Homily For Wednesday Third Week of Lent Year A, 15th March, 2023

Readings: Deut. 4:1.5-9; Ps. 147; Matt 5:17-19

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

 

WHY WE MUST LEARN TO WITNESS AND TEACH GOD’S COMMANDMENTS BY OUR WAYS OF LIFE?

 

There is no doubt that there is a difference between early Christian community and the present day Christianity especially in the mode of witnessing. The early Christian community practically preached the word of God by witnessing with their lives, while present Christianity are witnessing by preaching the word of God aloud with megaphones and all kinds of powerful sound systems and some are not practicing what they preach thereby misleading people and deceiving one another.

 

Hence today in our Gospel passage, Jesus said to his disciples as he is instructing us, that the man who infringes even one of the least of his commandments and teaches others to do the same will be considered the least in the kingdom of heaven; but the man who keeps them and teaches them will be considered great in the kingdom of heaven. Here, Jesus points out that keeping and teaching the commandments of God is the sure way to achieving greatness not just here on earth but also in heaven.

 

So, as Christians our duty is to teach and bear sincere witness to God’s commandments by our ways of life, we need to start practicing what we preach, we need to do more of witnessing then preaching. It is not enough to recall principles, state intentions, point to blatant injustice and utter prophetic declarations and denunciation.

 

These kind of words lack real the meaning of our faith unless they are accompanied by effective action manifested by our way of life. Hence we need to acknowledge that our authority as Christians come from God who through Moses commanded us in our first reading not to forget the things our eyes have seen, nor let them slip from our heart all the days of our lives; rather, we should tell them to our children and to our children’s children.’

 

Dear friends, today Jesus tells us that he has not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets, but to complete them, so we are not called to compromise the teachings and laws of God to suit our wrong motives and parade ourselves as Christians, teachers, pastors, prophets. Rather we are called to witness and teach God’s commandments by our ways of life. We must live in such a way that our actions should reflect the paternity of God in the way we live and serve others, knowing that true greatness is found in keeping and teaching the commandments of God, of which Jesus tell us that the greatest of these commandments is to love God and our neighbour.

 

Therefore, true greatness is rooted in our love for God and our neighbours, of which Jesus emphasized that it is too bad to break one of these commandments, but to teach someone else to do the same is a terrible and evil thing to do. Thus, we should ask ourselves today, am I breaking these commandments and teaching others to do the same through my attitude and way of life? Am I following my own opinions contrary to the commandments and laws of love which Jesus has taught us by his way of life? Or am I keeping and teaching these commandments through my attitude and by way of life? The answer to these questions are not far from us.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, all good things come from you, as we struggle to  sincerely witness our faith and keep your commandments, grant us the grace to keep and teach them by our way of life and so obtain the Joy of true greatness in this world and in your heavenly kingdom, through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a favourable day.

Homily For Tuesday Third Week of Lent Year A, 14th March, 2021

Readings: Dan 3:2.11-20, Ps. 25, Matt.18:21-35

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

 

WHY MUST I FORGIVE OTHERS FROM MY HEART?

 

In our Lord’s prayer which Jesus gave us as a pattern of all prayers and as a fundamental principle of Christian living, there is a portion that point out something so important. This portion says “forgive us our trespasses as we for give those who trespassed against us” (Matt.6:12). By this pray we are making a covenant and commitment that will be a standard by which we are going to be judged as regards our relationship with others and with God. But often times we are not conscious of this principles especially when we have to face the difficult moment of forgiving a grievous offense.

 

Thus, Peter one of the disciples of Jesus being conscious of this fact, asked Jesus in our Gospel passage today saying: ‘Lord, how often must I forgive my brother if he wrongs me? As often as seven times?’ Jesus answered, ‘Not seven, I tell you, but seventy times seven. And he practicalized his answer with an example of a servant who owed his master a great debt that he and his generation cannot pay.

 

But when he pleaded for mercy, the master forgave him all the debts. However, this same servant found a fellow servant who owed him as little as one hundred denarii, he seized him by the throat and began to throttle him and even when he pleaded for mercy, instead of forgiving him, he puts him in prison according to the norms of the law until he had paid his debt.

 

This unforgiven servant did to his fellow servant what the master could have done to him, but did not. So, when the master heard how he treated his fellow servant, handed him over to the torturers till he should pay all his debts.” Jesus then said, this is how my heavenly Father will deal with you unless you each forgive your brother from your heart.’ For God will apply the principle he has given us in our Lord’s Prayer, which will automatically put us where we properly belong based on how we have related with other.

 

In this story, we see the extreme estimate of the debt the servant owed his master, ten thousand talents, even if him and his family had to work their whole life, they would never have been able to pay that debt. So, that’s a huge amount compared to hundred denarii his fellow servant owed him, in fact, there was no comparison between the two debtors at all.

 

However, this will exposed to us the ugly attitude of unforgiveness and also help us to understand that our debt before God is so huge and countless for we cannot be able to pay them. Therefore we are bound, then, to have pity on others and forgive them from our hearts just as God had pity on us and forgives us our sins, for this is the only way to salvation.

 

Dear friends, there is no doubt that forgiven a grievous offense can be very difficult, but when this is done, it is like recovery a lost treasure that contains: joy, peace, freedom and healing. That is why we must learn to forgive others from our hearts. Hence, are there people we have vowed not to forgive? Have people hurt us so much that we can’t forgive them? Have we offended people and cannot be humble enough to ask for their forgiveness? Do we think that our sins are so huge for God to forgive? Are we finding it difficult to forgive those who have offended us?

 

This Holy season of Lent, we need to pray for God’s grace and courage to forgive people who have offered us, knowing that we are rebellious and proud people, we lack the courage and disposition to forgive. So today, Jesus is asking us to learn how to forgive others always and unconditionally from our hearts, so that God will also forgive us always and unconditionally.

 

Therefore, we must never refuse to forgive or reject an offer of reconciliation in our relationship with God and with our fellow human beings and if this becomes difficult, bring it to Jesus in prayer just like Daniel in our first reading today when he prayed saying may the contrite soul, the humbled spirit be as acceptable to you as holocausts of rams and bullocks.

 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, today you have made us to realize how unlimited you mercy is, as you exposed how huge our debts are in comparison with the little debts of forgiveness others owe us. As we make it a habit to forgive from the debt of our hearts all those who have offended us, may we discover and experience the hidden treasures that forgiveness brings. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a grace filled day.

Homily For Monday Third Week of Lent Year A, 13th March, 2023

Readings: 2 Kings 5:1-15; Ps. 42; Luke 4:24-30

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

 

HOW THE DEVIL THROUGH PRIDE AND JEALOUSY DISTRACT US FROM OBTAINING GOD’S BLESSINGS

 

One of the forces that drives the world order today is pride. People can do anything to prove how powerful, influential, popular, wealthy and connected they are before everyone they encounter.

 

Hence, at any little provocation, you see them ranting: "I will show you today who am I", "by the time I finish with you, you will come to know me". I will do this, I will do that... just to prove who they parade themselves to be. Everywhere they go, they want to be highly recognized and do “eye service” by looking down on every other person. This ugly attitude is what the devil certainly wants us to have, so that we end up distancing ourselves from God.

 

The devil does not want us to be saved, and he would tempt us to be arrogant, jealous and prideful as we have in our first reading today in the story of Naaman the Syrian, who went to the land of Israel seeking for healing from the leprosy he had been suffering from. But when Naaman sought the prophet Elisha, he was told to wash himself at the River Jordan seven times, and he would be healed. But he refused out of pride.

 

This was exactly how the devil tried to prevent Naaman from finding healing, not just from leprosy but also from his sinfulness and lack of faith, by placing pride, ego and stubbornness in his heart. It was at this point that, Naaman’s servant reminded him to be humble and accept the conditions in order for him to be healed since it was a very easy thing for him to do. In the end, Naaman obeyed, humbling himself in obedience to God and was healed.

 

In the same way in our Gospel passage today, the people of Nazareth refused to listen to Jesus or believe in him because they stubbornly persisted in believing that what they had known earlier about Jesus as the Son of a mere carpenter shows that he could not have attained such power, authority and wisdom.

 

Their prejudices and ego prevented them from having faith as they hardened their hearts and minds against God. As such, the Lord could not do much in their midst, and in the end, making reference to the events of Naaman and the widow of Zarephath, he left his hometown because of their pride and lack of faith.

 

Dear friends, pride is the first capital sin, so, do not let the devil through pride and jealousy distract you from obtaining God’s blessings. For we are called today to renounce pride and embrace the courage of humility. We must entrust ourselves humbly to the Lord, because only in this way will we be able to become docile instruments in his hands and allow him to do great things through us and  in our lives.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, oftentimes we have failed to humble ourselves, because of pride and this has deprived us of your blessings. As we listen to your words today, may we learn to humble ourselves and so obtain your blessings and favours. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed and favourable week.

HOMILY FOR THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT YEAR A, 12TH MARCH, 2023

Readings: Ex. 17:3-7; Ps. 95; Rom. 5:1-2.5-8; John 4:5-42

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

 

GOD WILLS TO SATISFY THE SINFUL AND THIRSTY SOULS OF HUMANITY WITH LIVING WATER.

 

One of the most essential commodity for human survival is water. Water makes up most of the essential part of the human body. In fact, life as we know exists because of the properties of water. It is the most abundant resources on earth and fundamental to the survival of all living things.

 

We can just think about all the things we use water to do on a daily basis, then we will discover how important water is for the survival of humanity. I don’t know if you have ever been so thirsty while in desert or where water is very scarce, then you must have understood the value of water in relation to human survival. That is why in the absence of water, the feeling of thirst causes one to look for water at all costs in order to satisfy the external and internal stimuli of the human body.

 

With this we can understand the situation of the people of Israel in our first reading today. For tormented by thirst, the people complained against Moses at Massah and Meribah and they put the Lord to the test saying, ‘Is the Lord with us, or not?’. ‘Why did you bring us out of Egypt?’ they said. ‘Was it so that we should die of thirst? Then, the Lord told Moses to strike the rock, and water will flow from it for the people to drink.’ This is what Moses did, in the sight of the elders of Israel. Here the Lord quench their thirsty tongue with water from the rock.

 

Consequently, in our Gospel passage today, we heard about water and human thirstiness. But this time a different kind of water and a different kind of  thirstiness. That is, a living water and the thirstiness of the sinful souls of humanity. Here Jesus came to a Samaritan town and when a Samaritan woman came to draw water, Jesus said to her, ‘Give me a drink.’ The woman said to him, ‘What? You are a Jew and you ask me, a Samaritan, for a drink?’

 

 This is because Jews, in fact, do not associate with Samaritans.  So, Jesus replied: ‘If you only knew what God is offering and who it is that is saying to you: Give me a drink, you would have been the one to ask, and he would have given you Living Water.’ You have no bucket, sir,’ she answered ‘and the well is deep.

Jesus replied: ‘Whoever drinks this well's water will get thirsty again; but anyone who drinks the water that I shall give will never be thirsty again: the water that I shall give will turn into a spring inside him, welling up to eternal life.’ Sir, said the woman ‘give me some of that water, so that I may never get thirsty and never have to come here again to draw water.’

 

This story demonstrate God’s will to satisfy the inner desire and thirstiness of human soul. While the Samaritan woman represents sinful and poor thirsty humanity lost in sin, but desires to be united with God the fount of Living Water.

 

And as we know, “Living Water” is a biblical term which appears in both the Old and New Testaments. In Jeremiah 2:13, the prophet describes God as "the spring of Living Water”, who has been forsaken by his chosen people Israel. In the New testament, Jesus the son of God offers himself as the living water, who through the Holy Spirit will satisfy humanity's thirst for God.

