Homily [2]24th Sunday of Year C: Michael U. Udoekpo

Homily [2]24^th Sunday of Year C: Michael U. Udoekpo

·         Exodus 32:7-11, 13-14;
·         Ps 51:3-4,12-13,17,19(R/v Lk 15:18);
·         1 Tim 1:12-17
·          Luke 15:1-32

God mercifully finds us when we are lost

What a  wonderful mercy-filled scripture readings today- from Exodus 32, Paul’s First Letter to Timothy and from the 3 great parables in Luke’s Gospel chapter 15. All these scripture passages remind us of who God truly is: a merciful father who loves us, a merciful God  who doesn’t judge us as we deserve, a merciful God who searches for us,  a loving God who finds us when we miss our ways, and when we get lost: like the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost prodigal son.  In these readings we also find a God who wants us to be a prayerful people, a forgiving people, who pray and intercede for one another(E.g....).

In the 1^st reading this is who Moses is: a leader, a liberator, a prophet, a man of prayer and an intercessor who intercedes for his people gathered sinfully at the foot of Mount Sinai. Sinfully in the sense that as Moses was on the mountain praying and encountering God on behalf of his people, the very people were busy practicing idolatry, making golden calf- other gods for themselves. They got loss. They lacked focus- drawing God’s anger who contemplated of punishing them, except for intercessory role of Moses who prayed “why O Lord, should your wrath blaze against your covenanted people whom you brought out of the land of Egypt.”  Some time we get loss and we need to pray for one another; our friends, our families and our nations.

Same could be said of Paul in today’s second reading (1 Tim 1:12-17), whose past anti-Christian attitude we are familiar with. He was lost not only in blaspheming but in hating and persecuting the Christians (Acts 26:9-11)- only to be saved by God. Today Paul is prayerfully grateful to God who has mercifully treated him. Writing to Timothy he says, “I am grateful to him who has strengthened me, Christ Jesus our Lord because he considers me trustworthy in appointing me to the ministry. I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and arrogant, but I have been mercifully treated, because I acted out of ignorance in my unbelief.”

Some of us get lost in our sins, our selfishness not because of our own faults, but because of one factor or the other. It could be our environment. It could be the type of company we keep. It could be the type of books we read. It could also be the type of movies we watch. It could be ambition or the wrong choices we make in life. Even political ideologies can make us lose track of the universal mercy of God.

 But in the tender eyes and love of God there is always room to make- up, for a rediscovery, for atonement, for a renewal. And this is again demonstrated in the three parables of today’s Gospel: the parable of the lost sheep, the parable of the lost coin and the parable of the lost son. In all these “losses” there is this image of merciful, concerned, caring owner who left everything to search for the lost item. At discovery they are all very happy and joyful.

Our Merciful God loves us. He searches for each and everyone one of us. All that he expects of us is to be people of prayer, men and women, with a forgiving heart. And each time we offend God to be able to say like the 2^nd son in today’s Gospel and in the responsorial Psalm “I will rise up and go back to my father.” Let us rise up at this Mass and go back to God our Father.

Homily for the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Fr. Michael Udoekpo

Homily for the Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary : Fr. Michael Udoekpo

·         Micha 5:1-4a OR Rom 8:28-30

·         Ps 13:6ab, 6c (R/ Is 61:10)

·          Matthew 1:1-16,18-23

Conformity with Christ: Our Birth Day Gift to Mary

Today we celebrate Mary’s birthday. The birthday of the mother of God. As the responsorial psalm Isaiah 61:10 would put it, “we rejoice in the Lord.” And what a joy this was to the parents of Mary, Joachim and Anne. And what a joy this was to God the Father, the Holy One of Israel, the master planner, who had planned for this Day!

 

That God had a purpose for Mary to be a devoted and conforming mother of God, just as he does for each us is evident in the sacred scriptures and in the teachings of the church.  God planned that Mary be conceived immaculately. She is the one spoken of in Isaiah 7:14 that a virgin, a parthanos, or an Alma’ shall conceived and give birth to a Son, Immanuel and the prince of Peace. She is the one foretold in the alternate 1^st reading of today, the Prophet Micah 5:1-4a.

 

Saint Paul also speaks of this plan of God, and the need for us to conform to this divine plan in the Romans 8:28-30. Paul says “we know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. Continuing, Paul says those God foreknew he predestined to conform to the image- summophos tes eikonos of his son; the icon of Jesus( Gen 1:27).  In Ephesian 1:4 the same Paul says, we all were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy before God. For Paul, we are call to imitate Jesus in Good times and in bad times like our mother Mary. Interestingly, in that 1st reading, Paul also adds, those he predestined he called, those he called, he justified, those he justified he glorified. Very strong aorist, past-undefined verbs to highlights the plan of God for us- for which we are all invited to follow.

Remember, everything about Mary whose birthday we celebrate today, points to Christ, whose birth of course is narrated in today’s Gospel. Imagine on the birth day of Mary the story about the birth of Christ, his genealogy is told.  What does that say to us? Everything points to Christ.

 

Think of Mary and the joyful mysteries- the annunciation, the visitation, the birth of Christ, his presentation and the finding of Christ in the temple- Mary and Joseph walking back and forth searching for him. Think of Mary and the sorrowful mysteries. She remained faithful, devoted and conforming to Christ in all these. Her favorite line is Fiat. Be it done to me according to your word. In John 2 at Cana in Galilee she told those who ran out of wine at the wedding party, - just listen to him, do what Christ tells you!

In fact, our Marian prayers and devotion are nothing else than asking Mary, how is your Son. Please, lead me to him. Our Mariology must be Christocentric! On this Birth day of our Lady, the greatest gifts I believe we can offer her is by allowing her to guide us to Christ, to teach us on how to conform to Christ- in patience, in holiness, in courage, in endurance, in humility, in every circumstances of our life.

As we engage in our studies and shared ministry this semester—may we strive to imitate Mary, conforming to Christ, and be ready to always say Fiat- be it done to me according to your Words.

Homily [2] 23rd Sunday Year C: Fr. Michael U. Udoekpo

Homily [2] 23^rd Sunday Year C: Fr. Michael U. Udoekpo

·         Wisdom 9:13-18b;
·          Ps 90:3-6, 12-17;
·         Philm 9-10, 12-17;
·          Luke 14:25-33
 

Like Mother Teresa: What it takes to be the Disciple of Christ

 Today we celebrate the 23^rd Sunday of Year C, in the ordinary season. We gather around the table of the Lord, who is our rock and refuge (Ps 90:1), according to the Psalmist. Fortunately, today, our Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, familiar to all of us( because of her charitable works, simplicity of life style, compassion for the poor, the sick, the needy and the homeless children), is recognized as a saint, in the Vatican, in the universal Church, by Pope Francis. The Life of Saint Mother Teresa, be it, in poverty, in chastity, in obedience in detachment from riches, power and worldliness, a life of faith, empathy for the poor, inclusiveness of everyone and total abandonment to the will of God, echoes also in today’s Bible readings.

 By the time today’s 1^st reading, the Book of Wisdom was written – perhaps fifty Years before the coming of Christ, human wisdom, human control and enslavement of others, wealth and power were regarded as the highest good. Justice, kindness, charitable works, care for the homeless and orphans, the type that mother Teresa and her missionary sisters embraced were not common- particularly in the communities of exiled and post exilic Jews. In these communities there were elements of arrogance, struggle for power, neglects of spiritual matters, pursuits of false wisdom, corruption, and oppression of women, children, elderly and the voiceless.   For the author of the Book of Wisdom God’s ways are not our ways. Even though none of us can fathom the mind of God, one thing we are sure of is that God seeks out for us. He wishes us well. He is and will always be our refuge.  Salvation History proves this (Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greek Roman.…). Therefore, we out to always see life through the prism of faith, like Mother Teresa, like Saint Paul.

 Writing from the Roman prison Paul in today’s 2^nd reading advices Philemon his friend to pardon and take Onesimus back as his friend and brother in Christ Jesus,  but no longer as a slave. Even though this seems to be the ancient practice in  the Covenant Code,  as recorded in Exodus 21, that is slavery, maltreatment of women, children and others. it should no longer be the case in the in the new Law, in the second law. For example, Moses warned the Israelites in Deuteronomy 15:15 to be humane and charitable to others, since they themselves were once slaves in the land of Egypt. The more reason the same Paul who wrote to Philemon in the 2nd reading wrote in Galatian 4:7 we are no longer slaves but adopted sons, daughters, brothers and sisters in Christ .

 Detachment from human control, enslavement of others, power, and material things makes us brothers and sisters and better Disciples of Christ, like Mother Teresa of Calcutta. The more reasons Christ says in today’s Gospel “anyone who does not renounce all his possessions… [friends, parents, material things] cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:25-33).

 The question for us then in this Year of Mercy, on this very day of the canonization of Mother Teresa is: What stops us from following Christ? What stops us from imitating the footsteps of Mother Teresa of Calcutta? What prevents us today from reaching out to the poor, the orphans, the needy, and the less-privileged of our world? What stops us from forgiving those who may have offended us? What stops us from living our vows of chastity, poverty and obedience? What prevents us from living our catholic faith? What prevents  us from giving up our old bad habits? What do we possess that prevents us from doing charitable works like mother Teresa? What prevents us from being compassionate like Mother Teresa?  May we pray for ourselves, the church and our communities today, and keep these faith challenges in mind as we proceed to celebrate the Holy Eucharist. Asking Saint Mother Teresa to intercede for us!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Homily 22nd Sunday of Year C: Fr. Michael Udoekpo

Homily 22^nd Sunday of Year C: Fr. Michael Udoekpo

·         Sirach 3:17-18,20,28-29
·         Ps 68:4-5,6-7,10-11
·         Heb 12:18-19,22-24a
·         Luke 14:1,7-14

 The Virtue of Humility

 Today we live in a world of “the winner takes it all.”  A world where the rich look down on the poor.  A world where we like to compare ourselves with others. Some feel superior or holier than others. While others feel inferior or less than others. Any of us can easily fall into this trap of arrogance, putting ourselves above others, or entertaining a poor or inferior self-image of ourselves. All three readings plus the responsorial Psalm of today(" God in your goodness, you have made a home for the poor,") invite us to avoid such mistakes and rather joyfully embrace, the beatitude, a humble and positive behavior in daily life.

 In the 1^st reading, from the Book of Sirach, though written more than a Hundred Years before Christ, we are reminded of what usually and really counts in life; namely; the wisdom of humility wherever we are and in whatever we do.   200 years before Christ, Sirach said, “My child, conduct your affairs with humility, and you will be love more than a giver of gifts. Humble yourself the more, the greater you are, and you will find favor with God.” This was true then, 200 years before Christ. This is still true today. Truly, humility is a spiritual disposition towards God. It is an attitude of bending before God, submitting our will to embrace God’s will in our dealings with our neighbors

  But notice that the 1^st reading is not recommending that we make ourselves stupid before others. No, our daily life should reflects our interior disposition towards God, displayed in gentleness, simplicity, generosity, kindness and compassion towards our neighbors, superiors, family members, fellow workers, and friends, even towards those who seem difficult to us. Even the gifts we give to the poor, the preaching we preach, to our congregations, the teaching we teach to our students, the counseling we counsel, the leading we lead , the work we do, the administration we administer to our subjects the Christianity we live should all be done with humility and meekness. The corporal works of mercy: (feeding the hungry, providing water for the thirty, clothing the naked, visiting those in prison, burying the dead) we practice in this  Year of Mercy, inaugurated by Pope Francis, should be practiced with humility and compassion. Doesn’t Christ say in today’s alleluia verse, Matthew 11:29a “take my yoke upon you… learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart?”

 Humility is not a weakness. Rather, it is a strength in rightly taking one’s place before God. That is, in mount Zion, spoken of in today’s 2^nd reading, the Letter to the Hebrews. Those who practice the virtue of humility will see God, will be exalted, and will find a place in God’s Kingdom, in Mount Zion, the New Heavenly Jerusalem. Those who exalt themselves will be humbled, those who humble themselves will be exalted in Jerusalem! This has been the case 200 years before Christ.

 Christ makes this clearer in the parable of the invited guest in today’s gospel (Luke 14:1, 7-14). He reminds the Pharisees that when you are invited for a dinner or wedding party, it’s better not to hurry to take the front seat. Wait humbly behind until you are seated in your rightful place to avoid embarrassment. Do we wait for our rightly place with patient, with humility? The kingdom of God we must realize is also opened to everyone, the rich, the poor the crippled, the lame, the blind—and those we thought were insignificant.  Do we consider our neighbors, especially the poor, co-members and partakers of the kingdom of God. Or do we think that I alone, or you alone have the monopoly of the kingdom?

Of course, it is not so much whether we are physically behind or in front at wedding or dinner parties. Rather, the message is that in life, wherever we are, live, work, serve, teach, lead, preach, minister, even in our families, we should conduct ourselves wisely with grace, joy and humility. No need for inordinate comparison of ourselves with others. Our Blessed Mother Mary, who said to the Angel, Be it done to me according to your words, should also be our model of humility in our dealings with our neighbors.

 

 

 

 

Homily [2]21st Sunday Year C: Fr. Michael U. Udoekpo

Homily [2]21^st Sunday Year C: Fr. Michael U. Udoekpo

·       Isaiah 66:18-21;
·       Ps 117:1-2;
·       Heb 12:5-7, 11-13
·       Luke 13:22-30

Go Out to the Whole World Proclaim the Goodnews (Mk 16:15)!

The responsorial Psalm of today, “go out to the whole world and tell the good news [euaggelion],” Mark 16:15, sums up the theme of today’s scripture, namely; the universal nature of God’s love for us; men, women, children from all walks- of – life and the challenges, the narrow gates, the Christian disciplines that we face as we strive towards the kingdom of God.

This universal nature of God’s love for each of us, it does not matter where you come from, what you look like, what gender you are, is evidence in today’s first reading, Isaiah 66. The returnees from the Babylonian and Persian exiles have encountered problems in the Holy Land. There are tensions, there are politics, there are divisions, there are name callings, and there are all forms of injustices from the elites. Who is the rightful owner of the land, the golah (returnees) or the people of the land (those who never experienced the exile)? Should those wives married outside the land or those children born in Persia and Babylon be permitted to be part of the newly rebuilt city of Zion or not? For some no. But for God yes! This is where God steps in, and speaks to Isaiah to proclaim to the people that, ‘he [God] came to gather nations of every language, to see his divine glory.” The glory of the Lord, his goodness, his love, his mercy, especially in this Year of Mercy, is universal!

These we are already experiencing. Think of how Masses are said in different languages all over the world. At these Masses, same readings are read and similar sharing of the bread and blood and the word of God are broken and shared according to various needs of every culture.  Again think of the many priests and missionaries we have serving in our countries, in the Vatican, in parishes schools and seminaries. They are from different cultures and nations. And they speak and preach their sermons and homilies in different languages.

In baptism each of us is commissioned to be bearers, preachers, and doers of this universal, inclusive love and mercy of God, manifested in Christ, wherever we live are- Africa, Europe, Asia, America … California, New York! Following Christ, who is the way, the gate, the truth and the life (John 14:6) was never going to be easy at all. It comes with all kinds of challenges and disciplines alluded to in the 2^nd reading, the Letter to the Hebrews 12.

 In this Year of Mercy one can imagine how challenging it could be to live, for example, the corporeal works of mercy: feeding the hungry—when some us may not yet have enough for ourselves and our children, giving drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, sheltering the homeless, visiting the sick, those  in imprisons, and burying the dead?

Doing these are classic examples of preaching the Goodnews, and of entering through the narrow gate of today’s Gospel parable (Luke 13:22-33). Following the example of Christ is this narrow gate. Loving one another as Christ loves is this narrow gate. Reaching out to the poor, the voiceless and the marginalized as Christ does, is this narrow gate. Embracing everyone, from north and south, east and west is this narrow gate. Giving out your used clothing or contributing to the food pantry is this narrow gates! This is what it means to go out to the whole world and proclaim the good news to all without counting the cost! May we all go out there proclaiming the Goodnews to every nation of every language and culture.

 

Homily [2] 20th Sunday of Year C 2016: Fr. Michael Ufok Udoekpo

Homily [2] 20^th Sunday of Year C 2016: Fr. Michael Ufok Udoekpo

·       Jer 38:4-6, 8-10;
·       Ps 40:2,3,4,18;
·       Heb 12:1-4
·       Luke12: 49-53

Courage and Fortitude in Our Christian Journeys

Fire, Fire, Fire!!!!!!!!!!!! “I have come to set the earth on fire and how I wish it were already blazing… There is baptism with which I must be baptized. I have come not to establish peace, but rather division” (Luke 12:49-50).

These words of Jesus highlights the central theme of today's scripture readings; that we should be courageous and prophetic in our Christian callings. Taken literally, these words may sound worrisome and confusing to some. How can Jesus the Prince of Peace (Matthew 5.9) says, he came not to establish peace, but division?  But when we take a closer look it metaphorically highlights the fire of the cross, the fire of fortitude, the mission of Christ and his judgment, that Christianity was never going to be bed or roses or a bed of comfort, even for the status quo. No! He came to challenge the status quo; the diseases, the selfishness, the afflictions of the poor.   He came to bring fire on earth. The fire we saw in the ministries of Blessed Oscar Romero of El Salvador, who died for the marginalized. The Fire we saw in the Blessed Mother Teresa, who cared for the poor. The fire we saw in Saint John Paul II, who forgave his would be assassin. The fire we saw in Martin Luther King Jr, who preferred peace to violence. The fire we are seeing today in Pope Francis.

Christ came to do things differently and courageously. Recall as a young boy after he had visited the synagogue with the parents, instead of walking back home like other families, Jesus stayed back in the temple. The fire of dialoguing with temple officials!  In the ancient days it was tooth for tooth, but Jesus came with a new teaching that says “turn the other cheek, and forgive” those who may have offended us. The fire to turn the other cheek, the fire to forgive, especially, in this Year of Mercy.

The elders used more than 40 years to build the temple, but Jesus says, “He will destroy it and rebuild it in three days.” The fire of the resurrection after death! John baptized with water, but Jesus baptized with the Holy Spirit (Matthew 3:11). The fire of the Holy Spirit!  Sinners were despised, but Jesus chose to eat with them. The fire of eating with sinners! He shared water with the Samaritan woman. The fire of a Jewish/Rabbi to reach out to the Samaritan woman!

He raised Lazarus from the death. He commanded the blind to see, and cured the lepers. The fire to heal even on the Sabbath. The fire of God's healing love!! He taught Pilate the true meaning of Truth. The fire of Truth!! He came up with a new form of sacrifice, peace, and service. The fire of service! He washed the feet of his disciples and not the opposite. No more animal sacrifices, but love, communion, sharing, evangelization, spreading the Good news, and personal self- emptying on the cross, which we reenact at every Eucharistic celebration. The fire of Evangelization!!!

This must be disturbing and challenging to families, fathers, mothers, children, sons, daughters, son-in laws and daughter-mother- in-laws of the new emerging Christian community of the Letter to the Hebrews, the 2^nd reading. You can imagine what the advent of Christianity, a new religion, meant for the Africans hundreds of years ago. Or for people of other religion. How do we abandon one religion or faith to another?  What about from Judaism to Christianity like in the case of Christ's time or the time of Saint Paul. These changes of doing things in the way of Christ, comes with a price. It is the type of suffering-price that every Israel prophets like Jeremiah paid in the 1^st reading.

 In doing the unpopular prophetic work of denouncing sin and announcing judgment in the late pre-exilic period, Jeremiah met with fierce opposition. It was during this period that Babylon, the reigning empire demanded tributes from smaller nations, including Judah. While the princes and other palace prophets urged King Zedekiah, to seek military help from Egypt against Babylon, Jeremiah through God’s inspiration counseled otherwise, and predicted the fall of Jerusalem, which came to be in 587 BC. Because of his prediction he was accused of treason, punished, thrown into a dirty pit only to be rescued by Ebed- Melech, the servant of the King. This was the Lord’s doing as echoed in today’s Psalm 40. The Lord drew Jeremiah out from the pit of destruction

Jeremiah, like Christ was on fire!  We are called to be on fire; to have fire of love and courage in our hearts. The fire of obedience and humility. In those moments when we face trials (hunger, poverty, lack of jobs, illnesses, family difficulties and disagreement in religious matters, disappointed by our friends, children, relatives, spouses  or loss of our loved ones, or even persecuted, because you are a Christian, etc) we have to think and act like Jeremiah and imitate Jesus. We have to think of those heroes of faith and clouds of witnesses of today’s second reading (Heb 12:1-4). What about several saints and our forefathers and mothers in faith, those who died for the faith?  Oscar Romero mentioned earlier. What about that French Priests killed by Isis while celebrating Mass. This is courage! This is fortitude.  We need this fortitude more than ever, especially in our times. We need that moral virtue which enables us to be firm in moments of trials and temptations of sins and of false peace. We need it in the face of injustices and terrorism. We need it in those moments when our Christian faith is threatened. Fire, Fire, Fire! I have come to bring fire on earth how I wish it was already burning!!!

 

Homily [2] 19th Sunday of Year C 2016: Fr. Michael Udoekpo

Homily [2] 19^th Sunday of Year C 2016: Fr. Michael Udoekpo

·        Wisdom 18:6-9
·        Ps 33:1,12,18-22
·        Heb 11:1-2,8-19
·        Luke 12: 32-48

Living a Faith Filled Life Always!

Last two Sundays Jesus taught us not only how to pray but how not to be greedy and selfish. This Sunday he teaches us how to be consistently vigilance in our faith, hope and trust in our loving and merciful God, no matter what. Faith, we would remember, as we were taught in our catechism is the supernatural gift of God, which enables us to believe and hope for all the good things God has promised us in this life and in the life to come… without doubting. Faith, whatever you call it in your language, is a realization of what is hoped for and evidence of all things that we cannot see as humans. The readings of today are very clear on this.
The 1^st  reading (Wis 18:6-9) reminds us that the night and the liturgy of the Passover must consistently be a reminder to us that God accompanies us today on our journeys, as he would have accompanied our forefathers in the desert, thousands of years ago. He freed them from the hands of Pharaoh, their enemy; saw them through the red sea. And provided food and drinks for them. This is the same God must believe and vigilantly trust in our times.

The 2^nd reading, from the Letter to the Hebrews is even much clearer. It speaks of the faith of Abraham, “our father in faith,” as recorded in Genesis 12. Abraham left everything behind in Mesopotamia and followed God- journeying to the Promised with faith and trust in God as his “GPS.” In his ups and downs, threats and dangers, Abraham and his household simply trusted God. In his “foolishness,” uncertainties, conflicts, wars, hunger, sickness, good health Abraham and his household placed their faith in God. The faith of Abraham is not outdated. Abraham is our model in faith. Each of is called today to imitate the faith of Abraham in all circumstances, it doesn’t matter which political party you belong or what language you speak, or what type of academic degrees you have.  Faith is a treasure. The colors of your skin or eyes does not matter.  Constant and active faith in God is what matters.

Today’s Gospel of Luke speaks of this important matter still--- constancy and vigilance in trusting God- in the parable of the good and faithful servant versus the foolish or the imprudent ones. When the master was away the foolish servants misbehaved and turned he house upside down while the faith faithful ones gird their loins and awaits their master return from the wedding ceremony.

We are called to be those prudent and faithful servants. Vigilance in faith and in our prayer lives, acts of charity, corporal and spiritual works of mercy- especially in this Year of Mercy! Christ invites us today to constantly translate our faith into actions- do good things, forgive, love, share your blessings with others, as if today were to be your last day on earth.

There is an anecdote about 3 young college students who were asked what they would do if they received a sudden text message in their phone that the world was coming to an end in less than 12 hours. The 1^st student said he/she would run home and say good bye to his parents and siblings. The second said she would run rum to finish her remaining ice cream in left in the refrigerator. The third simply said he will keep doing well, keep busy in what he was doing.

 This third response rhymes with the response given by St. Francis many years ago. While tilling the farm he was asked what he will do if the world was coming to an end now. Francis, we are told, said he will keep till the farm.

We must carry our faith with us, in bad times and in good times, while riding in the bus or while tilling the farm, while studying or while praying, while playing or while raising our families; while casting our vote or while being threaten by wars and terrorism.  In each of these moments, we may not be perfect, like our ancestors. But, just as our ancestors kept the memory of God’s love in the Passover, so we also know and trust that God loves us... We walk by faith and that God constantly loves and watches over us no matter how challenging our times may be!