Homily-
Saturday of the 14th Week of Ordinary Time Year B/Saint Benedict
Abbot- Fr. Udoekpo, Michael Ufok
v
Isaiah:1-8
v
Ps 93:1ab, 1cd-2,5
v
Matt 10:24-33
Here I am
Send Me Lord!
On this
memorial day of Saint Benedict, Abbot we are invited to reflect on the various
callings, vocation God has invited us, or sent us, and how we have responded to
them. In spite of the usual challenges
God is able to intervene for us!
In the case
of St. Benedict we learn he was a native of Norcia in Italy. Studied in Rome (480-547)
and lived a solitary life of prayer in the mountainous Subiaco for three years.
He later founded many monasteries where monks devoted themselves to prayer and
work (labore est orare)! He wrote his Rule in the Abbey of Monte
Cassino. Such a monastic discipline in the part of St. Benedict required a
great a great amount of courage, total abandonment to God and sacrifice,
including the luxuries of this world! He must have completely, just said to
God, “here I am send me.”
Besides
Benedict, Scripture readings today, for our own spiritual benefits, point to
others in history whom they Lord has called and sent. One is the prophet Isaiah
of Jerusalem. Others are the 12 disciples, whom we continue to learn from these
past few days.
In the case
of the Isaiah of Jerusalem (Isa 6:1-8) he thought that he was so unworthy to be
called and sent by God. He called himself a man of unclean lips, living among a
people of unclean lips. Isaiah of Jerusalem declares a great amount of humility
by recognizing, as well, God as the “Holy one of Israel.” For him he is finite,
while God is infinite. He sounds like other authentic prophets of Israel,
Moses, Jeremiah, Zephaniah, Hosea, etc who would recognize their limitation,
their humanity, their brokenness, in the face of God, something that each and every
one of us today can learn from!
For the 12,
they also displayed their humanity through their fears. God is never afraid,
but humans do. Fear is part of humanity. In the context of today’s Gospel fear
of what, we may ask? I think fear of
rejection, persecution, etc, in the course of their ministry of the word of
God. What are your fears, especially in
this time of covid-19 uncertainties? But, the good news lies in God
intervention and in our recognition that God is able to intervene in our lives’
crisis. He, calls, and he sends each of us—who are invited to respond with
prayer and humility like Isaiah of Jerusalem, and St. Benedict, Abbot, saying,
Here I am, I come to do your will, send me Lord!
Reflection
Questions
1. Do we see
ourselves as prophets and prophetess in our various locations of life?
2. How do we respond
to our vocations’ challenges?
3. What are our
weaknesses, fears compared to God’s strengths?
4. How do we assist
our neighbors to overcome their weaknesses?
