Homily For Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A, 22nd January, 2023

 

The Sunday of the Enthronement of the Word of God.

Readings: Is. 9:1-4; Ps. 27; 1Cor.1:10-13.17; Matt. 4:12-23

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

HOW OFTEN  HAVE YOU ENCOUNTERED AND EXPERIENCED GOD IN HIS WORD

 

On 30th September, 2019, our Holy Father Pope Francis in his Apostolic Letter Aperuit Illis, declared and instituted “A Sunday for the Word of God”, which is to be celebrated every third Sunday in Ordinary Time of the Church’s Liturgical Year. Today being the third Sunday in Ordinary Time year A, we are called to celebrate the Word of God. This is very important and significant since is light and strength of our faith.

 

The purpose of this declaration is to remind all Christ faithful that the Word of God as contained in the scriptures are very vital  and integral in the development of our faith in God. The Word of God in this case does not just refer to the Scriptures as we know it, but also refers to Christ himself as our Lord and Saviour, the Divine Word made Incarnate.

 

Hence our readings today, emphasis on making the word of God the light of our lives. In the first reading, prophet Isaiah talked about the lands of Zebulun and Naphtali, which were conquered by Assyrian in 732BC hereby dwelt in the darkness of oppression. So he predicted how God will liberate his people who live and walk in the deep darkness of oppression, how they will be set free by the great light of God’s glory.

 

These words of prophet Isaiah were fulfilled in our Gospel passage today, where the chosen people of God who dwell in the lands of Naphtali and Zebulun failed to drive out the Gentiles that are in their midst, instead they preferred to live with them in the darkness of corruption, sin and shame. These are the people to whom Jesus brought his ministry of the words of light in the midst of darkness that surrounded them. The presence of Jesus brought them great light.

 

Here, Matthew is saying that God has chosen Galilee of the gentiles, to be the place where His light will shine. And wherever light and darkness are used in scriptures, it connotes the power of good over evil, order over chaos, security over danger, joy over sorrow, truth over falsehood, life over death and salvation over condemnation. Though, Jesus begins his ministry in Galilee, his mission will be extended to the whole world.

 

Hence he called his disciples who will be instruments to extend his mission to the whole world. Jesus’ invitation to become disciples offers them the opportunity to observe him closely on a daily bases. And by doing so, they will learn more from him. In order to become familiar with his ways of doing things. They will unconsciously copy his manner of speaking, his gestures, his dealings with people. They will see how he solves problems and counters opposition. So that gradually, they will become like Jesus in thought, word and deed.

 

This speaks powerfully about discipleship which the people of Corinth failed to understand as we heard in our second reading. Hence they divided the body of Christ into groups of instrumental personnel of Christ, namely: Paul and Apollos. This is due to lack of good knowledge of the scriptures. Thus St. Paul, while reminding them that all were baptized into one Christ said: I appeal to you, brothers, for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ, to make up the differences between you, and instead of disagreeing among yourselves, to be united again in your belief and practice. Therefore, there can only be one loyalty,  that is to Christ alone, who is the Word Made Flesh and dwells among us.

 

Dear friends, the question we need to ask ourselves are: what is my relationship with Jesus the Living Word of God made flesh and dwells among us? What is my experience with the Word of God.  Have I truly encounter the Lord in his Word? What is my response towards the Word of God we hear everyday? How much of this Word dwells in us? How have we experienced and encountered God in his Word? How have I communicated my experience with the Word of God to humanity? How often do I reverence the Lord in his Word? How often have I shy away from speaking about God and his Word in my daily conversations with other people? How often do I obey  the instructions of the Lord through his Words

 

Brethren, the emphasis on the Word of God today is very important to all of us the faithful people of God. For if we are to follow Christ faithfully, we must cultivate the habit of studying the scriptures because the Word of God is our daily sustenance and the source of our strength and faith. We should make the Word of God the guiding principle of our lives.  For in the scriptures we find the strength and courage to promote good over evil, order over chaos, security over danger, joy over sorrow, truth over falsehood, life over death and salvation over condemnation.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we enthroned your Word in our lives, our families and in your Church today, grant we pray, that through the power of the Holy Spirit, we may come to discover the power and the efficacy of the scriptures in our lives as individuals, families and community of God’s people. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed and lovely Sunday.

 

 I pray that through the power of the Holy Spirit, we will come to discover the power and the efficacy of the scriptures in our lives as individuals, families and community of God’s people.

Today is my birthday, I thank God for granting me another opportunity to appreciate the gift of my life. Do have a glorious Sunday.🎷

 

 

 

WHAT IS OUR RESPONSE TOWARDS THE WORD OF GOD WE HEAR EVERYDAY

 

Today is the third Sunday in Ordinary Time year A, the Sunday we are called to celebrate the Word of God. This is very important and significant since our Holy Father Pope Francis in his Apostolic Letter Aperuit Illis on 30th September, 2019, declared and instituted “A Sunday for the Word of God”, which is to be celebrated every third Sunday in Ordinary Time of the Church’s Liturgical Year.

The purpose of this declaration is to remind all Christ faithful that the Word of God as contained in the Scriptures are very vital and integral in the development of our faith in God. The Word of God in this case does not just refer to the Scriptures as we know it, but is also refers to Christ himself as our Lord and Saviour, the Divine Word made Incarnate.

 

Hence our readings today, emphasis on the important and significant of the Word of God in the lives of his people. In the first reading, we heard how Jonah was compelled by God to preach his Word to the people of Nineveh. For the scriptures says: that the word of the Lord was addressed to Jonah: ‘Up!’ he said ‘Go to Nineveh, the great city, and preach to them as I told you to.’ Jonah set out and went to Nineveh in obedience to the word of the Lord. He went on into the city, making a day’s journey as he preached saying, ‘Only forty days more and Nineveh is going to be destroyed.’ And the people of Nineveh believed in God; they proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least and repented from their sins.

 

In a similar way, in our Gospel passage we heard how our Lord Jesus went into Galilee. There he proclaimed the Good News from God saying: ‘The time has come and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and believe the Good News. Then, he called the first four of his apostles who were fisherman and they left everything and followed him and he made them fishers of men as they committed themselves to living and preaching  the Word of God.

 

Here, we see how God has chosen Galilee of the gentiles, to be the place where his Word will be proclaimed so that they will repent and believe in the Good News and by so doing conquer the darkness of sin around them.  For the Word of God conquers evil and sin. It brings order over chaos, security over danger, joy over sorrow, truth over falsehood, life over death and salvation over condemnation. Yes, Jesus begins his ministry in Galilee, his mission will be extended to the whole world. Hence he called his disciples who will be instruments to extend his mission to the whole world.

 

Thus, Jesus calling these fisherman to follow him offers them the opportunity to observe him closely on a daily bases. And by doing so, they will learn more from him. In order to become familiar with his ways of doing things. They will unconsciously copy his manner of speaking, his gestures, his dealings with people. They will see how he solves problems and counters opposition. So that gradually, they will become like Jesus in thoughts, words and deeds.

 

This tells us about the sacrificial nature of discipleship which the people of Corinth failed to understand as we read in our second reading. Thus, we heard St. Paul telling them that our time in this passing world is growing short. That those who have wives should live as though they had none, and those who mourn should live as though they had nothing to mourn for; those who are enjoying life should live as though there were nothing to laugh about; those whose life is buying things should live as though they had nothing of their own; and those who have to deal with the world should not become engrossed in it. Because the world as we know it is passing away.

 

Dear friends, the question we need to ask ourselves are: what is our response towards the Word of God we hear everyday? How much of this Word dwells in us? What is my relationship with Jesus the Living Word of God made flesh and dwells among us? So, the emphasis on the Word of God today is very important to all of us the faithful people of God who have been called to follow the Lord.

Therefore, if we are to follow Christ faithfully, we must cultivate the habit of studying the scriptures because the Word of God is our daily sustenance and the source of our strength and faith. Hence, we are called to make the Word of God the guiding principle in our lives. For in the scriptures we find the strength and courage to promote good over evil, order over chaos, security over danger, joy over sorrow, truth over falsehood, life over death and salvation over condemnation.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we enthroned your Word in our lives, our families and in your Church today, grant we pray, that through the power of the Holy Spirit, we may come to discover the power and the efficacy of the scriptures in our lives as individuals, families and community of God’s people. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed and lovely Sunday.