HOMILY FOR THE 24TH SUNDAY IN THE ORDINARY TIME, YEAR C
Rev. Fr. Ezekoka Peter Onyekachi
Have you ever experienced or at least imagined yourself in the middle of nowhere; let’s say wandering inside a thick forest? And the more you wander, the more you get lost; and the more you get lost, the more you are lost in thought. Hopelessness seems to set in. As you scream and shout for help, you could hear the reverberation of your voice some distance away getting back at you. It all seems there’s no one to help. And as the night draws near, extreme pain and anxiety overwhelms you. You keep on screaming, but this time, you could hear the roaring, howling, hisses, barking and grunting of wild animals. However, at this point, you are still able to convince your inner self that somehow, help would come from somewhere. There is this tiny hope that’s left in you, just as there is always that tiny hope of survival even in the dying person. You try to convince yourself that you are not going to die in this middle of nowhere. Beating your chest, you say: courage, you will get through this. And as if these are not enough, you begin feeling that these wild beasts are coming towards you to devour you. Oh, just hold it there!!! That’s only a fantasy. Your senses are beginning to respond to your fears occasioned by that miserable situation. Suddenly, you see yourself on the ground, your faces covered with mud, and gasping for air in total danger, anxiety and helplessness. You are lost. The battery has been drained. The Psalmist words in Psalm 56:3, when I am afraid, I put my trust in you might at this moment make no sense to you.
Is it wrong to say that so many people have experienced or are experiencing such a miserable situation? Being so stiff-necked and hard on ourselves, we see darkness and evil, hopelessness and helplessness all around us. These enhance great fears and anxieties within us, making it difficult for us to think right. If only we could at this point be brave enough to use the power of our imaginations and vision the divine rescue team that is right beside us, then we would not notice how the Lord tries to plug us into his divine power socket to get us recharged and re-energized. His bright light will be shone on those wild animals trying to devour us, and would dispel the darkness that has enshrouded us. Then we would hear those reassuring words of Jesus: Courage, it is I, do not be afraid (Matt. 14:27); you are no longer lost, I have found you. And just as I gave Paul my strength (cf. Second Reading, 1 Timothy 1:12-17), I have given it you. To keep on hearing these words, we only need to make sure that the tiny hope of survival is not stifled in us. In the face of dismay, the Lord assures us: I will strengthen you and help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand (Is. 41:10). Just like the Shepherd who leaves the ninety-nine in search of the lost one, or the woman who keeps searching for her missing coin until she finds it, or the father who rejoices over the return of his prodigal son (cf. Gospel, Luke 15:1-32), the Lord does not give up on us. He forgets and forgives our failures as he forgave the people of the exodus story (cf. First Reading, Exodus 32:7-11.13-14).
What a reckless love!!!, one that we do not even deserve. He is able to leave the ninety-nine in search of us, keeps searching till he finds us, and even calls a feast to celebrate our return. St. Angela of Foligno (canonized in 2013) was someone who was lost in materialism but was later found by grace. In her continuous desire for the Lord, she had asked her soul: Oh my soul, how can you refrain from plunging yourself ever deeper and deeper into the love of Christ, who did not forget you in life or in death, but who willed to give Himself wholly to you, and to unite you to Himself forever? We might stray, but the more we stray, the more God runs after us; the more we get lost, the more he intensifies his search for us. He never abandons us. The Lord keeps searching for us. He does not give up on us.
It might also be true that a part of us can get lost. It could be in the form of anything. We might lose our virtues, lose our good names, lose our sound health of mind and body, lose our treasured fortunes, and in the midst of these lost things, lose even our joy, happiness and our sense of love. However, the good news is that the story does not end in getting lost. A new page opens. God has not finished writing; he has not yet completed this wonderful edifice. Yes, we might have been lost or could get lost, but we do not remain lost. We shall be found; truly we are now found. The saint of the rose flower, St. Therese of Lisieux once said, above the clouds, the sky is always blue. The dark cloud cannot cancel out the bright blue sky. It is then time to let ourselves hear all over again those beautiful voices that tell us: your good name has been found, your lost virtues are back, your sound mind and body are revived, your treasures have been found, your joy and blessedness have been fully restored. We have been found. God has found us. It is an amazing grace and it is sweet. Do have a lovely week ahead. God bless you.
No comments:
Post a Comment