Fr. Augustine Inwang, MSP - Homily for the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary time Year B - January 31, 2021

 Readings: Deut. 18:15-20; 1 Cor. 7:32-35; Mk. 1:21-28

If We Fail to Plan, We Plan to Fail

1.     Jesus had a plan and strategy to carry out the mission entrusted to him. First of all, he identified with the people he was sent to save by accepting a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. He allowed himself to be numbered among sinners. And then he went into a long retreat, praying and fasting for 40 days and 40 nights in the desert where he was tempted by the devil. He dismissed the devil with his three punch answers: “One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God; again, it is written, you shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test. And finally, Get away, Satan! It is written: ‘The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve.” (Mt. 4:1-11). Then he inaugurated his mission and began initiating a new kingdom of justice, peace and love. Knowing that the task of the kingdom was not a one-man show, he “appointed twelve apostles that they might be with him and he might send them forth to preach and to have authority to drive out demons.” (Mk. 3:13-18). These were his plans for effective and successful execution of his mission. In all this, prayer was his driving force.

2.     In today’s Gospel, Jesus is teaching in the Synagogue and “The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes.” (Mk. 1:22). Why? The scribes always quoted other sources to back up their teaching. But Jesus’ authority was himself. He had moral authority to teach. “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” (Mt. 11:29-30). Jesus is that true prophet Moses referred to in the first reading. “A prophet like me will the Lord, your God, raise up for you from among your own kin, to him you shall listen.” (Deut. 18:15). Moses gave this final instruction before his own death after the Israelites had crossed over and took possession of the land God promised them. Jesus is the new Moses whose teaching will make a deep impression on those who listen to him.

3.     Present in that Synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit who knew who Jesus was and called him out by name: “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are – the Holy One of God!” (Mk. 1:24). The demon recognized Jesus as the Messiah anointed with God’s Spirit and possessing power over evil spirit. In ancient world, it was thought that if someone knew another’s name, he or she could exercise power over the other. To know one’s adversary’s name was to have a magical power over him. The demon felt that by calling Jesus “the Holy One of God,” Jesus would acknowledge defeat and retire from the scene. No. Only God can exercise that kind of name-power. “For the sake of Jacob, my servant, of Israel my chosen one, I have called you by your name, giving you a title, though you knew me not. I am the Lord and there is no God besides me.” (Is. 45:4).

4.     How do we come to the presence of Jesus? With authority of assumption, that by calling him by name we are equal? When Jesus asked, ‘who do you say I am?’ our answer should demonstrate that he is our Lord, the Messiah and our redeemer; he is in-charge of our lives. We owe him our loyalty and our adoration; we must listen to him and do his bidding. Jesus rebuked the demon and commanded him to get out of the man, showing that he had supreme power over every sovereignty, principalities and powers of this world. Christ’s whole life is a mystery of redemption in his healings and exorcisms by which “he took our infirmities and bore our diseases.” (Is. 53:4).

5.     People are possessed by different forms of evil spirit and vices; like the spirit of lies, gambling and addictions, sexual immoralities and lust, or laziness, gossip and gluttony. Every bad spirit seeks to destroy us and others. We must take our infirmities to Jesus and allow him to command the evil spirit to get out of us. Christ spent his time in prayer in order to rescue us from the power of darkness. He knew that his people were weighed down by many problems. Some had fever, some were lepers, others were possessed by demons, and still others were dead, and he had to raise them up. He still had to teach and feed thousands of people. Jesus was successful because he had a strategy that worked for him. The more he prayed, the more successful he was. He was so prepared in his ministry that nothing took him by surprise.

6.     If we must be successful in our mission, whatever it may be, we must adopt the approach of Jesus. We must be men and women of prayer who must be “anxious about the things of the Lord”, like St. Paul tells us in the second reading. We must avoid distractions in our planning and in our prayer. It is by doing what Jesus did and by listening to his voice that we will have a meaningful life. And so, I conclude with the response to the responsorial Psalm this morning: “If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts.”

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

 

 

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP - Homily for the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary time Year B - January 31, 2021

Homily of Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B, 2021

Deuteronomy 18:15-20; Psalm 95:1-2, 6-9; 1 Corinthians 7:32-35; Mark 1:21-28

 The first reading is from the Book of Deuteronomy. The Book of Deuteronomy is a compilation of teachings, directives, and instructions from Moses, and God’s laws in the previous books (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers) that were to guide the people of Israel as they journey to the Promised Land and when they arrive at and settle in the Promised Land. The Book of Deuteronomy is referred to as “second law” or “copy of the law” (Greek: deuteros – second + nomos – law).

 In Deuteronomy 18:9 and 14 Moses instructs the people, “When you come into the land which the Lord, your God, is giving you, you shall not learn to imitate the abominations of the nations there.” “Although these nations whom you are about to dispossess listen to their soothsayers and diviners, the Lord, your God, will not permit you to do so.”

 In the first reading, Deuteronomy 18:19, Moses spoke to the people what God said to him: “And the Lord said to me… ‘I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their kin, and will put my words into his mouth; he shall tell them all I command him. Whoever will not listen to my words which he speaks in my name, I myself will make him answer for it.” Scripture scholars explain that this statement was a prophecy about the coming of Jesus Christ. And when Jesus arrived, and during his transfiguration, God declared, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him” (Luke 9:35).

 We are reminded today “not to learn to imitate the abominations of the nations” accepted and practiced in our world, promoted and amplified by godless and Christ-less “soothsayers and diviners” in the form of institutions, groups, cultures, politics, economies, psychologies, philosophies, religions, beliefs, theories, ideologies, and so on.

 Further, the first reading warns, “But if a prophet presumes to speak in my name an oracle that I have not commanded him to speak, or speaks in the name of other gods, he shall die” (Deuteronomy 18:20). We can interpret this death to mean more a spiritual death than physical death whereby the Spirit of God leaves the prophet. The prophet is occupied by unclean spirits like the man in the Gospel reading of today. This warning is to all of us because we are prophets to one another and wherever we find ourselves; but the warning is in a special way to our teachers, preachers and ministers.

 Perhaps, we have accepted and we practice “abominations of nations” and listen to godless and Christ-less “soothsayers and diviners.” Perhaps, we are no longer “members of Christ’s Body and temples of the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:15, 19). Perhaps, we have been overtaken by unclean spirits and we are spiritually dead. We are all invited to listen to Jesus, God’s chosen Son; and surrender to his authority to deliver and save us. Jesus says of himself, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18). He also says, “Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock” (Matthew 7:24-25). May we have a taste, and a share, and experience the authority of Jesus.

 The second reading (1 Corinthians 7:32-35), further, describes the way some Christians worship God and mammon at the same time. Some Christians are divided because they are like “a married man [who] is anxious about the things of the world, [and] how he may please his wife.” Some Christians are like a married woman who “is anxious about the things of the world, [and] how she may please her husband.” St. Paul maintains that our relationship with God should be like an “unmarried woman or a virgin [who] is anxious about the things of the Lord, so that she may be holy in both body and spirit.” These analogies do not mean that St. Paul despises married life, nor do the analogies suggest that we should despise married life. The point St. Paul makes is that adherence to the Lord is to be without distraction (1 Corinthians 7:35).

 To conclude, let us, again, ponder on the following questions: Have we followed the way of the godless and Christ-less abominations of the nations and listen to their soothsayers and diviners? Are we overtaken by unclean spirits, and so are spiritually dead? Do we have a distracted and divided relationship with God because of anxiousness and anxieties about the things of the world?

 Whatever our shortcomings are, let us listen to Jesus, God’s chosen Son, and surrender undividedly to his authority to deliver and save us.

 Fr. Martin Eke, MSP

Fr. Emmanuel Megwara, MSP - Homily for the Third Sunday of Ordinary Time Year B - January 24, 2021

DATE : 24/1/2021, The Third Sunday of the Year (B)

 EVENT : Sunday Of The Word Of God

 COLOUR:Green

 READINGS :Jonah 3:1-5; Resp. Psalm. 25:4-5ab.6 and 7bc.8-9; 1Cor. 7:29-31; Mark 1:14-20.

 THEME: THERE IS POWER IN THE WORD OF GOD

    Greetings beloved people of God. I welcome you to "My Catholic Homily Digest". On this Third Sunday of the year, which the Church celebrates the Word of the God, I wish to reflect with you on the theme: " There Is Power In The Word Of God". Beloved in Christ, today, is the exaltation of the Word of God. The Word, through whom all things came into existence. The Word which became flesh in the womb of Mary. The word which is sharper than any two edge sword. The Word which can cut through the most hardened of hearts. The Word which transforms. The Word which causes whatever it is addressed to, to be effected. The Word which is the creative force of God. The Word which is the Son of God. The Word which is the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity. The Word which is God himself. As we celebrate the Word of God today, we are called to reflect on the effect of this Word in our lives, and our responses to its promptings in our hearts.

    Beloved, in the first reading of today, taken from the book of the prophet Jonah: 3:1-5.10, we see clearly the binding power of the Word of God, and how disastrous a refusal to heed to it can be. I am not going to bore us with the popular story of Jonah and the fish, which even a little child knows. Rather, am going to show us how liberating the Word of God can be if we heed to it. Basically the end purpose of the Word of God is to restore life and bring about liberation to all. (Cf.John 10:10). Even when God threatens or punishes, it is never His intention to destroy, but that we may repent and heed His Word. We see this clearly shown in the story of Jonah and the citizens of Nineveh. Now, Nineveh was an exceedingly great city, ripe with all kind of evil and abominable acts like most cities in Nigeria today (Abuja and Lagos). It was a flourishing city of commerce and trade. But it's inhabitants had turned their backs on God, despite the constant warnings of the men of God in that city. Possibly because they too had lost the moral authority to call the people to order. But when Jonah came with his undiluted message of doom, having been a survivor himself, the people through the help of positive fear, quicky abandoned their evil ways and returned to God, putting on ash and sach clothing. Then, we were told that seeing how sorry they were and how prompt they heeded the Word spoken through Jonah, God relented from the disaster he had threatened upon them.

   Child of God, as we celebrate the Word of God today, we are called to allow the Word of God to pierce through to our heart like Jonah and the people of Nineveh. Like the Psalm of today reads, the Word of is like a lamp unto our feet, that will help us to know the ways of God and to walk in the paths of his commandments (Ps. 25). Although God is a merciful God, always sending His Word of warning to us, time and time again, He will not always be patient with us. Thus, St. Paul warns in the second of today, 1Cor. 7:29-31, that we must make haste and heed quickly to the Word of God, because this world as we know it, is passing by and we do not know how much time we have left. So let everyone focus on his salvation. For salvation is a personal race. Not run with a husband, wife, daughter, son or friend. There is never a thing as group repentance. It must be individually done. Like the proverbial Pigin English Adage says, ' las las, everybody go answer him papa name on the last day'. Beloved friends, like the contrite people of Nineveh, I pray that this Word of God, which we hear preached to us each day may bring us the repentance we need to become the children of God, and to excape the fire of Hell which He threatens for all who intently refuse to heed to His Word.

        Oh that today you would listen to his voice harden not your hearts (Ps.95:7-8)

 LET US PRAY : Lord Jesus, you are the Word of God, help me to make my heart a living temple for you.

The Lord be with you....... and with your Spirit.

 May Almighty God bless you in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit......Amen

   HAPPY SUNDAY BELOVED FRIENDS.

  @ Fada Emmanuel Nnamdi Megwara, MSP. ⛪

Fr. Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie, MSP - Homily for the Third Sunday of Ordinary Time Year B - January 24, 2021

THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B

SUNDAY OF THE WORD OF GOD

Jonah 3:1-5,10

1 Corinthians 7:29-31

Mark 1:14-20

LISTEN TO THE WORD OF GOD, FOLLOW HIM AND LEAVE MATERIAL THINGS

Today being the third Sunday in ordinary time calendar of the Church, we mark the sunday of the word of God as declared by pope Francis in 2019. We are encouraged today to pay more attention to the word of God we hear everyday and act accordingly.

In the first reading, we see the prophecy of Jonah, who was sent by God to preach the gospel of repentance to the people of Nineveh. Niveveh as it has been described was truly a notorious city where every sin and atrocity which can be imagined took place. It is only true prophets that can preach about sin and repentance. Most self acclaimed pastors of today only preach about prosperity and breakthrough. Jonah had initially thought that the people would not listen to him. On the contrary, the people were remorseful, they proclaimed a fast and put on sack clothes.

This follows closely the instructions of St Paul in the second reading. We seem to be so concerned about enjoying ourselves in sin that we do not care about the type of life we live. We crave for material possessions as if we will never die. We are told in the gospel of Luke 12:14-15, to seek first the kingdom of God. Every other thing will be added including material  things and enjoyment.

In the gospel reading, we see that the Apostles Jesus chose understood this very well. They listened to the voice of Jesus who called them and answered. It is very clear how they left all material possessions to follow Jesus. Simon and Andrew left their nets and followed Jesus, James and John left their father Zebedee in the boat and followed Jesus. They left the fish, the money they would have made from it and their family, for the sake of the kingdom. This is what Jesus asks of us today. Jesus speaks everyday, but many of us are unable to hear or listen to him because of our crave for material things. May God give us the grace to listen to him and keep his word. Amen.

Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie MSP

Fr. Augustine Inwang, MSP - Homily for the Second Sunday in Ordinary time Year B - January 17, 2021

 

 Readings: Jon. 3:1-5, 10; 1 Cor. 7:29-31; Mk. 1:14-20 

The Reluctant and the Willing Prophets.

1.     I want to reflect with you this morning on the theme “The reluctant and the willing prophets.” In the first reading, Jonah is sent to preach repentance to the people of Nineveh. Jonah was reluctant and unwilling to go on this mission. Instead, he boarded a ship and ran to Tarshish. Read the Book of Jonah, a short book indeed, of only four chapters. Why did Jonah refuse to preach to the Ninevites? The Ninevites were the enemies of Israel, the chosen people of God. Jonah could not understand why God should send him to such wicked people.

2.     Jonah seems to have forgotten Psalm 139, “Where can I hide from your spirit? If I ascend to the heavens, you are there. If I fly with the wings of dawn and alight beyond the sea. Even there your right hand holds me fast.” (2-10). The Lord foiled his plan of escape and sent a violent storm that threatened to break up the ship. At the confession of Jonah, that he was responsible for the storm, he was thrown into the sea, where he was swallowed up by a fish. He spent three days and three nights in the belly of the fish before he was spewed out. With no option left, he reluctantly embarked on the mission to convert his enemies. The first reading recounted the effect of his preaching, which brought about the conversion of the Ninevites. God does not punish his people but gives them a second chance to redeem themselves through the preaching of his prophets. “For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the Lords, plans for your welfare, not for woe! Plans to give you a future full of hope.” (Jer. 29:11) God is always willing to forgive us and reconcile us to himself and one another. The Ninevites needed to hear the good news, there was no hesitation in their turning away from their sins. But Jonah was reluctant and unwilling to preach to them.    

3.     The book of Jonah makes it clear to us that if God wills something to happen, it will happen, whether we like it or not. And if God wants to use us for his mission, we cannot say ‘no’ to him for too long. He willed that Jonah would be his instrument for the conversion of the Ninevites; and so, it was. Even those we consider our enemies are God’s children too. Jonah allowed his national pride to triumph the need of repentance for the people “who cannot distinguish their right hand from their left…” (Jonah 4:11). He was judgmental and condescending, though he preached as commanded, he did not desire the conversion of the Ninevites. “When God saw by their actions how they turned from their evil way, he repented of the evil that he had threatened to do to them; he did not carry it out. But this was greatly displeasing to Jonah, and he became angry. I beseech you, Lord, he prayed, is not this what I said while I was still in my own country? This is why I fled at first to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger, rich in clemency, loathe to punish.” (Jonah 3:10-4:1-3). We should know that “If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and cleanse us from every wrongdoing.” (1 Jn 1:9).

4        While the first reading tells us about the reluctant and the unwilling prophet Jonah, the Gospel shows us the willingness of Christ to embrace his mission for the salvation of the world. Christ loved the people he was sent to save; he called them friends and laid down his life for them. “Greater love than this no man has, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (Jn. 15:13). He reminds us, “Everything that the Father gives to me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me.” (Jn. 6:37). He called them to repent for the kingdom of God is at hand. Jonah and Jesus preached the same repentance but their attitude towards the people was different. One loved and the other could care less. Jesus knew that the call to be a missionary disciple should be extended to all. He knew that “The harvest is abundant, but the laborers are few.” (Mt. 9:37) He needed people to assist him in bringing others into the kingdom. He called his first disciples who answered without hesitation. How do we answer our call to follow Jesus? Do we hesitate like Jonah or do we answer like Peter, James and John? Are we reluctant or are we willing to do our part? We are told not to be engrossed in the world, but to use things for the kingdom of God rather than allow things to master us. There are many people in the world who want to hear the word of the kingdom but there is no one to preach to them. Are you willing to engage people in answering the questions of their lives? Do we find it easy or difficult to begin a conversation with our friends about the kingdom of God, confronting, refuting errors and encouraging people to change their lives? This is our mission, to assist Christ in bringing people to God. May we not abdicate our responsibilities but be prepared to answer when Christ calls us “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men. Amen.  

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

 

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP - Homily for the Third Sunday in Ordinary time Year B - January 24, 2021

Homily of Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B, 2021

 Jonah 3:1-5, 10; Psalm 25:4-9; 1 Corinthians 7:29:31; Mark 1:14-20

 The story of Prophet Jonah, his mission in Nineveh, and the repentance of the people of Nineveh was a prophecy to the people of Israel when they returned from the Babylonian captivity. It was an example of the type of repentance that God required of the people of Israel. God used a non-Jewish people as an example for the Israelites. Nineveh was the capital of Assyria, an unfriendly country to Israel. This seems to give an insight as to why Jonah resisted God’s call to go to Nineveh to prophecy to them. However, he was forced to go by the means of the fish that swallowed him and dropped him off the coast of Nineveh. And when the people of Nineveh repented and God cancelled the threat of destroying them, Jonah was angry. It appears that Jonah wanted to see the enemies of Israel destroyed. He did not understand God’s plan. Surely, God’s thoughts are not our thoughts, neither his ways our ways (Isaiah 55:8). Like Jonah, sometimes, we resist God’s will and prefer our own will. Later, Jesus made reference to the story of Jonah and the Ninevites while denouncing the Jews, “At the judgment, the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because they repented at the preaching of Jonah; and there is something greater than Jonah here” (Matthew 12:41).

 In the first reading Jonah announced to the people of Nineveh, “Forty days more and Nineveh shall be destroyed.” The reading continues, “When the people of Nineveh believed in God; they proclaimed a fast and all of them, great and small, put on sackcloth. When God saw by their actions how they turned from their evil way, he repented of the evil that he had threatened to do to them; he did not carry it out.” A way of applying the message of this reading is, there are people who must change their way of life or they ruin themselves. For such people, the change is necessary immediately or they are ruined. St. Paul warns in the second reading, “I tell you, brothers and sisters, the time is running out.” The first reading shows us how great God’s mercy is. God forgave the people of Nineveh as soon as they believed in him and turned from their evil way. In the same way, God erases our sinful past when we repent, believe in him, and turn to him. God rescues us from the bondage of our ugly past as soon as we believe in him, turn to him and surrender.

 St. Paul warns in the second reading, “From now on, let those having wives act as not having them, those weeping as not weeping, those rejoicing as not rejoicing, those buying as not owning, those using the world as not using it fully.” This warning to the Corinthians was because at that time followers of Christ thought that the second coming of Christ was imminent. St. Paul taught the Corinthians that since “the time is running out” and “the world in its present form is passing away,” nothing else should matter to anyone except “adherence to the Lord without distraction” (1 Corinthians 7:35).

 This reading speaks to us in a special way. Each person’s world is passing away. It may be sooner or later. Since no one is sure, we are warned to prepare to meet our God any time he calls us. Jesus says in the Gospel, “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” This is a reality that poverty, riches, or any condition must not distract us.

 The Gospel of today is St. Mark’s account of the call of Simon, Andrew, James and John. These men were fishermen. When Jesus called them, they left everything and followed him. Jesus says, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest” (Matthew 9:37-38). We, therefore, pray that more men and women may “abandon their nets,” “their father Zebedee in the boat along with hired men” and become “fishers of men and women.”

 Finally, in the same manner, we are all invited to detach ourselves from the things that may become obstacles to answering God’s call and doing God’s will.

 Fr. Martin Eke, MSP

 

Fr. Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie, MSP - Homily for the Second Sunday of Ordinary Time Year B - January 17, 2021

2ND SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME YEAR B

1 Samuel 3:3-10,19

1 Corinthians 6:13-15,17-20

John 1:35-42

GOD CALLS THOSE WHO MAKE EFFORTS TO BE HOLY

As we continue in the ordinary season of the church, we continue to reflect on the life and ministry of Jesus. We have ended our holidays and we are back to our working places, schools are also resuming tomorrow too in many places. It is the right time for us to plan for the year. We see Jesus planning his own life and ministry too by choosing disciples.

The readings of today are about the call of God for us to follow him and serve him. In the first reading, we see how God called samuel to serve him. We see how Eli the priest guided him and led him to know that it was God that called him. He was patient with him when he came back to him again and again. His countenance and readiness to listen to him, made samuel go back to him again.

In the gospel reading, we see how John directed his Apostles to Jesus. John showed them the lamb of God and the disciples left him and followed Jesus. The disciples followed Jesus at his invitation to know where he lived. His place may not have been the most comfortable place to be, serving God is not for comfort but psalm 84:1-7 tells us that the dwelling place of God is lovely, and one day in the house of God is better than a thousand elsewhere. There have been times that you know that you are at right with God. Those moments are happy moments.

In the second reading, St Paul tells us the type of people Jesus calls to dwell in his holy place. It is those who are Holy and those who make effort to be holy. What effort are you making daily to be Holy? Do you seek holiness in your prayer life, the Holy Eucharist and the sacrament of penance?

Do you live a sinful life? St Paul talked about fornication.  Many people battle with this vice, for some, it is stealing, lying, gossiping,  bad company and many others. God will not call us or allow us to follow him with these vices unless we repent of them. The 2 sons of Eli, Hopni and Phinehaz were at home when God called Samuel,  God did not call them because of their life of debauchery, drunkenness and sins of the flesh. There were many people on the street when God called his Apostles.

Let us ask God for the grace to let go of the vices in our lives, only when we make effort to be with God that we can truly follow him. God help us. Amen.

Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie MSP

Fr. Emmanuel Megwara, MSP - Homily for the Second Sunday of Ordinary Time Year B - January 17, 2021

DATE : 17/1/2021, the Second Sunday of the Year (B)

 EVENT : Mass of the Sunday

 COLOUR:Green

 READINGS 1 Samuel 3:3-10.19; Resp. Psalm. 40:2 and 4ab.7-8.8b-9.10; 1Cor. 6:13c-15a.17-20; John 1:35-42.

 THEME: GOD IS CALLING YOU

    Greetings beloved people of God. I welcome you to "My Catholic Homily Digest". On this Second Sunday of the Ordinary Time of the Church, I wish to reflect with you on the theme: " God is Calling You". Beloved in Christ, during my days in the seminary, one of my very close friends who is not very religious asked me a very shocking question. He said, 'shebi priesthood na call from God? And I answered 'yes'. Then he said to me, 'the day wey God call you, which name he use, Emmanuel or Nnamdi? And I became speechless. Often times, when we hear that God is calling us, we mistake it for a verbal call from God, wanting to hear loud and clear the voice of God before we respond. I guess that was the conception of my friend the day he asked me that question. However, we must realise that God calls each of us in different ways. For some, it may be a direct verbal call from God. For others, it may be an indirect call, through the mouth of a minister of God. For others still, it may be through the events of life, which will then lead them to follow God. Some others may be moved by the word of God which they found in the Scripture or the preaching of God's minister. For others, it may be a natural burning desire to follow God, which through the grace of the Spirit, they were able to respond to appropriately. In whatever way, we receive this call, God wants us to come to him and to do his will.

  In the first reading of today, we were told that while Samuel was ministering to Eli, God called out to him (Cf. 1Sam. 3:1-10). But still being inexperienced in Godly matters, Samuel would not discern the voice of God until Eli intervened and gave him the tricks. The same scenario played out in the Gospel reading also (Cf. John 1:35-42). Jesus was calling the two disciples with John the Baptist in their hearts. But they were not able to perceive this call, until John the Baptist made their hearts to come alive and to quake by pointing out Jesus to them. Then they realised that his invitation has since been in their hearts. Usually unless there is a strong resistance or defiance, God does not force His call on us. But like a gentle guest, he will keep knocking at the doorposts of our hearts (Rev. 3:20), until we voluntarily respond to His call.

   Child of God, in his 'Confessions', St. Augustine said, "Lord you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you". Beloved, you belong to God, and not to yourself. Hence, our lives should be one which is always disposed to please and do the will of God. Whenever God has need for our services, he will call us. But if we indulge ourselves in degrading, unbecoming and sinful deeds, especially that which affect bodily purity (E.g. fornication, adultery, masturbation, lust, tattooing, etc).  As St. Paul warns us in the second reading of today, 1Cor.6:13-15.17-20, then it becomes very difficult for us to be available to answer the call of God. Remembering that it is the sins of Eli's Son, Hophni and Phinehas, that prevented them from being available to respond to the call of God.  God bless you

Oh that today you would listen to his voice harden not your hearts (Ps.95:7-8)

 

 LET US PRAY : Lord Jesus, help me to rid myself of every form of sin that will prevent me from hearing and answering your call in my life..

The Lord be with you....... and with your Spirit.

 May Almighty God bless you in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit......Amen

HAPPY SUNDAY BELOVED FRIENDS.

@ Fada Emmanuel Nnamdi Megwara, MSP. ⛪

Fr. Augustine Inwang, MSP - Homily for the Second Sunday in Ordinary time Year B - January 17, 2021

                 Readings: 1 Sam. 3:31-10, 19; 1 Cor. 6:13-15, 17-20; Jn. 1:35-42 

Listening to the Lord Through Others

1.     We read about the call of Samuel in the first reading this morning. To understand why Samuel was sleeping in the Temple, we must read the first book of Samuel. Hannah, the mother of Samuel prayed for a child and made this promise: “O Lord of hosts, if you look with pity on the misery of your handmaid, if you remember me and do not forget me, if you give your handmaid a male child, I will give him to the Lord for as long as he lives.” (1Sam. 1:11). After the birth of Samuel, Hannah, according to her promise, brought the child to Eli, the priest and said, “Pardon, my lord! As you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood near you here, praying to the Lord. I prayed for this child, and the Lord granted my request. Now I, in turn give him to the Lord; as long as he lives, he shall be dedicated to the Lord.” (1Sam. 1:26-28). While Samuel was ministering in the temple, he was called by the Lord. But “At that time Samuel was not familiar with the Lord, because the Lord had not revealed anything to him as yet.” (1Sam. 3:7). Someone had to teach him to recognize the voice of the Lord. “Then Eli understood that the Lord was calling the youth. So, he said to Samuel, “Go to sleep, and if you are called, reply, “Speak Lord, for your servant is listening.’”

2.     Eli was a high priest who had two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, who also were ministering to the Lord as priests. We are told that Eli’s sons were wicked; “They had respect neither for the Lord nor for the priest’s duties toward the people.” (1Sam. 2:12-17). Eli, their father, warned them against their misdeeds “But they disregarded their father’s warning. Meanwhile, young Samuel was growing in stature and in worth in the estimation of the Lord and of men.” (1Sam. 2:22-26). Did Eli fail as a parent? He could not control his children. People whispered, grumbled and gossiped behind his back. In spite of Eli’s sadness, tears and pleas, his children did not listen to him. Does this sound familiar? How many of you have prayed for your children to join you in church? How many of you have warned your children against their way of life but they would not listen? How many of you have become grandparents by force because your children would not pay attention to your parental guidance? Many of our children have wandered from the path you traced for them. They have allowed society to shape their perception of life rather than the moral imperative that molded the life of their parents. Our selfishness and pride have dictated to us who we should listen to rather than God. Our choices and our quest for material things have turned our attention away from God and all that is good. We have become a god unto ourselves and so prayer, bible, and church matters are mere distractions to our way of life. How can we be rescued from this life of recklessness and doom?

3.     Our readings today give us reasons to be hopeful. There is silver lining in our broken world. There are Samuels out there who will listen to the word of God and allow the Word to form their conscience and keep their feet in the path of righteousness. Therefore, when God wants to speak, he will always look for those who would listen to him in order to carry out his mission. Samuel was a great prophet because Eli, the failed parent of Hophni and Phinehas, opened his mind and spirit to the Lord. He may have failed with his sons, but he did not give up. He taught Samuel how to recognize the voice of God. Our God is a God of a second chance and will always look for our own good in every situation. We can show others the way even if we are not successful ourselves. We can be a teacher, a guide, a counselor, a mentor, a prayer partner, a confidant and a fellow pilgrim to others on life’s journey. We may be more effective to others due to our experiences and our wounds. Though we may have failed in the past, we may become wounded healers to others. Like William Bausch reminds us, “We can teach others to hear when the Lord is calling, even if we missed it the first time around ourselves.”

4.     The Gospel presents us with John as he directed two of his disciples to Jesus, “Behold, the Lamb of God.” Jesus is the sacrificial lamb who died “to gather into one the dispersed children of God.” (Jn.11:51-52). He is the one we are to listen to. He is the way, the truth and the life, no one can go to God except through him (Jn. 14:6). John the Baptist pointed the way to Jesus, and Jesus brings us to God. Eli made it possible for Samuel to recognize the voice of God. Andrew found Peter, his brother, after his encounter with Jesus and told him, “We have found the Messiah.” Then he brought him to Jesus. We must be a conduit to bring others to God. We can point people to the right path, even if we are not the best in what we do. We are wounded healers who will not and should not allow our wounds to keep us from helping others. But to be a mentor, a life coach, a guide and a witness to the truth, we must learn to listen to Jesus. Like Samuel, we must be humble enough to say “Speak Lord, your servant is listening. May we be men and women who point the way to Jesus. Amen.

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP