IT IS GOOD NEWS, BUT THERE IS ALSO BAD NEWS

IT IS GOOD NEWS, BUT THERE IS ALSO BAD NEWS

Fr. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara CSsR

Homily for the Third Sunday of Advent

Holy Names Church

Memphis, Tennessee, USA

December 13, 2009

Last Sunday being the Second Sunday of Advent, we read about the emergence of John the Baptist. John the Baptist was a major religious figure who led a movement of baptism at the River Jordan in preparation for the coming of Jesus Christ, who he described as “One mightier than I”. Like other Hebrew prophets, John lived an austere life; he challenged sinful rulers, calling everyone to repentance and promising God’s justice. John anticipated a messianic figure who would be greater than himself. He is regarded as the forerunner of Jesus. He was the last of the Old Testament prophets, and the first of the New Testament prophets.

Last Sunday we read the emergence of this desert preacher, an austere and a rigid prophet. The Gospel of Luke 3 tells us that John went throughout the whole region of Jordan proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. In his proclamation the voice of one crying in the wilderness as he calls himself shouts:

Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths. Every valley shall be filled and every mountain and hill shall be made low. The winding roads shall be made straight, and the rough ways made smooth, and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

The people who heard this proclamation were profoundly terrified. In their fear, they ran to John. The gospel of Luke 3: 7 says “Crowds of people came out to John to be baptized by him.” The gospel seems to be saying that John the Baptist brought good news to the people. But his utterance to the people that came out to be baptized doesn’t sound good news at all. Just listen to what John said:

“You brood of vipers! Who told you that you should escape from the punishment God is about to send? I am baptizing you with water, but one mightier than I is coming. I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fan is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

The preaching of John was supposed to be good news. He preached, the people responded. He called them brood of vipers. A viper is a dangerous snake. Vipers are known for their wickedness. By calling them vipers, John was accusing them of their wickedness.

Good news! What is good news? What is the good news about Jesus coming to earth to judge and punish sinners? Is it good news that people who have many possessions, with lots of money, or those whose jobs just happen to be collecting tax, or soldiers who have been less compassionate, or the police men or women who collect bribes, or a shepherd who does not lay down his life for the sheep will have to stand before Jesus, the Counselor and face his wrath?

John the Baptist should have passed his message to the people in a joking manner. He should have made a joke out of it. He should have told them: “I have good news and bad news for you; the good news is that the Messiah is coming, and the bad news is that he is not going to like what he finds.” Jesus is not going to like the sorts of wickedness and brutality humans bring to one another. He is not going to like the intensity of hatred among God’s people. He is not going to like it that we are too judgmental and harshly critical of others who don’t act like us, who don’t look like us, who don’t worship like us, or speak like us etc. The King will not like the mindless killings going on around the world. He is not going to like the corruption, greed and insincerity of the political leaders. Jesus is not going to like the objectification of human beings. He is not going to like the way we treat each other. He is not going to like the pride, envy and jealousy that exist among his people. He is not going to enjoy the sight- in the midst of plenty, so many are starving. In the midst of plenty, so many are homeless; in the midst of the best doctors, nurses and hospitals, so many die because they cannot afford to receive treatment for the diseases that killed them. The Lord will not enjoy the sight of so many lives being wasted around the world; so much human and material resources that should have been used to enhance humanity are being used to solve the problem of religious extremism.

John the Baptist was the link between the Old Testament and the New. He was the last OT prophet and the first of the NT. He preached to an audience who lived with the image of a God who is wrathful and punitive, who demanded righteousness or else. And when people failed in their righteousness, they had to make animal and other material sacrifices to make God happy so to say. Their concept of God is a Deity who can be appeased with material sacrifices. The goal of these sacrifices is not for forgiveness but appeasement.

Beloved, the good news is Jesus is coming; he is coming to save us as our Savior. The bad news is that he is going to judge us if we refuse to reject wickedness. It was good news for the long expected Messiah to come; it was bad news to hear that he would point out the darkness in our lives. Though he will judge us but the wonderful news is he will not judge us guilty, not that we are not guilty, but he will offer us grace as a gift; he will offer us unmerited grace and freedom, and anyone who accepts this gift will leave forever. That’s the ultimate Good News of Jesus’ coming.

But in today’s story there is something that is usually forgotten in all of John’s fire and brimstone, that is the sincerity of the people who heard his message and wanted to change their ways: “What then should we do?” they asked. In his answer to their question, John did not issue a litany of impossible do’s and don’ts. He gave simple and practical prescriptions. This is what he said:

“Whoever has two cloaks should share with the person who has none. And whoever has food should do likewise.” To the tax collectors he said “Stop collecting more than what is prescribed.” To the soldiers he said “Do not practice extortion, do not falsely accuse anyone, and be satisfied with your wages.”

The tax collectors and the soldiers were despised people in the Jewish culture; they were seen as outcasts. Tax collectors took advantage of people, collecting much more than were required by Caesar, and then keeping the difference to themselves. Soldiers were Roman citizens with little regard for the Jewish people, and would often unfairly accuse individuals of a crime and then be bribed to recant the accusation. So John’s prescription was “don’t collect more tax than you ought to; don’t swindle people.” These are simple changes in lifestyle; change in attitude. But it gave the people of John’s time hope. They do not need to fear for the coming of the Messiah if their hearts were in the right place. The simple prescription was “Love God and serve humanity”. St. Augustine puts it differently, “Love God and do whatever you want.”

“What shall we do?” was the question of the tax collectors and the soldiers. It is still a good question today. Do we find sometime to ask this question ourselves? How many of us are asking this question? If you do, the answer is:

If you have two coats, give one away. If you have enough food than you can eat, share with those who have little or none. If you are a business man or woman, be honest in your business; if you are a teacher, teach well; make extra effort to make sure that every of your students learns; if you are a student, don’t waste the money paid for your studies, study well; if you are a soldier or a police, be compassionate; if you a truck driver, drive the speed limit; if you are a parent, be tender and fair; if you are a child, honor your parents; if you are a husband or a wife, love your spouse by being faithful; if you are a priest or a religious, be kind and friendly; if you are an employer of labor, pay your workers a just wage; if you are an employee, be diligent in your work and be satisfied with your wage; if you supervise others, be humble and fair in dealing with them; if you are a politician, fight for the common good; if you are a doctor or a nurse, strive to save life; treat your patients with compassion and love; if you are a white person, receive the black person as a brother or a sister; if you are a black person, receive the white person as a brother and sisters; ultimately, if you are a follower of Jesus Christ, be real. Love God and serve humanity; love God and do whatever you want. And do not forget that Jesus has forgiven you. You are no longer an enemy, he calls you friend. That is the good news; that’s what we need to hear. Jesus is our friend.

Although there is a bad news, but the good news outweigh the bad news. Jesus is the good news.

BE VIGILANT AT ALL TIMES

BE VIGILANT AT ALL TIMES

Fr. Marcel-Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily for the First Sunday of Advent

Holy Names of Jesus & Mary Catholic Church

Memphis, Tennessee, USA

November 29, 2009

Ephesians 5:14 “Wake up O sleeper and rise up from the dead, and let the light of Christ shine upon you”

Today is the first Sunday of Advent. Advent marks the beginning of a new liturgical year in the Church. The Catholic Church has her own special liturgical year and calendar; and through this liturgical year and calendar, she presents again the history and unchanging mysteries of our salvation, from Creation to the Second Coming, together with the entire life of our Savior Jesus Christ. The Church’s liturgical year is a year of formation; and like students in school, Christians learn about faith, hope and charity. We learn about God’s will and how to do God’s will. Each Sunday and Feast present a special lesson to us for our daily living.

Advent is a lovely season because it emphasizes the Parousia- the Second Coming of Christ. It reminds us that after sunrise, there will be sunset. With the beginning of the season of Advent, we begin a new liturgical year. The First Sunday of Advent is therefore the Church’s “New Year Day.” Advent begins the Christmas cycle.

The word “Advent” means “arrival” or “coming”. Advent reminds us that the Lord is coming. It means that Jesus Christ, our Brother in our humanity and our God in His divinity will arrive or has arrived. The Lord comes to us in different ways:

• In the whole of Gospel of Luke 2, we were told that Jesus came to us at a specific time in history at Bethlehem more than 2000 years ago. This first coming of Jesus is what we celebrate during Christmas. At this time, he came in humility.
• The Gospel of Matthew 24:29-31, speaks of when the Lord, the Alpha and Omega will come to judge the living and the dead. This time he will come in glory.
• The Lord comes to us in grace. He speaks to us in our consciences. In Rev. 3:20, he says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock, if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with me.”
• Again, the Lord comes to us in the Eucharist and in the Word of God proclaimed. In the Gospel of John 6:25-59, Jesus tells us that he is the Bread of life. And in Matthew 26:26-29, Jesus established a constant presence with us. “Take and eat…Do this in remembrance of me.”
• Finally, the Lord comes to us in the person of the beggar, the needy, the suffering, and the oppressed. We must be ready to receive and welcome Him when He comes, however he comes. Remember Matthew 25:40 “Whatsoever you do, to the least of my brothers and sisters, you did unto me.”

Advent is a period of great expectation. It is a wonderful expectation of the coming of our Savior and our salvation. If there is no Savior, there will be no salvation. The Savior brings Salvation, and this salvation is for those who are ready to receive it. The salvation is free, but not cheap. Mark it; Salvation is free, but not cheap!

What shall we do then to be part of this salvation and redeemed people? Jesus provides the answer in today’s Gospel reading when he said: “Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life, and that day catch you by surprise like a trap. For that that will assault everyone who lives on the face of the earth. Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Brethren, Jesus says, stay awake! You may be asking yourself, what is there to wake up from? What are we to wake up from? The Lord wants us to wake up from the sleep of the soul. The sleep of the soul is the neglect of the things of God; it is the neglect of our spiritual duties; it is the neglect of our state of life; it is the neglect of virtues. Today, let us examine our lives in order to see how prepared we are because we do not know the time or the hour when we will meet our Lord.

Outside the city of Rome is a little Chapel, and the wall of this Chapel is painted a short sentence: “Quo Vadis, Domine?” Which means, “Where are you going Lord”? Now tradition tells us that it was at that point that St. Peter met Jesus when he was running away from the first Roman persecution. While Peter was running away from Rome, he met the Lord going towards Rome, and he asked Jesus “Quo Vadis, Domine?” “Where are you going Lord?” And Jesus replied him, “I am going back to Rome to be crucified again.” Tradition also tells us that Peter realized that Jesus was talking to him, and he retraced his steps and went back to Rome, and from history we know that he was martyred there for his faith.

The question “Quo Vadis” – “where are you going” is today directed to me, to you, and to us as a Church. And this question is a practical question that we should ask ourselves periodically. Roughly we may divide our lives into three categories: our spiritual life, our intellectual life, and our social life. Applying this question to these three phases of our life, our divine Savior asks us today:

• Where are you going spiritually? Do you pray at all? Do you have the habits of praying or do you leave it to your moods? Do you attend Mass on Sundays regularly? Remember that Jesus says in the Gospel of Luke 18:1- “Pray always and do not loose heart.” Again, in Ephesians 6:18, Apostle Paul says, “Keep on praying in the spirit.” Again, remember the solemn promise of Jesus in the gospel of Matthew 7:7- “ask and you shall receive, seek and you shall found, knock and the door will be opened to you.”
• Quo Vadis? Where are you going intellectually? What books and papers and magazines do you read? What occupies your mind? What thoughts are habitually fostered in your mind? May be you read anything, think anything, or may be deliberately choose books that are contrary to Christian morals and faith. What do we usually think about? Do we spend sometime to read the Word of God. Psalm 119:105 says, “Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light unto my path.” And in John 6:63, Jesus said, “My Words are Spirit and they are life.”
• Quo Vadis? Where are you going socially? Are you a scandal to others? Do you seek the company of those who are going to be an occasion of sin for you? Are you giving too much time to social activities? It is very important to remember always that Romans 14: 17 says, “The kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy which the Holy Spirit gives.” And in verse 18, it says, “And when you serve Christ Jesus in this way, you please God and are approved by others.”

Where are we spiritually, intellectually and socially? The Lord says to us today, ‘Wake up from your spiritual slumber.’ St. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians 5:14 says, “Wake up O sleeper, and rise up from the dead, and let the light of Christ shine upon you.”

Romans 13:11-12 says “The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed. The night is nearly over, the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.”

Some of us are still asleep, although we are walking around. And while in deep slumber, we are overtaken by the deeds of darkness, and driven back to Sodom. Our dreams are all about Egypt. Sleeping Christians believed in past glory. They are completely unaware that our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. But today, Jesus calls us to wake up. He wants us to prove once again that our eyes are open, looking unto heaven, waiting for his Second coming. We should not remain in bed when we wake up. Arise and shine in this crooked and perverse generation.

In the book of Revelation 3:1, the Church in Sardis was described by the Lord as follows, “I know your deeds, you have a reputation of being alive but you are dead.” Divine view is different from human view. No wonder 1 Samuel: 16:7 says: The Lord does not look at the things human being look at. Human beings look at outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

THE CHURCH IN SARDIS was deceived by their reputation; she was deceived by human applause, positive assessment and acceptance. When weighed on human scales, they were found perfect. They were justified by men. Whenever they were singing, praying, clapping their hands and probably dancing inside the Church, the onlookers usually nodded their heads in great admiration, saying, “Yes, their Church is alive and marching forward.” In their Church, they prayed like Elijah, danced like David, preached like Paul and Apollos, performed miracles like Elisha, and sang like the angels. People believed they were alive. But weighed spiritually, they were empty. Jesus scanned their hearts and found that what they had was outward show of piety.

Today, our loving Master asks us to wake up from our sleep. He wants us to come down from our bed of sleep. He wants us to hearken to what Prophet Isaiah says in Isaiah 2:3 “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the Temple of the God of Jacob that he may teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths…”

Rev. 3:2 says, Wake up, strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have not found your deeds complete in the sight of my God.”

And in 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8, Apostle Paul says, “So then, let us not be like others who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled…putting on faith and love as breastplate, and hope of salvation as helmet.”

But if we don’t do anything concerning our spiritual life and our life generally, we may be found wanting when the Lord comes. And in the Rev. 3:3 he warns: “But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you.”

Only those who are awake and ready will sing with the Psalmist in Psalm 122: 1, “I rejoice when I heard them say, ‘let us go to God’s house’”.

OUR SECOND CHANCE

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara CSsR

Homily for 33^rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

November 15, 2009

A hospital called The Hospice of God in Beaune, France which was founded in 1443 has the picture of the Last Judgment painted by Rogier van der Weyden. The beds in the large hospital ward were positioned in such a way that the patients could see the painting from their sickbeds. In the center was Jesus Christ with the Archangel Michael. This picture of Jesus is not the friendly Jesus carrying a sheep on his shoulders; it was not the picture of Jesus surrounded by kids, it was the picture of Jesus as a Judge. In the picture, there was the Archangel Michael weighing the sins of those seen rising from their graves on a scale. The righteous are seen joyfully entering into God’s Kingdom, while the damned go to everlasting torture. The intention of the painting is so easy to understand. Those who are sick and dying are being warned and being given an all important second chance to prepare to meet the Lord for judgment. But guess what? Only those who have enjoyed the grace and the friendship of Jesus will appreciate this painting. They are the ones that will easily understand this painting. To such people, this painting will make a lot of sense.

All major religions of the world have a sense of judgment beyond this world. There is earthly judgment done by the Judges in various law courts. But there is the final judgment or the Last Judgment which will be done by the Son of Man himself. I have always believed and taught that if the perpetrators of evil should escape earthly judgment, they cannot escape the Last Judgment. At that Judgment, the all knowing Lord cannot be deceived or misled or misguided. Now Christianity and Judaism believe that the Son of Man will come in the clouds to judge. Our today’s Gospel says

“…they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and glory, and then he will send out the angels and gather his elect from the four winds, from the end of the earth to the end of the sky.”

But it is not only biblical religions that teach about a judgment day. Islam teaches that when one dies the angel of death comes with God’s judgment to bring the person either to paradise or hellfire. Hindu, Buddhism and other religions of China talk about being reborn as a moth or a man, prince or a slave. But what determines where one will be reborn is one’s actions on earth. Sinful and evil people will be sent downward chained everlastingly. Whereas righteous people will be sent up. Therefore Nirvana or final nothingness is the hope of humanity according to these Asian religions. It is crystal clear that God has implanted in the heart of every human the notion of accountability. Human life does not go on unceasingly here on earth. There is life after life; there is life after death. Our actions here on earth determines where eternity will be spent. It was William Shakespeare who said that the world is a stage and everybody is an actor. Those who acted lovingly will be shown love hereafter; they will receive love. Those who acted with so much hate and bitterness will be rejected by love. The Igbo tribe of Nigeria describe human life on earth as going to the market or to the shops to buy things. After shopping, one does not stay behind in the shop, he or she returns home. The world is a shopping place, those who buy good will see good; those who buy evil will see evil.

In our Eucharistic Acclamations we profess our faith in Jesus’ coming: “Christ has died, Christ is risen , Christ will come again.” In the Creed we recite every Sunday we profess: “He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end.” In the Creed, we profess our belief in a judgment that awaits us. In that judgment we will see the evil effects our sins have caused. We will see the numerous opportunities we had to do good but let slipped by; we will also see the good we did. The words of Jesus in today’s Gospel taking from Mark 13: 24-32 is a reminder of what lies ahead so that we live now with that second chance. Jesus’ first coming as Man and his second coming is one entire act of saving the world. His second coming is the final part of that salvation. The Lord will come again to judge the living and the dead.

“God won’t ask the square footage of your house. He will ask how many people you helped who didn’t have a house.

God won’t ask how many fancy clothes you had in your closet. He will ask how many of those clothes you gave away to those who didn’t have any.

God won’t ask how many material possessions you had. He will ask whether those material possessions dictated your life.

God won’t ask what your highest salary was. He will ask if you trampled over any people to obtain that salary.

God won’t ask how much overtime you worked. He will ask did you work overtime for your family.

God won’t ask how many promotions you received. He will ask what you did to promote others.

God won’t ask what your job title was. He will ask did you perform your job to the best of your ability.

God won’t ask what your parents did to help you. He will ask what you did to help your parents.

God won’t ask what you did to help yourself. He will ask what you did to help others.

God won’t ask how many friends you had. He will ask how many people you were a friend to.

God won’t ask what you did to protect your rights. He will ask what you did to protect the right of others.”

We have a second chance, that chance is now.

Today’s gospel calls us to learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its branch becomes tender and sprout leaves, we say that the summer is near. Do not be frightened by today’s Gospel reading. The Lord’s intention is not to frighten us. He is calling our attention to what awaits us. He is giving us a second chance. Today’s Gospel from Mark is both a warning and a comfort. The warning is God’s judgment is coming. The comfort is Jesus does not want us to be unprepared when it happens. He wants us to be ready and well prepared. There is another thing comforting about this message of judgment. Who is the judge? It is Jesus who loves us so much, who promises never to leave us. He is our reconciliation. The judge is the one who said of himself in the Gospel of John 10: 10 “I have come that they may have life, life in its fullness.” The judge is the one who says in John 10: 11 “I am the Good Shepherd who will die for the sheep.” The righteous judge is the one who promised us in John 14: 2-3 that after he had prepared a place for us in his Father’s house, he will come to take us. The Judge is the one who called us friends in John 15: 15. The Judge is the one who promised not to leave us as orphans. The Judge is one who prayed for us in John 17 that we may be in him just as he is in the Father.

This Judge is giving us a second chance by reminding us to be ready. Are you ready? Holy Names, are you ready? Are you ready? Are you ready?

REAL GIFT IS SACRIFICIAL

REAL GIFT IS SACRIFICIAL

Fr. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara CSsR

Homily for 32^nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

November, 8, 2009

Today, the Church presents us the beautiful stories of two widows. One gave the only food she had to a prophet, Elijah. The other widow gave the only money she had so that sacrifice could be offered in the Temple and the bills of the Temple paid. We are presented with two remarkable stories of two women who gave everything they had for others. The widow of Zarephath gave the last food she had to Prophet Elijah, and because of her kindness, she never lacked food for the next one year even though there was famine in the land. The widow at the treasury gave her last coins and her offering was considered the greatest by Jesus Christ.

A lot of people who don’t even know much about the Bible would know what you are talking about if you mention the widow’s mite. Christians and non-Christians, Churchgoers and non-churchgoers know about the story of a poor widow in today’s Gospel reading from Mark 12: 41-44. It is a story of great sacrifice.

Jesus had gone to sit quietly opposite the treasury and observed how the crowd put money into the treasury. The treasury is the collection boxes where people throw in money for special purposes like the buying of corn or wine or oil for the sacrifices. They were contributions for the daily sacrifices and expenses of the Temple. Many people threw in quite considerable contributions. The Gospel says “Many rich people put in large sums.” Then a widow appeared. She is not just any widow; she is a poor wretched widow. She put in two mites- two small coins like two cents. But her offering caught the attention of Jesus. Jesus was watching as people put in their money. The rich, out of their surplus wealth made huge donations. But the poor widow, from her poverty, has given all she had, her whole livelihood. Jesus was so thrilled that he called his disciples and said “…this poor widow has put more in than all who have contributed to the treasury.”

The story of the widow at the treasury reminds us again what we already know about Christian discipleship- that God does not need money. He needs us. He wants us. This poor widow did not give God money; she gave herself entirely to God; she gave everything to God. She gave her entire self, her present and her future. She gave the only thing that stands between her and total dependence on the providence of God- two cents. Real giving has a certain recklessness in it. The widow could have kept one coin even though it would not have made much difference, but she gave everything she had. She did not reserve anything. Her action has a profound symbolic meaning. Think about it, this poor widow surrendered and tendered everything she had. What about us? The tragedy here is that there is some part of ourselves that we are yet to surrender and tender to Jesus; there is some part of our time, talent, and treasure that we are yet to surrender to Jesus; there is some part of our activities, some part of our lives which we haven’t yet given totally and entirely to Jesus Christ. There is something we are holding back. We are afraid to give them up because of the fear of the unknown. We don’t have a childlike faith that assures us that if we give them up, if we surrender to Jesus our entire live, our activities, our three Tees- time, talent and treasure that God will take care of us. We are not yet ready to make the final sacrifice and surrender. We are still giving excuses, not yet ready. But these two windows gave everything.

From these two widows, another lesson to learn is that real giving must be sacrificial. What matters here is not the amount of the gift, or the size of the gift. What matters is the sacrifice. Real giving must hurt. Profound generosity continues to give until it hurts. For many of us, the question is not whether we give; the question is whether our giving to God’s work is sacrificial at all. Some of us can afford to spend huge amount in restaurants; some of us can afford to spend our money in some unnecessary pleasures and entertainments. We can spend real money in jewelries, in clothes, in shoes, etc. but not in things that pertains to religion, not in offertory basket.

The stories of these two remarkable widows will only make more sense if we believe that what we do with our money shows what we have in our heart. If you want to find out what you really love, read your credit card bill. No wonder Jesus says in the Gospel of Luke 12: 34 “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” The use of money, stewardship and material things was so important to Jesus that he called his disciples together to tell them about the widow’s gift. The main issue for Jesus was not how much she gave or what she gave. And recognizing the little donation of the widow does not mean that Jesus approves of the conditions that rendered the widow poor. It does not mean that Jesus approves poverty and deprivation. The Lord is saying that what we do with our money either grows our faith or deadens it. What we do with our money can deepen our spirituality or shatter it.

Now when we talk about gifts, some of us may claim that they don’t have enough of material gifts or personal gifts to give to Jesus Christ, but, if we put all that we have and are at our disposal, the Lord can do great things with them and with us. Every child of God has something to give. Every one of us here has something to give. The two widows gave everything they have. What about us?

WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO FOR YOU?

WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO DO FOR YOU?

Fr. Marcel Emeka Okwara CSsR

Homily for the 30^th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B

October 25, 2009

Today we hear another powerful story of the power of faith and persistence. It is the story of a blind man named Bartimaeus who received healing from Jesus due to his persistence and expression of faith in Jesus to cure him. Bartimaeus believed that the Son of David is able to bring newness into his life. Today’s healing is a roadside healing. It is a roadside demonstration of faith; it is a roadside expression of pity on the side of Jesus.

Today’s gospel taken from Mark 10: 46-52 says that Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and accompanied by a sizeable crowd. As they walked to their destination, the blind Bartimaeus who sits by the roadside begging heard the tramp of their feet and asked what was happening and who was passing. It is important to mention here that Jesus was on his way to the Passover. Now when a distinguished Rabbi or teacher was on such a journey it was the custom that he was surrounded by a crowd of people, disciples and learners, who listened to him as he discoursed while he walked. That was one of the commonest ways of teaching. When Bartimaeus heard the strong movement of people, he knew that an important Rabbi was travelling by the road. He therefore asked who was passing and was told that it was Jesus. There and then, the blind man caused an uproar. He started shouting and screaming loudly “Jesus, son of David, have mercy on me.” But the people around rebuked him to be silent, but the blind man was not ready to let this opportunity pass him by. He therefore shouted even louder “Son of David, have pity on me.” This time, he distracted Jesus. He got the attention of Jesus. “Call him,” said Jesus. When Bartimaeus was brought to Jesus, the Lord asked him “What do you want me to do for you?” Bartimaeus may have been stunned by the question of Jesus; he may have even reasoned “Jesus, are you crazy? Can’t you see I am blind and needed sight? But his answer to the question of Jesus was “Master, I want to see.” At this point Jesus said to him, “Go your way; your faith has saved you.” He immediately received his sight and instead of going away, he followed Jesus on his way.

Some people have always wondered why they should pray when God already knows what they want. It is true that God already knows what we need, but in the gospel we just read, Bartimaeus still asked Jesus for help. Any standby watcher would easily conclude that Bartimaeus wants Jesus to restore his sight; still Jesus asked him “Who do you want me to do for you?” It is possible the blind man wanted money; it is possible he wanted a house; it is possible he wanted even a wife or something else. The needs of a blind beggar would naturally be many. But the man wanted something that has been a huge hindrance to him. He wanted the restoration of his sight. Jesus knew everything about people; he knew Judas was going to betray him; he knew about Nathanael under the fig tree (John 1); he knew the woman in Samaria has had five husbands before her present partner (John 4). Jesus knew about Bartimaeus. He didn’t need to be told he needed his sight restored yet he still asked him. Bartimaeus also did not need to tell Jesus about his condition, but by telling Jesus he was preparing himself to receive the gift of having his sight restored. God knows our needs. He knows what we want in life. Prayer is not about informing God what our needs are. He already knows about them. Instead prayer is for our benefit, not God. Prayer prepares us to receive what God wishes to give us.

From today’s powerful story we can see many of the things which we might call the conditions of miracle:

1. The blind Bartimaeus was persistent in his asking. Despite the shout-down and abuse he got from the people around him, he refused to be discouraged. Nothing that time would stop him from coming face to face with Jesus. He was utterly determined to meet the one person who can change his life. He was determined and desperate to encounter Jesus. The more the pull-him-down (PHD) people shout down at him, the more he shouted even louder. At last, he won. He got the attention of Jesus. He got his healing; his sight was restored.
2. His response to the call of Jesus was immediate and eager. As soon as he was told that Jesus was calling him, he threw aside his hindering cloak and ran to Jesus. Bartimaeus did not wait; he rather ran to Jesus the source of life. Many people hear the call of Jesus, but says, “Wait until I have done this,” “Wait until I have finished or accomplished that.” As soon as Jesus called, Bartimaeus did not waste time. Certain chances happen only once.
3. Bartimaeus knew precisely what he wanted- “Master I want to see.” Too often our admiration for Jesus is a vague attraction. The man with a back pain wants the doctor to deal precisely with his back pain. The woman with a toothache wants the dentist to extract the diseased tooth not any tooth. It should be so with us and Jesus. And for us to deal with Jesus that way it requires what most people consciously and unconsciously avoid, that is self-examination. Self-examination makes it possible for us to tell Jesus precisely what we want.
4. Bartimaeus called Jesus “Son of David.” Now the title “Son of David” is an inadequate notion or idea of Jesus. The title was a Messianic title. It regards Jesus as a conquering Messiah, a military Messiah who would lead Israel to national greatness. That was a very inadequate idea of Jesus. But despite Bartimaeus inadequate idea of Jesus, he had faith. His faith made up his inadequate conception of Jesus. As Christians we will never fully understand Jesus. But what is demanded of us is faith. Christianity begins with a personal reaction to Jesus, a reaction of love, a feeling of here is the one person who can meet our need.
5. What did Bartimaeus do after his sight was restored? He followed Jesus along the road. When the Gospels said that someone followed Jesus, it means they became a disciple of Jesus. Bartimaeus may have been a blind beggar by the wayside, but he was a man of gratitude. Having received his sight, he followed Jesus. He did not selfishly go on his way when his need was met. He began with need, went on to gratitude, and finished with loyalty. That is a perfect summary of the stages of discipleship.

GET RID OF IT!

GET RID OF IT

Fr. Marcel Emeka Okwara CSsR

Homily for the 26^th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

Holy Names of Jesus & Mary Catholic Church

Memphis, TN, USA

September 27, 2009

Many of us have favorite Bible passage. Those who read the Bible have favorite quotes from the Bible. The favorite quotes are the quotes in the Bible that either touch us more deeply or make a lot of sense to us. Some of us have more than one Bible passage that we consider favorite and special. Ask some of us to say our favorite Bible quotation and it is likely none of us will mention the verses we just heard from today’s Gospel:

If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life crippled than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. Better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched (Mark 9:43,45,47).

Now what are we to do with these words from Jesus? What is Jesus actually saying to us in those words? Surely, the Lord is not talking of literal amputation of our hands. He is obviously not asking us to pluck out our eyes, or amputate our foot. Jesus was speaking metaphorically. At that time in Palestine, it was common to speak in this exaggerated way just to make a point. In literature it is called hyperbole. Everyone in this Church can agree that Jesus is not asking us to literary get rid of any or all the parts of the body mentioned in the passage we just read. Now knowing what Jesus is not asking us to do leave us with the question: What then is the Lord saying in that passage? What does he expect from us?

A story was told of a woman who bought a very expensive dress and when she went home her husband said to her, “When you were trying it on why didn’t you say, ‘Get behind me Satan?’” She said, “I did say ‘Get behind me Satan,’ and when I looked at it from behind in the mirror it was just as nice!”

Human life is a life of battle. Within us there is a battle going on. There is a battle going on in the lives of each of us; it is a battle for the lives of each of us. It is a battle between good and evil. At the end of that battle, we will either hear Jesus say “You are mine” or hear Satan say “you are mine.” We thank God for the gift of his Son, Jesus Christ. Through his death on the cross, he has won the battle for us. On the cross Jesus says “It is finished.” He finished and ended the dominion of Satan over us; he finished the over-bearing influence of Satan over us; he finished and terminated Satan’s accusation, pride and control of our lives. With his own life, the Lord offers us salvation. Jesus’ death on the cross is a profound way of saying “You are mine.” Now it is up to us to accept his grace and live as those redeemed by Him. If someone gives you a cheque of $1 million, the money is not yours until you have either transferred the money into your own bank account or has cash it. The salvation that Jesus offers us is free but it is not cheap. It must cost you something. But what it costs us are the things that guarantee peace and happiness.

The words of Jesus in today’s gospel (Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48) should not be taken literary. The Lord is not asking us to mutilate our body. Jesus is simply asking us to avoid anything that leads us into temptation and sin. We call that “occasion of sin”. When Jesus says cut off your hand or foot or pluck out your eye if it causes you to sin he is asking us to avoid whatever it is that leads us on to commit sin. Whatever it is that in the long run makes us commit sin, Jesus says avoid it.

For some of us, consumption of alcohol is a trigger that leads to sin. I think we should say the same thing about TV, the internet, some magazines etc. Some TV channels are occasion of sin for us; some internet websites are not only occasions of sin, they are cancerous. They eat up the spiritual organs in us leaving us empty, dry and spiritually dead. Consider the manner with which the virus carried by porn sites eats and crashes our computers, it is the same way those porn sites eats and destroys our defenses making us more vulnerable and more gullible to indulge in some reckless sexual behaviors. Talking about TV, Mother Teresa of Calcutta said “we have a tabernacle to Jesus in the Church and we have a tabernacle to Satan in the home.” Some of the TV channels are tabernacle of Satan. These are what Jesus asks us today to avoid, to get rid of. Going to strippers’ club or Girls gone wild parties is dangerously dangerous and bad for any Christian who is serious with his or her spiritual and moral life as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

Jesus says to us today “Get rid of those things that will deny you heaven. Disengage and dissociate yourself from that relationship that is leading you away from God. Walk out on her or him if his or her relationship with you will lead you to hell. Better go to heaven friendless; better go to heaven without a boyfriend or a girlfriend than with a boyfriend or a girlfriend end up in Gehanna.

Today we hardly talk about hell. We erroneously believe that every one will go to heaven. We convince ourselves that hell is not real. Some argue that a loving Father cannot let his own child suffer in eternal hell. My response is “a loving and obedient son or daughter will not walk away from his or her Father.” Some argue that the teaching of hellfire was injected by the Church to make us comply and that ultimately there is no hell. But even in human society, there are laws, rules, policies that should and must be followed. One cannot graduate from Elementary school, High school, College or University if one did not meet up with all the requirements. Every human institution has laid down policies that must be followed. How come we think that God doesn’t have any? Is God lawless? Is God lax? Who is the origin of human beings’ ability to discover the need of laws, rules, and policies?

Dear friends, God is not lawless. God is not lax. God’s philosophy is not the philosophy of anything goes. If you want to spend eternity with God, you must live like one who wants to go there. Get rid of those things that lead you into sin. Spend sometime in prayers asking God to help you. There is a battle going on in the lives of each of us. It is a battle for the lives of each of us, a battle between good and evil. Through his cross Jesus has won the battle for us but it is up to us now to accept this victory and his grace and live as those redeemed by Jesus. Let us try to avoid occasions of sin and live in the grace of Jesus so that we may hear him say to us at the end, “You are mine.”

God bless you!