HOMILY FOR FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT YEAR C, 3rd April, 2022

 HOMILY FOR FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT YEAR C, 3rd April, 2022

Readings: Isaiah 43:16-21; Ps. 126; Phil. 3:8-14; John 8:1-11

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

WHEN SIN BRINGS US DOWN, GOD’S MERCY WILL NOT LET US BE CONDEMNED BY SINFUL PEOPLE

One of the things that separate us from God and one another is sin. Sin brings us down for glory to nothingness. Sin was and still the cause of humanity’s problems. Sin can bring down a whole generation, It can bring down a whole community, society, group, tribe and even a nation. And Oftentimes we fall and fall again into sin, and shame and as a result many have been swallowed and condemned by sin. Sin, no doubt has left an ugly legacy on human history. The more we advance the more sin advance with us. Sin has never and can never offer us any good, all it does is to bring us down, down to condemnation, but God out of his love for us will not let us be condemned to death,  just as we heard in our Gospel passage today. 

 

Here, we heard how the Pharisees led a woman caught in the act of adultery to Jesus, condemning her to death by stoning in accordance to the Jewish customs and laws, and they attempted to use her as a test for Jesus, hoping that through his response they will trap him down and condemn him death as well. This is because they knew that if Jesus had condemned the woman, then the people could then say that Jesus was following the example of the Pharisee and therefore discredit his teaching authority. And if Jesus said that the woman should be set free, the Pharisees then could condemn Jesus for siding with a sinner. 

Here again the wisdom and mercy of God vindicated the woman when Jesus asked for those who had no sin to cast the first stone on the woman. This is perfectly wise set of words to say in that occasion as it is a reality that every one has sinned before, and the longer one has lived, the more sins naturally he or she could have committed. So they went away one by one, beginning with the eldest, until Jesus was left alone with the woman, who remained standing there. He looked up and said, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ ‘No one, sir’ she replied. ‘Neither do I condemn you,’ said Jesus ‘go away, and do not sin any more'. 

Dear friends such is the love and mercy of God for each one of us. This shows the fact that God loves us all, and his love for us is even greater than the hatred he has on our sins. And for all those who have faith in him and put their trust in him, God will provide for them and protect them, just as he did for this adulterous woman. So, God wants us all to repent and be cleansed from our sins, our wickedness, immorality, corruption and selfishness. He is repeating the same words he told the adulterous woman, that she had been forgiven and yet, she must not sin again. Telling us that sin is something that we must struggle daily to overcome, knowing that God is ever loving and merciful towards us, but we must not take his love and mercy for granted and continue to live in the state of sin. We must let go of our sinful ways of life.

Little wonder St. Paul in our second reading today said: I have accepted the loss of everything, and I look on everything as so much rubbish if only I can gain Christ and be given a place in him. And in our first reading we heard God through prophet Isaiah saying: I will remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? For I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers and the desert for my people. This tells us that God has not and will not abandoned us in this state of sin. Yes sin may bring us down, it’s time to get up. Though sin may have taken us away from God, it is time to come back, sins may have destroy our relationship with God and our neighbours, it is time to reconcile with God and with one another. Sin may have condemned us to death, God wants to raise us up again.

Therefore, as we approach the Holy week, Jesus uses this example to explain to us how God searches for us when we are lost in sin and his joy when our friendship with him is restored. His searching for us cost him his life. This can help us realize how precious we are to him. He never gives up on anyone, we should not give up on him. So, are we lost in sin? Have we given up in our struggle against sin? Do you think that your sins are so great that God cannot forgive you? Do you feel lost now? Are you busy condemning other people because of their sinful state of life? Are you like the Pharisees who are trying to test God’s wisdom and mercy. Jesus is waiting for us to come back to him. 

Brethren, when was the last time we sincerely fill very sorry for our habitual sins? When was your last sacramental confession? When are you going to say no to sin and let go that stone of pride and condemnation of others. Though sin may bring us down but God will not let us be condemned by sin and sinful people. I just want you to know that God loves you and his mercy will not let you be condemned by sin for you are too precious to be lost or condemned in this sinful world.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, you never stopped saving those who come to you for mercy, especially when we have separated ourselves from you because of sin. As we embrace your words today. May we experience your mercy once again in our lives. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful Sunday celebration.

The Homily For Saturday in Fourth Week of Lent Year C, 2nd April, 2022

 The Homily For Saturday in Fourth Week of Lent Year C, 2nd April, 2022

Readings: Jer. 11:18-20, Ps. 7, John:7:40-53

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

DEALING WITH THE REALITY OF HUMAN FOLLY

Reflecting on the ugly situation in our families, societies and the world at large, one may ask why so much wickedness and hatred around us and we all seem to be keeping quiet about it. Now we all have to face the realty before us, both small and great, rich and poor, learned and unlearned, young and old, good and bad, holy and sinful. It’s time for us to seek the truth, it’s time to return to our root, it’s time to turn away from evil and pay attention to the signs of the moment just like prophet Jeremiah who delivered message of warnings from the Lord, for the coming destruction for both Judah and Jerusalem. 

For this he faced lots of difficulties and persecutions from those who hated and disliked him, especially those who out of pride were irritated by the constant words of doom that the prophet delivered to them as we have it in our first reading today. But as the people of the kingdom of Judah continued to live in sin and refused to change their ways and they were doom into captivity. 

In the same way in the Gospel passage, we heard the same plotting and rejection of the person and message of Jesus by the Pharisees and the members of the Sanhedrin. They refused to believe in the message of Jesus and to accept the fact that Jesus is the Messiah, just because they perceived that what Jesus had done were contrary to their way of life  and the way they enforced their piety and faith. Hence, out of pride they wished to persecute and condemn him to death.. 

Dear friends, we are called to pay attention to the message and signs that God is offering to humanity about the reality of his coming. Telling us that the world as we see it looking so beautiful is passing away and no one knows how and when it will happen. Therefore, we must not let pride leads us to stubbornness and faithlessness so as not to end up acting like the Pharisees, who in their stubbornness refused to listen to Jesus. For this will likely lead us down the path of sin, and those sins will lead us into damnation unless we repent from them. 

Thus, during this Holy Season of Lent, as we pass through the turbulent moment in our daily life, we are encouraged to be more humble and willing to open ourselves to accept God’s message of truth, to open our ears, our eyes and deepen our senses to feel and know what God wants us to do with our lives. Let us realize the shortness of our mortal lives, and realize how unworthy and corrupt we have been because of our sins. Let us come back to God our shield, for he alone can deliver and save us from all our troubles and predicaments. 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we have often failed to remain faithful to your words, as we listen to you today, may the difficulties of our daily struggles, deepen our faith and make us more humble and submissive to your will, so as to experience once again your love and comforting grace. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a safe and peaceful weekend.

The Homily For Friday in Fourth Week of Lent Year C, 1st April, 2022. Happy New Month

 The Homily For Friday in Fourth Week of Lent Year C, 1st April, 2022. Happy New Month

Readings: Wisd. 2:1.12-22; Ps. 34; John 7:1-2.10.25-30

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

MANY ARE THE TRIALS OF THE JUST MAN, BUT GOD WILL RESCUE HIM AT THE APPOINTED TIME

There is no doubt that our societies today are full of evil and wickedness of humanity against one another. So,  everyday we struggle against the malice of the evil ones, and people are doing everything they can to overcome them.

This is evident in our readings today. In the first reading, we heard how unsound some people can be in their thinking. This no doubt reveals the thoughts of the wicked people who rejected the message of God’s truth and persecuted the prophets saying, “let us lie in wait for the virtuous man, since he annoys us and opposes our way of life, reproaches us for our breaches of the law and accuses us of playing false to our upbringing. He claims to have knowledge of God, and calls himself the son of God”. Such are the ways of the evil ones. 

In a similar way in our Gospel we heard of the opposition against Jesus and the efforts his enemies made to try to harm him. This happened in fulfillment of the prophecy about the suffering Servant of God. It is at this point that Jesus made one of the most revealing statement at the Temple before everyone who gathered at the temple, not long before the beginning of his Passion. He stood firmly against all those who had doubted, rejected and persecuted him, showing how those who refused to believe in him and his truth were blinded by their pride and arrogance, their unwillingness to listen, and their lack of knowledge and faith in him.  

Dear friends, there are two groups of people in our societies today, the wicked group of people and the group who are their victims. Which of this group do you belong,? If you are among the wicked group, please repent now that you still have the opportunity. If you are among the group of victims remain faithful for victory will be yours. For as we draw closer to the season of Holy Week, the readings begin to speak about the coming of the Lord’s Passion, the suffering servant of God. For out of pride and selfishness the Pharisees turned against the Lord Jesus. Their malice and worldly concerns and also their ugly desires truncated their faith and obedience to God. In the same way the root of all these evil in our world today is none other than pride, selfishness, arrogance and over ambition in our hearts. 

Therefore, as we struggle against the evil of our time we can take consolation from today’s Psalm which tells us that the Lord is close to the broken-hearted; those whose spirit is crushed he will save. For many are the trials of the just man but from them all the Lord will rescue him, for the Lord ransoms the souls of his servants and those who hide in him shall not be condemned. This is a reminder that God will not forget his faithful ones, but those who have acted with injustice and evil, will have to answer for their misdeeds, unless they repent from their sins. 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we struggle with the ugly situation in our world today, gift us grace not to give up, may we remain faithful in all trials and temptations. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Happy New Month.

The Homily For Thursday in Fourth Week of Lent Year C, 31st March, 2022The Homily For Thursday in Fourth Week of Lent Year C, 31st March, 2022

 The Homily For Thursday in Fourth Week of Lent Year C, 31st March, 2022

Readings: Ex. 32:7-14, Ps. 106, John 5:31-47

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

WHY HAVE WE REMAINED STIFF-NECKED AND REBELLIOUS TOWARDS GOD’S LOVE FOR US?

Humanity have always rebelled against God despite all his love, care and mercy for us. Sometimes it seems as if the more God cares, loves and blesses us the more we disobeyed and separate ourselves from him. This is obvious in our readings today. In our first reading, we heard how the Israelites rebelled against God in a very terrible manner, because they made for themselves a golden calf, as a god and worshipped it. while it was not too long that God had delivered them from the hands of the Egyptians and opened the sea for them to pass safely on the dry ground, while destroying all the chariots and armies sent after them. 

This happened just because Moses had spent forty days and forty nights in the mountain, trying receiving the commandments for them. So, the people being impatient and weak in faith, chose to take the drastic action of forcing Aaron to make for themselves a golden calf to serve as god over them. Hence, they committed all sorts of atrocities and terrible sinful deeds with the golden idol, and God was very angry with them and about to destroy them. But Moses interceded and pleaded on their behalf, for him to show mercy and to forgive them. Of course, God spared the people but some of those worst offenders and the leaders of the rebellion were indeed not spared by the wrath of God, for it was by their instigation that the whole people of Israel ended up disobeying God and sinned against him. 

This same attitude is what Jesus is addressing in our Gospel passage today, as he rebuked the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law who opposed him just like the people who disobeyed God and hardened their hearts by making idol for themselves to be worshipped as their god. While the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law proudly claimed themselves as the sole guardians of the faith, they ended up idolizing their way of observing the laws of Moses to the point that they forgot why they have the Law in the first place, since they refused to listen to Jesus. Thus he rebuked and reminded the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law as he do the same to us that we need to get rid of our pride, corruption and idolatry.

Dear friends, why have we remained stiff-necked and rebellious? Why do we often exchange the God of glory for the image of a bull that eats grass? Why have we let pride, greed and corruption take away our love for God? Why are we quick to forget what the Lord has done for us? Why do we preferred to offend him despite all his love for us? Today we are reminded of how merciful God has been to us, how patient he has been with our stubbornness, our constant disobedience, our sinful ways and our rebelliousness. 

