BE DOCILE TO THE WORD OF GOD (HOMILY FOR SATURDAY OF THE 27TH WEEK IN THE ORDINARY TIME, YEAR II October 2022

Homily for Saturday of the 27th week in the ordinary time, year II

Galatians 3:22-29; Luke 11:27-28

The first reading in today's liturgy of the word exposes the climax of St. Paul's letter to the Galatians. This is enshrined in the revolutionary statement that upholds the absolute equality of all human persons before God.

St. Paul writes: "There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female: for all of you are one in Christ Jesus" (Gal 3:28).

By implication all human persons stand on exactly the same footing in the kingdom of God. As children of God there is absolute equality of human persons before God, possessing equal rights and dignity.

This is as a result of the redemptive work of Christ Jesus, who has broken down the diving wall, that is, the hostility between all persons (Eph 2:14). Hence, by extension, there is no longer black or white, high caste or low caste, master or servant, first class citizen or second class citizens; for all are now one in Christ Jesus. Every act of discrimination, division and separation based on colour, caste, gender, language, religion, etc, had been eliminated and destroyed by Jesus himself.

This sense of unity, love and equality is significantly promoted by the church. For the church recognises that in the beginning God created them male and female (Gen 1:27). The church understands that in Christ, the rivalry, enmity and violence which disfigured the relationship between man and woman can be overcome and have been overcome. It is obvious that the battle of sexes which is waged in our world today is not in accordance with the plans and design of God. The devil and the enemies of the church and humanity controlled by power interest, selfish interest, money interest, etc,  continue to sow the seeds of division, opposition and problems of all sort between sexes.

Dearest brothers and sisters in Christ, the challenges of today is a call to us to be active collaborators with the church in the preaching of values of the kingdom of God, of unity, love and equality among human persons.

In the Gospel reading, we are told of a woman who in showing her admiration for all that Jesus was doing applauded the mother. 

"A woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, 'Blessed is the woman that bore you and the breasts that nursed you!" (LK 11:27).

This woman unknowingly fulfilled Mary's prophetic statement in the 'Magnigicat': "From now on all generations will call blessed" (LK 1:48). From age to age, on the lips and hearts of many, Mary had been reckoned as Blessed. Enshrined in the 'Hail Mary's is Elizabeth's greeting at the visitation: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!" (LK 1:42). Jesus responding to the woman said: "Blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep (obey) it" (LK 11:28).

It may seem as if Jesus was trying to put an end to the discourse on earthly mother and concentrate on something spiritual. However, he ended up appraising the more the greatness of the Mother (Blessed Virgin Mary) in whom those words find fulfilment.

Recall when the angel Gabriel brought the word of God to Mary. She accepted the project of God and responded: "I am the handmaid of the Lord, let what you have said be done to me". We are further told that all these she pondered within the depth of her heart.

Hence the greatness of Mary lies not just in being the mother of our Lord Jesus Christ but highly in standing out as the genuine hearer and doer of the word of God. Dearest brothers and sisters in Christ, as spiritual sons and daughters of Mother Mary, let us always be docile to the word of God. Let us be committed in translating the values of the Gospel into our day-to-day way of life. Let us like the woman in today's Gospel rejoice in listening to the word of God. In our joy, let us spread the word of God to the utmost bounds of the world.

May God grant us his blessings this day. Amen.

Have a fruitful day!

Fr Remi osj