March 15, 2020: Homily for the 3rd Sunday of Lent; Year A

Readings: Exodus 17:3-7; Romans 5:1-2,5-8; John 4:5-42

Jesus and the Woman at the Well.

“Image is nothing. Thirst is everything. Obey your thirst!” This is a TV marketing campaign on Sprite. The ad calls us to drink to our fill, the sugared-up fizzy, lemon-lime beverage that, frankly speaking, is capable of killing us. Scientists warned in 2015, that fizzy drinks caused a death toll of 184,000 adults per year. Today’s readings speak of water and how important it is for life. The human adult body has up to 60% of water. According H.H. Mitchell, Journal of Biological Chemistry 158, the brain and heart are composed of 73% water; the lungs are about 83% water. The skin contains 64% water, muscles and kidneys are 79%, and even the bones are 31% water. This explains why water is so important to us. The lack of it can cause death through dehydration. We need water for so many other things besides. The book of Exodus today relates how the children of Israel were disgruntled over their lack of water and how Yahweh heard their groaning and provided fresh water for them. Their ingratitude was met with God’s generosity in keeping to his promise. He chose them to be his own and he will always stand by them. As a reminder of their constant nagging and forgetfulness of God’s mercy and generosity, Yahweh called that place Massah, meaning testing place, and Meribah, meaning a place of quarrel.

In today’s Gospel from John, we see Jesus with a woman at the well in the heat of the afternoon. Jesus was tired and hungry from his journey. He sat at the well to rest and wait for his disciples who had gone shopping in the city. And there came the Samaritan woman. For obvious reasons, she went to the well in the afternoon to fetch water. Women usually go to the well in the morning and evening. She went in the afternoon, perhaps, to avoid meeting with other women; could be because of her life style. She may have been an object of gossip and ridicule in the city, as such, she tried to avoid other women as much as possible.

The Samaritan woman may have gone through a lot in her life and so was thirsty – not for water, but acceptance, love, meaning and happiness. She was lonely and tried to obey her thirst for anything. The men in her life did not satiate her thirst, she has had five already and the 6^th one was not her real husband. She tried to hide that fact from Jesus: “I do not have a husband.” She was a lost soul, but a very interesting one at that. She was suspicious of Jesus and his request for water, but she was prepared to engage Him all the same. She brought up issues of concern to her, even the racial and spiritual ones: “How can you, a Jew, ask me, a Samaritan woman, for a drink?” She challenged Jesus’ assumptions: “Sir, you do not even have a bucket and the cistern is deep; where then can you get this living water?” She confronted Jesus’ claim and questioned his authority: “Are you greater than our father Jacob, who gave us this cistern and drank from it himself with his children and his flock?” She called Jesus’s bluff: “Sir, give me this water, so that I may not be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.” She stood up to Jesus on religious matters and put him on the defensive: “Sir, I can see that you are a prophet. Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain; but you people say that the place to worship is in Jerusalem.” At last, she capitulated after learning from Jesus; she showed that, though her moral life may not mean much, her religious knowledge was flawless, she was not without hope: “I know that they Messiah is coming, the one called the Christ; when he comes, he will tell us everything.” When she heard that Jesus was the expected Messiah, she forgot what brought her to the well in the first place, she has now received the water of life: “the woman left her water jar and went into the town and said to the people, “Come see a man who told me everything I have done. Could he possibly be the Christ?”” She seemed to have said with the Psalmist: “As the deer longs for streams of water, so my soul longs for you, O God. My being thirsts for God, the living God.” (Ps. 42:2-3). She had a steady and progressive understanding of Jesus, from ‘Sir’, to ‘Prophet’ and finally to ‘Messiah’. she is now a disciple and ready to spread the good news of salvation. She is no more ashamed of being seen in public but was ready to face her future, knowing that the Messiah was on her side.

The encounter between Jesus and the woman at the well mirrors a process of coming to faith, underscored by the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults (RCIA). The Samaritan woman was predisposed to receive the message of salvation; Jesus created enabling environment to bring that about. Today is first Scrutiny for those preparing to receive the Sacrament of initiation at Easter. The readings present us with the background that opens us to the Sacrament of Baptism. “Lent provides believers the opportunity to review their baptismal commitment. The Church community is making this Lenten pilgrimage alongside those preparing for reception into the faith. The waters used in their induction are the actual living waters Jesus shared with the now happy woman at the well.” (The Priest Magazine, pg. 51)  

Like the woman at the well, we are to be thirsty for the living water. May we come close to Jesus, listen to his words, receive him in the Eucharist and allow him to refresh us with the water of life in the sacrament of reconciliation. Though Moses struck the rock and water flowed for the children of Israel to drink, they were thirsty again. They failed to see the God who journeyed with them, every step of the way. They would soon find fault and grumble against God again and again.  May we not be quick to satisfy our thirst with anything and everything. It is not everything that will satisfy us. Like the woman at the well discovered, Jesus will always fill us with abundance, so that we will never be thirsty again. We must trust Jesus. Our thirst can only be satisfied by God. St. Augustine knew this when he said: “Our hearts are made for God, and they will not rest, until they rest in God.” Yes, our human hearts have spiritual thirst and we must satisfy them with spiritual food. The Samaritan woman was thirsty for love, understanding, peace, joy and community and she found all these in Jesus. “We are thirsty for joy, and happiness, and the greatest joy can only come from the freedom that Jesus gives us – freedom from fear, worry, anxiety.” (Ignite Your Spirit by Fr. John Pichappilly).  

Let us listen again to the words Jesus said to the woman at the well: “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.” Let me conclude with the prayer of the first scrutiny:

“All-merciful Father, through your Son you revealed your mercy to the woman of Samaria; and moved by that same care have offered salvation to all sinners. Free us from the slavery of sin, and for Satan’s crushing yoke exchange the gentle yoke of Jesus. Protect us in every danger, that we may serve you faithfully in peace and joy and render you thanks for ever. Amen.

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

March 08, 2020: Homily for the Second Sunday of Lent, Year A

Readings: Gen. 12:1-4; 2 Timothy 1:8-10; Matthew 17:1-9

Move and be Transformed

Today is the second Sunday of Lent. We are called by God, in the first reading, as Abram was, to move from where we are to the land he would show us. “Go forth from the land of your kinsfolk and from your father’s house to a land that I will show you.” (Gen. 12:1). This call implies three things: (1) God’s free choice, (2) God’s mission and (3) God’s promise. We must respond to God’s call and go on his mission if we must receive his promise.

(1) God’s choice: God calls us, not because we are good, or what we have done or what we own, but because he loves us. “It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain” (Jn. 15:16). To Timothy, Paul said: “He saved us and called us to a holy life, not according to our works but according to his own design and the grace bestowed on us in Christ Jesus before time began.” (2 Tim.1:9). Isaiah reminds us, “But now, thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, and formed you, O Israel: Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name: you are mine.” (Is. 43:1). God’s call is based on his mission: “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). God has a mission for everyone, the mission that is connected to our call.

(2) The mission: God’s mission for us may entail sacrifices. It may mean leaving our safe environment, the familiar, the known, the tested and the tried to the unknown, unfamiliar and the untried. It may demand speaking different languages, eating different foods and being with people of different cultures, races and creed. I am sure Abram went through these and more. He moved and left behind a prosperous commercial area to settle in a land that was relatively primitive and underdeveloped. Paul told Timothy, “Bear your share of hardship for the Gospel.” (2 Tim. 1:8). For Abram’s mission, God would establish a new covenant with him. “Walk in my presence and be blameless. Between you and me I will establish my covenant, and I will multiply you exceedingly.” (Gen. 17:1-2). God would later change his name to Abraham and make him a father of a multitude of nations.

As Christians, we have a mission to love our family, our community, our job, our church and our friends. Our mission is determined by our relationship with God. The closer and more intimate our relationship is with God, the stronger would our commitment be to those we are called to serve. God is constantly calling us to move from our emotional stagnation, our social ineptitude, our moral decadence, our spiritual stupor, our psychological blindness, our religious laziness, our mental slavery and our physiological sloppiness and experience a transformation brought about by our obedience to God’s will. Our mission here and now is to wake from our sleep, to have a change of heart, a redirection of our steps towards God so that we may receive our reward - salvation. St. Paul exhort us: “And do this because you know the time; it is the hour now for you to awake from sleep. For our salvation is nearer now than we first believed; the night is advanced, the day is at hand. Let us then throw off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves properly as in the day, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in promiscuity and licentiousness, not in rivalry and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the desires of the flesh” (Rom. 13:11-14).

