*HOMILY FOR JUNE 2 2020 TUESDAY OF THE NINTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A*
2 Peter 3: 12-15a, 17-18; Psalm 90: 2, 3-4, 10, 14, 16; Mark 12: 13-17
BE ON YOUR GUARD In the First Reading, Peter urges his audience to be patient, particularly as they await the coming of the day of God. He also asked them to be on guard, against, especially, false teachings. God has begun the time of salvation, but the fullness has not yet arrived. While waiting patiently, Christians are urged to live lives which are principled, strong, and faithful. In the Gospel, Jesus is challenged by the religious leaders of His day. They try to trap Him by asking Him a question about paying taxes. Jesus assertively responds in a way which shows that He is more than a match for their craftiness. He was on guard.
As Peter encourages the early Christians to both be patient and also hasten the day of the Lord Jesus’ coming again, he promises that a time will come when current situation will be different — there will be new heavens and a new earth. While waiting for that day, the believers are reminded that they must live blameless lives just as Jesus lived a faultless life while waiting for His time of glory. It is only when believers stay focused on the Lord Jesus that they will have the strength and stability to face the guile and deceit of the faithless people. Again it is not our doing the right thing that saves us, but the gift of salvation which we have received that motivates us to do the proper thing. Thus, we must be on guard against falling into temptation. The psalm speaks of the timelessness of God. It reminds us that even though we are bound by time while living here on earth, God is timeless. It is because we exist in a time continuum that we become impatient that the fullness of God’s salvation has not been realized according to our timetable. In the Gospel, Jesus is able to look beyond those who are trapped in the earthly time and circumstances. He sees that what belongs to God is not material nor is it locked in time like the Roman coin of tribute. Jesus was on guard against the treachery of the some Pharisees and Herodians. God is to be given more than earthly monetary tribute. God’s tribute is to be timeless and unbound by terrestrial dimensions. In fact, all time and all creation is God’s and needs to be given back to God. Jesus assertively points to what must be given to God – not the tax money but all that God has given to us. Jesus speaks the truth to those who would try to trip Him with crafty tricks. He refutes the errors that underlie His opponents’ viewpoints and points to the reality that is – all things, especially our existence and our adoration – belong to God. This is part of what St Peter is telling us in the first reading, in 2 Peter 3:17-18 “Therefore, beloved, since you are forewarned, be on your guard not to be led into the error of the unprincipled and to fall from your own stability. But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory now and to the day of eternity”. You must be on guard in order to grow in grace.
How often we miss the essence of the reality of truth. We get caught up in either the limitedness of time or in the temporal values of wealth and earthly rewards. We become impatient when we don’t have enough time or enough of one thing or another. We also sense frustration when we have to wait for some particular event to happen. And we fail to give God what is God’s due – which is everything. In our impatience we slip into the errors of the unprincipled. We need to completely surrender who we are and what we are about to God. Our focus must be on what belongs to God and how we can return it to God. We need to stand up assertively and acknowledge our total reliance on God and the limitedness of our time here on earth. If we would spend as much time thinking about the realities of God as we do about such things as paying taxes and building up our earthly possessions, or ending the pandemic, we would find peace and joy in the midst of the conflicts of life.
*MEDITATION* What aspects of my life are overly concerned with the time? How can I better manifest my trust in God’s timelessness and promises of eternity? How can I assist people to manifest absolute trust in God?
*PRAYER* Lord God, continue to pour out the gifts of Your Holy Spirit upon us so we can focus with patience and joy on what You offer to us in the next life, and begin to live that life now. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
© Rev Utazi Prince Marie Benignus SFDPM
Comments
Post a Comment