Homily For Friday Fourth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 3rd February, 2023

Readings: Heb. 13:1-8, Ps.26, Mark 6:14-29

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

CAN YOU STAND FOR TRUTH AND DEFEND THE INNOCENTS AGAINST PRIDEFUL AUTHORITY?

 

Lucky Dube in one of his album said that he who stands for the truth will always stand alone. This is the case with John the Baptist whose head was the prize for the truth he told Herod and Herodias as we read in the Gospel passage today. This terrible crime, which points at what is done to Jesus in his Passion, demonstrates how good people, especially when they struggle for justice, are condemned to suffer in the hand of greed and powerful people who become very cruel and as a result the innocent suffer.

 

The root of the whole problem is that king Herod made unwise promise out of pride, but 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 is a slave to the opinion of others, he feared the people who revered John; he also fears the reaction of his guests if he should retracts his oath. Thus, the head of the innocent, who was in prison for speaking the truth was sacrificed on the altar of human ego.

 

Dear friends, can you  stand for truth and defend the innocents against prideful authority? How far can we stand for the truth we professed. Or Like Herod, how often do we make unwise promises out of pride? When we make bad decisions, how quick are we able to change our mind, to admit that we are wrong. If today we happen to be one of the Herod’s guests, what would have been our reaction? Will I have protested or stayed silent? So how do we react, when we see others suffering injustice?

 

Perhaps, today we can think of all the victims of truth in our societies, the vulnerable, the innocent in our society and all those who are exploited and used to achieve the ends of others. These ugly events in our society, how are we confronting them? Do we have the courage to speak up or protest, even at the cost of our heads and our lives? Little wonder we were told in our first reading to continue to love each other like brothers, and remember always to welcome strangers, for by doing this, some people have entertained angels without knowing it.

 

Also, we are told to keep in mind those who are in prison like John the Baptist, as though we were in prison with them; and those who are being badly treated, since we too are in the one body. As regards to the ugly attitudes of Herodias, we are reminded that marriage is to be honoured by all. Therefore, we are  to ensure that marriages are kept undefiled, for fornicators and adulterers will come under God’s judgement. We are called to put greed and pride out of your lives and be content with whatever we have; for God himself has said: I will not fail you or desert you, and so we can say with confidence: With the Lord to help me, I fear nothing: what can man do to me?

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, give us the grace to stand for the truth and help us never to make unwise promises. May you direct our intentions and guide our words so that we may grow in compassion for the innocent victims in our families, societies, country and the world at large, through Christ our Lord. Amen.  God bless you.

Homily For Thursday Fourth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 2nd February, 2023 The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. (World Day For Consecrated Life)

Readings: Mal.3:1-4, Ps.24, Heb. 2:14-18, Luke 2:22-40

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

CHRIST THE TRUE LIGHT OF THE WORLD IS PRESENTED IN THE TEMPLE OF OUR HEARTS

Today being forty days after the birth of Jesus at Christmas, we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the temple at Jerusalem. This event servers three purposes; the first is the redemption of the first-born male, which according to the law of Moses, was set apart for God. The second purpose is the purification of Mary which is done after giving birth and the third is the Presentation Jesus into the temple of God which dwells in human hearts.

Here in the Gospel, St Luke explained that Mary and Joseph wished to fulfil all the prescriptions in order to emphasize that Jesus was born into a family of simple people, lowly but of steadfast faith: a family that belonged to the poor of Israel the true People of God. It is important to note that these three purposes that is, the purification of the mother, the redemption of the son and the presentation, aimed at giving account of the presentation of Jesus in the Temple of God which dwells in human hearts. A symbol of the reality that shows the act of offering the Son of the Most High to the Father who sent him.

Hence, this becomes the confirmation of the words of the Prophet Malachi which we heard at the beginning of the first Reading: “Behold”, says the Lord, “I send my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming to purify the sons of Levi. Then the offering will be pleasing to the Lord” (3:1- 4), thereby indicating the role of the child Jesus.

The same child Jesus, who is immediately presented in the Temple, is the same person who, as an adult, would purify the temple of our hearts Jn 2:13-22). Above all, he would make himself the sacrifice and the High Priest of the new Covenant, as we heard in our second reading from the Letter to the Hebrews. A passage which tells us about the new priesthood instituted by Christ the High Priest. For which he will suffer greatly as prophecy by Simeon in our Gospel passage concerning both the Child Jesus and Mary the Mother when he said: “Behold, this Child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against, a sword will pierce through your own soul also that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

Thus, this is pointing out the salvation which Jesus will bring to his people, that which he embodies in himself, as he passed through the Cross, the violent death by which he was to vanquish death and transform humanity with the sacrifice of his life through love. Hence, he becomes the true Light of the world of which Simeon and Anna proclaimed as a revelation, that Jesus was to be the High Priest of all, who is to absolve and redeem all mankind from their sins. By so doing becomes the true light that enlightens every man who is born into this world.

Dear friends, today as we encounter Christ the true Light of the world presented in the temple of our hearts, let us of course, allow ourselves to be enlightened and made radiant by this light. Let us share in its splendour, and so be filled with it’s radiant, so that no one remains in the darkness. Let us bring this Light of Christ into our families and our homes, so that through sharing in his light we may be brought out of the darkness that covers our lives as individuals, families, communities, societies, country and the world at large.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we celebrate the presentation of your Son Jesus today, let the light of his presence dispel the darkness in our lives, in our families, societies and so illuminate our paths as we struggle and journey in faith towards achieving our goals and purposes in life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. God bless you.

Homily For Wednesday Fourth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 1st February, 2023. (Happy New Month)

 Readings: Heb. 12:4-7.11-15, Ps.103, Mark 6:1-6

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

NEVER LOOK DOWN ON PEOPLE  BECAUSE OF THEIR HUMBLED BACKGROUND

 

In life people are quick to neglect and look down on others, who they believed cannot offer them anything good at the moment. They are quick to forget that everyone, no matter the present condition is a potential instrument for God's blessings. This is the ugly attitudes of the people of Nazareth in our Gospel passage today.

 

For when Jesus came to his home town and taught the people in the synagogue in such a way that they were astonished, but instead of embracing the message of Jesus, they treated him with contempt and in their pride they said: ‘Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers? This is the carpenter’s son, surely? Is not his mother the woman called Mary, and his brothers and sisters here with us? Where did he get all these?’ And they would not accept him. But Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is only despised in his own country and in his own house’, and he did not work many miracles there because of their lack of faith and he marvelled because of their unbelief.

 

Thus, out of pride and contempt the people rejected the blessings God has for them. And like the prophets of old, Jesus was not accepted by the very people to whom he had been sent. Because the people showed only little faith, he was only able to cure a few of the sick. But he went on to teach in other villages, while there were few great work done in his hometown. So, if he is not allowed to do good where he would, he must do it some other place.

 

Therefore, he had to move on, he did not insist on convincing those whose minds were closed. Consequently, they missed out the blessings he is offering them.  So in their pride they treated him with contempt. Today this kind of ugly attitude is what stops people from doing good, because they don’t want to be treated with contempt and as a result, a lot of people have been deprived of their blessings out  of human pride and contempt.

 

Dear friends, do not treat anyone with contempt, for everyone is a potential instrument of God’s blessings and favour. And if we want to make a difference in life, we should be ready to ignore what people are saying about us now, we have to forget our past failures and our humble beginning. People may not appreciate us now, they may even say all kinds of things about us, just to humiliate and discourage us.

 

But we should not give up, for we are told in our first reading that in the fight against sin, we have not yet had to keep fighting to the point of death and when the Lord corrects us, we should not treat it lightly or get discouraged when he reprimands us. For the Lord trains the ones that he loves and he punishes all those that he acknowledges as his sons. God is treating us as his sons and daughters, of course, any punishment is most painful at the time, but later, in those on whom it has been used, it bears fruit in peace and goodness.

 

Therefore, we should put all our obstacles behind us and work hard for our dreams, give our time to it, sacrifice our sleep and comfort, sweat for it, plan for it, overcome all our terrors of opposition, enduring pains and obstacles, with the help of God we will succeed and become a source of God's blessings. Then we will sing joyfully to God our strength and all the people will gather about us in praise of our God. And they will say: Is not this the Carpenter's sons or daughters? Where then did they get all these? Yes, that's who we are, for Jesus is the Carpenter of our success and salvation.

 

LET US PRAY: Almighty God, oftentimes in our pride we treat people with contempt because of their humble background, give us the grace to realize that everyone is a potential instrument of your blessings and favour to humanity, and as we struggle towards our goals, may you crown all our efforts and sacrifices with success. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.  Happy New Month.

Homily For Tuesday Fourth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 31st January, 2023. The Memorial of St. John Bosco

Readings: Heb. 12:1-4; Ps.22; Mark 5:21-43

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

HOW TO EXPRESS THE FAITH THAT YIELDS POSITIVE RESULTS?

 

There is no doubt that people are passing through a lot of difficulties. So everyday we struggle against these troubles and tribulations, and people are doing everything they can to overcome them. But often time, it seems as if we are not making progress because we don’t have enough faith to subdue our challenges and out of fear we fall victim and helpless. The fact remains that, we have faith but we have not been able to actively and radically put it into action like the synagogue official whose daughter had died but came to Jesus for help  and also the woman with a haemorrhage in our Gospel passage today.

 

In this passage one of the officials came to Jesus and said, ‘My daughter is desperately sick, but come and lay your hand on her and she will live.’ Jesus then rose and his disciples followed him to the official’s house. On their way a woman who had suffered from a haemorrhage for twelve years came behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak, for she said to herself, ‘If I can only touch his cloak I shall be well again.’ Jesus turned round and saw her; and he said to her, ‘Courage, my daughter, your faith has restored you to health.’ And from that moment the woman was well again. When Jesus reached the official’s house and saw the crowd making a commotion he said, ‘Get out of here; the little girl is not dead, she is asleep.’ And they laughed at him. But he went inside and took the little girl by the hand; and the girl arose.

 

Here, the father of this little girl had faith and radically put his faith into positive action, for he confessed great faith in the resurrection. He believed that even Jesus’ slightest touch will restore life in his daughter, likewise the woman with a hemorrhage. This story of the little girl and the woman with haemorrhage has interesting similarities: Both were called “daughter”, both were restored at the demonstration of radical faith in the touch of Jesus. The woman has been ill for twelve years, and the little girl was twelve years old. Both the woman and the little girl have been cut off from normal societal activities.

 

On the other hand, there were also differences between them. First the official is an influential man in the community, but the woman is unclean an outcast. The man approaches Jesus boldly, but the woman approaches him timidly. The girl was raised based on the father’s radical faith, the woman was restored through her own faith for she was very sure that the very moment she touched the Lord’s cloak all her troubles were ended, for her body was made whole again.

 

This woman and the little girl actually represent the sinful humanity in need of God’s mercy, salvation and restoration. The faith and intercession of the synagogue official signifies the great intercessions of the saints and the people of God towards the restoration of humanity. The woman’s bleeding signifies the iniquity of all humanity who are defiled by the constant shading of innocent blood through violence, wars and abortions, thereby make humanity unworthy of God’s presence. Her reaching out to touch Jesus and her restoration signifies the effort each one of us needs to make to reach out to God in order to be restored and finally the willingness of Jesus to heal all of us just as he had healed the woman from all of her troubles and restored the girl back to life. But this requires that we radically put our faith into action.

 

Dear friends, we are called to put our faith into positive action. For if we have no faith in the Lord and refused to put our faith in action, we will suffer and there is no hope for us. I don’t know why we are  often stubborn and often hardened our hearts and minds by refusing to trust the Lord who is so generous and compassion. Today  therefore, we are made to know that, it is not enough to have faith, we must radically put our faith into action no matter the circumstances we find ourselves. Let us not lose sight of Jesus, who leads us in our faith and brings it to perfection as we heard in our first reading. For it is through active faith that we can reach out to God in prayers and so obtain what we desired.

 

Hence, let us then learn from St. John Bosco whose memorial we celebrate today for despite the challenges and oppositions he faced in life, he remained committed in expressing his faith in God through his work as a priest and made great impacts in the lives the of youths of his time and even in our time for through many people who sharing in his spirituality, founded the Order of the Salesians of Don Bosco, one of the great religious orders in our society today.

 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of faith, through the intercession of St.  John Bosco give us the grace and courage to put our gift of faith into positive action that yields positive results. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful day.

Homily For Monday Fourth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 30th January, 2023

Readings: Heb. 11:32-40, Ps.31, Mark 5:1-20

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

LEARN TO JOURNEY WITH JESUS FOR HIS PRESENCE IN OUR LIVES DRIVES AWAY THE EVIL ONES

 

There is no doubt that there is an active presence of evil in the world, which manifest itself in different forms and occasions. This is really obvious in the time of Jesus, for he seemed to have lived in a world of hostility; political and family divisions as well as the conflict between good and evil just like we have in our world today. Thus, everyday is a struggle against the malice of the evil ones, and people are doing everything they can to overcome them.

 

Hence in our Gospel passage today, we see how the presence of Jesus terrifies the evil ones which had possessed a man for a long time and have been tormenting the community. This unclean spirits were so fierce that no one could pass that way. So when the man saw Jesus, he ran to him and said: ‘What do you want with me, Jesus, son of the Most High God? Swear by God you will not torture me!’ For Jesus had been saying to him, ‘Come out of the man and they came out from the men and immediately entered the swine and the swine rushed into the lake and perished in the water.

 

Here, we are called to recognize that the presence of Jesus in the world brings about victory over the evil one.  For demons recognize Jesus as the power of God. And his power over demons is a direct defeat of the evil one. While the restoration of the man possessed, signifies the inauguration of God's kingdom in the world and the healing of God’s people, who had sinned and disobeyed God by abandoning his precepts and laws, preferring instead the wicked ways of life and worldly practices which leads to destruction.

 

Dear friends, today each and every one of us are called to seek good and not evil, to promote justice and integrity, knowing that no matter how great our sins may have been, God alone has the power to heal us and to bring us back to himself. And 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 the evil of this world and overcome it.

 

Thus, in our first reading we are challenged to imitate our heroes of faith, who though were weak people, but were given strength to be brave in war and bring victory for God’s people. For Jesus has won the greatest victory for us by setting us free from sickness, evil forces and manipulations of the evil ones. And he desires to be with us as we struggle everyday to overcome the evils in our lives, our families, our societies and the world at large. Therefore, we should not be afraid to stand firm against the manipulations of the devil, because Jesus will not abandon us in this battle of life.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, the world is full of evil and wickedness, give us the grace to seek what is good and hate what is evil, and as we struggle everyday to do your will, may your presence be felt and drive away all evil forces in our midst through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you God’s favour and blessings this week.

Homily For Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A, 29th January, 2023

Readings: Zep. 2:3:3:12-12; Ps. 146; 1Cor.1:26-31; Matt. 5:1-12

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

A CALL TO EMBRACE THE FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF CHRISTIAN LIFE

 

Each day of our lives is a struggle for perfection, we grow from one level of understanding and knowledge to another. But what really gives value to this growth is the fundamental principles we follow. Because the fundamental principles of life helps us to be focused and determined to achieve our goals. Therefore, Jesus knowing the value and important of the faith he has come to offer humanity, lay down the fundamental principles that will guide his disciples in the new way of life which he is offering us.

 

These fundamental principles are what we have in our Gospel passage today, in the famous Sermon on the Mount by our Lord Jesus, which is also known as the Beatitudes. This famous Sermon opens to us the interior life of Jesus: poor in spirit, gentle, merciful, hungry for justice, pure in heart, a peacemaker, who is prepared to sacrifice and suffer persecution for the cause of what is right. These of course  are guiding principles to a new life he has called us to live. Here Jesus gave us eight characters of blessed people, which are the fundamental principles of Christian life. Each of these Beatitudes is a statement of an ideal way we ought to live and be in close contact with God. Let us now examine these principles in relation to the life of Christ especially his passion.

 

First, these principles began by talking about the poor in spirit which brings to mind the low condition of mankind that looks up to a Redeemer and the glory to come. This we can relate to the life of Jesus, who is the King of kings and the Lord of lords, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. But, upon the cross he was stripped, mocked, spat upon, crowned with thorns, and given vinegar to drink. Secondly,  we were told that those who mourn are blessed, for their true repentance, watchfulness, humble mind, and continual dependence on the mercy of God through Christ Jesus shall be comforted by the Lord. We can recalled the agony of Jesus, we can recall his cry my God!, my God! Why have you forsaken me. But he was console with the grace of resurrection.

 

In these principles we were told that the meek are blessed, for being patient, silent and submissive to the will of God and so are comforted even in this world. This is true because Christ endured much on the cross, and did so patiently. For we were told that when he suffered he did not threaten; he was led like a sheep to the slaughter and he did not open his mouth. Therefore Christ’s patience on the cross was great. So, we too must be meek and patience looking upon to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith.

 

Next is about those who hunger and thirst after righteousness for they are blessed. This is because, their desires for spiritual blessings shall be satisfied. Since in his passion,  Christ taught us the way to perfection and holiness. Also, we are told that the merciful are blessed, for their compassion, help and pity on the souls of humanity who are in sin and needs mercy. Yes,  Christ suffered for us as a remedy for our sins, and secondly, as an example for us to follow. So we must be merciful. We are also told that the pure in heart are blessed; for they shall see God, since their hearts are made pure in holiness and are capable of seeing God, just like Jesus who was like us in everything except sin.

 

Also, the peace-makers are blessed, for they love and delight in peace which Christ is offering to humanity, when he said peace be upon us,  forgive them Father for they do not know what they are doing. Finally we were told that those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake are blessed, for victory is theirs since they understand that, there is nothing in our sufferings that can be compared to the victory of eternal life.  Yes, for Christ says: that no man has greater love than to lay down his life for his friends. And this is what Christ did on the cross. And if he gave his life for us, then it should not be difficult for us to bear whatever hardships that arises for his sake.

 

These are exactly what we heard in our first reading today which says: Seek the Lord, all you, the humble of the earth, who obey his commands. Seek integrity, seek humility: you may perhaps find shelter on the day of the anger of the Lord. In your midst I will leave a humble and lowly people, and those who are left in Israel will seek refuge in the name of the Lord. Little wonder,  St Paul in our second reading said: it was to shame the wise that God chose what is foolish  by human standards, and to shame what is strong that he chose what is weak by human standards; those whom the world thinks common and contemptible are the ones that God has chosen, for he has chosen those who are nothing at all to shame those who are everything.

 

Dear friends, we are called to embrace these fundamental principles of Christian life of perfection. For we are truly blessed when we are poor in spirit, when we mourn for our sinfulness, gentle, hunger and thirst for holiness. We are blessed when we are merciful and peacemakers in a world that is full of wickedness, greed and corruption. Today, we are called to live our lives in these virtues and when we encounter challenges, difficulties, persecutions and troubles, we should remain  faithful to the end for none of these tribulations shall be compared to the victory of eternal life.

 

 LET US PRAY: O God, from whom all good things come, grant us the grace to live out these fundamental principles of our Christian life and so overcome this sinful world, so as to enjoy the beatific vision of eternal life in You, through Christ our Lord. Amen. As you begin your task this week, may the glory of God inspire you and elevate you to greater heights. Do have a blessed Sunday.

Homily For Saturday Third Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 28th January, 2023 The Memorial of St. Thomas Aquinas

Readings: Heb. 11:1-2.8-19, Ps.Luke 1:69-75, Mark 4:35-41

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

DO NOT BE FRIGHTENED BY THE STORMS OF THIS PASSING WORLD,  HAVE FAITH IN GOD

 

In this scriptures, we often hear stories of how people struggles with heavy storms as they assailed through the sea. Today our fisherman and the Marine men who were into the sea business can tell us better what it means to be on the sea with heavy storms. A situation where the need to look for a Saviour is highly expected. Such was the case with the disciples of Jesus in our Gospel passage today. It is a story about the disciples' panic and fear of perishing as a result of the heavy storm that is effecting their boat.

 

As this heavy storm was almost breaking their boat, the disciples cannot believe that Jesus was asleep while they were afraid and needed help from anywhere. So they went to him and woke him saying, ‘Teacher, do you not care if we perish? And Jesus said: “Peace! Be still!!” And the Storm ceased and there was a great calm. And he said to them, ‘Then he said to them, ‘Why are you so frightened? How is it that you have no faith?’ The men were astounded and said, ‘What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the sea obey him.’

 

This story signifies God's chosen people on a transit of faith, frightened by the guilt of sin and wounded by the waves of the sea, the abode of evil forces and monsters of this world. The boat can be taken as a symbol of the faith of the Church and the people of God struggling with the world’s principalities and powers, while the storms are symbols of heavy persecutions and sufferings by the people of God. And Jesus is saying: why are you so frightened, you men of little faith. Little wonder we are told in our first reading that only faith can guarantee the blessings that we hope for, or prove the existence of the realities that at present remain unseen. For it was by faith that Abraham, when put to the test, offered up Isaac in obedience to God.

 

Dear friends, there is no doubt that there is an active presence of evil in the world which manifest itself in different forms. So everyday is a struggle against the malice of the evil ones, and people are doing everything they can to overcome them.  Do not be frightened by the storms of this passing world,  have faith in God. For today Jesus is inviting us into his boat of life, thereby calling us to journey on this boat with an unwavering faith and a repented heart, because the world is being tossed around by the waves of the evil forces, the enemies of humanity. And it is only God who can subdue it, for he has promised to restore us back to himself.

 

Therefore, I don't know the great storms of doubt and fear in your soul? I don’t know if you are under the power of the evil forces of this world. All I know is that with great faith in God, the heavy storms in our lives will become calm, for Jesus will surely rebuke the violent storms in our hearts so that we can experience once again the calmness of his peace and joy. Meanwhile,  let us learn from Thomas Aquinas whose memorial we celebrate. For he was the famous theologian, who understands what it means to have deep faith in God. He is often remembered for his great work, the Summa Theologiae and  many other contributions, writings and works of faith which still influenced and inspired so many people. Thereby showing us the important of listening and demonstrating our faith our in God.

 

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God. As we struggle everyday to overcome the ugly situation around us, grant that through  the intercession of St.  Thomas Aquinas the violent storms and waves of bondage in our lives, our families and the world, will end in a wonderful calm that brings peace in our souls. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you a fruitful and joyful weekend.