Homily for the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year C.

 

Wisdom 18:6-9; Psalm 33:1.12.18-20.22; Hebrews 11:1-2.8-19; Luke 12:32-48. 

“TESTIMONIES OF FAITH!”

By: Rev. Fr. Charles Onyeka Ezejide.

·     This Sunday, the Lord talks about faith. Faith is both a virtue and a gift that has been traditionally described as light in the darkness. When everything seems dark and uncertain, faith gives the person a reason to hope steadfastly, wait patiently and trust firmly.

·    The author of the Letter to the Hebrews which is our second reading (Hebrews 11:1-2.8-19), gives this classic definition: “Faith is the realization of what is hoped for, and evidence of things not seen.” (Heb. 11:1). Such was the case with Abraham, the father of nations, a man of faith.

·       In the order of dignity, love is the most important. But in the order of knowledge, faith comes first. The virtue of faith is defined as a supernatural habit or disposition of the mind by which we firmly believe those things to be true that God has revealed. In short, faith opens or enlightens the mind to God’s truth. If we want to love God, we must first know Him. And to know God, faith is necessary.

·       St. Augustine said, “There is no love without hope, no hope without love, and neither hope nor love without faith.” In the Gospel (Luke 12:32-48), Jesus refers to the light of faith: “Gird your loins and light your lamps and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks.” The faithful servants kept their lamps burning because they believed their master would come at a time when no one expected it. Faith, then, is an essential element in our active readiness for the Lord’s second coming.

·       Faith is that which makes us foolish in the sight of men but great in the sight of God. All these men and women whose praises are sung in the Scriptures were presumed stupid and senseless, but faith made them whole and great in the sight of God.

·       The first reading (Wisdom 18:6-9) makes us understand that it is only through divine wisdom (the gift of faith) that we can understand the acts of God. “The people awaited the salvation of the Just and the destruction of their foes” (Wis. 18:7). Those who wait on the Lord in faith, those who do not break faith and lose heart, shall behold their testimonies at the appropriate time.

·       We must therefore continue to offer our services and sacrifices to God, saying our prayers in one accord as we await the glorious liberty of the children of God (Rom. 8:21).

·       In the second reading, Abraham, who is reckoned as our father in faith, had his fair share of trials. He was asked to obediently offer his only son, Isaac, and he was also asked to leave his comfort zone and follow the design of God. In faith, he trusted God and what seemed to him a loss became a manifold gain.

·       While following Jesus in faith, we may encounter challenges and endure affronts and insults, but we must remember that if faith is not put to the test, conviction cannot be gained. When faith is not tested, it is no faith at all. The measure of a man is not where he stands in the face of comfort but in the face of adversaries.

·       Dearly beloved, our faith is the highest gift of God we have as Christians, and it is also the highest gift we can bequeath to generations yet unborn. Hence, we must keep the lamp of faith burning brightly against all odds.

·       The gospel encourages us not to be afraid of professing this faith. “Do not be afraid for your father is pleased to give you the kingdom (faith)” (Luke 12:32). Hence, we must cherish it and fan it to flame.

·       We must be ready to sell all we have to acquire this faith and keep it. Because “Where your treasure is there will your heart be” (Luke 12:34). Our faith is everything, it is our ticket and passport to eternity. We must keep it alive and protected from the poison of sin and the promptings of the evil one, who will stop at nothing to snatch us from Christ.

·       Since the devil will stop at nothing until he dissuades us from the faith, we must be on our guard and be alert. We must be like the wise servant whom the master finds awake at his duty post. If the Lord delays, wait for him, for he is worth waiting for. For it is better to be fooled in faith than to be fooled in folly.

·       Do not allow yourself to be taken unaware and unprepared. Waiting on God could indeed be taxing and discouraging, but our motivation is that those who keep faith in God will always be rewarded.

·       Faith practice is a covenant between us and God. God will always keep to his side of the bargain. How about your side? Faith makes us realise that God is not a magician but a loving father who knows what is best for us.

·       The children of God and Christians are under attack, and we must not just fold our arms and say God is in control. We must be vigilant, we must be on our guard, and we ask ourselves, are there things I do either by omission or commission that contribute to the destruction of the Christian faith?

·       Today is an opportunity to stand up and be counted; today is another rare opportunity to renew our commitment to our faith and take it more seriously.

·       The psalmist reminds us that "happy are the people the Lord has chosen as his own". By your baptism, he has chosen us, but by our way of life, we have rejected him, if not denied him. We let doubt, despair, peer pressure, and attraction to material things drift us away.

·       We must realise that it is better to be a slave and a pauper in the house of faith than to be a prince or princess in the kingdom of darkness.

·       God has not changed his mind about choosing us; we are always his own. But are we ready to choose him back? "You did not choose me, I chose you" (Jn. 15:16). We must realise that those who leave everything in God’s hands in faith will certainly see God’s hand in everything!

·       Faith predisposes hope, and hope presupposes testimonies. Those who wait on the Lord in faith, the Lord shall renew their strength. So, if he delays, wait for him!

·       We must ask the Lord to renew our faith commitment so that, like our ancestors, we too may testify to the actions of God in our lives through Christ our Lord. Amen!

·       Happy Sunday!!!