22^nd Sunday, Year A: Homily by Fr Isaac Chima

CHRISTIAN LIFE: A CALL TO SWIM AGAINST THE CURRENT OF EVIL     

Readings: Jer 20:7–9; Ps 63; Rom 12:1–2; Mt 16:21–27

Dearest friends, the readings of this Sunday remind us that Christians are called to live in a way that is different from non‑believers. The Christian life demands honesty, generosity, readiness to obey God, and willingness to suffer for the sake of Christ—even when such fidelity brings persecution. Today’s readings show us how to accomplish this mission and remind us that suffering is an integral part of our journey to glory; there is no crown without a cross.

In the first reading, the Church presents the painful cry of the prophet Jeremiah, revealing the suffering he endured because of his obedience to God’s will. Jeremiah was chosen to proclaim God’s message to his people, a mission that brought him into conflict with those who rejected God and refused to hear His word. They persecuted Jeremiah and, on several occasions, attempted to kill him. Yet, despite all he suffered, Jeremiah continued to proclaim God’s message with courage.

Jeremiah’s story offers us an important lesson. Through baptism, we too have received a vocation to preach Christ—through our words and through the way we live. This means condemning what is evil in our families, among our friends, and in society. It means refusing to remain silent in the face of wrongdoing. As Christians, we must not fear speaking the truth or standing for the truth; we should not be afraid of proclaiming Christ to our friends. If we are faithful to this mission, some will laugh at us, hate us, or attack us. But the Church, through Jeremiah’s example, urges us never to abandon God when we face criticism, mockery, or persecution. There is no Christianity without a cross.

In the second reading, Saint Paul gives us another important lesson on how Christians should live, especially in today’s world. Paul advised the early Christians to live in a way that differed both from the Jews and the pagans around them. To do this, they must reject explicitly the behaviour of the world. He said, “Offer your bodies as a living sacrifice to God… do not model your lives according to the standard of this world.” Dear friends, these words are addressed to us as well. We live in a world where sin and impurity are promoted as attractive lifestyles by the media and even by governments. Sinners are celebrated as celebrities, and evil, sin, and despicable behaviours are treated as normal and as human rights. Saint Paul reminds us that Christians must not model their lives on these worldly patterns that promote immorality, treat God’s teachings as outdated, and set sin as the standard. Every Christian must reject sin at all costs. We are called to swim against the current of our time, because the current of our time runs against the teachings of God.

In a world full of sin and longing for sinful things, today’s Psalm tells us: “O God, you are my God whom I seek; for you my flesh pines and my soul thirsts… My soul clings fast to you.” Our souls should thirst for God, not for sin.

The response Jesus gave to Peter in the Gospel is also a lesson for us. He said, “Get behind me, Satan.” This teaches us that anyone who tries to divert us from doing God’s will takes on the role of Satan and must be avoided. Anyone whose presence leads us away from holiness should not have influence over our lives.

After correcting Peter, Jesus announced three conditions of Christian discipleship: deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow me.

Self‑denial means abandoning our own will in order to embrace the will of God; removing selfish thoughts, desires, and tendencies from our hearts and allowing God to fill them with Himself. It also means cleansing our lives of evil habits, enthroning God in our hearts, and sharing His presence with others.

Carrying the cross and following Jesus means being willing to suffer for the sake of Christ. This includes accepting the suffering, insults, and pain that may come from preaching Christ to our friends, or from living a life that differs from theirs because of our faith. It means accepting the sacrifices involved in serving others for Christ’s sake, and the insults that come from being honest, from saying “No” to sin, and from choosing holiness. It even means being considered foolish—or appearing foolish—before others for the sake of Christ.

Peace be with you.

Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima

 22^ND SUNDAY, YEAR A: REFLECTIONS BY FR JULIAN EKEH

THEME: ON WHOSE SIDE ARE YOU?

(Matthew 16: 21-27)

We usually take the wrong side when sufferings come. We seem to keep God aside in our search for what we call greener pastures. We fear losing our financial, political and social security. We fear less of losing God but more of losing what God gives. We forget that when we have God we have all.

We seem to be on the side of God only when the going is good . We seem only to believe in God, to believe that the Lord is good only when we feel that he has settled us. When the present looks uncertain and the future dark, we are tempted to direct God instead of following him.

In today's Gospel we saw Jesus taking his disciples from the present into a future journey with him. In their past he had chosen and called them, they followed but Jesus stops a while to be sure they are really with him, to be sure they really know where the journey leads, to be convinced that they are following with the right disposition. But unfortunately, Peter who represented some other disciples demonstrated that the target is almost missed.

 

 GOD FORBID!

As Jesus continued to talk about how the Son of man would suffer, die and be raised, Peter wouldn't allow him to finish. He took him and began to rebuke him; Lord, this shall never happen to you; dear child of God certain things must happen to you which does not prove God has left you. You may experience rejection but it doesn't show God is not by your side. You may undergo delays, it does not mean God has failed you. There are times when God forbids your "God forbid". We sometimes forbid God from doing what he wants in us. That does not show you are on the side of God but either on your own side, on the side of the devil or on the side of the world. God will forbid you "say" God forbid to the necessary difficult situations you must go through before getting to your destination. God will forbid you say "God forbid" to study in order to pass. God will not be happy that you do not want to be hard working but wants riches. This shows where one belongs.

God does not promise favour without labour, he does not promise crown without cross, his promises are true and sure. The devil is the one who promises quick money, money doubling, success without qualifications, becoming without processes.

 

 YOU BELONG TO CHRIST, REMAIN ON HIS SIDE

Jesus wants to see you by his side always. Keep him before you, in front of you in all your endeavours. Get behind and keep following him he will not fail you. The Christian teachings will not disappoint you. You will not regret abiding by the commandments. Continue to attend the Holy mass never stop praying. Do not give the devil a try. Do not listen to your canal self. Pay attention to the spirit of God in you. Be docile to the direction he gives. Give your problem to him, adore and keep worshipping him. Never for a moment put yourself first.

 

 LOSE LITTLE AND GAIN MORE

Being on the side of Christ entails losing to gain. You may feel you are losing today but tomorrow you will gain. You will gain what you are losing now in training your child, in being a good husband or wife, in not being a ritualist, in standing for the truth even when it makes you lose favours now. Do not be ordinary in your thinking by limiting yourself to here and now. Think of tomorrow and forever, think about your soul, think about your joy. Do not gain all and suffer loss of your soul.

May the problems we encounter along our earthly journey never make us lose our destiny. May the grace of God see you through and deliver you from the various trials and temptations threatening to snatch you away from God's side.

May we remain on the side of God here on earth and rejoice eternally in heaven in his bosom for ever and ever. Amen

Happy Sunday (22nd Sunday, Ordinary Time, Yr A)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

 21^st Sunday, Year A: Homily by Fr. Isaac Chima

Theme: Who Is Jesus to You Personally?

Readings: Is. 22:19-23; Rm. 11:33-36; Mt. 16:13-20

The Gospel of this Sunday poses this decisive question to every disciple of Jesus: “And you—who do you say the Son of Man is?” In essence, Jesus asks each of us: Who am I to you personally? Although Jesus addressed this question to the disciples in the district of Caesarea Philippi, the Church invites every Christian today to search his or her heart and give a personal answer.

Jesus’ choice of Caesarea Philippi—a region near Mount Hermon, at the boundary of the Gentile world, where the temple of Caesar stood—to pose this question to His disciples was deliberate and significant. In earlier times, this place was known for the worship of many pagan gods, including Baal and Pan. Standing in a location filled with symbols of worldly power and false deities, Jesus asked His disciples who the people said He was, and more importantly, who He was to them. It was as though He said to them, “You have heard what others say about me. You have seen my works and listened to my teachings. You see the gods of the pagan world around you. Now, who am I to you? You must make a choice.”

This question is equally urgent in our own time, especially with the many perceptions people have about Jesus and the varied sentiments people hold about religion. Even within our churches, people relate to Jesus in different ways. To some, Jesus is only a miracle worker; hence, they seek Him only when they need a miracle, and once they receive it, they move on. To others, He is simply a healer, and they remember Him only when sickness strikes. Some see Him as a provider of material goods, and once they are comfortable, Jesus becomes unnecessary. Others approach Him as a warrior, who is invoked only to fight battles or destroy enemies; when the battles cease, He is forgotten. While these perceptions touch on real attributes of Jesus, the Church calls us to a deeper and more mature acknowledgement of who He truly is.

The question “Who is Jesus?” can be answered satisfactorily only when someone has a personal relationship with Him—an encounter that transforms the heart. Peter’s confession—“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”—and Jesus’ response to him show that true knowledge of Jesus comes from personal experience and divine revelation. A genuine relationship with Jesus reveals that He is not only a healer, provider, warrior, or miracle worker but also our Lord and Saviour, who desires to save our souls from eternal loss.

A life of prayer, adoration, study of the Word of God, and frequent reception of the Eucharist draws us into this personal relationship. The Church, therefore, urges us to take our spiritual lives seriously if we truly desire to know Jesus as He is.

In the second reading, St Paul acknowledges the greatness of God after his own profound encounter with Christ. Likewise, the psalmist proclaims who God is with deep conviction. These testimonies remind us that recognizing Jesus as Lord and Saviour shapes our entire lifestyle. It influences our choices and guides our actions so that our words and deeds do not contradict each other.

Peter’s acknowledgement of Jesus shaped his life so deeply that he carried out the mission entrusted to him—shepherding the Church—with fidelity to Christ’s will. This is a lesson for all who profess that Jesus is Lord: our proclamation must influence our decisions, actions, and public service. Whoever acknowledges Jesus as Lord cannot live in a way that contradicts His will.

The first reading presents a warning through the story of Shebna, a treasurer in the court of King Hezekiah. Instead of serving according to God’s will, pride and ambition led him to build a magnificent tomb for himself; he was more concerned about his body after death than about his soul. We see a similar attitude today, as many people spend large sums of money to secure beautiful burial places for their bodies and those of their family members, yet pay far less attention to the eternal destination of their souls.

Because of Shebna’s actions, he fell out of God’s favour and lost his position to Eliakim. His downfall teaches that public office is a sacred responsibility. Every opportunity to serve is an invitation to let our encounter with Christ shape our choices and actions. Public office must advance the values of God’s kingdom, not personal ambition or arrogance.

Peace be with you.

Rev. Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima

 21^ST SUNDAY, YEAR A: REFLECTION BY FR JULIAN EKEH

THEME: BE STRONG AND KNOW YOUR FAITH, THE ENEMY SHALL NOT PREVAIL

(Matthew 16:13-20)

The gospel of today started with an examination. Jesus was the examiner; the disciples were the candidates. Typical of every exam, some will pass while others will fail. Some will have a poor pass while others will pass excellently.

In the class of 12 only one student passed. His name is Peter.

The exam was on 'Christ knowledge'. Knowledge of Christ is not an intellectual knowledge. It is an exercise of faith. It goes beyond historical calculations, geographical accuracy, or philosophical and mathematical mastery. It does not even stop at theological versatility. It ventures into a one-on-one encounter that reveals the divine personality.

 

Faith of one and faithful of all

Peter didn't chorus with other apostles. He stepped out of group mentality to get hold with the real person of Christ. And he succeeded. The crowd may not always be right. That every person believes it or does it is never a good reason. Are you convinced about what you do? Are you as an individual in the know of why the Church does somethings some ways? You're a unique candidate when it has to do with faith. You're the target of Christ. He picks you from the crowd. He samples an opportunity for you to shine out. Be strong in faith and accept the faith challenge. You're many but you're one. You may be husband and wife but God looks at you both as an individual faith member and as a group of faithful couple. You may be a Christian among many Christians but you're a special Christian for Christ. He wants you to prove yourself one. To prove oneself you must be able to answer when called upon to give account of your faith. And by so doing you're sharing your faith in God. Is there any faith remaining at all in you?  You've got to allow the key of faith to operate in you.

 

The Key of faith

The key was a gift Peter received after his answer to Jesus. With this key he is empowered for teaching, empowered with the word of God, empowered to forgive sins, empowered to open the heavens, indeed empowered to bind and lose. This is amazing. We are empowered to come out of our condemnation because when the Son of man sets us free, we shall be free indeed. With this faith we are empowered to pray and call God Abba Father! With this faith we see and draw from the riches of the sacraments which are seeable and only admirable with the spiritual eyes.

For these great miracles to happen, it will not be flesh and blood that will guide us but the Spirit of the Father.

Life in the Spirit is an important key of faith. Let us not be alive in every other thing, active in things of the world and dead in the spirit. God forbid!

 

Faith never Fear

Faith attracts edification. Jesus promises to build on the little faith demonstrated by Peter. He makes Him the rock on which to build. With the encouragement He gives Peter, he assures us that with Him we shall be established. Let us know Him as our Lord and master. The word of God says I will save him because he knows my name. Let us learn to call upon that anointed name that anoints, that blesses, that forgives and heals. The name and person of Christ drives away every fear. Let us call upon Him with faith and not fear.

We are afraid of a lot of things threatening our faith. Jesus assures us that the gates of hades with never prevail against us. Just as the many forces that had plagued the Church for many years have not succeeded so will the enemy not prevail in bringing you down. Be strong in faith, the enemy will not bring down that your marriage, he will not destroy your joy, he will not take glory in your health issues, he will not take glory in your vocation crisis, he will not gloat over your failures.

Face life with strong belief in God, in who he is and what He can do. He can indeed do more than we can ever think of or imagine. He gives us the secret of a fulfilled life today, it is faith and knowledge of God.

He charged the apostles not to tell anyone about it. This is a way of telling you not to endanger your faith. Do not jeopardize your faith in God with bad company, sinful conversations, satanic practices, prayerlessness etc. 

As you persevere in your faithfulness and personal and communal bonding of yourself to Christ, the head of the Church, may no power of hell prevail over you and may doors of favours be opened unto you while every sin and evil is driven far away from you through Christ our Lord. Amen

Happy Sunday to you (21st Week, Ordinary Time, Year A)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A: Homily by Fr. Isaac Chima

Theme: God’s Universal Salvation and Our Response

Readings: Is 56:1, 6–7; Rom 11:13–15, 29–32; Mt 15:21–28

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, on this twentieth Sunday, the Church reminds us that God’s salvation is universal. His love, kindness, and mercy are offered to all humanity because God is Father of all. He extends His invitation to every person—saints and sinners, tall and short, rich and poor, people of every colour, nation, and background. However, the Church also teaches, through the readings of this Sunday, that this invitation is accepted only through faith and by living out the demands of that faith in every circumstance of life.

All three readings today highlight different aspects of how we respond to God’s universal invitation.

In the first reading, through Isaiah, God steps beyond Israel’s narrow religious boundaries and announces that He will welcome foreigners to His holy mountain. The Israelites believed that salvation was limited to the twelve tribes of Israel and that foreigners would be rejected because of their beliefs. Yet God declares that foreigners who keep His covenant, honour the Sabbath, and love His name will be brought into His house of prayer. This passage encourages those who feel unworthy to approach God, reminding them that there is room for everyone in His house. They need only come into His presence, and He will purify them through the sacrament of confession.

This passage also teaches all of us who were once outside the covenant that, to partake in the eternal banquet on the holy mountain, we must live according to God’s covenant—loving and worshipping Him in spirit and in truth. It is true that God is loving and merciful, but His mercy always calls for conversion.

Unfortunately, in our world today, many invoke God’s mercy without making any effort to live according to His commandments. Many no longer wish to make personal efforts to shape their lives according to God’s ways. They simply say that God is loving and merciful. Indeed, He is. But today’s first reading reminds us that the lives of those who claim God’s mercy must reflect who God is and what He commands. Belief in God’s mercy must be accompanied by true conversion—allowing His love and kindness to transform our actions. Whoever claims God’s mercy must also embrace His way of life.

Furthermore, this first reading teaches us not to close the doors of God’s house to those who struggle morally or spiritually—our brothers and sisters who do not accept our faith. It challenges us to reject all forms of discrimination: in the Church, in our families, and in society. We must treat everyone with love, kindness, and fairness, even when they do not agree with us or accept our faith. We must embrace the universality of God’s love. Whoever discriminates cannot truly be called a child of God.

In the second reading, St Paul addresses the Roman Christians—foreigners who were once outside the covenant. He tells them that through obedience they have gained a place before God, while the Jews, the original heirs of the promises, lost their place through disobedience. Paul warns that the Romans too will lose their position if they fall into disobedience. This is a powerful lesson for us who have been baptized and made heirs of God’s kingdom: whenever we depart from the path of righteousness, we lose our claim to God’s blessings and mercy.

In the Gospel, at first glance Jesus seems to insult the Canaanite woman by ignoring her and reminding her of how the Jews viewed her people. But His final words reveal the purpose of the encounter. He said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you desire.” It was not an insult but a test—a way to show the disciples that faith, not ethnicity, grants access to God’s mercy. Through her perseverance, the woman teaches us that faith must be expressed in action. Her refusal to be discouraged by silence, rejection, or cultural prejudice is a model for us. We too attract God’s mercy by refusing to be distracted by insults, persecution, temptations, or anything that leads us away from God.

Finally, the woman’s persistence teaches us not to interpret God’s silence as a refusal whenever we pray. Perseverance must never be lacking in our prayer.

Peace be with you.

Rev. Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima

 20^TH SUNDAY, YEAR A: REFLECTION BY FR. JULIAN EKEH

THEME: WHAT DO YOU ATTRACT TO YOUR HOME?

(Mathew 15:21-28)

In today's Gospel Reading, we witnessed the Canaanite woman crying and following Jesus up and down, She cries out from the depth of her heart. She weeps bitterly for her daughter. She is really concerned and troubled about her plight. She must have suffered sleepless nights because of this child. She is just like some of our mothers who think round the clock for the upkeep of their family.

They think on how to provide next day's meals, how to pay fees for the children, This woman represent the men and women who are bothered about how to pay house rents, crying for one problem or the other. What are you crying for ? What do you weep about? Are those things worth weeping for? The woman in today's Gospel Reading reminds us of what we should weep for, how we ought to weep, before whom we should weep and what we should attract to our family and how to do the attraction.

 

CRY FOR DIVINE MERCY

This woman cried out for the mercy of God. It has dawned on her that men fail. No one else but God can help her. Even the gods of the Canaanites must have failed her. She turned to the son of David, The merciful one who will not leave his people at the mercy of any Goliath. Could it be that you are passing through any misfortune on account of your carelessness, wickedness, mistakes or misbehaviours? Call on the mercy of God. Turn to him and turn a new leaf. Dear father or mother, cry for Divine Mercy, Dear people of God kneel and weep for the evils and atrocities you have   committed. Weep for the many times you looked for wealth, power, connection, fame etc wrongly. Do restitution oh politicians. Go back to God learn from this woman today, she may have gone to wrong places in search of deliverance. where have you gone to while looking for progress and prosperity? Pray God to forgive you and repent. Ask for forgiveness for not dedicating your family to God. Ask for forgiveness for encouraging your children to take every other thing in life seriously except God. Ask for forgiveness for creating avenues through which demons possessed your children.

 

 WEEP FOR THE DEMONIC POSSESSIONS

The woman today in the gospel prayed Jesus to come to her aid with regard to the daughter possessed by the demon.

What are the powers operating in you, in your family and in our society today? Expose the demons to Jesus, report their cases to Jesus with prayers. Cry for alcoholic possession, weep for sugar mummy/daddy possession, weep for drug abuse possessions, weep for lazy/gossip possession, weep for the social media possession, of your family. Are you even concerned that your children can no longer talk with you without chatting on phone for 10 minutes? Does it bother you that your children can no longer read their books, Bible or even pray. They are possessed by spirits that shouldn't have possessed them. They have expelled Jesus from their lives.

Take them to Jesus through counselling, prayers, interactions, practice of virtues e t c

That was what the Canaanite woman did today. Can you tell Jesus to deliver you and your family from every power distracting you today.

 

Attract with faith

Many attract curses for their children, some attract hatred to their homes, others attract failure to the generation. The woman today in the gospel attracted healing, deliverance, goodness, fulfilment of desires to her family. she indeed attracted Jesus Himself the author of all that is good to her household.

Faith in God brings in a lot of good things to our lives, homes and society. Can we employ genuine faith in our dealings with God and people so as to introduce nothing but favours into our lives?

Let's use the weapon of faith to bring in peace, progress, happiness and love.

Believe in God while making your sincere effort even when it seems the Lord is far, let your faith be intact, you will surely attract God. But once you lose your faith, you have lost it all.

 

May the faith we have in Jesus be like that of the Canaanite woman that we may hear Jesus speaking to us in our various circumstances.

"Let it be done for you as you desire"

May your good heart desires come to you and may you be set free from every demonic possession manipulating you. May our society be miraculously delivered by God through Christ our Lord.

Amen

 

HAPPY SUNDAY (20th Sunday, Ordinary Time, Yr A)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

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

Theme: Fix Your Gaze Always on Jesus

Readings: 1 Kgs 19:9a, 11–13a; Rom 9:1–5; Mt 14:22–33

Dear friends, as Christians, we are called to love God, defend our faith, stand against evil, and render good service in society. However, we live in a world filled with forces that oppose this divine mandate. The question that confronts us this Sunday is: How do we respond when crises or tribulations arise precisely because we love God or because we have done something good? The readings of this Sunday offer us an answer. They invite us to keep our focus on God with unwavering faith, especially in moments of difficulty. They emphasize what we should do when we suffer for doing good, when we are punished for refusing to participate in wrongdoing, or when we face hostility because of our fidelity to God.

The first reading recounts the deep crisis, threats, and pains the prophet Elijah endured because of his service to God. During the reign of King Ahab, idolatry spread widely in Israel through the influence of Queen Jezebel. Elijah, following God’s instruction, challenged the priests of Baal on Mount Carmel, defeated them, and wiped them out. Jezebel, enraged, sought to kill him. With nowhere safe to hide, Elijah fled into the desert and begged God to take his life, unable to bear the threats any longer. But God sent an angel to strengthen him, and later appeared to him, instructing him to go to Mount Horeb and stand before Him. Today’s passage recounts that encounter.

What God told Elijah is what He tells all who face threats, mistreatment, denial of opportunities, or persecution in their families, workplaces, offices, or society because of their love for God, their service to humanity, their commitment to truth, or their refusal to support evil. We live in a world where many are indifferent to goodness and may go to great lengths to persecute those whose lives reflect the light of God.

Many people today suffer because of something good they did—whether in their families, communities, or offices. Some feel disappointed with God for not intervening when they were attacked or ridiculed. Others regret ever doing good because of the hostility they received and the apparent silence of God. Dear friends, God is speaking to anyone in such a situation, saying, “Do not despair. Be strong. Look up to Me”. God may not come in the way we expect—just as Elijah expected God in the wind and earthquake—but in the silence of our hearts we discover that God is near. Difficult moments are not times to run away from God or to seek refuge in the devil. Suffering unjustly is not a call to lose faith or contemplate suicide, but a time to climb the mountain of prayer and encounter God in the gentle breeze of His presence.

The Gospel presents another account of people exposed to danger because of their service to Christ. After Jesus taught the crowd, the disciples wanted them dismissed because it was late, but Jesus insisted they feed the people first. Because of this act of charity, the disciples set out late at night and were consequently exposed to the storms at sea. As the waves tossed them violently, Jesus was not physically in the boat. It seemed as though He had left them to perish.

How do we feel when our suffering comes from an act of goodwill we performed for the Church or society? Many in such situations seek alternative help, while others may renounce God and join the camp of evil, just as Job’s wife suggested to him. The devil is cunning; he whispers that God has abandoned us and that the storms will swallow us. But this is false.

The Gospel teaches that Jesus is never far from us in our crises. He knows our struggles and always comes to our aid. All we need to do is look up—look beyond the waves tossing us from side to side—and we will see Jesus walking toward us, saying, “Courage, do not be afraid.”

By recounting that Jesus walked upon the stormy waters, this Gospel reveals that He is stronger than our problems and more powerful than the tempest that seeks to engulf our lives. In truth, these forces lie beneath His feet; God has placed them under His authority.

When Peter accepted Jesus’ words and fixed his gaze on Him, he walked calmly on the same stormy waters that threatened his life. He discovered that the very source of his fear could not conquer him. He only began to sink when he shifted his focus from Jesus to the waves. In the same way, when we look up to Jesus with faith in the midst of life’s storms, we discover that our fears cannot overpower us. They may not disappear, but they lose their power. As long as our gaze remains fixed on Jesus, the waves of this world will never conquer us.

This is our lesson today: if we lose our focus on God in difficult moments, our problems begin to overwhelm us. But when we keep our eyes on Jesus, our fears lose their power. Dear friends, I do not know your particular struggles, but the Church invites you today to fix your gaze on Jesus. Look beyond the waves of your problems and difficulties, and you will find Him walking toward you with strength and peace.

Peace be with you.

Rev. Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima

 19^TH SUNDAY, YEAR A: REFLECTION BY FR. JULIAN EKEH

THEME: WALKING TOWARDS GOD

(Matthew 14:22-33)

It has been the will of God to walk with man from the time of creation.  That explains why, in Genesis, we hear of the visit of God to interact and unite with Adam and Eve.  But man chose the forbidden fruit. He failed to walk towards God, stopped walking with God, and started walking with the enemy of God, away from God, towards the creature instead of the creator.  What a mistake.

 

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO WALK TOWARDS GOD?

Walking towards God presupposes a lot of walking away. As we saw in the Gospel today, Jesus made the apostles to leave the scene of the feeding of the 5000. Walking towards the Lord involves walking towards the spiritual, the eternal while leaving the material, the temporal behind. It is responding more to spiritual hunger and satisfaction of the desires of the soul.

Walking towards Jesus has to do with moving into the boat, that is the Church and allowing the Holy Spirit to lead you.

Walking with Jesus is a divine encounter in solitude. It is walking away from the crowd. It is singling oneself out and being bonded to Christ. It is a listening in private prayers. It is a response to the summons of God.

 

LET US LEARN TO WALK WITH THE LORD

We enter into Christ through Baptism, the gate to salvation. As infants, we are guarded and guided by the teachings and directions of Christ to become mature individual Christians. We do not just live as just a body of believers.  We try to discover ourselves, our place among the many Christians out there. We learn to speak to God. We learn to approach God. We begin to admire things of the spirit, and we start plunging ourselves into the wonders and mysteries of the things of the Spirit. We learn to keep an eye on God and on the Holy. We try to keep away from the mundane, the depraved and the corrupt. We endeavour to tell God, "Saviour teach me day by day." We try to get from the Lord, the ways out of the very many evil forces surrounding us and the ranging tempests here and there.

In the Gospel of today, we saw the interested Peter, who represented each and every one of us, the children of God, on how we ought to relate with God in a personal way, how we should learn to follow the Lord, what it means to walk with Lord.

 

LESSON FROM PETER, THE WALKING CHILD

The effort to follow Christ, to walk towards Him in a personal way, is not an easy one.

Jesus had instructed the disciples to enter the boat. Then, the boat began to be tossed about by the wind blowing against it.

Are you surprised when you feel tossed about by problems even when you're a member of the Church? Does it trouble you that even after your efforts not to move over to the rebels, not to practice one ungodly act or the other, etc, forces still hit you here and there?

Jesus wants you to walk towards Him.

Jesus wants us to look up and see Him walking towards us, walking indeed on the things we fear most. Think of those things making you fear walking towards God, doing the will of God, praying the way you should, raising a Christian family, building a holy, noble relationship, etc. Look up and see Christ offering you a way out, a support, the spiritual side of the story.

 

To learn walking towards Christ, work on your fears and limitations.

Little children are often hindered from walking by the natural tendency and inclination to lie down or sit down. To be able to walk, they must be inspired to rise. Rise up from sitting in dormancy of enjoying the crowd coverage. Move from the 5000 into the 12 and from the 12 into the YOU, the single.

Little children are moved to walk by their desire to get grip of what is before them. They are drawn by the spectacle of the beauty before them. They stand, move the first leg, then the other, and again, they continue. Somewhere along the line, the claps and hailing by people around, the noise of those calling him little child, or whispering "he will fall, or fellow children running up and down touches him and makes him remember that he is not qualified to walk pulls him down. He cries and someone, holds them up, urges them on, and encourages them not to be of little faith but to continue till all is perfected.

This is indeed what we witnessed when Jesus summoned Peter today. Peter walked on. He walked on the forces and waves that were against him.  At a time, he started sinking and called out to Christ to save him. Jesus did and took him into the boat.

Dear Child of God. Make an effort to learn from God. Make an effort to advance in virtues. Endeavour to follow the instructions of Christ. Cry out for help when you start going down. Give God your helpless hand. He will offer you his helping hand. His grace will see you through. 

May God bless His word in our hearts.

LET US PRAY

Behold us, Lord, as we are walking towards you in private and communal prayers, in meditation and devotion, in weakness and fears. We need Your grace in the journey of life. We need Your abiding presence in times of trials and temptations. Deliver us from the many forces trying to make us lose focus on You our Lord and God. Help us to walk steadfastly in the light of Your word through Christ our Lord.  Amen

Happy Sunday (19th Week, Ordinary Time, Yr A)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

 18^th Sunday, Year A: homily by Fr Isaac Chima

Theme: Trusting God’s Providence in Times of Scarcity and Sorrow.

Readings: Is 55:1-3; Rom 8:35,37-39; Mt 14:13-21

Dearest brothers and sisters, we have a God who never abandons us to the forces that seek to destroy us—forces that threaten our spiritual and physical well‑being. The readings of this Sunday are a powerful testimony to God’s benevolence. They remind us that, despite the sorrows and uncertainties around us, we still have a God who cares, who loves, and who continues to provide for His people.

In the second reading, Saint Paul speaks to Christians who were suffering persecution, hardship, and discouragement. Many were already losing hope because of the trials they faced. Paul reminds them—and us—that no situation, no matter how painful, can separate us from the love of God. He asks, “What will separate us from the love of Christ? Anguish, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, or the sword?” And then he declares with conviction that nothing—neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor present nor future things—can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.

Dear friends, I may not know the details of your personal struggles. But I know that many people among us carry heavy burdens: family conflicts, loss of loved ones, hostility in workplaces, abuses, illness, economic hardship, or injustice. Whatever your situation may be, dear friends, Saint Paul assures you today: your suffering cannot separate you from God’s love. God still sees you, still loves you, still cares for you.

The Gospel gives us a vivid demonstration of this loving care. Jesus performed a miracle in the desert—a place without life, without resources, and without ‘hope’. There were only five loaves and two fish, yet this scarcity did not prevent Jesus from feeding the multitude. This miracle simply demonstrates that neither the lack of resources nor the remoteness of the place could stop God’s providence from reaching us. In the same way, dear friends, our difficult circumstances cannot stop God from acting in our life, from reaching us, and from saving us.

The Gospel begins by telling us that Jesus had just heard of the death of His cousin, John the Baptist. He withdrew to a lonely place in sorrow. Yet His grief did not prevent Him from caring for the spiritual and physical needs of others. This is the love Saint Paul spoke about in the second reading—a love stronger than sorrow, stronger than death. Such is the nature of God’s love for us. What then must we do?

The prophet Isaiah tells us how to respond to this love. He invites us to come to God, to listen to Him, and to find life. He says, “Why spend your money for what is not bread, your wages for what does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me, and you shall eat well… Pay attention and come to me; listen so that you may have life.” Many of us are so distracted that we no longer listen to God. God speaks to humanity from His words in the Bible. If we truly desire to hear God’s word in the situations we face, we must open the Bible and read it. Every passage of Scripture contains something God has spoken about our lives and our circumstances. Many people are also so busy that they no longer find time for prayer, not even in moments of crisis. Yet prayer is what allows us to enter into communion with God, to open our hearts to Him, and to follow His guidance in every moment of life. Dear friends, Isaiah calls us back, saying, “Why waste your strength elsewhere? Come to God.”

Today the Church invites us to open our hearts and listen attentively to God’s direction. We must be attentive and obedient, just as the disciples were in the Gospel. Human logic says that five loaves and two fish cannot feed five thousand people. But the disciples did not doubt Jesus; they listened and obeyed, and a miracle happened. The lesson is this: nothing is impossible for God, even in your situation. Only listen and obey his voice.

Another important lesson is from Jesus’ prayer over the loaves and fish. Faced with insufficient resources, the typical reaction would be to complain or pray for multiplication. But Jesus did something different: He lifted His eyes to heaven and gives thanks for the little that was available. He did not complain; rather, He trusted, and God worked wonders. We must learn from this. Our prayer should not be limited to complaints. Let us make time to thank God for what we have, even when it seems small and insufficient. Gratitude opens the door to miracles.

May you have a blessed Sunday

Rev. Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima

 18^TH SUNDAY, YEAR A: REFLECTION BY FR. JULIAN EKEH

THEME: FOLLOW JESUS, DON'T ALLOW HIM TO WITHDRAW

(Mathew14:13-21)

To understand the message in today's Gospel reading, it will be important to consider the background to the gospel pericope: The death of John the Baptist. The news came to Jesus Christ that he has just been beheaded. And Jesus withdrew.

Thinking about the reason behind Jesus' withdrawal brings us to the contemplation on the person of John the Baptist and in a special way who he is to Christ. John was the forerunner of Jesus Christ. In him people even saw a reflection of Christ Himself. Jesus was tempted to withdraw at hearing what became of John the Baptist in his mission which is not far from His own fate. He was tempted to go into hiding at seeing the ingratitude of the world He has come to save. He was saddened at the choice of evil over good. It was funny that Herodias whose marriage John was saving, whose head he was saving demanded through her daughter the head of John on a platter.

It was a serious discouragement that Herod who knew the truth could not pay heed to the prophetic voice but adhered strictly to the voice of a dancing prostitute.

It was a shock for Jesus that the head that spoke wisdom was handed over to a foolish girl. It was a great disappointment that the people began to celebrate evil while goodness languished in jail. Are there no such situations in and around us? They make Jesus to be withdrawn from us, they break the heart of Jesus, they make God contemplate if we actually desire to be saved.

 

FOLLOW THE COMPASSIONATE JESUS

It is good that some people looked up to Jesus as their one and only hope. Seeing the countenance of Jesus they ran on foot and never wanted to waste any time lest they miss the direction He was going, till they found him. Does it matter to you that you have made God turn his back on you? Do you even ask yourself if God is still happy with you? Does it disturb you that the world has incessantly broken the heart of Jesus? Do you care to do away with the things separating you from the love of God? Do you make any effort to appeal to his mercy and compassion?

Jesus looked and saw the great throng . He had compassion on them. He abandoned his plan to withdraw. He saw their helplessness, sickness and pains. He began to minister unto them. He healed them, taking care of them till evening. May God continue to take care of you till the appointed hour of your death. But for Him to do this, give God reasons to remain with you. Make Him know that you cannot survive without his mercy and compassion.

 

FOLLOW AND HAND OVER

 Jesus was followed also by his disciples. when the day was over they asked Jesus to send the crowd away from the lonely place where they were for them to go and find something to eat. what are the forces suggesting that you be taken away from Jesus? what type of emptiness is trying to distance you from Christ? are you frustrated to the point of allowing yourself to be dragged away from the presence of God in search of money, love, connection etc.?

Jesus will not allow you to go the way you came. With Him you cannot be lonely. He satisfies you with good things. he only wants you to stop complaining and hand over everything about you into His hands. Hand over your sorrows, hand over your pains, hand over your tears, hand over the little you have. In your hand it is one thing, in the hand of Jesus Christ it is another thing. Listen to what Jesus is saying in the midst of all those situations embarrassing you, "you need not go away". Learn to make the ugly situations of your life draw you closer to Jesus to see the beauty in the clay of your life. Open your ears and eyes to enter into conversation with Jesus. To hear him speak: "calm down", to behold him taking over your burdens.

 

FOLLOW TO THE END: YOU WILL COUNT THE BLESSINGS

Jesus commanded for a handover that necessitated a take-over which gave birth to baskets of leftover. You've got to watch and follow Jesus to the end. see how the attention moved away from the crowd and from the disciples as soon as everything was handed over to Jesus Christ. He takes the centre Stage. position Jesus at the centre of your life and you will just be counting your blessings naming them one by one. Even where others see no reason to praise God you will have a reason to praise the Lord. He ordered them to sit down as if to say "the battle is not yours ". He takes the little, five loaves and two fish and He looks up to heaven. Looking up to heaven means a lot. He takes away your eye from the ephemerals of the world to things that last, blessings from above, food of everlasting life, contentment and satisfaction with what you have. He inspires you on how to explore the possibilities of success around and how to find peace within and not to go elsewhere in search of it.

May the blessings of leftover rain down on you. May God bless you with a generous spirit. May all you have already handed over to Jesus (your children, your finances, your peace etc) be taken over by him and yield a harvest of abundant leftover.

Through today's breaking of the bread may God help us to follow him, eat and be satisfied and also adore him in the lonely Tabernacle where He withdraws waiting for our company.

May God bless His Word in our hearts through Christ our Lord Amen.

Happy Sunday (18th week of ordinary time, yr A)

Rev. Fr. Julian O Ekeh

 CHRISTMAS: Homily by Fr. Isaac Chima

Theme: It will be Christmas if…

Readings: Is 52:7–10; Heb 1:1–6; Jn 1:1–18

Dear friends in Christ, I would like today’s homily to centre on a theme different from those we heard in the readings of the Mass. During the Christmas music concert (Cantata) we held in Prantantico, Arezzo, Italy, on December 15, 2023, one of the fourteen songs we performed struck a special chord in my heart. I want today’s reflection to focus on that particular song. Its theme is “Sarà Natale se…” (“It will be Christmas if…”). I do not know whether everyone who sang or heard this song was touched by it in the same way I was, but it spoke deeply to me.

The song begins by telling us that “we have a special task this Christmas.” What is this task? It says, “it is to remind the world that it is Christmas.” This means we have a pastoral duty to remind those we encounter—our family members, colleagues, friends, and even our online communities—that today is Christmas and that we are in the Christmas season. We cannot be indifferent to those around us. We must tell them the reason for this season, remind them that our Saviour has visited us anew, wish them a happy Christmas, and speak to someone about the joy of Christ’s birth. We are called to become announcers of Christ’s presence.

The song continues, “if we put wings on our hearts, we will be angels that bring love.” Dear friends, this means our Christmas greetings must not be dry or empty. They must carry love. They must impart love to those who receive them. We are to be heralds of the good news of love, announcing with joy and tenderness that our Saviour is here—just as the angels announced His birth to the shepherds on that holy night.

The song goes on: “It will be Christmas if you love; it will be Christmas if you donate, and if you call someone to come and stay with you. It will be Christmas if you live, if you laugh, and if you extend your hand to someone who suffers more. It will be Christmas if you seek, if you believe, and if you sing every day with friends.”

What do these beautiful lines teach us? They remind us that Christmas becomes true Christmas only when we love others, when we give generously, when we laugh with others, when we extend a helping hand to those who suffer, when we bring cheer to those around us, and when we put smiles on people’s faces. Without these actions, we are not truly celebrating Christmas. This challenges us deeply. It is possible to enjoy all the merriment of the season and still fail to celebrate Christmas. If our celebration lacks these acts of love, then we have not truly celebrated the birth of our Lord Jesus.

Finally, the song says that “our Christmas will be real Christmas if it does not last only an hour or a day, but becomes Christmas for an entire year.” This invites us to make every day of our lives a Christmas. We are called to smile, to laugh with others, to give, to help, to believe, and to welcome others—not only on Christmas Day, but every day. The song invites us to do good always. Let us therefore make every day a Christmas.

Peace be with you as you make today a true Christmas. Happy Christmas.

Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima

 CHRISTMAS: Homily by Fr. Isaac Chima

Theme: His name is Emmanuel – God is with us

Readings: 1st Is 52:7–10; 2nd Heb 1:1–6; Gosp. Jn 1:1–18

My dearest brothers and sisters, Happy Christmas. On that holy night when Christ was born, the heavens were filled with joy; the earth shone with the glory of God; the angels sang with gladness; the shepherds could not hide their amazement at the marvellous presence of God; the sheep kneeled in quiet welcome; and the stars danced and shone like never before. It was truly a night of grace.

We therefore have every reason to rejoice, for the Saviour has come to visit us again. His name is Emmanuel: God is with us. God has revealed to us what many prophets, kings, and wise men longed to see but did not.

From the moment Adam and Eve sinned and fell short of God’s glory and love, God began seeking a way to draw close to humanity again—to restore us to the dignity we had lost. In many ways He revealed Himself to the people of old and spoke to them, as the second reading reminds us today. Through various means, He prepared them for the coming of His Son.

Finally, in our own time—the appointed time—He has revealed Himself to us and spoken to us through His Son. The birth of Christ is the fullness of God’s revelation to humanity, the complete manifestation of His love and glory, and the shining of the light that dispels the darkness of sin and death.

With the birth of Christ, God has broken the reign of sin, dispelled the power of darkness, and restored us to His friendship. We have once again become His beloved children.

My dearest people, Christ now lives in our midst. In the birth of His Son, God took flesh and dwelt among us. This is the mystery of the Incarnation. He is no longer distant or unreachable. He has come down from heaven to be close to each one of us. He is living with you; He is living with me. His name is Emmanuel—God is with us.

If God is now close to us, it means He feels what we feel and knows our struggles as well. Therefore, let us not be afraid to call Him our brother and to invite Him into our lives.

However, in today’s Gospel, John tells us that He came to His own, and His own did not welcome Him. Let us reflect on this. Could it be that some among us still find it difficult to welcome Christ into their personal lives? Are there those who prefer to live according to their own designs rather than according to the teachings of Christ? Who are those in our midst who might be counted among “His own who did not receive Him”? We may not know for certain—it could be any one of us, but we do know the signs of rejecting Christ.

What is clear is this: we refuse to welcome Christ when we hate others, for Christ is the author of love. We reject Christ when we refuse to forgive, for Christ is the God of mercy. We reject Christ when we open ourselves to sin, for Christ is the master of holiness. We reject Christ when we fail to show kindness, for Christ is the prince of kindness. This Christmas offers all who have been rejecting Christ a beautiful opportunity to change their lives and welcome Him. He is the light and joy of the world.

The Gospel also tells us that to all who accepted Him, He gave power to become sons and daughters of God. Dearest brothers and sisters, Christ is knocking at the door of your hearts. His name is Emmanuel—God is with us. He desires to be with you. He desires to be with me. He desires to make us heirs of the Kingdom of God. Let us therefore open our hearts and our homes and welcome Him.

Happy Christmas to you and your family.  

Fr Isaac Chinemerem Chima

 CHRISTMAS: REFLECTION BY FR JULIAN EKEH

THEME: AND THE WORD BECAME FLESH

(John 1:1-18)

In today's solemnity, we celebrate the taking flesh of that word delivered to Mary. Today, Mary is delivered of a Son. The Son of God that has become the son of Man. The child of God mixes up with the children of men to make them the children of God.

The message of angel of God has come to manifestation. The plan of God for man has come to fulfillment.  Heaven and earth rejoice to welcome the one who reconciles them. The angels that were placed at the garden of Eden to ensure that man never gets access to it now rejoice that man has been restored to peace with God by Christ the prince of peace.  Man has given flesh to God and opens his arms to embrace the spirit from God. Man has handed over damnation to accept salvation.  Man receives life and God destroys death forever.  Out of darkness, Christ the light of the world appears to lead man into life everlasting.

Alléluia! Christ is born in Bethlehem.

 

THE MESSAGE OF CHRISTMAS

 

ACCEPT CHRIST:

The gospel highlights that those who accepted Christ receives and believed in him received the power of being called children of God. Christ coming into the world reminds us of our origin, of whom we are called to be: children of God.  In Christ God wants us take back our true image.  Let us welcome Christ the newborn king with joy. Let us open our arms to look into the eyes of this God that visits us as a baby. Let us go back into the garden where we played with God with childlikeness. Let us admire the love of God that comes to dwell among us. Remove from your heart and from your home anything that will stand as a hindrance for the new born King to enter and reign with tenderness and compassion.

 

Express Love

As we welcome Christ with love, let us express love to one another. Let us share the little we have. Let us care and offer a helping hand. Let us be filled with joy and spread true happiness. Let us bring Christ to the masses. That is Christmas.

 

Christ's Mass

Let us celebrate Mass in honour of Christ. Let us stop deceiving ourselves with the worldly celebrations in the name of Christmas that is outside the intention of God and the Church for this season. Christ is the reason for this season. Let's offer the Holy Eucharist with pure hearts in Thanksgiving to God for what He has done for us in Christ. Let's make Christ shine.

 

Drive Darkness away

Christ comes in as light in a dark world to driver away the darkness of the devil and of sin. Let us this period, be agents of light to drive away darkness in our world, in politics, in religion, in our cultures, in business, in the family and all our endeavours.

 

Time to glorify God

The gospel maintained: we saw his glory. Let the glory of God be seen in all we during this festive season. God wants to see us glorify him. Travel to glorify God, give to glorify God, play to glorify God, pray to glorify God, sing to glorify God, meet family and friends glorifying God. Shun any actions and inactions that will not give glory to God this season.

 

Be filled with grace and truth

And the word became flesh and lived among us we saw his glory full of grace and truth.

My dearest friends in the Lord. We have prepared ourselves by sacramental confession for this holy season.  Let us remain in the state of grace. Let us stand up for Christ.  Let us be true to our calling as children of God. Let us speak the truth that will bring justice and reconciliation in our families, in the Church and in our world. May we all be filled with the grace of God and enjoy the blessings of the nativity of Christ.

Blessings

May Christ the newborn king, reign in our lives. May he the light of the world deliver us from the danger of this dark world. May this celebration bring us joy, happiness, healing and divine favours in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.

 

Merry Christmas to you.

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

 4th Sunday of Advent, Year A: Homily by Fr Isaac Chima

Emmanuel: God is always with us in times of threat and uncertainty

Readings: Is 7:10–14; Rm 1:1–7; Mt 1:18–24

Dear friends in Christ, we are gradually approaching the end of the season of Advent. The readings of this fourth week will shift our attention from the intense call to repentance and penance to the scene of the birth of Jesus at Bethlehem; they focus on the events surrounding the historic birth of our Messiah.

As we prepare ourselves for the joyful celebration of that historic birth which changed the course of our world, the Church does not lose sight of the challenges we face every day. Thus, on this fourth Sunday, the Church reminds us that the Messiah whose birth we are about to celebrate is always with us in all difficulties and confusions; that His name is Emmanuel—God with us—and that His mission is to save those who trust in Him from all that threatens their existence. This awareness of who our Emmanuel is becomes necessary because many people tend to forget the power of this Saviour whenever they are surrounded by problems. Many look elsewhere for solutions when they feel threatened, forgetting that our Saviour, Emmanuel, is capable of rescuing us from every trouble and directing us on the right path. The first reading and today’s Gospel offer clear lessons on relying on God in times of threat and confusion.

In the first reading from the prophet Isaiah, the kings of the Northern Kingdom of Israel and of Syria were planning an attack against the King of Assyria, who had taken control of their territories. They asked Ahaz, the king of Judah—the Southern Kingdom of Israel—to join them, but he refused. In response, they threatened to invade Judah and overthrow Ahaz. While Ahaz was anxiously considering how to save his kingdom from the imminent attack, the prophet Isaiah approached him and urged him to trust in the power of God, whose Holy Temple was in Judah, assuring him that God would protect Judah from all enemies.

But King Ahaz could not trust God’s promise of protection. Instead, he preferred to form an alliance with the king of Assyria to defend himself against Israel and Syria. Confident in God’s protection, Isaiah told Ahaz to have faith and not ally himself with Assyria. In the midst of Ahaz’s doubt, Isaiah invited him to ask God for a sign—a sign that would convince him of God’s protection over Judah. But out of fear and stubbornness, Ahaz refused. He was determined to follow his own plans, seeking an alliance with Assyria and its pagan gods. Then Isaiah announced a sign from God: a virgin would conceive and bear a son, whose name would be Emmanuel—God with us—a sign meant to assure Judah that God was truly with them and would not abandon them to their enemies. Despite this, Ahaz went ahead with his alliance with Assyria, worshipped its pagan god, and even sacrificed his son.

Through this biblical story, the Church reminds us of the character and power of the One whose birth we are about to celebrate. His name is Emmanuel, the God who does not abandon His people in times of difficulty and threat. In our problems, sicknesses, disappointments, and pains, He is always with us to strengthen and rescue us, because His name is Emmanuel—God with us.

In today’s Gospel, we encounter Joseph, whose plan to settle into marriage with Mary was shaken by great confusion when he discovered that she was already pregnant. As Joseph pondered how to handle this difficult situation, an angel of God appeared to him in a dream and instructed him on what to do. Joseph trusted God and obeyed His directives.

When we place Ahaz and Joseph side by side, the contrast is striking. While Ahaz doubted God’s power and refused to obey Him in his difficult situation, Joseph trusted God amid his confusion and obeyed His instructions. While Ahaz sacrificed his son to a pagan god to secure an alliance, Joseph protected his wife and the Child—Emmanuel—from all human threats.

We are therefore called to have confidence in God, especially in the most difficult moments of our lives. The name of our God is Emmanuel—He will always be with us. Though we may face financial problems, job insecurity, family struggles, or health concerns, let us trust God like Joseph. Instead of relying on our own schemes, which often lead to greater problems—as happened to Ahaz—let us open ourselves to God’s will, trusting Him and following His directives. Let us be strengthened by speaking to God in fervent prayer and by listening to Him through the Scriptures.

Today, Matthew tells us that the ancient prophecy of Isaiah—of a God who would always be with us—was fulfilled in the birth of Jesus. Therefore, dear friends, we are about to celebrate the birth of a God who is both transcendent and immanent, a God who is high above us yet always with us, a God who will not abandon us in our needs, confusions, threats, or discomforts, because His name is Emmanuel—the God who is always with us.

Peace be with you.

Fr Isaac Chinemerem Chima