DON'T TURN BACK NOW!

DON'T TURN BACK NOW!

Homily for the 13^th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara CSsR

Jesus spent a whole lot of his life in the region known as the lower Galilee. Apart from his birth in Bethlehem, and his family’s visit to Egypt, Jesus grew up, lived and worked in a place so near to the Sea of Galilee. He only relocated to Capernaum when he began his earthly ministry. From Capernaum, the Lord was going out to preach, to heal the sick, and to deliver those troubled by evil spirits and demons. But he never went too far away to live. From Capernaum, he will go out and then return home by the sea. But a time came when Jesus will take his message to the very heart of Jewish faith, to Jerusalem, and to its center, the Temple. The Lord’s decision to go to Jerusalem was the beginning of the end. He knew what would happen to him in Jerusalem. But he was not deterred or afraid.

Today’s gospel taken from Luke 9: 51-62 begins with “When the days for Jesus to be taken up were fulfilled, he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem…” He was resolutely determined to go to Jerusalem, not because he has something to gain there. He was determined to go there because that’s where the will of God for him will be accomplished. Jesus was determined to obey the will of his Father regardless of cost. The Lord knew exactly what he was doing and where he was going and what would happen to him there. He was not going to Jerusalem because he ran of things to do in Capernaum; he was not going to Jerusalem because the Galileans wouldn’t listen to him. He was not going to Jerusalem because he was searching for greener pastures. The Lord set his face to Jerusalem, he was determined to go there because in Jerusalem God’s purpose for him and for the world will be fulfilled. St. Paul says “In Christ Jesus, God was reconciling the world to himself.” This reconciliation will reach its apogee in Jerusalem. That’s why Jesus was determined to go there. He believed going there to die was the will of God.

The terminus ad quo of our life as Christians is to always seek what the will of God is. When the world tells us to weigh the pros and cons, to place all options on the table, we remember that Jesus says “Seek you first the kingdom of God and its righteousness, and other things will be added unto you.” When the world tells us to choose the safe thing to do,” we remember that God wants us to choose the right thing and to do it. Christian life is all about doing what Jesus wants us to do.

Jesus was “resolutely determined” to go to Jerusalem because of his determination to obey the will of God. He never allowed anything to stand in his way. Not even the Samaritan people were able to stand in his way. The gospel says “On the way they entered a Samaritan village to prepare for his reception there, but they would not welcome him because the destination of his journey was Jerusalem.” Jesus was focused. The Samaritan people refused to welcome him because he was going to Jerusalem through their city. The direct way from Galilee to Jerusalem led to through Samaria; but Jews often times avoid going through it because of an old quarrel between Jews and the Samaritans. The Samaritans did not allow any Jew to pass through their territory. It was therefore very unusual for Jesus to take that way. But Jesus took that route for a purpose.

Jesus used every chance, every time, and every opportunity he had to do something good. Jesus followed the direct route that led to Samaria because he wanted to extend a hand of friendship to a people who had been enemies to his people. Jesus wanted to tell them “It’s alright now. Let us reconcile.” Remember he was going to Jerusalem to reconcile humanity with God by his death on the cross. He wanted to begin by reconciling people with people. He wanted to reconcile his people, the Jewish people with their age-long enemies. But his hand of friendship was rejected by the Samaritan people. And they also wanted to hinder him from continuing his journey. Two of his disciples, James and John suggested they call down fire from heaven to consume the Samaritan people. But the Prince of peace rebuked them and their offer.

In this passage, Jesus strongly taught the virtue of tolerance. In our world today where the virtue of tolerance is mistaken as weakness, timidity and cowardice, Jesus’ reaction to the Samaritan people’s behavior is something that we need to consider seriously. But on his way to Jerusalem, one of the would-be disciples said to him “Lord I will follow you wherever you go.” Jesus said to him “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head.” The Lord was simply saying to him “Before you follow me, count the cost.” To the second who said “I will follow you, but first let me go and bury my father.” Jesus said “Let the dead bury their dead.” That sounds cruel, but Jesus was simply saying to him “Devotion to God should come first before devotion to those dearest to us.” Remember Jesus also said “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters, yes, even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” The third would-be follower said to Jesus “I will follow you Lord, but first let me say goodbye to those at home.” To him Jesus said “No one who sets a hand to the plough and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God.”

The Lord wants his followers not to look back. Remember Lot’s wife. She looked back to what she has left behind in Sodom and Gomorrah and eventually became a pillar of salt. Do not look back to the things you have left behind. Do not look back to the time when you did not know the Lord and wish you can go back to that time. To look back is to think of your past sinful life with a feeling of regret for having abandoned it. If you are a Christian who looks back, remember Lot’s wife. The watchword for Christians is not backwards, but forwards, forward ever looking at the time of our redemption. Don’t turn back now. Our salvation is very near!

Jesus was resolutely determined to go to Jerusalem. He never allowed anything to stand in his way. In doing so, he profoundly fulfilled God’s plan of salvation for humankind. The same Jesus calls us today not to look back. Keep your hands on the plough and keep moving. Run the race looking forward. Run the race looking straight. Run the race looking unto Jesus. Run the race well so that when the sunset of your life is near you can also say with St. Paul “I have fought the good fight of faith, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day--and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.”