YEAR A: HOMILY FOR MONDAY OF THE 34TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME (2)

YEAR A: HOMILY FOR MONDAY OF THE 34TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

HOMILY THEME: DISOBEDIENCE TO GOD IS DETRIMENTAL
OBEDIENCE TO HIM IS REWARDING…

BY: Rev. Fr. jacob Aondover ATSU

HOMILY: READINGS: Daniel 1:1-6.8-20, Psalm, Dan. 3, Luke 21:1-4
In the prophecy of Jeremiah 7:23, God himself says; “This is what I told them: obey me and I will be your God, and you will be my people. Do everything as I say, and all will be well!” However, should man embrace disobedience, all will not be well because God had spelt it out clearly in the covenantal promises. Deuteronomy 28:15-20 states the various consequences of disobedience; “But if you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God, carefully observing all his commandments and statutes, all these curses shall come upon you and overwhelm you…” sickness and defeat, despoilment (incessant oppression and no help from anywhere); fruitless labour, Invasion and siege, plagues and exile. Today we hear of the invasion, siege and exile brought upon God’s people by Nebuchadnezzar, a consequence of their disobedience.

Dear friends in Christ, as we close in on the liturgical year, we are warned against the dangers posed by disobedience. We are called to avoid every form of rebellion against God and focus on doing his will; for in his will lies our hope. As a people, Nigerians, Tiv, Igbo, Idoma, etc. we have endured turbulent and perilous moments overtime. We have been impoverished, sickened, defeated on various fronts. We have been maimed and hemmed in on every side – we are hungry, oppressed, marginalized and treated in the most undignified ways. Why has God allowed these calamitous situations to befall us? Why is he silent? Maybe we have failed him, maybe we have been too disobedient, doing our wills and not his. We are corrupt, wicked and evil. We may want to change today before we are exiled in eternal damnation.

Beloved, when God’s favour rests on man, he thrives even in the most cancerous circumstances. Daniel, Mishael, Hananiah, and Azariah the Jewish youths were favoured by God hence they outshone every Chaldian in wisdom, knowledge and skill. Of course, scripture says these young men were without blemish; they loved the God of their fathers and served him in spirit and truth. They wouldn’t even defile themselves why captive in Babylon and God was very pleased with them. We may learn from these young men to lead good lives before God and strive to be blameless before him. That so, he’d favour us and make us flourish even on arid grounds.

Lastly, like the poor widow of our gospel text today, we may do well to give God our very best if not our all. For it is in him that we live, and move and have our been. By him, the uncreated were we made (Col. 1:16). He owns our lives and sustains them too. He blesses us gratuitously and we shouldn’t hold back anything he desires from him: our time, energy, knowledge, talents, wealth and so on. May we live to obey God’s law and be forever blessed, amen. May we live to give him our very selves in service to him and his mission on earth. Amen.

Be good to some poor folk today; FEED AND EDUCATE ONE.