HOMILY FOR MONDAY OF THE 4TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B (2)

HOMILY FOR MONDAY OF THE FOURTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B

HOMILY THEME: THEY BEGGED JESUS TO LEAVE THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD

BY: Fr. Evaristus Abu

HOMILY:

“The herdsmen fled, and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened. And they came to Jesus, and saw the demoniac sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, the man who had had the legion; and they were afraid… And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their neighbourhood.” Mark 5:14-17.

Today’s Gospel passage actually continues from where that of last Saturday ends. Jesus had just finished a great crusade and he told his disciples to get into the boat and cross over to the other side. That very night, as they were out there in the river, there was a great storm, one that brought out all the fear in the disciples. Jesus was sleeping till they woke him and he gently calmed the sea.

As soon as Jesus and his disciples came down from the boat, behold, there was a man with an unclean spirit. That was the day for this man who would later become an evangelist to gain his freedom and it was probably because of this man that Jesus and his disciples suffered a great storm at sea.

I once heard the musician, Buchi sing: “Never make permanent decisions based on temporary situations.” Never get discouraged by the waves at sea, great things await you on the other side. Jesus was not discouraged by the experience at sea, he was determined to go everywhere to continue his mission.

Nevertheless, in the process of healing of this demon-possessed man, two thousand pigs died instantly in the process. What does this teach us? It teaches us that for God, the life of one man is more important than two thousand animals (be it, pig, poultry or cattle!). If freeing just one man from the shackles of bondage would cost such a monumental loss, then it is worth it.

When the herdsmen reported what had happened, a mild drama played out; the people of the town came out to see that the demoniac had been made well now in his right senses but all they actually took notice of was the fact that two thousand swine were gone. And they begged Jesus to depart from their area.

How often have I driven God out of my workplace? How often have I taken economic decisions without even trying to consider God’s opinion? How often have I gotten angry with people for daring to mention God in my business transaction?

The truth, my dear friends is that we cannot serve God and money at the same time. We cannot deceive ourselves, it is either we are prepared to lose money for the sake of God or we are prepared to ask God to leave for the sake of money. The fact is that Jesus actually walked away. You see, when we ask God to leave us alone because of money, God will never force his way on us. He will leave us to become gods unto ourselves and when we become our own gods, we soon realize our emptiness and nothingness.

David had everything he ever dreamed of. He was the richest man in the world in his time, but somehow he pushed God aside and brought trouble unto himself. Today we read about him running away from his own son, Absalom. Along the way, there was a man named Shimei who threw stones at David and cursed him continually. David came to realize his nothingness.

For once, David remembered how he was just a little boy tending after sheep when God made him King of Israel. He realized he wasn’t all-powerful. He said to Abishai, “Let him alone and let him curse, for the Lord has bidden him, it may be that the Lord will look upon my affliction and repay me with good for this cursing today.”

Dear friends, without God, we are nothing! We may great mistakes when we push God away all in the name of making money.

Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, teach me to value you above anything else in this world. Amen

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. (Monday of the 4th week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: 2 Samuel 15:13-16:13 and Mark 5:1-20).