Friday, January 27, 2012

HOMILY FOR THE FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B Deuteronomy 18:15-20/ Psalm 95/ 1 Corinthians 7:32-35/ Mark 1:21-28

THEME: VOCATION PRESUPPOSSES AUTHORITY

Today, we celebrate Him who speaks with authority and to whom we must give our undivided attention. Vocation presupposes authority. You cannot fulfill your call when you are not given the authority to do it. We expect a servant to be under authority and to take orders, but God’s servant exercises authority and gives orders even to demons and His orders are obeyed. You are that servant (cf Luke 10:17).




As we go on with our continuous reading of St Mark’s gospel, we find Jesus in Galilee where he starts his public ministry. Jesus’ ministry needed to be different because of the many voices who claim to have authority which is usually self-imposed. The episode in today’s gospel reading draws our attention to this fact. You will wonder how many Church services the demon possessed man had attended without revealing that he was demonized. It took the presence of Jesus to expose the demon and Jesus not only exposed him, but He also commanded him to keep quiet about his identity and to depart from the man. Jesus did not want, nor did he need, the assistance of Satan and his army to tell people who he is (cf Acts 16:16-24).





In verse 28 St. Mark evokes, as he often does in his gospel, the spread of Jesus’ reputation. Ask yourself how the passage is being fulfilled today, of the Church or of any great movement. When we look back on our lives, we realize that most of those who gave us moral teachings spoke from what others have said. They were scribes recording what others had said. But we thank God that from time to time He sends us someone like Jesus who speaks from his own experience, and shares honestly what we are feeling; he makes a deep impression on us, because unlike the scribes, he speaks with authority.





“When the Church concerns herself with the development of peoples, she cannot be accused of going outside her own specific field of competence, and still less outside the mandate received from the Lord.”(...Pope John Paul II, Sollicitudo ReiSocialis, Encyclical Letter, 1987). The authority that Jesus gives the Church is to bring liberation to God’s people as Jesus himself inaugurated in his manifesto (cf Luke 4:18-19).





When the Church confines herself with what is internal to her, many are happy. They rejoice that she is making a deep impression on them. But the will of God is that we should go further and cast out the demons of our society namely racism, class conflicts, discrimination against the disadvantaged, and the demons of unforgiveness, hatred, dissension, impatience and the like.





When the Church does this there are convulsions and loud cries. The fact that we speak in the name of Christ, in many countries, the Church has persevered in following Jesus, and people have been astonished and questioned themselves, and her reputation has spread as one who gives orders to unclean spirits and they obey her.




There have been times when we were held in bondage by an inner force:- we could not forgive;- we did not want to commit ourselves because we were afraid of failure:- ambition was clouding our vision of the truth. Then someone began to speak, challenging us to face the truth- one of our children, a friend, and a bible passage. We got angry, denied it vehemently, wept, and complained to another. Like the man in the gospel, we went into convulsions and cried aloud. We realize now that it was because we knew that the Holy One of God was with us, he had come to do away with our sin. Eventually, after a long struggle, we recognized the demon for what it was, and it went out of us.




Yes indeed. Jesus desires to help us reach that balance within ourselves. However, we need to do our part. At least we need to be prepared to face what we need to face. At least we need to admit that yes we do have a problem. We do need help. We do need to share what is burdening us with someone. John Kennedy used to often say, “Throw a lantern on your problems”. This means do not try to solve everything on your own. Face what needs to be faced so that you might be even pushed at times to do what is necessary.




This is not easy to do. Very often we are embarrassed to admit that we need help. We are afraid that if we admit to someone that we are in some kind of need then we appear to be weak. As a consequence we would lose the respect that others might have of us. Strangely enough, even when we are in dire need, we are too proud to admit that we cannot handle the situation by ourselves. The result is that we become more overburdened as the time goes by with many dire consequences. It is true, change is painful. It is not that easy to admit our shortcomings and we try to hide our situation with the result that one day we can easily succumb to a tragic solution because trying to hide our situation demands a lot of energy and it is very draining.





In sum, Jesus besides being God was also human. He understands us very well. Let us decide to go to Him in our troubled moments knowing that everything will work out well for all those who are in God. The authority over unclean spirits has been given to the Church. Therefore, you cannot remain in the Church and continue to live under the bondage of Satan. This same authority has been given to each one of us as part of our vocation to free others from their bondage. If you have not allowed yourself to be freed from your bondage, how can you free others? God Bless you.

Friday, January 20, 2012

HOMILY FOR THE THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B Jonah 3:1-5, 10/ Psalm 25/ 1 Corinthians 7:29-31/ Mark 1:14-20

THEME: GOD’S CALL PRESUPPOSES A QUICK RESPONSE

Last week, we were reminded that to respond to the call of God requires that we learn to be with him. In spite of our human imperfections, God still had the audacity to call us to Himself. He calls us for a purpose. This purpose is enshrined in the readings of today namely so that we can be sent out as heralds of the Good News of repentance and God’s forgiveness.




In the first reading, we heard of the call of Jonah to preach repentance to the people of Nineveh. Jonah did not have it easy in responding to God’s call because of his prejudice against the Ninevites. He knew God will forgive them and so he was jealous. For Jonah, the people of Nineveh did not deserve God’s forgiveness because as the capital of Assyrian, they exiled the Israelites and made them go through difficult times.




It is God who calls us, first of all, to be with Him and to be sent out to do what He so desires. We cannot dictate to God what we want to do. Like Jonah, we must not allow our prejudice to be a hindrance to God’s message. We must not be jealous of God’s generosity. Ours is to go preach what we have been sent to preach. Like Jonah again, when we decides to do our own thing and we make mistakes, let us not hesitate to go back to the source of our calling and plead in the following words “ … as my life was ebbing away, I remembered the Lord; and my prayer came to you, into your holy temple. Those who worship vain idols forsake their true loyalty. But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Deliverance belongs to the Lord” (Jonah 2:7-9).





Just as the calling of God demands of us an urgent response, when we hear the message of repentance, we must also respond to it urgently by repenting like the people of Nineveh did. Forgiveness is a fore- giving act of God. He forgives us even before we ask of it. All the Lord requires of us is a contrite heart.




The second reading reminds us that there should be no excuse whatsoever in our response to the call of God. For Jonah, it was jealousy. For many, it is our job, our wife, our husband, our children, our family, love of money and the like. St. Paul reminds us that “ …the appointed time has grown short; from now on, let even those who have wives be as though they had none and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing… for the present form of this world is passing away” ( 1Corin 7:29-31).




Every calling is great when greatly pursued. Everyone who has been called must make Psalm 25 his prayer, “Make me know your ways O Lord, teach me your paths. Lead me in your truth and teach me for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all day long (Psalm 25:5).




The gospel reading brings out clearly the message of repentance that Jonah preached in the first reading. Both readings make it explicit that the message of repentance presupposes a messenger. Someone must be sent to proclaim the Good news of repentance. “But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? (Romans 10:14-15). Someone must be sent by all means.




It is against this background that immediately Jesus proclaimed the message of repentance, he called his disciples to be sent out and as he put it “To be fishers of men” (Mark 1:17). Every calling demands of us an offering of something so precious to us. The disciples James and John; Andrew and Simon were fishermen and so they offered their net (Song: Lord you have come to the sea shore). Surely the good qualities of successful fishermen would make for success in the difficult ministry of winning souls namely courage, the ability to work together, patience, energy, stamina, faith and tenacity. Professional fishermen could simply not afford to be quitters or complainers. In responding to the call of God, what are you offering?





The gospel of Mark is also known as the gospel of urgency. When Jesus called his first disciples, we are told that immediately he called them, they left their father and the hired men and followed him. They followed the Lord without asking any question. Perhaps they found true peace. What was so fascinating about Jesus that his call demanded no questioning but total trust? Remember that the gospel reading for last Sunday tells us that the disciples found the Lord and went and stayed with him. This means that they had already encountered the Lord before responding to his call.





We can only respond to our call with total trust when we learn to be with the Lord. Our being with the Lord must be a daily decision for it is only a daily decision to follow the Lord that can guarantee a fruitful vocation. Today, we have Jesus with us in Tabernacles throughout the world. Can we spend a little of our time in silent adoration and prayer everyday as individuals? As families, just as we usually go to restaurants to eat, attend social gatherings and the like, can we bring our families to pray together in God’s presence?




I believe strongly that those who have truly encountered the Lord will follow him without any apprehension. Unlike Jonah who run away and had to go through tough times or what I will call self- imposed hardship, we must be like the disciples who responded to Jesus’ invitation with the urgency it requires. The message of repentance is even urgent in our day. We need to give a quick response to our call to be the heralds of this message.




In sum, Jesus preached that people should repent and believe. Repentance alone is not enough to save us, even though God expects believers to turn from their sins. We must also put positive faith in Jesus Christ and believe in his promise of salvation. Repentance without faith could be remorse and remorse can destroy people who carry a burden of guilt (cf Matt. 27:3-5; 2 Corin 7:8-10). God’s call demands a quick response. May he who calls and qualifies, renew our calling today.

Friday, January 13, 2012

HOMILY FOR THE SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR B 1Samuel 3:3b-10, 19/ Psalm 40/ 1 Corinthians 6:13c-15a, 17-20/ John 1:35-42 THEME: RES

THEME: RESPOND TO YOUR CHRISTIAN VOCATION

The Ordinary Season has begun in earnest. The Liturgy of today will remind us about our Christian vocation and the fact that we all need assistance in fulfilling our vocation. Vocation presupposes a personal encounter with Jesus. We are summoned to set out anew like perpetual travellers, seeking the promised land of our vocation. To find one’s vocation in life is no small ‘arrival’. How many young men and women out there are wondering, sometimes with a nagging anxiety, whether they will ever find their purpose in life? Youthfulness can be a very trying time; indeed, youthfulness is a special moment. To experience a particular call from God, a vocation, is to experience one of God’s greatest blessings. Be it marriage or religious life.




In the first reading, we are presented with the story of the call of Samuel. The circumstances surrounding the call of Samuel is worthy of note. We are told that “ At that time, Eli whose eyesight had begun to grow dim so that he could not see was lying down in his room; the lamp of God had not yet gone out and Samuel was lying down in the temple of the Lord, where the Ark of God was” ( 1 Samuel 3:2-3). Samuel teaches us that an atmosphere of silence is an effective way of discerning the will of God.




Again, the role of Spiritual Direction is paramount in our encounter with God. It took Samuel to go to Eli three times before Eli recognised that God was calling the boy. Indeed, it tells us that it is God who is our Spiritual Director Par excellence. The role of Spiritual Directors is to lead their clients to God. This is because the ultimate aim of Spiritual Direction is to restore broken relationship and union with God.




Indeed, it does not matter our age or status, God can choose you to accomplish His purposes. The only qualification is for us to make ourselves available to God. This availability calls for us to give our whole body to God’s service. We are told that Samuel was lying where the Ark of God was. Today, we have Jesus with us in Tabernacles throughout the world. Can we spend a little of our time in silent adoration and prayer? Just as we usually take our entire family to restaurants to eat, can we bring our families to pray together in God’s presence?




In the Old Testament, the temple was the pride of the Israelites; a place of encounter with God. That is why after the building of the temple in Jerusalem, all the Israelites had to travel to Jerusalem to worship God. But with the fullness of revelation in Jesus Christ, it is we who have become living temples of God; the tabernacle where Christ dwells. This is because; we receive the Eucharist every day.
The second reading, therefore, reminds us that we cannot use our bodies anyhow. It belongs to the Lord. “The body is not meant for fornication but for the Lord and the Lord for the body” (1Corinthians 6:13). We have become the property of God and we owe it a duty to use our body to glorify God. Let us ask God’s forgiveness in this Mass for the many who have committed fornication and continue to commit it because He is full gentleness and compassion.




Just as in the first reading, it took the Spiritual Direction of Eli to aid Samuel to encounter God, the same holds for the Gospel reading of today. It took John to reveal Jesus to his followers for “As he watched Jesus walked by, he exclaimed, “Look here is the Lamb of God. The two disciples heard this and they followed Jesus” (John 1:36-37). As Spiritual Directors; as parents, it is our duty to point those placed under our care to Jesus. Let us not assume the role of Christ; let us not ascribe to ourselves the glory for all glory belongs to God.




Parents should not be surprised, much less concerned, when the Lord establishes a relationship with their children: on the contrary, they should be the first, like the Baptist, to point him out to them and encourage them to follow him. Nor should they be surprised, or upset, if a priest, sister or lay person in whom the heart of Christ beats, is alerts them about their vocation " as the Lord himself was and invites a young person to consider following him more closely in the priesthood or consecrated life.




When we have been led to Christ, it is our duty too to lead others to Christ. For when John led Andrew to Jesus and having encountered Jesus, Andrew could not hide the joy in his heart. “He first found his brother Simon and said to him “We have found the Messiah which is translated Anointed” (John 1:41). The same Andrew brought the lad with the loaves and fish to Jesus (John 6:8. None of the writings of the Gospels is attributed to Andrew. But he certainly preached great sermons by his actions as a personal soul winner. When we sincerely encounter Christ, we cannot but witness to him. Have you encountered Christ? Whom have you led to him?



Our vocation is always beset with anxieties and fear. Do not be afraid to follow the Lord. His invitation does not end: Invitation – response – new invitation – new response, and so on, and so on … ‘till we reach the fullness of our calling. Just say “Here I am Lord.




In conclusion, we must remember that the grace of God can change the sinner’s life. It is wonderful how faith in Christ makes a sinner into a new creation (2Corinthians 5:17, 21). It is important that we live like those who are part of God’s new creation. We are not our own. We belong to the Father who made us; the Son who redeemed us; and the Holy Spirit who indwells in us. We also belong to the people of God, the Church and our sins can weakened the testimony and infect the fellowship. Therefore, “Be holy as the Lord is holy” (1Peter 1:16). We pray always that God’s grace will renew all the love and mercies we have wasted so that we can use our bodies to glorify him.

HOMILY FOR THE FEAST OF EPIPHANY, YEAR B Isaiah 60:1-6/ Psalm 72/ Ephesians 3: 2-3, 5-6/ Matthew 2:1-11 THEME: SALVATION IS FOR ALL

The birth of Jesus, wonderful as that event was, was known to a few: to Mary, Joseph, the shepherds, the Magi, King Herod and his councilors, the High Priest and perhaps friends who heard about this wonder of God. But Epiphany which means ‘Manifestation’ or ‘Revelation’ is the showing forth of Jesus to the world. Epiphany tells us that in Jesus there is salvation for all.



In spite of the countless warnings the prophet Jeremiah and Isaiah gave to the kings and people of Israel, they did not remain faithful to God. Jerusalem was destroyed and the whole nation was carried into captivity and slavery in Babylon. Finally, following the Edict of Cyrus in 539 B.C., the first exile returned to their homeland, and soon the Temple of Jerusalem was rebuilt. The darkness of exile and slavery was lifted; the light of the Lord shone forth. The first reading which is called the book of restoration brings to the fore the return of the exiles.




Therefore, Isaiah puts it beautifully when he says “Arise and shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For darkness shall cover the earth and the thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you and his glory will appear over you” (Isaiah 60:1-2). He assures them that even though darkness has engulfed the land, the light of God will dispel that darkness.




Indeed, this light does not only shine to the Jews, the remnant of the peoples who returned from exile, it rays reach out like fingers of the dawn sun through the leaves of trees, to all the nations of the earth. “…the wealth of the nations shall come to you, the multitude of camels shall cover you, the young camel of Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come. They shall bring gold, frankincense, and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord” (Isaiah 60: 5b-6).




What Isaiah emphasizes here is the fact that salvation was now not limited only to the Jews but the entire of God’s creation. Midian, Ephah and Sheba are gentile towns and we know in the Gospels that the wise men from the east were gentiles and by presenting gold, frankincense and myrrh to Jesus they fulfilled Isaiah’s prophecy.
The narrow concept of salvation that many Jews had namely salvation only to God’s chosen people must now give way to the image of a God who reaches out to draw all peoples of this earth to himself. To confirm this, the Psalmist says “All kings shall pay him homage; all nations shall serve him” (Psalm 72:11).





St. Paul in the second reading, challenged the Ephesus community to be that bearer of light to each other. He admonishes us to do same. He says, “ In former generationsThis mystery was not made known to humankind, as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit that is, the gentiles have become fellow heirs, members of the same body and sharers in the promise in Christ Jesus through the gospel” ( Ephesians 3:5-6).




This first reading is fulfilled in the gospel reading of today. The universal nature of salvation is emphasized in the Gospel reading. The visit by the Magi to the infant king shows clearly that salvation is not only the preserve of the Jews anymore but everyone anywhere who acknowledges the sovereignty of God will be saved.
The attitude of the Magi is worthy of emulation. These men were wealthy men and scholars; scientists in their own right. Yet they followed the star like little children playing on the fields and upon seeing an aero plane passing, they decide to follow it as it were to its destination. No scholarly person who follows the light God gives him can miss worshipping at the feet of Jesus. Indeed, in Jesus Christ “Are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Colossians 2:3).



Their diligence in searching for the star that will lead them to Bethlehem is unimaginable. What was their motivation? A baby wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger? I believe strongly that like Simeon who recognize in the baby Jesus, the Messiah (Luke 2:22-32), they moved by faith. They did not allow their knowledge to cloud their vision.



Revelation has come to us but not all see it. What is worse than having an eye that cannot see? The learned (Wise men from the East) and the unlearned or outcast (Shepherds) saw it. Herod and his courtiers, the so called wise men of his court did not see the light. It is only those with the eyes of faith who will see beyond the ordinary.



For the many whose knowledge is leading them astray, your knowledge must lead out of ignorance onto the threshold of wisdom; it must lead you to the school of Jesus.
However, there is the danger of some of us behaving like King Herod who missed the opportunity to be saved. Yes salvation has come to all, but each and every one of us must work at it with fear and trembling. Perhaps we can shout out, “We are saved! We are free!” That is a fact. There is no need for anyone to bow to the slavery of sin because Christ has come to save us from the chains of death and our human spirit. Indeed, salvation is within our grasp. I am sure that if the Magi had become complacent because they had found their Messiah, they would have missed the opportunity to really encounter the infant king.




Again, when the Magi got to Bethlehem, “On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh” (Matthew 2:11). It is not enough to be a baptised Catholic and remain apathetic to your responsibilities; you cannot be a baptised Catholic and stay at home because you have been charge to exercise your ministry for the growth of the Church. Jesus needs our all, our time, our money, our energy for the growth of his Church. The Magi gave their best. What are you giving to Jesus?
• When we have seen the light, we must reflect it.
• The gifts the wise men presented must be our portion. Gold symbolises something valuable and incorruptible. We must therefore, put value on ourselves.
• Frankincense symbolises Christ’s priesthood. For us it means we must offer true worship to God.
• Myrrh goes with the passion of Christ. We must learn to endure the pain that goes with our calling. Others must benefit from what we have become. We must be distinct and stand out.



Already in the manger, the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that “The wolf shall live with the lamb… they will not hurt or destroy on all my mountain; for earth will be filled of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea” (Isaiah 11: 6-9). Indeed, all creation is in silent adoration in the crib. Our whole life should be a life of silent adoration of Jesus; a worship in spirit and truth.




In sum, the Feast of Epiphany is our feast. It is the day we come to pay homage to Christ who has come to save us. It is a day of joy and we must celebrate it as such. However, some of us have allowed the worries and cares of this life to make us somber, sober and gloomy people, who do not celebrate anything at all, even our salvation. Other times too, we have allowed our celebrations to get out of hands that we lose the spiritual benefits- the kinds of celebrations that make us forget.