THE LAZARUS AROUND ME

REFLECTION FOR 26TH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR - C

THEME: THE LAZARUS AROUND ME

R1: Amos 6: 1,4-7, 

R2:1 Timothy 6:11-16

Gospel: Luke 16:19-31_

Today, Jesus tells us another parable; “ The Rich Man and Lazarus.” The rich man was living in abundance of wealth while Lazarus, the poor man was lying helpless on his gate. The rich man wouldn’t even offer Lazarus as little as the scraps that fell from his table, instead all that Lazarus could get was that dogs came to lick his sores. Upon their death, Lazarus was carried to heaven while the rich man languished in hell. He sought the aid of Lazarus from hell but that wasn’t possible any longer because of the big separation between them.

It is surprising that unlike Jesus who is not in the character of mentioning people's names in his parables, mentions Lazarus’ name in this parable but kept the rich man’s name. By the mention of Lazarus’ name, Jesus is referring to someone around us, who is known, whose name we know, whose condition we are very much aware of. And by not mentioning the rich man’s name, Jesus is referring to anybody; you and I, fix your name there.

In this parable, Jesus is trying to raise our minds to the realities  and the conditions of those around us who are helpless. Jesus is calling our attention to be sensitive to the conditions of those around us, unlike the rich man who was not sensitive to Lazarus' condition. Just like Lazarus who was ready to eat even the scraps that would fall from the rich man’s table, the poor, the needy, and the helpless around us need not much but as small as a scrap from our abundance would be of a great value. This abundance could be our treasure (wealth) , our time (attention or concern) and talent.

It is unfortunate that instead of giving him anything, the rich man allowed dogs to lick Lazarus’ sores. Have we not acted in this manner when we refuse to be sensitive and charitable to those around us and take to making mockery of their conditions by discussing with friends and making jokes of their conditions? Have we not become so insensitive to the cries and sorrows of those around us, have we not laughed at some peoples horrible conditions?

Dear friends, the parable of the gospel reading today is an invitation to be sensitive to the needs of those around us. There are many Lazarus around us who we should not ignore. Some are those who have physical needs of food, clothing and shelter. Some are those who need attention; whose mental, emotional  and internal health conditions are giving them unrest, they need something as small as a listening ear, our time and comfort. Let us ignore them. We act like the rich man when we know their conditions and ignore them to die alone while we say, “It is not my business.” We also act like the rich man when we also know their problems and use them for discussions. 

The end part of this parable is very touchy, Lazarus died and was taken to heaven and the rich man died and was taken to hell. Lazarus was taken to heaven not because he was poor, so that we don’t see poverty as a guarantee for entrance into heaven. Rather he was taken to heaven because even in his poverty he refused to sin or steal from the rich man or curse him. Hence, let us not use poverty as an excuse for committing different kinds of atrocities.

In the same way, the rich man was taken to hell not because he was wealthy, but rather because he was too selfish and was very insensitive to the needs of Lazarus, his neighbour. So also, by our selfish attitude we are building tents for ourselves in hell fire. 

Therefore, let us turn to the lord now in loving humility while we use his gifts graciously for the good of all. And if we see ourselves as Lazarus, let our condition not be an excuse for committing any sin for the reward for however we live and whatever 

we do is waiting for us in a short time.

Homily by

Rev Fr Chukwuemeka VINCENT Livinus, SMMM.

BECOMING A RESPONSIBLE STEWARD

REFLECTION FOR 25TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, C

THEME: BECOMING A RESPONSIBLE STEWARD

R1: Amos 8:4-7

R2: 1 Timothy 2:1-8

Gospel: Luke 16:-13

The gospel reading today is the story of the rich man and his dishonest steward. The master having been told of his steward’s notorious act of embezzling his property sent for him and had him fired. Sensing the dangers that lie ahead of him, the fired steward would not want to go begging or hungry, he then thought of a very clever way of manipulating his master’s debtors and cutting down their debts so that when relieved of his work, he would at least made friends who would welcome him into their homes. 

It is surprising to read that Jesus praised the cleverness of this dishonest steward. One may be moved to ask if Jesus is encouraging us to be crafty as this dishonest steward? What does this gospel imply?

The title of this parable is “The Dishonest Steward.” As a steward it means he had a master. That means the steward was only placed in charge of what is not his. He is only a servant, entrusted with another’s possession. Hence he cannot claim ownership of what is placed under his charge. 

