HOMILY FOR THE 32ND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C.

Maccabees 7:1-2.9-14; Psalm 17:1.5-6.8.15; 2 Thessalonians 2:16-3:5; Luke 20:27-38.

 

“BELIEF IN THE RESURRECTION!”

By: Rev. Fr. Charles Onyeka Ezejide.

·      Today the church celebrates the 32^nd Sunday in ordinary time year C brings us closer to the end of the church’s liturgical calendar. The readings draw our attention to the four last things: death, judgment, heaven, or hell. Closing tied to the four last things is the belief in the resurrection.

·      Christianity is simply defined as “Christ-has-risen”. Meaning that everything we do is in the hope of future glory. It is in the hope that even if we die for our conviction in the faith, we are guaranteed that Christ will transform our mortal bodies into copies of his glorious bodies at the resurrection (Phil. 3:21).

·      The Christian struggle is hinged on our belief in the resurrection and the fact that this world is not our final place, we are just passing through and what we do here, determines our destination in life after. Do good and live, do bad and die. To live here means to gain eternal life and to die here means to be completely damned.

·      It is not surprising that a lot of people still doubt the fact of the existence in the life hereafter. They make expressions like “the life I know is the one I am living now” or “you only live once hence I must enjoy my life” or “life is too short to be lived in pain and perjury” and many others. Those with this kind of mindset about life after are not new and they are not the first to hold that view.

·      The Sadducees in the gospel (Luke 20:27-38) outrightly and deliberately deny the fact of the resurrection so that they can enjoy life to the full. Their question to Jesus about marriage is also short-sighted and self. It is geared toward pleasure and getting the best out of life in the here and now.

·      The response of Jesus to the Sadducees not only confirmed the fact of the resurrection but challenged us to live our lives focusing on life after. While marriage is important, its eternal purpose is to lead to salvation and resurrection on the last day.

·      It is also the belief in the resurrection, that lends courage to the seven brothers and their mother in the first reading (2 Maccabees 7:1-2.9-14). Their faith conviction is what emulates in the face of serious trial and temptation to sin and offend God.

·      The “pig’s flesh” which was the bone of contention here, goes beyond ordinary meat. Because for most of us with the human eye, you may begin to wonder what is the big deal about eating pork. Since most of us here see pork as a special delicacy.

·      The pork here represents all that is sinful, all that is vehemently against the commandments of God, all that jeopardizes our chances of making heaven, all that makes us focus on self rather than God, all that make us comfortable in this world rather than longing for heaven.

·      Resurrection for every Christian is all that matters and we must not allow anything whatsoever to rob us of it. Even the scriptures say “what shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and suffers the loss of his soul” (Mk. 8:36).

·      We must not let sin rob us of our salvation, we must not let momentary pleasure rob us, we must not the senseless acquisition of wealth and contracts rob us, and we must not let friends and associates rob us of the joy of resurrection. We must stand up to our faith and courageously defend it even in the face of the dreaded persecution. Because what matters is the destination of your soul.

·      The response of the brothers in the first reading should encourage us and inspire us even in the greatest trial. “What are you trying to find out from us? We are prepared to die rather than break the laws of our ancestors” (2 Macc. 7:2), “you may discharge us from this present life, but the king of the world will raise us up, since it is for his laws that we die, to live again forever” (2 Macc. 7:9), “it was heaven that gave these limbs; for the sake of his laws I disdain them; from him, I hope to receive them again” (2 Macc. 7:11), “ours is the better choice, to meet death at men’s hands, yet relying on God’s promise that we shall be raised by him; whereas for you there can be no resurrection, no new life” (2 Macc. 7:14).

·      We must not like the Sadducees question the resurrection but rather work conscientiously towards it. Notice that the names of the brothers and their mother were not given. Hence, it could be any of us. When we are faced with difficulty even when it is life-threatening, are we able to courageously face it knowing that our salvation and resurrection are guaranteed?

·      Saint Paul in the second reading (2 Thess. 2:16-3:5), prays for us to strengthen and be encouraged when trials, temptations, and difficulties threaten our belief in the resurrection. It is not enough that we are prayed for, we too must develop a praying lifestyle to be able to live through this difficult and challenging life.

·      St. Paul reminds us that the world is full of evil people who will put our faith to the test by asking us to do what we will ordinarily not do. How our consolation should be that “the Lord is faithful and he will give you strength and guard you against the evil one” (2 Thess. 3:2).

·      Resurrection is real and it is the summary of our faith we must stop at nothing until our lifestyle becomes heaven conscious and it is those who are heaven conscious in word and deed that have a strong belief in the resurrection. So that no matter what we go through for our faith, even in physical death, we must know that “I shall be filled, when I awake, with the sight of your glory, O Lord” (Ps. 16:1).

·      Let us not be mistaken about our belief in the resurrection because Christ assures us that the dead will be raised again to be like angels; God is a God of the living and not of the death (Lk. 20:34-38).

·      May the Lord strengthen our belief in the resurrection and make us courageous in faith even in the face of the greatest difficulty through Christ our Lord, Amen!

·      Happy Sunday!!!