Homily For Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A, 8th October, 2023

Readings: Is. 5:1-7, Ps. 80, Phil 4:6-9. Matt. 21:33-43

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

AS TENANTS IN GOD’S VINEYARD WHAT IS OUR ATTITUDE TOWARDS THE THINGS HE ENTRUSTED TO US?

 

In this world, we are like tenants, who are living in an apartment that is entrusted to us to manage by a generous landlord, who has gone on a long-distance journey. We do not know when he will come back, we do not know his plan for the apartment. But one thing is certain, he wants us to be fruitful and to give a proper account of what he has entrusted to us whenever he comes back.

 

Sadly, because of the comfort and freedom we are enjoying, we have forgotten who we are, we have forgotten that we are nothing but a common tenant. Worst still, some are now claiming to be the landlord maltreating other fellow tenants and acquiring the whole property for themselves at the expense of others. And they are doing everything to ensure that the true landlord does not return.

 

This ugly attitude of humanity is what prophet Isaiah in our first reading is talking about in the song concerning the vineyard of the Lord, which has failed to bear good fruits despite the efforts the Lord has made to ensure that it is fruitful. This same issue is what Jesus is also addressing in our Gospel passage today in the great parable of the vineyard owner, who planted a vineyard, fenced it around, dug a winepress in it and built a tower; then he leased it to tenants and went abroad. When season for fruit drew near he sent his servants to collect his produce from the tenants whom he had entrusted with the care of his vineyard.

 

 But the tenants were now wicked, greedy and selfish, for they 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 the owner sent to them thinking that the tenants would respect his son. In 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 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, the servants represent the prophets who constantly rebuked the people and reminded them about their being tenants in the Lord’s vineyard. While the son represents Jesus Himself, who is the Son of God sent into the world to save humanity, but was rejected and killed. Also, the vineyard represents the world and all its resources which do not belong to us but to God, while the wicked tenants represent the ugly attitudes of humanity towards these resources entrusted to us by God.

 

Dear friends, our world, our nation, our societies, our families, and our lives as individuals are 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 generation, by reminding us how He has blessed us with so many resource, skills, good weather and people. But we have failed to be fruitful, we have misused the Lord’s gifts and resources, we have neglected his message, we have committed and are still committing a lot of evil and murder, yet we are still crying, seeking solutions and signs from God.

 

Today as tenants in God’s vineyard, we are called to change our ugly attitudes. We are called to turn away from greed, corruption, pride and ego. 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 and the kingdom of God being taken away from them and given to those who will be fruitful. Therefore, what God requires from us today is to do justice, to love kindly and to walk humbly with him for our good and the good of others.

 

Little wonder, St. Paul in our second reading tells us not to worry; but if there is anything we need, we should pray for it, asking God for it with prayer and thanksgiving. He also encouraged us to fill our minds with everything true, everything that is noble, everything that is good and pure, everything that we love and honour, and everything that can be thought virtuous or worthy of praise, we should keep doing them. Knowing that, it was the stone rejected by the builders that has become the cornerstone.

 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, oftentimes we have failed to be good and fruitful tenants in your vineyard despite all you have offered us. Help us today, to make a radical decision that will change our ugly selfish, greedy and corrupt attitudes, in order to embrace more loving and caring attitude that will make us more fruitful in your vineyard. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Happy Sunday, I wish you God's favour and blessings.

Homily For Saturday Twenty-Sixth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 7th October, 2023. The Memorial of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary

Readings:  Bar. 4:5-12.27-29; Ps.69 Luke 10:17-24

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

OUR GREATEST GOAL AS CHRISTIANS IS TO MAKE HEAVEN

 

In the mission of Christ, there are so many things that can make us happy and oftentimes we hope to have more of them. But there is one goal that should be the bases for all our desires. And this is what Jesus is telling us in our Gospel passage today, for when his disciples came back rejoicing with the report of how they were victorious on the mission he sent them.

 

Jesus said to them:  ‘I watched Satan fall like lightning from heaven. Yes, I have given you power to tread underfoot serpents and scorpions and the whole strength of the enemy; nothing shall ever hurt you. Yet do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you; rejoice rather that your names are written in heaven.

 

Here, Jesus made it clear that the true joy and goal of our mission as Christians is to make heaven and he warns us to be careful, and make sure our priorities and motivations are found around this one goal of making it to heaven. Little wonder Jesus, filled with joy by the Holy Spirit, 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.  Thus, if we are ready to open our heart in humility and simplicity, God himself will reveal many things to us about himself.

 

Dear friends, this is what we see in the life of prophet Baruch in our first reading today when he made great revelation to the people of Israel saying:  I suffer loneliness because of the sins of my own children, who turned away from the Law of God. Take courage, my children, call on God: he who brought disaster on you will remember you. As by your will you first strayed away from God, so now turn back and search for him ten times as hard; for as he brought down those disasters on you, so will he rescue you and give you eternal joy.

 

We can link this situation to the memorial of Our Lady of The Holy Rosary which we are celebrating today. An event where we recall the famous victory of the Christian faithful against the enemies of the Church in the battle of Lepanto, where through the prayers and intercessions of Our Blessed Mother Mary the Church became victorious when the situation of the Christian faith was in extreme danger and was bitterly divided by the various heresies and splinter groups appearing at the time due to the Reformation movement.

 

Then, Pope Pius V called all of Christendom to pray the rosary fervently, sorting the intercession of Mary the Mother of God, that her Son Jesus should be with the faithful fighting for the survival of the Christian faith which was under persecution and trials. And through the power of their dedication to praying the Rosary, God granted victory to his faithful people, and this is the root of our October devotion. So today we are called to know that as the militant church our responsibility is to win souls for God and our greatest goal is to make heaven despite the obstacles and distractions of life.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, today we are made to know that the true Joy of our mission is to make heaven, grant that through the intercession of Our Lady Star of the Sea, may we experience the true Joy of your heavenly kingdom. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful weekend.

Homily For Friday Twenty-Sixth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 6th October, 2023

Readings:  Bar 1:15-22; Ps. 79; Luke 10:13-16

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

WOE TO HUMANITY FOR FAILING TO EMBRACE THE WORD OF GOD

 

Reflecting on the ugly and fragile nature of our societies and the world as a whole, especially how the streets are full of people struggling and suffering, the markets are full of people buying, selling, cheating and manipulating others. Our leaders are so busy with acquiring, manipulating and embezzledling the common resources, not minding the struggles, the tears, the disappointments that people are passing through everyday, as some people have lost hope. Though, we are  blessed with every good thing you can talk about but we have misused them and use them to abuse one another. We are just so busy with everything except the very essence of our existence, that is, the salvation of our souls.

 

This ugly and fragile kind of condition is what Jesus is addressing in our Gospel passage today as he continues with his reproaches, this time to cities where he had done great miracles, yet the people failed to embrace the life of the Gospel he preached. Hence he reproached them saying: woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. And still, I tell you that it will not go as hard on Judgement day with Tyre and Sidon as with you’.

 

No doubt, Jesus has taught us about the kingdom of God and proclaimed a message of healing and conversion, but his teaching and powerful deeds have not yet been embraced by humanity. Hence, Jesus in this Gospel is not just rebuking the cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum, but all humanity for not being open to the fruits of his Gospel, calling us to reflect on how we are losing out on what God is offering us. Because God will always have plans to correct us if we are do wrong.

 

 For in our first reading we heard how from the day when the Lord brought our ancestors out of the land of Egypt until today we have been disobedient to the Lord our God, we have been disloyal, refusing to listen to his voice.

 

Dear friends, we must not let Jesus say woe to us for failing to embrace the Word of God. Though, we might not feel very comfortable with the idea of Jesus rebuking and uttering terrible words of threats on these big and powerful cities that represents all of us and humanity at large. But the questions we need to ask ourselves are: have we really embraced the Word of God we heevery dayday? Is the Word bearing fruits in our lives?

 

Can we recognize in this fragile condition the great work that Jesus is doing to save humanity and the need to turn back to God? Do we think that repentance is for others and not for us? Jesus is saying woe to us for failing to embrace and live out the Gospel teachings, because he seem to expect some sort of changes in us when we hear his Words or when we encounter him in prayers.

 

Therefore, God is calling us to repentance, He wants to come into our souls and dwells. Today He is rebuking all humanity, He wants us to come to Him for He comes to us more than we go to Him. Hence, if we believe in God, and put our trust in Him, we will have the assurance and guarantee of restoration, for God does not want us to suffer the consequences of our sins, that is why He kept reminding us about the up coming danger. But, if humanity constantly refuse to believe in God, we may end up in self destruction.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we embrace your words today, may we experience your love, joy and healing both physically, materially and more importantly spiritually, as we wait patiently for the restoration of all humanity from the ugly and fragile condition of this passing world. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. God bless you.

Homily For Thursday Twenty-Sixth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 5th October, 2023

Readings: Neh. 8:1-12; Ps.18  Luke 10:1-12

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

I AM SENDING YOU OUT LIKE SHEEP AMONG WOLVES

 

Oftentimes, we find it difficult to actively participate in the mission of Christ, This is because the rebellious nature of humanity has always kept us away from responding to God's invitation to serve, for we have always failed to understand God’s ways of doing things. However, God has not stopped caring and stretching his hands of love towards us. In every generation, God always sends messengers to remind us of his love and plan for humanity.

 

Thus, in our Gospel passage today, we heard how the Lord appointed seventy-two persons and sent them out ahead of him, in pairs, to all the towns and places he was to visit. He said to them, ‘The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest. Start now, but remember, I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Carry no purse, no haversack, no sandals. Salute no one on the road. Whatever house you go into, let your first words be, “Peace to this house!

 

Here, Jesus gave us the nature and requirements for carrying out his missionary mandate successfully. So, to continue this great mission he invites his disciples and sends them out, commanding them to see themselves as someone who gives freely of the good they have received from God. Hence, we should offer to others what they have received from God, knowing that it has cost them nothing.

 

We must live a life of detachment that is, in this mission, we are to depend totally on God's providence. Unfortunately, many of the disciples have to face rejection and persecution from people, who through their rebellious attitude have refused to believe in God and are hostile to his message and mission. God has always been so patient, loving, caring and forgiving us. For people of this dispersion, we are like sheep among wolves.

 

This rebellious attitude of the human person is what brought about the capture and exile of the people of Israel, having gained their freedom, they decided to hear and meditate on the word and laws of God, which when the word was read and interpreted they mourned, but Ezra said to all the people, ‘This day is sacred to the Lord your God. Do not be mournful, do not weep.’ For the people were all in tears as they listened to the words of the Law.

 

Dear friends, the Lord is sending us as sheep among the wolves of this world. How are we responding to this mission? What is our attitude towards the missionary mandate of Christ? How has the Word of God shaped our lives? Have you ever shed tears after listening to the word of God? As disciples of Christ, we have received a lot from God without payment; we should learn to give without expecting a reward.

 

Today, God is 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. So, we must offer to others these same gifts which we have received.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, today you gave us the requirements and nature of our missionary mandate. Help us to effectively follow these requirements, we ask this through Christ our Lord Amen. God bless you.

Homily For Wednesday Twenty-Sixth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 4th October, 2023. The Memorial of St. Francis of Assisi

Readings:  Neh.2:1-8; Ps. 137, Luke 9:57-62

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

RESPONDING TO OUR VOCATION WITHOUT MAKING EXCUSES

 

The path to success is so rigorous, strenuous and competitive. The strong pass through it and are celebrated, while the weak will always quit or give up. Hence, a lot of people have not been able to achieve their goal in life because, always they have excuses to give. Oftentimes we hear such people saying I want to do this but.., I could have done it but..., I thought of it but… I was almost there but...

 

This kind of attitude is what Jesus is addressing in our Gospel passage today, when he said to someone, ‘Follow me’, the man replied, ‘Let me go and bury my father first.’ But he answered, ‘Leave the dead to bury their dead; your duty is to go and spread the news of the kingdom of God.’ Than another said, ‘I will follow you, sir, but first let me go and say goodbye to my people at home.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Once the hand is laid on the plough, no one who looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.

 

Here, Jesus is emphasizing that following him requires a life of total self-denial and the man who requested to follow Jesus had not reflect thoroughly what following Jesus would entail. So Jesus made it clear that following him would mean giving up many of the personal comforts that he enjoyed and perhaps took for granted.

 

However, it may seems that the Lord Jesus was very harsh when he said that those who have chosen to follow him and looked back were not fit for the kingdom of God or that those who died ought to be left on their own to be buried. This is not the case here, rather Jesus is emphasizing that to be his follower requires serious commitment and sacrifices at  all times.

 

And this is what we see in the life St. Francis of Assisi, whose memorial we celebrate today. He was known for his deep spirituality towards listening to the Word of God and his humble act of charity to the poor and needy. He once said we must not be wise and prudent according to the flesh. Rather we must be simple, humble, pure and never desire to be over others.

 

Dear friends, what excuses are you giving for refusing to follow the call of the Lord? Do you not know that for us to succeed in life and also make it to heaven, we need to pass through some rigorous steps and stop making excuses? Sometimes the rigorousness of the paths may seem difficult and impossible but at the end they form the experience that will propel us to success and sustain us as well.  So as we journey through the rigorous path of success in our mission and vocations, let us be encouraged by the life of St. Francis of Assisi, knowing that none of our sacrifices and contribution in the mission of Christ and his Church will be in vain.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, teach us how to faithfully embrace our vocation and mission in life without making excuses. May we be ever more nourished by your word and find in it the fount of grace to journey the path of life, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed day.

Homily For Tuesday Twenty-Sixth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 3rd October, 2023. The Memorial of St. Therese of the Child Jesus

Readings: Zec.8:20-23; Ps.87; Luke 9:51-56

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

HOW TO DEAL WITH STRONG OPPOSITIONS OF LIFE

 

Oftentimes when we find ourselves in difficult situations caused by our opponent, the first instinct that comes to our minds is to do away with the opponent and ensure that he or she does not exist anymore. Sometimes we feel like crushing anything that stands on the way towards our goal, especially when we think that we have the power and authority do so.

 

This is the disposition of James and John in our Gospel passage today when they said to Jesus: ‘Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to burn them up?’ This is because the people of Samaritan village will not let Jesus and his disciples past through their town to Jerusalem. For opposing them the two disciples felt that they should be consumed by fire. But Jesus turned and rebuked his disciples, and then went off to another village.

 

Here, Jesus is showing us how to deal with opposition of life. For in life we must surely encounter oppositions, but what makes a difference is how we deal with it. In the Gospel the two disciples of Jesus feels that the best way to deal with such opposition is by calling down fire on the opponent, just like most of us will have done if we have the power and authority to do so.

 

However, this is not the same with Jesus, who though had the absolute power and authority to command fire to consume anything he wishes, but in this case, he chooses to flee from the problem not because he was a coward, no, but rather because he hoped to experience peace and teach us that sometimes the best way to deal with opposition in life is to walk away.

 

This does not mean that he was weak, rather he wants us to understand that a change of location does not make us weak or remove our enemies, it only changes where the battle takes place. And for Jesus, the battlefield is not the Samaritan territory, but the heart of the human person who occupied the territory. Perhaps, Jesus did not come to destroy the people, if he had come for that purpose, he would have destroyed these Samaritans; but he came to save.

 

And so he bears patiently the ignorance of the opposition and we too must learn to do the same, just as we heard prophet Zechariah in our first reading saying: there will be other peoples yet, and citizens of great cities. And the inhabitants of one city will go to the next and say, “Come, let us go and entreat the favour of the Lord, and seek the Lord of Hosts. This is what we see in the life of St. Therese of the Child Jesus whose memorial we celebrate today.

 

Dear friends, we must learn from Jesus how to walk away from opposition for the sake of peace. We should not be like James and John wanting to destroy those who opposed us. Rather we must learn to acquire the spirit of the Lord Jesus; temper our zeal like his; and seek to bear patiently with those who stand in our way. Let us seek peace, let us be patient and forgiving. Let us not allow the feeling of revenge to consume us into hurting those with whom we feel we cannot resolve our differences. Let us learn to identify what makes the real battle life and then change the battleground for victory.

 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, every day we encounter oppositions that we feel like crushing and eliminating. Through the intercession St. Therese, helps us to learn from Jesus how to deal with opposition patiently for the sake of peace and harmony in our societies. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful day.

Homily For Monday Twenty-Sixth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 2nd October, 2023. The Memorial of The Holy Guardian Angeles

Readings: Zec.8:1-8; Ps.102; Matt.18:1-5.10

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

CELEBRATING THE HOLY GUARDIAN ANGELES

 

As humans, we often experience some level of favour, providence and protection which we do not expect. Sometimes we wonder how we managed to escape some dangerous actions on our way or what has inspired and sustained us in doing great works. The answer to this question is found in the memorial we are celebrating today, that is, our Holy Guardian Angels whom God had set before us, to be our guide and protector in our constant struggle against war that rages in our souls. In these angels, we celebrate God’s loving care for every one of us, for God sends them to guide and protect us. They are higher beings than us but God put them at our service.

 

The angels have one goal in mind which is the glorification of God, which for our sake consists in our salvation and sanctification. They are prepared to do anything in order to procure our salvation and increase our sanctification. So, angels do protect us physically but more than that, they protect us more spiritually, especially by guiding and protecting our souls from the danger of sin and condemnation.

 

They do this by putting in us a holy fear, or contempt for those evil we know we should avoid. They enlighten our minds in order to help us to know the good we ought to do and the evil we are to avoid, this they do by acting upon the sensible part of our souls, our emotions and sentiments and so inspire us with joy, peace and favour of God. For God communicates his message to us through their mediation.

 

Thus, in our Gospel passage today, Jesus tells us to be humble like little children in following the directives of our Guardian Angels. He also warned us from misleading the little children in their faith or harming them, for their Angels in heaven are constantly interceding for them. Little wonder, in our first reading we heard the Lord saying:  I am going to save my people from the countries of the East and the countries of the West. I will bring them back to live in Jerusalem. They shall be my people and I will be their God in faithfulness and integrity.’

 

Dear friends, God has always provided for us and protected us. He often sends his Angels before us. All we have to do is trust in the Lord and follow the directives that our Guardian Angels had proposed for us. Because they are always before God interceding and praying constantly for us. They often speak to us and communicate the message of God to us, but we are often too busy and distracted by the noisy things of this passing world, which the devil has been using to lead us astray. We can not give in to his schemes if we remain faithful and attentive to our Holy Guardian Angels.

 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of our Guardian Angels, today we ask that through their intercession may we always find favour in your sight and before men, and always be defended by their protection and rejoice eternally in their company as we say: Angel of God, our guardian dear, to whom God’s love commits us here. Ever this day be at our side, to light and guard, to rule and guide. Amen. Do have a fruitful week.