Homily for Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C, 11th September, 2022

 Readings: Ex. 32:7-11.13-14; Ps.51; 1Tim.1:12-17; Luke 15:1-32

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

DO NOT BE LOST IN THIS PASSING WORLD FOR GOD IS SEARCHING AND WAITING FOR YOU <

One of the common behaviours of the human person is ability to make choices and everyday of our lives we make choices that we think are good for us. The root of any choice we make comes from the fundamental option we have made for or against God; to love or to be selfish, to be good or bad, to be holy or sinful. And any choice we make has great consequences which can be positive or negative as we have in the parables especially that of the prodigal son in our Gospel passage today. 

In this parable, we can identify three main characters: The Father, the elder son and the younger son. The three characters represent the attitude of group of persons in which Jesus was addressing in the Gospel. First the attitude of the tax collectors and sinners, who were seeking the company of Jesus to hear what he had to say. Secondly the attitudes of the Pharisees and scribes who complained, and then Jesus who is seen as a righteous man who welcomes sinners and eats with them.

Looking at the attitudes of these three characters in the parable, we can deduce that the attitude of the Pharisees and Scribes depicts that of the elder son who is obedient to his father but passes judgment on his disobedient brother, the attitude of task collectors and sinner depicts the younger son who seeks reconciliation and forgiveness from his father. While the attitude of the Father can be seen in the person of God (Jesus) who went out to welcome the prodigal son (task collectors and sinners) and goes out as well searching for the elder and dutiful son (Pharisees and Scribes). 

This parable is applicable to our present context, where the Church is seen as the merciful Father, who welcomes, accommodates and lavishes her love on both saints and sinner. The saints are witnesses to God’s grace while repented sinners are witnesses to God’s mercy. This is evident in the life of St. Paul who never forgets that he was once a grave sinner who was once an enemy of the Church of Christ but had experienced God’s mercy and now bears witness to this mercy and grace among the saints of God as we heard in our second reading today. 

So, we can say that the saints and the righteous ones in the Church are seen as the elder son who is obedient and faithful to the Father but with a sense of entitlement and resentment for sinners. While sinners and unbelievers are seen as the prodigal son who has traveled to a far distance country seeking to come back to the Father, just like the people of Israel in our first reading today who abandoned God and fell back into idolatry. They were to be punished by God but he pardoned them through the intercessions of Moses.

 Therefore, the questions we should ask ourselves are: where do I belong in the whole picture of today’s parables? Am I lost in sin? have I traveled far away from God and his Church? Where am I now in my relationship with God, what is the state of my life? what is my attitude towards my neighbour, my family, my father, mother, children? What is my attitude towards those who have offended me in a grievous ways? What is my attitude towards notorious sinners (armed robbers, murderers, prostitutes, drunkards, drug addicts,  womanizers, liars, the wicked, greedy and corrupt people) can I accommodate them if repented?

Dear friends, we must not allow ourselves to get lost in this passing world because of sins, for God is calling us to repentance. God is searching and waiting for us. Sin has taken us away from God, is time to come back. We are lost in a far away land of sin, is time to come back. The excess desire for the things of this passing world has separated us from God, is time to come back.  Unforgiveness, greed, corruption, wickedness, resentment and jealousy have separated from God, is time to come back to God. It doesn't matter what we have done, how sinful we may have been, no matter how grievous. God is searching and waiting for us to come back.  He wants to hear us say like the prodigal son: I will arise and go to my Father and say Father forgive me for I have sinned against heaven and before you. 

Friends, God wants to meet us at the confessional, he wants to meet us in the Eucharist, he wants to meet us in those persons we have offended and those who have offered us. He wants to meet us in those we have refused to forgive. He wants to meet us in our families, in your husband, your wife, your children, your father and mother, your neighbours, your colleagues in the office and market places. He wants to meet you in that man who is suffering in prison and hospital because of your unforgiveness. All he wants us to do today is to say, am sorry to those who we have offended and to forgive those who have offended us.

The choice is yours, don't wait until is too late. Why not put a call to someone today and say to him or her am sorry, I have forgiven you, I just realized how wrong I have been, please forgive me. If we can do this, then we will see how blessed our life will be in this season and we will find reason to rejoice at the end. Remember that conversion is not just about sinners becoming holy, is more than that. Is about  experiencing and acknowledging the love of God everyday of our lives. 

LET US PRAY: Heavenly Father, sin has separated us for your love, as we listen to your words today, may we come back to you just like the prodigal son, with repented heart and strong will to remain faithful like the dutiful son, knowing that you as our merciful Father awaits our return. This we ask through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed Sunday celebration.