Fr. Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie, MSP - Homily for Friday Week 24 Ordinary time - September 18, 2020

 

FRIDAY 24TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR II

1 Corinthians 15:12-20, Luke 8:1-3

 

CHRIST'S RESURRECTION IS THE FOUNDATION OF OUR FAITH

 

The way and manner many Christians live their lives, gives an an impression that they do not truly believe in the resurrection. St Paul had a lot of arguments with many people who do not believe or live as if there is the resurrection of the body. Apart from Christianity, many other religions do not preach that their founder resurrected from the dead. But in christianity, we preach Christ who has been raised from the dead. It is the resurrection of Christ that makes the Christian faith what it is. This is because the resurrection makes Jesus' victory over sin and death complete. By the resurrection, our sins have been taken away. We therefore should not live like those who do everything as if there is no life after here on earth. We are called today to be like the Apostles and disciples of Jesus who followed him everywhere to preach the gospel. They did this because they believed in eternal reward.

As we go out daily, let us live as people who are conscious of the fact that we shall meet God after our life here on earth. God help us. Amen.

Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie MSP

Fr. Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie, MSP - Homily for Thursday Week 24 Ordinary time - September 17, 2020

 

THURSDAY 24TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR II

1 Corinthians 15:1-11, LUKE 7:36-50

 

WE HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN MUCH, LET US DO MORE

 

We easily spite and scorn those we regard as useless and acute sinners. We do not want anything to do with them and we do not want them around us.

I had finished mass some time ago, when a young lady walked up to me and said that she wanted to discuss something with me. When I finished discussing with her, she asked to go for confession, and she did. When she had left, another fellow walked up to me saying 'I wonder wetin that yeye ashawo de tell you sef, see as you serious de listen to am, that girl na bad girl oh'. I was taken aback by the statement. This is how many of us Christians judge and condemn people from afar. Even when they are genuinely sorry for their sins and seek God's forgiveness, some of us still judge them even inside the church.

The compassion Jesus had for the woman in the gospel reading of today is very striking. How could Jesus be talking with a woman who had a bad name in the town to the extent of allowing her to pour tears in his body and wipe them with her hair? This must surely be a scandal to the righteous pharisees.

Jesus on the other hand, was more concerned about the soul of the woman. His encounter with the woman made her to truly repent of her sins that she started weeping for forgiveness.

If only we can give some seemingly terrible people space to encounter God, they would truly repent of their sins.

Many of us Christians, like the pharisees, think that we have already been saved, we show no sorrow for our sins because we feel we are very close to God. The pharisee who invited Jesus for a meal did not take Jesus serious, but a woman who only heard Jesus preach, and that Jesus was on his way to see the pharisee, got her forgiveness  and salvation. Let us live a better life and do better than we are doing now to show our appreciation to God for his graciousness in our lives. God help us. Amen.

Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie MSP

Fr. Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie, MSP - Homily for Wednesday Week 24 Ordinary time - September 16, 2020

 

WEDNESDAY 16TH SEPTEMBER 2020

24TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

MEMORIAL OF ST CORNELIUS AND CYPRIAN (Martyrs)

 

LIFE COULD BE VERY SIMPLE IF WE LOVE

 

I watched a comedy skit recently where a man told his wife that he loved her, and the wife answered if it is love that she is going to eat. In the first reading of today, St Paul speaks very passionately about love. Love is something that is not tangible and not explained with words, it flows from the heart even when it is not expressed. A child for example does not need his father or mother to tell him that they love him, their actions communicate their love to him. This is why st Paul tells us today that we may have everything we esteem on earth, but if we do not have love in our hearts, we are useless. We may be the greatest human being on earth according to human standard, we may be rich, but we are nothing without love of others. Some people would have been very great if they could at least learn how to love others and treat them with respect.

St Paul tells us that the 3 theological virtues which are faith, hope and love are very important, nevertheless, faith and hope will end in this world, but love will follow us beyond because if we love God and our neighbours on earth, we will continue to love God and our neighbours in heaven.

St Cornelius and Cyprian showed their love for God and neighbours that they preferred to die rather than dishonour the house of God and the Christian faith. We are not sure when St Cornelius was born, but he was Pope in 251AD until 253AD when he was exiled and later killed by Emoeror Gallus. St Cyprian was from Carthage in modern day Tunisia. He was born in 210AD and was bishop of Carthage until 258AD when he was martyred during the persecution of Emoeror Decius. He had at first hid himself so that he could be spared to take care of the flock, but Decius exiled and later executed him. His many letters helped to understand the early history and beginning of the church. Love is not an easy virtue, not what one practices with mere words, one has to be ready to give even his or her life for it. St Paul describes it with very beautiful words and in a very beautiful way in the first reading. May almighty God help us to love him and our neighbours to the end. God help us. Amen.

Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie MSP