Homily on Ash Wednesday, 5th March, 2025

 

Readings: Joel  2:12-18, Ps. 51, 2Cor 5:20-6:2 Matt. 6:1-6.16-18

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

COME LET US RETURN TO THE LORD WITH ALL OUR HEARTS 

Every day is an opportunity to return and come closer to God. However, today being Ash Wednesday, we begin a new journey towards our God. It is the day we begin our forty-day Lenten journey that leads us to the joy of Easter. And as tradition may have it, the beginning of Lent is marked with the blessing and imposition of Ash on our forehead. 

This act of putting on Ashes symbolizes our human fragility, filth and mortality, which is in dear need of God’s mercy and redemption. Calling us to remember that we are dust, and unto dust, we shall return but will raise us up again.

So, being a season of sober reflection on the journey towards our God, we are called for a change of attitude and behaviours during this Lenten season. In fact, in our first reading, prophet Joel calls us to return to the Lord with all our heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning. Here, he emphasises the phrase “with all my heart”. This means turning to God from the depths of our thoughts and feelings, from the roots of our decisions, choices and actions. 

The prophet further tells us to return to the Lord our God, for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, rich in faithful love, ready to relent of evil. More so, in our Gospel passage today, Jesus gave us the regulations we need to follow to faithfully return to God as he calls us to be careful not to parade our good deeds before men to attract their notice; by doing this, we will lose all reward from our Father in heaven.

But the question that comes to mind is, with the pleasurable things of this passing world, is it possible for us to truly return to God with all our hearts? I believe so because there is a force, say Benedict XVI, that does not reside in our hearts, but that emanates from the heart of God to us. It is the power of God’s mercy and grace. Therefore, a return to the Lord is possible with God’s grace, which is a reality in our lives only when we let his grace penetrate our inmost being.

Hence, St. Paul tells us in the second reading that we cannot let this holy season pass us by because it is offered to us as a unique opportunity that reminds us about the high cost of the reconciliation offered to us at the cross on which Jesus was hung. Hence, the call to return to God with all our heart in this Lenten journey leads us through the cross, following Christ on the road to Calvary, which demands the total gift of ourselves. 

This call is a way in which we learn every day to come out more and more from our selfishness and our closures, to make room for God, who opens and transforms the heart through constant listening to His Word and making it the light that illuminates our paths. This we do following the three fundamental practices of almsgiving, prayer and fasting as a sign towards the Lenten journey of returning to God with all our heart.  

Dear friends, knowing that we are dust and unto dust we shall return, what is keeping us from returning to the Lord who has the power to raise us up again? What is That ugly attitude that often separates us from our God and from one another? Oftentimes we promise to return to God but lack the courage and discipline to fulfil that promise. So, this season is another wonderful opportunity to make the decision to return to the Lord. 

I don’t know what sin you are struggling to overcome. I don’t know how grievous our sins are? I don’t know how far we have separated ourselves from God? All I know is that God’s mercies are greater than whatever sin we may have committed. All we have to do is make that bold decision to return to him, who loves us so much and is always willing to welcome us whenever we come back to him.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we make up our minds to journey towards you these forty days, may your grace be with us to help us utilize the opportunities you are offering us, especially to repent and strive to live a holy life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you a grace-filled Lenten season.

Homily For Tuesday Eight Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 4th March, 2025

Readings: Sir. 35:1-12; Ps.50; Mark 10:28-31

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

THE REALITY OF LEAVING EVERYTHING TO FOLLOW THE LORD

There is no doubt that the things of this world can be very captivating. The more you are attached to them, the more they consume you. We find it difficult to let go of them or know when we should be detached from them. That is why today, many people are consumed by them since they can not find any reason why they should let go of them. For we see how people can go to any length to acquire properties, treasures, fame, influence and power that will last from the fourth to their tenth generation, without thinking of that which will lead to life eternal. 

This is exactly the mindset of most people today, and this is not different from the disposition of some of the disciples of Jesus. Little wonder Peter in our Gospel passage today, asked Jesus a very important question about sacrificing everything for the sake of following him. 

So, in response, Jesus draws his attention to the fundamental principle of our human existence, when he said to him: ‘I tell you solemnly, there is no one who has left house, brothers, sisters, father, children or land for my sake and for the sake of the Gospel who will not be repaid a hundred times over, not without persecutions now in this present time and, in the world to come, eternal life.

Here, Jesus is calling us to a life of detachment from material things of this passing world. He is reassuring us that all those who have given everything committed their time and efforts, and are making sacrifices for the sake of his kingdom would not be disappointed nor left without rewards. 

Their reward in the end will be truly great, for God remembers those who love him and have given up themselves for his sake. He will guide them and remain with them throughout their journey no matter how tough it may be. Hence, we heard in our first reading that a virtuous man’s sacrifice is acceptable, and its memorial will not be forgotten, for the Lord is a good rewarder; he will reward him seven times over.

Dear friends, today Jesus addressed the very thing that most people are not ready to give up. Those things such as money, houses, credentials, love of power, pride and wealth, beauty and fame. But, if we are honest enough, we will admit that we all have some things we would be very slow to let go of if Jesus should make the demand of them. Those things we so much attached ourselves with and would not like God to ask us to give them up for the sake of following him. 

But the fact remains that, one day we will surely leave everything and go. I mean everything even our greaves. We will surely leave our house, our properties, treasures, fame, influence and power, our wealth and money. We will surely leave our relationships, friends, our job, our habits and attitudes. We will leave our wives, husbands, children, fathers, mothers and families; we will even leave our life, our beauty, handsomeness and everything we so much attached ourselves to. Then we will realize that following God is the ultimate treasure that we need. 

So, whatever we possess that will separate us from our mission of following Jesus and loving our neighbours, today we are called to give them up and come follow the Lord because in leaving them for the sake of the mission, we actually gain all in abundance.

LET US PRAY, Heavenly Father, we are so much attached to things of this passing world, help us to know that excess attachment to our earthly possessions could be an obstacle on our way to your Kingdom. Give us the grace to let go of things that often separate us from you as we learn to share with our neighbours especially the poor. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen Have a fruitful day.

Homily For Monday Eighth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 3rd March, 2025

 

Readings: Sir. 17:24-29; Ps. 32; Mark: 10:17-27

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WHAT WILL YOU FIND VERY DIFFICULT TO LET GO FOR THE SAKE OF ETERNAL?

A critical observation of how humanity is so much attached to the things of this passing world with little or no attention to the things that edifice the human soul and lead to eternal life is quite alarming. People can go to any length to acquire properties, treasures, fame, influence and power that will last from the fourth to their tenth generation without thinking of how to acquire that which will lead them to eternal life.

This is exactly the mindset of most people today, and this is not different from the disposition of the rich man and some of the disciples of Jesus in our Gospel passage today, little wonder Peter asked Jesus a very important question about sacrificing everything for the sake of following him after the rich man walked away from Jesus because he could not let go of his riches and follow Jesus.

So, in response, Jesus draws his attention to the fundamental principle of our human existence, when he said to him: My children, ‘how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.

Here, Jesus is not condemning human riches, so we should not think that he is asking or demanding that we should surrender all of our wealth and worldly possessions. No, that was not what he intended and we should not interpret the Gospel passage literally. Rather, what Jesus is saying is that we should learn to live a life of detachment in order to follow him wholeheartedly. That means we must put God first and above every other thing. We should not allow our worldly possessions, fame, wealth, influence and power to separate us from God and our salvation.

So, Jesus is reassuring us that all those who have given everything committed their time and efforts, and are making sacrifices for the sake of his kingdom would not be disappointed nor left without rewards. Their reward in the end will be truly great, for God remembers those who love him and have given themselves for his sake. He will guide them and remain with them throughout their journey no matter how tough it may be.

Thus, we should not depend on worldly possession and power for they will rob us of true wisdom. Little wonder, in our first reading today, we were told to return to the Lord and leave sin behind, plead before his face and lessen our offence. Come back to the Most High and turn away from iniquity, and hold in abhorrence all that is foul. How great is the mercy of the Lord, his pardon on all those who turn towards him!

Dear friends, what is the essence of our existence in this world? What does God really require from us in this life? Do you know that without God everything in life is vanity vanishing? So today Jesus addressed the very thing that most people are not ready to give up. Those things such as money, houses, credentials, love of power, pride and wealth. But, if we are honest enough, we will admit that we all have some things we would be very slow to let go of if Jesus should make the demand of them. Those things we so much attached ourselves with and would not like God to ask us to give them up for the sake of following him.

In fact, it might be a good thing today for us to ask ourselves what would be the most difficult thing for us to give up if Jesus should ask us to do so. It might be something we own, like our properties, treasures, fame, influence and power or wealth; it may be a relationship, our job, or our habits and attitudes.

So, whatever we possess that will separate us from our mission of following Jesus and loving our neighbours, today we are called to give them up and come follow the Lord because in leaving them for the sake of Jesus, we actually gain all in abundance. Therefore, let us not be carried away by the beauty of the things of this passing world, for nothing lasts forever. Rather, we should remain steadfast in our faith in God, who has called us to love him and to love one another, for that is all that the Lord has required from us in this life.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, we are so much attached to things of this passing world, help us to know that excess attachment to our earthly possessions could be an obstacle on our way to your Kingdom. Give us the grace to let go of things that often separate us from you as we learn to share with our neighbours especially the poor. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed week. 

Homily For Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C, 2nd March, 2025

 

Readings: Sir. 27:4-7; Ps. 92; 1Cor.15:54-58; Luke 6:39-45

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

LEARN TO REMOVE THE LOG OF PRIDE IN US BEFORE DELETING WITH THE SPECK OF WEAKNESS IN OTHERS

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 were condemning other People’s faults, we suddenly realized that our own faults are just as many as theirs?

This ugly attitude is what Jesus is addressing in our Gospel passage today when he said: Why do you observe the speck in your brother’s eye and never notice the log in your own? How can you then say to your brother, “Brother, let me take out the speck that is in your eye,” when you cannot see the log in your own eyes? 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 that ugly attitude that the Pharisees and the Scribes, and indeed most of us and our so-called leaders today, have decided to embrace. For we have neglected the spirituality behind the natural human traditions and laws to follow the manyy ritual and routine 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 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 to see how we can accommodate other people’s weaknesses. 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. Little wonder, in our first reading today, we are told that in a shaken sieve, the rubbish is left behind, and so, too, the defects of a man appear in his talk. For a man’s heart is known from his expressions and actions.

So we are called to look into our lives and examine our conscience before we begin to judge people. We must learn to accommodate other people’s weaknesses, opinions, and backgrounds. No doubt that this can be a very difficult thing to do, but this is what we are called to do and should be the right disposition for us to have. So, for this to be possible we must learn to avoid and die to the sin of pride and embrace humility.

This is what St. Paul is telling us in our second reading today when he said: When this perishable nature has put on imperishability, and when this mortal nature has put on immortality, then the words of scripture will come true: Death is swallowed up in victory. Death, where is your victory? Death, where is your sting? Now the sting of death is sin, and sin gets its power from the Law. So, let us thank God for giving us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Dear friends, today we are called to die to the self to rise in humility; we are called to look into our lives and examine ourselves to see those ugly attitudes in us that need to be corrected. We need to know if we are in any way behaving like blind leaders of the blind. Are we such leaders who only see the errors and weaknesses of others without looking into our own lives? We are called today to constantly examine our conscience to know what kind of attitude and judgement we give to people.

Hence, in any capacity we find ourselves we must learn to accommodate other people’s weaknesses and opinions, knowing that we also have our own ugly attitude that people have to accommodate. Therefore, we are called to take away our log of pride to humbly remove and accommodate the speck of faults and weaknesses in others. So let us cultivate the right disposition of heart that will make us accommodating, loving, forgiving and tolerant in our relationship with others to lead those entrusted to us safely towards the path of truth and eternal life.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are often ignorant of our ugly attitude of pride, which makes us always see the faults of others without looking into our own. Help us to realize that we need to take away the log of pride that makes us blind in order to humbly remove, correct and accommodate the faults and weaknesses of others. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a glorious Sunday celebration.

Homily For Saturday Seventh Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 1st March 2025. (Happy New Month)

 

Readings: Sir. 17:1-13; Ps. 103; Mark: 10:13-16

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

THE RIGHT DISPOSITION TOWARDS EMBRACING THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Oftentimes, whenever we contemplate the kingdom of God, two questions come to mind; the first question is how will it look like? And the second question is how are we going to be part of it? These questions are very important because we need to have the right disposition towards embracing the kingdom. 

Hence, in our Gospel passage today, Jesus gave us the guiding principles of what should be our disposition towards the kingdom when he said: Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. I tell you solemnly, anyone who does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’

Here, Jesus surprised his disciples by welcoming little children and set them as an example of what should be our attitude and disposition towards the kingdom. This is because children are docile, humble, teachable, loving, forgiven and dependent. Such disposition is necessary for anyone who wishes to embrace the kingdom of God. 

Thus, Jesus explains that in the kingdom of heaven, true greatness is found in humility and children serve as a symbol of humility. For they are dependent on adults for everything, just as we also are dependent on God. Little children serve as concrete symbols of simplicity, which is a condition for entering the kingdom of heaven. 

So, in children we see these great virtues of simplicity and humility being present. Then, we can understand why Jesus ordered that children should be brought to him and that nothing should be said or done to hinder them. Therefore, we must receive the kingdom of God as little children; we must stand affected by Christ and his grace as little children to their parents and guidance.

Dear friends, how many of us today possess these qualities of little children? How are we docile to this invitation of Jesus calling us to be humble and obedient to God’s instructions? How many of us are still innocent and pure like little children? How many of them are peaceful, forgiven and loving like little children? Today the Lord is calling us to embrace these qualities of little children to have the right disposition towards embracing the kingdom of God.

Little wonder, we are told in our first reading today that the Lord fashioned man from the earth, to consign him back to it. He gave them so many days’ determined time, he gave them authority over everything on earth. He said to them, ‘Beware of all wrong-doing’; he gave each a commandment concerning his neighbour. Their ways are always under his eye, they cannot be hidden from his sight. Therefore, let us, in childlike disposition, look out for one another as we embrace the kingdom of God.

 LET US PRAY: Lord God, we have become so much engrossed with the competitive activities of this world out of pride, Grant that we may embrace your kingdom with childlike humility and disposition that is rooted in the humble service of one another; we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed and fruitful New Month.

Homily For Friday Seventh Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 28th February 2025

 

Readings: Sir. 6:5-7; Ps. 119; Mark: 10:1-12

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

UNDERSTANDING THE TRUE MEANING OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY LIFE

The fragile nature of our society today has placed in the minds of the youths a distorted image of what marriage and family life entail and truly represent in society. This is because many young people today find themselves in a condition of radical instability and look for people to help them answer the fundamental questions of life. Today, there are different notions and understandings of marriage, especially among the youth.

Today, marriage is seen as a business in which anybody can engage or disengage at any time. Marriage among the youths of today is a thing of choice and contract which is suitable only when it serves their personal interest. Commitment, sacrifice and partnerships of whole life are far from their understanding of what marriage truly represents. The fact remains that Marriage is the basis of every human family and, indeed, the basic cell of every human community.

Little wonder in our Gospel passage today when the Pharisees engaged Jesus on the notion of divorce in marriage and its controversy. Jesus referred them to the fundamental principle of marriage when he said: It was because you were so unteachable that Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but it was not like this from the beginning. Because from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. This is why a man must leave his father and mother, and the two become one body. They are no longer two, therefore, but one body. So then, what God has united, man must not divide.

Here, Jesus emphasized the real intention of God about marriage. He ruled out divorce by placing men and women on the same level; no longer could a man opt to divorce his wife. But, today, there are lots of problems in families due to a lack of understanding of what marriage truly means. It is quite interesting to realize that social, economic and political factors were major determinants that shape the youth's present understanding of marriage.

