17TH SUNDAY, YEAR B: HOMILY BY FR JUSTIN ADIELE
THEME: “OPERATION FEED THE NATION”
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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
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