Advent Year C, 1st December, 2021

 Homily For Wednesday of the First Week of Advent Year C, 1st December, 2021 

Readings Isaiah 25:6-10; Ps 22; Matt. 15:29-37

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

JESUS CARES FOR OUR PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL NEEDS

As we begin another new day and new month, which is the last month of the year, so we continue with the event of Advent. No doubt that It’s always the desire of humanity to experience the intervention of God whenever we are passing through difficult situation. This had always been the desire and disposition of the people of Israel as they await the coming of the Messiah as prophesied by the prophets. So, in our Gospel passage today, Jesus fulfills his role as the expected Messiah who was to liberate his people from all kinds of diseases. The healing touch of Jesus in our Gospel reveals to all those who are in need 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 Jesus did not just heal the sick, he also feeds the crowd. This feeding of the crowd refers back to the journey of the people of God in the desert from Mount Sinai to the promised land. So, we need the food of the Eucharist for our journey to heaven which is our promised land. This bread is the gift that we receive from Jesus whose heart is always moved with pity and compassion towards humanity. 

Here, Jesus did not bring the loaves and fish out of nowhere. Rather, he took what was offered to him and multiplied it greatly. We should never think we have little to give others. Let us learn to share with others and Jesus will provide for us greatly for he is the one who feeds the hungry, and gives them strength for their journey. Just like prophet Isaiah tells us in our first reading that on this mountain, the Lord of hosts will prepare for all peoples a banquet of rich food. He will wipe away the tears from every cheek; he will take away his people’s shame everywhere on earth.

Dear friends, Jesus cares for our physical and spiritual needs. He wants us to learn how to be patient and trust God in times of trouble and tribulations for he alone knows the best time and how best to deal with our problems. For when that time comes he will restore us back to his glory and set us free from all evil forces around us, just like the people in our Gospel passage. All he wants from us is to constantly feed our souls with his Words and Eucharist as we journey towards his kingdom.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we struggle with the forces and troubles of this passing world, may we always find solace in your Word and Eucharist and so conquer our fear and challenges, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Happy new month. Wishing you a glorious day

Homily Tuesday First Week of Advent Year C, 30th November, 2021. The Feast of St. Andrew Apostle

 Homily Tuesday First Week of Advent Year C, 30th November, 2021. The Feast of St. Andrew Apostle 

Readings Rom. 10:9-18; Ps.19:2-5; Matt 4:18-22

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

FOLLOWING THE LORD REQUIRES LEAVING BEHIND THE THINGS OF THIS PASSING WORLD

As this month comes to an end, liturgy of today presents to us the feast of St Andrew one of the Apostles of Christ and our Gospel today tells us the story of how a call from the Lord changed the direction of the lives of the first disciples, who left everything and followed him. Andrew being one of them, was previously one of the disciple of St. John the Baptist before becoming a follower of Christ. Andrew according to scriptures proclaimed the good news to his brother, Peter (John 1:40-41). He was the one who brought the boy with loaves of bread and fish to him, that he might give them to the people all waiting in hunger. And St Andrew sets an example that points certain things at the heart of preaching the Gospel. He was involved in introducing the Greeks to Jesus and also joined in spreading the Gospel beyond the confines of Palestine. 

The life of St Andrew shows us that being a preacher involves having a clear conviction and faith in Jesus and readiness to share this faith and conviction with others. He dedicated himself just as his brother Peter and the other Apostles in ministering to the people and proclaiming the Lord’s coming. And even after the Lord had ascended into Heaven, he continued to preach the faith. He brought the faith to many places such as Ukraine, Russia, Balkans, Greece and other places. 

Andrew worked hard in spreading the Good News to those who are yet to witness the Lord and embrace his salvation. For through him many were converted and inspired by his works and preaching. He also established many Churches and built foundation for many Christian communities. He was  the first Bishop of the Christian community in the city of Constantinople. However, Andrew like other Apostles encountered persecution and sufferings in Greece, where he was arrested, and was greatly tortured and eventually martyred by crucifixion. He was crucified on an X-shaped cross, which is referred today as the Cross of St. Andrew, in memory of his faith and dedication to the mission of Christ.

Dear friends, following the Lord requires leaving behind the things if this passing world. So, today we are called like St Andrew to follow Jesus and following Jesus means leaving behind the life we have now and embrace the new life he is offering to us. When we opt to follow Jesus, our life revolves around him. It’s no longer what we feel like doing, but what his word instructs us to do. It also means leaving behind our sinful ways of life and embrace holiness of life. Therefore, let St. Andrew be our inspiration and role model in our responding to the calling of the Lord to spread the Good News. 

So let us be conscious of what St. Paul is tells us in our first reading saying: But they will not ask his help unless they believe in him, and they will not believe in him unless they have heard of him, and they will not hear of him unless they get a preacher, and they will never have a preacher unless one is sent. Hence, the Lord is sending us, let us follow the good examples of St. Andrew in responding to the Lord Invitation to follow him.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, we are called to follow your Son Jesus, as we respond to this call, may we through the intercession of St Andrew find inner joy in our soul that will prompt us to spread the Good News of the Gospel with faith and conviction. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you a fruitful day.

Homily For Monday in First Week of Advent Year C, 29th November, 2021.

 Homily For Monday in First Week of Advent Year C, 29th November, 2021. 

Readings: Is. 2:1-5;  Ps.122; Matt 8:5-11

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 THE ACT OF FAITH AND GENUINE HUMILITY OF A ROMAN CENTURION AN INSPIRING EXAMPLE OF US

We are taught in our Catechism that faith is a gift of God, a supernatural virtue infused in us by God. Little wonder our level of faith are not the same. However, our gift of faith grows depending on our disposition and utilization of the gift. That is why, when Jesus invites people to faith and conversion, he does not coerced them, rather they come to faith through their disposition and utilization of their experience with him. 

This is exactly the case with the Roman centurion in our Gospel passage today,, who sorts help for his sick servant, he approached Jesus for healing, but when Jesus accepted to come to his home, the centurion hesitates, feeling unworthy of Jesus’ presence in his home, said to him “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed”.  

Here the centurion believes that Jesus can speak a word of healing, and that will be enough to cure his servant. He has total faith and trust in the power of Jesus’ word. For him, the servant did not even have to hear Jesus speak the word: it was enough that the word was spoken. Jesus praised his faith and genuine humility. Today, these words of the centurion has become a pattern of prayer for us, that before Holy Communion we say it passionately because, his faith and compassion are inspiring example for us to follow. 

This is exactly the kind of faith that all of us must have as well especially in this Advent season. The faith that leads us to seek God wholeheartedly, to be humble before Him and to love Him above all and not to allow our pride, ego and desires lead us into faithlessness, disobedience and sin against God. And when this is done we can embrace the message of prophet Isaiah in first reading today when he said: God will wield authority over the nations and adjudicate between many peoples; these will hammer their swords into ploughshares, their spears into sickles. Nation will not lift sword against nation, there will be no more training for war.

Dear friends, do we still have total faith and trust in God just like the centurion? What is our disposition towards the gift of faith that God has given us? Because our experiences of evil, injustice, suffering and death can shake or shape the gift of faith in us depending on our disposition. The centurion interceded for his sick servant, do we intercede for others who are in need of God’s healing and mercy? Do we know that we can speak God’s word in prayer and someone, somewhere, will find healing? Do we often like this centurion, recognize in all humility our unworthiness before God?  We are called today to learn from this man’s act of humility and faith.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are weak and oftentimes we display an act of faithlessness due to the pressure and challenges of life, as we embrace the season of Advent may you increase our faith and make us humble and patience. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed week.

First Sunday of Advent Year C, 28th November, 2021

First Sunday of Advent Year C, 28th November, 2021

Readings: Jer. 33:14-16; Ps.25; 1Thess. 3:12-4:2; Luke 21:25-28.34-36

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

ADVENT SEASON ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY TO  EMBRACE THE COMING OF THE LORD

Today we enter a new season, the season of Advent and in a special way every first Sunday of Advent, the Church begins another liturgical year within the three years of A, B and C in the liturgical circle of the Church. In this Advent season we are celebrating year C.  And the season of Advent as we know is one of the most important season in the life every Christian. The word Advent stems from the Latin root, Adventus, which means 'arrival' though from the root word advenire whereby ad  means 'to' and venire means 'come' that is the coming of someone great. 

So Advent is a period of intense preparations and a time of waiting in hope for the coming of the Lord which is in two folds: first the coming of the Messiah that is the birth of Jesus at Christmas and secondly, the return of Jesus at the Second Coming “ the parousia”. This is why Advent season is divided into two parts, the first which runs from the first Sunday until 16th of December, dwells on the second coming of Christ the eschatological aspect of Advent. While the second aspect which focuses on the first coming of Christ at Bethlehem runs from 17th -24th December.

Thus, Advent is a season characterized with four major themes which include: ‘Hope’, ‘Peace’, ‘Joy’ and ‘Love’. So, on this first Sunday of Advent our focus is on hope. A joyful hope for the coming of our Saviour who is our hope. Thus, as we anticipate the birth of Christ who is the source of our salvation, our hope and the Light that dispels the darkness of this world, so it is our duty as Christians to keep hope alive in the world for as long as there is hope, no situation is impossible.

But what should be our disposition this season? Our disposition should be the one of watchful expectation in order to recognize the Lord and be at peace with him when he comes. We are to be ready and prepared to welcome him with joy in our daily life. Hence, this is the season of reconciliation, when we must ensure that we reconcile with God and with one another. It is a season when we have to reexamine our way of life. It is a time of reconfiguration of our lives and also to take stock of what we have done and what we are going to do from now onwards. Our disposition to welcoming the Lord in our hearts should be at it very pick and this should be seen by our ways of doing things. Also, our desire for conversion and holiness should be more visible by shaping our lives more to that of Christ who showers his love, mercy and compassion to all.

This is what the readings of this season calls our attention to, especially in the two fold coming of Christ as we have it in today’s readings. Thus, in the first reading, we heard from prophet Jeremiah addressing the people of Judah at the darkest moments in their history, reminding them of God’s promises of a righteous Branch of light, truth and hope when he said: in those days and at that time, God will make a virtuous Branch grow for David, who shall practice honesty and integrity in the land. This righteous Branch we see in the person of Christ Jesus. Thus we are reminded that in Christ is our true Hope and he is the joy of this season.

And Jesus in our Gospel passage today tells us that there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars; on earth nations in agony, bewildered by the clamour of the ocean and its waves; men dying of fear as they await what menaces the world, for the powers of heaven will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand erect, hold your heads high, because your liberation is near at hand. Here we heard the message of hope and warning calling us to embrace the message of the season. So, we must keep watching or our hearts will be coarsened with debauchery and drunkenness and the cares of life, and that day will be sprung on us suddenly, like a trap

Dear friends, today we are called to be ready, we are called to repentance, we are called to embrace the new life the Lord if offering us. We are called to a life of constant struggle towards perfection. Little wonder St. Paul in our first reading today says: brothers, we urge you and appeal to you in the Lord Jesus to make more and more progress in the kind of life that you are meant to live: the life that God wants.

 This is exactly what this season of Advent is all about and the Church is offering us another opportunity to encounter the Lord personally and to make that encounter a permanent experience. We should place our hope in Christ for while there is hope there is life. For it is because of the Lord that we can hope once again, knowing that beyond the sufferings of humanity due to sin and death, there is Light that dispels the falsehoods of evil and the despair of darkness that covers the whole world.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we embrace this season in expectation of the coming of Christ your Son, may the Holy Spirit inspire us to have the right disposition that will able us to embrace the Lord when he comes. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Happy Sunday and God bless you.

Homily For Saturday Thirty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 27th November, 2021

 Homily For Saturday Thirty-Fourth Week  in Ordinary Time Year B, 27th November, 2021

Readings: Dan. 7:15-27; Ps. Dan. 3:82-87; Luke:21:34-36

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

DO NOT LET THE COMING OF THE LORD BEFALL YOU SUDDENLY LIKE A TRAP

The things of this world is so captivating that if we are not careful we will be like a foolish traveler who having encountered a pleasant garden forgets to continue towards his destination. This is exactly what Jesus is trying to draw our attention to in our Gospel passage today when he said: Watch yourselves, or your hearts will be coarsened with debauchery and drunkenness and the cares of life, and that day will be sprung on you suddenly, like a trap. For it will come down on every living man on the face of the earth. 

Here Jesus is reprimanding us concerning the danger of attaching ourselves so deeply in the things of this passing world. For we are often interested in external beauty of things around us while neglecting the essence of life. We are interested only on worldly goods and not the things of the heart like justice, mercy, love and compassion. So Jesus is telling us to change our ugly ways of life, for it is time for us to look into at our lives and examine ourselves to know whether we have been living in accordance with God’s will, or whether we have fallen astray. Then, we can also look forward towards the life that is to come which God has promised us through his Son our Lord Jesus Christ.

And what becomes of us after this coming of our Lord is what prophet Daniel in our first reading is talking about when he said that: All sovereignty and kingship, and the splendours of all the kingdoms under heaven will be given to the people of the saints of the Most High. His sovereignty is an eternal sovereignty and every empire will serve and obey him.’

Dear friends, we believe that our true homeland is in heaven. But how are we preparing to embrace our heavenly home. Today people hardly reflect about the coming of Christ that was so strong in the early days of the Christian movement which left a strong impression upon the disciples of Christ. So like the servants awaiting for their master’s return, we are called to be ready and to watch at all times for day of the Lord which will come at the hour we do not know. 

Thus, we are to be prepared knowing that our most important ‘treasure’ is our heavenly home which God has promised to give us. Therefore, the best thing we can do with our worldly possessions is to use them for the good of others especially the poor since we are responsible and accountable for one another’s welfare. And this divine generosity is meant to help us in preparation for the coming of Christ. Remember what really matters in life is our capacity and readiness to receive what God has in store for us in heaven.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we continue our struggles with the ugly events of this passing world, may you continue to guide us and strengthen us in our journey of life and help us to endure our trials and challenges, for you alone are our source of strength, hope and fulfillment in life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed weekend.

Homily For Friday Thirty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 26th November, 2021

 Homily For Friday Thirty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 26th November, 2021.

Readings: Dan. 7:2-14; Ps.Dan.3:53-59; Luke:21:29-33

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

REPENT AND KNOW THAT THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS VERY NEAR

St. John of the Cross one of the doctors and mystics of the Church says that: the further you withdraw from earthly things the closer you approach heavenly things and the more you find yourself in God. This  advice will be very helpful as we come to the end of this liturgical year and about to embrace the season of Advent, when the Church calls our attention on the need to be prepared for the coming of the Lord and most of our readings draw our attention to this.

Thus, in our Gospel passage today, Jesus tells us about the passing away of the things of this world and the dreadful events associated with it in relation to the end time events. He illustrates the signs of this event with the story of the fig tree, telling us to take notice of the signs of the times for they will help us to discern between what is of true value and what is passing away. Here Jesus, presents the final recommendations of the end time. He insists that we should pay rapt attention to the signs nature is giving us concerning the end time events, that these signs should lead to have hope founded firmly on the word of God which drives away fear and despair, knowing that the kingdom of God is very near to us. 

And this is what we have in our first reading today, were we heard about the vision of prophet Daniel talking about the passing away of the kingdoms and things of this world and the coming of God’s Kingdom when he said: I gazed into the visions of the night. And I saw, coming on the clouds of heaven, one like a son of man. He came to the one of great age and was led into his presence. On him was conferred sovereignty, glory and kingship, and men of all peoples, nations and languages became his servants. His sovereignty is an eternal sovereignty which shall never pass away, nor will his empire ever be destroyed.

Dear friends, at this season we are reminded once again that all those who refuse to believe in God after hearing his words but chose to follow the devil and his false prophets will be destroyed and defeated completely. For he and his agents and those who follow him will be thrown into the burning lake of eternal darkness. While God’s faithful people will triumph victoriously into heaven. But how are we embracing the word of God we hear at this period? What signs are we seeing around us today? How can we interpret the signs of this times, the signs that tell us that this world is passing away? Do these signs make us to dread the second coming of the Lord or to joyfully embrace it in anticipation? Remember, the words of Jesus are truth that will never pass away. Therefore, Stand erect, hold your heads high, because our liberation is near at hand.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, humanity have been greatly deceived by the devil, who has made us to be so much attached to the things of this passing world. As we embrace your words this season, may our souls once again long and yearn for you our God, the living God. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. It’s Friday, may the joy of the Lord reign in your heart.

Homily for Thursday Thirty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 25th November, 2021

 Homily for Thursday Thirty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 25th November, 2021.

Readings: Dan. 6:11-27; Ps. Dan. 3:46-52; Luke:21:20-28

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

LET US READ THE SIGNS AROUND US AND KNOW THAT OUR REDEMPTION IS DRAWING NEAR

As we continue to reflect on the great event about the coming of the Lord. Jesus in our Gospel passage today continues his warnings concerning what will happen to us and the beautiful things of this passing world which he illustrated very well by telling us what will eventually happen to the great city of Jerusalem in relation to what will happen at the end of all things. This passage contains the truth that we need to be reminded often. That is, the need for us to be prepared for the day of the Lord despite all the beautiful and seductive things we encounter in this world.

 Thus, as the great and holy city of Jerusalem was besieged and destroyed by the Romans in less than four decades after the death and resurrection of Christ, so will the things of this world pass away including those who are attached to them. Just as we also heard in our first reading today, how God delivered Daniel from the Lion’s den but let the Lions crushed completely the bones of those who seek to destroy him. Seeing what happened, King Darius then wrote to men of all nations, peoples and languages throughout the world saying, ‘May peace be always with you! I decree: in every kingdom of my empire let all tremble with fear before the God of Daniel.

Dear friends, there is no doubt that there are great signs of the end time event, but this should not be an occasion for fear rather, a period for intense preparations. Nonetheless, for the righteous it is a period of joy and happiness since our redemption from the powers of evil is close at hand. Although we do not know when, but, Jesus assures us that he will return in power and great glory. Therefore, we should take heed for our redemption is drawing near. 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we make efforts everyday to prepare ourselves for the coming of Christ your Son, give us the grace and courage to remain steadfast even in the midst of all the crisis in our world today. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful day.