August 30, 2020. Homily for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, (Year A)

Readings: Jer. 20:7-9; Romans 12:1-2; Matthew 16:21-27

 

Gripped by the Power of Love

 

1.    In today’s first reading, Jeremiah used the language of a betrayed lover to describe his relationship with God. God seduced, enticed, and manipulated him with promises of fidelity and commitment into a relationship. The Lord said to Jeremiah: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I dedicated you, a prophet to the nations I appointed you.” (Jer.1:5). And when Jeremiah protested, “Ah, Lord God! I know not how to speak; I am too young.” God told him, “Say not, “I am too young.” To whomever I send you, you shall go; whatever I command you, you shall speak. Have no fear before them, because I am with you to deliver you” (Jer. 1:7-8) The Lord then touched his mouth, saying, “See, I place my words in your mouth! This day I set you over nations and over kingdoms, to root up and to tear down, to destroy and to demolish, to build and to plant.” (Jer. 1:9-10). Jeremiah was further assured: “But do you gird your loins; stand up and tell them all that I command you. Be not crushed on their account, as though I would leave you crushed before them; for it is I this day who have made you a fortified city, a pillar of iron, a wall of brass, against the whole land: Against Judah’s kings and princes, against its priests and people. They will fight against you, but not prevail over you for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord.” (Jer. 1:17-19).

 

2.    But why was Jeremiah so mad? It was because “Violence and outrage is my message.” Because of that, God’s Word has brought him “Derision and reproach all the day.”  Jeremiah thought that the promises that God made to him at the time of his call would mean that everyone would love him and be receptive to his prophetic messages. But this was not to be the case. Those he preached to hated him instead, they ridiculed him, suspended him in pit of mud, threw him into jail and threatened to kill him. And so, in the first reading, Jeremiah cries out to God, complaining, “You duped me, O Lord, and I let myself be duped; you were too strong for me, and you triumphed.” (Jer. 20:7). Jeremiah’s plight is that of every prophet who preaches the word of God. No wonder why some of today’s preachers preach what people want to hear and not God’s word.

 

3.    Jeremiah’s burden came from his mission. He was to point out rottenness, corruption in high places, in sacred sanctuaries, among people who were supposed to be shining examples of virtue and champions of justice. He called on the priests to reform their lives and confronted kings and rulers to render justice to the poor. When he prophesied violence and destruction, he was mocked and ridiculed by the powerful and the priests. And so, he resolved not to speak of God’s Words anymore. But he immediately confesses his complete impotence to remain silent. Instead he cried out that the word of God was like fire burning in his heart, imprisoned by his bones, “I grow weary holding it in, I cannot endure it.” God would not let him be. Jeremiah is gripped by the power of unrelenting love, and so must keep on preaching.

 

4.    Jeremiah had to deal with the burden of his mission, just as Jesus Christ had his as well, dealing with his disciples who did not quite know what his mission was all about. Last week he confronted his apostles with the question: “Who do you say I am?” Peter had A+ with his answer that Christ was the anointed one of God. Christ gave him exulted position and called him the Rock on which he would build his church. Peter was given the keys of the kingdom, to bind and to lose. You can say Peter had his five minutes of fame. But in today’s reading Peter is called Satan. “Get behind me, Satan! You are an obstacle to me. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.”  One wonders how deep Peter’s knowledge of Christ really was. In saying that Christ was the anointed one, Peter’s understanding was that as the anointed one Christ would rescue God’s people from the hands of the Romans; he would establish a kingdom in which there would be on more poor or sick or blind or lame. In that kingdom, as we recall in the sermon on the mount (Matthew 5 - 7), there will be peace, love and justice. Sinners would be converted, and the world would be filled with the knowledge of the Lord.

 

5.    The Anointed One was expected to be a high priest or a judge, he was to be a warrior or a great prophet like Elijah. He was to be so great, prosperous and powerful that suffering and pains would have no place in his life. The Apostles on the other hand saw themselves as sharing in the greatness of their master. They were all destined to have a high and influential position in that kingdom. How could Christ be talking about suffering, the cross or even dying! Peter had to prevent Christ from talking like that. But Christ saw in Peter’s reaction another form of temptation that was trying to derail him from his mission. He called him Satan, tempter, a barrier an adversary and a stumbling block. Just like Jeremiah, no one wants to suffer, no one wants the cross, no one wants pains of any kind. We want an easy way out; and so, we cut corners, peddle with the truth, and compromise our principles and follow the crowd. No, Lord, this must not happen to you. So, Jesus rebuked Peter and reminded him that he does not give instructions to Jesus but should learn from the master.

      

6.    Jesus lived a sacrificial life. His love went above and beyond his call of duty, because his aim was always to bring us to a life of union with God. And so, Christ constantly calls us to take up our cross and follow him daily. He said that we must deny ourselves for his sake. This means saying ‘yes’ to God and ‘no’ to self and self-inclinations. He calls on us to dethrone ourselves and enthrone God in all spheres of our lives. We must seek to please God in all that we do. Secondly, Christ invites us to take up our crosses as he did his and live a life of sacrificial service. We must abandon our personal ambition to serve Christ and those entrusted to our care. By so doing we learn true happiness which lies in following Jesus, obeying his command and walking in his footsteps. We do this through prayer, through our sacramental life and living a life of service. Let us pray at this Mass that we may offer ourselves, like St. Paul reminds us in the second reading, “As a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God.” Amen.

 

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP.

August 23, 2020. Homily for the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, (Year A)

Readings: Isaiah 22:19-23; Romans 11:33-36; Matthew 16:13-20

 

Who Do You Say I Am?

1.    I was wrestling with the best way to reflect on the above question when I got a call that my 87-year-old dad has passed on. At that time the question took a different dimension for me. Who do I say Jesus is for me at this trying time? When faced with difficult situations in life, who is Jesus for you? Sometimes it feels like we don’t know who Jesus is. This reminds me of a story told by Mark Link in his Sunday Homilies. A little girl went to CCD class for the first time. After class her mother asked her, “Amy, how did you like CCD today?” The little girl said, “I didn’t like it at all.” Her mother said, “It was your first time. Just wait a few weeks. You’ll come to like it.” Three weeks later the little girl came home from CCD with big tears in her eyes. “What’s the matter?” her mother asked. “It’s CCD,” the little girl said. “Must I keep going?” “Why?” asked her mother. “What’s wrong?” “Well,” said the little girl, “everybody talks about somebody named Jesus. And I don’t know who he is. I’ve never even meet him.”

 

2.    I’m sure Christ will resonate with the feelings of this little girl. Everybody is talking about Christ do they know who Christ is? Was there anyone who understood him? Was there anyone who recognized him for who and what he was? Were there any who, when he was gone from the flesh, would carry on his work, and labor for his kingdom? Do they know what his mission really is? Is Christ only a miracle worker, a healer, a food provider, or the one who raised the dead? This question was crucial to Christ.

 

3.    So, to the question “who do you people say I am?”, a lot of people have opinions about Jesus and who they thought he was. But Christ was not interested in what others said about him, but rather, on an individual experience of him. And so, when Peter made his profession of faith that he knew clearly who Christ was, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God”, Christ knew that there was at least someone who knew and understood his mission. He knew that with Peter at the helm, his work was safe, and his mission will go on even without him. Now Peter could be entrusted with a leadership role over others. He was given the keys of the kingdom. But how did Peter come to this sublime knowledge of who Christ was? Because this type of knowledge can only come from God, as St. Paul opines in the second reading: “Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How inscrutable are his judgements and how unsearchable his ways! For from him and through him and for him are all things.”

 

4.    I want to believe that Peter came to this knowledge through his personal encounter with the person of Jesus. Peter encountered Jesus when he was directed to a catch of a great number of fish to the point that his nets were tearing. He had to signal to his partners in the other boat to come to help him. When Peter saw this, he fell at the knees of Jesus and said, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man.” (Lk. 5:1-11). How could Peter have forgotten that experience. He saw, firsthand how Jesus healed the sick, beginning with his mother-in-law. (Lk. 4:38-39). He heard many times, the teaching of Jesus. He knew that Jesus taught with authority, unlike the Scribes and Pharisees. (Matt. 7:29). He was rescued from drowning at the sea of Galilee. (Matt. 14:22-33). He saw Jesus doing the kind of work reserved for slaves, like washing of feet. (Jn. 31-17). He saw Jesus feed the multitude with just five loaves and two fish. (Matt. 14:13-21). He, of course, witnessed Jesus spending hours in prayer, sometimes even throughout the night. (Lk 3:21; 11:1-13). Jesus lived with his apostles, and so they saw how simple his life was. No ordinary human being could do all these, except the anointed one of God! Yes, I know who you are, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

 

5.    With Peter’s confession, he was given the keys. Christ trusted him with the responsibility of taking charge of his church; because Peter understood what true power meant. It is service above all; it is suffering and at times, it entails sacrifice. It means being responsible over others in love. Jesus knew that Peter would always fall back on him for support. He knew that he would not arrogate power to himself, like Shebna, in the first reading. Shebna used his power and authority to enrich himself. He forgot the one who put him there and the reason he was placed in that exulted position. Corrupt leaders often feel that they have absolute power and forget that he who gave power can also take it back. And Shebna’s power was transferred to Eliakim.

 

6.    A true leader will always look for the source of his power. And this comes from the knowledge of God. We can know the worth of a person by the power he/she wields. Our knowledge of Christ will assure our humility in the exercise of power. That is why power in the Church is service, and to exercise this power appropriately, one must have a deeper relationship with Christ. So, in your position of authority, who do you say Jesus is? In your family, who do you say he is? When faced with temptation and sickness that defiles all cures, who is Jesus for you? In your free time alone and in your confusion, who is Jesus for you? When entrusted with position of leadership, who do you say Jesus is?

 

7.    So, we pray at this Mass for a true understanding of power and authority. We pray that we may get to know Jesus personally and intimately and that he may use us for his kingdom. Amen.

 

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

 

August 16, 2020. Homily for the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, (Year A)

Readings: Isaiah 56:1,6-7; Romans 11:13-15, 29-32; Matthew 15:21-28

 

We, the Outsiders!

1.    The Gospel reading of today reminds me of the incident that happened many years ago. As a Seminarian studying for the missionary priesthood, I was assigned to my home diocese for pastoral work. After presenting the letter from the seminary to the Vocations director, I waited for my assignment, but none came. I approached him and enquired why I was not assigned. He said to me, “It is not right to take the food of children and throw it the dogs”, the same answer Jesus gave to the Canaanite woman, who came to beg for the health of her daughter. I was an outsider!

 

2.    Who was this woman and why was she so ill-treated by Jesus, who was naturally was very compassionate and empathic to women, children, the poor and the sick? She was a Canaanite woman, which means she was a Gentile, a non-Jewish. The Gentiles despised the Jews and vice-versa. She was an outsider who did not belong to the family of God’s chosen people. This woman whose daughter was afflicted with sickness must have heard of the wonderful things which Jesus could do; and she followed him and his disciples crying desperately for help. After ignoring her for some time, Jesus told her point-blank, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” Yes, Jesus was sent to minister to his people, the Jewish people. This passage described the first time that Jesus was outside of Jewish territory. It fore-shadowed the going out of the gospel to the whole world.

 

3.    How do we treat the outsiders of our world today? How do we relate with people who are different from us, speak different languages, have accent, or do not belong to our class? How do we see the immigrants, Africans, native Indians, women, the poor, the disenfranchised and the marginalized in our midst? We often compartmentalize people into categories like Democrats, Republicans or Independents. We are not comfortable with people who have different political views from ours. You are either with us or against us. Those who do not belong to our group are the outsiders. Depending on the categories we place them, the outsiders will always depend on us and the generosity of people around them. Their dependence is sometimes seen as a sign of weakness; but within that weakness lies their strength. An African proverb states that he who sees a person in the bush often forgets that he/she came from a home. So, we see this woman, an outsider, going to Jesus for mercy, for love, for healing; not for herself but for her daughter, whom she loved dearly. She would not take ‘no’ for an answer until her daughter was healed. The disciples saw her as an embarrassment and a nuisance; and wanted Jesus to get rid of her. “Give her what she wants, and get rid of her.”, they demanded. Just the way we see and treat the outsiders we meet. They are embarrassments in our streets, they feed on us like fleece and we are tired taking care of them. We do not want them in our country, taking all our jobs; we are spending too much money on their welfare. The reaction of the disciples was not compassion and love, and very far from a Christian response to someone in need. It was shameful, and Jesus knew it. But just like all the outsiders, no insult would prevent her from getting what she wanted for her daughter. Yes, even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the master’s table. But wait a minute! She was a foreigner, an outsider, a non-Jewish; her tribe was not among God’s chosen people, where did she get her faith from?

 

4.    Her faith came from her love; not for herself, but for her daughter. It was love that made her approach this stranger. It was love that made her to accept rebuff and insult. She saw compassion in the seeming words of insult from Jesus. There is nothing stronger and nothing nearer God than the love we have for others. We live better when we live for others. This woman’s faith grew stronger when confronted by Jesus. She looked into the face of Jesus and discovered in her heart something divine and ended up calling him Lord. “Lord help me.” When faced with sickness and deprivation, the outsiders only have their Lord to fall back on; and that is when their faith grows ever stronger. God is truly close to the brokenhearted. She came crying out for help and ended up on her knees in prayer of adoration. She humbled herself and acknowledged the God of her salvation. She was not discouraged because the prayer of a contrite heart will always win favor from the Lord.

 

5.    The lesson from these readings is that Jesus never misses a great opportunity to teach. Since his mission was to the Jews first, and this woman was a Gentile crying for mercy, Christ had to awaken true faith in her heart. “It is not right to take the children’s bread and to throw it to the dogs.” Her answer, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters”, demonstrated that her faith was strong enough for her miracle to be granted. “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” Isn’t it funny that it was Jesus who re-enforced her faith and showed it as an example to others?

 

6.    Because of her faith, being an outsider was no longer a barrier to approaching the throne of grace. Peter recognized this, after his visit to Cornelius’ house, himself a Gentile, when he said, “In truth, I see that God shows no partiality. Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him.” (Acts 10:34-35). And the apostle John tells us, “But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name.” (Jn. 1:12). According John Rose “The Jews were the chosen race. They had the right to receive the blessings of the Messiah. But if they do not have faith, they would forfeit that privilege. On the other hand, the non-Jewish people, the Syro-Phoenician woman, who did not belong to the Chosen race of the Jews, will still receive the same blessing because of their faith. One belongs to the community of Jesus by virtue of faith and not by blood. Faith will supply what we lack by nature.”

 

7.    Our faith in Jesus and the water of baptism are, indeed, stronger than the racial and tribal bond. In Jesus, it doesn’t matter whether you are an outsider or not, once you believe in God and commit yourself to him, “Observe what is right, do what is just; for my salvation is about to come, my justice, about to be revealed.” Those who join themselves to God, foreigners, outsiders and all, who minister to God and worship his name, will come to God’s holy mountain where they will pray freely to him, for his house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples. May God who accepts us as we are, help us to accept others as they are. Amen.

 

 

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

August 09, 2020 Homily for the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A).

Readings: 1 Kings 19:9,11-13; Romans 9:1-5; Matthew 14:22-33

 

Take Courage, it is I

1.    The readings of today present us with the faith of two men, Elijah, in the first reading and Peter in the Gospel. In the 17^th chapter of the first book of Kings, we read about Elijah’s effort to win Israel back from the precipice of collapse and decadence to the worship of the true God. Zeal for God and righteous indignation made Elijah to kill the 450 prophets of Baal who turned people away from God. This did not sit well with Jezebel who was an impassioned promoter of paganism and of the worship of the Canaanite god, Baal. When threatened with a death sentence by Jezebel, Elijah had no choice but run for dear life, begging God to take his life. God did not take his life, but rather fed him miraculously. Strengthened by this nourishment, Elijah came to the mountain of God called Horeb where God revealed himself to him in a light breeze. God does not always appear to us in thunder, lightning and earthquake, he is as effective and powerful in a gentle wind as he is in a more provocative and dramatic phenomena. Elijah’s faith was tested, and he almost gave up on life, but God showed up and changed his fortune and destiny. He renewed his faith, because he gazed on God rather than on himself. He listened to God and allowed God to direct his life. It is amazing indeed, what we can hear when we pay attention to God’s words. Meditation and contemplation are forms of prayers that enable us to listen to God in a very special way.

 

2.    This brings us to the Gospel reading. Last Sunday we witnessed the miracle of the multiplication of loaves and two fish and the feeding of five thousand men, women and children, not counted. We are told today that after this heavenly banquet, Christ made his disciples get into a boat and precede him to the other side while he dismissed the crowds. After making sure that everyone was taken care of and properly sent home, Christ went up the mountain to seek quiet time with his Father. He came to this scene in the first place to be alone, to rest and to pray. Nothing would prevent him from keeping that appointment with his father. If he couldn’t pray during the day, he could do it at night. This was how Christ charged his battery and be energized to carry out the mission of his father. It is by listening to God that we get to know his will for us. Do we complain that we cannot find time to pray? Are we too busy to pray? Learn from Christ, the Son of God. In order to be effective and productive in his mission, he needed to spend some time with the one who sent him. Prayer is the key to a successful life, to a productive ministry and to a committed Christian life.

 

3.    While praying on that mountain, Christ sensed that his disciples were in trouble at sea. They were struggling as their boat was buffeted by strong wind and waves, and so he swung into action. “It is I, do not be afraid”, he assured them. Peter asked him, “If it is you bid me come to you on the water.” Christ invited him and he stepped on the water, while keeping his eyes fixed on Christ. As soon as he took his eyes off Jesus he began to go down into the water. Then he cried out for help, “Lord, save me!”

 

4.    The raging waves of the sea can be compared to the storms of our lives. At times our lives are ravaged by turbulent waves of atrocities and adversities. It seems that no matter how much we fix our gaze on Jesus, he seems to be passing us by. Our faith has been tested over and over again like that of Peter and Elijah. How do we handle the stormy weather of broken relationships and shattered dreams? Unfortunately, some of our storms are self-inflicted, we seem to find it difficult to free ourselves from the shackles of misguided dreams and misplaced priorities. We are drowned by worldly desires that drag us down each time we try to get up. How do we deal with the waves of drugs in our families or the coronavirus pandemic that has defiled all logic? Even our Church is not spared the turbulent waves of sin, deceit, cover-up and unaccountability. We are rocked by innumerable problems and unanswerable questions. This is the time for us to cry out like Peter, Lord, save us, we are drowning. And Christ will say to us men and women of little faith, why did you doubt? It is I, do not be afraid.

 

5.    These readings made it clear to us that no matter the condition of our faith, Christ will meet us at the hour of our needs. He will come to us as he went to the disciples in the rough and turbulent sea. He knows our needs and he is always willing to assist us. No matter our waves: be it bad marriage, struggle with temptation, dealing with depression or grieving the loss of a love one, we are not alone. Jesus tells us “I have told you this so that you might have peace in me. In the world you will have trouble, but take courage, I have conquered the world.” (Jn. 16:33). Finally, today’s readings remind us that, just like the wind died down and there was calm when Jesus entered the boat, if we invite Jesus into our boats, he will calm our storm and grant us peace. Therefore, we must worship and acknowledge that, “Truly, you are the Son of God.” May God bless us and assure us of his presence in our lives now and always. Amen.

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP