Homily For The 2nd Sunday In Ordinary Time Year B.

1 Samuel 3:3-10.19; Psalm 40:2.4.7-10; 1 Corinthians 6:13-15.17-20; John 1:35-42.

“LISTEN TO THE VOICE OF GOD!”

By: Rev. Fr. Charles Onyeka Ezejide.

·      We live in a society full of noise and activities. Everybody seems to be on a fast lane to catch up with appointments, to attend one function or the other, and to make ends meet. So, being slow and calm in our world today makes you abnormal.

·      It is in these fast movements that one may be wondering if we ever have enough time to pray, to commit all these plans and movements into the hands of God, and to find time to listen to the voice of God.

·      Many Christians in our era are practically afraid of silence, once they get into their car the first thing, they do is turn on the radio, when they get to their rooms, they turn on the television set, when they are in church and everywhere seem quiet, they become uncomfortable and start making unnecessary movements.

·      Friends in Christ, if we dread silence this much, when, and how then can we listen to the voice of God? We must learn to develop a strong affinity for quiet moments. It allows us to go into ourselves and examine ourselves carefully. Quiet moments in the sight of God are even more rewarding because we get to listen to God talk to us personally.

·      In the first reading (1 Samuel 3:3-10.19), Samuel became a beneficiary of having a quiet moment in the presence of God. Through the guidance of Eli, he was able to discern the voice of God. Dearly beloved, sometimes what God demands of us is not prayers filled with words but silent presence just like Samuel did, after all, God knows our needs even before we ask (Matt. 6:8). In silent presence, we go into a loving communication with God which is too deep for words (Rom. 8:26).

·      However, we must be careful not to be deceived or confused by many voices around pretending to be speaking in the name of God. Hence every good Christian and Catholic should have a spiritual director who will guide us in our journey of self-discovery and encounter with God. Eli was the spiritual director to Samuel, who is your spiritual guide? 

·      It is not just enough for us to like Samuel say, “Speak Lord your servant is listening”, listening indicates our willingness to do that which God wants us to do which is his will, and to obey his commandments. To do the will of God may not be easy but the grace of God continues to urge us on.

·      The second reading (1 Corinthians 6:13-15.17-20) is not left out in urging us to do God’s will. It particularly charges us to see our bodies as sacred because it is created in the image and likeness of God. Therefore, our bodies are not meant for immorality but for the Lord.

·      The second reading hammers on the sin of fornication and by extension adultery as serious sins which our society is fast normalizing as less sin or no sin at all. It is a serious sin because it offends God, our neighbour, and our bodies too. Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit, but if we continue to recklessly use this same body to commit fornication and adultery, how then can the Holy Spirit remain in us?

·      The inspiration for the recklessness we find in our society especially as it regards the sin of fornication and adultery, is the careless remark that after all “it is our bodies and therefore we can use it to do anything we want”, but it is not so because we have been bought with a prize and therefore, we must use our bodies to glorify God.

·      In the gospel reading (John 1:35-42), John having listened to the voice of God in the silence of his heart was able to recognise Jesus as the lamb of God and indeed pointed him out to Andrew. Had John the Baptist not been a good listener and guide he would not have been able to recognise Jesus when he came. We must always pray for the calmness of spirit to be able to recognise Jesus even in the silence of our hearts.

·      Having encountered Jesus, Andrew and Simon Peter took up a new role of evangelizers by bringing people to Jesus. Andrew brought Peter to Jesus. Andrew didn’t just become an evangelizer, he spent time with Jesus to learn the mission of God before going out. He said to Simon Peter, “We have found the messiah”.

·      Dear friends in Christ, we too having gathered in this Church with the priest as our guide, have also come to listen to the gentle and silent voice of God calling us to repentance, mission, and obedience, for as many who take that invitation seriously, they experience the transforming power of God and become evangelizers too. As we go out today, let our lives and actions announce to people, that we have found the messiah, come, and see!

·      The Lord is earnestly seeking out for us, he wants us to listen to his voice today and come do his will. He speaks to us every day and every time if only we have the stillness of mind to listen to his voice. Today we must accept his invitation and say like the Psalmist “See, I have come Lord, to do your will” (Ps. 40:8.9).

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

·      Happy Sunday!!!