THE POWER OF LOVE

HOMILY FOR THE 4TH SUNDAY IN THE ORDINARY TIME YEAR C

R1: Jeremiah 1:4-5, 17-19

R2: 1Corinthians 12:31-13:13

Gospel: Luke 4:21-30

Theme: THE POWER OF LOVE

The word love has been bastardised in our world today. For instance, if I approach any person in this church now either man or woman and tell the person these three words, ‘I love you’ the person will be thrown into confusion if not total embarrassment. The major confusion will be which type of love is he talking about? Is it Agape; Christian and authentic love? Filia; brotherly or fraternal love? Eros; sexual or erotic love?

Beloved in Christ, the love that we want to talk about today is more in connection with Agape and Filia and has little or nothing to do with Eros and its many negative attributes.

The readings of today reveal to us the power of love. It is this power of love that motivated and sustained Jeremiah in the first reading. Jeremiah had one of the most bitter prophetic carers in the bible. He loved his people and did his best to bring their stubborn hearts back to the covenant with God.

However, as Jeremiah attempted to warn his people, they persecuted him ferociously leading to so much suffering that he faced in his prophetic mission. But God in his divine love was open to him right from the beginning when he was called. It was clear to him that he would suffer very much, suffering my dear friends in Christ, is not an abomination as so many of us think.

In the same vein with Jeremiah the prophet, Jesus in the beginning of his earthly public ministry loved his people and the environment here he grew up. He loved his friends, playmates, classmates, and village very dearly. Little wonder he brought them the best thing in his life, the good news. It is rightly said that charity begins at home. It is in this sense that Jesus wanted them to hear this good news first and that was why he went to the local synagogue and ‘unrolling the scroll, he found the place where it is written: "the spirit of the lord has been given to me, for he has anointed me. He has sent me to bring the good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty the captives and to the blind new sight, to set the downtrodden free, to proclaim the lord’s year of favour." With this solemn programme outlined by Jesus, he meant well for those he loved so dearly. And they praised him all over the country side and beyond.

However, the praise of his people did not last long. Not quite long that Jesus had won the approval and astonishment of his people by the gracious words that came from his lips that they turned against him in reward. They did not gain much from him. They even intended according today’s passage to throw him down from the cliffs. But miraculously ‘he walked away’. The worst thing that can happen to us, happened to them. They lost sight of Jesus with all the good tidings he brought for them.

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, those who have no love for God and neighbour are losers and those who have no faith in God and in their fellow human beings will always lack favour from God. Love is the most important gift. Let us never allow Jesus to walk away from us. It will be very disastrous if we end up doing so.

Let us bear in mind that those we love so much, those we care so much for are often time those who make life difficult and miserable for us. Those from our family circle, our best friends and colleagues are those who betray us often. Why? It is because of envy, jealousy, hatred and over familiarity. (onye ima ga eme gi aru...)

 However, let the pains and sufferings we encounter in loving and caring for others not stop us from fulfilling our mission to love.

In the second reading, St. Paul gave us list of what love is and what it is not.

Love is patient; charity demands that we bear with serenity the defects of others.

Love is kind. Love demands us to do good to everyone we meet whether Anglophone or Francophone. Let us be generous.

Love is not jealous. It does not begrudge the talents and good things of others. Many sins against charity flow from jealousy Such as murder, adultery, stealing etc. Jealousy is often the cause of collapse of friendships, marriages, fraternal bonds etc. Jealousy is the mother of hatred.

Love is not pompous; instead love is self-effacing. It is not inflated with its own importance. 

Love is never rude; rather it is tactful, polite, and very gracious.

Love is not self seeking; is not selfish or self centred. Looking only for my own benefits 

Love those not record offences; it does not calculate how many times he or she has offended and is still offending.  Love does not keep dairies of offences. If you are keeping any offence dairy please go and burn it after this mass.

Love is not prone to anger; it is rather concerned about the other. It does not go into self centred burst of temper.

Love does not rejoice over hardship of others, rather it rejoices with those who are happy and console those in hardship.

Love does not do an unhealthy competition.

Love is full of forbearance; it is trusting and believing the best of others. It is full of hope. It realises that despite our imperfections, God is not yet finished with us. Love has power to endure and it conquers defects. 

Let us therefore do our best to follow these concrete and practical ways of love and make our world a better place for you and for me.

Prayer:

Having betrayed this precious and divine gift of love in so many ways either by thoughts, words, actions and inactions, let us ask God of love for mercy to give of the grace to love and be loved. Amen.

