Homily For Saturday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 3rd August, 2024

 

Readings: Jer. 26:11-16.24, Ps. 69, Matt. 14:1-12

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

 

WHY IS TRUTH SO EXPENSIVE?

 

One thing that the world hates to hear is the sound of the word "truth". Why! Because it makes the world tremble as most things in the world are built on falsehood and deceit, and people are becoming comfortable with falsehood as a way of life. This is obvious, especially with the ugly situation in our societies today, where humanity is placed in perpetual darkness and confusion as the voices that speak the truth are silenced by all means.

 

Today, people want to be "free" to do whatever they like; they don't want anybody to remind them of the hard truth about the realities of life. Hence, they can do anything just to silence the truth. Thus, the cost of speaking the truth has become so expensive that sometimes it costs the life of an individual or even a whole community or nation. It is even more demanding when the truth to be told has to do with the conversion of one in authority.

 

This is the case with John the Baptist in our Gospel passage today, whose head was the prize for the truth he told to Herod and Herodias. Herod had arrested John and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. For John had told him, ‘It is against the Law for you to have her.’ Herod had wanted to kill him but was afraid of the people, who regarded John as a prophet.

 

But, on the occasion of Herod’s birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company, and so delighted Herod that he promised on oath to give her anything she asked. She conspired with the mother and demanded the head of John the Baptist. The king was distressed, but, thinking of the oaths he had sworn and of his guests, he ordered John to be beheaded, and the head be given to the girl, who took it to her mother.

 

This same terrible crime is what we have in our first reading today, where the people demanded that the prophet Jeremiah deserve to die since he had prophesied against the city. Jeremiah had told the people that the Lord would destroy their city and their temple if they refused to amend their sinful ways of life and listen to the voice of the Lord God, who was calling them to repentance. These ugly attitudes towards John the Baptist and Jeremiah point to what is done to Jesus in his Passion, demonstrating how good people, especially when they struggle for truth and justice, are often condemned to suffer at the hands of greed and powerful people.

 

 But should we stop speaking the truth because of fear of losing our lives? I don't think so because truth saves a life, brings freedom, it releases tension, brings peace, and it settles quarrels and disputes. Truth is freedom which must be offered to everyone, whoever, whenever and however it will best bring conversion to its enemies, just like John the Baptist did to Herod and Herodias even at the expense of his life.

 

Herod made a bad decision and, out of pride, finds it difficult to change his mind and admit that he was wrong. He did not plan to execute John that night. He was persuaded by Herodias to do so because he was a weak man. He is a slave to the opinion of others; he fears the people who revered John; he also fears the reaction of his guests if he should retract his oath.

 

Dear friends, like Herod, how often do we make decisions out of pride? When we make bad decisions, how quickly are we able to change our minds and admit that we are wrong? Are we like Herodias, who is waiting for an opportunity to silence the innocents who confront us with the truth?  If today we happen to be one of the guests of Herod, what would be our reaction? Will I have protested or stayed silent? Thus, what do we do when we see others suffering injustice? Do we have the courage to protest, even at the cost of losing our lives? Today we are called to speak the truth, for the world needs to hear the truth no matter the cost.

 

LET US PRAY:  Lord God, it is difficult to speak and stand for truth in our world today; give us the grace and courage to become an instrument of your word in truth and deeds just like St. John the Baptist. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you God’s favour and blessings.

Homily For Friday Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 2nd August, 2024

 

Readings: Jer. 26:1-9, Ps. 69, Matt. 13:54-58

 Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia 

STOP LOOKING DOWN ON PEOPLE

 

In life, people are quick to neglect and look down on others, who they believe cannot offer them anything good at the moment. They are quick to forget that everyone, no matter the present condition is a potential instrument for God's blessings. This is the ugly attitude of the people of Nazareth in our Gospel passage today.

