Homily For Monday Third Week of Lent Year B, 4th March, 2024

Readings: 2Kings 5:1-15, Ps. 42, Luke 4:24-30

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

 

BE CAREFUL WITH PRIDE FOR IT CAN MAKE YOU LOSE GOD’S BLESSINGS

 

One of the forces that drives the world order today is pride. People can do anything to prove how powerful, influential, popular, wealthy and connected they are before everyone they encounter. Hence, at any little provocation, you see them ranting: "I will show you today who am I", "By the time I finish with you, you will come to know me". I will do this, I will do that... just to prove who they parade themselves to be. Everywhere they go, they want to be highly recognized, they look down on every other person. This ugly attitude is what the devil certainly wants us to have so that we end up distancing ourselves from God.

 

The devil does not want us to be saved, and he would tempt us to be arrogant and prideful as we heard in our first reading today in the story of Naaman the Syrian, who went to the land of Israel seeking healing from leprosy he had been suffering from. But when Naaman sought the prophet Elisha, he was told to wash himself at the River Jordan seven times, and he would be healed. But he refused out of pride.

 

This was exactly how the devil tried to prevent Naaman from finding healing, not just from leprosy but also from his sinfulness and lack of faith, by placing pride, ego and stubbornness in his way. It was at this point that, Naaman’s servant reminded him to be humble and accept the conditions for him to be healed since it was a very easy thing for him to do. In the end, Naaman obeyed, humbling himself in obedience to the advice of the servant and was healed.

 

In the same way in our Gospel passage today, the people of Nazareth refused to listen to Jesus or believe in him because they stubbornly persisted in believing that what they had known earlier about Jesus as the Son of a mere carpenter meant that he could not have attained such power, authority and wisdom. Their prejudices and egos prevented them from having faith as they hardened their hearts and minds against God. As such, the Lord could not do much in their midst, and in the end, referring to the events of Naaman and the widow of Zarephath. Thus, he left his hometown doing little because of their pride and lack of faith.

 

Dear friends, pride is the first capital sin, so, do not let pride deprive you of God’s blessings. Thus, we are called today to renounce pride and embrace the courage of humility. We must entrust ourselves humbly to the Lord, because only in this way will we be able to become docile instruments in his hands and allow him to do great things through us and in our lives.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, oftentimes we have failed to humble ourselves, because of pride and this has deprived us of your blessings. As we listen to your words today, may we learn to humble ourselves and so obtain your blessings and favours. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed and favourable week.

HOMILY FOR THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT YEAR B, 3RD MARCH, 2024

Readings: Ex.20:1-17; Ps. 19; 1Cor 1:22-25; John 2:13-25

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

 

WHAT IS OUR ATTIUDE TOWARDS THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD?

 

As we prepare ourselves for the celebration of Easter, today the third Sunday in the Holy Season of Lent we are all called to reflect on how we have been keeping the commandments of God and how disposed are we towards encountering the risen Lord. Thus, in our first reading today, we heard how the Lord God revealed his Law and commandments to his people through Moses. These commandments are given in order to establish good relationships and a covenant between God and the people and also among the people themselves.

 

Here, the Lord gave us the Ten Commandments, which we are familiar with, beginning with the first three most important commandments of all, that is, to love the Lord and honour him with all of our heart, our might, strength, and with all of our whole being, glorifying his Holy Name, while honouring and keeping the day he set aside for us to worship him, which we now observe every Sundays as Holy Day for the Lord as we often gathered for the celebration of the Holy Mass as we are doing today.

 

Following these three commandments, are the other seven Commandments which focus on our relationship with one another, beginning with the commandment to honour our father and mother, so that we may have a long life in the land that the Lord our God has given to us. Then, he commanded us not to kill. Not to commit adultery. Not to steal. Not to bear false witness against our neighbour. not to covet our neighbour’s goods. And not to covet our neighbour’s wife, or properties. These no doubt, tell us that we cannot truly love God unless we also love our neighbors, neither can we truly love our neighbours unless we genuinely have the love of God in our hearts.

 

Dear friends, the question that comes to mind today is: what is my attitude towards the commandments of God? Are we keeping and living according to these commandments of God? Some may say no, but some will say yes because they believe that they have not broken any of the commandments. This no doubt is good and great, but if we have not broken any of the commandments, have we kept them? You may ask what do I mean by keeping them?

 

The answer is simple if you have not broken the commandments, have you been keeping and living by them? Have we sincerely honoured the Lord our God with all our hearts and not use his Holy Name in vain? Have we really kept the Sabbath day Holy? Have we truly and sincerely honoured and loved our parents? We may not have killed anyone, but have we sought to preserve and defend life? We may not have committed adultery, fornication, masturbation, homosexuality and lesbianism, but have we seduced others into committing them or prevented others from engaging in them?

 

We may not have stolen from people, but have we prevented others from stealing by sharing our goods with the poor and saving them the temptation of stealing as a way of correcting them? We may not have bore false witness against our neighbours, but have spoken the truth and defended the good name of others in order to save them from falsehood? Yes, we may not have coveted our neighbour’s goods, but have defended and protected our neighbour’s goods? We may not have coveted our neighbour’s wife or properties, but have we defended and protected them? We may say how does this concern me? But that is the essence of the commandments, that is, to love and see to the well-being of others. To protect and defend the rights of others. To guide and correct others when they are doing the wrong things.

 

This is exactly what Jesus did in our Gospel passage today when the Lord Jesus came to the Temple of Jerusalem, saw the wrong things they were doing, and decided to clear all the corrupt merchants and money changers who were doing their business in the courtyard of the Temple. Here Jesus had not broken the commandment of keeping the temple holy, but he will not let others to keep break this commandment. They have to be corrected. Hence, he was furious that all of those merchants and money changers were openly doing their business and cheating the people of their hard-earned money right at the very place where God himself dwells.

 

Thus, he drove them away saying stop turning my Father’s house into a market for it is a house of prayer and not a den of rubbers. And when he was interrogated he said “Destroy this sanctuary, and in three days I will raise it up”. The sanctuary Jesus is referring to here is the sanctuary which is his body the Holy Church, which he has planned to restore at his resurrection. This salvific work of Jesus is what St Paul is referencing in our second reading when he said: “Here are we preaching a crucified Christ; to the Jews an obstacle that they cannot get over, to the pagan's madness, but to those who have been called, whether they are Jews or Greeks, a Christ who is the power and the wisdom of God.

 

Therefore, is not enough to say we have not broken any of the commandments, we need to ask ourselves whether we are practising and living by them. For Jesus did not break any of the commandments, rather he lived by them and taught us to do the same. He has given us the guidance and the path for us to follow through his actions. Hence, we are called today to imitate him.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we listen to your words today, give us the grace and strength to journey with you this Lenten season, so as to remain faithful and be genuinely committed to living and keeping the Commandments you have bestowed on us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Happy Sunday to you all.

Homily For Saturday Second Week of Lent Year B, 2nd March, 2024

Readings: Micah 7:14-15.18-20, Ps. 103, Luke 15:1-3.11-32

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

 

I WILL ARISE AND GO BACK TO MY FATHER AND SAY I AM SORRY

 

Every day of our lives we make choices that we think are good for us. Meanwhile, the root of any choice we make comes from the fundamental option we have made for or against God; to love or to be selfish, to be good or bad, to be holy or sinful. And any choice we make has great consequences which can be positive or negative as we have in the parables of the prodigal son in our Gospel passage today.

 

In this parable, we can identify three main characters: The Father, the elder son and the younger son. The three characters represent the attitude of the group of persons in which Jesus was addressing in the Gospel. First, the attitude of the tax collectors and sinners, who were seeking the company of Jesus to hear what he had to say. Secondly the attitudes of the Pharisees and scribes who complained. And then, Jesus is seen as a righteous man who welcomes sinners and eats with them.

 

Looking at the attitudes of these three characters in the parable, we can deduce that the attitude of the Pharisees and Scribes depicts that of the elder son who is obedient to his father but passes judgment on his disobedient brother, the attitude of task collectors and sinner depicts the younger son who seeks reconciliation and forgiveness from his father. The attitude of the Father can be seen in the person of God (Jesus) who went out to welcome the prodigal son (task collectors and sinners) and goes out as well searching for the elder and dutiful son (Pharisees and Scribes).

