CATHOLIC HOMILIES: 23RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR A
HOMILY Theme: Principle of reconciliation
By: Fr Justin Nzekwe
Homily for Sunday.
As human beings living on earth, we owe each other mutual love and understanding. We are more connected to each other to the extent that if we refuse to share love, we may end up sharing hatred. The global pandemic is a lesson for us, on how a sickness which originated in China became a treat to the whole world from Asia, to Europe, North America, South America, Oceania and Africa. It is easier to think that nothing connects you to Asia, Africa or any other continent, but this global pandemic has proven that wrong. Even in our small communities, when we hear that one of us has been infected with Corona Virus, everyone begins to shiver and take safety percussions. We ask questions like: Who is that? Where does he live? I hope he is put in quarantine? These questions are often because we also feel unsafe considering the nature of the sickness. But what happens when we stop seeing a regular parishioner on Sunday masses, do we enquire to know why or ask if the parishioner is in good health? God is asking us today to love and take more responsibility for others. He commanded the prophet Ezekiel to take Spiritual responsibility for the Israelites. He made him a watchman for the house of Israel, with the condition that he must communicate God’s word to the Israelites, and if the wicked refused to listen they will perish and the prophet saved. But if the prophet refused to preach the word, not only will the wicked perish, but he will answer for their blood. God is also asking you to take the spiritual responsibility for people around you like the prophet Ezekiel.
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Though we are not perfect as human beings, yet we should always find a way of uniting with each other even when others offend us. Often we avoid people because we do not want to offend them neither do we want them to offend us. Jesus in the gospel reading of today gives us the principles of reconciliation. Though conflicts are inevitable in our relationships, families, and communities, but how do we manage them. Our Ability to counsel and talk over issues, to see things from the perspective of others or, our ability to empathize with others makes a lot of difference. Christ gives us a three-dimensional principle of reconciliation. First, we must sit down and dialogue face to face. Then, seek the mediation of a good friend, and finally, seek the mediation of our community or family. As Christians, how do we resolve our problems today? We must choose dialogue today as Christ taught us. Dialogue fosters mutual respect for each other. It fosters mutual love and restores relationships. It helps us to discover how related we are as part of God’s family.
And through dialogue, we can win more souls to Christ by becoming more aware of the weakness of others and helping others to turn back to God. We pray in this holy mass that the Lord may increase his love in our hearts that we may share the love of God with others who encounters us. Peace be with you!
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