Nothing is impossible to God (HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE 20TH WEEK IN THE ORDINARY TIME AUGUST 2022
Love as the greatest commandment
Ezekiel 37:1-14; Matthew 22:34-40
It is no news that the people of Israel underwent many hardships but that of the captivity in Babylon was one of the cruellest and the most devastating experience they ever had in their history. The hope of returning to their homeland was completely dashed. Hence they perceived themselves dead in a distant land with their bones dry and scattered all over the place. It was within this disheartening experience in Babylon that the word of resurrection and restoration as declared by the Lord came to Prophet Ezekiel. “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord... I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. I will cause flesh to come upon you and cover you with skin and put breath in you, and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord” (Ezek 37:4-6).
Dearest brothers and sisters in Christ, the power to restore and recreate anew is domicile in God alone. The power to find whatever is considered lost, the power to raise even what is dead and dry, the power to make possible that which seemed impossible is domicile in God alone. Israel seemed irrecoverably lost but God restored them by his graciousness.
The Gospel reading of today speaks of the greatest commandment: “Love of God and love of neighbour”. Love, according to Jesus is the summary and foundation of the entire law and prophets. Though two commandments, they are inseparable. The love of God is the total giving of oneself to God: heart, soul and mind. This self-giving to God is absolute, unconditional and undivided. However, the practical manifestation of the love of God is visible only in the love towards the neighbour. That is why St John acknowledges that “If anyone says, I love God, yet hates his brother is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he had not seen. He has given us this commandment: whoever loves God must also love his brother” (1 John 4:20). In the parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus clarifies the identity of a neighbour (LK 10:25-37).
Beloved in Christ, the reason for the conflicts, wars, disputes, discords and lack of peace we experience in our families, neighbourhoods, societies and world today is due to the absence of love that should exist among humanity. St. Paul in his letter to the Corinthians reminds us that “Love is patient and kind, love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth” (1 for 13:4-8). St Paul continues, “If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have faith that can move mountains but have no love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not loved, I gained nothing (1 Cor 13:2).
Dearest brothers and sisters in Christ, God created us in lve, and proved his love for us even when we were sinners through the death of our Lord Jesus Christ upon the cross (Romans 5:8). Created in God's image and likeness, and as ambassadors of the Gospel value, let us learn to love our brothers and sisters just as God loves: who causes his sun to rise on the bad as well as the good, and sends down rain to fall on the upright and the wicked alike (Matthew 5:45). May God bless his words in our hearts this day. Amen.
Have a fruitful day
Fr Remi osj
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