HOMILY/REFLECTION OF 25TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B

HOMILY/REFLECTION OF 25TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B

HOMILY THEME: BE LIKE A CHILD LEARN TO LET GO AND LET GOD!

BY: Fr. Augustine Ikechukwu Opara

Wisdom 2:12, 17-20 / James 3:16-4:3 / Mark 9:30-37

A child returned from School and the Mum observed something unusual in him. He was restless and kept murmuring. At some point, the Mum asked him; ‘is there anything you need’? No Mum. Is there anything I can do for you? No Mum! Okay. I will give you anything you want so that you will be happy. To cut the long story short, the boy said Mum I want to see God and thank him for everything I have. Our teacher taught us today that God gave us everything; you, Dad, my siblings, our house, our cars, and everything. Trust mothers, his Mum was sober and said God is everywhere you can thank him by loving everything he gave you and being nice to them. At that, the child brightened up. That is the child Jesus wants us to be like today. The greatest in the Kingdom are those who have and accept the qualities of children like dependence, humility, simplicity, and obedience.
We should imbibe the kind of dependence children exhibit before their parents and elders. In the same way that children knew their weaknesses without their guardians, we too must recognize our weaknesses without God. Children are basically innocent. Children trust. Children have hope. Children are adventurous and love very easily. So easily that parents have to warn their children not to go after strangers who smile and offer them some kind of affection. Children are spontaneous. Children find it easy to forgive. Children do not really have too much trouble forgiving people and accepting people or other little children.

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There are lots of conflicts in our world today. I don’t just mean wars, terrorism, or violence although they often seem the worst and most extreme conflicts. I also include the daily conflicts we are part of at work, School, our families, and possibly in the Church. Small arguments, disagreements, frustrations that other people don’t quite see the world as we see it. Our society tells us that being right, being first, and being the best is all important. Ambition, drive, success, and winning are often emphasized and the famous author, T.S. Elliot said: “Most of the trouble in the world is caused by people wanting to be important.” It’s in our nature to put ourselves first. But our teaching from Christ today seems contradictory, “If anyone wants to be first, they must make themselves last of all.” The message doesn’t fit with the way we see the world work.
Of course, we know that our society is wrong. Jesus shows us a small child as an example. Put them first, serve them and you are serving Him. There is a huge difference between doing your best and being the best. Being the best student, the best mum or dad, the best doctor, the best anything you can be, is good, it’s holy and it will bear fruit. Being better than anyone else is pointless and will only lead to conflict. Use your skills for others and welcome their needs and their vulnerabilities. Help them as you would help a child. Welcome them with open arms, you will be welcoming Christ. Work hard, but always for others, strive to do your best, but resist the urge just to be the best, if you are the best thank God that you are able to serve so well. We are here to become conscious of the needs of the people around us and see how well we might serve them. For in serving, Jesus says, we enter into the heart of God. In this kind of disposition, we learn to let go, and let God!
Finally, my brothers and sisters, physically we will grow. But let the childlike mentality in us continue. All of us were made to be great in God’s Kingdom. All of us were meant for eternal life. Christ talks about being childlike and not childish. To be great is to be focused on something other than us. It means our ability to accommodate, welcome, and work in harmony with others just as children always do. It also means the readiness to accept the truth and to reflect positively on it.
Happy Sunday!

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