YEAR A: HOMILY FOR TUESDAY OF THE 27TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME (2)
YEAR A: HOMILY FOR TUESDAY OF THE 27TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
HOMILY THEME: ALLOW CHRIST INTO YOUR HOME
BY: Rev. Fr. Jacob Aondover ATSU
HOMILY: READINGS: JONAH 3:1-10, PSALM 130, LUKE 10:38-42
Hark, the voice of Jesus calling, "Who will go and work today? Fields are white and harvests waiting, Who will bear the sheaves away?" Loud and long the master calls you; Rich reward he offers free. Who will answer, gladly saying, "Here am I. Send me, send me"?
YEAR A: HOMILY FOR TUESDAY OF THE 27TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
HOMILY THEME: ALLOW CHRIST INTO YOUR HOME
BY: Rev. Fr. Jacob Aondover ATSU
HOMILY: READINGS: JONAH 3:1-10, PSALM 130, LUKE 10:38-42
“Listen! I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into his house…” That Jesus is always waiting for us his children to let him into our lives is a truism; that he desires to be at the helm of affairs in our lives is also indubitable. However, that our unreceptive attitudes (unlike Martha and Mary) shut him out is also factual. Today therefore my dear friends is an invitation to welcome Jesus, listen to his words, hearken to same and turn away from our misdeeds.
In Martha and Mary we see two needful attitudes that every Christian should possess: Hospitality and Attention to Jesus. Whilst Martha, supposing that Jesus must have been worn out by his travels hence hungry, worked towards his recuperation; Mary chose to listen to his words of life so as to better her life spiritually. These two aspects of the Christian life are complementary, one to the other and we are exhorted to imbibe them. Welcoming, listening and keeping the word of God is always advantageous to us. Jesus would tell us in Luke 11:28 that those who hear and keep God’s word are blessed. We may do well today therefore to put up right attitudes towards the gospel message and those who promote it: the priests and other ministers of God’s word remembering Jesus’ injunction, “Whoever receives anyone I send receives me also; and whoever receives me receives him who sent me” (Jn. 13:20). Martha and Mary have become our teachers today.
Still on welcoming, listening and abiding by God’s word, we may want to look at Jonah 3:1-10. The Ninevites like Martha and Mary welcomed Jonah, they listened and understood his message even though it was harsh; they acted upon it. On his part, Jonah thought God intended to destroy the Ninevites and was only alerting them to prepare for doomsday. On their part however, the Ninevites seeing God to be “Merciful and loving, slow to anger and full of constant love; not being angry forever” (Ps. 103:8), showed true contrition, repented and God forgave them.
Maybe it’s high time Nigerians allowed God more access to their lives; maybe the moment of welcoming, listening and adhering to God’s word is long over due. Maybe, just maybe, the attitude of the King of Nineveh and his subjects is one we should embrace today. Who knows, God may yet repent and turn away his fierce anger from Nigeria. Who knows, God may yet save us from insecurity, terror, poverty and the likes. Who knows, he may liberate us from bad, corrupt, evil, inept, callous and despotic leadership thereby occasioning a new dawn in the lives of all.
Who knows! May we rededicate ourselves and nation to God even as we welcome Christ, listen to him and repent. Amen.
FEED ONE, EDUCATE ANOTHER…
