Homily For Thursday Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 15th August, 2024 Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

 

Readings:  Rev .11:19;12:1-6.10, Ps. 45, 1Cor. 15:20-27, Luke 1:39-56

Fr. Emmanuel Onyia.

 

THE ASSUMPTION OF MARY A PROOF THAT DEATH IS NOT THE END OF HUMAN LIFE

 

Reflecting on ugly events we hear and experience in our world today there is no doubt in my mind that the world is a battlefield between the forces of life and death, good and evil. And forces of death and evil seem to have the upper hand, as we can see in cases of killings, hatred, betrayals, greed, and social and economic injustice all over the world. Thus, there is this constant fear of what becomes of us when we die. Where are we going when we die? Is death the end of life? Is there another life after death?

 

The answer to these questions is found in today’s solemnity: The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The solemnity is where we celebrate the mystery of the assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary's body and soul into heaven. An event which shows the triumph of life over death and good over evil. For since Christ’s divine body did not undergo corruption, it follows that his mother’s body, which forever contains a cell component of his Divinity, would not be allowed to experience corruption but would be taken into heaven and be reunited with Christ. For as we know, a particle of God is God's entirety. And the Psalmist says: that you will not leave my soul among the dead, nor let your Holy one know decay (Ps. 16.10).

So, according to the tradition of the Orthodox Church regarding the Assumption of Mary, it was said in a writing attributed to Joseph of Arimathea, that when Mary was about to die, all the Apostles except Thomas were miraculously transported to Jerusalem to witness her death. However, Thomas who was in India, witnessed the assumption of Mary into heaven and he received the girdle of Mary as a proof. So, when Thomas arrived on the third day after burial, he narrated the story to the other apostles, they were skeptical. So, they opened the grave of Mary and found it empty and they glorified God. This of course, becomes part of the historical revelations among the Apostle and the early Church.

Thus, on 1 November 1950, Pope Pius XII proclaimed as Dogma that the Virgin Mary “having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory”. This truth of faith, as known by Tradition, was affirmed by the Fathers of the Church and was an important aspect in the veneration of the Mother of Christ. This Dogma appears as an act of praise and exaltation of God’s grace in the life of the Blessed Virgin. It also emerges for the honour of her Son Jesus and the joy and exultation of the entire Church.

 

Little wonder, our readings today help us to understand better this mystery. In our first reading, we heard of the revelation of the victorious power of God, who,o, through a woman, has overcome the evil that threatened to destroy humanity. Telling us that salvation, victory, power and kingdom have now been won for us by our God, for the authority of his Christ has come.

 

And St. Paul, in our first reading, made us know that Christ has been raised from the dead, the first fruits of all who have fallen asleep. For death came through one man, and in the same way, the resurrection of the dead has come through one man. Just as all men die in Adam, so all men will be brought to life in Christ. Meanwhile, in our Gospel passage, we heard Mary’s glorification of God’s power and victory, for God through Christ has remembered his mercy for humanity as he had promised to Abraham and all his descendants forever.

 

Therefore, through Mary’s Assumption into Heaven, we understand better that even though our daily lives may be marked by trials, persecutions and difficulties, our death is not the end but the entrance into a life that knows no death, for we are made to share in God’s Heavenly Kingdom. So, the Assumption reminds us that Mary’s life, like that of every Christian, is a journey of following, following Jesus, a journey that has a very precise destination, a future already marked out, for the definite victory over sin and death, in order for us to be in full communion with God.

 

Dear friends, how can this solemnity of the Assumption of Mary help us on our journey towards our heavenly kingdom? What message is God passing to us in this solemnity? In this solemnity of Assumption, we find the message of faith and hope that in God, there is room for humanity, God is humanity’s true home, and in us, there is also room for God. Hence, Pope Benedict XVI says that One thing is certain, that is, our hope in God: that God expects us, God waits for us, we do not go out into a void, we are expected.

 

God is expecting humanity, for as we pass to the other side of life, we will find the goodness of our Blessed Mother, we will find our loved ones, we will find eternal Love Christ our Saviour.  For he is waiting for us since we are made to share in his glory. And this is our greatest joy and the great hope that is born from this solemnity.

 

This reality makes us victorious over death and the evil of this world. Therefore, we should not be afraid, for God has made us victorious over sin and death in order to share in Christ's glory. Let us then entrust our Christian journey to Mary's Motherly intercession since she is the consolation and hope of the people still on this journey of faith.

 

LET US PRAY, Heavenly Father, we thank you for knowing how fragile our lives are in this passing world; you gave us the message of faith and hope through the mystery of the Assumption of Mary. As we celebrate this mystery, may we be filled with the joy of your kingdom? We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a fruitful day.

Homily For Wednesday Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 14th August, 2024. The Memorial of St Maximilian Kolbe

 

Readings:  Ezekiel 9:1-7;10:18-22, Ps.113, Matt. 18:15-20

Fr. Emmanuel Onyia.

 

STEPS TOWARDS RECOLLECTION AND   FRATERNAL CORRECTION IN HUMAN RELATIONSHIP

 

As humans, we are not perfect because of our contingent nature, so we are likely to offend one another in any relationship we find ourselves in. As a result of this, one of the major challenges we face in most relationships today is the ability to properly correct and reconcile with one another, especially when one is straying from the norms set up for the good of the relationship.

 

In our Gospel passage today Jesus gave us the practical steps we need to follow in order to correct and reconcile with one another to build a stronger relationship when he said, ‘If your brother does something wrong, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won back your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you: the evidence of two or three witnesses is required to sustain any charge. But if he refuses to listen to these, report it to the Church as a community; and if he refuses to listen to the Church, treat him like a pagan or a tax collector.

 

Here, Jesus calls for fraternal correction in any relationship we find ourselves in, for we are responsible for one another, and these steps and stages give room for reconciliation. This fraternal correction must always be inspired by real charity which is one of the spiritual works of mercy. However, this is never an easy task, especially when one has to bear the sacrifice of forgiveness because forgiving a very grievous offence is one of the most difficult things to do.

 

However, forgiving a grievous offence is like recovering a lost treasure that contains: joy, peace, freedom, a healthy mind and healing. But how often do we seek to recover this lost treasure in our lives caused by unforgivingness? Hence, Jesus today calls us to persistently seek reconciliation until we gain our brothers and sisters back whenever they have offended us.

 

If they refused to be reconciled, we should pray for their conversion, for that is how Jesus taught us to treat the pagans, the task collectors and sinners. For in all our proceedings, we should seek direction in prayer, knowing that God manifests his mercy when he transforms people and leads them to conversion, as he changes us and turns us from selfish and rebellious individuals into truly loving persons.

 

So, let us learn from the life of St. Maximilian Kolbe, whose memorial we celebrate today, for he heroically offered his life in place of another man who had been selected for execution, seeing how the man was filled with despair over the welfare of his wife and children. Maximilian, being a priest, chose to die in place of this man so that he could be united once again with his family. What a great lesson and example for us to value the gift of love that God has given to humanity in the sacramental union of marriage.

 

Dear friends, it is our duty, obligation and responsibility to ensure in a fraternal charity that our fellow brothers and sisters, friends and neighbours, colleagues and collaborators are corrected and guided whenever they are in need or go astray. Every one of us has the responsibility to strengthen our relationship and be a good example for one another as we work the path towards our salvation.

 

This is exactly what the vision of prophet Ezekiel in our first reading is addressing, for Ezekiel saw what happened when the glory of God departed from the Temple and the city, because of the sins of the people which brought about the destruction of Jerusalem and the Temple of God by the Babylonians, as seen by Ezekiel who was then in exile in Babylon. However, God through this vision, showed how his grace and mercy will be made presence among the people who embrace his call for repentance, reconciliation and fraternal correction.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are rebellious and proud people; we lack the courage and disposition to accept corrections; help us to correct one another in fraternal charity as we also learn to accept corrections when corrected. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a favourable day.

Homily For Tuesday Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 13th August, 2024

 

Homily For Tuesday Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 13th August, 2024.

Readings:  Ezekiel 2:8-3:4, Ps.119, Matt. 18:1-5.10.12-14

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

BE HUMBLE LIKE LITTLE CHILDREN AND YOU WILL FIND TRUE GREATNESS

 

Human life and activities are always competitive and comparative, which is why we are often anxious to recognize or be recognized as the strongest, wisest, cleverest, and richest. We will always want to know the most beautiful, handsome, most talented and greatest in virtually everything. Little wonder, the most lucrative businesses and adventures are found among those activities that are competitive, such as sports, entertainment and politics, because greatness gives more ego to our status.

 

This competitive and comparative way of life is what the disciples of Jesus displayed in our Gospel passage today when they asked Jesus, who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? For they were curious to know which one of them. But Jesus showed them the way to identify greatness and one who has such quality by offering them two strong images: that of the humble child and a dependent sheep.

 

Here, Jesus surprised his disciples by linking true greatness to the humility and simplicity of little children and also showed how children can be the subject of a parable that reveals the vanity and deception found in some great persons. Because children are docile, humble, teachable, loving, forgiven and dependent.

 

Thus, Jesus explains that in the kingdom of heaven, true greatness is found in humility, and children serve as a symbol of humility as they are dependent on adults for everything, just as we also are dependent on God. Little children serve as concrete symbols of simplicity, which is a condition for entering the kingdom of heaven. So, in children, we found these great virtues of simplicity and humility. Hence, parents should encourage their children to participate in activities where they display these virtues.

 

Meanwhile, in the parable about the lost sheep, Jesus presents to us the images of a dependent sheep and a caring and loving shepherd who searches for the wandering sheep. He invites us to embrace true greatness in humble service to others, especially the weak and the vulnerable, as we imitate God, who never abandons anyone, even the lost "sinners".

 

This is exactly what prophet Ezekiel demonstrated to his people who were lost as they rebelled against God and needed to be brought back to God as we have it in our first reading today, where the Lord made him great by offering him the scroll to eat and then said Son of man, go to the House of Israel and tell them what I have said.’

 

Dear friends, let us learn to be humble like little children even in the midst of our competitive and comparative nature and we will find true greatness. For today we are reminded that true greatness is found in humility and humble service to others. But this is exactly what many of us are lacking. Because most of us are so proud, greedy and selfish, as we are deeply attached to the pleasurable things of this passing world.

 

This, of course, prevents us from seeking true greatness that leads to the heavenly kingdom. And as a result, many of us are lost sheep, but Jesus the good Shepherd is searching for us and guiding us on the path towards reconciliation and redemption so that we may find the path towards the salvation God has offered to all humanity.

 

 LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, we are lost, for we are so much engrossed with the competitive activities of this world, seeking to be great in things that are passing away, grant that,  we may embrace true greatness rooted in the humble service of our neighbours, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. God bless you.

Homily For Monday Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 12th August, 2024

 

Readings: Ezek. 1:2-5.24-28; Ps. 149; Matt. 17:22-27

Rev. Fr.  Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

TAKE IT AND GIVE IT TO THEM FOR ME AND YOU

 

Oftentimes, people feel that it is not necessary to pay taxes to civil authorities, especially when they are not utilizing the proceeds of the taxes they collected from the people. But in our Gospel passage today, Jesus made us know that we are expected to contribute to the growth of our civil society.

 

For when the tax collectors of the Temple came to the disciples and asked them on the matter of paying the Temple taxes, Jesus said, ‘Simon, what is your opinion? From whom do the kings of the earth take a toll or tribute? From their sons or foreigners?’ And when he replied, ‘From foreigners’, Jesus said, ‘Well then, the sons are exempt. However, so as not to offend these people, go to the lake and cast a hook; take the first fish that bites, open its mouth and there you will find a shekel; take it and give it to them for me and you.

 

Here, Jesus respects those in authority both civil and religious, even when he did not agree with them. He paid his dues calling his disciples to do the same while providing for them. Today, we all are called to do the same; let us have deep respect for authorities, both civil and religious, pay our dues and ensure that they are well utilized so that, like Jesus, we may contribute to the growth of our society.

 

Thus, in our first reading today, we heard how the hand of the Lord came upon Ezekiel. And as he looked; a stormy wind blew from the north, a great cloud with light around it, a fire from which flashes of lightning darted, and in the centre a sheen like bronze at the heart of the fire. This signifies the role of Ezekiel in the civil and religious development of his society.

 

Dear friends, let us learn to fulfil our civil responsibilities just like Jesus. let us start our day by first taking our time to figure out our priorities and get to work on them. Let us make our task more interesting and attractive and ensure that we contribute to the growth of our civil society. When our tasks seem difficult, just start with the minor ones and from there, we will be motivated to continue and by so doing, we will remain faithful to the commandments of our Lord and contribute to the development of our societies.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we thank you for the gift of your word. As we begin our task this week, may your glory inspire us and elevate us to greater heights. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a fruitful week.

Homily For Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B, 11th August, 2024

 

Reading: 1Kings19:4-8; Ps. 34; Eph.4:30-5:2; John 6:41-51

Rev.  Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

 

THE BREAD THAT I SHALL GIVE IS MY FLESH FOR THE LIFE OF THE WORLD

 

What can ever satisfy the human hunger and thirst for peace, righteousness, holiness, love and joy? These are the things we search for every day of our lives. But we seem to have little or no answer. This is because we have often failed to listen to God’s words calling us and directing us towards the path of truth, which he has revealed through his son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who has been speaking to us in the Gospel.

 

Thus, today, Jesus continues with his teaching on the bread of life; he wishes to draw those who listened to him into a profound relationship with himself. Hence, he said to them: ‘I am the bread of life. Your fathers ate the manna in the desert, and they are dead, but this is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that a man may eat it and not die. I am the living bread which has come down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will live forever, and the bread that I shall give is my flesh, for the life of the world.’

 

Here, Jesus asked them to believe in his wonderful promises about eternal life. In the same way, he invites us to partake in an indestructible life, to share in the very life of God. Jesus wants us to know that he is the food of our souls. Our souls are really starving due to sins, and indeed thirsty for holiness, love, peace and purity. In Jesus, every staving and empty soul finds strength and satisfaction. For in him, there is fullness of life.

 

The fact remains that Jesus is the bread of life which came down from heaven. And He wants us to commit our souls into his hands, just like Elijah in our first reading, who, when he almost gave up, the Lord sent his angel who can and touched him, saying, ‘Get up and eat or the journey will be too long for you. So Elijah got up and ate and drank, and strengthened by that food he walked for forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. Thus, we must know that whenever we experience anything of spiritual hunger and thirstiness, we must come to Jesus and be satisfied.

 

Little wonder St. Paul, in our second reading, tells us to imitate God as children of his that he loves and follow Christ loving as he loved you, giving himself up in our place as a fragrant offering and a sacrifice to God. Therefore, we should never have grudges against others, lose our temper, raise our voices to anybody, call each other names, or allow any sort of spitefulness. Rather, we should be friends with one another, and kind, forgiving each other as readily as God forgave us in Christ.

 

Dear friends, because of the ugly situation in our society today, we are weighed down by sorrows in our conscience, staving in affection and love, especially in this difficult moment in human history. But we are not to give up no matter the situation we are facing right now. We must know that Jesus is always ready to relieve and restore us whenever we come to him in faith, for in him alone shall we find lasting satisfaction, peace and love both now and for eternity. So, today we are called to embrace the love of God present in the Holy Eucharist as the body of Christ. Christ gave us his Body as the power of God’s mercy for sinful humanity.

 

Therefore, We are called to deepen our understanding of this rich mystery of our faith in the Eucharist and come to change the way we relate with Jesus in the Eucharist. We are called to strive to worthily receive the Holy Eucharist. We are called to be grateful for this Sacrificial love of Christ in the Holy Eucharist and form the habit of adoring Christ our Lord present in the Holy Eucharist. Remember, he is the Bread of Life, and anyone who eats this bread will live forever. Hence, we must let the love of his presence transform our souls into that purest love that will renew our families, societies and the world at large.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, oftentimes we are thirsty and hungry down within our souls; as we listen to your words today, may we find that satisfaction that our souls desire and, by so doing, find eternal life. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen. Happy Sunday and remain blessed.

Homily For Saturday Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 10th August, 2024. Feast of St. Lawrence

 

Readings: 2 Cor. 9:6-10, Ps.112, John 12:24-26

Fr. Rev. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

WHEN A SOUL DIES TO THE THINGS OF THIS PASSING WORLD IT YIELDS A RICH HARVEST OF  HEAVENLY THINGS 

 

The way people are so engrossed with acquiring the things of this passing world at the detriment of things that edifice the soul makes me wonder if we are actually learning anything from the lives of those who have passed away from this world. Have we taken time to reflect on where all of us and the beautiful things of this world be in the next ten, twenty, forty, eighty and hundred years for those who are strong? I believe the answer to this question will leave a deep silence in our souls as it exposes the foolishness of human greed and selfishness.

 

Little wonder Jesus in our Gospel passage today tells us that unless a wheat grain falls on the ground and dies, it remains only a single grain; but if it dies, it yields a rich harvest. Anyone who loves his life loses it; anyone who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life.

 

Here, Jesus is telling us that the only way to save our lives is by total detachment from the things of this passing world. We must sacrifice the pleasurable things of this world for the sake of the heavenly kingdom because they are not going to follow us when the time comes for us to leave this world. For attachment to things of this world is a distraction from the things of heaven. But when a soul dies to the things of this passing world, it yields a rich harvest of heavenly things.

 

Therefore, what are the things I value so much that need to die in order for me to live more fully in Christ? Because, like a wheat grain, we must sacrifice by dying from the things of this world in order to yield fruit that will sustain us for eternity. Hence, we need to ask ourselves today, what does God require from us in this world? Why are we in this world and where are we going for this world? 

 

Dear friends, all the Lord wants from us is to serve him, to love him and to love our neighbours as well. And Jesus says in our Gospel, If a man serves me, he must follow me, wherever I am, my servant will be there too. For if anyone serves me, my Father will honour him. This is exactly what St. Lawrence, whose memorial we celebrate today, did. Lawrence was one of the deacons of Rome and, as such, was greatly involved in the many important decisions and works in the very heart of the Church in Rome. During the persecution, St. Lawrence was confronted by the Roman prefect through Emperor Valerian, who demanded that he surrender all the properties and material wealth of the Church.

 

Lawrence assembled before the Emperor all the poor, the infirm, the sick and the destitute and presented all of them before the Roman prefect as the true property and wealth of the Church. Then, the Emperor was filled with anger, he ordered that Lawrence should be arrested, imprisoned, and eventually was martyred by being roasted alive on a gridiron, which was made even hotter by the anger of the prefects.

 

As they were burning him, he joked and asked his torturers to turn him over since he was "done" enough on that side. The deacon cheerfully offered himself to the Lord Jesus. Tradition has it that most people in Rome became Christian as a result of the faithful life and the death of this one humble deacon, who let the seed of his life die in order to yield a rich Heavenly harvest.

 

Today the life of St. Lawrence is a great encouragement to us, calling us to the sacrificial life of love for God, the poor and the Church. And St. Paul, in our first reading today, tells us about the great rewards awaiting all those who had been generous in giving and loving the poor and the needy. For the one who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide us with all the seed we need and make the harvest of our good deeds a larger one, just like St. Lawrence who showed us a great example by his great generosity, love, genuine concern for the poor and the Church.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, Today, we saw in St. Lawrence a great example of how to live, and how to die faithfully to the Gospel. As we reflect on his life, may we come to love you more and strive to detach ourselves from the negative influence of pleasurable things in this passing world. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed week.

Homily For Friday Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 9th August, 2024

 

Readings: Nahum 1:15.2:2.3:1.6-7, Ps. Deut. 32:35-41, Matt 16:24-28

 

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

DON’T EVER THINK THAT IT IS EASY TO FOLLOW THE LORD

 

Reflecting on the continuous hostility, persecution and influential powers of the things of this world, I think it is time for us to really think twice about our faith as Christians, whether we are ready to live out our faith in the midst of these ugly situations in our societies, which is getting tougher every day. 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.

 

Little wonder Jesus, in our Gospel passage today, says:  ‘If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me. Anyone who wants to save his life will lose it, but anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it. What, then, will a man gain if he wins the whole world and ruins his life? Or what has a man to offer in exchange for his life?

 

Here Jesus knowing what awaits us in this world, takes his discourse on discipleship to a radical and difficult level, especially in a situation where our faith and Christian values have been thrown out of caution as a result of secularism, individualism and excess desires for worldly pleasures, thereby neglecting the things that lead us to God.

 

Thus, these hard words of Jesus can only be understood in the light of our life experience. Here comes the moment when we have to make radical and difficult choices as disciples of Jesus. It’s time for us to take up our Cross in a sacrificial way and follow the Lord. But what is the cross we are called to take up? Taking up our cross could mean faithfully facing our daily challenges with all their difficulties. It is accepting who we are and what we have and using them to the glory of God.

 

The way of the cross is a way of sacrifice, a way of commitment, a way of love, forgiveness, mercy and compassion, which aim towards the good of the other person. It can be a costly service to a loved one who is ill; it can be embracing illness, even terminal illness or other personal weaknesses, this makes no sense except when we relate it with the suffering of Christ through faith in God.

 

Dear friends, don’t ever think that it is easy to follow the Lord. Little wonder God, through prophet Nahum in our first reading today, promised us that he will not abandon his faithful people in the darkness of this passing world. For he shall crush the wicked and all those who have oppressed his people. He has promised that he will stand by us in the midst of persecution and suffering. For a while, we might suffer, but in the end, those who remained faithful to him will be victorious while the oppressors will be rejected, crushed and destroyed.

 

Thus, to share the glory of Christ, we have to share his suffering because it is impossible to follow Jesus without accepting the cross and acknowledging and embracing all that life has to offer us. So it’s time to make a radical decision to sincerely and faithfully follow Jesus. But how much are we willing to let go for the sake of following him? Why are we finding it difficult to follow Jesus? What are those 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, give us courage and grace to let go of our ugly desires and as we do this, may the cross of Christ be a shining example in our daily struggles, to hold firm in our faith despite all the sufferings and persecutions we may encounter. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a fruitful day.