REPENTANCE PRECEDES HEALING. (Homily for January 22, 2017. Third Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year A).

Bible Study: Isaiah 8, 23 to 9, 3. 1st Corinthians 1, 10 to 17 and Matthew 4, 12 to 23.


Last Sunday, our readings were centred on vocation: the fact that we are called by God as Christians to become a light to the nations; the fact that just like John the Baptist, our lives should point people to Jesus; the fact that we need to constantly hear from the Holy Spirit in other to succeed in our mission of pointing the world to Jesus. Last Sunday, we spoke of the need for us to revive our spiritual lives so that we would begin to hear from God like John the Baptist who did not know Jesus but was able to identify him by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. A Christian whose prayer life is weak is like a dead light bulb, no matter the amount of electricity that passes through it, it cannot shine.

Today, the theme of light comes up again. This time, Jesus Christ himself is described as the light whose presence frees a people from darkness. The very fact that Jesus would visit the Lands of Naphtali and Zebulun is seen by Matthew as a fulfilment of the prophecy of Isaiah which we saw in our first reading. Matthew bearing in mind that his audience were aware of the Old Testament often makes reference to it in other to prove that the life of Jesus fulfils all the prophesies of the long awaited Messiah.

However, what does Isaiah mean by a people that walked in darkness? And how did Jesus’ presence become a source of light for them? When a people live in darkness, it does not mean that the sun no longer shines there or that they lack electricity. Rather, the word darkness is used to refer to the state of their spiritual condition. As we know, everything that happens in the physical realm is controlled in the spiritual realm. Once the spiritual side is down, it means the inner man is dead and this is state of darkness.

To live in darkness is to live in a state of sin. It is living a life that does not glorify God of even acknowledge his existence. When we do not keep the commandments of God, it is either we are in the dark about these commandments, that is, ignorant of them, or that we prefer to keep the commandments of Satan instead. Telling a lie is a symbol of darkness. Since Jesus is the way, the truth and the life, any lie we tell does not glorify Jesus, rather it makes us anti-truths or anti-Christ. This can be applied to every sin we commit.

Whatever we do, say or wear that does not glorify God is a work of darkness. Someone made a comment on Facebook that these days when you see people coming out of the Church, there seems to be no difference with those coming out of a night club. A dress that can be accepted to a night club should not be found in your body at all not to mention wearing it to church. Bear in mind that being beautiful is different from being sexy. When a dress is sexy, it is because it is tight, short or fails to cover those places that ought to be covered. When a dress is sexy, it means it arouses the appetite for sex in others and announces to the world that you are a sex-object, that you can be used and dumped like a rag. When your dress reveals the shape and size of your body or exposes your nakedness it is a sign of deep seated darkness.

Another way of identifying darkness in our lives is by asking ourselves about the things we do in secret; things we hide from others, things we by first ensuring no one is watching us, things we do literally under the cover of darkness – at night or in very hidden places. The works of darkness are those things we do which we are not proud of announcing to the world.

When a people live in darkness, you hear all kinds of terrible things happening among them; you hear of man’s inhumanity to man, you hear of atrocities, abominations, wickedness, evil and calamities of various proportions. Darkness is characterised by sicknesses of different kinds, demonic possessions and disunity among the people. Yes, disunity is one of the signs of darkness and that is why St. Paul appeals to the Corinthian Church in our second reading today not to allow anything bring division among them. When Satan wants to dominate a community, he applies the principle of divide and rule. He brings something capable of dividing the people so much so that they begin to hate themselves and start fighting each other. When camps and factions are created, people no longer trust each other and love disappears. My dear parishioners, let us not allow Satan bring darkness to this community through disunity. Let us stop Gossiping about each other, let us stop tearing one another apart with our mouths, let us stop forming camps or treating certain persons as though they are holier than others.

Jesus could see the lands of Naphtali and Zebulun just like our country today enveloped in such thick darkness and immediately he proceeded to bring about a cure. What is the cure for darkness? “REPENT FOR THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS CLOSE AT HAND.” Repentance is the first and foremost the cure for darkness. It is the foundation on which discipleship is built, the foundation on which healing and miracles can take place. Hence Jesus began by preaching repentance. The people needed to repent first before Jesus could call the disciples and before he could carry out healing of their diseases and infirmities.

How come Jesus did not proceed immediately to heal them? It is because healing comes only when faith has been developed in the mind of the sick person. And faith comes only when the sick person repents of his past life and begins to acknowledge God by following his commandments. If the people had not repented, Jesus would not have been able to perform healings among them. Mind you, when Jesus went to his home town, we are told that the people looked down on him so much so that “he could do no mighty work there…” Mark 6:1-5.

Dear friends, if we must benefit from God’s blessings and provisions in our lives, we must first cooperate with him, we must be first repent, we must first renounce our attachment to worldly things and sinful passions. Unless we let go, we cannot let God in. God is not going to force his way on anybody. If we continue to enjoy of sinfulness and still hope to receive God’s healings and manifold provisions, we are only deceiving ourselves. Whatever you know is against your faith, stop compromising, stop lying to yourself that it is okay because others are doing it, stop trying to eat your cake and have it, stop for good today. Repent. Repent. Repent.

If we do not repent and start keeping his commandments, we remain in darkness and frustration. Yes, we become frustrated because darkness does not pay, the world cannot give us the joy and peace our hearts long for. What is that that you seek from God today? Why not take out the source of darkness from your life so that God can come in and change your situation. Why not repent from that sin that might is preventing the light of God from shining upon you.

Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, I give my lifetime to you. Make me your instrument, your apostle and a light to the world. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you.

Fr. Abu.


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