Homily For Thursday of the First Week of Advent Year A, 4th December, 2025

 

Readings Isaiah 26:1-6, Ps 117., Matt. 7: 21.24-27

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

BE A DOER OF GOD’S WORDS AND NOT JUST A HEARER

As we embrace the spirit of this season of Advent the Church draws our attention to one of the most important teachings of Jesus as we have it in our Gospel passage today, where Jesus says: ‘It is not those who say to me, “Lord, Lord,” who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven.

And everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on rock. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and hurled themselves against that house, and it did not fall: for it was founded on rock.

Here Jesus calls our attention to something very important. He reminds us that it is not enough to hear the word of God; we must put it into practice. It is not sufficient to speak about God, but we must practice what we say. We are called not merely to hear God’s word but to daily put it into action.

Hearing or reading the Word is important, but that is not enough. We must let the Word of God touch and shape our lives. For it is a waste of time and energy if our lives do not reflect the Gospel we preach, if we do not hear the words of Jesus and act on them.

The truth is that, the houses built by the wise and foolish persons may probably look alike. But the difference is the foundations, which can only be revealed when tested by the storms of life.

And prophet Isaiah in our first reading tells us to trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord is the everlasting Rock; he has brought low those who lived high up in the steep citadel; he brings it down, brings it down to the ground, flings it down in the dust, but the humble he raises up on high.

Dear friends, how do our lives and actions reflect the Word of God we hear every day? What have we been doing with the Word of God we hear every day? What kind of fruit are we bearing? How has the Word of God changed our lives and the lives of those around us?

How has the Word of God challenged and propelled us to love God and our neighbours? Is our attitude towards the word of God like that of the foolish builder who takes shortcuts for quick results? Or that of a wise builder who spends time digging a secure foundation through constant meditation and practice of the word of God.

The fact remains that, hearing and doing the Word of God is building our faith on a rocky foundation, that cornerstone, that solid ground, through the fiercest drought and storms of life, for the fruit of the Word of God in us is seen when tested in the storms of life. Therefore, when we hear the Word, we must apply it to our daily lives, because that's the only way we can feed our souls.

Our society today has enough preachers and hearers of the Word, what we need now are doers of the Word of God. We need men and women who will feed their lives with the Word of God and, from the abundance of their hearts, live a life that will influence society positively.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, through your Word we find life and hope in Christ who is our all in all. May we be doers of your Word and not just hearers, in order to build our faith on a rocky foundation through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you God’s favour and blessings.

Homily Wednesday First Week of Advent Year A, 3rd December, 2025. The Memorial of St. Francis Xavier

 

Readings Isaiah 25:6-10, Ps 23, Matt.: 15:29-37

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

DON’T GIVE UP, THE LORD STILL CARES FOR THE SICK AND THE NEEDY

It’s always the desire of humanity to experience the intervention of God whenever they are passing through difficult situations. This is also the desire and disposition of the people of Israel as they awaited the coming of the Messiah as prophesied by the prophets.

So, in our Gospel passage today, Jesus fulfils his role as the expected Messiah who was to liberate his people from all kinds of diseases. The healing touch of Jesus in our Gospel 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.

For 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. So, we need the food of the Eucharist for our journey to heaven which is our promised land. This bread is the gift that we receive from Jesus whose heart is always moved with pity and compassion towards humanity.

Here, Jesus did not bring the loaves and fish out of nowhere. Rather, he took what was offered to him and multiplied it greatly. We should never think we have little to share with others. Let us learn to share with others, and Jesus will provide for us greatly, for he is the one who feeds the hungry and gives them strength for their journey.

This is what Prophet Isaiah is telling us in our first reading that on this mountain, the Lord of hosts will prepare for all peoples a banquet of rich food. He will wipe away the tears from every cheek; he will take away his people’s shame everywhere on earth. This is what we see in the life of St Francis Xavier, whose memorial we celebrate today.

 Xavier was known to have conducted his life's work with great vitality and zeal. His missionary work came from the support and prayers he was receiving from those who sent him and from the manner in which he viewed his service. He was serving God and helping others. For he was helping others by helping them to find God.

Dear friends, Jesus wants us to learn how to be patient and trust God in times of trouble and tribulations for he alone knows the best time and how best to deal with our problems. For when that time comes he will restore us to his glory and set us free from all the evil forces around us, just like the people in our Gospel passage. All he wants from us is to constantly feed our souls with his Words and Eucharist as we journey towards his kingdom.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we struggle with the forces and troubles of this passing world, may we always find solace in your Word and Eucharist and so conquer our fear and challenges, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Peace be with you. 

Homily For Tuesday in the First Sunday of Advent Year A, 2nd December, 2025

 
Readings Isaiah 11:1-10, Ps 71., Luke 10:21-24

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

BLESSED ARE YOUR EYES FOR THEY SEE AND YOUR EARS FOR THEY HEAR

As we continue with the event of Advent, when we reflect on the two-fold coming of the Lord. We are reminded of the need to participate actively in the mission of Christ and to spend more time with God, and prepare ourselves for his coming just like the disciples in the Gospel passage today. After the seventy disciples of Jesus returned from the mission, he sent them. They rejoiced concerning the great things they had done in his name. 

So, Jesus says, “‘I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to mere children. Yes, Father, for that is what it pleased you to do. Then he said to his disciples, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see, for I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see, and never saw it; to hear what you hear, and never heard it”.  

Here, Jesus rejoiced in his disciples, because of the grace God his Father has given to them to share in the mission of the Son. Yes, the disciples are blessed because, in Jesus, they are beginning to recognise the long-awaited Messiah, whom prophets and Kings longed to see but could not. 

This is what we heard from Prophet Isaiah in our first reading today when he said: A shoot springs from the stock of Jesse, a scion thrusts from his roots: on him the spirit of the Lord rests. His word is a rod that strikes the ruthless, his sentences bring death to the wicked. 

Integrity is the loincloth round his waist, faithfulness the belt about his hips. That day, the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples. It will be sought out by the nations and its home will be glorious.

Dear friends, like the disciples, we also have been given this same grace. So, we are blessed and privileged to share in the mission of Christ. For whenever we spread the word of God, we are sharing in the mission of Jesus, and this should give us great joy because God chose us and gave us the privilege to share in the mission of his Son. 

For he had brought his salvation into the world, for the restoration of hope for all humanity who dwell in darkness in need of the light of Christ, which we are called to embrace in this season of Advent.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we embrace your words this season, may we share greatly in the mission of Christ who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. Wishing you a glorious day.

Homily For Monday in First Week of Advent Year A, 1st December, 2025. HAPPY NEW MONTH

  

Readings: Is. 4:2-6;  Ps.122; Matt 8:5-11

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

THE FAITH OF A ROMAN CENTURION 

In our catechism class, we were taught that faith is a supernatural gift of God, a supernatural virtue infused in us by God. Little wonder our levels of faith are not the same. However, our gift of faith grows depending on our disposition and utilisation of the gift. That is why, when Jesus invites people to faith and conversion, he does not coerce them; rather, they come to faith through their disposition and utilisation of their experience with him. 

This is exactly the case with the Roman centurion in our Gospel passage today, who sorts help for his sick servant, he approached Jesus for healing, but when Jesus accepted to come to his home, the centurion hesitates, feeling unworthy of Jesus’ presence in his home, said to him “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed”.  

Here, the centurion believed that Jesus could speak a word of healing, and that would be enough to cure his servant. He has total faith and trust in the power of Jesus’ word. For him, the servant did not even have to hear Jesus speak the word: it was enough that the word was spoken. Jesus praised his faith and genuine humility. Today, these words of the centurion have become a pattern of prayer for us, that before receiving Holy Communion we say it passionately because his faith and compassion are inspiring examples for us to follow. 

This is exactly the kind of faith that all of us must have as well especially in this Advent season. The faith that leads us to seek God wholeheartedly, to be humble before Him and to love Him above all and not to allow our pride, ego and desires to lead us into faithlessness, disobedience and sin against God. 

And when this is done, we can understand the message of Prophet Isaiah in the first reading today, when he said that the branch of the Lord shall be beauty and glory, and the fruit of the earth shall be the pride and adornment of Israel’s survivors. Those who are left of Zion and remain of Jerusalem shall be called holy.

Dear friends, let us learn to put into action the gift of faith that the Lord has given us, just like this Roman Centurion. But the questions we need to ask ourselves are: do we still have total faith and trust in God just like the centurion? What is our disposition towards the gift of faith that God has given us? Do you know that our experiences of evil, injustice, suffering and death can shake or shape the gift of faith in us depending on our disposition. 

The centurion interceded for his sick servant, do we intercede for others who are in need of God’s healing and mercy? Do we know that we can speak God’s word in prayer and someone, somewhere, will find healing? Do we often, like this centurion, recognise in all humility our unworthiness before God?  We are called today to learn from this man’s act of humility and faith.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are weak, and oftentimes we display an act of faithlessness due to the pressure and challenges of life. As we embrace the season of Advent, may you increase our faith and make us humble and patient. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed month.

Homily For First Sunday of Advent Year A, 30th November, 2025

 

Readings: Is. 2:1-5; Ps.122; Romans 13:11-14; Matt. 24:37-44

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

COME LET US PREPARE FOR THE COMING OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

Last Sunday we celebrated the event of Christ the Universal King, an event that marks the end of the liturgical year C. Today is the beginning of another liturgical circle in the liturgical calendar of the Church, the first liturgical year within the three years of A, B and C. So with this Holy season of Advent, we are beginning the liturgical year A.

The season of Advent, as we know, is one of the most important seasons in the life of every Christian. The word Advent comes from the Latin root, Adventus, which means ‘arrival’ though from the root word advenire whereby “ad” means ‘to’ and venire means ‘come’ that is, “to come” or “the coming of someone great”.

Moreover, Advent season is a period of intense preparations and a time of waiting in hope for the coming of the Lord, which is in two folds: first, the coming of the Lord as the Messia, that is, the birth of Jesus at Christmas. And secondly, the return of Jesus at the Second Coming “ the parousia”. This is why the Advent season is divided into two parts.

The first, which runs from the first Sunday until the 16th of December, dwells on the second coming of Christ, which is regarded as the eschatological aspect of Advent. While the second aspect, which focuses on the first coming of Christ at Bethlehem, runs from 17th to 24th December.

Hence, Advent is a season characterised by four major themes which include: ‘Hope’, ‘Peace’, ‘Joy’ and ‘Love’. So, in this first week of Advent, our focus is on hope and preparation. A joyful hope that prepares us for the coming of our Saviour who is our hope.

Thus, as we anticipate the birth of Christ who is the source of our salvation, our hope and the Light that dispels the darkness of this world, it is our duty as Christians to keep hope alive in the world, for as long as there is hope, no situation is impossible.

But what should be our disposition this Holy season of Advent? Our disposition should be one of watchful expectation in order to recognise the Lord and be at peace with him when he comes. We are to be ready and prepared to welcome him with joy in our daily lives.

Hence, this is the season of reconciliation between God and us and also with one another. It is a season when we have to reexamine our way of life. It is a time of reconfiguration of our lives to that of Christ.

 It is also a season to take stock of what we have done and what we are going to do from now onwards.

This is important because our disposition to welcoming the Lord take place through our ways of doing things, our desire for conversion and holiness, which shapes our lives more to that of Christ who showers his love, mercy and compassion to all.

This is what the readings of this season call our attention to, especially in the two-fold coming of Christ as we have it in today’s readings. In the first reading today, we heard the prophet Isaiah saying: Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the Temple of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.

And we heard St. Paul in our second reading saying: brethren, you know what hour it is now, how it is full time now for you to wake from sleep. For our salvation is even nearer than it was when we were converted. The night is far gone, the daylight is at hand. Let us give up all the things we prefer to do under the cover of the dark; let us arm ourselves and appear in the light.

Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armour of light; let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day: not in revelling and drunkenness, no more promiscuity or licentiousness, and no more quarrelling or jealousy. Let us put on the armour of Christ and make no provision for the flesh.

While in the Gospel, the Lord Jesus urges us to be awake at all times, for our salvation is very near, so that we will not be taken by surprise and unprepared. He said: As it was in the days of Noah, so will it be when the Son of Man comes. For in those days before the Flood people were eating, drinking, taking wives, taking husbands, right up to the day Noah went into the ark, and they suspected nothing till the Flood came and swept all away. It will be the same when the Son of Man comes. Then of two men in the fields one is taken, one left; of two women at the millstone grinding, one is taken, one left.

Here, we can see how life was going on normally when the flood consumed them. The people were engaged in their everyday activities, when the disaster struck. No extraordinary warning, no premonition, no time to plan an escape. So too the Son of Man will come suddenly and unexpectedly. Our times certainly sound very much like Noah’s days, where everyone seems so busy and distracted, unable to concentrate on what is really important.

But Jesus is warning us today that the time for decision can catch us unawares. He insists that with a real sense of urgency, we need to take our lives seriously. For there are many deceivers in the world who are making us too comfortable with the things of this passing world at the expense of heavenly things.

Dear friends, today we are called to be ready, we are called to repentance, we are called to embrace the new life the Lord is offering us. We are called to a life of constant struggle towards perfection. If we have not yet trusted in Christ Jesus as our Saviour, we should do so now for tomorrow may be too late.

If there are ugly behaviours and sins we are yet to give up, the time to do that is now. Jesus tells us that we will not have any warning signs of the coming day of judgment any more than the preaching of the Gospel, for there will be no time to repent when that day comes.

This is what this season of Advent is all about and the Church is offering us another opportunity to encounter the Lord personally and to make that encounter a permanent experience. We should place our hope in Christ, for while there is hope, there is life.

For it is because of the Lord that we can hope once again, knowing that beyond the sufferings of humanity due to sin and death, there is Light that dispels the falsehoods of evil and the despair of darkness that covers the whole world.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we embrace this season in expectation of the coming of Christ your Son, may the Holy Spirit inspire us to have the right disposition that will enable us to embrace the Lord when he comes. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Happy Sunday and God bless you.

Homily For Saturday Thirty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 29th November, 2025

 

Readings: Dan. 7:15-27; Ps. Dan. 3:82-87; Luke:21:34-36

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

BE CAREFUL WITH THE THINGS OF THIS PASSING WORLD OR YOUR HEART BE LED ASTRAY

The things of this world are so captivating that if we are not careful, we will be like a foolish traveller who, having encountered a pleasant garden, forgets to continue towards his destination.

This is exactly what Jesus is trying to draw our attention to in our Gospel passage today when he said: Watch yourselves, or your hearts will be coarsened with debauchery and drunkenness and the cares of life, and that day will be sprung on you suddenly, like a trap. For it will come down on every living man on the face of the earth.

Here Jesus is reprimanding us concerning the danger of attaching ourselves so deeply to the things of this passing world. For we are often interested in the external beauty of things around us while neglecting the essence of life. We are interested only in worldly goods and not the things of the heart like justice, mercy, love and compassion.

So Jesus is telling us to change our ugly ways of life, for it is time for us to look into our lives and examine ourselves to know whether we have been living in accordance with God’s will, or whether we have fallen astray. Then, we can also look forward towards the life that is to come, which God has promised us through his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.

Moreover, what becomes of us after the coming of our Lord is what the prophet Daniel in our first reading is talking about when he said: All sovereignty and kingship, and the splendours of all the kingdoms under heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Most High. His sovereignty is an eternal sovereignty and every empire will serve and obey him.’

Dear friends, we must not let the cares of the things of this passing world rob us of the grace of heaven since we believe that our true homeland is in heaven. But how are we preparing to embrace our heavenly home?

Today, people hardly reflect on the coming of Christ, which was so strong in the early days of the Christian movement, leaving a strong impression on the disciples of Christ. So like the servants awaiting their master’s return, we are called to be ready and to watch at all times for the day of the Lord which will come at the hour we do not know.

Thus, we are to be prepared knowing that our most important ‘treasure’ is our heavenly home which God has promised to give us. Therefore, the best thing we can do with our worldly possessions is to use them for the good of others, especially the poor, since we are responsible and accountable for one another’s welfare.

This divine generosity is meant to help us in preparation for the coming of Christ. Remember what really matters in life is our capacity and readiness to receive what God has in store for us in heaven.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we continue our struggles with the ugly events of this passing world, may you continue to guide us and strengthen us in our journey of life and help us to endure our trials and challenges, for you alone are our source of strength, hope and fulfilment in life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Have a blessed weekend.

Homily For Friday Thirty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 28th November, 2025

 

Readings: Dan. 7:2-14; Ps.Dan.3:53-59; Luke:21:29-33

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

KNOW THAT THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS NEAR 

St. John of the Cross, one of the doctors and mystics of the Church, says that: the further you withdraw from earthly things, the closer you approach heavenly things, and the more you find yourself in God. This advice will be very helpful as we come to the end of this liturgical year and are about to embrace the season of Advent, when the Church calls our attention to the need to be prepared for the coming of the Lord, and most of our readings draw our attention to this.

 

Thus, in our Gospel passage today, Jesus tells us about the passing away of the things of this world and the dreadful events associated with it in relation to the end-time events. He illustrates the signs of this event with the story of the fig tree, telling us to take notice of the signs of the times for they will help us to discern between what is of true value and what is passing away. 

Here Jesus presents the final recommendations of the end-time. He insists that we should pay rapt attention to the signs nature is giving us concerning the end-time events, that these signs should lead us to have hope founded firmly on the word of God which drives away fear and despair, knowing that the kingdom of God is very near to us.

 

And this is what we have in our first reading today, where we heard about the vision of the prophet Daniel talking about the passing away of the kingdoms and things of this world and the coming of God’s Kingdom when he said: I gazed into the visions of the night. And 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. On him was conferred sovereignty, glory and kingship, and men of all peoples, nations and languages became his servants. His sovereignty is an eternal sovereignty which shall never pass away, nor will his empire ever be destroyed.

 

Dear friends, heaven and earth will pass away but God's Word will never pass away. So this new month we are reminded once again that all those who refuse to believe in God after hearing his words but choose to follow the devil and his false prophets will be destroyed and defeated completely. For he and his agents and those who follow him will be thrown into the burning lake of eternal darkness. God’s faithful people will triumph victoriously in heaven.

 

But how are we embracing the word of God we hear at this period? What signs are we seeing around us today? How can we interpret the signs of this time, the signs that tell us that this world is passing away? Do these signs make us dread the second coming of the Lord or joyfully embrace it in anticipation? Remember, the words of Jesus are the truth that will never pass away. Therefore, stand erect, and hold your heads high, because our liberation is near at hand.

 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, humanity has been greatly deceived by the devil, who has made us so attached to the things of this passing world. As we embrace your words this season, may our souls once again long and yearn for you our God, the living God. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Peace be with you