RESPONSIBILITY BREEDS ACCOUNTABILITY (HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF THE 16TH WEEK IN THE ORDINARY TIME

RESPONSIBILITY BREEDS ACCOUNTABILITY

HOMILY FOR THURSADY OF THE 16TH WEEK IN THE ORDINARY TIME

Jer 2:1-3, 7-8, 12-13; Mt 13:10-17

It is popularly said that responsibility breeds accountability. In the first reading from the book of prophet Jeremiah, God expressed his displeasure upon Israel who had departed from the ways of the Lord (Holiness) to imbibe idolatry (worship of other gods:Baal) and all sorts of evil atrocities. God recounted how Israel during her youth was devoted as a bride to the Lord God in holiness. It read: “I remember the devotion of your youth, your love as a bride, how you followed me in the wilderness, in a land not sown. Israel was holy to the Lord, the first fruits of his harvest” (Jer 2:1-3). 

However, reviewing the decadence in the morality of Israel, God through the prophet singled out the priests, the shepherds, the prophets etc. Those saddled with the responsibility of instructing the people in the ways of the Lord. How they had failed in their duties and responsibilities. It read, “The priest did not say: where is the Lord? Those who handle the law did not know me, the shepherds transgressed against me, the prophets prophesied by Baal” (Jer 2:8). Consequently the people were like sheep without a shepherd, they were like the blind leading the blind. Hence, prophet Jeremiah described the situation in the following words: “the people had forsaken the Lord, the fountain of living water, and dug out cisterns for themselves, cracked cisterns, that can hold no water” (Jer 2:13).

Beloved in Christ, to whom much is given much is expected of him or her. As priests, religious, ministers, rulers, parents, guardians, teachers, doctors, etc who find themselves in the corridor of leadership to shepherd the flock of Christ, let us be mindful of our duties and responsibilities. Let's carry them out judiciously for we are going to give an account of the respective positions of authority we find ourselves. As educators, we must see that those placed under our care are morally and spiritually guided, and enlightened along the paths of holiness and righteousness. 

Let us not be like those described in the Gospel of Matthew; those who look without seeing, listen without hearing, those whose hearts have become coarse, and have refused healing and enlightenment. Let us otherwise be like those transformed by the privilege to see and witness what many prophets, kings and holy men longed to see and never saw, to hear what we are privileged to hear and never heard it (Mt 13:14-17)

We pray that God will grant us the needful graces to live up to our day-to-day obligations. May we not grow weary in leading and accompanying the flock of Christ Jesus on the pathway of holiness and saintliness. 

Have a lovely day!

Fr Remi osj