14^th Sunday, Year C: Homily by Fr. Isaac Chima

Theme: Christ’s Peace Mission Needs Your Contribution

Readings: Is 66:10-14; Gal 6:14-18; Lk 10:1-12. 17-20

In today’s gospel reading, Jesus selected 72 individuals and sent them on a mission to bestow peace to the households they visit. Previously, in Luke 9:1-6, Jesus had sent out the disciples with the same mission, instructing them to proclaim to all they meet that the Kingdom of God has come. One might wonder why Jesus opted to send a larger number for the same mission. Could it be that the initial group – the disciples – failed in their mission or felt overwhelmed by the responsibilities?

In verse two of today’s gospel reading (Lk 10:2), Jesus provided the rationale for sending additional individuals on the mission. He stated that the harvest was abundant, yet the labourers were few. Therefore, he chose to send more people on this mission, as the twelve he had previously sent would not suffice for the vast undertaking of bringing peace to homes and establishing God’s kingdom on earth.

Now, who were the 72 individuals that Jesus sent out? Clearly, they were not part of the 12 disciples, those who lived with Jesus and accompanied Him on His missions and can be regarded as the inner circle members of His followers, to whom He entrusted the responsibility of leading His Church. So, who were they? The gospel writers did not mention their names or provide any additional information about them. To be chosen for such a mission, these 70 must have been among those who regularly approached Jesus after their daily activities to hear the Good News. Therefore, they can be classified as the lay members of Jesus' followers, as they were not part of the 12 whom Jesus ordained to lead His followers.

While sending out these 72 indicates that Jesus desired more than just the apostles to participate in the mission of spreading God’s word throughout the world and establishing the kingdom of God on earth, it also signifies that Jesus did not want those who frequently came to Him for hearing the Good News to remain passive; instead, He wanted them to actively engage in the mission for which He came. What implications does this have for us?

Dear lay brothers and sisters, the task of establishing the kingdom of God on earth cannot be fulfilled solely by priests and religious. Jesus did not intend for lay people to remain passive within his Church. He did not desire them to be mere listeners of the word of God; instead, he encourages the laity to actively participate, particularly in sharing the good news within their homes, workplaces, and other areas that priests and religious may find difficult to reach. Lay people are those who engage directly with the tangible realities of our world. For instance, they are the individuals working in offices where government policies are formulated and executed; they operate in businesses that influence and govern the economy of society; they oversee the households where young individuals are born and nurtured; and they manage the entertainment and cultural sectors where ideologies are shaped and disseminated, among other roles.

Today, the Church is reminding all lay faithful that it is Christ's desire for them to actively engage in God's mission. Christian lawyers are entrusted with the responsibility of bringing Christ's message into the courts, Christian traders have the duty of sharing the Good News within their shops and businesses, teachers are encouraged to take the Good News to their classrooms, musicians are tasked with incorporating Christ's message into their songs, filmmakers are urged to promote Christ's values through their films, engineers are advised to carry God's message to their work sites and while providing quotations, and public officials and world leaders are called to let the light of Christ guide and shape their decisions, policies, and actions. Furthermore, parents are encouraged to bring the Good News into their homes and transform their families with Christ's values.

This responsibility assigned to the lay people is not meant to be fulfilled through loudspeakers and microphones; instead, it should be achieved by allowing their concrete actions and decisions to bear the mark of Jesus, as St. Paul indicated in the second reading. The concrete actions and decisions of the lay faithful should carry the mark of the cross of Christ, which was signed upon us on our foreheads on the day of our baptism. This mission will be realized if we decide never to glory in anything except in the cross of Christ, as St. Paul proudly proclaimed in the second reading.

When the 72 individuals sent by Christ took the message of peace to their respective communities, they returned with testimonies stating that even demons were subject to their authority. Jesus affirmed that He saw the devil fall like lightning from heaven. This great feat occurs wherever the Good News of peace is embraced; it dismantles the barriers of hatred, envy, chaos, and enmity. The eradication of these vices upon the proclamation and acceptance of the peace message paves the way for prosperity to surge like a river into lives, homes, workplaces, and society, as prophesied by Isaiah in today’s first reading. Conversely, those who shut their minds and doors to the message of peace will meet a fate akin to that of Sodom, as indicated by Jesus in today’s gospel reading.

Therefore, let us march out after today’s Mass to share the message of peace, love, holiness, harmony, and other values of Christ in our families, workplaces, businesses, and other environments, so that the reign of God may dispel the shadows of evil and our prosperity may flow abundantly like a river.

May you have a blessed Sunday.

Fr. Isaac Chinemerem Chima

 14^TH SUNDAY, YEAR C: REFLECTION BY FR. JULIAN EKEH

THEME: THE BEST REASON/WAYS TO REJOICE

(Luke 10:1-12.17-20)

In a world where people eat their cake and expect to have it, Jesus tells us the secret to joy. In a society where no one wants to take instructions, Jesus instructs us to heed in order to rejoice. In a world where peace is seen as outdated, Jesus gives the mandate to preach peace. In a society where fulfilment is no longer the issue but monetary achievement, God tells us to go beyond the here and now, but use our momentary joy to visualise what the eternal joy is like.

 

INSIGHT FROM THE GOSPEL

 

YOU'RE APPOINTED

To whom much is given much is expected. Yes, Jesus, in the appointment of the 70 disciples, announced that the harvest is indeed plentiful but the labourers few. For sure, well-meaning workers are few. In that your own area there are a lot of soils to cultivate. With that of your talent, there are a lot of achievements. "Onye a na- akpo nwere ihe O na eme." The Lord is not appointing you to disappoint Him. The Lord Jesus calls us in various capacities. He appoints us for a mission. He appoints to send us. He sends us as His ambassadors. He sends us to represent the values He has deposited in us wherever life catapults us to. Do you have a missionary spirit? Do you feel humbled by the fact that among all your peers, you're chosen for a specific task? Do you see your call in whatever sector as an opportunity to be responsible? How responsible are you as a father, mother, student, public, or private worker? Is there any remarkable positive difference between you as a Christian performing your tasks? Appointed as a governor, do you allow your Christian values to influence your policies? As a Christian police officer, what do you do to stand out from corruption? Just name your profession and attach the question about how far you have seen yourself as an appointed representative of God.

 

FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS

'Nti wu nka' is a popular Igbo adage, meaning that listening is a sure way to living long. In this context, it involves being obedient to instructions. To succeed in life, certain ordinances must have to be followed. Following instructions demands discipline.  A disciple is ready to learn. He is open to take in the good ideas that will lead him to actualise his life goal. Jesus today tells his disciples the "dos" and "don'ts" of the call He has given to them. To be happy, we must do the right things, follow the right directions, and shun the wrong ones. We must avoid those on our way who are enemies of our joy in the Lord. Our joy and salvation come undoubtedly from how we are able to be on the right track without being distracted.

 

ACCEPT PEACE AND GIVE PEACE

A life without peace is a disaster. In His word to the 70, Jesus made them understand the central message they are to carry to the world, namely, peace. Our world has failed in this great mission because we have all around us men who use their opportunities to create walls of hatred.  We have leaders who do not care about coexistence. We have citizens who see the language of peace as weakness. Jesus tells us today that if we go with this message into the world, the wars boiling because of the walls created would be demolished. But whereby people fail to hear it, let's not forget in our wisdom as the lambs in the midst of wolves to be awake and alert in self-defence.

 

REJOICE FOR YOUR NAME IS WRITTEN IN HEAVEN

God doesn't give a political appointment without an appointment letter. He has written your name in the book of life except if in your carelessness you choose to remove your name.  There's no anonymity before God. He knows you by name and has appointed you with that name. Jesus is of the position that it is a great cause for joy that our names are written in heaven. Are you living out here on earth what the heavens have written concerning you? Or have you decided to play the character and role of another? Thereby misrepresenting God.

At their return from the missions, the 70 were happy for the paraphernalia associated with their mission instead of the fact that they followed the instructions of their master and that it has been recorded for eternity in their honour. What are the things that give you joy? Are they really worth it? Do you also think of the joy of the Lord? The joy of the Lord should be your strength. St Paul would say: rejoice in the Lord, I repeat, rejoice. Let nothing steal your joy.

May God bless His word in your hearts.

BLESSINGS

 May you never toil in vain. May you follow faithfully along the path of your call and find peace in Christ. May you find fulfilment in your marriage, in your ministry, in your work, in your relationship, in your family, in everything you do. May you find good and a thousand reasons to rejoice all the days of your life and find peace in Christ who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen

Happy Sunday to you (the 14th Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year C)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh