Monday of The 5th Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 8th February, 2021, The Optional Memorial of Saints Josephine Bakhita and Jerome Emiliani

 Monday of The 5th Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 8th February, 2021,

The Optional Memorial of Saints Josephine Bakhita and Jerome Emiliani

Readings: Gen.1:1-19, Ps.104, Mark 6:53-56

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

THE TOUCH OF JESUS HEALS AND RESTORES EVERYTHING

From the beginning, we were told that God created everything so good and perfect just as we have it in our first reading today. But out of pride and greediness, humanity have destroyed and keep on destroying the good things that God has entrusted to us. As a result of this humanity are suffering the consequences of our destructive actions which manifest in different from such as: natural disasters,  illnesses, diseases, afflictions, slavery and troubles. But time and time again, God though not pleased with this destructive nature of humanity, has not stopped to restore humanity back to it glorious state. This gracious act of restoration is made more evident in the life and mission of our Lord Jesus Christ, who came to redeem us through the path of humility and love.

Little wonder in our Gospel passage today, we heard of the great works of Jesus who was then at Galilee, ministering to the people who came to him seeking to be healed from their various illnesses, diseases, afflictions, slavery and troubles. People kept on bringing their sick ones to him and many people who had faith in him were healed by merely touching his cloak. This passage summarizes  what Jesus was doing for the people. It indicates the tremendous desire of the people to be healed and made whole by Jesus. Thus, the presence of Jesus brought Joy and relieve to them.

Dear friends, God really cares about us, for no matter the situation we may find ourselves, we must know that the touch of Jesus heals and restores everything. This is clear in the life of St. Josephine Bakhita whose memorial we celebrate today. St. Josephine Bakhita was a former slave from Sudan who was a victim of human trafficking. As a child, she had already suffered much, captured by slavers and treated horribly as a slave passing on from master to master. Bakhita had the fortunate chance to escape slavery through her former master, who was touched and converted by her virtuous life. So she eventually found her way to freedom and later joined the religious community in which she spent the rest of her life.

The outstanding thing about St Bakhita was that she never held grudges for her past slavers and masters, all those who had made her life very difficult and painful. In embracing the Christian faith and in dedicating herself completely to the Lord, Bakhita showed many people what it means to be touched by Jesus and be true disciples and followers of Christ. Therefore, we all are called to embrace the loving touch of Jesus and cooperate with him in his work and mission of healing and restoration of humanity. 

Hence, let us discern what we all can do in order to contribute even in little ways, to ensure the restoration of humanity and all God’s creation which we are destroying by our lives and actions. let us seek to renew our faith  in God and grow stronger in our love and devotion towards him. The people in our Gospel today rushed to Jesus with their needs and their hopes because they recognized him. Maybe we need to follow their example by bringing to him those things in us that are still in need of healing and restoration. 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we submit our lives into your care, let your healing touch restore us once again.  And through the intercessions of St. Bakhita, may the victims of human trafficking and slavery experience restoration and the healing touch of Jesus in their lives. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed week.

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B, 7th February, 2021

 Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B, 7th February, 2021

Readings: Job 7:1-4.6-7, Ps 147, 1Cor.9:16-19.22-23, Mark 1:29-39

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

JESUS IN SOLIDARITY WITH HUMAN SUFFERING

The whole of scriptures reveals the compassionate love of God in it’s historical and physical solidarity with human suffering. This is more evident in the compassionate way Jesus carried out his activities which springs up from the love of God the Father and constitutes the basis of the Church’s liberating activity. Little wonder in our Gospel passage today, as Jesus continued to carryout his mission of preaching he also showed compassion and care for those who are passing through difficulties. 

Thus, when he returned from preaching in the synagogue to Simon Peter's house, behold Peter's mother-in-law was sick with fever. This is not a minor sickness in the ancient world. A fever was not a kind of sickness that last for a short while, but was often a symptom of a condition that would lead to death. So Jesus went to her, took her by the hand and helped her up. And the fever left her and she began to served them. That evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were sick and possessed by devils and he cured them.

This clearly described how and why Jesus coming down to dwell with us and by taking up our human nature made it possible for him to identified himself with the struggles of humanity as he embraced us with his love, compassion and care. For he came to heal us from our sins and from all the afflictions we encounter and struggle in this passing world. So, when Jesus cured Peter’s mother-in-law, she immediately begins to serve them, something she was unable to do because of her illness. Thus, she was able to render her service to the first Christian community. She was healed and restored with new strength so that she may again rise and take up her proper place in the community of God’s people. 

Dear friends, God really cares for our well being, his always ready to help us in our struggles so that we can be well disposed to serve him. So whenever we are passing through difficult moment, we must not allow despair, fear or doubt to cloud our hearts. We need to have faith in God and wholeheartedly believe in him just like Job in our first reading who even at the darkest moments of his life remained faithful to God and did not blame God for all of his misfortunes. Instead, he blamed himself and the circumstances for having placed him in such condition. Yet, he still kept the faith and held fast to the assurance in God’s promises.

Therefore, we need to have more faith and trust in God, and be more hopeful no matter how difficult things may be for us and whenever he restores us, it may be tempting to sit back and accept people’s good wishes and congratulations. These should not be our attitudes, we should rather learn from Peter’s mother-in-law, that healing is not just to make us well but to enable us to become active again in rendering serving to God and humanity. For it is another opportunity to serve God and humanity and so become all things to all people just like St. Paul said in our second reading. For in becoming the slave of everyone else, we  are imitating Jesus who has made himself all things to all of us. He has given up everything for us through his life, sufferings, death and resurrection.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, we are really sick in need of your healing and compassion. As we struggle everyday to serve you and humanity, heal all our illnesses and give us grace to get up and become more active again in order to render more quality services to you and to our communities. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a joyful Sunday celebration.

Saturday of The 4th Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 6th February, 2021, The Memorial of St. Paul Miki and Companions

 Saturday of The 4th Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 6th February, 2021,

The Memorial of St. Paul Miki and Companions

Readings: Heb. 13:15-17.20-21, Ps.22, Mark 6:30-34

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

LORD, PITY HUMANITY ONCE AGAIN FOR WE ARE LIKE SHEEP WITHOUT A SHEPHERD

Humanity are constantly in need of one thing or the other, we are never tired of searching for things that will satisfy our desires for physical and spiritual well being. This is even worst with the ugly situation in our world today were humanity are lost, confused and sick as a result of what we have created out of our selfish desires. This can be likened to  the situation and condition of the people in our Gospel passage today of which Jesus and his disciples devoted time trying to attend to them. 

But when the situation keep increasing Jesus said to his disciples you must come away to some lonely place all by yourselves and rest for a while’; for there were so many coming and going that the apostles had no time even to eat.  As they went through their boat, the people went after them on foot. So as Jesus stepped ashore he saw a large crowd; and he took pity on them for they are like sheep without a shepherd and he healed their sickness and taught them for a while.

Here, Jesus fulfills his role as the expected messiah who is to liberate his people from all kinds of diseases. The teaching and healing touch of Jesus reveals to us 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 we are told in our first reading that Jesus has become the great Shepherd of the sheep by his blood that sealed an eternal covenant, thereby making us ready to do his will in any kind of good action; by turning us all into whatever is acceptable to himself just like Paul Miki and Companions whose memorial we are celebrating today. They are the Holy Martyrs of Nagasaki in Japan.

This Twenty-Six Martyrs of Japan were crucified on a hill, now known as the Holy Mountain, overlooking Nagasaki. Among them were priests, brothers and laymen, Franciscans, Jesuits and members of the Secular Franciscan Order; there were catechists, doctors, simple artisans and servants, old men and innocent children, all united in a common faith and love for Jesus their good Shepard. They remained faithful to the very end and faced martyrdom with courage and so received from Jesus the Good Shepherd, the crown of true and everlasting glory.

Dear friends, the hopeless and ugly situation in our world today are good indications that we are just floating in this world like sheep without a  responsible Shepard. Thus, we need to come to Jesus our true and Good Shepherd. We must make sure that nothing comes between us and the love of Jesus our Lord, even if we are troubled or worried, or being persecuted, or lacking food or clothes, or being threatened or even attacked. 

For these are the trials through which we triumph, by the power of him who loved us so much. We must ensure that neither death nor life, no angel, no princes of this world, nothing that exists, nothing still to come, not any power, or height or depth, nor any created thing, can ever come between us and the love of God made visible in Christ Jesus our Lord. Therefore, let us come to Jesus our Good Shepherd and embrace his love and compassion.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are lost in this passing world, as we come to you in need of your love and direction both physically and spiritually, guide us once again towards the path of truth, love and fulfilment even in the midst of all the confusion in our world today. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed weekend.

Friday of The 4th Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 5th February, 2021, The Memorial of St. Agatha

 Friday of The 4th Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 5th February, 2021,

The Memorial of St. Agatha

Readings: Heb. 13:1-8, Ps.26, Mark 6:14-29

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

STAND FOR THE TRUTH AND DO NOT MAKE UNWISE PROMISES OUT OF PRIDE

Lucky Dube in one of his album said that he who stands for the truth will always stand alone. This is the case with John the Baptist whose head was the prize for the truth he told to Herod and Herodias as we read in the Gospel passage today. This terrible crime, which points at what is done to Jesus in his Passion, demonstrates how good people, especially when they struggle for justice, are condemned to suffer in the hand of greed and powerful people who become very cruel and as a result the innocent suffer.

 

The root of the whole problem is that king Herod made unwise promise out of pride, but 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 is a slave to the opinion of others, he feared the people who revered John; he also fears the reaction of his guests if he should retracts his oath. Thus, the head of the innocent, who was in prison for speaking the truth was sacrificed just like St. Agatha of Sicily, whose memorial we celebrate today.

Agatha, who from her very early years was notably beautiful. However because of her love for Jesus, she dedicated her life to God. She became a consecrated virgin. But this did not stop men from desiring her. One of the men who desired Agatha was Quintianus, and because he was of a high diplomatic ranking, thought he could force her to turn away from her vow and force her to marry. His persistent proposals were consistently turned down by Agatha. 

So Quintianus, knowing she was a Christian during the persecution of Decius, had her arrested and brought before the judge. Too bad for Agatha, because, Quintianus was also the Judge. Hence, he sentenced Agatha to prison in a brothel to see if she will change her mind. But noticing that Agatha was enduring all the torture with a sense of cheer, he commanded she be subjected to a worse form of torture, he ordered that her breasts be cut off.  

In the midst of this torture, Agatha in prayer said: Jesus Christ, Lord of all, you see my heart, you know my desires. Possess all that I am. I am your sheep: make me worthy to overcome the devil. For you have ever protected me from the cradle; you have taken me from the love of this world, and given me patience to suffer, and when she could not bear the torture anymore, she prayed for courage saying receive now my soul. With tears falling from her eyes she died a virgin and martyr. Today she is the patron saint of Sicily, breast cancer patients, rape victims, wet nurses and a powerful intercessor for people who suffer from fire outbreaks.

Dear friends, how far can we stand for the truth we professed or Like Herod, how often do we make unwise promises out of pride? When we make bad decisions, how quick are we able to change our mind, to admit that we are wrong. If today we happen to be one of the Herod’s guests, what would have been our reaction? Will I have protested or stayed silent? So how do we react, when we see others suffering injustice? 

 Perhaps, today we can think of the all the victims of truth in our societies, the vulnerable, the innocent in our society and all those who are exploited and used to achieve the ends of others. These ugly events in our society, how are we confronting them? Do we have the courage to speak up or protest, even at cost of our head and our lives? 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, give us the grace to stand for the truth and help us never to make unwise promises. And through the intercessions of St. Agatha, direct our intentions and guide our words so that we may grow in compassion for the innocent victims in our families, societies, country and the world at large, through Christ our Lord. Amen.  God bless you.

Thursday of The 4th Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 4th February, 2021

 Thursday of The 4th Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 4th February, 2021

Readings: Heb. 12:18-19.21-24, Ps.47, Mark 6:7-13

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

THE CONDITION AND NATURE OF OUR MISSION

The rebellious nature of humanity have always keep us away from responding to God's invitation to Life of love, holiness, faithfulness and integrity. Hence, humanity have always failed to understand the true ways of God his creator. However, God has not stopped caring and stretching his hands of love towards us. In every generation God always send messengers to remind us of his love and plan for humanity. This is exactly what we have in our Gospel passage today, where Jesus sent his twelve disciples, the foundation of the future Church community, to do exactly the same work of evangelization that he has been doing.

 Hence, he gave them authority over unclean spirits, instruct them to preach repentance, that radical conversion towards the vision of the Kingdom, they were to anoint the sick and heal them. These three activities cover the whole nature of the human person: spiritual, mental and physical. Healing and wholeness, health and holiness. In this mission, they were instructed to travel lightly, bringing only what they absolutely need. No food or money or even a change of clothes. They will not need these things because they will be taken care of by the people they serve. 

So in this Gospel, Jesus is preparing his disciples for a task ahead. He let's them experience the nature of their mission, the challenges, obstacles and dangers which await them. He gave them the  guidelines about the mission and sent them out.  So, they succeeded because the power of God was working in them. The message entrusted to the disciples by Jesus is to offer peace and announce the coming of God's kingdom. This same message of peace and justice, forgiveness and healing have been entrusted to the Church down the centuries. 

Now it is our turn to witness to it. The disciples returned with joy. We will experience that same joy when we do what the Lord wants because, our joy is rooted in our identifying with Jesus, not in what we do. So the source of our joy should be our status in heaven as beloved sons and daughters of God, and not on our success over the evil forces or the things of this passing world. Thus, the Lord has entrusted to us an awesome responsibility and privilege to carry the message of God’s love, peace and mercy to the world.

Little wonder, in our first reading we are reminded of who we are. Because by the virtue of this mission we are invited to Mount Zion, the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem where the millions of angels have gathered for the festival, with the whole Church in which everyone is a ‘first-born son’ and a citizen of heaven. Unfortunate many of the disciples have to face rejection and persecutions from the people, who through their rebellious attitude have refused to believe in God even though he has always been so patient, loving, caring and forgiving.

Dear friends, today we are reminded about the condition and nature of our mission,  calling humanity  to repent from our sinful and rebellious attitudes in order to embrace the compassionate love and care that God is offering us. And as disciples of Christ, we have received a lot from God without payment; we should learn to give without expecting reward. Therefore, we must offer to others these same gifts which we have received. We are to show love to people, forgive, help the needy and share with one another the gifts God has blessed us with and if our love and care are rejected, we should offer it as a sign for the judgement day.  Remember, your kind gestures today can turn someone's life around now or later and by so doing we extend God’s divine compassion to rebellious humanity.

LET US PRAY:  Heavenly Father, as we are reminded about the condition and nature of our mission for which you sacrificed a lot to save us from our rebellious and sinful attitudes, open our hearts once again to repent and embrace your compassionate love and care for us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed day.

Wednesday of The 4th Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 3rd February, 2021

 Wednesday of The 4th Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 3rd February, 2021

Readings: Heb. 12:4-7.11-15, Ps.103, Mark 6:1-6

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

DO NOT LOOK DOWN ON PEOPLE OUT OF CONTEMPT OR OVER FAMILIARITY

In life people are quick to neglect and look down on others, who they believed 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 attitudes 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 and he marvelled because of their unbelief.

Thus, out of pride and contempt the people rejected the blessings God has for them. And like the prophets of old, Jesus was not accepted by the very people to whom he had been sent. Because the people showed only little faith, he was only able to cure a few of the sick. But he went on to teach in other villages, while there were few great work done in his hometown. So, if he is not allowed to do good where he would, he must do it some other place. 

Therefore, he had to move on, he did not insist on convincing those whose minds were closed. Consequently, they missed out the blessings he is offering them.  So in their pride they treated him with contempt. 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. 

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

But we should not give up, for we are told in our first reading that in the fight against sin, we have not yet had to keep fighting to the point of death and when the Lord corrects us, we should not treat it lightly or get discouraged when he reprimands us. For the Lord trains the ones that he loves and he punishes all those that he acknowledges as his sons. God is treating us as his sons and daughters, of course, any punishment is most painful at the time, but later, in those on whom it has been used, it bears fruit in peace and goodness.

Therefore, we should put all our obstacles behind us and work hard for our dreams, give our time to it, sacrifice our sleep and comfort, sweat for it, plan for it, overcome all our terrors of opposition, enduring pains and obstacles, with the help of God we will succeed and become a source of God's blessings. Then we will sing joyfully to God our strength and all the people will gather about us in praise of our God. And they will say: Is not this the Carpenter's sons or daughters? Where then did they get all these? Yes, that's who we are, for Jesus is the Carpenter of our success and salvation.

LET US PRAY: Almighty God, oftentimes in our pride we treat people with contempt because of their humble background, give us the grace to realize that everyone is a potential instrument of your blessings and favour to humanity, and as we struggle towards our goals, may you crown all our efforts and sacrifices with success. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.  Peace be with you.

The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

 Tuesday of The 4th Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 2nd February, 2021.

The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord.

Readings: Mal.3:1-4, Ps.24, Heb. 2:14-18, Luke 2:22-40

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

THE PRESENTATION OF JESUS INTO THE TEMPLE OF GOD WHICH DWELLS IN OUR HEARTS

Forty days after the birth of Jesus at Christmas, we are reminded in today’s Feast the event of the Presentation of Jesus in the temple at Jerusalem. This event servers three purposes; the first is the redemption of the first-born male, which according to the law of Moses, was set apart for God. The second purpose is the purification of Mary which is done after giving birth and the third is the Presentation Jesus into the temple of God which dwells in human hearts. 

Here in the Gospel, St Luke explained that Mary and Joseph wished to fulfil all the prescriptions in order to emphasize that Jesus was born into a family of simple people, lowly but of steadfast faith: a family that belonged to the poor of Israel the true People of God. It is important to note that these three purposes that is, the purification of the mother and the redemption of the son and the presentation, aimed at giving account of the presentation of Jesus in the Temple of God which dwells in human hearts. A symbol of the reality  that shows the act of offering the Son of the Most High to the Father who sent him.

 

Hence, this becomes the confirmation of the words of the Prophet Malachi which we heard at the beginning of the first Reading: “Behold”, says the Lord, “I send my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming to purify the sons of Levi. Then the offering will be pleasing to the Lord” (3:1- 4), thereby indicating the role of the child. 

The same child Jesus, who is immediately presented in the Temple, is the same person who, as an adult, would purify the temple of our hearts  Jn 2:13-22). Above all, he would make himself the sacrifice and the High Priest of the new Covenant, as we heard in our second reading from the Letter to the Hebrews. A passage which tells us about the new priesthood instituted by Christ the High Priest. For which he will suffer greatly as prophecy by Simeon in our Gospel passage concerning both the Child Jesus and Mary the Mothe when he saidr: “Behold, this Child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against, a sword will pierce through your own soul also that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” 

Thus, this is pointing out the salvation which Jesus will bring to his people, that which he embodies in himself, as he passed through the Cross, the violent death by which he was to vanquish death and transform humanity with the sacrifice of his life through love. Hence, he becomes the true Light of the world of which Simeon and Anna proclaimed as a revelation, that Jesus was to be the High Priest of all, who is to absolve and redeem all mankind from their sins. By so doing becomes the true light that enlightens every man who is born into this world. 

Dear friends, today as we encounter Christ the true Light of the world presented at the temple in our hearts, let us of course, allow ourselves to be enlightened and made radiant by this light. Let us share in its splendour, and so be filled with it’s radiant, so that no one remains in the darkness. Let us bring this Light of Christ into our families and our homes, so that through sharing in his light we may be brought out of the darkness that covers our lives as individuals, families, communities, societies, country and the world at large. 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we celebrate the presentation of your Son Jesus today, let the light of his presence dispel the darkness in our lives, in our families, societies and so illuminate our paths as we struggle and journey in faith towards achieving our goals and purposes in life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. God bless you.