Fr Peter Ireorji, MSP - Homily Good Friday, April 19, 2019

Jesus was tense, Jesus was anxious; Jesus was worried like any one of us might be. Because he knew what awaits Him, not because he can tell the future but because he has stood up for the truth no matter the consequences. And yet there was that anxiety. And the first thing Jesus did to get rid of the anxiety was, not to take a pill, but to go to pray - to pray to his Father. The prayer of Jesus in Gethsemane provides for us a lesson on prayer, and the first step was the attitude, the disposition. We are told that as soon as Jesus reached Gethsemane after telling his disciples to watch with him, he threw himself on the ground. The throwing himself on the ground conveys an attitude of total surrender to God. He wants God to take control; to take charge and to direct the events of his life. The words that he used were simple, direct, and are to the point. It was a prayer from the heart. “Father take this cup away from me”, and yet because the Father’s will was primary for Jesus, Jesus added “Not my will but Yours be done”. And this is the challenge of prayer. The prayer of Jesus was never unanswered, because the prayer of Jesus was always a prayer that lets the Father do His will. Is our prayer the prayer like that of Jesus or do we stop with give me, give me. Can we link and identify our prayer with the prayer of Jesus? Even though Jesus received no support from his companions because they were asleep, he got up strengthened in his prayer as was evident from the fact that he made no move to stop the fight in the garden, to respond to Judas, he only said “let the Scriptures be fulfilled”. In other words, let God’s will be done, and if it is the Father’s will that he dies, so be it. Are you submissive to the Father’ will? Shalom!

Fr. Peter Ireorji, MSP - Homily Holy Thursday, April 18, 2019

In bending down to wash the feet of the disciples in Jn 13:1-13, Jesus brings together all that he was, all that he is, all that he does. With Jesus there was no dichotomy, there was no separation between his being and his doing. Jesus did who he was. Jesus said what he did. And so, on this Maundy Thursday we are called through this event of the washing of the feet, to ask ourselves some serious questions, and the first of these is “Is there a separation between my being and my doing? So, If Jesus was able to bring together his being and his doing, his word and his action, If Jesus was able to love unconditionally, expecting nothing in return, If Jesus was able to love, forgive, and accept and pardon even those who he knew would reject him, deny him, betray him. I need to ask myself whether I can do that myself? This is what Jesus is calling us to do before we enter, to reflect on his passion. If you can think, reflect, pray and know in your heart that you are capable of such love, then you can enter with the Lord into his passion. May you have a grace filled Tridium celebration. Shalom!

Peter Ireorji, MSP - Homily Friday, April 5, 2019

When we are broken hearted, we may simply feel forgotten and forsaken by God. This feeling can come into our hearts when we are downcast and in the midst of pain and suffering. During those times we hardly realize God’s Hands are working and touching our lonely hearts. This broken hearted kind of feeling can come to an elderly who is ready to go home to the Lord, yet God’s call has not come.  In the meantime, he is patiently waiting in sickness and pain. It can also strike on someone whose troubles just keep multiplying due no fault of his own. And quite often it can strike all of us, when problems linger indefinitely with no possible resolution in sight. When we get the lost, forgotten and forsaken feeling, it’s time to remember what Jesus continue to tell us- that our Heavenly Father never forgets anyone and that not a single flower dies and not a single sparrow ever falls from the sky without God knowing it. God will never forget His people. He will never forsake us. He simply has a different timetable and His plan, quite different from ours. Today we should move with great confidence in our hearts that even if our lives are inundated by problems and trials, we do not have to bear them alone, for God is always by our side. Shalom!

Peter Ireorji, MSP - Homily Thursday, April 4, 2019

Jesus said to the Jews: “If I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is not true. But there is another who testifies on my behalf, and I know that the testimony he gives on my behalf is true.” John spoke the truth about “the one to come” Jn 5:31-33. He reminded his listeners that, “I am not worthy to untie his sandals,” and to “listen to him.” John stands between the people and Jesus, pointing to the one who gives life. According to John we are to believe Jesus’ words. It is not easy to believe in Jesus, because such a belief calls for a radical change in one’s life’s orientation. Belief in Jesus will mean a movement from selfishness to selfless, domination to service and fear to love and not many are inclined to make this change. Most of us are content to live our lives insulated from others and preferring to live as islands rather than as community. However, as the Gospel text makes clear there is no middle ground and if one is not willing to live the kind of life that Jesus invites us to as his disciples, then one is a non-believer. As Christians our task is to be advocate for Jesus like John. With our lives we stand between God and the world we live in and we testify! We point to the one who is merciful. We testify to the one who gives life. We point to Jesus who is God. Living in and for Christ is the best testimony we can ever have. Shalom!

Peter Ireorji, MSP - Homily Thursday, March 21, 2019

Why did the rich man go to hell? We are not told that he acquired his wealth by foul means. The reason we have difficulty pinpointing why the rich man went to hell may have a lot to do with how we think of sin. We often think that we sin only through thoughts, words, and deeds. We forget that a fourth and very important way we can sin is through our omissions. Yet we forget this last criterion, the sin of omission. The rich man of Lk 16:19-31, saw Lazarus hungry, thirsty, a stranger, naked and sick–but he chose not to see him. He was spiritually blind and thus, he did not see. In not seeing, he did not act and in not acting, he omitted the compassion and sharing he should have given Lazarus. So the rich man is condemned for his sin of omission. Today the Lord challenges us to enter the world of the other and let the other to enter our world. That, in a sense, is what Jesus himself did. He entered our world and invites us to enter his world. We can do the same for each other. When we cross the threshold into the world of the other, into the world of those who are very different from us in all kinds of ways, we may discover that we not only have something to give the other but a great deal to receive as well. Shalom!

Peter Ireorji, MSP - Homily Wednesday, March 20, 2019

Jesus asks James and John, “Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?” Matt 20:22. If they were prepared to share his cup, to throw in their lot with him, to follow where he leads, even though it may mean the cross. In the garden of Gethsemane Jesus prayed, “Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me.” Yet, he went on to drink that cup to the full on the cross. At the last supper, he drank of the cup, and then gave the cup to his disciples, who also drank from it. Yet, a little later, they deserted him and fled. In spite of what they promised, James and John would not follow when the going got hard. We too are invited to drink from the Lord’s cup, the cup of the Eucharist. In doing so, we are expressing our willingness to go where he leads and walk in his way. Jesus teaches that way of self-giving service of others, as against lording it over them. We pray that in talking the Lord’s cup today, we would be faithful to what that action signifies—walking in the footsteps of the Son of Man who came not to be served but to serve. Shalom!

Peter Ireorji, MSP - Homily Monday, March 18, 2019

Mercy, forgiveness and love are in short supply today. Most relationships between people are built on what one can gain from the other and how the relationship will help one. It is rare to see (even in relationships between members of one family) selflessness and generosity. Yet, this is what Jesus calls the disciple to and expects that the disciple will live such a generous life. One way we can develop mercy and give it to our neighbor is to be able to know ourselves, face and accept our own sins and mistakes (self awareness). Being able to accept the shameful state of our lives, the truth behind us which God sees-all on our own, with no comparisons and no useless judgments- will only enable us to share God’s love and mercy with all men. This way, we begin to think and see like God as we look at one another. Shalom!

Fr Peter Ireorji MSP - Homily for 2nd Sunday of Lent year C, March 17, 2019

In Luke 9:28:36, Peter, James and John saw his glory as God; his face was brighter than the sun and his clothes dazzling white. And the voice of the heavenly Father was heard: “This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.” This experience filled them with such an overwhelming and indescribable joy and all that Peter could say was: “Master, let us erect three booths here.” They had a glimpse and taste of heaven and they wished to remain there forever. There are times in our lives when things do not go the way we plan, when all that we plan goes awry, when the road seems steep and the going is difficult, when every step that we take is laboured and arduous, when we cannot see or understand and, when we feel like giving up and giving in. It is at times like these that we, like Peter, wish we had stayed on the mountain. It is at times like these when we, like Abram, might like some tangible proof, some sign. Yet, the Transfiguration of Jesus, and the attitude of Abram, teach that God continues to walk ahead of us and, though we may not be able to see him as clearly as we would like, God is there. This is why Paul calls the Christian community at Philippi to join him in imitating Christ. This means that they must be able, like Christ, to look beyond and not be weighed down by the trials and tribulations of the world. It means that they must continue to have faith and trust at all times since trials and tribulations are always temporary and passing. What is permanent is God’s unconditional love, manifested in his Son, Jesus Christ. Our confidence is not in our ability to overcome the challenges that come our way, but in God’s grace that we constantly receive in, and through, Jesus Christ. Shalom!

Peter Ireorji, MSP - Homily Saturday, March 16, 2019

Our vocation as Christians, is to become perfect, in God’s image. Just as God loves us, each of us is called to respond “with all your heart and with all your soul. Being perfect means being loving to an extraordinary degree, loving our enemy, praying for those who persecute us, who make life difficult for us. Being perfect consists in loving in the way that God loves, which is with a love that doesn’t discriminate on the basis of how people relate to us. This is the pinnacle of Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount. The fact that Jesus calls on us to love as God loves shows that he does not consider this call unrealistic. We may not be able to love in this divine way on our own, but we can do so with God’s help. Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Shalom!

Peter Ireorji, MSP - Homily Friday, March 15, 2019

Jesus calls his disciples to a virtue deeper than the virtue of the scribes and Pharisees. A major commandment was “You shall not kill.” The call of Jesus goes deeper than that; it goes below the actual act of killing to the underlying attitudes and emotions which lead people to kill or injure each other. If we come to worship God and there are feelings of anger, revenge or hatred in our hearts, then our worship remains incomplete. It is only an external worship and not true worship. God does not need our adoration, but if want to adore him it must also come from within. We need to look below the surface of what people do, to cure the underlying passions. We need a renewal of the heart and mind, a true “repentance” Today as we endeavor to abide in the Lord and adhere to His word, let us always ask God that we are removed from any conflicting and hurtful relationships and that we may not be any man’s enemy, but instead remain a true friend of all, yet always faithful to a covenant relationship with God. Shalom!

