HEAL THE WORLD: OUR CHRISTIAN MANDATE

HOMILY FOR THE 15TH SUNDAY IN THE ORDINARY TIME OF THE YEAR B

R1: Amos 7:12-15,

R2:  Eph 1:3-14, 

Gospel: Mk 6:7-13

*Heal the World: Our Christian mandate.*

The present human society is ravaged by many ills. Some are fundamental to human nature and others are nurtured in time. Greed, pride, materialism, profanity and lack of faith, among other vices have eaten deep into the fabrics of humanity, leaving our consciences so punctured that love, humility, piety and faith are hanging on the edge. God created us to know Him, to love Him, to worship Him and to be with Him, both here on earth and hereafter in heaven. We cannot know peace, happiness or fulfillment except we align to this Divine Will. Hence, we need to understand, assimilate and propagate this divine message.

The readings of today remind us of the unmerited gifts and blessings we have received from God and the responsibility to share the same with other, bring healing to the sick human society. St. Paul, in the Second Reading from his epistle to the Ephesians (1:3-14), pointed out the blessings fundamental to us as Christians; a divine plan since the foundation of the world: God elected us, liberated us and adopted us to be His sons in Christ and through Christ. In Christ the mystery of God to unite all things to Himself is revealed and fulfilled. By dying and rising with Christ in baptism, we receive the gifts of the Holy Spirit as guarantee of our promised inheritance until we acquire possession of it (Eph. 1:14). The Spirit we have received is not that of timidity, instead we are charged to go out, make disciples of all nations and heal the world of its infirmities by witnessing to the love of God.  

However, the gospel  reading (cf. Mk 6:7-13)

reminds us not to distract ourselves with inordinate desires, passion and encumbrances of materialism. Instead, we are to rely solely on divine providence. The spiritual poverty of the messenger is an essential condition required by the message itself. Moreover, our resolution in the face of hardship and difficulties simply reflects the level of our faith and trust in God. Our Christian call to mission is not without trials, hence the need to put on the sandals of courage and fortitude for the journey and the staff of resilience-in-prayer to push forward when oppositions make our movement heavy, and to ward-off dangers on the journey, especially internal and external distractions.

Just as Amos and the apostles were called to preach the gospel, we are also called to bear witness to God’s love in different ways; be it in marriage, single life, religious life, priesthood, and in various forms of life we find ourselves. We must believe that God is with us and wants us to share with others, the life of love we have received from Him.  We are to propagate the reign of God; the kingdom of God in our human society and heal our world of segregation, racism, selfishness, pride, faithlessness, prejudices, hatred, wickedness and other vices that have eaten deep into our being. 

Righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit is the Kingdom of God. Let us make effort to be part of it and ensure that others join too. We thank God for making us partake in this divine mystery of cosmic unification of all things to Himself through Christ and pray for the grace to remain faithful to our calling to the end of time. Shalom!

Reflection by:

Fr. Desmond Adazie, SMMM