DATE : 7/2/2021, the Fifth Sunday of the Year (B)
EVENT : Mass of the Sunday (Solemnity)
COLOUR:Green
READINGS : Job 7:1-4.6-7; Resp. Psalm. 147:1-2.3-4.5-6; 1Cor. 9:16-19.22-23; Mark 1:29-39.
THEME: FIND YOUR PURPOSE IN LIFE
Greetings beloved people of God. I welcome you to "My Catholic Homily Digest". On this Fifth Sunday of the year, I wish to reflect with you on the theme: " Find Your Purpose In Life". Beloved in Christ, life is like a clock that continually ticks. Everyday that passes substract a cubit from your estimated life span. Every breath that you inhale and exhale makes your organs to age. Every decision that you make takes you closer or farther from your purpose in life. Every action you carry out either helps to fulfil or mar your purpose in life. Thus, like the popular Nigerian slang have it, "there is no time to waste at all". Hence, the best time to have begun to pursue your destiny is many years ago. The second best time is today, and now. However, how can one even pursue and fulfil his/her destiny, if they are not even aware of what their purpose in life is.
During one of my counselling sessions with some young fellows in my parish, I asked them what they intend to become in life and what they intend to achieve in this life. Immediately I posed this question at the them, they all began to scratch their heads and to look at the ceiling. Then I realised that all the while, they have been merely existing and following the normal course of events in life (eating, schooling, sleeping, waking, playing, socialising, attending church, and doing menial jobs to sustain themselves). They have not really given a conscious thought to their lives and what their purpose is. No wonder, the Ancient Greek philosopher, Socrates, rightly said, 'An unexamined life is not worth living'. Thus, life begins to take a new shade of meaning when we live for something we can die for.
The first reading of today is taken from the historic account of Job's reflection on the meaning of life, and the purpose of our daily toils and suffering. The book of Job is probably the oldest literature in the Old Testament. It's language is a very archaic Hebrew, and it makes no mention of the Torah (the law), of the prophets or any reference to the patriarchs. Thus, it is believed to predates the Pentateuch, hence, written sometimes between 2100 and 1700 BC. The book is a reflection on the vanity of human toils, and the Sisyphean nature of human existence if not lived with a definite divine purpose. From Biblical exegesis, the portion of Job which we read today, falls within the wider context of Job 2:11-31:40, called 'Job's dialogues with his friends'. However, more precisely, the pericope of our text this Sunday, Job 7:1-4.6-7, falls within the immediate context of Job 7:1-21, called, 'Job's reply to Eliphaz'. Here, Job weighs the drudgery nature of life. Ruminating on the routine of daily, weekly, monthly and yearly life. He sees no purpose in a life of boring routines, more than leading to the grave. Thus, without the presence of God in a man's life, the human life becomes a meaningless struggle. Hence it is only God that can bestow a meaningful purpose to a person's life.
This is very true, if we consider the words of St. Paul in the second reading of today, 1Cor. 9:16-19.22-23. According to Paul, God has bestowed a pleasant burden of purpose upon his life, and it is a responsibility incumbent on him to accomplish. For to fail in fulfilling this God given task, is to risk the reward of eternal life. Beloved, when you discover the burden of purpose that God has placed on you, I can assure you that nothing else will count as meaningful to you except to accomplish that which is given to you as a responsibility. And no matter how difficult it is in the eyes of men, you will keep receiving grace to carry on and find happiness in doing it.
Look at our model, Jesus, in the Gospel of today Mark 1:29-39. He knew the divine burden of purpose placed on him. He knew that his purpose is to it bring healing to the sick, to release those bound by demons, to restore sight to the blind, to free the oppressed, and to preach the Good News of God's salvation to all. Hence, he never relented, never got tired, never rested, never stopped. But hear what Scriptures recorded that he said, 'Let us go elsewhere, to the neighbouring country towns, so that I can preach there too, because that is why I came.’ And he went all through Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out devils'. He knew his purpose in life and he lived it to the fullest.
Beloved, Now I ask you, what is your purpose in this life? What divine plan is at work in your life? Can you point at any task that you are living for? Have you realised the responsibility which God bestowed on you? Do you think your presently life is meaningful to God and to men? If do die today, what unfinished business would you miss? I pray God will remove every Sisyphean struggles in our lives and put a meaningful striving in us.
Oh that today you would listen to his voice harden not your hearts (Ps.95:7-8)
LET US PRAY : Lord Jesus, help me to find and purpose in life and give me the grace to live it out.....
The Lord be with you....... and with your Spirit.
May Almighty God bless you in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit......Amen
HAPPY SUNDAY BELOVED FRIENDS.
@ Fada Emmanuel Nnamdi Megwara, MSP. ⛪
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