Run The Heavenly Race Without Looking Back 

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily for the Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

St. Gerard Majella Church 

Sunday, June 30, 2013

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, he 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, he would go 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 would go out and then return home by the sea. But a time came when he had to take his message to the very heart of Jewish faith, to Jerusalem, and to its center, the Temple. He knew what was ahead for him, yet, he started his journey with courage and determination. He knew he would be killed there, but he was not deterred.

The main objective of the Gospels is to lead us to Jesus. Jesus’ chief objective is to lead us to God, and God’s objective is to bring each of us to our everlasting home of uninterrupted peace and joy. Jesus is the most loving and most tolerant person ever lived. He was determined to go to Jerusalem. He sent some messengers ahead of him to see if a particular town would receive him and allow him passage through their town. But they refused to welcome him. In frustration, James and John sought permission from Jesus: “Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heaven to consume them?” But Jesus rebuked them and continued his journey through another village. 

Who are the Samaritans in our life? Who are the people we would like to get rid of if we could? Is it possible for us to have the same tolerant attitude as Jesus, desiring to avoid vengeance and retaliation, ever-ready to forgive, looking for ways to find peace? Hebrews 12:14 says: “Strive (make effort) to live in peace with everyone and be holy; for without holiness no one will see the Lord.” 

Today’s gospel pictures Jesus as an easy-going and tolerant person but not “an  anything goes person, do whatever you want, live anyhow you want, in the end, everyone will get to heaven kind of person.” Jesus is the most tolerant person to ever lived in this world, but when it comes to matters of God and everlasting life, he is not a wishy-washy, negligent and indecisive person. As he was proceeding in his journey to Jerusalem, someone approached him and said: “I will follow you wherever you go.” But before throwing a party at the possibility of having one more follower, Jesus straightforwardly described the sacrifices that are involved in following him. “Before you decide to follow me, just count the cost” he indirectly told him. The early Christians made lots of sacrifices in order to stay faithful to our Lord, even to the extent of sacrificing their own lives. There are some places around the world where people still suffer terribly and even die for being Christians. America is not one of those places (Thanks be to God), still, many people find it hard to sacrifice an hour for Sunday Mass or to pray during the week, not to mention the sacrifice involved in keeping Jesus’ law of love. Being a Catholic is more than saying that we are; it is more about living the way Jesus wants us to live. 

As the Lord continued his march towards Jerusalem, he met two other people he wanted to follow him. He called each of them as he called us: “Follow me!” The first replied, “I will follow you but that would be after I had buried my father.” The second said: “I will follow you but first permit me to go home and say farewell to my family at home.” To the first, Jesus seemed to have said to him, “There is no time.” “Devotion to God should come first before devotion to those dearest to us.” To the second, he seemed to have said, “Run the heavenly race without looking back to what you had left behind.” There are many people out there who are saying right now: “When I get this and that done, then I will start going to Church more;” “I will go to church only when I have accomplished this or that;” “I will give some money to the church only when I have enough.” Everyone is busy, but it is where we choose to spend our time that tells what is important to us. Do not fall to the Devil’s temptation that tells us: “you have lots of time. Just relax a little. You are too young to serve God. You are doing a lot for God already. You have been going to church all your life, it is now time to rest.”   

The beginning 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. He 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. It was therefore very unusual for Jesus to take that way. But he took that route for a purpose. 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. He wanted to tell them “It’s alright now. Let us reconcile.” 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. 

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 plow 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.”