Homily for Monday of the 7th Week in Ordinary Time Year II (1)




Homily for Monday of the 7th Week in Ordinary Time Year II

Theme: Jesus is the answer and solution to everything but on some conditions.

By: Rev. Fr. Callistus Emenyonu, cmf

 

Homily for Monday February 24 2020

READINGS: James. 3: 13-18, Ps. 19, Mark 9: 14-29

Jesus Christ is the Love of God in the world shown to humanity at the highest level unprecedented by any God in history in any religion apart from ours. He is endowed divinely with powers without limit such that with him all things are possible. He loves all creation and work for their good because he has no pleasure in the death of a wicked man but that he may repent and live. His plans he said are not disaster for us but blessing and goodness; what else can we expect from such a God if not blessings and favours. Beloved, it is said and rightly too that heaven helps those who help themselves. Everything is abundant and possible in the house of God as the Father has entrusted everything into his care but humanity have a little role to play to merit such blessings. To who much is given, much is also expected.

Beloved, one of the main gifts of the Holy Spirit is wisdom. Wisdom is the nature of God and all who need to be in God must lean on him in wisdom. It is on this context that James wrote in comparison with worldly craftiness and smartness in contrast with divine wisdom. To prove that someone has wisdom of God meekness and humility must be very visible and worn as cloth not in pretence and not a temporary show-off. In wisdom you cannot compromise bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts. A wise person does not boast and not untruthful but always on the part of humility and truth which is of God. He is selfless and charitable, he is sacrificial and helpful to people. His concern is not himself but how best he can improve the lot of others and put smiles on their cheeks. This is godly enough and a proof of one who is in God and close to the spirit of God. When someone is worldly, his fruit is unspiritual and selfish, jealousy and devilish, he unleashes disorder and all vile practices on fellow human beings believing he is wise and fast. But the wisdom from God is pure, peaceable, gentle, openness to sound reason, full of mercy and forbearance and produces good fruit without uncertainty and insincerity. While the harvest and sign of righteousness is seen in peaceable life and giving peace to all around you. St James does not want us to forget it quickly that they are necessary to live a godly life. They should be the normal to a genuine Christian to acquire.

Beloved, when we live in this way, troubles and sicknesses and difficulties would come but when you call on Jesus the Master who has power to do everything, he would not have a cause to reject your plea or have the heart to watch you suffer. In the gospel today, a faithful child of God who must have been practicing these virtues and having strong belief in Jesus came to see him but unable to meet him personally; he supposed that the disciples could do like their master. They as apprentices were lacking something. Arguments rose among them because they were confused and not knowing how to go about it. But Jesus had earlier said to them: If you believe in me, you will do greater miracles than I have done. So what went wrong here with the disciples? Were they incredulous or applied wrong methodology? I suppose so and they took things for granted. Jesus rebuked them for their lack of faith and not discerning spirit. What was necessary at that point and in solving such case was not what they were doing. Every problem has its own solution and approach. Most often we take God for granted and do things without discernment and asking God for the right solution. When we go our own ways, we get into hitches as if our Jesus has limit in operation and things beyond his ability. He tells them that this type is not very common but a more serious approach of fasting and serious prayer was needed; at the time the Master applied the right remember, it was easily solved.

Beloved, Jesus is the master, the solution and the answer to all our life’s problems. We must work out our salvation in fear and trembling. We must do things right that would attract divine favours in our life. We must listen to the advice of St James in the first reading and ask God for wisdom which produces all other necessary virtue that would attract the mercy of God in our lives. We pray that the gifts that we have renewed in this Pentecost would abide with us forever so that we may keep the precepts of the Lord which are right and gladden the heart, Amen.

Rev. Fr. Callistus Emenyonu, cmf

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