Homily for Monday Twenty-Third Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 5th September, 2022

 Readings: 1Cor 5:1-8, Ps.5, Luke 6:6-11

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

NOTHING SHOULD STOP US FROM ENSURING THE WELL-BEING OF ANY HUMAN BEING

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, calls us to examine our lives to see if there is any root of pride and sexual immorality in us. For he rebuked the people of Corinthians for their immorality and corrupt behaviour, a sinful act which even the pagans condemned. Hence to overcome this sinful attitude, St. Paul said that we should be handed over to Satan, so that our sensual body may be destroyed and our spirit saved on the day of the Lord.

Dear friends, today we are called to constantly do good to everyone and nothing should stop us from ensuring the well-being being of any human being. 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.

 Homily for Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C, 4th September, 2022. 

Readings: Wis. 9:13-18 Ps.90; Philem. 1:9-10,12-17 ; Luke 14:25-33

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

THE SACRIFICIAL NATURE AND DEMANDS OF DISCIPLESHIP 

A true disciple must constantly reflect through life in order to be aware of the seriousness of the commitment required of him/her. Little wonder Jesus in our Gospel passage today, takes his discourse on discipleship to a radical and difficult level when he said: ‘If any man comes to me without hating his father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, yes and his own life too, he cannot be my disciple. Anyone who does not carry his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. So in the same way, none of you can be my disciple unless he gives up all his possessions.’

Here, Jesus teaches about the cost of discipleship. That there is a price to be paid. However, Jesus does not directly intend to cause tensions and divisions in family life, but he wants us to accept the consequences that comes with the truth of the Gospel teaching, more importantly, when it comes to living out the Gospel message in a radical way, especially in a situation where our family values have been thrown out of caution as a result of secularism, individualism and excess desires for worldly pleasures, thereby neglecting the things that lead us to God. 

So, these hard words of Jesus can only be understood in the light of our life experience, because there are moments when we have to make radical and difficult choice as disciples of Jesus. These moments may wield the sword of division or separation among those people and things which are so dear to us. Thus, he warns that we have to struggle to put him first, before family ties, knowing that divisions will surely occur as people have to decide to be for or against God. Hence, he states that the cost of discipleship extends to one even losing his life. </p>

For none of us can become his disciple if we do not give up our excess desire for worldly pleasures and possession, and pay our unreserved loyalty and allegiance to God over all other competing loyalties in our lives including family, self-interest, and possessions. Little wonder we heard in our first reading that the reasonings of mortals are unsure and our intentions unstable; for a perishable body presses down the soul, and this tent of clay weighs down the teeming mind. For it is hard enough for us to work out what is on earth, and laborious to know what lies within our reach; who, then, can discover what is in the heavens?

Dear friends, how much are we willing to let go for the sake of discipleship. Do we find it too demanding? In what ways? Is giving up ‘all my possessions’ realistic and if not what does this passage means to me? Whatever my response maybe, may God give us the grace to grow in freedom, to be ready to follow and to serve him in a new way and also be able to speak to the Lord about the points of difficulty in paying this cost. 

This is what St. Paul in our second reading is trying to tells us when he said to Philemon: I know you have been deprived of Onesimus for a time, but it was only so that you could have him back for ever, not as a slave any more, but something much better than a slave, a dear brother; especially dear to me, but how much more to you, as a blood-brother as well as a brother in the Lord. 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, the excess desire for the pleasurable things of this passing world have weakened our hearts from becoming a good disciple, give us courage and grace to let go of our ugly desires, so as to hold firm in our faith despite losing people and things that are dear to us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful Sunday.

Homily for Saturday Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 3rd September, 2022.

 The Memorial St. Gregory the Great

Readings: 1Cor4:6-15, Ps.145, Luke 6:1-5

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

THE RIGHT INTERPRETATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF HUMAN LAW</p>

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 reading 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 for 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: keep to what is written.’ It is not for you, so full of your own importance, to go taking sides for one man against another. So, St. Paul using the examples of himself, reminded us of the need to be humble and not to look down on others or be judgmental by our comparative attitude. This he deed by showing and reminding everyone how he had humbled himself and laboured so hard for the sake of the people.</p>

 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 actions 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. Just like Pope St. Gregory the Great whose memorial we celebrate today, for he understood what it means to follow the spirit of the law in interpreting human actions which propelled his effort in spreading the Gospel message and by so doing converted more and more souls to the Lord.

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 through the intercessions of St. Gregory 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 peaceful weekend.

Homily for Friday Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 2nd September, 2022

Readings: 1Cor4:1-5, Ps. 36, Luke 5:33-39

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

PRESERVE YOUR NEW CLOAK OF LIFE AND YOUR NEW WINE OF GRACE IN A FRESH WINESKINS OF YOUR HEART</p>

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. 

This is so because, 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 pays 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 the Lord alone is our judge. So, there must be no passing of premature judgement. We should leave that until the Lord comes; for he will light up all that is hidden in the dark and reveal the secret intentions of our hearts. Then will be the time for each one to have whatever praise he deserves, from God.

Dear friends, today we are called to let go of our old sinful ways of life in order to embrace 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.

LET US PRAY: Almighty God, You are the source of our New Life, grant us 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 C, 1st September, 2022. Happy New Month

 Readings: 1Cor 3:18-23, Ps. 23, Luke 5:1-11

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

THE ENCOUNTER THAT BRINGS TRUE CONVERSION 

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 encounter 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. And St. Paul in our first reading said:  make no mistake about it: if any one of you thinks of himself as wise, in the ordinary sense of the word, then he must learn to be a fool before he really can be wise. Because the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God.

 

Dear friends, like Simon and his brothers, we are called to reflect on our personal encounter with God, an encounter that beings true conversion. But, 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 you 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. 

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 encounter of you and 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. Happy New Month. Do have a blessed Month.

Homily for Wednesday Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 31st August, 2022.

 Readings: 1Cor 3:1-9 , Ps. 32, Luke 4:38-44

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

LET GOD BE THE CENTER OF ATTRACTION AND NOT THE INSTRUMENTS HE USES

Everyday, every moment, God is working on us so that we can work with him just the way engineers and builders take their time to construct a building plan which an architect has drawn, and this is done on different stages with different instruments. Some are meant to begin from the drawing of the plan, some join at the pegging, digging and casting the foundation, some specialized with laying the blocks, casting the floor, raising it to lintel, roofing, plastering, painting and furnishing. But in all this God is the Master planner who determines what becomes the out come of the whole structure, but not the instruments he uses.

 This is the message St. Paul is trying to communicate to us in our first reading today, that, it does not really matter who we encounter on our journey of life, only God makes things possible in our life, other things are only God's fellow workers, his field and also his building. He said this because the people were busy causing division among the instruments God used to ministered to them. They said, ‘I am for Paul’ and ‘I am for Apollos’? But St Paul said to them: “what is Apollos and what is Paul? They are servants who brought the faith to you. Even the different ways in which they brought it were assigned to them by the Lord. I did the planting, Apollos did the watering, but God made things grow. Neither the planter nor the waterer matters: only God, who makes things grow”.

This is clearly demonstrated in our Gospel passage, when Jesus healed Simon's mother- in- law and others with several diseases as he goes about preaching the Good News of God's kingdom, a purpose for which he came into this world. Thereby demonstrating God’s ultimate role and power in our lives.

Dear friends, it does not matter who God has used in ministering to us, what really matters is what God has done and the message he wants to communicate. So, as disciples of Christ we have the grave obligation to announce the Good News taught by Jesus. We are to bear witness to the truth we have found in Christ. But we should not make ourselves the center of attraction, rather, God should be at the center while we make ourselves available instruments in his hands. 

Therefore, as God's field and building, no matter the stage we are with him, what really matter is our corporation with his grace and plans for us. Let us learn to make God the center of attraction and not the instruments he uses to accomplish his plans. Remember, we are people the Lord has chosen for his heritage.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as your follow workers and your field, you have invested so much in us, help us to be great instrument in your hands through Christ our Lord. Amen. As you go about your duties, may the favour of God be upon you now and always. 

Homily for Tuesday Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 30th August, 2022. Readings: 1Cor2: 10-16, Ps. 145, Luke 4:31-37

 

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

EXPERIENCING THE DIVINE AUTHORITY AND POWER OF JESUS IN YOUR LIFE</p>

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 societies 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, ‘Ha! 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, the Spirit reaches the depths of everything, even the depths of God. For we have received the Spirit that comes from God, to teach us to understand the gifts that he has given us. Therefore, we have possessed through the Spirit the power and authority over the evil ones. We are no longer unspiritual, for an unspiritual person is one who does not accept anything of the Spirit of God: he sees it all as nonsense. But a spiritual man is able to judge the value of everything, and his own value is not to be judged by anyone, for we have the mind of Christ.

Dear friends, 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? Today the demoniac identified the source of Jesus’ authority as divine, have you personally identified the divine authority of Jesus in your life? If you have not, why not ask him to activate his power and authority once more in your life, because we have received the gift of his power in our baptism. All we need is to put it into active use, then we will obtain the desired results.

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. Do have a fruitful day.