CYCLE I: HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE 4TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME (1)

CYCLE I: HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE 4TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

HOMILY THEME: THE NECESSITY OF ACTING IN LOVE

BY: Rev. Fr. Utazi Prince Marie Benignus

HOMILY: SAINT AGATHA, VIRGIN, MARTYR

Hebrews 13: 1-8; Psalm 27: 1, 3, 5, 8b-9ab; Mark 6: 14-29

I pray for you: May you continue to be bolstered in living out your faith by loving God and lovingly serving others. AMEN.

Many people will unanimously say that hatred and greed are forces which drive people to perform uncaring actions, particularly in regards to others. However, these hatred and greed really stem from fear (mainly, fear of dominance by others, inferiority complex etc.). Fear is what causes people to build up walls and stock pile possessions and to treat others unfairly. People in positions of authority often use fear to keep those under them in an oppressed state. Fear prevents us from trusting God. St. John describes the opposite of love is not hatred. Fear is that which prevents us from loving. If we are able to live fearlessly, we are able to truly love God and love others and love ourselves. If one has faith, then there is nothing or no one to fear.

Todays first reading tells us to be faithful (full of faith) in our actions. It continues by reminding us that we have nothing to fear even in the face of persecution because the Lord Jesus is with them. In the First Reading, the Jewish converts to Christianity are urged to live lives which manifest and give witness (μάρτυρας – martyras) to the love which the Lord Jesus has for them. The Letter to the Hebrews chapter 13 begins with the word Philadelphia (φιλαδελφία) – love of one’s brothers and sisters. This is to be the mark of the believers. One is to love others the way Jesus loves them. Ones Philadelphia is displayed by hospitality, visiting the sick, caring for the lowly, being faithful to ones marital relations, and not being greedy, but being willing to share the riches one has. Ultimately, reaching out to others shows ones trust and faith in the God who provides and protects those who are in relationship with the Lord Jesus. Even if the believer has to face persecution, like the first Christians, the Lord Jesus will remain faithful to those who trust in God, for Jesus is the same, yesterday, today and forever.

The psalm today tells us that God is the source of protection. The Responsorial reiterates the trust of those who claim the Lord as their Light and their Savior. Even when faced by enemies, fear is not part of the believers response, since the believer has complete reliance on the Lord God.

The Gospel relates the death of John the Baptist as a response to King Herods interest in Jesus. John the Baptist, too, realized that he had nothing to fear, for he had done Gods work. The Gospel passage begins with King Herod (Herod Antipas = the son of Herod the Great) being curious about Jesus. Herod has heard about Jesus teaching, ministry, and healing. It seems that Herod has questioned different individuals about who Jesus is. Some say that Jesus is the Elijah or another prophet. Herod senses the connection between John the Baptist and Jesus. This leads to the account of the beheading of John the Baptist. Mark shows a parallel in the events leading to the deaths of John the Baptist and Jesus. In both accounts there is an interest by the civil authority figure (Herod, Pilate) in the message of the preacher (John, Jesus). Opposition and hatred of the preacher is also apparent in both narratives. The opposition (Herodias, the religious leaders) forces the authority figure to pronounce a death sentence on the preacher. After the death of preacher, friends come and take away the murdered body. Implicit in both passages is the ultimate trust the hero has in God, not fearing death, but willing to do whatever is necessary to further the spread of the Good News of Gods kingdom.

Dear Sisters and Brothers, there is every certainty that most of us will probably not have to face death at the hands of wishy-washy authority figure because others hate us and want our destruction. We do, however, face circumstances in our lives which can challenge our trusting the Lord Jesus. We are tempted to live in fear and allow fear to wear away not only our trust in God but also our concern and love for others. 1 John 3 & 4 describes that the opposite of love is not hatred, but fear. Fear of the unknown or having to face a different way of living can be fearful. I remember when a pastor announced his resignation due to health reasons. Many of the members of the faith community began to feel scared because the key person on whom they had relied was leaving. They seemed to forget that he had proclaimed to them when he arrived as pastor nearly six years before that he was only passing through the faith community, and they would be staying while he traveled on. The parishioners were not trusting in the Lord Jesus Who is to be the main focus and Who is there yesterday, today, and forever. It is true that if we are afraid, then we are not willing to love. And when we love, fear is lessened. So much of the world is disabled from being able to love because of fear, whether it be the fear of attacks from terrorists, the fear of where the government might be going, the fear of protracting the COVID19 virus, the fear of losing ones wealth or other valuables to thieves or to the falling economy, the fear of being physically harmed. People overdo protection in the homes because of fear. Fear prevents us from acting with Philadelphia brotherly/sisterly love. We do not see others as our sisters and brothers who are deserving of our love, but as possible antagonists to our freedom and well-being.

Todays readings challenge us to act with love: being hospitable to those we encounter, being concerned for those who are incarcerated (incarcerated in jail; those in the bondage which prevents them from living free lives), showing our compassion and love for the less fortunate, loving our family members and doing what is best for them being people who reflect our relationship with the Lord Jesus. If we truly live lives marked by Philadelphia, we would not worry even if we are persecuted, because we would know that the Lord Jesus is our Light in the dark world, and our Savior in an enslaved world. We would also recall that we must show our philadelphia even when one who had been our temporary/temporal leader is leaving us. For our real allegiance must be with the Lord Jesus, who is our helper, and who is always with us.

MEDITATION What fears prevent me from performing acts of philadelphia love of the sisters and brothers? How can I live out my faith in the Lord Jesus Who is with me yesterday, today, and forever? How can I demonstrate my philadelphia today? To whom can I be more loving and whom can I help experience the presence of the Lord Jesus?

PRAYER Lord God, continue to strengthen us with the reassurance which comes from the Holy Spirit, so we can live lives of love, which casts out fear. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.