16TH WEDNESDAY HOMILY OF ORDINARY TIME — YEAR A
HOMILY THEME: STOP COMPLAINING
BY: Fr. Paul Karabari
Exodus 16:1-5,9-15, Psalm 78:18-19,23-28, Matthew 13:1-9
‘And the whole congregation of the sons of Israel murmured against Moses and Aaron in the wilderness, and said to them, “would that we had died by the hand of the LORD in the land of Egypt, when we sat by the fleshpots and ate bread to the full.’
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The First Reading (Exodus 16:1-5, 9-15) records the complaint of the people of Israel against Moses and Aaron in the Wilderness. They selectively remembered the past and painted Egypt as a place of enjoyment. They insisted Moses and Aaron had evil intentions.
Grumbling and complaining are things that can easily become part of our everyday lives. We come across things we don’t want to do, so we moan. Things don’t go the way we wanted them to, so we moan. Other people make decisions that end up affecting us, so we moan. And when a group of us all start complaining about the same thing, we can create a really negative atmosphere. Complaining says a lot about who we are putting first and, consequently, our spiritual health.
When we are complaining, moaning and grumbling, it shows that we have put ourselves first. We feel that we shouldn’t have to do the things we’re being asked to do. We shouldn’t be overworked. We shouldn’t have to put up with things. But our spiritual health isn’t going to look great with us as number one. God should be at the centre of everything we do. When we are looking to Him first, everything else falls into place. That might mean we have to say no to doing some things, but when there are things that need to be done, we can do them without complaining. The Bible says: ‘Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters’ (Colossians 3:23). Instead, we should be full of faith – thanking God for His blessings, trusting Him for the future, and working with God at the centre of everything we do.
It’s easy to be thankful when times are good, but what about when times are challenging? When life seems to be coming against you? When you are feeling scared, stressed, or upset? Gratitude isn’t our natural response to trouble. Our natural response usually includes fear, complaining, and discouragement. Gratitude through the tough times is a discipline we have to develop. We have to practice being thankful to God, even when it feels like there’s nothing to be thankful about. The psalmist said, ‘do not forget all his kindnesses’ (Psalm 103:2).
When we are facing trouble, and we don’t think God has blessed us, we need to take some time to remember all the times He has been faithful before. That way, we will end up filled with joy and hope for what God can do with the situation we are in now. The Israelites forgot the past miracles and deliverance. Habakkuk said, ‘Fig trees may not grow…there may be no grapes on the vines…no olives…no food growing in the fields…no sheep in the pens and no cattle in the barns. But I will still…rejoice in God my Saviour’ (Habakkuk 3:17-18). And the psalmist said: I will praise the Lord at all times; his praise is always on my lips’ (Psalm 34:1). Both these verses suggest praising God no matter what the circumstances.
When our situations seem bad, we need to shift our focus from the problems around us to the amazing God who loves us. When it seems like there is nothing in our lives to be thankful for, we can thank God for Who He is and what He is done for us. We can thank Him for His love, acceptance, and forgiveness. When we take time to give thanks for the blessings in our lives, it will change our outlook and attitude. GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE. May God have mercy on us, heal our country, Nigeria, bless and protect us all through Christ our Lord Amen.
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