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

THEME: “TAKING UP THE POSITION OF SERVICE AMONG MEN”

INTRODUCTION:

Today is Mission Sunday, and the Church serves the world in different/various capacities; spiritually, socially, politically, morally, charitably and otherwise. There are therefore a million ways one can really be of service to the Church in her universal mission and service to humanity. And this service must come while we still live. A pig once lamented to the cow about his lack of popularity; how people speak of the gentleness and kindness of the cow and only speak about her (pig) with insult. She (pig) admitted that cows give milk and cream, but maintained that pigs give even more; bacon, ham and bristles. I don’t see why you cows are so highly esteemed. The cow thought for a while and gently replied the pig; “May be it’s because we cows are giving while we are living.” Serve and give while you are still alive!

 

THE FIRST READING (IS. 53: 10 – 11)

The first reading talked about the servant of God as one who took up bruises for others, who offered himself for others, who takes up the grief and travail of others, bearing their iniquities/sins upon himself. The missionary servant of God should be able to make some sacrifices for the people around him/her; should be able to take away some evil, pain, hardship, suffering and tears from others; should be able to bear the burden of others. Simply put, just share in the suffering of others to make it easier for them.

 

THE SECOND READING (HEB. 4: 14 – 16)

The second reading revealed Jesus as our high priest, who sympathizes with our weaknesses (not always judgmental); who has also invited us to draw near to his throne of mercy/grace where we find grace and help in time of need. Jesus knew that we need him and he made himself really and sacramentally available to us. We are also called today to make ourselves available and get involved in the Church’s universal mission of sympathizing and being of help to the weakness and needs of others. We can actually be the throne/source of help, strength and encouragement to others both in faith and physical wellbeing. People who draw near us should really get help, blessing and encouragement, and not rejection and disappointment.

 

THE GOSPEL READING (MK. 10: 35 – 45)

In the gospel reading, Jesus corrected an impression among James and John and the rest of his disciples. He re-educated them that the son of man came not to take a place of honor among men, but a place of service and to give his life as a ransom for many. In the God and in the Church, we do not vie for positions of honor but positions of service. Hence, whoever wants to be a follower of Jesus must of necessity become humble servants, missionaries and givers, for there lays our honour and greatness.

CONCLUSION

Brethren, it is service that will lead us to greatness. That is why Jesus advocated for a missionary and service/servant spirit for his disciples. Service to others is a virtue closest to charity/love which is the greatest and summary of all the divine laws. Jesus himself came to serve. He is the servant who offered to bear the sins, grief and bruise of the people in the first reading. He is the throne of help in the second reading. And He is the one who gave his life for us to live. You can also be same to the people and the world around you!

Happy Sunday

Fr. Justin

29^th Sunday, Year B: Homily by Fr. Isaac Chima

Theme: Selfless service and sacrifice: essential components of leadership.

Readings: Is 53:10-11; Heb. 4:14-16; Mk 10:35-43

Dear Friends in Christ, today is World Mission Sunday. On this day, the Church asks us to pray for all missionaries and for the success of missions, as well as to remember that Jesus still needs people who will continue to spread the Good News to all corners of the world. The readings outline some of the fundamental characteristics that missionaries ought to have; they also highlight a common mistake that some people have frequently made in their mission to lead and serve. 

In the first reading, Isaiah describes the Suffering Servant, who will suffer tremendously and be treated unfairly by men because of the sins of others. He will be despised, yet he will endure all his sufferings till the end. By His endurance and suffering, He shall make others righteous and win victory and salvation for them. He will become great by suffering for His brethren and, consequently, become an instrument through which others will be freed from the clutches of the evil one and saved.

According to the second reading, Christ was this Suffering Servant. It revealed that although He was tempted, He didn’t sin. Even though He is God, He humbled Himself and took the form of man. Through His mission on earth, He served humanity: He healed the sick, fed the hungry, raised the dead, and liberated those who were imprisoned by the devil. He was rejected and subjected to great suffering by men, yet He endured it all. He willingly offered Himself to die a shameful death on the cross in order to save mankind from sin. By His suffering and endurance, He saved mankind.

The gospel reading, however, revealed that the men He called to continue sowing the seed of salvation in the hearts of men across all generations did not understand the kind of service He expected of them. They were not considering themselves as servant leaders – leaders who will lead by serving the least of the members of their group. Rather, they thought that being a leader puts one in a position to command and be served by others.

Today’s gospel reading stated that James and John requested to sit at the right and left sides of the throne of Christ in order to reign with Him rather than to serve with Him. When the other disciples learned of the selfish ambition of James and John, they were enraged with the two brothers because they too had their sights set on those positions. Jesus used that opportunity to remind them and all of us, to whom He had given the mission of spreading the good news to the ends of the earth, that He called us to offer humble service to others and to sacrifice everything in us as we do so, rather than to lord it over others or to turn those we are meant to serve into our slaves.

