DO NOT BURY YOUR TALENT

HOMILY FOR THE 33^RD SUNDAY IN THE ORDINARY TIME, YEAR A

Rev. Fr. Ezekoka Peter Onyekachi

Today, Jesus tells another parable as a follow-up of the parable of the ten virgins. These parables tell us about the approaching advent of the kingdom of heaven. These form the last teachings of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew. And these teachings have just one goal which is a call to be prepared against the time of reckoning so as not to be caught unawares. Today, we are presented with the the parable of the Talents. The talent was a weight, not a coin. Its value depended on whether the coinage involved was copper, gold or silver. Christ most probably used money to describe what he was talking about because money is one of the most understood commodities anywhere in the world. Extensively today, when we talk about talent, our minds go to those gifts, ability, responsibility and blessing we are endowed with. Hence, Jesus by virtue of this parable teaches us to be diligent in whatever He gives us and to be productive wherever we find ourselves. By this, he condemns idleness, cunning thoughts, and the lazy attitudes of Christians towards their divine endowments.

In the parable of the talents are three individuals who the property of the master was entrusted to. He gave one five talents, the second two talents and the third one talent. This is the first awareness. It was the property of the master, and the master has right to his property. Therefore, whenever he desires the property, he ought to have them because they are his. Our talents are not our property, but the master’s property. Whenever the master demands them, we are to render an account of how we have used them. This is a strong message against those who see their talents as theirs, or use them for extortion and personal aggrandisement. The talents we have got have been freely given to us to use it as the master wants. He has given us the liberty to use them. But even at that, the liberty is subject to divine direction and scrutiny, because after we must have used them, we must be called to account for them.

These three received the talents and off they went. The first two worked and doubled their capital, but the third refused to work that his capital gained no profit. This is the second awareness. The little we have can be taken away from us if we fail to use them, especially out of a naive and uncultured reason as we see in the account of the third individual. One can allude that this third caretaker may have felt bad that as others were given talents in plurality, he was given his in singularity. Therefore, he may have thought that he is distrusted, hated and considered a no-body or a never-do-well person. But this was far from the reason of his master. His master knew that regardless of the quantity of whatever he has given them, when they work, they will be rewarded.  As the master looks to the reward, the servant looked at the quantity of the talents.

Since he has refused to work with the one that was given him, not only that it will be withdrawn but also that he will be punished. The master had to show him that he owns both himself and the talents. He spoke to the master in a demeaning manner, calling him a hard man who reaps where he does not sow. His reason for not working with it was that he was afraid, probably of losing the one talent and entering into more trouble. But this is what I call a devilish fear, a cunning fear that gives the impression of fear where in reality, it is full-hardiness. This servant was wicked. We cannot even say that he was lazy. No, he was not. We must note that he was somehow active. He spent time and energy to go out and bury the talent. His activity was to see that he used that talent, but he simply hid and went about his own business. What was he doing? We were not told, but his efforts were not spent in the Lord’s cause. He served only himself. He was worldly, going after personal enrichments. He was out to serve himself and not God. And it is to this kind of people that the Prophet Hosea talks to: but you have planted wickedness, you have reaped evil, you have eaten the fruit of deception, because you have depended on your own strength and on your many warriors (Hosea 10:13).

He was not even appreciative that he was considered worthy of been given a talent of trust. He read evil in the master’s action. Of course, he was punished. Anyone who knows what is good and does not do it, sins (James 4:17). What you do not use, you lose. The man who has a talent and fails to exercise it will inevitably lose it and will be punished. If we have some proficiency at a game, exercise, skill or an art, the more we put it into use, the more we learn more and the more responsibility we may attract. This was why the first person was given that extra one that the wicked servant failed to use. If we fail to use it, we lose it. It is a proven lesson of life that the only way to keep a gift is to use it constantly, and in the service of God and humanity. What is that talent that you have, use it.

Nevertheless, many feel they are with no talent. They think themselves of being worthless. I want to assure you today that God has implanted talents into each and every one of us. No one is without talent. Just try and discover yours. These six steps will be of help towards the discovery of our God-given talent.

