HOMILY FOR THE 22ND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A.
THEME: Allow the Will of God to Prevail.
BY: Fr. Justus Oruma
(a) There is usually tensions and pressure between the desires of the flesh and the desires of the Spirit, between what God wants and what man wants. Often, we are lured to lead our lives with the later, which is a life that would want to satisfy every desires of the body but would not take, even the least of sacrifice for the eternal salvation. A Christian leading such a life is leading a Christian life empty of the cross. To such a life St. Paul advices us; “do not conform to such life” but allow the Will of God to prevail.
RELATED: HOMILY FOR THE 22ND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A
(b) Soon after Jesus made clear how he would suffer under his cross for the eternal salvation, which is the will of God for him, Peter led by the impulses of the flesh wanted to hinder this. Noteworthy is the reply of Jesus, “get behind me Satan for you do not think as God wants but as men”. Jesus saw her not Peter but the work of the Satan who would not want the will of God to prevail. Satan can profess the faith, acknowledge God, bow before God but will never do the will of God. Doing the will of God is the distinguishing character of a true child of God. So, like Jeremiah, allow yourself to be even seduced by the will of God and not by desires of the world.
(c) The reaction of Jesus is very fitting to the attitudes this age; “get behind me Satan”. Today we see laws and life-styles laden with impulses and drives of the flesh which are clear against the will of God. We are not to entertain these drives but simply to react: “get behind me Satan”. In this manner, we offer these drives as a holocaust, holy and pleasing sacrifice to God. (Rom. 12). This is the cross and sacrifice that describes Christianity. This sacrifice is important for what does one gain by these drives of the flesh after which he loses his soul? Untill the soul is saved, nothing is saved. In God’s will we are safe.
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