31ST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A, 2023 BY FR MARTIN EKE, MSP

Malachi 1:14-2:2, 8-10; Psalm 131:1-3; 1 Thessalonians 2:7-9, 13; Matthew 23:1-12

A major duty of priests is to proclaim God’s commandments and explain it to the flock. Today, every priest is invited to self-examen. In the first reading, God says through Prophet Malachi, “And now, O priests, this commandment is for you” (Malachi 2:1). “You have turned aside from the way, and have caused many to falter by your instruction” (Malachi 2:8). The message continues, “I, therefore, have made you contemptible and base before all the people, since you do not keep my ways, but show partiality in your decisions” (Malachi 2:9). And a warning, “If you do not listen, if you do not lay it to heart, to give glory to my name, … I will send a curse upon you and of your blessings I will make a curse” (Malachi 2:2).

Why is God furious with priests, and why are people contemptible with priests? I think, it is because as Jesus states, “Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more” (Luke 12:48). St. Paul reminds priests, “Consider your own calling, brothers. Not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth” (1 Corinthians 1:26). Priests are mere earthen vessels holding God’s treasure (2 Corinthians 4:7). Therefore, no priest has anything to boast about himself!

“Every high priest is taken from among men and made their representative before God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins” (Hebrews 5:1). Priests are men of God, mediators between God and human beings, and dispensers of God’s mysteries (1 Corinthians 4:1). Due to priests’ sacred position, men and women entrust their lives to them.

Priests’ sacred responsibilities are the “much” and the “more” entrusted to them. Therefore, when they turn aside from what God and human beings have entrusted to them and turn to “mammon,” God becomes furious, and human beings become contemptible. For this reason, St. Paul advises priests, “to live in a manner worthy of the call [they] have received” (Ephesians 4:1).

It is important to always pray for priests. As spiritual fathers and leaders, whatever priests do, in one way or another, has an effect on the faithful, either positively or negatively. We see the rebuke in the first reading, “You have turned aside from the way, and have caused many to falter by your instruction” (Malachi 2:8).  While priests’ sin has a defiling effect on the people (Leviticus 4:3), priests’ righteousness makes the faithful shout for joy (Psalm 132:9).

Pray for priests not to be hypocrites like the scribes and the Pharisees Jesus rebuked in today’s gospel. “For they preach, but they do not practice. They tie up heavy burdens hard to carry and lay them on people’s shoulders, but they will not lift a finger to move them. All their works are performed to be seen. … They love places of honor at banquets, seats of honor in synagogues, greetings in marketplaces, and the salutation ‘Rabbi’” (Matthew 23:3-7).

Due to priests’ spiritual responsibilities, Satan incessantly wages war on them from various fronts to wound the Body of Christ. Pray for priests as Jesus prayed for his apostles when Satan desired to sift them like wheat (Luke 22:31-32), that priests’ faith may not fail and that they may continue to strengthen the flock.

Pray for the fulfilment of God’s promise through Prophet Jeremiah, “I will appoint for you shepherds after my own heart, who will shepherd you wisely and prudently” (Jeremiah 3:15).

We thank God who uses priests as mediators between himself and human beings and uses them to dispense his mysteries despite priests’ weaknesses and sins. Priests are “wounded healers.” Indeed, as St. Paul writes, “where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more” (Romans 5:20). In priests, God’s power is made manifest in weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Thanks be to God for the faithful flock who looks upon Jesus whom priests represent and not upon the weaknesses and sins of priests.

Let us pray:

Gracious and loving God, we thank you for the gift of our priests. Through them, we experience your presence in the sacraments. Help our priests to be strong in their vocation.

Set their souls on fire with love for your people. Grant them the wisdom, understanding, and strength they need to follow in the footsteps of Jesus.

Inspire them with the vision of your Kingdom. Give them the words they need to spread the Gospel. Allow them to experience joy in their ministry. Help them to become instruments of your divine grace. We ask this through Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns as our Eternal Priest. Amen. (United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Prayer for Priest)

30TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A, 2023 BY FR MARTIN EKE, MSP

Exodus 22:20-26; Psalm 18:2-4, 47, 51; 1 Thessalonians 1:5-10; Matthew 22:34-40

In the first reading, the Israelites had left Egypt and were no longer under Pharaoh and the laws of Egypt. The reading is a section of the guiding rules God gave to the Israelites on how to take care of the weak and the needy among them. The reading mentions aliens, widows, orphans, and the poor.

One would have expected the Israelites who were enslaved in Egypt and who were on their way to the Promised Land to care and love one another. No! It was not long they had left Egypt, those among them who were more privileged turned on the aliens, the widows, the orphans, and the poor, molested them, oppressed them, and forcefully took what belonged to them; committing among themselves the same sins which they were delivered from in Egypt!

This is many countries’ experience. For example, Nigeria was colonized by Britian for over 60 years. Nigeria got independence in 1960. Seven years after the independence, Nigerians turned on themselves and plunged into a civil war that claimed more than three million lives within the three years the war lasted. Across the world, people are fleeing from their own countries, dying across deserts, drowning in seas, treated inhumanly by human smugglers and traffickers, and some places the escapees are seeking refuge because of oppression and cruelty by their own people.  Here in the United States, we see the menace of gun violence against one another. Senseless and mindless in-fighting exists in families, communities, parishes, and so on.

Therefore, the guiding rules God gave to the Israelites are as important to us today as they were for the Israelites. The plight of the poor and the underprivileged in our communities and society cannot be over emphasized. The heartless coveting and forceful possession of what belongs to the people and what should benefit the people, by corrupt and mischievous people, is well known. We continue to pray for the repentance of those who steal, kill, and plunder, and the corrupt and mischievous people who oppress the poor, the powerless, and the voiceless.

On our part, let us avoid greed and injustice and stand against those vices wherever we find ourselves. Let us always stand for fairness, justice, and compassion.

“You shall not molest or oppress an alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt. You shall not wrong any widow or orphan” (Exodus 20:20-21). This is justice and compassion. In the same vein, aliens, widows, and orphans are not to become thorns in the flesh of relatives and communities.

“If you lend money to one of your poor neighbors …, you shall not act like an extortioner toward him by demanding interest from him. If you take your neighbor’s cloak as a pledge, you shall return it to him before sunset; for this cloak of his is the only covering he has for his body. What else has he to sleep in?” (Exodus 20:24-26). This is fairness and compassion. In the same vein, the poor person is to be humble instead of arrogant. A combination of poverty and arrogance is bad news.

Answering the question, “Which commandment in the law is the greatest?” Jesus says, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind… You shall love your neighbor as yourself. The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments” (Matthew 22:36-40). Love of God is not possible without love of neighbor. Human beings are images of God. St. John’s letter explains, “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ but hates his brother is a liar; for whoever does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. This is the commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother” (1 John 4:20-21). This means that the first law, love of God, is determined by the second law, love of neighbor. Where there is no love of neighbor, there is no love of God. Jesus makes it clearer when he says, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me” (Matthew 25:40).

For all of us, our love for one another will go far with humility, fairness, compassion, and justice. May God bless us with these virtues. Amen.

29TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A, 2023 BY FR MARTIN EKE, MSP

 Isaiah 45:1, 4-6; Psalm 96:1, 3-5, 7-10; 1 Thessalonians 1:1-5; Matthew 22:15-21

Today is World Mission Sunday. It is a Sunday set aside for Catholics worldwide to recommit themselves to the Church's missionary activities through prayer and sacrifice. We are invited to, constantly, pray for the success of the Church’s missionary activities all over the world. In addition to our prayers, we are, also, invited to offer material and financial support to the Church’s missionary activities. We are all missionaries, either by going to the missions or by praying for missionaries or by giving to support or sustain the missions. Also, today, in a special way, we pray for men and women of goodwill who sacrifice their resources to support God’s work in the missions.

For this year’s World Mission Sunday, Pope Francis reflects on the theme, “Hearts on fire, feet on the move” drawn from the story of the disciples on the way to Emmaus in Luke 24:13-35. The Pope writes, “Those two disciples were confused and dismayed, but their encounter with Christ in the word and in the breaking of the bread sparked in them the enthusiastic desire to set out again towards Jerusalem and proclaim that the Lord had truly risen. … their hearts burned within them as they heard the Scriptures explained by Jesus, their eyes were opened as they recognized him (in the breaking of bread), and ultimately, their feet set out on the way. By meditating on these three images, which reflect the journey of all missionary disciples, we can renew our zeal for evangelization in today’s world.”

The readings present to us individuals God sent on various missions. In the first reading is King Cyrus. Although he was a Persian pagan king, God anointed him and gave him the mission to set the people of Israel free from the Babylonian captivity. In the second reading are Paul, Silvanus (Silas) and Timothy. God gave them the mission of preaching the Good News. We recall that Paul was a persecutor of Christians, but God made him “a chosen instrument” (Acts 9:15). Silvanus and Timothy were converts to Christianity. They became Paul’s co-workers and great missionaries. That God used Cyrus, Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy as his chosen instruments, not minding their past and former ways of life, is an encouragement to us that God calls everyone and wants to use everyone to continue the mission of Jesus at various levels. Everyone is qualified!

The mission of Jesus which we are to continue is as in Luke 4:18, proclaim good news to the poor, proclaim freedom for the prisoners, bring recovery of sight to the blind, and set the oppressed free. In Matthew 10:8, “Heal the sick, cleanse those who have leprosy, and drive out demons.” And as in Matthew 25:35-40, give food to the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome strangers, clothe the naked, and visit prisoners.

The mission of Jesus is in faraway lands and within and around us. Therefore, let us pray to have the spirit of mission like Paul, Silvanus and Timothy, and other great missionaries through whose sacrifice Christianity reached the ends of the earth and has survived till our time. Let our hearts burn within us; let our eyes be opened; and let our feet set out on the way, as Pope Francis demands of us in his message. Let us proceed without delay like Mary, the mother of Jesus. When she received the message concerning her cousin, Elizabeth, the word of God says, “She set out and went with haste” to be with Elizabeth (Luke 1:39-56). What a great mission! There is always an ‘Elizabeth’ somewhere who needs our attention and support. Each of us has a mission. Let us set out and go with haste.

There are four stages of mission:  Stage one is CALL to mission from God. Stage two is ACCEPTANCE of mission from us. Stage three is GOD’S GRACE for the mission from God. Stage four is mission ACCOMPLISHMENT by God and us.

However, every mission has its tests, difficulties, and challenges. There were tests, difficulties, and challenges for Jesus, as we see in today’s gospel. The Pharisees and the Herodians plotted to entrap him by putting him to test. There were tests, difficulties, and challenges for Paul and Silas. In Macedonia, they were falsely accused, beaten severely, and thrown into prison (Acts 16:16-40). Paul boasts of his sufferings in 2 Corinthians 11:16-33 of being in prison several times, flogged severely several times, and exposed to death several times. Therefore, we are not to be discouraged by mission tests, difficulties, and challenges since we rely on God’s grace and not on ourselves.

St. Paul boasts of his sufferings. What sufferings for the sake of the Good News can I boast of?

Let us pray: O Lord, by your grace, let our hearts burn within us, let our eyes be opened, and let our feet set out on the way to the mission you have given to us. Amen.

28TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A, 2023 FR MARTIN EKE, MSP

Isaiah 25:6-10; Psalm 23:1-6; Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20; Matthew 22:1-14

The first reading is Isaiah’s prophecy of the mission of Jesus Christ. Every word in the first reading is fulfilled in Jesus: “A feast of rich food and choice wines… The veil that veils all peoples, he will destroy, the web that is woven over all nations; he will destroy death forever. He will wipe away the tears from every face; the reproach of his people he will remove… Behold, our God to whom we looked to save us!” (Isaiah 25:7-9). Jesus provided all these when he came. He is still providing them in our time. “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

The gospel is the parable of the wedding feast. The Jews who refused to accept Jesus were those who either had excuses or ignored the wedding invitation and who mistreated and killed the messengers of the king. Those who were gathered from the streets to fill the hall were the Jews and the non-Jews who accepted the message of salvation and became followers of Jesus.

Why, then, was someone who was called from the street be punished for not having dressed in a wedding garment? In the ancient Middle East marriage feasts, special wedding garments were provided by the host, so that everyone dressed well. To refuse to wear the wedding garment, provided free of charge by the host, and decided to remain in shabby clothing, was an act of disobedience and a dishonor to the host and the celebration.

For Catholics, the Holy Eucharist is our earthly wedding banquet, which is a foretaste of the heavenly banquet. The parable reminds us that the heavenly banquet awaits us after our earthly journey. Our wedding garment here on earth is life in Christ, which we must put on. St. Paul writes in Romans 13:14, “But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the desires of the flesh.” In 2 Corinthians 5:17, he writes, “So whoever is in Christ is a new creation: the old things have passed away; behold, new things have come.” We must, therefore, discard the shabby clothes of sin (desires of the flesh) and put on Christ.

This means that salvation is freely offered, but heaven is merited. Therefore, while on this earthly journey, as St. Paul invites us to, “Seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God” (Colossians 3:1). St. Paul describes what awaits us in heaven: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived; the things that God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9).

In the parable, “Some ignored the invitation and went away, one to his farm, another to his business. The rest laid hold of his servants, mistreated them, and killed them” (Matthew 22:5-6). Nowadays, ignoring the Mass while doing nothing or preoccupied with other businesses has become common for many Catholics. The persecution of God’s ministers has also become widespread.

Someone asked recently whether it is still a mortal sin to miss Sunday Mass, considering how a lot of Catholics go to Mass nowadays, only when it is convenient for them or when there are activities and not as obligatory spiritual exercise. The fourth Commandments says, “Remember the Sabbath (the Lord’s Day), keep it holy” (Exodus 20:8). The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches, “The Sunday Eucharist is the foundation and confirmation of all Christian practice. For this reason, the faithful are obliged to participate in the Eucharist on days of obligation, unless excused for a serious reason (for example, illness, the care of infants) or dispensed by their own pastor. Those who deliberately fail in this obligation commit a grave sin” (CCC 2181). The Commandment and the teaching of the Catholic Church have not changed!

TV, Facebook, and YouTube Masses are only for the sick, the homebound, and those unable to go to Mass out of necessity; not for those who intentionally miss Mass. Someone says, "Put God first, and everything will fall into place."

St. Paul tells us in the second reading, “I can do all things in him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). Let us seek God first, for he is our strength. We are assured in the first reading, “The veil that veils all peoples, he will destroy, the web that is woven over all nations; he will destroy death forever. He will wipe away the tears from every face; the reproach of his people he will remove… Behold, our God to whom we looked to save us!” (Isaiah 25:7-9).

Amen.

27TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A, 2023 FR MARTIN EKE, MSP

Isaiah 5:1-7; Psalm 80:9, 12-16; Philippians 4:6-9; Matthew 21:33-43

The first reading is a parable and Isaiah’s prophecy of the conquest of Jerusalem and Judah by Assyria in 701 BC, which was God’s punishment to the Israelites for their ingratitude and godlessness. Judah was God’s cherished vineyard that produced wild grapes instead of good grapes. Instead of judgement and justice, there were bloodshed and outcry from the oppressed.

In the gospel, Jesus told the chief priests and the elders a parable about the tenants who rebelled against the landowner. They assaulted and killed the landowner’s servants. They also killed his son. Jesus presented this parable as a prophesy about himself, concerning his rejection by the chief priests and the elders, and his crucifixion by them. Jesus ended the parable with a quotation from Psalm 118:22, “The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.” Builders at the time of Jesus used stones to form pillars for buildings. Jesus is the cornerstone of salvation rejected by the chief priests and the elders. Whoever rejects Jesus Christ, the cornerstone of salvation, labors and builds in vain (Psalm 127:1). Jesus says, “For apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5).

Many countries and their rulers are like the vineyard of God in the first reading and the wicked and ungrateful tenants in the gospel reading. God blessed the countries with resources to benefit the citizens. Instead of good judgement and justice, what we see are greed, corruption, bloodshed, and outcry. In those places, human beings turn God’s blessings into curses and tragedies. May God rescue his oppressed children.

Also, we know many instances of individuals who are architects of their own self-destruction. Due to greed and vanity, they turn from cherished vineyard to wild vineyard and produce wild grapes instead of good grapes.

God gave human beings a beautiful world and the authority to subdue everything in it. Then human beings rebel against God and reject him. In many places, God is removed from politics, administration, judiciary, economy, business, science, technology, education, mass media, medicine, family, and religion. Religion is included because some people worship mammon and Satan instead of God.

We are God’s vineyards (first reading) and his tenants (gospel reading). As vineyards who have received so many blessings from God, we are to be grateful to him; and we are to bear good fruits. As tenants (stewards), we are to be productive and accountable. We are not to be destructive, rebellious, and unaccountable. Jesus says, “Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more” (Luke 12:48).

In the second reading, St. Paul gives us a guide to bear good fruits, to be productive, and to be accountable. He tells us to keep before us and to pursue “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, and if there is anything worthy of praise” (Philippians 4:8).

Finally, St. Paul encourages us that as stewards of God’s work, “Have no anxiety at all, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. Then, the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds” (Philippians 4:6). Amen.

26TH Sunday in Ordinary Time of Year A, 2023 by Fr Martin Eke, MSP

 Ezekiel 18:25-28; Psalm 25:4-9; Philippians 2:1-11; Matthew 21:28-32

In the gospel, the first son who replied to his father, “I will not,” afterwards changed his mind and did his father’s will. But the second son who said “Yes, sir” to the father did not do his father’s will. Jesus used the parable to address the chief priests and the elders who refused to accept him as the savior sent by God, although they were God’s Chosen People. The second son represents them. While the first son represents the tax collectors and prostitutes who believed in Jesus and repented. The gospel helps us to understand the first reading.  The Jewish leaders were the virtuous persons who turned away from virtue to commit iniquity, and the tax collectors and prostitutes were the wicked who turned away from wickedness.

The readings do not stop at telling us what happened in the Old Testament and during the time of Jesus. The readings are an invitation to us to examine the way and manner we live out our callings and responsibilities. We make all kinds of commitments, promises, oaths, vows, covenants, and agreements when we accept our various callings and responsibilities. Many times, we fall short of them. In this way, we are like the second son.

St. Paul, in the second reading, instructs us that to be true to our callings and responsibilities, we are to have in us the same attitude that is in Jesus Christ who did nothing out of selfishness or out of vainglory. Rather, he emptied and humbled himself and was obedient to God to the point of death on a cross.

We can name, from the readings, three vices which make us fall short of our callings and responsibilities and cause us to commit iniquity. The vices are pride, selfishness, and disobedience.  These vices have brought the downfall of many people. Therefore, in order to preserve our lives, our callings, and our responsibilities, we are to keep away from those vices. Because of Christ’s humility, obedience, and selflessness, “God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name…” Therefore, if we embrace these virtues (humility, obedience, and selflessness), God will also raise us to greater heights.

We read in the first reading, “When someone virtuous turns away from virtue to commit iniquity and dies, it is because of the iniquity he committed that he must die.” There are many instances of people who started very well, then veered off to bad ways, and ended up badly. There are, also, instances of people who changed from their evil ways and became successful. The conversion of St. Paul (the author of the second reading) is a good example. Again, we are invited to examine ourselves to know whether we have veered off from virtuousness and make a U-turn in time to prevent misfortune.

The first son replied, ‘“I will not,’ but afterwards, he changed his mind and went.” This son teaches us to reflect over our decisions and actions, know when we are in error, accept the necessary corrections, and make the necessary changes. Humility, obedience, and selflessness enable us to take corrections and make changes with less difficulty. But pride, selfishness, and disobedience keep us unrepentant and blind to truth. According to a research report, it takes 43 muscles to frown and 17 to smile.

The second son replied, ‘“Yes, Sir,’ but did not go.” Failed commitments, broken promises, broken oaths, broken vows, broken covenants, and broken agreements have left us with a broken world, broken countries, a wounded Church, broken institutions, broken communities, broken homes, broken marriages, broken relationships, broken friendships, and broken hearts. These cause much pain and distress to many people and the death of many people.  We pray for conversion and healing.

Jesus teaches us in Matthew 5:37, “Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’ Anything more is from the evil one.” May we be people of integrity who say ‘Yes’ to truth and say ‘No’ to evil. As St. Paul invites us in the second reading, may we have in us the same attitude that is in Jesus Christ as we answer our callings and carry out our responsibilities. Amen.

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP

25TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YR A, 2023

Isaiah 55:6-9; Psalm 145:2-3, 8-9, 17-18; Philippians 1:20-24, 27; Matthew 20:1-16

In the first reading, Prophet Isaiah tells us that God’s thoughts are not our thoughts nor his ways our ways. As high as the heavens are above the earth, so high are God’s ways above our ways, and his thoughts above our thoughts. St. Paul says, “For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the eyes of God” (1 Corinthians 3:19).

Jesus’ parables are said to be earthly stories with heavenly meanings. The parable in today’s gospel is full of heavenly meanings and goes against the wisdom of this world. In the parable, those who worked all day received the same wage as those who worked for a few hours and those who worked for only one hour. Judging from human wisdom and standards, the landowner acted unfairly by paying all the workers the same amount.

However, Jesus did not tell this parable to teach employers how to pay workers. With this parable, Jesus taught the lawyers, the scribes, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the priests that although the Gentiles received the message of salvation later than the Jews, the Gentiles would have equal share in the Kingdom of God. Salvation and heaven are not classed.

Before and during the time of Jesus, the lawyers, the scribes, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the priests had entitlement mentality. In our time, there are places where some people, due to their entitlement mentality, deny others their rights and privileges. There are places where some people, due to their entitlement mentality, render others as nobodies. Jesus says in Matthew 5:22, “Whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into fiery hell.” St. Paul tells us in the second reading, “Only, conduct yourselves in a way worthy of the gospel of Christ” (Philippians 1:27). The way of the gospel of Christ is as St. Paul writes in Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Jesus prays for us in John 17:21, “I pray that they may be one….”

A song by Marty Haugen titled “All are Welcome” says,

Let us build a house

where love can dwell

and all can safely live,

a place where saints and children tell

how hearts learn to forgive.

Built of hopes and dreams and visions,

rock of faith and vault of grace;

here the love of Christ

shall end divisions.

All are welcome, all are welcome,

all are welcome in this place.

Countries, races, institutions, religions, organizations, communities, families, and we all in one way or another are guilty since exclusions, exceptions, and exemptions exist everywhere. Exclusions, exceptions, and exemptions that demean or cause suffering or endanger life is sinful.

The parable in today’s gospel is one of the biblical explanations why the Catholic Church performs the Last Rite (the Sacrament of Extreme Unction) on those in danger of death or the dying in the hope of the individuals’ repentance and God’s forgiveness of their sins and be welcomed into his kingdom. The dying thief crucified by the side of Jesus received forgiveness and was welcomed into paradise (Luke 23:43).

Jesus concludes his instruction in today’s gospel with the following words, “The last will be the first, and the first will be the last.” This reminds me of a boxing tournament where the boxer who had only 50 points knocked out his opponent who had 150 points within the last twenty seconds of the fight. There are many instances like this. The unemployed men who stood at the marketplace did not walk away in disappointment. They remained until 5:00 PM! Their perseverance, patience, waiting, and hoping paid off!

Therefore, be patient. Persevere. Keep hoping. Keep fighting. Keep trying. Keep praying. Do not give up. Do not walk away in disappointment. You may become a winner within the last twenty seconds. You may be visited by the Lord, the Landowner, at the nick of time. All we need to do is wait for Him! (Isaiah 40:31).

24TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YR A, 2023

Sirach 27:30-28:7; Psalm 103:1-4, 9-12; Romans 14:7-9; Matthew 18:21-35

While forgiveness is at the heart of Christian spirituality, retaliation and revenge are clearly enshrined in the beliefs and practices of some religions and some cultures and are deep in the way of life of many people. The first reading says, “Anger and wrath are hateful things, yet the sinner hugs them tight.” The reading explains how forgiveness is important to our prayer life and our relationship with God: “Forgive your neighbor’s injustice; then when you pray, your own sins will be forgiven. Could anyone nourish anger against another and expect healing from the Lord? Could anyone refuse mercy to another like himself; can he seek pardon for his own sins?” We pray in the Lord’s Prayer, “Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us” (Matthew 6:12).

Last Sunday, God urgently invited us to forgiveness and reconciliation. The urgent invitation has continued this Sunday. The first reading admonishes us, “Remember the last days, set enmity aside; remember death and decay, and cease from sin!”

The second reading says, “None of us lives for oneself, and no one dies for oneself. For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord; so then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.” If we are the Lord’s, then we will forgive as the Lord teaches us. On the Cross, he prayed for those who betrayed him, who judged him wrongly, and those who crucified him, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34).

One of the lessons we can draw from the gospel parable is that although we sin against God every day, he does not treat us according to our sins. Yet, many times, we are very unforgiving to one another, even over minor offenses. At the end of the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus cautions us, “If you forgive others their wrongdoings, your Father in heaven will also forgive yours. If you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive you either” (Matthew 6:14-15). St. Paul encourages us, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32).

Sometimes, we ask, “I have forgiven my neighbor, yet I still remember the offense. Does the remembering mean that I have not forgiven my neighbor?” We must not underestimate the power of memory. Some experiences can remain in our memory for a very long time, and sometimes, for life. However, if we permit God’s grace to be at work in us, prayer, time, and goodwill can heal and erase the hurt, even if we may still vaguely remember the experience.

We know that forgiveness and healing have taken place:

(1) When the offense is no longer vivid in our mind. We have forgotten the details.

(2) When we no longer refer to the offense to support any kind of claim or reason for our actions.

(3) We are no longer upset when we remember the offense or the offender, and when we meet the offender.

(4) When we do not plan to retaliate or punish or wish the offender evil.

(5) When we treat the offender with acceptance, understanding, and kindness.

(6) When we are grateful for the lesson or lessons learned from the experience. “All things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

(7) When we acknowledge that we have, also, offended other people many times. We, also, are in need of forgiveness.

Let us conclude with this story:

Two friends, Mike and Nick, were on a journey through a desert and a hill. As they walked on the sand of the desert, Mike tripped over. As he was falling, he held Nick to regain his balance. Unfortunately, Nick lost his balance also, and both of them fell. In order to remember where they fell, Nick marked the spot with his staff. Their journey continued. They got to a hill. Nick was unable to climb. Mike supported Nick and both climbed over the hill. In order to remember how they made it over the hill, Mike marked the spot with his staff where they got over the hill. On their way back, the mark made by Mike on the hill remained very visible. Both men happily remembered how they made it over the hill. Then, they journeyed across the desert and never saw the mark on the sand and never remembered where and how they fell. The spot Nick marked had been erased by desert wind.

We pray that the wind of the Holy Spirit blows on us and erases our offenses against one another, just like the desert wind erased the mark on the sand where Mike and Nick fell. Amen.

HOMILY OF TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A, 2023

                                                        FATHER MARTIN EKE, MSP

Ezekiel 33:7-9; Psalm 95:1-2, 6-9; Romans 13:13:8-10; Matthew 18:15-20

The people of Israel’s disloyalty to God resulted in their conquest and captivity by Babylon. While in exile in Babylon, God did not abandon them. St. Paul writes in 2 Timothy 2:13, “If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny himself.” God called one of them, Ezekiel, to prophesy to them. In the first reading, God spoke to Ezekiel, “I have appointed you a watchman for the house of Israel…”

In the same way, God has appointed each one of us to watch over one another and to be one another’s keeper.  Priests are appointed to watch over the faithful and the faithful are to watch over their priests. Family members are appointed to watch over one another. Neighbors are appointed to watch over one another. Church members, coworkers, business partners, colleagues, and so on are appointed to watch over one another. We are not appointed to fight and destroy one another. Rulers and leaders are appointed to watch over the citizens; not to neglect, abandon, mistreat, abuse, starve, or devour them.  Let no one by like Cain who murdered his brother and questioned God, “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9).

God called Ezekiel to speak his words of truth to his people in order to save them. In the same way, God calls us to speak truth to one another and to save one another. God says, “If you do not speak to warn the wicked to turn from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity, but his blood I shall require from your hand. But if you warn the wicked to turn from his way, and he does not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity, but you will have saved your life.” St. James writes, “Remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover a multitude of sins” (James 5:20). Therefore, God has not called us to keep silent in the face of evil or to rumor, gossip, slander each other. Dietrich Bonhoeffer says, “Silence in the face of evil is evil: God will not hold us guiltless.”

Watching over one another and speaking truth to one another are acts of love. That is why St. Paul in the second reading says, “Owe no one anything, except to love one another… Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilment of the law” (Romans 13:8-10).

In today’s gospel, Jesus further teaches us another act of love. It is reconciling with one another. It takes a lot of humility and patience to follow the four steps to reconciliation that Jesus commanded. Step one: Don’t presume, don’t rumor, don’t gossip, don’t hold grudges, don’t malign or slander. Go to the person and speak up your grievances. If the person refuses to listen and reconcile with you, don’t give up, proceed to step two: Take someone he/she may listen to and go for a second round of reconciliatory talk. If the person still refuses to reconcile, don’t give up still, proceed to step three: Bring up the matter with the church leader, if the person practices his or her faith, or the leader of an organization the person identifies with. After these three steps and the person still refuses to reconcile with you, then step four: “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). Prayerfully, accept the person with empathy and love.

Jesus continues in today’s gospel, “Amen, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Again, amen, I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything for which they are to pray, it shall be granted to them by my heavenly Father. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them” (Matthew 18:18-20).

While Jesus encourages us to gather, bind, loose, and pray; we are to do these without unforgiveness, bitterness, and hate. Proverbs 15:8, “The offering of the evil doer is disgusting to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is his delight. Also, in Proverbs 15:29, “The Lord is far from the wicked, but hears the prayers of the righteous.” Jesus says in Mark 11:25, “When you stand to pray, forgive anyone against whom you have a grievance, so that your heavenly Father may in turn forgive you your transgressions.” Unforgiveness, bitterness, and hate render our gathering, binding, loosing, and prayer inefficacious.

I mentioned earlier that it takes a lot of humility and patience to forgive and to reconcile. The good news is the reward the Scripture promises: “The prayer of the humble passes through the clouds, and it will never stop until it draws near to God. It will never withdraw until the Most High takes notice, gives justice for the righteous, and executes judgment” (Sirach 35:21-22).

Homily of Fifth Sunday of Lent Year A, 2023 by Fr. Martin Eke, MSP

Ezekiel 37:12-14; Psalm 130:1-8; Romans 8:8-11; John 1-45 

Next Sunday is Palm Sunday. How is your Lenten journey going? Have you fulfilled the Lenten obligations of Repentance (Confession), Almsgiving (works of charity), Fasting and Abstinence, and Prayer? The first reading was Ezekiel’s prophecy to the people of Israel while they were in exile in Babylon. They had resigned to hopelessness that they would never be free and would never return to their homeland. Ezekiel was one of the prophets God sent to give hope to the people. The images Ezekiel used to describe the people’s situation, as we see in the reading, are death and grave. Ezekiel then prophesied spirit, life, and restoration. Ezekiel prophesied, “I will open your graves and have you rise from them… I will put my spirit in you and you will live, and I will settle you upon your land…” This prophecy was fulfilled in about 597 BC when King Cyrus of Persia released the people of Israel to return to their land (Ezra 1:1-11). In the gospel, Lazarus was dead and was four days in the grave. He was brought back to life by Jesus. It was a hopeless case before Jesus arrived. When Jesus was told that Lazarus was ill, he did not proceed immediately to visit Lazarus. It took him four days before he arrived at the home of Mary and Martha. Jesus ordered, “Take away the stone.” He commanded, “Lazarus, come out.” Lazarus came out with hand and foot tied with burial bands, and his face was wrapped in a cloth. Finally, Jesus ordered, “Untie him and let him go.” The Israelites were seventy years in Babylon before they got their freedom. Lazarus was four days in the grave before Jesus brought him back to life. This means that sometimes, difficult times can last for a while. Sometimes, according to God’s divine will, it takes a while before we receive what we pray for. Therefore, during difficult times, and when we have not received what we pray for, we are encouraged to stand strong in faith and persevere in prayer. Jesus promises in Matthew 24:13, “The one who perseveres to the end will be saved.” May our faith and prayer move ‘mountains’ and uproot ‘mulberry trees.’ Amen. The Israelites never believed that there was hope for them to return to their homeland. But when it was God’s time, it came very fast and with unexpected blessings. The people of Israel did not fight for their freedom, and they left Babylon with so much gold and silver to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. Following the decree issued by King Cyrus, the Babylonians provided the Israelites with silver and gold, goods and livestock, and freewill offerings for the temple. In all, there were 5,400 articles of gold and silver (Ezra 1:6-11). Also, in the gospel, nobody could have imagined that Lazarus would live again having been buried for four days, but Jesus brought him back to life. “With God, all things are possible” (Matthew 19:6). God speaks to us through Prophet Ezekiel, “I will open your graves and have you rise from them … I have promised and, I will do it.” There is a helpful connection between the gospel of last Sunday and the gospel of today. Last Sunday, we read, ‘“Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?’ Jesus answered, ‘Neither he nor his parents sinned; it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him’” (John 9:3). Today, we read, ‘“Master, the one you love is ill.’ When Jesus heard this, he said, ‘This illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God, that the son of God may be glorified through it’” (John 11:4). As people of faith, we pray that our unpleasant situation turns around to be a blessing in disguise. May the works of God be made visible and God be glorified through our unpleasant situation. Amen. The Israelites were under the yoke of slavery in Babylon. Lazarus was dead and, in the grave, covered by a stone. He was bound hand and foot, and his face wrapped in a cloth. We may have our kind of yoke enslaving us; we may be experiencing the sting of death and feeling like being in the grave; we may be feeling like we are weighed down by a large stone; we may be feeling like tied by hand and foot; we may be feeling like our face is wrapped in a cloth. As St. Paul prayed in the second reading, may the Spirit of the One who raised Christ from the dead give life to our mortal bodies. May the Spirit of the One who raised Christ from the dead break our yokes, raise us up from our graves, remove the stones weighing upon us, untie us, and set us free. Amen. Fr. Martin Eke, MSP