CATHOLIC HOMILIES: 26TH SUNDAY HOMILY IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR A
HOMILY Theme: Do not let your selfishness affect your sense of judgment.
By: Fr Callistus Emenyonu, cmf
Homily for Sunday.
READINGS: Ezekiel 18: 25-28, Ps. 25, Philippians 2: 1-11, Matthew 21:: 28-32
Every judgment made is based on the level of knowledge available and the wisdom one has. Often times we judge from the poverty of our knowledge and shallowness of our wisdom. In such predicaments we delude ourselves that we are right while every other person is wrong. This was the situation with the people of Israel of Ezekiel’s time. They were told in prophecy about what the judgment of God is as seen in the first reading. They faulted God’s judgment and rated themselves right. This judgment of theirs was based on limitlessness of wisdom and non-possession of divine knowledge. It came from their selfish motives; they considered their convenience and comfort zones and not on real scrutiny of the heart. God looks at the present stage of our lives at the moment he comes to us but the people looks at former and old achievements and old ways they lived. They thought that old ways determine the present state that is not sustained. But God made them know that he considers our present faithfulness and loyalty and with that he judges. But this is what the people faulted and thought they are right.
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God needs out constancy and faithfulness unalloyed and non-tampered and consistent as well. He wants us to keep being on our post. Our old good ways not sustained does not take us anywhere as far as God is concerned. God’s judgment receives a repentant sinner and converts and he takes good care of them. He does not close the door against late comers as seen in the parable of the owner of the vineyard who calls workers at different times. He does not want us to leave the right old paths in pursuit of sinful new ways. He means that if we think we love God or have any incentive in God and any participation in the spirit of God, we should complete the joy of God by being in the same mind with him in appreciating true judgment in God. St Paul advises us not to do anything with selfishness and conceit. We should value what others have in Christ and their gifts than we value ours. We must believe the good things others have and seek the good of others and protect their interest. Humility is a call that should motivate and lead us in all that we do and in seeing others better when they do better. The humility of Jesus in taking up the cross from God and in seeing God’s judgment for him is given to us today as a good example to follow. It was this sense of humility that made God to honour him highly and gave him a name above every other name; all bows at the dividends of his humility and wisdom from God in accepting the judgment of God devoid of selfishness.
Beloved, God tries to get our response on how we can judge the issue of two sons of one man as recorded in the gospel. One makes empty promise that he could not fulfil while the other refused to do the things he was asked to do but later changed his mind. In life obedience is the best in our relationship with God. It is not oral promise that counts but the ability to changed and be on the path of God is rewarded. We must pray that we make vows and fulfil them, repent and get to the right track and not dwell on what we achieved before that cannot be sustained. We pray that our selfishness will never becloud our vision of true judgment. May we remain at the good state of spiritual life till God meets us, Amen.
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