Homily For Thirty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A, 26th November, 2023. The Solemnity of Christ the Universal King

Readings: Ezek 34:11-12.15-17, Ps.23, 1Cor15:20-26.28, Matt. 25:31-46

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

CELEBRATING CHRIST THE UNIVERSAL KING

 

In 1925, the period when the world was still recovering from the ugly event of the First World War that ended in 1918, the period when humanity began to turn away from the teachings of the Gospel, in search of worldly power and dominion apart from God, Pope Pius XI promulgated this Feast of Christ the King. This is because the Pope believed that the celebration of the Feast of Christ the Universal King would be appropriate at that period in order to call humanity to conversion and renewal of their loyalty to Jesus the True Universal King.

 

Little Wonder every last Sunday of the liturgical year, the Church invites us to celebrate the Lord Jesus as King of the Universe. In this event, we are called to look to the future with more insight into the ultimate goal of history, towards the definitive and eternal kingdom of Christ. He was with the Father in the beginning when the world was created, and he will fully manifest his Lordships at the end of time when he will judge humanity.

 

In fact, this is evident in our first reading and Gospel passage today where we heard of the account of the event of the Last Judgment, when all of creation shall be judged by the Lord Jesus himself, as he returns to the world as a triumphant King and judge humanity based on our actions, deeds and faith. Then will be time for great separation, when the good will be separated from the bad, holy from sinful, righteous from evil, sheep from goats of which their deeds will reveal them.

 

Then, the Lord will say to the righteous and those who have extended their love, care and affection for the needy, the poor and the afflicted, “Well done, Come you whom my Father has blessed, take for your heritage the kingdom prepared for you since the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food; I was thirsty and you gave me drink; I was a stranger and you made me welcome; naked and you clothed me, sick and you visited me, in prison and you came to see me.”

 

But the wicked and the sinful he will say “Go away from me, with your curse upon you, to the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you never gave me food; I was thirsty and you never gave me anything to drink; I was a stranger and you never made me welcome, naked and you never clothed me, sick and in prison and you never visited me.”

 

For they were judged by their refusal to follow the example of Christ the universal King, especially in his sacrificial love, care and compassion towards one another. But had chosen to remain selfish, greedy, corrupt and wicked. Hence, St Paul in our second reading tells us to look towards the parousia, when all those who embraced Christ the universal King will be raised, having overcome all the hostile forces of this passing world, including death.

 

Dear friends, today we too can look around us,  our families, our cities, societies, country and the world at large, and feel sorrow at so much greediness, corruption, suffering and disregard for the truth, justice and what is right and discover that peace is nowhere to be found. And if humanity is not careful with the grave danger around us despite the great works of science and technology, the only place we can find peace will be in the grave at the dread peace of death. Those in Gaza, Ukraine and some parts of our country will have a better understanding of the seriousness of this reality around us.

 

Therefore as we celebrate this great event, let us turn toward Christ for peace knowing that he is our true King of Peace. Following him means carrying our cross, detaching ourselves from the things of this passing world and faithfully obeying his commandment of sacrificial love, justice and peace. For it is by the blood of his cross, that Jesus reveals his Kingship, not in saving his life, but in offering it as a ransom for our peace and salvation. Thus, trying to do away with the cross in our lives deprives our souls of these true love and loyalty to Christ our King of Peace who today wants to reign supreme in our hearts and soul.

 

So, let us join in the triumphant procession following Christ the Universal King of Peace, singing Hosanna in the Highest, recalling the inscription above the cross: Jesus the King of the Jews. Let us show him honour, not just with palm branches but with the splendour of a heart full of love and merciful deeds. Let us in joy express and spread before his presence the garments of our heavy hearts weighed down by sins along with the inner desires of our souls so that he can pass through our souls and purify our whole being so as to rule in our hearts as the King of Peace, for that is the nature of his Kingship.

 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly King, as we celebrate the universal Kingship of Christ your Son, amidst the hostile forces and evil of this passing world, may we be victorious as you feel us with the joy of your kingdom. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you a happy Christ the King celebration.

