Homily For Monday of The First Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 10th January, 2022

 Homily For Monday of The First Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 10th January, 2022

Readings: 1Sam. 1:1-8; Ps. 116; Mark 1:14-20

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

FOLLOWING THE LORD REQUIRES LEAVING BEHIND OUR OLD WAYS OF LIFE AND EMBRACE NEW LIFE

Today marks the beginning of the Season of the Ordinary Time in this current Liturgical year. Today we are reminded of our call and vocation as Christians, which is well illustrated in our Gospel passage today for it gives us the account of the calling of the first Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ, the four fishermen, Peter and his brother Andrew, as well as James and John, the sons of Zebedee, whom he called just right after he began his ministry after his baptism at the Jordan. 

Here we heard how Jesus called them, and they responded by leaving everything behind, their boat, their families and profession, in order to follow the Lord. Today we are called like these Apostles 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. We need to surrender all the things that distract us, we need to submit our struggles and worries to God who has called us. And this is what we see in the life of Hannah in our first reading today. 

Dear friends, in this call of following the Lord, what have we left behind? What have we sacrificed? Today we are called to really examine our conscience to know where we are as regards to our vocation as Christians. How have we personally experienced Jesus? When was you spiritual turning point? Do we have a personal conviction about God that does not based on what people told us of him? In case we have not personally experience him, all we need to do is to sincerely seek God in those common events in our life and we will realize how much God is willing to reveal himself to you.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, today we are reminded of our call to follow your Son Jesus, as we respond to this call, may we 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 week ahead.

Homily For Sunday The Feast of The Baptism of The Lord Year C, 9th January, 2022

 Homily For Sunday The Feast of The Baptism of The Lord Year C, 9th January, 2022

Readings: Is. 40:1-5.9-11; Ps. 104; Titus 2:11-14.3:4-7; Luke 3:15-16.21-22.

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

CELEBRATING THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD, A REMINDER OF OUR IDENTITY AND MISSION

Today we celebrate the feast of the Lord’s baptism an event which marks the end of Christmas season as we begin the first part of the Ordinary Time tomorrow. However, this feast is not just about the Lord’s baptism, but our own baptism as well and the renewing of its grace in our lives. The celebration of the baptism of Jesus reminds us of our identity and mission as Christ faithful. The feast reminds us of who we are and our obligations and commitment to God on the day we were baptized. This feast reminds us that Jesus received baptism not because he needs it, rather, it is to identify himself with his people, who, as a result of John's preaching, are now aware of their sins and of their need for repentance. 

So, from our readings today, we heard Prophet Isaiah talking about the promise of God’s salvation and the coming of the One through Whom God would redeem all of His people. He also talk about how God would send a servant to prepare a  way for his coming. And in our Gospel passage we see the manifestation and God’s confirmation of these two personalities. For when John had baptized all the people and while Jesus after his own baptism was at prayer, heaven opened and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily shape, like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, saying: ‘You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.’

 In the second reading, we heard Paul telling us that God’s grace has been revealed, and it has made salvation possible for the whole human race and taught us that what we have to do is to give up everything that does not lead to God, and all our worldly ambitions; that we must be self-restrained and live good and religious lives here in this present world, while we are waiting in hope for the blessing which will come, thereby stressing on the important of professing our faith in Jesus Christ which is an essential aspect of the rite of Baptism.  This of course, shows God's revelation to mankind especially about the mystery of the Trinity and also to reveal Jesus’ true identity and mission. 

Thus, the Catechism of the Catholic Church CCC 1279 emphasizes that by our baptism, we become adoptive sons and daughters of God, brothers and sisters of Jesus, members of his Church, heirs of heaven and temples of the Holy Spirit. We become incorporated into the Church, the Body of Christ, and made  sharers in the priesthood of Christ. Baptism is the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit and the door which gives access to the other Sacraments (CCC 1213).  

Hence, let us come and receive the immortality that flows from baptism through the testimonies of water, Spirit and Blood which bear witness to the love of God for humanity. For we are told by one ancient author, that, this is the water that is linked to the Spirit, the water that irrigates Paradise, makes the earth fertile, gives growth to plants, and brings forth living creatures. 

In short, this is the water by which a man receives new birth and life, the water in which even Christ was baptized, the water into which the Holy Spirit descended in the form of a dove. And whoever goes down into these waters of rebirth with faith renounces the devil and pledges himself to Christ. He comes up from baptism throws off his servitude and becomes an adopted son of God and a co-heir with Christ, resplendent as the sun and purified.

Therefore, the baptism of Jesus reminds us of our mission that is, to experience the presence of God within us and share it with others, to acknowledge our own dignity as God’s children, to live as children of God in thought, word and action, to lead a holy and transparent Christian life and not to desecrate our bodies with impurity, injustice, intolerance, jealousy or hatred in order to grow daily in intimacy with God and be co-creators in building up of his Kingdom on earth. Hence, every baptism is a moment of decision, a moment of identification with the people of God, a moment of approval, a moment of conviction, a moment of certainties and assurance, a moment of equipment and indeed a moment of personal encounter with the Trinity.

Dear friends, today is a special day for us to remember the graces we have received at baptism in order to renew it. We can recall that  on the day of our baptism,  we were anointed with the Oil of Catechumens, the sign of Christ's gentle strength, to fight against evil. Blessed water was poured over us, an effective sign of interior purification through the gift of the Holy Spirit. We were then anointed with Chrism to show that we were thus consecrated in the image of Jesus. A white cloth was placed on our forehead as a sign of purity. 

Also the candle lighted from the Paschal Candle was given to us as a symbol of the light of Faith which our parents and godparents must have continually safeguarded and nourished with the life-giving grace of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, this is another day for us to renew our baptismal promises, consecrating ourselves to the Holy Trinity and rejecting Satan and all his empty promises, which our world is constantly projecting to us through all means of media and social communications. So as we enter the first half of the ordinary time, we are called to reactivate the grace and gift we received at our baptism in order to faithfully carryout the mission entrusted to us by the Lord.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift and grace of baptism. As we celebrate today’s feast may we rediscover in a new way the beauty of  our baptism and so be filled with the grace and joy of Christ’s presence, who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. Do have a fruitful Sunday celebration.

 MARRIAGE A DAILY DISCOVERING OF GOD WHO IS LOVE

Today is a very special day for Oluwatomi (God is enough for me to rely on) David and Desayo (I was born into joy), it is a special day for the two families and friends of the couples. And also today is a special day for the Church, why? Because today two special children of the Holy Mother Church have come to express before her the love they have discovered in God who is love. 

But I have two questions for two of you today, and my first question is what is love? The second question is have you truly discovered love?

I know you will tell me that love is a strong feeling, a strong passion or a strong attraction for someone or something.  In fact, the dictionary defines love as a strong positive emotion of regard and affection. A deep feeling of sexual desire and attraction.

But this definition does not give us the true meaning of love, because love is beyond feelings, affections, emotion, attraction or sexual desire. You want to know what love is? I will let you know what love really means. Love I will tell you is that very nature of God that we share. That is why when someone is in love or when someone discovers love, is something deep and deeper than the human nature because it is the nature of God that we share. And St John tells us that God is love, and he who abides in love, abides God and God in him. 

And he said in 1 cor. 13:4-8 that Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres, Love never fails. So, back to my second question, Oluwatomi and Desayo have you discovered love or I will say have you discovered God in each other? Because Marriage simple mean discovering God in your spouse. 

Little wonder, Pope Francis while addressing couples present in St. Peter's Square for his May 27 general audience in 2015 said that: Marriage is a vocation from God, is not just a relationship based on attraction and feelings, of a moment, of something short. It requires a journey which establishes a very strong and lasting partnership, which makes two lives one, a true miracle of human freedom and the grace of God. At the end of his address he said something very important. He said that, Love requires work not just attraction or feelings that comes and goes.

Hence, can. 1055, defines marriage as a covenant, by which a man and a woman establish between themselves a partnership of their whole life, and which of it’s own nature is ordered to the well-being of the spouses and to the procreation and upbringing of children, has, between the baptised , been raised by Christ the Lord to the dignity of a sacrament.

My dear brother and sister, marriage is like building a house, you must ensure that you erect the structure of your marriage in a solid foundation of love well rooted in God. It is a daily struggle towards discovering God. In this struggles you need to know that both of you have a special role to play. Oluwatomi, you are the man of the house, men affirms and protect their home just like St Joseph. 

Desayo, you are a woman, women stirs the whole family with joy just like our Mother Mary and that is why there is a special prayer said for the woman in the nuptials blessings which  says: May the grace of love and peace abide in your daughter and let her always follow the example of those holy women whose praises are sung in the Scriptures. May her husband entrust his heart to her, so that, acknowledging her as his equal and his joint heir to the life of grace, he may show her due honor and cherish her always with the love that Christ has for his Church.

Oluwatomi, Desayo, God loves you, the church loves you, your families love you, all of us present at this holy Celebrating of the Mass love you. Abide in God’s love. 

Homily For Saturday After the Epiphany of the Lord, 8th January, 2022

 Homily For Saturday After the Epiphany of the Lord, 8th January, 2022

Readings: 1 John 5:14-21, Ps.149, John 3:22-30

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WHAT IS YOUR ROLE IN THE MISSION OF CHRIST?

As Christians, one of the mandate that Jesus gave to us is to proclaim the Good News of our salvation, for in this mandate everyone of us has a special role to play. But the question is what is our role in the mission of Christ and how are we playing this role? Today’s Gospel passage presents to us the humility in which John the Baptist plays his role in the mission of Christ.  John knew who he was in the sight of God. He knew his strengths and his weaknesses, he knew that his life was centered on Christ. 

This was not a burden for him, for he clearly understood God’s sovereignty, he understood who Jesus is. He rejoiced in the coming of Jesus and his role in the mission and life of Jesus. He knew he was the announcer of Good News, but not the Good News itself. However, he did not have to make a public show of himself. He was not out to promote his own ministry or reputation. Even though it seems as if he is becoming insignificance when Jesus arrived, he did not feel so. His aim was to identify Jesus to the people which he did with all humility as we heard him say “he must increase, but I must decrease”.

Thus, John shows us what it means to be a true disciple of the Lord. That as disciples, we should not allow pride, ambition, ego and selfish desire to dictate how we live our lives. If not, we will easily be carried away by worldly temptations and lose our way by falling deep into the trap of sin. Rather, we are called to be humble and to be faithful to God at all times. Hence, St. John in our first reading today, tells us to struggle to free ourselves from sin and reject the path of sin, so that we will not end up being trapped more and more in the path of sin, for this may make us end up in eternal damnation if we are not careful.

          

Dear friends, we all have a significant role to play in the plan of God, John understood his role in the mission of Christ and showed great humility in exercising it. But do we have any clue of what our role is in the mission of Christ? In what ways do we exemplify humility in the little task entrusted to us? Let us learn from John the Baptist how to humbly exercise our role in any task or mission entrusted to us. 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, John the Baptist humbly remarked that it was only right that while his Lord and Master increased in importance and prominence, that he should decrease, thereby showing and teaching us what it means to be humble servants and disciples. As we contemplate his life, may we learn to be humble in carrying out the mission and vocation entrusted to us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a peaceful weekend.

Homily For Friday After the Epiphany of the Lord, 7th January, 2022

 Homily For Friday After the Epiphany of the Lord, 7th January, 2022

Readings: 1 John 5:5-13, Ps.147, Luke 5:12-16

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

THE LORD IS WILLING AND ABLE TO HEAL AND MAKE US CLEAN IF WE COME TO HIM

With the ugly situation in our lives, our families, societies and the world at large, there is no doubt that we all are sick and in need of God’s healing touch. Thus, our Gospel passage today, presents to us the story of a leper who approached Jesus for healing. He made this request with faith and trust in the power of Jesus. He said: “Lord, if you wish, you can make me clean.” Probably, he may had heard stories of Jesus' many healings. So in response, Jesus immediately touched him saying: “I will, be clean.” The man was healed immediately. 

This can be symbolic in relation to what God has done for humanity. For while we were still in the state of sin, corruption and in deep darkness as a result of the evil activities in this world. The Lord has not abandoned us, rather he always reached out to us and touched us by his generous love and often have mercy on us for our sins, which had separated us from God just as the leper had been separated and cast out from the society.

Here also, the touching of Jesus is very significant. No ordinary person would dare to touch a leper. Think of the inner healing that must have resulted from the touch of Jesus, that moment of physical contact. Touch is something we all need but are so often lacking in our relationship with God and one another. Thus, we too, are in need of healing, including the healing that comes from the touch of Jesus. 

And the truth is that, we all have received this amazing loving touch of God, his mercy, compassion, forgiveness and healing. This is what St. John in our first reading today is reminding us, when he spoke about overcoming the challenges of this world by believing in Jesus, who through the testimonies of water, Spirit and Blood bears witness to the love of God.

Dear friends, I don’t know what type of leprocious problems you are passing through, I don’t know how severe or hopeless your condition is. All I know is that Jesus is will to help us if we come to him in faith. So, let us put our trust in the healing power of Jesus. For the story of this leper is a good example of how we sinners can and should appeal to Jesus for cleansing especially from our sins. We should come in faith knowing that God is able to cleanse us, because he is always willing to cleanse every sinner who comes to him. 

