Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Okami
1st Reading: Isaiah 10:5-7, 13-16
Assyria was used to punish Israel but later was discarded for interfering with God’s plans for his people
Ah, Assyria, the rod of my anger, the club in their hands is my fury! Against a godless nation I send him, and against the people of my wrath I command him, to take spoil and seize plunder, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets.
But this is not what he intends, nor does he have this in mind; but it is in his heart to destroy, and to cut off nations not a few. For he says: “By the strength of my hand I have done it, and by my wisdom, for I have understanding; I have removed the boundaries of peoples, and have plundered their treasures; like a bull I have brought down those who sat on thrones. My hand has found, like a nest, the wealth of the peoples; and as one gathers eggs that have been forsaken, so I have gathered all the earth; and there was none that moved a wing, or opened its mouth, or chirped.”
Shall the ax vaunt itself over the one who wields it, or the saw magnify itself against the one who handles it? As if a rod should raise the one who lifts it up, or as if a staff should lift the one who is not wood! Therefore the Sovereign, the Lord of hosts, will send wasting sickness among his stout warriors, and under his glory a burning will be kindled, like the burning of fire.
Gospel: Matthew 11:25-27
Jesus praises the Father for revealing the mystery of salvation to those who become as simple as children
At that time Jesus said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
There are sometimes we pray for something and out of the wisdom and love of God he won’t grant it.
Why? Because God knows we shall be better of if we don’t have those things.
Many of us have been praying for something for sometimes. Things like good health, upliftment, for breakthrough, for a mouth watering contract, for ministerial appointments, for a royal honour, lucrative job, for enlargement of our coasts, for some blessings, privileges, positions and then heaven has denied us not because God is incapable but the denial is for our temporal and eternal well-being.
If some of us were to receive what we have been crying for since, it is possible that foolishness, waywardness, ungodliness and pride will ruin our lives.
There are so many persons that worldly privileges, prestige and positions have made foolish.
This is the case with the Assyrians in today’s first reading. God raised them, gave them military might and used them to correct his people. The Assyrians became proud and haughty; they magnified themselves, gratified their cruelty and spoke proud and haughty words to God.
God took notice of this as He always takes notice of our words and thoughts. In order to teach them lessons too, God says He will change their condition from strength to weakness, from their pride he will humiliate them, the oppressors shall be oppressed, sickness will waste their stout soldiers and a consuming fire will destroy their abundance.
Dear friends, in case you are lucky enough to be blessed with some worldly goods and riches, in case you are in a position of authority, if you are lucky enough to have some political, economic, spiritual or administrative power, if providence has placed you above some persons in life, God is sending me to tell you three things today. You will do well to pay attention.
A. Always remember that God is the one who exalts and blesses.
This is the underlying message in today’s Gospel. Jesus praised God for revealing the mystery of the kingdom to mere children. In other words, it is God who gives knowledge and the blessing and power that comes with it.
Without the permission of providence, you can never be where you are. Do not be tempted to boast as if you have magnified yourself.
B. Do not ever use your power, position, and privilege to oppress any one. God is not happy with oppression. Be careful how you perceive, react to and treat those who are under you and all who look to you for daily bread.
It is a sign of wisdom to be in authority and yet treat those under us with dignity, respect and genuine kindness. Only very few people are able to combine power and character, authority and humility (Read Sirach 3:18).
C. No condition is permanent.
We hear this often but we have failed to understand it. Conditions in life often take drastic turns that beat our widest imagination.
The condition that some of you are now, if they tell you ten years ago, this is where you will be today, you probably won’t believe and in ten years time where many of us will be will be totally different from what you are thinking and calculating now.
We are living in a world that we do not create and we obey laws and pressure of forces that we do not invent.
I just pray that your condition will change for better and not otherwise.
Let me cite a sarcastic instance, some years back, man pursues rat, who will ever believe that rat will one day pursue man with Lassa fever even to the extent of pursuing a president from his house? That is the Irony of life.
If you are comfortable today do not scorn or misbehave to others, if you are living in the dust today and your sorrowful mystery seems to exceed the regular five decades, do not lose hope.
Sermon preached by Rev. Fr. Emmanuel Okami at the Catholic Church of the Presentation, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos, Nigeria on Wednesday July 18, 2018