God Responds Quickly To Any Sign Of Faith

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily for the 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, Brooklyn Center

Sunday 3, November 2019

The story of Zacchaeus teaches us how quickly God responds to any sign of faith. Zacchaeus’ climbing of the sycamore tree wasn’t out of curiosity. It wasn’t a passing glance or a passing interest to see Jesus. He really wanted to see Jesus. He had a deep hunger to encounter the Lord of second chance. Although he was despised by many for working for the Roman Empire as a tax collector, he was determined to see Jesus. It’s possible he had been looking for an opportunity to turn a new leaf. Of course, his people won’t believe him and won’t even provide such an opportunity. So, when he heard that Jesus was passing by, he seized the moment. 

Zacchaeus was a wealthy man. But praise God he realized that his wealth was ill-gotten. Praise God he realized that filthy wealth cannot buy salvation. Praise God he discovered that although he had plenty of material riches, he was lacking in what really matters to God. Praise God that he had the humility to set aside his honor, pride and whatever else he thought of himself, and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see the poor Carpenter from Nazareth. Praise God that Zacchaeus knew it worths nothing to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul. Praise God he did not allow any obstacle— the crowd, his short stature, ego, etc. to become his stumbling block. He desperately wanted to see Jesus, but even before he expressed his intention, Jesus reached out to him: “Zacchaeus, hurry down. I mean to stay at your house today.” 

Sisters and brothers, God responds to us more readily when we show the least interest in him. He doesn’t play hard to get; he is not reluctant to accept us. When we seek him, he responds, because love is all that God is. God’s DNA is love. 

Check this out! After Jesus called Zacchaeus by name, what’s the next word he uttered? It is “hurry.” The word “hurry” means “don’t wait,” “don’t hesitate.” So to all of us, the good Lord is simply saying, “Seize the moment of conversion and salvation now.” 

God bless you!

We Are Not Better Than Those Who Have Passed

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily on the Commemoration of All Souls

St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, Brooklyn Center, Minnesota 

Sunday, November 2, 2019

Today, we remember the souls of all the faithful departed. We remember our dads, moms, sisters, brothers, sons, daughters, friends, and colleagues who have gone before us with faith, hope, and trust in the promise of eternal life. Why do we remember them specially today? We do so because they are part of our lives, are dear to us; and we miss them. But most importantly, our remembrance of them today is rooted in the age-long Catholic ecclesiology and tradition which avers that there are three states of the Church— the Church Militant, the Church Suffering or Penitent, and the Church Triumphant. The Church Militant consists of all Christians on earth— you and I who still struggle against sin, the devil, and darkness of this world. The Church Suffering consists of those Christians currently in Purgatory. The Book of Revelation 21:27 tells us that nothing unclean will enter the city of God— heaven. Therefore, the Church suffering are those Christians who were not totally unblemished at their passing away from this life. They are going through a process of purification. The Church Triumphant are those who have seen and experienced the beatific vision and are in heaven. They have made it, and have taken their seats at the table of the Lamb. 

The solemnity of all the Saints which we celebrated yesterday, and the commemoration of All Souls, which we are celebrating today highlights one important thing— that there is communion and fellowship between the living and the departed. If our loved ones are in the company of the saints in heaven, they pray for us, and we ask for their help and intercession. If they are in purgatory, we pray for them, for their purification, for God’s mercy and for their release. 

But sisters and brothers, I do not want you to celebrate today in fear or in sorrow. I do not want anyone in wonderland wondering if our moms, dads, sisters, brothers, sons, daughters, friends, uncles, etc made it to heaven. Do not let today be a sorrowful day for you. You can relive the times and moments you had with your loved ones. You may even cry if that’s the prevailing emotion. However, do not let this day be a day of sorrow or sadness. I hope you can make a distinction between a momentary show of emotion like crying and being in a state of sadness or sorrow. The reasons why I am urging against sadness or sorrow is traceable to all the readings today. In the first reading taken from the Book of Wisdom, we are told that “the souls of the just are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them.” In the eye of the foolish, they seemed to be dead, their passing away thought as an affliction, and their departure from this world considered as destruction. But the Book of Wisdom assures us that “they are in peace.” Now, what actually gives us the hope and confidence that our departed relatives are in the hand of God and in peace? The second reading taken from the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans (5:5-11) declares that God proves and demonstrates his love for us “in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” By the shedding of the Precious Blood of Jesus Christ, we have been reconciled to God, justified, saved, blessed and delivered. So, instead of being fearful or anxious, let us celebrate God’s love and mercy and also boasts of the reconciliation we have received from him through his Son, Jesus. 

Are you still unconvinced? Listen to the best part! In today’s Gospel from John 6:37-40 Jesus says, “Everything, (which means every person) that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me, because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the One who sent me.” Although we consider them dead, but our departed relatives did not actually die; they only returned to Jesus and to our Creator. They only changed location. If they believed and accepted Jesus as their Lord and Savior while on earth, they will find in him a merciful Judge. 

Obviously the death of a beloved one brings some sadness and grief to us, however, we should not be sad for them. Do not think that we are better than those who have passed. Surely we miss them. We wish they are still here with us. Since my mom passed away in 2014, I have never stopped wishing she is still around, that I can still call her on telephone and visit her in Nigeria. But one thing I have never done is to consider myself luckier than her. And you should not consider yourself luckier or better than those who have passed away. Do you know why? Because you and I must plod on this dark, sinful, and hurtful world; but not our departed loved ones. We will endure sickness and pain, abuse and shame, disappointment and hatred, but not for them. We will grow weary and even come close to despair; we will be maligned and dismissed; we will be treated unjustly and arrogantly; our leaders will hurt us and lie to us, but not for them. Therefore,  do not be sad for them. Do not weep for them. We are still poor; they are rich. We are fearful; they are secured. We still suffer; they are healed everlastingly. Our souls are still yearning and longing for God, they are already with God. We still hope and pray; they are already enjoying full friendship with God. We still strive, they are already fulfilled. We aspire for perfection; they are perfect already. We still visit the doctor for medical treatment; they are finally free from all kinds of sickness. While we strive not to lose, they have gained everything. 

Who Is Accepted By God?

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily for the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota 

Sunday, October 27, 2019

For regular churchgoers, whenever you hear the word “Pharisee” you probably have a negative impression of the Pharisees. We think of them as the bad guys who opposed and crucified Jesus. But in Jesus’ time, the Pharisees were the good guys. They were the Jewish religious leaders respected by many. They were the leaders of the society. They were the ones that people followed and listened to. In the minds of Jesus’ listeners, the Pharisees were good. On the other hand, tax collectors were considered bad by all and sundry. Why? After the Roman empire conquered Israel, the people of Israel were mandated to pay taxes to Rome. To ensure that taxes were collected, the Roman government hired local people— Jews, to collect taxes. So, tax collectors were Jewish men who were in charge of collecting taxes from the Jews and sending them to the Romans who were oppressing the Jews. Now, tax collectors did not only collect the required amount, but also collected more for themselves as well. Of course, they had the Roman soldiers that protected them as they exploited their own people. After remitting the required amount to the Roman government, the surplus was divided among themselves (tax collectors and soldiers). This made most of the tax collectors rich and corrupt. Unfortunately for them, everyone in the community knew about their corruption and wickedness. Fellow Jews hated and despised them because they were working for their oppressors—the Romans, and also enriching themselves from it. 

In today’s Gospel (Luke 18:9-14), Jesus told a story that will shock “those who were convinced of their own righteousness,” who trusted in themselves that they were righteous and then looked down on others with contempt. The story is about two men who went to the Temple to pray. One was a Pharisee (seen by many as good), and the other, a tax collector (seen by many as bad). After taking his position, the pharisee prayed, “O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity— greedy, dishonest, adulterous— or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.” Meanwhile, the tax collector standing from a distance and refusing to look up to heaven beat his chest and prayed, “O God, be merciful to me a sinner.” Concluding his story, Jesus said that it was the tax collector who went home justified and not the pharisee. “For  whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” 

When the Pharisee got into the temple, did he pray to God? No! Jesus said he spoke the prayer to himself and not to God. There are many things he could have prayed about. He could choose to pray for wisdom or for the grace to be holy and to honor God. He could have confessed his sins. He started his prayer well “O God, I thank you…” but then ruined it when he declared himself better than the rest of humanity and most especially the tax collector. In essence, he is saying that he is morally good, not like other evil people. Not corrupt. Don’t take money from other people. Not an adulterer. That he is sexually pure. That he is not a bad man, but a good person. He is simply saying, “Thank you God for I am so good, not like that sinful tax collector over there. I fast and pay tithes on all my income.” 

Sisters and brothers, fasting is good. Paying tithes is equally good. The Pharisee is the kind of man that every pastor will like to have as a church member. He is a moral man. He keeps all the church’s laws. Fulfills all the holy days of obligation and gives 10 percent of all his income as tithes. He has the right relationship with the opposite sex. He is not corrupt. He is respected by all. He is a good church folk. But here is the problem with his prayer. It is all about himself, and not about God. The focus of his prayer is who he is and what he’s done. It has nothing to do with what God has done for him or who God is. He is a proud and arrogant man. The center of the world is him, not God. Although he mentions God in his prayer, but it is not about God, but himself. He has one audience— himself. 

What about the tax collector? No one likes the tax collector. He’s the one that when he walks into a room, everyone looks at him with disdain. Now he goes to the temple. The people in the temple are probably the very people he is using the Roman soldiers to extort and steal money from. So, he stood far off, away from people, not minding them and what they think about him. The tax collector has one audience— God. He stands there, beats his chest (a sign of remorse), and refuses to look up to heaven or look around to avoid distraction. He bends his head and prays—“O God, be merciful to me a sinner.” What kind of person is the tax collector? He is humble! Did he say something about himself in this prayer? Yes! He said he is a sinner who needs one thing from God— mercy! 

From worldly perception, the tax collector has power, money and wealth. But what does he not have? God’s approval! He knows he has done wrong. He knows he is under God’s judgment and knows that God does not approve of his behavior. He knows it and does not make excuses for his sins. On the other hand, the Pharisee who is confident that God accepts and approves him fails to realize that pride, arrogance and looking down on others is sinful. To belittle others is to belittle God who is also in them. In the end, it is the tax collector who went home with God’s approval and acceptance. So, who will be accepted by God? It is the humble one. Has the Pharisee done some good and moral things? Yes! But will God accept those who have done some good and moral things nevertheless lack humility? Today’s Gospel says no. Only the humble will be exalted. A proud Christian does not know the God he or she claims to be serving. If in Jesus God the Creator humbled himself, became one of us in all things except sin, who do you think you are to exalt yourself above everyone else? 

I Recommend Prayer!

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily for the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

St. Alphonsus Catholic Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota 

Sunday October 20, 2019

“Prayer is the key, prayer is the key, prayer is the master key. Jesus started with prayer and ended with prayer, prayer is the master key.”

I grew up in Nigeria singing the song above. During family prayers, I joined in singing it. During Mass, fellowship, and other prayer meetings in the church, I sang along with others. It’s a common song in Nigeria that communicates three things: one, the vital importance of prayer; two, the fact that Jesus prayed from the beginning of his earthly ministry till the end; three, that as his disciples we should pray at all times like he did.

