HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF THE 4TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR I.
THEME: THE DISCIPLINES OF A GODLY MAN!
BY: Benedict Agbo (Rev Fr).
* Heb 12: 4 – 15, Mk 6: 1 – 6.
Today’s gospel cadences in disappointment as Jesus is anthropomorphically described by Mark as being unable to work any significant miracles in his country home – Nazareth. He was amazed at their unbelief. There were only 2 occasions where it was reported that Jesus was amazed and both were in relation to faith; the excess faith of the Centurion, Lk 7: 9 and the lack of faith among his countrymen at Nazareth, Mk 6: 1-6. It was a problem of prejudice. Prejudice is the greatest weapon of the devil against intellectuals. They accepted his wisdom and power but rejected his messiahship. They acknowledged the premise but rejected the conclusion. It was all prejudice – what they knew about him before from childhood – I call it ‘the – Carpenter’s – son – syndrome’. They knew he never went to any University nor was he trained by any Rabbi. So, how come his wisdom? Therefore they rejected him seeing no authority to back up his knowledge. They were guilty of the fallacy of ‘argumentum ad verecundiam’. They also knew he was just a carpenter by profession – just an ordinary poor man. There was nothing great about his pedigree. So, they were also guilty of the fallacy of ‘argumentum ad hominem’. They lacked the disciplines of faith.
RELATED: HOMILY FOR TUESDAY OF THE 4TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR I
According to Kent Hughes, every godly man /woman should possess the disciplines of faith for his relationship with God (disciplines of devotion, worship and reconciliation), the disciplines of friendship for his relationship with his fellow human beings (disciplines of purity, friendship, marriage, fatherhood and motherhood) and the disciplines of character for his relationship with himself (disciplines of integrity, tongue control, work and leadership). Today’s 1st reading says that discipline is the hallmark of any divine – human encounter. The Lord disciplines him whom he loves. Our help comes from the Lord when he places us in the fire; in the melting point of distress, rejection and pressure. But here is the good news: You might be in the fire today but God is controlling the thermostat. He knows how hot it will be to bring out the best in you. According to Fr Patrick Edet, the Bible recorded that Joseph, the son of Jacob passed through 3 divine schools of discipline before he became the Prime Minister of Egypt; the school of humility, gratitude and management. That Joseph was a biblical preview of the personality of Jesus Christ who was also rejected by his own brothers and kinsmen. The rejection Jesus experienced in today’s gospel is only one example of his suffering which came to its climax on Calvary. Every temptation has its degree. Only God knows the temperature required to burn out our imperfections and set us free to do his will. May we submit always to his discipline. May God bless you today!
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