Homily For Thursday Sixth Week of Eastertide Year B, The Solemnity of Ascension,13th May, 2024

 

Readings: Acts1:1-11; Ps. 47; Eph. 4:1-13; Mark 16:15-20

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

ASCENSION OF THE LORD A CONFIRMATION OF THE REALITY OF HEAVEN 

Today we celebrate the solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord. This solemnity reminds us of that great moment of hope when the Lord triumphs victoriously and is no longer physically present among his disciples and followers, as they can no longer directly see him or touch him as they had been during all the while he was physically present with them. 

We can recall that the Joy of the risen Lord had filled the hearts of his disciples as they experienced his physical presence for the past forty days after his death and resurrection. So on the occasion of today’s solemnity, the Lord Jesus in the presence of his disciples was physically ascended into heaven as they watched him taken away in the cloud, to return to his heavenly Throne, triumphant and victorious. It was a moment of great hope for them as they wished to be with him for eternity. 

However, they have a mission to accomplish, they are to bear witness to the events and testify about it on their missions and pass it down as a true hope for humanity. But this does not mean that the Lord has abandoned or left his disciples, rather he has gone to fulfil his promise of preparing a place for his faithful disciples, and will also send a great Helper to assist them.

Therefore, the feast of the Ascension of the Lord does not mean that Jesus has departed to some place far from people and from the world. Rather it means that he no longer belongs to this world conditioned by a life of corruption and death, as he now belongs entirely to God as the eternal Son, who has purified the filthiness of humanity and raised us into God’s presence by taking with him our flesh and blood in its transfigured form and this is a thing of great hope and joy for all who believe in him. It is this great joy and hope that we celebrate today. An event that shows that humanity has been introduced into the very life of God. 

Hence, from the readings of today, we have the details of this great event and the last instructions of Jesus to his disciples. In the first reading, before the Ascension, Jesus said to his disciples: ‘You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you, and then you will be my witnesses not only in Jerusalem but throughout Judaea and Samaria, and indeed to the ends of the earth. As he said this he was lifted while they looked on, and a cloud took him from their sight.’ 

While in the Gospel passage, Jesus instructed his disciples saying; Go out to the whole world; proclaim the Good News to all creation. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; he who does not believe will be condemned. As they preached everywhere, the Lord worked with them and confirmed their words with great signs that accompanied them. 

In addition, St Paul in the second reading says: ‘he ascended’, what can it mean if not that he descended right down to the lower regions of the earth? The one who rose higher than all the heavens to fulfil all things is none other than the one who descended. And to some, his gift was that they should be apostles; to some, prophets; to some, evangelists; to some, pastors and teachers; so that the saints together make a unity in the work of service, building up the body of Christ. And so come to unity in our faith and our knowledge of the Son of God, until we become the perfect Man, fully mature with the fullness of Christ himself. 

Dear friends, the occasion of the Ascension of the Lord is a confirmation of the reality of heaven, which reminds us that God has always been faithful and loving as he fulfils his covenants and promises to humanity. It reminds us of our mission to evangelize the world, to give hope to humanity by letting them know that human hope and life are beyond the boundaries of this passing world.  It reminds us that God will always be with us no matter what we are passing through in this world for he will always provide for us and care for us at all times. Hence, we must have faith in him no matter how challenging and difficult the situation in our lives may be, we must have hope and trust in God that in the end, everything will be fine. 

Let us hold on to the Lord for this occasion is indeed a great time for us to recall the hope that we found in Jesus' triumphant victory over evil, sin and condemnation. Let us celebrate the greatest hope that God has given to humanity by letting us share in the very Life of the Trinity. The hope is that humanity will one day be united body and soul with our Lord and Saviour Jesus. A confirmation of the reality of heaven, for this is the central message of the event of the Ascension that gives great joy and hope to all who believe, which as disciples, we are called to bear witness to the world. 

Therefore, let us share this great hope with the people of the world by letting the light of Christ in us illuminate the darkness and ignorance in the world. Let us share this hope through our words, actions and deeds. Let our presence bring hope and encouragement, not hatred and division. Let our actions bring healing and succour in hopeless situations. Let our deeds inspire humanity to come to know God and embrace the victory Jesus has won for us. 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, let this solemnity of the Lord’s Ascension, enkindle in us the passion to love you more dearly and to spread in the world the Joy and hope we have found in Jesus. Let this Joy and hope bring healing, succour, strength and courage that will help us to overcome the ugly and hopeless situations in our lives, families, societies andn the world at large. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen. Peace be with you.

Homily For Wednesday Sixth Week of Eastertide Year B, 8th May 2024

 

Readings: Acts 17:15.22-18:1; Ps.148;  John 16:12-15

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

 

ARE YOU IGNORANCE OF GOD? LET THE HOLY SPIRIT LEAD YOU TO THE COMPLETE TRUTH

 

One of the Spiritual works of Mercy is instructing the ignorant, and this is one of the most difficult tasks to do as a Christian, especially when it comes to dealing with people who are presumed to be learned. This kind of difficulty is what St. Paul has to face with the people of Athens in our first reading today. So Paul finding himself in the most learned city in the world of his time needed to preach the Good News of God to them. But the theme for his message has to be something that will interest his audience.

 

Thus, he started by clearing their ignorance regarding what he knew they were searching for. He said to them: “I have seen for myself how extremely scrupulous you are in all religious matters, because I noticed, as I strolled round admiring your sacred monuments, that you had an altar inscribed: To An Unknown God. Well, the God whom I proclaim is in fact the one whom you already worship without knowing it.”

 

In this passage, St. Paul claims that this unknown God is none other than God the Creator. He gave us evidence of the ignorance of pagan worship and made it clear that the object of true worship is the one Creator God. He showed us the proper relationship between humanity and God as he lets us know that the time of ignorance is now over. Also, Paul speaks of God’s creative act of humanity, from a single person Adam, he made every race of people and in him, we live and move and exist.

 

Therefore, we are God’s offspring, his true image in the world. Thus any image made by human skill and creativity will possibly be anything other than a distortion of the image of the one, true God. And so Paul warns us from involving in any form of idol worship as he calls for total repentance because God will no longer overlook our ignorance. This is evident in our Gospel passage today, when Jesus said: ‘I still have many things to say to you but they would be too much for you now. But when the Spirit of truth comes he will lead you to the complete truth, since he will not be speaking as from himself but will say only what he has learnt; and he will tell you of the things to come.’

 

Dear friends, many idols enslave us in this world and when we are suddenly deprived of them we end up acting irrational and selfish, even to the point of hurting others just so that we may protect and justify ourselves. But the truth is that the time of ignorance is over, for today we have before us the Spirit of truth. We can no longer pretend to be ignorant of God’s instructions. Therefore, let us repent from our sinful ways of life and embrace the Spirit of truth who will clear our ignorance.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are ignorant of so many things about you and the world we live in, grant that the Holy Spirit of truth, will continue to teach us about you and the faith we have found in our Son Jesus as he unveils the darkness of lies and falsehood in our world. He who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. God bless you.

Homily For Tuesday Sixth Week of Eastertide Year B, 7th May, 2024

 

Readings: Acts 16:22-34; Ps.138;  John 16:5-11

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

 

HOLY SPIRIT COME AND TEACH THE WORLD THE TRUTH ABOUT SIN, RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUDGEMENT

 

As Jesus continues with his teaching on the Person of the Holy Spirit, whom he called the Counsellor. He said to his disciples in our Gospel passage, ‘I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Counsellor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgement.’

 

The focal point here is on the works of the Holy Spirit in the world. This is because Jesus knows that with the rejection of his teaching by the people of the world, the disciples need an advocate who will surely proved to the world how wrong they are in rejecting and killing him. Hence, What seemed like abandonment to the disciples, brought about the message of hope assuring them that the Holy Spirit will show the world how wrong it was, about sin and about judgment. That is, the Spirit will convict and persuade the people of the world of their sinful condition which they hold so tight because they were wrong for not believe in Jesus.

 

Thus the Holy Spirit will clearly show to the world the righteousness of Jesus and his claims to come from God in order to bring the Word of God anew to the world. The Holy Spirit will reveal the meaning of Christ’s death as the condemnation of all that is evil in the world, and victory over devil the “prince” of this world. This is so evidence in our first reading, were we heard about the victory of Paul and Silas who were praying and singing God’s praises in the prison when the prison doors were opened.

 

Dear friends, as we struggle with the ugly situation in the world, we are reminded that the Holy Spirit dwells in us as our Counsellor, all we need to do is to turn towards him with hope and courage, knowing that God has called us to be his people and he will always be faithful to his promises. And if we trust in him, we shall not be disappointed for in him alone is our sure hope of assistance during this difficult moments of our lives.

 

Therefore, let us open our hearts to the Holy Spirit and let him be the sources of hope, light and inspiration for us especially in this difficult moment of fears of uncertainties in our hearts and minds, which have enslaved and prevented us from realizing what our lives truly mean and what we represent in this world.

 

Let us know that God has not and will not abandon us in the ugly situation we have found ourselves in this passing world, for he has given us the gift of the Holy Spirit, whose work is to ensure our victory and prove to this sinful world how wrong they are in rejecting and persecuting Jesus and the work of redemption which he has established.

 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, the ugly situation in our world is really shaking the faith of your children, grant, we pray, that we may always find delight in the indwelling of your Holy Spirit and so courageously conquer our fears and worries just like Paul and Silas. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. May God bless and keep us safe.

Homily For Monday in the Sixth Week of Eastertide Year B, 6th May 2024

 

Readings: Acts 16:11-15; Ps.149;  John 15:26-16:4

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

 

THE LORD WILL SEND US THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH

 

In our societies today many false influential powers have great effects on our lives coming from various sources under the guise of good but are in fact leading us astray. So, there is a need for us to examine these influences and today in our Gospel passage, Jesus said to his disciples: when the Advocate comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, he will be my witness. And you too will be witnesses, because you have been with me from the outset. ‘I have told you all this that your faith may not be shaken.

 

Thus, the Holy Spirit will lead us to learn how to distinguish clearly where and in whom dwells the Spirit of truth from the Spirit of falsehood. As long as we are of God and in Christ, we have nothing to fear for we do not belong any more to this present world, full of sin, hatred, greed, corruption, deceit and violence. Every day many false prophets and teachers are increasing and are deceiving the people. May God guide us against embracing, too readily, any doctrine proposed to us without due consideration from any teacher who may pretend to have a divine inspiration but does not.

 

Dear friends, we must be very wise for many false prophets are operating under the power of the devil. Today Jesus is promising us the Spirit of truth that will give us a special sign for distinguishing true doctrine and true teachers from the false ones. Therefore, let us constantly ask the Holy Spirit to give us the grace of discernment in order to distinguish between good and false prophets and teachers. Let us also be true Christians in our way of life, words and deeds. Let us learn to put our trust in God who has promised to keep us from falling away from the true faith we have found in His Son Jesus.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, you promised to send us the Spirit of truth, grant we pray that we will always stand and witness to the truth we have found in Jesus against all the false influential prophets and teachers in our society today, he who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. Do have a fruitful week.

Homily For Sixth Sunday of Eastertide Year B, 5th May 2024

 
Readings: Acts.10:25-26.34-35.44-48; Ps.98; 1 John 4:7-10;  John 15:9-17

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

 

LOVING ONE ANOTHER IS WHAT GOD COMMANDS US TO DO

 

As we celebrate the sixth Sunday of the holy season of Eastertide, our attention is being drawn more to the departure of Jesus who has been with his disciples. With the Solemnity of the Ascension coming up on Thursday within the week, in anticipation of the Solemnity of the Pentecost coming very soon, the readings of today draw our attention to the last and very important words of Jesus to his disciples before his departure. These departing words are summarized in one word which is Love.

 

Thus, our readings today have love as its central theme. In our Gospel passage, Jesus said to his disciples: “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy be complete. This is my commandment: love one another, as I have loved you. A man can have no greater love than to lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends, if you do what I command you.”

 

Similarly, we heard St. John in our second reading saying: my dear people, let us love one another since love comes from God and everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. But anyone who fails to love can never have known God, because God is love.

 

Here, our attention is focused on love.  But what kind of love are they talking about? Is it the type of love we have in our world today, the love that is based on feelings for selfish gain and lustful desires? I don’t think so, for Jesus didn’t say, I love you as a mother loves her baby or I love you the way a husband loves his wife or wife to her husband, or I love you the way the children love their parents or even I love you the way a girlfriend loves her boyfriend, nor the way people love their worldly possessions.

 

No, the love Jesus is talking about is the sacrificial love that comes from the heart and soul of one who is rooted in the life of the Trinity, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. This is why Jesus is talking about the love of the Father towards the Son, and of the Son towards his disciples, and his disciples toward God and our neighbour. This love is joined together with an inseparable seal of the heavenly joy. That is why Jesus said: my joy may be in you and your joy be complete

 

Thus, Jesus is speaking of the power of love, that life-giving passion that transforms and unites the disciples with the master in a relationship that portrays their new status. For they are no longer to be seen as “servants” but as “friends.” It was by the effects of the cross and resurrection of Jesus that they have come to know what this sacrificial love has accomplished in them through their unity and abiding relationship with Jesus in God the Father.

 

Hence, this action now makes it further clear that the power to respond to his command to love one another comes from his choice for them when he said: “You did not choose me, I chose you, I have called you; I have chosen you; I have commissioned you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last. Little wonder we heard St. Peter saying in our first reading: ‘The truth I have now come to realize is that God does not have favourites, but that anybody of any nationality who fears God and does what is right is acceptable to him.’

 

Dear friends, what is God demanding from us?  What does he expect from us as his disciples? The answer is love, sacrificial love, for love is what he requires from us. Love is all he has offered us, love is all he is demanding from us. He is not asking us to offer what he has not given us. He is rather asking us to offer that which he has offered us in abundance. I know that it is not easy to bear the sacrificial nature of love in our world today, but that is what the world needs now. Loving one another requires sacrifice, sacrifice of our comfort, resources, talent, gifts and pride. Loving one another requires forgiveness, mercy, care and humility and not the life of I, I, I, Me, Me, Me that we practice these days.

 

So. Let us not just think about ourselves and our selfish desires, but consider the needs of others and bear that sacrificial aspect of love. How I wish that humanity can embrace this command of our Lord Jesus, by investing more in the things that ensure love and unity in our societies rather than spending our energy, time and resources in producing heavy ammunitions of war that breed more hatred and division in our world.

 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, love is what you have offered us, love is all you demand from us. As we listened to your words today, may we embrace your love in our hearts and share it with one another even in the midst of persecution and hatred in our world. Let your love reign supreme in our lives, our families, societies, countries and the world at large. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a spirit-filled Sunday.

Homily For Saturday Fifth Week of Eastertide Year B, 4th May, 2024

 

Readings: Acts 16:1-10; Ps.100;  John 15:18-21

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

 

THE WORLD HATE YOU BECAUSE YOU DO NOT BELONG TO THE WORLD

 

There is no doubt that threat breeds fear, insecurity and anger which brings about the negative feeling we call hatred. Little wonder the word ‘Hate’ is often used to express a negative feeling towards something or someone who we presumed to have some threat over us or something related to us. Meanwhile, hatred as we know is the direct opposite of love. This definition is very important in order to understand the teaching of Jesus in our Gospel passage today when he said to his disciples: “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me before you. If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you do not belong to the world, because my choice withdrew you from the world, therefore the world hates you.”

 

Here, Jesus who has been talking to his disciples about love and commanding them to love one another is today warning and telling them that, there is no guarantee that they will be loved in return by the people of the world. He used himself as an example of how they may be treated, that if the world hated and persecuted him so badly, his disciples should expect to be treated the same way. But why would the worldly-minded people hate and persecute Jesus and his disciples?

 

This is because the presence and words of Jesus bring great light and judgment to the darkness of this world, and the people of the world love darkness rather than the Light since their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the Light and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. So the presence of Jesus the light of the world threatens the people of the world and this breeds fear, insecurity and anger which brings about the negative feeling of hatred for Jesus and those who associate with him.

 

More so, it is important to note that, when Jesus talks about the “world” as we have it in the Gospel passage, he is not referring to the physical world but the people who are so attached to the things of this world. People who have made the things of this passing world their God and have come to trust in their ability to exploit others and acquire the earth as their own. They try very hard to cover their sin and silence the voice of conscience, accusing them of their sins. But here are Christians constantly reminding them of their sins as they strive to live a life of holiness which of course stirs up again all those thoughts and feelings of guilt which they wished to silenced. Hence, this threat breeds fear, insecurity and anger that gives birth to hatred of Christians by worldly-minded people.

 

Dear friends, today we are called to bear witness even in the face of hatred and hostility. Despite the world’s hatred, we should never respond with retaliation or hatred. Yes, there may be times to ask God to judge the wicked. There may be times to shake the dust off our feet and move on, of course, we have to, knowing that we can do so through the Spirit of truth dwelling in us. For through our Baptism, we have received the Holy Spirit in us, which helps us strive to live a life of love and righteousness even in the midst of persecutions and hatred.

 

LET US PRAY: Almighty and eternal God, who through the regenerating power of Baptism has been pleased to confer on us the heavenly life, grant us, we pray, the grace to bear authentic witness of your love and peace in the world full of hatred and strife. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a lovely and peaceful weekend.

Homily For Friday Fifth Week of Easter Year B, The Feast of SS Philip and James, 3rd May 2024

 

Readings: 1Cor 15:1-8; Ps.19;  John 14:6-14

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

 

DO YOU WANT TO SEE THE FATHER? THEN FOLLOW JESUS THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE

 

The main goal of discipleship is acquiring the mind of the master and the price to pay is obedience and the ability to learn from the Master. This is clear with the use of the imagery of Father and Son by Jesus to explain his relationship with God the Father. But oftentimes, the people and even his disciples find it difficult to understand the systematic fashion of this relationship.

 

So in our Gospel passage today, Jesus tried to explain this relationship to his disciples when he said to them: I am the Way, the Truth and the Life, If you know me, you know my Father too. From this moment you know him and have seen him. Curiously, Philip said, ‘Lord, let us see the Father and then we shall be satisfied'. But Jesus said: you must believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; I tell you most solemnly, whoever believes in me will perform even greater works because I am going to the Father and whatever you ask for in my name I will do it.

 

Here Jesus is saying that if we want to know God and understand his ways in relation to humanity, all we need to do is to look at him (Jesus) as the Son of the Father who has come to reveal the true image of God to humanity. We are to observe what he does, listen to what he teaches, watch how he behaves, what and who he loves, and what he rejects or defends for by so doing we will discover God in him because as the Son, he is the true human image of God. He is one with the Father in unity of existence and life and this is evidenced in the Words he spoke and the works he performed.

 

Consequently, those who believe in him are endowed with the power of the Holy Spirit and will do greater works than he has done, for he has gone to the Father and whatever they ask in his name he will do it because they will be asking in accordance with the Holy Spirit in union with the name of the very person of Jesus whose request the Father will always granted.

 

So today we celebrate the feast of SS Philip and James, two great Apostles of our Lord Jesus, who laboured and worked hard to serve the Lord and brought his Good News to different corners of the world. Tradition has it that, Philip evangelized and preached in places like Greece, Asia Minor and Syria. It was during one of his ministries, according to tradition, that he was martyred when along with Bartholomew, tried to convince the wife of the local ruler to convert to the Christian faith and the furious ruler ordered Philip and Bartholomew to be crucified upside-down.

 

But Philip asked his persecutors to release Bartholomew, which they did, but he remained on the cross, and there he died a martyr. Similarly, St. James the Lesser as he was called, was also a devoted disciple of the Lord, who was credited with the evangelization and conversion of many peoples just like Philip and the other Apostles. He was also martyred in Egypt, where he worked greatly in spreading the Gospel and defending the faith he had found in Jesus.

 

Dear friends, the questions we need to ask ourselves today are:   Do we believe in God as our Father? Do we personally and truly know and believe in Jesus as the way, the truth and the life? Have we any personal experience of the power of the Holy Spirit? The truth is that we can only do great work in his name when we have a personal experience and encounter with the risen Lord, just like the disciples Philip and James who after experiencing the risen Lord, sacrificed their lives for the sake of his Gospel.

 

Therefore, I don’t what your experience of the Lord has been. I don’t know what you want God to do for you, I don’t know the prayer points you recite every day, I don’t know how deep your requests are, all I know is that if we truly have a personal relationship with Jesus and believe in him as the way, the truth and the life, we are going to be endowed with the power of the Holy Spirit and will do greater works then he has done, for he has gone to the Father and has promised us that whatever we ask in his name he will do it.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we follow Jesus the way, the truth and the life, help us to carry out our responsibilities effectively, may we through the intercession of SS. Philip and James, have a personal experience of your presence in our lives, so by presenting our needs before you, we may find favour in your presence. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you a fruitful day.