Homily 22nd Sunday of Year B: Michael U. Udoekpo

Homily 22^nd Sunday of Year B: Michael U. Udoekpo

Readings: Deut 4:1-2,6-8; Ps 15:2-5; James 1:17-18,21b-22,27; Mark 7:1-8,14-15,21-23

Putting God’s Word into Practice

In our Christian faith, hearing the Word of God, bearing witness, putting God’s Words into practice, keeping his commandments, as we all know could be very challenging. Think of the 10 commandments, the Church’s laws, Christian ethics, and the corporeal and spiritual works of mercy: praying for the sick, visiting them, lending a helping hand to the needy, option for the poor, orphans, the widows, the seniors, holding the door of an elevator for someone on a wheelchair, forgiving those who have offended us, promoting social justice, obedience to God, spirituality from within, and loving our neighbors as a whole. This is what Moses, who occupies a unique place in Israel’s faith journeys attempted to drive home in the first reading, and Jesus, the new Moses would push the same message in the Gospel.

The first reading (Deut 4:1-2, 6-8) is parenetic and updates old laws in Exodus.  Moses, a great teacher, a prophet and an outstanding leader reminds Israel whom he leads those basic conditions for reaching that Promised Land.  Hearing, doing the word of God, practicing justice, walking blamelessly before the Lord- all these, Psalm 15 also confirms.

St. James would call this a “religion that is pure and undefiled before God.” For him there is purity and holiness in inclusivity. There is holiness in caring for the orphans and widows. Assisting or reaching out for those who are afflicted in one way or the others have nothing to do with defilement! They are heroic Christian acts. There is also holiness in combining interior spirituality with faith and good works of all kinds, “Mary and Martha.”  They are not contradictory. And hypocrisy for him is not holiness or acts of pure religion!

This is what Christ; the new Moses confronted the Pharisees and the Scribes with, in the gospel reading. They include inauthentic, man made traditions that stops at externalism, but devoid of internalism, interior conversions, faith, hope, love and not willing to lend a helping hand to our needy brothers and sisters or refuse to be prophetic is not good enough. The analogy of Christ fits; washing of our hands, external drinking cups, jugs or kettles while neglecting their filthy inside does not make sense. Drinks from such cups, jugs and kettles with filthy insides are dangerous to our health. But we all care for our health! Thanks be to God!

 Also Caring for others sincerely from the depths of our hearts, with great humility and love, and not harming them are the best ways to “wash Christian hands, cups, jugs and kettles.”   Lips services are not good enough. As we sing praises to the Lord, this day we want to do it from the bottom of our hearts. And we want our praises and worship to always reflect the way we respect, love and live with one another! This is truly putting God’s words and his precepts (hadevarim) into practice!

Homily 21st Sunday Year B: Fr. Michael U. Udoekpo

Homily 21^st Sunday Year B: Fr. Michael U. Udoekpo

Readings: Joshua 24:1-2a, 15-17,18b; Ps 34; 2-3, 16-21; Eph 5:2a, 25-32 and John 6:60-69

To whom shall we go? You have the words of Eternal Life

In the Gospel reading of today we heard,“To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life”. This is Peter’s response to Christ's question, “Do you also want to leave?”  Peter’s response is very close to Joshua’s profession and covenant renewal in the first reading, “As for me and my household we will serve the Lord.” Both express trust. Both express a choice. Both express love. Both express hope.  Both express wisdom. Both express faith and confident in God. Both express submission to God as in Pauline analogy of that loving, respectful couples who are submissive to one another, who nourishes and cherishes one another as Christ would  nourish and cherish the Church(Eph 5:21-32).

Last Sunday  many murmured and reacted negatively to the teachings of Jesus that he was/is the bread of life came down from heaven; and that whoever eats this bread, his flesh will live forever(John 6:51-58). Today, it is not just murmuring but many are walking away, perhaps closing their ears. Peter and other disciples, believers are not. What a choice!

Interestingly, this is the wobbling Peter: once very outspoken; once sunk in the sea faithlessly; once denied Christ three times; yet this is the same Peter who bravely chopped off Malchus’ ear in defense of Christ. He was at the empty tomb, loved Christ and would also come to die for Christ in Rome. We mean a renewed Peter who loved Christ, and whom Christ loved!

Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York has recently written a must read title: To whom shall we Go? Lessons from the Apostle Peter. Obviously, he wants us to see ourselves in this wobbling Peter, especially when our journey seems to be difficult. And when we think we have made a lot of mistakes on the way, or our faith is not sufficient or our burdens are too heavy to carry. On page 14, the Cardinal describes Peter in the  following words of Raymond Brown:  

“Peter: Here is a man who knew his lord so well that he could rise above his abundant weakness, impetuosity, cowardice, pride, anger, pettiness, accept the power and mercy of his master, and become the first at the empty tomb, the premier apostle, the leader of the nation church, the rock upon which Christ built his Church.”

Today, we/the Church live in changing world, time and culture. Yes we have encountered pride, anger, frustration, sicknesses, family crises, worship of money, abuse of drugs and sex, silliness, pettiness, cowardice, injustices, faith denials, and betrayals, lost of jobs and loved ones, abuse of power here and there. And sometimes many voices that are contradictory to our faith.

In such moments we want  not only to remember that Christ still loves us, but also the, wisdom, the words Paul especially of Joshua and Peter: “as for me and my household we will serve the Lord.”  Or, “Master to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe.”

Homily 20th Sunday Year B: Michael U. Udoekpo

Homily 20^th Sunday Year B: Michael U. Udoekpo

Readings: Pro 9:1-6; Ps 34:2-7; Eph 5:15-20 and John 6:51-58

Eating divine food wisely

Ordinarily when we walk into any restaurant we are presented with a list of menu. We take time to look at the menu list. And sometimes we compare notes with our friends and partners. The reasons for this, I want to believe is to make the right choice. We want to choose what we would love to eat and drink. And perhaps also at the back of our minds we are mindful of our health as well as the cost of the menu, in as much as we don’t get drunk. We might want to call this process of menu discernment, practical wisdom!

Throughout this month of August our Sunday Bible lessons and homilies have been focusing on Jesus as the living bread, the bread of life, the Holy Eucharist, the Holy Communion, in fact, the entire life of Jesus, his virtues, of love, caring for the sick, feeding the multitude, sharing a cup of water with the “Samaritan women,” forgiving “Zaccheus” and raising Lazarus from the death, inviting the “little ones” to come to him, embracing everyone, men and women, young and old! This is Christ the Bread of Life! This is the Christ we invited daily  to be wise enough to believe in him, to imitate, to be opened to,  and embrace his values?

Unlike the foolish ones in today’s Gospel who murmured, who misunderstood, the saying of Jesus, ‘ I am the living bread came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever, and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world,” the church, employs us today, through  the 1^st reading (Prov 9:1-6), to consider the place of practical wisdom in the choices we make, the company we keep, the books we read, the movies we watch, the music we listen to, the advise we give to one another, how we raise our kids, including how we value and discern the overall teachings of Christ, Lady Wisdom, some of them which are conveyed in metaphors, signs, symbols and proverbs.

The seven columns/pillars that support Wisdom’s dinner house in the Book of Proverbs today reminds me of the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, mentioned by Prophet Isaiah, St. Paul and Thomas Aquinas:

1)  Wisdom is one of them. With this column we are able to discern the blessings and the handiworks of God in lives. 2) Understanding is one of them. With it, unlike the foolish in the today’s gospel who misunderstood the “bread of life metaphor” used by Christ, we are able to think through and make a distinction between Christ's teachings and other ‘worldly” teachings  today. 3) Counsel is one of them. With it we are able to constantly make right judgment. 4) Fortitude is one of them. With this column we are able to follow Christ without fear and intimidation. We carry our daily crosses bravely after Christ. 5). Knowledge is one of them. With it we understand the meaning of Christ as the Bread of life. 6) Piety is another column. With it we reverence Christ. We receive the Holy Communion, Christ, with reverence. 7) And the last column is fear of the Lord which enables us to respect God and one another, the dignity every human person.

As we worship and received Christ the Bread of Life (the Lady Wisdom) today let us add to the list of our life’s wisdom these pieces of advice offered us by St. Paul in today’s 2nd Reading. It is on how to discern our “divine menu,”  how to make good choices, how to live as Christians,  and as believers in a changing world.

 Paul says,

 “Brothers and sisters…be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and playing to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks always, and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God the Father” ( Eph 5:15-20).

Homily of the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Fr. Michael U. Udoekpo

Homily of the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Fr. Michael U. Udoekpo

Readings: 1 Chr 15:3-4, 15-16; 16:1-2; Ps 132:6-7,9-10,13-14; 1 Cor 15:54b-57; Luke 11:27-28 (Vigil); Rev 11:19a;12:1-6a,10ab; 1 Cor 15:20-27 and Luke 39-56(Day).

Mary Shares in the Victory of Christ,

Ordinarily each of us would appreciate compliment, especially when we feel we have done our work, we have “won the Olympics.” We like to say “thank you” to our friends and neighbors when we receive gifts.  We also feel good when someone acknowledges how beautiful you are, how handsome you are, how personable and approachable, how hard working you are, in your different fields and roles. We also like to aspire, to imitate some “role models” who have succeeded in life. Here we are on August 15^th. It is Mary the mother of Jesus whom we have gathered to celebrate today. We celebrate her success. Not just her material success, but her spiritual success, her virtues!   We celebrate her achievements, her obedience, humility, patience, endurance, her hope, Mary’s love and faith! We want to pray for one another. We want to learn to imitate Mary.

Of course this celebration has long been established in the church! It is part of the deposit of our Christian faith received from the Apostles. It goes back to the time of Pope XII, who in 1950 declares this essence, dogma of our faith that, Mary because of all her hard work, humility, virtues , at the end of her earthly life was lifted up body and soul into heaven, where Mary lives forever, where Mary shares the victory of Christ on the cross, his resurrection!

This is the victory, the resurrection that St. Paul, for instance, talks about in the second reading, 1 Corinthian chapter 15.  Death, Paul says, “comes through one man, the resurrection of the dead came also through one man, (Christ), who “must reign until he has put all his enemies (the greatest being death) under his feet” (I Cor 15:20-27). For Paul, when we “mortals”(human beings) are closed to Christ, when we clothe ourselves, cover ourselves with Christ who is immortal, who is divine, then death is swallowed up in victory, death is defeated on the Cross as Christ did!  And “Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor 15: 54b-57).

The foundation of Mary’s success, her privilege to share in the victory of Christ, addressed by Paul goes back to the privilege  of her immaculate conception and of her role as the mother of Christ (she bore Christ, the Ark of the Covenant), prophesied by Israel Prophets (Isaiah 7:14),  and fulfilled in the gospel narratives.

In that infancy narrative for instance (Luke 1-2 and Matthew 1-2) all that Mary said to the Angel was, “behold I am the handmaid of the Lord be it done to me according to your words.” And Mary remained so, very humble, docile and opened to the voice of God, throughout that Christmas stories. Look at her encounter with Elizabeth, her cousin today! She travels on foot to visit with her, to assist her. Mary does not puff up, because Elizabeth has acknowledged her as the “mother of my Lord.” But as humble soul as she always is, Mary rather gave glory to God.

For Mary all honor, greatness, power and glory belong to God. This is basis of her victory. This is the basis of her being lifted up. She lived for others, Jesus and Joseph. When Jesus “got lost” in the temple, Mary and Joseph trekked on foot, found and brought Jesus home. Mary is used to trekking. She trekked to visit with Elizabeth. She trekked from Nazareth/ Bethlehem, to Egypt, to make sure Christ was saved from the hatred and onslaught of Herod. This is also what is symbolically presented in the book revelation today (Rev.11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab). Again, she trekked to the temple. She trekked to bring Jesus home.

She accompanied Christ his son, stood by Christ when he was falsely accused. She stood by Christ through his trial. She was right there on the foot of the Cross. This is what won Mary the victory we celebrate today. This is what won Mary her assumption, body and soul in to heaven.

