HOMILY OF 23RD SUNDAY IN THE ORDINARY TIME — YEAR B
HOMILY OF 23RD SUNDAY IN THE ORDINARY TIME — YEAR B
HOMILY THEME: WE ALL NEED THE HEALING TOUCH OF JESUS
BY: Friar Tochukwu Okonkwo, OFM Cap.
Isaiah 35:4-7, James 2:1-5, Mark 7:31-37
In the first reading (Isaiah 35:4-7a) which is from proto-Isaiah, the prophet Isaiah consoles the people of Israel who were at the point of discouragement, sadness and near despair to take courage and be strong for their salvation was at hand.
The first reading tells us of the greatness of God by pointing out the manifestations of his reign which will be marked by the blind seeing, the ears of the deaf being opened, the lame walking and so on. These same manifestations will underlie the messianic times. Isaiah assures the people that a time will come when what is broken will be mended and what is shattered will be restored.
ALSO RECOMMENDED: HOMILY OF 23RD SUNDAY IN THE ORDINARY TIME
The second reading (James 2:1-5) reminds Christians that there should be no room for class distinctions among them. We are all one in Christ, and love should be spread among all without distinctions since Christ does not selectively give us his blessings.
This same theme of deafness could be said to underlie the second reading. We could understand the second reading as describing a community which was deaf to God’s commandment.
The gospel reading (Mark 7:31-37) is a fulfilment of the messianic prophecy of Isaiah among other prophets. Many other texts show Jesus fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah and other prophets. Today’s gospel reveals how a deaf-mute was brought to Jesus for healing. The healing was granted to the man after Jesus took him aside. This demonstrates that Jesus is the Messiah who makes the blind see, the deaf hear, the lame walk and in fact, the one who made us and has power over everything that concerns us.
LESSONS FOR TODAY
1. With Jesus, all who suffer in various ways can have their problems healed. This means that all who are distressed or oppressed can always find healing from and in him. The unemployed, the sick, the marginalised, those who suffer failures, the handicapped by broken homes and marriages, those enslaved by sin, and those whose lives are diminished can look up to him for healing because he cares for all of us.
2. The healing of our spiritual infirmities is not excluded. This means that those who are addicted to one sin or the other or who have been so enslaved by the devil that they have sold themselves out in one way or another could be healed and restored to grace.
3. Notice that Jesus took this man aside (away from the crowd) before he healed him. This shows that you are not lost in the crowd. Jesus thirsts for a personal relationship with every one of us. He thirsts for your love. Give it to him! Rev. 3:20 says that he stands at the door and knocks, if anyone opens, he enters and dines with him. Are you going to open or shut him out of the door of your heart?
4. The second reading teaches us that there should be no room in the Christian community for disrespecting or disregarding people. We must not look down on anyone because we are all made in the image and likeness of God. Christians should not idolise some people for whatever reasons while we treat others as if they are less human – perhaps because we feel that they are not in our class or not as important or cannot offer us what the ‘idols’ we have made for ourselves can offer.
5. Jesus is concerned about our difficulties and is very close to those that the world rejects and consider contemptible. He is very close to orphans, widows, the poor, those living with disabilities, the childless couple, etc. Thus, we cannot claim to be close to God if we are insensitive to the plight of the ‘less privileged.’ Worse of all is to make a mockery of them. We must therefore struggle to alleviate the pains of the marginalised or less privileged as best as possible. It is often in their midst that we see our Lord, and not necessarily in many other places we visit.
6. For us to experience healing, we need faith, as the first reading says. We need to have faith in God and hope in him.
7. Sadly, we often talk much, listen less and understand very little in our world of today. Today’s liturgy teaches us to learn to listen more. We are invited today to see the procedure in which the healing of this man took place. Jesus first healed his hearing impairment before the speech, demonstrating that listening should come first. Have you ever imagined why we have two ears and one mouth? We must seek the grace of listening to people, but especially the healing of our spiritual ears so that we can hear God’s daily invitation to love him, to speak up against injustices as was warned against in the second reading. and to hear him inviting us to live for him alone and to become saints.
8. Our society is largely in a mess because many neither speak against injustice since they are spiritually dumb or they refuse to hear the cries of the poor and marginalised because they are spiritually deaf. I may not talk because I do not want to offend anyone or enter the black book of some or because I am too corrupt and benefit from the corrupt system. This reveals how much healing I need.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT: In my little world, do I belong to those who make class distinctions? Am I deaf and dumb in the face of evil, oppression and marginalisation even when I know that my speaking up will save a soul or souls?
We pray to God to heal our physical and spiritual ailments, especially those spiritual ailments that hinder us from serving him and our neighbour better. Amen.
FOR A SIMILAR HOMILY, CLICK HERE >>>>>
Dear friends in Christ, We have been sustained by your Charity for the past 11years. Here we are saddled with annual bills. Please, be kind to us with your donation. Click on the “Donate” button to get started. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
