Homily For Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A, 9th July, 2023

Readings: Zechariah 9:9-10, PS. 145, Rom. 8:9.11-13, Matt. 11:25-30

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

 

WHY CARRYING YOUR BURDENS OF LIFE ALONE? THE LORD WANTS TO HELP YOU

 

Looking outside my window one morning, behold, I saw an Ant carrying a heavy load through a little hole on the wall. It seems to have been struggling all night to pass the load through the hole, which seems impossible.

 

Then I stretched out my hand and trimmed the load to the size of the hole and then placed it back for the Ant, who was still running round the hole looking for the load and immediately the Ant saw it, it grabbed the load and dragged it through the hole.

 

At this point my mind reflect on the words of Jesus in our Gospel passage today when he said: ‘Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.’  

 

Here, Jesus invites us who are burdened with the distresses and various trials of life, especially those who are wearied of the slavery of sin, the manipulations of the evil ones, the love of the world and the pursuit of its vanities, but now desire for reconciliation and peace with God. Jesus graciously says: take my yoke upon you and learn from me, shoulder your yoke of sin, sorrows and shame, and come to me and you will find rest for your soul.

 

The yoke here, is a metaphorical statement signifying the specific authority of Jesus towards the mission and obligations which he gives us to perform. So to ‘take his yoke’ upon us is to submit our wills to his authority in joyful obedience and daily imitation of his teachings.

 

This is what prophet Zechariah is calling us to do in our first reading today when he says: rejoice heart and soul, daughter of Zion! Shout with gladness, daughter of Jerusalem! See now, your king comes to you; he is victorious, he is triumphant, He will banish the bow of war and will proclaim peace for the nations. Here the Lord spoke of the coming of the good time when the people would no longer be divided, when the veil of shame and humiliation would be lifted from them and they will be restored and strengthened.

 

In this same vain, St. Paul reminds us in our second reading that we have all shared in the death of Christ through our baptism, and by His death, all of us have been redeemed. So, there is no need for us to live according to the flesh or engage on unspiritual ways of life. For if we live in that way, you are doomed to die; but if by the Spirit we put an end to the misdeeds of the body we will live with Christ.

 

Dear friends, the ugly condition in our societies today really places heavy burdens and stress on us, and often times these burdens are so heavy that we don’t know how to carry them. The worst of these burdens is the sorrows we bear in our hearts: sorrows caused by our sins, unhealthy relationship, unforgiveness, family problems and unactualized goals and dreams. Today Jesus invites us to come to him just as we are. For he recognizes the sorrows in our lives, how we labour and are overburdened.

 

This invitation opens a refreshing space in our soul, by inspiring hope and drawing us into his loving and gentle presence that bring peace and tranquility to our soul. Today, we are called to exchange our heavy worldly burdens with the light yoke of Heavenly graces. For Jesus wants to listen to all of our troubles, as he assures us that his yoke is easy and his burden is light.

 

So, what is that burden in your heart? What is that sorrow in your soul? What is that pain in your life? What are those unachieved plans, goals and mistakes that have become an injury in your life? What is that weakness of sin, sickness or failure that have made you to lost confidence in yourself and in God? The Lord is calling us to come to him and He will give us rest. For when we spend time with Jesus, we find rest for our souls because, he speaks to us in the silence of our hearts and gives us inner peace.

 

Therefore, why carrying your burdens, your heavy burdens alone like the Ant I saw in the morning? Why killing yourself for things you can not change? Why trying to satisfy people who can not be satisfied? Why trying to impress people who care less about you or your efforts? Why carry the burden that is not yours?

 

A lot of us are carrying burdens that are not ours. Burdens that are not necessarily, burdens of greed and selfishness. Burdens of the things of this passing world at the expense of the York of heavenly things. Why not bring those burdens and challenges before the Lord? For Jesus is willing to help you, for he promised that when we are troubled and turn to him, he will help us.

