Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A, 16th August, 2020.

Readings: Is. 56:1.6-7, Ps. 67, Rom. 11:13-15.29-32, Matt. 15:21-28
Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

THE POWER OF HUMILITY AND PERSISTENCY

In our society today, most people hardly accept who they are. Today people spent all their resources and energy trying to convince others of what they are not by seeking their approval. Some even go as far as changing their identity, just for the sake of belonging to a particular class or to obtain favour or job opportunities. This is not the same with the Canaanite woman in our Gospel passage today (Matt. 15:21-28), who when approached Jesus pleading for the restoration of her daughter was not granted immediately because of her humble background.

For Jesus said to her ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of the House of Israel.’ But the woman persisted, kneeling at his feet saying. ‘Lord help me.’ Jesus replied, ‘It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the house-dogs.’ She retorted, ‘Ah yes, sir; but even house-dogs can eat the scraps that fall from their master’s table.’ Then Jesus answered her, ‘Woman, you have great faith. Let your wish be granted.’ And from that moment her daughter was well again.

From this little story, it is clear that the woman was not going to give up, but kept pleading, even from her Canaanite background, to the point of Jesus recognizing her great faith. The irony of this passage is that, in Israel Jesus was trying to convince people that he was the Messiah, as he was being challenged to prove it with a sign. But here in Gentile territory he met a woman who was convinced he was the Messiah and he could not discourage her efforts.

For this apparent attempt to put her off was just a test, of which her great faith was proven by the acceptance of her humble background. Some people suggested that Jesus had been a racist and this woman changed him, but that’s not the case here, because Jesus was actually at the Gentile territory of Tyre and Sidon which are the two main Phoenician cities better known as Canaanitish tribes, which is an amalgamation of different groups of people known as the Canaanites living in the land of Canaan.

Therefore we can understand better why the woman accepted the place of a “dog” as a Gentile in relation to Israelites been the chosen children of God, to whom the message and grace of the Messiah came first. Hence she accepted that she may not be able to sit down at the Messiah’s table and eat with the “children,” but she should be allowed to pick up some of the crumbs of unmerited mercy and grace of God for the sake of her daughter. In this dramatical gesture, she demonstrated her submission to the historical privilege of Israel as the chosen people of God over the Gentiles, as she wishes to partake from the grace that is freely given to the Gentiles which the Jews have rejected.

This was one of the background behind Paul’s missionary journey when he turned to Gentiles because the Jews have rejected the message of Jesus as the Messiah. Just as we heard him saying in our second reading today (Rom. 11:13-15.29-32), “I have been sent to the pagans as their apostle, and I am proud of being sent, but the purpose of it is to make my own people envious of you, and in this way save some of them. Since their rejection meant the reconciliation of the world, do you know what their admission will mean? Nothing less than a resurrection from the dead! For God never takes back his gifts or revokes his choice.
Therefore we have to change from being disobedient to God, and now enjoy mercy because of their disobedience, so that those who are disobedient now, are so only because of the mercy shown to you, of which they will also enjoy mercy eventually if turned back to God. For God has imprisoned all men in their own disobedience only to show mercy to all humanity”.

Therefore, the event in the story of the Canaanite woman in our Gospel passage today can be interpreted as part of the development of redemptive history, moving from the event of the Old Testament towards the missionary activities of the New Testament, of which God through prophet Isaiah in our first reading today (Is. 56:1.6-7), made us to understand this development better when he said: “foreigners who have attached themselves to the Lord, to serve him and to love his name and be his servants, all who observe the Sabbath, not profaning it, and cling to my covenant, these I will bring to my holy mountain. I will make them joyful in my house of prayer. Their holocausts and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar, for my house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples”.

This concept truly describe the Christian understanding of the relationship between the Gentiles and Jews and the Church as universal, that is, open for all who wish to embrace God’s kingdom. Even though the kingdom had to be fully offered first to the Jews, in fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies of the kingdom. However, since they have rejected it, then it has to be made open to all. That is why Jesus went into Gentile territory and did this miracle for this Gentile woman in a dramatical way that is different from the other miracles in the Jewish territory, which shows also the willingness of the Gentiles to embrace the faith. And in this woman, Jesus affirms that there are Gentiles who had greater faith than the Jews who were rejecting and challenging his teachings. Hence, this passage teaches us about God’s grace that he offers to all humanity and faith of the people who are willing to embrace his salvation.

Dear friends, we must stop wasting valuable time trying to prove who we are not, let us first in faith humble ourselves and accept who we are, then, work hard to improve who we want to be in relation to our faith in God. Let our faith in God help us to accept our present condition in order to look forward to who we will be in the future. Whatever we want to do, let us have faith in God and in ourselves, and be determined, because, faith, determination, sacrifice and persistency are the secrets of any success in life.

Therefore, tell yourself today that you can get that which you desire, when you plan for it, work persistently for it, you will begin to see a different face in the things you do. The truth is that people are rewarded in public for things they do for years in private. So, let us learn from the Canaanite woman who accepted who she was and was determined with faith to achieve her dream through humility and persistency.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, the Canaanite woman accepted her humble background with great faith in your Son Jesus, as we humbly make a leap of faith today, with determination, sacrifice and persistency towards our dreams in life, may you grant our hearts desires. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed day.

Monday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 17th August, 2020.

 Readings: Ezek. 24:15-24, Deut.32:26-36, Matt. 19:23-30

Fr. Emmanuel Onyia.

LET GO OF YOUR EXCESS POSSESSIONS AND COME FOLLOW THE LORD

The way people are so much attached to the things of this passing world with little or no attention to the things that edifice the soul is quite alarming. People can go to any length to acquire properties, treasures, fame, influence and power that will last from forth to tenth generation, without thinking of that which will lead to life eternal.
This is exactly the mind set of the young man in our Gospel passage today, who claimed to have kept all the commandment without realizing that he has actually abandoned the fundamental principle of the commandment which have to do with loving and caring for the poor.

So Jesus draws his attention to this fundamental principle of our human existence, when he said to him, “If you wish to be perfect, go and sell what you own and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me”. This really touched his ego and pride, so he suddenly became very sad and dejected, and went away sorrowfully.

This is why a proud and possessive person will find it difficult to remain faithful in their relationship with God and neighours just like the people of Israel in our first reading, who have constantly being disobedient and proud in their relationship with God and their neighbours, an ugly attitude that is leading them to destruction.
Thus God addressed them through prophet Ezekiel, telling them that unless they change, they will all be crushed and conquered by the Babylonians. For their city, their whole kingdom, their king and people, their proud Temple built by king Solomon would be torn down and destroyed, all because of their infidelity to God’s commandment.

Dear friends, today Jesus touched the very thing that this young rich man was not ready to give up, his money, his houses, his credentials, his power, pride and all his 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 same demand of us. Things we would not like God to ask us to give up.
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 some thing we own like our house, or it might be a relationship, or our job, or our wealth. Whatever that we posses 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.

LET US PRAY, Heavenly Father, we are so much attached to things of this passing world, help us to know that excess attachment to our earthly possessions could be an obstacle on our way to your Kingdom. Give us the grace to let go of things that often separate us from you as we learn to share with our neighbours especially the poor. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen Do have a great week ahead.

Tuesday of the 20th Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 18th August, 2020.

 Readings: Ezek.28:1-10, Deut.33:18-19-22, Matt. 19:16-22

Fr. Emmanuel Onyia.

RICHES OF LIFE AT THE EXPENSE OF ETERNAL LIFE IS GRADE ONE SUICIDE

Material possessions are gifts from God and he alone gives us the right to them. But what we possess is meant to help us grow in our relationship with God and neighours not to separate us from them, because if we are not careful, too much love for material possession can be an obstacle on our way to God’s Kingdom.
Little wonder Jesus in our Gospel passage today says: “I tell you solemnly, it will be hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. Yes, I tell you again, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven”. When the disciples heard this they were astonished. And they said, “Who can be saved, then?” Jesus gazed at them and said “For men this is impossible; for God everything is possible”.

Here, Jesus tells his disciples about the need to live a life of detachment. For they saw how the rich young man was so sad when Jesus demanded that he should share his possessions with others in order to acquire treasures in heaven by following him. Thus, there is need of us to be prune from our excess love for material possession, because, for a camel to enter through a narrow gate, it must kneel in order for its load to be taken off. We too must learn how to humbled and detached ourselves from excess attachment to material things of this passing world.

The fact remains, that, material possessions in themselves are good, for we would not survive for long without them, but excess attachment to it at the expense of eternal life is grade one suicide. No doubt, it is difficult to give out or share our possession, but the ones who give up everything are the ones who receives more in this life as well as in heaven. And prophet Ezekiel in our first reading warns us concerning the issue of pride, for most of us like the people of Tyre who because of their possessions are being swollen with pride, seeing ourselves as gods, though we are nothing but a mere instrument in God’s hands.

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

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 prune us always from the sin of pride, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed day.

Saturday of the 19th Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 15th August, 2020. Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

 Readings: Rev .11:19;12:1-6.10, Ps. 45, 1Cor. 15:20-27, Luke 1:39-56

Fr. Emmanuel Onyia.

WE ARE MADE TO SHARE IN CHRIST’S HEAVENLY GLORY

With ugly events we hear and experience in our world today there is no doubt in my mind that the world is a battlefield between the forces of life and death, good and evil. And forces of death and evil seem to be having the upper hand as we can see in cases of killings, hatred, betrayals, greed, social and economic injustice all over the world. Thus, there is this constant fear of what becomes of us when we die. Where are we going when we die? Is death the end of life? Is there another life after death?

The answer to these questions is found in today’s solemnity: The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The solemnity where we celebrate the mystery of the assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary body and soul into heaven. An event which shows the triumph of life over death and good over evil. For since Christ’s divine body did not undergo corruption, it follows that his mother’s body, which forever contains a cell component of his Divinity would not be allowed to experience corruption, but would be taken into heaven and be reunited with Christ. For as we know, a particle of God, is God entirety. And the Psalmist says: that you will not leave my soul among the dead, nor let your Holy one know decay (Ps. 16.10).

Thus on 1 November, 1950, Pope Pius XII proclaimed as Dogma that the Virgin Mary “having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory”. This truth of faith as known by Tradition, was affirmed by the Fathers of the Church, and was an important aspect in the veneration of the Mother of Christ. This Dogma appears as an act of praise and exaltation of God’s grace the life of the Blessed Virgin. It also emerges for the honour of her Son Jesus and for the joy and exultation of the entire Church.

Little wonder, our readings today help us to understand better this mystery. For in our first reading we heard of the revelation of the victorious power of God, who through a woman has overcome the evil that threatened to destroy humanity. Telling us that the salvation, victory, power and the kingdom have now been won for us by our God, for the authority of his Christ has come.

And St. Paul in our first reading made us to know that Christ has been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of all who have fallen asleep. For death came through one man and in the same way the resurrection of the dead has come through one man. Just as all men die in Adam, so all men will be brought to life in Christ. Meanwhile, in our Gospel passage, we heard Mary’s glorification of God’s power and victory, for God through Christ has remembered his mercy for humanity as he had promised to Abraham and all his descendants for ever.

Therefore, through this Mary’s Assumption into Heaven, we understand better that even though our daily lives may be marked by trials, persecutions and difficulties, our death is not the end, but the entrance into life that knows no death for we are made to share in God’s Heavenly Kingdom. So, the Assumption reminds us that Mary’s life, like that of every Christian, is a journey of following, following Jesus, a journey that has a very precise destination, a future already marked out, for the definite victory over sin and death, in order for us to be in full communion with God.

Dear friends, how can this solemnity of the Assumption of Mary help us on our journey towards our heavenly kingdom? What message is God passing to us in this solemnity? In this solemnity of Assumption, we find the message of faith and hope, that in God there is room for humanity, God is humanity’s true home and in us there is also room for God. Hence, Pope Benedict XVI says that One thing is certain, that is, our hope in God: that God expects us, God waits for us, we do not go out into a void, we are expected.

God is expecting humanity, for as we pass to the other side of life, we will find the goodness of our Blessed Mother, we will find our loved ones, we will find eternal Love Christ our Saviour. For he is waiting for us, since we are made to share in his glory. And this is our greatest joy and the great hope that is born from this solemnity. This reality makes us victorious over death and the evil of this world. Therefore, we should not be afraid for God has made us victorious over sin and death in order to share in Christ glory. Let us then entrust our Christian journey to Mary's Motherly intercession since she is the consolation and hope of the people still on this journey of faith.

LET US PRAY, Heavenly Father, we thank you, for knowing how fragile our lives are in this passing world, you gave us the message of faith and hope through the mystery of the Assumption of Mary. As we celebrate this mystery, may we be filled with the joy of your kingdom. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful weekend.