His Powerlessness Reveals a New Kind of Power

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily for the Solemnity of Christ the King

St. Gerard Majella Church

Sunday, November 24, 2013

The Jews refused to see Jesus as their Messiah and King, and they did not find it funny when his Apostles preached that he was. For the Jews, their King would be a glorious military and political leader, a war hero like King David who would conquer and overcome all their enemies, restore the kingship to Israel and initiate a reign of peace and prosperity. The Jews knew their Scriptures and Deuteronomy 21:23 said, “God’s curse is on anyone who hangs on a tree.” So, to consider Jesus, a convicted criminal, crucified and hung on a cross, as their Messiah and King is rather inconceivable. When Pilate put a sign above Jesus’ head that reads: “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews” (John 19:19) the chief priests of the Jews protested over the inscription: “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be the king of the Jews.” To say or to suggest that Jesus, a condemned man, hung on the cross (tree) is the King of the Jews is not only profoundly offensive but also unpardonably blasphemous, and the authorities were ready to pronounce anathema to whoever that acknowledged that. 

Jesus wasn’t crucified between two thieves by accident. He was deliberately crucified between two known criminals so as to humiliate and disgrace him in front of the crowd. It was deliberately staged to crucify him between two notorious criminals so as to portray and rank him with the robbers, tarnish his image, destroy his good reputation among the people, and make him a footnote in the history book and ultimately to persuade and discourage anyone from seeing him as the Messiah and the King of the Jews and the world. The Jewish authorities hated him so much that they were ready to do anything to wipe out his name, his accomplishments, and his teachings from people’s mind. They did not want any history book to consider Jesus as the King of Jews. They did not want any memory to remember the good things he had done and taught. They did not want anyone to remember that he had healed and touched the lives of the blind, the lame, the sick, deaf, the poor, the widows etc. They did not want anyone to remember the lepers he cleansed, the dead he raised, the sorrowful he comforted. They did not want anyone to remember the most beautiful message of all that he preached: “God is love; God loves you.” All that the Jewish authorities wanted anyone to remember about Jesus was that he was a common criminal. The very idea of arresting him, torturing him, humiliating him, hanging him on a tree, and between two publicly known thieves were all to show and to demonstrate that Jesus was fake, a criminal, a deceiver, a historic failure and a wimp. The authorities refused to acknowledge that Jesus was King and they made concerted effort to prevent everyone from seeing him as such. 

While Jesus was hanging on the cross, the rulers mocked and sneered at him saying: “He saved others, let him save himself if he is the chosen one, the Christ of God.”  The soldiers too joined in the festival of mocking him: “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself.” These folks were literally insulting Jesus, challenging him, telling him to show his power. They were literally calling him a fool: “He saved others” but refused to save himself. The Lord’s strength, resilience and power were all tested here. But he remained calm. 

As they mocked him, “one of the criminals hanging there reviled Jesus saying, ‘Are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us.’” But the other thief  noticed what others did not notice, saw what his fellow thief did not see, and acknowledged what everyone else denied and refused to acknowledge. He noticed that Jesus was innocent: “...but this man has done nothing criminal.” He saw that he was truly the Messiah and King: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”  It was through his request that he acknowledged the Kingship of Jesus. In humility he reached out to Jesus and Jesus reached out to him in love and promised him: “Amen, I saw to you, today, you will be with me in Paradise.” In this, Jesus proclaims himself Ruler and King of a kingdom built on compassion and love.

This story tells us that it is never too late to turn to Jesus. There are some things that are too late for us to do now. Some accomplishments may be too late for us now to achieve. It’s too late for me now to be a football star or world class soccer player. It may be too late for some of us to have another child. It may be too late for some of us to go back to school. It may be too late for some of us now to attempt to climb Mount Everest or any other mountain out there. But when it comes to turning to Jesus Christ, we can never say that it is too late. So long as someone’s heart beats, the invitation to turn to the Lord still stands. As we always say, “When there is life, there is hope.”

This story also challenges us not to be cowed especially if we are the lone voice of righteousness and uprightness. As more and more people turn away from God, we must strive to remain the lone voice of God in our community. As more and more people deny the Kingship of Jesus, we must be the lone voice shouting in words and in deeds that Jesus Christ is the Lord and King. As more and more Christians become cold and lukewarm in the practice of their faith, our faith must shine out and dispel the darkness around us. As more and more Catholics chose and pick what aspect of our faith they want to believe and practice, we must be the lone voice of truth. To be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ is to be servants of truth- truth that liberates and renews, truth that gives and sustains life and hope, truth that transcends rationalizations, half-truths and delusions, truth that serves as a looking glass for seeing the world in the intended design of God. Jesus, our Lord is the King of forgiveness, mercy and compassion. To be his disciples, we must become servants of all he taught and did. 

Have a blessed week and remain happy!

Quitters Cannot Win the Heavenly Race

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily for the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

St. Gerard Majella Church

Sunday, November 17, 2013

The setting of this gospel is the Temple in Jerusalem. Jesus was standing in one of the courtyards watching people as they come and go. Then he overheard some people marveling at the beauty of the Temple. They were not talking to God; they were talking to themselves about the costly stones and votive offering in the Temple. They were not praising God; they were praising the Temple. They were not glorifying God; they were glorifying the Temple. They did not marvel at God’s beauty and majesty, but that of the Temple. Jesus released the bombshell- all earthly things including the Temple are vanity unless they lead us to God. He then prophesied the destruction of the Temple: “All that you see here, the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.” Jesus’ listeners  were baffled at what he said. But he was right. In 70 AD, the Romans destroyed the Temple, and leveled the city of Jerusalem.

Speaking further, Jesus said: “Nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be powerful earthquakes, famines, and plagues from place to place; and awesome sights and mighty signs will come from the sky.” To those who believe in him, he said “they will seize and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons, and they will have you led before kings and governors because of my name.” Again, these prophecies came to pass like his prophesy of the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem. So many early Christians were persecuted, tortured, and killed by some Roman emperors. Emperor Nero, for instance, destroyed the lives of so many Christians. He was so ruthless to Christians that the Christian writer, Tertullian accused him of the being the first to persecute the Christians. Peter and Paul, like many other disciples of Jesus were killed. But in all these tribulations, the early Christians did not give up their faith. They believed in the promise of Jesus to be with them until the end of time. The early Christians believed they were not alone. 

Everything that Jesus said in today’s gospel (Luke 21:5-19) has come to pass, and some of them are still happening today. We still witness wars; nation still rise up against nation; hunger and famine still devastate life; earthquakes, hurricane, typhoon etc. still happen. But in the face of these calamities, Jesus tells us “Do not be terrified” (Luke 21:9). We should not give in to life’s troubles. We should not surrender to life’s misfortune. Jesus says “By your perseverance you will secure your lives.” By your perseverance, you will inherit the Kingdom. Quitters do not win; quitters cannot run the race; quitters do not get to the finish line; quitters are never praised both by God and by humans. Quitters give up before morning. The Bible says “there may be mourning in the night, but joy comes in the morning” (Psalm 30:5). Those who do not persevere do not see the morning when joy is enjoyed. Those who do not persevere all through the night till morning do not see the joy of a new day.

Jesus has not promised us a crossless life. He never promised us a rosy life without thorns. He is actually telling us that opting to follow him is opting for persecution, arrest, betrayal, imprisonment, backstabbing, and public ridicule. But the Lord has made a promise: “By your perseverance you will secure your lives” meaning, “if you remain steadfast and faithful till the very end, even when it is very difficult to do so, you will be saved. If you continue to be my arm in the world, even when it is not encouraging to do so, you will be saved. If you continue to be my voice in the world, speaking truth, peace and justice, even when you are not being appreciated, you will be saved. If you continue to be my hand reaching out to my people, even when those you are reaching out to try to hurt you, you will be saved. No one likes misfortune. I do not like it either. I want my life to be free of any problem and trouble. Incidentally, such a path is not the path that leads to life. If there is no cross, there will be no crown. For those of us who have golden jewelries, think of the painful process a piece of gold will have to go through before it is finally purified. That’s the life of a Christian. All the troubles we experience in our lifetime are our passing through purification. Like gold, we must be heated before we become the shinning piece of God’s ornaments. If you persevere, you will be saved. But if you quit, you may be lost.

