HOMILY FOR THE 21ST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C.

Isaiah 66:18-21; Psalm 117:1. 2; Hebrews 12:5-7.11-13; Luke 13:22-30.

“THE UNPOPULAR MESSAGE!”

By: Rev. Fr. Charles Onyeka Ezejide.

·   Sometimes when we listen to some Christian messages, they seem to sound like a direct contradiction to popular belief and practice. It only takes the eyes of faith and consciousness of eternal reward to accept such messages.

·      The readings of this Sunday especially the second and gospel reading are not what any Christian will normally want to hear on a Sunday that God deliberately allows us to go through some difficulties because he loves us. How can pain and sorrow be associated with love? Is it not the other way round?

·      The second reading (Heb. 12:5-7.11-13) reminds us that “My son, do not disdain the discipline of the Lord or lose heart when reproved by him; for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines; he scourges every son he acknowledges” (Heb. 12:5). How can pain, suffering, and bitterness be part of the sign of the love the compassionate God has for us?

·      The above reading may explain why and should come as an encouragement for righteous suffering. When you are on the part of righteousness and innocence and yet you still experience some kind of difficulty in life like childlessness, unemployment, loss of job, broken home and relationship, failure in exams, missed targets, untold hardships, financial setbacks, etc. it is not that God has forsaken you, he may just be testing your commitment to the faith, that maybe God’s way of ensuring that you enter through the narrow gate.

·      Sometimes this does not just make sense, but dearly beloved in Christ, we must keep the faith, we must patiently wait for the goodness that will come out of this present difficult situation because we must “Endure our trials as “discipline”; God treats us as sons and daughters.  For what “beloved child” is there whom the father does not discipline?  At times, all discipline seems a cause, not for joy but pain, yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who are trained by it (Heb. 12:6-7).

·      The book of Job reminds us that “if we take good things from the Lord; will we not take sorrows too?” (Job 2:10). This sorrow is not an end in itself but a preparation for the hope of future glory. Job suffered for being righteous, but he kept the faith and refused to sin, and at long last what seemed to him a loss was gained a hundred times over here and in eternity.

·      Dearly beloved no matter, what difficulty you might be going through especially when you are glaringly innocent, do not give up, do not be discouraged for God is preparing you for something great and marvellous. Just hold on to your faith!

·      The gospel reading (Luke 13:22-30), reminds us that the way that leads to damnation is wide and attractive, full of comfort and sweetness while the road that leads to glory is unattractive and difficult and those who are not determined and resolute might get discouraged and lose sight.

·      It takes great strength and grace of God to go through difficulty and innocent suffering and remain committed to the faith. It takes an amazing grace to stand alone and take the unpopular position of the Christian message. However, for all those who remain on the side of the truth and refuse to compromise until the end, the reward is uncommon!

·      Entering through the narrow gate or taking an unpopular stand demands a lot of courage and persistence. If you do not know the reward that lies ahead, you can easily get distracted or lose interest. We must always strive to go the extra mile.

·      It is not enough or a guarantee that since I attend Sunday mass weekly I am saved, it is not enough to say that I receive Holy Communion (even when most receive him unworthily) that I am saved, it is not enough to say that since I pay my tithe regularly, join all the pious societies, etc. guarantees me a place in eternity. If these are not done with the requisite purity of heart and intention, if it is not done with the love of God and not a man in mind, then we are likely to hear the words of Jesus thunder on the last day “Depart from me, all you evildoers!” (Lk. 13:27).

·      How painful will it be after this gruesome suffering here and we still lose the glory of heaven? Hence, we must constantly and consistently make ourselves better candidates for heaven through self-denial and avoidance of loose living which is referred to as the wide door that leads to perdition in the gospel reading.

·      The Christian message may not be popular, it may not be something palatable, and it may not be what we all desire to hear in this season of bad news and disappointments. At face value, it may be disappointing, but following the dictates of this unpopular message guarantees us eternity.

·      The first reading (Is. 66:18-21), reminds us that the kingdom of God is for all, it tells us that the Lord is coming to gather the nations of every language and culture. However, it is for those who fight to finish, who accept the word of God however bitter and unpalatable it may seem. When the Lord comes will you be found in the number fully dressed and prepared for their eternal banquet of heaven? Or will you be taken unaware and eventually turned out “Depart from me, all you evildoers”?

·      While we wait, enduring all pains and disappointments patiently for the hope of future glory, we must like the psalmist “Go out to the whole world and proclaim the good news” (Mk. 16:15). And may the good news we proclaim both with our lips and our lives bring us the reward of eternity through Christ our Lord, Amen!

·      Happy Sunday!!!