Homily For Tuesday Twenty-Third Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 12th September, 2023

Readings: Col. 2:6-15; Ps. 145; Luke 6:12-19

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

 

LEARNING FROM THE PRAYER LIFE OF JESUS

 

In the scriptures, it is obvious that Jesus spent a lot of time in prayer especially in every important event in his mission. He does nothing without prayers. This is evident in our Gospel passage today where we heard how Jesus after deep prayers called from among his disciples twelve apostles, whom he called and chosen to continue his work of evangelization and mission towards the salvation of humanity, for he needed to have people who will be entrusted with this mission.

 

So, each one of us like the apostles are called by name into a deep personal and intimate relationship with Jesus in order to be sent to bear witness of him in the world. Prayers and absolute commitment are necessary quality for this mission. That is why Jesus did not choose people because of what they were. Rather, he chose them for what they could become under his direction through prayers.

 

But one of the greatest problem is that we don’t often surrender our plan and mission to God’s will through prayers. So the question that comes to mind are, Will I pray? Will I stop praying? Will I care? Will I risk? Will I let the Lord to lead me in prayer? These are questions of great demands which every true disciple must constantly reflect throughout his life, in order to be aware of the seriousness of the commitment required of everyone of us as disciples of Jesus. Little wonder St. Paul in our first reading today says that we must live our whole life according to that of Christ whom we have received, for we must be rooted in him.

 

Dear friends,  prayers is the key to evangelization and evangelization is the very nature and essence of the Church. And Jesus gives us the mandate and the commission to evangelize, that is, to announce the Good News to all the nations and to spread the Gospel to every creature. This commission is shared by all those who are baptized both priests and lay faithful. Everyone has a particular responsibility to share in the work of proclamation of the Gospel. Today, we should ask ourselves, how have we proclaimed the Gospel to the world? What efforts are we making to ensure that the mandate Christ entrusted to us is carried out effectively in our generation?

 

Therefore, prayer is very essential especially at this moment when the world is confused, because we have removed God out of our daily lives. Prayer is the key at this time when we have placed our hope in the activities of the human person who seems to have taken the place of God. Prayer is the key at this time when our governments, scientists, doctors, lawyers, professors and even pastors assumed the place of God, which of course have brought about the ugly situation we are facing in our societies today.

 

Hence, we are reminded once again about our very mission which is rooted in prayers, for it is time to take this mandate very seriously, because it is our responsibility to fulfil our promises to God and ensure that the Christian faith is preached and sustained in the world and by so doing save humanity once again from sin, death and destruction.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God,  without prayers in our lives we are lost in this world, for a lot of us are confused because we have cut ourselves off from You our cornerstone, as we come back to you once again in prayers, may we learn from the prayer life of Jesus and his teaching and by so doing draw humanity back to You once again. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a favourable day.

Homily For Monday Twenty-Third Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 11th September, 2023

Readings: Col. 1:24-2:3; Ps. 62; Luke 6:6-11

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

 

LET LOVE, JUSTICE AND CARE FOR HUMAN LIFE BE THE GUIDING PRINCIPLE FOR APPLYING AND INTERPRETING OUR LAWS

 

From the scriptures, it seems like every encounter that the Pharisees had with Jesus were always aimed at finding faults with what Jesus is doing. But to their greatness surprise, Jesus will always escape and used that opportunity to communicate an important message to the people. Such was the occasion in our Gospel passage today.

 

When on a Sabbath day Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. The scribes and the Pharisees were watching him to see if he would cure the man on the Sabbath, hoping to find something to use against him. But knowing their thoughts he said to the man with the withered hand, ‘Stand up! Come out into the middle.’ Then Jesus said to them, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good, or to do evil; to save life, or to destroy it? And said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ He did so, and his hand was better. But they were furious, and began to discuss the best way of dealing with him.

