Fr. Martin Eke, MSP - Homily for the Third Sunday of Ordinary Time Year C - January 23, 2022

Homily of Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C, 2022

Nehemiah 8:2-6, 8-10; Psalm 19:8-10, 15; 1 Corinthians 12:12-30; Luke 1:1-4, 4:14-21

When the Jews returned from the Babylonian captivity, they were faced with the reconstruction and the restoration of their temple and city which were destroyed by their captors. Nehemiah was their governor and Ezra was their priest. While the structural reconstruction and restoration were going on, Ezra led the people to a spiritual restoration. Spiritual restoration was necessary because the Jews were exposed to the worship of other gods in Babylon which produced a generation that did not properly follow the Covenant between God and their ancestors. A major part of the renewal of the Covenant was the reading of the Book of the Law to the people. The assembly was made up of young and old. Ezra read the word of God to the assembly from morning to midday. When the people heard of the story of God’s relationship with their ancestors, and how they, themselves, had violated the Covenant and disconnected themselves from God, they wept in sorrow and repentance.

In the same way, we, also, need to look back at our journey with God. An honest reflection will help us to see God’s faithfulness, and our unfaithfulness, and our disconnection from him. At the beginning of a new year, a resolve to renew our Covenant with God, reconnect and have a closer relationship with him should be of primary importance.

Ezra read out the word of God from daybreak till midday “and all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.” How much time do we spend in reading the word of God, and how attentive are we to the word? Many people do not mind the time, the energy, and resources they spend on worldly activities while they are very apathetic to spiritual matters. Quality spiritual time means quality relationship with God! Jesus says, “For the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you” (Luke 6:38).  Nehemiah encouraged the people, “for rejoicing in the Lord must be your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). We can, also, interpret Nehemiah’s words to mean, “Quality time with the Lord must be your strength.”

While the first reading invites us to renew our Covenant with God and reconnect with him, St. Paul in the second reading invites us to examine our relationship with our fellow human beings, see how far we are disconnected from one another, and reconnect with those we are disconnected from. We cannot reconnect with God while we are disconnected from one another. “If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ but hates his brother, he is a liar; for whoever does not love a brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. This is the commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother” (1 John 4:20-21).

St. Paul writes in the second reading, “God placed the parts, each one of them, in the body as he intended. If they were all one part, where would the body be? But as it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I do not need you,’ nor again the head to the feet, ‘I do not need you.’ … So that there may be no division in the body, but that the parts may have the same concern for one another. If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part is honored, all the parts share its joy” (1 Corinthians 12:24-26). Dalai Lama (the Buddhist spiritual leader) says, “We must recognize that the suffering of one person or one nation is the suffering of humanity.” Someone says, “When everybody is somebody, then no one is nobody.” Everyone matters. Everyone is important.

In the gospel, Jesus declares his mission by reading from the scroll of prophet Isaiah. The gospel invites us to continue Jesus’ mission to bring good tidings to the poor, proclaim liberty to captives, bring recovery to the blind, and set the oppressed free. Among us and around us are the poor who need assistance, people going through various types of afflictions who need support, and cases of injustice which need to be addressed. As we begin a new year, it would be good to include in our resolutions how to participate in Jesus’ mission. Since charity begins at home, let us see the realization of Jesus’ mission, first, in our immediate environment and, then, continue to the larger society.

In the first reading, Ezra read the word of God to the assembly. In the gospel, Jesus read the word of God to the assembly. Today, as we read the word of God or hear it read to us, let us not harden our hearts. May God grant us the grace of spiritual restoration. May we be able to create relationships whereby everybody matters and everybody is important. May we become disciples of Jesus who continue his mission wherever we are. Amen.

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP - Homily for the Second Sunday of Advent Year C - December 5, 2021

Homily of Second Sunday of Advent Year C, 2021

Baruch 5:1-9; Psalm 126:1-6; Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11; Luke 3:1-6

We light the Candle of Peace on the second Sunday of Advent. We pray that the preparation and the celebration of this year’s Christmas bring peace to our hearts, homes, communities, country and the world. So much violence is going on in our country and in many parts of the world, causing unimaginable suffering on people. Since, we Christians, believe in the power of prayer, we continue to pray for peace in our country and in all the troubled parts of the world. On our individual level, let us try to be instruments of peace wherever we find ourselves. “Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God” (Matthew 5:9).

The first reading is Prophet Baruch’s prophecy of hope and encouragement to the Jewish people who were in exile in Babylon. Not only that God would return them to their land, God was going to restore the city of Jerusalem and make it new. Baruch prophesied that God would remember his people; robe of mourning and misery would be taken off from them and be replaced with cloak of justice. God was going to command lofty mountain be made low and age-old depths and gorges be filled to ground level to make the return of the people of Israel easy. On the way through which they would return to their land, God would create forest and fragrant kind trees to provide shade for them. Baruch prophesied that God would lead Israel in joy by the light of his glory, and his justice would accompany them.

We pray that this prophecy be fulfilled in the life of many who are in misery and wearing mourning robe. May the mourning robe be replaced with cloak of justice. May God make a way where there is no way. May God protect and provide, and in his mercy shine the light of his glory on his children and restore their joy. Amen.

Our reflection on the importance of the spiritual preparation for Christmas which we began last Sunday continues today. While the first reading is our prayer of deliverance from affliction, the second reading and the gospel are God’s invitation to us to repentance. The gospel invites us, “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The winding roads shall be made straight, and rough ways made smooth” (3:4-5). The way and paths of the Lord are the way and paths through which God comes and dwells in our hearts and lives. The mountains, hills, winding roads and rough ways are our weaknesses, excuses, resistances, and sins that restrict God’s entrance and dwelling.

St. Paul writes in the second reading, “I am confident of this, that the one who began a good work in you will continue to complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:6). These are words of encouragement from St. Paul to the Philippian Church community. Not only that the Philippian Christians were persecuted, the Christians themselves were disunited. St. Paul wrote to encourage them to persevere in the good work God began in them.

The day of Jesus Christ is the day Jesus Christ will take us to our eternal home. But while still in this life, God has begun good work in each of us. God does not continue the good work all alone without our generous participation. St. Augustine of Hippo says, “He who created us without our help will not save us without our consent.” In the same understanding, Algernon Sidney says, “God helps those who help themselves.” We pray that we may cooperate with God’s graces so that the trials and challenges of life do not hinder the good work God began in us from continuing.

Some people bring to an abrupt end the good work God began in them. In Revelation 2:4-5, we read, “I hold this against you: you have lost the love you had at first. Realize how far you have fallen. Repent, and do the works you did at first.”

Some people, due to lack of knowledge, perception, and discernment miss opportunities of good work God gave them. St. Paul in the second reading prays for each of us that our “love may increase ever more and more in knowledge and every kind of perception, to discern what is of value…” (Philippians 1:9-11).

Let us pray:

Gracious God, in my life are weaknesses, sins, temptations, trials, and challenges. They are the valleys that need to be filled, mountains and hills that need to be made low, winding roads that need to be made straight, and rough ways that to be made smooth. Through the graces of this sacred season of your favor, grant me knowledge, perception, and discernment not to fail at my moments of valleys, mountains, hills, winding roads, and rough ways; so that you and I will continue the good work you began in me; until the day of Jesus Christ. Amen. 

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP - Homily for the First Sunday of Advent Year C - November 28, 2021

Homily of First Sunday of Advent Year C, 2021

 Jeremiah 33:14-16; Psalm 25:4-5, 8-10, 14; 1 Thessalonians 3:12-4:2; Luke 21:25-28, 34-36

 Many churches are decorated with the Advent wreath from this first Sunday of Advent. The Advent wreath is a Christian custom which is said to have originated among German Lutherans in the 16th century. Later, German Catholics adopted the custom, and from Germany the custom spread to North America and other parts of the world.

 The meaning of Advent wreath: Circle symbolizes God’s infinite love. Green wreath symbolizes hope of eternal life brought by Jesus Christ. Four candles represent the four weeks of Advent. Candle light symbolizes the light of God coming into the world through the birth of Jesus Christ. 1st candle, purple in color, symbolizes hope. 2nd candle, purple in color, symbolizes peace. 3rd candle, pink in color, symbolizes joy. 4th candle, purple in color, symbolizes love. Purple color symbolizes the penitential spirit of Advent season. Some Advent wreaths have a 5th candle, white in color, in the middle of the wreath called Christ candle which symbolizes the birth of Christ.

 This Sunday marks the beginning of the Advent Season and a new liturgical year. We are, now, in Cycle C.  Advent is a season observed in the Catholic Church as a time of special soul searching and spiritual reawakening to mark the birth of Jesus Christ. Advent comes from the Latin word adventus, which means ‘coming.’ Advent season is a journey of preparing and welcoming the Word Made Flesh to renew his dwelling in each person and in the world.  

 Ordinarily, almost everybody, Christians and non-Christians alike, prepare for the celebration of Christmas. Business establishments started their preparation for Christmas business deals months ago. There is, usually, so much external preparation. For us Catholics, spiritual preparation is more important. When you are expecting a visitor, you will get your house in order, you will get food and drink ready, and you will also be clean and well dressed. If the house is in order, and food and drink are well prepared and arranged, but the host appears unkempt and shabby, the visitor will be embarrassed and may not stay for the meal. That is why spiritual preparation is necessary, so that there will be an inn for Jesus in our life this Christmas. Spiritual preparation makes every Christmas become the first Christmas.

 The theme of the first week of Advent is hope. Our ultimate hope and desire is that through our spiritual preparations during Advent we will experience the blessings of the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. He is the fulfillment of Jeremiah’s prophecy in the first reading, “I will raise up for David a just shoot; he shall do what is right and just in the land” (Jeremiah 33:15). This Christmas, let us become a receptive land where the Lord’s righteousness and justice will bloom.

While we are waiting in hope for a new experience of the birth of Christ, the first week of Advent requires us to become instruments of hope to others. St. Paul prays for us in the second reading, “May the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all… so as to strengthen your hearts, to be blameless in holiness before God and Father…” (1 Thessalonians 3:12). As Jesus is the hope of humanity, we, his followers, are to be signs of hope to our neighbors. It is by so doing that the season of Advent properly begins. The prayer of St. Francis says, “Where there is despair, let me sow hope.” This is our prayer and action point this week.

The words of Jesus in today’s gospel was his prophecy about the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans which took place in 70 AD. However, Jesus’ words capture the tribulations in the life of many of us, and around the world. The Covid 19 Pandemic, wars, insecurity, killings, poverty, migration, refugee crises, unrests, persecution, and so on put all of us in fright and in dismay, and many people are dying. But Jesus warns us not to allow our hearts to be overtaken by worldly life and anxieties. Rather, we should be vigilant at all times and pray for the strength to escape. He encourages us to stand erect and raise our heads because our redemption is at hand.  

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 difficult relationships.

·       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-Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time Year B - November 21, 2021 - Christ the King

Homily of Thirty-Fourth Sunday (Christ the King) of Year B, 2021

Daniel 7:13-14; Psalm 93:1-2,5; Revelation 1:5-8; John 18:33-37

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, and all manner of opposition to Christianity and persecution of Christians. By celebrating this feast, we are upholding the teachings of the Scripture and the teachings of the Church; and continue to proclaim Jesus Christ as our leader and king.

The Scripture testifies the kingship of Jesus:

·       “Then Jesus approached his disciples and said to them, ‘All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me’” (Matthew 28:18).

·       “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…” (Philippians 2:9-10).

·       The King of kings and Lord of lords (1 Timothy 6:15).  

·        The ruler of the kings of the earth (Revelation 1:5).         

·       “The Alpha and the Omega” … “The one who is and who was and who is to come, the almighty” (Revelation 1:8).        

·       He is the Lord of lords and King of kings (Revelation 17:14).

Jesus’ disciples never understood his kingship. On Jesus’ last day with them they still asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6). In today’s gospel, Jesus makes it clear that his kingdom does not belong to this world (John 18:36). Jesus was not a political king, but a spiritual king. 

Jesus confers the authority of his spiritual kingship upon his followers by declaring in 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.” 

It is with this spiritual power that we can witness Jesus to the world. Jesus can only rule the universe through us if we take up this power and use it. It is with this power we preach the Good News, feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked, care for the sick, visit prisoners, and drive out demons. 

Christianity has a universal influence on world civilization, discoveries, geography, history, science, medicine, and development than any religion. The birth of Jesus brought about the categorization of world history to “Before Christ” and “After Christ.” The common calendar which is universally used is of Christian origin. From a few people in Judea, Christianity has spread to every part of the world. Out of the world population of 7.9 billion in 2021, the population of Christians is 2.3 billion. This is a fulfillment of the prophecy of Daniel in the first reading, “He received dominion, splendor, and kingship; all nations, peoples and tongues will serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, his kingship, one that shall not be destroyed” (Daniel 7:14). 

Christianity is under attack from those who propagate and enforce anti-Christian and anti-Catholic ideologies and policies. There is so much persecution of Christians in many parts of the world. However, our faith rests on Jesus’ words that the gates of hell shall not prevail against his Church (Matthew 16:18). 

Along with the opposition against Christianity and the persecution of Christians, many Christians are inactive and timid. Many Christians are Christians only in name. The number of practicing Christians have drastically reduced. Jesus says in Luke 12:49, “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing!” St Paul writes in 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather of power and love and self-control.” If Christians have the same level of passion seen in the entertainment world, business world, sports, science and technology, and so on, the earth, indeed, would be on fire! 

Through the celebration of today’s feast, we pray that Jesus Christ rules our hearts, and reigns with love, truth, justice, peace, forgiveness, and reconciliation in our lives, homes, businesses, work places, environments, communities, and so on. We pray that we become true ambassadors of Christ who are empowered by the kingship authority he confers on us.  We pray for the rekindling of Jesus’ Spirit and fire in us so that we may blaze and set the earth on fire. Amen.

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP - Homily for the Thirty-Third Sunday of Ordinary Time Year B - November 14, 2021

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

 Daniel 12:1-3; Psalm 16:5, 8-11; Hebrews 10:11-14, 18; Mark 13:24-32

 We are coming to the end of the Church’s Liturgical Year. The Church’s Liturgical Year ends with the week of Christ the King (Thirty-Fourth Sunday), after which the Advent Season begins.

Today’s readings invite us to reflect about death and its reality. It is a reality we all must accept. Ecclesiastes 3:2 says, “There is a time for everything, … a time to be born and a time to die.”  Therefore, we are invited to be spiritually and physically prepared. Jesus says in the gospel, “But that day or the hour, no one knows, … only the Father” (Mark 13:32).

When we talk about the end of the world, do we mean that there will be such a time when the world will come to an end? The world has existed for over 4.54 billion years. It is, rather, more helpful if we pay attention to the end of our individual world, which occurs every day, than worry so much about the end of the world that has lasted for over 4.54 billion years.

There are two important ways of preparing for the end of life. They are physical preparation and spiritual preparation.

Physical preparation means to put in place a clear will or testament to prevent any form of misinterpretation and disagreement when one dies. It may be necessary to do this in a legal way to grant the document legal authenticity. Are there insurance contracts, other deals and businesses that need to be made known? These, and many more, need to be done while the individual is hale and hearty to prevent unnecessary wrangling over the deceased’s property and intentions.

Spiritual preparation means to live a life here on earth that will lead us to everlasting life. The first reading and the gospel tell us that there is judgement after death. “Some will live forever, others shall be in an everlasting horror and disgrace” (Daniel 12:3). “And he will send out his angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky” (Mark 13:27). A sure way to be one of the elects (saints) and live forever in the presence of God is to live a good Christian life while in the mortal body.  For those who spiritually prepare themselves for death, the Preface 1 of the Mass of the Dead promises, “Indeed, for your faithful, Lord, life is changed not ended, and, when this earthly dwelling turns to dust, an eternal dwelling is made ready for them in heaven.”

May our life be as St. Paul says of himself, “My eager expectation and hope is that I shall not be put to shame in any way, but that with all boldness, now as always, Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me life is Christ, and death is gain” (Philippians 1:20-21).

There are people who do not believe that there is any form of life after physical death, and do not believe in the existence of heaven and hell. About such people Jesus says, “Hypocrites! You interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky. How is it that you don’t interpret the present time?” (Luke 12:56). Every people and every culture have some form of punishment or another for those who commit offense, and good reward for good work. How then does anyone deny any form of punishment or good reward in the afterlife? In addition to the teaching of the Bible about hell, the Catechism of the Catholic Church says, “The chief punishment of hell is the eternal separation from God, in whom alone man can possess the life and happiness for which he was created and for which he longs” (CCC 1035).

For us believers, let us live our lives in joyful hope for the coming of our savior Jesus Christ who promises us in John 14:1-3, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You have faith in God; have faith also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back again and take you to myself, so that where I am you also may be.” St. Paul, also, encourages us, “What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart, what God has prepared for those who love him; this God has revealed to us through the Spirit” (1 Corinthians 2:9-10).

Whether God grants us a long life or a short life, may he grant us the grace of a happy death by which death has no sting and no victory over us (1 Corinthians 15:55). May St. Joseph, patron of a happy death, pray for us. Amen.

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP - Homily for the Thirty-Second Sunday of Ordinary Time Year B - November 7, 2021

Homily of Thirty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B, 2021

 1 Kings 17:10-16; Psalm 146:7-10; Hebrews 9:24-28; Mark 12:38-44

 Today’s readings remind me of a story. A girl was ill and in need of blood. Her parents were poor and unable to pay for the blood. The only solution was that her older brother who had the same blood group as her was asked to donate to her the needed blood. When he finished donating the blood, he asked the doctor, “When am I going to die.” His question is quite touching because he was ready to die to save his sister. He presumed, wrongly, that he was going to die in order that his sister might live.

 1 Kings 16:29-33 summarized the disastrous reign of King Ahab. For that reason, Elijah prophesied, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, during these years there shall be no dew or rain except by my word” (1 Kings 17:1). Under God’s direction, Elijah moved from Israel to Jordan. When the drought became severe in Jordan, God told him to go to Sidon. As we read in the first reading, it was in Zarephath, Sidon that Elijah met the widow and asked her for something to eat. The widow made it clear to Elijah how bad the situation was, “As the Lord, your God, lives, I have nothing baked; there is only a handful of flour in my jar and a little oil in my jug. Just now I was collecting a few sticks, to go in and prepare something for myself and my son; when we have eaten it, we shall die.” Then, Elijah assured her, “Do not be afraid. … For the Lord, the God of Israel, says: The jar of flour shall not go empty, nor the jug of oil run dry, until the day when the Lord sends rain upon the earth.” It came to pass as Elijah prophesied (1 Kings 17:13-16).

The first reading brings to mind Jesus’ words in Luke 4:25-26, “I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah's time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon.” It is noteworthy that the widow who showed Elijah great generosity and trust was not an Israelite but a Canaanite. Despite the famine, I am sure that there were families in Israel and in Sidon who were not impoverished, and could have taken good care of Elijah. Yet, God chose to send Elijah to the poor widow. This means that God can use anyone for his good plan. Let us not have excuses when God wants to use us.

In many ways, God sends ‘Elijah’ to us. What did we do with the ‘Elijah’? Did we share the little we have with the ‘Elijah,’ or did we drive the ‘Elijah’ away?

In the gospel, Jesus says about the widow, “Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she had, her whole livelihood” (Mark 12:43-44). Many times, unlike Jesus, we, wrongly, give exaggerated recognition to and sing overblown praises of those who give from their surplus, and, worst still, those give from ill-gotten wealth; while we neglect those who give from their whole livelihood.

The generosity of the two poor widows are perfect examples of sacrifice and faith. Both widows, generously, gave from their whole livelihood. There are many testimonies of multiplication of ‘flour’ and multiplication of ‘oil’ after sharing with the needy, and after giving for God’s work. Jesus says in Luke 6:38, “Give and gifts will be given to you; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing, will be poured into your lap.”

The widow in the gospel teaches us that the little we are, sincerely, able to give is mighty in the eyes of God. Therefore, let us not hold back the little we can afford to give. God whom we give in his name knows our situation. He is our great rewarder (Genesis 15:1).

It is not only material possessions that we are invited to share with one another. We are, also, invited to, generously, share with one another our talents, ideas, knowledge, time, understanding, care, cooperation, assistance, presence, and services.

Finally, St. Paul encourages us the best way to give, “Consider this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver” (2 Corinthians 9:6-7).

Blessed are they who sacrifice to give for the work of God and the building of his kingdom; they will receive from God; a good measure, packed together, shaken down, and overflowing and poured into their lap. Blessed are they who sacrifice to give to those in need for their jar of flour shall not go empty, nor their jug of oil run dry. Amen.

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP