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

22^nd Sunday of the Year, B – September 2, 2018.

Readings: Deut. 4:1-2.6-8; Ps 15:2-3a.3bc-4ab.5(R.1a); 

 James 1:17-18.21b-22.27; Gospel – Mark 7:1-8.14-15.21-23.

Theme: Unspoilt Religion: Standing Up for Orphans, Widows & Vulnerable Groups!

Introduction

Beloved in Christ, our liturgy talks to us about the practical dimensions of our faith. The discussion between Jesus and some Pharisees and Scribes puts us in a position to distinguish between the essentials and the non-essentials of our faith otherwise known as “Tradition” with capital “T” and tradition with small “t.”  Our reflection titled “Unspoilt Religion: Standing Up for Orphans, Widows & Vulnerable Groups” challenges us about the demands of practical witnessing of the faith.

According to an article published in Daily Times on July 19, 2018, titled “Pains of Widowhood in Nigeria,” Nigeria has over 8 million disadvantaged widows and over 21 million orphans. This statistics indicate that the grim scenario is on the increase due to the prevalence of crisis, terminal ailments, crimes, religion and politics. We shall scan through the background of our readings to see how it addresses the plight of the vulnerable while drawing practical lessons. 

Background & Summary of the Readings

The first reading from the Book of Deuteronomy (Deut. 4:1-2.6-8) tells us how God demanded the diligent attention of the sons and daughters of Israel to his word, statutes and judgments. It presents us with the instruction of Moses to the people about the need to follow the Laws and Customs given to them by God. He maintains that it was necessary to observe them so as to have life and enter the land God promised to their fathers he would give them. Moses also cautions against adding or subtracting from the precepts. He further makes the point that keeping the Lord’s commands would show to others their wisdom and understanding as they say of them: “No other people is as wise and prudent as this great nation.” He surmises that the people would testify that their God is near to them and that he has given them laws to guide them.

In the second reading (James 1:17-18.21b-22.27), St. James makes the point that “as God’s first fruits” we are called to a wholehearted, consistent and comprehensive devotion to God. He challenges Christians to grow beyond mere listening of the word of God to putting it into practice. He insists that the faith that counts is one that is actually operative in one’s life by emphatically stating that “pure and undefiled religion is caring for orphans and widows in their distress and keeping oneself unstained from the world.” According to biblical law and prophetic pronouncements, widows and orphans were considered as the less fortunate members of the society singled for special consideration in ancient times. Apparently, James appears to measure our faith based our personal relationships with others as well as habits of speech. He urges us to fulfill divine purpose by becoming first fruits of God’s creatures through the primary expression of religion namely, reaching out to the poor and neglected.  

The Gospel text (Mark 7:1-8.14-15.21-23) recalls the criticism Jesus received from some Pharisees and Scribes who came from Jerusalem because his disciples were eating with unclean hands. The mention of Jerusalem here is for emphasis because it is the Eternal Capital of the Jews and since they came from there, they had the effrontery to challenge Jesus. They felt they had the obligation to ensure full observance of the Law of the elders as observed in Jerusalem. Mark tells us that Jesus gave them a run for their money by calling them hypocrites and accusing them of honouring him with lip service while their hearts were far from him. He even called the worship they offer worthless and doctrines, mere human traditions.  

It is crucial to note that the tradition of elders they were talking about was the ritual purification meant for priests of the Levitical family which they kept insisting about. That was why the Jews were divided as regards compliance. Jesus goes ahead to lecture them that it is what comes out of a man like evil intentions that defiles a person not ritual purification. This sets the tone for the distinction between the essentials and the non-essentials of our faith otherwise known as “Tradition” with capital “T” and tradition with small “t.”  

Brief Distinction between “Tradition” (Essentials) & “tradition” (Non-essentials of Our Faith

We are told that Tradition (big “T”) is irreformable, while tradition (small “t”) is changeable. Big “T” tradition, also called Divine Tradition, is that Tradition which constitutes a remote rule of faith for Catholics, next to and equal to the authority of the scriptures themselves. This Tradition is intrinsic to the Deposit of Faith. But small “t” traditions, on the other hand, are those traditions which are not intrinsic to the Deposit of Faith, for example, liturgy and discipline. Hence they are called “extrinsic” or “ecclesiastical” traditions.

According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, “Tradition is the faith that the apostles received and handed on to the faithful by word of mouth or by letter. It is the living transmission of the apostolic preaching accomplished in the Holy Spirit” (CCC 78). It is the living faith of the Church and backed by scriptural references (2 Thess. 2:15; 2 Tim. 2:2).  Jesus’ denouncement of the Pharisees and Sadducees’ clinging to “human traditions” has nothing to do with the Church’s divinely revealed Sacred or Living Tradition. The message of today calls us to preserve the Sacred or Living Tradition which are the essentials like sacraments. It however cautions against insisting on the non-essentials like various devotions while forgetting charity to the most vulnerable members of society. This is where the teaching about unspoilt religion comes begging.   

Unspoilt Religion: Orphan & Widow Ordeals

Widowhood comes with shock, suffering and pain. Stories abound of how widows faced inhuman treatment during and after their mourning period. In some cultures here in Nigeria, as soon as a man dies, the grieving period begins. The woman and children are made to observe the necessary traditions that are customary to her husband’s people. God save her if she is not from the same place with him. These practices vary from place to place but some would have the woman and her children clean-shaved and wear white or black mourning robes. This is where the whole drama starts. The mourning dress could be worn for two to three months – the widow is ostracized; she dares not go even to Church; minimal work may be permitted.

While the poor woman is battling with the confusion and grief, preparations for the burial ceremony starts most of which are very expensive often without recourse to what the family will live on after the burial. The most troubling experience of widows come from her in-laws. If your husband was rich, his selfish brothers used this period to shamefully demand sex from you even in your mourning dress. One of them may say something like this: “if you don’t marry me, find your way; but remember: you brought nothing to this house, so you are taking nothing.” If she agrees, fine otherwise, she faces another stress of looking for where to go to. This has led some to prostitution – others would go back to their parents to wait for any Good Samaritan. 

Usually, they strategize how these monies are spent; if your husband hadn’t a good house, they’ll build a new one otherwise, the old one is renovated; the funeral is unnecessarily delayed lasting three to four months – cows must be slaughtered and lavish banquets held and wholesome sums are spent without recourse to the future of neither the wife nor the children.

Before the funeral, if the family suspects the wife of having a hand in the death of their brother, she is given the water used in bathing the corpse to drink on the pretext that they want her to prove her innocence. Others would make her lie on the same bed with the dead body for days. In the minds of the villagers, crying foul here does not help as no “Jupiter” can stop this ritual.

While she is going through this litany of woes, seizure of her husband’s assets, by his people is usually the rule rather than the exception. At times, they may be as cruel as throwing the wife and children out of the house. Stories abound of in-laws who sold the house before their brother was buried.  If the man was pensionable, “it would do you good to surrender the documents,” an exerting in-law would say.  

Most orphans too face hell. There was this orphan who after mourning the untimely death of her two parents for a year decided to plead with an uncle to assist her fend for herself and her four siblings. The kind uncle decided to give her a note to his bosom friend to help her secure a job in his company. When the lady got to his office, he took the letter and said, “What a beauty queen you are. You see, your uncle is a good man. I will help you but you know, nothing goes for nothing; you’re not a child. I hope you understand? If you cooperate, you’ll get what you want. You know this world is rob my back I rob your back.” Surprised and scandalized by what he was asking, the Lady started crying. He didn’t mind her. She left the office heartbroken but she needed the job badly. She didn’t want to tell her uncle what transpired.

After two days of despair and hunger, she decided to give in. She went to the office and told the man that she was ready for his proposal. He replied her that in fact, he didn’t waste his time to read the letter from her uncle since she refused to cooperate. Well, the long and short of the story is that he slept with her. After the sinful act, she cried profusely. Just then, he opened the drawer and opened the letter her uncle sent to him. What was the content of the letter? The uncle wrote that the girl was an orphan who needed help because her parents died of HIV Aids and she is also a carrier. The man fainted… friends in Christ, is this how orphans should be treated? 

 Pastoral Application & Practical Lessons

1. We are urged to in a special way to assist orphans in the provision of food, shelter, clothing and education like Mother Teresa’s who is acclaimed as the Saint of the gutters because of her perpetual acts of charity which involved going all out to pick street children to cater for them.

2.  The sad reality of some men in our parishes whom I prefer to call “Chaplain of widows” who perpetually take advantage of these vulnerable adults tells us that they must have a change of heart or face the wrath of God.

3. As a Church, we have a duty to remind cruel uncles who confiscate the wealth of their deceased brothers and send their widow and orphans to a purgatory in this life, to change their ways or await God’s anger.

4. Today’s liturgy challenges us as individuals and groups, governments, corporate organizations, churches to step in to salvage the excruciating pain most widows go through by concretely assisting in providing them with means of livelihood.

5. Saint Vincent the Paul other Pious Societies and Sodalities must be on top of their game by canvassing for valuable items for orphans and widows otherwise, it will be shameful for the Church of God to neglect the brothers and sisters of Christ while Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) are showing them charity.

6. Pope Francis has consistently challenged Christians about the “throw away culture” which uses people and love things and throws away things that are of benefit to others.

7. While the Sacred Traditions of the Church are sacrosanct, we must resist the temptation of following rituals or church traditions with small “t” like neglecting to help take someone who is sick to hospital in the name that failure to attend Holy Mass is a mortal sin or insisting to receive Holy Communion in a state of mortal on the pretext that one must fulfill the Sunday obligation “Remember the Sabbath Day and keep it holy.”

8. In a Church where some of our members (Catholics) have become so fanatical about their religiosity that their spirituality is dead, we are challenged to reassess our kind of Catholicism - otherwise, how do you explain why someone will be saying the Holy Rosary while Mass is going on or those who insist that if you don’t wear the scapular, you will go to hell and those who say, if you can’t speak in tongues, you are not the child of God?    

Homiletic Points to Remember

1. Our liturgy talks to us about the practical dimensions of our faith.

2. “As God’s first fruits” we are called to a wholehearted, consistent and comprehensive devotion to God.

3. According to biblical law and prophetic pronouncements, widows and orphans were considered as the less fortunate members of the society singled for special consideration in ancient times.

4. We are urged to in a special way to assist orphans in the provision of food, shelter, clothing and education like Mother Teresa.

5. The message of today calls us to preserve the Sacred or Living Tradition which are the essentials like sacraments.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the scripture warns us: “Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan” (Exodus 22:22). As such, we are challenged to ensure that the most vulnerable members of society are shown the love of Christ. We have a responsibility to ensure a blend of observing the Living Traditions of the Church with the practical dimensions of the faith. May God help us to be bring joy to others. Only then can we be said to practice unspoilt religion and keep ourselves unstained by the world.

NB: I wish all September babies, happy birthday and many gracious returns. Kindly pray for me as I celebrate mine on September 6^th.