YEAR B: HOMILY FOR TUESDAY OF THE 31ST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME (3)
YEAR B: HOMILY FOR TUESDAY OF THE 31ST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
HOMILY THEME: Have a Christ-like Mind.
BY: Fr. Evaristus Abu
“Though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped.” *Philippians 2:6*
In the movie, “Coming to America” the main actor, Eddie Murphy starred as a young prince who while searching for a wife disguised himself as a pauper so as to find a woman who truly loved him as against one who would marry for money. Eddie Murphy’s character knew exactly who he was in reality but in other to get what he wanted, he chose to become something else for a while. It was for him an adventure into human nature.
How often do people despise others based on their seemingly economic status? I was listening to the radio the other day and a lady was asked, if two men were asking you out, one very rich but the other a complete NFA (no future ambition), which would you agree for? She said: “Isn’t the answer obvious?” No one likes to associate with a person who is not economically viable. Yet, as Jesus pointed out yesterday, these are very persons we must invite to our parties and occasions. Who knows, that man you think is poor and a-good-for-nothing-fellow may just be the person you have been praying for.
St. Paul in today’s first reading tells us to have the same kind of mind that Jesus Christ had. From heaven, Jesus did not look down on us as poor miserable creatures. He loved us to the point of choosing to be like us and even going as far as giving up his own life for our sake. Unlike the character in the movie who disguised for his own selfish interest (to get a wife), Jesus did not count his equality with God and went through all that humiliation, suffering and bitter death for our sake.
To have the mind of Christ is not necessarily to disguise oneself (pretend), it is being able to empty ourselves as Jesus did for the good of others. To have the mind of Christ is to be humble enough to put ourselves in the shoes of those who need our help; those who cannot help themselves.
If you really want to help the poor, please don’t go visiting a camera crew, don’t even dash out money just like that. Instead, have the mind of Christ; become a poor person yourself, come down to their level, try living in the same circumstances as they do for some time, interact with them and you will be amazed at what you will learn. Do it not for your selfish interest but to experience how Christ felt when he came down to our level. In the end, you will find yourself transforming not only some people’s lives but even whole communities as well. With such an altruistic mind, Jesus saved the world. Who knows what you will achieve if you take on such a mindset?
Coming down to our Gospel passage, we hear Jesus giving a parable to those who were at table with him. Those who had been invited for a feast failed to show up so the host decided to extend the invitation to anyone they could find. The fact that we are Christians is not a guarantee that we shall make heaven, what matters is that we show up to the feast. Our people say: “every lizard has its stomach on the floor, we do not know which has a stomach ache or not.” If those of us who are Christians fail to live truly holy lives, we should not be surprised that unbelievers will get to heaven before us.
Let us pray: Lord, remove my heart of stone, cure me of my selfishness and pride, teach me to have a mind like yours. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Tuesday of the 31st Week in Ordinary Time. Year B. Bible Study: Philippians 2:5-11, Psalm 22:26-32 and Luke 14:15-24).
