HOMILY FOR THE 33RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR C.

 

Malachi 3:19-20; Psalm 97:5-9; 2 Thessalonians 3:7-12; Luke 21:5-19.

 

“WORKING FOR SALVATION!”

By: Rev. Fr. Charles Onyeka Ezejide.

·      There is this common joke shared among Nigerians that “Christianity is free, but we must buy the bible”. It simply means that Christ has come to offer salvation to all but this salvation must be appropriated by our free choice and decision to embrace it. Hence, we must work for it.

·      The church’s liturgical year and even the civil calendar are gradually coming to an end, so it is not surprising that the readings are eschatological and remind us of the imminent end of time and the need to be conscious of it and prepare adequately.

·      I am tempted to think that if the energy, resources, and time used to prepare for Christmas and New year (end of the year) is used to prepare for the coming of Christ (end of time), then nobody will miss out on the kingdom of God.

·      While being conscious of the end, we must therefore daily work out our salvation with fear and trembling (Phil. 2:12). We must do everything not to miss out on eternity. To what end will all our struggles; morning masses, confessions, charity, self-discipline, and denial be, etc. if we do not enter into eternity?

·      The first reading (Malachi 3:19-20), reminds us of the coming of the day of reckoning. The day goodness will be rewarded and evil punished. However, those on the right track by obeying God’s commandment and living a life that positively affects others need not fear but joyfully await their reward.

·      Unfortunately, despite the warning for us to prepare for eternity, to work for our salvation, a lot of us are still distracted by the things of this world. Those who have, want to have more, and those who do not have to want to acquire wealth by all means. We are willing to do everything to secure and make our lives comfortable here, but how many are willing to make sacrifices here on earth that will yield an eternal reward?

·      In the gospel reading (Luke 21:5-19), Jesus was quick to remind us that it is good to have a good life here on earth but we must work for the things that eternally endure. Because a time will come when our big houses, fat bank accounts, and myriads of investments will no longer matter. Because no stone will be left on another. All material will be destroyed, what will endure are the immaterial – our good virtues of kindness, peace, love, self-control, etc.

·      However, even the end of the age will be accompanied by strange signs which we may have started experiencing now ranging from betrayals, wars, persecutions, altar disregard for the sacred, false prophecies, hunger, recession, natural disasters, etc. Jesus warns us not to be led astray and fall into the hands of opportunists because it will be an era of false prophets, do not fall victim.

·      For every true Christian despite all these, there is no need to be afraid. If your life has been a long chain of authentic witnessing, all that awaits you is your eternal reward. And for those who have not adequately prepared for the end of the age the time is now. Since we are only guaranteed now. We must begin to be heaven conscious and prepare for eternity. We must work conscientiously and consistently for our salvation.

·      St. Paul in the second reading (2 Thess. 3:7-12), gives us an insight how to work for our salvation. People had resigned to fate, abandoned their work, and now living in idleness because of the rumour of the end of time. We must remember that there is no time to spend on idleness. If we must be saved, then we must work for it. We must go quietly daily making effort and edging towards our salvation. Even if the world is ending today, we must keep doing something – we must keep living good lives.

·      We are humans and occasionally feel the weight of sin and distraction in the world. But we must not let it envelop us, we must consistently try to live above the standard of the world and be focused on heaven. However, when we make mistakes and fall to sin, we remember that “the Lord comes to rule the people with fairness” (Ps. 97:1). This is not a license but an encouragement to begin anew.

·      May God give us the grace to be heaven conscious and to work out our salvation with fear and trembling by staying awake, and always praying through Christ our Lord, Amen!

·      Happy Sunday!!!