Homily
for July 2, 2017
Today, we shall begin with a
little bit of Catechism. Can anyone mention the seven corporal works of mercy? …
Our readings today focuses on one of the seven corporal works of mercy which
is: “Giving shelter to the homeless.” Or better put: “Kindness to strangers.”
Why must we be kind to
strangers?
First of all, we should be
kind to strangers because we could be strangers ourselves someday. Jesus taught
us to do unto others what we want them to do to us.
Matthew 7:12 and Luke 6:31 says “as you wish that men would do to you, do so to them.”
There is a saying that “when
you are climbing a ladder, remember those you meet on the way because you might
need them when coming down.” This saying is so true and so powerful. It is a
matter of wisdom to always consider the plights of others because no one knows
tomorrow.
Secondly, we should be kind
to strangers because we do not know who is who. Remember how Abraham was
resting one hot afternoon in the Oak of Mamre when he noticed some strangers passing
by?
We are told: “When he saw
them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the earth, and
said, "My lord, if I have found favor in your sight, do not pass by your
servant. Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves
under the tree, while I fetch a morsel of bread, that you may refresh
yourselves, and after that you may pass on -- since you have come to your
servant." So they said, "Do as you have said.” Genesis 18:2-5.
We all know how this
encounter ended. Sarai was told the same thing that Elisha told the Shunamite
woman in today’s first reading: “By this time next year, you would carry your
own child.” Indeed, as the book of Hebrews puts it: “Let brotherly love
continue. Do not neglect to show
hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” Hebrews
13:1-2.
Be good to strangers because
you never know when God would send an Angel your way to test you. Indeed, by
your act of kindness, you might just be an Angel to someone else. The story is
told of a little girl who was selling oranges in a very busy airport. One day
some men in haste to catch their flight ran over her table of oranges spilling
them all over the place. One of the men felt bad and upon noticing that the
girl was blind stopped to help her thereby missing his flight. By the time he
picked up all the oranges for the little girl, she asked him a question: “Are
you Jesus Christ?” “Why are you asking?” he said. And she replied, “I prayed
for Jesus Christ to come and help me gather these oranges.”
The third reason we must be
good to strangers is because every act of kindness always comes with a reward. This
is what Jesus teaches in today’s Gospel passage: “He who receives a prophet
because he is a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward, and he who receives a
righteous man because he is a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's
reward. And whoever gives to one of these little ones even a cup of cold water
because he is a disciple, truly, I say to you, he shall not lose his reward.” Matthew
10:41-42.
Note carefully that Jesus is
not trying to say that it is only when we are kind to the man of God or to the
Prophet that we get to receive our reward. The kindness Jesus is talking about
here is universal. We should be kind to people, everybody; regardless of
language, tribe, religion or nationality.
Fourthly, when we are kind
to strangers, we are doing reparation for our sins. As St. Peter would advise: “Hold
unfailing your love for one another, since love covers a multitude of sins.” 1
Peter 4:8. Goodness to others makes God overlook our sins. Recall the parable
of the man who owed his master a huge debt? How his master forgave him only for
him to throw his fellow servant in prison who owed him a lesser amount? If God
can be so kind to us, we too should be kind to people not minding whether we
shall be rewarded or not.
Dear friends, the greatest
obstacle we face in kindness to others is tribalism which is the narrow minded
way of thinking – considering only those who come from your place as important.
No wonder Jesus said “whoever loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy
of me and who loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.” Matthew
10:37.
In this way, Jesus attacks
the root of tribalism in our minds. Jesus wants us to have a broad mind set capable
of accepting people and treating them with love even though they are not
related to us, even though they don’t speak our language, even though they are
not sons of the soil!
Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, you
have died once and for all to sin. Help me die to my selfishness and narrow mindedness.
Amen.
*Happy Sunday. Be Happy. Live
Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Thirteenth Sunday
of in Ordinary time. Year A. Bible Study: 2 Kings 4:8-16. Romans 6:3-11 and Matthew 10:37-42).*
Fr. Abu.
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