*HOMILY FOR JULY 30 2020 THURSDAY OF THE SEVENTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME CYCLE II*
Jeremiah 18: 1-6; Psalm 146: 1b-2, 3-4, 5-6ab; Matthew 13: 47-53
WE ARE LIKE CLAY IN THE HANDS OF GOD
There is a popular Television Program by Wale Adenuga Production (WAP) that shows on Nigerian Television Authority and African independent Television in the early 2000 that ends with WE ARE NOTHING BUT PENCIL IN THE HANDS OF GOD. The program is called SUPER STORY. I am sure by now, they must have their own channel. As pencil, God sharpens us to his own taste. As pencil, God uses us to write the way he likes. As pencil, God can still break us, or remold us.
As Clay, God will use us the way he likes. We have no control over God; rather God has control over us. Jeremiah is shown a potter throwing clay. God then explains the comparison of the potter and God. The image of a potter forming clay is a very powerful image. Jeremiah is not the only prophet who used the figure of clay. Isaiah also talks about the relation of the clay to the potter. Clay is an appropriate symbol to use for humans, for the Hebrew word for clay is ADAMAH, from which the name Adam comes. In the Book Isaiah 29: 16 and 45: 9, the prophet asks the rhetorical question, “Can the piece of clay ask the potter, ‘What are you making of me?’” The clay can only take its shape because of the expertise of the potter in whose hands the clay is made into something useful and valuable. The clay has no right to challenge the potter. The potter often has to work the clay to make sure all the air bubbles are out. If the object turns out poorly, it is the prerogative of the potter to reform the clay into something different.
It is obvious that the clay is not finished after the potter forms it. It then has to be fired in a furnace to harden it. Some pottery even goes through a second firing to make it “stone.” The firing is important for the acceptable use of the pottery.
We truly are clay in the hands of the Great Potter (God). God often does a little reshaping of us over our lifetime. And we often go through the test of fire before we become a finished product. And even then, just as 2 Corinthians 4:7 would say, we are still only earthen vessels, into which a great treasure, the Lord Jesus Christ, is placed. We become useful vessels only after we have been shaped, fired, and made valuable in God’s eyes by having the treasure of the Lord Jesus’ life put within us. We have no right to say to God, “Why are you allowing this or that to happen to me?” We must realize that the Great Potter has something special in mind for us. God wants to use us for a part of the divine plan. Again, God makes each of us unique. Each of us has a special purpose. God has put part of the divine essence in each one of us.
The psalm reminds us that God is the source of life and help for those who call upon him. The Gospel today again shares with us the concept of the separation of the GOOD and BAD at the end of time. The parable today is a life-long experience, and personally, I believe it is an eternal pursuit which will last forever in heaven. We will never be able to say we fully understand. And that’s because God is not finished with us. There will always be new and exciting pieces of “knowledge” we will gain from our relationship with our loving and creative God.
The Gospel of today encourages us to run away from sin. Gbaara mmehie oso maka no o na ata ata dika akpi na agwo (Run away from sin because it bites like Snake and Scorpion). We are in the world. At the end of time, the angels will separate the wicked from the righteous and throw the wicked into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. The WICKED are those who abandoned God, those who refuse to recognize God as the Great potter, those who refused to repent and embrace Jesus Christ, who is the Saviour of Mankind. The WICKED are those who have taken the House of God as SOCIAL CLUB and BET NAIJA. The WICKED are those who neither take the corporal and spiritual works of mercy serious nor appreciate the greatness of God. May God find us worthy before him on the day of great judgment.
*MEDITATION* What can I do to allow God to form me into the image he wants? How can I reassure others of the Lord Jesus’ desire that they come to Him and learn from Him and let Him shape them into the person God intends them to be? How far have I been abhoring sin and evil?
*PRAYER* Lord God, help us to continue to be shaped according to Your plan in the image of Your Son. Give us patience while we experience the furnace of difficulties. May we lift up to You all our praise and thanks all our lives long. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
© Rev Utazi Prince Marie Benignus SFDPM
Jeremiah 18: 1-6; Psalm 146: 1b-2, 3-4, 5-6ab; Matthew 13: 47-53
WE ARE LIKE CLAY IN THE HANDS OF GOD
There is a popular Television Program by Wale Adenuga Production (WAP) that shows on Nigerian Television Authority and African independent Television in the early 2000 that ends with WE ARE NOTHING BUT PENCIL IN THE HANDS OF GOD. The program is called SUPER STORY. I am sure by now, they must have their own channel. As pencil, God sharpens us to his own taste. As pencil, God uses us to write the way he likes. As pencil, God can still break us, or remold us.
As Clay, God will use us the way he likes. We have no control over God; rather God has control over us. Jeremiah is shown a potter throwing clay. God then explains the comparison of the potter and God. The image of a potter forming clay is a very powerful image. Jeremiah is not the only prophet who used the figure of clay. Isaiah also talks about the relation of the clay to the potter. Clay is an appropriate symbol to use for humans, for the Hebrew word for clay is ADAMAH, from which the name Adam comes. In the Book Isaiah 29: 16 and 45: 9, the prophet asks the rhetorical question, “Can the piece of clay ask the potter, ‘What are you making of me?’” The clay can only take its shape because of the expertise of the potter in whose hands the clay is made into something useful and valuable. The clay has no right to challenge the potter. The potter often has to work the clay to make sure all the air bubbles are out. If the object turns out poorly, it is the prerogative of the potter to reform the clay into something different.
It is obvious that the clay is not finished after the potter forms it. It then has to be fired in a furnace to harden it. Some pottery even goes through a second firing to make it “stone.” The firing is important for the acceptable use of the pottery.
We truly are clay in the hands of the Great Potter (God). God often does a little reshaping of us over our lifetime. And we often go through the test of fire before we become a finished product. And even then, just as 2 Corinthians 4:7 would say, we are still only earthen vessels, into which a great treasure, the Lord Jesus Christ, is placed. We become useful vessels only after we have been shaped, fired, and made valuable in God’s eyes by having the treasure of the Lord Jesus’ life put within us. We have no right to say to God, “Why are you allowing this or that to happen to me?” We must realize that the Great Potter has something special in mind for us. God wants to use us for a part of the divine plan. Again, God makes each of us unique. Each of us has a special purpose. God has put part of the divine essence in each one of us.
The psalm reminds us that God is the source of life and help for those who call upon him. The Gospel today again shares with us the concept of the separation of the GOOD and BAD at the end of time. The parable today is a life-long experience, and personally, I believe it is an eternal pursuit which will last forever in heaven. We will never be able to say we fully understand. And that’s because God is not finished with us. There will always be new and exciting pieces of “knowledge” we will gain from our relationship with our loving and creative God.
The Gospel of today encourages us to run away from sin. Gbaara mmehie oso maka no o na ata ata dika akpi na agwo (Run away from sin because it bites like Snake and Scorpion). We are in the world. At the end of time, the angels will separate the wicked from the righteous and throw the wicked into the fiery furnace, where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth. The WICKED are those who abandoned God, those who refuse to recognize God as the Great potter, those who refused to repent and embrace Jesus Christ, who is the Saviour of Mankind. The WICKED are those who have taken the House of God as SOCIAL CLUB and BET NAIJA. The WICKED are those who neither take the corporal and spiritual works of mercy serious nor appreciate the greatness of God. May God find us worthy before him on the day of great judgment.
*MEDITATION* What can I do to allow God to form me into the image he wants? How can I reassure others of the Lord Jesus’ desire that they come to Him and learn from Him and let Him shape them into the person God intends them to be? How far have I been abhoring sin and evil?
*PRAYER* Lord God, help us to continue to be shaped according to Your plan in the image of Your Son. Give us patience while we experience the furnace of difficulties. May we lift up to You all our praise and thanks all our lives long. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
© Rev Utazi Prince Marie Benignus SFDPM
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