25^th SUNDAY, YEAR B: HOMILY BY FR. JUSTIN ADIELE

THEME: “EMBRACING THE CHILDLIKE MENTALITY”

INTRODUCTION:

Today, Jesus continued to predict his Passion to his disciples and was never deterred nor perturbed like a child who is unaware of any lurking danger. He continued his journey and saving mission even through cities where he was once threatened. Like an innocent child, His mind was not warped with any worldly permutations and glories unlike his disciples. His mind was set on fulfilling his mission against all odds; His status, powers and authority would not stand in the way either. He must undergo the way of the Cross; he must be rejected, arrested, flogged, despised, humiliated, tortured, insulted and hanged on the Cross.

 

THE FIRST READING (WIS. 2: 12. 17 – 20)

In the first reading, we saw the kind of evil that goes on in the minds of those who have lost their childlike innocence/mentality; they set traps for the innocent/righteous; they deliberately sin against the law; they test the patience of the just with insults and torture; they plot the death of the innocent and the defeat of goodness. No one who has a childlike mentality can bear this amount of evil in their hearts and against another person.

 

THE SECOND READING (JAM. 3: 16 – 4: 3)

In the second reading, St. James pointed out the vices that make us loose our childlike mentality; and that is jealousy and selfishness which begets every other vile or evil practice against one another. But when we hold unto our childlike mentality which is pure, peaceable, gentle and sincere, we shall make a rich harvest of righteousness; free from deadly passions, fighting and killing for what we covet.

 

THE GOSPEL READING (MK. 9: 30 – 37)

In the gospel reading, while Jesus was teaching his disciples what he would suffer without putting up a single fight with all his powers, they were busy dragging who was the greatest among them. If they had continued in this direction, jealousy, envy, fighting and even killing for position will set in. Shocked at their lack of understanding, Jesus brought a little child to them and admonished them to embrace the childlike mentality. A child has no room for prideful competition. A child can leave the seat for others and sit on the floor. A child is not so self-conscious.  A child lacks the capacity/faculty to consider itself above another. A child could soil himself for Africa.

 

CONCLUSION

A Chinese master threw a banquet to which he had invited many people both low and high. Most of the important guests arrived in special carriages. It began to rain heavily and a large puddle of water collected right in front of the main entrance to the master’s house. An elegantly dressed old man also came in his carriage and stopped at the entrance in front of the pool of rain water. But while trying to get down, he slipped and fell into the mud water. His clothes were messed up and some other guests started making fun of him. He became ashamed, uncomfortable and decided to disappear from the banquet. A servant rushed to inform the master about what has happened, the master hurried to see the muddied guest and tried to persuade him to stay despite his soiled appearance; but the old man would not agree. The master intentionally fell into the mud water himself and was muddied from head to toe. Then he took his old guest by the hand and the two mud-men marched into the banquet hall and no one dared laughed nor said a word again. This was what Jesus did on the Cross. Like Jesus and this Chinese master, you can be a mud-man, a servant, and a child for others.

Happy Sunday!

Fr. Justin

 25^th Sunday Year B: Homily by Fr Isaac Chima

Theme: True Path to Greatness

Readings: Wis. 2:12,17-20; James 3:16-4:3; Mk 9:30-37

 

To have ambition in life is a wonderful thing. It is always good to aim higher in our undertakings. In fact, God created us to aspire for greater things and to bloom wherever we are planted. However, there are two things that we must beware of: the kind of ambition we entertain and the way we pursue our ambitions. In the readings of today, the church presents to us the kind of ambition we should not entertain, and what we are not supposed to do as we pursue our ambitions.

In the first reading of today, the author of the beautiful book of Wisdom placed before us the kind of ambition that should not be entertained and what we should not do as we pursue our ambitions. The setting of the reading was the wrong conception of life by the wicked. They conceived life as short, full of sorrows and directionless. So, to bring consolation to their souls, they decided to aim at living a carefree life and to be stumbling blocks in the lives of others. They said they will oppress the poor and crush whoever stands on their way. To the just, whose life contradicts what the wicked people have set as their goal, the wicked outlined perfect plans on how to destroy their lives. They said: “righteous people are nothing but nuisance, so let’s look for chances to get rid of them. They are against what we do… so, let’s put them to the test. We will be cruel to them and torment them.”

Dear friends, do we still have people whose ambitions are to cause nuisance to the society, to the families or any group they belong? Do we have those who plan the downfall of those who correct them? The first reading is a wakeup call to people who are ready to blackmail, oppress and destroy others just to achieve their goals. It is a call for a change to those who trample on others as they pursue their desires. It is a call for a change to those who are still selfish in the pursuit of their goals to the extent that they don’t care if they have to subject others to untold hardship or even kill in order to get to their goals. It is a wakeup call to those who plan the downfall of those who correct them. The Church calls for a change of such attitudes.

The second reading of today paints a vivid picture of the consequence of blind and selfish pursuit of ambitions. Saint James said where there is jealousy, selfishness and bitterness, there will also be disorder and every kind of evil. He clearly identified selfish desires and evil ambitions as the origin of the fights and quarrels among us in our families and groups in the society. It is even funny, as noted by Saint James, that people who are selfish in their desires count themselves as the wise people of our world because they often get what they want either by force or by cunning. But the truth, as Saint James also said, is that such wisdom does not come from God; it is, therefore, unspiritual and demonic. Saint James also showed us that God cannot grant prayers made for selfish desires.

