Homily For Saturday Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 15th July, 2023. The Memorial of St. Bonaventure

Readings: Gen. 49:29-33.50:15-26; Ps. 105; Matt:10:24-33

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

LEARN TO BECOME A FIRM DISCIPLE OF JESUS

 

The goal of every disciple is to become like the master. This does not mean that the disciple will become equal to the master, but through the training he becomes like or similar to the master in his own unique way. For a good disciple develops great qualities and skills like that of the master. Hence, Jesus knowing the difficulties and challenges his disciples will encounter, needed to train and instruct them properly, so that they can stand firm in the midst of oppositions and persecution.

 

Thus, today in our Gospel passage, Jesus continues with his instruction on what it means to be a firm disciple in respect to the mission he is about to entrust to his apostles, just the way Jacob instructed his sons and Joseph having forgiven his brothers, he instructed they on what to do when he dies as we have it in our first reading.

 

In a similar way, Jesus said to his Apostles:  The disciple is not superior to his teacher, nor the slave to his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebul, what will they not say of his household? What I say to you in the dark, tell in the daylight; what you hear in whispers, proclaim from the housetops. Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; fear him rather who can destroy both body and soul in hell.

 

As disciples, this encouraging words of Jesus is very apt now that we are passing through difficult moment of poverty, sickness, persecution, intimidation, greed, immorality, killings, wars, famines, genocide in our families, societies, country and the world at large. This ugly condition can make someone to completely lose hope in humanity and also in God. But Jesus do not want us to lose hope, rather he wants us to be that firm and strong disciples that will stand firm and courageously face the ugly situation we encounter everyday.

 

Today, Jesus needs firm disciples that will speak and stand for his Gospel no matter the cost just like that of St. Bonaventure, whose memorial we celebrate today. For St. Bonaventure is remembered for his great humility, piety and dedication to the reform of the Church and the faith in the community. He was a great theologian who spent a long time trying to reform both the Church and the community of the faithful. Despite his great intelligent and many positions, titles and responsibilities that he acquired, St. Bonaventure remained deeply humble and faithful in his relationship with God and humanity.

 

Dear friends, we are called today to become a firm disciple of Jesus. For as disciples of Jesus, our purpose in life is to become like him in deeds and in character. By so doing we will have confident that God will enable us to carry out the work that He has entrusted to us even in the midst of persecution, knowing that neither men nor the devil can affect our soul. We can be confident of God’s intimate care for us because He knows even the numbers of the hairs on our head.

 

Therefore, as true disciples of Jesus we must have confidence and remain firm in faith even in the midst of persecution, sufferings and sickness, because, his love and care for us surpass all our challenges. Thus we are called today to follow God wholeheartedly by living a life of holiness, purity, courage and simplicity, and by so doing inspire others to be part of this mission.

 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, there is no doubt that our world is full of oppositions and persecutions of your faithful people. Grant that we may follow you wholeheartedly and stand firm in the midst of all the oppositions and persecutions we may encounter in our daily lives. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you a lovely and peaceful weekend.

Homily For Friday Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 14th July, 2023

Readings: Gen. 46:1-7.28-30; Ps. 37; Matt:10:16-23

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

THE LORD IS SENDING US OUT LIKE SHEEP AMONG THE HUNGRY WOLVES OF THIS PASSING WORLD

 

Reflecting on the ugly attitudes of humanity, especially in some ugly events that happens around us. How selfish, cruel and heartless people behave towards each other. Everywhere we see and hear of human wickedness, intimidation, manipulations, kidnapping, killing and different other immoral activities for the sake of power, fame, money and lustful desires. And anyone who tries to resist, challenge, correct, change or stop these ugly attitudes, becomes an object of elimination.

 

 In fact, the evil ones are so cruel that sometimes we wish that God should just wipe them away from the face of the earth and when this is not coming  forth, we complain and feel so helpless. Yet in the midst of all these ugly situation, we are required to continue to speak about God’s goodness, love, compassion and forgiveness. A very difficult task to do, especially when we are suffering as victims of the ugly situation.

 

Little wonder today in our Gospel passage, Jesus made known to his disciples the difficult nature of his mission, he taught them how to persevere in times of persecution, troubles, afflictions, and sufferings. He warns them that they will meet with hostility and hatred because of him, but they are to continue to bear witness to the Gospel values. Jesus said to them: “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; so be cunning as serpents and yet as harmless as doves.”

 

He continued saying: Beware of men: for they will hand you over to lawless men and drag you before governors and kings for my sake, to bear witness before them. But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to speak or what to say; for what you are to say will be given to you when the time comes; because it is not you who will be speaking; the Spirit of your Father will be speaking in you.”

 

Hence, Jesus knowing that the mission to change the sinful and ugly attitudes of humanity will be like sending a helpless sheep in the midst of hungry wolves, so he advised his disciples as he advise us today to be wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. He also gave us the ultimate reassurance and promise, that the one who endures to the end will be saved.

 

The truth is that, God still cares for humanity despite our sinful and ugly attitudes. This is evident in our first reading today, when we heard the story of how God brought together the family of Jacob which was distorted by wickedness, jealousy, hatred and corruption as a result of the selling of their brother Joseph to slavery.

 

But today God’s providence and love has brought them together and we had the Lord saying to Jacob: ‘Do not be afraid of going down to Egypt, for I will make you a great nation there. I myself will go down to Egypt with you. I myself will bring you back again, and Joseph’s hand shall close your eyes. And Jacob said to Joseph: Now I can die, now that I have seen you again, and seen you still alive.

 

Dear friends, the circumstances in which Jesus invites us to share the Good News is quite challenging and difficult, especially now that the world is passing through difficult times, as families, societies, countries, and churches are badly affected by the ugly situation born out the evil forces manifesting themselves in different forms, of which there troubles and conflicts are affecting the whole world. Yes our sinful attitudes have brought humanity into destruction and death, but the Lord still loves us, and wants us to repent from our sins and wickedness, so as to embrace his righteousness and mercy once again.

 

Therefore, just as Jesus was not abandoned by his Father in his hour of need, we too will not be abandoned in difficult times. Because God knows what we are passing through now. All we need to do is to listen to him speaking to us through the Holy Spirit. Remember, as helpless sheep in the midst of hungry wolves of this passing world, the greatest Gospel we can preach is the Gospel of love by our way of life even in the midst of the ugly attitudes of sinful humanity.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, may the Holy Spirit enlighten, strengthen and grant us the courage and strength to persevere in witnessing to the Gospel, especially in this difficult times. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful day.

Homily For Thursday Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 13th July, 2023

Readings: Gen. 44:18-21.23-29.45:1-5; Ps. 105; Matt:10:7-15

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

GOD CARES AND LOVES US NO MATTER THE SITUATION WE FIND OURSELVES

 

The rebellious nature of humanity have always kept us away from responding to God's invitation to Life of love, holiness, faithfulness and integrity. Hence, humanity have always failed to understand the true ways of God his creator. However, God has not stopped caring and stretching his hands of love to us. In every generation God always send messengers to remind us of his love and plan for humanity. This is exactly what we have in our readings today especially in our first reading where we heard how it was God’s plan to send Joseph to Egypt for the sake of saving his people from feminine.

 

Here, we heard how this plan was fulfilled, when Joseph was reunited with his brothers after they had sold him as slave. In this encounter and reunion, Joseph filled with compassion said, that it was God’s plan and grace that allowed everything to happen as it was, that their evil plots had been turned to good things as God sent him ahead to Egypt to pave the path for Jacob his father and his descendants. For God sent him ahead of the rest of his family to prepare everything, so that when they eventually come in accordance with the will of God, they would be accepted and taken care good care of since they were to stay in Egypt for a long time.  

 

This story shows us that God in his compassion will always turn our ugly situation and attitude into something better in accordance with his will. Because, God’s anger and dissatisfaction with the constant disobedience and rebellious attitude of the people and the upcoming consequences for their sins, will be subdued by God’s mercy. Since God in his compassionate love, wishes to save humanity.

 

This showing us that in God, we have a compassionate and loving Father who always care about us despite our constant disobedience and rebellious attitude towards him. And out of his love for us, He has not stopped sending his messengers to help guide us out of the wrong path we are taking. In fact, out of love, He sent Jesus his only begotten Son to be our Lord and Saviour.

 

Thus, in our Gospel passage we heard how Jesus went about doing good, healing the sick and setting captive free from the shackles of the evil ones and to continue this great mission he invited his disciples and sent them out, commanding them to see themselves as someone who gives freely of the good they have received from God.

 

They should offer to others what they have received from God, knowing that it has cost them nothing. They are to live a life of detachment that is, in this mission, they are to depend totally on God's providence. Unfortunate many of the disciples have to face rejection and persecutions from people, who through their rebellious attitude have refused to believe in God even though he has always been so patient, loving, caring and forgiving to us.

 

Dear friends, the Lord cares and loves us no matter the situation we find ourselves. So, today we are called to repent from our sinful and rebellious attitudes and embrace the compassionate love and care that God is offering us. And as disciples of Christ, we have received a lot from God without payment; we should learn to give without expecting reward. Calling us to acknowledge with gratitude all that we have received from God and give freely to others that which we have received. For this act of charity will purify us from pride and self-righteousness, because we are all recipients of God's love, mercy, forgiveness, favour, protection, healing and deliverance.

 

Therefore, we must offer to others these same gifts which we have received. We are to show love to people, forgive, help the needy and share with one another the gifts God has blessed us with, and if our love and care are rejected, we should offer it as a sign for the judgement day. Remember, your kind gestures today can turn someone's life around now or later and by so doing we extend God’s divine compassion to rebellious humanity.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, you have sacrificed a lot to save us from our rebellious and sinful attitudes, open our hearts once again to repent and embrace your compassionate love and care for us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed day.

Homily For Wednesday Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 12th July, 2023

Readings: Gen. 41:55-57.42:5-7.17-24; Ps. 33, Matt:10:1-7

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

REPENT FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS VERY CLOSE AT HAND

 

The things of this world is so captivating that if we are not careful we will be like a foolish traveler who having encountered a pleasant garden forgets to continue towards his destination. This is exactly what Jesus is calling our attention to in our Gospel passage today, when he commanded his twelve disciples to go and proclaim to the people that the kingdom of heaven is close at hand.

 

Here, Jesus continues with his missionary discourse, he summoned his twelve apostles and send them out with the clear instruction to proclaim the Good News of the kingdom of heaven. He sent them on a mission of teaching and healing to proclaim the message of God’s saving love to those who were in most need of hearing it.

 

Thus, in our first reading we heard how God changed what was bad and terrible into something that is good  as seen in the story of Joseph and his brothers. Here the Lord showed his love to his people when he sent Joseph, one of the sons of Jacob into Egypt ahead of his brothers and family. This happened as Joseph was despised earlier on in his youth by his elder brothers, because he was one of their father’s favourite, so they sold him as a slave to Egypt. In a similar way the Lord Jesus sent his disciples to all humanity to bring the Good News of his Kingdom.

 

So, today Jesus is calling us to change our ugly and sinful ways of life, especially as regards our attitude towards the things of this passing world. He is also commanding us just as he commanded his apostles to tell humanity, especially those we encounter every day, our family members, neighbours, colleagues, friends, in fact everyone around us, we should tell them that the kingdom of heaven is very close at hand.

 

Thus, it's time to truly seek God with all our hearts, it's time to turn away from our sinful way of life, it's time to say yes to God for tomorrow may be too late. We should not be ashamed or afraid to carry out this mandate, for when God calls us, he supplies us with the means and courage necessary to accomplish the task entrusted to us. For we are never alone, he is always with us.

 

Dear friends, what are we doing in this passing world with the gift of life that God has given us? We should never think that we still have all the time to keep ‘enjoying' the pleasant things of this passing world. Remember we are all travelers in this world. This world is not our destination, we are just passing by.

 

So, how many ears must we have before we can hear the call for repentance? How many deaths will it take till we know that soul of many people has gone from this world? How many words of God will we hear before we know that one day we will be no more in this passing world? The answer dear friends is blowing in the wind. Therefore let us not be like a foolish traveler who having encountered a pleasant garden of this passing world, forgets to continue towards his destination which is God’s heavenly kingdom.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, you called us today to reflect on our heavenly kingdom, give us grace to repent and turn to you for mercy, help us to have the missionary zeal that will enable us to live with integrity, purity and detachment from the thing of this passing world as we spread the Good News of your kingdom to humanity. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Peace be with you.

Homily For Tuesday Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 11th July, 2023. The Memorial of St. Benedict

Readings: Gen. 32:23-33 , Ps. 17, Matt 9:32-38

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

BE GOD'S FAITHFUL LABOURER WHO WILL HELP TO SAVE HELPLESS AND SINFUL HUMANITY

 

When we look critically in the streets, we will observe how people are struggling with the things of this passing world. We will fill their passion, their determination and willingness to achieving great things of life at the expense of things that prepares us for eternal life. Today, life has become nothing for some people. Greed, corruption and selfishness have rendered so many people into perpetual poverty and suffering.

Thus, reflecting on these, my mind turned towards the words of Jesus in our Gospel passage today, when he saw the crowds and had compassion on them because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest’.

 

Here, Jesus had compassion on humanity who were harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd. He then says to his disciples that there is a huge harvest waiting to be reaped. Calling on us to pray for God to send labourers into his harvest. Therefore, more labourers are needed, for Jesus sees how humanity are harassed and dejected, wandering aimlessly like sheep without a guiding shepherd. And because the souls of everyone in the world are so precious to Jesus, he needs many more labourers.

 

Hence the harvest is as big as ever and people are getting lost and clueless as never before. But who are these labourers? They are not just the bishops, priests, or religious men and women, but every baptized person is called in different capacity as God’s labourers to share the good news of Jesus Christ with those around them. So each of us has a vocation, a call to save souls and build the Kingdom of God together, just like Jacob in our first reading today who wrestled with God and his name was changed to Israel, because he had been strong against God, thus shall prevail against men.

 

Dear friends, the Lord desires to have faithful labourers. Are we among them? As labourers of the Lord, how are we carrying out this mission and mandate of Christ? How strong is our compassion towards others? Do we know people who are harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd? Let us look at them for a moment and imagine Jesus looking at them and saying something to them. Or do we feel harassed and helpless as a result of what we are passing through in life? Do we feel the need of Jesus’ help in some part of our life?

 

Then turn to him for restoration just like St. Benedict, whose memorial we celebrate today. For he is known for his renowned piety and commitment to living a life of purity and prayer, of which he inspired many others to follow him in a life of asceticism and prayer, some of whom decided to follow his way of life and become ascetics and monks as labourers in God's vineyard.

 

Remember, as labourers, each one of us are called today to reach out to people at any particular corner of the field of harvest where we are now, for we may be the only person who may have access to reach out to them.  Therefore, let us start from our families, neighbours, colleagues in the office and others who we encounter in our lives, because, we may be the only person who can brings the healing and compassion of Jesus into their lives.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, give us the grace and courage to be faithful labourers in your vineyard, who will labour to bringing souls to you. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed day.

Homily For Monday Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 10th July, 2023

Readings: Gen. 28:10-22 , PS 91, Matt 9:18-26

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

LEARN TO PUT YOUR FAITH IN GOD INTO POSITIVE ACTION

 

Today we are presented with the story of the faith of a woman with a hemorrhage set inside the story of a little girl who died and the father in faith came to Jesus for help. However, Mark 5:21-43 and Luke 8:40-56 tell the story in greater detail. In Mark and Luke, the woman with the hemorrhage interrupts Jesus’ journey to the home of a child who might die before he arrives, creating an urgency that is not present in Matthew’s account. In Matthew’s account, the girl is already dead, so there is no hurry.

 

Here, the father confesses a resurrection faith, “My daughter has just died; but come and lay your hand on her, and she will live.” The father believes that even Jesus’ slightest touch will restore life to his daughter likewise the woman with a hemorrhage. The stories of the little girl and the woman have interesting similarities: Both are called “daughter” (9:18, 22). Both are restored in the presence of people (the woman and the father) who seek Jesus’ help. The woman has been ill for twelve years, and the little girl is twelve years old. Both the woman and the little girl have been cut off from normal society by their physical condition.

 

 But there are also differences between the stories. The father is a man of high standing in the community, and the woman is unclean an outcast. The man approaches Jesus boldly, and the woman approaches him timidly. The girl was raised based on the father’s radical faith, the woman was restored through her own faith for she was very sure that the very moment she touched the Lord’s cloak all her troubles were ended, for her body was made whole again.

 

This woman actually represents the sinful humanity in need of God’s mercy, salvation and restoration. Her bleeding signifies the iniquity of all humanity who are defiled by the constant shading of innocent blood through violent, wars and abortions, thereby unworthy of God’s presence. Her reaching out to touch Jesus and her restoration signifies the effort each one of us needs to make to reach out to God in order to be restored. And finally the willingness of Jesus to heal all of us just as he had healed the woman from all of her troubles. But this requires that we radically put our faith into action. 

 

Thus, this passage simply tells us to have faith in God no matter the circumstances we find ourselves, for faith is the only way to get to God in prayers. Just like Jacob who prayed in our first reading today saying: ‘If God goes with me and keeps me safe on this journey I am making, if he gives me bread to eat and clothes to wear, and if I return home safely to my father, then the Lord shall be my God. This stone I have set up as a monument shall be a house of God.

 

Dear friends, today we are made to know that, it is not enough to have faith, we must radically put our faith into action no matter the circumstances we find ourselves. For it is through active faith that we can reach out to God in prayers and so obtain what we desired. Therefore, having faith in the Lord is very necessary in order  to obtain God’s restoration.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we thank you for the gift of faith, give us the grace and courage to put our gift of faith into positive action that yields positive results. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.  Do have a fruitful week ahead.

Homily For Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A, 9th July, 2023

Readings: Zechariah 9:9-10, PS. 145, Rom. 8:9.11-13, Matt. 11:25-30

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

 

WHY CARRYING YOUR BURDENS OF LIFE ALONE? THE LORD WANTS TO HELP YOU

 

Looking outside my window one morning, behold, I saw an Ant carrying a heavy load through a little hole on the wall. It seems to have been struggling all night to pass the load through the hole, which seems impossible.

 

Then I stretched out my hand and trimmed the load to the size of the hole and then placed it back for the Ant, who was still running round the hole looking for the load and immediately the Ant saw it, it grabbed the load and dragged it through the hole.

 

At this point my mind reflect on the words of Jesus in our Gospel passage today when he said: ‘Come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. Yes, my yoke is easy and my burden light.’  

 

Here, Jesus invites us who are burdened with the distresses and various trials of life, especially those who are wearied of the slavery of sin, the manipulations of the evil ones, the love of the world and the pursuit of its vanities, but now desire for reconciliation and peace with God. Jesus graciously says: take my yoke upon you and learn from me, shoulder your yoke of sin, sorrows and shame, and come to me and you will find rest for your soul.

 

The yoke here, is a metaphorical statement signifying the specific authority of Jesus towards the mission and obligations which he gives us to perform. So to ‘take his yoke’ upon us is to submit our wills to his authority in joyful obedience and daily imitation of his teachings.

 

This is what prophet Zechariah is calling us to do in our first reading today when he says: rejoice heart and soul, daughter of Zion! Shout with gladness, daughter of Jerusalem! See now, your king comes to you; he is victorious, he is triumphant, He will banish the bow of war and will proclaim peace for the nations. Here the Lord spoke of the coming of the good time when the people would no longer be divided, when the veil of shame and humiliation would be lifted from them and they will be restored and strengthened.

 

In this same vain, St. Paul reminds us in our second reading that we have all shared in the death of Christ through our baptism, and by His death, all of us have been redeemed. So, there is no need for us to live according to the flesh or engage on unspiritual ways of life. For if we live in that way, you are doomed to die; but if by the Spirit we put an end to the misdeeds of the body we will live with Christ.

 

Dear friends, the ugly condition in our societies today really places heavy burdens and stress on us, and often times these burdens are so heavy that we don’t know how to carry them. The worst of these burdens is the sorrows we bear in our hearts: sorrows caused by our sins, unhealthy relationship, unforgiveness, family problems and unactualized goals and dreams. Today Jesus invites us to come to him just as we are. For he recognizes the sorrows in our lives, how we labour and are overburdened.

 

This invitation opens a refreshing space in our soul, by inspiring hope and drawing us into his loving and gentle presence that bring peace and tranquility to our soul. Today, we are called to exchange our heavy worldly burdens with the light yoke of Heavenly graces. For Jesus wants to listen to all of our troubles, as he assures us that his yoke is easy and his burden is light.

 

So, what is that burden in your heart? What is that sorrow in your soul? What is that pain in your life? What are those unachieved plans, goals and mistakes that have become an injury in your life? What is that weakness of sin, sickness or failure that have made you to lost confidence in yourself and in God? The Lord is calling us to come to him and He will give us rest. For when we spend time with Jesus, we find rest for our souls because, he speaks to us in the silence of our hearts and gives us inner peace.

 

Therefore, why carrying your burdens, your heavy burdens alone like the Ant I saw in the morning? Why killing yourself for things you can not change? Why trying to satisfy people who can not be satisfied? Why trying to impress people who care less about you or your efforts? Why carry the burden that is not yours?

 

A lot of us are carrying burdens that are not ours. Burdens that are not necessarily, burdens of greed and selfishness. Burdens of the things of this passing world at the expense of the York of heavenly things. Why not bring those burdens and challenges before the Lord? For Jesus is willing to help you, for he promised that when we are troubled and turn to him, he will help us.

 

So let us trust in his word and shoulder the yoke of his authority, learn from him, so as to find rest for our soul. Let us learn from the Lord for he said ‘I bless you, Father, Lord of heaven and of earth, for hiding these things from the learned and the clever and revealing them to mere children’. So today, God has reveal these things to us, let us learn from him. Remember, this life is very short and is vanity without God. Everything we toil for including our lives are vanity vanishing without God.

 

LET US PRAY: O God, we are so much attached to the heavy burdens of the sinful things of this passing world, give us the grace to let go of there grip on us, so that we can truly and faithful embrace the heavenly things, through Christ our Lord. Amen. God bless you.