Homily
for the Thirty-Second Sunday of the Year (B) (8th November, 2015) on
the Gospel
1Kg
17:10-16;
Ps
145:7-10 (R.V. 2);Heb 9:24-28;
Mk 12:38-44 or Mk 12:41-44.
Today’s gospel is made up of two parts (teachings): Jesus’ denunciation of the scribes (Mk 12:38-40) and The widow’s offering better known as Widow’s mite (Mk 12:41-44).
In today’s Mass, the second part of the gospel can either be read alone or together
with the first part. We present two homilies based on these two parts of the
gospel. This homily is on Jesus’ denunciation of the Scribes.
Topic: Called to a way of life.
This part of the gospel (Mk
12:38-40) as we have said earlier deals
with Jesus’ condemnation of the scribes. It is important to first understand a
little the scribes: according to the New Living Translation (NLT) Bible, they are
teachers of religious law (Mk 12:38).
Hence, Barclay calls them experts in the law. These scribes according to the
gospel “38like to walk
around in long robes, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, 39and to have the best seats
in the synagogues and places of honour at banquets! 40aThey devour widow’s houses” (Mk 12:38-40a). And the gospel goes further: “and then pretend to be
pious by making long prayers in public” (Mk
12:40b, NLT).
Barclay further explained that “An expert in
the law could take no pay for his teaching. He was supposed to have a trade by
which he earned his daily bread. But these legal experts had managed to convey
to people that there was no higher duty and privilege than to support a rabbi
in comfort, that, in fact such support would undoubtedly entitled him or her
who gave it to a high place in the heavenly academy” (Barclay, W. (2006). The
daily study bible: The gospel of Mark, 3. p. 301).
In Saint Paul’s letter to the Galatians we
read: “For as many of
you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ” (Gal 3:27). And again in his letter to the Colossians, all the
baptized “have put on the new nature, which is being renewed in knowledge after
the image of its creator” (Col 3:10).
To be a Christian is therefore a call to a new way of life, cf. Eph 2:12; 5:8; 1Pt 2:10.
But despite our call as Christians, many still
live as enemies of the cross of Christ, cf. Phil 3:18. Saint Paul therefore begs us to lead a life worthy of
the calling to which we have been called, cf. Eph 4:1. And earlier in his letter to the Philippians he also
writes: “Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so
that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you stand
firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the
gospel” (Phil 1:27). Saint John the
Baptist has this: “Bear fruits that befit repentance, and do not begin to say
to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father’; for I tell you, God is able
from these stones to raise up children to Abraham” (Lk 3:8). And while defending himself before Agrippa Saint Paul summed
up what he preached in Damascus, Judea and to the Gentiles in these words: “that
they should repent and turn to God and perform deeds worthy of their repentance”
(Acts 26:20).
The first part of the gospel ends
with these words: “They [the scribes] will receive the greater condemnation”
because although they were experts in the religious laws but they have turned themselves
into irreligious by regulating what God did not regulate. The works they did
ought to be free. Jesus harsh words on them is in line with his teaching:
“47that
servant who knew his master's will, but did not make ready or act according to
his will, shall receive a severe beating. 48But
he who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, shall receive a light
beating. Every one to whom much is given, of him will much be required; and of
him to whom men commit much they will demand the more” (Lk 12:47-48).
The question now is whether we Christians
will receive a milder judgement because just like the scribes many have
commercialized everything even prayers forgetting the injunction that this must
be free, cf. Matt 10:8. However any
Christian who fails to do God’s will receive even greater condemnation than the
scribes, cf. Matt 5:20. Worst still if
that Christian is a leader in God’s household. Although the humble monk in our
introductory story did not fight for his position but he ascended it in a grand
style, cf. Lk 14:7-14. No matter who one is or the
position he or she occupies in the church unless he or she live as he or she
ought, there will be a terrible sentence on the last day: “I tell you, I do not
know where you come from; depart from me, all you workers of iniquity!” (Lk 13:27; cf. Matt 25:12; Lk 13:25). So
my dear brothers and sisters make hare while the sun shines.
Bible Readings: Col 3:1-17; Lk 14:7-14; 19:11-27; Matt 5:17-20; 25: 1-13. 14-30. 31-46;
Eph 2:1-10.
Silent Prayer:
Is your life in harmony with who you are?
Let us pray: Lord, assist us in our struggle to
always live according to the gospel – Amen.
Note the following:
2. Again, you can receive our
homilies regularly via your email address just by sending your Name, address
(country and state) to: fromthepulpitonline@gmail.com
God bless you+
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