Homily For Saturday Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 22nd November, 2025. The Memorial of Cecilia

Readings:1Macc.6:1-13; Ps.9; Luke:20:27-40

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WHY WE MUST BELIEVE IN THE RESURRECTION

 

Oftentimes when we talk about the teaching on resurrection, people always want to know what it is going to be like. We often get this teaching wrong because we are using our little knowledge of the things of this world

 passing world to judge the heavenly things. 

This is the disposition of the Sadducees in our Gospel passage today, since they do not believe in the resurrection, they decided to challenge Jesus concerning the notion of resurrection using the analogy of marital union in relation to the afterlife in order to discredit the teachings of Jesus.

 

As usual, Jesus goes on to explain how people will relate to each other in the afterlife. Those who are judged worthy of a place in the other world and the resurrection from the dead do not marry because they can no longer die, for they are the same as the angels, and being children of the resurrection they are sons of God. He then challenged the Sadducees’ unbelief about life after death.

 

He reminded them of the scene where the voice from the burning bush identifies itself to Moses. “I AM the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob” (Exodus 3:6). For He is the God of the living and not of the dead. After this reply of Jesus to both the Pharisees and the Sadducees, they no longer dared to ask him any questions.

 

Dear friends, we believe in the resurrection not so much because of Jesus’ arguments here, but because of his own resurrection of which he promised to share his life and joy with us forever. Jesus tells us that we are children of the resurrection and children of God who are neither married nor given in marriage in the heavenly kingdom. 

Thus, it is natural for us to ask questions about the resurrection of life, but we should not expect to understand it fully while we are still alive. All that matters is our relationship with our God and neighbour for what we shall be after death is known by God alone.

 This is what we see in the life of Cecilia, whose memorial we celebrate today, for she developed the love of God in her heart. Though she came from an extremely rich family and was given in marriage to a young man named Valerian. She wore sackcloth next to her skin, fasted, and invoked the saints, angels, and virgins, beseeching them to guard her virginity.

 

During her wedding ceremony, she was said to have sung in her heart to God, and before the consummation of her marriage, she told Valerian her husband that she had taken a vow of virginity and had an angel protecting her. Valerian asked to see the angel as proof, and Cecilia told him he would have eyes to see once he travelled to the third milestone on the Via Appia (Appian Way). There, he was baptised by Pope Urbanus. Following his baptism, Valerian returned to his wife and found an angel at her side. The angel then crowned Cecilia with a chaplet of roses and lilies.

 

Cecilia was later arrested and condemned to be suffocated in the baths. Later, an executioner was sent to cut off her head in the baths, who struck her three times but was unable to decapitate her, so he left her bleeding, and she lived for three days. Crowds came to her and collected her blood while she preached to them or prayed. 

On the third day, she died and was buried by Pope Urban and his deacons. Today St. Cecilia is regarded as the patroness of music because she heard heavenly music in her heart when she was married and is represented in art with an organ or organ pipes in her hand.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we look forward to the resurrection of mankind. May we be inspired by the great example of our Lord Jesus and so obtain the joy of his resurrection. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a fruitful weekend. 

Homily for Friday Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 21st November, 2025. The Memorial of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

 

Readings: 1 Macc. 4:36-37.52-59; Ps. 1Chron. 29:10-12; Luke:19:45-48

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

LORD, WE ARE YOUR SACRED TEMPLE IN NEED OF PURIFICATION

The Temple, as we know it, is described as the sacred dwelling place of God. That’s sacred space where humanity encounters the Divine presence of God. It is a symbolic space where God desires to live together with humanity and rule the world through them. Therefore it is very important to ensure that such Sacred Space (Temple) is kept sacred at all times.

Little wonder in our Gospel passage today, we heard a very brief story of how Jesus entered the temple in Jerusalem and drove away the traders from the courts of the Temple saying: “My house must be a house of prayer. But you have turned it into a den of thieves.”

So he chased out all the dishonest, selfish and greedy merchants who were making profits by cheating the faithful pilgrims who came to the Temple to worship God.

Here Jesus was not just concerned with cleansing the temple of Jerusalem, but also the temple of the human heart, that is, our souls. He is objecting to the corruption of the sacred. Our body and soul are the temple of the Lord and belong to him alone.

It is a sacred space, a house of prayer which must not be given over to the false gods of money, greed and sin. Just as we heard in our first reading today, Judas and his brothers, after defeating their enemies who wished to force them to defile the temple of God, said: Now that our enemies have been defeated, let us go up to purify the sanctuary and dedicate it.

So, the whole people fell prostrate in adoration, praising God who had made them so successful. For eight days they celebrated the dedication of the altar, joyfully offering holocausts, communion sacrifices and thanksgivings to God.

Dear friends, by clearing the Temple, the Lord has also urged us all to clear our spiritual temples, that is our body, mind, heart and soul, in which God dwells. For our souls are sacred dwellings of God’s Temple.

Thus, it must be made sacred at all times by ensuring that we get rid of all corruptions, wickedness, pride, ego, greed, wrath, unforgiveness and all other sorts of evils within us.

We must resist them and strive to inspire and help one another to keep our Temple sacred. For Jesus wishes to cleanse the temple of our soul by removing what has corrupted it, in order to purify it for worship and make it a dwelling place for prayer.

It is in the light of this purification of the temple that we will understand the importance of the memorial of the presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which we celebrate today. That great moment when St. Joachim and St. Anne offered their firstborn child to the Lord at the Temple as prescribed by the Law.

A gratuitous action in appreciation of God’s grace for choosing Mary to be the mother of our Lord and her total availability to God’s plan. Let us all be inspired by the example of Mary, whom the Lord has set before us, that we shall also be righteous, virtuous and great in faith as she has shown us in her lifetime in thanksgiving to God.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are your temple, yet we have let the selfish desires for the things of this passing world corrupt us so deeply. As we embrace your Words today, may we, through the intercession of Our Mother Mary, experience the joy of the purification of our body and soul. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a fruitful day.

Homily For Thursday Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 20th November, 2025

 

Readings: 1Macc. 2:15-29; Ps. 50; Luke:19:41-44

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

PEOPLE DESIRE TO HAVE PEACE BUT WHY HAVE WE FAILED TO WORK FOR PEACE? 

 

Peace is what every human person desires to have. It is a necessary commodity in human societies. A city that has peace is sure to have great success. It is the dream of everyone. But a city that lacks peace is disastrous as we see in our country today. 

Little wonder Jesus, in our Gospel passage today, wept over the city of Jerusalem. For Jesus, who is the King of peace, came to Jerusalem, a city whose name stands for peace but found no peace in it.

He looked at the city and its coming disaster, which would indeed happen in a few decades after his death, and then came its destruction by the hand of the Romans. So he wept and prayed for its people. Since they have rejected the peace that God is offering them, they have no option but to face the consequences. 

Jesus felt deep sorrow at the city’s resistance to God’s word, wishing that they might receive what God was offering them. He said: “Would that even today you knew the things that make for peace”.

 

Today we too can look around us,  our families, our cities, societies, country and the world at large, and feel sorrow at so much killing, persecution, deception,  greed, corruption, suffering and disregard for truth, justice and what is right and discover that peace is nowhere to be found

In fact, if humanity is not careful with the deep danger around us despite the great works of science and technology, the only place we can find peace will be in the grave at the dread peace of death. Those innocent people killed in some parts of our country will have a better understanding of the seriousness of this reality around us.

 

But we should not be afraid. Rather, we should draw strength from Mattathias in our first reading today who courageously resisted the order of the king who requested that the people of Israel should turn away from the Law and ordinances of God. 

Raising his voice, Mattathias retorted, ‘Even if every nation living in the king’s dominions obeys him, each forsaking its ancestral religion to conform to his decrees, I, my sons and my brothers will still follow the covenant of our ancestors. 

So nothing should make us for the sake of the teachings of our Lord, for Jesus the Lamb of God has triumphed over all evil. He has been glorified and, as such, has purchased for us our eternal peace and salvation.

 

Dear friends, we must be courageous because, despite the challenges and trials that we have to face in this passing world, we have the Lamb of God, triumphant and victorious by our side. He tells us that even though tribulations will come our way in the form of doom and destruction, like that of Jerusalem. 

We should be steadfast, for in God we shall be triumphant, since Jesus wills that humanity should know the things that make for peace. So, if we can consider the words of Jesus and embrace the peace and love he is offering us, we will realise that he longs for our good and growth.

 

Remember, there are many temptations and distractions in this world trying to mislead us and separate us from our God. Let us not be misled by these things. Let us remain firm in our faith and let our lives shine with the light of Christ so that his light will illuminate all the darkest moments in our lives, in our families, societies, country and the world at large. 

For the Lord wishes to lead us to the final victory that he has won for us. But are we willing to commit our lives to Christ? All we need to do is embrace all the possibilities of peace and love that God is offering to us every day. Then it shall be well with us.

 

LET US PRAY, Heavenly Father, you are the King of peace, and in Christ your Son, you have offered humanity peace. But we have failed to embrace it. As we struggle with the ugly situation in our country, Nigeria, and the world today, may the peace of Christ reign in our hearts, homes, societies, country and the world at large. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Remain blessed.

Homily For Wednesday Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 19th November, 2025

 

Readings: 2Macc.7:1.20-31; Ps.17; Luke:19:11-28

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

LEARN TO PUT INTO POSITIVE USE THE GIFTS GOD HAS GIVEN TO YOU 

 

In this life, God has given special gifts and opportunities to everyone. If we use these gifts and the opportunities wisely for our benefit and the benefit of others, we will grow and blossom. But on the other hand, if we fail to use them, we will remain dormant and unsuccessful. This is what the parable in our Gospel passage today is addressing. 

In this parable, we heard how a king summoned ten of his servants and gave them ten pounds to do business until he came back. Some of them utilized these gifts and opportunities and so became successful and for that, they were entrusted with more gifts. While some decided to neglect and abandon their gifts, and so remained dormant and unsuccessful.

 

This parable teaches us that we all have been given gifts by God, which we must give an account of. Because our gifts are meant to be put to use in the service of God and humanity. And our service to God should not be done grudgingly or fearfully but generously with the willingness to take risks in responding to God's mandate. 

We must be ready to lose our lives in order to find them. God wants us to use the individual gifts and opportunities given to us to make a difference in the world. We are not to relax into a comfort zone doing nothing with them. God wants the best from us and when we have given our best, we receive more from him.

 

Dear friends, we are all special, unique and a masterpiece, and God has given us a very unique gift. These gifts may represent different physical and spiritual gifts of God, but their basic foundation is the love of God towards us.  This love is what God has given to us which needs to be reciprocated through an active love for our neighbours. 

However, we often find it difficult to discover our other gifts or to accept the one God has given to us because we have failed to embrace love. So, we are called today to search and discover our gifts. Love is the greatest gift God has given to humanity. Let us discover love and invest in it, for in it come other gifts that will help us to achieve the purpose for which we are created.

 

This gift of love is what made the woman and her children sacrifice their lives for the sake of their belief in God’s instructions and ordinances as we have it in our first reading today. 

 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, you have endowed us with special and unique gifts and opportunities. Help us to discover these gifts and utilize them for the purpose for which they were given to us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a fruitful day.

Homily For Tuesday Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time Year C , 18 November, 2025

 

Readings: 2Macc. 6:18-31; Ps.3; Luke:19:1-10

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

THE ENCOUNTER THAT LEADS TO CONVERSION, RESTITUTION AND RESTORATION

Oftentimes we are quick to criticize, condemn and label people as sinners, outcasts and good for nothing. But this is not the attitude of Jesus, who is always compassionate, especially to sinners and those rejected in society, and wants us to do the same.

This is evident in our Gospel passage today, where we were told the story of Zacchaeus. A man who was regarded as a public sinner. Wanting to see Jesus, but being small in size, he ran ahead and climbed up a sycamore tree and waited for Jesus to come by. He really had a great desire to see Jesus.

Thus, the attitude of Jesus upon seeing Zacchaeus on the tree was very touching. Jesus does not ask, nor does he demand anything. He only responded to the inner desire of a sinful man who sought to see him, and he said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down. Hurry, because I am to stay at your home today” Zacchaeus got down and received Jesus, in his house with great joy. This encounter brought about his conversion, restitution and restoration.

Here we can see that sometimes in our lives, when we struggle with our inner desires and weaknesses, all we need is to sacrifice our pride and humbly climb the sycamore tree of grace, for on it we find satisfaction and peace.

No doubt, people complained and criticised Jesus, saying, “He has gone to stay at a sinner’s house”. But Jesus does not care about the criticism. He went to the house of Zacchaeus and defended him from the criticism. And rather than calling him a sinner, he called him “son of Abraham”.

Here we see how Jesus accepts those who were not accepted. He offers a place to those who do not have one. He receives as brothers and sisters people whom society and religion rejected.

Similarly, we heard in our first reading how Eleazar demonstrated a life of nobility by refusing to live a life of pretence and defilement, for he resolved to die with honour rather than to live disgraced.

Such pretence he said, “does not square with our time of life; many young people would suppose that Eleazar at the age of ninety had conformed to the foreigners’ way of life, and so be led astray on my account;

This will only bring defilement and disgrace to my old age. For even though for the moment I avoid execution by man, I can never, living or dead, elude the grasp of the Almighty”.

Dear friends, when we climb the sycamore tree of grace salvation comes to our souls. This is what we must learn from Zacchaeus and Eleazar who remained faithful and did not live a life of pretence. We must learn to be a good example to other people and try to accommodate people’s differences and weaknesses.

But how do we accept people who are despised and marginalized in our society? Can we, like Jesus, perceive people’s inner desire for compassion and give them attention?

Remember, the compassion and tenderness of Jesus brought about a total change in the life of Zacchaeus. Why not show some compassion to those we meet today, for it may be the only opportunity to embrace the salvation they will ever have in their life?

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are sinners in need of your mercy. As we climb the sycamore tree of grace with contrite hearts, may you find in us the inner desire for mercies and, in your compassion, purify us and welcome us back to your kingdom. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed day.

Homily For Monday Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 17th November, 2025. The Memorial of St Elizabeth of Hungary

Readings: 1Macc. 1:10-15.41-43.54-57.62-64; Ps.119; Luke:18:35-43

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

KNOWING YOUR NEEDS AND HOW TO PRESENT THEM TO GOD

 

The compassionate love of Jesus in its historical and physical solidarity with human suffering springs from the love of God the Father and constitutes the basis of the Church’s liberating activity, which is rooted in our faith in God. 

Little wonder in today’s Gospel passage, the blind beggar gives us a complete lesson about faith, expressed with total simplicity in front of Christ Jesus. He had faith enough to call out to Jesus as he passed by, even when he was scolded by the people close to him, his need for Jesus was so great that he cried all the louder, Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!

 

Then Jesus asks an unusual question “What do you want me to do for you?” So even though his need was obvious, Jesus wanted him to ask. In the same way today, Jesus is asking us: My child, what do you want me to do for you? 

Why not, like this blind beggar, tell Jesus you need? Even though he knows your needs, you still need to present them before him. This blind man needed his eyesight restored, so he asked Jesus aloud, “Lord, that I may see!” And Jesus said Receive your sight. Your faith has saved you.’

 

Here Jesus reveals his compassion towards human sufferings and wants us to imitate him in trying to overcome these suffering though caused by our sins and disobedience to God’s command as we heard in our first reading today where the king proclaimed his whole kingdom that all were to become a single people, each renouncing his particular customs to accept his religion, sacrificing to idols and profaning the Sabbath. 

The king erected the abomination of desolation above the altar, and any books of the Law that came to light were torn up and burned. Whenever anyone was discovered possessing a copy of the covenant or practising the Law, the king’s decree sentenced him to death. But God never abandoned his people, for those who hoped in him were protected.

This is what we see in the life of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, whose memorial we celebrate today, for she was known for her constant visit to the sick and those who were particularly repulsive; to some, she gave food, to others clothing; some she carried on her shoulders, and performed many other kindly services. For when we live this way, then the coming of the Son of Man will not be a disaster but a day of our final salvation.

Dear friends, what is the one thing you really need in your life? Have we ever felt helpless? Do we feel the need for Jesus’s help in some part of our lives? Why not in faith present it before him who is willing to help us? 

Also, do we know people who are helpless and need some help? How strong is our compassion towards them? Let us look at them for a moment and imagine Jesus looking at them. How does he see them?

 

Therefore, like Jesus, each one of us is called to reach out to people around us who are really in need of our assistance. This includes our family members, our neighbours, our colleagues and others whom we encounter in life. The truth is that you may be the only person who can bring the healing and compassion of Jesus into their lives.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we present our needs before you today, may we experience once again your compassionate love and grant our hearts' desire according to your Holy will, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. It’s another week, and I wish you God’s favour and blessings.

Homily For Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C, 16th November 2025. The World Day For The Poor

  

Readings: Mal. 3:19-20; Ps . 98; 2Thess.3:17-12; Luke:21:5-19

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WHY SHOULD WE CONTINUE TO ENDURE EVEN IN THE MIDST OF  PERSECUTION AND HARDSHIP? 

