Fr. Martin Eke, MSP - Homily for the First Sunday of Advent Year B- November 29, 2020

 

Homily of First Sunday of Advent Year B, 2020

Isaiah 63:16-17, 19, 64:2-7; Psalm 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19; 1 Corinthians 1:3-9; Gospel 13:33-37

The meaning of Advent Wreath: Circle symbolizes eternity of God. Green wreath symbolizes life everlasting. Candle light symbolizes Jesus, the light of the world. Four candles symbolize the four weeks of Advent season. First purple candle of the first week symbolizes hope. Second purple candle of the second week symbolizes peace. Pink candle of the third week symbolizes joy. Third purple candle of the fourth week symbolizes love. Purple color foreshadows the royalty of Jesus.

The theme of the first week of Advent is hope. Jesus is the hope of the world (Matthew 12:21). This is the hope, St. Paul says, that does not disappoint (Romans 5:5).

This Sunday marks the beginning of the Advent season and a new liturgical year. We are, now, in Cycle B. Advent season is observed in the Catholic Church as a time the Church recalls the expectant hopeful waiting for the coming of the Messiah. Literally, the word advent means the ‘approaching of,’ the ‘coming of,’ the ‘advancing of.’

Ordinarily, almost everybody, Christians and non-Christians alike, in one way or another, prepare for the celebration of Christmas. Business establishments do whatever they can to commercialize Christmas. As we know, there is, usually, so much external preparation. For us Catholics, spiritual preparation is more important. For instance, when we expect a visitor, we get our house in order, we get food and drink ready, and we clean up and dress well. If the house is in order, and food and drink well prepared and arranged, but the host appears shabby, the visitor will feel embarrassed and may not stay for the meal. In the same manner, spiritual preparation is necessary, so that we have an inn ready for Jesus in our life this Christmas. Spiritual preparation makes every Christmas become the first Christmas. The Mass readings and various parish spiritual exercises will help us in the spiritual preparation.

The first reading is Prophet Isaiah’s acknowledgement of and lamentation over the sins of the people of Israel, and a plead for God’s mercy. Isaiah laments, “Behold, you are angry, and we are sinful; all of us have become like unclean people, all our good deeds are like polluted rags; we have all withered like leaves and our guilt carries us away like the wind.” In the same way, we are to acknowledge our sins and do something about them. True repentance of our sins and Sacrament of Reconciliation will help us in the spiritual preparation. If we do these, St. Paul assures us in the second reading, we will “not be lacking in any spiritual gift as [we] wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

The Gospel reminds us that the preparation of the coming of Jesus Christ is not a spiritual journey only because of the Christmas celebration. Jesus does not wait to visit us only at Christmas. We are to be watchful for him and alert for him any moment, “whether in the evening, or at cockcrow, or in the morning.” Again, this point reminds us the importance of preparing and being ready for the end of time.

Some spiritual steps to a good Advent season:

* Participate in parish Advent season spiritual exercises such as retreat, prayer, Penitential Service, and so on.

*Make Advent season spiritual resolutions to be closer to God.

*Go to Confession.

*Attend additional Masses along with Sunday Mass.

*Make peace with those one has a difficult relationship with.

*Do works of charity.

*Be devoted to the Word of God and to private prayer.

We wish one another a fruitful and Spirit-filled Advent season.

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP - Homily for the Thirty-Fourt Sunday in Ordinary time Year A - November 22, 2020

 

Homily of Thirty-Fourth Sunday, Christ the King of Year A, 2020

 

 Ezekiel 34:11-12, 15-17; Psalm 23:1-3, 5-6; 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28; Matthew 25:31-46

 

The feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, was established by Pope Pius XI in 1925, not long after the end of the First World War. The pope established the feast as a statement of faith against the prevailing ideologies of communism and secularism at that time. The two ideologies attempted to exclude faith, religion and God from humanity. This feast is even more relevant to us now that we face many anti-Christian and anti-Catholic ideologies like secularism, materialism, relativism, anti-clericalism, and persecution of Christians. By celebrating this feast, we are upholding the teachings of the Scripture, the teachings of the Church and to continue to proclaim Jesus Christ as our leader and king.

 

The kingship of Jesus is clearly stated in the Scripture: The King of kings and Lord of lords (1 Timothy 6:15); the ruler of the kings of the earth (Revelation 1:5); he is the Lord of lords and King of kings (Revelation 17:14). Jesus declared in Matthew 28:18, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” In Philippians 2:9-10, St. Paul writes, “God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord…”

 

The people of Jesus’ time did not understand that the earthly kingship of Jesus was not political but spiritual.  His disciples asked him before he ascended into heaven, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6). The Pharisees had, also, asked him when the kingdom of God would come. Jesus’ reply gives us a good understanding of his earthly kingship we are celebrating today: “The coming of the kingdom of God cannot be observed, and no one will announce, ‘Look, here it is,’ or, ‘There it is.’ For behold, the kingdom of God is among you” (Luke 17:21).

 

This means that the universal kingdom is not remote in a distant land, or in the heavens, or across the sea. The universal kingdom is within us, around us, and among us; in our homes, our parishes, our churches, our neighborhoods, our institutions, our work places, our business places, our market places, our gatherings, our environments, and so on.

 

The first reading is Prophet Ezekiel’s prophecy of Jesus’ universal kingship. He came to the cloudy and dark world to die in order to save the scattered sheep. He came to seek out and bring back the strayed, to bind up the injured, to heal the sick. Jesus is no longer physically with us; but by his Spirit, Word, and Sacraments he empowers, us, his followers to continue his saving works.  

 

Jesus confers his power and authority on his followers by declaring in Luke 10:19, “Behold, I have given you the power to tread upon serpents and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you.” Mark 16:17-18, “These signs will accompany those who believe in my name: in my name they will drive out demons, they will speak new languages. They will pick up serpents with their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not harm them. They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”

 

As his Christians, we are kingly people (1 Peter 2:9); we are co-heirs of the kingdom with Jesus (Romans 8:17); and we are to reign with him (2 Timothy 2:11). Jesus can only rule the universe through us if we take up this power and use it. As we read in the Gospel, it is with this power we are able to feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, and care for the sick and prisoners.

 

The accolades in the above paragraph (kingly people, co-heirs, reign with him) bestowed on us, Christians, must not be for nothing, especially, in the face of so much affliction in the world; further polluted by non-Christian vicious lies, deceptions, and ideologies. We must respond, positively, to this urgent invitation from Jesus: “From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent are taking it by force” (Matthew 11:12). St. Paul challenges us to cast away the spirit of cowardice (2 Timothy 1:7), and take up the power and the force Jesus has given to us, to stand firm as kingly people and co-heirs, to reign with him, and to confront the sufferings, the ills, the decadence, and the violence in our world. It is by so doing, the Solemnity of Jesus Christ, the King of the Universe is meaningfully celebrated.

 

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP - Homily for the Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary time Year A - November 15, 2020

Homily of Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time of Year A, 2020 Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31; Psalm 128:1-5; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6; Matthew 25:14-31 Today’s readings continue our reflection on the preparation of the end of time. The readings also teach us the importance of hard work and accountability. The worthy wife in the first reading who is hardworking, caring and God fearing reminds us of all hardworking, caring, and God fearing women who are sustaining families, communities, parishes, institutions, countries, and the world. They deserve our prayers, love, recognition, respect, fairness, appreciation, gratitude, and praise. At the same time, we pray for God’s intervention in the life all women in difficult conditions. The second reading was St. Paul’s admonition to the Thessalonians who presumed, wrongly, that the day of the Lord was very near and refused to do any work. They went “to sleep.” In the reading, St. Paul encourages us not to sleep off but to “stay alert and sober.” As in the first reading, the message is, be hardworking; and be God fearing. The first reading is a parable which speaks of our relationship with God. The husband represents God. The worthy wife represents us. The parable is an encouragement to us to embrace our duties and responsibilities with diligence, and with fear of the Lord. The parable of the talents in the Gospel continues the same message as in the first reading. The servants who worked hard and made profit were congratulated as good and faithful servants, and were rewarded with great responsibilities. The servant who went to ‘sleep’ by digging a hole in the ground and burying his master’s money, his talent was taken away from him and he was severely punished. Again, in the parable, the master is God. We are the servants. There is always a time of reckoning; a time we are required to account for our actions. We will give account on two levels. While still alive, accountability is required from us for our duties and responsibilities. Favorable reward or unfavorable reward follows our decisions and actions. Afterlife also, there will be judgement and reward. It is either, “Come and share in your master’s joy;” or, “Throw this useless servant into the darkness outside, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.” An important question for our reflection is, what are we doing with the talents, gifts, positions, duties, responsibilities, opportunities, and blessings God has entrusted to us? Are we like the hardworking worthy wife and the good and faithful servants; or, are we like those who go to sleep, and the wicked and lazy servant? The wicked and lazy servant “went off and dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money.” When it was his turn to give account, he launched a ferocious verbal attack on his master. We see this happen so often around us; whereby someone fights those he/she is supposed to render account to. I guess that he was not only wicked and lazy, he was also angry and envious. He was angry that he got only one talent. He was envious of the servant who received five talents and the servant who received two talents. It is striking what the master said to the good and faithful servants, “Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities.” This is an invitation to us to be faithful in small matters. Many great people rose from humble beginnings. Many big establishments began in a small way. Many big parishes began with a few faithful Catholics. Many great cities began with the settlement of a handful of people. Jesus began his ministry with only twelve apostles (Luke 6:12). Jesus fed the multitude with five loaves and two fish (Mark 6:41). A mustard seed faith makes impossibilities become possible (Matthew 17:20). A small seed germinates and grows into a huge tree. Every animal, even the mightiest ones, begins as a tiny fetus. Therefore, no one should say, “I can’t start. It is too small.” To take such a stance is like accepting defeat even before the battle begins. The message today is important to many in our generation who reject “small matters,” humble beginning, hard work, and fear of the Lord. We conclude with a few wise words: · “We can make heaven through the small good things we do.” - St. Theresa of Child Jesus · "Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies." – St. (Mother) Theresa. · "I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world.” - St. (Mother) Theresa · “Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters.” – Albert Einstein · “Do small things in a great way.” – Napoleon Hill · “The most successful detectives owe their success to noticing small things.” – Robert Baden-Powell Fr. Martin Eke, MSP

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP - Homily for the Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary time Year A - November 8, 2020

Homily of Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time of Year A, 2020 Wisdom 6:12-16; Psalm 63:2-8; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Matthew 25:1-13 This Sunday and next Sunday, we will continue our reflection on the end of time, as we begin to approach the end of the Liturgical year. The first reading reminds us of Psalm 90:12 that says, “Make us know the shortness of our life that we may gain wisdom of heart.” Our life on earth is limited. Psalm 90:10 says, “Seventy is the sum of our years, or eighty, if we are strong.” According to Guinness World Records, the greatest fully authenticated age to which any human has ever lived is 122 years (Jeanne Louise Calment, 1875 – 1997 in France). This is nothing compared to eternity. The readings today teach us that we need wisdom to live our earthly life in order to prepare for eternal life. We read in the second reading, “For the Lord himself, with a word of command, with the voice of an archangel and with the trumpet of God, will come down from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.” We do not know when this collective end of time will happen. Jesus, himself, says, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority” (Acts 1:7). But we are sure of the individual end of time which we experience daily. We need wisdom to prepare for our personal end of time. Wisdom is the first of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit. The first reading says that wisdom “is readily perceived by those who love her, and found by those who seek her. … Because she makes her rounds, seeking those worthy of her, and graciously appears to them on the way, and goes to meet them with full attention.” We are like the wise and foolish virgins in the Gospel. We do not know the arrival time of Jesus, the bridegroom. We need wisdom to stay awake and ready for his arrival to take us to eternity. We are the lamps; wisdom is the oil. As long as there is wisdom in us, our light will not go out. We will continue to be “the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). Wisdom is life in Christ. Life in Christ means to be guided by the Spirit and the light of Jesus Christ. The parable of the ten virgins teaches us the need to think ahead and plan ahead. This rule of planning ahead concerns every aspect of our existence. It is foolishness and at one’s peril to disregard this rule. The parable teaches us to remain firm on what is right. The foolish virgins’ request represents those suggestions that put pressure on us to follow the path of sin. The foolish virgins’ request represents trials and temptations that come our way, capable of swaying us away from the right course of action. The parable encourages us to be wise and courageous enough to decline such requests. The parable encourages us not to please someone and displease God. Jesus says, “Stay awake, for you do not know neither the day nor the hour.” Stay awake means stay awake in prayer; stay vigilant, stay watchful and alert against the deceits of the Evil One and his agents. Wisdom 9:6 says, “For even if one is perfect among the sons of men, yet without the wisdom that comes from God, he will be regarded as nothing.” The crises and chaos we experience in many places is because men and women have abandoned the wisdom that comes from God. The flask of oil becomes empty and the light goes out. Let us conclude with these instructions from Proverbs 4:4-9: “Let your heart hold fast my words: keep my commands, and live! Get wisdom, get understanding! Do not forget or turn aside from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will safeguard you. The beginning of wisdom is: get wisdom; whatever else you get, get understanding. Extol her, and she will exalt you; she will bring you honors if you embrace her; She will put on your head a graceful diadem; a glorious crown will she bestow on you”. Fr. Martin Eke, MSP