Monday, December 30, 2013

Homily (2) Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, Year ABC: Fr. Michael U. Udoekpo


Homily (2) Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God, Year ABC: Fr. Michael U. Udoekpo
Readings: Num 6: 22-27; Ps 67:2-3, 5-8; Gal 4:4-7 and Luke 2:16-21

 Mary: Mother of Christ, Source of Peace

On every First January of every year the Church prays for peace, and celebrates the Solemnity of The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, mother of Christ the Prince of Peace. Of course, she is our mother too. She is the mother of the Church, clearly confirmed by St. Paul in the Second (Gal 4:4-7). Paul says:

“When the fullness of time had come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to ransom those under the law so that we might receive adoption as sons (and daughters).” This message of Paul was of course foretold by many Israel’s prophets- Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Zephaniah- during Advents!

 By Baptism we are all brothers and sisters of Christ, and children of God. At the Morning Mass, yesterday, you will recall, we were all being addressed as children of God in 1 John 2:12-17. And as adopted children we are part and parcel of the Holy family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph which we  also celebrated few days ago.

Days and weeks from now we will begin to bring down the Christmas trees, and undo those decorations in our home. One thing we do not want to forget is that the Birth of Christ brought peace and redemption to our homes, and into the world. Everyone acknowledges this, including the Angels who sang that song with which we began this worship with: “Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to people of goodwill.” the shepherds of Israel (Luke 2:16-21), the prophet Simeon and the prophetess Anna in the Gospel reading of yesterday (Luke 2:36-40) also spoke about this Prince of Peace to everyone, to those who were awaiting and hoping for the redemption of Israel.

On this day of the World Day of Peace, Mary is extolled as the mother of Christ the Redeemer, the Prince and source of Peace, for several reasons. Let me mention a few. At the annunciation, Mary peacefully said to Angel Gabriel, “I am the Handmaid of the Lord be it done to me according to your Word” (Luke 1:38). She was not afraid to say yes, and to be opened  to the will of God.  Never for once was Mary violent and abusive to those who disbelieved her or suspected her pregnancy. She dialogued with the family of Joseph and her family over the divine situation.

In the Gospel reading of today, Mary and Joseph opened their doors and their hearts for the humble poor shepherd (Luke 2:16-21) and for the rich and educated foreign scientists-Magi (Matt 2: 13-23), who visited with them in a manger in Bethlehem. With this, Mary and Joseph prepared Jesus for the ministry of peace, universalism and inclusiveness of the poor. Jesus of course would grow up to become the champion of peace.

When Jesus stayed back in the temple Mary and Joseph did not freak-out. They anxiously but peacefully searched for Jesus. It is true that we don’t hear much of what went on in the family of Jesus and Mary and Joseph after the Birth narrative and Christmas celebrations. I am sure; the shepherd went back to their sheep.  Joseph must have quietly and peacefully retired to his carpentry worship while Mary was busy changing the diapers and raising Jesus peacefully, lovingly and virtuously in their poor, but peaceful home.

When we look back on the events of the last year be it  in our families, homes, Church,  the United Nations, in the Middle East, Africa or in Asia, Europe, North Korea including all the wars, trains derailing here and there, the natural tragedies, the hurricane sandy, the typhoons in the Philippines, the shootings and terrorist acts in our nations’ schools, movie theaters and religious centers, and other part of the world- recently in Russia- the rough politics, health-care debate, government shut down, social and economic difficulties-we need peace more than ever, in the world today.

Jesus, the Son of Mary is the source of this Peace (Shalom). He alone can heal us. He alone can heal our nations of our weaknesses, selfishness, our divisiveness, our doubts and skepticisms. He alone can give us that wholeness, that friendship, that sense of justice, that sense of oneness, that community spirit, that forgiving spirit, that Christian love and charity that we all need.

The priceless Peace, which Jesus the Son of Mary brings is a grace and blessing! This peace was among the blessings that God gave to Israel, through Aaron in the first reading (Num 6:22-27). Blessing Israel, Aaron said:
 May the Lord let his face shine upon you and be gracious to you! May the Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace!”

 I have received so many cards and greetings from you! One of my cards reads,

“Fr. Michael I can’t believe today is the last Sunday of the Year. I am very grateful to God for all his blessings and graciousness upon me, my family, especially my grandchildren this past Year 2013.  Thank you for leading us to such a spiritual pilgrimage to Fatima, Lourdes and Rome. It was a pilgrimage of my life time. May Christmas be Merry to You and New Year a fruitful one.”

 Like the person who sent me this card, January first/tonight is not just the night we watch balls drop at Times Square, it is a night/ day we look back and count our blessings that God has blessed us with(dropped upon us) in the past year: Life, family, jobs, clothing over our nakedness,  roof over our health, food, soda, candies, cookies, ice cream, transportation, the security in our nations, the gifts of faith, the gift of the Catholic Church, the gift of our New Pope, the gift of Nelson Mandela, the gifts of our Bishops, the gift of our Pastor, priests and Deacons, our parents, teachers, the gifts of our volunteers and parish staff, the gifts of the Knights of the Church, the Columbiates, the choir, our trustees, and various pious groups here in our Parish; the gifts of our jobs.

 Today is also the day we say to ourselves “Happy New Year!” in various languages. With this we are indirectly making New Year resolutions- wishing and promising ourselves every good thing in the New Year, including Happiness of which Christ, the Son of Mary is the ultimate source.

 We wish ourselves peace (shalom), trust, hope and faith in God. We wish ourselves good health. We wish ourselves the grace to forego bad habits. We wish ourselves greater respect for the dignity of the human person, greater sense of social justice and respect to the fundamental human rights of every person, men, women and children including the poor, the seniors and those at the margin of the society; the right to practice and treasure the Catholic faith, the right to wear cross, and crucifixes, the right to pray publicly without being ashamed of your faith and religion.  It is a year we want to continue to pray for the souls of our loved ones gone before us marked with the sign faith.

As we begin a New Year, may Mary the Mother of God, Mother of the Church, intercede for us so that we may be blessed with lasting peace, and joy in the Lord.

And May “The Lord bless you and Keep you! May the Lord let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you. May the Lord look upon you kindly and give you peace” in this New Year (Num 6:22-27)!

 

Saturday, December 28, 2013

Homily (2) Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph Year A: Fr. Michael Ufok Udoekpo


Homily (2) Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph Year A: Fr. Michael Ufok Udoekpo
Readings: Sir 3:2-6, 12-14; Psalm 128:1-5; Col 3:12-21 and Matt 2:13-15, 19-23

 Family: a Domestic Sanctuary

It is not surprising that following the celebration of Christmas, the Birth of Christ, we re-gather today to contemplate and celebrate the virtues of the Holy Family of Mary Joseph and Jesus. In fact, this Feast makes a lot sense for us since we are all fruits of a given family, a community of parents and children, brothers, sisters and relatives. Today, we celebrate the responsibility we owe each other.

 The family of Joseph, Mary and Jesus was a family of “Yes!” and openness to God. Mary, in Luke’s Gospel says, “Be it done to me according to your Word,” (Luke 1:38).  The righteous Joseph in Matthew’s Gospel quietly took Mary home as the Angel Gabriel had told him (Matt 1:24). Joseph provided for the safety of baby Jesus in Egypt. Jesus’ parents were humble and paid close attention to whispering of the Holy Spirit into their ears.

 It was a family that handled their difficulties and confusion with prayer, and absolute trust in God. A typical example is the mystery of the sudden pregnancy of Mary by the divine agent. Pregnancy, I believe would be a very delicate period for women. It is a time that women enter upon a cycle of hopes of fears. She sees herself different in the mirror and is conscious of the risks and sufferings awaiting her. In such circumstances our husbands would not want to approach their wives as if they are in the military grounds, but like Joseph with gentleness and virtues of love, and joy (cf. Udoekpo, M. Family Functions, 1997, p. 19).

 Joseph handled this well. He listened and was opened to the impulses of the Holy Spirit.  He took Mary home (Matt 1:24). He loved, honored and respected Mary, and the child Jesus. Joseph a quiet and righteous man knew what his role was as a father. He was quite, but had a lot to say by his family life style.

 He knew that every child needs a father and a mother(cf. 1989 Redemptoris Custos of Pope John Paul II). He did not walk away from his responsibility as some modern fathers do today. He knew he was called to love and protect the child Jesus- the New Moses (Matt 2:13-15,19-23), just as the old Moses was kept save in the Book of Exodus 1–4. He rose up and fled with the child Jesus to Egypt for safety as directed by the Angel of the Lord (Mtt 2:13).

Joseph, besides loving and respecting Mary must have also taught Jesus good carpentry trades and skills. From Mary and Joseph Jesus must have also learn their basic customs, how to say shalom, “good morning daddy,’ “good morning Mom,” and   how to say some basic Jewish prayers, and meaning of things around him – patience, and compassion for fellow human beings-that would come to reflect in Jesus public ministry; in his turning water into wine at Cana in Galilee (Jn 2), in his multiplication of fish and bread, in his healing and forgiving ministries.

 Joseph knew his job; his responsibility to Mary and Jesus. Jesus also knew his job. He was an obedient child. I am sure you would recall the incidence in Luke 2:41-51 when the boy Jesus stayed back in the Jerusalem after he had made and annual visit with his parents Mary and Joseph. It took Mary and Joseph about three days to anxiously and lovingly retrace Jesus to the Temple in Jerusalem where he was deeply involved in a discussion with teachers and scholars. We are told Mary and Joseph were not only anxious about their child, but were astonished at finding Jesus in the midst of temple teachers. But scriptures tells us that after all said and done, Jesus went back home with his parents and “was obedient to them,” (Luke 2:51). Jesus grew up in wisdom, age and favor before God and man (Lk 2:52). He obeyed his parents.

Echoes of such obedience are heard in the first reading of today (Sir 3:2-6, 12, 14), that, Whoever honors his parents atones for sins and preserves himself/herself from them. When he prays he is heard, and whoever respects the mum stores up wealth and riches for him/herself and will live long (cf. Exodus 20:12; and Deut 5:16).

You and I know, especially our parents that we live in a different time today. Today, there are many fathers and mothers who walk away from  their mutual responsibility to their children, leaving them third parties under the name of personal freedom or 'too busy at work." Divorce has also become the order of the day to the detriment of our children. Today’s society is  also  searching for where to draw the line between the rights of parents and of the children: the movie the watch, the drinks the take, the conversation they engage and the examples they are shown. Are they adult food, drinks, movies? What examples do we show to our kids!: how we treat each other, how we return home from work on time, join the family at meals and how we relate and respect our next door neighbors? What about our faith and sexuality: how do we live or express them both at homes in the public- knowing that our kids, the future leaders, are watching! Do we twerk our sexuality or do we handle  it with care, dignity and decency?

 I grew up as a sixth child in a family of 4 surviving brothers and two sisters from same mom and dad. Customarily we respect our parents. We honor them. We show gratitude to them for many reasons- for raising us, for breast-feeding us, for the food, clothing, for the tuition, for teaching us the faith, name them.  We never talked back to our parents.  The respect is so deep and mutual that we cannot call our parents even our elderly ones by their first name. Usually whenever there is any misunderstanding in our family everybody is eager  to work hard to have the matter resolved with compassion and love.

 This is the Family Life in the Lord that St. Paul addresses in the 2nd reading (Col 3:12-21). The family is a place where each of us would learn to put on compassion, kindness, gentleness, patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another. Like the Holy Family of Joseph, Mary and Jesus’ it is place where we learn to pray, to sing Psalms, cultivate wisdom, respect, honor one another and lay our spiritual foundation.  It is a place where we learn to visit our parents and seniors in the nursing homes, hospices and hospital. It is a place where we learn to be our brother's and sisters' keepers. It is a domestic sanctuary for faith, hope and love.  It is a domestic church, school of virtues, where we lay the foundation for the values and virtues we bring to our larger Community, churches, schools, places of work and governance.
 
As we approach the table of the Holy Eucharist today, let us pray that each and every one of us may return home today, nourished by the virtues and exemplary lives of Mary, Joseph and Jesus.

 

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Homily (2) for the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas Mass during the Day Year ABC - Fr. Michael U. Udoekpo


Homily (2) for the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas Mass during the Day Year ABC - Fr. Michael U. Udoekpo

Readings: Isa 52:7-10; Ps 98:1-6; Heb 1:1-6 and John 1:1-18

The Word Became flesh at Christmas!

  “A child is born for us, and a son is given to us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name  him Wonder-Counselor, God Hero, Father –forever, Prince of Peace… and his name will be called Messenger of  great counsel” ( cf Isa 9:5-6).

 This is the entrance antiphon of today’s Mass, the words of prophet Isaiah. This prophecy fulfills and explains the reasons why we are so joyfully and decoratively gathered today. We gather to celebrate Christmas, the Birth of Christ our Lord and Savior, the creative Logos/Word who became flesh and dwelt among us,  the Light of the world, the Divine Wisdom and God’s loving incarnate ( John 1:1-18).

 In the 2nd reading, the Letter to the Hebrews (1:1-6) God became Christ, human and divine because he loves us always. In time past, from the beginning  God spoke to us, he manifested himself to us through the burning bush, through various prophets down to John the Baptist. He also communicated with us through his messengers, angels. Remember angel Gabriel who said to Mary Hail Mary, full of Grace the Lord is with you, blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb Jesus (Luke 1). Remember the same Gabriel said to the worried Joseph, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife home …for it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived in her(Matt 1:18-24). Angel also played a role in the birth of Samuel and Samson. God also spoke and directed Tobit and Tobias through his messenger, angel Raphael (cf. Tobit).

But today, these days God speaks and communicates with us through someone who is superior to all Israel prophets. He is superior to John the Baptist. God speaks to us through someone who is superior to the angels. In fact, the angels worship him.  That person is God’s Son, Jesus Christ born for us at Christmas.

Christmas brings us Christ, the source of life. Christmas brings us Jesus, a friend of the poor and of the rich. Christmas brings us Christ, Lover of saints and sinners, a Messenger of hope, a Prince of Peace and a Prophet of reconciliation. Christmas brings us joy.

This is the joy that I have always experienced here in our parish community. The joy that mixes with God’s love, and team spirit among various groups here in our parish, the knights, the Columbietes, the staff, men, women and children. Joy in our families, work places and environments!

I love our new church bell. It swings and rings hourly or half-hourly. It adds to this joy, and often reminds me of the response of the angels to the Birth of Christ.
 The angels broke into a great song, “Glory to God in the Highest… peace to people of good will”, which we began this Mass with.  This song is hidden, in that poetic first reading (Isaiah 52:7-10), a song of the redeemed:

“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings glad tidings, announcing peace (not war, not selfishness, not hatred, not greediness, revenge and division, but) bearing, good news, announcing salvation, and saying to Zion “Your God is King.”

This King is Christ, born for at Christmas. This King has always preexisted with God his father, "in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God...."(John 1:1-18). As a pre-existence Son of God Christ is the source of all things: our lives, our families, our energies to do our jobs, to participate in politics and manage our economy, go to schools, keep our homes and raise our kids.

Christmas invites us to celebrate the involvement of God in human flesh and in the human history: “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us” (John 1:14). In his compassionate ministry among humans, water would be changed into wine, women will be spoken to, and children would be invited with care. The poor would be loved, the hungry would be fed. Sinners would be forgiven. Zacchaeus would be visited. Lazarus would be raised from the death. Christ born today would come to wash the feet of his disciples. He will lecture Pilate on the meaning of truth and Mary Magdalene on the importance of detachment.

 How we receive Christ, the Light of the world at Christmas and our how we welcome him in our hearts, in our homes, and families and nation is important. It is true that we have decorated our offices, churches, streets and homes, purchased and exchanged gifts. Christmas carols and songs are booming in our homes and cars.

But sometimes you noticed that our gifts are only being circulated among ourselves and colleagues. This is the first Christmas after the Election of Pope Francis and the Death of Nelson Mandela of South Africa. Pope Francis, like Christ, we know has invested a lot of his energy and preaching on the need to reach out to the poor and the needy. And Mandela attracted so many to his funeral because of what he stood for as well: love, reconciliation, unity and oneness.

As we celebrate Christmas this year, we might want to joyfully take extra steps and reach out to the poor with acts of charity and to our neighbors with love, oneness, unity and reconciliation.

  “Joy to the world, the Lord is come, let earth receive the King; Let every heart prepare him room, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven, and heaven and nature sing.!”

 

 

 

Homily (2) for Solemn Nativity of the Lord (Vigil Mass) Year ABC- Fr. Michael U. Udoekpo


Homily (2) for Solemn Nativity of the Lord (Vigil Mass) Year ABC- Fr. Michael U. Udoekpo

Readings: Isaiah 62:1-3; Ps 89:4-5,16-17, 27,29; Acts 13:16-17, 22-25 and Matt 1:1-25

Christ is born: Joy to the world!
 
“Joy to the world, the Lord is come, let earth receive the King; Let every heart prepare him room, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven, and heaven and nature sing.!”

 Tonight in our Parish, in our hearts, homes, and all over the world, on earth and in heaven, we begin a joyful celebration of the Birth of Christ, the Prince of Peace and the Savior of the world. We celebrate the reasons for the past four weeks of spiritual and material preparations.  We celebrate the reasons for all those shopping; reason why Santa Claus is in town again; the reasons for all these decoration in our church, in the narthex, the ones in our homes, in our offices, in our work places, in the plazas, public squares, in shopping and community centers. We celebrate the reasons for all those snow men dancing with our kids in our homes.

 We are celebrating the reasons why we will soon gather to exchange those beautiful gifts and meals with our children, grand children, spouses, neighbors, our loved ones, friends and relatives. Meals and Gifts that represent the love, the peace and reconciliation that Christ the bridegroom brings us at Christmas. We are celebrating the reasons for all those stamps and envelop which we have already mailed- the candies and the cakes, the candles and the checks, the ribbons and those trees, and gifts.

Personally I have received so many gifts from you and I want to say thank you very much. All these are because a special humble friend, Christ, has been born for us in Bethlehem, as foretold by the prophets.

Isaiah was one of them who says, “A child is born for us, and a son is given to us; upon his shoulder dominion rests. They name  him Wonder-Counselor, God Hero, Father –forever, Prince of Peace… and his name will be called Messenger of  great counsel”( cf Isa 9:5-6) .

 Matthew’s Gospel (Matt 1:1-25), that long genealogy, narrates this fulfillment of this prophecy. Its tells us how the birth of Christ came about (Matt 1:1-25) and traces the human and divine origins of Christ. It is such a compelling and appealing story that it is been reenacted on the TV and even here in our parish hall by our children. It is a story of God’s love for us in Christ- Jesus; who loves to walk with us, travel with us, eat us, play with us, and of course saves humanity.

 Christ’s birth brings us redemption. It brings us light and joy as it did to Israel. Even the angels could not resist this joy. They broke into that song of Gloria, with which we began this mass with, singing: “Glory to God in the Highest… peace to people of good will.”

 Peace to people of Good will, those God has chosen those who trust God, those who acknowledge him, the remnants, and his creatures, those he loves! That is, each and every one of us; all of us, you and I, men, women, children, our grand children, friends, family members, people of all walks of life; our parish community.

This joyful song of Gloria is also hidden in the first reading of today(Isaiah 62:1-5) where the prophet Isaiah says, no more shall other nations call Israel forsaken or consider Israel a desolate land of mockery. Rather, Christ delights in each and every one of us, the renewed Israel! He loves to see us do well. Christ cherishes our well-being. The Sick, Christ wants to see you get well. Those who lost their jobs, Christ want you to get back to work- to find a job. To those who have experienced, Christ wants those misfortunes reversed, in the spirit of Christmas.

 Christmas refreshes and renews us in Christ, the source of life. Christmas brings us Jesus, a friend of the poor and of the rich. Christmas brings us Christ, lover of saints and sinners, a Messenger of hope, a Prince of Peace and a Prophet of reconciliation, especially in a divisive world of today; a world plagued with wobbling politics, isolationism and a broken economy. His birth requires a response from us!

One of those responses if I may suggest is found in Psalm 89, which invites us to constantly sing the goodness and the blessings of the Lord. Thanking God for all that he has done for us from creation’ for coming down in the person of his Son, in human form to be with us, to identify with us.

St. Paul, in Today’s Second (Acts of the Apostle) bears witness to Christ and acknowledges him as the King and Son of David. Even though Paul did this in Antioch in Pisidia thousands of Years ago, we can continue today to bear witness to Christ born for us today in our communities, homes, street corners, neighborhood, and office locations.

This becomes more urgent especially in the times we live in. There are some that cannot afford those envelops, stamps, candies and Christmas trees. I mean the poor. We have to reach out to them, like Pope Francis. We heard, he sneaks out from the Vatican at night to bring food to the poor and the homeless. There those who don’t have the peace that we have here in our nation. They are constantly at war and acts of division. Few weeks ago, Late Nelson Mandela of South Africa attracted 100s of world leaders to his funerals, while millions of us clued on our TV, because of what he stood for: peace, love, reconciliation, forgiveness, and unity. Christmas is a time we joyfully strive to celebrate these virtues.

 I am sure you are also aware that there some are working around the clock to take Christ out of Christmas. Some are even afraid to say publicly “Merry Christmas.” Other Christians are restricted to say “Happy Holiday” not “Merry Christmas,” in their work environment. I am sure you have also heard or read on the news paper that not long ago a Middle School teacher at some place removed the name of Christ from some Christmas songs he/she taught to the children. We live in a challenging time, political maneuverings, economic hardships and religious pluralism.

Remember it was in a challenging moments like this that made the Evangelist Matthew and Luke to actually celebrate and tell the story of the human and divine origins of Christ. It was in a moment of trials that Saint stood up for the faith, and bore great witness, to Christ, the Son of David, born for us at Christmas.

Christmas, today invites us to do the same. Christmas, invites us to celebrate the birth of Christ, to be happy, to be joyous, give and be given, be thankful for what God has done for us, but also time to appreciate and bear witness to our faith. It is a time of grace, peace, love, reconciliation, happiness given to us. As we celebrate are encouraged to share these joy, grace and love of God with others. And we are encouraged to sing those Christmas Carols, particularly the one I began this reflection with:

“Joy to the world, the Lord is come, let earth receive the King; Let every heart prepare him room, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing, and heaven, and heaven and nature sing.!”

 

Friday, December 20, 2013

Homily (2) Fourth Sunday of Advent Year A- Rev Michael U. Udoekpo


Homily (2) Fourth Sunday of Advent Year A- Rev Michael U. Udoekpo
Readings: Isa 7:10-14; Ps 24:1-6; Rom 1:1-7 and Matt 1:18-24

  Mary and Joseph Models of Christmas

 Today we celebrate the last Sunday before Christmas. And all that we are asking for is the grace to prepare well in peace and joy for the forth coming Christmas. We pray for the grace to hope and believe all that were foretold by ancient prophets (Isaiah, Jeremiah, Zephaniah, Balaam, John the Baptist) and to take to heart the messages of the angels, particularly Gabriel, which we heard repeatedly during these past four weeks of Advent, and to imitate the reaction of Mary and Joseph  to this mystery of the incarnation.

A typical example is today’s first reading (Isa 7:10-14) where Isaiah of the eighth century foretold and encouraged the house of David that “behold a virgin shall conceived and give birth to a child, whose name shall be called Immanuel, meaning God is with us” (Isa 7:14).

 Of course, at this time Israel needed to hear that God was still with them. During this time, they went through so many difficulties, social, political and religious threats such that some members of the community including their king Ahaz began to doubt the presence of God in their midst. Of course this can happen to any of us in times of illnesses, tragedies or uncertainties. But thank God for the gift and the message of hope and God’s blessings brought by Isaiah about Mary who will give birth to Christ the Messiah and the savior of the world.

The Gospel of Matthew presents the fulfillment of this message of hope promised us by God as foretold by Isaiah and other ancient prophets, and highlights the role of Joseph. Many of us have seen these story of fulfillment of the promised birth of Christ acted out in a play here are there. We saw one the other day in Pennsylvanian, at Lancaster. A young Jewish woman, Mary was betrothed to Joseph. But all of a sudden she was found to be pregnant even though she had not yet had sexual relationship with her husband Joseph. It was the work of the Holy Spirit (Luke 1:38). But it was difficult to humanly convince the ancient community and even Joseph that it was the work of the Holy Spirit; that Mary had not broken the law, nor committed adultery- which was punishable not only through divorce but by death.

Because of this divine incidence the two families particularly Mary and Joseph went through a lot of humiliation and mockery. But this humiliation was not going to be forever. Mary believed Angel Gabriel (Luke 1:38), followed by Joseph when he was told, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home; For it is through the Holy Spirit that this child has been conceived,’ (Matt 1:18-24).

We can learn so much from Mary, just to trust God, to tell our story, to be consistent, to keep on doing what is good no matter how little or minute that goodness might appear before human beings. We can learn so much from Joseph- find time to reflect, to think through difficult situations, handle crises with listening patience and obedience to the voice of God. We should seek counseling from our seniors, mentors and pastors. Prayer is also the key. Joseph was not in a hurry to divorce Mary. The Bible calls him a righteous man. He was not in hurry to judge or stone Mary. Christmas teaches us to be patient, prudent and trustful. It teaches us not to hurry to judge or be in haste to “stone our neighbors to death” as some folks had wanted to do to Mary. We saw this at Lancaster at the Christmas play. As Joseph was contemplating what to do, Mary was also talking to her mother and Elizabeth her cousins confirming that she was honest, faithful and a trustful young woman. She did not deserve to be stoned to death.

 There are so many ways we can “stone our neighbors to death” today. Pope Francis has mentioned some of these ways in his recent Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium: When we exclude the poor, the lowly from the social, political, educational and economic fabrics of the society; when we create unjust laws, structures and unnecessary barriers in the society that would oppress and deprive children, women, the seniors, the lowly of basic necessities of life, food, water, clothing, roof over their heads, education, freedom of speech and worship. Of course we die slowly when we have no food and when you are starved or denied clean drinking water. And worse still spiritually when we have no faith or denied the freedom to pray and worship God.

As we prepare for Christmas we pray that the Grace God may be poured into our hearts, homes, into our church, into our society and nations so that we may always be attentive to the voice and love of God, and like Paul (Rom 1:1-7) share this love, attentiveness and blessings with our neighbors, in imitation of Mary and Joseph.

Friday, December 13, 2013

Homily (2) 3rd Sunday of Advent Year A- Rev Michael U. Udoekpo


Homily (2) 3rd Sunday of Advent Year A- Rev Michael U. Udoekpo
Readings: Isa 35: 1-6a, 10; Ps 146:6-10; Jas 5:7-10 and Matt 11:2-11
 
The Joy God has Brought us in Christ

 Once in while each of us has an occasion to celebrate or show some special sign of joy and happiness. This happens during wedding and ordination ceremonies or when we receive cards and surprise presents from our loved ones, and family members. It also happens when we pass our exams, promoted in a job,  go through successful medical procedures, have received nice anniversaries and birth day gifts, appreciation of the freedom we have, to name but a few. Many people today, even the circular media are also very happy with the gift of our new Pope Francis. Every third Sunday of Advent is a moment of joy. It is called a joyful Sunday. It presents us an opportunity to think of joy, to search for joy, to practice joy and to live joyfully.

  These joy and hope run through the Bible readings of today and it is the heart of  the Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Francis, Evangelii Gaudium (The Gospel of Joy).  Prophet Isaiah in the first reading is a reminder to us that God in whatever circumstances, whenever we call upon him would come to save us.  In the particular case of the Israelites, it was the hope that their enemies, the Assyrians would not reign forever. Their exile was never going to be in perpetuity.  This is a good news and the cause for joy( 35: 1-6 )

Isaiah’s message of hope and joy of freedom would be fulfilled in Christ (Isa 7:14). He says God has “strengthen the hands that are feeble making firm the knees that are weak” (v 3).  There are many circumstances in our lives that remind us our weakness and feebleness. Think of the   nuclear and threats of terrorism that you and I live under today. Think of the natural disasters, the tsunamis, the sandies, the hurricanes, the typhoons, and the shootings, to name but a few. Think of our experiences of physical illnesses, which sometimes will make us feeble and weak.  As a nation, community, family and individual we also have our strengths and weaknesses. Some are stronger economically, socially, politically, intellectually and morally than others.

 Whatever your strengths and weaknesses  for the prophet Isaiah sorrow and fear are not the right solutions for believers, but hope, patience, penance and joy because God has the power to make even the lame and cripple to walk and jump like a deer. He is able to make the mute to sing.

Each of us has been blessed by God.  The gift to see this day is not because we are smarter than our neighbors or because our health insurance is much better than that of my next door neighbor, but because it has been God’s decision and purpose in Christ Jesus who enables us experience this day and His healing love. 

 The Psalmist captures this well today when he says: The LORD keeps faith forever, the LORD secures justice for the oppressed, the LORD sets captives free, the LORD gives food for the hungry, the LORD gives sights to the blind and the LORD protects the strangers (Ps 146).

Sometimes it is difficult to figure this out and to believe that God is watching over us. As St. James would remind us today, it takes patience, prayers and endurance sometimes to discern these blessings and the role of God in our lives, especially in times of great pains, economic or social hardships or political imprisonment.

 In the Gospel of today ( Matt 11:2-11) John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ, a Jew, sitting in prison on account of Herodias (Mtt 14) perhaps was wondering why Christ, a Jewish messiah would not intervene in his imprisonment. Remember earlier on John’s disciples were surprised that Christ’s disciples did not follow their pattern of fasting and Jewish observances (Matt 9:14), but spent time healing the blind, the lame, the deaf, raising the dead, cleansing the lepers and preaching the Good News to the poor (Matt 11:5-6) and mingling even with sinners (Matt 9:9), exercises that put others off, or that were forbidden by the status quo and the establishment. Remember, John Baptized with water. Christ baptized with the Holy Spirit.

  Christ is superior to John the last prophet of the OT. Even among those born of women, we are told  none is greater than John the Baptist, yet the least in the Kingdom of God is greater than John (Matt 11:11). John is the greatest prophet, God’s messenger up to his time, as planed by God, which was a preparation for a new order, the Kingdom of God, which is the fulfillment of all that OT prophets had foretold including the call for repentance and all manners of preparations by John.

 The challenge for us is that to be in that Kingdom, the least is not only invited to imitate the hopes and the mission of John the Baptist and other prophets, but to practice with joy the life style of Christ: peace, love, hope and joy. We are called to be a peaceful people, a hopeful community and a source of joy to our neighbors, including the weak, the sick, the aged, the feeble and the poor members of communities.

As Christmas approaches we want to take joy in sending out those gifts and Christmas cards and flowers, if we can. We want to take joy in practicing virtues and justice. We want to take joy in hoping for the birth of Christ in our families. We want to take joy in being a Catholic. We want to take joy in being a Christian.

Saturday, December 7, 2013

Homily (2) Second Sunday of Advent Year A: Michael U Udoekpo


Homily (2) Second Sunday of Advent Year A: Michael U Udoekpo
Readings: Isa 11:1-10, Ps 72:1-2,7-8,12-13,17; Rom 15:4-9 and Matt 3:1-12

 "Madiba Sunday and the Gospel of Joy of Pope Francis"

 In the past few weeks each of us have been greeted with “the Gospel of Joy” (Evangelii Gaudium) of Pope Francis and the death of Nelson Mandela (1918-2013), otherwise known as Madiba in his native South Africa. From global reactions both men have something in common:, endurance, justice, freedom, promoters of human dignity, universalism, inclusion of everyone, rich and poor, black and white, reconciliation, peace and dialogue, hope and joy and a better world for humanity. The more reason I am tempted to call this years’ Second Sunday of Advent, “Madiba Sunday” in commemoration of what Late President Nelson Mandela stood for, re-emphasized in the Apostolic Exhortation of Pope Francis.

 What both men stood for resonates in the Bible readings of today: justice of God, peace (Isa 11:1-10), harmony (Rom 15:4-9) reconciliation and divine promises to those who love God, and are prepared for repentance, conversion, and renewal (Matt 3:1-12).

 These divine promises began last Sunday in Isaiah 2:1-5 is continued today (Isa 11:1-10. Isaiah says today; “a shout shall sprout from the stump of Jesse and from its roots a bud shall blossom. The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him: a spirit of wisdom and understanding, a spirit of counsel and of strength, a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the Lord… He shall judge the poor with justice and decides aright for the land afflicted.”

 Christ, of course is the bearer of this peace and judger of the poor(afflicted, segregated, terrorized, typhooned, tsunamized, sandied, marginalized),with justice. As he comes at Christmas, he brings us his  divine Wisdom and Understanding. He brings us the understanding that we are one people of God no matter  our nationality and  the color of our skins. He brings us the wisdom to include the poor and the needy in the socio-economic and political fabrics of the society. These are virtues and societal qualities that Mandela/Madiba of "ages,"(cf.Obama) stood for, stressed also in the Evangelii Gaudium of Pope Francis.

 Some times we forget that we are weak and are humans. In our weakness and humanness Christ also brings us the spirit of counseling and strength (Isa 11:2). He brings us strength and endurance to continue to bear our vital responsibilities at home, church, schools offices, factories and in all our work places, as well as our prayer lives and spiritual responsibilities- of keeping awake!
 
 Christ brings us the spirit to fear the Lord, to be able to confront evils of apartness, apartheid, division, discrimination, racism, tribalism, parochism, slavery, isolationism, holocaust-attitude, idolatries and disharmony which St. Paul also renounces in  the second reading. Paul says: “May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to think in harmony with one another in keeping with Christ Jesus, that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ….welcome one another then as Christ welcome you… so that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy”(Rom 15:4-9).

 As Paul would have assured, Christ wants everyone to be saved, Jews and Gentiles, men and women, children an adult, black and white, the rich and the poor. The more reason he warned the Pharisees and the Sadducees in today’s Gospel to repent for the kingdom God was at hand, and of course , to  “produce  good fruits” as evidence of their repentance ( Mtt 3:1-12).

The messages of Isaiah, Saint, Paul and Christ may sometimes sound distance from us. They are not.  Every Christian of every time, place and culture is called  Alter Christus(another Christ). We are called in our time, culture, context, community, particular circumstance(irrespective of our titles, and ideologies, "Pharisees or Sadducees") to be the conduit of love, unity, inclusion, dialogue with, understanding, wisdom, counseling, justice, hope, patience, faith, fear of the Lord to those who are in need, especially in  today’s world.

  In the light today’s Bible readings, we can begin  now to work for a better world,by not only reflecting deeply on the significance of the “Gospel of Joy” of Pope Francis but also on those good principles that Madiba of South Africa, this global icon, stood for: endurance, universalism, social justice, freedom, inclusion of everyone, from every place,  rich and poor, black and white, reconciliation, peace and dialogue, hope and joy in justice.

 

Saturday, November 30, 2013

Homily (2) First Sunday of Advent Year A: Michael U Udoekpo


Homily (2) First Sunday of Advent Year A:  Michael U Udoekpo
Readings: Isaiah 2:1-5; Ps 122:1-9; Rom 13:11-14; Matt 24:37-44

 Come- Renew your Hope
 
Each year we set out on a journey of reliving the mysteries of Advent (coming) of Christ Jesus, with joy. Today again ushers in Advent, a season of hope and joyful- spiritual expectation of Christ at Christmas and Parousia. Christ is the Light of the world, and a warrior who gives us victory. His presence among us is everlasting. This presence is symbolized by our Advent wreath. This is also a season that each of us is encouraged to recall and reflect on the history of their salvation. The history of all that God has done for us from creation.

  Israel’s prophets, John the Baptist and Mary who waited for Christ with love are our models and witnesses to his expectation preparedness to welcome the Lord. Israel’s prophets were the conscience of the people of their times. They encouraged believers in times of despair to hope; in times of temptation to trust in God alone. They pronounced judgment as well God’s love, peace and salvation for the poor remnant.

In the first reading, from the Prophet Isaiah we hear that God is coming with salvation for the poor displaced by wars and man’s instinct to dominate another. We hear from Isaiah that all nations will stream to the mountain of the Lord and that God will re-establish Jerusalem (Zion) as the center of His worldwide kingdom and reconcile hostile nations to Himself. Moreover, nations shall not raise sword against another, nor shall they train for war anymore (Isa 2:3-4; Mic 4:2ff).

 Prophet Isaiah, whom we shall hear often from this Advent, was addressing a nation that had experienced wars, and threats upon threats of war and annihilation. He was addressing Ahaz, Hezekiah and a nation of Judah whose pilgrimage of faith and hope were shaken. He was addressing a nation that had witnessed concrete threats of Assyrian and Babylonian military arsenal. He was addressing a people who were afraid of losing the promise that God had promised David, that a shoot, shall come from the house of David or that Mary will be the mother of Christ at Christmas ( Isa 7:4). He was addressing a nation left with the choice to worship God or not to worship God; to rely on God or on human military power.  Isaiah did what was prophetically possible to give them hope and signs of optimism that God is always with us. God will never abandon Jerusalem.

 Isaiah’s message of hope is also reflected in today’s Psalm 122, a pilgrimage song “I will rejoice when I heard them say “we will go to the Lord’s House… pray for the peace of Jerusalem, may those who love you prosper.” This song reflects not only the pilgrimage of Israel but what went on in their lives journeys; the sufferings and the fatigue they endured; the dust  the swallowed on the way; the hunger they experienced, the threats of foreign military might watching them, the thirstiness and homelessness they lived through. Yet, we hear this song of hope- “I will go (nahalak) to the Lord’s House. I will wait for the Lord with joyful praise.

 Our Christian life is a pilgrimage from baptism to meeting Christ at the parousia. On this journey, which is usually very long, often there are mistakes, bumps, doubts, temptations, frustrations, hesitations, uncertainties, and some spiritual casualties on the way.  While travelling this road of life many of us may have lost our jobs or our loved ones. Some of us may have experienced what unemployment after years of college is like or some other unpleasant experiences that would make us less hopeful that God is still with us.  Many may still be searching for a good health care.  Some may still be thinking of the unending wars and threat of terrorism, acts of violence, the tsunamis, the typhoon, and the sandies, as well as mountain of student’s loans or lack of access to college education.

 There are also many who feel excluded in today's, socio-economic and political-religious fabrics of the society. These are the poor, the weak, the destitute and the needy that Pope Francis recently addressed in his Apostolic Exhortation, Evangelii Gaudium (the Gospel of Joy). The poor are threatened by the great dangers of today’s world, “pervaded as it is by consumerism,… the desolation and anguish born of complacent yet covetous heart, the feverish pursuit of frivolous pleasures, and a blunted conscience” of some (EG, n.2).

  However, like the contemporaries of Isaiah we still share today in the hope, peace, joy, prosperity and salvation that await us in the future coming of Christ. The Early Christian communities were also a hopeful community. They were always expecting and looking forward to the Second Coming of Christ.

 For Paul in Roman 13:11-14 just as in today’s Gospel of Matthew 24:37-44 waiting for Christ should not be in idleness or wastefulness in works of darkness and sins of rivalry, unhealthy competition, jealousy, drunkenness and lust, but we should all remain clothed with an amore of light, watchful through prayers, mortification, detachment, examination of our consciences, works of charity, peace cultivation, community and nation building. Opposite of these would have distracted us from this watchfulness.

After all if the coming of Christ to us at Christmas and at the Parousia is meaningful, Jesus’ concrete and daily coming to our lives is as also important. Christ comes to us in our children and in our neighbor’s children. Christ comes to us in our husbands and in our neighbor’s husbands. Christ comes to us in our wives and in our neighbor’s wives. Christ comes to us in our priests and pastors.. Christ comes to us in our brothers and sisters, in our neighbors. He comes to us in the Scriptures and in the Eucharist of which we avail ourselves of at this Year’s Advent. He comes to us in our friends, in the poor, in the sick, in the needy, in the less fanciful.  He comes to us in those that are less friendly to us. He comes to us in every event of our lives and in the Sacraments. Can we wait with hope, can we offer hope to others and recognize Christ advent and his presence in our midst?

 And may the advent of Christ find us at peace, reliving our hope, vigilant in prayer, rejoicing in His abiding presence (Zeph 3:17) and welcoming Him in the Light of His truth and love. Amen.

 

 

 

Saturday, November 23, 2013

Homily 34th Sunday of Year C(Christ the King): Michael U Udoekpo


Homily 34th Sunday of Year C(Christ the King): Michael U Udoekpo
Readings: 2 Sam 5:1-3; Ps 122:1-5; Col 1:12-20 and Luke 23:35-43

 Christ our Universal King

 Today we celebrate the universal kingship of Christ, the Son of David. It is a celebration of true leadership for the poor, the rich, the needy, those in prison, and those out of prison. We celebrate unity, humility, care, love, hard work, endurance, compassion, the good shepherd motifs, universalism, forgiveness, a sense of common good, prudence, truthfulness, selflessness, faith, hope, patience and trust in God’s plan that genuine leadership bears.

The first reading ( 2 Sam 5:1-3) of today reminds us of the unique kinship of David, his family and human problems, his struggle with Saul, but also the everlasting covenant God had established with his house. The young handsome David succeeded Saul as the king of Israel, since Saul had disobeyed God, and had broken the ban (1 Sam 15). David rose and consolidated power in central place of Jerusalem, with a sense of universalism, unity, togetherness and divine promise. We are told, “In those days, all the tribes of Israel came to David in Hebron and said, ‘here we are, your bone and your flesh…. And when all the elders of Israel came to David in Hebron, King David made an agreement with them there before the Lord, and they anointed him king of all Israel.”

David was never a king of some elders, some few tribes or some parts of Israel, but the King of all Israel, the king of everyone, a theme that is resolutely developed in 1 &2 Chronicles. This separate David from several other divisive and idolatrous kings of Israel, we have come to learn from the passages of the Scriptures.

 David did so well and stood out among others that generations of prophets (Amos, Hosea, and Isaiah etc) would yearn for another David. Late historical books and midrashim like the Book of Ruth would present the worthy Ruth as the great, great grand mother of Jesus(Matt 1:5), the “Son of David.”

In his ministry down to his passion on the Cross, this Son of David, Christ, ruled and ministered with patient, compassion, prudence, love and kindness. He led by examples. Ironically, both Pilate and those who prosecuted Jesus proclaimed him the king of the Jews and of the Gentiles by their ironical interrogations and the inscription they placed on Jesus cross in several languages “This is the King of the Jews.” Even the criminal on the cross was moved to recognize the universal kingship of cross, when he said, “Jesus remember me in your kingdom” (Luke 23:35-43//John 18:33-37).

Paul in the Second reading re-emphasized this kingdom of redemption and forgiveness of sins when he says " God has delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved son… for in him all the fullness was pleased to dwell, and through him reconcile all things to him, making peace by the blood of his cross, through him, whether those on earth or those in heaven" ( Col 1:12-20).

For those of us on earth, living in nations, families and institutions of ironies, the challenges grow every day. They are enormous. The challenges for our elected, ecclesiastical and biological leaders(at all levels) to lead selflessly, with peace, patience, humility, transparency, care, love, hard work, endurance, compassion, sense of universalism and shared common good, harmony, exercise of  administrative prudence, truthfulness, selflessness, faith, hope, patience, availability to our subjects, and trust in God’s plan that we saw in David and in Christ Jesus.





 

 

 

Friday, November 15, 2013

Homily 33rd Sunday of Year C: Michael U. Udoekpo



Homily 33rd Sunday of Year C: Michael U. Udoekpo
Readings: Mal 3:19-20a; Ps 98: 5-9; 2 Thess 3:7-12 and Luke 21:5-19

Perseverance In Justice

The readings of today, offer us hope and perseverance. Prayer, orderliness, simple life style, trusts in God and practice of justice and righteousness are sources of security, a prosperous future, and joy in the face of persecution and hopelessness.

The returnee from exile- the Israelite community optimistically sought for these sources of security in the New Jerusalem they had return to rebuild. But what they saw was still a deeply divided community. They saw a community plagued with rift, social injustice and disorderliness. Power politics, despair and hopeless had also taken root. Many of the post-exilic prophets Haggai, Zechariah, Trito-Isaiah (56–66) and Malachi have all addressed these.

Some of these prophets were even critical of the Temple and the priests since there was absence of proper worship that takes cognizance of people’s daily living.  There were also lingering problems that Ezra- Nehemiah had face. The problem of who should be included in the New Jerusalem: foreigners, everyone or a selected few or what the new community should look like? Tithes and offerings were abused while justice and righteousness were no where to be found in this newly reconstructed Jerusalem Temple.

Malachi in particular preaches hope and perseverance to disillusioned members of this divided community especially those who trust in the Lord. He says, “For those who fear my name, there will arise the sun of justice with its healing rays” (Mal 3:20).

For the followers of Christ who face similar challenges at every time and place, and culture, their security  should never have to be placed any longer in physical Temple but in Christ Jesus who is the New Temple, because as was the case in history a time came when the physical Temple was no longer there (Luke 21:5-6).



Christ's message in today’s Gospel  remains  important because since he would be gone. His disciples and many of us would face persecutions, hardships, trials, divisions, confusions,  uncertainties, temptations and contradictions, as it was in the community of Prophet Malachi. But just as Malachi, God's messenger assured Israel of the help of the sun of justice, the Lukan Jesus assures his followers of God’s assistance with the spirit of perseverance in moments  of such trials and persecutions.

Each of us in our ways at different times may have had our own moments of these trials, fears, temptation, despair, frustration, tragedy, loss of our loved ones, hurricane tsunami, sandy, typhoon, violent cause by war,  terrorism and inordinate use of guns. Many have also experienced poverty, hunger, illnesses, racism,  ignorance, lack of proper education and functional or stable government, discrimination, joblessness and hopelessness.

In such moments what do we do? To whom do we go; to the physical temple which is never permanent or to Christ the permanent Temple? Paul gives us a soothing suggestion in the Second Reading. He presents himself as a model to imitate (2 Thess3:7-12). Hard work, simplicity of life, prayer, pursuit of justice and righteous acts, hope, trust in God will enable each of us handle hardship and difficult situations with a discerning spirit of perseverance, knowing that, Christ, the sun of righteousness is constantly watching and shinning over us.







Friday, November 8, 2013

Homily 32nd Sunday of Year C: Michael Ufok Udoekpo



Homily 32nd Sunday of Year C: Michael Ufok Udoekpo
 Readings: 2 Mac 7:1-2,9-14; Ps 17:1.5-6,8,15; 2 Thess 2:16–3:5 and Luke 27:27-38

 Jesus is the Life and the Resurrection

For several weeks now our Sunday Gospel readings have been taken from Luke’s Gospel, particularly from the settings of Jesus’ teaching journeys to Jerusalem to die for us. He has arrived at that Jerusalem. But it is important that Our Lord continues to remind us that the death he has journeyed to die in Jerusalem was never going to end up in the tomb. He will be victoriously raised from the dead, an important message of hope for us.

Imagine what life would have been like for believers without hope and trust in God! Or without our core believe in the resurrection. When the faith of the Jewish people, the Children of God of the 2nd Maccabees era, around 180 BC were threatened by Hellenism and other foreign secular culture it was important that they be reminded that   their God, the God that spoke to Moses face to face, the God of their Father, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Exod 3:14-15) was not only alive, but was still with them. Even when they were being persecuted, tortured and killed because of their faithfulness and obedience to the Law (Torah) all hope was lost. Many believed and they needed to be encouraged and reminded that the faithful ones will be raised to life again- on the resurrection!

This is the center- piece and the fountainhead of today’s first reading, which is the  moving story of a mother, a family woman and her seven sons who not only remained defiance to an earthly and faithless king, but gave up their lives for the sake of their beliefs, convictions, and faith in God and hope in the resurrection.

Can this faith and hope speak to us?  Faith and hope!  They not only spoke to Paul during his trials and missionary journeys, but Paul spoke faith and hope to his persecuted, worried and despaired Thessalonians community.  This is true in the Second reading when he wrote, “may our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting encouragement and good hope through his grace, encourage your hearts and strengthen them in every good deed and word… the Lord is faithful he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one” (2 Thess 2:16–3:5).

Evil ones, evil things, teachings, and temptations can come to us, the followers of Christ in different ways in different contexts, nations an cultures. Christ himself was confronted a few times with some, soon after his baptism, and through out his ministry, and even on his way to Jerusalem. Imagine the question put to Christ by the Sadducees in the Gospel reading of today (Luke 20:27-38). First of all they did not believe in the resurrection yet had the audacity to dishonestly ask Jesus if Mosaic levirate marriage will be practiced in heaven, in the resurrection! But the point of Jesus’  brilliantly and divinely amazing soothing response to the Sadducees' mischievousness is what we celebrate today- Our God is a living God. He is not a God of the dead!

Be it in our family faith crises we want to learn from the family woman and her children in 2 Book of Maccabees today. We don’t want to abandon our faith in the face of persecutions, hatreds and wars. Imagine those Christians in those aniti-Christian environments today. We don’t want to abandon our long standing faith in our everlasting God of the Covenant, in the face of modern politics, family crises, invented secularism, new scientific discoveries, printing press or new TV adverts or because of recently published books and acted movies, propounded ideologies, illnesses, economic and financial difficulties! Even these inventions should be used in the light faith.

The faith and hope of today’s bible lesson can speak to us where ever we are and live. In the midst of pluralism of challenges, temptations and difficulties today, it is that faith and hope in Christ who is our life and the resurrection that we are called to embrace.

Friday, November 1, 2013

Homily 31st Sunday of Year C: Michael U Udoekpo



Homily 31st Sunday of Year C: Michael U Udoekpo
Readings: Wisdom 11:22–12:2; Ps 145:1-2,8-11,13-14; 2 Thes 1:11–2:2 and Luke 19:1-10


God’s Mercy Draws Us to him


God does not judge any of us as we deserve. Rather, he loves us. He shows us compassion, kindness, mercy and forgiveness. With this he expects us to abandon evil doings and return to Him.

This merciful and loving- nurtured God is consistent from creation. God lovingly created man and woman out of nothing, as narrated in the Book of Genesis. Even when man fell as we saw in the activities of Cain and Abel, the story of the Tower of Babel, the flood of Noah, God initiated again the call Abraham and established a unilateral covenant relationship with humanity (Gen 12ff). This covenant of love, peace and rest follow God’s people in the deserts, in exiles and throughout the entire history of salvation. The first reading of today (Wisdom 11:22–12:2), written about 50 years before the time of Christ, affirms this loving, and forgiving nature of God.

The point of this wisdom reading is that whenever we experience difficulties, and sufferings, even some spiritual dryness, as some of the Israelite did at some point and time in their lives, we should remember that nothing happens without the knowledge of God. God is constantly watching over us. And nothing remains or dies unless God wills it (Wis 11:25). Even when we make mistakes, God rebukes us little by little. God’s goals are that sinners may abandon bad ways and return to Him (Wis 12:1-2). His intention is not to demolish us, in spite of our brokenness.

None of us is perfect, God often uses weak instruments: Abraham, Jacob some of the Judges, Rahab the prostitute, Moses, and the Prophets. Even Paul who was once a persecutor of the faith was converted to a promoter of the faith and all that God has done for us in the name Christ, to whom we are constantly called to glorify ( 2 Thes 1:11–2:2). For God so much loved us that he sent Christ to us, so that everyone believes in him might have eternal life (John 3:16).

The doors of this eternal life are 24 hours opened to everyone and every race:  white and black, man and woman, young and old, rich and poor of all nations. Conversion is not too late. This is true in the case of Jesus' encounter with Zaccheaeus in today’s Gospel (Luke 19:1-10). The context of this encounter of course is still that of a traveling Jesus to die for us in Jerusalem, began as far back as Luke 9:51.

Jesus has come to pass through Jericho. It is an important city. It is a town far below sea level, close to the Jordan River. It’s a city known for commerce and trade. King Herod once had a palace here.  Mark Anthony once gave Jericho to Cleopatra as a present.  With the power God,Joshua and his trumpeters had brought down its walls. 

It was quite a historic city that Jesus has come to pass- by. Crowds have noticed not only the physical but the divine presence of Christ. They are eager to see him. In this crowd was a short wealthy man, and a tax collector, known as Zacchaeus. He put his wealth aside and climbed a tree in order to catch a glimpse of the Messiah. Rather, the Messiah caught a glimpse of his total person and invited him to come down for a new life in Christ. Despite grumblings from the crowd they proceeded to Zaccheaes’ house. Perhaps they had a meal there, conversations about everything, and prayers. But within this context Luke tells us Zacchaeus was converted, and salvation came to his entire household, since the son man came to seek and save what was lost( Luke 19:1-10).

Sometimes we feel lost in our sins, poverty, joblessness, anger, racism, inordinate use of power politics, abuse of wealth and our sexuality. But the good news is that wherever you are and whatever you are doing God is looking out for you. It is never too late to come back to Jesus! You might be sleeping, saying the rosary or climbing the tree like Zacchaeus- God’s love and his saving mercy is waiting for us.  Please, come down from the Tree and be saved.