HOMILY OF THE 29TH SUNDAY IN THE ORDINARY TIME — YEAR B

HOMILY OF THE 29TH SUNDAY IN THE ORDINARY TIME — YEAR B

HOMILY THEME: AUTHORITY IN THE EYES OF GOD IS SERVICE

BY: Fr. Augustine Ikechukwu Opara

Isaiah 53:10-11 / Hebrews 4:14-16 / Mark 10:35-45

Jesus saw his life as one of service and perfect obedience to God, his Father. This selfless obedience of Jesus would undo the stubborn disobedience of all humanity, featured in the sin of Adam. It would complete the Lord’s designs for the world and all creation. As St. Paul said through one man’s disobedience, sin came into the world and through one man’s obedience we are made righteous. (Rom. 5:19)
In the second reading, Jesus had to share completely in our humanity to bring humanity to perfection. he lowered himself to share our life: ‘feeling our weaknesses with us, tempted in every way that we are, yet without sin’. Temptations to anger and intolerance, ‘capable of feeling our fears and frustrations. We see these in the gospels: his exhaustion at the well in Samaria, and his grief at the death of his friend Lazarus. He must have suffered the curiosity and incomprehension of childhood, the relative frustrations of adolescence, as well as the more complex troubles and sorrows of adulthood, not to mention the incessant opposition of those who rejected him. All these would have further enriched his personality until he offered the whole of his humanity in obedience to His Father’s designs. Just as martyrdom is the crown of a life of Christian fidelity, Jesus’ final sacrifice was the crown of a life of love, obedience, and generosity.

ALSO RECOMMENDED: HOMILY OF THE 29TH SUNDAY IN THE ORDINARY TIME 

In Mark’s telling of the story of his final journey to Jerusalem, Jesus three times warns the twelve of the fate that will overtake him in the Holy City. During this time, Jesus must have reflected frequently upon the Suffering Servant Songs of Isaiah in the first reading, and their paradoxical anticipation of how God would fulfill the hopes of Israel. The sons of Zebedee reply with a request for the best seats at the banquet of the Kingdom! Matthew spares the two disciples by putting the request in their poor mother’s mouth. However, the indignation of the other disciples prompts Jesus to make his clearest statement in words: that authority in the eyes of God is service. Jesus shows us the way to give glory to the Father: become the servant of all and give our lives for others. And he does this not merely by his words, but also by the living witness of his example: ‘For the Son of Man himself did not come to be served but to serve’ – words that sum up the whole of his life.
The Kingdom of God or the reign of God in love, peace, and joy cannot be established through political power or lobbying, but only through the transformation of human hearts. And this would imply, the Son of God must suffer and die. A truly righteous person can offer himself for others and even carry the sins of others in some mysterious way. We see that gift of self-offering clearly in the life of Jesus. We are also called to share in that self-offering.
Service, my dear friends, entails a lot, but drawing from Christ’s words today, we pick out just two ingredients: humility and sacrifice. Service entails humility and sacrifice. In his words; ‘whoever would be the first among you must be a servant of all.’ And ‘the son of man also came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.’ And certainly, any sacrifice pleasing to the Lord is rewarded plentifully.
So, my brothers and sisters, in our families, Church communities, workplaces, Schools or localities let us be servants to one another, let us look for the opportunity to serve seeking only to love one another and to do what will benefit the other. Let us walk with Jesus in humility and accept the sufferings that must come if we are truly loving others.
God bless you!

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!!!