Unity is a genuine symbol of strength (HOMILY FOR MONDAY OF THE 31ST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR II

Homily for Monday of the 31st Week in the Ordinary Time, year II

Philippians 2:1-4; Luke 14:12-14.

It is commonly said: "We are only as strong as we are united, weak as we are divided". The essence of unity in community life can never be underestimated. Unity is a genuine symbol of strength. Where there is unity, it is said, there is always victory. Just as the saying goes: "United we stand, divided we fall".  St. Paul in the First Reading appeals to the Philippians and us to be united: "If there is any encouragement in Christ, any incentive of love, ...., complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind" (Phil.2:1-2). Unity means everything for Christ. He prayed at the Last Supper for his followers to be united, saying, "that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me, and I am in you" (John 17:21). United we stand, divided we fall.

When we live in unity, we will be able to "Do nothing from selfishness or conceit, but in humility count others better than yourselves" (Phil.2:3). When we are united, we will not be concerned about our interests alone, but also be concerned about the interests of others.

For those of us who are clergymen in the Church, hierarchy in the Church is never for us to lord it over those placed under our care, it is to ensure order in the Church and to be always available for service in imitation of Christ "who came not to be served, but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many" (Matt.20:28). As priests and religious, we must place at the service of the people of God those gifts, they are endowed with. The laity, in turn, must adopt an attitude of responsible willingness towards their pastors, contributing, under the guidance of the latter, their qualities and energies in the realization of the good of the community.

What is the motive behind some of generous activities in quote? For example, when we throw parties, who do we always invite? Jesus in today's Gospel tells us the way to go about this: "When you give a feast, invite the poor, the maimed, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you. You will be repaid at the resurrection of the just" (Luke 14:13-14).

Our charity mind have a taint of mini business deal. We expect reciprocity. It is easy to be good to someone who is better than you or even in equal standing. But true generosity is giving without expectation of any return. In the words of St. Theresa of Calcutta "if your giving has not hurt you, you have not started giving".

I just left a community where the school fees nursery/primary school children in a Catholic school where there school fees is N4000 for nursery and kindergarten pupil  and N5000 for primary pupil per term. To get this school fees is a tug of war because a lot of their parents can't afford it. Those of us who are richly blessed must learn to extend our generosity to communities like this. I am presently in a secondary school as the Principal in a community where the school fees for the day students from that community is not up to N40000 per term, let us extend our generosity to such community.

The immediate blessing we receive in serving the needy is their cordial company. It may be a painful smile, a few tears, or a word of blessing. What else can fill our hearts? Jesus is asking us to build our heaven here on earth.

May God grant us a generous heart to be able to give without counting the cost through Christ our Lord. Amen.