Fresh Dew Media

 17^TH SUNDAY, YEAR B: HOMILY BY FR JUSTIN ADIELE

THEME: “OPERATION FEED THE NATION”

INTRODUCTION:

Today, we read about Jesus miraculous feeding of five thousand men because he could sense their hunger and their plight. Today we are also challenged to do same as there are visible signs of hunger and hardship in the land; unless we can’t sense/feel it like Jesus, or we just chose to look away. Every hand must be on deck; the government, the religious leaders, the disciples of Christ, and even the bread seller in the street and the farmer in the field. We all have a role to play in feeding the nation and cushioning the effects of hunger and hardship in the land. If you cannot feed the nation, you can feed a little group/section of the nation.

 

THE FIRST READING (2 KG. 4: 42 – 44)

In the first reading, an occasion presented itself, and Elisha the prophet used the occasion to do his own part in feeding a group of hundred men who gathered perhaps for spiritual consultation. He used what was offered to God (and by extension, to him); bread of the first fruits, twenty loaves of barley, and fresh ears of grain to feed the men gathered around him. They all ate and had some left over according to the words of the prophet. We praise the man from Baal shalishah who remembered to bring a huge offering to God for his goodness to him. Unfortunately, many tend to forget to offer not even a simple bread and wine used for the Eucharistic offering and sharing, from year to year. We also praise Elisha who decided to share (unfortunately many will never think of that) and he was able to feed the people because he was neither greedy nor selfish, and he was not interested in pilling up more food for his third and fourth generation as some of us do today. How do you share the blessings, the gifts and opportunity you received from God and from others? Do you share with only family and friends or with anyone gathered around you like Elisha did? Or you don’t even like sharing at all?

 

THE SECOND READING (EPH. 4: 1 – 6)

To enable us develop the spirit of sharing our goods and blessings with people around us, St. Paul teaches and reminds us that we are one body and one spirit in one Lord Jesus Christ; in one faith, one baptism and one God and Father of us all. Any neglect of anyone suffering, hungry or in need will amount to break down of our own body, our spirit and our unity, just as our Nigerian leaders are neglecting the hardship and hunger in the land and are at the verge of breaking down the whole system. Igbos will say; “imi bewe, anya ebewe”. We cannot afford to let any part of our body or our system or our nation to continue to suffer.

 

THE GOSPEL READING (JN. 6: 1 – 15)

In the gospel reading, Jesus saw and felt the plight/hunger of the people, and decided that he must do something to help either temporarily or permanently. Jesus jettisoned any excuses of lack of enough food, lack of enough funds, or not my business syndrome seen in many of us today. We always claim that we do not have enough for us let alone sharing with other people. This was the mindset of Philip, Andrew and the other apostles and the mindset of many of us today; and this has made it impossible for us to share with others the little we have.

 

CONCLUSION:

In Nigeria today, there is great hunger and hardship in the land. Our Naira has no value and can barely buy enough food for a family. What then can we do to feed the nation and alleviate the hardship of the peoples? All hands must be on deck, both the leaders and the peoples must first remove every selfishness and greed that blinds us. We must remove every lack of sympathy and concern for others no matter their colour or region. To feed the nation and alleviate the hardships; we must stop the hoarding of palliatives, hoarding of bail-out funds, and the hoarding of peoples’ salaries, pensions and gratuities. We must stop misappropriation of NDDC funds, borrowed loans and state funds trying to accumulate wealth for our 20th generation. We must stop the Herdsmen rampage and vandalism of farm lands that produce food for the nation. We must go against every economic policy that hinders us from producing our own food, our own power/energy, and refining our own oil and mineral resources – Burkina Faso did. We must make policies that will bring down the price of rents, goods and services in the nation. If we are one nation (as St. Paul pointed out) and really want every region to thrive without any agitation or protest, then we must sheet the evil sword of tribalism and unequal/unjust distribution of national goods and opportunities.

 

Happy Sunday!

Fr. Justin