HOMILY
FOR THE 20TH SUNDAY OF THE ORDINARY TIME, YEAR C
Rev.
Ezekoka Peter Onyekachi
Who is Ebed-melech?
Ebed-melech
is an Ethiopian Eunuch who served in the court of King Zedekiah at the period
Jeremiah exercised his prophetic role in Judah during the siege of Jerusalem (cf.
Jer. 38:7). The name is translated as Servant of the King, and as such may not
be his proper name but a hereditary title. It may be a title that suggests his
role or function in the King’s court.
What is Ebed-melech
known for?
Ebed-melech
is notable for interceding on behalf of the prophet Jeremiah and thereupon
rescuing him with the King’s permission from the cistern into which he was cast
to die (Jer. 38:8-13).
Let us get the full
story (as the First Reading –Jer. 38:4-6, 8-10– relays)...
Jeremiah’s words
infuriated some officials (Shephatiah, Gedaliah, Jucial and Pashbur), and they
reported him to the king. They suggested to the king that he be put to death
because Jeremiah’s words were demoralizing the soldiers in the face of an
impending war. Jeremiah had said:
“Thus says the Lord, He
who stays in the city shall die by the sword, by famine, and by pestilence, but
he who goes out to the Chaldeans shall live. He shall have his life as a prize
of war, and live. This city shall surely be given into the hand of the army of
the king of Babylon and be taken.” (Jer. 38:2-3)
Jeremiah was letting
the people to know about that which must come true, and not to waste their
precious lives in fighting a battle which they must loose. The easy way out for
them is to run to the Chaldeans for safety and not to obstinately die without
saving their city –Jerusalem. It was indeed the message from the Lord. But some
men who thought themselves to be more important than the Lord, and who thought
that their intelligence was more than the wisdom of God had to plot evil on
Jeremiah so as to kill him. Their decision which the king permitted was to
bring about Jeremiah’s death without bloodshed; putting him in a cistern to
sink in the mud and die of hunger. This they did.
They never knew that he
who stands in the Lord is like mount Zion that can never be shaken. They were
not aware that only the Lord God Almighty has the supreme decision upon the
life of everyone. They were ignorant of the fact that the Lord protects his
servants, and never forsakes those who obey him. Thus, a servant of the King Ebed-melech,
who had heard what happened was inspired by the Lord, and he went to the king
and interceded for Jeremiah; defending Jeremiah against the plot of these
officials and exposing their evil intention. He went further, together with
three men, at the King’s permission to recue Jeremiah from the cistern. Jeremiah
then was housed in the court of the guard.
1. Hence, the ‘ebed-melech’
of our lives is someone who speaks for us when we are under great affliction,
tribulation, tension and pressure. It is that person who intercedes for our
good even when it seems many people are against us. It is that individual who
consoles us even when everyone is blaming us. It can also be that person who
welcomes us even when many are pushing us away. It can also be that person who
understands our mistakes, tolerates us and pardons us when we err or commit
errors. More particularly, an ‘ebed-melech’ not only intercedes or
speaks for us, but also destroys the plans of the evil people and goes for our
rescue. Many examples abound in the Scripture about the power of God in
selecting human instruments to intercede for fellow humans: Daniel was an ebed-melech
to Susana (Daniel 13ff), the wife of Pilate acted like an ebed-melech when Jesus
was about to be killed, etc.
2. I would not know the
type of experience you have passed through in life that gave you an opportunity
to witness an ‘ebed-melech’. I also may not know whether you have met
situations where you had the chance of being an ebed-melech to the other,
but neglected it. I also may not state with certainty whether you have expected
to encounter an ebed-melech in a dire situation and never got one. All these
are experiences which surround us as humans. God does send someone to help us
in hard situations that outweigh our capacity. Look well, pray well and live
well, and then trust in the Lord. No situation will crush you. Our God lives. Learn
to handle your situation as a Christian.
