Homily for Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 29th August, 2022. The Memorial of The Passion of John the Baptist

 Readings: 1Cor. 2:1-5; Ps.119; Matt.6:17-29

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

STANDING FOR TRUTH IN A WORLD OF LIES AND DECEPTION 

Why do people often tremble when they hear the word ‘truth’? For in our society today people hates to hear the sound of the word truth. This is because it makes the world to tremble, since most things in the world are built on falsehood and deceit and people are becoming comfortable with falsehood as a way of life. In fact, since the history of the world, mankind have been seeking to know the truth, but when confronted by truth they reject it out rightly.

Almost two thousand years ago, Truth was put on a trial and was judged and condemned by people who were devoted to lies. But in each generation truth always manifest itself to the world through people who have paid the price of truth with their life. This is obvious in our world today especially with the ugly situation of societies, where humanity are placed in perpetual darkness of corruption, greed and confusion as the voices that speak the truth are silenced by all means. 

Today people don’t want to be transparent and honest in their dealings with others and even with themselves. They don't want anybody to remind them the hard truth about the realities of life and they can do anything just to silence truth. Thus, the cost of speaking the truth has become so expensive that some times it cost a life of an individual or even a whole community. It is even more demanding when the truth to be told has to do with someone in authority.

This is the case with John the Baptist whom we celebrate the memorial of his passion. For in our Gospel passage today, we heard how his head was the prize for the truth he told to Herod and Herodias. Before now, Herod had arrested John and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. For John had told him that it is against the Law for him to have his brother’s wife. Herod had wanted to kill John but was afraid of the people, who regarded him as a prophet. 

But, on the occasion of Herod’s birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company, and so delighted Herod that he promised with an oath to give her anything she asked. She conspired with the mother and demanded for the head of John the Baptist. The king was distressed but, thinking of the oaths he had sworn and of his guests, he ordered John to be beheaded and the head be given to the girl, who took it to her mother. 

Here, Herod made a bad decision, which out of pride finds it difficult to change his mind and admit that he was wrong. He did not plan to execute John that night. He was persuaded by Herodias to do so, because he was a weak man. He was a slave to other peoples opinion, for he feared the people who revered John; he also fears the reaction of his guests if he should retract his oath.

These ugly attitudes towards John the Baptist prefigured what they did to Jesus in his Passion, demonstrating how good people, especially when they struggle for truth and justice, are often condemned to suffer in the hands of greed and powerful people. This same terrible crime is what people are facing everyday in our families, communities and the world at large. For this same reason, a lot of people have died and some will still die and some will continue to suffer because of the truth they have spoken to the enemies of truth.  

 But should we stop speaking the truth because of fear of losing our lives. I don't think so, because truth saves life, it brings freedom, it releases tension, it brings peace, it settles quarrels and disputes. Truth is freedom which must be offered to everyone, whoever, whenever and however it will best bring conversion to its enemies, just like John the Baptist did to Herod and Herodias even at the expense of his life. 

And St. Paul in our first reading today demonstrated how passionate he was about truth when he said: I came among you in great ‘fear and trembling’ and in my speeches and the sermons that I gave, there were none of the arguments that belong to philosophy; only a demonstration of the power of the Spirit. 

Dear friends, how far can we stand the cost of speaking the truth in the midst of influential and ‘powerful' people? Like Herod, how often do we make bad decisions out of pride? When we make such bad decisions, how quick are we able to change our mind, to admit that we are wrong? Or are we like Herodias who is waiting for an opportunity to silenced the innocents who confront us with the truth? 

If today we happen to be one of the guests of Herod, what would been our reaction? Will I have protested or stayed silent? Thus, what do we do when we see others suffering injustice? Do we have the courage to speak up, even at the cost of losing, our job, our position, our vocation, friends and even our lives? Today we called to speak the truth, for the world needs to hear the truth no matter the cost.

LET US PRAY:  Lord God, it is difficult to speak and stand for truth in our world today, but St . John the Baptist died for the truth he spoke to Herod, through his intercession, grant us the grace and courage to become instrument of your word in truth and in deeds and so speak the truth always to humanity no matter the cost. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you a fruitful week 

Homily for Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C, 28th August, 2022.

Readings: Sir. 3:17-20.28-29; Ps.68; Heb. 12:18-19.22-24; Luke 14:1.7-14

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

LEARN TO BE HUMBLE NOW BEFORE THE FORCES OF LIFE HUMBLES YOU

One of the virtues that is lacking in our societies today is humility, this virtue is really lacking in our society today because pride has become a way of life which most people wish to embrace. Hence we often hear people saying in a very proud way, do you know who I am? By the time I finish with you then you will fear me. We hear people taking all sorts of honorific titles whether merited or not, for they want to be addressed and recognized so gloriously at every public events.

This should not be our attitude or disposition, for Jesus in our Gospel passage today while addressing the Pharisees told us a parable about humility saying: When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take your seat in the place of honour. A more distinguished person than you may have been invited, and the person who invited you both may come and say, “Give up your place to this man.” And then, to your embarrassment, you would have to go and take the lowest place. No; when you are a guest, make your way to the lowest place and sit there, so that, when your host comes, he may say, “My friend, move up higher.” In that way, everyone with you at the table will see you honoured. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the man who humbles himself will be exalted.’

Here, we see the important of humility, we see how humility can help to elevate someone from nothingness to something great. While pride can bring down the mighty into nothingness. Little wonder we are advised in our first reading today saying: My son, be gentle in carrying out your business, and you will be better loved than a lavish giver. The greater you are, the more humble you should behave, and then you will find favour with the Lord; for great though the power of the Lord is, he accepts the homage of the humble. There is no cure for the proud man’s affliction, since an evil growth has taken root in him.

The truth is that, humility is not a way of glory, but a road of surrender that leads to passion and death of one’s self. It is a way of sacrifice, a service to others at the price of self- sacrifice. That is why many people do not want to be humble. Hence, we heard in our second reading today that we have come to Mount Zion and the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem where the millions of angels have gathered for the festival, with the whole Church in which everyone is a ‘first-born son’ and a citizen of heaven. So to be a citizen of heaven we must be humble just like Jesus.

Dear friends, we must learn to be humble now before the forces of life humbles us. Though it may seem so difficult to embrace the virtue of humility especially in our society today, but this virtue has a lot to offer us both as individuals or as a group. In fact, our world is in need of humble men and women, because a good society is built on all kinds of commendable virtues such as humility. Humble leaders are modest about their success, and make it known to everyone that their failures don’t define them. Humility is a grace that attracts more grace. For pride closes the door to spiritual growth, but humility opens the door of our lives more to God's grace. To the humble, God gives patience, and peace, and gentleness.

A humble person is teachable, Influenceable, willing to accept corrections without defending his or herself, a humble person rejoices when others are celebrated, no position can be too small for a humble person. A humble person don’t always have to be right, but naturally seek the advice of others. A humble person easily admits his own mistakes, and failures and wishes to help others succeed. A humble person has a grateful attitude and not easily offered. He or she can be quick to forgive and not hold grudges nor having a sense of entitlement from someone, rather he or she is confident and content with what he or she has

Therefore, it is time for us to put off our old self which is led by pride, arrogance, conceit, pomposity. For pride as we know is the first capital sin that destroys every other virtues. Hence, we have to put on a new person born of humility, love, compassion, contentment, purity, forgiveness etc. So let us work heard to add more virtues in our activities and behaviour for blessed are those who are virtuous for they easily solve their problems and the fruit of the virtues grow in the soil of humility. Thus, why not try humility in solving those difficult and challenging moments in your life. Just try to be humble because it works like miracle.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, we have often failed to follow the example of Christ’s humility which he has taught us. As we are reminded once again the need to be humble, give us the grace to truly be humble at any level we find ourselves, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful Sunday celebration.

Homily for Saturday Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 27th August, 2022. The Memorial of St. Monica

 Readings: 1Cor.1:26-31; Ps.33; Matt.25:14-30

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

WHAT ARE YOU DOING WITH YOUR GOD GIVEN TALENTS?

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 today made us to know that “it was to shame the wise that God chose what is foolish by human reckoning, and to shame what is strong that he chose what is weak by human reckoning; those whom the world thinks common and contemptible are the ones that God has chosen.”.

Dear friends, the greatest talents God has given us is our lives which should be nurtured in love. So, what are you doing with this your God given talent? Have you put this talent into 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 life and 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. Hence, 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.

Therefore, we need to learn from St Monica whose memorial we celebrate today, for she devoted her life and talents praying for the conversion of her son Augustine. She once 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 died. 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 talents and 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.

 

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. Monica 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 C, 26th August, 2022.

 Readings: 1Cor. 1:17-25, Ps.33, Matt.25:1-13

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

ARE YOU CARRYING YOUR OIL FLASKS OF GRACE ALONG WITH THE LAMP OF FAITH?

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. I wondered 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. Therefore, we must learn to be like the wise maidens who carried their lamps along with the oil.

These lamps symbolizes the faith we have in all material things we have acquired in this world: our statues, beauty, handsomeness, properties, our gifts, our academic qualifications and positions which without the oil of God’s grace are worthless. Also, the extra oil flasks in this parable symbolizes the grace of God made active by our inner spirituality, our virtue, and our faith that has been nurtured carefully, which we accumulated gradually through the sacraments we have received, through our righteous deeds, our fasting, our prayers,  preaching of the gospel, studying the scriptures, and our acts of love, mercy and forgiveness.

Dear friends,  we can acquire all the lamps of material things of this passing world, but without the extra oil flasks of grace,  goodness, righteousness, love, mercy and forgiveness we will be let behind in this passing world. We will be robbed of both our worldly possessions and heavenly glories. Hence, 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, righteousness, obedience, wisdom and love like the five wise maidens. 

Therefore, 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 carrying the extra oil of grace, goodness and our righteous deeds. For St. Paul in our first reading today made us to know that God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength

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, 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.

Homily for Thursday Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 25th August, 2022

 Readings: 1Cor. 1:1-9, Ps.145, Matt.24:42-51

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

STAY AWAKE OR YOU WILL BE ROBBED OF YOUR HEAVENLY GLORY AND EARTHY POSSESSIONS

As a human person, there are two most important events in our life. One is well known 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. 

So, Jesus knowing how important this day is, instructed his disciples in our Gospel passage saying: “stay awake, because you do not know the day when the Lord is coming. You may be quite sure of this that if the householder had known at what time of the night the burglar would come, he would have stayed awake and would not have allowed anyone to break through the wall of his house. Therefore, you too must stand ready because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

In this passage we have two commands at the beginning and at the end which are not quite the same. The first command is based on God’s coming at a “day” when we do not know and the second is in an “hour” you do not expect, that is to say that it will be uncertain, unexpected and surprising. Just like the householder’s ignorance of the time when the thief would come is the reason why he does not watch. He cannot keep awake all night, and every night, to be ready for him; so he has to go to sleep, and then he is robbed. 

Thus our ignorance of the day and time is the reason for our watchfulness, because we can keep awake all the night of our life just like the householder watches to prevent being robbed. So the image of the thief is chosen to illustrate the unexpected approach of the second coming of Christ which will be a great surprise to those who are asleep as they will be robbed of Heavenly glory and also deprived of their earthly treasures, but the Lord's coming will be a happy day for those that shall be found awake and ready, while it  will be very dreadful for those that are not prepared. Thus, St. Paul in our first reading today saying never stop thanking God for all the graces you have received through Jesus Christ, especially in our teachers and preachers.

Dear friends, 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, today you ask us to be ready for your coming, increase in us the desire to be prepared and ready for that inevitable event of death, so that whenever it comes, it will not be a shock to us, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. It's a lovely day, may God bless your efforts and grant success to the works of your hands.

Homily for Wednesday Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 24th August, 2022. Feast of St. Bartholomew

 Readings: Rev. 21:9-14, Ps. 145, John 1:45-51 

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

LIVING A LIFE OF INTEGRITY IN A WORLD OF DECEPTION AND CORRUPTION 

In our society today, morals and virtuous acts are no longer valuable and fashionable as the society seems to be living, promoting and celebrating artful deception, dishonesty, corruption and fraudsters. Integrity has become virus to be eliminated as quickly as possible while heroes of deception and fraudsters are honored and celebrated. 

Today we are called to change this ugly attitude and learn from St Bartholomew whose feast we celebrate today. A man of integrity whom Jesus in our Gospel passage gave a great compliment when he met him and said “Behold an Israelite in whom there is no guile.” For there was no deception in him. Jesus could see right away that he was forthright, honest, open, plainspoken, straightforward, innocent and unpretentious.

Bartholomew is commonly known as Nathaniel in the Gospel according to John. A name which means “gift of God” and tradition has it that he preached the Gospel to Armenia, where he embraced martyrdom by being skinned alive before being beheaded. He is now known to be the patron of butchers, plasterers, tanners and he is also invoked to intercede in cases of convulsions. 

Bartholomew thought that nothing good can come out of Nazareth, but when he encountered Jesus, he exclaimed, “Rabbi you are the son of God” and Jesus acknowledge his faith and promised him that he will see the heaven opened angels ascending and descending. Just like the angel revealed in our first reading saying: ‘Come here and I will show you the bride that the Lamb has married.’ In the spirit, he took me to the top of an enormous high mountain and showed me Jerusalem, the holy city, coming down from God out of heaven. It had all the radiant glory of God and glittered like some precious jewel of crystal-clear diamond. This teaches us that we should not underrate people because of their humbled background. But like Phillip who introduced Jesus to Nathaniel, we are called to share our experience of Jesus with those we encounter in life no matter their background and ideology.

Dear friends, the world needs people of integrity like that of St Bartholomew and today we are called to imitate him, and be that sign of integrity in a world full of corruption and deceit. Let our everyday encounter with Jesus help to transform us, and by so doing we can transform the ugly situation in our societies and the world at large through our witnessing. Therefore, let us like Bartholomew be courageous and exemplary in our actions, so that, living by our faith and doing what the Lord has commanded us to do, we may become great instrument that will win more people and save many more souls for the Lord. 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, today we are reminded of the need to live a life of integrity and witnessing in a world full of deception and corruption. Grant us through the intercession of St Bartholomew, the grace to embrace your word and experience your presence in our lives and so change our ugly and sinful ways of life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you uncommon favour from the Lord this week.

Homily for Tuesday Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 23rd August, 2022.

 Readings: 2 Thes. 2:1-3. 14-17, Ps.96 , Matt.23:23-26

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

ARE YOU A BLIND AND HYPOCRITICAL LEADER?

God created humanity to be managers of all that He created. To carryout this responsibility, He gave us the mantle of leadership as one of the characteristics of the human person, that which makes us unique from every other creatures. Thus leadership is a gift from God by which we serve Him and our neighbour responsibly in this world. 

But this great gift has often been abused by humanity because of greed, love of power, fame and selfishness. This was the attitude of most of the Scribes and the Pharisees in the Gospel today. For they had the responsibility to lead the people to the Kingdom of heaven, but they neither enter nor allow those who want to enter to go in.

Hence, Jesus called them hypocrites, blind guide because, they misuse the gift of leadership entrusted to them. Since many of them multiplies the laws to suit their agenda by enforcing a very strict interpretation and application of the law to the smallest details while neglecting true purpose and meaning of the law. They only focus on the letter while neglecting the spirit of the Law, thereby making the law a mere formality that gives rooms for people to take God’s law for granted. 

And such attitudes towards the Law are meaningless if not accompanied properly with the desire and understanding from the heart and soul that truly love God. Thus, he called us to embrace love, justice, mercy, good faith as good qualities of a leader. Meanwhile, St. Paul in our second reading tell us to stand firm and keep the traditions that we were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter and not be swayed by worldly temptations and false leaders who only wished to achieve their own ambitions and mislead others from the path of truth. He also, asked us not to be  too excited or alarmed by any prediction or rumour or any letter claiming to come from him, implying that the Day of the Lord has already arrived. We should never let anyone deceive us in anyway.

Dear friends, What type of a leader are you? Are you a blind and hypocritical leader or a committed and responsible leader? This is important because the major problem in our societies are caused by bad leadership. So today we are called not to be hypocrite or blind guide but good leaders who are committed and responsible with whatever we are entrusted with. As leaders we are called to serve God and humanity in any capacity we find ourselves. Remember, the first person to lead is your very self from which we can extend it to others in our families, societies and the world at large.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, you have given to all humanity the grace of leadership, but we have often misuse it because of greed and selfishness. As we embrace the gift of leadership today, may we never be tired of doing what is good. And as we struggle it out the remaining days of this month and the rest of the year, may You’re the sole fount of true wisdom and knowledge guide all our decisions in life, through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful day.