3^RD SUNDAY, YEAR A: REFLECTION BY FR. JULIAN EKEH

THEME: THE MESSAGE OF CHRIST: CHANGE YOUR WAYS

(Matthew 4:12-23)

It is the third Sunday of the ordinary time in the Church's liturgical calendar. This Sunday is dedicated to the appreciation of the word of God. Today's message highlights the transforming power of the word. The word is not just verbalization but vitalization. Let us hear Jesus the Word and live according to His ways.

 

THE NEED FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE MESSAGE

The Gospel began by telling us where the word took John the Baptist. John the Baptist was arrested. He was the agent of the Word. He carried the message of Christ, He prepared people for Christ, the word that would become flesh through his spoken word and preaching. He feared no one, He preached by the authority of He that is to come. The climax of it all was the message delivered to Herod, a message inviting him to retrace his steps. For this, He was thrown into prison. Why do we hate the truth so much? Why do we hate living under the light of divine truth? Why do we hate those who tell us the truth? Why do we try to hold the truth down?

The word cannot be imprisoned. Jesus came and continued with the same message John preached in a higher level. The word will not rest until evil in the world is arrested. But unfortunately, we allow evil to arrest the word. We follow the world and keep the Word in chains. No matter what happens, the word must be heard. Little wonder John called himself the voice. Can the voice be held bound? When the Baptist was in the prison, the voice of his message continued to ring even louder and more still through the word himself, whom he voiced. You can cut the head, but you can't cut the Good News. May we heed the word of God and work on ourselves instead of working against it and its agents.

 

THE NEED FOR CHANGE

Some translations used repent, while others used change. The question is, what really needs to be changed in us? Our ways. These are the ways that are contrary to the ways of God. These are the things we have created ourselves to be. These are the images we derived outside the image of our creator. These are the instructions we got from the enemy of our salvation. Jesus must have seen the need for this change and wants us to see the need for change in our lives. The word should motivate us to do good. It should discomfort us when we are not getting it right. It is meant to bring us back to our senses. Let's be touched by the word of Christ Himself as Christians that we are and be changed for good.

Let us listen to those called to spread the word. Let us be preachers in word and deed. Let us be healed and heal our world of all her infirmities by the power of the word of God. Let Christians who are privileged to hear this word endeavour to change the world whenever and wherever they are offered the opportunity. May the message of Christ in all its richness find a place in us and transform us, transform our leaders, transform our land, transform our system and transform the entire world order. May God bless His word in our hearts.

 

LET US PRAY

Oh Lord our God, we call upon You to cast the light of Your word in our world. May we see light in the light of Your word. Deliver us from the prison of not speaking the truth of Your word and from the misfortune of not following the dictates and ways of Your Son Our Lord Jesus Christ who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen.

Happy Sunday to you (3rd Sunday, Ordinary Time, Yr. A)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

 3^rd Sunday, Year A: Homily by Fr Isaac Chima

Theme: The Restoration Power of God’s Word

Readings: Is 9:1–4; 1 Cor 1:10–13, 17; Mt 4:12–23

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today’s readings continue the message of the light of Christ that we heard last week. Last Sunday, the Church urged us to let the light of Christ shine in every corner of the world through our actions in society and through our witness to our friends. Today, the prophet Isaiah and the Gospel of Matthew reveal what the light and the Word of God can accomplish: they can restore desolate lands and uplift lives that have been despised. This message is especially fitting as the Church celebrates the Sunday of the Word of God today.

In the first reading, Isaiah prophesies the restoration of the lands of Zebulun and Naphtali in Galilee. These two communities were destroyed by the Assyrians in 732 BC when they invaded the northern kingdom of Israel. That attack left the region devastated, neglected, desolate, and despised.

Dear friends, it is important to understand why the Assyrians succeeded in destroying the northern kingdom. For many years, the kings and people of Northern Israel lived sinful lives and refused to listen to the prophets God sent to them. When their sins and stubbornness became too many, God withdrew His protection and allowed their kingdom to fall into the hands of the Assyrians, who carried the people into exile. This story teaches us a vital lesson: whenever we close our ears to the Word of God, we lose His protection, expose ourselves to danger, and become vulnerable to our enemies, for God alone is our mighty defender. As the Psalmist says, “If the Lord does not watch over the city, in vain do the watchmen keep vigil.” Whoever refuses to welcome God’s Word is, in a sense, sowing the seeds of his own destruction.

Yet, dear friends, the anger of God does not last forever. He never abandons His people—especially when they repent and call upon Him with sincere hearts. After many years of desolation, the cries of the repentant people of Zebulun and Naphtali reached God. Thus, in today’s first reading, Isaiah proclaims God’s promise that these lands will be restored, that His light will shine upon them again and dispel the shadows of darkness and destruction. Whenever we sincerely repent and call upon God, He hears us and restores us to His glory.

Isaiah’s oracle is a message of hope for all Christians this year. Even if our past has been marked by disappointment or rejection, we must not lose heart, for God has not forgotten us. Isaiah assures us that lives which have not flourished in previous years will see the light of God this year.

This prophecy was fulfilled when Jesus visited the lands of Zebulun and Naphtali, bringing them the light of the Good News. Today’s Gospel tells us that when Jesus heard of John’s arrest, He withdrew to this region and proclaimed the Gospel there. Matthew explains that this fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy: “The land of Zebulun and Nephtali … The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light.” The light and Word of Christ healed the people of those lands of every disease and infirmity and restored them to dignity and glory.

My prayer is that the Good News you hear today will dispel every shadow of darkness in your heart and life, and usher in the dawn of God’s glory.

Dear friends, the Gospel and the second reading teach us an important lesson: we must never refuse opportunities to hear the Word of God. Each time the Word is preached and welcomed, darkness is driven away. Earlier, the lands of Zebulun and Naphtali rejected God’s Word and suffered destruction. But when Christ brought the Word to them again, they accepted it, and it became the beginning of grace, favour, and restoration. Their acceptance of the Word fulfilled God’s ancient promises.

Today, the Church speaks to all whose hearts or lives have been wounded by past mistakes or sins, those crushed by disappointment or failure, those discouraged by unfulfilled goals, and those who feel despised or forgotten. Do not lose hope. Instead, open your hearts to Christ and His Word. The Word of God has the power to restore the glory and success of your life. What happened for Zebulun and Naphtali can happen for you as well.

In the second reading, the Church reminds us that division and rancour among Christians can hinder the work of restoration that God’s Word seeks to accomplish. Paul and the other apostles preached the Word in Corinth and united the Christians in love. Yet the Corinthians allowed themselves to be divided into factions. In today’s passage, St. Paul warns them against all forms of division. Likewise, the Church urges us to reject division, hatred, and bitterness in our communities, families, and society, and to work instead for peace and unity. Let us cooperate with God’s saving work of dispelling the darkness of the world, the darkness of disappointment, and the darkness of past errors.

Let us not become stumbling blocks to the restoration, freedom, salvation, liberation, blessings, healing, and favour that the Word of God desires to bring into our lives this year.

Peace be with you.

Fr Isaac Chinemerem Chima

 2nd Sunday, Year A: Homily by Fr. Isaac Chima

Theme: Two Beautiful Ways to Bring Friends to Christ

Readings: Is 49:3, 5–6; 1 Cor 1:1–3; Jn 1:29–34

Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, the Church gives us an important mission this week, one that ought to guide our steps throughout the year. On the feast of the Baptism of the Lord, we were reminded that through our own baptism we have taken up the mission of Christ and are called to reflect His light to the world. This Sunday, through the example of John the Baptist and the teaching of St Paul to the Corinthians, the Church again reminds us of our mission: to carry the light of Christ to others and to bring people to Christ.

In the first reading, the Church presents the Suffering Servant of God from the prophecy of Isaiah. His mission was to bring back the scattered children of Israel to God. Chosen from birth, he was commissioned to be a light that would draw the exiled children of Israel back to the Lord. In the same way, God has chosen us from the moment of our conception and has commissioned us through baptism to bring back to Him friends who have wandered into the world of sin, friends who do not yet know the saving grace of Christ, and friends who have been confused or misled by the world’s false teachings.

But how do we fulfil this mission of bringing our friends to Christ? The second reading and the Gospel offer us two beautiful ways: announcing Christ to our friends and living a holy life among them.

In today’s Gospel, John the Baptist announced Christ to his audience. When he saw Jesus, he proclaimed, “Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.” Jesus had come to His people, yet many did not recognize Him as the Christ. John, therefore, took it upon himself to introduce Jesus to the people by bearing witness to Him. He was standing with his own disciples, but the moment he saw Jesus, he pointed Him out as the Christ—the one who would free them from sin and darkness. The verses following today’s passage tell us that two of John’s disciples immediately began to follow Jesus.

Dear friends, Jesus has come to us, yet many of our friends still do not recognize Him. Many do not know who He truly is. Our mission this week—and this year—is to do what John did: introduce Jesus to our friends, speak to them about His teachings, share His mercy, and remind them of His desire to rescue them from the distant lands where they have wandered. We must find the right moments and the right ways to share the Word of God. And we should not fear that speaking about Christ will offend them, for the Word of God has the power to soften even the hardest heart. Do not be afraid to proclaim the Word—its effect may surprise you.

In the second reading, St Paul gives us another essential way to bring Christ to others, one that complements our spoken witness. This is the way of living a holy life before our friends. If our lifestyle contradicts the message we proclaim, our friends will not be convinced by our words.

St Paul was writing to Christians in Corinth, a city known for immorality. These Christians, like us, were called to announce Christ to their friends in that sinful environment. Paul reminded them that their mission also includes living as saints—living holy lives. The most effective way to convert others is by living an exemplary life, by embodying daily the message we proclaim. This does not require extraordinary deeds, but rather doing ordinary things in an extraordinary way.

Our mission to announce Christ includes living a life worthy of imitation—a life that communicates the Gospel without words. If we preach peace, we must give peace. If we preach holiness, we must live holy lives. If we preach love, we must show love. If we preach charity, we must be charitable. If we preach truthfulness, we must speak the truth. If we preach mercy, we must show mercy.

We must not allow ourselves to be corrupted by the sinful environment we are called to evangelize. We must not sow doubt between our message and our lifestyle.

In summary, with the examples of John the Baptist in the Gospel and St Paul in the second reading, the Church reminds us that we have a mission: to announce Christ to our friends and to live lives that do not contradict the message we bear.

As we celebrate today's Mass, let us open our hearts to this mission and pray with the psalmist: “Behold, Lord, I have come to do your will.”

Peace be with you.

Rev. Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima

 2^ND SUNDAY, YEAR A: REFLECTION BY FR JULIAN EKEH

THEME: RECOGNISE WHO COMES AND WHY

(John 1:29-34)

Today in the Gospel Reading, John looked and saw Jesus coming towards him. Recognising Him, he called out to the people around him in great exclamation: " Behold the lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

Let us consider how to recognise what people are coming with, know really what they come into our lives to do and what we should do in people's life.

 

KNOW WHO IS COMING

It is good you look far. It is important for us to try to see beyond what appears but dig deep to recognise those coming. To this effect, you've got to look out for the signs with which you recognise people. Do not be deceived by what they present themselves to be. Try rather to see them as the Lord would. Look and see. See well. To see well, put on the divine spectacle. Do it like John the Baptist. Look for what God would say about him/ her and how he/she reflects the word of God. John remembered immediately what God said about Jesus Christ: “He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain...” This is interesting. He is not just one who claims to be but one who really is. He is not just one upon whom the spirit descended but one upon whom the Spirit remains. If the person is just a carnal person, be careful; if he is not coming to uplift you spiritually, beware! If he doesn't care about your edification, flee from him. Just recognise the packages he is coming with and know whether he comes to give or take and what he gives as well as what he takes, whether what he comes to take is what he should take and whether what he gives is what should be given. Know if he is indeed a friend or an enemy.

 

The Bible tells us what the enemy comes to do: to steal, kill and destroy. But Jesus comes for abundant life. The real friend enhances your life positively.

 

TO TAKE AWAY

Jesus' coming was to take away sin, evil, and vices. What are we called to take away in the life of people around us? Instead of taking away sins, many act as Nigerian epileptic electricity companies who take away the lights to introduce darkness, who take away power to bring about weakened progress, who abort development and encourage mediocrity.

What are we supposed to take away? We are called to take away injustice, political instability, greed, marginalization, deceit, bribery and corruption, moral, religious and cultural decay, terrorism, and destruction of life and property. Take away everything that puts a question mark on your call to be human, to be a Christian, to be holy. This oppression "Take Away" should begin with oneself and extend to others. When you've taken away, by the grace of Jesus Christ in you, all that is not good, then you're called to move into the lives of others to help them out, to take away too whatever that is sinful in them. Also, we are encouraged to be docile and allow good-spirited people around us to take away, by the power of the word, through advice, through corrections, and through admonitions, all infirmities in us.

 

TO PUT IN

Some people come into our lives to give, to make a positive mark, to introduce avenues of success, open doors, knowledge, wisdom, to actually help us to bring out the best in us. These people have something to offer always. When you encounter them, you will never remain the same. You must be a changed person for good, old things must be put away, and new things begin to take place in you. They give in a lot to make you better without counting. Like Jesus Christ, they are ready to make sacrifices.

Jesus offered a special type of baptism even different and higher than that of John the Baptist. Jesus brought with Him what became an open door, what served as a gateway to joy everlasting. They can offer you peace in your marriage, joy and hope in your disappointments, love when you feel unloved, strength in your weakness, job in joblessness, a way out in your troubles, advice in your confusions, and direction in your doubt. They bring in and bring back into your life all the good things you may have lost.

 

RESOLVE/PRAYERS

Know who is coming into your life and why he comes. Take away vices from your life. Take in virtues and graces into your life. Let the Spirit of God remain in you for discernment, and may God take away the consequences of your sins and lavish His grace gratuitously in your life through Christ our Lord. Amen

Happy Sunday to you, (2nd Sunday, Ordinary Time, Yr A)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

 BAPTISM OF THE LORD, YEAR A: REFLECTION BY FR. JULIAN EKEH

THEME: THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD AND OUR OWN BAPTISM

(Matthew 3:13-17)

Today we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord, a feast that officially brings the Christmas season to an end. We thank God for the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, a birth that reveals the Trinity to humanity. Thus, today, we hear the voice from above declaring: "This is my beloved Son with whom I am pleased." We are thankful for such a holy birth that gives us a new birth, a rebirth.

Through Nativity, God enters into our world of sin as the lamb of God to take away the sins of the world. In baptism, He opens a gate through which we enter heaven to take up the holiness of God. And as we witnessed in the Gospel, the heavens were opened. This is great. The heavens that were closed by the sins of Adam has been opened by the righteousness of the One who came to fulfil all righteousness and received Baptism that we all may receive it for salvation.

 

Is Christ's Baptism same with ours?

This is a point we should look into for those who say because Christ was baptised at so and so age then... We are baptised to be washed from sin. But Jesus had no sin in Him but was baptised. There was no urgency for baptism on his part. He needed it not for himself. But we need it for our salvation since we all are products of Adam and Eve. For those people too who said that Jesus was baptised at river Jordan and as such teach erroneously that baptism must be at a river, why did they not say it must be at river Jordan? Why did they not say John must be the one to baptise? Why do they leave the river when the Holy Spirit has not spoken? Jesus stepped into the waters of Baptism to purify it and make us partakers in the life of holiness that comes from Him.

The necessity of Baptism and its implications

Jesus came to be baptised but John wanted to refuse him on the ground that he should rather receive baptism from Jesus. But Jesus insisted and John consented.

Why is it that some people stop certain persons from receiving baptism? Especially the infants. Jesus would rather say let the children come to me for the kingdom of God is for people like them. If baptism is a gateway to heaven, why stop them? Does it follow that because Jesus did not get baptised as an infant then no infant should receive baptism? Oh no. He is the one who has come to teach us the importance and necessity of being baptised. His own parents may not have known this. Yet they did the one they knew which was presenting the babe in the temple. In our own time through the revelation of the Gospel, we have come to know the necessity of this rebirth. It should be part of our obligations for the infants. Just as we do not seek their consent to send them to school and to provide them healthcare, we should endeavour not to take their spiritual upkeep and life everlasting for granted since they too can die, that they may not do so in the state of original sin which Baptism targets together with any other sin.

Our Consenting

We as candidates in need of Baptism consented to the terms and conditions of Baptism. We also by extension declared our willingness as godparents and biological parents or guardians to train up the baptised in the faith. How are we going about these responsibilities? How do we even make choices of godparents for our children?  Handsomeness, beauty, wealthiness, connectedness, etc? How do you take care of the children you gave your consent to train up in the faith? Do you care if they go for the sacraments, the wears they put on, the friends they keep, the places they go, the dangers of their faith?

Our profession

Baptism is faith-based. It is a symbolic act. Hence in Baptism we see just water, we see no sin, we may not see the heavens open with our physical eye, we may not see the Holy Spirit descend like dove, we may not hear any voice speak. But is there the reality of the rebirth, of the descent of the Holy Spirit, of the presence of the Trinity? O yes! And this is why there must be Profession of Faith. Thus, we are asked some questions at our Baptism. This may be likened to what transpired between Jesus and John the Baptist today. In summary, we accepted the Faith and rejected the Devil. How long does this rejection and acceptance last? Are you still faithful to your baptismal promises? Is your white garment presented on the day of Baptism white still? Is your candle given on the day you were baptised still shining? All these should make us sit back and ask ourselves some questions concerning our Baptism.

May God bless His word in our hearts.

LET US PRAY

We thank You Lord God Almighty for the feast of today. May we not forget that Baptism made us Your children and children of the Church.

May the baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ bring us renewal of our baptismal graces and favours. May we all who are reborn, grow and be part of that kingdom prepared for us by keeping our promises that we may hear on the last day: this is my beloved son/daughter, with whom I am well pleased. This is our prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen

Happy Feast Day/Happy Christmas.

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

 Baptism of the Lord, Year A: Homily by Fr. Isaac Chima

Theme: We are collaborators in Christ’s mission

Readings: Is 42:1-4,6-7; Acts 10:34-38; Mt 3:13-17

Dear brothers and sisters, today the Church celebrates the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan by John the Baptist. This feast not only concludes the Christmas season but also marks the beginning of the Church’s Ordinary Time. The baptism of Jesus inaugurated His public ministry, after thirty years of hidden life in Galilee in preparation for the mission of redeeming humanity. On the day of His baptism, as we heard in today’s Gospel, the Father and the Holy Spirit publicly confirmed and revealed His mission before the crowd gathered around John.

Something remarkable happened at this baptism, according to Matthew’s Gospel. John initially refused to baptize Jesus, recognizing Him as the Christ and knowing that He was without sin. But Jesus insisted, saying it was necessary “to fulfil all righteousness.” Jesus chose to be baptized so that He might identify with us sinners, the very people He came to redeem. Through His baptism, Jesus made the sacrament of baptism a profound point of contact between Himself and those He saves. In baptism, He washes away our sins, makes us heirs of the Father’s kingdom, and commissions us as disciples who share in His mission. Our baptism not only grants us divine sonship; it also makes us collaborators in Christ’s mission, a mission we embrace through our baptismal promises.

Let us reflect briefly on this mission we have inherited. In today’s first reading, the prophet Isaiah outlines the mission of the Servant of God, who is Jesus Christ. He is the Chosen One who brings justice to the nations and perseveres in this mission. He is meek and humble, for “a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench.” He is a light to the nations, opening the eyes of the blind and freeing prisoners from darkness.

In the second reading, St. Peter describes how Jesus lived out this mission: He went about doing good, healing all who were oppressed by the devil, and showing no partiality.

Dear friends, as we enter Ordinary Time, the Church reminds us of Christ’s mission, outlined by Isaiah and Peter—a mission we have inherited through baptism. Our task this year is to carry this mission wherever we go and in whatever we do.

Looking at Christ’s mission, the Church reminds us that it is the vocation of all the baptized to fight for justice and ensure that no one suffers injustice under our watch. How faithful have we been to this call? Do we allow injustice to persist in our presence? Do we remain silent when we should defend what is right? Do we still speak for those who have no one to speak for them? Innocent people suffer whenever those called to defend justice choose silence. Our challenge this year is to speak for justice.

Again, Christ’s mission calls us to be meek and humble in our service, rejecting pride and arrogance, and working with integrity. It also calls us to be bearers of Christ’s light and teaching, beginning with our families and friends. Our mission this year includes helping the helpless and doing good to all we encounter. In the second reading, Peter said Jesus “went about doing good.” As collaborators in His mission, we too must leave traces of goodness in the lives of those we meet and in every place we go. St. Peter reminds us to serve without partiality or favouritism.

Dear friends, as we enter Ordinary Time, let us remain faithful to the mission we have embraced through baptism. Let us pray that our baptismal promises may be renewed and strengthened as we remember the baptism of Christ.

Peace be with you.

Rev. Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima

EPIPHANY SUNDAY: REFLECTION BY FR JULIAN EKEH

THEME: BE WISE, FOLLOW YOUR STAR

(Matthew 2:1-12)

Today is the solemnity of Epiphany of the Lord. We celebrate the manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles. The Gentiles are represented by the Wise Men; three of them from the East, standing for the generality of the people Christ has come to save. We celebrate the inclusive love of God against the exclusive mentality of the Jews who thought salvation was only for them and of Herod who thought the kingdom is his. We celebrate the covenant-keeping God, God who remembered His promise to Abraham that He will make his sons as numerous as the stars of heaven. At the appointed time, by the aid of a star He led his people from far and wide and gathered them in faith.

We reflect on how best to follow the star that leads us to our quest and goal.

Steps to follow your star:

DISCOVERY: The star could represent anything that helps one to locate his destiny. The wise men saw it rising, followed it and got their satisfaction.

AVOID THE PALACE: The Palace and Herod are the things along the way that look attractive but are actually distractive. The Wise Men may have been presented with nice delicacies and gifts in the palace. These are distractions.

BE SPIRIT-GUIDED: The Angel spoke and the Wise Men obeyed. Yes they entered into conversation with the evil one but they realised themselves and came back to their senses.

YOU'VE GOT SOMETHING TO OFFER: To get to your goal, to experience the manifestation of the Lord in your life, your academics, your marriage, your business etc. You've got to sacrifice your laziness, sleep, give in your best and use well your precious time.

TREASURE THE GIFTS YOU'VE GOT

In your gifts lie the manifestation of your mission. In the gifts presented to Jesus we saw a manifestation of His mission. In the Gold His Kingship came to light; In the frankincense His Priesthood shone while in the myrrh his Suffering, DEATH and RESURRECTION was shown.

We pray as we celebrate this great solemnity that God may arise in our lives and manifest His power. May Your opportunities and potentials to attain greatness be numerous like the stars.

May Your star never go out of your sight. May the darkness and powers that have made your star not to shine be destroyed.

May no Herod stop you from seeing the greatness, glory and divinity of God in your life through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Happy Epiphany, Christmas & New Year.

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

 2^nd Sunday after Christmas: Homily by Fr Isaac Chima

Jesus: The Creating and Re-Creating Word of God

Readings: Sirach 24: 1-2,8-12; Eph 1:3-6,15-18; John 1:1-18

Dearest brothers and sisters, the Church invites us today to ponder the Word of God who has taken flesh and dwells among us—the Divine Logos who has come to live in our midst.

In describing this Divine Logos, St. John leads our minds back to the origin of all things. The first chapter of his Gospel mirrors the opening of Genesis. In Genesis, God created the universe through His Word. In John, we see God recreating the world through that same Word made flesh.

At creation, it was through the Word that God conquered the primordial darkness, bringing light into the world and forming all things out of the formless void. When sin disfigured God’s beautiful creation and plunged humanity into darkness, God once again came to our rescue through His Word, who took flesh in the Blessed Virgin Mary and dwelt among us. His birth restored light to a world overshadowed by sin and death. Today’s Gospel reminds us that in Him is life, and this life is the light of all people—a light the darkness cannot overcome. This is the mystery of the Incarnation we celebrate at Christmas.

Dear friends, we are blessed to share in this divine manifestation, for from His fullness we have all received grace upon grace. He chose us before the foundation of the world to belong to Him. The first reading praises Him as the eternal Wisdom who dispels the folly of worldly wisdom and enlightens our hearts. The second reading blesses God for granting us every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. His name is Emmanuel—God with us. The psalm urges us to rejoice, for He strengthens the bars of our gates, blesses our children, brings peace to our borders, and fills us with the finest wheat. Truly, the Incarnate Word brings us joy, love, healing, and blessings beyond our imagining as we enter this new year.

Yet John also reminds us that these blessings are abundant only for those who welcome Him. He was in the world, and though the world was made through Him, it did not recognize Him. He came to His own, and His own did not accept Him. But to all who did welcome Him, He gave power to become children of God.

This sets before us a task for the new year: to welcome Christ into our hearts by embracing goodness and love toward all people. One of the surest ways to welcome Jesus is to reject sin and to treat every human being as we would treat Christ Himself. We must remember that anyone who fails to show love, respect, fairness, humility, and tenderness to others cannot claim to love Christ. Dear friends, this is our vocation for this year—to let the light of the Incarnate Word shine through our actions and our lives.

Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima

 SOLEMNITY OF EPIPHANY OF THE LORD: Homily by Fr Isaac Chima

Theme: A Call to Be Reflectors of Christ’s Light to the World

Readings: Is. 60:1–6; Eph. 3:2–3a,5–6; Mt. 2:1–12

Dear friends, the solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord Jesus Christ is a great celebration for all of us. The word Epiphany comes from Greek and means “manifestation” or “revelation.” In this solemnity, we celebrate the revelation of Christ to the whole world—to the Gentiles, to all of us who, in the understanding of the Jews of that time, belonged to the Gentile world. We see this in the manifestation of Christ’s star to the Magi, the three Gentile kings who came from the East to visit the newborn Jesus.

The solemnity of Epiphany is a celebration of divine inclusiveness. In this feast, God reveals Himself beyond the borders of Israel. It is a celebration of divine outreach, reminding us that all humanity belongs to God and that every person—regardless of race, tribe, colour, or tradition—is invited to share in the joy of the Incarnation, the birth of Christ. It is a universal celebration, proclaiming that God has come to show His love to the whole world, for “He so loved the world that He gave His only Son for its redemption.” Epiphany celebrates the expansive nature of God’s salvation and the truth that His reign reaches beyond every boundary.

Today’s Gospel offers us important lessons for the new year.

Dear friends, the Lord has been revealed to us in this Christmas season, and His light has shone upon us, as this feast proclaims. Christ wants His light to shine in the world through us. In today’s Gospel, the Magi became the first point of contact between Christ and their nations; they carried His light back to their people. One of the challenges of our world today is that many Christians are shy or afraid to share Christ’s light. Anti-life policies spread in governments because many Christians in leadership fail to reflect Christ’s teaching. Some remain silent out of fear of criticism; others choose the darkness for the sake of money or fame. Dear brothers and sisters, Christ calls us to be the prism that reflects the light of His teaching into the world’s policies and decisions.

Many of our friends do not come to church because those of us who do often fail to reflect Christ’s light to them. Put simply, our lives do not always communicate Christ’s teachings, and our actions do not draw others toward Him or His Church.

Perhaps you have noticed that many Christians hesitate to speak about Christ to their friends. They prefer silence rather than risk losing friendships or causing offense, even when those friends promote ideas contrary to the Christian faith. Dear friends, Epiphany challenges us to be a point of contact between Christ and those who do not come to church. Let our vocation this year be to bring Christ’s light to our friends, illuminating their hearts and lives with the Christian message. Let us be the “Bible” our non‑churchgoing friends can read.

The second lesson is that the Gospel shows us the best way to encounter Jesus. The Magi approached Him with the finest gifts of their culture—gold, frankincense, and myrrh—symbolic offerings for the newborn King. Dear friends, God has blessed us with many talents and gifts, and He wants us to come to Him each day with the best of what He has given us. Our voices for reading and singing, our musical skills, our intelligence for teaching, and our ability to lead—these are all beautiful gifts from God. He wants us to use them to build up the Christian community, our families, and society. Sadly, many people use their talents to create division and confusion. Today, the Church invites us to use our gifts to promote peace, love, and unity in the Church, in our families, and in the wider society.

Peace be with you. Happy Solemnity of Epiphany.

Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima