6th Sunday of Easter, Year A – Homily by Fr Isaac Chima

Theme: How to Defend the Christian Faith in a Hostile Environment

Readings: Acts 8:5–8, 14–17; 1 Pet 3:15–18; Jn 14:15–21

The Gospel reading today continues the final discourse of Jesus with His disciples. In this discourse, Jesus gives His disciples His last will and testament. It is the duty of a good father, when he senses that his final days are near, to gather his children and share with them his last wishes. The final words of a father are never taken lightly by his children.

In the same way, one of the last things Christ told His disciples—and tells us today—is to keep His commandments as a sign of our love for Him. He said: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” And again: “He who has my commandments and keeps them is the one who loves me.”

Indeed, there is no better way to show our love for Christ than by keeping His commandments. But the great challenge is this: how do we show this love in a world that is hostile to the values of Christ? We live in a world that behaves as if God does not exist, a world that sees those who follow Christ’s teachings as people swimming against the current.

For example: Christ taught His disciples to love and to cherish peace. How can they live this peace in a world that constantly sows hatred? Christ asked Christians to be holy and pure. How can they live this in an environment where immorality is proposed, imposed, celebrated, and even protected as a “right”? Christ asked His followers to be truthful and to reject bribery. What should Christians do when they work in offices where corruption is normal and lies are called “diplomacy”? Christ commanded His disciples to make disciples for Him. How can they do this in a world that mocks preachers and considers them outdated?

It is in the light of these difficulties that St Peter gives the powerful admonitions we heard in the second reading. At that time, Peter was in prison in Rome. From his cell, he wrote to Christians throughout the Roman Empire who were facing suffering, hardship, and persecution, teaching them how to carry out Christ’s mandate in a hostile world.

What St Peter told the early Christians is extremely important for today’s Christians, who find themselves in a world marked by secularism and religious indifference. He said, “Always be prepared to make a defence to anyone who calls you to account for the hope that is in you.”

Dear friends, there are many ways to give an account of the faith we have received from Christ. I want to highlight three.

1. Defend the Faith by Knowing It

No one can defend what he does not know. Many ideologies in society challenge the faith of the Church, yet many Christians are too lazy to read the Word of God or learn their catechism.

St Peter challenges us to equip ourselves with knowledge of what we believe so that we can defend our faith when confronted by those who ridicule it. Let me ask some pertinent questions: When non-believers ask why you pray the Rosary, what do you say? When they ask why you go to confession, what do you say? When they ask why you pray to the Virgin Mary, the saints, or for the dead, what do you say?

Many people have left the Church simply because they were questioned about practices they never understood and never cared to understand.

So, dear friends, learn your faith. Read the Bible. Study the catechism. Know what the Church teaches and why.

2. Defend the Faith by Standing Against Evil

Many Christians are afraid to witness to Christ because they do not want to be hated by the world. Some prefer to remain silent; others compromise. But evil grows when good people keep quiet.

Dear friends, if you find yourself in a place where justice is denied, truth is rejected, and immorality is celebrated, what do you do? Do you keep quiet? Do you compromise?

Christians must never remain silent or compromise in environments that deny the teachings of Christ. Such situations are precisely the moments when we are called to give an account of our faith.

Do not let fear—fear of insults, suffering, rejection, loss of friends, or loss of privileges—lead you to deny your faith or remain silent in the face of evil.

Christ promised that “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will acknowledge before my Father in heaven.” (Mt 10:32–33) We should always remember that the worst suffering is separation from God.

3. Defend the Faith by Living It

In the second reading, St Peter gives a second step. He said, “Do it with gentleness and reverence; keep your conscience clear, so that those who speak against your good behaviour in Christ may be put to shame.”

Here, St Peter calls Christians not to allow their lifestyle to contradict their faith. Our lives must be shining examples of what we preach.

Christians witness to Christ not only with words but with their lives. Hence, every Christian should reflect gentleness, humility, peace, love, justice, charity, patience, forbearance, and all Christian virtues. In fact, the life of a Christian should be a Bible for those who never read the Bible.

If the way you live before your husband, wife, children, colleagues, and friends contradicts your Christian faith, then you cannot convince or convert anyone. Therefore, living a life that reflects the teachings and virtues of Christ is the best defence of the Christian faith.

Happy Sunday, and remain blessed.

Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima

 6^TH SUNDAY OF EASTER, YEAR A: REFLECTION BY FR. JULIAN EKEH

THEME: I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU

(John 14:15-21)

Today is the sixth Sunday of Easter. This Sunday will lead us to Ascension of the Lord. The Church wants us to reflect on what happens to us those moments we feel the Lord has deserted us, when we think that we are abandoned, when we feel desolate, when we conclude that we are orphaned.

Our Lord Jesus Christ reassures as recorded in the prophecy of Isaiah 49:15: " Does a mother forget the baby at her breast and not have compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you. "

In Jesus Christ, we have a Saviour who will never abandon us no matter what, even if the earth should rock. He is true to His name ' Emmanuel'.

To prove to us that He is determined never to leave us, let us consider his promises in the Gospel of today:

 

I WILL ASK THE FATHER TO GIVE YOU ANOTHER COUNSELLOR

Our Lord, in His decision not to leave us, insists on interceding on our behalf. He knows too well that we do not know how to pray, as we ought. So He asks for our needs. He asks the Father to send another counsellor to be with His disciples. The role of the counsellor is that of giving advice, especially on personal issues, individual problems, and confidential matters. We all have our individual worries and troubles. In our vocations, professions, marriages, relationships, etc., we need a confidant, one we can trust, one we can open up to, one I can give my secrete and feel safe, one we can tell our dark sides to and get healing from, one who will not betray us, one who can actually listen to our nonsense. The counsellor is a listener. He gives attention, and he is a therapist.

Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit to do all these for us. Let us be disposed to receive Him for this function and feel free to open up to the operations of God who in Christ even through our fellow human beings give us counsels from above.

 

I WILL COME TO YOU

We have a God who comes to us. He is the God who comes to Adam and Eve in the garden, who comes to liberate the Israelites from captivity, who comes as man to save humanity, who comes to us in times of need. He comes because He does not want us to perish, even in our weaknesses. He comes because it is not His wish that we be lost. He comes because He does not want the devil to take the glory due to His name. He will come. He will intervene in our family problem, in the various crises threatening the world. He will come to arrest the turbulent seas. May we pray Him: Maranatha! O come, Jesus, do not delay! Come as you have promised. Come for without you, we can do nothing.

 

YOU WILL SEE ME

The Lord will come that we may see Him and rejoice. During this Easter period, we saw the great joy with which the women and the apostles greeted the Lord when they saw Him. May you see the Lord's goodness, His mercy, and compassion. May His wondrous doings come to pass in your life. May no locked doors stop you from seeing His promise come to pass in you. He promised that you would see His love. May his love be upon you as you have placed your hope in Him.

 

I WILL MANIFEST MYSELF

With the uncertainties and difficulties in our world today, the political manipulations here and there, the persecution of Christians, the marginalization of particular regions, the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer due to greed and fraud, some people may think that God is not going to act. Hear His words:

For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not remain quiet till her vindication shines out like the dawn and her salvation like a blazing torch"( Isaiah 62:1)

God manifests and continues to manifest Himself and will not stop doing so till the end.

Let us not stop loving God. Let us not stop worshipping Him in spirit, and in truth. Let us never think that He has abandoned us. Let us not abandon Him.  Let us be assured that God is our refuge and strength, that He is with us, and that He is our stronghold (psalm 46).

May God bless His word in our hearts.

 

LET US PRAY

Thank You, Lord, for reassuring us today that You will never leave us alone. Give us the grace to wait prayerfully and with action for Your promises and see them come to pass.

May we love God and our neighbours that God may manifest His great wonders in answering and delivering us from the many trials that threaten us through Christ our Lord. Amen

Happy Sunday

(6th Sunday of Easter, Year A)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

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

Theme: You Are a Chosen Race — Let Your Hearts Not Be Troubled

Readings: Acts 6: 1-7; 1 Pt 2: 4-9; Jn. 14: 1-12

The readings of the fifth Sunday of Easter are rich with lessons for both our spiritual and physical nourishment. They tell us not to let our hearts be troubled because we are a chosen race, a holy nation, and God’s own people. They also warn us of what can happen when we fail to care for the physical needs of members of our Christian community.

In the second reading, St Peter beautifully defined the identity of Christians as ‘a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation and God’s own people chosen to declare his wonderful deeds.’ These qualities highlight our participation in the life and priesthood of Christ through the sacraments we have received. They also demand that Christians live a distinct kind of life in society — a life that enables them to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Christ. As St Paul teaches, we must not model our lives according to the standards of this world.

The first reading shows us two major threats to the unity of the Church and harmony among Christians: discrimination and insensitivity to the material needs of the faithful. In this reading, the Greek-speaking Christians complained that their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food by the Hebrew-speaking Christians.

The swift and wise way the apostles handled this problem offers important lessons for our Christian communities today.

First, our communities must be places of love, equality, fairness, and harmony. We must reject every sentiment, attitude, or behaviour that divides us.

Second, the reading teaches us that if we fail to attend to the social and material needs of our members, we risk hindering the work of God. We must not ignore the genuine concerns of our brothers and sisters. We must be close to every member of our community, know their daily struggles, and help them find solutions. The person who sits beside you every Sunday may be carrying burdens that God wants to ease through you. Hence, make effort to look beyond the smiling face. Both the spiritual and material needs of our members matter.

Third, while caring for material needs, we must not allow the spiritual dimension of our mission to suffer. Sometimes, in our efforts to organize social activities or respond to material concerns, we unintentionally neglect prayer, worship, and spiritual growth. St Peter reminds us today that we must maintain a healthy balance between the spiritual and the material — and that the spiritual must always receive our primary attention.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus seems to speak directly to each of us. He said, “Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me.” Dear friends, we live in a world where political tensions, social instability, family struggles, and personal challenges have left many people broken, discouraged, and overwhelmed. The disciples felt the same way when they realized Jesus was leaving them and that they would face the harsh realities of their society without His physical presence.

I do not know the particular difficulties you are facing. It may be a crisis in your marriage, instability in your relationships, worries about your children, health challenges, problems at work, or economic hardship. Whatever your situation, the Church wants these words of Jesus to echo in your heart: “Let not your heart be troubled.”

Why? Because Jesus is the way — the One who guides you through your worries without letting you fall; He is the way out of your troubles and the way that will also lead you to the Father. He is the truth — the One who gives you the courage to face every situation with hope. He is the life — the One whose life in you cannot be destroyed by the difficulties of this world.

Let not your hearts be troubled, because God has chosen you to be signs and bearers of His victory in the world. And the one whom God has chosen cannot be defeated by trials and difficulties.

Jesus challenges us to believe in Him and in the power of His works. Peter, in the second reading, urges us to come to Jesus, the living stone rejected by men but chosen and precious in God’s sight. Let us open our hearts to Him in today’s Mass and entrust our lives to His care.

Peace be with you, and may you have a blessed Sunday.

Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima

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

THEME: LET NOT YOUR HEARTS BE TROUBLED

(John 14:1-12)

Jesus addresses His disciples not to be troubled in the following words:  "Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me..." Jesus told His disciples these when they were afraid of losing Him, because He told them He was going away.

In our situation today it seems that God is going away, it looks like God is far removed from us. We are surrounded by a whole lot of life-threatening realities. We are left in the state of "Chi boo anu ozo" (One day one trouble), the news all over is not encouraging, the Government is more confused, the voice of prayer seem to be silenced, there's no work, no payment, no food, no money. There is no joy in the world. Many people no longer see reasons to live. Jesus' word encourages us not to give up but to look up, not to be fainthearted but to lift up our hearts. This is an exercise done in faith, hope and charity. This is seeing what the ordinary eye doesn't see, believing what hopelessness discourages us from believing, loving and caring with the little in our possession.

Let us put away fear and move on as children of God. Let us keep following Jesus the Way, Truth and Life. He will not disappoint us. He will not abandon us. Are you still troubled? By family problems, economic situation, sleeplessness, persecutions? Are you worried about how to send those children back to school ? Are you weeping because of the leadership of this country and your State? Do not be troubled? Just believe in God, do the part in your hands, God will do the rest. Just speak to your troubled heart: "Obim dere duu atula ujo, Obim dere duu, Chukwu maara ihe oma O ga emerem o, Obim dere duu. (Fear not my soul, God will arrest thy worries). Hear these words of St Teresa of Avila:

"Let nothing disturb you

Let nothing frighten you

All things are passing away

God never changes

Patience obtains all things

Whoever has God lacks nothing.

God alone suffices."

It shall be well. Yes!

Oge ihe siri gi ike,

Oge uru juru gi obi

Nsogbu eju ebe nile

Nwannem ka obi sie gi ike

 

Lele Jesu, rio Jesu

Chekwube Jesu, Oga- adi mma.

 

Hard Facts of life

The hard truth we have to know about life is that there must be troubles; small or great. Winds must blow. The sea must rage. But there's something that makes a whole lot of difference: My Choice. Choose to live above the troubled sea. Choose to swim across the raging storm. The seat of these choices is in the heart. Do not allow the troubles in the world, on the outside to determine your heart's joy and peace. The troubles are not worth dying for. It is not easy to live this way but Divine grace will make it possible.

 

Speak out your troubles

Telling the disciples not to allow their hearts to be troubled means that there is a better state for which the heart is made. The heart should be an abode of Christ the prince of peace and not of the crisis that steals your peace.

Therefore, when the troubles sneak in with their accompanying headaches, heartbreaks, sleeplessness and worries. Speak out. Pray! Share it. Problem shared is problem solved. You have a shoulder you can always cry on. Lay it on Jesus' shoulders, come to him with your burden, He knows how to make it light. Do not allow it to sap you, to weigh you down and increase your blood pressure.

 

Address Yourself

You know what you want. You are the one at each point in life to tell yourself: "I refuse to be troubled ". O yes! You can do this by always being positive. Be strong and tell yourself: "I know that I can make, I know that I can stand, no matter what may come my way".

 

Hold on to the Way, Truth and Life

In times of trouble, the question is always: where do I go from here? Which way? What is the next line of action? Jesus answers:  "I am the Way". "I Am" is the name of God as revealed to Moses. God is the Way, Him alone can make a way where there seem to be no way, where troubles seem to have closed.

In a world filled with lies from the government, from religious groups, world organizations, family and friends Jesus says: "I am the Truth". The truth we need to know about ourselves, about our world and what best to do comes from God.

In a world where life has lost its worth and is now and again threatened by diseases natural and man-made, by wars and terrorism Jesus maintains: "I am Life". We commit our lives into his hands for Him to sustain and uphold it. He gives His life in place of ours. May we accept and value the precious gift of human life in others and ourselves. May God trouble the troubles that trouble us and keep us safe from all dangers through Christ our Lord.

Happy Sunday (5th Sunday of Easter)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

 4th Sunday of Easter, Year A (Good Shepherd Sunday): Homily by Fr Isaac Chima

Theme: Shepherds After the Example of Christ

Readings: Acts 2:14a,36-41; 1 Pet. 2:20b-25; Jn. 10:1-10 

Dear friends in Christ, today, the Fourth Sunday of Easter, the Church celebrates Good Shepherd Sunday—also known as Vocations Sunday. In the readings, the Church presents to us the image of Christ the Good Shepherd, the perfect model of true leadership. Jesus is the Shepherd of our lives: He knows each of us by name, protects us from the evil one, and lays down His life for our salvation. In the second reading, St Peter reminds us that Christ, the Shepherd and Guardian of our souls, has given us an example to follow through His love and sacrifice on the cross.

Therefore, the Church invites us to turn our minds to Christ and learn from Him the qualities of authentic leadership—whether in the family, in the Church, or in society. True shepherds care for those entrusted to them, protect them from harm, provide for their material, moral, and spiritual needs, and build relationships of love and trust.

Today, the Church also calls us to pray for vocations. Our prayers should not be limited to priestly and religious vocations; we must also pray for genuine vocations to family life and to every form of service that promotes the good of humanity.

This invitation to rediscover the qualities of true leadership is crucial because we live in a world where many leaders have forgotten—or misunderstood—the meaning of shepherding. Too often, leaders feed on the people instead of caring for them. We see thieves and looters in government and other sectors of society. We see family leaders who no longer take the spiritual and moral formation of their children seriously. We see Church leaders who have lost touch with Christ’s pattern of leadership.

A teacher once told his young students that he was their shepherd and they were his flock. He then asked them what a shepherd does for his flock. One child innocently replied, “The shepherd kills his sheep whenever there is a feast.” This simple answer reveals how distorted the concept of shepherding has become in our world.

In the Old Testament, to be a leader, king, or ruler meant to be a shepherd. Psalm 23, which we read today, beautifully depicts God as our Shepherd. Moses acted as a shepherd when he led Israel out of slavery: he fought for them, provided for them, and constantly sought their good. Many judges and kings followed this example, seeing themselves as servants. But over time, the idea of servant-leadership disappeared and was replaced by the mentality of rulers as lords. Leadership became a master–slave relationship. For this reason, God pronounced woes against the leaders of Israel through the prophets Jeremiah (23:1–8) and Ezekiel (34:1–15).

Today’s Gospel is Christ’s effort to restore the true meaning of leadership. A leader must be a shepherd—not one who destroys the flock, but one who cares for them and builds a relationship of love and trust. Jesus highlights several qualities of a true shepherd.

First, the shepherd enters through the gate, not by climbing over the fence. This means a true leader must be a person of integrity, openness, and transparency. Only someone with something to hide enters secretly.

Second, the sheep hear the shepherd’s voice and follow him because they trust him. Trust is essential in leadership. If the shepherd’s voice sometimes sounds like that of a wolf, the sheep will not follow. Leaders must earn trust through honesty and consistency. Parents must also earn the trust of their children; without trust, children will not listen to their guidance.

Third, the good shepherd calls his sheep by name. This implies closeness. A leader who is close to his people understands their struggles and knows how to make a positive impact. Parents who stay close to their children contribute meaningfully to their growth and wellbeing.

Fourth, the good shepherd leads his flock and goes before them. He guides them to green pastures and protects them from danger. A good leader seeks the well-being of those entrusted to him—materially, morally, and spiritually. He watches over them so that no harm comes to them. Like Christ, every leader should act as a door that protects the people under his care. If people cannot feel safe with their leader, that leader has failed in his primary duty.

Finally, like Christ, a true leader gives life to those under his care—and gives it abundantly. He provides for their needs, even at personal cost. Sacrifice is the mark of good leadership and good parenting. Parents must remember that their children’s needs are not only material; their spiritual and moral needs must also be nurtured.

In the second reading, St Peter refers to Christ as the Good Shepherd and Guardian of our souls, who suffered for His flock and left us an example to follow. In the first reading, we see Peter acting as a good shepherd by preaching the Good News to the lost sheep of Israel, correcting their errors, and leading them back to the sheepfold through baptism.

As we celebrate this Mass, let us pray for the grace to be true shepherds in our various roles—in the Church, in our families, and in society. Let us ask the Holy Spirit to open our hearts to learn from Christ the qualities of a good leader.

Peace be with you, and have a blessed Sunday.

Fr Isaac Chinemerem Chima

 4^th Sunday of Easter, Yr A (Good Shepherd Sunday): Reflection by Fr. Julian Ekeh

THEME: CHRIST THE GOOD SHEPHERED AND WE

(John 10:1-10)

The Universal Church today, the fourth Sunday of Eastertide calls to mind Jesus, the good Shepherd. We are invited therefore to be both good sheep and good shepherds as the case may be in our various capacities. We are called to appreciate the efforts of our various good shepherds at various levels and also invited to encourage those who are called to be shepherds especially of souls to answer their calls and live up to the required expectations even with the accompanying crucibles.

Who is a good shepherd?

Shepherds are common among the Jews. Livestock business, farming and fishing are the main occupations of the Palestinian regions at the time of Jesus. Little wonder He centered his teachings around these well-known realities to make  them to be well rooted and understood by His audience. In His parables, we will hear Him talk about the landowner, making the apostles Fishers of men and today Himself as the Good Shepherd.

They were conversant with shepherds but there is a novelty: The Good. What makes one a good shepherd? Is the big question. Jesus knew this will be running in their minds and so He differentiates between the Shepherd and the thief. Thus, implying that if one is not a good shepherd he is not worthy of the name Shepherd. Jesus says, the thief comes only to steal, to kill and to destroy; I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.

Sheep and shepherd here are figuratively used. Jesus used them to express ‘leading’ and ‘following’ in the Church, in the society, in the family and wherever we find ourselves.

Do we have life giving shepherds in our society today or thieves? They are thieves if they rigged themselves into the positions they are occupying. They are thieves if they have no due process in their dictionaries. They are thieves if   they are insensitive to the feelings of those they claim to be leading. They are thieves if they do not know the voice of their people and their plights. They are thieves if they milk them instead of feeding them. They are thieves if they are opportunist and insincere.They are thieves if the people run away from them. They are thieves if they are afraid of the people. They are thieves if the people will stone them when opportunity permits. They are thieves if they fail to carry the weak sheep. They are thieves if during elections they can move into any part of the village for campaigns but will not be there for them in times of danger. They are thieves if they use the resources from the sheepfold for their selfish gains. They are thieves if their children cannot study in the same university with those they lead. They are thieves if they cannot provide adequate healthcare for the people the lead. They are thieves if they do not feel the pain of the sheep in their care.

Jesus comes not as a thief but as a Shepherd. He enters through the gate. He is known by the sheep. They know His signs. They know when to move and when to stay. They listen because He is harmless. They feel safe because the Shepherd does not sleep. He does not slumber. He teaches them how to keep away from the enemy. He is proactive. He doesn't wait for the danger to strike before He acts. His actions are timely. He corrects whoever that is at fault. He is impartial. He doesn't make distinction in rewards or blames. He is there for everyone. He is objective. He honors Peter when he does well and reprimands him when he misbehaves. He leads the sheep lovingly. He clears all their doubts. He earns their trust. He does not force himself on them. They naturally follow Him. They follow because He cares about them. He doesn't give them anything in half measures. He gives them abundantly. He gives them life in full. He fights with the enemy to the point of even losing His life that His Sheep may be spared. That is the good Shepherd. The picture of the good Shepherd is the picture of Jesus on the Cross. He accepts death that His sheep may be safe.

We all are sheep and shepherds.

This is true. At one time or the other we are either sheep or a Shepherd. Whichever one we are at any point in time what should define us is goodness. The Shepherd should shepherd well and the sheep should follow well. Failure to lead well will put a blame on the shepherd. Failure to follow well will make the sheep a bad one.

In the society we have the public ministers as shepherds. Until they see themselves as servants of the masses and make their interests their priority they will never be good shepherds.

In the Church, the shepherds of souls, the bishops and priests should be worthy of the name. They should, like Jesus care for the souls entrusted to them and feed them with truth and not sweet lies. They should bandage the wounds of the weak sheep and not inflict injuries on them. They should console the afflicted followers with love and take them to Jesus Christ. They should reach out for the strayed. The eternal life of their followers should be of paramount importance to them.

In the families, the parents are the shepherds of the children given them by God. How have you been shepherding your children? Do you only care about giving them food and other provisions and leaving them at the mercy of their teachers? Make out time to be with them. Nourish them with good morals. Be a living example they should follow. Give them values that will follow them all through life. Children should as well follow, listen and heed the shepherding voices that guides their vocations in life. They should in a very special way ensure they seek the voice of God in order to be good shepherds of tomorrow either in the Church or in the society. Through a proper guidance of the young today, the world will be led out of darkness and death into life.

Over and above all, let us all look upon Christ the good shepherd. Let us follow where he leads. When we follow him we will have nothing to fear even though we walk through the valleys of the shadow of death. Let us pray also that our political shepherds may lead us along the right path, that they may be guided aright, that they may not lead us into wars but into true peace and order. That they may not be discouraged. May God help us to follow His life-giving paths and become life givers ourselves through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Happy Good Shepherd Sunday

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

 3rd Sunday of Easter, Year A: Homily by Fr. Isaac Chima

Theme: Your Hope Is Not Dead: Lessons from the Emmaus Experience

Readings: Acts 2:14.22–33; 1 Pet 1:17–21; Lk 24:13–35

Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, for three years Jesus gathered a group of men around Him and taught them about the new Kingdom He had come to establish. From their knowledge of history, these men knew that charismatic leaders had risen in the past, overthrown oppressive rulers, and established new reigns. They saw Jesus as one of these charismatic figures and therefore built their hopes, dreams, and aspirations on Him.

They left their jobs and followed Him joyfully from town to town, counting His successes as their own. They supported His ministry with their resources and hoped that, once His kingdom was established, they would regain what they had invested and become princes in His reign. They eagerly awaited the moment when He would seize power, liberate the Jews from both Roman oppression and corrupt Jewish leaders, and restore the glory of Israel.

However, on Good Friday, they were confronted with what they never expected: the death of Jesus on the Cross. With His death, their dreams, hopes, and aspirations collapsed. For these disciples, the death of Jesus meant the death of their dreams and their hope for a better future. Their frustration deepened when they heard that Jesus’ body was missing from the tomb. A glimpse of their frustration and sense of hopelessness is revealed in today’s Gospel through the conversation of the two disciples walking to Emmaus. They were returning to their former lives, trying to pick up the pieces after their disappointment. Their words to the stranger—who was Jesus—express the depth of their sorrow: “We had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel.” This single sentence captures a long‑held hope that has been crushed.

Like these disciples, many people today face different degrees of frustration. Some have invested so much in their lives or businesses, yet nothing seems to work. Some have lost the job they struggled so hard to secure. Some have lost a loved one who was the financial pillar of the family. Some are crippled by sickness or weighed down by problems with no visible way out. Some are so overwhelmed that they feel death would be the only escape from their pain.

Luke dramatized the Emmaus story to show how people feel when they are struck by devastating and discouraging situations. But he also used this experience to teach us that with Jesus, our hopes and dreams for good things cannot die. Problems may shake them, but they cannot destroy them for those who believe in Christ.

Peter beautifully echoes this truth in the first reading when he refers to today’s Psalm (Ps 16:8–10) saying, “For God is close to me, I shall not be shaken; therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; for He will not leave my soul among the dead, nor allow His beloved to see corruption.” For those who hope in the Lord, even death cannot conquer them or their hopes.

Here, then, are some lessons we need to draw from this Emmaus encounter.

The first lesson is that Christ walked with the two disciples, yet they could not recognize Him. Dear friends, these two disciples failed to recognize Christ because they were overwhelmed by their worries and frustrations; perhaps they did not even look at His face. Christ is always close to us in difficult times, but we often become so engulfed by our worries that we hardly notice His presence.

Whenever you focus all your attention on recounting your sad stories and brooding over them, you may become blinded to the point that you fail to recognize the solutions even when they are right before you. Do not allow your worries to blind you from looking at the face of Jesus. He is always standing by your side. Look beyond your problems and look up to Jesus, and you will receive something new. When you look at the face of the risen Christ, He will help you set your mind on things above, for our help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth.

The second lesson is that we should not hesitate to open up to Christ—and to others—in our difficult moments. If the two disciples had not opened up to Christ when He approached them, they would not have received the solution to their worries. Many people think they can handle their problems alone and end up shutting out both God and others. By doing so, such people often hurt themselves even more. Christ is interested in sharing our troubles and our conversations; let us not shut Him out. Instead, let us open our hearts to Him through prayer. And in difficult moments, do not shut people out either. Christ came to the two disciples in the form of a stranger. That stranger or friend you meet may carry the solution to your problems.

The third lesson is that we must listen to Christ after we have told Him our problems. Many people pray or cry out to God in times of trials, but they do not wait to hear Him speak. In the Emmaus story, the two disciples listened attentively to Jesus. Through the Scriptures, He gave them a new understanding of their situation—showing them how God planned to bring greatness out of what they considered a hopeless event. St. Peter did the same in the first reading: he used Scripture to explain how God transformed the terrible mistake of killing Jesus into the salvation of the world.

Christ speaks to us through the Scriptures, through the homilies we hear, and through the Eucharist we receive. Through these, He shows us how God can transform our hopeless situations. Through them, Christ brings meaning to the seemingly senseless moments of our lives. Today, Christ invites us to look at our problems in the light of Scripture. This invitation helps us understand that in Christ, hope for a better future does not die—for our hope in God does not disappoint us (Rom 5:5). He also invites us to look at the Eucharist with faith, so that we may recognize Him in the breaking of the bread and in receiving His Body.

Finally, the Emmaus story teaches us not to let our problems stop us from helping those in need. In this story, the disciples looked beyond their own troubles and offered hospitality to a stranger who needed shelter for the night. That act of kindness became the key to the transformation they experienced. If they had not invited Him to stay with them and share their meal, they would not have witnessed the eye‑opening moment at the breaking of the bread—the very moment that answered their worries.

We must learn to look beyond our pains and notice others who need help. Often, our own problems make us blind to the needs of those around us.

Dear friends, reach out to strangers and to those who are helpless. The Lord may use them to reveal to you the way out of your own troubles.

Peace be with you.

Rev Fr Isaac Chinemerem Chima