FR. BEN’S HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF THE 22ND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME CYCLE II (3)

FR. BEN’S HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF THE 22ND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME CYCLE II

THEME: WHY YOU ARE STILL UNSPIRITUAL!

BY: Ben Agbo (Rev Fr)

HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY AUGUST 31 2022

*1 Cor 3: 1-9, Lk4 : 38 – 44.

When is a man said to be spiritual or holy? Is it when he knows how to pray and things happen? Is it when he knows the Word of God and preaches powerfully? Is it when he has a number of spiritual gifts like the ability to see visions, heal the sick or speak in tongues? In today’s 1st reading, Paul makes us understand that it is not exactly the above mentioned that makes us spiritual. In the field of God’s Church, there are various types of grasses, plants and trees. There is ample room for every type of people, institutions and gifts. *What is most important is that there be unity in our diversity and diversity in this unity.*

The Corinthian Church described by Paul in today’s 1st reading as ‘still unspiritual’, was the most pentecostal and charismatic community of all Paul’s mission territories. *It seems sometimes that the more we emphasize charisms and spiritual gifts like healing, visions, miracles, deliverance, the more Christians become arrogant, competitive and factional.* Paul asks: ‘What could be more unspiritual than to say: I am for Paul or I am for Appolos’? *I belong to Precious Blood or to Charismatic Renewal?* Charisms have led to the proliferation of churches more than any other thing, because *every gifted man of God becomes a potential church founder when personal (private) revelation is lifted above ecclesial ( community) revelation.* But this is surely not the mind of Christ, Jn 17: 21, Eph 4: 5.

Being spiritual is about doing away with sexual vices, impurity, sensuality, worship of false gods, sorcery, antagonism, rivalry, jealousy, bad temper, quarrels, disagreements, factions, malice, drunkenness, orgies, etc, Gal 5: 19 – 21. It is about maintaining a perfect balance like Jesus did between prayer life and praxis. We are told in today’s gospel that ‘when the sun was setting, sick people were brought to him and he healed them’. The one who spent the morning in the Synagogue preaching and teaching, was at noon time in Peter’s home where he confronted human sicknesses; The Bible says ‘He stood over her and rebuked the fever…’. And in the night he was alone in prayer. *We must learn from Jesus not only from what he says but from how he lives*; how he sees the need to balance his life between action and prayer. That is what is going to make us actually spiritual and not what many think!

May God bless you today!