(3) The promise: “For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare, not for woe! Plans to give you a future full of hope. When you call me, when you go to pray to me, I will listen to you. When you look for me, you will find me. Yes, when you seek me with all your heart, you will find me with you, says the Lord, and I will change your lot.” (Jer. 29: 11-14). God promised to be with his chosen people, he is faithful to his promises. In Abram’s case, God promised him posterity. Before the promise was made, Abraham was 75 and his wife, Sarah was 65, both of them were childless. Yet, in the fulness of time God visited them and gave them a child who became the father of nations, as promised.

This brings us to the Gospel of today. Today we reflect on the Transfiguration of Christ on Mount Tabor. Christ had to move up to be transfigured. He left the known to the unknown and there found a blessing, a confirmation and affirmation of his identity and mission. On this scene were Peter, James and John. We will meet them again in the garden of Gethsemane. They, who witnessed the glory of Christ on the mountain top, would also witness his agony at the garden. Now they are prepared to face the scandal of the cross. Jesus called them to be in communion with him, to see his glory and splendor on that beautiful mountain. He will call them again for support during the lowest point of his life, as he would struggle to do his father’s will. He will need them to pray with him and be prepared for their own mission as well.

Before the transfiguration, there was a lot of argument about the person of Christ. Who was he? Was Christ in doubt of his identity and mission as well? In the 16^th chapter of Matthew’s Gospel he asked his disciples at Caesarea Philippi, “Who do people say the Son of Man is.” This may have been a hot topic at the time. But at the Transfiguration, God answered this question definitively in the presence of Moses, (the law) and Elijah (the prophets), “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” (Mt. 17:5).

Jesus was called by God and given a mission and a promise as Abraham was. His mission was confirmed, and his blessing assured. His mission was to save the world and for his blessing – the resurrection. “Because of this, God greatly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.” (Phil. 2:9-11).

On this Sunday of Lent, God equally calls us to move from the known to the unknown. To move away from where God is not present, from darkness, selfishness, evil, pettiness, sin, division and backwardness to the land of light, peace and joy. We are called to be transformed and transfigured to a new existence; to belong to a community of God’s people. “But you are “a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that you may announce the praises” of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.” (1Peter 2:9). We must listen to the voice of Christ and walk with him day by day, taking on his ways of thinking, speaking and relating to people. We must leave our selfish ways and take up Christ’s selfless ways. We must die to ourselves and live for others. We must so obey God that we would say with Paul, “I live now not I but Christ lives in me.” (Gal. 3:20).

So, my friends, look around you, perhaps there are some habits you may want to leave behind as you move: like drunkenness or being engrossed in pleasure-seeking, or quarreling and tearing people apart. Or laziness that creates problems in your family. Tell Jesus in prayer that you are ready to move and leave all those vices behind. Move then to the land that God will show you. In that land, promises await you, so that like Peter you will say: “Lord, it is good for us to be here.”

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP.

March 01, 2020: Homily for the First Sunday of Lent. Year (A)

Readings: Gen. 2:7-9, 3:1-7; Rom. 5:12-19; Matthew 4:1-11

Combating our Temptation

On this first Sunday of Lent we reflect on God’s intention for mankind; that man should live in peace and harmony with him, the creator, humanity and nature. The book of Genesis, though more theological than historical, presents us with the story of God’s relationship with Adam and Eve. This is a story of friendship and love; of grace and abundance. In the garden of Eden, Adam and Eve had everything: their needs were met at the snap of the finger. The had a perfect friendship with God who was just a stone’s throw away. They would take a walk with God in the garden in the cool of the evening, and be engaged in a heart to heart conversation, as they enjoyed the beauty of creation. But things did not work out as God intended for too long. The devil made its ominous entrance and man discovered that he was no longer prepared to be subservient to God; he wanted to be like God. With this temptation, sin found its way into the garden and caution was thrown to the wind. Man became his own worst enemy - trying to be what he was not. Temptation on its own is not a sin. To be attracted to something or someone is neither good nor bad. But how we react to temptation gives a sinful dimension to it.

