Homilies & Reflections
Twenty-Fourth Sunday In Ordinary Time, Year C, By Rev. Fr. Lucas Binnah Junior, C.S.Sp
First Reading: Exodus 32:7-11.13-14/Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 51:3-4.12-13.17, 19 (R. cf. Lk. 15:18) Second Reading: I Timothy 1:12-17/Gospel Accl.: II Corinthians 5:19/Gospel: Luke 15:1-32
Theme: I Will Arise!
Today, we are given the opportunity to come to terms with God as a loving father, whose love is unconditional, and is able to turn the worst sinner into an amazing saint, the worst situation into a paradise of joy. We are to imitate God in the way we treat others, especially, those we consider as public sinners. We are not to remain where we have fallen but to rise and seek God’s help.
In the first reading, Moses finds himself on Mount Sinai with the intention of obtaining the Decalogue (Ten Commandments). He spends forty (40) days without food and drink seeking the face of God on behalf of the Israelites. Meanwhile, the Israelites become impatient and make an idol of a molten calf to replace YHWH, whose face Moses is seeking on the Mount. We read that God does not condone the sinful behaviour of the Israelites, and so he tells Moses: “Go, down; for your people, whom you brought up out of the land of Egypt, have corrupted themselves; they have turned aside quickly out of the way which I commanded them; they have made for themselves a molten calf, and have worshipped it and sacrificed to it, and said, ‘These are your gods, O Israel, who brought you up out of the land of Egypt!’” (Ex. 32:7-8).
Even though Moses begs God on behalf of the people, he also rebukes the people and prods them to repent of their sin. Even now, it still holds that repentance and conversion are what win God’s mercy and forgiveness. Like the Psalmist, we should show remorse about our sins and deepen our prayer and cry out to God saying: “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your merciful love; according to your great compassion, blot out my transgressions. Wash me completely from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin” (Ps. 51:1-2). Often times, we find it very difficult to admit our sin, let alone say sorry! Yet, that is the beginning of true repentance and conversion.
Truly, sin has consequences. Hence, having sinned against God, God decides to punish Israel, but the intercession of the great leader, Moses, brings God’s forgiveness to them. Moses remembers God’s promises to the people and begs God saying: “O Lord, why does your wrath burn hot against your people, whom you have brought forth out of the land of Egypt with great power and with a mighty hand? Remember Abraham, Isaac and Israel, your servants, to whom you swore by your own self, and said to them, ‘I will multiply your descendants as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have promised I will give to your descendants, and they shall inherit it forever’” (Ex. 32:11,13). Surely, things change when holy pastors pray! Notwithstanding this, we should always yearn to have a clear conscience and a pure heart before God. As humans, we need a steadfast spirit and the strengthening of the Holy Spirit. This will help us live a life of sanctity even in a sinful generation. As we do so, let us remember that the best sacrifice pleasing to God is not the offertory, tithes, monies, and the items we offer to God (though important), but a contrite spirit and a humble heart. It is this God asks of us, which he will never spurn (cf. Ps. 51:17).
So, what guarantee is there for us to believe that forgiveness is possible? In the gospel, three parables are presented: the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin and the Lost Son. In all three, something is missing, found and then celebrated. When we are lost in and through sin, God, like the shepherd, the woman with the lost coin and the father of the prodigal son, is the first to initiate the thorough search for us. Without doubt, God celebrates us when we repent. Oh, what an amazing grace!
Furthermore, to emphasise the point that God has power to forgive, St. Paul, in the second reading shares his own story of his conversion. He says: “…For he judged me faithful by appointing me to his service, though I formerly blasphemed and persecuted and insulted him; but I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus” (I Tim. 1:12-14). Paul reiterates this point so strongly as if he does not want even one person to miss the fact that God is merciful and has power to forgive sins. He says: “The saying is sure and worthy of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” (I Tim. 1:15). In Jesus, sinners have hope and future.
Be that as it may, God’s forgiveness must meet our repentance. Remorseful, the prodigal son comes to his senses and is deeply sorry for his waywardness. He admits he has missed the mark! Thus, regretful, he says: “I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me as one of your hired servants (Lk. 15:18). He follows this gesture up with a concrete desire to change. Sin is missing the mark or the target. It is breaking relationship with God, others and oneself. Hence, sin has both vertical and horizontal dimensions. The vertical pertains to the severance of relationship with God, while the horizontal deals with both a break in relationship with others since it affects them (social dimension), and a disconnect, a dissociation with the inner self.
We must note how sin comes about. Sometimes, we sin through sheer foolishness, ungoverned appetites, deliberate desires, weaknesses, ignorance, unbelief, mistakes and temptations. We may also be led astray by others. Other times, a person may not be fully aware of what (s)he is doing. Therefore, we must grow in full knowledge of who we are and our environment (the near occasions of sins). We must also build good consciences and be conscious of sin. Furthermore, we must note the object or source of sin, the circumstance and the intention behind our actions. The sacrament of confession or reconciliation or penance brings God’s forgiveness, deliverance, healing and protection. We must trust in the seeking love of God and be confident in his mercy. When we return to God in repentance, he gives us the robe of dignity, the ring of authority and the shoes of liberation. Meanwhile, we must imitate God’s unconditional forgiveness. True forgiveness does not hold on to grudges, neither does it keep record of sin! Many a time, we are unforgiving like the elder brother, like the self-righteous Pharisee who wants the sinner destroyed rather than pitied, saved and rescued. On no account should we wish the death of a sinner. Rather, we should pray for their conversion, repentance and redemption, for God loves the sinner but hates sin!
Dearest in Christ, we should all be like the good shepherd who puts his life on the line even for the one out of a hundred sheep. He is happy when the lost sheep is found. God is like that. He takes the initiative to search for the lost sheep and the lost coin (a valuable treasure). He is joyful when a lost sinner is found. According to William Barclay, God loves the folk who never stray away; but in his heart there is the joy of joys when a lost one is found and comes home. That is the Christian attitude we should have as children of God, and not otherwise! It also means that when we realise we have sinned, we must sincerely repent and confess, and God will forgive us. Beloved, no matter where life has taken us to, even in the quagmire of sin and weakness, we should remember that no amount of sin can equal God’s mercy and forgiveness. No matter sin’s bruises, wretches, tatters and batters, God can restore and remould us anew. Even at our lowest ebb, let us consider the seeking love of God, rise up and make a come-back to him. The problem is not that God does not want to forgive us; it is actually that we are not ready to rise up from the conditions of sin and guilt. Happy Sunday and may God bless us. Promise yourself: # I-Will-Arise#