Saturday, August 27, 2022

THE VALUE OF HUMILITY

HOMILY FOR THE 22ND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C

Theme: THE VALUE OF HUMILITY

R1: Sirach 3:19-21,30-31

R2: Hebrews 12:18-19,22-24

Gospel: Luke 14:1,7-14

It is indeed a golden truth that 'humility and fear of the Lord leads to riches, honour and longlife'(cf. Prov. 22:4). Humility is also necessary for maintaining a proper perception of ourselves.

Humility is so important in our lives since God abhors the proud (cf. James 4:6) and gives  grace to the humble. Humility therefore is a grace that attracts grace. 

The first reading of today emphasizes on humility and gentleness. It says that with gentleness, you will be better loved than a lavish giver. Humility elevates one but pride goes before a fall (cf. Prov. 16:18).

Pride on the other hand closes the door to spiritual growth; even in the physical realm, pride closes the door to social growth, financial growth etc. If one is a proud person, a person who does not accept the realities of life but is bent on living fake life, claiming what he/she is not, such a fellow will eventually miss out on many opportunities including business opportunities or destiny  helpers that are meant to raise him up. His helpers may see his/her fake package and conclude that he/she does not need help.

WHY MUST WE BE HUMBLE?

The second reading tells us why we must be humble. We must be humble because (1) God abhors the proud (2) everything we have was given to us by another. (3) we have nothing compared to what should be possessed. We have seen nothing compared to what should be seen. And we know nothing compared to what should be known.


ARE YOU HUMBLE?

HOW HUMBLE ARE YOU?

There are signs by which we can measure when we have become proud even though unconsciously. When you are proud, most likely

1. you over-commit yourself and burn out because you feel you are the best person for the job, for every job

2. you won't notice when your attitude offends others because you will be blinded by your certainty that you are right

3. you will miss the chances to learn from amazing teachers because you think you know more than them and don't need to ask questions. So you you lose the opportunity to improve

4. you will deny others the chance to exercise their gifts because you will take assignments that should have been theirs

5. you will shut down the chances to receive feedbacks from others because it will be obvious that you are not open to hearing them.

6. you will sacrifice things that are important in order to make sure you don't fail at something you should not have been doing Inthe first place.

CONSEQUENCES OF NOT BEING HUMBLE

The Gospel tells us the consequences of not being humble. They are namely: demotion, humiliation, downfall.

Everyone who exalts himself will be humbled and the man(or woman) who humbles himself (or herself) will be exalted (cf. Lk 14:14). Check out in the human history about those who thought themselves higher that they should; those who thought themselves as god's and see how they ended up in shame. People like King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon, was humbled by God. God made him eat grass like an Ox just to teach him humility.

Do not allow yourself to be humiliated before you become humble. Humility is not humiliation. Humility is grace. Humiliation is disgrace.

When you are humble, you will know your place and take it. You will also know the place of others and give to them. Then God will elevate you and give you a higher place.

BE HUMBLE

HAVE A GREAT DAY🌹

FadaNonsoOgbu,SMMM

Saturday, August 20, 2022

SALVATION: WHAT WE MUST KNOW

HOMILY FOR THE 21ST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR C

THEME: SALVATION: WHAT WE MUST KNOW

R1: Isaiah 36:18-21

R2: Hebrews 12:5-7. 11-13

Gospel: Luke 13:22-30

Few years ago as a seminarian, I attended the funeral of a man who was crushed to death by a trailer. It was said that the man died out of carelessness because he was drunk and did not look well before attempting to cross the express way. 

At some point towards the end of the funeral, an opportunity was given to a family member to present the eulogy of the deceased. The man who came out for the eulogy said: “I am very sure that this brother of mine is in hell fire.” Everyone wondered what the young man was trying to say. He continued, “This brother is so addicted to drugs and alcohol, now he has died by accident. No need praying for him, he is in hell fire.”

Many of us were embarrassed at the rash judgement meted out by the speaker, who was too quick to conclude the fate of his late brother. This most times depict our individual attitudes when we are too quick to judge and condemn others because they do not belong to our church, or they eat some food we don’t eat or they are not sharing same faith with us or they are not from our place, while we see ourselves as the only qualified candidates of heaven. 

But today’s readings clarify some points about the kingdom of God and who will be saved.

WHO CAN BE SAVED?

Salvation is a universal call: Many times, some members of a particular Church, faith, religion and origin have considered themselves better or the only candidates of heaven. Most times, this mentality makes them isolate themselves from relating with others. Today, Isaiah in the first reading clarifies the intention of God, that salvation is not limited to certain people. It is open to all those who are willing to embrace it. Hence let us do away with discrimination based on class, religion or race.

HOW WE CAN BE SAVED

It is very interesting that in the gospel, Jesus is asked how many that will be saved. Instead of answering, Jesus tells us how we shall be saved.  “Try your best to enter by the narrow door, for many will try to enter but will not succeed” (Lk 13: 24). This is a wonderful clue on how to make heaven. The door to heaven is small. This means that for us to be able to pass through this door, one must bring oneself low and be humble, so as to pass through the door.

A high-handed person cannot enter the small gate of heaven. That is why many of those who wanted to enter, were left outside because they were "bigger" than the door. What is surprising is that many of those who were left outside were among those who ate and drank with Christ and even taught in the streets. It means that these people are members of the Church, or those who knew Jesus very well. 

However, denying the people entrance into the  because they did not make themselves small enough to be able to pass through the door.

Jesus is calling on every Christian to remove from their bodies those things that are capable of making them big and can prevent them from entrance into the kingdom. These things include; selfishness, anger, jealousy, evil thoughts, attachment to material things, adultery, fornication, theft, insincerity, cheating, etc. Rather, become as small as child, for to such belong the kingdom of God (Mt 19:14). If we miss this opportunity of self reduction, others; the great multitude, will come and occupy the kingdom while we shall be left out. 

*WHAT WE MUST DO TO BE SAVED*

When Jesus is demanding that we enter through the narrow gate by becoming small enough, this is not as simple as it appears and that is why the second reading tells us that we need training. God using different means to train those He loves, just as a man trains his child. This answers the question, why Christians or lovers of God pass through many challenging times. This training He gives is to make us small enough to be able to pass through the small gate of His Kingdom. Hence, let us be patient enough to undergo this training time, being confident of what waits us in the future.

Reflection by:

Rev Fr. Chukwuemeka VINCENT Livinus, SMMM.

Saturday, August 13, 2022

THE FIRE OF CHRISTIANITY

HOMILY FOR 20TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME, YEAR C

THEME: THE FIRE OF CHRISTIANITY

R1:  Jer 38:4-6.8-9

R2: Heb 12:1-4

Gospel: Luke 12:49-53

The First reading is the story of the prophet Jeremiah, who lived within the time Nebuchadnezzar (king of Babylon) besieged Jerusalem. This situation led to horrible state of life for the Israelites and they were faced with hunger and starvation. The Israelites' army wanted to continue resisting the Babylonian king and this led to a more severe state of life of the Israelites. Remember that the Babylonian invasion came as a punishment for Israel’s disobedience to God. The king of Israel, Zedekiah, wanted to stop his officers but lacked the will power to do so. At this, Jeremiah spoke out to the Israelites to surrender, innthat continuous fight as at then was useless. The officers went Zedekiah (the king) and reported that Jeremiah must be put to death because he has demoralized the army and hasn’t the interest of the city at heart. Jeremiah was arrested thrown into a well (prison) full of mud and was abandoned by all to die. 

A courageous man named Ebed-melech, who could not condone injustice, approached the king and intervened on the prophet’s behalf, telling the king that the people have done wrong. Later, Jeremiah was released and set free.

The experience of Jeremiah is similar to the experience of many preachers and servants of God in this present time. The message of God dispensed by His servants has always clashed with the selfish interest of those in authority. Most times, God’s messengers are arrested and sometimes tortured and in some parts of the world killed for speaking the truth and for standing for the truth and what is right according to the mind of God. 

So what should we do, do we run away from the clutches of these wicked world leaders? No way. Our call as Christians is a very demanding one. Following Jesus our master, in the Gospel, we are called to bring fire on earth.  This statement sounds strange especially when the scripture has foretold that the coming of the Messiah will bring peace to the world (Is 1:6-9; 9:5-6). What does the gospel mean, what kind of fire is it talking about?

Fire is a principal agent of transformation and purification. Anything subjected to fire changes and takes a new form. Hence, having noticed that the world is full of evil and evil leaders who want to change the mind of God, Jesus says, I have come to bring fire to the world. This fire is the fire of transformation, it is the fire that changes the hearts of people, and it is the fire that purifies the wicked thoughts of many. This is the fire Christ has come to bring and calls every of his follower to do the same. It is the fire of the Pentecost experience that changed the apostles from fearful followers to fearless messangers. It is the fire that changes things for good.

When this fire is at work, there is a total transformation and separation of what is right and holy from what is wrong and evil. Hence, Jesus say, “I have come not to bring peace but division (Lk 12:52).” The gospel message will set the fire that will separate the unjust from the just and the new way from the old way of living.

Just like Jeremiah, every Christian must be prepared for this kind of radical proclamation of the gospel even if it may cost us the most treasured thing on earth like family, friends, comfort, pleasure, wealth and so on, as long as these things do not go in line with the mind of God. This is the fulfilment of the demand of  the Second Reading, “Throw off everything that hinders us from Christ, keep running like an athlete to heaven, do not lose sight of Christ and fight against sin (Heb 12:1-4). This may be challenging like the experience of Jeremiah but Lord will always come to our aid as he did for Jeremiah as well.

Reflection by:

Rev. Fr. Chukwuemeka VINCENT Livinus, SMMM

Saturday, August 6, 2022

FAITHFULNESS AND ITS REWARD

HOMILY FOR 19TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – C

THEME: FAITHFULNESS AND ITS REWARD

R1: Wisdom 18:6-9

R2: Hebrews 11:1-2. 8-19

Gospel: Luke 12:32-48_

When I was in primary four, I started going for catechism class for the reception of first Holy Communion. One of the first things we were being taught is the answer to the questions, what is faith? We were always waiting for whenever the seminarian (our catechism teacher) would ask that question. When asked, usually we echoed, though Igbo Language: “Faith is supernatural gift of God, which enables us to believe without doubting whatever God has revealed.” This answer prepared us for the journey ahead and strengthened our belief in the real presence of Jesus in the Sacred Host.

Dear friends, today’s readings talk about faith. Faith is a gift. This gift is only given by God to His people. Every Christian receives this gift of faith at the moment of baptism when we reject Satan and his vain glories and choose to follow Christ, and also in our different capacities of followership when we have decided to make Christ our personal Lord and saviour.  When we accept this call to divine followership, we are accepting a responsibility. This responsibility has two folds that are inseparably one; to love God and to love neighbour. As a proof of this responsibility, one needs to adopt practical steps towards the needs of those around him/her as this will open the way to his/her participation in the life of heaven. This is what is called *active faith.*

An *ACTIVE FAITH* is the faith that is practical. It is the faith that is demonstrated in action. Such action is what Jesus calls us to do in the Gospel Reading; “Sell your possessions and give alms.” This will make you have treasure in heaven. The advice of Jesus is a correction to the mistake of the ‘Rich Fool’ of last Sunday, whose insensitivity to needs of those around led to his death. Hence, the first thing towards an active faith is a movement. This movement is always towards the doing the good, because there is no faith without action, “Faith without good work is dead” (James 2:14-26). 

Every Christian must always make this movement if the person must attend the eternal blessedness revealed by God through Christ. As an example of this, the Second Reading presents Abraham and Sarah who made this ultimate movement in their choice of God, trusting even without seeing immediately that God’s word will never fail. They received the reward of their movement; a blessing that extends to their generations forever. Such blessedness awaits anyone who is actively faithful to God’s commands. A Christian that is actively faithful is prepared to receive the eternal reward *(heaven)* upon the return of his master. 

The journey of faith is a struggle, it is challenging, hence, sometimes doubts come in and one becomes passive *(PASSIVE FAITH).* The second part of the gospel reading is a warning against instability or being passive (ihe chi fotara) in faith. The gift God has given to us must always be fanned into flame. Anyone who thinks the master has delayed in coming and decides to take break from his active duty of Christian followership will receive strokes of the cane *(purgatory)* upon the master’s return. The strokes of the cane indicate a punishment.  After that punishment the servant will be set free. This is what happens at purgatory, a place where unfaithful Christians are being purged (punished) temporarily for their unfaithfulness. 

If one is not careful, one’s faith may become *INACTIVE.* This happens if one lacks foresight. This type of faith is selfish; it is self-centred and insensitive to God’s existence and to the needs of others (problem of the Rich Fool). This is when one intentionally turns away from God and neighbour or any of them, or refuses to make a movement towards doing the good. Here Jesus warns that the reward for this is cutting off and sending such a servant to where the unfaithful (Satan) is. Here Jesus is referring to *Hell Fire* as a reward for an inactive faith. Watch out against it. 

Dear friends, we have all received one faith from God. Our attitude or response determines what result we shall get. The readings of today are challenging us to follow the example of father in faith (Abraham) in being faithful as that will result to our eternal blessedness. This call to faithfulness is a fundamental necessity especially within this time that Christianity is facing trials. Recently, there are many people who see Christianity as a scam. Watch out against losing your faith to the lair (devil) and his agents. Remember, the devil is moving about like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Be active in faith every time because you do not know at what hour the Son of God shall come.

*Rev. Fr. Chukwuemeka VINCENT Livinus, SMMM.*

A DISCIPLE’S CROSS

REFLECTION FOR 22ND SUNDAY OF YEAR A THEME: A DISCIPLE’S CROSS R1: Jeremiah 20:7-9 R2: Romans 12: 1-2 Gospel: Matthew 16: 21-27 Dear friends...