Resolve Like Mary, the Mother of God

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily on the Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God

St. Mary of Assumption Church, Whittier, CA

Sunday, January 1, 2017

Friends, today is the first day of the week; the first day of the New Year, 2017 and the first day of January. The name “January” is derived from the Roman god, Janus. Janus is the god with two faces—one looking to the past and the other looking to the future. It’s actually the time to look back at the year that ended yesterday and also to look forward to the new year which begins today. In case you haven't noticed, that’s exactly what people do that eventually leads to what we call, “A New Year’s Resolution.” Making a new year’s resolution is the end product of self-reflection and examination. After looking back at the life we lived in the course of the year that just ended, we resolve and promise to change and reform our lives moving forward. We resolve to make amends, to do things better, to right the wrong, to heal a broken relationship, to get back up in our relationship with God and with others. I am sure, many of us have already done our new year’s resolutions.  

Now, here is the most interesting part, and it is all good news. While we were doing our new year’s resolutions, our awesome God was also doing his own. But his resolution is not caused by error. It’s not a resolution inspired by God’s failing, weakness and imperfection. God is a spotlessly perfect being. There is no error in God. His new year’s resolution is inspired by boundless love and goodness. While we have a list of something bad we do not want do again, and something good we want to do, God’s list is full of amazing things he wants to do for us in this new year. In the first reading taken from Numbers 6:22-27, he says: I will bless you and keep you! I will let my face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! I will look upon you kindly and give you peace! And if you ever invoke my name, I will always bless you. 

God’s New Year’s resolution is to bless us beyond our imagination. As we celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God, the Church teaches us to look upon her as a model, that is, as a perfect exemplar, as someone to imitate. She is the model of a new life in Christ, the new life we want to live in this New Year. Like us, Mary too made a resolution. From the moment she declared, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38), she never looked backwards. She was faithful to the end largely because she pondered and reflected God’s words to her. She wasn't the talking type. She valued the word of God so much, pondered and reflected over them in her heart (Luke 2:5). Her holiness is attributed to the grace of God, but that does not mean that she did not make effort to cooperate with the grace of God. 

God spoke to the blessed Mother through angels and through her own experiences. Today, God continues to speak to us through the Sacred Scripture, the Church and our personal experiences of life. But we need to make out time for God in order to hear him. One of our New Year’s resolutions could be spending time with the Lord. It could be that we stop making excuses as to why we cannot deepen our relationship with God. In the lists of what we intend to accomplish, God’s matter shouldn't be the item to be crossed out or be left at our most convenient time. Let’s begin this year with God, and like Mary, resolve to be God’s handmaid. 

My One Christmas Wish

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily on the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)

St. Mary of Assumption Church, Whittier, CA

Sunday, December 25, 2016

Friends, today is Christmas. On every Christmas, we celebrate the birth of the Son of God and the Redeemer of humanity, Jesus Christ. We celebrate the birth of love—divine love, God’s lavished and extravagant love for us: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son that whosever believes in him will not perish, but will have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Today we celebrate the greatest miracle of all—God becoming a human being, migrating from heaven and relocating into our neighborhood. Today, we celebrate the birth of peace, the kind of peace the United Nations cannot possibly give; we celebrate the birth of freedom, the kind of freedom that no human government can guarantee. We celebrate the miracle of salvation that no human deeds or words can fetch. We celebrate the birth of hope—hope like no other, hope that is real and attainable, hope that is based on God’s unconditional love for us.

Today’s Solemnity calls for a joyful celebration because God has made our earth an extension of his Kingdom. God’s Kingdom has come. God has come. God is with us, within us and among us. The angels of God, right now, are singing how blessed and highly favored we are. Last Sunday, I said in my homily that we are not damned people but blessed and delivered children of God. Because of love, God set aside the natural order of conception in order to give us a spotless Savior. Because of love, God did what none of us is willing and ready to do for the pets we love. For lovers of dogs like me, none of us, no matter how much we love our dogs will be willing to become like them. When I had my dog, Max, I loved him so dearly. I provided for him, cared for him, protected him, and made sure he received medical care from a licensed veterinarian. As much as I loved Max, there was no way I would have agreed to become a dog, sniff the ground, lick the floor and the skin of people, eat stuff thrown into a garbage. No way! I loved my dog, but I wouldn't go as far as taking his form and nature. But guess what? That’s exactly what Jesus did for us. One other thing, when I had Max, I tried to teach him to stay within our fenced property. I never wanted him to run out through the gate because I was concerned he may be hit by a car. But one day, Max ran outside into the street. I called him over and over again but he did not listen. I pursued him shouting, “Max, Max, Max, stop, stop, stop,”  he ignored my call and then ran into a busy road and was immediately hit by a fast moving car. I feared the worst had happened. He started groaning and crying. I was so sorry for him. I cried for his pain. But do you think if I was offered the chance to be hit by a car instead of my dog that I would have taken the offer? Oh no! Yet again, that’s what Jesus did. Amazing, isn't it?

I want to use this opportunity to thank all those who sent me Christmas gifts. I’m very grateful. Your gifts meant a lot to me. May God bless you. As much as I cherish those presents, I still want one Christmas gift. It’s not really a gift, it’s a wish. It’s a Christmas wish. If I had one Christmas wish, it would be that we all live together in love as brothers and sisters. That’s what Jesus teaches us in John 13:34, “Love one another as I have loved you.” If I had one Christmas wish, it would be to establish peace—Christ’s peace all over the world. That’s what Jesus gives us: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you” (John 14:27). If I had one Christmas wish, it would be to end all wars, to stop bombs falling like rain. If I had one Christmas wish, it would be that the people of Syria be safe and live in their homeland again. If I had one Christmas wish, it would be to end all terrorism. St. Paul urges us to live in peace with everyone (Romans 12:18). If I had one Christmas wish, it would be that Jesus is accepted by all and his message lived out without hypocrisy. After all, Jesus is the Way, the Truth and the Life (John 14:6). The world is largely in chaos because of our refusal to believe and walk in his way. If I had one Christmas wish, it would be to eradicate all rivalries, divisions, hatred and racial resentments. Jesus came to reconcile us with God and with each other. He came that we may have life, life in its fullness (John 10:10). Rivalries, divisions, hatred and racial bias make it impossible for us to live a fulfilled life. If I had one Christmas wish, it would be that all lives be respected and protected. That’s what Mary and Joseph taught us by their example. When the life of the infant Jesus was threatened by King Herod, they took him and ran to Egypt. If I had one Christmas wish, it would be that at all time, we will appeal to our better angels, elevate them and bring out the best in each other. That’s exactly what Jesus did to the woman caught in the act of adultery (John 8: 1-11). The men who brought her to Jesus had concluded that she was no good. But Jesus saw the angel in her. He saw that the woman has what it takes to be good again. For him to say to her, “Go and sin no more” (John 8:11) means he believed in her. He saw that the angel in her can outshine the demon in her. He forgave her and gave her a fresh start. If I had one Christmas wish, it would be to end untold suffering and hunger in Africa, Middle East and everywhere. Jesus was interested in ending hunger when he multiplied five loaves of bread and two wish and fed a multitude (Matt.14:13-21; Mark 6:30-44; Luke 9:10-17 and John 6:1-15). If I had one Christmas wish, it would be a peaceful resolutions of all political crisis, sitting at the table of dialogue and resolving all differences. In Matthew 5:23-24, Jesus teaches us that if we are bringing our gifts to the altar and halfway we remember that we have something against our brother or sister, that we should leave our gifts there, then go and reconciled with them first. Peace and reconciliation are more important than the offering of material gifts. If I had one Christmas wish, there would be no strife, injury and hurt. God through Jesus came to bring us healing. If I had one Christmas wish, it would be that you and I are happy, healthy, peaceful and saved. My one Christmas wish is that Jesus be born in the hearts and lives of everyone. 

Merry Christmas, everyone!

He’s Looking For A Suitable Place To Be Born Again!

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily for the Fourth Sunday of Advent, Year A

St. Mary of Assumption Church, Whittier, CA

Sunday, December 18, 2016

Friends, today we celebrate the Fourth and the last Sunday of Advent. In today’s Gospel (1:18-24), Matthew emphasizes the fact that Jesus was born through the action of the Holy Spirit. Mary became pregnant without the involvement of Joseph, whom she was betrothed to. When Joseph found out that Mary was pregnant, he planned to divorce her quietly. Why quietly? As an upright man, he did not want to make a public ridicule and spectacle of Mary. He did not want to expose her to shame, disgrace and possibly death by stoning. It was a terrible man’s world where women were hardly regarded nor respected. But before Joseph could carry out his secret plan, God intervened and saved the situation. Through an angel, God told Joseph not to be afraid to take Mary into his home as his wife, that even though she was pregnant, her baby boy will save his people from their sins. The angel also communicated to Joseph the name the child should be given: “…you are to name him Jesus.” Matthew then adds that the birth of Jesus will fulfill what God said through the prophet: “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means “God is with us.” 

In the ancient time, people believed that God was hidden and distant. They believed that God was unknown, his actions and involvement in world affairs were unknown too. In one sense, God is indeed hidden because he is a Spirit that cannot be seen physically (John 4:24). The idea of God as hidden and distant can even be seen in the Sacred Scripture: “Awake O Lord! Why do you sleep? Rise up! Do not reject us forever! Why do you hide your face; why do you forget our pain and misery? For our soul has been humiliated in the dust; our belly is pressed to the earth. Rise up, help! Redeem us in your mercy” (Psalm 44: 24-27). In times of difficulty, we want to see, by sight, the glory and presence of God. But God is a Spirit Being that cannot be seen through the sense of sight. Only those who possess faith can see God. “Walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7), St. Paul urges us.

Our faith teaches us that God is with us. The good news is no longer that God is coming, but that God is now here. The almighty God is with us. In Jesus, God has migrated from heaven to earth. In Jesus, God has manifested and revealed himself in human flesh to humanity. Through Jesus, he has made the earth, an extension of his Kingdom. In Jesus we see the love, the compassion, the mercy and the holiness of God. With the coming of Jesus, the time of guessing is over, and the time to believe has come. Jesus came to expose us to the truth about God. God is not distant. He’s not unknown and hidden. He is with us! 

What’s God’s mission on earth? Did he come to punish us? Did he come to act like a cop? Did he come to stare us in the face? None of the above. God comes to save us. The name given to his begotten Son is “Jesus” which means, “God saves!” We are not damned people. We are B.A.D people— Blessed And Delivered people. God comes to love us, not because we are lovely, but because he is lovely. Even before we love him, he has loved us. God is with us in every step of the way. We can never walk alone or be alone. He’s always with us to save us. But we have to let him! We should not keep him waiting. It was when Joseph and Mary went up to Bethlehem, the city of David, for census, that Mary went into labor. Unable to find a suitable place to give birth to her Son, they went into a place where animals were kept. It was there that Jesus was born. Today, Jesus is still looking for a suitable place— human hearts, where he can be born again. Are we going to make our hearts a suitable, pure and holy locus for the Son of God to be born again? The first place Jesus was born was not suitable at all. A place where animals were kept cannot be suitable for an adult to stay, let alone a new born child. The manger, where Mary placed him, after wrapping him in swaddling clothes cannot be comfortable too. But we can provide him a more suitable and comfortable place  to be born again— our hearts!   

Become The One We Are Waiting For!

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily for the Third Sunday of Advent, Year A

St. Mary of Assumption Church, Whittier, CA

Sunday, December 11, 2016

Last Sunday Gospel was about the emergence of John the Baptist in the desert of Judea. He began his ministry by calling everyone to prepare for the arrival of God’s final rule, which he described as “the coming wrath.” With the message, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand,” John called for a radical change of heart, attitude, and lifestyle so as to partake and be part of this emerging kingdom. He also created awareness that he himself was not the expected Messiah, rather, his forerunner. Now, John’s message has got him into trouble. He was in prison over his refusal to sanction the intended marriage of King Herod Antipas to Herodias, the wife of his own brother. From the loneliness of the prison, John had enough time to think about what he had been told about Jesus and his ministry. In the course of his ministry, John emphasized divine wrath, judgement by unquenchable fire, but up to this time, Jesus’ ministry has been a demonstration of mercy and healing. While the tone of John’s message was harsh, that of Jesus was more lenient and compassionate. This apparent dissimilarity made John to send a message to Jesus: “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” 

Jesus did not give a yes or a no answer, rather, he referred to the Old Testament Scriptures that envisioned and predicted the future salvation as a time of mercy, healing, wholeness, recreation and renewal of all things: “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news proclaimed to them.” Jesus was simply pointing to John that the prophecy of the prophets especially the one we read today in Isaiah is being fulfilled: “Say to those whose hearts are frightened: Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes with vindication; with divine recompense, he comes to save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be cleared. Then will the lame leap like a stag, and then the tongue of the mute will sing” (Isaiah 35:4-6). Jesus did not say yes or no, he let his actions speak for themselves. He also advised that no one should take offense at his ministerial activity. 

Despite his mild rebuke of John, Jesus taught his audience of John’s important role in the unfolding of God’s plan of salvation: “What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind…someone dressed in fine clothing…a prophet?” To Jesus, John the Baptist was more than a prophet. He was a messenger of God sent to announce the arrival of the Messiah. 

Dearest beloved, Jesus has fulfilled the Messianic prophecies. He has left the remaining task to us. We are his hands, voice, and body. He has called us to be his love, mercy and generosity today. But are we? When others encounter us, will they see Jesus in us  or are they going to still be looking for him? A good Christian is a Bible. A good Christian is Jesus to others. A good Christian is the one the world is waiting for. He makes others want to believe in him. She makes belief in God meaningful and relevant. Let’s always strive to become the good we seek, the love we seek, the peace we seek, the common good we seek, the respect we seek, the dignity we seek, the peace we seek, the generosity we seek, the healing we seek, the mercy we seek, and the justice we seek

Brief Reflection on Matthew 11:28-29

Some of us think that the Gospel of Matthew was the first Gospel to be written simply because when they open their Bible and go to the New Testament, it is the first book. But it is not! The first Gospel to be written is the Gospel of Mark. The Gospel of Matthew is the second to be written. Scripture scholars tell us that the unknown author heavily relied on the Gospel of Mark and other source of oral and written traditions known as “Q” Source. Now, even though the writer of Matthew relied greatly on the Gospel of Mark, there are some passages in it that are unique to it. You cannot find them in the other Gospels. One of those passages is Matthew 11:28-29: “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves.” 

Originally, Jesus gave this invitation to all those who found the interpretation and understanding of the Law as taught by the Scribes and Pharisees burdensome to come to him and embrace a new yoke. His warm invitation to embrace his new yoke will offer rest and easy path for those burdened by the heavy religious regulations and obligations. Jesus wasn’t lawless and he never advocated for lawlessness. But he went after laws that were discriminatory in nature. He attacked laws that divided people. Mostly through actions, he went after laws designed to perpetrate racial divisions and tensions. The only law that mattered and that still matters is the law of love. When Jesus extended the invitation to embrace his yoke, he asked the people of his time and generations after to embrace his love, which is easy and light. Love can be seen in every aspects of life. If we study the quality of the heart, we will see that the heart quality is a loving quality. I believe that it is easier to love than to hate. It takes a lot of energy to actually hate. Love is easier because it flows from the heart. It’s natural to the heart. It’s the natural quality of the human heart. 

Today, this warm invitation of Jesus has taken a broader meaning, interpretation and application. The people of his time wrestled with the overwhelming burden of the Law. Religious regulations weighed heavily on their shoulders. Religion, which supposed to be a liberating phenomenon, was used as an instrument of enslavement. But uncomfortable, irrelevant and nonsensical religious rules may not be your burden today. If you have any burden, this Gospel still applies to you. If you find your health, finances, relationship, marriage, family, job, politics etc. burdensome, the Lord is inviting you to come to him. Whatever it is that is making your life uncomfortable, take it to Jesus and remember to embrace the new life he is offering. A lot of people stop at taking their burden to him. After bringing their worries and sources of them to Jesus, they do not go all the way to accepting his new yoke. If you stop at taking your yoke to him, you may not be able to enjoy the new life of ease he offers. 

What are your burdens today? What do you find burdensome? Do not forget you can find rest in the loving arms of Jesus our Savior. 

God bless you!

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Through the Stretchers of Prayers, Bring them in!

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Monday, December 5, 2016

Every human person needs food, water and air. We need them for our survival. Without them, our life will come to a grinding halt. We need them to stay alive. And oftentimes we fulfill these primary needs without even thinking. But these are not the only things we need, especially if we are going to thrive. God wants us, not only to survive but to thrive as well. To be able to thrive, God and God’s matters must be central to the four dimensions of our lives—physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual. When considerations are being made about these four aspects of our lives, God should be placed at the center, not on the sideline. When faith in God plays a key and crucial role in our physical, emotional, intellectual and spiritual lives, we move from simply surviving to thriving; we begin to blossom and bloom like a tree planted close to a never-dry river.  Jesus attests of God’s desire for us in these words: “I have come that they may have life, life in its fullness” (John 10:10). So, for us to really thrive in life, we need to be lovers of God. We need to constantly stay in touch with him by way of prayer and reflection. We also need to care about others because God cares about them too. 

Caring for others is what some men did for a paralyzed man as recorded in the Gospel of Luke 5:17-26. As Jesus was teaching in an unnamed place, some caring and faith-filled men brought on a stretcher a man who was paralyzed to the scene. But there was no passage to bring him in and set him in the presence of Jesus due to the crowded nature of the place. The men were not ready to give up yet. They were resilient and persistent. If there was no way to bring a needy man to the Lord, then something desperate has to be done, their action seemed to suggest. Instead of saying to themselves, “Let’s go home and try again another day,” they climbed to the roof of the house where Jesus was teaching, tore the tiles open, and then lowered the paralyzed man right in the middle in front of Jesus. It wasn’t their house, but the house is nothing compared to the life of a child of God. When the Lord saw what they did, he was impressed by their faith, resilience and effort. With that he said to the paralyzed man, “As for you, your sins are forgiven… I say to you, rise, pick up your stretcher, and go home.” With those words uttered, the paralyzed man was healed physically, emotionally, intellectually and spiritually. Physically, he wasn't going to be trapped in a mat anymore and only rely on others to move him from place to place. With this healing, he can now move around— go to the temple, marketplace, work, visit friends and relatives etc. Emotionally, he was not going to be tormented again by his plight and the state of his life. Think for a second what could be the emotional state of a paralyzed man. Jesus has changed all that. Intellectually, he was also healed. There is no doubt that his paralysis most certainly prevented him from making progress in this aspect. His knowledge of God, the world, life etc will be impacted by his predicament. His overall and general worldview will be affected and limited by his condition. With this healing, he is going to breathe some fresh air. His intellectual knowledge of God, human life, and the world have a chance of being deepened by this healing. Spiritually, he was also healed. The words of Jesus, “Your sins are forgiven” directly made that possible. It’s not a surprise that he “went home, glorifying God.” 

Brothers and sisters, who are the paralyzed ones around us? Some of them are our brothers, sisters, neighbors, friends, colleagues, former church and ministry members who have given up and no longer come to church. I am not talking about those who left our parish church to another Catholic parish closer to where they live. I am talking about individuals who used to worship with us, who used to be passionate about God, Church and faith, who once received the sacraments but are now staying home on Sundays. From year to year, they do not come to church. When you talk about church matters, they walk away or hang the phone. But when you ask them, “Do you still believe in God?” they quickly say, “Yes, of course!” Some of them claim “They are spiritual, but not religious.” They use the expression to explain away why they are uninterested about coming to Church. Some of us who still come to Church regularly do not want to get involved personally in the life and ministry of the church. We are satisfied at coming to Mass and hurriedly heading home afterwards. If the Mass ever lasts more than one hour, we get upset and irritated. Some of us leave before the end of it. Some who stay till the very end do so in order to confront the priest and air our mind, “Father, you preach well, but it is too long. Next time, please make it short.” Some of us, especially those who have disconnected from the Church may be paralyzed spiritually, emotionally and intellectually. We cannot bring them in stretchers to God, but we can do so through the stretchers of prayer. We can do what the unnamed men in the Gospel did for a paralyzed man in a different fashion— lifting them up in prayer regularly. 

The greatest disease ravaging the 21st century is not cancer, or diabetes or heart disease etc. It is not one of those diseases that doctors can diagnose. It is ignorance of God, indifference to God, and the lack of the sense of God. Cancer or diabetes may kill the body but it can never kill the soul of a servant of God. The souls of the just, according to the book of Wisdom, are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them (Wis. 3:1). We need to constantly pray for all our brothers and sisters out there who are cold to faith and indifferent to God. We need to constantly bring them to the presence of Jesus through prayer. It’s not enough to grieve over their reluctance and indifference, we need to pray for them. We need to ask God to touch their hearts. We need to “Bring them in from the fields of sin,” ignorance and loss of faith. We need to bring “the wandering ones to Jesus” through the stretchers of prayer and supplication. Some parents have complained to me, “Father, I brought my children to church when they were living with me; they received the sacraments. They even attended Catholic schools, but now, they no longer come to church, and they are not raising their kids as Catholics. They have given up. This saddens me a lot!” If you are one of those parents, I urge you to emulate the example of the men who brought a paralyzed man to Jesus. You can do what they did in a different way: pray for them always. Present them at the feet of Jesus regularly. I have seen a lot of people who returned to the Church after staying away for 5, 10, 15, 20, and even 30 years. Someone was praying for them!

God bless you!

Think Again!

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily for the Second Sunday of Advent, Year A

St. Mary of Assumption Church, Whittier, CA

Sunday, December 4, 2016

John the Baptist was Jesus’ cousin and forerunner. He preached in the wilderness of Judea. His ministry began at a time when the Jews were complaining that they no longer hear the voice of prophets. They had gone for four centuries without a prominent prophet, and this promoted many to say that the voice of prophecy, which was the voice of God, do not speak anymore. But as this thinking was gaining ground among the people, John the Baptist emerged, and with a message: “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 

John was a fearless preacher who denounced evil deeds wherever he saw them. When Herod entered into an illicit and unlawful marriage with his brother’s wife, Herodias, John rebuked him and told him that the Jewish Law did not permit such behavior. When he saw that the Pharisees, Sadducees, and the religious leaders of his day were stuck in the letters of the law and paid little or no attention to the spirit of the law, John challenged them and berated their hypocrisy. When he saw that the ordinary folks of his time were living lives that were not consistent with the professed faith, John rebuked them. Wherever he saw anything bad- in the state, in the Temple, on the street, in the marketplace, John fearlessly rebuked it. His emergence became a light that lit up dark places. His voice became the voice of virtue, the voice of goodness, the voice of uprightness, the voice of holiness, and the voice of God. His voice became the voice of faith, morals and reason. As he preached, he urged his people: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.” But John was not a prophet of doom. His message was not only about denunciation, repudiation and rebuke of evil. He did not only denounce the wrong that he saw, he also challenged the people to become what they ought to be and what they could be. 

Although John’s prophetic ministry started in the desert, but it never deter people, including the Pharisees and Sadducees, from going to him for baptism. All sorts of people were running to him, thinking he was the Messiah. But he humbly told them he was not the Christ: “I am baptizing you with water, for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I. I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.” John pointed beyond himself. He knew he was not the center of attraction, rather, a signpost to God. He knew his assignment was to prepare people to encounter Jesus, who he described as “Mightier than I.” 

To those who had been baptized unto repentance, John urged: “Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance. And do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you, God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones.” John warned that it will avail to nothing to say that Abraham is our father when one’s deeds are not consistent with the faith that Abraham professed and lived out. It will amount to nothing to say that we are Christians if we are not following in the footsteps of Christ. A Christian is a professional lover. A Christian is a lover of God and God’s people. A Christian is another Christ in the world. It will amount to nothing, after receiving the sacraments- baptism, confirmation, Holy Eucharist etc, we still live in darkness. Claiming Abraham as our father in faith is not enough unless our faith is deeply rooted like that of Abraham. Proclaiming verbally that Jesus is Lord will avail to nothing if we don’t follow in his footsteps. Appealing to God’s mercy is not going to be enough if we don’t make effort to enjoy his mercy. Claiming to be children of the kingdom will mean nothing if we don’t live like redeemed and delivered children of the kingdom. John prophesied the coming of God’s Kingdom and also the requirement to enter into it— to repent. The Greek word for repentance is “metanoia” which means “To be converted, to have a change of heart and to think again. 

Beloved in Christ, let’s think again about who we are, where we are, what we are doing and what we have done. Let’s think again about doing something good, being lovely and lovable, being hospitable, being kind, being compassionate, being merciful, being generous, being inclusive, being gentle, being humble, being truthful, being sacrificial, being understandable, being less difficult, being holy and above all, being Christ. 

The Lesson of Matthew 8:5-11

Two Sundays ago, a friend of mine told me that while their church community (A Catholic parish) in Lagos was having their Christ the King procession, some members of The Lord’s Chosen Charismatic Revival Movement saw them and then followed them from a distance, dishing out prayers of casting and binding, and also invoking the famous prayer in Nigeria, “Holy Ghost Fire” on them as well. For those “Lord’s Chosen” members, those Catholics are either pagans or possessed and therefore needed some cast and bind prayers. After laughing about it, I said to my friend, “Forgive them because they don’t know what they were doing. Christianity, the very religious faith that brought freedom and deliverance to many across the world, that set many people free from bondage, that spread education and encouraged many to be educated, has been used to enslave so many people in Nigeria. Forgive them because ignorance, which many of them are suffering from, is a very serious disease.” 

The Gospel of Matthew 8:5-11 is the story of a man, a centurion, a foreigner, a pagan, someone considered impure by many at that time, who approached Jesus and pleaded on behalf of his sick servant, “Sir, my servant is lying at home paralyzed and in great pain.” Turning to him, Jesus said, “I will come myself and cure him.” But demonstrating an uncommon humility and a rock solid faith that Jesus had not seen, he said to Jesus, “Sir, I am not worthy to have you under my roof; (that’s a rare humility) just say the word and my servant will be cured” (that’s an amazing faith). Expressing his pleasant surprise, Jesus declared, “I tell you solemnly, not even in Israel have I found faith as great as this.” With that, Jesus proclaimed healing over the centurion’s servant, “Go home, and let it be done for you, as your faith demands.” 

In many Christian communities today, this centurion will be discriminated and will not be welcomed. If he shows up in the assembly, some Christians today will look at him with disgust. They will unleash “Holy Ghost fire” prayer on him. They will shout, “Back to sender” prayer on him. The man’s faith will not  be immediately recognized. Many will see him as not being the right kind of person to be around them. Some will say, “The devil has come to church.” And rather than welcome him, they will start snapping their fingers, shaking their heads, and stamping their feet as they cast and bind a child of God that has come to seek for help. Some Christians think that only a Christian who is wearing the “born again” tag has authentic faith, is worthy of their attention and worthy of salvation. They see those outside their faith-community as unbelievers. But Jesus was very impressed with this “pagan” centurion. He admired his faith.

As we begin the season of Advent, Jesus asks us to open up our hearts afresh, to receive and cherish the faith of others— even if they are not part of our worshipping community. Value the faith of others, whatever shape it takes, even if that faith is being manifested by those outside our Christian assembly. Keep this in mind: what unites us into a saved community is faith. What brings us together into one saved community is not race, or tribe, or language, or human contacts, but faith—faith in Jesus Christ. Ephesians 4:5 says, “There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.” Therefore, stop judging the faith of others! Stop ridiculing the expression of faith of others. Leave judgment to God. He alone knows! He alone is the ultimate Decider and Judge!

--By Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Advent: Season To Wake Up 

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily for the First Sunday of Advent, Year A

St. Mary of Assumption Church, Whittier, CA

Sunday, November 27, 2016

“Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.”

There is a difference between existence and living. To exist is to be. But to live is to be awake, to be up and doing, to be alive and active. In spiritual context, to live is to be alive in the Spirit. Stones exist. Rocks exist. Mountains exist. Seas exist. The pews you are sitting on exist. The church building exist. But all these do not have life in them. They are not alive. They are inanimate things. As for us, we are not created just to exist like rocks. We are created to live. The season of Advent calls us to be alive, awake and up and doing in the Spirit. This season calls us to pay attention to the engines of our lives. The engine largely makes a car function. If you drive your car to a mechanic and asks that the engine be brought down, if you attempt to drive out once the engine goes down, that car is not going to start. It is not going to run because the engine, the “source of power and life” of that car is no more. Beloved one, God is the engine of our lives. Any life that shuts him out, any life that shuns and ignores God cannot be up and running. If God does not matter to any life, that life too will not matter.

Today, we begin the season of Advent.  Advent is the beginning of the Church’s liturgical Calendar. The season of Advent precisely emphasizes the Parousia, that is, the Second Coming of Jesus. The word “Advent” means “arrival” or “coming.” It indicates the arrival or the coming of the Lord. It teaches that Jesus Christ, our Brother in our humanity, and our God in his divinity is coming. The Lord comes to us in different ways: Firstly, the whole Gospel of Luke chapter 2 tells us that at a specific time in history in Bethlehem, more than 2000 years ago, the infant Jesus was born. The first entrance of Jesus into our world is what we celebrate at Christmas. At Christmas, we celebrate the migration of the King of kings from heaven to earth. From being a Landlord, he became a tenant with us in our neighborhood because of us. With him living with us we are protected. We are no longer afraid of the Hoodlum- the Devil who terrorizes our streets. Secondly, the gospel of Matthew 24: 29-31 speaks of the Lord’s arrival at the end of time to judge the living and the dead. His Second Coming is going to be a time of reward and recompense. Thirdly, Jesus comes to us in the Eucharist and in the Word of God proclaimed and preached. Finally, Jesus comes to us in the needy persons, in the poor, the most vulnerable, the suffering and the oppressed. The face of the poor, the needy and vulnerable is the face of Jesus Christ. In Matthew 25:40, Jesus says: “Whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers and sisters, you did unto me.”

In today’s Gospel taken from Matthew 24:37-44, Jesus urges us: “Therefore, stay awake! For you do not know on which day your Lord will come.” He compares his Second Coming to the visit of a thief. Thieves do not usually send a notice to a homeowner beforehand of their impending visit. After they had made their arrangements, they simply invade their target and cart-away whatever is valuable to them. But if the owner of the house is aware of their visit, he surely would prepare to match them strength for strength. He would not sit idly by and watch them invade his house and take away his treasures. In the same manner, the Lord’s Second Coming will happen at an hour we do not expect. But unlike the thief, Jesus is not coming to steal our material treasures, he’s coming to take us to the Better Place. Like the thief, he will come unannounced and if we are awake and prepared, he will take us along. When a “smart” thief breaks into a home, and finds the owner deeply asleep, he’s likely not going to bother to wake the homeowner up. He is going to quietly take whatever he can find and leave before he wakes up and dial 911 or recognize him. It is almost the same way with Jesus. When he comes and finds us deeply asleep, asleep in faith, hope and charity, unlike the thief, he’s not going to take any of our material goods, because he does not need them; but like the thief, he may not bother to wake us up. He may simply walk away in disappointment.

Today’s Gospel urges us to stay awake, to pay attention, to be present to the ways in which God is coming into our life and the ways we come to God. The Lord reminds us that our actions or inactions have eternal consequences. He encourages us to wake up from the sleep of the soul. The sleep of the soul is the neglect of God and God’s matters. The sleep of the soul is the neglect of one’s state of life; it is the neglect of virtues. It is the neglect of spiritual duties like coming to Church on Sunday and letting the church come to us everyday. Some people come to Church always, but always leave worship unchanged. Letting the church come to us means “being a church person every time and in everywhere.” 

As we begin the season of Advent, there are three important things that today’s Gospel calls our attention to:

Staying awake in order to be ready. Jesus wants his followers to daily pay attention to the presence of God in our lives. God invites us daily to a relationship of love and intimacy with him. This invitation can come through people, through the events of life and through our experiences- good or bad. Staying awake enables us to be spiritually prepared and alive to respond to this wonderful and amazing relationship with God, the One who alone is good.

Today’s Gospel reminds us once again that Jesus, our Best Friend will come back some day. In the creed (I believe in one God...), we always recite, “he will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead.” 

As for the time and the hour when the Lord will come back, we do not know. And this part is the biggest challenge of our faith. But we do not have to live our lives in fear, fear of the unknown hour and time. As long as we live our lives according to Jesus’ law of love, we have nothing to be afraid of. As long as we are staying awake and being ready, whenever the Lord appears, we will be ready to reign with him. Daily preparation is what it is going to take to respond to God’s constant invitation. As it is said, proper preparation prevents poor performance. Proper and daily preparation will forestall eternal regret. 

Homily for the Solemnity of Christ the King

Christ the King Reveals a New Kind of Power

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily for the Solemnity of Christ the King

St. Mary of Assumption Church, Whittier, CA

Sunday, November 20, 2016

The Jews did not see Jesus as their Messiah or King. Their idea of a king is not a suffering servant but a triumphant military and political leader, a war hero like King David who will conquer and overcome all their enemies, restore the kingship to Israel and initiate a reign of peace and prosperity. The Jews knew the words of Deuteronomy 21:23 said, “God’s curse is on anyone who hangs on a tree.” So, to consider Jesus who was crucified on a cross as their Messiah and King is rather inconceivable. When Pilate put a sign above Jesus’ head that reads: “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews” (John 19:19) the chief priests of the Jews protested over the inscription: “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be the king of the Jews.” To say or to suggest that Jesus, a condemned man, hung on the cross (tree) is the King of the Jews is not only offensive but also blasphemous, and the authorities were ready to pronounce anathema to whoever that acknowledged that. 

Jesus wasn’t crucified between two thieves by accident. His crucifixion between two known criminals was a deliberate plot to humiliate him in front of the people that believed that he is the messiah. It was an attempt to link him with robbers, create doubts in the minds of people about him, tarnish his image, destroy his good reputation, make him a footnote in the history book and ultimately persuade and discourage people from seeing him as the Messiah and the King of the Jews and the world. The Jewish authorities hated him so much that they were ready to do anything to wipe out his name, his accomplishments, and his teachings from people’s mind. They did not want any history book to consider Jesus as the King of Jews. They did not want any memory to remember the good things he had done and taught. They did not want anyone to remember that he had healed and touched the lives of many.  They did not want anyone to remember the lepers he cleansed, the dead he raised, the sorrowful he comforted, the sinners he forgave, the hopeless he gave hope. They did not want anyone to remember the most beautiful message of all that he preached: “God is love; God loves you.” The main thing the Jewish authorities wanted everyone to remember about Jesus is that he was crucified among criminals—raising doubts that he may not be whom he said he is. The very idea of arresting him, torturing him, humiliating him, hanging him on a tree, and between two publicly known thieves were done to demonstrate that Jesus was fake, a deceiver, and a historic failure. The authorities refused to acknowledge that Jesus was King and they made concerted effort to prevent everyone from seeing him as such. 

While Jesus was hanging on the cross, the rulers mocked and sneered him saying: “He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Christ of God.” The soldiers too joined in the festival of mocking him: “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself.” These folks were literally insulting Jesus, challenging him, telling him to show his power. They were literally calling him a fool: “He saved others” but refused to save himself. Jesus’ strength, resilience and power were all tested here. But he remained calm. Through self-restrain and self-control he revealed a new kind of power. As they mocked him, “one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus saying, ‘Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us.’” The other thief saw what others did not see, and acknowledged what everyone else denied and refused to acknowledge. He noticed that Jesus was innocent: “...but this man has done nothing criminal.” He saw that he was truly the Messiah and King: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”  Through his request, he acknowledged the Kingship of Jesus. He reached out to Jesus in humility and Jesus reached out to him in love and promised him: “Amen, I saw to you, today, you will be with me in Paradise.” In this, Jesus proclaims himself Ruler and King of a kingdom built on compassion and love.

This gospel tells us that it is never too late to turn to Jesus. Some things are too late for us to do now. Some accomplishments may be too late for us now to achieve. It’s too late for me now to be a football star or world class soccer player. It may be too late for some of us to have another child. It may be too late for some of us to go back to school. It may be too late for some of us now to attempt to climb Mount Everest or any other mountain out there. But when it comes to turning to Jesus Christ, we can never say that it is too late. So long as someone’s heart beats, the invitation to turn to the Lord still stands. As we always say, “When there is life, there is hope.”

The gospel challenges us not to be cowed especially if we are the lone voice of righteousness and uprightness. As more and more people turn away from God, we must strive to remain the lone voice of God in our community. As more and more people deny the Kingship of Jesus, we must be the lone voice shouting in words and in deeds that Jesus Christ is the Lord and King. As more and more Christians become cold and lukewarm in the practice of their faith, our faith must shine out and dispel the darkness around us. As more and more Catholics choose and pick what aspect of our faith they want to believe and practice, we must be the lone voice of truth. To be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ is to be servants of truth- truth that liberates and renews, truth that gives and sustains life and hope, truth that transcends rationalizations, half-truths and delusions, truth that serves as a looking glass for seeing the world in the intended design of God. Jesus, our Lord is the King of forgiveness, mercy and compassion. To be his disciples, we must become servants of all he taught and did.

God bless you!

Amazing Life We Never Had Before!

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily for the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

St. Mary of Assumption Church, Whittier, CA

Sunday, November 6, 2016

The Sadducees were an extreme conservative sect among the Jews. They belonged to the upper social and economic echelons of Judaean society. They occupied various political, social, and religious roles, including maintaining the Temple. They believed that only the first five books of the Bible were the inspired word of God. In spite of the general belief among the Jews that the dead would rise on the last day, as shown by the first reading taken from 2 Maccabees 7:1-2; 9-14: “It is my choice to die at the hands of men with the hope God gives of being raised up by him...” the Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection.  They also did not believe in spirits and angels. Armed with disbelief in the resurrection, some of them came to Jesus and asked him a question they believed would prove that there’s no resurrection: “Teacher, Moses wrote for us, ‘If someone’s brother dies leaving a wife but no child, his brother must take the wife and raise up descendants for his brother.” Continuing with their question, they narrated a story of seven brothers, who, at some point of their earthly lives got married to one woman but one after another, each of them died without having any child with the woman. Finally the woman also died. “At the resurrection,” (which you people believe) “whose wife will that woman be?” (Luke 20:27-38)

Folks, the Sadducees posed that question, not because they were interested in understanding the theology of the resurrection; all they wanted to do was to make a mockery of the belief in the resurrection. They wanted Jesus to make a fool of himself. They wanted to see Jesus struggle to answer their question and to have a good laugh. They did not ask to know, they asked to ridicule the most fundamental teaching of our faith. Everything that Jesus taught and did rest on resurrection. In John 11:25, Jesus says of himself, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even if they die, they will live.” If resurrection is not true, then it means that Jesus is not true. If resurrection is a lie, then it means that Jesus is a lie. If resurrection is fake, then it means that Jesus is fake. If there is no resurrection, it means that Jesus lied to us. If there is no resurrection, then it means that Jesus went into extinction after his death. This is what the Sadducees wanted to show, to prove and to demonstrate. They wanted to dismantle the cornerstone of the Christian Faith. 

But guess what? They chose the wrong target because Jesus showed them that he is indeed the Lord of life, that he is indeed the resurrection and the life; that he is indeed the Son of God who has come down from heaven. Jesus taught them that his teaching on resurrection is not just an article of faith that he has not witnessed. As the Son of God, as Immanuel, God who is with us, he has an unquestionable knowledge of  resurrection. He had seen those who believed in God resurrect to life after earthly death. He told the Sadducees that their notion of marriage and resurrection  was wrong, that they completely misunderstood marriage and resurrection: “The children of this age marry and remarry; but those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age and to the resurrection of the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. They can no longer die for they are like angels...” Resurrection is nothing like the life we live here on earth. At the resurrection, life is better. There will be no pain, no suffering, no boredom, no need for the things we now need to survive. We will die no more. There will be no need to enter into any marriage to keep and preserve our species from dying out. In heaven, we will be like angels. Heaven is like those moments of our lives when we experience the intense love of another or the great love of God. The experience of the resurrection will be infinitely more profound than anything we have experienced here on earth. 

Yes, death frightens a lot of people because it brings human life to an end. Instead of being frightened by death, Jesus wants us to think of the hope of resurrection. He tells us that the dead will rise to die no more. He teaches us that God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. He’s the God of the living because our faithful brothers and sisters who have passed away are not dead. If they were dead, how come Moses called God, “the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob?” Our loved ones who served the Lord sincerely on this earth but have now passed away are not dead. They are alive in Christ Jesus. To some of us, they are dead, but to Jesus, they are alive and flourishing; they are champion bubblers!  To some of us, they are dead, but to Jesus, they only transition into glory. Their departure is not their death or their end. It’s actually the beginning of the real life. Our life on earth is often interrupted by wars, economic crisis, politics, natural disasters, sickness, and suffering etc. But in heaven, our joy and peace will never be interrupted again. We will live a life of abundance. We will live to die no more. We will live no longer as Democrats, Republicans, Progressives, or Conservative, but as children of God. We will live no longer as Catholics, Baptists, Pentecostals, Evangelicals but like angels. Whatever we are doing in this world, let’s make sure we secure a spot for ourselves in heaven. It’s a beautiful, amazing and awesome life we never had before. 

PURGATORY MAKES SENSE. AND HERE IS WHY!

The Church's teaching on Purgatory highlights the boundless and limitless love and mercy of God. It demonstrates God’s tireless effort to redeem his children. It reveals the extent God can go to save and rescue those purchased by the precious Blood of his Son, Jesus Christ. For those who do not believe it, here’s my take on it. When the bible says that “Nothing impure will enter the Kingdom of God” (Rev. 21:27), it means no single impurity will enter it. God expects purity from his children. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” Jesus teaches. This suggests that God expects 100% from each of us. But what happens to those who have 60%, 70%, 80%, 90% and even 99%? Is God going to throw them into eternal hell of suffering and punishment? What will happen to that faithful mother who loved God and the people of God? She served God and the people of God. She loved her children and husband. She was faithful almost till the end. But due to human weakness, she fell into sin like every one of us. But before she could seek for forgiveness and reconcile with our loving God, tragedy struck and she died. When she gets to heaven, is God really going to cast her into hell because of that sin she is yet to seek for forgiveness? Well, the Mother Church says no. We serve a God of second chance. That woman will be given a second chance of going through purification. In purgatory, the souls of the faithful, who are not completely ready, not completely pure will undergo a process of purification. Why? Because nothing impure will enter into it. If our human parents, who are not perfect, who are not as loving and compassionate like God will admit an imperfect son or daughter, why should we expect less from God? God’s love is infinite. Those who embraced his love and cooperated with it while on earth, but somehow fell short, will not be rejected everlastingly by God’s surpassing love and mercy. Do not forget, the name of God is Mercy. The Mercy they sought on earth, will not abandon them. 

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

On the Commemoration of All Souls

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

Personal Effort is Also Needed

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily for the Thirty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

St. Mary of Assumption Church, Whittier, CA

October 30, 2016

Jesus was on a journey which must take him through Jericho. Jericho was a wealthy and important city. It had a great palm forest and gardens of roses that were known far and wide then. Products from the city were taken to world-wide trade. It was a great city of commerce; so these made Jericho one of the greatest taxation centers in Palestine. Tax-collectors usually over-taxed the people, and after submitting the actual amount demanded by the Roman government, they shared the rest. This practice made them rich. Zacchaeus was one of them. But he wasn’t an ordinary tax-collector; he was a chief tax-collector who had reached the top of his profession. He was at the peak of his career. He had made lots of money and had become rich and wealthy. But despite his wealth, he was the most hated in the district. Why? Because he and many other tax-collectors were working for the Roman government- the Jews most hated enemy, and were also making illegal money from it. The people knew what they were doing. The system of checks and balances were not in place then. In the district and in the neighborhood, Zacchaeus and his households were hated, avoided, abused and cursed by people. He was the saddest man! 

One day, Zacchaeus heard about Jesus. He heard that Jesus does not discriminate against anyone. He heard that Jesus welcomes sinners, tax-collectors and even prostitutes. He also heard that Jesus was passing his way. He decided to cease the moment. Unloved by all, Zacchaeus decided to reach out to the Lover of all and to the love of God. When he got to the street, he was confronted by two obstacles: one, the crowd people who were following Jesus, and two, his height. He was a short man and if he throws himself in the crowd, he could be crushed. Many of his haters, no doubt, were there. But instead of being discouraged, he quickly sought for a solution. There was something much more important than the pain and suffering of the present age. What he did was remarkable. Sighting a sycamore tree along the path that Jesus would most certainly pass by, he ran ahead and climbed the tree. Things were not easy for him but the little man was determined to make it. He made a vigorous effort to see Jesus. He wanted to demonstrate both to Jesus and his community that he was a changed man. When Jesus came to the spot, he looked up and said to him: “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down; for I must stay at your house today.” Put differently, Jesus was saying to him: “Zacchaeus, I have seen your effort to be saved. You can now come down! What you are looking for from the top of that tree will be your guest tonight. What you longed for will not be given to you in bits and pieces, but in abundance.”

Scripture tells us that “In his riches man lacks wisdom (Psalm 49:20)” but not Zacchaeus. He was able to set aside his wealth and riches and sought after the REAL THING. Imagine a wealthy man climb a road-side tree just to see a carpenter’s son. But then, the carpenter’s son, Jesus, had something which all our education, money, good position, political connection, fancy looks, comfortable lifestyle cannot offer. He is Life and the Giver of the Real Life. 

The Christian Faith disturbs us! It demands something from us. It asks us do good and avoid evil. The Christian Faith asks us to forsake our evil and corrupt ways and to accept and embrace Jesus’ way of love, compassion, righteousness and goodness. The earliest call and invitation of Jesus was, “Repent and believe the good news” (Mark 1:15b). To repent is to turn the page of the past littered by sin, wrongdoing and wickedness and to accept the way of Jesus Christ. To do that successfully will require not only the grace of God, but also our willingness to cooperate with the grace of God. God’s grace has already been released to us. It’s now on us to cooperate and to use it. This is where our personal effort and discipline come in. To make heaven, we must make effort. Zacchaeus made effort to see the Lord and his effort was handsomely rewarded. If we make effort to look for the Lord, we will find him. We will see him in our lives and in the lives of others. In the house Zacchaeus Jesus declares “The Son of Man has come to seek and save the lost.” He came for the weak, and not the strong. He came for the sick, not the healthy. He came to call sinners, and not the righteous. He came to seek for me, you and all of us. Like me, I believe you are weak too. Like me, I believe you are not completely healthy. Like me, I believe you are a sinner too. He wants to find us, not some days, but every day. But to be found by the Lord is on us. He cannot force us to save us. He requires our willingness to be saved. If we let him, salvation too, will come into our house