Holy Spirit Sunday - Pentecost, Year B: Homily by Fr Isaac Chima

Theme: Come, O Holy Spirit and renew the face of the earth

Readings: Acts 2:1-11; Gal 5:16-25; Jn. 15:26-27,16:12-15

Dearest brothers and sisters, today the mother church celebrates her birthday, the solemnity of the Pentecost, the day the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples with tongues of fire, and they spoke many languages. It was on the Pentecost that the mission of the Church to all tongues, all peoples and all nations was inaugurated.

Actually, the Pentecost means the fiftieth day, and it was on the fiftieth day after the resurrection that Jesus sent the Holy Spirit upon the disciples. According to the Old Testament tradition, the feast of the Pentecost was already an important feast in the life and history of the Jews. On that day, the Israelites celebrated two events in their lives. First, on the Pentecost, the Jews commemorated the giving of the Ten Commandments to Moses by God on Mount Sinai, which happened fifty days after the Passover. They called it the feast of weeks (in Hebrew language, ‘chang ha shevout’). Second, on the day of the Pentecost, the Jews also celebrated their agricultural feast, the offering of the first loaves from their farm to God. They called it the festival of Harvest (in Hebrew language, ‘Yom ha-bikkurim’). These two great Jewish feasts, which the Jews celebrated on the Pentecost, drew a good number of Jews from all over the world to Jerusalem to identify with their religion and their country. It was on account of this that many people from all over the world were present the day the Holy Spirit descended on the disciples as we read in the first reading. So, Christ chose the best day to send the Holy Spirit upon his disciples and to inaugurate his Church, the day when the whole world would be gathered in Jerusalem, so that the message of the resurrection will reach the whole world.

The feast of the Pentecost is very important in the life of the Church because of the impact of the Holy Spirit in the life of the early Church, in the life of the present Church and in the life of all of us. It was the Holy Spirit that changed the apostles from men who were afraid into men who were filled with strength and courage to preach the Good News to all humanity. Recall that before the day of Pentecost, the disciples were afraid of going out to preach the Good News, but when the Holy Spirit came upon them, they dashed out of the House and started proclaiming the message of the resurrection without fear. The presence of the Holy Spirit made the difference, and has continued to make a difference. Let us, therefore, pray for the presence of the Holy Spirit in our own Churches and Homes, to free us from fear and to empower us with the courage to be good testimonies of Christ wherever we live and wherever we go.

The coming of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles also signified that the hand of God has once more taken control of humanity. In the book of Genesis chapter eleven, as we read in the first reading of the vigil mass of this feast, which told us the story of the tower of Babel, God used the power of different languages to confuse and disperse humanity all over the world when humanity wanted to build a tower of equality with Him. But on the feast of Pentecost, God used the same instrument of many languages to unite humanity again. The first reading of today told us that the disciples spoke many languages, but people of other languages understood them in their own tongues. What a great unity through language. Dear friends, what that unity of language tells us is that the Pentecost is a feast of unity and new life. It is the celebration of the outpouring of new life into the church and into the world because the hand of God has touched humanity once again. It is a feast that challenges us who have received the gifts of the Holy Spirit to live the life of unity and newness. If the hand of God has touched you through the Holy Spirit, your life should bear the fruits of unity and newness.    

Dear brothers and sisters, we should also remember that on the feast of the Pentecost, the Holy Spirit broke the wall of division and misunderstanding among human beings by creating a common understanding between many different languages. On that day, those who spoke Italian understood Arabic, and those who spoke Russia understood Aramaic, those who spoke English understood French; there was no misunderstanding. We can say that the Holy Spirit, the author of unity, spoke our language on the day of the Pentecost, and created unity among men. Hence, the same Holy spirit wants us to speak His own language too. This is the challenge for all of us. But then, what is the language of the Holy Spirit. The language of the Holy Spirit is clearly written in the second reading of today. It says the fruits of the Holy Spirit are love, joy, patients, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These fruits are the languages of the Spirit. The church wants us to start speaking this language. Speaking this language means living our lives according to these wonderful fruits of the Holy Spirit. If you are living your life according to these fruits of the Holy Spirit, you are already speaking the language of the Holy Spirit

It is however sad that many people in our world have chosen to constantly speak the language of the devil instead of the language of the Holy spirit. The second reading also told us what the language of the devil is. It says: ‘now the works of the flesh are immorality, impurity, licentiousness, dissension, party spirit, envy, drunkenness, carousing and the like, those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. These evil things listed above are the languages of the devil. Those who live their lives according to them are speaking the language of the devil.

Let us pray in today’s Mass that the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit which have been poured on us and on the church, the gifts of wisdom, knowledge, counsel, fortitude, understanding, piety, and fear of the Lord will help us to speak the language of the Holy Spirit everyday of our life. Amen

Happy Feast Day

Fr Isaac Chima

 

SOLEMNITY OF PENTECOST, YEAR B: HOMILY BY FR. JUSTIN ADIELE

THEME: “THE SPIRIT THAT RENEWS THE FACE OF GOODNESS IN US”

INTRODUCTION:

The word “Pentecost” is from a Greek derivation; “Pentekostos” or “Pente-koste”, meaning “fiftieth day”. It is a Jewish holiday festival of Weeks which falls seven weeks after the Jewish Passover Feast. This “Weeks Festival” (“Shavuot” in Hebrew) stems from Leviticus 23:16, which called the people to count seven weeks or fifty days from the end of Passover, and present an offering of new grains to the Lord. This ‘Shavuot’ or Weeks Festival was the second great feast in the Hebrews’ annual cycle of holy days. Many, who have benefited from the year’s harvest, gather to thank the Lord of the harvest with grain offerings. It was on this day that the Holy Spirit descended on Mary and the Apostles; exactly fifty days after Easter. In the same context of bringing new grain offerings to the Lord, the Lord offered and poured out His own fruits/gifts of the Holy Spirit to the world.

 

THE FIRST READING (ACTS. 2: 1 – 11)

In the first reading, we read about the out pouring of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles and the effects. They began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance, imparting in the lives of the many races and tribes of people gathered for the Weeks Festival. The Holy Spirit renewed the face of their communication, and they spoke in the language everyone could understand. Their communication with the power of the Holy Spirit attracted many towards them. Today, we need the Holy Spirit to also renew the communication amongst us, amongst brothers and amongst nations who are still at war with each other. May the Holy eliminate every bridge in communication and help us to understand rather than misunderstand one another and live peacefully with one another!

 

THE SECOND READING (GAL. 5: 6 – 25)

In the second reading, we read about the fruits of the Holy Spirit which God offers to the world to renew our walks from walking in the darkness of the flesh, to walking by the Holy Spirit. We need and invoke the Holy Spirit upon us today, to change from walking in immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, hatred, selfishness, dissension, party spirit, envy and drunkenness; to walking in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, and appeasing one another. The Holy Spirits renews us to appease and not to provoke one another.

 

THE GOSPEL READING (JN. 15: 26 – 27; 16: 12 – 15)

In the gospel reading, Jesus pre-empted the Apostles, that when the Holy Spirit comes, He will renew them in the truth and in their witnessing for Christ. And today, at the festival of weeks, they received the Holy Spirit and courageously sprang into witnessing, away from every fear, and idle, silent or cold faith.

 

CONCLUSION

The Holy Spirit comes to renew the face/warmth of God in us; the face/warmth of goodness. The Holy Spirit renews us in good communication with one another; renews us in walking in love and righteousness with one another; and renews us in fervent witnessing for Christ to the glory of God and our own glory. May the same Spirit pour forth upon us the gifts and unction for every good work, in relation to the world around us and in relation to God, without ever growing cold in faith and in love!

Happy Feast of Pentecost!

Fr. Justin

 PENTECOST SUNDAY, YEAR B: REFLECTION BY FR JULIAN EKEH

THEME: RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT

(John 20:19-23)

Today is a great solemnity, the Pentecost Sunday. The Church celebrates the decent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles. It is the continuation of the glorious mysteries and, in fact, a very significant one indeed. We celebrate the third glorious mystery today.

Today, the Church calls to mind an event that coincided with the agricultural feast of the Jews and redefined it. We celebrate the fact that a mighty wind blew, to blow away fear and blow in courage and power from above. The Church celebrates the great miracle of recreation. The Church thanks God for the unction with which she began to function. The Church marks her birthday today.

The Church celebrates a reawakening and a return to consciousness and mission effected by the Ruah Adonai. The Church celebrates God-breathedness, the breath that vivifies and revitalizes. The Church calls to mind a transcendental replication of what happened in Eden when God breathed into the motionless man and made him live. The Church witnesses the prophecy of Ezekiel about the spirit that blew on the lifeless bones and gave them life. We celebrate answered prayers that our being locked up in the upper room was not in vain. That the voice of prayer is never silent.

We celebrate in Thanksgiving the fulfilment of the promise made by Jesus, that He will not leave us orphans.

We celebrate our adoption as children of God, for by the Spirit we have received, we can comfortably call God Abba Father.

We celebrate our liberation and the freedom of the children of God, just like a tied fowl or a caged bird celebrates when freed. We rejoice that we have been privileged to be given the gift we cannot merit so much to receive.

We celebrate the New Pentecost.

 

WHAT IS PENTECOST?

It is derived from the Greek 'pentekoste', which means literally '50th'. It is an agricultural feast, a wheat harvest festival (cf Exodus 34:22). It is a Jewish feast with which they marked the end of their Passover celebration. It is also used to celebrate the Shavuot, which is the feast of weeks in Hebrew. It is the celebration of the seven weeks after Passover.

With time, this Jewish festival became an occasion for commemorating the giving of the Torah by God to Moses on Mount Sinai.

It is good to underscore that this celebration gathered a good number of people from far and wide into Jerusalem. It was a homecoming for the Jews in diaspora, a pilgrimage for foreigners, an economic adventure for business tycoons, and tourism as well for great and small alike.

 

WHAT'S SPECIAL?

What we celebrate is not the Jewish Pentecost. We are not celebrating the Shavuot. Not the giving of the Torah to Moses, not the homecoming nor the pilgrimages. Oh no!

We are celebrating that on this ordinary day of Jewish celebration, something extraordinary happened. It is no longer the giving of the Torah to Moses but the giving of the Holy Spirit to the apostles. It is not a thanksgiving for a journey made by Moses but a thanksgiving for an ascent made by Jesus, the Son of God, which necessitated the advent of the Holy Spirit. It is not the old law that held people bound but the new law of love that set people free. We celebrate that on this day, the Holy Spirit took the centre stage. Attention was focused on the apostles, passivity was translated to activity, the captives were liberated, and the fearful became fearless. A mysterious proclamation resounded, and the whole tongues of the world were unified by the Spirit of understanding.

In a special way, today's celebration will bring an end to the Easter season.

 

WHY WE NEED THE HOLY SPIRIT

Proclamation

What Jesus taught His disciples was meant to be communicated. But with timidity that communication cannot occur. So, with the tongues of fire on their heads, they were set on fire to proclaim the Love of God in such a manner that people even accused them of being drunk. Be open to that fire of the Spirit and communicate Divine wisdom by your words and actions. May it not be quenched.

 

Baptism

Being confirmed and commissioned by the Holy Spirit, they received the authority of regeneration, of bringing people into the body of Christ. Those who received the communication of the word had their rebirth and new life in Christ. 3000 were baptized on the Pentecost day. How are you operating with the baptismal grace you received? It is a day to rekindle the light of our baptism and carry the same light to everywhere we may find ourselves.

 

Effective functioning in the world

To function effectively in the world, we need the Holy Spirit. The word of God says, take away the Spirit they return to clay (psalm 146:4).

We will do nothing without the Spirit of God. We will be lifeless without it. We will be empty without it. Our prayers will be a waste of time without the Spirit, and our hope will be useless without the Holy Spirit.

 We need the Holy Spirit to live holy life. That's why Jesus says: "Receive the Holy Spirit." The Church needs it to give and receive forgiveness. He is the forgiving Spirit. We need it to live in us and work with us, He is the wisdom of God. We need it to replace our unholy desires and steer up holy deeds. "Receive the Holy Spirit " means receive answers to your prayers, it means receive fulfilment of my promises to you, it means you're not alone, it means God will confuse your enemies, they will look at your success and will not understand what's going on, it means that the righteous will gather around you for Thanksgiving, it means receive reason for living, it means receive power to forge ahead. It means receive power from above. It means that the powers from below can never stop you from soaring high.

May you receive this Spirit, may the operations of the Holy Spirit destroy the activities of the evil cabals who are holding the progress of this country and of our world.

May God bless His word in our hearts.

 

LET US PRAY

 Holy Spirit of God, Spirit of the Risen Christ, fall afresh in us. Fill us with power from above. Fill us with courage and wisdom to face and overcome the world. Fill the hearts of the faithful and enkindle in us the fire of your love. Raise up for us leaders with fear of God and holy dreams. Burn to ashes the power of sin and the agents of darkness.  Give us the grace to succeed in all our endeavours. May we enjoy Your abiding presence and work with it for our salvation and those of the whole world through Christ our Lord. Amen

Happy Pentecost Sunday

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

 

Friday of 7^th Week of Easter: reflection

Theme: Let us recommit ourselves to Jesus.

Reading: Jn. 21:15-19

Dear friends in Christ, when we fail Jesus, He doesn’t give up on us, He doesn’t abandon us. Rather, He, continually approaches us with clear opportunities to come back to Him and reclaim our rightful positions. We are, however, the ones who often, out of shame and feeling of guilt, distance ourselves from Him after every fall.

After denying Jesus three times, Peter was not cast out by Jesus. Instead, Jesus came back to Peter in today’s gospel reading and gave him opportunity to renew his commitment to Him and once again assume his pastoral service of leading His flock.  

Jesus’ demand for agape love (sacrificial, selfless, unconditional love) from Peter in His first and second questions to him demonstrated the kind of recommitment He wanted from Peter and, in extension, from all of us in our services to Him after our falls. After every fall, Jesus opens a path for us to come back to Him with renewed strength, and with a resolution to recommit ourselves totally to Him above all else.

Peter’s persistent response with philia love (brotherly love) to Jesus’ demand for agape love showed our human weakness in accepting and entering the kind of relationship that God demands from us. However, Jesus’ last question which changed from the demand for agape love to that of philia love once again showed God’s readiness to accept the little honest efforts that come from us.

Have you deviated from the path that Jesus has set before you? Have you succumbed to human weaknesses in your service to Jesus and humanity? Don't give up, don't despair, don't become comfortable in your failures, because Jesus is still interested in you; He has not given up on you. Rather, He has opened the door for you to return and recommit yourself to Him, reclaiming your lost glory. Mind you, He will appreciate even the smallest of your efforts.

May God give value to your little efforts this Friday. Amen  

Fr. Isaac C. Chima

 

 

Thursday of 7^th Week of Easter: reflection

Theme: Come, O Holy Spirit, our defender

Reading: Acts 22:30;23:6-11

On one of the occasions where Jesus informed His disciples that they will be arrested, beaten and taken to court or synagogues on account of His name, He immediately assured them that they should never worry about what to say or how to defend themselves at such moments, because the Holy Spirit will teach them what to say (Mk 13:9-11; Lk 12:11).

The narrative of the first reading of today showed us Jesus’ faithfulness to His word, for He cannot fail.

St. Paul was arrested, beaten and brought before a tribunal to be tried and imprisoned. When he was asked to defend himself, only a word that came out his mouth sent his accusers into a great confusion, divided them into opposing camps and turned them against themselves. That night, Jesus appeared to him and congratulated him for bearing witness for Him in Jerusalem. He also urged him to do the same in Rome

Dear friends, the Holy Spirit, our defender is with us. Therefore, let us not be afraid of what the enemy will do to us when we bear witness to Jesus with our words or actions. If God wants to set us free from any case brought against us, He will do so because He has complete control over all situations.

May the Holy Spirt speak for you in all encounters and activities this Thursday. Amen

Fr Isaac Chima

 

Wednesday of 7^th Week of Easter: reflection

Theme: Let us keep the fire of faith alive in all we do

Acts 20:28-38; Jn 17:11b-19

The two readings of today's Mass come with two touching farewell messages/wills and prayers. The first reading was taken from Jesus' final prayers for his disciples before His passion, in which He commended them to God, asking God to keep them united, and protect them from the evil one for they are not of the world. Following the footsteps of Jesus, when St Paul was departing Ephesus after his missionary work there, he assembled the elders, commended them to God and gave them his parting will, charging them to take good care of the Church and to stand against wolves that would come to attack God's flock. In these two scenes, we see honest efforts to keep the faith alive and to ensure that it continues to thrive in coming generations.

From these two readings, we can extract some points that will assist us to keep alive the light of faith in our world and to pass it successfully to future generations.

First, Jesus prayed that we may be one in His name. Friends, to convince the world with the message we preach, we must eschew all backbiting, divisions, unhealthy competitions and campaign of calumny against fellow Christians.

Second, Jesus said ‘we are not of the world’. Friends, it is true that we live and operate in a world tainted by sin, with temptations lurking around every turn. However, if we must keep our faith alive, influence the world by it and successfully pass it on to future generations, we must be true to our Christian identity in all circumstances, swimming against the current of sin everywhere we find ourselves.

Third, St Paul urged the elders to guard against wolves that may attack the Christian community with perverse teachings. Friends, we have the Christian duty to stand against any ideology that goes against our Christian moral values, whether it is coming from within the church or from the state. The devil, as we know him, can use anyone to achieve his plans.

May God’s grace light up your way as you carry out the activities of this Wednesday. Amen.

Fr Isaac C. Chima

 

May 14 – Feast of St Matthias: reflection

Theme: This I command you, to love one another as I have loved you.

Reading: Jn 15:9-17

The theme of love occupied a special place in the discussion of our Lord Jesus Christ with His apostles in today’s gospel. He told them two times that whoever loves him will keep his commandment, and also two times that his commandment to them is that they should love one another, and this love must be as He loved them. It should be the love that moves one to lay down everything, including his life, for the beloved; the love that compels one to always consider the best interest of his beloved in all his actions and decisions.

Today, the Church is celebrating the feast of St Matthias, who replaced Judas among the twelve apostles. If Judas had loved as Jesus preached, he wouldn’t have sold Jesus and wouldn’t have lost his position in heaven. If Judas had considered the best interest of the one he sold, he would have conquered his selfish desire for money. Recall that when Judas was promised 30 silver coins, he lost his mind, allowed his selfish desires to overcome him, and sold a friend to whom he owed the duty of love.

Our world is dotted with many cases of people who betrayed the ones they owe a duty to love just because of material interests and gains. Selling out has become a common practice in our world. But then, we must understand that failing to love as Jesus commanded is sufficient to deny us a position in the community of the apostles and saints in heaven, as it happened to Judas. If we fail to love as Jesus commanded, our position will be taken by another person. Let us resist every temptation to betray our call to love as Jesus loved us.

May God’s blessings be abundant in your life this Tuesday. Amen.

Fr Isaac C. Chima

 

 

Monday of 7^th Week of Easter: reflection

Theme: Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?

Reading: Acts 19:1-8

Dear friends in Christ, the question St Paul asked the disciples he found in Ephesus, as recorded in today's first reading, who had been converted and taught about Christ by Apollos, continues to beg for answers from Christians today. The question is simple, but its answer requires a thorough examination of one's life. He asked if they had received the Holy Spirit and, in all honesty, they said no.

In Gal 5:19-22, St Paul listed the fruits of the Holy Spirit as prudence, love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, humility and self-control. Then, the fruits of a life devoid of the presence of the Holy Spirit were listed as immorality, indecent actions, idolatry, witchcraft, enmity, lies, jealousy, anger, ambitiousness, division, envy, drunkenness, and orgies.

When we compare the fruits of the Holy Spirit to the fruits that many Christians bear in our society, we can't help but wonder if we truly received the Holy Spirit the day our bishops laid hands on us, or if the Holy Spirit we received is still active in our lives.

Which fruits stand out in your life? Fruits of a life controlled by the Holy Spirit or those of a life devoid of the Holy Spirit? A closer look at how things are in our world will reveal that one of the reasons our world has become a theatre of evil is that people whose lives manifest the fruits of a life devoid of the presence of the Holy Spirit are greater in number, even in our Christian communities. Therefore, it makes sense to ask this important question again: have you received the Holy Spirit?

We are in the week of Novena to the Holy Spirit. Let us open ourselves through prayers and invite the Holy Spirit to dwell in us, so that His fire will burn away the evil fruits in us and, then, revive His own fruits that are lying dormant in our lives. When this happens, our world will be a beautiful home.

May the Holy Spirit guide and direct you as you embark on this Week’s activities. Amen.

Fr. Isaac C. Chima

 

 

 

7^TH SUNDAY OF EASTER, YEAR B: HOMILY BY FR JUSTIN ADIELE

THEME: AWAITING THE HOLY SPIRIT IN UNITY

INTRODUCTION:

Today being the seventh Sunday of Easter is the Sunday following the solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord into heaven. While Jesus was lifted up into heaven, the disciples gazed into the sky as if they are awaiting his immediate return. But Jesus had earlier instructed them to stay in Jerusalem and continue their waiting; but this time, not waiting for him, but waiting for the Third person of the Blessed Trinity; the Holy Spirit. However, they are to wait in love, in unity and in the communion of the Apostles.

THE FIRST READING (ACTS. 1: 15 – 17. 20 – 26)

The first reading talked about preserving the ministry and Apostleship of the Twelve. Mathias was later elected and consecrated to fill in the gap/position left by Judas Iscariot. The Holy Spirit we await does not draw us away from the Apostolic Church founded by Jesus, but wants us to remain in communion with the Apostles and in communion with the Pope and Bishops of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church.

THE SECOND READING (1 JN. 4: 11 – 16)

The second reading enjoined us to abide in love while we await the coming of the Holy Spirit. We must create an atmosphere of love of God and neighbor. We must love one another for God to abide in us; we must love one another for the Holy Spirit to descend on us; and we must love one another for the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit to come and make their home with us. If we live up to our parish motor/slogan: “Family of Love; Family of Peace; Family of Progress”; we are already prepared for the coming of the Holy Spirit.

THE GOSPEL READING (JN. 17: 11 – 19)

In the Gospel reading, Jesus particularly prayed for an atmosphere of unity and oneness among his disciples before leaving them. Unity and oneness of purpose therefore become an essential and necessary condition we must meet while waiting for the coming of the Holy Spirit. To be One and United, we must stop every discrimination, every envy and jealousy amongst us; and we must stop every partiality in our exercise of love.

CONCLUSION

Following the instruction of Jesus and the tradition of the Church, we have entered a special period of prayer and waiting for the Holy Spirit. While we wait and pray, may we keep in mind the three necessary conditions that entice the Holy Spirit: Apostolic fellowship, genuine Love of God and neighbor, and the atmosphere of Unity. United in faith, love and hope, we make our novena/petition to the Holy Spirit; praying for an outpour of the Spirit and his heavenly gifts and virtues upon us at Pentecost!

Happy Sunday!

Fr. Justin

 

7^th Sunday of Easter, Year B: Homily by Fr Isaac Chima

Theme: That we may be one

Readings: Acts 1:15-17,20a,20c-26; 1Jn 4:11-16; Jn. 17:11b-19

Dear friends in Christ, one of the things companies do for their new intakes is orientation. Some go as far as sending their new intakes to undergo some further formation programs or special training to be able to fit into the company’s system and to be worthy ambassadors of the company in the society. The same thing also happens when a person is appointed as an ambassador of a country. The ambassador will be groomed in international relations and will have a good knowledge of his country’s interest in the country where he is being sent to serve. This way, the ambassador will be able to represent his country.

Jesus was aware of His brief stay on earth and, therefore, gathered some men around Him to represent Him and to carry on His mission on earth. He took time to groom them in the mysteries of heaven and in the things they should do to properly represent Him on earth and make disciples for Him as well.

Since the last three Sundays, we have been reading the proceedings from Christ’s last seminar/workshop or further training for his disciples. Two Sundays ago, Jesus told them that to survive in the mission he handed over to them, they must draw their life and their strength from Him, just as the branches of the vine draw their life from the vine tree. Last Sunday, he taught them that the only identity they should have in the world as they carry on his mission is love. This Sunday, he is teaching them that unity is necessary if they are to convince the world that they love themselves and belong to Him; their acts of love must bind them together as one community.

Knowing how important unity is, how difficult it is to achieve it and how its absence will rip his disciples apart, Jesus committed the disciples into prayer, asking His Father to keep them united just as He is united with Him.

Dear friends, without unity, it will be impossible for us, the members of the Church, to convince the world that we love ourselves, and without being united we cannot claim that we represent Christ, who lives in unity and love with the Father and the Holy Spirit. To convince and conquer the world, the Church needs acts of love manifested with a strong sense of unity.

Aware of the importance of unity and what its absence might cause the community of believers, the disciples always sounded an alarm anytime there was a trace of division in their communities. We saw this in Acts 15, 1Cor 1:10-17; 1Cor 12 and 13. In the first reading of today, St John dealt with cases of disunity in the Church by emphasizing the necessity of love among Christians, for love and unity work hand in hand.

The first reading showed us how the unity which reigned in the early Christian community helped the apostles to conduct a poll between Joseph and Matthias, and elected Matthias to replace Judas. We know that one of the factors that tear communities apart is election, but the early Christian community were able to conquer this threat, courtesy of unity.

Dear friends, the prayer of Christ for unity among his followers should wake us to the reality of the necessity of unity in our various churches and Christian communities. This realization of the necessity of unity in the mission of evangelizing the world will help us to desist from unhealthy competitions and aspirations in the Church; it will help us to see our different talents as gifts given to us by God to complement each other and to serve the body of Christ, rather than opportunities to look down on others or to fight; it will help the various groups in the Church to see themselves as branches of the same tree instead of individual trees that are fighting for survival; it will also help all Christians of all denominations to understand that no one can convincingly preach Christ if he is in a battle with his fellow Christians.

Peace be with you.

Fr Isaac Chinemerem Chima

 

7^th Sunday of Easter, Year B: Reflection by Fr Julian Ekeh

THEME: LIFT UP YOUR EYES AND HEARTS

(John 17:11b-19)

At the Holy Mass, the priest invites us with the following words: "Sursum corda", "Welitenu obi unu elu", Lift up your hearts.

In the Holy Gospel of today, John the evangelist pictured Jesus lifting up His eyes to heaven in prayers. During His lifetime, Jesus prayed to His Father as we saw. He remained in the practice of heavenward prayers from the heart till the last hour of His life.

When the stay of Christ on earth was ended, He made the disciples together with Mary to fix their gaze on Him as He ascended. It was not an empty, idle gaze but a prayerful one to Him who sits at the right hand of the Father. This is in agreement with the Psalmist, who in Psalm 121 affirmed: "I will lift my eyes to the mountains... My help shall come from the Lord, who made heaven and earth." Christ knows very well that we cannot do without His help. That is why even in His physical absence, He assures us of a spiritual presence and calls for our total dependence and reliance on Him.

Indeed, this is a special Sunday. A Sunday that precedes the Pentecost Sunday. It is a Sunday that falls within the Novena to the Holy Spirit. It is a Holy Day, it is the day of the Lord, it is very special for we stand here to anticipate the Promise of the Lord. In this Gospel, we see the Church receiving a call to prayers. The prayer is directed to God, with Christ at the head. Thus, with Christ the head, the Church offers her worship calling out Veni Sancte Spiritus, Veni creator Spiritus.

Let us appreciate this Holy privilege given to us by Christ to participate in this Holy novena even in our unworthiness. Let us call on the Spirit that is Holy to put to flight all unholy powers operating in us.

Jesus offers us a line to call with. Just as people who travelled to overseas give their new numbers to their families and close friends as soon as they arrive their destination, Jesus, having reached His heavenly destination, gives us a number, a line to keep calling with. This line will not fail us;  prayers. He wishes that we come over to where He is when the time comes. But He wanted us to stay connected to the zone where network coverage is available. Thus, He insists that the Apostles remain in the upper room.

He takes them away from the noisy world, from distractions, from bad companies. He takes us to the Upper room, to be above the world, our passions, the pleasures of the flesh, etc.

As we unite in Spirit and Heart with the universal Church, let us bear the following in mind:

 

GOD'S GLORY

Do everything that will glorify God and shun everything that diminishes the glory of God. By this, we live prayers and not just saying prayers.

 

REFLECT ON ETERNITY

Jesus prayed for eternal life. As we lift our hearts in prayers, let us think of our eternity; Let's try to know God and Jesus Christ. Make out time for "lectio Divina" and meditation. Thus, know that everything does not end here. Live in the Spirit and make our Spirits one with the Spirit of God so that we may inherit the kingdom of God and not lose eternity with Christ in heaven.

CHRIST LOVES YOU AND PRAYS FOR YOU

Jesus says that you're His. So do not look right, left and centre. He cares about your soul. He gives all that is His to you. He wants to bless you with the Holy Spirit. You are not alone even when the world deserts you, Jesus will not abandon you once you remain strong in prayers.

Dearest in Christ, lift up your eyes and lift up your hearts. Do that at the summon of the Lord. Do not allow sin to put your eyes down. Do not allow laziness to hold you down, do not allow the flesh to weigh you down, never allow the situation of the country to remove your gaze from heaven. Do not be bowed down by pains, fears, shame, family problems, etc.

Don't let this moment of prayers to the Holy Spirit slip from your hands.

Remember, the Lord will not leave you as an orphan. He will come, and your heart will rejoice. Till then, lift up your heart and remain in the mood of prayers.

 

LET US PRAY

Thank You, Oh Lord, for calling us to look up and see what blessings await us in the spiritual realm. Keep our eyes fixed on You. Deliver us from the temptations that threaten to weaken our spirit. Open our eyes to see Jesus Your Son blessing us, interceding for us and fulfilling His promise to us from the Holy throne of glory in heaven. We ask these through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Happy Sunday (Easter Week 7)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

https://chimaisaac.medium.com/7th-sunday-of-easter-year-b-reflection-by-fr-julian-ekeh-89e60444aa65

 

Friday of 6^th Week of Easter: reflection

THEME: YOUR SORROW WILL TURN INTO JOY, AND NO ONE WILL TAKE YOUR JOY FROM YOU 

Reading: Jn 16:20-23a

Dear friends in Christ, the world we live in is full of hardships and sorrows. While good men and women are doing their best to build a society where justice, equity, and welfare of all are guaranteed, the devil uses his agents, especially those at the helm of affairs of different nations, to thwart their project/efforts and subject the people to endless hardships and sorrows. This sorrow is exacerbated for Christians because the type of message they carry and the type of life they live always attract negative reactions and attacks from those who are of the world.

While acknowledging the inevitability of sorrows in our world, but looking at them from God’s perspective, Jesus addresses us with some words of hope and assurance. He tells you and I that even though sorrows will surely come to us in this world, if we remain firm in the moments of our sorrows, they will surely turn into joy, the kind of joy that no one can steal from us.

Jesus used an image that is known to us, the pain of a woman in labour and her state of mind when she watches her child grow, to drive home this message of hope. Undoubtedly, mothers do not remember their labour pains when they carry their babies in their arms; rather, the joy of seeing their smiling babies eclipses such pains.

Dear friends, whatever be the situation that is causing you sorrows at this time, Jesus wants you to look up, remain focused and resist the temptation of giving up because joy is on the way. This joy will erase the traces left by sorrows in your life, and NO ONE will be able to steal this joy from you.

May God guide and direct you this Friday. Amen

 Fr Isaac Chima

 

Ascension of the Lord, Year B: Homily by Fr Isaac Chima

Theme: Christ’s ascension: the hope of our spiritual striving

Readings: Acts 1:1-11; Eph. 4:1-13; Mk. 16:15-20

Every Sunday, we proclaim, in the creed, that Jesus ascended into heaven, and seated at the right hand of God the Father. How did this happen? Today, the Church celebrates the feast of this great article of our faith – the ascension of the Lord – and she tells us how it happened and gives us some lessons from it.

The first reading gives an account of the event of the Ascension as recorded in the first chapter of the Acts of the Apostles. It told us that it happened forty days after the resurrection of Jesus. On that day, Jesus instructed his apostles to remain in Jerusalem and wait for the baptism by the Holy Spirit so that they might become his “witnesses to the ends of the earth” by the power of the Holy Spirit. Then, as they were looking on, he was lifted up, and a cloud took Him from their sight, and two Heavenly messengers in white garments gave them the assurance of Jesus’ “second coming” or return in glory.”

Christ’s Ascension was the culmination of God’s Divine plan for Christ Jesus, his return to his Father with “Mission Accomplished."  Jesus’ Ascension is the grand finale of all his words and works done for us and for our salvation.  It is a culmination, but not the conclusion, because, though Jesus is now with God in glory, he continues to remain with us, dwelling within us together with the Father and the Holy Spirit. He gave us the assurance when he said "Lo, I am with you always till the end of time." The Feast of the Ascension celebrates one aspect of the Resurrection, namely Jesus’ exaltation.

This feast is also a celebration of the hope of glory for all Christians, the hope of entering into glory for all of us, after our life here on earth. The ascension of Jesus is the hope of our spiritual striving. This is the lesson can be seen in the letter to the Ephesians 1:18 where St. Paul explained the theological meaning of Jesus’ exaltation. He said: "May God enlighten the eyes of our hearts so that we may know the great hope to which we have been called". Our great hope is that one day we too will ascend to Heavenly glory, provided we complete our part of the mission entrusted to us by our ascending Lord.

This mission is seen in the gospel of today. It said Jesus commanded us to preach the Good News of salvation to the whole world by word and deed. He asked us to go to the whole world and make disciples for Him by preaching the good news and by witnessing to it with our lives. By doing this, we would be completing the mission of Jesus. Completing Jesus’ mission should be our goal in life, and the prospect of sharing the ascended Jesus’ Heavenly glory should be the driving force of our lives.  Our message will only be validated as coming from God if it can be seen in the way we live with one another in peace and harmony.

In the second reading, St. Paul showed us practical ways of preaching this good news to the ends of the earth. He said we are to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which we have been called (that means we are to live our lives according to the teachings of Jesus), with all lowliness and meekness, with patience, forbearing one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the holy spirit. Dear friends, when we live in love, harmony and peace, we are proclaiming the good news of Jesus to the world. We will continue to receive the Divine assistance and spiritual gifts necessary for our Christian call to bear witness through the Gift and presence of Jesus and the Father to us and by the power of the Holy Spirit living within us.  

Fr Isaac Chima

 

ASCENSION OF THE LORD, YEAR B: REFLECTION BY FR JULIAN EKEH

THEME: AFTER HE WAS TAKEN UP TO HEAVEN

(Mark 16:15-20)

We celebrate the Ascension of the Lord today. What we are celebrating is that Jesus, after His earthly mission on earth, returned to the Father who sent Him. We are celebrating a mission accomplished through hard work, courage, and faith. We are celebrating a prize finally and totally paid. He has preached, He has confronted the evil powers, He has died and risen for our sake, He has appeared to prove to all that He is alive, He has taken us to the upper room, He moves to attract for us the greatest gift; a fulfilment of His promise to us.  Yes, as He ascends He makes a promise to us just as our parents going away would promise us goodies while leaving us for a journey or any such thing.

Interestingly, the mission Jesus received from the Father is the same mission He sends us to actualize as He goes. In the Gospel of today, Jesus addressed the eleven: "Go into the world and preach the Gospel to the whole creation." Jesus did this so well when His Father sent Him, and He willingly accepted to redeem us and bring us salvation.

The heavens today are happy to welcome Him, whom they have missed for some years. Jesus takes back that position, the right hand of the Father as He in union with the Father sends out the Holy Spirit.

The purpose behind sending the Holy Spirit is to help, to assist and guide as well as guard the disciples on their own mission so that their own story too will be a successful one at the end of the day.

LESSONS FROM THE SOLEMNITY

 

THE BEST COMES AFTER

Are you down now? You're not going to be down forever? Focus on what lies ahead. Keep on keeping on. Remain on the right path. Do not forget why you're here. Remember, you have a mission on earth. Move with vision. Learn from the life of Jesus. He was taken up after all. You, too, will be taken up after. So, don't let the past weigh you down. Don't allow the present to discourage you. By God's grace and your perseverance, you will be taken up to your expected height. Do all in the name of Christ.

 

HEAVEN IS OUR FINAL GOAL

We were conceived by God and created to know Him, serve Him, and live forever with Him in heaven. Jesus has shown us this way. He lived in obedience to God. He served the purpose for His being sent so well. Today, He takes His place at the right hand of the Father in glory.

What efforts are we making to live with God when our work here is done? Shall we be numbered among those who will inherit the kingdom of heaven, or are we going to miss out? God forbid!

May God bless His word in our hearts.

 

LET US PRAY

We glorify You, Oh Lord, as we celebrate Your Ascension into heaven. We thank You for going up before us to bring us up that we may not be held down forever. Help us by Your grace to continue living for you here on earth, working under your unction and actualizing the purpose of our creation. When our time is over, Oh Lord, may we too be taken up by your angels into your heavenly kingdom where we may live and reign with you forever and ever. Amen

Happy Solemnity of the Ascension of our Lord. (Year B)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

 

Wednesday of 6^th Week of Easter: reflection

Reading: Acts 17:15,22-18:1

One of the key points to delivering a good speech or a good homily is the knowledge of one’s audience. A good knowledge of one’s audience will assist the speaker/homilist to tailor down his speech/homily to their standard, using images known to them to enter into their world, connect with them and beautifully drive down his message.

In the first reading of today, St Paul conducted extensive research on his audience – the Athenians – and carefully chose his images before going to the Areopagus to address them. Despite his effort to connect with their world through images known to them and the eloquence with which he spoke, his message was greeted with rejection. This is an experience that many preachers of the Word of God are often faced with in our own world too. Many people of our time reject the Good News despite the honest efforts of preachers to substantiate their messages with exemplary lifestyles.

However, it is worth noting that despite the rejection of Paul’s message by the majority of the Areopagites, God still did his wonders by opening the hearts of some of them to accept Paul’s message. This first reading gave their names as Dionysius, Damaris and others. What does this tell us?

Dear friends, the lesson is that we should not be discouraged nor give up when people respond to our good messages, admonitions and exemplary lifestyles with outright rejection or mockery, as has become the case in many places these days; it tells us not to grow cold in our faith when we are insulted for witnessing for Christ, because there is the possibility that our message touched one or two hearts who will need our steadfastness in faith to nurture the seed we have sown in them.

May God give us the grace to stand firm even when we are mocked on account of our faith.

Fr Isaac Chima

 

Tuesday of 6^th Week of Easter: Reflection

Acts 16:22-34

In yesterday's gospel reading, Jesus told his disciples that they would be persecuted, but that they should not be afraid; instead, they should remain firm in such moments, because He will not abandon them.

In today’s first reading, we saw how God did not abandon Paul and Silas when they were attacked, molested and imprisoned in Philippi. According to the story, as Paul and Silas were singing and praising God from the dark room where they were locked up, the power of God came down and the foundations of that prison quaked, the iron doors flew open and the bars that were used to fasten the hands and legs of Paul, Silas and the other prisoners were broken and fell off.  

The Church informs us today that the God who delivered Paul and Silas is still actively working in our midst, and will deliver us from the hands of our persecutors and from wherever they have fastened us. Therefore, we should remain firm in our faith in Him. This reading also teaches us not to relent in praying to God and praising His name, even in the most difficult moments of our lives, those moments when all hope seems lost.

Jesus has promised to send us the Holy Spirit. One of the works the Holy Spirit does in our midst is to liberate us, to break all the shackles the evil one has used to bind us and to shatter all doors that have kept us from being free. Let us raise our voices in prayers and praises, imploring the Holy Spirit; the hour has come. His presence will change the course of our lives.

May the God who delivered Paul and Silas deliver you from all trials and troubles. Amen

Fr Isaac Chima

 

Monday of 6^th Week of Easter: reflection

From all oppositions and persecutions, God’s children will emerge stronger.

Reading: Jn 15:26-16:4a

In today's gospel reading, Our Lord Jesus Christ foretold that his disciples would face terrible persecution from the people. He said those who will persecute them will think they are doing a service to God. His intention was not to scare them, but to strengthen them in the face of persecution.

The persecution of the early church by Saul and the Pharisees, who believed they were helping to rid Judaism of false preachers, was the immediate manifestation of this prophecy. Christians have not stopped facing persecution from all corners of the world, what has changed is the motivation behind the persecution. While those who persecuted the early Christians in Israel believed they were doing a service to God, those who are persecuting present day Christians intend to rid the world of God's presence and replace it with secularism and Satanism.

Whatever the case may be, Christians must understand that the harsh response they face wherever they acknowledge their faith and refuse to bow down to the beast was foretold by Jesus himself long time ago. One of the reasons why Christians will continue to face persecution is that the Christian message is a sign of contradiction; it always refutes evil wherever it is preached. Christians should, therefore, be strong in the face of oppositions and ill-treatments from the world, because their faith must be tested as a goldsmith tests gold on fire. The Holy Spirit will always be by our side to help us overcome all difficulties and emerge stronger.

May God keep you strong in the face of oppositions and difficulties as you begin this new week. Amen

Fr. Isaac Chima   

 

6^th Sunday of Easter, Year B: Reflection from Fr Julian Ekeh

THEME: LET US LEARN FROM THE FATHER'S LOVE

(John 15:9-17)

The Gospel of today began with: 'As the Father loved me so have I loved you'. Wonderful acts of love performed in the past. But very much relevant to the present. Thus, Jesus added: 'abide in my love'.

It was not careless that Jesus called 'Father'. He could have said 'God', but He chose to call 'Father' as He taught about the love that lasts, the love that saves, the love that generates.

It is very common to cloth love with a feminine garment. Mothers enjoy much love and are spoken of as loving more. Men are often tagged hard, mean, and beings without feeling. It is not true. The Father loves. He loves genuinely. His love is unique and objective. It is sometimes overlooked. The mother bears the child in the womb, but the father bears the mother and the child in his heart till delivery and continues. Jesus calls us to remain in this love.

Let us, therefore, learn from the love of our heavenly Father and make it an example for our earthly fathers and all father figures. Let us also endeavour to love the heavenly Father and indeed our fathers and all father figures and institutions the way we ought to. May we reflect on the qualities of the Father's Love and its implications for us.

 

LOVE THAT IS RIGHT

The love of the Father is a genuine one. It is a love that is in love with keeping the commandment. Thus, Jesus says, "If you love me, keep my commands." The Father loves the Son that is Obi nna ya (one that does what pleases Him). He is proud of the son or daughter who represents Him well. Fathers are groomers of law abidingness in their offspring. This can be done with the rod, but out of love. He insists you do it the right way. Only love can do it.

 

INSTRUCTIVE LOVE

The love of the Father is educative, instructive, filled with knowledge, understanding, it is love that is pure, true, holy, and spiritual. It is not materialistic nor destructive.

This love builds on what is spoken. Jesus says: 'These things I have spoken to you'. What do our fathers tell us these days? Do fathers still speak words of wisdom to their children? Can your children boast of hearing good parables and inspirational nuggets from you, their father? This is how the Father loves. It may not always be pampering. That undiluted truth is heard from the father. The voice of the father never dies. Let's accept the guidance, directives, and counsels of our Father in heaven through Jesus Christ and, indeed, our biological fathers here.

 

ENCOURAGING LOVE

The Father is the origin of the family. He initiates the idea of moving out, the idea of the 'otherness'; "Let us create." The thought of other beings into existence is his brainchild. He leaves the mother and father to join. It is in the nature of the father to unite. Is it still that way? Do you encourage love among your children?  Do you encourage love among the States, tribes and races in the country that look up to you as a father figure? Do you encourage as a political father, religious and traditional father harmony among the people entrusted to you? As the boss in that office, as a principal in that school, etc, do you promote love? As a Bishop, how do you promote peace among your priests?

 

SACRIFICIAL AND FRIENDLY LOVE

The Father loves from the heart. He wants the best for his family. He goes out of his way in search of greener pastures to provide for the home. He sacrifices his pleasure to ensure the security of His family. For him, there is no need to relax when there is no food on the family table. He takes a lot of risks even without mentioning them. He can do any type of job wearing just a pair of trousers but buys jewelries for the wife and best of wears for the children while paying the bills as well. Only a friend can do these.

Are you a friend, confidant, and listener to your children? Do you make out time to play with your family? Do you sacrifice your serious time for their nonsense? Do you care to understand their silence? Do you give them your shoulder to cry on?

God, the Father, in his love, understands our loneliness and gives solutions to it. He saw when man was helpless and sent us Immanuel as a Saviour. This love of the father frowns at indifference, suppression, and master-slave relationship.

 

LOVE THAT BEQUEATHS BLESSINGS

The father blesses the children and wishes them well in life. When Jesus was sent into the world, God gave Him graces and blessings with which He went about doing good. He lavishes the love of the Father on us.

Fathers should be blessings to their family and not curses. They should be blessings to the human family at large and not a curse unto them. They should hand on good fruits to their children.

What type of fruits do you encourage your children to bear? What examples are they moving out with?  Are you leaving behind peace, progress, and love or injustice, anarchy, and greed? 

 

May God our heavenly Father bless all the Fathers and Father figures in the world. May we show them real love that will encourage them in their responsibilities in the home and in the world.

May God bless His word in our hearts.

 

LET US PRAY

God our Father, thank You for the gift of our Fathers. They face a lot of challenges in our world today. Save them from the dangers that threaten to ruin them and the sacred task you have given to them. Make them blessings to their wives, children, and our society at large. Bless them with wisdom and bless them with happy old age in good health. May we not break their hearts. Reward them abundantly in heaven after living to the glory of your name here through Christ our Lord. Amen

Happy Sunday (6th Sunday of Easter)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh