HOMILY FOR PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD’S PASSION YEAR A, 2nd April, 2023

Readings: Is. 50:4-7; Ps. 22; Phil 2:6-11; Matt. 26:14-27:66

Rev  Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

 

THE TRIUMPHANT JOURNEY WITH OUR LORD JESUS THE KING OF PEACE

 

Today being Palm Sunday, a very special Sunday that ushers us into the holy week, the week we have to come closer to God as we have never before now. This begins with a triumphant journey which Jesus invites us to make. A triumphant journey that reflects an image of something deeper, something that portray that together with Jesus, we are setting out on a pilgrimage along the high road that leads to victory of life over death, joy over sorrows, peace over chaos, love over wickedness and victory over failure.

 

Thus, in our Gospel reading today, we have a comprehensive account of the Lord’s passion from the time of his triumphant entry into the city of Jerusalem, as well as from the time when he was betrayed by Judas Iscariot, arrested, put on trial, handed over to the Romans, condemned to death and was crucified as a criminal.

 

These represent a very distinct extremes between the glory and triumphant nature of the entrance procession of Jesus into Jerusalem and the humiliating and painful nature of his crucifixion at Calvary. Thereby, reminding us that we are on pilgrimage with the Lord, the king of peace, who calls us to strive for purity of hearts and clean of hands, calling us to embrace the truth we found in him. So, we journey with Jesus our triumphant King.

 

We must know that there are three things about the kingship of Jesus. First, he is the king of the poor: though rich he humbled himself and became poor. He emptied himself to assume the condition of a slave and became as men are; and being as all men are he was humbler yet, even to accepting death, death on a cross. But God raised him high as we heard in our second reading and prophesied in our first reading today.

 

So,  the poverty of Jesus comes from the inner freedom, from a pure heart that is above the greed for possession and power. The inner freedom that overcomes the corruption and greediness in the hearts of men and women of our world today. Secondly, the kingship of Jesus will be that of peace. He will do away with wars, crisis, hatred, corruption, greediness in order to proclaim peace on earth.

 

Thirdly, his kingship will be universal. His kingdom will extend peace from sea to sea and those seeking the face of God will truly find peace.  Therefore, let us regard as our home the heavenly Jerusalem, not this earthly one that is passing away. Let us enter paradise with Jesus, and discover how far we have separated ourselves from God.

 

Dear friends, we are called today and this week to make a triumphant journey with the Lord as we begin the Holy Week. So, we are not to miss out from the spiritual aspect of this Holy season. Therefore, let us all spend more time with God in prayer, deepening our devotion through works of charity and through reading of the Scriptures, develop a personal relationship with God.

 

In fact, let today’s celebration be a reminder for us, of the spiritual and social values that Palm Sunday really represents, so that, in spite of all the darkness and uncertainties, all the despairs and terrible things happening around us and in our societies today, we may still have that very one hope and one faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, our King and Saviour just like early Christians who used the palm branch to symbolize the victory of the faithful over enemies of the human soul.

 

Thus, let us enter into the Holy Week with an open heart and mind, by letting the Lord to enter spiritually into our hearts and into our beings as glorious and joyous as the people of Jerusalem had welcomed him with branches of palms and with great rejoicing and reverence. Let us spread before his feet, not our garments or soulless palm branches, which delight the eye for a few hours and then wither, rather let us offer ourselves, clothed in his grace. So, we who have been baptized into Christ must ourselves be the garments that we spread before him.

 

And not just the physical branches of palms, garments or soulless olive branches, which delight the eye for a few hours and then withers. Rather, with a pure soul, clothed in God's grace, love, mercy and holiness. Therefore, let our souls take the place of the palm branches as we break the Eucharistic bread and embrace the Lord Jesus in his journey towards our salvation, and by so doing experience the presence of God personally and collectively in our lives.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we proclaim the kingship of your Son our Lord Jesus Christ, let us embrace your kingship with all our hearts and so journey with him this period of holy week, desiring to be righteous and holy as we embrace your mercy and love. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you a spirit filled Palm Sunday celebrate.

Homily For Saturday Fifth Week of Lent Year A, 1st April, 2023. (Happy New Month)

Readings: Ezek.37:21-28; Ps. Jer.31; John 11:45-57

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

 

STOP PLOTTING PEOPLE’S DOWNFALL BECAUSE GOD CAN TURNE IT INTO A STEPPING STONE FOR THEIR VICTORY

 

Oftentimes, we do things without knowing or understanding the full meaning of what we are doing. Because sometimes we feel or think that we can change God’s plan by frustrating the effects of others, but later to discover that we are unknowingly fulfilling the plan of God for them.. This is evident in our Gospel passage today, where we heard how the Jewish authorities were filled with rage on account of the news of the resurrection of Lazarus which increased the popularity of Jesus. So they convoked a council to discern how to get rid of him.

 

For them, this man works many signs and people are now believing in him, if we let him go on this way everybody will believe in him and the Romans will come and suppress the Holy Place and their nation. They were jealous and afraid not just of the Romans but also for the possibly of losing the temple and even their privileged position as priests. Thus, Caiaphas being the high priest, decided that it is better that one man should die for the people, than the whole nation should perish. Though being the high priest, he did not just speak, but unknowingly, was prophesying that Jesus have to die to save humanity from sin and death.

 

Dear friends, have you ever planned the downfall of someone and your plans turned out to become a stepping stones for their victory? This happens because  our actions and attitudes are often like that of the Jewish authorities. For we condemn people out of jealousy and unnecessary fear we feel because of what God is doing through them. Sometimes , we feel threatened and intimidated by people’s good deeds and blessings, because we don’t see the need to appreciate them or see the hands of God in what they are doing.

 

This is very bad and should not be see among us. The truth is that, God has a plan for everyone. God’s plan for Jesus is to save humanity, which he had promised through prophet Ezekiel as we heard him in our first reading today saying: “I shall rescue them from all the betrayals they have been guilty of; I shall cleanse them; they shall be my people and I will be their God”.

 

This no doubt is what this season of Lent is all about, calling us to prepare ourselves well to celebrate the upcoming mysteries of the Holy Week, by embracing it with openness to God’s mercy and a renewed faith and obedience to God’s will. Let us all spend some time to reflect on how we can enter into the most sacred time of this season, so that we may truly  have a personal experience of God’s presence so as to grow more spiritually and be ever closer to God our Father.

 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, you promised to guard us as a shepherd guards his flock, to turn our mourning into joy and to give gladness for grief. May this Holy Season of Lent remind us again of your loving mercy for humanity especially on the ugly situations of sickness, poverty, greed, corruption and sins that are  ravaging our families, societies and the world at large. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a grace filled Month.

Homily For Friday Fifth Week of Lent Year A, 31st March, 2023

Readings: Jer.20:10-13; Ps.18; John 10:31-42

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

 

THE DANGER OF HAVING THE WRONG CONCEPTION ABOUT GOD OR LIMITING GOD TO OUR CONCEPTS

 

Coming very close to the peak of our Lenten season, when we recall the great price Jesus paid for our redemption. The Gospel passage today, reminds us of the trouble Jesus has to bear from the Jewish authorities on account of his personality just like prophet Jeremiah was also persecuted terribly and suffered in the hands of those who used to be his friends as we have it in our first reading today, where we heard of his lamentations and words for all those who have persecuted and plotted against him.

 

So, in the same way Jesus was misunderstood and persecuted by the people who should understand him better. This is because they have wrong conception about God. Hence, Jesus challenged them to accept his personality as the Son of God who reveals the love of the Father and gives eternal life. But because of the unclear image of God they have in their minds they could not accept the teachings of Jesus in relation to God the Father. Thus, they tried to stone him, this of course is the danger of having wrong conception about God.

 

Dear friends, most people have wrong conception about God and behave the same way like those in our readings today, where in the name of God, some persons are ready to kill others. In fact throughout history, Jews, Christians and Muslims, have fought in the name God. Today the same thing is still happening in our societies and countries. These ugly attitudes will continue to happen because we do not have the right image of the God whom we claim to be serving.

 

The Jews condemned Jesus because of the particular image they have about God which prevented them from accepting the teachings of Jesus and since they were also deeply biased and have prejudice against Jesus, it was difficult for any words of truth or reason to change their minds. So, they persecuted the Lord just as their ancestors had persecuted Jeremiah and the other prophets.

 

In a similar way, through our disobedience, pride and ignorance, we may have behaved or behaving just like those in our readings today, who have persecuted the prophets and also refused to listen to the truth which Jesus has told us as regards his personality. But brethren, what image of God do we have in our minds? Is it the image of a God who is Pure, Loving and Merciful? Or an image of one who dominates others and condemns them?

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, may this season of Lent guide us to have a true image of you in our minds and may this image reflect in our relationship with others. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed day.

Homily For Thursday Fifth Week of Lent Year A, 30th March, 2023

Readings: Gen. 17:3-9; Ps.: 105; John:8:51-59

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

 

UNDERSTANDING THE DIVINE PERSONALITY OF JESUS

 

A critical reflection of the scriptures it is obvious that Jewish authorities find it very difficult to believe in the teachings of Jesus, but ordinary people who experience his miracles and teachings accepted them as coming from God. Hence, in our Gospel passage, the Jews continue to challenge the identity and personality of Jesus. They could not understand his words and actions. So, they continue to misinterpret the real meaning of what he says because they took it literally.

 

Here, Jesus made a very strange claims on his identity, and insists he would be lying if he were to say he does not know the Father, to emphasized on this Jesus said: truly truly, I tell you, before Abraham was, I am. This brought more argument with the people who wished to stone him. But, John in this gospel goes to great length to help us believe that Jesus not only came from God, but is God.

 

This shows us the difference between the way Jesus chooses to reveal himself and the way the Jewish authorities perceived him. Jesus wants us to develop a divine way of looking at things with deeper meaning especially as he brings things to life, just as we heard in our first reading how the promised made to Abraham looks impossible when looked at it literally but divinely came through and well fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ.

 

Dear friends, having heard the teachings and works of Jesus in the scriptures and traditions of the Church, the question remains: what is your personal disposition and understanding of the personality and identity of Jesus? Who is Jesus to you? As we can see the Jewish authorities do not believe in Jesus, because they could not understand the divine life of Jesus and they could not understand his relationship with God the Father.

 

Because they failed to understand that the Father gives glory to Jesus, since it is His divinity that he manifests and by so doing glorifies the Father. We are called today to develop a divine way of understanding the mysteries of God but not rejecting them because we do not understand them. Thus, during this season of Lent, let us turn towards God once again with all our hearts and devote our whole lives in seeking to know Him more.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord Jesus, as we meditate on your passion this season of Lent, may we experience the power of your presence in order to embrace more deeply your sacred mysteries. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Peace be with you.

Homily For Wednesday Fifth Week of Lent Year A, 29th March, 2023

Readings: Dan. 3:14-20,24-25,28; Ps.: Dan. 3:52-56; John:8:31-42

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

 

LEARN THE TRUTH AND YOU WILL BE FREE TO SERVER THE LORD

 

As our Lenten season draws closer to the events of Holy Week, the Gospel reading continues with the contentious dialogue between Jesus and the Jews. Here Jesus told the Jews who believed in him that if they continue to know his word, they will learn the truth and the truth will set them free. But the Pharisees take offense at this statement. That as descendants of Abraham they were free and never slaves to anyone. But this is not the case. In fact, the Jews were continuously enslaved to foreign powers.

 

Nevertheless, Jesus is talking about a different kind of freedom, that is freedom from the slavery of sin. Sin makes us salves to devil. To be free from sin is the desire of every disciple of Christ and this freedom comes from knowing the truth found in the word of God. This is the truth that kept  Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from succumbing to the request of  King Nebuchadnezzar to worship the status he has made as we heard in our first reading today. So, they answered: if our God, the one we serve, is able to save us from the burning fiery furnace and from your power, O king, he will save us; and even if he does not, then you must know, O king, that we will not serve your god or worship the statue you have erected.’

 

Dear friends, these men stood for what they belief, how far can we stand for the truth we professed in Christ? We are called today to embrace the truth found in the word of God. We are called to stand for the truth we have found in Christ. We are called to make truth our habit for the truth will surely set us free. So we are called defend the faith we profess in Christ.

 

But how many of us who want to be disciples of Christ have truly made his word our own? How much of his word resides in us? Have we not  personally experienced the Lord’s mercy and love through the scriptures?  Therefore, we are called to be more devoted and pay heed to the instructions of Jesus who tells us to be truly faithful to God.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord Jesus, help us to have a personal experience of you through the scriptures and so develop deeper love and interest in your word and find in it true freedom, happiness and peace especially in this challenging moment in our country. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you the best of God’s favour and blessings.

Homily For Tuesday Fifth Week of Lent Year A, 28th March, 2023

Readings: Num.21:4-9; Ps. 102; John:8:21-30

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

 

 THE CROSS OF CHRIST A SYMBOL OF LOVE AND VICTORY

 

The symbol of the cross has become the universal image of Christian belief, an instrument of salvation which often appear in Christian art works. This is because countless generations of artists have turned it into a thing of beauty to be carried in procession or worn as jewelry and other religions activities.

 

But, the cross in the eyes of early Christians had no beauty, it was a sign of sorrow, a symbol of courage, an expression of faith which stood outside the city walls, decorated only with decaying human bodies, as a threat to anyone who believes in Jesus. However, this ugly event has turned into a glorious act? Which shows the power of God over humanity. Telling us that God is the source of victory, He has the power to turn ugly situation into a glorious one.

 

This is evident in our first reading today, where we heard of the rebellion of Israel against God, their lack of gratitude and appreciation for all that God had done for them. The people had repeatedly grumbled and disobeyed the Lord, spurning his love and committed all sort of sins and betraying God for pagan idols. At this God sent fiery serpents among the people; their bite brought death to many in Israel. Then, they cried to Moses confessing that they have sinned against God. So Moses interceded and made a fiery serpent and put it on a standard. So, if anyone is bitten and looks at it, will live.

 

That's why in our Gospel today, Jesus is reminding us yet again, how sin leads to death, and how he himself is going to die as he has repeatedly mentioned to his disciples of his upcoming passion and death. He mentioned of how he would suffer and die and be lifted up on the Cross for the salvation of humanity, pointing out the true reality of what had happened with Moses and the Israelites. The truth is that, God reveals his love, his greatest glory when his Son was lifted up on the cross for there the victory of our salvation was achieved and at the Cross Jesus tells us everything and solves all our difficult problems.

 

Dear friends, as we struggle with the ugly situations in our lives, societies and our country caused by sin and human frailty, let us deeply look at the Cross of Christ, what do we see? How do we feel about the Cross? What does the Cross represents in our life? Do we feel the love of Jesus? Can we perceive the expensive price of our salvation? Have we realized that the Cross of Christ is a symbol of love and victory?

 

As we reflect about these, let us return to God, for it is time to let go of our sinful ways of life. But what is keeping us from returning to God? Today we are called not to die in our sins, rather, we should look up to the Cross of Christ and find the strength, love and mercy of God.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, your Son paid the price of our salvation on the cross and saved us from sin and death. As we resolve to embrace his mercy, may he change all the ugly situations in the country, societies and our families. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. It's a beautiful day, so cheer up, because God cares about you personally.

Homily For Monday Fifth Week of Lent Year A, 27th March, 2023

Readings: Dan. 13:1-9.15-17.19-30.33-62, Ps. 23, John:8:1-11

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

 

THE CONSEQUENCES OF FALSE ACCUSATION AND GOD’S MERCIFUL INTERVENTION

 

One of the things that separate us from God and one another is sin. It is that which is opposed to God. Sin no doubt has left an ugly legacy on human history. This is evident in our readings today. In the first reading we heard the popular story of Susanna, an innocent and faithful woman, who was blackmailed by two respected elders who lusted over her and wanted to commit sin with her.

 

Susanna stood her ground and refused to submit to those men’s desires, and she almost lost her life to false accusation as the two elders abused their authority to falsely accuse Susanna of adultery and promiscuity while it was their own sins that led them to condemning her. But through God’s Spirit and Wisdom Daniel rose up and defended Susanna, forcing the two elders to reopen the investigation when they had almost succeeded in silencing her by condemning her to death. At this point, Daniel trapped the two elders in their own words and false testimonies, and they were convicted by their own words.

 

Also a similar situation occurred in our Gospel passage today, where we heard how the Pharisees led a woman caught in the act of adultery to Jesus, condemning her to death by stoning in accordance to the Jewish customs and laws, and they attempted to use her as a test for Jesus, hoping that through his response they would trapped him. This is because they know that if Jesus had condemned the woman, then the people could then say that Jesus was following the example of the Pharisee and therefore discredit his teaching authority. And if Jesus said that the woman should be set free, the Pharisees then could condemn Jesus for siding with a sinner.

 

Here again the wisdom and mercy of God vindicated the woman, when Jesus asked for those who had no sin to cast the first stone on the woman. This is perfectly wise set of words to say in that occasion as it is a reality that every one has sinned before, and the longer that one has lived, the more sins naturally he or she had committed. So they went away one by one, beginning with the eldest, until Jesus was left alone with the woman, who remained standing there. He looked up and said, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ ‘No one, sir’ she replied. ‘Neither do I condemn you,’ said Jesus ‘go away, and do not sin any more'.

 

Dear friends, here we experience the consequences of false accusation and God's merciful intervention. Such is the love and mercy of God for each one of us. This shows the fact that God loves us all, and his love for us is even greater than the hatred he has on our sins. And for all those who have faith in him and put their trust in him, God will provide for them and protect them, just as he did to Susanna and this adulterous woman.

 

So, God wants us all to repent and be cleansed from our sins, our wickedness, immorality, corruption and selfishness. He is repeating the same words he told the adulterous woman, that she had been forgiven and yet, she must not sin again. Telling us that sin is something that we must struggle to overcome daily, knowing that God is ever loving and merciful towards us, but we must not take his love and mercy for granted and continue to live in the state of sin.

 

Therefore, as we approach the Holy week, Jesus uses these examples to explain to us how God searches for us when we are lost in sin and his joy when our friendship with him is restored. His searching for us cost him his life. This can help us realize how precious we are to him. He never gives up on anyone.

 

So, are we lost in sin? Have we given up in our struggle against sin? Do you think that your sins are so great that God cannot forgive you? Do you feel lost now? Are you condemned or accused falsely? Are you accusing someone falsely? Are you setting someone up by using the sinful weakness of others? Is time to repent for Jesus is waiting for us to come back to him. When was the last time you sincerely fill sorry for your habitual sins?  I just want you to know that God loves you and his mercy will not let you be condemned by sin for you are too precious to be lost in sin.

 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, you never stopped saving those who come to you for mercy, especially when we have separated ourselves from you because of sin. As we embrace your words today. May we experience your mercy once again in our lives. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful week ahead.