Fr Peter Ireorji, MSP - Homily Thursday, March 14, 2019

Today Jesus once more presents to us the requirements for discipleship. He said: “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Lk 9:23. Lent is traditionally a time for self-denial. We ask ourselves what it is we need to let go, to give up, in order to follow the Lord more closely. We all have something we need to let go off; it might be some excessive attachment that is holding us back, or some habit that is not serving us well. Self renunciation is more difficult today than in the past because we live in a culture which encourages us to indulge ourselves. We can easily think of self-renunciation as something negative. Yet, the giving up, the letting go, is always with a view to life, to living life to the full. A true disciple of Christ decides to do the will of God whatever the cost may be. When we do this for the Lord, we deny our old sinful drives and motivations but instead desire and choose to do God’s will for our lives. We effectively take up the cross at hand.  By doing such an act, we lose our old self and we begin to become the new person that God will enable us to be. Shalom!

Fr Peter Ireorji, MSP - Homily Wednesday, March 13, 2019

You have to sympathize with Jonah. He has had some rough times before Jonah 3:1-10. First, God gave him an impossible mission: to convince the people of the world’s most sinful city to change their ways or risk having their city destroyed. He hopped on a boat heading in the opposite direction, hoping to escape God’s call. When a storm came up and raised such waves that the ship seemed doomed to sink, the sailors figured he was a jinx and tossed him overboard. He was swallowed by a gigantic fish, which finally spit him up on a beach. He decided maybe he would try it God’s way. He made his way to the wicked city of Nineveh where, with much trepidation, he preached God’s message: “Change your ways or my God will destroy your city.” He was certain that these folks were not about to listen to one of their enemies. But, as we heard in the first reading, they did indeed repent and God spared them. And was Jonah delighted? Not a bit! He went into a magnificent pout because God had made a fool of him by forgiving those wicked folks. A prophet’s life is a hard one! Our wickedness probably doesn’t rank with that of the Ninevites, but we are painfully aware of how short we fall of perfection. This season is our opportunity to pause and take stock, to heed the prophets God has sent to dwell among us. He calls us to seek him with true repentance, humility, and the honesty to see our sins for what they really are – a rejection of his love and will for our lives. God will transform us if we listen to his word and allow his Holy Spirit to work in our lives. Shalom!

Fr Peter Ireorji, MSP - Homily Tuesday, March 12, 2019

The address of God as “Father” brings out the intimacy of the relationship that disciples and God share. The opening petitions indicate that prayer does not begin with one’s needs, but with the glory and honour due to God. God’s name is and will be honoured by all men and women, since God as revealed by Jesus is primarily a God of mercy, forgiveness and unconditional love. The kingdom of God has come in Jesus and is also in the future when God will be all and in all. This is a situation in which God will show himself to be king as he has done in the life, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus. As Jesus constantly did God’s will, so it will continue to be done both in heaven and on earth. It is only when God’s will is done rather than one’s own that there can be true and lasting peace and harmony. Despite petitioning God for something as stupendous as the kingdom, the disciple also acknowledges dependence on God for something as regular and ordinary as bread. God’s forgiveness is unconditional and without any merit our part however, in order to receive this forgiveness which God gives graciously and gratuitously, we must have to remove from our heart any unforgiveness, resentment or anger that might be present there. The prayer ends with a final petition that God, who always leads the people, will not bring them into a time of testing, when the pressure might be so great as to overcome faith itself, but that he will save them from the ultimate power of evil. While we must acknowledge our dependence on God for everything that we need and regard him always as the primary cause, our attitude to others must be one of acceptance and forgiveness. Shalom!

Fr Peter Ireorji, MSP - Homily Monday, March 11, 2019

We serve the Lord when we serve a needy person. Jesus made this clear when He said that any kindness shown to the hungry, the thirsty, the homeless, the sick, the destitute, and the imprisoned will be judged as having been done directly to Him Matt 25:40,45. He identifies so closely with the oppressed that serving them in His name is the same as serving Him. Whenever we extend help in the name of Jesus through acts of caring, Jesus Himself is there even though we cannot see Him. At the final judgment, people will ask, ‘when did we ever see you in need of our help?’ God’s presence was not always obvious to Jesus’ contemporaries, and his presence is not always obvious to us either. It comes to us not in signs and wonders but in weakness, in the needs of others, whoever they are. And someday when we stand before Him, He will recall our deeds of love performed in His name and say, “Well done!” Let’s keep on serving Him by serving others. God’s service is more than mere preaching but by deeds. We serve Christ when we serve others in need. Shalom!

Fr Peter Ireorji, MSP - Homily Friday, March 8, 2019

Many people felt angry when Isaiah accused them of being rebels against God Isa 58:1-9. They saw themselves as devout, zealous in religious practice. But the prophet pointed out that even while they fasted for religious purposes, they had not qualms about oppressing their workers. In which case, the religion they practiced was not really to please God, but to please themselves. Their ritual observance has become merely a traditional activity, something they are doing for themselves. Even on the days when they fast, they end up arguing and fighting, self-righteous and disunited. Today, we too can fall into this syndrome, putting questions of ritual on the back burner. Many seem to limit the ideal of “walking-with-God” to something that is fulfilled in a one-day-a-week commitment, by attending church. Some will do even this only if the Mass or service be held at a time that caters entirely to their personal preferences. We become so wrapped up in our own concerns, that there is hardly time for conversing with God our Maker. But helped by the words of prophet Isaiah, perhaps we can see more clearly the penance that God offers us as a special blessing, in the blessed season of Lent. It’s designed not as a time to indulge oneself, but as a time to think of others. The fast that God prescribes for us is to find the time to clothe the naked, to right injustices, to feed the hungry, and to make provision for those who have no home. It is to love my neighbour as truly as my own self. Shalom!

Fr Peter Ireorji, MSP - Homily Friday, March 8, 2019

Many people felt angry when Isaiah accused them of being rebels against God Isa 58:1-9. They saw themselves as devout, zealous in religious practice. But the prophet pointed out that even while they fasted for religious purposes, they had not qualms about oppressing their workers. In which case, the religion they practiced was not really to please God, but to please themselves. Their ritual observance has become merely a traditional activity, something they are doing for themselves. Even on the days when they fast, they end up arguing and fighting, self-righteous and disunited. Today, we too can fall into this syndrome, putting questions of ritual on the back burner. Many seem to limit the ideal of “walking-with-God” to something that is fulfilled in a one-day-a-week commitment, by attending church. Some will do even this only if the Mass or service be held at a time that caters entirely to their personal preferences. We become so wrapped up in our own concerns, that there is hardly time for conversing with God our Maker. But helped by the words of prophet Isaiah, perhaps we can see more clearly the penance that God offers us as a special blessing, in the blessed season of Lent. It’s designed not as a time to indulge oneself, but as a time to think of others. The fast that God prescribes for us is to find the time to clothe the naked, to right injustices, to feed the hungry, and to make provision for those who have no home. It is to love my neighbour as truly as my own self. Shalom!

Fr Peter Ireorji, MSP - Homily Thursday, March 7, 2019

Jesus says that if we want to be his followers we have to be ready to renounce ourselves. Lent is traditionally a time for self-denial. We ask ourselves what it is we need to let go, to give up, in order to follow the Lord more closely. We all have something we need to let go off; it might be some excessive attachment that is holding us back, or some habit that is not serving us well. Self renunciation is more difficult today than in the past because we live in a culture which encourages us to indulge ourselves. We can easily think of self-renunciation as something negative. Yet, the giving up, the letting go, is always with a view to life, to living life to the full. The book of Deuteronomy puts it very positively, “Choose life, that you and your descendants may live”Duet 30:19, and Jesus says in the in Matt 9:24, that whoever loses his life for his sake will save it. We pray this Lent that the Lord would give us the grace to keep on choosing life. Shalom!

Fr Peter Ireorji, MSP - Homily Ash Wednesday, March 6, 2019

As we receive the ashes on our foreheads, we take stock of the purpose of Lent: it is an exercise in cleansing and holy desire. It lasts forty days in imitation of the time Jesus spent in the desert before starting his public ministry. What is the purpose of Lent? It is to prepare us for a more effective involvement in our vocation as Christians. Our desires are far too small if we look for fulfilment only in what this world offers by way of transient satisfactions, but God wants us to have so much more; his very Self. During Lent we seek to tune in to higher desires our longing for God. In Matt 6:1-18, Jesus shows the way: prayer, fasting and almsgiving, the classic Lenten practices. Our eternity will be an eternal relationship with the living God in the Communion of Saints. That relationship begins in this life through prayer. While we should certainly enjoy food and the conviviality that often accompanies a good meal, we should also find a place for fasting, in order to sharpen our appetite for God. All of us resonate in some way to the ideal of almsgiving, could we perhaps do more to serve the needy, not so that people will consider us generous, but to imitate God’s generosity to us? God means to fill each of us with what is good; so cast out what is bad, and now is a favourable time to do so. Wishing you a spirit filled Lenten season. Shalom!

Fr Peter Ireorji, MSP - Homily Tuesday, March 5, 2019

Peter asked the candid question, “What about us? We have left everything and followed you.” Mk 10:28. He and his colleagues had given up much to be followers of Jesus. They may have wondered if it was really worth it all. We too have responded to God’s call, maybe not in such a radical way as the apostles who left their livelihood and family for a very uncertain future. Perhaps we might be tempted to ask like Peter; “Is it worthwhile trying to live by the values of the gospel day in and day out.” The answer is “Yes, in the long run it is worth the effort.” Jesus promises that when we give of ourselves for his sake, we will receive much more than we give up. In particular, we will gain a new experience of family, far beyond the confines of our blood family. We will find ourselves co-travellers with others who are trying to take the same path as ourselves; we will experience the richness of the church, as the communion of saints. That community embraces not only those of us still on our pilgrim way, but all who have passed beyond this life, including the saints, that great cloud of witnesses. Shalom!

Fr Peter Ireorji, MSP - Homily Monday, March 4, 2019

Have you noticed that when you’ve made great progress on your spiritual journey, Jesus smiles at you and says, “Ahhh, this is good, very good! The Father and I are very pleased with you.” But then he adds: “There’s something else I want you to do.” He knocks you off your chair of cozy self-contentment and invites you to more purification. I get so tired of that! That’s what happened to the rich young man who gleefully ran up to Jesus in Mk 10:17-27. He’d been dutifully obeying all of God’s commandments. With such commendable holiness credentials, he thought he had earned an open door to heaven. But Jesus knew that in the man’s heart he was self-satisfied while doing only the minimum and living a mediocre faith. So Jesus invited him to see the commandments differently. Notice that he did not condemn the man. Neither does Jesus condemn us when we need purification. He knows that we truly desire to be holy. With tremendous love, he brings to our attention the shortcomings of our obedience and teaches us the greatest commandment: the Law of Love. But we frown as that young man did.  Our flesh nature does not enjoy giving up its self-satisfied limitations that we impose on God’s commandments. This is why Jesus emphasizes: “For you, it IS impossible, but not for God!” Trusting God to do in me what I cannot do for myself has proven to be an excellent strategy. What sin are you unwilling to quit? What change have you been avoiding? Tell Jesus that you don’t want to stop justifying your sin, but give him permission to re-create you according to his loving kindness. Shalom!

Fr Peter Ireorji, MSP - Homily from 8th Sunday in Ordinary Time year C, March 3, 2019

Addressing his disciples through a proverb and parables, Jesus explicates what it means to be a true disciple Lk 6:39-45. The proverb about the blind leading the blind is a challenge to the disciples to be better qualified than those they seek to serve. This qualification has nothing to with degrees or diplomas, but everything to do with trying to be like Jesus. In so doing they will not look for faults in others, but will focus on the positives in them and at the same time constantly strive to become aware of their own shortcomings. This awareness of one’s own weakness will make one humble and also more accepting of others. Then truly will there be a synchrony between what one is and what one does, the being and action, the saying and doing. The former will inevitably be exposed by the latter. Discipleship, therefore, requires not just good deeds. It requires integrity and a purity of heart such as one sees in Jesus himself. The example of Jesus whose whole being was good must be our constant motivation. If we follow the example of Jesus, then people will say of us his disciples, see how they go about doing good. Shalom!

Fr Peter Ireorji, MSP - Homily Saturday, March 2, 2019

When people bring children to Jesus, the disciples try to stop them from doing so showing once again that they have not been able to understand what Jesus and the kingdom are all about. The kingdom is for everyone and is inclusive not exclusive. Jesus is emphatic in his response to their action that the kingdom does indeed belong to children and that anyone who does not become like a child can never hope to enter it. The point is not so much that one will be excluded but that one will exclude oneself. The kingdom is a gift and must be received as a gift. No human power can create or force it. The kingdom of God will come when we behave like little children. A childlike attitude means not only that one will be humble and spontaneous as children are, but also that one will acknowledge like a child has to do, his/her dependence. Many of us like to be independent and for some asking a favour of someone else is extremely difficult because they do not want to acknowledge their dependence on that person and so be indebted. We must realise that we are all interconnected and while we are dependent on each other in some way or other, we are primarily dependent on God. Shalom!

Fr Peter Ireorji, MSP - Homily from Friday, March 1, 2019

Though we be friendly with many, only one in a thousand should be our close confidant, or our partner in life. Sirach opens his mini-essay on friendship with this advice: A kind mouth multiplies friends, and gracious lips prompt friendly greetings. We begin with a smile; our first communication, imparted intuitively, is one of interior joy and peace, showing that we are at peace with ourselves and with God. His guidance is both peaceful and cautious, for he counsels: “When you gain a friend, first test him, and don’t be too ready to trust him.” He proceeds to give the positive qualities of a true friend, who will be like “your other self; a treasure beyond price; a sure shelter a life-saving remedy.”  “A faithful friend is the elixir of life.” He is confident that those who fear the Lord will find a faithful friend. In other words, when we relate well to the Lord we will find the right kind of friends, ones we can rely on. When our relationship with the Lord is right it helps us to form good human relationships, marked by faithfulness and generosity. Whether married or single, we are all called to build faithful friendships that mirror the Lord’s faithful love and in turn reveal to others that faithful love of the Lord. Shalom!

Fr Peter Ireorji, MSP - Homily from Thursday, February 28, 2019

We can say that our love for our neighbour has reached its full maturity in Christ from the daily and visible exercise of charity toward our neediest brothers: “I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink. Our love for neighbour should be an imitation and prolongation of the merciful goodness of God the Father who provides for the needs of all and makes no distinctions whether one is a friend or an enemy. Only when we let ourselves be moved by our neighbour’ impoverished state can one say that we loves God. To be indifferent to those who hunger and thirst is to be closed to Christ and to deny the universal love of our Heavenly Father. Jesus, in today’s Mk 9:41-50, reminds us that every ounce of kindness done in His Name will never be forgotten and will certainly be rewarded. Every act of love will never be unnoticed by the Father if done to give glory to Him. Because we all belong to Christ, the cord that should bind us together should be the bond of His love and compassion. When we truly love our neighbour, then we can say that we love God. Rejoice if you followed God’s commandment of love. Jesus said to his disciples: “Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward.” If we imitate Christ and follow His ways, then we have certainly kept Him in our lives and we will be able to live in peace not only with one another but also with ourselves. Shalom!

