16TH THURSDAY HOMILY IN ORDINARY TIME — YEAR A
HOMILY THEME: HAPPY ARE YOUR EYES…
BY: Fr. Ben Agbo
The OT experience of the Shekinah glory in the form of fire and smoke was phenomenal as we still see the Church use the symbol of smoke to herald the Holy Spirit’s role in the election of every new Pope. It was meant to strengthen the faith of the Israelites (the old people of God). If was such an inebriating spiritual experience.
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The apostles in today’s gospel wonder at Jesus’ homiletic language. A biblical scholar described Jesus’ language like the 5 gears of a vehicle. Gear 1 is the use of SIMPLE STATEMENTS such as we find in the Sermon on the mountain, Matt 5, 6 and 7. Gear 2 is the use of PARABLES such as the good Samaritan, Lk 10: 25 – 37. Gear 3 is the use of AUTOMATIC MAXIMS such as “Anyone who has will more be given” as we find in today’s gospel. Gear 4 is the use of CATEGORICAL IMPERATIVES such as “Unless you are born again of water and spirit you will not inherit the kingdom of God”, Jn 3: 5. Gear 5 is the use of VITUPERATIVE CONDEMNATIONS such as “Woe to you Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites…” Matt 23: 13.
Jesus says to the apostles and to all of us: “Blessed are your eyes for they see what they see and your ears for they hear what they hear” in order to let us know that our salvation is gratuitous and should be appreciated. May the Lord make us more circumspect in studying and following the Words of Christ and more grateful to God for the grace of salvation!
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