Homily For The 18th Sunday In Ordinary Time, Year C.

 

Ecclesiastes 1:2; 2:21-23; Psalm 90:3-4. 5-6. 12-14.17; Colossians 3:1-5,9-11; Luke 12:13-21.

“THE CRISIS OF INHERITANCE!”

By: Rev. Fr. Charles Onyeka Ezejide.

·       Oftentimes it has been said, and truly it is, that we are in the world but not of the world. That we live in the world, but we must not conform to the standard of the world. While on earth, we must keep our focus on heavenly realities.

·       If we are not of the world, how come we are ready to kill and destroy to acquire the things of this world? We develop more than we need, not to share with those who do not have, but to intimidate others and make them feel inferior.

·       The sharing of inheritance has led many to their early graves. Sometimes we forget that our ultimate inheritance is heaven and that no matter the inheritance we acquire here, we will all die one day and leave it to others.

·       Having said this, it is still very shocking and embarrassing the way many of us go about the things of this world. This is exemplified in the way we fight for everything in life. Brothers and sisters are prepared to kill each other for the estate left behind by their parents. Land matters have claimed many lives prematurely. Many families do not want to see themselves eye to eye because of the quarrel emanating from dividing an earthly inheritance.

·       Jesus clearly understood the sensitivity of this matter, which was why he asked, “Who appointed me your judge, or arbitrator of your claims?” (Lk. 12:14). The answer may sound rude, but Jesus uses this opportunity to draw our attention to the crisis of inheritance and to resolve the crisis. Hence, we should work for the inheritance that lasts forever (heavenly things) and beware of earthly inheritance, which can only distract, bring us pain, and put us in enmity with others because the satisfaction of wealth for a greedy man is to acquire more wealth.

·       On a Sunday like this, a lot of people will be uncomfortable, especially hearing the first reading. “Vanity of vanity all is vanity” (Eccl. 1:2). The so rich will be wondering what is the essence of their wealth, the poor on the other end will be saying “tell them” and “thank God that I am poor”.

·       Today, the readings invite us to serious self-examination and evaluation. To measure out our progress ratio in our relationship with God, and to measure out our material wealth, to know if we, too, are making progress.

·       After measuring the two, it takes us a step further to compare our ambition or desire to be wealthy. Wealth is good because God desires that we all have a comfortable life, but if our wealth makes us insensitive, if it preoccupies us so much, then it is dangerous and must be revisited, lest it becomes our God. “What shall it profit a man if he gains the whole world and suffers the ruin of this soul” (Matt 16:26).

·       The readings call for us to store up treasures in heaven, where they will not be eaten by termites or stolen by robbers, because in the end, it will not be about how much you have in your bank account, but how much you have banked in heaven.

·       This is not a call to laziness or resignation to fate. Rather, it is a call to seriousness about the things that eternally endure. Hence, the second reading tells us that we must focus on the things that are in heaven (Col. 3:2-3).

·       God invites us to use the things of earth to gain the things of heaven. We must strip ourselves of all the vices that disqualify us for the life of heaven, namely: fornication, impurity, guilty passion, evil desires, idolatry, greed, etc.

·       Having heard this, we must strip ourselves of our old ways and ask the Lord God to make us new again. To recreate in us that spirit of innocence we were known with when we first embraced the faith. That childlike innocence prevents us from being arrogant in sin.

·       When the Lord blesses us with an abundance of earthly possessions, it is for us to use them to gain heavenly possessions. It calls us to genuine charity and concern for the poor and needy because those acts of kindness deposit greatly deposited in our bank of heaven.

·       We must not make a fool of ourselves, thinking that what we own will endure forever. We must not be like the rich fool in the parable, but be wise and mend our ways because we have been told what to do.

·       Rather than break down our barns to store more and accumulate, we must break down all that keeps us away from the plight of the poor and needy. Rather than expanding our barns of selfishness and insensitive acquisition of wealth, we must expand our frontiers of genuine love for each other, we must leave our comfort zones and reach out.

·       Sometimes the fear of the unknown and anxiety of the future tempt us to keep accumulating and be insensitive to those in need because we want to save for the “rainy day”. Store up your treasures in heaven and worry not about tomorrow, for tomorrow will take care of itself.

·       We must therefore take consolation in the words of the psalmist and look to the future with hope. We must remember that “God has been our refuge from one generation to the next” (Ps. 90:1). His promises endure forever. He is our refuge and provider from this very generation to eternity, and not from this very day to maybe tomorrow.

·       Having known that our God promises to be with us from now to eternity, and to constantly provide for us, we must look to the future with renewed hope and zeal to use all that the Lord has put at our disposal for the service of humanity, rather than selfishly hoarding it

·       Let the Gospel lesson today help us firmly resolve to avoid greed in all its forms. May we realise that greed not only makes us fools; it also puts us in extreme danger of death, physically and spiritually. Instead, let us develop a true sense of security –  security based on our faith and trust in the loving and providential God.

·       May God give us the grace to constantly grow our bank accounts in heaven using our bank accounts here on earth and to avoid the crisis of inheritance, knowing that heaven is our destination and our inheritance is secured there, through Christ our Lord, Amen!

·       Happy Sunday!!!