Jesus, in this parable is trying to point out something about our relationship with God. As human beings, we are only God’s stewards. God has entrusted the world he created to us as faithful stewards. However, like this unfaithful steward, we have many times been unfaithful to God through the way we use the things of the world He entrusted to our care. We embezzle God’s gifts for our selfish aggrandisement when we refuse to help. We become dishonest to God and the use of His gifts when we refuse to consider others. We betray God when we become too selfish, we sin against charity. Just like the master of the dishonest steward, we may be summoned at any time to give an account of our stewardship. Our infidelity to God and his gifts can make Him sack us from His presence and kingdom. The only thing that can save us from His wrath using His wealth to help people, especially the needy, the poor, the suffering, the hungry, the sorrowful, the abused, the rejected or despised; these are debtors of the gospel who cannot fend for themselves. 

Therefore, Jesus, in this parable is encouraging all his followers to be very claver in the use of the world’s resources, possession, position and power; these should be used for service and charity and not for any selfish gain. This is clear explanation of the verse, “Charity wipes away multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8) as seen also in Matthew 25:40, “Whatsoever you do to the least of my brethren, that you do unto me.” As the master praised the actions of the dishonest steward even though he was not faithful to the charge entrusted to him, so too does charity and selfless service to others win us God’s approval and admiration.

Those who are so addicted to material possessions, the parable continues by saying, such cannot serve God properly for no one can serve two masters;  God and wealth at the same time. Addiction to material possessions is like a service to them, since where one’s treasure is there will the mind of the person be (Mt 6:21).

It is for this invitation to being clever and responsible stewards that the First Reading warns those who trample and suppress the needy. Without the disposition to help, one’s wealth becomes an abuse of God’s gift. 

Even though the readings encourage cleverness in the use of one’s material positions as a means of service to others, the Second Reading encourages the poor to pray for others; the rich, the poor. The implication is that there is no one who has nothing to give. Service is fundamental to our Christian call. Inasmuch as the rich should be clever in the use of their possessions and help the poor, the poor should be clever in the time of prayer; praying for the rich as well. Therefore, we all have a duty of service we owe one another. If we are able to perform this duty as it should, we shall not only change the world but we shall win God’s admiration and approval. May God grant us the grace to be good stewards, Amen. 

*Rev Fr. Chukwuemeka VINCENT Livinus, SMMM.*

LOOK UPON THE CROSS OF CHRIST

FEAST OF EXULTATION OF THE CROSS 14TH SEPTEMBER 2022

24TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C

LOOK UPON THE CROSS OF CHRIST

Today God invites us to cast and sustain our gaze on the cross, for from there comes our salvation. Our help comes from the Lord who made Heaven and Earth.

As the Israelites of old in the First Reading of today were encouraged to look on the bronze serpent and live to survive the scorching bite of the brazen serpents (cf. Num 21: 4-9) in the wilderness, so Christians today are encouraged to look upon the Cross if Christ and draw the strength and Grace to survive the scorching bites of our lives troubles. 

Our Lord Jesus Christ who we serve is the God that went on the Cross and conquered the whole world. Who are we not to bear our Cross? According to the Gospel pericope of today, Jesus Christ must be exulted in our lives  so we can have eternal life (cf. Jn 3:14) and whenever we carry our Cross, we lift up Jesus whose reward to us is eternal life.

*Our Cross is our bridge on which we shall walk to cross over the wide yawning chasm between this life and the afterlife*.

* Story of the man who Christ gave a Cross to bear. He wanted 

The victory and Exultation of the Cross is a deep mystery but yet a powerful reality. Little wonder it has been celebrated since time immemorial

HISTORY OF EXULTATION OF THE CROSS

Today's feast is celebrated by both Greek and Russian Orthodox Churches, the Church of England, the Episcopal Church in the United States and the Evangelical Church in America.

The Cross on which Christ died was thrown into a ditch /well and covered over with stones and earth so that the followers of the crucified redeemer might not find it. 300 years later, Emperor Constantine prayed and a cross was shown him : 'In this sign thou wilt conquer'. He later triumphed in victory over Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge on October 28, 312.

Then came the finding of the True Cross at Jerusalem by St Helena (the Emperor's mother) in 326 AD. She discovered 3 crosses on Calvary. A special miracle worked by touching a cripple to each of the 3 crosses in turn, helped identify the true Cross. In the year 614 AD, Chosroes II, King of Persia invaded Jerusalem carrying off the great relic of the True Cross. God helped the Emperor Heraclius of Constantinople with a large army who fought and rescued and restored the Sacred Cross back to Jerusalem in 629 AD to its place in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. This event is commemorated by the Church on September 14 every year in the Feast of the Holy Cross.

QUESTION FOR SELF-EXAMINATION:

Where do you look in times of trouble?

God wants us to look steadily upon the Cross of Christ for form there comes our salvation.

PEACE BE WITH YOU

Homily by:

Rev. Fr. Kingsley No so Ogbu,SMMm

SIN, REPENTANCE AND FORGIVENESS

REFLECTION FOR 24TH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME- YEAR C

THEME: SIN, REPENTANCE AND FORGIVENESS

R1: Ex 32 : 2-11.13-14, 

R2: 1 Tim 1:12-17, 

Gospel: Lk 15:1-32

Our daily lives as Christians is confronted with, sin and temptation. We struggle daily to overcome sin and temptations. The surprising thing is that most times the more one is close to God the more temptation such person faces. To overcome daily temptations one needs a special grace from God. The question remains, what brings sin, what leads to it? How do we reconcile with God when we have sinned? The readings of today explain a few things about  sin, what makes up repentance and forgiveness. 

Sin:

The readings of today trace the origin of sin to the choice one makes. When one’s choice is a movement away from God’s presence and will, it becomes sin. In the first reading of today, just few weeks of being liberated from the land Egypt (land of slavery), and on the way to the promise land, the Israelites who were excited of their miraculous liberation turned away from God by CHOOSING to make the golden calf and worshiping as if it was the God who liberated them. This is also similar to the action of the prodigal son of the gospel (Lk 15) who met his father to give him a share of his own possession. When this possession was given to him, he also made a CHOICE; movement away from his father to a far distant country where he squandered this property in a life of waste. 

The action of the Israelites and the prodigal son is not far from our action. When we receive the sacrament of baptism, first communion and confirmation, we are always very excited. Do our happiness and our excitement last before we start seeing the Church and her activities as boring? Do we not like the prodigal son and the Israelites make a CHOICE of enjoying some free time outside God’s presence by becoming unfaithful to our baptismal promises and God and living anyhow? Sometimes do we not consider the laws of God and the Church as outdated and then choose our own laws? That is sin.

Sin is wickedness to God’s kindness. This wicked choice of ours angers God gravely, just as in the case of the Israelites. Not minding that God gets angry when we sin, He looks forwards towards our return always. God searches for us through the preaching in the Church, our good conscience, good advice of good friends and family members, as the shepherd searches for his lost sheep and the old woman searches for her coin, waiting for us to make ourselves available so that He will find us while searching for us. Without making oneself available, it will be difficult to find us. We make ourselves available by listening to the inner voice of the good conscience and making a movement back to him. That is repentance.

Repentance:

This process starts immediately we realise our unfaithfulness to God. It starts with self-consciousness. When the self is being reawakened by the reality of one’s state of sin and guilt, repentance starts. It is a MOVEMENT, and this movement towards God. The prodigal son, being awakened by the sense of guilt made this movement. So also, it is the time we decide to go back to the Church after many days, weeks or years of our absence. This self-consciousness is what pushes us to confession. When the prodigal son repented, he went back to his father and upon seeing his father, he confessed. In the same way, repentance is incomplete without confession. Even though God comes to embrace and welcome us back like the father of the prodigal son, He expects us to confess our sins.  This leads to forgiveness. 

Forgiveness:

Forgiveness comes through the appeal for mercy. In the case of the Israelites, Moses appealed to God on their behalf. The action of Moses stresses the importance of asking for God’s grace on those who go astray instead of living a life of exclusion like the brother of the prodigal son who stayed back when he heard of his brother’s return. Like St Paul said in the second reading, we are all sinners, we may only be slightly different from others because grace has found us (1 Tim1: 15-16).

The appeal to God for mercy is what the Lord Jesus has left for us through the ministry of the Church; the sacrament of reconciliation (confession) through which we pour out our minds to God, telling him how sinful we have been and how sorry we are. This aspect of voicing out is very essential in bringing about total healing. The prodigal son understood the importance of this and was why, not minding that his father saw him from afar and rushed to embrace him, he did not keep calm but spoke up, telling his how sorry he was. Sometimes, do we not shut up, presuming God has forgiven us and that confession is not important?

 It was after the prodigal son’s confession that his father asked that his cloth be changed, a ring put on his finger, sandals put on his feet, a calf killed for him and celebration held on his behalf. Confession also grants us total forgiveness, when are acquitted and set free, decorated with new life to live as sons and daughters.  Total forgiveness and re-admittance into God’s family accompany our confession. Hence, without voicing out and saying our sorry we are, the process of our forgiveness may not be complete. 

Rev. Fr. Chukwuemeka VINCENT Livinus, SMMM.

THE DISCIPLE'S CROSS

REFLECTION FOR 23RD SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME - C

THEME: THE DISCIPLE'S CROSS

R1: Wis 9:13-18

R2: Philemon 9-10, 12-17

Gospel: Luke 14:25-33

For many centuries, the cross has been a symbol of shame, humiliation and torture. Its bearers were those who have been condemned to die in a very shameful and degrading manner.  To show that this is true of the cross, the very author of our faith was made to undergo similar experience. Having died a shameful death on the cross to bring us life, Christ encourages us to come to him, that he will give us rest (Mt 11:28).

With this promising words of Christ, we freely make a choice through our sacramental baptism to follow and become His disciples since we are assured of rest. It is very surprising that today, Christ instead of giving immediately  the rest He has promised, makes  difficult demands from his followers. To be a follower of mine, He says, you must:

1. Hate father, mother, brothers and sisters.

2. Hate you your life

3. Carry your cross

4. Give up all possessions (Lk 14:25,33).

These words of Jesus sound very scary and impracticable. Is Christ anti-family? Why is he saying we must hate our family members? Is he saying one should kill oneself  before being His disciples, is that not crazy?  Did he not promise he will make our burdens easy? So why not help us carry the cross instead of saying we should carry our cross? Why is he being unfriendly with riches? Is he encouraging poverty?

The first reading supplies an immediate answer to these troubling questions that flow from the demands of Chirst. Friends and lovers of God, *"No one can discern the mind of God."* (Wis 9:13). Following our human reasoning,  these demands of Jesus are insensible. However,  the wisdom of God is incomparable. It is through the wisdom of God that we can understand that what Jesus is demanding is more than a human speculation. This explains also, why  the cross which in human understanding is a thing of shame becomes a thing of joy and victory in the eyes of God and His elect (Col 2:6-19).

From His benevolence, God freely allows us to have an experience of His wisdom through the power of the Holy Spirit, poured on us a Confirmation, when we no longer become just listeners but preachers of the truth of the immensity of God's wisdom in His beloved Son, Jesus Christ.

Hence, Jesus in the Gospel, is demanding that our relationship with God should make us *THINK LESS* of the world and think more of our candidacy to heaven.  It is an invitation to make a conscious decision on our part. Such decision demands a change of mind, heart and soul. These qualify a true disciple.

To hate family members,  life and  wealth, Jesus is saying that true discipleship demands a total renunciation of  old ties; those who may hinder our movement to heaven,  including family members and friends, selfish desires that may be called enjoyment in the eyes of the world and those things that will take our minds away from God, including material possessions.  Jesus is making a demand of our spiritual fortification; the cross experience where one may look stupid in the eyes of the world but wise in the eyes of God. It is a call to go above the normal. 

Hence, Christ is inviting everyone who wants to be a disciple to rise above the human way of acting and to act in a supernatural (i.e. beyond the normal) way. It is a demand of a little elevation above what everyone sees as normal. It is a call to seeing and acting in a different way from the common. Doing this may present us as stupid in the eyes of the world just as the cross of Christ looks stupid to those who do not follow His way.

His demand is not that we should not be humans, No. We should be humans but function and see things according to the mind of God, just as St Paul in the Second Reading encourages Philemon to see Onesimus (a converted slave of Philemon) as a brother. For everyone, a slave should be treated as a less human and in a degrading way. But St Paul told Philemon to have a different way of treating his slave and consider him as part of himself. This demand of St Paul requires a  spiritual concern. The world may act in certain way that may oppose God's will, however, every follower of God should rise above that normal. This invitation to rise above the normal demands a break from any form of barrier. It is an invitation to do something more or to go an extra mile. 

In this present time, the world seem to be more interested in what makes someone happy or what will please everyone than doing the will of God. Jesus is inviting us to be careful and to break away from those things and  those people that may attempt to separate from the love of God. This is the implication of rising above the normal. It is making a step further, going beyond the common way of the world. He is not saying the world and family are not important rather our focus should be more on God and that we should be disposed to let go of the most treasured thing if that becomes a hindrance to our followership and candidacy to heaven. This is a challenging gospel. However, we are sure that carrying this cross faithfully will lead us to our final destination; heaven. 

Peace be with you.

Homily by 

Rev Fr. Chukwuemeka VINCENT Livinus, SMMM.