Homily For Saturday Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 25th November, 2023

Readings:1Macc.6:1-13; Ps.9; Luke:20:27-40

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

WHAT IS YOUR DISPOSITION TOWARDS RESURRECTION

 

Oftentimes when we talk about the teaching on resurrection people always want to know what and how is going to be like. We often get this teaching wrong because we are using our little knowledge of the things of this passing world to judge the heavenly things. This is the disposition of the Sadducees in our Gospel passage today, since they do not believe in the resurrection, they decided to challenge Jesus concerning the notion of resurrection using the analogy of marital union in relation to the afterlife in order to discredit the teachings of Jesus.

 

As usual, Jesus goes on to explain how people will relate to each other in the afterlife. Those who are judged worthy of a place in the other world and the resurrection from the dead do not marry because they can no longer die, for they are the same as the angels, and being children of the resurrection they are sons of God. He then challenged the Sadducees’ unbelief about life after death.

 

He reminded them of the scene where the voice from the burning bush identifies itself to Moses. “I AM the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob” (Exodus 3:6). For He is the God of the living and not of the dead. After this reply of Jesus to both the Pharisees and the Sadducees, they no longer dared to ask him any questions.

 

Dear friends, we believe in the resurrection not so much because of Jesus’ arguments here, but because of his own resurrection of which he promised to share his life and joy with us forever. Jesus tells us that we are children of the resurrection and children of God who are neither married nor given in marriage in the heavenly kingdom. Thus, it is natural for us to ask questions about the resurrection of life, but we should not expect to understand it fully while we are still alive. All that matters is our relationship with our God and neighbour for what we shall be after death is known by God alone.

 

So, we must not be like the Pharisees and Scribes who doubt the teaching on resurrection, rather we should have faith in the teachings of Jesus for he has not only taught us about the event of resurrection he practically demonstrated it so that we may know that truly our lives does not begin in this passing world and will definitely not end in this world.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we look forward to the resurrection of mankind. May we be inspired by the great example of our Lord Jesus and so obtain the joy of his resurrection. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful weekend.

Homily for Friday Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 24th November, 2023. The Memorial of St Andrew Dung Lac and Companions

Readings: 1 Macc. 4:36-37.52-59;  Ps. 1Chron. 29:10-12; Luke:19:45-48

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

WE ARE THE SACRED SPACE OF GOD'S TEMPLE IN NEED OF CLEANSING

 

The Temple as we know is described as the sacred dwelling place of God. That’s sacred space where humanity encounter the Divine presence of God. It is a symbolic space where God desires to live together with humanity and rule the world through them. Therefore it is very important to ensure that such Sacred Space (Temple) is kept sacred at all times.

 

Little wonder in our Gospel passage today, we heard a very brief story of how Jesus entered the temple in Jerusalem and drove away the traders from the courts of the Temple saying: “My house must be a house of prayer. But you have turned it into a den of thieves.” So he chased out all the dishonest, selfish and greedy merchants who were making profits by cheating the faithful pilgrims who came to the Temple to worship God.

 

Here Jesus was not just concerned with cleansing the temple of Jerusalem, but also the temple of the human heart, that is, our souls. He is objecting to the corruption of the sacred. Our body and soul are the temple of the Lord and belong to him alone. It is a sacred space, a house of prayer which must not be given over to the false gods of money, greed and sin. Just as we heard in our first reading today Judas and his brothers after defeating their enemies who wished to force them to defile the temple of God said:  Now that our enemies have been defeated, let us go up to purify the sanctuary and dedicate it. So, the whole people fell prostrate in adoration, praising God who had made them so successful. For eight days they celebrated the dedication of the altar, joyfully offering holocausts, communion sacrifices and thanksgivings to God.

 

Dear friends, by clearing the Temple, the Lord has also urged us all to clear our spiritual temples, that is our body, mind, heart and soul, in which God dwells. For our souls are sacred dwellings of God’s Temple. Thus, it must be made sacred at all times by ensuring that we get rid of all corruptions, wickedness, pride, ego, greed, wrath, unforgiveness and all other sorts of evils within us. We must resist them and strive to inspire and help one another to keep our Temple sacred. For Jesus wishes to cleanse the temple of our soul by removing what has corrupted it, in order to purify it for worship and make it a dwelling place for prayer.

 

But are we willing to let him cleanse us just like St Andrew Dung Lac and Companions whose memorial we celebrate today? For when they heard the Gospel they accepted it despite persecutions and even death. They realize that true happiness is found in the interior living of the Gospel and not in the material things of this passing world. They embraced martyrdom and became great instruments in preparing humanity towards the kingdom of God. We too can be another great instrument of preparation in God’s hands, if we make ourselves available

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are your temple, yet we have let the selfish desires for the things of this passing world corrupt us so deeply. As we embrace your Words today, may we through the intercession of St Andrew Dung Lac and Companions experience the joy of the purification of our body and soul. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful day.

Homily For Thursday Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 23rd November, 2023

Readings: 1Macc. 2:15-29; Ps. 50; Luke:19:41-44

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

JESUS WILLS THAT HUMANITY SHOULD KNOW THE THINGS THAT MAKE FOR PEACE

 

Peace is what every human person desires to have. It is a necessary commodity in human societies. A city that has peace is surely to have great success. It is the dream of everyone. But a city that lacks peace is disastrous. Little wonder today in our Gospel passage, Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem. For Jesus who is the King of peace came to Jerusalem a city whose name stands for peace but found no peace in it.

He looked at the city and its coming disaster which would indeed happen in a few decades after his death and then comes its destruction by the hand of the Romans. So he wept and prayed for its people. Since they have rejected the peace that God is offering them, they have no option but to face the consequences. Jesus felt deep sorrow at the city’s resistance to God’s word, wishing that they might receive what God was offering them. He said: “Would that even today you knew the things that make for peace”.

 

Today we too can look around us,  our families, our cities, societies, country and the world at large, and feel sorrow at so much greed, corruption, suffering and disregard for truth, justice and what is right and discover that peace is nowhere to be found. And if humanity is not careful with the grave danger around us despite the great works of science and technology, the only place we can find peace will be in the grave at the dread peace of death. Those in Gaza, Ukraine and some parts of our country will have a better understanding of the seriousness of this reality around us.

 

But we should not be afraid. Rather, we should draw strength from Mattathias in our first reading today who courageously resisted the order of the king who requested that the people of Israel should turn away from the Law and ordinances of God. Raising his voice, Mattathias retorted, ‘Even if every nation living in the king’s dominions obeys him, each forsaking its ancestral religion to conform to his decrees, I, my sons and my brothers will still follow the covenant of our ancestors. So nothing should make us for the sake of the teachings of our Lord, for Jesus the Lamb of God has triumphed over all evil. He has been glorified and as such has purchased for us our eternal peace and salvation.

 

Dear friends, we must be courageous because, despite the challenges and trials that we have to face in this passing world, we have the Lamb of God, triumphant and victorious by our side. He tells us that even though tribulations will come our way in form of the doom and destruction like that of Jerusalem, we should be steadfast for in God we shall be triumphant since Jesus wills that humanity should know the things that make for peace. So, if we can consider the words of Jesus and embrace the peace and love he is offering us, we will realize that he longs for our good and growth.

 

Remember, there are many temptations and distractions in this world trying to mislead us and separate us from our God. Let us not be misled by these things. Let us remain firm in our faith and let our lives shine with the light of Christ so that his light will illuminate all the darkest moments in our lives, in our families, societies, country and the world at large. For the Lord wishes to lead us to the final victory that he has won for us. But are we willing to commit our lives to Christ? All we need to do is embrace all the possibilities of peace and love that God is offering to us every day. Then it shall be well with us.

 

LET US PRAY, Heavenly Father, you are the King of peace and in Christ your son you have offered humanity peace. But we have failed to embrace it. As we struggle with the ugly situation in our families and the world today, may the peace of Christ reign in our hearts, homes, societies, country and the world at large. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Remain blessed.

Homily For Wednesday Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 22nd November, 2023. The Memorial of St. Cecilia V. M

Readings: 2Macc.7:1.20-31; Ps.17; Luke:19:11-28

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

HOW ARE YOU USING THE GIFTS AND OPPORTUNITIES GOD HAS GIVEN YOU

 

In this life, God has given special gifts and opportunities to everyone. If we use these gifts and the opportunities wisely for our benefit and the benefit of others, we will grow and blossom. But on the other hand, if we fail to use them, we will remain dormant and unsuccessful. This is what the parable in our Gospel passage today is addressing. In this parable, we heard how a king summoned ten of his servants and gave them ten pounds to do business until he came back. Some of them utilized these gifts and opportunities and so became successful and for that, they were entrusted with more gifts. While some decided to neglect and abandoned their gifts and so remained dormant and unsuccessful.

 

This parable teaches us that we all have been given gifts by God which we must give account of. Because our gifts are meant to be put to use in the service of God and humanity. And our service to God should not be done grudgingly or fearfully but generously 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 gifts and opportunities given to us to make a difference in the world. We are not to relax into a comfort zone doing nothing with them. God wants the best from us and when we have given our best, we receive more from him.

 

Dear friends, we all are special, unique and a masterpiece and God has given us a very unique gift. These gifts may represent different physical and spiritual gifts of God, but their basic foundation is the love of God towards us.  This love is what God has given to us which needs to be reciprocated through an active love for our neighbours. However, we often find it difficult to discover our other gifts or to accept the one God has given to us because we have failed to embrace love. So, we are called today to search and discover our gifts. Love is the greatest gift God has given to humanity, let us discover love and invest in it for in it comes other gifts that will help us to achieve the purpose by which we are created.

 

This gift of love is what made the woman and her children sacrifice their lives for the sake of their belief in God’s instructions and ordinances as we have it in our first reading today. And also in the life of Cecilia whose memorial we celebrate today for she developed the love of God in her heart. Though she came from an extremely rich family and was given in marriage to a young man named Valerian. She wore sackcloth next to her skin, fasted, and invoked the saints, angels, and virgins, beseeching them to guard her virginity.

 

During her wedding ceremony she was said to have sung in her heart to God and before the consummation of her marriage, she told Valerian her husband she had taken a vow of virginity and had an angel protecting her. Valerian asked to see the angel as proof, and Cecilia told him he would have eyes to see once he travelled to the third milestone on the Via Appia (Appian Way). There he was baptized by Pope Urbanus. Following his baptism, Valerian returned to his wife and found an angel at her side. The angel then crowned Cecilia with a chaplet of rose and lily.

 

Cecilia was later arrested and condemned to be suffocated in the baths. Later an executioner was sent to cut off her head in the baths, who struck her three times but was unable to decapitate her so he left her bleeding and she lived for three days. Crowds came to her and collected her blood while she preached to them or prayed. On the third day, she died and was buried by Pope Urban and his deacons. Today St. Cecilia is regarded as the patroness of music because she heard heavenly music in her heart when she was married and is represented in art with an organ or organ pipes in her hand.

 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, you have endowed us with special and unique gifts and opportunities. Help us to discover these gifts and utilize them for the purpose for which they were given to us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful day.

Homily For Tuesday Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 21st November, 2023. The Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Readings: 2Macc. 6:18-31; Ps.15; Luke:19:1-10

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

WHEN A SINNER CLIMBS THE SYCAMORE TREE OF GRACE, SALVATION COMES TO HIS SOUL

 

Oftentimes we are quick to criticize, condemn and label people as sinners, outcasts and good for nothing. But this is not the attitude of Jesus who is always compassionate especially to sinners and those rejected in the society and wants us to do the same. This is evident in our Gospel passage today, where we were told the story of Zacchaeus. A man who was regarded as a public sinner. Wanting to see Jesus, but being small in size, he ran ahead and climbed up a sycamore tree and waited for Jesus to come by. He really had a great desire to see Jesus.

 

Thus, the attitude of Jesus upon seeing Zacchaeus on the tree was very touching. Jesus does not ask, nor does he demand anything. He only responded to the inner desire of a sinful man who seeks to see him and he said to him, “Zacchaeus come down. Hurry, because I am to stay at your home today” Zacchaeus gets down and received Jesus, in his house with great joy, for sometimes in our lives when we struggle with our inner desires and weaknesses all we need is to sacrifice our pride and humbly climb the sycamore tree of grace for on it we find the satisfaction and peace.

 

No doubt, people complained and criticized Jesus saying “He has gone to stay at a sinner’s house”. But Jesus does not care about the criticism. He went to the house of Zacchaeus and defended him from the criticism. And rather than calling him a sinner, he called him “son of Abraham”. Here we see how Jesus accepts those who were not accepted. He offers a place to those who do not have one. He receives as brothers and sisters people whom the society and religion rejected.