LET US PRAY: Lord God,  we come to you today just like the man in our Gospel passage, you know our inner most being, so we ask that if you will, you can cleanse us, our families, our societies and the world from physical, emotional sinful, greed, unforgiveness and spiritual leprosies. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.  Do have a blessed day.

Homily For Thursday After the Epiphany of the Lord, 6th January, 2022

 Homily For Thursday After the Epiphany of the Lord, 6th January, 2022

Readings: 1 John 4:19-5:4, Ps.72, Luke 4:14-22

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

LORD HELP US TO EMBRACE YOUR GIFT OF LOVE AND LEARN TO SHARE IT WITH ONE ANOTHER

For the past few days now, we have been hearing about love from the first letter of St John. John is one of the inner circle of the disciples of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is know as the beloved disciple of Jesus as his character and personality portrays this and all his teachings are centered on love. Thus, our first reading today, centers on the summary of God’s commandments, that is, the love of God and the love of neighbour.  

Here, John was just very practical because, anyone who loves God will naturally love all God’s children who are, of course, in a very real sense our neighbours. We must love every single person because we are all created in the image and likeness of God. It is not possible to separate the love of God from the love of neighbour, for it is one commandment with two parts which will be the criterion for the final judgement of God.

John tells us that these commandments are not burdensome. Not because they are always easy to carry out fully but because we live in the strength of the Holy Spirit and also, because they are in total conformity with our nature made in the likeness of God, there is nothing artificial or arbitrary about them. To observe them is to become more and more what we are meant to be that is, living in that image of our Creator which we share with him. This is the teaching and mission of Jesus Christ as we have it in our Gospel passage today, where we heard Jesus proclaimed his mission and goals as the fulfilment of all the wonderful promises of God’s salvation for humanity.

Dear friends, our Lord Jesus has taught and revealed to us what it means for us to love. He often reached out to us, even to the worst and the most wicked sinners. He always touch us with his love and also calls us to follow his example. But are we willing and able to commit ourselves to follow his example. I don’t know if you have ever loved someone and you show it, or someone loves you and shows it? The truth is that, it actually feels right and awesome, because love bring healing and wholeness into people’s lives. Thus, it is by loving God in our neighbours that we can share and experience this nature of God in us and by so doing we will conquer the world full of hatred, self-centeredness, greed and sin. 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, love is your gift to humanity, help us to embrace this gift of love and learn to share it with one another, just as Jesus has taught us who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. Do have a lovely day.

Homily Wednesday After the Epiphany of the Lord, 5th January, 2022

 Homily Wednesday After the Epiphany of the Lord, 5th January, 2022

Readings: 1 John 4:11-18, Ps.72,  Mark 6:45-52

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

DO NOT BE AFRAID TO FACE THE STORMS OF THIS PASSING WORLD FOR THE LORD ABIDES WITH US 

Yesterday was my first time of sailing through the sea on a boat for forty minutes with a group of priests, it was really fun, we were all putting on our life jackets with all the safety measures and cation. But I must confess that it was not too pleasant when we have to navigate through the wave of the sea.  Then I realized  what it means to be on the sea with heavy storms. A condition where the need to look for a Saviour is highly expected. 

Such was the case with the disciples of Jesus in the Gospel passage today. It is a story about panic, for after the miracle of the multiplication of loaves Jesus asked his disciples to get into the boat and sail to others side while he went to pray. With the waves breaking over the boat, the disciples cannot believe that the Lord has seen them, and is approaching. Hence, they were afraid and needed help from anywhere. It was at this point that they saw Jesus walking on the sea and he said to them: “take courage, it is I, do not be afraid”. 

This story signifies God's chosen people on a transit of faith, frightened by the guilt of sin and wounded by the waves of the sea, the abode of evil forces and monsters of this world. The boat can be taken as a symbol of the young Christian Church struggling with the world’s principalities and powers, while the storm is a symbol of persecution suffered by this young Christian community. However, John in our first reading tells us that God abides in us and his love is perfected in us, for there is no fear in love but perfect love casts out fear. Thus, Jesus says: "Do not be afraid" as we struggle with the storms of this passing world for he abides with us.

Dear friends, today  Jesus is calling us to journey on his boat of life with an unwavering faith and a repented heart because, the world is being tossed around by the waves of the evil forces, the enemies of humankind. And it is only  God who can subdue it, for he has promised to restore us back to himself. 

Therefore, I don't know the great storms of doubt and fear in your soul, as a result of the power of the evil forces of this world? All I know is that with great faith in God, the words of Jesus: “take courage, it is I,” will surely resound in the hearts of all of us, especially those  victims around us and all Christians who live in a hostile community.