Thursday of The 5th Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 11th February, 2021.

 Thursday of The 5th Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 11th February, 2021.

Readings: Gen 2:18-25, Ps.128, Mark 7:24-30

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

THE POWER OF HUMILITY AND PERSISTENCY

In our society today, most people hardly accept who they are. For these days people spent all their resources and energy trying to convince others of what they are not by seeking their approval. What happens is that, at the end they will lose their nerves and other people will convince them that what they are doing doesn't have any value and because of that they give up their dream. This is not the same with the syrophoenician woman in our Gospel passage today, who when approached Jesus pleading for the restoration of her daughter did not give up even when her request was not granted immediately. 

For we are told that Jesus entered a house in Tyre and Sidon and did not want to be recognized. It is then that this Gentile Syrophoenician  woman came to him and prostrated herself before Jesus and begged him to exorcise the evil spirit in her daughter. But Jesus’ answer seems somewhat strange when he said:  “Let the children be fed first. For it is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.”  However, the woman responded, “Lord, even the dogs under the table eat the children’s scraps. Her humble and powerful faith were immediately rewarded and her daughter was healed.

 

This story portrays the anticipation of the future faith of the Gentiles who will later become Christians. However, 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. Nonetheless, his apparent attempt to put her off was just a test, of which her great faith was proven by accepting her humble background and persistency in her request. 

She 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. Though 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.

Dear friends,  we must learn how to humbly accept who are and be more persistent in our quest and desire for something. We must stop wasting valuable time trying to prove who we are not, let us first accept who we are in faith, 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 who we are. Whatever we want to do, let us have faith in God and in ourselves, and be determined because, faith, determination and sacrifice 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 everyday for it, then 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 this syrophoenician woman who accepted who she was and was determined with faith to achieve her dream through humility and persistency. 

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

Wednesday of The 5th Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 10th February, 2021. The Memorial of St. Scholastica

 Wednesday of The 5th Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 10th February, 2021.

The Memorial of St. Scholastica

Readings: Gen 2:4-9.15-17, Ps.104, Mark 7:14:23

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

THE UGLY FRUITS OF A CORRUPT HEART  

Listening to our first reading today, we heard how God has entrusted to humanity his wonderful creation with the following instructions: ‘You may eat indeed of all the trees in the garden. Nevertheless of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil you are not to eat, for on the day you eat of it you shall most surely die. But we  have often failed to keep this instruction out of pride and greediness which have corrupted our hearts and as a result most of our ugly attitudes are the fruit of this corrupt heart and these often separate us from God.

Little wonder in our Gospel passage today, Jesus makes it clear that we are not defiled or separated from God, by external things, such as the kinds of food we eat, but by the sins of the heart, evil intentions and sinful actions  which we entertain in our hearts. Telling us that physical activity of the human person does not defile a person because the physical is being controlled by the inner interior being of the person. For when the interior life of a person is corrupted by sin, then the fruit of this corruption is manifested in the physical activity of the person.

For just as a corrupt fountain sends forth corrupt streams, so will a corrupt heart bring forth corrupt fruits, corrupt appetites, passions and covetousness and immoderate desires of more of the wealth of the world from which comes wickedness; malice, hatred, and a delight in mischievous actions, deceit; Lasciviousness; that filthiness and foolish talk which darkened the soul. 

Hence, Jesus teaches us also, that from a corrupt heart comes the desire for fornication and adultery. And all these comes from within our hearts, especially it the corrupt nature that brings about the carnal mind, the evil treasure in the heart which defile the human person and render one unfit to communion with God. Because they stain the conscience; and, if not mortified and rooted out, will send us out of our heavenly kingdom. 

Thus,  the defilement we ought to avoid is not from what entered our mouths as food, but from what comes out of our mouths, which shows the goodness or wickedness deep down in our hearts. For the human heart is the source of every good and evil deeds. Hence, the pollution of the human heart is very dangerous, for in it comes all the powers and faculties of the soul. So there is need for us to know that lustful and sinful thoughts of the heart defiles the human person and makes one abominable in the sight of God. 

Dear friends, we must ensure that our hearts are constantly purge of all these corruptions in other to bear good fruits of love, forgiveness, compassion and holiness. For it is only when this occurs that there will be need for a new hearts and right spirit to be formed and created within us for having repented and received the pardoning grace of God. Because nothing will last in the soul more than the regenerating graces of the Holy Spirit which gives sight to the heart darkened by sin in order to effectively lead others to the truth that illuminates their hearts from the darkness of sin and death.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, the human hearts have been corrupted and darkened by sins. As we struggle to constantly purge our hearts from sin and corruption, may you through the intercessions of St Scholastica, create a pure heart within us so that we can bear good fruits of love and holiness. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen Wishing you a fruitful day.

Tuesday of The 5th Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 9th February, 2021,

 Tuesday of The 5th Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 9th February, 2021,

Readings: Gen.1:20-2:4, Ps.8, Mark 7:1-13

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD IN RELATION TO HUMAN TRADITIONS

Oftentimes, we find it difficult to separate the commandments of God from human traditions. This no doubt plays out in our making and interpreting of laws and it has great consequences in our relationship with God and our neighbours just as we have it in our Gospel reading today, where we heard how the Pharisees multiplied religious laws and rituals to such an extent that it was impossible to know them all, talk more of observing them. So Jesus accuses them of  neglecting the true commandment of God over their petty regulations. 

These petty laws and traditions were some body of highly detailed but unwritten human laws which the Scribes and Pharisees regarded as having the same binding force as the Law of Moses. However, Jesus was not totally against these laws and regulations. What he was against was the legalism by which the mere observance of some external actions were equated with being a devout lover of God. Hence he reminds them of the quotes from the prophet Isaiah saying: “this people honours me only with lip service, while their hearts are far from me. The worship they offer me is worthless; the doctrines they teach are only human regulations.” (Is 29:13). 

So, he made it clear that the real commandments of God is the unconditional love of God and neighbour which is evident in our first reading where we heard God saying, ‘Let us make man in our own image, in the likeness of ourselves, and let them be masters of the fish of the sea, the birds of heaven, the cattle, all the wild beasts and all the reptiles that crawl upon the earth.’ Thus, God created man in the image of himself with laws and regulations to guide us. But we have neglected these laws in favour of what are purely human traditions. 

Hence, Jesus goes ahead to illustrates the hypocrisy involved in this ugly attitudes by showing how some supposedly devout people neglected the basic responsibility of respect and care for parents by claiming that they had consecrated all that they owned to God and the temple, while in fact they are keeping it for their own personal use. So for one to declare something to be “Corban,” an offering devoted to God, when his parents are in need, is in direct conflict with the commandment of God that says: honour your father and mother.

Dear friends, there can be some elements of the Pharisee in us and these happen whenever, we focus our attention on laws while neglecting the spirit of the law which is the real focus of today’s Gospel. Sometimes we neglect the essential service of God because of some religious regulations. We often judge people based on our human standard. And sometimes we piously go through all kinds of devotional exercises but deep down our hearts is gossip and destructive criticism of others. 

Therefore, we are called today not to be like the Pharisees by holding unto unnecessary human traditions, rather, we should focus our attention more on the teaching of Jesus about the love of God and neighour and this should guide our implementation of every other laws and regulations. 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, out of pride and greediness, we have often neglected the true meaning of your commandment of love but hold on to unnecessary human traditions which lead us into destructive criticism of others. Help us to change this ugly attitudes in order to embrace your teaching on love and humility. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful day.

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.