Homily (Reflection) for the Fourth Sunday
of the Year (C) (03rd February, 2019) on the Gospel
Jer 1:4-5,17-19;
Ps 70:1-6.15.17. (R. v. 15);
1Cor 12:31 – 13:13 or 1Cor 13:4-13;
Lk
4: 21-30.
One Head of Department (HOD) in his
effort to ensure that students are scored without prejudice gave the projects
of the final year students to a group of lecturers without names but carefully
indentified each of them with codes. After the scoring, the lecturers gathered
and worked out the final scores of the students.
Interestingly, a lecturer scored
one project one hundred percent (100%). When asked why he said that the work
was a perfect job. Because other lecturers also awarded high marks to the same
project, the panel accepted the marks as he submitted them. That same project
later emerged as the overall best.
The lecturers were eager to know the students
especially the one whose project has been adjudged as the overall best. In their
presence, the HOD brought out the names of the students with the codes on the
projects. When the same lecturer who had scored and also defended the project
that later emerged as the overall best one hundred percent realised the
student, he openly moved to withdraw the mark. According to him although the
student did a good job but he did not deserve such a position.
Topic: The prophet’s hometown.
Today’s gospel started with the
last verse of last Sunday’s gospel (Lk
4:21). And it is the summary of Jesus’ teaching in the synagogue. The
people who listened to Him were filled with mixed feelings and it reads, “All
spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his
mouth. They said, ‘Is not this Joseph’s son?’” (Lk 4:22). Jesus told them the hard truth that no prophet had ever
been welcomed in his hometown. The people became furious and wanted to hurl Him
off the cliff but He went away.
Their refusal of Jesus sent Him away. The implication of
this action is better seen in the gospel according to Matthew which reads, “And
he did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief” (Matt 13:58).
Like the Jews who rejected their brother, Christians also reject
their brothers and sisters for one reason or another. Some hang such on one useless
tradition or another. Prophet Malachi questions, “Have we not all one father?
Has not one God created us? Why then are we faithless to one another, profaning
the covenant of our fathers?” (Mal 2:10).
We ought to remember that before God “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is
neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one
in Christ Jesus” (Gal 3:28). It is
disheartening that often the people rejected are better than those who rejected
them. Hence in his letter to the Romans Saint Paul also writes “What then? Are
we Jews any better off? No, not at all; for I have already charged that all
men, both Jews and Greeks, are under the power of sin” (Rom 3:9).
Dear child of God, no matter how okay one thinks he or she
is there is still need for the other person including those sometimes regarded
as useless. God who made us all wants us to complement each other not to reject,
cf. Rom 15:1-6. Saint Paul
admonishes us, “Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count
others better than yourselves” (Phil 2:3).
God is the Father of us all and is not ashamed to be called our God, cf. Heb 11:16. We are not to condemn or
approve something because of the person behind it like the lecturer in our
introductory story. What is good is good irrespective of who did or said that. In
the same vein, what is bad is bad. Again, the Jews who rejected Jesus Christ
rejected the miracles He might have done among them. If we reject any we also
reject all the benefits.
Bible Reading: Rom 13:8-10; 14:1-12; 15:1-6; Phil
2:1-18.
Thought for today:
We are not better off.
Let us pray: God our Father, help us realise that
we all are from you and for ourselves – Amen.
You
are free to share this reflection with others if you consider it worthy.
For
more homilies (reflections):
Join our WhatsApp Group via: +234 810 298
6313
To Contact and/or to support this ministry:
Tel: +234 813 305
0302
May God bless you all+
The apostles returned from mission and gave account of what
they did and what they taught to Jesus. He later took them to a supposed lonely
place for a rest but on their arrival, they saw a great crowd waiting for them.
Jesus had pity on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd and
began to teach them many things. 
