Instructed by the Word (HOMILY FOR MONDAY OF THE TWENTY SECOND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR II (SEPTEMBER 02, 2024)

HOMILY FOR MONDAY OF THE TWENTY SECOND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR II (SEPTEMBER 02, 2024)

1Cor.2:1-5; Ps.119; Luke 4:16-30

Instructed by the Word

God speaks to us in the pages of the scriptures; he speaks to direct us so that we do not miss the eternal life he has won for us through the incarnation and paschal mystery of his Son Jesus Christ. The scripture is basically our daily manual for right living. If we do not see the scripture in this way, we will not be taking instruction from it and so, may be depriving ourselves of divine direction.

The readings of today exalts us to see the scripture as God instructing us not as God entertaining us. In the first reading, St. Paul gave account of his witnessing to the Corinthians not in the use of lofty words or wisdom; a kind that merely entertains and amuses. No! In his weakness, he preached the crucified Christ. This means that he preached the gospel by imitating the life of Christ before the people. He is a faithful and wise steward because he received from the scripture, the instruction to become another Christ.

In the gospel reading, Jesus first read out his divine manifesto. It contained the promises contained in the book of the Prophet Isaiah. He not only read it out to the people, he affirmed that the promises therein are now being fulfilled. This was goodnews for them and all spoke well of him because they have heard what they want to hear. It is all too easy to feel comfortable with those who offer us the better life that we desire.

However, when Jesus who is the Word of God reprimanded them for their over familiarity with the Divine, the people no longer spoke well of him; in fact, they practically sent him out of their midst. Beloved, we are as guilty as these people when we read or want to listen only to those aspects of the bible that speak of God’s promises towards us but will never want to consider some other aspects that reprimand us for our wrongdoings.

If we do not allow God to chastise us, we will not be purified. It for this reason that the psalmist expressed love for the law of God; for adherence to divine law breeds life. The message of repentance is itself a good news too and we must consider ourselves poor due to our sins. Selective reading of the bible will do us no good; but when we open our minds to accepting the truth holistically, then we shall be saved.