Homily For The 4th Sunday In Ordinary Time Year C.

                Jeremiah 1:4-5, 17-19; Psalm 71:1-6, 15, 17; 1 Corinthians 12:31-13:13, Luke 4:21-30.

“APPROVAL IS NOT ACCEPTANCE!”

By: Rev. Fr. Charles Onyeka Ezejide.

·      Today's gospel reading is a continuation of last Sunday’s. Having declared his manifesto no doubt a lot of people were impressed, and just like our day-to-day politicians going about now trying to woo voters to their side (but Jesus is not), Jesus got the approval of all. The question is, did they also accept him after approving him? The content of his manifesto was wonderful and beneficial to them. But not his message of salvation. They wanted quick relief from anguish, sorrow, and oppression but were not ready to pay the price.

·      To those who both gave approval and accepted the message, they testified to the goodness of God. Among many others, the gospel mentioned a few to back up this fact:  the widow at Zarephath, Naaman, etc.

·      Dearly beloved, if we move from the realm of approval to the realm of acceptance, then we are bound to testify. We must accept Jesus for who he is- our saviour; and not for what we can get in the here and now.

·      We too may not be too different from the people in Jesus' time, when we listen to the word of God, and marvel at the eloquence and beauty with which the homily is delivered. Sometimes we applaud as a sign of approval. Does this applause and approval also translate into acceptance?

·      The Christian Faith is an invitation to a life of contradiction from the world, a rejection of worldly standards, to embrace divine standards. People will mock us as in the case of Jesus; is it not Charles again? Is it not Ngozi? Is this not Mary? Where did all these come from? These are disparaging voices trying to distract us from our goals and resolutions to not only approve of God but also accept him. However, do not expect the cooperation of all but brace yourself up for action.

·      We must know that like Jeremiah in the first reading, we have all been called by God. And before we are born, he knows our names and gives us our roles and vocations. In the same way, he does not give us challenges too heavy for us to carry. Since he has called us, he will see us through to the end.

·      We as prophets must understand that our message and life will not gain the approval and acceptance of all just as in the case of Jesus. For instance, we should love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us. It sounds very contradictory and should be the other way around. It sounds like madness! And fortunately, it is the right way and the Christian way. Because an eye for an eye will make the whole world go blind!

·      There are reasons to be distracted from the faith, reasons to be afraid, Still, we must know that even when these enemies of faith revolt against us, the first reading assures us that: he will make us a fortified city, a pillar of iron, and a wall of bronze so that we do not bow to their pressure.

·      For those who earnestly want to go beyond approval to acceptance, we must aim for the higher gift of Love. The second reading cautions that LOVE must be central in all we do. No matter how faithful we are, no matter how gifted we are, no matter how spiritual we are, no matter how connected we are, without LOVE we are NOTHING. Love is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope, and to endure whatever comes. Faith, hope, and love remain, these three; but the greatest of these is love. No wonder, Pope Francis once said that the church without love and compassion is a mere N.G.O.

·      Friends in Christ, if we have truly accepted the Lord, then we must possess the attributes of love because there comes a time when all our gifts may fail, what keeps us going is TRUE LOVE.

·      If love is at the centre of our life, our relationships, our worship, our actions, and our inactions, then it will be seen that our Christianity has moved from approval to acceptance. Then, we learn to be more patient with each other, we will not be boastful, rude, or selfish, we will not be resentful or take offense, and we will not delight in sin but in truth. 

·      Today, dear friends in Christ, Jesus was not discouraged by the disparaging voices of family, friends, and allies. Jeremiah was not overwhelmed by his inadequacies and weaknesses, but they allowed the true and authentic LOVE of God to envelop their hearts so that those who encountered them were not only impressed but got converted. How many people are you converting today? Will you rather move from lofty approval of the things of God to a sublime, deep, and profound acceptance?

·      May God give us the grace to be true to him, and to make our worship, life, and Christian devotions move from mere approval and marvel to deep faith and acceptance, Amen!

·      Happy Sunday!!!