HOMILY FOR THE 21ST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A. (2)

HOMILY FOR THE 21ST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A.

THEME: “BUT YOU, WHO DO YOU SAY I AM?”

BY: Fr. Cajetan Anyanwu.

Today is the 21st Sunday in ordinary time (Yr.A). All authority (both civil and spiritual) belongs to God. A king is born not made. This is why it is a disgrace to fight and kill or to rig and manipulate elections in order to acquire authority. Any institutional authority or position contested for unfairly shall never last. God looks at the heart not on the face and money cannot establish a dependable authority. For “All that exists comes from him: all is by him and for him” (Rom. 11:33-36). God chooses the weak to make them strong!

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Authority is for service not for punishment. It is not a means for wealth making. One in authority suffers and sacrifices his or her life for others. Authority is sustained by God who appoints whoever he wants for the good of others. When one in authority fails to follow the decrees of the Lord, the need for change comes. This was what happened to Shebna. When he deviated from the right direction the Lord said: “I remove you from your post, and the same day I call on my servant Eliakim son of Hilkiah. I invest him with your robe, gird him with your sash , entrust him with your authority “(Is. 22:19-23). God’s ways are not our ways. .

In the church also, authority is the choice of God. A very remarkable symbol of authority in the church is the key. This key is entrust to one whom God has appointed through his invisible power invested on human beings. Jesus chose Peter not because of his elegance or wealth but to manifest God’s power in the weak to make them strong. The power to bind and loose, to open and close the door to heaven is invested on weak Peter to manifest the glory of God. This power is not to condemn others but rather, to forgive and bring people to God. Peter got the answer to the question put to them by Jesus. “Who do people say the Son of man is?” “But you, who do you say that I am?” (Mtt. 16:13-20). Who is Jesus for you? The answer is in your heart. We pray for our authorities that God may endow them with wisdom and love to win more souls for God’s Kingdom, amen. Happy Sunday.

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