HOMILY FOR THE TWENTY FIFTH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME YEAR B
HOMILY FOR THE TWENTY FIFTH SUNDAY OF ORDINARY TIME YEAR B
HOMILY THEME: WHO IS THE GREATEST?
BY: Fr. Nkamuke Casmir
Wisdom 2:12, 17-20 / James 3:16-4:3 / Mark 9:30-37
In our world today, their exists an innate desire to show how great and how powerful we are. This is not a bad idea. Thanks to such desire, a lot of scientific and technological discoveries have been made. Great people as Mother Theresa of Calcutta have inspired the world with their good deeds. The bad thing about the desire for being greater or the greatest lies in two things: our reason for seeking greatness, and the means we use to attain the greatness.
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In the first reading, the “godless” conspired to do away with the virtuous man because he opposes their way of life. They know they are on the wrong part. However, they do not want anyone to point their weakness out to them. They always want to be recognised as great and fearful, whether they are wrong or right.
St. James gives us reasons for the multiplication of disharmony and wickedness in the world today. Because of jealousy and ambition, many seek to pull others down. People blackmail others to bring them down. People fight wars to destroy their adversaries and, through such, exert their authority. People are assassinated because they are perceived as stumbling blocks in the quest for power and fame. In the desire for fame and recognition, many live a life of deceit and exploitation. On a more painful note, St. James bemoans that we often apply this to our prayer life. We pray for our own desires and no longer for God’s will to be done.
In the gospel of today, Jesus gives us a perfect answer of what greatness is and who a great person is. The disciples were already planning for a future without Jesus, who had just prophesied for the second time about his passion. They were already dragging for the greatest. Was it Peter, whom Jesus just announced the head of his Church? Or John the beloved apostle? Or even Judas, the treasurer? Rather than give a definite answer, Jesus informs us that the greatest is one who is willing to be the servant of all.
Beloved in the Lord, the greatest person is one who knows that positions of authority are meant to lift up and not to bring down. Unlike the godless in the first reading, the greatest person is one who accepts correction. Also, the greatest person is one who is willing to accept the dignity and integrity of even the least of humanity, as in the case of the little children in the gospel of today.
Anyone who thinks that his leadership position is exercised by bringing others down, or that the best way to rise to power is through character assassination is a weakling and a coward.
May God give us the grace to show our greatness through our service to God and humanity.
Happy Sunday!
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