the secret and foundation of every successful event. But if we can go to this length of rigorous periods of preparation just for things of this passing world, it will be even more demanding when it has to do with preparing for eternal life. That is why in the parable of the ten maidens in our Gospel passage today, Jesus emphasis on the need to be well prepared.

 For if we can devote such time and energy towards our spiritual life which we often neglect, we will be more awake and prepared more than the ten maidens, who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were sensible: the foolish ones did take their lamps, but they brought no oil, whereas the sensible ones took flasks of oil as well as their lamps. When the bridegroom delayed in coming their lamps burned out and as they went out to get more oil, they missed out since the door was shut after the bridegroom had passed.

In this parable of the ten maidens Jesus emphasized on the need to be well prepared for the coming of God’s kingdom, warning us not to be like the foolish five maidens who were not well prepared and missed out when the bridegroom came. Thus, Jesus commanded us to stay awake, because we do not know either the day or the hour when the Lord will come. In a similar way, St. Paul in our first reading urged and appealed to us in the Lord Jesus to make more and more progress in the kind of life that you are meant to live: He warns us to keep away from fornication for we have been called by God to be holy, not to be immoral.  

Thus, we need to change our disposition especially as regards our attitude towards the things of this passing world in order to embrace more of the things of our heavenly kingdom. We need to learn from St Monica whose memorial we celebrate today for she devoted her life praying for the conversion of her son Augustine. She said to him: "son, one thing there was, for which I desired to remain still a little longer in this life, that I should see you a Catholic Christian before I die. This God has granted me in super abundance, in that I see you his servant to the contempt of all worldly happiness. What then am I doing here." So what are we doing in this world with the gift of life God has given us and how are we preparing for the coming of our Lord knowing that we are all travelers in this world.

 Dear friends, our life as Christians demands that we should be alert, we should be prepared at all times and be ready to make sacrifices of carrying our extra oil of grace like the five wise maidens. We should be watchful for we know neither the day nor the hour when the Lord will call us. Hence, we are reminded today that this world is passing away, so we need to stay awake and be ready.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, we often failed to listen to your warnings concerning the things of this passing world and the need for us to stay awake and be ready for your coming, through the intercessions of St. Monica, give us the grace and wisdom to be well prepared to stand before you whenever you call us, may we never be among those You will be told: I do not know you. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Peace be with you.We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Peace be with you.