Call to discipleship: Thirteenth Sunday of the Year (C) (30th June, 2019).

Homily (Reflection) for the Thirteenth Sunday of the Year (C) (30^th June, 2019) on the Gospel

1Kgs 19:16.19-21;

Ps 15:1-2.5.7-11. (R. cf. v. 5);
Gal 5:1.13-18;
Lk 9:51-62.

Topic: Call to discipleship.

In today’s gospel, the messengers Jesus sent to make things ready for Him was rejected by a Samaritan village. James and John (Boanerges, cf. Mk 3:17) wanted to call down fire from heaven to consume them but Jesus rebuked them. They moved to another village. While on their way, one person volunteered to be Christ’s disciple but He said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” The one Jesus called excused himself, “Lord, first let me go and bury my Father.” Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” And yet another said to Jesus, “I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” To him Jesus replied, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

Earlier while sending the twelve on mission Jesus instructed them, “Wherever they do not welcome you, as you are leaving that town shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them” (Lk 9:5; cf. Matt 10:14). Probably, James and John were not comfortable shaking of the dust. They wanted to follow the example of Elijah, cf. 2Kg 1. Other ancient authorities did not just read that Jesus rebuked the duo, rather He “rebuked them, and said, ‘You do not know what spirit you are of, for the Son of Man has not come to destroy the lives of human beings but to save them’”[1]

Jesus demands of everyone who wants to be His disciple a number of things. They include, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Matt 16:24; cf. Mk 8:34; Lk 9:23). Again, “he who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me” (Matt 10:38). And again, “If any one serves me, he must follow me; and where I am, there shall my servant be also...” (Jn 12:26). In the gospel according to Saint Luke, Jesus was more drastic, “If any one comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple” (Lk 14:26).

A disciple once asked Socrates: “Sir, you ask everyone who wants to become your disciple to look into the pond and tell you what he sees. Why is it so?”

Socrates replied: “It is quite simple. One who sees the fish swimming around, I accept him. Others who see their own reflection are in love with their ego. I have no use for them.”[2]

Discipleship demands one renouncing everything including one’s very self, cf. Lk 14:33. Hence, “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come” (2Cor 5:17). Disciples live according to God’s will and not according theirs, cf. Lk 22:42.

Regrettably, many Christians do not even care today to know what God’s will is. Otherwise, how does one explain the curses and abusive words even from anointed men of God? ‘Holy Ghost fire’ has become the other of the day. How are these and many other things we do today better than what James and John intended for which Jesus rebuked them? Or are we called to follow Elijah?

Power belongs to God, cf. Ps 62:11; 2Cor 4:7. And nothing is impossible for Him, cf. Matt 19:26. But God has not empowered anyone to use His power for his/her personal vendetta. Judgement belongs to God alone, 1Chr 16:33; Ps 96:13; 2Tim 4:1.

We are called to follow Christ who “When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he trusted to him who judges justly” (1Pt 2:23). God forbids retaliation, cf. Deut 32:35; Rom 12:19; Heb 10:30. Christians are called not to be overcome by evil, but to overcome evil with good, cf. Rom 12:21.

Bible Reading: Lk 14:25-33; Rom 12:19.

Thought for today: Are you really Christ’s disciple?

Let us pray: Lord, grant us your grace to live as authentic Christians – Amen.

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[1] Footnotes to The Holy Bible, and The New Jerusalem Bible.

[2] Sagayanathan, A. (2009). Launching pad: Stories for Sunday homilies – A, B & C. Bangalore: Asian Trading Corporation, p. 313.

Beyond what others said: Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Aps (29th June, 2019) .

Homily (Reflection) for the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Aps (29th June, 2019) on the Gospel and the Solemnity

 
Acts 12:1-11;
Ps 33:2-9. (R. v. 5 or v. 8);
2Tim 4:6-8.17-18;
Matt 16:13-19.

Today is the solemnity of the apostles Peter and Paul. Saint Peter was an apostle to the circumcised while Saint Paul was called to be an apostle to the uncircumcised, cf. Gal 2:7-9; Rom 11:13; Acts 9:15.

Saint Peter was son of Jonah (Matt 16:17) and brother of Saint Andrew (Matt 4:18; Mk 1:16; Jn 1:40). He was a native of Bethsaida, cf. Jn 1:44. There are two different accounts of his call. According to Matthew, Mark, and Luke, he was called alongside his brother by the Lord while fishing, cf. Matt 4:18-20; Mk 1:16-18; Lk 5:1-11. But according to Saint John, Andrew was the one who brought Simon to Jesus, cf. Jn 1:35-42. Jesus was the one who named Simon, Cephas (Peter) meaning rock, cf. Matt 16:18; Jn 1:42b. He is the patron saint of fishermen, net makers, and ship builders.

On the other hand, Saint Paul was a Jew and a native of Tarsus in Cilicia. cf. Acts 9:11. 21:39. 22:3. He was brought up in Jerusalem and studied under Gamaliel, cf. Acts 22:3. Saint Paul was a great persecutor of the Church and was very determined to destroy it, Gal 1:13. He was converted while on his way to Damascus with a letter from the high priest to arrest every Christian he could found. He was baptized by Ananias with the name Paul, cf. Acts 9:1-18. 22:6-16. 26:12-18. Saint Paul is the patron saint of Missionaries, Theologians, and Gentile Christians.

Saint Peter and Saint Paul were martyred in Rome. Saint Peter’s was in c. 64 AD and that of Saint Paul was in c. 67.

Topic: Beyond what others said.

There is a saying in Igbo language, “Nwata gafee onye mụrụ, a jụbazia onye ka ọ na-anụ ma ọ bụ onye na-anụ ya” literally meaning that at a point in one’s life, the question will move from ‘whose child?’ to either, ‘whose husband or wife?” In the development of human beings, a time comes when people will expect to see what a person has done and/or is doing. Look at how the letter to the Hebrews expressed it, “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the first principles of God's word” (Heb 5:12; cf. 1Cor 3:2).

The letter to the Hebrews explains the importance of faith, “And without faith it is impossible to please him [God]. For whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (Heb 11:6). Where does faith come from? Saint Paul explained, “faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes by the preaching of Christ” (Rom 10:17). But faith should not be seen as something that comes automatically with hearing the gospel. Otherwise, the world would have been a better place.

In today’s gospel, Jesus first asked His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” Although they offered a lot of answers but the whole thing seem to have served as an introduction to the main question, “But who do you say that I am?” It was Peter who declared, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus said to him,

Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah.... I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church.... I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.

Faith is the product of the marriage between what is heard, read, and/or experienced and the inner person. Beyond what they said (ie, what one heard, read, and/or experienced) is one’s faith or lack of faith. Hence, Christ gives the power of becoming children of God only to those who received Him, and believed in His name, cf. Jn 1:12.

Beyond all you have heard, read, or experienced lies what, faith or lack of faith. Remember that in normal development of anything, at a point people would start to look for the essence of the thing in question. Saint Peter did not end up with what people said nor Saint Paul with the experience on his road to Damascus. It is very abnormal for one to remain at the level of what people say. God expects each of us to make his/her own confession. But it starts from what is really beyond what people say, faith or lack faith. Only he/she who is righteous through faith shall live, cf. Rom 1:17; Gal 3:11.

Bible Reading: Rom 10:5-21; Heb 11:1-40.

Thought for today: What lies beyond what you heard, read, and/or experienced?

Let us pray: Lord, we can do nothing without you. We humbly ask you for the gift of faith that will stand every test – Amen.

Saints Peter and Paul – Amen.

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You are God’s treasure: Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (C) (28th June, 2019).

Homily (Reflection) for Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus (C) (28^th June, 2019) on the Gospel and the Solemnity

 
Ezek 34:11-16;
Ps 22. (R. v. 1);
Rom 5:5-11;
Lk 15:3-7.

Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus can be traced back to the eleventh century. It marked the spirituality of Saint Bernard of Clairvaux in the twelfth century and of Saint Bonaventure and St. Gertrude the Great in the thirteenth century. The devotion to the love of God as symbolized by the heart of Jesus are found even in the fathers of the Church including Origen, Saint Ambrose, Saint Jerome, Saint Augustine of Hippo, Saint Hippolytus of Rome, Saint Irenaeus, Saint Justin Martyr and Saint Cyprian.

But the first liturgical feast of the Sacred Heart was celebrated, with episcopal approval, on 31 August 1670, in the major seminary of Rennes, France, through the efforts of Saint John Eudes. The revelations to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque and Blessed Mary of the Divine Heart Droste zu Vischering gave this devotion more impetus. Mass of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was approved by the papacy for Poland and Portugal in 1765, and for Venice, Austria and Spain in 1788. Finally, in 1856, Pope Pius IX extended it to the universal Church. Pope Pius XI raised it to Solemnity in 1928.[1]

Topic: You are God’s treasure.

We see in today’s gospel the parable of the lost sheep. In this parable, the owner of a hundred sheep would set out in search of any lost one until he finds it. And “When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices.”

It is touching that the sheep owner neither scolded the lost one nor complained of the stress it caused him. He also did not even demand an explanation of what led it away. As if these were not enough, he did not allow it to trek home instead carried it on his own shoulder.

We read from the Psalms, “Know that the LORD is God! It is he that made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture” (Ps 100:3; cf. Ps 74:1. 95:7. Ezek 34:31). This parable is therefore one of the illustrations of how much God loves each of us. The Psalmist also wrote, “He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor requite us according to our iniquities” (Ps 103:10). And Jesus concluded the parable thus, “Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous who need no repentance.”

We celebrate today God’s love for us symbolized by the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It is time to cause great joy in heaven by returning from all the ways we have gone astray. If you are ready for this journey, let’s go back home to our God.

Bible Reading: Ezek 34:11-31; Ps 100:1-5. 103:1-14.

Thought for today: God’s love for us is too deep for words.

Let us pray: God, help us to respond positively to your love always – Amen.

Most Sacred Heart of Jesus – Thy kingdom come!

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[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Feast_of_the_Sacred_Heart

Further warning: Thursday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time (I) (27th June, 2019).

Homily (Reflection) for Thursday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time (I) (27^th June, 2019) on the Gospel

 
Gen 16:1-12.15-16 or 16:6-12.15-16;
Ps 105:1-5. (R. v. 1);

Matt 7:21-29.

Topic: Further warning.

Today’s gospel is the continuation of Jesus’ warning in yesterday’s gospel. It is made up of two teachings: self-deception, and hearers and doers of the word.

Jesus warned in today’s gospel that the ability to perform miracles and/or claims of miracles is not true yardstick for discerning spirits. Hence, many will say on the last day, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, do many deeds of power in your name?” And Jesus will declare to them, “I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.” Recall that the wise men and sorcerers of Egypt performed miracles just like Aaron did, cf. Ex 7:8-11. Again, Paul and Silas were met by a slave girl at Philippi who had a spirit of divination through which her owners had made much gain by soothsaying. Although that spirit appeared harmless but Paul cast it out because it was not of God, cf. Acts 16:16-18; Matt 12:22-26.

The true yardstick is in doing the word of God. We all face the same challenges but colossal failure awaits those who do not practise the word of God. In line with the second part of the gospel, Saint James cautions,

But be doers of the word, and not merely hearers who deceive themselves. For if any are hearers of the word and not doers, they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror.... But those who look into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and persevere, being not hearers who forget but doers who act – they will be blessed in their doing (Jas 1:22-25).

Bible Reading: Jas 1:19-27; 2:14-26.

Thought for today: Are you a hearer or a doer of God’s Word?

Let us pray: May God help us to live out His Word always – Amen.

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True definition: Wednesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time (I) (26th June, 2019).

Homily (Reflection) for Wednesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time (I) (26^th June, 2019) on the Gospel

 
Gen 15:1-12.17-18;
Ps 104:1-4.6-9. (R. v.8);
Matt 7:15-20.

Topic: True definition.

Jesus warned in today’s gospel,

Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits.... every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruits.

Saint John also cautioned,

Beloved, do not believe every spirit.... By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God (1Jn 4:1-3a).

However, confessing Jesus Christ is not an action of the lips alone but of the whole person, cf. Is 29:13-14; Matt 15:8; Mk 7:6. It is living “a life worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God” (Col 1:10). Real confessing Jesus is in action, cf. Lk 3:8. 6:46; Matt 3:8.

Let no one be deceived with anything because “even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light” (2Cor 11:14). Children of God are light and “the fruit of the light is found in all that is good and right and true” (Eph 5:9). It must possess the three qualities.

Finally, as you watch for others’ fruits, do not forget to bear yours because every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire, cf. Matt 3:10; Lk 3:9.

Bible Reading: 1Jn 4:1-6.

Thought for today: Bear fruits that are good, right, and true.

Let us pray: Lord, help us discern spirits correctly and bear good fruits – Amen.

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Standards upon standards: Tuesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time (I) (25th June, 2019).

Homily (Reflection) for Tuesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time (I) (25^th June, 2019) on the Gospel

 
Gen 13:2.5-18;
Ps 14:2-5. (R. v.1);
Matt 7:6.12-14.

Topic: Standards upon standards.

Today’s gospel consists of teachings on what is holy (Matt 7:6), the golden rule (Matt 7:12), and the narrow gate (Matt 7:13-14). Our reflection will focus mainly on the golden rule. It reads: “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets” (cf. Tob 4:15).

Irrespective of colours, tribes, qualifications, status, and so on, we all have the same father and one God, cf. Mal 2:10; Matt 23:9. Saint Paul rightly advised, “Masters, treat your slaves justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven” (Col 4:1). Again, “Do not speak harshly to an older man, but speak to him as to a father, to young men as brothers, to older women as mothers, to younger women as sisters – with absolute purity” (1Tim 5:1-2).

However, starting from the family, often one notices different standards even for children born of the same father and mother. While wealthy ones are treated as princes and princesses, others who may even be older are treated as outcasts. The case of maids is even worse. Sometimes one wonders whether they are really seen as human beings. As one moves from the nuclear families to the wider society and sadly even in some churches, the problem becomes more complicated. Examples can go on and on. We ought to be good to others irrespective of status, colour, race, and so on.

Bible Reading: Col 3:18 – 4:1; 1Tim 5:1-21.

Thought for today: Reflect on how you treat others starting from your family.

Let us pray: Lord, help us to be humble enough to see others as better human beings than ourselves – Amen (cf. Phil 2:3).

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Where many fail: Solemnity of the Birth of Saint John the Baptist (24th June, 2019).

Homily (Reflection) for the Solemnity of the Birth of Saint John the Baptist (24^th June, 2019) on the Gospel and the Solemnity

 

Is 49:1-6;

Ps 138:1-3.13-15. (R. v. 14);
Acts 13:22-26;
Lk 1:57-66.80.

We celebrate the birth of the voice that cried in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord’ cf. Jn 1:23. The gospel described his parents thus,

...there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly order of Abijah. His wife was a descendant of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. Both of them were righteous before God, living blamelessly according to all the commandments and regulations of the Lord. But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were getting on in years (Lk 1:5-7).

Topic: Where many fail.

The message of angel Gabriel to Zechariah about the birth of John the Baptist reads in part, “Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you will name him John. You will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth” (Lk 1:13-14).

In today’s gospel, people who rejoiced at his birth became an obstacle. With every good intention, they wanted the child to be named after his father, Zechariah in line with their custom. But Elizabeth and Zechariah followed God’s counsel which stands for ever, cf. Ps 33:11.

John came to prepare the way for the Lord, cf. Is 40:3; Mal 3:1; Matt 3:3. He never deviated from the call, cf. Matt 3:11; Jn 1:19-23; Acts 13:24-25; 19:4. When it was reported to him that Jesus was baptising and that all were going to Him, he replied, “He must increase, but I must decrease” (cf. Jn 3:30).

We rejoice with Zechariah and Elizabeth today at the birth of John because they waited for God’s time to a point all considered hopeless. They never deviated from God’s will. Because the people were in expectation, it would have been very easy for John to steal the stage but he did not, cf. Lk 3:15. Yet Jesus described him as the greatest of all born of women, cf. Lk 7:28.

It is not only that the gate to true success is narrow and the way hard, but often the whole thing looks so stupid. Hence, many do not find it, cf. Matt 7:14. Never forget that “the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1Cor 1:25). Never leave God’s will for any other. And be the best of the person God created in you. Finally, “...in everything God works for good with those who love him” (Rom 8:28).

 Bible Reading: Lk 1:5-25; Jn 3:22-30; Ps 33.

Thought for today: God’s counsel is assured.

Let us pray: God, help us to follow you wholeheartedly without looking to either right or left – Amen.

Saint John the Baptist – Pray for us.

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Deficiency to superfluous: Solemnity of The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, Year C (23rd June, 2019).

Homily (Reflection) for the Solemnity of The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, Year C (23^rd June, 2019) on the Gospel and the Solemnity

Gen 14:18-20;
Ps 109:1-4. (R. v. 4);
1Cor 11:23-26;
Lk 9:11-17.

The Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) originated in France and was extended to the whole Church by Pope Urban IV in 1264. It is celebrated on the Thursday following the Trinity Sunday or on the following Sunday where this Solemnity is not a holyday of obligation.[1] The primary purpose of this feast is to focus our attention on the Eucharist. And secondary upon the Body of Christ as it is present in the Church. The Church is called the Body of Christ because of the intimate communion which Jesus shares with his disciples. This Feast is accompanied with public Eucharistic processions, which serve as sign of common faith and adoration.[2] However, this procession takes place on the last Sunday of the year, Solemnity of Christ the King, in regions where this period of the year is within the rainy season.

Topic: Deficiency to superfluous.

Jesus welcomed the crowd who followed Him. He taught them and also healed those who needed to be cured. As the day was drawing to a close, His disciples came up with this suggestion, “Send the crowd away, so that they may go into the surrounding villages and countryside, to lodge and get provisions; for we are here in a deserted place.” But Jesus insisted, “You give them something to eat.” They were astonished and said, “We had no more than five loaves and two fish – unless we are to go and buy food for all these people.” They were about five thousand men. He made them sit in groups of about fifty each. Jesus then took the five loaves and the two fish, looked up to heaven, He blessed and broke them, and then gave them to the disciples to share to them. In the end, “...all ate and were filled. What was left over was gathered up, twelve baskets of broken pieces.”

Beyond the multiplication of loaves and fish as we see in today’s gospel, Christ gave us His true Body and Blood for He said, “Take, eat; this is my body” (Matt 26:26; Mk 14:22; Lk 22:19; 1Cor 11:24). He also said while giving us the chalice, “Drink from it, all of you; for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins” (Matt 26:27b-28; Mk 14:24). He offered these for our salvation, cf. Jn 10:11; 1Pt 2:24; Col 1:24. No love is greater, cf. Jn 15:13. Christ asked us to replicate this love among ourselves, cf. Jn 13:34. 15:12. How then do we do this?

It was half-way through the school year, and the principal was lecturing the teachers during the faculty meeting. He presented a painful list of all their failures, flaws and shortcomings. The list of transgressions seemed endless. Then he announced that the science club was sponsoring a blood drive, and that, to promote faculty involvement, he would donate the first pint of blood.

An anxious voice from the rear of the room asked, “Whose?”[3]

The disciples wanted the crowd to be sent out to fend for themselves but Jesus insisted that they give them something to eat. And that voice that sought to know whose blood would be donated first in our story must have wonderful excuse/s why it should not be his/hers. But when the disciples listened to Jesus and offered those meagre loaves and fish, the crowd was fed and what was left over filled twelve baskets.

Many die today untimely of lack of basic necessities. As we celebrate the Corpus Christi today, Christ reminds us to offer ourselves for these to live just as He offered Himself for us to live.  Surely, we have different reasons but Christ insists, “You give them something to eat.” If we listen to Him as the disciples did, the world will move from Deficiency to superfluous. But it depends on us. As you eat the Body of Christ and drink His Blood, He expects you to feed others with yours.

Bible Reading: Matt 25:31-46; Jas 2:14-26.

Thought for today: “You give them something to eat”.

Let us pray: Jesus, help us to follow your example and give ourselves for the good of others – Amen.

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[1] The Divine Office: The liturgy of the hours according to the roman rite (1997). London: Collins, p.21.

[2] http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/saint.php?n=270

[3] Thomas, T. (2010). Spice up your homilies. Mumbai: ST PAULS, p. 148.