Homily For The 14th Sunday In Ordinary Time Year B.

Ezekiel 2:2-5; 2:23-24; Psalm 123:1-4; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10; Mark 6:1-6.

“THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF GOD’S GRACE!”

By: Rev. Fr. Charles Onyeka Ezejide

• Today the church celebrates the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time. What a beautiful day the Lord has given to us reflect on his word and worship him in spirit and truth. While we worship him, we must remember that we are the greatest beneficiaries of that worship because “our acts of thanksgiving add nothing to his greatness but profit us for salvation”.

• Recently, it is not surprising to hear people make confusing statements like “I am strong”, “I am too rich” etc. when they exactly mean the opposite in human terms. Those expressions are some Pentecostal influences among us that try to take the expression of St. Paul out of contest especially in our second reading today. How can you say “you are strong” when you are visibly sick and needing medical attention?

• Today the church challenges us to be conscious of the abundant graces the Lord has showered on us. These graces of God are numerous and at the instance of any sacrament we receive, they confer graces upon us. The sad reality is that many of us are not even conscious of these graces or let alone willing to let these graces transform our lives. 

• In the second reading (2 Corinthians 12:7-10), St. Paul cries out about his many weaknesses. The weaknesses which he talked about include the constant inclination to sin. Paul is equally aware that where sin abides the grace of God abides the more (Romans 5:20). St. Paul spells this out to remind us that we might have our imperfections, however, we must not continue to dwell on them but strive towards perfection by a worthy way of life through the graces available to us.

• Friends in Christ, in our struggle with sin and the vicissitudes of life we must not allow ourselves to be compromised. We must not be too comfortable around sin and weakness but strive towards perfection. St. Paul in his moments of temptation cried to God and God supplied him with grace in abundance. We too, must become conscious of the numerous graces of God upon our lives and try to resist sin.

• When St. Paul tells us of boasting in weakness, he does not in any way glorify sin or make it a prescription for all, but rather he acknowledges, that he is a project in the hands of God, through the graces which God supplies he can conquer. St. Paul in his weakness, God made him strong. We too must leave our weaknesses and inclinations and come to God so that he can make us strong through his graces.

• The gospel reading (Mark 6:1-6) on the other hand, warns of the likely thing that will happen when we decide to renounce our sins and turn to God, people will begin to remind us of our past and the kind of life we lived before, meaning that we have no moral courage to teach and to correct. Jesus was called a commoner, a carpenter’s son but that did not deter him.

• Dearly beloved in Christ, where we are coming from is not as important as where the grace of God is taking us. When we decide to turn a new life and people question the genuineness of our repentance especially among friends and family, we must remember that Jesus explicitly stated that “a prophet is without honor, except in his own country, and among his kin, and in his house” (Mk. 6:4).

• The first reading (Ezekiel 2:2-5; 2:23-24) on the other hand, gives us a perfect attitude towards those who are weak and including ourselves. The reading teaches us to be a prophetic voice unto ourselves and others. Not to mock them of their weakness but remind them of the need for repentance especially when we have repented of our sins.

• We must be conscious of the spirit of God in us which guides our consciences drawing us to the path of peace and righteousness, to become the voice of goodness in the world. We must be prophetic in our way of life while expecting hostility and rebellion. God still demands that of us, which is why we were created hence, his grace is sufficient for us.

• Dearly beloved in Christ, when we meet resistance in life, we must not be discouraged because even Jesus the Son of God was not spared even by his people, how then will they spare you and me? Our attitude must be to do our best knowing that one day God will show us his mercy. That is exactly what the Psalmist teaches “Our eyes are on the Lord our God, till he shows us his mercy” (Ps. 123:2).

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

• Happy Sunday!!!