HOMILY OF 1ST WEDNESDAY OF ORDINARY TIME — YEAR A
HOMILY THEME: THE OUTCOME OF AN ENCOUNTER WITH GOD
BY: Fr Francis Onwunali
1 Sam. 3:1-10,19-20, Ps. 40:2,5,7-10, Mark 1:29-39
The meeting point of today’s readings is on the outcome of an encounter with God. Any encounter with God is transformative and rejuvenating. Our lives will always experience a glorious impact whenever we have a real and sincere encounter with God.
The first reading presents to us the calling of Samuel. It took time for Samuel to recognize God’s voice calling him. With the help of Eli, the priest, Samuel, answered: “speak, Lord, for your servant is listening” (1 Sam. 3: 1-10, 19-20). Our world is filled with noise and distractions: noise from within ourselves, from social media, audio and visual media, etc. How often do I tune off from worldly noise, and in still and quiet, listen to God either through God’s revealed Word or in the depths of my heart? Samuel heard God speak and became effective in speaking God’s Word.
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In today’s gospel (Mark 1: 29-39), Jesus enters the house of Simon’s mother-in-law and takes her by the hand to heal her. In the evening, after sunset, many were brought to Him, and He healed them. At dawn, Jesus went out quietly in a lonely place to pray.
Dear friends, Jesus took the initiative to come to us not in our beauty and strength but in our weakness and darkness so that those who live in the dark can see a great light (cf. Matt. 4:16). Have you ever felt unworthy of God’s love?
I pray as we journey in life today, we will remember that the Lord Jesus has not come for the righteous but for His unworthy brothers and sisters. We have to approach Jesus with expectant faith. As St. Jerome said: “Faith beholds Jesus among us. If we are unable to seize His hand, let us prostrate ourselves at His feet. If we are unable to reach His head, let us wash His feet with our tears. Our repentance is the perfume of the Saviour. See how costly is the compassion of the Saviour. ” So how ready are we to hold His hands and be raised up like He did to Peter’s Mother in-law. Jesus has stepped into the darkness of your life, standing beside your bed of sin, worry, sickness, and burden. Are you ready to be led out into the light? O that today you would listen to His voice, harden not your hearts (Ps. 95: 8). Have a liberation-encounter-full day!
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