HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF 23RD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR I. (1)

HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF 23RD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR I.

THEME: THE THEOLOGY OF POVERTY.

BY: Benedict Agbo (Rev Fr)

* Col 3: 1 – 11, Lk 6: 20 – 26.

Today’s gospel is a most unpopular version of Christianity – a version that is growing more and more obsolete with the rise of Pentecostalism and its emphasis on Jesus as a wealth giver. But the truth remains that this version of Christianity is counterfeit. The Beatitudes are anti worldly cliches that identify poverty and different kinds of worldly deprivations as the real sources of true happiness in Christ. He is not against money, sufficient food or comfort but warns us not to pursue them as ultimate sources of happiness. That is why Paul says in today’s 1st reading: ‘Seek the things that are above where Christ is seated’. Christ not only said it but lived an exemplary life of poverty. He didn’t actually go hungry, wretched nor dressed shabilly but taught us how to live in the dignity of labour and worldly renunciations.

Spirituality is about being empty for God. Jesus declares in his Beatitudes that the poor in spirit, the hungry and those sorrowful for the sake of God are the really blessed people. Spirituality is about setting our minds on the things of God and putting to death the unspiritual aspects of our nature; monitoring the thought side, the word side, the action side and our inaction side. Christ our mentor systematically and honourably borrowed everything he used on earth and left them all on earth before departing; He entered the womb of Mary and borrowed a manger for his birth, took the profession of a Carpenter for his source of livelihood, borrowed the house of friends and relatives for shelter and depended on the generosity of some pious women for his feeding; borrowed a donkey for his triumphant entry into Jerusalem and a dining room for his last supper with his disciples; He borrowed even the grave where he was buried from Joseph Arimatheas and left his purse with Judas Iscariot; He left his clothes with the soldiers who killed him and finally his body with the soldiers on guard until the resurrection day.

We are not actually worshiping a God of affluence but a wounded Messiah who may sometimes want us to become rich and sometimes want us to remain poor. According to Vima Dasan, ‘The destiny of a Christian is not material happiness nor even physical health, but holiness. God is not an eternal blessing machine for us; He did not come to save us out of pity, he came to save us because he created us to be holy’. That is why he said: ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven’. May God bless you today!

FOR MORE HOMILIES CLICK >>>>>