Homily for Thursday Twenty-Sixth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 30th September, 2021. The Memorial of St. Jerome

 Homily for Thursday Twenty-Sixth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 30th September, 2021. The Memorial of St. Jerome

Readings: Neh. 8:1-12; Ps.18  Luke 10:1-12

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

THE NATURE AND REQUIREMENTS FOR FULFILLING OUR CHRISTIAN MISSIONARY MANDATE

Oftentimes, we  find it difficult to actively participate in the mission of Christ, This is because the rebellious nature of humanity have always keep us away from responding to God's invitation to server, for we have always failed to understand God’s ways of doing things. However, God has not stopped caring and stretching his hands of love to us. In every generation God always send messengers to remind us of his love and plan for humanity.

Thus, in our Gospel passage today, we heard how the Lord appointed seventy-two persons and sent them out ahead of him, in pairs, to all the towns and places he himself was to visit. He said to them, ‘The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest. Start off now, but remember, I am sending you out like lambs among wolves. Carry no purse, no haversack, no sandals. Salute no one on the road. Whatever house you go into, let your first words be, “Peace to this house! 

Here, Jesus  gave us the nature and requirements for carrying out his missionary mandate successfully. So, to continue this great mission he invites his disciples and sent them out, commanding them to see themselves as someone who gives freely of the good they have received from God. Hence, we should offer to others what they have received from God, knowing that it has cost them nothing. We must live a life of detachment that is, in this mission, we  are to depend totally on God's providence. Unfortunate many of the disciples have to face rejection and persecutions from people, who through their rebellious attitude have refused to believe in God even though He has always been so patient, loving, caring and forgiving us.

This rebellious attitude of the human person is what brought about the capture and exile of the people of Israel, having gain their freedom, they decided to hear and mediate on the word and law’s of God, which when the word was read and interpreted they mourned, but Ezra said to all the people, ‘This day is sacred to the Lord your God. Do not be mournful, do not weep.’ For the people were all in tears as they listened to the words of the Law.

Dear friends, what is our attitude towards the missionary mandate of Christ? How has the Word of God shape our lives. Have you ever shade tears after listening to the word of God?  Today, as we celebrate the memorial of St Jerome, we recall his great contributions to the Church and the Christian faithful especially for his compilation of the Latin translation of the Greek Bible. Jerome who involved and experiencing all sorts of worldly pleasures as a young student of philosophy. But later his conscience led him to conversion into the Christian faith as he renounced all of his past sinful ways of life and devoted himself deeply into the study of the Scriptures, from which comes all his great works we are still studying today.

Therefore,  as disciples of Christ, we have received a lot from God without payment; we should learn to give without expecting reward. Calling us to acknowledge with gratitude all that we have received from God and give freely to others that which we have received. For this act of charity will purify us from pride and self-righteousness, because we are all recipients of God's love, mercy, forgiveness, favour, protection, healing and deliverance. So, we must offer to others these same gifts which we have received.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, today you gave us the requirements and nature of our missionary mandate. Help us to effectively following these requirements just like St Jerome, we ask this through Christ our Lord Amen. God bless you.