HOMILY FOR THE 22ND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A.

Jeremiah 20:7-9; Psalm 63:2-6.8-9; Romans 12:1-2; Matthew 16:21-27.

“DIVINE SEDUCTION!”

By: Rev. Fr. Charles Onyeka Ezejide.

·      Today is the 22^nd Sunday in ordinary time year A. On this first Sunday of the month of September, God has given us another opportunity to gather as children of God to pray and worship and to thank him earnestly for favours received and to pray for more blessings.

·      We live in a society where things are not the way we wish them to be. A lot of people are presently experiencing untold hardship and are on the verge of giving up on everything hence they are prepared to do just anything for survival and to make ends meet.

·      Dear friends in Christ, the truth is that if we take God out of the equation or any venture, we must be sure that that venture will fail or lead to our frustration. For some, they claim that they do not mix business and religion (God). For others, God does not just matter anymore.

·      The prophet Jeremiah in the first reading sets the tone for the theme of today’s reflection. The prophet tells us that his call to the prophetic ministry was because of “Divine Seduction”. God through his call of him seduced and he allowed himself to be seduced. Having caught the ‘seduction’ fever, the prophet can no longer distance himself from God. His hunger for God can no longer be contained because if he wants to, the fire for God’s work continues to burn in him.

·      Today our readings are specifically chosen to challenge us to fan into flame our hunger for God and the things of God. The scriptures assure us that “with God on our side we shall do bravely” (Ps. 60:12).

·      We must learn to hunger for God and to do his will despite all odds. Yes! The world may be unfaithful but God is always faithful. He will always fulfil his promises to us if we keep our side of the bargain.

·      In today’s gospel reading (Matthew 16:21-27), Jesus reaffirms his hunger to do the will of God which will lead to his eventual passion and death. He clearly understands that going to his passion will be a difficult venture. However, knowing that in God’s will is his peace, he willingly embraced the way of the cross for the salvation of mankind.

·      Friends in Christ, doing the will of God is not always palatable because it is not usually a popular decision. Jesus had accepted the will of his father which is his sacrifical death on the cross. St. Peter wanted him to reconsider his decision but Jesus was sure that it is only in doing the will of God that we find true happiness. Hence Jesus silenced him by saying “Get behind me Satan” (Matt. 16:23). Jesus does not call Peter Satan but the spirit at work in him.

·      Peter is the head of the apostolic college hence he is not Satan. Jesus rebuked the spirit at work in Peter at that time. The mission of that spirit was to distract Jesus from his mission. Remember that it was the same Peter who had earlier hinted at the mission of Jesus when he referred to Jesus as “the Christ the son of the living God” (Matt. 16:16), how come then he is now negotiating with Jesus to abandon that mission?

·      Dearly beloved in Christ, we must beware of the dissenting voice of the evil one at every important moment of our lives especially when we decide to shun sin and embrace the things of God. We must beware of the voices that seek to silence and quench our hunger for the things of God.

·      Accepting and hungering for the will of God may be seen as a loss but Jesus assures us that “if anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Matt. 16:24). The cross may seem heavy and discomforting but surely where there is a cross, there is a crown!

·      In the first reading (Jeremiah 20:7-9), the prophet Jeremiah exudes the joy that comes from being allowed to be seduced by the power of God to work for him. Yes, the decision to be God’s prophet was not a smooth and easy one but doing the will of God leads to ultimate joy and fulfillment. 

·      In the eyes of men, serving God and doing His will may be seen as something unreasonable thereby drawing insults and name-calling from friends and neighbours. The fire of God in our hearts keeps burning brightly therefore, we must not allow it to dim or fade away. We ought to respond to God’s invitation appropriately. We cannot cage or quench our hunger for God.

·      The second reading on the other hand (Romans 12:1-2), tells us that we are beneficiaries of God’s abundant mercy. He died so that we might live. Therefore, we must live lives befitting of that sacrifice by not conforming ourselves to the standard of the world but to the standard of God.

·      The psalmist today inspires us to have an inner longing and hunger for God by telling us “For you my soul is thirsting O Lord my God” (Ps. 63:1). We too must earnestly seek God, we must long for the things of God and to do this, we must cast away all that quenches the hunger for God in our hearts.

·      May God bless us, keep us close to him, and inflame our hearts with the fire of his love so that we may love him above all else, and not be distracted by the passions of this world through Christ our Lord, Amen!

·        Happy Sunday!!!