Fr. Martin Eke, MSP - Homily for Ordinary Time (A) February 19, 2023

 

Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18; Psalm 103:1-4, 8, 10, 12-13; 1 Corinthians 3:16-23; Matthew 5:38-48

 

First reading: Israelite community was instructed, “Be holy, for I the Lord, your God, am holy.’” Second reading: St. Paul wrote to the Corinthians: “Brothers and sisters: Do you not know that you are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” Gospel reading: Jesus said to his disciples: “So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

 St. Paul says, “There is no righteous one, not even one …” (Romans 3:10). “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God…” (Romans 3:23). How, then, can we be perfect and holy as God? How, then, can we, sinners, become a dwelling place of the Spirit of God? Although we are all sinners, the readings invite us to draw from God’s holiness (goodness and mercy) and share with others the goodness and mercy we have drawn from God. We draw from God’s goodness and mercy through this Mass we are celebrating, through the word of God we hear, through our prayers, and through the Holy Communion we receive. The fruit of all these is that we become communicators, dispensers, and reflectors of God’s goodness and mercy to others.

 The first reading states, “You shall not bear hatred for your brother in your heart.” If we have drawn from God’s holiness, we will not have hate in us. 1 John 3:9 says, “No one who is begotten by God commits sin [bears hatred], because God’s seed remains in him.” Jesus encouraged us last Sunday, “Go first and reconcile with your brother/sister, and then come to offer your gift;” for God detests the gift of the angry person and the unforgiving person (Proverbs 15:8). 1 John 3:15 tells us, “Everyone who hates a brother or a sister is a murderer.” The first reading continues, “Take no revenge and cherish no grudges against any of your people.” St. Paul advises us, “Beloved, do not look for revenge but leave room for the wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord’” (Romans 12:19).

 In today’s gospel, Jesus nullifies the Mosaic Law that permitted a protective and proportional retaliation or punishment on an offender, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth” (Exodus 21:24). Rather, Jesus tells us to offer no resistance to an evil person, to turn the other cheek, to hand over one’s cloak, and to go the extra mile (Matthew 5:38-41).

 Sometimes, we have a hard time understanding this radical teaching of Jesus. The following suggestions may help: (1) We are to take the path of peace and reconciliation. (2) We are not to take the path of revenge and retaliation by repaying evil with evil, but treat those who hate us kindly. (3) We are to forgive our offenders. (4) We are to pray for our offenders.

 If we are unable to do these, we are no different from ‘tax collectors’ and ‘pagans’ (ungodly people).

 How can we apply “offer no resistance to one who is evil” to practical life? If a dangerous armed robber who is ready to kill me demands, “Your wallet or your life!” I should be wise enough to choose life over wallet.

 It is very challenging to live out the radical teachings of Jesus in our world infested with dishonesty, corruption, oppression and violence, and where bad people do every imaginable and unimaginable evil to get what they want. Does Jesus teach his followers to succumb and submit to forces of evil and evil people in the name of love, peace, reconciliation, forgiveness, and prayer? No!

 St. Paul assures us that we are the temples of God and the Spirit of God dwells in us (1 Corinthians 3:16). The Spirit of God in us is not “a spirit of fear, but one of power, love and sound judgement” (2 Timothy 1:7). It is based on the sound judgement that the Catholic Church states in Vatican II, Gaudium et Spes, no. 79, “As long as the danger of war persists and there is no international authority with necessary competence and power, governments cannot be denied the right of lawful self-defense, once all peace efforts have failed.” Based on lawful self-defense Jesus says, “One who does not have a sword should sell his cloak and buy one” (Luke 22:36). Has Ukraine the right to defend herself against Russia’s invasion and atrocities? Yes!

 Lawful self-defense and sound judgement played out in this news item:

 In 2020, a man started shooting into a church congregation in Texas. Within seconds, a volunteer security guard returned fire and killed the gunman. The gunman had already shot two congregants, who died. There were more than 250 people in the church that day. Many credit the security guard for saving many lives. A grand jury declined to indict the security guard because he took out the threat that was endangering other lives, which he did responsibly and justified under Texas law. The security guard was, later, awarded a medal of courage by the state governor. 

