Homily For Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A, 13th August, 2023

Readings: 1Kings 19:9.11-13, Ps 85, Rom. 9:1-5, Matt. 14:22-33

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

 

LET YOUR FAITH KEEP YOU IN THE BOAT OF CHRIST AND YOU WILL HAVE VICTORY OVER THE STORMS OF LIFE

 

A boat is a craft work made for transportation, fishing, or cruising on the water propelled by oars or wind. It is a full house, a complete and secured vessel. The fisher men and the marine men who are into sea business know the value of a boat and what it means to be in a boat faced with heavy storms. Little wonder, in the Scriptures, Jesus often make use of the boat to teach and instruct the people and his disciples.

 

On the occasion of our Gospel passage today, Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to another side. When evening came, he was there alone, while the boat, by now far out on the lake, was battling with a heavy sea storms.

 

So as the waves were breaking over the boat, the disciples were afraid and needed help from anywhere. It was at this point that they saw Jesus walking on the sea and he said to them: “take courage, it is I, do not be afraid”. But Peter said ‘if it is you Lord, tell me to come to you across the water.’ ‘Come’ said Jesus.

 

Then Peter got out of the boat and started walking towards Jesus across the water, but as soon as he felt the force of the wind, he became afraid and began to sink. So he cried out ‘Lord! Save me!’ Jesus put out his hand at once and held him. And as they got into the boat the wind ceased. The men in the boat bowed down before him and said, ‘Truly, you are the Son of God.’

 

In this Gospel passage we can foresee a gesture which signifies the chosen people of God on a transit of faith, frightened by the guilt of sin and wounded by the waves of the sea, the abode of evil forces and monsters of this world. Today Jesus is inviting us to journey on this boat of life with an unwavering faith and a repented heart so that our storms of struggles will cease.

Because the world is being tossed around by the waves of evil forces the enemies of humanity, inflicting hardships, sickness and sorrows on us. But Jesus is inviting us to come into his boat with faith so that we can find life, peace and grace to overcome our struggles.

 

Just the way God called prophet Elijah out of the cave of fear and starvation to encounter Him at mount Horeb as we have it in our first reading today. So, there came a mighty wind, so strong that it tore the mountains and shattered the rocks before the Lord. But the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind came an earthquake. But the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire. But the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there came the sound of a gentle breeze. And when Elijah heard this, he covered his face with his cloak and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave there he encounter the Lord in the gentle breeze.

 

Thus, Elijah encountered the Lord in a moment of stillness and silence, reminding us that God can not be found in the violent storms of life, but in the deep silence of our hearts even in the midst of the storms of life. Hence, we should not let all the challenges, trials and difficulties we encounter in this crazy world, make us to lose sight of God’s presence, but they should lead us to God.

 

And this is what St. Paul is struggling with in our second reading  when he said my sorrow is so great, my mental anguish so endless, I would willingly be condemned and be cut off from Christ if it could help my brothers of Israel, my own flesh and blood to know and understand their place in God. This no doubt is what most people are passing through in our societies today.

 

 Dear friends, the world is full of crowd and caves of different storms and so many people are trying to find ways to fix their problems. Today Jesus is inviting us to come into his boat of life with an unwavering faith and a repented heart and we will find peace of mind.  For his boat is the safest vessel where all our storms can be subdued. Where humanity can find solace, where all our struggles will cease, where hope for the future is guarantied.

 

Therefore, I don't know the great storms of doubt and fear in your soul today? I don’t know how deep your sorrows of constant failure and disappointment are? I don’t know how long or deep you have been involved in the evil going on in this world? All I know is that if today we come to Jesus the boat of life with great faith in God, the storms in our lives will cease and then we will worship God in sincerity and freedom.

 

PRAYER: Lord God, we thank you for being with us this far in our daily struggle of life, grant that the violent storms and waves of bondage in our lives will end in a wonderful calm that brings peace in our souls. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you the best of God’s favour and blessings today and always.

Homily For Saturday Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 12th August, 2023

Readings: Deut. 6:4-13; Ps. 18; Matt 17-20

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel  Emenike Onyia.

 

DO YOU HAVE FAITH? THEN, MAKE IT GROW LIKE A MUSTARD SEED

 

Oftentimes, we think and wish that we have faith enough to face whatever challenges that come our way. But the fact remains that we can only know the level and capacity of our faith when we are truly faced with a situation that overwhelms our physical and mental abilities. Then we will realize that what we think we have as faith is nothing but a shadow of the reality. Such was the situation with the disciples of Jesus in our Gospel passage today. 

 

For a man came up to Jesus begging him to deliver his son who he bought to his disciples but they where unable to cure him. But Jesus said to them ‘faithless and perverse generation!’ ‘How much longer must I be with you? How much longer must I put up with you? Bring him here to me.’ And he rebuked the devil, who immediately came out of the boy and he was cured from that moment.

 

Then the disciples came privately to Jesus. ‘Why were we unable to cast it out? they asked. He answered, ‘Because you have little faith. I tell you solemnly, if your faith were the size of a mustard seed you could say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it would move; nothing would be impossible for you.

 

Here, Jesus gives two reasons why the disciples failed to cure the boy. The first is connected with their own moral condition and disposition as they are only depending on their own personal abilities. Secondly and more importantly is their lack of faith. Though they had, indeed, shown some faith by making even the attempt at the expulsion of the devil, but they had acted in a half-hearted manner, and had not displayed that perfect confidence and trust which alone can bring success and make all things possible.

 

Thus, Jesus decided to use the analogy of a mustard seeds to give them lecture about having a perfect and complete faith that moves mountain. The mustard seed as we know is the smallest of all seeds which grows to produce the largest of all shrubs. So with the analogy of the mustard seed in relation to faith, Jesus supposed that, if we have the smallest faith that is genuine, we can do all things. Just like the mustard seed produced the largest of all herbs.

 

Therefore, If we begin to nurture our faith to grow and strengthened from small humble beginning, it will grow to the point that it can help us to perform and achieve greater things and conquer most difficult situation that, at first would appear impossible.

 

So faith moving mountains, implies that spiritual and divine ability to make difficult and stumbling situations to vanish. And this is obtained when we are rooted in God through sincere love. Little wonder we heard Moses in our first reading todays instructing the Israelites on the need to love God sincerely with all their hearts and soul as  they have it in their common daily prayer called the Shema Israel.

 

Dear friends, do you have faith? What is the size of your faith? Do you want your faith to grow? Then, you must cultivate the humble habit of a mustard seed, which though small but has the potential of becoming great when exposed to a fertile environment. For us to have the faith that moves mountain, we must be well deposed to embrace the power of God in our lives, we must desire to have a personal experience of the power of God at work in the world and acknowledge that in him come our victory over every situation with encounter.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, faith is your supernatural gift to humanity. Grant that we may embrace this gift even as little as that of a mustard seed, in order to move out of our lives the tough mountains that are crushing us on our daily lives. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a joyful weekend.

Homily For Friday Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 11th August, 2023, Memorial of St. Clare

Readings: Deut. 4:32-40; Ps. 77; Matt 16:24-28

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

LEARN TO DENY YOURSELF THE EXCESS DESIRE FOR THE THINGS OF THIS PASSING WORLD IN ORDER TO FOLLOW THE LORD

 

Reflecting on the effect of the continuous hostility, persecutions and the influential powers of the things of this world, I think is time for us to really think twice about our faith as Christians, whether we are actually ready to live out our faith in the midst of these ugly situations in our societies, which is getting tougher everyday. For if we are really willing to live out our Christian faith and obligations, then we need to make a personal radical decision towards our discipleship.

 

Little wonder Jesus in our Gospel passage today says:  ‘If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me. For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake will find it. What, then, will a man gain if he wins the whole world and ruins his life? Or what has a man to offer in exchange for his life?

 

 Here Jesus knowing what awaits us in this world, takes his discourse on discipleship to a radical and difficult level, especially in a situation where our faith and Christian values have been thrown out of caution as a result of secularism, individualism and excess desires for worldly pleasures, thereby neglecting the things that lead us to God.

 

Thus, these hard words of Jesus can only be understood in the light of our life experience. For here comes the moment when we have to make radical and difficult choice as disciples of Jesus. It’s time for us to take up our Cross in a sacrificial way and follow the Lord. But what is the cross we are called to take up. Taking up our cross could mean to faithfully face our daily challenges with all its difficulties. It is accepting who we are and what we have and using them to the glory of God.

 

The way of the cross is a way of sacrifice, a way of commitment, a way of love, forgiveness, mercy and compassion, which aim towards the good of the other person. It can be a costly service to a loved one who is ill; it can be embracing illness, even terminal illness or other personal weaknesses, this makes no sense except when we relate it with the suffering of Christ through faith in God.

 

For God through Moses in our first reading today reminded us of the great works he did and still doing to save and bring us to the promised Land. Hence, he commanded us saying: understand this today, therefore, and take it to heart: the Lord is God indeed, in heaven above as on earth beneath, he and no other. Keep his laws and commandments as I give them to you today, so that you and your children may prosper and live long in the land that the Lord your God gives you for ever.’

 

Here, God has promised us that he will stand by us in the midst of persecution and suffering. That for a while we might suffer, but in the end, those who remained faithful in him will be victorious while the oppressors will be rejected, crushed and destroyed. Thus, to share the glory of Christ we have to share his suffering, because it is impossible to follow Jesus without accepting the cross nor acknowledging and embracing all that life has to offer us.

 

Let us learn from St. Clare of Assisi, whose memorial we celebrate today.  For she was a woman of great faith and humility, who was known for her selflessness, great piety, love for God and humble service to the poor, and together with other women dedicated themselves to God’s service. And through prayer and holiness they founded the religious order of the Poor Clares, as a group inspired by the life of St. Francis of Assisi.

 

Dear friends, we must learn to deny ourselves the excess desire for the things of this passing world in order to follow the Lord. For we are called today to deny ourselves the pleasurable things of this passing world in order to take up our Cross and follow the Lord. It’s time to make a radical decision to sincerely and faithfully follow Jesus. But  how much are we willing to let go for the sake of following him? Why are we finding it difficult to follow Jesus? What are those habitual desires and possessions that are holding us from making this radical decision today? It is time to come to God with all our hearts, for tomorrow maybe too late.

 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, the excess desire for the pleasurable things of this passing world have weakened our hearts towards your, give us courage and grace to let go of our ugly desires and as we do this, may the cross of Christ be a shining example in our daily struggles, so as to hold firm in our faith despite all the sufferings and persecutions we may encounter. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful day.

Homily For Thursday Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 10th August, 2023. Feast of St. Lawrence

Readings: 2 Cor 9:6-10, Ps.112, John 12:24-26

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

LEARN TO DIE FROM THE THINGS OF THIS PASSING WORLD IN ORDER TO LIVE FOR THINGS OF HEAVEN

 

Sometimes I ask myself if we have really taken time to reflect on where all of us and the beautiful things of this world will be in the next ten, twenty, forty, eighty and hundred years for those who are strong? I believe the answer to this question will leave a deep silence in our soul as it exposed the foolishness of human greed and selfishness.

 

For the way people are so much engrossed with acquiring the things of this passing world at the detriment of things that edifice their soul, makes me to wonder if we are actually learning anything from the lives of those who have passed away from this world.

 

Little wonder Jesus in our Gospel passage today tells us that unless a wheat grain falls on the ground and dies, it remains only a single grain; but if it dies, it yields a rich harvest. For anyone who loves his life loses it; anyone who hates his life in this world will keep it for the eternal life.

 

Here, Jesus is telling us that the only way to save our lives is by total detachment from the things of this passing world. That we must sacrifice the pleasurable things of this world for the sake of the heavenly kingdom, because they are not going to follow us when the time comes for us to leave this world. For attachment to things of this world is nothing but a distraction from the things of heaven.

 

Therefore, what are the things I value so much that needs to die in order for me to live more fully in Christ? Because like a wheat grain we must sacrifice by dying to the things of this world in order to yield fruit that will sustain us for eternity. Hence, we need to ask ourselves today, what does God requires from us in this world? Why are we in this world and where are we going from this world? 

 

Dear friends, all that the Lord wants from us is to serve him, to love him and to love our neighbours as well. And Jesus says in our Gospel, If a man serves me, he must follow me, wherever I am, my servant will be there too. For if anyone serves me, my Father will honour him. This is exactly what St. Lawrence whose memorial we celebrate today did.

 

For Lawrence was one of the deacons of Rome and as such was greatly involved in the many important decisions and works in the very heart of the Church in Rome. During persecution, St. Lawrence was confronted by the Roman prefect through Emperor Valerian, who demanded that he surrender all the properties and material wealth of the Church.

 

Lawrence assembling before the Emperor, all the poor the infirm, the sick and the destitute, and presented all of them before the Roman prefect as the true property and wealth of the Church. Then, the Emperor was filled with anger, he ordered that Lawrence should be arrested, imprisoned, and eventually was martyred by being roasted alive on a gridiron, which was made even hotter by the anger of the prefects.

 

As they where burning him, he joked and asked his torturers to turn him over since he was "done" enough on that side. The deacon cheerfully offered himself to the Lord Jesus. Tradition has it that all of Rome became Christian as a result of the faithful life, and the death, of this one humble deacon, who let the seed of his life to die in order to yield rich Heavenly harvest.

 

Today the life of St. Lawrence is a great encouragement to us, calling us to the sacrificial life of love for God, the poor and the Church. And St. Paul in our first reading today tells us about the great rewards awaiting all those who had been generous in giving and loving the poor and the needy. For the one who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide us with all the seed we need and make the harvest of our good deeds a larger one, just like St. Lawrence  who showed us great example by his great generosity, love, genuine concern for the poor and the Church.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, Today, we saw in St. Lawrence a great example of how to live, and how to die faithfully to the Gospel. As we reflect on his life, may we come to love you the more and strive to detach ourselves from the negative influence of pleasurable things of this passing world. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed day.

Homily For Wednesday Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 9th August, 2023.

Readings: Num. 13:1-2.25-14:1.26-29.34-35; Ps. 106; Matt. 15:21-28

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

 

LEARN TO ACCEPT WHO YOU ARE AND IN FAITH WORK HARD TO ACHIEVE WHAT YOU DESIRE

 

In our society today, most people hardly accept who they are. Today people spent all their resources and energy trying to convince others of what they are not by seeking their approval. This is not the same with the Canaanite woman in our Gospel passage today, who when approached Jesus pleading for the restoration of her daughter was not discouraged because her request was not granted immediately in reference to her humble background.

 

For Jesus said to her  ‘I was sent only to the lost sheep of the House of Israel.’ But the woman persisted, kneeling at his feet saying. ‘Lord help me.’ Jesus replied, ‘It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the house-dogs.’ She retorted, ‘Ah yes, sir; but even house-dogs can eat the scraps that fall from their master’s table.’ Then Jesus answered her, ‘Woman, you have great faith. Let your wish be granted.’ And from that moment her daughter was well again.

 

From this little story, it is clear that the woman was not going to give up, but kept pleading, even from her Canaanite background, to the point of Jesus recognizing her great faith. The irony of this passage is that, in Israel Jesus was trying to convince people that he was the Messiah, as he was being challenged to prove it with a sign. But here in Gentile territory he met a woman who was convinced he was the Messiah and he could not discourage her efforts.

 

For his apparent attempt to put her off was just a test, of which her great faith was proved by the acceptance of her humble background. She accepted the place of a “dog” as a Gentile in relation to Israelites been the chosen children of God to whom the message and grace of the Messiah came first. Hence she accepted that she may not be able to sit down at the Messiah’s table and eat with the “children,” but she should be allowed to pick up some of the crumbs of unmerited mercy and grace of God for the sake of her daughter.

 

Dear friends, we must stop wasting valuable time trying to prove who we are not, let us first in faith accept who we are then, work hard to improve who we want to be in relation to our faith in God. Let our faith in God help us to accept who we are. Whatever we want to do, let us have faith in God and in ourselves, and be determined. Because, faith, determination and sacrifice are the secrets of any success in life.

 

Therefore, tell yourself today that you can get that which you desire,  when you plan for it, work everyday for it, you will begin to see a different face in the things you do. The truth is that people are rewarded in public for things they do for years in private. So, let us learn from the Canaanite for she accepted who she was and was determined with faith to achieve her dreams through humility and persistence. 

 

Let us also be courageous like Caleb in our first reading today for he encouraged the people who where scared because of the report they heard concerning the promised land. So he said to them: ‘we must march in and conquer this land: we are well able to do it'.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are often very slow to accept who we are and sometimes because of our humble background we fail to obtain what we desire. As we come to you today in humility and faith like the Canaanites woman, may we obtain your grace and favours. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. God bless you.

Homily For Tuesday Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 8th August, 2023. The Memorial of St. Dominic

Readings: Num. 12:1-13, Ps 51, Matt. 14:22-36

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

 

LORD SAVE US FROM THE HEAVEY STORMS OF THIS PASSING WORLD

 

One of the most difficult situations for those who are into marine and sea business is to be on the sea with heavy storms. A situation where the need to look for a Saviour is highly expected. Such was the case with the disciples of Jesus in our Gospel passage today. For When Jesus received the news of John the Baptist’s death, he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side while he would send the crowds away. When evening came, he was there alone, while the boat, by now far out on the lake, was battling with a heavy sea storms.

 

So as the waves were breaking over the boat, the disciples cannot believe that Jesus has seen them, and is approaching. Hence, they were afraid and needed help from anywhere. It was at this point that they saw Jesus walking on the sea and he said to them: “take courage, it is I, do not be afraid”. But Peter said ‘if it is you Lord, tell me to come to you across the water.’ ‘Come’ said Jesus. Then Peter got out of the boat and started walking towards Jesus across the water, but as soon as he felt the force of the wind, he became afraid and began to sink. So he cried out ‘Lord! Save me!’ Jesus put out his hand at once and held him.

 

This story signifies God's chosen people on a transit of faith, frightened by the guilt of sin and wounded by the waves of the sea the abode of evil forces and monsters of this world. The boat can be taken as a symbol of the young Christian Church struggling with the world’s principalities and powers, while the storm is a symbol of persecution suffered by this young Christian community.

 

And Jesus says: "Do not be afraid". This no doubt is what humanity are passing through today in the hands of few selfish evil men and women who have decided to destroy humanity by trying to recreate human beings into an artificial machine against the natural way God has created us in order for few of them to control the lives and activities of all. And this is even worse in our country today where only few greedy and selfish individuals are inflicting pain and suffering on the people.

 

Today, humanity need to humbly cry out like Peter, Lord save us for we are sinking into the destructive hands of the evil powers of this sinful world. Hence we are called to trust in the Lord and hope in his promises and providence. For it is time for us to listen to God and hold onto him more closely. Let us not be like Aaron and Miriam in our first reading, who spoke against God and Moses but were punished for there sins, rather let us learn to be humble like Moses who was known as the most humbled man on earth with good intention for the people entrusted to him.

 

Therefore, we are called to let every moment of difficulties and trials lead us to grow in faith and knowledge of God’s power and authority, just like St. Dominic whose memorial we celebrate today. For he helped the faithful to renew their faith and commitment in God through deepening of their spiritual lives, especially through the use of the rosary as a prayer, which eventually became one of the most popular of all devotions in the Church, through which countless souls have been converted to the Lord, through the intercession of the blessed Virgin Mary.

 

Dear friends, Jesus is calling us today to journey on his boat of life with an unwavering faith and a repented heart because, the world is being tossed around by the waves of evil forces, the enemies of humankind. And it is only God that can subdue it, for he has promised to restore us back to himself, if only we can trust in him completely.

 

So, I don't know the great storms of doubt and fear in your soul? Are you under the power of the evil forces of this world? I don’t know how long or deep you have been involved in this evil? All I know is that with great faith in God, the words of Jesus: “Do not be afraid, take courage, it is I,” will surely resound in the hearts of all his children who live in hostile environment and are victims of the evils in this world.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, save humanity once again, grant that the violent storms and waves of bondage in our lives will end in a wonderful calm that brings peace in our souls. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you the best of God’s favour and blessed.

Homily For Monday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 7th August, 2023

Readings: Num. 11:4-15, Ps 81, Matt. 14:13-21

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

 

COME TO JESUS AND HE WILL SATISFY YOUR SPIRITUAL AND PHYSICAL HUNGER

 

Humanity are constantly in need of one thing or the other, we are never tired of searching for things that will satisfy our desire for physical and spiritual well being. This is the situation and condition of the people in our readings today. In the first reading, we heard how the people of Israel lamented against God and Moses for giving them only manner without any meat, fish, cucumber and garlic as they are used to in Egypt. And in our Gospel passage, we heard how the people were in search for Jesus for more bread. So as Jesus stepped ashore he saw a large crowd; and he took pity on them and healed their sickness and also fed them in a miraculous way.

 

Here, Jesus fulfills his role as the expected messiah who is to liberate his people from all kinds of diseases. The healing touch of Jesus reveals to all those who are in need that God is faithful to his promises. This healing and wholeness are offered as a sign of the presence of God’s kingdom among his people. But Jesus did not just heal the sick, he also fed the crowd.

 

This feeding of the crowd refers back to the journey of the people of God in the desert from Mount Sinai to the promised land which in a special way signifies the event of our Eucharistic celebrate. The Eucharist has the same characteristics of this miracle: the community gathered together, the transformation of humble elements into a glorified body of Christ to satisfy our spiritual hunger which is an abundant gifts of God to humanity. In fact, because of the link to the Eucharist, this is the only miracle that is reported by all the four gospels.

 

However, we can interpret this miracle of feeding the crowd in two ways. First, we can simply interpret it as a miraculous event, pointing to the divine origin and mission of Jesus. Secondly, we can interpret the miracle as the fruit of sharing with one another, for it is possible that once the disciples began to share the little food they had with those around, others also who had actually brought some food with them started sharing what they have and indeed grace multiplied what they have to the point of having left over.

 

Dear friends, how I wish humanity can learn to share our resources with one another, believe me, the world will witness another miracle of multiplication of resources that will be enough for everyone with left over for the future generations. So, as Jesus heals and feeds the physical aspect of humanity, he also knows that we need the food of the Eucharist to sustain us spiritually for our journey to heaven which is our promised land.

 

Here, Jesus did not bring the loaves and fish out of nowhere. Rather, he took what was offered to him and multiplied them greatly. This bread is the gift of the Eucharist which we receive back from Jesus whose heart is always moved with pity and compassion towards us. This is because God loves us so much, that he is willing and ready to satisfy our unquenchable hunger for physical and spiritual things. Therefore, come to Jesus and embrace his love and you will be satisfied.

 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, we are really hungry, in need of your love and satisfaction both physically and spiritually, feed us once again with your heavenly grace and multiple the little bread and fish we share with others and provide for us the basic needs of life. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed week.