Master-servant relationship: Saturday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time (30th June, 2018).

Homily (Reflection) for Saturday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time (30^th June, 2018) on the Gospel

(BVM on Saturday, Opt Mem)

 
Lam 2:2.10-14.18-19;
Ps 73:1-7.20-21. (R. v. 19);
Matt 8:5-17.

Topic: Master-servant relationship.

Today’s gospel consists of two sections, namely: Jesus’ healing of a centurion’s servant, and the healing of many at Peter’s house. Our homily will focus on the first part.

A centurion met Jesus at Capernaum and pleaded, “Lord, my servant is lying at home paralyzed, in terrible distress.” Jesus said to him, “I will come and cure him.” But the centurion replied in part, “Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed.” This is the origin of the response (profession of one’s faith) just before the reception of the Holy Communion. Jesus was amazed and said,

Truly I tell you, in no one in Israel have I found such a faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and will eat with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the heirs of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

This centurion was a special one. However, his servant must have been exceptional too. Otherwise, what prevented him from sending his servant/s?

When you relate with others especially those under you, do not forget that they are human beings. Again, your servant today can be your master tomorrow. Fellow servants, it is not easy for any head that wears the crown. Certainly, they err gravely. But that is not the thing. Please, when/where you wear the crown, do not repeat any of those things you complain about today.

Bible Reading: 1Jn 4:7-21.

Thought for today: A loving heart does not hate.

Let us pray: May God help us in our relationship with others – Amen.

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Beyond what others said: Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Aps (29th June, 2018).

Homily (Reflection) for the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul, Aps (29^th June, 2018) 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 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 – Pray for us.

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Further warning: Memorial of Saint Irenaeus, B.M (28th June, 2018).

Homily (Reflection) for the Memorial of Saint Irenaeus, B.M (28^th June, 2018) on the Gospel and the Memorial

 
2Kg 24:8-17;
Ps 78:1-5.8-9. (R. v.9);
Matt 7:21-29.

Saint Irenaeus, was Bishop of Lugdunum in Gaul, then part of the Roman Empire (now Lyon, France). He was an early Church Father and apologist, and his writings were formative in the early development of Christian theology. His best-known book, Adversus Haereses (Against Heresies) is a detailed attack on Gnosticism, which was then a serious threat to the Church. His polemical work is credited for laying out the orthodoxies of the Christian church, its faith, its preaching and the books that it held as sacred authority.[1]

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).

We celebrate Saint Irenaeus not because he performed miracles but because he did the will of God. Whoever wants to make heaven must follow his example.

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.

Saint Irenaeus – Pray for us.

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---

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

True definition: Wednesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time (II) (27th June, 2018).

Homily (Reflection) for Wednesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time (II) (27^th June, 2018) on the Gospel

 
2Kg 22:8-13. 23:1-3;
Ps 118:33-37.40. (R. v. 33);
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). 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 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 (II) (26th June, 2018).

Homily (Reflection) for Tuesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time (II) (26^th June, 2018) on the Gospel

 
2Kg 19:9-11.14-21.31-36;
Ps 47:2-4.10-11. (R. cf. v.9);
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 be based 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 observes different standards even for children born of the same father and mother. While wealthy ones are treated as princes and princesses, others who might 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 in some churches, the problem becomes more complicated. Examples can go on and on.

We are to be good to others irrespective of status, colour, race, and so on. We all have the same Father, the same God, and the same judge, cf. Mal 2:10; Matt 23:9; Eph 4:6; 2Cor 5:10.

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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Charity begins at home: Monday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time (II) (25th June, 2018).

Homily (Reflection) for Monday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time (II) (25^th June, 2018) on the Gospel

2Kg 17:5-8.13-15.18;

Ps 59:3-5.12-13. (R. v.7);
Matt 7:1-5.

Topic: Charity begins at home.

Maybe because a person cannot look at most parts of his/her own body without a mirror, many avoid looking at themselves completely and concentrate fully on others. Unfortunately, the images presented most often are so much distorted that they are very far from the reality. And these give rise to criticism, condemnation, and so on.

Jesus questioned in today’s gospel,

Why do you see the speck in your neighbour’s eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbour, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ while the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck of your neighbour’s eye.

Imagine the noise in our society today. People are yet to find anything to show for all these. Judging others is not an escape route from one’s sins; it condemns the judges themselves, cf. Rom 2:1.3. God will judge everybody both the righteous and the wicked on the appointed time, cf. Eccl 3:17. One’s delight ought to be in the fear of the LORD for He shall not judge by what His eyes see, or decide by what His ears hear, cf. Is 11:3.

Charity begins at home. Anybody who wants to effect any positive change must start from him/herself. Otherwise, it will be a replica of what our politicians do today intending to deceive the masses forever.

Bible Reading: Rom 2:1-16.

Thought for today: The Lord will judge his people (Heb 10:30).

Let us pray: Lord, help us transform our society by changing our lives – Amen.

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Where we often fail: Solemnity of the Birth of Saint John the Baptist (24th June, 2018).

Homily (Reflection) for the Solemnity of the Birth of Saint John the Baptist (24^th June, 2018) on the Gospel

Is 49:1-6;

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

Topic: Where we often fail.

We celebrate today the birth of Saint John the Baptist (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).

Based on the current trend of explaining human suffering, how can one explain the situation in which the holy priest, Zechariah, and his holy wife, Elizabeth, found themselves? Even their lineage did not have answers because nobody in his/her right senses can attribute their predicament to any ancestral curse. Or could it be the handiwork of witches and wizards or evil men and women or even resulting from a combined team?

Our call to be Christians is often misunderstood to be a call to a luxurious living. Jesus stated categorically, “Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him” (Jn 13:16). No doubt, Jesus is both the master and the one who sends in this case. How luxurious was His earthly life? Again He warns, “whoever would save his life will lose it; and whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel's will save it” (Mk 8:35; cf. Matt 10:39. 16:25; Lk 9:24). In the gospel according to John Jesus is also saying, “this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up at the last day” (Jn 6:39). Again, “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day” (Jn 6:44). Our call basically is for the world to come.

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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