HOMILY FOR TUESDAY OF THE 22ND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B

HOMILY FOR TUESDAY OF THE 22ND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B:

HOMILY THEME: FACE TO FACE WITH SATAN’S ANGER.

BY: Fr. Evaristus Abu

HOMILY:

_“Ah! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us?” *(Luke 4:34)*_

Picture this scenario: You were part of a light chatter with your colleagues at work, everyone was cracking jokes freely. You felt so relaxed that you ended up making a real big jest of your overall boss. A statement you uttered sent the entire staff rolling on the floor with amusement. You felt really good about yourself and you thought it was all over.

The next day, you resume work as usual and you barely even remember what happened the previous day. A very close colleague calls you to a corner and whispers into your ear: “Bro, there is fire on the mountain oh! Boss is seriously pissed with you.” That same day, the boss suddenly announced there would be an emergency meeting. There hasn’t been a meeting in the last six months and the last time there was such an impromptu meeting, some persons lost their job. What would be your countenance as you go for this meeting?

Yesterday, I saw Bishop Barron delivering a homily to priests on Youtube. It was the mass of the Queenship of Mary. Bishop Barron made reference to David and Bathsheba; how it was supposed to be the time of year when kings go for battle and David was not in battle but in his house relaxing. David sought after pleasure and when he discovered he had just fathered a child, he used the enormous power he had to eliminate Uriah.

Bishop Barron noted that when we forget that we are supposed to be in battle, we begin to place so much importance on pleasure and power only to end up falling flat like David. (Who knows? This could be the back-story to our current scandals!).

I mean, if you underestimate the anger of the devil, you might end up asking him out for lunch only for you to become the suya (roasted meat) on the devil’s plate.

We Christians today must realize that we have an enemy that is, by all means. angry with us. Can you try to picture the annoyance of the man with an unclean spirit in the synagogue? “What have you to do with us?” meaning: “Why did you come here? What is your business with this place? Why not allow us to do our thing while you stay on your side?” Take it from me, satan is not smiling at all oh!

As we struggle to make progress in our spiritual lives every day, let us realize that every step we make in the right direction pisses off the devil more and more. This is a truth clearly hidden from the worldly- minded; a truth which St. Paul says in our first reading, always sounds like mere gibberish to the unspiritual man.

The advice Bishop Barron gave to the audience of priests is valid for all Christians. We must realize that NOW IS THE TIME OF BATTLE; not the time to be strolling about in our palaces admiring naked people taking their baths (online pornography, illicit movies, music, sensual entertainment etc.)

Now, is the time for us to wake up to the fact that satan can possess even those who come to church and appear as most-holy. Now is not the time to become scared but to get dressed in our armour and face satan squarely standing upon the victory of our Commander-in-Chief, Jesus Christ.

Let us pray: O Jesus, open my eyes to see the battle in front of me. Amen.

*Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Tuesday of the 22nd week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: 1st Corinthians 2:10-16, Psalm 145:8-14, and Luke 4:31-37).