Homily For Fifth Sunday of Easter, Year A, 7th May, 2023

Readings: Acts.6:1-7; Ps.33; 1 Pet. 2:4-9;  John 14:1-12

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

 

WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT IS YOUR TRUE IDENTITY?

 

Identity is one of the important things in human existence, the human identity is made up of the physical composition of the body and soul in relation to the environment and scientists tell us that humanity is one among the many living things on earth. Thus individual human identity is rooted in the identifications of what each associates his/herself with.

 

More so, all identity is ultimately in relationship with something else. For instance, if a person identifies his/herself with a group of people or thing, such a person becomes part of that group or thing and that becomes the person's identity. So the questions we need to ask ourselves today are what is my identity? Who am I identifying myself with? What is my true and ultimate identity?

 

These are fundamental questions because they points out to the fundamental reality of who we are and what we have identified ourselves  with. A lot of people do not know who they are or what they have identified themselves with. A lot of people today are sufferings and struggling because they do not know who they are and the identity they bear. Some have misplaced their identity with some thing else, some are putting on an identity that doesn’t belong to them.

 

Today the fifth Sunday of Easter, the Church through our readings presents to us our true and ultimate identity as we have it in our second reading which says: you are a living stone, a chosen race, a royal Priesthood, a Holy nation, God’s own people. And in our Gospel passage, Jesus tell us that he is the Way, the Truth and the Life. While in our first reading, we heard how seven good men were chosen as ministers to serve the people and this becomes their personal identity.

 

Today, all of us who are called Christians bear the identity of Christ who is the way, the Truth and the Life and are called to turn our focus on him as our Lord and Saviour and put our faith and trust fully in him. No doubt that our Lord Jesus has shown us his true identity. He has shown us the ultimate proof of his love for us through his suffering, crucifixion, death and resurrection and this identity is what we are to present to the whole world in words and deeds.

 

Therefore as a living stone, a chosen race, a royal Priesthood, a Holy nation, God’s own people, we are called to really examine our conscience to know if we have actually embrace this identity as regards to our vocation as Christians. How have we personally identified ourselves with the identity of Jesus as  the way, the Truth and the Life? For in him we find our true identity.

 

 

But, are we still like the disciples who before the resurrection do not know neither their identity nor the true identity of Jesus, as they were not able to fully comprehend at first all that they have heard and witnessed from Jesus? They did not yet fully comprehend the identity of Jesus as God incarnate in the flesh. That was why Philip asked Jesus to show them the Father and they will be satisfied. But after the resurrection and ascension of Jesus, the disciples through the power of the Holy Spirit embrace their true identity and they proclaimed the good news to all.

 

Though very few, they began the Church and many more came to believe and identified with them through their courageous preaching and testimony of their faith in Jesus. They gave up their lives and became martyrs of the Church. They  died defending the faith and identity they have found in Jesus and his Church. They left us with the true identity of the Christian faith.

 

Dear friends, our identity is one of the most important thing to the society. We are often quick to identify ourselves with people or disassociate ourselves with people because of the value we hold as our identity. But the surprising thing is that most people do not know their true identity. Many people spend their entire live without knowing who they really are.

 

So friends I ask you, Who are you? What is your identity? What is the source of your identity? Whose identity are you putting on now? Why are you putting on someone else identity? Why have you misplaced your identity. What is your  purpose on this earth? To discover these, we must ensure that we cooperate with God's plan for us and identify ourselves in him. For he made us to know that we are living stone, a chosen race, a royal Priesthood, a Holy nation, God’s own people.

 

The fact remains that every human person has a special role to play in the Master plan of God and this gives us our true identity. But the questions are, how are we playing this role? Are we playing according to the master plan or against it? Are we confuse about who we are and our role in this master plan of God? Have we deviated from our true identity.

 

Today, there are division, manipulation and multiplication of Churches because people have lost the true identity of the Christian faith as a result of sin, selfishness and pride of people who wish to use the name of Jesus to achieve their selfish desires. Therefore, it’s time for us to embrace and defend our true and ultimate identity which we have found in Jesus and his Church. For by the virtue of our baptism we share in that great Identity of the Church as a living stone, a chosen race, a royal Priesthood, a Holy nation, God’s own people. That’s who we are, that’s who we are called to be, when we follow Jesus who is the Way, the Truth and the Life.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, in you we have our true and ultimate identity, grant we pray that your Church will continue to uphold the true and ultimate identity of your Son Jesus who is the way, the Truth and the Life. So that, through our baptism we may courageously defend our faith and our identity as a living stone, a chosen race, a royal Priesthood, a Holy nation, God’s own people. Amen. Do have a grace-filled Sunday.

