Homily For Tuesday Thirty-First Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 4th November 2025. The Memorial of St. Charles Borromeo

 

Readings: Rom. 12:5-16; Ps.131; Luke 14:15-24

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

HOW ARE YOU RESPONDING TO GOD’S  INVITATION TO HIS BANQUET IN HEAVEN?

Invitations to events and social gatherings are part of humanity's social ways of life. As usual, Jesus often uses the things we are very familiar with to teach us a very important lesson. Just yesterday, he told us to cultivate the habit of inviting the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind to our banquets, for they can not repay us.

 

On the occasion of our Gospel passage today Jesus tells the parable of the great banquet, how a man planned a large banquet and sent out invitations, but those invited gave excuses and turned the invitation down. 

So he opened the invitation to all who care to come, the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind. Jesus ends the parable by saying that “not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet”

 

Here, the master respected their excuses for not coming to the banquet even though they were not realistic. Because no one buys land without seeing it first, and the same can be said for buying oxen. 

And what, exactly, would keep a newly married couple from attending a social event? All the excuses in the parable show insincerity on the part of those invited. Hence the invitation is opened up to society’s maimed and downtrodden.

 

The fact is that those who ignored the invitation to the banquet chose their own punishment; they missed out, and the master respected their choice by making it permanent: they would not “taste of my banquet”, he said. 

So it will be with God’s judgment on those who choose to reject Christ or are so busy that they cannot respond to his invitation; they will have their choice confirmed, and they may never taste the joys of heaven. Therefore, let us learn to honour the invitation of God in humility.

 

Dear friends, what excuses are we giving to God for not honouring his invitation to heaven? What excuses are we giving for not repenting from our sins, our forgiveness, ugly characters, immoral actions, greediness, selfishness and corruption? 

Remember, the kingdom of God is open for us today. Let us not be too proud or busy to embrace it, for the blessings of the kingdom are available to all who will come to Christ by faith. 

Let us learn to be humble and charitable with the gift God has given us. And we must not let the things of this world distract us from responding to God’s call and mission. 

Little wonder St. Paul said in our first reading: All of us, in union with Christ, form one body, and as parts of it we belong to each other. Our gifts differ according to the grace given to us. Do not let your love be a pretence, but sincerely prefer good to evil.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are too busy with the things of this passing world, as we hear about the invitation to your Heavenly Kingdom today, may we embrace it with all humility. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.  Have a blessed day.

Homily For Monday Thirty-First Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 3rd November, 2025

 

Readings: Rom. 11:29-36;  Ps. 69; Luke 14:12-14

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

LEARN TO INVITE THE POOR FOR YOUR CELEBRATION WHO MAY NOT INVITE YOU IN RETURN?

A critical look at what is happening in our world today, it is obvious that the world is in a big crisis. This is because humanity has lost the true meaning of love. For we have abandoned God who is the source and power of love. 

Today people find it very difficult to love and do things for others for free. We want to know what we will gain from whatever we do for people, because of selfishness and greed. So we are called to be more charitable to people, especially the poor, who can not pay us back. 

Little wonder Jesus in our Gospel passage today says: when you give a lunch or a dinner, do not ask your friends, brothers, relations or rich neighbours, for fear they repay your courtesy by inviting you in return. No; when you have a party, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; that they cannot pay you back means that you are fortunate because repayment will be made to you when the virtuous rise again.’

Here, Jesus gave us reasons why we should not be seeking gain and rewards for everything we do here on earth; rather, we must learn to help others, especially the poor. For he made us know that it is natural and universal for human beings to seek rewards for whatever they have done. 

But what makes his disciples different from other people is the ability to do good without seeking rewards in this passing world. By so doing we will be imitating God our heavenly Father, who in his compassionate heart shows equal love to both the rich and the poor.

Hence, we are called to always consider the poor and those who are less privileged. For we cannot be true Christians unless we are willing to love sacrificially in our actions and interactions, in all situations and to everyone without exception just like our Lord God who cares for us all. 

Little wonder St. Paul in our first reading today says: How rich are the depths of God, how deep his wisdom and knowledge and how impossible to penetrate his motives or understand his methods! Who could ever know the mind of the Lord? Who could ever be his counsellor? Who could ever give him anything or lend him anything?

Dear friends, how many of us Christians are willing and able to follow these instructions of the Lord? How many of us are ready to invite the poor and less privileged into our events of life? The truth is that the poor are not necessarily those who do not have money, but anyone who desires to benefit from God’s goodness in us. 

How I wish we would embrace this principle of loving and stretching the hands of friendship and peace to the poor and the less privileged, by investing more resources in things that bring about peace and friendship with one another, rather than separating us and depriving the poor of their rights. When this is done, the world will become more peaceful and loving.

LET US PRAY: Lord God,  help us to learn how to invite the poor knowing that they are not able to pay us back but our rewards will be in heaven,  give us the grace to bear the sacrificial nature of this demand and so become a true sign of your loving presence to the poor and less privileged. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a fruitful week.

Homily For Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C, 2nd November 2025. The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls Day.)

 

Readings: Wis. 3:1-9; Ps.23; Rom 5:5-11; Matt. 5:1-12

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WHAT CAN YOU OFFER TO SUFFERING SOULS? 

Yesterday we celebrated the solemnity of All Saints, today being the 2nd day of November the Holy Mother Church in her wisdom asked us to commemorate and pray for all the faithful departed (All Souls), especially the suffering Church. That is, as a militant Church, we are expected to pray for those souls that belong to the body of Christ but are still in need of purification. 

Thus, we are called to remember our loved ones who have gone before us into eternal life by visiting their tombs and praying for them. But why must we pray for the departed souls?  Today’s celebration will help us understand why we must learn to constantly pray for the departed souls.

 

This is important because immediately after death we belong either to the suffering Church or the triumphant Church. The suffering Church is the souls that belong to the body of Christ but are still in need of purification. In this state, they are helpless; they can not help anyone, nor can they help themselves. They only rely on the intercessions of the triumphant Church and the militant Church. 

So as a militant Church, it is necessary and mandatory for us to be charitable to the suffering Church through our prayers and intercessions. That is why we need to pray and intercede for them. Little wonder the Church set apart a day like this for us to pray for the departed and also visit the cemetery and graves of our loved ones.

 

So as regards this visitation, I can recall my experience of visiting the cemetery as a seminarian. As customary, in the seminary, every 2nd November, we often choose people to visit the cemetery to pray for the souls of the Faithful Departed. Oftentimes, my name will always be among those going to visit the cemetery, but not often when it comes to going for other glorious and social occasions and events. 

Though at a point I felt I should complain I accepted it even though I had no option. Then, as usual, in 2017, I was privileged again to be among those to visit a cemetery at Oke-Are in Ibadan. Being more disposed than in previous years I was more observant. 

So, on our way to the cemetery which is located on a hill in the heart of Ibadan, passing through the market and streets all I could see were people struggling, buying and selling, fighting and cursing each other, beggars, sick people and poor alike, among the people were the rich, the educated, their leaders both traditional and political.

 

But getting to the cemetery I saw on a wall the names and dates of so many men and women who had passed on from this interesting community. Then I asked myself in my deep reflection, where will all of us in this beautiful community be in the next hundred years? Where are all these people whose names are listed on this wall? 

Were they like us before? Yes. Are we going to be like them later? Of course, yes. With this in mind, I realised that there is time for everything in this world, a time to be born, a time to die, a time to weep, a time to laugh, a time to break down and a time to build up (Eccl: 3:1-11). Then I realised the reality of this life and the need to reflect and pray for the souls that have passed away from this passing world.

 

This we should do not in grief but in the spirit of faith and hope, knowing that they are living in communion with us as they share in the resurrection of Christ. Just as we heard in our first reading that the souls of the virtuous are in the hands of God, for those who are faithful will live with him in love, since grace and mercy await those he has chosen. 

Also, St. Paul in our second reading tells us to rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation to live a beatific life, which Jesus gave us its guiding principles in our Gospel passage today.

 

Dear friends, do you know that you can offer a little help to souls struggling to attain heaven, our beatific vision? Do we know that there are helpless souls who only rely on our help to attain the beatific vision? What am I willing to do for these helpless souls? 

Before now, have I even thought of it that my departed brethren need my assistance to reach their destination? Am I sure that I can avoid this state of suffering and purification? Do we ever remember that our loved ones may be there now?

 

Perhaps while they were in this life, they were of great help to us. Do we realise that our prayers and sacrifices represent the key to releasing them, and we can use them if we want to? Do we care about using it? 

Therefore, as we remember the souls who are passing through this rigour of purification, it would be good for us to offer some prayers of intercession, especially for our loved ones, as a plenary indulgence awaits us when we do this devoutly today or any day in November at the Holy Mass or at the cemetery.

 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, as we commemorate and pray for all souls today, may the light of your mercy shine upon them, especially those who need your mercy. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you a fruitful day.

Homily For Saturday Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 1st November, 2025. Solemnity of All Saints. (HAPPY NEW MONTH)

 

Readings: Rev. 7:2-4.9-14, Ps.24, 1John 3:1-3, Matt. 5:1-12

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

ALL SAINTS REMINDERS OF OUR VOCATION TO HOLINESS

 

Every first November, the Holy Mother Church presents to us the Solemnity of All Saints. But who are the saints, and why are we celebrating them? The Church, as we know, is not just the physical structure we have all over the place; no, the Church is much more than that. The Church is the body of Christ, of which every one of us is a member by virtue of our baptism.

 

This Church is divided into three groups: the militant Church, the suffering Church and the triumphant Church. The militant Church are all of us, especially the baptised, who are still inhabiting and struggling with the human flesh. But immediately after death, we belong either to the suffering Church or the triumphant Church. 

The suffering Church is the souls that belong to the body of Christ but are still in need of purification. While the triumphant Church are the souls of the saints which we are celebrating today. They are those who are pure in heart, they are the ones who shall see God because they have been washed clean from the stain of sin by the blood of Christ and sustained by their holiness of life.

 

So, today we celebrate the triumphant Church that is, all the saints known or unknown to us who have triumphed victorious to heavenly glory. By celebrating them we are reminded that we are called to grow in holiness and to become saints like them, for that is our primary goal in life.

 

This solemnity dates back to the 7th century, and the occasion of its introduction was the conversion of the ancient Roman Pantheon into a Christian Church. As emperor, Phocas gave the Pantheon to Pope Boniface IV, who converted it into a Church and dedicated it to the Blessed Virgin Mary and all the saints in the year 608. 

But later in the year 731, Pope Gregory III consecrated a chapel in St. Peter’s Church in honour of all the saints and since then the solemnity of All Saints has been celebrated all over the world.

 

Therefore, in this great event, we are called to imitate the heroic virtues of the saints by living a life of beatitudes as peacemakers, pure of heart, meek, humble and merciful as Jesus teaches us in our Gospel passage today. 

So in our first reading St. John in the book of Revelation tells that these saints are the people who have been through great persecution, and they have washed their robes white again in the blood of the Lamb. 

Meanwhile, in our second reading, he made us know that we are already the children of God, but what we are to be in the future has not yet been revealed; but when it is revealed, we shall be like him because we shall see him as he really is. And everyone who entertains this hope must purify himself and try to be as pure as Christ.

 

Dear friends, are you pure in heart? Are you merciful? Are you a peacemaker? Are you persecuted for righteousness' sake? Then you are a living saint. So, today’s  Solemnity reminds us of our universal vocation to holiness, it strengthens us in our struggles towards our goal which is to attain eternal life. 

It helps us to recall our communion with saints. It reminds us that we are pilgrims on this earth and also it strengthens our faith in the teachings of the Church. No doubt all of us want to become saints, and oftentimes we really want to live a holy life, but there are always obstacles on our way to holiness. These obstacles make us aware of our sins, our weaknesses and our failures.

 

Yes, we are sinners, but so are the saints. They only relied on God’s mercy and grace and so we too. We cannot become holy through our efforts alone we need to cooperate with the grace of God. Remember, anything worth having is worth making sacrifices for, and the more it’s worth, the more significant sacrifices we should be willing to make for it. 

If holiness is necessary for one to attain heaven. Then it is worth all the sacrifices Jesus mentioned in the beatitudes. So, let us embrace these great virtues and so become the saints of God that we are called to be.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as a militant Church on earth, there are a lot of troubles and challenges we are struggling with, help us through the intercession of all the saints, to overcome them and so make it triumphantly to your heavenly kingdom. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Happy new month and a blessed All Saints celebration. 

Homily For Friday Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 31st November, 2025

 

Readings: Romans 9:1-5; Ps 147; Luke 14:1-6

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

NOTHING CAN STOP THE LORD FROM TAKING CARE OF OUR WELL-BEING

Most times when we reflect on the relationship between Jesus and his audience, we wonder how he was able to manage all the situations placed before him, even when it seemed as if he had no escape route.

Such is the situation in our Gospel passage today, when on a Sabbath day, Jesus went for a meal at the house of one of the leading Pharisees, who had invited him, and they watched him closely.

This is because in front of him was a man with dropsy, and Jesus addressed the lawyers and Pharisees saying: ‘Is it against the law to cure a man on the Sabbath, or not?’ But they remained silent, so he took the man cured him and sent him away.

Here, we see Jesus who always honours all his invitations, whether from the poor or the rich, friends or ‘enemies’, including Pharisees and Sadducees, whose invitation was a trap to set him up. But Jesus cannot be trapped; rather, he used the opportunity to teach us that no Sabbath law, no religious restriction, can ever forbid us from being compassionate and caring for the poor and the sick.

Little wonder St. Paul in our first reading made us know that as God’s chosen people, we have been adopted as sons, we have been given the glory and the covenants; the Law and the ritual were drawn up for us, and the promises of God were made to us in order to completely embrace the will of God

Dear friends, we can see that nothing can stop the Lord from taking care of us. So, today we are called to learn how to be compassionate no matter the situation we may find ourselves, in because Jesus has always been compassionate to us.

This kind of attitude will help us to become pure and blameless, and prepare us for the Day of Christ when we all will reach the perfect goodness which the Lord Jesus planted in us for the glory and praise of God. But, are we willing and ready to show love, compassion and care to those who need our love and care especially when it seems very difficult?

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we often wish to be compassionate and caring like you. But we often fail because of fear and a lack of proper disposition. As we listened to your words today, may we find the courage to be compassionate and caring, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Peace be with you.

Homily For Thursday Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 30th October, 2025

 

Readings: Rom. 8:31-39; Ps 109; Luke 13:31-35

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

NOTHING SHOULD COME BETWEEN US AND THE LOVE OF GOD

In this world, we struggle with so many things, and we often encounter ugly events and challenges that cause us sorrows and tears. And most times we don't know how to manage those moments.

This is because there is an active presence of evil in the world which manifests itself in different forms. So, every day is a struggle against the malice of the evil ones, and people are doing everything they can to overcome them.

Today, St. Paul in our first reading encouraged us to be strong for he is certain of this: neither death nor life, no angel, no prince, nothing that exists, nothing still to come, not any power, or height or depth, nor any created thing, can ever come between us and the love of God made visible in Christ Jesus our Lord.

This is exactly what Jesus manifested in our Gospel passage today when some of the Pharisees warned him to leave the area where he was teaching because Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great was after him. This warning was just a way of trying to get rid of Jesus by frightening him using external forces and authority under the name of Herod. 

But Jesus was not moved by all their threats. For he knows that his mission is part of God’s larger plan, which can not be interrupted by any external forces or authority. Hence, he ignored them and continued with his work of healing the people and liberating them from the evil ones

Dear friends, our lives are in God’s hands, for we are part of God’s larger plan, and nothing will happen to us which is in conflict with God’s wishes and plans for us. All we need is to embrace the whole amour of God in faith, with belt of truth buckled round our waist, and put on integrity of life for a breastplate, with eagerness to spread the gospel of peace while carrying the shield of faith so that we can use it to put out the burning arrows of the evil ones, using the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. By so doing, we can overcome the ugly situation we face every day in our societies and families today.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, every day is a struggle against the malice of the evil ones, and oftentimes we don’t know what to do. As we embrace your words today, grant that we may find the courage and strength to conquer our fears and struggles against the evil ones, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you and fruitful day.

Homily For Wednesday Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 29th October, 2025

 

Readings: Rom. 8:26-30; Ps 13; Luke 13:22-30

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

TRY TO PASS THROUGH THE NARROW GATE OF LIFE 

Life is nothing but a temporal assignment, a journey which begins in the morning so beautiful, full of expectations and hope, but the sojourner has no knowledge of his/her destination, purpose and end. The only guide is his/ her willingness to constantly follow the directives of the Sender who communicates his plans and purposes to those who care and are willing to listen. 

Thus, the emptiness and shortness of life make me reflect on my future as a human person and the question that comes to my mind is: "Where will you and I, and the beautiful things of this world be in the next one, 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 before me the teachings of Jesus in our Gospel passage today when he said: Try your best to enter by the narrow door, because, I tell you, many will try to enter and will not succeed. For once, the master of the house has got up and locked the door, you may find yourself knocking on the door, saying, “Lord, open to us”, but he will answer, “I do not know where you come from.

Here, Jesus calls our attention to the reality of life which we must not take for granted, that is the need for us to follow the teachings of the Lord, for humanity have failed to embrace the life of truth, holiness and love for God and for one another that seems difficult and narrow to them, but prefers to follow the destructive ways of life that is born out of pride, greed and uncontrollable desire for worldly things. 

This is because the things of this passing world are so captivating and many people have been captured by its seductive power and are greatly following it.  We must not be victims of this ugly situation. Rather, we must learn to submit ourselves to the directives of the Holy Spirit for he is always ready to guide us along the narrow ways of life.

Little wonder St. Paul in our first reading today says that: The Spirit comes to help us in our weakness. For when we cannot choose words to pray properly, the Spirit himself expresses our plea in a way that could never be put into words.

Dear friends, the worst thing that can happen to us at the last moment of our life is to hear the Lord say: I do not know where you come from. The fact remains that life is indeed very short and the road that leads to death and destruction is truly wide and very captivating, of which many are captives of its seductive power. 

But the road to life is becoming narrower and narrower because humanity is working so hard to expand the seductive roads and gates of destruction against the narrow gate of life. 

Therefore, we are called to embrace the narrow gate and road that leads to eternal life. We must work harder by resisting all the temptations and sinful things of this passing world and embracing the life of love and sacrifice which Jesus has offered us.

 So, let us turn towards God with all our hearts by removing from our hearts all forms of pride, greed and unhealthy desires that lead us astray down the path of destruction.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, our journey of life depends on you and today you have called us to follow the narrow gate of love and sacrifice. But the seductive road of this passing world is really captivating, and many are victims of its power. Grant us the grace to resist it, but journey through the path and gate that leads to eternal life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. May God bless your little efforts in life and guide you always.