Homily 22nd Sunday Year C: Michael U. Udoekpo

Homily 22^nd Sunday Year C: Michael U. Udoekpo

Readings: Sir 3:17-18, 20, 28-29; Ps 68:4-7, 10-11’ Heb 12:18-19, 22-24a and Luke 14:1, 7-14

Learn From Me For I am Meek and Humble of Heart

“For everyone who exalts himself (or herself) will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted,” (Luke 14:11).These words of Jesus underline the common thread of call for humility that runs through the Bible Lessons of today.

Even the author of Ecclesiasticus, Ben Sira, a wise man, lover of God, and an experienced observer of life, who lived thousands of years ago in Jerusalem recommended humility for his contemporaries.  He says “my child, conduct your affairs with humility and you will be loved more than a giver of gift. And the more you humble yourself, the greater you are, and the more you find favor with God,” (Sir 17-18). For Ben Sira, humility is not different from the fear of the Lord; it is not different from modesty and meekness. In fact most often the Hebrew word anawa can also be used in the sense of modesty and meekness of life.

In fact arrogance, especially a bad type can lead to so many things. It can lead us to disregard God and things that are sacred. It leads us to commit injustices, loose our patience very easily, disrespect others or trample upon those we think and imagine, are weaker than us, or we are better than! This why in Zephaniah 2:3, the text I wrote my doctoral dissertation on, humility is parallel to acts of social justice, righteousness and obedience to God. The texts says, “seek the Lord (baqqash adonay), all you humble of the land (kol anawa ha-arrets), who observed the law, seek righteousness (baqqash saddiq), and seek humility ( baqqash anawa).

In other words, Ben Sira recommends  that in our daily lives we should cultivates the virtues of patience, modesty docility, meekness, awareness of one’s limitations, respect for one another, love of one another, and above all we should always rely upon the grace of God, no matter our gifts , education, talents and positions. One who possesses humility is greater than “the giver of gifts.”

There is a story of a poor beggar who sits out in a village street in some parts of Africa, asking passers-by for bread and gifts.. In this culture, gifts are often given and received with right hands. One day a very rich man who was returning from the market walked by this hungry poor beggar. He offered the beggar a fat loaf of bread with money equivalent to our one dollar bill. But he did this with his left which is a sign of disrespect to another human being in this culture. To the greatest shock of this arrogant rich man, the poor hungry beggar rejected his gifts. But was kind enough to instruct the rich man to offer him the gifts properly with his right hand! The point here is that it is humility that enables us to respect the dignity of every human person, poor, rich, men, women and children, and even to be aware of ourselves or at least remember to look at ourselves on the mirror.

Humility enables us to love our neighbors. Think of the humility of love that Christ has first humbly loved us with. He washed the feet of his disciples. He reached out to the unreachables and touched the untouchables. Even to the cross as a mediator of the new covenant, the blood of Christ, as stated in the second reading (Heb 12:18-19, 22-24a), “Speaks more eloquently than that of Abel.” Christ went to Cross freely. He went the Cross humbly like a lamb. He went there because he loves us.

Even before Christ went to the cross, he taught humility, modesty, charity, generosity and respect to the dignity of every human person, wherever, and when he had the opportunity to do so.  The parable at the dinner party in today’s Gospel (Luke 14:1, 7-14) is one of those occasions. It was in the home of one of the Pharisees, elite of his time and probably a very wealthy man too. Jesus uses this occasions not to “play nice,” or “lobby” the Pharisees, but to instruct everyone of the truth: that when you are invited to a party take the lowest place so that you might be elevated and not vise verse. Again, those who organize theses parties should always extend their invitation and generosity to others including the poor, the crippled, the lame, the beggars, and the blind.

 This might sound very difficult to understand in today’s world of unhealthy competitions and rivalries, segregation, discrimination, racism and marginalization of the weak. Today many of us do things expecting a pay back in return. How do I invite strangers to my home would be the questions, modern minds would ask?

An arrogant, me-first lifestyle, my story, my story, my story always, (not my neighbors’ story) is not a life style of the kingdom of God. True members of the kingdom must take their yoke upon them and be able to learn from Christ, who is meek and humble of heart( Matt 11:29ab), “for every one who exalts himself (herself) will be humbled, and  the ones who humble themselves will be exalted,”(Luke 14:11).

Homily 21st Sunday Year C: Michael U. Udoekpo

Homily 21^st Sunday Year C: Michael U. Udoekpo

Readings: Isaiah 66:18-21; Ps 117:1-2; Heb 12:5-7, 11-13 and Luke 13:22-30

Christ, for Nations of Every Language

During the summer as you all know I led pilgrimage to Fatima, Lourdes, and other Holy Places in Paris and Rome. It was a wonderful spiritual experience. The group was universal in nature: 4 from Australia, 3 from Chicago, 4 from Iowa, 3 from Seattle, 2 from Milwaukee here, many others from New York Area and Los Angeles. Quite a universal group!

This image of universality is reflected in today’s scripture passages: universal salvation, a universal church, a universal kingdom. And to get to this kingdom requires prayers, hard work, perseverance and discipline.

Isaiah 66, (Third Isaiah) addresses the image of God who loves everyone, to a group of Israel returning from exile to a new Zion.  The returnees have their own problem: brokenness, divisions, injustices, power struggle, and clashes with those who never went on the exile in the first place. There are also some situation of despair and hopelessness, like any given human society. Should those wives married in foreign lands be sent away or not!

Isaiah says, “I come to gather nations of every language, they shall come and see my glory” the glory of the Lord (Isa 66:18).

The Church of the new Zion will be Global and universal in nature as the Glory of the Lord attracts all nations of every language and culture. The Gospel will be proclaimed to every nation  by the remnant, which is us (v.19). And “they shall bring all your brothers and sisters from all nations.” The Church will continue to strive to be holy, inclusive in nature and Levites and priests will come from every nation.

These we are already experiencing. Think of how Masses are said in different languages all over the world. During these Masses, especially on Sundays’ same readings are read and similar sharing of the bread and blood and the word of God are broken and shared according to various needs of every culture.  Again think of the many priests and missionaries we have serving in our countries, in the Vatican. They are from different cultures and nations. And they speak and preach their sermons and homilies in different languages.

In fact, in these diversities, the central message, the central truth according to the today’s Gospel parable (Luke 13:22-30) is the same, namely; the Kingdom of God. Jesus keeps reminding us he came to establish his kingdom, the kingdom of God. In this kingdom in which Jesus has compared to number of things: the smallest seed that can grow into a big tree, it is a leaven in a loaf of bread, hidden, but enables the bread to rise and it has a narrow gate. It is full of surprises. Those you don’t expect may be first in that kingdom while those you expected to be first might come last. Above all still, “all people will come from the east and the west and from the north to the south and recline at table in this kingdom of God.”

What this implies is that there is a new way to live in relationship with God and with our neighbors. Accepting to love as Christ loved. Accepting to forgive as Christ forgave is a lot of work. This is the “narrow gate.” This is where the discipline that the second reading, the Letter to the Hebrews talks about, when it says, “My son, do not disdain the discipline of the Lord or lose heart when reproved by him, for whom the Lord loves he disciplines, he scourges every son (“and daughters”) he acknowledges. Endure your trials as discipline” (Heb 12:5-7, 11-13).

Accepting to reach out universally to every nation with the Good news of Christ takes courage, and requires endurance. And to even believe that God loves you wherever you are seated, or live requires great faith. It is a lot of work. This is the metaphorical narrow gate.

So we pray at this worship that our broken world and divided society today may continue to work hard and strive to enter through the narrow gates of charity, forgiveness, and kindness, constant prayers and always realize the universal nature of God’s love and blessings upon each and every one of us, since Christ came specifically “to gather nations of every language and culture” to the Glory of his Kingdom.

Homily 20th Sunday of Year C: Fr Michael U Udoekpo

Homily 20^th Sunday of Year C: Fr Michael U Udoekpo

Reading: Jer 38:4-6, 8-10; Ps 40:2,3,4,18; Heb 12:1-4 and Luke!12: 49-53

Fortitude in Our Christian Journeys

Fire, Fire, Fire!!!!!!!!!!!!

“I have come to set the earth on fire and how I wish it were already blazing… There is baptism with which I must be baptized. I have come not to establish peace, but rather division” (Luke 12:49-50).

These words of Jesus taken literally may sound worrisome and confusing. But when we take a closer look it highlights the fire of the cross, the fire of fortitude, the mission of Christ and his judgment. It means doing things in the manner of Christ. Of course “fire” in the ancient culture is a symbolism of judgment, and baptism “baptizein” refers metaphorically to Jesus courageous and prophetic embrace and full submerging in his mission of true peace and justice, different from the worldly peace. It includes the purpose of Christ, his reaching out to others in a way that has never been done before.

 Christ came to do things differently and courageously. Recall as a young boy after he had visited the synagogue with the parents, instead of walking back home like other families, Jesus stayed back in the temple. The fire of dialoguing with temple officials!  In the ancient days it was tooth for tooth, but Jesus came with a new teaching that says “turn the other cheek, and forgive.” The fire to turn the other cheek, the fire to forgive! The elders used more than 40 years to build the temple, but Jesus says, “He will destroy it and rebuild it in three days.” The fire of rebuilding an ancient old temple in three days! John baptized with water, but Jesus baptized with water the Holy Spirit. The fire of the Holy Spirit!  Sinners were despised, but Jesus chose to eat with them. The fire of eating with sinners! He shared water with the Samaritan woman. The fire of a Jewish/Rabbi to reach out to the Samaritan woman! He raised Lazarus from the death. He commanded the blind to see, and cured the lepers. The fire to heal! The fire of God's healing love!! He taught Pilate the true meaning of Truth. The fire of Truth!! He came up with a new form of sacrifice, peace, and service. The fire of service! He washed the feet of his disciples and not the opposite. No more animal sacrifices, but love, communion, sharing, evangelization, spreading the Good news, and personal self- emptying on the cross, which we reenact at every Eucharistic celebration. The fire of Evangelization!!!

This must be disturbing and challenging to families, fathers, mothers, children, sons, daughters, son-in laws and daughter-mother- in-laws of the new emerging Christian community, from older Judaism. You can imagine what the advent of Christianity, a new religion, meant for the Africans hundreds of years ago. Or for people of other religion. How do we abandon one religion or faith to another?  What about from Judaism to Christianity like in the case of Christ's time. These changes of doing things in the way of Christ, comes with a price. It is the type of suffering-price that every Israel prophets like Jeremiah paid.

In doing the unpopular prophetic work of denouncing sin and announcing judgment in the late pre-exilic period, Jeremiah met with fierce opposition. He was opposed, resisted and persecuted. Jeremiah was place in stocks at the cost of his ministry (Jer 20:1-2). He was put on trial by priest who demanded his death because he preached in the temple ( Jer 26:10-11). Because he preached to Judah, “Thus says the Lord, “If you will not listen to me, to walk in my law that I have set before you, and to heed the words of my servants the prophets whom I send to you…. Then I will make the house of Israel like Shiloh, and I will make this city a curse for all the nations of the earth” (Jer 26:4-11). In fact, Jeremiah and his companion, Baruch was banished from the Temple (Jer 36). He was arrested, beaten and imprisoned (Jer 37:12-16). As if these were not enough he was even sized and thrown into a muddy pit to die, and only to be rescued by Eved-melech (servant of the king) by the order of King Zedekiah. For Jeremiah this was the Lord’s doing, and Psalm 40 reflects the role of God whenever we call upon him from the pits of our troubles:

“I have waited, waited for the Lord, and he stooped toward me. The Lord heard my cry. He drew me out of the pit of destruction, out of the mud of the swamp, he set my feet upon a crag; he made firm my steps…though I am afflicted and poor, you are my help and my deliverer.”

In those moments when we face our trials (hunger, poverty, lack of jobs, illnesses, family difficulties and disagreement in religious matters, disappointed by our friends, children, relatives, spouses  or loss of our loved ones, or even persecuted, because you are a Christian, etc) we have to think and act like Jeremiah and imitate Jesus. We have to think of those heroes of faith and clouds of witnesses of today’s second reading, the Letter to the Hebrew (Heb 12:1-4). What about several saints and our forefathers and mothers in faith, those who died for the faith? This is courage. This is fortitude.  We need this fortitude more than ever, especially in our times. We need that moral virtue which enables us to be firm in moments of trials and temptations of sins and of false peace. We need it in the face of injustices and terrorism. We need it in those moments when our Christian faith is threatened. Fire, Fire, Fire! I have come to bring fire on earth how I wish it was  already burning !!!

Homily, Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Fr. Michael U. Udoekpo

Homily, Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Fr. Michael U. Udoekpo

Readings: 1 Chr 15:3-4, 15-16; 16:1-2; Ps 132:6-7,9-10,13-14; 1 Cor 15:54b-57; Luke 11:27-28 (Vigil); Rev 11:19a;12:1-6a,10ab; 1 Cor 15:20-27 and Luke 39-56(Day).

Mary Shares in the Victory of Christ, Over Death

Ordinarily each of us would appreciate compliment, especially when we feel we have done our work, we have “won the Olympics.” We like to say “thank you” to our friends and neighbors when we receive gifts.  We also feel good when someone acknowledges how beautiful you are, how handsome you are, how personable and approachable, how hard working you are, in your different fields and roles. We also like to aspire, to imitate some “role models” who have succeeded in life. Here we are on August 15^th. It is Mary the mother of Jesus whom we have gathered to celebrate today. She is the same Mary of the Fatima apparition who appeared to those three little shepherds (Lucia, Francesco and Jacinta). She is the same Mary of Lourdes who appeared to Sister Bernadette of Soubirous, that she was the Immaculate Conception. (It was such a joy to have recently made a pilgrimage, with others in May 2013 to these places). We celebrate her today. We celebrate her success. Not just her material success, but her spiritual success, her virtues! We celebrate her achievements, her obedience, humility, patience, endurance, her hope, Mary’s love and faith! We want to pray for one another. We want to learn to imitate Mary. We celebrate today, the 4^th Glorious Mysteries!

Of course this celebration has long been established in the church! It is part of the deposit of our Christian faith received from the Apostles. It goes back to the time of Pope XII, who in 1950 declares this essence, dogma of our faith that, Mary because of all her hard work, humility, virtues , at the end of her earthly life was lifted up body and soul into heaven, where Mary lives forever, where Mary shares the victory of Christ on the cross, his resurrection!

This is the victory, the resurrection that St. Paul, for instance, talks about in the second reading, 1 Corinthian chapter 15.  Death, Paul says, “comes through one man, the resurrection of the dead came also through one man, (Christ), who “must reign until he has put all his enemies (the greatest being death) under his feet” (I Cor 15:20-27). For Paul, when we “mortals”(human beings) are closed to Christ, when we clothe ourselves, cover ourselves with Christ who is immortal, who is divine, then death is swallowed up in victory, death is defeated on the Cross as Christ did!  And “Thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Cor 15: 54b-57).

The foundation of Mary’s success, her privilege to share in the victory of Christ, addressed by Paul goes back to the privilege of her immaculate conception and of her role as the mother of Christ (she bore Christ, the Ark of the Covenant), prophesied by Israel Prophets (Isaiah 7:14),  and fulfilled in the gospel narratives.

In that infancy narrative for instance (Luke 1-2 and Matthew 1-2) all that Mary said to the Angel was, “behold I am the handmaid of the Lord be it done to me according to your words.” And Mary remained so, very humble, docile and opened to the voice of God, throughout that Christmas stories. Look at her encounter with Elizabeth, her cousin today! She travels on foot to visit with her, to assist her and to share the Good news with Elizabeth. Mary does not puff up, because Elizabeth has acknowledged or affirmed her as the “mother of my Lord.” But as humble soul as she always is, Mary rather gave glory to God, in the Magnificat (Luke 1:39-56).

For Mary all honor, greatness, power and glory belong to God. How many of us today are able to say this especially in world that is driven by power, the tendencies to dominate and rule over others. This is the basis of her victory. This is the basis of her being lifted up. She lived for others, Jesus and Joseph. When Jesus “got lost” in the temple, Mary and Joseph trekked on foot, found and brought Jesus home. Mary is used to trekking. She trekked to visit with Elizabeth. She trekked from Nazareth/ Bethlehem, to Egypt, to make sure Christ was saved from the hatred and onslaught of Herod. This is also what is symbolically presented in the book revelation today (Rev.11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab). Again, she trekked to the temple. She trekked to bring Jesus home.

She accompanied Christ his son, stood by Christ when he was falsely accused. She stood by Christ through his trial. She was right there on the foot of the Cross. This is what won Mary the victory we celebrate today. This is what won Mary her assumption, body and soul in to heaven. Mary would not see the corruption of the tomb. This is what won Mary the 4^th Glorious mysteries!

Many of us have had our own trials, worries and difficulties, as parents, as children, as women, as men. We have once worried about our children, our friends, our partners, our seniors, our health. We have once worried about even our jobs.  Christ is constantly watching over us from heaven. And Mary her mother is right there with him.  As we travel this life, let Mary continue to be our model. She is the one we want to imitate, her love, her humility, her gift of reaching out to others (Elizabeths), her perseverance, her faith and hope in eternal life, a share in Christ’s victory over death.

Homily 19th Sunday of Year C: Michael U. Udoekpo

Homily 19^th Sunday of Year C: Michael U. Udoekpo

 Readings: Wisdom 18:6-9; Ps 33:1,12,18-19,20-22; Heb 11:1-2.8-9 and Luke 12:32-48

Faith is Living in Active Hope what the Lord has Promise us

In the past two Sundays, Jesus taught us how to pray and how not to be greedy, or get attached to material things. Today he teaches us that faith and hope are connected. Faith and hope are in love with each other. And this faith is the supernatural gift which enables us to actively hope for all the good things God has promised us in this life and in the life to come.

Abraham’s case in Genesis 12 quoted by the preacher of the Letter to the Hebrews 11 is a clear example. Faith, the preacher stresses, “Is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.” Even though we have not seen, a graceful conviction to be able to say like our Mother Mary, "Lord be it done to be me according to your words," (Luke 1:38) or with the Doubting Thomas, "My Lord and My God," ( John 20:28).

Called by God to leave his own land and travel to an unknown and unseen destination, the Promised Land, Abraham did without questioning God. Imagine the difficulties of leaving the comfort of your room and home to a strange land. All that Abraham had was his faith in God. He had no traveling insurance or health plan, except faith in God and in his divine promises, that God would bless him, and grant him the Promised Land as well as multiply his descendants.

While on the journey Abraham had his own share of difficulties, as all of us do. He had trouble with his Nephew Lot, you would recall. He was confronted by kings like Abimelech, who threatened to snatch Sarah away from Abraham. Abraham was faced with Family disputes, external threats, and meanwhile Sarah his wife was barren! In fact the barrenness of Sarah was as an experience no woman in the ancient culture would love to have or recommend for her loved ones.

 The question then is ,If Sarah was barren and without a child, how would the promised of the multiplication of descendant promised Abraham by God be fulfilled? The answer is through faith and hope. Abraham put everything in the baskets of faith and hope. We know in the rest of the story that because of his faith and trust in God Abraham was blessed with children including Isaac, father to Esau and Jacob, who was also, blessed with many children- the 12 tribes of Israel, our great- great grand parents in faith, whom God saw through slavery and through the horrible experiences of the wilderness (cf. Exodus).

Acknowledging this  kindness  from the Lord the Psalmist sings:

“See the eyes of the Lord are upon those who fear him, upon those who hope for his kindness, to deliver them from death and preserve them in spite of famine…” (Ps 33).

Faith is God’s grace bestowed upon us to actively hope for God’s kindness, to appreciate his love, to rely on his mercy and to always plead for his forgiveness. I deliberately use the phrase " actively hope for," here because in today’s gospel Jesus reminds us  that we should always strive to make good use of our time, to always prepare, to always hope, to always keep doing good things, good works. We don’t want to be like that lazy and hypocritical servant who gets lazy when the master is gone. When the master returns the servant is not ready. He is caught un-prepared, not ready. Jesus condemns this servant because this servant does not seem to be ready. He is lazy and negligence.

Faith is not negligence of our prayer life. Faith is not in-action. Faith is not inactivity, but activity, good works- charity, forgiveness, visit to the sick, holding that door of elevator for that fragile senior and for our neighbors. I know there are sometimes  when Jesus seems not to be present. We feel our prayers which Jesus taught us two Sundays ago have not been heard. We feel this way sometimes during tragedies, death and sufferings and frustrations! We feel this way when the Church is embarrassed by the clergy sexual abuse. We feel this way when terrorism, poverty, wars and anti-Christian faith sentiments have not been eradicated overnight from our society.  That's alright! Job and Habakkuk once felt that way!  But I can assure you Jesus; Our Lord is ever divinely present in our midst! He might seem delayed as the master in today’s gospel! And while  it  may seem that way, hope and watchfulness is the answer, rather than misbehavior or getting drunk like the bad steward in the gospel of reading.

We are to constantly do good things, forgive; love, share, reach-out, as if today were to be our last day on earth. There is a story of three young college students been asked what they would do if it was suddenly announced in the loudspeaker that they had only 24 hours to live. The first, said he would run home to greet and hug his parents. The second said, she would rush home to have her last lunch with apple pie desert served with ice cream. While still, the third said he will keep on doing what he was doing. This response is very close to the response of St. Francis while tilling the farm was asked what he will do if the world was coming to an end now. Francis, we are told said, he will keep on tilling the farm.

This (third) response seems to be very close to what the Lord expects of us. What does Jesus expects of us? Like in the case of Abraham, Jesus is calling us not only to be faithful, and actively hopeful that we shall receive all  that God has promised us, but to be vigilant and consistent in acts of peace, communion, unity-promotion, love and charity to one another. This is our faith. This is our hope.