WHO DO YOU SAY I AM? (HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE 25TH WEEK IN THE ORDINARY TIME YEAR II (MEMORIAL OF ST. PIUS OF PIETRICINA (PADRE PIO SEPT 2022

HOMILY FOR THE FRIDAY OF THE 25TH WEEK IN THE ORDINARY TIME, YEAR II (MEMORIAL OF ST. PIUS OF PIETRICINA (Padre Pio)

Ecclesiastes 3:1-11; Luke 9:18-22

Dearest brothers and sisters in Christ, the Book of Ecclesiastes reminds us today of the need for us to use our time wisely and judiciously for there is time for everything, a time for every occupation under heaven (Eccl 3:1).

We recollect that we are born in time; we live and work in time, and we die in time. Although, for the worldly-minded, time is money, power, prestige, fame, property, wealth, or something else. The worldly-minded allocates time for worldly goals. This the preacher tells us that vanity of vanities, all is vanity.

However, for the believer in God, time is eternity. Its essentiality is found in the moment of communion with God, right from the inception of our lives till the end. Hence, time must be used judiciously and wisely for the glorification of God.

Our Lord Jesus Christ sets the pace for Christians on the use of time. The word of God tells us that though Eternal, our Lord Jesus was born when the fullness of time had come (Gal 4:4). At the appointed time, the appropriate time, Jesus commenced the mission of the Father: to reconcile heaven and earth.

Dearest brothers and sisters in Christ, how do you use the time available to you? Time, it is said waits for nobody. Do you waste the time and opportunities before you? Are you fervently in communion with God at all times?

The Gospel reading of today speaks to us of the revelation of the identity and mission of Jesus. 

We are told, "one day when Jesus was praying alone in the presence of his disciples, he put this question to them: who do people say I am? And they answered John the Baptist, other Elijah, and others say one of the ancient prophets come back to life.

A story is told of a man who picked and eagle's egg and decided to hatch it along with the eggs of his chicken. When they all finally hat he, he observed that the eagle was behaving like the chicks. The eagle's ignorant of its identity joined the chicks to pick food from the ground and scratch the ground in search of food. Until one day, an eagle having observed the situation from the sky for quite a while decided to convince the eagles of its identity. Instructing it that it belongs to the sky and not the ground. This way the eaglet was able to fly on high and fulfilled its identity. 

Friends in Christ, Jesus knew very well that if the disciples remained ignorant of his identity and mission, then they would not be able to understand and relate well with him. Hence, Peter spoke up: the Christ of God (Luke 9:20). It is worth noting that the mission of Jesus proceeds from his identity as the Son of the living God. Having understood his identity hence, he told them his mission. " The Son of man is destined to suffer grievously, to be rejected by the elders, scribes and chief Priests and to be put to death, and to be raised on the third day".  Therefore, Jesus, the son of God through his passion and cross reconciles humanity to God.

Beloved in Chist, the homily of today guides us to reflect on the personal question: who is Jesus to you? What do you teach about Jesus' identity and mission? Do you know that our identity and mission as christians are subsumed in the mission and identity of Christ?

Through the intercession of St. Pius of pietricina (Padre Pio) may we continually come to a better understanding of Jesus. Hence, be able to love him, worship him and serve him better in our brothers and sisters. 

Have a pleasant day!

Fr Remi osj