Homily For Thursday Twenty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 19th September, 2024

 

Readings: 1Cor 15:1-11, Ps.118, Luke 7:36-50

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

LEARN TO SHOW GRATITUDE TO GOD FOR MERCY RECEIVED

 

Oftentimes we are quick to judge and condemn other people, we are quick to identify their sins without looking at our own sinful ways. We find it difficult to accept that something good can come out of people we have labeled as sinners in the society. But this is not the same with Jesus in our Gospel passage today who welcomes sinner and showed them mercy and kindness.

 

That is why when one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to a meal in his house, and when they are at table, a woman came in, who had a bad name in the town and brought with her an alabaster jar of ointment and begin to weep and her tears fell on the feet of Jesus, and she wiped them away with her hair; kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment as she expressed her gratitude for mercy received.

 

But the Pharisees, instead of rejoicing on account of this woman's repentance, they confined their thoughts to her former ugly and sinful ways of life. Then with a parable, Jesus demonstrated that the greater a sinner, the greater the love he/she ought to show to God when he/she receives mercy and pardoned.

 

Little wonder Jesus told Peter I came into your house, and you poured no water over my feet, but she has poured out her tears over my feet and wiped them away with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but she has been covering my feet with kisses ever since I came in. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. For this reason I tell you that her many sins have been forgiven, for she loved much.

 

This is the same with St. Paul in our first reading when he said I am the least of the apostles; in fact, since I persecuted the Church of God, I hardly deserve the name apostle; but by God’s grace that is what I am, and the grace that he gave me has not been fruitless. This tells us that we all are sinners and debtors before God. Though some sinners are greater debtors; but whether our debt be more or less, it is more than we are able to pay. However God is always ready to forgive us and the more we express our sorrow for sin, the more our love for Christ grows.

 

Dear friends, how do we present ourselves before God? Are we like the Pharisees, who always talk about other people’s sins without minding our own sinfulness? Are we carried away by the things around us and so forget the right things we ought to do? Are we like the woman in our Gospel, who came before the presence Jesus with a heart of gratitude and thanksgiving for the mercy and pardon received? Today we are called to learn how to show appreciation for mercy and pardon we receive always from our heavenly Father.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we thank you for your graces and mercy which is beyond human imagination, for it is by your grace that we are what we are today, teach us we pray, how to be more willing to forgive others as we recognize our own need for God's forgiveness and so learn how to love more, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful day.

Homily For Wednesday Twenty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 18th September, 2024

 

Readings: 1Cor.12:31-13:13, Ps.33, Luke 7:31-35

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

 

WHY WE MUST EMBRACE LOVE

 

Love is that nature of God which we share, a gift from God to humanity. Love is like the stream water, so innocent and pure. True love is not hidden, it radiates from the innermost being of a person who experience it. Little wonder St Paul in our first reading tells us that  there are three things that last: faith, hope and love; and the greatest of these is love.

Love is always patient and kind; it is never jealous; love is never boastful or conceited; it is never rude or selfish; it does not take offence, and is not resentful. Love takes no pleasure in other people’s sins but delights in the truth; it is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope, and to endure whatever comes.

 

So love is the greatest of all the gifts of God. Since all the virtues, from the lowest to the highest are worthless unless motivated by love. So love however, is the greatest and foundation of all the virtues. Other virtues such as faith will cease with the vision of God, hope will disappear into the possession of what we hoped for. But love is permanent and eternal because, God is love and we are his seed of love in this world. Thus our primary purpose in life is to love, and not just any kind of love, but sacrificial love that is rooted in selflessness that is devoid of greed, selfishness and haughty.

 

This kind of love is what is lacking among the people of our generation as we have it in our Gospel passage today when we heard Jesus talking about the people who out of jealousy had failed to embrace his teaching and that of John the Baptist. For the people looked down on him and were very judgmental against him and John the Baptist because of their unique personality. This ugly attitude were caused by lack of love, inability to appreciate God’s love and all that He has done for the sake of all humanity.

 

Dear friends, how much of this love dwells in us knowing that our true happiness is found in love? The fact remains that we can never be happy if we lack love in us. We can never be satisfied if we lack love. We can never receive love if we have never given it. 

So, no matter what kind of gifts we have whether spiritual or material, love is the only way to make them a source of happiness which bring us satisfaction that comes only from the heart that truly loves.

 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, enkindle in us once again the fire of your love, so that we may become your great servants dedicating our lives and service to loving you and our neighbours, through Christ our Lord. Amen.  Do have a lovely day.

Homily For Tuesday Twenty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 17th September, 2024

 

Reading: 1Cor. 12:12-14.27-31; Ps. 100; Luke 7:11-17

Rev.  Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

 

DO NOT CRY FOR GOD WILL RESTORE YOUR JOY BACK

Pondering, on the struggles, fears, tears, disappointments and betrayals that people are passing through everyday just to survive in this world. How some people have lost hope in themselves and even in everything they do, just like the widow of Nain in our Gospel today who had lost her only son, her only hope, the only thing she had. But it pleased God to restore her joy back even when all hope had gone.

For we heard  that when Jesus saw the woman he felt sorry for her and said: ‘Do not cry’. Then he went up and put his hand on the bier and the bearers stood still, and he said, ‘Young man, I tell you to get up.’ And the dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Everyone was filled with awe and praised God saying, ‘A great prophet has appeared among us; God has visited his people.

Here we see the compassionate heart of Jesus on the widow and the restoration of her son show us that God on appointed time will restore our lost hope and confidence again, so that we will know that he, the Lord, is our God. He made us and we belong to him for eternal is his merciful love and he is faithful from age to age.

Dear friends, I don’t know what you are passing through now? I don’t know what seems to be lost in your life or in your family? I don’t know how bad things has become for you now. One thing I know is that God has not abandoned you. God has not forgotten you. Do not cry for God will restore your joy back. Your time has come, it may be today, this month, this year or very sudden just like this widow.

All we need to do is to pay attention to what St. Paul is telling us in our first reading today when he said: Now you together are Christ’s body; but each of you is a different part of it. So Be ambitious for the higher gifts. Therefore, as you go about your activities, know that God has not forgotten you, cheer up for God understands what you are passing through, and as it pleases him, he is just waiting for the right time to restore your joy back and bless you.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we struggle with our daily challenges, may we experience your saving help and so be a shining splendour in our family, society and in the world at large. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do  have a fruitful day.

Homily For Monday Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 16th September, 2024. The Memorial of SS. Cornelius and Cyprian

 

Reading: 1Cor. 11:17-26.33; Ps. 40; Luke 7:1-10

Rev.  Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

 

LORD ONLY SAY THE WORD AND MY SERVANT SHALL BE HEALED: THE FAITH OF THE CENTURION

 

The doctrines of the Church teaches us that faith is a supernatural gift of God, a supernatural virtue infused in us by God. Little wonder our level of faith are not the same. However, our gift of faith grows depending on our disposition and utilization of the gift. That is why, when Jesus invites people to faith and conversion, he does not coerced them, rather they come to faith through their good disposition and utilization of their experience with him.

 

This is exactly the case with the Roman centurion in our Gospel passage today, who sorts help for his sick servant through some Jewish elders whom he sent to Jesus to ask him to come and heal his servant, but when Jesus accepted to come to his home, the centurion hesitates, feeling unworthy of Jesus’ presence in his home, said to him “Lord, do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; therefore I did not presume to come to you. But only speak the word, and my servant will be healed”. 

 

Here the centurion believes that Jesus can speak a word of healing, and that will be enough to cure his servant. He has total faith and trust in the power of Jesus’ word. For him, the servant did not even need to hear Jesus speak the word: it was enough that the word was spoken. Jesus praised his faith and genuine humility. Today, these words of the centurion has become a pattern of prayer for us, that before Holy Communion we say it passionately because, his faith and intercessions are inspiring example for us to follow.

 

This is exactly the kind of faith that all of us must have as well. The faith that leads us to seek God wholeheartedly, to be humble before Him and to love Him above all and not to allow our pride, ego and desires lead us into faithlessness, disobedience and sin against God. We are also called to trust God at all times, for St Paul in our first reading today said:  I cannot say that you have done well in holding meetings that do you more harm than good, for  what I received from the Lord, I in turn passed on to you.

 

Dear friends, what is our disposition towards the gift of faith that God has given us? Do we have total faith and trust in God just like the Centurion? The fact remains that our experiences of evil, injustice, suffering and death can shake or shape the gift of faith in us depending on our disposition. Remember, the Centurion interceded for his sick servant, do we intercede for others who are in need of God’s healing and mercy? Do we know that we can speak God’s word in prayer and someone, somewhere, will find healing? Do we often like this Centurion, recognize in all humility our unworthiness before God? 

 

We are called today to learn from this man’s act of humility, faith and intercessory gifts just like SS. Cornelius and Cyprian whose memorial we celebrate today. For they were holy servants of God who dedicated their lives to the service to God and their neighbour. And for this they died as martyrs under great persecution for they stood firm in their faith and hope which is rooted in their love of God and neighbours.

 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, we are weak and oftentimes we display an act of faithlessness due to the pressure and challenges of life. Through the intercession of SS. Cornelius and Cyprian may the Lord increase our faith and make us humble and patience in doing his will. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful week.

Homily For Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B, 15th September, 2024

 

Readings: Is.50:5-9; Ps.116; James 2:14-18; Mark 8:27-35

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

WHAT IS YOUR PERSONAL EXPERIENCE AND CONVICTION ABOUT JESUS?

 

Oftentimes, we hear people talking about their favourite celebrities and mentors. How we follow them in all their social media platforms. we some time claim to know everything about them. We talk about them and defend them more than they can ever imagined. And sometimes we claim to know them even more than they know themselves. Among this group are sycophants and hypocrite who follow because of what they will gain and not because of what one truly represent. So it becomes a problem to know those who really follow you because of what you represent and not for selfish gains.

 

To deal with this kind of situation Jesus asked his disciples and in deed all Christians, some fundamental questions as we have them in our Gospel passage today when he said: Who do people say I am? When they have answered he asked them the second question saying: Who do you say I am? Jesus addresses this question to all his disciples. The people are free to believe whatever they want about Jesus, but his disciples should know better. He has been carefully preparing his disciples to carry on his work. They have heard his teachings and witnessed his miracles. What they think of him should be more critical.

 

Thus, St. Peter spoke up and said to him, ‘You are the Christ.’ And he gave them strict orders not to tell anyone about him. And he began to teach them that the Son of Man was destined to suffer grievously, to be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and to be put to death, and after three days to rise again, just as we heard in our first reading through prophet Isaiah. Then, taking him aside, Peter started to rebuke him. But, Jesus rebuked Peter and said to him, ‘Get behind me, Satan! Because the way you think is not God’s way but man’s. And said, ‘If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me.

 

Here, we see how Peter expressed his personal conviction about the personality of Jesus. He did not have to quote any authority, because his response was a clear and sincere knowledge of who he professed Jesus to be. That is why, Jesus in  Gospels according to Matthew 16:17 says: that Peter's faith is a gift from the Father when he said: “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven.

 

This is because Peter’s gift of faith comes from his personal response about who Jesus is, even though he does not want to associate with the suffering aspect of the life of Jesus, and that was why Jesus rebuked that spirit of fear in him.. Thus, our faith requires that we give a personal answer to the question: who do you say I am? For it is not enough to quote the teachings and Catechism of the Church about our faith or the teachings of other theologians and preachers or to respond only from the head but from the heart that is convinced of what it believes on and is really ready to embrace the will of God.

 

Therefore, how we answer this question of Jesus should also be critical, since to be a Christian means showing by our way of life that we belief in Jesus and his teaching. But this is not always the case for there are people who are sycophants and hypocrite Christians who cause division in the Church because they follow Jesus for the sake of what they want to gain from him and not for what he represent. So, the division in the Church is not caused by the words of Jesus rather, it is caused by selfishness and pride in  people who wished to use the name of Jesus to achieve their selfish desires.

 

So, today most people are following Jesus without knowing who Jesus truly represents. Some people find it very difficult to embrace the teaching of Jesus because they lack the faith and conviction about his personality, even when Jesus has revealed himself to us through his great miracles and teachings.

 

The fact is that, Jesus wants us to develop a divine way of looking at things, he wants us to know him deep down our soul, so that we can truly profess our faith with deeper meaning and conviction. Little wonder St James in our second reading tells us to show our faith by practical actions of good works, since faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead.

 

Dear friends, having heard the teachings and works of Jesus in the scriptures and traditions of the Church, the question remains: who is Jesus to you? What is your personal experience and conviction about Jesus? When was you spiritual turning point? Do we have a personal conviction about God that does not based on what people told us of him? How has your knowledge of Jesus help other people to come to faith in Jesus. In case you have not personally experience him, all you need to do is to sincerely seek God in those common events in your life and you will realize how much God is willing to reveal himself to you.

 

So, today we are called to really examine our conscience to know where we are with regards to our faith as Christians. We are called today to develop a divine way of understanding the mysteries of God, but not rejecting them because we do not understand them. We are also called to be convinced of who we are and the need to truly unite together in God and His Church entrusted to St. Peter of which the get of underworld shall not prevail against it. Therefore, let us turn towards God once again with all our hearts and devote our whole lives in seeking to know Him more and more.

 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, you revealed to St. Peter the true identity of Jesus your Son, help us to profess our faith with deeper meaning and conviction. And as we experience the power of your presence, may we embrace more deeply your sacred mysteries. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Happy Sunday.

Homily For Saturday Twenty-Third Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 14th September, 2024. The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

Readings: Num. 21:4-9, Ps.78, Phil.2:6-11, John 3:13-17

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

WHAT DOES THE HOLY CROSS REPRESENT IN YOUR LIFE?

 

A lot of people in our societies today put on the cross without knowing the true meaning of the cross and what it represent. They just feel that the cross is a fashionable object that makes them look good and feel important, but this is not the case because the cross is more than that. Today we celebrate the Feast of the exaltation of the Holy Cross, this feast is so important to our Christian faith, because the Holy Cross is a symbol of sacrificial victory of our faith.

 

This Feast began when St. Helena discovered the relic of the true Cross on which Jesus was crucified, which was preserved in Jerusalem. A sacred relic that represents the mystery of the unending love of God for humanity. Though, the cross in the eyes of early Christians had no beauty, it was a sign of sorrow, a symbol of courage, an expression of faith which stood outside the city walls, decorated only with decaying corpses of Christ faithful who died for their faith in Christ. They are left on the cross as a threat to anyone who believes in Jesus.

 

But today, the cross has become the universal image of Christian belief, an instrument of salvation which often appear in Christian art works and countless generations of artists have turned it into a thing of beauty to be carried in procession or worn as jewelry and other religions activities. Here we can see how this ugly event has turned into a glorious act, which shows the power of God over evil. For God is the source of victory, he has the power to turn ugly situation into a glorious one through the power of love.

 

Little wonder our Gospel passage today, talks about the relationship between God and the world. Telling us that God loves the world and the humanity living in it. He loves it so much that he gave his only Son, who died a shameful and terrible death on a cross for the seek of his love. God loves the whole world and his love is total and unconditional for every one of his creatures. For God reveals his love, his greatest glory when his Son was lifted up on the cross for there the victory of our salvation was achieved and at the , Jesus tells us everything and solves all our difficult problems.

 

Just like the Israelites in our first reading who having sinned against God and were punished on account of their sins, complained as they asked Moses to intercede for them and God said to Moses, make a fiery serpent and put it on a standard. If anyone is bitten and looks at it, he shall live. This very symbol is a prefiguration of the Cross of Christ.

 

And St. Paul in our second reading tells us that though Jesus  in the form of God, but he humbled himself by accepting death on a Cross and God exalted him and gave him the name which is above all other names, so that all beings in the heavens, on earth and in the underworld, should bend the knee at the name of Jesus to the glory of God the Father.

 

Dear friends, as we reflect and celebrate the exaltation of the Holy Cross and it's saving power in our Christian life, let us deeply look at the Cross, what do we see? How do we feel about the Cross? What does the Cross represents in our life? Do we feel the love of Jesus expressed for us on the Cross? Can we perceive the expensive price of our salvation? We are called today to tell the world how deep God has loved us. We are to demonstrate this love to the world and let this love be felt by those who have lost hope in God especially at this time when humanity is struggling with the ugly situation of inflation and political crisis.

 

Therefore, let us extend this love in any form, gestures or manner possible to everywhere that it is lacking. A kind word, a single phone call, a text message, an act of forgiveness, a single prayer, sacrifice, patience and any form of generous act shown to anyone around you or as many people you can reach out today, can reflect this love of God for humanity through us, for we are the face of God’s love now, we are the channels of his Mercy and compassion.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we celebrate the feast of the exaltation of the Holy Cross, may we experience once again the power of your love for humanity, and give us the grace to reciprocate this love in the world by our way of life, using the gifts, the talents and resources you have given us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Happy  Feast day to all the Priest and lay faithful of the Archdiocese of Lagos.

Homily For Friday Twenty-Third Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 13th September, 2024. The Memorial of St. John Chrysostom

 

Readings: 1Cor 9:16-19.22-27, Ps.84, Luke: 6: 39-42

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

 

THE LOG OF PRIDE MAKES A LEADER BLIND

 

As humans, we are quick to always criticize and condemn other people. We are good at seeing people's faults and mistakes. But has it ever occurred to us that, while we are condemning other persons for their faults, we suddenly realise that our own faults are just as many as theirs?

 

It is this ugly attitude that Jesus is addressing today in the Gospel passage when he said: Can one blind man guide another? Surely both will fall into a pit? Why do you observe the speck in your brother’s eye and never notice the log in your own? Hypocrite! Take the log out of your own eye first, and then you will see clearly enough to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye.

 

Here Jesus is referring to the blindness from the truth that the Pharisees and the Scribes and indeed most of us and our so-called leaders today have decided to embrace as we have neglected the spirituality behind the natural human traditions and laws, to follow the may ritual and routing traditions and laws we have created out of our own selfish desires. Leaders who have the responsibility to lead, guide and teach the people have decided to embrace darkness and falsehood. And the greed, jealousy and wickedness in our hearts have blindfolded us and made us become blind leaders of the blind.

 

Hence, Jesus told us how we who are leaders have failed to see the log in our eyes while seeking to remove the speck in other's. But what is this log in our eyes? It is the log of pride. Pride makes us forget who we are and claim who we are not. Pride makes us look down on people. Pride makes us blind. It makes us not look into our own lives. Little wonder pride is the first capital sin.

 

Therefore, we are called to humbly look into our lives and identify all those ugly attitudes of pride in us and get rid of them, so that we can humbly correct and accommodate other people’s speck of faults and weakness. Then we can say, like St. Paul in our first reading, who, though not a slave of any man, made himself the slave of everyone to win as many as he could. For the weak, he made himself weak. He made himself all things to all men in order to save some at any cost for the sake of the Gospel and to share in its blessings.

 

This is what we see in the life of John Chrysostom, whose memorial we celebrate today. He is known for his excellent preaching skills and was given the name Chrysostom, which means “golden mouth”, as he is usually called “John of the golden mouth” because he utilized the gift God gave him.

 

Dear friends, do we know people who behave like blind leaders of the blind? Are we one of such leaders? We are called today to constantly examine our conscience to know what kind of leader we are in any capacity we find ourselves. We are made to know that leadership requires taking away our log of pride in order to humbly remove or accommodate the speck of faults and weaknesses in others. So let us cultivate the right disposition of heart that will make us visionary leaders, leading those entrusted to us safely towards the path of truth and eternal life.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, there are so many blind leaders in our world today who out of pride lead humanity into destruction and death, help us to realize that we need to take away the log of pride that makes us blind in order to humbly remove and accommodate the faults and weakness of others thereby leading them to the path of truth and eternal life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a favourable day.