Homily For Thursday Thirty- First Week in Ordinary Time Year B, 7th November 2024

 

Readings: Phil 3:3-8 , Ps.105 , Luke 15:1-10

Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Emenike Onyia.

DO YOU KNOW THAT GOD IS SEARCHING FOR YOU? HE WANTS YOU TO TURN AWAY FROM SIN AND COME BACK

It is natural and common for any human person to desire to search find any valuable thing he/she has lost. Some people even have sleepless nights over their lost items. Some can go to any length hoping to recover any of their valuable commodity that is lost. If we can do this just for perishable things of this passing world, don’t we think that God will do even much more to save every single soul he created in his image and likeness?

Little wonder in our Gospel passage today, Jesus, while addressing the Pharisee who accused him of welcoming sinners, with the parables of the lost sheep and the lost coin, Jesus illustrates the unrelenting love of God for each of us, especially sinners. For there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one repentant sinner than over ninety-nine virtuous men who do not need repentance.

In these parables, we see two examples of people searching for what is precious to them. And when they found it their joy was so great. So, Jesus uses these examples to explain to us how God seeks us when we are lost in sin and his joy when our friendship with him is renewed and restored. His searching for us cost him the sacrifice of his Son Jesus Christ.

This can help us to realize how precious we are to him and that he never gives up on anyone except those who choose to be lost. All we need is for us to return to God who is patiently waiting for us. Just like St. Paul in our first reading who told us that because of Christ, he has come to consider all he has as nothing. For nothing can happen that will outweigh the supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus our Lord.

Dear friends, are we lost in sin? Have we given up in our struggle with sin? Do you think that our sins are so great that God cannot forgive us? Do we feel lost now? Jesus is searching for us, he is waiting for us at the confessional. When was the last time we visited him at the confessional? Just know that he loves us and we are too precious to be lost in this sinful world. So we must know that God is searching and waiting for you to come back to him.

We may have been lost in sin, it’s time to come back to God. We may have abandoned our good virtues, but it’s time to come back to God for restoration. We may have separated ourselves from God and his family, it’s time to come back. We may have been lost in the ugly things of this passing world; it’s time to come back, for God is searching and waiting for you. No matter how bad or ugly we may have been as a result of our sinful behaviours, don’t remain in that condition for that is what the enemy wants, but is waiting for you to come back and be restored and purified.

LET US PRAY: Lord God, we are lost in this passing world due to our sinfulness; seek out humanity once again from the wilderness of sins so that we may return to you, just like the lost sheep and the lost coin and so rejoice and praise you once again with the angels. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Peace be with you.