Homily Thirty –First Sunday of Year A: Fr. Michael Ufok Udoekpo

Homily Thirty –First Sunday of Year A: Fr. Michael Ufok Udoekpo

·         Malachi 1:14b-2:2b, 8-10

·         Ps131:1-3

·         1 Thes 2:7b-9,13

·         Matt 23:1-12

Sharing What We Have for the Benefit of All

After the celebration of all saints and souls on November 1^st and 2^nd, we are gradually coming to the end of the liturgical year. No wonder, our first reading today is taken from the prophet Malachi, the last of the prophetic Books of the Greek-English translation.  Similarly, today’s Gospel is also taken from the last section of Matthew’s Gospel, which has 28 chapters. These readings are not meant to be used in pointing fingers to one person, or one member of the faith community or the other. They are meant to remind, each of us, all of us priests, religious, lay faithful, male, female, the baptized of the need, no matter our locations, talents, titles, honours, gifts, charisms, to serve the Lord and one another generously, sacrificially, exemplarily with great sense of humility.  We are God’s messengers, his tools, in one way or the other!

In the first reading, prophet Malachi, whose name simply means “God’s messenger,” (my messenger), generally lays emphasis on matters of worship, like Haggai and Zechariah, before him, in the post-exilic Israel. Malachi regards the Temple, the priesthood and liturgy central in the services of the restored community, and in the messianic age to come. He confronts the spiritual and sacrificial dryness, worldliness and externalism of his people with a call to sharing, humility, fidelity to God, the covenant, and reference to holy things. For the priests and the religious, in particular, he challenges their inadequate generosity and sacrifices to the Lord and to the community.  Malachi, God’s messenger, says to them in today’s first reading:

“You have strayed from the way; you have caused many to stumble by your teaching… And so I in my turn have made you contemptible and vile in the eyes of the whole people in repayment for the way you have not kept to my paths but have shown partiality in your administration.”

In our various places of work, home and offices how have we, as the baptized , priests and religious kept the faith, the way, the Torah, the precepts, with humility, love and care.? How have we led others to Christ, to the rebuilding of the faith, the church, and the temple? How often do we channel the tithe to the right direction or honor the intention for which they were meant,  by keeping the covenant (Gen 15; 17; 22; Exod 19-25, 2 Sam 7; Jer 31:31 etc)? These questions are meant for our personal reflection!

 In this first reading, Malachi, no doubts anticipates other God’s messengers we have heard of in the Holy Scriptures, including Paul and Jesus Christ. In the 2^nd reading, Paul and apostle, a messenger, the one sent, to the Church in Thessalonica, like Malachi insists, “We were gentle among you, as a nursing mother cares for her children. With such affection for you, we were determined to share with you not only the gospel of God, but our selves” (1 Thes 2:7b-9, 13). How often, or  how far are we today, willing , like St. Paul, to share, to sacrifice our comfort, titles, degrees,  for the sake of the gospel or of the community, God’s family, to which we are sent to serve?

Depending on your duty post, are we willing to be prophetic in the likes of Malachi in our places of work, homes, --- fearlessly reminding our brothers and sisters of the place of God in our lives, and the need for us to use our God’s giving talents for the service of our communities?

This is the same message that we hear from today’s Gospel (Matt 23:1-12). Are the Pharisees, scribes and title holders ready and willing to use their offices and position for the services of God and of the community? Are they ready to acknowledge with humility that they are God’s instruments, Christ’s tools, and messengers, like the Prophet Malachi and Apostle Paul?

Whoever exalts himself or herself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself or herself will be exalted. May we who live today in a challenging time of self-seeking and strives for vain glories pray for the grace to always use and share our gifts and charisms for the service of the Lord and the benefit of our faith communities?

 

Reflection Questions

1.      How often do we, irrespective of our titles see ourselves as God’s messengers, instruments, tools, like Malachi and Paul an Apostle?

2.      What prevents us from offering “adequate” sacrifices to the Lord through our faith communities?

3.      How does today’s scripture passages, assist us enter a new relationship with God or help us re-lead members of our faith communities to God?