Homily For Thursday Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 27th July, 2023.

Readings: Ex.19:1-2.9-11.16-20; Ps. Dn. 3:52-56, Matt 13:10-17

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

WHY HAVE WE FAILED TO LISTEN TO THE LORD?

 

Reflecting on the present situation of our country, I must say that it is obvious that we are like sheep desperately in need of shepherd, as the present leaders have shown that they are not and cannot be the Messiah we are looking for, since we have continually involved in doing evil.

 

We have abandoned the God who has blessed us with all the good things of life in order to embrace the gods of money, wealth and have made ourselves gods to others. What we have in our country today are corrupt, greedy and selfish people who are like a leaky cistern that can not hold water because we have failed to listen to the voice of God calling us to repentance.

 

Little wonder in our Gospel passage today, we heard Jesus saying: “The reason I talk to them in parables is that they look without seeing and listen without hearing or understanding. So, you will listen and listen again, but not understand, see and see again, but not perceive. For the heart of this nation has grown coarse, their ears are dull of hearing, and they have shut their eyes, for fear they should see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their heart, and be converted and be healed by me”.

 

Here, we see the Lord’s sadness and anger at us for our selfishness, greed and ingratitude. For we are constantly disobeying God through our sinful, rebellious and unwilling attitudes to embrace and properly utilize what God has given us for the good of all. Thus, we constantly take God’s patience and kindness for granted. We have taken His mercy and compassion for granted.

 

Today, we are called to come back to God with all our hearts so that He will respond to our needs. For he will restore the fortune of the poor and put our enemies to shame as they will come quaking and trembling in fear of the Lord because of all the evil they have committed against and humanity. For we heard the Lord saying to Moses in our first reading today: ‘I am coming to you in a dense cloud so that the people may hear when I speak to you and may trust you always. Go therefore to the people and tell them to prepare themselves today and tomorrow. Let them wash their clothing and hold themselves in readiness for my coming.

 

Dear friends, without God in our lives we are nothing. So we are called to listen to the voice of the Lord calling us to repentance. Let it not be business as usual, for the righteous God will sent good shepherd to His people, who will shepherd us with his staff of justice, mercy, forgiveness and fidelity. Though not in the manner we expect. He will not lead us in any campaign against our corrupt and selfish leaders.

 

But he will lead us in campaign against an even more formidable foe, the devil and his agents. And when he has succeeded in overcoming them, our leaders and their corruption and selfish way of life will be taking care of. Then, his kingdom of peace and justice will be established and it will last forever. All we need to do is to trust in the Lord, ask him for directions and be docile to his words.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we have abandoned your ways out of selfishness and greediness. Help us to change this ugly way of life, so as to embrace your word and become vessel of love. May Christ our good shepherd guide our paths and lead us into his own dwelling place forever and ever. Amen. Do have a blessed.