4^th Sunday of Lent, Year C (Laetare Sunday): Homily by Fr. Isaac Chima

Theme: I will rise and go back to the Father

Readings: Jos 5:9-12; I Cor 5:1-21; Lk 15:1-3.11-23

Today, the fourth Sunday of Lent, is called Laetare Sunday. It got this name from the entrance hymn of today’s liturgy, which is taken from Isaiah 66:10-11. It says, “Laetare Jerusalem”, meaning “Rejoice, O Jerusalem.” It continued, “Be joyful, all who were mourning; exult and be satisfied.” So, the church invites us in this middle of the Lenten season to rejoice, to express joy and hope because Christ will reconcile us to the Father through His death on the Cross.

It is on this note of joy in the Lord that the first reading of today gave us the account of the joyful celebration of the Passover by the people of Israel in the promised land after they have been rescued and liberated by God from all their enemies. Theirs’ was not a freedom or victory won by their hands and strength, but by God. Thus, they kept the fourteenth day of the month as a day of commemorating the great deeds of the Lord in their history.

The second reading of today concentrated on this theme of reconciliation with God: the reason why we have been told to rejoice today. It tells us that God reconciled us and the world to Himself through Christ, not counting our trespasses against us anymore. Having done this for us, God has now appointed us as ministers and ambassadors for Christ, entrusting us with the ministry of reconciling the rest of humanity to Himself. Therefore, dear friends, our old life of sin has passed away, and a new life has begun in us: the new life of Christ, the new life of holiness, of love, of peace, of charity, of kindness, and of service towards others.

Dear friends, St. Paul informs us that in Christ we have become a new creation. He, therefore, urges us to always get ourselves reconciled with God every day. This means that we should always seek the sacrament of penance as frequently as possible so that we will not have any stain of sin in us. Whenever we realize that we have fallen short of the glory of God, we are urged to run back to God’s friendship, grace and glory by going to confession so that we will continue to be a new creation in Christ.

The gospel reading presents us with the story of a son who fell short of the glory of his father and how he ran back to the glory of his father when he realized his sinful state. There are many actors in this parable. What each of the actors did can be wonderful lessons for us.

In the first place, we have the prodigal son who allowed himself to be led astray by his youthful exuberance, his ambitions and the influence of his friends. He wanted freedom without limit, enjoyment without limit, parties, and highlife without end. To get all these, he departed from the presence of his father because he felt that living in the presence of his father was a hindrance to his aspirations. In the same way, some people do not come to church/God’s presence because they think that identifying with Christianity will hinder them from living the kind of life that their hearts yearn for. Some youths also do not feel comfortable staying at home because they want absolute freedom, the kind of freedom to do whatever they want and whenever or wherever they want it.

It is good to note that as soon as the prodigal son left the presence of his father, his problem started: he started losing his life and his resources day by day because he had left where there was abundance. Dear friends, whenever we depart from the presence of God, we expose our lives to attacks from the devil and to a big loss. It is only in the presence of God that abundance and restoration are assured. In fact, it is good we know that whenever the devil wants to deal with someone, one of the first things he does is to pull that person out of the presence of God, because in God’s presence, protection is assured; the devil uses many tactics to draw that person away from God’s friendship and grace. The devil often does this by leading that person into sin. So, anytime we are facing temptations, it is good we realize that the devil is trying to pull us out of God’s grace and friendship in order to deal decisively with us. That was exactly what he did to the prodigal son. He pulled him out of his father’s presence, led him to a very distant land and dealt with him there.

When the prodigal son came back to his senses, after many years of suffering and want, he told himself that he would go back to his father and ask him for forgiveness and get reconciled with him again. This is what the church expects from each of us this Lent. Dear friends, let us depart from our sinful affairs, from our sinful relationships, from our sinful attitudes, from that place of sin and go back to our father through the sacrament of reconciliation and ask him for mercy.

In the case of the prodigal son, his father was already standing at the gate waiting for his return. In our case, God the Father opens his hands every day to embrace us and to cleanse us of our sins. We have a loving Father; therefore, let us cast away all shame and pride and go back to him. No matter the gravity of our sins, He will forgive them all. The father of the prodigal son forgave him and restored him to his former place of glory. God, our Father, will forgive us if we ask him for forgiveness, and he will also restore us to our former glory.

Having shown us the images of the loving/forgiving father and the repentant son, the parable turns our minds to the image of the elder son in this story. Though this elder son did well in his service to his father, the kind of unforgiving and self-righteous heart that he has is what the church invites us to avoid. He has a heart that wants a sinner to die in his sins. This is not the life of a Christian. By presenting the image of the first son to us, the parable invites us to shun self-righteousness and self-justification, especially the attitude of wishing that sinners die in their sins.

Dear friends, we are all sinners saved by the grace of God. Let us admit the truth that we are an assembly of sinful people. Let us always acknowledge our sins and return to God as the prodigal son did. If we do this, we will receive God’s forgiveness and experience Jesus’ personal presence in the Holy Eucharist as our loving and forgiving God.

Peace be with you.

Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima

 4^TH SUNDAY OF LENT, YEAR C: REFLECTION BY FR. JULIAN EKEH

THEME: REJOICE AT YOUR RETURN

(Luke 15:1-3.11-32)

Today is the 4th Sunday of Lent. The Holy Mother Church bids us: Rejoice! The Lenten period, as we know, is a long period of mourning, sitting in ashes, wailing for our sins. It is a time we heed the voice: "Oh come and mourn with me a while, see Mary calls us to her side oh come and let us mourn with her Jesus our love is crucified."

But the Lent is not yet over, the period continues, the journey is still on. Yet the Church resounds: "Rejoice" and also " Be joyful". These words from Isaiah 66:10-11 that serve as the entrance antiphon of today give today its name 'Laetare Sunday'.

It was addressed to Jerusalem as a mother by the lovers of Jerusalem and by those who mourn for her destruction.

It was addressed to those who have nearly lost hope in the mercy of God. It was addressed to wanderers who have wandered away from the mountain top. It is a message of hope to those plunged into the disgrace of sin and shame. The message points out to us the source of contentment. The good news is for the consolation and healing of those bruised by the falls along the way to heaven. It is a reminder for us that "it is not an easy road we are travelling to heaven..." We should be happy that Jesus walks with us to brighten the journey and lighten every heavy load. It is a limp, showing us to look forward. It is not going to end in humiliation and suffering. We shall rise! We shall be repositioned! God will reinstate us! We shall not end in prodigality.

The prodigal son left his father's joy with a fake joy, but he came to his senses and was strengthened by hope as he journeyed back home.

To really rejoice in the Lord, let us be where God wants us to be, make good use of the opportunities He gives us daily, and be at home with the things of God. In order to rejoice with Him in our everlasting home in heaven.

Let's see some of the keys to the Easter rejoicing we should look up to as we continue drawing nearer to our jubilation in the risen Christ.

 

VALUE WHAT YOU HAVE

The father of the prodigal son in the parable loved the son tenderly. Some theologians have described God's compassionate love here as the love of a mother. Here, God acts like a loving mother, loving with tenderness. In the house, the prodigal son had all he wanted; servants, food, and inheritance. Over and above all, he had a lot of opportunities at his beck and call. But he mismanaged and misused these.

Let us value this period and the grace God offers us through it. Let us value the opportunity of calling God our Loving Father. Let us appreciate the opportunities of forgiving people, showing little acts of kindness, making God happy, and remaining in the presence of God.

 

BE WHERE YOU ARE PLANTED

The Son had a comfortable place in the house, but he chose to become a gallivant, a wanderer, a squanderer. He moved out and made away with his God-given grace and wealth. Are there prodigal fathers and mothers in our world today? When you fail to give your family the attention they crave for, you are a prodigal father in the negative sense, when you lavish your resources on women outside abandoning your wife and children, you are a prodigal father. When you are happier outside your family house than in your home, something is wrong with you.

Are you a prodigal mother? When you stop being 'odoziaku' and take up 'origbudiya nke mbu' as a title, then go for check-up. When you're away from your children and husband, giving them less care and love, you are a prodigal woman. When you do not give to your children the good example they ought to follow, you're spoiling not just wealth but life.

When you cannot stay at a place and enjoy your family and allow them to enjoy you, you are a pain to God. If you are a husband snatcher, you are prodigal.

Are there prodigal young men and women? Yes! If you as a student cannot stay in your hostel without running from one place to another, you are prodigal. If you are working and can't take care of your poor people at home, you're a prodigal child. If all you care about is money by any means, you're a prodigal child. If you can kill your parents and anyone at all for money, you are a prodigal child. If you wait to spend your money at the funeral of your parents, you are highly prodigal.

Just be good and you will have a course to rejoice.

Are you a prodigal politician wasting the resources of those you are serving? Return to your senses before it becomes too late for you. Are you a prodigal Christian? Go back to the drawing board.

You have been planted through baptism in the Church. You're called upon to remain in the Church, not to wander away in sin and sell your soul to the devil and cares of this world. Blossom in grace. No matter the challenge you're going through, let the joy of the Lord strengthen you to journey on with the Lord. No condition should justify your giving the enemy a try. Don't allow any force to transplant you from where God has planted you. You're not a seed of corruption. You are a heavenly seed!

 

RETURN TO THE LORD

God waits. He walks towards you. He comes to you through the sacrament of reconciliation. He calls upon you through the word of God. Come to your senses first and stop suffering your soul in pretence that all is well with you. Don't enjoy the bondage of the evil one, and don't allow him to steal your joy and peace of soul. The word of God tells us what the enemy comes to do: to steal, kill, and destroy.

May the peace of God you enjoy never be stolen. May you rejoice in the forgiving power of God as you decide to rise.

 

GO BACK TO YOUR HOME

Going back to your home means a lot. The home is a place of reunion, a place of rest, a place of true peace. When you go back to your home you find out the plight of the people you left. You feel the pain you must have caused by your irresponsibility. You discover the pain you have caused your loving God. Kneel there and ask for mercy. Make your home a home indeed. Make it a place of prayer. Let the message of Christ make its home within you this season. As you go to God, who comes to you through the sacred mysteries of this Holy season, open your arms to Divine embrace.

Become an evangelist. Bring Christ's joy to your families. Make your children lovers of God. Make your parents friends of God. Take the joy of repentance and salvation to your offices.  As God welcomes each and every one of us back from our wonderland, may we welcome Him in the home that is our soul and remain in the joy of being called the children of God.

May God bless His word in our hearts.

 

LET US PRAY

We pray You almighty God to continue to strengthen us by the power of Your word.  Draw us closer and closer to You. Deliver us from spiritual laziness and moral decadence. Give us grace to live in holiness, making our lives abodes of the Holy Spirit that united with Christ we may live and reign in heaven after our earthly sojourn forever and ever.  Amen

Happy Sunday to you (4th Sunday of Lent)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

 3^rd Sunday of Lent, Year C: Homily by Fr. Isaac Chima

Theme: He is a God of mercy and justice

Readings: Ex 3, 1-8.13-15; I Cor 10, 1-6. 10-12; Lk 13, 1-9

Dear friends in Christ, the story of the first reading of today, which showed God’s mandate to Moses to rescue the Israelites trapped in slavery in Egypt, demonstrates that we have a God who is not far from us in times of pain and sorrows, a God who listens to our cries of pain and comes to our rescue. The name of God as contained in this reading makes evident these wonderful qualities or nature of our God. He said His name is ‘I am who I Am’. It is a name that shows God as both transcendent and immanent: a God who is in the past, in the present and in the future; a God who is always close to His people.

This wonderful God, through the instrumentality of Moses, brought Israel out of Egypt and settled her in the promised land. To place Israel in the promised land, God displaced, and sometimes destroyed, many nations: Egyptians, Moabites, Amalekites, Jebusites, Jericho, etc. God equally provided the material needs of Israel as they journeyed in the desert to the land of promise. On Israel, God lavished His graces and blessings. What God demanded in return from Israel was obedience, true worship and justice among themselves. Unfortunately, the people of Israel were unable to reciprocate the goodness of God by living according to His demands. Thus, on several occasions, after several severe warnings from the prophets and obstinacy to God’s messages on the part of Israel, God knocked Israel hard on the head, allowing her to suffer several kinds of punishments under powerful neighbours.

Like the people of Israel, God has lavished us with many precious gifts. He also intervened in many difficult times of our lives and rescued us. What God expects from us in return is a life of holiness, of obedience to his commandments and love towards our neighbours. The question is this: are we living up to these expectations?

In the gospel of today, the same line of story is evident. It tells us about the unproductive fig tree and the patience of the farmer. A fig tree bears fruit three times a year and also consumes a lot of soil nutrients wherever it is planted. But the fig tree in the gospel of today has enjoyed the care of the farmer for three good years without bearing fruit. What a patient and caring farmer. Now, as we saw in this parable, the anger of the farmer erupted like fire, and he demanded that the fig tree be cut down. What does this parable tell us? It tells us that the God of love and mercy is also the God of justice; that the God who loves us will also punish us if we fail to reciprocate His love by living up to His expectations; it tells us that to whom much is given, much is expected.

Dear friends, God has given us life; He has given us good health and wonderful opportunities in this world. If we fail to make good use of these precious gifts for the praise of His name, we will attract His anger.

It was the intervention or supplication of the servant of the farmer in today’s gospel that saved the life of the fig tree for another year. So, a second chance was given to the fig tree to right its wrongs. Dear friends, our God is a God who never fails to give a second chance to his children. This Lent may be another second chance given to us by God to make right our past wrongs and to start bearing fruits of love, compassion, peace, and help to those in need; a chance to stop all forms of impurity, unforgiveness, lustful desires, and hatred towards others.

It is, however, sad that when God gives us a second chance, we take it as an outcome of our smartness. When people do bad and get away with it, they praise themselves for being smart or for having strong connections. Dear friends, it is good to know that those times we thought we were smart, those times we thought our strong connections were working, God was actually giving us another chance to stop evil. We must know that this other chance has a limit. The mercy of God tarries, but the more it tarries, the more severe our punishment becomes.

In the opening part of the Gospel of today, Jesus informed His audience that if they fail to repent of their evil ways, they will perish. Many people may find it difficult to believe that a merciful God used such a harsh tone, but the reality is that this God of mercy is also the God of justice. In His justice, He punishes us when we fail to make good use of His patience and His ocean of mercy.

In the second reading, Paul reminded the people of Corinth that many of their fathers died in the desert because of their failure to reciprocate God’s goodness by living lives pleasing to God. Then, he gave them (and us as well) this all-important lesson that the story of the failures of Israel in the desert was written as a warning to us so that we do not make the same mistakes they made. He said, “Now these things are warnings for us, not to desire evil as they did, nor grumble as some of them did and were destroyed by the destroyer.” He continued, “Now, these things happened to them as a warning, but they were written down for our instruction, upon whom the end of the ages has come.”

Dear friends, we would not like to make the same mistakes as the people of the past in their relationship with God. We would not like to be punished by God. So, let us make good use of God’s patience (our second chance) this Lent. Let us drink from the ocean of God’s mercy, purifying ourselves of all sins, so that the justice and punishment of God will not catch up with us.

Happy Sunday to you and your family.

Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima

 

 

 3^RD SUNDAY OF LENT, YEAR C: REFLECTION BY FR. JULIAN EKEH

THEME: GRACE HAS KEPT YOU; REPENT AND DON'T FALL TO THE DISGRACE OF SIN

(Luke 13:1-9)

Today's message is a very direct one. Jesus warns. He won't want to be distracted by any other information than the information about our spiritual formation. He sees us and knows what we need most: Repentance. He insists that there's no two ways. Either you repent or you perish. Wow, terrifying! Yes, indeed but the love of God restores to us the joy of salvation. Either you are in the state of grace or in the disgrace of sin.

It is already the third week of Lent. Where are you in the journey of return? Do you still wait till you embark on the journey of no return? Are you still a slave to sin? What towers have you allowed to fall upon you? Do you still know you have a tower of refuge and strength in the God who forgives? Let us navigate through the help of today's passage to grab our guide to remain standing in grace.

