Homily for Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B, 1st August, 2021

 Homily for Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time  Year B, 1st August, 2021.

Reading: Exo. 16:2-4.12-15; Ps. 78; Eph.4:17.20-24; John 6:24-35

Rev.  Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

LOOKING UP TO JESUS THE BREAD OF LIFE

The ugly situation in our societies, country and the world at large can make someone to completely lose hope in humanity and even in God. Today people are confused, they don’t even know what to believe or who to trust anymore. The questions that come to mind are: To whom shall we run to? What shall we do? Any hope for a better tomorrow? What signs are there for us to see in order to be assured of a better and a brighter future for humanity? This present disposition can be liken to the disposition of the people in our Gospel passage today.

Here, the Jews who had witnessed the great miracle of the multiplication of loaves and fishes, when confronted with the hard teaching about the person of Jesus, asked Jesus for a sign to prove that he is the Messiah, a sign like the manna which their forefathers ate in the desert as we have it in our first reading today. They said to Jesus that God gave them bread from heaven to eat. For the Jews, the manna was God’s gift from heaven. So they wanted such miraculous sign again.

However, Jesus made it clear to the crowd that it was God rather than Moses who provided the manna for Israelites. Also he identified himself as the true bread of life that comes from God. That he himself is God’s divine intervention in our world. He is the gift of God to the world. So he told them solemnly: “I AM the bread of life.”  Using the word “I AM”, he strongly identifies himself with God, a statement that recalls the name God revealed to Moses in the burning bush (Exod 3:14). Jesus goes on to say that: “Whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.” 

Thus, the true manna, the true bread from heaven is the Word of God, which is Jesus and this Word is what he teaches us to believe in. Today this Word is now addressed to us and we shall do well to pay attention to it, because with the event going on in the world today, we too can find ourselves in an ugly situation. A situation where we may no longer have faith in God and start doubting his existence as we are now scared of losing our lives, our health, wealth or even our loved ones. The worst of it is not knowing what to believe anymore especially in the way our society has been structured, people no longer know their left from their right. 

  

Thus, St. Paul in our second reading says: unless we have failed to hear him properly when we were taught the truth about our Lord Jesus. For assuming that  we have heard about him properly and were taught in him, then, we must have given up our old way of life; we must have put aside our old self, which gets corrupted by following our ugly desires. Our mind must have been renewed by a spiritual revolution so that we can put on the new self that has been created in God’s way, in the goodness and holiness of the truth.

Dear friends, I don’t know how you have personally experienced Jesus. I don’t know how deep is you’re understanding of Jesus in the Eucharist as the Bread of Life? I don’t know how the world has separated us for Jesus our Bread of Life? Are you confused about your faith in God?  I don’t know what you are passing through now. Does it seem as if all hope is lost and there is no opportunity again for you? Jesus says: I AM the bread of life, blessed is the one who does not lose faith in him. For he is waiting for us at the Eucharist, where he feeds us spiritually. Therefore, be courageous, do not be afraid. Be patient, do not lose heart. Rather let us look up to Jesus the Bread of Life, for he will surely come to save us.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, whenever we come to Jesus and bond ourselves closely to him, we are actually identifying ourselves with You, may we constantly embrace Your love for us in the Eucharist as you feed us daily with the bread of life through Your Word. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Happy New month, God bless you.

Homily for Saturday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 31st July, 2021. The Memorial of St. Ignatius of Loyola

 Homily for Saturday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 31st July, 2021. The Memorial of St. Ignatius of Loyola

Readings: Lev. 25:1.8-17; Ps. 67; Matt. 14:1-12

THE WORLD IS IN NEED OF TRUTHFUL PEOPLE LIKE JOHN THE BAPTIST

One thing that the world hates to hear is the sound of the word "truth". Why! Because it makes the world to tremble as most things in the world are built on falsehood and deceit and people are becoming comfortable with falsehood as a way of life. This is obvious 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 want to be "free" to do whatever they like, they don't want anybody to remind them the hard truth about the realities of life. Hence, 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 the conversion of one in authority.

This is the case with John the Baptist in our Gospel passage today, whose head was the prize for the truth he told to Herod and Herodias. For Herod had arrested John and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife. For John had told him, ‘It is against the Law for you to have her.’ Herod had wanted to kill him but was afraid of the people, who regarded John 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 on 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. 

These ugly attitudes towards John the Baptist points at what is done 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. 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. 

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 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 retract his oath.

Dear friends, like Herod, how often do we make decisions out of pride? When we make bad decisions, how quick are we able to change our mind, to admit that we are wrong. 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 protest, even at the cost of losing our lives? Today we called to speak the truth, for the world needs to hear the truth no matter the cost.

Therefore, like St. Ignatius of Loyala whose memorial we celebrate today, let’s be courageous and steadfast in standing and speaking the truth no matter the condition we find ourselves now. 

LET US PRAY:  Lord God, it is difficult to speak and stand for truth in our world today, give us the grace and courage to become instrument of your word in truth and in deeds just like St. Ignatius of Loyola and St. John the Baptist. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. It’s New month wishing you God’s favour and blessings.

Homily for Friday of Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 30th July, 2021

 Homily for Friday of Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 30th July, 2021. 

Readings: Lev. 23:1.4-11.15-16.27.34-37; Ps. 81; Matt. 13:54-58

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

NEVER LOOK DOWN ON PEOPLE BECAUSE OF THEIR HUMBLE BACKGROUND FOR EVERYONE IS A POTENTIAL INSTRUMENT OF GOD'S BLESSINGS

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.

Thus, out of pride and contempt the people rejected the blessings God has for them. 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 you want to make a difference in life, be ready to ignore what people are saying about you now, forget you past failures and your humble beginning. People may not appreciate you now, they may even say all kinds of things about you, just to humiliate and discourage you.

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

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, 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.

GOD OUR POTTER IS MOULDING US INTO A VESSEL FOR HIS HEAVENLY KINGDOM

 Thursday of the 17th Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 30th July, 2020.

Readings: Jer.18:1-6, P 146, Matt 13:37-53

Fr. Emmanuel Onyia.

GOD OUR POTTER IS MOULDING US INTO A VESSEL FOR HIS HEAVENLY KINGDOM

A story was told of a beautiful clay pot used to decorate a garden. The clay pot was the point of attraction to all including it’s fellow ordinary clay. So one day the ordinary clay approached the beautiful clay pot and said, we have no doubt that you are clay just like us. But how come you have become so beautiful and special that everyone admires you? The clay pot smiles and said: there was a time when I was nothing but a dumb lump of red clay. Then one day a Potter came with a digger and a hoe, dung me out of the dumb lump and painfully separated me from my fellow clay and brought me to his house I cried out but he ignored me. 

He rolled and pounded me on a wooden table several times without mercy. I cried out, don’t do that! Leave me alone!’ But the Potter suddenly placed me on a spinning wheel and suddenly spun around and around and around until I lost all consciousness. Just when I thought it was over, he placed me carefully into an oven which is hotter than the hell fire. 

Why me! I cried out in anguish! But the potter only smiled and gently said: because you are special! I struggled, I yelled, knocked and broke several times, but the Potter was patient and meticulous in ensuring that I adjusted to his will. Realizing that I cannot win, I surrender completely to the will of the Potter and he only nodded in understanding and quietly said: “is not over yet! 

Then he pulled me out of the oven, when the heat became cooled he carefully picked me up, dust away some dirt and behold I was totally transformed, looking so beautiful and special. And the potter smiled and said:  this is what you are meant to be. For God has made you into a special vessel for special purpose. 

This story reflect what prophet Jeremiah is telling us in our first reading today that God is the Potter and we are the clay. Though God has created humanity as beautiful clay in his hands to be molded into a beautiful and special vessel for heavenly kingdom. But humanity have sinned and rebelled again God and his plan for us. Unless we repent and turn away from our sinful ways we will all perish. 

Hence we are called to repentance for there will be a day of judgement of which Jesus in our Gospel passage, used a parable to describe that the kingdom of heaven will be like a dragnet cast into the sea that brings in fish of all kinds. When it is full, the fishermen haul it ashore; then, sitting down, they collect the good ones in a basket and throw away those that are no use. Here Jesus is telling us that the kingdom is open for all but not all can be suitable to dwell in it, only those who on the judgement day are found suitable can be admitted into the kingdom.

Dear friends, all God required from us is for us to let him mould us into the heavenly vessels that he planned for humanity. No doubt that sin has destroy our original nature, but just like when the pot a potter was shaping spoils in his hands and he forms it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him. So will God re-mould us into a new vessel for his heavenly kingdom if we repent from our pride and sinful ways of life.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, sin and pride has separated humanity from your plans for us, today we come to you like a clay in a dump lump, be our Potter once again and re-mould us into that heavenly vessels which you planned for us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. God bless you.

Homily for Thursday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 29th July, 2021. The Memorial of St. Martha

 Homily for Thursday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 29th July, 2021. The Memorial of St. Martha

Readings: Eox. 40:16-21.34-38, Ps. 84; Luke 10:38-42

BUSY WITHOUT LISTENING AND LISTENING WITHOUT DOING ANY THING IS COMPLETELY WORTHLESS

Oftentimes, we worry about so many things in life, trying to satisfy everyone at the expense of the real thing that matters more. I have really come across people who are often worried about how to make others feel more comfortable without minding their own discomfort. They are so concerned with pleasing others even when they are not pleased. What a great sacrificial virtue that is not common this days. This sacrificial virtue is the attitude of Martha whose memorial we celebrate today. 

In our Gospel passage we have the story of how Martha was so busy trying to make Jesus comfortable as he visited them at their house in Bethany. But when Martha observed that her sister Mary was not helping out in the preparation, rather was busy listening to Jesus, she said to Jesus: “Lord, do you not care that my sister is leaving me to do the serving all by myself? Please tell her to help me.’ But the Lord answered: ‘Martha, Martha,’ he said ‘you worry and fret about so many things, and yet few are needed, indeed only one. It is Mary who has chosen the better part; it is not to be taken from her”.

 

Here, Jesus is not condemning this great sacrificial virtue nor condoning laziness. Rather, he is saying that busy without listening and listening without doing is completely worthless. Hence, he gently corrected the impression of Martha who was too busy and distracted with so many things that she risks losing sight of what is really important, that is, listening to Jesus. This is because Martha gives the impression that Mary is just sitting there doing nothing. But, in fact, she is listening to Jesus. 

However, Jesus is not telling us to be content with sitting down to listen to his word, for he always insists that the best way of listening to his word is by putting it into practice. While his objection to Martha is because she was too anxious and distracted by many things that she was not able to really listen to him and for Jesus listening is the best option 

Dear friends, in our relationship with Jesus, are we more of listener or more of accommodating and caring? Are we more like Martha or like Mary for they were both friends of Jesus? Today many of us are so busy and anxious of so many things that we have no time to listen to God speaking to us and addressing the situation we are actually busy trying to solve. Today we are called like Martha to pause and listen, so that we can hear God speaking to us and directing us towards the right path. 

Remember, Martha who was known as a friend of Jesus, loved to welcome him into her home, let  us also learn from her, for it is a great virtue to be hospitable and caring especially when we spend quality time to listen to God and letting him direct and guide us towards carrying out our daily tasks. Therefore, let learn from Moses in our first reading, who always listen to God and so was able to erect the Tabernacle of God as he was directed.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are anxious and worried about so many things, but indeed only one thing is needed, give us the grace to truly listen to your word and be caring and hospitable just like St. Martha. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed day.

Homily for Wednesday Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 28th July, 2021

 Homily for Wednesday Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 28th July, 2021.

Readings: Exo. 34:29-35; Ps. 99; Matt 13:44-46

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WHAT IS THAT ULTIMATE TREASURE IN YOUR LIFE?

Everyday under terrible scourges of the sun and noisy street, people struggle to acquire things that they value as treasures of life. The quarreling and fighting, the early morning rush, the traffic jam, the aggressive words all just to acquire things of this life and people are never tired of acquiring properties for themselves and their generation yet to come, forgetting that all these things sooner or later passes away as we ourselves expire from this world. Thus, today we are called to reflect on what should be our ultimate treasure and how we can acquire it. 

So, in the Gospel passage today, Jesus used two parables to describe to the people that the kingdom of God is the greatest and ultimate treasure anyone can and should acquire. He said to them: the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field which someone has found; he hides it again, goes off happy, sells everything he owns and buys the field. Again he said, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls; when he finds one of great value he goes and sells everything he owns and buys it.

Here, the parables describe the kingdom of God as the ultimate treasure that cannot be compared to anything whatsoever we have in this world. Though the kingdom is open for all but not all can be suitable to dwell in it, only those who on the judgement day are found suitable can be admitted into the kingdom. Using these parables Jesus explains what the kingdom of heaven is like and what we need to do in order to acquire it. The essence of these parables is to remind us that the kingdom of heaven is so precious and great, that it is worth more than our entire life and our worldly possessions and treasures.

Therefore, we must do all that it takes to ensure that we acquire it, losing it over the temporal pleasure, joy, glory, fame, power and influence of the things of this passing world will be complete foolishness. For none of them last forever and what good is it for us to gain the whole world but loses our soul out of God’s kingdom. For it is the glory of this kingdom that made the skin on the face of Moses in our first reading to shone so much that the people of Israel would  not dear to ear him.

Dear friends, what is our ultimate treasure in this life? How many of us are paying attention to this ultimate heavenly treasure? How many of us thinks and search for this ultimate treasure of our souls? How many of us desires to personally discover God in our life? How I wish we will understand the shortness of this life, the emptiness of this passing world and the danger of losing our soul out of greediness for the things of this passing world. Then, we will sincerely desire to experience God personally, because in him lies the  greatest and ultimate treasure of life. And discovering God personally in our lives is the greatest treasure anyone can ever have.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, the world is full of distractions from false treasures, give us a wise and discerning hearts in order to give up all our attachment to worldly possessions in pursue of the heavenly and ultimate treasure of your kingdom. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Peace be with you.

Homily for Tuesday Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 27th July, 2021

 Homily for Tuesday Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 27th July, 2021.

Readings: Exo. 33:7-11.34:5-9.28; Ps. 103, Matt 13:36-43

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

LET HE THAT HAS EARS LISTEN CAREFULLY 

One of our great music legends Bob Marley said in one of his songs titled Natural Mystic:

There's a natural mystic

Blowing through the air

If you listen carefully now you will hear

This could be the first trumpet

Might as well be the last

Many more will have to suffer

Many more will have to die

Don't ask me why

Things are not the way they used to be

I won't tell no lie

One and all got to face reality now.

This song is in line with the topic of our message today which have to do with listening carefully to God’s words. Because for many days now we have been listening to Jesus telling us about the kingdom of God and the need for us to prepare to embrace it. In most of the occasions Jesus used parables to communicate the important of this message. Having listened to him carefully, his disciples in our Gospel passage today asked him to explain the parable of the wheat and the darnel and he said:

 “The sower of the good seed is the Son of Man. The field is the world; the good seed is the subjects of the kingdom; the darnel, the subjects of the evil one; the enemy who sowed them, the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; the reapers are the angels. Well then, just as the darnel is gathered up and burnt in the fire, so it will be at the end of time. The Son of Man will send his angels and they will gather out of his kingdom all things that provoke offences and all who do evil, and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth. Then the virtuous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Listen, anyone who has ears!”

What is most important in this message is for us to “Listen carefully”. This is because the world as we know is coming to an end, for the day of reckoning is very close at hand. This could be the first trumpet might as well be the last. For it is obvious from the signs we are seeing around us today. How can we interpret the signs of this times, the signs that tell us that this world is passing away. 

Many are suffering and many more will have to suffer from greediness of others. Many have died and may more will have to die. Many are perishing in sin, many more will have to perish if we refuse to repent from sin and greediness. Little wonder we heard Moses in our first reading praying for the people of Israel who have failed to listen to God, he said: ‘If I have indeed won your favour, Lord,’ I beg. True, they are a headstrong people, but forgive us our faults and our sins, and adopt us as your heritage.

Dear friends, does these signs make us to be afraid of the second coming of the Lord or do we joyfully awaits its coming? Because the explanation of this parable gives us an account of what will happen on the day of reckoning. And today, we are called to really examine our conscience to know where we are with regards to our vocation as Christians. What will be our lot if the Lord calls us today? Will we be among the virtuous who will shine like the sun in the kingdom of our Father? Or among those that will be thrown out of his kingdom and sent into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and grinding of teeth? 

The answer to this question is available in our consciences and if we listen carefully now we will hear, for things are not the way they used to be, we all have to face the reality now. Everyday is a golden opportunity, today may be the only opportunity for us to change our sinful ways of life and embrace God completely.

LET US PRAY:  Heavenly Father, as we listen carefully to your word, let the groans of your children come before you, help us to embrace your word and be prepared to embrace your kingdom on the day of reckoning, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. God bless you.