The Homily of Friday in Fifth Week of Lent Year C, 8th April, 2022

 The Homily of Friday in Fifth Week of Lent Year C, 8th April, 2022

Readings: Jer.20:10-13; Ps.18; John 10:31-42

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

WHAT IMAGE OF GOD DO YOU HAVE IN YOUR MINDS?

Coming very close to the peak of our Lenten season, when we recall the great price Jesus paid for our redemption. The Gospel passage today, reminds us of the trouble Jesus has to bear from the Jewish authorities on account of his personality just like prophet Jeremiah was also persecuted terribly and suffered in the hands of those who used to be his friends as we have it in our first reading today, where we heard of his lamentations and words for all those who have persecuted and plotted against him. 

So, in the same way Jesus was being misunderstood and persecuted by the people who should understand him better. Hence, he challenged them to accept his personality as the Son of God who reveals the love of the Father and gives eternal life. But because of the unclear image of God they have in their minds they could not accept the teachings of Jesus in relation to God the Father. Thus, they tried to stone him.

Dear friends, often times we behave the same way, where in the name of God, some persons are ready to kill others. In fact throughout history, Jews, Christians and Muslims, have fought in the name God. Today the same thing is still happening in our societies and countries. These ugly attitudes will continue to happen because we do not have the right image of the God whom we claim to be serving. 

The Jews condemned Jesus because of the particular image they have about God which prevented them from accepting the teachings of Jesus and since they were also deeply biased and prejudiced against Jesus, it was difficult for any words of truth or reason to change their minds. So, they persecuted the Lord just as their ancestors had persecuted Jeremiah and the other prophets. 

In a similar way, through our disobedience, pride and ignorance, we may have behaved or behaving just like those in our readings who have persecuted the prophets and also refused to listen to the truth of what Jesus has told us about his personality. But brethren, what image of God do we have in our minds? Is it the image of a God who is Pure, Loving and Merciful? Or an image of one who dominates others and condemns them?

LET US PRAY: Lord God, may this season of Lent guide us to have a true image of you in our minds and may this image reflect in our relationship with others. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed day

The Homily For Thursday in Fifth Week of Lent Year C, 7th April, 2022

 The Homily For Thursday in Fifth Week of Lent Year C, 7th April, 2022

Readings: Gen. 17:3-9; Ps.: 105; John:8:51-59

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

WHAT IS MY DISPOSITION AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE PERSONALITY OF JESUS?

Today we see how Jewish authorities find it very difficult to believe in the teaching of Jesus, but ordinary people who experience his miracles and teachings accepted them as coming from God. Hence, in our Gospel passage, the Jews continue to challenge the identity and personality of Jesus. They could not understand his words and actions. So, they continue to misinterpret the real meaning of what he says because they took it literally. 

Here, Jesus made a very strange claims on his identity, and insists he would be lying if he were to say he does not know the Father, to emphasized on this Jesus said: truly truly, I tell you, before Abraham was, I am. This brought more argument with the people who wished to stone him. But, John in this gospel goes to great length to help us believe that Jesus not only came from God, but is God. This shows us the difference between the way Jesus chooses to reveal himself and the way the Jewish authorities perceived him. Jesus wants us to develop a divine way of looking at things with deeper meaning especially as he brings things to life, just as we heard in our first reading how the promised made to Abraham looks impossible when looked at literally but divinely came through and well fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ.

Dear friends, having heard the teachings and works of Jesus in the scriptures and traditions of the Church, the question remains:  personally, what is your disposition and understanding of the personality and identity of Jesus? Who is Jesus to you? As we can see the Jewish authorities do not believe in Jesus, because they could not understand the divine life of Jesus, they could not understand his relationship with God the Father. That the Father gives glory to Jesus, since it is His divinity that he manifests and by so doing glorifies the Father. We are called today to develop a divine way of understanding the mysteries of God but not rejecting them because we do not understand them. Thus, during this season of Lent, let us turn towards God once again with all our hearts and devote our whole lives in seeking to know Him more.

LET US PRAY: Lord Jesus, as we meditate on your passion this season of Lent, may we experience the power of your presence in order to embrace more deeply your sacred mysteries. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Peace be with you.

The Homily For Wednesday in Fifth Week of Lent Year C, 6th April, 2022

 The Homily For Wednesday in Fifth Week of Lent Year C, 6th April, 2022

Readings: Dan. 3:14-20,24-25,28; Ps.: Dan. 3:52-56; John:8:31-42

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

MAKE TRUTH YOUR HABIT FOR THE TRUTH WILL SURLY SET YOU FREE

As our Lenten season draws closer to the events of Holy Week, the Gospel reading continues with the contentious dialogue between Jesus and the Jews. Here Jesus told the Jews who believed in him that if they continue to know his word, they will learn the truth and the truth will set them free. But the Pharisees take offense at this statement. That as descendants of Abraham they were free and never slaves to anyone. But this is not the case. In fact, the Jews were continuously enslaved to foreign powers.

 

Nevertheless, Jesus is talking about a different kind of freedom, that is freedom from the slavery of sin. Sin makes us salves to devil. To be free from sin is the desire of every disciple of Christ and this freedom comes from knowing the truth found in the word of God. This is the truth that kept  Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego from succumbing to the request of  King Nebuchadnezzar to worship the status he has made as we heard in our first reading today. So, they answered: if our God, the one we serve, is able to save us from the burning fiery furnace and from your power, O king, he will save us; and even if he does not, then you must know, O king, that we will not serve your god or worship the statue you have erected.’

