Homily For Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A, 3rd September, 2023

Readings: Jer. 20:7-9, Ps.63, Rom.12-1-2, Matt 16:21-27

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

WHY DO YOU WANT TO GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD AND RUIN YOUR LIFE?

 

The material things of this world are so captivating and attractive as well. And we are so much engrossed with acquiring them at the detriment of things that edify the soul. People are ready to do anything just to acquire material things of this world. People are ready to kill, blackmail, kidnap and even sacrifice parts of their bodies just to gain power, acquire properties and belong to a particular class or level that they feel is influential in the society, thereby causing more hostility, persecutions and evil in the society.

 

This really makes me to wonder if we are actually learning anything from the lives of those who have passed away from this world. Have we really taken time to reflect on where all of us and the beautiful things of this world will be in the nearest future. In fact, I think is time for us to really think twice about our faith as Christians, whether we are actually ready to live out our faith in the midst of these ugly situations in our societies, which are not stopping soon, for it is getting tougher everyday.

 

Little wonder Jesus after telling his disciples about his passion and the coming persecution says in our Gospel passage today:  ‘If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me. For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it. What, then, will a man gain if he wins the whole world and ruins his life? Or what has a man to offer in exchange for his life?”

 

Here Jesus knowing what awaits us in this world, takes his discourse on discipleship to a radical and difficult level, especially in a situation where our faith and Christian values have been thrown out of caution as a result of secularism, individualism and excess desires for worldly pleasures, thereby neglecting the things that lead us to God. Hence, if we are really willing to live out our Christian faith and obligations, then we need to make a radical decision towards our call for discipleship in a personal and radical way.

 

These hard words of Jesus can only be understood in the light of our experience in life. For here comes the moment when we have to make radical and difficult choice as disciples of Jesus. It’s time for us to take up our cross in a sacrificial way and follow the Lord. But what is this cross we are called to take up. Taking up our cross could mean to faithfully face our daily challenges with all its difficulties. It could mean accepting who we are and what we have and using them to the glory of God.

 

The way of the cross is a way of sacrifice, commitment, love, forgiveness, mercy and compassion, which aims towards the good of the other person. It can be a costly service to a loved one who is ill; it can be embracing illness, even terminal illness or other personal weaknesses, but these make no sense except when we relate it with the sufferings of Christ through faith in God.

 

We must let our struggles of life lead us to God’s purpose for us. We must not let the captivating and influential power of things of this passing world make us loose focus of our heavenly kingdom. Let us not be like a foolish traveler who after encountering and admiring a pleasant farm failed to continue on his journey.

 

Thus, St. Paul in our second reading tells us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice that is truly pleasing to God. And never to conform ourselves to the pattern of this present world. But let our behaviour be modelled by our new mind in Christ, so as to discover the will of God and know what is good, acceptable and perfect.

 

This is possible when we surrender our lives to God just like the prophet Jeremiah in our first reading, who surrendering to the will of God said: “You have seduced me, Lord, and I have let myself be seduced; you have overpowered me: you were stronger. For I am a daily laughing-stock. Each time I speak the word, I cry out, I short and proclaim: ‘Violence and ruin!’ The word of the Lord has meant for me insult, and derision, all day long. But the effort to restrain it wearied me, I could not bear it”.

 

Dear friends, why do you want to gain the whole world and ruin your life? Do you not know that nothing belongs to you in this world? Do you not know that you are only manager of whatever you have including your life? Why will you let your excess desire for material things in this world ruin your soul? Today we are meant to know that for us to share in the glory of Christ, we have to share his suffering because it is impossible to follow Jesus without accepting the cross and acknowledging and embracing all that life has to offer us.

 

The truth is that God knows what we are going through in this world. He has promised that he will stand by us during persecution and suffering. For a while, we might suffer, but in the end, those who remained faithful to him will be victorious while the oppressors will be rejected, crushed and destroyed.

Therefore, we are called today to deny ourselves the pleasurable things of this passing world in order to take up our Cross and follow the Lord. Yes, the material things of this world are captivating and pleasurable, but it is complete foolishness for us to gain the whole world and ruin our lives.

 

Hence, it’s time to make a radical decision to sincerely and faithfully follow Jesus. But how much are we willing to let go for the sake of following him? Why are we finding it difficult to let go of our excess attachment to worldly things? What are those habitual desires and possessions that are holding us from making this radical decision today? It is time to come to God with all our hearts, for tomorrow may be too late.

 

LET US PRAY: Gracious God, it is indeed foolishness trying to gain the pleasurable things of this passing world and ruin our lives, give us courage and grace to let go of our excess worldly desires so as to embrace the Cross of Christ. And as we do this, may the Cross of Christ be for us a shining example in our daily struggles, to hold firm in our faith despite all the sufferings and persecutions we may encounter. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a lovely Sunday celebration.

Homily For Saturday Twenty-First Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 2nd September, 2023

Readings: 1Thess.4:9-11; Ps.98; Matt.25:14-30

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

 

WHAT IS YOUR GOD-GIVEN TALENT AND HOW ARE YOU USING IT?

 

There is no doubt in my mind that God has a plan for every one of us, for each person has been given a special talent according to his/her ability. God made it so in order to fulfil that plan, just as we heard in the parable in our Gospel passage today since everyone is special, unique and a masterpiece.

 

In this parable, a man who was going on a journey summoned his servants and entrusted his property to them. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to a third one; each in proportion to his ability to utilize it until he comes back. Here, Jesus is telling us that we have all been given gifts by God which we must account for. If we use these gifts wisely for our own benefit and the benefit of others, we will grow and blossom. If on the other hand, we fail to use them just like the third servant, we remain dormant and unsuccessful.

 

But what is this talent all about? The talent may represent different physical and spiritual gifts of God, but its basic foundation is the love of God towards us, the love that God has shown to us which needs to be reciprocated through an active love for our neighbours. So, this parable teaches us that our gifts are meant to be put to use, in service of God and humanity especially the poor. Our service to God should not be done grudgingly or fearfully but generously and with the willingness to take risks in responding to God's mandate.

 

We must be ready to lose our life in order to find it. God wants us to use the individual talents given to us to make a difference in the world, not to relax in our comfort zones doing nothing with them. God wants the best from us and when we have given our best, we receive more from him. However, we often find it difficult to discover our talents or to accept the one God has given to us because we have failed to embrace love. Little wonder St. Paul in our first reading says: “As for loving our brothers, there is no need for anyone to write to us about that, since we have learnt from God how to love one another”.

 

Dear friends, what is your God-given talent? How are you using it? Have you put it to full use? Or have you buried it out of fear, ignorance and shame? For we are called today to search and discover our talent, to discover love and invest in it in order to achieve the purpose by which we are created just like the first two servants in the parable of the talents who utilized the talents given to them.

 

We too must utilize our talents when we realise that the greatest talent is the love of God and our neighbours. Then we will devote all our lives to talking about love and letting people know that true happiness is found in interior living and not in material things we possess. So, we must learn to embrace love in order to become great instruments in preparing humanity towards the kingdom of God. Therefore, we are reminded that we are going to give an account before God and the real tragedy of life is not in being limited to one talent but in failure to use that one talent properly.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, you have given us a special talent according to our ability to fulfil your plans for us. Help us to discover our talents and utilize them in such a way that it will lead us to love you and our neighbours, especially the poor and so attain eternal life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful weekend.

Homily For Friday Twenty-First Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 1st September, 2023. HAPPY NEW MONTH

Readings: 1Thess.4:1-8; Ps.97; Matt.25:1-13

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

 

ARE YOU WELL PREPARED FOR THE COMING OF THE LORD?

 

Reflecting on how footballers, boxers, athletes, also engineers, doctors and farmers, business men and women devote time and energy in rigorous preparation towards achieving their goals, then I realized that adequate preparation is the secret and foundation of every successful event.

 

But if we can go to this length of rigorous periods of preparation just for things of this passing world, it will be even more demanding when it has to do with preparing for eternal life. That is why in the parable of the ten maidens in our Gospel passage today, Jesus emphasises on the need to be well prepared.

 

For if we can devote such time and energy towards our spiritual life which we often neglect, we will be more awake and prepared more than the ten maidens, who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were sensible: the foolish ones did take their lamps, but they brought no oil, whereas the sensible ones took flasks of oil as well as their lamps. When the bridegroom delayed in coming their lamps burned out and as they went out to get more oil, they missed out since the door was shut after the bridegroom had passed.

 

In this parable of the ten maidens, Jesus emphasized the need to be well prepared for the coming of God’s kingdom, warning us not to be like the foolish five maidens who were not well prepared and missed out when the bridegroom came. Thus, Jesus commanded us to stay awake, because we do not know either the day or the hour when the Lord will come.

 

Similarly, St. Paul in our first reading urged and appealed to us in the Lord Jesus to make more and more progress in the kind of life that you are meant to live: He warns us to keep away from fornication for we have been called by God to be holy, not to be immoral. 

 

Thus, we need to change our disposition, especially as regards our attitude towards the things of this passing world to embrace more of the things of our heavenly kingdom. So what are we doing in this world with the gift of life God has given us and how are we preparing for the coming of our Lord knowing that we are all travelers in this world?

 

Dear friends, are you well prepared for the coming of the Lord? Because our life as Christians demands that we should be alert, we should be prepared at all times and be ready to make sacrifices of carrying our extra oil of grace like the five wise maidens. We should be watchful for we know neither the day nor the hour when the Lord will call us. Hence, we are reminded today that this world is passing away, so we need to stay awake and be ready.

 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, we often fail to listen to your warnings concerning the things of this passing world and the need for us to stay awake and be ready for your coming. Give us the grace and wisdom to be well prepared to stand before you whenever you call us, may we never be among those You will be told: I do not know you. Have a fruitful New Month.

Homily For Thursday Twenty-First Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 31st August, 2023

Readings: 1Thess. 3:7-13; Ps.90; Matt.24:42-51

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

 

WHY WE MUST BE READY FOR THE COMING OF THE LORD?

 

As a human person, there are two most important events in our life. One is well known, prepared and is constantly celebrated, that is our birthday. The other, which is the ultimate, is not known and less attention and preparation is being made for it, that is the day of our death.

 

So, Jesus knowing how important this day is, instructed his disciples in our Gospel passage saying: “stay awake, because you do not know the day when the Lord is coming. You may be quite sure of this that if the householder had known at what time of the night the burglar would come, he would have stayed awake and would not have allowed anyone to break through the wall of his house. Therefore, you too must stand ready because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

 

In this passage, we have two commands at the beginning and at the end which are not quite the same. The first command is based on God’s coming at a “day” when we do not know and the second is in an “hour” you do not expect, that is to say, that it will be uncertain, unexpected and surprising. Just like the householder’s ignorance of the time when the thief would come is the reason why he does not watch. He cannot keep awake all night, and every night, to be ready for him; so he has to go to sleep, and then he is robbed.

 

Thus our ignorance of the day and time is the reason for our watchfulness, because we can keep awake all night of our life just like the householder watches to prevent being robbed. So the image of the thief is chosen to illustrate the unexpected approach of the second coming of Christ which will be a great surprise to those who are asleep as they will be robbed of Heaven and also deprived of their earthly treasures.

 

 But the Lord's coming will be a happy day for those who shall be found awake and ready, while it will be very dreadful for those who are not prepared. Thus, St. Paul in our first reading today prayed that we may so confirm our hearts in holiness that we may be blameless in the sight of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus Christ comes with all his saints.

 

Dear friends, you see why we must be ready for the coming of the Lord. For today we are called to be ready, we are called to repentance, we are called to embrace the new life the Lord is offering us. We are called to a life of constant struggle towards perfection in order to embrace the Lord whenever he comes.

 

Therefore, preparation is the key word. Let us not be deceived when the world suggest to us that the day of death is not coming soon, and so forget who we are, and then, the day and time will take us by surprise. Rather, let us be like that wise servant who is prepared at all times for the coming of the master.

 

LET US PRAY, Lord God, You ask us to be ready for your coming, increase in us the desire to be prepared and ready for that inevitable event of death, so that whenever it comes, it will not be a shock to us, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. It's a lovely day, may God bless your efforts and grant success to the works of your hands.

Homily For Wednesday Twenty-First Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 30th August, 2023

Readings: 1 Thess.2:9-13, Ps.139, Matt.23:27-32

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

 

STOP LIVING LIKE A WHITEWASHED TOMB

 

In our society today, the word “packaging” is one of the popular terminologies used by people to describe how they make things that are not too good to look extremely good, and this has s serious negative effect in our society today, as we have lost focus of how we ought to do things right. Thus, most people and things that appear to be good to us are not really what we think they are.

 

For most people and the things we see are like whitewashed tombs that outwardly appear beautiful and draw the admiration of people, but within them are full of dead man's bones and all sorts of corruption just the way Jesus described the attitude and lifestyle of Scribes and Pharisees in the Gospel passage, when he addressed their attitude which is not far from what we have today in our societies.

 

This is because the scribes and the Pharisees are interested mostly in the external beauty of things around them while neglecting the essence. They are self-satisfied, and think that they are above the law. They look good from the outside but ugly and dirty within. They neglected the deeper things around them. They are interested only in worldly goods and not the things of the heart like justice, mercy, love and compassion.

 

So Jesus challenged them as he challenges us to change our ugly ways of life, to change from within us. Though it is very difficult to change, nevertheless, we need to change in so many ways, especially as regards our attitude towards the things of this passing world.

 

Dear friends, we, must stop living like a whitewashed tomb. Though, we might not feel very comfortable with the idea of Jesus rebuking and uttering terrible words of admonition to the Scribes and Pharisees. But the questions we need to ask ourselves are: Have we really embraced the Word of God we hear every day? Is the Word bearing fruits in our lives?

 

Also, can we recognize in this fragile condition in our society, the great deeds that Jesus is doing to save humanity and the need to turn back to God by changing our ugly life of whitewashed tomb? Hence, Jesus is saying woe to us for failing to embrace and live out the Gospel teachings, because he seems to expect some sort of changes in us when we hear his Words or when we encounter him in prayers.

 

Therefore, God is calling us to repentance, He wants to come into our souls and dwell. But he cannot dwell in a heart that is like a whitewashed tomb. Thus, Jesus is rebuking all humanity, he wants us to stop living a life of packaging, deception and corruption.  This is what St. Paul is telling us in our first reading today when he said, You can remember how we taught you what was right, encouraging you and appealing to you to live a life worthy of God, who is calling you to share the glory of his kingdom.

 

Hence, if we believe in God, and put our trust in Him, we will have the assurance and guarantee of restoration, for God does not want us to suffer the consequences of our sins, that is why He keeps reminding us about the upcoming danger. But, if humanity constantly refuses to change, we will end up in self-destruction.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are living in a world of whitewashed tombs, help us to be wise enough to discern and not be carried away or be distracted by the beauty of the whitewashed tombs we see in most people and things around the world today. And as we struggle with the events of life, may God guide and direct our paths. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. God bless you.

Homily For Tuesday Twenty-First Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 29th August, 2023. The Memorial of The Beheading of St. John the Baptist

Readings: 1Thes 2:1-8; Ps.139; Mark 6:17-29

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

 

WHY DO WE PREFER LIES AND DECEPTION OVER TRUTH?

 

In our society today people hates to hear the sound of the word truth. I wonder why people often tremble when they hear the word ‘truth’? This is because it makes the world to tremble since most things in the world are built on falsehood and deceit and people are becoming comfortable with falsehood as a way of life. In fact, since the history of the world, mankind have been seeking to know the truth, but when confronted by the truth they reject it out rightly.

 

Almost two thousand years ago, Truth was put on trial and was judged and condemned by people who were devoted to lies. But in each generation truth always manifests itself to the world through people who have paid the price of truth with their life. This is obvious in our world today, especially with the ugly situation in our societies, where humanity is placed in the perpetual darkness of corruption, greed and confusion, as the voices that speak the truth are silenced by all means.

 

Today people don’t want to be transparent and honest in their dealings with others and even with themselves. They don't want anybody to remind them of the hard truth about the realities of life and they can do anything just to silence the truth. Thus, the cost of speaking the truth has become so expensive that sometimes it costs the life of an individual or even a whole community. It is even more demanding when the truth to be told has to do with someone in authority.

 

This is the case with John the Baptist whom we celebrate the memorial of his Martyrdom. For in our Gospel passage today, we heard how his head was the prize for the truth he told to Herod and Herodias. Before now, Herod had arrested John and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. John had told him that it was against the Law for him to have his brother’s wife. Herod had wanted to kill John but was afraid of the people, who regarded him as a prophet.

 

But, on the occasion of Herod’s birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company, and so delighted Herod that he promised with an oath to give her anything she asked. She conspired with the mother and demanded the head of John the Baptist. The king was distressed but, thinking of the oaths he had sworn and of his guests, he ordered John to be beheaded and the head be given to the girl, who took it to her mother.

 

Here, Herod made a bad decision, which out of pride finds it difficult to change his mind and admit that he was wrong. He did not plan to execute John that night. He was persuaded by Herodias to do so because he was a weak man. He was a slave to other people’s opinions, for he feared the people who revered John; he also feared the reaction of his guests if he should retract his oath.

 

These ugly attitudes towards John the Baptist prefigured what they did to Jesus in his Passion, demonstrating how good people, especially when they struggle for truth and justice, are often condemned to suffer at the hands of greed and powerful people. This same terrible crime is what people are facing every day in our families, communities, country and the world at large. For this same reason, a lot of people have died and some will still die and some will continue to suffer because of the truth they have spoken to the enemies of truth. 

 

 But should we stop speaking the truth because of fear of losing our lives? I don't think so, because truth saves life, it brings freedom, it releases tension, it brings peace, and it settles quarrels and disputes. Truth is the freedom that must be offered to everyone, whoever, whenever and however it will best bring conversion to its enemies, just like John the Baptist did to Herod and Herodias even at the expense of his life.

 

Little wonder St. Paul in our first reading today says: it was our God who gave us the courage to proclaim his Good News to you in the face of great opposition. We have not taken to preaching because we are deluded, immoral, or trying to deceive anyone; it was God who decided that we were fit to be entrusted with the Good News, and when we are speaking, we are not trying to please men but God, who can read our inmost thoughts

 

Dear friends, why do we prefer lies and deception over truth? How far can we stand the cost of speaking the truth amid influential and ‘powerful' people? Like Herod, how often do we make bad decisions out of pride and fail to reverse them? When we make such bad decisions, how quickly are we able to change our minds, to admit that we are wrong? Also, are we like Herodias who is waiting for an opportunity to silence the innocents who confront us with the truth?

 

If today we happen to be one of the guests of Herod, what would be our reaction? Will I have protested or stayed silent? Thus, what do we do when we see others suffering injustice? Do we have the courage to speak up, even at the cost of losing, our job, our position, our vocation, friends and even our lives? Today, we are called to speak the truth, for the world needs to hear the truth no matter the cost.

 

LET US PRAY:  Lord God, it is difficult to speak and stand for truth in our world today.  But St. John the Baptist died for the truth he spoke to Herod, through his intercession, grant us the grace and courage to become the instrument of your word in truth and deeds and so speak the truth always to humanity no matter the cost. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you a fruitful day.

Homily For Monday Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 28th August, 2023. The Memorial of St. Augustine

Readings: 1Thess.1:1-5.8-10, Ps. 149, Matt.23:13-22

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

 

ARE YOU A GOOD LEADER OR A HYPOCRITIC THAT SWEARS FALSELY?  

 

Leadership is one of the characteristics of a human person, it is that which makes us unique from every other thing. It is a gift from God by which we serve Him and our neighbour responsibly. However, the Scribes and the Pharisees in the Gospel today who had the responsibility to lead people to the Kingdom of Heaven, have become an obstacle for they neither enter nor allow those who want to enter to go in.

 

Thus, Jesus called them hypocrites, and blind guides because they misuse the gift of leadership entrusted to them. For they say, “If a man swears by the Temple, it has no force; but if a man swears by the gold of the Temple, he is bound.” But Jesus said to them you fools and blind! Which is of greater worth, the gold or the Temple that makes the gold sacred? Therefore, when a man swears by the altar he is swearing by that and by everything on it. And when a man swears by the Temple he is swearing by the One who dwells in it. And when a man swears by heaven he is swearing by the throne of God and by the One who is seated there.’

 

Here, Jesus is referring to the ceremonious way in which the Pharisees took oaths. It was one of the things in the culture of their time. That is, people swearing oaths with impressive sounding words before the congregations without fulfilling them like our politicians today. But what were the words of these oaths anyway?

 

They were forms of words designed to impress people. There were no indications that the person swearing the oath had any power over the things that the oath mentioned. It was just using words to impress and so produce acceptance of things about the oath, when in fact this is completely fraudulent because the persons taking the oath, do not intend to keep the promises or commitments that they were confirming by taking that oath. They were just fooling the people. And Jesus is saying in essence, that we should not let this foolery ever be part of us because it is hypocrisy and Jesus is against hypocrisy in all its forms, especially when it has to do with taking the name of God in vain.

 

To take the name of God in vain means to invoke His name unnecessarily or profanely, to use it without humbly acknowledging the holy character of the One whose name we are invoking. To invoke the name of God in an oath or vow when our statement is false, inconsequential or when we do not intend to honour our words is a direct violation of the third commandment of God. Therefore, the issue Jesus is addressing here goes to the very core of our character as Christians, to the heart of what it means to live as a child of God, especially in a society like ours, where deception and falsehood are the order of the day.

 

Dear friends, Jesus calls us today to be sincere in everything we do or say. That is why he commanded us not to swear an oath, rather we should say yes when you mean yes, and no when you mean no, so as not to become hypocrites and liars. So, today we are called not to be hypocrites or blind guides but good leaders who are committed and responsible with whatever we are entrusted with.

 

Little wonder St. Paul in our first reading tells us to observe the sort of life that they lived when they were with us, which was for our instruction, since it was from them that the word of the Lord started to spread. Also, like St Augustine whose memorial we celebrate today, who lived a very ugly life. But later embraced God and became a great instrument in preparing humanity towards the kingdom of God.

 

He devoted all his life to writing about God, telling us that true happiness is found in interior living and not in material things we possess, Therefore, we are reminded that we are going to give an account before God and the real tragedy of life is not in occupying leadership positions but in failure to use those positions properly.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, oftentimes we have been hypocrites, blind guides of the things you entrusted to us. May we never take your name in vain or tired of doing what is good. As we struggle it out the remaining days of August and the rest of the year, may the sole fount of true wisdom and knowledge guide us in all our decisions in life. Amen. Have a fruitful week ahead.