Homily-June 30, Tuesday of the 13th Week of
Ordinary Season Year, B- Fr. Udoekpo
Reading: Amos 3:1-8; 4:11-12; Ps 5:4b-6a, 6b-7, 8; Matt
8:23-27
The Lord Calms the Sea and Injustices
of our Times
Today one can be tempted to conclude that we live a time
of uncertainties more than before. Surely it is a time of pandemic, social and
cultural unrest on the streets, terrorism, exploitation of our planets, unjust
socio-political structures….. But let us not lose sight of history. Our
forefathers and mothers in faith had their wind and seas of challenges too.
But, they all triumphed, with faith and trust in the Lord, who alone can calm
all seas and injustices all times!
In the times of biblical Amos of today’s first
reading(Amos 3 1-8; 4:11-12) when Jeroboam II was the King of Israel,
injustices, corruption, racism, brutality and exploitation of the poor and the
widows became the order of the day. Abuse of God’s given resources and
pervasive anthropocentricism were also very common. But, as rhetorically
presented in Amos’ prophecy, with faith and trusting perseverance, in the
roaring lion, namely God, Amos contemporaries overcame, at least spiritually
their challenges and the unjust structures of their times. The found true
peace, shalom, justice (misphat), righteousness (diakiosunē) and
truth (emeth), kindness (hesed), mercy and freedom in the Lord.
Similarly, when Christ’s disciples were scared of the
stormy sea in today’s Gospel (Matt 8:23-27) it was only the Lord that stood by
them. We told, Christ “stood up, rebuked
the wind and the sea, and there was great calm.”
Today’s biblical faith stories challenges us from
different nations, locations, and states of life, to act or react with faith
and trust in the Lord. To always call upon the Lord when we are faced with
challenges… the metaphorical “winds” and the “seas” of our lives! Of course,
this could come in different forms. This could be poverty, racism, unstable and
unjust socio-political systems, pandemic and loss of jobs and our loved ones!
Reflection Question
- 1.
What do you perceive
as injustices in your communities?
- 2. How do you react to the “winds’ and “seas” of your life?
- Do you see the Lord, or assist your next door neighbor to see him as your healer and source of peace in moments of pandemic and tragedies?
