Homily for Monday Twenty-Sixth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 27th September, 2021. The Memorial of St Vincent de Paul

 Homily for Monday Twenty-Sixth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 27th September, 2021. The Memorial of St Vincent de Paul

Readings: Zec.8:1-8; Ps.102; Luke 9:46-50

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

TRUE GRETNES IS ACQUIRED THROUGH HUMBLE SERVICE TO OTHERS

As human beings, we always desire to be great and be recognized as great. This no doubt has made our lives more competitive and comparative in nature. This competitive and comparative way of life is what the disciples of Jesus displayed in our Gospel passage today, where we heard how they were arguing about who is the greatest among them. This is quite surprising for them to be arguing for such intention at this stage of the life. This shows that his disciples had not grasped his teaching completely.

Here,  Jesus knowing the intentions of his disciples, showed them the way to identify true greatness and one who has such quality using the images of a humble child. So, Jesus surprised his disciples by linking true greatness to that of humility and simplicity of a little child and also showed how  children can be the subject of a parable that reveals the vanity and deception found in some great persons. Because children are docile, humble, teachable, loving, forgiven and dependent.

Thus, Jesus explains that in the kingdom of heaven, true greatness is found in humility and children serve as a symbol of humility  for they are dependent on adult for everything just as we also are dependent on God. Little children serve as concrete symbol of the simplicity which is a condition for entering the kingdom of heaven. So, in children we see these great virtues of simplicity and humility being placed. Little wonder, in our first  reading we heard  the Lord saying:  I am going to save my people from the countries of the East and from the countries of the West. I will bring them back to live inside Jerusalem. They shall be my people and I will be their God in faithfulness and integrity.’

Dear friends, today we are called to learn how to embrace greatness because true greatness are found in humble service to others. But this is exactly what many of us are lacking. For we are so proud, greed and selfish, as we are deeply attached to the pleasurable things of this passing world which prevents us from seeking true greatness that leads to heavenly kingdom. Therefore, let us learn from St. Vincent De Paul, who understand that true greatness is humble service to the poor.

 LET US PRAY: Lord God, we have become so much engrossed with the competitive activities of this world, seeking to be great in things that are passing away, grant that, we may embrace true greatness rooted in the humble service of our neighbours, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed and fruitful week ahead.