OMELIE / Omelie EN

08 set 2019

08/09/2019 23rd Sunday in O. T. Year C

08/09/2019 23^rd Sunday in O. T. Year C

In front of God It is necessary to have a great deal of humility, really a lot, nay, all of it! The first reading helps us to see the reason why, recognising, first of all, our ignorance, and then admitting that our understanding of reality, both material and spiritual, is burdened by influences that we cannot overlook: in fact, we need to deal with the body with its frailty and weaknesses. God’s plans would be unreachable for us, if he was not giving us His knowledge, and He was not letting us see His intentions, that are unthinkable for us. We do not know deeply even the things we see and touch, to the point we sometimes take for good those which are poison, and other times we let ourselves to be touched by a reasoning which is treacherous, and we follow like we would follow benefactors people who only pursue their own interests and leave us more lonely than ever. It is really necessary go with humility in front of our God and beg for His wisdom, the light of His Spirit, the strength coming from Him, so we will be able not to make mistakes and so He Himself will act in our works: “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain wisdom of heart… may the gracious care of the Lord our God be ours; prosper the work of our hands for us! Prosper the work of our hands!”! This Psalm is helping us to pray with humility and in truthfulness, and prepares us to listen to Jesus’ serious and firm words. For some Sundays now He has been trying to make us aware how the desire of material goods is making us dumb, how it keeps our heart busy, made instead for spiritual things, how it closes it to our brothers, children of God. Now that we have been prepared, His word becomes really demanding: “Anyone of you who does not renounce all his possessions cannot be my disciple”. Jesus is saying these words knowing what the consequences will be: the disciples could abandon Him; but, from that point on, He wants to make sure that they are not many, but that they are true disciples, people who love Him more than anything else. How He could possibly have the courage, otherwise, to leave them the spiritual goods of His Kingdom? Whoever has material interests to protect cannot enjoy the Holy Spirit’s communion with anyone else, not with the Lord, nor with his brothers. In order to remain with Him bearing fruits and firmly, it is necessary to fill the entire heart with His person

If I wanted to follow Jesus, but I remained attached to all the affections I have, I would be certainly divided inside. My relatives and friends in fact, even those who say they really like me, are not able to accept all the decisions I take in order to follow the Lord, and I should not take this as something I deserve: He makes me feel His calling in the depths of my heart, and only mine. We can see, in fact, parents who are trying to stop the choice made in faith by their children, brothers who disapprove or joke about their brothers who are trying to live in the spirit of the beatitudes, friends who abandon their friends when the latter are decided to be faithful to the commandments and choices of the Church

Jesus is helping us with two simple parables. Who wanted to start some public works in his city, even just for the ambition of his own name, does not even start if he is not sure if he will succeed: he would be shamed by everyone. A king, who wanted to start a war with another, stronger king, first of all would check with his generals in order not to be overwhelmed and made a slave along with his people: in case, in order to save himself, he is going to try to make peace. In the same way, who would like to entrust themselves to Jesus and follow Him, need to check their ability to live without being influenced by relatives and friends, even more, even against their advice, and the ability to live without money, comforts and richness.

In order to be with Jesus it is necessary to be ready to do what Simon of Cyrene did: to carry the cross behind Him, condemned, laughed at and made a joke by everyone.

Saint Paul, - see the second reading – suggests his friend Philemon to go against the common use regarding his relationship with Onesimus, a slave of his that had run away. The customary habit would be to punish him very seriously, but the love for Jesus must bring him to create a new family-like way to treat also with slaves gone rogue. Being in the Church and loving Jesus will be more important and effective than old and consolidated habits!

How much humility is needed, and how much strength, to exchange the ways of this world with God’s wisdom! The latter, however, gives you life, peace, makes our life holy. United with Jesus, our life “bears much fruit”!