Sisters and brothers, the wind will blow; sickness may come; insecurity and threat to life may heighten; advancement in age may weaken out movement; our good actions may not be appreciated; what you ask for in prayer may not exactly be given to you; life may be really hard; the once joyful marriage may end up being a nightmare; your children may not appreciate all you are doing for them; you may be invisible to others; things you never expected to happen to you may happen to you; you may be on the brink of loosing your house; the night may be long; the journey may be far; the mountain of life may be high, but Jesus tells us “Do not be afraid.” When Jesus says “Remember, you are not to prepare your defense beforehand, for I myself shall give you wisdom in speaking…” he was simply saying “I will be with you all the time.” I will be with you all the time to grant you wisdom. I will be with you all the time to lighten the loud. I will be with you all the time to ease your pains. I will be with you all the time to comfort you. Do not give up. May your desire for the kingdom never let you give up. By your perseverance, your life will be saved.

The Resurrected Life is Nothing We Have Ever Experienced

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily for the 32nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

St. Gerard Majella Church

Sunday, November 10, 2013

The Sadducees were an extreme conservative sect among the Jews. They belonged to the upper social and economic echelons of Judaean society. They fulfilled various political, social, and religious roles, including maintaining the Temple. The Sadducees believed that only the first five books of the Bible were the inspired word of God. They did not believe in spirits, angels and the resurrection. In spite of the general belief among the Jews that the dead would rise on the last day, as shown by the first reading taken from 2 Maccabees 7:1-2; 9-14: “It is my choice to die at the hands of men with the hope God gives of being raised up by him...” the Sadducees did not believe in the resurrection.  As recorded in today’s Gospel (Luke 20:27-38), some of them came up to Jesus and asked him a question they believed would prove that there’s no resurrection: “Teacher, Moses wrote for us, ‘If someone’s brother dies leaving a wife but no child, his brother must take the wife and raise up descendants for his brother.” Continuing with their question, they narrated a story of seven brothers, who, at some point of their earthly lives got married to one woman but one after another, each of them died without having any child with the woman. Finally the woman also died. “At the resurrection,” (which you people believed) “whose wife will that woman be?” 

The Sadducees asked this question, not because they were interested in understanding the theology of the resurrection; rather, they just wanted to make a mockery of the belief in the resurrection. They wanted Jesus to make a fool of himself. They wanted to see Jesus struggle to answer their question and to have a good laugh. They did not ask to know, they asked to ridicule the most fundamental teaching of our faith. Everything that Jesus taught and did was hinged on resurrection. In John 11:25, Jesus says of himself, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even if they die, they will live.” If resurrection is not true, then it means that Jesus is not true. If resurrection is a lie, then it means that Jesus is a lie. If resurrection is fake, then it means that Jesus is fake. If there was no resurrection, then it means that Jesus lied to us. If there was no resurrection, then it means that Jesus went into extinction after his death. This is what the Sadducees wanted to show, to prove and to demonstrate. 

But then Jesus showed them that he is indeed the Lord of life, that he is indeed the resurrection and the life; that he is indeed the Son of God who has come down from heaven. Jesus taught them that his teaching on resurrection is not just an article of faith that he has not witnessed. As the Son of God, as Immanuel, God who is with us, he has an unquestionable knowledge of the resurrection. He has seen those who believed in God raised up. Jesus told the Sadducees that their notion of marriage and resurrection  was wrong, that they completely misunderstood marriage and resurrection: “The children of this age marry and remarry; but those who are deemed worthy to attain to the coming age and to the resurrection of the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. They can no longer die for they are like angels...” Resurrection will be nothing like the life we live here on earth. At the resurrection, life is better. There will be no pain, no suffering, no boredom, no need for the things we now need to survive. We will die no more. There will be no need to enter into any marriage to keep and preserve our species from dying out. In heaven, we will be like angels. The best way to describe it is those moments of our lives when we experience the intense love of another or the great love of God. The experience of the resurrection will be infinitely more profound than anything we have experienced here on earth. 

Death frightens a lot of people. Death brings human life to an end. But today’s gospel reminds us of the hope of the resurrection. It tells us that the dead will rise to die no more. It reminds us that God is not only the God of the living, but also the God who continues to create. Through Jesus Christ, God is creating a new world; he is inviting us to a new life, the life of love and friendship. This new life does not happen automatically; it is a gradual process; it is a step by step movement following Jesus who says, “I am the way.” Like the song, It’s A Long Road to Freedom says: 

It’s a long road to freedom

A winding steep and high

 But when you walk in love

With the wind on your wing

And cover the earth

With the songs you sing

The miles fly by.

Fr. Marcel's Bulletin Message for the 31st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

Today’s Gospel taken from Luke 19: 1-10 tells us a beautiful story of a tax-collector named Zacchaeus and his encounter with the Lord. Jesus was on a journey which must take him through Jericho. Jericho was a wealthy and important city. It had a great palm forest and gardens of roses that were known far and wide then. Products from the city were taken to world-wide trade and fame. It was a great city of commerce; so these made Jericho one of the greatest taxation centers in Palestine. Tax-collectors usually over tax the people and this made them rich. Zacchaeus was one of those tax-collectors. But he wasn’t an ordinary tax-collector; he was a tax-collector who had reached the top of his profession. He was at the peak of his career. He had made lots of money and had become rich and wealthy. But despite his wealth, he was the most hated in the district. He was wealthy and deeply unhappy at the same time. He and many other tax-collectors were working for the Roman government- the Jews most hated enemy. As if that was not enough, they would over-tax the people, submit the actual amount demanded by the Roman government and then share the rest. And people knew what they were doing. The system of checks and balance was not in place then. In the district and in the neighborhood, Zacchaeus and his households were hated, avoid, abused and cursed by people. He was the saddest man! But then, Zacchaeus heard about Jesus. He heard that Jesus does not discriminate against anyone. He heard that Jesus welcomes sinners, tax-collectors and even prostitutes. And he heard that Jesus was passing by and decided to cease the moment. Rejected and unloved by all, Zacchaeus decided to reach out to the love of God.

On getting to the street, he was not able to see Jesus because he was a short man; and the crowd of haters made it impossible for him to see Jesus. But he refused to be hindered by those hindrances. He refused to let the hostile attitude of the people to prevent him from achieving his mission. There was something much more important than the pains and sufferings of the present age. So, he ran ahead and climbed a Sycamore tree so that he could see Jesus when he passes by. Things were not easy for him but the little man was determined to make it. He made concerted effort to see Jesus. He wanted to demonstrate to Jesus and to the community that he was a changed man. When Jesus came to the spot, he looked up and said to him: “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down; for I must stay at your house today.” Jesus was seemingly saying him: “Zacchaeus, I have seen your effort, your desperation to be saved. Just come down! What you are looking for from the top of that tree will be your guest tonight. What you longed for will not be given to you in bits; you will have it in abundance.”

Scripture tells us that “In his riches man lacks wisdom” but not Zacchaeus. He was able to set aside his wealth and riches and sought after the REAL THING. Imagine a wealthy man climb a road-side tree just to see a carpenter’s son. But then, the carpenter’s son, Jesus, had something which all our education, money, good position, political connection, fancy looks, comfortable lifestyle cannot offer. He is Life and the Giver of the Real Life. 

The Christian Faith disturbs us! It demands something from us. To make heaven, one must make an effort. Zacchaeus made an effort to see the Lord and his effort was handsomely rewarded. If we make an effort to look for the Lord, we will find him. We will see him in our lives, hearts and souls. Let Jesus in and let salvation in. Never think you are finished! You are not! In the house Zacchaeus Jesus declares “The Son of Man has come to seek and save the lost.” Jesus came for the weak, and not the strong. He came for the sick, not the healthy. He came to call sinners, and not the righteous! 

Fr. Marcel’s Sermon for the Mass of Resurrection of Mrs. Olivia Edwards

Saturday, November 2, 2013 at St. Gerard Majella Church, Baton Rouge, LA

Ecclesiastes 3:1-4 tells us that: “For everything under the heavens there is a season. A time to be born and a time to die; A time to plant and a time to reap; A time to tear down and a time to build; A time to weep and a time to laugh; A time to mourn and a time to dance....”

God the Creator has fixed all things under the sky and one of the things fixed by God is death. Several words and phrases have been used to define, describe and explain the reality of death. For unbelievers, death is the final full-stop, the destruction and the extinction of human life. Death, according to them brings life to a dangerous and pathetic end. But for us Christians and believers, death is rather a transition unto glory. It is a divine appointment which brings all human suffering and misery to a glorious end. Death is a form of healing, a permanent healing for that matter. In Philippians 1:21, St. Paul says: “For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” St. Paul sees death, not as a loss for him, rather a gain because it will finally unite him with the One whom he loved so deeply- Jesus Christ. 

On the very day that Mama Olivia Edwards passed, I had the opportunity to hear what I will call “A theology of death from a child.” I was standing in front of the house with some of the folks who had come to be with the Edwards family. Sitting on Mama Olivia’s car was the little angel Alivia. The whole time I was outside, my eyes were on her and Leah to make sure that they don’t attempt to enter the busy road. Then Alivia started saying: “Everybody is crying because Mimi has passed; everybody is crying because Mimi has passed. Why?” Then I moved closer to her and asked, “Baby, do you understand what is happening here? Do you know why everyone is crying?” She said, “hmmmmmmmmmm.... it’s because Mimi has flown out of her body and has gone to heaven.” I said, “Exactly!” Then she asked, “But will she come back and get up?” I said, “no baby.” Then she gave me a long pause. 

William Shakespeare once said that “The whole world is a stage and everybody is merely actors. They have their entrances and exits. Act well your part and there lies the honor.” Brothers and sisters, we’ve gathered here today to honor a wonderful woman, a daughter of Jesus, a child of God, an amazing mother, an amiable friend, a devoted and dedicated Catholic and an active member of this Church who has acted well her part.  She was not only a good mother to her children, she was equally a wonderful mother to all the youth and children in this church and to me as well. Because of her, St. Gerard Majella has a thriving Youth & Children ministry. Because of her, the number of young people in this church is on the increase. How I wished this gathering was to celebrate her 70th or 80th birthday. How I wished this was a thanksgiving Mass to celebrate her recovery from the sickness that killed her. How I wished we are celebrating this Mass of resurrection for her because she died at a very ripe of age of 90. 

During the course of her battle with leukemia, we all prayed. I prayed for her several times asking God to grant to her healing. Of course, what we prayed for was a temporary healing. But God decided otherwise to grant her a permanent healing. She will no longer suffer the ravages of leukemia. Leukemia may think it won the battle, but  oh no, our beloved Mama Olivia won in the end. For there is no doubt in my mind that she is already resting in the bosom of the Lord. She was a woman of faith. Her faith in God was not a hidden one- it was there for all to see. She was deeply loved by so many people. She has a wonderful family that loved and cared for her and has the best collection of friends. There was no time I visited her either at the hospital or at home that she was alone. She was always with people, not just one person. Her children taught me what it means to love and care for a parent, especially when any of them is sick. Her friends taught me the true meaning of friendship. That a friend in need is truly a friend in deed. Her sisters taught me the true meaning of brotherhood and sisterhood. No one gave up on her. Everyone was there for her. And the very day she died, she died in the company of her family and friends. If I were to write anything on her tombstone, I will probably write, “She was profoundly loved by family and friends.” It is very obvious that the manner she was loved was also the manner she loved. She was a very simple, humble, do-not-notice-me kind of person. Even though she lived a ‘do-not-notice-me’ kind of life, her love for others was very visible. If there is one person that genuinely loved me and told it wherever she went, it was Mama Olivia. And I’m gonna really miss her! She was deeply helpful and useful in my ministry here in St. Gerard.

Beloved, let’s find comfort in the words of the first reading taken from Wisdom 3: 1 which says, “The souls of the just are in the hands of God, and the torment of death shall not touch them.” Let’s find some consolation from the second reading taken from Romans 8:35-37 that says, “Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Not even trouble or hardship or persecution or hunger or death can do that.” Death has separated us physically from Mama Olivia Edwards but it has not separated her from us spiritually and has not separated her from God. If there is one thing that death did, it was to reunite her with Jesus whom she loved so much. As we weep, mourn, grieve, and lament her painful transition, let’s not forget the words of Jesus in the Gospel we read today taken from John 14:1-3: “Do not let your hearts be troubled, believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house, there are so many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you. I am going to prepare a place for you. And when I have done that, i will come back and take you, so that where I am, you also may be.” 

You are free to weep, but believe that Mama Olivia has gone to inherit her place in heaven. You are free to cry, but do so believing in God and in Jesus Christ who Mama Olivia served faithfully. Death is always a loss. It’s a painful experience for the bereaved because it is a loss of human life, but as you grieve remember that she has not gone into extinction. Jesus says that after he has prepared a place for us, he would come to take us. Mama Olivia’s mansion is ready to be occupied. Jesus has completed hers and she has gone to reside there. To all those who loved her, if you want to reunite with her again, then love Jesus as she loved him. Serve Jesus as she served him. Be  amiable as she was. Be humble as she was. Be simple as she was. Be prayerful as she was. Be gentle as she was. Be true as she was. Be active in your church as she was. 

Humility tells us we are not better

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily for the 30th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

St. Gerard Majella Church

Sunday, October 27, 2013

A story is told of a king who once visited a prison and talked with each of the inmates. There were endless tales of innocence, misunderstood of motives, and of exploitation. Every prisoner claimed innocent of the actions that brought them to jail: “I am innocent, I didn’t do it” every one of them said. Finally, the king stopped by the cell of a convict who remained silent. The king said to him, “Well, I suppose you are an innocent victim too?” “No sir, I am not, I am guilty and deserve my punishment,” replied the man. Now turning to the prison warder the king said, “Release this rogue immediately before he corrupts all these fine innocent people here.”

Dearest beloved, today’s gospel is the story of two believers- a Pharisee and a tax collector who went to the temple to pray. Both men took part in the temple worship and said their prayers. At the end of worship, one of them- the tax collector went home at peace with God, but the pharisee did not. The Pharisees were disciplined and devout men of religion. They were serious-minded believers who committed themselves to a life of regular prayer and observance of God’s law. In fact, they went beyond the requirements of the law. They fasted twice a week even though the law only required people to fast once a year, on the Day of Atonement. The Pharisees paid tithes of all their income duly, not just of the required parts. So when the Pharisee in today’s gospel said, “O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity- greedy, dishonest, adulterous or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income” (Luke 18: 11-12), he was not lying. Tax collections, on the other hand, was included in the list of occupation regarded as “occupation of robbers,” which no father encouraged his son to practice. Tax collectors were especially singled out because the opportunity to cheat others was always there. Again, they collected taxes for the Romans- the Jews hated oppressors. As far as the religion of that time was concerned, tax collectors were public sinners on the highway to hell. But the tax collector in today’s gospel knew that the voice of the people is not always the voice of God. He believed he would be saved not on the merit of any religious achievements but on the unlimited mercy of God.

The two men who went to the temple to pray believed in God. But believing in God is not enough, after all, terrorists who destroy human life and human wealth also believe in God. The epistle of James 2:19 even says: “You believe that there is one God; you do well, but the devils also believe that and tremble.” What really matters is what people believe about God and how their faith in God affects their view of themselves and of others. The Pharisees believed in a discriminating God who loves only good people and hates bad people. People behave like the God they believe in. So the Pharisees quickly learn to love only good people like themselves and look down with contempt on sinners like the tax collectors.

The Pharisee did not really go to the temple to pray to God, he prayed to himself. True prayer is always offered to God and to God alone. He was only giving himself a thumb-up before God. The tax collector, on the other hand, trusted not in himself or in anything he had done but only in God’s mercy. Standing far off, he would not even look up to heaven, but beat his chest and prayed, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner!” He was the man who went home at peace with God and not the self-righteous Pharisee.

Today’s gospel teaches us that no proud person can pray. Secondly, it teaches us that no one who despises a fellow human being can be at peace with God. In prayer we do not lift ourselves above others. True prayer reveals to us that we are all in this together, that we all are sinners in desperate need of God’s mercy. Thirdly, true prayer comes from setting our lives beside the life of Jesus. No doubt, all that the Pharisee said was true. He did fast; he did give tithes; he was not like the tax collector. But in his pride, he compared himself depends with a fellow man. That what pride does! It compares us with others and tells us that we are better than them. But when the virtue of humility compares us with God, it tells us the truth- “We aren’t better.” When we set our lives beside the life of Jesus and beside the holiness of God, all that we can honestly say is, “Be merciful to me O God a sinner.” 

Humility is a truth teller. In it one knows the truth of himself or herself. Humility does not deceive; it does not flatter; it does not tell us who we are not. It opens our eyes, hearts and minds of who we really are. Despite the praises and commendations we get from people, who only see the outside of us or what we allow them to know of us, humility sets all aside and tells us the bitter of ourselves. Humility does not only see the outside of us, it also sees the inside. And we embrace humility and its true assessment of us, all we can we do is fall at the feet of the Lord and say, “Be merciful to me O God for I am a sinner.” What tells us that we are better and holier than others is pride. But humility tells us we are not holier and not better. We all like a sheep have gone astray. All have sinned and have fallen short of the glory of God. You, me, all of us have sinned! We need God’s mercy! 

Pray with the Faith of Jesus

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily for the 29th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C

St. Gerard Majella Church

Sunday, October 20, 2013

Lucy was a good Catholic lady who loved God so much. One day, her husband became sick and was dying. Lucy prayed day and night to God to heal her husband. Every morning, she would attend morning Mass; during Mass, she would pray for her husband. After Mass, she stayed behind and prayed to Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. In the evening, Lucy would come again to pray for her husband before Jesus in the Holy Eucharist. But despite all her fasting and prayers, her husband’s sickness did not go away. Eventually, her husband died. When the news of her husband’s death broke out, people wondered what Lucy would do now since God did not grant her request. At the funeral Mass, people were amazed to see Lucy looking so calm. During the oration, she said: “First, I want to thank you all for coming here today to be part of my thanksgiving to God. I thank God from the bottom of my heart for hearing my prayers. For days, weeks and months, I had prayed for my husband’s healing. I prayed for temporary healing, but God decided to grant my husband a permanent healing. So I thank the good God for being so good to my husband, to me and my family.” Later, she said “My friends, prayer actually works.”

Sisters and brothers in the Lord, today’s gospel taken from Luke 18:1-8 is about prayer. It is about persistence in prayer. This persistence in prayer is not necessarily about Praying Until Something Happens (PUSH); it’s rather about remaining in prayer, praying in season and out of season whether one’s requests are granted or not. Prayer is not just a solemn request alone; there are also prayers of adoration, love, thanksgiving and contrition. Prayer maintains our relationship with God. It enables us remain in God. In John 15:5, Jesus says, “Whoever remains in me, and I in him, will bear much fruit.” Remaining in Jesus is made possible, strengthened, and deepened through a relationship of prayer.

Prayer is humility. Humility is more of God, and less of me. It’s a longing for “more of God.” “Prayer,” according to Father Richard Thiele CSsR (My Novice Master 1998-1999), “is touching God our heavenly Father.” Praying in season and out of season is touching God in season and out of season. Through the constant act of touching God, we derive the powerful and electrifying current of grace. Grace enables us to carry on loving God and neighbor even against all odds.

In today’s gospel, Jesus told his disciples a parable about the necessity of praying always and not loosing heart. The parable is about a certain judge, one of those robber judges who constantly refused to grant a poor widow a just decision. The poor widow had no resources to hire a lawyer to adjudicate her case. But she had one weapon, and that is persistence. The judge, afraid of being worn out by the poor widow, decided to act.

This parable does not liken God to an unjust judge; it rather contrasts God to such a person: “If in the end, an unjust judge can be wearied into giving the widow justice, how much more will your just God, who is loving and caring, give to his children what they need?” God will surely give us what we need, not what we want.

Now, the image of God portrayed in today’s gospel by Jesus is that of a Father who answers every prayer. Yes, God answers every prayer. But God’s answer to our prayers may not necessarily be exactly what we asked for. When we pray, God gives only three answers: one, either yes; two, or not yet; three, or I have something better in mind for you. We should not expect to get whatever we pray for. Sometimes, a loving and caring father will refuse the request of his child because he knows that what the child asks for would in the end hurt rather than help. That is how God is like. God knows yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He knows the past, the present and the future. Only God knows what is good for us in the long run. That is why Jesus urged us not to be discouraged in prayer, especially when we don’t receive what we asked for. That is why the Lord wondered if our faith would remain till he comes considering the fact that not everything we asked for would be given to us.

Jesus wants us to pray always in order to keep our faith alive. When we pray, it is not to inform God about our misfortunes because God already knows those things. Prayer is not about getting the Lord to change his plans. It is incorrect to say or to think that God only helps those who pray, while refusing those who don’t. When we pray, we open ourselves up to seeing the world through God’s eyes, from God’s perspective. When we pray, we open ourselves more to the Fountain of life, and we open our eyes to see through his light; as the Psalmist says, “For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light” (Psalm 36:9). Prayer is also a weapon against the forces of darkness. It is a weapon of removal. Through prayer all the obstacles hindering us from receiving what God has already given to us are removed.

Throughout Jesus’ earthly ministry, he prayed regularly; he also taught his disciples how to pray. Prayer is not only about making requests. It’s also about knowledge and encounter and friendship. It is in prayer that we know Jesus personally. It is in prayer that we encounter him in a special way. It is in prayer that our friendship with him is deepened. Prayer strengthens us. The one-to-one talking and listening to Jesus enhances our relationship with him. It moves us into intimacy with him.

Prayer is not about turning God into a coke machine; once you slot in your money into the machine, your drink drops out, and if you don’t put in your money, no coke for you. Prayer is about remaining in a relationship with God. If you keep praying, you will keep your faith, and then when the Son of Man returns, he would not find you in despair but in burning love for him. And even when we make request in our prayer, we should do so bearing in mind that God would only give us what is best for us. And guess what? We will never be weary in prayer and our faith will never wobble if, after we had made our request to God, we can add the beautiful prayer of Jesus, “Thy will be done.”

In the Garden of Gethsemane Jesus prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me. Nevertheless, let your will be done, not mine.” His prayer was persistent and also trusting. Although it did not save Jesus from the cross, but it did lead to resurrection. If we can pray with Jesus’ faith, we will never lose heart. If God’s will is done, then it is victory for us because God’s will is the best for us. With that we can say that our prayer is surely answered.