 

So let us trust in his word and shoulder the yoke of his authority, learn from him, so as to find rest for our soul. Let us learn from the Lord for he said ‘I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to mere children’. So today, God has reveal these things to us, let us learn from him. Remember, this life is very short and is vanity without God. Everything we toil for including our lives are vanity vanishing without God.

 

LET US PRAY: O God, we are so much attached to the heavy burdens of the sinful things of this passing world, give us the grace to let go of there grip on us, so that we can truly and faithful embrace the heavenly things, through Christ our Lord. Amen. God bless you.

Homily For Saturday of Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 8th July, 2023

Readings: Gen. 27:1-5.15-29; Ps. 135;  Matt 9:14-17

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

 

LET GO YOUR OLD LIFE OF SIN AND EMBRACE THE  NEW LIFE OF GRACE THAT THE LORD IS OFFERING US

 

Today our attention is drawn to the gift of New Life which Jesus is offering to humanity. A gift that differentiate his disciples from other people. This is evident in our Gospel passage today, where we read about the observation made by the disciples of John the Baptist concerning the relationship between Jesus and his disciples and their new ways of doing things. So they came to Jesus and asked him question regarding their manner of fasting and feasting. Jesus used this opportunity to educate them about the New Life of grace which he has come to offer humanity.

 

He said to them: Surely the bridegroom’s attendants would never think of mourning as long as the bridegroom is still with them? But the time will come for the bridegroom to be taken away from them, and then they will fast. For no one puts a piece of unshrunken cloth on to an old cloak, because the patch pulls away from the cloak and the tear gets worse. Nor do people put new wine into old wineskins; if they do, the skins burst, the wine runs out, and the skins are lost. No; they put new wine into fresh skins and both are preserved.

 

Here Jesus gave two responses to the question. First, people do not fast when they are in the company of the bridegroom which is a time for celebration. For Jesus is the groom and as long as he is around, it would be inappropriate for his disciples to fast.

 

However, a time will come when the groom will no longer be with them, then they will surely fast, telling us that fasting should be done at the right time for the right reasons. Moreover, being in relationship with Jesus is more important, because, what the bridegroom is to the bride, that what Jesus is to the souls of all who believe in him.

 

So, as his bride, he loves us with a deep and everlasting love. He pays all our debts to God; he supplies all our daily needs; he sympathizes with us in all our troubles; he bears with all our infirmities, and does not reject us because of our weaknesses. He regards us as part of himself:  We share in the glory that he has received from his Father. These are the privileges of all true Christians who are called to the heavenly kingdom. So Jesus is teaching us that the Kingdom of Heaven is not a matter of ritual or ceremonious fasting or feasting. But is about building a personal relationship with God who loves us personally and unconditionally.

 

In the second response, Jesus shows that he is bringing something totally new which should not be mixed with the old way of life. This he emphasized with the importance of pouring new wine into fresh wineskins and the need to avoid using new cloak to patch an old one.

 

Here the fresh wineskins refers to a new heart that has put off the old cloak of sin and looks forward to the new wine of grace through the process of conversion. This is totally different in the case of Isaac in our first reading today, who was deceived by Rebekah and Jacob to steal the blessing of Esau.

 

Dear friends, what is that old garment in our lives that we are patching with the new? What is that old wine of habitual sin that we are pouring into the new wine skins of our redeemed and purified soul? Today we are called to a fresh response towards embracing the New Life of grace which Jesus is offering us. We must not mix our old life of sin with the new life of grace Jesus is offering us. As we think about these, let us struggle to avoid our old sinful ways of life and fully embrace the new righteous way of life that God is offering us.

 

LET US PRAY: Almighty God, You are the source of our new life, grant us the grace of true and total conversion so as to find such great Joy in your abundant Life of grace and mercy, through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed and peaceful weekend.

Homily For Friday Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 7th July, 2023

Reading: Gen. 23:1-4.19;24:1-8.62-67; Ps. 106; Matt. 9:9-13

Rev.  Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

 

AS SINNERS CALLED FOR REPENTANCE, HOW ARE WE RESPONDING TO GOD'S CALLL?

 

There is no doubt that Jesus had been calling people from different works of life to be part of his mission, but today’s call and choice of Matthew a man identified with sinners because of his work as a tax collector, was quite strange to some people.

 

Little wonder in our Gospel passage today after Jesus had called Matthew to follow him, he had a dinner in his house and while at the dinner, it happened that a number of tax collectors and sinners came to sit at the table with Jesus and his disciples. This is because to follow Jesus, Matthew needs to abandon his lucrative job, knowing that he can never regain it. Also, he needs to cuts himself off from his old network of friends.

 

So, it seems likely that, in a spirit of joy, Matthew invites Jesus and his disciples for a great feast at his house. But the Pharisees felt bad and offended about Jesus sharing a meal with "sinners". So they complained to his disciples saying: “Why does your master eat with tax collectors and sinners?” When Jesus heard this he replied, “It is not the healthy who need the doctor, but the sick. Go and learn the meaning of the words: I desire mercy, not sacrifice. For I did not come to call the virtuous, but sinners.”

 

Here we heard the inner most desire of Jesus for sinful humanity in need of salvation. Because the call of Matthew is like the call of each of us, a choice that demonstrates Jesus' desire for sinners to repent. For all he desires is mercy and not sacrifices, repentance and not pride. Jesus is calling us to repentance, he is inviting us to make a fundamental choice for God just like St Matthew, who though sinner, rose up and followed Jesus at his call for repentance, we too are to respond to this invitation without delay.

 

Dear friends, as Christians who are called to follow the Lord, how are we responding to God's call? How are we relating with those we judge to be sinners, what efforts are we making to convert sinners? Therefore, we are called today to let St. Matthew be an inspiration and hope for every one of us. Let him be an example that will remind us that there is no one beyond the reach of God’s mercy and love.

 

For he is capable of transforming our ugly ways of life into a glorious instrument for human salvation just like Abraham and Isaac in our first reading today for the Lord consoled them with the gift of Rebekah Sarah who had passed on. Remember, Jesus desires mercy and not sacrifice and we are all invited to follow him along the way of salvation and not to condemn or judge anyone.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, despite our sinfulness, you called and chose us to be instrument of your salvation to all humanity. As we learn for St. Matthew, give us the grace to make good choices that will help us to respond positively to your call for repentance and evangelization. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.  Do have a fruitful day.

Homily For Thursday Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 6th July, 2023

Reading: Gen. 22: 1-19; Ps. 116; Matt. 9:1-8

Rev.  Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

 

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT JESUS HAS THE POWER AND AUTHORITY TO FORGIVE, HEAL AND RESTORE YOU?

 

The sin and evil going on in the world are putting our faith to the test and most people are giving in to the schemes of devil because they lack the strong will to withstand the suffering, sickness and problems that befall us as a result of this evil. People are running ups and down seeking for solutions. while the evil ones are taking advantage of the situation to destroy the faith of the people. In fact, one may begin to wonder if there is still hope for the restoration of humanity from this ugly situation. But the fact remains that God is able to heal and restore humanity once again.

 

This is evident in our Gospel passage today, when some people brought to him a paralytic stretched out on a bed. And seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, ‘Courage, my child, your sins are forgiven.’ But some scribes doubted his authority to forgive sins, and Jesus knowing what was in their minds said: ‘Why do you have such wicked thoughts in your hearts? Now, which of these is easier to say, “Your sins are forgiven,” or to say, “Get up and walk”? But to prove to you that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,’ he said to the paralytic, ‘get up, and pick up your bed and go off home.’ And the man got up and went home.

 

Here, we see that great faith is not hidden, it radiates from the innermost being of those who exercise it. Because of love, the friends of the paralytic man were moved with faith to bring their friend to Christ, they firmly believed that Jesus Christ could and would heal him. For a strong faith regards no obstacles in pressing after Christ. It was with humble and active faith that they brought him to Christ.

 

Thus, we can see the power and authority of Jesus towards the restoration of paralytic man carried by his friends. A gesture that signifies the restoration of humanity paralyzed by sin. So Jesus began by forgiving our sins. Though sin seems to be the root of the sickness. But sin may be pardoned, yet the sickness not be removed; the sickness may be removed, yet the sin not pardoned.

 

But for Jesus, healing is holistic for those who have faith in God. And this is what the scribes and the Pharisees failed to understand as they doubted and opposed the power and authority of Jesus. But this is not the same with Abraham in our first reading today, whose faith in God was so strong that he was ready to sacrifice his only son as requested by the Lord.

 

Dear friends, today we are called to have faith in God just like Abraham and the friends of the paralytic and not to be like the scribes who were enslaved by their pride and desire to maintain their prestige in the society. They doubted the power and authority of Jesus and rejected the message of truth. Of which Jesus rebuked them, showing us that truly he has power and authority not just to heal and forgive us but to restore us and all humanity back to our formal glory. Now, you have asked the Lord to help you and he says pick up yourself and go. But have you moved in faith or still waiting?

 

Today, we are called to imitate the great faith and love of the friends of the paralytic, the love and faith that radiate from the innermost being of those who exercise it. Let us like them, learn to pick up ourselves and others. Let us learn to love and help one another. Because the absence of love is the cause of all the problems in our world today. For most families exist only by grace because of the absence of love. How I wish we can invest our time and resources in ensuring love and goodwill in our dealings with one another, believe me, the world will be a temporal home for everyone.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are paralyzed by the sins and evil we are committing against you and the world you created, as we come to you in faith, forgive us our sins, heal and restore us once again. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Peace be with you.

Homily For Wednesday Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 5th July, 2023

Reading: Gen. 21:5.8-20; Ps. 34; Matt. 8:28-34

Rev.  Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

 

IN JESUS RESIDES THE POWER AND AUTHORITY TO OVERCOME EVERY EVIL

 

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

 

Little wonder, our Gospel passage today presents to us Jesus’ encounter with two demoniacs from the tomb in country side of Gadarenes, who had been tormenting the community. They were so fierce that no one could pass that way. So when they saw Jesus, they started shouting, ‘What do you want with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torture us before the time?’ And Jesus said to them, Go, and they came out from the men and immediately entered the pigs and the pigs rushed into the lake and perished in the water.

 

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

 

This is evident in our first reading today, where we heard the story of Abraham and his two sons, Isaac and Ishmael. For while Ishmael was born of a slave woman named Hagar, Isaac was born of Abraham’s wife Sarah, so he was the lawful and legal heir of Abraham. But this created friction between Ishmael and Isaac, because Ishmael was older and the supposed heir before Isaac was born.

 

However, he had been superseded by Isaac, the true heir. To resolve this conflict, Abraham sent both Hagar and her son Ishmael away after providing them with some food and water. They both wandered in the desert and in places without food and sustenance. It was then that Hagar cried out to the Lord for mercy and compassion, which the Lord heard and sent his Angels to help Hagar and her son Ishmael.

 

Dear friends, today each and every one of us are called to seek good and not evil, to promote justice and integrity, less we will be enslaved, rejected and possessed by the evil of this world, just like the two demoniacs that lived in the wilderness away from other people. We must know that no matter how great our sins may have been, God alone has the power to heal us and to bring us back to Himself. And Jesus has given us the gift of his presence in the person of the Holy Spirit, which God has bestowed on us in our baptism.

 

In this gift resides the power and authority to confront the evil of this world and overcome it. For Jesus wishes to set us free from sickness, forces, power and manipulations of the evil ones. He desires to be with us as we struggle everyday to overcome the evil in our lives, our families, our societies and the world at large. Therefore, we should not be afraid to stand firm against the manipulations of the devil, because Jesus will not abandon us in this battle of life.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, the world is full of evil and wickedness, give us the grace to seek what is good and hate what is evil, and as we struggle eevery dayto do your will, may your presence be felt and drive away all evil in our midst through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful day.

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.