Today, we see the youths giving importance to changing trends in marriage such as single parent, inter-caste marriage, living in a relationship or cohabitation, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender marriages, etc. Hence, marriage for them is more of a social phenomenon than spiritual union and physical companionship.

Dear friends, today we are called to embrace the will of God and his teaching concerning marriage and family life. We should not let the trending ideas of disordered personalities in our society mislead us. Rather, we should value and respect the sanctity of marriage We should know that marriage is not just a contract but more of a covenant sealed with an oath that must not be broken.

Hence, we are told in our first reading today that a faithful friend is a sure shelter; whoever finds one has found a rare treasure. A faithful friend is something beyond price, there is no measuring his worth. A faithful friend is the elixir of life and those who fear the Lord will find one. Whoever fears the Lord makes true friends, for as a man is, so is his friend.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we have always failed to listen and follow your teaching. As a result, there are lots of problems in our families due to a lack of understanding of what marriage truly means. As we listen to your teaching today, help us to value our vocation, whether marriage or celibate life and to constantly struggle to fix the problems in our families; we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. God bless you.

Homily For Thursday Seventh Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 27th February 2025

 

Readings Sir. 5:1-8; Ps.1; Mark: 9:41-50

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

LET US NOT LOSE THE TASTE OF OUR CHRISTIAN FAITH

The way things are going in our societies today, we really need to think twice about our faith as Christians and whether we are actually ready to live out our faith in the midst of the ugly situation in our country today. The way people are so attached to the things of this passing world is really disturbing, for this, no doubt is affecting our Christian values and principles.

So, if we are really willing to live out our Christian faith and obligations, then we need to make a radical decision towards our discipleship in a personal and radical way these days, it is not enough to say I am a Christian; we must convincingly and radically demonstrate it.

Little wonder Jesus in our Gospel passage today, takes his discourse on discipleship to a radical and difficult level when he said: anyone who is an obstacle to bring down one of these little ones who have faith, would be better thrown into the sea with a great millstone round his neck. And if your hand should cause you to sin, cut it off; you should enter into life crippled, than to have two hands and go to hell, into the fire that cannot be put out. For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is a good thing, but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it again? Have salt in yourselves and be at peace with one another.’

Here, Jesus wants us to accept the consequences that come with the truth of the Gospel teaching, more importantly, when it comes to living out the Gospel message radically, especially in a situation where humanity is deeply engrossed in sinful things of this passing world and the values of human life have been thrown out of caution as a result of secularism, individualism and excess desires for worldly pleasures and possessions, thereby neglecting the things that lead us to God.

So, these hard words of Jesus can only be understood in the light of our life experience because there are moments when we have to make radical and difficult choices as disciples of Jesus. These moments may require the sacrifice of some aspects of our physical appearance for we must not let them distract us from our heavenly glory.

Hence, we are advised in our first reading today not to give our heart to our money, or say, ‘With this, I am self-sufficient.’ We should not be led by our appetites and energy to follow the passions of our hearts. We should not set our hearts on ill-gotten gains; They will be of no use to us on the day of disaster.

Dear friends, we are called today to make a radical decision to sincerely and faithfully live out our Christian faith and morals. But how much are we willing to let go for the sake of our faith in God? Why are we finding it difficult to follow the instructions of Jesus? What are habitual desires and possessions that are holding us from making this radical decision today?

So, wherever sin, selfishness and corruption have made our life tasteless, let the salt of our good attitude and character make it tasty. Where sin and immorality have made humanity filthy and ugly, let our salt of holiness purify. Remember, if we lose the value and taste of who we are as Christians, the world will trample upon us because we will be good. Therefore, it is time to come to God with all our hearts, for tomorrow may be too late.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, the excess desire for the pleasurable things of this passing world have weakened our hearts towards you, give us courage and grace to let go of our ugly desires and attachment to them, so as to hold firm in our faith despite losing things that are dear to us, This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a fruitful day.