18TH SUNDAY HOMILY OF THE ORDINARY TIME — YEAR A
18TH SUNDAY HOMILY OF THE ORDINARY TIME — YEAR A
HOMILY THEME: GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO EAT!
BY: Fr. Casmir Nkamuke
For the past three Sundays, Jesus spoke to us in parables about the values of God’s kingdom. Today, the readings give us the practical implementation of these kingdom values. The readings remind us that our love for God ought to inspire us to show compassion and help the people in need.
In the first reading, God invites us to his banquet at no cost. At his banquet, we are assured of the satisfaction of our mind and body. Though free, it is of inestimable value. God tells us that he alone can offer us satisfaction. Our satisfaction is fully guaranteed when we come to God, listen to him, and surrender ourselves totally to his will.
In the second reading, St. Paul states emphatically that nothing can separate us from the love of God. Neither the seven hardships (trouble, worry, persecution, lack of food, lack of clothing, threat, attack) nor the seven hostile powers (death and life, angel, principalities, nothing that exists, nothing still to come, any power, any created thing) can come between us and the love of God. The challenges of this world notwithstanding, the power and compassion of God far exceed them.
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In the gospel, Christ nourishes his congregation until they are satisfied and had more. He did this with the bread and fish provided by them. He charged his disciples to “give them something to eat!” As Christ’s disciples, he echoes the same words to us today. He reminds us that it is not enough to merely observe and express our sympathy to those in need. Rather, he shows us the importance of offering a helping hand to such people in whatever little way we can, assuring us of his disposition to multiply our little efforts.
Beloved in the Lord, these words of Christ “give them something to eat!” echoes today in our society where lack of sympathy and empathy is gradually taking the centre stage. With egocentric mentality, many care less or do not even care at all about the good of those around them. Some rather prefer to spend their money on frivolities rather than offering a helping hand to others. Such mentality is what the prophet Isaiah describes today as spending money on things that are not bread. For others, they do not have enough for their own needs, nor extra to offer to charity. To such people, Christ invites us that he will multiply our little efforts such that the little we offer for common good will be enough both for us and for the beneficiaries of our charity. To those who fear that helping others will make them victims of the manipulations of evil doers, St. Paul reminds us that just as no force can separate us from the love of God, even so should nothing discourage us from extending God´s love to those in need.
The command to “give them something to eat!” is for everyone. No one is so poor as not to have anything to give, nor is anyone is so rich as not to receive anything. The little helping hand you offer to a stranded neighbour is a very big act of compassion. We must not wait to have leftovers before helping others. God is willing to multiply that little we have and make it sufficient for us even after offering help to others.
May God give us the grace to be compassionate to our fellow humans, to offer a helping hand whenever and wherever we can, and to overcome all trials and forces that prevent us from experiencing God’s love and showing God’s love to others.
Happy Sunday!
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