Many of us have had our own trials, worries and difficulties, as parents, as children, as women, as men. We have once worried about our children, our friends, our partners, our seniors, our health. We have once worried about even our jobs.  Christ is constantly watching over us from heaven. And Mary her mother is right there with him.  As we travel this life, Mary is our model. She is the one we want to imitate, her love, her faith and hope in eternal life, a share in Christ’s victory.

Homily 19th Sunday of Year B: Fr. Michael U. Udoekpo

Homily 19^th Sunday of Year B: Fr. Michael U. Udoekpo

Readings: 1 Kings 19:4-8; Ps 34:2-9; Eph 4:30­-5:2 and John 6:41-51

Walking in Love to the Mountain of God

Prophet Elijah in today’s first reading flees into the wilderness. He is fleeing from terrible things, bad things, from the retaliation of Queen Jezebel (cf. 1 Kings 18). Because Jezebel’s Baal’s prophets are slaughtered. It’s going to be a long walk, a long, rough, rugged journey and run for Elijah. But as things would turn out, the Angel of the shows up, and provides Elijah with food and water, just as God had provided for  the Israelite  last Sunday (Exod 16:35), in the desert. Strengthened by this food Elijah is able to walk forty days and forty nights up to the mountain of God (Horeb or Sinai).

This is the same mountain that Moses would receive the 10 commandments (Exodus 19:16ff). It is a Holy Place, and a traditional place we encounter God. It is an important place for all Christians, all of us, including historians and archaeologist and those who read and study the Bible with faith.

Some of us may have seen the documentary “Search for Real Mount Sinai,” by Bob Cornuke and Larry Williams- two explorers, who set out looking for Mount Sinai. According to this documentary, the search takes them to Saudi Arabia. Like the Israelite and Elijah in the desert it is a rough journey for them. They have to secretly cross the border into a Muslim country, Saudi Arabia, avoid being detected by the security agents, police and army. They had no weapons, little food and water, but they had their Bible.

Our faith journeys are like these journeys. They are very long walks atimes. But our destination is God’s mountain, seeking the face of God, through the Church, and with the help of one another. It could be long in walking (halak), doing, keeping our faith. Can you imagine living the 10 commandments, keeping all our vows (marriages and celibacy), living the Sacraments through which we encounter God, keeping the teachings of the church, and carrying out all our corporal and spiritual works of mercy? What about raising our kids, paying our bills, loving our neighbors, keeping all the doctors appointment, carrying out all our civil and familial responsibilities (paying our taxes), without trampling on our neighbors’ right and  their freedom; the right of  parents and children, women and men, the rich and the poor! And respecting other people’s culture and religion!

Put differently, when we wake- up in the morning we are on this journey. When we love we are on this journey. When there is misunderstanding, rift among us, we are still on this journey. When we seek reconciliation, unity we are on this journey. When we work hard in school and in our places of work we are on this journey. when we love, respect one another, old and young, poor and rich, and forgive our spouses, friends and those who have offended us we are on this journey. When we work for peace and love we are on this journey. When we make mistakes, stumble, wake -up and return to God, with His special grace, we are on this journey. No one says this journey  to the mountain of God would ever be easy.

It is not easy. It takes a lot of hard work and long walk. Sometimes we are hungry and thirsty on the way, like Elijah and like these two explorers. Sometimes we are frustrated! Sometimes we are disappointed! As we take this long Christian walk, a much deeper and spiritual walk, we would always need the living food, Christ, whom we celebrate at each Eucharistic worship (John 6:41-51). He is love, patience and peace.He is not dead. He is active in us. He walks with us.  It becomes easy when we walk with God. He is the source of all the perseverance we need. He is the bread of faith, the bread  hope and the bread of  eternal life.

St. Paul knows this very well when he addresses us in Ephesians 4: 30-5:2 in the following words;

“Brothers and sisters do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which you were sealed for the day of redemption. All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling must be removed from you along with all malice. And be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.”  For Paul, this is how we must walk to the mountain of God.This is how we are invited to live our christian faith.

Homily 18th Sunday of Year B: Fr. Michael U. Udoekpo

Homily 18^th Sunday of Year B: Fr. Michael U. Udoekpo

Readings: Exod 16:2-4, 12-15; Ps 78:3-4, 23-25, 54; Eph 4:17, 20-24; John 6:24-35

Christ, the nonperishable Bread of Life

Throughout this month of August, or even since last week we may have noticed that the readings, particularly the gospels centered on Christ feeding the multitude. Today in John 6 Christ is not backing down and we are not backing down either from following him, seeking his love, blessings, healing, happiness and feedings- materially and spiritually. Christ is the source of all our needs.  This is what he meant when he says, “I am the bread of life, whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”  “Bread of life,” “whoever comes to me,” and “whoever believes in me,” three things!

As we journey through life like the Israelite in the wilderness each of us gets hungry, tired, discouraged, disillusioned, our faith shaken, tempted, and thirsty on the road. Naturally we long for food, we ask for drinks. Usually human food and human drinks, because we want to live and survive at least biologically!

Today’s Gospel “Bread” is beyond these human needs.  It is not bread made by Moses, Elijah, John the Baptist or from any of our dinners, restaurants or bakeries. It is a nonperishable bread. Of course this reminds me of our everyday metaphorical characterization of some members of our families as "bread winners," or life wire." It does not mean that they are ordinary "wire" or winners of just ordinary "bread." I think what we meant to say is that they provide and care for our families, including food, health cost, children's school fees, transportation and other bills. Like the manna God provided in the desert for the whining Israelite (Exodus 16:2-4, 12-15), it is a heavenly bread, (Ps 78), which is embracive, provides and sustains life as a whole.  In fact talking about this wholeness  again some texts capture it well in their translation of “bread of life” as "uyo uwem," or“udia uwem” which means “food for life.”  Christ not only came from God the Father, he is the source of all dimensions of life. He is the " life wire of our existence."  He is our "bread winner." He provides and feeds us with our needs beyond what you and I can see. He beats our imagination. We do not live by physical bread alone. Christ is the Bread of Life of faith!

Recall, in Deut 8:3, when the Israelite went through that thirstiness, testing and hunger in the desert, God’s provision through Moses’ intercession demonstrates that we do not live by physical bread alone, but by  every word and spiritual  blessings that come from the mouth of the Lord! Jesus uttered same words when tempted by the Satan (Luke 4:4). He knew that his trusted and faithful father would always be there, for him, the Bread of life of faith.

But, in spite of whom we are, sometimes faithless and broken, sometimes we complain like the Israelites, God’s presence for us is everlasting and unshakeable; just as his presence for the faithless and whining Israelite in the desert, marked by various signs and provisions was unshakable. Indeed, even though Jesus, the new Moses knew that some of his followers were only interested in material food, his spiritual nourishment, words of love and encouragement were unshakeable. Christ recommended faith.  He says,” Do not work for food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life. This food is nothing else than Christ’s values, patience, endurance, forgiveness, hope, faith, love, the  lamb of God and Bread of life. When you think of the components of this Mass from the beginning, with the sign of the cross, the " Lord Have Mercy (bread of forgiveness), the "Gloria," the Songs, the prayers, the readings, the homily, the Eucharistic Prayers, the Kiss of Peace, the Lord’s prayer and the communion, and the "go in peace the Mass is ended," then you have the content, the ingredients of this non perishable Bread of Life, bread of forgiveness, bread of  love, bread of unity, bread of faith, bread of hope, bread of peace and bread of happiness.

Where do we look for this nonperishable bread? Where do we look for our happiness, outside the confines of the teachings of Christ and His Church?  Modern difficulties may abound, mountains and deserts of faithlessness, futility and wrong choices may be there to cross, but all that the Lord requires of us is to keep on doing God’s works. And what is this God’s works? It is faith, and believing in Christ, and his real presence in the Holy Eucharist we celebrate, and the communion we receive. Each time we receive and participate at Mass, we participate and receive life who is Christ himself, the Bread of life. We receive the totality of life, blessings, healing, joy, love, and contentment which leads to true and eternal happiness.

Isn’t Christ saying to us today “Come to me, and believe in me, I am the nonperishable Bread of Life”!