Dear friends, these men stood for what they belief, how far can we stand for the truth we professed in Christ? We are called today to embrace the truth found in the word of God. We are called to stand for the truth we have found in Christ. We are called to make truth our habit for the truth will surely set us free. So we are called defend the faith we profess in Christ. But how many of us who want to be disciples of Christ have truly made his word our own? How much of his word resides in us? Have we not  personally experienced the Lord’s mercy and love through the scriptures?  Therefore, we are called to be more devoted and pay heed to the instructions of Jesus who tells us to be truly faithful to God.

LET US PRAY: Lord Jesus, help us to have a personal experience of you through the scriptures and so develop deeper love and interest in your word and find in it true freedom, happiness and peace especially in this challenging moment in our world. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you the best of God’s favour and blessings.

The Homily For Tuesday in Fifth Week of Lent Year C, 5th April, 2022

 The Homily For Tuesday in Fifth Week of Lent Year C, 5th April, 2022

Readings: Num.21:4-9; Ps. 102; John:8:21-30

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

 WHAT DOES THE CROSS OF CHRIST REPRESENTS IN YOUR LIFE?

The symbol of the cross has become the universal image of Christian belief, an instrument of salvation which often appear in Christian art works. This is because countless generations of artists have turned it into a thing of beauty to be carried in procession or worn as jewelry and other religions activities. But, the cross in the eyes of early Christians had no beauty, it was a sign of sorrow, a symbol of courage, an expression of faith which stood outside the city walls, decorated only with decaying human bodies, as a threat to anyone who believes in Jesus. However, this ugly event has turned into a glorious act? Which shows the power of God over humanity. Telling us that God is the source of victory, He has the power to turn ugly situation into a glorious one. 

This is evident in our first reading today, where we heard of the rebellion of Israel against God, their lack of gratitude and appreciation for all that God had done for them. The people had repeatedly grumbled and disobeyed the Lord, spurning his love and committed all sort of sins and betraying God for pagan idols. At this God sent fiery serpents among the people; their bite brought death to many in Israel. Then, they cried to Moses confessing that they have sinned against God. So Moses interceded and made a fiery serpent and put it on a standard. So, if anyone is bitten and looks at it, will live. 

 

That's why in our Gospel today, Jesus is reminding us yet again, how sin leads to death, and how he himself is going to die as he has repeatedly mentioned to his disciples of his upcoming passion and death. He mentioned of how he would suffer and die and be lifted up on the Cross for the salvation of humanity, pointing out the true reality of what had happened with Moses and the Israelites. The truth is that, God reveals his love, his greatest glory when his Son was lifted up on the cross for there the victory of our salvation was achieved and at the Cross Jesus tells us everything and solves all our difficult problems.

Dear friends, as we struggle with the ugly event of situation in our lives, societies and the world at large caused by sin and human frailty, thereby leading to the death of many people and the restriction of human movement and interaction, let us deeply look at the Cross of Christ, what do we see? How do we feel about the Cross? What does the Cross represents in our life? Do we feel the love of Jesus? Can we perceive the expensive price of our salvation? As we reflect about these, let us return to God, for it is time to let go of our sinful ways of life. But what is keeping us from returning to God? Today we are called not to die in our sins, rather, we should look up to the Cross of Christ and find the strength and mercy of God.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, your Son paid the price of our salvation on the cross and saved us from sin and death. As we resolve to embrace his mercy, may he change all the ugly situation in the world, societies and our families. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. It's a beautiful day, so cheer up, because God cares about you personally.

The Homily For in Fifth Week of Lent Year C, ,4th April, 2022

 The Homily For  in Fifth Week of Lent Year C, ,4th April, 2022

Readings: Dan.13:41-62; Ps. 23; John 8:12-20

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

Walking in the Light of Christ 

In the scripture, the theme of light is well emphasized, but oftentimes we struggle between the powers of light and darkness. And in most discourse on the theme of light, Jesus refers himself as the light of the world as we have it in our Gospel passage today, when he said:  ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life”

Here Jesus presents himself as the image of God and the light of the world as he declared his mission in the world. And his mission is not to judge the world but to save it. But this may seem contradictory as we know that, the present of light bring judgement to darkness and Jesus said, You judge by human standards; I judge no one. Yet even if I do judge, my judgement is valid; for it is not I alone who judge, this is what the Pharisees failed to understand.

The fact is that, there is no contradiction in these statements, for Jesus had come from the Father, bearing the light of his love, revealed by his word and deed. Those who receive him walk in this light. Those who reject him stumble around in the darkness. However, the primary purpose in his first coming was not to judge the world, but to provide salvation to the world through his passion and death. But referring to the concept of judgment on the last day, this is implicit in the second coming of Jesus, because the light of the risen Lord will divide people into those who come to it and those who hide from it. Therefore the first coming is not to judge but to save, while the second coming will be for judgment, for light will surely be separated from darkness and all that is not of light.  This is what plays out in our first reading today in the story of Susanna.

Dear friends, today we are called to walk in the light of Christ, for everyday is an opportunity for us to examine ourselves to know if there are areas in our lives that still remain in the darkness of this passing world. It’s time for us to get rid of them, it’s time to let the light of Christ's presence illuminate the darkness of sin and shame in our lives. It’s time to embrace the salvation which Jesus has won for us for tomorrow may be too late.  It’s time to let the light of Christ in us illuminate the world through our ways of life. Let us like the Daniel in our first reading today, discern carefully through the power of the Holy Spirit on how best we can spread the Good News of Jesus the light of the world, who has won salvation for all the people who embrace the light of his word.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we have come to know Jesus as the true light of the world, make us instrument of your light in the darkness in our families, societies and the world at large, so that by our worthy way of life, we may bring others to the fullness of life in you. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed week.

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.