Homily
for September 12, 2017
When last
did you take a very important decision? Are you about to decide on something
right now? Do you have a myriad of choices before you such that you are quite
confused as to which you should take now? Jesus teaches us a very important
lesson in our Gospel passage this morning; CONSULTATION.
Many successful
companies today have the practice of employing the services of consultants. Indeed,
even for small start-up enterprises, the need for consultation is never taken
for granted. To consult is to find out certain information from people or from
historical facts that could help one make right decisions.
Even in
our traditional setting, there is an adage that emphasises the need for consultation.
It says: “What an elder sees sitting down, a young person can never see even if
he climbs the top of an iroko tree.” We would be taking a gamble in life when
we act based on our personal whims and ideas without first consulting.
Jesus was
about to take a very important decision; one that would not only determine the
nature and outcome of his salvific ministry but one that would eventually shape
world history. Already, by this time, Jesus already had so many followers, men,
women, children, fans and even detractors. By this time, the Scribes and
Pharisees had already started nursing serious hatred for him and he knew where
this was leading to; the fact that he would eventually be crucified.
So, there
was need for him to officially appoint from among the crowd some persons whom
he would elevate from the status of disciples to apostles. There was need for
him to select persons who would be the key figures in the church he himself was
about to establish; persons who would be closer to him; stay with him, learn
from him and eventually continue his ministry after his departure.
And to
take this all important decision, Luke tells us that Jesus spent an entire
night in prayer. Jesus consulted with God all night long. He sought advice from
God and it was only after this consultation that Jesus made his selection;
first, he chose twelve persons – a number symbolic of the twelve tribes of
Israel; secondly, all twelve persons were men – a key reason why the Church
does not ordain women; thirdly, none of these men chosen was perfect – not only
would he accuse them of having little faith, one of them Judas would eventually
betray him.
Dear
friends, what we need to know about consultation with God is that we ourselves
may not even like the outcome but we need to trust God enough to allow his will
prevail. Left to me and my small brain, I would have chosen holier persons –
sinless persons; I don’t think I would chose Judas Iscariot; in fact, I would
have chosen some women given the saying that “what a man can do, a woman can do
better.” But then, for Jesus to have chosen the people that he did after an all-night
of consultation shows that indeed, God’s ways are not our ways. Indeed, the
foolishness of God is wiser than the wisest of human wisdom. We don’t know
anything!
Let us
pray: Let Jesus, help me to always take the right decisions. Amen.
*Be Happy.
Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Tuesday of
the 23rd week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Colossians2:6-15 and Luke 6:12-19.)*
Fr. Abu.
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