Christ, the Restorer of Life to Nations Plagued with COVID-19 (A), Homily Fifth Sunday of Lent

Homily: Fifth Sunday of Lent (A) 

Christ, the Restorer of Life to Nations Plagued with COVID-19 (A)

Fr. Udoekpo ,Michael Ufok

v  Ezek 37:12-14

v  Ps 130:1-8

v  Rom 8:8-11

v  John11:1-45

 The fifth Sunday of Lent’s liturgy--- 2020 and in the midst of ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic, marks the end of the Lenten season and introduces us into the Passion Week. It is the most sacred week, during which the church invites us to contemplate the meaning of Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection. In his trials, suffering, and death, there is hope for resurrection. The tomb will never be Christ’s final destination; rather, his final destination is his resurrection and ascension. This is evident in today’s Scripture readings, which reminds us that in spite of the pains and sufferings brought on us and nations by this ongoing Corona virus, Christ remains for us believers, the source, restorer, and giver of life.

   In the first reading, Ezekiel, the exilic priest and prophet, sees a vision in which the dry bones of the dead are scattered in a field. He reminds us of the good works of Pope Francis and  those of other priests, leaders, health workers who are the source and instruments of God healing spirit and comfort in this difficult moment of Corona virus. In the case of the vision(chazon) of Ezekiel of exile the spirit of God  dramatically collects the scattered bones, binds them together with sinew, covers them with skin, and finally infuses them with divine breath to bring them to life. What a message of hope that Ezekiel brings!: “I am going to open your graves,” says the Lord, “and bring you up from your graves, O my people; and I will bring you back to the land of Israel. And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves, and bring you up from your graves, O my people. I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live, and I will place you on your own soil” (Ezek 37:12-14).

   Ezekiel’s vision of dry bones is a message of hope to Israel and Judah. In spite of their past challenges and difficulties, they would be restored as one people (Ezek 37:24-25), their leadership and covenant would be reestablished, and the spirit of the Lord and of justice would be restored in Israel (Ezek 37:26-27).

  In our Christian tradition, we are the new and renewed Israel. God, who is full of kindness, compassion, and mercy, still loves us in spite of who we are: sinners who have dug ourselves into graves of sin, people who forget, who makes mistakes, who break the law and the covenant. He watches over us in the midst of this terrible pandemic.   The psalmist reassures us that “For with the Lord there is steadfast love, and with him is great power to redeem” us from  all threats and graves diseases (Ps 130:7).

   What graves have  we found ourselves in today? Presently our graves  take the form of a concern, COVID-19, and other illnesses, loss of our loved ones, disappointment, rift, weakness, bad habit, quarrel, or an attitude of ingratitude or negativity. Perhaps it takes the form of social, political, or economic challenges. How do you relate to Ezekiel’s vision of the dry bones?

 Similarly, in our second reading (Rom 8:8-11), Saint Paul, while preaching to the Romans, shows us how to relate to Ezekiel’s metaphorical vision of the dry bones. For Paul, those who were in the flesh in the church of Rome of his time—that is, those who were against God’s values, practicing selfishness, lawlessness, and corruption, or who were sticking to their old sinful ways of life—shall be brought to new life through the spirit of God.

  This spirit of God will see us through our daily challenges. In fact, it is this spirit of God that raised Christ from the dead on Easter Sunday. It is this spirit of God that raised Lazarus from the dead in today’s Gospel reading (John 11:1-45), which further recalls Ezekiel’s vision of the dry bones. In any given instance, we can always be hopeful and learn from the Israelites, who found themselves in a grave of their own making for a time during the exile but were eventually raised up by the Lord (Ezek 37). 

 In the midst of this pandemic, we can always learn from Martha and Mary, too, who were mournful and sorrowful for days because of the loss of their brother Lazarus. They must have been frustrated because it took Jesus two days to respond to Lazarus’ illness. Truly, God’s ways are not our ways. God knows and works by his hours and time. He knows when to change water into wine. He knows when to heal the royal official’s son. God has his own clock, and it is different from ours. This is the hour of the cross. The hour of the cross is the hour of the Father’s true glory, the hour of Jesus’ true glory.

  God knows when to say to us, “Lazarus, come out!” (John 11:43). In our moments of frustration, despair and hardship, we might be saying, like Martha, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:32). Of course, Lazarus their brother would rise and live. Like Martha and Mary, after a time of doubt and frustration, we want to return to faith in Jesus, who is the life and the resurrection. Remember, those who believe even though they die will live, and everyone who lives and believes in Christ will never die (John 11:25-26).

  Let us pray at this Mass that the spirit of the one who raised Jesus and Lazarus from the dead and restored life to the dry bones in Ezekiel’s vision may accompany us daily in our faith pilgrimage (Rom 8:8-11)., especially in the midst of this outbreak of Corona virus. May allow God to use us as his healing instrument in this moment of crises.  And may we always imitate Mary and Martha’s faith in Christ, the giver of life eternal, in our response to life’s crises, especially the one facing us and all nations today.

Reflection Questions:

1. What grave have we found ourselves? Do you have any hope of escaping it? Or can you see yourself as instrument of God's healing?

2. How do you relate to Ezekiel’s vision of the dry bones in this moment Corona Virus?

3.  For those who loss of face the threat of loosing their loved ones, in what ways do you identify with Martha and Mary in today’s Gospel reading?

4. Do you believe that in the Lord there is mercy and hope for restoration?

With Christ the Healer Everything is Possible ; Homily Fourth Sunday of Lent Year A

Homily: Fourth Sunday of Lent (A)

With Christ the Healer Everything is Possible  (A)

Fr. Udoekpo Michael Ufok

v  1 Sam 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a

v  Ps 23:1-3a, 3b-6)

v  Eph 5:8-14

v  John 9:1-41

In spite of the ongoing Pandemic health crisis and threats to globalization, we celebrate today our trust in God’s healing light and his boundless love for us, which is not measured by appearances. In today’s readings, God gives us the vision of light, cures our various forms of blindness, (viruses) and looks into each of our hearts. He is the ideal shepherd (Ps 23; Jer 23; Ezek 34). He loves us wherever we are. He cares for us and does not judge us by our appearance, but rather shines his light and scrutinizes from within. Today’s Scriptures substantiate this divine attitude toward us, especially the Catechumens who are (usually) to be admitted to the Sacrament of Christian Initiation, and those whom the society considers weak or the improbable. With God everything is possible

   In today’s first reading, God chooses the shepherd David, Jesse’s youngest son, to replace Saul as the new king of Israel (1 Sam 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a), to everyone’s amazement. He does this irrespective of Jesse’s seven sons who were presented to Samuel for anointing. This story illustrates God’s choice of an improbable savior. It shows that God can write on a crooked line. [ in the current situation we are in, God can heal us of the ongoing spreading Corona Viruses, he enlightens the physicians and the scientists in their search for cures and vaccine, enlighten our leaders and protect our health care workers all over the world....]  With God everything is possible.

The same young David would defeat the gigantic Goliath in battle (1 Sam17). This is how God works. He chooses unlikely people in many other places in the Bible—Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Rehab the prostitute, Israel’s judges, the prophets, prophetesses, and priests, and our Mother Mary—irrespective of their human weaknesses or lowliness. Some of his chosen people objected. For instance, Isaiah declared, “ I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips” (Isa 6:5); Jeremiah argued, “I am only a boy” (Jer 1:6); Mary posed the question, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” (Luke 1:34). God does not see as human beings see. Human beings see outward appearances, but God looks into each of our hearts and shines his light of love and forgiveness into us. Even though David faced many trials during his life, God insisted on his choice and established for him an everlasting dynasty—in Christ. Are you convinced that God sees your heart and chooses you in spite of who you are? Are you convince with God everything is possible?

      Similarly, in today’s Gospel reading, Christ’s healing of the blind beggar (John 9:1-41) receives mixed reactions, as did God’s choice of David. The passersby, especially the Pharisees, viewed Christ’s actions through human eyes; they depended on external appearances and judgment. For them, Christ was not from God because it was an abomination to heal and to perform charitable works on the Sabbath. There were also those who disbelieved that the man was born blind in the first place (John 9:18). Christ must have been “faking the miracle.” He did not. With him everything is possible!

          They did not believe in Christ. Disbelief itself is a form of spiritual blindness. It prompted the Pharisees to confront the healed man’s parents in order to confirm how their son’s healing came about. Out of fear, the man’s parents couldn’t testify to Christ’s healing mercy. They simply said to the Pharisees, “He is of age; ask him” (John 9:23). Apart from disbelief, sometimes fear and lack of spiritual courage can also blind us or deny us of the opportunity to speak of or witness the truth. Each of us are called to go out to the whole world and witness the Gospel. [ Even in moments of social distances due to the ongoing corona-virus threats let us stay close with one another in prayers)

          We can do this by turning to both David and the blind man as models of faith.  Even though the blind man, the healed beggar is thrown out of the synagogue, persecuted, denied, and rejected by his family and neighbors (John 9:8-34), Jesus, the Son of Man, finds him once again (John 9:35-36). The cured man worships Christ, who reassures him that he “came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind” (John 9:39).

          With this statement, Christ—like God his Father, who appointed David as king of Israel—is drawing a contrast between human sight and God’s sight. He is drawing a contrast between the blind man, who responded in faith to the vision Christ brought him, and the Pharisees, who claim to see but disbelieve in the works of Christ. Human fear and faithlessness, displayed by the blind man’s parents and the Pharisees, can blind us from the light of Christ. They are “unfruitful works of darkness,” according to Saint Paul (Eph 5:8-14).  With God, let us remember, everything is possible!

   

  Christ's light, possibilities and healing mercies penetrate the hearts of people in every land, culture, and nation(currently affected by ongoing Pandemic Virus). It goes deeper than appearances. It knocks over the barriers of division, jealousy, racism, and blindness to injustices in our broken world. It shepherds us (Ps 23) and brings us hope. As we make progress in our Lenten discipline,  and try to adjust our lives in this challenging times of global corona virus threats may we continue to trust in God’s healing light and hope in his boundless love for us, which surpasses mere appearances.

Reflection Questions:

1. Are you convinced that God’s love for us is not limited to our appearances but shines through the darkness of our hearts and boundaries of cultures?

2.  In this trying moments of pandemic threats, how can you relate to the story of the election of David as king of Israel instead of his other handsome brothers? To what level do you share this story with members of your faith community who have different sociopolitical ideologies and agendas?

3. In light of the story of the healing of the blind man in John 9, what would you identify as your personal blindness? Do you trust in God’s healing light and encourage others to do so( especially in this moment of corona virus pandemic threats)?

Christ Refreshes Us with His Gift of Love- In moments of Crises like COVID- 19 (B);Homily: Third Sunday of Lent (A)

Homily: Third Sunday of Lent (A)

Christ Refreshes Us with His Gift of Love- In moments of Crises(COVID-19) (B)

Fr. Udoekpo, Michael Ufok

v  Exod 17:3-7

v  Ps 95:1-2, 6-9

v  Rom 5:1-2, 5-8

v  John 4:5-42

 (Even with the ongoing threats of COVID- 19 out break), many of us are familiar with today’s delightful Gospel story of Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman in John 4. It is a story about God’s incarnate, Christ, who consistently refreshes and lavishes us with his gifts, with the “water” we need—especially the water of his love and mercy, as expressed in his journeys, his rapport, and his dialogue with us and our families and friends.

            The loving rapport and refreshment we see in the Gospel extends back to the time of creation. It is evident also in our first reading, which is set during the first exodus when the Israelites were thirsting during their wanderings in the wilderness (Exod 17:3-7). As they journey through the wilderness, God not only fights for them as he hardens Pharaoh’s heart, but he also provides Moses’ leadership. He offers his chosen people his love and provides food, manna, and drinking water for them, in spite of their actions. He provides these things to a community who complains, who acts out at Massah and repeats that action at Merribah, who is often distracted from acknowledging God’s everlasting love. God gives us, too, the gifts of mercy and guidance on our journey. God is the rock and the love of our lives!

            Paul also speaks of God’s ever consistent, universal, and refreshing love in the second reading (Rom 5:1-2, 5-8). He says, “Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand . . . But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us” (Rom 5:1-8).

            How often do we complain like the Israelites did in the wilderness, at Massah and Merribah? What prevents us from returning to God in our desert experiences? How easy is it for us to fail to recognize God’s love and blessings in our lives, or forget the history of our RCIA, the history of our Christian faith, those promises we made during our initiation into Christian faith? How easy it is for us to forget the history of God’s love for us in our thirstiness, in our hunger; in illnesses, in CoronaVirus Health Pandemic, in our deserts, in our frustrations? Remember, no matter our “dryness,” God is there to refresh us!

            God’s refreshing love is emphasized in today’s Gospel passage, when Jesus encounters, speaks with, listens to, and shares a cup of cold water with the Samaritan woman in John 4 (John 4:5-42). Jesus, a Jewish rabbi, travels in the company of his disciples from Judea to Galilee. He passes through Samaria, where he meets a Samaritan woman who comes to draw fresh water from the well of Jacob. Everyone—the woman, Christ, and his disciples—must have been thirsty, since they were experiencing summer heat. To the shock of everyone, Jesus, a Jewish rabbi, breaks protocol and dismantles the unnecessary status quo when he approaches this Samaritan woman for a cup of drinking water. He also spends some time chatting with her, respectfully, to the tacit disapproval of his disciples.

            The conversation and exchange show that this text is about much more than thirstiness for ordinary water. Jesus is friendly and respectful to women and people of all cultures. It does not take long for the Samaritan woman to recognize this. She recognizes Jesus’ gifts and compassion. She recognizes his divinity, his love, his prophetic role, his saving mission, his patient dialogue, his forgiving power, and his spiritual depth as the true source of living water. She invites the rest of the Samaritan town to trust and visit with Jesus, the source of life and Savior of the world (John 4:42).

            During Lent we find ourselves not only in the place of the Samaritan woman, but also in the Samaritan town. From this town, Jesus invites us to listen to him. He comes to us. He talks to us. He dialogues with us. He loves us. He provides us with drinking water.

            This water cleanses our personal faults, diseases, deathly viruses, and assures our uncertainties. It refreshes and replaces our thirst for material things with spiritual need. It replaces our hunger for war with peace. It replaces our desire for revenge with a thirst for reconciliation. It refreshes our stinginess with generosity, our selfishness with charity, our despair with hope, our jealousy with contentment. Christ’s living water replaces our divisiveness with unity, our exclusivism with inclusivism; it helps us to reach out to others, especially the poor, aged, immigrant, sick, weak, and marginalized of society.

            As we journey through our deserts of Lent and the exodus of hope, may we strive to imitate the Samaritan woman, disposing ourselves to Christ’s healing mercy. As recipients of God’s mercy and refreshing, healing love, may we in turn reach out to others, inviting them to partake in Christ’s bountiful love and to share in his spiritual drink of faith like the Samaritan woman and the Israelites in the wilderness.

Reflection Questions:

1. How often do you complain like the Israelites in the wilderness in Exodus 17?

2. What prevents you from returning to God in your desert experiences (illnesses, coronavirus threats)? 

3.What prevents you from encouraging other members of your faith community to do so?

4. Do you ever fail to recognize God’s love in your life? Have you ever forgotten the history of our RCIA, the history of our Christian faith, and the promises you made during your initiation into the Christian faith?

Rise Up, Do Not Be Afraid (Matt17:7), Homily Second Sunday of Lent, Year A

Homily: Second Sunday of Lent (A)

Rise Up, Do Not Be Afraid (Matt17:7)

Fr. Udoekpo Michael Ufok

v  Gen 12:1-4a

v  Ps 33:4-5, 18-20, 22

v  2 Tim 1:8b-10

v  Matt 17:1-9

           

In today’s Gospel reading, which tells of transfiguration and renewal (Matt 17:1-9), Jesus tells his disciples on Mount Tabor to “Get up and do not be afraid.” This seems to capture the essence of today’s readings and the spirit of Lenten prayer, alms giving, fasting, and retreats. Our life journeys are characterized by uncertainty, challenges, hardships, trials, and sometimes unpredictable circumstances. These trials can show up in any disguise: Trials of poverty and trials of abuse of wealth and the inordinate desire for pleasure; trials of lack of comfort and trials of abuse of comfort, forgetting God, the poor, the needy, and the common good; trials of impatience and trials of indifference about the plight of our neighbors; trials of overreaction and trials of uneasiness about change, transformation, renewal, or fear of the unknown. We can only accomplish our Christian journeys if we trust and hope in God, if we put our faith in God—if we are ready, like Abraham, Christ’s disciples, and Paul, to rise up, take up our crosses daily, and follow Jesus on his journey to heavenly glory!

            In Genesis 12, the patriarch Abraham is told to embark on a journey to the land God promised to him and to never be afraid. Trusting in God, Abraham did exactly this. He left his native Mesopotamia and set out—without a GPS—to an unknown destination, a land that God would show him. He meets all kinds of trials. Sarah is barren for some time. How, then, would God’s promise of many children come to fulfillment (Gen 11:31; 16ff)? King Pharaoh threatens Sarah and the veracity of Abraham (Gen 12:10-20). This goes on and on. In these trying moments, the only thing Abraham has is putting his faith, hope, and trust in God. He keeps going. He journeys on. He is ready for change guided by God. He is not beaten down by the trials and hardships of his journey.

            How do we handle our daily trials, illnesses, deprivations, hunger, and confusion? Do we throw in the towel, or do we keep rising, keep walking, and keep going in faith, open to renewal?

            Let’s return to that story of the transfiguration. On his journey to the cross, Jesus brought his disciples Peter, James, and John to the mountain of transfiguration, Mount Tabor, where Jesus’ face was transfigured and transformed. Christ’s face shone like the sun. His clothing also shone white, like a bright light. Moses, the law giver, and Elijah, the prophet, also appeared to them, chatting with Jesus. We have so many transformations here! The brightness of the sun and the serenity of this mountain top gave the disciples such joy and peace that they wanted to remain there forever, building houses for Moses, Elijah, and Jesus.

            But for Jesus, the journey was not complete without his cross. The Tabor experience was only the foretaste of his glorious coming, a foretaste of victory on the cross. The disciples would have to keep going and be patient with themselves; they would have to live without fear, not complain, and not tell anyone about this mountain-top experience, this vision, until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. The glory of this vision is not earthbound, but heaven-bound. Our Christian journeys are not earthbound, but heaven-bound. Our Lenten charities and disciplines are not earthbound, but heaven-bound; they continue to the resurrection.

            Paul understood this as well. The missionary journeys he took following his conversion and personal transformation were marked by challenges. He was beaten, shipwrecked, and thrown into prison. He bore these challenges patiently because he knew they were not earthbound, but heaven-bound. Paul’s goal was heaven, where God’s glory awaited him. For this reason he says to Timothy, “join with me in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God” (2 Tim 1:8). Who is God? The God of God of Abraham (Gen 12), who commands Jesus’ disciples in today’s Gospel to “Listen to him” (Matt 17:5), who commands us to “Get up and do not be afraid” (Matt 17:7)!

            What challenges do we face as we journey through Lent? Are we tempted by temporary pleasure, alcohol or drug abuse, physical abuse, an inordinate taste for power or material possessions, attachment to electronic gadgets, selfishness, an indifferent attitude, or insensitivity to your neighbor’s suffering? Or perhaps our challenges take the form of hunger, joblessness, uneasiness about change, injustice, violence, scandal, stress, betrayal, illness, disappointment, or difficulty coping with the loss of a loved one. How do we move beyond these challenges, beyond the Tabor experience?

            Whatever form the trials and hardships we experience, the Jesus of Lent and the Son of the God of Abraham wants us to rise up and not be afraid as we journey in faith, hope, and love.

Reflection Questions:

1. What are your fears and trials? How do you, in light of today’s Bible readings, handle them in your faith community?

2. How do you manage your blessings of wealth and comfort so that they do not alienate you from the glory of the Lord?

3. In faith and trust in God, do you see your Christian pilgrimage as earthbound or heaven-bound?