In most places around the world, we see and hear of human wickedness, intimidation, manipulations, kidnapping, killing and other immoral activities people do for the sake of power, fame, money and lustful desires. And anyone who tries to resist, challenge, correct, change or stop these ugly attitudes becomes an object to be eliminated, as we see in our country today. 

Yet in the midst of all these ugly situations, we are required to continue to speak about God’s goodness, love, compassion and forgiveness. A very difficult task to do, especially when we are suffering as victims of this ugly situation.

Hence, Jesus in our Gospel passage today while talking about the end time event in relation to the destruction of the beautiful temple of Jerusalem, declares that his followers are going to be persecuted on account of bearing witness to his name, a reality that will put even their most cherished relationships to the test: they will be betrayed even by their closest relations and friends. 

However, we should not prepare any defence, he said, because God himself shall give us eloquence and wisdom that none of our opponents will be able to resist or contradict, for our endurance will win us our lives.

Here, as Jesus foretells the destruction of the physical temple in Jerusalem, we need to recall what replaces that temple. This temple was replaced by the presence of the Holy Spirit in the Church and in the soul of humanity. 

So we are born anew to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Though we still talk about the glories of the temple of Jerusalem, how it is being adorned, its splendour and beauty. 

But what about the new temple, be it the physical temple of our Church, or other objects of worship, or that of our homes, our families or even our bodies which is temple of the Holy Spirit, today Jesus is letting us to know that a day will come when they will be destroyed and will no longer exist for nothing last forever in this passing world. So we should not be distracted by the beauty of the things of this passing world or let them separate us from the love of God, be it in the form of persecution or death.

Little wonder Jesus gave us the details of the challenges that await us as his followers, such as arrests, persecution, trials before government authorities, betrayal by family and friends, hatred on account of his name, and even execution. 

He made us know that we should not lay blame on a particular person or group of people, on society, or even on our enemies for such ugly treatment. For they are rather an opportunity to testify and bear witness to him in the world. 

Also in this Gospel, Jesus not only describes what his followers will have to endure, but also offers assurance that he will support them and make them strong. So he made us know that there comes a time in the spiritual life of his followers when they will have to choose to endure, rather than despair. By their endurance, they will gain their lives. Hence, the period of persecution is a time to bear witness through our endurance, courage and tenacity. 

For we heard Prophet Malachi in our first reading saying: The day that is coming is going to burn up evildoers, says the Lord of Hosts, leaving them neither root nor branch. But for those who fear my name, they are the sun of righteousness who shall rise with healing in its wings. 

 

And St. Paul talking about the need to work hard in preparation for the coming of the Lord says in our second reading: we order and call on people who have failed to work to go on quietly working and earning the food that they eat and stop giving unnecessary excuses under the pretence that the coming of the Lord is near.

Dear friends, our message today is centred on hope, faith and love, letting us know that God remains present in the world and also in our lives even when things have gotten so bad that we feel as if the world is over for us. 

So these theological virtues of hope, faith, and love become very important to us, because the circumstances in which Jesus invites us to share the Good News are quite challenging and difficult, especially now that we are passing through difficult times, as individuals, families, societies and countries. 

No doubt we are all affected by the current political crisis, injustice and other social, economic, security and human selfish factors, of which these troubles and conflicts are affecting the whole world. But just as Jesus was not abandoned by his Father in his hour of need, we too will not be abandoned in these times of difficulties. 

Let us be sure that God knows what we are passing through now, and in due time, will give us victory, for Jesus says that our endurance will win us our lives. So do not give up in times of persecution and hardships, for your endurance will win you your life. 

Finally, we will recall that Pope Francis, since 2017, the year of Our Lord, dedicated every last Sunday before the Solemnity of Christ the King, as the World Day of the Poor. An occasion where we are all reminded of the poor, those people in our community who lack the basic needs of life as they depend on others to survive. 

Therefore, today we are called to be of help to the best we can to the poor, knowing that God has a plan for each of us. Each person has been given a special talent according to his/her ability in order to fulfil that plan. So everyone no matter your present condition is special, unique and a masterpiece

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we struggle with the ugly situation in our country today, grant us the courage and strength to endure patiently, especially in these difficult times, through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a fruitful Sunday celebration.