Shikrot Mpwi - Sunday Synopsis with Fr. Justine J. Dyikuk

 10th Sunday of the Year B–June 10, 2018.

Readings: Genesis3:9-15; Responsorial Psalm Ps130:1-2.3-4.5-7a(R.7bc); 

2Corinthians 4:13-5:1 & Gospel - Mark 3:20-35.

Theme:The Blame-Game and Grieving the Spirit

Introduction

Friends in Christ, our reflection this Sunday highlights the practical punch-lines of the theme “The Blame-Game and Grieving the Spirit” in the light of the liturgical readings. This homiletic- note prepares the faithful for a personal encounter with Christ in view of living out the Christian values in the daily events of our lives.

Summary of the Readings

The first reading (Genesis 3:9-15)presents us with the narrative of the fall of man. It recalls the denial and blame-game between Adam and Eve as well as the serpent. It also points out the punishment God gave our first parents. The text discloses how difficult it is to accept one’s fault. It also reveals how easy it is to push blames on others for one’s misdeeds. The reading opens our minds to three epochal realitiesin the economy of salvation namely, theoriginal state of blessednesswhich Adam and Eve enjoyed before the fall and thestate offallen humanitythey found themselves in after eating the forbidden fruit. This scripture also signals the state ofrestored humanitywhich Jesus would establish to redeem humanity. 

In the second reading (2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1), St. Paul reveals that grace and thanksgiving multiply among God’s people because of the death and resurrection of Jesus. He maintains that he who raised Jesus to life is able to raise us as well. Paul insists that though our outer self is subject to sin, our inner self is daily renewed by God’s spirit which enables us to seek after invisible things. What this means is that there is an eternal and imperishable tent prepared for those who resist the devil and seek after the spiritual.

Like the first reading, the gospel (Mark 3:20-35) warns us against the blame-game and grieving the Holy Spirit. In that sacred text, the Scribes accused Jesus of using the power of Beelzebul. In a swift response, Jesus gave them a run for their money by stating that: “A kingdom divided against itselfcannot last.” He goes ahead to give a categorical imperative: “Anyone who sins the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven – he is guilty of an eternal sin.” He gave this stern assertion because they accused him of using diabolical powers to heal.

Application: Practical Punch-lines

In light of our readings, it is crucial to pay attention to six points which shall serve as our spiritual meal this week and beyond:

First, the fall of our first parents calls us to reorder our appetites against what St. Thomas Aquinas, the Angelic Doctor, describes in his Summa Theologica as causes of sin that is, the concupiscence of the eyes,the concupiscence of the flesh and the pride of life – This means that Christians must make use of their God-given capacity to resist inordinate passions which induceallto commit sinslike lust of the flesh and the obsession for material possessions. 

Second, the fact that Adam and Eve wanted to be like God calls all those who desire for leadership positions in the civil society or Church to measure their intentions on the scale of service. This is because there is often the temptation to play god and lord it on others which often leads to impunity and lack of accountability by leaders in every facet of society.

Third, in a society where blame-game appears to be the order of the day, it is important to learn from Adam and Eve. We must change the narrative of denying our faults and learn to take responsibility as private and public persons. The tendency to avoid blame often comes out of the desire to evade punishment – However, when we accept our errors, the expected punishment is often less and medicinal. It is better to suffer for a sin we have accepted than to deny and suffer for three offenses – denial, punishment and guilt.

Fourth, in a country where 419ers, scammers, Yahoo-Yahoo-boys and commercial kidnappers are increasingly having their way, we are challenged to resort to prayer and seeking after invisible things for rescue. What this translates to is that, Christians must show by word and example that what they are gunning for is an eternal and imperishable tent prepared for those who shun dubious means.

Five, the menacing nature of insecurity in our country which has emboldened men of the underworld, be they killer-herdsmen or Boko Haram, to go about killing innocent people in Churches and Mosques calls for sober reflection and doing the needful. Since all human beings are created in the image and likeness of God, if the perpetrators of these dastardly acts do not reform, they may risk grieving God’s Spirit and suffer the consequences here and in the hereafter.

Sixth, we are charged to avoid anything that is close to sacrilege or using what is sacred for diabolical means as these amount to grieving the Holy Spirit. Christians are expected to turn away from the tendency to abuse God or resist his sovereignty over their lives as this is also tantamount to making God’s Holy Spirit sad. Homiletic Quotes to Remember

1.      The first reading (Genesis3:9-15) presents us with the narrative of the falloff man.

2.      The reading opens our minds to three paschal realities in the economy of salvation namely, the original state of blessedness which Adam and Eve enjoyed before the fall and the state of fallen humanity they found themselves sin after eating the forbidden fruit.

3.      In the second reading (2Corinthians4:13-5:1), St. Paul reveals that grace and thanksgiving multiply among God’s people because of the death and resurrection of Jesus.

4.      The fall of our first parents calls us to reorder our appetites against what St. Thomas Aquinas, the Angelic Doctor, describe sin his Summa Theological as causes of sin that is, the concupiscence of the eyes, the concupiscence of the flesh and the pride of life.

5.      In a society where blame-game appears to be the order of the day, it is important to learn from Adam and Eve.

Conclusion

On this Sunday, every Christianis chargedto eschew the “scapegoat mentality” which seeks to blame others for one’s faults. One take-home message that is essential that despite the sin of Adam and Eve and the corresponding punishment that went with it, God was merciful to them. Christians must emulate this.Little wonder the saying goes: “To err is human and to forgive, divine. May the purpose for which Jesus came (John 3:16)help us to make the world a better place to live in through establishing a kingdom of love, peace and joy. Happy Sunday!