HOMILY FOR THE 23RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C (11)
HOMILY FOR THE 23RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C
THEME: Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
BY: Fr. Diotacious Chikontwe SMA
HOMILY FOR SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 4 2022
*READINGS OF THE DAY*
Wisdom 9:13-18
Philemon 9-10,12-17
Luke 14:25-33
*LITURGICAL COLOUR*
On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross, the emblem of suffering and shame; and I love that old cross where the dearest and best for a world of lost sinners was slain.
HOMILY FOR THE 23RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C
THEME: Anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple.
BY: Fr. Diotacious Chikontwe SMA
HOMILY FOR SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 4 2022
*READINGS OF THE DAY*
Wisdom 9:13-18
Philemon 9-10,12-17
Luke 14:25-33
*LITURGICAL COLOUR*
GREEN
*INTRODUCTION*
Dear brethren, today we celebrate as the Church the 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time of Year C.
*FROM OUR FIRST READING*
In our first reading today, we heard from the Book of Wisdom speaking of how the wisdom and truth of God are far beyond the ability of man to fully comprehend and understand. No one can truly understand the Lord unless they entrust themselves to Him, and allow Him to lead and guide them in their journey, allowing His Holy Spirit to enter into us and dwell within us, inspiring us with His love and truth, and allowing us to understand better the true way of the Lord.
*FROM OUR SECOND READING*
In today’s second reading. Paul had brought Philemon to faith in Jesus and Philemon went on to become a leader of a house church. He was a wealthy man, with a servant. One day, his servant, Onesimus, ran away and made his way to Paul who was in prison. It seems that Paul also brought Onesimus to faith in Jesus. That is why Paul refers to him as a ‘child of mine’, a spiritual son. Paul sends Onesimus back to Philemon and calls on Philemon to receive Onesimus no longer as a slave but as a brother in the Lord, which he now is because of his baptism. Paul is saying to Philemon, ‘if your relationship with the Lord is the primary relationship in your life, you must now relate to Onesimus no longer as a slave but as a brother’.
*FROM OUR GOSPEL READING*
In our Gospel passage today, we hear two main points. Firstly the Lord speaks to His disciples on the matter of following Him. And secondly He mentions two parables of a man who wanted to build a house and of a king who wanted to wage a war with another kingdom. Therefore, in this Gospel passage, we clearly see that the Lord wants to help us, so that we may take the correct course of actions and not be hasty in making decisions which may end up causing us to take the wrong decisions and doing the wrong things that lead us into troubles.
*WHAT DO WE LEARN FROM THE SUNDAY READINGS OF TODAY?*
Let us again read these crucial words: “Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple” (Luke 14:27). When we practice self-abnegation, we deny ourselves the things of this world and turn away from things that can fill our egos with pride. We imitate Christ by emptying ourselves out for love of him and our neighbors (Philippians 2:6-8). We do not have to lift our crosses alone because Christ himself lifts them with us. We begin to see ourselves as children of God and his beloved disciples.
*CONCLUSION*
May all of us be motivated and inspired to allow God to lead us down the path of virtue and righteousness.
May God bless us always in the name of the Father, of the son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