Lent is our way of dealing with sin. The Collect at Mass on Ash Wednesday set the parameter for the season: “Grant, O Lord, that we may begin with holy fasting this campaign of Christian service, so that, as we take up battle against spiritual evils, we may be armed with weapons of self-restraint.” Our journey into Lent began at the incarnation when God became man in the flesh. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, not to condemn the world but so that through him the world might be saved. (Jn. 3:16). Or like St. Paul put it, “For just as through the disobedience of one person the many were made sinners, so through the obedience of one the many will be made righteous. The law entered in so that transgression might increase but where sin increased, grace overflowed all the more.” (Rom. 5:19-20). To the Church in Corinth he wrote: “For our sake, God made him to be sin who knew no sin so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” (2 Cor. 5:21). “Sin” therefore, “is an offense against reason, truth, and right conscience; it is failure in genuine love for God and neighbor caused by a perverse attachment to certain goods. It wounds the nature of man and injures human solidarity… Sin is an offense against God: “against you, you alone have I sinned, and done that which is evil in your sight.” Sin sets itself against God’s love for us and turns our hearts away from it. It is disobedience, a revolt against God through the will to become “like gods,” It is love of oneself even to contempt of God. In this proud self-exaltation, sin is diametrically opposed to the obedience of Jesus which achieves our salvation” (CCC 1849-1850).

Today we are presented with Jesus’ temptation in the desert. With this temptation, Jesus teaches us how to act when we are tempted. We fall into temptation due to the manipulations of the tempter. To tempt Jesus, the devil used his knowledge of the Bible. Jesus also used the Scripture to beat the devil hands down.  He countered the devil point by point and commanded him to get out of His sight. The devil ran away with his tail in between his legs. The best way to fight temptation is to fortify ourselves with the word of God.

 The devil manipulated Eve in the same way: “Did God really tell you not to eat from any of the trees in the garden?” He cast doubts on God’s directives and offered her counter logical explanation: “You certainly will not die! No, God knows well that the moment you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods who know what is good and what is bad.” (Gen. 3:4). The devil made the woman an offer she could not refuse. Her mind turned away from God: she wanted to be like God. She imagined the benefits of the fruit: “The woman saw that the tree was good for food, pleasing to the eyes, and desirable for gaining wisdom. So, she took some of its fruit and ate; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.” (Gen. 3:6). The devil always gets us at our weakest point. He comes in when we are sick, hungry, lonely, sad, defenseless, depressed, jobless, moneyless, poor and desperate. He comes with false and empty promises to take care of us, if only we would do his bidding. Sadly, many people fall into his traps!

Jesus shows us today how to face temptation. We must be prayerful, we must fast and give in charity. We must know the bible and develop new ways to counter the antics of the devil. Christ went into the desert to fast and pray for strength and for a sense of direction. He surrendered his will to the will of God and fortified himself with the word of God. With this he was able to face the devil. One does not live by bread alone, but by every world that comes forth from the mouth of God; and again, it is written, “You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test”. And finally, “Get away, Satan! It is written: The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve.” (Mt. 4:4,7,10). We fall into temptation when we do not know how to fortify ourselves. Lent gives us that golden opportunity to do battle with the devil. We must give alms, fast and pray if we are to face the temptations of our daily lives. We must learn to be humble, forgiving, compassionate and merciful and the devil will stay far away from us. May God help us to enter into this season of grace with commitment and the desire to change for the better. Amen!

Assignment:

1.    How do you prepare Lent? To combat the temptation of the devil, Jesus relied on the word of God. There are 40 days from today to Easter Triduum. I propose that we read the Gospel of Luke and the Letter of St. Paul to the Romans. Luke’s Gospel has 24 chapters while the Letter to the Romans has 16 chapters. Read Luke’s Gospel from March 1 to March 24 and the Letter to the Romans from March 25 and round it up on April 9. What a wonderful way to enter into Easter Season.

2.    During Lent we must give alms. When we give alms, we see ourselves as God’s stewards, entrusted with many blessings. We must therefore, share what we have with others. Our gifts are meaningful when it hurts. Then we are giving sacrificially. Please support the missions of the Missionary Society of Paul. Pick up a table calendar and give whatever you can each month to provide fresh water, feed the hungry, educate a child in the mission or train a Seminarian for the missions. What you give up for Lent should benefit others.

3.    During this Lent, let us be available to people around us. Let us share a smile and may our parting words be ‘May God bless you.” Amen.

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

February 23, 2020,. Homily for 7th Sunday Time, Year A

Readings: Lv. 19:1-2, 17-18; 1Cor. 3:16-23; Matthew 5:38-48

We Are Called to Be Holy

“All Christians in any state or walk of life are called to the fullness of Christian life and to the perfection of charity.” (CCC 2013). This is a universal mandate extended to everyone. We are not called to be holy as we think we should be holy, but as holy as God is. Our understanding of holiness should be based on God’s way and not ours. “…Not what I will but what you will.” (Mk. 14:36). “Be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy” (First reading). We must respond to this call without any reservation. In his Introduction to the Devout Live, St. Francis de Sales reminds us, “Wherever we find ourselves we not only may, but should, seek perfection.” He stressed: “At the creation God commanded the plants to bear fruit each according to its kind and he likewise commands Christians, the living branches of the vine, to bear fruit by practicing devotion according to their state in life.” We are created in the image and likeness of God to know, love, serve and worship God in this world so as to be happy with him in the next. Our existence on earth will only be meaningful if we behold the beatific vision of God at the end. Hence, our choices should be geared towards our final home with God in heaven. So, we must be holy!

What is holiness? Holiness means sacredness or purity. It is often used to describe things that are consecrated or dedicated and set apart for the service of God. It is living in communication with God and others. It comes from God alone, so people and things can only be holy if they are related to God. Because of our desire to seek God and all that pleases Him, we must let go of everything in order to have a life with God. St. Paul stated this clearly thus: “I even consider everything as a loss because of the supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have accepted the loss of all things and I consider them so much rubbish that I may gain Christ and be found in him…” (Phil. 3:8-10). “In order to reach this perfection” the Catechism teaches, “the faithful should use the strength dealt out to them by Christ’s gift, so that …doing the will of the Father in everything, they may wholeheartedly devote themselves to the glory of God and to the service of their neighbor. Thus the holiness of the people of God will grow in fruitful abundance, as is clearly shown in the history of the Church through the lives of so many saints.” (CCC 2013).

The Gospel reading today makes sense when seen from the background of the call to holiness. The teaching of Christ in the Sermon on the Mount shows the Christian how to pursue a life of holiness. Responding to this call means “You shall not bear hatred for your brother. Take no revenge and cherish no grudge.” (Lev. 19:18). “Offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one as well. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow. Love your enemy and pray for those who persecute you.” (Mt. 5:38-45).

This reminds me of a story about a preacher who was confronted by someone after preaching on turning the other cheek. The young man asked him, “Is it true that if I strike you on the right cheek you will turn the left as well for me to strike.” The preacher answered in the affirmative. The young man immediately struck the pastor on the right cheek. The pastor turned the left cheek as well, to which the young man struck again with a deadly blow. The pastor then lifted the young man up and dropped him on the ground. The young asked him why he did that, to which the pastor responded that Christ did not tell him what to do after turning the other cheek, so he took his initiative. Christians do not look for an easy way out because they have no alternative. They look for options because it is always right to do what is right, and not doing what is right is not an option. Christians know that by hurting others they hurt themselves. Bearing grudges, harboring grievances and planning revenge are holding a big fire in our heart which will soon ignite, burn and consume not only ourselves but everything in its path. We hurt ourselves each time we are abusive, disregard, look down and act maliciously towards others.

“When we hate our enemies, we give them power over us – power over our sleep…power over our blood pressure, power over our health and happiness. Our enemies would dance for joy if they knew how our hatred tears us apart. Our hatred is not hurting them at all. It only turns own days and night into a hellish turmoil.” (Anonymous) Jesus knew all these and so he wants us to use the power of love and conquer our enemies. They cannot take the pressure of our love for too long; but will buckle under the enormity of our love and so we are called to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. Love will always release a chain reaction of love. Responding with love toward those who wrong us benefits both parties far more than does a response of hate.

May we respond to a call to holiness and so love as we are loved! Amen.

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP.

February 16, 2020. Homily for the 6th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

Readings: Sirach 15:15-20; 1Cor. 2:6-10; Matthew 5:17-37

The Burden of Our Choices

Today is the 6^th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Next week, precisely on February 26^th we begin the season of Lent with Ash Wednesday. It is fitting indeed that we make a choice today. “If you choose you can keep the commandments, they will save you; if you trust in God, you too shall live; he has set before you fire and water; to whichever you choose, stretch forth your hand. Before man are life and death, good and evil, whichever he chooses shall be given him.” (Sirach 15:15-17). In the Book of Deuteronomy God urged the children of Israel to keep his commandment and enjoy a long life in the promised land. He told them that his command was not difficult for them to observe but was something very near to them, “already in your mouths and in your hearts; you have only to carry it out” (Deut. 30:14). In verse 15, he says: “Today I am giving you a choice between good and evil, between life and death.” He gave them a choice between God’s blessing and God’s curse. To stress the seriousness of the choice, God invites, in verse 19, the heaven and earth to witness the choice that they were to make.

One of the most sacred gifts God has gifted us with is Free Will. According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “God created man a rational being, conferring on him the dignity of a person who can initiate and control his own actions. “God willed that man should be ‘left in the hand of his own counsel,’ so that he might of his own accord seek his Creator and feely attain his full and blessed perfection by cleaving to him.” (1730). With our free will, it is expected that we choose the path that would lead us back to God. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. We have often chosen to deviate from God, choosing ourselves rather than our Creator. We have used this gift of freedom, many times to our detriment; to destroy and kill rather than to love, respect and protect others. Yet God still respects us and will never take that gift away from us.

Today’s readings remind us of God’s intention in giving us free will. “The eyes of God are on those who fear him; he understands man’s every deed. No one does he command to act unjustly, to none does he give license to sin.” Again, he reminds us “If you obey the commandments of the Lord, your God which I enjoin on you today, loving him and walking in his ways and keeping his commandments, statutes and decrees, you will live and grow numerous, and the Lord, your God, will bless you in the land you are entering to occupy.” (Deut. 30:16). Our choices have repercussion and consequences; we are responsible to every choice we make. When we refuse to obey God’s Commandment, we do so to our detriment and we will pay the price for it. “If, however, you turn away your hearts and will not listen but are led astray and adore and serve other gods, I tell you now that you will certainly perish…” (Deut. 30:17-18).

This brings us to today’s Gospel. Jesus is the fulfillment of the law. We must not only obey the law but personalize and internalize it. God gave us the law for a purpose, to guide our way of life on earth and ensure a peaceful cohabitation with others. The law of Mosses finds its completion in Jesus. Hence, he says, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.” (Matt. 5:17). It is therefore, in our best interest to obey the law of God. No wonder the Psalmist prays in today’s Psalm, “Instruct me, O Lord, in the way of your statutes, that I may exactly observe them. Give me discernment, that I may observe your law and keep it with all my heart.” (Ps. 119:33-34).

The law of God, fulfilled in Christ, makes us morally strong, upright and honest. It makes it possible for us to live a life of integrity, to give and keep our words and to speak the truth at all times.  No wonder Mark Twain said: “Speaking honestly is better. It takes a lot of stress out of our lives. If you tell the truth you don’t have to remember anything, but if you don’t tell the truth you have to remember what you said.” Proverbs 10:9 stresses this point thus, “The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out.” Herein then lies the punishment of those who do not obey the law of love.

The choices that we make place obligation on us. If we make good and positive choices we reap a bountiful benefit but if we make bad choices we will certainly end up with bad consequences. We have to choose to forgive those who hurt us or be stuck with the toxic feeling of hatred each time we see the object of our apprehension. Christ wants to spare us this and so he instructs us to tread the path of reconciliation. He gives us simple rules or a manifesto of his kingdom – the beatitudes. He warns, “I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” Let us pray, once again, with the Psalmist: “Be good to your servant, that I may live and keep your words. Open my eyes, that I may consider the wonders of your law.” Amen.

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

December 29, 2019; Feast of the Holy Family.

Readings: Sirach 3:2-6; Colossians 3:12-21; Mt. 2:13-15, 19-23

The Family that Prays Together, Stays Together

On this last Sunday of the year, the Church calls our attention to our family, even as we reflect on the Holy Family of Mary, Joseph and Jesus. Please keep this question in mind as you reflect on the Holy Family: How healthy is your family? Last Sunday we reflected on the person of Joseph, who is a righteous, honorable, faithful, prayerful, forgiving, accommodating, compassionate and loving man. We know that the Blessed Virgin Mary is a dutiful, faithful, humble, gentle, prayerful, caring and compassionate woman. Little wonder that Jesus, though truly God and truly man, imbibed both the virtues of Joseph and Mary in his person. He demonstrated these qualities in his relationship with others. These qualities become the attributes and characteristics of the Holy Family. What would your family be noted for? The first reading, from the book of Sirach, tells us that “God sets a father in honor over his children; a mother’s authority he confirms over her sons.” The father and the mother therefore, are the ones to set the tone for the children to follow. If our families are to be virtuous and exemplary, our parents must certainly be virtuous and exemplary in their dealings with their children and other people outside the family. When the parents take care of their children; providing for them, both materially and spiritually, the children will return the favor, when the time comes for them to take of their parents. This is the trade mark of a happy family.

Frs. Philip John, SSP and Premdas, SSP in their book ‘New Horizon Homilies’ relate the following story. A couple bought a crucifix on their wedding day and, placing it in a conspicuous part of the house, asked God to bless the secret of their hearts. Years went by and the crucifix remained in the same place. The couple, now old, were preparing to celebrate their golden wedding anniversary. Their large family was a model of virtue and enjoyed the esteem and respect of all who knew them. A friend asked the old mother how she had been able to raise so many fine sons and daughters. With her bony finger, the old lady pointed to the crucifix and replied, smiling, that she owed it all to the crucifix. This story captures the essence of the theme for the reflection on this Holy Family: The family that prays together, stays together. The virtues referred to above would be impossible without intentional desire for spiritual togetherness and friendship among family members. This too goes for our church family. God must be the glue that binds our family and all families together.

That is why in the second reading, St. Paul reminds us to “Put on, as God’s chosen ones holy and beloved, heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another; if one has a grievance against another; as the Lord has forgiven you, so must you also do.” Wherever there two or more people dwelling together, either in a family, society or the Church, there is bound to be friction, misunderstanding and grievances. Some members of the family will always take undue advantage of others. Others will feel that they are entitled to everything. They are still others who always create anger, animosity and tension within the family. Some members will always feel that they are victims of their perceived injustices and misunderstandings. How do you deal with these family members? St. Paul reminds us again “And over all these, put on love, that is, the bond of perfection. And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body.” If there is love and peace in our homes, we would have what it takes to handle anything that is thrown at us from outside. Our home therefore, would become a great shock-absorber and a sanctuary of joyful celebration, a nursery to nurture life-enhance values. This is possible only when a home is abode of love.  

Every Christmas we gather to celebrate, to share our gifts and meals together. We think of the Christmas crib, the decorations, the parties, and all. This is a befitting celebration, indeed. For our salvation began with the incarnation, when God became man so that man may gain his way back to God. But the stable where Christ was born was not all that cozy and warm as we would have imagined for a baby. The Holy Family experienced a lot of difficulties, dangers and poverty beyond words. “The journey itself, 300 miles across a desert, was a frightening, exhausting, dangerous experience. The search for a place to live in a foreign land, the difficulty for Joseph to find employment in an unfriendly land so they could have the bare necessities of life, and constant concern for the welfare and survival of the blessed child committed to their care must have been experiences Joseph and Mary never could forget.” (The Sunday Readings). But all the hardships they endured did not take away or reduce the unity and love of their family. Every family has something to deal with, but the strength and endurance of each family depend on their love for one another and the convictions of their spirit. The role that God plays in each family will always determine how strong and resilient members of the family will be.

David Wilkerson was absolutely correct when he observed that “Good parents don’t always produce good children, but devoted, dedicated, hardworking mothers and fathers can weigh the balance in favor of decency and building of moral character. Every word and deed of a parent is a fiber woven into the character of a child, which ultimately determines how that child fits into the fabric of society.” As we have come to the end of this year, we have the example of the Holy Family to guide us into the new year. How do we want our families, both natural and spiritual to be in the new year? My prayer is that we may be contributing members of our families. May we not be only takers, but givers as well, so that the state of our union may resemble that of the Holy Family. May the Holy Family intercede for us now and always. Amen.

Points to ponder:

·      What is my contribution towards the wellbeing of my family?

·      What role do I play in my family? Am I taker or a giver? A peace-loving member or a trouble maker?

·      Am I inspired by the Holy Family or not?

“Don’t forget to pray today because God didn’t forget to wake you up this morning”