Homily For Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B, 8th September, 2024

 

Readings:  Is.35:4-7; Ps.146; James 2:1-5; Mark 7:31-37

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

WHY HAVE WE BECOME DEAF AND DUMB AGAIN?
 

Hearing and Speaking are some of the great gifts of God to his creatures, especially the human person. Failure to put these gifts into positive use attracts heavy consequences to human existence.

 

 So, reflecting on the ugly situations of human life in our societies today, especially how people pay attention to the things of this passing world at the expense of the things of God who has given us the gifts of hearing and speaking, how the world has engaged our attention to herself that we have now become deaf and dump to things that concern our spiritual lives and positive coexistence of humanity is quite disturbing.

 

Yes, we claim to be hearing and speaking up about God and the ugly situations around us. Yes, we go to Church as often as possible to hear and speak with God about our situations; we engage in one spiritual activity or another.

 

But the questions that come to mind are: do we really listen and hear God speaking to us through those activities? Do we still see the hands of God in what we do? Are we really convinced of what we are doing in the house of God? Are we not confused about our faith as a result of the ugly events and scandals we experience and hear every day? The world really wants us to be deaf to the word of God and mute to speak the great things God is doing for us.

 

This is evident in our daily activities where humanity often pays deaf ears to the instructions of God by allowing herself to be deceived by the excess desires and attachment to things of this passing world. As a result of this ugly attitude we have separated ourselves from the presence of God out of pride and selfishness and these have made us deaf and dumb again.

 

Thus, today in our Gospel passage, we hear how Jesus dramatically and figuratively wishes to heal us of our deafness and dumbness caused by our constant embracing of the sinful things of this passing world which is well demonstrated in the healing of the deaf and dumb man. A man who represents the deafness and dumbness of humanity towards the word of God.

 

Hence, when this deaf and dumb man was brought to Jesus for healing. He took the man aside, put his fingers in his ears, touched his tongue with spittle, looked up to heaven and prayed, saying, " Ephphatha! Be opened". Immediately, the man’s ears were opened, his tongue loosed, and he was able to speak plainly.

 

These same words are used during baptism while touching the ears and lips of the baptized, a gesture that signifies the spiritual openness of one’s heart to God’s words and will. For our hearts are often deaf to God’s words, because of our excess attachment to things of this world. And our mouths are also sealed by corruption, greed and sinful habits we have embraced. But in our baptism, we are brought to Christ just like this deaf and dumb man for healing and restoration, so that we can hear the words of God and apply them in our lives and also express them to all humanity by our words and actions.

 

Dear friends, why have we become deaf and dumb again after our ears and lips were opened during our baptism? Why have we chosen to remain deaf and dumb in situations where we ought to listen or speak up? Why have we chosen to remain deaf and dumb towards our spiritual life? Why have we chosen to remain deaf and dumb to those ugly situations in our families, our offices, our societies and our country today? I know God has opened our ears and our lips. Let us put them to positive use for our spiritual growth and the well-being of our family, societies and our country, Nigeria.

 

Today, out of pride and greediness, we have often separated ourselves from the presence of God, and as a result, we have become deaf and dumb to his teachings and instructions. Hence, we all need to have our ears opened once again so that we can hear and understand fully the message of Jesus and share it with the world. I don’t know how far we have separated ourselves from God as a result of sin. I don’t know how deep our deafness and dumbness are. All I know is that today, God is saying to us, fear not, have courage, for the eyes of the blind shall be opened, ears of the deaf unstopped and the tongue of the mute shall sing for joy.

 

All we need is to trust God no matter the affliction we are passing through in this world, for he can save us from them all. Just as we heard the prophet Isaiah in our first reading saying: Say to all faint hearts, ‘Courage! Do not be afraid. Behold, your God is coming, vengeance is coming, the retribution of God; he is coming to save you. Then, the eyes of the blind shall be opened, the ears of the deaf unsealed, then the lame shall leap like a deer and the tongues of the dumb sing for joy; for water gushes in the desert, streams in the wasteland, the scorched earth becomes a lake, the parched land springs of water.

 

Also, St James, in our second reading, tells us not to compromise our faith in Jesus Christ by making distinctions between classes of people, for God has chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of his Kingdom. So do not be afraid to put into positive use God’s gifts of listening and speaking the truth to humanity. Let us not be dumb when we need to speak. Let us not be deaf when we need to hear. Let us not be silenced by the selfish and greedy attitude that is destroying humanity today. God has given us these wonderful gifts of hearing and speaking; let us put them to positive use and so change our lives, families, societies and countries.

 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, our strong desire for the things of this passing world has made us deaf and dumb towards your words. Let us hear your voice once more saying to us “Ephphatha, be opened”, so that we can hear your words deep down our hearts and joyfully proclaim it to all humanity through our actions. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Happy Birthday to Mother Mary. 

Homily For Saturday Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 7th September, 2024

Readings: 1Cor4:6-15, Ps.145, Luke 6:1-5

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

 

EVERY LAW SHOULD BE INTERPRETED AND IMPLEMENTED WITH LOVE, JUSTICE AND MERCY

 

Due to the weak and fragile nature of the human person, God made very good and practical laws which he wanted his people to obey, but as time goes on, these laws have been multiplied, turned upside down and misinterpreted in such a way that they are very complex and difficult to obey. God's law is the law of love, justice, mercy and freedom, for he describes himself as a merciful and compassionate God. This freedom enables us to follow the spirit of the law. Therefore, Jesus comes to bring people back to the original intention of the law. He doesn’t come to abolish the law, but to show what God’s original intention was concerning the law.

 

 This is what our Gospel reading is addressing today. Where on a Sabbath Jesus happened to be taking a walk through the cornfields, and his disciples were picking ears of corn, rubbing them in their hands and eating them. But some of the Pharisees said, ‘Why are you doing something that is forbidden on the Sabbath day?’ Jesus answered them, ‘So you have not read what David did when he and his followers were hungry? And he said to them, ‘The Son of Man is master of the Sabbath.’

 

Here, Jesus made it known to the Pharisees that they had made the Sabbath too stressful for the people; they were nothing but fault-finders and self-righteous people. The Law was interpreted by the elders and the priests, which they passed down as strict sets of rules and regulations that restricted the activities of the people on the Sabbath,

 

This often makes many people forget the very reason, purpose and essence of the Sabbath itself. Because the Law was strictly enforced on the people, those who did not obey were often treated with dishonour, just as the Pharisees did to Jesus and his disciples. Pharisees are known for their judgmental and comparative attitude, which makes them feel superior to others.

 

And this ugly attitude is what St. Paul is addressing in our first reading when he said: keep to what is written.’ It is not for you, so full of your importance, to go taking sides for one man against another. So, St. Paul using the examples of himself, reminded us of the need to be humble and not to look down on others or be judgmental by our comparative attitude. This he deeds by showing and reminding everyone how he had humbled himself and laboured so hard for the sake of the people.

 

Dear friends, today Jesus teaches us the original intention of the Sabbath laws in relation to human needs. We should not be legalistic with the law; rather, we should identify the spirit of the law, which is rooted in love, justice and mercy and then follow it. This is what Jesus and his disciples did when, for the sake of their basic human need for survival, go against the ceremonial Sabbath day regulations of not plucking the grain or doing any work.

 

Also, we are called not to be judgmental, fault-finders and self-righteous people like the Pharisees who, under the cover of the law, planned to judge and condemn the actions of Jesus and his disciples. Therefore, we should rather humble ourselves and focus our attention on what God really want from us, which is to love him and to love our neighbours as well.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, oftentimes, we condemn and judge people based on what the law states without examining and applying the essence and spirit of the law; grant that in our relationship with others, we may begin to apply the true law, which is rooted in love, justice and mercy. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a peaceful weekend.

Homily For Friday Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 6th September 2024

 

Readings: 1Cor4:1-5, Ps. 36, Luke 5:33-39

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

 

MAKE YOUR LIFE A NEW WINE OF GRACE IN THE FRESH WINESKINS OF YOUR HEART

 

Oftentimes, we find it difficult to let go of our ugly old ways of life because we are so attached to them. But we must get rid of it if we want to follow Jesus. Little wonder, Jesus, in the Gospel passage today, talks about the importance of pouring new wine into fresh wineskins and the need to avoid using a new cloak to patch an old one. He said: nobody puts new wine into old skins; if he does, the new wine will burst the skins and then run out, and the skins will be lost. No; new wine must be put into fresh skins. And nobody who has been drinking old wine wants new. “The old is good”.

 

Here, Jesus continues to show that he is bringing something new which should not be mixed with the old. So, the fresh wineskins refer to a new heart that has put off the old cloak and looks forward to the new wine of grace through the process of conversion where we embrace the gift of New Life which Jesus is offering to humanity. A gift that differentiates his disciples from other people.

 

This is so because the Pharisees and the Scribes observed the relationship between the disciples of Jesus and the disciples of John the Baptist as regards their new ways of doing things. So they came to Jesus and asked him questions regarding their manner of fasting and feasting. Jesus used this opportunity to educate them about the New Life of grace which he has come to offer humanity.

 

For Jesus is the groom and as long as he is around, it would be inappropriate for his disciples to fast. And as his bride, he loves us with a deep and everlasting love. He pays all our debts; he supplies all our daily needs; he sympathizes with us in all our troubles; he bears with all our infirmities, and does not reject us because of our weaknesses. However, a time will come when the groom will no longer be with us, then we will surely fast. Telling us that fasting should be done at the right time for the right reasons.

 

Thus, St. Paul tells us in our first reading, that the Lord alone is our judge. So, there must be no passing of premature judgment. We should leave that until the Lord comes; for he will light up all that is hidden in the dark and reveal the secret intentions of our hearts. Then will be the time for each one to have whatever praise he deserves, from God.

 

Dear friends, today we are called to let go of our old sinful ways of life in order to embrace the New Life of Grace God is offering us. Therefore, what is that old garment in our lives that we are patching with the new? What is that old wine of habitual sin that we are pouring into the new wineskins of our redeemed and purified souls? Today we are called to give a fresh response towards embracing this New Life of grace which Jesus is offering us. As we think about these, let us struggle to avoid our old sinful ways of life and fully embrace the new righteous way of life that God is offering us today.

 

LET US PRAY: Almighty God, You are the source of our New Life; grant us the grace of true and total conversion so as to find such great Joy in your abundant Life of grace and mercy through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed and peaceful day.

Homily For Thursday Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 5th September, 2024

 

Homily For Thursday Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 5th September, 2024.

Readings: 1Cor 3:18-23, Ps. 23, Luke 5:1-11

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

 

LEAVE ME, LORD; I AM A SINFUL MAN: THE VOICE OF TRUE CONVERSION

 

There is something deep and unique about every person, sometimes it takes personal experience to discover this uniqueness. I don't know if you have ever had an experience that made you realize the emptiness of this life, a kind of experience that turns your pride into humility, sinfulness into righteousness. This is the kind of experience that Simon had with Jesus in our Gospel passage today, that made him realize his emptiness and fell at the knees of Jesus confessing his unworthiness.

 

This is because Jesus had said to Simon, ‘Put out into deep water and pay out your nets for a catch.’ ‘Master,’ Simon replied, ‘we worked hard all night long and caught nothing, but if you say so, I will pay out the nets.’ And when they had done this they netted such a huge number of fish that their nets began to tear, so they signaled to their companions in the other boat to come and help them. When Simon Peter saw this he fell at the knees of Jesus saying, ‘Leave me, Lord; I am a sinful man.’ But Jesus said to Simon, ‘Do not be afraid; from now on it is men you will catch.’

 

This very encounter brought true conversion in the lives of Simon and his companion, for this encounter changed their destiny from fishermen to fishers of men. For they obeyed the Lord who told them to put out into the deep waters, and as soon as they followed His instructions, they netted so much fish that the whole boat could not take it.

 

This glorious event manifested the power and grace of God at work in us especially when we humble ourselves. And St. Paul in our first reading said:  make no mistake about it: if any one of you thinks of himself as wise, in the ordinary sense of the word, then he must learn to be a fool before he really can be wise. Because the wisdom of this world is foolishness to God.

 

Dear friends, like Simon and his brothers, we are called to reflect on our personal encounter with God, an encounter that beings true conversion. But, how have we personally experience God? When was our spiritual turning point? Do we have a personal conviction about God that does not based on what people have told you of him? In case we have not personally encountered him, all we need to do is to sincerely seek God in those common events in our lives. Then, we will realize how much God is willing to reveal himself to us.

 

LET US PRAY: Almighty God, everyday is an opportunity to encounter you through different events that occur in our lives. Grant that we may have a personal encounter of you and experience you in a unique way in our daily activities and through this experience discover our purpose in life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a favourable day.

Homily For Wednesday Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 4th September, 2024

 

Readings: 1Cor 3:1-9 , Ps. 33, Luke 4:38-44

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

YOU ARE NOT GOD, YOU ARE ONLY HIS INSTRUMENTS IN THE WORLD

 

Everyday, every moment, God is working on us so that we can work with him just the way engineers and builders take their time to construct a building plan which an architect has drawn, and this is done on different stages with different instruments. 

Some are meant to begin from the drawing of the plan, some join at the pegging, digging and casting the foundation, some specialized with laying the blocks, casting the floor, raising it to lintel, roofing, plastering, painting and furnishing. But in all this God is the Master planner who determines what becomes the out come of the whole structure, but not the instruments he uses.

 

This is the message St. Paul is trying to communicate to us in our first reading today, that, it does not really matter who we encounter on our journey of life, only God makes things possible in our life, other things are only God's fellow workers, his field and also his building. He said this because the people were busy causing division among the instruments God used to ministered to them.

 

They said, ‘I am for Paul’ and ‘I am for Apollos’? But St Paul said to them: “what is Apollos and what is Paul? They are servants who brought the faith to you. Even the different ways in which they brought it were assigned to them by the Lord. I did the planting, Apollos did the watering, but God made things grow. Neither the planter nor the waterer matters: only God, who makes things grow”.

 

This is clearly demonstrated in our Gospel passage, when Jesus healed Simon's mother- in- law and others with several diseases as he goes about preaching the Good News of God's kingdom, a purpose for which he came into this world. Thereby demonstrating Gods ultimate role and power in our lives.

 

Dear friends, it does not matter who God has used in ministering to us, what really matters is what God has done and the message he wants to communicate. So, as disciples of Christ we have the grave obligation to announce the Good News taught by Jesus. We are to bear witness to the truth we have found in Christ. But we should not make ourselves the center of attraction, rather, God should be at the center while we make ourselves available instruments in his hands.

 

Therefore, as God's field and building, no matter the stage we are with him, what really matter is our corporation with his grace and plans for us. Let us learn to make God the center of attraction and not the instruments he uses to accomplish his plans. Remember, you are not God, you are only his instruments in the world.  For we are people the Lord has chosen for his heritage.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as your workers and your field, you have invested so much in us, help us to be great instrument in your hands through Christ our Lord. Amen. As you go about your duties, may the favour of God be upon you now and always.

Homily For Tuesday Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 3rd September, 2024. The Memorial of Pope St. Gregory The Great

 

Readings: 1Cor2: 10-16, Ps. 145, Luke 4:31-37

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

 

I KNOW WHO YOU ARE: THE HOLY ONE OF GOD

 

From the scriptures, Jesus seems to have lived in a world of hostility and conflict between good and evil, as well as political witch-hunting, family divisions and demonic possession, just like we have it in our societies today. For there is no doubt that there is an active presence of evil in the world which manifest itself in different forms. So everyday we struggle against the malice of the evil ones, and people are doing everything they can to overcome them. But often time, when children of God are confronted with evil, they don't know what to do and out of fear they fall victim and helpless because they are ignorance of the power and authority of God in them.

 

Thus, in our Gospel passage today, we heard how the people of Capernaum and even the demoniac recognized that, the Divine Authority of Jesus in the world brings about victory over the evil ones. For his teaching made a deep impression on them because he spoke with authority. And the man who was possessed by the devil shouted at the top of his voice, ‘Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God.’ But Jesus said sharply, ‘Be quiet! Come out of him!’ And the devil, throwing the man down in front of everyone, went out of him without hurting him at all. Astonished, they said to one another, ‘What teaching!  For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits and they come out.’

 

Here the demons recognize Jesus as the power of God. And his power over the demons is a direct defeat of the evil one while the restoration of the possessed man signifies the inauguration of God's kingdom in the world. Now, Jesus has given us the gift of his presence in the person of the Holy Spirit, which God has bestowed on us in our baptism. In this gift resides the power and authority to confront evil and overcome it.

 

Little wonder St. Paul in our first reading tell us that, the Spirit reaches the depths of everything, even the depths of God. For we have received the Spirit that comes from God, to teach us to understand the gifts that he has given us. Therefore, we have possessed through the Spirit the power and authority over the evil ones. We are no longer unspiritual, for an unspiritual person is one who does not accept anything of the Spirit of God: he sees it all as nonsense. But a spiritual man is able to judge the value of everything, and his own value is not to be judged by anyone, for we have the mind of Christ.

 

Dear friends, what is our notion about the authority and power of Jesus? Do we still have any doubt about the authority of Jesus? How much of this authority dwells in you? Today the demoniac identified the source of Jesus’ authority as divine, have you personally identified the divine authority of Jesus in your life? If you have not, why not ask him to activate his power and authority once more in your life, because we have received the gift of his power in our baptism.

 

All we need is to put it into active use, then we will obtain the desired results, just like Pope St. Gregory the Great whose memorial we celebrate today, for he had a personal encounter with the Lord which propelled his effort in spreading the Gospel message and by so doing converted many more souls to the Lord.

 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, we are often ignorance of the power and authority of the Holy Spirit which you gave us on the day of our baptism, may we through the intercession of St. Gregory recognize this divine power and authority once again in our daily struggles with the evil forces in our world. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful day.

Homily For Monday Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 2nd September, 2024

 

Readings: 1Cor2:1-5, Ps. 119, Luke 4:16-30

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

 

DON’T RIDICULE PEOPLE BECAUSE THEIR HUMBLE BACKGROUND

 

Oftentimes we treat and respect people based on our knowledge of their background and status, so we fail to look at the image of God found in them or what God is doing through them. This is because our judgment is the product of human wisdom and when our faith is based on this kind of wisdom we are bound to neglect and treat others with contempt.

 

This is the situation in our Gospel passage today. For when Jesus came to Nazareth, his own town, where he had been brought up, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day as he usually did. He taught the people about his mission as prophesied by prophet Isaiah and at the end he said to them, this text is being fulfilled today even as you listen.’ And he won the approval of all, and they were astonished by the gracious words that came from his lips. But in contempt they said, ‘This is Joseph’s son, surely? As they ridiculed him, Jesus said ‘I tell you solemnly, no prophet is ever accepted in his own country. For this reason they tried to kill him.

 

Here, we see Jesus who preached about inclusion, found himself excluded. His listeners were frightened at his message and because of familiarity, he was rejected by his own people who glory in their wisdom which is based on their knowledge of his humble background. This is because they lack true faith as they depend on their human knowledge and philosophy.

 

This kind of ugly attitude is what St. Paul is addressing in our first reading today when he said: During my stay with you, the only knowledge I claimed to have was about Jesus, and only about him as the crucified Christ. Far from relying on any power of my own, for I came among you in great ‘fear and trembling’ and in my speeches and the sermons that I gave, there were none of the arguments that belong to philosophy; only a demonstration of the power of the Spirit. And I did this so that your faith should not depend on human philosophy but on the power of God.

 

Dear friends, our relationship with Jesus should not be based on this kind of philosophy, rather it should based on our personal experience of the power and love of God in our lives. For it is this personal experience that will help us to embrace his words convincingly and never look down on anyone, but see in all the light of God's presence. Therefore, we are called today to be accommodating and never try to treat anyone with contempt, because anyone can be a potential vessel of God blessings to us.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, out of pride and ignorance, we have often treated people with contempt because of their humbled background, help us today to realize that everyone is a potential instrument of your blessings and so learn to accommodate people, we ask this this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed week ahead.