HOMILY FOR 30TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (YEAR A)

HOMILY FOR 30TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (YEAR A)

THEME: “MASTER, WHICH IS THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT OF THE LAW?”

By: Fr. Cajetan Anyanwu

Sometimes people ask questions whose answers they know already. Some do so either to expose their ignorance or to test the interlocutor. If you know the answer, why ask the question? Another reason for asking a question whose answer you Already know is to pull down the other or to have a reason to attack him or her. That was exactly what the Pharisees did to Jesus. They know already that to love God above all things is the greatest commandment. And to love your neighbor as yourself is like it (cf. Mtt. 22:34-40), yet they wanted to disconcert him. They forgot that, Jesus cannot be silenced. It’s a stupid act to set a trap for one who is smarter than you.

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The love of God and of neighbor also forbids oppression or molestation of the stranger, the widow and the orphan. The Lord told Moses to warn the sons of Israel: “You must not molest the stranger or oppress him, … You must not be harsh with the widow, or with the orphan” (Ex. 22:20-26). This warning is for all humanity. In most countries orphans and widows are deprived of their rights. God is not happy with those who maltreat them. Widows and orphans should be treated with respect and dignity. God listens to their cry for justice.

To ask Jesus: ” Master, which is the greatest commandment of the law?” Is like asking him, master, why should we love God? Or, Master, who is my neighbor? We know that, Jesus went about doing good and teaching us to do the same. Paul praised the Thessalonians who followed the goof example he taught them. “You observed the sort of life we lived when we were with you, which was for your instruction, and you were led to become imitators of us, and of the Lord…” (1Thes. 1:5-10). Likewise, we must follow the good examples Jesus laid down for us, especially, to love one another. This will make the Gospel meaningful in our lives. May God help us amen .  Happy Sunday.

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