FR REMI HOMILIES/REFLECTIONS AND SERMONS

Theme: INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY Homily for Saturday of the 19th week in the ordinary time Ezekiel 18:1-10,13,30-32; Mathew 19:13-15 It is no news that children inherit many things (biological, psychological, physiological, social inheritance etc) from their parents and ancestral lineage. However, it is worth knowing that moral righteousness or vice is rather personal or non-inherited. In other words, one does not inherit either righteousness or wickedness from his parents or ancestors.  In the liturgy of today, the first reading from the book of the prophet Ezekiel reflects on the individual's responsibility. The Jews while in exile attributed their sufferings to the iniquities of their parents and ancestors. Hence, the proverb: “The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on the edge” (Ezek 18:2). They lamented that the sins of their parents and ancestors are the reasons why they are in exile. God through the prophet Ezekiel addressed this disposition...

THEME: THE INDISSOLUBILITY OF MARRIAGE Ezekiel 16:1-15, 60, 63; Matt 19:3-12 Homily for Friday of the 19th week in the ordinary time. The first reading from the Book of the prophet Ezekiel brings to the fore the infidelity of Israel despite the unwavering steadfastness of God to them. How God cared, loved and nurtured the people of Israel whose origin and birth was unwanted, uncared, unloved and miserable. How God took her to himself in love, made a covenant with her, blessed her, provided for her, conquered their enemies and embellished her with beautiful or naments and jewels and yet the response of Israel as the bride was that of ingratitude and unfaithfulness.  The Lord God made known his dissatisfaction and disappointment about Israel who were constantly wayward, rejecting God and fashioning for themselves ways that are unpleasant in the sight of God. They committed idolatry and persecuted the messengers who had been sent to them over time, and abandoned God. Brothers and sist...

Homily for Thursday of the 19th week in the ordinary time Theme: The limit of Christian forgiveness Ezekiel 12:1-12; Matthew 18:21-19:1 Dearest brothers and sisters in Christ, it is an understatement to say that the world is becoming increasingly rebellious against the things of God. There is seemingly a concerted effort to displace, depose,  unseat and expel anything that has to do with the affairs of God. Society believes that it can do without God.  The first reading from the book of Ezekiel speaks of the rebellious and disobedient attitude of the people of Israel against God. They worshipped foreign gods and adopted idols as their makers. God tells prophet Ezekiel: Mortal, you are living amid a rebellious house, who have eyes to see but do not see, who have ears to hear but do not hear, for they are a rebellious house” (Ezek 12:2-3). However, God in his infinite mercy and kindness sent the prophet Ezekiel to the house of Israel with a message of repentance. Dramatically no...

Homily for Wednesday of the 19th week in the ordinary time (Feast of St. Lawrence) 10 August Theme: Only by service comes fruitfulness 2 Corinthians 9:6-10; John 12:24-26 Today the Holy Mother church celebrates the feast of St. Lawrence. Lawrence was a leading figure among the seven deacons of Rome. As a deacon, he assisted the Pope in the celebration of Holy Mass, distributed communion to the faithful, administered the church's property and gave alms to the poor. History has it that under the persecution of Valerian, Lawrence was martyred on 10 August 258. While others were beheaded, Lawrence was burnt alive. In honour of St. Lawrence, the church built a basilica otherwise called the basilica of St. Lawrence on the spot he was buried. In the Gospel of John that we have just heard, Jesus tells us: “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it does, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life will lose it, and those who hate the...

What does it mean to be great in the kingdom of God? Prophetic Commisioning Ezekiel 2:8-10; 3:1-4; Matthew 18:1-5,10,12-14 The first reading of today speaks of the prophetic commissioning of Ezekiel. This prophetic commission entails obedience and assimilation of the word of God. In the first Phase,  the Lord commanded Ezekiel: “But you mortal, hear what I say to you, do not be rebellious like that rebellious house” (Ezekiel 2:8). This is a demand of obedience and submission. A prophet is not a person of his own. A prophet is a messenger of God. He does not have his messages but the messages of God and thus must be subordinate to the injunctions of God. He is not to be in argument or remonstration with the commands of God but to do just what God desires of him. Friends in Christ, the first mark of a prophet is Obedience. Today many claims to be prophets, they disobey constituted authorities and are rebellious. They are false prophets  In the second phase, God said to him, 'ope...

Theme: Is it right for a Christian to pay tax? Ezekiel 1:2-5, 24-28; Matthew 17: 22-27 The first reading speaks of the call of the prophet Ezekiel. The encounter between the prophet and God, in which the prophet experienced  God's holiness, greatness and mighty power. To Ezekiel was revealed the nearness and holiness of God. Ezekiel came to the understanding that God is everywhere and cannot be confined to a particular place because even in their exile, God was present.  This spiritual encounter took place in the 5th year of the exile of King Jehoiachin..in the land of the Chaldeans by the river Chebar (Ezek 1:2-3). The revelation of God in his greatness made a profound impression on Ezekiel, for he said, “when I saw it I fell to the ground”. The prophet before God exuded humility, modesty, and submission. Dearest brothers and sisters in Christ, one of the tactics mostly deployed by the evil one towards the demoralization of our faith, especially at difficult and sorrowful tim...

Theme: The Spirituality of waiting and readiness Wisdom 18:6-9; Hebrew 11:1-2, 8-19; Lk 12:32-38 The first reading from the book of wisdom joyfully recounts the salvific works of God upon Israel at their sojourn from Egypt to the promised land. It reminds us of how the actions of God brought salvation to the virtuous and ruins to their enemies. How the works of God evoked in the Israelites courage, faith confidence and trust in God.  The second reading expands this understanding of faith and trust in God. It extols virtuous figures in the history of Israel who led an exemplary life of faith. Outstanding in this context is Abraham, our father in Faith. Through faith and obedience to God's promises, Abraham set out on a journey without knowing where he was going. Through faith in God, Abraham lived in a tent in a strange country while his heart and mind were fixed on the city founded, designed and built by God. Through faith, Abraham and Sarah waited for the fulfilment of the promise...