THE CHURCH HAS ITS EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO JUDGE (HOMILY FOR TUESDAY OF THE 23RD WEEK IN THE ORDINARY TIME, YEAR II

Theme: The church has its exclusive right to judge

Homily for Tuesday of the 23rd week in the ordinary time year II

1 Cor 6:1-11; Luke 6:12-19

In today's liturgy of the word, recognizing the unhealthy competition, disputes, wranglings, and immoral behaviours of certain Christians in Corinth,  St. Paul, hence, acknowledged the church as the rightful place of adjudication of matters and differences among Christians. He reproached the attitude of submitting before the unrighteous matters which the church as the rightful judge can handle.

He writes: “When any of you has a grievance against another, do you dare to take it to court before the unrighteous, instead of taking it before the saints? (1 cor 6:1).  Dearest brothers and sisters in Christ, the church has its exclusive right to adjudicate on matters pertaining to the spiritual and ecclesiastical affairs/laws of the Christian communities and families.  This is because the church is in the best position to guide and better analyze matters surrounding the faith of Christ faithful, to enable them to keep aright the path that leads to salvation. 

Friends in Christ, the right of the Church to judge ecclesiastical,  moral and spiritual matters is not lost even in our own time. For the security of the Christian faith, it is proper to bring our differences before the ecclesiastical authorities to help resolve them amicably. The unrighteous,  St. Paul declares, will not inherit the kingdom of God (1Cor 6:9), thus, they are even unfit to judge matters of the church (saints) because they do not understand matters of the faith. Beloved in Christ, let us with trust, kindly approach the church for the resolution to controversies that eschew from the Christian communities.

In the Gospel reading, we heard the call of the twelve apostles by Jesus (Lk 6:13). It was an initiative taken by Jesus himself after he spent the whole night in prayer. He would later tell them, “ You did not choose me, but I chose you. I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last (Jn 15:16). 

Beloved in Christ, in other, to decide something of this magnitude, Jesus committed his plans and purposes to God in prayer. Prayer became the key through which he came to the resolution of those he chose as the twelve apostles. These were those whom he later charged with the responsibility of preaching the word of God and administering the sacraments.  Friends in Christ, the indispensability of prayer cannot be undermined because even before Jesus attended to the sick, he prayed. 

Dearest brothers and sisters in Christ, as Christians, prayer is a necessity and obligation.  Through prayer, we come into the presence of God and partake in his divine life. In prayer we derive the strength and vigour to live a Christian life and to actualize God's plans and purposes for us. Through prayer we receive healings and miracles from God. Beloved in Christ, the essentialities of prayer in Christian life can not be diminished. Like Jesus, let us be men and women of prayer.

Have a fruitful day!

Fr Remi osj