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

 Dedication of the Lateran Basilica: Homily by Fr Isaac Chima

Theme: God’s Temple: Sacred Space, Sacred Body

Readings: Ez 47:1-2,8-9.12; 1 Cor. 3:9c-11.16-17; Jn 2:13-22

Dear friends in Christ, today, the Church joyfully commemorates the anniversary of the dedication of the Basilica of St. John Lateran, consecrated in 324 AD. This sacred edifice, gifted to the Church by Emperor Constantine, holds a unique place in our faith; it is the Episcopal seat of the Pope as Bishop of Rome and is honoured as “the Mother and Head of all Churches of Rome and the world.” Initially dedicated to St. John the Baptist and later to St. John the Evangelist, this Basilica stands as a symbol of the Church’s enduring presence and mission.

The dedication of a church is a solemn act of consecration, which sets the building apart as a sacred space for worship, prayer, and the celebration of the sacraments. It becomes a spiritual home, a place where heaven meets earth, where the faithful gather to encounter God, hear His Word, and receive His grace. Once consecrated, the church is reserved for sacred functions and deserves our utmost reverence.

In today’s Gospel, however, Jesus confronted a stark contrast to this sacred ideal. Upon entering the temple in Jerusalem, He found not a house of prayer, but a marketplace filled with noise and injustice. In righteous anger, He drove out the merchants, charging them to stop making God’s house a marketplace. His actions remind us of the sanctity of God’s dwelling and challenge us to reflect on how we treat our own places of worship.

We can learn the following lessons from His actions.

Reverence for Sacred Space: Jesus’ action against those buying and selling in God’s house calls us to honour the sanctity of our churches. These are not ordinary buildings; they are rather places where God dwells and from which His blessings flow into our lives and homes. The prophet Ezekiel, in the first reading, described water flowing from the temple, bringing life, healing, and abundance into dead seas, the creatures living in them, and the trees on their banks. This image reminds us that the church is a source of spiritual nourishment for the faithful.

Therefore, we must treat our churches with respect: keeping them clean, observing proper liturgical posture, and maintaining an atmosphere of reverence. The presence of God demands silence, devotion, and attentiveness, not distraction, disorder, and noise.

The True Temple: Christ and His Body: When Jesus was questioned about His authority, He spoke of the destruction and rebuilding of the temple in three days, referring to His own body. This reveals that the ultimate dwelling place of God is not a building, but Christ Himself and, by extension, the Church, which is His living body on earth.

St. Paul affirmed this in the second reading, reminding us that Jesus is the foundation upon which the Church is built. He warned against false teachings and immoral conduct, urging us to build on Christ with integrity. Each believer is also a living temple of the Holy Spirit and must be kept holy. Thus, our bodies are not our own; they are gifts from God, entrusted to us for His glory. Every immoral act desecrates this temple.

This is a call to all priests and spiritual leaders to uphold the truth of the Gospel and to protect the Church from being used for exploitation and abuse of the faithful. It is also a personal call to each of us to live in holiness, honouring the divine presence within us.

Zeal for God’s House: When the disciples saw Jesus’ action in the temple, they recalled the words, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” His zeal was not just for the physical building but for all places where God dwells, especially in the Eucharist and in the hearts of believers. Jesus is interested in what goes on in God’s house – the Church and our bodies.

Dear friends, we are also called to cultivate a burning zeal for the holiness of God’s temple. This means caring for our churches, ensuring they reflect the dignity of God’s presence, and guarding our bodies from sin. A person consumed by zeal will not ignore a dirty church or a soul stained by sin. Instead, they will act, cleansing, restoring, and protecting what belongs to God.

Dear brothers and sisters, as we celebrate this feast, let us renew our commitment to reverence, holiness, and zeal for God’s house. May our churches be true houses of prayer, and may our bodies be worthy temples of the Holy Spirit. Let us honour God in His dwelling, both in stone and in flesh, so that His grace will flow through us into the world.

Peace be with you.

Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima

 Solemnity of All Saints: Homily by Fr Isaac

Theme: Following the Footsteps of Our Brothers and Sisters in Heaven.

Readings: Rev 7:2-4,9-14; 1 Jn 3:1-3; Mt 5:1-12a

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, the Feast of All Saints is a profound and joyful celebration in the life of the Church. It is a feast that strengthens our hope and reassures us that our hope of inheriting heaven, our true home after this earthly exile, is not in vain. Today’s celebration affirms the reality of heaven, not as a distant dream, but as a promise already fulfilled in the lives of countless men and women who have gone before us in faith.

This feast tells us that the heavenly home and the beatific vision we yearn for have already been attained by some of our brothers and sisters. God has rewarded them with the very gift we strive for through our daily efforts to live holy lives. The race to heaven has been run and won by many. So, their victory, which we celebrate today, is our encouragement. No one can now say that heaven is a myth or discourage us from pursuing it. The saints are living proof that the promise of eternal life is real.

In today’s first reading, the Apostle John shares a breathtaking vision. He saw 144,000 from the tribes of Israel marked with the seal of God. Then he beheld a multitude beyond counting, people from every nation, tribe, and tongue, standing before the throne and the Lamb, clothed in white robes and holding palm branches. They cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” Dear friends, this is the glorious vision of heaven revealed to John, a vision that now belongs to us.

The Feast of All Saints reminds us that those in heaven are not strangers or superhumans. It tells us that some of the people we knew and many others that we never knew have entered the glorious home of God, sharing in His glory. They are people like us, those who lived in our homes, walked our streets, ate our food, watched our films, endured our weather, and wore the same clothes as us. They faced the same joys and sorrows, temptations and trials we are facing. And yet, they made it. If they could, so can we.

Among the saints are people from every walk of life: some were rich, others poor; some were beautiful, others ugly; some died in innocence, others repented after years of sin; some were brilliant, others struggled intellectually; some were fiery in temperament, others gentle and calm; some lived long lives, others died young; some endured persecution, others did not. However, despite their differences, they shared one common goal: heaven. They did not let their strengths or weaknesses, privileges or hardships, distract them from that goal. They allowed the grace of God to triumph in their lives. Friends, this is the challenge this feast presents to us: to make heaven our ultimate goal, no matter our circumstances.

But how do we do that? What path must we follow? The Gospel of today gives us the answer. Through the Beatitudes, Jesus lays out the roadmap to heaven, the very path our brothers and sisters, the saints, walked. These are not lofty ideals beyond our reach; rather, they are practical steps we can take every day. They are being poor in spirit, being meek, having hunger for righteousness, being merciful, being pure in heart, being a peacemaker, and accepting persecutions for the sake of Christ and for the sake of righteousness.

These are the principles that guided the saints. They are the keys to the kingdom of God. Let us use them to examine our own lives and renew our commitment to holiness.

Dear friends, heaven is real. The saints are our proof. Let us not be discouraged by our weaknesses or distracted by the world. Instead, let us fix our eyes on Christ and walk the path of the Beatitudes with courage and joy.

Peace be with you. Happy Feast Day!

Rev. Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima

 

 25^th Sunday Year C: Homily by Fr Isaac Chima

Theme: Why Does Evil Seem to Prevail Over Good?

Intro: Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, today, the church directs our focus towards our perspectives on material goods, particularly our attitudes towards the poor and the marginalized people in society. She presents before us the rationale behind the persistent spread of evil in our society and encourages us to take action to prevent its continued triumph in our midst.

Homily: Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, do you find it troubling that, on numerous occasions, evil seems to overshadow goodness in our society, despite the significant number of churches and Christians worldwide? Nowadays, many individuals question why evil seems to prevail over good in our communities. Some even go so far as to assert that God has permitted the devil to govern the world, while others interpret the presence of evil as evidence of God's nonexistence or abandonment of the world.

Today's gospel reading provides us with one of the explanations for why evil appears to overshadow good in our world. However, let us begin to draw the profound lessons of this Sunday from the first reading.

Dear friends, Prophet Amos has some important insights to share regarding the socio-economic structure of our society. Amos is recognized as the prophet of Social Justice. The first reading today comprises a segment of the book of Amos that addresses the social and economic challenges faced by his people. In this passage, he speaks out against greed, oppression, and injustice directed towards the poor in society.

During the era of Amos, Israel was divided into classes, with the rich on one side and the poor on the other side. Every society has the poor and the rich as well. Nevertheless, what troubled Amos was the fact that the rich of his time were becoming increasingly wealthy while the poor were sinking deeper into poverty, with the rich amassing their fortunes at the expense of the poor. The wealth of the rich was bolstered by their unjust and malevolent socio-economic policies, which they safeguarded with their financial resources. They thrived on the misfortunes of the poor and mistreated their less fortunate neighbours.

According to Amos, these rich people controlled the large farms and dictated market prices. What were they doing? They were inflating the prices of goods in such a manner that the poor could not afford basic necessities without enduring significant hardship. Thus, for the poor people of the time of Amos to sustain themselves, they were compelled to borrow money from these same rich people. In lending to the poor, the wealthy also raised interest rates to such an extent that the poor individuals would find it impossible to repay the debt. Furthermore, they imposed lending conditions that were intolerable. Those among the poor who failed to repay their loans within the stipulated timeframe were forced to surrender their lands, while those who had lost their land were compelled to sell themselves and their families into slavery to settle their debts. Amos noted that the wealthy eagerly anticipated a time when they could buy or sell the poor as slaves.

Dear friends, do we have people in our society who engage in similar behaviours? Are there those who impose unimaginable and unreasonable conditions on those seeking their assistance? Do we have individuals who seek to enrich themselves at the expense of the poor, those who are indifferent to whether the less fortunate can afford the prices or conditions they impose on their goods and services? Amos has declared woes upon such individuals.

Amos also addressed another form of greed and deceit in the marketplace, a type of insincerity that could provoke the heavens to weep. He noted that these people were saying, “that we may make the ephah small and the shekel great … and sell the refuse of the wheat.” What does this mean? The ephah is the container used for measuring wheat in the market. So, these individuals were reducing the size of the ephah while still selling it at the price of a standard ephah without the suspicion of the buyer. They also mixed chaff, which should either be burnt or discarded, with the wheat to create the illusion of a larger quantity. In this case, when the buyer returns home, half of what they purchased would consist of chaff. Do we have people who cheat on their customers, those who alter the standard practices within their business sectors solely to defraud unsuspecting customers? All these are dishonesty in business. Amos condemned such behaviour; our society condemns it as well.

It is disheartening that despite the denunciations of these immoral actions, they continue to proliferate within society. Why is this the case? Jesus provided us with the answer in the gospel reading. The answer is this: “Because the sons of this world are wiser in their own generation than the sons of the light.”

Dear friends, a first look at the parable of the dishonest steward presented in today’s gospel may provoke numerous questions among many people. Some may wonder why Christ chose to narrate such a story and even commended a dishonest steward. Is He suggesting that we should emulate this man’s unethical behaviour in business? Is He promoting dishonesty? However, Christ did not share this parable to endorse dishonesty; instead, He urged us to observe the actions of the dishonest steward upon learning that his time was up. Did you notice how he meticulously devised a plan and executed it with great skill? Observing him, Christ remarked that the children of this world are more astute in their generation than the children of light. What does this imply? Christ was telling His audience, and all of us, that those who engage in wrongdoing invest more effort in strategizing their malevolent actions and executing them than we do in planning and carrying out virtuous deeds. This is why evil seems to prevail over good in our society.

Thus, Christ is highlighting the commitment of those who perpetrate evil in planning and executing their actions effectively, and He questioned why His followers, including all of us, cannot devote our time to perfecting good deeds. Consider how robbers spend sleepless nights strategizing a heist; reflect on how cybercriminals invest hours on their schemes; contemplate how those who deceive through media allocate time to refine their falsehoods; then, consider the minimal time we allocate to planning positive contributions to our community. This is indeed why evil seems to prevail over good in our society.

Today, God is calling us, the children of light, to recognize that if we desire goodness to prevail over evil, we must invest more time in planning our virtuous actions than wrongdoers do in their schemes.

Peace be with you

Fr Isaac Chinemerem Chima

 

 Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross: Homily by Fr. Isaac Chima

Christ’s Cross: Our Symbol of Hope

Readings: Num 21, 4-9; Phil 2, 6-11; Jn 3, 13-17

Dear friends in Christ, the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross invites us to celebrate the dedication of the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, the Church built on the site where Jesus was crucified and buried, which houses the relics of the Cross of Christ. It is also a day we celebrate the triumph of the Holy Cross, the central position of the Cross in our Christian life, the saving power of the Cross for all who believe, and the transformative power of Christ that turned a symbol of shame into a symbol of hope.

When you look at the Cross of Christ, what do you see and feel, and what message does the Cross of Christ convey to you? Through the readings of today’s Mass, the Church unveils some of the messages that the Cross of Christ gives us.

In the first reading, we saw the communal disobedience and rebellion of Israelites, which resulted in an immediate and severe punishment. One of the dangers of sin is that it distances us from God (Is 59:2), causing us to fall short of His glory (Rom 3:23), grace, and protection. This separation makes it easier for the devil to step in and wreak havoc.

While the Israelites were defencelessly wandering in the desert, they enjoyed God’ grace and protection from human enemies and other threats to their lives in the desert. In today’s passage, as soon as their sins created a rift between them and God, they were immediately attacked by the forces that had previously been restrained by God’s grace and protection. Sin always exposes us to dangers.

However, when they cried to God in the midst of their sorrows and Moses interceded on their behalf, God forgave them and healed them with the symbol of the same creature that afflicted them, which was appended on a tree. Even in the midst of our sins and the sorrows they inflict upon us, if we turn our gaze towards God, He will send us His help.

The symbol of the ancient bronze serpent that healed the Israelites prefigured Christ, as affirmed by Christ in His conversation with Nicodemus in today’s gospel. He said, “As Moses lifted the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted, so that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.” With this affirmation, Jesus tells us that just as the Israelites were healed of their afflictions by looking upon the bronze serpent hung on a tree, those who look up to Him, hanging on the Cross, will be saved from their affliction. Therefore, all those who have distanced themselves from God due to their sins, as well as those who have fallen under the destructive power of the evil one, should not lose hope; the Cross of Christ invites them to look upon it and be saved. The Cross is our symbol of hope, assuring us that the attacks of the enemy will not overcome those who believe in God. It is our symbol of victory over the forces of evil. (Col 2:15).

The second reading provides another message that the Cross of Christ conveys to us. This reading tells us that Christ humbled himself, accepted his cross, and carried it till the end. Therefore, God, who permitted such a cross to befall him, exalted him and rewarded him with the name that is above every name. The cross of Christ reminds us that each of us carries a cross, one that God has permitted us to carry, not for our destruction but for the salvation of our soul. “Carry your cross and follow me,” Jesus said (Mt 16:24).

Your cross could be your spouse, your sick child, your brother struggling with addiction, your stubborn son or daughter, your unemployment, or your lack of resources. Following the example of Jesus, if you carry your cross with humility, trusting God’s love in all situations of life, victory will ultimately be yours. (Phil 2:6-11).

The cross of Christ also speaks to us of the transformative power of our Saviour. Once regarded as a symbol of shame and disgrace, the cross has been transformed into a symbol of hope and victory. Prior to Jesus’ death on the cross, the cross represented shame, a course reserved only for criminals and outlaws (Gal 3:13). Nevertheless, the nature of Jesus is that He transforms whatever He touches. His encounter with this emblem of shame – the cross – transformed it into a symbol of faith and salvation, a symbol that is revered and venerated. Such is the power of Christ.

Dear friends, the Church invites us to allow ourselves to be touched by Jesus. He transforms everything He touches. If he touches you, your life will never remain the same. Today, we have the Cross of Christ in our midst, our symbol of hope and triumph hanging in every church; make sure you also give it a place of honour in your homes. Let us embrace it; let us venerate it, so that we may experience its transformative power, for wherever it is lifted up, all those who gaze upon it will be saved from physical afflictions and eternal damnation.

Peace be with you.

Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima

 

 23^rd Sunday, Year C: Homily by Fr. Isaac Chima

Theme: Loving Jesus more and our kith and kin less

Readings: Wis 9:13-18b; Philemon 9b-10,12-17; Lk 14:25-33

Dear friends in Christ, today's gospel reading presents us with one of the statements that many find hard to accept as originating from Jesus. In this gospel passage, He said, “If any one comes to me and does not hate his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, sisters, and his own life, he cannot be my disciple.”

We know very well that Jesus didn’t hate his own parents, relatives, and friends (his apostles); in fact, he loved deeply. We also recognize that Jesus taught us to love everyone, including strangers and enemies, and that one should be willing to sacrifice his life for those he loves. Therefore, the initial response of anyone who hears this challenging demand from Jesus in today's gospel might be to question why Jesus would urge people to hate their family members and themselves as a condition for being His disciple. It is actually very strange. Nevertheless, it is this slight confusion that we aim to clarify in today's homily.

The first step towards understanding what Jesus actually wanted from his disciples when He made that statement would be to briefly examine what he said semantically. The Hebrew language lacks comparatives. For instance, in the Hebrew language, it is not possible to speak of loving something more or less than another. The only option available is to speak of loving or hating. Furthermore, the Hebrew verb for to hate – שִׂנאָה – does not imply dislike, to detest, or to abhor; instead, it implies ‘loving less’. This is evident in the Old Testament, where such expression was used. For example, in Genesis 29:30-33, where it is mentioned that Jacob loved Leah less than Rachel, and in Deuteronomy 21:15-17, which discusses the division of property.

Consequently, when Luke reported that Jesus said anyone who comes to him without hating his father, mother, wife, children, relatives and even his own self is not worthy of him, it did not imply that Jesus was promoting hatred towards family members. Rather, Jesus was indicating that anyone who desires to follow him must love him more than they love their family and themselves. This notion is further supported in the Gospel of Matthew 10:37, where it is explicitly stated that Jesus said, “Whoever loves father and mother more than me is not worthy of me.”

By encouraging anyone who aspires to be his genuine disciple to love Him more than he loves himself, his family, and friends, Jesus is telling those who wish to follow Him to prioritize Him above all personal preferences and the desires of their families and friends. It is a reminder that the first commitment of every Christian should be to Jesus and that Christianity is a call to self-renunciation for the sake of God’s kingdom. This is further illustrated in the subsequent statements of Jesus in today’s gospel. He said, “Whoever does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple,” and “Whoever does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.”

Following Jesus is a vocation that transforms people’s choices and actions, often setting them against the currents of society, which can lead to insults and persecutions. Hence, the choice to follow Jesus requires thoughtful consideration and a profound commitment. That was why Jesus wanted everyone to reflect deeply before deciding to follow Him, so that one will not say “yes” today and “no” tomorrow when confronted with the serious challenges of life. This is the meaning of Jesus’ parables of the man planning to build a tower and the king preparing to wage war against another king in today’s gospel.

How can we demonstrate that our love for Jesus surpasses our love for ourselves, our families, and our friends? How can we exhibit genuine commitment to Jesus? Dear friends, whenever our preferences or desires, as well as those of our families, friends, workplaces, and society, conflict with the teachings of Jesus, we show our greater love for Him by choosing to follow His commands, regardless of the consequences. That’s what Jesus wants from a true disciple.

Why must we prioritize Jesus above all else? In this regard, the first reading provides valuable insight. It extols the wisdom of God, contrasting it with the reasoning and plans of mortals, which are ultimately futile and prone to misguidance, because the human intellect is burdened by the limitations of the perishable body and worldly concerns. This reading further underscores that it is only when God imparts His wisdom and sends His spirit upon the earth that people on earth will be guided correctly and learn to act righteously. Given our finite nature, which limits our understanding and abilities and hinders us from identifying the best course for ourselves and for humanity, it is solely through the guidance of God – who is infinite and knows tomorrow with clarity, and in whose eyes a thousand years are like yesterday – that we find what is truly best for us. God’s wisdom should be favoured over the limited perspective of humanity, which cannot foresee the future with clarity.

The second reading provided a concrete example of prioritizing and adhering to the voice of God over our personal preferences and societal norms. Onesimus was Philemon’s slave and found himself in prison, possibly due to an offense against Philemon. In this reading, St. Paul was urging Philemon not only to forgive and reinstate Onesimus in his service but also to set aside the conventional slave-master relationship that existed between them, embracing Onesimus as a brother instead. This was a call to accept the divine wisdom that makes everyone equal before God instead of the conventional human wisdom that relegates Onesimus to the status of a slave under Philemon. It was a big challenge for Philemon; he accepted it as a true Christian.

Dear friends, being a true disciple of Jesus entails subduing our own desires and those of others around us in order to fulfil His will, trusting that He knows better than we do, and that His guidance will never lead us astray.

Peace be with you.

Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Homily by Fr Isaac Chima

Theme: Death can’t overcome God’s beloved.

Readings: Rev.11:19a, 12:1-6a.10ab; 1 Cor. 15:20-27; Lk 1:39-56

The Catechism of the Church teaches us that at the end of the life of the Blessed Virgin Mary, she was taken up to heaven, both body and soul. Although the Assumption is one of the earliest feasts dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary (the belief in the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary began in the early years of the Church), it was officially declared a dogma of the Church (an article of faith) by Pope Pius XII in his Apostolic Constitution ‘Munificentissimus Deus’ on November 1, 1950, where he stated, “The Immaculate Mother of God, the ever-virgin Mary, having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory.”

The declaration of the belief in the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in heaven as an article of faith of the Church does not, in fact, deny the reality that the Virgin Mary died. Rather, it confirms that in accordance with God's divine plan for her, her mortal body experienced no decay; instead, it was taken into heaven together with her soul after her earthly life. Consequently, the Feast of the Assumption commemorates the fulfilment of the grace that God initiated in Mary from the very start of her life, as well as God’s triumph in her life: she was the one chosen by God to be the mother of the Lord and the mother of the church, the one who was filled with the Holy Spirit at both the Annunciation and the Pentecost, and also the one who was full of grace and preserved from the stain of original sin. Now, she lives in heaven in body and soul, sharing in the resurrection of Christ, her son.

In the Assumption of Mary into heaven, God has once again revealed to us His plan for humanity – the plan of taking humanity to Himself after the end of time. Through Mary, humanity has seen that the goal of its journey of faith – the journey towards eternal life in heaven – is both possible and achievable. The Feast of the Assumption illustrates that God has already rewarded one of His fruits – Mary – with the beatific vision; it demonstrates that God has accomplished in Mary that plan He has for all humanity. The goal of our spiritual journey here on earth is to attain beatific vision at the end of our lives, and this beatific reward has been shown to be possible in Mary’s Assumption into heaven. Thus, the Blessed Virgin Mary becomes the symbol of hope for our spiritual endeavours. In her, we find the assurance that all our efforts to live in accordance with God’s plan in order to earn eternal reward will not be in vain; rather, we will be granted the beatific vision after our death if we adhere to God’s design for us, just as Mary did. Hence, the Assumption tells us that all followers of Christ who imitate Mary’s fidelity and obedience to God’s word and plan will undoubtedly be lifted up to heaven. This feast also reassures us that if we cooperate with the grace bestowed upon us by God (for He has endowed each of us with varying degrees of grace) by living in accordance with His will, eternal life will be our reward.

Furthermore, the Feast of the Assumption serves as a reminder that the victory of death over the bodies of those who love God is merely temporal, occurring only at the moment of death. Subsequently, the power of God intervenes to rescue His beloved from the grasp of death and reward them with eternal life. Thus, the Feast of the Assumption is the feast of the triumph of life over death. St Paul alluded to this concept in his first letter to the Corinthians 15:54-57, where he stated that when our mortal body is transformed into immortality, which occurs at resurrection, death is vanquished, and death is consumed in victory. The Psalmist also mentioned this in Psalm 16:10, declaring, “I will not allow my faithful servant to see decay.” So, the lives of those who love God do not end at death; those who love God and live according to his Word cannot be defeated in eternity by death and all its powers made manifest in sickness, hatred, oppression, persecutions, social and economic hardships, fear, and disease (Rom. 8:35). No, rather, the power of God will raise his chosen people from death and all the other challenges it employs to threaten our lives. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary into heaven reinforces this assurance.

Peace be with you

Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima

 19^th Sunday, Year C: Homily by Fr Isaac Chima

Theme: Faith-Illumined Hope and Vigilance

Readings: Wis 18, 6-9; Heb 11, 1-2.8-19; Lk 12, 35-48

Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord, this 19^th Sunday invites us to remain awake and vigilant so that the day of the Lord – the day we will be taken from this world to reunite with our Creator – does not catch us unprepared. It also tells the type of vigilance that is expected of us, which is the manner of life anticipated from all those who await the return of their master.

One of the responsibilities of the national security agencies is to safeguard the nation from attackers and, in doing so, preserve lives and property. To fulfil this duty, they maintain vigilance around the clock every day. In various homes and offices, individuals install surveillance cameras, some keep dogs for security, and many others reinforce their residences with burglary-proof measures to prevent break-ins by thieves. All these actions are intended to protect physical lives from harm and material possessions from theft or damage.

In today's gospel, Jesus made reference to the same concept of vigilance; however, this time it is not aimed at safeguarding physical lives and possessions, but rather at protecting our spiritual life from eternal damnation. He stated, “if the householder had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would have been awake and would not have left his house to be broken into. You too must be ready because, the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Thus, Jesus urges each of us to be ready for that moment when death will take our lives, and we will be made to stand before God's judgement throne. If individuals invest time and resources to secure their temporary physical life, we are expected to dedicate even greater time and effort to secure our eternal life.

Today's gospel challenges us to reflect on our preparedness for that inevitable moment that awaits all living beings – the final day of our existence on earth.

The first parable of today’s gospel tells us that the servant who remains vigilant and ready for his master's return will be rewarded abundantly. However, it is regrettable that many people act like the servant mentioned in the latter part of today's gospel, who began to live his life according to his own desires, believing that his master would not return on time. He falls into the category of those who wish to lead their lives as they please, rather than in accordance with the will of their creator. This includes those who assume they have many years ahead of them and therefore feel entitled to indulge in any lifestyle they choose, thinking that when they get old, they can return to the Church to rectify or renew their lives. Unfortunately, events did not unfold as that servant anticipated. His master arrived unexpectedly, and he faced severe consequences.

St. Francis of Assisi was once asked what he would wish for God to find him engaged in when death comes to take his life. He simply replied that he would like God to find him doing precisely what he was doing at the moment he was asked that question. This indicates that he was engaged in a good deed, for no one would desire to face death while involved in wrongdoing.

Now, let us reflect on this question: if the last hour of our lives were to arrive while we are here in the church, can you confidently assert that you would go to heaven? Dear friends, begin now to engage in the actions you would wish for God to find you performing when He comes for your life.

That final hour may come to some individuals while they are engaged in conflicts with others, gossiping, lying, plotting malevolent acts, stealing, or traveling to commit crimes, among other things. We have heard of numerous unforeseen events and disasters that have claimed many lives. For instance, fire outbreaks, road accidents, terrorist attacks, building collapses, and plane crashes. Have we considered how prepared those who perished in these situations were when death approached them? This question should get us worried and perhaps motivate us to take action regarding our own lives.

The gospel tells us that the apparent delay in the arrival of our master should not lead us to live in ways that contradict his will, nor should it cause us to believe that his arrival is far off.

In the first reading, despite their suffering, the Israelites in Egypt refrained from wrongdoing while waiting for God to come and liberate them. They steadfastly maintained their faith in God, who ultimately did not let them down. Dear friends, do not engage in evil actions due to hardships.

Abraham and Sarah, in the second reading, maintained their unwavering faith in God and did not resort to wrongdoing due to the delay in the fulfilment of His promises. Even when faced with extreme difficulties, they remained steadfast in their devotion to God. Many individuals who encounter similar hardships often use their circumstances as a rationale for choosing evil or straying from the path of righteousness. Do not lose your faith when challenges test your limits.

Abraham and Sarah have exemplified the importance of remaining faithful to God while we await the realization of His promises. They have also shown us to illuminate our vigilance for the day of the Lord’s return with a strong faith in God. Having faith in God entails engaging in actions that are pleasing to Him as we await His return. Like Abraham and Sarah, when our vigilance and hope are illumined by a strong faith in God, our lives will produce the fruits of good choices, good actions and holiness.

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

Rev. Fr Isaac Chinemerem Chima