HOMILY FOR 26TH SUNDAY IN THE ORDINARY TIME YEAR B

HOMILY FOR 26TH SUNDAY IN THE ORDINARY TIME YEAR B

HOMILY THEME: IF MEN WERE GOD…

BY: Fr. Justus Oruh

Num. 11: 25-29, Ps. 19, James 5: 1-6, Mark 9: 38-43, 45. 47-48

(a) If men were God, and sole in- charge to distribute the gifts of life, you may be starving by now. If men could bound or limit the Spirit of God, It may not have come to you. Thank God that His Spirit is described as the Wind (the Ruah), that one could hear but could not dictate from where it comes and to where or to whom It goes.

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(b) Sometimes we want to be the sole possessor of certain gifts or wealth or out-looks and would not wish or assist others to be equally blessed, so as to be the only ones distinguished and outstanding among many, and therefore worshipped and honored. Sometimes we think that we are the sole worthy of a particular quality or gift because we belong to one group or do one special thing or the other.

(c) Joshua and John could not entertain it when they saw some people who were not members of their group prophesying. John reported, “Master…we tried to stop them…” (Mark 9:38). Joshua practically said; “My Lord stop them!” (Numb. 11:28). This is a play-out of the selfishness, envy and jealousy that are sometimes in the hearts of men. Why would someone wish to stop God from blessing his fellow, equally as he is blessed? But God is not man, He can bless anybody. If men were God, even the slightest Air for breathing will be in untold scarcity. If men were God, you may not have been who you are, or be where you are. If men were to take the ultimate decisions about your life, you may have gone. If men were God, the poor would perpetually suffocate, but their cries against injustice has reached the heaven (James 5:4). Thank you God that you are not just man. While man in his selfishness would want to be the sole possessor of every good thing and the entire gift of the Spirit, God in his generosity wished that all men receive the same Spirit and prophesy (Numb 11:29), In another place it says, “I shall pour my Spirit upon all flesh and your sons and daughters will prophesy” (Joel 2:28). Why then do we act at times, as if we can limit God’s goodness? Why do we act like Generals who dictate to God. Envy and jealousy cannot stop God from blessing whom he wants. Let us cut off every place or thing that makes us offend God or man, that is what it means to cut off ones hands, and plugging off ones eyes. Let us remove selfishness, jealousy and envy and acknowledge the gift of God in us which we also see in others.

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