CYCLE II: HOMILY FOR TUESDAY OF THE 13TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME (2)

CYCLE II: HOMILY FOR TUESDAY OF THE 13TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

HOMILY THEME: JESUS’ POWER, OUR STANCE AGAINST FEAR

BY: Rev. Fr. Jacob Aondover ATSU

HOMILY: READINGS: AMOS 3:1-8;4:11-12, PSALM 5, MATTHEW 8:23-27

Jesus, beloved friends is the author of our life, the one through whom everything was made (Jn. 1:3). He is all powerful! His dominion is over all things, kingdoms, natural and artificial occurrences. All powers fall before him and all knees bow at the mention of his name (Phil. 2:10). He is king both of heaven and earth and expects that we approach him as such. It is always surprising and disappointing to him when his followers allow fear to hold sway in their lives. Today, he is disappointed by his apostles’ lack of faith: “Why are you afraid, O men of little faith” (Matt. 8:26) he asks them. Same question he directs to us today; ‘why are you afraid, men/women of little or no faith?’

Time and again scripture exhorts us never to be afraid. In the prophecy of Isaiah 43:1-5, God says he knows each of us by name, we shouldn’t be afraid, for neither flames of the fieriest furnace would consume us should we walk through them, nor would the horrendous torrents of the stormy sea engulf us should we get into it. Why is man always wrapped in fear, fear even of the unknown? Today is a call to trust in the saving power of Jesus, his dominion over every force, the most powerful there is. He intercedes for us at the right hand of the Father (Rom. 8:34) where he is seated in glory; we have no need to fret over the little attacks spiritual or otherwise that come our way here on earth. The good Christian is the believing one, the one who trusts fully that come what may, God would not forsake him/her (Ps.94:14).

As afraid as the apostles were, they trusted in the saving power of Jesus whether or not they comprehended fully, who he truly was. “Lord, save us! We are perishing” (Matt. 8:25) they said. They never doubted whether or not Christ would save them, their’s was, he’d save them from the storm. What do we do when in crises, trouble, peril, persecution, trial or attack? Do we as much as turn in faith to Christ the author of our life, the source of our strength, our leader, shepherd and guide for help? Don’t we seek help from the many ‘sharp sharp’ and fake solution bringers (seers, native doctors, ,mbatsav,, ,babalawo,, etc)? We are always either a faithless people or a confused people who seek help only from the wrong sources? We may do well to turn to Christ alone who is our surest, realest, safest, freest and guaranteed source of help and salvation.

We pray against all spirits of materialism and unnecessary hoarding of wealth at the detriment of others. We pray for God’s grace to enable us avoid all that Amos condemned hence live in tandem with God’s call of charity and selflessness. Amen.

FEED THE HUNGRY POOR