CYCLE II: HOMILY FOR MONDAY OF THE 9TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME (2)
CYCLE II: HOMILY FOR MONDAY OF THE 9TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
HOMILY THEME: LIKE THE TENANT FARMERS!
BY: Fr. Ben Agbo
HOMILY: * 2 Pet 1: 2 – 7, Mk 12: 1 – 12.
We have a gold mine of spiritual potentials / empowerments in God’s vineyard. This is what we call grace. Today’s 1st reading says that his divine power has given us everything pertaining to life and godliness. All we need is to make complimentary efforts to turn these into levels of empowerment.
There are about 8 levels of empowerment which every child of God is supposed to pass through after baptism;
(i) Spiritual empowerment through faith
(ii) Social empowerment through the virtue of goodness
(iii) Intellectual empowerment through study and understanding
(iv) Moral empowerment through discipline and self control
(v) Psychological empowerment through perseverance in hard times
(vi) Religious empowerment through increase of our devotion to prayers
(vii) Political empowerment through filial/ friendly love -increase of our influence on people
(viii) Transformational empowerment through agape love – we begin to attain the Divine nature.
Like the tenants in today’s gospel, we are free to accept or reject the grace of God but each choice has a consequence. This gospel showcases another parable of judgment coming after every wasted opportunity from God (grace). The message is clear that punishment is inevitable for hardened sinners. When we consistently reject our gracious opportunities, what will the owner of the vineyard do?
The reality of historical events like the deportation of Israelites to Babylon around 587 BC, the destruction of the Jewish nation in 70 AD and the terrible onslaught/ massacre of the Jews by Adolf Hitler around 1945 makes one wonder: Are the Jews no longer the chosen people of God we read about in the Bible? And this is exactly the message about the consequence of abused grace. The story is no longer about the Jews but about the universal fate of the people of God who reject their Divine given opportunities. The Church is the vineyard of the Lord. We who enjoy its membership are the tenants who are expected to make due returns for all the benefits and privileges we have received.
May the Lord help us to cultivate the requisite virtues and get the requisite empowerment from our knowledge of Christ Jesus.
May God bless you today!
