HOMILY FOR THE 28TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C (2)

HOMILY FOR THE 28TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C

THEME: How can I repay the Lord?

BY: Fr Justus Oruma

HOMILY FOR SUNDAY OCTOBER 9 2022

(a) A lot of good things God has done for us, some seen, most unseen. Our lives should be preoccupied

HOMILY FOR THE 28TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C

THEME: How can I repay the Lord?

BY: Fr Justus Oruma

HOMILY FOR SUNDAY OCTOBER 9 2022

 

(a) A lot of good things God has done for us, some seen, most unseen. Our lives should be preoccupied with the question as in the Book of the Psalm; How shall I repay the Lord for all His goodness to me? (Ps, 116:12). And the answer; “I will raise the cup of salvation…” just as we do in the Holy Mass during the celebration of the Eucharist. The Greek word Eucharist simply means “Thanksgiving”. The Holy Mass in general, is a prayer of Thanksgiving. The introduction to all the Prefaces of the Holy Mass beckon on us thus; “Let us give thanks to the Lord our God” … “It is right and just”.

(b) It is an act of justice that we give thanks to the Lord. This was the reason why Jesus demanded in justice, “Were not ten made clean? The other nine where are they?” In justice, they are expected to return and give thanks to God, but they failed. The readings emphasized the return of Naaman and that of the Samaritan to the Lord to thank Him for the good He had done for them. The shows us the paucity of the percentage of the people that return thanks to God and to people who have helped them

(c) “Returning to God in Thanksgiving” is not only just what we do in Church-Thanksgiving. It should be more evident in our daily lives. Some times we think that our success and breakthrough in life are only thanks to our wisdom, craftiness and efforts. Sometimes we think that we don’t need God, that we don’t need to pray and that we don’t need to go to church because we are wealthy and healthy again like the nine healed lepers. Sometimes, like the lepers we only pray earnestly to God and call on people when all is not well. Worse still, sometimes we offend God with what he has given us. Is this the way we repay the Lord for His goodness? Sometimes we also fail to return and appreciate the people that have helped us, that care and share their time with us. That is injustice done against God and man. It is good to give thanks to the Lord. Like Naaman and the Samaritan, let us not forget to return thanks when all is well. We can give thanks to God who saves us from trouble by also helping others who have similar problems with the same gift we have received from God (2 Cor. 1:4). Let us always make this sacrifice of Thanksgiving. This is living a Eucharistic life. Our lives should be filled with joy and Thanksgiving no matter the situations, for God knows all. There is always a reason to be thankful. “Give thanks to God in every circumstance” (First Thessalonians 5:18).

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