HOMILY FOR THE 4TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B (9)

HOMILY FOR THE FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B

HOMILY THEME: DIVINE AUTHORITY AND THE PROPHETIC ORACLE.

BY: Fr. Clement C. Aladi.

HOMILY:

You are welcome to the 4th Sunday in ordinary time. Like disciples at the feet of their master, we have gathered to listen and learn, to be inspired to action by the soul changing and transforming words of Jesus our Master.

Today’s readings speak on
the authority of God’s words and the prophetic responsibility of communicating the oracle of God.

In the first reading, God spoke through Moses who was about to die in answer to the disturbed Jews and assured them of raising a Prophet like Moses for them who will speak in His name. Jesus is the prophet foretold by Moses in today’s First Reading (Acts 3:22). He has authority over Heaven and earth (Daniel 7:14, 27; Revelation 12:10).

A prophet speaks the mind of God and Prophetic utterance evokes the obedience of the people who hears the word and punishment for the prophet who presumes to speak an oracle in God’s name that is not from God. But who is a Prophet? He/she is not just a priest or a member of a religious order, etc. He/ she could be anyone, you or me sent but not in the sense of a formal commissioning to go and speak, but who speaks at any time or moment in history commanding obedience to God’s word, condemning societal ills in view of transforming the society for good and bringing back strayed people back to God. A Prophet does not just see what will happen tomorrow (fortune telling)as some will simply conclude, but He/she speaks in the present to avert the impending dangers in the future. He/she speaks the oracle of God. Therefore a prophet is not limited to Religious utterances but speaks against anything that God himself condemns; political or economic. In line with this description of a prophet, we could say that Abraham Lincoln who proclaimed the freedom of slaves in America in 1863 is a prophet. Susan B. Anthony pioneered the suffrage movement that eventually led to the passage of the 19th Amendment (1920) and gave women the right to vote, hers was the voice of a Prophet. Pope Leo XIII delivered his encyclical entitled “On the Condition of the Working Man” and called upon Christians to attend to unjust labour laws and practices, his was the voice of a prophet. Anglican Archbishop Desmond Tutu drew the world’s attention to the dangers and injustices of apartheid, his was the voice of a prophet. Mother St. Theresa of Calcutta, Martin Luther king Jr, Oscar Romero, Mahatma Ghandi etc. were all Prophetic voices. Granted that these were not prophets in the sense of the Testament Prophets like Isaiah, their Job is basically the same. So, we are all Prophets by our Baptismal calling and anointing.

Decades and Centuries have passed from the Old testament to the New down to these modern Prophetic voices who decried evils in the society and some even gave their lives for it, but the world has not experienced that transformation and change that their utterances commanded? I ask, ARE THE BLACKS STILL ENSLAVED IN AMERICA( racial prejudice and bias)?
IS THE CHURCH, GOVERMENT AND EMPLOYERS IN THE WORLD TODAY FAIR AND JUST IN WAGES THEY PAY TO WORKERS? IS CHEAP LABOUR NOT ANOTHER WAY OF REDUCING MEN TO MACHINES IN INDUSTRIES? DO WE STILL EXPERIENCE INJUSTICE IN THE WORLD TODAY? your experiences and answers to these questions will tell you how much the society has changed.

The desired change will come when each and every one of us exercise our Prophetic roles not just is making utterances but fighting a personal and united war against all the societal evils. The way I see things happening today worries me a lot and I keep questioning what will tomorrow become?

The Prophet ministry has its restriction too. Those who presume to speak in God’s name while speaking their minds or what they were asked to say from another source attracts God’s anger. I always admire St. Paul often when he says this is my personal opinion and not a revelation from God. It’s not only a sign of humility but, of one who is conscious of his calling. There is so much conflicting opinions today both in the Religious and Secular world. Cultures are not left out. One condemns what another glorifies. BUT CAN GOD CONTRADICT HIS OWN WORDS, ASKING ONE MAN TO CONDEMN WHAT HE TELLS ANOTHER TO PROMOTE OR PROPAGATE? SURELY GOD IS ONE AND CANNOT BUT MEN HAS DISCORDANT VOICES .We are the ones destroying the world and creating confusion, leading many astray. In the family the mother encourages her children what the Father forbids them to do, Imagine that scenario. The question is which direction are the children going? LET US BE UNITED IN CONDEMING EVIL. LET US NOT EXTORT OR LEAD PEOPLE ASTRAY IN GOD’S NAME.

Today’s Gospel passage begins and ends with comments about Jesus’ authority as a teacher (1:21-22 and 1:27-28). He spoke like Moses, telling people directly what God had to say, he also exorcized with divine authority. In his Gospel, Mark repeatedly returns to the theme that Jesus’ teaching with authority brought him followers, and Jesus’ healing with Divine power liberated people from illness and demonic possession. The Catholic and Apostolic Church derives her teaching authority from her founder Jesus.

St. Paul exercised his God-given authority as the Apostle to the Gentiles to teach people that marriage is a holy state ordained by God and that it is a life-long partnership according to the teaching of the Lord (see Mt. 5:32; 19:3-9). Further, Paul recommended a life of virginity to the non-married only if they felt they could live such a life. The advantage of celibacy, as Paul explained, was that celibates would have the freedom to serve God fully with the fewest earthly cares and worries.

We exercise the same authority with Jesus who teaches and commands even the demons. We have been given that authority all we need is to tap into it by awakening ourselves to the consciousness that the power in us is not ours but God’s and therefore we have to remain connected to God in prayers and in daily meditation on His words. We have to remain obedient and submissive to God and His church.

The Prophets of old and new tried to bring the reality of the sacred into every sphere of the human experience. In today’s liturgical readings, we are called upon to allow the prophetic messages of Moses, Paul, Mark and Jesus to penetrate our consciences and claim them for God. Moreover, we are challenged to continue to listen to the prophets among us, and to exercise the ministry of prophecy for our contemporaries in our words, works and manner of living.

Peace and blessings from God upon you and your family. I keep you and your family always in my prayers.

Fr. Clement C. Aladi.