Homily For Monday in Second Week of Easter, 17th April, 2023

Readings: Acts.4:23-31; Ps.2; John 3:1-8

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

 

PRAY FOR COURAGE AND BOLDNESS TOWARDS EVANGELIZATION

 

Threats, intimidation, torture and fear are some of the powerful ways of silencing people from expressing their views, opinion and faith. We can recall how these ugly attitude was use to silence the youths in recent past in our country especially in the ugly event of End-Sars protest which brought about Lekki toll gate shooting and killing of innocent people.

 

These very technics and tools are what the chief priests and the elders used in intimidating the apostles in our first reading today and the same systematic tools prevented Nicodemus from coming to Jesus expect by night as we read in the Gospel passage today.

 

Nicodemus was afraid and ashamed to be seen with Christ because of his colleagues who will possibly threaten him. So he came in the night to seek knowledge. Here he came not to have knowledge about the state affairs, though he was a ruler, but about the concerns of his own soul and its salvation. Though he came by night, Jesus welcomed him and afterward at the passion he proclaimed Christ publicly, hereby demonstrating and teaching us the power of courage.

 

Dear friends, these same courage and boldness were the prayerful request the apostles made to the Lord when they where threatened by the authorities never to preach in the name of Jesus. Now, the disciple knew that powerful forces were arrayed against them. They knew, as well, that Peter and John were determined to continue their witnessing.

 

So they prayed for strength to speak the Word of God with confidence and boldness and asked that in their expression of faith God should accomplish their works with signs and wonders in the name of Jesus. We all need this confidence and boldness if we are to effectively evangelize the people especially at this moment when the world has lost interest in the things of God.

 

LET US PRAY: heavenly Father, as we struggle with the ugly situation of fear, intimidation and torture in our families, societies, country and the world at large, give us the grace, confidence and boldness to proclaim you Word in the power of Your Spirit in order to penetrate the hearts of men and women of our generation. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. May the Joy of the risen Lord be our strength.

Homily For Second Sunday of Easter, The Divine Mercy Sunday, (HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY) 16th April, 2023

Readings: Acts.2:42-47; Ps.118; 1Pet. 1:3-9; John 20:19-31

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

 

STOP DOUBTING ABOUT THE RISEN LORD, RATHER BELIEVE IN GOD’S DIVINE MERCY

The event we celebrate today is meant for us to focus our attention once again on the Lord, to ask Jesus for his mercy on us and the whole world especially through his glorious and wondrous passion, which stands as a perfect offering for the redemption of humanity.

 

Little wonder Pope St. John Paul II in the Jubilee Year of 2000, instituted the Divine Mercy Sunday, which is to be celebrated every second Sunday of Easter to remind us that the joyful celebration of Easter season is also a time for us to appreciate once again that our Lord Jesus passed through the worst of sufferings and humiliations in his Passion, Death and Resurrection, and so won eternal life for humanity.

 

Hence, we need to have faith in the Lord and believe that through him there is hope for our salvation. This truly explains the words of Jesus to his disciples when he said: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe”.  This statement could be a central theme in our Gospel passage today.

 

Here, Jesus said to Thomas: “ Do not doubt but believe… for blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.”  This is because Thomas was lacking in faith and so was doubtful of the Lord’s resurrection but only to be humbled when the Lord himself appeared right before him. Thomas believed and said to the Lord, ‘My Lord and My God’. And the Gospel ended by saying that these are written that you may believe in Jesus and that believing you may have life in his name.

 

This also, is repeated in our second reading today, where we heard St. Peter saying: "You did not see him, yet you love him; and still without seeing him, you are already filled with a joy so glorious that it cannot be described, because you believe; and you are sure of the end to which your faith looks forward, that is, the salvation of your souls.”

 

Here we are told that through our love and faith we have victory over the world and salvation for our souls. So, the purpose of this Gospel is for us, the readers to believe and so enjoy the promised blessing. Today no doubt, Millions of Christians have been strengthened in their faith by reading this Gospel, and millions of others have been brought to faith through it.

 

But, what about you and I who today have experienced the Lord and his mercies, having journeyed with Jesus as long as we have come to embrace the Christian faith? What can we say about our personal encounter and experience of the person of Jesus? Are we really convinced about the faith we profess? Are we still at the level of faith that is based on what we hear or read about Jesus? Or have we really and truly encounter the person of Jesus in such a way that our faith has no doubt anymore, such that we can truly say like St. Thomas "My Lord and My God"?

 

Dear friends, are we still doubting like Thomas, today we are encouraged to believe without even seeing like Thomas. But this can really be very difficult in a world of empiricism, yet we are still called to truly embrace this faith without doubting despite all the ugly human attitudes that are kicking against our faith.

 

That is why, sometimes in our lives we behave like Thomas, in fact Thomas represent all of us who in one way or the other have been doubtful of the presence of God in our lives. No doubt that there are many of us with different experiences at different levels of faith and devotion. But at some point, we may have grown weak in our commitment to the Lord and begin to doubt his presence with us, based on our own experiences, or when we are distracted and tempted by many ugly desires for worldly things that will turn us away from the Lord.

 

More so, we have often placed God aside and forgotten about him, by prioritizing more on other things in our lives. We have often treated him or thing related to him as something not significant. There are times when we doubt the presence of God in our families, societies and even the Church. There are times when we have doubted the presence of God in the Eucharist, in the sacraments and even in the activities of his ministers. Oftentimes, we are doubtful of the mercy of God, his love for us, his power to safe, heal and protect us, as we go seeking for help from other “sources” which will only worsen our situation.

 

Brethren, to be a believer in our world today can be really difficult, so we need to support each other. We need to strengthen our community life especially during this difficult moment in our country and world at large. The first Christians supported one another by praying, worshipping and sharing their resources and the word of God together, as we heard in our first reading today. For the people were loud in their praise and the numbers of men and women who came to believe in the Lord increased steadily. And so many signs and wonders were worked among the people at the hands of the apostles.

 

Therefore, let us unite together as believers, and bear authentic witness to our faith. As we struggle in this dark moment in our lives when God seems far away from the world, let us ask him to help us to remove all forms of doubt, especially in this time when the Gospel is under all kinds of threats by faithless and ignorant people.  Nevertheless, let us ask God for his Divine Mercy in our live, our families, societies and the world at large. Remember, the Lord is indeed merciful, he forgives us freely and generously but we should not take his mercy for granted by dwelling perpetually in sin.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, today we are encouraged to believe without seeing, this can really be very difficult in a world of empiricism, help us especially this trial moment in our world, never to doubt whatever you have revealed through your son, may we rather be steadfast in faith, joyful in hope and untiring in loving you and our neighbours, as the world hope to experience your Divine Mercy once again, through Christ our Lord. Amen. Happy Mother's Day and Happy Divine Mercy Sunday to you and your house hold.

Homily For Saturday in Octave of Easter, 15th April, 2023

Readings: Acts.14:13-21; Ps.118; Mark 16:9-15

Rev  Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

 

TO WHAT EXTENT ARE WE READY TO BEAR AUTHENTIC WITNESS ABOUT THE RISEN LORD TO THE WORLD

 

After the resurrection of Jesus, he has appeared to his disciples in different occasions. Today in our Gospel passage, he appeared to the eleven apostles and commissioned them to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to the whole creation. This is what Peter and John exercised in our first reading today. Here the rulers, elders and scribes were astonished at the great witness shown by Peter and John, so, they tried to prevent them and other disciples from spreading any further the Good News about the risen Lord, by attempting to suppress them through fear and intimidation.

 

However, the disciples  were not ready to give in to fear or pressure, for they were encouraged and strengthened by the Lord through the Holy Spirit, since they were no longer the same people who hide in the fear of the authorities. Instead they openly rejected the orders from the Sanhedrin and continued to carry out the missions which God had entrusted to them. Hence, the mandate of this mission has been repeated in our liturgy throughout this octave of Easter, in order to remind us our mission as Christians. It also gives us the opportunity to review our Easter experience, so as to examine ourselves to know the impact the week has made on us.

 

Dear friends, to what extent have we been able to bear witness to the world about the risen Lord? As disciples of Christ, we are mandated to share the Good News of salvation provided by Christ Jesus to all creation. We are to do so not just in silence, but in words and actions which is seen in our ways of life.

So, friends, what can we do to ensure that the Gospel reached out to all creation? How best can we spread this Good News, especially in this time of difficulty when the world is looking for an answers to the fundamental reality of human life?

 

The answer to these fundamental questions is rooted in our first reading today, where we are made to know that the best way to preach the Gospel today is witnessing by our way of life. Today there are many voices preaching the Good News, but only few are bearing authentic witness to the Gospel. Therefore, let our lives bear authentic witness to the Gospel of the Lord.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, give us the grace and courage to bear authentic witness of your Gospel in a world where people are confused and no longer pay attention to your word. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a peaceful weekend.

Homily for Friday in Octave of Easter, 14th April, 2023

Readings: Acts.4:1-12; Ps.117; John:21:1-14

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

 

WHEN YOU ARE ROOTED IN CHRIST THE CORNERSTONE, YOU WILL NOT TOIL IN VAIN

For any system or structure to remain firm and sustainable, such structure must be well situated on a solid foundation known as cornerstone. This is also applicable to most things we do in life. Today in our Gospel passage, the disciples of Jesus led by Peter had left Jerusalem and gone all the way back to their native homes to resume their former ways of life as fishermen, because they have failed to understand that Jesus is the cornerstone of their lives. So they went fishing all night. After a whole night’s fishing, they caught absolutely nothing, tired and disappointed.

 

This night of futile fishing left them with empty nets and hopelessness. They have forgotten that without Jesus the cornerstone, they can do nothing. It was at this point that suddenly, a stranger on the shore invites them for breakfast. Here, Jesus took the initiative and visits them as he engaged them on a dialogue saying: “have you caught anything?” They reluctantly admits they have got nothing. Then, he said to them drop your nets on the right side of the boat and you will find something. They did so and were overwhelmed at the catch they have made. There were so many fish that they simply could not be taken into the boat. Thus, they recognize that it was Jesus the cornerstone of their lives and mission.

 

Dear friends, when you are rooted in Christ our cornerstone, you will not toil in vain. So, like the disciples, we too must come to recognize Jesus as the cornerstone of our lives, who is there for us even at the most mundane moments of our daily lives. The truth is that, we all need to have a strong root in everything we do, without a strong root in the Lord who is our cornerstone we will not be able to stand firm when challenges of life hits at us.

 

Little wonder, Peter tells us in our first reading, that Jesus is that stone which the builders rejected, but today is the cornerstone by which we are saved. Today, all over the world, people are struggling with different ugly situations. In fact, the world is in a state of confusion, people are suffering, their means of livelihood has been deprived, no food, no electricity no good water, crisis everywhere, poverty is on the increase, house rent is due and no one to run to, some family only look up to God for daily survival.

 

However,  in midst of these ugly situations, let us know that we are not left alone in our fears and sorrows, for Jesus the cornerstone of our lives is nearer to us now then before. We only need to have faith in him and acknowledge him as the cornerstone of our lives and families especially in this difficult moment. Let us be strong, steadfast, courageous and hopeful, knowing that the Joy of the risen Lord is our strength.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord Jesus, without you we will toil in vain, never cease to be the cornerstone of our lives, our families and the world at large. May the most vulnerable in our midst experience your grace, your help, your heeling, your favour and interventions as we look up to you as our cornerstone. For you live and reign forever and ever. Amen. Do have a fruitful day.

Homily for Thursday in Octave of Easter, 13th April, 2023

Readings: Acts.3:11-26; Ps.8; Luke24:35-48

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

 

THE EXPERIENCE THAT LEADS TO AUTHENTIC WITNESS OF CHRIST’S PRESENCE IN THE WORLD

 

Today in a special way Jesus appeared to his disciples wishing them peace and commissioning them to bear witness to his resurrection. He commissioned his disciples with these words “you see how it is written that the Christ would suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that, in his name, repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be preached to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses to this,” as we have it in our Gospel passage today. And as we know a  witness must be someone who has seen and experienced something and could testify to the facts of what he or she has seen.

 

So, the disciples had witnessed Christ’s suffering, death and resurrection and here comes the mission to witness this to the whole world and to proclaim reconciliation with God through Jesus. We too receive this commission of being his witnesses, through our baptism we are incorporated into the Church to authentically bear witness to the faith we profess.

 

Dear friends, it is our task to carry on this mission of Christ  throughout the whole world. If we do not, then, the world will not hear Christ’s message of reconciliation, forgiveness and victory over sin and death, thereby, making the world to remain ignorant of what God has done for us and the consequences of this ignorance is the root of the problems on our world today.

 

However, we can not bear effectiveness witness unless we have a personal experience of the risen Lord. It is this personal experience that enables Peter to bear effectiveness witness of Christ before the people as we heard in our first reading todwy, when he said: why are you so surprised at this? Why are you staring at us as though we had made this man walk by our own power or holiness? It was you who accused the Holy One, the Just One, you who demanded the reprieve of a murderer while you killed the prince of life. God, however, raised him from the dead, and to that fact we are the witnesses; and it is the name of Jesus which, through our faith in it, has brought back the strength of this man whom you see here and who is well known to you. It is faith in that name that has restored this man to health, as you can all see. we too can do the same when  we experience the risen Lord personally in our lives.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord Jesus, let us once again experience you personally in our lives and give us the grace to bear authentic witness of your presence in the world. Manifest your victorious power afresh in our lives, families, societies and the world at large. You who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. Do have a fruitful day.

Homily for Wednesday in Octave of Easter, 12th April, 2023

Readings: Acts.3:1-10; Ps. 104; Luke 24:13-35

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

 

WHAT ARE YOU DISCUSSING ABOUT AS YOU JOURNEY THROUGH THE EMMAUS OF LIFE.

 

Oftentimes, we hardly understand fully the meaning of the faith we profess in Christ. Though we still journey with Christ and his Church without full understanding of the mystery we celebrate. Sometimes we are confused, sometimes we doubt, sometimes we feel like going back to our ugly and sinful ways of life. This type of disposition is the condition of the two disciples of Jesus in our Gospel passage today, where we heard the story about the two disciples who were on their way to Emmaus.

 

The story of these two disciples on the road to Emmaus is one of the most interesting stories in the Gospel that explains the structure of our liturgical celebration in a more practical way.  In this story, they were on a journey when the risen Lord joined them on the way and explained the scriptures to them.

 

These two disciples have no idea who Jesus was when he approached them. They are aware, however, of the recent events in Jerusalem but could not comprehend it. But the Lord after explaining the scriptures, revealed his identity to them at the breaking of bread, when he took a loaf of bread, and given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them just like he did at the last Supper.

 

Dear friends, in this same way, the risen Lord journeys with us in our liturgical worship, beginning with the penitential rite where we recall how sinful and unworthy we are before God. Then we recalled the events of our faith as the Lord Jesus takes us through the Scriptures and the celebration of the Eucharist.

 

Here the faith of the faithful is sustained. It is the place where Jesus continues to reveal himself. Where the Christian faith is born and nurtured, where what Jesus did for us through his suffering, death and resurrection is remembered in thanksgiving. This is the faith Peter and John exercised in our first reading today, when they restored the crippled in the name of Jesus.

 

But the questions we need to ask ourselves are, what are you discussing about as you journey through the Emmaus of life. What is our disposition towards the faith we have found in Christ? Have we personally encountered or recognized the presence of God in our lives, especially at Eucharistic celebration? Today the Lord Jesus wishes to journey with us in our struggles. He wishes to instruct us more about the faith we found in him. He wishes to reveal himself once again for to us if we are going to be disposed enough to listen to him as he speaks to us especially through the scriptures.

 

LET US PRAY: Loving Jesus, as we journey together on the road of faith with you, especially in the midst of the ugly situation ravaging the world, help us to always recognize you personally in different events we encounter on the way, especially at the breaking of the Eucharistic bread. You who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen. Peace be with you.

Homily for Tuesday of Octave of Easter, 11hh April, 2023

Readings: Acts.2:36-41; Ps. 33; John 20: 11-18

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia.

 

HAVING A PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF THE RISEN LORD

 

One of the most precious gift God can offer to anyone is the privilege of having a personal experience and encounter with him, especially in this season which is a moment of encounter. Little wonder our readings these season gives us an account of how different people encountered the Lord Jesus.

 

Today, our Gospel passage presents to us the story of a woman who seeks the Lord with all affection and tears. Mary Magdalene, who came back and remained by the tomb where Jesus was laid and was weeping. Her heart was in earnest to find Jesus. The angels asked her: why are you weeping? she was just busy trying to find the corpse of Jesus. But when she turned around and saw Jesus, her heart was filled with joy and peace.

 

In a similar way, our first reading today presents to us people's personal Pentecost encounter through the word of God. For hearing the Word they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the apostles, ‘What must we do, brothers?’ ‘You must repent,’ Peter answered ‘and every one of you must be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

 

So, we are likely to seek and find the Lord, when we seek him with deepest affection and desire through the power of the Holy Spirit. But often times the clouds and darkness of our sins blind us from recognizing the Lord who is always very close to us. The truth is that, our disposition this season matters a lot. If we have that true disposition and desire to encounter Jesus we will surely experience him in our lives. It’s just few days after Easter, how close have we personally embrace the Lord? What difference has his presence made in our lives?

 

Dear friends, we need to have a personal experience of the risen Lord and the Lord Jesus is at the door knocking and waiting for us to open the door of our hearts so that we will experience him personally. For he, the good shepherd knows his sheep and he said his sheep would know him when he calls their names. Just like Mary Magdalene recognized Jesus when he called her name. But are we disposed enough to hear him when he speaks to us?

 

In different ways and forms Jesus speaks to us. And the common ways of making himself known to his people is by his words; his words appeals to our souls, speaking to us in a particular way that is unique to us. Therefore let us be well disposed to hear the Lord Jesus speaking to us in our hearts and there we will experience and encounter him personally.

 

 LET US PRAY: Lord God, our souls desire to encounter your Son our Lord Jesus personally once again, give us the grace and strength to always be ready to turn around, to look again, that we may see, experience, fill and recognize your presence in our lives personally and collectively. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed day.