Homily For Wednesday Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 23rd July, 2025

 

Readings: Exo.16:1-5.9-15; Ps. 78; Matt:13:1-9

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

THE OBSTACLES THAT MAKE OUR HEARTS UNFERTILE SOIL FOR GOD’S WORD TO BLOSSOM IN YOUR SOUL

Those who are into farming understand very well how a healthy seed blossoms on fertile soil. Little wonder Jesus in the parable of the sower decided to use this great farming mechanism to explain the relationship between the Word of God and the human heart. Because the Word of God is to the human heart what a healthy seed is to the soil.

In this parable, Jesus said to the crowd, ‘Imagine a sower going out to sow. As he sowed, some seeds fell on the edge of the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Others fell on patches of rock where they found little soil and sprang up straight away, because there was no depth of earth.

But as soon as the sun came up they were scorched and, not having any roots, they withered away. Others fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Others fell on rich soil and produced their crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Listen, anyone who has ears!’

Here, Jesus uses the parable of the sower to describe different kinds of responses to God's Word, for there are four obstacles that can distract us from making our hearts a fertile soil. These obstacles include: shallow-mindedness, hardened heart, worldly desires and finally, trials and persecutions. Most people fall into some, if not all, of these obstacles.

But what about the good soil? These are those who made their hearts a fertile soil through love and purity of heart, which helped them to hear the Word of God and understand it, and indeed bear fruit and yield an abundant harvest of a hundred, sixty and thirtyfold. Our Mother Mary is a good example of such people. Therefore, the different kinds of ground on which the seed falls represent the different ways in which we receive the Word of God.

Dear friends, today Jesus Christ gives us all the wonderful and beautiful Words of life, wooing us to heaven, are we disposed to letting his word blossom in our souls? Remember, our hearts are the fields in which the Word of God is scattered. To which do our hearts belong: the pathway, the rocky ground, the thorns or the good soil? Whichever one, we are called to pay attention and take some time to appreciate and dispose our hearts more, so that God’s Word may find a root in us.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, each and every one of us have received the seeds of your Word. Give us grace to remain open to receiving your Word, so that it will blossom in our souls and bear fruit abundantly. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a fruitful day.

Homily For Tuesday Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 22nd July, 2025. The Feast of St. Mary Magdalene

 

Readings: 2Cor. 5:14-17, Ps. 63, John 20:1-2.11-18

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

LET YOUR HEART SEARCH FOR THE LORD LIKE MARY MAGDALENE

Every human person has a past and a future. The past is gone; we cannot change it. But the future brings hope alive, for in both past and future, we make our history a reality that can change the world. Today we celebrate the feast of St. Mary Magdalene, a woman whose life history gives hope to sinners and a sense of the past for saints.

Often Mary Magdalene is referred to as the woman from whom Jesus had cast out seven demons or the repentant prostitute. Scriptures and history point out that Mary Magdalene had been greatly transformed by her faith in Jesus, and her life was changed after her first encounter with Jesus, for she abandoned her past life of sin.

May Magdalene was a grave sinner who ought to have been condemned to die by those who were also unworthy and sinful before God. But grace of God brought about the encounter that transformed her life and she was privileged to be the first to know about the resurrection of Jesus and to also encounter the risen Lord.

This is evident in our Gospel passage today, which presents to us the encounter of Mary Magdalene with the risen Lord. When the apostles had left the tomb, Mary stayed outside the tomb, weeping. In her devotion to Jesus, Mary seeks to learn where she might find Jesus’ body so that she might take him away, a task that would be difficult both emotionally and physically.

But she was not even concerned with how she would convey the body from one place to another. She only believes that Jesus’ body has been dishonoured, desecrated, and she is determined to see that he is accorded the honour that it deserves.

So, she remained by the tomb, weeping. Her heart was in earnest to find Jesus. The angels asked her: Why are you weeping? She was just busy trying to find the corpse of Jesus. But when she turned around and saw Jesus, her heart was filled with joy and peace. This courageous act of faith was her encounter with the risen Lord.

Thus, in Mary Magdalene, we see a heart that is determined to find Jesus. A heart that truly loves Jesus, a heart that cannot give up the search for Jesus, a heart that listened and remembered the words of Jesus about his resurrection.

Dear friends, as we celebrate the feast of St. Mary Magdalene, we are called to imitate her virtues, knowing that God can use anyone as His instruments if we are ready to embrace Him irrespective of our past ways of life. For St. Paul tells us in our first reading that if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old creation has passed away; behold, the new has come. For Christ died for all so that living men should live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised to life for our sake.

Therefore, today, we are called to forget our past sinful life and embrace the Lord. We are called to seek the Lord with affection and tears. But oftentimes the clouds and darkness of our sins blind us from recognising the Lord who is always very close to us.

The truth is that the Lord’s way of making himself known to his people is by his word; his word appeals to our souls, speaking to us in a particular way that is unique to us. Are we ready to embrace the Lord once again and make our history a reality that will change this sinful world?

 LET US PRAY: Lord God, like Mary Magdalene, our souls seek to encounter you personally once again. Give us the grace and strength to always be ready to turn away from sin and embrace your word, that we may personally experience, fill and recognise your presence once again in our lives. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed day.

Homily For Monday Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 21st July, 2025

 

Readings: Exo. 14:5-18; Ps. Exo.15:1-6; Matt:12: 38-42

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WHY DO YOU SEEK SIGNS? HAVE NO FEAR! STAND FIRM! 

Listening to the conversation between Jesus, the scribes and Pharisees in our Gospel passage today as they asked Jesus for signs. He said to them, ‘It is an evil and unfaithful generation that asks for a sign! The only sign it will be given is the sign of the prophet Jonah, telling us that, on Judgement day, the men of Nineveh will stand up with this generation and condemn it, because when Jonah preached, they repented; and there is something greater than Jonah here with us, that is, Jesus himself. 

Reflecting on this, the question that comes to my mind is: where will you and I and the beautiful things of this world be in the next ten, twenty, forty, eighty and hundred years for those who are strong? The deep silence in my soul could not offer me any answer to this question rather, it exposed me to the foolishness of human greediness and selfishness. Hence, I asked myself what God really requires from us in this world. This is what the Lord requires of us: only this, to act justly, to love tenderly and to walk humbly with your God. 

Therefore, we must be courageous like Moses in our first reading today, who, when the people of Israel were trapped between the Red Sea and the Egyptian army, did not begin to look for signs; rather, he courageously said to the Israelites: ‘Have no fear! Stand firm, and you will see what the Lord will do to save you today: the Egyptians you see today, you will never see again. The Lord will do the fighting for you: you have only to keep still.’

Hence, as Jesus in this Gospel, presents to us the final recommendations of the end time, he insists that we should not be afraid, but we should pay rapt attention to the signs nature is giving us concerning the end time events, that these signs will make us to have hope founded firmly on the word of God which drives away fear and despair, knowing that the kingdom of God is very near to us. 

He also warns us about following those who claim to know when the end is coming. For we may see many of the signs written in Scripture happening already in our time, and people are terrified, looking for someone to show them the way. We should know that Jesus is the only Way, the Truth and the Life. 

Dear friends, what signs are we seeing around us today? How can we interpret the signs of these times, the signs that tell us that this world is passing away? Do these signs make us dread the second coming of the Lord, or do we joyfully embrace it in anticipation? However, Jesus warns us not to waste our time seeking signs; rather, we should be prepared and remain firm in faith. 

He reminds us that he is not just the sign of Jonah, but something far greater than Jonah, and without him in our lives, we will be lost, because the future lies in his hands, and nothing can destroy or hurt us as long as we remain faithful to his commands. Nonetheless, what he requires of us in this world is for us to act justly, to love tenderly and to walk humbly with our God.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we embrace your word today, give us the grace to act justly, to love tenderly and to walk humbly with you and as we carry out our task this week, may your favour be with us now and always. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed week.

Homily For Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C, 20th July, 2025

 

Reading: Gen. 18:1-10; Ps. 15; 2Col. 1:24-28; Luke 10:38-42

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

LEARN TO LISTEN TO GOD AND YOUR ACTIONS AND HOSPITALITY WILL BE PERFECT

One of the vital aspects of the human person, which is very much lacking in most of our communications these days, is listening. This is because, oftentimes, we worry about so many things in life, trying to let people hear us without taking time to listen to them. Some people are always trying to satisfy everyone without listening to the real thing that matters.

I have also come across people who are often worried about how to make others feel more comfortable without minding their own discomfort. They are so concerned with pleasing others even when they are not pleased. What a great sacrificial virtue that is not common these days.

This sacrificial virtue is the attitude of Martha in our Gospel passage today, where we have the story of how Martha was so busy trying to make Jesus comfortable when he visited them at their house in Bethany.

But when Martha observed that her sister Mary was not helping out in the preparation, rather was busy listening to Jesus, she said to Jesus: “Lord, do you not care that my sister is leaving me to do the serving all by myself? Please tell her to help me.’ But the Lord answered: ‘Martha, Martha, you worry and fret about so many things, and yet few are needed, indeed only one. It is Mary who has chosen the better part; it is not to be taken from her”.

Here, Jesus is not condemning this great sacrificial virtue nor condoning laziness. Rather, he is saying that being busy without listening and listening without doing is worthless. Hence, he gently corrects the impression of Martha, who was too busy and distracted with so many things that she risks losing sight of what is really important, that is, listening to Jesus. This is because Martha gives the impression that Mary is just sitting there doing nothing. But, in fact, she is listening to Jesus.

However, Jesus is not telling us to be content with sitting down and listening to his word, for he always insists that listening to his word means putting it into practice. While his objection to Martha's request is because she was too anxious and distracted by many things, so that she was not able to really listen to him, for Jesus, listening is the best option.

It is this act of listening that made Abraham, in our first reading today, recognise the personality of three men standing close to him and said to them: My lord, I beg you, if I find favour with you, kindly do not pass your servant by. A little water shall be brought; you shall wash your feet and lie down under the tree. Let me fetch a little bread and you shall refresh yourselves before going further. That is why you have come in your servant’s direction.’

They replied, ‘Do as you say.’ And as they departed one of them said: ‘I shall visit you again next year without fail, and your wife will then have a son.’ What a favour he received from them, and this teaches us the importance of hospitality and listening to God who speaks to us deep down in our conscience.

Little wonder, St. Paul in our second reading today said: “I became the servant of the Church when God made me responsible for delivering God’s message to you, the message which was a mystery hidden for generations and centuries and has now been revealed to his saints.”

Here, St. Paul made us know that we must learn to listen to God’s message and be hospitable to one another, for this is the wisdom in which we are thoroughly trained and instructed and so made perfect in Christ.

Dear friends, we need to ask ourselves if we are more like Martha or like Mary, for they were both friends of Jesus. Are we more of listeners or hospitable, accommodating and caring? Today, we must learn to listen to God even in the midst of our busy schedule with the things of this passing world.

Today, many of us are so busy and anxious about so many things that we have no time to listen to God speaking to us and addressing the situation we are actually busy trying to solve. Today we are called like Martha to pause and listen, so that we can hear God speaking to us and directing us towards the right path. Like Mary, we have listened we are called to action like Martha

Thus, Martha and Mary, who were known as friends of Jesus, loved to welcome him into their home; let us learn from them, knowing that hospitality is perfected when we have a listening ear. For it is a great virtue to be hospitable and caring, especially when we spend quality time listening to God and letting him direct and guide us towards carrying out our daily tasks.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are always so busy with the things of this passing world, that we often do not have time to listen to you. Give us the grace like Mary to choose the better part, which is to truly listen to your word and then be well disposed to be caring and hospitable just like Martha, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed Sunday celebration.

Homily For Saturday Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 19th July, 2025

 

Readings: Exo. 12:37-42; Ps.136; Matt:12:14-21

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

OVERCOMING THE UGLY ATTITUDE OF HUMANITY

There is no doubt that we are living in a world full of crazy and ugly attitudes of different kinds of people. The world is full of people who are entrusted with the noble task of leading and managing the resources and affairs of the people, making decisions to eliminate and destroy them just for their personal gain and selfish interest. 

This is what we have in our Gospel passage today, where the Pharisees, who are the leaders of the people, because of their selfish interest and pride, went out and began to plot against Jesus, discussing how to destroy him, because of his great works and teaching for the people.

Jesus knew this and withdrew from their district. Many followed him and he cured them all, but warned them not to make him known. This was to fulfil the prophecy of Isaiah which reminds us about the figure of the suffering Servant of Yahweh, in the person of Jesus. Here, Jesus experienced constant opposition and hostility at the hands of the Pharisees, who sought to destroy Him. 

So, Matthew in this Gospel identifies Jesus with the Suffering Servant who is filled with God’s spirit, despite the aggression of his opponents, he does not suspend his ministry of healing, forgiving and spreading the Good News. For he is full of gentleness and compassion. 

Hence, Jesus the suffering Servant of God, the lovable and gentle teacher, has come to bring the light of truth to this crazy world, for he does not seek the death of sinners, but their conversion and salvation. Therefore, in him, we can also find the courage and strength to persevere in these times of difficulty, suffering and persecution. For God has chosen us as His beloved sons and daughters. He has given us His Spirit so that we can stand firm against all the evil activities going on in this crazy world.

But as for those who have chosen to be instruments of destruction, manipulation and deception of humanity just for their selfish interest or for vain glory or for fun thereby letting people die for these wrongs that they do. Such people will have no share in the kingdom of the Lord, for the evils they have done will be their portion and lot. 

This is exactly the attitude of the Egyptians in our first reading today, of which the Lord, through Moses, led his chosen people out of their midst to the promised land, for such is the ugly attitude of humanity today, but God will never abandon His chosen.

Dear friends, there is no doubt that we are really living in an evil and crazy world, but we must know that the transcendent power and authority belong to God. Yes we are affiliated in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. 

Thus, we must know that true greatness is found in service and not in domination or subjection of others. Good leaders serve the community, they subdue arguments and divisions, they maintain unity in times of distress and act as role models for the young ones. 

Therefore, it is time for us to put off our old self which leads to evil desire, manipulation, covetousness, selfishness and greed, in order to put on a new person born of love, compassion, contentment, purity and forgiveness. We are all called today to serve in any capacity we find ourselves, bearing in mind that one should not strive to be a leader but a servant because leadership is a gift given to one by God. Remember, you don't have to be great to get started, but you have to get started in order to be great.

LET US PRAY: Almighty God, like little boys we go down on our knees with all humility, asking for your grace and courage to overcome the evil and ugly situation going on in this crazy world, where humanity is being manipulated, deceived and destroyed because of a few people’s selfish interest. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a pleasant weekend.

Homily For Friday Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 18th July, 2025

Readings: Exo. 11:10-12.14:; Ps.116; Matt:12:1-8

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WHAT GOD REQUIRES FROM US IS MERCY

One of the attributes of God is mercy, and this attribute runs through the scriptures as it is actually the summary of most of the stories in the scriptures. Because at the end of everything it is the mercy of God that we need more than His justice. Little wonder that Jesus, in our Gospel passage today, teaches us about the essence of making laws. 

This is clear from his response to the Pharisees who criticised the attitude of his disciples, who on the Sabbath were seen plucking ears of corn to eat because they were very hungry. 

So, Jesus corrected them on the right disposition concerning the application of God's law and any law at all, when he said to them "I desire mercy and not sacrifice". This is because the Pharisees emphasised the strict keeping of the law of the Sabbath while neglecting the spirit of the law, which has to do with God’s love and mercy.

 This is also evident in our first reading, where we heard of God’s justice and mercy in dealing with the Egyptians and the Israelites. For the Egyptians, he said: I will go through the land of Egypt and strike down all the first-born in the land of Egypt, man and beast alike, and I shall deal out punishment to all the gods of Egypt. 

This is God’s justice. Then he said to the Israelites, The blood shall serve to mark the houses that you live in. When I see the blood I will pass over you and you shall escape the destroying plague when I strike the land of Egypt. This is God’s mercy in action.

Dear friends, Law exists for the good of the people, but oftentimes we find ourselves seeking more recognition by exercising too much control over other people’s lives under the guise of laws. 

Hence, we should not lack compassion and mercy or close our hearts against our neighbour like the Pharisees, an attitude that reminds me of the words of Pope Francis when he said: "If our heart is closed, if our heart is made of stone, then the stones will end up in our hands and, then, we will be ready to throw them at someone.

Therefore, this should not be the case; rather, we should always consider the essence and purpose of making laws and applying them, bearing in mind that human needs, which supersedes all other human interests, should be the guiding principle of any law, both social and religious. 

In fact, the ritual demands of the Sabbath encourage mercy, forgiveness and compassion, which are at the heart of any true religion. Thus, as we make laws and implement them, let love, compassion and mercy be our guiding principles. 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, you show the light of your truth to those who go astray, grant that we may always embrace your laws and apply them with mercy and compassion, through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed day.

Homily For Thursday, Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time, Year C, 17th July, 2025

 

Readings: Exo. 3:13-20; Ps.105; Matt:11:28-30

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WHEN YOUR TASK AND MISSION BECOME A HEAVY BURDEN COME TO JESUS FOR HELP

Thinking about the ugly condition of our societies today, where the ugly and sinful attitudes of greed, corruption, pride and selfishness of people have placed a heavy burden and stress on us all and often these burdens are so heavy that we don’t know how to carry them.

The worst of these burdens are the sorrows we bear in our hearts: sorrows caused by our sins, unhealthy relationships we engaged in, unforgiveness, and family problems as a result of the bad influence of society.

Thus, today in our Gospel passage Jesus says to us: Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.’

No doubt that everyone of us has a task and a mission to accomplish and this can be very demanding, just like Moses in our first reading today, for he encountered God who reveals his name to him as I Am Who I Am and commissioned him and gave him a task and the mission of bringing the people of Israel out of Egypt where they were treated badly. A task and mission which is really heavy and demanding. But promised us to be with him.

Similarly, Jesus recognises the sorrows in our lives, how we labour and are overburdened as a result of our tasks and mission. Hence he invites us to come to him with all our burdens. Yes, it is like a human person to think and worry about things of this world.

Every human person thinks and worries about something. Only a few people can sometimes find it easy to resolve their problems, but for most people, their problems are too great, and they move from bad to worse. Hence, this invitation of Jesus opens a refreshing space in our soul, by inspiring hope and drawing us into God’s loving and gentle presence where our souls find peace and solace.

Dear friends, what task and mission has God given to us in this life? How are we carrying out this task and mission? What are the challenges we are facing? Is the task and mission so heavy for us to bear? Are we carrying additional load apart from the one God has given to us? I don't know the heavy burden in your heart right now, I don’t know your cherished plans which have failed, and it seems as if disappointments have prevailed, thereby wandering in the darkness of confusion and a heavy heart all alone.

Today, Jesus is inviting us to come to him with all our burdens, all our troubles, all our challenges and disappointments, and he will give us rest. He says we should embrace his yoke, we should learn from him, for he is gentle and humble of heart and by so doing find rest for our souls. Then we will tell the story of how we overcome our most troublesome and darkest of moments, for we will understand it better by and by.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, as we come to you with our heavy burden and sorrows in our hearts, grant that we may embrace the yoke of Christ and so find peace and solace in our souls. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you God's favour.