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

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP - Homily for the Fifth Sunday of Lent Year C - April 3, 2022

Homily of Fifth Sunday of Lent Year C, 2022

Isaiah 43:16-21; Psalm 1-6; Philippians 3:8-14; John 8:1-8

Next Sunday is Palm Sunday. As we draw nearer to the Holy Week, the readings of today encourage us to confront and free ourselves from whatever keeps us in sin and bondage, so as to welcome the new things God is doing.

The first reading is Isaiah’s prophecy to the Jewish exiles in Babylon. God was going to do a new thing: to liberate them and return them to their own land. The prophecy was fulfilled when God used Cyrus, king of Persia, to free the Israelites from the Babylonian captivity (Ezra 1:2-4). Isaiah prophesied God’s plan. “Remember not the events of the past, the things of long ago consider not; see, I am doing something new!” The immediacy of God’s plan is reflected in these words, “Now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?” (Isaiah 43:18-19). 

It is in the spirit of such freedom that St. Paul declares in the second reading, “I consider everything as a loss because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have accepted the loss of all things and I consider them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him… Just one thing: forgetting what lies behind but straining forward to what lies ahead, I continue my pursuit towards the goal, the prize of God’s upward calling, in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:8).

I consider that this Sunday’s readings and reflection are a continuation of the theme of last Sunday’s readings and reflection. The last Sunday’s gospel was about the prodigal son who was able to rise from the severe famine stricken country, and the wretched state he landed himself into and returned to his father. He is an inspiration to many of us to rise from sin; to rise from the events of the past; to rise from things of long ago; to rise from what lies behind; and go forward to freedom; go forward to something new; go forward to what lies ahead; go forward to a new life in Christ. What sin, what events of the past, what things of long ago have I clung to? Last Sunday, we read from 2 Corinthians 5: 17, “Whoever is in Christ is a new creation: old things have passed away, behold, new things have come.”

The scribes and the Pharisees had judged and condemned the woman caught in adultery. The woman committed adultery with a man. Where was the man? We see this type of ‘selective injustice’ all around us. Jesus exposed their hypocrisy when he said to them, “Let the one who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her. … And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders.” We see this type of hypocrisy all around us. We see all kinds of prejudice and humiliation against women in many cultures and institutions. Unfortunately, though, some women bring themselves low by the things they do by themselves and to themselves.

Jesus freed the woman by saying to her, “Neither do I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin anymore.” Jesus Christ is the new King Cyrus who set us free from ourselves, from others, from the world, and from the evil one. “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36). Let us come to him for transformative power.

A story is told of a child who threw his coin into a bottle-neck vase. He put his hand into the vase and picked his coin. Lo and behold, he couldn’t bring out his hand. His father came to his aid and tried, but in vain. His father was thinking of breaking the vase but realized that the child’s hand cannot come out as long as the child held the coin. The father said to him, “Drop the coin, free your fingers, keep your fingers straight and bring your hand out.” The child replied, “No, dad, I can’t let go my coin.” The father said, “Son, listen to me; let go the coin and free yourself!” Many of us are trapped like this child as long as we can’t let go.

Isaiah prophesied to the Jews as we read in the first reading: “Thus says the Lord, who opens a way in the sea… I am doing something new… In the desert I make a way, in the wasteland, rivers…I put water in the desert and river in the wasteland for my chosen to drink…” Today, this prophecy is for us. May this prophecy be fulfilled in us and in many helpless cases. Amen.

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP - Homily for the Fourth Sunday of Lent Year C - March 27, 2022

 Homily of Fourth Sunday of Lent Year C, 2022

Joshua 5:9, 10-12; Psalm 34:2-7; 2 Corinthians 5:17-21; Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

The Fourth Sunday of Lent is called Laetare Sunday (Sunday of Joy). 'Laetare' Latin word, meaning ‘Rejoice’ is the first word of today’s Mass entrance antiphon, “Rejoice, Jerusalem, and all who were in mourning; exult and be satisfied at her consoling breast” (Isaiah 66:10-11). Laetare Sunday is a glimpse of the hope and joy that awaits us at Easter as we continue our Lenten journey.

On arrival in the Promised Land, the Israelites celebrated the Passover. Before the celebration of the feast of the Passover, God commanded Joshua, “Make flint knives and circumcise Israel… None of those born in the wilderness during the journey after the departure from Egypt were circumcised… When the circumcision of the entire nation was complete, they remained in camp where they were, until they recovered. Then the Lord said to Joshua: Today, I have removed the reproach of Egypt from you” (Joshua 5:1-9).

The circumcision is a sign of reconciliation with God. It made the entire nation new to celebrate the Passover and to settle in the Promised Land. The Israelites went through physical circumcision before the Passover and before they settled in the Promised Land. In the same way, we are required to go through spiritual circumcision, that is the Sacrament of Reconciliation, as we journey through the Lenten Season and as we prepare to celebrate Easter. If physical circumcision was capable of removing the “reproach of Egypt” and sanctify the nation of Israel; even more so the Sacrament of Reconciliation is capable of obtaining forgiveness and removing the reproach of our sins. The power of the Sacrament of Reconciliation is as stated by St. Paul in the second reading: It makes us new creation in Christ, old things pass away, and new things come. St. Paul continues, “All this is from God, who has reconciled us to himself through Christ and given us the ministry of reconciliation…”  Therefore, the ministry of reconciliation is God’s creation, not the Church!

God said to Joshua, “Today, I have removed the reproach of Egypt from you.” We stand on this word of God and pray that the same declaration is made on us. Let us present to God our various ‘reproaches’ inflicted on us by difficulties of life. We pray that God removes them as he removed that of the Israelites. Amen.

We have a lot to learn from the four individuals in the Gospel reading.

The servant is obviously hasty with his response to the enquiry of the older brother. The servant’s emphasis on the slaughtering of the fattened calf did not help the matter. “Your brother has returned and your father has slaughtered the fattened calf…” He was not asked about the fattened calf. Proverbs 10:19 says, “Where words are many sin is not wanting.”

The older brother represents the Pharisees, the scribes and the chief priests who did not believe that there was hope of salvation for tax collectors, sinners, and the Gentiles. Like the older brother, they were “angry and refused to enter the house…” In our time, the older brother represents people who write off others. He is also an example of people who work very hard but are very unhappy, full of complaints, envy, resentment, anger, and grudges.

The prodigal son’s father never gave up on the prodigal son. “While he was still a long way off, his father caught sight of him, and was filled with compassion. He ran to his son, embraced him and kissed him.” He celebrated his son’s return and restored him to his former princely position. He put on him the finest robe, which means restoring the son’s royalty. He put a ring on his finger, which means renewing the father-son covenant broken by the son’s departure. He put sandals on his feet, which means restoring the son’s lost confidence. He granted his son unconditional forgiveness. God does not give up on us. He forgives us unconditionally when we make a true contrition. And Jesus teaches us, to forgive others as God forgives us (Luke 11:4).

The prodigal son represents the tax collectors, the sinners, and the Gentiles who came to believe in Jesus and followed him. The prodigal son’s ability to come to his senses, rise above shame and guilt, and return to his father is very remarkable. A person can only be written off if the person writes off himself or herself. The prodigal son encourages and inspires us not to remain where we have fallen, or remain in the sin of the past, or the mistakes of the past, or the guilt of the past, or the wounds of the past, or the past setbacks.

We are in the Season of Grace. It is a time for spiritual circumcision. It is a time to come to our senses and rise up from where we have fallen. It is a time to return to God. It is a time to reconcile with fellow human beings. God’s grace is sufficient for us (2 Corinthians 12:9). Amen.

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP - Homily for the Third Sunday of Lent Year C - March 20, 2022

Homily of Third Sunday of Lent Year C, 2022

Exodus 3:1-8, 13-15; Psalm 103:1-4, 6-8, 11; 1 Corinthians 10:1-6, 10-12; Luke 13:1-9

The first reading tells us about the call of Moses. Moses had fled from Egypt to Midian. There, he was tending the flock of his father-in-law. While in the region of Mount Horeb he was called by God in an extraordinary way. Moses saw a fire flaming out of a bush, but the bush, though on fire, was not consumed. Moses decided to go and see why the bush was not burned. When Moses came near, God called him from the bush, ‘“Moses! Moses!’ He answered, ‘I am here.’ God said, ‘Come no nearer! Remove the sandals from your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground. …’” God, I AM, then, gave Moses the mission to go and get the Israelites out of Egypt.

God said, “I have witnessed the affliction of my people in Egypt and I have heard their cry of complaint … I know well what they are suffering.” We need not wait for God to call us in the extraordinary way he called Moses. The Spirit of God may be ministering to our heart and sending us to a mission to free someone who is in affliction. Our excuses and reluctance are the ‘sandals’ on our feet. Some of us are wearing really oversized and heavy ‘sandals’ that prevent us from lifting our feet and move to help those who need our help. When the Spirit of God minister’s such call in our hearts, let us not reject the call. Let us, rather, pray for the grace to carry out God’s command. St. Bernardine of Siena writes, “This is a general rule that applies to a rational creature. Whenever divine grace selects someone to serve a particular grace, or some especially favored position, all the gifts for his state are given to that person, and enriches him abundantly.” Simply put, when God gives us a mission, he gives us the grace. God says, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 2:9).

‘Sandals’ on our feet are our sins and weaknesses that prevent us from coming close to God. During the Lenten journey, we are invited to remove them. The Sacrament of Reconciliation is a great opportunity. “Who may go up the mountain of the Lord? Who can stand in his holy place? The clean of hand and pure of heart, who has not given his soul to useless things, what is vain. He will receive blessings from the Lord, and justice from his saving God” (Psalm 24:3-5).

The Gospel reminds us that although we are sinners and unworthy, yet God gives us opportunities to return to him, or opportunities to become what he wants us to be, or opportunities for greater heights, or opportunities for progress, or opportunities to break new grounds, or opportunities to bear fruits. Let us not waste such opportunities because such opportunities are not available all the time. A proverb says, “Make hay while the sun shines.”

Today’s gospel is also a reminder that we need to be patient with ourselves and with one another and support one another in every way possible. Someone writes, “Be patient with slow growers, late bloomers, and those unseeing.” Barbara Lee wrote a book she titled, “God Isn’t Finished with me Yet,” where she encourages us that God does meet us with unexpected grace where we do not foresee it, and when we do not give up. There are many testimonies of eleventh hour blessing or last minute blessing. We read in the parable of Workers in the Vineyard: “And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing. And he said to them, ‘Why do you stand here idle all day?’ They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You go into the vineyard too’” (Matthew 20:6-7). The workers received eleventh hour blessing because they did not despair and did not give up.

Lastly, St. Paul warns us in the second reading, “Whoever thinks he is standing secure should take care not to fall” (1 Corinthians 10:12). There is the danger of fall in any area of life including spiritual life because of being carried away by overconfidence, pride of successes and achievement, and the mistaken comfort and feeling of “I have arrived” or the misjudgment of “I know it all.”

We are challenged with various invitations on this third week of Lent. Some of us are invited to remove the oversized and heavy ‘sandals’ on our feet in order to come nearer to God, or move to help those in need, or make progress in our undertaking. Some of us are invited not to despair or give up, but wait for the eleventh hour blessing. Some of us are warned to take care not to fall.

Do you find yourself in any of the invitations?

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP