Homily For Monday Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 15th July, 2024. The Memorial of St. Bonaventure

 

Readings: Isaiah 1:10-17, Ps. 50, Matt 10: 34-11.1

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

I HAVE NOT COME TO BRING PEACE IN THE WORLD BUT A SWORD

 

The way things are going in our world today, we need to think twice about our faith as Christians, and whether we are ready to live out our faith in the midst of all the ugly situations in our societies today. Therefore, if we are willing to live out our Christian faith and obligations, then we need to make a radical decision towards our discipleship in a personal and radical way, for these days, it is not enough to say am a Christian, we must convincingly and radically practice our faith by following the example of Lord Jesus.

 

Little wonder Jesus in our Gospel passage today, takes his discourse on discipleship to a radical and difficult level when he said: 'Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth: it is not peace I have come to bring, but a sword. For anyone who prefers father or mother to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who prefers a son or daughter to me is not worthy of me. Anyone who does not take his cross and follow in my footsteps is not worthy of me. Anyone who finds his life will lose it, and anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it.’

 

So, these hard words of Jesus can only be understood in the light of our life experience, because there are moments when we have to make radical and difficult choices as disciples of Jesus. These moments may wield the sword of division or separation among those people and things which are so dear to us.

 

However, Jesus does not endorse us engaging in armed conflict, but he warns that we have to struggle to put him first, before family ties, knowing that divisions will surely occur as people have to decide to be for or against God. Hence, he states that the cost of discipleship extends to one even losing his life. Nevertheless, he promises that even the small efforts we make in following him will be rewarded.

 

Thus, Jesus demands a total commitment towards finishing the journey of discipleship once begun or not beginning at all. Because following Jesus demands the sacrifice of all that one has. For none of us can become his disciple if we do not give up our excess desire for worldly pleasures and possession, and pay our unreserved loyalty and allegiance to God over all other competing loyalties in our lives including family, self-interest, and possessions.

 

This is what prophet Isaiah is emphasizing in our first reading today, as he speaks about what God demands of His people. That God does not demand our sacrifices and offerings, rather, He desires our real love, genuine faith and total dedication to Him. This is what we have in the life of St Bonaventure whose memorial we celebrate today. He was a great theologian whose task and mission was to defend and reform both the Church and the community of the faithful, a burden he faithful carried out through total submission to the grace of God and mercy.

 

Dear friends, today the Lord is calling us to take our wrong-doing out of His sight. We must cease to do evil. Learn to do good, search for justice, help the oppressed, and cease to be hypocrites who claim to believe in Him and yet, our actions are contrary to what we claim to believe in. Also, we heard about the sword of the Gospel and its consequences as we are called to make a radical decision to sincerely and faithfully follow Jesus and to accept the consequences of living by the truth of the Gospel.

 

But how much are we willing to let go for the sake of following the truth of the Gospel? Why are we finding it difficult to follow Jesus?  What are the habitual desires and possessions that are holding us from making this radical decision today? It is time to come to God with all our hearts, for tomorrow may be too late.

 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, the excess desire for the pleasurable things of this passing world have weakened our hearts towards you. Through the intercessions of St. Bonaventure, give us courage and grace to let go of our ugly desires, to hold firm in our faith despite losing people and things that are dear to us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful week ahead.

Homily For Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B, 14th July, 2024

 

Reading: Amos 7:12-15; Ps. 85; Eph.1: 3-14; Mark 6:7-13

Rev.  Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

THE NATURE AND THE GUIDING PRINCIPLES OF OUR MISSION AS CHRISTIANS

Why do we always rebel against God and each other? What is it that makes us reject God’s instructions? Why do we prefer to obey human beings who are leading us astray over God who is guiding us through the right path? Why do we reject God’s love and embrace human wickedness? For it is obvious that in every generation God always sends messengers to remind us of his love and plan for us.

 

But the rebellious nature of humanity has always kept us away from responding to God's invitation to Life of love, holiness, faithfulness and integrity. This is because humanity has always failed to understand the true ways of God his creator. However, God has not stopped caring and stretching his hands of love towards us.

 

This is exactly what we have in our readings today. In the first reading, we heard how God sent prophet Amos and he went about doing the work of God, by calling people to repentance and faces the consequences of their sins. But Amaziah and King Jeroboam had sinned and also led the people of Israel to sin against God as well. 

 

So Amaziah saw Amos as a rival and a threat to his personality and influence, so he went up to King Jeroboam complaining about Amos and asking him to get out of Israel and return to the land of Judah, and stop prophesying in Bethel because he doesn’t want to hear the truth just like most of our leaders today who does not like to hear the truth.

 

Also, in our Gospel passage today, we heard how Jesus sent his twelve disciples, the foundation of the future Church community, to do the same work of evangelization that he has been doing, while making them know the nature and conditions of the mission his about to entrust to them

 

Here, he gave them authority over unclean spirits and instructed them to preach repentance, that radical conversion towards the vision of the Kingdom, they were to anoint the sick and heal them. These three activities cover the whole nature of the human person: spiritual, mental and physical. Healing and wholeness, health and holiness. In this mission, they were instructed to travel lightly, bringing only what they needed. No food or money or even a change of clothes. They will not need these things because they will be taken care of by the people they serve.

 

So in this Gospel, Jesus is preparing his disciples for a task ahead. He lets them experience the nature of their mission, the challenges, obstacles and dangers which await them. He gave them the guiding principles towards the mission and sent them out. As we know, they succeeded because the power of God was working in them. The message entrusted to the disciples by Jesus is to offer peace and announce the coming of God's kingdom. This same message of peace and justice, forgiveness and healing has been entrusted to the Church down the centuries.

 

Little wonder, we are told in our second reading, that God has made known to us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of his will, according to his purpose which he sent forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.

 

Now, it is our turn to witness this Gospel. Remember the disciples returned with joy. We also will experience that same joy when we do what the Lord wants because, our joy is rooted in our identifying with Jesus, not in what we do. So the source of our joy should be our status in heaven as beloved sons and daughters of God, and not on our success over the evil forces or the things of this passing world. Thus, the Lord has entrusted to us an awesome responsibility and privilege to carry the message of God’s love, peace and mercy to the world.

 

Dear friends, today no doubt, we are reminded about the nature and guiding principles of our mission,  calling humanity to repent from our sinful and rebellious attitudes in order to embrace the compassionate love and care that God is offering us. As disciples of Christ, we have received a lot from God without payment; we should learn to give without expecting a reward.

 

Therefore, we must offer to others these same gifts which we have received. We are to show love to people, forgive, help the needy and share with one another the gifts God has blessed us with and if our love and care are rejected, we should offer it as a sign on judgment day.  Remember, your kind gestures today can turn someone's life around now or later and by so doing we are extending God’s divine compassion to humanity who are lost in this passing world.

 

LET US PRAY:  Heavenly Father, as we are reminded about the condition and nature of our mission for which you sacrificed a lot to save us from our rebellious and sinful attitudes, open our hearts once again to repent and embrace your compassionate love and care for us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Happy Sunday to you all

Homily For Saturday Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 13th July 2024.

Readings: Isaiah 6:1-8, Ps. 93, Matt 10: 24-33

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

THE LORD IS LOOKING FOR THAT DISCIPLE THAT WILL SAY HERE I AM SEND ME

The goal of every disciple is to become like the master. This does not mean that the disciple will become equal to the master, but through the training, he becomes like or similar to the master in his unique way. For a good disciple develops great qualities and skills like that of the master. Hence, Jesus knowing the difficulties and challenges his disciples would encounter, needed to train and instruct them properly, so that they could stand firm in the midst of opposition and persecution.

Thus, today in our Gospel passage, Jesus continues with his instruction on what it means to be a firm disciple in respect to the mission he is about to entrust to his apostles. Hence he said to his Apostles: The disciple is not superior to his teacher, nor the slave to his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, what will they not say of his household? What I say to you in the dark, tell in the daylight; what you hear in whispers, proclaim from the housetops. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; fear him rather who can destroy both body and soul in hell.

As disciples, these encouraging words of Jesus are very apt now that we are passing through difficult moments of poverty, sickness, persecution, intimidation, greed, immorality, killings, wars, famines, and genocide in our families, societies, countries and the world at large. This ugly condition can make someone completely lose hope in humanity and also in God. But Jesus does not want us to lose hope, rather he wants us to be that firm and strong disciples that will stand firm and courageously face the ugly situation we encounter every day. For Jesus needs firm disciples who will speak and stand for his Gospel no matter the cost.

Hence, we heard the Lord saying through the prophet Isaiah in our first reading: Whom shall I send? Who will be our messenger?’ I answered, ‘Here I am, send me. This prophecy assures us that the Lord wants us to have faith and trust in Him, despite everything that we may be suffering and enduring because of the sins and wickedness of the evil ones.

Dear friends, the Lord is looking for that disciple who will say Here I am send me. So what is your response? In the midst of persecution and difficulties are we going to be that firm disciples of Jesus? This question is important because as disciples of Jesus, our purpose in life is to become like him in deeds and character. By so doing we will have confidence that God will enable us to carry out the work that He has entrusted to us even in the midst of persecution, knowing that neither men nor the devil can affect our soul. We can be confident of God’s intimate care for us because He knows even the number of hairs on our heads.

Therefore, as true disciples of Jesus, we must have confidence and remain firm in faith even in the midst of persecution, suffering and sickness, because, his love and care for us surpass all our challenges. Thus we are called today to follow God wholeheartedly by living a life of holiness, purity, courage and simplicity, and by so doing inspire others to be part of this mission.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, there is no doubt that our world is full of opposition and persecution of your faithful people. Grant that we may follow you wholeheartedly and stand firm in the midst of all the oppositions and persecutions we may encounter in our daily lives. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you a lovely and peaceful weekend.

Homily For Friday Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 12th July, 2024

Readings: Hosea 14:1-9, Ps. 51, Matt 10: 16-23

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

THE ONE WHO ENDURED TILL THE END WILL BE SAVED

 

Reflecting on the ugly attitudes of humanity, especially in some ugly events that happens around us. How selfish, cruel and heartless people behave towards each other. Everywhere we see and hear of human wickedness, intimidation, manipulations, kidnapping, killing and different other immoral activities for the sake of power, fame, money and lustful desires. And anyone who tries to resist, challenge, correct, change or stop these ugly attitudes, becomes an object of to be eliminated.

 

In fact, the evil ones are so cruel that sometimes we wish that God should just wipe them away from the face of the earth and when this is not coming  forth, we complain and feel so helpless. Yet in the midst of all these ugly situation, we are required to continue to speak about God’s goodness, love, compassion and forgiveness. A very difficult task to do, especially when we are suffering as victims of the ugly situation.

 

Little wonder today in our Gospel passage, Jesus made known to his disciples the difficult nature of his mission, he taught them how to persevere in times of persecution, troubles, afflictions, and sufferings. He warned them that they will encounter hostility and hatred because of him, but they are to continue to bear witness to the Gospel values. Jesus said to them: “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; so be wise as serpents and yet as innocent as doves.”

 

He continued saying: Beware of men: for they will hand you over to lawless men and drag you before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them. But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to speak or what to say; for what you are to say will be given to you when the time comes; because it is not you who will be speaking; the Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you.”

 

Hence, Jesus knowing that the mission to change the sinful and ugly attitudes of humanity will be like sending a helpless sheep in the midst of hungry wolves, so he advised his disciples as he advise us today to be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. He also gave us the ultimate reassurance and promise, that the one who endures to the end will be saved.

 

The truth is that God still cares for humanity despite our sinful and ugly attitudes. This is evident in our first reading today, when speaking through prophet Hosea the Lord said: “come back to the Lord your God; your iniquity was the cause of your downfall. Take all iniquity away so that you may have happiness again”. Yes our sinful attitudes have brought humanity into destruction and death, but the Lord still loves us, and wants us to repent from our sins and wickedness, so as to  embrace God’s righteousness and mercy once again.

 

Dear friends, we must learn to be wise as serpents and innocent as doves in dealing with the hungry wolves of this passing world. This is because the circumstances in which Jesus invites us to share the Good News is quite challenging and difficult, especially now that the world is passing through difficult times, as families, societies, countries, and churches are badly affected by the ugly situation born out of the evil forces manifesting themselves in different forms, of which it’s troubles and conflicts are affecting the whole world.

 

Therefore, just as Jesus was not abandoned by his Father in his hour of need, we too will not be abandoned in difficult times. Because God knows what we are passing through now. All we need to do is to listen to him speaking to us through the Holy Spirit. Remember, as helpless sheep in the midst of hungry wolves of this passing world, the greatest Gospel we can preach is the Gospel of love by our way of life even in the midst of the ugly attitudes of sinful humanity.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, may the Holy Spirit enlighten, strengthen and grant us the courage and strength to persevere in witnessing the Gospel, especially in this difficult times. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful day.

Homily For Thursday Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 11th July, 2024. The Memorial of St. Benedict Abbot

 

Readings: Hosea 11:1:4.8-9, Ps. 80, Matt 10:7-15

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

GOD HAS ALWAYS LOVED US, BUT WHY DO WE ALWAYS REBEL AGAINST HIM?

 

Today in our first reading we heard how God through prophet Hosea demonstrated his compassionate fatherly love for his rebellious people saying: When Israel was a child I loved him, and I called my son out of Egypt. But the more I called to them, the further they went from me; they have offered sacrifice to the Baals and set their offerings smoking before the idols. I myself taught Ephraim to walk, I took them in my arms; yet they have not understood that I was the one looking after them. I led them with reins of kindness, with leading-strings of love. I will not give rein to my fierce anger, I will not destroy Ephraim again, for I am God, not man: I am the Holy One in your midst and have no wish to destroy.

 

Here, we heard of God’s anger and dissatisfaction with the constant disobedience and rebellious attitude of the people and the upcoming consequences for their sins. But God in his compassionate love, wishes to save the people. Showing us that in God, we have a compassionate and loving Father who always care about us despite our constant disobedience and rebellious attitude towards Him. And out of His love for us, He has not stopped sending His messengers to help guide us out of the wrong path we are taking. In fact, out of love, He sent Jesus His only begotten Son to be our Lord and Saviour.

 

Thus, in our Gospel passage we heard how Jesus went about doing good, healing the sick and setting captive free from the shackles of the evil ones and to continue this great mission he invited his disciples and sent them out, commanding them to see themselves as someone who gives freely of the good they have received from God. They should offer to others what they have received from God, knowing that it has cost them nothing.

 

They are to live a life of detachment that is, in this mission, they are to depend totally on God's providence. Unfortunate many of the disciples have to face rejection and persecutions from people, who through their rebellious attitude have refused to believe in God even though he has always been so patient, loving, caring and forgives us.

 

Dear friends, why is it that the more God loves us the more we separate ourselves from him? Today, we are called to repent from our sinful and rebellious attitudes and embrace the compassionate love and care that God is offering us. And as disciples of Christ, we have received a lot from God without payment; we should learn to give without expecting reward.

 

Today we are called to acknowledge with gratitude all that we have received from God and give freely to others that which we have received. For this act of charity will purify us from pride and self-righteousness, because we are all recipients of God's love, mercy, forgiveness, favour, protection, healing and deliverance just like St. Benedict, whose memorial we celebrate today. For he is known for his renowned piety and commitment to living a life of purity and prayer, of which he inspired many others to follow him in a life of asceticism and prayer.

 

Therefore, we must offer to others these same gifts which we have received. We are to show love to people, forgive, help the needy and share with one another the gifts God has blessed us with, and if our love and care are rejected, we should offer it as a sign for the judgement day. Remember, your kind gestures today can turn someone's life around now or later and by so doing we extend God’s divine compassion to rebellious humanity.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, you have sacrificed a lot to save us from our rebellious and sinful attitudes, through the intercession of St. Benedict open our hearts once again to repent and embrace your compassionate love and care for us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed day.

Homily for Wednesday Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B , 10th July, 2024

 

Readings: Hosea 10:1-3. 7-8.12, Ps. 105, Matt 10:1-7

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

DO NOT FORGET THAT THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS VERY CLOSE AT HAND

 

The things of this passing world is so captivating and we are becoming so comfortable as if this world is our home. The truth remains that this world is not our home we are passing by. So, if we are not careful we will be like a foolish traveler who having encountered a pleasant garden forgets to continue towards his destination. The world is a pleasant garden and we are just passing by. This is exactly what Jesus is calling our attention to in our Gospel passage today, when he commanded his twelve disciples to go and proclaim to the people that the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.

 

Here, Jesus continues with his missionary discourse, he summoned his twelve apostles and send them out with the clear instruction to proclaim the Good News of the kingdom of heaven. He sent them on a mission of teaching and healing to proclaim the message of God’s saving love to those who were in most need of hearing it.

 

In a similar way, we heard in our first reading how the Lord sent prophet Hosea, just before the end and the destruction of the northern kingdom of Israel, to remind the people of all the sins they had committed, warning them of the impending suffering and destruction for all the sinful things they had done. For time shall come when they will say to the mountains, ‘Cover us!’ and to the hills, ‘Fall on us! But they will find no response. He advised them to sow integrity for themselves and reap a harvest of kindness, they should break up their fallow ground: for it is time to go seeking the Lord, until he comes to rain salvation on us.

 

So, today Jesus is calling us to change our ugly and sinful ways of life, especially as regards our attitude towards the things of this passing world. He is also commanding us just as he commanded his apostles to tell humanity, especially those we encounter every day, our family members, neighbours, colleagues, friends, in fact everyone around us, we should tell them that the kingdom of heaven is very close at hand.

 

Thus, it's time to truly seek God with all our hearts, it's time to turn away from our sinful way of life, it's time to say yes to God for tomorrow may be too late. We should not be ashamed or afraid to carry out this mandate, for when God calls us, he supplies us with the means and courage necessary to accomplish the task entrusted to us. For we are never alone, he is always with us.

 

Dear friends, what are we doing in this passing world with the gift of life that God has given us? For today we are called not to be too comfortable with this thing of this passing world for God’s kingdom is very close at hand? We should never think that we still have all the time to keep ‘enjoying' the pleasant things of this passing world.

 

Remember we are all travelers in this world. But how many ears must we have before we can hear the call for repentance, how many deaths will it take till we know that soul of many people has gone from this world. How many words of God will we hear before we know that one day we will be no more in this passing world. The answer dear friends is blowing in the wind. Therefore let us not be like a foolish traveler who having encountered a pleasant garden of this passing world, forgets to continue towards his destination which is God’s heavenly kingdom.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, you called us today to reflect on our heavenly kingdom, give us grace to repent and turn to you for mercy, help us to have the missionary zeal that will enable us to live with integrity, purity and detachment from the thing of this passing world as we spread the Good News of your kingdom to humanity. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Peace be with you.

Homily For Tuesday Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 9th July, 2024

 

Readings: Hosea 8:4-7.11-13, Ps. 115, Matt 9:32-38

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

ARE YOU PART OF THE LABOURERS IN GOD’S VINEYARD?

 

Walking through the streets I observed how people are struggling with the things of this passing world. I saw their passion, their determination and willingness to achieving great things of life at the expense of things that prepares us for eternal life. For life has become nothing for some people. Greed, corruption and selfishness have rendered so many people into perpetual poverty and suffering.

 

Thus, reflecting on these, 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 had compassion on 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. Therefore, more labourers are needed, for Jesus sees how humanity are harassed and dejected, wandering aimlessly 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 especially now that is obvious that the harvest is getting richer while the labourers are getting fewer.

 

Hence 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 the bishops, priests, or religious men and women. But every baptized person is called in different capacity as God’s labourers to share the good news of Jesus Christ with those around them.

 

So each of us has a vocation, a call to save souls and build the Kingdom of God together. Let us not be like the people of Israel in our first reading today, who abandoned their mission and vocation and choose to sacrifice to idols. Thus we heard the Lord saying through prophet Hosea:  “they love sacrificing; right, let them sacrifice! They love meat; right, let them eat it! The Lord takes no pleasure in these. He is now going to remember their iniquity and punish their sins”.

 

Dear friends, the Lord desires to have faithful labourers. Are you part of the labourers in God’s vineyard? As labourers of the Lord, 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. Or do we feel harassed and helpless as a result of what we are passing through in life? Do we feel the need of Jesus’ help in some part of our life? Then turn to him for restoration.

 

Remember, as labourers whether as lawyers, Doctors, teachers, engineers, politicians, military, businesses men and women, each one of us are called today to reach out to people at any particular corner of the field of harvest where we are residing now, for we may be the only person who may have access to reach out to them.  Therefore, let us start from our families, neighbours, colleagues in the office and others who we encounter in our lives, because, we may be the only person who can brings 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 bringing souls to you. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed day.