Fr. Emmanuel Megwara, MSP - Homily for Monday Week 5 of Ordinary Time Year I - February 8, 2021

DATE : 8/2/2021, Monday of the Fifth Week of Ordinary Time (B)

 EVENT : St. Jerome Emilian

  or St. Josephine Bakhita, Virgin (Memorial)

 COLOUR:Green

 READINGS : Gen. 1:1-19; Resp. Psalm 103:1-2,5-6,10,12,24,35; Mark 6:53-56.

 THEME:  GOD CAN DO ALL THINGS

    Greetings beloved people of God. I welcome you to "My Catholic Homily Digest". On this Eight day of February, on which we celebrate the first female African Saint in modern times, St. Josephine Bakhita of Sudan, I wish to reflect with you on the theme: " God Can Do All Things". Beloved, the Bible records that there is nothing impossible for God to do (Cf. Luke 1:37). It even went ahead to states that God cannot really only do everything, but he has the power to do things that we cannot imagine or think of (Cf. Eph. 3:20). This means that, God can do things which our minds can conceive, and that which the human mind cannot conceive. This omniscient power of God is shown in the wonderful creation story of Genesis which we read in the first reading of today. But even more concretely and contextually, it is shown in the transformation of a slave girl from a remote village in Sudan, into the rank of the angels and saints in heaven.

          This phenomenal Saint, Josephine Bakhite, was born to a wealthy Sudanese family, she was kidnapped by slave-traders at age 9, and given the name Bakhita (lucky) by them. Sold and resold in the markets at El Obeid and Khartoum, finally purchased in 1883 by Callisto Legnani, Italian consul who planned to free her. She accompanied Legnani to Italy in 1885, and worked as a nanny for the family of Augusto Michieli. She was treated well in Italy and grew to love the country. She later converted to Christianity as an adult and she joined the Church on 9 January 1890, taking the name of Josephine, as a symbol of her new life.

      She entered the Institute of Canossian Daughters of Charity in Venice, Italy in 1893, taking her vows on 8 December 1896 in Verona, Italy and serving as a Canossian Sister for the next fifty years. Her gentle presence, her warm, amiable voice, and her willingness to help with any menial task were a comfort to the poor and suffering people who came to the door of the Institute. She died on 8 February, 1947 (Cf. Lives of saints for 8th, February, from Catholic Universalis).

     Beloved in Christ, it took nothing from God, for him to creat the entire world (Cf. Gen. 1:1-19). It also took  Jesus Christ nothing to heal the sick, the lame, the dumb, and to allow all those who touched him to be cured of their infirmity in the Gospel reading of today, Mark 6:53-56. It also took God nothing to lead St. Josephine Bakhite from a life of excruciating slavery in Sudan to a glorious life of sanitliness in heaven. Hence, it will not take God anything also to touch any aspect of your life and transform it into something pleasing to him. It will cost him nothing to transform your lack into abundance. It will cost him nothing to heal you from your slavery to sin and lead you to a life of saintliness. Just dispose yourself and come to him, and he will recreate you anew.

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

 

 LET US PRAY : Lord Jesus, create in me, a new heart so that I may see you face to face when my life here on earth is ended.... 

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. ⛪

Fr. Emmanuel Megwara, MSP - Homily for the Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time Year B - February 7, 2021

DATE : 7/2/2021, the Fifth Sunday of the Year (B)

 EVENT : Mass of the Sunday (Solemnity)

 COLOUR:Green

 READINGS : Job 7:1-4.6-7; Resp. Psalm. 147:1-2.3-4.5-6; 1Cor. 9:16-19.22-23; Mark 1:29-39.

 THEME:  FIND YOUR PURPOSE IN LIFE

    Greetings beloved people of God. I welcome you to "My Catholic Homily Digest". On this Fifth Sunday of the year, I wish to reflect with you on the theme: " Find Your Purpose In Life". Beloved in Christ, life is like a clock that continually ticks. Everyday that passes substract a cubit from your estimated life span. Every breath that you inhale and exhale makes your organs to age. Every decision that you make takes you closer or farther from your purpose in life. Every action you carry out either helps to fulfil or mar your purpose in life. Thus, like the popular Nigerian slang have it, "there is no time to waste at all". Hence, the best time to have begun to pursue your destiny is many years ago. The second best time is today, and now. However, how can one even pursue and fulfil his/her destiny, if they are not even aware of what their purpose in life is.

      During one of my counselling sessions with some young fellows in my parish, I asked them what they intend to become in life and what they intend to achieve in this life. Immediately I posed this question at the them, they all began to scratch their heads and to look at the ceiling. Then I realised that all the while, they have been merely existing and following the normal course of events in life (eating, schooling, sleeping, waking, playing, socialising, attending church, and doing menial jobs to sustain themselves). They have not really given a conscious thought to their lives and what their purpose is. No wonder, the Ancient Greek philosopher, Socrates, rightly said, 'An unexamined life is not worth living'. Thus, life begins to take a new shade of meaning when we live for something we can die for.

      The first reading of today is taken from the historic account of Job's reflection on the meaning of life, and the purpose of our daily toils and suffering. The book of Job is probably the oldest literature in the Old Testament. It's language is a very archaic Hebrew, and it makes no mention of the Torah (the law), of the prophets or any reference to the patriarchs. Thus, it is believed to predates the Pentateuch, hence, written sometimes between 2100 and 1700 BC. The book is a reflection on the vanity of human toils, and the Sisyphean nature of human existence if not lived with a definite divine purpose. From Biblical exegesis, the portion of Job which we read today, falls within the wider context of Job 2:11-31:40, called 'Job's dialogues with his friends'. However, more precisely, the pericope of our text this Sunday, Job 7:1-4.6-7, falls within the immediate context of Job 7:1-21, called, 'Job's reply to Eliphaz'. Here, Job weighs the drudgery nature of life. Ruminating on the routine of daily, weekly, monthly and yearly life. He sees no purpose in a life of boring routines, more than leading to the grave. Thus, without the presence of God in a man's life, the human life becomes a meaningless struggle. Hence it is only God that can bestow a meaningful purpose to a person's life.

       This is very true, if we consider the words of St. Paul in the second reading of today, 1Cor. 9:16-19.22-23. According to Paul, God has bestowed a pleasant burden of purpose upon his life, and it is a responsibility incumbent on him to accomplish. For to fail in fulfilling this God given task, is to risk the reward of eternal life. Beloved, when you discover the burden of purpose that God has placed on you, I can assure you that nothing else will count as meaningful to you except to accomplish that which is given to you as a responsibility.  And no matter how difficult it is in the eyes of men, you will keep receiving grace to carry on and find happiness in doing it.

    Look at our model, Jesus, in the Gospel of today Mark 1:29-39. He knew the divine burden of purpose placed on him. He knew that his purpose is to it bring healing to the sick, to release those bound by demons, to restore sight to the blind, to free the oppressed, and to preach the Good News of God's salvation to all. Hence, he never relented, never got tired, never rested, never stopped. But hear what Scriptures recorded that he said, 'Let us go elsewhere, to the neighbouring country towns, so that I can preach there too, because that is why I came.’ And he went all through Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out devils'. He knew his purpose in life and he lived it to the fullest.

     Beloved, Now I ask you, what is your purpose in this life? What divine plan is at work in your life? Can you point at any task that you are living for? Have you realised the responsibility which God bestowed on you? Do you think your presently life is meaningful to God and to men? If do die today, what unfinished business would you miss? I pray God will remove every Sisyphean struggles in our lives and put a meaningful striving in us.   

        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 find and purpose in life and give me the grace to live it out.....

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 SUNDAY BELOVED FRIENDS.

  @ Fada Emmanuel Nnamdi Megwara, MSP. ⛪

Fr. Emmanuel Megwara, MSP - Homily for Saturday Week 4 of Ordinary Time Year I - February 6, 2021

  DATE : 6/2/2021, Saturday of the Fourth Week of Ordinary Time (B)

 EVENT : St. Paul Miki and his Companions, Martyrs (Memorial)

 COLOUR: Red

 READINGS : Heb. 13:15-17.20-21; Resp. Psalm 22:1-6; Mark 6:30-34.

 THEME:  THE CHRISTIAN LIFE IS A CONTINUOUS SACRIFICE

    Greetings beloved people of God. I welcome you to "My Catholic Homily Digest". On this Sixth day of February, which the Church celebrates the memorial of Paul Miki and his twenty five companions, who were martyred in Nagasaki of Japan, I wish to reflect with you on the theme: " The Christian Life Is A Continuous Sacrifice". Beloved, during a chat with one of my spiritual daugthers, she said to me, "but father, for person to dey holy no easy oo. See as temptations just full every corner." Then I said to her, the Christian life is that of a continuous struggle to sacrifice that which your body and heart crave. Thus, as long as we remain with flesh and blood on this earth, the call to Christian sacrifice is never over. And in another occasion, a friend told me, 'if not for the sake of Christ, that calls us to forgive and never to revenge, these fanatic and war mongering Muslims would have felt the blunt of our arms'. Beloved, I believe you also have something that you would have delved into if not for the sake of Christian sacrifice. However, while we are busy struggling to make little little daily sacrifices, some Christians like Paul Miki and his companions, whom we celebrate today offered the ultimate sacrifice of their lives to Christ.

   Thus, the first reading of today from Heb. 13:15-17.20-21, talks about the kind of sacrifices pleasing to God. However, this book Hebrew, whose author is still largely uncertain, was written to a certain Jewish Christian community, whose Faith in Christ was begining to wane. From both internal and external evidences, sources suggest that it was written between the A.D 62 as the terminus a quo and A.D 70 as the terminus as quem .  For easy understanding, Biblical scholars have grouped the entire letter into four parts. Thus, the part which we read from this morning is the from the fourth part called, ' Jesus, Our Sanctification: Heb. 11:1-13:25. However, this morning's pericope, Heb.13:15-17.20-21, falls within the immediate context of Heb. 13:1-25, which is exegetically known seen as, ' An Exhortation to Sacrificial Love'. Beloved, the Greek word used for sacrifice in our text today is ' Thysia '. This means a sacrifice that is Christ centred. A sacrifice not done for any other reason but for the sake of Christ. Hence, it attracts divine grace and benevolence.

     So Beloved in Christ, do not relent in your daily struggle for thysia , for holiness, for goodness, for uprightness and for the Christian faith. Do not get tired of witnessing for Christ. I beg you, do not grow weary of doing good. Do not feel that you have done enough good for people. Do not feel that you have given enough to God, the Church and his ministers. Do not say, I want to take a break from doing good, from helping people. For in today's Gospel, even though Jesus and his disciples wanted to rest, the sight of the pitiable people of God in need of your help, move you to continue your sacrifices for the sake of Christ. May God keep helping us all

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

 

 LET US PRAY : Lord Jesus, fill my heart with your love so that I may sacrifice for the sake of love..

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 4 of Ordinary Time Year I - February 5, 2021

MY CATHOLIC HOMILY DIGEST

 DATE : 5/2/2021, Friday of the Fourth Week of Ordinary Time (B)

 EVENT : St. Agatha, V. M (Memorial)

 COLOUR: Red

 READINGS : Heb. 13:1-8; Resp. Psalm 26:1,3,5,8-9; Mark 6:14-29.

 THEME:  BE A PRISONER IN THE LOVE OF GOD

   Greetings beloved people of God. I welcome you to "My Catholic Homily Digest". On this Fifth day of February, on which the Church celebrates the memorial of St. Agatha, I wish to reflect with you on the theme: " Be A Prisoner In The Love Of God". Beloved in Christ, I never knew that there is an enjoyable  prison, until I was convicted and sentenced to the prison of God's love. Here, everything took on a new shade of meaning. Here, like other secular prisons, I discovered my hidden self, my hidden potentials, and this prison helped me to harness my abilities. However, unlike other prisons where people seek release, no one ever seeks release from God's love, for his love is sweet to all who have tasted it. St. Agatha, whom we celebrates today, is also a member of this divine prison of love. And with her blood, she sealed herself perpetually a member of this prison.

    In the first reading of today Heb.13:1-8, the author reminded us of the call to love,  and of the need to live in 'love communion', with all whom we meet or know. Beloved, this divine prison of love, like the Christian faith, has a universal cloak, by which all its members are easily recognised. It is the garments of love, of forgiveness, of long-suffering, of patience, of witnessing. This is why when Jesus began his ministry after the death of St. John the Baptist, people confused their identities, because their cloak was the same. Hear what was said in the Gospel of this morning, Mark 6:14-29, 'King Herod had heard about Jesus, since by now his name was well-known. Some were saying, ‘John the Baptist has risen from the dead, and that is why miraculous powers are at work in him.’ Others said, ‘He is Elijah’; others again, ‘He is a prophet, like the prophets we used to have.’ But when Herod heard this he said, ‘It is John whose head I cut off; he has risen from the dead....' Notice how the people were confused about the specific identity of Jesus, such that they were liking and linking him with the other members of this divine prison, who also wore the same cloak in the past.

    Now, dearest in Christ, since by our baptism we were all sentenced to this prison of divine love, the question we need to ask ourselves is this: Am I still a member of this prison, or have I released myself? Am I putting on the required cloak by which all members of this prison are known with? I pray that like the prophet Jeremiah, God will keep seducing us into the prison of his divine love all the days of our lives.

   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 remain steadfast in the prison of your divine love, and the grace to always put on the required cloak....

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 Thursday Week 4 of Ordinary Time Year I - February 4, 2021

DATE : 4/2/2021, Thursday of the Fourth Week of Ordinary Time (B)

 EVENT : Mass of the Weekday

 COLOUR:Green

 READINGS : Heb. 12:18-19,21-24; Resp. Psalm 47:2-4,9-11; Mark 6:7-13.

 THEME: THERE IS NO SACRED COW INSIDE THE CHURCH

    Greetings beloved people of God. I welcome you to "My Catholic Homily Digest". On this Fourth day of February, I wish to reflect with you on the theme: " There Is No Sacred Cow Inside The Church". Beloved, it is in imitation of the apostolic sending  on mission, contained in the Gospel reading of today, Mark 6:7-13, that the Church often sends seminarians on summer apostolic work. Thus, during one of these apostolic works of mine as a seminarian, I had an experience that has remained with me. The Christian child of a highly respected pagan king died. And a funeral Mass was organised for his burial. As people were coming in for the Mass, the deceased father arrived with his entourage and several other important dignitaries. His arrival was announced by his chief servant. The king and some of his VIP's  walked up to the altar and enquired where the sacred throne of his royal majesty and the exquisite seats of his rich guests were. But with a calm voice and in a humble manner, the parish priest directed them to the same old and dilapidated wooden pew where every other person sat. Standing there, I imagined what the thoughts of the king were, and how he had expected to be given an elevated seats different from those of the other congregation.

   Beloved in Christ, God is a respecter of no man. He is not impressed by your portfolio. He is  not moved by your vain glories and outward shows. He does not notice your worldly position, riches, beauty, class, and social status. He does not treat or relate to us according to our pedigree, political appointment, amount of money in your bank account, title or academic qualifications. Once we step in to his presence, we are stripped of all our earthly gabbage. The only thing that will define us then, is the level of our spiritual relationship with him. Thus, as children ransomed with the blood of Jesus, we are all the same. We are all first borns, we all are equal heirs to God, we are all equal citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem. Hence, the Church is the temporal and visible Jerusalem of God's people on earth. As such, apart from the structural hierarchy, the Church does not treat any body different from the other. She does not consider any body more suitable for the sacraments, she does not show partiality in bringing the Gospel to all people. She does not restrict her ministers, but sends them out to preach the good news in every corner of the earth.

         So, when next you enter the Church beloved friends, do not think yourself more special than your neighbour. Do not feel more of a child of God than your co-worshiper. When next you see a fellow believer, relate to him or her as an equal, a twin and coheir to God's treasure. When next you get an opportunity to preach the gospel, do not pick and choose who deserve to receive Christ or not. To my fellow ministers, as you carry on with your divine task, do not treat any person/group better than the other. Do not pay more attention to a group/person than the other. May God bless us all.

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

 

 LET US PRAY : Lord Jesus, you are the universal king and lord of all. Help me to shun all feelings of spiritual pride or superiority in me....

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 Wednesday Week 4 of Ordinary Time Year I - February 3, 2021

DATE : 3/2/2021, Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Ordinary Time (B)

 EVENT : St. Ansgar (Oscar), Bishop and St. Blaise, Bishop, Martyr (Opt. Memorial)

 COLOUR:Green/Red/White

 READINGS : Heb. 12:4-7,11-15; Resp. Psalm 102:1-2,13-14,17-18; Mark 6:1-6.

 THEME:  DIVINE CHISELLING BRINGS OUT THE BEST IN YOU

    Greetings beloved people of God. I welcome you to "My Catholic Homily Digest". On this Third day of February, I wish to reflect with you on the theme: " Divine Chiselling Brings Out The Best In You". Beloved, have you ever pondered on the following questions: Why do bad things happen to good people? Why are truthful and honest people always avoided? Why do good people die young? Why do honest business people hardly become rich? Why do righteous people have the most difficult situations, temptations and trials? Why do virgins hardly get married and hardly bear kids on time? Why do sincere and trusting people easily get cheated? If you have reflected on this questions before, then you will understand why St. Theresa of Avila, told God that, it is deserving that his friends are few. My dear friends, God is our loving father, he cares for us, and hates to see us perish. Hence, to successfully guide us through the right path, he chastises us as a loving father would punish an erring child whom he loves. Just as it is not proper to spare the rod and spoil the child, so it is not proper for God to spare us some brief crosses of correction for our good.

   This correctional nature of God's heavy hand, is the hub of today's first reading, taken from Heb. 12:4-7.11-15. According to the anonymous author of this lettter, 'when the Lord corrects you, do not treat it lightly; And do not get discouraged when he reprimands you. For the Lord trains the ones that he loves and he punishes all those that he acknowledges as his children. Suffering is part of your training; God is treating you as his children, just like an earthly father trains his children with strong hands, so that when they grow up, they would not depart from right actions. However, the Bible also acknowledges that at the present moment, any punishment is most painful and far from pleasant; but later, if it is endured gallantly and in good faith, it bears fruit in all those on whom it was used.

       Child of God, just like kids coming back from the playground needs to be bathed thoroughly, before allowed to enter and sit at the couch and parlor cushion. God chooses and uses different mediums to chisel out the dirt of worldly stains which sticks to our  spiritual bodies, as we journey along in this veil of tears. It is because he loves us and wants us to sit and dine with him in the heaven couches and cushions, that he chisels and punishes us when we offend him. So, rather than bemoan and complain about the sufferings and many troubles that you endure, look at them as an opportunity that God is presenting to you to make heaven. And pray for the grace to endure till the end, even when our family members and those closest to us seem not to make the situation any better for us, just as they did to Jesus in the Gospel of this morning, Mark 6:1-6. 

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

 LET US PRAY : Lord Jesus, give me the grace to endure the little crosses which are my own share in your agony, so that I may merit to enter heaven......

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 Tuesday Week 4 of Ordinary Time Year I - February 2, 2021 - Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

DATE : 2/2/2021, Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Ordinary Time (B)

 EVENT : Presentation of the Lord (Feast).

 COLOUR: White

 READINGS : Mal. 3:1-4 Resp. Psalm 24:7.8.9.10; Heb. 2:14-18; Luke 2:22-40.

 THEME:  YOU TOO WERE CONSECRATED

    Greetings beloved people of God. I welcome you to "My Catholic Homily Digest". On this Second day of February, which the church celebrates the presentation of the Lord Jesus in the temple, I wish to reflect with you on the theme: " You Too Were Consecrated". Beloved, today is exactly 40 days since we celebrated Christmas. And in accordance with the Jewish tradition, every first born male child must be circumcised, presented and consecrated to the Lord, according to the law of Moses (Ex. 13:1-12). Thus, as faithful but poor Jewish citizens, the parents of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, brought him to the temple to do for him, what the law requires. Now, apart from  consecrating the child to the Lord, Mary and Joseph had to come for purification and to redeem the redeemer, who will in return redeem us with his precious blood in the future (1Pet. 1:18-19). Beloved, notice that Jesus was faithful to the keeping of the law (Gal. 4:1-7; Matt. 5:17-18). He was humble enough to submit himself to anointed people (Simeon and Anna), to pray and prophesy upon him (Luke 2:29-32; 36-38). He lived faithfully under the care, protection, love and upbringing of his parents. Such that at the fullness of time, after his baptism, God declared him his beloved Son.

    Beloved in Christ, grace builds on nature and nurture. Often times, what makes many of us to derail from the true path; to fail to accomplish and fulfil our destiny, and lose the Spirit of God within us is because, we neglected the grace imparted on us at the day of our individual presentation and consecration. Listen to me friends, do you know that during your presentation and Thanksgiving as an infant, just like Simeon and Anna, the priest of God, offered prayers and prophesied upon you. Do you know that the priest declared a bright and glorious future for you. Do you know that the priest prayed for your preservation in health of mind and body. Do you know that the priest prayed that you should grow in the knowledge and fear of the Lord, walking daily according to his statutes. But unfortunately, out of negligence, sinful pride, laziness, stubbornness, prayerlessness, unseriousness, and demonic deception and manipulation, we did not nurture the grace of our consecration to maturity.

    Child of God, as we celebrate the feast of presentation today, the Church offers us all another opportunity, especially religious men and women and all consecrated persons, to rededicate, to re-present, to re-consecrate, to re-evaluate and re-think our commitment to him. For as the second reading of today, taken from the letter to the Hebrews says, we share the same flesh and blood with Jesus, and through his consecration, we are made holy and consecrated too. Hence, I pray that through the merits of Christ's vicarious suffering and death, our sin and unfaithfulness will be washed away. So that we would be acceptable before God. 

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

 LET US PRAY : Lord Jesus, make of me an instrument fit for thee. Use me to bring back many lost people to the throne of your grace...

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