Homily for 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time - Sunday 25th June 2023

Homily for 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sunday 25th June 2023

Being a Christian is not easy, especially in the world we currently live in. There seems to be so much against those who believe. We have seen laws change in so many countries in the West that is in complete opposition to what we have been taught as Christians. Much of the law was originally based on Christian principles for many centuries throughout Europe and the Americas. Secularization has occurred resulting in so many laws being changed so a few individuals to gain over communities. Thinking in these lines, not much seems to have changed across the centuries.

Jeremiah talks about how many people were belittling him, suggesting what he had to say was meaningless or of no value. Those against him were eager to watch, hoping Jeremiah would make a mistake and they could be justified by what they were saying. In our world, those who are built up to be superstars, popular ministers, hero of the state one day, quickly become canon fodder for the gutter press and paparazzi. They have lives ripped apart, sometime to the point where this world seems unbearable with nowhere to escape, forcing the fallen individual to consider the unthinkable to end their pain.

Jeremiah does not allow himself to be baited this way, as he has faith, knowing a mighty hero is at his side. None other that God himself, who sees into the heart of everyone, knows what drives them to do what they do and be who they are. Jeremiah is reassured those souls who need to be delivered from evil will be.

In our world, we are reminded everyday of the war between Russian and Ukraine, where we are constantly being put under the fear that it could escalate and affect us all. Prior to World War Two there was a period known as the Phoney War where the conflict had not started but tension was brewing. Yet, over the past 84 years there have been many conflicts and threats. The war in Korea that split the country, the Cuban Crisis, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the War on Terror and many more. The population of the world has increased from just over 2 billion in 1939 to 8 billion in 2023. There are four times the number of people living on the planet today than there were 84 years ago. The rich get richer and the poor poorer. There are more than two and a half thousand billionaire today, compared to just a handful in 1939.

Profit is what drives corporations, forcing many people to struggle to make ends meet. Inflation gets so high for many a pay increase ends up seeming like a pay cut. All around we are seeing the systems we once were able to depend on breaking down. They are like old machines that are worn out and reached their best by date. Each system has become corrupted and the bandages we put on them are only a temporary fix.

Paul reminds us that sin came into the world because of the actions of one man and the consequence of that sin was death staining all humans from that point onwards. The world became corrupted because of one act. Until Moses was given the Ten Commandments, though sin existed from Adam’s time, no-one could be accused of breaking the law. Once the Law was instituted, God was setting the boundaries in which humans could be reconciled with him. Adam’s actions had broken his relationship with God. Through Moses the parameters were being laid out in order for God to have a relationship with us again. The Law brought justice enabling definitions of right and wrong to be laid out for us to follow, but it took Jesus Christ to bring divine grace, a free gift, to save the relationship.

This process was not instant, it took time. Jesus had to prepare his disciples, instructing them to follow his ways. Like them, Jesus asks us if we accept his ways, and if we do then to pronounce his ways to others without fear, in the same way Jeremiah did. Not to be frightened of any harm, because this only affects the body, not the soul. Only God has the authority of what happens to our souls.

We are all challenged by this. We know how Peter fearing his life when Jesus was taken disowned him three times before the cockerel crowed and he was remorseful. Yet, in the end Peter was prepared to die so he could be in the presence of God in heaven. Our world, through the different forms of media, television, computer games, social media, news, and much more tries to convince us that there is no God. That there is no value in believing. And those who do are ridiculed. But take heart. Jesus is with you, if you can recognise him and shift your burdens on to him, he will carry them for you. He wants you to be in his presence, and we should not fear anything that tries to dissuade us otherwise. The joy this brings, we should share with others at every opportunity. By doing so, Jesus will be happy to declare to his Father in Heaven that he is with us forever.