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4th Sunday In Ordinary Time, Year C By Rev. Fr. Lucas Binnah Junior

Rev Fr Lucas Binnah Junior

Homilies & Reflections

4th Sunday In Ordinary Time, Year C By Rev. Fr. Lucas Binnah Junior

First Reading: Jeremiah 1:4-5.17-19/Responsorial Ps.: Psalm 71:1-2.3-4a.5-6.15.17 (R. v.15) Second Reading: I Corinthians 12:31-13:13/Gospel Accl.: Luke. 4:18/Gospel: Luke 4:21-30

Theme: LIVE PROPHETICALLY

By baptism, we share in the threefold ministry of Christ, as priests, kings and prophets. Today, we will limit ourselves to the ministry of prophets. Many times, we think of the prophet more of a future-teller, one who predicts what is to come. Nonetheless, we need to understand that it is not so much fore-telling but forth-telling! That is, the prophet speaks what God is saying in the now, in the present circumstances of the people. And so today, we are all called to be like prophets. As the Hebrew, Nabi typifies, the prophet is the spokesperson or mouthpiece of God. He is a teacher who instructs people with the words and in the ways of God. A teacher must feed students with true knowledge, for, “lack of knowledge, my people perish” says the prophet Hosea (4:6). Also, the teacher must be ready to correct mistakes, rebuke waywardness and punish recalcitrance. In all these, (s)he is expected to show love; to act in and with charity for the sake of the student.

Furthermore, the prophet speaks the will of God in order to warn the people of God. He is like a watchman who keeps guard over the people, to tell them when danger is looming, and to keep them away from harm’s way. He is the eyes of the people. He sees ahead and gives caution. He is the conscience of society, and so, he is not afraid to speak truth to power and the masses. His own way of life must conform to the will of God so that what he says reconciles with what he does.

In the first reading, we are told how God appointed Jeremiah as a prophet to the nations. We read thus: “Before I formed you, in the womb I knew you, and before you were born, I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations” (Jer. 1:5). After the initial excuse that he is just a lad who does not know how to speak, God makes Jeremiah understand that he is not being sent in his own personal capacity but in the authority and strength of God. He says: “But you, gird up your loins; arise, and say to them everything that I command you. Do not be dismayed by them, lest I dismay you before them” (Jer. 1:17). Also, God does not hide the difficult nature of the mission. So, he tells Jeremiah: “They will fight against you; but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, says the Lord, to deliver you” (Jer. 1:19).

Just as seen in the first reading, the Gospel also gives us a practical example of the difficulties associated with the prophetic ministry in the life experiences of Jesus in his own hometown, Nazareth. Jesus is treated with contempt because of familiarity: “Is not this Joseph’s son?” (Lk. 4:22). This, perhaps, was the first shock, but more were to come! When Jesus spoke the truth to them at their faces, they were filled with wrath (cf. Lk. 4:28). Not only that, they also “rose up and put him[Jesus] out of the city, and led him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw him down headlong” (Lk. 4:29). However, as God assured prophet Jeremiah in the first reading that he will be with him to deliver him, so also Jesus, in the power of God, was able to pass through the midst of the people to escape being killed by them.

Like Jeremiah in the first reading and Jesus in the Gospel, we are to speak for God whether the people welcome it or not, whether they like it or not. We are to be faithful to the mission entrusted to us, and this involves speaking the truth. Our world needs the truth for this is what will liberate it from the shackles of perversion, secularism, poor parenting, bad governance, dubious laws, corrupt institutions, unfair trade policies, sin and evil. The truth always hurt, especially when people are adamant to change! Such people can harbour hatred and malice for the prophet. In spite of this, we need to be aware that it is the truth that sets free (cf. Jn. 8:32). As we decide to do so, we are to speak the truth in love as the second reading tells us. St. Paul states that: “So, faith, hope, love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (I cor. 13:13).

The prophet of God must be a person of deep love. Without this, he is bound to give in and give up easily. We need the charism of love and to live in it even if it risks persecution. Surely, we need faith in order to keep on believing in the invisible God. We also need hope to sustain the faith we have in God. Yet, Paul places the theological virtue of love over and above faith and hope. Why? Because it takes true love to lay down one’s life for another. If we grow in love, we become fearless in the face of evil. We are able to undertake our Christian duty and to witness to the Lord come what may! Be that as it may, since many people misconstrue what authentic love is, Paul describes the kind of love which must attend our prophetic ministry as Christians. He says that love is patient, kind, not jealous or boastful, not arrogant or rude, not self-centred, irritable or resentful and does not rejoice in wrong, but in the right; “Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends” (I Cor. 13:4-8).

A prophet who is afraid of people cannot function very well but may resort to pleasing them. When this happens, instead of changing people for the better, the people change the prophet for the worse. As we do the work of God as prophets, we must be authentic not false! We must speak the words which bring salvation. The Psalmist knows this too well and so sings: “My mouth will tell of your salvation” (Ps. 71:15). We must neither look for sordid money nor work because we just have to do it. We must be willing to do it (cf. I Pet. 5:2). We must love and cherish our work. Since we are spokespersons of God, we carry the message of God not our own words or some form of human thinking. (cf. Gal. 1:11, I Thess. 2:13). We must avoid make-me-feel-good flatter!.

Furthermore, we need to understand that the prophetic ministry also records joyful moments and not just challenges all the time. Jesus gives us some examples. Through the prophet Elijah, God brought relief to the non-Jewish widow at Zarephath during the time of drought. Also, through prophet Elisha, the Syrian army general, Naaman, who was a leper was healed (cf. Lk. 4:25-27). In citing these two examples, Jesus is emphasising that he was not sent only to the Jews, but to all people, and that, all who believe in him regardless of their race, will receive salvation. We too must broaden our scope by reaching out to all manner of people with the authentic word of God.

It is true that the world in which we find ourselves is increasingly becoming intolerant to what is true! It even threatens the lives of those who willingly decide to do God’s bidding. We need not give in to trepidation because of the seeming dangers involved in doing God’s work, particularly as spokespersons of God. God, who calls and sends the prophet, will protect him as he does God’s bidding. God does not send him on a mission without equipping him adequately, and so, God assures Jeremiah in these words: “I make you this day a fortified city, an iron pillar, and bronze walls, against the whole land, against the kings of Judah, its princes, its priests and the people of the land (Jer. 1:18). Therefore, when God calls, he equips. His grace accompanies us if we depend on him. Little wonder then, when the Psalmist, very much aware of this, prays: “In you, O Lord, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame. In your justice, rescue me, free me; incline your ear to me and save me. Be my rock, my constant refuge, a mighty stronghold to save me, for you are my rock, my stronghold. My God, free me from the hand of the wicked” (Ps. 71:1-4). Therefore, let us resort to prayer, trusting God’s power to save us. Let us ask for the prophetic courage needed to face our mission here on earth as married and unmarried persons. We pray for the grace never to give up in the face of persecution, but to remain focussed in our chosen vocation; to speak and live for God welcome or unwelcome in a world that has relegated God to its back. May the grace of God be sufficient for us as we place all our hope in him. Happy Sunday and may God bless us. Remember to: #Live-Prophetically#

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