Homily-
Friday of the 14th Week of Ordinary Time, Year B- Udoekpo
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Hosea 14:2-10
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Ps 51:3-4,8-9,12-14,17
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Matt 10:16-23
Turning and Returning to the
Lord with Hope
Usually
we define hope, one of the three theological virtues in Christian
tradition, as a combination of the desire for something and expectation of
receiving it, the virtue is hoping for
Divine union and so eternal happiness. In the readings of today there is
this desire and promised expectation conveyed by the future verb “will” used
throughout the prophecy of Hosea and Matthews Gospel- call it the “prophetic
future.”
In Hosea, the first
reading, the prophetic future, “will”, the hope, is condition on the verb Shubh
(return, or turn back common in prophetic literature..). As a loving
husband/father if Israel returns to the Lord, their God, and the Lord will not
only forgive all their sins and iniquities, he will bless them with what his
good. He will heal their defection such as idolatry. He will love them freely.
His impending wrath and punishment will be turned away from them. Israel shall
blossom like a true planted by the bank of the River, their fame shall be like
the vine of Lebanon- a powerful message of hope for us today.
Similarly, in the Gospel
(Matt 10:16-23) the 12 disciples sent out few days ago continue to heal with
dedication and simplicity of heart the lost sheep of the house of Israel
without cost. But, if they do so with shrewdness and wisdom of the serpent and
simplicity of a dove, and remain less worried about other unnecessary skills and
oratory challenges- the Lord will give them what to say. In other, words no
matter the challenges, they will have to remain prophetic, bearing all kinds of
persecution to the end. Whoever, endures to the end will be saved, the Lord
promises.
We could see ourselves
today in these readings. The challenges we all encounter today- be it covid-19,
loss of job and loved ones, un rest on the street, racism, corruption in
political capitals, threats of war and
divisions in communities, all require patient, and constructive dialogue. Particularly, in the light of Hosea’s message
today, if we control our senses and emotion against modern materialism, secularism,
anthropocentricism and unnecessary subjectivism divine union and eternal happiness
awaits us. God will love us, renewed Israel, freely to the end.
Reflecting Question
1. Do we put all our hope in the Lord?
2. What often, today, challenges our
Christian hope?
3. Do we keep to our promises for which we
have promised the Lord and our neighbors?
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