Homily for Monday Twenty-Third Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 6th September, 2021

 Homily for Monday Twenty-Third Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 6th September, 2021

Readings: Col. 1:24-2:3; Ps. 62; Luke 6:6-11

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

EVERY LAW MUST BE APPLIED AND INTERPRETED FOR THE WELL BEING OF HUMANITY

From the scriptures, it seems like every encounter that the Pharisees had with Jesus were always aimed at finding faults with what Jesus is doing. But to their greatness surprise, Jesus will always escape and used that opportunity to communicate an important message to the people. Such was the occasion in our Gospel passage today. 

When on a Sabbath day Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. The scribes and the Pharisees were watching him to see if he would cure the man on the Sabbath, hoping to find something to use against him. But knowing their thoughts he said to the man with the withered hand, ‘Stand up! Come out into the middle.’ Then Jesus said to them, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good, or to do evil; to save life, or to destroy it? And said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ He did so, and his hand was better. But they were furious, and began to discuss the best way of dealing with him.

Here we see how Jesus demonstrated his compassionate care for humanity, for the most important thing for God in this world is the human person. That's why he makes all efforts to save humanity from damnation. He desires to see us making effort to becoming faithful and holy. His mercy is so deep that he propose it as the guiding principle for the perfect fulfillment and interpretation of the laws of life. Thus, Jesus in this passage have to teach us that humanity’s welfare should not be neglected because of laws and regulations. That nothing should restrict us from doing good to people not even the laws Sabbath. 

Therefore, in as much as we desire to honour God’s laws we must seek the good of people as well. This is what the Pharisees have failed to understand, for they are rather fault- finders and self- righteous people, who only wish to mislead the oppress and suppress the truth and the good works of others, just because of their selfish desires to sustain their ego, pride and their worldly ambition. But we should not be like them, rather we should be compassionate and merciful for that is what we are called to do. And St. Paul in our first reading today says that it is all to bind us together in love and to stir our minds, so that our understanding may come to full development, until we really know God’s secret in which all the jewels of wisdom and knowledge are hidden.

Dear friends, today we are called to constantly do good to everyone. We are called not to be faults-finders who are blindfolded by pride. We must also renounce all sorts of sinful actions and wickedness that may destroy the purity of our souls. Therefore, let us be compassionate and merciful for that is what we are called to do in this life especially in this moment when our societies and families are really in chaotic situation.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we often failed to listen to your teaching because of our selfish desires and pride, help us to always listen to you and be willing to do good always especially in applying and interpretation of laws and regulations. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed week ahead.

Homily for Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B, 5th September, 2021

 Homily for Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B, 5th September, 2021

Readings:  Is.35:4-7; Ps.146; James 2:1-5; Mark 7:31-37

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

LORD OPEN THE EARS AND MOUTH OF HUMANITY ONCE AGAIN TO HEAR AND LIVE BY YOUR WORDS

Reflecting on the ugly situation of human life in this world, especially how people pay attention to the things of this passing world at the expense of the things of God, how the world has engaged our attention to herself that we have now become deaf and dump to things that concerns our spiritual life. Yes we go to Church as often as possible, we engaged in one spiritual activity or another. 

But the questions that comes to mind are: do we really listen and hear God speaking to us through those activities? Do we still see the hands of God in what we do? Are we really convinced of what we are doing in the house of God? Are we confused about our faith as a result of the ugly events and scandals we experience and hear everyday? The world really wants us to be deaf to the word of God and mute to speak the great things God is doing for us. This is evident in our daily activities where humanity paid deaf hears to the instructions of God by allowing herself to be deceived by the excess desires and attachment to things of this passing world and as a result of this ugly attitude separate ourselves from the presence of God out of pride and selfishness.

Thus, today in our Gospel passage, we hear how Jesus dramatically and figuratively wishes to heal us of our deafness and dumbness caused by our constant embracing of the sinful things of this passing world which is well demonstrated in the healing of the deaf and dumb man. A man who represents the deafness and dumbness of humanity towards the word of God. Hence, when this deaf and dumb man was brought to Jesus for healing. He took the man aside, puts his fingers in his ears, touches his tongue with spittle, looks up to heaven and prays saying, " Ephphatha! Be opened". Immediately the man’s ears were opened, his tongue loosed and he is able to speak plainly. 

This same words are use during baptism while touching the ears and lips of the baptized, a gesture that signifies the spiritual openness of one’s heart to God’s words and will. For our hearts are often deaf to God’s words, because of our excess attachment to things of this world. And our mouths are also sealed by corruption, greed and sinful habits we have embraced. But in our baptism we are brought to Christ just like this deaf and dumb man for healing and restoration, so that we can hear the words of God and apply them in our lives and also express them to all humanity by our words and actions.

Dear friends, out of pride and greediness we have often separated ourselves from the presence of God and as a result, we have become deaf and dumb to his teachings and instructions. Hence, we all need to have our ears  once again so that we can hear and understand fully the message of Jesus and share it to the world. I don’t know how far we have separated ourselves from God as a result of sin, I don’t know how deep our deafness and dumbness are, all I know is that today God is saying to us, fear not, have courage for the eyes of the blind shall be opened, ears of the deaf unstopped and the tongue of the mute shall sing for joy. 

All we need is to trust God no matter the affliction we are passing through in this world, for he is able to save us from them all. Just as we heard prophet Isaiah in our first reading saying: Say to all faint hearts, ‘Courage! Do not be afraid. Behold, your God is coming, vengeance is coming, the retribution of God; he is coming to save you. Then, the eyes of the blind shall be opened, the ears of the deaf unsealed, then the lame shall leap like a deer and the tongues of the dumb sing for joy; for water gushes in the desert, streams in the wasteland, the scorched earth becomes a lake, the parched land springs of water. And St James in our second reading tells us not to try combining faith in Jesus Christ with the making of distinctions between classes of people for God has chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of his Kingdom.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, our strong desire for the things of this passing world has made us so deaf and dumb towards your words. Let us hear your voice once more saying to us “Ephphatha, be opened”, so that we can hear your words deep down our hearts and joyfully proclaim it to all humanity through our actions. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Happy Sunday

Homily for Saturday Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 4th September, 2021

 Homily for Saturday Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 4th September, 2021

Readings: Col. 1:21-23 Ps.54; Luke 6:1-5

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

ATTENDING TO HUMAN NEEDS IN RELATION TO SABBATH LAWS

Due to the weak and fragile nature of the human person, God made a very good and practical laws which he wanted his people to obey, but as time goes on, these laws have been multiplied, turned upside down and misinterpreted in such a way that they are very complex and difficult to obey. God's law is the law of love, justice, mercy and freedom, for he describes himself as merciful and compassionate God. This freedom enables us to follow the spirit of the law and not the letter of the law. Therefore, Jesus comes to brings people back to the original intention of the law. He doesn’t come to abolished the law, but to show what God’s original intention was concerning the law.

 This is what our Gospel passage is addressing today. Where on a Sabbath Jesus happened to be taking a walk through the cornfields, and his disciples were picking ears of corn, rubbing them in their hands and eating them. But some of the Pharisees said, ‘Why are you doing something that is forbidden on the Sabbath day?’ Jesus answered them, ‘So you have not read what David did when he and his followers were hungry? And he said to them, ‘The Son of Man is master of the Sabbath.’ 

Here, Jesus made it known to the Pharisees that they had made the Sabbath too stressful for the people, they are nothing but fault-finders and self-righteous people. For the Law was interpreted by the elders and the priests, which they passed down as strict sets of rules and regulations that restricted the activities of the people on the Sabbath, This often makes many people to forget the very reason, purpose and essence of Sabbath itself. Because the Law was strictly enforced on the people, and those who do not obey, were often treated with dishonour just as the Pharisees did to Jesus and his disciples, for Pharisees are known  their judgmental and comparative attitude which makes them to feel superior over others.

And this ugly attitude is what St. Paul is addressing in our first reading when he said: you were foreigners and enemies, in the way that you used to think and the evil things that you did; but now the Lord has reconciled you, by Christ’s death. So that you can now be able to appear before him holy, pure and blameless, as long as you persevere and stand firm on the solid faith and keep to what is written. 

 Dear friends, today Jesus teaches us the original intention of the Sabbath laws in relation to human needs. That we should not be legalistic with the law, rather we should identify the spirit of the law which is rooted in love, justice and mercy and then follow it. For this is what Jesus and his disciples did when for the sake of their basic human need for survival, go against the ceremonial Sabbath day regulations of not plucking the grain or doing any work. Also, we are called not to be judgmental, fault-finders and self-righteous people like the Pharisees who under the cover of the law planned to judge and condemned the action of Jesus and his disciples. Therefore, we should rather humble ourselves and focus our attention to what God really want from us which is to love him and to love our neighbours as well.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, oftentimes, we condemn and judge people based on what the law states without examining and applying the essence and spirit of the law, grant that in our relationship with others, we may begin to apply the true law which is rooted in love, justice and mercy. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a favourable and peaceful weekend.

Homily for Friday Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 3rd September, 2021. The Memorial of St Gregory The Great

 Homily for Friday Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 3rd September, 2021. The Memorial of St Gregory The Great

Readings: Col. 1:15-20; Ps. 100; Luke 5:33-39

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

DO NOT MIX YOUR OLD SINFUL WAYS OF LIFE WITH YOUR NEW LIFE OF GRACE

Often time we find it difficult to let go our ugly old ways of life, because we are so much attached to it. But we must get rid of it if we really want to follow Jesus. Little wonder, Jesus in the Gospel passage today talks about the importance of pouring new wine into fresh wineskins and the need to avoid using new cloak to patch an old one. He said: nobody puts new wine into old skins; if he does, the new wine will burst the skins and then run out, and the skins will be lost. No; new wine must be put into fresh skins. And nobody who has been drinking old wine wants new. “The old is good”. 

Here, Jesus continues to show that he is bringing something totally new which should not be mixed with the old. So, the fresh wineskins refer to a new heart that has put off the old cloak and looks forward to the new wine of grace through the process of conversion where we embrace the gift of New Life which Jesus is offering to humanity. A gift that differentiate his disciples from other people. As we heard that the Pharisees and the Scribes made the observation concerning the relationship between the disciples of Jesus and the disciples of John the Baptist as regards their new ways of doing things. So they came to Jesus and asked him question regarding their manner of fasting and feasting. Jesus used this opportunity to educate them about the New Life of grace which he has come to offer humanity. 

For Jesus is the groom and as long as he is around, it would be inappropriate for his disciples to fast. And as his bride, he loves us with a deep and everlasting love. He paid all our debts; he supplies all our daily needs; he sympathizes with us in all our troubles; he bears with all our infirmities, and does not reject us because of our weaknesses. However, a time will come when the groom will no longer be with us, then we will surely fast. Telling us that fasting should be done at the right time for the right reasons. Thus, St. Paul tells us in our first reading, that God wanted all perfection to be found in him through Christ and all things to be reconciled through him and for him, everything in heaven and everything on earth, when he made peace by his death on the cross.

Dear friends, today we are called not to mix our old sinful ways of life with the New Life of Grace God is offering us. Therefore, what is that old garment in our lives that we are patching with the new? What is that old wine of habitual sin that we are pouring into the new wine skins of our redeemed and purified soul? Today we are called to give a fresh response towards embracing this New Life of grace which Jesus is offering us. 

As we think about these, let us struggle to avoid our old sinful ways of life and fully embrace the new righteous way of life that God is offering us today. Just like Pope St. Gregory the Great whose memorial we celebrate today, for he had a personal encounter with the Lord which propelled his effort in spreading the Gospel message and by so doing converted more and more souls to the Lord.

LET US PRAY: Almighty God, You are the source of our New Life, grant us through the intercessions of St Gregory The Great the grace of true and total conversion so as to find such great Joy in your abundant Life of grace and mercy, through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed and peaceful day.

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.