Homily For Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Year A, 18th June, 2023

Reading: Ex. 19:2-6; Ps. 100; Rom. 5:6-11; Matt.9:36-10:8

Rev.  Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

WHY ARE WE HARASSED AND HELPLESS LIKE SHEEP WITHOUT RESPONSIBLE SHEPHERDS?

There is no doubt that humanity is constantly in need of one thing or the other, we are never tired of searching for things that will satisfy our desires for physical and spiritual well being. This is even worse with the ugly situation in our country today where people are hungry and angry, confused, sick and completely broke as a result of some greedy and selfish individuals in our society.

Today in our country we are all suffering like sheep without responsible shepherds, no enough fund in circulation, fuel is not affordable, no light, no food, no good roads, no basic human social amenities, no much things to be proud of in this country, because we have constantly failed to do the right things or elect people of goodwill to manage public offices. This can be likened to  the situation and condition of the people in the time of Jesus as we have in our Gospel passage today. For when Jesus saw the crowds, he had compassion for them because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest’. 

Here, Jesus reveals God’s compassion towards humanity who were harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd. He then says to his disciples that there is a huge harvest waiting to be reaped. Calling on us to pray for God to send labourers into his harvest. And he then called his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits with power to cast them out and to cure all kinds of diseases and sickness.

By this action, Jesus fulfills his role as the expected messiah who is to liberate his people from all kinds of diseases and ugly situations. The teaching and healing touch of Jesus reveals to us that God is faithful to his promises. This healing and wholeness are offered as a sign of the presence of God’s kingdom among his people. And it also constitutes the basis of the Church’s liberating missionary activity, which is meant to spread throughout the world, thereby calling us into action. Hence, more labourers are needed, for Jesus sees how humanity are harassed and dejected, wandering aimlessly like sheep without a guiding shepherd. And because the souls of everyone in the world are so precious to God, he needs many more labourers to propel this mission. 

Little wonder in our society, today, the harvest is getting  bigger as never while people are getting lost and clueless as never before. But who are these labourers? They are not just the bishops, priests, or religious men and women. But every baptized person is called in different capacity to share the Good News of Jesus Christ with those around him/her. So each of us has a vocation, a call to save souls and build the Kingdom of God together, just as we heard in our second reading today that we were still helpless when at his appointed time Christ died for us sinners in order for him to save us and make us instrument to reach out to others. For we heard the Lord through Mosses in our first reading saying: if you obey my voice and keep my covenant, you will be my own possession among all the people; for all the earth is mine. I will make you a kingdom of priests, a consecrated nation.

Dear friends, the Lord is calling us on a mission, for sin and greediness have harassed us and made us helpless like sheep without responsible shepherd. So today we are called to be that good and responsible Shepherd. But how are we carrying out this mission and mandate of Christ? How strong is our compassion towards others? Do we know people who are harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd? Let us look at them for a moment and imagine Jesus looking at them and saying something to them. Do we feel harassed and helpless as a result of what we are passing through in life? Do we feel the need of Jesus’ help in some part of our life? Then let us turn to him and be restored.

Yes, it is obvious that the hopeless and ugly situations in our country today are good indications that we are just floating in this world like sheep without responsible Shepherds. Thus, we need to come to Jesus our true and Good Shepherd. We must make sure that nothing comes between us and the love of Jesus our Lord, even if we are troubled or worried, or being persecuted, or lacking food or clothes, or being threatened or even attacked, we must remain focused towards achieving our greater goal through goodwill. For these are the trials through which we triumph, by the power of him who loved us so much. So, we must ensure that neither death nor life, no angel, no princes of this world, nothing that exists, nothing still to come, not any power, or height or depth, nor any created thing, can ever come between us and the love of God made visible in Christ Jesus our Lord who is our true Shepherd. 

Therefore, let us come to Jesus our Good Shepherd and embrace his love and compassion. Let us have goodwill for one another. Let us be good leaders in any level we find ourselves.  Let us pray for good leaders especially this transition period. Let us appoint good and credible leaders in every sector and offices in our societies, not just president, governors and senators. Let us know those we are entrusting with the responsibility of managing public offices. By so doing, our prayers and desires for good leaders will be granted. 

So, today, each one of us are called to reach out to people at any particular corner of the field of harvest where we find ourselves. For we may be the last and only person who may have access to evangelize the people, starting from our families, neighbours, colleagues in the office and others who we encounter in life. The truth is that, we may be the only person who can brings the healing and compassion of Jesus into their lives. Remember, you received without charge, give without charge.’

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are lost in this passing world, as we come to you in need of your love and direction both physically and spiritually, give us the grace and courage to be faithful labourers in your vineyard. Guide us once again towards the path of truth, love and fulfilment even in the midst of all the confusion in our country, societies and families. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed Sunday celebration.