 

LEARN FROM THE EXPERIENCE OF OTHERS

The preceding episode that launched us into today's passage was where Jesus taught about interpreting the signs of the time. It harps on the need to allow our environment and things around us to steer in us the desire to cling onto the divine.

Some people came with the misfortune of those whose blood was mingled with that of Pilate's sacrifice. Whether this was for the purpose of information or temptation on Christ is not of great importance now. But Jesus observes a greater misfortune; mingling one’s blood with sin (obara ojoo adighi mma, nna wepunu ya na ndum oo, tinyerem obara di mma, kam wee di ndu). Can we today learn from that and endeavour never to fall into sin? Let us learn from the fall of others never to fall. Let not the failings of our ever-falling society make us failures before God. Let the joy of living in Christ strengthen you always.

 

DIFFERENTIATE EMPTY SUFFERING FROM SALVIFIC SUFFERING

In repentance, we take up suffering of the flesh to subdue it. Living in sin, the sinner chooses to perish and suffer under divine condemnation. Let all that we suffer here lead us to salvation and not condemnation.

Those who brought the report to Jesus saw mere and empty suffering without seeing the lesson in it. Jesus sees all we pass through, and when we go through them with sincerity, He gives us hope of salvation. Never think it is by your power or might that you can stand. No. But by the Spirit who strengthens us. You're not better than those who suffer.

 

TODAY MAY BE YOUR 'NEXT YEAR' BEWARE!

In the parable of Jesus in this Gospel, our Lord is that vinedresser who begged for another year, another chance or chances as the case may be.

Some people did the Lenten season of last year, maybe without recognising that it was going to be their last, and today, they are no more. Think of what would become of them now if they never made use of the less than one year they had. What sins have you repented of? May God save you from delay of any kind.

 

STAND TALL IN GRACE, DON'T FALL IN SINFUL DISGRACE

We are called to remain in the state of grace and never abuse the grace of our state. As children of God, we are encouraged to be fruitful. We are called upon to ensure that God finds us standing in virtue and not falling apart because of sin. Those who are standing are encouraged not to give up nor to think that it is enough to live but ensure to live in Christ, to live in Christ, therefore, is to bear lasting fruits.

What fruits have you produced so far in your Lenten journey? What fruits do you intend to produce after the Lenten season? Will you make good use of this year's opportunity? Will you be cut down? Chukwu ekwela!

You shall not perish in sin.

You will be fruitful by God's grace.

The loving saviour will not allow you to go down.

The Lord will see your trials and come to deliver you from the stranglehold of sin and spiritual fruitlessness.

LET US PRAY

Merciful Saviour, thank You for the countless opportunities You give us to come out from our sinful ways. Thank You for this Holy Season of Lent. As we reflect on Your suffering and death which led to Your glorious resurrection grant that we may cooperate with Your grace and be strengthened by it so as not to perish but rise and remain under Your grace through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Happy Sunday to You (3rd Sunday of Lent, Yr C)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

 2^nd SUNDAY OF LENT, YEAR C: REFLECTION BY FR. JULIAN EKEH

THEME: FOLLOW JESUS TO THE MOUNTAIN

(Luke 9:28-36)

After the declaration of Peter about Jesus as the Christ, and the prediction of Christ about the suffering and type of death awaiting Him, Jesus took the Apostles of the inner circle up the mountain. What was His intention of taking them there? What did they witness on the mountain? Can we be part of the closest followers of Jesus Christ to journey with Him this Lenten season? Let us look at the mountain experience of Jesus and the apostles and see how it helps us. Why the upward movement and what really happened?

 

PRAYER

Jesus took them up to pray. Jesus is the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. He is always in communication with God the Father. He invites the apostles to learn the act of prayers. He took them away from the worries and distractions of the world to be in touch with the Divine aura. He wanted them to go beyond the low level of operation to a higher, spiritual perception of relationship with God.  There, He showed them the transforming power of prayer. That is to say that the man of prayer doesn't remain the same. Prayer is not just a verbal thing but a reality that manifests itself in your life and daily activity. Have you been changed by your prayers? Have your prayer life been able to convert anyone to Christ? The Lord takes you up this season to pray in a higher and better way.

 

BEHOLD GOD'S GLORY

To understand this well, we have to take a look at the preceding episode where Jesus spoke about the cross. The apostles must have felt frustrated and disappointed with Jesus. Matthew and Mark's account of this same story narrates how Peter couldn't help but rebuke Jesus for painting the image of suffering. Taking them up therefore Jesus tells them it's not going to end in sorrow. It's not going to be an empty suffering but a rewarding one. That after the rains, the sun must shine, that out of the darkness of pain and tears, joy and happiness must radiate.

 

LIBERATION

 Before the coming of Christ, the Israelites were held bound by the law. They were subjects of the law. The law is represented by Moses. Jesus came, born a subject to the law, to redeem the subjects of the law. He enters into conversation with Moses to put away and cause a disappearance of the vestiges of the law. To set His people free, to bring about the inclusive new law of love. It is no longer the exclusive mosaic law that people didn't dare to near the mountain for fear. It is about freedom. 

He goes on to bring about the fulfilment of the promises and prophecies of God for humanity. In Elijah, we saw a beckoning for Christ to ride on to Jerusalem for the salvation long foretold. May the promises of God for your life come to fulfilment.

 

LISTEN

Having manifested how good it is to be in the presence of the Lord, to behold His goodness, Peter desired to remain there. Moses and Elijah were taken away. Then, an important aspect of encounter with the Lord was voiced out by the Voice that came from above: Listen! To keep the word, person, and wondrous doings of the Lord alive in us, we have to pay attention to what the Lord tells us at each point in time.

May we listen to the Lord calling on us this season to the mountain of prayers, to the mountain of encounter, to mountain of transformation, to the mountain of total self-abandonment. May God manifest His glory in our lives. May our worldliness, tears, and problems be transfigured by the presence of Christ. May we remain in constant communion with Christ the Most High.

May God bless His word in our hearts.

 

LET US PRAY

Thank You, Lord, for Your word today. Thank You for inviting us to the Holy Mountain of Communion and Holy Encounter with You. May we not remain the same after our encounter with You. Transform our situations for good. Open our spiritual eyes and ears. May we follow where you lead. And may we be liberated from spiritual, economic, marital, vocational, and political bondages through Christ our Lord.

Amen

Happy Sunday (Second Sunday of Lent, Yr C)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

 2^nd Sunday of Lent, Year C: Homily by Fr. Isaac Chima

Theme: Beatific Vision: Reward for listening and obeying Christ’s voice

Readings: Gen 15:5-12,17-18; Phil 3:17-4:1; Lk 9:28-36

Dear friends in Christ, through the transfiguration experience, the gospel of today showed us a glimpse of the glory of Easter and the splendor of heaven. I was thrilled by the reaction of Peter after beholding the glory of Christ and the magnificent beauty of the heavenly home. He wished to remain on that mountain forever, enjoying the sight of the glory of God; he wished the experience continued unending; he forgot his family, friends, and the rest of the disciples; all he wanted was God’s glory. But let us remember that what he saw was just a glimpse of that glory that awaits all of us. In reality, what no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no heart has imagined is what God has prepared for those who love him (1 Cor 2:9).

Reacting to the request of Peter to stay on the mountain forever enjoying the vision of heaven, the voice of God the Father came from the cloud and said, “This is my beloved Son; listen to Him.” That voice of the Father simply informed Peter that if he wanted to enter the glory of heaven whose glimpse he saw on the mountain, he must listen to the voice of Jesus Christ and follow His teachings.

Hence, my dear friends, listening to the voice of Jesus and doing what He commands us have become the conditions for inheriting the beautiful beatific vision that lies at the end of our earthly existence.

Every Lent, the voice of Christ, through the church, calls us to take a break from the normal activities of life and dedicate some time to prayer, fasting, and arms-giving so that our lives will be renewed and prepared for inheriting the glorious home. It is the voice that is calling us this Lent to deny ourselves some comforts and pleasures in order to share in the suffering of Christ and that of others. It is the voice that is calling us to love more, to forgive more, to say no to immoral desires. It is the voice that is calling us this Lent to say no to drunkenness, lies, gossip, pride, hatred, and other sins. In summary, this voice is calling us to the way of the cross, to take up our cross and follow Christ.

If we listen to this voice and follow its demands, if we carry our cross and follow where this voice is leading us, that glory which Peter saw on the mountain will be ours at the end of our lives. So, between us and the glory of heaven lies the demand or the duty to listen and obey the voice of Jesus.

In the first reading, God made a covenant with Abraham. In that covenant, God promised Abraham that his descendants will be like the number of the stars in the skies. But, between that wonderful promise and its fulfilment, Abraham had the task of obeying every command from God and accepting their attendant difficulties. It was obedience to God’s commands, even in the most difficult and uncertain moments, that helped Abraham to reach/inherit what God prepared for him.

Dear friends, a careful look at the covenant between Abraham and God and the actual situation of Abraham at the time of the covenant will show us the level of trust Abraham had in God. At the time of the covenant, both Abraham and his wife were already old and had no child (his wife had passed the age of childbearing), but they believed in the faithfulness of God. Of course, many people would look at Abraham’s choice of remaining faithful to God as a foolish choice, but his obedience to the voice of God paid off. Same way, Christians who trust in God, Christians who have decided to obey the voice of Jesus this Lent and to follow the recommendation of the Church for a Lenten season may appear as foolish in the eyes of men but, in reality, they will be blessed by God.

In the second reading, St. Paul informs us that there are many voices in the world whose project is to distract Christians from listening to the voice of Christ. He tells us that those who promote these contrary voices (antichristian voices) have already made themselves enemies of the cross of Christ and, therefore, they purposely teach things that are against the teachings of Jesus as the standard for our world. According to St. Paul, these people “glory in their shame, with their minds set on earthly things.” They teach people to adopt antilife policies and immoral lifestyles as the best ways to enjoy life. Their project is always to promote things that are against the Christian life. These voices are heard every day in our world. Each day, these voices want to rise higher above the calm voice of Jesus; they have misled many people.

However, my dear people, St. Paul reminds us that we are citizens of heaven. It will, therefore, be unfortunate if those who are hoping to go to heaven are obeying the voices that contradict the teachings that come from heaven. Those who hope to enjoy the beautiful home of heaven, that home which Peter saw on the mountain, should listen to the voice of Jesus who has come down from heaven and obey it; this is our task this Lent. Let us pray to listen obediently to the voice of Jesus and to shun all voices that contradict the teachings of Jesus.

Have a blessed Sunday.

Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima

 1^st Sunday of Lent, Year C: Homily by Fr Isaac Chima

Theme: Temptation: knowing how and when the devil strikes

Readings: Deut 26:4-10; Rom 10:8-13; Lk 4:1-13

Dear friends in Christ, every year, the Church ushers us into the period of Lent with the story of the temptation of Jesus. With this story, the Church informs us that as we embark on the forty-day journey of prayer, fasting, and arms-giving to suffer with Christ in order to rise with Him, the devil will lurk around us to distract us from our mission, just as he attempted to distract Jesus from His God-given mission.

One of the problems of our time is the inability to realize when we are being tempted by the devil. So, the temptation of Jesus teaches us the various avenues the devil can take while tempting us and the best ways to conquer him using the examples of Jesus. Let us, therefore, treat the temptation of Jesus in the desert step by step.

In the first temptation, the devil asked Jesus to turn stones into bread. The devil knew that Jesus was very hungry after fasting for forty days, so he came with the suggestion of what Christ needed at that moment. Dear friends, the devil will not tempt you with what you don’t need; he will always come with the idea of helping you to fill in the void in your life.

In this first temptation, the devil was like telling Jesus, “look, your God has failed to provide your needs. Why still wait upon him? Use what you have and get what you need.” This is a temptation to lose confidence in God’s providence for us; a temptation to do things our own way anytime we lack material means of survival; a call to evaluate God’s care for us only by our material success. It is a temptation that touches on man’s relationship with material things; the kind of temptation that pushes people to make the satisfaction of material needs the priority in every relationship.

We see this kind of temptation every day of our lives. Occasionally, we see or feel it when that voice tells us that the only priority of our life should be the provision of our material needs by all means. To many of our girls, that voice tells them, “Use your body to provide your material needs because hunger will kill you if you wait on God.” To our young boys, it tells them, “All your mates are making it through Yahoo Plus, join them; the end will surely justify the means; people will celebrate you.” To our businessmen, it tells them, “Inflate the prices of your goods; you have the market control; make your gains; this is your time; prudence is for the weak minds; God’s time will never come.” To our politicians, it tells them, “Join their evil groups and win the election first; being a good man will not help you.”

We also feel this temptation when that voice tells us that we have all it takes to enrich or satisfy ourselves materially, so we don’t need to believe in God. In fact, that voice tells some people that God does not exist since they have all their material needs. This temptation has led many people who are materially comfortable to think that faith in God is absurd. In this type of temptation, the devil aims to make us materially bound.

But the response of Christ has a lesson for us. Jesus reminded the devil that our mission in this world is not just that of the satisfaction of the material needs of our bodies, but that we must tend towards heaven in all that we do. Hence, we must satisfy our material needs according to the teachings of the Word of God, that is, according to the will of God.

In the second temptation, the devil told Jesus that all the riches of the world belong to him and that he will give them to Jesus if he (Jesus) bows down and worships him. Friends, the devil is the father of all lies. In this temptation, he was laying claims on things that do not belong to him. We know that God is the author of all that is good and the creator of the universe. Nothing good comes from the devil; what comes from the devil only appears to be good, but they are full of evil. So, this temptation is the call to compromise faith in God in order to be rewarded. It is a temptation that hinges on the thirst or lust for power and control. It is a temptation to throw away good morals and Christian principles or teachings and then follow the whims of the world in order to be relevant in the world or be accepted by others. We have seen this type of temptation in many programmes of this world. It is true that many activities or programmes in our world are geared towards luring Christians to renounce their teachings in order to get financial grants and aids, business connections and friends, recognition, promotion, and power in the society, etc. Many people go to the extent of mocking Christians who say ‘no’ to the fantasies of this world.

The response of Jesus to this second temptation showed us that our allegiance in this world is only to God, and, therefore, we should not bow down to any other spiritual or worldly force.

In the third temptation, the devil asked Jesus to jump down from the high mountain since God will help him. To back up his claims, he quoted the bible. It is good we know that the devil can also substantiate his demands/claims with a biblical citation. In this temptation, the devil wanted Christ to accept cheap popularity and false security in God. It is a temptation that touches our relationship and faith in God. In this temptation, there is a suggestion to have a false or perverse relationship with God. A kind of relationship that makes God an idol/instrument in our hands, something we can control the way we like. The devil asked Jesus to take an action that will make God indebted to him. It is a temptation to put God to the test. We see this type of temptation when that voice tells us that since we believe in God, no harm will come to us even if we are careless with our lives; it comes when that voice tells you that you don’t need to study for exams, that all you need to do is to pray and you will surely pass your exams; we also feel this temptation when that voice tells us not to plan our lives very well, not to take care of our health and not to think of our future because God is our father and he will do everything for us. Dear friends, we are to collaborate with God by not putting ourselves at risk.

The devil is very wicked. When he succeeds in pushing people to have false security in God, he stands by the side and waits for them to fail. When they eventually fail, he will creep out of his hole and tell them, “You see, the God in whom you hoped has failed you; He is not capable of saving you; come, I will help you.”

With the story of how God rescued Israel, the first reading of today tells us that God does not disappoint those who have genuine faith in Him. We have a God who will not disappoint or reject us in times of trials and persecutions. He will always intervene at His own time and rescue us if we repose our hope and faith in Him.

The second reading of today comes with an explicit affirmation of that assurance of God’s help for those who trust in Him. It said, “No one who believes in Him will be put to shame… everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.” Therefore, let us build our trust in God and always have recourse to Him in times of temptation.

Happy First Sunday of Lent

Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima