18^th Sunday, Year A: homily by Fr Isaac Chima

Theme: Trusting God’s Providence in Times of Scarcity and Sorrow.

Readings: Is 55:1-3; Rom 8:35,37-39; Mt 14:13-21

Dearest brothers and sisters, we have a God who never abandons us to the forces that seek to destroy us—forces that threaten our spiritual and physical well‑being. The readings of this Sunday are a powerful testimony to God’s benevolence. They remind us that, despite the sorrows and uncertainties around us, we still have a God who cares, who loves, and who continues to provide for His people.

In the second reading, Saint Paul speaks to Christians who were suffering persecution, hardship, and discouragement. Many were already losing hope because of the trials they faced. Paul reminds them—and us—that no situation, no matter how painful, can separate us from the love of God. He asks, “What will separate us from the love of Christ? Anguish, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, or the sword?” And then he declares with conviction that nothing—neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor present nor future things—can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

Dear friends, I may not know the details of your personal struggles. But I know that many people among us carry heavy burdens: family conflicts, loss of loved ones, hostility in workplaces, abuses, illness, economic hardship, or injustice. Whatever your situation may be, dear friends, Saint Paul assures you today: your suffering cannot separate you from God’s love. God still sees you, still loves you, still cares for you.

The Gospel gives us a vivid demonstration of this loving care. Jesus performed a miracle in the desert—a place without life, without resources, and without ‘hope’. There were only five loaves and two fish, yet this scarcity did not prevent Jesus from feeding the multitude. This miracle simply demonstrates that neither the lack of resources nor the remoteness of the place could stop God’s providence from reaching us. In the same way, dear friends, our difficult circumstances cannot stop God from acting in our life, from reaching us, and from saving us.

The Gospel begins by telling us that Jesus had just heard of the death of His cousin, John the Baptist. He withdrew to a lonely place in sorrow. Yet His grief did not prevent Him from caring for the spiritual and physical needs of others. This is the love Saint Paul spoke about in the second reading—a love stronger than sorrow, stronger than death. Such is the nature of God’s love for us. What then must we do?

The prophet Isaiah tells us how to respond to this love. He invites us to come to God, to listen to Him, and to find life. He says, “Why spend your money for what is not bread, your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and you shall eat well… Pay attention and come to me; listen so that you may have life.” Many of us are so distracted that we no longer listen to God. God speaks to humanity from His words in the Bible. If we truly desire to hear God’s word in the situations we face, we must open the Bible and read it. Every passage of Scripture contains something God has spoken about our lives and our circumstances. Many people are also so busy that they no longer find time for prayer, not even in moments of crisis. Yet prayer is what allows us to enter into communion with God, to open our hearts to Him, and to follow His guidance in every moment of life. Dear friends, Isaiah calls us back, saying, “Why waste your strength elsewhere? Come to God.”

Today the Church invites us to open our hearts and listen attentively to God’s direction. We must be attentive and obedient, just as the disciples were in the Gospel. Human logic says that five loaves and two fish cannot feed five thousand people. But the disciples did not doubt Jesus; they listened and obeyed, and a miracle happened. The lesson is this: nothing is impossible for God, even in your situation. Only listen and obey his voice.

Another important lesson is from Jesus’ prayer over the loaves and fish. Faced with insufficient resources, the typical reaction would be to complain or pray for multiplication. But Jesus did something different: He lifted His eyes to heaven and gives thanks for the little that was available. He did not complain; rather, He trusted, and God worked wonders. We must learn from this. Our prayer should not be limited to complaints. Let us make time to thank God for what we have, even when it seems small and insufficient. Gratitude opens the door to miracles.

May you have a blessed Sunday

Rev. Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima

 18^TH SUNDAY, YEAR A: REFLECTION BY FR. JULIAN EKEH

THEME: FOLLOW JESUS, DON'T ALLOW HIM TO WITHDRAW

(Mathew14:13-21)

To understand the message in today's Gospel reading, it will be important to consider the background to the gospel pericope: The death of John the Baptist. The news came to Jesus Christ that he has just been beheaded. And Jesus withdrew.

Thinking about the reason behind Jesus' withdrawal brings us to the contemplation on the person of John the Baptist and in a special way who he is to Christ. John was the forerunner of Jesus Christ. In him people even saw a reflection of Christ Himself. Jesus was tempted to withdraw at hearing what became of John the Baptist in his mission which is not far from His own fate. He was tempted to go into hiding at seeing the ingratitude of the world He has come to save. He was saddened at the choice of evil over good. It was funny that Herodias whose marriage John was saving, whose head he was saving demanded through her daughter the head of John on a platter.

It was a serious discouragement that Herod who knew the truth could not pay heed to the prophetic voice but adhered strictly to the voice of a dancing prostitute.

It was a shock for Jesus that the head that spoke wisdom was handed over to a foolish girl. It was a great disappointment that the people began to celebrate evil while goodness languished in jail. Are there no such situations in and around us? They make Jesus to be withdrawn from us, they break the heart of Jesus, they make God contemplate if we actually desire to be saved.

 

FOLLOW THE COMPASSIONATE JESUS

It is good that some people looked up to Jesus as their one and only hope. Seeing the countenance of Jesus they ran on foot and never wanted to waste any time lest they miss the direction He was going, till they found him. Does it matter to you that you have made God turn his back on you? Do you even ask yourself if God is still happy with you? Does it disturb you that the world has incessantly broken the heart of Jesus? Do you care to do away with the things separating you from the love of God? Do you make any effort to appeal to his mercy and compassion?

Jesus looked and saw the great throng . He had compassion on them. He abandoned his plan to withdraw. He saw their helplessness, sickness and pains. He began to minister unto them. He healed them, taking care of them till evening. May God continue to take care of you till the appointed hour of your death. But for Him to do this, give God reasons to remain with you. Make Him know that you cannot survive without his mercy and compassion.

 

FOLLOW AND HAND OVER

 Jesus was followed also by his disciples. when the day was over they asked Jesus to send the crowd away from the lonely place where they were for them to go and find something to eat. what are the forces suggesting that you be taken away from Jesus? what type of emptiness is trying to distance you from Christ? are you frustrated to the point of allowing yourself to be dragged away from the presence of God in search of money, love, connection etc.?

Jesus will not allow you to go the way you came. With Him you cannot be lonely. He satisfies you with good things. he only wants you to stop complaining and hand over everything about you into His hands. Hand over your sorrows, hand over your pains, hand over your tears, hand over the little you have. In your hand it is one thing, in the hand of Jesus Christ it is another thing. Listen to what Jesus is saying in the midst of all those situations embarrassing you, "you need not go away". Learn to make the ugly situations of your life draw you closer to Jesus to see the beauty in the clay of your life. Open your ears and eyes to enter into conversation with Jesus. To hear him speak: "calm down", to behold him taking over your burdens.

 

FOLLOW TO THE END: YOU WILL COUNT THE BLESSINGS

Jesus commanded for a handover that necessitated a take-over which gave birth to baskets of leftover. You've got to watch and follow Jesus to the end. see how the attention moved away from the crowd and from the disciples as soon as everything was handed over to Jesus Christ. He takes the centre Stage. position Jesus at the centre of your life and you will just be counting your blessings naming them one by one. Even where others see no reason to praise God you will have a reason to praise the Lord. He ordered them to sit down as if to say "the battle is not yours ". He takes the little, five loaves and two fish and He looks up to heaven. Looking up to heaven means a lot. He takes away your eye from the ephemerals of the world to things that last, blessings from above, food of everlasting life, contentment and satisfaction with what you have. He inspires you on how to explore the possibilities of success around and how to find peace within and not to go elsewhere in search of it.

May the blessings of leftover rain down on you. May God bless you with a generous spirit. May all you have already handed over to Jesus (your children, your finances, your peace etc) be taken over by him and yield a harvest of abundant leftover.

Through today's breaking of the bread may God help us to follow him, eat and be satisfied and also adore him in the lonely Tabernacle where He withdraws waiting for our company.

May God bless His Word in our hearts through Christ our Lord Amen.

Happy Sunday (18th week of ordinary time, yr A)

Rev. Fr. Julian O Ekeh

 17^th Sunday, Year A: homily by Fr Isaac Chima

Theme: Body Language of Those Who Have Found Heaven

Readings: 1 Kgs 3:5, 7–12; Rom 8:28–30; Mt 13:44–52

While going through the readings of this Sunday, one beautiful Igbo song kept ringing in my mind. I would like to begin this reflection with that song: “Ụlọ m dị n’eluigwe mara mma, ụlọ m dị n’eluigwe mara mma. Ụlọ m dị n’ụwa mana nke dị n’igwe ka ya mma eh, ọnwụ adịghị ya.” The translation says: “My house in heaven is beautiful. Yes, I have a house on earth, but the one in heaven is far more beautiful because there is no death there.”

This beautiful song captures the motivation behind the actions of the two men in the first two parables of today’s Gospel. They sold everything they possessed in order to acquire the treasure they had found. There is no other justification for their actions except that their newly discovered treasures meant everything to them. For that reason, they willingly let go of all they had previously depended on—everything that once gave them pleasure, security, and assurance—in order to obtain their newfound treasure.

Jesus tells us that the greatest treasure these men discovered is the Kingdom of God. For the sake of gaining this Kingdom, they gave up all they once relied on. Through these parables, Jesus reveals the proper response of those who have found God and seen the beauty of heaven—the body language of those who have discovered heaven.

Anyone who has truly found God will never choose anything above God. Anyone who has glimpsed the beauty of heaven will not be deceived by the attractive things of this world. Such a person will always prioritize the law of God, as the psalmist reminds us today. He will say to himself, “Yes, the world is beautiful, but I will not lose heaven because of the beauty of this world. The beauty of this world fades, but the beauty of heaven remains forever.” He will also say, “The riches of this world are sweet and attractive, but they pass away. I will not lose my soul or heaven because of earthly riches, for the riches of heaven never pass away.” And again, he will say, “Yes, earthly friendships are good, but I will not lose communion with God because of my friends. Communion with God lasts forever, while earthly friendships last only for a moment.”

All who have found God’s Kingdom, when confronted with a choice between God’s Kingdom and the beautiful things of this world, will always choose God’s Kingdom because they know the value of what they have found. They would gladly echo St Paul in Philippians 3:7–9: “Whatever was gain to me, I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.”

So, the question for us is: Are we prepared to lose friends, wealth, relatives, jobs, and other sources of earthly joy when they become obstacles to God’s Kingdom?

In recent years, one phenomenon has gained serious momentum in Nigeria—the Japa movement: the rush to travel abroad at the slightest opportunity. The difficulties in Nigeria have left many with no option but to crowd foreign embassies seeking visas. Many sold almost everything they owned—lands, cars, houses—to raise money for visas and flight tickets. If Nigerians are willing to sell all they possess to obtain visas and travel abroad, Christians should be even more willing to renounce whatever stands between them and the Kingdom of God.

Let us be practical and mention some sources of earthly joy, comfort, and happiness that can hinder our journey to God’s Kingdom. Can you tell yourself that if getting a particular job—or working in a certain office—will cost you the Kingdom of God, it is better to remain unemployed? Can you tell yourself that if the means of becoming wealthy, acquiring cars, money, or political positions will cost you heaven, it is better to remain poor? (What does it profit a man to gain the whole world and lose his soul? Mt 16:26). Can you tell a friend that if being close to him or her will cost you your sanctity, you are ready to end the friendship? These two parables challenge us in countless ways.

Choosing God in the midst of worldly options that promise instant happiness, joy, and wealth is not easy. What often comes to mind is the fear of suffering, rejection, loss of job, or loss of relationships. The Church does not promise that choosing God makes one immune to hardship, poverty, rejection, or even death. But we must remember Christ’s promise: “Everyone who has forsaken houses, brothers, sisters, father, mother, wife, children, or lands for my sake will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.” (Mt 19:29)

This promise is strengthened by today’s second reading, where St Paul assures us: “In everything, God works for good with those who love Him.” (Rom 8:28)

The first reading gives us a living example of what God does for those who choose Him above earthly joys. Solomon was given the option to choose whatever he wanted. Among all the possibilities, Solomon chose wisdom—the ability to discern God’s will and follow it—so he could govern God’s people rightly. Because of this choice, God blessed Solomon with far more than he asked for.

Therefore, the lesson for us today is: When we prioritize God and heaven, God takes care of all our other needs, because He has promised: “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all other things will be added unto you.” (Mt 6:33)

Peace be with you.

Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima

 17^TH SUNDAY YEAR A: REFLECTION BY FR JULIAN EKEH

THEME: TIME FOR TREASURE HUNT: BE WISE

Gospel: Mt 13:44–52

There comes in the life of man, a time to make a choice, to set aside, to go for what you want, to keep away distractions, to ask, seek and search.

What matters to one person may not matter to another. What one man treasures may not be a treasure for the other. But no matter the many perspectives on treasure which may at times be an abuse of the word, we are called upon to consider treasure as it is. Not from a relative point of view. Treasure that worth the name is one laid down by God.

Thus in the gospel of today, Jesus used three parables to talk about the kingdom of God. He talks about it as a hidden treasure. We shall do a study on this to know the relationship between the kingdom and a hidden treasure. It is within, it is around you. It is with you. Just discover it and grab it.

Secondly, He talks of it as fine pearls which was found by a merchant and he sold all to have it. It is indeed about giving up something today for a better tomorrow and eternity. It involves seeing what others fail to see. The value of most of the things you do may not be understood today but later in life. Be future driven. Be driven by eternity. People buy lands that seem to be valueless at present but they appreciate later to give them lifetime wealth. In a world where heavenly values are no longer taken seriously, we are called upon to appreciate heavenly and godly values.

Jesus talks of the kingdom too as a net thrown into the sea for a catch of fish.

Whereas the first and second parables centre on guarding jealously what one treasured, covering and protecting it from attacks and snatchers, as well as selling off the unnecessaries to buy the treasure the third is an invitation to make sure you separate whatever that may make you be separated from among those who will inherit the kingdom of heaven.

Thus, when we make God our one and only treasure, go for him and His values, He in turn makes us His special treasures, the apple of His eye. While separating the good from bad fish, we shall be taken into his heavenly vessel.

Today and indeed now is the time for us to go about the hunt for the treasure of eternal joy, a joy which begins here. The following are necessary in our treasure search and discovering of our treasure:

 

DISCOVER AND COVER

Jesus leads us through the spiritual voyage of discovery in which we find the way to the kingdom of God. That is the purpose for which He came to the world; to forgive us our sins and lead us to heaven. It is His will that having discovered the secrets of the kingdom revealed through his life and teachings we may guard them, keep them safe and handle them with care. That is what the man who found the treasure hidden in the field did. In our world so saturated with a lot of false teachings and misdirections, Jesus beckons on us to guide our faith jealously because the enemy shows myriads of treasures. He has not stopped taking people to the high mountains showing them different kingdoms and promising to give it to them. Be firm. Cover the treasure in you. Don't expose it to mundane, diabolical and immoral devourers.

 

SEPARATE THE UNNECESSARY

In order not to be separated at last...

Set aside and sieve. Keep sieving till you get at the finest you. Sieve the information you receive. Sieve the type of persons you mingle with, sieve the advice you receive, sieve out discouragement, sieve away ego, sieve out pride.

 

BE TRAINED

Jesus talks about the disciple who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven. The only reason for which Christ continues to train us is to make us fit for his glory.

Here discipline comes in.

To attain your goal in life you've got to pass through training, undergo some spiritual exercises. "Onye ma akwa ọkwa n'achi ya" (Appreciate divine love hidden in experiences of life). Receive the training to learn and see the hand of God in the daily experiences of your life. Train yourself with self-control, train yourself through mortification.

 

SELL AND BUY

To attain the demands of realizing your treasure you've got to sell a lot of things. Sell your gossip time to buy prayer time, sell your sin to buy holiness, sell your laziness to buy hard work, sell your heartlessness to buy compassion, sell your pride to buy humility, sell your abuse to buy respect, sell your fear and buy faith, sell your stinginess to buy charity.

Just look within you and find out what needs to be sold. Sell it off. Use the energy you give in to it for something positive, sell the impression that someone is holding you down and hold on to God with the inspiration that he lifts you up no matter what.

Just be wise in making life decisions. Endeavour to work hard for a lasting treasure. Work with the grace of God to discover the treasure hidden in your day-to-day activities.

May God lead us to find with joy our good heart desires and be rewarded eternally with the greatest reward of happiness in heaven through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Happy Sunday to you (17th Sunday, Ordinary Time, Yr A)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

https://chimaisaac.medium.com/17th-sunday-year-a-reflection-by-fr-julian-ekeh-6c9f88638718

16^th Sunday, Year A: Homily by Fr Isaac Chima

Theme: God’s Power Revealed in Mercy: A Call to Patience in a World of Imperfect people.

Readings: Wis 12:13, 16–19; Rom 8:26–27; Mt 13:24–43

My dearest friends, I would like to begin this homily with a story — a story that reveals what goes on in the hearts of many Christians. In December 2019, during the Christmas season, I was in a parish in Milan for pastoral duties. One day, during the preparations for Christmas, a lady approached me with a question. Her disposition was that of someone carrying a heavy burden, a burden that was affecting her faith in God.

She said to me: “Father, I believe that God is all-powerful, that His power prevails over the evil forces in the world, and that He loves us, His children. But what I do not understand is why He has failed to completely destroy evil and the wicked. Why are there evil people everywhere? Does it mean that God is no longer the mighty man in battle?”

Dear friends, the answer I gave her is drawn from today’s readings.

I know that this lady is not alone in her thoughts about God. Many people in today’s Mass may be carrying similar questions in their hearts — especially those who have suffered abuse in their lives, marriages, relationships, and families; those who have endured injustice in their workplaces and in society; those who have been repaid with evil for doing good. Many of these people ask: “Why does God permit evil to triumph so often? Why are the wicked allowed to prosper?”

My dearest friends, Jesus answers these questions in today’s parable. He teaches us the true nature of our God.

The first reading paints a beautiful picture of who God is. It tells us that He is the sovereign master of His power — great and omnipotent — yet He does not display His power through anger, punishment, or condemnation. Instead, He shows His power through mercy and patience. God judges with clemency, and with great leniency, He governs us. God is tolerant and merciful. Dear friends, this is the nature of our God; this is why He has not destroyed all our enemies. As the prophet Ezekiel says, God does not desire the death of the wicked, but that they repent and be saved.

The Gospel reading gives us a dramatic illustration of this divine nature. Through the parable of the wheat and the weeds, Jesus explains why evil coexists with good in the world and how we should treat those who do evil around us. The weeds represent those who abuse us, those who treat us unjustly, those who oppose the Church and her teachings, those who stand against truth, love, peace, and goodness. But how do we treat such people? Do we ask God to destroy them? Do we destroy them ourselves? Jesus says the answer is no.

Jesus calls us to be patient with our brothers and sisters, husbands and wives who hurt us, those who oppress us, those who disagree with us — just as God is patient with them and patient with us in our own sins. By God’s grace, and through our prayers and good example, Jesus hopes that they will be converted and saved. He wants us to convert them through our witness. The good examples we show — however small — may one day grow in their hearts like the mustard seed.

Jesus also teaches us not to be discouraged by the presence of enemies in the Church, in our families, or in society. God allows them to live so that they may repent of their evil ways. We must understand, however, that the triumph and prosperity of the wicked are short-lived, whereas the reward of the Christian who suffers because of their wickedness is everlasting.

Dearest friends, Jesus also speaks about the fate of those who refuse to change. In the parable, He says there will be a time of gathering the wheat, followed by a separation — the wheat from the weeds that refused to become wheat — and then the weeds will be thrown into the fire. This means that those who refuse to make good use of the grace given to them will not escape God’s punishment. Therefore, Jesus warns us not to take God’s patience, tolerance, and mercy for granted.

Finally, the two other parables in today’s Gospel — the mustard seed and the yeast — encourage us not to give up on the seeds of God’s kingdom that we have been planting in the hearts of others through our good actions and examples. Our small acts of goodness may seem insignificant, like the mustard seed, but they will one day grow into something great. Likewise, our good example towards those who treat us badly may appear fruitless, but if we remain patient — like a baker waiting for his dough to rise — we will surely see the results.

Let us pray in today’s Holy Mass for the gift of patience: that we may be patient with ourselves, with God, and with others. Let us also ask God to help us to be loving and merciful, and to understand His true nature.

Peace be with you.

Rev. Fr. Isaac Chima

 16^TH SUNDAY, YEAR A: REFLECTION BY FR, JULIAN EKEH

TOPIC: WHILE MEN WERE SLEEPING

(Matthew 13:24-43)

Jesus gives us another parable today, comparing the kingdom of God to a man who sowed good seed in his field, but while men were sleeping, his enemies sowed weeds. But the man told the servants to allow the two seeds to grow together.

The enemy takes advantage of the good. Evil likes to draw close to goodness. The angel of darkness tries to appear as the angel of light. He comes to wear the garb of goodness to mix itself with the things we revere and hold sacred in order to look good and acceptable. He begs for attention and strikes when given any opportunity. They target the times they will never be suspected. They come to plant their evil seeds among the good seeds.

The evil one waits for you to sleep. While men sleep, they plan their evil, execute it, announce it, and celebrate it. But sleep is natural, it is important, it is healthy. The body needs it. But being asleep spiritually is dangerous.  It has to do with being unaware of the spiritual oppressions around you.

 

WHY WILL THE ENEMY CHOSE THE MOMENT OF SLEEP?

The enemy prefers the times of sleep so that by the time one wakes up with after-sleep dizziness, he accepts the seed he has sown as normal.

Think of the many abominations that just sprouted out from nowhere and became accepted as norms. Think of the evil leaders that we wake up to see ruling over us mysteriously and wickedly without our consent. Think of the sudden negative changes husbands and wives who once loved each other notice from nowhere in their marriage. Think of the rapid change of behaviour in that your son or daughter who was a definition of goodness before. What happened along the line?

Consider the sharp shift from friendship to enmity.  Think of the mornings we wake to see evil trending and being celebrated in social media as nothing.

The servants who made the observation of the weed growing among the good seeds asked the householder how these were done. The householder replied: An enemy has done this.

Beware of the things the enemy is doing or trying to do in your life. In Igbo "Catechism nke abuo" of Owerri Archdiocese, the question goes: What are the evils the devil can do? (He destroys and leads to sin).

Beware and be aware! Do not fall into that spiritual slumber. Do not allow that evil practice in you become a habit.  Listen to the word of God on the best way to live with the daily growing evils in our world today.

 

THE WAY OUT

Most of us are constantly worried about the uprising of evil in different shapes and forms in our world today. We are troubled about how evil men seem to be prospering. We are frustrated by broad day robbery of truth, denial of justice and corruption. The leadership of the best by the worst gives us serious discomfort. The reign of the wicked over the good men dampens our spirits.

We call for an immediate arrest of the situation as a way out. Like the servants in today's parable, we wish to suggest to God to blow the trumpet and start judgement. For some, it is sign of end times. Others call God names. Some others ask God questions like: God, why are you like this? Why are you allowing evil to grow with the good seeds you have planted? Some lose their faith.  Some say: religion is a scam. Some call Christianity a religion of the weak.

God's ways are not our ways. Our approach to solving problems differ from God's ways of handling them. God does not want to lose the good with the bad. He says, let them grow together until the harvest. He gives the bad enough time to be influenced by the Good. He trusts the good seed and believes it not to disappoint. Thus, spiritual growth is the way out.

'Let them grow together' means that God knows the stuff we are made of. We are too good to be rubbished. We have what it takes to overcome and overthrow the enemy.

'Let them grow together' can suggest growing in different directions.  If the bad seed refuses to grow into goodness, then the good seed should not stop growing. While the bad seed grows in vices, let the good seed continue growing in virtues. Let it grow and suffocate, overshadow and dethrone the evil seed. Let good politicians shine brighter than evil politicians. Let good lawmakers outgrow their evil counterparts.  Let good Christians outnumber bad ones. Let good wives and husbands be more than bad ones. Let evil be silenced by good.

'Grow together' implies: Do not be intimidated by them. 'I have conquered the world.'

It is a call to keep on pushing with the right strategies, pressing the right buttons, avoiding compromises in order to win the battles of life.

Let us therefore be encouraged in our various experiences in the world. The troubles and forces here and there may not be taken away totally. Instead of pulling us down let them challenge us to be the best of our kind. Jesus knew all these when in John 17:15 He prayed: "My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one."

Be patient dearest in Christ.  Judgement must come at the end. At that time, evil will be stripped of its deceptive garments that made it appear good. Only good will be called good. And only those who remained above the corruptions and immoralities of the world, who washed away the influences they got from the evil one, will inherit the kingdom of God.

May God bless His word in our hearts.

LET US PRAY

Thank You, Lord, for the seed of Your word in our hearts today. Help us to be spiritually aware of the growing evil trends in the world. By Your grace, may we continue to grow in virtues and become true agents of positive change wherever we find ourselves through Christ our Lord.  Amen

Happy Sunday to you (16th Sunday, Ordinary Time, Yr A)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

 15^th Sunday, Year A: Homily by Fr Isaac Chima

Theme: Stumbling Blocks to the Fruitfulness of God’s Word in Our Lives

Readings: Is. 55:10–11; Rom. 8:18–23; Mt. 13:1–23

Dear friends in Christ, on this fifteenth Sunday, the Church opens our eyes to the power of the Word of God and its efficacy in the hearts and lives of men. She invites us to examine our relationship with this powerful Word and challenges us to ask ourselves what the Word of God has accomplished or transformed in our lives since we began hearing it.

In the first reading, the prophet Isaiah speaks about the power of the Word that comes from the mouth of God. He compares this Word to rain and snow that must water the earth whenever they fall. This comparison presents the Word of God as a force that leaves an imprint of goodness wherever it touches, a force that leaves positive marks upon whoever or whatever it encounters. In the book of Genesis, it was the power of God’s Word that transformed a formless void into a beautiful universe and brought living beings into existence. In the Gospel accounts, this same Word raised the dead, gave sight to the blind, strengthened the lame, restored speech to the mute, cleansed lepers, healed countless sicknesses, calmed storms, cast out demons, consoled the afflicted, and restored love where hatred reigned. Truly, the Word of God is alive and active, cutting more incisively than a double‑edged sword (cf. Heb. 4:12).

Dear friends, the Word of God is still active and alive among us today. It continues to perform the wonders it accomplished in the past—restoring our bodies to wholeness, filling our hearts with virtue, recreating our world, and making it beautiful. The Word of God still leaves imprints of goodness, healing, and salvation in human lives.

However, in today’s Gospel, Jesus teaches us that for God’s Word to bear fruit in our lives, certain conditions must be met. We must accept the Word of God and put it into practice. Jesus makes it clear that refusing to accept God’s Word or failing to live according to it obstructs its positive effects in our lives. Sadly, no one can escape the ultimate consequence of rejecting God’s Word, which is eternal condemnation.

Jesus uses the parable of the Sower to illustrate the blessings that come from accepting and living by the Word of God, and the consequences of hardening our hearts against it. One of the most important lessons in this parable is that the same seed was scattered on all terrains. This means that the Word of God is the same, but its effects depend on the disposition of the person who receives it. The different types of soil represent the human heart and the various reactions people have when they hear the Word, as well as the impact it makes in their lives.

Let us consider the first type of soil—the pathway. The seeds that fell along the path were eaten by birds. Jesus uses this image to show how the devil prevents the Word of God from bearing fruit in the lives of those who outrightly reject it. He reveals how the devil operates in the hearts of those who desire a kind of freedom that contradicts God’s will and the teachings of the Church, and in the hearts of those who think the Word of God is irrelevant to the realities of today’s world. For such people, Christian love, peace, forgiveness, repentance, and charity mean nothing. They believe they are following their own designs, yet they are unknowingly following the designs of the devil.

The second type of soil is the rocky ground. The seeds that fell here sprouted quickly but withered under the sun because they had no deep roots. Jesus uses this to depict those who enjoy listening to the Word of God but lack the will to put it into practice. Many people love good homilies; some even shed tears and resolve never to return to their sins. But once they leave the church and are confronted by the agents of the devil—friends, colleagues, or relatives who lure them with sinful suggestions and persuasive arguments—they find themselves returning to their old ways. This group also includes those who remain indecisive when they should reject sin, and those who compromise their faith out of fear of mockery or insult. Jesus tells us that such people obstruct the Word of God from bearing fruit in their lives.

The third type of soil is the thorny ground. The seeds that fell here grew but were choked by thorns because they could not withstand competition. The human heart contains two opposing forces: the force toward good and the force toward evil. Every challenge in life presents us with the option to choose one or the other. Jesus uses this category to depict those who choose sinful options when faced with challenges—those who succumb to bribery, respond with violence when provoked, or use evil means to achieve good ends. He also refers to those who allow their jobs and busy schedules to destroy their relationship with God. In such hearts, the seed planted by the devil is watered and nourished more than the seed of God. Jesus reminds us that people who behave this way will not experience the positive effects of God’s Word.

Finally, we have the seed that fell on good soil. It germinated, was nourished, and produced abundant fruit. Jesus uses this last group to show how productive the Word of God can be in the lives of those who receive it with open hearts and put it into practice. It yields fruits of healing, renewal, salvation, love, peace of mind, favour, and restoration.

Today, the Church invites us to examine our hearts and identify the things choking the Word of God we have been hearing. We are called to discover and remove whatever is preventing God’s Word from bearing fruit in us, what is obstructing our lives from being transformed by it. Jesus wants us to recognize how we may have contributed to the barrenness of God’s powerful Word in our lives.

Dear friends, the Church wants us to examine ourselves and understand whether the Word of God that we hear every Sunday is producing positive changes in us or not. We have listened to many homilies about peace, love, forgiveness, humility, charity, and unity. The Church wants us to ask ourselves whether we have put these teachings into practice or not. We should not be among those who think that the Word of God does not speak to the realities of our time, because God’s Word is still relevant and meaningful for our lives.

Peace be with you. Have a blessed Sunday.

Rev. Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima