32^nd Sunday, Year A: Homily by Fr Isaac Chima

Theme: Wisdom for Heaven

Readings: Wis 6:12-16; 1 Thes 4:13-18; Mt 25:1-13

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, as we draw close to the end of the Church’s liturgical year, on this thirty‑second Sunday, the Church invites us to reflect on the reality of the end of time, to consider what lies beyond our earthly existence, and to examine how prepared we are to embrace it.

The ultimate project of Christians, as children of God, is to enter eternal life in heaven after their earthly pilgrimage. Our catechism teaches us that God created us to know Him, love Him, and serve Him here on earth, and to share everlasting life with Him in the world to come. In the second reading, St Paul presents a vivid picture of how the day of resurrection unto eternal life will unfold. He tells the Christians of Thessalonica that on that day, God will bring with Him, through Jesus, those who have fallen asleep in death. The dead in Christ will rise first, and then they will be joined by those who remain alive until the last day.

However, to rise unto life on the last day, one must have lived a good and wise life here on earth. One must have made the fundamental choice for Christ and followed it with corresponding actions. To choose Christ and the good over evil, one needs wisdom—the first gift of the Holy Spirit—to guide him. Wisdom helps us to live our lives according to God’s will and in harmony with the teaching of Jesus Christ and His Church. It helps us see life from God’s perspective and make choices according to His will, enabling us to distinguish between what draws us closer to God and what separates us from Him. Wisdom helps us conquer folly and attain true freedom. But how and where do we obtain this wisdom?

In the first reading, the author of the Book of Wisdom teaches that wisdom is available to all who sincerely seek her. It cannot be bought, nor is it reserved for the educated, the wealthy, or the elderly. We possess wisdom when we open our hearts to the mind of God. Knowing God’s mind comes from knowing His Word and applying it to the concrete experiences of life. When one acquires wisdom, he is gifted with foresight—an ability to discern what to do next and what lies ahead. Yet not everyone desires wisdom; some prefer folly in their choices and actions. But the one who is bereft of wisdom is doomed, for lack of wisdom and foresight diminishes vision and weakens purpose.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus uses the parable of the ten virgins to give a vivid illustration of what happens when one possesses wisdom and when one chooses folly. This parable contains subtle but profound lessons for us. First, because they chose wisdom, the five wise virgins were gifted with insight and were able to make provisions for the future. They understood that everything does not end in the present moment. Therefore, they took extra oil for their lamps so that they would not run out if the bridegroom delayed. Wisdom teaches us that life does not end here on earth, and that since there is life beyond this earthly existence, we must make adequate preparations and remain vigilant so that we are not found wanting when that life calls upon us.

The other five virgins chose folly and, consequently, lost sight of what lay ahead. They took only enough oil for the present moment and made no plan for the future. Unfortunately, that future arrived when they were unprepared. When one lacks the wisdom that comes from God, he absolutizes the present—he treats earthly life as the ultimate reality and refuses to believe that there is life after death. In such a case, he lives as though everything ends here. Today, our world is full of people who think that believing in heaven is foolish. They go about teaching others to make earthly enjoyment their ultimate goal. They tell people to do whatever makes them happy, whatever they desire, without considering whether it is morally right or wrong. Dear friends, as you pursue what you want and what makes you happy, remember that there is life after death, and that life requires us to do only what is in accordance with the will of God.

Secondly, at first glance, today’s parable may seem to suggest that Jesus contradicted His own teaching on generosity. One may wonder whether Jesus was condoning what appears to be a lack of generosity from the wise virgins. They refused to share their oil with the foolish virgins, but Jesus taught us to give freely to those in need. However, the deeper message of the parable is that certain things cannot be borrowed. In fact, the things that lead us to heaven cannot be borrowed. We cannot borrow love, virtue, good works, forgiveness, or holiness. We must acquire them here on earth through every action we take before the arrival of our Savior.

Another important point in the parable is that the virginity of the five foolish virgins was not enough to guarantee them a place in the banquet. What does this tell us? It tells us that one needs more than sexual chastity to enter eternal life. Some people may be virgins in body but devilish in mind and action. Our sexual chastity must be accompanied by works of charity, just as we need both faith and good works to be holy. We need both the light of faith and the oil of charity to enter eternal life.

Finally, the delay of the bridegroom reminds us that Christ’s apparent delay is not an excuse for spiritual complacency; it is rather a call to vigilance. Like the foolish virgins, many people have chosen to focus on everything except eternal life because the end seems far away. They tell themselves that they must enjoy life to the fullest since tomorrow is uncertain. My Igbo people have colourful expressions for such attitudes: “ka anyi raratu ndu, ka anyi riritu uwa, ka anyi meretu enjoyment. Anyi oga anwu n’oria Monday?” Whatever the case may be, no one should lose sight of the end, for that end has come to many at the moment they least expected. For this reason, Jesus concludes with a clear warning: “Stay awake, for you know neither the day nor the hour.”

May we therefore seek the wisdom that comes from God, live lives of faith and charity, and remain vigilant so that whenever the Lord comes, He may find us ready and welcome us into His eternal banquet. Amen

Peace be with you. Have a blessed Sunday.

Fr Isaac Chinemerem Chima

 32^nd Sunday, Year A: Reflection by Fr. Julian Ekeh

Theme: Be wise! Don't be Fooled; The Kingdom of God is Real

 (Mathew 25:1-13)

 

Jesus teaches about the kingdom of God and invites us to prepare for it. He gives a picture of what it looks like to get prepared.

The wise thing to do is to be ready for the Lord who comes to take us into his kingdom. Thus we need wisdom for the kingdom. This wisdom should make us choose the right things to do, who to mingle with and make effort to live with consciousness about where we are heading to. This wisdom should make a Christian live a purpose driven life. This wisdom should make one to hold firm to the instruction given to him concerning tracing the heavenly path.

Thus, in the gospel of today, Jesus talks about the wise and foolish virgins. The virgins here represent all the Christians given equal opportunity to make heaven. The Lord in Christ, offers us all we need to be live happy with Him. But while some choose to be wise and make judicious use of these privileges, others are fooled by the various satanic lies. In short, the opposite of all the qualities that made the wise virgins wise are the things that made the foolish virgins foolish.

 

Qualities of the Wise Virgins:

The Gospel tells us about the following qualities as what distinguished the virgins as wise. They include:

 

Having Enough Oil

Oil in the Bible meant a lot. Oil was used for various reasons in the scriptures. It was used for ordination, for anointing, for healing, etc. Today we see it doing a special function. It served as the auction to function. It served as power of illumination, it served as manifestation of wisdom, it served as the source of power, it served as the generator of your power. The oil lubricates your zeal and keeps you aflame. The oil makes your light not to go down. The oil is the secret energizer of your confidence as a child of God. The oil keeps your spiritual engine moving. The oil is there to enable you not to go dry.

 

Where is your Oil?

This is an important question. The oil like the fuel or diesel is what one must check in a routine way. The oil ignites energies in the machine. It does a lot of unseen jobs. With the oil, the car will not make unnecessary noise. You're living a careless, noisy life because your oil is running dry. Take enough along your way. Yes, it will save you a lot of embarrassments.

Where's the oil of your baptism? When last did you refill the oil of your reconciliation? Is your Eucharistic oil still fresh? When last did you receive it in the state of grace? Where's the oil of your marriage? Is it still meeting the Lord with love, joy and understanding? Did you take enough oil to sustain you in that vocation? Did you take enough oil to carry you on in that ministry? Have you taken enough oil for the temptations ahead? Have you burned your oil in things that are not necessary? Have you wasted your oil in midnight sinful chats instead of prayers and encouraging words? Have you wasted your midnight study oil on parties and jamborees? Have you forgotten your oil of peace, charity, reading of the bible, listening to God, attending spiritual exercise ? etc

 

Where is your oil?

Don't be fooled. Take enough of it. You can't spiritually die, you can't afford to run spiritually dry. Your lamp is not good to go down, your faith is not supposed to wane. Having enough oil calls for living a planned life. Gather enough grace that will lead you through this life to eternity. May God help you to do this wisely like the wise virgins and not the foolish ones.

 

Meet the Lord without Excuses

The bridegroom delayed in returning. The virgins both wise and foolish slept. But when the cry was heard:  "Behold, the bridegroom!  Come out and meet him", the five wise virgins without delay rose and trimmed their light. The foolish ones started begging for oil. There are things you can never beg, I choose to call them the 'non-borrowables of Christian life'. Your relationship with God is something personal, you can't share it with anyone. No one can share with you his personal spiritual merits and experiences. You stay at home, giving beautiful excuses why you will not attend Sunday mass. You justify yourself that you took your wife and children to Church and came back. You tell yourself: 'the parish priest is my friend, am covered' 'My son is the bishop' and so you do not make any effort to do anything. God looks at personal effort.

Both the wise and the unwise will sleep. All will sleep in death. The wise and the unwise too will also rise. But the wise will rise to meet the Lord, while the unwise will seek a second chance which may yield no open doors. There's a lot of wisdom in making our sincere effort now in oder to make heaven at last.

 

Don't be Fooled

 

What are the things fooling you? Evil companies? Are you always in the midst of the foolish virgins? Are you with light bearers or light extinguishers? Don't be fooled by politicization of Christianity, Don't be fooled by the various titles you have received. Don't be fooled by the fruitless seminars you have attended. Don't be fooled by the level of your exposition and recognition. Don't be fooled by your academic qualifications. Don't be fooled by 'party after party'. Don't be fooled by "I love you pass my mother", Don't be fooled by the latest fashion, jewelleries, cars and other accessories. 

What happened to the candle you received at baptism? What are the winds blowing off your light of faith?  Why are you not looking at the dashboard of your spiritual life to know the level of your spiritual oil? Do you want to be embarrassed when the bridegroom comes? Be ever ready! That's the watchword.

Nwa Chukwu hear this: Wisdom lies in going for those things that will open the heavens for you. Foolishness on the other hand consists in doing those things that will close the heavenly doors for you and make you hear: I do not know you! Azi gbakwa!

The Lord insists: Don't be fooled; Be wise!

 

Let us pray

Father in heaven, our hope and trust is in you. We look up to you dear Lord. We need your wisdom to guide our paths in this confusing world. We pray that our light of faith may not go down. We have been fooled most of the time by bad companions and our evil inclinations, carelessness and laziness. Give us grace to take enough oil as we journey along this way. Wake us from the sleep of sin and grant that we may rise to newness of life in you and live eternally with you in heaven through Christ our Lord. Amen

 

Happy Sunday (32nd Sunday, Ordinary Time, Yr A)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

 Solemnity of All Saints: Homily by Fr Isaac Chima

Theme: Following the Footsteps of Our Brothers and Sisters in Heaven.

Readings: Rev 7:2-4,9-14; 1 Jn 3:1-3; Mt 5:1-12a

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, the Feast of All Saints is a profound and joyful celebration in the life of the Church. It strengthens our hope and reassures us that our longing for heaven—our true home after this earthly exile—is not in vain. Today’s celebration affirms the reality of heaven, not as a distant ideal, but as a promise already fulfilled in the lives of countless men and women who have gone before us in faith.

This feast reminds us that the heavenly home and the beatific vision we yearn for have already been attained by some of our brothers and sisters. God has rewarded them with the very gift we strive for through our daily efforts to live holy lives. Many have run the race and received the crown of glory. Their victory, which we celebrate today, becomes our encouragement. No one can now claim that heaven is a myth or discourage us from pursuing it. The saints stand as living proof that the promise of eternal life is real.

In today’s first reading, Saint John presents a magnificent vision of heaven. He first saw 144,000 from the tribes of Israel marked with the seal of God. Then he saw a multitude beyond counting, people from every nation, tribe, and tongue, standing before the throne and the Lamb, clothed in white robes and holding palm branches. They cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” Dear friends, that was the glorious vision of heaven revealed to John, a vision that now belongs to us. It reveals not only where the saints are now, but also the destiny God desires for each one of us. Heaven is open to all who choose to follow Christ with sincere hearts.

One of the most encouraging lessons we learn from the saints is that they were ordinary people. They were not superhuman. They faced struggles, weaknesses, fears, temptations, and disappointments just as we do. They lived in families, worked in different professions, and experienced both success and failure. Some were priests and religious, while others were parents, workers, students, rulers, or labourers. What made them saints was not perfection, but their willingness to allow God to guide, forgive, strengthen, and transform them daily. Their example reminds us that sainthood is not reserved for a privileged few. It is a vocation to which every Christian is called.

The saints came from different cultures, social classes, and periods of history. Some were rich, others poor; some highly educated, others simple and humble. Some lived long lives, while some died young. Some died as martyrs, while others served God quietly through hidden acts of love and faithfulness. Yet they all shared one common goal: they kept their eyes fixed on God and never lost sight of heaven. They did not allow their strengths or weaknesses, privileges or hardships distract them from that goal. Rather, they allowed the grace of God to triumph in their lives. Friends, this is the challenge this feast presents to us: to make heaven our ultimate goal, no matter our circumstances.

But how do we do that? What path must we follow? The Gospel of today gives us the answer. Through the Beatitudes, Jesus lays out the roadmap to heaven, the very path our brothers and sisters, the saints, walked. These are not lofty ideals beyond our reach; rather, they are practical steps we can take every day. They are being poor in spirit, being meek, having hunger for righteousness, being merciful, being pure in heart, being a peacemaker, and accepting persecutions for the sake of Christ and for the sake of righteousness.

These are the principles that guided the saints. They are the keys to the kingdom of God. Let us use them to examine our own lives and renew our commitment to holiness.

Dear friends, let us not be discouraged by our weaknesses or distracted by the attractions of the world. Instead, let us keep our eyes fixed on Christ, follow the path of the Beatitudes, and strive each day to live holy lives. May the saints intercede for us, so that one day we may join them in the joy of God’s eternal kingdom. Amen.

Peace be with you. Happy Feast Day!

Rev. Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima

SOLEMNITY OF ALL SAINTS: REFLECTION BY FR. JULIAN EKEH

THEME: TO BE BLESSED IS TO BE IN THE COMPANY OF THE BLESSED

(Matthew 5:1-12)

Today is the solemnity of All Saints. A lot of thoughts come to mind. Numerous songs come to mind as well. We recall the song: "Oh when the saints..."and pray to be in their number as they march into glory. we gather to celebrate reward for hard work. We assemble to jubilate for lives washed in the blood of the lamb. We convoke to rejoice for victory of the triumphant Church of God. We come to ask these great multitude of Holy men and women drawn from every tribe and tongue and people and nation how they were able to be successful in their pilgrimage here on earth. Their answer definitely will be: The beatitudes. They are enjoying the beatific vision because they made their attitude to life in general that of the beatitudes. They are seeing God face to face and enjoying the blessedness of the Kingdom of God because they passed through the crucibles of this world and never allowed themselves to lose their goal. They are being celebrated not because they never fall but because they were strong enough to rise after several fallings. They were virtuous, (from virtu: Manly, courageous) they were humans under limitations of human frailty but made something extraordinary through their ordinary existence here.

We have come to tap from their blessedness. The author of the beatitudes is Christ. They were able to imitate Christ. They were seekers of God's face: "Such are the men who seek your face O Lord". They followed Christ to the hill, listened and lived above sin and its stranglehold. They listened and lived out what they heard as what makes One blessed.

We've got to make these victorious fellows our companions so as to be victorious as they are. Hence the title of the book "saints companion". What they have become we are in the making. As they imitated Christ, we imitate Christ through them. Each and every one of the blessed lived out an aspect of the beatitude or the other.

Let's not say we are having a lot of challenges that hinder us from following Jesus to the hill of the beatitudes. Let us not say that we cannot be like these saints washed. We are challenged by the fact that the saints are humans like us. Lived in the world like us, enjoyed what we are enjoying and suffered what we are suffering. But they never allowed neither joy or sorrows to lead them outside the path to victory.  As you endeavour to stand on the shoulders of these giants in holiness, may their virtues and imitation of their lives be a ladder to our spiritual greatness. As you decide to surround yourself with people whose life radiate blessedness may our blessings here and hereafter be abundant.

As this solemnity marks the beginning of the month of November, which has to do with newness, may God make everything new for you. May your life be renewed, may your covenant with the Lord be renewed. May old things pass away from you. May you hear God telling you: Am doing something new in your life. As the saints triumphed, may you be triumphant in all that you do. May your patron saint and all the saints known and unknown intercede on your behalf for your spiritual and temporal needs through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Happy Solemnity of All Saints and blessings of the new month of November. Happy Sunday.

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

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

Theme: Manifesting Love for God by Loving Our Neighbours

Readings: Ex 22:21–27; 1 Thess 1:5c–10; Mt 22:34–40

Dear friends in Christ, on this thirtieth Sunday, the Church invites us to reflect on something very practical. If we were to ask everyone here today whether they love God, surely each person would say “yes.” Nobody would openly claim to hate God. This love for God is often expressed in various ways—through prayer, participation in Church activities, and obedience to the commandments. This love for God is what Jesus calls the greatest commandment in today’s Gospel.

However, Jesus immediately adds a second element to His response to the Pharisees in order to draw our attention to the fact that love of God has a component that makes it complete. That component is love of neighbour as ourselves. Whoever keeps these two commandments fulfils both religious and social duties.

It was clear that when the Pharisees heard Jesus say that the greatest commandment is love of God, they were pleased. With their daily religious practices, they considered themselves perfect lovers of God. Many people in the Church today may feel the same way. But with the addition of love of neighbour, Jesus was teaching that the love of God expressed through prayers, Church service, and obedience to commandments is incomplete if love of neighbour is missing. The love we profess for God cannot be genuine if it does not manifest in the way we treat the people around us. Love for God cannot be real if we hate those around us; it cannot be true if we treat others with contempt; it cannot be honest if we despise our fellow human beings.

This argument of Jesus is echoed in the first letter of St John (4:20): “Anyone who says he loves God but hates his brother is a liar, since nobody who fails to love his brother whom he sees can claim to love God whom he has not seen.” John also says (4:8): “Whoever fails to love does not know God, because God is love.”

The first reading of today reinforces this truth by listing attitudes that can damage our relationship with God. According to this reading, if we oppress strangers in our midst, we wound our love for God; if we afflict widows and orphans, we harm our relationship with God; if we become a burden to those we have helped, we attract the wrath of God; if we are insensitive to the needs of the people around us, we weaken our love for God; and if we fail to stand for justice, truth, peace, and mercy in our dealings with others, then we have injured our relationship with God. In this reading, God vows to punish those who maltreat others.

Therefore, this Sunday calls us to a practical application of everything we do in Church. It calls us to practical Christianity. It invites all of us who profess love for God to examine our hearts honestly and consider how we treat our fellow human beings. Sometimes it appears that many who are very regular at Mass and other Church prayers are the most difficult people in their communities, relationships, and workplaces. Sometimes it seems that some people use prayers and religious activities to hide their true character. Sometimes those who are leaders in the Church, or well known for their religious involvement, are also known for unjust practices in their communities and for having unforgiving hearts. Sometimes those who do not come to Church point to the bad attitudes of Churchgoers as their reason for staying away from the Church.

Dear friends, Christ is telling us today that if our neighbours, friends, and colleagues cannot feel the positive impact of our love, then we deceive ourselves when we claim to love God. Jesus does not want us to maintain only a vertical relationship—that is, a relationship between us and God alone. He wants us to add a horizontal axis to our Christian life. This horizontal axis extends our relationship with God to the people around us. This is the true definition of Christian living and a beautiful representation of the four arms of the Cross of Christ.

Love of neighbour is expressed in many ways: when we help others in their needs, when we forgive them, when we understand them, when we tolerate them, when we advise and correct them, and when we give them our time.

Dear friends, let us remember the words of Jesus: “Whatever you do to the least of my brothers, that you do unto me” (Mt 25:40).

Peace be with you. Have a blessed Sunday.

Fr Isaac Chinemerem Chima

 30^th Sunday, Year A: Reflection by Fr Julian Ekeh

Theme: Let Love Lead

(Matthew 22:34-40)

In a world where leaders have failed the led, where individuals are driven by the wrong drives, where brutality has taken the seat of honour, where religious divisions distract the battle against the enemy of humanity, where ethnic cum racial discrimination is used as a tool by the government to set the people at war against each other, In a politics where the politicians put up 'I don't care attitude' and make  empty speeches in the face of innocent lives being wasted, in a democracy where empathy, sympathy, compassion and affection is replaced with intimidation, threats and denials, In a society where the constitution and the constituted authorities only encourage oppression, suppression and marginalization, What is the commandment that should drive our actions? What is the law that we should follow? Which commandment can go beyond ethnicity, religious fanaticism and racism? Let it lead us.

 

The Pharisees before Jesus

It was when Jesus had silenced the Sadducees that the Pharisees approached Him with their questions to test Him. Having conquered fear and intimidation, having come to the realization of the need not to keep quiet in the face of evil, what is remaining?

The Pharisees in the corridors of power should hear from God. Let them hear the vox populi (Voice of the people) when it blends with the vox Dei (Voice of God). Let them put away their Pharisaic tendencies and embrace transparency. Let the people live true to their calling. One called to lead should lead in love and not lead people to their untimely death. Let the pharisaic act of saying one thing and meaning another stop. Let the evil of holding people down and denying it stop. Let the indifference to the pains and sorrows of the people cease.

Let the coming to God and His people be done with sincerity and not to put Him to the test. Let the desires of the people in accord with the will of God be of paramount importance.

In the confusion about which law to follow in this moment of anarchy and chaos orchestrated by evil men in the high and low places, let us listen to the voice of Christ who has the word of eternal life. May the government and the governed pay attention and hear Jesus tell us the only way out.

 

The Solution: Love God and Love Man

The Pharisees asked Jesus the greatest commandment of the law. They wanted Jesus to do a wrong constitution amendment so that they use it against Him. But Jesus answered wisely. We need the wisdom of God in amending the wicked and demonic constitutions that have been misleading us as individuals and as a people.

To their question Jesus answered: " You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind... You shall love your neighbour as yourself" He added; these are the greatest commandments and on them hangs all the laws and the prophets.

The love of God should create in us fear of God. We are in the mess we are into here because God was kept aside, materialism, and love for many other things made us lose focus. The love of God will remind us of our nothingness and make us humbler. It will inspire us to make reference to Him in all our endeavours. With it we shall be just and put an end to injustice. Our love for God will make us give God His place and His due, give others their due too.

The love or God gives birth to the love of neighbours. In this love, the northerner should nor see the easterner or southerner protesting against evil as an enemy. In this love people from a particular part of the country should not be favoured more than others. People from a particular part should not lord it over others. In love citizens should not be given a bad name to eliminate them. In love peaceful protest should never be seen as an empty noise.

In love resources should be adequately shared. In love the blood of every individual should matter. In love brutality and bullying should be unheard of.

In this love, all the sections of the constitution that do not promote love, unity, progress and true peace should be abolished. In this love violation of rights of the people should be properly addressed.

This love of God and his people should give birth to subsidized good hospitals, drastic reduction of hardship and poverty, good roads, steady electricity, Good Schools, security of life and properties, merited respect for all and from all not by bribery, corruption, abuse and intimidation.

 

Let's Enthrone Love

 

The opposite of love has taken charge for a long time. Thus, to enthrone love, we must dethrone indifference, hate, fear, violence, wickedness, cheap popularity, sycophancy and pride.

To enthrone love we must call ourselves as individuals and groups to order. That will entail accepting our mistakes and correcting them. Have human heart and human feelings; weep for injuries, heal the already inflicted wounds, dialogue and embrace each other. Let's be reconciled.

Welcome love. With her human rights will be respected, the goods made for people will not be stored for personal aggrandizement. With love our own brothers and sisters in the government will not be deceiving us. With love dishonesty and infidelity will flee. Marriages will be enjoyed. With love the little we have we go round. With love the past hurts will be kept behind for us to forge ahead. With love our representatives will be good ambassadors. With love public offices will be for service and sacrifice and not for exploitation. When love returns life will be valued.

Let us preach love and live love. Let Christianity, our Traditional Religions and Islam preach love. Let each and everyone of us practice love of God and our neighbours. With it we shall reject what is not ours and come together to form a strong force against evil.

 

Let us pray

O Lord, you have given us the greatest commandment of love. We confess today that our lack of love has done us great harm. We need your love to drive each and everyone of our actions. Cleanse us from the Pharisaic act of being wolves in sheep clothing. May we love you and our neighbours truly and not falsely. May your love bring about peace, unity and progress through Christ our Lord. Amen

Happy Sunday (30th Sunday Ordinary Time, Yr A)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

 29th Sunday, Year A (Mission Sunday): Homily by Fr. Isaac Chima

Theme: Keeping the Church’s Mission Alive Amidst Obstacles

Readings: Is 45:1.4–6; Ps 95; 1 Thes 1:1–5; Mt 22:15–21

Dear friends in Christ, on this 29th Sunday of the year, the Church invites all her faithful to pause and reflect on the mission entrusted to us by Christ: to consider how far we have gone, how faithfully we have carried out this mission, the challenges we have overcome, and those that still raise their ugly heads. We are also urged to evaluate our personal contributions to the fulfilment of the Church’s mission.

Our Lord Jesus inaugurated the Kingdom of God on earth and entrusted to His disciples — and to all who would follow them — the task of keeping this kingdom alive, spreading it among all peoples, and converting the world according to its values. A quick assessment of the Church’s missionary work shows that the Good News continues to spread to many parts of the world; yet many corners of the earth have still not received it, and sadly, some who once embraced the faith have turned away, returning to paganism, Satanism, and secularism. This sad development should concern every member of God’s kingdom on earth.

In the midst of both the successes and the challenges of evangelization, St Paul reminds us of an indispensable element in the fulfilment of God’s mission. In the second reading, he tells the Christians in Thessalonica, “Our gospel did not come to you in word alone, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit.” Paul and his companions preached the Good News, but they knew that words alone could not produce the fruits God desired. They sustained their preaching with prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to touch the hearts of their listeners. In this way, St Paul highlights the centrality of prayer in the Church’s mission. In his letter to the Ephesians, he repeats this appeal, saying, “Pray also for me, that I may be bold in speaking about the gospel as I should” (Eph 6:19–20).

Dear friends, prayer is essential to the Church’s mission. We must never grow weary in our spiritual duty to pray for the success of evangelization: for the Holy Spirit to soften hearts to receive God’s Word, for strength and protection for missionaries facing hostility, and for God’s continued provision for their needs. In our study of missiology in the seminary, we learned that there are two ways of participating in mission. Some go out physically to preach the Gospel, while others support the mission through prayer and material assistance. Those who pray and donate are also missionaries. On this Mission Sunday, therefore, the Church encourages all who support her mission to remain steadfast. For the mission of the Church to stay alive in the world, both prayer and material support are necessary.

The Gospel reading of today shows us one of the challenges that the Church’s mission faces on earth, especially in our present world: the Good News is constantly confronted by detractors and difficulties. The Gospel is a force that frees humanity from the clutches and deceits of the devil and depopulates the kingdom of darkness. Therefore, wherever the Good News is preached, it poses a real threat to the underworld, and the forces of darkness fight back with any weapon at their disposal.

In today’s Gospel, the Pharisees take counsel on how to entrap Jesus and halt His mission. They present Him with a cleverly calculated dilemma meant to sow confusion and doubt in the minds of His listeners. According to their reasoning, if Jesus affirms that paying tribute to a foreign and idolatrous state is lawful, He risks losing the esteem of those who reject Roman rule. But if He declares the tax illicit, He exposes Himself to accusations of sedition. Yet Jesus, with divine wisdom, conquers their trap.

Thus, the Pharisees in today’s Gospel represent the many obstacles missionaries encounter in their work. These difficulties come in all shapes and forms: temptations, doubts, persecutions, threats to life, material needs, calumny, alienation, loneliness, and more. For a missionary to overcome these obstacles and keep the mission alive, he must be as wise as a serpent and as gentle as a dove; he must be prayerful, discerning, and strong in faith.

The response of Jesus to the Pharisees carries important lessons for Christians engaged in mission. He tells them: “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” This statement has suffered countless misinterpretations. Some use it to justify syncretism in their religious life; others claim it means that religion and politics have no connection. This latter group insists that God has no place in politics and that religious values should not be mentioned in public affairs. Such thinking has led to proposals for a secularistic and positivistic world — a world where God is excluded. History has shown, however, that attempts to build a world without God ultimately turn against humanity.

God cannot be sidelined in the political and social life of the world, nor in the construction of the earthly city, as though He were uninterested in human affairs. One reason is that all power belongs to God; He is the One who grants authority to rulers, even though many misuse it. The first reading today attests to this truth: God raises and strengthens a pagan king, Cyrus, to defeat Babylon and free Israel from slavery.

Another important lesson from Christ’s instruction to “give to Caesar what is Caesar’s” is that Christians have obligations to the state. We are called to obey just laws, to support legitimate political authority through taxes and prayers, and even to participate in politics so as to influence government policies from within with the Christian message. Christians have the mission to be law‑abiding citizens and to infuse public life with the values of Christ.

Finally, when Jesus says, “…and give to God what belongs to God,” He directly reminds all Christians that certain things are due exclusively to God and cannot be given to anyone else. Worship, fidelity to the commandments, and obedience to God’s will are duties owed to Him alone. Neither the state nor any earthly reality can take these away from Christians as they carry out their mission. Missionaries must therefore reject any attempt by temporal powers or material interests to usurp the place of God in their lives and ministries.

Peace be with you.

Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima