HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE 5TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR I.
THEME: HE HAS DONE ALL THINGS WELL!
BY: Benedict Agbo (Rev Fr).
*Gen 3: 1 – 8, Mk 7: 31 – 37.
Our first parents shamefully failed the first examination that God gave them on earth. That was the test of their freedom. God had taken a risk by giving them freedom. So, they wanted to be like God – the same trap that Lucifer fell into – pride. The result was a disconnection from God. We can’t risk anything that will disconnect us from divine communication. Just look at how the devil did it. He went to the woman – the indirect recipient of the Word of God. When Satan misinterpreted God’s Word, Eve also did same, exaggerating it and presenting the wrong motive for obedience which was fear of dying. She was immediately deceived by the devil’s full assurance: ‘You shall not die..’. Then she “serpentized man” as the scripture scholar, Gerard Von Rad would put it. Imagine what would have happened if man was able to resist the woman and refused to eat the fruit? I am sure the consequence would have been different.
But there is actually nothing very original about the original sin. It is still the same temptations we face today and their reaction are still our reaction. All humanity fell in Adam and still falls by disobedience. All mankind is also restored to God’s friendship through the obedience of Jesus – our second Adam. The consequence was the same. They began to flee when no one was pursuing them like a thief who fears every sound in the bush. When God called, they became deaf and dumb. Whatever makes you deaf and dumb before God, before the Word of God, men of God, before your parents, friends and neighbours has actually crippled your Christian life.
That is why even Infant baptism contains the following ministrations: (i) Ministration of the Word of God (ii) Profession of our faith (iii) Ritual of exorcism (iv) Anointing of the oil of catechumen (v) Anointing of the oil of chrism (vi) Ritual of purification by water and the Spirit (vii) Restoration of the power of communication (Ephpheta).
Jesus came that we may have life and have it abundantly, Jn 10 :10. He was so sensitive to the deaf and dumb man’s feelings of tension while trying to communicate with him. He had to take him away from the crowd. Prayer is a dialogue with God in which we hear God and speak to him. But our guilt and shame may prevent us from doing it. Only Jesus can remove this impediment not the crowd. The same ancient voice which brought forth creation had to speak again: ‘Ephpheta!’ He alone had the power to create and recreate. He has done all things well. May God bless you today!
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