HIS PRESENCE EMPOWERS

HOMILY FOR THE 19^TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR A

Rev. Fr. Ezekoka Peter Onyekachi

A story is told about a little boy and his father. It happened that the father of the boy went out down the street to buy something for the little boy who had continued to cry since the father returned from work. The father had the tradition of coming home with some snacks for the son, but on this day he totally forgot to buy anything out of the fatigue of his work. He mandated the son to plug in the electric kettle for him, so that he could take his hot bath when he returns from buying the snacks for the boy who had refused to be consoled. The boy did as the father had instructed. So the boy was left alone in the house with the plugged-in electric kettle. Suddenly, there was smoke coming out from the outlets of the one storey building. The neighbours saw this and started shouting fire, fire, fire!!!. The boy was still in the sitting room still ignorant of the smoke which was as a result of the fire that has entirely consumed the kitchen. He heard the cries from the neighbourhood, and ran out to the balcony to discover what actually the problem was. It baffled him as he could not see the flour because everywhere was totally smoked. 

He ran back inside the house but discovered that the fire was already making its way to the sitting room via the passage. The concerned neighbours were shouting his name and were saying, Chidi, jump down. We are here to catch you. Chidi who was now simply imprisoned at the balcony was so afraid of such a height that he refused to jump down. The father who now had seen the scenario from a distance ran so fast and then shouted: Chidi, it’s Dad, jump down, I am here to catch you. When Chidi had the voice of the father, he became less fearful and as if fresh energy had entered into him, he jumped down and very luckily for him, fell in the hands of the father. The experience of this boy has a lot to teach us. I would not know if you had encountered a presence that empowered you, and made you to do what ordinarily you would not have done if left alone. Chidi who was afraid to jump down when he heard the voices of others was empowered to do so when he heard that of his father. The father’s presence empowered him to go beyond his fears and limitations.

In the First reading (1 Kings 19:9-13), we see the divine presence of God in the life of the prophet Elijah. This passage comes after the encounter of Elijah with the prophets of Baal. Elijah had occasioned the killing of the prophets of Baal, and this made Jezebel (whom the husband Ahab had informed) so sad that she sent a message to Elijah that she will take his own life. Elijah became afraid over this threat and then flew for his life. It was on this expedition that God appeared to Elijah in a manner he did not expect. He expected the Lord to appear in the form of a great and powerful wind; this did not happen. Secondly, there was a heavy earthquake and he expected to see the Lord; He was not there. There came a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. Many a time, it is not how we expect God to appear to us that he appears. He knows the best way to appear to us. Someone in fear needs not an exotic manner of manifestation. All he/she needs is one that that calms him, and that projects peacefulness. The Lord finally came with a gentle whisper. It was from this gentle whisper that a voice said to Elijah: what are you doing here? Elijah had left his duty post out of fear. That voice energized Elijah to go back and be more energized to fight the evil and corruption that Ahab and the wife Jezebel had been perpetrating in Israel. The divine presence empowers us to go back to our drawing board, to go back to that situation we were running away from, to confront our fears and to overcome those fears.

In the Gospel (Matt. 14:22-33), we see the effect of the presence of Jesus on nature and especially on the disciples of Jesus. The presence of Christ conquers fear. There was a storm which was tossing about so ferociously the boat where the disciples were. They were not only in fear but also in pains and anguish. Jesus went to them walking on the sea. They disciples were so afraid that they thought it was a ghost. The context they found themselves did not allow them the mental and physical disposition to discern quickly their vision. They were struggling for survival as a result of the threat to their lives that the storm had subjected to. They were frightened, perhaps thinking that the ‘death angel’ or a premonition of their death was at hand. They were in a near-death situation. Then all of a sudden, a voice came: it is I, do not be afraid. Jesus gave them assurance with his presence. His presence was a great encouragement and empowerment to the apostles. His presence and words are a marvelous revelation of His care and power to save us through the storms of life. His presence will always go with us (cf. Exod. 33:14).

Storms abound in our lives. We should not be discouraged or hopeless when they come. Christ is able to take those trials and problems and make opportunities out of them. When we are caught in the greatest storms of life, Christ’s presence alone can save us. His presence empowers and conquers our fears, giving us hope and security. Our storms can be moments of sorrow, self-conflict, joblessness, decision making, sickness, barrenness, or any adverse circumstance. Do not be discouraged for Christ is so near and ready to help those who call out to him. His presence is most assuring, comforting, energizing, and empowering to any true disciple.

However, the disciples were not so sure it was him, as the question came: Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water. Two things are involved in this plea. The first is that it was the voice of Jesus that made Peter to request and to do that which ordinarily he would not have requested for nor done. The voice of Jesus empowered Peter to make the request and to walk on the sea. Peter who was afraid of the storm was now empowered to walk over the waters, just because he heard the voice of Jesus. The presence of Jesus made Peter conquer his fears and rise above his limitations. The second is that Peter may not have been thinking of miracle when he told Christ he should be allowed to come. It is most probable that he was so desirous to be saved. The situation they found themselves made them to desire so much a saviour who would ease their tension. The command of Jesus come was so strong. It came as a command. And Peter saw himself walking on the sea. As he had his eyes upon Jesus, he was succeeding but as he focused on the storm he began to sink. When we do not focus on Jesus, we begin to sink. Peter called on the Lord and was immediately saved. For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved (cf. Rom 10:13). Our faith is dwindled when we think that the storms of life are greater than our master Jesus. Little wonder Peter was called a man of little faith. His faith faltered.

There was more encouragement when Christ entered the boat and got the storm calmed. The disciples had seen great relief and deliverance. Christ presence in the boat brought peace, harmony, calmness and joy to them. If Jesus is in your home, the home experiences happiness, peace and joy. Now, the presence of Jesus in the boat gave them a more solid knowledge about his identity. They bowed down and worshipped him saying: truly, you are the son of God. When you experience the divine presence that empowers, you cannot but ascertain within yourself the person you ought to give your full allegiance to. Jesus’ presence gives us more assurance to believe and worship him. Nevertheless, it becomes lugubrious that many of us are in the same boat with Jesus but never act as if he is our saviour, and never worships him. Some of us repeat the same mistake of the Jews who Paul was lamenting over in the Second Reading (Rom. 9:1-5). The Jews are brothers and sisters of Christ in the flesh but fail to recognize him in the spirit. Far be such an attitude from us. We must recognize Jesus in the spirit and all the more worship him for he is our God.

Furthermore, think about the presence of that person or thing who (that) empowers you and energizes you to do that which ordinarily you would have been afraid to do. But it is again pitiable that many in the society today have resorted to ungodly means when they need empowerment. Some have resorted to smoking, excessive intake of alcohol and drugs. These elements are simply inordinate means of getting empowered and energized. One may feel a momentary energy and fearlessness. But I tell you, apart from the fact that their effect is momentary, inherent in that energy and fearlessness is a type of recklessness that destroys and kills, and which makes us inhuman and subhuman, and renders our cognition so incapable of proper discernment. These elements impair our reasons, and give us a false impression that we are strong, where we actually are the weakest of all. Some others have also resorted to diabolical (evil) means of empowerment. It baffles me when a wealthy man convinces himself that after making his wealth, what awaits him is a search for protection from a dibia (native doctor). This is a fake promise by the devil. The devil cannot give what he does not have. He used the same tactics during the temptation of Jesus: all this I will give you if you bow down and worship me (Matt 4:9).

The same holds for parents who call ungodly people to give some marks on the bodies of their kids for the purpose of protection against the enemies. Some want to grow in talent and treasure, but their means of achieving these are simply inordinate. Some want to get admission into tertiary institutions, but their agent of empowerment is faulty. Some desire to scale through in examinations, but they rely in some other forces other than proper preparation and dependency on God. Some desire to have children or get husband/wife, and for these they have known the nook and crannies of the native homes in almost all the villages. These means of empowerment are all faulty, evil, frustrating, and retrogressive.  If we really need proper empowerment, proper protection, proper fearlessness, run to Jesus who constantly approaches us and extends his hands for us to grab his. The only way to get empowered is the divine presence of Jesus who is the great master of the universe. No power can paralyse his power. He paralyses other forces and they obey him. I wish you the divine presence that empowers this new week and forever. God bless you.