Homily
-, Wed of the 13th Week of Ordinary Season Year, B
Let
Justice roll down like an Overflowing Stream
Readings: Amos 5:14-15,21-24; Ps
50:7,8-9,10-11,12-13,16bc-17; Matt 8:28-34
Today’s first reading, Amos 5, especially verse v.24 that says,“ let justice roll down like and
overflowing stream from waddi” is a delight of many human rights activist,
theologians and freedom fighters including, Madiba(Nelson Mandela) of South
Africa and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr of the United States of the past few
centuries! Both of these men we know called for freedom, ubuntu(for the
Africans), fundamental human rights and equality for all, black and white,
Afrikaners, Indians and the Coloured; male and female, young and old! They knew
all men were created equal to participate in God’s love and kindness which,
like a free flowing river, a source of life for all living creatures, has no
boundary!
Prior to Mandela and Dr. King, the prophet Amos used is
to appeal to the socio-politically and religiously corrupt of his time. He
sought and preached freedom, food, equality, justice for all—like free flowing river
( used for irrigation, cooking, drinking, farming, agriculture etc) without
boundary. During his time, especially in
the Northern Israel, there were many who flocking the temple, the shrines and
worshiping centers in Bethel, Dan etc, with songs and sacrifices. While doing
this, they were lacking in the basic human need, namely social justice; reaching
out to the vulnerable, the sick, poor, orphaned, the widows, the neglected with
mercy and compassion.
For Amos, God rejects and hates noisy songs (chamon
shirim), empty and hypocritical sacrifices without true love of neighbors
and promotion and seeking (baqash) of that which is good. What do you
think, if I may ask are the injustices or the evils of our times and
communities? Brutality? Racism? Exploiting or abusing the planet or terrorism
and other forms of apartheid?
Amos is sure of one thing. That is the goodness of the
Lord, manifested in the person his Son, Jesus who drove away the demoniacs into
the Swine eventually drown in the sea, in today’s Gospel( Matt 8:28-34). Jesus
Justice is not only overwhelming, like a free flowing fresh water to all, it is
antithetical to the demons of this world.
As we reflect on today’s scripture may we disposed
ourselves to the challenges of how best we God live co-exist with one another,
trusting God, hating evil, rejecting any form of modern slavery and planet exploitation,
and practicing justice and peace and allowing them to flow into our homes,
families and communities like a fresh flowing stream?
Reflecting Questions
1.
Could you think of
moments you have not allowed God’s justice, mercy and kindness to flow into
your communities like free flowing stream?
2.
Could you think of
any moment you thought you acted like the light of the world and the salt of
the earth?
3.
Name one bad habit
you may have overcome since you accepted Christ into your life?
4.
What do you think of Pope
Francis, Mother Teresa, John Paul II, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr, Nelson Mandela
etc who have championed social justice?
