Homily For Monday, Twenty-Third Week in Ordinary Time, Year C, 8th September 2025. The Feast of The Nativity of The Blessed Virgin Mary

 

Readings: Rom . 8:28-30, Ps . 13, Matt. 1:1-16.18-23

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

GOD HAS CREATED YOU FOR A PURPOSE

God, in his eternal design, made it possible for every human person to have a special role to play in the mystery of this life. Though some seem to have a more significant role than others. However, whether significant or not, the truth still remains that we all have a role to play. But the question is, how are we playing this role? Are we playing according to God’s master plan or against it?

Mother Mary, whose birthday we celebrate today, is a good example of those who played their role according to God’s master plan. For she was chosen in a special way to be the handmaid of the Lord and to play an important part in the history of human salvation and redemption.

A role she played according to God's master plan. As handmaid of God, she was privileged to be the mother of Jesus, our Redeemer. Little wonder our Gospel passage today tells us the history of the genealogy of Jesus from Abraham to Joseph and Mary the parents of Jesus.

From this genealogy, we heard how generations came, generations go, great men and women came and passed on, and new generations continue to spring up. This is our own generation, but the questions remain: to what extent can our genealogy be traced to that of Christ?

To what extent have the things we are doing now been influenced by the events of the past generations, and to what extent are they going to influence future generations?

Today, we are reminded that we are playing our own role in the salvation of mankind; our existence means a lot to future generations. And St. Paul in our first reading tells us that God cooperates with all those who love him, with all those he has called according to his purpose.

They are the ones he chose specially long ago and intended to become true images of his Son, so that his Son might be the eldest of many brothers. For he called those he intended for this; those he called he justified, and with those he justified he shared his glory.

Dear friends, Mary’s birthday reminds us of our own birth and our role in the master plan of God. For God has plans for everyone of us. Our existence is not by chance or providence, rather it is by the special will of God who made it possible for us to participate in his mystery at this present age. He could have willed for us to exist in the past or in the future or not to exist at all.

Hence, never take your existence for granted, because in every moment of our existence, there is a role we are playing. Therefore, let us, like Mary, learn to cooperate with the grace of God and live in accordance with God's plan, for we are all created for a purpose, and that purpose is the role we have to play in this world.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, you created us for a purpose and the birthday of our Mother Mary reminds us of this purpose. Grant that through her intercession we may obtain the grace to live out our purpose in this life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed day.

Homily For Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C, 7th September, 2025

  

Readings: Wis. 9:13-18 Ps.90; Philem. 1:9-10,12-17; Luke 14:25-33

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

UNDERSTANDING THE SACRIFICIAL NATURE OF DISCIPLESHIP 

Every successful action or event passes through a series of serious processes of preparation. But these series and serious processes are not always very visible to all. People only see the glorious aspects but don’t take notice of the rigorous process of the action or event. Such is the life of a disciple. So, today we are meant to know that a true disciple must constantly reflect and embrace the sacrificial nature of discipleship. 

Little wonder Jesus in our Gospel passage today, takes his discourse on discipleship to a radical and difficult level when he said: ‘If any man comes to me without hating his father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, yes and his own life too, he cannot be my disciple. Anyone who does not carry his cross and come after me cannot be my disciple. So in the same way, none of you can be my disciple unless he gives up all his possessions.’

Here, Jesus teaches about the cost of discipleship. That there is a price to be paid. However, Jesus does not directly intend to cause tensions and divisions in family life, but he wants us to accept the consequences that comes with the truth of the Gospel teaching, more importantly, when it comes to living out the Gospel message radically, especially in a situation where our family values have been thrown out of caution as a result of secularism, individualism and excess desires for worldly pleasures, 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 wield the sword of division or separation among those people and things which are so dear to us. Thus, he warns that we have to struggle to put him first, before family ties, knowing that divisions will surely occur as people have to decide to be for or against God. Hence, he states that the cost of discipleship extends to one even losing their life. 

For none of us can become his disciple if we do not give up our excess desire for worldly pleasures and possessions, and pay our unreserved loyalty and allegiance to God over all other competing loyalties in our lives, including family, self-interest, and possessions. Little wonder we heard in our first reading that the reasonings of mortals are unsure and our intentions unstable; for a perishable body presses down the soul, and this tent of clay weighs down the teeming mind. For it is hard enough for us to work out what is on earth, and laborious to know what lies within our reach; who, then, can discover what is in the heavens?

Dear friends, how much are we willing to let go for the sake of discipleship? Do we find it too demanding? In what ways? Is giving up ‘all my possessions’ realistic, and if not, what does this passage mean to me? Whatever my response may be, may God give us the grace to grow in freedom, to be ready to follow and to serve him in a new way and also be able to speak to the Lord about the points of difficulty in paying this cost. 

This is what St. Paul in our second reading is trying to tells us when he said to Philemon: I know you have been deprived of Onesimus for a time, but it was only so that you could have him back for ever, not as a slave any more, but something much better than a slave, a dear brother; especially dear to me, but how much more to you, as a blood-brother as well as a brother in the Lord. So discipleship requires sacrifices of all that is so dear to us for the sake of the kingdom of God. 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, the excess desire for the pleasurable things of this passing world have weakened our hearts from becoming good disciples. Give us courage and grace to let go of our ugly desires, so as to hold firm in our faith despite losing people and things that are dear to us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed Sunday.

Homily For Saturday Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 6th September, 2025

 

Readings: Col. 1:21-23 Ps.54; Luke 6:1-5

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

UNDERSTANDING THE ESSENCE OF SABBATH LAWS

Due to the weak and fragile nature of the human person, God made very good and practical laws which he wanted his people to obey, but as time goes on, these laws have been multiplied, turned upside down and misinterpreted in such a way that they are very complex and difficult to obey.

God's law is the law of love, justice, mercy and freedom, for he describes himself as a merciful and compassionate God.

This freedom enables us to follow the spirit of the law and not the letter of the law. Therefore, Jesus comes to bring people back to the original intention of the law. He doesn’t come to abolish the law, but to show what God’s original intention was concerning the law.

 This is what our Gospel passage is addressing today. Where on a Sabbath Jesus happened to be taking a walk through the cornfields, and his disciples were picking ears of corn, rubbing them in their hands and eating them. But some of the Pharisees said, ‘Why are you doing something that is forbidden on the Sabbath day?’ Jesus answered them, ‘So you have not read what David did when he and his followers were hungry? And he said to them, ‘The Son of Man is master of the Sabbath.’

Here, Jesus made it known to the Pharisees that they had made the Sabbath too stressful for the people, they are nothing but fault-finders and self-righteous people. For the Law was interpreted by the elders and the priests, who passed down as strict sets of rules and regulations that restricted the activities of the people on the Sabbath.

This often makes many people forget the very reason, purpose and essence of the Sabbath itself. Because the Law was strictly enforced on the people, and those who did not obey were often treated with dishonour, just as the Pharisees did to Jesus and his disciples, for Pharisees are known for their judgmental and comparative attitude, which makes them feel superior over others.

And this ugly attitude is what St. Paul is addressing in our first reading when he said: You were foreigners and enemies, in the way that you used to think and the evil things that you did; but now the Lord has reconciled you, by Christ’s death. So that you can now be able to appear before him holy, pure and blameless, as long as you persevere and stand firm on the solid faith and keep to what is written.

Dear friends, today Jesus teaches us the original intention of the Sabbath laws in relation to human needs. That we should not be legalistic with the law, rather we should identify the spirit of the law which is rooted in love, justice and mercy and then follow it. For this is what Jesus and his disciples did when, for the sake of their basic human need for survival, they went against the ceremonial Sabbath day regulations of not plucking the grain or doing any work.

Also, we are called not to be judgmental, fault-finders and self-righteous people like the Pharisees who, under the cover of the law, planned to judge and condemn the actions of Jesus and his disciples. Therefore, we should rather humble ourselves and focus our attention on what God really want from us, which is to love him and to love our neighbours as well.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, oftentimes, we condemn and judge people based on what the law states without examining and applying the essence and spirit of the law, grant that in our relationship with others, we may begin to apply the true law which is rooted in love, justice and mercy. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a favourable and peaceful weekend.

Homily For Friday, Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time, Year B, 5th September 2025

 

Readings: Col. 1:15-20; Ps. 100; Luke 5:33-39

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

NEW WINE FRESH SKIN, NEW LIFE FRESH GRACE

Oftentimes we find it difficult to let go of our ugly old ways of life, because we are so attached to them. But we must get rid of it if we really want to follow Jesus. Little wonder, Jesus in the Gospel passage today talks about the importance of pouring new wine into fresh wineskins and the need to avoid using a new cloak to patch an old one. 

He said: Nobody puts new wine into old skins; if he does, the new wine will burst the skins and then run out, and the skins will be lost. No; new wine must be put into fresh skins. And nobody who has been drinking old wine wants new. “The old is good”. 

Here, Jesus continues to show that he is bringing something totally new which should not be mixed with the old. So, the fresh wineskins refer to a new heart that has put off the old cloak and looks forward to the new wine of grace through the process of conversion where we embrace the gift of New Life which Jesus is offering to humanity. A gift that differentiates his disciples from other people.

 

As we heard that the Pharisees and the Scribes made the observation concerning the relationship between the disciples of Jesus and the disciples of John the Baptist as regards their new ways of doing things. So they came to Jesus and asked him a question regarding their manner of fasting and feasting. Jesus used this opportunity to educate them about the New Life of grace which he has come to offer humanity. 

For Jesus is the groom and as long as he is around, it would be inappropriate for his disciples to fast. And as his bride, he loves us with a deep and everlasting love. He paid all our debts; he supplies all our daily needs; he sympathises with us in all our troubles; he bears with all our infirmities, and does not reject us because of our weaknesses. 

However, a time will come when the groom will no longer be with us, then we will surely fast. Telling us that fasting should be done at the right time for the right reasons. Thus, St. Paul tells us in our first reading, that God wanted all perfection to be found in him through Christ and all things to be reconciled through him and for him, everything in heaven and everything on earth, when he made peace by his death on the cross.

Dear friends, today we are called not to mix our old sinful ways of life with the New Life of Grace God is offering us. Therefore, what is that old garment in our lives that we are patching with the new? What is that old wine of habitual sin that we are pouring into the new wine skins of our redeemed and purified souls? 

Today we are called to give a fresh response towards embracing this New Life of grace which Jesus is offering us. As we think about these, let us struggle to avoid our old sinful ways of life and fully embrace the new righteous way of life that God is offering us today. 

LET US PRAY: Almighty God, You are the source of our New Life, grant us the grace of true and total conversion so as to find such great Joy in Your abundant Life of grace and mercy, through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed and peaceful day.

Homily For Thursday, Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time, Year C, 4th September 2025.

Readings: Col. 1:9-14; Ps. 98; Luke 5:1-11

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

AN ENCOUNTER THAT LEADS TO TRUE CONVERSION AND DISCOVERING OF YOUR 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 realise 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 realise his emptiness and fall at 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.’

 When they had done this, they netted such a huge number of fish that their nets began to tear, so they signalled 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 companion, 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 many fish that the whole boat could not take them. This glorious event manifested the power and grace of God at work in us especially when we humble ourselves.

Little wonder St. Paul, in our first reading, made us know that what we should ask God is perfect wisdom and spiritual understanding that will help us to reach the fullest knowledge of his will. So that we will be able to lead the kind of life which the Lord expects of us, a life acceptable to him in all its aspects; showing the results in all the good actions that we do.

Dear friends, like Simon and his brothers, 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 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 realise how much God is willing to reveal Himself to us through Jesus Christ, His Son.

LET US PRAY: Almighty God, 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 day.

Homily For Wednesday, Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time, Year C, 3rd September 2025. The Memorial of St Gregory

 

Readings: Col 1:1-8; Ps. 33; Luke 4:38-44

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

HEALING THAT LEADS TO SERVICES

The whole of Scripture reveals the compassionate love of God in its historical and physical solidarity with human suffering. This is more evident in the compassionate way Jesus carried out his activities which springs up from the love of God the Father and constitutes the basis of the Church’s liberating activity.

Little wonder in our Gospel passage today, as Jesus continued to carry out his mission of preaching, he also showed compassion and care for those who were passing through difficulties.

Thus, when he returned from preaching in the synagogue to Simon Peter's house, behold, Peter's mother-in-law was sick with a fever. This is not a minor sickness in the ancient world. A fever is not a kind of sickness that lasts for a short while, but is often a symptom of a condition that can lead to death.

So Jesus went to her, took her by the hand and helped her up. And the fever left her and she began to serve them. That evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were sick and possessed by devils and he cured them.

This clearly describes how and why Jesus came down to dwell with us and, by taking up our human nature, made it possible for him to identify himself with the struggles of humanity as he embraced us with his love, compassion and care. For he came to heal us from our sins and from all the afflictions we encountered and struggle with in this passing world.

So, when Jesus cured Peter’s mother-in-law, she immediately began to serve them, something she was unable to do because of her illness. Thus, she was able to render her service to the first Christian community. She was healed and restored with new strength so that she may again rise and take up her proper place in the community of God’s people.

Dear friends, God really cares for our well-being, He is always ready to help us in our struggles so that we can be well disposed to serve him. So whenever we are passing through difficult moments, we must not allow despair, fear or doubt to cloud our hearts.

We need to have faith in God and wholeheartedly believe in him. We need to have more faith and trust in God, and be more hopeful no matter how difficult things may be for us and whenever he restores us, it may be tempting to sit back and accept people’s good wishes and congratulations.

These should not be our attitudes; we should rather learn from Peter’s mother-in-law that healing is not just to make us well but to enable us to become active again in rendering service to God and humanity. For it is another opportunity to serve God and humanity and St Paul in our first reading says: “the Good News which has reached you is spreading all over the world and producing the same results among us”.

This is what we see in the life of Pope St. Gregory the Great, whose memorial we celebrate today, for he had a personal encounter with the Lord, which propelled his effort in spreading the Gospel message and by so doing converted more and more souls to the Lord.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are really sick in need of your healing and compassion. As we struggle every day to serve you and humanity, heal all our illnesses and give us grace to get up and become more active again to render more quality services to you and to our communities. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a favourable day. 

Homily For Tuesday Twenty-Second Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 2nd September, 2025

 

Readings: 1 These. 5:1-6.9-11, Ps. 27, Luke 4:31-37

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

IN JESUS RESIDES THE POWER TO OVERCOME EVIL FORCES

From the scriptures, Jesus seems to have lived in a world of hostility and conflict between good and evil, as well as political witch-hunting, family divisions and demonic possession, just like we have it in our world today. For there is no doubt that there is an active presence of evil in the world which manifests itself in different forms. 

So every day we struggle against the malice of the evil ones, and people are doing everything they can to overcome them. But often, when children of God are confronted with evil, they don't know what to do and out of fear, they fall victim and are helpless because they are ignorant of the power and authority of God in them.

Thus, in our Gospel passage today, we heard how the people of Capernaum and even the demoniac recognised that the Divine Authority of Jesus in the world brings about victory over the evil ones. His teaching made a deep impression on them because he spoke with authority. 

And the man who was possessed by the devil shouted at the top of his voice, ‘Ah! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God.’ But Jesus said sharply, ‘Be quiet! Come out of him!’ And the devil, throwing the man down in front of everyone, went out of him without hurting him at all. Astonished, they said to one another, ‘What teaching!  For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits and they come out.’

Here, the demons recognise Jesus as the power of God. And his power over the demons is a direct defeat of the evil one while the restoration of the possessed man signifies the inauguration of God's kingdom in the world. Now, Jesus has given us the gift of his presence in the person of the Holy Spirit, which God has bestowed on us in our baptism. In this gift resides the power and authority to confront evil and overcome it. 

Little wonder St. Paul in our first reading tells us that it is not as if we live in the dark, for that Day to overtake us like a thief. No, we are all sons of light and sons of the day: we do not belong to the night or to darkness, so we should not go on sleeping, as everyone else does, but stay awake and sober. For God never meant us to experience retribution, but to win salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that, alive or dead, we should still live united to him.

Dear friends, the presence of Jesus drives away every evil force. But as children of God, what is our notion about the authority and power of Jesus? Do we still have any doubt about the authority of Jesus? How much of this authority dwells in you? 

How united are we in Christ? Today, the demoniac identified the source of Jesus’ authority as divine. Have we personally identified the divine authority of Jesus in our lives? If we have not, why not ask him to manifest his power and authority once more in our lives?

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, we are often ignorant of the power and authority of the Holy Spirit which you gave us at our baptism, may we recognise this divine power and authority once again in our daily struggles with the evil forces in our world. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. God bless you.