Homily For Thursday Thirty-Third Week in Ordinary Time Year A, 23rd November, 2023

Readings: 1Macc. 2:15-29; Ps. 50; Luke:19:41-44

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

JESUS WILLS THAT HUMANITY SHOULD KNOW THE THINGS THAT MAKE FOR PEACE

 

Peace is what every human person desires to have. It is a necessary commodity in human societies. A city that has peace is surely to have great success. It is the dream of everyone. But a city that lacks peace is disastrous. Little wonder today in our Gospel passage, Jesus wept over the city of Jerusalem. For Jesus who is the King of peace came to Jerusalem a city whose name stands for peace but found no peace in it.

He looked at the city and its coming disaster which would indeed happen in a few decades after his death and then comes its destruction by the hand of the Romans. So he wept and prayed for its people. Since they have rejected the peace that God is offering them, they have no option but to face the consequences. Jesus felt deep sorrow at the city’s resistance to God’s word, wishing that they might receive what God was offering them. He said: “Would that even today you knew the things that make for peace”.

 

Today we too can look around us,  our families, our cities, societies, country and the world at large, and feel sorrow at so much greed, corruption, suffering and disregard for truth, justice and what is right and discover that peace is nowhere to be found. And if humanity is not careful with the grave danger around us despite the great works of science and technology, the only place we can find peace will be in the grave at the dread peace of death. Those in Gaza, Ukraine and some parts of our country will have a better understanding of the seriousness of this reality around us.

 

But we should not be afraid. Rather, we should draw strength from Mattathias in our first reading today who courageously resisted the order of the king who requested that the people of Israel should turn away from the Law and ordinances of God. Raising his voice, Mattathias retorted, ‘Even if every nation living in the king’s dominions obeys him, each forsaking its ancestral religion to conform to his decrees, I, my sons and my brothers will still follow the covenant of our ancestors. So nothing should make us for the sake of the teachings of our Lord, for Jesus the Lamb of God has triumphed over all evil. He has been glorified and as such has purchased for us our eternal peace and salvation.

 

Dear friends, we must be courageous because, despite the challenges and trials that we have to face in this passing world, we have the Lamb of God, triumphant and victorious by our side. He tells us that even though tribulations will come our way in form of the doom and destruction like that of Jerusalem, we should be steadfast for in God we shall be triumphant since Jesus wills that humanity should know the things that make for peace. So, if we can consider the words of Jesus and embrace the peace and love he is offering us, we will realize that he longs for our good and growth.

 

Remember, there are many temptations and distractions in this world trying to mislead us and separate us from our God. Let us not be misled by these things. Let us remain firm in our faith and let our lives shine with the light of Christ so that his light will illuminate all the darkest moments in our lives, in our families, societies, country and the world at large. For the Lord wishes to lead us to the final victory that he has won for us. But are we willing to commit our lives to Christ? All we need to do is embrace all the possibilities of peace and love that God is offering to us every day. Then it shall be well with us.

 

LET US PRAY, Heavenly Father, you are the King of peace and in Christ your son you have offered humanity peace. But we have failed to embrace it. As we struggle with the ugly situation in our families and the world today, may the peace of Christ reign in our hearts, homes, societies, country and the world at large. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Remain blessed.