Fr. Martin Eke, MSP - Homily for Second Sunday of Easter Year C - April 24, 2022

Homily of Second Sunday of Easter Year C, 2022 (Divine Mercy Sunday)

Acts 5:12-16; Psalm 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24; Revelation 19:11-13, 17-19; John 20:19-31

In 2000, St. Pope John Paul II canonized St. Faustina, and made the second Sunday of Easter to be celebrated as Divine Mercy Sunday.  St. Faustina was a Polish nun gifted with mystical visions, messages and revelations from the Risen Jesus. This is a rare instance when a private revelation is authenticated to the degree that it becomes a Sunday celebration by the Universal Church.

The feast situates well following Easter Sunday to show that the events of the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus for the redemption of humanity were out of God’s gratuitous mercy. God’s mercy is gratuitous because humanity did nothing to merit it. 

The author of the Book of Revelation was commanded as we read in the second reading, “Write down what you see” (Revelation 1:11). That was St. Faustina’s experience. She wrote down the revelations that she received. She writes in her diary, “Proclaim that mercy is the greatest attribute of God. All God’s works are crowned with mercy” (Diary 301). God is so merciful and ever forgiving that he does not judge us according to our sins. Psalm 130:3 prays, “If you, Lord, keep account of sins, Lord, who can stand? But with you is forgiveness and so you are revered.” God forgives no matter the depth of one’s sin and guilt. The Parable of the Prodigal Son in Luke 15:11-32 gives us a good idea of the depth of God’s forgiveness. His banner over us is love (Song of Solomon 2:4).

We proclaim God’s mercy, not only in words but also in deeds. God’s mercy continues in our world through us if we become instruments of his mercy by works of charity. Jesus says, “Whatever you did for one of these least brothers [and sisters] of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40). Yes, when we feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, shelter the homeless, visit the sick, visit prisoners, bury the dead, and give alms to the poor, we are treating others as if they were Christ in disguise.

The image of the Divine Mercy of Jesus showing two rays, one reddish (symbolizing blood) and the other whitish (symbolizing water), with the inrcription “Jesus, I trust in you” at the bottom, is one of St. Faustina’s visions. The image takes us back to the passion, crucifixion and death of Jesus.  When the soldier pierced the side of Jesus, “immediately blood and water flowed out” (John 19:34). Jesus said during the Last Supper, “This is my blood of the new covenant, which will be shed on behalf of many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matthew 26:28). St. Faustina writes in her diary, that the water makes souls righteous, and blood is the life of souls (Diary 299).

Jesus invites us as he invited Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe” (John 20:27). Thomas put his finger into the source of divine mercy and was healed of his doubt. In our prayers and as we celebrate the Eucharist, may we receive our own healing. May we receive our healing and deliverance as the people in the first reading: “A large number of people from the towns in the vicinity of Jerusalem also gathered, bringing the sick and those disturbed by unclean spirits, and they were all cured” (Acts 5:16).

The faith of the people is amazing. “Thus they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on one or another of them” (Acts 5:15). If the shadow of Peter had such power, imagine how much more is the Body and Blood of Jesus! May we give testimonies of our own miraculous healings and deliverances. Amen.

St. Faustina's Prayer for Healing: 

"Jesus may Your pure and healthy blood circulate in my ailing organism, and may Your pure and healthy body transform my weak body, and may a healthy and vigorous life throb within me, if it is truly Your holy will" (Diary 1089).

For the sake of His Sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

(Divine Mercy Chaplet)

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP

Fr. Augustine Inwang, MSP - Homily Easter Sunday Year C - April 17, 2022

 Readings: Acts 10:44, 37-43; Col. 3:1-4; Lk. 24:1-12

 

Christ’s Resurrection is Our Life

1.      On this day of the resurrection, we recall the words of Jesus: “That he must go to Jerusalem and suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.” (Mt.16:21). It was strange to the apostles then, but now they believe him. Christ has indeed risen. The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us that: “To be a witness of Christ is to be a “witness to his Resurrection,” to “have eaten and drunk with him after he rose from the dead.” Encounters with the risen Christ characterize the Christian hope of resurrection. We shall rise like Christ, with him, and through him.”(CCC. 995). God will raise our mortal bodies and make them like his own in glory when we die. 

 

2.      The resurrection of Christ demonstrates that we are Easter people living in a Good Friday world. The activity of Good Friday is still very much with us. We are broken and weak, short-tempered, stubborn, and angry; we backbite and betray our friends. The resurrection of Christ assures us that God loves us and that Christ has conquered our weaknesses and death. Yes, to every Good Friday, there is Easter Sunday. To every failure, there is strength in the risen Lord. Every hurt and wrongdoing we forgive is proof of the resurrection. We attest to our faith in the risen Lord when we give to charity or console the bereaved, show compassion and mercy, visit the sick, be kind to the downtrodden. We may be weak, but our risen Lord is strong. We are Easter people and so must sing alleluia to God. According to St. Paul, “If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.” (Col. 3:1). Because He lives, we can see him tomorrow! “He will change our lowly body to conform with his glorified body by the power that enables him to bring all things into subjection to himself.” (Philippians 3:21). The resurrection changed the apostles; it can also change us if we believe in Christ. The resurrection of Christ is an invitation for us to share in his life. Let us rejoice that Christ is risen. Amen

 

                                    Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

 

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP - Homily for Easter Vigil Year C - April 16, 2022

Holy Saturday Easter Vigil concludes the Triduum, the Sacred Paschal Mystery celebration which began on Holy Thursday. Two major events take place during the Holy Saturday Easter Vigil. We begin the ceremony with keeping vigil for the Lord who is in the tomb, and conclude with rejoicing in the Lord’s resurrection.

Before the advent of electricity, gas lights, kerosene lights, flash lights and so on, people who kept vigil made fire, sat around it and told stories. We do the same while keeping vigil for the Lord’s resurrection. We started with the ceremony of lighting the Holy Fire. The Holy Fire is lit while the entire place is in darkness to commemorate God’s creation of light on the earth which was without form or shape and enveloped in darkness. “Then God said: Let there be light, and there was light. God saw that the light was good. God then separated light from darkness” (Genesis 1:2-5). The ceremony of the Holy Fire and the Pascal Candle light is our prayer that God’s Holy Fire burns again in our dark world and dispels all forces of darkness; and that the light of Christ will light our way. We sing in the Exultet, “This is the night that the pillar of fire banished the darkness of sin;” and the Paschal Candle light “overcomes the darkness of this night.”

The Old and New Testament readings we have read remind us of our salvation history. Our salvation history goes back to the creation of the world, the fall of our first parents, the prophecies about Jesus, his coming, his passion, his death and now his resurrection.

We processed into the dark church building with lighted candles and followed the Paschal Candle. This a powerful symbol that we are followers of the Risen Lord who says, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). Soon, in this celebration, we will renew our baptismal promises in which we will renounce Satan and all his works. All these make us partakers in the Sacred Pascal Mystery. These deep and profound spiritual expressions are for our spiritual transformation; and may our Lenten journey, the Triduum, and the Easter celebrations bring us the spiritual transformation.

Our world is enveloped in the darkness of wars, violence, death, refugee crises, bad government, insecurity, fear, poverty, sickness, suffering, godlessness, human made and natural disasters, and so on. May the light of Christ penetrate into the hearts of perpetrators of evils in our world and bring them to repentance. Amen.

Our celebration continues in the morning when we will gather again to celebrate the Risen Lord.

Happy Easter!

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP - Homily for Good Friday Year C - April 15, 2022

Homily of Good Friday, 2022

Isaiah 52:13-53:12; Psalm 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-16; Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9; John 18:1-19:42

What is good about Good Friday when it was such a gloomy day the innocent Son of God, Jesus Christ, was tortured and brutally executed by his crucifixion on the Cross? It is called ‘good’ because Jesus’ passion, crucifixion, and death are for our salvation, and therefore, for our good. As we pray, “By dying, he destroyed our death, and by rising he restored our life” (cf 2 Timothy 1:10). It is the only day of the year the Eucharist is not celebrated. This is because Good Friday’s ceremony is itself a commemoration of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Church theologians and spiritual fathers and mothers have discussed extensively some questions concerning Jesus’ passion, crucifixion, and death. “Why did Jesus have to suffer as brutally as he did to accomplish our salvation?” “Could not our salvation be achieved some other way?” My understanding from the discourse of theologians and spiritual fathers and mothers is that Jesus’ passion, crucifixion, and death is God’s plan for humanity’s salvation. This God’s plan is a mystery beyond human being’s full comprehension and clear explanation. The psalmist says, “Our God is in heaven and does whatever he wills” (Psalm 113:3). Jesus, in his human nature did not, even, fully grasp his crucifixion which prompted him to cry out to God while hanging on the Cross, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Matthew 27:46). Later in his divine nature he cautioned the two men on their way to Emmaus, “Oh, how foolish you are! How slow of heart to believe all that the prophets spoke! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” (Luke 24:25-26).

Many times, we condemn those God used to bring about Jesus’ passion, crucifixion, and death. For example, Judas who betrayed him; the soldiers who arrested him, tortured him and crucified him; the disciples who deserted him; the Jews who accused him falsely and insisted that he must die; Pilate who sentenced him to death and so on. How could our salvation have been possible without all these people? Every one of them played a part in God’s salvation plan for us. “We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose” Romans 8:28).

One of the lessons Jesus’ passion, crucifixion, death and resurrection teach us is that our difficulties and sufferings may be God’s plan for something good and great to come our way. We hear it often said that difficulties and failures are stepping stones to success.

The entire 40 days of the Lenten Season reached its climax today, the day of Jesus’ crucifixion. Today has been a day of fasting, prayer, and meditation on the agony and suffering of Christ. We prayed the Stations of the Cross earlier. The Passion narrative according to St. John’s Gospel, we have just read, connects us back to the fourteen Stations of the Cross.

We identify with the Passion of Christ as we all carry our various crosses. No doubt, many of us carrying all kinds of shapes and weights of crosses. Many of us have falling several times under the weight of their crosses. Many of us are feeling as if they are hanging on a cross and crying “My God, my God; why have you abandoned me.” Many of us are feeling like being offered vinegar to drink for their thirst. As we venerate the crucifix, we pray with Jesus, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46).

When the Israelites sinned and were attacked by ferocious snakes, God did not abandon them. He directed Moses to mold a bronze serpent and place it on a pole, so that “anyone who was bitten by a snake could look at the bronze snake and be healed” (Numbers 21:9). Jesus promises us, “When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself” (John12:32). “For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day” (John 6:40).

By venerating the crucifix today, we pray to “persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:2).

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP - Homily for Holy Thursday Year C - April 14, 2022

 Homily of Holy Thursday, 2022

Exodus 12:1-8, 11-14; Psalm 116:12-13, 15-16; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-15

Holy Thursday begins the three days’ liturgical celebrations of one great festival recounting the last three days of Jesus' life on earth, the events of his passion, crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection. The festival is called the Sacred Paschal Triduum. Triduum is a word formed from two Latin words: 'tri' meaning ‘three’ and 'dies' meaning ‘day.’ A triduum is a three-day period of prayer.

Holy Week Wednesday is sometimes called ‘Spy Wednesday.’ It is so called because Judas Iscariot had become a spy for the chief priests. He had received thirty pieces of silver from them and was seeking an opportunity to hand Jesus over to them (Matthew 26:14-16).

Three major events took place on Holy Thursday:

First event: With the Last Supper, Jesus established the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. It is, generally, said that Jesus celebrated the first Mass on Holy Thursday. We read in the second reading, “The Lord Jesus, on the night he was handed over, took bread, and, after he had given thanks, broke it and said, ‘This is my body that is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way also the cup, after supper, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me’” (1 Corinthians 11:23-26). By Jesus’ proclamation, “This is my body,” “This is my blood,” we believe in the real presence of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. The Holy Mass is, also, the highest prayer of the Catholic Church. Quoting Lumen Gentium (No. 11) of Vatican II, the Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that the Eucharist is “the source and submit of the Christian life” (No. 1324). The Catechism maintains in No. 1327, “The Eucharist is the sum and summary of our faith.” 

Second event: On Holy Thursday, Jesus instituted the ministerial priesthood. The two actions of Jesus through which he instituted the apostles as priests are: (1) He commanded them, “Do this in remembrance of me.” (2) As we read in the Gospel, “You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do” (John 13:13). This is the reason Chrism Mass is traditionally celebrated on Holy Thursday when ministerial oils are blessed by the bishop, and priests renew their priestly commitment. Let us love and support our priests. Let us pray that priests may live out their priestly commitment. We pray for the increase in priestly vocation. Someone says, “No priest, no Eucharist!” We pray for seminarians and their formators.

Third event: Holy Thursday is also called “Maundy Thursday,” which can be translated as “Command Thursday,” or “Mandate Thursday.” The word 'Maundy' is derived from the Latin word 'mandatum,' meaning 'mandate.' Jesus commanded the apostles, “Do this in remembrance of me;” “I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.”

Jesus invites every Christian to royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9) and mandates us to wash each other’s feet. This means to live a life of service. We are called to wash dirty feet. The dirtier the feet we wash, the deeper our relationship with God.

The first reading narrates the feast of the first Passover which symbolizes spiritual food for the Israelites’ journey to the Promised Land. The Eucharist is our spiritual food for our journey of faith and our journey to eternal life. God commanded the Israelites to apply the blood of the lamb on the lintel of every house in order to be saved from the angel of death. Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world and has purchased us by his blood. St. Paul writes, “In him we have redemption by his blood, the forgiveness of transgressions, in accord with the riches of his grace” (Ephesians 1:7).

In prayer, we surrender ourselves to Jesus to wash away our sins and our sorrows with his blood. We join Peter to implore Jesus to wash our feet, our hands, and our head. May he wash our souls and our entire bodies. May he heal us, deliver us, protect us and save us. Amen.

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP - Homily for Palm Sunday Year C - April 10, 2022

Homily of Palm Sunday Year C, 2022

Luke 19:28-40; Isaiah 50:4-7; Psalm 22:8-9, 17-20, 23-24; Philippians 2:6-11; Luke 22:14-23:56

Today is the sixth and last Sunday of Lent called Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord. It commemorates the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem days before he was crucified. Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week. The passion narrative from the Gospel of Luke invites us to participate step by step in the passion journey of Jesus Christ.

Almost all Jewish prophets prophesied the coming of the messiah who was to redeem Israel from her oppressors. At the time of Jesus, Israel was governed by the Romans. Jesus’ disciples were convinced that Jesus was a political messiah who would lead a rebellion against the Roman colonial rule and drive out the Romans. For that reason, on arriving in Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover, he was given a rousing and heroic welcome. We read in today’s gospel, “As he rode along, the people were spreading their cloaks on the road; and as he was approaching the slope of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of his disciples began to praise God aloud with joy for all the mighty deeds they had seen. They proclaimed: ‘Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest”’ (Luke 19:36-38).

John’s Gospel is specific about palm branches: “They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, ‘Hosanna!’ ‘Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!’ ‘Blessed is the king of Israel!"’ (John 12:13). The tradition of blessing of palms and the name ‘Palm Sunday’ are based on John’s Gospel. Waving of palm branches is an expression of victory. ‘Hosanna’ is an Aramaic word which means, “save us now.”

Blessed palm is not to be thrown around or discarded as trash. It is kept reverently until next year when it is returned to the church to be burned and the ash is put on our forehead on Ash Wednesday.

I don’t think that the people would have given Jesus such a rousing and heroic welcome if they knew he was not a political messiah. A few days later, the same crowd shouted, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” I guess that the people were frustrated and disappointed that Jesus did not fulfill their expectation. If Jesus had overthrown the Roman leadership, everyone would have stood behind him. He would not have been crucified. Are we like the crowd? We get very disappointed, and frustrated, and upset when our expectations are not met, or when we fail to get what we want. Then, we become aggressive, destructive, or even murderous.

As we read in the gospel, Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a colt (a young donkey). Jesus chose to enter into Jerusalem on a donkey instead of a horse. He identified himself with a donkey which is a beast of burden, thereby fulfilling Isaiah 53:54, “He took up our pain and bore our suffering.” As donkeys carry loads, Jesus carries our pains and sufferings.

During Jesus’ time, horse was the means of transportation for the rich, the high and the mighty, while donkey was the means of transportation for the poor. By riding on a donkey, Jesus identified himself with the poor and the lowly. Jesus teaches us to do the same. He wants us to identify with the burdened, the needy, the sick and the suffering. And by riding on a donkey, Jesus teaches us the importance of detachment and humility. In Matthew 11:29, Jesus says, “Learn from me for I am gentle and humble in heart.”

Today’s celebration becomes even more meaningful if Jesus makes a triumphal entry into our lives. May nothing stop Jesus’ entry into our lives. Jesus says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, then I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me” (Revelations 3:20).

Lastly, St. Andrew of Crete writes, “Let us imitate those who have gone out to meet him, not scattering olive branches or garments or palms in his path, but spreading ourselves before him as best as we can with humility of soul and upright purpose … It is ourselves that we must spread under Christ’s feet…”

We sing together: Jesus, we adore you, lay our lives before you, how we love you!

Triumphant Jesus, save us now. Amen.

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP

Fr. Augustine Inwang, MSP - Homily for Palm Sunday Year C - April 10, 2022

 

Readings: Is. 50:4-7; Phil. 2:6-11; Lk. 22:14-23:56

 

Holy Week at A Glance

1.      Today is Palm Sunday. Let us look at Holy Week at a glance and all the activities that go with it before the resurrection of Christ. Palm Sunday was a joyful and triumphant day as well as a disturbing and tumultuous one for Christ. On this day Jesus was given a red-carpet reception as he entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey. Palm branches were used to welcome royalties in the olden days, even today in some cultures. “The palm branch symbolizes victory, triumph, peace, and eternal life originating in the ancient Near East and the Mediterranean world. So, Christ was received as a victorious king in Jerusalem with fanfare. He did not ride on a horse, a prestigious symbol of war but on a donkey, indicative of peace and humility, the trademark of the king of peace. It was not just any donkey, but one on which no one had ever sat, the prerogative of a king. Seeing Him on the donkey, the Jews surging around Him recalled the words of the Prophet Zechariah 500 years earlier: “Exult greatly, O daughter Zion! Shout for joy, O daughter Jerusalem! Behold: your king is coming to you; a just savior is he, Humble, and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. He shall banish the chariot from Ephraim and the horse from Jerusalem.” (Zec. 9:9-10). Pope Benedict XVI explained these Old Testament words as they relate to Jesus: “He is a king who destroys the weapons of war, a king of peace and a king of simplicity, a king of the poor.… Jesus is not building on violence; he is not instigating a military revolt against Rome” (‘Jesus of Nazareth: Holy Week,’ Ignatius Press, 2011, pp. 81-82). People came out to receive king Jesus crying Hosanna to the Son of David. 

 

2.      The passion narrative demonstrates people playing different roles in their relationship with Jesus. Judas Iscariot betrayed him; Peter denied him while the other apostles ran away. Many in the crowd said different things about Jesus. Many other reactions and vituperations trailed him on the road to Calvary. False witnesses rose up against him, the scribes and the Pharisees called for his head. Pilate did not just condemn him to painful torture and death on the Cross, he humiliated him first by having him flogged. Women cried for him, and some men despised him. Soldiers ridiculed him, and bystanders mocked him. Holy Week was a painful one for Jesus, who suffered for our sake. Palm branches are thrown away, and Hosanna to the Son of David is replaced with “away with him, crucify him.” Yet Jesus rode to Jerusalem with love in his heart and prayer for forgiveness on his lips for his torturers. No wonder St. Paul reminded us: “For our sake he (God) made him to be sin who did not know sin so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.” (2Cor. 5:21). Yes, “He emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, coming in human likeness; and found human in appearance, he humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (second reading). “Greater love than this no man has,” he tells us, “That a man should lay down his life for his friends.”(Jn. 15:13). But even within that hostile crowd, there were many acts of kindness shown to Jesus. Simon assisted Christ to carry the Cross. Veronica wiped his face. Women of Jerusalem wept for him. One of the soldiers offered him wine, albeit vinegar, when he was thirsty. His mother and other women were there at the foot of the Cross; Joseph of Arimathea offered his new tomb for his burial. What would you have done for him if you were there? You can still do it for him even now. For “Whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Mt. 25:40) Which character best describes you and your relationship with Jesus? Are you with Jesus or against him?        

 

3.      After the triumphal entry into Jerusalem, Christ gathered his apostles for a parting meal, the first Eucharist, and the institution of the sacred priesthood. This was a demonstration of brotherly love and the giving of a new commandment, “Love one another as I have loved you.” (Jn. 13:13) The celebration takes place on Holy Thursday at the Mass of the last supper. On Good Friday we venerate the Cross of our salvation. Jesus tells us “When I am lifted up from the earth, I shall draw everyone to myself.” (Jn. 12:32) “O Cross of Christ, immortal tree, on which our Savior died, the world is sheltered by your arms that bore the Crucified.”(Lenten Hymn). On Holy Saturday, we wait at the tomb of Jesus in anticipation of Easter Sunday when we will celebrate the resurrection of Christ. “O happy fault that earned so great, so glorious a Redeemer!” (Exultet). Are we ready to reciprocate Christ’s love by committing ourselves to this week of grace? Let us be grateful to Christ for his love. As we celebrate Palm Sunday today, may we look forward with joy to celebrating Christ’s resurrection and our freedom from sin and death. Amen!

 

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP