Homily for Friday Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 19th November, 2021

 Homily for Friday Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 19th November, 2021.

Readings: 1 Macc. 4:36-37.52-59;  Ps. 1Chron. 29:10-12; Luke:19:45-48

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

LORD, CLEANSE THE TEMPLE OF OUR SOUL ONCE AGAIN FROM SINS AND CORRUPTION

The Temple as we know is described as the sacred dwelling place of God. That’s sacred space where humanity encounter the Divine presence of God. It is a symbolic space where God desires to live together with humanity and rule the world through them. Therefore it is very important to ensure that such Sacred Space (Temple) is kept sacred at all times. 

Little wonder in our Gospel passage today, we heard a very brief story of how Jesus entered the temple in Jerusalem and drove away the traders from the courts of the Temple saying: “My house must be a house of prayer. But you have turned it into ‘a den of thieves’.” So he chased out all the dishonest, selfish and greedy merchants who are making profits by cheating the faithful pilgrims who came to the Temple to worship God.

Here Jesus was not just concerned with cleansing of the temple of Jerusalem, but also the temple of human’s heart, that is, our souls. He is objecting to corruption of the sacred. Our body and soul are temple of the Lord and belong to him alone. It is a sacred space, a house of prayer which must not be given over to the false gods of money, greed and sin. Just as we  heard in our first reading today how Judas and his  brothers after defeating their enemies who wished to force them to defile the temple of God said:  Now that our enemies have been defeated, let us go up to purify the sanctuary and dedicate it. So, the whole people fell prostrate in adoration, praising to the skies him who had made them so successful. For eight days they celebrated the dedication of the altar, joyfully offering holocausts, communion sacrifices and thanksgivings God.

Dear friends, by clearing the Temple, the Lord has also urged us all to clear our own spiritual temples, that is our body, mind, heart and soul, in which God dwells. For our souls are sacred dwelling of God’s Temple. Thus, it must be made sacred at all times by ensuring that we get rid of all corruptions, wickedness, pride, ego, greed, wrath, unforgiveness and all other sorts of evils within us. We must resist them and strive to inspire and help one another to keep our Temple sacred. For Jesus wishes to cleanse the temple of our soul by removing what has corrupted it, in order to purify it for worship, and making it a dwelling place for prayer. But are we willing to let him cleanse us?

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are your temple, yet we have let the selfish desires for the things of this passing world to corrupt us so deeply. As we embrace your Words today, may we experience the joy of the purification of our body and soul. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful day.

Homily for Thursday Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 18th November, 2021

 Homily for Thursday Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 18th November, 2021

Readings: 1Macc. 2:15-29; Ps. 50; Luke:19:41-44

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

JESUS WEPT FOR LACK OF PEACE IN THE HEARTS OF HUMANITY

Peace is what every human person desire to have. It is a necessary commodity in human societies. A city that has peace is surely to have great success. It is the dream of everyone. But a city that lacks peace is disastrous. Little wonder today in our gospel passage, Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem. For Jesus who is the King of peace came to Jerusalem a city whose name stands for peace but find no peace in it. 

He looked at the city and it coming disaster which would indeed happen in a few decades after its destruction at the hand of the Romans. So he wept and prayed for its people. Since they have rejected the peace that God is offering them, they have no option than to face the consequences. Jesus felt deep sorrow at the city’s resistance to God’s word, wishing that it might receive what God is offering. 

Today we too can look around us, also our cities, societies, country and the world at large, and feel sorrow at so much  greed, corruption, suffering and disregard for truth and for what is right and discover that peace is no where to be found. But we should not be afraid. Rather, we should draw strength from Mattathias in our first reading today who courageously resisted the order of the king who requested that the people of Israel should turn away from the Law and ordinances of God. Raising his voice, Mattathias retorted, ‘Even if every nation living in the king’s dominions obeys him, each forsaking its ancestral religion to conform to his decrees, I, my sons and my brothers will still follow the covenant of our ancestors. So nothing should make us for sake the teachings of our Lord, for Jesus the Lamb of God has triumphed over all evil. He has been glorified and as such has purchased for us our eternal peace and salvation.

 

Hence, we must be courageous because despite the challenges and trials that we have to face in this passing world, we have the Lamb of God, triumphant and victorious by our side. He tells us that even though tribulations will come our way in form of the doom and destruction like that of Jerusalem, we should be steadfast for in God we shall be triumphant.

Dear friends, if we can consider the words of Jesus and embrace the peace and love he is offering us, we will realize that he longs for our good and growth. There are many temptations and distractions in this world trying to mislead us and separate us from our God. Let us not be misled by these things. Let us remain firm in our faith and let our lives shine with the light of Christ, so that his light will illuminate all the darkest moments in our lives, in our societies, country and the world at large. For the Lord wishes to lead us to the final victory that he has won for us. But are we willing to commit our lives to Christ?. All we need to do is to embrace all the possibilities of peace and love that God is offering to us every day. Then it shall be well with us. 

LET US PRAY, Heavenly Father, you are the King of peace and in Christ your son you have offered humanity peace. But we have failed to embrace it. As we struggle with the ugly situation in our world today, may the peace of Christ reign in our hearts, homes, societies, country and the world at large. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Remain blessed.

Homily for Wednesday Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 17th November, 2021. The Memorial of St. Elizabeth of Hungary

 Homily for Wednesday Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 17th November, 2021. The Memorial of St. Elizabeth of Hungary

Readings: 2Macc.7:1.20-31; Ps.17; Luke:19:11-28

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

UTILIZING THE GIFTS AND OPPORTUNITIES GOD HAS GIVEN US

In this life God has given special gifts and opportunities for everyone. If we use these gifts and the opportunities wisely for our own benefit and the benefit of others, we will grow and blossom. But on the other hand if we fail to use them, we will remain dormant and unsuccessful. This is what the parable in our Gospel passage today is addressing. In this parable we heard how a king summoned ten of his servants and gave them ten pounds to do business until he comes back. Some of them utilized these gifts and opportunity and so became successful and for that they were entrusted with more gifts. While some decided to neglect and abandoned their gifts and so remained dormant and unsuccessful. 

This parable teaches us that we all have been given gifts by God which we must give account of. Because our gifts are meant to be put to use in the service of God and humanity. And our service to God should not be done grudgingly or fearfully but generously with 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 gifts and opportunities given to us to make a difference in the world. We are not to relax into a comfort zone doing nothing with them. God wants the best from us and when we have given our best, we receive more from him. 

Dear friends, we all are special, unique and a masterpiece and God has given us a very unique gift. These gifts may represent different physical and spiritual gifts of God, but it's  basic foundation is the love of God towards us.  This love is what God has given to us which needs to be reciprocated through an active love for our neighbours. However, we often fine it difficult to discover our other gifts or to accept the one God has given to us because we have failed to embrace love. So, we are called today to search and discover our gifts. Love is the greatest gift God has given to humanity, let us discover love and invest on it for in it comes other gifts that will help us to achieve the purpose by which we are created. 

This gift of love is what made the woman and her children to sacrifice their lives for the sake of their belief in God’s instructions and ordinances as we have it in our first reading today. And also in the life of Elizabeth of Hungary whose memorial we celebrate today who discovered love in the poor. For she was known for her constant visit to the sick and those who were particularly repulsive; to some she gave food, to others clothing; some she carried on her own shoulders, and performed many other kindly services out of love. We are called to do the same.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, you have endowed us with special and unique gifts and opportunities. Help us to discover these gifts and utilize them for the purpose of which they were given to us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful day.

Homily for Tuesday Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 16th November, 2021

 Homily for Tuesday Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 16th November, 2021.

Readings: 2Macc. 6:18-31; Ps.15; Luke:19:1-10

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

SOMETIMES ALL WE NEED IS TO HUMBLY CLIMB THE SYCAMORE TREE OF GRACE

Oftentimes we are quick to criticize, condemn and label people as sinners, outcast and good for nothing. But this is not the attitude of Jesus who is always compassionate especially to sinners and those rejected in the society and wants us to do the same. This is evident in our Gospel passage today, where we were told the story of Zacchaeus. A man who was regarded as a public sinner.  Wanting to see Jesus, but being small in size, he ran ahead and climbed up a sycamore tree and waited for Jesus to come by. He really had a great desire to see Jesus. 

Thus, the attitude of Jesus upon seeing Zacchaeus on the tree was very touching. Jesus does not ask, nor does he demanded anything. He only responded to the inner desire of a sinful man who seeks to see him and he said to him, “Zacchaeus come down. Hurry, because I am to stay at your home today” Zacchaeus gets down and received Jesus, in his house with great joy, for sometimes in our lives when we struggle with our inner desires and weaknesses all we need is to sacrifice our pride and humbly climb the sycamore tree of grace for on it we find the satisfaction and peace. 

No doubt, people complained and criticized Jesus saying “He has gone to stay at a sinner’s house”. But Jesus does not care about the criticism. He went to the house of Zacchaeus and defended him from the criticism. And rather than calling him a sinner, he called him “son of Abraham”. Here we see how Jesus accepts those who were not accepted. He offers a place to those who do not have. He receives as brothers and sisters people whom the society and religion rejected. 

In a similar way we heard in our first reading how Eleazar demonstrated a life of nobility by resisting to live a life of pretence and defilement for he, resolving to die with honour rather than to live disgraced. Such pretence he said, “does not square with our time of life; many young people would suppose that Eleazar at the age of ninety had conformed to the foreigners’ way of life, and so be led astray on my account; This will only bring defilement and disgrace on my old age. For even though for the moment I avoid execution by man, I can never, living or dead, elude the grasp of the Almighty”.

Dear friends, we must learn from Zacchaeus and Eleazar how to remain faithful and not live a life of pretence. We must learn be a good example to other people and try to accommodate people’s differences and weaknesses. But how do we accept people who are despised and marginalized in our society? Can we, like Jesus, perceive people’s inner desire for compassion and give them attention? Remember, the compassion and tenderness of Jesus brought about a total change in the life of Zacchaeus. Why not show some compassion to those we meet today, for it may be the only opportunity to embrace the salvation they will ever have in their life. 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are sinners in need of your mercy. As we climb the sycamore tree of grace with contrite hearts, may you find in us the inner desire for mercies and in your compassion purify us and welcome us back to your kingdom. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed day.

Homily for Monday Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 15th November, 2021

 Homily for Monday Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 15th November, 2021.

Readings: 1Macc. 1:10-15.41-43.54-57.62-64; Ps.119; Luke:18:35-43

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WHAT IS THAT ONE THING YOU REALLY NEED FROM GOD

The compassionate love of Jesus in it’s historical and physical solidarity with human suffering, springs from the love of God the Father and constitutes the basis of the Church’s liberating activity which is rooted in our faith in God. Little wonder in today’s Gospel passage, the blind beggar gives us a complete lesson about faith, expressed with total simplicity in front of Christ Jesus. He had faith enough to call out to Jesus as he passed by, even when he was scolded by the people close to him, his need for Jesus was so great that he cried all the louder, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me! 

Then Jesus asks an unusual question “what do you want me to do for you?” So even though his need was obvious, Jesus wanted him to ask. In the same way today, Jesus is asking us: my child what do you want me to do for you? Why not like this blind beggar tell Jesus you need. Even though he knows your needs, you still need to present them before him. This blind man needed his eyesight restored, so he asked Jesus aloud, “Lord, that I may see!” And Jesus said receive your sight. Your faith has saved you.’ 

Here Jesus reveals his compassion towards human sufferings and wants us to imitate him in trying to overcome these suffering though caused by our sins and disobedience to God’s command as we heard in our first reading todays were the king issued a proclamation to his whole kingdom that all were to become a single people, each renouncing his particular customs to accept his religion, sacrificing to idols and profaning the Sabbath. The king erected the abomination of desolation above the altar; and any books of the Law that came to light were torn up and burned. Whenever anyone was discovered possessing a copy of the covenant or practicing the Law, the king’s decree sentenced him to death. But God never abandoned his people, for those who hoped in him were protected.

Dear friends, what is that one thing you really need in your life? Have we ever felt helpless? Do we feel the need of Jesus’s help in some part of our lives? Why not in faith present it before him who is willing to help us. Also, do we know people who are helpless and need some help? How strong is our compassion towards them? Let us look at them for a moment and imagine Jesus looking at them. How does he sees them? 

Therefore, like Jesus, each one of us are called to reach out to people around us who are really in need of our assistance. This includes our families members, our neighbours, our colleagues and others who we encounter in life. The truth is that, you may be the only person who can brings the healing and compassion of Jesus into their lives. 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we present our needs before you today, may we experience once again your compassionate love and grant our hearts desire according to your Holy will, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. It’s another week, wishing you God’s favour and blessings.

Homily for Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B, 14th November, 2021

 Homily for Thirty-Third  Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B, 14th November, 2021

Readings: Dan. 12:1-3; Ps. 16; Heb.10:11-14.18; Mark 13:24-32

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

ARE YOU PREPARED FOR THE END TIME? DO NOT LET IT TAKE YOU BY SURPRISED

Preparation they said, is the secret and foundation of every successful event. So, as a human person, there are two most important events in our life. One is well  known and prepared and are constantly celebrated, that is, our birthday. The other, which is the ultimate, is not known and less attention and preparation is being made for it, that is, the day of our death.  This reality is what Jesus is addressing in our Gospel passage today.

So, Jesus knowing how important this day is, instructed his disciples in our Gospel passage saying: “In those days, after the time of distress, the sun will be darkened, the moon will lose its brightness, the stars will come falling from heaven and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory; then too he will send the angels to gather his chosen from the four winds, from the ends of the world to the ends of heaven.

Here, Jesus emphasized on the need for us to be well prepared for the coming of God’s kingdom, warning us to read the signs of End Time event just as we are able to read the signs of nature, for failure to do so, we may find ourselves unprepared when the time comes. Little wonder we are told in our first reading to know that there is going to be a time of great distress, unparalleled since nations first came into existence. When that time comes, your own people will be spared, all those whose names are found written in the Book. Of those who lie sleeping in the dust of the earth many will awake, some to everlasting life, some to shame and everlasting disgrace.

And in our second reading we are told that Jesus Christ has offered one single sacrifice for sins, and then taken his place forever, at the right hand of God, where he is now waiting until his enemies are made into a footstool for him. And by virtue of that one single offering, he has achieved the eternal perfection of all whom he is sanctifying. Therefore, we must learn to sacrifice for the good of others despite the situation in our country and the world at large.

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. today we are called to be ready, we are called to repentance, we are called to embrace the new life the Lord is offering us. We are called to a life of constant struggle towards perfection in order to embrace the Lord whenever he comes. Therefore, preparation is the key word. Let us not be deceived when the world suggest to us that the day of death is not coming soon and so forget who we are, and then, the day and time will take us by surprise. Rather, let us be like that wise servant who is prepared at all times for the coming of the master. 

LET US PRAY, Lord God, 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, give us the grace and wisdom to be well prepared and ready to stand before you whenever you call us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.  Happy Sunday and peace be with you.

Homily for Saturday Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 13th November, 2021

 Homily for Saturday Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 13th November, 2021

Readings: Wis. 18:14-16.19:6-9; Ps.105; Luke:18:1-8

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

PERSEVERANCE AND PERSISTENCE IN PRAYER HELP US TO CONFORM OUR WILL TO GOD’SWILL

Have you been truly in need of something from a friend who is capable of give you what you need but will not? Or have you been in a situation where you needed something from a friend but cannot get it because you can not reach him easily. Such a situation can make one to be under serious pressure. Then the question that comes to mind is, are we going to give up or persevere in our struggles of waiting or reaching out to him? This kind of disposition is what we experience sometimes when we pray and our requests are yet to be granted. 

Little wonder Jesus in our Gospel passage today, using the parable of the widow and the unjust judge addresses the issues of faith in difficult times and the need to persevere in prayer. Here Jesus reassures us that God hears our prayers. He tells us that we need to pray continually and never lose heart. In this parable Jesus is not comparing God to an unjust judge,  but he is saying that if through perseverance one obtains justice from an unjust judge, how much more will we receive from a good and loving Father? For persevering in prayer teaches us that God does not need to be informed of our needs. 

The parable also serves to encourage those suffering injustice to continue with their struggles and the call for justice. We should persist in our complaints, and prayerfully confront unjust authorities in order to effect the change needed for justice to reign. Thus, Jesus is encouraging us never to lose heart, rather, we should approach God with confidence, persisting until we obtain what we need. We should keep on asking, seeking, and knocking in prayer until we obtain the answer we need. For we are told in our first reading that God keeps his children from all harm, for the whole creation in obedient to his commands was once more newly fashioned in its nature.

Dear friends, there are times when we asked and we received, sought and found, knocked and it was opened to us. But there were also times when we asked but did not receive, seek but did not find, knocked but the door remained shut. In such moments persistency and perseverance in prayer are what we are called to embrace. For they will help us to understand how to trust God knowing that he does not need to be informed of our needs, thereby encouraging us never to lose heart. This is certainly one of the biggest challenges of our faith today. People are not just patient with God. We want to have everything right now as it is hot. The fact remains that patient, persistency and perseverance help us to conform our will to God’s will, but these are very difficult virtue for most people today.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, oftentimes we are not patient with you in our prayers, give us the grace to persevere and be persistent in our prayer life and in every other things we do in life, especially in our relationship with others. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you a fruitful weekend.