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Homily for Twenty Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

READ: (Jer 20: 7-9; Rom 12: 1-2; Matt 16:21-27)

REFLECT: Rely on the Power of God’s word, will and ways…

Dear friends, today we are in the twenty second Sunday in ordinary time. The readings of the day invite us to focus on the mighty power of God’s word, God’s will and God’s ways in life. First reading speaks of the irresistible power of God’s word by which prophet Jeremiah is seduced by God. Second reading speaks of the renewal of life that we need to have by discerning God’s will in our lives. The Gospel reading speaks of God’s ways of redemptive work of Jesus through suffering. As we all know that the power of God is a mighty expression of his authority over us and his undivided love for us. God uses his power over us not to overpower us and throw us away rather God uses his power to empower us, enhance and enrich our lives to be holy and worthy.  For those of us who do not hearken to God’s word or walk the way that God teaches or shows us would experience subjugation and suffering. But those of us who wish to abide in God’s word, God’s will and God’s ways would experience liberty from every form of oppressive notions of the world. As the liturgy of the word lays emphasis to focus on the power of God, I would like to share with you three points of reflection;

1. God’s word:

We all know that God’s word is powerful. All that God commanded at the time of creation sprang into being or existence; all that God spoke to the ancestors, patriarchs, prophets, kings and judges became a fulfillment. Such is the power of God’s word. The power of God’s word is such that it can even turn the hard-hearted persons to tender and loving hearted persons. No one can get away from the grip of God’s word or nobody can take the word of God for granted, because God’s words are powerful and perhaps God’s words have the capacity to soothe and comfort those in their darkest hours of life.  Something similar, we find in the first reading from prophet Jeremiah, where he shares the experience of the irresistible power of God’s word and how he has been entangled by God’s word. That’s why prophet Jeremiah says, “Yahweh, you have seduced me and I let myself be seduced.” Prophet Jeremiah could but go the way as God’s words spoken.

The closer observation of 20 chapter of Prophet Jeremiah would make us understand and consider as the dark night of his soul, because Jeremiah feels so down and pressed down by confusion and doubt. Jeremiah was deeply wounded and offended because people did not take his word seriously. All the more, they laughed at him that God would not punish them. But if we could see God had not deceived Jeremiah, because God had already warned him that the people would resist his words (Jer 1:8, 19; 12:5). But in his hurt and confusion, Jeremiah blames God for forcing him against his will to be a prophet. Sometimes, we too underestimate the power of God and fail to understand God’s plans. If we believe in the power of God’s word, we would experience freedom and happiness. If we don’t believe in the power of God’s word, we would be still lamenting with the cries of litanies, without any solutions. So let us rely on the power of God’s word to bring healing in our lives. 

Pope Francis on speaking the power of God’s word, very beautifully says, “The Word of God then calls everyone to conversion, to change our lives, as we cannot remain the same after hearing its life-giving message, the Pope went on to say. The Word can even put us into crisis, he added, as it helps us see the light of God’s goodness and how to make room for it in our lives, whereas the inner darkness of vices and sins can struggle against it, something we must resist.” He further says, “We can simply place our life “under the Word of God,” not under our own tastes and preferences, but under the Word that shapes us, changes our lives, and calls us to unity.” Yes, such is the transforming power of God’s word and those who believe in God’s word and live God’s words in life would definitely be relieved of all crisis and chaotic phase of life. So let us rely on God’s words than our own words. 

2.              God’s will

Will is the power of the mind to choose what to do or a feeling of strong determination. We all of us have will to choose, to feel, to determine and to decide about life’s activities. We have our own wills according to which we act or do, persuade or plan. Perhaps, our will need not necessarily be right all the time. There can be possibilities to be faulty and be wrong or it can fluctuate, because of human weakness and limitations. As human persons we are invaded by different things of the world. Being in the world, more than being part of the world, we have become of the world, the worldly ideas and ideals have become the center of our focus. But when we become aware of God’s will and do God’s will, the life activities that we engage in or the events we would like to accomplish becomes more satisfactory and successful. 

St. Paul in and through the second reading calls us to transform ourselves through the renewal of mind and the discernment of our wills to God’s will.  The renewal of mind takes place in life, when we realize the will of God in our lives and make efforts to co-operate with the plans and projects of God that he has or offers us day by day. Once the renewal of mind takes place and the result of discernment of God’s will in our lives will be manifested by good deeds, pleasant experiences and growth towards perfection. Yes, renewing our minds and discerning our wills to God’s will, would enable us to do good, be pleasant and be perfect as God wants us to be his children. 

Today, most of us get caught up with the world of our own will and mess up life that which is so precious and valuable. Life can be so precious and promising, when we forego our will in doing God’s will. We all often time pray the prayer “Our Father.” Pope Francis gives a beautiful and meaningful description of what would mean “thy will be done.” Pope Francis says that the will of God brings real freedom. The phrase “thy will be done,” is not a “slavish” act; obeying the Lord is not like obeying a slave master, or bending the will to an unchangeable destiny. On the contrary, it is a prayer full of ardent trust in God who wants good for us, life and salvation.” Yes, doing God’s will brings us real liberty, peace and happiness. We all of us are moved by own wills. We like to do quite a lot of things according to our own whims and fancies. We don’t like others to impose on us something of their own. We strive and struggle to excel our own will power with others. Let us realize that our will can do nothing great in comparison to doing God’s will. The more we abide and do God’s will, more shall be the happiness and satisfaction that we can obtain in life. So let us focus on God’s will, abide and do God’s will in our lives than our own wills. 

3.              God’s ways: 

We all know that God’s ways are different in handling the situations of life. Whether it is good or bad, it does not matter for God, but God uses his ways so apt and appropriate, it fulfills what supposed to be.  The bible is full of evens that narrate and manifest how God works and deals with the different situations differently, but perfectly so well that no one can deny the marvels that God works in our lives. Looking at a little deeper level, we see that human life teaches us there is no success without failures or repeated falls, but Christianity teaches us that there is no resurrection of life without death and there is no crown without the cross. Yes, Jesus was very clear about his mission and he was fully focused. Jesus appreciated people who stood by him during his ministry and at the same time reproached those who were a hindrance to fulfill God’s will. 

Last Sunday, the gospel reading portrayed the character of Peter as someone on the high pedestal, but today’s gospel reading presents to us Peter’s character as someone low as an obstacle to the path of Jesus’ mission. It is perhaps because of the dwindling nature of human personality. What Peter intended was something to be appreciated, because he did not want Jesus to suffer and undergo pains. But Jesus makes him understand the ways of God to obtain salvation for the entire humanity. That’s why Jesus tells Peter, “Get behind me Satan.”  Because, Peter was inducing or tempting Jesus to move away from the focus, but Jesus puts peter aside and moves on the way that God has planned or prepared for Jesus. Peter had his own world view about the kingship and kingdom about Jesus Messiah. He thought Jesus as a kingly person with a glorious and magnificent ways of the world. But Jesus discloses to Peter God’s ways and moves on his way to fulfill the plan of God. The ways that Jesus teaches us in following him is to make a self denial, take up one’s own cross and follow Jesus. Therefore, following Jesus involves self-denial and endurance of cross in life. Just as Jesus, in order to follow the divine will of God had to do a self-denial of himself and sacrifice himself in suffering and shame, so also we who wish to follow Jesus had to make a self-denial and endure cross in life. 

Today what makes us undergo sufferings and pains in life is our own world view of life as bed of roses. We expect life to be as bed of roses and forget that in a rose plant, it is not only the rose flower blossoms rather the plant has thorns too as part of it. Yes, a beautiful flower in a plant has thorns too. Likewise, a beautiful life we have received has sufferings and joys too. We need to understand that life is a mixture of flowers so soft and thorns so piercing. For such an understanding of life we need to understand and accept God’s ways and make God’s ways as our way of life. To make God’s ways as part of life, we need to deny our very selves and take up our own crosses and follow Jesus. Let us realize that self-denial is not something that we reject ourselves rather it is an affirmation of our faith in God, God’s plans and God’s ways. When we set aside our self-made projects or plans or ways to self-seeking ambitions, we will be able to see very clearly the God’s plans and ways and walk towards God happily. 

The fact is that when we do self-denial, we may have to undergo pains and sufferings at the mental, physical and psychological level. But when we take upon ourselves the sufferings that we go through for the sake of God, the level of the spirituality grows and brings about a balanced ways of living. I am sure, once the maturation our faith and spirituality that we profess and practice takes place, we become spiritually and integrally well-sound persons and followers of Christ. So let us understand God’s ways and accept them as route to walk towards spiritual progression and perfection that we may enjoy peace and happiness in life, which God has in store for us. 

RESPOND: 

Do we rely on the power of God’s word or our own words?

Do we accomplish God’s will in our lives and seek our own wills of selfishness?

Do we understand and accept God’s ways in our lives or satisfied with the ways that we walk on is faulty and limited at times?

God bless us all! Live Jesus!

Fr. Ramesh George MSFS

rameshvkmsfs@gmail.com

9500930968