Fr. Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie, MSP - Homily for Monday Week 4 of Ordinary Time Year I - February 1, 2021

MONDAY 4TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR II

Hebrews 11:32-40

Mark 5:1-20

THE HUMAN PERSON IS VERY PRECIOUS

Most times when I see mad people in the streets, I feel so much pity for them. One can only imagine the pitiable conditions they live in. This is the kind of feeling that comes to my mind as I go through the gospel reading of today. A man is possessed by a demon that makes him injure himself. He became so violent that people were afraid of him.

What is very appealing in the narrative is the fact that about two thousand pigs were sacrificed for the life of a man people saw as useless. It is a great lesson for us all that all humans are very important irrespective of their mental and physical state. Let us seek the liberation of one another. God help us. Amen.

Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie MSP

Fr. Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie, MSP - Homily for Saturday Week 3 of Ordinary Time Year I - January 30, 2021

3RD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR 1

Hebrews 11:1-2,8-19

Mark 4:35-41

FAITH PUTS YOU ON FOCUS

The first reading of today talks so much about faith. It is a very important gift of God. To have faith does not only end in words, it is followed with actions. The first reading presents many people who acted out of faith. They may not have  been very sure of what they were doing, but they were sure that God will not lead them astray. Abraham left his hometown for a distant land that he did not know because he knew that God who has told him to go there will provide for him. Sarah was past child bearing age but had faith that God will keep his promise. Abraham agreed to offer the life of his son Isaac to God because he knew that the child came from God in the first place.

The reverse was the case in the gospel reading as we see the disciples of Jesus afraid of the wind. They failed to believe that Jesus would not have allowed them to perish. Jesus was in the same boat with them and they were afraid. Those who have faith do not struggle for things on their own, God fights for them. They do not think of life here on earth, but eternal home in heaven. God help us to have more faith in him. Amen.

Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie MSP

Fr. Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie, MSP - Homily for Friday Week 3 of Ordinary Time Year I - January 29, 2021

Hebrews 10:32-39

Mark 4:26-34

YOUR ENDURANCE WILL WIN YOU YOUR LIFE

As Christians, we are called to a life of patience and suffering for the sake of the kingdom of God. Many of us Christians have not found it easy since we became Christians. In the first reading of today, we are encouraged not to give up on our Christian values and virtues because of what we pass through in life as Christians, either directly or indirectly.

The gospel reading shows us that the devil is not happy when we are doing well and at peace with God. Thus he tries to set us against God. Nevertheless, we should endure and be patient with God just as a farmer is patient for his crops to grow and produce fruits. The good things we do may seem very insignificant, but when good things grow, it becomes a rich harvest which benefits everyone. We pray for the grace to be patient and remain United with God in whatever we face as Christians. God help us. Amen.

Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie MSP

Fr. Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie, MSP - Homily for Thursday Week 3 of Ordinary Time Year I - January 28, 2021

THURSDAY 28TH JANUARY 2021

MEMORIAL OF ST. THOMAS AQUINAS

Hebrews 10:19-25

Mark 4:21-25

THE MEASURE YOU GIVE IS THE MEASURE YOU GET

We live in a world today where people want to get a result without doing any work. People want to make money by doing nothing. This has made many people believe that hard work does not pay.

In the first reading of today, we see a demonstration of right living with others. The gospel reading calls us to exert our energy into doing what is right. This is because what we get depends on what we have given out. We cannot invest or sow little and want to get much more. Hard work still pays.

 St Thomas Aquinas strived and studied so hard so as to be able to refute heresies despite the persecution from his family. He joined the Dominicans because of his love for preaching the word of God. Popularly called the angelic doctor, he was a true scholar who interpreted the works of Aristotle and adopted them into Christian theology which we still use today to understand the theology of the church. When one exerts a lot of energy to do something, God complements and blesses it and causes it to grow. God help us. Amen

Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie MSP

Fr. Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie, MSP - Homily for Wednesday Week 3 of Ordinary Time Year I - January 27, 2021

Hebrews 10:11-18

Mark 4:1-20

BE A GOOD SOIL

Last Sunday, we celebrated the Sunday of the word of God, we are told to take the word of God more seriously.

In the gospel reading of today, Jesus explains to us that our level of disposition to the word of God and how we allow situations around us to affect us, contributes seriously to how the word of God we hear daily make meaning and grow in our lives.

Many of us hear the word of God daily, but it seems not to have any impact in our lives. There does not seem to be growth in our Christian faith journey. Some of us have closed our hearts to the gospel and have decided what to do irrespective of what the word of God says. The hearts of some people are like stone, some are like thorns and some are like grass. The word of God cannot grow and germinate in those places. This will make us not to bear fruits in our lives.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 3:8, that any tree that does not bear fruit will be cut off. May the word of God germinate and grow in our lives, so that we can bear fruits, fruits that will last. God help us. Amen.

Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie MSP

Fr. Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie, MSP - Homily for Tuesday Week 3 of Ordinary Time Year I - January 26, 2021

TUESDAY 26TH JANUARY 2021

MEMORIAL OF STS. TIMOTHY AND TITUS

2 Timothy 1:1-8 or Titus 1:1-5

Mark 3:31-35

THE CHURCH BUILT ON THE APOSTLES

Yesterday we celebrated the feast of St Paul, who worked tirelessly for the foundation of the Christian faith from it's very beginning. Today we celebrate 2 great colleagues of Paul in his Missionary sojourn.

St Timothy seems to be the most intimate disciple of Paul. It is very likely that Timothy embraced the Christian faith during Paul's first Missionary journey to Lystra in 47AD when Timothy was about 15 years. Timothy accepted and grew in the faith that after 4 years, his zeal and virtues about the things of God was very obvious that Paul took him as a travelling companion alongside Silas. He spent the next 13 years with Paul as they moved round the whole of the Asia minor to preach the gospel. Timothy appears to have been very young, but he was very mature. It is proposed that he was only 32 years old when he was made Bishop of Ephesus. He served the church faithfully with the whole of his life.

St Titus was another great disciple of Paul, said to be a native of Antioch. He had acted as Paul's interpreter and secretary and also a co-worker. Paul spoke very highly of Titus. In his epistle to Titus, we see much of the qualities presbytery must have.

These great Apostles gave their lives for the gospel and built a great foundation for the Christian faith. We too must be ready as Christians to make sacrifices for the sake of the gospel. God help us. Amen.

Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie MSP.

Fr. Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie, MSP - Homily for Monday Week 3 of Ordinary Time Year I - January 25, 2021

MONDAY 25TH JANUARY 2021

FEAST OF THE CONVERSION OF ST PAUL

Acts 22:3-16 or Acts 9:1-22, Mark 16:15-18

ST PAUL: THE GREAT APOSTLE TO THE GENTILES

Today we celebrate the Conversion of st Paul. St Paul as we see in the first reading of today was never interested in the Christian faith. As a Jew, he was angry with Christians and saw them as rebels. He therefore had the license to imprison and even kill Christians. Today we celebrate how this dangerous assassin of Christians got converted and he became a great apostle. The Conversion of st paul is a clear sign that God can decide to use any human being to achieve his work. No one would have ever thought that paul who persecuted the faith will become so great an apostle. Just as Paul persecuted the Christians,  he himself was persecuted when he became a great apostle to the gentiles. What is very outstanding about Paul is that, with the energy and intensity he used in persecuting Christians, he used the same energy to not only defend the Christian faith but also to protect the gentiles.

The Conversion of St. Paul was really a turning point in human history. Paul travelled everywhere around the known Greek world and beyond to preach the gospel, and through him, the words and actions of Jesus has reached us today. No body can ever be useless, God has plans for everyone, the bad can still become good by the grace and mercy of God.

It is the feast day of the Missionary Society of St Paul and all her priests today. May almighty God grant us all the grace he gave to St Paul to preach his gospel throughout  the ends of the earth. God help us. Amen

Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie MSP

Fr. Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie, MSP - Homily for the Third Sunday of Ordinary Time Year B - January 24, 2021

THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B

SUNDAY OF THE WORD OF GOD

Jonah 3:1-5,10

1 Corinthians 7:29-31

Mark 1:14-20

LISTEN TO THE WORD OF GOD, FOLLOW HIM AND LEAVE MATERIAL THINGS

Today being the third Sunday in ordinary time calendar of the Church, we mark the sunday of the word of God as declared by pope Francis in 2019. We are encouraged today to pay more attention to the word of God we hear everyday and act accordingly.

In the first reading, we see the prophecy of Jonah, who was sent by God to preach the gospel of repentance to the people of Nineveh. Niveveh as it has been described was truly a notorious city where every sin and atrocity which can be imagined took place. It is only true prophets that can preach about sin and repentance. Most self acclaimed pastors of today only preach about prosperity and breakthrough. Jonah had initially thought that the people would not listen to him. On the contrary, the people were remorseful, they proclaimed a fast and put on sack clothes.

This follows closely the instructions of St Paul in the second reading. We seem to be so concerned about enjoying ourselves in sin that we do not care about the type of life we live. We crave for material possessions as if we will never die. We are told in the gospel of Luke 12:14-15, to seek first the kingdom of God. Every other thing will be added including material  things and enjoyment.

In the gospel reading, we see that the Apostles Jesus chose understood this very well. They listened to the voice of Jesus who called them and answered. It is very clear how they left all material possessions to follow Jesus. Simon and Andrew left their nets and followed Jesus, James and John left their father Zebedee in the boat and followed Jesus. They left the fish, the money they would have made from it and their family, for the sake of the kingdom. This is what Jesus asks of us today. Jesus speaks everyday, but many of us are unable to hear or listen to him because of our crave for material things. May God give us the grace to listen to him and keep his word. Amen.

Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie MSP

Fr. Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie, MSP - Homily for Saturday Week 2 of Ordinary Time Year I - January 23, 2021

SATURDAY 2ND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR 1

Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Hebrews 9:2-3,11-14

Mark 3:20-21

BELIEVE IN YOURSELF

When we begin to embark on a career, many people will be surprised and many will not believe in you. In most cases, family members, relatives and close friends are the first to look down on you. This is not different in the case of Jesus.

In the gospel reading of today, we see Jesus go back to his own hometown where he was born and brought up. Many people who have heard of all the miracles he had been doing came out to meet him, probably to listen to him and be healed as well. His own family and relatives thought that he was going out of his mind. Sometimes in life, family, friends and relatives may look down on you and not regard you. They may not believe in you and give you the respect you get outside of your home. It is very important to be focused and determined, and not get discouraged by derogatory comments when doing the right thing. God help us. Amen.

Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie MSP

Fr. Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie, MSP - Homily for Friday Week 2 of Ordinary Time Year I - January 22, 2021

Hebrews 8:6-13

Mark 3:13-19

WE KNOW WHAT TO DO

Oftentimes we act as if we are ignorant of the laws of God. We act as if we do not know what is expected of us. We act as if we do not hear the voice of God resounding in our hearts.

In the first reading of today, the writer tells us that the people of Israel always waited for their priests to tell them what to do. They claimed not to know what is good from what is evil.

God has therefore decided to make a new covenant with us, to put his laws in our hearts so that we cannot claim not to be aware.

It is true therefore that we all as human beings know when we are doing good and evil. Nevertheless, God still has his priests to thoroughly interpret and apply his laws to human existence and thus mediate for them.

This is why Jesus in the gospel reading, chose his apostles. So as to continue to guide the people to obey his laws. May almighty  God grant us the grace to listen to his voice in our hearts and follow him faithfully. God help us. Amen.

Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie MSP