HOMILY FOR THE 26TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR B.

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Numbers 11:25-29; Psalm 19:7.9-13; James 5:1-6; Mark 9:38-43.45.47-48.

“ARE YOU FOR OR AGAINST GOD?”

By: Rev. Fr. Charles Onyeka Ezejide

·      As a young footballer in my primary and secondary school days, the easiest way to share players into different teams is to give them different identities. By simply pointing at them and saying: “for, against”. All those who chose “for” will play on one side against all those who chose “against”. It may not be a perfect way to share a football team, but it served its purpose at that time.

·      Today on this 25th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B, we are not gathered for the game of football. We are gathered to worship God who gives us strength and sustenance. But in the worship of this God, he subtly reminds us of the need to decide whether we are “for” or “against” him.

·      The first reading and the gospel reading are so closely linked, even though one is from the Old Testament and the other from the New Testament, they are the same word of God calling us to grow in faith, renewal, and conversion.

·      In the first reading (Numbers 11:25-29), the spirit of God descends on seventy elders who accompanied Moses to the mountain of the Lord. They were to serve as witnesses to the command of the Lord to the people of Israel. Notice that as soon as they left the camp the spirit left them, and they seized to prophesy.

·      On the other hand, the two men Eldad and Meldad who stayed behind in the camp continued to prophesy; because they were still in the tent of meeting where the ark of God was, and the presence of God permeated the whole place.

·      Both Eldad and Meldad prophesied because of their unity and conformity with God. They were not designated as prophets in Israel, so people tried to stop them, but Moses spoke up for them that the Lord bestows his spirit freely on those he chooses. Hence, rather than stop them, they must be encouraged.

·      In the gospel reading (Mark 9:38-43.45.47-48), we see a similar occurrence, this time a man casting out demons in the name of God and they also tried to stop him. This time Jesus intervenes by setting the record straight that he who is for us cannot be against us.

·      Jesus stretches his teaching on other matters, that while we long to do what God does, we must beware of leading others astray too. Hence, we must distance from ourselves all forms of entanglements that lead us into sin.

·      Friends in Christ, we cannot claim to be for God and continue to be mastered by sin and senseless passions. Today is the appointed day to cut off from those sinful inclinations. No matter what is, be it friends, family, work, addictions, habits, etc. if it leads you into sin, then we must do away with it.

·      St. James in the second reading (James 5:1-6), elaborated this fact of excessive entanglement to material things and possessions. He comes hard on riches and material possessions. James does not in any way condemn riches but condemns our excessive attachment to them to the detriment of our faith.

·      Dearly beloved in Christ, our riches, friends, family, work, connections, ambitions may guarantee us earthly comfort, but it must not distract our focus on eternity because that is where we will spend the longest part of our lives. We must not for the joys and comfort of now lose sight of the greatest joy of eternity.

·      St. James also frowns at the fact that we go all out to grasp material things to the detriment of the poor. We oppress the poor, deny them their just wages, while we live in opulence and ostentation. We must be careful because the Lord hears the cry of the poor and oppressed. “He heals the brokenhearted” (Ps. 147:3), “this poor man called, and the Lord heard him” (Ps. 34:6).

·      Today, friends in Christ, we come to a great privilege to make a solemn declaration of our eternal destiny. The Lord asks you, are you “for” or “against”? The ultimate choice or answer is ours. But it is more profitable to be on the side of God because “the precepts of the Lord are right; they gladden the heart” (Ps. 19:8).

·       May the good Lord bless his words in our hearts through Christ our Lord, Amen!

·       Happy Sunday!!!

Comments

  1. UnknownSeptember 25, 2021 at 9:36 AM

    Thank God for the upgrade.
    I appreciate you Father for this wonderful homily.
    May God continue to grant you wisdom through Christ our Lord amen
    Udooooo Ukochukwu

    ReplyDelete

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