FR REMI HOMILIES/REFLECTIONS AND SERMONS

Homily for Saturday of the 4th week in Ordinary time Hebrew 13:15-17, 20-21; Mark 6:30-34 The importance of Rest The first reading from the letter to the Hebrews speaks to us on the need for our lives to be a sign of thanksgiving to God. It says: "Through Christ, let us continually offer a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that confess his name. Do not neglect to do good and share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God" (Heb 13:15-17). Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, in the Holy Eucharist is a scarament of thanksgiving. In it we offer God a sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. We confess Jesus as the Chief Priest, the Victim and the Altar of Sacrifice. However, the Holy Mass invites us to become Eucharitic person as well. Bread broken for other.  Hence, in the spirit of the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, God requires we offer him not just the fruit of our lips but the fruit of our lives as well. This should be exemplified in our

Homily for Friday of the 4th week in Ordinary time Hebrews 13:1-8; Mark 6:14-29 *The spirit of Christianity is the spirit of love The beheading of John the Baptist  In today's liturgy of the word, the author of the letter to the Hebrews gave lasting recommendations to all Christians, reminding us that the spirit of Christianity is a spirit of love.  Firstly, it recommends: "Let mutual love continue" (Heb 13:1). This is a re-affirmation of commands of Jesus: " I give you a new commandment, 'Love one another as I have loved you" (John 13:34). Secondly, it recommends: "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers" (Heb 13:2), for Charity will be the anchor of judgement on the last day. Thirdly, it mandates us to "remember those who are in prison and those who are ill treated, since we all form one body (Heb 13:3) . Fourthly, it recommends that marriage be honoured and kept undefiled, for God will judge fornication and adulterers (Heb 13:4). Th

Homily for Wednesday of the 4th week in the ordinary time  Hebrews 12;4-7, 11-15; Mark 6:1-6 "Discipline as part of Christian growth" "The danger of familiarity syndrome" The first reading of today's liturgy speaks to us on the place of discipline in Christian growth. It says: "My child, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, nor lose heart when you are punished by him. For the Lord disciplines those whom he loves and chastises every child whom he accepts" (Heb 12:56).  Discipline is an indispensable character in the life of every Christian. We must via discipline and training learn how to submit to the demands of the Gospel values. We must overcome our evil inclinations and faithfully embrace with constancy the precepts of God. Beloved in Christ, there is no vocation without difficulty. However, we mustn't be discouraged. Just as drivers stick to the rules of the road in other to avoid calamity, so also we, in other to stick to the rule

Homily for Tuesday of the 4th week in the ordinary time  Hebrews 12:1-4; Mark 5:21-43 "Christian life compares to a race" "Cure of the woman with heamorrhage" The first reading compares Christian life to a race. It says: "Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,  let us also lay aside every weight and sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us" (Heb 12:1). For every race, there is always a goal to attain. In this Christian context, Jesus is the ultimate goal to be reached. Having a great cloud of witnesses, every Christian must with perseverance and steadfastness pursue the course marked out for him. He mustn't run outside of the tracks designed for him in order to faithfully attain the price. So also, every Christian must abide by God's commandments enshrined in the word of God and the precepts of the church.  In the vein that Jesus endured the cross and disregarded its shame for th

Homily for Monday of the 4th week in Ordinary time Hebrews 11: 32-40; Mark 5:1-20 The cure of the Demoniac  In the first reading of today's liturgy,  the author of the letter to the Hebrews speaks of the exemplary faith of the ancestors of the Jewish people e.g Gideon, Barack, Samson, Jepthah, David,  Samuel and the prophets etc (Heb 11:33).  It acknowledged the truth that through faith these Jewish ancestors conquered kingdoms, shut the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, won strength out of weakness, etc. However, they suffered and were persecuted, tormented, mocked, flogged, chained, imprisoned,  stoned, killed by the sword, etc. But their faith never wavered.  Brothers and sisters in Christ, the Old testament believers lived and died in faith e.g Abraham, Noah, Moses etc. We must also live and die in faith. For by faith Mary, Joseph, Simeon and Anna, the Apostles, the Martyrs, the Confessors, the Virgins, the Bishops, priests, religious and lay people of all the Christian ce

HOMILY FOR THE 4TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Zep.2:3; 3:12-13; 1Cor.1:26-31; Matt.5:1-12a Theme: Only a Virtuous life is Durable! By nature, man has these desires for greatness and to be accepted/loved by others. These desires, consciously or unconsciously influence his actions and behaviour. If not properly guided, man can seek illegitimate means to meet this engrave desires. It on this note that the liturgy of today, gives us the secret for true greatness and true acceptability and love. We live in a world where vices, of different kinds, have been employed by the majority as the weapon for satisfying the desires for greatness and love. Today, people no longer hide the fact that they became great through unwholesome means. Yet they are celebrated, loved and respected by many. They are proudly chosen by some others as mentors; those who aspire to become great like them. This unfortunate experience seems to remove the feeling of guilt that ought to be associated with anything illegitimat

Homily for Saturday of  the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time.  Memorial of St. Thomas Aquinas (The Angelic Doctor of the Church).  Hebrews 11:1-2,8-19. Luke 1:69-70,71-72,73-75. Mark 4:35-41.  The first reading teaches us that just as Abraham got divine approval as a result of his faith in God, so too shall we have divine approval if we also have faith in God. Going further, we are told of Abraham's faith that was justified by his action when he was ready to offer Isaac, his son, to God aa a burnt offering. If only we had faith as strong as Abraham's faith, who moved in obedience to God. When the oceans rise and thunders roar, as we have it in today's Gospel, Jesus will calm the strong winds in our lives. The fact that with the presence of Jesus in the boat, the disciples were confronted with the problems of life, it simply means that the Christian life is not a problem-free life. However, it is not the problem, but our response to our problems that define us. Thanks to the discip