Homily For Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time Year B, 21st July, 2024

 

Reading: Jer. 23:1-6; Ps. 23; Eph.2:13-18; Mark 6:30-34

Rev.  Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

 

HUMANITY IS LOOKING FOR GOOD AND RESPONSIBLE LEADERS. ARE YOU ONE?

 

As humans we are constantly in need of one thing or the other, and one of the greatest need of humanity today is good and responsible leaders. This is even worst with the ugly situation in our world today were a lot of people are lost, confused and sick as a result of bad leadership.

 

There is no doubt that leadership is one of the characteristics of the human person, it is that which makes us unique from every other creatures. It is a gift from God by which we serve Him and our neighbour responsibly. However, a critical look at what is happening in our world today, it is obvious that humanity are losing the true meaning and essence of leadership. Because we have failed to understand the true meaning and source of leadership and this can be seen in the kind of fruit we bear as leaders.

 

The fruit of leadership in this generation is so complicated: leadership has become a tool for power tussle, selfishness, deception, greed, corruption and intimidation of people. This is because we have abandoned God who is the source and giver of true leadership skills and knowledge. Hence, we keep searching for leaders who will satisfy our desires for physical and spiritual well being and they are very difficult to find .

 

This situation can be likened to the condition of the people in our Gospel passage today of which Jesus and his disciples devoted time trying to attend to them. But when the situation got worst Jesus said to his disciples you must come over to some lonely place all by yourselves and rest for a while’; for there were so many coming and going that the apostles had no time even to eat. As they went through their boat, the people went after them on foot. So as Jesus got out of the boat he saw a large crowd; and he took pity on them for they were like sheep without a shepherd and he healed their sickness and taught them for a while.

 

Here, we see that the attitude of a good shepherd as well as that of a leader is a life of sacrifice, love, care, discipline, mercy and knowledge of the sheep or people entrusted to the leader. And this is what Jesus demonstrated with his life. By this action Jesus fulfills his role as the expected messiah who is to liberate his people from all kinds of diseases. The teaching and healing touch of Jesus reveals to us that God is faithful to his promises.

 

This healing and wholeness are offered as a sign of the presence of God’s kingdom among his people. For God has promised to take care of his people as we heard in our first reading today through prophet Jeremiah when he said: woe to the shepherds who allow the flock of my pasture to be destroyed and scattered. You have let my flock be scattered and go wandering and have not taken care of them. Behold, I will take care of you for your misdeeds and evil. For the days are coming when I will raise a virtuous Branch for David, who will reign as true king and be wise, practicing honesty and integrity in the land.

 

So, St. Paul in our second reading made us to know that Jesus is that Virtuous Branch. For we who are used to be so far apart from God have been brought very close, by the blood of Christ. Because he is the peace between us and God, since he has broken down the barrier which used to keep us apart, by actually destroying in his own person the hostility caused by the rules and decrees of the Law.

 

Therefore, Christ Jesus is that true shepherd that humanity is looking for, for in him we found this quality of a good shepherd that we all need to embrace. Therefore, to be that good shepherd like Jesus, we need to die to selfish desires of the human flesh, because most of the problems we face as humans are caused by selfishness and human greediness.

 

Dear friends, the hopeless and ugly situation in our world today are clear indications that we are just floating in this world like sheep without a responsible shepherd. Thus, we need to come to Jesus our true and Good Shepherd. We must make sure that nothing comes between us and the love of Jesus our Lord and also our love towards our neighbours. Because love is the fundamental root of leadership. Without true love for the people, there will never be a leader to be called a good shepherd.

 

Therefore, today we are called to come back to the source of love, God himself, who teaches us that love is an attitude of a true leader that seeks the good of others despite how we feel about them. He teaches us to be merciful, just as he is merciful. Love in leadership is an attitude that is sacrificial, an attitude that forgives, an attitude that accommodates, preserves, heals and builds up others when every other thing fails. This is the kind of attitude in leadership that the world needs now, the attitude that comes from the pure love of God and neighbours. Are you that kind of leader? Do you have that kind of attitude?

 

Brethren, how can humanity recover this leadership skills that is rooted in the power of love? How can we harness it to bear more fruit in our societies where it seem as if true leadership does not exist anymore? This is possible when we realize that we are products of love and are called to live out our essence, which is to love. We are called to be good examples to one another, imitating Jesus the Good Shepherd, who has been so loving and caring towards us.

 

And these we are called to reciprocate in our relationship with others and by so doing we will finally reach that grazing ground where all who followed Jesus the good shepherd in simplicity of heart will feed on the green pastures of eternity in heaven. Remember, in you resides that leadership of love that is lacking in your family and our society today.

 

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are lost in this passing world, as we come to you in need of good leaders  who will lead us through the path of  love, may you guide our sense of direction both physically and spiritually, and bring us once again towards the path of truth, love and fulfilment even in the midst of all the confusion in our world today. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do have a joyful Sunday celebration.