21ST SUNDAY, YEAR C: HOMILY BY FR. JUSTIN ADIELE
THEME: “THE PATH LESS TRAVELLED IN OUR LIFE”
INTRODUCTION
The readings today tried to remind us of
the roads/paths less travelled in our life. The “narrow paths” that we
intentionally try to avoid as we journey through our faith-life; we try to
avoid these paths because we misjudge them to bring some kind of discomfort to
us and not convenient for our joy. But indeed, it is these less convenient
narrow paths that are less travelled, like the stone which the builders
rejected, that turns out to be the cornerstone of our development, happiness
and salvation.
THE FIRST READING (IS. 66: 18 – 21)
One path less travelled mentioned in the
first reading is the path of proclaiming the glory of God to the nations. It is
a path less travelled by many because many would prefer to remain in their
comfort zones. Such was the case of Israel of old that God would sometimes
permit wars to displace them from their comfort zones, sending them as
fugitives to the nations and distant coastlands who have never heard of the
fame and glory of God; these fugitives would then bring the Goodnews to the
nations where they are scattered. The Psalmist today invited us to go out to
the world and tell the Good News. But it is a path that is less travelled. Let
us remember that God the Son (Jesus) had to leave the comfort of heaven and his
Godship, emptied himself, to become man to make the glory of the Father known
to the world.
THE SECOND READING (HEB. 12: 5 – 7, 11 –
13)
Another path that seems to be less travelled
mentioned in the second reading is the path of discipline/training. Many
children, for example, would not like to be disciplined by their parents for
any reason. But the Bible tells us today that whom the Lord loves, he
disciplines and scourges. Discipline entails that you must not have it your own
way all the time, but God’s way or your “superior’s way”. At first instance,
God’s discipline/ways may seem to cause us pain rather than joy, yet later it
brings peace and righteous fruits to those trained in it. We may not enjoy the
path of discipline now but later it builds us into great men and women. This
narrow path of discipline demands obedience, humility and respect to God,
constituted Church/state authorities, to our parents. It also demands
repentance from our indiscipline and disobedience against God’s commands.
THE GOSPEL READING (LK. 13: 22 – 30)
In the gospel, against being forced into
going into the world to proclaim the Good News, Jesus freely went through towns
and villages teaching as he made his way to Jerusalem. He was never forced out
of his father’s house or his comfort zone.
CONCLUSION
We are invited today to strive to enter
through the narrow gate; to embrace those narrow paths less travelled in our
life: the path of bringing the Goodnews to the nations, the path of leaving our
comfort zones, the path of discipline, obedience and humility. Our less travelled
paths could also be the path of prayer, the path of service to others, the path
of charity, the path of forgiveness. Walk through these paths more often, and
God will never deny us nor cast us out of His kingdom on the last day.
Happy Sunday!
Fr. Justin