HOMILY FOR FRIDAY {19/07/2024}, 15TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME B
[ISAI 38:1-6.21-22.7-8; MATT 12:1-8]
Today’s Gospel passage is very peculiar to us. It tells us how we must understand the Sabbath day or better put disposes our minds to a better and proper understanding of the day of the Sabbath. This was his response to criticism and a silly accusation made by Pharisees against his disciples who, on a Sabbath, to satisfy their hunger, plucked ears of grain from a field and ate the grains after removing the husks by rubbing the grains between their palms and blowing away the trash. The Pharisees accused them of violating Sabbath laws by performing three items of work forbidden on Sabbath: harvesting, threshing, and winnowing.
Let us hear how Jesus defended the criticism made by the Pharisees and Scribes.
Firstly, Basic human needs, like hunger, precede Divine worship and Sabbath observance. Jesus cites from the Scripture the example of the hungry David and his selected soldiers. They approached Ahimelech, the priest of Nob, who gave them for food the “offering bread” which only the priests were allowed to eat (1 Sm 21:1-6).
Secondly, No law can stand against Divine worship. That is why the priests were not considered as violating Sabbath laws although they did the work of preparing two rams for sacrifice in the Temple (Nm 28:9-10).
Lastly, God desires that we practice mercy: Jesus quotes the prophet Hosea to tell the accusers God’s words: “I want mercy, not sacrifice” (Hos 6:6).
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, like the Jewish Sabbath, the Christian Sunday is to be
1) a day for rest and refreshment with members of the family;
2) a day for thanksgiving and the recharging of spiritual batteries through participation in the Eucharistic celebration for Catholics and through worship service for the Non-Catholics;
3) a day parents should use for teaching religious Faith and Bible lessons to their children;
4) a day for doing works of charity in the neighborhood and the parish;
5) a day for socializing with family members, neighbors, and fellow parishioners.
PAX VOBIS
Catholic Diocese of Ilorin, Kwara State,
No comments:
Post a Comment