Condemn a Sinner If You Are Sinless!

Rev. Marcel E. Okwara, CSsR

Homily for the Fifth Sunday of Lent, Year C

St. Mary of Assumption Church, Whittier, CA

Sunday, March 13, 2016

During the earthly ministry of Jesus Christ, some of those who disliked him and often times looked for an opportunity to set him on trap were the Pharisees and scribes. When they arrested a woman caught in adultery, their chief reason for bringing her to Jesus was to use her as a pawn to bring some charges against him (John 8:6). In this instance, Jesus was in the temple area teaching when they rudely interrupted him: “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?” (John 8:4-5) That was a very tough position to be in. If Jesus had categorically denounced capital punishment, they would have accused him of negating the Law of Moses that requires it in this instance. And if Jesus had approved it, they would have accused him of breaking the Roman law that denied the vanquished Israelites the authority to impose capital punishment. 

What was at stake here wasn’t the acknowledgement or otherwise of what the woman did. There was no disagreement about what she had done. Jesus agreed with the Pharisees and scribes that her action was sinful; but disagreed with them on what should be done to her. For them, she deserved to be stoned to death because the Mosaic law said so, but for Jesus, she deserved a second chance because “God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that through him, the world might be saved” (John 3:17). He was only interested in calling sinners to true repentance, and not to condemn them. Every single one of them standing before Jesus was living on a second chance. None of them had a clean record or a spotless life. Their desperate plot to set Jesus on trap did not allow them to realize it. To avoid falling into the trap they had set for him, Jesus made them embark on a journey of their past. He made them take a walk down memory lane: “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her” (John 8:7b). Jesus was simply saying to them, condemn her if you are blameless. Of course, none of them was sinless, so, they went away one by one, beginning with the elders” (John 8:9) after seeing their sins written on the ground by Jesus. If anyone of them had tried to throw a stone at her, it would have come back to him.

As far as the Pharisees and scribes were concerned, the woman in question was a no-body, someone who did not matter, whose life could easily be wasted. For them, she was a woman of easy virtue; she was no good. But when Jesus looked at her, she saw a real person, a human being gripped by sin and public shame, who desperately needed liberation. She did not make any excuses for her sin. She did not blame anyone for her lifestyle. She did not blame the devil for her behavior. She knew she had done wrong, unlike the Pharisees and scribes who needed Jesus to remind them that they too had sinned. When all her accusers had gone, Jesus looked up, saw her heart, read the contrition in her heart and then said to her, “Neither do I condemn you” (John 8:11b). Jesus did for her what her community declined to do. He gave her what her folks refused to give her. He gave her a second chance but with a challenge: “Go and from now on do not sin any more” (John 8:11c). By asking her not to return to sex trade eloquently shows his trust in humanity and in human nature. Jesus was asking her to do a very difficult thing, but he believed she could do it. He had seen that within her lies the ability, capacity and capability not to continue to mess up her life, but to mend it and to right the wrong. Jesus had seen that if she only tries, she would overcome her weakness and turn her life around. He believed that a terrible sinner today, can become an amazing saint tomorrow. The worst today, can become the best tomorrow. Jesus believed that the woman was not yet a finished product; so he offered her a second chance to go and redeem her image and to straightened her crooked life. In Jesus, there is the gospel of second chance. He is not so much interested in what you have been but in what you could become. He is not so much interested in what you have done but in what you would do moving forward. 

Beloved in Christ, Jesus teaches us that only the person who is without sin has a right to judge and condemn other sinners. We are only allowed to condemn the guilty if we ourselves are guiltless. It’s unfair to demand standards from others that we never even try to meet ourselves. It’s hypocrisy to loudly condemn the faults in others that are also evident in our own lives. The common weakness of all means that only God has the right to judge. No one is good enough to condemn. Therefore, our first reaction towards a member of the church, family, and society who did something wrong should be pity. When we are confronted with someone who has done wrong, our reaction should not be condemnation, but compassion. The lessons of John 8:1-11 are these: God is full of mercy and compassion, but he still expects us to try and be better each day. Although Jesus forgave the adulterous woman, but also challenged her to put her life in order. He urged her to leave sin behind because it hurts and damages a person and the person’s relationship with God. Sin lowers and reduces us. 

This Gospel also highlights something else: the age-long maltreatment of women. The sin of adultery can only be committed by two persons. But in this story, only the woman was presented as the sinner. Nothing was said of the man. The accusers only brought the woman and were ready to apply the law of capital punishment on her. What about her partner, the man? But in the end, Jesus used their intolerance, discrimination, self-righteousness and hypocrisy to underscore once again that he has not come to call the virtuous, but sinners to repentance (Luke 5:32). He forgave the woman, gave her a second chance, believed in her and offered her hope. Jesus restored her dignity and self-worth. 

Folks, if you are sinless, then condemn the sinful. If you have never sinned before, be the first to condemn the fallen. But if you have erred in your life, show the same mercy that you received when you fell.

It’s Time To Go Home!

Homily for the 4th Sunday of Lent, Year C

Fr. Marcel Emeka Okwara, CSsR

St. Mary’s of Assumption of Church, Whittier, CA

Sunday, March 6, 2016

Is there anyone out there who is still wondering who God really is? Is there anyone in this church who still does not understand God’s attitude towards a sinner? Is there anyone here who wonders how God treats those who have offended him? Is there anyone, who, due to what you have done, still questions and wonders if God is going to forgive and accept you back when you turn a new leaf and return to him? Today’s Gospel taken from Luke 15:1-3, 11-32, provides your answer. Your answer is in the parable of the Prodigal Son, narrated by the Savior of humanity, Jesus Christ. 

Today’s Gospel started with a narrative of how all manner of sinners were coming to listen to Jesus. As they got closer to him, the Pharisees and scribes were expecting him to dismiss, reject and condemn them. But Jesus warmly received them, prompting the Pharisees and scribes to complain, “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.” It’s either they did not get Jesus’ memo that says “The Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost” (Luke 19:10) or they simply ignored it. Jesus knew they were complaining about the way he welcomed, treated and related with sinners. He knew they were appalled by his friendliness with sinners. He knew their notion of God was false. So he took a swipe at them and probably said: “Are you complaining that I welcome and eat with sinners? Now, hear me out. Let me tell you who God really is. Listen to this parable.” 

A man had two sons. The younger son wanted autonomy. He wanted to be his own man. He asked his share of his father’s estate. Immediately his share was given to him, he left home to a distant country. Out there he squandered his inheritance on an immoral life, and thereafter became homeless and hungry. Out of desperation “he hired himself out to one of the local citizens who sent him to his farm to tend the swine.” It was really a significant turn of events for him to be feeding pigs, animals that Jews considered unclean. As his suffering deepened, he came to his senses and decided to return home to his father. But he was not expecting a royal welcome or reception. He was going to ask his father to accept and treat him like one of his servants. Living as a servant in his father’s house was by far better than his present condition. While he was still far away from home, his father, who was standing outside saw him and was filled with compassion for him. He did not wait for him to come closer; he did not turn away from him or yell at him. Instead, he ran to him, puts his arms around him and kissed him. It’s possible the father shed tears— tears of joy that his lost and dead son was back and tears of sorrow at what his son had become. No one should expect a man who fed pigs and lived with them to look good and healthy. As the father was hugging and kissing his son, the young man started reciting a prepared speech of contrition he had composed before embarking on the journey: “Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I no longer deserve to be called your son. Treat me as you would treat one of your hired workers.” But his father was not paying attention to the son’s speech of repentance. He was not listening to his recitation of the act of contrition. He was thinking of how to celebrate his son’s return with his neighbors. But before that, his son’s appearance needed to be taken care of. So, 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 finest robe and ring the father ordered to be put on him symbolized restoration. When the younger son left his family, he lost his place as a prince and son. But now, the father is restoring him to his place as a prince and son. The father also called for a pair of sandals to be put on his feet. Although the son had asked to be treated as one of the father’s slaves, but by putting sandals on his feet, his father was declaring that his son was not going to be a slave in his father’s house. The father ordered the fattened calf to be slaughtered as well. His son’s hunger in a foreign land and the long walk to home definitely emptied him out. Hunger, deprivation and austerity were written all over him. The father did not want to waste any time to begin to feed his son fat again. The father also called for a celebration with his neighbors. It’s not only a celebration of the son’s return but also a celebration of the father’s immense love and mercy. The father wants to show others how to forgive. When the elder son returned home and heard what has happened, he was upset and refused to join in the celebration of his brother’s return. He surely acted like the Pharisees and scribes who never wanted Jesus to welcome tax collectors and sinners. His behavior was also bad and sinful. Like his younger brother, he too had sinned by becoming an obstacle in the realization of family unity and harmony.