 While we obey Jesus’ commandments of not resisting the evil person, turning the other cheek, offering our cloak, and going the extra mile, we must, also, be able to contend with the world infested with evil. Jesus says, “Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves” (Matthew 10:16).

 Let us pray:

 

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP - Homily for Christmas Year A- December 25, 2022

Homily of Christmas, 2022

Isaiah 9:1-6, Psalm 96:1-3, 11-13; Titus:11-14; Luke 2:1-14

Christmas celebration is the most festive time of the world. While Christians celebrate the commemoration of the birth of Jesus, the effects of the celebration are felt all over the world.

The word ‘Christmas’ originates from the Latin phrase 'Cristes Maesse,' meaning Christ’s Mass.

In the 1960s and 1970s, when I was a child and growing up and Christmas was approaching, the children looked forward to new clothes and shoes which we would wear to attend Mass on Christmas day. The new clothes and shoes were very precious to us. I still remember the excitement of the expectation of Christmas day, and the joy of wearing my Christmas clothes and shoes. Christmas day meals were, also, special. The newness Christmas brought was impressive and remarkable. Now, as an adult, my attention is no longer on new clothes and shoes, and special meals. Rather, my attention is on the spiritual newness the commemoration of the birth of Christ brings. We pray to receive the precious spiritual gifts this Christmas brings to launch us into the new year.

Mary and Joseph travelled 100 miles (161 kilometers), a four-day journey, on foot, from Nazareth to Bethlehem, to register at the census which was ordered by Quirinus, the Roman governor. Scripture tells us that there was no inn for them to lodge in. Therefore, they went to a shed on a farm where Mary gave birth to Jesus. “She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger” (Luke 2:7). We pray for the grace of acceptance, perseverance, and thoughtfulness like Mary and Joseph.

Jesus was born in an animals’ shed because human beings could not provide an inn for Mary and Joseph. The commemoration of the birth of Jesus is our opportunity to provide an inn for Jesus to be born again in our life.

The best way to celebrate Christmas is when we embrace the message of peace Jesus, the Prince of Peace, gives to us at Christmas. We have resumed the Gloria from Christmas Vigil Mass; “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of goodwill;” first sung by the angels at the birth of Jesus (Luke 2:14).  The angels make it clear who receives the peace; “people of goodwill;” not people of bad will. ‘“There is no peace for the wicked,’ says the Lord” (Isaiah 48:22).  We pray to become people of goodwill so that we may receive Jesus’ peace in our hearts, homes, Churches, neighborhoods, communities, countries, and the world, especially the places experiencing violence and war.

Pope Francis gave a beautiful message on Christmas in 2017 which can help in our reflection.

Christmas is You:

"Christmas is usually a noisy party: we could use a bit of silence to hear the voice of Love.

Christmas is you, when you decide to be born again each day and let God into your soul.

The Christmas pine is you, when you resist vigorous winds and difficulties of life.

The Christmas decorations are you, when your virtues are colors that adorn your life.

The Christmas bell is you, when you call, gather, and seek to unite.

You are also a Christmas light, when you illuminate with your life the path of others with kindness, patience, joy, and generosity.

The Christmas angels are you, when you sing to the world a message of peace, justice, and love.

The Christmas star is you, when you lead someone to meet the Lord.

You are also the wise men, when you give the best you have, no matter who.

Christmas music is you when you conquer the harmony within you.

The Christmas gift is you, when you are truly friend and brother of every human being.

The Christmas card is you, when kindness is written in your hands.

The Christmas greeting is you, when you forgive and reestablish peace, even when you suffer.

The Christmas dinner is you, when you give bread and hope to the poor man who is by your side.

You are, yes, Christmas night, when humble and conscious, you receive in the silence of the night the Savior of the world without noise or great celebrations; you are a smile of trust and tenderness, in the inner peace of a perennial Christmas that establishes the Kingdom within you.

A very Merry Christmas for all those who look like Christmas."

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP

Homily of Thirty-Fourth Sunday Year C, Christ the King, 2022

2 Samuel 5:1-3; Psalm 122:1-5; Colossians 1:12-20; Luke 23:35-43

The feast of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, was established by Pope Pius XI in 1925, not long after the end of the First World War. The pope established the feast as a statement of faith against the prevailing ideologies of communism and secularism at that time. The two ideologies attempted to exclude faith, religion, and God from humanity. This feast is even more relevant to us nowadays that we are facing many anti-Christian and anti-Catholic ideologies, and persecution of Christians. By celebrating this feast, we are upholding the teachings of the Scripture, the teachings of the Church, and continue to proclaim Jesus Christ as our leader and king, no matter the direction the world is moving to.

 In the first reading, all the tribes of Israel came to David and recognize him as their savior, their shepherd, and their king. Our celebration today is a re-enactment of what took place in the first reading. Jesus Christ is our new King David. We are celebrating him as our Savior, our Shepherd, and our King.

The kingship of Jesus is not earthly but spiritual. Jesus’ disciples and followers never understood his spiritual kingship. Even on his last day on earth they still asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6). In the second reading, St. Paul explains the spiritual kingship of Jesus, “He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For in him were created all things in heaven and on earth, the visible and the invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers; all things were created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he himself might be preeminent (all surpassing) … whether those on earth or those in heaven.” St. Paul states in the reading that we are members of his kingdom; and in him we have redemption and forgiveness of sins. For this reason, 1 Peter 2: 9 call us, “kingly people.” For this reason, also, St. Paul challenges us, “This saying is trustworthy: ‘If we have died with him, we shall live with him, if we persevere, we shall reign with him’” (2 Timothy 2:11).

To reign with Jesus, we are to: put Jesus first in all things; trust and have faith in him; obey his words and imitate him; proclaim him as the way, the truth, and the life; witness him by our words and our actions; suffer for the sake of his name; overcome sin; pray through him; and do all things in his name.

It is through our discipleship that the world continues to see and experience the kingship of Jesus. Indeed, we are kingly people; whom he bestowed the mandate to make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19); whom he gave authority over snakes, scorpions, and all powers of the enemy (Luke 10:19); and whom he gave authority to cast out demons and heal the sick (Mark 16:17-18). But if the kingly people become weak, afraid, submissive, timid, confused, and lose their mandate and authority, the kingship and the kingdom will suffer violence.

The kingship and the kingdom suffer even more violence if the members of the kingdom turn against each other, and as a result work against the kingdom. Members of the kingdom cause violence to the kingship and the kingdom when they scatter instead of gather; when they pull down instead of build up; when they fight instead of make peace; when they hate instead of love; when they divide instead of unite; when they incite bad blood instead of reconcile; when they compete instead of cooperate; when they work against instead of work together; when they discourage instead of encourage; when they oppose instead of give support; when they harden heart instead of show compassion; when they are selfish instead of being selfless; and so on. Jesus says, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste, and no town or house divided against itself will stand” (Matthew 12:25).

The kingdom is not remote in a distant land, or in the heavens, or across the sea. Jesus says, “The kingdom of God is among you” (Luke 17:21). The kingdom is our home, our parish, our church, our neighborhood, our society, our work place, our business place, our market place, our gatherings, someone in need of your help, and so on.

 May we be ruled not by our human thinking, not by the world and its attractions and desires, and not by the Evil One and his works. May we be ruled by Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe. Amen.

 

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP

 

Homily of Thirty-Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C, 2022

 

Malachi 3:19-20; Psalm 98:5-9; 2 Thessalonians 3:7-12; Luke 21:5-19

 

The Church’s Liturgical Year ends next Sunday with the celebration of the solemnity of Our Jesus Christ, the King of the Universe. Like last Sunday, the readings of this Sunday invite us to continue our reflection on end of time, judgement, and afterlife. The Four Last Things, according to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, are “Death, Judgement, Heaven, and Hell.”

 

In the first reading, Prophet Malachi re-emphasized some themes that run through the entire Scripture. First, those who lived wicked lives while on earth would not go unpunished. Prophet Malachi’s description is frightening, “the day that is coming will set them on fire…” Second, for those who lived righteous lives, “there will arise the sun of justice with its healing rays.”

 

There are people who do not believe that there is life after death, or there is judgement and reward at the end of earthly life. We know the fundamental truth; our actions have rewards or consequences. Is it not foolishness to exclude this fundamental truth to what happens at the end of our earthly life?  For us who believe the Scripture, since we look towards meeting God at the end of life, and seeing him as he truly is, let us make the effort to live life that will lead us to him.

 

In the second reading, some Thessalonians misunderstood the meaning of the second coming of Christ. They took the “coming soon of Christ” literally; and for that reason, felt that there was no need to work. Since “an idle mind is the devil’s workshop” they were conducting themselves in disorderly ways. St. Paul warned them, “If anyone was unwilling to work, neither should he eat.” It is true that there are people who want to eat but refuse to work. There are people who reap where they did not sow. There are people who cheat, steal, rob, and kill others to eat. It is to such people Jesus says that they will perish, unless they repent (Luke 13:3). But for us believers, let us fight the good fight, run the good race, keep the faith, and wait for the crown of righteousness the Righteous Judge will award us on that day (2 Timothy 4:7-8).

 

In the Gospel, Jesus prophesied about the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem; “All that you see here – the days will come when there will not be left a stone upon another stone that will not be thrown down.”  This prophecy, the destruction of the temple and Jerusalem took place in 70 A.D by the Romans. We can interpret that we represent the temple. And the truth is that at a time, every life will have an end. When we hear about the end of the world, our immediate expectation should not be the day when the world will come to an end. Our attention needs to be on the end of everyone’s life which, as we know, can be at any moment. The important questions are:  Are we fighting the good fight? Are we running the good race? Are we keeping the faith? At the end of our earthly life, St. Paul writes, “each of us shall give an account of himself to God” (Romans 14:12).

 

Jesus warned us in the Gospel about the emergence of false prophets and fake pastors who would use the various disasters and afflictions which occur to people and in places as weapons to frighten and terrorize people. Jesus says, “See that you are not deceived, for many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am he’ and ‘The time has come.’ Do not follow them….” They prophesy in Jesus’ name, cast out demons in his name, and do mighty works in his name but they are agents of the Evil One (Matthew 7:22-23). Nowadays, false prophets and fake pastors (evil doers) are everywhere deceiving, cheating, abusing, extorting, killing, and stealing from those who do not listen to Jesus’ warning. Jesus encourages us that afflictions, disasters, and persecution should lead to our giving testimony. Jesus says in the Gospel, “By your perseverance you will secure your lives.” For those who persevere, trials are channels of blessings.

 

Unfortunately, some people are afraid or reluctant to reflect about death or make some necessary preparations concerning their death. Reluctance or fear does not remove the reality which faces all of us; everyone will die, sooner or later. No one is sure what awaits him or her. Philosopher Martin Heidegger says, “As soon as we are born, we are old enough to die.” Therefore, getting oneself ready for this reality cannot be over emphasized. Is there a Will to be written? Are there records to be made straight? Is there information to be shared? Are there property or money to be allocated? Are there arrangements to be made? Are there issues to be attended to or be resolved? And so on. Physical preparation is, equally, very important so that at the end of one’s life, those left behind are not left in the dark.

 

The Lord says to each one of us, “‘Behold, I am coming like a thief.’ Blessed is the one who watches and keeps his clothes ready, so that he may not go naked and people see him exposed” (Revelation 16:15).

 

Fr. Martin Eke, MSP