Homily for the Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

The Real Defilement 

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily for the Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

St. Mary of Assumption Church, Whittier, California 

Sunday, September 2, 2018

My beloved mother— she is a saint, was fond of saying after opening her hands and showing them to her listeners, “Just because I washed my hands properly with soap and water does not mean my hands are clean.” Another thoughtful statement she used to say during her earthly life was, “Having a good bath does not mean you are clean.” These words of my late mother can help us understand today’s Gospel (Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23). 

Today’s Gospel passage tells us that the Pharisees and some of the scribes approached Jesus and complained that his disciples were violating the tradition of the elders by not washing their hands before a meal. Traditionally, Jews are required by custom to wash their hands before any meal; and to also purify objects like cups, jugs, kettles, and beds. The cleaning and purifying of these daily used objects was a way of getting rid of any accidental impurity that could potentially render whoever comes into contact with them legally and ritually unclean. The external or exterior purification was carefully observed to the extent that when someone returns from a public place like the marketplace, he or she must also undergo a purification. Why? Because the person may have come in closer contact with the Gentiles. The Gentile nations were considered unclean people— a type of racism and discrimination.  

Responding to their complaint, Jesus emphasized the moral intent of the Law, which goes beyond its literal interpretation. Although it is the Law that stipulated certain regulations for cultivating the moral purity necessary to approach God, but it is the tradition that applied these laws and customs to other matters, like eating. In diebus illis, (In those days), external purity was seen as the evidence of integrity. If one observed and performed  the ritual act of purification, the person is considered “clean,” “pure,” and “upright.” But as we can see, this way of reasoning paid little attention to the interior, to what lies in the heart of a man. It paid little or no attention to what really defiles a person. So, in his response, Jesus took his audience and those of us reading this passage today precisely where we ought to pay more attention to: the heart. Remember my prominent questions and comment: “What lies in your heart?” “What’s in your heart?”  “Pay attention to what lies in your heart!” 

Friends, is it good to wash hands before eating? Absolutely, yes! Those of us who study or work in healthcare settings like hospitals, clinics, hospice etc. know the vital importance of washing hands before and after a patient is visited. A clean hand, many studies have shown, saves lives. It has given rise to this inscription we see at PIH Hospital, “A clean hand is a helping hand.” Is it good to take a bath after the day’s hustling and bustling? You betcha! Is it strongly recommended to wash dishes like cups, jugs, kettle before use? Resounding yes! Is it hygienic to wash our bed linens regularly? Indisputably yes! Now, as important and sometimes, lifesaving, these practices could be, are they in essence acts that make us morally and spiritually pure and clean? Not at all! If the meaning behind them does not express and refer to the cleansing of a person’s inner life, then they cannot make anyone pure.  Jesus stressed the importance of purity of heart when he said, “from within people, from their hearts come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly.” And in his sermon on the Mount, he declared, “Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God.” 

Brothers and sisters, today’s Gospel teaches us that it is not everyone who washes his or her hands and sits at the table has a pure heart and clean intentions. So, just as we take care of our external body— (two baths a day, one in the morning and one at night, brushing twice each day, one in the morning, and one at night, plus after meal floss, several hand washing, and other hygienic things we do to keep germs and bacteria away), we are invited by the Lord to double that effort to purify our hearts and make them a worthy habitat for God to dwell. Once again, I say to all of us, take care of what lies in your heart. If they are good, keep and nurture them to fruition, but if they are bad and ugly, purge them now, not later. As Jesus says, “From the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks,” (Matt. 12:34b). Put differently, from the abundance of the heart, we speak and act. No one goes to hell for not washing hands before meal, and not washing and purifying cups, jugs and kettle. But if we refuse to purify our hearts, refuse to remove all forms of wickedness and rebellion from it, and refuse to make it ready for the Lord to come in and dwell therein, we may not see God here and thereafter. 

It’s Time To Follow God!

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily for the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

St. Mary of Assumption Church, Whittier, California 

Sunday, January 21, 2018

After the arrest of John the Baptist, Jesus entered the stage with the biggest announcement: God is now here; his Kingdom is dawned upon us; his reign has begun; God’s arrival is here; the time designated by God, that is, the appointed time for him to fulfill his promises and will has come. God himself is calling, therefore, drop everything and listen to him. After that Jesus added: it’s time to abandon the old ways and follow God’s way. If you are a liar, Jesus says, stop telling lies. If you are a hater, stop the hate. If you eat and drink too much, cut it off. If you have a lackluster faith, “fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you…” (2 Timothy 1:6); if your life lacks the juice of the Spirit, pray! Stop your rebellious attitude towards God. Abandon disobedience. Abandon excessive pursuit of pleasure, power, wealth, and fame. Seek God with a sincere heart. Most importantly, follow God. Come to God. It’s time to say yes to him. 

To really demonstrate that it is time to follow God, Jesus invited  Simon Peter, his brother Andrew, James and his brother, John, to follow him, to learn his way and to also become fishers of men. Like Simon, Andrew, James and John, he has also invited us to follow him. The Pope, Bishops, priests and religious are not the only ones who have been called and chosen. Every one of us seated in this church has also been called and invited to follow after the Holy Redeemer. Like I often said, when God calls, drop everything, nothing could be more important. 

Now, it is important to understand the reason why God has called us. He did not call us because we are perfect. He hasn’t called us because we are upright, holy, spotless, strong, amazing, awesome and good. God calls us because we are simply the opposite of all that. If we were spotlessly upright, there would have been no need for Jesus to suffer what he suffered on our behalf. After all, he himself said, “The Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10); “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mark 2:17). It was long ago that I realized that the reason why the Lord called me to become a priest is not due to my goodness and holiness, but rather due to my weak and sinfulness. He chose me not because I am such a great man, but because I am imperfect. He chose me so that by following him closely I will learn about his ways, learn how to live, how to serve God and others. Jesus called me to follow him so that he can fix me, adjust me, heal me, lead me, guide me, and pick me up when I fall down. The same goes to you as well. You have not been called because of your awesomeness or your amazing attributes and qualities. He chose you because you are not perfect. But by following him, you will learn from him and also find rest for your souls. 

So, when you find someone who comes to Mass daily, prays daily, has every form of religion but still struggles to stay upright— morally and spiritually, still struggles to live the life expected of the disciples of Jesus, do not be discouraged. God is still working on that person. Moreover, that person was not called because of his or her spotless nature, but because the person is weak and needs God to save him or her. And in your own life, if you are still struggling to overcome a particular sin, if a particular habit has become very difficult for you to overcome, do not be discouraged. Do not give in to the notion: “I will never get over it!” No, you can! Yes, you can! We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us (Philippians 4:13). Do not give up the habit of following the Lord. Jesus, the greatest physician ever, is still working on you. You were not called because you had no spiritual or moral wrinkle. You were not called because you had no blemish. You and I were called and chosen because we had all that. Jesus saw we needed help, salvation, healing, mercy, strength and direction. As we follow the Lord, let’s allow him and his words to transform us from inside out. Some of this transformation will be instantaneous, others will be a process. Remember, Jesus is the Porter, and we are the clay. Stay close to the Porter; he is still working on you. Okay? 

Prepare to Return to God!

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily for the Second Sunday of Advent, Year B

St. Mary of Assumption Catholic Church, Whittier, CA

Sunday, December 10, 2017

The three biblical figures that express in different ways the spirit of Advent season are prophet Isaiah, the Blessed Mother Mary and John the Baptist. Isaiah’s message creates and generates hope and expectation; the obedience of Mary, the Mother of Jesus and our Mother, opened the door to the incarnation. Her ‘Yes’ to God made the marriage of humanity and divinity possible. Her ‘Yes’ began a new era and a new dawn for all generations; and the message of John the Baptist calls our attention to the necessity of preparing the way of the Lord. Each of these figures points to no other person but Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the Savior of the world. The prophetic message of hope of Isaiah is that our guilt is expiated, that is, atoned and paid for. The message he delivered on behalf of God is that of comfort: “Comfort, give comfort to my people.” His message of expectation tells us that God is coming: “Fear not to cry out and say to the cities of Judah: Here is your God! Here comes with power the Lord God, who rules by his strong arm…” Mary’s ‘Yes’ is captured in these words: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). In today’s Gospel, Luke tells us that in fulfillment of the Prophecy of Isaiah which says, “A voice of one crying out in the desert: Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths,” John the Baptist showed up in the desert and began to preach a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As people from all walks of life were coming to him for Baptism, he did not abuse the special privilege, or claim to be the expected Messiah, rather he said to them, “One mightier than I is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals. I have baptized you with water, he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit” (Mark 1:8). 

Friends in Christ, the central theme of today’s Gospel and of course, the first reading, is preparation. Preparation is always going to be one of the core themes of the season of Advent. We are being urged to “Prepare the way of the Lord.” For the old Israel, the way of the Lord was Israel’s path to freedom from slavery in Egypt and from exile in Babylon. But in today’s Gospel, John the Baptist is preparing the people of his time, generations after, including ours, a new path to freedom. He started preparing the people of his time with a baptism of repentance and forgiveness of sin. I believe everyone of us here is already baptized in the Name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. I believe each of us has already been baptized with the Holy Spirit. But since our baptism, we have fallen into sin over and over again. Therefore, there’s an urgent need for repentance, conversion and forgiveness from the Lord. Some of us have gone to confession already as part of their preparation for the coming of Jesus Christ. For those who are yet to do this, I urge you to get reconciled with God. And for those of us who claim that they confess their sins directly to God in their rooms and therefore don’t need the sacrament of confession and reconciliation, I ask you: how come you don’t baptize your kids yourself? How come you don’t cut a piece of bread, pour a glass of wine, say a prayer over them, consume them and then convince yourself that you have eaten and drunk the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ? How come when you met your sweetheart, you don’t invite the members of your family and friends, officiate your wedding and marry each other yourself and believe that is the sacrament of matrimony? How come when you buy religious articles you don’t bless them yourself and believe they are blessed? If you confess your sins in the comfort of your house, it is possible God will forgive you. In fact, God can forgive you anyone, anywhere. I don’t think it is theologically correct to reduce the power of God within the confines of the confessional. But there’s a reason why Jesus gave us this sacrament. He wants reconciliation to be part of this “making up with God.” Reconciliation, by its very nature, requires someone else to bring about it. If B has offended A, for reconciliation to take place, C has to come in to set things right— plead on behalf of B, urge B to turn a new leaf, and then bring A and B together. That’s what God did for humanity. When the moment came for God to initiate reconciliation with humanity, he did not forgive us from heaven. He sent his Son. As Jesus was wrapping up his earthly ministry, one of the sacraments he bequeathed on the Church is the sacrament of confession and reconciliation. Folks, there are seven sacraments, not six or five. 

On this Second Sunday of Advent, let’s begin the actual preparation for Christmas. By this I don’t mean the glamor, the decorations, the Christmas trees and lights. I don’t mean the pomp and pageantry, the purchase and acquisition of needs and wants. By preparation, I mean a decision to turn towards the Lord. That’s the core message of John the Baptist in today’s Gospel. He’s asking us to level the mountain of wickedness in our lives; to turn away from darkness, turn towards the Light, Jesus Christ. He’s urging us  to change our mind, heart, and behavior. Like John, I urge each of us to look deep inside us, pinpoint those attitudes, lifestyles and behaviors that don’t constitute right relationship with God, and then begin the process of purging them. While the Israelites followed the desert way of the Lord to return to the Promise Land, those who are called by the name of the Lord must follow the way of repentance, conversion, change of mind, heart, and attitude (metanoia) and return to authentic relationship with God. 

Have You Fulfilled the Promises You Made to the Lord?

Fr. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily for the Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

St. Mary of Assumption Catholic Church, Whittier, CA

September 30, 2017

Dearest beloved, in today’s gospel Jesus narrates a story of a father and his two bad sons (although one is better). He went to the first and said, “Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.” The first son replied, “I will not.” But after a soul searching reflection, he changed his mind and went in obedience to his father. The father went to the second son and gave him the same order. The second son replied with politeness, “Yes sir, I will go!” But never went. For Jesus, the first was the one who did his father’s will, even though he had said no at first. But it is important to point out that none of the sons in the story is the kind of son that brings full joy to a father. The first son was the first to disrespect his father. In the Jewish society, the response he gave to his father wasn’t what’s expected from a loyal son. But what he lacked in courtesy, he made up through his obedience. He became the virtuous son when he eventually went to the vineyard and worked. He did what the father wanted. The second son on the other hand, was polite, but ended up disrespecting him even further by not going to the vineyard to work. Courtesy without obedience is worthless. The ideal son would, after agreeing to do the work will eventually do it.

There’s another way to look at this gospel. But for me, I believe it highlights the two groups of Christians in the world. The first group are Christians who profess Jesus with their lips, but in their actions deny him. Their profession is better and bolder than their practice. In the gospel of Matthew 15:8 Jesus says, “These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.” They will promise anything, express outward show of piety and fidelity, but their practice is nothing to desired about. Describing such people St. Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 3:5, “They act religious, but deny its power that could make them godly.” St. urges us, “Stay away from people like that!” The second group are Christians whose practice is bolder than their profession. Outwardly they don’t appear pious or religious. They may look tough or rough. But they are the ones who take acts of kindness seriously. To Please the Lord is more important to them than what people think they are. They are not the “Praise the Lord” type but they live more Christian lives than those who always shout, “God is good.” 

In today’s gospel, our Lord Jesus teaches us that making promises is not enough; we must fulfill the promises we make. Making a promise to do something for the Lord and for the Church is not enough, we must fulfill those promises. If we promise to do something, let’s do it. Promises can never take the place of actual performance, and fine words are never a substitute for fine deeds. The second son who promised his father that he would go to the vineyard to work, but never went had all the outward show of religion and outward mark of respect and courtesy. In his answer, he even called his father “Sir,” showing respect to his father. But his courtesy was empty since he  never did what he said he would do. True courtesy is obedience. The first son, though originally was disrespectful to his father, but won the respect and love of his father back by eventually going to the vineyard to work. 

The Christian way is the way of obedience, obedience to the Father through Jesus Christ. The Christian way is in performance and not in promise. Words are cheap; words can be deceptive. Our relationship with Jesus is deepened by deeds of charity. What gets us divine merit is deeds of charity, not empty promises. We are Christians because we follow in the footsteps of Christ. Profession of faith is important but it must be accompanied by charity. Faith professed must be demonstrated and lived out. Good deeds give life to faith. Good deeds demonstrate faith. Bad deeds and disobedience expose faith to ridicule. Christianity is a culture of profession and obedience to Jesus. In John 14:15, Jesus says, “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” 

In our Christian journey, we may have made many promises to God. Today, let’s review those promises and see if we have kept them. If we have not kept any of them, we have another chance to fulfill them. 1 Samuel 15:22 tells us that obedience is better than sacrifice. Obedience to our Lord Jesus Christ is what makes us faithful Christians. Nominal Christians only make promises and professions but never fulfill and demonstrate them. Real Christians live out the professions they make and honor the promises they make. 

Who Is Satan?

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily for the 22nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

St. Mary of Assumption Church, Whittier, CA

Sunday, September 3, 2017

Beloved in Christ, last Sunday, I preached a message I titled “Who is Jesus?” After everything I said about the Lord, I ended the homily with a question, “Is Jesus someone we are willing and ready to surrender completely and unreservedly to?” Today, I bring you another message I have titled, “Who is Satan?” The word śāṭān is derived from a Hebrew term which means, “accuser” or “adversary,” (devil means “slanderer). Now, views about Satan often range from the silly to the abstract, from the most hilarious cartoons to the most grotesque of figures. For some people, Satan is the red-skinned monster with horns. For others, he is the most ugly looking being with wings. Yet, for others, he is simply a voice that speaks inside of us urging us to do his bidding. But for some others, Satan is rather a invention by religious people in order to scare people from doing what is wrong, meaning, he’s not real and existent. But every committed Christian believes that Satan is real. Why? Because both the Old and New Testaments said he is real. Most importantly, Jesus said he is real. And  when we speak about Satan, we say that he is evil, bad, wicked, dangerous, and hurtful. We also call him a loser because on the cross, our Savior Jesus Christ exposed his wickedness and comprehensively defeated him by the shedding of his blood. On the cross, Satan’s fate was sealed. On the cross, he became a loser for life.

But is Satan really a red-skinned monster with horns? Not really! Is he an ugly and fearful looking creature with wings? Not really! Is he a horrible looking snake with several heads unleashing his venoms? Not really! Who then is Satan? The Bible tells us that he was created as a holy angel, as an angelic being who later fell from his position in heaven due to sin, and now he’s completely opposed to our loving God. And he’s doing everything in his power to thwart the plan of God. Isaiah 14:12 reveals Satan’s pre-fall name as Lucifer “How you have fallen from heavens, O Morning Star, son of the light! (i.e. Lucifer) How you have been cut down to the earth, you who conquered nations!” Ezekiel 28:12-16 describes Satan as having been created perfect, wise, beautiful, and placed on the holy mountain of God, but he became arrogant in his beauty and status and decided to sit on a throne above that of God. As a result, he was banished from the mountain of God. In the New Testament, Satan is given lofty titles as, “the ruler of this world” (John 12:31), “father of lies” (John 8:44), “god of this world” (2 Corinthians 4:4), “ruler of the power of the air” (Ephesians 2:2), “ruler of demons” (Matthew 10:25), and “the accuser of the brethren” (Revelation 12:10). And in the Gospel of John 10:10, Jesus describes what he does, “The devil comes only to steal, slaughter and destroy…” In the Fourth Lateran Council, the Catholic Church, on the topic of Satan decreed that “in the beginning, God created together two creatures, the spiritual and the corporeal, that is to say, the angelic and the earthly, and lastly man, who was made of both spirit and body.” Continuing, the Council said, “The Devil and other demons were created by God good in their nature but they themselves have made themselves evil.” In that decree, the Church clearly teaches that Satan and other demons were originally angelic beings created by God in a state of innocence, but they became evil by their own act. Satan generated evil from within himself, corrupted himself and others. 

Brothers and sisters, it’s easy to call Satan a liar, loser, the father of liars, the first sinner, and the accuser. It’s easy to call him the prince of darkness, leader of the wicked, originator of evil, a disgraced and ungrateful son of damnation. It’s easy to describe Satan as a thief, destroyer and killer. But do we see him as someone whose sole purpose is to thwart, obstruct, hijack, and destroy God’s plan for us? Is he someone we are doing everything in our power not to spend earthly life and everlasting life with? Do we see him as our greatest enemy? Your greatest enemy is not your brother or sister. It’s not your boss or neighbor. Your biggest and most formidable enemy is not that person that was rude or mean or ugly to you. It’s Satan! Since he lost his place in heaven, he vowed that he would make sure that you and I do not enjoy the bliss of living in the presence of God. Everything he does is to destroy God’s ultimate plan for us, which is, to know the only true and living God and Jesus Christ whom he has sent. Satan’s singular mission is to elevate himself above God in our lives. He produces a counterfeit of everything that God does, and then waits and hopes to gain our attention and worship, and also to join him in opposing God. Satan is the source of every false teaching and philosophy out there that oppose God and God’s matters. He’s trying to convince us that he has a better deal for us by luring us into false pleasure, cheap crown, short-cut, reckless fun, vain glory and power. If we fall for him,  he will destroy God’s plan for us. 

In today’s Gospel, Satan tried to use Simon Peter, who was previously used by God to reveal the identity of Jesus, to derail, thwart and obstruct God’s plan for Jesus and for the world. As soon as Jesus told his disciples his mission— that he must “suffer greatly from the elders, the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised,” Satan tried to use Peter to dissuade and discourage Jesus from realizing God’s plan for him. But Jesus knew the source of Peter’s nice try effort, and immediately rebuked him, “Get behind me, Satan!” Think about this! If Satan had succeeded in blocking God’s plan for Jesus, humanity would have been doomed. And if Satan succeeds in thwarting God’s plan for you, that would have consequential effects on your family, friends, church and society. Whenever I see these young people who are trapped in the prison of addiction of drugs, I usually say to myself, “these could have been our teachers, firefighters, doctors, police officers, parents, priests or religious.” So, whatever idea you have about Satan, see him as someone who hates you so much, and is bent on destroying your dreams, aspirations, joy, and ultimately, the plan of God for you. Therefore, whenever he suggests you do his bidding, say to him, “Get behind me, Satan.” 

 Who Is Jesus?

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily for the 21st Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

St. Mary Assumption Church, Whittier, CA

Sunday, August 27, 2017

For over two thousands years, the question, “Who is Jesus?” has remained a dominant topic of discussion, a central issue and subject matter that won’t go away. When the Pharisees asked Jesus, “Tell us, by what authority are you doing these things? Or who is the one that gave you this authority? (Luke 20:2), they were basically trying to figure out the answer to the question, “Who is Jesus?” When they demanded for a sign from Jesus (Matt.12:38), they were seeking for the answer to the question, “Who is Jesus?” When Pilate asked Jesus during his trial, “Are you the king of the Jews?” (Mark 15:2), he was also seeking for the answer to the question, “Who is Jesus?” When the same Pilate asked Jesus, “What is truth?” (John 18:38), he was searching for the truth of the question, “Who is Jesus?” When the Council of Elders of the people, the chief priests and scribes said to Jesus before their Sanhedrin, “If you are the Messiah, tell us” (Luke 22:67) they were looking for the answer to the question, “Who is Jesus?” When they posed a question to him, “Are you then the Son of God?” (Luke 22:70), they wanted to know the answer to the question, “Who is Jesus?” When the disciples of Jesus, with pleasant amazement asked the question, “Who is this man that even the wind and sea obey him?” (Mark 4:41), they too were looking for the answer to the question, “Who is Jesus?” Historians, theologians, archeologists, biblical scholars, writers, etc. have at various times in the past and in the present attempted to answer the question, “Who is Jesus?” 

But answers to this simple, yet complex question are littered throughout the Gospel accounts. Our knowledge of the story of Jesus and our encounter with him will determine the kind of answer we give to the question, “Who is Jesus?” In today’s Gospel (Matthew 16:13-20), Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” (Matt. 16:13b) Put differently, tell me what folks in your community and neighborhood are saying about me. Tell me their answers to the question, “Who is Jesus?” The disciples had no trouble or difficulty remembering what others are saying about him: some think you are John Baptist, others think you are Elijah, but there are others too who think you are Jeremiah or one of the prophets, they replied. Now, it’s important to note that Jesus was never likened to a criminal, a terrorist, a rebel, a law-breaker, an arsonists, or a murderer. He was thought to be one of the men of God; one of the authentic prophets of God. Impressive! But Jesus was not only interested in what others are saying about him, he was also interested, and I would say, more interested in what his disciples say about him. So, turning to them, he asked, “But who do you say that I am?” (Matt. 16:15) Asked differently, Who is Jesus to you? Simon Peter spoke for the group, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (Matt. 16:16). Jesus was thrilled and glad with his answer and right there placed him in a position of authority, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Matt. 16:17-19). 

Sisters and brothers, who is Jesus to us? How we answer this question will determine how each of us relates to him. Our notion of the Lord will determine how we serve and worship him. Many of us have been told and taught who Jesus is right from our catechism class. Our parents, teachers, faith formators, God-parents, church-folks etc. have told us who Jesus is. At every Mass, our priests preach to us and in their preaching, we learn who Jesus is. Just like the disciples of Jesus, we can also tell what others have said about him. There’s nothing wrong with that. After all, that’s how we started learning who Jesus is. But today, I want to ask each of us personally, “Who is Jesus?” Is he someone that worth our time on Sunday and during the week? Is he someone we can trust? Is he someone worthy of our love? Do you think he loves us, forgives us and protects us? Is Jesus someone who has the authority to tell us how to live, what we should be doing and what we should not be doing? Is Jesus someone we are looking forward to spending eternity with? 

You know, it is easy to say that Jesus is the Son of God, or the Son of Mary, or the Savior, or the Second Person in the Blessed Trinity. It is easy to say that he is a miracle Worker, wonder Worker, a Deliverer, Liberator, Protector, and a Healer. It is easy to say that Jesus is the Light of the world and that he is Lord and God. It is easy to call Jesus Teacher, Preacher, Greatest Physician, Greatest Doctor, Greatest Giver and the Good Shepherd. It is easy to call him, “The Way, the Truth, and the Life.” It is easy to call him the Lamb of God, the Prince of peace, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Solid Rock on which we stand. In answering the question, “Who is Jesus?” we can describe him in simple ordinary terms or in high sounding theological terms. Everything we have said so far about who Jesus is is true and accurate. But is he someone we are willing and ready to surrender completely and unreservedly to? 

When the Answer is Slow in Coming, Do Not Slow Down Prayer!

Rev. Marcel Divine Emeka Okwara, CSsR

Homily for the 20th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A

St. Mary of Assumption Church, Whittier, California

Sunday, August 20, 2017

The beginning of the Gospel of Matthew 15 tells us that the Pharisees were not happy that Jesus’ disciples were breaking the tradition of the elders, which is, not washing their hands in a proper way before a meal. When they registered their displeasure to Jesus, he used the opportunity to rebuke them for their zeal to keep man made laws while at the same time ignore God’s commandments. To drive home his message, he said, “It is not what enters one’s mouth that defiles that person; but what comes out of the mouth is what defiles one” (Matt. 15:11). At the end of the argument—about what really defiles and makes a person unclean— he withdrew into the region of Tyre and Sidon, an area considered unclean by the Pharisees. To really call their bluff, so it seems, Jesus entered a non-Jewish territory. Surprisingly, a Canaanite woman there courageously approached him and pleaded with him to heal her daughter. At the time, the racial divide and discontent between Jews and Gentiles was deep. So, it was a big deal that Jesus was in that region, and was even a bigger deal that a Canaanite woman would approach him so directly to heal her daughter. Jesus is breaking down racial, ethnic and religious barriers and inviting everyone regardless of race, religion and tongue to come to him. While some Jews, like the Pharisees were rejecting the offer, people considered outcastes, like the Canaanite woman, were accepting it. delay

I believe that the needy woman knew who Jesus was—his racial background, his title and what he was able to do. She knew that Jesus was a Jew, but the problem at hand far outweighed the issue of racial differences. Coming to Jesus, she called out, “Have pity on me, Lord, Son of David! My daughter is tormented by a demon.” At first, Jesus was silent. Then his zealous disciples suggested that he send her away. Rather than send her away, Jesus tested the woman’s resolve, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.” The woman was not ready to back off, rather, she pleaded further, “Lord, help me.” Responding to her plea, he used a derogatory term that was often applied to Gentiles by Jews of that time: “It is not right to take the food of the children and throw it to the dogs.” If this Canaanite woman was fainthearted, she would have ended every plea here and walked away. But she did not feel insulted nor deterred in persisting for the cure of her daughter, instead she courageously told Jesus, “Please, Lord, for even the dogs eat the scraps that fall from the table of their masters.” With this, Jesus said to her, “O woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.” 

Brothers and sisters, it will be a mistake to spend time wondering why Jesus said it is not right to give to dogs food meant for the children. There are times we call those who are close to us “unbeliever,” “sinner,” “rascal,” “goat,” “dog,” “stupid,” etc. But when we call them such names, the tone with which we say them and the accompanying smile on our faces take the hurt and irritation away. When a brother, sister, friend or parent call us a derogatory name with a softer tone and smile, the sting or the insult which usually accompanies such is rooted out and filled with affection and laughter. We can be certain that the compassionate Jesus said what he said with a softer tone and a friendly smile on his face. We can be very certain that the smile on his face and the compassion in his eyes robbed those words of all insults and bitterness. 

But the lesson to be learned from this Gospel passage is persistence in prayer. The Canaanite woman’s persistence and solid-rock faith in Jesus saved her daughter. Her refusal to give up brought healing to her daughter. Her persistence in prayer resulted in the deliverance of her daughter from an aggressive and tormenting demon. Her practice of PUSH (Pray Until Something Happens) saved the day. The story which started badly ended so well! Glory be to God! Now, how many times have we prayed earnestly for something very dear to us, and God seems to ignore us? How many times have we asked, sought and knocked and the answer is delaying in coming? And when that happens, some of us turn on our heels and walk away; some of us become angry, disappointed, depressed and even promise to stop praying and stop going to church. Some think that God just doesn't care about them. But in the Gospel of Luke 18:1, Jesus teaches us of the importance of perseverance in prayer and not giving up. The woman in today’s Gospel teaches us the importance of persistence in prayer. Against all odds, she refused to give up. Against all odds, we can also refuse to give up.  The silence of God, as frustrating and upsetting it can be for us, is not necessarily a refusal by God. Just like the tenacity of the Canaanite woman in today’s Gospel was tested and tried by Jesus, we also can be tested and tried. So, I urge you, when the answer to your prayer is being delayed, continue to ask, seek, knock and pray fervently and earnestly. Mark this, in such times, the temptation would be to just conclude that God isn't interested and then to quit praying. Again, I urge you to continue to ‘disturb’ the heaven with your request. God’s silence can be an opportunity to grow in faith, opportunity to learn to pray, opportunity to develop trust in God. If there’s one thing that the story of the Canaanite woman teaches us today, it is that persistence in prayer can break the silence of God. I leave you with this words of St. Paul, “With all prayer and supplication, pray at every opportunity in the Spirit” (Ephesians 6:18).