NEW HEART AND SPIRIT: FUNDAMENTAL REQUIREMNTS FOR MEMBERSHIP IN THE CHURCH (HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF THE 20TH WEEK IN THE ORDINARY TIME
Ezekiel 36:23-28; Matthew 22:1-14
Homily for Thursday of the 20th week in the ordinary time
Dearest brothers and sisters in Christ, it is no news to assert that for us christians, our homeland is in heaven (Philippians 3:20). In other words, our citizenship is in heaven. Hence, we are pilgrims (strangers/foreigners) on this earth, making our journey to our heavenly homeland. In this context, there is a sense in which the term exile can be applied since we are strangers here on earth longing to return to our heavenly homeland.
The first reading from the book of prophet Ezekiel speaks of the comforting promises of God to the Israelites while they were in exile in Babylon as strangers. The promise to bring them home to their own land from wherever they may be scattered. “Thus says the Lord, I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries, and bring you into your own land (Ezek 36:24).
To this effect, God declared through prophet Ezekiel, the requirements upon which that return was to take place. “A new heart, I will give you, and a new Spirit I will put within you; and I will remove from your body the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. I will put my spirit within you, and make you follow my statues and becareful to observe my ordinances” (Ezek 36:26-27). Hence, they were to undergo a transformative experience through the sprinkling of clean water, in which the old nature is discarded and a new nature accepted. A nature that is submissive to the ordinances of God for the salvation of humanity
Friends in Christ, through the sacrament of baptism with the outpouring of baptismal water, Christians undergo a transformative experience of becoming new creatures. The baptismal experience inaugurates in every Christian a new heart that is obedient to God and a new spirit that is docile to the ways of God. It incorporates the Christian into full membership of the church: community of God's people. The old nature marked by original sin is discarded and a new nature marked by the Holy Spirit is established. Only by this new heart and Spirit can a Christian live a life of love and charity tailored to Jesus as the model.
The Gospel reading further solidifies the requirements for becoming a full member of the church, as we hear the parable of the wedding feast; a comparison of the kingdom of God to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. In this parable, the king is God, the king's son is Jesus Christ, the wedding feast is the kingdom of God or the church, the messenger that were sent were the prophets, of which many suffered persecution; and those who were firstly invited were the Jews. But they declined the invitation with so many flimsy excuses. The good and the bad alike who where lastly invited were the Gentiles.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, it is good to note the slight incident that happened at the wedding feast. The king looking at the guests observed a man who was not putting on the wedding garment. Hence, the query: “How did you get in here without a wedding garment?” (Mt 22:12). Although, this man got into the wedding hall, yet he was odd and did not possess the wedding garment. The wedding garment being referred to here is faith. The parable informs us that we cannot be passive in the kingdom of God or the church. It is a community of believers in God. Faith is a fundamental requirement for Christian Justification.
Friends in Christ, we are not called to be passive members in the church but men and women of responsible faith. May God bless his words in our hearts. Amen
Have wonderful day!
Fr Remi osj
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