HOMILY ON THE THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT YEAR C, 23RD MARCH, 2025

Readings: Ex.3:1-8.13-15; Ps. 103; 2Cor 10:1-6.10-12; Luke 13:1-9

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

THE RIGHT TIME TO REPENT IS NOW TOMORROW MAY BE TOO LATE

Reflecting on the ugly situations in our families, our societies, our country and in the world at large, I can not but recall the song of one of our great music legends Bob Marley, who said in one of his songs titled Natural Mystic:

There's a natural mystic

Blowing through the air

If you listen carefully now you will hear

This could be the first trumpet

Might as well be the last

Many more will have to suffer

Many more will have to die

Don't ask me why

Things are not the way they used to be

I won't tell no lie

One and all got to face reality now.

The meaning of the words in this song describes completely the situation in our societies today, which is very much in line with the topic of our message today. For we can feel the struggles, the killings, the tears, the disappointments that people are passing through every day. In fact, some people are losing hope in themselves and even in everything they do as they run up and down seeking solutions.

The poor are searching for daily bread, upliftment and favour; the rich are seeking protection and good health, while the evil ones are taking advantage of the situation to destroy the little hope and faith of the people. All these are signs from God who allows us to repent from our sinful ways of life.

This is what Jesus is telling us in our Gospel passage today when he said: “Do you suppose the Galileans who suffered like this were greater sinners than any other Galileans? They were not, I tell you. No, but unless you repent, you will all perish as they did. Then with a parable of the barren fig tree, Jesus demonstrated how God has made every moment of our lives an opportunity for us to repent and be fruitful.

This is clear when he said in the parable, “Look, for three years now I have been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and finding none. Cut it down: why should it be taking up the ground?” “Sir,” the vinedresser replied, “leave it one more year and give me time to dig round it and manure it: it may bear fruit next year; if not, then you can cut it down.”

Such is God’s patience with us for he gives us the opportunity to turn away from our sinful and ugly ways of life. Repentance is the key message of this Gospel passage, for Jesus makes it clear that those who suffered and were killed were not worse offenders than others; rather, he uses the opportunity to call us to repentance. Note that the purpose of this message is not for condemnation but rather for redemption.

What is most important in this message is for us to “listen carefully now and repent from our sinful ways of life”. This is because the world as we know is coming to an end, for the day of reckoning is very close at hand. This could be the first trumpet might as well be the last. For it is obvious from the signs we are seeing around us today. How can we interpret the signs of these times, the signs that tell us that this world is passing away?

Many are suffering, and many more will have to suffer from the greediness of others. Many have died, and many more will have to die. Many are perishing in sin, many more will have to perish if we refuse to repent from sin and greediness. And we heard in our first and second readings, how the chosen people of God failed to listen to God despite his warning.

They failed to please God and their corpses littered the desert. All this happened to them as a warning, and it was written down to be a lesson for us who are living at this end of the age. The man who thinks he is safe must be careful that he does not fall.

Dear friends, this call for repentance shows us that it is not too late for us to repent, for this may be the last opportunity. Because we can never tell what will happen in the next moment. We can never tell who is next to die; we can never know the form it will take or where it will occur; all that matters is for us to repent now that we still have the opportunity. For none of those who have died knew that it going to happen that day.

Therefore, let us repent now, for repentance helps us to be well-disposed for life and for death. Repentance helps us to live right and at peace with God and with one another. Repentance gives us the courage and confidence to face any situation without fear of death. All we need is to listen to God who is speaking to us now.

So, if we listen carefully now we will hear him telling us, that things are not the way they used to be, we all have to face reality now which tells us that: every every day is a golden opportunity, and today may be the last and only opportunity, today maybe that golden opportunity for us to change our sinful ways of life and embrace God completely.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, You are the author of our lives, freedom and salvation, all we have are yours, thank you for being with us in our daily troubles, struggles, fears, tears, hope and joy, may you provide for the poor, console the troubled, heal the sick, protect and put simile on the faces of your children today and always as we make effort to repent from our sinful ways, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed Sunday celebration.

Homily For Saturday Second Week of Lent Year B, 22nd March, 2025

Readings: Micah 7:14-15.18-20, Ps. 103, Luke 15:1-3.11-32

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

THE MERCIFUL FATHER IS WAITING FOR US TO COME BACK FROM OUR SINFUL LIFESTYLE

Every day of our lives, we make choices that we think are good for us. The root of any choice we make comes from the fundamental option we have made for or against God; to love or to be selfish, to be good or bad, to be holy or sinful. And any choice we make has great consequences, which can be positive or negative, as we have in the parables of the prodigal son in our Gospel passage today.

In this parable, we can identify three main characters: The Father, the elder son and the younger son. The three characters represent the attitude of the group of persons in which Jesus was addressing in the Gospel. First, the attitude of the tax collectors and sinners, who were seeking the company of Jesus to hear what he had to say. Secondly, the attitudes of the Pharisees and scribes who complained, and then Jesus, who is seen as a righteous man who welcomes sinners and eats with them.

Looking at the attitudes of these three characters in the parable, we can deduce that the attitude of the Pharisees and Scribes depicts that of the elder son who is obedient to his father but passes judgment on his disobedient brother, the attitude of task collectors and sinner depicts the younger son who seeks reconciliation and forgiveness from his father. The attitude of the Father can be seen in the person of God (Jesus), who went out to welcome the prodigal son (task collectors and sinners) and went out as well searching for the elder and dutiful son (Pharisees and Scribes).

This parable applies to our present context, where the Church is seen as the merciful Father who welcomes, accommodates and lavishes her love on both saints and sinners. For we are told in our first reading that no god can be compared with our God: taking fault away, pardoning crime, not cherishing anger forever but delighting in showing mercy?

Meanwhile, the saints and the righteous ones in the Church are seen as the elder son who is obedient and faithful to the Father. While sinners, unbelievers are seen as the prodigal son who has travelled to a far distant country seeking to come back to the Father.

But the questions we should ask ourselves are: where do I belong in the whole picture of this parable? Am I lost in sin? Have I travelled far away from God and his Church? Where am I now in my relationship with God, what is the state of my life? What is my attitude towards my neighbour, my family, my father, mother, children?

What is my attitude towards those who have grievously offended me? What is my attitude towards notorious sinners (armed robbers, murderers, prostitutes, drunkards, drug addicts, womanizers, liars, the wicked, greedy and corrupt people)? Can I accommodate them if they repent?

Dear friends, God is calling us to repentance. Sin has taken us away from God. It is time to come back; we are lost in a faraway land of sin, and it is time to come back. It doesn't matter what we have done or how sinful we may have been, no matter how grievous. God is waiting for us to come back. He wants to hear us say like the prodigal son: I will arise and go to my Father and say, Father, forgive me for I have sinned against heaven and before you.

Friends, God wants to meet us at the confessional, he wants to meet us in the Eucharist, he wants to meet us in those persons we have offended and those who have offered us. He wants to meet us in those we have refused to forgive. He wants to meet us in our families, in your husband, your wife, your children, your neighbours, and your colleagues in the office and marketplace. He wants to meet you in that man who is suffering in prison and hospital because of your unforgiveness. All he wants us to do today is to say, am sorry to those who we have offended and to forgive those who have offended us.

The choice is yours, don't wait until is too late. Why not make a call to someone today and say to him or her, I have forgiven you? I just realized how wrong I have been; please forgive me. If we can do this, then we will see how blessed our life will be in this Holy season of Lent and we will find reason to rejoice at Easter. Remember that conversion is not just about sinners becoming holy; it is more than that. It is about experiencing and acknowledging the love of God every day of our lives.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, sin has separated us for your love; as we listen to your words today, may we come back to you just like the prodigal son, with a repented heart and strong will to remain faithful like the dutiful son, knowing that you as our merciful Father awaits our return. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed weekend.

Homily For Friday Second Week of Lent Year C, 21st March, 2025

 

Readings: Gen. 37:3-4.12-13.17-28, Ps. 105, Matt.21:33-43.45-46

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

AS GOD’S TENANTS HOW ARE WE MANAGING THE THINGS HE HAS ENTRUSTED TO US?

The relationship between God and humanity has always been described with different stories and parables. This often shows how humanity has always been unfaithful to God, who has shown so much love to us. One of such parables and stories is what we have in our readings today.

In our Gospel passage, we heard the great parable of a vineyard owner who sent his servants to collect the dues and rents of the tenants whom he had entrusted with the care of the vineyard he leased out to them. But these tenants were wicked and desired to keep everything they gained to themselves, hence they persecuted and killed the servants sent to them. The tenants also killed the son of the vineyard owner, whom he sent to them thinking that the tenants would respect his own son. 

In the end, the vineyard owner came down himself and dealt with all those wicked tenants, punishing them all for their wickedness and the evil things which they had committed out of greed and ego. They lost everything and were punished justly by the owner. This same attitude we have in our first reading in the despicable act which the brothers of Joseph committed against him to end his dream and gain for themselves favour and inheritance.

Thus, the parable describes the relationship between God and humanity and how humanity has been summoned for a trial. Here, the owner of the vineyard is God, while the son represents Jesus himself, the Son of God sent into the world to save humanity but was crucified by the same humanity. Again, the vineyard represents the world itself while the wicked tenants represent the ugly attitudes of humanity towards the resources entrusted to us by God. 

Dear friends, what is your attitude towards all the things God has entrusted to you? Can you give an honest account of the things God has given you? Is it not obvious that our nation is on trial before God? God has presented his case against us today, summoning our blessed land and mountains to act as judge between him and the people of this nation by reminding us how he has blessed us with so many resources, skills, good weather and people. But we have misused them, neglected his message, and committed a lot of evil and murder,  yet we are still carrying, seeking solutions and signs from God. 

Today, as tenants in God’s vineyard, we are called to change our ugly attitude positively; we should turn away from greed, corruption, pride and ego. If not, we will likely end up like those wicked tenants who acted with such evil against their fellow men and even against the son of their master and were justly punished. Therefore, what God requires from us today is to do justice, to love kindly and to walk humbly with him for our own good and the good of others. Remember, It was the stone rejected by the builders that became the cornerstone. 

LET US PRAY: Almighty Father, the world is filled with greed, corruption, pride and ego because humanity has often failed to remain faithful and accountable for the things entrusted to us. As we listen to your words today, we ask for your mercy and forgiveness for the time we have failed to be faithful, obedient and accountable for the things you entrusted to us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a fruitful day.

Homily For Thursday in the Second Week of Lent Year C, 20th March 2025

 

Readings: Jer. 17:5-10, Ps. 1, Luke 16:19-31

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WHAT WAS THE OFFENCE OF THE RICH MAN WITH THE POOR LAZARUS?

Whatever we have in this world is a blessing from God, who wishes to bless us so that through us others will be blessed. But this is not often the disposition of most of us. This is obvious when we reflect on the relationship between the rich and the poor in our society today. Where the poor are neglected and treated as if they are less human.

This ugly attitude needs to change when we recall the famous parable of the Lord Jesus in our Gospel passage today, about Lazarus the poor man and a rich man whose doorstep Lazarus often dwelled, hoping for the rich man to give him even the scraps of bread and food that fell from his table, but he was often neglected.

 Here, we heard how the poor Lazarus ended up in Paradise, in the presence of God in heaven with Abraham, enjoying the fullness of God’s inheritance and grace, no longer suffering the pains and torments that he had once endured while he was still alive in the world. Meanwhile, we heard how the rich man descended into the depths of hell, suffering in agony for eternity, without any hope of respite or escape, and even when he begged Abraham to send Lazarus for help, that couldn't happen.

But what was the rich man's offence? Is it because he was rich? No, his sin is that of omission, which is the sin of neglecting his neighbour Lazarus when he was obviously in the position to help and provide for him through the excess material goods and providence that God has blessed him with. He neglected the commandments of God who has called us to love our neighbours and help the needy. Thus, he has to face the consequences of his sin of neglecting his neighbour, who needed his help.

Hence, in our first reading, the prophet Jeremiah spoke of the curse that would be against those who followed the path of disobedience against God and his commandments, those who trust in themselves and in worldly matters more than they trusted in God. Those who trust in God will have the assurance of God’s providence and blessings as they enjoy his promise of eternal life and everlasting glory, just like Lazarus.

Dear friends, the example of the parable of the rich man and poor Lazarus calls our attention to the fact that we are going to be judged not based on what God has blessed us with but on what we have done with what God has given us. So it is important to remind ourselves in this season of Lent, that we must also not be ignorant of the poor Lazaruses around us. Those who are less fortunate than we are should not be neglected, especially those who work for us, our house helps, our poor security personnel, our poor neighbours, and those we encounter every day in need of our help.

Remember, no one is too poor that he has nothing to give; even the poor Lazarus offered his sores to dogs who came to lick them. And no one is so rich that he needs nothing, but the sin of the rich man was the sin of omission; this should not be our lot as we ask God for grace not to neglect the poor Lazarus around us.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, you are the source of all that we have. As we listen to your words today, grant us we pray, the grace to be conscious of the poor around us and ensure we help them in their struggles. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you God’s favour and blessings.

Homily For Wednesday in the Second Week of Lent Year C, 19th March 2025 The Solemnity of St. Joseph, husband of Mary

 

Readings: 2 Sam. 7:4-5.12-14.16, Ps. 89,  Rom. 4:13.16-18.22, Matt. 1:16.18-21.24

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

ST. JOSEPH A MAN OF GREAT SILENCE 

Today, we celebrate the solemnity of St Joseph, Husband of Mary, a man of great virtues. Thus, the liturgy presents to us the events preceding the birth of Jesus and invites us to contemplate especially the roles of St Joseph in the life of Jesus and Mary. 

In the Gospel, Mary was presented as a virgin betrothed to Joseph. That means they were not yet living together because they were not yet married. Meanwhile, Mary, after the annunciation, came to be with a child by the power of the Holy Spirit. When Joseph realized this, he was heartbroken. What will he do? How is he going to handle this? The Gospel tells us that Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put Mary to shame, resolved to send her away quietly. 

Joseph seeks to do his will quietly before the angel speaks to him about his mission and role.  We can imagine the great trauma Joseph was passing through when we think about the love he has for Mary. But even in these circumstances, he intends to do the will of God and decides, surely with great sorrow, to send Mary away quietly. We need to meditate on these words to understand the great trial that Joseph had to endure. 

Hence, we can see how this Gospel passage reveals to us the magnanimity of Joseph’s heart and soul. How he wished to follow his own plan, but God was reserving another plan for him, a greater mission. Joseph was a man who always listened to the voice of God; he was deeply sensitive to his secret will; he was a man attentive to the messages that came to him from the depths of his heart. He did not persist in following his own plan; he did not allow bitterness to poison his soul; rather, silently, he was ready to make himself available to the event of the new mission entrusted to him, what a great virtue.

Little wonder, Pope John Paul II, who was very devoted to St Joseph, emphasised in his Apostolic Exhortation Redemptoris Custos, “The Guardian of the Redeemer”, that the silence of St Joseph is a model for contemplating the mystery of God in an attitude of total availability to the divine desires. Shows us that Joseph’s silence does not express an inner emptiness but, on the contrary, the fullness of the faith he bears in his heart which guides all his thoughts and actions. 

It is this great virtues and personality that made him stand out in the fulfilment of God’s promise to Abraham and David in our first reading, which St. Paul affirms in our second reading and is well portrayed in the Psalmist telling us that his dynasty will last forever which consist not on account of any law but on account of the righteousness which consists in faith.

Dear friends, we really need to embrace the great virtues of St Joseph, especially the virtue of silence. Therefore, let us cultivate this virtue of silence and allow ourselves to be filled and guided by silence, especially in a world full of noise and distractions. A world that encourages neither recollection nor listening to God nor one another. The truth is that our world is in dear need of people with St Joseph’s kind of virtues; we all are in need of such silence if we really wish to make great and positive decisions that will make a difference in our society today. 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we embrace this Holy season of Lent, let us, through the intercessions of St. Joseph, cultivate the inner attitude of silence and recollection in order to fully embrace the spirit of the season so as to joyfully experience the glory of Easter. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a grace-filled day.

Homily For Tuesday in the Second Week of Lent Year C, 18th March 2025

 
Readings: Is. 1:10.16-20; Ps. 50; Matt. 23:1-12

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

WHAT KIND OF A LEADER ARE YOU?

Leadership is one of the characteristics of the human person; it is that which makes us unique from every other creature of God. It is a gift from God by which we serve him and our neighbour responsibly. But this gift often has been abused and misused by people who were entrusted with the responsibility of leading others.

This is the case with the Scribes and the Pharisees in the Gospel passage today, who had the responsibility to lead people to the Kingdom of heaven, but with their ugly ways of life, they neither enter nor allow those who want to enter to go in.

Hence, Jesus told his disciples that since the scribes and the Pharisees occupied the chair of Moses. They must, therefore, do what they tell them and listen to what they say, but do not be guided by what they do since they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move any. Everything they do is done to attract attention.

Here, Jesus made it clear that we should listen to what the authorities are saying to us. However, we should not be such people who do not put into practice what we teach. So, as Christians, we need to start practising what we preach; we need to do more witnessing than preaching. It is not enough to recall principles, state intentions, point to blatant injustice and utter prophetic denunciation; these kinds of words lack the real meaning of our faith unless they are accompanied by effective action manifested in our way of life.

Thus, Jesus called the Scribes and Pharisees hypocrites and blind guides because they misused the gift of leadership entrusted to them. So, today, we are called not to be like them; rather, we should be humble, committed and responsible with whatever we are entrusted with. Jesus made us to know that the greatest among us must be the servant of all. Because anyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and anyone who humbles himself will be exalted.

Hence, prophet Isaiah tells us in our first reading to hear the word of the Lord, you rulers of the world; listen to the command of our God, you people of corruption. ‘Wash, make yourselves clean. Take your wrong-doing out of God’s sight. Cease to do evil. Learn to do good, search for justice, help the oppressed, be just to the orphan, plead for the widow.

Dear friends, what kind of a leader are you? Are you that good leader that humanity seeks in a world full of leaders with Pharisaic spirits of greed, selfishness, pride and corruption? Today, we need leaders who will be true servants of the people at all levels of leadership, beginning from the self to the family, to societies and to another level where we may find ourselves.

But what does it take to be a good leader? Jesus says humility that comes from a humble heart that wishes to serve and not to be served. A heart that understands that leadership is sacrificial. Can I be such a leader in my family, society and country?

LET US PRAY: Lord God, humanity are suffering because of corrupt, greedy and selfish leaders who occupy virtually every important position of leadership. As we embrace your words today, may we become good leaders in our families, societies and the world at large? We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a fruitful day.

Homily For Monday in the Second Week of Lent Year C, 17th March 2025. The Feast of St. Patrick the Patron St. Of Nigeria

Readings: 1Peter 4:7-11 , Ps. 96, Luke 5:1-11

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

AN ENCOUNTER THAT LEADS TO OUR TRUE VOCATION 

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

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

 This very encounter leads to the discovery of Simeon’s true vocation which brought true conversion in his life. This encounter changed their destiny and mission 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.

 

Dear friends, today we celebrate the Feast of St. Patrick, a great missionary who understood what it mean to be fishers of men like Simon and his brothers. He was known for his personal experience of the Lord in a vision in which he was asked to go and evangelize the people of Ireland, where he came from. This he successfully carried out, and this brought about the Irish missionaries who later became a major force in the spreading of the Gospel all over the world. Nigeria and most African countries are beneficiaries of this great sacrificial mission.  

Therefore, as we celebrate St Patrick, we are called to reflect on our personal 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 about 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. For we heard in our first reading, that each one of us has received a special gift and as good stewards of God’s different grace, we must render our service to one another ungrudgingly to the glory of God.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, every day is an opportunity to encounter you through different events that occur in our lives. Grant that we may have a personal encounter with you just like Simon and his companion, and through the intercession of St. Patrick, 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 day.