Homily For Saturday Seventh Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 1st March 2025. (Happy New Month)

 

Readings: Sir. 17:1-13; Ps. 103; Mark: 10:13-16

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

THE RIGHT DISPOSITION TOWARDS EMBRACING THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Oftentimes, whenever we contemplate the kingdom of God, two questions come to mind; the first question is how will it look like? And the second question is how are we going to be part of it? These questions are very important because we need to have the right disposition towards embracing the kingdom. 

Hence, in our Gospel passage today, Jesus gave us the guiding principles of what should be our disposition towards the kingdom when he said: Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. I tell you solemnly, anyone who does not welcome the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.’

Here, Jesus surprised his disciples by welcoming little children and set them as an example of what should be our attitude and disposition towards the kingdom. This is because children are docile, humble, teachable, loving, forgiven and dependent. Such disposition is necessary for anyone who wishes to embrace the kingdom of God. 

Thus, Jesus explains that in the kingdom of heaven, true greatness is found in humility and children serve as a symbol of humility. For they are dependent on adults for everything, just as we also are dependent on God. Little children serve as concrete symbols of simplicity, which is a condition for entering the kingdom of heaven. 

So, in children we see these great virtues of simplicity and humility being present. Then, we can understand why Jesus ordered that children should be brought to him and that nothing should be said or done to hinder them. Therefore, we must receive the kingdom of God as little children; we must stand affected by Christ and his grace as little children to their parents and guidance.

Dear friends, how many of us today possess these qualities of little children? How are we docile to this invitation of Jesus calling us to be humble and obedient to God’s instructions? How many of us are still innocent and pure like little children? How many of them are peaceful, forgiven and loving like little children? Today the Lord is calling us to embrace these qualities of little children to have the right disposition towards embracing the kingdom of God.

Little wonder, we are told in our first reading today that the Lord fashioned man from the earth, to consign him back to it. He gave them so many days’ determined time, he gave them authority over everything on earth. He said to them, ‘Beware of all wrong-doing’; he gave each a commandment concerning his neighbour. Their ways are always under his eye, they cannot be hidden from his sight. Therefore, let us, in childlike disposition, look out for one another as we embrace the kingdom of God.

 LET US PRAY: Lord God, we have become so much engrossed with the competitive activities of this world out of pride, Grant that we may embrace your kingdom with childlike humility and disposition that is rooted in the humble service of one another; we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed and fruitful New Month.

Homily For Friday Seventh Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 28th February 2025

 

Readings: Sir. 6:5-7; Ps. 119; Mark: 10:1-12

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

UNDERSTANDING THE TRUE MEANING OF MARRIAGE AND FAMILY LIFE

The fragile nature of our society today has placed in the minds of the youths a distorted image of what marriage and family life entail and truly represent in society. This is because many young people today find themselves in a condition of radical instability and look for people to help them answer the fundamental questions of life. Today, there are different notions and understandings of marriage, especially among the youth.

Today, marriage is seen as a business in which anybody can engage or disengage at any time. Marriage among the youths of today is a thing of choice and contract which is suitable only when it serves their personal interest. Commitment, sacrifice and partnerships of whole life are far from their understanding of what marriage truly represents. The fact remains that Marriage is the basis of every human family and, indeed, the basic cell of every human community.

Little wonder in our Gospel passage today when the Pharisees engaged Jesus on the notion of divorce in marriage and its controversy. Jesus referred them to the fundamental principle of marriage when he said: It was because you were so unteachable that Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but it was not like this from the beginning. Because from the beginning of creation, God made them male and female. This is why a man must leave his father and mother, and the two become one body. They are no longer two, therefore, but one body. So then, what God has united, man must not divide.

Here, Jesus emphasized the real intention of God about marriage. He ruled out divorce by placing men and women on the same level; no longer could a man opt to divorce his wife. But, today, there are lots of problems in families due to a lack of understanding of what marriage truly means. It is quite interesting to realize that social, economic and political factors were major determinants that shape the youth's present understanding of marriage.

Today, we see the youths giving importance to changing trends in marriage such as single parent, inter-caste marriage, living in a relationship or cohabitation, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender marriages, etc. Hence, marriage for them is more of a social phenomenon than spiritual union and physical companionship.

Dear friends, today we are called to embrace the will of God and his teaching concerning marriage and family life. We should not let the trending ideas of disordered personalities in our society mislead us. Rather, we should value and respect the sanctity of marriage We should know that marriage is not just a contract but more of a covenant sealed with an oath that must not be broken.

Hence, we are told in our first reading today that a faithful friend is a sure shelter; whoever finds one has found a rare treasure. A faithful friend is something beyond price, there is no measuring his worth. A faithful friend is the elixir of life and those who fear the Lord will find one. Whoever fears the Lord makes true friends, for as a man is, so is his friend.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we have always failed to listen and follow your teaching. As a result, there are lots of problems in our families due to a lack of understanding of what marriage truly means. As we listen to your teaching today, help us to value our vocation, whether marriage or celibate life and to constantly struggle to fix the problems in our families; we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. God bless you.

Homily For Thursday Seventh Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 27th February 2025

 

Readings Sir. 5:1-8; Ps.1; Mark: 9:41-50

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

LET US NOT LOSE THE TASTE OF OUR CHRISTIAN FAITH

The way things are going in our societies today, we really need to think twice about our faith as Christians and whether we are actually ready to live out our faith in the midst of the ugly situation in our country today. The way people are so attached to the things of this passing world is really disturbing, for this, no doubt is affecting our Christian values and principles.

So, if we are really willing to live out our Christian faith and obligations, then we need to make a radical decision towards our discipleship in a personal and radical way these days, it is not enough to say I am a Christian; we must convincingly and radically demonstrate it.

Little wonder Jesus in our Gospel passage today, takes his discourse on discipleship to a radical and difficult level when he said: anyone who is an obstacle to bring down one of these little ones who have faith, would be better thrown into the sea with a great millstone round his neck. And if your hand should cause you to sin, cut it off; you should enter into life crippled, than to have two hands and go to hell, into the fire that cannot be put out. For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is a good thing, but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it again? Have salt in yourselves and be at peace with one another.’

Here, Jesus wants us to accept the consequences that come with the truth of the Gospel teaching, more importantly, when it comes to living out the Gospel message radically, especially in a situation where humanity is deeply engrossed in sinful things of this passing world and the values of human life have been thrown out of caution as a result of secularism, individualism and excess desires for worldly pleasures and possessions, 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 require the sacrifice of some aspects of our physical appearance for we must not let them distract us from our heavenly glory.

Hence, we are advised in our first reading today not to give our heart to our money, or say, ‘With this, I am self-sufficient.’ We should not be led by our appetites and energy to follow the passions of our hearts. We should not set our hearts on ill-gotten gains; They will be of no use to us on the day of disaster.

Dear friends, we are called today to make a radical decision to sincerely and faithfully live out our Christian faith and morals. But how much are we willing to let go for the sake of our faith in God? Why are we finding it difficult to follow the instructions of Jesus? What are habitual desires and possessions that are holding us from making this radical decision today?

So, wherever sin, selfishness and corruption have made our life tasteless, let the salt of our good attitude and character make it tasty. Where sin and immorality have made humanity filthy and ugly, let our salt of holiness purify. Remember, if we lose the value and taste of who we are as Christians, the world will trample upon us because we will be good. Therefore, it is time to come to God with all our hearts, for tomorrow may be too late.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, the excess desire for the pleasurable things of this passing world have weakened our hearts towards you, give us courage and grace to let go of our ugly desires and attachment to them, so as to hold firm in our faith despite losing things that are dear to us, This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a fruitful day. 

Homily For Wednesday, Seventh Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 26th February 2025

 

Readings: Sir 4:11-19; Ps.119; Mark: 9:38-40

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

LET US LEARN TO COLLABORATE AND ACCOMMODATE EACH OTHER

There is no doubt that the Christian faith can be very demanding and ambiguous for those who do not understand the sacrificial nature of our missionary life. To deal with these challenges, we must learn to discipline ourselves and collaborate with one another. 

So discipline and collaboration must be central to the Christian mission since the Christian faith comes across different categories of people, which requires that there should be room to accommodate one another in that single language of sacrificial love towards Christ's missionary mandate. 

This very discipline and collaborative nature of our faith is what Jesus is addressing in our Gospel passage today when John had said to him, master; we saw a man who is not one of us casting out devils in your name; because he was not one of us, we tried to stop him.’ But Jesus said, ‘You must not stop him: no one who works a miracle in my name is likely to speak evil of me. Anyone who is not against us is for us.

Here, Jesus is speaking to his disciples and to all of us about doing the works for the glory of God, saying that we should not stop people from doing the good works of God even if the people do not belong to the same group as us. This is because, the disciples of Jesus saw some people who were doing works in the name of Jesus, casting out demons and healing in his name, and they tried to stop them from doing so. 

Why? Because the disciples had received from Jesus the authority and power to perform miracles, they wanted to keep these gifts and authority exclusive to themselves. But Jesus rebuked such a selfish attitude shown by the disciples because Jesus desires that everyone who wishes to do the work of God should be accommodated regardless of their background and affiliations.

Dear friends, by virtue of our baptism and confirmation, we have received the same Spirit of God that gives us the authority to do great works for God. Therefore, we, too, have been entrusted with the missionary mandate of Christ. So, it is our responsibility to make good use of the various gifts and opportunities God has given us by ensuring that we discipline ourselves and learn to accommodate other people’s gifts and charisms. 

We must make wisdom our priority and learn how to collaborate and accommodate other people who speak the one true language of Christ which is sacrificial love. For we are told in our first reading that those who serve wisdom minister to the Holy One, and the Lord loves those who love her. Whoever obeys her judges aright, and whoever pays attention to her dwells secure.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we thank you for the gift of the Holy Spirit, who has always been our guide. Help us to be more accommodating and collaborate with one another as we carry out your missionary mandate of love for each other. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. God bless you.

Homily For Tuesday Seventh Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 25th, 2025

 

Readings: Sir.2:1-11; Ps. 37; Mark: 9:30-37

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

LESSONS ABOUT TRUE GREATNESS

Human life and activities are always competitive and comparative in nature, which is why we are often anxious to recognize or be recognized as the strongest, wisest, cleverest, and richest. We will always want to know the most beautiful, handsome, most talented and greatest in virtually everything. 

Little wonder, the most lucrative businesses and adventures are found among those activities that are competitive, such as sports, entertainment and politics. This is because we feel great participating in such events and greatness gives more ego to our status. But this has brought about the ugly attitude of selfish ambition among people.

So, this selfish ambitious, competitive and comparative way of life is what the disciples of Jesus displayed in our Gospel passage today, where we heard how they were arguing about who is the greatest among them. It is quite surprising for them to be arguing for such intention just after Jesus had told them that he would be delivered into the hands of men, they would put him to death, and three days after he had been put to death, he would rise again. 

This shows that his disciples had not grasped his teaching thereby exposing the danger between the mission of Christ and human selfish ambition as a result of ignorance. But, Jesus knowing the ugly intentions of his disciples, showed them the way to identify true greatness using the images of a humble child.

 Here, Jesus surprised his disciples by linking true greatness to the humility and simplicity of a little child and also showed how children can be the subject of a parable that reveals the vanity and deception found in some great persons. Because children are docile, humble, teachable, loving, forgiven and dependent.

Thus, Jesus explains that in the kingdom of heaven, true greatness is found in humility, and children serve as a symbol of humility as they are dependent on adults for everything,g, just as we also are dependent on God. Little children serve as concrete symbols of simplicity, which is a condition for entering the kingdom of heaven. 

So, in children, we found these great virtues of simplicity and humility. Hence, parents should encourage their children to participate in activities where they display these virtues. 

Dear friends, true greatness is found in humble service and not in human selfish ambition. Today, we see in the lives of the disciples the danger of human selfish ambition and how to deal with it in relation to the mission of Christ, especially in the midst of ignorance and proud people. 

Little wonder we were told in our first reading: my son if you aspire to serve the Lord, prepare yourself for an ordeal. Be sincere of heart, be steadfast, and do not be alarmed when disaster comes. Cling to him and do not leave him, so that you may be honoured at the end of your days.

Therefore, we are reminded that true greatness and ambition are found in humble service to others. But this is exactly what many of us are lacking. We are so proud, greedy and selfish, as we are deeply attached to the pleasurable things of this passing world, which prevents us from seeking true greatness that leads to the heavenly kingdom. 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, amidst the danger of selfish human ambition in relation to your mission, we have become so much engrossed with the competitive activities of this world, seeking to be great in things that are passing away, grant that, we may embrace true greatness rooted in the humble service of our neighbours, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed and fruitful day.

Homily For Monday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 24th, 2025

 

Readings: Sir.1:1-10; Ps. 93; Mark: 9:14-29

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

EVERYTHING IS POSSIBLE FOR THOSE WHO HAVE PUT THEIR FAITH INTO POSITIVE ACTION

Oftentimes, we think that we have faith enough to face whatever challenges that come our way. But the fact remains that we can only know the level and capacity of our faith when we are truly faced with a situation that overwhelms our physical and mental abilities. Then, we will realize that what we think we have as faith is nothing but a shadow of reality. Such was the situation with the disciples of Jesus in our Gospel passage today.

For a man came up to Jesus begging him to deliver his son, who he brought to the disciples, but they were unable to cure him. But Jesus said ‘faithless and perverse generation!’ ‘How much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I put up with you? And he said to the man: ‘Everything is possible for anyone who has faith.’ Immediately the man cried out, ‘I do have faith. Help the little faith I have!’

Then, Jesus said: Bring him here to me.’ And he rebuked the devil, who immediately came out of the boy and he was cured from that moment. Then the disciples came privately to Jesus. ‘Why were we unable to cast it out? Jesus answered, that this kind can only be driven out by prayer.

Here, Jesus gives two reasons why the apostles failed to cure the boy. The first is connected with their own moral condition and disposition as they are only depending on their own personal abilities. Secondly and more importantly is their lack of faith.

Though they had, indeed, shown some faith by making even the attempt at the expulsion of the devil, they had acted half-heartedly and had not displayed that perfect confidence and trust which alone can bring success and make all things possible. Thus, Jesus made them know that in extreme situations faith in our prayers is very necessary towards achieving our desires.

Therefore, If we begin to nurture our faith to grow and strengthen from a small, humble beginning, it will grow to the point that it can help us to perform and achieve greater things and conquer the most difficult situations that, at first, would appear impossible. So faith moving mountains implies the spiritual ability to make difficult and stumbling situations vanish.

This, of course, requires wisdom, humility and sacrifice. Little wonder, we were told in our first that all wisdom is from the Lord, and it is his own forever. The sand of the sea and the raindrops, and the days of eternity, who can assess them? The height of the sky the breadth of the earth, and the depth of the abyss, who can probe them.

Dear friends, if we want to grow in faith, we must cultivate a humble habit in our prayer life. This is important because in prayer we are well disposed to follow the instructions of the Lord. Because, for us to have the faith that moves mountains, we must be well deposed to embrace the power of God in our lives; we must desire to have a personal experience of the power of God at work in the world and acknowledge that in him come our victory over every situation with encounter.

Therefore, we are called to let every moment of difficulties and trials lead us to grow in faith and knowledge of God’s power and authority at work in us.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, faith is your supernatural gift to humanity; grant that we may embrace this gift in humility to be well disposed to move out of our lives the tough mountains that are crushing us on our daily struggles. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a joyful week ahead.

Homily For Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C, 23rd February 2025

  

Readings: 1 Sam. 26:2.7-9.12-13.22-23;  Ps. 103; 1Cor.15:45-49; Luke 6:27-38

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

SACRIFICIAL LOVE: THE MOST DIFFICULT ASPECT OF CHRISTIAN MISSION 

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 and created for ourselves a mirage in the name of love. 

Today love has become a tool for selfishness, deception, greed and emotional satisfaction. Thus, it is extremely difficult to practice the genuine love of neighbours and talk more of the sacrificial love of our enemies.

But this is the demand Jesus is making of all his disciples in our Gospel passage today when he said: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who treat you badly. To the man who slaps you on one cheek, present the other cheek too; to the man who takes your cloak from you, do not refuse your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and do not ask for your property back from the man who robs you. Treat others as you would like them to treat you. If you love those who love you, what thanks can you expect? Even sinners love those who love them. 

So, in this Gospel, Jesus gave us reasons why we must choose love over hatred and forgiveness over vengeance. For he made us know that it is natural and universal for human beings to love those who love them. But what makes his disciples different from other people is the ability to love not just everyone but to love their enemies and not take vengeance or bear grudges against one another. By so doing, they will be imitating God, their heavenly Father, who in his compassionate heart shows equal love to both the good and the bad, not because he is indifferent to morality, but because his love knows no bounds.  

Hence, we are called to love and to be loving in all things, for that is the essence of our Christian faith. 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. We must learn to bear with one another and forgive each other as soon as a quarrel begins. The Lord has forgiven us; now we must do the same. 

This is exactly what David demonstrated in our first reading today when he chose to spare the life of King Saul. David could have killed Saul since God had placed his enemy in his mercy. Yet, as we heard, David did not. He even rebuked his fellow men and told them that they could not touch Saul or his men. Although Saul might have fallen from grace and sinned against God, he was anointed by God. 

So, it was not right to kill God’s anointed regardless of the circumstances. Instead, David, even at the risk of his life, spared the life of Saul, for he could have killed him and taken over his throne since he, too, had been anointed to be King. What a magnanimity of heart. Here, David showed not just Saul but all of us what it means to love sacrificially, just like Jesus has instructed us today, who also demonstrated the same thing on the cross.

Dear friends, how many of us Christians are willing and able to follow these instructions of the Lord? How many of us today are ready to follow the examples of the Lord’s disciples? How many are ready to follow the example of David? But all of us have received the love of God, and we have witnessed the love of God made manifest, and now we are all reminded that we have the obligation to show that same love in our daily activities.

 Hence, today we are called to a life of deeper virtue. We are called to a life of sacrificial love. We are called to perfection, we are called to choose love over hatred and forgiveness over vengeance. But when Jesus talks about loving our enemies, he is not telling us to be passive in the face of physical danger or abuse. Rather he wants us to realize that hatred is a dangerous thing and must be handled with great care. Because hatred breeds violence and other things that weaken the human soul. 

The truth is that our enemies are not necessarily those who we are at war with, those making life difficult for us or those we think hate us. But, our real enemies are those whom we choose to hate. And the best way to destroy our enemies is to discover how best we can make them become our friends, not by hating or carrying out vengeance. 

How I wish humanity would embrace this principle of loving and stretching the hands of friendship and peace to our presumed enemies by investing more resources in things that bring about peace and friendship with one another rather than building a nuclear weapon that breeds more violence and hatred in the world. When this is done, then the world will become more peaceful and loving.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, it is difficult and demanding for us to love our enemies, but this is what you are commanding us to do, give us the grace to bear the sacrificial nature of this demand and so become a true sign of your loving presence to those we encounter in life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a fruitful Sunday celebration.