 

Here we see how Jesus demonstrated his compassionate care for humanity, for the most important thing for God in this world is the human person. That's why he makes all efforts to save humanity from damnation. He desires to see us making effort to becoming faithful and holy. His mercy is so deep that he propose it as the guiding principle for the perfect fulfillment and interpretation of the laws of life. Thus, Jesus in this passage have to teach us that humanity’s welfare should not be neglected because of laws and regulations. That nothing should restrict us from doing good to people not even the laws Sabbath.

 

Therefore, in as much as we desire to honour God’s laws we must seek the good of people as well. This is what the Pharisees have failed to understand, for they are rather fault- finders and self- righteous people, who only wish to mislead the oppress and suppress the truth and the good works of others, just because of their selfish desires to sustain their ego, pride and their worldly ambition.

 

But we should not be like them, rather we should be compassionate and merciful for that is what we are called to do. And St. Paul in our first reading today says that it is all to bind us together in love and to stir our minds, so that our understanding may come to full development, until we really know God’s secret in which all the jewels of wisdom and knowledge are hidden.

 

Dear friends, today we are called to constantly do good to everyone. We are called not to be faults-finders who are blindfolded by pride. We must also renounce all sorts of sinful actions and wickedness that may destroy the purity of our souls. Therefore, let us be compassionate and merciful for that is what we are called to do in this life especially in this moment when our societies and families are really in chaotic situation.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we often failed to listen to your teaching because of our selfish desires and pride, help us to always listen to you and be willing to do good always especially in applying and interpretation of laws and regulations. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed week ahead.

Homily For Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A, 10th September, 2023

Readings:  Ezekiel 33:7-9, Ps.95, Rom. 13:8-10, Matt. 18:15-20

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

THE PRACTICAL STEPS TOWARDS FRATERNAL CORRECTION AND RECONCILIATION IN HUMAN RELATIONSHIP

 

The contingent nature of the human person has made it clear that we are not perfect, as we are likely to offend one another in any relationship we find ourselves. As a result of this, there is need for us to learn how to accommodate one another’s imperfections. But one of the major challenges we face in most relationships today is the ability to properly accommodate and correct one another especially when one is straying from the norms set up for the good of the relationship.

 

Thus, in our Gospel passage today Jesus gave us the practical steps we need to follow in order to correct and reconcile with one another so as to build a stronger relationship when he said, ‘If your brother does something wrong, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won back your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you: the evidence of two or three witnesses is required to sustain any charge. But if he refuses to listen to these, report it to the Church as a community; and if he refuses to listen to the Church, treat him like a pagan or a tax collector.

 

Here, Jesus calls for fraternal correction and reconciliation in any relationship we find ourselves, for we are responsible for one another’s welfare.  These steps no doubt give room for reconciliation and accommodation. However, fraternal correction must always be inspired by real charity which is one of the spiritual works of mercy. Though, this is never an easy task especially when one has to bear the sacrifice of forgiveness, because forgiving a very grievous offense is one of the most difficult things to do.

 

Nevertheless, forgiven a grievous offense is like recovery a lost treasure that contains: joy, peace, freedom, healthy mind and healing. But how often do we seek to recover this lost treasure in our lives caused by unforgivingness? Hence Jesus today calls us to persistently seek for reconciliation until we gain our brothers and sisters back whenever they have offended and separated from us.

 

But if they refused to be reconciled we should pray for their conversion for that is how Jesus taught us to treat the pagans, the task collectors and sinners. For in all our proceedings we should seek direction in prayer, knowing that God manifests his mercy when he transforms people and lead them to conversion, as he changes us and turns us from selfish and rebellious individuals into truly loving persons. For we are meant to watch over our neighbours.

 

Little wonder prophet Ezekiel in our first reading was set as an example of a watchman over his people when the Lord said to him: ‘Son of man, I have appointed you as a watchman to the House of Israel. When you hear a word from my mouth, warn them in my name. If I say to a wicked man: Wicked wretch, you are to die, and you do not speak to warn the wicked man to renounce his ways, then he shall die for his sin, but I will hold you responsible for his death. If, however, you do warn a wicked man to renounce his ways and repent, and he does not repent, then he shall die for his sin, but you yourself will have saved your life.’ Therefore, we are responsible for one another’s welfare and are called to be watchman over our neighbours and friends.

 

The process of fulfilling this obligation is what St Paul gave us in our second reading as he called our attention to the commandments of God saying: All the commandments: You shall not commit adultery, you shall not kill, you shall not steal, you shall not covet, and so on, are summed up in this single command: You must love your neighbour as yourself. Love he said is the one thing that cannot hurt your neighbour; that is why it is the answer to every one of the commandments. Therefore, we should avoid getting into debt, except the debt of mutual love. For if you love your fellow men you have carried out your obligations.

 

Dear friends, it is our duty, obligation and responsibility to ensure in a fraternal charity that our fellow brothers and sisters, friends and neighbours, colleagues and collaborators are guided and corrected whenever they go astray. For each and every one of us have the responsibility to strengthen our relationship and be a good examples for one another as we work the path towards our salvation. We are called to be a watchman over the people we encounter in life, we must prudently tell them the truth, we must work together to ensure that we carry our neighbours along the way of our salvation. Therefore, mutual love and fraternal charity are the only way and process of fulfill this obligation.

 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, we are rebellious and proud people, we lack the courage and disposition to correct and accept corrections, give us the grace and courage to correct one another in fraternal charity as we also learn to accept corrections when corrected. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed Sunday celebration.

Homily For Saturday Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 9th September, 2023

Readings: Col. 1:21-23 Ps.54; Luke 6:1-5

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

LET LOVE, JUSTICE AND MERCY BE THE BASIS FOR THE MAKING AND INTERPRETATION OF EVERY LAW

 

Due to the weak and fragile nature of the human person, God made very good and practical laws which he wanted his people to obey, but as time went on, these laws were multiplied, turned upside down and misinterpreted in such a way that they were very complex and difficult to obey.

 

God's law is the law of love, justice, mercy and freedom for he describes himself as merciful and compassionate God. This freedom enables us to follow the spirit of the law and not the letter of the law. Therefore, Jesus comes to brings people back to the original intention of the law. He did not come to abolish the law, but to show what God’s original intention was concerning the law.

 

 This is what our Gospel passage is addressing today. Where on a Sabbath Jesus happened to be taking a walk through the cornfields, and his disciples were picking ears of corn, rubbing them in their hands and eating them. But some of the Pharisees said, ‘Why are you doing something that is forbidden on the Sabbath day?’ Jesus answered them, ‘So you have not read what David did when he and his followers were hungry? And he said to them, ‘The Son of Man is master of the Sabbath.’

 

Here, Jesus made it known to the Pharisees that they had made the Sabbath too stressful for the people, they are nothing but fault-finders and self-righteous people. For the Law was interpreted by the elders and the priests, which they passed down as strict sets of rules and regulations that restricted the activities of the people on the Sabbath.

 

This often makes many people to forget the very reason, purpose and essence of Sabbath itself. Because the Law was strictly enforced on the people, and those who do not obey, were often treated with dishonour just as the Pharisees did to Jesus and his disciples. This is because the Pharisees are known for  their judgmental and comparative attitude which makes them to feel superior over others.

 

And this ugly attitude is what St. Paul is addressing in our first reading when he said: you were foreigners and enemies, in the way that you used to think and the evil things that you did; but now the Lord has reconciled you, by Christ’s death. So that you can now be able to appear before him holy, pure and blameless, as long as you persevere and stand firm on the solid faith and keep to what is written.

 

 Dear friends, today Jesus teaches us the original intention of the Sabbath laws in relation to human needs. That we should not be legalistic with the law, rather we should identify the spirit of the law which is rooted in love, justice and mercy, and then follow it. For this is what Jesus and his disciples did when for the sake of their basic human need for survival, go against the ceremonial Sabbath day regulations of not plucking the grain or doing any work.

 

Also, we are called not to be judgmental, fault-finders and self-righteous people like the Pharisees who under the cover of the law planned to judge and condemned the action of Jesus and his disciples. Therefore, we should rather humble ourselves and focus our attention to what God really want from us which is to love him and to love our neighbours as well.

 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, oftentimes, we condemn and judge people based on what the law states without examining and applying the essence and spirit of the law, grant that in our relationship with others, we may begin to apply the true law which is rooted in love, justice and mercy. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a favourable and peaceful weekend.

Homily For Friday Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 8th September, 2023. The Feast of. The Nativity of The Blessed Virgin Mary

Readings: Rom.8:28-30, Ps.13, Matt. 1:1-16.18-23

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

 

CELEBRATING THE BIRTHDAY OF MARY THE MOTHER OF JESUS

 

God in his eternal design made it possible for every human person to  have a special role to play in the mystery of this life. Though some seem to have more significant role than others. However, whether significant or not, the truth still remains that we all have a role to play. But the question is, how are we playing this role? Are we playing according to God’s  master plan or against it?

 

Mother Mary, whose birthday we celebrate today is a good example of those who played their role according to the God’s master plan. For she was chosen in a special way to be the handmaid of the Lord and to play an important part in the history of human salvation and redemption. A role she played according to God's master plan. As handmaid of God she was privileged to be the mother of Jesus our Redeemer. Little wonder our Gospel passage today tells us the history of the genealogy of  Jesus from Abraham to Joseph and Mary the parents of Jesus.

 

From this genealogy, we heard how generations came, generations goes, great men and women came and passed on, new generations continue to spring up. This is our own generation, but the questions remain: our genealogy to what extent can it be traced to that of Christ? The things we are doing now to what extent have they been influenced by the events of the passed generations and to what extent are they going to influence the future generations.

 

Today, we are reminded that we are playing our own role in the salvation of mankind, our existence means a lot to future generation. And St. Paul in our first reading tells us that God co-operates with all those who love him, with all those he has called according to his purpose. They are the ones he chose specially long ago and intended to become true images of his Son, so that his Son might be the eldest of many brothers. For he called those he intended for this; those he called he justified, and with those he justified he shared his glory.

 

Dear friends, Mary’s birthday reminds us of our own birth and our role in the master plan of God. For God has plans for everyone of us. Our existence is not by chance or providence, rather it is by the special will of God who made it possible for us to participate in his mystery at this present age. He could have will for us to exist in the past or in the future or not to exist at all.

 

Hence, never take your existence for granted, because in every moment of our existence, there is a role we are playing. Therefore, let us like Mary learn to cooperation with the grace of God and live in accordance to God's plan, for we are all created for a purpose and that purpose is the role we have to play in this world.

 

LET US PRAY:  Heavenly Father, you created us for a purpose and the birthday of our Mother Mary reminds us of this purpose. Grant that through her intercession we may obtain the grace to live out our purpose in this life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed day.

Homily For Thursday Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 7th September, 2023

 Readings: Col. 1:9-14; Ps. 98; Luke 5:1-11

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

 

HAVING AN ENCOUNTER THAT REVEALS YOUR PURPOSE IN LIFE

 

There is something deep and unique about every person, sometimes it takes personal experience to discover this uniqueness. I don't know if you have ever had an experience that made you realize the emptiness of this life, a kind of experience that turns your pride into humility, sinfulness into righteousness. This is the kind of experience that Simon had with Jesus in our Gospel passage today, that made him realize his emptiness and fall at the knees of Jesus confessing his unworthiness.

 

This is because Jesus had said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water and pay out your nets for a catch.’ ‘Master,’ Simon replied, ‘we worked hard all night long and caught nothing, but if you say so, I will pay out the nets.’ And when they had done this they netted such a huge number of fish that their nets began to tear, so they signaled to their companions in the other boat to come and help them. When Simon Peter saw this he fell at the knees of Jesus saying, ‘Leave me, Lord; I am a sinful man.’ But Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid; from now on it is men you will catch.’

 

This very experience brought true conversion in the lives of Simon and his companion, for this encounter changed their destiny from fishermen to fishers of men. They obeyed the Lord who told them to put out into the deep waters, and as soon as they followed His instructions, they netted so much fish that the whole boat could not take it.

 

This glorious event manifested the power and grace of God at work in us especially when we humble ourselves. Little wonder St. Paul in our first reading made us to know that what we should ask God is that through perfect wisdom and spiritual understanding that will help us to reach the fullest knowledge of his will. So that we will be able to lead the kind of life which the Lord expects of us, a life acceptable to him in all its aspects; showing the results in all the good actions that we do.

 

Dear friends, like Simon and his brothers, we are called to reflect on our personal experience and encounter with God. An encounter that reveals our purpose in life. But how have we personally experienced God? When was our spiritual turning point? Do we have a personal conviction about God that is not based on what people have told us of him? In case we have not personally encountered him, all we need to do is to sincerely seek God in those common events in our lives. Then, we will realize how much God is willing to reveal himself to us through Jesus Christ his Son.

 

LET US PRAY: Almighty God, every day is an opportunity to encounter you through different events that occur in our lives. Grant that we may have a personal experience of you just like Simon and his companion. May we uniquely experience you in our daily activities and through this experience discover our purpose in life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed day.

Homily For Wednesday Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 6th September, 2023

Readings: Col 1:1-8; Ps. 52; Luke 4:38-44

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

 

THE LORD CARES FOR OUR WELL-BEING

 

The whole of scriptures reveals the compassionate love of God in it’s historical and physical solidarity with human suffering. This is more evident in the compassionate way Jesus carried out his activities which springs up from the love of God the Father and constitutes the basis of the Church’s liberating activity. Little wonder in our Gospel passage today, as Jesus continued to carryout his mission of preaching he also showed compassion and care for those who are passing through difficulties.

 

Thus, when he returned from preaching in the synagogue to Simon Peter's house, behold Peter's mother-in-law was sick with fever. This is not a minor sickness in the ancient world. A fever was not a kind of sickness that last for a short while, but was often a symptom of a condition that would lead to death. So Jesus went to her, took her by the hand and helped her up. And the fever left her and she began to serve them. That evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were sick and possessed by devils and he cured them.

 

This clearly described how and why Jesus’ coming down to dwell with us and by taking up our human nature made it possible for him to identified himself with the struggles of humanity as he embraced us with his love, compassion and care. For he came to heal us from our sins and from all the afflictions we encountered and struggle with in this passing world.

 

So, when Jesus cured Peter’s mother-in-law, she immediately begins to serve them, something she was unable to do because of her illness. Thus, she was able to render her service to the first Christian community. She was healed and restored with new strength so that she may again rise and take up her proper place in the community of God’s people.

 

Dear friends, God really cares for our well-being, his always ready to help us in our struggles so that we can be well-disposed to serve him. So whenever we are passing through a difficult moment, we must not allow despair, fear or doubt to cloud our hearts. We need to have faith in God and wholeheartedly believe in him. We need to have more faith and trust in God and be more hopeful no matter how difficult things may be for us and whenever he restores us, it may be tempting to sit back and accept people’s good wishes and congratulations.

 

These should not be our attitudes, we should rather learn from Peter’s mother-in-law, that healing is not just to make us well but to enable us to become active again in rendering serving to God and humanity. For it is another opportunity to serve God and humanity St Paul in our first reading says: “The Good News which has reached you is spreading all over the world and producing the same results among us”.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are really sick and in need of your healing and compassion. As we struggle every day to serve you and humanity, heal all our illnesses and give us the grace to get up and become more active again in order to render more quality services to you and our communities. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you God’s favour and blessings.