Homily
[2] 19th Sunday of Year C 2016: Fr. Michael Udoekpo
·
Wisdom 18:6-9· Ps 33:1,12,18-22
· Heb 11:1-2,8-19
· Luke 12: 32-48
Living
a Faith Filled Life Always!
Last
two Sundays Jesus taught us not only how to pray but how not to be greedy and selfish. This
Sunday he teaches us how to be consistently vigilance in our faith, hope and
trust in our loving and merciful God, no matter what. Faith, we would remember,
as we were taught in our catechism is the supernatural gift of God, which
enables us to believe and hope for all the good things God has promised us in
this life and in the life to come… without doubting. Faith, whatever you call
it in your language, is a realization of what is hoped for and evidence of all
things that we cannot see as humans. The readings of today are very clear on
this.The 1st reading (Wis 18:6-9) reminds us that the night and the liturgy of the Passover must consistently be a reminder to us that God accompanies us today on our journeys, as he would have accompanied our forefathers in the desert, thousands of years ago. He freed them from the hands of Pharaoh, their enemy; saw them through the red sea. And provided food and drinks for them. This is the same God must believe and vigilantly trust in our times.
The 2nd
reading, from the Letter to the Hebrews is even much clearer. It speaks of the
faith of Abraham, “our father in faith,” as recorded in Genesis 12. Abraham
left everything behind in Mesopotamia and followed God- journeying to the
Promised with faith and trust in God as his “GPS.” In his ups and downs,
threats and dangers, Abraham and his household simply trusted God. In his “foolishness,”
uncertainties, conflicts, wars, hunger, sickness, good health Abraham and his household
placed their faith in God. The faith of Abraham is not outdated. Abraham is our
model in faith. Each of is called today to imitate the faith of Abraham in all
circumstances, it doesn’t matter which political party you belong or what
language you speak, or what type of academic degrees you have. Faith is a treasure. The colors of your skin
or eyes does not matter. Constant and
active faith in God is what matters.
Today’s
Gospel of Luke speaks of this important matter still--- constancy and vigilance
in trusting God- in the parable of the good and faithful servant versus the
foolish or the imprudent ones. When the master was away the foolish servants
misbehaved and turned he house upside down while the faith faithful ones gird
their loins and awaits their master return from the wedding ceremony.
We
are called to be those prudent and faithful servants. Vigilance in faith and in our prayer lives, acts of charity, corporal and spiritual works
of mercy- especially in this Year of Mercy! Christ invites us today to
constantly translate our faith into actions- do good things, forgive, love,
share your blessings with others, as if today were to be your last day on
earth.
There
is an anecdote about 3 young college students who were asked what they would do
if they received a sudden text message in their phone that the world was coming
to an end in less than 12 hours. The 1st student said he/she would
run home and say good bye to his parents and siblings. The second said she
would run rum to finish her remaining ice cream in left in the refrigerator.
The third simply said he will keep doing well, keep busy in what he was doing.