Homily for Sunday 17th February 2019
_“If for this life only we have hoped in Christ, we are of all men most to be pitied. *(1 Corinthians 15:19)*_
Basically, our readings today are all about trusting in God even when all is not well; even when we are poor, hungry, weeping, hated by others, persecuted and let down by those in power. This is the meaning of the beatitudes given by Jesus in today’s Gospel passage.
Jeremiah says “cursed is the man who places his trust in man” which is true in the sense that people tend to disappoint us just when we need them the most. Jeremiah explains this disappointment with the analogy of a person who dwells in the parched places of wilderness.
St. Paul writing to the Corinthians says we are most to be pitied if we place our hope only in this life. This true in that all that is in this world is passing away. That which you thought will bring you joy eventually becomes a nightmare. The older we get, the more we realize how empty this world is.
The lessons for us today are very simple and straightforward.
*One. Never forget you are a Pilgrim on Earth.*
One of the mistakes of the Israelites while journeying from Egypt to the Promised Land was that at some point, they forgot that they were simply on a journey. They could no longer wait to get to the place where God was leading them. They forgot the great deeds by which God took them out of Egypt, because of water, meat and bread, they rebelled against God. At a point, they turned their golden earrings and ornaments into a god to which they worshipped.
Always remember that this world as a whole is not your final destination; that you do not belong here. This does not mean you will no longer be part of what is happening on earth, it just means you should stop expecting heaven to happen here. Do not take your eyes away from your real destination. Rather than turn to the worship of false gods like the Israelites, let the problems we face deepen our longing for heaven where all tears will be wiped from our eyes.
The key word in the beatitudes is “now.” Blessed are you poor… blessed are you that hunger now… blessed are you who weep now… blessed are you when men hate you… By “now”, Jesus means “in this life.” Jesus is saying that rather than see ourselves are less fortunate because of our sufferings in this life, we should consider ourselves lucky and privileged when we are faced with poverty, sorrow, hunger or hatred because these things will guarantee us happiness and fulfilment in our true homeland.
*Two: God Never Fails.*
We humans very good at making promises most of which we neither intend to fulfil nor are we ready to take the necessary steps at actualizing. These promises eventually become lies we tell just to curry the favour of others and make them think positively about us. God is not like that.
Both Jeremiah and our Psalmist today tells us that he “who trusts in the Lord is like a tree planted by the river… its leaves remain green and it never stops bearing fruit…. All that he does shall prosper.” Last Sunday, we read how Peter reluctantly obeyed Jesus only to see a great catch of fish despite sweating all night without success. This is an example of how God provides for those who trust Him.
We may ask: What does it mean to place our trust in God? It means remaining steadfast to keeping God’s commandments even which doing the opposite seems a better option. It takes trust in God for a hungry man to avoid stealing when he has the chance to do so. It takes trust in God for a poor man or woman to avoid committing a sinful act which promises untold riches. God knows how to take care of those who trust him by obeying Him and making Him a priority in their lives. As Jesus would say: “seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and every other thing would be added as well.” Matthew 6:33.
What is the proof that God can never fail? St. Paul answers this question in today’s second reading. The only proof we have that God is worthy to be trusted is that Christ having been raised from the dead can never die again.
*Three: The Wealth of the Wicked is Like Winnowed Chaff.*
The last paragraph of our Psalm and the second aspect of our Gospel passage are addressed to those who think that there is something to gain from sin and evil. When Jesus proclaimed woes to those who are rich, who laugh now, who are popular, he was basically referring to the same group of persons who our psalmist described as wicked. They are like winnowed chaff that is driven away by the wind, they will perish.
Jesus is not against wealth in itself rather He is against those who become rich through questionable means. Right now, the wicked may appear to be prospering but in truth, such prosperity is not worth it because woes and curses lie ahead. As St. Paul tells us: “the only reward we get from sin is death.”
If you cannot beat them, you don’t have to join them. Not all that glitters is gold. Ill-gotten wealth (blood money) is a curse one places upon his or her head. If you think you will laugh by making others cry, your laughter will soon become mourning and loud lamentation. God is merciful but even in his mercy, he never sleeps nor slumber. He will surely hear the cry of the poor. He will not let the oppressor go free. As the saying goes, “every day is for the thief but one day is for the owner of the house.”
*Conclusion.*
People are not to be trusted but God alone. In a time of elections like this, we may think that by voting for the right person, all our problems will be over, but I dare to say that just as many are disappointed now, we may even need to prepare ourselves for greater disappointment. We are pilgrims on earth. We must never expect heaven to happen here on earth. If all our hope is just in this life only, we are most to be pitied. Trust and obey God because He alone knows how best to care for us. God will never let us down. Wickedness and evil may look appealing but they only lead to sorrow and regret.
Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, teach me to keep trusting in you when I am poor, hungry, weak, tired and oppressed. May I never take my eyes off the many rooms you have prepared for me in your Father’s house. Amen.
Happy Sunday. Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time. Year C. Bible Study: Jeremiah 17:5-8, Psalm 1, 1st Corinthians 15:12-20 and Luke 6:17-26).
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