November 29, 2020. Homily for the 1st Sunday of Advent (Year B)

 

Readings: Isaiah 63 :16-17, 19; 64:2-7; 1 Cor. 1:3-9; Mark 13:33-37

Advent is about Waiting in Hope

1.     Life is full of periods of waiting. Waiting to be born, to grow up, to start school, to graduate, to begin work. Waiting to get married and to begin a family; and of course, waiting for your first child. There are other waiting periods: waiting to see a doctor, to catch a flight, a cab or waiting for a vaccine that will, hopefully, put an end to Covid-19. Won't that be great! Politically, we wait too: waiting to vote at election, for the results, and also, waiting for the incumbent to concede.  If things do not go well with us, we wait in hope for better days. There are always some anticipations associated with the waiting period. Say you are waiting for the results of the test ordered by your doctor: you may be anxious about your prognosis. While we wait, most of the time, we always occupy our time with doing something: read a book, go through face book feeds, play games on your phone or do a puzzle. Advent is a period of waiting in hope for the birth of Christ, while anticipating his second coming. So, what do we do while we engage in the waiting game?

2.     On this Sunday we begin the liturgical season of Advent, a term that means “arrival” or “coming”. It is a-four-week-period whereby Christians recall the first coming of Christ in his incarnation at Christmas while anticipating his final coming in glory at the end of time. The purple color used during this season, except for the third Sunday, symbolizes hope, a yearning by God’s people and all creation for the transforming light of Christ. The sense of hope generated by this season portrays a time of darkness and gloom, hence the reason to hope for better days.

3.     In the first reading, Isaiah the prophet recounts the return of the children of Israel from captivity in Babylon and their feeling of sadness, loss, depression and desperation. He told them that they were responsible for their misery for they had abandoned the way of the Lord. The task of rebuilding their fallen city was so daunting that the prophet cried out and begged for God’s mercy and forgiveness on the people: “You, Lord, are our father, our redeemer you are named forever. Why do you let us wander, O Lord, from your ways, and harden our hearts so that we fear you not? Return for the sake of your servants, the tribes of your heritage. Oh, that you would rend the heavens and come down…” 

4.     Since we must wait for the coming of Christ both at his birth and at his second coming, what sort of life should we live? According to St. Peter, “Since everything is to be dissolved in this way what sort of persons ought you to be, conducting yourselves in holiness and devotion, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved in flames and the elements melted by fire. But according to his promise we await new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. So then, my friends, while you are waiting do your best to live lives without spot or stain so that he will find you at peace.” (2Peter 3:11-15). St. Paul prays in the second reading that “…you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. He will keep you firm to the end, irreproachable on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” The Gospel urged us: “Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come.” Matthew 25:31-46 tells us to give food to the hungry, water to the thirsty, welcome the stranger, cloth the naked, care for the ill and visit those in prison. We are not asked to do the impossible but to do the simple. We are not demanded to execute extra-ordinary tasks, but to do the ordinary things in life extraordinarily well. In short, we should be doing good. “Would that you might meet us doing right, that we were mindful of you in our ways!” (Is.64:4).

5.     So dear friends, let us be engaged in sporadic acts of virtues, like being honest, trustworthy, coming to the aid of those unjustly treated and speaking out for the voiceless. Let us deepen our relationship with the Lord during this Advent by praying the rosary with our family, reading at least a chapter of the Gospel of our choice every day. Share a meal with your family and talk about the things that matter. Your sacramental life should, by no means, be ignored, like attending Mass and going to confession so to realign your life with Christ. These will keep us alert and watchful so that the coming of Christ may not take us by surprise. Then we will be ready to be admitted into the wedding feast of the lamb. May it be so for us now and always. Amen.

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

November 22, 2020; Homily for the 34th Sunday Time, (Year A)

Readings: Ez. 34:11-12, 15-17; 1 Cor. 15:20-26,28; Matthew 25:31-46

A Kingdom of Truth and Life, of Justice, Love and Peace!

1.     Today we celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. I want to reflect with you this morning on the theme ‘A Kingdom of Truth and Life, of Justice, Love and Peace.’ This is the kingdom that our universal king came to establish on earth. Unfortunately, the virtues espoused by Christ in his kingdom are very much lacking in our world of alternate realities today. In this world people are afraid to stand up for the truth for fear of reprisal. In the face of bogus claims of voters fraud without facts, where thousands are dying of corona virus amidst denial among some people that the virus is indeed virulent and dangerous, where people are fired, here and there, for standing up for the truth and where others have become enablers in spite of the facts on ground, where justice is denied the vast majority of people due to race, religion and sexual orientation, where we have become more divisive and divided, and love and peace have become realities too difficult to attend,  we must look elsewhere for truth and life, justice and peace. This can only be found in Christ who came to save the last, the least and the lost. Christ made an option for the poor from his first sermon on the mount till his last sermon about the end of the world. He made it clear that we will be judged on how we treat the poor, the sick, the strangers, the imprisoned, the hungry and thirsty and the naked. When we help them, we help Christ!

2.     In the first reading, Ezekiel reports that God is displeased with the shepherds who mislead his people. God, therefore, promised to pasture his people himself. The people of God are entrusted to religious and temporal leaders to be ruled after the heart of God in righteousness, truth, justice, love and peace. Once leaders abdicate their responsibilities and become selfish and egotistical, God is displeased with such leaders and promised, “I myself will pasture my sheep; I myself will give them rest, says the Lord GOD. The lost I will seek out, the strayed I will bring back, the injured I will bind up, the sick I will heal, but the sleek and the strong I will destroy, shepherding them rightly.” This prophesy is clearly fulfilled in Jesus whose major concern was to lead the people aright. The second reading states that Christ will rule until evil is destroyed, “Then comes the end, when he hands over the kingdom to his God and Father, when he has destroyed every sovereignty and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.”

3.     Jesus is the judge over the nations in the Gospel. His judgement is based on love and how we treat the less privileged in our midst. It reminds us that we have a choice to make: to choose heaven or hell. It presents us with two kingdoms: the kingdom of God, where there will be happiness and joy beyond our wildest imagination and the kingdom of Satan, where there will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Moreover, there will be sadness, regrets, endless remorse and long suffering. Our choice will not be based on what we say but on how we live. The choice is ours and we must choose wisely.

4.     Listen to how St. Martin of Tours chose Christ in the poor. Martin was a Roman soldier and a Christian. One cold winter day, as he was entering a city, a beggar stopped him and asked for alms. Martin had no money; but the beggar was blue and shivering with cold, and Martin gave what he had. He took off his soldier’s coat, worn and frayed as it was; he cut it in two and gave half of it to the beggar man. That night he had a dream. In it he saw the heavenly places and all the angels and Jesus in the midst of them; and Jesus was wearing half of a Roman soldier’s cloak. One of the angels said to him, “Master, why are you wearing that battered old cloak? Who gave it to you?” And Jesus answered softly, “My servant Martin gave it to me.”

5.     If the many who are poor are not assisted, the few who are rich could not be saved. If the few who are rich cannot help the many who are poor, the many who are poor won’t save the few who are rich. “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did to one of the least brothers of mine, you did for me.” Christ is more easily found among the poor than among the rich who are attached to their wealth, who closed their hearts to the plight of the poor. So, the reading of today calls on us to open our hearts to the poor Christ who is hungry, to the Christ who is thirsty and homeless, who freezes at street corners while begging for alms. This Christ is not attractive, neither does he dress elegantly. He certainly will not emit the best of scents. But it will be on account of assisting the many shades of Christ that we will be admitted into the kingdom of the Christ who sits on the throne.

6.     Let us take the words of Tobit to heart: “Give to the hungry some of your bread, and to the naked some of your clothing. Whatever you have left over, give away as alms; and do not begrudge the alms you give.” (Tobit 4:16). May we remember that “Whoever shuts his ear to the cry of the poor will call and not be answered.” (Prov. 21:13). May God answer us on the day we call him. Amen.

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

November 15, 2020. Homily for the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A.

Readings: Proverbs 31:10-31; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6; Matthew 25:14-30 Talents are Given According to Our Abilities 

 1. Before his journey to Heaven, Christ gave us the gift of himself (talent) and He expects us to be accountable to Him on his return. What is this talent? Talent is a natural aptitude or skill that we received from God. It is also a weight and unit of currency, used especially by the ancient Romans and Greeks. Hence a talent was the Roman denomination of the highest amount possible. Two drachmas were a day’s wage for a laborer, and a talent was worth 6,000 drachmas, or 8 years pay for a worker. So, you can imagine the enormous amount of money given to these men to trade with while waiting for the return of the master. 

 2. The master did not just give his servants money, no, he gave them his property: “It will be as when a man who was going on a journey called in his servants and entrusted his possessions to them.” The master gave away all his property, he gave them everything. On his return he had nothing left therefore, he depended on his servants and what they had done with his property. If the servants were accountable, responsible and invested his money prudently, the master will reap a bountiful harvest on his return. 

 3. This parable is about the generosity of God and how extravagant God is with us. God gives us everything freely and generously, he holds nothing back from us. He gives each one of us according to our ability. He doesn’t expect us to give him what we do not have, but only what we have. God gave us his very self by dying on the cross and he expects us to reciprocate his love and give of ourselves to others. What we have is God’s gift to us but what we do with it is our gift to God. 

 4. Do we always invest our gifts, no matter what they may be, for the glory of God? Many times, we behave like the third servant, who buried his master’s money in the ground, refusing to use it to enrich others. Yet, St. Paul clearly reminds us “Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us exercise them: if prophecy, in proportion to the faith; if ministry, in ministering; if one is a teacher, in teaching; if one exhorts, in exhortation; if one contributes, in generosity; if one is over others, with diligence; if one does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.” (Romans 12:6-8). In exercising our gifts, we build up the body of Christ the Church. 

 5. We are invited to participate in ministries in the church. When we sing, we praise God and minister to his people. When we read as lectors, or participate in various other ministries, we are accountable to God for his gifts. If we don’t do anything in church, we are indirectly burying our gifts refusing to minister to the people of God. The third servant was punished for refusing to try, he did not lose his talent; he simply did nothing with it. It is wrong to think that my talent or gift is so small that I can do nothing with it. We must use what we have to better our lives and the lives of people around us. 

 6. Finally, we should not fear that the reward of the work well done is more work. If we have talents and use them according to our ability, we will perfect them and gain more. If we have some proficiency at a game or an art, if we have some gift for doing something, the more we exercise that proficiency and that gift, the harder the work and the bigger the task we will be able to tackle. Whereas, if we fail to use it, we lose it. That is equally true about playing golf, playing piano, singing, writing, carving wood or thinking out ideas; it is the lesson of life that the only way to keep a gift is to use it in the service of God and others. 

 7. It is by using our gifts to build up the kingdom of God that we will hear those beautiful words from the mouth of our master: “Well done, my good and faithful servant. Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give you great responsibilities. Come, share your master’s joy.” May God bless and keep us now and always. Amen.

 Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

November 8, 2020. Homily for the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A.

Readings: Wisdom 6:12-16; 1 Thes 4:13-14; Matthew 25:1-13 Death Is as Certain as Life 1. Nineteen hundred years ago, the volcano Mt. Vesuvius erupted in Italy. When the eruption ended, the city of Pompeii lay buried under 18 feet of volcanic ash. The city remained that way until modern times, when archaeologists excavated it. What they found amazed everyone. There were carbonized loaves of bread, fruit still retaining its flavor, and olives still swimming in their oil. But there were even more amazing discoveries. The volcanic ash had frozen people in the exact position they had occupied when the disaster struck. The bodies of the people decayed. As they did, they left behind hollow cavities in the hardened ash. 2. By pouring liquid plaster into these cavities, archaeologists were able to make casts of the victims. Some of the casts evoke an emotional response. For example, one is that of a young mother hugging her child tightly in her arms. Another is that of a Roman sentry still at his post, standing erect, fully armed. He had remained calm and faithful to his duty to the end. A third is that of a man standing upright with a sword in his hand. His foot is resting on a pile of gold and silver. Scattered about him are five bodies, probably would-be looters he had killed. This story demonstrates the points made in the readings of today. We must be prepared, for we do not know when Our Lord’s call will come to us. The one question to ask is, how prepared are we? I just returned from the burial of my father. One thing that we all knew about my father was how prepared he was for his death. As a child, my father made us say a prayer for a happy death every night before we went to bed. I was always scared of praying for death before going to bed at night. My father made sure that his grave was dug even as he inspected it. He took pains to explain everything to us in details on what to do after his demise. This was why his funeral was so successful. 3. The Gospel reading of today was the reading chosen for his funeral Mass. It reminds us that we should always be prepared like the wise virgins who took their lamps and oil in readiness to meet with the bridegroom. My dad had enough oil in his flask in readiness for his master’s return. So, I ask you, do you have enough oil in your flask to keep you waiting through the long night of the delay for your master? Where do you produce your oil? For my father, prayer was the factory where his oil was produced, manufactured and distributed. This story says it all: “There was an old man who carried a little can of oil with him everywhere he went, and if he passed through a door that squeaked, he put a little oil on the hinges. If a gate was hard to open, he oiled the latch. So, he passed through life lubricating all the creaking places, making it easier for those who came after him. People called him eccentric, strange, cranky, odd, and even harsher names. But the old man went steadily on, refilling his can of oil when it became empty and oiling the squeaking places he found. He did not wait until he found a creaky door or a rusty hinge, and then go home to get his oil can; he carried it with him at all times. There are many lives that creak and squeak and grate harshly day by day. They need lubricating with the oil of kindness, gentleness, or thoughtfulness. That can of oil is one of the predominant characteristics of a Christian life. Such a can of oil we are to carry around with us at all times.” Prayer was the oil of my father’s life. There a life of integrity was formed, there relationship was initiated, and his mission was given meaning. Through prayer his inner life of honesty was fashioned. As a Catechist, he knew he could not share his oil, but that he could point people to where they could go to get their own and taught them how to buy their oil. 4. As we come to the end of the year, the Church turns our attention to the end of the world and the second coming of Christ. Are we prepared for the end of our life? If we do not wait eagerly for the second coming of Christ, we will stagnate and begin to indulge in whatever gives us a moment of pleasure. St. Paul, asking us to wake up from our sleep, says: “besides this, you know what hour it is, how it is full time now for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is nearer to us now that when we first believed; the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarrelling and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ and make no provision for the flesh to gratify its desire.” (Rom 13:11-14). 5. Let us pray that we may keep our flasks of oil full and ready to help those in need; and that as we care for others, as the widow did to Elijah the prophet in 1 Kings 17:7-16, the jug of oil will never run dry and that we will never hear the words: “Amen, I say to you, I do not know you.” Rev.Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP

September 06, 2020. Homily for the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, (Year A)

Readings: Ezekiel 33:7-9; Romans 13:8-10; Matthew 18:15-20

 

Correct One Another in Love

1.    The readings today stress the need to correct one another in love. Our world is so polarized that we are prone to build a wall of separation rather build a bridge of love and unity. Fr. John Pichapilly published a powerful story in his book, ‘Kindle Your Spirit’ that, I believe, will capture the substance of these readings.

 

2.    “Once upon a time, there were two brothers. Their father had a large farm and when he became too old to work, he called his sons to him and said, “I am too old to work anymore. I will divide my farm in half and give each of you one half. I know that you will always work together and will be good friends.” When the brothers first started farming on their adjoining farms, they were the best of friends and would share everything together. Then, one day there was an argument between the two brothers, and they stopped speaking to one another. For many years, not a word was spoken between them.

 

3.    One day, one of the brothers was at his house when a carpenter came to his door and said, “I would like to do some work. Do you have any work that I can do?” The brother thought for a moment and then replied, “I would like for you to build a fence on my property. Build it down near the stream there that separates my farm from my brother’s. I don’t want to see my brother anymore and I would like for you to build a high fence there please. I’m going into town and I’ll be back this evening.

 

4.    When he came back that evening, he was shocked to see that the carpenter had not followed his instructions. Instead of building a high fence there, he had built a bridge over the stream. The man walked down to take a look at the bridge, and as he did, his brother walked towards him from the other side. His brother said, “After all the terrible things I’ve done to you over the years, I cannot believe that you would build a bridge and welcome me back.” He reached out to his brother and gave him a high hug. The brother then walked back up to his farmhouse to talk to the carpenter. “Can you stay?” he asked. “I have more work for you to do.” The carpenter answered, “I’m sorry but I can’t stay. I have to go, for I have many other bridges to build.

 

5.    Every now and then, we are confronted with conflicts in our families, in places of work, in our church and in our community. Our strength is not in falling, but in getting up each time we fall. When faced with conflicts we often build a fence between ourselves and see others as enemies. We would stop talking to our presumed enemies, avoid them and close in on ourselves. We cannot run away from people who hurt us but do what we can to achieve peace and correct each other in love. This is what Jesus Christ wants us to do. Instead of a wall, he wants us to build a bridge of love between us.

 

6.    Jesus does not give up on anyone. He wants us to explore every means possible for reconciliation. He did not give up on Peter but prayed for his conversion. Neither did he give up on Judas as this story demonstrates. The saved were partying in heaven. Missing was Jesus. Peter found Him at Heaven’s gate and asked: “Master, why are you standing outside?” He replied, “Peter I’m waiting for Judas.” If Christ won’t give up on Judas, should we give up on people? We should extend our kindness even to those who hurt us. When we forgive people, we do not do them a favor, but we set ourselves free to love. Hence St. Paul tells us in the second reading to “Owe nothing to anyone, except to love one another; for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law.” Archbishop Fulton Sheen was correct when he observed that “While it is possible to win the argument, your anger may lose the war.”

 

7.    Let us pray at this Mass dear friends, that instead building fences of hatred, we may build bridges of love, forgiveness and reconciliation. May the Holy Spirit guide and direct us so that we may learn to correct each other in love. Let us take these words of Christ to heart and learn to live by them: “Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’ while the wooden beam is in your eye? You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.” (Matt. 7:3-5). God bless you!

 

 

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP.

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

August 02, 2020. Homily for the 18th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A.

Readings: Is. 55:1-3; Romans 8:35, 37-39; Matthew 14:13-21

Give Them Some Food Yourselves.

1.    The readings of today can be explained from many angles. We can see it as the foretaste of the heavenly banquet, demonstrated by the first reading from the book of Isaiah. The banquet is used here as an image to describe God’s care for humanity. This banquet is given freely, and humanity is invited to partake of it. This is salvation offered by God as a free gift. “Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.” It is an offer of the food that God alone gives, “Eat what is good, and delight yourselves in rich food.” God’s nourishing work calls for attentiveness and receptivity. Though this gift is free, it demands discipline. “Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread, and your labor for that which does not satisfy? Listen carefully to me.” Paying attention to God’s instruction is what will truly satisfy our hearts. “Listen, so that you may live.”

2.    The gospel on the other hand presents us with the feeding of the five thousand men, women and children, not counted. The multiplication of the loaves itself can be interpreted in many ways. We may see the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves as a sacrament. In that case those present only received the smallest morsel of food, say just a bite, and yet with that they were strengthened for their journey home.  For them, this wouldn’t be just a mere meal to feed their physical appetite, but a spiritual food of Christ. This miracle then is re-enacted daily during the Eucharistic celebration of the Mass. This would be the food that Jesus talks about when he said: “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.” (Jn. 6:51). This living bread, the viaticum, is the food for the journey. It will enable us to walk with firmer feet and greater strength on the way that leads us to God.

3.    Apart from these interpretations, I want to consider another dimension, if you don’t mind. At the beginning of this story, we heard that the death of John the Baptist was reported to Jesus. On hearing this news, he withdrew to a deserted place to be alone. As a human being, Jesus needed rest. He would never recklessly run into trouble therefore, he withdrew, lest the blood-thirsty Herod may seek for his head as well. Of course, he knew that his own death on the cross was imminent, hence he needed peace and quiet to commune with God. He was seeking rest for his body and strength for his soul in the lonely place.  It was in this context that hospitality embraced compassion and one of the greatest miracles of love, kindness, healing and mercy was acted out on the theatre on the shore of the lake of Galilee. We are told, “When he had disembarked, he saw a great crowd, and he was moved with compassion for them to the depths of his being and healed their sick.” He did not see the people as a nuisance and too demanding of his time. He, instead, was moved with compassion for the people. How often do we complain that we are doing too much for our family, for our church or in our places of work? How often do we resent our children or spouses for being too demanding of our time? Jesus tells us today, that we can achieve much more with compassion that with whining and complaining about everyone and everything. May we always demonstrate to everyone that God cares for them and that we are only instruments used by God to achieve his purpose in their lives.

4.     I want to look at the disciples’ reaction to the compassion of Jesus. It is like they were disappointed that the people had robbed them of the wonderful opportunity to spend quiet time with their master. So, having healed them, they felt it was time they left. They told Jesus: “The place is deserted, and the hour of the evening meal has already passed. Send the crowds away in order that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food.” The disciples seem to have forgotten that they too were instruments of God’s care for the people. Did they come between the love of God and the people? Were they perhaps trying to separate the people from the love of God, when they asked Jesus to dismiss the crowd? Did they think that Christ did not know what to do? So, Christ reminded them that there was no need for the crowd to go away. He told them rather, “Give them some food yourselves.”  

5.    Jesus knew what to do, but he clearly wanted the disciples to be part of his compassionate mission to the crowd. The disciple is helpless without the master, and the master needs the disciple for his mission. We cannot say that there is nothing we can do to help the suffering masses of our world. If we call on the Lord, he will show us the way. Jesus will use what we have, to bring about a change and transformation in people’s lives. The disciples told Jesus that they only had five loaves and two fish and Jesus knew he had enough to feed the people. There was contribution, there was participation, there was cooperation and there was partnership between the disciples and Jesus. With that, a miracle was possible. Christ does not request the impossible from us; he wants us to come to him with what we have, however ill-equipped, he wants us to give to him what we have, no matter how little, and he will use it greatly for his service. Little is always much in his hands. Never say, I have nothing to give, trust that God will use what you give, if you give with your whole heart.

6.    There is another way to consider this parable. Was it really possible that the crowd did not bring food from home as they embarked on the journey to meet Christ? That was most unlikely. Could it be that some indeed had food, but were selfish to share with others? This was possible. It is likely that those who brought food, would have to share with those who did not have, hence they pretended that they had nothing. It could be that when Jesus shared the five loaves and two fishes brought to him with a blessing, invitation and a smile, it prompted others to do the same, and before long, everyone was sharing, until all had enough and more to go around. That will be a true miracle, indeed! This, therefore, was a miracle of changing of selfish people into generous people at the touch of Christ. It was the miracle of the birth of love in grudging hearts. It was the miracle of change men and women with something of Christ in them to banish their selfishness. They were able to give freely because they realized that all they had was a gift from God. Since nothing would separate them from the love of God, they trusted God and gave freely as Jesus gave them of his time, his rest and his love. When we love others as God loves us, love goes around, but when keep what we have to ourselves, we become truly impoverished. May God teach us to give of ourselves to others without counting the cost. Let us pray with St. Francis. O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood, as to understand; to be loved, as to love; for it is in giving that we receive, it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, and it is dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.  

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP.