Homily For Wednesday Fifth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 12th February, 2025

 

Readings: Gen 2:4-9.15-17, Ps.104, Mark 7:14:23

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

THE NATURE OF YOUR INTERIOR LIFE IS KNOWN BY THE FRUITS OF YOUR PHYSICAL LIFE

Listening to our first reading today, we heard how God has entrusted to humanity his wonderful creation with the following instructions: ‘You may eat indeed of all the trees in the garden. Nevertheless, of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you are not to eat, for on the day you eat of it, you shall most surely die. But we have often failed to keep this instruction out of pride and greediness, which have corrupted our hearts, and as a result,t, most of our ugly attitudes are the fruit of this corrupt hea, rt, and these often separate us from God.

Little wonder, in our Gospel passage today, Jesus makes it clear that we are not defiled or separated from God by external things, such as the kinds of food we eat, but by the sins of the heart, evil intentions and sinful actions which we entertain in our hearts. Telling us that the physical activity of the human person does not defile a person because the physical is being controlled by the inner interior being of the person. When the interior life of a person is corrupted by sin, then the fruit of this corruption is manifested in the physical activity of the person.

For just as a corrupt fountain sends forth corrupt streams, so will a corrupt heart bring forth corrupt fruits, corrupt appetites, passions, covetousness and immoderate desires for more wealth of the nation from which comes wickedness; malice, hatred, and a delight in mischievous actions, deceit; Lasciviousness; that filthiness and foolish talk which darkened the soul.

Hence, Jesus teaches us also, that from a corrupt heart comes the desire for fornication and adultery. All these come from within our hearts, especially the corrupt nature that brings about the carnal mind, the evil treasure in the heart which defiles the human person and renders one unfit to be in communion with God. Because they stain the conscience; and, if not mortified and rooted out, will send us out of our heavenly kingdom.

Thus, the defilement we ought to avoid is not from what entered our mouths as food, but from what comes out of our mouths, which shows the goodness or wickedness deep down in our hearts. The human heart is the source of every good and evil deed. Hence, the pollution of the human heart is very dangerous, for in it comes all the powers and faculties of the soul. So there is a need for us to know that lustful and sinful thoughts of the heart defile the human person and make one abominable in the sight of God.

Dear friends, the nature of your interior life is known by the fruits of your physical life. For when our interior life is defiled by sins, our hearts bear the ugly fruit of corruption. So, we must ensure that our interior life and our hearts are constantly purged of all these corruptions to bear good fruits of love, forgiveness, compassion and holiness. It is only when this occurs that there will be a need for a new heart and right spirit to be formed and created within us for having repented and received the pardoning grace of God. Nothing will last in the soul more than the regenerating graces of the Holy Spirit, which gives sight to the heart darkened by sin to effectively lead others to the truth that illuminates their hearts from the darkness of sin and death.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, the human hearts have been corrupted and darkened by sins. As we struggle to constantly purge our hearts from sin and corruption, may you create a pure heart within us so that we can bear good fruits of love and holiness? We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen Wishing you a fruitful day.

Homily For Tuesday, Fifth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 11th February 2025

 

Readings: Gen.1:20-2:4, Ps.8, Mark 7:1-13

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

THESE PEOPLE HONOUR ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEARTS ARE FAR FROM ME

Oftentimes, we find it difficult to separate the commandments of God from human traditions. This no doubt plays out in our making and interpreting of laws, and it has great consequences in our relationship with God and our neighbours, just as we have it in our Gospel reading today, where we heard how the Pharisees multiplied religious laws and rituals to such an extent that it was impossible to know them all, talk more of observing them. So Jesus accuses them of neglecting the true commandment of God over their petty regulations. 

These petty laws and traditions were some highly detailed but unwritten human laws which the Scribes and Pharisees regarded as having the same binding force as the Law God gave to Moses. However, Jesus was not totally against these laws and regulations. What he was against was the legalism by which the mere observance of some external actions was equated with being a devout lover of God. Hence, he reminded them of the quotes from the prophet Isaiah, saying: “This people honours me only with lip service, while their hearts are far from me. The worship they offer me is worthless; the doctrines they teach are only human regulations.” (Is 29:13). 

So, he made it clear that the real commandment of God is the unconditional love of God and neighbour, which is evident in our first reading where we heard God saying, ‘Let us make man in our own image, in the likeness of ourselves, and let them be masters of the fish of the sea, the birds of heaven, the cattle, all the wild beasts and all the reptiles that crawl upon the earth.’ Thus, God created man in the image of himself with laws and regulations to guide us. But we have neglected these laws in favour of what are purely human traditions. 

Hence, Jesus goes ahead to illustrates the hypocrisy involved in these ugly attitudes by showing how some supposedly devout people neglected the basic responsibility of respect and care for parents by claiming that they had consecrated all that they owned to God and the temple while, in fact, they are keeping it for their own personal use. So, for one to declare something to be “Corban,” an offering devoted to God when his parents are in need, is in direct conflict with the commandment of God that says: honour your father and mother.

Dear friends, let love and goodwill be the foundation for making and implementing our laws. There can be some elements of Pharisee in us, and these happen whenever we focus our attention on laws while neglecting the spirit of the law, which is the real focus of today’s Gospel. Sometimes, we neglect the essential service of God because of some religious regulations. We often judge people based on our human standards. Sometimes, we piously go through all kinds of devotional exercises, but deep down in our hearts is gossip and destructive criticism of others. 

Therefore, we are called today not to be like the Pharisees by holding onto unnecessary human traditions; rather, we should focus our attention more on the teaching of Jesus about the love of God and neighbour, and this should guide our implementation of every other law and regulations. 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, out of pride and greediness, we have often neglected the true meaning of your commandment of love but hold on to unnecessary human traditions which lead us into destructive criticism of others. Help to change these ugly attitudes to embrace your teaching of love and humility. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a fruitful day.

Homily For Monday Fifth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 10th February, 2025

 

The Memorial of Saint Scholastica

Readings: Gen.1:1-19, Ps.104, Mark 6:53-56

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

EXPERIENCING THE HEALING TOUCH OF JESUS

In the creation story, we were told that God created everything so good and perfect, just as we have it in our first reading today. But out of pride and greediness, humanity has destroyed and keeps on destroying the good things that God has entrusted to us. As a result of this, humanity is suffering the consequences of our destructive actions, which manifest in different forms such as natural disasters, illnesses, diseases, afflictions, slavery and troubles.

But time and time again, God, though not pleased with this destructive nature of humanity, has not stopped to restore humanity back to its glorious state. This gracious act of restoration is made more evident in the life and mission of our Lord Jesus Christ, who came to redeem us through the path of humility and love.

Little wonder, in our Gospel passage today, we heard of the great works of Jesus, who was then at Galilee, ministering to the people who came to him seeking to be healed from their various illnesses, diseases, afflictions, slavery and troubles. People kept on bringing their sick ones to him and many people who had faith in him were healed by merely touching his cloak. This passage summarizes what Jesus was doing for the people. It indicates the tremendous desire of the people to be healed and made whole by Jesus. Thus, the presence of Jesus brought Joy and relief to them.

Dear friends, God really cares about us, for no matter the situation we may find ourselves in, we must know that the touch of Jesus heals and restores everything. Therefore, we all are called to embrace the loving touch of Jesus and cooperate with him in his work and mission of healing and restoration of humanity, just like St. Scholastica whose memorial we celebrate today. Despite the challenges of the time, she lived a virtuous and prayerful life, dedicated wholly to God and committed herself to live an upright life of piety and charity, inspiring others in her community to be more dedicated and faithful to God. St. Scholastica showed us all what it truly means to be Christians.

Hence, let us discern what we can do to contribute, in our little ways, towards ensuring the restoration of humanity and all God’s creation, which we are destroying by our lives and actions. Let us seek to renew our faith in God and grow stronger in our love and devotion towards him. The people in our Gospel today rushed towards Jesus with their needs and their hopes because they recognized him. Maybe we need to follow their example by bringing to him those things in us that are still in need of healing and restoration.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we submit our lives into your care, let your healing touch restore us once again. And through the intercessions of St. Scholastica, may the victims of human persecutions and slavery experience restoration and the healing touch of Jesus in their lives. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed week.

Homiy For Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C, 9th February, 2025

Readings: Is. 6:1-2.3-8; Ps.138; 1Cor.15:1-11; Luke 5:1-11

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WHOM SHALL I SEND? WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO GOD’S DIVINE CALL FOR Evangelization? 

There is something deep and unique about every person, sometimes it takes personal experience to discover this uniqueness. And in the process of discovering this uniqueness, we encounter so many challenges that have become part of our experience in life. So, 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 prophet Isaiah and Simon and his companions had in our first reading and in the Gospel passage today.

In the first reading, we heard how the prophet Isaiah saw all the great glory and majesty of God and was terrified at what he had seen. He was struck with great fear because he considered himself a great sinner unworthy to stand before God, but God sent his Seraphim to touch his lips, saying: your sin is taken away, your iniquity is purged.’ Then he heard the voice of the Lord saying: ‘Whom shall I send? Who will be our messenger?’ in response to this invitation Isaiah said, ‘Here I am, send me. And he was chosen to be the bearer of God’s message to his chosen people.

This same experience is what Simon and his companions had with Jesus in our Gospel passage, which made Simon realize his emptiness and fall to the knees of Jesus, confessing his unworthiness. This is because Jesus had said to Simon after preaching on his boat, ‘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 experience brought true conversion in the lives of Simon and his companions, 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 in obedience to God’s instructions and acknowledge our unworthiness before him.

Little wonder St. Paul, in our second reading, made us know how he received the Christian faith through the Holy Spirit and through the hands of the Apostles. Paul, who, as Saul, was once the greatest enemy of all Christians, gained great insight into the faith and became one of the greatest evangelizers of the faith he once wished to destroy.

Dear friends, like prophet Isaiah, like Simon and his companions and also like St. Paul, we are called to reflect on our personal experience and encounter with God. How have we personally experienced God? When was our spiritual turning point? Do we have a personal conviction about God that is not based on what people have told us 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 through Jesus Christ his Son.

Therefore, today, we are called to look into our lives. Is there any sign of God’s divine presence in our hearts? Are there signs of God’s intervention in some situations around us, calling us to repentance? Are there signs of unworthiness in our hearts that make us feel inferior to carry out some of our responsibilities? Are there voices calling us to embrace a particular apostolate, and we feel unworthy to accept it or take it for granted? Have we ever heard a voice calling us to stop indulging in immortality and wickedness? Have we ever heard the voice calling us to change our ugly attitudes of hatred, corruption, impurity, greediness and unforgiveness?

How often have we rejected the voice calling us to holiness, purity, mercy, kindness, patience and love for God and for one another? How often have we turned down the request to be a special instrument of God’s message of truth and love? How often do we make resolutions and promises to God but have failed to honour and keep them? Today, the Lord is calling us once again; what is he saying to you, and what is your response to his request? O that today you will listen to his voice harden not your hearts.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, every day is an opportunity to encounter you through different events that occur in our lives. Grant that we may have a personal experience of you just like Simon and his companion. May we uniquely experience you in our daily activities and, through this experience, discover our purpose in life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed Sunday celebration.

Homily For Saturday Fourth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 9th February 2025

 

Readings: Heb. 13:15-17.20-21, Ps.23, Mark 6:30-34

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

LORD MAKE US GOOD AND RESPONSIBLE SHEPHERDS

There is no doubt that humanity is constantly in need of one thing or the other; we are never tired of searching for things that will satisfy our desires for physical and spiritual well-being. This is even worse with the ugly situation in our country today, where people are lost, confused, sick and completely broke as a result of our selfish desires.

Today in our country we are all suffering like sheep without responsible shepherds, no money in circulation, no fuel, no light, no food, no good roads, and no one thing to be proud of in this country, because we have constantly failed to do the right things or elect people off goodwill to manage public offices. This can be likened to the situation and condition of the people in our Gospel passage today of which Jesus and his disciples devoted time trying to address the situation.

But as the situation grew worse, Jesus said to his disciples you must come away to some lonely place all by yourselves and rest for a while,’ for there were so many coming and going that the apostles had no time even to eat. As they went through their boat, the people went after them on foot. So, as Jesus stepped ashore, he saw a large crowd, and he took pity on them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd, and he healed their sickness and taught them for a while.

Here, Jesus fulfils his role as the expected messiah who is to liberate his people from all kinds of diseases and ugly situations. The teaching and healing touch of Jesus reveals to us that God is faithful to his promises. This healing and wholeness are offered as a sign of the presence of God’s kingdom among his people. For we are told in our first reading that Jesus has become the great Shepherd of the sheep by his blood that sealed an eternal covenant. Thereby making us ready to do his will in any kind of good action; by turning us all into whatever is acceptable to himself. How I wish that we all can learn to do the right thing and be responsible with whatever obligation entrusted to us just like Jesus and his disciples.

Dear friends, the hopeless and ugly situation in our country today is a good indication that we are just floating in this world like sheep without responsible Shepherds. Thus, we need to come to Jesus our true and Good Shepherd. We must make sure that nothing comes between us and the love of Jesus our Lord; even if we are troubled or worried, or being persecuted, or lacking food or clothes, or being threatened or even attacked, we should remain focused towards achieving the greater goal through goodwill.

For these are the trials through which we triumph, by the power of him who loved us so much. We must ensure that neither death nor life, no angel, no princes of this world, nothing that exists, nothing still to come, not any power, or height or depth, nor any created thing, can ever come between us and the love of God made visible in Christ Jesus our Lord who is our true Shepherd.

Therefore, let us come to Jesus our Good Shepherd and embrace his love and compassion. Let us have goodwill for one another. Let us be good leaders at any level we find ourselves. Let us pray for good leaders, especially in these coming elections, by going out to elect good and credible leaders in every sector and office in our societies, not just presidents, governors and senators. Let us know those we are entrusting with the responsibility of managing public offices. By so doing, our prayers and desires for good leaders will be granted.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are lost in this passing world, as we come to you in need of your love and direction both physically and spiritually, guide us once again towards the path of truth, love and fulfilment even in the midst of all the confusion in our country today. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed weekend.

Homily For Friday Fourth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 7th February 2025

 

Readings: Heb. 13:1-8, Ps.27, Mark 6:14-29

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

HOW DO YOU REACT WHEN YOU SEE INNOCENT PEOPLE SUFFER INJUSTICE?

Lucky Dube, in one of his albums, said that he who stands for the truth will always stand alone. This is the case with John the Baptist, whose head was the prize for the truth he told Herod and Herodias, as we read in the Gospel passage today. This terrible crime, which points at what is done to Jesus in his Passion, demonstrates how good people, especially when they struggle for justice, are condemned to suffer at the hands of greed and powerful people who become very cruel and as a result, the innocent suffer.

The root of the whole problem is that King Herod made an unwise promise out of pride but found it difficult to change his mind and admit that he was wrong. He did not plan to execute John that night. He was persuaded by Herodias to do so because he was a weak man. He is a slave to the opinion of others; he fears the people who revered John; he also fears the reaction of his guests if he should retract his oath. Thus, the head of the innocent, who was in prison for speaking the truth was sacrificed on the altar of human ego.

Dear friends, can you stand for truth and defend the innocents against prideful authority? How far can we stand for the truth we professed. Or Like Herod, how often do we make unwise promises out of pride and Week to change it? When we make bad decisions, how quickly are we able to change our minds and admit that we are wrong? If today we happen to be one of Herod’s guests, what would have been our reaction? Will I have protested or stayed silent? So how do we react, when we see others suffering injustice?

Perhaps, today we can think of all the victims of truth in our societies, the vulnerable, the innocent in our society and all those who are exploited and used to achieve the ends of others. These ugly events in our society, how are we confronting them? Do we have the courage to speak up or protest, even at the cost of our heads and our lives? Little wonder we were told in our first reading to continue to love each other like brothers and remember always to welcome strangers, for by doing this, some people have entertained angels without knowing it.

Also, we are told to keep in mind those who are in prison like John the Baptist, as though we were in prison with them; and those who are being badly treated, since we too are in the one body. As regards the ugly attitudes of Herodias, we are reminded that marriage is to be honoured by all. Therefore, we are to ensure that marriages are kept undefiled, for fornicators and adulterers will come under God’s judgement. We are called to put greed and pride out of our lives and be content with whatever we have; for God himself has said: I will not fail you or desert you, and so we can say with confidence: With the Lord to help me, I fear nothing: what can man do to me?

LET US PRAY: Lord God, give us the grace to stand for the truth and help us never to make unwise promises. May you direct our intentions and guide our words so that we may grow in compassion for the innocent victims in our families, societies, country and the world at large, through Christ our Lord. Amen. God bless you.

Homily For Thursday Fourth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 6th February, 2025. The Memorial of St. Paul Miki and Companions

Readings: Heb. 12:18-19.21-24, Ps.47, Mark 6:7-13

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

EXPERIENCING THE NATURE OF OUR MISSION

The rebellious nature of humanity has always kept us away from responding to God's invitation to Life of love, holiness, faithfulness and integrity. Hence, humanity has always failed to understand the true ways of God, his creator. However, God has not stopped caring and stretching his hands of love towards us.

In every generation, God always sends messengers to remind us of his love and plan for humanity. This is exactly what we have in our Gospel passage today, where Jesus sent his twelve disciples, the foundation of the future Church community, to do exactly the same work of evangelization that he has been doing.

 Hence, he gave them authority over unclean spirits and instructed them to preach repentance, that radical conversion towards the vision of the Kingdom; they were to anoint the sick and heal them. These three activities cover the whole nature of the human person: spiritual, mental and physical. Healing and wholeness, health and holiness. In this mission, they were instructed to travel lightly, bringing only what they absolutely needed. No food or money or even a change of clothes. They will not need these things because they will be taken care of by the people they serve.

So in this Gospel, Jesus is preparing his disciples for a task ahead. He lets them experience the nature of their mission, the challenges, obstacles and dangers which await them. He gave them the guidelines about the mission and sent them out. So, they succeeded because the power of God was working in them. The message entrusted to the disciples by Jesus is to offer peace and announce the coming of God's kingdom. This same message of peace and justice, forgiveness and healing has been entrusted to the Church down the centuries.

Now, it is our turn to witness it. The disciples returned with joy. We will experience that same joy when we do what the Lord wants because, our joy is rooted in our identifying with Jesus, not in what we do. So the source of our joy should be our status in heaven as beloved sons and daughters of God, and not on our success over the evil forces or the things of this passing world. Thus, the Lord has entrusted to us an awesome responsibility and privilege to carry the message of God’s love, peace and mercy to the world.

Little wonder, in our first reading we are reminded of who we are. Because by virtue of this mission, we are invited to Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem where the millions of angels have gathered for the festival, with the whole Church in which everyone is a ‘first-born son’ and a citizen of heaven. Unfortunately, many of the disciples have to face rejection and persecution from the people, who, through their rebellious attitude, have refused to believe in God even though he has always been so patient, loving, caring and forgiving. This is what we see in the lives of Paul Miki and Companions, whose memorial we are celebrating today. They are the Holy Martyrs of Nagasaki in Japan.

These twenty-six Martyrs of Japan were crucified on a hill, now known as the Holy Mountain, overlooking Nagasaki. Among them were priests, brothers and laymen, Franciscans, Jesuits and members of the Secular Franciscan Order; there were catechists, doctors, simple artisans and servants, old men and innocent children, all united in common faith and love for Jesus, their good Shepard. They remained faithful to the very end and faced martyrdom with courage and so received from Jesus the crown of true and everlasting glory.

Dear friends, today we are reminded about the condition and nature of our mission, calling humanity to repent from our sinful and rebellious attitudes in order to embrace the compassionate love and care that God is offering us. As disciples of Christ, we have received a lot from God without payment; we should learn to give without expecting a reward.

Therefore, we must offer to others these same gifts which we have received. We are to show love to people, forgive, help the needy and share with one another the gifts God has blessed us with and if our love and care are rejected, we should offer it as a sign for the judgement day. Remember, your kind gestures today can turn someone's life around now or later and by so doing we extend God’s divine compassion to rebellious humanity.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, as we are reminded about the condition and nature of our mission for which you sacrificed a lot to save us from our rebellious and sinful attitudes, open our hearts once again to repent and embrace your compassionate love and care for us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed day.