Fr. Martin Eke, MSP - Homily for the Twenty-Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time Year B - October 3, 2021

Homily of Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

Genesis 2:18-24; Psalm 128:1-6; Hebrews 2:9-11; Mark 10:2-16

Today’s readings address marriage and family which are two very important areas of our existence. Marriage and family issues concern every one of us since we all came into existence through the union of man and woman, and each one of us belong to a family.

The first reading is the story of how God created the first family. The reading concludes, “That is why a man leaves his father and mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24). In the Gospel, Jesus repeated this line and added, “Therefore what God has joined together, no human being must separate” (Mark 10:9). The first reading and the Gospel show that the Sacrament of Matrimony is the first of the seven sacraments and that the institution of the family is the most important and the foundation of every other divine and human institution. Whatever affects the family, negatively or positively, consequently affects human existence in the same way.

After creating the union of man and woman, God did not create any alternative to such a union. The prophets did not provide alternatives. Jesus did not suggest any alternative. Instead, he confirmed the union of husband and wife as God made it to be in the beginning. The New Testament epistles do not suggest any alternative. It means that the absence of alternatives to the union of man and woman is not an omission. God made it so. Human biology, physiology and the reproduction system are naturally designed to enhance the union of man and woman.

But, we do not dismiss the reality in our world today that men and women have alternatives to what the readings of today present to us. The alternatives are recognized by some governments and some countries. This does not change the Catholic teaching on marriage which is based on the Scripture. It is important that we know what the Scripture says, and what the Church teaches. Then, we are responsible for the choices we make and we are accountable to God.

Another problem affecting family system is that some people do not believe that marriage is a covenant. They see marriage as a contract that can be terminated with time. Jesus says, “Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery” (Mark 10:11-12). In Malachi 2:16, we read, ‘“For I hate divorce,’ says the Lord, the God of Israel.” For this reason, the Catholic Church does not encourage or facilitate divorce. Rather, after all necessary inquiries, the Church can annul a marriage which means that the marriage was never legally valid.

Speaking at The Budapest Demographic Submit, September 2021, the former vice-president of the United States of America, Mike Pence, laments, “We see … a crisis that strikes at the very heart of civilization itself: the erosion of the nuclear family marked by declining marriage rates, rising divorce, widespread abortion and plummeting birth rates.”

Here in St. Francis of Assisi Church, we a tradition of inviting couples who celebrate wedding anniversary for special prayers and blessing before the end of the Sunday Eucharistic celebration. By so doing, we recognize the beauty of married life and encourage couples that stable and lasting marriage is possible. Marriage and family, as important as they are in human history and existence, must not be trivialized as some people do.

The Gospel concludes with the following, “And people were bringing children to him that he might touch them, but the disciples rebuked them. When Jesus saw this he became indignant and said to them, ‘Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Amen, I say to you, whoever does not accept the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it.’ Then he embraced them and blessed them, placing his hands on them” (Mark 10:13-16). Some countries and some governments do not allow religion to be taught in government owned schools, thereby undermining the importance of faith and religion in the children’s development.  Therefore, it becomes the responsibility of parents to teach their children the importance of spiritual life. Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train the young in the way they should go; even when old, they will not swerve from it.”

Unfortunately, some parents are not committed to the responsibility of bringing up their children. They ‘make babies’ and walk away thereafter. Also, some parents have no religious affiliation, and have nothing to teach their children concerning faith and religion; which is why we are beginning to have a God-less and faith-less generation.

We pray for a better understanding of the sacredness of marriage and family. We pray for fidelity, love and respect that enable lasting marriage among couples. We pray that parents will embrace the task of training their children in the way of God. Finally, we pray that our children may discern properly in their decision concerning marriage and family.   

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP - Homily for the Twenty-Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time Year B - September 26, 2021

Homily of Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B, 2021

Numbers 11:25-29; Psalm 19:8, 10, 12-14; James 5:1-6; Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48

A brief background of the first reading will help us appreciate the message the reading has for us. At a point on their journey, the Israelites complained bitterly against God and Moses: “But now we are famished; we have nothing to look forward to but this manna …” “When Moses heard the people, family after family, crying at the entrance of their tents, so that the Lord became very angry, he was grieved.” Moses cried to God, “… I cannot carry all this people by myself, for they are too heavy for me. If this is the way you will deal with me, then please do me the favor of killing me at once, so that I need no longer face my distress” (Numbers 11:1-15).

Then, God directed Moses to appoint seventy elders of Israel. God said to Moses, “I will also take some of the spirit that is on you and will confer it on them, that they may share the burden of the people with you. You will then not have to bear it by yourself” (Numbers 11:16-17).

In the first reading, God took some of the spirit that was on Moses and bestowed on sixty-eight elders who were gathered, and they prophesied. Two elders, Eldad and Medad “were not in the gathering but had been left in the camp…. Yet, the spirit came upon them also, and they prophesied in the camp” (Numbers 11:24-26). Joshua objected, “Moses, my Lord, stop them.” Moses refused and replied, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the people of the Lord were prophets! Would that the Lord might bestow his spirit on them all” (Numbers 11:27-29).  

In the gospel, John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.” Jesus replied, “Do not prevent him…”

Unfortunately, there are ‘Joshuas’ and ‘Johns’ almost everywhere who hold on to philosophies of exclusivity and entitlement who insist and deny those who do not belong to them or belong to their group equal rights and privileges. These attitudes are ungodly.

Also, God can choose anyone according to his good purpose. If God chooses someone I do not like, or choses my enemy, or someone outside my group for his good purpose, then, so be it. I must not go to every possible extent and use every possible weapon to stop God’s plan. Let us not have a discouraging spirit or jealous spirit that tries to stifle God’s plan. In 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 St. Paul writes, “Do not quench the Holy Spirit. Do not despise prophetic utterances.” The Holy Spirit blows wherever he wills and uses whoever he wishes (John 3:8).

In today’s gospel, Jesus strongly condemns all forms of abuse and molestation of children and minors. He says, “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea” (Mark 9:42). In the same vein, whoever causes hardship on the vulnerable, the voiceless, the powerless, and the defenseless, “it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.”

The entire second reading, strongly, condemns those who take advantage of others to advance themselves or enrich themselves. “… You have stored up treasure for the last days. Behold, the wages you withheld from the workers who harvested your fields are crying aloud, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts…. You have condemned; you have murdered the righteous one; he offers you no resistance” (James 5:3-6). Helplessly, we watch these sins committed around us and in many places and in many countries.

 For this reason, St. Paul invites us, “First of all, then, I ask that supplications, prayers, petitions… for kings and for all in authority, that [they] may lead a quiet and tranquil life in all devotion and dignity. This is good and pleasing to God our savior…” (1 Timothy 2:1-3).

To conclude, Jesus has something for each one of us to reflect on. Jesus advises us to cut off hand, cut off feet, and pluck off eye if they cause us to sin. We know how important and dear these parts of the body are to us. It means that we must cut off from persons, relationships, associations, occasions, places, and the things we may hold dear but they lead us astray or lead us to sin. Such daring and radical action requires a lot of discipline and sacrifice which we can only undertake by God’s grace. Let us pray for the grace.

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP - Homily for the Twenty-Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time Year B - September 18, 2021

Homily of Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B 2021

Wisdom 2:12, 17-20; Psalm 54:3-4, 5, 6-8; James 3:16-4:3; Mark 9:30-37

The first reading, from the Book of Wisdom, was a prophecy of what would happen to Jesus in the hands of the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the Scribes and the Chief Priests. Jesus challenged and reproached them for transgressions and violations of God’s Commandments. For this reason, with revilement and torture they put Jesus to tests and trials, and condemned him to a shameful death. But God took care of Jesus and raised him from death. In the gospel of today, Jesus says of himself, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill him, and three days after his death he will rise” (Mark 9:31).

As the Pharisees, the Sadducees and the Chief Priests took offense at Jesus, sometimes, we take offense at those who challenge us, and those who correct our ignorance and wrong-doing. As Jesus was crucified; in the same way, many people have lost their life because they challenged injustice in the system and in society. Many people have lost their jobs, positions, and relationships because they took the path of truth and justice.

Jesus’ story did not end with his death; it continued with his resurrection. This means that a messenger of truth and justice can be rejected, silenced, suppressed, punished, expelled, eliminated, or killed; but no matter how long it takes, truth and justice do resurrect; and many times come back to haunt the aggressors. Jesus encourages us, “Therefore do not be afraid of them. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna” (Matthew 10:26-28).

