HOMILY: 6th April 2020

MONDAY OF THE HOLY WEEK. 6th April 2020

Homily by Rev. Deacon. Samuel Muhanji Nyonje 

Theme: True Love is a Sacrifice

Readings: 

Isaiah 42:1-7

John 12:1-11

My beloved Christ faithful , good morning. I welcome you to the mood of the Holy Week which is always ushered by Palm Sunday and leads us to the great mystery of the Passion, death and Resurrection.

Have you ever loved? Myself as a deacon I have loved not only once but daily. There's love for persons and personalities. In today's world this subject remains to be abused not daily but every time. I have chosen the theme " true love is a sacrifice " since not all people can offer sacrifice. Indeed, love has no measure.  Love means to give all and to surrender all.

Indeed, Jesus showed us the depth of His love for us, by emptying Himself of His divinity and assuming our humanity, and became obedient even unto death on the cross. This text from Philippians is what we read yesterday in the second reading ( Phil 2:6-11). Jesus is the fulfillment of the Suffering Servant in the first reading.  

The first song of the Suffering Servant in today’s reading prefigures the role of the Messiah. This affirmation equates to the voice heard during the baptism of the Lord, "this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased" ( Mt 3:17). This suffering servant gives all not for personal gain but for other people's gain. This will be termed as "vicarious suffering", that means, higher power ( Jesus) fighting on our behalf.

Indeed, the Lord, filled with the Spirit of His Father, in His self-emptying love, sought to win us over by His love, compassion and tenderness.  Instead of using violence and retaliation to win over His enemies, the Lord submitted Himself to the cruelty of unjust suffering inflicted by His enemies.  He did not shout but gently invited us to repent.  He has compassion for us because we are being harassed and helpless, like “sheep without a shepherd.’  (Mt 9:36).

Mary in today’s gospel, having received Jesus’ overwhelming love for her, returned her love without measure.  She was extravagant in expressing her love for the Lord since Jesus in the first place had demonstrated by His life what love is. Indeed, she teaches us that love does not count the sacrifices or the costs when she showed her love for the Lord by indulging Him with an anointing of His body using very costly ointment. Although the ointment cost 300 denarii, which is almost a year’s wage of a labourer, she did not mind “wasting” it on our Lord.

Love is not measured in material or monetary terms but expresses itself in humility.  Instead of using a towel, Mary hurriedly untied her hair and used it to wipe the feet of Jesus.  Such was the love of Mary.  She was like a servant stooping so low, not just to wash the feet of Jesus but even using her hair to wipe His feet, anticipating how Jesus would also, like a servant, wash the feet of His disciples. In so doing, she showed that love means being always comfortable before one’s beloved. Are we comfortable to the married , union and life that I am in?

In contrast to the true love offered by Mary, those who are not sincere in love will always count the cost of giving. This is explicitly seen in Judas. Judas did not have love for the Lord or for the poor.  He used the poor as an excuse not to love the Lord.  When we lack love, we lack generosity.  In order to disguise our lack of love, we rationalize and find excuses for not doing what we know should be done.  When there is no love, we tend to be calculative in what we do.  

I call you friends because you're loved by the Lord Jesus Christ. Lenten season has prepared us to this forthcoming Paschal mystery. We've prayed on the way of the Cross, read and received the discipline of Lent. During this Holy Week, the Lord asks for our love for him and the Trinity. In the midst of challenges we all experience, the difficulties in the families, please share with those in need around you out of love.

Wishing you God's blessings all. You may follow us on daily online Mass via Facebook through ( taide Jude) and also find us on daily live Mass and adoration on YouTube via search ( Jude Kariuki) St. Anthony Dck Parish. 

By Rev. Deacon. Samuel Muhanji Nyonje 

samnyonje.blogspot.com