Fr. Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie, MSP - Homily for the Seventh Sunday of Easter- May 16, 2021

 SUNDAY 16TH MAY 2021

SEVENTH SUNDAY OF EASTER

Acts 1:15-17,20-26

Psalm 102:1-2,11-12,19-20

1 John 4:11-16

John 17:11-19

THE HOLY SPIRIT CAN ONLY DWELL IN A HEART OF LOVE

Today is the last Sunday before Pentecost,  the Easter season is almost over. On Thursday of this week, we celebrated the Ascension of Jesus into heaven. We can only imagine how painful it must have been for the Apostles to see Jesus leave them again. They had not overcome the trauma of his death and resurrection. The leadership of the church began to take shape as soon as Jesus ascended into heaven, Peter took his duty as leader of the Church and his first work was to call for a replacement for Judas as we see in the first reading of today and the feast of St Matthias on Friday of this week. It is very important that we try to be united with the church of Christ, and the various societies and organisations we belong to in the church. We may feel too big among others or cut ourselves away by our lifestyle of pride, disloyalty, carelessness, greed, anger or any other personal factor. As in the case of Judas, he chose money over Jesus and the gospel, and he was easily replaced. No one is indispensable.

The scenario of the early church is very lovely. Unlike today where people campaign and lobby for positions even inside the church, Peter and the other Apostles called on God, they prayed and cast lot, and it fell on Matthias. We are not told that Matthias campaigned for the post, Joseph his colleague did not reject the result. Everyone worked peacefully and lovingly for the growth of the church.

It is also very important to see how the owner of the upper room allowed the Apostles to stay there for this long time. After staying there for 40 days, Jesus told them to remain there for another 10 days, they should not go out until the day of Pentecost. Many early Christians such as Dorcas, Lydia, Priscilia and Aquilla, Cornelius and many others, expressed the love of God to make the faith to germinate and grow in the early church.

The second reading of today, draws our attention to the love of God, which we are to show to one another for the growth of humanity. Jesus gave us a new commandment today, that we should love one another as he has loved us.

In the gospel reading, Jesus prays for unity among all Christians. Only those who are united can experience and share the love of God. We are awaiting the coming of the Holy Spirit, he will fall afresh on us once again, but the Holy Spirit can only dwell in a heart full of love. As Jesus ascended to heaven, he made it clear that only love and concern for one another can help us survive this world. May we be fully ready to receive the Holy Spirit in our hearts. Amen.

Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie, MSP

Fr. Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie, MSP - Homily for Thursday Easter Week 6 - May 13, 2021 - Ascension

THE SOLEMNITY OF THE ASCENSION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

Acts 1:1-11

Ephesians 1:17-23

Matthew 28:16-20

I AM GOING TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU.

It is already 40 days since the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead. According to St Luke the writer of the gospel of Luke and the Acts of the Apostles, Jesus continued to appear to his Apostles and others and remained on earth for 40 days after his resurrection before he ascended into heaven. Before his ascension to heaven, he had series of discussions with his Apostles. Just like a father who is about to travel calls his children together and advise them to behave well while he is away, Jesus in the gospel reading of today before ascending to his father, commanded his Apostles and all of us to embark on a mission of making him known to others by taking the gospel to them. Jesus also knew that it would not be easy for the Apostles, this is why he told them to remain in Jerusalem until they have received the Holy Spirit who he will send from the father before starting the mission.

It is therefore a thing of joy and hope for all of us today, to know that Jesus who took our  human flesh and lived among us has glorified our human nature in heaven. He has assured us that he has gone to prepare a place for us. We have to follow his steps if we want to also one day ascend to the father with our glorified bodies. He is the way to the father, thus he can lead us there.

We therefore have to like the Apostles, prepare ourselves to receive the Holy Spirit. Ten days from now we shall be celebrating the coming of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles, and we we also receive the Holy Spirit too in a special way if we prepare adequately for his coming. We shall now begin the novena to the Holy Spirit and end on the vigil of the Pentecost. We all need the Spirit of God to scale through the hurdles of this life. This is the prayer of St Paul in the second reading of today. Life is futile without the Spirit of God in us. God goes up with shouts of joy; the Lord goes up with trumpet blast. The trumpet will sound again when he comes to take us back to the father. How are you preparing for that day?

Fr Michael Osatofoh

Eninlejie, MSP

Fr. Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie, MSP - Homily for Tuesday Easter Week 6 - May 11, 2021

TUESDAY 11TH MAY 2021

SIXTH WEEK OF EASTER

Acts 16:22-34

John 16:5-11

I recently heard one of the new generation preachers on television, emphasising that real children of God can never suffer. In essence, one cannot serve God and suffer or be poor. After 5 minutes I could not make sense of what he was trying to communicate to his audience. I finally got pissed off when he said that he cannot suffer as a servant of God. Many of us Christians also have this mentality. This is very contrary to the teachings of Jesus that all who serve him should be ready to suffer for his sake.

This is very evident in the first reading of today. We hear how Paul and Silas were beaten and imprisoned by the people in the course of their preaching. Despite this, they still trusted in God even while in prison. How many people still trust and believe in God in times of trials and tribulations? Some even forget to pray.

The Holy Spirit who we are expecting from the Father will lead our hearts and minds to navigate moments of tribulations. Difficulties are part of our Christian calling. What we need is to trust God and be focused on him.

Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie, MSP

Fr. Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie, MSP - Homily for Saturday Easter Week 5 - May 8, 2021

 SATURDAY 8TH MAY 2021

FIFTH WEEK OF EASTER

Acts 16:1-10

John 15:18-21

GOD IS WITH US ON THE JOURNEY

Every human person in one way or the other experiences some form of persecution. It is even worse when you are doing what is right. When you seem to be the one standing on the way of those whose ways are questionable, be ready to be persecuted. This is why Jesus tells us in the gospel reading of today, that if you have not started experiencing tough times especially with the godless, it means that you have not started living a life worthy of your calling as a Christian. Jesus was hated and persecuted not for doing evil, but for doing good. He was practically hated for doing nothing. He therefore assures us not to get discouraged when the world hates us. This is because the world hated him who is our master also. If Jesus our master could be humiliated, who are we his servants to resist persecution?

This is very clear in the minds of Paul and Barnabas as they continued to undergo persecution in their missionary works. What Jesus needs from us is to endure our persecution with trust in him, because we are not alone on the journey. Jesus is journeying with us.

Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie, MSP

Fr. Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie, MSP - Homily for Friday Easter Week 5 - May 7, 2021

FIFTH WEEK OF EASTER

Acts 15:22-31

John 14:12-17

GOD DOES NOT DEMAND TOO MUCH

Sometimes in our lives, we spend so much energy doing what is wrong. We disregard what others say because we think we are doing what is right. What easily comes to my mind as I reflect on this, is the energy Paul had used to persecute the Church. Paul had thought that the Christian faith had come to disregard some Jewish practices and laws. After his conversion, Paul has now become a defender of what he had earlier condemned because he is now aware of the truth. This is what happens in our lives every day. We find ourselves defending what is wrong  with so much passion because we have no true knowledge of the opposition party. Paul is therefore being persecuted by his fellow Jews the same way he had persecuted Christians.

It becomes very pertinent therefore, that we try and listen to others when we are not sure of what we are doing or saying. We may spend the whole of our lives defending what is not true, until we hear the opinion of others as we see in the first reading of today. The saying goes that 'where you sit is where you stand'; It is  obvious that the Jews were thinking from a selfish perspective, they wanted Gentiles to become Jews before becoming Christians. After the Council of Jerusalem which  was guided by the Holy Spirit, it was noted that morality is universal but culture and norms differ. Thus we can serve God with our own individual differences. Let us therefore try and understand one another, only by doing this can we practice the life of love Jesus requires of us in the gospel reading of today. We cannot love one another if we are not ready to listen to and accept one another, lay down our opinions, claims, and prejudices about others. What Christ commands us today is to love one another.

Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie, MSP

Fr. Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie, MSP - Homily for Saturday Easter Week 4 - May 1, 2021

SATURDAY 1ST MAY 2021

ST JOSEPH THE WORKER

Acts 13:44-52

John 14:7-14

MAY THE LORD BLESS THE WORKS OF OUR HANDS

As we enter a new month today, the Church calls us to reflect on the personality of St Joseph the husband of Mary as a model for all workers. In 1889, pope Leo XIII had set Joseph as the model for all workers. Joseph as we know was a very hard working man as a carpenter. With his work, he was able to take care of Jesus and Mary. In most countries, including Nigeria  today is regarded as workers day and it is a public holiday.

We are called today to take whatever we do to earn a living very seriously because God blesses the works of our hands. It is a day to ask ourselves whether we are doing the right work and are exerting much energy into it. You cannot be doing what is wrong and expect God to bless it for you. It may seem good and enticing but at the long run it will be a disaster. Many people do not want to work but want to excel. St Paul tells us in 2 Thess 3:10, that those who do not work should not eat. This is to encourage everyone to try their best to work for what they eat. Nevertheless, we are also encouraged to assist others, especially those who either have no work or are unable to work becauseoftheirconditions. 

God has called us to become co-creators with him. Whether you build a mansion or a chair, whatever profession you embrace or the type of work you do, what matters is your conscience and zeal for the work.

As we enter the month of May today, let us also not forget that it is the month of the Blessed Virgin Mary. We should intensify our devotion to her this month, that God should bless the works of our hands. Amen

Happy new month.

Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie, MSP

Fr. Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie, MSP - Homily for Friday Easter Week 4 - April 30, 2021

FRIDAY 30TH APRIL 2021

FEAST OF OUR LADY OF AFRICA

Acts 1:12-14

John 2:1-11

Today the Church once again calls our attention to our blessed mother. She is a mother who is concerned about the plight of her children. The Church in Africa today call on Mary our mother to continue to intercede for us. Our Lady is always praying and always wants the best for her children. She was united with the Apostles in prayer in the upper room in Jerusalem when they were afraid. She continued to console and comfort them. The popular story of the wedding in Cana as we see in the gospel reading, is an obvious proof that our Mother Mary wants the best for us even when we do not even ask her.

Together as Africans today, we acclaim her as our queen and mother and ask for her intercession as we fight against all the vices and wills around us.

Please endeavour to pray the rosary today and ask for her intercession.

Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie MSP