MEDITATION/HOMILY FOR MONDAY OF THE 30TH WEEK IN THE ORDINARY TIME, YEAR II

Homily for Monday in the 30th Week of the Ordinary Time

Ephesians 4:32--5:8; Luke 13: 10-17.

Dearest brothers and sisters in Christ, St. Paul instructs us in the first reading: "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you" (Eph.4:32).

These beautiful words of St. Paul evoke the obligation in us to be kind to one another in imitation of God who is always kind to us, notwithstanding our unworthiness born out of our depravities against Him.

Friends in Christ, we must with immediate alacrity spurn iniquity, corruption and evil in our association with one another, for it is an unpleasant means of being unkind to each other. Our kindness should be reflective of how we forgive one another for our wrongdoings. It should be modelled after Jesus who in the Gospel of today demonstrated kindness and compassion to a woman who had suffered the spirit of infirmity for eighteen years.

In the Gospel reading of today, Jesus on the Sabbath day healed a woman who had been besieged with the spirit of infirmity for eighteen years. In the eyes of the synagogue official, scribes and Pharisees, Jesus was breaking the law of the sabbath but for Jesus, he was bringing the kindness, compassion and freedom of God to a woman in agony.

The synagogue officials in the name of love for traditions, systems and laws prioritize tradition over human persons. This is a problem ravaging our world today. we are frequently in peril of honoring systems more than God and the human person. Systems are good because they make things orderly but they must be at the service of human needs.

Dearest brothers and sisters in Christ, Jesus silenced the officials with a strong argument on the need to do good even on the Sabbath. In our decision to do good, there will always be those who will oppose our good deeds. Once the intention is good, go ahead and do it; for Jesus will be there to always defend you.

As you go about your activities today and beyond, may the blessings of God accompany you to courageously do the good things you have been obligated to do and despise evil and corruption. May every good effort you exert bring you divine fruitfulness. 

Have a grace-filled day!

Fr Remi Osj