YEAR A: HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF THE 5TH WEEK OF LENT (2)

YEAR A: HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF THE 5TH WEEK OF LENT

HOMILY THEME: LENT CONTINUES: FAST FROM DISOBEDIENCE; ENJOY THE COVENANTAL BLESSINGS OF ABRAHAM

BY: Rev. Fr. Jacob Aondover ATSU

HOMILY: READINGS: GENESIS 17:3-9, PSALM 105, JOHN 8:51-59

Dear friends, Proverbs 4:22 says, God’s word is life to those who find it and health to all flesh. This word as made flesh in Christ is always before us; it behoves on us to keep it faithfully so that we may not see death (Jn. 8:51). Besides, obedience to God’s words makes us brothers, sisters and family with Christ (Mk 3:35).

Dear friends in Christ, our father in faith, Abraham, in obedient docility, adhered to God’s words by leaving his country and going into another as shown him by God (Gen. 12:1ff). Today and indeed for posterity, Abraham lives and will live on. Moreover, consequent upon his obedience, God made him fruitful and multiplied him; he made him a great nation, source of blessing for believers, father of many nations and his name was changed too (Gen. 12:2-3; 17:3ff).

Beloved in Christ, obedience to God does not win us a place in eternity only; it also spells blessings for us here on Earth. We may want to ask ourselves the following questions: how docile are we to the promptings of God? How compliant are we to the exhortations of the Church? How best do we go about our duties making sure they are in tandem with God’s word? Do we qualify for the Abrahamic blessings which were a consequence of his obedience?
All of us beloved have been called and mandated to fulfill one or more tasks. Our names (identities, beings) have been configured to Christ. We were changed and given new names and purposes in life at our baptisms, ordinations et al; how best are we towing the paths traced for us?

As we approach the Paschal festivities, we may do well to remember the call of God to us Abraham’s children: “…you shall keep my covenant therefore, you and your offspring after you in their generations” (Gen. 17:9). If I may ask; are we anywhere near Abraham’s fidelity? Do we emulate his humble adherence to God’s instructions? Are we by any chance docile and obedient to every call of God? Are we rather not faithless, disobedient, proud and arrogant; et al?

FEED AND EDUCATE ONE