HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF THE 22ND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME CYCLE II
THEME: THE GOOD NEWS
BY: Fr. Justin Nzekwe
HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY AUGUST 31 2022
The primary reason why Jesus came to the world is to preach the good news of God’s kingdom. And what the good news does in our lives is to remind us of our identity as children of God, to guide us on how to live our lives, and to help us to understand our mission of returning back to God at the end of our earthly life. The good news helps us not to be too comfortable with this temporal world, to the point that we forget to prepare for our permanent home in heaven.
In the gospel reading of today, Jesus after healing the mother-in-law of Simon Peter, he went on to cast out demons, lay hands on the sick people who were brought to him and then he went to a deserted place to pray at daybreak. When the people found him at daybreak, they tried to stop him from leaving their community, but he told them: “It is necessary for me to announce the good news of the kingdom of God to other cities as well; for this I was sent.” In order words, Jesus is telling them that preaching the good news is so important that it cannot be compromised.
However, the first reading also reminds us that the good news enables us to grow and to mature as God’s children. As a Christian, if you still envy others or if you are among those who cause discord in the Christians community, then you are still a baby Christian and you need to grow spiritually. If you are still among those whose faith depend on others, maybe on a particular priest, deacon or any church worker, then you are still a baby Christian, and you need to grow spiritually. The Christians during the days of Saint Paul argued whether it is Paul or Appolos that is more important in their Christian journey. Saint Paul clarified this argument to them saying, “I planted, Apollo watered, but it was God who made it grow. So, neither those who plant nor those who irrigate are worth anything, but only God, who makes them grow. Those who plant and those who irrigate are one and the same: each will receive his own reward according to his work. We are God’s collaborators, and you are God’s field, God’s building.” Each and every one of us should be able to make a personal assessment of their spiritual growth in Christ. We must be able to grow in faith each day, and we can do that by listening to the good news of Christ, and drawing closer to God through prayers. We must make Jesus our model and focus. We must also be ready as adult Christians to take up whatever cross that comes to us each day without allowing the devil to weaken our faith and trust in God. Therefore, we pray in this holy mass for the grace to understand the good news of God’s kingdom and that the good news may bear fruits in our lives.