*HOMILY FOR JULY 28 2020 TUESDAY OF THE SEVENTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME CYCLE II*
Jeremiah 14: 17-22; Psalm 79: 8, 9, 11 and 13; Matthew 13: 36-43
*LORD, REMEMBER NOT THE INIQUITIES OF THE PAST AGAINST US*
The First Reading presents the sorry state of the Kingdom of Judah. Because of their evilness, there is great destruction, incurable wounds, people being slain by the sword, and prophet and priest foraging for food. Jeremiah and the people of Judah are experiencing a drought. Jeremiah sees the sorry state in which the Kingdom of Judah finds itself. The assumption is that the people are suffering the drought because of their sinfulness. People are sick, starving, scavenging for food. Jeremiah lifts up a prayer to God asking God to remember the promises of the covenant made to the Chosen People of old. Jeremiah, as spokesperson for the people, admits the people’s sinfulness and asks for pardon for their sins and for rain to end the drought.
The prophet guides the people. He tells them the message of the Lord. He pleads to God for mercy on behalf of the people. I wonder if the “acclaimed prophets” of my days are doing so. I wonder if the validly ordained ministers of God are doing the same today!!! I wonder if “THE MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL”, both from Mainline Churches and others are doing so!!! While people are suffering from the Lockdown as a result of COVID’19, many pastors are asking people to pay tithe through the new financial technology, some are asking the Mother’s association to come for first Saturday in order to make food contribution for them. How many of us ministers of the Gospel are crying unto the Lord for mercy? Many of us were quick to proclaim that COVID’19 is as a result of sins committed by many of us. How many of us are shaking the heaven for mercy? But we are not tired of looking for tithe. Dear fellow ministers of God, it is time to go back to the chambers of prayer, re-awaken and re-live our personal covenant with God, and lead our church members back to God. This is the time to establish and re-establish concrete relationship with God, so as to touch the heavens at a time like this, a time of pandemic, a time of reckless killing of Christians as it is happening in Southern part of Kaduna Nigeria.
The psalm is a prayer for God’s mercy in spite the sinfulness of the people. It is a penitential prayer. In it, the psalmist asks God to not hold the people’s sinfulness against them, but to extend compassion and pardon. It ends in a hymn of praise to God for what God will do for the Chosen People. God will take care of the people who are the sheep of divine flock. The psalm tells us that God is merciful and compassion. He is ever ready to forgive us, if we cry to him.
The Gospel paints a picture of what will happen in the end times. Those who have co-existed together will be gathered before the Master. The wheat (the children of God’s kingdom) will be separated from the weeds (the children of the Evil One). The wheat will be gathered into God’s Kingdom while the weeds (or tares) will be thrown into a fiery furnace. This may sound a bit scary. It is possible that part of the purpose of the parable is to make Jesus’ disciples think about whether they want to be considered wheat or weeds.
Dear Sisters and Brothers, the Lord Jesus is asking me to look at my life and see my own sinfulness – my missing the mark of being on target with God. I may not have gone as far astray as the people of Jeremiah’s time, but I still have not always been on target – aiming toward, and focused on, God. I don’t go so far as saying that all the problems in the world today (unrest in the world, people being shot in a theater, school, or entertainment venues, weather problems, financial issues, the pandemic, social unrest) are God’s punishment for our sinfulness. More often, they are a sign of the evil that is present in the world and they can be a reminder to us that we need to deepen our relationship with God. We can and should lift up a prayer of petition asking God to help us in our trying situations or to bring peace and healing throughout the world. There is also need to lift up a prayer of praise to God in which we remind ourselves, and also remind God (though God has not forgotten them), of the promises he has made to care for those with whom he has relationship with. This will also deepen our relationship with God and lead us away from committing sin. By avoiding sin, we shall have no fear of the fiery furnace in which the weeds are to be thrown. Instead, we shall be more conscious of the desire God has for us me to be saved and be a part of God’s kingdom. Purify yourself and be holy unto the Lord. Just as Pope would say, HOLINESS OR NOTHING.
*MEDITATION* How do I view “natural disasters” and global issues, such as the pandemic? Do I see them as “acts of God” to scare people into doing what is right or punishment for past sins? Or do I see them as reminders that I am not always aware of God, as I should be? How do I see God’s action in the terrible deeds done against God’s children (all humanity)? How can I use the events that happen in my life to draw me into a closer relationship with the Lord Jesus? What can I do to help others turn more fully to God and seek a closer relationship with the Lord Jesus?
*PRAYER* Forgive me for I have sinned against you Lord God. Do not take your Holy Spirit away from me. Restore unto me the Joy of your Salvation. May I continue to rejoice as a Child of God. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
© Rev Utazi Prince Marie Benignus SFDPM
Jeremiah 14: 17-22; Psalm 79: 8, 9, 11 and 13; Matthew 13: 36-43
*LORD, REMEMBER NOT THE INIQUITIES OF THE PAST AGAINST US*
The First Reading presents the sorry state of the Kingdom of Judah. Because of their evilness, there is great destruction, incurable wounds, people being slain by the sword, and prophet and priest foraging for food. Jeremiah and the people of Judah are experiencing a drought. Jeremiah sees the sorry state in which the Kingdom of Judah finds itself. The assumption is that the people are suffering the drought because of their sinfulness. People are sick, starving, scavenging for food. Jeremiah lifts up a prayer to God asking God to remember the promises of the covenant made to the Chosen People of old. Jeremiah, as spokesperson for the people, admits the people’s sinfulness and asks for pardon for their sins and for rain to end the drought.
The prophet guides the people. He tells them the message of the Lord. He pleads to God for mercy on behalf of the people. I wonder if the “acclaimed prophets” of my days are doing so. I wonder if the validly ordained ministers of God are doing the same today!!! I wonder if “THE MINISTERS OF THE GOSPEL”, both from Mainline Churches and others are doing so!!! While people are suffering from the Lockdown as a result of COVID’19, many pastors are asking people to pay tithe through the new financial technology, some are asking the Mother’s association to come for first Saturday in order to make food contribution for them. How many of us ministers of the Gospel are crying unto the Lord for mercy? Many of us were quick to proclaim that COVID’19 is as a result of sins committed by many of us. How many of us are shaking the heaven for mercy? But we are not tired of looking for tithe. Dear fellow ministers of God, it is time to go back to the chambers of prayer, re-awaken and re-live our personal covenant with God, and lead our church members back to God. This is the time to establish and re-establish concrete relationship with God, so as to touch the heavens at a time like this, a time of pandemic, a time of reckless killing of Christians as it is happening in Southern part of Kaduna Nigeria.
The psalm is a prayer for God’s mercy in spite the sinfulness of the people. It is a penitential prayer. In it, the psalmist asks God to not hold the people’s sinfulness against them, but to extend compassion and pardon. It ends in a hymn of praise to God for what God will do for the Chosen People. God will take care of the people who are the sheep of divine flock. The psalm tells us that God is merciful and compassion. He is ever ready to forgive us, if we cry to him.
The Gospel paints a picture of what will happen in the end times. Those who have co-existed together will be gathered before the Master. The wheat (the children of God’s kingdom) will be separated from the weeds (the children of the Evil One). The wheat will be gathered into God’s Kingdom while the weeds (or tares) will be thrown into a fiery furnace. This may sound a bit scary. It is possible that part of the purpose of the parable is to make Jesus’ disciples think about whether they want to be considered wheat or weeds.
Dear Sisters and Brothers, the Lord Jesus is asking me to look at my life and see my own sinfulness – my missing the mark of being on target with God. I may not have gone as far astray as the people of Jeremiah’s time, but I still have not always been on target – aiming toward, and focused on, God. I don’t go so far as saying that all the problems in the world today (unrest in the world, people being shot in a theater, school, or entertainment venues, weather problems, financial issues, the pandemic, social unrest) are God’s punishment for our sinfulness. More often, they are a sign of the evil that is present in the world and they can be a reminder to us that we need to deepen our relationship with God. We can and should lift up a prayer of petition asking God to help us in our trying situations or to bring peace and healing throughout the world. There is also need to lift up a prayer of praise to God in which we remind ourselves, and also remind God (though God has not forgotten them), of the promises he has made to care for those with whom he has relationship with. This will also deepen our relationship with God and lead us away from committing sin. By avoiding sin, we shall have no fear of the fiery furnace in which the weeds are to be thrown. Instead, we shall be more conscious of the desire God has for us me to be saved and be a part of God’s kingdom. Purify yourself and be holy unto the Lord. Just as Pope would say, HOLINESS OR NOTHING.
*MEDITATION* How do I view “natural disasters” and global issues, such as the pandemic? Do I see them as “acts of God” to scare people into doing what is right or punishment for past sins? Or do I see them as reminders that I am not always aware of God, as I should be? How do I see God’s action in the terrible deeds done against God’s children (all humanity)? How can I use the events that happen in my life to draw me into a closer relationship with the Lord Jesus? What can I do to help others turn more fully to God and seek a closer relationship with the Lord Jesus?
*PRAYER* Forgive me for I have sinned against you Lord God. Do not take your Holy Spirit away from me. Restore unto me the Joy of your Salvation. May I continue to rejoice as a Child of God. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
© Rev Utazi Prince Marie Benignus SFDPM
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