Fr. Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie, MSP - July 3, 2020. Homily for the Fourteenth Sunday in the ordinary time year A

FOURTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A

Zechariah 9:9-10, Psalm 144:1-2,8-11,13-14, Romans 8:9,11-13, Matthew 11:25-30

One of the Marks of a true prophet is the fact that he may not fully understand his own prophecy. He utters what he has been inspired to say.  Zechariah is a post-exilic prophet. When the people of Israel returned from exile and they saw the city in ruins and did not know how to start to rebuild the city ravaged by war, he told them that God would in due time send them a king from the line of David who will restore peace to the people. Zachariah did not know who this king would be, but many years later, Jesus fulfilled this prophecy.

On palm Sunday which begins Holy week, the gospel reading tells us of Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem. The reading quotes part of the first reading of today where we have the prophecy of Zachariah. Jesus is the promised king from the line of David.

The Jews have long suffered from their neighbouring nations, and when they heard that a king in the line of David was coming, they thought Jesus would be a powerful and ruthless king, who will take them to war to defeat their  political enemies. They could not believe their eyes when Jesus came and started preaching peace, forgiveness and mercy.

The use of the word donkey, colt and ass is very significant. When kings were going to war, they used donkeys because of its power and strength to travel long distance without getting tired, but when they were on a peaceful, harmless and pleasurable trip, they used a colt or an ass. This was the way Jesus entered Jerusalem as a king on palm Sunday. Jesus therefore presented himself as a peaceful king.

As Christians, we should always bear in mind that war is not always the best way to win battles. Many battles are won in a peaceful manner. This is why St Paul tells us in the second reading of today, that there is no need to take interest and fight over things that are not spiritual. This is because, if we have the same Spirit as that of Jesus, we will also live peaceful lives, knowing that most battles in life are not physical but spiritual.

In the gospel reading, Jesus himself tells us that God has revealed the mystery of the kingdom to children instead of those who think they are powerful and wise. The secret of the kingdom is peace and tranquility which we see in children and the lowly, instead of war and chaos. Jesus therefore tells us to learn from him when we are burdened. According to him, "come to me, all you who labour and are overburdened, and I will give you rest. Shoulder my yoke and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls". Jesus had many reasons and various opportunities to wage war against the soldiers, the pharisees and all those who wronged him, but he remained calm and gentle.

To be calm and make peace when people wrong you instead of making war and creating trouble, is not a sign of weakness, but of one who knows what it means to be a Christian, and one who understands the secret of the kingdom of God. May God help us to remain calm and steadfast in the midst of turbulent times. God help us. Amen.

Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie MSP

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP - July 3, 2020. Homily for the Fourteenth Sunday in the ordinary time year A

Homily of Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time of Year A, 2020

Zechariah 9:9-10; Psalm 145:1-14; Romans 8:9, 11-13; Matthew 11:25-30

The first reading is Prophet Zechariah’s prophecy about the coming of Jesus Christ. As we see in the reading, Zechariah prophesied Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem, “See, your king shall come to you; a just savior is he, meek, and riding on an ass, a foal of an ass.” In this prophecy, Zechariah pointed out that Jesus is a king and just savior. Zechariah went further to explain Jesus’ ministry. He would banish the chariots, the horse and warrior’s bow; proclaim peace; and his dominion shall be from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth. Zechariah was prophesying the spiritual battle Jesus would fight, and the spread of Christianity to every part of the world.

Jesus came to a people who were burdened and under several yokes. They were under the burden and yoke of the Roman colonial masters and corrupt officials. The ordinary people were under the yoke and burden of rules and regulations of the Pharisees, the Sadducees, the Lawyers, the Scribes, and the Chief Priests. The Samaritans (Gentiles) were under the burden and yoke of rejection from the Jews. Additionally, many people were also under the burden and yoke of sicknesses and demonic possessions. Very importantly, the whole world, at that time, was under the burden and yoke of sin, and in need of salvation. For all these Jesus says, “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.”

Even now, our world is weighed down by severe burdens and yokes of all kinds. If our political and economic rulers and leaders act as we read in the first reading: banish “chariot” and “horses;” that is, stop wars and violence, and “proclaim peace to the nations,” we will live in a better world. If our political and economic rulers and leaders follow the footsteps of Jesus, by becoming meek and humble, and works towards removing various burdens and yokes (hardships) of the people, we will live in a better world. Therefore, we must not fail to pray for our rulers and leaders, that they reason wisely and act justly.

Not only that we are weighed down by all kinds of political, economic and social burdens and yokes, we are, also, weighed down by all kinds of afflictions. While we are working hard physically, and struggling to cope with the situations around us, we need spiritual sustenance. For this reason, Jesus beckons us as he did to the people of his time, “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am meek and humble of heart; and you will find rest for yourselves. For my yoke is easy, and my burden light.” St. Augustine of Hippo prays, “You [God] have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless, until they can find rest in you.”

St. Paul tells us in the second reading how important our mortal bodies need the Spirit of Christ. St. Paul declares, “Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. If the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, the one who raised Christ from the dead will give life to your mortal bodies also…” Jesus says in John 6:63, “It is the Spirit that gives life, while the flesh is of no avail.” If we remain only in the flesh, we will end up badly.  Therefore, we all need spiritual sustenance. 

Scripture scholars explain that when Jesus says, “take my yoke,” he means “let’s trade yokes – let me take your burden from you.” This reminds me of the African pre-currency trading system called Trade by Barter, whereby people swapped the goods and materials they needed from one another. Jesus invites us to spiritual trade by barter. Let us bring to him our burdens and yokes, and swap refreshment and Spirit from him. Darrell Evans’ song “I’m Trading my Sorrow” also comes to mind:

I'm trading my sorrows I'm trading my shame

I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord.

I'm trading my sickness I'm trading my pain

I'm laying them down for the joy of the Lord.

We say

Yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord

Yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord

Yes Lord yes Lord yes yes Lord.

Amen.

I am pressed but not crushed

Persecuted not abandoned

Struck down but not destroyed.

I am blessed beyond the curse

For His promise will endure

That His joy's gonna be my strength.

Though the sorrow may last for the night

His joy comes with the morning.

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP

Fr. Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie, MSP - Homily for Saturday Week 13 Ordinary time - July 4, 2020

SATURDAY 13TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR II

Amos 9:11-15, Matthew 9:14-17

There are times in our lives when it seems as if God has abandoned us. Everything around us seem to point to the fact that we are doomed.  For some days now, we have been reading from the book of the prophet Amos who has been prophesying doom to the people of Israel who failed to repent. The people had lost hope of God's pardon and forgiveness.

With the Covid-19 pandemic in our world still looking far from ending, many people have been very worried as to whether our sins have caught up with us. Many have lost hope due to the loss of relatives and friends to the pandemic.

The words of prophet Amos in the first reading of today which is his last verses in the last chapter are very assuring. God promised the people of Israel that after all that they had passed through, the days are coming when harvest will follow directly after ploughing, the treading of grapes soon after sowing,

when the mountains will run with new wine and the hills all flow with it. They will rebuild the ruined cities and live in them, plant vineyards and drink their wine, dig gardens and eat their produce.

These are also the promises of God to us today. We are assured that if we hold fast to him, better days are coming when we will regain all that we have lost. We shall be restored to our former glory, and we shall rejoice and be glad.

This according to Jesus in the gospel reading, is only possible if we continue to be steadfast in our faith, and do not mix our life in Christ with our old life before life in Christ. The bridegroom will surely come, and we shall rejoice. God help us. Amen

Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie MSP