Homily for Thursday Thirty- First Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 3rd November, 2022

 Readings: Phil 3:3-8 , Ps.105 , Luke 15:1-10

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

GOD IS SEARCHING FOR YOU FOR YOU ARE TOO PRECIOUS TO BE LOST IN THIS PASSING WORLD

It is natural and common for any human person to desire to seek and find any valuable thing he/she have lost. Some people even have sleepless nights over their lost items. Some can go to any length hoping to recover any of their valuable commodity that is lost. If we can do this just for perishable things of this passing world, don’t we think that God will do even much more to save every single soul he created in his own image and likeness. 

Little wonder in our Gospel passage today, Jesus  while addressing the Pharisee who accused him of welcoming sinners, tells us the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin which illustrate the unrelenting love of God for each of us, especially sinners. For there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one repentant sinner than over ninety-nine virtuous men who have no need of repentance.

In these parables, we see two examples of people searching for what is precious to them. And when they found it their joy was so great. So, Jesus uses these examples to explain to us how God seeks us when we are lost in sin and his joy when our friendship with him is renewed and restored. His searching for us cost him the sacrifice of his Son Jesus Christ. 

This can help us to realize how precious we are to him, that he never gives up on anyone except those who chose to be lost. All we need is for us to return to God who is patiently waiting for us. Just like St. Paul in our first reading who told us that because of Christ, he has come to consider all he has as nothing. For nothing can happen that will outweigh the supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus our Lord.

Dear friends, are we lost in sin? Have we given up in our struggle with sin? Do you think that our sins are so great that God cannot forgive us? Do we feel lost now? Jesus is searching for us, he is waiting for us at the confessional. When was the last time we visited him at the confessional? Just know that he loves us and we are too precious to be lost in this sinful world. So we must know that God is searching and waiting for you to come back to him. 

We may have lost in sin, it’s time to come back to God. We may have abandoned our good virtues, it’s time to come back to God for restoration. We may have separated ourselves from God and his family, it’s time to come back. We may have lost in the ugly things of this passing world, it’s time to come back for God is searching and waiting for you. No matter how bad or ugly we may have been as a result of our sinful behaviours, don’t remain in that condition for that is what the enemy wants, but is waiting for you to come back and be restored and purified.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are lost in this passing world due to our sinfulness, Seek out humanity once again from the wilderness of sins, so that we may return back to you, just like the lost sheep and the lost coin and so rejoice and praise you once again with the angels. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Peace be with you.

Homily for Wednesday Thirty- First Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 2nd November, 2022. The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls Day.)

 Readings: Wis. 3:1-9; Ps.23; Rom. 5:5-11; Matt. 5:1-12

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WHY MUST WE PRAY FOR DEPARTED SOULS?

Today being the 2nd day of November, a day after the solemnity of All Saints, the Church in her wisdom asked us to commemorate and pray for all the faithful departed (All Souls), especially the suffering Church. That is, as militant Church, we are expected to pray for those souls that belong to the body of Christ but are still in need of purification. Thus, we are called to remember our loved ones who have gone before us into eternal life by visiting their tombs and praying for them. But why must we pray for the departed souls? Today’s celebration will help us to understand why we must learn to constantly pray for the departed souls.

This is important because immediately after death we belong either to the suffering Church or the triumphant Church. The suffering Church are the souls that belong to the body of Christ but are still in need of purification. At this state they are helpless, they can not help anyone neither can they help themselves. They only rely on the intercessions of the triumphant Church and the militant Church. So as militant Church, it is necessary and mandatory for us to be charitable to the suffering Church through our prayers and intercessions. That is why it is important for us to pray and intercede for them. Little wonder the Church set apart a day like this for us to pray for the departed and also visit the cemetery and graves of our loved ones.

So as regards to this visitation, I will recall my experience of visiting the cemetery as seminarian. And customary in the seminary, every 2nd November we often chose people to visit the cemetery to pray for the souls of the Faithful Departed and Oftentimes my name will always be among those going to visit the cemetery but not often when it’s comes to going for other glorious and social occasions and events. Though at a point I felt I should complain but I accepted it even though I had no option. Then, as usual in 2017, I was privileged again to be among those to visit a cemetery at Oke-Are in Ibadan. Being more disposed than previous years I was more observant. So, on our way to the cemetery which is located on a hill in the heart of Ibadan, passing through the market and streets all I could see were people struggling, buying and selling, fighting and cursing each other, beggars, sick people and poor alike, among the people were the rich, the educated, their leaders both traditional and political. 

But getting to the cemetery I saw in a wall with names and dates of so many men and women who had passed on from this interesting community. Than I asked myself in my deep reflection, where will all of us in this beautiful community be in the next hundred years? Where are all these people whose names are listed in this wall? Where they like us before? Yes. Are we going to be like them later? Of course Yes. With this in mind I realized that there is time for everything in this world, a time to be born, and a time to die, a time to weep, and a time to laugh, a time to break down and a time to build up (Eccl: 3:1-11). Then I realized the reality of this life and the need to reflect and pray for the souls that have passed away from this passing world.

This we should do  not in grief but in the spirit of faith and hope, knowing that they are living in communion with us as they share in the resurrection of Christ. Just as we heard in our first reading that the souls of the virtuous are in the hands of God for those who are faithful will live with him in love; since grace and mercy await those he has chosen. And St. Paul in our second reading tell us to rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation in order to live a beatific life which Jesus gave us it’s guiding principles in our Gospel passage today.

Dear friends, do you know that you can offer some little help to souls struggling to attain heaven our beatific vision? Do we know that there are helpless souls who only rely on our help to attain the beatific vision? What am I willing to do for this helpless souls? Before now, have I even thought of it that my departed brethren need my assistance in other to reach their destination. Am I sure that I can avoid this state of suffering and purification? Do we ever remember that our loved ones may be there now?

Perhaps while they were in this life, they were of great help to us. Do we realize that our prayers and sacrifices represent the key to release them and we can use it if we want to? Do we care about using it? Therefore, as we remember the souls who are passing through this rigor of purification, it would be good for us to offer some prayers of intercession especially for our loved ones as plenary indigence awaits us when we do this devoutly today or any day in this month of November at the Holy Mass or at the cemetery. 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, as we commemorate and pray for all souls today, may the light of your mercy shine upon them, especially those who are in need of your mercy. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you a favourable day.

Homily for Tuesday Thirty- First Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 1st November, 2022. Solemnity of All Saints

 Readings: Rev. 7:2-4.9-14, Ps.24, 1John 3:1-3, Matt. 5:1-12

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WHO ARE THE SAINTS AND WHY ARE WE CELEBRATING THEM?

Today the Church celebrates two special events, first one is the gift of another new month of which I say happy new month to you all. The second which is the most important is the solemnity of All Saints. But, who are the saints and why are we celebrating them. The Church as we know is not just the physical structure we have all over the places, no, the Church is much more than that. The Church is the body of Christ which everyone of us are member by the virtue of our baptism. 

This Church is divided into three groups, that is the militant Church, the suffering Church and the triumphant Church. The militant Church are all of us especially the baptized who are still inhabiting and struggling with the human flesh. But immediately after death we belong either to the suffering Church or the triumphant Church. The suffering Church are the souls that belong to the body of Christ but are still in need of purification. While the triumphant Church are the souls of the saints which we are celebrating today, because they have been wash clean from the stain of sin by the blood of Christ and sustained by their holiness of life. 

Thus, every first November, the Church presents to us the solemnity of All Saints. A day we celebrate the triumphant Church that is, all the saints known or unknown to us who have triumphed victorious to heavenly glory. By celebrating them we are reminded that we are called to grow in holiness and to become saints like them, for that is our primary goal in life. 

This solemnity dates back to 7th century, and the occasion of its introduction was the conversion of the ancient Roman Pantheon into a Christian Church. For emperor Phocas gave the Pantheon to Pope Boniface IV, who converted it into a Church and dedicated it to the blessed Virgin Mary and all the saints about the year 608. But later in the year 731, Pope Gregory III consecrated a chapel in St. Peter’s Church in honour of all the saints and since then the solemnity of All Saints has been celebrated all over the world.

Therefore, in this great event, we are called to imitate the heroic virtues of the saints by living a life of beatitudes as peace makers, pure of heart, meek, humble and merciful as Jesus teaches us in our Gospel passage today. And in our first reading St. John in the book of revelation tells that these saints are the people who have been through the great persecution, and they have washed their robes white again in the blood of the Lamb, of which in our second reading he made us to know that we are already the children of God but what we are to be in the future has not yet been revealed; but when it is revealed we shall be like him because we shall see him as he really is. And everyone who entertains this hope must purify himself and try to be as pure as Christ.

Dear friends, this solemnity remind us of our universal vocation to holiness, it strengthens us in our struggles towards our goal which is to attain eternal life.  It helps us to recall our communion with saints. It reminds us that we are pilgrims on this earth and also it strengthens our faith in the teachings of the Church. No doubt all of us wants to become saints and  oftentimes we really want to live a holy life but there are always obstacles on our way to holiness, these obstacles make us become so aware of our sins, our weaknesses and our failures. 

Yes, we are sinners, but so were the saints. They only relied on God’s mercy and grace and so we too. We cannot become holy through our efforts alone we need to cooperation with the grace of God. Remember, anything worth having is worth making sacrifices for, and the more it’s worth, the more significant sacrifices we should be willing to make for it. If holiness is necessary for one to attain heaven. Then it worth all the sacrifices Jesus mentioned in the beatitudes. So, let us embrace these great virtues and so become saints of God. 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as militant Church on earth, there are lot of troubles and challenges we are struggling with, help us through the intercession of all the saints, to overcome them and so make it triumphantly to your heavenly kingdom. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Happy new month and a blessed All Saints celebration.

Homily For Thirty-First Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 31st, October 2022

 Readings: Phil.2:1-4;  Ps. 131; Luke 14:12-14

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

LEARN TO INVITE THE POOR FOR THEY MAY NOT BE ABLE TO REPAY YOU

A critical look at what is happening in our world today, it is obvious that the world is in big crises. This is because humanity has lost the true meaning of love. For we have abandoned God who is the source and power of love. Today people find it very difficult to love and do things of other for free. We want to know what we will gain from whatever we do for people, because of selfishness and greedy. So we are called to be more charitable to people especially the poor who can not pay us back. 

Little wonder Jesus in our Gospel passage today says: when you give a lunch or a dinner, do not ask your friends, brothers, relations or rich neighbours, for fear they repay your courtesy by inviting you in return. No; when you have a party, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; that they cannot pay you back means that you are fortunate, because repayment will be made to you when the virtuous rise again.’

Here, Jesus gave us reasons why we should not be seeking for gain and rewards for everything we do, rather we must learn to help others especially the poor. For he made us to know that it is natural and universal for human beings to seek for rewards for whatever they have done. But what makes his disciples different from other people is the ability to do good without seeking for rewards in this passing world. By so doing we will be imitating God our heavenly Father, who in his compassionate heart shows equal love to both the rich and the poor, 

Hence, we are called to always consider the poor and those who are less privileged For we cannot be true Christians unless we are willing to love in a sacrificial way in our actions and interactions, in all situations and to everyone, without exception. We must learn to bear with one another for St. Paul in our first reading today says: there must be no competition among you, no conceit; but everybody is to be self-effacing. Always consider the other person to be better than yourself, So that nobody thinks of his own interests first but everybody thinks of other people’s interests instead.

Dear friends, how many of us Christians are willing and able to follow these instructions of the Lord? How many of us are ready to invite the poor and less privileged in our events of life. The truth is that, poor are not necessary those who do not have money, but anyone who desires to benefit from God’s goodness in us. How I wish we will embrace this principle of loving and stretching the hands of friendship and peace to the poor and less privileged, by investing more resources on things that bring about peace and friendship with one another, rather than separating them and depriving them of their rights. For when this is done, then the world will become more peaceful and loving.

LET US PRAY: Lord God,  help us to learn how to invite the poor knowing that they are not able to pay us back but our rewards will be in heaven,  give us the grace to bear the sacrificial nature of this demand and so become a true sign of your loving presence to the poor and less privileged. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful week.

Homily For Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C, 30th, October 2022

 Readings: Wis.11:22-12:2; Ps.145; 2 Thess. 1:11-2:2; Luke:19:1-10

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WHEN A SINNER HUMBLY CLIMBS THE SYCAMORE TREE OF GRACE THE LORD RESPONSE TO HIS INNER DESIRE FOR SALVATION

Last Sunday the Lord made us to know the important of having the right disposition towards prayers using the parable of the prayers of a Pharisee and a tax collector. The Pharisee had a wrong disposition and was not at peace with God, but the tax collector went home at peace with God for he humbled himself before God saying: “be merciful to me a sinner”. In continuation to this teaching, Jesus today in our Gospel passage teaches us how God response to the inner desire of a humble sinner who wishes to be saved, for the Lord is not like us who are judgmental and selfish. 

For 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 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 great desire to see Jesus. 

Truly, I must confess that the attitude of Jesus upon seeing Zacchaeus on the tree was very touching. For Jesus did not condemned or criticize him, nor  demanded anything from Zacchaeus. 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 quickly came down and with great joy received Jesus.

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

But what can we learn from this story, we can learn that no one is beyond God’s redemption. We can learn that whenever sin has made us short of courage to reach God, we must do whatever it takes to get to Jesus no matter the obstacles. We must learn to welcome Jesus into our heart and our homes. We must be prepared to confront and overcome the obstacles and challenges along the path towards our salvation. We must do whatever it takes to change our ugly ways of life to be better and positive . We must be willing to accept and accommodate other people when they repent from their ugly attitudes. We must know that sin makes us short of courage to reach out to God, so we must learn to climb the sycamore tree of grace just like Zacchaeus. We must not be comfortable with ugly and sinful situation we found in and around us.  We must learn to make restitutions of all the things we have done wrong.

But how many of us will be ready to say just like Zacchaeus: Lord I am going to give half my property to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody I will pay him back four times the amount? We must know that it is necessary and mandatory for us to make restitutions for all the bad things we have done. So, having listened to the story of Zacchaeus, how many of us will make restitutions of all the things we have acquired through sinful and corrupt means? How many of us will make restitutions for all the wealth we acquired through corruption and greediness? How many of us will stepdown or resign from our present position which we acquired through corruption and bribery. 

How many of us will make restitutions for the things we achieved with fake certificate and deception? How many of us will make restitutions of our houses, cars and other properties we acquired through bribery, corruption, wickedness, falsehood and cheating of others? How many of us today will make restitutions of all our ugly and immoral behaviours against your wife, your husband, your children, our parents, friends, neighbours, colleagues, workers, employer, lecturers and students? How many of us dear friends will make restitutions for the souls we have sent away from this passing world through wickedness, negligence, killing, kidnapping and abortions, ? How many of us will make restitutions to the people we have ruined their lives and left hopeless and miserable out of pride, greediness and jealousy?

Dear friends, we must learn from Zacchaeus, how to make honest restitutions. How to remain faithful and not live a life of pretense. We must learn to be a good example to other people and try to accommodate people’s differences and weaknesses. We must learn to accept people who are despised and marginalized in our society? Also, can we, like Jesus, perceive people’s inner desire for compassion and give them attention? 

Zacchaeus made restitutions of all he had acquired illegally, and he was giving a new label, a new statues, new friends, new family and a new life. We too should not be afraid to do the same and so make a new name, new family, and a new life for ourselves. For this may bring about the peace, hope, joy, love and new life that we desire to have today. But oftentimes because of what people will say we find it difficult to do the right thing even when we wish to do so. We must learn to be courageous and sincere like Zacchaeus. 

For we are told in our first reading today that little by little, the Lord corrects those who sin against him. He admonished and remind them of how they have sinned, so that they may abstain from evil and trust in him. Little wonder St. Paul in our second reading says: “we pray continually that our God will make you worthy of his call, and by his power fulfil all your desires for goodness and complete all that you have been doing through faith”. Remember that, it was the compassion and loving heart of Jesus that brought about a total change in the life of Zacchaeus. Why not show some compassion to those we meet today and make some restitutions for our sins, for it may be the only opportunity to embrace the salvation that we will ever have in this passing world. 

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 Sunday celebration.

Homily for Saturday Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 29th October, 2022

 Readings: Phil. 1:18-26, Ps  42, Luke 14:1.7-11

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

WHY WE MUST LEARN TO CHOOSE HUMILITY OVER PRIDE?

One of the virtues the world needs more is humility, this virtue is really lacking in our society today because pride has become a way of life which most people wishes 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, they want to be addressed and recognized so gloriously at every public events.

This should not be our attitudes or disposition for Jesus while addressing the Pharisees told a parable about humility saying in our Gospel passage today: 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 nothing to something great. While pride can bring down the might into nothing. The truth is that, humility is not a way of glory, but a road of surrender that leads to passion and death of ones 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. So let us learn from St. Paul in our first reading today for he said now as always I shall have the courage for Christ to be glorified in my body, whether by my life or by my death. Life to me, of course, is Christ, but then death would bring me something more.

Dear friends, 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. 

Therefore, it is time for us to put off our old self which is led by pride the first capital sin, in order 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. Thus, why not try humility in solving those difficult and challenging moments in your life and that is why we must learn to choose humility over pride. 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 blessed and peaceful weekend.

Homily For Friday Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 27th October, 2022. The Feast of SS. Simon and Jude, Apostles

 Readings: Eph.2:19-22, Ps  19, Luke 6:12-19

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

AS FELLOW CITIZENS OF GOD’S HOUSEHOLD WE MUST NOT FORGET OUR MISSIONARY MANDATE

Will you leave? We you care? Will you risk? Will you let  the Lord to lead you? These are questions of great demands which every true disciple must constantly reflect through in life, in order to be aware of the seriousness of the commitment required of everyone of us as a disciple of Jesus. This great demand is presented to us in our liturgy today as we celebrate the feast day of too great apostles St. Simon and St. Jude and our readings propel us to reflect on our call to discipleship. 

In the Gospel we heard how Jesus after deep prayers called from among his disciples twelve apostles of which Simon and Jude were part of the twelve. Simon also known as the Zealot, was a member of the Zealots, the extremists who fought for the freedom of the Israelites against the Romans at the time of Jesus. While, St. Jude often referred as St. Jude Thaddeus, was a member of the extended family of Jesus.

These  two apostles along with others followed the Lord faithfully throughout his ministry. Simon though a member of the Zealot, abandoned his previous life as a freedom fighter to a great missionary along with St. Jude Thaddeus who was the probable author of the Epistle of St. Jude. These two apostles together served the Lord and reach out to many peoples and evangelized may nations. That is why both of them are celebrated together today, because of their missionary zeal and commitment to God even to the very end of their lives.

Tradition has it that Simon spread the Gospel to places like Persia and Armenia, Egypt and Ethiopia and along with Jude, they evangelized throughout Judea, Samaria, Persia, Armenia and other places. Sadly, after many decade of their missionary activities, these two great apostles were martyred in Lebanon. They committed themselves wholeheartedly to the mission of Christ and his Church, they converted many, established firm foundations of the Christian faith in many places. Little wonder St Paul in our first reading tells us that we are fellow citizens of God’s household that has the apostles and prophets for its foundations, and Christ Jesus himself for its main cornerstone.

Dear friends, evangelization is the very nature and essence of the Church. And Jesus gives us the mandate and the commission to evangelize, that is, to announce the Good News to all the nations and to spread the Gospel to every creature. This commission is shared by all those who are baptized both priests and lay faithful. Everyone has a particular responsibility to share in the work of proclamation of the Gospel. Today, we should ask ourselves, how have we proclaimed the Gospel to the world? What efforts are we making to ensure that the mandate Christ entrusted to us is carried out effectively in our generation? 

Therefore, at this moment when the world is confused, because we have removed God out of our daily lives, at this time when we have placed our hope in the activities of the human person who seems to have taken the place of God, at this time when our governments, scientists, doctors, lawyers, professors and even pastors assumed the place of God, which of course have brought about the ugly situation we are facing in our societies today. We are reminded once again about our very mission, for it is time to take this mandate very seriously, because it is our responsibility to fulfil our promises to God and ensure that the Christian faith is preached and sustained in the world and by so doing save humanity once again from sin, death and destruction that we have caused for ourselves.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are lost in this world, we are confused because we have cut ourselves off from You our cornerstone, as we come back to you once again, please give us the grace to preach the Gospel following the examples of saints Simon and Jude, may we learn from their teaching and walk faithfully in the footsteps of Christ and by so doing draw humanity back to You once again.  We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. God bless you.