Homily for Wednesday of the 19th week in Ordinary time 14th of August, 2024. Memorial of St. Maximillian Kolbe (Priest and Martyr).

Homily for  Wednesday of the 19th week in Ordinary time 14th of August, 2024. Memorial of St. Maximillian Kolbe (Priest and Martyr). 

Ezekiel 9:1-7; 10:18-22. Psalm 113:1b-2,3-4,5-6. Matthew 18:15-20. 

In the first reading, prophet Ezekiel speaks of the judgement over the people for their refusal to speak against the injustice going on in the society. This judgment was to begin from the sanctuary.

Why beginning from the sanctuary? To whom much is given much is expected. It won't be different if God's judgment begins now. It will surely begin with those of us who preach God's word. Let us be very careful with the way we live our lives. Let our preaching be seen in our lives. It is rather unfortunate that some of us don't live what we preach.

In today's Gospel, Christ Jesus teaches us the importance of dialogue, which is aimed at reconciliation in the Christian community. He gives three processes in resolving conflicts. The private stage, the semi-private stage, and the public stage.

In the private stage, we go to the offender privately in love. State the matter kindly, and show him his conduct. If this does not give the desired result, we take it to the semi-private stage.

In the semi-private stage, we take one or two persons, preferably close to the quarrelling parties who can see things from their perspectives. If this does not resolve the conflict, we move to the public stage.

In the public stage, the Church leaders should be involved to look into the matter with the spirit of the Gospel.

Following these stages would generally have the desired effect with a true Christian, and the quarrelling parties would be reconciled. Jesus admonished that if the offender refuses to listen to the Church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax-collector. Treating one as a Gentile and a tax-collector is to commit the person to God in prayer. In all our proceedings, we should seek God's direction in prayer. Hence, Jesus concluded today's Gospel, saying, "If two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I in the midst of them" (Matt.18:20).

Let us cherish dialogue and be ready to go the extra mile to be reconciled with one another.

We celebrate the memorial of St. Maximillian Kolbe. He was born in Poland in 1894. He was named Raymond. When he joined the Franciscans, he took the name of Maximillian Mary. He was intensely devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Within a short time, he began publishing a monthly magazine to spread the veneration of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

When the Nazis invaded Poland, he was arrested and sent to Auschwitz. In 1941, he heroically offered his life in place of another man who had been selected for execution. After being starved for two weeks, he was killed with a lethal injection.

Through the intercession of St. Maximillian, may God grant us to always create room for dialogue to resolve our conflicts through Christ our Lord. Amen. May God bring a peaceful resolution to the war in Palestine and other parts of our troubled world and bring about a new Nigeria where there will be progress and prosperity through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Rev. Fr. Christian Ehimen Usifoh.