Homily For Tuesday Twenty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 17th September, 2024

 

Reading: 1Cor. 12:12-14.27-31; Ps. 100; Luke 7:11-17

Rev.  Fr. Emmanuel Emenike  Onyia

 

DO NOT CRY FOR GOD WILL RESTORE YOUR JOY BACK

Pondering, on the struggles, fears, tears, disappointments and betrayals that people are passing through everyday just to survive in this world. How some people have lost hope in themselves and even in everything they do, just like the widow of Nain in our Gospel today who had lost her only son, her only hope, the only thing she had. But it pleased God to restore her joy back even when all hope had gone.

For we heard  that when Jesus saw the woman he felt sorry for her and said: ‘Do not cry’. Then he went up and put his hand on the bier and the bearers stood still, and he said, ‘Young man, I tell you to get up.’ And the dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Everyone was filled with awe and praised God saying, ‘A great prophet has appeared among us; God has visited his people.

Here we see the compassionate heart of Jesus on the widow and the restoration of her son show us that God on appointed time will restore our lost hope and confidence again, so that we will know that he, the Lord, is our God. He made us and we belong to him for eternal is his merciful love and he is faithful from age to age.

Dear friends, I don’t know what you are passing through now? I don’t know what seems to be lost in your life or in your family? I don’t know how bad things has become for you now. One thing I know is that God has not abandoned you. God has not forgotten you. Do not cry for God will restore your joy back. Your time has come, it may be today, this month, this year or very sudden just like this widow.

All we need to do is to pay attention to what St. Paul is telling us in our first reading today when he said: Now you together are Christ’s body; but each of you is a different part of it. So Be ambitious for the higher gifts. Therefore, as you go about your activities, know that God has not forgotten you, cheer up for God understands what you are passing through, and as it pleases him, he is just waiting for the right time to restore your joy back and bless you.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, as we struggle with our daily challenges, may we experience your saving help and so be a shining splendour in our family, society and in the world at large. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Do  have a fruitful day.