HOMILY FOR THE 12TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A. (3)

HOMILY FOR THE 12TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A.

THEME: 19.6 MILLION “EVANGELIZED” IN ONE POST.

BY: Fr Andrew Ekpenyong.

1. Joke. After Mass on a certain Sunday when the Gospel reading, just like today, included Mt 10:28, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in hell”, a priest in Florida, as the story goes, lamented how difficult it is to preach to his parishioners. He said: “It’s so beautiful here in the winter, that heaven doesn’t interest them”. And it’s so hot here in the summer that hell doesn’t even scare them”. Sisters and brothers, you and I know that the Goodnews of our Lord Jesus Christ is the very opposite of terrorist rhetoric. In fact, it is the antidote, the solution to man’s inhumanity to man, even as such inhumanity plays out in Putin’s shameful and barbaric aggression against Ukraine, and in the violence and insecurity that continue to plague homes and cities around globe. Interestingly, every person’s endeavor to use God’s grace in overcoming sin, every attempt to love God and neighbor, every endeavor to spread the Goodnews of eternal salvation in Christ Jesus, is almost always met with opposition from some people. Today’s Scripture readings (1st, Jer 20:10-13, 2nd, Rom 5:12-15, Gospel, Mt 10:26-33) teach us directly not only how to face such opposition but also how to use such opposition to show greater love for God and neighbor and to spread the Goodnews to more people.

2. Culture of Life and Love. As we mark one year since the overturning of “Roe v. Wade” by the “Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization” decision of the US Supreme Court, we celebrate those who like Jeremiah in today’s 1st reading, endure mockery, insults, false accusations, and persecution as they continue to provide for pregnant women in crises pregnancy centers, as they sacrifice themselves to save babies from abortion. For instance, every Saturday morning, 10am to 11am, my friend Linda M. Thomsen and several others pray across the Planned Parenthood abortion facility on 93rd Street just north of Maple St, here in Omaha. Linda and millions of pro-lifers across the world are indeed not afraid of those who kill the body, but cannot kill the soul, as our Lord teaches us today. By the way, private pregnancy-help centers run as charities by pro-lifers are right now more than 2,825 compared to the 700 total number of abortion clinics in this country. We outnumber them by a ratio of 4:1. And 14 states now have laws protecting babies throughout pregnancy. To God be the glory. Of course, there is a lot more to be done as Archbishop George Lucas of Omaha stated this weekend: “The best way for us to mark this anniversary and to make it meaningful for our country is to continue to do all that we can to cultivate a culture of life in our own communities and throughout our country.”

3. 19.6 Million and More. Opposition to the Goodnews continues to be opportunity to witness to Christ, opportunity to proclaim from housetops what our Lord whispers to us, according to the Gospel reading today. That is exactly what 31 year old Trevor Williams did on 30th May, 2023. As the pitcher for Washington Nationals, Trevor Williams is a Major Baseball League professional player who needs no introduction. But he put his career and popularity in jeopardy, when he made a public statement against the Los Angeles Dodgers’ celebration of an anti-Catholic and anti-Christian group that, in his words, makes “a blatant and deeply offensive mockery of my religion, and the religion of over 4 million people in Los Angeles County alone.” Within 24 hours, Trevor Williams’ statement got 19.6 million views on Twitter alone. Yes, 19.6 million encounters with truth from a courageous Christian. During a recent interview on EWTN News in Depth, Trevor Williams was asked what prompted him to stand up for his faith despite the potential backlash and repercussions. “When I die,” he said, “and St. Peter greets me at the gates, he’s not going to ask what your win-loss record was in 2023. He’s going to ask, ‘How did you build the kingdom of heaven?’” Sisters and brothers, this is how to put on the rooftop what we heard in whispers! This duty is for every Christian. For our Lord added: “Everyone who acknowledges me before others, I will acknowledge before my heavenly Father.” (v.32). Christians who bear witness to the person of Christ privately and publicly even in the face of opposition, are in acute demand today. Can people tell I am a Christian by my sacrifice for and compassion towards those in need? By my choice of words? It is not about hypocrisy. Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks (Mt 12:34)! By their fruits, you shall know them (Mt 7:20). Thanks be to God, there are thousands of Linda Thomsens and Trevor Williams in this country today. We pray for millions more like them, so that God may continue to use them and ourselves, to spread His Kingdom of justice, love, and peace. Amen

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