Homily For Saturday Fourth Week of Easter Year A, 6th May, 2023

Readings: Acts. 13:44-52; Ps.98; John 14:7-14

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

 

WHAT IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP GOD THE FATHER THROUGH JESUS?

 

The use of the imagery of Father and Son by Jesus is one of the means, Jesus used to explain his relationship with God. But oftentimes, the people and even his disciples find it difficult to understand the systematic fashion of this relationship. So in our Gospel passage today, Jesus tried to explain this relationship to his disciples when he said to them: If you know me, you know my Father too. From this moment you know him and have seen him.

 

Curiously, Philip said, ‘Lord, let us see the Father and then we shall be satisfied'. But Jesus said: you must believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; I tell you most solemnly, whoever believes in me will perform even greater works, because I am going to the Father and whatever you ask for in my name I will do it.

 

Here Jesus is saying that if we want to know God and understand his ways in relation to humanity, all we need to do is to look at him (Jesus) as the Son of the Father who has come to reveal the true image of God to humanity. We are to observe what he does, listen to what he teaches, watch how he behaves, what and who he loves, what he rejects or defends. For by so do we will discover God in him because as the Son, he is the true human image of God. He is one with the Father in unity of existence and life and this is evidence in the Words he spoke and the works he performed.

 

Consequently,  those who believe in him are endowed with the power of the Holy Spirit and will do greater works then he has done. For he has gone to the Father and whatever they ask in his name he will do it, because they will be asking in accordance with the Holy Spirit in union with the name of the very person of Jesus whose request the Father will always grant.

 

Dear friends, the questions we need to ask ourselves today are: what is my relationship with Jesus and God the Father? Do we really believe in God as our Father? Do we personally and truly know and believe in Jesus? Have we any personal experience of the power of the Holy Spirit. The truth is that we can only do great work in his name when we have a personal experience and encounter with the risen Lord, just like the disciples who where filled with the joy of the Holy Spirit and spoke out boldly to the people about the good news of Jesus and when they where rejected out of jealousy by the Jews as we have it in our first reading, they turned to the gentiles who embraced the good news with joy.

 

Therefore, I don’t know what you want God to do for you, I don’t know that pray points you recite everyday, I don’t know how deep your requests are. All I know is that if we truly have a personal relationship with Jesus and believe in him, we are going to be endowed with the power of the Holy Spirit and will do greater works then he has done for he has gone to the Father. And whatever we ask in his name he will do it, because we will be asking in accordance with the Holy Spirit in union with the name of the very person of Jesus, whose request the Father will always grant.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, in the celebration of Easter you graciously give to the world the gift of heavenly remedies, grant that we your children may have a personal experience of your presence in our lives, so that presenting our needs before you, we may find favour in your presence. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you a fruitful and peaceful weekend.

Homily For Friday Fourth Week of Easter Year A, 5th May, 2023

Readings: Acts. 13:26-33 ; Ps.2; John 14:1-6

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

 

IN JESUS WE FIND THE TRUTH AND THE WAY OUT OF OUR PREDICAMENTS IN THIS PASSING WORLD

 

With the ugly situation of things in our world, there are different grades of sufferings and problems in our societies today, that both the poor and the rich are testifying to it. Hence, we can fill the struggles, the tears, the disappointments that people are passing through everyday.

 

In fact, some people have lost hope in themselves and even in everything they do as they run up and down seeking for solutions. The poor are seeking for daily bread, upliftment and favour, the rich are seeking for protection and good health, while the evil ones are taking advantage of the situation to destroy the little faith of the people. The evil in the world is putting our faith to test and most people are giving in to their scheme as they are unable to overcome them.

 

So today, Jesus in our Gospel passage said ‘Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God still, and trust in me.’ And he conclude by saying: ‘I am the Way, the Truth and the Life. No one can come to the Father except through me.’ Here, we have one of the most consoling words of Jesus to his disciples who were afraid after he had told them about his passion and what will happen to them as well. He reassured them that he will always be with them as he goes to prepare a place for them in his Father’s house.

 

In a similar way we heard in our first reading, the story of St Paul’s encouragement to the Jewish community in Antioch in Pisidia, telling them how the people in Jerusalem had treated Jesus so badly, rejecting him and condemning him to death, a most painful and humiliating death on the Cross, but God has turned all of that into joy and salvation, as everything had indeed been part of God’s plan of saving humanity. Therefore, Jesus is reminding us again the Covenant which God has made with us for He will not abandon us to destruction.

 

Dear friends, Jesus is indeed the Way, the Truth and the Life. In him we find the truth and the way out of our predicaments in this passing world. He is the only Way for us to pass through and overcome the ugly situation we find ourselves. He is the Truth that all of us should be following in order to unveil the lies, deceptions and evil that is going on in our world. He is the Life that we have all been seeking to have and protect. Thus, Jesus is saying to us, do not let your heart be troubled, trust in God and trust in me.

 

Therefore, all we need is to have a total faith and trust in God through Jesus who has assured us that he will not abandoned us in this ugly situation. Let us from now on, put our complete trust in God, knowing that in Him alone can we find the truth and a way out of the predicaments and trials we are facing in our world today. Let us be patient no matter how difficult our lives and conditions may have been at this moment, for God knows how best to handle the situation. Let us encouraged one another for it is our duty as Christians to bring hope to humanity especially in this most difficult moment in human history.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, You are the author of our lives, freedom and salvation, all we have are yours, thank you for being with us in our daily troubles, struggles, fears, tears, hope and joy, may you provide for the poor, console the troubled, heal the sick, protect and put simile on the faces of your children today and always. Amen. Do have a blessed day.

Homily For Thursday Fourth Week of Easter Year A, 4th May, 2023

Readings: Acts. 13:13-25 ; Ps.89; John 13:16-20

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

 

THE SPIRIT OF A TRUE DISCIPLE

 

A good follower of anyone is generally referred to as a disciple and a true disciple is simply a learner, a student of a teacher and the goal of such student is to become like the teacher. This does not mean that the disciple will become equal with the teacher, but will develop the same qualities and skills as that of the teacher.

 

So today, as Jesus continues with his instruction on what it means to be his followers in respect to the mission he is about to entrust to his disciples said to them after washing their feet: “truly, truly I say to you no servant is greater than his master, no messenger is greater than the man who sent him… whoever welcomes the one I send welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me”.

 

Thus, as we listened to the Scripture, we are reminded to follow the Lord and obey his ways, his teachings and ensure that we are walking in the path of truth that he has shown to us. Also, as disciples of Christ there is need to know the purpose of our life and mission which is to become like Jesus in deeds and in character, this is the spirit of a true disciple. By so doing, we will have confident that God will enable us to carry out the work that He has entrusted to us even when persecuted, knowing that neither men nor the devil can affect our soul.

 

A good example of a man who followed the example of Jesus as his Lord and Master is St. Paul, who in our first reading today demonstrated great courage and faith in Jesus. For as he visited the Jewish community in the city of Antioch in Pisidia in Asia Minor and was asked to speak to the people in the synagogue, he began by speaking of the coming of Jesus the true Messiah in whose name he has been preaching and travelling around the community. Paul began by reminding the people of God’s historical plan for the salvation of humanity, and how He had always guided His people from the time of Moses to the coming of the Messiah.

 

Therefore, as followers of Christ, we are reminded that we have also received the same message of truth and encouragement from the Lord through our faith in him. Now like St. Paul, we have to be courageous in following the instructions of our master Jesus especially at this difficult moment when so many people around the world are suffering from the effects of human wickedness, greed and corruption. Many people have lost their lives, their loved ones, their jobs. Some are isolated from people they loved, hunger and starvation have turned people to what they are not, fear and uncertainties have become the lot of the common man in the street, kidnapping and violence have become the order of the day.

 

Dear friends, in the midst of all these difficulties, we are called to be courageous, hopeful, steadfast and to share with others the massage of hope that we have received from the Lord. We are called to bring God’s light into the darkness of lies, deceit, corruption and greed in the world. Following the example of our Master Jesus, we are called to awaken hope once again in our lives, families and in the hearts of humanity. No doubt that this is a very difficult task, but we cannot run away from it. All we need to do is to stand on the strength of our hope and belief in God, so that in all our words, actions and deeds the power of God will be made present in our families and in the world through us.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we follow the example of Jesus our Lord and Master, grant we pray, the grace of courage and faith so that as your true disciples, we may have confidence to carry out your mission in the world, even in the midst of persecution, sufferings, sickness and death, knowing that your love and care for us surpass all our challenges. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed and peaceful day.

Homily For Wednesday Fourth Week of Easter Year A, The Feast of SS Philip and James, 3rd May, 2023

Readings: 1Cor 15:1-8; Ps.19;  John 14:6-14

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

 

DO WE TRULY KNOW THE LORD?

 

The main goal of discipleship is acquiring the mind of the master and the price to pay is desiring to obey and learn from the Master. This is clear with the use of the imagery of Father and Son by Jesus to explain his relationship with God the Father. But oftentimes, the people and even his disciples find it difficult to understand the systematic fashion of this relationship.

 

So in our Gospel passage today, Jesus tried to explain this relationship to his disciples when he said to them: I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, If you know me, you know my Father too. From this moment you know him and have seen him. Curiously, Philip said, ‘Lord, let us see the Father and then we shall be satisfied'. But Jesus said: you must believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; I tell you most solemnly, whoever believes in me will perform even greater works, because I am going to the Father and whatever you ask for in my name I will do it.

 

Here Jesus is saying that if we want to know God and understand his ways in relation to humanity, all we need to do is to look at him (Jesus) as the Son of the Father who has come to reveal the true image of God to humanity. We are to observe what he does, listen to what he teaches, watch how he behaves, what and who he loves, what he rejects or defends. By so doing, we will discover God in him because as the Son, he is the true human image of God. He is one with the Father in unity of existence and life and this is evidence in the Words he spoke and the works he performed.

 

Consequently, those who believe in him are endowed with the power of the Holy Spirit and will do greater works then he has done, for he has gone to the Father and whatever they ask in his name he will do it, because they will be asking in accordance with the Holy Spirit in union with the name of the very person of Jesus whose request the Father will always granted.

 

So today we celebrate the feast of SS Philip and James, two great Apostles of our Lord Jesus, who laboured and worked hard to serve the Lord and brought his Good News to different corners of the world. Tradition has it that, Philip evangelized and preached in places like Greece, Asia Minor and Syria. It was during one of his ministry, according to tradition, that he was martyred when along with Bartholomew, tried to convince the wife of the local ruler to convert to the Christian faith and the furious ruler ordered Philip and Bartholomew to be crucified upside-down.

 

But Philip asked his persecutors to release Bartholomew, which they did, but he himself remain on the cross, and there he died a martyr. In a similar way St. James  whom we celebrate today was often referred to as "St. James the Less" to distinguish him from the other apostle named James, who was the brother of John. James the Lesser as he was called, was also a devoted disciple of the Lord, who was credited with the evangelization and conversion of many peoples just like Philip and the other Apostles. He was also martyred in Egypt, where he worked greatly in spreading the Gospel and defending the faith he has found in Jesus.

 

So, why Philip and James share a feast day is because, for centuries, the Catholic Church had special feasts to honor only four of the apostles. While the Church memorialized the remaining apostles all together on June 29. But in the sixth century, the bodies of SS. Philip and James were brought to Rome from the East and were laid to rest in the Basilica of the Holy Apostles. Since they arrived together at the same location, the Church instituted a single feast day for both apostles.

 

Dear friends, the questions we need to ask ourselves today are: Do we truly know the Lord?  Do we really believe in God as our Father? Do we personally and truly know and believe in Jesus as the way, the truth and the life? Have we any personal experience of the power of the Holy Spirit. The truth is that we can only do great work in his name when we have a personal experience and encounter with the risen Lord, just like the disciples Philip and James who after experienced the risen Lord, sacrificed their lives for the sake of his Gospel.

 

Therefore, I don’t what your experience of the Lord has been? I don’t know what you want God to do for you, I don’t know that pray points you recite everyday, I don’t know how deep your requests are, all I know is that if we truly have a personal relationship with Jesus and believe in him as the way, the truth and the life, we are going to be endowed with the power of the Holy Spirit and will do greater works then he has done, for he has gone to the Father and has promised us that whatever we ask in his name he will do it.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we follow Jesus the way, the truth and the life, help us to carry out our responsibilities effectively, may we through the intercession of SS. Philip and James, have a personal experience of your presence in our lives, so that presenting our needs before you, we may find favour in your presence. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you a fruitful day.

Homily For Tuesday Fourth Week of Easter Year A, 2nd May, 2023. The Memorial of St. Athanasius

Readings: Acts. 11:19-26 ; Ps.87; John 10:22-30

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

 

ARE WE STILL CHRISTIANS IN NAME AND IN CHARACTER?

 

Giving a name to things is one of the habits and traditions of the human person. Little wonder Adam’s first assignment was to give names to what God has created. And throughout human history and even today a name is a powerful thing with great significant that can not be neglected. Names of things have deep meaning drawn from experiences that help define the reality surrounding such things.

 

So today in our first reading, the disciples of Jesus were for the first time given the name “Christian” in Antioch. But why a new name with a new word for these disciples of Christ in Antioch? Why was the name given by outsiders and why is the name different from other groups of the Jewish sect? From the reading, we heard that persecution forced many believers from Jerusalem to be scattered to various areas, as some from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to the Greeks, telling them the Good News about the Lord Jesus. The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord.

 

Thus, seeing that their devotion, passion, love, behaviour, activity, and speech were like that of Christ Jesus, they called them Christians. This is because it was common for the Greeks to give nicknames to particular groups based on their way of life in relation to their leader. So since this new group were characterized by behaviour and speech centered in Christ, they called them “Christians,” or “those of the party of Christ.” And in Antioch the disciples were first called Christians” because their behaviour, activity, and speech were like Christ.

 

Today, we are called Christians, followers of Christ, but are we still Christians in name and character? Are we really behaving like Christ?, Are we still having that devotion, passion, love, behaviour, activity, and speech like that of Christ and the early disciples? The disciples were scattered to various places due to persecution but everywhere they go they proclaimed the Good News of Jesus with their lives, are we doing the same today?

 

Dear friends, today we have the personal responsibility to ask ourselves, “What does the name Christian means to me? Am I living out the responsibility of the name Christian which I claim to bear? Does the name Christian speaks of my deep personal relationship with Jesus Christ? Do I perceive the name Christian from the world’s perspective today or for what it’s really means Christ-like people?

 

Remember, the people of Antioch gave the name to the disciples of Christ based on the experience of the reality they represent, but what name will the people of our society today give to us based on how we have represented the reality of the name Christians? In fact, do you still belong and believe in the true meaning of the name Christians?

 

Hence, Jesus says in our Gospel passage today,  you do not believe, because you are no sheep of mine. The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice; I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life; they will never be lost and no one will ever steal them from me. So, let us learn to live our lives like true Christians as we are often called.

 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, grant we pray, that we may always find delight in bearing the name Christians even in the midst of persecutions and difficulties. Through the intercession of St. Athanasius, give us grace like the early disciples to bear authentic witness of the Good News of Jesus by our way of life, he who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. God bless you.

Homily For Monday Fourth Week of Easter Year A, 1 May, 2023. (Happy New Month)

Readings: Acts. 11:1-18 ; Ps.41; John 10:11-18

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

 

TRUE LEADERSHIP IS OBTAIN THROUGH SACRIFICAL LIFE OF LOVE

 

Leadership is one of the characteristics of the human person, it is that which makes us unique from every other creatures. It is a gift from God by which we serve Him and our neighbour responsibly. However, a critical look at what is happening in our world today, it is obvious that humanity are losing the true meaning and essence of leadership.

 

This is because we have failed to understand the true meaning and source of leadership and this can be seen in the kind of fruit we bear as leaders. The fruit of leadership in this generation is so complicated: leadership has become a tool for power tussle, selfishness, deception, greed, corruption and intimidation of people. For we have abandoned God who is the source and giver of true leadership skills and knowledge.

 

Hence, in our Gospel passage, while addressing the people on the good leadership qualities and attitudes, Jesus said: good shepherd is one who lays down his life for his sheep. While the hired man, since he is not the shepherd and the sheep do not belong to him abandons the sheep and runs away as soon as he sees a wolf coming, and then the wolf attacks and scatters the sheep. Then he continues by saying: I am the good shepherd; I know my own and my own know me, just as the Father knows me and I know the Father; and I lay down my life for my sheep.

 

Here, Jesus tells us that the attitude of a good leader is a life of sacrifice, love, care, discipline, mercy and knowledge of the sheep or people entrusted to the leader. And this is what Jesus demonstrated with his life. Showing us that love is the root of leadership. Without true love for the people, there will never be a leader to be called a good shepherd.

 

Therefore, today we are called to come back to the source of love, God himself, who teaches us that love is an attitude of a true leader that seeks the good of others despite how we feel about them. He teaches us to be merciful, just as he is merciful. Love in leadership is an attitude that is sacrificial, an attitude that forgives, an attitude that accommodates, preserves, heals and builds up others when every other thing fails. This is the kind of attitude in leadership that the world needs now, the attitude that comes from the pure love of God and neighbours.

 

Dear friends, how can humanity recover this leadership skills rooted in the power of love? How can we harness it to bear more fruit in our societies where it seem as if true leadership exist no more? This is possible when we realize that we are all products of love and are called to live out our essence, which is to love.  

 

We are called to be good examples to one another, imitating Jesus the Good Shepherd, who has been so loving and caring towards us. And these we are called to reciprocate to others, and by so doing we will finally reach that grazing ground where all who followed Jesus the good shepherd in simplicity of heart will feed on the green pastures of eternity in heaven.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we listen to your words today, may we embrace the attitudes and qualities of good leadership, knowing that in us resides that leadership of love that is lacking in our society today. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful Month