YEAR A: HOMILY FOR MONDAY OF THE 24TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME (2)
HOMILY FOR MONDAY OF THE 24TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
HOMILY THEME: MAKE SUPPLICATIONS, PRAY!
BY: Rev. Fr. Jacob Aondover ATSU
HOMILY: MEMORIAL OF SS CORNELIUS AND
Dear Lord, I pray that I may love others with a Christ-like love and that I may show compassion on those who live in my neighbourhood.
YEAR A: HOMILY FOR MONDAY OF THE 24TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
HOMILY THEME: MAKE SUPPLICATIONS, PRAY!
BY: Rev. Fr. Jacob Aondover ATSU
HOMILY: MEMORIAL OF SS CORNELIUS AND CYPRIAN, MARTYRS
READINGS: 1TIMOTHY 2:1-8, PSALM 28, LUKE 7:1-10
In the prophecy of Jeremiah 33:3, God says to us his children; “Call to me, and I will answer you; I will tell you great things beyond the reach of your knowledge.” We gather today to call on God better still in the words of St. Paul, to make supplications, offer prayers, intercessions and thanksgiving (1Tim. 2:1) for ourselves amidst the many perils that have befallen us. We implore him to answer the call of those affected by terrorist activities, terminal illnesses, demonic possessions, impoverishment and hunger; strife and marginalization. We plead today that he tells us good things which our intellect cannot fathom. Besides, we’re before God to also offer prayers, supplications, intercessions and entreaty for our leaders; the kings and all those in high positions. We beseech God to intervene; strengthen the good ones, convert the bad and inflame the lackluster. Amen.
Beloved in Christ, all of us are called to help each other today. While the first reading demands that we pray for our leaders and all in high places; the gospel reading tasks all the highly placed, our leaders and kings to love, care and vouch for the welfare of those in their charge. The Centurion who took the pains of looking for Jesus to heal his slave should mentor all our kings, bosses, employers, kings, politicians and the likes. The level of love this man had for his slave marvels me greatly. Remember, it is not his son or daughter we’re considering here; his slave it is. How unselfish he was, how caring; how observant and considerate he was; indeed, he has become our challenge today. Many would not even notice the plight of their ‘insignificant’ slaves. Those who notice would chastise and call them good-for-nothing; they will have their salaries (if any) reduced and leave them to die. This centurion should teach the many wicked, callous and despotic men and women who treat their subordinates like animals.
That is not all, this centurion is full of surprises, first, he loves and caters for his slave, secondly, he has an unwavering faith in the healing power of Jesus (contact or not); thirdly he is undeniably very humble. What a great man we have here. What a Christian! Our friend, the centurion, exhorts us to marvel God with our faith so that our requests made to him will be granted with utmost immediacy. He invites us to seek God not just for ourselves but for our friends and allies. He calls us to be humble, caring and selfless in our dealings with those subordinate to us. When we do all these, we’ll cry to God and he will answer and like the psalmist (28) we shall sing: “Blest be the Lord for he has heard the sound of my appeal.”
May SS Cornelius and Cyprian, ardent believers in the limitless nature of God’s mercy, who died for advancing the course of mercy; Cornelius either by exhaustion or decapitation and Cyprian, beheaded, pray for us as we struggle to journey with Christ in the hope of being raised to life when comes again. May God hear and answer our prayers always. Amen.
FEED AND EDUCATE ONE!!!
