HOMILY FOR SATURDAY OF THE 2ND WEEK OF EASTER, YEAR B
HOMILY THEME: STAND AGAINST DISCRIMINATION
‘Their widows were being discriminated against.’
BY: Fr. Karabari Paul
In Acts 6:1-7, as the believers rapidly multiplied, there were rumblings of discontent. The Greek-speaking believers complained about the Hebrew-speaking believers, saying that their widows were being discriminated against in the daily distribution of food. Why? Because they were outsiders. These women didn’t grow up in Judea or Galilee. They hailed from the distant lands of Greece, Rome, and Syria. If they spoke Aramaic at all, they did so with an accent. Consequently, they were ‘neglected’ . The manager of the food pantry gave Hebrew women the first pick. The food bank director separated requests into two stacks: locals and immigrants.
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The worst thing that can happen to any organisation or community is when elders who should fight against injustice are themselves the generators of the injustice. Injustice exists in every generation. It is not surprising that it was in the early church. How did the church respond? ‘The Twelve called a meeting of all the believers.’ Have you ever been to a meeting of ‘believers’ called to deal with those who are ‘being discriminated against’? Why did the apostles call such a meeting? Because of the example Jesus set from the very outset of His ministry: ‘And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written…’ (Luke 4:17).
That day He announced the six things that God had sent Him to do: 1) Preach the gospel to the poor. 2) Heal the broken-hearted. 3) Proclaim liberty to the captives. 4) Proclaim recovery of sight to the blind. 5) Set at liberty those who are oppressed. 6) Proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord. That was the year of Jubilee when all prisoners were set free, all debts forgiven, and all that was taken from you was restored. Jesus meets every need: body, soul, and spirit. Jesus came to destroy unjust structures.
We may see injustices everywhere and never moved to do anything about it. Injustice will always be in society. We must also be ready to ensure it doesn’t find root among us. An unjust structure is the devil’s prison. It breeds unhappiness, revenge, unforgiveness, rejection, and other negative elements. It shouldn’t be in the Church of Christ. When the weak and voiceless become the target of injustice, Christ becomes the target. Unfortunately, there are enshrined discriminations even in the Church today. We see oppressive tendencies. We see some people who are being considered outsiders. We see ethnic sentiments at play. And love can’t grow where there is discrimination. But where there is love, disagreement has a solution. GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE. May God heal our world, bless and protect us all through Christ Our Lord Amen. Good morning and happy weekend.
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