Homily For Friday Thirty-First Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 7th November, 2025

Readings: Romans 15:41-21; Ps.98; Luke 16: 1-8

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

DON’T BE SMART ONLY IN THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD BE SMART ALSO WITH YOUR SALVATION

The elements of good and bad seem inherent in the human person; it's little wonder the world involves both good and bad mixed together. This will help us to understand the reason for corruption, greediness, immoral and social decadence in our world today. But even in the midst of all these ugly situations, we are expected to be wise and smart in our dealings with the things of this passing world.

Little wonder, in the Gospel passage today, Jesus tells us the parable of this dishonest steward who, having acted unjustly and having been exposed by his master, went to great lengths to make friends of his master’s debtors to secure his future.

In this parable, Jesus is not telling us to be dishonest, but he wants us to know that we can learn even from this dishonest servant how to prudently use the things of this passing world to gain our salvation.

Thus, Jesus points out that we too should be smart, but not exactly like the dishonest steward, using dishonest wealth to exploit others, as most rich people do today. No, instead we, his disciples, are to use our wealth to win souls for the kingdom and safeguard our own souls.

But more importantly, if we understand the principle that says that everything we own is a gift from God, then we will realise that God is the owner of everything and that we are His stewards. As such, we are to use the Master’s resources to further the Master’s work and not the contrary.

In this context, we are told to be generous with our resources and use them for the safety of our souls and the growth of God’s kingdom. Little wonder St. Paul, in our second reading, says: My brothers, I am quite certain that you are full of good intentions, perfectly well instructed and able to advise each other.

Dear friends, today, we are called to examine our conscience to know where we are with regard to our vocation as Christians. How can we best harness the things entrusted to us so that they can be the source and midst of safeguarding our souls surrounded by sin, corruption and greediness?

We are called today to be wise and smart, for if worldly-minded people can be smart in their dealings, we too should be smarter in our struggles for the salvation of humanity. We should utilize the resources available to us and use them to secure our salvation,

LET US PRAY: Lord God, in our struggles with the ugly situation in our societies today, give us the grace and skills to manage the resources entrusted to us and use them properly for the salvation of humanity, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. It’s Friday, wishing you a fruitful day.

Homily For Thursday Thirty-First Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 6th November, 2025

 

Readings: Romans: 14: 7-12; Ps 27; Luke 15:1-10

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

LIKE THE LOST SHEEP THE LORD IS SEARCHING AND WAITING FOR US

It is natural and common for any human person to desire to seek and find any valuable thing he/she have lost. Some people even have sleepless nights over their lost items.

Some can go to any length hoping to recover any of their valuable commodity that is lost. If we can do this just for perishable things of this passing world, don’t we think that God will do even more to save every single soul he created in his own image and likeness?

Little wonder in our Gospel passage today, Jesus, while addressing the Pharisee who accused him of welcoming sinners, tells us the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin, which illustrate the unrelenting love of God for each of us, especially sinners.

In these parables, we see two examples of people searching for what is precious to them. And when they found it their joy was so great. So, Jesus uses these examples to explain to us how God seeks us when we are lost in sin and his joy when our friendship with him is renewed. His searching for us cost him the sacrifice of his Son Jesus Christ.

This can help us to realise how precious we are to him, that he never gives up on anyone except those who choose to be lost. All we need is for us to return to God who is patiently waiting for us.

Thus, St. Paul in our first reading said: the life and death of each of us has its influence on others; if we live, we live for the Lord; and if we die, we die for the Lord, so that alive or dead we belong to the Lord. This explains why Christ both died and came to life.

Dear friends, are we lost in sin? Have we given up in our struggle with sin? Do you think that our sins are so huge that God cannot forgive us? Do we feel lost now? Jesus is searching for us, he is waiting for us at the confessional.

When was the last time we visited him at the confessional? Just know that he loves us and we are too precious to be lost in this sinful world. Therefore, we must work out our salvation in fear and trembling.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are lost in this passing world due to our sins. Seek out humanity once again from the wilderness of sins, so that we may return to you, just like the lost sheep and the lost coin, and so rejoice and praise you once again with the angels. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Peace be with you.

Homily For Wednesday Thirty-First Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 5th November 2025

 

Readings: Romans 13:8-10; Ps.112; Luke 14:25-33

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

THE PRICE TO PAY AS DISCIPLES OF CHRIST

As true disciples of Christ, we must constantly reflect on the nature of our discipleship in order to be aware of the seriousness of the commitment required of us.

This is important as 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 come with the truth of the Gospel teaching,

This is important 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.

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.

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.

Also, we should be able to speak to the Lord about the points of difficulty in paying this cost. Little wonder St. Paul in our first reading tells us to avoid getting into debt, except for the debt of mutual love. If you love your fellow men you have carried out your obligation as disciples

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 fruitful day.

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.