HOMILY FOR 23RD WEDNESDAY IN ORDINARY TIME — YEAR B

HOMILY FOR 23RD WEDNESDAY IN ORDINARY TIME — YEAR B

HOMILY THEME: “How happy are you who are poor…But alas for you who are rich…”

BY: Bishop Anthony Ewherido 

1 Cor 7:25-31, Psalm 44(45):11-12, 14-17; Luke 6:20-26

Luke’s version of the beatitudes is different from Matthew’s; Matthew has eight/nine but Luke has four beatitudes and four woes. Luke was not glorifying poverty, hunger, mourning and hatred of those who love God, neither was he sending the rich, the satisfied, the joyful, and those praised and spoken well of to hell.

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Those who find themselves in the first group must accept their existential situation even as they work out better outcomes, but must have their lives centered on God. If, on the other hand, you find yourself in the second group, then the love of this world has overthrown God’s place in your life and you must reverse the course before it’s too late. The underprivileged who endure in God’s ways and friendship would surely receive the reward of that friendship in eternity. The privileged, who abandon God’s ways and friendship in this world and instead revel in their earthly securities, would not have a place with God in eternity. Our God-given wealth, resources and privileges must be put at the service of God and humanity, in addition to what we do for ourselves with them, because there is nothing that we have that we have not received. If we realize as St. Paul reminds us today that: “the world as we know it is passing away,” we would redirect our attention to the One who remains unchanging and who is the author of all things, and we would treat these transient and ephemeral things as such, without enslaving ourselves to them. We would also bring God into the relationships that we have, putting Him first, over and above all, even as we enjoy those relationships with the knowledge that Christ is all and in all. Life is short, Paul says. Live wisely, detached from earthly allurements and focused on our eternal goals.

Lord, help us to give ear to your words; that we may live wisely on earth, enjoying all the blessings you have bestowed upon us, even as we remain focused on life with you in heaven. Amen.

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