FIDELITY TO GOD AT ALL TIMES (HOMILY FOR MONDAY OF THE 26TH WEEK IN THE ORDINARY TIME YEAR II SEPT 2024

Homily for Monday of the 26th week in the ordinary time, year II (memorial of ss. Cosmas and Damian Sept 26)

Job 1:6-22; Luke 9: 46-50

Today, the liturgy of words as seen in the first reading begins with the Book of Job. A Book that comprises the trial of a righteous man. 

The Lord said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job. There is no one like him on earth, blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil" (Job 1:8). Job was a righteous man yet unbearable calamities befell him. 

First, was casting away of his oxen and murder of his servant (Job 1:14-15). The second was fire consuming his sheep and servants (Job 1:16). The third, was the attack by the Chaldeans, who stole the camels and killed the servants (Job 1:17). Lastly, was the collapse of the building that killed his sons and daughters. 

What a tragedy! However, very interesting was the reaction of Job to all these calamities. He said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb and naked I shall return; the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord" (Job 1:21). We are told that in all these, Job did not sin against God (Job 1:22).

Dearest brothers and sisters in Christ, the fidelity and faithfulness of Job to God wasn't only at the moment of joy and abundance but equally at the moment of trial and affliction. Job's loyalty, commitment and allegiance to God were firmly rooted; the distress of life did not sweep him off his faith in God. 

Friends in Christ, like Job, we must be faithful to God not only when things are rosy with us but equally when we are in sorrowful times. When things seem not to go our way as planned, when everything seems to come tumbling upon us, we must be firm in our faith disposition to God. 

The Gospel reading of today's liturgy presents to us an experience the disciples of Jesus had with an exorcist, who was casting out demons in the name of Christ Jesu (Lk 9:49). We are told that the disciples tried to stop him because he was not one of them (Lk 9:49).

From the outlook of things, this exorcist, although, not a follower of Jesus but must have been a believer in Jesus. He must have listened to Jesus and got his heart fixed on Jesus but a close relationship hadn't been established. It is also apparent that Jesus had been widely recognized as the liberator from the shackles of demonic possessions. 

Now the disciples of Jesus felt that insofar as he wasn't a conspicuous follower of Jesus, he had no right whatsoever to administer exorcism in the name of Christ Jesus. But Jesus retired, "Do not stop him, for whoever is not against you is for you" (Lk 9:50). Jesus automatically condemned intolerance and division, he repudiated the sense of narrow exclusivism and formation of clicks. He rather challenged the disciples to be open-minded, all-embracing and welcoming.

Friends in Christ, that someone does not agree with us, does not make him or her an enemy. Abraham Lincoln, once responded to his friends who asked him to destroy his enemies, by saying, "Do I not destroy them when I make them friends".

Dearest brothers and sisters in Christ, the goal of our Christian calling is to proclaim the risen Christ to the utmost bounds of the world. Let's not be competitive about it but to do it with devotion, commitment and kindness. Let all hands be on deck as Jesus takes precedence in all our missionary endeavours. 

May the blessings of God accompany you as you begin a new day, may you remain firm and committed in doing his will at all times. God bless you dearly.

Have a great day!

Fr Remi osj