7 Minutes Homily for 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time

 First Reading: Mal 1:14b-2:2b,8-10

Second Reading: 1Thes 2:7b-9,13

Gospel:  Mathew 23:1-12

 

Do and Observe Everything they do, but do Not Follow their Examples.

 One day, my superior advised me saying, “If you want to win peoples trust and lead them without struggle you need to be an example in everything you do. By doing so, you will realize that whatever indications you will be giving or the words you will utter to them will be acceptable. Failing in this will lead to failures and this will indicate that you have as well failed in leading others.” He ended up saying that people do not like empty words but rather rely on actions. Thus, a leader teaches through example. I was obliged to apply this method and as at the moment I can admit that it worked out. Today’s readings agree with this thought.

 Dear friends in Christ, the first reading and the Gospel are so closely related. Both warn about the behavior of leaders. Prophet Malachi bases on the priest of the time from Levi tradition. According to their position, they were expected to have certain qualities which could enhance them to fit and benefit from the activities which were entrusted to them. Priests of the Old Testament were highly respected and whatever they uttered was highly regarded by the faithful. The much trust accorded to them is the reason behind the message from the prophet Malachi who today advises them saying that they will receive many blessings from God if they listen to Him and follow what He tells them. The Prophet is clear that if they go astray, they will be cursed. A similar message is conveyed in the Gospel to the scribes and pharisees who like sitting in front seats of the temple and being honored in market places.

 These readings serve to teach us qualities of a good leader; that a good leader is one who is present before others by his good example. Consequently, failure to do so makes such a leader a bad leader. This is as well manifested in the characters mentioned in the Gospel. The scribes and pharisees do not give good example to others, prompting Jesus to tell his followers not to follow their example. Our Father Founder Saint Anthony Mary Claret seemed to understand the importance of good leadership. He mentions in his Autobiography that what the leaders need most is to practice virtues. For him, one of the virtues which is very important above all is humility (Autobiography No. 341).

 Problems arise when leaders fail in their duties. The problems in leadership may arise through words comprising elements of foul language that leaders may tend to utter. Actions here goes with how leaders appear to the people physically and become the source of inspiration to the others. Laziness also becomes a problem, since failure to do what is expected from you as a leader through example, hinders the trust of people who are subordinate to you. For instance, failure to attend Mass on Sundays and days of obligation, and failing to admonish the evil doers and challenge their evil actions are indications of failing in leadership roles.

 Therefore, we need to put into consideration all these things once entrusted with leadership roles lest the words of Mathew 18:6 “if anyone put the stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if great millstone were fastened around your neck, and you were drowned in the depth of the sea” catch up with us. We are then invited to follow the good example which Saint Paul showed us when leading people. He did not become a burden to any person. He rather made sure that the gospel message was passed to all people so that their ministry remained blameless.

Gastor B Kimario

IV Year Theology

 

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7 Minutes Homily for 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Exodus 22:20-26

1Thessalonians 1:5-10

Mathew 22:34-40

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, welcome to this reflection on the readings of the 30^th Sunday of ordinary time.  We may be aware that from the beginning of human history, salvation was preserved for only God’s chosen people of Israel. However, when Jesus came, the salvation was extended from the Jews to the Gentiles, thus the whole humanity.  This plan of salvation was not by chance, but it was well planned by God. This plan is none other than the love of God to humanity. This can be considered the central point of the readings of today as we celebrate the 30^th Sunday of ordinary time in Year A.

It is good that this message of God has come to remind us of what we are supposed to do. This message is very important especially at this time when we are experiencing wars, inequality, discrimination, individualism, oppression, human trafficking, not paying salaries to workers and even abortion, among other vices. All these are against God’s plan towards humanity. It generally affects man-God relationship, and man-man relationship. If we try to live what is stipulated in the first reading (Ex 22: 20-26) peace and love will prevail. That’s why Jesus perfects the law with his two commandments (Matt 22:36-39).

The emphasis of loving God and our neighbor is in a way put in the second reading (1 Thes 1:5C-10). Here Paul is praising the Thessalonians for having faith in Christ. Having faith in Christ leads us to the love of God and our neighbor. This is because it is out of God’s love to humanity that Christ was offered freely for us as a gift. He was ready to die for all humanity. The love showed to us should make us to go away from idol worship and remain faithful to our only God as we live the first commandment of God (cf. Ex 20:3-6). Love of neighbor should not end at emotional level but self-sacrifice for another.  You give yourself freely for the good of others. We need to keep in mind that the neighbor is not only our friends but also our enemies as well as the marginalized. We are called to help everyone we meet.

Having faith in God and loving him leads us to extend the same love to others. This directs us to the Gospel of today, Matthew 22:34-40. I believe that it is not the first time to hear this part of the Gospel but still we find difficulty to live as brothers and sisters. We forget that all of us have the same origin and destination. It becomes more interesting that all of us are created with same image of God (cf. Gen 1:26). It is an invitation for us to check where we do go wrong concerning one another.

By internalizing the readings of today, we need not think of ourselves and forgetting others.  We are children of God.  No one is better than the other in front of our loving, merciful and kind Father in heaven. Thus, no Jews, no Gentiles but all people are called to live in brotherhood and sisterhood as we share the heavenly kingdom. It is by living the commandments of God and other regulations established by the Church that we find ourselves fulfilling the love of God and our neighbour. Now we need to open our hearts and minds in order for the words of God’s Son to transform our way of life. To make it easy, do not do to your neighbor what you yourself hate. This is the summary of the whole law (cf. Mt 7:12). Jesus’ summary of the law consists of two commandments that encourage love of God (Deut 6:5) and love of neighbor (cf. Lev 19:18). These two commandments are the threads on which the entire law hangs. Let us help each other as we bring everyone closer to Christ. 

Zephrine Superius

IV Year Theology

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7 Minute Homily for 29th Sunday In Ordinary Time

1^st Reading: Is 45:1,4-6

2^nd Reading:1Thes 1:1-5b

Gospel Reading: Mt 22:15-21

 

It is quite common that the enemies can easily team up to fight their common enemy. Especially if their common enemy seems to be too strong to be fought by one. If they managed to combine power and win the enemy does not change the fact that they are still enemies before the one, they consider a common enemy. The Gospel of today is clearly showing us the image where the pharisees and the Herodians who hates each other team up and plot to trap Jesus. The first reading of today, is giving us things, that God does of which many of them they are invisible, and people are sometimes unaware of them. With the example of King Cyrius, God is always influencing earthly rulers even if they are unaware of him. Paul is also talking of the fulness of the gospel in faith and deeds. Paul expresses genuine faith which is not passive but active.

The gospel of today is relevant for the family conflicts we encounter and experience every day if not always. Although people are close to each other, they can quarrel, argue, disagree and always try to trap each other especially for justification. The solution of a problem is not fighting or shouting rather it is humility in reasoning. Jesus is not quarrelling he is just putting the truth in the hands of his contenders then it remains in them to hold it or drop it. Jesus never picked a side because he understands the consequences of it. Jesus loved peace and his response is a peaceful response. Grod granted light which can make thing clear that is the truth (Genesis 1:3). The light and the truth of God can make peace in the affairs of men.

There are sometimes that we need to be humble in certain situations because there are many people who have fallen into traps of other people because they cannot give themselves time to think especially the time of temptations. We have political instabilities in the world whereby we find many political prisoners suffering because of speeches they made or responses they made during various presses. Jesus clearly understood the political, social and religious situation of his time so that whatever he does fits in the situation at hand.

Today we are invited to consider three things. The first is to know what is always expected from us to God. This should be done with faith and understanding reason why God himself created us. If we know our duty, we can be able to face some situations which may be tough but if we treat those situations with humility and faith in God, we can win. Secondly, we need always to ask the strength of the Holy Spirit in whatever we do. Faith and the power of Holy Spirit can make us victors in front of our enemies. Let us not be like the Pharisees and Herodians who plan to put down innocent souls because of our selfish character. Our character, our deeds should manifest the true faith that we received from God and the same faith we should return to God.

Let us know that God can choose us from anywhere like Cyrius to be the instruments to help others, to help ourselves and to be the preachers of the Gospel with zeal. Let us ask the maternal help of Mother Mary in this month of October so that we may be able to the instruments of truth like Jesus as he is the truth himself (John 14:6). Be humble and become a victor.

 

Austin Sayira

IV Year Theology

 

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7 Minute Homily for Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A

First Reading: Isaiah 5:1-7

Second Reading: Philippians 4:6-9

Gospel: Matthew 21:33-43

In this Twenty-Seventh Sunday of Ordinary Time Year, A, the Mother Church invites us to reflect on the very nature of our livelihood. Through the readings, we are presented with the question of ungratefulness. We are called to look back and identify occasions through which we failed to appreciate the good done to us, the moments we harmed those who meant good to us and the situations that we took advantage of and paid for good deeds through bad or evil means, perhaps due to envy.

In the first reading of Isaiah 5:1-7, the prophet presents us with the “Song of the Vineyard” whereby the writer sings to the one he loves a song about his vineyard. This can be treated as an allegory through which some incidences are indicated. The planting of the vine represents God bringing Israel into the land of Canaan (Isa 5:2), the protection around the vineyard stands for angels that guard God’s people (Isa 5:5), the tower is the temple (Isa 5:2), the winepress is the altar and the bad grapes are all kinds of sin, especially idolatry (Isa 5:4,7). We note that God still cares for us and gives us room to figure about our lives and have a change of mind and heart, and so we are never late to mend our relationship with Him.

Nevertheless, the Gospel readings seem to reiterate a similar circumstance.  We encounter a landowner who planted a vineyard, took good care of it and finally rented it to some farmers. The deal looks good and these farmers feel content with the action for it seems that they were the beneficiaries in either way. The problem only ensues during the harvest time when the landowner judges it wise enough to collect his fruits through the aid of his servants. The treatment he encounters is rather worrying, for the people he trusted drastically turn against him. They beat and stone his servants, and painfully enough, finally kill his son bearing in mind that he was the heir and so look forward to possess his inheritance by grabbing it forcefully.

It is important to note that, the landowner might have rented his vineyard to these farmers at a reasonable price that would aid them provide for their basic necessities without much struggle, thus, treating them with righteousness. I am also moved by the patience manifested by the landowner, even though his servants were consecutively mistreated, he kept sending others hoping that the farmers would relent and attend to his request before he sent his son whom they strangled.

In the second reading, Philippians 4:6-9, Paul calls the community to make prayers and supplications to God and to have virtuous thoughts. It is, therefore, clear that evil thoughts lead us astray and it could be the cause of farmers disregarding the pleas of the landowner regarding his need of his fruits.

This reminds me of the character of a dog. A dog with a bone on his mouth has a tendency of barking on seeing another dog with a bone as well. What follows is that the bone drops down and he loses as a result of wanting to snatch what the other had. Henceforth, this is what happens to us when we are envious about others. The farmers became jealous towards the landowner and to his son, the heir, of his vineyard and ended up killing him. This Sunday’s readings then remind us to do away with our envious character little by little and to always remain grateful to those who wishes us well.

 

Ooko Thomas Owino

IV Year Theology

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7 Minute homily for the Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Year A

 

First Reading: Ezekiel 18:25-28
Responsorial Psalm: 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9
Second Reading: Philippians 2:1-11
Gospel: Matthew 21:28-32

A certain man was imprisoned because he was a thief. After he had spent a couple of years in prison he was finally released but reaching home everything had changed and even the neighbors and friends were making mockery of him. So when someone asked him how was he felling with all the shame and what was he planning to do since he was already old, then he answered: I don’t care about what i have done nor do i care about what people say about me what is important is that I no longer live that life now and i will try to at least do good in the few years of life that i have.

Today the mother church gives us the opportunity to reflect about the mercy of God towards those strive sincerely to Him. In the first reading prophet Ezekiel presents God who tempers justice and mercy “when a righteous man turns to evil will die but if a sinner turns to righteousness he will surely live”. The Israelites had the conception that if one has been righteous throughout the life but at last at last becomes wicked; his previous righteousness could save him. So, the prophet knowing the reality he was in, he addresses this message to them showing that God is both just and merciful.  

The same scenario we find in the Gospel Reading and at the end of the Gospel Jesus affirms that the sinners prostitutes etc may enter the kingdom of God before those who considered themselves as righteous. How many times do we despise people? How many times do we judge people as more sinners than we are? How many times do we discourage people who want to convert to the Lord?

Dear friends, in our Christian life we are always reminded of the eschatological events such as end of the time, judgment, the second coming of Messiah etc. and when this time comes we won’t be judged according to the time we have been Christians, rather on how committed we are to this Christianity. Like the thief who did not care of what he had done and what would the people say of him, God does not care on how much we have fallen but rather how much efforts do we use to stand after the fall and how much energy do we use in order to not fall again. In order to be converted to the Lord we are given one way in the second reading which is to avoid selfishness just like Jesus who accepted to die on the cross because of our sins. Saint Anthony Mary claret understood this constant conversion which was based on the service of the others that is why once he said “my spirit is for the whole world. So let us pray that God may give us the necessary graces we need to be truly Christians living what we preach.

 

Geremias Armando Carlos

IV Year Theology

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7 Minutes Homily for the the 25th Ordinary Sunday of Year A

First Reading: Isa 55:6-9

Second Reading: Phil 1:20-24,27a

Gospel: Mt 20:1-16

Seeking for something lost is very common in human life. When a person has lost a valued property, it often takes time to find it. I remember one day I lost the key and when I realized that I did not have the key to the gate. This made me start to concentrate and even to recall all my movements since the last time I had it. Every time I had the desire to search or looking for it in different areas which I thought it would be.

In the first reading from the prophet Isaiah, we hear him tell us to seek the Lord while he may be found, and to call him while he is near. It is not an easy task to seek the Lord in our lives if we do not persist in prayer. Just like when we have lost our belongings, we do not find them unless we search for them diligently. What we need to learn from the gospel of today is that the joy of life cannot be found by the power of the person rather it is a gift from God.

 The gospel of today tells us about the workers who are taken to the farm to work different hours and in the end, all of them are paid equally according to their agreement. We also, through the sacrament of baptism are incorporated in the community of the faithful and we have to thank God for that gift which he entrusted to us. What is very important in the vineyard is to remain faithful and do his work unceasingly so that in the end we might inherit heaven.  We are invited to live according to the commandments.

The gospel of today gives us a narration about workers, how they are taken to certain farms to work at different hours from morning hours to evening hours. What is very interesting however, is that when it comes to the time of paymentt, he starts by paying those who had worked only one hour, then proceeds to pay the others the same amount as well. Ordinarily, it is expected of him to pay the first ones first but he decides to make them the last and they receive an equal amount with the last ones. This makes them envious of the actions of the master. There are great lessons to learn from this employer. First, we learn that it doesn't matter how old our faith and commitment to God received during our time of baptism is. Even one who becomes a believer at the last moment of their lives can enter the kingdom of heaven and is treated equally with the rest. Another thing to learn from it is about being envious when we see the progress of others. From the Israelites' time, we also find Israelites being envious and complaining when they were suffering in the wilderness (Ex 16:2). Today Jesus is showing us that it does not matter at what time or which kind of people we are. All he desires is to see they are saved. Today we are given a chance to learn about the richness of a master— he can do everything for the person who turns to him without any limitation. Let us follow the word of Saint Antony Maria Claret in his apostolic prayer that “O my God and my Father, may I know you and make you known; love you and make you loved” Let it be our guidance in our prayer and mission activities.

 

Gastor B. Kimario

IV Year Theology

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7 Minutes Homily for 22nd Sunday of the Year

 

First Reading Jer 20:7-9,

Second reading Rom 12:1-2 

Gospel reading Mat 16:21-27

“Deny yourself and take up your cross and follow me.”

Most of the time people give excuses when someone assigned them a task. People  always have something to say to the one  giving the task. It’s almost a human behavior to complain and show unwillingness to take the responsibility. Sometimes as individual you have to ask yourself, ‘why complains come first when someone ask you to take responsibility?’

In the first reading of today, Jeremiah complains to God, that He overpowered him as he was given the task which God prepared for him. He accuses God of enticing him and overpowering him (Jer 20: 7). These verbs show that God forced him to prophesy against his will. Jeremiah was not willing to take freely the responsibility which God has entrusted to him. God’s love came to Jeremiah as fire when he says, “if l say l will not mention Him, or speak any more in  His name, there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones… (Jer 20:9).” God Himself, through His power and love, had forced Jeremiah to obey Him, and to be moved by His love in his heart to do God’s will. God’s love always comes to us with power and it has to be treated positively, and to be accepted.  Jeremiah thereby claims to be a true prophet, not who sends himself with his own message. If we obey God, we can be able to perform wonders and great things will happen to us and saving others.  

In the second reading from the letter of St Paul to the Romans, Paul reminded us that, Christian existence must not be conformed to this world but transformed by the renewal of minds. Paul says that, “do not conform yourselves to this age but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, (Rom 12:2).” A renewed mind is essential to the discernment of God’s will and the transformation of life. If we renew our mind, we can be able to obey God, and do His will.

From the Gospel of today according to Matthew, we hear Jesus rebuking Peter, for he was thinking against the will of God. To think against God’s will is a sign of disobedience which Jesus rebuke in Peter. Jesus spoke to His disciples saying, “if any one would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me (Mat 16:24).” To deny oneself is to return from whatever hinders faithful and lived commitment. All the readings of today are reminding us to obey God, and to deny ourselves, and to accept the will of God to happen in us.

Joseph Chingarande

I Year Theology

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