Monday of 24^th Week, Year II: reflection

Theme: A piece of advice for people who have maids 

Reading: Lk 7:1-10

The centurion's compassionate treatment of his sick slave in today's gospel stands in stark contrast to the typical treatment of maids by many Madams and Ogas nowadays.

Today’s gospel recounted that a centurion whose slave was gravely ill summoned elders of the Jews and asked them to implore Jesus to come and lay hands on his slave and heal him. Recall that this was happening at a time when there was no legal protection for slaves in their masters’ homes. Slaves back then were treated like common property in their owners' homes, and their masters had complete control over their lives. However, this centurion loved his own slave so much that he sent for the greatest healer to come and save him.

On the contrary, the pages of newspapers and social media platform nowadays are always filled with stories of the ill-treatment of maids by their madams and Ogas. We have heard cases of madams pouring hot water on maids, some use hot irons to inflict pain on maids, and some starve their maids to death or send them out of the house to roam the streets like mad people or dogs.

Dear friends, the Centurion in today’s gospel stands as a model on how to treat maids; he challenges people of our time to treat their maids – and everyone who works for them – as they would like their own children to be treated, seeking help for them when they have needs and helping to add value to their lives.   

May your new week be blessed, Amen.

Fr Isaac C. Chima

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

THEME: “ON THE SIDE OF THE CROSS, ON THE SIDE OF GOD”

INTRODUCTION:

In the movie, Mother Theresa, shows her looking over a house being prepared for the Nuns in San Francisco. A priest narrates, “I was gently informed that the springs could go, the mattresses could go, the carpeting could go…” A worker then was busy trying to explain the workings of the building’s hot water heater, and the Nun lightly tells him, “I don’t think we will be needing it. For us to be able to understand the poor, we must know what poverty is.” My dear people of God, for us to understand God, we must know what the Cross is; we must embrace the Cross or the bodily sufferings that come to us for the sake of others. If we remove every trace of the Cross, every trace of suffering, and every trace of poverty from our lives, then we are gradually moving away from the side of God.

 

THE FIRST READING (IS. 50: 5 – 9)

In the first reading, Isaiah as a prophet of God faced many oppositions and tribulations; all was never so rosy for him. He even declared; I gave my back to those who struck me, I did not rebel, I did not turn back, and I never lost hope in God either. Such was later the case of Jesus as well. Here, we can deduce that your cross could be anything you suffer or choose to suffer for the sake of God, for the sake of preaching the gospel, for the sake of saying the truth, for the sake of justice and right. And that cross should never make you turn back from doing the good you are doing. The torments, ill words, the criticisms you face should not make you stop following the path of God’s law. And you should never doubt the Lord’s presence, his help and vindication when the time comes.

 

THE SECOND READING (JAM. 2: 14 – 18)

In the second reading, St. James drew our attention to the output of our faith, which should manifest in good works; good works in the family, good works in the society, good works in politics, good works in leadership and good works in the Church. The volume of corruption and evil in our country Nigeria poses a very big question mark on the volume of Christian and Islamic faith in the country. The low volume of good works in the Nigerian polity doesn’t correspond with the high volume of Christianity and Islam in the land. So where did we get it all wrong?

 

THE GOSPEL READING (MK. 8: 27 – 35)

In the gospel reading, Jesus denied himself and his divine powers, and insists that he would suffer many things, criticisms, rejection and even death on a Cross. But all these would not hinder him from doing his good works, doing all things well and carrying out his saving mission. He called us to deny ourselves certain rights and privileges like Mother Theresa and carry our Cross and follow him. Attempting to avoid or avert the Cross in our lives like Peter tried amounts to not being on the side of God but on the side of men and Satan.

 

CONCLUSION

What is your own cross? What can you deny yourself for the good of others and for the good of our Country Nigeria? What can you endure for the sake of love, peace and brotherhood? What can you deny yourself in order to touch other lives positively? Jesus denied himself of his powers and divinity to carry the Cross of humanity, the Cross of our sins, death and condemnation, that we may be saved. It is only when we understand and learn from Christ how to deny ourselves and carry our cross that we would do more good works for humanity and more corporal works of mercy for the salvation of our souls.

Happy Sunday!

Fr. Justin

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

Theme: And you, who do you think Jesus is?

Readings: Is 50, 5-9a; Jam 2, 14-18; Mk 8, 27-35 

Dear friends in Christ, on this 24^th Sunday, the Church poses a very important and crucial question to us, a question we must answer individually. She is asking us who Jesus is to us. Having a good knowledge of who Jesus is based on what He taught us and His salvific mission, will help us to know what to expect from Him and how to build a good relationship with Him.

Failure to have a true perception of who Jesus really is has led many people to false spirituality and wrong expectations from Him. Additionally, it has left many people at the mercy of marauders who parade themselves as men and women of God, feed on the ignorance of the people, teach what Jesus never commanded and promise their followers what Jesus will never do.

In today’s gospel reading, when Jesus asked His disciples who they think He is. Peter answered correctly that He is the Christ. But then, when Jesus began teaching them who this Christ really is and what His mission is, that He will suffer and die, it became obvious that Peter never truly knew this Christ, that he had a wrong notion of who the Messiah is.

Like Peter, many Christians know that Jesus is the Messiah, and they profess their faith in Him every day. However, the image they have built of this Christ is not really who Christ is; such image contradicts the mission of Christ. For example, many Christians think of Him as a Superman or a Hangman who will eliminate all their imagined enemies, including their husbands, wives, landlords, relatives, and friends, as well as all who don’t agree with them and all who don’t treat them kindly. Some think of Him as a Saviour who will prove Himself as God only when He has made them materially rich and fulfilled all their dreams. Some think that believing in Him will render them immune to all attacks and diseases in this world, that they will never be sick, and if it doesn’t happen that way, He has failed them.

Many people who have adopted the above images of who the Saviour is have ended up running from one ministry, prayer centre, or church to another, searching for where to find the type of Jesus that suites the image they have of Him, or searching for a place where the image of Jesus they have is preached. Unfortunately, many of them end up bowing down before the devil, the master of lies and deceit, who will never stop claiming to be the true God.

In the case of Peter, the Christ should be a king who will sit on the exalted throne of David, commanding many troops and slaves, and conquering many nations on earth to restore the kingdom of Israel. Thus, it will be unheard of for such a Christ to suffer and die in the hands of mere Pharisees, Scribes and Chief priests.

Peter was not alone in his notion of the Messiah. His fellow Jews had the same vision about the Messiah who was to come. Through the prophets, God promised Israel that He will send them a Messiah from the line of David who will deliver them from their enemies. So, in their theologies, the Jews developed various kinds of thoughts about the Messiah, ideas borne from their existential realities. As a people that suffered many years of oppression and slavery under big nations, Israel believed that since the Messiah will come from the line of David, He would lead them to military success like David.  

Therefore, in their quest to welcome a military-minded Messiah, Israel ignored the prophecies of the suffering servant of God who will conquer the world after suffering humiliations in the hands of His enemies, as revealed by the prophet Isaiah, a portion of which we read in today’s first reading. In the same manner, in their quests to have a Messiah who will bless them with abundant material riches, make them immune to all sickness and attacks, and wipe away all their enemies, many Christians have closed their ears to the teachings of Christ about love for enemies, about carrying their crosses and following Him, about the fact that Jesus also suffered the harsh realities of this wicked world and her rulers, about the fact that Jesus died and resurrected, and about the fact that Jesus never promised to bless His followers with cars, private jets, mansions, flamboyant lifestyle, etc.

Dear friends, whoever is selling a false image of Jesus to you is no different from the Jews in their wrong notions of who the Messiah would be and in their wrong expectations of what the Messiah would do for them. Such a person lacks the authority to speak about Jesus the Saviour.

Finally, anyone who has grasped the true image of who Jesus is must show it through his actions in his relationship with others; his actions must speak of Jesus. This is the message St James wants to convey to us in today’s second reading. He is telling us that we cannot believe in who Jesus truly is and yet close our eyes to good works of charity towards our fellow human beings. It is through our works in the society and our attitudes towards others that we demonstrate that we truly know who Jesus is.  

Peace be with you.

Fr Isaac C. Chima  

 

 24^TH SUNDAY, YEAR B: REFLECTION BY FR. JULIAN EKEH

THEME: MAN TAKES GOD ASIDE

(Mark 8:27-35)

At the middle of the Gospel of today, the word of God positioned its satellite on Peter, who took Jesus aside for a talk. Here is the exact biblical rendition: "And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him." How does that sound? Peter rebukes the Lord.

In a world where man wants to convince God to change his ways, God is amazed at man taking Him aside "to talk sense into Him." Will God succumb to the satanic will of man? Let us see.

GOD IN THE OFFICE OF MAN

This is indeed daring. I am imagining Jesus Christ being invited by Peter. He enters into His office. Greets him, keeps standing, and Peter tells Him: "Sit down. Ye, sit down, I think you are derailing." It could be diplomatic and respectful correction. It could also be a harsh and blunt address. If the first was the case, just think of Peter telling Jesus: Jesus, do you know you are not getting it right. Why did you say those things you said, my Lord? Have you forgotten who you are? You can't be thinking of suffering, you surely will not die, the cross can't be your portion. You're great, everything written about you is great. So don't think of belittling yourself and subjecting yourself to pain and shameful experiences."

While on the other hand, it is the harsh and blunt method, which probably may be the case since the word of God today used the term 'rebuke' Peter, considering the fact that he was older than Jesus in age may have told Jesus: Come here! What is wrong with you? Are you losing it? Are you going crazy? How dare you say all those things you just said about yourself? Don't you know that we have gone a long way? Do you really know what it means to lose your glory, power, and authority? Do you really know what it means not to be in the winning party? I choro ihapu ebe ana agba afa gawa ebe a na arụ agwụ? Just mind yourself and embrace honour, then forget about every other thing. 

A LOOK THROUGH THE OFFICE OF MAN

Jesus remained silent. He turned to the disciples representing the general population, the public He has come to redeem, the reason He was sent into the world, those who were like sheep without a Shepherd. Jesus saw the electorates, He saw those struggling for food amidst plenty, He saw those paying through their nose to buy fuel in a land blessed with rich mineral resources. He could see many people who are not paid their salaries after months of hard work and those who are not paid their gratuities after years of labour. He saw diseases. He saw hunger, He saw injustice, He saw marginalization, operation, and suppression.

Can those who are supposed to redeem our world from the mess we are into look out through their windows, from their glorious ivory towers to see what the people are suffering? To see the insecurity and killings? To see the tears and pains? To see the bad roads? The lack of amenities, etc, plaguing the land? Let the man in us, the ego, the grip to power, political party and winning team leave us to see the many dying parties, the suffering and sorrowful teams here and there, all around us.

THE REBUKE FROM GOD

God can't remain silent forever. He will arise one day to shatter every satanic power and stranglehold in the world.  Grieved by the plights of His people, He rebuked man in his office. Yes, man wanted to dictate for God. Man wanted to make God become the God of the mighty instead of the Mighty Saviour of the poor. The favoured man wished God to remain on his side and forget the lowly. But Jesus Christ rebukes that force in man. He exclaims: "Get behind me, Satan! For you are not on the side of God, but of men. "

Pay attention dearest in Christ. If you're not on the side of God, the Lord is rebuking you today. The Lord rebukes you if you are less concerned because you're not yet involved in the bad condition of our world today.  The Lord rebukes you if you have kept the divine aside doing things in your own way. The Lord rebukes you if you have stopped being the hope of the hopeless, if you have stopped being the voice of the voiceless, if you are selfish, inconsiderate. The Lord will rebuke you as soon as you lose your sense of compassion and true love. The Lord rebukes you, who have sold your conscience to the devil without listening to the spirit of God. The Lord will certainly rebuke all the powers that frustrate His mission on earth. Are you part of them? Repent now!

LET US PRAY

Almighty God, we thank you that you're a God of compassion and love. We pray You, in Your mercy, to turn again as we implore to see our condition in the world. The hardship is on the increase, the political recklessness is unbearable, the religious complacence is unspeakable, and the moral decadence is too much. Come to our aid, lest we perish. Do not allow us to be worn over to the side of the enemy. May we continue to rebuke him by your grace through Christ our Lord. Amen

Happy Sunday (24th Sunday, Ordinary Time, Yr B)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh

 Friday of 23^rd Week, Year II: reflection

Theme: Where should correction and change start?

Reading: Lk 6:39-42

Dear friends in Christ, being our brothers’ keepers is one of our responsibilities as Christians. Correcting our brothers when they make mistakes and guiding them in their affairs are just few of the numerous tasks that come with this responsibility.

In today’s gospel reading, our Lord Jesus instructs us on where to begin these tasks of correcting and guiding our brothers and sisters who err. He says we must start from a proper self-examination of ourselves before going out to correct others.

Thorough self-examination will help us to know whether we are guilty of the same error we are seeking to correct in others. If it happens that we are guilty of the same error, then, the first place to start this correction would not be our brothers and sisters but ourselves. This is because a person who is in error does not have the moral justification to enforce correction or change in others who are in the same error. He said, “First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take out the speck that is in your brother’s eye,” because the blind cannot lead the blind.

Friends, Jesus is not asking us to close our eyes to people’s mistakes, rather, He is telling us that if we are guilty of the same mistake we wish to correct in others or guilty of a habit we wish to change in others, then, we must first start the process of correction or change from ourselves. Jesus is asking to lead by example anytime we are correcting others. 

The benefit of the clarion call from Jesus can be seen in today’s first reading where St Paul told the Corinthians: “I punish my body and subdue it, lest after preaching to others, I myself should be disqualified.” Indeed, it would be very tragic if we still get punished for the same error we corrected in others. It will be a sad story if a teacher failed the same paper he helped others to pass.

May the labour of your hands today bear good fruits, Amen.

Fr Isaac C. Chima.

 

Thursday of 23^rd Week, Year II: reflection

Theme: Loss of Grace-filled attitude in Christian worship: How far many have strayed from Christ’s teachings

Reading: Lk 6:27-38

Some videos of certain Christians wielding machetes of different sizes, iron bars, clubs and other weapons of war at prayer sessions and calling out their enemies circulated widely on Facebook few months ago. Those Christians were responding ‘Amen’ and hitting their weapons on the floor following the prayer call of their pastors that those they saw as the enemies of their progress and those who didn’t want to help them materially/financially, including wicked landlords, stingy uncles and relatives, wicked husbands and wives, and ungenerous employers, should die.

After watching those embarrassing video clips of what was considered as prayer sessions, I wondered if those Christians still understood the teachings of the One through whom they were making their prayers, especially His teaching regarding relationship with enemies.

It should also be noted that what was seen in those video clips is just a tip of what goes on in many prayer houses and ministries. Nowadays, any man/woman of God who does not command fire to destroy enemies is not considered a true man/woman of God and will consequently have fewer members. Every prayer is about calling God to destroy those suspected as enemies.

Dear friends, one of the things that distinguish Christianity from other religions is the quality known as grace. Our God is gracious to both the good, the wicked and the ungrateful, and commands us to show the same grace-filled attitude to others, treating them not as we think they deserve, but as He would treat them, i.e., with love, kindness, forgiveness, mercy and tolerance. It is this message that is central in today’s gospel passage. Here, Jesus invited all who call upon His name to love their enemies, do good to those who hate them, bless those who curse them and pray for those who abuse them, for the measure they use for others will be the measure God will use for them. As challenging as Jesus' commands are, He and His disciples demonstrated how to carry them out.

Loving enemies doesn’t mean not seeking justice against aggressors, but for Christians, it doesn’t include using the name of Jesus or the Holy Ghost as a missile to destroy them. So, any Christian gathering in which Jesus is called upon to kill our fellow human beings has lost the grace-filled behavior commanded by Jesus, and true Christians will be wary of identifying with such a gathering.

May your efforts this Thursday be blessed, Amen

Fr Isaac Chima

 Wednesday of 23^rd Week, Year II: reflection

Theme: “Woe to you, when all men speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.”

Reading: Lk 6:20-26

At a time when praise-buying has almost become a daily activity for our world’s political leaders and many influential entities in all sectors of our life, a time when rulers with horrible records among the people they rule are receiving encomiums on television, radio and pages of newspapers, the last of the woes Jesus declared in today’s gospel reading sends us a message we should never let pass. He said: “woe to you when all men speak well of you, for so their fathers did to the false prophets.”

Indeed, great accolades accompanied many false prophets and their works in Israel until the days the hand of the Lord fell on them. They were praised for being great messengers of God even though they knew they were not sent by God; they were praised for healing sicknesses with the power of God even though they knew the source of their power wasn’t God; they were praised for seeing and telling the future even though they knew they were deceiving the people, etc.  

The praises of men made those false prophets to feel and parade themselves as good people, even though they actually knew that the praises of the people didn’t reflect the reality about their lives and their works.

In today’s gospel, Jesus challenges us not to assess our lives solely by the nice things people say about us. In fact, Jesus warns us to be wary when everyone around us is saying something good about us, because it may mean they are afraid to tell us the truth about ourselves or they do not want to hurt us with obvious truths about us. It may also mean that those that serve us do not want us to hear anything other than praises. 

What this implies is that we must always strive to take an introspective look at ourselves, our actions and activities, we must do self-criticisms and also be attentive to those who criticize us; they may be the people saying the truth about us.  

 May your Wednesday be richly blessed, Amen.

Fr Isaac Chima