Homilies

By All Means, Keep Moving: Faith Is the Indispensable Element of the Journey Jeremiah 20:7–9; Romans 12:1–2; Matthew 16:21–27 One sure thing we know about Jeremiah is that he was a complainant. In fact, anyone who complains is sometimes called a “Jeremiah.” But we can ask ourselves: Is it bad or wrong to complain? When our life’s dreams do not fall into place, what do we do? When we have done the right thing, should we be rewarded with evil and punishment? Is it too much to ask that the person who has done wrong should be the one punished? Of course, we have aRead More →

THE KEY IS FAITH Isaiah 22:19–23; Romans 11:33–36; Matthew 16:13–20 The “eleventh commandment” seems to be the order of the day everywhere, not only in the West. No one is considered a thief, racist, adulterer, murderer, assassin, or rogue unless that person is caught and successfully prosecuted. That is the so-called eleventh commandment: “Thou shall not be caught.” God did not include this eleventh commandment in his Decalogue, but human beings have invented it and incorporated it into their practical understanding of morality and law. This Sunday, the Lord invites us to eliminate this false eleventh commandment and enthrone FAITH in God in its place.Read More →

Reclaiming your Christian Identity as a Child of God through Insult Isaiah 56:1, 6-7; Romans 11:13-15, 29-32; Matthew 15:21-28 Those who are slightly above forty years of age, and surely those who are in their fifties and sixties, they’ll recall the glorious days of Nigeria. A Nigeria that was economically buoyant, morally colossal and academically gargantuan. It was a time when Americans and Canadians scramble for Nigerian visa, when the English treated Nigerians like equals, at least, on a diplomatic level – Nigerians and Englishmen and Englishwomen needed no visas to visit their respective countries. That was the time Nigerians travelled with ease to EuropeRead More →

Courage: God Helps Those Who Trust in Him 1 Kings 19:9a, 11–13a; Romans 9:1–5; Matthew 14:22–33 There are moments in life when courage does not mean that we are no longer afraid; it means that we refuse to allow fear to have the final word. The years of COVID-19 taught humanity this lesson in a painful way. We witnessed illness and death, isolation and uncertainty, economic hardship and disrupted families. Although the pandemic has passed from the centre of our daily lives, many of its consequences remain. Added to these are the anxieties of our own time: wars and political tensions, economic uncertainty, unemployment, migrationRead More →

Free Food: God’s Metaphor for Salvation Isaiah 55:1–3; Romans 8:35, 37–39; Matthew 14:13–21 The suggestion of free food in today’s Scripture readings is welcome news, given the untold pain, poverty, and hardship that many families and individuals endure each day in their struggle to find food. In today’s Gospel, Jesus notices that the crowds are hungry and commands his disciples: “Give them something to eat!” Likewise, in our first reading, God invites his people to “buy and eat without money.” Yet we all know that walking into a shopping mall or grocery store and taking food or clothing without paying would almost certainly lead toRead More →

Wisdom Is Doing the Will of God 1 Kings 3:5, 7–12; Romans 8:28–30; Matthew 13:44–52 Is God still relevant in the twenty-first century? Can scientific advancement coexist with faith and divine wisdom? Not long ago, President Vladimir Putin remarked publicly that many European leaders are reluctant to acknowledge the Christian roots of their respective nations. If that observation is true, it follows that they may also hesitate to embrace the Christian wisdom and moral principles that once shaped their civilizations. Within many academic circles today, openly professing religious faith is often regarded as intellectually outdated, a sign of being out of step with the spiritRead More →

God is Merciful: Let Us Imitate His Mercy Wisdom 12:13, 16-19; Romans 8:26-27; Matthew 13:24-43 There was a fiery preacher who was preaching on today’s gospel, and the theme of his homily was “Hell Fire!” As he emphasized on the fact that sinners will burn in “Hell,” he explained the ordeals of Hell: “you see,” he said, “there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth for those who go to Hell”. Right in front of him, in the front pew, an old lady burst out laughing. The preacher stopped momentarily and asked the old lady the cause of her laughter. She responded, pointing at herRead More →

BE THE CHILD OF GOD OTHERS WILL SEE Isaiah 55:10–11; Romans 8:18–23; Matthew 13:1–23 Living in Africa today, it is difficult not to be tempted by doubt—doubt in human beings and, at times, even doubt in God. Political leaders make promises during election campaigns, only to abandon them after assuming office. Couples exchange solemn vows on their wedding day, yet, under the pressure of economic hardship and social instability, some withdraw from the demands of marital fidelity. Many promise faithfulness until death, yet infidelity is sometimes normalized, excused, or even celebrated. Ministers of God and preachers pledge fidelity to God, yet some are the firstRead More →

World Peace is Possible: Become its Architect! Zechariah 9:9–10; Romans 8:9, 11–13; Matthew 11:25–30 Our world longs for peace, yet it often seems farther away than ever. Every day we hear of wars, terrorism, ethnic violence, political instability, religious intolerance, economic exploitation, and broken families. Nations spend billions of dollars preparing for war while millions lack food, clean water, education, and healthcare. We ask ourselves: Is world peace merely a dream? Today’s readings answer with a resounding No. World peace is possible—but it demands our cooperation with God. Peace is not an impossible ideal. It is God’s plan for humanity, and He invites every one ofRead More →