Fr. Martin Eke, MSP - Homily for Easter Sunday Year B - April 4, 2021

Homily of Easter Sunday Year B, 2021

 Acts 10:3, 37-43; Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23; 1 Corinthians 5:6-8; John 20:1-9

 Easter date is not set as that of Christmas. The Catholic Church has determined the date of Easter since 325 AD. In that year, the Council of Nicaea established that Easter be celebrated on the first Sunday following the full moon after the spring equinox (when night and day are of equal length). This is worked out by ecclesial geographers.

 Easter is the greatest Christian celebration. It is celebrated for 50 days, from Easter Sunday to Pentecost Sunday. The 50 days’ period is called Eastertide. St. Paul tells us that Christianity is what it is because of the event of the resurrection. He writes in 1 Corinthians 15:14, “And if Christ has not been raised, then empty too is our preaching, empty too your faith.”

 At Jesus’ crucifixion and death, his mission appeared to have ended up in a failure. But as we read in the gospel of today, “On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb” (John 20:1). An angel of the Lord removed the stone that sealed Jesus’ tomb (Matthew 28:2). Jesus was freed from the darkness of the tomb. Jesus’ mission came alive again. From a few followers in Israel, Christianity became a world religion which has influenced every aspect of the world history.

 St. Paul tells us in the second reading how we can participate in the celebration of the Easter feast, “Clear out the old yeast, so that you may become a fresh batch of dough, inasmuch as you are unleavened. For our paschal lamb, Christ, has been sacrificed. Therefore, let us celebrate the feast, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth” (1 Corinthians 5:7-8).

 No matter how bright a light bulb is, if it is buried in the ground, the light is cut off. Easter means to be delivered from the darkness of the tomb so that the light of Christ in us can shine out. No matter how wonderful a baker is, if the baker bakes with bad yeast, the baker’s product will be bad.  Easter means to bake our lives with new yeast. Then, we rise from the old life of malice and wickedness to new life of sincerity and truth.

 Spring has arrived after the harsh winter. After the dryness and withering of winter, vegetation is now wearing a new look. Trees and grass have resurrected and are alive again. The singing of birds shows how excited they are. We are, therefore, invited to transform from the harsh life of winter to new life of spring. We are to become what St. Augustine called “Easter people.”

 Pope St. John Paul II delivered the following message in Australia in1986: “We do not pretend that life is all beauty. We are aware of darkness and sin, of poverty and pain. But we know Jesus has conquered sin and passed through his own pain to the glory of the Resurrection. And we live in the light of his Paschal Mystery – the mystery of his Death and Resurrection. ‘We are an Easter People and Alleluia is our song!’ We are not looking for a shallow joy but rather a joy that comes from faith, that grows through unselfish love, that respects the ‘fundamental duty of love of neighbor, without which it would be unbecoming to speak of Joy.’ We realize that joy is demanding; it demands unselfishness; it demands a readiness to say with Mary: ‘Be it done unto me according to thy word.’”

 

Indeed, the joy of Easter should not be a “shallow joy.” Jesus’ resurrection followed his passion, cross, crucifixion, and death. Therefore, the resurrection story is a story of hope. We are not to give up in times of passions, crosses, crucifixions, and deaths but to look forward to resurrection and glory that follow. It is often said, “No cross, no crown.” Also, “No pain, no gain.” May our crosses and pains never be in vain. We pray with the words of St. Paul: May the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead give life to our mortal bodies also. Amen.

Happy and Spirit-filled Easter to you all!

 Fr. Martin Eke, MSP

 

Fr. Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie, MSP - Homily for Easter Sunday - April 4, 2021

SUNDAY 4TH APRIL 2021

EASTER SUNDAY

ALLELUIA THE LORD IS RISEN

Acts 10:34,37-43

Colossians 3:1-4

John 20:1-9

We are now fully in the celebration of Easter, our Lord Jesus Christ, crucified for our sake has risen from the dead. The resurrection of Jesus is the victory of light over darkness, good over evil and the powers of the evil one.

The resurrection of Jesus is very real, he did not resurrect like a ghost in movies, but in a glorified body, with blood flowing through his veins. This is what the Apostles testify to in the first reading of today. Jesus after his resurrection from the dead, did not make any case with all his enemies. He did not even appear to Pilate who sentenced him to death, he did not make troubles with the soldiers, even those who were guarding the tomb. He did not condemn Peter for denying him, I'm sure he would also have forgiven Judas if he had not killed himself. He ate and drank with the apostles after his resurrection.

We are also called to let go of every hurt and hateful feelings against other people  and ourselves because Jesus does not remember them anymore.

As people of the resurrection, we rejoice and celebrate our salvation. The resurrection of Jesus is our victory over sin and death, he has made heaven accessible to us. We must therefore renounce our sins and ask the risen saviour to give us the grace to live a life worthy of who we are; Christians.

St Paul tells us in the second readings of today, that as Jesus died and rose from the dead, we are also called to die to our sins and start a new life.

May the Joy of the risen Christ abide with us and bear fruits in our lives through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie, MSP

Fr. Emmanuel Megwara, MSP - Homily for Holy Saturday - April 3, 2021

DATE : 4/4/2021

 EVENT : Easter Sunday Celebration

 COLOUR: white

 READINGS : Acts 10:34,37-43; Resp. Psalm 117:1-2,16-17,22-23;   Colossians 3:1-4; Sequence; John 20:1-9.

 THEME: ALLELUIA!!! HE IS RISEN

         Greetings beloved people of God. I welcome you to "My Catholic Homily Digest". On this Fourth day of April, which is the Easter Sunday of 2021, I wish to reflect with you on the theme: " Alleluia!!! He Is Risen". Beloved in Christ, I once went to carry out a funeral rite about a years ago. While the rite was going on, the wife of the deceased was crying and wailing uncontrollably. So, one of the elders walked up to her and scolded her saying: what do you hope to achieve with these tears of yours, if your husband should stand up from that coffin, do you think you can stand here and not run away? I can't imagine what the feelings of the disciples of Jesus were like, when he appeared to them for the first time. Where they overwhelmed with fear? Or overcomed with Joy? Where they scared or irritated? Did they think of running far away from him? Beloved, as we rejoice on this Easter Sunday, let us not forget to come to terms with the reality of the Lord's resurection and it's significance to our lives. His resurrection is  completely a novel reality, a completely divine act, meant for our good. He arose to conquer our enemy: death, to restore our life and to demonstrate his supreme power over our greatest dread.

        However, the central message of Easter is that Jesus Christ rose triumphantly from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion on Good Friday. This is the fulfilled prophecy of the Messiah who would be born, persecuted, die for our sins, and afterwards, rise on the third day (Isaiah 53). Thus, annually remembering the resurrection of Jesus Christ and his triumph over sin and death is a way to renew daily hope that we too have won victory over sin and death (Rom. 8:37). Although the true origin of the word 'Easter', remains disputed, several sources, especially the writings of the venerable Bede, suggest that it has a pre-Christian origin, and goes back to the name of a pre-Christian goddess Eostre. However, the celebration of the goddess was transformed and given a Christian meaning and significance, following the Christianisation of the West. Hence, the name Easter, stuck as the celebration of the glorious resurection of Jesus Christ, the Son of God and true Sun of Justice.

     In the various readings of today, especially in the first reading, Act. 10:34-43, we heard how a formerly fearful and timid Peter spoke convincingly to Cornelius and his household, about the resurrection of Jesus. This was made possible through the resurrection power of Jesus which had strengthened the disciples to become fearless witnesses to this truth. In the same light, St. Paul, through admonishing the people at Collosae, warned us that, through faith in Christ Jesus, we have been brought back from death to life. So, it is fitting that we fix our gaze on Christ who is above in heaven, and not on any earthly thing which can only lead us back to death from which Christ has ransomed us. Thus, it will be a great and monumental shame that after experiencing the joy of Easter, we relapse back to our old self and lifestyle. It will be disgraceful beloved, that through our reckless fault, we miss this eternal life which Christ bought for us at the expensive price of his blood. It will be laughable that after conquering and triumphing over sin and death on our behalf, we are still slaves to sin and death. So, child of God, the best way to celebrate Easter is to appropriate this victory of Christ into our personal life. I pray that the Easter light of Christ will Illumine the darkest part of our life and that the joy of Easter will be our eternal reward. 

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

 LET US PRAY : Lord Jesus, may the celebration of this year's Easter bring me close to the salvation you purchased for me.

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 EASTER SUNDAY BELOVED FRIENDS

  @ Fada Emmanuel Nnamdi Megwara, MSP. ⛪

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP - Homily for Good Friday Year B - April 2, 2021

Homily of Good Friday, 2021

 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 as 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.”

 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.

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 are invited to follow the example of Jesus in 1 Peter 2:21-23, “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth. When he was insulted, he returned no insult; when he suffered, he did not threaten; instead, he handed himself over to the one who judges justly.” The result of Jesus’ submission to God is his resurrection. Therefore, let us submit to God during our trials, temptations and sufferings. God will not abandon us. He did not abandon Jesus because, “he handed himself over to the one who judges justly.”

 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. Many people are feeling as if they are hanging on a cross and crying “My God, my God; why have you abandoned me.” Many people 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 look upon Jesus to heal and deliver us. Amen.

 Fr. Martin Eke, MSP

Fr. Augustine Inwang, MSP - Homily for Holy Thursday Year B - April 1, 2021

 Readings: Ex. 12:1-8, 11-14; 1 Cor.11:23-26; Jn. 13:1-15

Do This in Remembrance of Me

1.     This evening begins the celebration of the Sacred Triduum, three day’s events considered as one day in the life of Jesus leading to his passion, death and resurrection. At this Mass of the Lord’s supper, we commemorate the institution of the Holy Eucharist, the institution of the sacrament of Holy Orders and the commandment of brotherly love. It was at this Mass that Jesus changed bread and wine into his Body and Blood and directed his disciples to “Do this in remembrance of me.” At the last supper Jesus had a special meal with his disciples; special in the sense that it was the greatest feast of the Jewish religion – the Passover. On this night, the Jews remembered how God saved them from bondage in Egypt.

2.     The first reading recounts how the feast was observed. The Passover Lamb was sacrificed, and the blood was smeared on the doorpost of the houses belonging to the Jews. When the angel of destruction saw the blood, he passed over them and slaughtered the first born in the homes of the Egyptians. In thanksgiving to God, they sang “How can I repay the Lord for his goodness to me.” (Ps. 116:1). But this meal was going to be special in another way still. It was the time when Jesus had decided to give his friends – and all of us – food of a different kind - food and drink for their bodies. Yes, but food that was to become His own Body and Blood. St. Paul in the second reading makes it clear that whenever we celebrate the Eucharist, we do it in remembrance of him. We remember Jesus Christ whenever we celebrate the Eucharist, we are to remember what he has done for us. He died for us, so much did he love us. Yes, “He had always loved those who were his own in the world but now he showed how perfect his love was” St. John reminds us. How perfect, how complete, how powerful, how faithful his love was then as it is still today.

3.     What does Christ want us to do? He wants us to love our brothers and sisters as he loves us. John tells us, “By this shall all know that you are my disciples if you have love one for another.” And so, he washes the feet of his apostles and commands them to wash the feet of others. In a short while, I will wash the feet of some of us here present. Some years ago, I witnessed the importance of feet washing. I went with our seminary bursar to buy food for the students. The market was dirty, muddy, and murky and our feet were dirty and completely soiled. There were some women there waiting as we exited the market to have our feet washed for some change. Back in the truck, I told Fr. Don that I considered their services more out of love than for money. They made shopping in that market worth the bargain. Their task was that of maids and slaves in the time of Jesus; to wash the feet of their masters as they returned to the house after a day’s job or outing for dinner. It was a dirty job indeed. People in those days didn’t wear shoes and socks. They wore something more like sandals and walked everywhere they went to travelling the same dusty, dirty roads as the herds of animals. Feet were therefore dirty and smelling. It was wonderful and refreshing indeed to have their feet washed at dinner. This was however not done by the owner of the house but by slaves or the servants. This was what Jesus did. “Christ Jesus, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God something to be grasped. Rather, 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.” (Phil. 2:6-8). Christ also taught us a lesson in humility and service. “I gave you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.” This concretized his earlier teaching, “Whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave.” This is his commandment of love; love one another as I have loved you.

4.     At this Mass also we call to mind the institution of the royal priesthood. The Lord gave his people the dignity of a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2,9). “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. The ordained ministers received their ministerial priesthood from this royal dignity bestowed upon God’s people. At the Eucharistic celebration, they act as representatives of God’s chosen race and royal priesthood” The priests then, acting in persona Christi bring the love of Christ to reality in the life of the people. Christ’s love is expressed in simple and straightforward form of service. It is the way in which we are called to express our love for him and our fellow men and women. If we are not willing to extend a helping hand, how can we say we love them? Christ’s love both for his Father and for mankind found fullest expression in the gift of himself on the cross. Through the supper commemorated this evening we have a continuing memorial to this: Every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are proclaiming the death of the Lord until he comes.

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

 

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP - Homily for Holy Thursday Year B - April 1, 2021

Homily of Holy Thursday, 2021

 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.

 Yesterday, Holy Wednesday, is sometimes called ‘Spy Wednesday.’ It is so called because as at Holy Wednesday, Judas Iscariot was no longer a true disciple. He had resolved to betray Jesus. He was spying and seeking the opportunity to hand Jesus over to the chief priests (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 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. We pray for seminarians and their formators. Someone says, “No priest, no Eucharist!”

 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.” God calls every Christian to royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9) and mandates us to wash each other’s feet. This means to serve the Church and others humbly; and to serve the needy. 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 symbolized 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. Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie, MSP - Homily for Palm Sunday Year B - March 28, 2021

PALM/PASSION SUNDAY

Mark 11:1-10

Isaiah 50:4-7

Phil 2:6-11

Mark 14:1-15:47

BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD

Today we begin the celebration of the most important event of human salvation. It is the most important season in the Catholic Church as God died so that man will be saved. This week is called holy week because henceforth till the day of Easter, we are going to concentrate more closely on the mystery of the passion, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ,  the event by which he wrought our salvation.

In the reading of yesterday, we saw that as Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, the scribes and pharisees concluded that he must die because he was getting too popular among the people. The disciples warned Jesus that the Jews, especially the scribes and pharisees have been looking for him to put him to death. In the gospel readings during the weekdays since last Sunday, we see how they have been looking for various ways to catch him and kill him, but he had kept eluding them. Jesus was therefore warned by his disciples not to go near Jerusalem, except he was ready to die.

In the gospel reading of today, we see that Jesus, willingly entered Jerusalem despite the dangers that awaited him. He did not even sneak into the city, but decided to announce his coming by climbing a donkey as a king. It will not be long that he will enter the country that the news will go round and false accusations will be coming in, just in the quest to get rid of him. When this will happen, all those who are welcoming Jesus as King, will turn and ask that he  be crucified.

In the first reading of today, we see how the prophet Isaiah describes the suffering servant who is Jesus. He willingly gave up his life to die, though he did not do anything wrong. All false accusations were brought against him, but he did not say a word, and he did not defend himself. He willingly gave up his life because he knew that it was the only way he could save us from our sins and take us back to our God.

In the second reading, St Paul tells us that Jesus is God, but for our sake, he became man. Instead of claiming equality with God and asserting himself on earth, he emptied himself and looked like a slave, like a common man. Even when Jesus entered Jerusalem as a king today, he identified with the common man by using a donkey which is meant for the poor, instead of the horse which the rich use.

In the long passion narrative, we see, just as we will see in the coming days, how Jesus gave up his life so that we will win back our life.

We are therefore called to be more serious with the meaning of our salvation as we approach the Easter season. The week is a holy week and it should be kept holy. Our salvation is closer to us now than before.

May we benefit graciously from the mystery of this season, so that we may experience the joy of Easter.

 

Lord, you willingly entered Jerusalem to die for my sins, may I by the help of your grace, truly repent from my sins and look up to you. Amen.

Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie, MSP