YEAR B: HOMILY FOR THE 10TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
YEAR B: HOMILY FOR THE 10TH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
HOMILY THEME:THE FOUR FRUITS OF JEALOUSY
BY: FR LIVINUS C. IGBODEKWE
GEN. 3:9-15, 2 COR. 4:13-5:1; MARK 3:20-35
1. ENVY: Jealousy is like fire that consumes the things that make it burn. Jealousy begins with envy. It starts when one thinks that he or she is not enough. A jealous person thinks that God is not fair enough to give him or her the larger portion or gift. When jealousy enters into worship it makes one become Oliver Twist that needs some more. Nothing is enough. Adam become ungrateful to God when he started seeking that which God has forbidden to give to him. Jealousy covets things which we are not entitled to get. Fruit of good and evil is the gift God doesn’t want to give Adam and Eve. When we start being satisfied with the much we have, we become free from the spirit of jealousy. Jealousy eventually destroys the one who harbors it. Adam got destroyed together with other creatures because he lacked gratitude and self contentment. Adam and Eve saw emptiness and nakedness even after coveting the forbidden fruit instead of satisfaction.
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2. INSULTS: Envy brings insult. Jesus was insulted as being insane by his family members. I think that jealousy doesn’t respect family ties. Jealousy makes a family member into a foe. Check out on Cain and Abel; Joseph and his brothers; Miriam and Moses. Whatever we see but can’t do, we sometimes insult because that’s the best weapon to throw on a blessed man. Calling Jesus mad just because he fasted while others ate doesn’t make Him actually mad. They once called John the Baptist mad on that account. When people insult you they wish that you are what they refer to you as. But you don’t really become it. Thank God!
3. BLASPHEMY: When some religious men see others who do the work of God and are seeing big results, they usually try to libel and label them wrongly. It happened to Jesus. They said he did his miracles by the power of Beelzebub. When we bring men or women of God to bad light, we are blaspheming against God who is behind those genuine men or women. And God takes offence at it.
4. DIVISION: Any house divided against itself because of envy and jealousy cannot stand. When the devil comes he will cause a great wreck in that house. Love is a fortress while jealousy is a loophole.
Let us shun jealousy and envy and start appreciating the good in ourselves and in others.
Happy Sunday!
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