God has continually forgiven us when we seek his forgiveness and mercy. Because he has always loved us so much even when we have disobeyed him and committed so much evil before him. So, it’s time to return to God not forgetting that he still despises our sins and wickedness, for he loves us, though sinners but despises our sins. Because sin brings corruption on us, and no corruption and wickedness can remain in God’s presence. 

Therefore, this turbulent moment in human history, we are called to make good use of the opportunities we have received in this Holy Season of Lent, by ensuring that we approach the throne of God’s mercy and love. Let us humble ourselves before God and strive to repent from our mistakes and sins, knowing that God is always ready to forgive us if we ourselves are willing to change our ugly and sinful ways of doing things. 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, we are stiffed- neck and rebellious people who have often taken your love and mercy for granted. As we listen to your words today, may we repent of our sinful ways of life and sincerely embrace your words today. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful day.

The Homily For Wednesday of Fourth Week of Lent Year C, 30th March, 2022

 The Homily For Wednesday of Fourth Week of Lent Year C, 30th March, 2022

Readings: Isaiah 49:8-15; PPs.145; John 5:17-30

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

LEARN TO OUTLINE YOUR INTENTIONS WITH THE WILL OF GOD

The second stanza of one of the beautiful songs in our hymn book titled “By and By”, composed by Charles A. Tindley says:

Oft our cherished plans have failed,

Disappointments have prevailed,

And we've wandered in the darkness,

heavy-hearted and alone;

But we're trusting in the Lord,

And, according to his Word,

We will understand it better by and by.

This song will help us understand why Oftentimes when we have good and wonderful intentions, which we feel is the best thing in our life, does not work out the way we want it. This is because our intention may be good and wonderful but as long as it does not fall in line with the will of God, we may only struggle with them, but will not achieve the desired results.  So for our cherished plans not to fail, we must learn to outline our intentions with the will of God, just like Jesus in our Gospel passage today. 

For we heard how Jesus outlined his intentions with that of his Father when he said ‘I tell you most solemnly, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees the Father doing: I can do nothing by myself, because my aim is to do not my own will, but the will of him who sent me.’

Here, we see that Jesus' conviction came from within. That is from the will of God his Father, who sent him for the salvation of humanity and this was the priority of his life. Jesus spoke of God as a loving father with whom he related closely and confidently. The relationship was so great that the work of Jesus is the same as the work of the Father. But those who could not understand this relationship feels threatened. That is why they seek for a way to kill him. 

This should not be our attitude, rather we should seek to outline our intentions with that of God by building a good relationship with him. Though it may be hard to understand and build a relations between divinity and humanity; but through prayers we can develop the willingness to do and fulfil the will of God. And when this is done we will surely achieve our cherished plans.

Dear friends, I don't know the cherished plans in your heart right now, I don’t know your cherished plans which have failed and it seems as if disappointments have prevailed, thereby wandering in the darkness of confusion and heavy heart all alone. Today Jesus is inviting us to outline those plans with the will of God including all our troubles, all our challenges and  disappointments and he will help us to succeed. 

For we heard the Lord saying in our first reading: At the favourable time I will answer you, on the day of salvation I will help you. For a woman does not forget her baby at the breast, or fail to cherish the son of her womb. Yet even if these forget, I will never forget you. Therefore, we have to ensure that all our cherished plans are in line with the will of God, then we will tell the story of how we overcome our most troublesome and darkest of moments, then we will understand it better by and by.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, as we learn to outline our intentions with your will, may you direct our cherished plans to suit your will and so achieve the desired results. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you the best of God's favour.

The Homily For Tuesday in Fourth Week of Lent Year C, 29th March, 2022

 The Homily For Tuesday in Fourth Week of Lent Year C, 29th March, 2022

Readings: Ezek. 47:1-9.12 , Ps. 46, John 5:1-16

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

AT THE RIGHT TIME, GOD WILL INTERVENE IN YOUR SITUATION 

In this life, there is a principle that we need to understand, that is, the principle that says that everyday is a gift from God. Which of course is another great opportunity to experience and encounter the Lord. So, I don't know how you woke up today, I don't know what troubles your mind. But all I know is that today is another gift of God to us, I am excited, hopeful and am going to live it with all joy, not trying to change things that I could not change or try to fix things that do not want to be fixed. Intervene

But I will do my best to overcome my daily challenges knowing and hoping that one day I will hear Jesus saying to me, do you want to be healed again? Rise, take up your pallet and walk, just as he said to the sick man in our Gospel reading today. Here we see how a man who was struggling everyday to overcome the ugly situation in his life was heal by a single command from Jesus. This happened on a day like every other days, when he heard Jesus saying: do you want to be healed? As the man was busy narrating his past failed efforts of having no one to put him into the pool when the water is disturbed; Jesus said to him, rise, take up your pallet and walk and immediately he was restored. 

This great and miraculous event brought deep joy into the life of a hopeless man, who out of joy went about expressing his healing. And this draws the attention of the people who marveled at what had happened to him. But the Jews were more concerned about the Sabbath law rather than the mercy and love of God . An ugly attitude that sometimes happens among us where we disregards the good of others over laws and regulations.

Dear friends, the Lord wishes to heal us no matter the duration of the situation we are passing through. But we shall not let the ugly and failed events of the past to distract us from receiving God’s blessings today. We should rather focus on the blessings that comes with the gift of today. We must learn to follow the directives of the Lord, knowing that he will lead us to the healing water that flows east down to the Arabah from the sanctuary and in it, we shall find every kind of fruit tree with leaves that never wither and fruit that never fails; their fruit will be good to eat and the leaves medicinal, thereby making all things wholesome again as we heard in our first reading today. 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, a lot of people are passing through difficult situation which has lingered for a long time. As we listened to your words today, may we hear the voice of the Lord saying: arise, take up your pallet and go home. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.  It's 

The Homily For Monday of Fourth Week of Lent Year C, 28th March, 2022

 The Homily For Monday of Fourth Week of Lent Year C, 28th March, 2022

Readings: Is.65:17-21 , Ps. 30, John 4:43-54

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

NEVER GIVE UP FOR GOD HAS NOT ABANDONED HIS PEOPLE

The ugly situation in our world today, may seem to most people that God has abandoned his people. It may seem as if the Church is not doing enough for his people. It may seem as if our governments and scientist have failed. But the fact remains that God is ever and always closer to us more than we can ever imagine. He has always desires that we pay attention to his teaching and directives through his Church, the scientists and those of our leaders who are making sincere efforts to ensuring the good of the people. 

But the questions we need to ask ourselves are: do we really listen and hear God speaking to us through the daily activities we experienced? Do we still see the hands of God in what we do? Are we really convinced of what we do with the gift of knowledge, skills and talents God has given us? Do we pay attention to the word of God we hear everyday in the house of God, the streets and through other means of communication? Perhaps we are the one who have abandoned God and now we are confused and afraid as a result of this ugly situation in our societies and in the world.

Dear friends, no matter how we feel about the situation we are passing through today, we are called not to give up on God or his Church or the human agents through whom his help comes to us, for God has not abandoned his people. We all need to have our ears opened, so that we can hear and understand fully the message God is communicating to humanity through the ugly situations we are passing through today. 

For God is saying to us, fear not, come back to me, have courage for the storms will soon be over. And if you turn back to me with all your heart, I will restore your land, no more will the sound of weeping or the sound of cries be heard, no more will be found the infant living a few days only, or the old man not living to the end of his days as we have it in our first reading today. And in the Gospel Jesus says to the court official: “Go home, your son will live” and the man believed him and went home. By the time he got home his son was healed.

Therefore, we must have faith in God and sing psalms to the Lord, you who love him, give thanks to his Holy name. For his anger lasts a moment; his favour all through life. At night there are tears, but joy comes with dawn. Because with the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption. Our world He will redeem from the ravage of corruption, pride, selfishness, sin and shame. 

LET US PRAY Lord God, you are the source of all that is good, as we listen to your words today, may you grant our hearts desires so that we may obtain the Joy of your presence in order to build our faith strongly firm in your words. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful week ahead.