“I AM DOING SOMETHING NEW”
Fr. Marcel Emeka Okwara CSsR
Homily on the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Holy Names Catholic Church, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
February 22nd, 2009
Fr. Marcel Emeka Okwara CSsR
Homily on the Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Holy Names Catholic Church, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
February 22nd, 2009
History is the story of a people. It is the story of their struggles, journeys, ups and downs, successes and failures, victories and defeats, their rise and fall. History is also the story of our own life- our past and present; it is the story of where we were, and where we are presently. Some events and experiences in our history sometimes make us shudder or cringe. What we have been through in the past or what we are going through right now, sometimes lead to tears. We remember them with regrets; we remember them with pain and bitterness. Sometimes we hide and cry out our eyes. Human nature being what it is, we hardly remember the fun experiences we have had in the past. All that occupies our minds are the painful events and experiences of the past. We hardly remember the blessings we had enjoyed, no matter how little; we forgot the good friends we have had and the wonderful friendship and relationship we had with them. We fail to remember that the sole reason why those trials and tribulations did not totally obliterate us is simply because God was there carrying us in the hollow of his hands. If it were not God, we would have crumbled like the Jericho Wall, we would have melted like wax; we would have disappeared like a cube of sugar thrown into a cup of water; we would have vanished away like a smoke. But God was there and continues to be there!
In today’s first Reading taken from the prophecy of Isaiah 43:18-19, God spoke through his Servant Isaiah “Remember not the events of the past, the things of long ago consider not; see, I am doing something new.”
Brethren God is not asking us to forget history; he is not asking us to set on fire all history books especially those containing bitter experiences and events. God is not asking us to scorn the past and present events; he is not asking us to reject and ignore the experiences that may have shaped us. No! A nation (or a people or a person) that forgets its history, risks making the mistakes of the past all over again. We should remember the past; we should know our history, we should consider past events; but not with bitterness and anger. Whatever your experiences in the past may be, God says today, “Move on.” The Lord is saying, “I am doing something new here”. Move on with me! Forget the ugly events of the past; forget the time you were segregated; forget the time you were beaten for who you are; forget the ugly events in the history of America; forget the era of ignorance and denial. No nation is perfect. No nation has been perfect; and I there say, no nation would be perfect. We are moving towards perfection. If I were in Nigeria today, I would tell my people to forget the painful experiences of the civil war. I would tell them to put aside the things that led to that bloodshed; I would tell Nigerians to set aside ethnicism and tribalism and move on. If I were preaching in Liberia, I would tell Liberians to cast behind their back the painful experiences of their past. I would tell them to consider not their losses as a result of the gruesome civil war that lasted for years claiming lives and property. If I were in Burundi or Rwanda, I would tell the Hutu and the Tutsi to put aside the shameful effect of genocide and move on. If I were in Darfur, Bosnia, Cambodia, Iraq or El-Salvador, I would condemn the atrocities done to them, and still remind them of the need to move forward. Genocide is the worst crime and sin on earth. It is a reckless manifestation of lack of respect for human life; it is height and zenith of human beings’ inhumanity against their brothers and sisters. It is evil, unfortunately it happened, but we need to pick up the pieces of our life and move on.
Today God says, “I am doing something new.” God is doing something new in America. God is doing something new in the world. Through this global financial meltdown, God will make something new in our world. By the time he is through, we would emerge stronger, more prosperous, but more watchful and more prudent. By the time God is through with the new thing he is making, people will learn not to live beyond or above their means; ceaseless search for what is on vogue will reduce; the weakness of capitalism will be more revealed; the shortcomings of deregulation will be exposed; the lessons of risky speculation of the market will be learnt; the lessons of greed, reward for failure, and uncontrolled market will be learnt. God is doing something new! To those who had already lost their jobs, better jobs with better working conditions and better wage and entitlements may be the result of what God is doing. To those who have been working all their life, no rest, no relaxation, no recuperation, this might be a breather. It might also offer you the once in a while opportunity to go back to class and update your knowledge or to go into another field. Just as the nation needs economic stimulus, we all need intellectual stimulus too. I have seen people who are thanking God or are thankful that they lost their job when they did; because it afforded them an unprecedented opportunity to try something new which eventually made them more successful and more prosperous.
In today’s Gospel taken from Mark 2-1-12, the paralyzed man experienced something new from Jesus. He experienced newness in his life. He experienced the “something new’ that the Lord is doing. He experienced something new not because of his own faith, but for the faith of his friends. And this brings me to another issue I would like preach about.
In the Church family, we address each other as brothers and sisters, and that is what we really are. We are brothers and sisters because we have one Father and one Lord. We are brothers and sisters because we have one faith and one baptism. We are the family of God’s people. But guess what? We call ourselves brothers and sisters without being close to each other. We call ourselves brothers and sisters without knowing each other, and sometimes we can be so selfish and insensitive to even notice the needs of the other.
The event described in today’s gospel, the healing of the paralyzed man happened in the house of Peter in Capernaum. From history and archaeology, we learn that Peter’s house became one of the first Christian house churches. So the gathering in his house today represents a gathering of worshippers. Huge crowd had come to listen to Jesus. The news of his arrival had spread like wildfire. Mind you, there was no CNN or MSNBC, or Fox cable networks then. Today’s gospel says “It became known that he was at home.” Soon after, huge crowds gathered around and there was no room, not even around the door. Each person there was seeking to obtain one favor or the other from Jesus. But in their desperation and quest for their personal needs, they became insensitive and uncaring to the need of someone who was even in greater need than themselves. When the four friends brought their paralyzed friend to be healed by Jesus, the people listening to Jesus were indifferent. They did not even care to move or create some space for the man to be taken to Jesus. For goodness sake, this man was paralyzed, but who cares? I, me and mine took over we, us, ours, he, and she. Selfishness and self-centeredness becloud their passion and compassion for the other. In their rush and struggle to get the attention of Jesus, they ignored the presence of the paralyzed man. But I am sure that after fellowshipping with Jesus they would pass by him and drop some quarter dollar coins or a dollar note and say, “God bless you, brother.”
But we thank God the four friends of the paralytic were resilient and resolute. They did not give up. If one way closes, another one will open; and a new door might not open unless there is a closure of the old. When the seemingly sole entrance to Jesus was blocked by the uncaring people who stood as they listened to Jesus, the faith-filled young men had to climb to the roof of the house. They realized that the needs of the disabled man should have the priority because his needs were greater. But the congregation, in their insensitivity impeded their plan of laying the deformed child of God before the Divine Physician. It is said that where there is a will there is a way and even if it means un-roofing and tearing open the house of Peter in order to bring this man to Jesus, they would do it. And that was exactly what they did.
The gospel said “When Jesus saw their faith…” -mind you, it was the faith of the caring four friends that Jesus saw, not that of the paralyzed man- he healed the paralyzed man, soul and body. The question here is this, who proved themselves brothers and sisters to the paralyzed man? The worshippers who call themselves brothers and sisters and when walking home after worship would drop some coins of quarter dollars with the greeting “God bless you, brother? No! It was the four men who proved themselves and acted as friends.
Brethren God has called us to be brothers and sisters to each other. He has called us to be true brothers and sisters to each other. But it might be more realistic for us to aim at first becoming friends with one another. Who are your friends in this church? Do you know what their needs are? Have you made any effort to help? A friend in need is a friend indeed. We should become friends first, before we call ourselves brothers and sisters in Christ.
When the paralyzed man was lowered from the roof of the house to the feet of Jesus, the Lord was amazed and so impressed at the faith of his friends. Looking at the sick man he said, “Child, your sins are forgiven.” To the Jews a sick person is a person with whom God was angry. The Jews integrally connected sin and suffering. If someone was suffering, he or she must have sinned. So forgiveness of sin brings about healing and cure. The paralyzed man may have sinned. His conscience may have consciously or unconsciously agreed that he was a sinner, and the thought of being a sinner may have brought the illness which he believed was the unavoidable consequences of sin. He thought that God was angry with him. Sometimes we have that same thought. There are times we feel or think that God is angry with us or that he has abandoned us. When we suffer so much, when sickness descends on some people, making it impossible for them to enjoy life, they think God has abandoned them. When earthquake happened in Turkey years back, many people their think God was punishing them for their sins. This paralyzed man may have had the same feeling. “God is angry with me” he may have reasoned. No wonder the first thing Jesus said to him as he set his eyes on him was “Child, God is not angry with you. It is all right.” It was like speaking to a frightened child in the dark. The burden of the wrath of God and the separation from God rolled from his heart, and that brought about the completion of his healing.
This story reassures us of the mercy of God. It teaches us of the power of his love and forgiveness. The first thing that Jesus says to any one that comes to him is “My child, God is not angry with you. Come home, do not be afraid.” Remember, we belong to God and God belongs to us. The Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our stronghold (Psalm 46:4). God is ready, willing and able to give us a new beginning. He is always doing something new!
May the Mother of Perpetual Help pray for us!
In today’s first Reading taken from the prophecy of Isaiah 43:18-19, God spoke through his Servant Isaiah “Remember not the events of the past, the things of long ago consider not; see, I am doing something new.”
Brethren God is not asking us to forget history; he is not asking us to set on fire all history books especially those containing bitter experiences and events. God is not asking us to scorn the past and present events; he is not asking us to reject and ignore the experiences that may have shaped us. No! A nation (or a people or a person) that forgets its history, risks making the mistakes of the past all over again. We should remember the past; we should know our history, we should consider past events; but not with bitterness and anger. Whatever your experiences in the past may be, God says today, “Move on.” The Lord is saying, “I am doing something new here”. Move on with me! Forget the ugly events of the past; forget the time you were segregated; forget the time you were beaten for who you are; forget the ugly events in the history of America; forget the era of ignorance and denial. No nation is perfect. No nation has been perfect; and I there say, no nation would be perfect. We are moving towards perfection. If I were in Nigeria today, I would tell my people to forget the painful experiences of the civil war. I would tell them to put aside the things that led to that bloodshed; I would tell Nigerians to set aside ethnicism and tribalism and move on. If I were preaching in Liberia, I would tell Liberians to cast behind their back the painful experiences of their past. I would tell them to consider not their losses as a result of the gruesome civil war that lasted for years claiming lives and property. If I were in Burundi or Rwanda, I would tell the Hutu and the Tutsi to put aside the shameful effect of genocide and move on. If I were in Darfur, Bosnia, Cambodia, Iraq or El-Salvador, I would condemn the atrocities done to them, and still remind them of the need to move forward. Genocide is the worst crime and sin on earth. It is a reckless manifestation of lack of respect for human life; it is height and zenith of human beings’ inhumanity against their brothers and sisters. It is evil, unfortunately it happened, but we need to pick up the pieces of our life and move on.
Today God says, “I am doing something new.” God is doing something new in America. God is doing something new in the world. Through this global financial meltdown, God will make something new in our world. By the time he is through, we would emerge stronger, more prosperous, but more watchful and more prudent. By the time God is through with the new thing he is making, people will learn not to live beyond or above their means; ceaseless search for what is on vogue will reduce; the weakness of capitalism will be more revealed; the shortcomings of deregulation will be exposed; the lessons of risky speculation of the market will be learnt; the lessons of greed, reward for failure, and uncontrolled market will be learnt. God is doing something new! To those who had already lost their jobs, better jobs with better working conditions and better wage and entitlements may be the result of what God is doing. To those who have been working all their life, no rest, no relaxation, no recuperation, this might be a breather. It might also offer you the once in a while opportunity to go back to class and update your knowledge or to go into another field. Just as the nation needs economic stimulus, we all need intellectual stimulus too. I have seen people who are thanking God or are thankful that they lost their job when they did; because it afforded them an unprecedented opportunity to try something new which eventually made them more successful and more prosperous.
In today’s Gospel taken from Mark 2-1-12, the paralyzed man experienced something new from Jesus. He experienced newness in his life. He experienced the “something new’ that the Lord is doing. He experienced something new not because of his own faith, but for the faith of his friends. And this brings me to another issue I would like preach about.
In the Church family, we address each other as brothers and sisters, and that is what we really are. We are brothers and sisters because we have one Father and one Lord. We are brothers and sisters because we have one faith and one baptism. We are the family of God’s people. But guess what? We call ourselves brothers and sisters without being close to each other. We call ourselves brothers and sisters without knowing each other, and sometimes we can be so selfish and insensitive to even notice the needs of the other.
The event described in today’s gospel, the healing of the paralyzed man happened in the house of Peter in Capernaum. From history and archaeology, we learn that Peter’s house became one of the first Christian house churches. So the gathering in his house today represents a gathering of worshippers. Huge crowd had come to listen to Jesus. The news of his arrival had spread like wildfire. Mind you, there was no CNN or MSNBC, or Fox cable networks then. Today’s gospel says “It became known that he was at home.” Soon after, huge crowds gathered around and there was no room, not even around the door. Each person there was seeking to obtain one favor or the other from Jesus. But in their desperation and quest for their personal needs, they became insensitive and uncaring to the need of someone who was even in greater need than themselves. When the four friends brought their paralyzed friend to be healed by Jesus, the people listening to Jesus were indifferent. They did not even care to move or create some space for the man to be taken to Jesus. For goodness sake, this man was paralyzed, but who cares? I, me and mine took over we, us, ours, he, and she. Selfishness and self-centeredness becloud their passion and compassion for the other. In their rush and struggle to get the attention of Jesus, they ignored the presence of the paralyzed man. But I am sure that after fellowshipping with Jesus they would pass by him and drop some quarter dollar coins or a dollar note and say, “God bless you, brother.”
But we thank God the four friends of the paralytic were resilient and resolute. They did not give up. If one way closes, another one will open; and a new door might not open unless there is a closure of the old. When the seemingly sole entrance to Jesus was blocked by the uncaring people who stood as they listened to Jesus, the faith-filled young men had to climb to the roof of the house. They realized that the needs of the disabled man should have the priority because his needs were greater. But the congregation, in their insensitivity impeded their plan of laying the deformed child of God before the Divine Physician. It is said that where there is a will there is a way and even if it means un-roofing and tearing open the house of Peter in order to bring this man to Jesus, they would do it. And that was exactly what they did.
The gospel said “When Jesus saw their faith…” -mind you, it was the faith of the caring four friends that Jesus saw, not that of the paralyzed man- he healed the paralyzed man, soul and body. The question here is this, who proved themselves brothers and sisters to the paralyzed man? The worshippers who call themselves brothers and sisters and when walking home after worship would drop some coins of quarter dollars with the greeting “God bless you, brother? No! It was the four men who proved themselves and acted as friends.
Brethren God has called us to be brothers and sisters to each other. He has called us to be true brothers and sisters to each other. But it might be more realistic for us to aim at first becoming friends with one another. Who are your friends in this church? Do you know what their needs are? Have you made any effort to help? A friend in need is a friend indeed. We should become friends first, before we call ourselves brothers and sisters in Christ.
When the paralyzed man was lowered from the roof of the house to the feet of Jesus, the Lord was amazed and so impressed at the faith of his friends. Looking at the sick man he said, “Child, your sins are forgiven.” To the Jews a sick person is a person with whom God was angry. The Jews integrally connected sin and suffering. If someone was suffering, he or she must have sinned. So forgiveness of sin brings about healing and cure. The paralyzed man may have sinned. His conscience may have consciously or unconsciously agreed that he was a sinner, and the thought of being a sinner may have brought the illness which he believed was the unavoidable consequences of sin. He thought that God was angry with him. Sometimes we have that same thought. There are times we feel or think that God is angry with us or that he has abandoned us. When we suffer so much, when sickness descends on some people, making it impossible for them to enjoy life, they think God has abandoned them. When earthquake happened in Turkey years back, many people their think God was punishing them for their sins. This paralyzed man may have had the same feeling. “God is angry with me” he may have reasoned. No wonder the first thing Jesus said to him as he set his eyes on him was “Child, God is not angry with you. It is all right.” It was like speaking to a frightened child in the dark. The burden of the wrath of God and the separation from God rolled from his heart, and that brought about the completion of his healing.
This story reassures us of the mercy of God. It teaches us of the power of his love and forgiveness. The first thing that Jesus says to any one that comes to him is “My child, God is not angry with you. Come home, do not be afraid.” Remember, we belong to God and God belongs to us. The Lord of hosts is with us, the God of Jacob is our stronghold (Psalm 46:4). God is ready, willing and able to give us a new beginning. He is always doing something new!
May the Mother of Perpetual Help pray for us!
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