Fr Peter Ireorji, MSP - Homily from Wednesday, February 27, 2019

John and the other Apostles witness someone with whom they were not familiar, doing the very good deed of driving out a demon in Jesus’ name. It’s a somewhat strange image to imagine.  John sees this good act and tries to interfere by asking the person to stop. Then he goes and tells on this man to Jesus, hoping Jesus will intervene. But Jesus does the opposite. "Exclusivism” can be defined as a tendency to think that something is good only when I do it. It’s a form of spiritual greed in which we have a hard time rejoicing in and supporting the good deeds of another. This is a dangerous but all too common struggle for many. The ideal, in our Christian life, is to look for the works of God everywhere and within everyone. We should so deeply desire that the Kingdom of God be built up that we are overjoyed whenever we witness such activity. If, on the other hand, we find ourselves jealous of another for the good that they do, or if we find ourselves trying to find fault with what they are doing, then we should be aware of this tendency and claim it as our sin, not theirs. Shalom!

Fr Peter Ireorji, MSP - Homily from Tuesday, February 26, 2019

Benjamin Franklin, the early American statesman, made a list of character qualities that he wanted to develop in his own life. When he mastered one virtue, he went on to the next. He did pretty well, he said, until he got to humility. Every time he thought he was making significant progress, he would be so pleased with himself that he became proud. Humility is an elusive virtue. Even Jesus’ disciples struggled with it. When Jesus learned that they had been arguing about who was the greatest, He responded, “If anyone desires to be first, he should be last of all and servant of all” Mk. 9:35. Then He took a little child in His arms and indicated that we need to humbly serve others as if we were serving Christ. If a news reporter were to talk to our friends, neighbours, or fellow church members and ask them to describe us, would they use the word humble? True greatness does not lie with those who strive for worldly fame; It lies instead with those who choose to serve in Jesus’ name. Humility can be sought but never celebrated. Good morning and you have a great day. Shalom!

Fr Peter Ireorji, MSP - Homily from Monday, February 25, 2019

Jesus said, “Everything is possible to one who has faith.” And the father of the boy replied, “I do believe. Help my unbelief.” He believed in Jesus, but he knew his faith wasn’t enough. So he prayed: “Help my unbelief.” That was enough for Jesus to do another miracle of casting out the evil spirit from the boy. It is not necessary that we have great faith. Jesus said that if we have a faith the size of a mustard seed, we can command a mountain to move. But that has to be accompanied by a great deal of prayer. It is only by asking God to help us that our faith will be much stronger. This is what happened to the father of the boy. In contrast, let us look at the disciples. They were trying to cast out the evil spirit from the boy, but they could not. Why? Jesus told them, “This kind could only come out through prayer.” In other words, they were not praying. They were trying to cast out the devil through their own power, without asking for God’s help. It is only through prayer that our faith can grow stronger, and then everything becomes possible. I always like this quotation: “When man works, it is just man who works. But when man prays, God works.” Another quotation says: “The most powerful man on earth is the one who bends his knees and prays.” He who prays without ceasing unites prayer to good works and good works to prayer. Shalom!

Fr Peter Ireorji, MSP - Homily from 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time year C, Feb. 24, 2019

The story of David and Saul in 1Sam 26:2-23, functions almost like a parable. Showing mercy to his deadly foe, David gives a concrete example of what Jesus expects to become a way of life for His disciples. The reading informs us how David had the opportunity to revenge against Saul but chose to spare Saul’s life. At that time when the law was, “eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot,” David stood out in showing mercy and forgiveness to Saul who made eleven attempts on his life. David is a perfect example of Jesus’ teaching in today’s Gospel: “Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. To those who strike you on one cheek, offer the other one as well…” A forgiving and merciful state of heart will free us from judging others and make us reconcilers, builders of man as God is. If in prayer we ask God to deliver us and pardon our sins for His Name’s sake and not to deal with us according to our sins, we too should be able to intercede for our neighbor and seek God’s mercy and compassion on them. Forgive as the Lord forgave us. Not as others treated us but as Jesus treated us. If Jesus forgave us for all we have done to hurt Him despite our undeserving state then we too should be able to freely forgive. When we forgive, we are able to take off our judge’s robe and let God be the one to take care of the person who hurt us. His justice will be far superior to any revenge we could have. Shalom!

Fr Peter Ireorji, MSP - Homily from Thursday, February 21, 2019

In Mark 8:27-33, Jesus and his disciples were traveling between villages when He asked them who they believe He is. “You are the Christ,” Peter responded. But as soon as Jesus begun to describe what it means to be Christ – rejection, suffering and even death – Peter was found ambivalent and cold to what Jesus confided to them as he tried to discourage Jesus from talking about it. In our own life, We are like Peter as we always avoid the most uncomfortable situations. We are not exactly proponent for self denial and self giving neither do I face rejection and pain with an open heart. Today, to be an authentic follower of Christ, we have to do more than just offer lip service. It’s not enough to say I am a follower of Jesus as Peter did but we need to live it and accept all that it means. Jesus took His place among the poor. He chose rejection, suffering and death over power and influence. Today His invitation to all of us is no different. He wants us to pursue a life of self giving and self denial. He is asking us to bear our cross and follow Him. In our hearts let us deny ourselves and allow God to change us according to His plan and let Him perfect our faith. Shalom!

Fr Peter Ireorji, MSP - Homily from Wednesday, February 20, 2019

Jesus showed considerateness in bringing the blind man to a place away from the skeptics and gawkers who might dampen his faith and trust in Jesus. Then Jesus did something quite remarkable and unexpected. Mark says that Jesus “spit on his eyes, and laid his hands upon him” Mk 8:23. Jesus physically identified with the blind man’s incurable condition both to show his personal compassion for him and to also awaken faith in him. Jesus then asks the man, “Do you see anything?” The blind man begins to recognize that he can now see a little bit – but his sight is very blurry. So Jesus lays his hands on him a second time to strengthen his faith so he can receive a complete healing. Mark said the blind man: “looked intently and was restored, and saw everything clearly.” His sight was restored in stages as he responded in faith to Jesus’ healing touch and words. Some of us have a tendency to pigeon hole God and put him in a compartment. This leads to seeing him merely as one who fixes things for us or one to whom we go only in need. We might fail to see that he is always there and is much bigger than anything we can ever imagine. Let us pray to God that He touches us deep in our souls and gives us not only the Virtue of doing His will but the Wisdom of knowing it and the Strength of living by it. Shalom!

Fr Peter Ireorji, MSP - Homily from Friday, February 15, 2019

“And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him.” Mk 7:32. Those people who brought the deaf man to Jesus probably felt that there was not much they could do for their friend.  Most probably that was the very reason why they begged Jesus to lay His healing hands upon their friend. Some of his friends might have hoped for total healing while others may have hoped only for a little improvement to his condition. Some friends may have hoped that even with such condition Jesus could at least give the deaf man some peace in his heart. Today, we may have a lot of friends and family who may need physical and spiritual healing. Our hearts are so concerned for them but there comes a point when there is there is not much that we can do. In reality after we have persevered in praying with them and walked with them hand in hand, all we can do to bring them healing and wholeness, is simply to surrender them to the Lord in prayer. Shalom!

Fr Peter Ireorji, MSP - Homily from Thursday, February 14, 2019

I’ve always enjoyed the story in Mark 7:24-30, because of the Greek woman’s response to Jesus in the face of an impossibility. She’s a sign of hope for all of us when we’re up against a wall and there seems to be no door through it. Her persistence and her confidence in Jesus, who was known to be a barrier-breaker, were traits that we should copy. At first, Jesus seemed to be saying “no” to the woman’s prayer request, but the woman persisted. Think about the barriers that you seem to be up against. When it seems like our prayers are hitting a hard wall. Is Jesus really saying no? Sometimes he does, but only for our protection, because it would be harmful for us to proceed ahead with our plans. We need to be like the Greek woman who found a clever way around her obstacle. No prayer bounces off a brick wall forever. Find a new angle and keep hitting that wall with more prayers. And when you get tired, take a rest in the Father’s lap. You will reach the breakthrough you need. I guarantee it. I speak from experience. Shalom!

Fr Peter Ireorji, MSP - Homily from Wednesday, February 13, 2019

Godliness and righteousness are not matter of externals, but they flow from the goodness of one’s heart. To be acceptable to God is not a matter of compliance to rituals but one that involves cleansing of our inside-our hearts and minds from what is not of the Lord. Jealousy, envy, hatred and pride are among the few that we as Christians should be able to decide to cleanse from our inner being. They mislead us and deceive us with foolish suspicions that we effectively mistrust everyone. We become paranoid that people are ganging up on us and our subsequent reaction is to attack with unfair accusations which are not only unsound but uncharitable and certainly not characteristic of a follower of Christ. They cause us to sin and to spill out impurity…impure thoughts and deeds that are fit only for those who have decided to affiliate themselves with the Enemy. Today let us ask ourselves who invited jealousy, envy, hatred and pride and unforgiveness into our hearts. No one but our sinful nature! This is the reason why change should sincerely start from within us. Shalom!

Fr Peter Ireorji, MSP - Homily from Tuesday, February 12, 2019

In Mark 7:1-13, the Pharisees and the Scribes see that the disciples of Jesus eat with unwashed hands, and so ask Jesus a question concerning what they consider as defilement. In his response to them, Jesus takes the discussion to a higher plane, by focussing not merely on what defiles or does not defile a person, but on true worship, which stems from the heart. To illustrate his point, Jesus gives the example of Corban, in which the Pharisees’ would dedicate, something to God, and so not allow anyone else including their parents to use it, but would use it themselves. In case others wanted to use it, their answer would be that they could not allow them to do so since it was dedicated to God (Corban)and so belonged to God alone. There are times when we find way and means to get out of fulfilling our obligations to others. We come up with flimsy excuses when we cannot keep a commitment, and try to absolve ourselves of our responsibility. At these times we too can be accused of lip service. Shalom!

Fr Peter Ireorji, MSP - Homily from Saturday, February 9, 2019

In never ending love and compassion which we all experience in Jesus’ ministry as portrayed by Mark 6:30-34, Jesus discloses the need for every Christian worker to go on a retreat-a time to rest in the Lord, a special time to meditate on His works, His grace and goodness, time to receive His word and will in our daily lives. He modeled to us that spiritual energy and strength can be with us in special times of prayer to the Father, in times of solitude when we communicate to Him and bring up to Him our frailties and what impede us from doing our work for Him. Going on a retreat means, going closer to God and the more we draw near God, the more we learn about Him, the more we have of Him and the more we are able to serve Him; the more we will see Him do incredible things and the more we will crave to be involved in His work. Being alone with God renews us, nourishes, energizes and prepares us to do more work for Him. Shalom!

Fr Peter Ireorji, MSP - Homily from Friday, February 8, 2019

Basically, the root of every fear is the assumption that we are not loved, not really-really loved. We’re afraid of being open and honest with others because they might take advantage of it to hurt us. Heb 13:1-8, describes the various ways that we act in love, and then it points out that by relying on the help of God who is love, we have nothing to fear. Overcoming fear takes faith. It takes faith to “let brotherly love continue” when the brother is irritating us and we’re afraid of getting hurt again. It takes faith to “not neglect hospitality” when we’re tired of unpleasant people and we’re afraid of what our kindnesses might lead to. When we do everything “in love”, we do it in Jesus Christ, who is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He will not abandon us in our needs. The risks we take for the sake of love keep us safely in God’s protective care and helpfulness. Our loving deeds won’t always produce the results that we’d like to see, and we surely will get hurt when we courageously love everyone unconditionally, but this is not what matters — not really. What matters is that God works everything out for good. If what we’re afraid might happen does indeed happen, he will turn it into a blessing. That is the generosity of his love for us. Shalom!

Fr Peter Ireorji, MSP - Homily from Thursday, February 7, 2019

In Mk 6:7-13, Jesus, after a night in prayer, selected twelve of his followers for a special mission of intimacy with himself. He gave three reasons for this mission: 1) to be with him; 2)to go out and preach the good news; and 3)to have authority to cast out demons and to heal. Then Jesus sends them out two by two and gives them authority over unclean spirits. Therefore, all their power and authority came from him and the twelve travels light. As Jesus’ ambassadors, they preached repentance. All this they did in union with Jesus and by his power because “they were with him.” Likewise, our efficacy as his disciple depends on our union with Jesus –being with him – and that requires prayer, penance and recollection. We have all been called like the Twelve to serve God in faith, hope and charity. But we should all be aware of our great dignity because we have been called to be children of God and heirs of heaven. This call should not make us proud, but very humble, because it is all God’s work, not ours. It is a gift. God is being and life, while we are nothingness and death without him. How authentic am I in following the Lord as a Christian? Shalom!

Fr Peter Ireorji, MSP - Homily from Tuesday, February 5, 2019

We may tend to give up and lose heart especially when our prayers remain unanswered for a period of time. We may sometimes accept defeat and stop praying. We may lose faith. The miracles of Mark 5:21-43, call us to continue to hope even if there are times in our lives when our prayers do not seem to be answered. If we persevere and have faith like the woman and Jairus, we too can obtain from the Lord what seems impossible. For He is indeed the Lord of all impossibility. Today, let us continue to believe, pray and depend on Jesus. With our trust in Him, He will bring us to a state of utter confidence in the Father’s power to rescue and sustain us even in our darkest hour because Jesus is the leader and perfecter of our faith. Shalom!

Fr Peter Ireorji, MSP - Homily from Monday, February 4, 2019

Our impression of “being possessed” always has been close to a physical invasion of someone’s body by evil spirits, such as what we see in the movies. But reflecting on Mark 5:1-20, brings us some thoughts that being possessed by spirits can also transpire in more subtle ways than what we see in Mark as in the man from the tombs. We can also be possessed when the spirit of selfishness overtakes our inclination to be more giving and generous, when the spirit of bias and prejudice sets aside our sense of fairness. Being under the control of the evil one could flow into our affairs as a community when control and dominance take over our spirit of empowerment, when we make the letter of the law preside over the spirit of love and mercy…when we abuse the authority that is provided for by our position in community…when we circumvent and hide the truth by using God’s Word to suit the desires of our lustful hearts for power and control…when we knowingly side with what is wrong to achieve transient glory and success and conceal our shortcomings. When we are overcome by what is evil, all that we desire is the flesh and the world, its power, its pleasures and influence. Jesus is ready and willing to free us from anything that binds us and that keeps us from the life God has prepared for us, from His love, His mercy and grace. Shalom!

Fr Peter Ireorji, MSP - Homily from Wednesday, January 23, 2019

In Mark 3:1-6, we see Jesus when he encounters a man with a withered hand. He is moved with compassion, but there are those present who are watching for trouble. By the Pharisees’ understanding, no upstanding Jew is allowed to do any work – including performing healing miracles on the Sabbath. Jesus sees certain cowardice in this position: “Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath rather than to do evil, to save life rather than destroy it?” he asks. The Gospel tells us that Jesus is grieved at their hardness of heart when they stand by silently. Bravely, in spite of the trouble he knew it would cause, Jesus told the man with the withered hand to hold it forth. Then Jesus healed him. Each of us is called to live from the Gospel with compassion – the opposite of hardness of heart – and with bravery. We often will be put into positions where others would scorn us, would disapprove of our doing what we know in our hearts is right. Whether it’s standing up for the weak, the oppressed, making our view known on the right to life for those unborn or those sitting on death row, whether it’s calling out an injustice in our workplace, in the stores where we shop, in our communities or elsewhere in the world, we needn’t fear. Broken as we are and quite focused on our own selves, we should ask our Lord for His grace so that when we see what is happening around us from a distance, we may see the truth and act on it accordingly. Shalom!