HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF 9TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME. (1)
HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF 9TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME.
THEME: ARGUING LIKE THE SCRIBES!
BY: Benedict Agbo (Rev Fr)
* Tob 6: 9 – 8: 9, Mk 12: 28 – 34.
The Scribes were men of letters; like the lawyers / learned men or the academia of today. They were vic
HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF 9TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME.
THEME: ARGUING LIKE THE SCRIBES!
BY: Benedict Agbo (Rev Fr)
* Tob 6: 9 – 8: 9, Mk 12: 28 – 34.
The Scribes were men of letters; like the lawyers / learned men or the academia of today. They were victims of inordinate academic rigmaroling, unnecessary rigorous and useless verbal/ linguistic niceties – what some have called the art of “complex thinking”. The lawyers/ Scribes’ sense of prioritization is evident in today’s gospel where they had hitherto argued endlessly on which of the laws is most important; Circumcision laws, Sabbath laws, laws concerning sacrifices? Was killing more serious than stealing or adultery? Is jealousy more dangerous than avarice?
RELATED: HOMILY FOR TUESDAY OF 9TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME.
That lawyer concurs happily with Jesus in today’s gospel that love of God and neighbour is more important than burnt offerings and circumcision, etc. Christ teaches that the real motive of our love of neighbour must be the love of God. If the latter does not anchor the former it becomes mere philanthropy or humanitarian love which could turn selfish and becomes insalutary. The summary of the whole commandments is actually one not two; loving God in our neighbour. You need to see Priests argue sometimes on a point then you will understand better the Scribe’s indaba in today’s gospel. Sometime ago, a group of priests were assessing another priest’s hysterious dance before the Blessed Sacrament. It was so interesting watching the prioritization argument play out as in today’s gospel; Whether there was a shift of attention from God to himself or not? Some will argue that as long as the dance was mearnt for the honour of God it does not matter if the attention is temporarily fixed on the priest of God. It is good to argue. It is also good to set our priorities right. But we may not need to kill ourselves for unnecessary details and waste our time prioritizing everything. Sometimes we could discover that nothing is too important and everything is important. May God bless you today!
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