Homily For Sunday The Octave of Christmas. Happy New Year 1st January, 2024

The Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God. And World Day Of Peace

Readings: Num 6:22-27, Ps 67, Gal. 4:4-7, Luke 2:16-21

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS AND PURPOSES THIS YEAR?

 

It is a New Year 2024, so we join the whole human race in celebrating the goodness of God who has made it possible for us to witness another New Year. So, we thank God. To portray the significance of this day the Holy Mother Church celebrates three great events. First, the Church joins the whole human race to celebrate the New Year, another gift of God to humanity.

 

Secondly, since this great gift comes as we are celebrating the birthday of our Lord Jesus, the Church reflecting on the role of Mary in the whole event of this season, dedicated today as the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God. Thirdly, following the ugly situation of war and crises in which humanity has found herself, Pope Paul VI chose and encouraged us to celebrate every 1st day of January as the World Day of Peace. 

 

So we are called to pray for peace in our world and also commit our plans and purposes to God this year knowing that every year is a gift of God to humanity. We journey through it in hope, full of expectations, favour, grace and blessing just like Mary whom God in time endowed with the great responsibility of becoming the Mother of his Son Jesus Christ, thereby sharing greatly in the universal plan of God for humanity.

 

Therefore, following the role of Mary in God’s plan for our salvation, the Church ascribes some special prerogatives or privileges to her. These prerogatives concern what the Faith of the Church affirms in connection with the Blessed Virgin Mary. They include her immaculate conception, her perpetual virginity, the assumption of Mary and the title Mary, the Holy Mother of God (Theotokos), which is the foundation of other prerogatives. The solemnity of this prerogative is what we are celebrating today which shows her special role in the universal plan of God, of which our Gospel passage today gave us some details of how she cooperated with the will of God and treasured all the things that happened to her and pondered them in her heart.

 

This tells us that our success in life is determined by our disposition towards doing the will of God. Hence, we have to identify our plans and purposes this year with the universal plan of God for humanity. But how can we identify the plan of God for us? Very simple, we were told in the Gospel of John 2:1-11, how the wedding couple invited Jesus and his disciples on the most important day of their lives. When an embarrassing moment came up during the celebration, Mary in her usual way of helping people asked Jesus to save the couple from social embarrassment and even when her request was not granted by her son, she had strong faith that he would not refuse her request. So she said to the servants: “ Do whatever he tells you”

 

By this request, Mary who represents the Church reveals to us the key to a successful and happy Christian Life and the key to the success of whatever we have set out to achieve this year. That is to say that, the secret key that opens the treasure of a successful and happy Christian life is to do whatever he (Jesus) tells us. But what did Jesus say we should do?

 

Here, Jesus told the servants: Fill, Draw and Serve. Telling us to fill our lives with the water of salvation which he offers us every day through His words and Eucharist and when we have filled our lives with the fountain of his presence, then we should draw from the joy it offers and serve humanity who are really in need and thirsty for the word of God especially at this moment in our world when humanity really hope and seek for God’s intervention in families and societies.

 

Dear friends, let this principle guide all our activities this year for that is how to identify our plans and purposes with the will of God. So, we must learn to fill our minds with positive things so that we can draw from the abundance of our hearts and serve humanity. Meanwhile, we must know that whatever healthy seed you water grows and the seed you quit watering will eventually die and go away. But the question is, what kind of seed are you going to be watering in your life this year? Are you going to be watering valuable seeds or weeds?

 

Friends, nature has made it clear that not all the seeds are good for us and so any unwanted seed is a potential weed. Then, the question you need to ask yourself is: are you watering weeds that you do not need? There are so many weeds in our lives that can stand as obstacles such as weeds of fear, regrets, doubt, jealousy, hatred, disrespect, greediness, lying, gossip, impurity, wickedness, procrastination etc they are good for nothing.

 

Today we are called to quit watering these weeds because that's what the enemies want and we must not fall into their traps. Rather we are called to water those valuable mustard seeds of goodwill, honesty, faithfulness, love, holiness, obedience, and charity and make them our values of life. For when you feed and water your value, your value will grow stronger like the mustard tree that all the people of the world may find solace in it.

 

 As we begin this year with the Lord, know that the transcendent power and authority belong to God. Yes, we may be affiliated in every way, but never be crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed. For the Lord holds us in his hands. Let us also hold him closely by surrendering our plans and purposes in his care and direction.

 

Therefore, this year, we all are called to identify our plans and purposes with the universal plan of God. We are called to serve in any capacity we find ourselves, bearing in mind that one should not strive to be a leader but a servant because leadership is a gift given to one by God. Remember, you don't have to be great to get started but you have to get started in order to be great this year. All we need is to ask God to fill us with wisdom and show us what we can offer to humanity this New Year in accordance with his plan, for by so doing we will be successful in all we do this year.

 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, we thank you for the gift of another New Year, grant that through the intercession of our Mother Mary, may we find strength to do your will always, especially in all our daily struggles. May your grace and favour be with us even to the last hour of this new year. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen. Happy New Year.

Homily For Sunday Within The Octave of Christmas, 31st December, 2023. The Feast of the Holy Family of Nazareth, Year B

Readings: Genesis 15:1-6,21:1-3, Ps 105, Heb. 11:8,11-12,17-19, Luke 2:22-40

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

FAMILY: A DOMESTIC CHURCH AND THE NUCLEUS OF EVERY HUMAN SOCIETY

 

Every last Sunday of the year that falls within the octave of Christmas the Church celebrates the Feast of the Holy Family of Nazareth as a way of addressing with joy all the families of the world, wishing them the peace and love that Jesus brought among us at Christmas. Family as we know is the nucleus of life and the seed of every human society. It is a domestic church, a place of faith, a place of prayer and a place of loving concern for the good of one another.

 

Little wonder the Lord Jesus was born and grew up in a human family. In this way, he consecrated the family as the first and ordinary place of his encounter with humanity. Jesus was born in a stable and had a manger as his first home, but the love of Mary and Joseph made him feel the tenderness and beauty of being loved. Children need this kind of love from their father and mother. It is this that gives them security and, as they grow, enables them to discover the meaning of life.

 

The Holy Family of Nazareth went through many trials, beginning from the event of the annunciation, the birth of Jesus, the presentation at the temple as we have in the Gospel passage today, the flight to Egypt, the massacre of the innocents, the finding of Jesus at the temple, and so on. Telling us that whatever we are passing through as a family, we can draw strength and grace from the Holy Family, who trusting in divine providence found their stability, and guaranteed Jesus a serene childhood and a sound upbringing.

 

Thus, our first reading talks about the relationships in the family, thereby reminding us how Abraham our father struggled with his family in doing the will of God. He patiently waited for God’s promise to be fulfilled. And in our second reading, we heard how demand was made of him and his family to do the will of God at different stages of their lives. This they carried out in faith and trust in God’s providence as they uphold their family values.

 

To understand this St. Paul in his Col. 3:12-21 said: As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

 

He continues: Wives he said, submit yourselves to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord.  Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged.  So today, demand is made of us and our families, to do the will of God at different stages of our lives and so ensure the peaceful existence of our families.

 

Dear friends, today we are reminded that family is a domestic church and the nucleus of every human society. This is important because in our societies today, family life and values are no longer guaranteed, as the powerful influence of secularism and materialism are fast destroying all the great values and virtues that sustain the family and society.

 

Today the only hope we have is the family and our religious practices which are under serious threat as they stand against the agenda of the secular world. Thus, we must uphold our family values and practices, with fraternal love and correction as the hallmark of sustaining our Christian virtues and values in the family and community.

 

Also, we must hold on to the virtues and practice of our faith and not give in to the pressure of secularism and materialism. Let the Holy Family of Jesus be a model for us to follow. And as we struggle to build a holy and lovely family, let us entrust all families to Our Lady and St Joseph, so that we do not lose heart in the face of trials and difficulties, but always cultivate a conjugal love and devote ourselves with trust to the service and protection of life which is a product of the family.

 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, a lot of families in our world today are struggling to survive as a result of secularism and materialism, which has taken away the sacrificial love that sustains the family. As we celebrate the feast of the Holy Family, may you restore all the families of the world with your love and peace. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.  Wishing you a joyful and glorious end-of-the-year celebration.

Homily For Saturday The Sixth Day Within The Octave of Christmas, 30th December, 2023

Readings: 1 John 2:12-17, Ps 96, Luke:2:36-40

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

COME ENCOUNTER THE LORD JESUS AT THE TEMPLE JUST LIKE ANNA

 

It’s always the desire of humanity to have the experience of God especially when we are passing through difficult situations. This had always been the desire and disposition of the people of Israel as they awaited the coming of the Messiah as prophesied by the prophets. Hence, our Gospel passage today presents to us the experience of Anna with Jesus at the temple.

 

Anna was a deeply spiritual person who spent her working hours in the Temple, praying and fasting. She came on the scene just as Jesus and his parents were in the Temple. She, too, must have realized the true identity of the Child and gave thanks to God. She then began to speak about Jesus to everyone, especially those awaiting the redemption of Jerusalem.

 

This passage says much about our experience with the divine, showing that our social status is of no consequence in our relationship with God. If we want to be close to God, we have to make prayer a very important part of our lives. In prayer, we come to know Jesus and to love God more and once we truly come to know Jesus, we cannot keep it to ourselves but must share the experience with the people around us, especially those who are looking for some meaning in their lives, just like Anna in the Gospel.

 

 Little wonder St. John in our first reading admonished us to embrace the love God is offering us through his Son Jesus and not give in to the love of this passing world, because, the love of God cannot be in any man who loves the world. For the world has nothing to offer us except the pleasure of the sensual body, the lustful eye, pride of sin and greed which finally lead us to destruction.

 

Dear friends, what is our relationship with God like as regards the things of this passing world? How have we personally experienced the Lord Jesus who has been born for us? How have we been able to share our experience of God with others? If we have not experienced the Lord personally in our lives, the right time to do that is now. But we need to ask ourselves what is our disposition towards prayers and pleasurable things of this passing world. To experience the Lord, we must love him above all other things and truly desire to encounter him just like Anna.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are living in a world where materialism and pleasurable things are seriously distracting us from experiencing your presence in our midst, help us to conquer our inordinate desire for the things of this world in order to embrace the heavenly things. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. As the year comes to an end, may the joy, favour and grace of God lead us into the new year.

Homily For Friday The Fifth Day Within The Octave of Christmas, 29th December, 2023

Readings: 1 John 2:3-11, Ps 96, Luke:2:22-35

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

DESTINED FOR THE FALL AND RISE OF MANY

 

Following the tradition of purification as laid down by the law of Moses, the parents of Jesus came to the temple to present him to the Lord. This is what we have in our Gospel passage today. Where St Luke explained that Mary and Joseph wished to fulfil all the prescriptions of the law in order to emphasize that Jesus was born into a family of simple people, lowly but steadfast in faith: a family that belonged to the poor ones of Israel the true People of God.

 

It is important to note that the purpose of this event among the Jews is for the purification of the mother and the redemption of the son, which shows the act of offering the Son of the Most High to the Father who sent him. This same child Jesus, who is immediately presented in the Temple, is the same person who, as an adult, would purify the Temple (cf. Jn 2:13-22).

 

Above all, he would make himself the sacrifice and the High Priest of the new Covenant. For which he will suffer greatly as prophecy by Simeon in our Gospel concerning both the Child Jesus and Mary the Mother saying: “Behold, this Child is set for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign that is spoken against, a sword will pierce through your soul also that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

 

Thus, this prophecy is pointing out the salvation which Jesus will bring to his people, that which he embodies in himself, as he passed through the Cross, the violent death by which he was to vanquish death and transform humanity with the sacrifice of his life through love. Hence, he has become the true Light of the world of which Simeon proclaimed as a revelation, that Jesus was to be the High Priest of all, who is to redeem all mankind from their sins.

 

By so doing he becomes the true light that enlightens every man who is born into this world the Light that brings down evil and raises those of many virtues. Thus, St. John in our first reading tells us that the night is over and the real light is already shining. And anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the dark. But anyone who loves his brother is living in the light and need not be afraid of stumbling.

 

Dear friends, today, as we encounter Christ the true Light of the world is presented at the temple, destined for the fall and rise of many. So, let us of course, allow ourselves to be enlightened and made radiant by this light. Let us share in its splendour, and be filled with its radiance so that no one remains in the darkness. Let us bring him into our families and homes, so that by sharing in his light we may be brought out of the darkness of hatred, envy greed and jealousy that covers our lives as individuals, families, communities, societies, countries and the world at large.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, the world is seriously in the darkness of deep confusion and we need the light of your presence. As we celebrate the birth of your Son and his presentation at the temple, may we be enlightened and so overcome the darkness of this sinful world? We ask this through Christ our Lord. Do have a fruitful day.

Homily For Thursday The Octave of Christmas, 28th December, 2023

The Feast of The Holy Innocents

Readings: 1 John 1:5-2:2, Ps 124, Matt.2:13-18

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

WHY KILL THE INNOCENTS OVER YOUR SELFISH AMBITION?

 

As we continue the celebration of the birth of Christ, the Church today, calls our attention to one of the ugly events that occurred in Bethlehem as a result of King Herod's love of power and fear of losing his power to the newborn baby our Lord Jesus Christ. So out of envy, pride and greed, he ordered the killing of all the male children from two years down. The Greek Liturgy states that Herod killed 14,000 boys, the Syrians speak of 64,000, and many medieval authors also suggested 144,000, according to the book of Revelation 14:3. However, modern writers reduce the number since Bethlehem was a rather small town.

 

 Nevertheless, this ugly event illustrates our ugly attitude towards human life, showing us that every human life begins with birth and ends with death.  See how the presence of the baby Jesus made the King of this world tremble, frenzy, mad with rage that he ordered the killing of innocent children. No pity for sorrowing mothers, no sympathy for weeping fathers, no compassion for the crying voice of the little innocent. Just as we heard in our Gospel passage: a voice crying in Ramah, sobbing and loudly lamenting: it was Rachel weeping for her children because they were no more. They were slaughtered out of fear for the Prince of Life.

 

Dear friends, this outrageous event is still happening in our societies today. For how often do we kill the innocents out of our selfish ambitions? Is this not obvious when we see and hear what people do for the sake of obtaining powers and retaining them? When we engaged in all forms of atrocities just for the sake of our political and other ambitions? We are not far from Herod when we kill people because of position, power and comfort.

 

We are the same as Herod when we prevent others from living out their potential. We are not far from Herod when we kill the young fetus through abortion and every other means of terminating pregnancy. We are like Herod when we refuse to submit to the will of God out of pride. We are like Herod when we let envy, jealousy and greed get hold of us and blindfold us into doing evil against other people.

 

Therefore, we are called today to reflect on our ugly attitude towards people, especially children, we are called not to be like Herod who out of fear, envy and love of power seeks to murder Life itself, rather we are called to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience and truth in following the will of God.

 

Little wonder, St. John in our first reading today said: If we say that we are in union with God while we are living in darkness, we are lying because we are not living the truth. But if we live our lives in the light, as he is in the light, we are in union with one another, and the blood of Jesus purifies us from all sin. However, if we say we have no sin in us, we are deceiving ourselves and refusing to admit the truth; But if we acknowledge our sins, then God who is faithful and just will forgive our sins and purify us From everything wrong.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we reflect on the life and death of the Holy Innocents, grant us the grace to embrace your will over our worldly ambitions. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. As the year comes to an end, hope in the Lord, be faithful, and be steadfast for you are so special to the Lord. Do have a fruitful day.

Homily For Wednesday in The Octave of Christmas, 27th December, 2023. The Feast of St John the Apostle and Evangelist

Readings: 1 John 1:1-4; Ps 97; John 20:2-8

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

THAT LIFE WAS MADE VISIBLE SO THAT YOU JOY WILL BE COMPLETE

 

As we continue the octave of Christmas, today the Church celebrates the Feast of St John the Apostle and Evangelist. St. John as we know is one of the Twelve Apostles one of the three inner circles of Jesus Christ and no doubt one of the four great Evangelists of the Church. As one of the three inner circles of our Lord, John together with St. Peter and St. James his brother were often brought to the most important events in the ministry of our Lord Jesus Christ.

 

St. John as we know was present in great events such as the resurrection of the synagogue official’s dead daughter, the Transfiguration of the Lord at Mount Tabor, and also at the agony of the Lord at the Gardens of Gethsemane before the time of the Lord’s Passion. He witnessed the great works and miracles of Jesus.

 

We will recall that St. John was one of those who remained and followed the Lord at the moments of his Passion, suffering and death on the Cross. He also remained with Mary at the foot of the cross and it was John that the Lord Jesus entrusted Mary his Mother, and also John to Mary as well. This no doubt shows the important role St. John played in the life and mission of the Lord Jesus.

 

The fruit of this great privilege is evident in the missionary activities of St. John. For he spent all his life in spreading the truth of God all over the world. He also wrote several letters and Epistles and the fourth Gospel is attributed to him. He also received the great vision of the end time event when he was in exile as a result of the persecution of Christians, this vision he recorded in the book of Revelations as we have it today.

 

So today as we celebrate the Feast of this great Apostle, we heard the readings of his first letter and his Gospel passage. In this letter, as we have it in our first reading today, St John wrote about Christ the Word of Life that has come into this world. Concerning this Word he said: this is what we have heard from him, and the message that we are announcing to you: that God is light; there is no darkness in him at all. If we say that we are in union with God while we are living in darkness, we are lying because we are not living the truth. It is this Word of truth that we are celebrating this Christmas.

 

However, this Christmas celebration will not be complete if we do not let the Lord be born in our hearts or if we do not have a personal experience of the Lord Jesus in our lives such as the one we heard in our Gospel passage today. Here, we were told about the personal experience of John and Peter, who having heard about the resurrection of the Lord, ran towards the empty tomb with open hearts to encounter Christ, who had died and is risen in order to save us and remove from our hearts the guilty of sin and death, so that we can embrace his divine and eternal life.

 

Dear friends, this is the fundamental core of our Christian faith; this is the victory that transforms us and unites us with our Lord. Hence, if Jesus who was born for us, was crucified died buried risen, and is alive, who will ever be able to separate us from him? Who will ever be able to deprive us of the love of him who has conquered hatred and overcomes death?

 

Friends, I don't know what has been your experience in this world, especially this Christmas season. I don't know how you woke up today. I don't know what troubles you mind? But all I know is that today is another gift of God to humanity, a day of joy, a day of victory. I am excited, and hopeful and am going to live it with all joy, not trying to change things that I could not be able to change or try to fix things that do not want to be fixed.

 

I will not let the ugly situation in our world today or any ugly event of the past distract me today or steal my joy. I will focus on the blessings that comes with the joy of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. I will follow the directives of the Lord, for his ways are right and the upright walk in them, but the transgressors stumble in them. Thus, let us proclaim the message of this season and spread it throughout the world with the joyful song of this Holy Season.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we celebrate the great event of Christmas, may your joy fill our hearts and through the intercessions of St John, may we spread this joy all over the world especially to people and places where this joy is lacking. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed day.

Homily For Tuesday in The Octave of Christmas, 26th December, 2023 The Feast of Stephen, the First Martyr

Readings : Act 6:8-10;7:54-59; Ps 31; Matt.10:17-22

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

LORD LET YOUR SPIRIT SPEAK IN US JUST LIKE ST. STEPHEN

Everyday God makes himself present to us, but we often ignore him or pretend we do not perceive his presence. The truth is that in each heart, there is a secret garden which God has made uniquely for himself and that garden is our conscience. This garden is like a safety deposit vault which has two keys, God has one key, hence the soul cannot let in anyone else but God. The human heart has the other key, which no one can get in without his/her consent. However, God is always at the gate of this garden with his key but we often pretend to be looking for ours.

 

This is the ugly attitude of humanity which is well illustrated by the people who seek to kill Stephen as we have it in our first reading today. For Stephen was filled with grace and power and began to work miracles and great signs among the people. But certain people came forward to debate with him. As they could not get the better of him because of his wisdom. They were infuriated and planned to kill him. Nevertheless, Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at God’s right hand. This he witnessed before them, but they stoned him to death.

 

Dear friends, today we celebrate the feast of St. Stephen the first martyr who opened completely the door of his heart and finding God, he witnessed with his life and goes up triumphantly to heaven. We are called today to open up our minds and hearts for God to fill us with the grace and power of witnessing to the Good News of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are called not to be afraid to bear witness.  For we may be dragged before governors and kings for the sake of the Gospel, we should not worry about how to speak or what to say; for what we are to say will be given to us when the time comes, as Jesus promised us in our Gospel passage today.

 

LET US PRAY:  Heavenly Father, as we open up our minds and hearts for your words to reign in us. Grant us the grace and courage to bear witness to the Gospel and through the intercession of St Stephen, may we find you in daily events of our lives. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a fruitful week.