Twentieth Sunday In Ordinary Time Year C 14 August, 2022.
Theme: Acceptance Of Correction: A Way Of Spiritual And Physical Growth.
Correction is severe for one who leaves the way;whoever hates being reprimanded will die. (Proverbs 15:10) Correction is described as ‘an alteration that removes an error’. It is ‘the removal of errors from something, or the indication of errors in something’. My Brothers, Sisters and Friends, the important question that we need to ask ourselves here is: Can we stand correction? Daily, people utter: ‘leave me alone’. ‘Mind your own business.’ ‘Who sent you to me?’ These and similar ones are the usual reactions when we feel other people are interfering with our ways of life, particularly when we are being corrected. Why this attitude? We want to be happy in our own little world, with our good and perhaps also bad habits, forgetting that we are relational people who need to promote relational relationships for spiritual and physical strength. Really, nobody knows everything. Generally, many children and students do not like to be corrected by their parents or their teachers. Also, there are grown-ups who unduly resent their employers’ attempts to enhance their working methods. Today’s Second Reading compares life with a race event. We should persevere in running the race of life. But practically, no team is going to succeed well without a coach who observes every player and corrects the technique of each and the tactics of the whole team. Once again, can we stand sincere and purposeful correction? Today’s First Reading and the Gospel tell us about Jeremiah and Jesus of Nazareth, who did not leave people alone. In the name of God, they had to speak. Their sermons were corrective and aimed at restoring life as it should be. Jeremiah and Jesus were never tired of their tasks to them by God. In fact, even when the people insulted and threatened them, they did not waver from God’s messages to the people through them. My Brothers, Sisters and Friends, the message for us here is that, listening to God’s word, His instruction, we must be willing to accept correction first of all from those in charge of the community: Children from Parents; Parishioners from Priests; Students from Teachers; Employees from the Employers; Priests from Bishops; Religious Brother or Sister from Superiors General. Indeed, this is not a one-way traffic matter. All of us, without any exception, including me, need to accept correction humbly. It seems that the set of values (‘dos and don’ts’) by which an adult is guided becomes fixed in early infancy. Therefore, from the very beginning, sound education is important – emphasizing its positive function (encouragement to do good), but not neglecting its negative function (correction of evil). In our country, Nigeria, if parents and guardians would be more concerned about spending quality time with their children and wards, about sincere training and correcting their children honestly from early infancy, if marriage partners and friends would be honest in their love and friendship which demands fraternal correction once a while, perhaps we would not be experiencing the various seemingly unending crimes and man-made problems bedeviling us daily today. In nearly all the parts of Nigeria, we are now living in fear and blame game today because of certain inaction of yesterday. In fact, one’s background tends to reflect in one’s behaviour during one’s later stage of life. My Brothers, Sisters and Friends, this is what we are experiencing in the governance of our Nigeria where most of the people at the helms of affairs in various levels are not up to the task since they lack solid and purposeful background which is the hallmark, distinguishing mark, of good governance. Children who are either spoiled or neglected today are definitely on their way to becoming criminals of tomorrow. If a child is always being pampered, patted on the back or even feared, hence flattered constantly and never corrected, makes such a child blind to his own faults until it is too late.
Correction is severe for one who leaves the way; whoever hates being reprimanded will die (Proverbs 15:10). Nobody, either a leader or a follower, is above correction. Honest correction and humble acceptance improve a person’s lifestyle and productivity. Nobody knows everything. Acceptance of correction is a way of spiritual and physical growth. Indeed, this is a lesson the people who are governing Nigeria must learn and must always bear in mind. No person knows it all. I believe strongly in the words of John Wooden (1910-2010), the legendary Coach of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), United State of America: “Whatever you do in life, surround yourself with smart people who will argue with you.”
In the First Reading – Jeremiah 38:4-6, 8-10, Prophet Jeremiah, God’s spokesman, corrected the power structure of his society then. As a reminder, Israel was God’s chosen people, living with Him (God) in a sacred partnership (covenant). Jeremiah wanted the people in power to realise this fact, but they did not like to be corrected by the man of God. By coming out to correct those in power, there was a strong plot against Prophet Jeremiah, but he did not succumb and he was saved by God. My Brothers, Sisters and Friends, the same thing is happening now in Nigeria where most of those in power have made themselves deaf blind and dumb to honest corrections and progressive contributions, suggestions, while Nigeria is sinking and the people who mean well for the country are derided.
