HOMILY FOR THE 13TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A. (2)

HOMILY FOR THE 13TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A.

THEME: “ANYONE WHO WELCOMES YOU WELCOMES ME.”

BY: Fr. Cajetan Anyanwu.

This is the 13th Sunday in ordinary time (Yr.A). We live in a world where most people follow the maxim which says: “man is wolf to man.” ” If you hit me l hit you.” It has reached to such an extent that some people openly tell others in their faces, “I hate you” or “I don’t like you” or “don’t come near me” and so on. There is an Igbo adage which says: If you want to live in isolation of others, remember the day you will die.” This means, if you live by yourself, when you die, you cannot bury yourself. So you need others around you always. This need promoted the woman of Shunem to welcome Elisha in her home. She told her husband, “Look, I am sure the man who is constantly passing our way must be a holy man of God. Let us build him a small room on the roof…”(2 Kgs. 4:8-11ff). The next year, she received her reward for welcoming a holy prophet in her house. She was given a son on her old age!

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When we remember that we are pilgrims here on earth we must welcome one another as friends and children of God. We must live in peace with one another. We must love and not discrimate against each other. In the years before Christ came there were inter-ethnic or inter- racial wars. But Christ came and died for others. This shows love in its highest expression. He welcomes everyone with much love. We too must welcome one another. This is what it means to die with Christ through baptism. “When we were baptized in Christ Jesus we were baptized in his death…. But we believe that having died with Christ we shall return to life with him.”(Rom. 6:3-4ff).

To welcome one another is to acknowledge that everyone is made in the image and likeness of God. It also shows that we belong to the same family of God who is the Father of us all. When you show love to a fellow human being you showed love to God who created that person. For this reason, Jesus told the Twelve, “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and those who welcome me welcome the one who sent me”(Mat. 10:37-42). Be one of those who welcome others today and count your numerous blessings, amen.
Happy Sunday .

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