1. Do not wait for talents to appear automatically. You cannot know if you have got any talent if you do not try to exercise it. For instance, you cannot know if you are a good tennis ball player unless you start playing it and putting in more effort to be the best wherever you play it. You pray by praying, you sing by singing, you dance by dancing; you act by acting, etc. Remember that practice makes the perfect. Most probably, you are not going to find a talent without trying. Face the obstacles and seek out challenges to see the in-born talent you have been blessed with. The way to do this is that you must make it your purpose to try something new every week. Learn how to go out of yourself, go on adventures, and dare things you never tried before. Try different sports, arts, skills to tap the untapped natural ability in you.

2. Try those things that come easiest to you. What do you do without much stress? Start with those. Look to your obsession and interest to discover your talent. If you love to spend all day telling stories, you can probably turn into a good story writer. If you spend your day listening to music, you can probably turn into a musician. Discover your talents by focusing on that which comes easiest to you. If you are a student, what class homework worries you the least? It might be a clue. Another is to pay attention to what other people might have noted about you. Ask your family, friends and teachers to help you figure out what you make look easy.

3. Try those harder interests. What would you love to be naturally good at without trying? Face the challenges and find out what it takes to good at them. Start learning everything you can about it to demystify the process. Some people love orators but were fearful of speaking publicly. When they made effort to go beyond their fears, they discover that they too are better orators.

4. Discover and follow what others are tired of hearing you talk about. Use the things you are obsessed with to discover abilities that might be hiding in you. If you are obsessed with good looks and pictures, it may be that you will make a good photographer.

5. Track your little successes. If you are feeling you have got no talent, it may be that you neglect your little successes. Try to pay attention to your breakthroughs, no matter how little. Think creatively about how those little things can lead you to bigger ones.

6. Ignore the blown figures. What do I call the blown figures? They are those figures that make you tremble. Some figures simply leave us to wonder whether the same God created us all. Allowing yourself to be intimidated by those figures may make your own talent shrink. Yes, they may be talented, but you must also know that being talented does not imply being famous. Talent implies dedication and attentiveness to your God-given ability. Work on yourself. In life, the only competitor you have is yourself.

God expects us to work on our talents and produce. Little wonder he instructed that the unproductive servant be stripped of his talent: take the talent from him. This message concerns the man who rather than working for God desires to work for himself. Since the talents we have are not ours strictly speaking, then we must work on them to get reward, and not damnation. As St. Paul warns the Thessalonians, we must stay alert and sober so as not to be taken unawares when such temptations come our way to do without talents as we please and not as God pleases. May we continually tap from God's grace to use our talents judiciously for the glory of God and for humanity. amen. Happy New week. God bless you.

GIVE US SOME OF YOUR OIL...

HOMILY FOR THE 32^ND SUNDAY IN THE ORDINARY TIME, YEAR A

Rev. Fr. Ezekoka Peter Onyekachi

When we were in the Seminary undergoing training for the Catholic Priesthood, some students were infamously known as those who arrive at any gathering at the very last minute (the last second). These students were known as the ‘touch liners’. The funny part of it was that when by mistake they arrived early, they would patiently wait at the entrance doors of the chapel so as to maintain their legacy. Now, It was always the occasion that spiritual activities in the Chapel must always begin with the signal of a double knock by the regulator. As they crowded at the chapel door, they would eagerly listen to the sound of the first knock to be able to hop in within the time in-between the two knocks. The noisy scenario these touch-liners created was so disturbing. Looking at their faces, one sees the feeling of those who have frustrated an authority expecting to punish them for lateness.

And by the way, the word ‘touch line’ is borrowed from the world of sports where the touch line is a line that marks the border limits of the pitch. Hence, the Chapel door marked the border limits between lateness and earliness. The first auxiliary (the highest of all the student authorities) had thought to himself a way of cubing this menace. No one knew his plan until that fateful day when the touch-liners had wanted to do what they know how to do best. Immediately the first knock went, the auxiliary together with the other student authorities who were invisibly and strategically placed at the different doors halted those latecomers, and that day their former countenance of victory was turned to one of victim. You can imagine how the story ended. Every day is for the thief, one day is for the house owner. The point is that there are certain names which cannot be answered at the last minute. The touch-liners wanted to answer early comers at the last minute. And this is one of the strongest points of the Gospel of today.

 

In the Gospel (Matt. 25:1-13), Jesus presents us with the parable of the wise and foolish virgins to teach the need for preparedness and readiness. The theme of our homily repeats the very words that came out as a result of the unpreparedness of the foolish virgins. The foolish virgins were so called because they were not futuristic about what they needed. They failed to plan well. They, like the touch-liners were cunning about being calculative. They did not weigh the volume of the oil they had with the time they would spend, and if they had weighed, they wanted to economize the oil for a long period which was not tenable. Hence, they expected to succeed just as the touch-liners expected to succeed every time. They expected to succeed as those who prepared well, and had surplus oil in case the ones in their lamps failed. They wanted to be called wise while being foolish, just as the touch-liners wanted to be on time, while being late. Now, the wise virgins were so called because they were the direct opposites of the foolish ones. They planned well, prepared for any eventuality, and had extra oils.  

There are certain things which cannot be obtained in the last minute. It is far too late for a student who has failed an examination to expect to be promoted. That was the case of Bobby. The day seemed so long for Bobby who had failed his examination, and had been told to repeat the class. He was so uncomfortable because he knew how disappointed the parents would be if he came home with such result. He went to his teacher and pleaded to be passed, weeping and recounting to the teacher how bitter the parents would be if he went home with such a result. His own life would even be under serious threat as he expected to be beaten beyond measure. It was at this time of failure that Bobby remembered all the words of the parents to him advising him against failure. He remembered the parents telling him that failure and repetition of classes does not just do great harm to the student involved but also does great harm to the finance of the family as the family would again repeat the payment of the previous year. He remembered how the father pulled his ear and warned him whenever he paid the tuition fees. The tension in him grew. The teacher looked at him and laughed; and then gave him a queer piece of advice: go and tell that student over there that took the first position to exchange her result with yours. It was then that Bobby realized that it was over. The time was over. He had no time again to rework his result. He misused his precious time, and must now face the repercussion of his laziness and negligence.

Just like Bobby, it is far too late for a person who desired to be teacher, wastes his/her time during his/her youths and then expects to be later on given appointments in Schools without any certificate. It is late for a girl who has damaged her womb as a result of a promiscuous life to expect to bear twins immediately she gets married. It is far too late for a person who refuses to use his/her talent when the opportunity came to be weeping when others with same skill get it. What you do not use, you lose. A merchant who is only good at squandering money should not expect a miracle to occur in his business, just like it is foolish on the side of a banker who embezzled money recklessly to expect not to be caught during the audition. To be late is always a tragedy. Many a time, we are prone to leaving things so late that we no longer prepare ourselves to meet with God. Teach us Lord to number our days, that we may get a heart of wisdom (Ps. 90:12).

 

Another strong point that this parable warns us against is that there are certain things which cannot be borrowed. You cannot eat your cake and at same time have it. The foolish virgins found it impossible to borrow oil when they discovered they needed it. This is how a man cannot borrow a relationship with God. He must possess it. That one is not borrowable. A man cannot claim to be living on the spiritual capital of the parents. There are certain things we must win or acquire for ourselves, for we cannot borrow them from others. You cannot borrow certificates and qualifications; you cannot borrow another man’s skill; you cannot borrow another girl’s virginity, you cannot borrow another’s priesthood, you cannot borrow another’s wife, you cannot borrow another’s sacramental conferment such as baptiam, Holy Eucharist, Confirmation, etc. When you get the opportunity to achieve things on your own, do it, before it reaches the point at which it becomes difficult to achieve it neither will it be easy to borrow.

To be prepared always and to discover those things that cannot be borrowed, we need wisdom. We need to tap from the intellect of the wise virgins. They carried extra oil. They knew that the coming of the bridegroom may not happen as they expected. The First Reading (Wisdom 6:12-16) gives us an exhortation to seek wisdom. Wisdom has many qualities that make her worthy of being sought. Wisdom is visible. It can be easily seen by all who love her (v.12). Wisdom is available and accessible. It is easily found by anyone who searches for her. She even makes herself known in anticipation of men’s desire. Anyone who truly searches for wisdom cannot be disappointed. She gives to those who posses her ability to plan prudently and well. She looks into the future. Wisdom is mobile. She is always going to those who need her. Now, who gives this Wisdom? Wisdom 9:4.6.9 answers the question. Wisdom comes from the throne of God. Wisdom comes from God. With God is wisdom. To God belong wisdom and understanding (Job 12:13). We must then pray for this wisdom (cf. Wisdom 9). May God shower you with this wisdom. Amen. This wisdom for readiness and preparedness I wish you this week and always. God bless you.

LIVING AND WORKING JUST ‘TO BE SEEN’

HOMILY FOR THE 31^ST SUNDAY IN THE ORDINARY TIME, YEAR A

Rev. Fr. Ezekoka Peter Onyekachi

A pretentious lifestyle does great harm to the person in particular and to the society at large. When we pretend, we retard. A pretentious life says what we are really not. In living such a life, we tend to move away from how God has created and fashioned each one of us, together with the God-given talents. Those talents that needed to manifest with our real nature and selves are strangled and sacrificed on the infamous altar of pretence. Pretence gives birth to some other vices such as sycophancy and ostentation. Sycophancy leads one into using obsequious compliments to gain self-serving favour or advantage. Those led into this are the super flatterers. Ostentation leads one to a vain show or an ambitious display intended to excite admiration or applause. Those led into this are flamboyant about their personality. Ostentation is theatrical not real, just as flattery is obsequious, not truthfully assertive.

In the Gospel (Matthew 23:1-12) of today, Jesus warns us against the religion of ostentation. Ostentation can only end up destroying the very cradle on which deep spirituality is built. And that cradle is in action and the relationship we are expected to have with our fellows. It was vivid that the lifestyle of the Pharisees was an ostentatious one. They converted religion into a ‘showbiz.’ And Jesus had to lay bare those actions and customs in which they lived such an ostentatious life. There are three points to note here:

1) They appear, dress and cloth themselves to draw attention to themselves. They widen their phylacteries. These were little leather type boxes which contained a piece of parchment with four passages of Scripture written on it. The passages were from Exod. 13:1-10, 13:11-16, Deut. 6:4-9 and Deut. 11:13-21. The reason behind the use of the phylacteries is most probably that we are to have the word of God in our minds just as vivid as we have them in our eyes. Now, the problem with these Pharisees is that they enlarged their own little leather boxes to draw attention to themselves and to give the impression that they are more religious than the others. They lengthen their tassels. God had instructed the people in Deut. 22:12 to make fringes on the borders of their garments, so that it constantly reminds them of the commandments of God. However, these Pharisees made their tassels oversize so that they become an ostentatious display of piety, worn not to remind a man of the commandments but to draw attention to himself.

How often do we wear clothes that expose the body and attract attention to certain parts of the body? Jesus warns us against any clothing worn to attract attention. The Pharisees have done theirs to attract attention, but today we also do it to appear appealing. Modesty and decency are gradually becoming very subjective to every person. Every one now claims to have his/her own definition of what is actually descent. We are reminded that decency is a norm, especially when it concerns religious gathering (1 Tim. 2:9-10).

2) They loved positions of honour, special seats, and places of recognition. In Palestine, the back seats were occupied by the children and the most unimportant people; the further forward the set, the greater the honour. The most honoured seats of all were the seats of the elders which faced the entire congregation. If a man seats there, he must be noticed by all, and must compose himself with a show of piety which the congregation could not fail to notice. The problem here is not just in occupying positions of honour, but in the inordinate love of them. Someone has to hold upper positions and fill the major places of responsibility. It is the feeling of pride that goes with such positions that must be guided against. For people who are inclined to this type of life, they are easily flattered. This leads them to a feeling of excess worth, which leads them to a life of always expecting praise from people, even when they have done nothing. In this case, the words of the Psalmist become relevant: in his riches, man lacks wisdom, he is like the beast that are destroyed (Ps. 49:12).

3) They loved the titles that honoured and exalted them. The Pharisees liked to be addressed as Rabbis and be treated with the highest form of respect. They claimed greater respect than that given to parents; for they claimed that a man’s parents give him ordinary physical life, but a man’s teacher gives him eternal life. They exaggerated their positions as teachers. The problem here is not in titles but in the intent and desire for them. Very often today, some change their clothing and seek upper places, positions and titles to draw attention to themselves and their abilities. In this case, they are honoured, and not the Lord (Matt. 6:1-7, 16-18). In this case, they prefer those positions without the desire for service. For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted (Matt. 23:12).

There is nothing wrong in being religious and to practice our righteousness. What is wrong is to draw attention to oneself instead of to the Lord. Christ warns us not to practice our righteousness in front of others so as to be seen by them. If you do, he says, you will have no reward from your father in heaven (Matt. 6:1). We should not overdo our outward being to draw attention to ourselves. We ought to walk humbly among men, walk as one of them, for in such a way, we point Christ to them by our lives. God has no favourites among men. Why should we then seek to appear as the favourites of God? Why should we seek position, honour, and appearance that would point us as being special?

If there should be any one who should walk humbly before men and point them towards God, it is the man who professes to serve God. And that was why God was very bitter with the priests of old in the First Reading (Malachi 1:14b-2:2b, 8-10). God spells out the sins of the Levitical priests. They offer polluted sacrifices (Mal. 1:6-14) and they abrogate their roles of teaching and leading (Mal. 2:1-9). The Lord’s response to the polluted offerings is a cessation of all temple sacrifices. This would cause some tension among the priests. There is also a condemnation of the failure of the priests as teachers and leaders because they abandoned personal integrity. The Lord’s response is that the priests will be cursed if they fail to heed to the Lord’s warning. They have not been faithful to their roles as priests. Since they voided the covenant of Levi, the Lord has stripped them of their status. This is a strong message for all Christians today, who by virtue of their baptism are common priests; but even more for the ministerial priests. We must all make effort to keep to our duties as priests. We must preach and at same time practice what we preach.

There are many ways we behave like the Pharisees or repeat the errors of these levitical priests today. When we pray just to be called powerful man of God, when we sing to flaunt our good voice for self praise, when we desire putting on good cloths for going to church just to win people’s admiration, when we desire to preach so as to spur applause, when we admonish others without meaning what we tell them, when we extort people financially under the guise of Christian charity, we become those Pharisees of Jesus’ time. Paul presents himself as a good preacher worthy of emulation in the Second Reading (1 Thess. 2:7b-9, 13). The preacher must not burden the people with his personal issues, and must not extort people financially. If he recognizes as St. Paul that what he preaches is the word of God and what he does is the work of God, then he will learn to take care of it as God wants and not as he desires. May the Lord be our strength as we work to keep to our duties. May he give us the courage to work authentically and not merely to be seen. I wish all of us a week of authenticity. Amen.

MAY THEY REST IN PEACE

HOMILY FOR THE SOLEMNITY OF ALL SOULS

Rev. Fr. Ezekoka Peter Onyekachi

Whenever we talk about the Holy Mother Church, we do not only talk about those living on earth and practicing their faith. There are three groups that make up the Christian Church: the Church Militant, the Church Triumphant, and the Church Penitent. The first consist of Christians on earth who struggle as soldiers of Christ against sin and the devil. The second consists of those who have the beatific vision and are now in heaven. The third (which is our interest for the purpose of today’s solemnity) which can be variously called the ‘Church suffering’ or the ‘Church expectant’ consists of those who are in purgatory undergoing purification. They are there to satisfy whatever portion of the temporal punishment due for their sins that was not satisfied before death. They are in the process of purging their imperfections before their eternal beatific vision. The truth is that they all are destined for heaven; that is, to join the Church triumphant. It is the members of this third group that we remember today. So, All Souls day commemorates the Holy Souls of Christians who have died but are yet to enter heaven. It is a day we remember the souls of all our brothers and sisters who were with us not quite long time ago and now are no longer with us in this our human struggle. We pray that they rest in peace. Only in God can we really say that souls have rested in peace. Where they are now, they are still restless; restless because of their constant desire to see God face to face.

Hope does not disappoint. With these words, the second Reading (Rom. 5:5-11) encourages us and at same time reminds us that Christ has paid the full price of our redemption through his blood. Hence, inasmuch as these brethren of ours died with Christ in their baptism, believed in Him and lived according to his precepts, we are sure that they will be saved. The Christian hope can never be illusive because it is founded on God. When our hope is in God, it cannot turn to dust and ashes. Our hope can never disappoint us because God has given us the final proof of his love. Through Jesus, our status with God got changed. This status that changed is our justification. But not only did our status change; our state also got changed. This state that changed is our sanctification. Justification ensures that we are no longer slaves to sin. Our faith in our Lord Jesus has liberated us from the chains of the evil one. But we need to work on this justification, but to do this, we still need Jesus. The process of his intervention to ensure the maintenance of our justification is sanctification. Was it not Jesus himself who tells us in the Gospel of today (John 6:37-40) that he will never turn away anyone who comes to him? The will of God is that none of us should be lost, but be saved. If we believe in Jesus and do his will, we shall have eternal life.  

Sanctification is a process which starts on earth but does not stop until we behold the beatific vision. Hence, it is Jesus who continues to ensure that our brethren in purgatory are sanctified more and more and more until they are fully sanctified and perfected for heaven. Indeed, the existence of Purgatory is a great manifestation of God’s love for humans. He does not want us to be damned. He desires our salvation. The belief in the concept of purgatory is traceable to the third Century, but the Church did not give it the status of official teaching until the Second Council of Lyons in the 13^th century in 1274. This Council had the desire to restore unity between the Western and the Eastern Churches; part of the discussions attempted to reconcile the beliefs of the two Churches concerning the status of the dead, especially the lot of repentant sinners. This effort continued at the Council of Flourence (1438-1439); and again the subject of a post-death process of purification for sinners came up in the discussions. Even though the effort to reunify the Churches failed, the Council defined Purgatory as an official teaching of the Catholic Church. It was furthered defined at the Council of Trent (1563).

To get the Church’s teaching on purgatory, it is clearly summarized in the Catechism of the Catholic Church: all who die in God’s grace and friendship, but still imperfectly purified, are indeed assured of their eternal salvation; but after death they undergo purification so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joys of heaven (CCC, 1030). The Church gives the name purgatory to this final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned. Simply put, the doctrine of Purgatory has three components:

1) That purification after death exists

2) That it involves some kind of pain

3) That the purification of the dead can be assisted by the prayers and offering of the living

It is true that no one can say that there is a commandment in the Bible which states that we must pray for the faithful departed. We must also know that there is none which tells us never to pray for them. However, the Bible tells us about the practice of people who prayed for their dead. In 2 Mac 12:38-42, we are told of the story of Judas who made a collection of money and sent it to Jerusalem to offer as expiatory sacrifice for the souls of the soldiers who died during the battle against Gorgias; and afterwards in 2 Mac. 12:43, we are told that this act of Judas is a noble and excellent one.  In Sirach 7:33, we are admonished to be generous with the living and not to withhold our kindness from the dead. Therefore, my dear friends, do not forget to pray for your dear ones who have gone before us to answer the call of faith. May their souls rest in peace. Amen. God bless you.