13^TH SUNDAY, YEAR B: HOMILY BY FR. JUSTIN ADIELE

THEME: “NEARER TO THE HEALING TOUCH OF JESUS”

INTRODUCTION

The world is full of crowds of people wrapped in darkness, sickness, bondage and devil’s deceit. But those who have true faith in God find the courage and way to draw nearer to Jesus in order to stay within the reach of his healing hands which he extends to us. God knows our plight and sent his only begotten Son to heal our world, and when Jesus came, he affirmed that; “The spirit of the Lord is upon me. He has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and sight to the blind; to free the oppressed…” (cf. Lk. 4: 18 // Is. 61: 1). Jesus went about doing good, healing many who are trapped by the envy of the devil, touching and changing lives. Many sought and drew near to touch him received their own healing as well.

 

THE FIRST READING (WIS. 1: 13 – 15; 2: 23 – 24)

In the first reading, we are meant to understand that God created the world without adding any sorrow, any poison, or any death. He created man for incorruption and eternity. But the envy and deceit of the devil brought death and sorrow into the world. The wisdom writer upheld that righteousness is immortal. And so with righteousness we remain close or nearer to the image of God (perfection), and farther from the destructive powers of sin. Righteousness therefore brings us nearer to the healing and saving grace/hands of God.

 

THE SECOND READING (2 COR. 8: 7. 9. 13 – 15)

To draw nearer to the healing hands of Jesus, St. Paul urges us to excel in faith, in utterance, in knowledge, in love, and in gracious works; using our abundance to ease the want of others so that God would also use His own abundance to ease our own wants. Whoever does this is never far away from the healing and saving touch of Jesus all day!

 

THE GOSPEL READING (MK. 5: 21 – 43)

In the gospel reading, we saw Jairus maneuvered the crowd and came face to face with Jesus begging him to come and lay his healing hands on his dying daughter that she may be well again. As St. Paul recommended, his faith, knowledge and utterance were excellent. We also saw the woman with the flow of blood who also overcame the crowd to touch Jesus herself in order to be healed. Both of their healings came by virtue of their faith and their close contact with Jesus. They did not allow the crowd or their status to discourage them from getting nearer or close enough to Jesus their healer. Their strong faith was the driving force that drew them nearer to Jesus against all odds.

 

CONCLUSION

Like St. Paul rightly said; if we excel in faith, in knowledge, in love, in gracious works, and in righteousness, we are always a touch away from the healing hands of Jesus. With these virtues we can also subdue/overcome the envy, deceit and trap of the devil which draws us away from Jesus our healer and brings sickness upon our bodies and souls. In faith, righteousness and love, we pray and also invite Jesus today to lay his hands upon us that we may live graciously and freed from our diseases. May God touch us one more time and heal us by his love!

 

Happy Sunday!

Fr. Justin

 13th Sunday, Year B: Homily by Fr Isaac Chima

Theme: God’s power over sickness, death and all obstacles to our joy

Readings: Wis 1:13-15;2:23-24; 2Cor 8:7. 9.13-15; Mk 5: 21-43

Dear friends in Christ, on this thirteenth Sunday, the Church reminds us that our God is the giver of life, the author of life and of good health. God created us to live, and it is his desire that we should prosper in good health of body and mind.

The first reading of today clearly captures this good intention of God for us. It reminds us of God’s good desire for His creatures to be alive and in good health. This plan of God has not changed at all. God still restores us when we fall ill, and He will never stop doing so. For this reason, He tells us through prophet Jeremiah that: “I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future...” (Jer 29:11). Also, God spoke to us through the letter of Saint John saying: “Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers” (3Jn. 1:2). Yes, this is the desire of God for us. Whether we are alive or dead, the plan of God remains unchanged because He is a loving father.

This first reading, therefore, tells us that death is not among the desires of God for us, his creatures. It tells us that God created us for immortality, that he made us in his own image of eternity, and that death entered the world because of the envy of the devil. So, death comes as a destroyer of the good plan of God for us; it comes to snatch the joy of life and good health which God has ordained for us.

In the gospel of today, St. Mark beautifully tells the story of how death and sickness come to snatch the joy of our lives and how Jesus rescues us from the hand of death and sickness, so that we can fully enjoy God’s original plan for us. The first story tells us of Jairus and his little daughter, who died. Saint Mark said that Jairus’ daughter was twelve years old, which means she was at the threshold of womanhood. So, death came to steal the joy of a little girl who was about to enter womanhood, as well as the joy her parents would have while watching their little girl grow into womanhood, because in the tradition of the Ancient Near East, at twelve years, girls are betrothed to their future husbands.

In the second story, St Mark told us how sickness snatched away or stole the joy of good health of a woman for twelve 12 years. This woman has spent all she resources just to get healing, but none came.

In the two scenes, St Mark showed us the power of Jesus over anything that poses as a barrier or a threat to the original plan of God for us, that is, God’s plan of life and good health for us. He showed us the power of Jesus over sickness and death: Jesus raised the daughter of Jairus from death and also healed the sick woman of her serious sickness. Jesus has the power to handle whatever comes as a barrier between us and our good future, and between us and our joy. This is the power of God.

Hence, God’s plan for us remains unchanged: It is life not death, good health not sickness, peace not war, unity not division, love not hatred, and many more good things. We only need to follow Him with faith. Because of God’s plan for us, St Paul reminded us in today’s second reading that: “The Lord Jesus was rich, but he became poor for your sake, to make you rich out of his poverty.” The scripture also tells us that: “God did not spare his own son, but gave him up for us all” to free us from the power of darkness (Rom. 8:32). Dear friends, to fulfil His plan for us, God is ready to sacrifice anything, even His only Son.  

The miracles of today’s gospel tell us that we must demonstrate a strong faith as we call on Christ to intervene in our problems or in anything that seeks to steal our joy. In both cases, we saw faith in action: the sick woman demonstrated her faith by believing that only touching the garment of Jesus will heal her. She was also active in her faith by not giving up despite the crowd that made it almost impossible to reach Jesus. Also, Jairus demonstrated his faith on behalf of his daughter by inviting Christ and by believing in Jesus even when he heard that her daughter had died. Both Jairus and the woman never gave up, instead, they waited patiently until the plan of God was fulfilled for them.

Dear friends, we must learn that it is God’s plan for us to prosper both in body and soul, but we must be patient and walk into this plan with faith. Also, we have a role to play in God’s plan towards others, as Jairus did for his daughter. So, while Christ seeks our welfare every day, we too must constantly seek the welfare of others.

Peace be with you

Fr Isaac Chima

 13^th Sunday, Year B: Reflection by Fr Julian Ekeh

THEME: WAKE UP THE SLEEPING CHILD IN YOU: TALITHA CUMI

(Mark 5:21-43)

Jesus, in the gospel of today, did two great miracles. The first was the healing of the woman who had suffered the issue of blood for twelve years and then the raising of the twelve years old girl who was dead.

 Let us focus on the second miracle with an eye too on the first.

 

THE LITTLE GIRL

The little girl represents youthfulness, dreams, passion, zeal, hope, and a bright future. But here is she, down with fever, sick and helpless. She can't move, she can't do anything for herself, she can no longer play, her talents are latent. She now depends totally on people. Her dreams may no longer come true. Oh, what an ugly situation! This is the fate of many of our youths today. They do not know which way to go. They are confused. They are just there. They are exploited, they learn to exploit, and they do not live a life of value anymore. Life in themselves and others make no sense. It is sad.

 

WHERE ARE THE WAKERS?

The sick sleeping child had guardians. These guardians may not necessarily be parents. But in a situation today where no one wants the teachers, the good neighbours, and moral voices to correct and keep their wards conscious, the youths mess up and perish messing up.

Glory to God for the man Jarius, in today's gospel. He did not come to exploit. He did not want to take advantage of the helpless girl. He did not want to allow her to die.

The sick girl maybe an alcoholic, she maybe a sex addict, she may not be just under-aged in number of years but 'under-graced', 'under-faith' naive about life, myopic in issues of relationship, just sick about many things.

  

TAKE THE RIGHT STEP

Go to Jesus. Invite Jesus for that sick person who lacks knowledge of how to handle his or her problems, who is lying on the ruins of money-making madness, moral decadence, and faithlessness.

Jesus may seem to delay. Listen as He tells you today: Don't give up on him or her.

At a time, Jarius thought that the girl was totally dead. He thought there was no more remedy to her issue. In the same vein, a good number of moral voices of our land are thinking that it will take only God to remedy the plight of our sleeping sick youths of this generation. This is true, but let's not give up on playing our little roles to wake the sleeping child in us and in our people.

 

Some parents have stopped making any effort to wake their children from their slumbers. Don't give up. Take them to Jesus and take Jesus to them.

 

FAILED GUARDIANS

Many young little boys and girls are lying sick because they have failed wakers. They are faced towards the wrong things of life. These supposed wakers are busy pursuing money, being entertained, and playing away. They choose to send back the children to school for lesson during the holidays. They do not watch them grow. They may have been infected by fellow students, social media or society. But lack of proper supervision makes these children mature with sick orientation and eventually die with it.

Because of improper training and not knowing where to run to for guardians.

Dear parents and guardians, let us catch them young. Those of you who have got it wrong already, let us redress. Have you spent all you have, your time, and your energy on the wrong things? Run to Jesus for healing.

God alone is the solution for both the young and the old.

The elderly ones should encourage the younger ones to take the word of God seriously, to eat the body and blood of Christ as a heavenly remedy, to stop going for the perishing things of this passing life, to confess their sins, and touch Jesus to receive grace, mercy and holiness. May Jesus help you to be awake and active in all good works.

May God bless His word in our hearts.

LET US PRAY

Oh God, we thank You for the miracles of raising us from our fallen states. We pray You to give us the grace and zeal to carry out our responsibilities with passion, to rise in holiness, draw closer to You and to help bring others to You through Christ our Lord. Amen

Happy Sunday to you

(13th Sunday, Ordinary Time, Yr. B)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

 Friday of 12^th Week in Ordinary Time, Yr. II: reflection

Theme: Never give up on yourself because God is still interested in you.

Mt 8:1-4

Dear friends in Christ, no matter how horrible the circumstances you have found yourself in, never give up on yourself because there is someone who has not given up on you, someone who is still interested in your well-being and is willing to make you whole; that person is Jesus.

Leprosy is a disease that can drive a person to give up on himself and just wait for the day death will complete the process. During the time of Christ, lepers were mandated to live and die outside the cities so that they will not come in contact with other people and infect them due to the contagious nature of leprosy. If a leper wanted to enter the city for any reason, he was required to ring a bell while walking down the street and shouting 'unholy, unholy,' so that others would make way for him. Any leper who failed to follow the rules governing his situation risked being stoned. A person who is this way excluded from societal life may be referred to as a living dead.

In our own time too, lepers are also quarantined in lepers’ colonies to protect the society from the spread of such a deadly disease.

Dear friends, everyone dreads touching a leper because a single touch is enough to contact leprosy.

When viewed from these perspectives, one would understand the risk Jesus took in today’s gospel by allowing a leper to approach Him and then, by touching the leper to heal him of leprosy, as well as the risk the leper took by approaching Jesus.

One might wonder why Jesus chose to touch the leper rather than heal him from a distance, as He did on many occasions. Jesus’ rare gesture of touching the leper tells us that our God does not abandon us whenever the world abandons us to rot and die; God never gives up on us.

Therefore, dear friends, whenever you feel rejected, abandoned, cast out by the world or anytime the world around you has actually pushed you away for fear that you will dent their reputation or for any reason whatsoever, don’t reject yourself because there is someone who is still interested in you; there is someone who has not rejected you; there is someone who is not ashamed to be seen with you and who is willing to touch you and make you whole again. His name is Jesus. Hence, approach him today on bended knees as the leper of today’s gospel did. You won't believe how he will embrace you, clean up your mess (if any), restore you, and reposition you for a better future.

May Christ make you whole again. Amen

Fr Isaac Chima

 Thursday of 12^th Week in Ordinary Time Year II: reflection

Theme: Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven.

Readings: 1Kgs 24:8-17; Mt 7:21-29

The first reading of today told us how the king of Babylon invaded the city of God – Jerusalem, conquered it and destroyed God’s temple.

To many Jews, the destruction of the temple of the Most High God and the successful invasion of God’s city by a pagan king constituted a scandal of faith. For many of us too, such acts cast a doubt on the all-powerful claim of the God of Israel. But then, this reading subtly told us that such defeat and destruction were possible because the people of God, led by their king Jehoiachin, decided to live their lives according to their own designs rather than the commandments of God. Perhaps, they felt that answering the name ‘Israel’ was enough to give them God’s protection, despite the warnings of the prophets that the only Israelite who will gain God’s protection is the one who does the will of God.

In today’s gospel, Jesus sounded this warning louder by informing us that shouting His name every time and everywhere, performing countless miracles with His name, casting out countless of demons in His name, seeing visions and prophesying with His name and performing countless other mighty deeds with His name without living according to his teachings will never give anyone admittance into heaven on the last day.

And, like the collapse of Jerusalem in the first reading, Jesus stated in today’s gospel reading that any Christian who fails to live according to His teaching will face a tremendous collapse, for his life is just like a house set up on a foundation of sand and cannot survive even the minutest of attacks.    

Dear friends, it is not enough answering ‘Christians’ or ‘men/women of God,’ performing miracles with Christ’s name, seeing visions, wearing medals and scapulars, wearing aprons and clerical outfits, carrying big bibles, shouting amen and Holy Ghost fire everywhere, fasting every day, and subjecting ourselves to rigorous prayer exercises every day, because if our lifestyles run contrary to God’s commandment and Christ’s teachings, we will be cast out on the last day.

May God direct your paths and actions this Thursday. Amen.

Fr Isaac Chima

 Wednesday of the 12^th Week in Ordinary Time, Yr. II: reflection

Theme: Bear good fruits wherever you are planted.

Reading: Mt 7:15-20

In the Garden of Eden, God instructed humanity through Adam and Eve to bear fruits - to increase and multiply. Hence, every human being enters this world with the same injunction that was given to our first parents – to bear fruits. To enable humanity to bear good fruits, God endowed human nature with innocence and goodness. When this nature of goodness and innocence was corrupted by sin on the tree of Eden, God restored it by His sacrifice on the tree of Calvary. Thus, it is expected of all those who have been buried and raised with Christ to bear fruits that are consistent with their nature – good fruits.

In today’s gospel reading, Christ reminded us of the nature we bear (redeemed nature), which He won for us through His death and resurrection, and urged us to bear fruits that will reflect such nature or image. This calls into question the type of fruits we bear in our families, in the lives of our friends, and in our society. Do we bear fruits that reflect the nature won for us by Christ on the Cross or fruits that reflect our fallen nature in Eden?

Of course, the fruits that will reflect our original nature that was reclaimed for us by Christ are fruits of peace, love, compassion, kindness, charity, unity, sanctity, patience, faithfulness, humility, self-control and many other virtues. On the other hand, the fruits that will reflect the fallen nature in Eden are all indecent actions, jealousy, anger, envy, hatred, division, selfishness, immorality and other vices. By our fruits, we will know whether we are good trees or bad trees in the society.

Dear friends, Christ challenges us to examine our lives today to know the fruits we are producing, because, as he promised, every tree that doesn’t bear good fruits will be cut down and thrown into fire. Do not permit the bad economy of our nation to push you into bearing fruits that are not consistent with the nature Christ reclaimed for you on the Cross.

May the works of your hands bear good fruits this Wednesday. Amen

Fr Isaac Chima

 Tuesday of 12^th Week in Ordinary Time, Yr. II: reflection

Theme: Take it to God in Prayer

Reading: 2Kgs 19:9b-11,14-21,31-35a,36

Dear friends in Christ, great is the message today’s first reading has for us. The king of Assyria, Sennacherib, had conquered the bigger nations surrounding Judah, deposed their kings, enslaved their people, destroyed their gods and seized their lands. Then, he sent a letter to Hezekiah, the king of Judah, telling him to surrender since Judah was just a dot when compared to other nations that had fallen before him (Sennacherib). He also warned Hezekiah that trusting in his God will be deceptive since he had destroyed the gods of the nations he conquered.

As soon as Hezekiah received Sennacherib’s letter, which was loaded with real facts and threats, he ran to the temple of the Most High and spread it before the sanctuary of God; He handed the battle to God, asking God to show Himself as God, and God responded immediately, assuring him that Sennacherib will never step foot into Judah and that He will teach him a lesson. That night, God’s angel struck Assyrians’ camp, killed thousands of their soldiers and Sennacherib fled.   

Dear friends, what do you do when you face real threats? What do you do when they want to eliminate you just because they feel they are stronger, wealthier and more connected than you? What do you do when you receive unfavourable reports/evaluations despite your good works, sacrifices and honest efforts? What do you do when they fabricate lies against you and still tell you that you cannot do anything? What do you do when you receive unjust judgments? In today’s first reading, Hezekiah teaches us that the first thing to do is to take these issues to God in prayer, handing the battle over to God, for God says: “call on me in the time of trouble, I will answer you.” (Ps 50:15).

May God help you to deal with anything that threatens you this Tuesday.

Fr Isaac Chima.

 June 24 - Solemnity of the Birth of John the Baptist: reflection

Theme: Nothing is impossible for God

Readings: Is 49:1-6; Acts 13:22-26; Lk 1:57-66,80

Today, the Church celebrates the solemnity of the birth of John the Baptist, forerunner of Jesus, a man whose birth ushered in a new era in the history of our salvation. With the birth of John, the era of the fulfilment of the promises of old about the coming of the Messiah began, bringing an end to the era of promises from the prophets of old.

John not only prophesied about the coming of the Messiah, he prepared the hearts of the people to receive Him when He came by baptizing them for the forgiveness of their sins and he also introduced Him (the Messiah) to the world that had patiently waited for His coming.

The birth of John the Baptist and his naming were marked by miracles. His birth was miraculous because his father, Zechariah, was already old and his mother, Elizabeth, had already passed the age of childbearing and had been declared barren by the people (Lk 1:18), but nothing is impossible for God. Whenever the time for the fulfilment of His promises comes, God can even use people or means that have been written off by humans to perform his wonders for us and to further His course on earth.

Therefore, we should not give up even if our present conditions do not have the potentials to lead us to the future we dream about; we should not give up even if our conditions have been declared impossible by men. When the time of the fulfilment of God’s promises to us comes, all that have been declared impossible will become possible, because nothing is impossible for God. The birth and naming of John the Baptist are testimonies of what God can do with situations that have declared impossible by men.

May our God of impossibilities direct your path this new week. Amen.

Fr Isaac Chima.

 12^th SUNDAY, YEAR B: HOMILY BY FR. JUSTIN ADIELE

THEME: “THE NEED FOR JESUS IN YOUR LIFE’S BOAT”

INTRODUCTION:

In the letter of St. Francis de Sales, he narrated his experience at the country district where he lived. He had observed a farmyard across him where a farm servant (a little girl) often goes across the farmyard to draw water at the well. St. Francis noticed that, before the girl lifted up her brimming water vessel, she always put a piece of wood (twig) into it. One day St. Francis de Sales approached the little farm girl to inquire why she always does that. She replied with a look of surprise; “To keep the water from spilling…to keep it steady.” Writing to a friend later on, the bishop told this story and added; “So when your heart is distressed and agitated, put the Cross into its centre to keep it steady!” In every time of storm and stress, the presence of Jesus and the love which flows from the Cross bring peace and serenity and calm.

 

THE FIRST READING (JOB 38: 1. 8 – 11)

In the first reading, we are meant to understand that we need Jesus in our life’s boat because he has the power to steady the forces of nature and keep them within their boundaries. The forces of the seas, the clouds, the winds and the lights are subject to him. God determines how far they can go in order not to pose a serious problem to the other creatures of God which man is the number one. With God in your life’s boat and journey every destructive or dangerous forces of nature has a limit they can never exceed in your life. With Jesus in your life, every villainy of the devil, mortal danger of the enemy and evil projections have a line they will never cross in your life. For God Himself would set boundaries for them; and He would not allow your life/path to spill over where they can harm you.

 

THE SECOND READING (2 COR. 5: 14 – 17)

If we have Jesus in our life and live for him, St. Paul convincingly assures us of the love of Christ Jesus which would establish us. St. Paul affirmed that Jesus is the only one who has and is ever ready to die for us; taking up our suffering, our beating, our death and condemnation. Jesus wants us to live and have life in abundance. Hence, St. Paul concludes; if anyone is in Christ Jesus or vice versa, he is a new creation and old things shall pass away; he would continue to experience a new day, a new year, a new life, a new blessing, a new strength, a new height, a new inspiration and a new breakthrough!

 

THE GOSPEL READING (MK. 4: 35 – 41)

In the gospel reading, we saw a practical example of what the presence of Jesus meant in our life’s journey. Jesus must be there in your life for the days of trouble, so make room for him in your plans. Then you would have whom to turn to, whom to call for help. There are storms we face in life that the company of our fellow men may not be able to help us. We need the company of Jesus to sail safe and through; we need God within our reach, so that, we are one touch, one tap, or one click away from our source of help/safety. God made all things and by default has control over all things; even the sea, storm and winds hear his voice.

 

CONCLUSION

Brethren, indeed, there is no one like Jesus in steadying our life’s boat; the Jesus who walked upon the sea without sinking. If we have him in our life’s boat/journey we shall never sink with our troubles; we shall never be blown off our feet nor off our destination; we shall never be wasted nor waste our life, efforts and time for nothing. Invite Jesus to come walk with you today and always, and your life would be steady, your growth would be steady, your blessings would be steady, your income would be steady, your helpers would be steady, your protection/safety would be steady, and your happiness and peace of mind would be steady and never shattered by any storm!

Happy Sunday!

Fr. Justin

 12^th Sunday, Year B: homily by Fr Isaac Chima

Theme: God is more powerful than our storms; He can calm them.

Reading: Job 38:1,8-11; 2Cor 5:14-17; Mk 4:35-41

Dear friends in Christ, on this twelfth Sunday in ordinary time, we are reminded that Christ is always with us, even in the midst of all the storms/troubles of this life. So, what then shall we do when storms rage around us?

The world we live in is full of storms. These storms hit our lives in different forms and from different directions. They could be problems in marriages, infertility in marriages, family crisis, problems with our children, lack of job or lack of good job, poverty, sicknesses, emotional or spiritual crises, accident, or lack of peace. They could also be inability to find or maintain a good and stable relationship, poor academic performance/results, unstable business and many others.  

Most times, these storms can hit us so hard that our human strength can no longer support us. At such moments our life becomes enveloped by fear and complaints, and our faith could be stretched to the point of questioning God, doubting His existence or His power in our life, or thinking that He has abandoned us, just as Job did in the first reading of today and cried out in frustration. But even in the middle of life’s storms, our God does not abandon us. His response to Job tells us the true nature of this God. He reminded Job that He has power over the forces of this world, that He controls and regulates all the natural, physical and spiritual forces of the world and that his sickness was not beyond His power. Job believed and was delivered at God’s own time.

In the gospel reading of today, Jesus demonstrated that our God is, indeed, more powerful than the storms that attack our life and all other forces that seek to destroy or distract us, and that He can calm them. Jesus stood up, commanded the storm and it ceased.

If we pay close attention to today’s gospel narrative, we will learn some important lessons from it. Mark narrated that Jesus wanted to cross over to the gentile territory and teach them God’s word too. On their way through the sea, the storms hit their boat so hard, obstructing them from accessing their destination and achieving their goal. The storms of this world often come to prevent us from reaching our goals; they come as challenges or difficulties any time we want to take a bold step in life.

When the storm was hitting their boat and tossing them from one end of the river to the other, the disciples did everything within their power to bring their boat to safety, but their efforts/attempts didn’t yield their desired result. Dear friends in Christ, most times we think and feel we can navigate the boats of our lives out of the storms of this world by our own strength alone, and most times many people believe that they don't need divine assistance because they have access to all scientific knowledge. But then, when the disciples discovered how futile relying upon their power and knowledge alone was, they called on Jesus, He answered them, and the storm ceased.

Dear friends, no matter how experienced you think you are in navigating your own boat, you cannot overcome your storms alone. Our God says without Him, we can do nothing (Jn 15:5), and indeed, without his help the storms of our life will conquer us. But with his help, victory is assured. So, today’s gospel reassures us that Christ is with us in our individual boats and that He is aware of the storm we are battling with. If we have Him in our boats, the storms cannot conquer us, and we cannot sink. So, rather than live in fear, seat and complain, or give up completely, let us cry out and invite His help in our difficulties, for He said in Psalm 50:15, “Call upon me in times of trouble and I will help you.” And the Psalmist also assured us that: “Our help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth” (Ps 121, 1-2).

Peace be with you.

Fr Isaac Chima

 12^th Sunday, Year B: Reflection by Fr Julian Ekeh

THEME: REASONS TO GO WITH CHRIST

(Mark 4:35-41)

Jesus invites us all to go with Him away from the crowd to see the better part of life, life in Christ, with Christ, and for Christ.

"Let us go across to the other side" was the invitation. "Anaghi ano otu ebe ekiri mmanwu." Let us take the decision to make a move across. There are places you can't afford to stay if you   want to make out something positive in your life. Move away from toxic and corrosive places. Take a step away from places hostile to your spirituality. Leave the areas contaminated by evil. It is time to leave in order to live better. This leaving may not be physical.

 

IT IS EVENING

The evenings are dangerous times. Evil men wait for evening and night times to strike. As the night approaches, with darkness that follows it, Jesus takes us away from being subject to the devil that hovers and prowls in the night.

You should not wait till you are overpowered by the forces of darkness before you take cover. Being alert as a child of God entails moving away from darkness to Christ, who is light.

What are those advances towards your life? Do you recognise those evil friends who are waiting for the right time to drag you into sin? Do you notice those desires in you seeking opportunities to raise their ugly heads? Flee from entertaining them and run to Christ.

 

THE CROWD IS DECEPTIVE

The word today says: Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat.  You've got to leave the crowd behind in order to follow Christ. If you want to go far in life, go with Christ. Leave the noisy crowd. Their suggestions will not do you any good.

We have a failed society because we leave God behind to follow the crowd. People move into politics and leave God. Individuals take up vocations and leave the God who chose and called them. Let us leave the crowd and take Jesus along with us as we journey.

 

LEST WE PERISH

It does not end at leaving the crowd. You may leave the individuals and the crowd, but you must still encounter the winds and storms. These are the temptations, the negative influences, and the troubles from nowhere that may come.

You feel lonely, and you feel abandoned.  You are tossed up and down by sickness, by challenges, and by cruel, unforeseen experiences. The temptation here is to focus on the problems and forget God. But to succeed and overcome the storms, we must be conscious of the presence of Christ in the boat of our lives. Calling upon Him and keeping Him active and alive in our situation is the way forward to achieve our peace.

Let us, therefore, call upon Christ as we are perishing in the political atmosphere of this country. Let us invoke God to arise and pilot the affairs of our world. Let us call upon God-fearing men to take charge and speak words of peace, joy and life to our people in fear of perishing under the storms and evil winds blowing up and down in our lives, families, in the Church and the society at large.

May God bless His word in our hearts.

LET US PRAY

Thank You, Lord, for giving us reasons to follow Christ Your Son. We are glad to go with you. Continue to call us to your side. Remain in our boat. Calm the troubled seas in our lives and keep on saving us that we may not perish through Christ our Lord. Amen

Happy Sunday (12th Sunday, Ordinary Time Yr. B)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

 Friday of 11^th Week in Ordinary Time, Yr. II: reflection

THEME: STORE YOUR TREASURES IN HEAVEN WHERE THEY ARE SAFE

Reading: Mt 6:19-23

Human beings have both physical and spiritual natures. While earthly wealth is essential for taking care of our physical nature, and everyone is encouraged to work hard to obtain it, it is suicidal to neglect our spiritual nature's well-being. It often happens that people make earthly possession an absolute in their lives and pursue it at the expense of their spiritual well-being, forgetting that just as our physical nature doesn’t go beyond the grave, our earthly possessions don’t follow us beyond the grave too. However, what we do with earthly possessions follows us beyond the grave.

If we spend our entire lives pursuing things that do not go beyond death, what will happen to our life after death? It will undoubtedly be subjected to eternal poverty. Anyone who starves his spiritual life here on earth, failing to prepare it for its eternal journey, will face eternal poverty in the next life. For this reason, Jesus reminds us in today’s gospel to store our treasures in heaven rather than on earth.

 

So, with what are we going to fill our heavenly store in order to prepare our spiritual nature for its eternal journey? Whoever wants to be spiritually rich must use earthly wealth to make positive impacts in the lives of other people instead of oppressing them with such riches, and he must live an upright life doing God’s will.

In the last part of this gospel reading, Jesus hinted at what can make people to pursue earthily wealth as an absolute, neglecting their spiritual well-being. He talked about good vision and poor vision. He says whoever has a good vision will have a life full of light, whereas anyone who has a poor vision will have a life full of darkness.

Dear friends, whoever has a good vision about life will realize that life doesn’t end here on earth and, thus, he will strive to know and do the will of God amidst the pursuit of earthly treasure. However, someone whose vision has been vitiated or clouded by greed, envy, pride, and other evils will always be earthbound and incapable of thinking of anything other than earthly pleasures and treasures, and how to obtain them at any cost.

Dear friends, we should ask God today to open our eyes so that we can see reality clearly and stop being earthbound in our pursuit of material wealth.

Fr Isaac Chima

Thursday of 11^th Week in Ordinary Time, Yr. II: reflection

Theme: What will the book of who is who of the people around you say about you?

Reading: Sirach 48:1-14

How lovely and beautiful are the things Sirach said about the prophet Elijah in the first reading of today. Chapters 44-50 of Sirach were most likely taken from the book of Who’s Who in the history and religion of Israel or could be viewed as a book of Who’s Who in Israel’s history. Today's reading from chapter 48 described the wonders wrought by Elijah while he served as a prophet in Israel, as well his unflinching personality even in the presence of powerful kings and queens.

One of the striking things Sirach said about Elijah was that no one could intimidate him, especially in his convictions about God. Dear friends, can we say the same about ourselves in our relationship with God? Are we solidly confident about our faith in this God in such a way that no human being or circumstance can push us to lose our faith in Him or are we like trees tossed by the wind, which tilt to any direction of the wind? Elijah’s story tells us that God doesn’t disappoint anyone who convincingly hold cling to Him in the face of intimidations.  

Again, just like Elijah, God has given all of us some years of service here on earth in different capacities, and He has given us the freedom to choose the type of service we would like to render. The wonders of Elijah, as told by Sirach, reminds us that any service rendered with the time given to us by God will not be forgotten by the people in whose lives and times we rendered such services, for nothing done under the sun would be entirely hidden.

The weakness of the human nature may make men to say evil of our good or good of our evil, but time will eventually reveal the true color of everything. Let us, therefore, start today in our various little ways to write our names with a golden pen in the book of Who is Who of the people of our time, beginning from those around us.

May God’s grace be abundant in your life this Thursday, Amen.

Fr Isaac Chima

 Wednesday of 11^th Week in Ordinary Time, Yr. II: reflection

Theme: What you shouldn’t do when performing acts of piety

Reading: Mt 6:1-6,16-18

Do you know that two people can perform the same acts of piety (prayer, fasting, and almsgiving), one person will be richly rewarded/blessed by God, while the other will go home empty handed? In the gospel reading of today, Jesus tells us the dos and don’ts while performing acts of piety if we want to be rewarded by God.

Prayer is a form of communication with God that brings us closer to Him in a special way. It is, however, possible for one to pray without attaining this spiritual impact and other benefits of prayer. According to Jesus, when one prays to himself or to the people around him rather than to God, he loses the benefits of prayer. How does one pray to himself or to those around him? When one prays in order to be noticed or praised as a powerful man of prayer, such prayer is directed to the people rather than to God.

Like the Pharisees who preferred to pray in city centres in order to be noticed and applauded by passersby, many men and women of God of our time say their prayers just to earn the praises of men; in prayers, they fine-tune their voices in a way that will attract people, speak in unknown tongues without the prompting of the Holy Spirit and do some kinds of sensational gyration. As a communication between man and God, prayer should not be said to attract the attention or the praise of human beings, but should be a conversation with God.

The same is true for giving alms. The reward promised by God to all those who give alms to the needy may not be received by those who performed acts of charity solely to gain the praise of others. A common trend in today's world is to publicize charitable acts through all channels of communication. While it is not wrong to share testimonies of good works, it is, however, wrong to do so in order to gain the praise of men. Those who only help the poor in places where they will be seen and praised by men have already received their reward.

Nowadays, the internet is frequently flooded with images of men and women of God fasting on mountains and appearing famished, but Jesus warns that no one should fast in order to be noticed and praised by men; whoever does so has already lost the spiritual strength that fasting provides.

Dear friends, Jesus is urging us to avoid eye service and ostentation when performing acts of piety.

May your Wednesday be abundantly blessed. Amen

Fr Isaac Chima

 Tuesday of 11^th Week in Ordinary Time, Yr. II: reflection

Theme: Those who inflict harm on others also invite it upon themselves

1Kgs 21:1-16

At a time when many people are beginning to believe that the end justifies the means (that one can reach his goal through any means available even if such means include shedding of peoples’ blood, unlawful destruction/acquisition of properties, fraud, and other crimes against humanity), the story of the aftermath of the killing of Naboth by Jezebel in today’s first reading rings a loud warning bell in our ears.

Ahab's goal was to acquire land for a vegetable garden. So, he asked Naboth to cede his vineyard to him in exchange for another, but Naboth refused because of the importance of the vineyard to his family history. To help her husband achieve his goal, Jezebel had Naboth accused falsely and killed. The news of Naboth’s death gladdened the heart of Ahab, who joyfully possessed Naboth’s inheritance. 

When Ahab happily settled in his newly acquired property, he believed that by keeping the bloody path that led to his goal hidden from men, he had successfully covered his tracks. But that was when God's hand fell heavily on him, reminding him that no one can escape God's justice. Ahab and Jezebel brought doom upon themselves and their entire family as a result of their single act of violence against Naboth.

Dear friends, this is a strong message to those rich people of our society and wicked rulers of our nations who always believe they can take or destroy people’s lives and properties at will, deny the poor their means of survival, and use their wealth and connections to cover their tracks. It tells them that no one can escape the justice of the all-seeing God, and that the wrath of God often comes in a hundredfold.

It is also a message to the so called ‘yahoo boys’ – fraudsters – of our society, who amass wealth by sending people to their untimely deaths, as well as all those who arrive at their goal at the expense of others, that the God of the oppressed does not sleep, and that He will bring a hundredfold of evil upon anyone who rises to greatness through evil.

May God help us to arrive at our goals through the right channel.

Fr Isaac Chima

Monday of 11^th Week in Ordinary Time, Yr. II: reflection

Theme: Do not take revenge on someone who wrongs you (Mt 5:39)

Reading: Mt 5:38-42

In today’s gospel reading, Jesus continued with the amendment of the old laws, so that his followers, who will be bound by them, will be able to make positive impacts in the world.

He addressed the subject of retaliation today, advising his followers to be patient and tolerant with those who insult, offend and hurt them instead of seeking revenge.

The ancient law required people to take an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth in order to ensure proportionality in retaliation. But the people of the time of Jesus, as well as many people in our own time, preferred to interpret this law as calling for retaliation for wrongs committed against them. However, Jesus did not advocate for mandatory or proportionate retribution; instead, He commanded his apostles and all of us to forgo taking revenge for wrongs done to us.

Remarkable was the example used by Christ to drive home this beautiful lesson. He advised turning to the left as well if someone slaps your right cheek. We need to consider the location of the right cheek in order to comprehend the salient message here. If someone is facing you, his right cheek will be on your left side. Now, to slap that person on the right cheek, you must use your left palm or the dorsal side your right hand’s palm (the back of your right hand’s palm), which is equivalent to a double insult because only children can be slapped with the back of the hand’s palm or with the left hand. Hence, Jesus was saying we should not retaliate even when someone gives us a double insult, i.e. when someone mistreats us as if we are kids.

Dear Friends, today's message is also a special call to all Christians who justify their vengeful actions by claiming to be hot-tempered or short-tempered. A true Christian will follow in the footsteps of Christ and his disciples, who did not fail to turn the other cheek to their attackers.

We often hear people say that revenge is sweet. But it is good to know that wrongs initiate a vicious circle of evil, which is reinforced by revenge. The vicious circle of evil cannot be ended by revenge, but by forgiveness. The only revenge that is complete is forgiveness.

May your new week be abundantly blessed. Amen

 Fr Isaac Chima

11^th SUNDAY, YEAR B: HOMILY BY FR. JUSTIN ADIELE

THEME: “THE SEED OFTHE KINGDOM IS PLANTED IN YOU”

INTRODUCTION:

China has a very strange bamboo tree seed. When the seed is planted, it lays under the ground for five years before sprouting out above the ground. During the five years the seed is still under the ground, it is watered and fertilized regularly. When the seed finally sprouts, it grows up to a height of nine feet in just six weeks. It was discovered that within the first five years the seed was still lying under the ground, the bamboo seed was busy building an elaborate root system that would enable it to grow nine feet in six weeks after germination. The seed of the kingdom has been planted in us. What root system are we building up, and what heights have we attained spiritually, morally and otherwise?

 

THE FIRST READING (EZ. 17: 22 – 24)

The first reading narrated how God selected and planted Israel like a cedar on a lofty mountain, where it grew flourished and stood taller/higher than other trees (peoples). God spoke so high of Israel the seed he planted, and wished they lived up to his expectations; flourishing and higher in faith, virtues, morality, spirituality, goodness, justice and righteousness than other nations. We are the new Israel, chosen and planted by God and expected to stand tall in faith, virtues and holiness.

 

THE SECOND READING (2 COR. 5: 6 – 10)

In order to stand tall in faith, virtues and holiness, St. Paul advised us in the second reading to be at home with God, always aiming to please him in the body by doing good always. We must be at home with the Words and commandments of God which guide us to a holy and virtuous life.

 

THE GOSPEL READING (MK. 4: 26 – 34)

In the gospel reading, Jesus used the parable of the mustard seed to describe the kingdom of God, planted as a little seed with the twelve apostles; and now grown into a universal Church that shelters and nourishes uncountable souls marching to the heavenly kingdom. The Church and we the members must continue to grow physically, spiritually and morally to shelter the world from the rays and rain of error, evil, sin and destruction.

 

CONCLUSION

The seed of the kingdom has been planted at St. Eugene, and in us Christians. The seed of the kingdom is planted in you because God chose and saw you as a fertile ground and expects the best from you. So, do not let God and yourself down after all these years of planting, watching, waiting, watering and nourishing you with his Holy Words. Like the Chinese Bamboo seed, how fast or slow are we growing into what God wants us to be? How fast or slow are we attaining the growth and height God wants us to attain in faith, virtues and spirituality? How far have we spread our faith and moral shade over our children, family and the world around us? How many souls can take shelter under our shade and guidance to escape the rain of evil oppressions? As God’s seeds, we must grow and labour to become big shelters of souls for God.

 

Happy Sunday!

Fr. Justin

 11^th Sunday, Year B: Homily by Fr Isaac Chima

Theme: Let us continue sowing the seed of God’s Kingdom in others

Readings: Ez. 17:22-24; 2Cor 5:6-10; Mk 4:26-34

On this eleventh Sunday of ordinary time, the Church reminds us that, as part of God’s kingdom, she is like a tree planted by God in the world. In her early beginning, she was like the smallest of all seed, but she eventually grew up to become the noblest of trees, with her branches reaching all corners of the earth. She is the physical manifestation of God’s kingdom established on earth by Jesus. So, like the birds of the air, we are called to make our home in her.

The first reading gave us a message of hope and restoration. It was a message of hope and restoration from God to the people of Israel exiled in Babylon. Through the prophet Ezekiel, God revealed to the Israelites His plans of restoring the kingdom of Israel. He said, He will take a small branch of cedar and plant it on a high mountain in Israel. This small branch will grow into a big and noble cedar. All animals will find shelter under its shade, and on its branches, birds will build their nests. This was a prophecy that God was about to transfer his people from slavery, poverty and misery to a realm of justice, peace and prosperity.

Though God freed the people of Israel from slavery after some years and brought them back to Israel, the ultimate fulfilment of this prophecy was in the coming of Jesus, who freed his people from slavery of sin, saved them from the misery of sickness and established the kingdom of God on earth.

In today’s gospel reading, Jesus used two parables to describe this kingdom of God which he had established. The first parable told us that it is a kingdom where God grants increase to the little works or efforts of men. In this kingdom, which is the Church, men and women go about everyday spreading/sowing the seed of faith through their words, examples and testimonies, but it is God who waters this seed of faith in the hearts, families and societies that welcomed it, making it to grow into a bigger kingdom where the fruits of peace, love, grace, and numerous blessings will be harvested. We should, therefore, be patient whenever we sow this seed of faith in our brothers, sisters and friends. All we need to do is to continue watering it with good examples and it will definitely grow and bear fruits.

Most times we think that what is required to convert our friends are big arguments/talks about faith or big faith examples or heroic acts of faith, but this is not always the case. The kingdom of God is rather like a mustard seed, the smallest of all seeds. But wherever it is sown, it grows bigger than all other trees. Thus, a small example of faith, few words of faith or small example of good action, as small as the mustard seed, is sufficient to plant the seed of the kingdom of God in the hearts of our friends, brother, sisters and colleagues. And whenever this seed of faith is sown, God will grant the increase. The growth and fruiting of this seed of faith may not occur immediately, and how this will happen, we may not know. But St. Paul says that those who have the inner eye of faith will see it happen, because we walk by faith and not by sight.

Therefore, dear friends in Christ, let us not wait for bigger opportunities or bigger occasions to make Christ known to others, let us rather start with the small and ordinary daily experiences and activities; even if they are as small as the mustard seed, God will transform them into big trees.

Happy Sunday, dear friends

Fr Isaac Chima

 11^th Sunday, Year B: Reflection by Fr Julian Ekeh

THEME: THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN: A LITTLE BEGINNING THAT ENDS IN GOD

(Mark 4:26-34)

Jesus in the Gospel of Today talks about the Kingdom of God first as the seed scattered upon the ground. Secondly, as the mustard seed, which looks insignificant at the beginning but becomes great at last.

 

THE SCATTERED SEEDS

Narrating the first parable of today's Gospel, Jesus compares the kingdom of God to the seed a man scattered and slept. It grew of its own, and when it is ripe, the man harvests.

The Lord has scattered each and every one of us in the world. He allows us to grow and be productive. He endows us with graces, favours, and blessed things of the earth, makes us responsible for them, and waits for us to give proper account at the end of the day. The Lord gives us freedom to make use of the numerous opportunities given to us to make heaven.

He wants you to grow. He has done His part. The rest is in your hands. Do not take His benevolence for granted. Do not think that He is sleeping away. Time shall come when He will come to harvest, then your achievements will speak for you.

You've got in you the potential for spiritual growth that takes you to heaven. 

Do not waste the seeds of the kingdom in you. Africa and Nigeria have wasted a lot of seeds that should have been nourished to greatness. We have lost a lot in the past through insecurity, corruption, injustice, and hatred. The time for reckoning is coming. Let us make use of the time we have now to make this environment a better place, a kingdom of God on earth. Let us make good use of this moment to seek the ways of God and forestall the impending destruction that may visit when we fail to do the needful.

Do not waste the seed of your youth diminishing instead of living in accordance with the will of God for you. Do not get yourself involved in acts against the kingdom values.

 

VALUE THE MUSTARD SEED IN YOU

The little things that lead to the kingdom of God, to success, to greatness, and to fulfilment are the seeds deposited in us by God for noble purpose.

Since we are limited by sight, we may not understand them at the present. But we are encouraged to move on courageously and never look down on ourselves and what God can do through us.

What attracts the attention of God is found in our everydayness. They are found in the way we greet, we feel with people, perform our little roles and functions, in that simple smile, in checking up on our neighbours, in the cares we show, etc.

This parable speaks to our hearts to remain resolute, to be consistent in doing those little things and make them part of us. It is an invitation to keep growing in virtue. It calls on us to take one day at a time, to make positive steps towards positive ends.

This parable in a special way reminds us of the seed of faith sown in us at baptism, it challenges us to make it flourish so that it grows to what God intended when we were made heirs to His kingdom as infants.

Let us live in appreciation to the Lord who wills that we become great in every good work. This appreciation, in turn, will enable us as we grow to bring others to share the joy that flows from the kingdom of God. It makes us live lives that inspire people. It makes us live lives that win souls for Christ. We are made to participate in emptying hell fire and dispossessing the devil of his grip on children of God.

May you grow to the height God expects of you. May you attain the heavenly destination God willed for you. May you be a blessing and sign of the kingdom wherever you're catapulted to.

May God bless His word in our hearts.

 

LET US PRAY

We thank You, Lord God, for explaining the secret of the Kingdom to us, Your mere little children. Give us the courage to be consistent in the little good things we do every day of our lives. Do not allow the seed of evil introduced by the enemy to deceive us and make us lose focus of our end. May we make heaven after all we are passing through here on earth. We make these prayers through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Happy Sunday to you

(11th Sunday, Ordinary Time, Yr. B)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh