DAILY HOMILIES

Jesus did not perform a sign there and then for this crowd because that would be vain-glory. As a minister, do I perform miracles or give testimonies to exult myself or for the genuine good of the people? On the other hand, do I go to church like these people in today’s Gospel passage demanding signs and wonders from God before I can believe? Jesus called them an evil generation. What would Jesus say of our own generation?

Our first reading, our responsorial psalm and Gospel passage today describe the kingdom of God in terms of a banquet, a place of abundance of food and drinks. Isaiah says, “On this mountain, the Lord of hosts will make for all peoples a feast of fat things…” Our Psalmist sings: “You have prepared a table before me… my cup is overflowing.” And in our Gospel passage, Jesus tells us of a great banquet to which everyone in the streets was invited.

When a woman admired Jesus, she exclaimed: “Blessed is the womb that carried you and the breasts at which you nursed.” Indeed, in her song of thanksgiving for God’s choice of her, Mary, the mother of Jesus herself said: “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour, for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth ALL GENERATIONS WILL CALL ME BLESSED.” (Luke 1:48).

Some came to Jesus demanding for signs and wonders as if to say: “Jesus, prove yourself or I walk away!” It is interesting that Jesus did not perform any sign for them. Instead, Jesus seized the opportunity to teach them that it is impossible for Beelzebub to cast out itself. What we learn from Jesus’ response is His calm disposition. Jesus had every right to get annoyed with the people or even to call down fire on them for such a false accusation but He took his time to teach them. When people lie against us, let us learn to be calm and allow the truth to put them to shame.

Even though many Jews had become Christians, they still held on to the belief that circumcision was the ticket to salvation insisting that the newly converted Gentiles must be circumcised. This way, they were literally watering down everything Jesus did for us on the Cross of Calvary.

Today, we see that there was something God saw in Paul which would turn out to become such a useful resource for the spread of the Gospel; his courage to stand up for the truth regardless of who is involved.

Martha, just like many of us was anxious and troubled even when Jesus Christ was right there in her home. “Why are you afraid and worried about what I will eat? Have you forgotten I am the one who fed the five thousand? Don’t you think I do not have the power to make that food ready without your efforts?”

The story of the Good Samaritan is one that we have probably heard over and over again but there is one aspect of the story that we do not pay much attention to. And that is the aspect that concerns us. “Go and do likewise.”

In the last few Sundays, we have heard Jesus present parables in our Gospel passages. Interestingly, almost all of them have been centred on working in the vineyard. From the man who kept hiring labourers in his vineyard, to the two sons who were asked by their father to go and work in his vineyard and today, the tenants who refused to deliver the expected products of the vineyard. No doubt, these parables contain a lot of lessons for us. Lessons which applied, can help us gain a deeper understanding of life and help us live very happy and contented lives free from all anxiety.

Dear friends, no condition is permanent, nothing lasts forever. Like Job, you may be experiencing your own sad moments but no matter how long it seems, God who changed Job’s situation within a second can change yours. You will not cry forever.

Like these people, a lot of us are Christians for convenience sake; we are not really committed to walking according to the footsteps of Christ. We are living in sin but have become too blind to see anything wrong in the evils we do. We think we are good but we lack that interior commitment to grow spiritually. For us, God is just one of those things and the Bible is such a boring book written for people of ancient times; full of far-reaching ideals impossible to practice.

In truth, the mood around us today is not that of celebration but a mixture of anger and frustration. Most of us are so ashamed to be identified as Nigerians that we are ready to do whatever it takes to leave or rather, run away, from this country just as the Holy Family (Jesus, Mary and Joseph) ran away from Israel to take refuge in Egypt.