Homily For Thursday Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 14th November, 2024

 

Readings: Philemon 1:7-20, Ps.146, Luke:17:20-25

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

HAVING THE RIGHT DISPOSITION TOWARDS THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Oftentimes, whenever we hear about the kingdom of God, two questions come to mind; the first question is when is it coming? And the second question is, what will it look like? This is not different from the Pharisees in our Gospel passage today who after hearing Jesus talking about the kingdom of God, asked him when the kingdom will come. This is because they presume that the kingdom of God is yet to come, and will be visible like an earthly kingdom.

But, Jesus replies that the kingdom is already present though invisible, for the kingdom of God is within us. The kingdom is essentially God's reign in the soul of humanity through his Son Jesus. For with the presence of Jesus, the kingdom of God is already here among us. And within our hearts, God’s reign has already begun. So through our union with Jesus, we already have a foretaste of eternal life.

However, Jesus said to his disciples, a time will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man and will not see it. They will say to you, “Look there!” or, “Look here!” Make no move; do not set off in pursuit; for as the lightning flashing from one part of heaven lights up the other, so will be the Son of Man when his day comes.

Here, Jesus encourages his disciples not to get worked up or even overly curious about the end times and the second coming of the Son of Man. Instead let us concentrate on the here and now, especially on our relationship with him as we ponder constantly on his teaching. Jesus also warns us not to be distracted by fake prophets and preachers who claim private revelations about the end of the world. Rather, we should focus on how to shape our lives to attain the demands of God’s kingdom.

Dear friends, we must learn to prepare ourselves for God’s kingdom not as something that will come in a far distant time but as something that is already here with us. And this should be seen in our attitudes and actions especially in our relationship with God and with one another. This is what St. Paul, in our first reading today, is teaching us when he said to Philemon: “I did not want to do anything without your consent; it would have been forcing your act of kindness, which should be spontaneous.

I know you have been deprived of Onesimus for a time, but it was only so that you could have him back forever, not as a slave any more, but something much better than a slave, a dear brother; especially dear to me, but how much more to you, as a blood-brother as well as a brother in the Lord.” These words of St. Paul describe how we ought to relate with one another as one people of God.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we await your Kingdom, help us to be well prepared for it whenever it comes. Give us the grace to be faithful and dedicated servants, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a faithful day.

Homily For Wednesday Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 13th November 2024

 

Readings: Titus 3:1-7, Ps.23, Luke:17:11-19

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

LEARN TO SHOW GRATITUDE TO GOD FOR FAVOURS RECEIVED

Many great events in the scriptures illustrate the compassionate concern of Jesus in the struggles of humanity and how he wishes to set us free from the shackles of all our troubles. But how often do we show gratitude for such great love?

 This is evident in the occasion of our Gospel passage today, where we heard the story of Jesus’ encounter with the ten lepers. Ten of them were cured, but only one, who was a foreigner among them, came back to thank Jesus. From this man’s gratitude, Jesus made a comment on human ingratitude when he asked “Was there no one to return and give thanks to God except this foreigner?”

 The problem is that we don’t always remember that the ultimate source of our graces and gifts is God. That is what makes the Samaritan leper special, and distinguishes him from the other nine. Unfortunately, God’s greatest gifts, our life and health, and our ability to think and achieve great things are often taken for granted. More so, the story of these lepers is a good example of how we sinners can and should appeal to Jesus for cleansing, especially from our sins. We should come in faith knowing that God is always willing to cleanse every sinner who comes to Him.

So, let us sincerely turn to God once again with all of our hearts and with all of our strength, just like the lepers who came to Jesus with faith, knowing that he could heal them and make them better. This is what all of us must have as well, a strong and genuine faith. Today may be our great opportunity to be restored, and what is needed is to put our faith into action and say, Jesus! Master! Have mercy on us.

Dear friends, I don’t know what type of leprocious problems you are passing through? Are you weighed down by sin or sickness? Are you feeling helpless and rejected? Or do I know people who are helpless and need some help? Do I feel the need for Jesus’s help in some part of my life? Let us pause for a moment and imagine Jesus looking at us. How does he see us? What are you saying to him, and what is he saying to you?

Jesus wishes to set us free from sickness, troubles, challenges and manipulations of the evil ones. He desires to be with us as we struggle every day to overcome the challenges in our families, society and the world at large. Therefore, we should not be afraid to approach Jesus for healing and restoration; all we need is an active faith and a heart of gratitude like the leper in our Gospel passage today.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, you know our innermost being and the challenges we are struggling with, come to our aid. We pray and cleanse us from all our physical, emotional and spiritual leprosy as we thank you for all you have done for us, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Peace be with you.

Homily For Tuesday Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 12th November 2024. The Memorial of St. Josaphat

 

Readings: Titus 2:1-8.11-14, Ps.37, Luke:17:7-10

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

HUMBLE AND FAITHFUL SERVANTS SEEK NO REWARD FROM THEIR MASTER

These days, the rate at which people seek rewards for what they have done and some even for what they have not done is quite disturbing. Today it is difficult for people to do things without looking for what they will gain from it. It takes courage to trust people even when they extend their hands of generosity to others because we often think that they have some interior motives behind the generosity. But this should not be our attitude as disciples of Christ.

Little wonder, in our Gospel passage today, Jesus, in the parable of a dutiful servant,t, corrects some of the wrong thinking and notions about being a disciple and teaches us what our true place and disposition should be. In the parable, Jesus compared our relationship with God to that of a master and his servant. Where the servant had a duty to serve his master well and to do what he had been told to do without seeking any compliments. Because the master has no obligation to congratulate or please the servant.

Therefore, this tells us that we are “unworthy servants” before our Worthy and righteous God, who loves us even in our unworthiness. So disciples should not seek reward for their good deeds. Our obedience to God is required by the very nature of who God is and not something to boast about or seek a reward for since our obedience to him is that of a son or daughter to a loving Father.

Dear friends, today we are reminded that in following Jesus, we should do all our good works in humility without any strange attachment. We should do what we can to help others we meet on our way for no reason other than to help for the seek of help. And St. Paul, in our first reading, tells us how every one of us ought to behave in the respective positions we found ourselves.

Therefore, as a faithful servant, all that is required is for us to act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly before God without seeking any reward for that is what we are called to do. Remember that everything that happens to us, whether prosperous or adverse, comes from God so that you neither become puffed up in prosperity nor discouraged in adversity. Thus, in anything you do avoid evil, do good, and seek peace.

These are things we can learn from St. Josaphat whose memorial we celebrate today. He was a monk who, through persistence and perseverance, rose to the position of leadership within the Church as an Archbishop. He fought for the unification of the Church despite the rising tensions and clashes between those who were supportive of the union and those who opposed it.

As the leader and shepherd of his flock, he struggled to resolve the tensions and differences. However, these tensions and violence eventually led to his martyrdom. He dedicated himself fully to ensuring that he leads and steers the faithful to the right path through his personal holiness and exemplary lifestyle. He is known for constantly mortifying his flesh and resisting the temptations to sin.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, teach us how to be a humble and faithful servant, even when it is difficult. Through the intercession of St Josaphat, grant us the grace to be faithful and humble servants at any level we find ourselves without seeking rewards. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a faithful day.

Homily For Monday Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 11th, November 2024. The Memorial of St. Martin of Tours

Readings: Titus 1:1-9; Ps.24; Luke 17:1-6

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WHY WE MUST FORGIVE AND CORRECT ONE ANOTHER IN FRATERNAL CHARITY 

The fragile nature of the human person has made it clear that we are not perfect, as we are likely to offend one another in any relationship we find ourselves. As a result of this, there is a need for us to learn how to accommodate one another’s imperfections. But one of the major challenges we face in most relationships today is the ability to properly accommodate and correct one another especially when one is straying from the norms set up for the good of the relationship.

This is what Jesus is addressing in our Gospel passage today, for he 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, be on your guard for when your brother does something wrong, reprove him and, if he is sorry, forgive him. And if he wrongs you seven times a day and seven times comes back to you and says, “I am sorry,” you must forgive him.’

Here, Jesus calls us to forgive and apply fraternal correction in any relationship we find ourselves in, for we are responsible for one another’s welfare, and these steps and stages give room for reconciliation and accommodation. So, 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 and separated from us. 

But if they refused to be reconciled we should pray for their conversion. 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 people. For we are meant to watch over our neighbours. We must cultivate a good character and show good examples at any stage and level we find ourselves.

Little wonder St. Paul addressing the issues of leadership said to Titus in our first reading today: I told you: that a leader must be a man of irreproachable character; he must not have been married more than once, and his children must be believers and not uncontrollable or liable to be charged with disorderly conduct. 

Since, as president, he will be God’s representative, he must be irreproachable: never an arrogant or hot-tempered man, nor a heavy drinker or violent, nor out to make money; but a man who is hospitable and a friend of all that is good; sensible, moral, devout and self-controlled; and he must have a firm grasp of the unchanging message of the tradition. 

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 forgiven, corrected and guided whenever they 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.  

Therefore, mutual love and fraternal charity are the only ways and processes of fulfilling this obligation. Let us then be inspired by St. Martin of Tours, whose memorial we celebrate today; his life was truly exemplary to us before God. He was a champion of the true faith amidst several challenges and heresies that were rampant in his time. He protected his flock from the false teachings and helped to guide them down the right path, leading by example through his own virtuous life.

  

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, we are rebellious and proud people, we lack the courage and disposition to correct and accept corrections. Through the intercession of St. Martin of Tours, give us the grace and courage 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 blessed week

Homily For Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B, 10th November, 2024

 

Readings: 1 Kings  17:10-16; Ps: 146; Heb.9:24-28; Mark 12:38-44

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

LEARN TO OVERCOME THE UGLY ATTITUDE OF PRIDE AND THE HUMAN EGO

Beginning from the time of Adam and Eve in the Gardens of Eden, the Devil has been tempting mankind with the first capital sin of pride and ego, knowing how vulnerable and weak we can be in resisting our desires for knowledge and power. 

These are temptations for every age, however, it is more obvious in our society today, as we all desire to have red carpet treatment. We all enjoy wearing well-tailored clothes and being addressed with honorific titles on different occasions and events, even in the Church. 

These, of course, can be done innocently without any harm, depending on how they affect our relationships with God and our neighbours. When it is done out of pride and ego, then it becomes harmful to others, and this can lead to idolatry, where man will seek to be like God or assume honour and glory due to God. 

This ugly attitude is what Jesus is addressing in our Gospel passage today, when he said “Beware of the scribes who like to walk about in long robes, to be greeted obsequiously in the market squares, to take the front seats in the synagogues and the places of honour at banquets; these are the men who swallow the property of widows, while making a show of lengthy prayers. The more severe will be the sentence they receive”.

Here, Jesus points to those entrusted with religious leadership who have turned their positions of trust into selfish interests as they focus on what they can get rather than what they can give. So Jesus warned his disciples against such kind of behaviour, especially how they exercised and practised their faith. The Pharisees and the teachers of the Law often prided themselves in their privileged and highly respected position in the community, and showed off their faith, seeking important and privileged positions. 

What Jesus is telling us all is to be careful and vigilant against the temptations of ego and pride in our lives. We must focus our attention on God and put Him first and foremost in all we do. This no doubt requires sacrifice just like the poor widow in our Gospel passage and the widow in our first reading, for they sacrifice all that they had in thanksgiving to God. 

In reward for such great sacrifice, prophet Elijah made us know that our Jar of meal shall not be spent and our jug of oil shall not be emptied before the day when the Lord shall send rain of blessings in our lives. For our Lord Jesus Christ has made his appearance once and for all, now at the end of the last age, to do away with sin by sacrificing himself as we heard in our second reading today.

Dear friends, living a life of sacrifice helps us to overcome the ugly attitude of pride and human ego. Because the warning of Jesus concerning our pride and ego is not only for religious leaders and ministers but for every one of us: fathers, mothers, teachers, lecturers, students, government officials, military leaders, businessmen and women, celebrities, doctors, mechanics and leaders of all works of life. 

We are to be on the watch in order to avoid being carried away by the titles of honour and dignity that come with the pride of life, like some of the scribes in our Gospel passage today. Rather, we should humble ourselves in the midst of external respect and honour, for noble souls despise this kind of honour, as they offer it to God, to whom all respect and honour belongs. 

Therefore, we have to be careful with St Paul in 2Tim 4:1-8, which tells us that out of pride, time is sure to come when far from being content with sound teaching, people will be avid for the latest novelty and collect themselves a whole series of teachers according to their tastes; and then, instead of listening to the truth, they will turn to myths. 

Friends, let us always be careful to choose the right course; be brave under trials, and make the preaching of the Good News our life’s work in thoroughgoing service. So that we can join him in saying: “I have fought the good fight to the end; I have run the race to the finish; I have kept the faith; all there is to come now is the crown of righteousness reserved for me, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on the last Day”.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as you warn us today to beware of the pride and ego of the human life in order to embrace the life of humble sacrifice, grant us we pray, the grace of humility in the midst of all prideful events in our lives. We as this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a grace-filled Sunday celebration.

Homily For Saturday Thirty- First Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 9th November 2024. The Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica

 

Readings: Ez.47:1-2.8-9.12, Ps.46, 1Cor3:9-11.16-17, John 2:13-22

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

REMEMBER YOU ARE A LIVING TEMPLE DEDICATED TO GOD

Today, in a special way, the Church celebrate the feast of the dedication of St. John Lateran Basilica Rome. It is the Mother and head of all the Churches and a symbol of unity for all the Churches in the world with the Roman Church.

This feast reminds us of our need to live in deep communion with the Pope, the successor of St. Peter, the rock on which Jesus built his Church on which our faith as Christians depends. However, we should never lose sight of the fact that it is the symbol of the true meeting point between man and God and Jesus Christ, who is the actual temple.

Little wonder Jesus in the Gospel passage today points to himself as the temple of God in the world, the one through whom God is present in the world. Here, he is speaking of the sanctuary that was his body when he said to the Jews: Destroy this sanctuary, and in three days, I will raise it up.

Thus, prophet Ezekiel, in our first reading, prophesying about this sanctuary, said: ‘Along the river, on either bank, will grow every kind of fruit tree with leaves that never wither and fruit that never fails; they will bear new fruit every month because this water comes from the sanctuary. And their fruit will be good to eat and the leaves medicinal.’

While St. Paul, in our second reading, emphasises that the Christian community, the body of Christ, is the place where God is to be truly present in the world. That the Church is a spiritual temple and each member of the Church is a temple of the Holy Spirit, a living expressions of God’s loving presence in our world today.

He said: ‘Didn’t you realise that you were God’s temple and that the Spirit of God was living among you? If anybody should destroy the temple of God, God will destroy him because the temple of God is sacred, and you are that temple.

Dear friends, our bodies are sacred temples of the Lord; this is the heart of our baptismal character, to become temples of God through whom God’s loving presence touches the lives of others. So, today, we are reminded that we are a sacred reality, where God dwells, which should not be profaned or used as a material object.

Therefore, we must preserve our bodies from stains of sin and corruption. We must not let the pleasurable things of this passing world defile our body which by virtue of our baptism has become a scared dwelling of the Holy Spirit. For this reason, we must unite together to build up the body of Christ, which is his Church.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, as we celebrate the feast of the dedication of your Church, help us to realize that our bodies are the sacred temple of your dwelling presence and so preserve it always from the stains of sin and corruption. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Have a fruitful week.

Homily For Friday Thirty- First Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 8th November 2024

 

Readings: Phil 3:17-4:1, Ps.121, Luke 16: 1-8

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

LEARN TO PRUDENTLY USE THE RESOURCES ENTRUSTED TO YOU TO WIN YOUR SALVATION

The elements of good and bad seem inherent in every human person, little wonder the world involves both good and bad mixed together. This will help us to understand the reason for corruption, greediness, immoral and social decadence in our world today. But even in the midst of all these ugly situations, we are expected to be wise and smart in our deals with the things of this passing world.

Little wonder, in the Gospel passage today, Jesus tells the parable of this dishonest steward who, having acted unjustly and having been exposed by his master, went to great lengths to make friends of his master’s debtors in order to secure his future. In this parable, Jesus is not telling us to be dishonest, but he wants us to know that we can learn, even from this dishonest servant, how to prudently use the things of this passing world to gain our salvation.

Thus, Jesus points out that we, too, should be smart but not exactly like the dishonest steward, using dishonest wealth to exploit others as most rich people do today. No, instead, we, his disciples, are to use our wealth to win souls for the kingdom and safeguard our souls.

But more importantly, if we understand the principle that says that everything we own is a gift from God, then we will realize that God is the owner of everything and that we are His stewards. As such, we are to use the Master’s resources to further the Master’s work and not the contrary. In this context, we are told to be generous with our resources and use them for the safety of our souls and the growth of God’s kingdom.

For we heard St. Paul in our first reading saying: I have told you often, and I repeat it today with tears, many are behaving as the enemies of the cross of Christ. They are destined to be lost. They make foods into their god and they are proudest of something they ought to think shameful; the things they think important are earthly things. For us, our homeland is in heaven, and from heaven comes the saviour we are waiting for.

Dear friends, today, we are called to really examine our conscience to know where we are with regard to our vocation as Christians. How can we best harness the things entrusted to us so that they can be a source and midst of safeguarding our souls surrounded by corruption and greediness? We are called today to be wise and smart, for if worldly-minded people can be smart in their dealings, we, too, should be smarter in our struggles for the salvation of humanity. We should utilize the resources available to us and use them to secure our salvation.