Homily For Wednesday Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time Year A 14th November, 2023

Readings: Wis. 6:1-11; Ps.82; Luke:17:11-19

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

LEARN TO SHOW GRATITUDE TO GOD

 

In the scriptures and even in our daily lives the compassionate love of Jesus in solidarity with human suffering is so evident. Little wonder, we have great events in the scriptures that illustrate the compassionate concern of Jesus in the struggles of humanity and how he wishes to set us free from the shackles of all our troubles. But how often do we show gratitude for such great love?

 

 This is evident in the occasion of our Gospel passage today, where we come to the story of Jesus’ encounter with the ten lepers. Ten of them were cured, but only one who was a foreigner among them came back to thank Jesus. From this man’s gratitude, Jesus made a comment on human ingratitude when he asked “Was there no one to return and give thanks to God except this foreigner?”

 

The problem is that we don’t always remember that the ultimate source of our graces and gifts is God. That is what makes the Samaritan leper special, and distinguishes him from the other nine because he realized that God is the source of his healing. Unfortunately, God’s greatest gifts, which are our life and health, and our ability to think and achieve great things are often taken for granted by most of us. More so, the story of these lepers is a good example of how we sinners can and should appeal to Jesus for cleansing, especially from our sins. We should come in faith knowing that God is always willing to cleanse every sinner who comes to Him.

 

So, let us sincerely turn to God once again with all of our hearts and with all of our strength, just like the lepers who came to Jesus with faith, knowing that he could heal them and make them better. This is what all of us must have as well, a strong and genuine faith. Today may be our great opportunity to be restored and what is needed is to put our faith into action and say, Jesus! Master! Have mercy on us.

 

Dear friends, I don’t know what type of leprocious problems you are passing through? Are you weigh down by sin or sickness? Are you feeling helpless and rejected?  Or do I know people who are helpless and need some help? Do I feel the need of Jesus’s help in some part of my life? Let us pause for a moment and imagine Jesus looking at us. How does he sees us? What are you saying to him and what is he saying to you? Jesus wishes to set us free from sickness, troubles challenges and manipulations of the evil ones. He desires to be with us as we struggle every day to overcome the challenges in our families, society and the world at large. Therefore, we should not be afraid to approach Jesus for healing and restoration, all we need is an active faith and a heart of gratitude like the leper in our Gospel passage today.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, you know our innermost being and the challenges we are struggling with, come to our aid we pray and cleanse us from all our physical, emotional and spiritual leprosy as we thank you for all you have done for us, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Peace be with you.

Homily For Tuesday Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 14th November, 2023

Readings: Wis. 2:23-3:9; Ps.34; Luke:17:7-10

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

ARE YOU THAT HUMBLE AND FAITHFUL SERVANT OF GOD?

 

In our society today, the rate people seek rewards for what they have done and some even for what they have not done is quite disturbing. Today it is difficult for people to do things without looking for what they will gain from it. In fact, it takes courage to trust people even when they extend their hands of generosity to others because we often think that they have some interior motives behind the generosity. But this should not be our attitude as disciples of Christ.

 

Little wonder in our Gospel passage today, Jesus in the parable of a dutiful servant corrects some of the wrong thinking and notions about being a disciple and teaches us what our true place and disposition should be. In the parable, Jesus compared our relationship with God to that of a master and his servant. Where the servant had a duty to serve his master well and to do what he had been told to do without seeking any compliments. Because the master has no obligation to congratulate or please the servant.

 

Therefore, this tells us that we are “unworthy servants” before our Worthy and righteous God who loves us even in our unworthiness. So disciples should not seek reward for their good deeds. For our obedience to God is required by the very nature of who God is and not something to boast about or seek a reward for, since our obedience to him is that of a son or daughter to a loving Father. Little wonder St. Paul in our first reading made us know that God made man imperishable, he made him in the image of his nature; it was the devil’s envy that brought death into the world, as those who are his partners will discover. But the souls of the virtuous are in the hands of God, no torment shall ever touch them.

 

Dear friends, today we are reminded that following Jesus requires being a humble and faithful servant of God. Hence, we should do all our good works in humility without any strange attachment. We should do what we can to help others we meet on our way for no reason other than to help for the seek of helping. Therefore, as a faithful servants, all that is required is for us to act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly before God without seeking any reward for that is what we are called to do. Remember that everything that happens to us, whether prosperous or adverse, comes from God so that you neither become puffed up in prosperity nor discouraged in adversity. Thus, in anything you do avoid evil, do good, and seek peace.

 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, teach us how to be a humble and faithful servant, even when it is difficult. Grant us the grace to be faithful and humble servants at any level we find ourselves without seeking rewards. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen  Do have a faithful day.

Homily For Monday Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 13th November, 2023

Readings: Wis. 1:1-7; Ps.139; Luke 17:1-6

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

FORGIVE AS FRATERNAL CORRECTION

 

The fragile nature of the human person has made it clear that we are not perfect, as we are likely to offend one another in any relationship we find ourselves. As a result of this, there is a need for us to learn how to accommodate one another’s imperfections. But one of the major challenges we face in most relationships today is the ability to properly accommodate and correct one another especially when one is straying from the norms set up for the good of the relationship.

 

This is what Jesus is addressing in our Gospel passage today, for he gave us the practical steps we need to follow in order to correct and reconcile with one another so as to build a stronger relationship when he said,  be on your guard for when your brother does something wrong, reprove him and, if he is sorry, forgive him. And if he wrongs you seven times a day and seven times comes back to you and says, “I am sorry,” you must forgive him.’

 

Here, Jesus made us know that in fraternal correction we need to forgive in any relationship we find ourselves in, for we are responsible for one another’s welfare and these steps and stages give room for reconciliation and accommodation. So, fraternal correction must always be inspired by real charity which is one of the spiritual works of mercy. Though, this is never an easy task especially when one has to bear the sacrifice of forgiveness because forgiving a very grievous offence is one of the most difficult things to do.

 

However, forgiving a grievous offence is like recovering a lost treasure that contains: joy, peace, freedom, a healthy mind and healing. But how often do we seek to recover this lost treasure in our lives caused by unforgivingness? Hence Jesus today calls us to persistently seek reconciliation until we gain our brothers and sisters back whenever they have offended and separated from us. But if they refused to be reconciled we should pray for their conversion For in all our proceedings we should seek direction in prayer, knowing that God manifests his mercy when he transforms people and leads them to conversion.

This helps us to perceive forgiveness as a fraternal correction as Jesus teaches us and turns us from selfish and rebellious individuals into truly loving persons. For we are meant to watch over our neighbours.

 

Dear friends, it is our duty, obligation and responsibility to ensure in a fraternal charity that our fellow brothers and sisters, friends and neighbours, colleagues and collaborators are corrected and guided whenever they go astray. For every one of us has the responsibility to strengthen our relationship and be a good example for one another as we work the path towards our salvation. 

Therefore, mutual love and fraternal charity are the only ways and processes of fulfilling this obligation. Little wonder today we are told in our first reading to love virtue, you who are judges on earth, let honesty prompt your thinking about the Lord, let us seek him in the simplicity of heart.  For wisdom will never make its way into a crafty soul nor stay in a body that is in debt to sin; since the  Holy Spirit of instruction shuns deceit.

 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, we are rebellious and proud people, we lack the courage and disposition to correct and accept corrections, give us the grace and courage to correct one another in fraternal charity as we also learn to accept corrections when corrected. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed week.

Homily For Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A, 12th November, 2023

Readings: Wis 6:12-16, Ps.63, 1Thess 4:13-18, Matt. 25:1-13

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

THE FOOLISH AND THE WISE WHERE DO BELONG IN PREPARATION FOR GOD'S KINGDOM

 

Oftentimes, we say that preparation is the secret and foundation of every successful event. This is obvious when we observe how footballers, boxers, athletes, engineers, doctors farmers, businessmen and women devote time and energy in rigorous preparation towards achieving their goals. Then we will realise that adequate preparation is truly the heart of any successful event. But if we can go to this length of rigorous periods of preparation just for things of this passing world, it will be even more demanding when it has to do with preparing for eternal life.

 

Thus, if we can devote such time and energy towards our spiritual life which we often neglect, we will be more awake and prepared than the ten maidens in our Gospel passage today, who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish and five were sensible: the foolish ones did take their lamps, but they brought no oil, whereas the sensible ones took flasks of oil as well as their lamps. When the bridegroom delayed in coming their lamps burned out and as they went out to get more oil, they missed out since the door was shut after the bridegroom had passed.

 

In this parable, Jesus emphasized the need for us to be well prepared for the coming of God’s kingdom, warning us not to be like the foolish five maidens who were not well prepared and missed out when the bridegroom came because they ran short of oil. The oil here is so symbolic, as we know in the scriptures, oil is made from the seed of the olive tree, which symbolizes goodness, fruitfulness, purity and righteousness, these great viruses like oil sustain and fuel the light of our souls which shines in the world to enlighten the darkness around us.

 

Hence, these great virtues are what the wise maidens took as extra oil. While the foolish ones abandoned them. So as the coming was delayed, they all drowsed off, and when the time actually came, the foolish ones realized that they were not good enough. Their oil of goodness, purity, and righteousness had burned out, and their light had stopped burning, so they had nothing with which to replenish it. Thus, their contribution to the light of the world was no more, for they were fruitless.  They have become lazy and begin to do things that they are not supposed to be doing. So now that the time is ripped, they had nothing to keep their lamp burning for the bridegroom that was coming.

 

Dear friends, where do you belong in preparation for the Kingdom of God? If the Lord should come right now, will you belong to the foolish or the wise? The answer to these questions is important it helps us to know that our life as Christians demands that we should be alert, we should be prepared at all times and be ready to make sacrifices like the five wise maidens. Because so many people will be caught unprepared when they realize that the day of the Lord has finally come, and they have nothing to show to God for all the gifts he has given us. Little wonder we are told in our first reading to be wise for wisdom is found by those who seek her. And St. Paul in our second reading tells us about the need to be vigilant and prepared, we should not claim to be ignorant.

 

Therefore, we should be watchful for we know neither the day nor the hour when the Lord will call us. We are reminded today that this world is passing away, so we need to stay awake and be ready. We are called to abstain from things that will separate us from our God, as we look into our inner being, and our interior life in order to embrace the life of holiness, goodness, purity and self-control for they are the extra oil that will help us to be more prepared.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we often fail to listen to your warnings concerning the things of this passing world and the need for us to stay awake and be ready for your coming, give us the grace and wisdom to be well prepared and ready to stand before you whenever you call us. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.  Peace be with you and Happy Sunday.

Homily For Saturday Thirty-First Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 11th November, 2023. The Memorial of St. Martin of Tours

Readings: Romans: 16:3-9.16.22-27; Ps.145; Luke 16: 9-15

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

WHO CAN BE TRUSTED WITH THE THINGS OF THIS PASSING WORLD?

 

One of the difficult challenges people face as regards beginning and sustaining any meaningful in our society today is getting people who can be trusted or those who can trust us. Today, when we walk through the streets we observe how people are struggling with the things of this life because of a lack of trust, we can feel their passion, determination and willingness to achieve great things even in the midst of corruption and challenges of life. How I wish we could put such energy into working towards the things that edifice our soul. But the questions we need to ask ourselves are: can I be trusted with the smallest things in this passing world? How am I using the things of this world?

 

This is what Jesus is telling us in our Gospel passage today when he said; use money, tainted as it is, to win you friends, and thus make sure that when it fails you, they will welcome you into the tents of eternity. For the man who can be trusted in little things can be trusted in great; the man who is dishonest in little things will be dishonest in great. If then you cannot be trusted with money, that tainted thing, who will trust you with genuine riches? And if you cannot be trusted with what is not yours, who will give you what is your very own?

 

Here, we have the continuation of yesterday’s parable of the dishonest steward, which today Jesus explained its meaning and how it can be related to the lives of the people, telling us that we should be careful not to fall into the temptations of money and other worldly pleasures which are trying to lead us away from God and the salvation he has given us. Little wonder we heard St. Paul in our first reading saying: Glory to him who can give us the strength to live according to the Good News he preached in which he proclaimed Jesus Christ as the revelation of a mystery kept secret for endless ages, but now so clear that it must be broadcast to pagans everywhere to bring them to the obedience of faith.

Dear friends, today we are called to live a life of integrity. Every one of us is called to be good managers and custodians of whatever blessings and resources God has given us, for we are all reminded that we have been called to follow the Lord and to devote ourselves to Him wholeheartedly. Therefore, we must learn to be trusted and ensure that we manage whatever is entrusted to us, just like St. Martin of Tours whose memorial we celebrate today.

 

He was one of the early bishops of Tours in what is now southern France. He was truly dedicated in his service as the shepherd of his flock, dedicating his time and efforts to take care of the needs of his flock, in particular their spiritual needs. He was a champion of true faith amidst several heresies that were rampant at that time, protecting his flock from false teachings and helping to guide them down the right path, leading by example through his own virtuous life. We too can do the same.

 

 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, as we listened to your words today, may we not be carried away by the things of this passing world. Rather give us the grace to live a life of integrity and trust in order to develop our societies positively, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a grace-filled weekend.

Homily for Friday Thirty-First Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 5th November, 2023. The Memorial of St. Leo the Great

Readings: Romans 15:41-21; Ps.98; Luke 16: 1-8

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

LEARN TO SMARTLY USE THE THINGS OF THIS WORLD TO WIN YOUR SALVATION

 

The elements of good and bad seem inherent in the human person, little wonder the world involves both good and bad mixed together. This will help us to understand the reason for corruption, greediness, immoral and social decadence in our world today. But even in the midst of all these ugly situations, we are expected to be wise and smart in our deals with the things of this passing world.

 

Little wonder, in the Gospel passage today, Jesus tells us the parable of this dishonest steward who, having acted unjustly and having been exposed by his master, went to great lengths to make friends of his master’s debtors in order to secure his future. In this parable, Jesus is not telling us to be dishonest, but he wants us to know that we can learn even from this dishonest servant how to prudently use the things of this passing world to gain our salvation. Thus, Jesus points out that we too should be smart but not exactly like the dishonest steward, using dishonest wealth to exploit others as most rich people do today. No, instead we his disciples are to use our wealth to win souls for the kingdom and safeguard our own souls.

 

But more importantly, if we understand the principle that says that everything we own is a gift from God, then we will realize that God is the owner of everything and that we are His stewards. As such, we are to use the Master’s resources to further the Master’s work and not the contrary. In this context, we are told to be generous with our resources and use them for the safety of our souls and the growth of God’s kingdom. Little wonder St. Paul in our second reading says: my brothers, I am quite certain that you are full of good intentions, perfectly well instructed and able to advise each other.

 

Dear friends, today, we are called to examine our conscience to know where we are with regard to our vocation as Christians. How can we best harness the things entrusted to us so that they can be the source and midst of safeguarding our souls surrounded by sin, corruption and greediness? We are called today to be wise and smart, for if worldly-minded people can be smart in their dealings, we too should be smarter in our struggles for the salvation of humanity.

 

We should utilize the resources available to us and use them to secure our salvation, just like Pope St. Leo the Great whose memorial we celebrate today. For he showed us what it means to be a true and dedicated disciple of the Lord. As the Pope, he dedicated himself wholeheartedly to the well-being of his flock. He led the Church and the faithful through the most difficult moment, and was instrumental in strengthening the Church against the various heresies of his time, telling all Christians to recognize our dignity and remain faithful and commitment to the mission entrusted to them by Christ Jesus.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, in our struggles with the ugly situation in our societies today, through the intercession of St. Leo the Great us the grace and skills to manage the resources entrusted to us and use them properly for the salvation of humanity, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. It’s Friday, wishing you a fruitful day.

Homily For Thursday Thirty-First Week in Ordinary Time Year, 9th November, 2023. The Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica

Readings: Ez.47:1-2.8-9.12, Ps.46, 1Cor3:9-11.16-17, John 2:13-22

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

YOU ARE  A SACRED REALITY WHERE GOD DWELLS

 

Today in a special way the Church celebrate the feast of the dedication of St. John Lateran Basilica Rome. It is the Mother and head of all the Churches and a symbol of unity for all the Churches in the world with the Roman Church. This feast reminds us of our need to live in deep communion with the Pope, the successor of St. Peter, the rock on which Jesus built his Church on which our faith as Christians depends  However, we should never lose sight of the fact that it is the symbol of the true meeting point between man and God, and Jesus Christ who is the actual temple.

 

Little wonder Jesus in the Gospel passage today points to himself as the temple of God in the world, the one through whom God is present in the world.  Here, he is speaking of the Temple that was his body when he said to the Jews: destroy this Temple, and in three days I will raise it up. Thus, prophet Ezekiel in our first reading today prophesying about this Temple said: ‘Along the river, on either bank, will grow every kind of fruit tree with leaves that never wither and fruit that never fails; they will bear new fruit every month, because this water comes from the sanctuary. And their fruit will be good to eat and the leaves medicinal.’

 

While St. Paul in our second reading, emphasises that the Christian community, the body of Christ, is the place where God is to be truly present in the world. That the Church is a spiritual temple and each member of the Church is a temple of the Holy Spirit, a living expression of God’s loving presence in our world today. He said: ‘Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? If anybody should destroy the temple of God, God will destroy him, because the temple of God is sacred; and you are that temple'.

 

So today’s feast of dedication reminds us about our dedication to God by showing us the theological understanding of what Church dedication represents. It reminds us that the Church building is a sign of God’s worshipping community, pointing out that the people should be aware that the holiness of the building depends not on the “blessed stones”, but on the saving words proclaimed in it, the holy sacrifice offered there, the sacraments of salvation celebrate there and the presence of the Holy Spirit who dwells in the hearts of the faithful gathered in the Holy Assembly for worship. 

 

As temple of God, we are nourished in the Church with the Word of God, calling us to repentance and encouraging us in our daily struggles in life. In the Church, we receive the sacraments of initiation: baptism, and confirmation and are nourished by the Holy Eucharist. In the Church, we come to God with our burden of sin and sickness, and he heals us through the sacraments of reconciliation and anointing of the sick.

 

Also, in the Church, we receive God’s grace and blessings to serve him in different vocations and ministries through the sacraments of matrimony and Holy Orders. In the Church, our Lord Jesus Christ remains present with us in the Holy Eucharist present in the Tabernacle in the company of Our Blessed Mother Mary and All the Saints. And when we passed away from this world especially as temple of God, the Church accompany us through prayers to our heavenly temple where we will be united with the triumphant Church in the presence of God our Loving Father. 

 

Dear friends, now we can understand why St Paul says that our bodies are sacred temples of the Lord, this in fact is the heart of our own baptismal character, to become temples of God through whom God’s loving presence touches the lives of others. So, today we are reminded that we are sacred reality, where God dwells, which should not be profaned or used as may material object. Therefore, we must preserve our bodies from stains of sin and corruption. We must not let the pleasurable things of this passing world defile our bodies which by the virtue of our baptism have become a scared dwelling of the Holy Spirit. For this reason, we must unite together to build up the body of Christ which is his Church.

 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, as we celebrate the feast of the dedication of your Church, help us to realize that our bodies are the sacred temple of your dwelling presence and so preserve it always from the stains of sin and corruption. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Do have a fruitful day.