HOMILY FOR 18TH FRIDAY ORDINARY TIME — YEAR A
HOMILY FOR 18TH FRIDAY ORDINARY TIME — YEAR A
HOMILY THEME: “If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me.”
BY: Bishop Anthony Ewherido
Deuteronomy 4:32-40, Ps. 77:12-16,21, Matthew 16:24-28
In today’s first reading, Moses rehearsed the great deeds of the Lord God with the Israelites as they prepared to enter the land that God promised them. Having reminded them of the grace of divine election and God’s extraordinary compassion and providence, he handed down the laws and the ordinances of the Lord to them, and urged them to observe them faithfully in response to God’s graciousness and love. They were, therefore, are called to dedicate themselves to the worship of the only true God. Such a commitment and obedience demanded serious sacrifices that would secure their inheritance for life. The people responded tepidly, as history recounts.
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In the gospel reading, Jesus sums up that instruction for his own disciples by calling them to a life lived in imitation of him. He reminds us that the sacrifices involved include patiently bearing the crosses of our lives in the midst of each day’s challenges and pain as faithful disciples (in his footsteps), not excluding the loss of the self for the sake of Christ. For Jesus’ disciples, keeping God’s law involves hearing Jesus’ word and putting it into practice. The word Jesus speaks to us today thus defines authentic discipleship as a life lived in imitation of Christ by taking up our own cross and following where he leads. Total obedience to that word necessarily involves the loss of the self as one surrenders completely to Christ in daily plans, decisions and choices. We must always be mindful that there is no cross-less Christianity. The goal is eternal life. Jesus also notes that the alternatives to such sacrifices are not good, especially since all will be judged and rewarded according to their deeds on the last day. For those who have remained faithful, that day will be joy and eternal happiness since the experience of an end to this life (death) would be a transition and not a loss, thus they have not tasted death since they lived in God.
Lord, judge and king, have mercy on us and give us the courage to follow you always. Amen.
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