PUTTING THE FIRST THING FIRST: ON MISPLACEMENT OF PRIORITIES

HOMILY FOR THE 18^TH SUNDAY OF THE ORDINARY TIME, YEAR C

Rev. Ezekoka Peter Onyekachi

Once upon a time, there was a rich king who had four wives. He loved the 4^th wife the most and adorned her with rich robes. He gave her the best. He also loved the 3^rd wife very much and was always showing her off to neighbouring kingdoms. However, he feared that one day she would leave him for another. He also loved the 2^nd wife. She was very confidant and kind, considerate and patient with him. Whenever the king faced a problem, she would help him get through it. The king’s 1^st wife was a very loyal partner and had made great contributions to his wealth and kingdom. However, he did not love the first wife. Although she loved him deeply, he sparingly took notice of her. One day, the king fell ill and knew his time was short. He thought of his luxurious life and wondered: I now have four wives with me, but when I die, I will be all alone. To the 4^th wife, he said: I loved you the most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that am dying, will you follow me to keep me company? No way, she said as she walked away. Her answer cut like a sharp knife right into his heart. The sad king asked the 3^rd wife: I loved you with all my heart; now that am dying, will you follow me and keep me company? No, replied her, life is too good. When you die, I am going to remarry. His heart sank and turned cold. He then asked the 2^nd wife: I have always turned to you for help and advice, and you have been there for me. Now that am dying, will you follow me? I am sorry, I cannot help you out this time, replied the 2^nd wife. At the very most, I can only walk with you to your grave. The king was devastated. Then a voice called out: I will go with you. I will follow you no matter where you are going. The king looked up and behold, it was the 1^st wife. She was very skinny as she suffered from malnutrition and neglect. With great grievance, the king said: I should have taken much better care of you when I had the chance. The one that is the first, the king actually made the last. The one that should be taken care of more than the others, the king neglected. The king has misplaced his priorities.

Today’s readings bring out succinctly the theme of misplacement of priorities. In the Gospel (Luke 12:13-21), Jesus had to advice a man that had his eyes focused on earthly possessions. The fundamental principle of life does not consist in the abundance of possessions. This man was more concerned about worldly acquisitions other than spiritual enrichment. He tends to see Christ only from the optics of someone there to resolve issues of worldly wealth. Actually, his desire was one that manifests independence and manliness, but he forgot to seek God first before inheritance. The counter-question of Jesus: who made me a judge over you unveils the intention of the man concerning the plea of Jesus. He misplaced priorities. He should have placed first the kingdom of God, and not the earthly kingdom. We should seek first the kingdom of God and every other thing will be added unto us (Mtt 6:3). Jesus further told a story of the rich fool to drive home his points. This story makes it vivid what covetousness does to the soul.

Whatever has your affection gets your attention. This rich man forgot his soul and his finitude. Yes, he has worked so hard, made riches, but he never worked hard for the soul. We must be careful when our business and work and ideas are making us so busy that we tend to forget the spiritual requirement of our existence. It is against this type of life that the author of Ecclesiastes in the First Reading takes man’s general struggle as vanity. Our struggle in this life would all be vanity if we attempt to misplace priorities; that is, if we fail to place God first. A life that lives without nourishing the soul is vanity. When one forgets his soul and toils for human wisdom, knowledge and skill; and then has to die leaving those for another, is it not all vanity?  This is indeed a great misfortune. I have never seen any corpse that is buried with all its possessions. Even the restlessness of the mind of the rich man who thinks always about the success of his business and leaves little or no time to rest and refresh the soul is also vanity, because he has failed to recognize the power of the God-man who invites us to come unto him for all who are over-laboured and are over-burdened. He will give us rest (Mtt. 11:28).

Back to the story of the King with four wives –many times in life we act like this king. We neglect the most important things in life. We neglect the most important person in life. In truth, we all have four wives in our lives. Our 4^th wife is our body. No matter how much time and effort we lavish in making it look good, it will leave us when we die. Our third wife is our possessions, status and wealth; it will all go to others when we die. Our 2^nd wife is our family and friends. No matter how much they have been there for us, the farthest they can stay by us is up to the grave. And our 1^st wife is our soul; often neglected in pursuit of wealth, power, and pleasures of this world. However, our soul is the only thing that will follow us where ever we go. Cultivate, strengthen and cherish it now, for it is the only part of us that will follow us to the throne of God and continue with us throughout eternity. Value your soul and feed it with the word of God. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe is quoted to have said, things which matter most must never be at the mercy of things which matter least.

What are the symptoms on the part of persons who misplace priorities? 1. Busyness: When we grow so busy, we tend to forget the most important things. Whenever you see yourself as a Christian growing busy over many things, pause and have some retrospection to see whether you have misplaced your priority of not putting God first. 2. Undue stress, tension and pressure: Persons who are under tension are easily confused; and confusion breeds misplaced priorities. We get stressed up, tensed up and pressurized by events and persons. Sometimes, we even manufacture from the way we think these stressors, tensions and pressures. Remember, these three things can easily lure us away from considering God as the first in our lives. 3. Constant Financial Debt: Insincere debts make us unchristian. Some people are comfortable with owing. This is a clear sign that they can easily misplace priorities. But anyone who borrows and pays at the due time stands on the right track. Never allow yourself to owe constantly. Try to maintain agreements whenever you borrow, to be able to have peace of mind. Otherwise, in a bid to dodge those from whom you borrow, you annoy God and get confused over that which is actually paramount. 4. Prayerlessness: Whenever we grow tired of praying, or recognizing God constantly as our Lord, we dwindle. Other less important things gradually replace the place of God. This inadvertently leads to spiritual slot and a denigration of that which ought to occupy the first place in our lives.

What are the reasons for misplacing priorities? 1. Gullibility: Christians today are easily deceived. We no longer know the discrepancy between what we think and say and how we actually live. In such deception and confusion, no one again knows the right thing to do. 2. Insecurity: We are afraid and anxious because we do not believe that God will supply our needs if we give him the first portion of our time, treasure, and talent. 3. Frustration: We are disillusioned with ourselves when we see that our effort to place aright our priorities fail. Never get discouraged over failures. Stand up, pick up your mat and continue in this journey of faith. Above all these reasons, we constantly pray with the Psalmist that God teaches us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom (cf. Ps. 90:12).

Manifestations of misplaced priorities today (some puzzling questions):

·       1. Why do you choose to get shot rather than handover your money to the Robber?

·       2. Why do you run into a burning house to save your property?

·       3. Why do you care more about your car other than the person injured in the accident?

·       4. Why should your loved one die in an illness that demands 200,000, while you have more than that in your bank account?

·       5. Why do you choose to sleep when someone seriously needs your assistance?

Let us think before we act.

How do we overcome the danger of misplacing priorities?  The Second Reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Colossians is clear about this: since you have been raised with Christ, set your minds on things that are above (Col 3:1-2). To do this, we must acquire the power of discipline to remain in Christ and never to be disconnected from him. To remain disciplined and steadfast, one formula surfaces: Detach from the devil (whose work is evil) and attach to Christ (whose work is good). Another is: Honour the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops, then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine (Prov. 3:9-10). These are the words that the rich fool failed to put to action. May we never forget these words as we see ourselves grow in material riches and wisdom. Amen.

On the new month: The month of August comes with many activities: August meetings, ordinations, family reunions, holiday outings, etc. Never disregard any of these activities that needs your presence. Try to decipher your priorities. Do not be bent on business or work, and forget the meetings that are vital for community growth. Never cook up any reason to be absent in an event or meeting that improves your faith in God. Do not over-labour yourself to an extent of forgetting to take your family on holidays for some rests. Our august visitor is at the door step. May this visitor come with good tidings for you and for me, and therefore for us. Amen. HAPPY NEW MONTH.