Of Presumptions and Prejudices

Homily for Monday of 22nd Week in Ordinary Time | September 2, 2019

INTRODUCTION

Sisters and Brothers in Christ, Our Gospel for today narrates to us Jesus’ public ministry in Galilee with his presentation of himself as the anointed One of God in the Synagogue and his eventual rejection. Paul in our first reading comforts the persecuted Christians of Thessalonica with the proclamation of eschatological promise intended for for all the Children of God.

For the many times our hearts were ruled by presumption and prejudice, let us ask for the Lord’s pardon and mercy.

HOMILY

Sharing: When I was first year to third year sitting on those fews, I had this attitude where I look on newly ordained scholastics preaching here with presumption and prejudice, asking what does this guy had to offer? We know each other well. We wrote votatio for one another. We live together and so presumption and prejudice is a most likely reality in every community. Today that I am on the other side of this scenario, I cannot but welcome your presumption and prejudice because it is the context of our Gospel today.

The readings today speak about the coming times. In our Gospel, Jesus’ proclamation of the passage from Isaiah is a proclamation of himself as 1. the anointed one, and 2. the one sent for the proclamation of good tidings for the aggrieved children of God. Paul in our first reading consoles the persecuted Christians of Thessalonica with the promise of future justification and communion with God. The proclamation of Paul about the future glory is grounded on the rising of Christ particularly his death and resurrection. The resurrection being the beginning of a new era, the era of redeemed humanity, making all of us and those who went on ahead of us as Children of Glory.

Isaiah’s words were fulfilled by Jesus. How about today in our times?

• To proclaim the Good News to the Poor is to work with the Poor towards their self-actualisation.

• To proclaim liberty to captives is to restore and motivate prisoners towards conversion and new life.

• To give sight to the blind is to be healers of wounded and blinded humanity, & be life-giving.

• To free the oppressed is to help men and women who come to us and whom we encounter on our way to unload their life’s baggages, and to speak for those who cannot speak.

• To uphold the dignity of human life and human rights.

• To announce a year of favour from the Lord is to announce mercy and compassion.

• To speak the truth always and be ready to pay the price.

If such is the content of our proclamation in the world today as religious, as preachers later on, as prophets, certainly we will be rejected by a world which finds itself at odds with the fundamental values of the Kingdom. But before the world rejects us, it rejected Christ first.

Let us therefore remember the invitations of the readings today:

1. We are invited today to participate in the order set forth by God in Christ.

2. We are invited to set aside prejudices and presumptions so they do not obscure our vision of the fundamental values of the Kingdom.

3. Let not familiarity jeopardise fundamental relationship most dear to us.

Amen.