Homily for Thursday of the 32nd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle II
Theme: THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS IN YOUR MIDST!
By: Fr. Benedict Agbo
Homily for Thursday November 12 2020
* Phile 7 – 20, Lk 17 : 20 – 25.
The kingdom of God is in our midst since the coming of Christ. It is definitely not a political, social or economic kingdom. It is God’s lordship over our minds and hearts. It changes a lot of equation ; readjusting a man’s aspirations and prayer points, his sense of authority and attachment to power, properties and people. It changes a man’s desires from the love of the carnal to the love of the spiritual. It is not about eating and drinking but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, Rom 14 : 17.
The kingdom of God makes us enjoy the freedom of the spirit ; nothing like using force on people anymore. As St Paul did with Philemon and Onesimus, we are expected to do with all our boys and servants, maids and stewards, surrogates and mentees. Paul makes a very pedagogical statement : ‘Though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, yet for love’s sake I prefer to appeal to you’. Appeal is always better than force in the realm of the spiritual ( and this is one thing that we lack in many formation houses). Everything we do in the Church must be spiritual and therefore must be free ; freedom of worship, freedom in offering, freedom even in moral life. St Augustine said : ‘Love God and do whatever you like’. The kingdom of God is this freedom and it is in our midst. Our love must be free and even our faith must be free from too much rigidity.
The kingdom of God is a spiritual kingdom and not about material welfare as the Jews thought and so many Christians still think. It will not be localized. It will not be predicted. It will not be easy. Its crown will come through the Cross. May God keep us focused on this kingdom which is already in our midst through the gospel!
May God bless you today!