Homily For Monday Ninth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 5th June, 2023. The Memorial of St. Boniface

Readings: Tob. 1:3:2:1-8; Ps.112; Mark 12:1-12

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

WHY ALL THIS WICKEDNESS, GREED AND CORRUPTION IN OUR SOCIETY?

 

Oftentimes, I wonder why there are so many evil, greediness and wickedness in the world, despite how God has blessed us with good things. This is evident in our Gospel passage today, marked by a growing conflict between Jesus and the religious and political leaders of his time. And Jesus illustrates this ugly event with an allegory of the Vineyard Owner which was directed towards the ugly attitudes of humanity.

 

In this allegory Jesus tells the story of a man who planted a vineyard, fitted it out with all that was necessary and then leased it out to tenants to cultivate. Now vineyard owner sent his servants to collect the dues and rents from the tenants whom he had entrusted with the care of his vineyard which he leased out to them. Those tenants were wicked and desired to keep everything they gained to themselves, hence they persecuted and killed the servants sent to them. The tenants also killed the son of the vineyard owner, whom the owner sent to them thinking that the tenants would respect his own son.

 

This allegory describes the relationship between God and humanity and how humanity has been summoned for a trial. Here, the owner of the vineyard is God, while the son represents Jesus Himself, the Son of God sent into the world to save humanity. Also the vineyard represents the world itself while the wicked tenants represent the ugly attitudes of humanity towards the resources entrusted to us by God.

 

Dear friends, why all this wickedness, greed and corruption in our society? Today our nation is on a trial before God, for God has presented his case against us, summoning our blessed land and mountains to act as judge between Him and the people of this country, by reminding us how He has blessed us with so many resources, skills, good weather and people. But we have misused them, neglected his message, committed a lot of evil and murder,  yet we are still crying, seeking for solutions and signs from God.

 

Today as tenants in God’s vineyard, we are called to change our attitude positively, we should turn away from greed, corruption, pride and ego. If not, we will likely end up like those wicked tenants who acted with such evil against their fellow men and even against the son of their master and were justly punished.

 

Therefore, what God requires from us today is for us to do justice, to love kindly and to walk humbly with him for our own good and the good of others. So, just like Tobit in our first reading today, we are called to care for one another. For Tobit never stop from sacrificing for the poor, the weak, the loyal-hearted, those in exiled, the sick and also burying the dead.

 

This is what we are called to do especially as we celebrate the memorial of St. Boniface today, we recall the humble way in which he spread the Good News as a renowned Bishop and Martyr of the Church. For he is being remembered for his many works of mission among the pagan peoples living in Germania, what is now known as the modern day Germany, where in early days of the Church, he established the foundation of Christian faith and there he suffered martyrdom in the hands of the pagans.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we celebrate the memorial of St Boniface, grant that through his intercession we may turn away from pride, greed and the corruptions of the this passing world and become steadfast in faith and in care for one another. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Wishing you the best of God's favour and blessings.