Fr. Martin Eke, MSP - Homily for the Second Sunday in Ordinary time Year B - January 17, 2021

Homily of Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Year, B 2021

 1 Samuel 3:3-10, 19; Psalm 40, 2, 4, 7-10; 1 Corinthians 6:13-15, 17-20; John 1:35-42

 The first reading tells us the story of the call of young Samuel. The second reading reminds us of the essence of holiness of life. The Gospel is about the call of three disciples of Jesus. It is not a mere coincidence that the theme of our celebration and reflection, after the Christmas Season, is God’s call to us to discipleship. We received so much from the Advent and Christmas Seasons. Now, in the Ordinary Time of the Church’s calendar, is the time to put the graces we received during the Advent and Christmas Seasons into action.

 In the first reading, we see that God did not give up calling Samuel until Samuel answered him. In the same way, God does not give up on us. He continues to send his Spirit to minister to our hearts. We pray for the grace to respond positively to God’s call as Samuel did. Samuel, finally, replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.” The reading concludes, “Samuel grew up, and the Lord was with him, not permitting any word of his to be without effect.” When we respond positively to God’s call, we will receive the same blessing Samuel received. We will grow in the Lord; and the Lord will be with us; and will not permit any word of ours to be without effect. What an intimate relationship with God!

 The second reading calls us to holiness of life. In the reading, St. Paul reminds us that our bodies are members of Christ and temples of the Holy Spirit, which have been purchased at a price. This is the sacrifice of Christ on the Cross. St. Paul invites us to refrain from sins of the flesh but glorify God in our bodies. In 1 Corinthians 3:23, St. Paul reminds us, “You are of Christ, and Christ is of God.” This union with Christ is broken when union with a human being through fornication is committed. By the act of fornication, the union becomes with the two fornicators and no longer with Christ (1 Corinthians 6:16). If we are no longer in union with Christ, it means we are no longer temples of the Holy Spirit. Such a broken relationship with God is what St. Paul challenges us to avoid.

 The sequence of events in the Gospel of today is very striking. John the Baptist identified Jesus as the Lamb of God to Andrew and another disciple of his. The two left John and became disciples of Jesus. Later, Andrew “found his own brother, Simon, and told him, ‘We have found the Messiah.’…  Then he brought him to Jesus.” John de Baptist and Andrew teach us to show Jesus to others and bring them to Jesus. We can do this by our words and actions.

 I imagine that Simon must have, proudly, attributed what he became – the leader of the apostles and the first pope - to his brother, Andrew, who took him to Jesus. Won’t it be great if someone attributes his or her blessings to your help? There are instances where people deny help to those in need in order to prevent their success. The Gospel reading shows us that John was not afraid to lose his two disciples, and so was not reluctant to show Jesus to them. John declared, “He must increase; I must decrease” (John 3:30). And, Andrew eagerly found his brother and brought him to Jesus; for him to have a share of the treasure (Messiah) he had discovered.

 Someone writes:

“A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.

When we give of ourselves, nothing is truly lost.

When one candle lights another, its light is not diminished.

In fact, the light given off together is greater than the light of one.”

 A candle diminishes and disappears as it burns. That is how our life is. Every day, we diminish like a burning candle. It’s only a matter of time, we will disappear, and our light goes out. So, let us pass on our light and light up other human candles before we disappear and our light goes out.

 To conclude, as God calls us to various vocations, responsibilities, and to repentance, many other voices from the world and the Evil One call us too. The voices from the world and the Evil One are usually voices of discouragement. These voices discourage us from hearing God or listening to him and answering him. We pray for the grace to hear God’s call and the grace to respond like Samuel, “Speak, your servant is listening.” 

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP

Fr. Augustine Inwang, MSP - Homily for the Baptism of the Lord Year B - January 10, 2021

 

 Readings: Is. 42:1-4, 6-7; Acts. 10:34-38; Mk. 1:7-11 

When Do We Graduate From Religious Education?

1.     The Penny Catechism defines Baptism as “A Sacrament which cleanses us from original sin, makes us Christians, children of God, and members of the Church. It forgives actual sins, with all punishment due to them, when it is received in proper dispositions by those who have been guilty of actual sin.” (Nos. 256, 257). Baptism permanently relates us to God and is necessary for salvation, it imprints an indelible character on our souls and can be received only once. Through Baptism we are conferred with sanctifying grace, that makes us part of the Body of Christ. It is the first sacrament of Christian initiation which is completed with the sacraments of Confirmation and the Holy Eucharist. Therefore, one cannot receive any other sacrament validly without having received the sacrament of Baptism. Baptism was instituted by Christ when he was baptized by John the Baptist and when he commanded his apostles to go and baptize all nations in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. (Mt. 28:19). Christ warned: “Amen, amen, I say to you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit.” (Jn. 3:5).

2.     Last Sunday was the solemnity of the Epiphany of Jesus. Today we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus. At the Epiphany, Jesus was manifested as the light and savior of the gentiles. At his baptism, God the Father acknowledged him “You are my beloved Son; with whom I am well pleased.” (Mk. 1:8). We too are incorporated into the body of Christ through baptism and God takes great delight in us, therefore, we can also function in persona Christi. But the baptism of Jesus was not sacramental baptism, Christ had no sin and therefore had no need for baptism. John acknowledged this fact when he argued and tried to prevent Jesus from receiving baptism from him, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?” (Mt. 3:14). One of the reasons that Jesus permitted himself to be baptized by John, though he had no sin, was so that he could identify himself with sinful humanity. His mission was precisely to be one of calling sinners into the kingdom. “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners” (Mk. 2:17). The baptism of Jesus made him sympathetic with the people he was sent to save. By humbling himself and identifying with his people he demonstrated that he was one of them, except sin. He understood them and was ready to lead them back to the Father.

3.     The baptism of Jesus could be seen, as most early Church Fathers did, as symbolic institution of the Christian sacrament of baptism. The basis for this is the appearance of the three persons of the Trinity in the baptismal scene. The voice of the Father and the descent of the Spirit on the Son would symbolize the baptism “In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” (Mt. 28:19). We can only begin to enjoy our life with Christ after the sacrament of baptism. And so, the first reading of today invites us, “All you who are thirsty, come to the water! You who have no money, come, receive grain and eat; come, without paying and without cost, drink wine and milk!” We must seek the Lord while he may be found. Postponing our search may be too late. This is the time to experience the joy of knowing Christ as our supreme source of joy.

4.     The second reading from the Acts of the Apostles indicates the importance of Jesus’ ministry. Peter sums up the whole ministry in three ‘events.’ The baptism, doing good and healing the sick, and the death and resurrection. Jesus’ public life began with his baptism. John preaches “a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.” This was part of the acceptance and inauguration of his mission as God’s suffering Servant. He allows himself to be numbered among sinners; he is already the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “Already he is anticipating the “baptism” of his bloody death. Already he is coming to “fulfill all righteousness,” that is he is submitting himself entirely to his Father’s will: out of love he consents to this baptism of death for the remission of our sins. The Father’s voice responds to the Son’s acceptance, proclaiming his entire delight in his Son. The Spirit whom Jesus possessed in fullness from his conception comes to “rest on him.” Jesus will be the source of the Spirit for all mankind. At his baptism “the heavens were opened” the heavens that Adam’s sin had closed – and the waters were sanctified by the descent of Jesus and the Spirit, a prelude to the new creation.” (CCC 536).

5.     After the baptism of Jesus, he inaugurated his mission and began the work of initiating a new kingdom of peace, justice and love. The Spirit that he received gave him his mission. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord” (Lk. 4:18). This too, dear friends, is our mission. We received the Spirit of adoption on the day of our baptism, like St. Paul reminds us: “For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a spirit of adoption, through which we cry, “Abba Farther!” The Spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ.” (Rom. 8:15-17). Our baptism empowered us to be like Christ, to say, “I have been crucified with Christ; yet I live, no longer I, but Christ lives in me.” (Gal. 2:20). This Spirit enables us to be compassionate, merciful, kind, forgiving and loving. Through it we begin to see one another through the lens of Christ. To do what we have been told, “You have been told, O man what is good, and what the Lord requires of you: only to do the right and to love goodness, and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8).

6.     So, just as Jesus began his public ministry after his baptism, our religious education and ministries in the Church began on the day we received our own baptism too. This sacrament initiated us into the life of grace with sanctifying grace which disposes us to receive the other graces God offers and to make use of them to live holy lives. Our religious education does not end with the reception of the sacrament of Confirmation, the sacrament of initiation should make us grow rather stronger in our zeal for the Lord and in our desire to further his kingdom here on earth. Christ worked zealously for the kingdom till his last breath. We too should be about the work of God till the end. The Spirit of God that we received at our baptism helps us to reject Satan, all his works and all his empty promises. May we be encouraged to live holy lives and be the eyes, hands and feet of Jesus in our world for others. Amen.

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

 

Fr. Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie, MSP - Homily for the Baptism of the Lord Year B - January 10, 2021

FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD

Isaiah 55:1-11

1 John 5:1-9

Mark 1:7-11

US THE GRACE OF BAPTISM STILL IN YOU?

Today we celebrate the feast of the baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ. This feast marks the end of the Christmas season. From tomorrow, we shall begin the ordinary season of the calendar of the church which will usher us into the lenten season with Ash Wednesday on the 17th of February.

The baptism of Jesus, marks the beginning of his public ministry, a journey that will lead to his death and resurrection.

After the infancy narrative of Jesus, the only time we hear of him again was when he was 12 years old. Nothing is heard about Jesus until he was 30 and was ready to begin his public ministry.

The baptism of John was a fulfilment of the prophecies in the old Testament that Elijah will come and prepare the ground for Jesus. When he finally arrived, Jesus himself testified to the role of John the Baptist.

In the Old Testament, water was used for purification and cleansing as a form of repentance. John therefore called the people to purify themselves so as to be able to receive Jesus.

Many of us may be surprised that Jesus himself went to John to be baptized since he had no sin. The baptism of Jesus was also a moment of his epiphany. The father acknowledged him as his son and revealed him to the world.

In the first reading of today, we hear the prophet Isaiah tell us that Baptism is a gift from God. With baptism, we become children of God. Through baptism God is offering us the kingdom and all the enjoyment in it at no cost.

It is important today that we examine ourselves and our lives as baptised Christians. At baptism, we receive grace to live a good Christian life. During our own baptism, a sign of the cross was made on our foreheads to claim us for Christ, are we still children of God or we have gone astray? A clean white cloth was places on our head, is our heart still pute and clean? A lighted candle was given to us to signify Christ the light, is Christ still the light in our life? we were anointed with the oil of catechumenate and Chrism. Have we allowed the Holy Spirit to work through us for the proclamation of the kingdom of God?

We pray that almighty God will grant us the grace to live as children of God and to keep to our baptismal promises. God help us. Amen.

Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie MSP

Fr. Emmanuel Megwara, MSP - Homily for the Baptism of the Lord Year B - January 10, 2021

EVENT : BAPTISM OF THE LORD

 COLOUR: WHITE

 READINGS :Isaiah 55:1-11; Resp. Psalm. Isa. 12:2-3.4bcd.5-6; 1John 5:1-9; Mark 1:7-11.

 THEME: BAPTISM EQUALS US WITH JESUS

    Greetings beloved people of God. I welcome you to "My Catholic Homily Digest". On this Second Sunday of the year, which doubles also as the baptism of the Lord, I wish to reflect with you on the theme: " Baptism Equals Us With Jesus". Beloved, do not be shocked by the theme of today's reflection because it is a valid statement. By the celebration of the baptism of Jesus today, the Christmas season has come to an end. And the public ministry of Jesus commences. However, just like every other thing that Jesus did, His baptism was meant to teach us the necessity of rebirth into the fellowship of God's children. Jesus does not need baptism for he was pure purity. But to make us all equal, he had to take the lead that we might follow. According to the teaching of the Church, baptism brings about a fundamental equality of all God's people. By his baptism, Christ has sanctified the batismal waters, thereby uniting all believer as one people. For since we all receive one baptism, there is no inequality arising from race, nationality, social status, colour, culture or sex (Gal. 3:28).

      Beloved, the fact that one is reborn in Christ through baptism is infinitely more important than being born into certain parents, class, social caste or race (CCC. Art. 35, Pg. 80). This is why the saintly Archbishop of Onitsha, Obiefuna, of blessed memory, once opined that "the waters of baptism is thicker than the blood of families ties". Dearest in Christ, the mystery and privileges obtained from baptism are innumerable. Firstly, by baptism, one is made entirely a new creature irrespective of past misdeeds and s/he receives full remission of all past sins, but original and actual just like that (Act. 2:38, CCC, Art 31, Pg 76). . And all the punishments due to those sins are cancelled (Cf. Council of Florence: DS 1316). Furthermore, through baptism, sanctifying grace and other graces are infused on the baptised. Thus, since baptism does not completely remove certain temporal consequences inherent in life as weaknesses of character such as 'concupiscence', these graces obtained through baptism enable us to wrestle favourably with temporal inclinations.

  Finally child of God, baptism takes us from merely being slaves and servants of God through being friends of Jesus, and finally being brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ. It makes us adopted children of God and heirs to the kingdom of heaven (Gal. 4:4-6; Rom. 8:29). As sons and daughters of God, with Jesus as the first born Son, we should not be shy to demand our birth rights from God, we should not be too shy to call God "My Father" (Cf. John 20:17). We are not meant to shiver before God, our loving father, we should not suffer want or hardship, sickness and death. But we are deprived of all these benefits because despite our baptism, we have rushed back to the pool of sin. And like dirty and stinky  pigs, we feel too unworthy to approach God or to even raise our head. I pray that through the grace of the baptism of Jesus today, we may renew our baptismal resolution to die to sin and rise into the new life of Jesus Christ.

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

 LET US PRAY : Lord Jesus, through your baptism, you have sanctified the baptismal font. Help me to imitate you all the days of my life.......

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 BAPTISM OF THE LORD BELOVED FRIENDS.

  @ Fada Emmanuel Nnamdi Megwara, MSP. ⛪

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP - Homily for the Baptism of the Lord Year B- January 10, 2021

Homily of the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord Year B, 2021

 Isaiah 55:1-11; Psalm: Isaiah 12:2-6; 1 John 5:1-9; Mark 1:7-11

 Last Sunday was the Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord. Epiphany means the revelation of Jesus to the world. The revelation continues, today, with the Baptism of Jesus.

 As we see in today’s Gospel, God himself and the Holy Spirit are the witnesses to Jesus’ revelation. God makes a public declaration about Jesus, not through any prophet, not through any angel, not through the shepherds, not through the Magi, not through Simeon and Anna, not through John the Baptist, but by himself and in the presence of the Holy Spirit. The Gospel says, “After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened for him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming upon him. And a voice came from the heavens, saying, ‘This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.’” This declaration by God is the greatest disclosure or revelation of Jesus. St. John urges us in the second reading, “If we accept human testimony, the testimony of God is surely greater. Now he has testified on behalf of his son” (1 John 5:9).

Catholic catechism teaches that Baptism is a Sacrament through which we are cleansed from original sin; we become followers of Christ, children of God, and members of the Church. We may ask, if Baptism cleanses us from original sin, why, then, was it necessary that Jesus was baptized although he was sinless? Maximus of Turin explains, “Christ is baptized, not that he may be sanctified in the waters, but that he himself may sanctify the waters… For when the Savior is washed, then already for our Baptism all water is cleansed and the fount purified… Christ therefore takes the lead in Baptism, so that Christian people may follow after him with confidence.”

By his Baptism, Jesus incarnates himself into humanity. He fulfils all requirements of identifying with sinners. According to St. Athanasius, “He became what we are, so that he might make us what he is.” We, therefore, become recipients of his incarnation by our own Baptism. Hence, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1272, teaches, “Incorporated into Christ by Baptism, the person baptized is configured to Christ. Baptism seals the Christian with the indelible spiritual mark (character) of his belonging to Christ. No sin can erase this mark, even if sin prevents Baptism from bearing the fruits of salvation. Given once for all, Baptism cannot be repeated.”

Today’s celebration reminds us of the importance of our own Baptism. As mortal beings, we may not achieve the state of purity that the Sacrament of Baptism granted us when we were baptized. However, we are invited to strive to follow after Jesus, strive to be configured to him, in order to become beloved of God and well pleased to God. We can do this by keeping the baptismal promises we made, or that were made on our behalf during our Baptism (for many who were baptized as infants). The baptismal promises are to reject Satan, and all his works, and all his empty promises, and to believe in God, in Jesus Christ, in the Holy Spirit, and in the Church.

Keeping our baptismal promises helps us to maintain the Christian dignity which the white garment we were clothed during our Baptism signifies. Keeping our baptismal promises helps us to walk as children of the light which the candle that was lit during our Baptism signifies. During Baptism, the minister touches our ears and mouth and prays, “May the Lord soon touch your ears to receive his word, and your mouth to proclaim his faith, to the praise and glory of God the Father.” If this prayer bears fruit in us, then we are beloved of God and well pleased to him.

Unfortunately, many Catholics and many Christians fail to understand the spiritual meanings of Baptism. Some take it lightly as a christening, which is a church ceremony of giving a baby a name. This ignorance results to many people’s lack of commitment to keeping baptismal promises. Failure in keeping baptismal promises means failure in configuring to Christ, failure in following after him, failure in belonging to him, and failure in pursuing Christian dignity. Therefore, the celebration of the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord is an invitation to us to rediscover the importance of our own Baptism to our journey of faith, and to see that our Baptism bears the fruit of salvation. That is the only way we become beloved of God.

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP