FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT, YEAR A, 2025 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

Isaiah 2:1-5; Psalm 122:1-9; Roman 13:11-14; Matthew 24:37-44

This Sunday marks the beginning of the Advent season and the beginning of the readings of Circle A of a new liturgical year (Year A).

Prior to Vatican II, the Catholic Church followed a single and a yearly cycle of readings that are repeated every year. The Sunday readings were read through the week. Weekday Masses did not have their own readings. For this reason, many passages and books of the Bible were left out and not read at Mass. Following the reforms of Vatican II (1962 to 1965), the Catholic liturgical year and the lectionary for Sundays and weekdays were divided into a three-year cycle (A, B, and C), in order to include almost all the books of the Bible over the course of a three-year period. This began in 1970.

Advent season is observed as a time of special preparation to mark the birth of Jesus Christ. It is a penitential, soul-searching, and spiritual reawakening journey to renew us to welcome the “Word Made Flesh.” The word “Advent” comes from the Latin word “adventus,” which means “coming.”

Many churches are decorated with Advent wreath from this first Sunday of Advent. In ancient cultures, wreaths symbolized victory, honor, and achievement, particularly in Greece and Rome. Athletes and soldiers were crowned with wreaths as awards. However, the use of Advent wreath to decorate churches is said to have begun among the Lutherans in Germany in the 16th century, from where it spread to other Christian Faiths.

Advent wreath further explains the meaning of Advent season:

The green wreath in circle shape symbolizes God’s eternity and everlasting life (Psalm 90:2). The candle light symbolizes Jesus, the light of the world (John 8:12). The four candles symbolize the four weeks of Advent. The first purple candle is called the Candle of Hope. “In his name, the nations will put their hope” (Matthew 12:21). The second purple candle is called the Candle of Peace. Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6). “He is our peace” (Ephesians 2:14). The third candle, pink in color, is the called the Candle of Joy. “Fear not, for I bring you good news of great joy” (Luke 2:10). The third purple candle, which is the fourth candle, is the called Candle of Love. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believes in him may not perish, but have life eternal” (John 3:16).

The array of purple color of Advent season reminds us that the season is a penitential and a sobering journey. Also, Advent purple color foreshadows the sovereignty and the royalty of Christ. Purple was a royal color.

We are glad that Christmas excitement is felt everywhere. However, we must not allow ourselves be drawn into the world’s commercialization of Christmas. For us Catholics, spiritual preparation is more important so that there will be an inn for Jesus in our lives this Christmas. Spiritual preparation makes every Christmas become the first Christmas.

In the first reading, Isaiah invites us to a soul-searching Advent journey: “Come, let us climb the Lord’s mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may instruct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths…. Come, let us walk in the light of the Lord.” The prophet tells us the transformation which those who make this journey faithfully receive: “They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; one nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again.” This means that those who “walk in the light of the Lord” are transformed from weapons of crises, division, and hate to instruments of reconciliation, peace, and harmony.

The Advent journey, not only prepares us for spiritual renewal, it also prepares us for Jesus’ coming to take us to our eternal home. In the gospel, Jesus invites us, “Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come. … you must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.”

In the second reading St. Paul tells us that Advent season is a time “to awake from sleep,” “throw off works of darkness, and put on the armor of light.” It is a time to “put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.” St. Paul mentions some of the desires (sins) of the flesh: “orgies and drunkenness,” “promiscuity and lust,” “rivalry and jealousy.”

To conclude, during Advent season, we are encouraged to undertake works of charity which can bring hope, peace, joy, and love to the life of others. John the Baptist says, “Whoever has two tunics should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise” (Luke 3:10-11). 

Some spiritual recipe for a good Advent season:

·      Participate in parish Advent season spiritual exercises such as retreat, prayer, Penitential Service, Confession and so on.

·      Make Advent season spiritual resolutions to be closer to God.

·      Attend weekday Mass in addition to Sunday Mass.

·      Make peace with estranged relationships.

·      Do works of charity.

·      Be devoted to the Word of God and to prayer.

We wish one another a fruitful and Spirit-filled Advent season.

THIRTY FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C, CHRIST THE KING, 2025 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

 

2 Samuel 5:1-3; Psalm 122:1-5; Colossians 1:12-20; Luke 23:35-43

The feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, was established by Pope Pius XI in 1925, not long after the end of the First World War. The pope established the feast as a statement of faith against the prevailing ideologies of communism and secularism at that time. The two ideologies attempted to exclude faith, religion, and God from humanity. This feast is even more relevant to us nowadays that we are facing many anti-Christian and anti-Catholic ideologies, and persecution of Christians. By celebrating this feast, we are upholding the teachings of the Scripture, the teachings of the Church, and continue to proclaim Jesus Christ as our leader and king, no matter the direction the world is moving to.

In the first reading, all the tribes of Israel came to David and recognize him as their savior, their shepherd, and their king. Our celebration today is a re-enactment of what took place in the first reading. Jesus Christ is our new King David. We are celebrating him as our Savior, our Shepherd, and our King.

Jesus’ disciples and followers misunderstood his kingship. They expected Jesus’ kingship to be political. Even on his last day on earth they still asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6). They forgot that Jesus had said, “My kingdom is not of this world” (John 18:36).

Although Jesus was not a political king, Christianity has a universal influence and impact on world’s civilization, history, discoveries, philosophy, theology, geography, history, literature, science, medicine, and development more than any religion. The birth of Jesus brought about the categorization of world history to “Before Christ” and “After Christ.”  From a few followers in Judea, Christianity has spread to every part of the world. Christians are one-third of the world’s population and Christianity the world’s largest religion. This is a fulfillment of Daniel prophecy, “He received dominion, splendor, and kingship; all nations, peoples and tongues will serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, his kingship, one that shall not be destroyed” (Daniel 7:14). Also, Zechariah (9:10) prophesies, “His empire shall stretch from sea to sea, from the river to the ends of the earth.” We are not surprised, therefore, why Christianity is in the remotest corners of the world.

In the second reading, St. Paul explains Jesus’ kingship, “… For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things were created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. …   that in all things he himself might be preeminent (all surpassing) … whether those on earth or those in heaven.” In this reading, St. Paul calls us members of Christ’s kingdom. St. Peter calls us, “kingly people” (1 Peter 2: 9). Since we are members of Christ’s kingdom and kingly people, St. Paul challenges us to die with him, to live with him, to persevere in him, and reign with him (2 Timothy 2:11).

The universe is not remote in a distant land, or in the heavens, or across the sea. The universe is our home, our parish, our church, our neighborhood, our society, our work place, our business place, our market place, our gatherings, and those in need of our help. As his disciples, he has bestowed on us the authority over snakes, scorpions, and all powers of the enemy (Luke 10:19). It is through our discipleship and witnessing Jesus that we reign with him.

Psalm 98:9 says, “The Lord comes to govern the earth, to govern the world with justice and the peoples with fairness.” The Lord does not appear as human being and a political king to govern the world. Rather, he governs the world with justice and fairness through us who are his followers. It is sad where many Christians in positions of leadership and responsibilities are silent, or are accomplices, or are perpetrators of injustice and all kinds of evil in our society. 

Finally, I cannot give to the world what I do not have! For me to proceed to govern the world in the name of Jesus, I have to, first, allow Jesus to govern me, transform me, and empower me. This can only be possible when I do as St. Paul advises, “Let the word of God rule in your heart” (Colossians 3:16), and “… have the same attitude as Jesus had” (Philippians (2:5). It is when the word of God becomes the guiding principle that rules my decisions and actions that I am transformed into the attitude of Jesus. It is then that Jesus, through me, governs the universe selflessly with authority, love, compassion, truth, justice, and fairness.

THIRTY THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C, 2025 FR MARTIN EKE, MSP

 Malachi 3:19-20; Psalm 98:5-9; 2 Thessalonians 3:7-12; Luke 21:5-19

The Church’s Liturgical Year ends next Sunday with the celebration of the Solemnity of Our Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. As the Church’s year ends and as the calendar year draws to a close, today’s readings invite us to reflect on the end of time, judgement, and afterlife.

In the first reading, Prophet Malachi addresses two facts. First, those who lived wicked lives while on earth would not go unpunished. Second, those who lived righteous lives will receive heavenly reward. For them, “there will arise the sun of justice with its healing rays.”

There are people who do not believe that there is life after death, or there are judgement and reward at the end of earthly life. We know the fundamental truth; our actions have rewards or consequences. Is it not foolishness to exclude this fundamental truth to what happens at the end of our earthly life? Scripture clearly states, “For we shall stand before the judgment seat of God … So then each of us shall give account of himself[herself] to God” (Romans 14:10-12).  For us who believe the Scripture, since we look forward to meeting God at the end of life, and seeing him as he truly is, let us make effort to live life that leads us to him.

In the second reading, some Thessalonians misunderstood the meaning of the second coming of Christ. They took the “coming soon of Christ” literally; and for that reason, felt that there was no need to work. Since “an idle mind is the devil’s workshop” they were conducting themselves in disorderly manners. It is for that reason that St. Paul warned them, “If anyone was unwilling to work, neither should he eat.” It is true that there are people who want to eat but they refuse to work. There are people who reap where they did not sow. There are people who want to get rich quick without hard work. There are people who cheat, steal, rob, and kill to acquire wealth. It is to such people Jesus says that they will perish, unless they repent (Luke 13:3).

In the gospel, Jesus prophesied about the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem; “All that you see here – the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.”  This prophecy of the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem by the Romans took place in 70 A.D.

When we hear about the end of the world, it does not necessarily mean the day when the entire universe will come to an end. Our attention needs to be on the end of the individual’s life which we know can be at any moment. We all know that every life has an end (“when there will not be left a stone upon another stone”). The important question is, do I prepare myself spiritually and physically?

Unfortunately, some people are afraid or reluctant to reflect about death or make some necessary preparations concerning their death. Reluctance or fear does not remove the reality which faces all of us; everyone will die, sooner or later. Philosopher Martin Heidegger says, “As soon as we are born, we are old enough to die.” Therefore, getting oneself ready for this reality cannot be over emphasized. Is there a Will to be written? Are there records to be made straight? Are there information to be shared? Are there properties or monies to be allocated? Are there arrangements to be made? Are there issues to be resolved or attended to? And so on. Physical preparation is, equally, very important so that at the end of one’s life, those left behind are not left in the dark.

The Lord says to each one of us, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand” (Matthew 4:17). “‘Behold, I am coming like a thief.’ Blessed is the one who watches and keeps his clothes ready, so that he may not go naked and people see him exposed” (Revelation 16:15). 

Jesus warns us in the gospel about the emergence of false ‘prophets’ and fake ‘men of God and ‘women of God’ who would use the various disasters and afflictions which occur to people and in places as weapons to frighten and deceive people. Jesus says, “See that you are not deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he’ and ‘The time has come.’ Do not follow them….” They prophesy in Jesus’ name, cast out demons in his name, and do mighty works in his name but they are agents of the Evil One (Matthew 7:22-23). St. Paul warns us, “Even Satan masquerades as an angel of light. So it is not strange that his ministers also masquerade as ministers of righteousness” (2 Corinthians 11:15). Nowadays, false prophets and fake pastors are everywhere deceiving the gullible who do not listen to the warnings.

Jesus encourages us that afflictions, disasters, and persecution should lead to our giving testimony. Jesus says in the gospel, “By your perseverance you will secure your lives.” For those who persevere, trials are channels of blessings. O Lord, grant to us the grace of perseverance in times of trials and temptations. Grant to us also a repentant heart, the wisdom, and the courage to prepare for your coming to take us to our eternal home. Amen.

FEAST OF THE DEDICATION OF THE LATERAN BASILICA, 2025

 Ezekiel 47:1-2, 8-9, 12; Psalm 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9; 1 Corinthians 3:9-11, 16-17; John 2:13-22

We begin with differentiating between a cathedral and a basilica. Cathedral: The word's origin comes from the Latin word “cathedra,” meaning “chair,” which refers to the bishop's chair. It is the principal church building of a diocese that contains the bishop's throne or seat. Basilica: The word originated from the Greek word “basilike” meaning “royal house.” It is a church building that has been granted special privileges by the pope as a center of worship due to its historical or spiritual importance.

According to history, when Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity, he donated the royal Lateran family land to the Catholic Church. While the emperor constructed the building, Pope Silvester I oversaw the construction and consecrated it in 324 AD. The basilica is called Lateran Basilica because it was built on the Lateran land.

The Lateran Basilica is known as the “Mother Church” because it is the official cathedral of the pope who is the Bishiop of Rome, making it the seat of papal authority and the symbolic head of all Catholic churches worldwide. The frontage of the basilica bears the inscription “Most Holy Lateran Church, Mother and Head of all the Churches in the City and the World.” The Lateran Basilica is the first basilica and the only church building which the commemoration of its dedication is celebrated as a feast.

Throughout its history, the basilica has been severely damaged or destroyed multiple times by earthquakes, fires, and military sackings. As a result, it has undergone numerous repairs and complete rebuilds. For instance: The basilica was plundered during the sackings of Rome by the Vandals and Visigoths in the 5th century. It was devastated by earthquakes in 896 and in 1349. It was ruined by fires in 1308 and in 1360.  It was damaged by mafia bombing in 1993. This is why the basilica church building is celebrated as an enduring symbol of the Universal Church.

The feast is a celebration of the unity of the Universal Church under the leadership of the Pope. The Lateran Church building is a symbol of the Catholic Church’s resilience, strength, and unity. The celebration teaches us strength, resilience, and rebuilding after crises, losses, and setbacks.

The first reading is Prophet Ezekiel’s vision of live-giving water which flowed from the threshold (entrance) of the temple. The water flowed into salt waters and made the salt waters fresh. The flowing waters made creatures live, grow, and bear fruit. By the power of the flowing water, some creatures become food for others, while some become medicine for others.

This image represents Jesus, the Temple and the Head of the Church. We are the Body of the Temple. Jesus is the source of all graces and the Church is the conduit through which the graces flow into the world. And it is through us, the People of God, that the graces reach every man and every woman and all corners of the earth. The church building does not move or preach or minister to the people. We are the feet, the hand, and the mouth of the church building. St. Paul says in the second reading, “You are God’s building.” “…you are the temple of God.” Today, we are reminded and empowered so that we do not fall short of becoming channels and conduits of God’s graces and blessings to our neighbors and the world. The end of the Ezekiel’s vision is, “Their fruit serve for food, and their leaves for medicine.” We are charged with these responsibilities. We are the life-giving waters. We are the food. We are the medicine.

When Jesus went into the temple in Jerusalem, what he saw was a complete opposite of Ezekiel’s vision of the temple. “He found in the temple area those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, as well as the money-changers seated there. He made a whip out of cords and drove them all out of the temple area, with the sheep and oxen, and spilled the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables, and to those who sold doves he said, ‘Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.’” Matthew and Luke are not as mild as John. In the two Gospels, Jesus says, “It is written: ‘My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a den of thieves” (Matthew 21:13; Luke 19:46).

We must not shy away from these words as if they do not speak to truth about us and about the situation of the Church in many places. Commercialization and monetization of religion, whereby financial gain and profit supersede spiritual meaning and salvation is a big problem. If Jesus walks into our parish, will he see graces and blessings flowing or will he walk into a marketplace and den of thieves? St. Paul gives another explanation of “marketplace”/“den of thieves,” “…. envy, rivalry, insults, evil suspicions, and mutual friction, … people with corrupted minds, who are deprived of the truth, supposing religion to be a means of gain” (1 Timothy 6:4-5).

On a personal level, if Jesus walks into my life or my family, will he see graces and blessings flowing or will he walk into corrupted minds and a marketplace?

Today, with the Lateran Basilica as a symbol, we celebrate the Catholic Church’s resilience, strength, and unity. The celebration teaches us unity, strength, resilience, and rebuilding after crises, losses, and setbacks. We are reminded that we are conduits and channels of God’s graces and blessing to our neighbors and the world. We are supposed to be life-givers and life-changers. Jesus says, “Whoever believes in me, …‘Rivers of living water will flow from within him’” (John 7:38). May these words be fulfilled in us.

May Jesus visit us and cleanse every ‘marketplace’ situation in our Church and in our lives. Amen.

ALL SOULS, 2025 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

Wisdom 3:1-9; Psalm 23:1-6; Romans 5:5-11; John 6:37-40

We celebrated the Church Triumphant (All Saints) yesterday. Today, we who are on earth (the Church Militant), pray for the Church Suffering, the departed souls in Purgatory. The Catholic Church teaches that we assist the souls of the dead who are in the condition of purification in Purgatory by praying for them, offering Eucharistic sacrifice for them, and undertake almsgiving and works of penance on their behalf (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1032). Our celebration today enables us to pray for countless departed souls that Masses are not requested or offered for.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “All who die in God's grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven” (CCC 1030). “The Church gives the name Purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned” (CCC 1031).

Communion with the departed is a common practice in many cultures. Praying for the departed existed in the Jewish belief far before Christianity. We read in 2 Maccabees 12:43-46, “Judas then took up a collection among all his soldiers, amounting to two thousand silver drachmas, which he sent to Jerusalem to provide for an expiatory sacrifice. In doing this he acted in a very excellent and noble way, in as much as he had the resurrection in mind; for if he were not expecting the fallen to rise again, it would have been superfluous and foolish to pray for the dead. …Thus, he made atonement for the dead that they might be absolved from their sin.”

Indications of the existence of Purgatory are, also, found in the New Testament. For instance, we read in Revelation 21:22, “I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God almighty and the Lamb. The city had no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gave it light, and its lamp was the Lamb. ... Nothing unclean will enter it, nor anyone who does abominable things or tells lies. Only those who will enter whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” At our death, none of us is clean and worthy to enter the “City of the Lord God Almighty.” “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Each soul, therefore, goes through a purification before entering the glory of God. The location of Purgatory and the duration that souls spend in Purgatory are beyond human knowledge since it is a mystical reality.

The notion of purgatory was not alien to many ancient cultures. The Igbos of Nigeria have special traditional ceremonies for releasing souls from whatever might have withheld them from transmuting and joining the ancestral realm. When the Catholic missionaries taught the people about purgatory, it was not difficult for many of them to connect and understand.

Originally, Halloween celebration was a feast of holy souls. The word ‘Halloween’ is derived from ‘All Hallowed (Holy) Souls’ Eve.’ Remembrance of the dead was celebrated on the eve of All Saints. Nowadays, Halloween is mostly celebrated in a secularly non-Christian way. For example, in 2025, Americans would spend about a whooping and an outrageous amount of $13.1 billion on Halloween costumes. Meanwhile, various parts of the world are reeling in pains of starvation, poverty, and underdevelopment.

As Christians, we are a people of hope. Today’s celebration is a celebration of hope. We are not hopeless sinners. We are pilgrims of hope. Indeed, God’s love is everlasting, even, in the afterlife. The first reading says, “They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; … and their going forth from us utter destruction. … yet is their hope full of immortality, chastised a little, they shall be greatly blessed …” Therefore, we are assured that by God’s grace and mercy, the faithful shall be purified, and they shall abide with God. St. Paul assures us in the second reading that “Hope does not disappoint.”

In our celebration, we believe in the fulfilment of the words of Jesus in today’s gospel, “Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me, because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me. And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it on the last day” (John 6:37-39).

Let us pray:  Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let your perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen. May the souls of the faithful departed, through the mercy of God rest in peace. Amen.

ALL SAINTS, 2025 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

Revelation 7:2-4, 9-14; Psalm 24:16, 1 John 3:1-3; Matthew 5:1-12 

The Catholic Church holds and teaches that the Church exists simultaneously in heaven, on earth, and in purgatory. The Church in heaven is called Church Triumphant, the Church on earth is called Church Militant, and the Church in purgatory is called Church Suffering. The unity of the Church in heaven and the Church on earth is called the Communion of Saints. The celebration of All Saints is based on this unity. The unity and communion continue with the special commemoration of All Souls, the Church Suffering.

Today, in a special way, we celebrate with the Church in heaven. The saints were close to God while on earth. Being in heaven with God, the Catholic Church teaches that they intercede for us. That is why Catholics pray through their intercession.

In the first reading, St. John saw “a vision of heaven, and of a great multitude, which no one can count, from every nation, race, people, and tongue” (Revelation 7:9). Only a few saints out of the multitude of saints in heaven are canonized and celebrated. Today, we celebrate all saints. Indeed, our loved ones who have gone before us and our ancestors who are in heaven are included. Therefore, it is not out of place to plead with our departed loved ones and our ancestors who lived a godly life to intercede for us.

There are people who do not believe in communion with the saints or the power of the saints to intercede for us. There is no way we can imagine that the saints in heaven, which St. John gives us a tiny picture in his vision, have nothing to do with us on earth. How do those who do not believe in the power of the saints to intercede for us explain the mystery behind the countless prayers answered by God through the intercession of the saints? Ordinarily, we believe in the power of prayer by human being, which is why we ask for prayers from one another. If God hears the prayer of sinners on earth, even more he hears the prayers of the saint in his presence. 

The belief in the power of intercession of the ancestors (known as “Ndichie” among the Igbos of Nigeria) existed among many African peoples before the coming of Christianity. Such belief system cannot be dismissed as pagan practice and meaningless. When the Catholic missionaries taught the people about the intercession of the saints, the Igbo converts understood their teaching without much difficulty. “Ndichie” means the ancestors who lived exemplary lives.

It is for this reason that the Catholic Church teaches that we take or include saints’ names for Baptism and Confirmation. Those saints become our patron saints who intercede for us. We are also encouraged to imitate the lives of our patron saints. While it is a good thing to choose native names for Sacraments, it is spiritually beneficial to include saints’ names.

The Church Militant is a Pilgrim Church. Our destination is the Church Triumphant. We are pilgrims of hope. Therefore, while on earth, we need to live lives that can enable us to join the Church Triumphant in heaven. The second reading says, “Everyone who has this hope based on him makes himself [herself] pure, as he is pure” (1 John 3:3).

In the gospel, Jesus gives us the beatitudes (blessings) that can guide us on our faith and life journey. How wonderful our world can become if our leaders and our rulers and everyone are guided by the beatitudes?

“Blessed are the poor in spirit;” is an invitation to be humble.

“Blessed are they who mourn;” is an invitation to grieve/regret over sin and evil and make efforts to stop them or distance from them.

“Blessed are the meek;” is an invitation to be gentle and agreeable.

“Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness;” is an invitation to stand for truth and justice.

“Blessed are the merciful;” is an invitation to be kind and compassionate.

“Blessed are the clean of heart;” is an invitation to be honest.

“Blessed are the peacemakers;” is an invitation to be peaceful and to become an instrument of peace, forgiveness, and reconciliation.

“Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely;” is an invitation to remain steadfast during opposition and persecution.

St. Theresa of Lisieux advises that to become a saint, or to go to heaven, is not only achieved by doing extraordinary and mighty deeds, but also by doing small things with great love. She calls this “the simple way: a simple and direct path to heaven.” St. Joseph Marello is attributed to have said, “Saints do ordinary things in extraordinary ways.”

Also, Miriam C. Hunter writes, “Why are the saints, saints? Because they were cheerful when it was difficult to be cheerful; patient when it was difficult to be patient. And because they pushed on when they wanted to stand still and kept silent when they wanted to talk. And because they were agreeable when they wanted to be disagreeable…” 

Saints are saints because they forgave when it was difficult to forgive. And they lived their life in total surrender to God.

Oh, when the saints are matching in ……

THIRTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C, 2025 BY FR. MARTIN EKE, MSP

Sirach 35:12-14, 16-18; Psalm 34:2-3, 17-19, 23; 2 Timothy 4:6-8, 16-18; Luke 18:9-14

In today’s first reading, Sirach reminds us that God is God of all but close to the distressed who call upon him. Sirach mentions the weak, the oppressed, the orphan, and the widow. These distressed (lowly) situations represent our situations. Sirach assures us, “… the prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds” (Sirach 35:21). Today’s Psalm assures us, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; and those who are crushed in spirit he saves (Psalm 34:18). Psalm 50:15 also says “Call on me on the day of distress; I will rescue you, and you shall honor me.” The palmist gives us a good insight about the first reading.

St. Paul wrote the second letter to Timothy in his moment of distress. He was in chains, deserted, and confined in a dark cold dungeon in Rome around 67 AD during the persecution of Christians by Emperor Nero. Shortly before his execution, St. Paul wrote this letter to Timothy who was the leader of the Christian community in Ephesus, to encourage him to remain strong in faith in his leadership of the Christian community and the work of the Gospel. 

St. Paul was aware that his execution was coming soon and for that reason he wrote, “For I am already being poured out like a libation, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have competed well; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith. From now on the crown of righteousness awaits me, which the Lord, the just judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but to all who have longed for his appearance” (2 Timothy 4:6-8). Instead of “I have competed well,” another translation says “I have fought a good fight.”

Whether I see my journey on earth as a race or as a battle, the questions are: Am I persevering with my best effort in the responsibility God has given to me? That is what fighting a good fight means. Can I say that I give my best shot when it comes to the practice of my faith? That is what keeping the faith means. St. Paul says in the second reading, “… the Lord stood by me and gave me strength …” Do I draw strength from the Lord by praying and trusting him?

When the time of my departure from this world comes, will I look back and say confidently like St. Paul that I have fought a good fight; I have finished the race; I have kept the faith and waiting for the crown of righteousness? 

Jesus gives us the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector in today’s gospel to help us to understand why some prayers “pierce the clouds,” and why some prayers do not. “The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity — greedy, dishonest, adulterous — or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’”

James 4:3 says, “You ask and do not receive because you ask with wrong motives…” This is very evident in the prayer of the Pharisee. He took up his position and spoke his prayer to himself, glorifying himself; and then spoke uncharitably about others. He was arrogant and despised everyone else. St. Augustine regards this type of prayer as “praying in a fleshy, unspiritual manner.”

When we are self-righteous, disrespect and despise other people, the Bible has some advice for us; “The one who despises his neighbor lacks sense” (Proverbs 11:12). Also, “The one who despises his neighbor sins” (Proverbs 14:21).

“The tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’” The tax collector prayed to God from a humble and a contrite heart. He prayed in the Spirit and from his brokenness. Jesus concludes, “I tell you; the latter went home justified, not the former…” and “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” The psalmist says, “A humble and contrite heart you will not spurn, O Lord” (Psalm 51:17). “The Lord is close to all call upon him, who call upon him from their hearts” (Psalm 145:18). St. Peter and St. James evoke the words of Jesus, “Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time” (1 Peter 5:6). “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble” (James 4:6).

We pray that God gives us the grace to call upon him and trust him in times of distress and at all circumstances. May God give us the grace to do our very best with humility and faith in him in our various life’s work. May God bring our good courses and purposes to perfection and completion. Amen.