Homily For Friday Octave of Easter, 25th April 2025

Readings: Acts.4:1-12; Ps.117; John:21:1-14

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WHO IS THE TRUE CORNERSTONE OF YOUR LIFE?

For any system or structure to remain firm and sustainable, such structure must be well situated on a solid foundation known as the cornerstone. This is also applicable to most things we do in life.

Today, in our Gospel passage, the disciples of Jesus led by Peter had left Jerusalem and gone all the way back to their native homes to resume their former ways of life as fishermen because they have failed to understand that Jesus is the cornerstone of their lives. So they went fishing all night. After a whole night’s fishing, they caught absolutely nothing, tired and disappointed.

This night of futile fishing left them with empty nets and hopelessness. They have forgotten that without Jesus the cornerstone, they can do nothing. It was at this point that suddenly, a stranger on the shore invited them for breakfast.

Here, Jesus took the initiative and visited them as he engaged them in a dialogue, saying: “Have you caught anything?” They reluctantly admit they have got nothing. Then, he said to them drop your nets on the right side of the boat and you will find something.

They did so and were overwhelmed by the catch they had made. There were so many fish that they simply could not be taken into the boat. Thus, they recognize that it was Jesus the cornerstone of their lives and mission.

Dear friends, who is the cornerstone of your life? Like the disciples, we, too, must come to recognize Jesus as the cornerstone of our lives, who is there for us even in the most mundane moments of our daily lives. The truth is that we all need to have a strong root in everything we do; without a strong root in the Lord, who is our cornerstone, we will not be able to stand firm when the challenges of life hit us.

Little wonder, Peter tells us in our first reading, that Jesus is that stone which the builders rejected, but today is the cornerstone by which we are saved. Today, all over the world, people are struggling with different ugly situations.

In fact, the world is in a state of crisis. As a result, people are suffering, their means of livelihood have been deprived, there is no food, no electricity, no good water, crisis everywhere, poverty is on the increase, house rent is due, and there is no one to run to, some families only look up to God for daily survival.

However, in the midst of these ugly situations, let us know that we are not left alone in our fears and sorrows, for Jesus, the cornerstone of our lives, is nearer to us now than before. We only need to have faith in him and acknowledge him as the cornerstone of our lives and families especially in this difficult moment. Let us be strong, steadfast, courageous and hopeful, knowing that the Joy of the risen Lord is our strength.

LET US PRAY: Lord Jesus, without you we will toil in vain, never cease to be the cornerstone of our lives, our families and the world at large. May the most vulnerable in our midst experience your grace, your help, your healing, your favour and your interventions as we look up to you as our cornerstone. For you live and reign forever and ever. Amen. Have a fruitful day.

Homily For Thursday Octave of Easter, 24th April 2025

 

Readings: Acts.3:11-26; Ps.8; Luke24:35-48

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

A CALL TO BEAR AUTHENTIC WITNESS OF GOD TO THE WORLD

Today, in a special way, Jesus appeared to his disciples, wishing them peace and commissioning them to bear witness to his resurrection. He commissioned his disciples with these words “You are witnesses to this”. And as we know a witness must be someone who has seen and experienced something and could testify to the facts of what he or she has seen.

So, the disciples had witnessed Christ’s suffering, death and resurrection and here comes the mission to witness this to the whole world and to proclaim reconciliation with God through Jesus. We, too, receive this commission of being his witnesses; through our baptism, we are incorporated into the Church to authentically bear witness to the faith we profess.

Dear friends, it is our task to carry on this mission of Christ throughout the whole world. If we do not, then the world will not hear Christ’s message of reconciliation, forgiveness and victory over sin and death, thereby making the world remain ignorant of what God has done for us, and the consequences of this ignorance are the root of the problems in our world today.

However, we can not bear effective witness unless we have a personal experience of the risen Lord. It is this personal experience that enables Peter to bear effective witness of Christ before the people, as we heard in our first reading today (Acts 3:11-26); we too can do the same when we experience the risen Lord personally in our lives.

LET US PRAY: Lord Jesus, let us once again experience you personally in our lives and give us the grace to bear authentic witness of your presence in the world, especially at this moment when the world is in a state of confusion not knowing what to do. Manifest your victorious power afresh in our lives, families, societies and the world at large. You who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. Have a fruitful day.

Homily For Wednesday in Octave of Easter, 23rd April 2025

Readings: Acts.3:1-10; Ps. 104; Luke 24:13-35

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

AN EMMAUS ENCOUNTER OF JESUS AT THE EUCHARISTIC TABLE

Oftentimes, we hardly understand fully the meaning of the faith we profess in Christ. Though we still journey with Christ and his Church without a full understanding of the mystery, we celebrate. Sometimes, we are confused, sometimes we doubt, and sometimes, we feel like going back to our ugly and sinful ways of life.

This type of disposition is the condition of the two disciples of Jesus in our Gospel passage today, where we heard the story about the two disciples who were on their way to Emma’s. The story of these two disciples on the road to Emmaus is one of the most interesting stories in the Gospel that explains the structure of our liturgical celebration in a more practical way.

In this story, they were on a journey when the risen Lord joined them on the way and explained the scriptures to them. These two disciples had no idea who Jesus was when he approached them. They are aware, however, of the recent events in Jerusalem but cannot comprehend them.

But the Lord, after explaining the scriptures, revealed his identity to them at the breaking of bread; when he took a loaf of bread and gave thanks, he broke it and gave it to them just like he did at the Last Supper.

Dear friends, in this same way, the risen Lord journeys with us in our liturgical worship, beginning with the penitential rite where we recall how sinful and unworthy we are before God. Then we recalled the events of our faith as the Lord Jesus takes us through the Scriptures and the celebration of the Eucharist.

Here the faith of the faithful is sustained. It is the place where Jesus continues to reveal himself. Where the Christian faith is born and nurtured, where what Jesus did for us through his suffering, death and resurrection is remembered in thanksgiving. This is the faith Peter and John exercised in our first reading today when they restored the crippled in the name of Jesus.

But the question we need to ask ourselves is, what is our disposition towards the faith we have found in Christ? Have we personally encountered or recognized the presence of God in our lives, especially at Eucharistic celebrations?

Today the Lord Jesus wishes to journey with us in our struggles. He wishes to instruct us more about the faith we found in him. He wishes to reveal himself once again to us if we are going to be disposed enough to listen to him as he speaks to us, especially through the scriptures.

LET US PRAY: Loving Jesus, as we journey together on the road of faith with you, especially in the midst of the ugly situation ravaging the world, help us to always recognize you personally in different events we encounter on the way, especially at the breaking of the Eucharistic bread. You who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. Peace be with you.

Homily For Tuesday of October of Easter, 22nd April, 2025

 

Readings: Acts.2:36-41; Ps. 33; John 20: 11-18

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

AN ENCOUNTER WITH THE RISEN LORD 

One of the most precious gifts God can offer to anyone is the privilege of having a personal experience and encounter with him, especially in this season, which is a moment of encounter. Little wonder our reading this season gives us an account of how different people encountered the Lord Jesus. 

Today, our Gospel passage presents to us the story of a woman who seeks the Lord with all affection and tears. Mary Magdalene came back and remained by the tomb where Jesus was laid and was weeping. Her heart was in earnest to find Jesus. The angels asked her: why are you weeping? She was just busy trying to find the corpse of Jesus. But when she turned around and saw Jesus, her heart was filled with joy and peace.

 

So, we are likely to seek and find the Lord, when we seek him with deepest affection and desire. But often times the clouds and darkness of our sins blind us from recognizing the Lord who is always very close to us. The truth is that our disposition this season matters a lot. 

If we have that true disposition and desire to encounter Jesus we will surely experience him in our lives. It’s just a few days after Easter; how close have we personally embraced the Lord? What difference has his presence made in our lives?

 

Dear friends, the Lord Jesus is at the door knocking and waiting for us to open the door of our hearts so that we will experience him personally. For he, the good shepherd knows his sheep, and he said his sheep would know him when he calls their names. Just like Mary Magdalene recognized Jesus when he called her name. But are we disposed enough to hear him when he speaks to us? 

In different ways and forms, Jesus speaks to us. The common way of making himself known to his people is by his words; his words appeal to our souls, speaking to us in a particular way that is unique to us. Therefore, let us be well disposed to hear the Lord Jesus speaking to us in our hearts,, and there we experience and encounter him personally.

 LET US PRAY: Lord God, our souls desire to encounter your Son, our Lord Jesus, personally once again; give us the grace and strength to always be ready to turn around, to look again, that we may see, experience, feel and recognize your presence in our lives personally and collectively. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed day.

Homily For Monday Octave of Easter, 21st April 2025

Readings: Acts.2:14.22-33; Ps. 16; Matt. 28:8-15

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

THE INVITATION TO GALILEE A PLACE OF ENCOUNTER

After the great event of passion and death of our Lord Jesus Christ, we heard yesterday of the good news of his resurrection, for we are yet to encounter him. So today being a special day, is no doubt a day of encounter, a day we are called to leave the empty tomb of sorrow and go to Galilee, a place of personal encounter with the risen Lord. For we heard in our Gospel passage today how the women who came to the tomb early in the morning ran with fear and great joy. 

They had just encountered the Lord, who invited them to go and tell their brothers that they must leave for Galilee; there, they would see him. This invitation is very symbolic for all Christians because it is an invitation to a place of encounter with our risen Lord. It is the first instruction of the Lord to his disciples. All who believe in the Lord are invited to be part of this invitation to Galilee, for it is a moment when all doubt is cleared, all fear is gone and all hope is fulfilled.

Dear friends, this same invitation is given to us today. But where is Galilee? Galilee is a fertile, mountainous region in northern Israel. It is most notable for being the home of our Lord Jesus Christ. More specifically, the Lower part of the mountain of Galilee is where Jesus grew up and spent the better part of his earthly life and ministry. 

But Galilee is much more than these. It is any place of encounter, especially deep within our hearts, where we can find the Lord Jesus so often because the risen Lord is no longer bound by time or space. Galilee can also be our Church, our neighbourhood, our family, any place of prayer, any place we find the poor and the needy, the sick or anywhere we find ourselves aware of the presence of Jesus. 

Therefore, let us, like the disciples, leave behind the empty tomb of sorrow, pain, fear and uncertainty of the things of this passing world and journey towards Galilee to encounter the risen Lord with joy and praises of alleluia in our hearts. We heard in our first reading how Peter and the other disciples, after their encounter with the risen Lord, expressed their experience with him to the people. We also are called to do the same after our encounter with him today at the Galilee.

LET US PRAY: Lord Jesus, as we journey towards Galilee in expectation to encounter you personally, amidst the pains and sorrows of this life, may the joy of your presence known no bounds in our lives, you who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. Remain blessed.

Homily for The Solemnity of Easter Sunday, 20th April, 2025

 

Readings: Acts.10:34.37-43; Ps. 118; 2Cor 3:1-4; John 20:1-9

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

A ENCOUNTER WITH THE RISEN LORD

For over forty days, we have journeyed with our Lord Jesus; we listened to him speaking of his mission to redeem humanity. Like his first disciples, we experienced his love, healing and compassion; we believed in him even when we lacked the full knowledge of his mission.

On Ash Wednesday as customary, we put on ashes in penitent for our sins. We fasted and abstained from food and other things, and we did great charity work all these forty days. On Palm Sunday, we shouted Hosanna!! Hosanna!! Filio David, on Holy Thursday, we dine with the Lord, though with divided minds, as he told us about the betrayal and his passion. On Good Friday, Jesus was taken away from us; in our presence, he was judged and condemned, and we cried out, crucify him!! Crucify him!!, he was indeed crucified on account of our sins.

 In sorrows and agonies, we were scatted and hopelessly went back to Emmaus by our ugly ways of life. But for some like Mary Magdalene, Peter and John, we wondered in great silence on Holy Saturday, what must have happened to the mission of Christ, in fear and hope we waited patiently in all night vigil meditating on the words of God in search of an answer to the mystery of the salvation of humanity promised to us by Jesus.

Of which in the vigil we heard the voice of an angel singing: Exult!!, let them Exult!!, the host of heaven, Exult!!, let Angel ministers of God Exult, let the trumpet of salvation sound aloud our might King’s triumph! Be glad, let earth be glad, for the stone has been taken away from the tomb, our Lord has risen, Jesus is risen, and light has triumphed over darkness. What a glorious day, a day of victory, a day when the salvation of humanity is won, a day of personal encounter with the risen Lord.

Let us then celebrate the Lord’s victory. Let us like Mary Magdalene, like Peter and John in our Gospel passage today run towards the empty tomb with open hearts to encounter Christ, who had died and is risen in order to renew us, in order to remove from our hearts the guilt of sin and death, so that we can embrace his divine and eternal life.

Dear friends, this is the fundamental core of our Christian faith; this is the victory that transforms us and unites us with our Lord. Hence, if Jesus is risen, and is alive, who will ever be able to separate us from him? Who will ever be able to deprive us of the love of him, who has conquered hatred and overcomes death?

Therefore, I don't know what your experience of the Lord has been in this world; I don't know how you woke up today; I don't know what troubles your mind. But all I know is that today is another gift of God to humanity, a day of joy, a day of victory. A day when the Lord Jesus conquered sin and shame. A day he rose from the dead.

So, I am excited and hopeful and am going to live it with all joy, not trying to change things that I could not change or try to fix things that do not want to be fixed. I will not let the ugly situation in our world today or any ugly event of the past distract me today or steal my joy.

I will focus on the blessings that come with the joy of the risen Lord. I will follow the directives of the Lord, for his ways are right and the upright walk in them, but the transgressors stumble in them. Thus, let us proclaim the Easter victory and spread it throughout the world with the joyful song of Alleluia.

Friends, Christ has come to give us new life, a new life of grace, a new life of peace, a new life of hope, a new life of courage, a new life of joy and purity of heart. This is the fundamental principle of our Christian faith; this is the victory that transforms us and unites us with our Lord.

Hence, if Jesus is risen, and is alive, who will ever be able to separate us from him? Who will ever be able to deprive us of the love of him who has conquered hatred and overcome death by showing us the path of sacrificial love?

Yes, Jesus loves us with a deep and everlasting love. For today, he has paid all our debts to God; he supplies all our daily spiritual needs; he sympathizes with us in all our troubles; he bears with all our infirmities and will not reject us because of our weaknesses. He regards us as part of himself: We share in the glory that he has received from his Father.

These are the privileges of all true Christians who are called to the heavenly kingdom. So today, Jesus is teaching us that the Kingdom of Heaven is not just about ritual or ceremonious fasting or feasting. But it is about building a personal relationship with God, who loves us personally and unconditionally. God has offered us a new life of grace.

So, let us join the angels to sing a new song to God for his sacrificial love for us. Let us thank God for the grace of new life he is offering us today. Let us sing and say:

You are the source of our new life;

In your light we see light,

You show to us your goodness;

You bid us taste and see

We come to you; we bless you, Lord;

We glorify your name!

We praise you Lord; we worship you

We thank you for your gift of New Life.

(New Life! New Life, You came to bring us new life,

New life, New life, we find such Joy in your abundant Life.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, today, the victory of our salvation is won as we experience the Lord. May the joy of the risen Lord fill our hearts today and always. Happy Easter to you and your household.

Homily For Holy Saturday of Easter Vigil, 19th April, 2025

 

Readings: Gen 1:1-22; 22:1-18; Ex.14:15-15:1; Is 54:5-14; 55:1:11; Bar 3:9:9-15.33-4:4; Ez36:16-17.18-28;Ps. 51; Rom. 6:3-11; Ps. 118; Mk. 16:1-7

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

CELEBRATING THE LORD'S VICTORY OVER SIN AND DEATH

 We gathered tonight to celebrate Easter Vigil, which is the peak of the entire liturgical celebration since Holy Thursday. It is a night which is regarded as the mother of all Holy vigils, since it is the night when the Church awaits in prayer the resurrection of our Lord Jesus, who has gone to search for our first parent, as for a lost sheep.

Here, Jesus descended into the dead to visit those who live in darkness and the shadow of death in order to free from sorrow the captives who are captured by the sin and death of our forefathers, Adam and Eve. And to restore them not to their first earthly paradise. But to enthrone them into his heavenly kingdom where they are not forbidden to eat from the tree that was only a symbol of life, but rather, to behold him, who is life itself.

Thus, the liturgy of this night takes us through the journey along the paths of sacred Scriptures beginning with the account of creation to resurrection. Telling us that the creation story is itself a prophecy that is fulfilled in the person of Christ. It is not just information about an account of the process of the origins of things, but rather a pointer towards the true beginning of our being and the fulfilment of God’s plan for humanity.

Now the liturgy is divided into four parts, beginning with the blessings of the fire and the preparation of the Paschal Candle as we wait on the Lord, the liturgy of the word after the Easter exsultet, followed by baptismal renewal and celebration, then the Eucharistic celebration where we encounter the risen Lord at breaking of bread.

The central message of this liturgical event is God’s victory over sin and death. An event that transforms our Sorrowful hearts into glorious joy as Jesus fulfils God’s plan for humanity.

Dear friends, our disposition today should be that of great joy and hope in the resurrection of Christ who has conquered our sins and death. Therefore, let us celebrate this victory with joy despite the hardships, the sufferings and the problems we encounter especially with the ugly situation in our world today. Let this great joy and hope that is rooted in the resurrection of the Lord help us to conquer all fears and worries, for we are victorious by the power of Christ’s victory.

LET US PRAY: Lord Jesus, as we greatly anticipate your resurrection with joy and hope, may you fill our hearts now and always with the joy of your presence, who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.

Happy Easter Vigil to you all.