 

For when Jesus came to his home town and taught the people in the synagogue in such a way that they were astonished, but instead of embracing the message of Jesus, they treated him with contempt and in their pride they said: ‘Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers? This is the carpenter’s son, surely? Is not his mother the woman called Mary, and his brothers and sisters here with us? Where did he get all these?’ And they would not accept him. But Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is only despised in his own country and his own house’, and he did not work many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

 

Thus, out of pride and contempt, the people rejected the blessings God had for them. Such also is the attitude of the people in the first reading today, where God, through the prophet Jeremiah, called the people of Judah to repent and turn away from their sins so that He might forgive them and stop the wrath and the punishments as a result of their many sins. Unless they repent from their sins, what happened to the sanctuary of Shiloh would also happen to them all.

 

But they did not listen to him; rather, they all seized hold of Jeremiah and said, ‘You shall die! Why have you made this prophecy in the name of the Lord? So, in their pride, they treated him with contempt and even planned to kill him. Today, this kind of ugly attitude is what stops people from doing good because they don’t want to be treated with contempt, and as a result, a lot of people have been deprived of their blessings out of human pride and contempt.

 

Dear friends, we must stop looking down on people. We should not treat anyone with contempt, for everyone is a potential instrument of God’s blessings and favour. And if you want to make a difference in life, be ready to ignore what people are saying about you now, and forget your past failures and your humble beginning. People may not appreciate you now; they may even say all kinds of things about you just to humiliate and discourage you.

 

Put all of them behind you, work hard for your dreams, give your time to it, sacrifice your sleep and comfort, sweat for it, plan for it, and overcome all your terrors of opposition, enduring pains and obstacles, with the help of God you will succeed and become a source of God's blessings. Then you will sing joyfully to God your strength and all the people will gather about you in praise of your God. And they will say: Is not this the Carpenter's son or daughter? Where, then, did he get all this? Yes, that's who we are, for Jesus is the Carpenter of our success.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, oftentimes in our pride we treat people with contempt because of their humble background, give us the grace to realize that everyone is a potential instrument of your blessings and favour to humanity, and as we struggle towards our goals, may you crown all our efforts and sacrifices with success. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.  Peace be with you.

Homily For Thursday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 1st August 2024. The Memorial of St Alphonsus Mary Liguori

 

Readings: Jer.18:1-6, P 146, Matt 13:47-53

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

LET GOD THE POTTER MOULD US INTO  SPECIAL VESSEL FOR HIS HEAVENLY KINGDOM

 

A story was told of a beautiful clay pot used to decorate a garden. The clay pot was the point of attraction to all, including its fellow ordinary clay. So one day the ordinary clay approached the beautiful clay pot and said, we do not doubt that you are clay just like us. But how come you have become so beautiful and special that everyone admires you?

 

The clay pot smiled and said: there was a time when I was nothing but a dumb lump of red clay. Then, one day, a Potter came with a digger and a hoe, dung me out of the dumb lump, and painfully separated me from my fellow clay and brought me to his house. I cried out, but he ignored me.

 

He rolled and pounded me on a wooden table several times without mercy. I cried out, don’t do that! Leave me alone!’ But the Potter suddenly placed me on a spinning wheel and suddenly spun around and around and around until I lost all consciousness. Just when I thought it was over, he placed me carefully into an oven which is hotter than the hell fire.

 

Why me? I cried out in anguish! But the potter only smiled and gently said: because you are special! I struggled, yelled, knocked and broke several times, but the Potter was patient and meticulous in ensuring that I adjusted to his will. Realizing that I cannot win, I surrender completely to the will of the Potter, and he only nods in understanding and quietly says: “it is not over yet!

 

Then he pulled me out of the oven, and when the heat cooled, he carefully picked me up and dusted away some dirt, and behold, I was transformed, looking so beautiful and special. And the potter smiled and said:  this is what you are meant to be. For God has made you into a special vessel for a special purpose.

 

This story reflects what prophet Jeremiah is telling us in our first reading today: God is the Potter, and we are the clay. God has created humanity as beautiful clay in his hands to be moulded into a beautiful and special vessel for the heavenly kingdom. But humanity has sinned and rebelled against God and his plan for us. Unless we repent and turn away from our sinful ways we will all perish.

 

Hence, we are called to repentance, for there will be a day of judgement of which Jesus, in our Gospel passage, used a parable to describe that the kingdom of heaven will be like a dragnet cast into the sea that brings in fish of all kinds. When it is full, the fishermen haul it ashore; then, sitting down, they collect the good ones in a basket and throw away those that are of no use. Here, Jesus is telling us that the kingdom is open for all, but not all can be suitable to dwell in it; only those who, on the judgement day, are found suitable can be admitted into the kingdom.

 

Dear friends, all God requires from us is for us to let him mould us into the heavenly vessels that he planned for humanity. There is no doubt that sin has destroyed our original nature, but just like when the pot potter was shaping spoils in his hands, and he formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. So will God re-mould us into a new vessel for his heavenly kingdom if we repent from our pride and sinful ways of life?

 

This is what we see in the life of St. Alphonsus Liguori, whose memorial we celebrate today. He was the founder of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, also known as the Redemptorists. He was truly a holy man and a role model that we can emulate in our own lives. St. Alphonsus Liguori was remembered for his great piety and dedication to serve the people of God

 

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, sin and pride have separated humanity from your plans for us; today, we come to you like clay in a dump lump, be our Potter once again and re-mould us into that heavenly vessel which you planned for us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. HAPPY NEW MONTH

Homily For Wednesday Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 31st July, 2024. The Memorial of St. Ignatius of Loyola

 

Readings: Jer. 15:10.16-21; Ps. 59; Matt 13:44-46

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

WHAT IS OUR ULTIMATE TREASURE OF LIFE AND HOW CAN WE ACQUIRE IT

 

Today we are called to reflect on what should be our ultimate treasure and how we can acquire it. This is because every day, under terrible scourges of the sun and noisy streets, people struggle to acquire things that they value as treasures of life just to realize that all these things sooner or later pass away as we expire from this world.

 

So, in the Gospel passage today, Jesus used two parables to describe to the people that the kingdom of God is the greatest and ultimate treasure anyone can and should acquire. He said to them: the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field which someone has found; he hides it again, goes off happy, sells everything he owns and buys the field. Again, he said, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls; when he finds one of great value, he goes and sells everything he owns and buys it.

 

Here, the parables describe the kingdom of God as the ultimate treasure that cannot be compared to anything whatsoever we have in this world. Using these parables Jesus explains what the kingdom of heaven is like and what we need to do in order to acquire it. The essence of these parables is to remind us that the kingdom of heaven is so precious and great, that it is worth more than our entire life and our worldly possessions and treasures.

 

Therefore, we must do all that it takes to ensure that we acquire it; losing it over the temporal pleasure, glory, fame, power, and influence of the things of this passing world will be complete foolishness. For none of them last forever, and what good is it for us to gain the whole world but lose our soul out of God’s kingdom? Hence, for the sake of this kingdom the Lord in our first reading said: I will make you a bronze wall fortified against this people. They will fight against you, but they will not overcome you because I am with you to save you and to deliver you.

 

Dear friends, what is our ultimate treasure in this life? How many of us are paying attention to the ultimate heavenly treasure? How many of us think and search for this ultimate treasure of our souls? How many of us desire to personally discover God in our life? How I wish we would understand the shortness of this life, the emptiness of this passing world and the danger of losing our soul out of greediness for the things of this passing world.

 

Then, we will sincerely desire to experience God personally, because in him lies the greatest and ultimate treasure of life. Discovering God personally in our lives is the greatest treasure anyone can ever have. Therefore, like St. Ignatius of Loyola, whose memorial we celebrate today, let’s be courageous and steadfast in our heavenly race no matter the condition we find ourselves in now.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, the world is full of distractions from false treasures; give us wise and discerning hearts in order to give up all our attachment to worldly possessions in pursuit of the heavenly and ultimate treasure of your kingdom. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Peace be with you.

Homily For Tuesday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 30th July, 2024

 

Readings: Jer.14:17-22, P 78, Matt 13:36-43

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

ANYONE WHO HAS EARS LET HIM LISTEN CAREFULLY

 

One of our great music legends Bob Marley said in one of his songs titled Natural Mystic:

 

There's a natural mystic

Blowing through the air

If you listen carefully now you will hear

This could be the first trumpet

Might as well be the last

Many more will have to suffer

Many more will have to die

Don't ask me why

Things are not the way they used to be

I won't tell no lie

One and all got to face reality now.

 

This song is in line with the topic of our message today and also with what is happening in our country today, for the situation in our societies today is calling us to listen carefully to the cries and lamentation voices of people who are suffering just like the time of Jesus.

 

This can be linked to our Gospel passage today because, for many days now, we have been listening to Jesus telling us about the kingdom of God and the need for us to prepare to embrace it. In most of the occasions, Jesus used parables to communicate the importance of this message. Having listened to him carefully, his disciples in our Gospel passage today asked him to explain the parable of the wheat and the darnel and he said:

 

 “The sower of the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world; the good seed is the subjects of the kingdom; the darnel, the subjects of the evil one; the enemy who sowed them, the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; the reapers are the angels. Well then, just as the darnel is gathered up and burnt in the fire, so it will be at the end of time.

 

Then, the Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all things that provoke offences and all who do evil and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth. Then the virtuous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Listen, anyone who has ears!”

 

What is most important in this message is for us to “Listen carefully”. This is because the world as we know is coming to an end, for the day of reckoning is very close at hand. This could be the first trumpet might as well be the last. For it is obvious from the signs we are seeing around us today, especially with the situation in our societies. How can we interpret the signs of these times, the signs that tell us that there is no peace or tranquillity in this world is passing away?

 

Many are suffering, and many more will have to suffer from the greediness of others. Many have died, and many more will have to die. Many are perishing in sin, many more will have to perish if we refuse to repent from sin and greediness. And God says through prophet Jeremiah in our first reading: “Tears flood my eyes night and day, unceasingly, since a crushing blow falls on the daughter of my people, a most grievous injury. If I go into the countryside, there lie men killed by the sword; if I go into the city, I see people sick with hunger”.

 

Dear friends, do these signs make us afraid of the second coming of the Lord or do we joyfully await its coming? Because the explanation of this parable gives us an account of what will happen on the day of reckoning. And today, we are called to examine our conscience to know where we are with regard to our vocation as Christians. What will be our lot if the Lord calls us today? Will we be among the virtuous who will shine like the sun in the kingdom of our Father? Or among those that will be thrown out of his kingdom and sent into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth?

 

The answer to this question is available in our consciences, and if we listen carefully now, we will hear, for things are not the way they used to be; we all have to face reality now. Every day is a golden opportunity; today may be the only opportunity for us to change our sinful ways of life and embrace God completely.

 

PRAYER:  Lord God, as we listen carefully to your word, let the groans of your children come before you, help us to embrace your word and be prepared to embrace your kingdom on the day of reckoning, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. God bless you.

Homily For Monday Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B. 29th July, 2024. The Memorial of St. Martha May and Lazarus

 

Readings: Jer.13:1-11. Ps. 32, Luke 10:38-42

 Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia 

 

DON’T WORRY AND TROUBLE ABOUT SO MANY THINGS LEARN TO LISTEN

 

Oftentimes, we worry about so many things in life, trying to satisfy everyone at the expense of the real thing that matters more. I have come across people who are often worried about how to make others feel more comfortable without minding their discomfort. They are so concerned with pleasing others even when they are not pleased. What a great sacrificial virtue that is not common this day. This sacrificial virtue is the attitude of Martha, whose memorial, along with Mary and Lazarus, we are celebrating today.

 

In our Gospel passage, we have the story of how Martha was so busy trying to make Jesus comfortable as he visited them at their house in Bethany. But when Martha observed that her sister Mary was not helping out in the preparation but rather was busy listening to Jesus, she said to Jesus: “Lord, do you not care that my sister is leaving me to do the serving all by myself? Please tell her to help me.’ But the Lord answered: ‘Martha, Martha,’ he said ‘you worry and fret about so many things, and yet few are needed, indeed only one. It is Mary who has chosen the better part; it is not to be taken from her”.

 

Here, Jesus is not condemning this great sacrificial virtue nor condoning laziness. Rather, he is saying that being busy without listening and listening without doing is worthless. Hence, he gently corrects the impression of Martha, who was too busy and distracted with so many things that she risks losing sight of what is important, that is, listening to Jesus. This is because Martha gives the impression that Mary is just sitting there doing nothing.

 

But she is listening to Jesus. However, Jesus is not telling us to be content with sitting down to listen to his word, for he always insists that true listening to his word means putting it into practice. His objection to Martha is because she was too anxious and distracted by many things that she was not able to listen to him and for Jesus listening is the best option

 

Dear friends, in our relationship with Jesus, are we more of the listener or more accommodating and caring? Are we more like Martha or like Mary for they were both friends of Jesus? Today, many of us are so busy and anxious about so many things that we have no time to listen to God speaking to us and addressing the situation we are busy trying to solve. Today, we are called, like Martha, to pause and listen so that we can hear God speaking to us and directing us towards the right path.

 

For, Martha who was known as a friend of Jesus, loved to welcome him into her home, let us learn from her, that, it is a great virtue to be hospitable and caring especially when we spend quality time listening to God and letting him direct and guide us towards carrying out our daily tasks.

 

Thus, we heard the Lord through the prophet Jeremiah in our first reading saying I had intended the whole House of Judah to cling to me. It is the Lord who speaks to be my people, my glory, my honour and my boast. But they have not listened.’ So, let us learn to listen to the Lord.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are anxious and worried about so many things, but indeed, only one thing is needed: give us the grace to truly listen to your word and be caring and hospitable just like St. Martha, Mary and Lazarus, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed day.

Homily For Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B, 28th July, 2024

 

Reading: 2Kings 4:42-44; Ps. 145; Eph.4:1-6; John 6:1-15

Rev.  Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

 

ALL THAT IS NEEDED IS THE SACRIFICE OF MY FIVE BARLEY LOAVES AND TWO FISH

 

A deep reflection on what is going on in our families, our societies, our country and the world at large, one will be deeply distressed and worried especially as regards the crises caused by human selfishness, greed, excessive desire for power and influential things of this passing world.

 

These no doubt bring about the effects of wars, high inflation of basic human needs which brings about several protests around the globe, as well as the effects of the ongoing hunger pandemic, which are taking different forms and shapes in our country today. Hence, we are constantly in need of one thing or the other; we are never tired of searching for things that will satisfy our desire for physical and spiritual well-being.

 

This ugly situation can be compared to the condition of the people in our Gospel passage today. When they heard about Jesus, they went after him on foot, searching for solutions to their problems. So, as Jesus stepped ashore, he saw a large crow, and he took pity on them and healed their sickness and also miraculously fed them with just five barley loaves and two fish provided by a little boy.

 

Here, Jesus fulfils his role as the expected messiah who is to liberate his people from all kinds of diseases and troubles. The healing touch of Jesus reveals to all those who are in need that God is faithful to his promises. This healing and wholeness are offered as a sign of the presence of God’s kingdom among his people. But Jesus did not just heal the sick; he also fed the crowd in fulfilment of the word of God in our first reading today, when prophet Elisha said: thus says the Lord, “They will eat and have some left over.” Thus, he served them; they ate and had some leftovers, as the Lord had said.

 

Moreover, we can interpret this miracle of feeding the crowd in two ways. First, we can simply interpret it as a miraculous event, pointing to the divine origin and mission of Jesus, who has come to save us from our troubles. Secondly, we can interpret the miracle as the fruit of sharing, for it is possible that once the disciples began to share the little five barley loaves and two fish provided sacrificially by the little boy which Jesus blessed, other people who also had brought some food with them started also sharing what they have brought and indeed grace multiplied what they have to the point of having left over.

 

This is a great lesson for us because in this miracle we can see that if we can let go of our selfish and greedy attitudes and make little sacrifices of our five barley loaves and two fish we can bring about that miracle we all desire to have in our lives as individuals, families, societies, country and the world at large.

 

But, what are these five barley loaves and two fish? These are those special things we have, but we have refused to offer them for the goodwill and well-being of humanity. Those things we are hiding, those things we are thinking that will guarantee us safety. That money in the bank that you’re not using now, that house you have built and no one is staying in. Those cars you have packed in your house that are decaying.

 

Those properties you have abandoned and are decaying. Those resources you embezzled and are hoarding for your selfish gain. Those talents and skills you have failed to use. Those people you have failed to forgive. Those people you have put in prison and hospital because of your deception and negligence. Those people you have failed to visit. Those policies you have failed to implement, those contracts that you have failed to complete.

 

These and many more are the five barley loaves and two fish we are called today to offer for our well-being and the goodwill of our families, societies, countries and humanity at large. So, why are you still hiding your five barley loaves and two fish? Why do you think that you don’t have five barley loaves and two fish to offer for the well-being of others? Is your life not more than five barley loaves and two fish? If only we can learn to sincerely offer and utilize our God-giving five barley loaves and two fish, our families, societies, and the country will be better, for we will have enough and even left over for other generations. This shows the connection of this prophecy with the miracle in our Gospel passage today.

 

More so, this feeding of the crowd refers back to the journey of the people of God in the desert from Mount Sinai to the promised land, which, in a special way, signifies the event of our Eucharistic celebration. The Eucharist has the same characteristics of this miracle: the community gathers together and experiences the transformation of humble elements into a glorified body of Christ to satisfy our spiritual hunger, which is an abundant gift of God to humanity. In fact, because of the link to the Eucharist, this is the only miracle that is reported by all the four Gospels.

 

So, as Jesus heals and feeds the physical aspect of humanity, he also knows that we need the food of the Eucharist to sustain us spiritually for our journey to heaven which is our promised land. Here, Jesus did not bring the loaves and fish out of nowhere. Rather, he took what was offered to him and multiplied them greatly. This bread is the gift of the Eucharist, which we receive back from Jesus, whose heart is always moved with pity and compassion towards us.

 

Dear friends, God loves us so much, that he is willing and ready to satisfy our unquenchable hunger for physical and spiritual things. How I wish humanity could give up greed, selfishness, hatred, and embezzlement of our common resources in order to embrace true love for one another and learn to share our resources for the purpose for which they are created. Believe me, when these are done the world will witness another miracle of multiplication of resources that will be enough for everyone with left over for the future generations.

 

But we have failed to embrace this love, we have failed to share this love with one another or give up our ugly attitudes. Little wonder St. Paul, in our second reading, implores us to lead a life worthy of our vocation, bearing with one another charitably, in complete selflessness, gentleness and patience. He encouraged us to preserve the unity of the Spirit by the peace that binds us together. Therefore, let us embrace Jesus and the love he is offering us. Let us, like Jesus, have compassion and love for everyone by offering our five barley loaves and two fish  for the goodwill and wellbeing of humanity.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are really hungry and in need of your love and satisfaction both physically and spiritually; feed us once again with your heavenly grace and multiply the little bread and fish we share with others and provide for us the basic needs of life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed Sunday.