Homily-
Wednesday of the 19th Week in Ord. Time, Yr. B. Fr. Udoekpo, Michael
v Ezekiel 9:1-7;10:18-22
v Ps 113:1-2,3-4,5-6
v Matt 18:15-20
God
Has Reconciled Us to Himself through Christ (2 Cor 5:18-19)
The
Alleluia verse of today’s liturgy, which says “God was reconciling the world to
himself in Christ and entrusting us the message of reconciliation” in 2
Corinthian 5:19 sheds clearer light on the essence of today’s scripture
readings, namely, that “God is the one who is able to reconcile us to himself
through his Son Jesus Christ.” He protects us. Marks us with his signs of life,
peace and joy. He forgives sins. And gives us the means and an opportunities to
reconcile with our neighbors.
We
see this played out in the first reading, in the prophecy of Ezekiel (Eze
9:1-7; 10:18-22), which we began reading yesterday (Ezek 2:8-3:4) - God calling
him mortal, son of man! In today’s reading, God speaks to this prophet of exile
in a prophetic manner (vision), to his fellow exiles and the oppressors as well.
The Angel of the Lord, the glory of the Lord (kabod Adonai), will make a
separation between the faithful and the unfaithful, those who defile the temple
and those who remain faithful to the God of Israel and cherish the temple!
To
the faithful, a sign of reconciliation with God, known as a Thau (X),
which is the last Hebrew Alphabet, a (Aleph- Thau) will be put on
their foreheads. When the angel of the Lord passes by those who don’t have the
sign, they will be destroyed. While those who have will be saved. Several interpretation
have been given to this Thau sign, including the fact that God is the
Alpha and the Omega, beginning and the end, the source of all that we have, and
are, following the Greek/LXX alphabetical translations.
Of course,
in Exodus 12:7 while eating the Passover
the Israelite were to smear the blood of the animal on the two door posts and
on the lintel of house as a sign of
protection to the faithful ones. In earlier Christian community icthus (
fish=the sign of a fish, meaning in Greek Iēsous Christos, Theou Yios, Sōtēr, Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior) was marked on the homes of Christians as a sign of
faithfulness and protection. What about the sign of the Cross? What about the
sacraments we receive in the Church, especially of the baptism- it washes away
our sins, and keeps a mark not just on our foreheads but leaves a character on
our soul, reconciling us with God through Christ!
This
is why Christ himself taught his disciples and us today of the importance of
reconciliation in Matthew 18:15-20. That, if your brother, or sister sins
against you, go and tell him or her his or her faults. Sometimes it takes a
while. If he or she does not listen, don’t give up, get the church involved.
Sometimes it difficult to reconcile, but give, everyone an opportunity. Give
peace, dialogue and reconciliation a chance it is the best way to go. That is
why, as you read Ezekiel further, in chapter 18 verses 21-24 it is stated that “God
does not take pleasure in the death of a sinner, but wishes all of them to repent and be saved,”(my translation).
So, as
those who have been baptized and marked with the sign of reconciliation in
Christ, - peace, joy, mercy, forgiveness, healing (2 Cor 5:19) etc., may we go
out there in our homes, parishes, dioceses, in the church, places of work and in the world as a
whole and act as conduits and agents of peace, healing, unity and reconciliation, especially
in this difficult time of the pandemic.
Reflection
Questions:
1.
As
those who have received various sacraments, especially baptism how often do we
assist in reconciling our neighbors to ourselves, one another and to God,
through Christ?
2.
What
does our Christian Cross reminds you of, or of the promises we made on day we
received those various sacraments?
3.
How
often do we celebrate the sacrament of penance and encourage others to do so?
