It does make a difference!

IT DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Pentecost Sunday Homily

Fr. Marcel Divine Okwara CSsR

Holy Names Church, Memphis in Tennessee

May 23, 2010

Today is Pentecost Sunday! It is fifty days after Easter - but not exactly fifty. No, between Easter and Pentecost there are only forty-nine days, that is, exactly seven complete weeks. Thus, Easter and Pentecost are two feasts that are celebrated on Sunday; and this is not without significance. Indeed, Sunday is the first day of the week, the day that corresponds to the first of the six days during which God created the world and the entire universe. This means that the feast of Pentecost is celebrated as a memorial of the first creation: it is like a celebration of a new creation! The Holy Spirit whom the Lord sends to us on this day enters the Church in order to realize in us a new creation, to make us new creatures, renewed and restored in the Resurrection of Christ!

In today’s gospel taking from John, Jesus says to his disciples “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always.” But what commandment was Jesus talking about? I am sure Jesus was talking about the two most important commandments: “Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. And love your neighbor as you love yourself.” Later on in John 15: 12, he says “Love one another as I have loved you.”

These commands of Jesus seem pretty simple, pretty straight forward, isn’t it? But why is it so easy to say, and so hard to do and live? It’s hard because it does make a difference!

First, it makes a difference to God. Many of us have a laidback way of looking at God. Some of us have a lax and lazy philosophy of God. We easily claim that God is the ultimate Judge who will sort out the righteous from the unrighteous at the end of time. But God does not get involved in our daily lives. But that’s unbiblical! God gets involved in the daily lives of his people. Remember the experience of Cleopas and his companion on the way to Emmaus. Remember Saul who was an ardent persecutor of the church before he became a Christian; remember Peter who was sent to the house of Cornelius, a Gentile. God got involved in their lives in a strong way. God wants a personal relationship with us. God created us, we are the clay, and he is the Porter. We are God’s creative masterpieces. An artist does not just walk away from his or her artwork. Each of us is important to God, and we have to make God important to us.

It also makes a difference to Jesus. What difference does it make? It makes a difference to God and to Jesus. In the Old Testament, precisely in Exodus 19:5, God says “Now therefore, if you obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession out of all the peoples.” But in the New Dispensation (New Testament), Jesus takes us in an even deeper and more profound relationship. In Matthew 20:50 Jesus says “For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” At the end of his earthly ministry, Jesus tells his disciples “I no longer call you servants because servants don’t understand what their master is thinking and planning. But I call you friends because I have told you everything I have heard from the Father. You did not choose me, I chose you, and I am sending you to the world to bear fruit, fruit that will last. If you bear fruit, you can ask the Father anything in my name, and he will give it to you. But remember the root command: “Love one another.”

In today’s gospel Jesus says, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” So living out these commandments of loving with all we are and loving our neighbor as Jesus loves us is a concrete proof of our love for Jesus Christ. It’s not enough to say we love him. We proof we love him by doing what he asked us to do. Doing what Jesus asks us to do is the measuring rod of faithfulness.

It also makes a difference to us. When you turn on the Television or read newspapers or blogs or listen to Tea Party Movement and some political commentators, the voices of cynicism and pessimism always seem to be the loudest. When you look at our great nation America, the problems we face are so numerous ranging from terrorism, a changing climate and economic recession which gave birth to 9.9% unemployment rate, foreclosures and loss of homes. Sometimes you want to give up. But don’t! If you follow the will of God, if you love God and neighbor, you know that that in spite of all the terrible things that are happening, you will never loose a final refuge. You know that the foundation of the world is love; so that even when no human being can or will help you, you may go on trusting in the One who loves you so much- Jesus Christ the Redeemer.

Instead of choosing cynicism and pessimism, you can choose hope and optimism. That’s what it means to be a Christian. A Christian is a hopeful person. We can do all things through Jesus Christ who strengthens us. We may not see the presence of God at all times. But the power and presence of God is always available for us. No matter how frightened or lonely we feel, no matter how much we feel abandoned or how weak or powerless we think we are, that does not mean the Holy Spirit is not there. That does not mean we are unloved.

If you feel somewhat separated from God, remember to call on the Holy Spirit who came to energize the Apostles when life seems dreary and dull. Jesus promised not to leave us as orphans. He said the Advocate, the Comforter, the Holy Spirit will come to teach, energize, and strengthen us. We are God's treasured possession. We are God's children, brothers and sisters of Christ Jesus. We're friends of Jesus. Jesus promised He will never leave us orphaned. He promised to be with us always through the presence of the Holy Spirit. But again, there's that obedience clause, that faithfulness factor. "They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me.

Rules are enacted to be obeyed. Commandments of God are to be obeyed as well. Jesus promised to ask the Father to send the Holy Spirit to those who keep the commandments.

Finally, it makes a difference to others. You know we were never meant to be alone. The book of Genesis tells us that when Adam, the man was created, he was really lonely and gloomy. And God saw that it was not good for him to be alone. “I will make him a helper as his partner” God says. As soon as Adam saw his partner, Eve the woman, he smiled for the first time and said “Waoh! Behold the bone of my bones, and the flesh of my flesh.” God has created us to be in relationship with each other. This relationship can only be maintained by and with love. It is a relationship of love. Fake love ruins our relationship. Hatred works against the original plan of God for us.

As we celebrate Pentecost, let’s pray for the Seven Gifts of the Holy Spirit again which are: wisdom, understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, and fear of the Lord.

Love and you will be saved

Fr. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara CSsR

Homily for 5^th Sunday of Easter, Year C

Holy Names Church

Memphis, Tennessee, USA

Friends, I have two stories to tell you today. Four clergymen went to a park to sit, talk and rest after busy schedules. While they were sitting on the bench chatting freely, one of them said “You know, since we are all good friends, let us use this opportunity to discuss our personal struggles in life and I believe we will keep them secret.” The first one said, “Friends, my greatest struggle in life is drinking. I drink excessively.” There was a gasp from the other three. The second person said “Well, since you are bold to tell us your secret, I will tell you guys mine. My problem is gambling. I gamble a lot. The worst part of it is that it does not allow me to save money. Sometimes, I have even stolen money from the Collection basket just to gamble.” Again there was a gasp. The third person said “See, my problem is much worst. Do you know that I am in love with a woman in my church? To make the matter worst, she is a married woman.” Again there was a big gasp from his friends. After that, there was silence. The fourth one kept silence and refused to say what his main weakness is. The other three now said “Hey friend, we are waiting for you.” The fourth person now said “I really don’t know how to say this to you guys.” But his friends said “Don’t worry. Just say it. Your secret will remain a secret; as a matter of fact, it will die with us. No one will hear it.” After much persuasion from his friends, he now said “You see, my greatest weakness is gossip. I hardly keep secrets.” His friends were thrown in utter confusion.

The Second story is about a woman who was rushing to attend an event. She had spent so much time making up, painting up and looking up herself on the large mirror in her room. As a result of that, she was now running late for the event. Having entered her car, she sped off quickly. As she was driving out, she was praying for a free road. On nearing each traffic light, she prays the light remains green, and when it is red, that it turns green before she comes close. As if her prayer was being answered, she was driving past every traffic light before it turns red. One can hear her whispering, “thank you Jesus” as she drove past every traffic light. Eventually, one traffic light failed her. Before she could come close, the traffic light had changed to red, meaning she must stop. Moreover, there was a car before her, so she stopped, and was anxiously waiting for the green light. She was so in haste that as soon as the light turned green, she was ready to zoom off unfortunately the person in front of her was carried away and did not know it was time to go. He was apparently texting a message with his phone. The woman so desperate to keep moving started yelling and yelling at him loudly. She was shouting and hooting at the same time. But the man did not notice and did not hear. All of a sudden, the man zoomed off as the traffic light turns yellow. The woman, who cannot drive on because the light has already turned red before she could release her brake, started cursing. As she was cursing, she was also hooting at the same time. This attracted the policeman coming from behind. Immediately she was pulled aside the road and was arrested for car theft. The police accused her that she stole the car she was driving, and said to her “You are under arrest.” By the time she proved ownership of the car, one hour has passed. The policeman convinced that she actually owns the car, apologized to her for the delay and embarrassment. But the woman wanted to know why in the first place he pulled her aside the road and accused her of stealing the car she was driving. The policeman responded “You see I arrested you for car theft when I saw you yelling, cursing very loud and hooting at the same time because I saw the sticker at the back of your car with the inscription “I love Jesus, he is my friend” I concluded the car you are driving does not belong to you. I am sorry about that.” The woman got it. Her action and reaction in her car does not correspond with the sticker she pasted at the back of her car.

Christians have always had the problem of how to tell the world who they are. At some periods in history and still in some places in the world, uniforms have played a very important role in announcing our identity to the world. Think of the various uniforms of the various Christian societies of consecrated life, which distinguish consecrated people not only from ordinary Christians but also from one another according to their institutes. In the African Independent churches members usually wear uniforms to distinguish them from non-members. This usually takes the form of white flowing gowns, with headgear and sashes of different colors distinguishing members according to their various ranks. In the mainline churches, however, the use of uniforms or habits has become less popular. In these churches the words of Shakespeare in Measure for Measure, "the hood does not make a monk" have been taken more seriously.

The quest for uniforms, habits, badges, banners and pinups designed to distinguish believers from non-believers does indeed have its place in the celebration of who we are. We are symbolic beings who need to express our faith in symbolic ways. Jesus himself wrestled with the question of how to distinguish his followers from the non-believers around them. But his prescription goes much farther than external habits and uniforms.

For Jesus the essential mark of distinction between Christians and non-Christians is not in the way we dress but in the way we live.

I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another (John 13:34-5).

Love is the Christian identity. Love is the Christian uniform. Love is the Christian habit. If you are wearing the habit of love, you are in. If you are not wearing love as a habit, you are out. Love is the essence of life. It is what keeps us together and keeps us going as children of God. Love is the summary of Christianity; it is the summary of life; it is the summary of our faith. Love is the reason for faith and hope. Our world stands on three things:

1. On the law
2. On worship
3. And on the works of love.

Love is the identity and the uniform of Christians. Jesus wants the world to recognize us as his followers not because we carry the Bible about, or wear the Rosary and other religious objects. Jesus does not want the world to recognize us as Christians simply by the stickers we have in our houses and in our cars. He wants the world to recognize us through the lens of love. He wants the world to recognize us by the language of love we speak. Love should be the lens through which we must see each other. Love should be the language we speak as sons and daughters of Jesus. And when the world sees how much we love each other with the love of Christ, they will know we are his disciples. Jesus wants the world to recognize us as Christians. Although Jesus wants us to “go to the whole world preaching the good news,” the most effective evangelization and witnessing has less to do with how fluent we speak and how powerful we preach; it is more to do with how much we love each other.

Love has been defined, explained and discussed in various ways. For me love is “I accept you the way you; you accept me the way I am. And together we can enrich each other, shape each other and recreate each other better in the image and likeness of God.” In accepting each other the way we are, we teach the world the virtue of tolerance and compassion. In enriching, shaping and recreating each other, we teach the world the virtue of charity, character formation and human development. A gospel preached is useless without a gospel lived. And the gospel is better lived in love. No member of a church stops coming to church because the people love each other genuinely. No one hates a church because members practice the love of Christ. The world does not hate us because we love each other. No one leaves the church because the priest is kind and compassionate. No one becomes an atheist because we, Jesus’ followers love him or her. Atheism is rather created by Christians because we do not act as Jesus directs us. Atheism is created because Christians do not practice what they preach; they do not practice the virtue of love. Genuine love is infectious.

Scripture says that God created us in his image. And this image is an image of love because God is love. At the very core of the human person is love. Our feelings and emotions incline us to act and not to act in relation to what is good or evil. The most fundamental of all these feelings and emotions is love. Love brings new things in our life and society. Love makes God live among us. Remember the song: “Where love and charity abide, there God is found.” Love enthrones the reign of God in our family and society. It wipes away tears from people’s eyes- tears of frustration, hunger and sickness, tears of hopelessness. Love makes the whole of creation new. Love removes mourning or sadness. Even in suffering, love from the brethren lightens the burdens. It really feels good to love and be loved.

Dearest beloved, love and you will be saved.

IN THE DARKNESS OF THE GRAVE, DEATH COULD NOT HOLD HIM

IN THE DARKNESS OF THE GRAVE,DEATH COULD NOT HOLD HIM

Fr. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara CSsR

Easter Homily

Holy Names of Jesus & Mary Catholic Church

Memphis, Tennessee, USA

April 11, 2010

When the Redeemer of man died, when the one who went about doing good, healing all those who were sick died, when the righteous One died, when the Prince of peace died, when the Lion of the tribe of Judah died, when the Son of God died, when Jesus who is, who was, and who is to come died, foolish people foolishly thought that God is dead. But if God died, how come we are still alive? The death of God wouldn’t be the death of man alone, but the extinction of all other created things. Foolish people wrongly and foolishly interpreted the death of the Redeemer of man as the death of God.

Brethren the cross is not the end of everything. If God had died, then there will be no more life on earth or anywhere. The paradox here is that the Son of God only conquered death by his death. By dying, Jesus conquered death, our death. By rising, Jesus restored our life. But the cross of Jesus to atheist and agnostics is foolishness. To the unbelievers, it is the utmost show of foolishness; it may be a reckless and irrational show of timidity. To an unbeliever, the cross is a manifestation of weakness and dullness of Jesus. To unbelievers and doubters, the cross signifies the end of a failure; the end of a disaster, the end of a woeful end. For them, the cross indicates the colossal and the maximal crash of a deceiver called Jesus Christ. This is why one of the thieves crucified with Jesus said to him, “Save yourself and us”. Others mocked him saying, “He saved others, let him save himself and come down from the cross so that we will believe in him.”

The ungrateful murderers of Jesus thought that they have killed him. But death could not hold him! The forces of evil could not stop him from rising. Satan and his malevolent followers could not hold him down in the grave. Jesus rose in glory. The cross is not a depiction of weakness. Rather it is a symbol of hope and power! The cross is a powerful tool. From the cross was born the new life of Saul; from the cross was born the conversion of erudite St. Augustine of Hippo; from the cross was born the joyful poverty of St. Francis of Assisi; from the cross was born the radiant goodness of Vincent de Paul; from the cross was born the great compassion of St. Alfonsus Ligouri; from the cross was born the heroism of Maximilian Kolbe; from the cross was born the amazing charity of Mother Teresa of Calcutta; from the cross was born the courage of John Paul II; from the cross was born the bravery of Archbishop Oscar Romero of El Salvador; a man who rejected the comfort and protection of the country’s evil government and pitched his tent with the poor and abandoned- the special friends of Jesus. From the cross was born the courage and objectivity of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who challenged the nation to live out the true meaning of its creed, that all men and women are equal; from the cross was born the revolution of love; from the cross was born the profound manifestation of the love of Scholastica, a young girl from Nigeria who preferred death to blasphemy against God. So the cross is not the death of God, but the birth of his love in our world. It is cross that brought every one of us here.

The cross leads to victory and triumph in Christ. The cross points to Easter. Easter is the celebration of the celebration of Jesus Christ over death. It is a celebration of victory and triumph of Jesus. It is also our celebration and our own victory and triumph. Because he lives, we can face tomorrow. In Easter we celebrate and rejoice over our own new life. We are victorious! Let us claim the victory of Christ. His victory is our victory. Death was not powerful enough to keep him down in the grave. He rose! He rose!! He rose!!! Everybody shout, He Rose! He Rose! He Rose!

Easter tells us there is an end to pain and suffering. When walking on the rough road to Golgotha, Easter reminds us there is a corresponding celebration of triumph. When walking under the shadow of death, Easter comes to reassure us that “this too shall pass away.” When the accuser of the Brethren is roaring to kill and maim, be calm because victory is just round the corner. When the forces of hatred gang up against you, Easter tell you “Death could not hold him bound.” When the forces of envy and jealousy unite to frustrate and foil your progress, Easter tells you to be strong because massive victory awaits you. Death could not hold the Master of the universe in the grave. He conquered death and resurrected unto glory. There is indeed an end to suffering and discomfort.

When Jesus was dragging his already battered body to Golgotha, it seemed it is finished for him. On his way to Golgotha, remember, he fell thrice. Before them, he was severely scourged at the pillar, he was crown with painful thorns, and was brutally beaten and smashed by the soldiers. During this time, it seemed it is finished for Jesus. And when he finally cried, “It is finished”, his killers rejoiced and thought he has been finished. They thought they have finished him. But our Lord was not really finished. He came back triumphantly. When he said, “It is finished”, he meant our salvation and freedom is accomplished. In the silence of history, the Lord cried “It is finished”. But the Lord is saying, “I have given you everything. I have told you everything. I brought you the most beautiful message of all: God is love! God loves you! There is nothing left behind.” Jesus is saying to us “I have told you everything you need to know to gain salvation. I have given you everything you need to have for your redemption. The complete message of salvation has been preached completely.” When Jesus cried with a loud voice “It is finished”, he meant there is nothing left, and there is nothing I have not done or said for you to achieve salvation. I have emptied myself completely for you. My love has been poured out to you unreservedly; my entire life has been poured out completely for your liberty. Nothing remains! “It is finished” means the enmity between you and God is over. The sin that separates us from God is erased. It means the barrier is finally destroyed. “It is finished” means Satan’s power and victory over us is finished. He can no longer win battles against us. Jesus said, I have finished the evil one! Jesus was not finished, rather he finished his enemies and finished our enemies.

“It is finished” therefore does not mean our Savior’s life is finished; rather his life and love have been given out completely without reservation. Life was won! Love was poured out! But fools misunderstood expiration for extinction. They thought the Excellent One is finished forever. But our Lord is alive; He lives! Death could not hold him in the darkness of the grave. He rose to light and glory for our good. He has offered us everything- love, freedom, peace, joy, salvation, courage, life and everything. I mean everything! Nothing was left behind undone. Salvation has been accomplished. This therefore calls for a great celebration- a celebration of love, love at its peak.

The Redeemer of humanity crucified on Good Friday is risen. He is risen! He has risen to reign forever. He has risen in our life. He has risen to die no more.

Tonight, like we do at every Easter Vigil, we concluded the first part of our vigil with the chanting of the Exsultet- the Church’s Easter proclamation. This Easter chant has been appropriately described as “one of the finest jewels in the Church’s treasury” The first three stanzas of the Exsultet started with “Rejoice”. So tonight, let us rejoice because “Christ has ransomed us with his blood, and paid for us the price of Adam’s sin to our eternal Father. We rejoice because this is the night when Christians everywhere, washed clean of sin and freed from all defilements, are restored to grace and grow together in holiness. We rejoice because this is the night when Jesus Christ broke the chains of death and rose triumphant from the grave.

Tonight, I say to you brothers and sisters rejoice. Rejoice! Rejoice!! Rejoice!!! We are free! We are redeemed! We have been reconciled with God! We are have been made new! When Jesus raised Lazarus from death, he said to those who witnessed the great miracle, “untie him and let him go”. By his death and resurrection, Jesus speaks to Satan, “untie my people and let them go.” By his death, Jesus makes a bold statement, “My people, you are free”. Go in peace!

FEW HOURS AWAY

FEW HOURS AWAY

Fr. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara CSsR

Homily for Holy Thursday, 2010

Holy Names Church

Memphis, TN

Jesus Christ is the sinless, eternal Son of God. He is the spotless Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world (John 1: 29). The gospel of Matthew says that Jesus began his mission of preaching the good news by touring all of Galilee: “Jesus toured all ofGalilee. He taught in their synagogues, proclaimed the good news of the kingdom, and cured the people of every disease and illness” (Matthew 4: 23). To make sure his message was well spread, Matthew tells us that “Jesus continued his tour of all the towns and villages. He taught in their synagogues, he proclaimed the good news of God’s reign, he cured every sickness and disease” (Matthew 9: 35). Jesus did not only make himself present, he toured all the towns and villages teaching, proclaiming, feeding and healing people. Acts 10: 38 says that Jesus went about doing good, healing all who were under the power of the devil because God was with him. He opened the eyes of the blind, he cleansed the leper; he raised the dead; he fed thousands who came to listen to him; he was all things to all people. He gave hope to the hopeless; life to the lifeless. He restored the woman caught in the act of adultery and forgave the prodigal son. Jesus gave his entire life for the life of others.

But brethren, few hours away, the one that cured and healed every sickness will be rejected all. Few hours away, the one that proclaimed the most beautiful message “God is love” will be denied love. Few hours away, the hands that blessed everyone will be nailed to the cross. Few hours away, the feet that walked everywhere bringing healing, relief, restoration, joy, hope and love will be bound to the stake. The mouth that spoke the most beautiful message “God is love, God loves you” will cry and scream of abandonment. Few hours away the one that had passion for us because he cares about us will experience his passion. Few hours away, the Good Shepherd will be attacked by wolfs. Few hours away, the Way to eternal happiness will be will blocked. Few hours away, the Truth will be rejected. Few hours away the One who is Life will breathe his last. Few hours away, men and women will choose darkness rather than the Light. Few hours away humans will prefer bland life to the Salt of the earth. Few hours away, wickedness will be unleashed on the Just One that speaks against all the injustices in our world. Few hours away, the friend of the poor will be crucified. Remember he is the Poor One who stands in solidarity with all the poor in the world. Few hours away, He will be cursed and treated as a common criminal. Few hours away, wickedness will reign supreme. Evil will appear to have conquered him. Few hours away, the Soul of life will be killed. Few hours away, darkness will seize our world; Satan will go on rampage; darkness will appear to have overcome the light. Jesus will appear to have been overwhelmed by pains. Few hours away, Jesus our Savior will experience the greatest rejection by the same people he toiled and sweated for. Few hours away the same people that cheered “Hosanna in the highest” few days ago will turn around to cheer “Crucify him!”

But Jesus was not taken by surprise. He was not unaware of what awaits him. He was well aware that he was about to be betrayed. You may think that such knowledge would have easily turned him to bitterness and hatred. But it made his heart run out in greater love than ever. The staggering thing was that the more they hurt him, the more Jesus loved them. It is very easy and sometimes so natural to resent betrayal and to grow bitter under insult and injury; but Jesus met the greatest injury and the greatest rejection and hatred with the greatest humility and profound love.

The Lord knew what awaits him. But before that, he demonstrated the most profound example of humility, love and service. He washed the feet of his disciples. Life inPalestine in the time of Jesus was hard. The roads were dusty. In dry weather they were inches deep in dust and in wet they were liquid mud. The popular means of transport was your feet. The shoes ordinary people wore were sandals, which were simply soles held on to the foot by a few straps. They had little protection against the dust or the mud of the road. People walked long distances on rough, dusty and muddy roads to go from Galilee to Jerusalem, for example. Travelers often arrived their destinations with sore and aching feet. As a sign of hospitality, the host would see to it that his guests were given a warm foot bath and massage as a way of relieving their aches and pains. This was usually done by the house servants or slaves.

Few hours away before Jesus was crucified, he did something that none of his disciples, that none of us was prepared to do. The Master and Lord became the slave and the servant; he washed the feet of his disciples. In our worldly way of thinking, a student does not deserve more honor than the teacher; and a servant does not deserve more honor than the master. A common man in America does not deserve more honor than President Obama. A common man in Nigeria does not deserve more honor than the Acting President, Jonathan Goodluck. But Jesus washed the feet of his disciples showing them and showing us how we must behave towards each other.

This should make us think. Our society is full of people who are standing on what they have- money, power, influence, educational degrees, connections, associations etc when they ought to be kneeling at the feet of their brothers and sisters. By standing on our money, power, influence, academic qualifications, and associations we let all that define us. We begin to place ourselves in a different level. We end up belittling our brothers and sisters who do not have what we have. But when you are tempted to stand on your money, prestige etc, try to see again the picture of Jesus, tied around him a towel, kneeling at the feet of disciples washing their feet.

You are truly great if you have the humility of service, the humility to serve others. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said “Everybody can be great…because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love.” Our Lord Jesus himself says “The greatest among you must be your servant” (Matthew. 23:11)

Homily for the 5th Sunday of Lent, Year C

“GO AND SIN NO MORE!”

Fr. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara CSsR

Homily for the 5th Sunday of Lent, Year C

Holy Names Catholic Church

Memphis, TN

Last Sunday’s Gospel was about the story of the Prodigal Son. This Sunday’s Gospel is remarkably similar to that; it is the story of a woman caught in the act of adultery. Each of these two Gospels presents:

A sinner

An accuser and heartless accusers

And a judge

The sinner in last week’s Gospel (4th Sunday of Lent) is the Lost Son; the sinner in today’s Gospel is the adulterous woman. The accuser in last week’s Gospel is the elder son who preferred his younger brother stayed lost. He was angry that his father had welcomed his wayward younger brother home with a lavished party; in anger, disappointment and frustration, he refused to join the feasting. The accusers in today’s Gospel are the Scribes and the Pharisees. The judge in last week’s Gospel who was represented by the father of the two boys is God; and the judge in today’s Gospel is the Son of God, Jesus Christ. In these two Gospels, Jesus and his Father brandished their weapons which are compassion, mercy, love and forgiveness.

In today’s Gospel taken from John 8: 1-11, the Scribes and the Pharisees had brought a woman who had been caught in adultery before Jesus. They wanted to use her to test Jesus so that they could have some charges against him. It is also possible they wanted Jesus to stamp and sign the stoning of the woman to death: “Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. Now in the law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” But Jesus demonstrated he was by far wiser than all of them. Instead of falling into their trap, the Lord demanded “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Of course the demand of Jesus was insurmountable because all have sinned. Since all have sinned, their only response to the demand of Jesus was to walk away: “And in response, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders.” By this time, Jesus was all alone with the adulterous woman. In consonance with his nature, the Lord, unlike the heartless accusers offered mercy, forgiveness and restoration to the woman: “Neither would I condemn you. Go, and from now on do not sin any more.”

From this Gospel, the Lord has shown us that only the person who is without fault has the right to judge and condemn the fault of others. Remember in the Gospel of Matthew 7: 1, he had said “Judge not so that you may not be judged.” We cannot pretend to be faultless, attempting to remove the little speck of dust in our brother’s or sister’s eye when we have a plank in our own eyes. In life, it is usually easy to demand standards from others that we never even try to meet ourselves. Several times we condemn the faults in others which are very visible in our own lives. We easily judge others harshly of the same faults that we have. Remember the story of King David and Prophet Nathan in 2 Samuel 12. None of us is perfect. The common weakness of all men and women means that only God has the right to judge. No one is good enough to condemn. From this Gospel, Jesus has shown us that the first reaction towards anyone who has made a mistake no matter how grave the mistake is, should be pity. When confronted with someone who has made a mistake, our first feeling should not be rejection: “If you can do something like that, I will have nothing to do with you.” Instead we should seek for ways to help our fallen brother or sister. When we ourselves err, we usually expect pity from others. We must always extend the same compassionate pity to our fallen brothers and sisters.

From this Gospel, Jesus has demonstrated that despite the fact that God is full of mercy and compassion, he expects us to strive for perfection. It is very important to consider how Jesus treated this woman. A distant look at this story might suggest a lax on the side of Jesus. One might mistakenly think that he was too lenient with sin as if sin does not really matter. But the Lord was not. He forgave the woman but quickly added “Go, and from now on do not sin any more.” Although the Lord has forgiven her, he still expected her to live a life of grace and union with God from now on by not sinning any more. Jesus did not say that sin does not matter because sin does matter. He did not say “Don’t worry; it is all right; it is human to sin and commit adultery.” Jesus expected the woman to change her life style, to abandon sin because it damages our relationship with God. Sin is a heavy burden; it lowers us and destroys us. Sin punishes us and brings us evil. In a word, sin is evil.

Jesus refused to pass judgment on the woman. He refused to join the Scribes and the Pharisees in condemning her to death. Jesus offered her a second chance: “I am not going to pass a final verdict now; but I want you to go and prove that you can do better,” the Lord seems to be telling her. The Lord’s attitude to the sinner involved a number of things:

Jesus gave her the second chance: You have messed up your life before now, but you are not yet a finished product; therefore I am giving you another chance to clean up yourself. In Jesus there is the gospel of the second chance. The Lord is interested not only in what a person had been but also in what a person could become. The greatest sinner today could become an amazing saint tomorrow. Jesus showed pity to the woman and that is the difference between him and the Scribes and Pharisees who wanted the woman dead. While the accusers of the woman prescribed punishment according to their law, Jesus prescribed compassionate pity according to new law of love.

Jesus’ attitude to the woman involves a challenge. After forgiving her he did not pretend all is well. He did not tell her “Don’t mind them, just go and try. If you are not able, that’s okay.” He said to her “I forgive you now, but you must change your behavior.” Jesus’ words to the woman “Go and do not sin again” speak volume of his belief in human nature. It is a staggering thing that Jesus should say to a woman of loose moral “Go, and do not sin again.” This demonstrates his belief that the worst today can become among the best tomorrow. When he was confronted with a terrible sinner, he did not say “You are doomed; you are terrible.” He said “You are not yet a finished product; but to redeem your image, you need to sin no more.” The Lord’s treatment of the woman involves a warning. The woman was forgiven. But she has to choose between going back to her old way of life and thereafter face the wrath of her accusers and eternal separation from God or follow the new way that Jesus expected her to follow.

From today’s gospel the age-long maltreatment of women by the men is once again exposed. It takes two people to commit adultery. But in this story, the woman was presented as the sinner. The question is “Where is her partner- the man?” The gospel story highlights the self-righteousness and the hypocrisy of the Scribes and Pharisees. But in today’s gospel, Jesus again emphasizes that he did not come to call the virtuous, but sinners.

IT'S TIME TO GO HOME

IT’S TIME TO GO HOME

Homily for the 4^th Sunday of Lent, Year C

By

Fr. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara CSsR

Holy Names Catholic Church

Memphis, TN

What is really the difference between a new, crisp $20 bill and an old, soiled and rumpled $20 bill? A priest once showed his congregation a new $20 bill and asked who wants it. As expected, all hands went up. Then he rumpled the same crisp $20 bill and asked who wants it. Again, all hands went up. Lastly he threw it on the floor of the church, marched on it repeatedly and then asked who still wants the money, still all hands went up. He then explained that in our eyes, the difference between a new $20 bill and a rumpled one is the difference between a good person and a bad person in the sight of God. Both are equally acceptable. Both are wanted. Both are equal before God because Romans 3: 23 says “All have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God.” Like a sheep, we have all gone astray!

Dearest beloved, today’s gospel taken from Luke 15: 1-3, 11-32 is the story of a man and his two sons. It is a story of a family. The younger son wanted some autonomy; he wanted his share of his father’s estate. He got what he wanted, and with all he got, he set off to a distant country. Out there without the protection and the guidance of his father, he squandered his inheritance on a life of debauchery. He wasted all he got and found himself in dire need. He became homeless because he could not afford to hire a house or lodge in a hotel. He was equally starving. Because necessity is the mother of invention, he remembered he could work and earn a living. Though it was not explicitly written in this story, but it is clear that this younger son did not have any skill. It seems he was not educated; he lacked the technical skill or managerial skill to get a decent employment. Hence “he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine.”

This is really a turn of events for the young man. The once flamboyant young man is now working in a farm of feeding pigs. The once show-starter and showstopper is now living with pigs. The once popular guy in many parties is now broke. But what could a Jewish prince be doing with pigs? That he could condescend to feeding pigs, a particular animal that Jewish people consider as unclean animals demonstrates the depth of squalor and poverty in which he finds himself. He surely would be saying to himself “What have I done to myself?” It was his reckless lifestyle that drains his fortune, and reduced him to abject poverty and misery. To cap it all, he became a very lonely man. All his “friends” and fellow clubbers have deserted him.

In his destitution and suffering, he came to his senses and decided to return home to his father. But he was not expecting his father to treat him again as his son. So he made up his mind that he would ask to become one of his servants. Surely living as a servant in his father’s house was far better than his present condition. He was not expecting his father to forgive him and treat him as a son. He has a distorted understanding of his father’s forgiveness and mercy. We too can have a distorted notion of God’s forgiveness. The book of Genesis 1: 29 says that “God created us in his image and likeness”, and ever since then, we have been making God in our image and likeness.

One good thing about the prodigal son is that he was not too proud to go back home and say, “I am a sinful youngster; I have sinned; I am so sorry father.” And that was exactly what he did. When he was on the way back home his father was outside waiting for him. The father did not wait for him to come close; he did not turn away; he did not yell at him and tell him how miserable and despicable he is; even in his advanced age, the father ran to him, puts his arms around him and kissed him. That is what God is, always longing and waiting for us to return home. Home is where we belong! The father must have shed tears for two reasons: one, tears of joy that his lost son is back; two, tears of sorrow and pity at what his son has become. You don’t expect a man who fed pigs and lived with pigs to look healthy, neat and handsome. He must have gone out of humanity!

In reality, this parable is misnamed. It really shouldn’t be called the Parable of the Prodigal Son, for the son is not at its center, the father is. It should have been called “The Parable of the Prodigal Father”. Webster’s dictionary defines the word prodigal as “exceedingly or recklessly wasteful,” or “extremely generous; lavish.” If anyone is prodigal in this story, it is the father! He never gives up on his son or daughter, loves him or her no matter what the son or daughter might do, or regardless of how disrespectfully he is treated. His son is his son; his daughter is his daughter, and nothing can ever change that. He is the prodigal father!

Before his long journey to his father, he has made up his mind to say three things to his father:

One, “I have sinned against heaven and against you.”

Two, “I no longer deserve to be called your son.”

Three, “Treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.”

While saying those words, his father was thinking of the big party in honor of his son. He was not paying attention to the son’s speech of repentance; he ordered his servants: “Quickly, bring the finest robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Take the fattened calf and slaughter it. Then let us celebrate with a feast, because this son of mine was dead, and has come to life again; he was lost, and has been found.”

The father ordered the finest robe to be put on his son; this shows that the clothes his son had on him were worn out and dirty. His son was almost naked due to tear and wear of his clothes as a result of long use. The father ordered a ring to be put on his finger. This is a sign of restoration. When the younger son left his family, he lost his princeship; he lost his sonship. The putting of the ring on his finger is the restoration of his position as a son and as a prince. The father ordered a sandal to be put on his feet. This shows that either his son had an old and worn out sandals or he walked home bare-footedly. This act too shows that his son is not going to be a slave, but a son and a prince. Remember that the son had asked to be treated as one of the father’s slaves. By putting a sandal on his feet, his father was speaking boldly, “My son cannot be a slave in his father’s house.” It is only slaves that walk about bare-footedly. The father ordered the fattened calf to be slaughtered. This shows the haggardness, the weary, and the hunger of his son. The hunger in a foreign land and the long walk to home all must have emptied him completely. When he eats of the fattened calf, he will regain his energy and strength. Hunger, deprivation and austerity were written all over him. The father therefore called for the slaughtering of the largest calf to feed his son fat again. The father called for a celebration. This is to celebrate with his neighbors, and also to show them that his lost son is back. The celebration is not only a celebration of a returned son; it is a celebration of the father’s immense love, mercy and forgiveness. The father wants to show others how to forgive.

At this point, the story shows that the elder son too has a distorted understanding of forgiveness. He did not forgive his younger brother’s misdeeds. Instead of joining in the celebration of his return, he was upset that their father welcomed him home. In anger, he refused to join the party. The elder son was looking at his younger brother as the sinner: “He is the sinner”. But he failed to understand that his behavior in all of this is also bad and sinful. So, like his younger brother, he too has sinned for becoming an obstacle in the realization of family unity and harmony.

We all are sinners. Whether your sins are more visible like those of prodigal son or more hidden like those of the elder son who remained at home, the simple message today is that “It’s time to go home.” The younger son needs to leave irresponsibility, wasteful lifestyle, over-drinking, clubbing and womanizing behind and return home- because “It’s time to go home.” The elder son needs to leave anger, jealousy, pride and resentment behind and return home- because “It’s time to go home”. The thief needs to leave stealing behind and return home- because “It’s time to go home.” The materialistic conscious person needs to leave over-reliance on the things of this world and return home- because, “It’s time to go home.” The wasteful and over-indulgent Christian needs to leave frivolity behind and return home- because- “It’s time to go home.” The unloving Christian needs to leave bitterness behind and return home to his or her father- because, “It’s time to go home.” That angry and ever-condemning person needs to leave harsh judgment behind and return home- because “It’s time to go home.” The one who feels abandoned needs to stand up now and return home- because “It’s time to go home.” If you are in enmity with someone, you need to leave that unforgiving spirit behind and return home- because “It’s time to go home.” No matter what your offense may be, just like the prodigal son, you need to return home now- because “It’s time to go home.”

Return home now! Jesus is waiting to receive and welcome you home. No sin or offense is too much for him to forgive. Jesus forgives all sins. No sin is too much! Return home now because “It’s time to go home.”

Baby, It's Time to Go Home Another Way

BABY, IT’S TIME TO GO HOME ANOTHER WAY

Fr. Marcel Emeka Okwara CSsR

Homily of Third Sunday of Lent, Year C

Holy Names Church, Memphis

Whose fault is it that bad things happen? When something good happens to someone we sometimes find ourselves saying “Thank your stars.” When we say that, we are simply saying that the stars are responsible for the good things that happened, and when bad things happen, it means that they didn’t bring favor. It means therefore that the stars are equally responsible for bad things that happen to people. So, someone’s life is ruined simply because he or she was born under an unlucky star. But William Shakespeare in Julius Caesar posits “The fault, dear Brutus, lies not in the stars but in ourselves that we are underlings.” Shakespeare disagrees with the star theory of blame. According to him the fault does not lie in the heavens at all. We are responsible for our troubles, not the sky or the heavens.

But who is to be blamed for the bad things that happen to us? What is responsible for the injustice and social disharmony in our communities? What is really responsible for the diseases that devastate human life? Is it our genes? Are we what we are due to heredity? What is responsible for the earthquakes that destroy thousands of lives? What of hurricane? Hurricane Catherina, hurricane gustav, hurricane Kristina, hurricane Allison, hurricane Gloria etc. What about tsunami?

We sometimes blame racism, economic disparities, social disharmony, and mindless killings on the environment. The problems of the nations are blamed on working mothers, underprivileged communities, and poor schools. Other times parents are blamed- either it is their bad genes or bad environment; it is surely their fault. We can go ahead to blame everyone and everything. Blame the government, blame the folks, and blame God.

In today’s gospel taken from Luke 13:1-9, Jesus did not provide a clear answer. In the gospel, he was told of a horrible crime committed by Pilate against some Galileans- he mingled their blood with the blood of sacrifice. Instead of talking about the heinous crime of Pilate, Jesus turned the story into a question:

Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were greater sinner than all other Galileans? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!

What about the eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them? Do you think they are more guilty than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did.

Jesus does not want us to blame the victims. It is not their fault. Remember when the man born blind was brought to him, people wanted to know whose fault it is that he was born blind, the Lord said it neither his fault nor that of his parents that he could not see. Jesus does not assign blame; he does not tell us why some people are harmed and killed; he does not tell us why the tower fell on some and not on others. He does not tell us why hurricane Catherina swept away homes, devastated cities, and destroyed lives; he does not explain to us why earthquake is destroying nations; he does not explain why an innocent child is born with cancer; Jesus does not explain why while in some nations things waste, whereas in others people waste away. The Lord does not explain to us while innocent people suffer. He does not give answers as to why one person is killed in a car accident, another gets cancer and while others live on with their mind robbed of them by Alzheimer. Jesus does not tell us who to blame, whose fault it is. Instead he gives a parable about a gardener and an unfruitful fig tree. Through the parable the Lord warns us to be more concerned with repentance. The parable is a warning that we should use the time we have got for repentance and faith. We should not spend our time blaming or making excuses, but instead live our life as God’s precious gift. We should not squander our life or our time.

In the parable that Jesus narrated in today’s gospel, the Gardener is Jesus; we are the fig tree; the orchard is the world; the owner of the fig tree and the orchard is God. In the gospel, Jesus as the gardener begs for more time for us so that we can bear fruit. To bear fruit, we need to remain in Jesus. To bear fruit, we need to return to Jesus. We must return to Jesus to bear fruit. In the gospel of John 15:5-8, Jesus himself says:

I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man/woman remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Sisters and brothers, it is time to go home another way. Lent is a period of going home, but not the same way, not the old way. We must go home another way, it has to be the way of Jesus. You may have come here a bitter sad person, but it is time to go home another way. You may have come here a hater, it is time to go home another way. If you are not in talking terms with anybody, baby, it is time go home another way. If you are struggling with alcohol and drug, dearest one, it is time to go home another way. If you are addicted to sex- sex in the morning, sex in the afternoon, and sex in the evening- sex, sex, sex; it is time to go home another way. If your god is your stomach, baby, it is time to go home another way. Are you depressed, wake up, let’s go home another way. Do you feel unloved, let’s go home another way to someone that loves you. If sticking fingers is your problem, you find it hard to keep your fingers away from what does not belong to you, dearest beloved, let’s go home another way to Jesus.

Return to the Lord while there is still time. Return to God with your heart and mind.