Dedication makes the Labourer-Homily for Tuesday of the 14th week in ordinary time 11th July 2023

Homily for Tuesday of the 14th week in ordinary time 

Genesis 32:23-33; Ps.17; Matthew 9:32-38

Dedication makes the Labourer

At the ending part of the gospel reading of today, Jesus asked his disciples to pray to God to send more labourers into his harvest, for the harvest is plentiful but the labourers are few. When we consider the beginning part of the gospel, we come to realize that the “fewness” of the labourers was not in terms of number but in the matter of dedication. So, Jesus was not asking the disciples to pray to God for more labourers (in terms of number) but for God to raise more dedicated men and women who will be labourers in true sense of the word. It therefore means that without dedication, a labourer is no labourer in the sight of God.

Applying this principle to the large facet of life, it implies that we are truly what we are only when we are committed to what we are. Our identity is not subsumed in nomenclatures but in our level of commitment to a noble cause. A Christian is not a Christian if he or she is not fulfilling the demands of Christianity. A parent is not a parent if he or she is not living up to expectation. A student is not a student if he or she is not committed to studies. A leader is not a leader if he or she is not serving selflessly. From this we realize that many persons who parade themselves to be one thing or the other, have lost such identity in the sight of God for lack of commitment.

This goes to show that God does not permit us to occupy space without function. If we are not fulfilling the purpose of our calling, God immediately begins to work out a process of replacement. This is what Jesus meant by saying: “pray therefore the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into his harvest”.

The Pharisees paraded themselves as men of authority but they lacked sight into the truth of reality. They were cut off from the light; and that was why they tried to ridicule Jesus’ works as emanating from the prince of demons. When we are not committed to a cause, we will lack the right reaction to that cause. Students who are not committed to their studies are first to ridicule the success of their classmates. The staff who fails to obey the tenets of the work place is always the first to scorn the colleague whose commitment has earned him/her a promotion. Little wonder the Pharisees could not see anything good in the manifold works of Christ that attracted the marvel of the crowds.

Today, we celebrate the memorial of St. Benedict, Abbot, a true example of a committed pastor whose strict reform to monastic life has given the Church about 24 Popes, thousands of Saints, Bishops and Priests; even though Benedict himself was not a priest. This goes to show the power of commitment. Titles do not really matter; it is what is inside that counts. St. Benedict is notable for his motto: “Pray and work”. Truly, one who is committed to work, will understand the irreplaceable place of God; and one who is committed to prayer will find the need to work as well. Whoever prays without working or works without praying, clearly lacks true and/or full commitment.