Homily For Monday Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 22nd July, 2024. The Feast of St. Mary Magdalene

 

Readings: 2Cor. 5:14-17, Ps. 63, John 20:1-2.11-18

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

THE ENCOUNTER THAT TURNS THE LIFE OF A SINNER INTO A SAINT

Every human person has a past and a future, the past is gone we cannot change it, but the future bring hope alive, for in both past and future we make our history a reality that can change the world. Today we celebrate the feast of St. Mary Magdalene, a woman whose life history gives hope to sinners and sense of the past to the saints.

Often Mary Magdalene is referred to as the woman from whom Jesus had cast out seven demons or the repentant prostitute, whichever one, scriptures and history point out that Mary Magdalene had been greatly transformed by her faith in Jesus and her life was changed after her first encounter with Jesus for she abandoned her past life of sin.

May Magdalene was a great sinner who ought to had been condemned to die by those who were also unworthy and sinful before God. But grace of God brought about the encounter that transformed her life and she was privileged to be the first to know about the resurrection of Jesus and to also encounter the risen Lord.

This is evident in our Gospel passage today, which presents to us the encounter of Mary Magdalene with the risen Lord. When the apostles have left the tomb, Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping. In her devotion to Jesus, Mary seeks to learn where she might find Jesus’ body so that she might take him away, a task that would be difficult both emotionally and physically. But she was not even concerned with how she would convey the body from one place to another. She only believes that Jesus’ body has been dishonored, and she is determined to see that he is accorded the honor that it deserves.

So, she remained by the tomb, weeping. Her heart was in earnest to find Jesus. The angels asked her: why are you weeping? she was just busy trying to find the corpse of Jesus. But when she turned around and saw Jesus, her heart was filled with joy and peace.

This courageous act of faith brought about her encounter with the risen Lord. Thus, in Mary Magdalene we see a heart that is determined to find Jesus. A heart that truly loves Jesus, a heart that cannot give up the search for Jesus, a heart that listened and remembered the words of Jesus about his resurrection.

Dear friends, as we celebrate the feast of St. Mary Magdalene, we must learn to let go of our old sinful way of life and embrace the new life of grace and hope God is offering us. So, today we are called to imitate her virtues, knowing that God can use anyone as His instruments if we are ready to embrace Him irrespective of our past ways of life. For St. Paul tells us in our first reading that anyone who is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old creation has passed away, behold the new has come. For Christ died for all so that living men should live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised to life for our sake.

Therefore, today, we are called to forget our past sinful life and embrace the Lord. We are called to seek the Lord with affection and tears. But often times the clouds and darkness of our sins blind us from recognizing the Lord who is always very close to us. The truth is that, the Lord’s way of making himself known to his people is by his word; his word appeals to our souls, speaking to us in particular way that is unique to us. Are we ready to embrace the Lord once again and make our history a reality that will change this sinful world?

 LET US PRAY: Lord God, like Mary Magdalene our souls seek to encounter you personally once again, give us the grace and strength to always be ready to turn away from sin and embrace your word, that we may personally experience, fill and recognize your presence once again in our lives. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed day.

Homily For Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B, 21st July, 2024

 

Reading: Jer. 23:1-6; Ps. 23; Eph.2:13-18; Mark 6:30-34

Rev.  Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

 

HUMANITY IS LOOKING FOR GOOD AND RESPONSIBLE LEADERS. ARE YOU ONE?

 

As humans we are constantly in need of one thing or the other, and one of the greatest need of humanity today is good and responsible leaders. This is even worst with the ugly situation in our world today were a lot of people are lost, confused and sick as a result of bad leadership.

 

There is no doubt that leadership is one of the characteristics of the human person, it is that which makes us unique from every other creatures. It is a gift from God by which we serve Him and our neighbour responsibly. However, a critical look at what is happening in our world today, it is obvious that humanity are losing the true meaning and essence of leadership. Because we have failed to understand the true meaning and source of leadership and this can be seen in the kind of fruit we bear as leaders.

 

The fruit of leadership in this generation is so complicated: leadership has become a tool for power tussle, selfishness, deception, greed, corruption and intimidation of people. This is because we have abandoned God who is the source and giver of true leadership skills and knowledge. Hence, we keep searching for leaders who will satisfy our desires for physical and spiritual well being and they are very difficult to find .

 

This situation can be likened to the condition of the people in our Gospel passage today of which Jesus and his disciples devoted time trying to attend to them. But when the situation got worst Jesus said to his disciples you must come over to some lonely place all by yourselves and rest for a while’; for there were so many coming and going that the apostles had no time even to eat. As they went through their boat, the people went after them on foot. So as Jesus got out of the boat he saw a large crowd; and he took pity on them for they were like sheep without a shepherd and he healed their sickness and taught them for a while.

 

Here, we see that the attitude of a good shepherd as well as that of a leader is a life of sacrifice, love, care, discipline, mercy and knowledge of the sheep or people entrusted to the leader. And this is what Jesus demonstrated with his life. By this action Jesus fulfills his role as the expected messiah who is to liberate his people from all kinds of diseases. The teaching and healing touch of Jesus reveals to us 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 God has promised to take care of his people as we heard in our first reading today through prophet Jeremiah when he said: woe to the shepherds who allow the flock of my pasture to be destroyed and scattered. You have let my flock be scattered and go wandering and have not taken care of them. Behold, I will take care of you for your misdeeds and evil. For the days are coming when I will raise a virtuous Branch for David, who will reign as true king and be wise, practicing honesty and integrity in the land.

 

So, St. Paul in our second reading made us to know that Jesus is that Virtuous Branch. For we who are used to be so far apart from God have been brought very close, by the blood of Christ. Because he is the peace between us and God, since he has broken down the barrier which used to keep us apart, by actually destroying in his own person the hostility caused by the rules and decrees of the Law.

 

Therefore, Christ Jesus is that true shepherd that humanity is looking for, for in him we found this quality of a good shepherd that we all need to embrace. Therefore, to be that good shepherd like Jesus, we need to die to selfish desires of the human flesh, because most of the problems we face as humans are caused by selfishness and human greediness.

 

Dear friends, the hopeless and ugly situation in our world today are clear indications that we are just floating in this world like sheep without a responsible shepherd. Thus, we need to come to Jesus our true and Good Shepherd. We must make sure that nothing comes between us and the love of Jesus our Lord and also our love towards our neighbours. Because love is the fundamental root of leadership. Without true love for the people, there will never be a leader to be called a good shepherd.

 

Therefore, today we are called to come back to the source of love, God himself, who teaches us that love is an attitude of a true leader that seeks the good of others despite how we feel about them. He teaches us to be merciful, just as he is merciful. Love in leadership is an attitude that is sacrificial, an attitude that forgives, an attitude that accommodates, preserves, heals and builds up others when every other thing fails. This is the kind of attitude in leadership that the world needs now, the attitude that comes from the pure love of God and neighbours. Are you that kind of leader? Do you have that kind of attitude?

 

Brethren, how can humanity recover this leadership skills that is rooted in the power of love? How can we harness it to bear more fruit in our societies where it seem as if true leadership does not exist anymore? This is possible when we realize that we are products of love and are called to live out our essence, which is to love. We are called to be good examples to one another, imitating Jesus the Good Shepherd, who has been so loving and caring towards us.

 

And these we are called to reciprocate in our relationship with others and by so doing we will finally reach that grazing ground where all who followed Jesus the good shepherd in simplicity of heart will feed on the green pastures of eternity in heaven. Remember, in you resides that leadership of love that is lacking in your family and our society today.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are lost in this passing world, as we come to you in need of good leaders  who will lead us through the path of  love, may you guide our sense of direction both physically and spiritually, and bring us once again towards the path of truth, love and fulfilment even in the midst of all the confusion in our world today. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a joyful Sunday celebration.

Homily For Saturday Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 20th July, 2024

 

Readings: Micah 2:1-5, Ps. 10, Matt 12:14-21

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

STOP PLOTTING AGAINST THE INNOCENT FOR GOD WILL SURELY FIGHT FOR THEM

 

Plotting against one another is one of the ugly attitudes of people in our societies today and this plotting is often against the innocents. This  is exactly the condition of the world we are living in today. The world were people who are entrusted with the noble task of leading and managing the resources and affairs of the people, plot against the people and make decisions to eliminate and destroy them just for their personal gain and selfish interest.

 

This is what we have in our Gospel passage today, where the Pharisees who are the leaders of the people, because of their selfish interest and pride went out and began to plot against Jesus, discussing how to destroy him, because of his great works and teaching to the people.

 

Jesus knew this and withdrew from the district. Many followed him and he cured them all, but warned them not to make him known. This was to fulfil the prophecy of Isaiah which reminds us about the figure of the suffering Servant of Yahweh, in the person of Jesus.

 

Here Jesus experienced constant opposition and hostility in the hands of the Pharisees who sort to destroy Him. So, Matthew in this Gospel identifies Jesus with the Suffering Servant who is filled with God’s spirit, in spite of the aggression of his opponents, he does not suspend his ministry of healing, forgiving and spreading the Good News. For he is full of gentleness and compassion.

 

Hence, Jesus the suffering Servant of God, the lovable and gentle teacher, has come to bring the light of truth to this crazy world, for he does not seek the death of sinners, but their conversion and salvation. Therefore, in him we also can find the courage and strength to persevere in this times of difficulty, suffering and persecution. For God has chosen us as His beloved sons and daughters. He has given us His Spirit so that we can stand firm against all the evil activities going on in this crazy world.

 

But for those who have chosen to be instruments of destruction, manipulation and deception of humanity just for their selfish interest or for vain glory or for fun thereby letting people die for these wrongs that they do. Prophet Micah says  in our first reading concerning such people: Woe to those who plot evil, who lie in bed planning mischief! No sooner is it dawn than they do this evil, their hands have the strength for it. Seizing the fields that they covet, they take over houses as well, owner and house they confiscate together, taking both man and inheritance. Therefore, they will have no share in the kingdom of the Lord, for the evils they have done will be their portion and lot.

 

Dear friends, there is no doubt that we are really living in an evil and crazy world where people plot against the innocents who mean well for the people, but we must know that the transcendent power and authority belong to God. Yes we are affiliated in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed.

 

Thus, we must know that true greatness is found in service and not in domination or subjection of others. Good leaders serve the community, they subdue arguments and divisions, they maintain unity in times of distress and act as role models for the young ones. Remember, you don't have to be great to get started but you have to get started in order to be great.

 

LET US PRAY: Oh Lord, like little boy we  kneel with all humility, asking for your grace and courage to overcome the evil and ugly situation going on in this crazy world. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a pleasant weekend.

Homily For Friday Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 19th July, 2024

Readings: Isaiah 38:1-6.7-8.21-22, Ps. 38, Matt 12:1-8

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

MERCY IS WHAT THE LORD DESIRES FROM US

 

Mercy is one of the attributes of God and this attribute run through the scriptures as it is actually the summary of most of the stories in the scriptures. Because at the end of everything it is the mercy of God that we need more than His justice. Little wonder Jesus in our Gospel passage today teaches us about the essence of making laws.

 

This is clear from his response to the Pharisees who criticized the attitude of his disciples who on the Sabbath were seen plucking ears of corn to eat because they were very hungry. So, Jesus corrected them and made them know the right disposition as regards the application of God's law and any law at all, when he said to them "I desire mercy and not sacrifice". This is because the Pharisees emphasized on strict keeping of the law of Sabbath while neglecting the spirit of the law which has to do with God’s love and mercy.

 

This is also evident in our first reading, where we heard of God’s mercy on king Hezekiah, who was suffering from a terrible illness that would have led to his death. But he begged the Lord in prayer to remember what he had done for the sake of his people, for Hezekiah had been faithful to God and led the people of Judah to return once again to God.

 

So God had Mercy on him and said to prophet Isaiah: ‘Go and say to Hezekiah, “The Lord, the God of David your ancestor, says this: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears. I will cure you: in three days’ time you shall go up to the Temple of the Lord.” I will add fifteen years to your life.’ Such is the mercy of God.

 

Dear friends, Law exists for the good of the people, but often times we find ourselves seeking more recognition by exercising too much control over other people’s lives under the disguise of laws. Hence, we should not lack compassion and mercy or close our hearts against our neighbour like the Pharisees, an attitude that reminds me of the words of Pope Francis when he said: "If our heart is closed, our heart will soon come like stone, then the stones will end up in our hands and, then, we will be ready to throw them at someone.

 

Therefore, this should not be the case, rather, we should always consider the essence and purpose of making laws and applying them, bearing in mind that human needs which supersedes all other human interest should be the guiding principle of any law both social and religious. In fact the ritual demands of the Sabbath encourages mercy, forgiveness and compassion which are at the heart of any true religion. Thus, as we make laws and implement them, let love, compassion and mercy be our guiding principle.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, you show the light of your truth to those who go astray, may we always embrace your laws and apply them with mercy and compassion, through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed day.

Homily For Thursday Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 18th July, 2024

 

Readings: Isaiah 26: 7-9.12.16-19, Ps. 102, Matt 11:28-30

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

BRING YOUR HEAVY BURDENS OF LIFE TO THE LORD FOR HE WANTS TO HELP US

 

Thinking about the ugly condition of our societies today, where the ugly and sinful attitudes of greed, corruption, pride and selfishness of humanity have places heavy burden and stress on us all and often times these burdens are so heavy that we don’t know how to carry them. The worst of these burdens are the sorrows we bear in our hearts: sorrows caused by our sins, unhealthy relationships we engaged in, unforgiven attitude and family problems as a result of the bad influence of the society.

 

Thus, today in our Gospel passage Jesus says to us: Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.’

 

No doubt that everyone of us has a task and a mission to accomplish and this can be very demanding. Little wonder prophet Isaiah in our first reading invites us to earnestly seek the Lord like a woman with child, who writhes and cries out in her pangs, for when God’s judgements appear on earth the inhabitants of the world learn the meaning of integrity and righteousness.

 

In a similar way, Jesus recognizes the sorrows in our lives, how we labour and are overburdened as a result of our tasks and mission. Hence he invites us to come to him with all our burdens. Yes, it is in the nature of human person to think and worry about things of this world. Every human person thinks and worries about something. Only few people can sometimes find it easy to resolve their problems, but for most people their problems are too great that they move from bad to worst. Hence, this invitation of Jesus opens a refreshing space in our soul, by inspiring hope and drawing us into God’s loving and gentle presence where our souls find peace and solace.

 

Dear friends, what are those tasks and mission the Lord have given to us in this life? How are we carrying out this task and mission? What are the challenges we are facing? Is the task and mission so heavy for us to bear? Are we carrying additional load apart from the one God has given to us? I don't know the heavy burden in your heart right now, I don’t know your cherished plans which have failed and it seems as if disappointments have prevailed, thereby wandering in the darkness of confusion and heavy heart all alone?

 

Today, the Lord wants to help us carry the heavy burdens in our souls. He is inviting us to come to him with all our burdens, all our troubles, all our challenges and  disappointments and he will give us rest.  He says we should embrace his yoke, we should learn from him, for he is gentle and humble of heart and by so doing find rest for our souls. Then we will tell the story of how we overcome our most troublesome and darkest of moments, for we will understand it better by and by.

 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, as we come to you with heavy burden and sorrows in our hearts, grant that we may embrace the yoke of Christ and so find peace and solace in our soul. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you the God's favour.

Homily For Wednesday Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 17th July, 2024

Readings: Isaiah 10:5-7.13-16, Ps. 94, Matt 11:25-27
Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

OUR PRAYER LIFE SHOULD BE LIKE THE HUMILITY OF A CHILD TOWARDS A LOVELY FATHER

Gazing at the crucifix this morning, all I could see was the childlike humility of Jesus towards his loving Father. For he sacrificed himself on the cross for the sake of humanity. Thereby teaching us that our relationship with God in prayer requires the humility of an infant to his loving father.

This type of humility is not a way of glory, but a road of surrender that leads to passion and death of one's self. It is a way of sacrifice, a service to others at the expense of the self. In prayer, Jesus experienced God as his Father and approached him with childlike humility, faith and confidence.

Hence, in our Gospel passage today, Jesus after his reproaches towards the unrepentant cities of Chorazin and Bethsaida, demonstrates to us a humble way of relating with God in prayer when he said, ‘I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to mere infants. Yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.

Here Jesus is referring to those who claim to be wise and intelligent, self-sufficient and self-made, such as the Pharisees and Sadducees, Scribes and Lawyers who rejected his message. Also, those who think that they don’t need God, for they can save themselves by their meritorious works.

Thus, Jesus points out that there is a link between prayer and the inner disposition of being a humble child of God in communion with a heavenly Father, through confidence and total abandonment to God. No matter who we are and what we have achieved in life, humility is the key and sure way to reach God in prayer.
Nonetheless, even those who are highly gifted and blessed can become a "baby" who humbly depends upon God’s grace. The uneducated and less privileged persons can be in the same undesirable company as the wise and intelligent if they are not humble in spirit in their relationship with God and their neighbours because our natural and spiritual gifts are only useful in our Christian journey when we have a humble heart.

This is what God is teaching us in our first reading today, when He reminded us through prophet Isaiah, that no power in this world is meaningful without Him. Pride as showed by the Assyrian king, will lead us to nowhere else but destruction and failure. Therefore, it’s time for us to get rid of pride, corruption, greed and unhealthy desires that dwell in us, in order to embrace the life of humility and love.

Dear friends, today God wants us to relate with him in total humility and obedience, just like the humility of an infant to his lovely father. For He is always with us in our daily troubles and struggles, He understands us more than we can ever imagine. Therefore, why not humbly come to Him in prayers for He is always willing to help us in solving those difficult and challenging situations in our lives. Remember, our natural and spiritual gifts are only useful in our Christian journey when we have a humble heart.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we thank you for being with us in our daily struggles, troubles, joys and hopes, may you provide for the poor, console the troubled, heal the sick and put simile on the faces of your children who humbly come to you in prayers. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed day. 

Homily For Tuesday Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 16th July, 2024

 

Readings: Isaiah 7:1-9, Ps. 48, Matt. 11:20-24

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

WHY HAVE WE FAILED TO RESPOND POSITIVELY TO GOD’S WORDS?

 

A critical look at the ugly and fragile nature of our societies and the world as a whole it is obvious that humanity is heading towards self-destruction, especially when we look at how the streets are full of people struggling and suffering, the markets are full of people buying, selling, cheating and manipulating others.

 

Our leaders are so busy with acquiring, manipulating and embezzling the common resources, not minding the struggles, the tears, and the disappointments that people are going through every day, as some people have lost hope in themselves and even in everything they do.  We are just so busy with everything except the very essence of our existence, that is, the well-being of humanity and the salvation of our souls.

 

These ugly and fragile kind of conditions are what Jesus is addressing in our Gospel passage today as he continues with his reproaches, this time to cities where he had done great miracles, yet the people failed to embrace the life of the Gospel he preached. Hence he reproached them saying: woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. And still, I tell you that it will not go as hard on Judgement Day with Tyre and Sidon as with you.

 

Yes, Jesus has taught us about the kingdom of God and proclaimed a message of healing and conversion but his teaching and powerful deeds have not yet been embraced by humanity. Hence, Jesus in this Gospel is not just rebuking the cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum, but all humanity for not being open to the fruits of his Gospel, calling us to reflect on how we are losing out on what God is offering us.

 

Dear friends, why have we failed to respond positively to God’s Words? Now Jesus is saying woe to humanity for we are heading towards self-destruction. We might not feel very comfortable with the idea of Jesus rebuking and uttering terrible words of threats on these big and powerful cities that represent all humanity. But the questions we need to ask ourselves are: Has humanity really embraced the Word of God we hear every day? Is the Word bearing fruits in our lives? Can we recognize in this fragile condition of our country and society the great deeds that Jesus is doing to save humanity and the need to turn back to God?

 

Do we think that repentance is for others and not for us? Jesus is saying woe to us for failing to embrace and live out the Gospel teachings because he seems to expect some sort of changes in us when we hear his Words or when we encounter him in prayers. Therefore, God is calling us to repentance, He wants to come into our souls and dwell.

 

Today He is rebuking all humanity, He wants us to come to Him for He comes to us more than we come to Him. And this is what prophet Isaiah is telling us in our first reading today, reminding us that unless we stand by God we can not stand at all. Hence, if we believe in God, and put our trust in Him, we will have the assurance and guarantee of restoration, for God does not want us to suffer the consequences of our sins, that is why He keeps reminding us about the upcoming danger. But, if humanity constantly refuses to believe in God, we will end up in self-destruction.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we embrace your words today, may we experience your love, joy and healing both physically, materially and more importantly spiritually, as we wait patiently for the restoration of all humanity from the ugly and fragile condition of this passing world. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. God bless you.