Homily For Second Sunday of Advent Year B, 10th December, 2023

Readings: Is 40:1-5.9-11, Ps.85, 2Peter 3:8-14, Mark. 1:1-8

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

 

PREPARING A WAY FOR THE PEACE OF GOD TO REIGN IN YOUR HEART

 

In this world we are so busy preparing, acquiring and safeguarding the things of this passing world thinking that they will guarantee us the peace we desire, only to find out that true peace is far away from us. Meanwhile, we are called to prepare for the future reality of human life, that is, our eternal life in God’s Kingdom where true peace reigns. Little wonder, the Church for the past seven days now, has been schooling us in the liturgical Season of Advent, calling our attention to the need for us to be prepared and be opened to embrace the coming king, our Lord Jesus, who is coming to dwell among the fallen humanity, in order to offer us true peace and save us from sin and damnation.

 

Thus, today, the Second Sunday of Advent, we are presented with the theme of peace through intensive preparation, following the cry of John the Baptist who preached in the wilderness of Judea as he proclaimed a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins saying: Prepare a way for the Lord, make his paths straight, as we have it in our Gospel passage and also in our first reading through prophet Isaiah. His mission was to prepare and clear the way for the Lord, calling the people of Israel to repent of their sins and to correct every injustice. John the Baptist, with these demanding words, announced the imminent coming of the Lord when he said: Someone is following me, someone who is more powerful than I am, and I am not fit to kneel and undo the strap of his sandals. For I have baptized you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.’

 

With this message, John put us on guard against the hypocrisy of those who felt safe merely because they belonged to the Chosen People. In God’s eyes, he says, no one has reason to boast but must bear good fruit that befits repentance. John the Baptist’s appeal for conversion rings out in our communities today. It is a pressing invitation to open up our hearts to receive Jesus the Son of God, who comes among us to make manifest the divine judgement of God. We too are called to listen to God’s voice, which cries out in the desert of our hearts through the Sacred Scriptures.

 

Hence, in this Season of Advent, we should let ourselves be guided by the word of God in preparation for his coming in glory. For St. Paul in our second reading tells us that with the Lord, ‘a day’ can mean a thousand years, and a thousand years is like a day. Thus, the Day of the Lord may come like a thief, and since everything is coming to an end, we should be living holy and saintly lives. We should do our best to live lives without spots or stains so that he will find us at peace when he comes in glory. So, it is time to make peace with God and with one another. It is time to repent and reconcile with one another. It is time to make restoration for our ugly actions in other to let peace reign in our hearts, in our homes, in our society and country. It is time to embrace the peace God is offering us. It is time to share this peace and enjoy the fruit of this season.

 

Dear friends, it is time to prepare a way for the peace of God to reign in our hearts. But what are the things that can deny us peace and the fruit of this season? The major things that can deny us of this gracious moment are sinful actions such as unforgivingness, hatred, greed, immoral actions and pride. What is keeping us from turning away from this ugly way of life? We made resolutions at the beginning of this year but we have not kept them. We said we would keep away from ugly actions but we have not fulfilled that. We say we will never be involved in corrupt actions, we say we will not lie or cheat people, you said you will not continue to cheat on your wife or husband, we said we will not continue to be involved in fornication, adultery, masturbation, pornographic content but we have failed to keep our promises and resolutions to God and now peace is far away from us.

 

 So, while not make this season a moment to fulfil those promises before the year comes to an end. While not repent from these sins so as to embrace the new life of peace and holiness Jesus is offering us? Are we finding it difficult to let go of our ugly sinful ways of life? It’s time to come to God and ask for his grace. let us embrace the word of God we hear this season and truthfully share it with those we encounter, just like John the Baptist who stood for the truth of his mission and offered it to everyone, whoever, whenever and however it will best bring conversion to sinner and peace to troubled hearts.

 

LET US PRAY: Almighty God, as we prepare the way for Christ coming into our souls. Give us the grace to turn away from sin and embrace the new life of peace and holiness which Christ is offering us this season of Advent. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Peace be with you.

Homily For Saturday First Week of Advent Year B, 9th December, 2023

Readings Isaiah 30:19-21,23-26; Ps 147; Matt. 9:35-10:1,5,6-8

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

YOU ARE THAT LABOURER THE LORD NEEDS TO SAVE HELPLESS AND SINFUL HUMANITY

 

Walking through the streets I observed how people are struggling to survive in this passing world. I saw their passion, their determination and their willingness to achieve great things in life at the expense of things that prepare us for eternal life. Then my mind turned towards the words of Jesus in our Gospel passage today, when he saw the crowds and had compassion on them because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest’.

 

Here, Jesus reveals God’s compassion towards humanity who were harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd. He then says to his disciples that there is a huge harvest waiting to be reaped. Calling on us to pray for God to send labourers into his harvest. Just as we heard the prophet Isaiah in our first reading today reminding us of God’s promises saying: Thus says the Lord God, the Holy One of Israel: People of Zion, who dwell at Jerusalem, you shall weep no more. He will be gracious to you when he hears your cry; when he hears he will answer.

 

Thus, we can see that this 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 missionary activity, which is meant to spread throughout the world, hereby calling us into action. Hence, more labourers are needed, for Jesus sees how humanity is harassed and dejected, wandering like sheep without a guiding shepherd. And because the souls of everyone in the world are so precious to Jesus, he needs many more labourers.

 

Therefore, the harvest is as big as ever and people are getting lost and clueless as never before. But who are these labourers? They are not just bishops, priests, or religious men and women. But every baptized person is called in a different capacity to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with those around him/her. So each of us has a vocation, a call to save souls and build the Kingdom of God together.

 

Dear friends, you are that labourer the Lord needs to save helpless and sinful humanity. But how are we carrying out this mission and mandate of Christ? How strong is our compassion towards others? Do we know people who are harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd? Let us look at them for a moment and imagine Jesus looking at them and saying something to them. Do we feel harassed and helpless as a result of what we are going through in life? Do we feel the need for Jesus’ help in some part of our life? Then turn to him and be restored.

 

So, today, each one of us is called to reach out to people at any particular corner of the field of harvest where we find ourselves now, for we may be the last and only person who may have access to evangelize the people. Starting from our families, neighbours, colleagues in the office and others who we encounter in life. The truth is that we may be the only people who can bring the healing and compassion of Jesus into their lives.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, give us the grace and courage to be faithful labourers in your vineyard, who will labour to bring your compassionate love to suffering souls who need to hear the Good News of Jesus. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed weekend.

Homily For Friday First Week of Advent Year B, 8th December, 2023. The Solemnity of Immaculate Conception of The Blessed Virgin Mary

Readings 1 Gen. 3:9-15.20; Ps 98; Eph. 1:3-6.11-12; Luke.1:26-38

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

THE REWARDS OF SAYING YES TO GOD'S PLAN

 

Today we contemplate the role of Mary in God’s plan for our salvation. Following this role, the Church ascribes some special prerogatives or privileges to her. These prerogatives concern what the Faith of the Church affirms in connection with the Blessed Virgin Mary. They include her Immaculate Conception, her perpetual virginity, her assumption into heaven and the title Mary, the Holy Mother of God (Theotokos), which is the foundation of other prerogatives. So, today the Church celebrates the Solemnity of Immaculate Conception one of these prerogatives which shows her special role in the universal plan of God.

 

The Solemnity of Immaculate Conception refers to the moment when Mary was conceived in the womb of her mother, St. Anne. That very moment when she came into existence as willed by God. She was immaculately conceived because of the role she will play as the bearer of our Lord Jesus Christ. Immaculate, means pure without fault, free from the taint of the original sin.

 

And Mary by this privilege full of grace and remained free from sin throughout her life by the will of God, for  God chose to make her worthy of his Presence. Since, our God who is pure, perfect and sinless could not have dwelled in a womb tainted by sin. Hence, in today’s Solemnity of Immaculate Conception, we celebrate one of the four great Marian Dogmas, as defined by the Church in the state of Mary, being the Mother of God, the bearer of our Lord Jesus Christ,

 

Thus, our Gospel passage today presents to us the story of the annunciation by the angel to Mary. An event which immediately precedes the story of the annunciation to Zechariah (1:5-25). These two stories are unique and special. The condition of the women in these stories reveals the unique plan of God for each one of them because, neither Elizabeth (Zechariah’s wife) nor Mary at that moment was a likely candidate for motherhood.

 

This is so because, Elizabeth was too old, so John’s birth will require a miracle. Mary was a virgin, so Jesus’ birth will require even a greater miracle. But in all, God planned and designed it to be so and both Mary and Elizabeth saying yes, cooperated with the plan of God. This tells us that our success in life is determined by our disposition towards doing the will of God. Hence, we have to identify our plans and purposes with the universal plan of God for humanity.

 

This is what Adam and Eve failed to do in our first reading today, they did not follow the plan of God for them for out of pride and disobedience they separated themselves from God. That is why after Adam had eaten of the tree the Lord God called to him. ‘Where are you?’ he asked. ‘I heard the sound of you in the garden;’ ‘I was afraid because I was naked, so I hid. By this very action, humanity has fallen and separated from God his creator. Nevertheless, God has never given up on humanity. He has a plan to save us as we heard in our second reading today of which May in preparation for her role in this salvific plan was conceived immaculately and this great privilege is what we are celebrating today.

 

Dear friends, saying yes to God’s plan for us is so important. And I must tell us that God has a special plan for everyone, a unique plan. But sometimes it seems as if God has favoured some persons more than others. Well, in the eyes of men, it seems true, but God has favoured each person in a very unique way just like our Mother Mary, only that we sometimes do not understand what God is doing in our lives. Our understanding of favour is quite different from that of God.

 

Therefore, all we need is to say yes and trust in God for he has plans which are meant uniquely for each person. We do not need to know the plans God has for us, all we need is to trust and cooperate with his plan. For God alone knows the plans he has for us and in due time he will reveal them to us just as he revealed to Mary the plan he has for her through the angel.

 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, as we celebrate the great privilege of Mary regarding your plan for humanity, give us the grace to constantly embrace your will and plans for us by saying yes to your words. Help us cultivate the inner attitude of silence and recollection in order to welcome Christ joyfully when he comes, who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. Do have a grace-filled celebration.

Homily For Thursday First Week of Advent Year B, 7th December, 2023. The Memorial of St. Ambrose

Readings Isaiah 26:1-6, Ps 118, Matt. 7: 21.24-27

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

BUILD YOUR LIFE ON A ROCKY FOUNDATION THROUGH THE WORD OF GOD

 

One of my favourite hymns in our hymn book says:

In Christ alone my hope is found, He is my light, my strength, my song! This cornerstone, this solid ground, firm through the fiercest drought and storm. What heights of love, what depths of peace, when fears are stilled when striving cease! My Comforter, my All in All, here in the love of Christ I stand.

 

This hymn draws my attention to our Gospel passage today, where Jesus says:  ‘It is not those who say to me, “Lord, Lord,” who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven. And everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on rock. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and hurled themselves against that house, and it did not fall: for it was founded on rock.

 

Here Jesus calls our attention to something very important. He reminds us that it is not enough to hear the word of God; we must put it into practice. It is not sufficient to speak about God, but we must practice what we speak. We are called not merely to hear God’s word but to daily put it into action. Hearing or reading the Word is important, but that is not enough. We must let the Word of God touch and shape our lives. For it is a waste of time and energy if our lives do not reflect the Gospel we preach if we do not hear the words of Jesus and act on them.

 

The truth is that the houses built by wise and foolish people may probably look alike. But the difference is the foundations, which can only be revealed when tested by the storms of life. And prophet Isaiah in our first reading tells us to trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord is the everlasting Rock; he has brought low those who lived high up in the steep citadel; he brings it down, brings it down to the ground, flings it down in the dust, but the humble he raises on high.

 

Dear friends, what have we been doing with the Word of God we hear every day? What kind of fruit are we bearing? How has the Word of God changed our lives and the lives of those around us? How has the Word of God challenged and propelled us to love God and our neighbours? Is our attitude towards the word of God like that of the foolish builder who takes shortcuts for quick results? Or that of a wise builder who spends time digging a secured foundation through constant meditation and practice of the word of God, just like St. Ambrose whose memorial we celebrate today?

 

For St. Ambrose was a native Roman genius who shines out with surpassing distinctness; he is clear, sober, and practical, and aims always to persuade his hearers to act with prudence and present their burdens to God in faith. Through constant hearing the word of God he embraced the faith and mission of our Lord Jesus to the point that he was made a bishop even when he was still a catechumen.

 

The fact remains that, hearing and doing the Word of God is building our faith on a rocky foundation, that cornerstone, that solid ground, through the fiercest drought and storms of life, for the fruit of the Word of God in us is seen when tested in the storms of life. Therefore, when we hear the Word we must apply it to our daily lives because that's the only way we can feed our soul. Our society today has enough preachers and hearers of the Word, what we need now is doers of the Word of God. We need men and women who will feed their lives with the Word of God and from the abundance of their hearts live a life that will influence society positively.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, through your Word we find life and hope in Christ who is our all in all, grant that through the intercessions of St. Ambrose, we may be doers of your Words and not just hearers, in order to build our faith on a rocky foundation through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed day.

Homily For Wednesday First Week of Advent Year B, 6th December, 2023

Readings Isaiah 25:6-10, Ps 23, Luke 15:29-37

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

THE LORD FEELS SORRY FOR THE SICK AND THE NEEDY

 

It’s always the desire of humanity to experience the intervention of God whenever they are passing through difficult situations. This had always been the desire and disposition of the people of Israel as they awaited the coming of the Messiah as prophesied by the prophets. So, in our Gospel passage today, Jesus fulfills his role as the expected Messiah who was to liberate his people from all kinds of diseases. The healing touch of Jesus in our Gospel reveals to all those who are in need that God is faithful to his promises. This healing and wholeness are offered as a sign of the presence of God’s kingdom among his people.

