August 29, 2021; Homily for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time of the (Year B)

Readings: Deut. 4:1-2,6-8; Jas. 1:17-18,21-22,7; Mk. 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 

Do We Observe Rituals or Worship God?

1.     Some years ago, I lit purple instead of rose candle on the third Sunday of Advent. A parishioner was so upset that it affected her participation at Mass; she could not wait to confront me after Mass. I explained to her that it did not matter to God the color of candle we light at Mass so long as our hearts are in the right place. This angered her even more and her reply to me was, “well, if you do not know which candle to light, you should not have been ordained a priest.” That was shocking to me to say the least. What has the color of the candle got to do with the worship of God? Lighting a candle is a mere ritual and nothing more.  So, do we worship God with our hearts or are we simply observing the rituals? Must we always do things as ‘it was in the beginning’ and not question why we do them? Are we paying lip service to God or are we doing things that will deepen our relationship with God?

2.     The gospel tells us of the Pharisees and scribes who came all the way from Jerusalem to Galilee just to observe Jesus and make sure that he did everything according to their laws. They observed rightly “That some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is unwashed hands. For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the traditions of the elders.” To them Jesus said, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, teaching as doctrines human precepts. You disregard God’s commandments but cling to human tradition.”

3.     Jesus would later ask his disciples “Do you not realize that everything that goes into a person from outside cannot defile, since it enters not the heart but the stomach and passes out into the latrine? But what comes out of a person, that is what defiles. From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile.” This explains why some Christians focus on the rituals rather than the worship of God. It is easy to think of things and how they are done than on people and how to help them. It is easy to think of how to do things right in Church than how to be at right with God and one another. Little wonder why the Psalmist asked, “Lord, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy mountain?” In answer, the Psalmist enumerated the qualities needed in a person who may be admitted into the presence of the Lord: “Whoever walks without blame, doing what is right, speaking truth from the heart; Who does not slander a neighbor, does no harm to another, never defames a friend; Who disdains the wicked, but honors those who fear the Lord; Who keeps an oath despite the cost, lends no money at interest, accepts no bribe against the innocent. Whoever acts like this shall never be shaken.” These are the people Christ talks about on the sermon on the mount. They are the poor in spirit, the peace makers, the meek, the merciful, the clean of heart. They seek to please God and their neighbors and so they worship God in spirit and in truth. They will inherit the kingdom of God.   

4.     In the second reading, St. James reminds us that “All good giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.” Therefore, we should strive to live in accordance with God’s law. Therefore, we should be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding ourselves. Because “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” Isaiah also stressed this point thus: “This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke; sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; Clothing the naked when you see them and not turning your back on your own.” (Is. 58:6-7). The summary of this, is, faith without good works is dead.

5.     In the first reading Moses reminded the children of Israel that God’s law was a gift that would give evidence of wisdom and intelligence “to the nations, who will hear of these statutes and say, ‘This great nation is truly a wise and intelligent people.’ For what great nation is there that has gods so close to it as the Lord, our God is to us whenever we call upon him”. God is close to us when we keep his law of love. When we truly worship God in spirit and in truth, we can’t but come to the aid of those in need, and God’s love is perfected in us. Hearing the word of the Lord is good indeed but putting it into practice is even better. Going to Church, praying the rosary, fasting and abstinence, meditation and spending a long time in church are all good and wonderful and worthy on their own but they should be accompanied with good works: helping the poor, forgiving injuries, being compassionate, showing mercy and helping in ministries in Church whenever we can. This is the worship that pleases God. This will help to purify our hearts against the things that defile us. We will see and come to understand that rituals are good so long as they help us to worship God. May we learn to love God in spirit and in truth so that we may truly love others from our hearts because we love God that much. Amen.

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP.

August 22, 2021; 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)

Readings: Jos. 24:1-2,15-17; Eph. 5:21-32; Jn. 6:60-69

A Teaching Too Hard to Understand

1.     In his album ‘Mama Africa’ Peter Tosh, the Jamaican reggae star sang: “All my life I’ve been a lonely man teaching people who don’t understand. Even though I tried my best, I still can’t find no happiness.” How do you teach a lazy person the virtue of hard work? How do you teach a beggar to stop begging and look for a job? How do you teach a drug addict or a substance abuser or an alcoholic to be sober? How do you tell a debtor to manage his resources well and stop taking loans? It is difficult to teach people to change and pursue a better way of life. If you try, they will tell you your teaching is too hard to understand. They will leave you and go to those who will enable their bad habits and behaviors.

2.      Jesus could not, no matter how hard he tried, convince some of his followers to change their way of life. For five weeks He has been teaching them that unless they ate his body and drank his blood, they would not have life in them. He showed them the importance of food for their bodies by multiplying five loaves and two fish to feed five thousand. He stressed that as bread was important to satisfy their physical hunger, so was his body and blood for their souls. Though he fed them with loaves of bread, he wanted them to dig deeper, go for something that will endure, something that would satisfy them. “Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.” He told them.  To the woman at the well he said, “If you knew the gift of God and who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” For “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again; but whoever drinks the water I shall give will never thirst; the water I shall give will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (Jn. 4:13-14). Jesus is the only one who can guarantee us eternal happiness.

3.     In the first reading, Joshua calls on the children of Israel to choose who to follow. “If it does not please you to serve the Lord, decide today whom you will serve, the gods your fathers served beyond the River or the gods of the Amorites in whose country you are dwelling. As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua impressed upon the children of Israel that they were free to make their choice, either to follow God or to follow the pagan gods. The choice was theirs! The tribes of Israel now in the promised land are depicted as having at last defeated their enemies. They now stand before their new leader, Joshua who recounted all the adventures of their forefathers from the time of Abraham, some five hundred years down to the present. The only reason they were successful was that God was holding them and leading them throughout their exploits. He led their fathers into the land of Canaan and down into Egypt, brought the people out of the land of bondage, through the wilderness, and now once again into the land of promise. Having told them their history, Joshua told them to choose the gods that they would serve. Joshua told them that regardless of their choice, he and his household would serve the Lord.

4.     Christ demanded of this same choice from those who had listened to him throughout his discourse on the bread of life. He stressed through it all that he would satisfy the yearning of their hearts. He promised them life eternal and assured them “Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in him.” (Jn. 6:54-56). Having said all that, Christ did not force anyone to accept his teaching. He respected their freedom to reject or to accept his teaching. To some of his followers, the teaching was too difficult, they could not accept it anymore, so they stopped following him. Christ did not persuade to stay back, he did not try to stop them, he respected the exercise of their freedom. Rather he turned to his apostles and asked, “Do you also want to leave?” Again, it was their call. But they chose to stay. “Simon Peter answered him “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”  

5.     We all made this same commitment on the day of Baptism. We promised to follow God and obey his word. We promised to reject Satan and all his works and all his empty promises. But we are not always faithful and committed to God. We have eaten his body and drank his blood, but we don’t always believe that he will give us life eternal. We have often said one thing and did the exact opposite. Today we are called to choose. We must renew the promise we made on the day of Baptism, to be faithful and committed to Christ who will satisfy our every need. Yes, his teaching may be hard to understand, but we must find a reason to be committed to Christ. There is no one and nowhere else for us to find the word of eternal life except in Jesus. May Christ the word of life, lead us to life everlasting. Amen.

 

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

August 15, 2021. The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

Readings: Rv. 11:19; 12:1-6, 10; 1 Cor.15:20-27; Lk. 1:39-56

The Hand that Rocks the Cradle Rules the World

1.     The theme of our reflection today is from a poem written by William Ross Wallace: ‘The Hand that Rocks the Cradle is the Hand that Rules the world.’ In this poem, Wallace extols the role of women. The last two stanzas read: “Woman, how divine your mission, here upon our natal sod; keep, O keep the young heart open, always to the breath of God! All true trophies of the ages are from mother love impearled; For the hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world. Blessings on the hand of Women! Fathers, sons and daughters cry, and the sacred song is mingled with the worship of the sky – Mingled where no tempest darkens, Rainbows evermore are curled! For the hand that rocks the cradle is the hand that rules the world.” It does not matter in the least, the heights that men attain in the world today, they all went through the cradle hand of mothers. Popes, bishops, priests, prime ministers, presidents and governors, men both low and high, women, boys and girls were all given birth to by mothers. There has never been a day that passes without these men and women telling stories about the influence of their mothers in their lives. It was not different with Jesus, the Son of God and the Second person of the Blessed Trinity, He too was given birth to by the Most Blessed Virgin Mary. Today we celebrate her assumption into heaven.

2.     The solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary into heaven was defined by Pope Pius Xll on November 1, 1950. This definition made it clear that Our mother Mary enjoys, to the fullest extent possible, eternal life with her son, a goal that all of us hope to attain eventually. The Blessed Virgin, from conception in the womb of her mother, was preserved from the stain of original sin. Hence, Mary like her son, was born immaculate. She lived a life of devotion to God and was faithful from birth to death. She said ‘Yes’ to the angel and became the mother of God. Christ was at the center of her life. She was committed to her son from his birth to his death on the cross. Therefore, Mary, who was devoted and committed to her son would not be ignored on earth by him. She was taken up to heaven to be with her son.

3.     Mary was not only faithful and committed to her Son but to all creatures of God as well. She was the first disciple of Jesus and the first to point the way to her Son. When the couple at the wedding at Cana ran out of wine, Mary noticed and told Jesus about it right-a-way. She then said to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.” (Jn. 2:5). Mary was a good and God-fearing woman who loved people and would do anything to ease their pains and sufferings. Our gospel reading describes Mary’s willingness to put her comfort last for the needs of others. She went in haste to visit her elderly cousin, who was pregnant to render her the necessary assistance she needed. Though she had just received a news of great importance, the concern of Elizabeth was uppermost in her mind. She stayed there with her for three months before returning to her home.

4.     Our Blessed mother was devoted and present to her husband, Joseph, despite carrying, in her womb, the savior of the world. She traveled with him to Bethlehem to be counted, enduring the pain of childbirth in a hostile environment. She was patient and understanding in her poverty when she gave birth to her son in the manager. So skillful was she in invention that she quickly provided a crib from the trough meant to feed the animals for her son. She was obedient and humble when she took her baby and traveled the tedious and treacherous journey to Egypt to protect her son from death in the hands of bloodthirsty Herod. No word of complaint came forth from her mouth as she brought the child Jesus back to Nazareth after the death of Herod. Mary was not spared the pain and agony of seeing her son being paraded with a cross on his shoulders along the streets of Jerusalem like a criminal. She watched in horror as they killed him on the cross.  And with a mother’s love, she took the body of her son from the cross in her arms. She was there to see him being laid to rest in the tomb.

5.     It was not surprising that centuries before the Church pronounced and defined the doctrine of the Assumption, people down through the ages had observed that like, Enoch and Elijah before her, Mary was taken body and soul to heaven. God would not allow her body to see corruption as we read in Psalm 16:10. “For you will not abandon me to the grave, nor let your faithful servant see corruption.”

6.     Today’s solemnity is a celebration of hope for mankind. It reminds us that God does not expect us to do extraordinary things on earth to get to heaven, but to do the ordinary things extraordinarily well. It teaches us that living a saintly life is possible for everyone; that we are not called to do great things, but to be faithful, humble, helpful, prayerful, and committed to our set goals in life. Mary is a model to all the hands that have rocked the cradles of this world. Yes, their task may be hard and unrewarding here below, but the reward will be great in the hereafter. For all generations has truly called Mary blessed, because he who is mighty has done great things for her, and holy is his name indeed. For the hand that rocks the cradle does not only rule this world, but it will also enjoy a life of peace with God in heaven. Like Mary our mother, we must be devoted to God and love God’s creatures. We pray that Mary, our mother may intercede for us today as we celebrate her life in heaven so that one day, we too may behold the face of God with her in heaven. Amen.

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

August 08, 2021; 19th Sunday in Ordinary time (Year B)

Readings: 1 Kgs. 19:19-8; Eph. 4:30-5:2; Jn. 6:41-51

God Shows Up with When We Least Expect Him

1.     Imagine being told that there is someone in the nearby city who guarantees freedom from pain, sickness and death and assures you eternal life. Imagine many people, including yourself, rushing to that city to meet the person with great expectation, because you want to live forever. When you finally get to see the person, you discover that you know him, you were close to his family; you even went to the same school with his brothers and sisters. You know the parents well before they relocated. You always saw him working with his father in their family business. So, this is the man who promises the whole world eternal life? He told people that he was sent by God and that God is his father? You would be right to assume that he had a mental problem; he is clearly delusional and needed psychiatric evaluation. Who does he think he is? You would not want to have anything to do with that man.

2.     That was exactly how some Jews felt about Jesus. They knew him. “Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph? Do we not know his father and mother? Then how can he say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?’” (Jn. 6:42). Jesus had to constantly establish his identity to win the approval of his people. “He came to his native place and taught the people in their synagogue. They were astonished and said, “Where did this man get such wisdom and mighty deeds? Is he not the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother named Mary and his brothers James, Joseph, Simon, and Judas? Are not his sisters all with us? Where did this man get all this? And they took offense at him.” (Mat. 13:54-57). Jesus’ language was strange and difficult for them to understand. His way of life was different. His message was mercy, love, forgiveness, and compassion. They got stuck in the ‘here and now’ and missed out in the ‘hereafter.’ Little wonder why they murmured about Jesus because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.” (Jn. 6:41).

3.     If we dwell on the credentials and experiential knowledge of Jesus and his origin, we miss the essential truth about his teaching. It is an act of faith, faith in the one who sent him: “No one can come to me unless the Father, who sent me, draw him, and I will raise him on the last day.” We must look beyond the bread that we eat and the wine that we drink to see the Savior and our Lord, and his love poured out as blood. God gave his Son as bread for the salvation of the world. He tells us, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world. 

4.     In the first reading Elijah who was hungry, tired, and depressed had had enough: “This is enough, O Lord! Take my life, for I am no better than my fathers.” It was then that God showed up: “Get up and eat, else the journey will be too long for you!” After eating the food of the angel, Elijah was nourished and strengthened with his energy restored, his depression lifted, and his faith in God renewed. He was strong again to face the trials of life. He had a reason to live again. With zeal and zest for life, he could now walk 40 days and 40 nights to meet the Lord. God was carrying him on an eagle’s wings. What about us? If we have faith in God and in Jesus Christ his son, we will want for nothing. Christ tells us, I am the bread of life, whoever eats the bread will live forever, for my body is real food and my blood is real drink, whoever eats this bread will live forever, and I will raise him up on the last day. God always provides for his people when they least expect him. He gave them manner from heaven and water from the rock and brought them to the promised land. As the Lord fed Elijah so does he feed and nourish us with food for our journey. Jesus, the bread of life, will sustain us on our earthly journey till we meet our Lord in the new Jerusalem. 

5.     As a community of God’s people, we are fed by his body and blood. This food will nourish and change us into a people of God. His body and blood will prevent us from sin and make us humble and honest. St. Paul reminds us that our life must be compatible with our participation with the body of Christ. Therefore, we should strive to live in peace with one another. Hence, “All bitterness, fury, anger, shouting, and reviling must be removed from you, along with all malice. And be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving one another as God has forgiven you in Christ.” We must satisfy the hunger of one another for truth, justice, and peace. We must provide a meal of brotherhood and companionship to others in need of comfort, love, and mercy. We should create a fraternal community where all are called to build up the kingdom of God on earth. May we be renewed on our pilgrim journey to our everlasting kingdom with God. Amen.

 

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP.