HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF THE 4TH WEEK OF EASTER
HOMILY THEME: OUR CELEBRATION OF THE SABBATH DAY!
BY: Fr. Ben Agbo
HOMILY: *Act 13:13 – 25, Jn 13:16 – 20.
The Jews knew the importance of ‘Lectio Divine’ – comprehensive study of the Word of God. That is why they gathered in their synagogue constantly to deliberate on the scriptures every Sabbath day even after having worshipped in the temple in the morning hours. Even our ancestors who practiced African traditional religion, understood the importance of spiritual dialogue and that is why every village (Otobo) had a wooden seat out (Igbe) where elders sad down and dished out wisdom to the young ones.
One invaluable service we can do for God and others is to bring the knowledge of Christ to them as Paul did in today’s 1st reading to his listeners at Antioch in Pisidia convincing them that Jesus is the saviour of the world of David’s posterity . The kerygmatic preaching of Paul at the synagogue that day was full of historical review and clarifications on the person of Jesus Christ. We still need a lot of this kind of preaching even after over 2000 of Christianity.
There were about 4 kinds of preaching in the early Church; 1. Kerygmatic – herald’s announcement, 2.Didache – teaching, 3. Paraklesis – exhortation, 4.Homilia – treatment of any subject or aspect of life in light of the Christian message.
The challenge is for modern day priests to translate our theological and philosophical heritage into organized materials for preaching: Our knowledge of Dogma, Catechetics and Church history should be translated into topics for Kerygmatic preaching; our knowledge of Biblical and Moral theology into materials for comprehensive teaching ; our knowledge of Pastoral theology, Patrology, Life of Saints and Spiritual theology into materials for daily homilia and paraklesis. The fact remains that our people perish for lack of knowledge, Hos 4:6. The greatest mistake the Nigerian Church is making today is to think that the people who fill our church pews are real Christians and to insist on applying so many Pastoral methods that have failed in Europe to the African evangelical circumstance.
Our celebration of the Sabbath day (now Sunday) still leaves much to be desired. Our programme of Evening Sunday service is not yet systematic. Our homiletic delivery is not yet strategic (Imitating the West in time restrictions and delivery style may not help us). Our theological education for and empowerment of lay evangelists require more attention.
In today’s gospel, Jesus makes it clear that ‘He who receives anyone whom I send receives me…’ Every disciple of Christ is an ambassador of His Word and Sacraments talk more of his priests. They should preach it both in season and out of season; officially and unofficially; in Church settings and outside Church settings. Paul says ‘Woe is me if I do not preach the gospel’, 1 Cor9 :16. Let’s learn to work like ants who, seeing a small grain, goes to bring many more ants along to eat together. The good news of salvation must be shared within and outside our Churches according to the spirit of Vatican 11(Missio ad gentes, ad intra, ad extra, ad populos). We should not also be discouraged if we notice any scandals. If Judas betrayed his master, we should not be surprised if any Bishop or Priest does the same. That’s why Jesus lamented and still laments: ‘He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me’.
May God bless you today!
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