Homily For Tuesday Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 4th July, 2023

Readings: Gen. 19:15-29; Ps. 26; Matt 8:23-27

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

 

WHY ARE YOU SO FRIGHTENED, YOU MEN OF LITTLE FAITH?

 

The Fisher men and the Marine men who are into 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.

 

With this heavy storm 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, ‘Save us, Lord, we are perishing!’ And he said to them, ‘Why are you so frightened, you men of little faith?’ And with that he stood up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and all was calm again. 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 storm is a symbol of heavy persecutions and suffering by the people of God. And Jesus is saying: why are you so frightened, you men of little faith.

 

Today Jesus is calling us to journey on this boat of life with an unwavering faith and a repented heart, because the world is being tossed around by the waves of 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, just like Lot and his family in our first reading today. For the angels urged Lot, ‘Come, take your wife and these two daughters of yours, or you will be overwhelmed in the punishment of the town of Sodom and Gomorrah and so they escaped the destruction.

 

Dear friends, why are you so frightened by the storms of this passing world? Why is your faith shaking because of your present situation? Though, 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. I do know if you are in the town of Sodom and Gomorrah. I don’t know if you are heading to destruction? All I know is that with great faith in God, the heavy storms in our lives will become calm, for Jesus and his angels will surely rebuke the violent storms in our hearts so that we can experience once again the calmness of safety, peace and joy.

 

LET US PRAY: O God. As we struggle everyday to overcome the ugly situation around us, grant that the violent storms and waves of bondage in our lives will end in a wonderful calm that brings peace in our souls, through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you a fruitful and joyful day

Homily For Monday Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year, 3rd July, 2023. The Feast of St Thomas the Apostle

Readings: Eph. 2:19-22, PS 117:1.2, John 20:24-29

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

HAPPY ARE THOSE WHO HAVE NOT SEEN AND YET BELIEVE

 

In our world today there are great reasons why people may possibly have doubts about their faith in God and in Jesus. Because following the ugly attitude of deception, manipulation, exaggeration, corruption and flamboyant life style of false prophets and preachers in our societies, these can really make it difficult for people to become true and faithful believers in our world today.

 

Little wonder, people are scandalized by the actions and behaviour of some believers. Some have given up their faith, some are about to give up, some are just confused while a lot of people are just holding on to the little faith they have based on their little personal experience and encounter with the Divine. This disposition can be likened to that of St. Thomas whose feast we are celebrating today.

 

St. Thomas, one of the great Apostles of Jesus, journeyed with Jesus and experienced his great miracles, listened to his teaching, witness his passion and death. But as his faith could not bear it, he doubted the resurrection of Jesus based on other people's testimony. He could not believe it because it is too real to be true, so he sort for a personal experience and encounter with Jesus.

 

As a result of this, Jesus appeared to him in the occasion of our Gospel passage today and said to him: Thomas, ‘put your finger here; look, here are my hands. Give me your hand; put it into my side. Doubt no longer but believe.’ Thomas replied, ‘My Lord and my God!’ Jesus said to him you believe because you can see me. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe’. Here Jesus offered the scars side of his wounds for the disbelieving disciple to touch and so healed the wound of his disbelief.

 

Through this personal encounter of the risen Lord, he believed; looking at one who was true man, he cried out that this is God, the God he could not see. So, faith is no longer necessary, all that matters now for Thomas is to share his personal experience with everyone who cares to listen.

 

Tradition has it that, at the dispersal of the Apostles after Pentecost, Thomas was sent to evangelize the Parthians, Medes, and Persians; he ultimately reached India, sharing his experience and carrying the Faith to the Malabar coast, which still boasts a large native population calling themselves "Christians of St. Thomas.” He shed his blood for what he is convinced of. He was speared to death at a place called Calamine.

 

But, what about you and I who today have experienced the Lord, having journeyed with Jesus as long as we have come to embrace the Christian faith. What can we say about our personal encounter and experience of the person of Jesus. Are we really convinced about the faith we profess, are we still at the level of faith based on what we hear or read about Jesus? Or have we really and truly encounter the person of Jesus in such a way that our faith has no doubt anymore, such that we can truly say like St. Thomas "My Lord and My God"? The fact remains that we need to personally experience the rising Lord if we are to bear authentic witness.

 

Dear friends, today we are encouraged to believe without seeing, but this can really be very difficult in a world of empiricism, yet we are still called to truly embrace this faith without doubting despite all the ugly human attitudes that are kicking against our faith. For Jesus said to Thomas, blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe. Therefore, we need to support each other. We need to strengthen our community life especially during this difficult moment in our country and world at large.

 

This is necessary, because the first Christians supported one another by praying, worshipping and sharing the word of God and their resources together. And St Paul in our first reading encouraged us to remain faithful and strong, for we are no longer aliens or foreign visitors in the affairs of God: rather we are citizens like all the saints, and part of God’s household. For we are part of a building that has the apostles and prophets for its foundations, and Christ Jesus himself is the main cornerstone. Thus, let us unite together as believers and bear authentic witness to our faith.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we struggle in this dark and trial moment in our lives, when your presence seems far away from the world, help us through the intercession of St Thomas, never to doubt whatever you have revealed through your son. May we rather be steadfast in faith, joyful in hope and untiring in loving you and our neighbours, especially in this time when the Gospel is under all kinds of threats by faithless and ignorant people. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful week.

Homily For Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A, 2nd July , 2023.

Reading: 1Kings 4:8-11.14-16; Ps.89; Rom. 6:3-4.8-11; Matt. 10:37-42

Rev.  Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

 

THE SACRIFICIAL NATURE OF DISCIPLESHIP AND THE REWARD FOR HOSPITALITY

 

The second stanza of one of our great  hymn titled The Summons written John L. Bell in 1987 say:

Will you leave your self behind if I but call your name?

Will you care for cruel and kind and never be the same?

Will you risk the hostile stare should your life attract or scare?

Will you let me answer prayer in you and you in me?

 

This hymn contains personal questions asked by Jesus to every individual human person. A question that one will have to answer personally especially as regards the demands for a sacrificial life of discipleship and hospitality. Will you leave? We you care? Will you risk? Will you let the Lord to lead you?

 

These are questions of great demands which a true disciple must constantly reflect through in life in order to be aware of the seriousness of the commitment required of him/her as disciple of Jesus. This great demand is presented to us in our liturgy today as the readings propel us to reflect on the cost of discipleship and the rewards for hospitality.

 

In our Gospel passage, Jesus says to his apostles: “Anyone who prefers father or mother to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who prefers son or daughter to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who does not take his cross and follow in my footsteps is not worthy of me. Anyone who finds his life will lose it; anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it.” He also commanded saying:  ‘If anyone gives so much as a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is a disciple, then I tell you solemnly, he will most certainly not lose his reward.’

 

Here Jesus is not saying we should negate the fourth commandments or not love our parents or our children. Rather Jesus is making it very clear that for us to truly live out the message of the Gospel we must be ready to make great sacrifice of that which is so dear to us. This is because the life of the Gospel will inevitably come into conflict with the things of this world and this will in a way bring tension and separation between family members, friends, parents and siblings.

 

However, those willing to sacrifice their lives for the sake of Christ and the Gospel will gain eternal life as their rewards while those who would choose to save their own mortal lives in this world rather than sacrificing them for the sake of the kingdom of God will lose their soul for eternity. And for those who will be hospitable to people who have embraced the life of the Gospel, they will surely receive great rewards.

 

 This is evident in our first reading today, where we read how the hospitality of a woman to prophet Elisha brought about the great gift of a child to her. This woman showed her hospitality to the servant of God without having any selfish or ulterior motive but was simply demonstrating her God-fearing attitude and care for God’s prophet. Such is God’s way of rewarding our great act of charity and sacrifice towards the vessels he uses to fulfill his mission.

 

This no doubt is what St. Paul in our second reading today highlights, telling us that by the virtue of our baptism, all of us have died to sin and have been raised to newness of life as God’s vessels, His own beloved children, sharing in the mission of His beloved Son, Jesus Christ, thereby cable for giving and receiving hospitality and the rewards that comes from such great sacrificial love for God and for humanity.

 

Dear friends today we are called to reflect on the sacrificial nature of discipleship and the rewards for hospitality. But how far are we willing to sacrifice for the sake of discipleship? This task no doubt is quite difficult, therefore, to embrace it we must desire to have Jesus as our only master, we must be disposed to respond to the call of the master and taking instructions from him alone. We must be willing to sacrifice and pay the ultimate prize of following Jesus. We must desire to  acquire the mind of our Master Jesus by spending quality time with him along with other fellow disciples and finally  we must invite other people to Jesus.

 

This is quite demanding, we need the grace, strength and courage that comes from the Holy Spirit and this is possible only through constant prayer and holiness of life. Therefore, as we embrace the call of discipleship, let us leave ourselves behind in sacrifice, let us care for the cruel and kind and never be the same, let us risk the hostile stare and should our life attract or scare, let it be a sign of Christ dwelling in us and we in him, so that, like the first disciples of Christ, we may receive the great rewards of eternal life.

 

PRAYER: Lord God, you have called us to follow you as your disciples,  grant us the grace and courage to pay the prize of discipleship and receive the rewards of eternal life through Christ our Lord. Amen Happy Sunday.

Homily For Saturday Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 1st July , 2023. Happy New Month

Reading: Gen. 18:1-5; Ps. Lk.1:46-55 ; Matt. 8:5-17

Rev.  Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

 

CULTIVATING AN ACT OF FAITH AND GENUINE HUMILITY IN PRAYER LIKE THE ROMAN CENTURION

 

In our Catechism classes, we were taught that faith is a gift of God, a supernatural virtue infused in us by God. Little wonder our level of faith are not the same. However, our gift of faith grows depending on our disposition and utilization of the gift. That is why, when Jesus invites people to faith and conversion, he does not coerced them, rather they come to faith through their good disposition and utilization of their experience with him.

 

This is exactly the case with the Roman centurion in our Gospel passage today, who sorts help for his sick servant, he approached Jesus for healing, but when Jesus accepted to come to his home, the centurion hesitates, feeling unworthy of Jesus’ presence in his home, said to him “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed”. 

 

Here the centurion believes that Jesus can speak a word of healing, and that will be enough to cure his servant. He has total faith and trust in the power of Jesus’ word. For him, the servant did not even have to hear Jesus speak the word: it was enough that the word was spoken. Jesus praised his faith and genuine humility. Today, these words of the centurion has become a pattern of prayer for us, that before Holy Communion we say it passionately because, his faith and compassion are inspiring example for us to follow.

 

This is exactly the kind of faith that all of us must have as well. The faith that leads us to seek God wholeheartedly, to be humble before Him and to love Him above all and not to allow our pride, ego and desires lead us into faithlessness, disobedience and sin against God.

 

We are also called to trust God at all times for He is always ready and able to help us just as He did to Abraham and Sarah in our first reading today. For when he visited them childless in their old age and his said: “Is anything too wonderful for the Lord? At the same time next year I shall visit you again and Sarah will have a son”.

 

Dear friends, what is our disposition towards the gift of faith that God has given to us? Do we have total faith and trust in God just like the Centurion and Abraham and his wife Sarah? The fact remains that our experiences of evil, injustice, suffering and death can shake or shape the gift of faith in us depending on our disposition towards the situation.

 

Remember, the Centurion interceded for his sick servant, do we intercede for others who are in need of God’s healing and mercy? Do we know that we can speak God’s word in prayer and someone, somewhere, will find healing? Do we often like this Centurion, recognize in all humility our unworthiness before God?  We are called today to cultivate an act of faith and genuine humility in prayers just like the Roman Centurion.

 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, we are weak and oftentimes we display an act of faithlessness due to the pressure and challenges of life. Through the intercessions of our Mother Mary, may the Lord increase our faith and make us humble and patience in doing His will. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful Month.

Homily For Friday Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 30th June, 2023

Reading: Gen. 17:1.9-10.15-22; Ps.128; Matt. 8:1-4

Rev.  Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

 

DO NOT GIVE UP IN YOUR DAILY STRUGGLES FOR GOD IS WILLING TO HELP YOU

 

The compassionate love of Jesus in solidarity with human suffering is evident in the scriptures and even in our daily lives.  Little wonder, we have great events in the scriptures that illustrates the compassionate concern of God in the struggles of humanity and wishes to set us free from the shackles of all our troubles.

 

This is evident in our readings today. In the first reading, we heard about God’s promise to bless Abraham and Sarah with a child even in their old age. For God said to Abraham, “As for Sarai your wife, you shall not call her Sarai, but Sarah. I will bless her and moreover give you a son by her.

 

Abraham bowed to the ground and laughed, thinking to himself, ‘Is a child to be born to a man one hundred years old, and will Sarah have a child at the age of ninety?’ But God replied, your wife Sarah shall bear you a son whom you are to name Isaac”. This shows that what seems impossible becomes possible when God is involved.

 

In a similar way in our Gospel passage today, we heard how a leper having listened to Jesus speaking on the mountain, came up and bowed low in front of him and said ‘Sir, if you want to, you can cure me.’ Jesus stretched out his hand, touched him and said, ‘Of course I want to! Be cured!’ And his leprosy was cured at once.

 

Here the touching of Jesus is very significant. No ordinary person would dare to touch a leper. We can think of the inner healing that must have resulted from the touch of Jesus, that moment of physical contact, which the leper had not experienced for a long time due to rejection. Touch is something we all need, but are so often lacking in our relationship with God and one another. But this cannot stop Jesus from reaching out to his children who call on him for healing and restoration.

 

Thus, the leper was despised, feared, shunned and rejected, but when he approached Jesus in humility, he became the object of divine attention. We too just like the leper, are in need of healing, including the healing that comes from the touch of Jesus, all we need is to approach Jesus in humility and we will become a person of divine attention.

 

More so, the story of this leper is a good example of how we sinners can and should appeal to Jesus for cleansing especially from our sins. We should come in faith knowing that God is always willing to cleanse every sinner who comes to Him.

 

So, let us sincerely turn to God once again with all of our hearts and with all of our strength, just like the leper who came to Jesus with faith, knowing that he could heal him and make him better. This is what all of us must have as well, a strong and genuine faith. Today may be my great opportunity to be restored and what is needed is to put my faith in action and say Lord if you will you can restore me.

 

Dear friends, I don’t know what type of leprocious problems you are passing through? Are you weigh down by sin or sickness? Are you feeling helpless and rejected?  Or do I know people who are helpless and need some help? Do I feel the need of Jesus’s help in some part of my life? Let us pause for a moment and imagine Jesus looking at us. How does he sees us? What are you saying to him and what is he saying to you.

 

Friends, Jesus wishes to set us free from sickness, troubles challenges and manipulations from the evil ones. He desires to be with us as we struggle everyday to overcome the challenges in our families, society and the world at large. Therefore, we should not be afraid to approach Jesus for healing and restoration, all we need is an active faith like the leper in our Gospel passage today.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, you know our inner most being and challenges we are facing today, come to our aid we pray and cleanse us from all our physical, emotional and spiritual leprosy. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Peace be with you.

Homily For Thursday Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 29th June, 2023. The Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul

Reading: Acts. 12:1-11; Ps. 34; 2 Tim. 4:6-8.17-18; Matt. 16:13-19

Rev.  Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

 

DISCOVERY YOUR ROLE IN THE MISSIONARY MANDATE OF CHRIST JUST LIKE SAINTS PETER AND PAUL

 

Today the Holy Mother Church presents to us the solemnity of two great personalities in the missionary mandate of Christ to his Church. A solemn celebration that reveals to us that there is something deep and unique about every person as regards to the master plans of God for humanity.

 

But sometimes it takes personal experience to discover this uniqueness. I don't know if you have ever had an experience that made you think about your purpose on this earth as you realize the emptiness of this life. A kind of experience that turns pride into humility, sinfulness into righteousness, an experience that changes your perspective about things or people?

 

This is the kind of experience Saints Peter and Paul had with Jesus on different occasions that made them change their perception of life as they embraced their mission and mandate from Jesus. Their very encounter with Jesus brought a great transformation. Thus Simon left his fishing profession and became a Fisher of men and a preacher of the word of God with a new name Peter the Rock on which Jesus build his Church, the same thing with St. Paul.

 

This is evident in our Gospel passage today, where Peter demonstrated an act of faith as he gave an inspired answer to the question about the personality of Jesus. And Jesus stresses that Peter's faith is a gift from the Father when he said: “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven. And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven."

 

Here the key represents the authority to open the gate of the Kingdom of Heaven, and to judge whether to admit or to refuse. While the expression “binding and loosing” refers to the doctrinal decisions and disciplinary power of St Peter, that is, the faculty to impose and to lift, a guarantees that Peter’s decisions in the exercise of his ecclesial function are valid in the eyes of God.

 

And that is why in the iconographic tradition we see the keys in the hand of Peter,  because, the faith given to Peter by God is the rock on which Jesus built his Church. This is what St Peter expressed in our first reading today when he said: “Now I know that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod and from all that the Jewish people were so certain would happen”.

 

Meanwhile, Paul’s encounter brought true conversion in his life and changed his perspective about Christians with a new identity, changing his name from Saul to Paul. A name indicating his new mission as the Apostle of the Gentiles. Little wonder the iconographic tradition represents St. Paul with a sword. The image of the sword refers to his entire mission of evangelization and that was the instrument with which he was killed.

 

No doubt that St. Paul carried out his mission with all his zeal and passion that he is regarded as one of the apostles and today his works still speak about the effect of his personal encounter with Jesus. Hence, we heard him saying in our second reading: I have fought the good fight to the end; I have run the race to the finish; I have kept the faith; all there is to come now is the crown of righteousness reserved for me, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that Day; and not only to me but to all those who have longed for his appearing.

 

Thus, the relationship between Peter and Paul is designed by God for the purpose of the mission entrusted to them. Their lives are symbol of unity in one missionary mandate of Christ. For St. Peter was entrusted with the leadership of all the Apostles and Church, while St. Paul was empowered and entrusted with the mission to the Gentiles (Gal.2:8). For this mission they both suffered martyrdom for the faith and their love for God and the mission entrusted to them by Jesus. 

 

This very sacrificial life of love is what we are celebrating today, as being represented in different images and statues of Saints Peter and Paul as seen in front of Saint Peter’s Basilica, in the seminaries and in parishes, of which they are easily recognizable by their respective attributes: the keys in the hand of St. Peter and the sword held by St. Paul, showing us the fraternal zeal and unity of these two Apostles on their way to martyrdom for the love of Christ.

 

Dear friends, we are called to look into our lives and discover our role in the mission of Christ just like Saints Peter and Paul. We must also learn to be united in one missionary mandate of Christ Just like Peter and Paul. We must not encourage or be part of the ugly events of division, manipulation and multiplication of Churches going on in Christianity today. Though, we are blessed with different gifts and apostolates, these are meant for the unity and growth of the mission of Christ and not to bring divisions.

 

Therefore, today we are called to really examine our conscience to know where we are with regards to our faith as Christians, we are called to be convinced of who we are and the need to truly unite together in God and His Church entrusted to St. Peter of which the get of underworld shall not prevail against it.

 

LET US PRAY: Almighty and ever living God, as we begin our day with the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, create in us we pray, a pure heart and renew a steadfast spirit of true faith within us, so that your Church may truly be united as one. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful day.

Homily For Wednesday Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 28th June, 2023. The Memorial of St. Irenaeus

Reading: Gen. 15:1-12.17-18; Ps.105; Matt. 7:6.15-20

Rev.  Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

 

AS GOD'S PROPHETS WHAT KIND OF FRUITS ARE WE KNOWN FOR?

 

 A tree is known to be either good or bad, healthy or sick by the fruit it produces. In the same way the human heart is known to be either good or bad, holy or sinful, sincere or corrupt by the fruit of our words and actions rooted in our character. Thus, in our societies today there are many false influential powers that have great effect in our lives coming from various sources under the guise of good but are in fact leading us astray. Everyday many false prophets and teachers are increasing and are deceiving the people. So, there is need for us to examine these influences.

 

Little wonder Jesus in our Gospel passage today said: “Beware of false prophets who come to you disguised as sheep but underneath are ravenous wolves. You will be able to tell them by their fruits. For a sound tree produces good fruit but a rotten tree bad fruit. A sound tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor a rotten tree bear good fruit. Any tree that does not produce good fruit is cut down and thrown on the fire. I repeat, you will be able to tell them by their fruits.”

 

Here, Jesus is calling our attention to ugly situation in our societies today, where false prophets and teachers are deceiving people. He tells us to be careful and discern to know false prophets from true ones. He made us to know that by the fruits they bear we shall know them.

 

For a true prophet draws what is good from the store of goodness in his heart; while a false prophet draws what is bad from the store of his bad thoughts. Because a man’s words flow out of what fills his heart. So it is not sufficient to speak about God, we must practice what we speak. We must let the Word of God touch and shape our lives so that we can bear good and healthy fruit.

 

Dear friends, as God’s prophets what kind of fruits are we known for? For the ugly attitude of deception, manipulation, exaggeration, corruption and flamboyant life style of false prophets and preachers in our societies today can really make it difficult for people to become true and faithful believers in our world today.

 

Little wonder, people are scandalized by the actions and behaviour of some preachers and teachers. Some have given up their faith, some are about to give up, some are just confused while a lot of people are just holding on to the little faith they have based on their little personal experience and encounter with the Divine.

 

So, let us learn from St. Irenaeus whose memorial we celebrate today. For he was someone who understood that following the Lord requires giving up everything that one cherishes. He was a holy bishop, a true servant of God, and martyr of the Church. He was known for his great piety and many important works on theology and defended the faithful from heresies even at the cost of his life, for he followed the rigorous path to success and also passed through great persecution without making excuses. He was a true prophet.

 

Therefore, we must be very wise for many false prophets are operating under the power of the devil. Let us come to Jesus who has promised us the Spirit of truth that will give us a special sign for distinguishing true doctrine and true teachers from the false ones.

Hence, let us constantly ask the Holy Spirit to give us the grace of discernment in order to distinguish between good and false prophets and teachers. Let us also be true Christians by our way of life, words and deeds. Let us learn to put our trust in God just like Abram in our first reading today, for God has promised to keep us from falling away from the true faith we have found in His Son Jesus.

 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, our societies are full of deception, false prophets and teachers, send us the Spirit of truth to discern the truth from the false. Through the intercession if St. Irenaeus, may we always stand and witness to the truth we have found in Jesus against all the false influential prophets and teachers in our society today. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful day.