YEAR C: HOMILY FOR THE THIRTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (6)

HOMILY FOR THE THIRTEENTH SUNDAY IN THE ORDINARY TIME YEAR C.

HOMILY THEME: DON’T LOOK BACK, AVOID EXCUSES AND BE TOLERANT.

BY: Fr. Clem C. Aladi

HOMILY:  GOSPEL: LK 9:51-62

” No one who sets a hand to the plow and looks to what was left behind is fit for the kingdom of God”

My dearest children of God, I am delighted to welcome you to this 13th Sunday in the ordinary time of the year. May the green colour of the Ordinary time which is symbolic of ‘life’ and ‘growth’ remind us to persevere in growing and drawing life from the table of God’s word and the Eucharist.

The readings of today reminds us of God’s call and a fundamental option we all must take in response to that call to reach our heavenly destination. Life has teaches us that anyone who looks back on a mission never accomplishes it, but with Perseverance, total commitment and focus one will always overcome the distractions and side attractions to accomplish a mission. God has called us to mission, we must not look back if we are to remain focused on that call. God is calling us daily and we have to answer him without hesitation or any form of distraction.

The first reading describes how Elisha committed himself whole-heartedly to answer God’s call to be a prophet, in spite of his initial hesitation when God called him through the prophet Elijah.

The second reading, taken from Paul’s letter to the Galatians, reinforces the commitment message of the first reading. Paul warns that true freedom is not meant to be a license for self-indulgence, but to be a way to show God, ourselves, and other human beings our commitment to God and to His service. There is nothing like absolute freedom, a philosopher who once said that ” man is born free but everywhere in chains. We are not in chains of slavery as God’s children, we live in freedom. Our freedom enables us to give God unreserved commitment and to answer His call or follow the ways of world; which ever option one takes, has its consequences. The price for freedom is not cheap, and the greatest freedom you enjoy is the freedom of he will, so make the right choices don’t abuse your God given freedom. ” Freedom does not mean that right to do whatever we please, but rather to do as we ought. The right to do whatever we please reduces freedom to a physical power and forgets that freedom is a moral power.”
– Fulton J. Sheen

The first part of today’s Gospel records Jesus’ teaching on Christian tolerance, given after he had observed the angry response of two of his apostles. James and John were angry and asked if Jesus wanted them to bring down fire from Heaven to destroy the Samaritans who had refused to receive Jesus as a prophet and allow him to travel through their village because Jesus was travelling to Jerusalem. The reaction of these sons of thunder reminds us how those in authority abuse their powers. Because James and John have the power to bring down thunder, they wanted to use it, but Christ admonished them and used that occasion to teach us dear brothers and sisters that we must not exercise all the power invested on us by virtue of our authority in whatever state of life we find yourselves. Tolerance is a virtue that we must pray to embibe. Anger is destructive, and leads to nothing salutary. Whatever is done in anger can never please God. When you are denied access or treated unjustly in one place, go through another place perhaps you could have a better opportunity there. Don’t destroy things like the young Nigerian man who recently destroyed diplomatic vehicles in UK because of anger and dissatisfaction with the operations of the Nigeria consulate in UK. This bring us to what happened during the Civil War in America, President Abraham Lincoln was often criticized for not being severe enough on the soldiers of the South. On one occasion after a battle, a general from the North asked him, “Why didn’t you destroy the enemy when you had the chance? Lincoln answered with words adapted from the today’s Gospel passage: “Do I not destroy my enemy by making him my friend?” That is exactly what Jesus tells us in today’s Gospel: destroy our enemies by making them our friends. No doubt the feelings of anger and resentment run deep in many hearts today, and we wouldn’t mind if people who hurt us deeply were punished or suffered from bad luck. Jesus, however, says: “That is not my Spirit — let Me heal your heart. ” “Tolerance is an attitude of reasoned patience towards evil…a forbearance that restraint us from showing anger or inflicting punishments. Tolerance applies only to persons…never to truth
– Fulton J. Sheen

In the second part of today’s Gospel, Luke introduces three potential disciples who offered lame reasons that made Jesus’ call to ministry “impossible” for them to accept, after Jesus had told them plainly what the commitment required, and the cost involved. They were found unfit and unprepared to follow Jesus as His disciples. We too, are asked to follow Jesus, totally and immediately, without any reservations, both by giving priority to him and to his cause and by surrendering our lives to God in humble and dedicated service to others .

God’s call comes to us in little ways daily. It could be in form giving urgent attention to something that needs to be done or answering an emergency all to help. How often have we neglected others and responsibilities by being distracted by some frivolous activities? How often have you made up excuses to avoid giving attention to some worthy cause of action?. May today’s word of God remind us that no one who looks back when it comes to given attention or answering a call to serve, or who manufactures excuses to avoid answering God’s call is worthy of being called a disciple. God wants a spontaneous response to doing something good. Don’t allow family, friends or some useless engagements to distract you.

May we learn to be patient and tolerant in dealing with the weak, the unbelievers and those who treat us badly.

May God gives us the grace to answer His call daily with total commitment and love.

I keep you and your family always in my prayers.

Fr. Clem C. Aladi

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