3. As human beings,
never forget that the greatest ebed-melech you have is the God of
Jesus Christ. Jesus the Christ is always there for us. He intercedes for us. He
protects and saves us. He destroys the plans of our enemies. In the Gospel of
today (Luke 12:49-53), Jesus speaks of how his role as an ebed-melech would
initiate division and confusion among humans who may think that they are wiser
than their creator. People will be divided against one another, and members of
a family will be divided for Christ’s sake. This would be the experience because
of the complexity of mankind who exalts his (her) reason above everything an
even tends to exalt it above God. Being an ebed-melech initiates hatred and division,
for an ebed-melech blocks the plans of the evil ones from manifesting.
Just as Ebed-melech’s intercession must have brought annoyance and
hatred to him by the four officials, and a political unrest and division
between the King and he officials (who also had powers), the acceptance of
Jesus as our greatest intercessor can bring division between the person that
decides on Jesus and the person that decides on the world. The essence of Christianity
is that loyalty to Christ must take the first place over the dearest loyalties
of the world.
4. We must too as Christians
be ebed-melechs
to our fellows in difficulties. We must speak out and for the other person who
is facing situations that threaten life. We must come to their rescue. We must
swim against the current of evil mob decision and action to destroy our fellow
humans. Remember what the the Igbos say: Ahu ekwughi na-egbu okenye. To be
able to be an ebed-melech to others, one must work to habituate some virtues.
A) Trust: the King must have trusted Ebed-melek to have been able to listen to
him and grant his plea. So too, we must learn to live our lives in order to be
trusted by people around us. B) Loyalty and Obedience: the eunuch was a loyal
one. We must be conscious of these virtues as we relate with our superiors and
inferiors, for they help in raising our dignity. C) Humility: we must be
down-to-earth for people to lift us up and take us serious whenever situations
of raising our voices arise. D) Prudence: we must learn the most careful ways
and manners of presenting our intercessions for them to be accepted and
honoured E) Courage: we must be daring and convincing, laden with facts when we
speak for the other.
5. There is always a
reward for interceding for others, and pleading for the good of others. In Jer.
39: 15-18, we read about the rewards of the servant, Ebed-melech, for having interceded
for Jeremiah and having put his trust in the Lord. The Lord promised him that
He will deliver him on the day of harm. He will be safe and shall not be given
into the hands of his assailants. Our God is happy when we speak out in the
face of evil. He is glad when we intercede for the less-privileged and afflicted.
He is joyous when we assist in rescuing the suffering people; especially those
who suffer from social injustices and vices. Jesus has shown us the way, for he
is the leader and the perfecter of our faith (Second Reading Hebrew12:1-4). The
writer of the Letter to the Hebrews continues to admonish us that even when we
face tribulations and trials for having interceded for other, remember that
Christ had done more than any one of us, who endured to the point of shedding
blood for our sake.
6. Ebed-melech was close to
Zedekiah, and that was why he was able to influence the decision of the king. Never
repudiate someone who is closer to an authority, be it human or divine, for
they too can influence the decision of the authority. Concerning ourselves with
the divine authority, there are cases where people have disregarded and even
have insulted the roles of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the saints in our lives.
Be careful as a Christian when you join such a camp. If human beings can intercede
for one another and be successful with their intercession, one can imagine to
what extent and the result when spiritual beings who live in perpetuity with
God intercede for us to God. We must learn to call on our Blessed Mother to intercede
for us when we unknowingly offend God to pardon us. We must call on the saints
too to pray for us. They are closer to God, and God does listen to them.
Today, I pray that God
gives us the grace to become ebed-melechs to others, and to send
us ebed-melechs
when we need them. Amen. I pray too that God makes us to sing the words of the
Psalmist in chapter 40. He is always there to hear our cries and to rescue us
from the pit of hell and destruction. May this song be daily on our lips as I
wish us a blessed week ahead. God bless you.
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