Homily For The 23rd Sunday In Ordinary Time Year B.

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Isaiah 35:4-7; Psalm 146:6-10; James 2:1-5; Mark 7:31-37.

“BE STRONG, FEAR NOT!”

By: Rev. Fr. Charles Onyeka Ezejide

·      Among the many things Pope Saint John Paul will be remembered fondly for, is his constant message to the church in his sermons and catechesis is the bold statement: “Do not be afraid!” (Is. 41:10). This was altered severally during his papacy and that forms the theme for our Sunday reflection today.

·      On this 23rd Sunday in ordinary time year B, amidst the crisis and hard times is currently besieging our world and country today, what another message can be most appropriate? Students are beginning to go back to school and parents are worried about where and how to get their school fees, students are concerned about how to make good grades in their new classes. As citizens of Nigeria, there is so much going on the political space - intrigues and blackmails, the church has not also been spared of attacks and dents in recent times; especially since the child abuse scandal broke out again. All these and many more want to make us give up, but God keeps saying to us: “Do not be afraid, be strong.”

·      In the first reading (Isaiah 35:4-7), the Prophet Isaiah comes as a voice of hope and strength to the people of Israel who were becoming low-spirited given the fearful and discouraging happenings around them. The voices of oppression and uncertainty loom and the people look to God for answers and solution the Prophet assures them: “Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God, he will come and save you.” (Is. 35:4).

·      Friends in Christ, these promises of God are not a fluke, but a reality of what God will do for those who truly put their trust in him, he will change the narrative of the people, he will console them, and by that, the eyes of the blind are opened, the ears of the deaf unstopped, the lame walk, the mute speak, and life restored to all dying things. These promises are real and come to pass if we constantly seek God and look to him for help. No wonder the psalmist says “From where shall my help come? My help shall come from the Lord, who made heaven and earth” (Ps. 121:2).

·      God created the world, and he is ever committed to keeping the beauty of creation in love by relieving us of our fears and anxieties, by reassuring us of his ever-abiding presence in the world even amid doubts and fears.

·      In the second reading (James 2:1-5), St. James warns us that while we look up to God for direction and help, we too must ensure that we are not harbingers of oppression and wickedness in the world. He admonishes us to show no partiality in dealing with one another.

·      St. James points out one sad fact about our human experience: we are too quick to judge by outward appearance while neglecting the most important, which is how the inward looks. We rate people by the way they are dressed and the connection and authority that they weigh. Today we are enjoined to first acknowledge the unique dignity of every human person irrespective of material influence because those are not eternal.

·      In talking about respecting and honoring our unique human dignity, Jesus demonstrates this in the gospel reading (Mark 7:31-37), in the restoration of the deaf and dumb man. And the people exclaimed that he had done all things well. Dearly beloved, the Lord calls you and I to continuously seek to do all things well by being a message of hope to those who encounter us, by being a force of good in the world just like Jesus was.

·      The Lord healed the deaf and dumb man to demonstrate his power over evil forces that continue to weigh us down and bring us pain and sorrow. He shows that he has come for our physical and spiritual liberation. Hence, he says to you and me: “Be strong, fear not.”

·      Whatever our doubts are, whatever our anxieties are, whatever is troubling us can never be bigger than the God who has called us to serve him. And he is ever willing to be a helper, close at hand in times of distress. The psalmist believes strongly in this and that is why he encourages us saying: “Come, Lord, and save us” (Ps. 146:1).

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

·      Happy Sunday!!!

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