FR. JUSTIN’S HOMILY FOR TUESDAY OF THE 24TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME CYCLE II
THEME: HOW DO YOU USE YOUR SPIRITUAL GIFTS?
BY: Fr. Justin Nzekwe
HOMILY FOR TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 13 2022
In the Christian community, no one is more important than the other, each of us has a part to play. We all are parts of the body of Christ. Saint Paul in his letter to Corinthians says, “just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, although many, are one body, so too is Christ. In fact we have all been baptized by one Spirit into one body, Jews or Greeks, slaves or free; and we have all been quenched by one Spirit.” If we understand that we are one body, then we must learn to complement each other.
Each and every one of us has a vocation and a spiritual gift which God has given to us for our own good and for the benefit of our Christian community. We must therefore discover or rediscover our own gift. If you can teach effectively, then use that gift to teach about Jesus. If you can give good advice, then use that gift to help those who in dilemma. If you can pray and receive miracles, remember to pray for those in special needs. If you can pray and receive message from God, use that message to guide those who have lost the direction. If you can assist others, then remember to extend your compassion to the poor and the needy. We must not use our spiritual gifts to create confusion in the Christian community, rather let our gifts reflect the image of Christ who have given us those gifts through the Holy Spirit. We must not be selfish with our gifts, but rather we must be compassionate and ready to help each other.
We must be ready to extend our love and compassion beyond our family members, friends and colleagues. Do not allow the laws of civil society to deprive you of your compassion and humanity. Reach out to people. Ask others how they are doing. Smile and wave at people you see in the Church, and let the smile come from your heart. We all need each other and we must be able to open our hearts to accept each other. Jesus in the gospel reading of today had compassion on a widow about to bury her only son in a graveyard. He touched the coffin and brought the boy back to life and gave him back to his mother. Jesus doesn’t feel less concern about the pains of others, he is ever ready to help.
Saint John Chrysostom whom we are celebrating today also used his office as a Bishop to speak for the poor and the marginalized in the society. He also spoke the truth to those in power without fear. He used his gift of preaching to serve God faithfully.
We pray in this holy mass through the intercession of Saint John Chrysostom that we may be able to use the spiritual gifts God has given us to serve Him faithfully through our fellow human beings.