 

For Jesus did not just heal the sick, he also fed the crowd. This feeding of the crowd refers back to the journey of the people of God in the desert from Mount Sinai to the promised land. So, we need the food of the Eucharist for our journey to heaven which is our promised land. This bread is the gift that we receive from Jesus whose heart is always moved with pity and compassion towards humanity.

 

Here, Jesus did not bring the loaves and fish out of nowhere. Rather, he took what was offered to him and multiplied it greatly. We should never think we have little to share with others. Let us learn to share with others and Jesus will provide for us greatly for he is the one who feeds the hungry and gives them strength for their journey. Just like the prophet, Isaiah tells us in our first reading that on this mountain, the Lord of hosts will prepare for all peoples a banquet of rich food. He will wipe away the tears from every cheek; he will take away his people’s shame everywhere on earth.

 

Dear friends, Jesus wants us to learn how to be patient and trust God in times of trouble and tribulations for he alone knows the best time and how best to deal with our problems. For when that time comes he will restore us to his glory and set us free from all the evil forces around us, just like the people in our Gospel passage. All he wants from us is to constantly feed our souls with his Words and Eucharist as we journey towards his kingdom.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we struggle with the forces and troubles of this passing world, may we always find solace in your Word and Eucharist and so conquer our fear and challenges, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Peace be with you.

Homily For Tuesday First Week of Advent Year B, 5th December, 2023

Readings Isaiah11:1-10, Ps 72, Luke 10:21-24

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

THE JOY OF SHARING IN CHRIST'S MISSION

 

As we begin another new day,  we continue with the event of Advent, when we reflect on the two-fold coming of the Lord. We are called to spend more time with God and prepare ourselves for his mission just like the disciples in our Gospel passage today. For after the seventy disciples of Jesus returned from the mission he sent them. They rejoiced concerning the great things they had done in his name. So, Jesus says, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see…”. 

 

Here, Jesus rejoiced in his disciples, because of the grace God his Father has given to them to share in the mission of the Son. Yes, the disciples are blessed because, in Jesus, they are beginning to recognize the long awaited Messiah which prophets and Kings longed to see but could not. Just as we heard from prophet Isaiah in our first reading today when he said: a shoot springs from the stock of Jesse, a scion thrusts from his roots: on him the spirit of the Lord rests. His word is a rod that strikes the ruthless, his sentences bring death to the wicked. Integrity is the loincloth round his waist, faithfulness the belt about his hips. That day, the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the people. It will be sought out by the nations and its home will be glorious.

 

Dear friends, like the disciples, we also have been given this same grace. Whenever we spread the word of God, we are sharing in the mission of Jesus, and this should give us great joy because God chose us and gave us the privilege to share in the mission of his Son. For he had brought his salvation into the world, for the restoration of hope for all humanity who dwell in darkness in need of the light of Christ, which we are called to embrace in this season of Advent. So let us keep spreading the Good News of Christ to humanity by our way of life.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we embrace your words this season, may we share greatly in the mission of Christ who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. Wishing you a glorious day.

Homily For Monday in the First Week of Advent Year B, 4th December 2023

Readings: Is. 2:1-5;  Ps.122; Matt 8:5-11

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

LEANING FROM THE FAITH AND GENUINE HUMILITY OF THE ROMAN CENTURION

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

This is exactly the kind of faith that all of us must have as well especially in this Advent season. The faith that leads us to seek God wholeheartedly, to be humble before Him and to love Him above all and not to allow our pride, ego and desires to lead us into faithlessness, disobedience and sin against God. And when this is done we can embrace the message of prophet Isaiah in the first reading today when he said: God will wield authority over the nations and adjudicate between many peoples; these will hammer their swords into ploughshares, their spears into sickles. Nation will not lift sword against nation, there will be no more training for war.

 

Dear friends, do we still have total faith and trust in God just like the centurion? What is our disposition towards the gift of faith that God has given us? Because our experiences of evil, injustice, suffering and death can shake or shape the gift of faith in us depending on our disposition. The centurion interceded for his sick servant, do we intercede for others who are in need of God’s healing and mercy? Do we know that we can speak God’s word in prayer and that someone, somewhere, will find healing? Do we often like this centurion, recognize in all humility our unworthiness before God?  We are called today to learn from this man’s act of humility and faith.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are weak and oftentimes we display an act of faithlessness due to the pressure and challenges of life, as we embrace the season of Advent may you increase our faith and make us humble and patient. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed week.