Homily for the Seventh Sunday of the
Year (A) (19th February, 2017) on the Gospel
Lev 19:1-2. 17-18;
Ps 102:1-4.8.10.12-13 (R. v.8);
1Cor 3:16-23;
Matt 5:38-48.
You must have heard the story of a notorious wife
beater. He was later converted to Christianity and accordingly was instructed
on the way of the Lord. One day his wife provoked him. He has raised his hand before
someone called him Brother Peter. He stopped with his hand still in the air and
turned towards the voice. The voice went on to remind him that he has become a
new person in Christ. His hand remained in the air for minutes as if suspended
by something before lowering it. He murmured bitterly as he went away: “Christianity
has turned a man into a woman”. That voice was that of his parish priest who
came to see how he was doing in the new way of life. They later discussed for
long.
Topic: Between oneself and God.
Just like last Sunday’s gospel,
today’s gospel can be divided into two parts: the teaching Concerning
Retaliation (Matt 5:38-42) and Love of
Enemies (Matt 5:43-48). Although the
homily as we have noted is on the gospel as a whole but specifically it will
focus more on the first part.
By nature, it
seems that human beings are inclined toward defending themselves; each person
protecting him/herself and whatever one considers as his or hers. Whenever one
cannot stand against the perceived traitor/s he or she at least runs away.
Sometimes some even go against the will of God just to do this. This self and
whatever one considers dear to him or her that we naturally tend towards
protecting are what we ought to have denied to become Christians. Christ
enjoins us thus: “… If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and
take up his cross daily and follow me” (Lk
9:23, cf. Matt 10:38; 16:24; Mk 8:34). If we do not deny this body,
different passions at war in it will lead us astray, cf. Jas 4:1. This is because where one’s treasure is, there will his or
her heart be also, cf. Matt 6:21.
So to be a
Christian, one ought to surrender his or her will to God. It will no longer be
question of what does one or community wants but what does God wants, cf. Acts 5:29. Hence St. Paul in his First
Letter to the Corinthians writes: “You are not your own” (1Cor 6:19). No true Christian can talk of his or hers not even
one’s self. Everything ought to have been consecrated to God at conversion. We
are just mere custodians of whatever we possess here on earth, cf. 2Cor 4:7. God has put his seal upon us at
Baptism and given us his Holy Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee, cf. 2Cor 1:22. This God’s seal on
Christians which is the mark of ownership is to remind us of all the
commandments of the Lord, to do them, not to follow after our own heart and our
own eyes, which we are inclined to go after wantonly, cf. Num 15:39.
Saint Paul
citing the Book of Deuteronomy chapter
32 verse 35 wrote: “Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the
wrath of God; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the
Lord’” (Rom 12:19; cf. Heb 10:30). God whose properties we
are will surely fight for us but it will be at His own time not ours. It is not
right to take the place of God.
The declaration
Joshua made to the people of Israel is still relevant today:
And if you be unwilling to serve
the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers
served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose
land you dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD (Josh 24:15).
We should remember
always what Jesus asks us: “… what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole
world and forfeits his life? Or what shall a man give in return for his life?”
(Matt 16:26). There is an Igbo
adage: ọkpọ onye kpọ ya literally meaning a person who leads his or her guide. We
tend to see ourselves as more knowledgeable and powerful than God who created
us. To be a Christian, one has to decide: Between oneself and God. That is either you follow God or yourself. It is important
to take a definitive stand today. It is either one is for God or one is not.
There is no midway, cf. Rev 3:16.
It
is only when one surrenders his or her will before God that one can say with
the Psalmist: “In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust without a fear. What
can flesh do to me?” (Ps 56:4, cf. v. 11).
And then does one’s spirit rejoices in God who will be his or her Saviour, cf. Lk 1:47. We have died and our life is
hid with Christ in God, cf. Col 3:3.
As a result, what that man who was well-known for beating his wife said must be
true in our lives. Christ
must turn us into whatever that is good we are not.
Bible Readings: 2Chr 20:1-30; Prov 20:22; 25:21-22; Matt
10:34-39; 16:24-27; Lk 14:25-33; Ps 23.
Thought for today: Remember that you are God’s and allow Him to act on
your behalf, cf. 2Chr 20:17.
Let us pray: Lord, may we always be conscious of the fact that
you are God and that it is you who made us. May we live entirely as your people
and the sheep of your pasture (Ps 100:3)
– Amen.
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are free to share this reflection with others if you consider it worthy.
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