Fr. Augustine Inwang, MSP - Homily for the Twenty-Second Sunday of Ordinary Time Year B - August 29, 2021

 Readings: Deut. 4:1-2,6-8; Jas. 1:17-18,21-22,7; Mk. 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 

Do We Observe Rituals or Worship God?

1.     Some years ago, I lit purple instead of rose candle on the third Sunday of Advent. A parishioner was so upset that it affected her participation at Mass; she could not wait to confront me after Mass. I explained to her that it did not matter to God the color of candle we light at Mass so long as our hearts are in the right place. This angered her even more and her reply to me was, “well, if you do not know which candle to light, you should not have been ordained a priest.” That was shocking to me to say the least. What has the color of the candle got to do with the worship of God? Lighting a candle is a mere ritual and nothing more.  So, do we worship God with our hearts or are we simply observing the rituals? Must we always do things as ‘it was in the beginning’ and not question why we do them? Are we paying lip service to God or are we doing things that will deepen our relationship with God?

2.     The gospel tells us of the Pharisees and scribes who came all the way from Jerusalem to Galilee just to observe Jesus and make sure that he did everything according to their laws. They observed rightly “That some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is unwashed hands. For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the traditions of the elders.” To them Jesus said, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me, teaching as doctrines human precepts. You disregard God’s commandments but cling to human tradition.”

3.     Jesus would later ask his disciples “Do you not realize that everything that goes into a person from outside cannot defile, since it enters not the heart but the stomach and passes out into the latrine? But what comes out of a person, that is what defiles. From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile.” This explains why some Christians focus on the rituals rather than the worship of God. It is easy to think of things and how they are done than on people and how to help them. It is easy to think of how to do things right in Church than how to be at right with God and one another. Little wonder why the Psalmist asked, “Lord, who may abide in your tent? Who may dwell on your holy mountain?” In answer, the Psalmist enumerated the qualities needed in a person who may be admitted into the presence of the Lord: “Whoever walks without blame, doing what is right, speaking truth from the heart; Who does not slander a neighbor, does no harm to another, never defames a friend; Who disdains the wicked, but honors those who fear the Lord; Who keeps an oath despite the cost, lends no money at interest, accepts no bribe against the innocent. Whoever acts like this shall never be shaken.” These are the people Christ talks about on the sermon on the mount. They are the poor in spirit, the peace makers, the meek, the merciful, the clean of heart. They seek to please God and their neighbors and so they worship God in spirit and in truth. They will inherit the kingdom of God.   

4.     In the second reading, St. James reminds us that “All good giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights.” Therefore, we should strive to live in accordance with God’s law. Therefore, we should be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding ourselves. Because “Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world.” Isaiah also stressed this point thus: “This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke; sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; Clothing the naked when you see them and not turning your back on your own.” (Is. 58:6-7). The summary of this, is, faith without good works is dead.

5.     In the first reading Moses reminded the children of Israel that God’s law was a gift that would give evidence of wisdom and intelligence “to the nations, who will hear of these statutes and say, ‘This great nation is truly a wise and intelligent people.’ For what great nation is there that has gods so close to it as the Lord, our God is to us whenever we call upon him”. God is close to us when we keep his law of love. When we truly worship God in spirit and in truth, we can’t but come to the aid of those in need, and God’s love is perfected in us. Hearing the word of the Lord is good indeed but putting it into practice is even better. Going to Church, praying the rosary, fasting and abstinence, meditation and spending a long time in church are all good and wonderful and worthy on their own but they should be accompanied with good works: helping the poor, forgiving injuries, being compassionate, showing mercy and helping in ministries in Church whenever we can. This is the worship that pleases God. This will help to purify our hearts against the things that defile us. We will see and come to understand that rituals are good so long as they help us to worship God. May we learn to love God in spirit and in truth so that we may truly love others from our hearts because we love God that much. Amen.

Rev. Augustine Etemma Inwang, MSP.

 

 

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP - Homily for the Twenty-Second Sunday of Ordinary Time Year B - August 29, 2021

Homily of Twenty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B, 2021

Deuteronomy 4:1-2, 6-8; Psalm 15:2-5; James 1:17-18, 21-22, 27; Mark 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

When a child is about to leave home to settle in a different place, every wise parent or guardian takes time to instruct the child on how to embrace his or her new environment and life. Moses did the same. The first reading is his instruction to the Israelites on how to observe God’s commandments when they arrive in the Promised Land. Moses said to them, “Now, Israel, hear the statutes and decrees which I am teaching you to observe, that you may live, and may enter in and take possession of the land which the Lord, the God of your fathers, is giving you” (Deuteronomy 4:1). This invitation is no longer for the Israelites of the Old Testament but for us, here and now. We are invited to hear and observe the word of God in order that we may live and take possession of all that God has given us. Not hearing and doing what the word says causes spiritual death, and all kinds of losses.

The invitation continues in the second reading: “Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls. Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves” (James 1:21-22). Regularly, the word is planted in us. The reward of welcoming the word planted in us is salvation. Welcoming the word means hearing the word, and doing the word; that is acting on the word. The readings are saying to us: hear the word, listen to it, welcome it, observe it; so that it saves our lives here on earth, and saves our souls for eternal life.

Jesus explains the reward of listening and acting on the word, “Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock” (Matthew 7:24-25). In last Sunday’s gospel, Jesus says, “The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life” (John 6:63). St. Paul reminds us, “The Gospel did not come to you in word alone, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 1:5). He continues, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly” (Colossians 3:16). Joshua spoke to the people of Israel about the power of the word of God, “Do not let this book of the law depart from your lips. Recite it by day and by night, that you may carefully observe all that is written in it; then you will attain your goal; then you will succeed” (Joshua 1:8).

Apart from the Ten Commandments, there were 613 Jewish commandments known as Mitzvot. The Jewish custodians of the law emphasized obedience to the Mitzvot more than obedience to the Ten Commandments.  In the Mitzvot are some of the rules that Mark states in today’s gospel, “For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition of the elders. And on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without purifying themselves. And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds” (Mark 7:3-4). Prophet Isaiah and Jesus call the doctrines human precepts.

Unfortunately, the living word of God is neglected while human precepts are accepted and promoted in politics, economy, education, social, health, and religious circles. The result of this is defilement of hearts. Unfortunately, individuals, families, groups, communities, institutions, churches, nations are continually abandoning the living word of God, and continually preferring human precepts. The result of this is defilement of hearts. More unfortunately, religion, according to St. James in the second reading, which is supposed to be “pure and undefiled before God” is also defiled by human beings’ acceptance and teaching human precepts as doctrines.  The result of all these defilements of hearts are evil behaviors Jesus mentions in today’s gospel, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, and folly” (Mark 7:23).

What we need at point of regression is individual and collective realization that “the flesh is of no avail” (John 6:63), that “the wisdom of this world is foolishness in the sight of God” (1 Corinthians 3:19), and that we need to return to the word of God and act on the word.

We conclude with Psalm 19:8-12, “The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The decree of the Lord is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple. The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart. The command of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eye. … The statutes of the Lord are true, all of them just… By them your servant is warned; obeying them brings much reward.” Amen.

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP - Homily for the Twenty-first Sunday of Ordinary Time Year B - August 22, 2021

Homily of Twenty-First Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B, 2021

Joshua 24:1-2, 15-17, 18; Psalm 34:2-3, 16-21; Ephesians 5:21-32; John 6:60-69

In the first reading, the Israelites had occupied the land of Canaan. God had fulfilled his promise by bringing them to the Promised Land. God had led them out of Egypt, and granted them victory over many tribes and nations on their way. But that was not the end of the story. Another major challenge was to guide the Israelites to remain worshippers of Yahweh; and not turn to worship the Canaanites’ gods. Joshua, their leader, summoned an assembly of the Israelites’ leaders, judges, and officers at Shechem to renew their covenant with God. The people recommitted themselves, “For it was the Lord, our God, who brought us and our ancestors up out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. He performed those great signs before our very eyes and protected us along our entire journey and among all the peoples through whom we passed… Therefore, we also will serve the Lord, for he is our God” (Joshua 24:17-18). The relationship between God and the Israelites after this event shows that the Israelites were unfaithful to their covenant with God.

Each of us can testify God’s “great signs before our very eyes,” and how he “protected us along our entire journey and among all the people whom we had passed.” Along our journey, we have entered into covenants with God with our Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Communion, Matrimony, Holy Orders, promises, oaths and vows, and so on. How faithful are we to these covenants? Or, have we followed the Amorites’ gods in our daily concerns and worldly pursuits? Do I put God first in my plans and activities? Do I have certain gods that I put first before God? God commands us, “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. You shall not have other gods besides me” (Exodus 20:2-3).

In the second reading, St. Paul speaks of the great mystery of marriage “in reference to Christ and the church.” St. Paul wrote according to the patrilineal tradition and language of his time when he says, “Wives should be subordinate to their husbands…” and “For the husband is the head of his wife…” To spend time and energy in arguing about the semantics of the statements is a digression and missing the point.  What is of more importance in today’s reflection and celebration is how the reading points to our relationship and covenant with Jesus Christ. St. Paul explains the relationship and covenant: “Christ is the head of the church, he himself is the savior of the body.” “The church is subordinate to Christ.” “Christ loved the church and handed himself over for her to sanctify her…” “We are members of his body.” Therefore, as St. Cyprian of Carthage urges us, let us prefer nothing to Christ, because he prefers nothing to us. We are invited to be true subordinates and ambassadors of Jesus by being Christ-like.

In the gospel, many of Jesus’ disciples misunderstood him when he said to them, “unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you” (John 6:53). They found Jesus’ teachings hard to accept. They were shocked, and as a result they returned to their former way of life and no longer accompanied him. Jesus asked the apostles whether they also wanted to leave. Peter replied, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.”

Jesus reveals to us how we leave him and return to our former way of life in his explanation of the parable of the sower: “The seed sown on the path is the one who hears the word of the kingdom without understanding it, and the evil one comes and steals away what was sown in his heart. The seed sown on rocky ground is the one who hears the word and receives it at once with joy. But he has no root and lasts only for a time. When some tribulation or persecution comes because of the word, he immediately falls away. The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word, but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word and it bears no fruit.” (Matthew 13:18-23). What is the former way of life we have returned to, and why? 

It, also, needs to be recognized that many people have walked away or are walking due to all kinds of scandals within and around the Church and Christianity. But for us, who have remained steadfast and faithful, we are encouraged and strengthened by the words of St. Paul, “... where sin abounded, grace did abound more exceedingly” (Romans 5:20).  We declare like Joshua, “As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” We profess like Peter, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and are convinced that you are the Holy One of God.” We proclaim like St. Paul, “What will separate us from the love of Christ? Will anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword? … No, in all these things we conquer overwhelmingly through him who loved us” (Romans 8:35-37). Amen.

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP

 

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP - Homily for the Twentieth Sunday of Ordinary Time Year B - August 15, 2021 - Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Homily of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, 2021

Revelation 11:19, 12:1-6, 10; Psalm 45:10-12, 16; 1 Corinthians 15:20-27; Luke 1:39-56

In consideration of the celebration of the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the first reading can be interpreted to be a figurative narrative of Herod’s attempt to kill baby Jesus and the flight of the Holy Family to Egypt recorded in Matthew 2:13-15. The woman who was with child represents Mary. The male child she gave birth to who is destined to rule all the nations represents Jesus. The dragon who wanted to devour the child represents Herod. As we read in the first reading, when Jesus was rescued from the dragon, a victory statement was proclaimed from heaven: “Now have salvation and power come, and the Kingdom of our God, and the authority of his Anointed One” (Revelation 12:10).

Not only in the case of Jesus, St. Peter warns us about what faces everyone, “Be sober and vigilant. Your opponent the devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). We pray that through the powerful intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary we are saved from being devoured by the devil and his agents. Amen.

The event of the Assumption of Mary is not recorded in the Scripture as the Ascension of the Lord is recorded. The Word was made flesh in the womb of Mary. Hence, Mary is known as ‘Vessel’ or ‘Tabernacle’ of God. Therefore, God did not abandon his abode to rot in the grave. After her earthly life, Mary was taken body and soul to heaven. It is this wonderful mystery that we are celebrating today. Psalm 16:9-11 is a prophecy that points to this mystery, “Therefore, my heart is glad, my soul rejoices; my body also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, nor let your devout one see the pit. You will show me the path to life, abounding joy in your presence, the delights at your right hand forever.” A section of the Preface prayer of today’s celebration comes from this Psalm, “… rightly you would not allow her to see corruption of the tomb since from her own body she marvelously brought forth your incarnate Son, the Author of all life.” The first reading depicts Mary in heaven, “… a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet, and on her head a crown of twelve stars” (Revelation 12:1).

During her life on earth, Mary was not passive. Today’s gospel tells us how she went over in haste to support her aunt, Elizabeth, who was six months pregnant. She interceded for the couple during their wedding at Cana when they ran out of wine. Through her intercession, Jesus changed water into wine (John 2:1-9). Now, being in perfect communion with God in heaven, she is more active, and her intercessory role more powerful and effective. That is why we pray for Mary’s intercession. The prayer, Memorare, affirms, “Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, was left unaided.” There are countless testimonies of answered prayers and miracles attributed to Mary’s intercession. Numerous Marian feasts, Marian prayers, Marian pilgrimage centers, Marian institutions, Marian organizations, Marian groups and societies, and millions of Marian devotees attest to the effectiveness of Mary’s powerful intercessory role.

Today’s celebration is a celebration of hope. This is, also, expressed in today’s Eucharistic Celebration Preface prayer, “For today the Virgin Mother of God was assumed into heaven … a sign of sure hope and comfort to your pilgrim people.” We hope to be where she is after our earthly life. We are, therefore, invited to imitate her holy earthly life.

Let us pray:

O Blessed Virgin Mary, may we surrender to God’s will as you did. May we be faithful as you were. May we persevere in all circumstances as you did. May we love God and neighbor as you did. May we ponder things in our hearts as you did. May we be caring as you were. May we radiate joy and the Holy Spirit as you did. May we be tender hearted as you were. May we be compassionate as you were. May we be generous and helpful to others as you were. May we be vessels of God as you were. We are not as sinless as you are, but may we repent of our sins. Pray for us to overcome and triumph over various ‘dragons’ battling with us to devour us. May our many prayers find favor in God’s presence through your maternal intercession. At the end of our earthly journey, may we join you in heaven to merit eternal life. Amen.

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP