Homily For Wednesday Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 6th August, 2025. The Feast of Transfiguration of the Lord

 

Readings: Dan. 7:9-10.13-14, Ps.97. 2 Peter.1:16-19. Luke 9:28-36

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

THIS IS MY BELOVED SON LISTEN TO HIM

Today we celebrate the Feast of Transfiguration of the Lord, the mystery and revelation of the true identity of Jesus. The word “Transfiguration” is the combination of two words ‘trans’ meaning change, and ‘figure’ meaning appearance or the outlook of a body.

That is, the change in appearance of Jesus that reveals his true nature as the Divine Son of God, shining forth from his human nature, unveiling that he was not just a Man, but also the great Son of God incarnate in the human flesh. This will help us to understand the true identity of Jesus.

This is important because knowing the true identity of Jesus has always been the desire and quest of most people of his time and even in our time. Most people today still do not really have a grand knowledge of the personality and identity of who Jesus really is and his mission towards the salvation of humanity. So to make known his identity to humanity, Jesus, in our Gospel passage today, chose three of his disciples, Peter, James and John and led them up a high mountain where they could be alone.

There in their presence, he was transfigured: his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. Suddenly Moses and Elijah appeared to them; they were talking with him. Then Peter spoke to Jesus. ‘Lord,’ he said ‘it is wonderful for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three tents here, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.’ He was still speaking when suddenly a bright cloud covered them with shadow, and from the cloud there came a voice which said, ‘This is my Beloved Son listen to him.

So, in this Feast, we remember the revelation of Christ as the beloved Son of the Father, the one we are called to trust and listen to in prayer. An event that occurs to undermine objections to the inevitable event of parousia, which calls us to a life of faith and radical transformation. A transformation that brings about a new outfit that makes one a new person with a new life, a new mind and a new way of doing things.

In this revelation, we recall the presence of the two greatest and most renowned figures from the Old Testament, namely Moses and the prophet Elijah. They represent the law and the prophets, which bear witness to the personality and identity of Jesus and,, to crown all, the voice from the clou,d, which has also been the symbol of God’s presence with His peop, le, bearing witness that Jesus is the Beloved Son of God, calling us to listen to him.

Little wonder St. Peter in our second reading today tells us that, it was not any cleverly invented myths that we were repeating when they brought us the knowledge of the power and the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ; we had seen his majesty for ourselves.

Peter made us know that Jesus was honoured and glorified by God the Father, when the Sublime Glory itself spoke to him and said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; he enjoys my favour.’ He said they heard this themselves, spoken from heaven, when they were with him on the holy mountain.

This event also fulfils the vision of Daniel in our first reading, where he said: I saw, coming on the clouds of heaven, one like a son of man. He came to one of great age and was led into his presence. His sovereignty is an eternal sovereignty which shall never pass away, nor will his empire ever be destroyed.

And the preface of this feast says that Jesus revealed his glory in the presence of chosen witnesses and filled with the greatest splendour that bodily form which he shares with all humanity, that the scandal of the Cross might be removed from the hearts of his disciples.

Dear friends, are we in any way ignorant of the personality, identity and mission of our Lord Jesus Christ? Have we personally experienced the presence of Jesus in our lives? Have we ever encountered Jesus in such a transformative way that changes our sinful ways of life and builds our faith stronger in the Lord?

The truth is, we can change our religion, churches, even our pastors, friends, residence, car or our physical appearance: hair, clothes, colour, ur even our gender as some people do today. But if we don't have a transfigurative experience that will bring about a change of mind and heart towards loving God and our neighbours, we will remain the same and the old experience of unfruitful life will perpetuate itself over and over again. Because everything absolutely changes when we change our minds for good, and that is the essence of today’s feast.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, you never cease to make known to your children the mysteries of your Love for humanity, grant that by listening to the voice of your beloved Son, we may personally experience his love in our lives and merit to become coheirs with him, who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. As you begin the day, may God bless you with a sound mind and unwavering faith in him.

Homily For Tuesday Eighteenth week in Ordinary Time Year C, 5th August, 2025

 

Readings: Num. 12:1-13, Ps 51, Matt. 14:22-36

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

LORD SAVE US FOR WE ARE SINKING IN SINFUL THINGS OF THIS PASSING WORLD

When Jesus, in our Gospel passage today, received the news of John the Baptist’s death, he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side, while he sent the crowds away. When evening came, he was there alone, while the boat, by now far out on the lake, was battling with a heavy sea storm. 

So as the waves were breaking over the boat, the disciples could not believe that Jesus had seen them and was approaching. Hence, they were afraid and needed help from anywhere. It was at this point that they saw Jesus walking on the sea, and he said to them: “Take courage, it is I, do not be afraid”. 

But Peter said, ‘If it is you, Lord, tell me to come to you across the water.’ ‘Come’ said Jesus. Then Peter got out of the boat and started walking towards Jesus across the water, but as soon as he felt the force of the wind, he became afraid and began to sink. So he cried out ‘Lord! Save me!’ Jesus put out his hand at once and held him. 

This story signifies God's chosen people on a transit of faith, frightened by the guilt of sin and wounded by the waves of the sea the abode of evil forces and monsters of this world. The boat can be taken as a symbol of the young Christian Church struggling with the world’s principalities and powers, while the storm is a symbol of persecution suffered by this young Christian community. And Jesus says: "Do not be afraid". 

This, no doubt, is what humanity is passing through today in the hands of a few selfish, evil men and women who have decided to destroy humanity by trying to recreate human beings into an artificial machine against the natural way God has created us in order for a few of them to control the lives and activities of all.  

Today, humanity needs to humbly cry out like Peter, Lord, save us, for we are sinking into the destructive hands of the evil powers of this sinful world. Hence we are called to trust in the Lord and hope in his promises and providence. For it is time for us to listen to God and hold onto him more closely. 

Let us not be like Aaron and Miriam in our first reading, who spoke against God and Moses and were punished for their sins. Rather, let us learn to be humble like Moses, who was known as the most humbled man on earth.

Dear friends, Jesus is calling us today to journey on this boat of life with an unwavering faith and a repentant heart because the world is being tossed around by the waves of evil forces, the enemies of humankind. And it is only God that can subdue it, for he has promised to restore us back to Himself, if only we can trust in him completely. 

So, I don't know the terrible storms of doubt and fear in your soul? Are you under the power of the evil forces of this world? I don’t know how long or deep you have been involved in this evil. All I know is that with great faith in God, the words of Jesus: “Do not be afraid, take courage, it is I,” will surely resound in the hearts of all his children who live in a hostile environment and are victims of the evils in this world.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, save humanity once again, grant that the violent storms and waves of bondage in our lives will end in a wonderful calm that brings peace in our souls. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you the best of God’s favour and blessed.

Homily For Monday Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 4th August, 2025. The Memorial of St John Mary Vianney

 

Readings: Num. 11:4-15, Ps 81, Matt. 14:13-21

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

THE LORD CARES FOR OUR SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL WELLBEING

Humanity is constantly in need of one thing or the other; we are never tired of searching for things that will satisfy our desire for physical and spiritual well-being. This is the situation and condition of the people in our readings today.

In the first reading, we heard how the people of Israel lamented against God and Moses for giving them only manna without any meat, fish, cucumber and garlic, as they were used to in Egypt. And in our Gospel passage, we heard how the people were in search of Jesus for more bread. So as Jesus stepped ashore he saw a large crowd; and he took pity on them and healed their sickness and also miraculously fed them.

Here, Jesus fulfils his role as the expected messiah who is to liberate his people from all kinds of diseases. The healing touch of Jesus reveals to all those who are in need that God is faithful to his promises. This healing and wholeness are offered as a sign of the presence of God’s kingdom among his people. But Jesus did not just heal the sick, he also fed the crowd.

This feeding of the crowd refers back to the journey of the people of God in the desert from Mount Sinai to the promised land, which especially signifies the event of our Eucharistic celebration. The Eucharist has the same characteristics of this miracle: the community gathered together, the transformation of humble elements into a glorified body of Christ to satisfy our spiritual hunger, which is an abundant gift of God to humanity. In fact, because of the link to the Eucharist, this is the only miracle that is reported by all four gospels.

However, we can interpret this miracle of feeding the crowd in two ways. First, we can simply interpret it as a miraculous event, pointing to the divine origin and mission of Jesus. Secondly, we can interpret the miracle as the fruit of sharing with one another, for it is possible that once the disciples began to share the little food they had with those around, others also who had actually brought some food with them started sharing what they have and indeed grace multiplied what they have to the point of having left over.

How I wish humanity could learn to share our resources with one another, believe me, the world will witness another miracle of multiplication of resources that will be enough for everyone with leftovers for future generations. So, as Jesus heals and feeds the physical aspect of humanity, he also knows that we need the food of the Eucharist to sustain us spiritually for our journey to heaven which is our promised land.

Here, Jesus did not bring the loaves and fish out of nowhere. Rather, he took what was offered to him and multiplied it greatly. This bread is the gift of the Eucharist, which we receive back from Jesus, whose heart is always moved with pity and compassion towards us.

Dear friends, God loves us so much, that he is willing and ready to satisfy our unquenchable hunger for physical and spiritual things. Therefore, come to Jesus and embrace his love and you will be satisfied. Let us learn from St. John Mary Vianney, whose memorial we celebrate today. The beloved patron of Parish priests.

Like John Mary Vianney, let us cultivate the right disposition of heart that will enable us to be visionary leaders, leading those entrusted to us safely towards the path of truth and life. Through his life of holiness, preaching, prayer and penance, he was able to transform the lives of the people of his time.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, we are really hungry, in need of your love and satisfaction both physically and spiritually, through the intercession of St. John Mary Vianney feed us once again with your heavenly grace and multiply the little bread and fish we share with others and provide for us the basic needs of life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed week.

Homily For Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C, 3rd August, 2025

 

Reading: Eccl.1:2.2:21-23; Ps. 90; Col. 3:1-5.9-11; Luke 12:13-21

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

FOOL! THIS NIGHT DEMAND WILL BE MADE FOR YOUR SOUL. LIFE IS VANITY VANISHING WITHOUT GOD

There is no doubt that the material things of this passing world are so beautiful and captivating. Of course, they are gifts from God and he alone gives us the right to them. Hence, what we possess is meant to help us grow in our relationship with God and neighbours, not to separate us from them.

But if we are not careful, too much love for material possessions can be an obstacle on our way to God’s Kingdom. Little wonder Jesus, in our Gospel passage today, warns us against covetousness and excessive attachment to worldly possessions, which he greatly emphasised with the story of the rich man's Harvest.

In this story a rich man who, having had a good harvest from his farm, thought to himself, “What am I to do? I do not have enough room to store my crops.” Then he said, “This is what I will do: I will pull down my barns and build bigger ones, and store all my grain and my goods in them, and I will say to my soul: My soul, you have plenty of good things laid by for many years to come; take things easy, eat, drink, have a good time.” But God said to him, “Fool! This very night, the demand will be made for your soul; and this hoard of yours, whose will it be then?

Here, Jesus tells his disciples about the need to live a life of detachment. He used this story to teach his disciples and all of us about the futility of excessive worldly desires and it’s pursuits. Thereby showing us the foolishness of human greed, as well as pride and ego. For in this man we see the uselessness of human selfishness, covetousness and excess desire for worldly possessions.

This is because he constantly focused only on himself saying I will do this, I will do that, ‘my goods, my fruits, my barns, my soul, etc, without any interest or room for his neighbours or the poor. He has no thought of God, nor of his own servants. If he had looked a little beyond himself, he would have seen many places where he could have bestowed his crops. Thus, there is a need for us to constantly prune ourselves from excess love for material possessions of this passing world.

For we heard in our first reading that things of this passing world are vanity without God. That vanity of vanities. All is vanity! Since a man who has laboured wisely, skillfully and successfully must leave what is his own to someone who has not toiled for it at all.

This, of course, is vanity and great injustice; for what does he gain for all the toil and strain that he has undergone under the sun? What of all his laborious days, his cares of office, his restless nights? This, too, is vanity.

The fact remains that material possessions in themselves are good, for we would not survive for long without them, but excess attachment to them at the expense of eternal life is grade one suicide. No doubt, it is difficult to give out or share our possessions, but the ones who give up everything are the ones who receive more in this life as well as in heaven.

For we heard St. Paul in our second reading saying: Let your thoughts be on heavenly things, not on the things that are on the earth, because you have died, and now the life you have is hidden with Christ in God.

That is why we must kill everything in us that belongs only to earthly life: fornication, impurity, guilty passion, evil desires and especially greed, which is the same thing as worshipping a false god; and never tell each other lies. You have stripped off your old behaviour with your old self, and you have put on a new self which will progress towards true knowledge of the image of God.

Dear friends, what is the essence of our existence in this world? What does God really require from us in this life? Do you know that without God everything in life is vanity vanishing? So today Jesus addressed the very thing that most people are not ready to give up. Those things such as: money, houses, credentials, love of power, pride and wealth.

But, if we are honest enough, we will admit that we all have some things we would be very slow to let go if Jesus should make the demand of them. Those things we are so much attached to and would not like God to ask us to give them up for the sake of following him.

In fact, it might be a good thing today for us to ask ourselves what would be the most difficult thing for us to give up if Jesus should ask us to do so. It might be something we own, like our properties, treasures, fame, beauty, influence and power or our wealth; it may be a relationship, or our job, or our habits and attitudes.

So, whatever we possess that will separate us from our mission of following Jesus and loving our neighbours, today we are called to give them up and come follow the Lord, because in leaving them for the sake of Jesus, we actually gain all in abundance.

Therefore, detaching and sharing what we possess with others, especially the poor, is a sure way to find life, peace and happiness. And Jesus is telling us that it will be difficult for us to enter his kingdom when we choose to attach ourselves to the riches of this passing world. Though material possessions are gifts from God and he alone gives us the right to have them, what we possess is not meant to separate us from God; rather, they should help us to grow in our relationship with God and neighbours.

Hence, let us not be carried away by the beauty of the things of this passing world, for nothing lasts forever. Rather, we should remain steadfast in our faith in God, who has called us to love him and to love one another, for that is all that the Lord requires from us in this life.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are living in a world where materialism is the order of the day. Help us to learn how to live a life of detachment and keep us always from the sin of covetousness and pride. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed Sunday celebration.

Homily For Saturday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 2nd August, 2025.

 

Readings: Lev. 25:1.8-17; Ps. 67; Matt. 14:1-12

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia 

WHY DO WE FIND IT DIFFICULT TO ACCEPT THE TRUTH

One thing that the world hates to hear is the sound of the word "truth". Why! Because it makes the world tremble, as most things in the world are built on falsehood and deceit, and people are becoming comfortable with falsehood as a way of life. This is obvious, especially with the ugly situation of society today, where humanity is placed in perpetual darkness and confusion as the voices that speak the truth are silenced by all means.

Today, people want to be "free" to do whatever they like; they don't want anybody to remind them of the hard truth about the realities of life. Hence, they can do anything just to silence the truth. Thus, the cost of speaking the truth has become so expensive that sometimes it costs the life of an individual or even a whole community. It is even more demanding when the truth to be told has to do with the conversion of one in authority.

This is the case with John the Baptist in our Gospel passage today, whose head was the prize he paid for the truth he told to Herod and Herodias. For Herod had arrested John and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. For John had told him, ‘It is against the Law for you to have her.’ Herod had wanted to kill him but was afraid of the people, who regarded John as a prophet.

But, on the occasion of Herod’s birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company, and so delighted Herod that he promised on oath to give her anything she asked. She conspired with the mother and demanded the head of John the Baptist. The king was distressed but, thinking of the oaths he had sworn and of his guests, he ordered John to be beheaded and the head be given to the girl, who took it to her mother.

These ugly attitudes towards John the Baptist point to what is done to Jesus in his Passion, demonstrating how good people, especially when they struggle for truth and justice, are often condemned to suffer in the hands of greed and powerful people, as we have it in our country today. But should we stop speaking the truth because of fear of losing our lives?

I don't think so, because truth saves life, it brings freedom, it releases tension, it brings peace, it settles quarrels and disputes. Truth is freedom which must be offered to everyone, whoever, whenever and however it will best bring conversion to its enemies, just like John the Baptist did to Herod and Herodias even at the expense of his life.

Herod made a bad decision, which, out of pride, he found it difficult to change his mind and admit that he was wrong. He did not plan to execute John that night. He was persuaded by Herodias to do so, because he was a weak man. He is a slave to the opinion of others; he fears the people who revered John; he also fears the reaction of his guests if he should retract his oath.

Dear friends, like Herod, how often do we make decisions out of pride? When we make bad decisions, how quickly are we able to change our minds, to admit that we are wrong? Are we like Herodias, who is waiting for an opportunity to silence the innocents who confront us with the truth?  If today we happen to be one of the guests of Herod, what would have been our reaction? Will I have protested or stayed silent?

Thus, what do we do when we see others suffering injustice? Do we have the courage to protest, even at the cost of losing our jobs and lives? Today we called to speak the truth no matter the cost, for the world needs to hear the truth at all costs. This is the evidence in our first reading today, where the Lord gave the people instructions on how to coordinate themselves in their promised land, for he said Let none of you wrong his neighbour, but fear your God.

LET US PRAY:  Lord God, it is difficult to speak and stand for truth in our world today, give us the grace and courage to become instruments of your word in truth and in deeds, just like St. John the Baptist. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you God’s favour.  

Homily For Friday Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 1st August, 2025. The Memorial of St. Alphonsus Liguori. HAPPY NEW MONTH

 

Readings: Lev. 23:1.4-11.15-16.27.34-37; Ps. 81; Matt. 13:54-58

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

DO NOT GIVE UP WHEN PEOPLE LOOK DOWN ON YOU  

In life, people are quick to neglect and look down on others, who they believe cannot offer them anything good at the moment. They are quick to forget that everyone, no matter the present condition is a potential instrument for God's blessings. This is the ugly attitude of the people of Nazareth in our Gospel passage today. 

For when Jesus came to his home town and taught the people in the synagogue in such a way that they were astonished, but instead of embracing the message of Jesus, they treated him with contempt and in their pride they said: ‘Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers? 

This is the carpenter’s son, surely? Is not his mother the woman called Mary, and his brothers and sisters here with us? Where did he get all these?’ And they would not accept him. But Jesus said to them, ‘A prophet is only despised in his own country and in his own house’, and he did not work many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

Thus, out of pride and contempt, the people rejected the blessings God had for them. Today, this kind of ugly attitude is what stops people from doing good, because they don’t want to be treated with contempt, and as a result, a lot of people have been deprived of their blessings out of human pride and contempt.

This is what the Lord is addressing through Moses in our first reading today. For he said when you enter the land that I give you, and gather in the harvest there, you must bring the first sheaf of your harvest to the priest, and he is to present it to the Lord with the gesture of offering, so that you may be acceptable.

This is what we see in the life of St. Alphonsus Liguori, whose memorial we celebrate today. He was the founder of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer, also known as the Redemptorists. He was truly a holy man and a role model that we can emulate in our own lives. St. Alphonsus Liguori was remembered for his great piety and dedication to serving the people of God, just like Moses. He was known for his simple and yet effective homilies, his courageous and loving outreach to those under his care and in touch with the plight and troubles of the people in his community.

Dear friends, do not treat anyone with contempt, for everyone is a potential instrument of God’s blessings and favour. And if you want to make a difference in life, be ready to ignore what people are saying about you now, forget your past failures and your humble beginning. People may not appreciate you now, they may even say all kinds of things about you, just to humiliate and discourage you.

Put all of them behind you, work hard for your dreams, give your time to it, sacrifice your sleep and comfort, sweat for it, plan for it, overcome all your terrors of opposition, enduring pains and obstacles, with the help of God you will succeed and become a source of God's blessings. 

Then you will sing joyfully to God, your strength, and all the people will gather about you in praise of your God. And they will say: Is not this the Carpenter's son or daughter? Where then did he get all this? Yes, that's who we are, for Jesus is the Carpenter of our success and salvation. 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, oftentimes in our pride, we treat people with contempt because of their humble background, give us the grace to realise that everyone is a potential instrument of your blessings and favour to humanity. And as we struggle towards our goals, may you, through the intercession of Alphonsus, crown all our efforts and sacrifices with success this new month. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.  Happy New Month. 

Homily For Thursday Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 31st July, 2025. The Memorial of St. Ignatius of Loyola

 

Readings: Ex. 40:16-21.34-38; Ps. 84; Matt 13:47-53

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

THE LORD IS OUR POTTER WE ARE RAW CLAY IN HIS HAND 

A story was told of a beautiful clay pot used to decorate a garden. The clay pot was the point of attraction to all, including its fellow ordinary clay. So one day the ordinary clay approached the beautiful clay pot and said, We have no doubt that you are clay just like us. But how come you have become so beautiful and special that everyone admires you? 

The clay pot smiled and said: There was a time when I was nothing but a dumb lump of red clay. Then one day a Potter came with a digger and a hoe, dug me out of the dumb lump, and painfully separated me from my fellow clay and brought me to his house. I cried out, but he ignored me. 

He rolled and pounded me on a wooden table several times without mercy. I cried out, Don’t do that! Leave me alone!’ But the Potter suddenly placed me on a spinning wheel and spun around and around and around until I lost all consciousness. Just when I thought it was over, he placed me carefully into an oven which is hotter than hellfire. 

Why me! I cried out in anguish! But the potter only smiled and gently said: Because you are special! I struggled, I yelled, knocked and broke several times, but the Potter was patient and meticulous in ensuring that I adjusted to his will. Realising that I cannot win, I surrender completely to the will of the Potter, and he only nodded in understanding and quietly said: “It's not over yet! 

Then he pulled me out of the oven, when the heat had cooled, he carefully picked me up, dusted away some dirt, and behold, I was totally transformed, looking so beautiful and special. And the potter smiled and said: This is what you are meant to be. For God has made you into a special vessel for a special purpose. 

This story reflects our relationship with God, who is our Potter. For God has created humanity as beautiful clay in his hands to be moulded into a beautiful and special vessel for the heavenly kingdom. But humanity has sinned and rebelled against God and his plan for us, just like the people of Israel in our first reading today. 

For knowing how stiff-necked they were, God sent Moses to build a tabernacle of his presence from where he guided and moulded his people along their journey according to his plan after they had repented and turned away from their sinful ways of life.

Hence, we are called to repentance and cooperate with God's grace,  for there will be a day of judgement, of which Jesus,s, in our Gospel passage, used a parable to describe that the kingdom of heaven will be like a dragnet cast into the sea that brings in fish of all kinds. 

When it is full, the fishermen haul it ashore; then, sitting down, they collect the good ones in a basket and throw away those that are no use. Here Jesus is telling us that the kingdom is open for all but not all can be suitable to dwell in it, only those who on the judgement day are found suitable can be admitted into the kingdom, just like St. Ignatius of Loyola, whose memorial we celebrate today. 

Dear friends, God is our potter; we are nothing but raw clay, hoping to be moulded into heavenly vessels. So, all God requires from us is for us to let him mould us to become his heavenly vessels. No doubt that sin has destroyed our original nature, but just like when a potter was shaping spoils in his hands and he formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. So will God re-mould us into a new vessel for his heavenly kingdom if we repent from our pride and sinful ways of life. 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, sin and pride have separated humanity from your plans for us. Today, we come to you like a lump of clay in a dump, be our Potter once again and remould us into the heavenly vessels which you planned for us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. God bless you.