Homily on Solemnity of the Holy Trinity

Like God, Shun Individualism And Isolation!

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily on Solemnity of the Holy Trinity

St. Mary Assumption Catholic Church, Whittier, CA

June 11, 2017

Moses was invited by God to come to Mount Sinai. The people of Israel had rejected God and Moses by turning to a lifeless object. Rather than continue to trust and worship the living God that has led them this far, they made a golden calf and began to worship it. When Moses saw them, he was infuriated and out of anger, he threw on the floor, the stone tablets on which God’s covenant with his people were inscribed. When he broke the tablets, he broke and annulled the covenant God made with his people, Israel. So, the story of today’s First Reading (Exodus 34:4b-6, 8-9) is about Moses coming to meet with God with a new set of tablets for the purpose of restoring the broken covenant. 

When God appeared to Moses, God declared his name: LORD, in Hebrew YHWH, frequently written in English as Yahweh (So, Yahweh is the revealed personal name of Israel’s God). Apart from revealing his name, God also revealed his identity: “The LORD, the LORD, a merciful and gracious God, slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity.” The two qualities—merciful and gracious are almost synonymous, although merciful has a stronger meaning because it is related to the Hebrew word for “womb,”suggesting a mother’s love for her child. Because the Israelites had sinned, God revealed to Moses that the God he serves is slow to anger, a quality that Moses didn't have. It was his quick temper that triggered him to break the covenant God made with Israel. So, God was assuring Moses that he wasn’t going to destroy his people who had provoked him. The final two qualities that God revealed to Moses: “kindness and fidelity,” were a deeper assurance from God that he will remain faithful and steadfast, even if his people remain wicked and stiff-necked. Moses eventually asked for God’s favor and invited him to join their company— that is, to be with them as he has always been. Of cause, God accepted his prayer and accompanied his people because God is mercy. God is kind. God is patient. God is gracious. God is faithful. 

In today’s Gospel taken from John 3:16-18, Jesus continues to reveal who God is: that God is a lover. He so loved the world that he gave his only Son so that everyone will be saved by believing in the Son that God has sent. In the spirit of the First Reading, which says that “God is slow to anger…” Jesus assured that “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.”

Sisters and brothers, has anyone realized the tremendous amount of efforts that God made to establish and reestablish relationship with us? Undeniably, God is not a loner. God cherishes and relishes relationship. God longs and yearns for relationship with us. And that should not come as a surprise to anyone. God is being true to his nature. He does not exist alone or in isolation, but in a community of love, fellowship and sharing. God’s existence in a community of persons is the Solemnity we are celebrating today. Although, the word, “Trinity” is not explicitly written in the Bible, but the doctrine itself is littered everywhere in the Bible. The idea of Three Persons was clearly stated by Jesus himself. During his earthly ministry, he spoke so much about his relationship with his Father: “I and the Father are one” (John 10:30); “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father…” (John 14:9b); “Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me…” (John 14:11); “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son and the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19); “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father and he will give you another Advocate to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth” (John 14:15-17); “All this I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and remind you of everything I have told you” (John 14:25-26). Of most significant is the baptism of the Lord. As Jesus was being baptized by John the Baptist, the Holy Spirit descended upon him in a form of a dove, and the voice of the Father sounded from heaven and said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:13-17). At this baptism, the Trinity was present; the heavenly community of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit was revealed and communicated to us. This is the Trinity in action. In today’s Second Reading taken from 2 Corinthians 13:13, St. Paul prayed, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you.” In those words, one of our ancestors in faith recognized the reality of the Trinity and called for their presence in our lives. 

But what should we learn and emulate from the Trinity?  The importance of this doctrine lies in the fact that we are made in the image of God, therefore, the more we understand God, the more we understand ourselves. Experts in religion tell us that people always try to be like the god they worship. People who worship a warrior god tend to be war-mongering; people who worship a god of pleasure, tend to be pleasure-seeking; people who worship a god of wrath, tend to be vengeful, and people who worship a god of love tend to be loving, lovely and lovable. Like a god, so the worshippers. God is a community of love and the solemnity of the Trinity calls us to emulate the God we serve, to become  a community of love. Our God is a community, and we are called to live in a community and as a community. Every Christian who wants to do the will of God must shun every tendency to isolationism and individualism. Those who sever relationship with their parents, brothers, sisters, and relatives just to be alone are going against the will of God for us. Since God made a great effort to establish a covenant-relationship with us, and then reestablish it when it was broken, we must do the same with God and with our fellow human beings. A deliberate avoidance of relationship with others is not godly. Some of us shy away from relationship because they have been hurt by others in the past. But isn’t that what we do to God on a regular basis? Did I hear someone say, “We are not God, we are human beings?” Sure, we are only humans, and not God, but Jesus has called us to rise above our human frailties: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” Bad experiences have lessons to teach. We must learn the lesson, be wiser, act wisely, and move on. If someone has hurt you before, it does not mean that everyone else would hurt you. As a matter of fact, at some point in our lives, we have hurt someone. We are all wounded, but must become wounded healers. We are created to live in community, to reach out, to share, to love, just like the God we serve. Happy Holy Trinity!

Language that Everyone Understands!

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily for the Solemnity of the Pentecost

St. Mary of Assumption Church, Whittier, California

June 3, 2017

During the earthly ministry of Jesus, he had access to the secret thoughts of people. He had power over the forces of nature—he walked on a sea and calmed a raging storm. He had dominion over demons and evil spirits. He healed so many who were ill, brought abundant of joy to them and to the members of their family. When Satan tempted him with pleasure, power and fame, (things that we crave for) Jesus floored him. His uncommon miraculous actions amazed his disciples that in one occasion they asked, “Who is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:41). If Jesus accomplished all these in his human form, it there means he can never be limited by the ordinary categories of time and space in his Risen and glorified nature. If he walked on the sea in human form, he can make an entire sea disappear in his Risen nature. If he turned water into wine, multiplied five loaves of bread and two fish to feed a multitude in human form, then he can do much more in Risen form. By his resurrection, Jesus conquered death and took an overwhelming authority and power over the earth and heaven: “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18). As such, not even walls, or prisons, or the most fortified military zone can limit his entrances or exits. So, while the disciples were in a locked up room, fearful of the Jewish authority who had crucified their Master, Jesus joined the gathering by overcoming the limitation of time and space. Standing in their midst, he gave them gifts that they will need to fulfill the mission he has given to them. 

The first gift he gave them is that of peace: “Peace be with you.” His peace is much more than the absence of war or conflict. His peace is a blessing of health, wholeness, perfect harmony, serenity, and everything good. Jesus’ peace is the blessing of perfect assurance that he would be with us until the end of the age. His peace is deeper, more profound, more durable and more powerful than the kind of peace that the United Nations pursue. It’s peace, perfect peace! Peace from inside out, made possible, not by military might or comfort zone, but by the Lord. This peace is achieved and attained not by weapons and arms, but by knowing, loving, serving the Lord, connecting with him daily through prayer and keeping his commands. Even in jail, one can have the peace of Jesus Christ. In times of difficulty, this peace is still possible. His peace can never be vanquished or expelled by lack or poverty, and material surplus or abundance is not what obtains it. It’s Jesus’ gift, freely given to those who maintain an ongoing and steady relationship with him. Along with peace, Jesus gives his disciples the gift of the Holy Spirit. Through the Eucharist and the Holy Spirit, he fulfills his promise, “Behold, I am with you until the end of the age” (Matthew 28:20). 

Today, we celebrate the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the early followers of Jesus. Before this event took place, Jesus had followers, but there was no movement that could meaningfully be called the church. So, from a historical perspective, Pentecost is the day that the church was started. It is also true from a spiritual point of view, because the Spirit is the One that brings the church into existence and also inspires it. In summary, Pentecost is the birthday of the church. 

Now, what actually happened to the disciples on the day of Pentecost? The account of this event is recorded in today’s first reading taken from Acts 2:1-11. It says that on the day of Pentecost, the early disciples were all together in one place. All of a sudden, a sound came from heaven, like a strong wind, and filled the house where the disciples had gathered together. Then something like tongues of fire rested on their heads. “They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in different languages, as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim.” The languages spoken by these early Christians were heard and understood by thousands of Jewish pilgrims who had come to Jerusalem to celebrate a Jewish holiday known as the Festival of Weeks (Shavuot in Hebrew). Originally, this feast was a harvest festival (Exodus 23:16); later, it became a day to remember the giving of the law on Mount Sinai. This day became significant for us Christians because, seven weeks after the resurrection of the Lord, the Holy Spirit was given to the early followers of Jesus, empowered them for the mission and also brought them together as a church.

Sisters and brothers, as we celebrate the birth of the Church, let us, just like the early church, speak a language that will be heard and understood by all. This language can be heard and understood by those who speak English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, Igbo, Yoruba, Hausa, Dutch, French etc. Regardless of what language a person speaks, this language can be heard and understood by all and sundry. Some of you may be wondering already, “What kind of language is that?” Folks, it is the language of love. It can be understood by those who talk and those who don’t. It can be understood by those who hear and those who don’t. It can be understood by those who see, and those who don’t. It can be understood by all God’s people everywhere in the world. In many occasions, we don’t even have to say it. We just have to show it. The language of love is what makes possible, the third gift that Jesus gave to his disciples— power to forgive sins. Throughout his lifetime, Jesus repeatedly offered the gift of forgiveness. Due to his immense love for all God’s children, he empowered his disciples to forgive, not only people of their generation, but generations after. If the Lord is ready to go this length to forgive us, we must be ready to forgive others. Forgiveness is made easier and possible by the language of love.

Happy Pentecost Sunday!

This is How to Love!

This is How to Love!

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily for 6th Sunday of Easter, Year A

St. Mary of Assumption Church, Whittier, CA

Sunday, May 21, 2017

The Penny Catechism Book, Part II, Question Number 14, asks, “Why did God make us?” And the answer given is, “God made us to know him, love him, serve him, and to be happy with him forever in Heaven.” This explains that the very purpose of our very existence is to know, love and serve God; everything else we do—studying, working, raising a family, retiring, serving, being served, etc. should serve this very purpose. We realize our purpose and essence of life by knowing, loving and serving the Lord. We derail and stray when we do none of it. So, if there’s anyone out there who still questions or wonders what his or her purpose of life is, I hope you have your answer. 

In today’s gospel, (John 14:15-21), Jesus injects two of the purposes of life (love and serve God) in his farewell speech to his disciple and then connects them: “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” Keeping his commandments is the same as serving him. But guess what those commandments are? Love Jesus and his brothers and sisters! Sometime ago, I told a friend that in a traditional African society, the expression “I love you,” is rarely used. My friend asked me, “Then how do you know that someone loves you?” I replied, “You know by the way they treat you.” 

Jesus demonstrated his love for his Father by his obedience, and it is by obedience that we are to demonstrate our love for him. Love is not merely an emotion but a moral expression revealed in obedience. We know there are people who profess love in words but at the same time, bring pain and heartbreak to the same people they claim to love. There are young people who say they love their parents, but cause them sorrow, anxiety and sleeplessness. There are husbands who say they love their wives and wives who say they love their husbands, but through their inconsideration and thoughtless unkindness cause pain and grief to the very one they claim to love. To Jesus, love is a reality demonstrated only in true obedience.

What do we do to those we love? We try to have their best interest in mind. We try to make them happy. We try to avoid anything capable of destroying or impacting our relationship with them negatively. And if we are geographically separated from them we strive to stay in touch with them by telephone, email, social media etc. And when time permits, we visit. That’s what Jesus expects from us. If we love him, we will cherish him above all else and make effort to keep his commands. But does this mean that every time we sin we do not love him? Anytime we commit sin we love something or someone else more than we love Jesus. Loving Jesus entails changing our lives, our lifestyles, reforming our lives, working on our personalities and characters, stretching ourselves to cooperate with his grace. Loving Jesus requires putting him first, second and third before anything or anybody. Loving Jesus is making daily efforts to overcome and eliminate any form of sin no matter how small it is. Galatians 5:24 say, “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.” St. Paul loved Jesus so much to the point of declaring, “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). St. Peter loved the Lord that when Jesus asked him thrice, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He confidently replied, “Lord, you know everything; you know I love you” (John 21:17).

Now, the command to love Jesus and keep his commandment is not an easy task. Anyone who tells you it is easy is probably not observing it. Jesus himself knew it is not going to be easy, hence, he promised to send us the Holy Spirit: “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows him. But you know him, because he remains with you, and will be in you.” Jesus knows that keeping his commandments is not going to be an easy ride for us, so he promised, “I will not leave you orphans, I will come to you.”

Jesus is Put to the Test

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily for the First Sunday of Lent, Year A

St. Mary of Assumption Church, Whittier

Sunday, March 5, 2017

Temptation is an enticement, opinion or suggestion to commit evil. In itself, temptation is no sin; but yielding to it, is. Temptation tests our faith in God, and our victory or otherwise defeat in it will determine where we stand with God.  Today being the First Sunday of Lent, the Church presents us the Gospel story of Jesus’ temptation in the desert. Jesus, who had largely lived a private life with Mary was about to begin his public ministry. In preparation for his mission, he was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. To stay strong, Jesus prayed and fasted for forty days and forty nights, and thereafter, he was hungry. The devil, aware of Jesus’ needs showed up to tempt him. Now, the threefold temptation was directed at Jesus’ core: his identity, his fidelity and the covenant God made with the Israelites. Knowing that Jesus was hungry, the devil approached him and said, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.” The devil cleverly wanted Jesus to prove that he is the Son of God by performing acts that would gravely betray that very same identity. There was nothing essentially wrong in turning stones into bread, but if Jesus had done that, he would have used his powers selfishly. He would have  obeyed the devil. And obedience to the devil is disobedience to God. But Jesus was even more clever to say to the devil: “One does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Jesus knew his identity all too well, and didn’t need to prove it to the devil by doing the devil’s will. Do we know our identity? Do we really know who we are? Do we know that each of us is a beloved child of God? If you know your identity- that you are a beloved child of God, then don’t worry what the naysayers say about you. What they say you are, what they say in their gossip about you, is not who you are. You are God’s beloved! That’s your identity. As long as you act as such, you have nothing to worry about. 

Having lost out in the First Temptation, the devil took Jesus to the holy city, and made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and then said to him: “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written, He will command his angels concerning you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.” But Jesus responded: “You shall not put the Lord, your God to the test.” The Second Temptation looks like the the First: “If you are the Son of God…” Again, the devil wanted Jesus to prove a point to him. Prove that you are God’s Son by jumping from the pinnacle of the Temple and then allow the angels to catch you and prevent you from dashing your foot against a stone. Jesus is God’s Special Son. He has powers, but doing what the devil suggested would amount two things: putting God to the test, and obeying the command of the devil. Some Christians have unreasonable faith. Some are so naive in the practice of their faith. Such people believe in a God of magic, not in the God of miracles. I worship a miracle working God, not a magic performing God.  A story is told of a young man who jumped into a lion’s cage in the zoo because the Bible promises that nothing harmful can happen to God’s children. It’s possible his soul went to heaven, but his body was a special lunch for the lions.

In the Third Temptation, the devil tests whether Jesus will uphold Israel’s covenantal relationship with God. After showing Jesus the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence, he said to him: “All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me.” At this point, Jesus rebuked the devil: “Get away, Satan! It is written, the Lord your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve.” The devil was bitting more than he could chew. He actually wanted the Son of God to bow down and worship him. But Jesus showed him the exit door of his life and asked him to close the door behind him. Jesus wants the whole world to acknowledge him as the Lord and Savior, but he cannot achieve that by worshipping a false god. As children of God, are we allowed to pursue our goals by whatever means? Does the end justify the means? Are we supposed to use every available means- good or bad, to achieve our objectives? Jesus says no! The devil’s shortcut shortens and cuts our peace and joy. His shortcut is a shortcut to misery, sorrow and eternal damnation.

Jesus was tempted with selfish pleasure, with fame and with power, but in all of them, he showed his mettle, his faithfulness and commitment to his Father. Are those three things: pleasure, fame and power, not what everyone in the world is scrambling for, and most times, at the detriment of others, their faith and relationship with God? Now, we mustn’t regard Jesus’ temptation as an outward experience. These temptations did not happen outwardly, but inwardly. Each of them was a struggle that went on in Jesus’ heart, mind and soul. It’s not possible to have a mountain from where all the kingdoms of the earth could be viewed and seen. The Three Temptations were an inner struggle, and they happened to Jesus when he was most vulnerable and in need. Like Jesus, we all are tempted. And just as Jesus triumphed over all the enticements of the evil one, we too can. When the tempter calls you, call upon Jesus. When he offers you bread (which stands for bodily pleasure), seek for the Bread of Life. When he offers you fame, ask for the humility and simplicity of Jesus. When the tempter shows you the shortcut to prosperity, ease and comfort,  follow the Lord’s long road to true freedom.  But if you are too weak, too tired to pray, if your heart is torn in pieces and you seem confused, scream aloud and say: “Take me to the King.”

If You Want To Be Happy...

Beloved, today’s Gospel is one of the most beautiful and important in the New Testament. Why is it important? It’s important because it is Jesus, the Son of God telling us how to be happy. He’s teaching us how to achieve that which every one of us is searching for— happiness! To be blessed is to be happy! 

Now, at the center and heart of Jesus’ teaching are these two beatitudes: 

“Blessed are the merciful for they will be shown mercy” and “Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.” One of the most important words used in the Old Testament to describe God is the Hebrew word, “Chesed” which means “tender mercy.” And in the New Testament, especially in the first letter of John, God is “Agape” (love). That means, the God we serve is tender and merciful’ he is also love. God is love! God should be seen as Chesed and Agape. Chesed is compassion; agape is desiring the good of others. Therefore, if we want to be happy, we must aspire to be like God. We must strive to love everyone regardless of race, religion and heritage. 

We must see God in everybody. Blessed are the clean of heart, for they shall see God “in everybody.” 

God bless you!

Fr. Marcel 

John the Baptist: A Paradigm of Humility

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily for the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

St. Mary of Assumption Church, Whittier, CA

Sunday, January 15, 2017

John the Baptist began his prophetic ministry with a bang. The bang was loud enough that it was heard from near, far and wide. His revolutionary message got the attention of the public; as such, people from various walks of life were going to see him. Even though he was preaching in a desert, a place far away from home, people ignored the odds, traveled to the desert to listen to him. He was such a pivotal and essential figure that it’s almost impossible to really understand Jesus without understanding John. 

John came from a priestly family. His parents— Zechariah and Elizabeth, were priestly personages. Elizabeth was a descendant of the family of Aaron, the first priest of Israel; Zachariah was a practicing temple priest when John was born. Even though John the Baptist was of a priestly stock, his great message and ministry did not take place in the temple. In his time, the temple was mired in very messy, vile, and violent politics. So, he went to the desert to offer to the people, what the temple should have offered to them, but wasn’t, due to widespread corruption. He went to the desert and preached hope and forgiveness of sins. He was so unique, so exemplary, so revered that many actually thought he was the Messiah. When people came to him, he never asked for money, or tithe, or seed-sowing, or first-fruit offering. He never turned his ministry into a money-making project. He never asked for any monetary or material favor. He only asked them to repent, to shift their attention to God, to get ready for the coming of God’s kingdom. He told them that even though they had lost their way, all hope was not lost, that something can still be done about their moral and spiritual collapse. He announced that God has already done something about the ugly situation—he has sent a Savior. John challenged everyone to turn to God with humility, to turn the page of sin and wickedness and accept the Son of God. 

When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask John who he was, whether he was the Messiah, his response was, “I am not the Messiah” (John 1:20). Later, he saw Jesus coming towards him and joyfully announced, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. He is the one of whom I said, ‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’” Did anybody notice the sincerity, humility and integrity of John the Baptist? When Jesus emerged, John knew that his fame and popularity will soon fade, but he was not jealous or upset. He was not perturbed that the spotlight is not going to be upon him anymore. He was not jealous that very soon, he will play a second fiddle role. Instead he turned all the attention he has been receiving to exactly where it properly belonged—Jesus. In fact, later on John said, “He must increase; I must decrease” (John 3:30). Amazing declaration of humility!

Friends, John the Baptist is a shinning example, a perfect exemplar, and a perfect role model for us all, especially for some clergy and religious leaders who have a problem with pride; who cannot work under another person, who think they are larger than life, and who always want to be, stay and remain in the spotlight. He is an epitome of example for us all, especially those who often claim to be what they are not. He’s a good example for those of us who are constantly craving for recognition, and who will do anything to always be in the news, etc. John was a highly placed and respectable prophet, but he did not let his popularity and fame to get into his head. He did not forget who he was and what his mission was about. He knew the role he was to play, and he performed it with distinction. No wonder Jesus said of him, “Amen, I say to you, among those born of women,  there has been none greater than John the Baptist…”

John did the people of his time and for every generation a huge favor. He revealed the Messiah. In today’s Gospel (John 1:29-34), he continues the epiphany of the Divine Son of God to all the nations of the world. After the magi met Jesus, paid him homage and offered him three important and symbolic gifts- gold, frankincense and myrrh, nothing was said about them again. We are not sure they narrated their experience to others, just as the shepherds did. So, when Jesus entered the stage, he was virtually unknown. It was John the Baptist, whose popularity had spread far and wide, that introduced him to the people. With the weight of his popularity, he witnessed and testified for Jesus. He refused to let pride and arrogance get in the way. He refused to let the temptation to upstage Jesus overtake him. He refused to contest the center-stage with Jesus. When the moment was right, he testified for Jesus. He revealed him to others. He turned the attention of his audience who were already thinking that he was the Messiah to Jesus. After that, he deliberately exited the stage, and never did anything that undermined the ministry, message and mission of Jesus. Amazing!

The magi’s gifts to Jesus were symbolic. Gold symbolized his Kingship, frankincense symbolized his priesthood, and myrrh symbolized that Jesus will die. But guess what? What John the Baptist said of Jesus in today’s Gospel reinforces what those gifts symbolized. John called Jesus, “the Son of God.” In many cultures and nations, the first son of a king is accorded the same respect given to the king because he, the prince, is a potential king. He’s a king in waiting. Since God is a King, that makes his only begotten Son a King. John also called Jesus, “the Lamb of God.” In those days, lambs  or another animals were killed and used as sacrifice. By calling Jesus the Lamb of God John was foretelling his death, that he will be killed and his Blood will atone the sins of the world. Finally, John said of Jesus, “On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.” That’s John telling us that Jesus is a priest. 

Like John the Baptist, are we willing to witness, testify and manifest Jesus to everyone we meet? Are we ready to decrease and then allow the Lord to increase in us? Letting the self decrease, and allowing the Lord to increase in us is what holiness is all about. 

Homily on the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord

Who Actually Found the Lord?

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily on the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord

St. Mary of Assumption Church, Whittier, CA

Sunday, January 8, 2017

Friends, today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord. Epiphany is derived from the Latin word, “Epiphania” which means, “reveal.” So, what we celebrate today is the revelation or the manifestation of the divine Son of God to the nations of the world. The Messiah is being made available, so to speak, not only to the Jewish nation, but to all the nations of the world. No one, therefore, should be shocked that the folks who first found the baby Jesus were not priestly people or deeply religious ones. The Gospel of Luke tells us that shortly after Jesus was born, an angel of the Lord appeared to some shepherds in the field nearby who were watching over their flocks at night and announced to them that in the town of David, a Savior has been born. On hearing the good news, they left everything, went to Bethlehem and found Mary, Joseph and the baby. Thereafter, they went to town and spread the word around (Luke 2:1-20). This is what evangelization is all about. You receive the word, you spread the word. The Gospel of Matthew, on the other hand, tells us that after Jesus was born, some magi from the east, through the reading of a star, came to Jerusalem in search of the baby Jesus. They came to do him homage; they came to surrender to him; they came to offer three gifts—gold, frankincense, and myrrh; gifts that symbolize who the baby is, what he will accomplish, and what will happen to him. The gift of gold explains who the baby is—a King; frankincense also tells who he is and what he would do—a priest who will offer a lasting sacrifice. And the gift of myrrh tells of what would happen to him. He will die on the cross. The sacrifice that this King and Priest will offer is not going to be done with animals’ blood, but with his own blood. He will die to set us free. Now, while these folks were looking for the new born King to pay homage to him, King Herod was looking for him to destroy him. Even after searching the scriptures and knowing of its prophesy regarding the new born child, he was still determined to take him out.  

It is important to consider how people of different religious beliefs came to know that the Messiah has been born. The shepherds in Luke’s Gospel came to know through a direct vision of an angel. The magi from the east came to know by reading and studying the stars. King Herod and the scribes came to know through the scriptures. But in the end, who actually found Jesus? In those days, the shepherds were not allowed to enter the temple unless they undergo a ritual purification. The magi from the east were astrologers. They would be called pagans, even by some Christians today. Yet, they were the ones that found the baby Jesus. The shepherds found him by obeying the words of an angel . They did not doubt the supernatural apparition like many would do today. The magi, on the other hand, arrived at the side of Jesus by applying their natural reason in the reading of a star.  But Herod and his folks who had the scriptures did not find him. They had the shining truth of the scriptures, but they did not abide by it. They did not walk in the light of the scriptures. The magi and the shepherd, on the other hand, followed the guidance of angel and a star light. No doubt, the angel is the angel of the Lord. No doubt, the light is the light of the Lord. But the scripture is also the word of the Lord. But due to earthly power, position, fame, etc, Herod refused to follow the dictates of the scripture. As such, he missed out. Possession of the truth is important, but those who possess the truth must walk in the light of the truth.

As Catholics, we believe that our religion has the fullness of the truth. But of what benefit would that be if we do not walk in the truth? Nature worshippers or non-believers who sincerely follow the dim light of natural reason may arrive by the side of Jesus before us. In Matthew 21:31, Jesus says, “I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.” This is part of the tough truth we celebrate today. The exalted truth has been revealed to us. God has been manifested to us. But if we do not walk the walk of faith, like Herod, we may miss the amazing opportunity of finding the Lord and enjoying his blessings. Herod had the scripture, but he wasn’t saved. Ordinary folks who were sincerely searching for God were able to find him. Herod was not interested in seeing Jesus. Those who seek the Lord will surely find him. It is good to know the Bible. It is good to quote the Bible.  If you can quote it from Genesis to Revelation, that’s good. But we must be ready at all times to become a living bible by words and deeds. The divine Son of God has been made known to us; we have seen his light in our lives. Like the shepherds, let’s announce it to all and sundry. Like the magi, let’s offer him something we treasure the most. I hope it is our life!