Homily- Saturday of the 13th
Week in Ordinary Time Year B/USA Independence Day?
Readings: Amos 9:11-15; Ps 85:9ab,
10-14; Matt 9:14-17
Hope and Peace in the Lord- Source of
true independence and Justice
Themes of
hope, freedom, independence, re-building, peace and restoration heard in
today’s readings are urgent needs for us, especially in this time of pandemic
and unrest! And more especially too, as the US celebrate their July 4th
Independence. It’s a reminder that we all, every nation needs peace, justice,
freedom, shalom and well-being! These are
universal and timeless needs irrespective of your color, culture and gender.
They were
needed during the time of the Prophet Amos, as heard in the first reading.
Here, Amos speaks directly to these human and universal needs---- for the
ancient Israel and Judeans in the south. They have long being exiled and
deprived of freedom and liberty of independence and of worship. Amos, though
mostly regarded as a prophet of justice and doom speaks positively of the day
when the lord will restore peace, joy, independence and happiness of well-being
and shalom to Judeans in this last periscope of his prophesy (Amos 9:11-15). It
is a message of hope, justice, restoration and rebuilding- socially,
politically, spiritually, culturally (banah, shubh, shuvut) --- no
matter what?
Amos says, “I
will bring about restoration of my people Israel; they shall rebuild and
inhabit the ruined cities, plant vineyard and drink the wine, set out gardens
and eat the fruits. I will plant them upon their own ground… thus says the Lord”
Similar
messages of hope, peace, justice and restoration is heard in the Gospel (Matt
9:14-17) --- “the wedding guests, (us, Israel, all of us) can never go mourning
while (Christ) the bridegroom is with them.”
Without going
too far, the ongoing pandemic may seem like we are mourning, we are in exiled
from our schools, places of work, homes and from our friends and family members
and loved ones—but there is hope in the Lord. A time will come when there will
be no more sufferings and all these, including this pandemic will go away!
All that it
takes is a little perseverance( washing our hands, keeping to the rules,
wearing our masks, practicing social distances as much as we can…etc) and above
all praying and trusting in the Lord for his mercy, and peace and well-being in
our troubled world! For unless the Lord builds the house in vain do we labor!
Reflecting
Questions:
1. Like the
generation of Amos, do we trust and hope in the Lord always—especially in
moments of trials?
2. Do we trust in the
presence of Christ, the bridegroom, with us?
3. How often do we
assist members of our faith communities to hope and trust the Lord, the
bridegroom and source of peace, justice, freedom and true independence?
