Homily for Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B, 15th August, 2021. Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

 Homily for Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B, 15th August, 2021. Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

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

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WE ARE MADE TO SHARE IN CHRIST’S HEAVENLY GLORY

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Homily for Saturday Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 14th August, 2021. The Memorial of St. Maximilian kolbe

 Homily for Saturday Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 14th August, 2021. The Memorial of St. Maximilian kolbe

Readings: Jos. 24:14-29; Ps. 16; Matt. 19:13-15

Rev. Fr.  Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

GOD IS THE ULTIMATE CHOICE

What determines our attitude and behaviour in life is our fundamental option, which has to do with our choice for or against God. This is a choice we make consciously or unconsciously that guides and shape our lives. Knowing the importance of this choice, Joshua had to make this option for himself and his family and also encouraging others to do the same when he said to the people of Israel "choose this day whom you will serve... but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord" (Jos 24:14 -29).

 The choice for God is a choice for love, and a life of love is a sacrificial life neither easy nor comfortable. A kind of choice made by St. Maximilian Kolbe, whose memorial we celebrate today, for he heroically offered his life in place of another man who had been selected for execution, seeing how the man was filled with despair over the welfare of his wife and children. Maximilian being a priest chose to die in place of this man, so that he can be united once again with his family. What a great lesson and example for us to value that gift of love that God has given humanity in the sacramental union of marriage.

 Dear friends, to chose God, we must identify ourselves with Christ who is full of love, goodness and holiness and build a good relationship with others. We must learn to sacrifice in humility just like little children. Little wonder Jesus said in our Gospel passage: ‘Let the little children alone, and do not stop them coming to me; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.’ So, Jesus appreciate it when in childlike humility we make the fundamental option to serve him and to sacrifice for the good of others for we are called to taste and see that the Lord is good. 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are called today to choose whom we will serve. As we make this fundamental option to serve you,  you help us to live by it all the days of our lives. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. It's another weekend, may the Holy Spirit guide and direct our activities.

Homily for Friday Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 13th August, 2021

 Homily for Friday Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 13th August, 2021. 

Readings: Jos. 24:1-13; Ps. 136; Matt. 19:3-12

Fr. Emmanuel Onyia.

MARRIAGE AND DIVORCE IN FAMILY LIFE

The fragile nature of our society today has placed in the minds of the youths a distorted image of what marriage and family life entails and truly represent in the society. This is because many young people today find themselves in a condition of radical instability and look for people to help them answer the fundamental questions of life. Today there are different notion and understanding of marriage especially among the youths. Marriage is seen as a business which anybody can engage or disengage at anytime. 

Marriage among the youths of today is a thing of choice and contract which is suitable only when it serves their personal interest. Commitment, sacrifice and partnerships of a whole life are far from their understanding of what marriage truly represent. The fact remains that Marriage is the basis of every human family and indeed the basic cell of every community.

Little wonder in our Gospel passage today when the Pharisees engaged Jesus on the notion of divorce in marriage and it’s controversy. Jesus refer them to the fundamental principle of marriage when he said, Have you not read that the creator from the beginning made them male and female and that he said: This is why a man must leave father and mother, and cling to his wife, and the two become one body? They are no longer two, therefore, but one body. So then, what God has united, man must not divide.’ Addressing the issue of divorce, Jesus said ‘It was because you were so unteachable that why Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but it was not like this from the beginning. Now I say this to you: the man who divorces his wife, except for unchastity, marries another, is guilty of adultery. And he who marries a divorced wife commits adultery.  

 Here Jesus emphasized on the real intention of God about marriage and celibacy, that they are two forms of life that help us to value human sexuality as gift from God. He ruled out divorce by placing men and women on the same level; no longer could a man opt to divorce his wife, except for extreme unchastity. Today there are lots of problems in family due to lack of understanding of what marriage truly means. 

It is quite interesting to realize that social, economic and political factors were major determinants that shapes the youths present understand of marriage, as we see the youths giving importance to changing trends in marriage such as: single parent, inter-caste marriage, living in relationship or cohabitation, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender marriages, etc. Hence, marriage for them is more of a social phenomenon than spiritual union and physical companionship.

Little wonder Joshua in our first reading today reminded the people of Israel and all of us how faithful God has been to us and the need of us to be faithful with him,  when in the reading, he gathered all the tribes of Israel together at Shechem and they presented themselves before God. For we have abandoned and divorced him, by trusting on our own power and ability which he has given us. Yet God still remembers the covenant he made with us, he is not ashamed to identify with us. All he wants is for us to come back to him now that we are still alive for he is a merciful and faithful husband who loves us as his bride. 

Dear friends, today we are called to embrace the will of God and his teaching concerning family life and the issue of divorce. We should not let the trending ideas of disordered personalities in our world mislead us. Rather, we should value and respect the sanctity marriage.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we have always failed to listen and follow you teaching, as a result, there are lots of problems in  our families due to lack of understanding of what marriage truly means. As we listen to your teaching today, help us to value our vocation whether marriage or celibate life and to constantly struggle to fix the problems in our families, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. God bless you.

Thursday of the 19th Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 12th August, 2021

 Thursday of the 19th Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 12th August, 2021.

Readings: Jos. 3:7-10.11 .13-17; Ps.114; Matt. 18:21-19:1

Fr. Emmanuel Onyia.

LEARN TO FORGIVE OTHERS FROM YOUR HEART

In the prayer our Lord Jesus gave us as a pattern of all prayers and as a fundamental principle of Christian life, there is a portion that point out something so important. This portion says “forgive us our trespasses as we for give those who trespassed against us” (Matt.6:12). By this pray we are making a covenant and commitment that will be a standard by which we are going to be judged as regards our relationship with others and with God. But often times we are not conscious of this principles especially when we have to face the difficult moment of forgiving a grievous offense.

Thus, Peter one of the disciples of Jesus being conscious of this fact, asked Jesus in our Gospel passage today saying: ‘Lord, how often must I forgive my brother if he wrongs me? As often as seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘Not seven, I tell you, but seventy times seven. And he practicalized his answer with an example of a servant who owed his master a great debt that he and his generation cannot pay. But when he pleads for mercy, the master forgave him all the debts. However, this same servant found a fellow servant who owed him as little as one hundred denarii, he seized him by the throat and began to throttle him and even when he pleaded for mercy, instead of forgiving him, he puts him in prison according to the norms of the law until he had paid his debt. 

This unforgiven servant did to his fellow servant what the master could have done to him, but did not. When the master heard how he treated his fellow servant, he said to him: “You wicked servant! I have forgiven you all your debt because you appealed to me. Were you not bound then to have pity on your fellow-servant just as I had pity on you? And, angry, the master handed him over to the torturers till he should pay all his debts.” Jesus then said, this is how my heavenly Father will deal with you unless you each forgive your brother from your heart.’ For God will apply the principle he has given us in our Lord’s Prayer, which will automatically put us where we properly belongs based on how we have related with other.

In this story, we see the extreme estimate of the debt the servant owed his master, ten thousand talents, even if him and his family had to work their whole life, they would never have been able to pay that debt. Because a denarius is a day's wage for a common workingman. While a talent is 6,000 denarii, or 20 years of daily wages. That means he would need to work 6,000 days to earn one talent and we are talking about ten thousand talents. So, that’s a huge amount compared to hundred denarii his fellow servant owed him, in fact, there was no comparison between the two debtors at all. However, this will exposed to us the ugly attitude of unforgiveness and also help us to understand that our debt before God is so huge and countless for we cannot be able to pay them. 

Dear friends, Are there people we have vowed not to forgive? Have people hurt us so much that we can’t forgive them? Have we offended people and cannot be humble enough to ask for their forgiveness? Do we think that our sins are so huge for God to forgive? Are we finding it difficult to forgive those who have offended us? 

There is no doubt that forgiven a grievous offense can be very difficult, but when this is done, it is like recovery a lost treasure that contains: joy, peace, freedom and healing. And today Jesus is asking us to learn how to forgive others always and unconditionally from our hearts, so that God will also forgive us always and unconditionally. Therefore, we must never refuse to forgive or reject an offer of reconciliation in our relationship with God and with our fellow human beings and if this becomes difficult, bring it to Jesus in prayer as you contemplate his patience and humility and mercy on the cross.

LET US PRAY: Almighty God, today you have made us to realize how unlimited you mercy is, as you exposed how huge our debts are in comparison with the little debts of forgiveness others owe us. As we make it a habit to forgive from the debt of our hearts all those who have offended us, may we discover and experience the hidden treasures that forgiveness brings. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a grace filled day.

Homily for Wednesday Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 11th August, 2021. The Memorial of St. Clare

 Homily for Wednesday Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 11th August, 2021. The Memorial of St. Clare

Readings: Deut. 34:1-12; Ps.66; Matt. 18:15-20

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

FRATERNAL CORRECTION IS NECESSARY IN HUMAN RELATIONSHIP

As human, we are not perfect because of our contingent nature, so we are likely to offend one another in any relationship we find ourselves. As a result of this, one of the major challenges we face in most relationship today is the ability to properly correct one another especially when one is straying from the norms set up for the good of the relationship.

In our Gospel passage today Jesus gave us the practical steps we need to follow in order to correct and reconcile with one another so as to build a stronger relationship when he said, ‘If your brother does something wrong, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won back your brother. If he does not listen, take one or two others along with you: the evidence of two or three witnesses is required to sustain any charge. But if he refuses to listen to these, report it to the Church as a community; and if he refuses to listen to the Church, treat him like a pagan or a tax collector.

Here, Jesus calls for fraternal correction in any relationship we find ourselves, for we are responsible for one another and these steps and stages give room for reconciliation. This fraternal correction must always be inspired by real charity which is one of the spiritual works of mercy. Though, this is never an easy task especially when one has to bear the sacrifice of forgiveness, because forgiving a very grievous offense is one of the most difficult things to do.

However, forgiven a grievous offense is like recovery a lost treasure that contains: joy, peace, freedom, healthy mind and healing. But how often do we seek to recover this lost treasure in our lives caused by unforgivingness? Hence Jesus today calls us to persistently seek for reconciliation until we gain our brothers and sisters back whenever they have offended us. And if they refused to be reconciled we should pray for their conversion for that is how Jesus taught us to treat the pagans, the task collectors and sinners. For in all our proceedings we should seek direction in prayer, knowing that God manifests his mercy when he transforms people and lead them to conversion, as he changes us and turns us from selfish and rebellious individuals into humble and loving persons. 

Dear friends, it is our duty, obligation and responsibility to ensure in a fraternal charity that our fellow brothers and sisters, friends and neighbours, colleagues and collaborators are corrected and guided whenever they go astray. For each and every one of us have the responsibility to strengthen our relationship and be a good examples for one another as we work the path towards our salvation, just like St. Clare of Assisi, whose memorial we celebrate today. She was a woman of great faith and humility, who was known for her great piety, love for God and humble service to the poor.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are rebellious and proud people, we lack the courage and disposition to accept corrections, help us through the intercessions of St. Clare to correct one another in fraternal charity as we also learn to accept corrections when corrected. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a favourable day.

Homily for Tuesday Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 10th August, 2021. Feast of St. Lawrence

Homily for Tuesday Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 10th August, 2021. Feast of St. Lawrence

Readings: 2 Cor 9:6-10, Ps.112, John 12:24-26

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

LET THE SEED OF THIS MORTAL LIFE DIE TO THE FLESH IN ORDER TO YIELD RICH HEAVENLY HARVEST

The way people are so much engrossed with acquiring the things of this passing world at the detriment of things that edifice the soul, 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 next ten, twenty, forty, eighty and hundred years for those who are strong? I believe the answer to this question will leave a deep silence in our soul as it exposed the foolishness of human greed and selfishness.

Little wonder Jesus in our Gospel passage today tells us that unless a wheat grain falls on the ground and dies, it remains only a single grain; but if it dies, it yields a rich harvest. For anyone who loves his life loses it; anyone who hates his life in this world will keep it for the eternal life.

Here, Jesus is telling us that the only way to save our lives is by total detachment from the things of this passing world. That we must sacrifice the pleasurable things of this world for the sake of the heavenly kingdom, because they are not going to follow us when the time comes for us to leave this world. For attachment to things of this world is nothing but a distraction from the things of heaven. Therefore, what are the things I value so much that needs to die in order for me to live more fully in Christ? Because like a wheat grain we must sacrifice by dying to the things of this world in order to yield fruit that will sustain us for eternity. Hence, we need to ask ourselves today, what does God requires from us in this world? Why are we in this world and where are we going for this world?  

Dear friends, all that the Lord wants from us is to serve him, to love him and to love our neighbours as well. And Jesus says in our Gospel, If a man serves me, he must follow me, wherever I am, my servant will be there too. For if anyone serves me, my Father will honour him. This is exactly what St. Lawrence whose memorial we celebrate today did. For Lawrence was one of the deacons of Rome and as such was greatly involved in the many important decisions and works in the very heart of the Church in Rome. During persecution, St. Lawrence was confronted by the Roman prefect through Emperor Valerian, who demanded that he surrender all the properties and material wealth of the Church. 

Lawrence rather distributed all the properties of the Church to the poor, and then, assembling before the Emperor, all the poor the infirm, the sick and the destitute, and presented all of them before the Roman prefect as the true property and wealth of the Church. Then, the Emperor was filled with anger, he ordered that Lawrence should be arrested, imprisoned, and eventually was martyred by being roasted alive on a gridiron, which was made even hotter by the anger of the prefects. As they where burning him, he joked and asked his torturers to turn him over since he was "done" enough on that side. The deacon cheerfully offered himself to the Lord Jesus. Tradition has it that all of Rome became Christian as a result of the faithful life, and the death, of this one humble deacon, who let the seed of his life to die in order to yield rich Heavenly harvest.

Today the life of St. Lawrence is a great encouragement to us, calling us to the sacrificial life of love for God, the poor and the Church. And St. Paul in our first reading today tells us about the great rewards awaiting all those who had been generous in giving and loving the poor and the needy. For the one who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide us with all the seed we need and make the harvest of our good deeds a larger one, just like St. Lawrence  who showed us great example by his great generosity, love, genuine concern for the poor and the Church.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, Today, we saw in St. Lawrence a great example of how to live, and how to die faithfully to the Gospel. As we reflect on his life, may we come to love you the more and strive to detach ourselves from the negative influence of pleasurable things of this passing world. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed day.

Homily for Monday Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 9th August, 2021

 Homily for Monday Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 9th August, 2021

Readings: Deut. 10:12-22; Ps. 147; Matt. 17:22-27

Rev. Fr.  Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

JESUS PAID HIS CIVIL DUES, WE ALSO MUST DO THE SAME 

Oftentimes, people feel that is not necessary to pay taxes to civil authority especially when they are not utilizing the proceeds of the taxes they collected from the people. But in our Gospel passage today, Jesus made us to know that we are expected to contribute to the growth of our civil society. 

For when the tax collectors of the Temple came to the disciples and asked them on the matter of paying the Temple taxes, Jesus said, ‘Simon, what is your opinion? From whom do the kings of the earth take toll or tribute? From their sons or from foreigners?’ And when he replied, ‘From foreigners’, Jesus said, ‘Well then, the sons are exempt. However, so as not to offend these people, go to the lake and cast a hook; take the first fish that bites, open its mouth and there you will find a shekel; take it and give it to them for me and for you.

Here, Jesus respects those in authority both civil and religious, even when he did not agree with them. He paid his dues calling his disciples to do the same while providing for them. Today, we all are called to do the same, let us have deep respect for authorities both civil and religious and pay our dues and ensure that they are well utilized, so that, like Jesus we may contribute to the growth of our society. Thus in our first reading today Moses tells us that the only thing the Lord our God ask of us is to fear the Lord our God, to follow all his ways, to love him, to serve the Lord our God with all our heart and all our souls, to keep the commandments and laws of the Lord which he laid down for our good.

Dear friends, let us start our day by first taking our time to figure out our priority and get to work on them. Let us make our task more interesting and attractive and ensure that we contribute to the growth of our civil society. When our tasks seem difficult, just start with the minor once and from there we will be motivated to continue and by so doing we will remain faithful with the commandments of our Lord. 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we thank you for gift of your word. As we begin our task this week, may your glory inspire us and elevate us to greater height. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful day.