Reflection by:

REV. FR. REMIGIUS ONYEDIKACHI SMMM

THE TRUE CHRISTIAN SPIRIT

HOMILY FOR 3RD SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME – YR C.

*R1: Neh. 8:2-6,8-10; 

R2: 1 Cor. 12:12-30, 

Gospel: Luke 1:1-4,4:14-21

Theme: The True Christian Spirit

My dear friends in Christ, last Sunday we reflected on the Second Manifestation (Epiphany) of Christ and its place in our lives as Christians. With the gospel reading of last Sunday, Jesus attended a wedding at Cana in Galilee, where he turned water into wine (Jn 2:1-8). This first miracle of Christ made a lot of people believed in him (Jn 2:11). Those who believed in him make his disciples (followers). Also, through our sacramental baptism, we are the children of God. Thus, today’s readings lunch us proper to this year’s liturgical year by disposing us to the qualities expected of a TRUE CHRISTIAN. We cannot be good Christians without the following:

*1. THE DESIRE TO HEAR THE WORD OF GOD:* From the first reading, the Israelites showed their readiness and deep disposition to listen to the Word of God, having stayed away in exile for long without hearing this Word. Their disposition is characterized by the readiness to stay for hours and to listen to Ezra reading these Words, without complaints (Neh 8:3).

Today, our Church and our Christianity is characterized by partial rejection of the Word of God. The desire to listen to the Word of God is almost dead in many people. A lot of Christians do not even have the Bible let alone reading it. Even, when people notice that you like talking about the Bible, they will call you names and make comic statements about you. A lot of people even fill uncomfortable to let their friends know they are carrying the Bible.  What an unfortunate situation. 

My friends, we cannot be true Christians without the desire to hear God speak to us through the Bible and the teachings of the Church. To be guided properly to live a good Christian life, the word of God is unavoidable, thus, the psalmist echoes: Your words are spirit and they are life (Jn 6:63). Let us possess the Bible, let us love the word of God for Jesus is the word of God.

*2. PROFESSION OF FAITH:* The desire to listen to hear the word of God and the actual listening to the word of God id followed up by the profession of faith. The Israelites responded to Ezra today by saying Amen, Amen, stating their desire to follow the proclamation of the word.

In the church, after the homily (preaching) we usually profess the same faith when we say or sing the Creed (I believe...). The unfortunate thing is that this proclamation of faith by many Christians does not sink into the heart. No wonder Matt. 15:8, says; “These people only honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” My dear friends let us always show a deep faith for what we believe. How can we truly profess our faith?

*3. PRACTISE YOUR FAITH:* The true profession of faith is by practising what we believe. Christians are only known by the kind of life they live. The group of believers were first called Christians because the way they lived (Acts 11:26). That means, Christianity is not just a name but an attitude. And that is why in Jn 13:35 Jesus say’ “It is by this [practising] that you will be known as my disciples.

The second reading of today (1 Cor 12:12-30) explains this point well by encouraging everyone to use his gift properly for the service of God and wellbeing of others. No one is too important than the other. Everyone has a role to play in life. Part of the fundamental role we are to play is to help one another attain salvation. Unity is a divine character and Christians must possess it. Christ prayed that his people be one (Jn 17:12). Oneness is a symbol of love.  Therefore, my friends let us love one another for all of us are important like the different parts of the Body (Church) join to the Head (Christ).

The actual possession of the Christian spirit as listed above is the fulfilment of the gospel as Luke stated in the Gospel Reading. There are very many Christians who are shying away and dying silently because of the wrong spirit put up by many Christians. If we possess the true spirit of Christianity, what again are we talking about if not that “...those in captivity will be set free, the blind will see, the downtrodden set free, and the Lord’s time realised (Lk.4:18).

May God help us all to be true Christians, through Christ our Lord; Amen.

*Fr. Livinus Chukwuemeka. SMMM*

Hail, Mary, full of grace

 

Hail, Mary, full of grace,

the Lord is with thee.

Blessed art thou amongst women

and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.

Holy Mary, Mother of God,

pray for us sinners,

now and at the hour of our death. 

Amen.

INVITING JESUS AND MARY INTO OUR LIFE'S JOURNEY

HOMILY FOR THE 2ND SUNDAY OF ORDINRY TIME, YEAR C 

(Is.62:1-5, Ps.95:1-3.7-10, 1Cor.12:4-11 & Jn. 2:1-11)

INVITING JESUS AND MARY INTO OUR LIFE'S JOURNEY 

In this Second Sunday of the Ordinary Time of the Liturgical Year, the Lord through his prophet Isaiah assures us in the First Reading, that he would neither be weary nor keep silent over the ugly situation of his people, until their integrity and vindication are restored (Is.62:1-5). 

In the light of this, today's Gospel reading from St John -Jn.2:1-11, presents us with the account of the very first public miracle (sign) of Jesus, which he performed at Cana in Galilee at a wedding ceremony to alleviate human predicament and restore their joy. In the theology and pedagogy of St John the beloved disciple, Miracles are signs to reveal Jesus glory of Son-ship and Messiah-ship which are meant to restore and elicit faith from us.

As the narrative has it, Mary the Mother of Jesus was there at the wedding ceremony and Jesus and his disciples were also invited. And in the course of the celebration, the wedding hosts ran out of wine while many guests were yet to be served. Bearing in mind that, in the Jewish culture wine used to be served in abundance during such wedding feasts even up to seven days. But here is this family in a helpless situation as their wine suddenly got finished amidst the wedding celebration. And when Mary noticed this embarrassing situation she was moved with compassion and she immediately took the initiative to plead with her son Jesus, telling him that, the couple had ran out of wine. Implying that Jesus should do 'something' to relieve the couple of the embarrassing situation. 

By this gesture, Mary teaches us what it means to be sensitivity to peoples' predicament'. Being sensitive to other peoples' predicament and responding to it, remains a noble Christian virtue. Sometimes we remain CULPABLY INSENSITIVE to the situation around us begging for help, and which only God knows that we are capable of doing something to help. In many families and communities today, for instance, members die silently in their needy situation because those who could do something to alleviate the situation choose to remain adamantly indifferent. Mary teaches us today to be pro-actively sensitive wherever we are. DVvv 4vA4gàh aà

On the surface, Jesus seemingly objected initially to Mary's plea by saying, "Woman, why turn to me? My hour has not yet come". Ordinarily, receiving this seemingly negative response from Jesus, Mary could have concluded that there is no hope, and that the case is closed. However, she was rather so optimistic that, even though Jesus seemly gave a negative response to her request, that come-what-may, he would surely reconsider the plea. That is why Mary wasted no time to approach the wedding stewards and instructed them to be watchful and to do whatever Jesus tells them to do. Mary's attitude here reveals her deep love and trust in Jesus. Though Jesus' hour to begin his miracle had not yet come, still Mary was not daunted but rather was quite optimistic of what Jesus could do.

Interestingly, shortly after, straightaway Jesus went and instructed the wedding stewards to fill some nearby six ablution stone jars with water and Jesus turned the water into wine , a very tasty kind of wine and thereby  brought great blessing and joy to the couple and their wedding guests.  

This very first miracle which Jesus performed in the course of his ministry owing to the loving compulsion of his Mother, highlights the POWERFUL INTERCESSION OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY as well as THE GREAT LOVE AND REGARD WHICH JESUS HAS FOR HIS MOTHER - MARY. If Mary could be so sensitive to intercede with her Son for a desperate couple without their asking or even knowing about her plea, how much more would she not intercede for us, even with greater persistence when we ask for her intercession as a compassionate Mother, to whom Jesus himself entrusts us to her motherly care at the foot of the cross through the beloved disciple -John, at Calvary (Jn.19:26-27). 

Therefore, as the presence of Jesus and Mary brought succour and happiness to the marriage at Cana, so would any marriage or family today who invites Jesus and Mary to their family life experience Mary's intercession as well as Jesus' gracious miracle of grace. Yes, we may not literally run out of wine in our family or in our individual lives, but we may run out of the necessary and the abundance of the grace that would secure our happiness and lasting relationship with the Lord.

Therefore, today's Gospel passage, encourages us to invite Jesus and Mary to our individual lives and families. When we do, you will see that the miracle of grace will surely be flowing abundantly in your lives and families. You will certainly not run out of the ‘wine’ of fortitude, peace, love and happiness in your family and individual lives. That is why the Letter to the Hebrews encourages us to approach with confidence the THRONE OF GRACE, (Our Lord Jesus Christ) so that we will obtain mercy and grace to help us in our time of need, (Heb.4:16). 

May the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of Jesus the Saviour intercede for us. Always endeavour to give the Lord Jesus the first place in your life and allow His principles and values to determine and colour your daily lives, decisions and choices.

Reflection by 

Fr Damian Ikemefuna Ozokwere cssp

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF JESUS BAPTISM FOR US

HOMILY ON THE BAPTISM OF OUR LORD, YEAR C 

(Is. 42:1-4, 6-7, Ps.28:1-4,9-10, Acts 10:34-38 & Lk.13:15-16.21-22)

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF JESUS BAPTISM FOR US

This Sunday the Church commemorates THE BAPTISM OF OUR LORD. This Feast, liturgically marks the end of the Christmas season. And the celebration calls us to reflect how Jesus humbly presents himself before John the Baptist for baptism in the River Jordan. We see in Jesus, a man without sin accepting baptism on our behalf.

The big question one might ask here is, why would Jesus the sinless one submit himself to be baptized? Since as we know, Baptism is a Sacrament that washes away our sins, and Jesus himself as the Scripture says had no sin in himself. John the Baptist even questions why Jesus should come to him for Baptism. To this, Jesus simply says that it would be proper for him to fulfil all that righteousness demands.

Today's Gospel narrative (Lk.13:15-16.21-22) has it that, as soon as Jesus was baptised and he was at prayer, suddenly the heavens opened and the Holy Spirit came down upon him in bodily shape like a dove. And instantly a voice spoke from heaven saying, 'This is my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on you.' This voice was surely, the voice of God the Father giving approval as well as inaugurating Jesus the Son, on his salvific mission with the anointing of Holy Spirit which descended upon Him in the likeness of a dove. 

Jesus' baptism, therefore, marks the acceptance and the beginning of his mission as God’s suffering Servant. So by his submission to baptism Jesus expresses his readiness to obey and accept the will of the Father who sends him on his redemptive mission. By so doing, Jesus leaves us an example to follow, as St Maximus of Turin remarks,' Christ is baptized, so that All Christians will follow after him with confidence'.

Again, Jesus' Baptism sanctifies and makes holy the waters of our own baptism. In the words of St Maximus of Turin, 'Christ is baptized, not to be made holy by the water, but to make the water of our baptism holy, and to purify the water which he touched'. 

In today's Second Reading from the Acts of the Apostles we are presented with a sermon which St Peter delivered in the house of a Roman Centurion, Cornelius, just before baptizing Cornelius and his household.  Cornelius was -the very first None Jewish Christian. Addressing Cornelius and his household, Peter said in his sermon: "Now I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him (Acts 10:34-35). 

In the OLD COVENANT, God chose the Jews, and once one is born a Jew, one belongs automatically to this covenant people of God. The criterion for belonging to God’s covenant people was natural birth. Hence, Non-Jews or Gentiles, were automatically excluded from that covenant. 

However, in the NEW COVENANT IN CHRIST, all that changes. Now, God has no preference for any nation over others. And that is the overwhelming truth which Peter had suddenly come to realize that, “God has no favourites, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him”. In Christian baptism therefore, we are all chosen to become PEOPLE OF THE NEW COVENANT, children of God who are, equally loved by God as were the covenant children of God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 

Nevertheless, what happens after our baptism, whether we turn out to become saints or sinners, depends not on the presence or absence of God’s love for us but on how much we respond to God's love and do what is right as regards to our baptismal commitment. 

In the light of this, we are encouraged today to reflect on our own baptismal commitment and the mission God has assigned for each of us at baptism. With our Baptism we are meant to; LOVE GOD AND HOLD ONTO HIM WITH OUR WHOLE HEART AND ALSO TO REJECT SATAN. All of us are called to carry out this fundamental baptismal obligation in our respective status; as Parents, Youths, Teachers, Ministers of Religion, Medical personnel etc. The Catechism of the Catholic Church articulates this baptismal obligation as follows; i) To believe in Jesus and to make his teachings our guide, ii) To listen to the Holy Mother -the Church,  iii) To reject Satan and all his pomp.

In conclusion, Christ is baptized, so that All Christians will follow after him with confidence. And by our baptism, we are ALL commissioned to be members of Christ's Mystical Body, irrespective of our diverse nationalities. We are to be, Christ’s mouth speak in the world of today. What a special and challenging vocation that is! Obviously, the moment we begin to see our baptismal commitment as a call to follow Christ more closely and to embrace his mission, we will be very much moved to live our lives in loving obedience to Christ and to give Him the first place in our lives and allow His principles and values to determine and colour our daily lives, decisions and choices.

Reflection by 

Fr Damian Ikemefuna Ozokwere CSSp