Fr. Martin Eke, MSP - Homily for the Holy Family Sunday Year B- December 27, 2020

HOMILY OF THE FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY, AND JOSEPH YEAR B, 2020

Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14; Psalm 128:1-5; Colossians 3:12-21; Luke 2:22-40

The celebration of today’s feast is of utmost importance to all of us because we all belong to families; and the family is the first and the greatest institution God created. Unfortunately, we are passing through a difficult time whereby many families are fractured and hurting in one way or another. Our difficult situation is compounded by an increase in the number of disordered families. Since families are the foundations and the constituents of societies, more disordered families mean more disordered societies. Therefore, the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph is a model for all families.

Being a holy family does not mean that everything was well and smooth for them. It was a lowly family with many ups and downs. Mary conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit. Mary’s pregnancy brought a troubling situation for both Mary and Joseph. They, however, accepted the situation when each of them was ministered to by the angel of the Lord. Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). As for Joseph, “When [he] awoke, he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded, and took his wife into his home. He had no relations with her until she bore a son” (Matthew 1:24-25).

 Mary gave birth to Jesus in a very difficult circumstance. After a long journey on foot from Nazareth to Bethlehem for the census, a distance of about 100 miles (161 kilometers), there was no inn to lodge in. They went to a shed in a farm where Mary gave birth to Jesus. It was not recorded that any nurse or midwife was available to help. We can only imagine how tough it was for the two of them all alone.

 As we read in the Gospel of today, at the presentation of Jesus in the temple, Mary was told that a sword would pierce her heart. Her first experience of a sword piercing her heart was when the family fled to Egypt to save Jesus from being murdered by Herod. A sword pierced her heart when Jesus got separated from her and Joseph after the feast of Passover in Jerusalem. Mary and Joseph found Jesus in the temple after searching for him for three days. Finally, a sword pierced Mary’s heart when she witnessed Jesus’ crucifixion and death. In all the ups and downs, Mary and Joseph remained together. The Gospel of today concludes, Jesus “grew under them and became strong, filled with wisdom; and God’s favor rested upon him” (Luke 2:40).

 We have so much to learn from the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph that can help us to keep our families from falling apart. Pope Paul VI describes the Holy Family as a school of Nazareth where we learn true science of life and the higher wisdom of divine truth.

 The first reading reminds us that, “God sets a father in honor over his children; a mother’s authority over her [children].” Unfortunately, many parents have handed over this God given authority to their children. The reverse has become the case; whereby many children have authority over their parents, and able to control and manipulate their parents as they wish.

 The first reading enumerates various blessings received by children who honor their parents, and who take care of their parents in their old age. However, Sirach 3:16 mentions curses upon children who disrespect their parents, and who abandon their parents in their old age: “Those who neglect their father are like blasphemers; those who provoke their mother are accursed by their Creator”. On the other hand, the second reading challenges bad and abusive parents not to maltreat their children, so that they may not become discouraged (Colossians 3:21).

 There is no perfect family. Turning on one another and violence to one another make matters worse. For this reason, the second reading encourages us on how to cope with family imperfections to avoid disorderliness, breakdowns, and disintegrations. The reading says, “Put on … heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another. … And over all these put on love, that is, the bond of perfection. And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, … And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, … with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus…” (Colossians 3:12-17). I would like to add that it is also important that family members pray together; because, “A family that prays together stays together.”

 May the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph pray for our families and society to be saved from disorderliness, breakdowns and disintegrations. Amen.

 Fr. Martin Eke, MSP

Fr. Emmanuel Megwara, MSP - Homily for Christmas Day - December 25, 2020

  DATE : 24/12/2020, Vigil Mass of Christmas Year (B)

 EVENT : CHRISTMAS EVE

 COLOUR: WHITE

 READINGS : 1 Isaiah 52:7-10; Resp. Psalm 98:1.2-3ab.3.cd-4.5-6; Heb. 1:1-6; John 1:1-18.

 THEME: JOY!!! JOY!!! JOY!!!

    Greetings beloved people of God. I welcome you to "My Catholic Homily Digest". On this day of Christmas, I wish to reflect with you on the theme: " Joy!!! Joy!!! Joy!!!. Beloved, one of the words that best qualifies the sentiment of almost every human person during this Christmas season is the feeling of joy. On a general sense, joy is described as the response of the mind to any pleasurable event. It is a feeling that touches the deepest springs of emotion, and finds expression in external acts such as, dancing, leaping, shouting, singing and sharing of gifts as we can see all around us. True and authentic joy is always a natural outcome of fellowship with God. For as the Psalmist says in Ps. 16:11, "In his presence is fullness of joy and plentiful gladness". In the Old Testament, the Idea of Joy is expressed with the Hebrew Simchah (1Sam. 18:6), which could either mean, rejoice, exult, gladness excited, etc. And God is frequently the source and object of true joy. The Greek word for joy in the New Testament is chara, and it is seen to be the best state of mind for the believer and the appropriate  response in every condition, as Jesus did.

    In the first reading of today, the prophet Isaiah told us that messengers are racing to Zion with good news, watchmen are raising their voices with shouts of joy, and the entire nation is exalted to break forth into joyful song because, the Lord has come to visit and console his people. This same, sentiment is expressed by the Psalmist who invites all the earth to shout to the Lord and to ring out their joy. The author of the second reading of today, Hebrews 1:1-6, also beckons on us to see and have reason to rejoice, for all the prophecies of redemption and consolation which God made with men of old, has been fulfilled in our own day. For with the birth of Christ today, human nature has been sanctified and exalted, and we have received the powers and special grace of being called children of God. A privilege which not even the greatest of prophets of old had.

    Child of God, as we celebrate Christ-Mass today,  let us rejoice and celebrate, let us exult and spread the joy around, let us shun every activity contrary to the spirit of God and of virtue. Listen to me beloved, the coming of Christ is chiefly for our salvation, so, let us not in the pretext of celebrating Christ's nativity, sink deeper into the dungeon of sin and so wander very far beyond the redeeming arm of Jesus. May God bless you and increase you joy.

  Do not be afraid for you will be remembered in my priestly prayers throughout this month. God bless you

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

 LET US PRAY : Lord Jesus, may your coming this Christmas fill my heart with exceeding joy and rid me of all bitterness and hatred...

 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 CHRISTMAS BELOVED.

  @ Fada Emmanuel Nnamdi Megwara, MSP. ⛪

Fr. Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie, MSP - Homily for Christmas Day - December 25, 2020

Isaiah 62:1-5

Psalm 88:4-5,16-17,27,29

Acts 13:16-17,22-25

Matthew 1:1-25

REJOICE AT THE BIRTH OF JESUS

For about four weeks now, we have prepared ourselves to receive our saviour. We are ready to come out of darkness and embrace Jesus who is the light that dispels darkness. The prophet Isaiah tells us in 9:1-2 that the coming of Christ has brought light to us all who have been living in darkness. Today we commemorate the birth of our saviour, it is a time for us to once again come out of the various forms of darkness in our lives.

The world before the coming of Jesus was in darkness. The original sin of Adam and Eve our first parents left us in a very pitiable state. Right from creation therefore, God has mapped out ways to bring us back to himself and restore us to our original holy state. God called Abraham and his descendants so that through him, every tribe and nation will be saved. God sent leaders, kings, judges and many prophets to lead the people back to himself, but in the fullness of time, God sent his only son Jesus Christ into our world to show us the way back to him. How much God truly loves and cherishes us.

In the old Testament, we see that the consciousness of sin and morality was very low, that is why Jesus in Luke 10:23-24 said that we all are privileged to have been born to see and hear him and relate with him. Many kings and prophets longed for his coming. We see how Zechariah was very happy in the gospel reading of yesterday that he lived to see the birth of the saviour.

We are therefore called to rejoice and be happy today. Many things may have taken away our joy this year, we all have our various troubles and anxieties ranging from family, business, education, health, friendship and work challenges. We are called today to place them by the side of the new born king. Let us trust that Jesus who  became a human being like us, knows our troubles and challenges in life, and he will be our comfort and solace.

We can imagine how Mary struggled with her life since the angel gave her the message of the incarnation. We can imagine a woman giving birth during this cold season in a manger. We can imagine Joseph who had already planned his life with Mary, told to become a celibate and foster father of Jesus.

Let us rejoice at the birth of Jesus amidst our life challenges and share the joy with one another. Jesus has also come as the king of peace; let us be agents of peace and joy to everyone we meet. Jesus is the reason for the season, let us rejoice and be glad because our salvation is assured by the birth of Jesus. Merry Christmas and a prosperous new year in advance. God bless you. Amen.

Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie MSP.