Homily For Friday Third Week of Lent Year A, 17th March, 2023 The Feast of St. Patrick, Secondary Patron Saint of Nigeria

Readings: 1Peter 4:7-11 , Ps. 96, Luke 5:1-11

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

 

AN ENCOUNTER THAT TRANSFORMS AND DIRECT US TOWARD ACTUALIZING OUR MISSION IN LIFE

 

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 and mission 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.

 

Dear friends, today we celebrate the Feast of St. Patrick, a great missionary who understood what it mean to be fishers of men like Simon and his brothers. He was known for his personal experience of the Lord in a vision, in which he was asked to go and evangelize the people of Ireland where he came from. This he successfully carried out and this brought about the Irish missionaries who later became a major force in the spreading of the Gospel all over the world of which Nigeria and most African countries are beneficiaries of this great sacrificial mission. 

 

Therefore, as we celebrate St Patrick, we are called to reflect on our personal encounter with God. 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 us about 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. For we heard in our first reading, that each one of us has received a special gift and as good stewards of God’s different grace, we must render our service to one another ungrudgingly to the glory of God.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord 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 just like Simon and his companion and through the intercession of St. Patrick, may our country Nigeria be transformed through these elections and may we experience you in a unique way in our daily activities and through this experience discover our purpose and mission in life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed day.

Homily For Thursday Third Week of Lent Year A, 16th March, 2023

Readings: Jer. 7:23-28; Ps. 95; Luke: 11:14-23

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

 

ARE YOU GATHERING WITH THE LORD OR SCATTERING?

 

Having journeyed with the Lord in the midst all the ugly situations going on in the world and in our country today. It is time to examine our conscience to know if we are still truly with the Lord in this journey of faith. This is the question we need to constantly ask ourselves, because not all those who are journeying with us are really sharing the same faith and destination with us. Thus, how to identify those who are with us in this journey, Jesus made it clear in our Gospel passage today.

 

In this Gospel Jesus said, that ‘he who is not with me is against me; and he who does not gather with me scatters.’ This statement was made when the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law accused Jesus of using the power of Beelzebub to cast out other demons. Hence, Jesus rebuked them saying that the devil and demons would not have divided among themselves if they were to achieve their goal which is the destruction of humanity.

 

Dear friends, today as we listened to the words of God, we are called to turn back to God and abandon our sinful ways in order to be and remain with the Lord. Little wonder, in our first reading today, we heard prophet Jeremiah reminding us of the need to be with the Lord as we make our journey, thereby reminding us of the need to repent and to change our ugly ways of life. Therefore, we must make up our minds to follow the Lord. For the world, as we know is offering us so many things, good and bad alike.

 

But sometimes the options are so confusing and we must make choices. To make right choice, we need to make a fundamental option that will form a solid base for all the choices we will be making in life. To make this fundamental option, we need to understand not just where we are physically but, where we are existentially in terms of our convictions, goals, desires, dreams and the destination of our soul in this journey of life.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we make the examination of conscience, help us to discover who we are and who we are journeying with. May we never be against you and your family the Church as we hope to remain united as one big family of faith, with one Father and one goal which is to be united with you in your heavenly kingdom. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful day.

Homily For Wednesday Third Week of Lent Year A, 15th March, 2023

Readings: Deut. 4:1.5-9; Ps. 147; Matt 5:17-19

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

 

WHY WE MUST LEARN TO WITNESS AND TEACH GOD’S COMMANDMENTS BY OUR WAYS OF LIFE?

 

There is no doubt that there is a difference between early Christian community and the present day Christianity especially in the mode of witnessing. The early Christian community practically preached the word of God by witnessing with their lives, while present Christianity are witnessing by preaching the word of God aloud with megaphones and all kinds of powerful sound systems and some are not practicing what they preach thereby misleading people and deceiving one another.

 

Hence today in our Gospel passage, Jesus said to his disciples as he is instructing us, that the man who infringes even one of the least of his commandments and teaches others to do the same will be considered the least in the kingdom of heaven; but the man who keeps them and teaches them will be considered great in the kingdom of heaven. Here, Jesus points out that keeping and teaching the commandments of God is the sure way to achieving greatness not just here on earth but also in heaven.

 

So, as Christians our duty is to teach and bear sincere witness to God’s commandments by our ways of life, we need to start practicing what we preach, we need to do more of witnessing then preaching. It is not enough to recall principles, state intentions, point to blatant injustice and utter prophetic declarations and denunciation.

 

These kind of words lack real the meaning of our faith unless they are accompanied by effective action manifested by our way of life. Hence we need to acknowledge that our authority as Christians come from God who through Moses commanded us in our first reading not to forget the things our eyes have seen, nor let them slip from our heart all the days of our lives; rather, we should tell them to our children and to our children’s children.’

 

Dear friends, today Jesus tells us that he has not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets, but to complete them, so we are not called to compromise the teachings and laws of God to suit our wrong motives and parade ourselves as Christians, teachers, pastors, prophets. Rather we are called to witness and teach God’s commandments by our ways of life. We must live in such a way that our actions should reflect the paternity of God in the way we live and serve others, knowing that true greatness is found in keeping and teaching the commandments of God, of which Jesus tell us that the greatest of these commandments is to love God and our neighbour.

 

Therefore, true greatness is rooted in our love for God and our neighbours, of which Jesus emphasized that it is too bad to break one of these commandments, but to teach someone else to do the same is a terrible and evil thing to do. Thus, we should ask ourselves today, am I breaking these commandments and teaching others to do the same through my attitude and way of life? Am I following my own opinions contrary to the commandments and laws of love which Jesus has taught us by his way of life? Or am I keeping and teaching these commandments through my attitude and by way of life? The answer to these questions are not far from us.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, all good things come from you, as we struggle to  sincerely witness our faith and keep your commandments, grant us the grace to keep and teach them by our way of life and so obtain the Joy of true greatness in this world and in your heavenly kingdom, through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a favourable day.

Homily For Tuesday Third Week of Lent Year A, 14th March, 2021

Readings: Dan 3:2.11-20, Ps. 25, Matt.18:21-35

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

 

WHY MUST I FORGIVE OTHERS FROM MY HEART?

 

In our Lord’s prayer which Jesus gave us as a pattern of all prayers and as a fundamental principle of Christian living, there is a portion that point out something so important. This portion says “forgive us our trespasses as we for give those who trespassed against us” (Matt.6:12). By this pray we are making a covenant and commitment that will be a standard by which we are going to be judged as regards our relationship with others and with God. But often times we are not conscious of this principles especially when we have to face the difficult moment of forgiving a grievous offense.

 

Thus, Peter one of the disciples of Jesus being conscious of this fact, asked Jesus in our Gospel passage today saying: ‘Lord, how often must I forgive my brother if he wrongs me? As often as seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘Not seven, I tell you, but seventy times seven. And he practicalized his answer with an example of a servant who owed his master a great debt that he and his generation cannot pay.

 

But when he pleaded for mercy, the master forgave him all the debts. However, this same servant found a fellow servant who owed him as little as one hundred denarii, he seized him by the throat and began to throttle him and even when he pleaded for mercy, instead of forgiving him, he puts him in prison according to the norms of the law until he had paid his debt.

 

This unforgiven servant did to his fellow servant what the master could have done to him, but did not. So, when the master heard how he treated his fellow servant, handed him over to the torturers till he should pay all his debts.” Jesus then said, this is how my heavenly Father will deal with you unless you each forgive your brother from your heart.’ For God will apply the principle he has given us in our Lord’s Prayer, which will automatically put us where we properly belong based on how we have related with other.

 

In this story, we see the extreme estimate of the debt the servant owed his master, ten thousand talents, even if him and his family had to work their whole life, they would never have been able to pay that debt. So, that’s a huge amount compared to hundred denarii his fellow servant owed him, in fact, there was no comparison between the two debtors at all.

 

However, this will exposed to us the ugly attitude of unforgiveness and also help us to understand that our debt before God is so huge and countless for we cannot be able to pay them. Therefore we are bound, then, to have pity on others and forgive them from our hearts just as God had pity on us and forgives us our sins, for this is the only way to salvation.

 

Dear friends, there is no doubt that forgiven a grievous offense can be very difficult, but when this is done, it is like recovery a lost treasure that contains: joy, peace, freedom and healing. That is why we must learn to forgive others from our hearts. Hence, are there people we have vowed not to forgive? Have people hurt us so much that we can’t forgive them? Have we offended people and cannot be humble enough to ask for their forgiveness? Do we think that our sins are so huge for God to forgive? Are we finding it difficult to forgive those who have offended us?

 

This Holy season of Lent, we need to pray for God’s grace and courage to forgive people who have offered us, knowing that we are rebellious and proud people, we lack the courage and disposition to forgive. So today, Jesus is asking us to learn how to forgive others always and unconditionally from our hearts, so that God will also forgive us always and unconditionally.

 

Therefore, we must never refuse to forgive or reject an offer of reconciliation in our relationship with God and with our fellow human beings and if this becomes difficult, bring it to Jesus in prayer just like Daniel in our first reading today when he prayed saying may the contrite soul, the humbled spirit be as acceptable to you as holocausts of rams and bullocks.

 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, today you have made us to realize how unlimited you mercy is, as you exposed how huge our debts are in comparison with the little debts of forgiveness others owe us. As we make it a habit to forgive from the debt of our hearts all those who have offended us, may we discover and experience the hidden treasures that forgiveness brings. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a grace filled day.

Homily For Monday Third Week of Lent Year A, 13th March, 2023

Readings: 2 Kings 5:1-15; Ps. 42; Luke 4:24-30

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

 

HOW THE DEVIL THROUGH PRIDE AND JEALOUSY DISTRACT US FROM OBTAINING GOD’S BLESSINGS

 

One of the forces that drives the world order today is pride. People can do anything to prove how powerful, influential, popular, wealthy and connected they are before everyone they encounter.

 

Hence, at any little provocation, you see them ranting: "I will show you today who am I", "by the time I finish with you, you will come to know me". I will do this, I will do that... just to prove who they parade themselves to be. Everywhere they go, they want to be highly recognized and do “eye service” by looking down on every other person. This ugly attitude is what the devil certainly wants us to have, so that we end up distancing ourselves from God.

 

The devil does not want us to be saved, and he would tempt us to be arrogant, jealous and prideful as we have in our first reading today in the story of Naaman the Syrian, who went to the land of Israel seeking for healing from the leprosy he had been suffering from. But when Naaman sought the prophet Elisha, he was told to wash himself at the River Jordan seven times, and he would be healed. But he refused out of pride.

 

This was exactly how the devil tried to prevent Naaman from finding healing, not just from leprosy but also from his sinfulness and lack of faith, by placing pride, ego and stubbornness in his heart. It was at this point that, Naaman’s servant reminded him to be humble and accept the conditions in order for him to be healed since it was a very easy thing for him to do. In the end, Naaman obeyed, humbling himself in obedience to God and was healed.

 

In the same way in our Gospel passage today, the people of Nazareth refused to listen to Jesus or believe in him because they stubbornly persisted in believing that what they had known earlier about Jesus as the Son of a mere carpenter shows that he could not have attained such power, authority and wisdom.

 

Their prejudices and ego prevented them from having faith as they hardened their hearts and minds against God. As such, the Lord could not do much in their midst, and in the end, making reference to the events of Naaman and the widow of Zarephath, he left his hometown because of their pride and lack of faith.

 

Dear friends, pride is the first capital sin, so, do not let the devil through pride and jealousy distract you from obtaining God’s blessings. For we are called today to renounce pride and embrace the courage of humility. We must entrust ourselves humbly to the Lord, because only in this way will we be able to become docile instruments in his hands and allow him to do great things through us and  in our lives.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, oftentimes we have failed to humble ourselves, because of pride and this has deprived us of your blessings. As we listen to your words today, may we learn to humble ourselves and so obtain your blessings and favours. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed and favourable week.

HOMILY FOR THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT YEAR A, 12TH MARCH, 2023

Readings: Ex. 17:3-7; Ps. 95; Rom. 5:1-2.5-8; John 4:5-42

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

 

GOD WILLS TO SATISFY THE SINFUL AND THIRSTY SOULS OF HUMANITY WITH LIVING WATER.

 

One of the most essential commodity for human survival is water. Water makes up most of the essential part of the human body. In fact, life as we know exists because of the properties of water. It is the most abundant resources on earth and fundamental to the survival of all living things.

 

We can just think about all the things we use water to do on a daily basis, then we will discover how important water is for the survival of humanity. I don’t know if you have ever been so thirsty while in desert or where water is very scarce, then you must have understood the value of water in relation to human survival. That is why in the absence of water, the feeling of thirst causes one to look for water at all costs in order to satisfy the external and internal stimuli of the human body.

 

With this we can understand the situation of the people of Israel in our first reading today. For tormented by thirst, the people complained against Moses at Massah and Meribah and they put the Lord to the test saying, ‘Is the Lord with us, or not?’. ‘Why did you bring us out of Egypt?’ they said. ‘Was it so that we should die of thirst? Then, the Lord told Moses to strike the rock, and water will flow from it for the people to drink.’ This is what Moses did, in the sight of the elders of Israel. Here the Lord quench their thirsty tongue with water from the rock.

 

Consequently, in our Gospel passage today, we heard about water and human thirstiness. But this time a different kind of water and a different kind of  thirstiness. That is, a living water and the thirstiness of the sinful souls of humanity. Here Jesus came to a Samaritan town and when a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, ‘Give me a drink.’ The woman said to him, ‘What? You are a Jew and you ask me, a Samaritan, for a drink?’

 

 This is because Jews, in fact, do not associate with Samaritans.  So, Jesus replied: ‘If you only knew what God is offering and who it is that is saying to you: Give me a drink, you would have been the one to ask, and he would have given you Living Water.’ You have no bucket, sir,’ she answered ‘and the well is deep.

Jesus replied: ‘Whoever drinks this well's water will get thirsty again; but anyone who drinks the water that I shall give will never be thirsty again: the water that I shall give will turn into a spring inside him, welling up to eternal life.’ Sir, said the woman ‘give me some of that water, so that I may never get thirsty and never have to come here again to draw water.’

 

This story demonstrate God’s will to satisfy the inner desire and thirstiness of human soul. While the Samaritan woman represents sinful and poor thirsty humanity lost in sin, but desires to be united with God the fount of Living Water.

 

And as we know, “Living Water” is a biblical term which appears in both the Old and New Testaments. In Jeremiah 2:13, the prophet describes God as "the spring of Living Water”, who has been forsaken by his chosen people Israel. In the New testament, Jesus the son of God offers himself as the living water, who through the Holy Spirit will satisfy humanity's thirst for God.

 

Telling us that only the Lord Jesus can quench our inner thirst; he is the true living water. He wants us to drink of him in order to quench our thirst for holiness and righteousness, and to drink until rivers of living water flow out of our innermost being to all other creatures. Little wonder, throughout the scriptures, numerous verses show us God’s desire for us to satisfied our thirstiness in Him, to drink from Him who is the living water.

 

As the Scripture says in John 7: 38: “out of his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.” But quite often, instead of feeling satisfied and watered, we feel dry, because we have not truly allowed ourselves to be watered by living springs of God’s grace and mercy. For only the Lord Jesus can truly quench our inner thirst for mercy and love.

 

Thus, goal of Jesus is to help humanity to recognize their greatest need, so he could supply us with the only gift that would meet that need, that is, the salvation and forgiveness of our sins. Humanity have spent all their energy trying to find love and acceptance in all the wrong places. Jesus offers us the living water of the Holy Spirit, the only thing that would quench our spiritual and emotional thirst.

 

Therefore, like the Samaritan woman, we can at times be so intent on getting our immediate needs and fail to see God’s hand reaching out to us in love, offering what will truly satisfy us. Because we have failed to understand that only Jesus can fill and satisfy our empty souls for eternity and also provide for our essential emotional needs now.

 

Dear friends, this world is filled with wells that promise to provide love, acceptance, wealth, fame, and self-worth but can never fully satisfy us. Therefore, whenever our souls are empty and the wells of this passing world run dry, look for Jesus and he will quench your thirst with his Holy Spirit. Little wonder, St. Paul in our second reading today tells us that, it is by faith and through Jesus that we have entered this state of grace in which we can boast about looking forward to God’s glory. Because the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given us.

 

Brethren, Jesus’ words of invitation echo in our ears and speaks to the heart of each one of us, offering the water of eternal life that flows from God, as he repeat his words saying: If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. The first requirement is thirst. Everyone has spiritual thirst, for it is part of the human condition. Our needs, our thirst, are what we bring into our relationship with God.  But the questions remain: What do we thirst for? What do we really desire? What do we request from God?

 

This Holy season of Lent, Jesus invites us to take the initiative and come to him with our needs and thirstiness, so as to drink from the living water and be satisfied. Here, “drinking”, refers to believing, which means identifying oneself with Jesus, trusting him, receiving his teaching and obeying his commands. Such faith will enable us to receive the Holy Spirit and enter into an abiding relationship with Christ the true Living Water.

 

LET US PRAY: Almighty God,  the human wells of this passing world has failed to satisfy our inner desires, today we turn to you like the Samaritan woman so that you can give us the living water of your love and mercy in order to quench our inner thirst for you. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you a happy and fruitful Sunday celebration.

Homily For Saturday Second Week of Lent Year A, 11th March, 2023

Readings: Micah 7:14-15.18-20, Ps. 103, Luke 15:1-3.11-32

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

NOW IS THE TIME TO COME BACK FOR OUR MERCIFUL FATHER AWAITS OUR RETURN

Everyday of our lives we make choices that we think are good for us. The root of any choice we make comes from the fundamental option we have made for or against God; to love or to be selfish, to be good or bad, to be holy or sinful. And any choice we make has great consequences which can be positive or negative as we have in the parables of the prodigal son in our Gospel passage today.

In this parable, we can identify three main characters: The Father, the elder son and the younger son. The three characters represent the attitude of group of persons in which Jesus was addressing in the Gospel. First the attitude of the tax collectors and sinners, who were seeking the company of Jesus to hear what he had to say. Secondly the attitudes of the Pharisees and scribes who complained, and then Jesus who is seen as a righteous man who welcomes sinners and eats with them.

Looking at the attitudes of these three characters in the parable, we can deduce that the attitude of the Pharisees and Scribes depicts that of the elder son who is obedient to his father but passes judgment on his disobedient brother, the attitude of task collectors and sinner depicts the younger son who seeks reconciliation and forgiveness from his father. While the attitude of the Father can be seen in the person of God (Jesus) who went out to welcome the prodigal son (task collectors and sinners) and goes out as well searching for the elder and dutiful son (Pharisees and Scribes).

This parable is applicable to our present context, where the Church is seen as the merciful Father, who welcomes, accommodates and lavishes her love on both saints and sinner. For we are told in our first reading that no god can be compared with our God: taking fault away, pardoning crime, not cherishing anger for ever but delighting in showing mercy? Meanwhile, the saints and the righteous ones in the Church are seen as the elder son who is obedient and faithful to the Father. While sinners, unbelievers are seen as the prodigal son who has traveled to a far distance country seeking to come back to the Father.

But the questions we should ask ourselves are: where do I belong in the whole picture of this parable? Am I lost in sin? have I traveled far away from God and his Church? Where am I now in my relationship with God, what is the state of my life? what is my attitude towards my neighbour, my family, my father, mother, children? What is my attitude towards those who have offended me in a grievous ways? What is my attitude towards notorious sinners (armed robbers, murderers, prostitutes, drunkards, drug addicts, womanizers, liars, the wicked, greedy and corrupt politicians and people) can I accommodate them if repented?

Dear friends, God is calling us to repentance. Sin has taken us away from God is time to come back, we are lost in a far away land of sin, is time to come back. It doesn't matter what we have done, how sinful we may have been, no matter how grievous. God is waiting for us to come back. He wants to hear us say like the prodigal son: I will arise and go to my Father and say Father forgive me for I have sinned against heaven and before you.

Friends, God wants to meet us at the confessional, he wants to meet us in the Eucharist, he wants to meet us in those persons we have offended and those who have offered us. He wants to meet us in those we have refused to forgive. He wants to meet us in our families, in your husband, your wife, your children, your neighbours, your colleagues in the office and market place. He wants to meet you in that man who is suffering in prison and hospital because of your unforgiveness. All he wants us to do today is to say, am sorry to those who we have offended and to forgive those who have offended us.

The choice is yours, don't wait until is too late. Why not put a call to someone today and say to him or her am sorry, I have forgiven you, I just realized how wrong I have been, please forgive me. If we can do this, then we will see how blessed our life will be in this Holy season of Lent and we will find reason to rejoice at Easter. Remember that conversion is not just about sinners becoming holy, is more than that. Is about experiencing and acknowledging the love of God everyday of our lives. God loves you personally.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, sin has separated us for your love, as we listen to your words today, may we come back to you just like the prodigal son, with repented heart and strong will to remain faithful like the dutiful son, knowing that you as our merciful Father awaits our return. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed weekend.