In the second reading, St. James names the reasons for the disorders, conflicts, killings, and wars in our world: “Where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice… Where do the wars and where do the conflicts among you come from? Is it not from your passions that make war within your members? You covet but do not possess. You kill and envy but you cannot obtain; you fight and wage war” (James 4:1-2). Wherever there are injustice, envy, jealousy, and selfish ambition, the evil consequences are disorders, foul practices, conflicts, killings, and wars.

Envy, Jealousy, and selfish ambition block the mind to truth, as it did with the apostles. They were so engrossed in their bickering on who was the greatest among them that they were not touched when Jesus spoke to them about his passion and death. In the same way, envy, jealousy and selfish ambition block the ears and hearts, and blind the eyes of many civil and religious leaders that they do not see the sufferings of the poor, or hear their cry.

In the gospel, Jesus took a child, “placed it in their midst, and putting his arms around it he said to them, ‘Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me’” (Mark 9:36-37).  A child needs help, protection, support and cannot be left by him/herself or to fend for him/herself. A child is defenselessly vulnerable. Therefore, the child Jesus speaks of are the sick, the weak, the hungry, the elderly, the frail, the lonely, the refugee, the prisoner, the homeless, and the needy. The greatest people are those who serve and provide for people such as these. Jesus challenged his disciples and challenges us, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and servant of all” (Mark 9:35).

The danger with envy, jealousy, and selfish ambition is not only their evil consequences on the society, the vices are, also, destructive to those whom they possess and who possess them. It is, therefore, a helpful spiritual exercise to constantly examine the true motivations of our decisions and actions. Let us pray to have the courage not to proceed with our decisions and actions if we are motivated either by envy, or jealousy, or selfish ambition.

Let us, also, pray that we follow the paths of justice and selflessness, being considerate of one another, lifting up and building up one another. By so doing, being great and feeling great are not limited to a few privileged people, but to many people who are lifted up and many people who are built up.

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP - Homily for the Twenty-Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time Year B - September 12, 2021

Homily of Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B, 2021 

Isaiah 50:4-9; Psalm 116:1-6, 8-9; James 2:14-18; Mark 8:27-35

The first reading is Prophet Isaiah’s prophesy about the passion and resurrection of Jesus Christ. “I gave my back to those who beat me, my cheek to those who pluck my beard; my face I did not shield from buffets and spitting. I have set my face like flint, knowing that I shall not be put to shame.” In the Gospel of today, Jesus referred to this prophecy, “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days” (Mark 8:31). Also, Jesus did exactly what Isaiah prophesied: “When the days for his being taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51).

The first reading, however, reminds us of what may come our way as followers of Jesus. There will be times when our backs will be beaten, our beard plucked, our face buffeted and spat upon. Jesus prepares our mind in John 15:20, “If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also.” Then he promises us, “Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you and utter every kind of evil against you falsely because of me. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven” (Matthew 5:11-12). During the time of any affliction we are to set our “face like flint,” that is, we are to “resolutely” keep faith and believe that our God will not allow us to be put to shame. Jesus sets the standard for us, “Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. Whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the Gospel will save it” (Mark 8:34-35).

The Gospel says, “Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, ‘Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do’” (Mark 8:33). At that moment, Peter was a voice of discouragement in the mission of Jesus. Jesus immediately quietened the voice of discouragement. If Jesus, who is God, encountered difficulties, criticisms, oppositions, sufferings, discouragements, and frustrations, then, the same experiences await us who are his followers. When these experiences come our way, let us not surrender to them. Let us draw strength from Jesus; and like him, let us be strong and resolute.  On the other hand, let us not be forces of discouragement to anyone by our words and actions.

St. James instructs us in the second reading another very important way of witnessing Christ and expressing our faith; that is, to do good work especially to strangers and the needy whom we will get nothing in return. St. James says, “What does it profit, my brothers and sisters, if someone says he has faith but does not have works?” (James 2:14). St. James concludes, “Faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead” (James 2:20). Each one of us needs to evaluate oneself, periodically, and ask oneself; apart from the good works one does to one’s family, relatives, friends, in work or in business places, what good work does one do to people in need, especially strangers and those who cannot pay back? Jesus challenges us in Luke 6:32-35, “For if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do the same. If you lend money to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, and get back the same amount.”

St. James asks us, “If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,’ but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it?” (James 2:15-16). Uttering false compassionate words and not helping when we could have helped is wrong and sinful.

Jesus challenges us the times we claim to have faith but lack good works, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” (Luke 6:46). St. Francis of Assisi is quoted to have said to his friars, “Preach the Gospel, and if necessary use words.” He also said to them, “Let all brothers preach by their works.” These words are for us today. We call ourselves Catholic Christians. Therefore, let our faith be expressed, not only in words, but also in good deeds.  Let us pray for the grace to become what we profess. Amen.

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP - Homily for the Twenty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time Year B - September 5, 2021

Homily of Twenty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B, 2021

Isaiah 35:4-7; Psalm 146: 6-10; James 2:1-5; Mark 7:31-37

At the time of the prophecy of Isaiah in the first reading, worship of false gods and evil practices by kings and the people were rampant. Many of the worshippers of the true God were becoming fainthearted and beginning to wonder whether God had abandoned and forgotten them. The reading was a section of Isaiah’s messianic prophecies, assuring the people that God had neither abandoned nor forgotten them. Isaiah prophesied to the people, “Thus says the Lord: Say to those whose hearts are frightened: be strong, fear not! Here is your God, … he comes to save you. Then will the eyes of the blind be opened; the ear of the deaf be cleared; then will the lame leap like a stag, then the tongue of the mute will sing.” Jesus and his mission were the fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophecy. As we see in the Gospel, the healing of the deaf man who had a speech impediment was as Isaiah prophesied.

May God come to save the people in many countries and places where the leadership is blind, deaf, dumb, and lame, thereby inflicting sufferings on the people. May God come with vindication and with recompense for his people.

May God come to save those who are going through various kinds of afflictions. As in the Gospel, may there be exceeding astonishment at God’s saving grace. As prophesied by Isaiah, let streams burst in the desert, and rivers in the steppe. Let the burning sands become pools, and the thirsty ground become springs of water. May God’s children leap like a stag in joyful dance and may there be loud testimonies of, “He has done all things well,” by those liberated and those healed.

St. James in the second reading brings to our attention the diseases that have caused blindness, lameness, deafness, and dumbness on many people and on our society. The diseases are, showing partiality, making distinctions and becoming judges with evil designs, as written by St. James. All forms of racism, ethnicism, discrimination, segregation, gang-ups, cliques are evil designs.

St. James writes, “For if a man with gold rings on his fingers and in fine clothes comes into your assembly, and a poor person in shabby clothes also comes in, and you pay attention to the one wearing the fine clothes and say, ‘Sit here, please,’ while you say to the poor one, ‘Stand there,’ or ‘Sit at my feet’” (James 2:2-3). Does this not challenge the preferential option for the wealthy, the high, the mighty, and the powerful, while the poor and the humble are disrespected and disregarded which takes place in our society? Are our governments and their apparatuses not guilty of this? Are some religious leaders and church administrators not guilty of this? Are many people, homes, communities, institutions, and establishments not guilty of this? 

St. James challenges the evil designs of nepotism and class distinction in our political, business, social, and religious circles. St. James challenges the evil designs of giving awards, honors, titles, positions, allocations, admissions, placements, appointments, and opportunities that are not according to merit and fairness but according to privilege and favoritism. 

It is spiritual blindness when we do not see the sufferings of the needy. It is spiritual deafness when we do not hear the cry of the needy. It is spiritual lameness when we refuse to step forward or step out to help the needy. It is spiritual dumbness when we are silent to the truth and silent in the face of evil.

We read in today’s gospel, “And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him off by himself away from the crowd. He put his finger into the man’s ears and, spitting, touched his tongue; then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, ‘Ephphatha!’ (that is, ‘Be opened!’). And immediately the man’s ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly” (Mark 7:32-35). Let us approach Jesus with faith that he may, also, take us away from the crowd and give us a similar personal attention. Let us present to Jesus our life, our family, our business, our plans, our worries and so on that he may touch us, heal us, and restore us.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, pronounce ephphatha on us and break open everything the Evil One and his agents have closed up, covered up or sealed up. For it is written in Revelation 3:7-8, when you open, nobody can shut, and when you shut, nobody can open. Thank you Jesus; you have opened our door before us which nobody can close. You have made a way for us where there is none. Amen. Alleluia.

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP