YEAR A: HOMILY FOR MONDAY OF THE 20TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME (3)

YEAR A: HOMILY FOR MONDAY OF THE 20TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

HOMILY THEME: THOUGH MERCIFUL, HE COULD BE ANGERED BY OUR PERSISTENT SINS

BY: Rev Fr Jacob Aondover ATSU

HOMILY: READINGS: JUDGES 2:11-19, PSALM 106, MATTHEW 19:16-22

Before Joshua died, he gathered the Israelites together and tasked them to choose whom to serve. He exhorted them to fear the Lord and serve him alone and they consented thus: “The Lord our God we will serve, and his voice we will obey” (Josh. 24:24). Joshua had warned them of the perils that would befall them should they anger God by forsaking him for the worship of other Gods. He told them that God is a jealous God. They listened and promised obedience. Shortly after his death however, and as they settled in the Promised Land, the people angered God by embracing other gods (Baal and Ashtaroth). They forgot their commitment to God and forsook him, and as Joshua warned, God left them into the hands of plunderers to deal with them severely.
Being the merciful God that he is, he raised up men (Judges) to save his people from being decimated by their enemies. However, time and again, they fell back to their old ways; they wouldn’t listen to the judges, they were just a recalcitrant folk. Scripture says they acted worse than their fathers did (Jdg. 2:19); indeed, these was an ‘unteachable’ group, stubborn, ungrateful, forgetful and highly disobedient. They forgot the God who gave them birth, the rock that begot them and God in turn spurned them (Deut. 32:18). What was their lot? Peril of course!
Beloved brothers and sisters in Christ, as we begin this new working week, may we take care never to provoke the anger of our God; for we cannot contend it. May we strive to avoid all acts of unrighteousness, all forms of corruption, evil and wicked acts that insult God. May we struggle consciously to serve and obey him by adhering faithfully to his commands especially as regards our dealings with the poor or less privileged. May we strive to please God by catering for the needs of the poor as Jesus exhorts us to do in Matthew 19:21. May we use the riches and possessions God has blessed us with to glorify him in the poor, sick, hungry, destitute, orphans, widows and widowers, prisoners and those with mental disabilities.
May God who is MERCY, turn his kindly countenance on us, act mercifully to us and save us.
• May we keep our promises to God
• Don’t fail God, make him proud
• God is merciful but just too
• God bless us as we FEED and EDUCATE the poor