 

This parable applies to our present context, where the Church is seen as the merciful Father, who welcomes, accommodates and lavishes her love on both saints and sinners. For we are told in our first reading that no god can be compared with our God: taking fault away, pardoning crime, not cherishing anger forever but delighting in showing mercy? Meanwhile, the saints and the righteous ones in the Church are seen as the elder son who is obedient and faithful to the Father. While sinners, unbelievers are seen as the prodigal son who has travelled to a far distant country seeking to come back to the Father.

 

But the questions we should ask ourselves are: where do I belong in the whole picture of this parable? Am I lost in sin? Have I travelled far away from God and his Church? Where am I now in my relationship with God? What is the state of my life? What is my attitude towards my neighbour, my family, my father, mother, children? What is my attitude towards those who have offended me in grievous ways? What is my attitude towards notorious sinners (armed robbers, murderers, prostitutes, drunkards, drug addicts,  womanizers, liars, the wicked, greedy and corrupt people) can I accommodate them if repented?

 

Dear friends, God is calling us to repentance. Sin has taken us away from God is time to come back, we are lost in a faraway land of sin, is time to come back. It doesn't matter what we have done, or how sinful we may have been, no matter how grievous. God is waiting for us to come back. He wants to hear us say like the prodigal son: I will arise and go to my Father and say Father forgive me for I have sinned against heaven and before you.

 

Friends, God wants to meet us at the confessional, he wants to meet us in the Eucharist, he wants to meet us in those persons we have offended and those who have offered us. He wants to meet us in those we have refused to forgive. He wants to meet us in our families, in your husband, your wife, your children, your neighbours, and your colleagues in the office and marketplace. He wants to meet you in that man who is suffering in prison and hospital because of your unforgiveness. All he wants us to do today is to say, am sorry to those whom we have offended and to forgive those who have offended us.

 

The choice is yours, don't wait until is too late. Why not make a call to someone today and say to him or her am sorry, I have forgiven you, I just realized how wrong I have been, please forgive me. If we can do this, then we will see how blessed our life will be in this Holy season of Lent and we will find reason to rejoice at Easter. Remember that conversion is not just about sinners becoming holy, is more than that. Is about experiencing and acknowledging the love of God every day of our lives.

 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, sin has separated us for your love, as we listen to your words today, may we come back to you just like the prodigal son, with a repented heart and strong will to remain faithful like the dutiful son, knowing that you as our merciful Father awaits our return. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed weekend.

Homily For Friday Second Week of Lent Year B, 1st March, 2024. HAPPY NEW MONTH

Readings: Gen. 37:3-4.12-13.17-28, Ps. 105, Matt.21:33-43.45-46

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

 

WHAT IS YOUR ATTITUDE TOWARDS GOD AND HIS VINEYARD?

The relationship between God and humanity has always been described with different stories and parables. This often shows how humanity has always been unfaithful to God who has shown so much love to us. One of such parables and stories is what we have in our readings today.

 

In our Gospel passage, we heard the great parable of a vineyard owner who sent his servants to collect the dues and rents of the tenants whom he had entrusted with the care of the vineyard he leased out to them. But these tenants were wicked and desired to keep everything they gained to themselves, hence they persecuted and killed the servants sent to them. The tenants also killed the son of the vineyard owner, whom he sent to them thinking that the tenants would respect his son.

In the end, the vineyard owner came down himself and dealt with all those wicked tenants, punishing them all for their wickedness and the evil things which they had committed out of greed and ego. They lost everything and were punished justly by the owner. This same attitude we have in our first reading in the despicable act which the brothers of Joseph committed against him in order to end his dream and gain for themselves favour and inheritance.

 

Thus, the parable describes the relationship between God and humanity and how humanity has been summoned for a trial. Here, the owner of the vineyard is God, while the son represents Jesus himself, the Son of God sent into the world to save humanity but was crucified by the same humanity. Again, the vineyard represents the world itself while the wicked tenants represent the ugly attitudes of humanity towards the resources entrusted to us by God.

 

Dear friends, our nation is on a trial before God, for God has presented his case against us today, summoning our blessed land and mountains to act as judge between him and the people of this nation, by reminding us how he has blessed us with so many resource, skills, good weather and people. But we have misused them, neglected his message, and committed a lot of evil and murder,  yet we are still carrying, seeking solutions and signs from God.

 

Today as tenants in God’s vineyard, we are called to change our ugly attitude positively, we should turn away from greed, corruption, pride and ego. If not, we will likely end up like those wicked tenants who acted with such evil against their fellow men and even against the son of their master and were justly punished. Therefore, what God requires from us today is to do justice, to love kindly and to walk humbly with him for our good and the good of others. Remember, It was the stone rejected by the builders that became the cornerstone.

LET US PRAY: Almighty Father, the world is filled with greed, corruption, pride and ego because humanity has often failed to remain faithful and accountable for the things entrusted to us. As we listen to your words today, we ask for your mercy and forgiveness for the time we have failed to be faithful, obedient and accountable for the things you entrusted to us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful Month

Homily For Thursday Second Week of Lent Year B, 29th February, 2024

Readings: Jer. 17:5-10, Ps. 1, Luke 16:19-31

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

 

DO NOT BE GUILTY OF THE SIN OF OMISSION

 

Whatever we have in this world is a blessing from God, who wishes to bless us so that through us others will be blessed. But this is not often the disposition of most of us. This is obvious when we reflect on the relationship between the rich and the poor in our society today. Where the poor are neglected and treated as if they are less human.

 

This ugly attitude needs to change when we recall the famous parable of the Lord Jesus in our Gospel passage today, about Lazarus the poor man and a rich man whose doorstep Lazarus often dwelled, hoping for the rich man to give him even the scraps of bread and food that fell from his table, but he was often neglected.

 

 Here, we heard how the poor Lazarus ended up in Paradise, in the presence of God in heaven with Abraham, enjoying the fullness of God’s inheritance and grace, no longer suffering the pains and torments that he had once endured while he was still alive in the world. Meanwhile, we heard how the rich man descended into the depths of hell, suffering in agony for eternity, without any hope of respite or escape, and even when he begged Abraham to send Lazarus for help, that couldn't happen.

 

But what was the rich man's offence? Is it because he was rich? No, his sin is that of omission, which is the sin of neglecting his neighbour Lazarus when he was obviously in the position to help and provide for him through the excess material goods and providence that God has blessed him with. He neglected the commandments of God who has called us to love our neighbours and help the needy. Thus, he has to face the consequences of his sin of neglecting his neighbour who needed his help.

 

Hence, in our first reading (Jer 17:5-10), the prophet Jeremiah spoke of the curse that would be against those who followed the path of disobedience against God and his commandments, those who trust in themselves and worldly matters more than they trusted in God. Those who trust in God will have the assurance of God’s providence and blessings as they enjoy his promise of eternal life and everlasting glory just like Lazarus.

 

Dear friends, the example of the parable of the rich man and poor Lazarus, calls our attention to the fact that we are going to be judged not based on what God has blessed us with but, on what we have done with what God has given us. So it is important to remind ourselves in this season of Lent, that we must also not be ignorant of the poor Lazaruses around us. Those who are less fortunate than we are, should not be neglected, especially those who work for us, our house helps, our poor security personnel, our poor neighbours, and those we encounter every day in need of our help.

 

Remember, no one is too poor that he has nothing to give, even the poor Lazarus offered his sores to dogs who came to lick them. And no one is so rich that he needs nothing, but, the sin of the rich man was the sin of omission, this should not be our lot as we ask God for grace not to neglect the poor Lazarus around us.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, you are the source of all that we have. As we listen to your words today, grant us we pray, the grace to be conscious of the poor around us and ensure we help them in their struggles. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you God’s favour and blessings.

Homily For Wednesday Second Week of Lent Year B, 28th February, 2024

Readings: Jer. 18:18-20; Ps.31; Matt. 20:17-28

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

 

WHY THIS EXCESS DESIRE FOR POWER?

 

One of the ugly attitudes of most of our leaders today is the love of power, people are ready to do anything just to grab power. People kill, kidnap, blackmail and condemn others because of their ambition to hold power and sustain it. This ugly attitude of mankind is well displayed in the readings of today. In the Gospel passage, this ugly attitude was displayed when the mother of the sons of Zebedee came with her sons to make a request from Jesus that he should promise that her two sons may sit one at his right hand and the other at his left in his kingdom.

 

This unfortunate request was made while Jesus was telling his disciples about his passion and death. But instead of reflecting on the seriousness of the words of Jesus, they were busy quarrelling over who grabs power as most people do today. For when the other ten heard about the request made by the mother of the sons of Zebedee, they were indignant with the two brothers. perhaps because they had misinterpreted Jesus’ teachings about the Kingdom and presumed that it would be a kingdom in which they would have honour and prestige like most people think today.

 

But Jesus called them and said, ‘You know that among the pagans the rulers lord it over them, and their great men make their authority felt. This is not to happen among you. No; anyone who wants to be great among you must be your servant, and anyone who wants to be first among you must be your slave, just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

 

Dear friends, why this excess desire for power? We have forgotten that true greatness is found in sincere service to others and not in over ambition for power or plotting against others as we have in our first reading, where we see people plotting the downfall of a virtuous man. They intend to deal cruelly with him because he has commented on their evil ways of life. They intend to test him and see if he will break under pressure and become like them. This ugly attitude is what we often experience in our families, societies and our country today. Where people do all kinds of evil in order to grab power and sustain it.

 

I don’t know what your experience has been. I don’t know which of the characters in our readings can best describe our attitude towards power. Are we like the mother of the sons of Zebedee? Is our attitude like that of the ten disciples? Is our attitude like that of the pagan rulers who lord it over others? Is our attitude like that of those potting the downfall of the prophet of God? Or that of prophet Jeremiah who was a victim.

 

Whichever category we fall in, today we are called to be humble like Jesus who came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. Therefore, as leaders, we should see ourselves as servants and not seek after status beyond our reach or plot the downfall of others. Remember, ambition can be a good thing but only if it is kept in check and if pursued for the right reason, that is, to serve others.

 

 LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, we are often consumed by excess love for power, which we have often misused and abused.  As we listen to your teaching today, may we learn to use the power and authority entrusted to us in humble service to the common good of all. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed day.

Homily For Tuesday Second Week of Lent Year B, 27th February, 2024

Readings: Is. 1:10.16-20; Ps.50; Matt. 23:1-12

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

 

DON’T BE “AN EYE SERVICE” OR HYPOCRITIC LEADERS LIKE THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES

 

One of the things that makes us unique from every other creature is leadership. Leadership is one of the characteristics of the human person, It is a gift from God by which we serve him and our neighbour responsibly. But this gift often has been abused and misused by people who were entrusted with the responsibility of leading others, just like the Scribes and the Pharisees in the Gospel passage today, who had the responsibility to lead people to the Kingdom of heaven, but with their ugly ways of life,  they neither enter nor allow those who want to enter to go in.

 

Hence, Jesus told his disciples that since the scribes and the Pharisees occupied the chair of Moses. They must therefore do what they tell them and listen to what they say, but do not be guided by what they do: since they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move any. Everything they do is done to attract attention.

 

Here, Jesus made it clear that we should listen to what the authorities are saying to us. However, we should not be such people who do not put into practice what we teach. So, as Christians, we need to start practising what we preach, we need to do more witnessing than preaching. It is not enough to recall principles, state intentions, point to blatant injustice and utter prophetic denunciation; these kinds of words lack the real meaning of our faith unless they are accompanied by effective action manifested in our way of life.

 

Thus, Jesus called the Scribes and Pharisees hypocrites, and blind guides because they misused the gift of leadership entrusted to them. So, today we are called not to be like them, rather, we should be humble, committed and responsible with whatever we are entrusted with. Jesus made us to know that the greatest among us must be the servant of all. Because anyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and anyone who humbles himself will be exalted.

 

Hence, prophet Isaiah tells us in our first reading to hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of the world; listen to the command of our God, you people of corruption. ‘Wash, make yourselves clean. Take your wrong-doing out of God’s sight. Cease to do evil. Learn to do good, search for justice, help the oppressed, be just to the orphan, plead for the widow.

 

Dear friends, the world is full of eye service leaders with a Pharisaic spirit of greed, selfishness, pride and corruption. Are you one of such leaders? Don’t be an eye service or hypocritical leader for the world needs leaders who will be truly servants of the people at all levels of leadership beginning from the self to the family, to societies and other levels we may find ourselves. But what does it take to be a good leader? Jesus says humility that comes from a humble heart that wishes to serve and not to be served. A heart that understands that leadership is sacrificial. Can I be such a leader in my family, society and country?

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, humanity are suffering because of corrupt, greedy, selfish and eye service leaders who occupy virtually every important position of leadership. As we embrace your words today, may we repent and become good leaders in our families, societies and the world at large. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.  Do have a fruitful day.