Easter Sunday: Homily by Fr. Isaac Chima

Theme: They Believed They Had Defeated Him, but God Disappointed Them

Readings: Acts 10:34a, 37–43; Col 3:1–4 or 1 Cor 5:6b–8; Jn 20:1–9

Dear friends, today we celebrate the day that defines our faith—the day that gave birth to the gospel we proclaim. If Christ had not risen from the dead, our faith would be meaningless. Truly, we would not be gathered here under this banner; Christianity itself would not exist. The resurrection of Christ is the cornerstone of our belief. For the early Christians, the resurrection was always the starting point of their preaching—the foundation that gave them authority, courage, and strength.

We are blessed to experience this same power of God over darkness and death. We are connected to the resurrection power of Christ—the power that triumphed over the evil that sought to dominate the world, the power that rolled away the stone, the power that shattered the devil’s reign, and the power that fulfilled God’s plan to redeem humanity from the failures of our first parents.

Today, light has triumphed over darkness, life has overcome death, grace has conquered sin, freedom has broken the chains of bondage, and justice has reclaimed its rightful place. Jesus has fought the battle for us. Our hearts should rejoice in this victory. Once again, we can smile, laugh, and dance, for God ensured that death would not have the final word in our salvation story. We can hold our heads high, for we are children of victory. Christ has granted us triumph. Let us carry this banner of victory into everything we do and say.

At the heart of the resurrection lies a profound truth: It was precisely when His enemies believed they had defeated Him that God, in His infinite power, raised Him to glory.

Jesus came to liberate us from the grip of the devil and lead us back to the Father. Yet the enemy sought to frustrate this mission, stirring those in power to crucify Him. With His humiliating death, His burial, the massive stone, and the armed guards, the enemy believed he had ended the mission of the Prince of Life.

But at the very moment of the enemy’s celebration, God overturned everything by raising Jesus from the dead. What they thought was defeat became the fulfilment of His mission. His purpose was to die for us and return to the Father—and God accomplished it in a way that confounded His enemies.

What does this teach us? It teaches us to hold onto hope even when life feels overwhelming. It assures us that sorrowful stories can still end in joy for those who trust in God. It reminds us that failure is never the end for believers. It reassures us that God can frustrate the plans of our adversaries. The resurrection gives us confidence that victory will always be the final chapter of our story.

Our challenge is to awaken our faith and look beyond the sources of our grief. In today’s gospel, Mary Magdalene was so focused on the tomb that she failed to recognize the risen Christ standing before her. Her sorrow blinded her to the miracle she longed for.

It is natural to weep in times of difficulty, but it becomes a problem when grief prevents us from looking up to God. When we fixate on our pain or on closed doors, we risk missing the new opportunities God has already opened—opportunities far greater than what we lost. Through the resurrection, God provides a new path for all who trust Him in their trials.

May the power of Christ’s resurrection open our eyes to the solutions God has already placed before us in our struggles. Amen.

Happy Easter.

Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima

 EASTER VIGIL – Homily by Fr. Isaac Chima

Theme: Christ’s Resurrection: A Promise of Our Final Triumph

Beloved friends, we have arrived at that extraordinary night when light conquers darkness, the night when the Most High prevents death from claiming any victory over us. Yet, as we gather in this sacred moment, several questions stir within my heart, yearning for answers.

I invite you, dear friends, to ponder these questions with me. Have you ever imagined what our world would look like if Christ had not risen from the dead? Have you considered the values that would shape our lives if Christ’s resurrection had never taken place? It is essential to remember that God the Father spent centuries preparing humanity for the coming of His only Son.

From the moment humanity fell through Adam and Eve, God resolved to restore us to our original dignity. To accomplish this, He chose the people of Israel, sending priests and prophets to guide them in obedience and prepare them for the coming of His Son. The readings of this holy night beautifully recount this long journey of salvation. The entire world waited for the arrival of the Son of God. Yet, when He finally came, the world did not recognize Him. The devil had blinded the hearts of many, especially among the Jews of His time. The same devil who caused Adam’s fall sought to lead humanity into another defeat.

Moved by this evil influence, they arrested the Son of God, subjected Him to an unjust trial, and crucified Him. They condemned the very One who came to free them from the grip of darkness. What a tragic moment in history—the apparent end of the long-awaited Messiah. In the devil’s plan, the death of Jesus was meant to be humanity’s second great defeat, following the first in Adam.

Dear friends, if Christ had not risen from the dead, God’s plan to liberate us from evil would have suffered a devastating blow. Without the resurrection, the story of Jesus would have faded into history as a mere tale—interesting, perhaps, but powerless. If Jesus had not conquered death, evil would have reigned, injustice would have become normal, and darkness would have overshadowed the light. Goodness would have been swallowed by malevolence.

But, beloved friends, death did not have the final word in the story of Jesus. God ensured that the life of His beloved Son did not end on the cross. Instead, a new chapter began—one that proclaims forever, saying, He defeated death and rose again.

Therefore, dear ones, we stand victorious because Christ is victorious. His triumph becomes the foundation of our hope. With His resurrection as our strength, we can face our crosses with confidence. In our personal journeys—through struggles, hardships, trials, and tribulations—we know that death and despair will never have the last word. The resurrection assures us of our own victory over life’s challenges.

Tonight, the Church invites us to lift our voices and fix our gaze on the cross of Christ, boldly declaring that our struggles will not last forever. Childlessness will not have the final say. Joblessness will not have the final say. Hatred will not have the final say. Sickness will not have the final say. Hunger will not have the final say. The resurrection of Christ is our guarantee.

Easter is a season of miracles for Christians, because—as St Paul reminds us—if we suffer and die with Him, we shall also live and reign with Him in glory.

Happy Easter

Fr Isaac Chima

 EASTER SUNDAY: REFLECTION BY FR JULIAN EKEH

THEME: CHRIST HAS CONQUERED ALLELUIA!

(John 20:1-9)

Death could not do much. Death could not stop Jesus from doing anything. The great stones could not hold him. Death and the powers of darkness failed woefully. The Easter is indeed a celebration of joy, hope, and liberation. We have every reason to Rejoice and be Glad in the Lord:

 

LOVE REMAINS

By killing Jesus, the enemies thought it was going to be the end of his love and concern for the salvation of man and his relationship with man. They thought they have cut him off from the land of the living. It was not so. They gave him flight ticket to enlarge His kingdom by preaching also to the dead and taking them along with Him after a three days retreat. They couldn't even stop the love of those who really knew Jesus after all the deceptive ploys. Mary Magdalene came with love to the grave and thought they have taken away the Lord. May your joy never be taken away. May you never lose grip of what is yours. May the death of Christ reveal the depth of his love for you and may you by the power of his resurrection be drawn to believe more in Him. The world can take away everything from you but not the love of God just as they took everything away from Jesus but not the Father's love.

 

THE THIRD DAY REMAINS

The Apostles who went to the tomb confirmed that Jesus wasn't there anymore. They confirmed emptiness. But at this moment they never understood anything about resurrection.

The third day is very important. When Jesus cried: "it is finished" Maybe some of his mockers laughed and thought they have finished Him. Oh no. What finished was his pre-resurrection ministry but the fruit of the sown seed will germinate that no force can terminate. He was buried to die but he became a plant that bloomed after the third day.

What are the circumstances burying you? What are the situations puting you down in shame? Jesus cried your cry. Weep not! He died your death, fear not! But on the third he gives you assurance that it doesn't end in sorrows. He tells you that the Good Friday is necessary but can never take away the Easter reality. He tells you that your toils will bring you joy. He tells you that your own tomb will also be emptied of the devil's plan. In fact the tomb is never your place. Jesus insists that after the rains there must be sunshine. Jesus promises that there maybe tears in the night but there must be laughter in the morning.

Child of God, look towards the third day and be radiant.

 

JESUS IS ALIVE ALLELUIA

That Jesus MUST RISE from the dead was a teaching the Apostles found as a hard nut to crack. The Easter message is that the grave is not His abode. He belongs to a kingdom. He came to open the kingdom for those held bound by the power of the grave. Since Jesus has risen what are we still looking for in the tomb? Oh let us rise! He lives, and because He lives I can face tomorrow. He is alive for ever Alleluia. You cannot die again. You shall live to sing of the Lord's goodness. He took your mortality to give you immortality.

May God bless His word in our hearts.

 

LET US PRAY

We thank You Lord for restoring our joy and giving us reasons to move on proudly as children of the light by the power of Your Son's resurrection. May we live and reign with the risen Christ in the glory of His light to the shame of the overthrown enemy of salvation through Christ our Lord. Amen

Happy Easter to you and your loved ones. Alleluia!!!

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

 Palm Sunday, Year A: Homily by Fr Isaac Chima

Theme: A call to be messengers of peace, hope, and victory in Christ

Readings: Is 50:4–7; Phil 2:6–11; Mt 26:14–27:66

Dearest brothers and sisters, Palm Sunday is a special day in the liturgical year. It opens the door to a great week for us — Holy Week. It ushers us into days rich with the remembrance of the events that saved us from sin, restored us to God’s friendship, and brought us back to life.

Today, carrying branches of palm or olive, we follow Jesus into our churches — our New Jerusalem — just as the people of Jerusalem cut branches and spread them along the road when Jesus triumphantly entered the city. These blessed branches have become sacramentals. Next year, they will be burned on Ash Wednesday, and their ashes will mark the beginning of another Lenten journey.

Palm and olive branches hold deep meaning in many cultures. They signify peace, victory, and hope. Their symbolism has roots in the ancient Mediterranean world — especially in Egypt and Greece — where olive branches represented peace or victory, particularly in acts of supplication to the gods or to people in authority.

Therefore, dearest friends, today we hold in our hands a symbol of peace. Our world needs peace more than ever because it is battered by problems and wars on every side. We see the conflicts between Russia and Ukraine, Israel and Gaza, America and Israel and Iran, among others. Acts of terrorism and banditry ravage many African nations. Many other regions suffer from unreported crises and unrest. It is clear that peace is the greatest gift we, as Christians, can offer our families, friends, and the world.

With these branches of palm and olive, let us become true messengers of peace — in our world, in our families, and among our friends. It would be a contradiction for the bearer of these branches not to be a promoter of peace in his or her own neighbourhood.

The olive or palm branch also signifies victory. Today we recalled Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem, where He showed Himself victorious over the forces of darkness and death. We also listened to the Passion, which reveals His journey toward that victory. We are witnesses to Christ’s power over evil and death. Therefore, as we carry these palm or olive branches — signs of victory — let us remind the world that our Saviour is a victorious King. Let us bear witness to His triumph over sin and death in our society.

Friends, we are children of victory. If anyone asks why you carry these branches today, tell them that our victorious King is passing by, entering our neighbourhood to fight our battles and to give us victory. Hence, it would be a contradiction if the children of victory were afraid to proclaim Christ to their friends.

The olive or palm branch also signifies hope. In the book of Genesis, the dove sent out by Noah returned with an olive branch — a sign of the hope of a new beginning. The difficulties in our world have caused many to lose hope in life and even in God. Many are searching for something solid on which to anchor their hope.

Dear friends, today we hold in our hands the sign of a new beginning — the branches of olive or palm. Let us go out and spread this message of hope. Let us tell the world that in Jesus there is the hope of a new beginning. The resurrection of Christ guarantees this new beginning; it is the fullness of hope. Let us be torchbearers of hope wherever we go, starting today.

Friends, we have the vocation to spread the message of peace, hope, and Christ’s victory in our world. As we do this, it is important to remember that Christ calls us to be true witnesses — people who remain with Him in good times and in difficult times, in moments of joy and in moments of sorrow. Our witness should not resemble that of the crowd who shouted Hosanna during Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem but failed to defend Him when He was unjustly tried and condemned. Many denied Him and chose Barabbas instead, as we heard in today’s Passion narrative. With the same intensity with which they cried “Hosanna, Son of David”, they later shouted, “Crucify Him.”

Dear friends, many concrete situations in our lives demand that we witness to the truth of the Gospel. We all see how our world has been penetrated by doctrines, ideologies, and lifestyles contrary to the Gospel. These harmful ideologies are promoted as fashionable by governments, celebrities, and culture industries. Some even attempt to impose their ungodly views on others.

We act like the crowd in the Passion narrative when we remain silent while our world is being battered by these forces. We deny Christ whenever we keep quiet in the face of such teachings and lifestyles. We deny Him whenever we choose indifference in the presence of evil. We choose Barabbas whenever we swim against the truth of the Gospel. May we not remain indifferent or unconcerned in the face of anti-life ideologies in our society. May we stop hiding behind political correctness when confronted with evil. Let us speak out for Christ.

Finally, today ushers us into Holy Week. The desire of Christ and His Church is that all who participate in the liturgies of this week may also strive to be holy. Let us set aside sin and focus on the Paschal Mysteries. Jesus invites us to open our hearts and be washed clean by His Precious Blood through the sacrament of Reconciliation. Let us carry our cross and walk with Christ to Calvary, so that we may rise with Him in glory.

Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima

 PALM SUNDAY, YEAR A: REFLECTION BY FR. JULIAN EKEH

THEME: PASSION FOR LIFE

(MATTHEW 26:14-27:66)

We today commemorate the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. He has been hiding for sometimes now. He has been in isolation. He had avoided the Jews and the virus of hatred and conspiracy they circulated. Today He enters Jerusalem, the place of death, He marches majestically upon the forces of darkness, He rode kingly into the city. He is greeted with the waving of palms and singing of psalms.

This journey spelt a lot for Jesus. But He did not give up because He had a drive. He had a motivation. He was driven by passion, He was moved into action. He wished to bring about a better form of life other than the sick, weak, sinful life. He was driven by a desire to deliver His people from bondage. He was inspired to give, to offer, to donate and also to take. He offers His life, He gives holiness, He sacrifices His Divinity on the altar of Humanity that humanity may receive dignity and respect. Jesus takes up passionately, from the depth of His heart our shame, our sin, our diseases, our sorrows, our fears and tears.

With this in mind, He launches us into the Holy Week. Let us see the various drives in today's Gospel Reading, known liturgically, as the passion narrative.

 

The passion for death

Passion is motivated by love. What one loves means a lot. For Jesus' love for life, He was moved to save it. For the scribe's and Pharisees' love for death they were out to terminate the life giver, they sat and took counsel, deadly ones indeed. Such a passion was very strong that it drew other passions along with it: Judas, Peter, Pilate, Barabas and the crowd.

 

Passion for Money

Money and what money can buy have been very strong force down through the ages. Money can be used to save life, but it has often been used to destroy life. Judas allowed himself due to the inclination in him and the love he had for money to be roped in by agents of death. He sold life to death. He traded the author of life for money. Until today, are we not suffering in the hands of our people, our leaders both religious and political as a result of greed and love for money? Are people not losing their lives on daily basis for loving money more than their parents, friends and life partners?

Judas took money and sold his master with a deadly kiss. He kissed to kill just to keep money. At last he saw that he only succeeded in plunging himself into despair and perpetual agony. Have you caused any death? Repent and replace your evil passions with holy ones.

 

Passion for self preservation

Peter who earlier on promised to stand by Jesus gave him more than a social distance when trials came. He loved his own life that he did not care whose life would be lost for him to preserve it. He no longer cared about his beliefs, he forgot his covenants, he abandoned his earlier stands, he told a good number of lies, and he denied Jesus. How many times have we denied Jesus on in the bid to preserve our lives and those of our family members? How many times have we told lies when questioned about our faith? How often do people get involved in a number of evils for protection? The passion for life makes you think not only of your life but also of the other person. Peter should have felt for his master who is being condemned based on lies, and who is receiving whips. Yet for fear and love for his own life, he did not feel for his master but denied him before a slave girl.

 

Passion for Power

Pilate realized so well that Jesus was innocent and yet because of his quest for power he asked: are you the king of the Jews? Another selfishness in action. Even when his wife made known to him her dreams he was not strong enough to stand for life. When he thought he was not threatened, he became neutral. When he thought the people might revolt, he washed his hands. What a craftiness! Intoxication of power has really done us more harm than good. The desire to remain on top by the world powers has really made them take decisions that sacrificed people's life. May God reveal to them that all power belongs to Him.

 

Passion for false freedom

The people wanted someone to be freed but it was the wrong person. Barabbas was desired while Jesus was denied. This is sad. How often do we passionately desire evil than good? May God save us. Barabbas did not demonstrate like the thief on the cross that he did not deserve

 

Passion for crowd

Some people find it difficult to stand out, to be themselves. They blindly and passionately follow the crowd. They move without knowing why, they shout without reasoning, they make noise and sing choruses they do not know. They may sing Hosannah in the morning and sing crucify him in the afternoon. They are a body of compromised beings. They allow themselves to be manipulated. Are you following Jesus as a crowd or as a convinced person who have had a personal touch by him?

Are you busy building factions instead of watering your passion for good actions?

It is indeed time to be passionate for life. For our spiritual well-being, for the life of those we are better than.

It is time to have human feelings. It is time for us to love like Christ. It is time for us to develop special love for things of God. It is time for us to take our mission on earth as children of God seriously. May we not be blindfolded by the wrong passions. May the passion of Christ strengthen us in all our endeavours. May God help us to make our world a better place. May He who overcame the weakness of his body to achieve the desire of the spirit help us to follow the directives of the Holy Spirit and be more sanctified this Holy Week and beyond. Amen

Be sanctified

Be made whole

Happy Palm Sunday (Yr A)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

 5^TH SUNDAY OF LENT, YEAR A: REFLECTION BY FR JULIAN EKEH

THEME: THIS ILLNESS IS NOT UNTO DEATH

(John 11:1-45)

Lazarus, the friend of Jesus, was ill. Mary and Martha sent for him with the words: "Lord, he whom you love is ill." But when Jesus heard it, He said: "This illness is not unto death; it is for the glory of God, so that the son of God may be glorified by means of it."

Lazarus died of the sickness. Jesus knew of it. He embarked on the journey to wake him.

On his way, Martha came up to Him and said, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. And even now, I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you." Jesus assured her: "Your brother will rise again. She believed. Mary acted the same way and said the same things Martha said: if you had been here..."

Jesus wept. He saw where he was laid. He saw the lifelessness in the body that is supposed to be the temple of the Holy Spirit. He saw where His friend was quarantined, He saw those who worshipped Him with joy filled with sorrow and sadness, with tears and bitterness. He commanded, and the stone was taken away. He prayed in faith and cried out, "Lazarus, come out." The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with bandages and his face wrapped with a cloth. Jesus said to them, "unbind him and let him go."

 

OUR SICK WORLD AND LAZARUS

Our sick world is like Lazarus. Many are sick, many are suffering, and many have died. The two cases of sickness and death were experienced by Lazarus, the friend of Jesus. Jesus allowed it for a purpose. Is God not aware of all we are facing? He is. Why is he allowing it? We may not have known. But in the end, God must be glorified. Can we cry and become more aware of our need for God this period? Is it actually dawning on us? How we should depend on God? Can we run out of our comfort zones of spiritual lousiness and laziness to kneel at the feet of Jesus for healing and restoration mercy? Mary and Martha did this! They knew Jesus as Lord even of the situation at hand. It became a moment of increased faith, even though Jesus seemed to be away. Situations that genuinely kept Jesus away couldn't stop them from going close to Jesus. The sickness, death, tears, heartbreaks, losses, and disappointments they faced were brought to Jesus. Just like Lazarus, our world is tied hands and feet. Just like Lazarus, we have become helpless, cashless, politically lifeless, and will powerless. Just as Lazarus, we can no longer do much for ourselves. Just like Mary and Martha, we are dumfounded and have no serious solution to offer. Our human life, social life, and religious life are being affected. We now have many questions seeking answers. Like Mary and Martha, therefore, we look up to Jesus. Oh, let's do that with faith. Let's do that with cries for mercy. Let's do that with readiness to start a new life in Christ. Let's listen and hear Jesus tell us: Your world will rise again.

 

WE NEED TO HEAR THE VOICE OF JESUS

The pains and hopeless conditions here and there may be telling you that it is over. Wait in prayers. God has the final say. Your marriage that is not working may appear to be proving to you that it is finished.  It is not finished for you and with you until God says so. God wants your happiness together. The political and economic death of the country may be saying that it is over. God says otherwise. The denial of justice and the sufferings of the innocent for nothing may seem to say that evil has won. God says it is not true. Your personal efforts to survive without much headways may be telling you that you're a failure.  Oh no! God has not said so. You are like one locked up, with no light. Your hopes are almost frustrated.  You have found yourself in a situation where you're tied not to progress. You are cashless, friendless, and lifeless. Don't be hopeless again. From all these, you will come out victorious. God is with us a refuge and strength. Who is tying the young Lazarus? Who is killing the future of the youths? Who is aborting the hope of the people? Wait, you will hear from God.

Dear Child of God, May God command you to come out from that dark, graveyard situation. May God command the situations that have made our families, states, and country look like a graveyard to leave us alone. You will be out.

 

LAZARUS COME OUT!

We shall come out of our quarantine situations

We shall come out of the fear of the evil forces in our world today.

We shall come out of love for sin

We shall come out of the evil hands of oppression and marginalization.

We shall be untied. The evil clothes used in wrapping your destiny shall be removed, the masks shall be pulled off, the prison of cryptocracy and manipulation shall be let loose. Let's look up to the rising that accompanies dying. As you weep in prayers, the Lord weeps to take away your weeping, to unbind you and let you go. You will live again by the power of Christ.

May God bless His word in our hearts.

 

LET US PRAY

We thank You, Father, for assuring us today through Your Son that the various unpleasant situations we encounter presently will not have the final say in our lives. May Jesus the resurrection and the life lift us from our troubles, sickness, and death of body and soul.  May God manifest his glory in the world and restore us all. May we share in the fullness of joy and enjoy the beauty of living through Christ our Lord. Amen

Happy Sunday to you (Fifth Sunday of Lent)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

 5^th Sunday of Lent, Year A: Homily by Fr Isaac Chima

THEME: Making Our Hearts and Families Befitting Homes for God

Readings: Ez 37:12–14; Rom 8:8–11; Jn 11:1–45

Dear friends in Christ, the liturgical celebration of this Fifth Sunday of Lent centres on the theme of death, restoration, and resurrection or reanimation. The three readings present a beautiful unity: they reveal God’s power to reanimate, restore, and raise those who have been knocked down; they show the power of God through Christ over death and over every human situation that seems hopeless; they show God’s power to untie those bound by sickness, depression, sorrow, difficulties, and disappointments, and to send them home renewed.

The first reading comes from the vision and prophecy of Ezekiel concerning the people of Israel in exile in Babylon. In this vision, the Israelites in Babylon are likened to dry bones scattered in a valley—without flesh, without hope, and without a future (Ez 37:11). It is a vivid depiction of the terrible condition they were experiencing in exile. Ezekiel sees God breathe His Spirit upon the dry bones and restore them to life. God then assures him that just as the bones received flesh and new life, so the people of Israel will live again: they will be freed from slavery, restored to their land, and experience new life that springs from God’s Spirit. Their release from captivity is described as rising from the grave to a new life. The prophet urges his people to look beyond their present catastrophe toward future restoration and glory.

The vision and prophecy of Ezekiel—and the eventual release of Israel from captivity—reveal God’s power over everything that threatens our lives. They assure us that slavery, difficulties, hunger, depression, hopelessness, trials, tribulations, and even death cannot conquer those in whom the Spirit of God dwells.

The second reading today offers an even stronger affirmation of what the Spirit of God accomplishes in those in whom He dwells. It declares: “If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, then He who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also through His Spirit who dwells in you.” Therefore, as Christians, we must ensure that our bodies are true temples of the Holy Spirit. When the Spirit dwells in us, difficult situations cannot conquer us, and our mortal bodies will not experience ultimate decay at death (Ps 16:10). The Spirit will continually reanimate us, fill us with hope, and guide our steps.

This reading also teaches us what we must do to ensure that the Spirit of God dwells in us. It explains that those who live according to the flesh cannot please God, and the Spirit cannot dwell in them. Living “in the flesh” means allowing ourselves to be controlled by sinful desires and immoral behaviours. Our bodies are meant to be temples of the Holy Spirit.

Lent offers us a privileged opportunity to purify our hearts and lives through the sacrament of penance, so that the Spirit of God may find in us a worthy dwelling place. When we make our hearts and homes places where God is welcomed, His grace will always come to our aid—especially in moments of pain and sorrow.

The Gospel today shows us what God does for those who welcome Christ into their lives and homes. Because of the hostility of the Scribes and Pharisees, only a few families opened their doors to Jesus and His disciples. One of these was the family of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus in Bethany. They became true friends of Jesus during His ministry and used their resources to care for Him and His disciples whenever they came to Bethany to preach the Good News.

When this family was plunged into mourning by the death of Lazarus, Jesus did not abandon them. Instead, He came to them, wiped away their tears, restored their hope, and returned their joy by bringing Lazarus back to life. This is what happens to those who make their lives and homes worthy dwelling places for Christ and the Holy Spirit. Dear friends, if God’s Spirit truly lives in you, death cannot defeat you. If you make Christ the friend of your life and your family, sorrow and pain will not conquer you; Christ will surely come to your aid even when all hope seems lost.

Let us remember that when Jesus came to raise Lazarus, it was already four days after his death, and his body was expected to have begun decomposing. Humanly speaking, all hope was gone. Yet for those who are friends of Christ, hope never dies. This is a lesson for all who have made themselves friends of Christ: God’s seeming delay in answering your prayers is a call to patience and trust. Christ will not abandon you. He said, “I am the resurrection and the life; he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live; and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die.” To those who have not yet made their hearts and families fitting homes for Christ, the Church invites you to begin today.

Let us make Christ our friend this Lent by purifying our hearts from sin, listening to His voice, and living according to His teachings. Let us make our homes worthy places for Christ by building our families on love, forgiveness, and peace, for wherever Christ dwells, life always triumphs. Dear friends, praying together should be one of our common practices in our families this Lent.

Peace be with you

Fr Isaac Chinemerem Chima