Homily (Reflection) for the Seventh
Sunday of the Year (A) (23rd February, 2020) 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 had 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 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.
Bible Reading: 2Chr 20:1-30; Prov 20:22; 25:21-22; Matt
10:34-39; 16:24-27; Lk 14:25-33; Ps 23.
Silent Prayer: 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 the sheep
of your pasture – Amen.
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are free to share this reflection with others if you consider it worthy.
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