Short homily for the 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B
Theme: THE GREATEST AMONG YOU SHOULD BE THE SERVANT OF ALL
By: Fr. Cajetan Anyanwu
Homily for Sunday September 19 2021
This is the 25th Sunday in ordinary time. We are reminded of the fact that leadership implies service. A great leader must be virtuous. To be virtuous is a mark of wisdom. But in our society today, true virtuous persons are hard to find. If any is found, there is conspiracy against such a person. The conspirators would say, “Let us lie in wait for the virtuous man, since he annoys us and oppose our ways of life” (Wis. 2:12ff). This shows that anyone opposed to evil is a target. Amidst all these, the virtuous must be resolute no matter the oppositions they are facing.
St. James asks: “Where do these wars and battles between yourselves first start? .. you want something and you haven’t got it; so you are prepared to kill”(Jas. 3:16-4:3). The world today is witnessing bad leadership everywhere. This is why we have wars, killings and poverty here and there. We need virtuous persons who are God-fearing to serve the nations.
This is why, when the disciples of Jesus argued among themselves about who is the greatest, he opened their eyes to leadership with service. “So he called the Twelve and said, If anyone wants to be first, he must make himself last of all and servant of all” (Mk. 9:30-37). But what we have these days are great leaders not servants. Thus, Jesus took a child to show us that a great leader should have a child-like heart. One with the heart of a child is calm, kind and gives joy to the people. As children bring joy to the family so should our leaders bring joy and not sadness to the world. Jesus is also telling us to welcome, protect and care for children. To welcome them is to welcome God. May Jesus, the lover of children bless all children in the world, amen. Happy Sunday.
Fr. Cajetan Anyanwu