 

Telling us that only the Lord Jesus can quench our inner thirst; he is the true living water. He wants us to drink of him in order to quench our thirst for holiness and righteousness, and to drink until rivers of living water flow out of our innermost being to all other creatures. Little wonder, throughout the scriptures, numerous verses show us God’s desire for us to satisfied our thirstiness in Him, to drink from Him who is the living water.

 

As the Scripture says in John 7: 38: “out of his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.” But quite often, instead of feeling satisfied and watered, we feel dry, because we have not truly allowed ourselves to be watered by living springs of God’s grace and mercy. For only the Lord Jesus can truly quench our inner thirst for mercy and love.

 

Thus, goal of Jesus is to help humanity to recognize their greatest need, so he could supply us with the only gift that would meet that need, that is, the salvation and forgiveness of our sins. Humanity have spent all their energy trying to find love and acceptance in all the wrong places. Jesus offers us the living water of the Holy Spirit, the only thing that would quench our spiritual and emotional thirst.

 

Therefore, like the Samaritan woman, we can at times be so intent on getting our immediate needs and fail to see God’s hand reaching out to us in love, offering what will truly satisfy us. Because we have failed to understand that only Jesus can fill and satisfy our empty souls for eternity and also provide for our essential emotional needs now.

 

Dear friends, this world is filled with wells that promise to provide love, acceptance, wealth, fame, and self-worth but can never fully satisfy us. Therefore, whenever our souls are empty and the wells of this passing world run dry, look for Jesus and he will quench your thirst with his Holy Spirit. Little wonder, St. Paul in our second reading today tells us that, it is by faith and through Jesus that we have entered this state of grace in which we can boast about looking forward to God’s glory. Because the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given us.

 

Brethren, Jesus’ words of invitation echo in our ears and speaks to the heart of each one of us, offering the water of eternal life that flows from God, as he repeat his words saying: If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. The first requirement is thirst. Everyone has spiritual thirst, for it is part of the human condition. Our needs, our thirst, are what we bring into our relationship with God.  But the questions remain: What do we thirst for? What do we really desire? What do we request from God?

 

This Holy season of Lent, Jesus invites us to take the initiative and come to him with our needs and thirstiness, so as to drink from the living water and be satisfied. Here, “drinking”, refers to believing, which means identifying oneself with Jesus, trusting him, receiving his teaching and obeying his commands. Such faith will enable us to receive the Holy Spirit and enter into an abiding relationship with Christ the true Living Water.

 

LET US PRAY: Almighty God,  the human wells of this passing world has failed to satisfy our inner desires, today we turn to you like the Samaritan woman so that you can give us the living water of your love and mercy in order to quench our inner thirst for you. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you a happy and fruitful Sunday celebration.

Homily For Saturday Second Week of Lent Year A, 11th March, 2023

Readings: Micah 7:14-15.18-20, Ps. 103, Luke 15:1-3.11-32

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

NOW IS THE TIME TO COME BACK FOR OUR MERCIFUL FATHER AWAITS OUR RETURN

Everyday of our lives we make choices that we think are good for us. The root of any choice we make comes from the fundamental option we have made for or against God; to love or to be selfish, to be good or bad, to be holy or sinful. And any choice we make has great consequences which can be positive or negative as we have in the parables of the prodigal son in our Gospel passage today.

In this parable, we can identify three main characters: The Father, the elder son and the younger son. The three characters represent the attitude of group of persons in which Jesus was addressing in the Gospel. First the attitude of the tax collectors and sinners, who were seeking the company of Jesus to hear what he had to say. Secondly the attitudes of the Pharisees and scribes who complained, and then Jesus who is seen as a righteous man who welcomes sinners and eats with them.

Looking at the attitudes of these three characters in the parable, we can deduce that the attitude of the Pharisees and Scribes depicts that of the elder son who is obedient to his father but passes judgment on his disobedient brother, the attitude of task collectors and sinner depicts the younger son who seeks reconciliation and forgiveness from his father. While the attitude of the Father can be seen in the person of God (Jesus) who went out to welcome the prodigal son (task collectors and sinners) and goes out as well searching for the elder and dutiful son (Pharisees and Scribes).

This parable is applicable to our present context, where the Church is seen as the merciful Father, who welcomes, accommodates and lavishes her love on both saints and sinner. For we are told in our first reading that no god can be compared with our God: taking fault away, pardoning crime, not cherishing anger for ever but delighting in showing mercy? Meanwhile, the saints and the righteous ones in the Church are seen as the elder son who is obedient and faithful to the Father. While sinners, unbelievers are seen as the prodigal son who has traveled to a far distance country seeking to come back to the Father.

But the questions we should ask ourselves are: where do I belong in the whole picture of this parable? Am I lost in sin? have I traveled far away from God and his Church? Where am I now in my relationship with God, what is the state of my life? what is my attitude towards my neighbour, my family, my father, mother, children? What is my attitude towards those who have offended me in a grievous ways? What is my attitude towards notorious sinners (armed robbers, murderers, prostitutes, drunkards, drug addicts, womanizers, liars, the wicked, greedy and corrupt politicians and people) can I accommodate them if repented?

Dear friends, God is calling us to repentance. Sin has taken us away from God is time to come back, we are lost in a far away land of sin, is time to come back. It doesn't matter what we have done, how sinful we may have been, no matter how grievous. God is waiting for us to come back. He wants to hear us say like the prodigal son: I will arise and go to my Father and say Father forgive me for I have sinned against heaven and before you.

Friends, God wants to meet us at the confessional, he wants to meet us in the Eucharist, he wants to meet us in those persons we have offended and those who have offered us. He wants to meet us in those we have refused to forgive. He wants to meet us in our families, in your husband, your wife, your children, your neighbours, your colleagues in the office and market place. He wants to meet you in that man who is suffering in prison and hospital because of your unforgiveness. All he wants us to do today is to say, am sorry to those who we have offended and to forgive those who have offended us.

The choice is yours, don't wait until is too late. Why not put a call to someone today and say to him or her am sorry, I have forgiven you, I just realized how wrong I have been, please forgive me. If we can do this, then we will see how blessed our life will be in this Holy season of Lent and we will find reason to rejoice at Easter. Remember that conversion is not just about sinners becoming holy, is more than that. Is about experiencing and acknowledging the love of God everyday of our lives. God loves you personally.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, sin has separated us for your love, as we listen to your words today, may we come back to you just like the prodigal son, with repented heart and strong will to remain faithful like the dutiful son, knowing that you as our merciful Father awaits our return. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed weekend.

Homily For Friday Second Week of Lent Year A, 10th March, 2023

Readings: Gen. 37:3-4.12-13.17-28, Ps. 105, Matt.21:33-43.45-46

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

 

ARE YOU A GREEDY TENANT IN GOD’S VINEYARD?

 

The relationship between God and humanity has always been described with different stories and parables. Which often show how humanity has always been unfaithful to God who has shown so much love to us. One of such parables and stories is what we have in our readings today.

 

In our Gospel passage, we heard the great parable of a vineyard owner who sent his servants to collect the dues and rents of the tenants whom he had entrusted with the care of his vineyard he leased out to them. But these tenants were wicked and desired to keep everything they gained to themselves, hence they persecuted and killed the servants sent to them. The tenants also killed the son of the vineyard owner, whom he sent to them thinking that the tenants would respect his own son.

 

At the end, the vineyard owner came down himself and dealt with all those wicked tenants, punishing them all for their wickedness and the evil things which they had committed out of greed and ego. They lost everything and were punished justly by the owner. This same attitude we have in our first reading in the despicable act which the brothers of Joseph committed against him in order to end his dream and gain for themselves favour and inheritance.

 

Thus, the parable describes the relationship between God and humanity and how humanity has been summoned for a trial. Here, the owner of the vineyard is God, while the son represents Jesus himself, the Son of God sent into the world to save humanity but was crucified by the same humanity. Again, the vineyard represents the world itself while the wicked tenants represent the ugly attitudes of humanity towards the resources entrusted to us by God.

 

Dear friends, are you a greedy tenant in God’s vineyard? For our nation the vineyard of the Lord is on a trial before God, for God has presented his case against us today, summoning our blessed land and mountains to act as judge between him and the people of  this country, by reminding us how he has blessed us with so many resource, skills, good weather and people. But we have misused them, neglected his message, committed a lot of evil and murder,  yet we are still carrying, seeking for solutions and signs from God.

 

Today as tenants in God’s vineyard, we are called to change our ugly attitude positively, we should turn away from greed, corruption, pride and ego that is destroying our country Nigeria. If not, we will likely end up like those wicked tenants who acted with such evil against their fellow men and even against the son of their master and were justly punished. Therefore, what God requires from us today is to do justice, to love kindly and to walk humbly with him for our own good and the good of others. Remember, It was the stone rejected by the builders that became the cornerstone.

 

LET US PRAY: Almighty Father, the world especially our country Nigeria is filled with greed, corruption, pride and ego, because humanity have often failed to remain faithful and accountable with the things entrusted us. As we listen to your words today, we ask for your mercy and forgiveness for the time we have failed to be faithful, obedient and accountable with the things you entrusted to us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful day.

Homily For Thursday Second Week of Lent Year A, 9th March, 2023

Readings: Jer. 17:5-10, Ps. 1, Luke 16:19-31

Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

 

DO NOT COMMIT THE SIN OF OMISSION BY NEGLECTING THE POOR LAZARUS AROUND YOU

 

Whatever we have in this world is a blessing from God, who wishes to bless us so that through us others will be blessed. But this is not often the disposition of most of us. This is obvious when we reflect on the relationship between the rich and the poor in our society today. Where the poor are neglected and treated as if they are less humans.

 

This ugly attitude needs to change when we recall the famous parable of our  Lord Jesus in our Gospel passage today, about Lazarus the poor man and a rich man whose doorstep Lazarus often dwelled, hoping for the rich man to give him even the scraps of bread and food that fell from his table, but he was often neglected.

 

Here, we heard how the poor Lazarus ended up in Paradise, in the presence of God in heaven with Abraham, enjoying the fullness of God’s inheritance and grace, no longer suffering the pains and torments that he had once endured while he was still alive in the world. Meanwhile, we heard how the rich man descended into the depths of hell, suffering in agony for eternity, without any hope of respite or escape, and even when he begged Abraham to send Lazarus for help, it was impossible for that to happen.

 

But what was the rich man's offense? Is it because he was rich? No, his sin is that of omission, which is the sin of neglecting his neighbour Lazarus when he was obviously in the position to help and provide for him through the excess material goods and providence that God has blessed him with. He neglected the commandments of God who has called us to love our neighbours and help the needy. Thus, he has to face the consequences of the sin of neglecting his neighbour who was in need of his help.

 

Hence, in our first reading (Jer 17:5-10), prophet Jeremiah spoke of the curse that will be against those who followed the path of disobedience against God and his commandments, those who trust in themselves and in worldly matters more than they trusted in God. While those who trust in God will have the assurance of God’s providence and blessings as they enjoy his promise of eternal life and everlasting glory just like Lazarus.

 

Dear friends, the example of the parable of the rich man and poor Lazarus, calls our attention to the fact that we are going to be judged not based on what God has blessed us with but, what we have done with what God has given to us. So it is important to remind ourselves in this season of Lent, that we must also not be ignorant of the poor Lazaruses around us. Those who are less fortunate than we are, should not be neglected, especially those who work for us, our house helps, our poor security personnels, our poor neighbours, and those we encounter everyday in need of our help.

 

Remember, no one is too poor that he has nothing to give, even the poor Lazarus offered his sores to dogs who came to lick it. And no one is so rich that he needs nothing, but, the sin of the rich man was the of sin of omission, this should not be our lot as we ask God for grace not to neglect the poor Lazarus around us.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, you are the source of all that we have. As we listen to your words today, grant us we pray, the grace to be conscious of the poor around us and ensure we help them in their struggles. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you God’s favour and blessings.