Tuesday of the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 1st September, 2020.

 Readings: 1Cor2: 10-16, Ps. 145, Luke 4:31-37

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

HAVE YOUR PERSONALLY IDENTIFIED THE DIVINE AUTHORITY AND POWER OF JESUS IN YOUR LIFE?

From the scriptures, Jesus seems to have lived in a world of hostility and conflict between good and evil, as well as political witch-hunting, family divisions and demoniac possession, just like we have it in our world today. For there is no doubt that there is an active presence of evil in the world which manifest itself in different forms. So everyday we struggle against the malice of the evil ones, and people are doing everything they can to overcome them. But often time, when children of God are confronted with evil, they don't know what to do and out of fear they fall victim and helpless because they are ignorance of the power and authority of God in them.

Thus, in our Gospel passage today, we heard how the people of Capernaum and even the demoniac recognized that, the Divine Authority of Jesus in the world brings about victory over the evil ones. For his teaching made a deep impression on them because he spoke with authority. And the man who was possessed by the devil shouted at the top of his voice, ‘Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God.’ But Jesus said sharply, ‘Be quiet! Come out of him!’ And the devil, throwing the man down in front of everyone, went out of him without hurting him at all. Astonished, they said to one another, ‘What teaching!  For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits and they come out.’

Here the demons recognize Jesus as the power of God. And his power over the demons is a direct defeat of the evil one while the restoration of the possessed man signifies the inauguration of God's kingdom in the world. Now, Jesus has given us the gift of his presence in the person of the Holy Spirit, which God has bestowed on us in our baptism. In this gift resides the power and authority to confront evil and overcome it. 

Little wonder St. Paul in our first reading tell us that, the Spirit reaches the depths of everything, even the depths of God. For we have received the Spirit that comes from God, to teach us to understand the gifts that he has given us. Therefore, we have possessed through the Spirit the power and authority over the evil ones. We are no longer unspiritual, for an unspiritual person is one who does not accept anything of the Spirit of God: he sees it all as nonsense. But a spiritual man is able to judge the value of everything, and his own value is not to be judged by anyone, for we have the mind of Christ.

Dear friends, what is our notion about the authority and power of Jesus? Do we still have any doubt about the authority of Jesus? How much of this authority dwells in you? Today the demoniac identified the source of Jesus’ authority as divine, have you personally identified the divine authority of Jesus in your life? If you have not, why not ask him to manifest his power and authority once more in your life.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, we are often ignorance of the power and authority of the Holy Spirit which you gave us at our baptism, may we recognize this divine power and authority once again in our daily struggles with the evil forces in our world. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you a happy and favourable New Month.

Monday of the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 31st August, 2020.

 Readings: 1Cor2:1-5, Ps. 119, Luke 4:16-30

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

DON’T EVER TREAT PEOPLE WITH CONTEMPT

Oftentimes we treat and respect people based on our knowledge of their background and status, so we fail to look at the image of God found in them or what God is doing through them. This is because our judgment is the product of human wisdom and when our faith is based on this kind of wisdom we are bound to neglect and treat others with contempt. 

This is the situation in our Gospel passage today. For when Jesus came to Nazareth, his own town, where he had been brought up, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day as he usually did. He taught the people about his mission as prophesied by prophet Isaiah and at the end he said to them, this text is being fulfilled today even as you listen.’ And he won the approval of all, and they were astonished by the gracious words that came from his lips. But in contempt they said, ‘This is Joseph’s son, surely? As they ridiculed him, Jesus said ‘I tell you solemnly, no prophet is ever accepted in his own country. For this reason they tried to kill him.

Here, we see Jesus who preached about inclusion, found himself excluded. His listeners were frightened at his message and because of familiarity, he was rejected by his own people who glory in their wisdom which is based on their knowledge of his humble background. This is because they lack true faith as they depend on their human knowledge and philosophy. 

This kind of ugly attitude is what St. Paul is addressing in our first reading today when he said: During my stay with you, the only knowledge I claimed to have was about Jesus, and only about him as the crucified Christ. Far from relying on any power of my own, for I came among you in great ‘fear and trembling’ and in my speeches and the sermons that I gave, there were none of the arguments that belong to philosophy; only a demonstration of the power of the Spirit. And I did this so that your faith should not depend on human philosophy but on the power of God.

Dear friends, our relationship with Jesus should not be based on this kind of philosophy, rather it should based on our personal experience of the power and love of God in our lives. For it is this personal experience that will help us to embrace his words convincingly and never look down on anyone, but see in all the light of God's presence. Therefore, we are called today to be accommodating and never try to treat anyone with contempt, because anyone can be a potential vessel of God's blessings to us. 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, out of pride and ignorance, we have often treated people with contempt because of their humbled background, help us today to realize that everyone is a potential instrument of your blessings and so learn to accommodate people, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed week ahead. 

Twenty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A, 30th August, 2020

Readings: Jer. 20:7-9, Ps.63, Rom.12-1-2, Matt 16:21-27

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

IT IS COMPLETE FOOLISHNESS TRYING TO GAIN THE WHOLE WORLD AND RUIN YOUR LIFE

The material things of this world are so captivating and attractive and people are so much engrossed with acquiring them at the detriment of things that edifies the soul. People are ready to do anything just to acquire material things of this world. People are ready to kill, blackmail, kidnap and even sacrifice parts of their bodies just to gain power, acquire properties and belong to a particular class or level that they feel is influential in the society, thereby causing more hostility, persecutions and evil in the society. 

This really makes me to wonder if we are actually learning anything from the lives of those who have passed away from this world. Have we really taken time to reflect on where all of us and the beautiful things of this world will be in the nearest future. In fact, I think is time for us to really think twice about our faith as Christians, whether we are actually ready to live out our faith in the midst of these ugly situations in our societies, which are not stopping soon, for it is getting tougher everyday. 

Little wonder Jesus after telling his disciples about his passion and the coming persecution says in our Gospel passage today:  ‘If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me. For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it. What, then, will a man gain if he wins the whole world and ruins his life? Or what has a man to offer in exchange for his life?”

Here Jesus knowing what awaits us in this world, takes his discourse on discipleship to a radical and difficult level, especially in a situation where our faith and Christian values have been thrown out of caution as a result of secularism, individualism and excess desires for worldly pleasures, thereby neglecting the things that lead us to God. Hence, if we are really willing to live out our Christian faith and obligations, then we need to make a radical decision towards our discipleship in a personal and radical way.

These hard words of Jesus can only be understood in the light of our experience in life. For here comes the moment when we have to make radical and difficult choice as disciples of Jesus. It’s time for us to take up our cross in a sacrificial way and follow the Lord. But what is this cross we are called to take up. Taking up our cross could mean to faithfully face our daily challenges with all its difficulties. It could mean accepting who we are and what we have and using them to the glory of God.

 

The way of the cross is a way of sacrifice, commitment, love, forgiveness, mercy and compassion, which aim towards the good of the other person. It can be a costly service to a loved one who is ill; it can be embracing illness, even terminal illness or other personal weaknesses, but these make no sense except when we relate it with the sufferings of Christ through faith in God. We must let our struggles of life lead us to God’s purpose of us. We must not let the captivating and influential power of things of this passing world make us loose focus of our heavenly kingdom.

Thus, St. Paul in our second reading tells us to present our bodies as a living sacrifice that is truly pleasing to God. And never to conform ourselves to the pattern of this present world. But let our behaviour be modelled by our new mind in Christ, so as to discover the will of God and know what is good, acceptable and perfect. This is possible when we surrender our lives to God just like prophet Jeremiah in our first reading, who surrendering to the will of God said: “you have seduced me, Lord, and I have let myself be seduced; you have overpowered me: you were stronger. For I am a daily laughing-stock. Each time I speak the word, I cry out, I short and proclaim: ‘Violence and ruin!’ The word of the Lord has meant for me insult, derision, all day long. But the effort to restrain it wearied me, I could not bear it”.

Dear friends, to share the glory of Christ we have to share his suffering, because it is impossible to follow Jesus without accepting the cross nor acknowledging and embracing all that life has to offer us. The truth is that, God knows what we are passing through in this world. He has promised that he will stand by us in the midst of persecution and suffering. That for a while we might suffer, but in the end, those who remained faithful in him will be victorious while the oppressors will be rejected, crushed and destroyed.

Therefore, we are called today to deny ourselves the pleasurable things of this passing world in order to take up our Cross and for the Lord. Yes the material things of this world is captivating and pleasurable, but it is complete foolishness for us to gain the whole world and ruin our lives. Hence, it’s time to make a radical decision to sincerely and faithfully follow Jesus. But how much are we willing to let go for the sake of following him? Why are we finding it difficult to let go of our excess attachment to worldly things? What are those habitual desires and possessions that are holding us from making this radical decision today? It is time to come to God with all our hearts, for tomorrow maybe too late.

LET US PRAY: Gracious God, it is indeed foolishness trying to gain the pleasurable things of this passing world and ruin our lives, give us courage and grace to let go of our excess worldly desires so as to embrace the Cross of Christ. And as we do this, may the Cross of Christ be for us a shining example in our daily struggles, so as to hold firm in our faith despite all the sufferings and persecutions we may encounter. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a lovely Sunday celebration.

Friday of the 21st Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 28th August, 2020. The Memorial of St. Augustine

 Readings: 1Cor. 1:17-25, Ps.33, Matt.25:1-13

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

BE PREPARED FOR YOU KNOW NEITHER THE DAY NOR THE HOUR

Jogging around the national stadium, I observed how footballers, boxers, athletes, also engineers, doctors and farmers, business men and women devote time and energy in rigorous preparation towards achieving their goals. Then I realized that adequate preparation is the secret and foundation of every successful event. But if we can go to this length of rigorous periods of preparation just for things of this passing world, it will be even more demanding when it has to do with preparing for eternal life. 

For if we can devote such time and energy towards our spiritual life which we often neglect, we will be more awake and prepared more than the ten maidens in our Gospel passage today, who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were sensible: the foolish ones did take their lamps, but they brought no oil, whereas the sensible ones took flasks of oil as well as their lamps. When the bridegroom delayed in coming their lamps burned out and as they went out to get more oil, they missed out since the door was shut after the bridegroom had passed.

In this parable of the ten maidens Jesus emphasized on the need to be well prepared for the coming of God’s kingdom, warning us not to be like the foolish five maidens who were not well prepared and missed out when the bridegroom came. Thus, Jesus commanded us to stay awake, because we do not know either the day or the hour when the Lord will come. And St. Paul in our first reading tell us to embrace the message of Christ which seems foolish in the eyes of the world but  wisdom and reality of life for those who have faith. Thereby reminding us that God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human.

 Dear friends, our life as Christians demands that we should be alert, we should be prepared at all times and be ready to make sacrifices like the five wise maidens. We should be watchful for we know neither the day nor the hour when the Lord will call us. Hence, we are reminded today that this world is passing away, so we need to stay awake and be ready.

Therefore, we are called to abstain from things that will separate us from our God, as we look into our inner being, our interior life in order to embrace the life of holiness and self-control that will help us to be more prepared. Just like St Augustine whose memorial we celebrate today, for when he realize that true happiness is found in interior living and not on material things we possess, he embraced God and became great instrument in preparing humanity towards the kingdom of God. We too can be another great instrument of preparation in God’s hands, if we make ourselves available. 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, we often failed to listen to your warnings concerning the things of this passing world and the need for to stay awake and be ready for your coming, give us the grace and wisdom to be well prepared to stand before you whenever you call us, may we never be among those You will be told: I do not know you. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Peace be with you.

Thursday of the 21st Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 27th August, 2020. The Memorial of St. Monica

Readings: 1Cor. 1:1-9, Ps.145, Matt.24:42-51

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

ARE YOU PREPARED AND READY?

As a human person, there are two most important events in our life. One is well known prepared and are constantly celebrated, that is, our birthday. The other, which is the ultimate, is not known and less attention and preparation is being made for it, that is, the day of our death. 

So, Jesus knowing how important this day is, instructed his disciples in our Gospel passage saying: “stay awake, because you do not know the day when the Lord is coming. You may be quite sure of this that if the householder had known at what time of the night the burglar would come, he would have stayed awake and would not have allowed anyone to break through the wall of his house. Therefore, you too must stand ready because the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

In this passage we have two commands at the beginning and at the end which are not quite the same. The first command is based on God’s coming at a “day” when you do not know and the second is in an “hour” you do not expect, that is to say that it will be uncertain, unexpected and surprising. Just like the householder’s ignorance of the time when the thief would come is the reason why he does not watch. He cannot keep awake all night, and every night, to be ready for him; so he has to go to sleep, and then he is robbed. 

Thus our ignorance of the day and time is the reason for our watchfulness, because we can keep awake all the night of our life just like the householder watches to prevent being robbed. So the image of the thief is chosen to illustrate the unexpected approach of the second coming of Christ which will be a great surprise to those who are asleep as they will be robbed of Heaven and also deprived of their earthly treasures, but the Lord's coming will be a happy day for those that shall be found awake and ready, while it  will be very dreadful for those that are not prepared.

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 in order to embrace the Lord whenever he comes. Therefore, preparation is the key word. Let us not be deceived when the world suggest to us that the day of death is not coming soon and so forget who we are, and then, the day and time will take us by surprise. Rather, let us be like that wise servant who is prepared at all times for the coming of the master. 

Thus, we need to change our disposition especially as regards our attitude towards the things of this passing world in order to embrace more of the things of our heavenly kingdom. We need to learn from St Monica whose memorial we celebrate today for she devoted her life praying for the conversion of her son Augustine. She said to him: "son, one thing there was, for which I desired to remain still a little longer in this life, that I should see you a Catholic Christian before I died. This God has granted me in super abundance, in that I see you his servant to the contempt of all worldly happiness. What then am I doing here." So what are we doing in this world with the gift of life God has given us and how are we preparing for the coming of our Lord knowing that we are all travelers in this world.

LET US PRAY, Lord God, today you ask us to be ready for your coming, increase in us the desire to be prepared and ready for that inevitable event of death, so that whenever it comes, it will not be a shock to us, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. It's a lovely day, may God bless your efforts and grant success to the works of your hands.

Saturday of the 21st Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 29th August, 2020. The Memorial of The Passion of John the Baptist

 

Readings: 1Cor. 1:26-30, Ps.33, Matt.6:17-29

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

THE HEAD OF THE RIGHTEOUS THE PRIZE FOR TRUTH

Why do people often tremble when they hear the word ‘truth’? For in our society today people hates to hear the sound of the word truth. This is because it makes the world to tremble, since most things in the world are built on falsehood and deceit and people are becoming comfortable with falsehood as a way of life. In fact, since the history of the world, mankind have been seeking to know the truth, but when confronted by truth they reject it out rightly. 

Almost two thousand years ago, Truth was put on trial and was judged and condemned by people who were devoted to lies. But in each generation truth always manifest itself to the world through people who have paid the price of truth with their life. This is obvious in our world today especially with the ugly situation of corona virus, where humanity are placed in perpetual darkness and confusion as the voices that speak the truth are silenced by all means. 

Today people don’t want to be transparent and honest in their dealings with others and even with themselves. They don't want anybody to remind them the hard truth about the realities of life and they can do anything just to silence truth. Thus, the cost of speaking the truth has become so expensive that some times it cost a life of an individual or even a whole community. It is even more demanding when the truth to be told has to do with someone in authority.

This is the case with John the Baptist whom we celebrate the memorial of his passion. For in our Gospel passage today, we heard how his head was the prize for the truth he told to Herod and Herodias. Before now, Herod had arrested John and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. For John had told him that it is against the Law for him to have his brother’s wife. Herod had wanted to kill John but was afraid of the people, who regarded him 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 with an oath to give her anything she asked. She conspired with the mother and demanded for 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. 

Here, Herod made a bad decision, which out of pride finds 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 was a slave to other peoples opinion, for he feared the people who revered John; he also fears the reaction of his guests if he should retract his oath.

These ugly attitudes towards John the Baptist prefigured  what they did 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. This same terrible crime is what people are facing everyday in our families, communities and the world at large. For this same reason, a lot of people have died and some will still die and some will continue to suffer because of the truth they have spoken to the enemies of truth.  

 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. 

And St. Paul in our first reading today tells us that, it was to shame the wise that God chose what is foolish by human reckoning, and to shame what is strong that he chose what is weak by human reckoning; for those whom the world thinks common and despised are the ones that God has chosen, those who are nothing at all to shame those who are everything. So that no flesh might boast in the presence of God, for God has made us members of Christ Jesus and by God’s doing he has become our wisdom, our righteousness, our sanctification, our freedom and redemption in the midst of all persecutions.

Dear friends, how far can we stand the cost of speaking the truth in the midst of influential and ‘powerful' people? Like Herod, how often do we make bad decisions out of pride? When we make such bad decisions, how quick are we able to change our mind, to admit that we are wrong? Or are we like Herodias who is waiting for an opportunity to silenced the innocents who confront us with the truth? 

If today we happen to be one of the guests of Herod, what would 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 speak up, even at the cost of losing, our job, our position, our vocation, friends and even our lives? Today we called to speak the truth, for the world needs to hear the truth no matter the cost.

LET US PRAY:  Lord God, it is difficult to speak and stand for truth in our world today, but St . John the Baptist spoke and died for the truth he spoke to Herod, through his intercession, grant us the grace and courage to become instrument of your word in truth and in deeds and so speak the truth always to humanity no matter the cost. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you a peaceful and lovely weekend.

Friday of the 18th Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 7th August, 2020

Readings: Nahum 2:1.3:1-3.6-7, Deut. 32:35-41, Matt 16:24-28
Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

IT’S TIME TO TAKE UP OUR CROSS AND FOLLOW THE LORD

Reflecting on the continuous hostility, persecutions and the influential powers of the things of this world, I think is time for us to really think twice about our faith as Christians, whether we are actually ready to live out our faith in the midst of these ugly situations in our societies, which are not stopping soon, for it is getting tougher everyday. For if we are really willing to live out our Christian faith and obligations, then we need to make a radical decision towards our discipleship in a personal and radical way.

Little wonder Jesus in our Gospel passage today says: ‘If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me. For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it. What, then, will a man gain if he wins the whole world and ruins his life? Or what has a man to offer in exchange for his life? Here Jesus knowing what awaits us in this world, takes his discourse on discipleship to a radical and difficult level, especially in a situation where our faith and Christian values have been thrown out of caution as a result of secularism, individualism and excess desires for worldly pleasures, thereby neglecting the things that lead us to God.

Thus, these hard words of Jesus can only be understood in the light of our life experience. For here comes the moment when we have to make radical and difficult choice as disciples of Jesus. It’s time for us to take up our Cross in a sacrifice way and follow the Lord. But what is the cross we are called to take up. Taking up our cross could mean to faithfully face our daily challenges with all its difficulties. It is accepting who we are and what we have and using them to the glory of God. The way of the cross is a way of sacrifice, commitment, love, forgiveness, mercy and compassion, which aim towards the good of the other person. It can be a costly service to a loved one who is ill; it can be embracing illness, even terminal illness or other personal weaknesses, this makes no sense except when we relate it with the suffering of Christ through faith in God.

For God through prophet Nahum in our first reading today promise us that he will not abandon his faithful people in the darkness of this passing world. For he shall crush the wicked and all those who have oppressed his people. He has promised that he will stand by us in the midst of persecution and suffering. That for a while we might suffer, but in the end, those who remained faithful in him will be victorious while the oppressors will be rejected, crushed and destroyed. Thus, to share the glory of Christ we have to share his suffering, because it is impossible to follow Jesus without accepting the cross nor acknowledging and embracing all that life has to offer us.

Dear friends, we are called today to deny ourselves the pleasurable things of this passing world in order to take up our Cross and for the Lord. It’s time to make a radical decision to sincerely and faithfully follow Jesus. But how much are we willing to let go for the sake of following him? Why are we finding it difficult to follow Jesus? What are those habitual desires and possessions that are holding us from making this radical decision today? It is time to come to God with all our hearts, for tomorrow maybe too late.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, the excess desire for the pleasurable things of this passing world have weakened our hearts towards your, give us courage and grace to let go of our ugly desires and as we do this, may the cross of Christ be for us a shining example in our daily struggles, so as to hold firm in our faith despite all the sufferings and persecutions we may encounter. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful day.