Homily- Monday of the 18th
Week Of Ord. Time Year B. Fr. Udoekpo, M
v Jer
28:1-17
v Ps
119:43,79,80,95,102
v Matt
14:22-36
Trusting and Focusing Our Faith
in Christ, the True Prophet
In the Gospel reading yesterday, Jesus, the new Moses fed
the multitude with five loaves of bread and two fish (Matt 14:13-21). Today, he
walks towards the disciples on the sea, during the fourth watch of the night.
He calms their fear of being tossed away by the wave, and strengthens their
faith, especially that of Peter (Matt 14:22-36).
Of course, it is only the true prophets, the authentic Son of God who can do this. Peter and the
disciples found this to be so, though initially, they thought Jesus was a
ghost! In the story, he said to Jesus, “if it is you, command me to come to you
on the water.” And Jesus said “Come.” Peter, began to walk temporarily towards
to Jesus as long as he focused on him. But began to sink when he took his eyes
and faith away, and focused on the strong wind.
In our numerous life’s challenges and skepticism today,
only our strong faith in the Lord, Christ, can sustain us. Not on the many
perhaps false prophecies and voices, some on the media, out there on the
street.
Such voices, of the true and false prophecy had always
been there throughout history. There have always been vocational and
professional prophets, as we read in prophetic books. Those sent by God and
those sent by human beings, or those who sent themselves. Think of the Prophet
Elijah and the false prophets of Baals. Think of prophets Micaiah and the false
prophet of King Jehoshaphat in 1 Kings 22!
And today, in that first reading Jeremiah 28:1-17, we
read about the false prophet Hananiah who got it wrong about the freedom of the
Israelite from Babylonian exile in two years. We know it took more than two
years for the deportee to Babylonian to return to their homeland. He raised
false hope in the people. Jeremiah, the true prophet got it right and said to
Hananiah, “the Lord has not sent you, and you have raised false confidence in
the people. For this, says the Lord, I will dispatch you from the face of the
earth; this very year you shall die, because you have preached rebellion
against the Lord. That same year, in the seventh month, Hananiah the prophet
died” (Jer 28:1-17).
In other words, one of the marks of authentic prophecy is
fulfillment of the truth, and dependent on God who sent them. In all that Christ
did, he knew and would always prayed to God his father who sent him and his
promises would never fail, including walking his disciples through the stormy
and windy seas!
In our daily fears and waves of life, especially of this
covid-19, we want to faithfully, and patiently discern the true spirit and the
voice of authentic prophets that comes from God, from mere ghosts, from mere
and false prophets, which we know there are many of them out there today.
Reflection Questions
1.
In times of troubles to
whom do we go to as believers?
2.
What have we learned from the story of Jeremiah and Hananiah in that first reading( Jer 28:1-17)
3.
Do we spread
falsehood for quick gain, or do we try to lead people in a discerning right
path to Christ, today?
