Do not neglect the Spiritual dimension! Homily for Friday of the 9th week in ordinary time June 2023

HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE 9TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Tobit 11:5-17; Ps.146; Mark 12:35-37

 Do not neglect the Spiritual dimension!

In the gospel reading of today, Jesus taught and corrected the perception the Scribes had of him that he is the son of David. Ordinarily, it is not wrong to perceive Jesus as the son of David, for he was of David’s line. In fact, this title of son of David is necessary for authentic Christology because it attests to the humanity of Jesus Christ.

So, Jesus was not particularly against the name son of David. What Jesus corrected was a perception of him as son of David only, and nothing more. This would mean that the humanity of Jesus is the only way we can describe and know Jesus; this will further amount to a neglect of the divinity of Jesus Christ. It would mean that Jesus is just an ordinarily man (maybe with special gifts) and nothing more.

The basis of this myopic view of the Scribes may be that they knew Jesus’ background too well. Some of them may even witness the growing up of Joseph his foster father. It made no sense to them, therefore, to see Jesus as Lord. They may have asked: at what point did he become Divine? Where did he get his divinity from? This was a case of over familiarity.

This attitude of the Scribes is very much invoke today in some Christians. Over familiarity is something we must guide against if we must serve God well. Over familiarity means when we no longer respect or we take for granted the presence of God in consecrated persons, places or things. Know this, whatever you disrespect cannot serve you well, including nature itself. Over familiarity makes us less grateful for what we have received, we use ourselves or others to replace the central place of God in our lives. The temptation is always there, but we must guide against it.