Beloved in Christ, we all are sinners. Whether our sins are more visible like those of the prodigal son or more hidden like those of the elder son, the simple message today is: It’s time to go home. The younger son needed to abandon irresponsibility, wasteful lifestyle, and immorality behind and return home. The elder son needed to leave anger, jealousy, pride, unforgiveness and resentment behind and return home too. You and I also need to abandon our evil ways and return home and join in the Father’s feast and celebration. The Father is standing outside, and looking ahead for our return

In reality, this parable is misnamed. It shouldn’t be called the Parable of the Prodigal Son, because the son is not at its center, the father is. It should rather be 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 did not give up on his son. He loved him regardless of what he did. God is the Father in this story. The two sons are you and me. No matter the enormity of our sins, God welcomes us home whenever we return. Jennifer Hudson says in one of her songs , “I am not perfect, but he loves me anyway. Wasn’t an angel in my younger days. We all have done things, that’s between us and God. He loves me still. He loves us still.”

Homily for the Third Sunday of Lent, Year C

Do Yourself  A Favor!

Rev. Marcel Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily for the Third Sunday of Lent, Year C

St. Mary of Assumption Church, Whittier, CA

Sunday, February 28, 2016

Who is to be blamed when something bad happens? When natural disasters like earthquake, hurricane, tornado, tsunami, volcanic eruptions etc happen and kill people and destroy wealth, whose fault is it? Who is to be blamed for the bad things that sometimes happen to us? What is responsible for the numerous diseases that affect and devastate human lives? Few months ago, it was Ebola; now, it is Zika virus. Why do some people get lucky, while others don’t? Why do misfortune frequently happen to some, while others swim in the ocean of fortune and comfort? For people of Jesus’ days, all misfortune, suffering, hardship, every affliction of disease is a consequence of sin. As far as they were concerned, material poverty is as a result of spiritual poverty. All suffering is God’s punishment on a sinful person or persons. But today, we consider such a belief not only ridiculous but also wrong. But while it is false to assume that all human suffering results from sin, it would be just as false to assume that sin does not result in suffering or misfortune. You know, even when forgiveness has been obtained, sin leaves a mark on us. 

In today’s Gospel taken from Luke 13:1-9, Jesus asserts two undeniable truths: those who suffer have not necessarily sinned; but those who remain in sin and thrive in it will eventually reap the fruit they have sown. Yes, the Galileans that Pilate mingled their blood with the blood of sacrifice were not greater sinners than all other Galileans; but that does not mean that those who perpetuate in doing evil will go unpunished. Yes, the eighteen people that were killed when the tower of Siloam fell on them were not more guilty than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem; but those who continue to harm others will perish in like manner. Do you think that those who died in plane crash, on road accidents, during natural disasters, and terrorist attacks were worst sinners than those of us still living today? Jesus said, “By no means!” But guess what, if we do not repent and turn away from our evil ways, Jesus said, “we will all perish as they did!” Not because God is a destroyer. Not because God is the one that brings or causes peril. But because the refusal to repent, which is the refusal to be loved by God, is enough punishment that unrepentant persons bring upon themselves. God does not punish, but wrongdoing does. Refusal to be loved by God brings extreme punishment.  

Christianity is not just a bunch of creeds that have no direct impact in our daily life and in the way we treat and relate with each other. It is not simply a profession of faith without a demonstration of faith. It is not a religion of sterility. A sterile Christian is a lifeless Christian. Christianity is a faith-based and fruit-based institution. Those who are called by the name of the Lord Jesus Christ ought to bear good fruits. An authentic Christian is like a fig tree that bears fruit in season and out of season, not like the one described in today’s Gospel. A fruitful Christian brings glory to God. A sterile Christian mocks God and exposes the Christian faith to mockery and ridicule. One of the fruits expected of a Christian is ongoing repentance and conversion. Repentance is a frequent theme of Lent. Simply put, it means turning the page of the past which is filled with hurt, anger, hatred, immorality, racism, discrimination, hostility, unforgiveness, murder, religious indifference, etc. Repentance entails making a decision with the grace of God to return home to God. It means exiting from walking in the shadow of death and entering into the life of God and the light of Christ. To repent is to seek for healing. Sin hurts! Sin wounds! Sin makes us sick! To repent is to start doing some good to ourselves, to start showing some love to ourselves. To repent is to allow God to work on us, that is to “cultivate the ground around us and fertilize us” so that we can bear good fruits. To repent is to run away from being cut down. In the parable that Jesus told in today’s gospel, the owner of the orchard had ordered the gardener to cut down a particular fig tree that had not produced any fruit for three years. An unrepentant sinner is like that fig tree. If we don’t bear fruits of love, purity, kindness, hospitality, friendship, holiness, forgiveness, generosity, prayer, perseverance, etc, we may be facing the Gardener’s Knife. Jesus’ call to repentance is a call to do ourselves a favor, do ourselves some good, show ourselves some love, and give ourselves some peace and joy. It’s a call to end the self-infliction.

Brothers and sisters, the season of Lent is the season of returning to God. Our Savior Jesus Christ has urged us in today’s Gospel to embark on this homeward journey today. There may not be much time. If we want to be right with God, today is the day and now is the hour to take the first step. The priest that preached during the 11:30 AM Mass last Sunday made a good point when he said over and over again that we are good people. It’s true! Everyone sitting in this church is good, but are we good enough for God? Are we good enough to inherit the Kingdom? Are we so good that there is no area of our life that needs repentance, nothing to improve, and nothing to deepen, and nothing to do more? Repentance is not only about giving up what is wrong; it is also about deepening the good we are already doing. It is about doing more— being more kind, more generous, more loving, more forgiving, more patient, more tolerance, praying more, helping more. I have severally encountered penitents who said to me, “Father, I do help my neighbor, but I just realized that I can be more helpful.” That’s repentance too. Some say, “I give money to the church, but I just found out that I could’ve been more generous.” That’s repentance as well. Whenever you say to yourself: I can pray more; I can be more patient with my spouse and children; I can devote more time to my family; I can spend more time helping others; I can be more tolerant and welcoming. Repentance is taking place in your life. 

Beloved in Christ, twice in today’s Gospel Jesus warns, “if you do not repent…” Refusal to repent is refusal to be restored to one’s prime place as a son or daughter of God. Refusal to repent has consequences. God never tires of forgiving us, we should never be tired of asking for forgiveness. Refusal to ask for forgiveness is refusal to be forgiven. Do yourself some good. Give yourself some love. Do yourself a favor by repenting and returning to God. 

What Does Jesus Command Us To Do?

Rev. Marcel E. Okwara, CSsR

Homily for the Second Sunday of Lent, Year C

St. Mary of Assumption Church, Whittier, CA

Sunday, February 21, 2016

Today we consider one of the astonishing events in the story of our faith. The man the Apostles knew as friend and rabbi was suddenly revealed to a privileged three as the Son of God. Jesus had chosen, from among his twelve friends, Peter, James and John, and took them to the mountain to pray. The mountain is a natural place for encountering God. It was on Mount Sinai that God gave Moses the Ten Commandments. It was on Mount Horeb that Elijah encountered God. People encountered God through Jesus’ great sermon on the Mount. Jesus was crucified on Mount Calvary and ascended into heaven from Mount Olivet. As Jesus was praying, something amazing happened: His face changed in appearance and his clothes became dazzling white, radiating with heavenly light. Then two great figures of the Old Testament: Moses— the man whom God used to deliver the Jews from slavery, and Elijah— the great prophet of Israel who boldly stood up for God at a time when idolatry had swept his land and fought hard against it, appeared and were chatting with Jesus. 

While Jesus was in deep communion with the Father, his three friends were sleeping and probably snoring. And guess what? They almost missed a remarkable event because of sleep. Among us, there are some folks who just can’t keep their eyes open during Mass and at family prayers. When the Mass is going on, they are sleeping away as if they came to Mass to continue their sleep. At family prayers, they are sleeping also. But during meals, they are the talking ones. When the family is watching a movie, their attention is rapt. But once it is prayer time, the “demon” of sleep takes over them. Prayer time is blessing time, not sleeping time. Peter, James and John almost missed a glorious event because of sleep. But somehow, they managed to shake off their sleepiness and then saw Jesus talking with two men who were long dead and gone—Moses and Elijah, (representatives of the Law and the Prophets). What were they talking about? His Exodus! The word “exodus” brings to mind the deliverance of Israel from Egyptian enslavement and also anticipates the freedom Jesus will win, through his suffering, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension. The three apostles did not know what to make out of the appearance of Moses and Elijah. They were confused! Then the impetuous Peter interrupted their shock and awe and said, “Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah” (Luke 9:33). He did not count himself and the other two apostles. If it was good to be where they were, they too should have a place to stay. He was still confused, because the Gospel said “he did not know what he was saying.” As Peter was still talking, the voice of the Father sounded from the cloud and said to them, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him” (Luke 9:35).

Beloved in Christ, just as the Father commanded Peter, James and John to listen to his chosen Son, so we are commanded. By definition, a Christian is a person who follows  and listens to Jesus because you cannot follow someone you are unwilling to listen to. But what does Jesus command us to do? Love, forgive, repent, witness, and be in solidarity with the most vulnerable, the poor, the sick, the dying, the grieving. There are some folks in our community who suffer due to their race, nationality, creed, etc. Jesus asks us to be mindful of them, to see them as one of us— brothers and sisters. He asks us to be his ambassadors to the sick, the hungry, the rejected people in our community. He commands us to welcome and treat with respect prostitutes, tax collectors, foreigners, lepers, drug addicts etc. He commands us to welcome newcomers to our church, community and nation. 

The season of Lent is the season that prayer, fasting and alms-giving are more emphasized. In the Gospel of Matthew 6:1-6, Jesus teaches us not to blow our trumpet when we give alms as the hypocrites do. He does not want us to make a public spectacle of our prayer. He also does not want us to appear gloomy when we fast so that it would be known only by our heavenly Father. Fasting, prayer and alms-giving are not the goal or the end. They are means to the end. When we talk about prayer, many of us know what we are talking about. In fact, many of us do pray. When we talk about almsgiving, we know it is the sharing of our resources with the less fortunate ones in our midst. But when the topic of fasting is mentioned, many of us narrowly think it entails abstaining from food or drinks only. But besides fasting from food and drinks, there are also attitudes and behaviors that we need to fast from. At the transfiguration of Jesus, the Father revealed his Son to us and also asked us to listen to him. During this Lent, the Son is definitely asking us to do the following: 

Fast from judging others; feast on God that lives in them

Fast from emphasizing our differences, instead feast on our oneness

Fast from the darkness around us; feast on the light of Christ

Fast from thoughts of illness, feast on the healing power of God

Fast from words that pollute; feast on words that purify

Fast from discontent; feast on gratitude

Fast from deep seated anger; feast on the joy of the Lord that is our strength 

Fast from pessimism; feast on optimism

Fast from worry; feast on trust and confidence in God

Fast from guilt; feast on God’s forgiveness and mercy

Fast from complaining; feast on appreciation

Fast from stress and from working without rest; feast on self-care

Fast from hostility; feast on letting go and on friendship

Fast from bitterness; feast on pardon

Fast from selfishness; feast on compassion for others

Fast from discouragement; feast on seeing the good

Fast from religious indifference; feast on enthusiasm and passion for the Lord

Fast from suspicion; feast on goodness

Fast from gossip; feast on spreading the good news

Fast from seeing evil everywhere; feast on the ever presence of God 

Fast from noise; feast on quiet silence

Fast from talking too much; feast on listening

Fast from hate; feast on love

Fast from always trying to be in control; feast on involving others

Fast from sin; feast on righteousness and upright

Jesus Battles the Devil!

Rev. Marcel E. Okwara, CSsR

Homily for the First Sunday of Lent, Year C

St. Mary’s of Assumption Church, Whittier, CA

Sunday, February 14, 2016

Temptation is a suggestion to do what is wrong, an enticement to seriously consider doing what is deplorable, and an opinion that rejects the truth, spins lies and tries to use them to our disadvantage. For instance, the expression, “Heaven helps those who help themselves” is an opinion that has variously been used to persuade people to do what is criminal and sinful. Some Christians even contend that it is in the Bible. Although it sounds pious and spiritual but there is no where it is written in the Bible. Temptation, in itself, is not a sin or a crime; but yielding to it may either be one or both. Temptation tests our faith in God. It tests our character too. Our victory or otherwise defeat in it will determine where we stand with God. 

Today’s Gospel (Luke 4:1-13) is the temptation of Jesus in the desert. Jesus was about to begin his public ministry. To adequately prepare himself for it, he went to a desert where he fasted and prayed for forty days. At the end of the marathon and bruising spiritual exercise, he was hungry. Aware of Jesus’ immediate needs at that moment in time, the devil approached him and said, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” But Jesus said to him: “One does not live on bread alone.” The devil wanted Jesus to prove that he was the Son of God by performing acts that would gravely betray that very identity. There was nothing essentially wrong in turning a stone into bread, but if Jesus had done that, he would have used his powers selfishly, and he would have obeyed the devil. And obedience to the devil is disobedience to God. Jesus knew his identity all too well, and didn’t need to prove it to the devil by doing the devil’s will. Do we know our identity? Do we really know who we are? Do we know that each of us is a beloved child of God? If we do, then we should not worry about what naysayers, liars and haters are saying about us. We don’t need to prove ourselves to satisfy them. We may never satisfy them. What they say we are, what they say in their gossip about us, is not who we are. We are God’s beloved! That’s our identity. As long as we act as such, we have nothing to worry about. 

Having lost out in the first temptation, the devil took Jesus up and in one instant, showed him all the kingdoms of the world, and then said to him: “I shall give to you all this power and glory, for it has been handed over to me, and I may give it to whomever I wish. All this will be yours, if you worship me.” But Jesus replied him: “It is written, you shall worship the Lord your God, and him alone shall you serve.” The devil was bitting more than he could chew. He actually wanted the Son of God to worship him. Jesus wants the whole world to acknowledge him as the Lord and Savior, but he cannot achieve that by worshipping a false god. As children of God, are we allowed to pursue our goals by whatever means? Does the end justify the means? Are we supposed to use every available means- good or bad, to achieve our objectives? Jesus says no! The devil’s shortcut shortens our peace and joy. His shortcut is a shortcut to misery, sorrow and eternal damnation.

After the devil’s two attempts to make Jesus cave to his whims and caprices failed, he pushed even further. He led him to Jerusalem and made him stand on the parapet of the temple and then said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here. For it is written, He will command his angels concerning you, to guard you and with their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.” Again Jesus responded: “You shall not put the Lord, your God to the test.” Having failed thrice to make Jesus obey him, he left him alone for a while. 

The third temptation is like the the first: “If you are the Son of God…”  The devil wanted Jesus to prove a point to him. He asked him to prove that he was God’s Son by jumping from the parapet of the Temple. Jesus is God’s beloved Son. He has powers, but doing what the devil suggested would amount to putting God to the test, and obeying the command of the devil. Some Christians have unreasonable faith. Some are so naive in the practice of their faith. Such people believe in a God of magic, not in the God of miracles. I worship a miracle-working God, not a magic performing God. A story is told of a young man who jumped into a lion’s cage in the zoo because the Bible promises that nothing harmful can happen to God’s children. It’s possible his soul went to heaven, but his body was a special lunch for the lions.

Beloved in Christ, Jesus was tempted with selfish pleasure, with fame and with power, but in each of them, he showed his mettle, his faithfulness and commitment to his Father. Are those three things: pleasure, fame and power not what virtually everyone in the world is scrambling for, and most times, at the detriment of others, their faith and relationship with God? Like Jesus, we are also tempted. Just as Jesus triumphed over all the enticements of the evil one, we too can. When the devil calls you, call upon Jesus. When he offers you bread (which stands for bodily pleasure), seek for the Bread of Life. When he offers you fame, seek for the humility and simplicity of Jesus. When he offers you the shortcut to prosperity, ease and comfort, follow the Lord’s right path to true freedom.  But if you are too weak, too tired to pray, if your heart is torn in pieces and you seem confused, scream aloud and say: “Get behind me, Satan.”

You Are the One God is Looking For!

Rev. Marcel E. Okwara, CSsR

Homily for the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

St. Mary of Assumption Church, Whittier, CA

Sunday, February 07, 2016

On a few occasions, I have said that one of the “lies” ever told on my behalf was told on the day I was ordained to the priesthood. In every Roman Catholic ordination, the candidates for ordination to the priesthood are called one after another and presented to the ordaining prelate, the Bishop. When each candidate is called by name, he answers “present” and then goes to the Bishop, and makes a sign of reverence, like a gentle bow. At the end of this exercise, the priest who made the presentation says to the Bishop: “Most Reverend Father, the holy mother Church asks you to ordain these men, our brothers, to the order of presbyterate.” After that, the Bishop asks, “Have you found them worthy?” The priest responds, “After inquiry among the people of God and upon recommendation of those concerned with their training, I testify that they have been found worthy.” Immediately, my Superior said those words, I started shedding tears, because it just dawned on me in a very powerful way, that I was not worthy. I wondered what God saw in me that he gave me the privilege to share in the priesthood of Christ. I wondered why my shortcomings and weaknesses did not lead to my expulsion. Those who saw tears in my eyes thought it was tears of joy. But it was essentially tears of gratitude to God who knew how unworthy I was, yet, in his goodness and mercy, still called and invited me to serve him and his people. 

The first reading taken from Isaiah 6:1-2a, 3-8 and the Gospel, taken from Luke 5: 1-11, are stories of two individuals who were called and who were painfully aware of their sinfulness and unworthiness. Isaiah and Simon Peter were overwhelmed and almost speechless to be in the presence of the divine power who was calling them. When Isaiah encountered the Lord, he exclaimed, “Woe is me, I am doomed! For I am a man of unclean lips, living among a people of unclean lips” (Isaiah 6:5). When Simon Peter realized he was standing next to a great prophet, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said to him, “Depart from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man” (Luke 5:8). While Isaiah’s encounter with God looks like an event that happened in a trance, Peter’s encounter with God took place on a seashore. 

Simon Peter and his colleagues had worked hard all night fishing but caught nothing. By morning, they were getting ready to go home in disappointment. After paddling their boats to the bank of the Lake Gennesaret, they started washing their nets, boats and themselves in preparation to go home. Then, a stranger, Jesus, showed up! Uninvited, he got into Peter’s boat. As if that was not enough, he asked Peter to push the boat a little bit from the shore. Surprisingly, Peter obeyed his order. Jesus sat down and started teaching the crowds who had come to listen to him. At the end of his evangelical outreach, he rewarded Peter for his patience and kindness: “Put out your net into the deep water and lower it for a catch” (Luke 5:4), he said to him. In his response Peter said to him, “Master, we have worked hard all night and have caught nothing, but at your command I will lower the nets” (Luke 5:5). That’s a huge statement of faith and trust in the words of Jesus. It’s a sharp transition and movement from sight to faith. It’s an immediate departure from empirical fact and evidence to profound faith. It’s a quick switch from what is seen to what is yet to be seen. By acting on the words of Jesus, Simon Peter and his colleagues caught a great number of fish that they had to summon others to come help them out. When Peter saw the miracle that had just happened, he realized that Jesus was a Prophet and a Man of God. Like many of us, he concluded he should not, in any way, be close to him. So, falling to his knees, he respectfully pleaded with him to leave. But instead of departing from Simon Peter, Jesus offered him an invitation to join him in fishing-out follow sinners: “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men” (Luke 5:10). With those words, Jesus changed everything for Peter. He changed his profession, his life and destiny.

The expression “I am unworthy” or “I am a sinner,” has been used by some of us as our reason for not getting involved in any of the ministries of the church. Some once practicing and vibrant Catholics have become cold or stayed away from the Church for the same reason. But after listening to today’s Gospel, that can no longer be an adequate and cogent reason to give. If you consider yourself unworthy to join any ministry in the church, then you are the one that Jesus is really looking for. If your marriage has collapsed or is faltering, and you are blaming yourself for it, my message to you today is this: You are the one that Jesus is looking for. You procured abortion in the past, and the guilt is hurting and hunting you. You are the one he is looking for. Your son or daughter did not turn out alright, and you are blaming yourself for it. You are the one Jesus is looking for. Are you trapped in any habitual sin? You are the one he is looking for. If you are struggling spiritually and morally, then you are the one he is looking for. If there is anyone in your family that considers himself or herself not worthy to come to God, not worthy to come to church, please tell them that they are the one that the Lord is looking for. If you are struggling in your faith, then you are the one he is looking for. Do you consider yourself unworthy in any way, form or shape, you are the one he is looking for. The Lord is looking for sinners, not for the purpose of validating their sin, but for the purpose of offering them grace, mercy, healing, strength, and encouragement. He is looking for the lost in order to find them and lead them to safety. He is looking for the weak so that through them he can manifest his power. He is looking for the wounded in order to heal them. Jesus did not come for the healthy. He came for the sick. He did not come for the righteous. He came for sinners. He did not come for those who have got their lives together. He came for those with disordered and dysfunctional lives. Isaiah considered himself a sinner, he was still chosen. His unclean lips were touched, his wickedness was removed and his sin purged. Simon Peter considered himself a sinner, and even asked Jesus to depart from him. Jesus still invited him to follow him. In the end, he became a great apostle. He accomplished great things for the Lord. Do not let your unworthiness, your sin and your weakness to be the reason to stay away from God and the Church. In the Gospel of Luke 19:10, Jesus says that “The Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost.” Don’t hide or run away from him! He came for you! He came for me! He came for us all! 

“Isn’t this the Son of Joseph?”

Rev. Marcel E. Okwara, CSsR

Homily for the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

St. Mary of Assumption Church, Whittier, CA

Sunday, January 31, 2016

Everyone of us has a hometown where we were born or grew up. Jesus too, had a hometown. Last Sunday’s Gospel tells us that he returned to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and on getting there, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day. His home-folks have heard of his exploits in foreign lands. So, they asked him to take the reading and to teach. When he stood up to read, he was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. As he unrolled and open it, he found the passage where it was written: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.” After the reading, he said: “Today, this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing”  (Luke 4:18-19).

Upon hearing the wonderful blessings and favors that God has promised them, they were excited. In their excitement, they spoke highly of Jesus and were also pleasantly surprised by the gracious words that came from his mouth. But as we already know, there will always be naysayers, pessimists, doubters, negative minded people and peddlers of cynicism. Some of them were present in the synagogue. While some people in the assembly were marveling at the gracious words of good-news, healing, liberty, restoration of sight and a bountiful year of God’s favor that proceeded from the mouth of Jesus, others were raising doubt about his authenticity. To make sure that Jesus was not believed or trusted, they raised the question: “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?” The question immediately created doubts and skepticism in the minds of the people. Jesus read their minds and realized that they did not believe in him—not because he has done anything wrong, but because of his origin. He was a homeboy. They knew his father, Joseph. They knew his background. His sin was his background. He wasn’t one of those boys from rich, famous and noble homes. He was the son of a poor carpenter. As such, he was disbelieved, discounted, disparaged and dismissed.

But Jesus did not slip into self-pity. Instead he told them that he was aware that “no prophet is accepted in his own native place,” and that it was because of this disparaging way of looking at a homeboy prophet that Elijah, during the three and half years of severe famine in the land, was not sent to any widow in Israel, but to a widow in Zarephath in the land of Sidon; that Elisha was not sent to the many lepers in Israel, but only to Naaman, the Syrian. Oh boy! On hearing those words which suggests that God had other plans for the Gentiles, they became infuriated, dragged him to the hill and tried to throw him over a cliff. 

You know, throughout the earthly ministry of Jesus, his home-folks never really believed in him or his message. There were large crowds of people who followed him about for different reasons. Some came for healing; others came to be fed, others came to satisfy their curiosity, yet, others came to test him or set trap for him. Even those who were enthusiastically drawn to him had some doubts. When Jesus entered the city of Jerusalem, the crowds shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” (Matthew 21:9). But when Pilate asked them after Jesus was arrested and brought in for trial “What shall I do with Jesus who is called Messiah?” They shouted “Crucify him!” (Matthew 27:22). Jesus was always viewed with doubt, suspicion and skepticism by his folks. He was never regarded beyond being the son Joseph, the carpenter. So, when he needed someone to stand up for him, to just say, “this man is a good man; this man is innocent” no one took the risk. “What the heck?” “Isn’t he the son of Joseph?” they may have reasoned. It was as if the son of Joseph didn't deserve to live. It was as if the son or daughter of “no-body” doesn't deserve to live. It was as if those who were born with no spoon at all do not deserve to live. It was as if an ordinary person, an everyday person, someone with no political, religious and economic connection does not deserve to live. Everything that Jesus did and taught was dismissed and ignored simply because he was the son of Joseph, because he did not come from an upper class society. All the miracles, signs and wonders, numerous healing that he performed and the amazing message of salvation that he preached were not enough to convince the doubters. It was after his death on the cross, which was immediately followed by the tearing into two, from top to bottom, the curtain in the temple, the splitting of rocks, the earthquakes and other mysterious events that took place, that made the centurion and those guarding him to finally exclaim, “Truly, this man is the Son of God” (Matthew 27:54). But before then, Jesus was just “the son of Joseph;” someone to ignore, to dismiss, to belittle, and to do away with.

Familiarity, we are told, brings contempt. Jesus’ hometown folks had difficulty accepting the message of a man they were familiar with. Jesus grew up among them, he lived among them, ate with them and worshipped with them. Obviously they saw his holiness, his devotion, and his love for God. They knew he did not commit any sin or crime. But what could have kept them from believing his claims? Have you ever wondered why none of the 12 Apostles came from his immediate family? They saw him everyday! They saw him work, eat, get up in the morning and even use the bathroom. They were familiar with him but not intimate with him.

We can also fall into this trap. In the beginning, we were on fire for Jesus, but as time passes by, we fall into a daily routine that saps out the very life of God from us. Although we still come to church, attend several church activities, but our intimacy level with him may be dropping. We may have defined Christianity by our activities for God rather than our intimacy with him. Jesus’ relatives could tell so much about him— his favorite food, sports, color, etc. But they may not tell who he was. Intimacy with Jesus is not gained through seniority but through an ongoing relationship and intimacy. There are a good number of people who have grown up with Jesus, but today, the life they live is no longer different from those that do not know him. It’s possible they now see him only as “Joseph son!” They may know a lot about Jesus but do not really know him. Our relationship with him must produce an ever-increasing love for him and his people. Like John the Baptist, “He must increase, and we must decrease.”  As we live our Christian life, let’s strive to avoid spiritual indifference. It steals our intimacy with him, makes him simply “Joseph son.” Remember, we exist primarily to seek God, to love him and serve him. We are not just our parents’ children, we are God’s children.