Christian Optimism: See the Half Full Glass
Fifth Sunday, 4th February, 2024. Homily at St. Catherine of Sienna, Pastoral Area, Maitama II, Mpape, by Archbishop I. A. Kaigama
Readings: Job 7:1-4, 6-7; 1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-23; Mark 1:29-39.
Christian Optimism: See the Half Full Glass
Dear Priest in-charge, Rev Fr. Vincent Iletogbe, and your entire parishioners of St. Catherine of Sienna, Pastoral Area, Maitama II, Mpape, our responsorial Psalm today says: “Praise the Lord who heals the broken-hearted” while the Gospel acclamation refers to how Christ took our infirmities and bore our diseases. The readings challenge us to courageously go on doing good rather than allow the prevailing difficulties extinguish our hopes. As Christians, we must remember that in all the pains we bear, we are not alone. God is present, and He has healing and transformative power. It is in suffering that He tests our faith.
Today what most people earn as salaries can only meet a tiny part of their daily needs. An example of this kind of frustration is the recent case of the trending video on the social media of a Nigerian soldier allegedly stationed in some part of Borno State who was given a break after a one-year engagement in the bush. His intention was to go and visit his family. On reaching the motor park in Maiduguri, he was disappointed to find that the transport fare to take him and bring him back was N70,000, and because he claimed he was only paid N50,000 allowance, he had no option than to return to the hazardous assignment!
A character that has become synonymous with hope and trust in God is Job. The first reading from Job captures the lamentations of a God-fearing man who suddenly experienced successive losses of his wealth, family members and serious deterioration of his health. In his sufferings, he began to question why bad things happen to good people.
In his dialogue with his friends, they thought that Job must have sinned, and needed to repent, or he deserved God’s punishment. Even Job’s wife told him to curse God and die. But in all his sufferings, Job did not give up, and for this, God rewarded his faithfulness and blessed him with more than he had before.
Sometimes very serious problems reduce us into a state of despair, confusion, hopelessness and doubt (story of a woman who spent all her money on a fake prophet). In such moments we ask questions such as: God, where are you? Why me? What have I done wrong? Dear friends, our faith does not immunize us against suffering.
The Gospel reading shows that the ministry of Jesus restored hope and brought life. He exorcised the demoniac before visiting Simon’s mother-in-law where he healed her of fever (cf. Mk. 1:29-31) and healed many other sick people and liberated those possessed by devils.
I invite us to call on Jesus to intervene in our sick bodies, families, society, to heal and mend broken hearts, severed relationships, and grant comfort to the neglected, sorrowful, and the very poor among us, above all, grant freedom and liberation to the many who are now the victims of the increasing cases of kidnapping. Now kidnapping has turned into a lucrative business attracting some young unemployed youths as well.
In all our sufferings let us trust in the Lord, like Simon’s mother-in-law, that He may come to us, grasp our hands, and raise us up to health, give us inner joy and peace and heal our society.
Life, they say, is not a bed of roses. We suffer a lot due to sickness, unemployment, insecurity, economic hardship, strained relationships, difficult marriages, loss of loved ones, etc. Farmers cannot go to farms and return safely; many sleep at night not sure to survive another attack on their homes; the aggressive hike in the price of things due to the colossal fall of the Naira are to say the least very worrisome. We must however remain positive and optimistic like Job when he said, “for I know that my redeemer lives” (Job 19:25). We are bound to face many trials, but the question is can we have the faith of Job?
The second reading expresses the fidelity of St. Paul to preaching the gospel, to drawing people closer to God. He made himself “a slave to all” (1 Cor. 9:19). His steadfastness even in the face of sufferings was because he believed that the sufferings of the present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us (cf. Rm. 8:18) and so he encourages us to be always ready to forgo our own rights when the welfare of a neighbour is at stake.
I urge you, the 186 candidates of confirmation, and all parishioners never to give up on life’s struggle. Your lives must show enduring faith in God. Please, hold on to your faith so tenaciously and do not make the mistake of quitting the Church or to be angry with God. God never abandons His own. As at the end of Job’s narrative, God restored his fortunes and blessed him even more than before (cf. Job 42:10), may it be so for all of you, in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.