Saint James finally advised us to always choose the path of righteousness and humble service which leads to lasting peace whenever we are pursuing a goal.

The gospel of today comes with a live demonstration of the lessons we read in Saint James. The apostles of Jesus were all aiming at the top position of their group, not according to the mind and mission of Christ, but according to their selfish interests and distorted understanding of what top position means. Did you notice that the apostles were already having a bitter argument? Perhaps, if it were not for the swift intervention of Jesus, what would have followed would have been quarrels and disintegration of the group.

Dear friends, through His intervention in the argument among His apostles on who will be the greatest, Jesus teaches the apostles and all of us as well that what makes one great in life and in the eyes of God is not the possession of the highest position, rather it is having a child-like humility and offering selfless service in any position one finds himself. He also teaches us that the best way to reach the highest position cannot be by oppressing others, by tearing others apart, by marching on others, by plotting the downfall of others or by blackmailing others, rather it is by welcoming and serving the vulnerable in our midst: the defenceless children, the despairing poor, the mentally ill and the marginalized. This is the path of righteousness in the pursuit of goals; this is the true path to greatness in life.

Dear friends, in our quest to be great in life, we must be ready to accept these four challenges: One, to put ourselves last. Two, to be the servant of all. Three, to receive and treat everyone, especially the most insignificant human beings, with love. Four, to expect nothing in return for service rendered. In today’s Mass, let us ask the Holy Spirit to help us to become truly great through humble and selfless service.

Fr Isaac Chinemerem Chima

 25^th SUNDAY, YEAR B: REFLECTION BY FR JULIAN EKEH

THEME: WHAT IS THE MATTER?

(Mark 9:30-37)

It is very obvious that in our various associations, institutions, organizations, and unions, we have conflicts, we have cold wars, we have full-blown wars, we have misunderstandings, and we have quarrels

Why can't we live in peace, why can't we enjoy harmony, why are we not growing, why are we stunted, why are we spending much of our times, resources and ingenuity foiling, packaging and sponsoring chaos, disunity, banditry, terrorism, agitations, etc?

Why is the Church not where it should be? Why is the government wasting its tenures fighting over frivolities? Why are brothers and sisters at enmity with each other? What's happening to the things that held us together? Why can't the pastor and the people of God be at peace? Why are the Christian men fighting against one another? Where are Christian mothers scandalously competing against each other?  Why are there unhealthy criticisms right, left, and centre?

Jesus became interested in these discussions among humans. He inquires into it today.

WHAT ARE YOU DISCUSSING ON THE WAY?

Jesus had just finished discussing with the apostles on how to lay down one's life, He went as far as using His own life as an example. But as they journeyed along the apostles started another discussion, a discussion that was a contraction to Christ's wish, a discussion that was not in line with the Divine order, a discussion they wouldn't like Christ to hear. Jesus heard them anyway. He knew what they were discussing. Yet He asked: What were you discussing? The word of God today said: "They were silent; because on the way they had discussed with one another who was the greatest."

Jesus is asking us today the topic of our discussion. In the face of the problems, crises, and difficulties we are facing in our world, Africa, Nigeria, and states. What are our leaders discussing? Election, of course, defections here and there, jumping around the ruling party.

What are our religious leaders discussing? Is it not popularity, positions, connections, power tussles, etc?

What is the major issues in our villages and towns if not which town should come first and which should come last, we see  neighbouring villages fighting one another because of traditional kingship and autonomy, to get political recognition and accumulations. Things continue to fall apart, and the centre cannot hold.

What are the led discussing if not how to overthrow the leaders, and what are the leaders discussing if not how to hold tight their positions while lording it over the people. Should this be the case?  Do we really know what makes one great in the sight of God? Are we not making mistakes by pulling others down to exalt ourselves?

Let us stop our vainglorious discussions and hear what Christ has to say. He gives us the example of the little child.

THE CHILD: THE SOLUTION TO THE MATTER

When Jesus found out that the problem was about who was the greatest, He turned and focused on the child as the solution to that problem. Let us receive the lessons from the child in Christ's arms. The child represents humility. The child stands for simplicity. The child means sincerity and innocence. The child is openness to growth, innovation, and greatness. The child is godly.

For us to be great, my dear people of God, we have to learn to be like the child.

Someone said that for a particular country to be good again that the elders and mature people should all be murdered. I agree with that. Let us put to death the aged corruption in us. Let us take up the child-like love that makes us see no difference between the rich and the poor. Let us be humble like the child to say I am sorry, come to roundtable discussion, and move on. Let us reconcile our differences and stop killing one another.

Once we embrace the simple life of the child, the holy life of the children of God, total resignation to the will of God and dependence on God while taking each other as one, all the useless things that used to matter for us will stop to matter. May God bless His word in our hearts.

LET US PRAY

Eternal God, we thank You for Your concern over the secret problems of our life. Listen to the discussions of our people and blot out our evil preoccupations. Give us your grace to put a stop to the wars of pride and prejudices. Make us instruments of Your peace and bless us with servant-leaders that would lead us to greatness through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Happy Sunday (25th Sunday, Ordinary Time, Yr. B)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh