REFLECTION/HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE 27TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME 13TH OCTOBER 2023

HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE 27TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Jonah 1:13-15; 2:1-2; Ps.9; Luke 11:15-26

A better-you will surely manifest

In the gospel reading, we find an attempt to assassinate Jesus’ character by accusing him of using the power of Beelzebul. This accusation was not only aimed at ridiculing his good works but also to disabuse the minds of the people from thinking that He is the expected Messiah. Again, if Jesus is using the power of Beelzebul, then there is nothing special about him. Clearly Jesus’ accusers were motivated by jealousy because Jesus was “outshining” them.

The feeling of Jealousy is a temptation everyone experiences in one way or the other. If you have ever been in lime light as a result of your gift(s), and suddenly, someone comes, possessing a higher gift than you do, you will need real maturity and God’s grace not to act jealously. Funny enough, some persons justify such jealousy by making reference to the first of the 48 laws of power which says: Never outshine your master. If this law means to say that one should apply prudence in using ones gift as against being proud and arrogant, then it is tenable. But it will be ridiculous when it means to say that the brightness of the star of your “master” is the measure for the brightness of the star God has given you.

First and foremost, we have only one master: God himself. So, it is not even possible to “outshine your master”. God is responsible for every good in every individual, and so, He alone is the measure of the brightness of every star/gift. For every star God creates, He allocates a level of brightness. Volume add meaning to what is said, and so, if one is not speaking with the volume God has enabled him or her, such a person is already distorting the message.

No doubt, we are God’s children created in His image and likeness. This means that God is reflected in us. The good in us and the good we do are but reflections of the God who is goodness himself. A reflection is not the main thing but a glimpse of it; and so, we do not completely and entirely reflect the goodness of God. God will continue to reflect his goodness through other means and persons. Therefore, whatever good you can do today, know that someone with a better capability will rise up tomorrow; or better put, God will rise up someone to reflect Him in greater light. This is not an attempt to ridicule the former, rather it is God who is gradually leading man to behold him in greater capacity.

Beloved, stop seeing that person who does better than you do as a competitor. Your fight against him or her is never going to be successful because no one can battle with the Lord. The Lord himself is the one shining through us all. Our generation is more advanced than the previous generations; likewise will generations yet to come, be more advanced than our present generation. Life is like a stage. Play your part according to your script (the Grace of God in you) but be rest assured that a better version of you is on the way because God remains the greatest.