YEAR B: HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE 10TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME (2)

YEAR B: HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE TENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

HOMILY THEME: “MAN OF GOD GET OUT OF YOUR CAVE!” (1 Kings 19:9,11-16)

BY: Fr. Livinus Igbodekwe

HOMILY:

What makes Elijah different from any of us? Nothing! Yet he calls down fire and rain from heaven at will. Two things mark Elijah’s uniqueness. Not his miracle powers but his faith and prayer.
Yet today we are faced with his weakness to show that he is not that extraordinary. He is on the run from a woman. He couldn’t get into an open place anymore he now seeks out a cave and hides in it.
In the same way, so many men of God have entered into quandary caves to run away from the ills of the society and to avoid confronting the evil men in the church and society. Man of God! Come out!
God has to call Elijah to come out from the cave to “stand” instead “on a mountain” in order to encounter Him. The fire, whirlwind and earthquake came but God didn’t come with them. Why? God is not the author of chaos in the society of Israel but the gentle breeze shows God as the restorer of peace. So Elijah instead of hiding ‘pray!’ Go back from the way you came to exercise your priestly role. If we return to exercise our priestly office conscientiously things will change. How? The priestly office is the office of empowerment. If we retire to rest God will lose followers but when we go back to work God will gain followers. Let’s go back to anoint Jehu and Hazael as Kings and Elisha as prophet and watch the outcome. When this offices are filled Jezebel and her gods will be in flight!

Have a graceful Friday!