Fr. Martin Eke, MSP - Homily for the Ninth Sunday of Easter Year B - May 30, 2021- Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity

Homily of the Most Holy Trinity Year B, 2021

 Deuteronomy 4:32-34, 39-40; Psalm 33:4-6, 9, 18-20, 22; Romans 8: 14-17; Matthew 28:16-20

 We celebrated the Solemnity of Pentecost last Sunday. The descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles brings the work of the Most Holy Trinity to its fullness. God the Father is the Creator. God the Son is the Savior. God the Holy Spirit sanctifies and renews.

 As we read in the gospel, when Jesus was about to ascend to heaven, he authorized his apostles to baptize in the name of the Trinity. He said, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19). By extension, Jesus commands us to do all things in the name of the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. That is why, all our prayers begin with the invocation of the Trinity, and end with the blessing of the Trinity. We invoke the Trinity each time we profess the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirt, and sign ourselves with the Sign of the Cross. It is, therefore, important that we profess the holy names and sign ourselves reverently. The sign of the Cross was known in Christian liturgy about 3rd century AD.

 The Trinity is one of the most important mysteries in Christianity. Thus, God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are three persons, but one nature, one God, equal, undivided, and inseparable. We are not invited to fully understand the dogma because it is a mystery. We are, rather, invited to participate in the nature of the Trinity.

 What is the nature of the Trinity?

 First, the nature of the Trinity is Unity: The Trinity is one nature, inseparable, and undivided. We are invited to witness unity wherever we find ourselves. Separations and divisions are not from God.

 Second, the nature of the Trinity is harmony: There is perfect harmony in the Trinity. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit relate in harmony from creation to the descent of the Holy Spirit. We are invited to work harmoniously with one another.

 Third, the nature of the Trinity is equality: The three persons of the Trinity are equal. None is superior to the other. Therefore, we are invited to provide equal treatment and equal opportunity for everyone.

 Fourth, the nature of the Trinity is love: Unity, harmony, and equality can only be possible where there is love. The Trinity is bonded by love. We pray that we are bound together by genuine love. As we know, everything is possible with genuine love.

 Fifth, the nature of the Trinity is holy: As we celebrate and worship the Most Holy Trinity, may the rays of their holy light shine on us, dispel forces of sin and darkness, and bring us to conversion. May the rays of their holy light bring us healing. May the rays of their holy light guide us to the path of truth and righteousness. May the rays of their holy light grant us protection. Amen.

 Any family, church, community, organization, institution, or country that is rooted in the nature of the Trinity will experience unity, peace, and progress. The crises we have everywhere is because of human beings’ rejection of the nature of the Trinity. Some people are rooted only in human nature that leads to nowhere. Worse still, some people are rooted in the nature of the Evil One and they go astray. Inequality, injustice, disharmony, hate, disunity, crises, and so on are opposed to the nature of the Trinity.

 

Humanity’s trinitarian interconnectedness is in such a way that what affects one affects all. Whatever happens to one part of the world affects other parts of the world. In his Urbi et Orbi (city and world) address, March 27, 2020, Pope Francis says, “We have realized that we are on the same boat, all of us fragile and disoriented, but at the same time important and needed, …” An English author, John Donne, in 1624 wrote, “No one is an Island, entire of itself; everyone is a piece of the Continent, a part of the main. … No one is self-sufficient; everyone relies on others.”

 The celebration today reminds us the necessity of the unity and oneness. It is often said, “Where there is unity, there is strength, and there is victory;” “United we stand, divided we fall.”

We conclude with St. Paul’s trinitarian blessing in 2 Corinthians 13:14, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.” Amen.

(Please, share this homily with friends and family. Let us all become instruments of evangelization.)

 Fr. Martin Eke, MSP

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP - Homily for the Eighth Sunday of Easter Year B - May 23, 2021- Pentecost Sunday

Homily of Pentecost Sunday of Year B, 2021

Acts 2:1-11; Psalm 104:1, 29-34; 1 Corinthians 12:3-7, 12-13; John 20:19-23

 The Church was conceived when Jesus said to Peter, “You are the rock, upon you I will build my Church” (Matthew 16:18). But the Church was born on Pentecost Sunday with the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles.

 Among the Jews in the Old Testament, the feast of Pentecost was when Jewish pilgrims gathered in Jerusalem from various parts of the world: Europe, Asia, and Africa to celebrate the festival of thanksgiving for the first fruits of their harvest (Numbers 28:26).  Before his ascension, Jesus instructed the apostles to go and wait in Jerusalem until the coming of the Holy Spirit. The apostles returned to Jerusalem, and locked themselves up in the upper room (Acts 1:13).  While the crowds were celebrating the feast of Pentecost, the apostles remained up in the upper and stayed in prayer. It took the power of the Holy Spirit to liberate the apostles from the fear of the Jews and bring them out of their hiding.

 We read in the first reading, “Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven staying in Jerusalem. At this sound, they gathered in a large crowd, but they were confused because each one heard them speaking in his own language. They were astounded, and in amazement they asked, ‘Are not all these people who are speaking Galileans?’” 

One of the miracles of the descent of the Holy Spirit was that the apostles spoke in different languages, in such a way that people from various parts of the world could understand them in their own language. We recall that in Genesis, God used language to disperse the builders of the Tower of Babel (Genesis: 11:1-9). During the descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, God used language to unite all peoples (Acts 2:11). One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit is that the Church is able to preach the message of Christ in different languages in all parts of the world.

 The celebration of Pentecost Sunday is our prayer for individual Pentecost experience. We pray for the renewal or revival of the gifts of the Holy Spirit in us. Isaiah 11:2-3 names the following gifts: wisdom, understanding, counsel, power, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord. These gifts can be called foundation gifts on which numerous other gifts of the Holy Spirit are rooted into.

 St. Paul names some other gifts which have been referred to as extraordinary or charismatic gifts: faith, healing, mighty deeds (miracles), prophecy, discernment of spirits, varieties of tongues (variety of languages), interpretation of tongues (interpretation of languages), apostleship (discipleship), teaching, assistance, and administration (1 Corinthians 12:9-10, 28). These extraordinary or charismatic gifts are nourished by the foundation gifts named above.

 The sign that the gifts of the Holy Spirit are effective and active are the lasting fruits they bear. St. Paul in Galatians 5:22-23 mentions some of the fruits as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

 For many of us, it is true that the gifts of the Holy Spirit bestowed on us are either inactive or minimally active. For this reason, St. Paul urges us, “I invite you to fan into flame the gift of God you received through the laying on of my hands” (2 Timothy 1:6).

 

However, there are spiritual conditions that enable revival of the gifts and for us to experience personal or interior Pentecost. The first condition is as St. Paul urges us, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light” (Ephesians 5:14). The second condition is as St. Paul, also, invites us, “Let us then throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light” (Romans 13:12).

 Through the grace of Pentecost, may we be able to “arise from dead.” May we be able “to throw off the works of darkness.” May we be liberated from hiding and freed from “the fear of the Jews.” May the fire of the Holy Spirit descend on us that we may fan into flame the gifts God has given to us; and may the gifts bear lasting fruits. Amen

Shall we rise and sing:

Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me. Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me.

Melt me, mold me, fill me, and use me. Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me.

 

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP - Homily for the Seventh Sunday of Easter Year B - May 16, 2021- Ascension

Homily of Ascension of the Lord Year B, 2021

Acts 1:1-11; Psalm 47:2-9; Ephesians 1:17-23; Matthew 28:16-20

 The idea that Jesus was a political messiah never left Jesus’ disciples even when Jesus was about to ascend into heaven. Jesus’ disciples gave him a heroic welcome into Jerusalem believing that he had come to overthrow the Romans. Then, he was arrested, crucified and buried. When Jesus reappeared, the disciples’ conviction of his political messiahship became stronger. We read in the first reading, “When they had gathered together they asked him, ‘Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom of Israel?’” I guess that Jesus’ answer astonished them further. Jesus replied to them, “It is not for you to know the times or seasons that the Father has established by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, throughout Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” The disciples might have wondered, “What’s this man talking about? We are talking about the restoration of the kingdom of Israel, and he is talking about the Father and the Holy Spirit and witnessing. What’s the connection?” Probably, that was why when Jesus disappeared into the cloud, the apostles stood in bewilderment and gazed intently at the sky until the angels came to minister to them. Then, they returned to Jerusalem and “went to the upper room … [and] devoted themselves with one accord to prayer…” until the descent of the Holy Spirit on them (Acts 1:12-14).  

 What does the Ascension of the Lord mean to us?

 First, Jesus ascended into heaven and is at the right hand of God interceding for us. St. Paul confirms this, “Who will dare condemn them? Christ who died, and better still, rose and is seated at the right hand of God, interceding for us?” Jesus himself says, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).  The Book of Hebrews speaks of Jesus, “Therefore, he is always able to save those who approach God through him, since he lives forever to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25). Also, 1 John 2:1, “We have an intercessor with the Father, Jesus Christ, the Just One.”

 Second, Jesus says, “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you may be where I am” (John 14:3). The two angels who appeared to the disciples when Jesus ascended into heaven said to the disciples, “This Jesus has been taken up into heaven will return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.” The Preface of Ascension 1 of today’s Eucharistic celebration says, “Mediator between God and man, judge of the world and Lord of hosts, he ascended, not to distance himself from our lowly state but that we, his members, might be confident of following where he, our Head and Founder, has gone before.” We are, therefore, to be ready for his return, and go with him. The Lord speaks of his coming in the Book of Revelations, “Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed” (Revelations 16:15).

 

Third, Jesus is no longer physically in the world. As his followers, we are to continue his good deeds by witnessing him to the world. Jesus remains in the world through us who are his disciples, ambassadors, and witnesses. We are mirrors of Christ. We are his mouth, his hands, his feet, and his heart. St. Teresa of Avila appeals to us: “Christ has no body now but yours. No hands, no feet on earth but yours. Yours are the eyes through which he looks with compassion on this world. Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good. Yours are the hands through which he blesses all the world. Yours are the hands, yours are the feet, yours are the eyes, you are his body. Christ has no body now on earth but yours.”

 Fourth, when Jesus ascended into heaven the apostles went to the upper room and devoted themselves with one accord to prayer until the descent of the Holy Spirit on them. We are invited to go into “upper room” of prayer, and pray for the renewal and fire of the Holy Spirit. Jesus promises us, “I will send him to you” (John 16:7). St. Paul prays for us in the second reading, “May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation resulting in knowledge of him. May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened, that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call, what are the riches of glory in his inheritance among the holy ones, and what is the surpassing greatness of his power for us who believe, …” (Ephesians 1:17-19).

 Finally, in today’s gospel reading, before his ascension, Jesus reveals “the hope that belongs to his call” and the effects of the power of the Holy Spirit. The receivers of his call and the Holy Spirit will go out and proclaim the gospel. Signs will accompany them: 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 (Mark 16:17-18).

 May we not remain looking at the sky but go into “upper room” of prayer and receive our call and “the surpassing greatness of his power.” Amen.

 Fr. Martin Eke, MSP

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP - Homily for the Sixth Sunday of Easter Year B - May 9, 2021

Homily of Sixth Sunday of Easter Year B, 2021

 Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48; 98:1-4; Psalm 98:1-4; 1 John 4:7-10; John 15:9-17

 Many Jewish Christian converts of the early Christian community believed that non-Jews and Gentiles were unworthy of becoming Christians. They lost sight of the fact that Gentiles were among the followers of Jesus when he was alive. The apostle, Simon the Zealot (the zealous one), was a Canaanite. Matthew 15:21-28 tells us about the faith of the Canaanite woman, and the faith of the Centurion in Matthew 8:5-13. Then, Chapter 10 of the Acts of the Apostles begins with the vision of Cornelius (a Roman centurion), and the vision of St. Peter. The visions reveal the inclusive nature of Christianity.

 The visions played out when Peter arrived at Cornelius’ house. “Then Peter proceeded to speak and said, ‘In truth, I see that God shows no partiality. Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him.’ While Peter was still speaking these things, the holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the word. The circumcised believers who had accompanied Peter were astounded that the gift of the holy Spirit should have been poured out on the Gentiles also, for they could hear them speaking in tongues and glorifying God” (Acts 10:34-35, 44-46).

This is a painful reminder of past and present partiality, exclusive, and discriminatory mentalities, laws and regulations in religious and civil circles across the world. St. Peter made a powerful statement while addressing the people, “You know that it is unlawful for a Jewish man to associate with, or visit, a Gentile, but God has shown me that I should not call any person profane or unclean” (Acts 10:28). He continues, as we see in today’s reading, “In truth, I see that God shows no partiality. Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him” (Acts 10:34-35).

 The first reading begins with the following words, “When Peter entered, Cornelius met him and, falling at his feet, paid him homage. Peter, however, raised him up, saying, “Get up. I myself am also a human being” (Acts 10:25-26). St. Peter’s humility is a challenge to those who arrogate themselves to ‘golden calves’ and demand others to ‘worship’ them.

 Unfortunately, too, we discharge these unholy attitudes of partiality, exclusion, and discrimination on one another in our homes, groups, churches, communities, neighborhoods, places of work, gatherings, institutions, organizations, and so on. The way out of these sins is for us to see one another with eyes of love. For this reason, St. John writes to us in the second reading, “Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God. Whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love” (1 John 4:7-8).

 The admonition continues in the gospel reading. Jesus says to us, “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. … This is the commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:9 and 12-13). We have many great examples of people who have made or make various degrees of sacrifices for love of God and human beings.

 To conclude, let us call to mind the words of St. Peter, “God has shown me that I should not call any person profane or unclean.” Therefore, let us not demean anyone or people, or see anyone or group as second-rate or third-rate. Let us see each other with the eyes of love, and break down barriers and barricades of partiality, exclusion, and discrimination. By so doing, we are able to accept one another, live in peace with one another, work with one another, build up one another, give one another equal opportunity, and celebrate one another and with one another. When we say that all men and women are created equal, and that all men and women are endowed by God with equal rights, let us match up these words with sincere actions. So help us God. Amen.

 Fr. Martin Eke, MSP