Pentecost Sunday, Year A: Homily by Fr Isaac Chima

Pentecost: Using the Gifts of the Holy Spirit Aright 

Readings: Acts 2:1–11; 1 Cor 12:3b–7, 12–13; Jn 20:19–23

Dearest brothers and sisters, Pentecost is the birthday of the Church. It is the day the Holy Spirit descended upon the disciples in the form of tongues of fire and inaugurated the Church, empowering them to begin the ministry Jesus had given them.

The word “Pentecost” means “fiftieth day,” and it was on the fiftieth day after the Resurrection that Jesus sent the Holy Spirit upon His disciples.

The feast of Pentecost is very important in the life of the Church because of the profound impact of the Holy Spirit on the early Church, on the Church today, and on each one of us. The Holy Spirit has touched every one of us and has blessed us with many gifts. The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that there are seven gifts which the Holy Spirit poured into our lives on the day we received the Sacrament of Confirmation. On this day when we commemorate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles, it is fitting to reflect on these gifts, why they were given to us, and what is expected of those who have received them.

The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit are: Wisdom, Understanding, Counsel, Fortitude, Knowledge, Piety, and Fear of the Lord. Why were these gifts given to us?

Wisdom helps us value rightly the things we believe through faith and to order our relationship with created things. It opens our eyes to God’s plan, helping us recognize what supports or harms it.

Understanding enlightens us to grasp and accept the truths revealed by God. Through this gift, the Holy Spirit allows us to penetrate the depths of God and perceive divine realities.

Counsel helps us judge rightly how to act, almost by intuition. It is the light that enables us to discern what is true and good.

Fortitude gives us the strength to follow the guidance of Counsel. It makes us courageous in facing the daily challenges of Christian life and is the virtue that sustained the martyrs in choosing death rather than denying the faith.

Knowledge helps us see the circumstances of our lives as God sees them. Through this gift, the Holy Spirit reveals God’s thoughts about us so that we may live accordingly.

Piety inspires in us a loving devotion to God, moving us to worship and serve Him out of love rather than obligation.

Fear of the Lord fills us with reverence for God and a desire not to offend Him in anything we do.

Possessing these gifts is a beautiful blessing for every Christian. However, it is not enough merely to possess them; what matters is how we use them and the fruits they produce in our lives and in our service to others. In his Letter to the Galatians (5:22), St Paul teaches that the gifts of the Holy Spirit must bear the following fruits: charity, love, joy, patience, peace, kindness, goodness, generosity, meekness, faithfulness, modesty, self-control, and chastity. The true proof that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are being used well is when our lives reflect these fruits.

The failure to allow the gifts of the Holy Spirit to bear fruit was the issue at the heart of today’s second reading. While St Paul was in Ephesus, he received reports of divisions in the Church of Corinth. One of the major causes of these divisions was the misuse of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Instead of using their gifts to build unity and foster growth, some members used them to create rivalry and tension. They argued over who had the greater gift and who had the lesser. In today’s reading, St Paul addresses this division and reminds the Corinthians—and us—that our gifts come from the same Spirit and must therefore serve unity.

In the Gospel, Jesus teaches us that the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives should bear the fruits of forgiveness and peace.

Dear friends in Christ, the feast of Pentecost challenges us to examine ourselves and ask the following: What are we doing with the gifts the Holy Spirit has given us? Are we using them well, or are we using them to look down on others? Are we using them to build up our families, our Christian communities, and our society and to help our friends? Or are we using them in ways that create confusion and division?

On this day of Pentecost, let us ask the Holy Spirit to rekindle in us the gifts we have received and to help us use them to produce fruits that will bless humanity. Let us join our voices with the psalmist in praying: “Lord, send forth your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth—renew our lives and renew our hearts.” Amen.

Peace be with you. 

Happy Feast of Pentecost. 

Rev. Fr Isaac Chinemerem Chima

 PENTECOST SUNDAY, YEAR A: REFLECTION BY FR. JULIAN EKEH

THEME: RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT

(John 20:19-23)

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

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

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

We celebrate the New Pentecost.

 

WHAT IS PENTECOST?

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

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

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

 

WHAT'S SPECIAL?

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

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

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

 

WHY WE NEED THE HOLY SPIRIT

Proclamation

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

 

Baptism

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

 

Effective functioning in the world

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

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

 

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

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

May God bless His word in our hearts.

 

LET US PRAY

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

 

Happy Pentecost Sunday

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

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

Theme: Waiting on the Lord in Prayer and in One Heart

Readings: Acts 1:12–14; 1 Pt 4:13–16; Jn 17:1–11a

The first reading of this Sunday introduces two essential attitudes for anyone waiting for God’s grace or favour in their lives.

According to Acts, after Jesus ascended into heaven, the disciples returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives and went straight to the upper room. There, they devoted themselves to prayer and to a life of unity as they waited for the Holy Spirit promised by Christ.

In our world today, we all experience different forms of waiting. Some wait for the arrival of loved ones from abroad, admission into school, exam results, the right spouse, the birth of a child, approval of job quotations, employment, promotions, business growth, or the maturity of a long‑term project. These expectations are good and are in harmony with God’s plan for us, as Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us.

However, what we do during our seasons of waiting matters greatly. Our actions can hasten the fulfilment of our expectations, delay them, or even make us lose what we have long prayed for.

The disciples in today’s first reading teach us two important lessons as they waited for the Holy Spirit promised to them.

1. The time of waiting must not be spiritually empty.

The disciples teach us that there should be no dull moment in the spiritual life of those who are waiting for the fulfilment of God’s promises in their lives. Such a wait should not be spent in idleness. Rather, it is a time to deepen our prayer life, to visit the Blessed Sacrament more frequently, and to take up some service in the Church. In their time of waiting on God, the disciples entered the upper room and committed themselves to an intensive nine‑day prayer, preparing their hearts for the coming of the Holy Spirit. Because they prepared themselves spiritually, when the Spirit finally came, He found their hearts ready to receive His gifts.

2. Our lifestyle must be worthy of what we are expecting.

The book of Acts of the Apostles tells us that the disciples were united in one heart. Their unity matched the gift they were waiting for, because the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of unity. He would not have descended upon a divided community. God does not pitch His tent in a house of chaos; He dwells where love and charity abide.

Jesus reinforces this in the parable of the servant waiting for his master (Mt 24:49). The bad servant spends his waiting time beating others and drinking with drunkards, and the master’s return caught him unprepared. Imagine if the disciples had spent their days after the Ascension drinking in the taverns of Jerusalem, fighting among themselves, and causing trouble. Obviously, they would have missed the coming of the Holy Spirit.

This teaches us to live in a way that aligns with what we are praying for—to adopt habits and attitudes that make us worthy to receive God’s blessings.

Dear friends, waiting is a time for goodness. It is a time to engage in acts of charity, to serve our families and communities, and to allow peace, harmony, and love to flourish in our relationships. Anyone waiting on God must remain united with God and in a good relationship with their neighbours.

As we enter these days of prayer for the coming of the Holy Spirit, let us ask Him to rekindle in us the gifts, virtues, and talents that may have grown dormant. Let us adopt the best spiritual and moral disposition, so that this year’s Pentecost may bring something truly new into our lives.

Peace be with you.

Rev Fr. Isaac Chima

 7^TH SUNDAY OF EASTER, YEAR A: REFLECTION BY FR JULIAN EKEH

THEME: UNITED IN PRAYERS

(John 17:1-11a)

Today is the Seventh Sunday of Easter. We are still in the joy of the resurrection. But the Ascension of the Lord into heaven has triggered a mixed feeling in the hearts of the disciples of Jesus. The appearances gave them joy and confidence but with the Ascension, they will not see Jesus again. The cloud now covers Him from their view. But they are left with an instruction to go back to the upper room. There in the upper room, they will see Jesus in another form, they will experience Him, they will enter into a romance with Him, they will encounter Him in the spiritual form, a seeing that will be made possible through prayers. Hence the responsorial psalm of today affirms: I believe I shall see the Lord's goodness in the land of the living.

The Gospel of today presents Jesus praying to the Father when His own hour came. Now is our own hour to pray. Here we saw a deep spiritual communication between Jesus and His Father. They discussed about His mission and activities. He renders account to God in thanksgiving for those He gave Him. He asked to be glorified. The resurrection and Ascension of Christ were answers to these powerful prayers; hence, they are enlisted as the first two glorious mysteries we pray.

As the Church anticipates the third glorious mystery, which is the Descent of the Holy Spirit we are called to ponder on the prayer of Jesus and His wish for us.

All that Jesus did and prayed was just for our sake. He came for us, lived for us, died for us, rose for us. He ascended into heaven and from there prays for us. Thus, the prayer He makes for us therefrom is a continuation of the prayer He started making here before His death as recorded in the Gospel of today.

The romantic nature of our prayers is the bond it carries, how it joins us to Christ in a miraculous and yet realistic way. Through this we see ourselves praying to God through Jesus Christ, we experience Jesus interceding for us, we listen to Him talk to our hearts, He joins us in prayers, we feel His abiding presence and He grants what we pray.

Let us hear His words and wishes for us as we unite in prayerful wait today:

 

I am praying for them

This is great! These are the words of Jesus Christ. This offers us great confidence, to know that someone is there for us. We are not alone. We cannot be knocked down. We have a saviour who prays on our behalf.

Let us pay attention to what attracted these Divine prayers. It is 'belief'.

 

Jesus says that He prays for them because they believed in Him as sent by God. Do you have strong faith in God and His authority over you? What place have you given the word of God in your life? Consider it.

 

That they may be safe in the world

Jesus made His point straight that He was not praying for the world.  The romance is only for those who opened their arms to receive it. He prays for those who have agreed to follow Him, those who have flied to His patronage, those who are totally dependent on Him.

These are those Jesus sees as people entrusted to Him. These are people who as well entrusted themselves to God. In whose hands are you? In the disappointing hands of world or in the dependable and reliable hands of the Almighty?

The invitation therefore is to move away from the world, its attractions and distractions, its glories and its frustrations. Be soaked in prayers, be more spiritually conscious, accept the Union which Jesus initiates. Jesus wished that we be safe in the world as He sits at the right hand of the Father. He knows the turbulent situations we face, the disappointments and challenges here and there, the heartbreaks and trials.

He is aware that we have all these and many other forces to contend with in the world. So He takes us to the upper room of prayer and encounter. He immerses us with the warmth of His embrace, that through His romance with us in prayers, in communion, in devotion, in novena and in Lectio Divina we may be empowered, fortified and charged to face the world, the devil and the flesh squarely and conquer in all the battles they wage.

May we feel the deep joy of remaining in union with God. May the Holy Spirit keep us united in prayers. May our lives, our families, our Church and our society receive the transformation that flows from our prayers and may the prayers and blessings of Jesus Christ for us come to pass in our lives in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen

 

Happy Sunday to you (7th Week of Easter)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

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

Theme: Ascension of Christ: Our Hope and Our Mission

Readings: Acts 1:1–11; Eph 1:17–23; Mt 28:16–20

Whenever we recite the Creed, we proclaim that Jesus “ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father.” This is an article of our faith. But how and when did Christ ascend into heaven? Today’s feast gives us the answer. As the Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, she recounts how and where it happened and offers us profound lessons from this mystery.

Today’s first reading and Gospel present the event of the Ascension. It took place forty days after the Resurrection, which is why this solemnity marks the fortieth day after Easter. According to the Gospel, on the day of the Ascension the disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain Jesus had indicated. There they saw Him; He gave them His final mandate to make disciples of all nations and to baptize them in the name of the Trinity. He promised His abiding presence and assistance, and then ascended into heaven before their eyes. Immediately afterward, two heavenly messengers in white garments appeared and assured the disciples of Jesus’ return in glory.

Christ’s Ascension was the culmination of God’s divine plan for the earthly ministry of Jesus. It shows that, having accomplished His mission, Jesus returned to the Father. The Ascension was the grand finale of all His words and works for our salvation.  It was a culmination, not a conclusion, because although Jesus is now in glory, He continues to remain with us, dwelling within us together with the Father and the Holy Spirit. He Himself assured us: “I am with you always, until the end of time.”

Today’s feast is also a celebration of Christian hope—our hope of entering into glory after our earthly journey. Faith in the Ascension assures us that after our spiritual striving here on earth, we too will behold the glory of God in heaven. This is why St Paul, explaining the meaning of Christ’s exaltation in Ephesians 1:18, prayed: “May God enlighten the eyes of your hearts so that you may know the great hope to which you have been called.”

In the second reading, Paul deepens this message, saying, “May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation… that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance among the saints, and the immeasurable greatness of His power in us who believe.” Our great hope is that one day we too will ascend to heavenly glory. Our task, therefore, is to accomplish our mission just as Jesus accomplished His.

What, then, is our mission? Today’s Gospel makes it clear. Before ascending into heaven, Jesus commanded His disciples—and all of us—to proclaim the Good News of salvation to the whole world by word and deed, and to make disciples of all nations. Dear friends, we are called to evangelize not only by preaching but by witnessing with our lives: through our good actions, through the way we love one another, forgive one another, help one another, speak to one another, and treat one another. By living in peace and harmony in our families and Christian communities, we become authentic witnesses to Christ. These are powerful ways to share in His mission and in the glory that follows.

Today also marks the beginning of the novena to the Holy Spirit. After receiving their final mission from Christ, the disciples returned to the upper room and waited for the Spirit who would strengthen them to fulfill it. As we draw near to Pentecost, let us make time to pray for the presence of the Holy Spirit in our lives and in the Church, so that we may be empowered to carry out our mission in the world.

Happy Feast Day

Rev. Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima

 6th Sunday of Easter, Year A – Homily by Fr Isaac Chima

Theme: How to Defend the Christian Faith in a Hostile Environment

Readings: Acts 8:5–8, 14–17; 1 Pet 3:15–18; Jn 14:15–21

The Gospel reading today continues the final discourse of Jesus with His disciples. In this discourse, Jesus gives His disciples His last will and testament. It is the duty of a good father, when he senses that his final days are near, to gather his children and share with them his last wishes. The final words of a father are never taken lightly by his children.

In the same way, one of the last things Christ told His disciples—and tells us today—is to keep His commandments as a sign of our love for Him. He said: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” And again: “He who has my commandments and keeps them is the one who loves me.”

Indeed, there is no better way to show our love for Christ than by keeping His commandments. But the great challenge is this: how do we show this love in a world that is hostile to the values of Christ? We live in a world that behaves as if God does not exist, a world that sees those who follow Christ’s teachings as people swimming against the current.

For example: Christ taught His disciples to love and to cherish peace. How can they live this peace in a world that constantly sows hatred? Christ asked Christians to be holy and pure. How can they live this in an environment where immorality is proposed, imposed, celebrated, and even protected as a “right”? Christ asked His followers to be truthful and to reject bribery. What should Christians do when they work in offices where corruption is normal and lies are called “diplomacy”? Christ commanded His disciples to make disciples for Him. How can they do this in a world that mocks preachers and considers them outdated?

It is in the light of these difficulties that St Peter gives the powerful admonitions we heard in the second reading. At that time, Peter was in prison in Rome. From his cell, he wrote to Christians throughout the Roman Empire who were facing suffering, hardship, and persecution, teaching them how to carry out Christ’s mandate in a hostile world.

What St Peter told the early Christians is extremely important for today’s Christians, who find themselves in a world marked by secularism and religious indifference. He said, “Always be prepared to make a defence to anyone who calls you to account for the hope that is in you.”

Dear friends, there are many ways to give an account of the faith we have received from Christ. I want to highlight three.

1. Defend the Faith by Knowing It

No one can defend what he does not know. Many ideologies in society challenge the faith of the Church, yet many Christians are too lazy to read the Word of God or learn their catechism.

St Peter challenges us to equip ourselves with knowledge of what we believe so that we can defend our faith when confronted by those who ridicule it. Let me ask some pertinent questions: When non-believers ask why you pray the Rosary, what do you say? When they ask why you go to confession, what do you say? When they ask why you pray to the Virgin Mary, the saints, or for the dead, what do you say?

Many people have left the Church simply because they were questioned about practices they never understood and never cared to understand.

So, dear friends, learn your faith. Read the Bible. Study the catechism. Know what the Church teaches and why.

2. Defend the Faith by Standing Against Evil

Many Christians are afraid to witness to Christ because they do not want to be hated by the world. Some prefer to remain silent; others compromise. But evil grows when good people keep quiet.

Dear friends, if you find yourself in a place where justice is denied, truth is rejected, and immorality is celebrated, what do you do? Do you keep quiet? Do you compromise?

Christians must never remain silent or compromise in environments that deny the teachings of Christ. Such situations are precisely the moments when we are called to give an account of our faith.

Do not let fear—fear of insults, suffering, rejection, loss of friends, or loss of privileges—lead you to deny your faith or remain silent in the face of evil.

Christ promised that “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will acknowledge before my Father in heaven.” (Mt 10:32–33) We should always remember that the worst suffering is separation from God.

3. Defend the Faith by Living It

In the second reading, St Peter gives a second step. He said, “Do it with gentleness and reverence; keep your conscience clear, so that those who speak against your good behaviour in Christ may be put to shame.”

Here, St Peter calls Christians not to allow their lifestyle to contradict their faith. Our lives must be shining examples of what we preach.

Christians witness to Christ not only with words but with their lives. Hence, every Christian should reflect gentleness, humility, peace, love, justice, charity, patience, forbearance, and all Christian virtues. In fact, the life of a Christian should be a Bible for those who never read the Bible.

If the way you live before your husband, wife, children, colleagues, and friends contradicts your Christian faith, then you cannot convince or convert anyone. Therefore, living a life that reflects the teachings and virtues of Christ is the best defence of the Christian faith.

Happy Sunday, and remain blessed.

Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima

 6^TH SUNDAY OF EASTER, YEAR A: REFLECTION BY FR. JULIAN EKEH

THEME: I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU

(John 14:15-21)

Today is the sixth Sunday of Easter. This Sunday will lead us to Ascension of the Lord. The Church wants us to reflect on what happens to us those moments we feel the Lord has deserted us, when we think that we are abandoned, when we feel desolate, when we conclude that we are orphaned.

Our Lord Jesus Christ reassures as recorded in the prophecy of Isaiah 49:15: " Does a mother forget the baby at her breast and not have compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you. "

In Jesus Christ, we have a Saviour who will never abandon us no matter what, even if the earth should rock. He is true to His name ' Emmanuel'.

To prove to us that He is determined never to leave us, let us consider his promises in the Gospel of today:

 

I WILL ASK THE FATHER TO GIVE YOU ANOTHER COUNSELLOR

Our Lord, in His decision not to leave us, insists on interceding on our behalf. He knows too well that we do not know how to pray, as we ought. So He asks for our needs. He asks the Father to send another counsellor to be with His disciples. The role of the counsellor is that of giving advice, especially on personal issues, individual problems, and confidential matters. We all have our individual worries and troubles. In our vocations, professions, marriages, relationships, etc., we need a confidant, one we can trust, one we can open up to, one I can give my secrete and feel safe, one we can tell our dark sides to and get healing from, one who will not betray us, one who can actually listen to our nonsense. The counsellor is a listener. He gives attention, and he is a therapist.

Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit to do all these for us. Let us be disposed to receive Him for this function and feel free to open up to the operations of God who in Christ even through our fellow human beings give us counsels from above.

 

I WILL COME TO YOU

We have a God who comes to us. He is the God who comes to Adam and Eve in the garden, who comes to liberate the Israelites from captivity, who comes as man to save humanity, who comes to us in times of need. He comes because He does not want us to perish, even in our weaknesses. He comes because it is not His wish that we be lost. He comes because He does not want the devil to take the glory due to His name. He will come. He will intervene in our family problem, in the various crises threatening the world. He will come to arrest the turbulent seas. May we pray Him: Maranatha! O come, Jesus, do not delay! Come as you have promised. Come for without you, we can do nothing.

 

YOU WILL SEE ME

The Lord will come that we may see Him and rejoice. During this Easter period, we saw the great joy with which the women and the apostles greeted the Lord when they saw Him. May you see the Lord's goodness, His mercy, and compassion. May His wondrous doings come to pass in your life. May no locked doors stop you from seeing His promise come to pass in you. He promised that you would see His love. May his love be upon you as you have placed your hope in Him.

 

I WILL MANIFEST MYSELF

With the uncertainties and difficulties in our world today, the political manipulations here and there, the persecution of Christians, the marginalization of particular regions, the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer due to greed and fraud, some people may think that God is not going to act. Hear His words:

For Zion's sake I will not keep silent, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not remain quiet till her vindication shines out like the dawn and her salvation like a blazing torch"( Isaiah 62:1)

God manifests and continues to manifest Himself and will not stop doing so till the end.

Let us not stop loving God. Let us not stop worshipping Him in spirit, and in truth. Let us never think that He has abandoned us. Let us not abandon Him.  Let us be assured that God is our refuge and strength, that He is with us, and that He is our stronghold (psalm 46).

May God bless His word in our hearts.

 

LET US PRAY

Thank You, Lord, for reassuring us today that You will never leave us alone. Give us the grace to wait prayerfully and with action for Your promises and see them come to pass.

May we love God and our neighbours that God may manifest His great wonders in answering and delivering us from the many trials that threaten us through Christ our Lord. Amen

Happy Sunday

(6th Sunday of Easter, Year A)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

5^th Sunday of Easter, Year A: Homily by Fr. Isaac Chima

Theme: You Are a Chosen Race — Let Your Hearts Not Be Troubled

Readings: Acts 6: 1-7; 1 Pt 2: 4-9; Jn. 14: 1-12

The readings of the fifth Sunday of Easter are rich with lessons for both our spiritual and physical nourishment. They tell us not to let our hearts be troubled because we are a chosen race, a holy nation, and God’s own people. They also warn us of what can happen when we fail to care for the physical needs of members of our Christian community.

In the second reading, St Peter beautifully defined the identity of Christians as ‘a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation and God’s own people chosen to declare his wonderful deeds.’ These qualities highlight our participation in the life and priesthood of Christ through the sacraments we have received. They also demand that Christians live a distinct kind of life in society — a life that enables them to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Christ. As St Paul teaches, we must not model our lives according to the standards of this world.

The first reading shows us two major threats to the unity of the Church and harmony among Christians: discrimination and insensitivity to the material needs of the faithful. In this reading, the Greek-speaking Christians complained that their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food by the Hebrew-speaking Christians.

The swift and wise way the apostles handled this problem offers important lessons for our Christian communities today.

First, our communities must be places of love, equality, fairness, and harmony. We must reject every sentiment, attitude, or behaviour that divides us.

Second, the reading teaches us that if we fail to attend to the social and material needs of our members, we risk hindering the work of God. We must not ignore the genuine concerns of our brothers and sisters. We must be close to every member of our community, know their daily struggles, and help them find solutions. The person who sits beside you every Sunday may be carrying burdens that God wants to ease through you. Hence, make effort to look beyond the smiling face. Both the spiritual and material needs of our members matter.

Third, while caring for material needs, we must not allow the spiritual dimension of our mission to suffer. Sometimes, in our efforts to organize social activities or respond to material concerns, we unintentionally neglect prayer, worship, and spiritual growth. St Peter reminds us today that we must maintain a healthy balance between the spiritual and the material — and that the spiritual must always receive our primary attention.

In today’s Gospel, Jesus seems to speak directly to each of us. He said, “Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me.” Dear friends, we live in a world where political tensions, social instability, family struggles, and personal challenges have left many people broken, discouraged, and overwhelmed. The disciples felt the same way when they realized Jesus was leaving them and that they would face the harsh realities of their society without His physical presence.

I do not know the particular difficulties you are facing. It may be a crisis in your marriage, instability in your relationships, worries about your children, health challenges, problems at work, or economic hardship. Whatever your situation, the Church wants these words of Jesus to echo in your heart: “Let not your heart be troubled.”

Why? Because Jesus is the way — the One who guides you through your worries without letting you fall; He is the way out of your troubles and the way that will also lead you to the Father. He is the truth — the One who gives you the courage to face every situation with hope. He is the life — the One whose life in you cannot be destroyed by the difficulties of this world.

Let not your hearts be troubled, because God has chosen you to be signs and bearers of His victory in the world. And the one whom God has chosen cannot be defeated by trials and difficulties.

Jesus challenges us to believe in Him and in the power of His works. Peter, in the second reading, urges us to come to Jesus, the living stone rejected by men but chosen and precious in God’s sight. Let us open our hearts to Him in today’s Mass and entrust our lives to His care.

Peace be with you, and may you have a blessed Sunday.

Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima

 5^TH SUNDAY OF EASTER, YEAR A: REFLECTION BY FR. JULIAN EKEH

THEME: LET NOT YOUR HEARTS BE TROUBLED

(John 14:1-12)

Jesus addresses His disciples not to be troubled in the following words:  "Let not your hearts be troubled; believe in God, believe also in me..." Jesus told His disciples these when they were afraid of losing Him, because He told them He was going away.

In our situation today it seems that God is going away, it looks like God is far removed from us. We are surrounded by a whole lot of life-threatening realities. We are left in the state of "Chi boo anu ozo" (One day one trouble), the news all over is not encouraging, the Government is more confused, the voice of prayer seem to be silenced, there's no work, no payment, no food, no money. There is no joy in the world. Many people no longer see reasons to live. Jesus' word encourages us not to give up but to look up, not to be fainthearted but to lift up our hearts. This is an exercise done in faith, hope and charity. This is seeing what the ordinary eye doesn't see, believing what hopelessness discourages us from believing, loving and caring with the little in our possession.

Let us put away fear and move on as children of God. Let us keep following Jesus the Way, Truth and Life. He will not disappoint us. He will not abandon us. Are you still troubled? By family problems, economic situation, sleeplessness, persecutions? Are you worried about how to send those children back to school ? Are you weeping because of the leadership of this country and your State? Do not be troubled? Just believe in God, do the part in your hands, God will do the rest. Just speak to your troubled heart: "Obim dere duu atula ujo, Obim dere duu, Chukwu maara ihe oma O ga emerem o, Obim dere duu. (Fear not my soul, God will arrest thy worries). Hear these words of St Teresa of Avila:

"Let nothing disturb you

Let nothing frighten you

All things are passing away

God never changes

Patience obtains all things

Whoever has God lacks nothing.

God alone suffices."

It shall be well. Yes!

Oge ihe siri gi ike,

Oge uru juru gi obi

Nsogbu eju ebe nile

Nwannem ka obi sie gi ike

 

Lele Jesu, rio Jesu

Chekwube Jesu, Oga- adi mma.

 

Hard Facts of life

The hard truth we have to know about life is that there must be troubles; small or great. Winds must blow. The sea must rage. But there's something that makes a whole lot of difference: My Choice. Choose to live above the troubled sea. Choose to swim across the raging storm. The seat of these choices is in the heart. Do not allow the troubles in the world, on the outside to determine your heart's joy and peace. The troubles are not worth dying for. It is not easy to live this way but Divine grace will make it possible.

 

Speak out your troubles

Telling the disciples not to allow their hearts to be troubled means that there is a better state for which the heart is made. The heart should be an abode of Christ the prince of peace and not of the crisis that steals your peace.

Therefore, when the troubles sneak in with their accompanying headaches, heartbreaks, sleeplessness and worries. Speak out. Pray! Share it. Problem shared is problem solved. You have a shoulder you can always cry on. Lay it on Jesus' shoulders, come to him with your burden, He knows how to make it light. Do not allow it to sap you, to weigh you down and increase your blood pressure.

 

Address Yourself

You know what you want. You are the one at each point in life to tell yourself: "I refuse to be troubled ". O yes! You can do this by always being positive. Be strong and tell yourself: "I know that I can make, I know that I can stand, no matter what may come my way".

 

Hold on to the Way, Truth and Life

In times of trouble, the question is always: where do I go from here? Which way? What is the next line of action? Jesus answers:  "I am the Way". "I Am" is the name of God as revealed to Moses. God is the Way, Him alone can make a way where there seem to be no way, where troubles seem to have closed.

In a world filled with lies from the government, from religious groups, world organizations, family and friends Jesus says: "I am the Truth". The truth we need to know about ourselves, about our world and what best to do comes from God.

In a world where life has lost its worth and is now and again threatened by diseases natural and man-made, by wars and terrorism Jesus maintains: "I am Life". We commit our lives into his hands for Him to sustain and uphold it. He gives His life in place of ours. May we accept and value the precious gift of human life in others and ourselves. May God trouble the troubles that trouble us and keep us safe from all dangers through Christ our Lord.

Happy Sunday (5th Sunday of Easter)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh