7 Minutes homily for the 16th Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading: Wisdom 12:13, 16-19

Responsorial Psalm: 85(86)

Second Reading: Romans 8:26-27

Gospel: Matthew 13:24-43

Today marks the 16^th Sunday in Ordinary time Year A. It is also marked with the World Day of Grandparents and the Elderly, recently instituted by the Supreme Pontiff on the fourth Sunday of the month of July. Today’s readings are focusing on the care and growth of each Christian.

The Story of the Two Wolves

An old Embian chief sat down to teach his grandson about life.

“There’s a fight going on inside me,” he tells the young boy, “a fight between two wolves.”

“One wolf is evil. It’s full of malice, anger, greed, self-pity and false pride. The other is good. It’s full of peace, love, joy, kindness, and humility.”

“This same fight is going on inside you and everyone else on the face of the earth.”

The grandson was quiet, pondering this revelation for a moment before asking, “Grandfather, which wolf will win?”

The old man smiled and replied, “The one you feed.”

 

The care of the seeds

Every farmer’s goal is to harvest what they planted. From seedlings into the nursery to the farm, the farmer takes care of them till harvest. In order to make His audience understand the Kingdom of God, Jesus uses parables together with the day-to-day activities. His mercy and love are in the care of His seeds, despite growing together with the weeds. He spares the weeds, which is the evil in us making us sin and gives them time to grow. He is patient and tolerable until the final sorting. Good and evil cannot be separated, they have to grow up together. The line separating good from evil does not pass in the space between the individuals or between groups, or between nation: it passes within the heart of every person. Anybody who does evil is not building up one’s life but ruining it. Good and evil exist within each of us. It’s our responsibility to own that reality and do whatever we can to nurture the good.

The spirit therefore ought to come to the aid of a sinner to help with the repentance of sins, so that in the end we may join with the acclamation, ‘May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our mind, so that we can see what hope his call holds for us.’ By God’s grace, the yeast will rise, and the plants will grow. Leave judgement to God, whose time is not our own.

Murimi Joel

II Year Theology

Read More

Seven-minute Homily for 15TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

 

First Reading: Is 55:10-11

Ps 65:10-11, 12-13, 14:

Second Reading: Rom 8:18-23

Gospel: Mt 13:1-23

A story has been told of a farmer who is out in his field planting seeds. Once he finishes, he makes arrangements to sell the farm and purchase some nearby land. The other people in his small town are puzzled by this, but they brush it off as some eccentric behavior. After purchasing the new land, the farmer repeats the process. He plants the seeds, and then puts the land up for sale. Now people are really confused, so one of his friends approaches him to get some answers. "I don't get it. Why do you just plant the seeds and then leave?" the friend asks. "Well, that's very simple," the farmer replies. “I’m a sower not a grower.” This is typical of human beings whose activities are perennial and short-termed. 

The first reading of today is one of the shortest readings that can be read on a Sunday, yet it's so reach and deep in theology. The prophet Isaiah is inviting the people of Israel to an abundant life, that which is everlasting. He gives an analogy of the rain and snow, comparing it to the Word of God that came from heaven to give life to humanity. He uses terminology that is familiar to people to show the practicality of the Word of God. The rain and snow come down from heaven and do not return until watering the earth and making it fruitful (Is 55:10). What is intriguing about this analogy is that the rain and snow are being presented as an empowering force not as something which overrides. They do not underestimate the potential that the earth has, but provide it with conditions that enables it to be fruitful and providential. Such, is the case with the Word of God. It is word that that fills and inspires humanity, and is the Source of all goodness, which cheers and lead us on day by day, with hope of comfort as we journey, and of a good end at last. Whoever seeks for himself or herself this Word finds a sense of meaning, fulfilment and everlasting life.

St Paul, in the second reading, narrates on how humanity had lost such a privilege that the Word of God brings, thereby, subjecting themselves to suffering and futility. Disobedience brought to humanity the incapacity to produce results and was doomed not to be successful. The whole of creation was subjected to groaning in labour pains. St Paul is enlightening on the worst-case scenario that continues to befell on humanity when they alienate themselves from the Word of God.

The Gospel of today presents to us one of the most famous parables of Jesus, the Parable of the Sower, whose central focus is human response to the Word of God. In the preceding passage, Matthew had presented Jesus explaining to his disciples whom he considers to be his true kindred. For Jesus, his true kindred are those whoever does the will of his Father (Mt 12:50), those who listen to his word. Now, in the Parable of the Sower Jesus is giving the different levels in which people respond to the invitation of the Word, which brings forth life. Just like Isaiah, Jesus teaches with examples that are familiar with people and those that represented the civilization of that time. He draws examples from the common life of people to teach principles about the kingdom of heaven. Thus, if the parable is not read in context, one might fail to get the full meaning.  During the time of Jesus seeds were scattered and then plow into the ground that is why they fail on different surfaces. Jesus has already explained the meaning of the different surfaces to which the seeds fell. What can be emphasized today are the hierarchical spiritual statuses that the soil represents, with the worst case being that of hearing and not understanding, and the best being of hearing and producing fruits. In as much as all the four kinds of soil need to be paid attention to, the world today needs to be more attentive to the third kind of soil in which the seed grows but as it grows it is pierced by thorns. Today the world has become so commercialized to the extent that focus is gradually shifting from the pursuit of God to the pursuit of happiness. Christians are become more and more seasonal and ignorant to the fact that the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word. They usurp in the human heart the place due to Christ and his saving truth. By adhering to the tune of the world, we cause for ourselves spiritual injury. Prophet Isaiah had already warned us that worldly things can never satisfy of hunger and thirst (Is 55:2). We must fix our focus and thought on the Word of God, which brings forth everlasting life. The invitation of today is to reflect on our personal attitudes towards the Word of God.

George Chidyamatondo

II Year Theology

Read More

SEVEN MINUTES HOMILY FOR FOURTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR – A

1^st Reading: Zac 9:9-10        

Psalm: Ps 145: 1-2, 8-9, 10-11, 13-14

2^nd Reading: Rom 9:11-1      -

Gospel Mt 11:25-30 

Themes

From the readings of this Sunday, let us meditate upon the following themes: The coming of God’s kingdom, life in the Spirit, and the cost of discipleship (A yoke that is easy and a burden that is light)

Preliminary Insight

In a certain kingdom ruled by a great and fierce King, there lived an old Catholic Priest. This old priest was full of virtues and wisdom. The King liked the way this Priest lived and he wished that this priest instructs his sons on how to become great kings in future. Therefore, the Priest out of his experience instructed them to imitate Christ, “The greatest man who ever lived.” When the King noticed that his sons had started loving their enemies, serving the sick and the marginalized and sharing their food with the needy, he was greatly disturbed! He summoned the old priest to explain all that mess. The Priest simply narrated to him the life story Jusus Christ of Nazareth who surrendered everything even his precious life for the sake of us men. At this incident, the King was deeply touched and got converted. He thus asked the Priest to convert not only his family, but his entire Kingdom.

The Coming of God’s Kingdom

In the first reading, the Prophet Zachariah points out to the coming of Jesus our savior. He invites the people to shout with joy and gladness in the cities of Zion and Jerusalem upon the coming of the reign of God. Christ the “Sent” of the Father comes as a righteous and humble king. He comes to set his people free from all their enemies and to establish the peaceful kingdom among them. He sets an example to the earthly kings, not to be rulers but leaders of the People of God.

Life in the Spirit

In the 2^nd reading, St. Paul through his Letter to the Romans comes with a guide on how to become a citizen of the peaceful kingdom where Christ rules as the eternal King. This kingdom is more spiritual than actual. The inhabitants of this kingdom though living in the flesh at the moment, must be guided by the Spirit of the God. The Spirit of the risen Lord will then put to death the deeds of their flesh and give life to their mortal bodies. However, the reverse is true for those who will chose to live according the pleasures flesh.

A Yoke that is Easy and a Burden that is Light  

In the Gospel according to St Mathew 11:25-30, Jesus praises his Father for having revealed the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven to the childlike, though from the wise these mysteries remain concealed. To be childlike implies being humble and dependent on the wisdom, power and providence of God. Jesus Christ has been entrusted with the power over everything under the sun, even the powerful rulers and kings of the earth bow before Him. Today Jesus invites those who are burdened and weary to come to him for relief and find rest in Him. Being gentle and humble of heart, he provides comfort and help to those who approach him. Those who take up Christ’s yoke and voluntarily follow him are his true disciples, they learn from him and rest in him. For his yoke is easy and his burden is light. This depicts the comfort and relief of being a disciple in a Christlike manner.

Takeaway Remark

In his Autobiography number 428, St. Anthony Mary Claret prays with a lot of admiration for the grace to imitate the virtues that shine through the life of Christ especially the virtues of: humility, obedience and meekness. Today he is numbered among the inhabitants of the heavenly kingdom.  Let us in a like manner strive for the same virtues as they shine through all the three reading of this Sunday.

God Blass You!

Gerald Lubwama

II Year Theology

Read More

7 Minutes Homily for 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading: 2 Kings 4:8-11, 14-16a; 

Ps 89:2-3, 16-17, 18-19

Second Reading: Rom 6:3-4, 8-11

Gospel: Mt 10:37-42

“A certain lady was an expert in stitching religious vestments, and she lived close to a convent. Every year she would make a special religious habit and give to one of the novices with a special request that the novice would wear the beautiful habit on the day of her first religious profession. Someone then asked her the reason why she kept on doing that every year. The humble lady answered that since her childhood she desired to become a Nun but did not make it possible due some family issues. Therefore, she set up the promise of making religious habits for sell and to offer every year to one of the novices… and then, she said to herself: even though I’m not a Nun, I’m now fulfilled because many sisters today do pray for the Church and for me, they perform acts of mercy, while wearing my habit…”.

Friends, today’s readings invite us to first reflect and make our relationship with God in whatever we do. In the first reading, we see how a woman provided hospitality to Elisha and she was rewarded for her generosity. The Psalm reminds us that the love of God lasts forever and in God’s favor we find the source of our happiness. Then St. Paul urges us to live in newness of life. And Jesus tells us through the Gospel that we must stop clinging to our own self-love in order to follow him. To be the disciple of Jesus requires self-sacrifice, service to the others as well as practice of generosity.

Brethren, Jesus promises us today that those who will be behind the hospitality welcoming others, will receive their reward. It looks good before God to see one becoming a prophet, priest, sister or a generous man/woman, but not all of us are called to embrace all these ministries. However, God in his goodness wants anyone who would like to embrace these offices, to truly have a share in them. God blesses each one of us according to what he/she partakes either as a prophet, priest, sister or a lay missionary. And so, if you are not a prophet, at least be kind to a prophet, if you feel like being incapable of holding any of these tasks, then offer service to those who are already undertaking such ministries, and you will receive the blessings of God that they themselves received. The encounter between the woman and prophet Elisha shows us therefore, how much God favors those who are kind to His servants. The woman offered food to Elisha and prepared a room to welcome him for a little rest, and as a result, God blessed her with a son in the following year, after being barren for many years. Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus, let us make effort to invest both spiritual and materially on the ministries of the servants of God rather than looking for faults from those who have already offered themselves for God’s service. A popular saying states: “Some give to the mission by going, others go to the mission by giving…”; Where do you belong?

Ergito Jose Xavier

II Year Theology

Read More