Friends, the central theme that runs through the readings today is prayer. The first reading taken from the Book of Exodus highlights the power and efficacy of prayer. After a certain nation, Amalek, declared war against Israel, Moses asked Joshua to take some men from the land and go out and engage Amalek in battle. He promised that he, Moses, will be standing on top of the hill with the staff of God in his hand. When the war began, Moses went with Aaron and Hur to the top of the hill. Now, as long as Moses kept his hands raised up (a symbol of prayer), Israel was winning. But whenever he lets his hands rest, the Amalekites were winning. With the passage of time, Moses became tired of keeping his hands raised. So, Aaron and Hur quickly put a stone in place for him to sit. After that they held and supported his hands, one on the left and the other on the right. With this, Moses’ hands were constantly raised till sunset leading to an overwhelming defeat of Amalek and a resounding victory for the Israel. 

No one goes through life without an encounter with difficult times. It’s either they come to us or we dabble into them. When it happens, depending on what the nature of the problem is, we seek for solutions. The message from the first reading and Gospel is that we include prayer as part of the solutions. So, if you are going through a quarter-life, mid-life or end-of-life crisis, I recommend prayer to you. Did you experience a heart-wrenching breakup from a relationship you invested so much into? I recommend prayer as part of your healing solution. Are you yet to recover from a painful divorce? I recommend prayer.  Did you lately experience failure in a project you worked so hard for? Why not try prayer? Did you suddenly lose a job you expected to be in till retirement? I recommend to prayer to you. Are you going through grief due to loss of a loved one or loss something very important to you? I recommend prayer to you. Are you one of those, like me who struggle with change? I recommend prayer to you. Change is always a hard thing to accept. In 2015, all the priests in this parish that many of you had got used to were transferred at the same time. Then four years later, what happened in 2015 happened again. I can understand if you are angry and frustrated by this constant change. But rather than take your anger on me or the other priests who were newly assigned here, I recommend prayer to you. Believe me, coming here was very difficult for me— not because the people of Minnesota are not wonderful people, but due to the weather. Left to me, I will rather stay in California. Just as you don’t determine the priests that serve you, I don’t determine the people I serve or where I go. If you are feeling frustrated by any kind of change, by the constant change around you, remember my recommendation— prayer. If you go to your doctor, he might recommend a medicine, an anti-depressant. But for me, I recommend prayer. Pray at all times and for different reasons and for different situations. If you are tired of praying, ask others to pray for you. Book Masses. Whenever I look at the Mass intentions, it is mostly for our departed loved ones. As you book Masses for your loved ones, remember to book Masses for your own intentions. If you are tired of praying just as Moses was, ask others to pray for you. Request for Masses for a private intention. The Mass is the highest form of prayer. 

Now, while we pray during difficult times, Jesus also urges us to pray at all times— good and bad times. Today’s Gospel taken from Luke 18:1-8 is about the necessity to pray always without becoming tired. It is also about persistence in prayer. Like the unnamed widow in the Gospel, we should never give up the habit of praying. We should pray in season and out of season whether our requests are granted or not. Prayer of asking and making request is just one type of prayer. There is also prayers of adoration, thanksgiving, love and contrition. Prayer is the key and the master key because it connects us to God. It helps us remain in God. In John 15:5, Jesus says, “Whoever remains in me, and I in him, will bear much fruit.” If you want to remain in the Son of God; if you want to be a good fruit bearing Christian, then pray frequently. Pray at all times because your salvation partly depends on it. 

In today’s Gospel, Jesus asks us to “Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says,” but I also want us to pay attention to what the Lord himself says at the end of this Gospel, “But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” If we give up praying simply because our intentions were not granted exactly as we prayed, he will not find faith on earth. If we stop praying just because we have everything we want in life and don’t see or have a need to pray, he will not find faith on earth. If we give up praying because we don’t have the time, he will not find faith on earth. If we don’t pray because we are tired, he will not find faith on earth. If we leave prayer to feelings and convenience, he will not find faith on earth. If you don’t pray just because you are angry and upset with God, then Jesus will not find faith on earth. If you don’t pray because you are disappointed with the Church leaders or with someone associated with the Church, Jesus will not find faith on earth. If we only pray verbally but not attitudinally, he will not find faith on earth. Our life should be a life of prayer and we should live like people who pray. Whatever your situation may be now, remember prayer. That’s my prescription for you.  

Homily for the Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

Rev. Marcel E. Okwara, CSsR

St. Alphonsus Catholic Church

Brooklyn Center, Minnesota 

Today’s Gospel is about the parable of a rich man and a poor man. The rich man, according to Jesus dressed expensively and dined sumptuously each day. To dine sumptuously means to indulge in a costly, lavishly, and splendid eating. Now, while he enjoyed the fruits of his labor, which happens to be God’s blessings, there was unfortunately an impoverished man who laid at his door, covered with sores, and wished he could eat from the scraps that fell from the rich man’s table.  After an earthly life of untold suffering, the poor man died and was carried away by angels to the bosom of Abraham. The rich man, after living in extreme luxury also died. Unfortunately, he ended up in a place of torment; a place we call hell. From where he was suffering, he saw Abraham and Lazarus on the other side having a good time. Immediately, he made two demands. The first was, “Father Abraham, have pity on me. Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue.” When his first request was rejected by Abraham, he made another one, “…I beg you, father, send him to my father’s house, for I have five brothers, so that he may warn them, lest they too come to this place of torment.” To the second request, Abraham reminded him that his brothers have Moses and the prophet of whom they should listen to. 

Some of us will look at this Gospel as a condemnation of riches and wealth and a glorification of abject poverty. Jesus’ intention was never to condemn the wealthy or denigrate riches. Moreover, Lazarus’ poverty is evil and sinful. His level of poverty is an offense against charity. Abject poverty of this kind should be tackled and defeated. It gives no glory to God; it gives no praise to anyone. No human being should be allowed to experience such for it debases the dignity of the human person. Jesus is not anti-riches or anti-rich folks. After all, riches can be God’s blessings too. Scripture tells us that silver and gold belongs to God. God is the source of everything that is good. 

That brings me to the question: Why did the rich man end up in the place of torment and Lazarus in a place of comfort? The rich man did not go to hell simply because he was rich. Then what was his sin? After all he never ordered Lazarus be thrown out of his house. He did not call the police to report that an intruder was around him. What then was the sin of the rich man? He was blind to the poor man at his door. He never noticed Lazarus. The poor man was invisible to him. As far as he was concerned, Lazarus was part of the landscape. As far as he was concerned, it was perfectly alright for Lazarus to live in squalor while he wallow in extravagant feasting. What took the rich man to the place of torment is not what he did but what he did not do. His sin was that he could look at a man ravaged by disease, a child of God, a human being like himself, saw his dire need for help but felt no sense of pity. He saw a man covered with sores, a helplessly homeless beggar, a desperately hungry man, a man plundered by deep pain, yet did nothing about it. And it is not as if he lacked the resources to help and change the life of Lazarus. God was sitting right in front of his house, but he turned a blind eye. Because he rejected God in time,  God rejected him in eternity.   

As for Lazarus he went to heaven not because he was a poor man, but because like his name suggests he totally leaned on God for help. The name Lazarus is derived from the Hebrew name “Eleazar” which means, “God is my help.” In his poverty, he was not jealous of the rich man. He did not turn away from God. He was not upset with God or with anyone. Despite his poverty, he still had faith in God. He loved God and sought help from him. In the end, he got the relief and salvation he sought for.

Sisters and brothers, if you are able to help someone, if you are able to put a smile on someone’s face, if you are able to make an impact in someone’s life, an impact rooted in love and compassion, try and do it. In the end, you will realize that you have stored so much treasure for yourself in heaven. The Lord has not called us to do nothing. We are called to do something- something good.  Every day of our lives, God puts us in a position of doing something worthwhile, of wiping away tears from the eyes of someone, of lending a helping hand, of speaking to a lonely person, of visiting the sick and the shut-in, of changing a life, of making a difference in the life someone, of making others see Jesus in us. When that opportunity comes, don’t act like the rich man in today’s gospel. Do something! 

A PRIEST WHO STOLE £50

A couple invited a priest of their parish for dinner in their home. After the priest left, the woman said to her husband; " I think the priest has stolen the £50 that I kept on the table of which I had the intention to give him".

Angrily her husband exclaimed; " if they are not pedophile, they are thieves. There is no need to invite him again. We shall from henceforth be attending Mass in another parish".

Two months later, the woman met the priest in the street and was courageous enough to face him and said: " Good morning Father, you have surely realized that we no longer attend Mass in your parish. This is because we're very angry with you. The day you ate in our house, there was a £50 note on the table. It disappeared while we were eating. You were the only person who visited our house at that time".

The priest said to her, "yes, I took the money. I put it in the Bible to avoid spilling the sauce on it". The woman got so confused and asked the priest to forgive her. Back in her house, she took up the Bible and found the £50 note which had been there for two months.

For two months, she had not opened her Bible to reflect on the word of God,

For two months she had her husband falsely accused the priest,

For two months, the incident had tortured them.

If you are reading this story now, and you are not at peace with yourself, for any reason whatsoever, ask yourself whether it's because you have not opened your Bible for a long time.

Forgive Others not minding how bad their sins against you may be. You may be at fault if the incident is looked at from another perspective. 

In Defense of the Mother of Saint James and John

Feast of St. James

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

St. Mary of the Assumption Church

Thursday, July 25, 2019

Today we celebrate the feast of St. James, one of the Apostles of Jesus, and one of our Ancestors in faith. This James is the brother of John the Evangelist. The two were called by Jesus as they were in a boat with their father, Zebedee, mending their nets (Mark 1:19-20). James was one of the favored three Apostles who was privileged to witness the Transfiguration, the raising to life of the daughter of Jairus, and the agony in the Garden of Gethsemane. 

Today’s Gospel taken from Matthew 20:20-28 tells us that the mother of James and John went to Jesus and asked on behalf of her two sons that they may sit next to him in his Kingdom: “Command that these two sons of mine sit, one at your right and the other at your left, in your Kingdom.” Now, there are preachers who bash the mother of James and John, and accuse her of being too ambitious; that she wanted high places of authority in the kingdom for her sons. Others lambast her for asking for places of honor for her two sons. But I am here to say that there is nothing wrong with the woman’s move and request. There is absolutely nothing wrong to sit next to Jesus at his Kingdom. I actually commend her for wanting her sons to be close to Jesus. Every mother, every father, every parent should visit Jesus and make the same request for their sons, daughters and grand-children. If I were married and have kids, I will want my children to be close to Jesus, to sit next to him at his Kingdom which of course begins here and now and thereafter. By the way, the Bible did not tell us the name of the mother of James and John. So, for the purpose of this sermon permit me to give her the name, Araceli— a Spanish name which means “Altar of heaven.” 

So, for preachers who accuse Araceli for being too ambitious, I ask you, what is wrong with being ambitious for what is good? The greatest life’s ambition should be to sit next to the Lord of life, Jesus Christ. For those who lambast her for wanting places of authority for her sons, I ask you again, “What is wrong in claiming for what belongs to someone?” Didn’t Jesus come in order to raise us to places of authority? Would you prefer your children to sit in places of authority with the ungodly? For those who accuse Araceli for wanting her sons to sit in high places of honor, do you prefer she seeks for places of dishonor for her sons? Even if her intentions were worldly, Jesus is able to purify them and that of her sons. And the fact that we are celebrating the feast of one of her sons— James, means that Jesus did purify those intentions. This woman, this mother should be commended and not demonized. Her request is honorable. Every mother should do what she did. 

Friends, no one gets better by staying far from Jesus. No life is reformed, no bad habit is dropped, no wickedness is turned to love and compassion, no repulsive and obnoxious attitude and behavior goes away by staying 100 miles away from Jesus. No life is changed by detachment from Jesus. It is by being close to Jesus, sitting next to him in his Kingdom that we become more like him. 

Sweet Jesus, please command that my brothers, sisters, mother, father, grand-mother, relatives, friends and I will sit next to you in your Kingdom. Amen.