The wrong conception of the mission to serve didn’t end with James and John and the other apostles at the scenario of today’s gospel; it still rears its ugly head in many of us who have been commissioned by Jesus to carry on His mission on earth, the mission to lead others to a better life on earth and to eternal life in heaven. Therefore, in a world where many people who are in leadership positions, both in the church and in the secular society, feel that leadership means to be served by others and to enrich themselves with public funds, and in a world where people think that being great means having people who serve them, Jesus is inviting us to understand that what defines real greatness and leadership – greatness and leadership after the mind of God – is service and sacrifice for the good of others. We must carry out our mission of leading others to a better life on earth and eternal life in heaven through humble service and sacrifice rendered in love.

Peace be with you.

Fr. Isaac C. Chima 

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

THEME: SERVANT LEADERSHIP: THE SOLUTION TO POWER PROBLEMS IN OUR WORLD

(Mark 10:35-45)

In a world where power and influence has eaten deep into the bone marrow of many, we are invited to ponder on the ideal sense of leadership, the true sense of power and indeed the right definition of the leader as a minister. Jesus looks into and addresses those who come to lead in the Society, in the Church, in the Community, in the various organizations and in the Unions to see if they are coming to lead or to Lord.

There is no peace in our world today, no harmony and understanding, no development and progress in our States, in Igbo land, in Nigeria, in Africa and other parts of the globe at large because people have come to power with no genuine intentions. Why do you aspire to be on the top? Is an underlying question today.

 

JAMES AND JOHN; POLITICAL ASPIRANTS

Was their intention genuine? James and John represent the elites who aspire for one political position or the other. They see themselves as "born to lead", they want to be very close to the corridors of power. They want the best positions. They wish to count themselves or be counted before others. They desire to be the 'primus inter paris' in their assembly.

This desire of theirs is not evil in itself. Someone must be at the top. Someone must occupy those positions they eyed. There must always be a leader for any organization to thrive. Why this aspiration? What will they do with this power when they get it? These are the questions. If the intention is to better the life of others, then it is good. If the intention is to bring lasting solution to the plights of their people, it is commendable. If the glamour is for the power not to enter into wrong and wicked hands, then it is wonderful. If the longing to rule is to use the spirit of Christ to save the people from crisis, it is noble. If the quest is to deliver a generation from degeneration, it must be encouraged. If it is to restore the true sense of the sacred and values erroneously redefined by the secular world, then our Lord will be happy.

Why are our leaders and leadership aspirants clamouring for votes and supports? Why have they refused to leave the office even at the end of their tenures? Is it not to amass wealth for themselves and their families? Is it not to use the powers in the office they occupy to deal unjustly with their enemies, opponents, and critics of their evil deeds?

 

IT SHALL NOT BE SO AMONG YOU

Jesus observed with disgust that His disciples were inordinately desirous of power and honour. He spoke to their hearts: "You know that those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you"

It shall not be so among you that you use your authority to impoverish the society. It shall not be so among you that you favour some people and maltreat others. It shall not be so among you that after condemning the excesses of past administrations, you go in and do worse. It should never be so among you that when you get the opportunity to take your people to their promised land, you betray them and sell their birth right over a plate of porridge. It should not be said of you that you use the blood of your people to lubricate your throne. 

 

THE FIRST MUST BE SLAVE OF ALL

Jesus asked James and John: Are you able to drink the chalice that I drink...? They said to Him: "We are able." This chalice is the chalice of service. It is the chalice of suffering. It is the chalice of thinking about the other person. It is the chalice of sleeplessness for the common good. Jesus says, "whoever wants to be great among you must be slave of all. For the son of man came to serve and not to be served, and give His life as a ransom to many.”

If politicians and leaders at different levels should know this truth concerning service and ministering, they will stop seeing leadership as a lucrative business that pays. They will think more about the service, the sacrifice, and the self-donation that is involved in leading the people.

 

LET'S BE IN COMPETITION TO LOVE AND SERVE

Unhealthy competition among the leaders and the led has set our people back so much. Destructive criticisms have done so much harm to us. Leaders should learn to complement the good work of their fellow leaders. The 'led' should appreciate their efforts when they are sincere.

If we can direct our competitions well, we shall make out something good from them. We will compete about who will love the other more and not be unnecessarily indignant about our fellow human beings. We will be at their service when the opportunity calls for that. May God bless His word in our hearts.

LET US PRAY

Heavenly Father, we thank you for revealing to us that humble service and sincere collaboration is the secret of greatness. Bless our world with this word and heal us from the cancer of bad governance that we are suffering through Christ our Lord. Amen

Happy Sunday (29th Week, Ordinary Time, Yr. B)

Rev Fr Julian O Ekeh