May 28, 2023 | Homily
By Fr. Marcel Uzoigwe
Dear brothers and sisters,
Today we celebrate Pentecost. On Pentecost, we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit, which was promised by Jesus to his disciples. A lot of people can’t imagine much about this. Who or what is the Holy Spirit anyway? This is a good question because the Holy Spirit is the abiding presence of God among people. People throughout the ages have experienced that presence. It has helped them, comforted them, and prompted them to do great things. It was present at the beginning of creation, as the opening verses of the Book of Genesis tell us (Genesis 1:2). And he would be there at the end of time (Revelations 14:13). So, there is no fear of losing the presence of the Holy Spirit so long one is disposed to receive him.
We celebrate, therefore, the human consciousness of God’s engagement with the Universe and all in it: the creation of the universe when the Spirit of God hovered over the waters, the creation of humanity when God breathed his Spirit into Adam (Genesis 2:7) and the many instances of God’s Spirit’s involvement in human history. With Pentecost we celebrate the birth of the Church when the Spirit came upon the fearful apostles gathered in the Upper Room and commissioned them to go out and proclaim the Good News to all peoples. We read about that event in the First reading. But it is not just about beginnings, whether of creation or the Church, or even the beginning of this Filipino Catholic Community (FCC). It is the Holy Spirit that is the driving force without which neither creation nor the Church nor the FCC can move forward and fulfill its purpose.
When the Holy Spirit came, the apostles went out to preach to an audience that was so diverse. The reading noted that the people came from various parts of the world to celebrate Pentecost which was actually a Jewish harvest festival called Shavuot celebrated 50 days after the Passover. They were not expecting anything strange to happen until the apostles came forward saying things that not only made sense to them but were an extraordinary exposition of divine mysteries. More importantly, everyone present could understand them in their own native language without any interpreter. That was definitely not logical, that a person speaks in a language and everyone present understands what is said in his or her own native language, but a reality no one could deny, not even those who initially took them for drunken men. This reminds us of the Tower of Babel where the language of the people was confused and they could no longer understand each other (Genesis 11:1-9).
There is, of course, a clear difference between the goal of the Tower of Babel and that of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. The goal of the people in building the Tower of Babel was to make a name for themselves. It was something about them, something natural. There is nothing wrong with seeking to make a name for oneself but when that is the sole purpose, the natural issues of tribalism, language, grouping, we against them, competition, etc. will arise and bring about divisions. Love will turn to jealousy, hatred, fighting, and backbiting. Nothing meaningful is achieved in such a situation. And that is what is described as the confusion of their language that brought an end to their project. Paul denounced these natural consequences which he referred to as the life of the natural man in his letter to Galatians. And he pleaded with them to live in the Spirit which brings love, peace, patience, collaboration, unity and all that is good, which all derive from the Pentecost celebration.
Today’s first reading describes the presence of the Holy Spirit with symbolic signs such as wind and fire. Wind and Fire are ancient Biblical symbols for the presence of God among men. And it is used here to describe the powerful new wind that blew over the old world to bring about a new creation. A creation where the walls that divide and separate humanity is abolished and a new form of brotherhood is introduced. A creation where people who ordinarily have nothing with each other would come together to form a new family of God’s people, living in love and respect for each other. A new creation that has made it possible for you and me, coming from different natural families, cultures and nations to be united in ‘one heart and one spirit’ in Christian fellowship. A new creation where the richness of diversity is harvested without destroying the uniqueness of the individual. The Holy Spirit does not mold people from different countries into sameness in the same manner a machine would mold materials to produce similar products. No. He preserves the uniqueness of everyone while urging everyone to work for the same purpose. We could see this in the case of Paul and Barnabas who disagreed about taking John Mark who left them halfway during their first mission. That disagreement did not stop them from preaching the same gospel along the different path that they took (Acts 15: 36-41).
Pentecost is a celebration of connectedness. Connectedness with each other and with God. And at the heart of this connectedness is love. Love that connects us to God. Jesus taught and lived with great love for people. Prior to His departure, He promised His disciples the coming of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will lead them into all truth and remind them of all He taught them. The Holy Spirit helps people who open themselves to God and Jesus to approach and see people and things from a different perspective. When the light of faith threatens to be blown out, the Spirit is needed again to bring fire to faith. One who gives the Spirit every opportunity in his or her life will not testify as a lukewarm believer. A Spirit-filled person will testify full of fire, like one in love who cannot remain silent.
The coming of the Holy Spirit makes us aware of God’s presence within us and enables us to love and live in peace with our fellow human beings. If there is anything our world so desperately needs today, it is love and peace. The heart of every man and woman longs for love, to love, and to be loved. When people feel loved and cherished, they bring out the best in themselves. The true nature and essence of God’s presence in them become clear, and those around them experience peace and joy. The absence of love brings hatred, violence, and all kinds of evil, both to individuals and to society. No one can give what he does not have. Only a heart full of love can radiate love, and only a peaceful heart can give peace to others.
Today a new fervor apparently flares up, enthusiasm and inspiration in our hearts. The Holy Spirit is fire and love. Comforter who absolves and forgives, who warms, who inspires, enthuses, and overcomes fear. The Holy Spirit makes each of us a proclaimer of the Good News of Jesus by using the gift we receive from Him. The Holy Spirit, dear people, is there, among other things, to inspire and strengthen us to bear true witness in our present secularized society. Those who funded this community (Filipino Catholic Community) had their own challenges in the beginning. But they did not stop. They trusted God and allowed the Holy Spirit to lead them. As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of this wonderful Catholic Christian community, we are invited to do the same today and move the community forward.
Let us pray, therefore, that we may be filled with the Holy Spirit, and put His gift that we then receive to work for the betterment of the world around us. Amen
Apr 23, 2023 | Homily
By Fr. Marcel Uzoigwe, CSSp.
(1st reading Acts 2:14, 22-33; Psalm 16; 2nd reading 1 Pt 1:17-21; Gospel Lk 24:13-35)
Dear brothers and sisters,
Today’s readings offer a message of hope in the midst of our confused world and difficult circumstances. It is sometimes surprising how quickly we slip into despair when things go wrong and our expectations don’t come true. This is part of human nature, but it keeps us trapped in our own way of thinking, preventing us from seeing things in a new and more enlightening way. Such was the case with the two disciples of Jesus, about whom we read in today’s Gospel. They were totally distraught after Jesus’ crucifixion and could not make sense of the story being told among their peers that Jesus had risen from the dead. That inability led them to leave the city of Jerusalem and make their way to a village called Emmaus.
The disciples had pinned all their hopes on Jesus, whom, after all, they considered their Messiah. Given the concept of the Messiah in those days, he would deliver them (the Jews) from the oppressive Roman occupiers. No wonder they once asked Jesus when He would restore the Kingdom to Israel (Acts 1:6). For this project they risked everything. What would happen to this project now that their Messiah had been crucified as a common criminal? With its collapse, the disciples’ lives were in danger, as both the Jewish leaders and the Roman rulers would surely come after them. Gradually the reading leads us to the source of human grief, which we can identify in one way or another. When we lose someone who has occupied a central place in our lives, a wife, husband, son or daughter, beloved friend, brother or sister; when the business we have built up during our lifetime collapses and with it our career comes to an end; when the foundation of our hope, our confidence turns into disappointment, how do we feel and react? All this comes close to the experience of the two disciples. We can mentally put ourselves in their situation and try to understand how that feels.
Therefore, the disciples left Jerusalem where they were and headed for Emmaus. Jerusalem is often referred to as the city of God, representing all that is good and divine. It is the seat of civilization for the Jews and the center of their theocracy. The temple of their pride, a symbol of God’s presence among them, is in Jerusalem, while Emmaus is a small village of no significance. What sorrow would cause these disciples to retreat from Jerusalem to Emmaus? It was indeed hard for them, but Jesus did not abandon them. He went with them as an unknown stranger.
The reading gives us some qualities that enabled the disciples to make some progress in their situation. They are described as open and welcoming. Although they did not know the stranger, they allowed him in and were willing to share their frustrations with him. Being hospitable is a great virtue that opens doors. The world has become so bad that everyone is suspicious of strangers and strange ideas, but without opening up, a person cannot improve himself. It is in sharing that we get to know the stranger, gain access to his or her world, and stop being strangers to each other. Imagine the opportunity that simple events, like sharing coffee or meals, can provide to engage in conversation with a fellow human being. Imagine the depth to which such conversations can lead, and the friendship that can result. It is said that by being hospitable, some welcomed angels (Acts 13:2).
As Jesus set out with them and listened to their frustrations, he began to explain the scriptures to them. This allowed them to understand what was written about the Messiah. Without recognizing Him, they took Him home because it was already late and thus unsafe for the stranger. As they shared their meal with Him, Jesus broke the bread and revealed Himself to them. Now their eyes opened and they recognized Him, but He disappeared from their sight, and with that, their doubts also disappeared, and their frustrations turned into joy. The same disciples who took Jesus in, because it was already dark outside, got up and returned to Jerusalem that very night. Their fears disappeared and courage took over. This is what also happens to us when we recognize the presence of Jesus among us. Jesus who brings us together, breaks and shares bread, and gives us the cup to drink every time we celebrate the Eucharist.
When life hurts us and we tend to turn our backs on God’s plan or turn to our “Emmaus,” it is time to open ourselves to the risen Lord. He is not dead, but alive, and He accompanies us, even in difficulties. We will see Him at the breaking of bread and we will experience the power of His resurrection.
Peter took time in the first reading to explain to the people that Jesus would not be left to the power of death. He is life itself and therefore overcomes death. He rises from the dead. That act of his rising from the dead has become the basis of life for all who believe in him, all who entrust their lives to him. By his death on the cross, he paid the price for our debts, and by rising from the dead he has given us a new birth as children of God (see second reading). Therefore Jesus promised that whoever lives and believes in him will not die for eternity (John 11:26 ).
The resurrection of Jesus and his self-revelation, as described in these two readings (1st reading and the Gospel), are great sources of hope and inspiration. Resurrection is not just something that happens at the end of our human experience. We are children of resurrection every day. Like the disciples on the road to Emmaus, we have been given the strength to overcome our grief and pain, sorrow, and disappointments. We are assured that Jesus is with us all the way on our life journey, even when we do not recognize him. He is the stranger who intervenes to support us, enlighten us, and show us the way. Let’s, therefore, entrust our life with all its ups and downs to him knowing that the power that raised him from the dead works in us.
(Photo credit: Simon Berger)
Mar 26, 2023 | Homily
Sunday of the Fifth Week of Lent A, Jn. 11:1-45
Brothers and sisters, today we celebrate the fifth Sunday of Lent.
The three readings today are centred on the life that God gives to all people. They reveal Jesus as the lord of life. The death of Lazarus, in the gospel of today, can be seen as a symbolic representation of the soul that has died from mortal sin. This is similar to the fact that leprosy, physical ailments and the like are also symbols of sin. For that reason, Jesus’ initial reactions reveal how we should respond to serious sin in our lives.
When Jesus faced the death of Lazarus, “he became perturbed and deeply troubled,”. He wept and cried out in a loud voice. Though Jesus was God, He freely chose to assume human nature. He chooses to experience human emotions and passion to teach us how we should react. Therefore, when we or our loved ones fall into grave sin, it must not be ignored.
Impenitence is a sin by which a person fails to have appropriate remorse for a sin and reacts to it in a dismissive and casual manner. This cannot be our reaction. Thus, let us begin by considering the great value of taking sin seriously, reacting to it with passion and emotion, and crying out to God for forgiveness.
When Jesus cried out, commanding Lazarus to come out of the tomb, Lazarus came forth but was still bound hand and foot with burial bands, and his face was wrapped in a cloth. This symbolizes the entire process of confession and the forgiveness of sins. First, no person is capable of confessing their sins by their own effort. It must be that they are moved by grace and the command of Jesus to come forth to show themselves in their bound state to God.
Hence, the obedience of Lazarus to Jesus’ command symbolizes the Christian’s response to God’s call to repentance. When Jesus said: “Untie him and let him go,” this symbolizes the unmerited effect of the Sacrament of Confession and the power it has to release a person not only from their sins but also from the ongoing effects of those sins.
Jesus is not just a human being, but the Son of God who came to the world to spread the Good News of love, mercy, peace and joy. But the question is: Do we have the same strong faith as Martha, Mary, and Lazarus do? Or is our faith filled with doubts?
Therefore, Jesus says to us today and always: “Take away the stone”. By that, He means the stone of sorrow and misery through the death of a loved one, through adversity and misfortune, through weakness and powerlessness, through pains and sickness, through corona virus pandemic and the misuse of power by the politician against the citizens, through the victimization of the less privilege, the orphans and poor ones in our society, through natural disasters and wars, for example in Ukraine, Russia, Syria, Turkey, Nigeria and Africa in general.
However, the stone of selfishness, of self-interest, of indifference, of jealousy, envy and hatred must also be taken away from our lives, and from our relationship with God and humanity. So many stones that with their gravity crush Jesus’ message of love, mercy, peace and joy in us and in the world must be taken away too.
Brothers and sisters, “Untie him and let him go,” says Jesus when He raised Lazarus from the dead. He also wants to release us from the death of our weak faith and commitment to live according to His words and deeds of love, mercy, peace and joy. Therefore, it should be our strength to go with Jesus in all situations of life, and in whatever happens to us.
So let us go with Jesus in all our actions and thoughts.
Let us go to Easter with Jesus, to the resurrection of love, mercy, peace and joy for ourselves and all our fellow human beings.
Let us reflect, today, upon the rich symbolism found in the story of the raising of Lazarus from the dead.
Let us listen to the passionate voice of Jesus who calls us to “Come out”.
What sin is Jesus calling you to be free from? Identify that sin and repent of it with the same passion that Jesus exhibits.
Jesus desires that you be completely unbound and set free. Be open to that grace and do all you can to accept it.
Jesus, you command us, in love, to come forth from all sin. Free us from all that binds us so that we will be set firmly on the glorious road of virtue that leads to eternal joy, Amen.
“YOU ARE THE LIGHT”.
Feb 26, 2023 | Homily
By Fr. Marcel Uzoigwe, C.S.Sp. | Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7; Psalm – Ps 51; Romans 5:12.17-19; Matthew 4:1-11
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
As we enter into the season of Lent, we are reminded of our human nature and the challenges we face in our spiritual journey. In both the first reading (Genesis 2:7-9, 3:1-7) and the Gospel (Matthew 4:1-11), we see the story of our first parents Adam and Eve, and the temptation of Jesus in the desert. These stories remind us of the fragility of human nature and the need for God’s grace to guide us through life.
In Genesis 2:7-9, we see God creating man from the dust of the earth and breathing life into him. God placed Adam in the Garden of Eden to tend it and keep it. However, Adam and Eve were tempted by the serpent to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, and they sinned against God. Their disobedience led to their expulsion from the Garden of Eden and the introduction of sin and death into biblical history.
Similarly, in the Gospel reading (Matthew 4:1-11), we see Jesus being led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. For forty days and forty nights, Jesus fasted and prayed, preparing himself for the mission that lay ahead of him. It is in this vulnerable state that the devil approaches Jesus with three temptations. First, he tempts Jesus to turn stones into bread, appealing to his physical hunger. Next, he takes Jesus to the top of the temple in Jerusalem and challenges him to throw himself down, appealing to the human desire for public recognition and approval. Finally, he offers Jesus all the kingdoms of the world in exchange for his worship, appealing to the human desire for power and control.
In each of these temptations, the devil appeals to something deep within us as human beings – our physical needs, our desire for recognition and approval, and our thirst for power and control. These are natural human desires, but they can also be the very things that lead us away from God if we allow them to become the focus of our lives.
The temptations that Jesus underwent tested the very depth from which his life flows. Human hunger makes bread desirable. But living only on bread, on the natural appetites and instincts, impoverishes the very essence of life. It was at the very moment that his flesh craved bread that Jesus chose to live from every word that comes from his father. He made the will of God the compass for his life. His relationship with his Father was so intense that he would not place anything before it. His faithfulness to the will of his Father weakened the strength of those temptations. Why would he fall for human glorification when he was sure of his father’s glory? Why would he bow to another force just to become powerful when God has placed everything in his hands?
Jesus resists these temptations, quoting scripture and proclaiming his allegiance to God alone. In each of these responses, Jesus shows us the way to overcome temptation and remain faithful to God. He turns to scripture and relies on the Word of God to guide him in his decisions. He recognizes the power of the devil, but also knew that God is more powerful and has given authority over the devil to all who trust in him. And he reaffirms his commitment to God alone, rejecting the false promises of the devil.
As we reflect on this story during the season of Lent, we are reminded of the temptations that we face in our own lives. It gives us the opportunity to reflect on these stories and our own human nature; to resist temptation and to seek God’s forgiveness. We may not be tempted to turn stones into bread or to jump off a temple, but we are tempted in other ways – to put our trust in material possessions, to seek the approval of others, and to pursue power and success at all costs. These temptations can distract us from our relationship with God and lead us down the wrong path.
As we journey in this period of Lent, we have the example of Jesus himself to follow, as he showed us the way to resist the devil and remain faithful to God. The story of his temptation in the desert shows us that we have the power to resist these temptations. We have the Word of God to guide us and the Holy Spirit to strengthen us.
Besides, the three pillars of Lent – prayer, fasting, and almsgiving – are essential to helping us in this journey. Through prayer, we deepen our relationship with God and seek His guidance and strength. Prayer helps us to remain focused on God, to offer Him our worship, and to listen to Him speaking to us in the silence of our hearts. Through fasting, we discipline our bodies and focus our attention on the spiritual rather than the physical. Fasting helps us to detach ourselves from the pleasures of the world and to be more aware of the presence of God. Through almsgiving, we share our blessings with those in need and practice the virtue of charity. Almsgiving helps us to put our faith into action, care for the poor, to share our time and resources, and build up our community.
During this season of Lent, let us turn to God in prayer and ask for his guidance and strength. Let us examine our own lives and identify the temptations that we face. And let us rely on the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome these temptations and to remain faithful to God in all that we do.
May the Lord bless us and guide us through this Lenten journey, and may we emerge from it as renewed and transformed people, ready to continue our journey of faith with confidence and joy. Amen.
Dec 25, 2022 | Homily
By Fr. Marcel Uzoigwe, CSSp | Reading: Isaiah 52:7-10; Psalm Ps 98; Hebrews 1:1-6; John 1:1-5.9-14
Dear brothers and sisters,
We come together to celebrate Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ. The readings refer to his birth as the triumph of light over darkness. A light that shines in the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome it. That same darkness that has enveloped the world in various ways has submitted itself to the light that the birth of Jesus brings. He has come into the so that those who walk in darkness may be enlightened and those who are weak, sad, and without hope may be strong, happy, and hopeful instead. The readings show us that this little child, born by a poor couple in a manger, and not by a prince in a palace, is Immanuel – God with us. He is the light that illuminates every human being. He is the savior of the world. That is what we celebrate together, and we call it Christmas.
Christmas is that time of the year when families, friends, and neighbors come together to celebrate the birth of the child Jesus in a unique way, by being a blessing to each other. The coming of Christ brought the different cultures, people, and races in the world closer as a family and ushered in a new order of peace, love, mercy, and unity. For Christ, himself has brought us peace by making Jews and Gentiles one people (Eph. 2:14). Christmas challenges us to see Christ in others, especially in those for whom we may find it difficult to love and be kind. The magic of Christmas emerges perfectly in the fact that Christ is born in the most unexpected place and by the most unexpected parents: in Bethlehem and not in Jerusalem; in the period of the Roman empire and not at the highest point of Jewish power.
A very beautiful story describes the magic of Christ being born in our midst. It is a story that some of you know better than I do. The story goes like this: Once upon a time, there was a flourishing monastery that was in decline, with only six monks left in the monastery. Their love for God and their fellow monks was declining sharply. The Abbot was alarmed. So he went to a Rabbi, who told him that they had committed a terrible sin. “What have we done?” exclaimed the Abbot. “The Messiah has come, he is one of you and you have not duly recognized him,” the Rabbi replied. The Abbot asked the Rabbi which of them was Christ. The Rabbi said he did not know. The Abbot went with fear and called the other monks and asked which of them was Christ. They looked at each other in amazement. Who among them could be Christ? Certainly not Brother John, who never comes to prayer on time; certainly not Brother Peter, who is annoyingly careless with his meals; certainly not the Abbot, who is a difficult man. Perhaps Christ is among them in disguise.
So they started treating each other like Christ since they didn’t know which of them was Christ. They spoke kindly to each other. Rude and threatening words were never used again. They looked for ways to serve and forgive each other. Little things that used to irritate them were overlooked and they looked for the good in each other. Each did his work as a service to Christ who was among them and looked for ways to do good for the other. Each listened to the other with full attention and respect. Life began to flow back into the dying monastery. The monastery was suddenly full of life and love. Their prayer life became authentic, rich, and inspired. Noticing this love, the villagers gradually started coming to the monastery. They were happy to see the changes. They enjoyed these beautiful monks and were in turn influenced by them to go home and do the same. Soon the surrounding villagers came to listen and watch the services, and many joined their communities. The Messiah had indeed come.
Christmas begins from that moment when we allow Christ to be born in us, and learn to recognize and serve Him in others too because Christmas is about truly loving people and seeking out the best for them. It is about giving ourselves to others through our good thoughts and wishes to them, and through our encouraging words and actions. By serving others in whom we see Christ, we are actually serving Christ (cf. Matthew 25:40). So Christmas is not just about opening the gifts we receive, but more about opening our hearts to welcome God’s love and share this love with others. This love also reminds us to be thankful for our family, friends, colleagues, well-wishers, and others who inspire us in different ways. We should reserve a special place in our hearts for those who help us in different ways. People who support us in trying times and those who take care of our social, material, and even spiritual needs. Sometimes we do forget to be grateful for the self-giving of these people in the services they provide to us.
Christmas also demands us to acknowledge Jesus in those who are different, those homeless, and people on the fringes of society because when Jesus was about to be born, there was no place for Mary and Joseph in the inn. So, he had to be born in a manger among domestic animals. Those we treat as less than humans or as less than us might be the Marys and Josephs looking for a place for Jesus. Remember, God comes to us in the least expected manner and through the least expected persons. As humans, we tend to emphasize our differences over our similarities and our weaknesses over our strengths. But Christmas urges us to think and behave differently now that the Messiah is one of us.
As we enjoy the festive celebration of Christmas, let us endeavor to allow the light of Christ to shine in us and through us to others. Let us remember to impact the lives of the less privileged in a positive way by adding value to them. Let us commit to being very helpful to the poor and needy this Christmas, instead of feeling helpless and hopeless.
Wishing you a merry, peaceful, and blessed Christmas.
