Homily for Thursday Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 11th November, 2021. The Memorial of St. Martin of Tours

 Homily for Thursday Thirty-Second Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 11th November, 2021. The Memorial of St. Martin of Tours

Readings: Wis. 1:22-8:1; Ps.119; Luke:17:20-25

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS ESSENTIALLY GOD’S REIGN IN THE SOULS OF HUMANITY

Oftentimes whenever we hear about the kingdom of God, two questions comes to mind, the first question is when is it coming? And the second question is how will it looks like? This disposition is not different from the Pharisees in our Gospel passage today who after hearing Jesus talking about the kingdom of God, asked him when the kingdom will come. This is because they presume that the kingdom of God is yet to come, and will be visible like an earthly kingdom. 

But, Jesus replies that the kingdom is already present though invisible, for the kingdom of God is within us. The kingdom is essentially God's reign in the soul of humanity through his Son Jesus. For with the presence of Jesus, the kingdom of God is already here among us. And within our hearts, God’s reign has already begun. So through our union with Jesus, we already have a foretaste of eternal life. 

However, Jesus said to his disciples, 'a time will come when you will long to see one of the days of the Son of Man and will not see it. They will say to you, “Look there!” or, “Look here!” Make no move; do not set off in pursuit; for as the lightning flashing from one part of heaven lights up the other, so will be the Son of Man when his day comes. 

Here, Jesus encourages his disciples not to get worked up, or even overly curious, about the end times and the second coming of the Son of Man. Instead let us concentrate on the here and now, especially on our relationship with him as we ponder constantly on his teaching. Jesus also warns us not to be distracted by fake prophets and preachers who claim private revelations about the end of the world. Rather, wisdom demands that we should focus on how to shape our life to attain the demands of God’s kingdom. 

Little wonder in our first reading we are called to chose wisdom for she is a breath of the power of God, pure emanation of the glory of the Almighty; nothing impure can find a way into her. She is a reflection of the eternal light, untarnished mirror of God’s active power, image of his goodness. For in each generation she passes into holy souls, she makes them friends of God and prophets; for God loves only the man who lives with Wisdom. And this is what we see in the life of St. Martin of Tours who after becoming a soldier and a Christian devoted his life in service to the poor and spreading the Christian faith as a way of building God’s Kingdom, for he founded a monastery and also was the bishop of Tours.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we await your Kingdom, help us to be well prepared for it whenever it comes. And through the intercession of St Martin of Tours, give us the grace to be faithful and dedicated servants, we ask this through Christ our Lord.  Amen. Do have a faithful day.