Homily For Tuesday Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 2022

 Readings: Titus 2:1-8.11-14, Ps.37, Luke:17:7-10

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

LEARN TO BE A HUMBLE AND FAITHFUL SERVANT 

These days the rate people seek for rewards for what they have done and some even for what they have not done is quite disturbing. Today it is difficult for people to do things without looking for what they will gain from it. In fact, it takes courage to trust people even when they extend their hands of generosity to others because we often think that they have some interior motives behind the generosity. But this should not be our attitudes as disciples of Christ. 

Little wonder in our Gospel passage today, Jesus  in the parable of a dutiful servant corrects some of the wrong thinking and notion about being a disciple and teaches us what our true place and disposition should be. In the parable Jesus compared our relationship with God to that of a master and his servant. Where the servant had a duty to serve his master well and to do what he had been told to do without seeking for any compliments. Because the master has no obligation to congratulate or please the servant. 

Therefore, telling us that we are “unworthy servants” before our Worthy and righteous God who loves us even in our unworthiness. So disciples should not seek reward for their good deeds. For our obedience to God is required by the very nature of who God is and not something to boast about or seek a reward for, since our obedience to him is that of a son or daughter to a loving Father.

Dear friends, today we are reminded that in following Jesus, we should do all our good works in humility without any strange attachment. We should do what we can to help others we meet on our way for no reason other than to help for the seek of helping. And St. Paul in our first reading tells us how each and every one of us ought to behave in the respective positions we found ourselves, 

Therefore, as a faithful servant, all that is required is for us to act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly before God without seeking any reward for that is what we are called to do. Remember that everything that happens to us, whether prosperous or adverse, comes from God, so that you neither become puffed up in prosperity nor discouraged in adversity. Thus, in anything you do avoid evil, do good, and seek peace.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, teach us how to be a humble and faithful servant, even when it is difficult. Grant us the grace to be faithful and humble servants at any level we find ourselves without seeking for rewards. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen  Do have a faithful day.

Homily For Monday Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 7th, November 2022

 Readings: Titus 1:1-9; Ps.24; Luke 17:1-6

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

FRATERNAL CHARITY REQUIRES THAT WE CONSTANTLY FORGIVE AND CORRECT ONE ANOTHER

The fragile nature of the human person has made it clear that we are not perfect, as we are likely to offend one another in any relationship we find ourselves. As a result of this, there is need for us to learn how to accommodate one another’s imperfections. But one of the major challenges we face in most relationships today is the ability to properly accommodate and correct one another especially when one is straying from the norms set up for the good of the relationship.

This is what Jesus is addressing in our Gospel passage today, for he gave us the practical steps we need to follow in order to correct and reconcile with one another so as to build a stronger relationship when he said, be on your guard for when your brother does something wrong, reprove him and, if he is sorry, forgive him. And if he wrongs you seven times a day and seven times comes back to you and says, “I am sorry,” you must forgive him.’

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

However, forgiven a grievous offense is like recovery a lost treasure that contains: joy, peace, freedom, healthy mind and healing. But how often do we seek to recover this lost treasure in our lives caused by unforgiveness? Hence Jesus today calls us to persistently seek for reconciliation until we gain our brothers and sisters back whenever they have offended and separated from us. But if they refused to be reconciled we should pray for their conversion. For in all our proceedings we should seek direction in prayer, knowing that God manifests his mercy when he transforms people and lead them to conversion, as he changes us and turns us from selfish and rebellious individuals into truly loving persons. For we are meant to watch over our neighbours. And it is necessary for us to cultivate a good character and show good example in any stage and level we find ourselves.

Little wonder St. Paul addressing the issues of leadership said to Titus in our first reading today: I told you: that a leader must be a man of irreproachable character; he must not have been married more than once, and his children must be believers and not uncontrollable or liable to be charged with disorderly conduct. Since, as president, he will be God’s representative, he must be irreproachable: never an arrogant or hot-tempered man, nor a heavy drinker or violent, nor out to make money; but a man who is hospitable and a friend of all that is good; sensible, moral, devout and self-controlled; and he must have a firm grasp of the unchanging message of the tradition.

Dear friends, it is our duty, obligation and responsibility to ensure in a fraternal charity that our fellow brothers and sisters, friends and neighbours, colleagues and collaborators are forgiven, corrected and guided whenever they go astray. For each and every one of us have the responsibility to strengthen our relationship and be a good examples for one another as we work the path towards our salvation. Therefore, mutual love and fraternal charity are the only way and process of fulfill this obligation.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, we are rebellious and proud people, we lack the courage and disposition to correct and accept corrections, give us the grace and courage to correct one another in fraternal charity as we also learn to accept corrections when corrected. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed week.

Homily For Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C, 6th, November 2022

  Readings: 2Macc.7:1-2.9-14; Ps.17; 2Thess.2:16-3:5; Luke:20:27-38

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

DO YOU TRULY BELIEVE IN RESURRECTION FOR IT IS A REALITY THAT WILL SURELY HAPPEN

Oftentimes when we talk about the teaching on resurrection people always want to know what and how is going to be like. And no matter how we try to explain it we can not exhaust it’s mystery. This is why we often get this teaching wrong whenever we think we can explain it completely, because we are using our little knowledge of the things of this passing world to judge the mystical things of heavenly. This is the disposition and situation with the Sadducees in our Gospel passage today, for since they do not believe in the resurrection, they decided to challenge Jesus concerning the notion about resurrection using the analogy of marital union in relation to afterlife event in order to discredit the teachings of Jesus.

As usual, Jesus goes on to explain how people will relate to each other in the afterlife. That those who are judged worthy of a place in afterlife and in the resurrection from the dead do not marry because they can no longer die, for they are the same as the angels, and being children of the resurrection they are sons of God. He then instructed and challenged the Sadducees’ unbelief about life after death saying: “The children of this world take wives and husbands, but those who are judged worthy of a place in the other world and in the resurrection from the dead do not marry because they can no longer die, for they are the same as the angels, and being children of the resurrection they are sons of God”.

He also reminded them of the scene where the voice from the burning bush identifies itself to Moses. “I AM the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob” (Exodus 3:6). For He is the God of the living and not of the dead. After this reply of Jesus to both the Pharisees and the Sadducees, they no longer dared to ask him any questions. But even so, we need to remember that the mysteries yet to be revealed remind us precisely that what our bodies and existences will be like in the life to come is not yet clear. 

This is because God reveals the resurrection of the dead to his people progressively for we can not comprehend it completely while still in mortal flesh. Hence, hope in the bodily resurrection of the dead established itself as a consequence intrinsic to faith in God as creator of the whole man, soul and body. The creator of heaven and earth is also the one who faithfully maintains his covenant with Abraham and his posterity. It was in this double perspective that faith in the resurrection came to be expressed (CCC. 992).

Little wonder in our first reading we heard that in their trials, the Maccabean martyrs confessed saying: you may discharge us from this present life, but the King of the world will raise us up, since it is for his laws that we die, to live again for ever. Yes, ours is the better choice, to meet death at men’s hands, yet relying on God’s promise that we shall be raised up by him; whereas for you there can be no resurrection, no new life.’

Therefore, what we need to be content with is the line in Luke 20:36 where Jesus reminds us that we will be “God’s children” in that life to come, this he demonstrated by his own life, death and resurrection.  And if that is not enough for us, I don’t know what else it would be for us to believe in him. Maybe, the parable of the poor man Lazarus and the words of Christ on the cross to the good thief, as well as other New Testament texts which speak of a final destiny of the soul can help us to believe in the resurrection. For the Church believes that the souls of all who die in Christ’s grace are the people of God who are beyond death. For on the day of resurrection, death will be  conquered definitely, while the souls will be reunited with their bodies.

This mystery exceeds our imagination and understanding; for it is accessible only to faith. Yet our participation in the Eucharist already gives us a foretaste of Christ's transfiguration of our bodies: For just as bread that comes from the earth, after God's blessing has been invoked upon it, is no longer ordinary bread, but Eucharist, formed of two things, the one earthly and the other heavenly: so too our bodies, which partake of the Eucharist, are no longer corruptible, but possess the hope of resurrection.(CCC. 1000). 

As we know that whatever seed you sow does not come to life unless it dies to the earth. And what you sow is not the body which is a bare seed that is perishable, while what is produced is alive and imperishable. In a similar way, what is in the flesh is perishable but what is raised is imperishable. The dead will be raised imperishable.  For this perishable nature must put on the imperishable, and this mortal nature must put on immortality (1 Cor 15:35-37,42,52,53). Hence, St. Paul instruct us in our second reading today saying: Lord is faithful, and he will give you strength and guard you from the evil one, and we, in the Lord, have every confidence that you are doing and will go on doing all that we taught you.