The First Reading prepares us to understand today’s Gospel in which Jesus predicts his passion and death. Suffering and endurance are part of each serious Christian’s life, and faith in God should help us to stand it. ‘Wretched and poor though I am, the Lord is mindful of me’ (Today’s Responsorial Psalm). We must never be afraid of doing God’s will because our God is ever present to strengthen the people who tread His path. We are told in the Second Reading, Letter to the Hebrews 12:1-4, that we are to ‘run with perseverance the race that is set before us’.
It is a known fact that wherever the ancient Romans built cities, one finds the ruins of an amphitheatre, place for sports. The Romans loved the games. This is why we still have a wonderful tourist centre, Colosseum, a large amphitheatre in Rome ‘built in the 1st century AD for sports and entertainment’. This passage uses sporting language to encourage us not to follow the easy way as Christians, but rather to make tough and painful decisions, if necessary. This is in reference to today’s Gospel as well. My Brothers, Sisters and Friends, life is the arena of the local amphitheatre. A cloud of witnesses, spectators, is watching us daily. As athletes dress in light clothes when they are running, taking off clothes that are heavy on them, sins are also hindering clothes and we need to take them off. Sins are dirt and we must cleanse ourselves. We need to be clean to run the race of Faith , Hope and Love This Reading emphasises that daily, we must keep our eyes fixed on Jesus Christ. As the ultimate Coach, Jesus inspires and perfects our faith and self-confidence. In addition, he gives the reason for our efforts, namely, the joy of Heaven. He himself endured the opposition of sinners as we learn in today’s Gospel. Thus, the lesson for us, both as individuals and groups, is: Never abandon the struggle, no matter the opposition we may face. Do not relent in preaching God’s message through your lifestyle. ‘Love God. Serve God. Everything is in that.’ (St Clare of Assisi) In the Gospel – Luke 12:49-53, Jesus Christ reminds us of his mission: ‘I have come not to give peace, but division’. Furthermore, he states: ‘I have a baptism to be baptized with’. Here in the passage, Jesus refers to ‘baptism by immersion’. In other words, he says: ‘I will be immersed in pain and death’. Actually, he shows that by feeling anguish. My Brothers, Sisters and Friends, Jesus could not conceive of himself as running a popularity contest. The people who follow Him must be willing to make even painful decisions. Avoiding sins and occasions of sin could be such a decision. ‘Whoever spurns a father’s discipline is a fool, whoever accepts correction is discreet.’ (Proverbs 15: 5) Therefore, let us remove our toga of pride and decide totally for humility. It is then we will be able to take to correction and live a positive and concrete life. Please, on behalf of the Catholic Diocese of Ekiti, I praise and thank God for the simple, but God-fearing, loving, fulfilled, disciplined, caring and practicing Catholic Christian life of Mama Busola Augusta Abegunde, aged 98, a Parishioner of St Patrick Catholic Cathedral, Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State. Mama was a practical example of a committed Catholic, a faithful wife, dedicated mother and sincere friend. May Mama Busola Augusta Abegunde and all those now departed through the mercy of God rest in peace. God bless, sustain, strengthen, protect and guide her beloved family, friends and well-wishers always.
Psalm 40 (Responsorial Psalm)
Lord, make haste to help me! I waited, I waited for the Lord,and he stooped down to me;he heard my cry. Lord, make haste to help me! He drew me from the deadly pit,from the miry clay.
He set my feet upon a rock,
made my footsteps firm. Lord, make haste to help me! He put a new song into my mouth,
praise of our God.
Many shall see and fear and shall trust in the Lord. Lord, make haste to help me! Wretched and poor though I am,
the Lord is mindful of me.You are my rescuer, my help;
O my God, do not delay. Lord, make haste to help me! With confidence in God and Christ being our strength, wherever God leads us, we FOLLOW with joy, commitment and happiness.
Most Rev. Felix Femi Ajakaye
Bishop of Ekiti.
