HOMILY/SERMON OF 26TH THURSDAY IN ORDINARY TIME—YEAR B
HOMILY/SERMON OF 26TH THURSDAY IN ORDINARY TIME—YEAR B
HOMILY THEME: “THE HARVEST IS RICH BUT THE LABOURERS ARE FEW…”
BY: Bishop Anthony Ewherido
Job 19:21-27; Psalm 26(27):7-9, 13-14; Luke 10:1-12
In Nigeria, we celebrate the memorial of St. Theresa today. Missionary discipleship, as Pope Francis couches it, is the proper character of Jesus’ followers, including us. The readings teach us that missionary discipleship involves a passionate attention to God’s word through reading and listening; a firm commitment to living by that word after the example of Jesus; reverence for God’s word, with an ascent of faith that leads to a great AMEN; daily celebration of that word through joyful commitment to our mission and mandate; realization of that mandate through humble and generous teamwork; total commitment of our life and resources into God’s hands for use; and, unshakable trust of and reliance on God for the success of the mission, since God provides for the mission entrusted to us by Jesus.
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The gradual building of Christ’s Church is most vividly put together in Luke’s two works: the Gospel and Acts. There, he traced for us the growth of the Mustard Seed that became a global entity within centuries. For that growth to be sustained, Jesus demands authentic and committed laborers, who fit the above description of Missionary Discipleship; laborers, who work collaboratively (not arbitrarily) under his guidance, proclaiming the good news and making him present and known in every time and place. All the places he intended to visit and all the people he intended to touch make up the mission field of the Church and must be our preoccupation in every age. We must rely on him to provide for the mission, even as God’s people support that mission for its constant growth. We must not abuse the privileges and opportunities provided by that mission but rather work tirelessly to ensure that discipling takes place until we reach the ends of the earth. As missionary disciples, we must be bearers of Christ’s peace in the first place; and that is the gift we offer to whomever we meet and wherever we make encounters. Together with that gift, we become God’s strength and healing to the sick, weak and weary, and the roadmap for those who receive our message on the way to heaven. In the meantime, St. Theresa, whose feast we celebrate today teaches us how to use our God-given power and endowments. The readings for the memorial of St. Theresa emphasize single-minded devotion, humility, childlike simplicity and trust in God, care for the lowly, poor, vulnerable and underprivileged, lowliness of heart, and spiritual joy and hope. St. Theresa, Virgin and Doctor of the Church, embodied all of these gifts and virtues in her person, service, contemplation and spirituality. She is quoted to have said: “I will spend my heaven doing good on earth.” She had a true understanding that we cannot suddenly cultivate friendship with God when we die; such friendship is cultivated, one good act at a time, here on earth and perfected by God’s love in heaven.
Lord Jesus, you call us to work with you, empower us for the challenges we face responding to your call and make us effective instruments of your peace, healing and unity. Amen.
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