Dear friends, the question that comes to mind after listening to the Word of God today is: do you truly believe in the resurrection? Can our attitudes towards the things of this passing world show that we truly believe in the resurrection? How often have I preach and teach people about my faith in the resurrection of Jesus. Do I have any personal experience of the resurrection of the dead that I can share with people? How deep is my understanding of the teachings of Jesus on the mystery of resurrection? How far can I go in trying to understand the mystery of resurrection and instruct others who are ignorant of this? 

Friends, we believe in the resurrection not so much because of Jesus’ arguments here, but because of his own resurrection of which he promise to share his life and joy with us forever. Jesus tells us that we are children of the resurrection and children of God who neither married nor given in marriage in the heavenly kingdom. Though, it is natural for us to ask questions about resurrection of life, but we should not expect to understand it fully while we are still alive. All that matters is for us to use our little understanding of this teaching and revelation to improve our relationship with our God and neighbours for what we shall be after death is known by God alone.

So, we must not be like the Sadducees who doubted the teaching on resurrection, rather we should have faith in the teachings of Jesus for he has not only taught us about the event of resurrection he practically demonstrated it so that we may know that truly our lives does not begin in this passing world and will definitely not end in this world. Therefore, let this little understanding be enough to guide us towards the divine mystery of resurrection. Let our lives be model towards this mystery. Let us learn to die to the perishable things of this passing world so as to be raised with the imperishable nature of the glorious heavenly  beings.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we look forward to the resurrection of mankind. May we be inspired by the great example of our Lord Jesus and so obtain the joy of his resurrection. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful Sunday celebration.

Homily for Saturday Thirty- First Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 5th November, 2022

 Readings: Phil 4:10-19 , Ps.111 , Luke 16: 9-15

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

LEARN TO USE MONEY AND WEALTH TO WIN FRIENDS FOR YOURSELF IN HEAVEN 

Walking through the streets I observed how people are struggling with the things of this life, I can feel their passion, their determination and willingness even in the midst of corruption and challenges of life. How I wish we can put such energy in working towards the things that edifice our soul. 

This is what Jesus is telling us in our Gospel passage today when he said; use money, tainted as it is, to win you friends, and thus make sure that when it fails you, they will welcome you into the tents of eternity. For the man who can be trusted in little things can be trusted in great; the man who is dishonest in little things will be dishonest in great. If then you cannot be trusted with money, that tainted thing, who will trust you with genuine riches? And if you cannot be trusted with what is not yours, who will give you what is your very own?

Here, we have the continuation of yesterday’s parable of the dishonest steward, in which today Jesus explained its meaning and how it can be related to the lives of the people, telling us that we should be  careful not to fall into the temptations of money and other worldly pleasures which are trying to lead us away from God and the salvation he has given us. Rather, we should learn to use worldly wealth to gain friends for ourselves, so that when it is gone, we will be welcomed into eternal dwellings but how are we going to do this. 

This is possible if we know that we can use money for so many things in relation to the kingdom of heaven. First, we need money to fund the work of building God’s kingdom. For we are told to “go into all the world and preach the gospel” this task requires money, because evangelization cost a lot of money.

Secondly, we are told to be responsible and charitable, this also requires money. So we must learn to use our money and wealth responsibly. Thirdly we are told to subdue the earth have dominion over the earth. To do this we must be part of major discussion and decisions made in our societies. This of course requires money and influence. So our wealth and influence in the society can be channeled into promotion of God’s Kingdom by influencing things positively in the society using our influence, money and wealth. 

Dear friends, today we are called to live a life of integrity and to learn how to use money and our wealth to make friends for ourselves in heaven. Each and every one of us are called to be good manager and custodians of whatever blessings and resources God has given us, for we are all reminded that we have been called to follow the Lord and to devote ourselves to Him wholeheartedly. And St. Paul in our first reading tell us that there is nothing we cannot master with the help of the One who gives us strength.

 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, as we listened to your words today, may we not be carried away by the things of this passing world. Rather give us the grace to a life of integrity and to develop our societies positively, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a grace filled weekend.

Homily for Friday Thirty- First Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 4th November, 2022 the Memorial of St Charles Borromeo

 Readings: Phil 3:17-4:1 , Ps.121 , Luke 16: 1-8

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

LEARN TO SMARTLY USE THE THINGS OF THIS PASSING WORLD TO SAFEGUARD YOUR SOUL

The elements of good and bad seem inherent in every human person, little wonder the world involves both good and bad mixed together. This will help us to understand the reason for corruption, greediness, immoral and social decadence in our world today. But even in the midst of all these ugly situation, we are expected to be wise and smart in our deals with the thing of this passing world.

Little wonder, in the Gospel passage today, Jesus tells the parable of this dishonest steward who, having acted unjustly and having being exposed by his master, went to great lengths to make friends of his master’s debtors in order to secure his future. In this parable, Jesus is not telling us to be dishonest, but he wants us to know that we can learn even from this dishonest servant how to prudently use the things of this passing world to gain our salvation. Thus, Jesus points out that we too should be smart but not exactly like the dishonest steward, using dishonest wealth to exploit others as most rich people do today. No, instead we his disciples are to use our wealth to win souls for the kingdom and safeguard our own soul. 

But more importantly, if we understand the principle that says that everything we own is a gift from God, then we will realize that God is the owner of everything and that we are His stewards. As such, we are to use the Master’s resources to further the Master’s work and not the contrary. In this contest, we are told to be generous with our resources and use it for the safety of our souls and the growth of God’s kingdom. For we heard St. Paul in our first reading saying: I have told you often, and I repeat it today with tears, there are many who are behaving as the enemies of the cross of Christ. They are destined to be lost. They make foods into their god and they are proudest of something they ought to think shameful; the things they think important are earthly things. For us, our homeland is in heaven, and from heaven comes the saviour we are waiting for.

Dear friends, today, we are called to really examine our conscience to know where we are with regards to our vocation as Christians. How can we best harness the things entrusted to us so that they can be source and midst of safeguarding our souls surrounded by corruption and greediness. We are called today to be wise and smart, for if the worldly minded people can be smart in their dealing, we too should be smarter in our struggles for our  and the salvation of humanity. We should utilize the resources available to us and use them to secure our salvation. 

Hence, let us learn from St. Charles Borromeo whose memorial we celebrate today for he said in one of his sermons: I admit that we are all weak, but if we want help, the Lord God has given us the means to find it easily. So, Are you in charge of a parish? If so, do not neglect the parish of your own soul, do not give yourself to others so completely that you have nothing left for yourself. You have to be mindful of your people without becoming forgetful of yourself.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, in our struggles with the ugly situation in our societies today, give us through the intercessions of St. Charles Borromeo the grace and skills to manage the resources entrusted to us and use them properly for the salvation of humanity, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. It’s Friday, wishing you a fruitful day.

Homily for Thursday Thirty- First Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 3rd November, 2022

 Readings: Phil 3:3-8 , Ps.105 , Luke 15:1-10

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

GOD IS SEARCHING FOR YOU FOR YOU ARE TOO PRECIOUS TO BE LOST IN THIS PASSING WORLD

It is natural and common for any human person to desire to seek and find any valuable thing he/she have lost. Some people even have sleepless nights over their lost items. Some can go to any length hoping to recover any of their valuable commodity that is lost. If we can do this just for perishable things of this passing world, don’t we think that God will do even much more to save every single soul he created in his own image and likeness. 

Little wonder in our Gospel passage today, Jesus  while addressing the Pharisee who accused him of welcoming sinners, tells us the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin which illustrate the unrelenting love of God for each of us, especially sinners. For there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one repentant sinner than over ninety-nine virtuous men who have no need of repentance.

In these parables, we see two examples of people searching for what is precious to them. And when they found it their joy was so great. So, Jesus uses these examples to explain to us how God seeks us when we are lost in sin and his joy when our friendship with him is renewed and restored. His searching for us cost him the sacrifice of his Son Jesus Christ. 

This can help us to realize how precious we are to him, that he never gives up on anyone except those who chose to be lost. All we need is for us to return to God who is patiently waiting for us. Just like St. Paul in our first reading who told us that because of Christ, he has come to consider all he has as nothing. For nothing can happen that will outweigh the supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus our Lord.

Dear friends, are we lost in sin? Have we given up in our struggle with sin? Do you think that our sins are so great that God cannot forgive us? Do we feel lost now? Jesus is searching for us, he is waiting for us at the confessional. When was the last time we visited him at the confessional? Just know that he loves us and we are too precious to be lost in this sinful world. So we must know that God is searching and waiting for you to come back to him. 

We may have lost in sin, it’s time to come back to God. We may have abandoned our good virtues, it’s time to come back to God for restoration. We may have separated ourselves from God and his family, it’s time to come back. We may have lost in the ugly things of this passing world, it’s time to come back for God is searching and waiting for you. No matter how bad or ugly we may have been as a result of our sinful behaviours, don’t remain in that condition for that is what the enemy wants, but is waiting for you to come back and be restored and purified.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are lost in this passing world due to our sinfulness, Seek out humanity once again from the wilderness of sins, so that we may return back to you, just like the lost sheep and the lost coin and so rejoice and praise you once again with the angels. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Peace be with you.

Homily for Wednesday Thirty- First Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 2nd November, 2022. The Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls Day.)

 Readings: Wis. 3:1-9; Ps.23; Rom. 5:5-11; Matt. 5:1-12

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

WHY MUST WE PRAY FOR DEPARTED SOULS?

Today being the 2nd day of November, a day after the solemnity of All Saints, the Church in her wisdom asked us to commemorate and pray for all the faithful departed (All Souls), especially the suffering Church. That is, as militant Church, we are expected to pray for those souls that belong to the body of Christ but are still in need of purification. Thus, we are called to remember our loved ones who have gone before us into eternal life by visiting their tombs and praying for them. But why must we pray for the departed souls? Today’s celebration will help us to understand why we must learn to constantly pray for the departed souls.

This is important because immediately after death we belong either to the suffering Church or the triumphant Church. The suffering Church are the souls that belong to the body of Christ but are still in need of purification. At this state they are helpless, they can not help anyone neither can they help themselves. They only rely on the intercessions of the triumphant Church and the militant Church. So as militant Church, it is necessary and mandatory for us to be charitable to the suffering Church through our prayers and intercessions. That is why it is important for us to pray and intercede for them. Little wonder the Church set apart a day like this for us to pray for the departed and also visit the cemetery and graves of our loved ones.

So as regards to this visitation, I will recall my experience of visiting the cemetery as seminarian. And customary in the seminary, every 2nd November we often chose people to visit the cemetery to pray for the souls of the Faithful Departed and Oftentimes my name will always be among those going to visit the cemetery but not often when it’s comes to going for other glorious and social occasions and events. Though at a point I felt I should complain but I accepted it even though I had no option. Then, as usual in 2017, I was privileged again to be among those to visit a cemetery at Oke-Are in Ibadan. Being more disposed than previous years I was more observant. So, on our way to the cemetery which is located on a hill in the heart of Ibadan, passing through the market and streets all I could see were people struggling, buying and selling, fighting and cursing each other, beggars, sick people and poor alike, among the people were the rich, the educated, their leaders both traditional and political. 

But getting to the cemetery I saw in a wall with names and dates of so many men and women who had passed on from this interesting community. Than I asked myself in my deep reflection, where will all of us in this beautiful community be in the next hundred years? Where are all these people whose names are listed in this wall? Where they like us before? Yes. Are we going to be like them later? Of course Yes. With this in mind I realized that there is time for everything in this world, a time to be born, and a time to die, a time to weep, and a time to laugh, a time to break down and a time to build up (Eccl: 3:1-11). Then I realized the reality of this life and the need to reflect and pray for the souls that have passed away from this passing world.

This we should do  not in grief but in the spirit of faith and hope, knowing that they are living in communion with us as they share in the resurrection of Christ. Just as we heard in our first reading that the souls of the virtuous are in the hands of God for those who are faithful will live with him in love; since grace and mercy await those he has chosen. And St. Paul in our second reading tell us to rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation in order to live a beatific life which Jesus gave us it’s guiding principles in our Gospel passage today.

Dear friends, do you know that you can offer some little help to souls struggling to attain heaven our beatific vision? Do we know that there are helpless souls who only rely on our help to attain the beatific vision? What am I willing to do for this helpless souls? Before now, have I even thought of it that my departed brethren need my assistance in other to reach their destination. Am I sure that I can avoid this state of suffering and purification? Do we ever remember that our loved ones may be there now?

Perhaps while they were in this life, they were of great help to us. Do we realize that our prayers and sacrifices represent the key to release them and we can use it if we want to? Do we care about using it? Therefore, as we remember the souls who are passing through this rigor of purification, it would be good for us to offer some prayers of intercession especially for our loved ones as plenary indigence awaits us when we do this devoutly today or any day in this month of November at the Holy Mass or at the cemetery. 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, as we commemorate and pray for all souls today, may the light of your mercy shine upon them, especially those who are in need of your mercy. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you a favourable day.