YEAR II: HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF THE 5TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME (2)

YEAR II: HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF THE 5TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

HOMILY THEME: FIDELITY TO GOD EVEN IN AFFLUENCE

BY: Rev. Fr. Jacob Aondover ATSU

YEAR II: HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF THE 5TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

HOMILY THEME: FIDELITY TO GOD EVEN IN AFFLUENCE

BY: Rev. Fr. Jacob Aondover ATSU

 

HOMILY: READINGS: 1KINGS 11:4-13, PSALM 106, MARK 7:24:-30

It is a statement of fact that ‘those who disappoint or fail God most are those he has blessed lavishly’. This is in no way debunking the other truth that the terribly poor many a times sin with reckless abandon also; some even denounce God. Analysis have overtime shown that like Solomon, those who have no enemies warring them, no diseases, hunger, or distress perturbing them tend to forget God easily. These go about ‘enjoying’ their lives with nothing troubling them and in their affluence; they become oblivious of God.

Affluence can become a cause of spiritual slumber. It deadens our awareness of being dependent and frail leaving us in the pseudo thought of we being self-sufficient. Solomon fell into this disillusion. The affluence that surrounded his reign became his sole bane. As independent as he thought he was, he went marrying from idolatrous nations to the utter disgust of God. God had commanded: “Let there be no strange god among you nor shall you worship a foreign god” (Ps. 81:10). These women infiltrated Israel with their gods, blinded Solomon to the extent of him erecting altars for them and offering sacrifices to same. How heartbroken God must have being! God punished him as he would any of us who neglects him to embrace any false god.

A look at the lives of the many privileged: politicians, business men/women and the other rich of our day would show how ‘Solomonic’ we are. Today we are poor and Christian always praying for breakthrough, riches and positions of power. Tomorrow we get our desires granted by God and once rich and powerful, we either become syncretic or completely idolatrous. Many supposed Christians today belong to occultic groups in the name of protection, some employ the use of charms, satanic emblems and amulets for safety and protection from seeming enemies. God is so heart broken and awaits our repentance.

The Syrophoenician woman of Mark 7:24-30 should be our challenge. Driven by her faith she broke boundaries to meet Jesus and once she met him, nothing, not even Jesus’ initial ‘refusal’ could stop her from having her daughter saved. She was so unlike the ungodly women married by Solomon who helped him sway from God’s path. We are encouraged today to have an undiluted faith in God; a faith that cannot be polluted by external influences. We are challenged to hearken to God’s commands avoiding whatever he despises. We are called to be firmly established in our faith like the woman of our Gospel so that no infiltration from whatever corner may hold sway in our lives. We are invited to remember God even in our affluence so as to avoid his wrath.
FEED AND EDUCATE ONE

Discover more from Catholic For Life

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading