Fr. Emmanuel Megwara, MSP - Homily for Saturday Week 5 of Lent - March 27, 2021

DATE : 27/3/2021

 EVENT : Saturday of the Fifth Week of Lent

 COLOUR: Violet

 READINGS : Ezekiel 37:21-28;  Resp. Jeremiah 31:10-13; John 11:45-56.

 THEME: SHUN ALL FORMS OF DUPLICITY

         Greetings beloved people of God. I welcome you to "My Catholic Homily Digest". On this Twenty Seventh day of March, I wish to reflect with you on the theme: " Shun All Forms Of Duplicity". Beloved in Christ, one of the greatest problems of our time is that most of us have lost the sense of integrity. People of integrity can hardly be found around our communities these days. Everybody seem to be living a deceptive life, people tend to portray what they are not, while their real nature and character is concealed. According to the Webster Learner's Dictionary, integrity is a state of being steadfast in a given moral code or belief. What this means is that, whether in private or in public, my life is governed by a moral code. Whether in an unpleasant moment or pleasant moment, I still respect and stand by what I believe in, whether it wins me more friends or attracts more enemies to me. My "yes" is always "yes", anyday anytime. I do not vacillate when things change. I do not have a wagging tongue, saying "Yes" in public and "No" in private.

       In the Gospel reading of today, John 11:45-56, we are told that due to his actions and words of preaching, Jesus garnered enemies for himself among the leading men of the society and the temple. These elites, became uncomfortable with the ministry of Jesus which was integral, uncompromising and authentic. Thus, the people thought that because of this growing hostility and open plot to annihilate him, Jesus, would desist from doing the good works he does, would soft pedal the tone of his preaching and avoid public places like the temple at Jerusalem where the brood of his enemies were brewing. They forgot that Jesus was a man of integrity, who is not afraid to die for what he believes and preaches. They forgot that Jesus had warned them to shun all forms of duplicity. They forgot that Jesus was a man who was ready to stand by his words, a man who meant every thing he said and a man who was ready to walk his talk.

     Child of God, duplicity is when you appear holy in Church and then outside the church, you are anything but holy. Duplicity is when your words does not match your actions. Duplicity is when you vacillate and change your moral code depending on the circumstances you find yourself. Duplicity is when your heart knows the truth to be done, but your physical actions does the opposite. Duplicity is when you say 'yes' in public but says 'no' in private. Duplicity is when your actions is dependent on the reaction of people. A person who practices duplicity will always lack integrity. A person who lacks integrity can never be trusted. A person that cannot be trusted has lost out in life already. So like Jesus, beloved, let us practice a life of integrity, let us not be afraid of what people will say or do to us. If you are honest and sincere in your dealings, God will always vindicate you.    

Oh that today you would listen to his voice harden not your hearts (Ps.95:7-8).

 LET US PRAY : Lord Jesus, help me to cultivate the virtue of integrity and not to vacillate based on public perception..

The Lord be with you....... and with your Spirit.

 May Almighty God bless you in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit ....Amen

 HAPPY WEEKEND BELOVED FRIENDS

  @ Fada Emmanuel Nnamdi Megwara, MSP. ⛪

Fr. Emmanuel Megwara, MSP - Homily for Friday Week 5 of Lent - March 26, 2021

 DATE : 26/3/2021

 EVENT : Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent

 COLOUR: Violet

 READINGS : Jeremiah 20:10-13; Resp. Psalm 17:2-7;  John 10:31-42.

 THEME:  BE YOUR FIRST CRITIC

         Greetings beloved people of God. I welcome you to "My Catholic Homily Digest". On this Twenty Sixth day of March, I wish to reflect with you on the theme: " Be Your First Critic". Beloved in Christ, you and I know that while it is good to listen to every form of advice, you can only make use of the ones that you judge suitable for yourself. But more importantly, no matter the sorts of advice, encouragement or motivation that you get, the best form of motivation or advice is the one that you give to yourself. Hence, external forces cannot really change a person for good or bad, if the person doesn't want to change. True change can only come from within. However, experiences have shown that it is not everyone who verbally renders you words of advice, actually mean the best good for you. It is not everyone who greets you or relates well with you actually desires your good. It is not everyone who speaks words of peace to you actually wants peace for you. Most people are actually more happy when bad things begin to happen to you than when you are progressing. Let for some persons, they would prefer that you leave the scene so that they can occupy your place. So, be wise, be careful, be your first critic, for no one can advice you better than yourself. When things are working so well for you, be very careful, be more critical of your actions and be very prayerful lest you fall and your frenemies begin to smile (1Cor. 10:12).

   In the first reading of today, Jer. 20:10-13, we are told that the friends and well wishers of the prophet Jeremiah, were secretly watching and waiting for his down fall. They did not actively plot evil against him. But they were uncomfortable that he is succeeding in all that he does and that he has the admiration of people. So, they patiently and remotely watched for the slightest mistake he would make so that they can capitalise on it to ridicule him. This is also true with Jesus in today's Gospel, John 10:31-42. The  elders of the Jews were not comfortable with the growing popularity of Jesus. They were not at home with the fact that he was shifting the attention from themselves to himself. So, they desired to put an end to him. But being wise men, both Jeremiah and Jesus became the first critics of themselves and so they eluded the people and never really faltered as the people had wished.

      Beloved, have you ever sat down to evaluate your life? Have you ever sat down to advice yourself about the right thing to do and the wrong things to avoid?  Do you criticise your actions even before other people do so for you? Listen to me child of God, it is not everyone that smiles at you or that cheers you up means your good. Some are actually waiting for the day you will begin to sink. So always watch what you say and to whom you say it to. Always watch where you go or enter. Always watch what you do or do not do. Always think through every action before you execute it. So that you would not give your frenemies the opportunity to feed their masked intentions.  

Oh that today you would listen to his voice harden not your hearts (Ps.95:7-8).

 

 LET US PRAY : Lord Jesus, help me to always be conscious of all that I do and help me to outdo my masked frenemies in wisdom.

The Lord be with you....... and with your Spirit.

 May Almighty God bless you in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit ....Amen

 HAPPY WEEKEND BELOVED FRIENDS

  @ Fada Emmanuel Nnamdi Megwara, MSP. ⛪

Fr. Emmanuel Megwara, MSP - Homily for Thirsday Week 5 of Lent - March 25, 2021 - Announciation

  DATE : 25/3/2021

 EVENT : Thursday of the Fifth Week of Lent/Annunciation of the Lord

 COLOUR: White

 READINGS : Isaiah 7:10-14,8:10;  Resp. Psalm 39:7-11; Hebrews 10:4-10; Luke 1:26-38.

 THEME: LET IT BE DONE TO ME AS YOU WILL

     Greetings beloved people of God. I welcome you to "My Catholic Homily Digest". On this Twenty Fifth day of March, in which the Church celebrates the Annunciation of the Lord, I wish to reflect with you on the theme: " Let It Be Done To Me As You Will ". Beloved in Christ, today we celebrate the annunciation of the Lord. This means that following the biological period of gestation, Jesus Christ, whose birth we often celebrate on the 25th of December, was conceived today, following the medical mathematics of calculating pregnancy. However, we know from experience that things don't just happen, people make things to happen. And so the annunciation of Jesus, his birth and his vicarious sacrifice on the cross won't have successfully taken place, if his Mother, Mary had not consistently consented to the will of God all through her life. So, inasmuch as Christ is the focus of today's celebrations, we have lots of lessons to learn and imitate from the personality of the Blessed Virgin Mary, most especially her FIAT (let it be done to me according to thine word).

   Beloved, the various readings of today tell us of God's divine plan to bring about the salvation of the world through the birth of a son. But more concretely, the Gospel reading of today, Luke 1:26-38, tells us of the presentation of this divine will to a young virgin whose name was Mary by the angel Gabriel. Now, this plan of God was subject to the acceptance of Mary, who was completely free to either accept or decline it. But, true to her name, Mary, "the exalted one", she willingly chose to cooperate with the will of God. She immediately let go of her womanly aspiration of raising her own family. She immediately paid deaf ears to what the world would say. She immediately made herself a veritable tool in the hand of God the potter. Thus, she understood that our freewill is charred when we fail to align it with the divine will. She knew that God would not force His will on anybody, but wishes that we cooperate with Him to accomplish His purposes for our lives.

  Child of God, as we quietly rejoice at the Annunciation of the Lord this Lenten period, let us remember that this solemnity was made possible because of the Fiat of the Blessed Virgin Mary. She sacrificed her own choice, her own will, her preference, her goal and aspiration and consented to the will of God. So dearest, as you live your life, as you make your future plans, as you nurture your goals, ambition and aspiration, remember to subject it to the divine will of God. Do not be steep necked in to doing your will. Be flexible, know when God is telling you to abandon that ambition and to take up another one. Know when God wants you to abandon the ways of pleasure and take the path of suffering and shame. Know when God is calling you to be a veritable tools that He wants to use to change lives and to draw people closer to Himself. The question for each of us is: Are you willing to always say to yourself: let your will oh Lord, and not my will be done at all times, even when it hurts?  

 

Oh that today you would listen to his voice harden not your hearts (Ps.95:7-8).

 

 LET US PRAY : Lord Jesus, help me to be like Mary, who sacrificed herself entirely to carry out the will of God.

The Lord be with you....... and with your Spirit.

 May Almighty God bless you in the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit .....Amen

  @ Fada Emmanuel Nnamdi Megwara, MSP. ⛪

Fr. Emmanuel Megwara, MSP - Homily for Wednesday Week 5 of Lent - March 24, 2021

DATE : 24/3/2021

 EVENT : Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Lent

 COLOUR: Violet

 READINGS : Daniel 3:14-20,24-25,28;  Resp. Daniel 3:52-56;  John 8:31-42.

 THEME: FIDELITY TO CHRIST REQUIRES UNCOMMON COURAGE

         Greetings beloved people of God. I welcome you to "My Catholic Homily Digest". On this Twenty Fourth day of March, I wish to reflect with you on the theme: " Fidelity To Christ Requires Uncommon Courage". Beloved, have you ever been in a situation whereby your next step or word will determine what will happen to your life? I can still recall what happened to me on a Saturday morning of October 16th, 2003, when I tried to follow a shortcut to Church (since our house was far from the Church), in order to attend my Altar Servers practice in a remote parish somewhere in Kano State. It was about 5:30am, and the day was still dark, when I was rushing to meet up with the morning Mass, and I was attacked by some Muslim hoodlums. They came at me with knives and sticks, demanding where I was headed. After I had told them, they demanded that I remove the Rosary bead I wore on my neck and that I should turn back home. In my infantile zeal and courage, especially as I had read about several Christian martyrs, I refused to do their biddings and tried to struggle with them. Thank God, am alive to tell this story today as a priest.

    Dearest, the first reading of today, Dan. 3:14-28, tells of the courage of the three Hebrew youths, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego who refused to worship the idol carved by the King. They preferred to die, believing and remaining faithful to the one true God, rather than apostatised and spare their mortal life. Often times, many of us truly promise fidelity to God and have no intention of defaulting. But, we lack the courage to keep to our fidelity in the face of deep trial and difficulty. The fidelity of these three Hebrew youths was not based on anything material. It was not dependent on what they can or cannot derive from being faithful. They were not afraid to hurt their mortal flesh as long as their spirits remain unhurt. They were not intimidated by the physical appearance of their enemy. They had a courage which nothing can quench.

          Child of God, from my experience in spiritual direction, accompaniment and counselling, I have come to discover that many of us have a sincere desire to be holy, to avoid temptations and sins. Many of us have the intention of remaining faithful to God even in the face of the most fierce trial. Many of us can even take the vow of maintaining our Christian faith whenever we are confronted by the dreaded Islamic Jihadist (Boko Haram). But whether we have the courage to keep to our promises, our intentions and our sincere desires is a different thing entirely. The sad reality of life is that many us easily fall away to trials and temptations because we are afraid of hurting our flesh or emotions. Some of us are so scared of bodily pains that we can lie, simulate, apostatised or even deny Christ completely just to evade any threat at us. Some of us are afraid to hurt our emotions such that we easily feed our inordinate cravings. We lack the courage to remain faithful to Christ when it matters the most.

    Oh that today you would listen to his voice harden not your hearts (Ps.95:7-8).

 LET US PRAY : Lord Jesus, grant me the courage to be a true disciple of yours and to die at my post.

The Lord be with you....... and with your Spirit.

 May Almighty God bless you in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit ....Amen

 

 HAPPY MID-WEEK BELOVED FRIENDS

  @ Fada Emmanuel Nnamdi Megwara, MSP. ⛪

Fr. Emmanuel Megwara, MSP - Homily for Tuesday Week 5 of Lent - March 23, 2021

DATE : 23/3/2021

 EVENT : Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Lent

 COLOUR: Violet

 READINGS : Numbers 21:4-9;  Resp. Psalm 101:2-3,16-21; John 8:21-30.

 THEME: PREPARE FOR DISCOURAGEMENTS

         Greetings beloved people of God. I welcome you to "My Catholic Homily Digest". On this Twenty Third day of March, I wish to reflect with you on the theme: " Prepare For Discouragement". Beloved, have you noticed how couples, especially the brides are always extremely happy on their wedding days? They seem to be on top of the world, and the world seems to revolve around them at that particular day. They are very optimistic of a happy married life in a peaceful home. But, soon afterwards, when the aura and glamour of the wedding is over, the reality of marriage sets in. And for some, they soon get discouraged because they had expected it to be all rosy. This same feeling of initial excitement before the discouraging reality of life sets in is also true for the newly graduated students in Nigeria. This is also true for the new converts to Christianity, those who just received any of the seven sacraments, and those who newly gave their life to Christ. For such people, optimism is in top gear, the kingdom of God is imminent. They are full of zeal, they are willing to convert the entire universe to Christ, they have a disdain for wrongdoings, they are so confident that God is solidly behind them, that God will always rush to them whenever they call on him. They expect the Devil to be afraid of them. They expect that success and the favours of God should accompany them in all their undertakings. They have a feeling that they are now immuned to temptations. In fact, they often have a fanciful idea of God and religion, until the reality of the Christian life hits them.

     Beloved, in the first reading of today, Num. 21:4-9, we are told that fiery serpents scourged the people of Israel because they murmured against God. But, I want us to understand why they murmured against God in the first place. Now, you will recall that in several passages of Scripture (Exo. 6:6-8; 19:4-6; 23:25-31; Num. 14:27-32),  God had made them a promise, that they are his people, that He will always be with them, and that they shall suffer no want. Now, while in the wilderness, they became hungry and thirsty, they became weary, exhausted and tired. They began to die one after the other; Miriam died, Aaron died and other prominent personalities among them. Even Moses had lost face with God. So, the people became disillusioned, discouraged, and hence, they began to murmur: Is this what it means to serve God? Is God really in control? Why is God allowing calamity to befall them? Why is God not able to provide food and water again for them? And so many other grumblings like these. Thus, due to these grumblings, their faith and confidence in God began to decline.

        Child of God the situation of the Israelites is not different from what some of us have experienced or still experiencing in our faith journey today. For many Christians, they are still religious because they don't want people to taunt them. But in reality their Christian zeal and motivation have dropped. What they expected from God is different from the reality they face daily. They are easily swayed by temptations. They pray and it appears like God is not moved by their pleas. And so, they murmur silently. Listen to me, the Christian like is not an easy bread and butter life. It is a wilderness journey, where you have to brave the odds and create a path in the thicket bush, wrestle with principalities and powers. Put up with afflictions, trials and temptations. It is a life that makes you to swim against the waves of the world. And you must be ready to accept 'No', as an answer sometimes from God. So, to be a true Christian, you must prepare and be ready to receive discouragements and faith shattering experiences. However, let your consolation be in Christ Jesus, who conquered the world and is reserving a place for you in paradise. May God help us not to ever murmur against Him.   

Oh that today you would listen to his voice harden not your hearts (Ps.95:7-8).

 LET US PRAY : Lord Jesus, help me by your grace to build my faith on you the solid foundation, so that nothing can separate me from you.

The Lord be with you....... and with your Spirit.

 May Almighty God bless you in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit ....Amen

  @ Fada Emmanuel Nnamdi Megwara, MSP. ⛪

Fr. Emmanuel Megwara, MSP - Homily for Monday Week 5 of Lent - March 22, 2021

CATHOLIC HOMILY DIGEST

 DATE : 22/3/2021

 EVENT : Monday of the Fifth Week of Lent

 COLOUR: Violet

 READINGS : Daniel 13:1-9,15-17,19-30,33-62;  Resp. Psalm 22:1-6; John 8:1-11.

 THEME: AVOID THE AVOIDABLE SINS

         Greetings beloved people of God. I welcome you to "My Catholic Homily Digest". On this Twenty Second day of March, I wish to reflect with you on the theme: " Avoid The Avoidable Sins". Beloved, do you know that many of the sins we fall into can actually be avoided if only we had been more careful, if we had exercised a little more caution, and if we had been more courageous enough to say No, to our bodily gratification. A friend of mine once said, "while the lips of some believers are saying, 'lead us not into temptations', during the Lord's prayers, their hearts are in reality, yearning and searching for temptations, so that they can fall into it". Many of us Christians have lost the shame of sin and the moral stamina to say no to temptations. Thus, we fall for every sin that comes our way. There is almost no sin that we can boast that we can overcome any time and anyday. Talk of lying, we are experts, talk of stealing, unless the opportunity does not avail itself. Talk of insultive words, we can exhaust the ones found in the dictionary, talk of sexual immorality and lustful feelings we are veterans, talk of spiritual sloth, we are included, talk of disrespect, we can be. I can go on listing. For some of us, we are sinless as long as we have not got the opportunity. But, once an opportunity shows itself, many of us can hardly overcome it, especially lustful feelings. I could remember conversing with a friend and he said to me, "I strongly believe that you Rev. Fathers are not fully healthy men". Guess you know why he made such comments.

     Beloved in Christ, in the first reading of today, Daniel 13:1-62, we heard how the two corrupt judges allowed their lustful feelings over the beautiful body of Susanna to lead them to their disgraceful and untimely death. Scriptures recorded that, they could not resist the lustful desires for Susanna within them and so they planned on how to execute their sinful desires. Child of God, as a person, I refuse to believe that the body of a man and especially that of a woman is crafted to lead us into sin. Remember that God created the world and everything in it beautiful. So, do not blame your lustful desires on a woman's curves or on a man's body build, rather, blame it on your depraved conscience and immoral character. If you can get hold of your thoughts, if you can checkmate your desires, if you can delay whatever form of gratification, then you stand a chance of avoiding some avoidable sins. God knows when we are making efforts, and he knows when are are not, when everything goes for us. If you make effort and fall in the process, God understands, but not if you wantonly delve in sin recklessly.

    Dearest, hear me, there is a difference between admiration and lust. While admiration is a positive emotion regarding the appreciation of a thing as being wonderful made, lust on the other hand is a negative emotion which looks at or watches a thing with strong desires, especially of a sexual nature,intending to have a feel of it. So, while admiration ends at mere appreciation, lust goes ahead to desire such a thing for inordinate purposes. Beloved, know the difference between admiration and lust. Lusting after anything weakens your moral strength to resist temptations. It makes you vulnerable to a multitude of wrongdoings, lust and greed are from the same family, they are never satisfied, they are the spring board to all other sins, they make it difficult for you to avoid the Avoidable sins. So, as you pray this week, pray against the evil spirits of lust and greed. May God help us.

Oh that today you would listen to his voice harden not your hearts (Ps.95:7-8).

 LET US PRAY : Lord Jesus, you are full of mercy and cannot condemn a repentant sinner, help me to be truly sorry for my sins as I ask for thy pardon.. ..

The Lord be with you....... and with your Spirit.

 May Almighty God bless you in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit ....Amen

HAPPY NEW WEEK BELOVED FRIENDS

  @ Fada Emmanuel Nnamdi Megwara, MSP. ⛪