DAILY HOMILIES #humility

What makes a Christian different from any other human being on earth? Jesus Christ answers this question in today’s Gospel passage, and His answer is simple: LOVE FOR ENEMIES. You are not better than any sinner if you only love those who love you. Your Christian identity demands a higher attitude; that you love your haters as well.

Humility is giving God reverence; it is coming to terms with our nothingness before God, our creator. Humility is channelling the praises we often receive from others to God as the source of our talents, our riches, and, in fact, everything good in our lives. It is ensuring that we do not take the glory that rightfully belongs to God. Humility is being able to give God thanks from the very depths of our hearts, not grudgingly, as though we are being forced.

Jesus brought a child before the disciples and said: “Unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” In other words, our measure of greatness in heaven will be according to our measure of our child-like humility on earth.

Moses asked God a question you may have asked yourself several times: “Who am I?” Who am I to solve insecurity in my country? Who am I to write a book? Who am I to start a company? Who am I to become a president, boss, or leader? And so forth. Do you notice how God answered Moses’ question? “I will be with you…” This is the Good News for you today. It’s not about who you are, but who God is. When next you catch yourself asking ‘Who am I?’ know that you are asking the wrong question. You should be asking, “Is God on my side?”

Learn from Mary’s visit – look beyond your challenges and difficulties. Place ourselves in others’ shoes and visit them. Talk to them before talking about them (avoid gossip that damages others’ reputations). Mary is a mother who understands. Elizabeth did not ask Mary to come over. Upon hearing about Elizabeth’s situation, Mary immediately ran to her aid.

Today, we celebrate Mary’s intercession for Africa. When Herod sought to kill the baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph took shelter in Africa. At a time when our continent is facing turmoil and suffering under the yoke of neocolonialism, we need Mother Mary’s intercession more than ever.

Good Friday shows God understands our pains. He knows what it feels like to love and be rejected, to be betrayed, angry, hungry, insulted, dissatisfied, sick, weak, or sorrowful. Good Friday teaches us that Jesus once felt what you are going through today. In today’s Second Reading, the Book of Hebrews says: “For we have not a high priest who is unable to sympathise with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15). Fix your gaze on the Crucifix, you will hear Jesus saying: “I know what you are going through.”

For if the sprinkling of defiled persons with the blood of goats and bulls and with the ashes of a heifer sanctifies for the purification of the flesh, how much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify your conscience from dead works to serve the living God.” (Hebrews 9:11-14). In other words, when we eat the flesh and drink the blood of Christ, we are smearing our lips with the blood that saved the Israelites from the Angel of Death that night.

Mary and Joseph knew that Jesus was God, meaning there was no need to bring the baby Jesus to the temple, but in humility (not wanting to appear like the special ones in their community), they followed the law. They presented God to God. Today’s Second Reading states: “He had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people.” (Hebrews 2:17).

Empathy is the first step to healing, but it is not enough. Go beyond words such as: “Sorry, oh. It is well you.” Do whatever is within your power to do. It might seem small compared to the person’s problem, but it would mean the world to them. Sometimes, we underestimate ourselves. What makes you think your prayers cannot heal the sick? With just five loaves and two fish, over five thousand people were fed. Even for someone looking for a million naira, ten naira is something. You might not even have ten naira, but you might know how to connect them to someone who has.

Those who told John the Baptist that Jesus was now baptising were hoping it would make John the Baptist sad or bring about some form of competition, but to their amazement, John the Baptist was pleased to hear it. Whatever you do for your church, whether financially or physically, should never be about competition. It should never be to promote your name or your business; it should only be about increasing God’s kingdom.

God could have decided to come in another way, but because He wanted us to have a physical, flesh-and-blood connection with Him, He took flesh in the womb of a woman. This is to say that God became a son of man so that man can truly become the son of God. God chose to have a mother to show us how close He is to us. God wants us to have that feeling of warmth in His presence so that we see ourselves not just as slaves but as His children.