Homily For Friday Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 3rd November, 2023

Readings: Romans 9:1-5; Ps  147; Luke 14:1-6

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia

 

THE LORD CARES ABOUT OUR WELL-BEING

 

Most times when we reflect on the relationship between Jesus and his audience, we wonder how he was able to manage all the situations placed before him even when it seemed as if he had no escape root. Such is the situation in our Gospel passage today when on a Sabbath day Jesus went for a meal at the house of one of the leading Pharisees who had invited him; of which they watched him closely. Because in front of him was a man with dropsy, and Jesus addressed the lawyers and Pharisees saying: ‘Is it against the law to cure a man on the Sabbath, or not?’ But they remained silent, so he took the man cured him and sent him away.

 

Here, we see Jesus who always honours all his invitations whether from the poor or the rich, friends or ‘enemies’ including Pharisees and Sadducees whose invitation was a trap to set him up. But Jesus cannot be trapped, rather he used the opportunity to teach us that no Sabbath law, no religious restriction, can ever forbid us from being compassionate and caring for the poor and the sick. And St. Paul in our first reading made us to know that as God’s chosen people, we have been adopted as sons, we have been given the glory and the covenants; the Law and the ritual were drawn up for us, and the promises of God were made to us in order to completely embrace the will of God

 

Dear friends, we can see that nothing can stop the Lord from taking care of us. So, today we are called to learn how to be compassionate no matter the situation we may find ourselves, in because Jesus has always been compassionate to us. For this kind of attitude will help us to become pure and blameless, and prepare us for the Day of Christ when we all will reach the perfect goodness which the Lord Jesus planted in us for the glory and praise of God.  But, are we willing and ready to show love, compassion and care to those who need our love and care especially when it seems very difficult?

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we often wish to be compassionate and caring like you. But we often fail because of fear and lack of proper disposition. As we listened to your words today, may we find the courage to be compassionate and caring, we ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Peace be with.