Homily Saturday Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time Year C, 20th August, 2022. The Memorial of St. Benard

 Readings: Ezek. 43:1-7, PS.85, Matt. 23:1-12

Rev. Fr.  Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

WHY WE NEED TO DO MORE OF WITNESSING THAN PREACHING?</p>

The difference between early Christian community and the present day Christianity is the mode of witnessing. The early Christian community practically preached the word of God by witnessing with their life, while present day Christianity are witnessing by preaching the word of God aloud with megaphones and all media channels and platforms, without sufficient practicing of what we preach. 

This unhealthy attitude towards our mission is what Jesus is addressing in our Gospel passage today, when he said to the people: “the scribes and the Pharisees occupy the chair of Moses. You must therefore do what they tell you and listen to what they say; but do not be guided by what they do: since they do not practice what they preach. They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but will not lift a finger to move them”.

Here, Jesus made it clear that we should listen to what the authorities are saying to us. However, we should not be such people who do not put into practice what we teach. So, as Christians we need to start practicing what we preach, we need to do more of witnessing then preaching. It is not enough to recall principles, state intentions, point to blatant injustice and utter prophetic denunciation. These kind of words lack the real meaning of our faith unless they are accompanied by effective action manifested in our way of life. This is what we see in the life of prophet Ezekiel in our first reading today, who having experienced the glory of God bored witness of it  with his life and constantly admonished of the chosen people of God while acknowledging the authority of God.

In a similar way, we need to acknowledge that our authority as Christians come from God, for we are not to pride ourselves as rabbis, teacher, pastors, prophet in our own name. Rather our actions should reflect the paternity of God in the way we live and serve others. Therefore let us imitate St. Bernard whose memorial we celebrate today, for he isa man outstanding in word and deed, who strove to bring order and concord to the Church.

Dear friends, let us strive to follow prophet Ezekiel and St. Bernard’s examples of faithfulness, dedication and total commitment to God, for they put into practice the word of God they heard. Teaching us that, it is not sufficient to speak, we have to practice. We are called not merely to hear God’s word but to daily put it into action. Let our actions reflect what we preach. Though, hearing or reading the Word is important, but that is not the enough. We must let the Word of God touch and shape our lives. For it is empty and useless if our lives do not reflect the Gospel, if we hear the words of Jesus and do not act on them.

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, grant us through the intercessions of St Bernard the grace to strive to practice what your word teaches us and so merit to share in your heavenly banquet. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a peaceful weekend