 

Similarly, we heard in our first reading how Eleazar demonstrated a life of nobility by resisting to live a life of pretence and defilement, for he resolved to die with honour rather than to live disgraced. Such pretence he said, “does not square with our time of life; many young people would suppose that Eleazar at the age of ninety had conformed to the foreigners’ way of life, and so be led astray on my account; This will only bring defilement and disgrace on my old age. For even though for the moment I avoid execution by man, I can never, living or dead, elude the grasp of the Almighty”.

 

Dear friends, when we climb the sycamore tree of grace salvation comes to our souls. This is what we must learn from Zacchaeus and Eleazar who remained faithful and did not live a life of pretence. We must learn to be a good example to other people and try to accommodate people’s differences and weaknesses. But how do we accept people who are despised and marginalized in our society? Can we, like Jesus, perceive people’s inner desire for compassion and give them attention? Remember, the compassion and tenderness of Jesus brought about a total change in the life of Zacchaeus. Why not show some compassion to those we meet today, for it may be the only opportunity to embrace the salvation they will ever have in their life?

 

It is in the light of this salvation we will understand the importance of the memorial of the presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary we celebrate today.  That great moment when St. Joachim and St. Anne offered their firstborn child to the Lord at the Temple as prescribed by the Law. A gratuitous action in appreciation of God’s grace for choosing Mary to be the mother of our Lord and her total availability to God’s plan. Let us all be inspired by the example of Mary who the Lord has set before us, that we shall also be righteous, virtuous and great in faith as she has shown us in her lifetime in thanksgiving to God.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are sinners in need of your mercy. As we climb the sycamore tree of grace with contrite hearts, may you find in us the inner desire for mercies and in your compassion purify us and welcome us back to your kingdom. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed day.

Homily For Monday Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 20th November, 2023

Readings: 1Macc. 1:10-15.41-43.54-57.62-64; Ps.119; Luke:18:35-43

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

KNOWING YOUR NEEDS AND HOW TO PRESENT THEM TO GOD

 

The compassionate love of Jesus in its historical and physical solidarity with human suffering, springs from the love of God the Father and constitutes the basis of the Church’s liberating activity which is rooted in our faith in God. Little wonder in today’s Gospel passage, the blind beggar gives us a complete lesson about faith, expressed with total simplicity in front of Christ Jesus. He had faith enough to call out to Jesus as he passed by, even when he was scolded by the people close to him, his need for Jesus was so great that he cried all the louder, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!

 

Then Jesus asks an unusual question “What do you want me to do for you?” So even though his need was obvious, Jesus wanted him to ask. In the same way today, Jesus is asking us: my child what do you want me to do for you? Why not like this blind beggar tell Jesus you need? Even though he knows your needs, you still need to present them before him. This blind man needed his eyesight restored, so he asked Jesus aloud, “Lord, that I may see!” And Jesus said receive your sight. Your faith has saved you.’

 

Here Jesus reveals his compassion towards human sufferings and wants us to imitate him in trying to overcome these suffering though caused by our sins and disobedience to God’s command as we heard in our first reading today where the king proclaimed his whole kingdom that all were to become a single people, each renouncing his particular customs to accept his religion, sacrificing to idols and profaning the Sabbath. The king erected the abomination of desolation above the altar, and any books of the Law that came to light were torn up and burned. Whenever anyone was discovered possessing a copy of the covenant or practising the Law, the king’s decree sentenced him to death. But God never abandoned his people, for those who hoped in him were protected.

 

Dear friends, what is the one thing you really need in your life? Have we ever felt helpless? Do we feel the need for Jesus’s help in some part of our lives? Why not in faith present it before him who is willing to help us? Also, do we know people who are helpless and need some help? How strong is our compassion towards them? Let us look at them for a moment and imagine Jesus looking at them. How does he see them?

 

Therefore, like Jesus, each one of us is called to reach out to people around us who are really in need of our assistance. This includes our family members, our neighbours, our colleagues and others who we encounter in life. The truth is that you may be the only person who can bring the healing and compassion of Jesus into their lives.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we present our needs before you today, may we experience once again your compassionate love and grant our hearts' desire according to your Holy will, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. It’s another week, and I wish you God’s favour and blessings.