EASTER SUNDAY: HOMILY BY FR. ISAAC CHIMA

They thought they have conquered Him, but God disappointed them.

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

Dear friends, we have arrived at that day that defined our faith. The day that gave birth to the gospel we proclaim. If Christ had not risen from the dead, our faith would have been in vain. In fact, we would not have been here under this banner; there wouldn’t have been any Christianity. The resurrection of Christ is at the centre of our faith, it is the beginning of our faith. The resurrection narrative was always the beginning of every homily in the life of the early Christians, it was their reference point, it gave them authority and power.

Dear friends, we are lucky to be beneficiaries of this absolute power of God over the power of darkness and death. We are blessed to be associated with the resurrection power of Christ, the power that conquered the evil forces that wanted to rule the world, the power that shattered the stone that was used to cover the tomb, the power that defeated the dominion of the devil, the power that fulfilled the plan of God’s redemption of humanity from the failure of our first parents.

Today, light has conquered darkness, life has conquered death, grace has conquered sin, freedom has prevailed over slavery, justice has returned to the seat of judgement, Jesus has won the battle for us. Our hearts should be jubilating over this victory. Once more, we can smile, laugh and dance, because God did not allow death to have the last laugh in the history of our salvation. We can stand with our heads raised high because we are children of victory. Jesus has given us victory. Let us raise this banner of victory high in everything we do and say.

At the center of the victory of Christ’s resurrection is a saying that has a lesson for us. It goes this way: ‘it was at that time when his enemies thought that they have conquered Him that God in his infinite power raised Him to the heights.’

Dear friends, Jesus came into the world with the mission to set us free from the dominion of the devil and to return to God the Father. But the devil wanted to halt that mission, he wanted to keep us his slaves forever. To achieve his plan of thwarting the mission of Christ, the devil instigated the men of authority and they killed Jesus. With His shameful death on the cross, His burial, the heavy stone that was used to cover the mouth of the tomb and the heavily armed guards at the grave, the enemy thought he has conquered the Prince of life and have put an end to his mission.

However, it was at that time when the devil and his cohorts were rejoicing, that God, in his infinite power, disappointed them by raising Jesus from the dead. It was at that point when they thought that they have conquered him that they actually hastened the realization of his mission on earth, which was to die for us and to return to the father.

What does this tell us? It tells us not to lose hope whenever we feel we have been conquered by the difficulties and realities of life. It tells us that there will always be a joyful development in the sorrowful stories of those who believe in God. It tells us that failure will not be the end of the story for those who believe in God. It tells us that God is capable of disappointing our enemies in their evil plans against us. It tells me not to give up when I have been hit down by the problems of the world. The power of the resurrection of Christ gives me this assurance, it is my guarantee of ultimate victory in life. Remember, it was at that time when they thought they have conquered Jesus that God disappointed them by raising Him from the dead.

The challenge for us is to open our eyes of faith and look beyond the source of our sorrows. In the extension of the gospel reading of today, Mary Magdalene focused her entire attention on the grave. Hence, she was unable to recognize the risen Christ. She was at the grave sweeping, asking God to give her back her Lord and consoler, asking God to bring Jesus back to life. But then, when the answer to her prayer stood before her, she couldn’t recognize him, because she was soaked in her sorrows.

Dear friends, it is not wrong to cry when we have been hit down by problems or when we have been disappointed, but it would be wrong if we become absorbed in our sorrows to the point that we fail to look up to God. Most times, when we become absorbed in our sorrows and keep focusing on the closed door (the empty tomb in the case of Magdalene), we will not notice that God has opened another door – a better door – for us. Through the power of Christ’s resurrection, God opens an alternative door, a better door to those who focus on Him with faith during turbulent times. May the power of Christ’s resurrection open our eyes to see the solution God has given to us in our problems. Amen

Happy Easter

Fr Isaac Chima

 

Easter Vigil: Homily by Fr Isaac Chima

Theme: Christ’s Resurrection: A guarantee of our ultimate victory

Dearest friends, we have arrived at that night when the power of light conquered the power of darkness, that night when the Most High didn’t allow the power of death to rejoice over us. But some questions keep ringing in my mind. They are begging for answers.

Dear friends, I would like you to reflect over these questions and, possibly, answer them in your heart. Have you ever imagined what the world would have looked like if Christ never resurrected from the dead? Have you ever thought of the values that would have been supreme in this world if Christ did not resurrect from the dead? Do you realize that it took God the Father many years to prepare humanity for the coming of His only begotten Son?

Right from the fall of man in Adam and Eve, God took the decision to restore man to his lost glories. To achieve this plan, God adopted the people of Israel, sent priests and prophets to teach them to obey Him and to prepare them for the coming of His Son. The readings of this night give us a beautiful storyline in this regard. The entire world waited in anticipation for the coming of this Son of God. But, unfortunately, when the Son of God finally came, the world did not recognize him. The devil locked the hearts of the Jews from recognizing Him. The same devil, who caused the failure of Adam, wanted to drag humanity to another failure. Instigated by the devil, the Jews seized the Son of God, judged him unjustly and crucified Him. They crucified the one who had come to save them from the power of the devil. What a historic disaster, an end to the long-awaited Messiah! In the plan of the devil, the death of Jesus was to be the second defeat of humanity: the first was in Adam, the second was to be in the elimination of Jesus.

So, dear friends, if Christ didn’t rise from the dead, the plan of saving us from the dominion of the devil would have received a heavy punch. If Jesus did not rise from the dead, all stories about him would have been reduced to mere curiosity, a forgettable footnote in the crowded history of lost courses. If Jesus had not risen from the dead, the values that support evil would have been supreme on earth, injustice would have been the order of the day. If Christ had not risen, darkness would have conquered light, evil would have conquered the good.

However, dear friends, death did not have the last laugh in the story of Jesus. God did not allow the story of His only begotten Son to end with His death on the Cross, rather, His story developed another chapter, the part which says, ‘He conquered death and rose from the dead’.

So, dear ones, we are victorious because of the victory of Christ. Relying on the victory of Christ, we can comfortably look at the cross and affirm that in our individual stories, in our life’s struggles, death, hardship, trials and tribulations will not have the final laugh or the final word. The resurrection of Christ has given us assurance of victory over our own problems.

The church wants us to raise our voices today, with eyes fixed on the cross of Christ, and affirm with faith that our own trials will also come to pass. Our childlessness will also come to pass. Joblessness will also come to pass. Hatred will also come to pass. Sickness will also come to pass. Hunger will also come to pass. The resurrection of Christ is our guarantee. Easter is a time of miracles for Christians, because St Paul assured us that if we suffer and die with Him, we shall live and reign with Him in glory.

Happy Easter.

Fr. Isaac Chima

 

EASTER SUNDAY: HOMILY BY FR JUSTIN ADIELE

THEME: “BELIEVE AND BE RAISED WITH CHRIST”

INTRODUCTION:

My dear people of God, for forty days we commemorated the sorrowful mysteries of Jesus our pathfinder. On Good Friday we thought everything was over; let us return to our normal life for the one we looked up to as the Messiah and Saviour of the world has died a shameful death at the hands of sinners and pagans. He could not save Himself, how can He save the world! But the news of the Resurrection of Jesus brought a new/fresh assurance to those who knew and believed Him earlier. They recalled that He had earlier said; destroy this Temple and in three days, I will rebuild it. He has fulfilled His own Word and promise; He has lived up to the resurrection promise. And today, we are gathered to celebrate His glorious mystery.

 

THE FIRST READING (ACTS. 10: 34. 37 – 43)

In the first reading, after experiencing the whole drama of Jesus’ suffering, death and resurrection, St. Peter and the other apostles believed and were raised in spirit with Christ. They sprang up as witnesses to the resurrection faith; the life of the world to come. They became witnesses to the love and life of Christ; witnesses to the mission of Christ; the passion of Christ; the communion with Christ; the gospel of Christ; and witnesses to the powers and forgiveness in Christ Jesus. And their witnesses were true by virtue of being the closest associates of Christ. You too can be Christ’s witnesses to the world!

 

THE SECOND READING (COL. 3: 1 – 4)

In the second reading, St. Paul with a slightly higher/deeper learning, intellect and theology, expounded the theme of resurrection beyond just being raised from the dead. He pointing out that we can be raised with Christ even while still on earth, if we are able to set our minds on the things that are above the earth; things like holiness, unity, righteousness, mercy, truth etc.

 

THE GOSPEL READING (JN. 20: 1 – 9)

In the gospel reading, Mary Magdalene ran to break the news of the resurrection to the apostles without really knowing what had occurred. Two factors in the gospel reading gave credence to the facticity of Christ’s resurrection. First is the open grave or the stone cover of the tomb which has been rolled away. Ordinarily, no tomb is ever left open or unsealed whether something is inside or not. The unsealed tomb really proved a point in the resurrection of Christ. Second is the white linen cloths and napkin used in wrapping the body and head of Jesus, properly folded and lying in the open grave. After three days, a dead corpse should have started smelling; so if anybody is presumed to have taking the body of Jesus away, he or she would never have thought of unwrapping/unbinding the burial cloths at least to restrain the smell, let alone unwrapping the cloths and still have the time and comfort to properly fold them and keep them in place. The only sensible theory is; Jesus actually rose as we rise from bed every morning and made his bed.

 

CONCLUSION:

My dear people of God, we rejoice today, singing the victorious Alleluiah song of Easter, because the victory of Christ is our own victory; the resurrection of Christ is our own resurrection; the glory of Christ is our own glory; and the reward for those who believed in the Son of God. If we believe in Christ, we should follow in his steps, we should witness to the life and mission of Christ like the apostles; we should rise early to meet him like Mary Magdalene; we should run/hasten to matters concerning Christ like Peter and John today; and we shall certainly be raised with Him on the last day. As you believed and have gathered to celebrate Christ’s Easter today; may you be raised physically, spiritually, economically, and financially to a glorious height! Amen.

 

Happy Easter Season!

Fr. Justin

https://chimaisaac.medium.com/easter-sunday-homily-by-fr-justin-adiele-1a6ed39fc750

 

EASTER SUNDAY: REFLECTION BY FR JULIAN EKEH

THEME: NO POWER CAN TAKE AWAY MY JESUS ALLELUIA!

(John 20:1-9)

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

 

LOVE REMAINS

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

 

THE THIRD DAY REMAINS

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

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

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

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

 

JESUS IS ALIVE ALLELUIA

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

May God bless His word in our hearts.

LET US PRAY

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

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

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

 Good Friday: Homily by Fr. Isaac Chima

Theme: THE CROSS: Jesus transforms whatever He touches

Dear friends in Christ, the Good Friday Ceremony – the Veneration of the Cross – is a celebration of the victory of the ‘foolishness of God’ over the wisdom of man, a celebration of the transformation of the symbol of shame – the cross – into a symbol of our salvation. This transformation is courtesy of Jesus, who transforms whatever he comes in contact with.

Before the death of Jesus on the cross, the cross was a symbol of shame, a course reserved only for criminals and other outlaws. In that case, death on the cross was the most shameful of all deaths. It was for this very reason that the Pharisees and the elders, who instigated the condemnation of Jesus, asked Pilate to have Him crucified on the cross. They wanted a shameful death for Him. However, the nature of Jesus is to transform whatever he touches. His encounter with this symbol of shame – the cross - transformed it into a symbol of salvation, a symbol that is revered and venerated. Jesus touched the symbol of shame and transformed it into a symbol of faith and salvation.  Such is the power of Christ.  

Dear friends, the church invites us to open ourselves to Christ, to allow ourselves to be touched by Him. He transforms whatever He touches. If he comes in contact with you, your life will never remain the same. Today, we have the cross of Christ in our midst; it will be lifted up in all parishes in the world. Let us embrace it, let us venerate it so that we will feel its transforming power.

Every Good Friday, we listen to the Passion narrative; it is not a sweet story. It is rather a sad one, a story that recounted the injustice of the powerful over an innocent man. This narrative should push us to take a decision to defend the course of the innocent. It was the silence of those who were supposed to talk that led to the triumph of injustice in the trial of Jesus. Therefore, we should realize that any form of silence from us in the face of injustice can lead to the death or the suffering of someone who is innocent. We should realize that evil triumph when good people do nothing. The Passion of Christ should push us to say ‘no’ to being silent in the face of evil in our society. It should lead us to say that we will never allow the voice of injustice to triumph wherever we are gathered, be it in the family or in the workplace.

Lastly, it was our sins that necessitated the coming of Christ to die for us. Hence, as we condemn those who unjustly judged Jesus for their wickedness, we should also ask ourselves whether we are still committing those acts that made Him to accept the sorrowful journey to Calvary. Every form of sin is a betrayal of Christ who died for us on the cross. Every sinful act increases the weight of that cross. We condemn him to death any time we fell into sin.

Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima

PUSC, Roma

 

Holy Thursday: Homily by Fr. Isaac Chima

Theme: Christ’s Passover: A New Covenant for a new life

Readings: Ex 12:1-8,11-14; 1Cor 11:23-26; Jn 13:1-15

Dearest brothers and sisters, the celebration of this evening - the Passover of the Lord - is at the foundation of the Church’s life. It celebrates the institution of the Holy Eucharist by Jesus Christ on the night He was Betrayed. The Holy Eucharist is the source and summit of our faith; it is at the centre of the Christian life; it is what we gather in the church to celebrate every day. This Passover also celebrates the institution of the Sacred Ministerial Priesthood. It was at the Passover Meal that Christ instituted the Sacrament of Holy Orders. With the Chrism Masses celebrated in all dioceses of the world this week, the institution of the ministerial priesthood is commemorated.

The Eucharist is a meal that saves us from the power of sin and death, it is a meal of the new covenant, and a meal that requires its recipients to live a particular pattern of life. These qualities are clearly illustrated in the readings of today.

The first reading from the book of Exodus recounted the Passover meal and the experience of the people of Israel in Egypt, the land of slavery. After many years of suffering and slavery in the land of Egypt, God instructed the people to prepare to leave Egypt. On the night of their departure, God instructed them to mark their liberation and redemption by celebrating the Passover. They killed a lamb, ate it in a ceremonious way, but in a haste, and smeared its blood on their doorposts to save them from the angel of death who would go round that night to kill the firstborn sons of the people of Egypt. It was the blood of that lamb that saved them from death. The Passover meal was to be commemorated every year to celebrate that event. It became a great feast for the people of Israel in remembrance of the great event that saved them from slavery.

It was on the occasion of the commemoration of that Passover that Jesus instituted a new Passover for us. Just like the old Passover, in the new Passover, the blood of the Lamb – Jesus – that was shed on the Calvary saved us from sin and death, and we are instructed to celebrate this Eucharistic meal in remembrance of the salvific event that saved us in Christ.

In the second reading, Saint Paul tells us that what Jesus did at the Last Supper was an institution of new covenant between God and His people. So, the Eucharist is not an ordinary meal, it is a covenant between us and God; it replaced the old covenant with the people of Israel. According to the Gospel accounts and that of St. Paul, we are to celebrate this meal in remembrance of God’s saving deeds in Christ until He comes again. The celebration is not to be a passive remembrance, but an active one, a celebration that brings to life or makes present the same meal that was instituted on that night by Christ. It is referred to as an anamnesis. The term anamnesis shows us that the Eucharist is an active reminiscence of the Last Supper, a celebration through which Christians actively enter into the Paschal mystery. So, our active participation is required at every Mass if we really want to benefit from the blessings of the Mass.

In the Gospel, Jesus showed us the type of life he expects from those who have participated in the new covenant, it is the life of love and service to others. As soon as he finished eating the Passover meal, Jesus descended from the table and started washing the feet of His disciples. Thereafter, he told them that that he has given them an example to follow, and a new commandment to love one another. Dear friends, the Eucharist is a communion with God which challenges us to commune with one another. Jesus has shown us that loving and serving one another are the qualities that should characterize the life of whoever participates or has participated in this meal of love and salvation. Therefore, all of us who participate in this meal are challenged to go out to spread the love of God through good service to one another. We are called to be humble in this service, just like Jesus who knelt down to wash the feet of his apostle. The foot is the most common part of our body, the part with which we march on dirt. So, it is only a servant/slave who washes the feet of others. At the Last Supper, Jesus assumed the position of the servant/slave. He wants us to do same.

Therefore, dear friends, it will be a contradiction if the one who is participating in this meal or who has participated in this meal cannot love other people and cannot help those in need. It will be a contradiction if the one who eats this salvific meal cannot replicate what Christ did. It will also be a contradiction if the one who eats this meal cannot be humble. Let us go out and replicate this new life required of us by this new covenant.

Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima

PUSC, Roma

 

 Wednesday of Holy Week: reflection

Reading: Mt 26:14-25

Did you notice the innocent appearance Judas put up at table in the gospel reading of today? He knew he was guilty of what Jesus was saying, but he sat at table calmly and pretended to be innocent. He even joined the other apostles in asking if he was the one who would betray Jesus, even though he had just returned from selling Jesus to His enemies for thirty silver coins. In his mind, he had successfully concealed his evil from everyone.

Yes, he successfully hid his sin from his fellow humans, the apostles, but not from Jesus, for nothing is hidden from God; He knows us more than we know ourselves and sees everything, including the ones we do in secret. It was for this reason that the Psalmist said: “You have searched me, LORD, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you discern my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely. (Ps 139:1-4)

Every time we commit a sin, we are tempted to behave like Judas. We are often tempted to hide our sins from people so that we will escape human judgement and condemnation. Most times, we are also tempted to think that since we have successfully hidden our sins from human beings, they are also hidden from God. In this way, we continue to wallow in sins believing that nobody is seeing us.

Dear friends, God sees the innermost part of our hearts and knows everything we have done, the ones we are doing and the ones we have planned to do. We can’t hide from him for a second. So, He keeps record of all we are doing and will hold us accountable for them. We are, therefore, advised to be careful what we do, we might successfully conceal our crimes from humans but not from God.

May your activities this Wednesday be abundantly blessed. Amen

Fr Isaac Chima

 Tuesday of Holy Week: reflection

Reading: Jn 13:21-33,36-38

As the Paschal Triduum draws near, the daily readings help us get into the right frame of mind for celebrating the Paschal mysteries by furnishing us with the last scenes of Jesus with His apostles, what He told them as well as His true state of mind as He approached His death.

According to today’s gospel reading, Jesus was deeply troubled when He was seated at table with His apostles. The betrayal he was about to experience from His closest allies and collaborators troubled Him more that the death He was about to accept for the sake of humanity, for it was already written that He will die to save mankind. Having spent three years with His apostles, His close circle of friends, He was expecting nothing from them other than love, friendship, intimate relationship, and mutual support, especially in difficult times. Unfortunately, the people who ought to support Him in times of trials and need were about to stab him at the back. He wondered why His closest friends must be the ones to betray, deny and abandon him. Thoughts of this kind weighed down his spirit.

Through our baptism, we have become close friends and family of Jesus, the people for whom He laid down his life and from whom He expects reciprocal actions. Great is the sorrow that afflict His heart anytime we fail to reciprocate His love and sacrifice for us by doing the bidding of that same person from whose wicked hands He delivered us. The paschal events of the Triduum always challenges us to do those things which the apostles could not do for Jesus on account of human weakness. Let us approach Jesus this Triduum, as Peter did, and beg Him for forgiveness for the many times we betrayed Him and our friends/family, for the many times we troubled His loving heart by our sins (our acts of betrayal of God’s love for us).

May God’s grace strengthen you and fill you with the resolve not to betray Christ again. Amen

Fr Isaac Chima

 

Monday of Holy Week: reflection

THEME: INVITATION TO LOOK BEYOND THE COMMONNESS OF CHURCH’S TRIDUUM ACTIVITIES

Reading: Jn12:1-11

 

Dear friends in Christ, the response of Jesus to Judas’ objection of Mary’s action in today’s gospel sets the tone for the Holy Week and invites us to look beyond what might appear as ‘ordinary or common activities’ of the Church during this Paschal Triduum in order to discover their spiritual significances and benefit from them as well.

Jesus went to the house of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus. As He was speaking with the people who had come to benefit from His wisdom, Mary took out a pound of expensive pure nard ointment and began anointing Jesus' feet with it, wiping them with her hair. The scent of that pricey ointment permeated the entire house. Judas thought Mary was squandering valuable resources and that the ointment should have been monetized. But Jesus looked beyond Mary's outward gestures; he rather saw her preparing him for burial and wished that others would do the same.

The Holy Week, is a week packed with intense activities aimed at reenacting the paschal mysteries of Christ; activities that take us through the stages of Jesus’ passion, death and resurrection. These will include the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday in which the feet of some people will be washed and the spending of at least one hour with Jesus after the Mass in adoration, Stations of the Cross, celebration of Christ’s passion and veneration of the Cross on Good Friday and the activities of Easter Virgil on the night of Holy Saturday.

As external, ordinary or common as Triduum’s activities might appear, they are very rich in spiritual significances and are spiritually enriching too. When these activities are actively and faithfully followed, they lead Christians to experience Christ’s passion, suffer, endure and ‘die’ with Him in order to rise and reign with Him in glory (2 Tim 2:11-12). These are activities that dispose Christians to fully benefit from the glory of Christ’s resurrection.

However, those who, like Judas, lack the spiritual insight to recognize the spiritual aspect and benefits of the activities of the Easter Triduum will see Christians who are participating in them as wasting their precious time and would rather suggest that such time be monetized by spending it on businesses. Jesus is inviting these people today to look beyond the commonness of the activities of the Church during the Paschal Triduum and discover the blessings that flow from them.

May your new week be filled with blessings. Amen

Fr Isaac Chima

 

 Palm Sunday, Year B: Homily by Fr Isaac Chima

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

Readings: Is 50:4-7; 2 Phil 2:6-11; Mk 14:1-15:47

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

Today, we carry branches of Palms or olives and follow Jesus into our Churches, the New Jerusalem, the same way the people of Jerusalem cut branches of trees and spread them on the way as Jesus triumphantly entered Jerusalem. These branches of olive or palm that have been blessed have become sacramentals. They will be burnt on Ash Wednesday next year, and ashes from them will be used to usher us into another period of Lent.

Branches of olive or palm have wonderful significances in our world. They signify peace, victory and hope. These significances have their root from the culture of the Mediterranean basin, especially from the culture/customs of the ancient Egypt and ancient Greek, where olive branches represented peace or victory, particularly regarding supplication to both the gods and persons in power.

Therefore, dearest friends, today, we have the symbol of peace in our hands – the branches of palm or olive. These days, our world needs peace more than any other thing because she has been battered by problems and wars from all her quarters. We have seen the situation between Russia and Ukraine, and Israel and Palestine. Acts of terrorism are engulfing many countries of Africa. Many other parts of the world have also been engulfed by unreported crises and unrests. It is also known to everyone that Peace is the greatest gift we, as Christians, can give to our families and friends. With these branches of olive/palm, let us become messengers of peace to our world, our families, and friends. Indeed, it will be a contradiction if the bearer of olive/palm branches is not a promoter of peace in his/her neighbourhood.

The olive/palm branch also signifies victory. Today, we have recalled Christ’s triumphant entry into Jerusalem, where he became victorious over the forces of darkness and death. We have also read the Passion of Christ which showed us Christ’s journey to victory. We are witnesses to this victorious power of Christ over evil and death. Hence, as we carry these branches of palm/olive, a sign of victory, let us remind the world that our Saviour is a victorious king; let us be witnesses to the victorious power of Christ over sin and death in our society. Friends, we are children of victory. In fact, if anybody asks you why you have the branches of olive/palm in your hands today, tell that person that our victorious King is passing by today, and he has victoriously entered our neighbourhood to fight our battles of life and to give us victory. Thus, it will be a contradiction if children of victory are afraid to proclaim Christ to their friends. 

The olive/palm branch also signifies hope. This is evident in the book of Genesis when the dove that was sent out by Noah returned with an olive branch, a sign of the hope of a new beginning. The difficulties we have seen in our world have made many people to lose hope in life and in God. Many people are searching for where to anchor their hope.

Dear friends, today, we have the sign of the hope of a new beginning in our hands, which is the branches of olive/palm. Let us go out and spread this message of hope. Let us tell the world that in Jesus, there is the hope of a new beginning. The resurrection of Christ is a guarantee of a new beginning, it is an ensemble of hope. Let us be torch bearers of hope wherever we enter, starting from today.

Friends, we have the vocation to spread the message of peace and hope and of Christ’s victory in our world. As we do this, it is good to remember that Christ wants us to be true witnesses. Jesus needs those who will stay with Him both in good times and in bad times, those who will stay with Him when it is joyful and when it is sorrowful. Our witness to Christ should not be like that of the crowd who shouted Hosanna at the triumphant entry of Jesus into Jerusalem but did not come out to defend Him when he was unjustly tried and condemned to death. Many of them denied him and chose Barabbas in his place, as we read in the Passion narrative of today. Many of them shouted ‘crucify him, crucify him’ with the same intensity with which they shouted ‘Hosanna, Son of David’.

Dear friends, many concrete situations of our lives demand us to witness to the truths of the Gospel. We have all noticed that our world has been penetrated by many doctrines, ideologies and lifestyles that are contrary to the truth of the Gospel. These evil lifestyles and ideologies are promoted and advertised as fashionable models by many governments of the world and, especially, by our so-called celebrities and our culture industries. It is unfortunate that some of them go to the extent of forcing their ungodly views on others. Dear friends, we would be acting like the crowd in the Passion Narrative if we continue to keep quiet and watch our world being battered by these people. We deny Christ and our faith whenever we keep quiet in the presence of such teachings and lifestyles. We deny Christ any time we decide to play the card of indifference in the face of evil. We choose Barabbas any time we swim against the truth of the gospel. May we not remain indifferent and unconcerned in the face of the anti-life ideologies that have entered our societies. May we stop being politically correct in the face of evil. Let us speak out for Christ.

Finally, today ushers us into the Holy week. The wish of Christ and his Church is that all of us who will participate in the programmes of this Holy week should be holy too. Hence, let us set sin aside and focus on the Paschal Mysteries. Jesus invites us to open ourselves to be washed clean by His Precious Blood through the sacrament of reconciliation. Let us carry our cross and march with Christ to Calvary so that we will rise with him in glory.

Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima

 PALM SUNDAY, YEAR B: REFLECTION BY FR JULIAN EKEH

THEME: PASSION FOR CHRIST

(Mark 14:1-15:47)

The celebration of today is one that launches us liturgically into the Holy Week. The Holy Week is so called because of the important events in the life of Christ that are re-enacted from this Sunday to Holy Saturday.

In a special way, today is called the Palm Sunday or the Passion Sunday. It is the Sunday that precedes the Easter Sunday. It is called Palm Sunday because of the Blessing and distribution of palm branches representing the Palm branches the crowd waved as Jesus entered Jerusalem. These branches, after the blessings, become Sacramentals and are to be preserved to serve as ash for next Ash Wednesday. On the other hand, today is called the Passion Sunday because of the Passion Narratives that become the Gospel of today. Here, we hear about the story of Christ's condemnation, suffering, and death. We listen to it, not just as a story but to contemplate it as a reality in the life of Christ.

THE DIVISION OF TODAY'S CELEBRATION

Today's celebration is divided into two parts: THE TRIUMPHANT ENTRY OR THE PALM PART, THE HOSANNA PART, and THE PASSION PART, THE THORN CROWN PART or THE 'CRUCIFY HIM' PART.

In the first session, we saw the myriads of people singing and following Christ along, hailing Him as it were with their palms. We saw Jesus on the donkey riding in Majesty as the Messiah that is to come. The people chanted: Hosanna filio David. We do the same procession today, as we look up to Jesus as the only Messiah that comes in the name of the Lord for our salvation.

We are brought to a deeper reflection on the passion of Christ so as to appreciate all He went through to set us free. We are not just to hear it and get entertained but put ourselves in the number of the people who witnessed these great events and ask ourselves where we belong. Are we among the Hosanna people or the Crucify Him people? That's the question.

MESSAGE OF TODAY

The story of the Passion is the longest narration in the gospel we can think of in the Catholic Liturgy. We must stand to hear it all. It is worth it. We must give it our attention. That was the reason why Jesus came into the world. That was why Jesus emptied Himself and took up human nature. Let us go home with the message of this celebration so as to ever live in appreciation to Christ for His Holy Passion for our salvation.

ZEAL FOR CHRIST

In the passion narrative, we saw man in His crude, corrupt nature and God in His zeal to save man, which made Him become silent over all His Son endured for  Man's redemption.

The passion is a story of betrayal, of denial, of disappointment, of humiliation, of abandonment, of false judgment, of eclipse of godliness, of shame, of capital punishment, of man's inhumanity.

Jesus saw all these. He knew it even as the Hosanna chants were going on. In the Gospel today He nearly prayed that it should pass away. But He insisted on allowing not His human will, but the Divine will take place.

His passion for the souls of men urged Him on. His love for our freedom encouraged Him to ride on to die.

Let us confront life with passion for God and the love for God. Let us not allow the changes and chances of this life to weigh us down. Let us not allow our desires, sinful passions, lust, greed, and emotions to steal our attraction for God and the will of God for us. Do we really have the zeal to actualize our mission of knowing God and inheriting His kingdom at last?

BE TRUE

Falsehood reigned in the story of the Passion of Christ. The chief priests and the Pharisees cooked up their accusations against Jesus because they wanted Him dead. Pilate knew the truth and was not courageous enough to stand for it. The crowd knew that Barabbas was an evil man but chose to free Him and crucify Jesus. They used their passions wrongly. They were dishonest with the powers invested on them by God.

Are you a true Christian? Do you shout Hosanna in the noon and crucify Him in the night?  Do you like Peter declare before Church members, where you are known to follow Jesus till death and when you think no one sees you or knows your identity you deny Christ? Be true and tell yourself that truth on this.

Only Passion for Christ can make you stand up for Jesus in season and out of season.

BE HOLY AS YOU ENTER THE HOLY WEEK

With Christ's entry into His passion, the mood of His close pals changed. While the crowd rejected Christ His mother and the women were thrown into mournful prayers, and they were drawn more to Him. The beloved disciples kept following. They remained steadfast. Few bystanders repented. Some confessed their sins. Some declared that Jesus Christ is the Lord. All these took place within the context of the passion. People entered into communion with God.

Let us be among the few who brought consolation to Jesus as He endured His passion. Let us be among those who will prove to Jesus that His suffering and death on the Cross is not in vain. We can only do this by living a holy life by emptying ourselves for God to feel us with His grace by removing from our lives everything that will crucify Jesus the second time.

Let us accept like Christ, whatever cross that will come our way with perfect resignation and total abandonment. Let's look up to God, knowing that He will not allow us to be put to shame. May we move away from the noise in the world and embrace silence and, in the silence of our hearts, hear the voice that speaks of peace, reconciling us to God whose heart we have often wounded by sin. Let us not give up nor lose faith in the face of the many trials that come our way. Let's not be overwhelmed by the difficult times. They will all pass away. There's no crown without a cross. We shall overcome by the grace of God. God can never abandon us. Let's appreciate all the celebrations of this holy week and come out triumphantly victorious.

May God bless His word in our hearts.

LET US PRAY

We thank and worship You, Lord, for keeping us alive to celebrate this year's passion. As You continue to bless us, oh Lord, give us the grace to appreciate the great price Your Son paid to set us free. Give us the zeal to continue living according to Your holy will for us. May the passion of Christ strengthen us now and forever. Amen

Happy Passion Sunday (Yr B)

Rev FR Julian O Ekeh

 PALM SUNDAY, YEAR B; HOMILY BY FR. JUSTIN ADIELE

THEME: "DYING FOR THE LOVE OF MEN"

INTRODUCTION

During the liturgy of matrimony, during the exchange of marital vows, the couples vow “for better for worse…, till death do us part”. Christ the head and husband of the Church demonstrated his love for his bride the Church today; for better for worst. He was determined to give his life for his bride; not even in the face of death would he back down from his saving mission for his bride. Even death could not do us part nor separate us from His love; for he rose again.

 

THE FIRST READING (IS. 50: 4 – 7)

The first reading pointed to Jesus as the suffering servant of God who voluntarily gave into the suffering, spittle and shame of the Cross. He never took the option of running away from the burden of love of God his Father and the burden of love of the people. Initially, Jesus had tried walking privately, disappearing from danger, and slipping away from the Jewish authorities because his hour has not yet come. But today, he publicly embraced the hour of his passion for love of men.

 

THE SECOND READING (PHIL 2: 6 – 11)

The second reading presented a more radical testimony of Christ’s sacrificial love. For the love of men, Jesus emptied himself, humbled himself, and was born in the form/likeness of mortal men. He was not ashamed to share in our lowly human state/nature, in order to bring us to share in his divine/glorious nature. Driven by love for us and obedience to the father, he became obedient unto death, even death on a Cross. For doing this, he was exalted above all else; teaching us to also live and die in love and obedience to the Father and be also exalted in glory.

 

THE GOSPEL READING (MK. 14: 1 – 15: 47)

The passion narrative revealed to us in mystery and in reality, the burden Jesus bore for love of us and the price He paid for our salvation. Jesus our loving savior, after laboring to do/make all things well for us in the physical world; enters the spiritual domain by paying the ultimate price with his life, to also make all things well for us in the spirit world. After lavishing his love/compassion for us; healing us, teaching us, delivering us, feeding us, shepherding us, and comforting us; he still had to die for us. What else has he not done for us, and what else/more can he not do for us! In return for his love for us, let us never deny him, betray him, abuse him, or profane his name and his love by the type of life we live.

 

CONCLUSION

As we mark the Triumphant Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem today to die for us, let us vow for better for worst, to love and serve God more sincerely and genuinely. Let us cease to be indifferent to his love, his gospel and his righteous laws. Let us emulate Jesus by emptying ourselves (giving up our pride, position, comfort, and talents) for the love and good of others. Let us reciprocate Jesus’ undying love for us by living and dying for love of Him. Let us develop unwavering passion for holiness and righteousness of Christ. And we shall never live and die in vain like Jesus.

Happy Holy Week!

Rev. Fr. Justin.

 Friday of 5^th Week of Lent: reflection

THEME: YOUR PERSECUTORS WILL NOT OVERCOME YOU

Readings: Jer 20:10-13, Jn 10:31-42

As we draw closer to the Holy Week, the week of the passion of Christ, the daily gospel readings help us to feel the closeness of Christ’s passion by giving us scenes of intense attacks against Jesus and the attempts of the authorities to arrest and kill him. The first readings are also doing the same task by providing us stories of the persecution of the just and how God delivered them. These are to prepare our minds to see the victory of Christ on the cross as we head into the Holy Week.

In today’s first reading, the prophet Jeremiah fills us with the assurance that God will fight for us when we are persecuted for doing what is right; that God will foil the attacks of the enemy against us and cause the plotters of evil against us to stumble. Therefore, he challenges us to firmly cling to God in the face of persecutions, for God will fight our battle for us. He challenges us to commit our course to God with faith and allow Him to do the battle for us.  

Are you surrounded by people who are plotting evil against you or waiting for your downfall as it happened to Jeremiah? Are your trusted friends, colleagues and relatives even complicit in the whole evil plots against you as it happened to Jeremiah? Are those around you just waiting for you to slip so that they will attack and destroy you? Today, Jeremiah is assuring you that God is with you as a strong and mighty warrior, therefore, your persecutors will stumble, they will fail, they will not overcome you (Jer 20:11). Just commit your life and your course to Him with faith.   

May you be victorious in all the challenges of this Friday. Amen

Fr Isaac Chima

 

 

Thursday of 5^th Week of Lent: reflection

THEME: WE ARE HEIRS TO ABRAHAM’S BLESSINGS

Reading: Gen 17:3-9

We are once more reminded that the period of Lent is a special time of grace, a time to make peace with God and our neighbor in order to be worthy to benefit from the ocean of blessings that flow from the paschal mysteries of Christ. Reconciliation with God and our neighbor also prepares us to benefit from the Abrahamic blessings.

When we consider the amazing things God promised to Abraham and his descendants, we cannot but leap with joy for being counted among the children of Abraham. The first reading of today made a list of the wonderful things God promised to Abraham and, by extension, to all his children and all those who will, by faith, become his children (you and I). 

This reading, however, ended with the condition that such amazing blessings will be Abraham’s and his children’s if and only if they follow God’s ways. We all know that Abraham complied with God’s commands and was fully blessed. So, it is evident that obeying God's commands is what stands between us and the possession of Abraham's blessings. The time of Lent offers us a golden opportunity to come closer to God, drink from the ocean of His mercy and, then, possess the entirety of Abraham’s blessings.  

Do you want Abraham’s blessing to be yours? Then, keep God’s commands as Abraham did.

May your Thursday bear abundant fruits of happiness, blessings, and success. Amen

Fr Isaac Chima

Wednesday of 5^th Week of Lent: reflection

THEME: WITH GOD ON YOUR SIDE, YOU CAN FACE ALL ODDS.

Dan 3: 14-20,24-25.28

In a world where some jobs that put food on the tables of many Christians frequently force them to compromise their faith in God, thereby leaving them in a state of constant conflict between their love/obedience for God and the material welfare of their families, the first reading of today’s Eucharistic celebration provides us with an example to follow. It is the well-known story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego; a story written to give courage to people who were suffering in dire and seemingly hopeless situation.

 

The response of the three young men to the king, which was full of faith in God against all odds, should be on the lips of those whose jobs and relationships require them to go against their faith if they must get something good out of them. They told the king that they will not compromise their faith and that their God will rescue them from his hands, and that even if their God does not rescue them, they will not still compromise their faith in Him. Can you say the same thing in all the situations that promise to make you great on the condition that you compromise your Christian faith and values?

 

When faith in God is strongly affirmed against the demands of the evil one, gates of hell are often let loose and cankerworms of difficulties unleashed, as was the case of the three young men where the furnace was made seven times hotter because they affirmed their faith in God. Therefore, do not lose hope in God when trials and tribulations are increasing in your life in spite of your strong faith in God, your refusal to do evil and your great contributions towards the growth of Christianity.

 

When the young men were finally thrown into the fire, God did not do what many people may have anticipated, instead, he sent them his angel who helped them to remain unhurt even in the fire. That was even a bigger miracle. Most times, the kind of rescue we expect from God doesn’t come to us the way we wanted it, and that doesn’t mean that God has failed us. However, God always sends us the grace to face all odds and to emerge victorious from them; He comes to us so that we will not be alone and, with His presence, even the hottest of all fires will not burn us.  If He is with you, even the worst of trials and tribulations will not defeat you.

 

May your Wednesday be blessed.

Fr Isaac Chima

 Solemnity of St Joseph (March 19): reflection

THEME: LEARNING FROM ST JOSEPH

Reading: Mt 1:16,18-21,24a

 

Today, the Church celebrates the solemnity of St Joseph, the foster father of Jesus and the Husband of the Blessed Virgin Mary. He is also the Patron of the Universal Church.

What we know about St Joseph has some lessons for us. Let us briefly state few of them.

In all the stories surrounding the birth and early childhood of Jesus where Joseph played active roles, it was not recorded that Joseph uttered a word. Yet, all those stories depicted him as a man full of humility, attentiveness to God and to his family and unflinching obedience to God’s will even when God’s will was not understood by him and the times it caused him great discomfort. These are qualities that all family leaders must possess if they want their families to reflect love, peace, unity and other good virtues.

Did you notice how St Joseph handled his family problem in the gospel of today? In this gospel passage, we were told that when Joseph discovered that the lady (Mary) betrothed to him was with child, and knowing fully well that he was not responsible for that pregnancy, he did not do what the law required of him. The law required him to shame Mary by publicly renouncing her and submitting her to face justice. Joseph did not do any of these, he, rather, opted to treat Mary with compassion by deciding to send her away secretly; he didn’t want her to be shamed, he didn’t want her to face public ridicule.

One of the reasons why many families are breaking down these days is because the couples inside them are behaving like information ministers or megaphones; what gives them joy is making their partners’ mistakes a topic of discussion with friends and anyone who will care to listen. Such people simply can’t wait for mistakes to drop down in their matrimonial homes and BOOM, everybody will hear it. Joseph invites couples to make room for patience, compassion, mercy, tolerance, empathy and silence when it is needed in their marriages.

Also, in a world where shaming people has become the hobby of many people, the action of Joseph leaves us an example to follow. It teaches us to treat those we feel have offended us with compassion, just as God treats us sinners. Joseph invites us to always listen to the voice of compassion and mercy in the treatment of those we feel have made mistakes in their lives, rather that listening to the vicious voice that tells us to drag them out, tell horrible stories about them and shame them.

May St Joseph pray for us. Amen.

Fr Isaac Chima

 Monday of 5^th Week of Lent: reflection

THEME: TRUST IN GOD ALWAYS, HE WILL NEVER FAIL YOU.

Reading: Dan 13:1-9,15-17,19-30,33-62

The long story of the travails of Susanna and her rescue by Daniel, which we read in the first reading of today’s Eucharistic celebration, ended with some words of praise to God from the crowd who witness what transpired. It said: “Then all the assembly shouted loudly and blessed God, who saves those who hope in Him.” Perhaps this long narrative was recounted to teach us that our God rescues those who hope in Him against all odds, those who hope in Him even at such times when hoping in Him appears unrealistic. Indeed, our God never fails those who sincerely look up to Him.

Recall that Susanna refused to grant the evil wishes of those two wicked men because she didn’t want to sin against God. When she was being sentenced to death, she was still praying to this God for rescue. Imagine what was going on in her mind and the minds of those who heard her pray to God for rescue as she was being led to the place of her execution. She may have been thinking that God had disappointed her. The people may have also been thinking that trusting in God was a futile venture, the same way many people of our own time think or feel when they see the just suffering many hardships and trials.

True to His name, God did not fail Susanna; He intervened and rescued her, proving all those who doubted Him wrong. Dear friends, sincerely trusting in God even in those moments when such trust appears unfeasible isn’t a stupid idea. People may mock and laugh at you, but the God who saved Susanna will not let you down. Remember, it was at that time when the Jews thought that they have conquered His Only Son that He raised Him from the grave and gave Him glory. He is the same God, and He will never fail you. Trust in Him. With Him on your side, you should fear no evil even if you should walk in the valleys of the shadow of death (Ps.23:4)

Another important lesson we should extract from this story is that we should not be afraid to be the lone voice saying something different but right in the midst of myriads of voices saying and believing something wrong. The satanic ideology of ‘if you can’t beat them, you join them’ has left our world deeply wounded and has contributed to the persecution, misery and death of many innocent people. If Daniel had kept mute for fear of the crowd, innocent Susanna would have been killed. Therefore, let us always remember that anytime we keep mute in the face of injustice and lies, someone innocent pays the ultimate prize.   

May God bless your new week with abundance of grace and favours. Amen

Fr Isaac Chima