HOMILY OF THURSDAY 16TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR B




HOMILY OF THURSDAY 16TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR B

HOMILY THEME: THE LEMONADE STAND LESSON

BY: Fr. Obinna Ezeaputa

2 Corinthians 4:7-15, Ps. 126:1-6, Matthew 20:20-28

Today, we celebrate the feast of Saint James, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ. In our gospel reading (Matthew 20:20–28), we hear the story of James and his brother John, who, along with their mother, approach Jesus with a bold request. They ask to sit at his right and left hand in the kingdom of heaven.

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But Jesus flips their request around. He asks, “Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?” In other words, are they willing to share in his suffering and death? And surprisingly, they said, “We can,” without realizing what they’re really getting themselves into.

Without a doubt, their request reveals their ambition and desire for power, but Jesus teaches them (and us) that true greatness is not about seeking positions of power but about serving others. We must be willing to humble ourselves, to listen, and to serve. We must recognize that our strengths and abilities are gifts from God, and true greatness comes from surrendering ourselves to his will.

Once upon a time, two siblings, Alex and Mia, were vying to be the boss of their family’s new lemonade stand. They both wanted to be in charge and give orders. However, their wise old grandma, who was teaching them how to run the stand, saw their desire for power and said, “If you want to be the greatest lemonade stand owner, it is not by being the boss, but by serving the customers.”

Alex and Mia were confused. “But grandma, we want to be in charge!” they said. Grandma smiled and said, “True greatness is not about being in charge; it’s about making sure everyone has a cold drink on a hot day. It’s about listening to what flavors people want and making it for them. It’s about being willing to get messy and do the hard work.”

Alex and Mia thought about this for a moment. They realized that they had been so focused on being the boss that they hadn’t thought about how to actually make the lemonade stand successful. So, they rolled up their sleeves, started listening to their customers, and worked together to make the best lemonade stand in town.

As they worked, grandma reminded them, “Your talents and abilities are gifts; use them to serve others, and you will find true greatness.” And they did. They became known as the most humble and hardworking lemonade stand owners in town, and people came from all over to taste their delicious lemonade and experience their kindness.

As we celebrate the feast of Saint James, let’s remember that true greatness isn’t about seeking power or recognition but about serving others with humility and selflessness. Let us follow Jesus Christ’s teachings, as illustrated by Alex and Mia, and find true greatness in surrendering ourselves to the greater good. Amen.

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