Homily For Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B, 21st January 2024

The Sunday of the Enthronement of the Word of God.

Readings: Jonah: 3:1-5.10, Ps. 25, 1Cor.7:29- 31, Mark 1:14-20

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

 

MAKING THE WORD OF GOD AN INTEGRAL PART OF OUR LIVES

 

In his Apostolic Letter Aperuit Illis, our Holy Father Pope Francis on 30th September 2019, declared and instituted “A Sunday for the Word of God”, which is to be celebrated every third Sunday in the Ordinary Time of the Church’s Liturgical Year. This is what we are celebrating in a special way today.

 

The purpose of this declaration is to remind all Christ faithful that the Word of God as contained in the Scriptures is very vital and integral in the development of our faith in God. The Word of God in this case does not just refer to the Scriptures as we know it, but it also refers to Christ himself as our Lord and Saviour, the Divine Word made Incarnate.

 

Hence our readings today, emphasized the importance and significance of the Word of God in the lives of his people. In the first reading, we heard how Jonah was compelled by God to preach his Word to the people of Nineveh. For the scriptures says: that the word of the Lord was addressed to Jonah: ‘Up!’ he said, ‘Go to Nineveh, the great city, and preach to them as I told you to.’

 

Jonah set out and went to Nineveh in obedience to the word of the Lord. He went on into the city, making a day’s journey as he preached saying, ‘Only forty days more and Nineveh is going to be destroyed.’ The people of Nineveh believed in God; they proclaimed a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least and repented from their sins.

 

Similarly, in our Gospel passage, we heard how our Lord Jesus went into Galilee. There he proclaimed the Good News of God saying: ‘The time has come, and the kingdom of God is close at hand. Repent, and believe the Good News. Then, he called the first four of his apostles who were fishermen and they left everything and followed him, and he made them fishers of men as they committed themselves to living and preaching the Word of God.

 

Here, we see how God has chosen Galilee of the Gentiles, to be the place where his Word will be proclaimed so that they will repent and believe in the Good News and by so doing conquer the darkness of sin around them. For the Word of God conquers evil and sin. It brings order over chaos, security over danger, joy over sorrow, truth over falsehood, life over death and salvation over condemnation. Yes, Jesus begins his ministry in Galilee, his mission will be extended to the whole world. Hence, he called his disciples who will be instruments to extend his mission to the whole world.

 

Thus, Jesus calling these fishermen to follow him offers them the opportunity to observe him closely on a daily basis. By doing so, they will learn more from him in order to become familiar with his ways of doing things. They will unconsciously copy his manner of speaking, his gestures, his dealings with people. They will see how he solves problems and counters opposition. So that gradually, they will become like Jesus in thoughts, words and deeds.

 

This tells us about the sacrificial nature of discipleship which the people of Corinth failed to understand as we read in our second reading. Thus, we heard St. Paul telling them that our time in this passing world is growing short. That those who have wives should live as though they had none, and those who mourn should live as though they had nothing to mourn for; those who are enjoying life should live as though there were nothing to laugh about; those whose life is buying things should live as though they have nothing of their own; and those who have to deal with the world should not become engrossed in it. Because the world as we know it is passing away.

 

Dear friends, the questions we need to ask ourselves are: what is our response towards the Word of God we hear every day? How much of this Word dwells in us? What is my relationship with Jesus the Living Word of God made flesh and dwells among us? So, the emphasis on the Word of God today is very important to all of us the faithful people of God who have been called to follow the Lord.

 

Therefore, if we are to follow Christ faithfully, we must make the Word of God an integral part of our lives. We must cultivate the habit of studying the scriptures because the Word of God is our daily sustenance and the source of our strength and faith. Hence, we are called to make the Word of God the guiding principle in our lives. For in the scriptures, we find the strength and courage to promote good over evil, order over chaos, security over danger, joy over sorrow, truth over falsehood, life over death and salvation over condemnation.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we enthrone your Word in our lives, our families and in your Church today, grant we pray, that through the power of the Holy Spirit, we may come to discover the power and the efficacy of the scriptures in our lives as individuals, families and community of God’s people. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a blessed and lovely Sunday.