WHERE DO I PUT MY TRUST?
SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, 16TH FEBRUARY 2025, ST. ANTHONY’S PARISH, JABI, ABUJA. HOMILY BY ARCHBISHOP I. A. KAIGAMA.
READINGS: JEREMIAH. 17:5-8; 1 CORINTHIANS 15:12,16-20; LUKE 6:17, 20-26.
THEME: WHERE DO I PUT MY TRUST?
Glory to Jesus!
My dear people of God, it is a great joy to visit your parish today to pray with you and to confirm 57 candidates. I salute you all, together with your priest, Fr. Ronald Awuhe, and I offer very warm greetings to you all.
Last Sunday, I was in a parish called Saint Anthony of Padua, Pasali, and this Sunday I am in another Parish called Saint Anthony. I commend you all for your commitment to the faith and I thank you also for your contributions to the progress of our Archdiocese.
Today’s readings challenge us about where we place our trust. Is it in human strength, wisdom, wealth, power, or in divine grace? The fact is that it is only in trusting in God that we can truly be happy and blessed. Saint Augustine said that “Our hearts are restless until they rest in God.”
Prophet Jeremiah makes two comparisons in the first reading: the one who trusts in human strength is compared to a barren bush in the desert, lifeless and hopeless, while the one who trusts in God, is like a tree planted by the waters, full of life-bearing fruits in every season. This is a powerful reminder that relying on worldly power, wealth, or human wisdom leads only to disappointment, but those trusting God are never abandoned.
The responsorial psalm also reinforces this message: “Blessed is the man who has placed his trust in the Lord.” This Psalm reminds us that true happiness is found not in fleeting pleasures, but in meditating on God’s law and living by it.
Saint Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians today tells us that our hope should not be in temporary things, but in the eternal life won for us by Jesus.
We must understand that wealth is not evil, but if it becomes our sole pursuit, it blinds us to the true riches of life like love, generosity, faith, eternal hope, etc.
Let us ask ourselves: am I like a tree planted by the water of God’s grace, or am I withering in the desert of self-reliance. May we have the faith to declare sincerely, “Jesus, I trust in you.”
The first reading from Jeremiah, as well as the gospel of today, presents to us opposing ways to life, namely the blessed way, and the cursed way. Therefore, we are invited to reflect on the choices we wish to make in our lives and the paths we choose to follow.
St. Luke in the gospel today says Jesus lifted up His eyes on His disciples and said,
“How happy (blessed) are you who are poor: yours is the kingdom of God.
Happy (blessed) you who are hungry now: you shall be satisfied.
Happy (blessed) you who weep now: you shall laugh.
Happy (blessed) are you when people hate you, drive you out, abuse you, denounce your name as criminal, on account of the Son of Man. “
After repeating four times, “Blessed are you”, He adds four admonitions: “But alas for you who are rich: you are having your consolation now.
Alas for you who have your fill now: you shall go hungry.
Alas for you who laugh now: you shall mourn and weep.
Alas for you when the world speaks well of you! This was the way their ancestors treated the false prophets.”
Jesus introduces a radical orientation to our values and priorities. He contrasts the blessed way of life with the way that leads to woe. The beatitudes challenge the conventional wisdom of the world, which often prioritizes wealth, power and pleasure. Jesus, however, turns these values upside down, declaring, instead blessed, those who are poor, hungry, weeping, and persecuted for His sake. He invites us to see the world through the lens of the kingdom of God, where true happiness is found in living according to His teachings and embracing the values of humility, compassion, and justice.
On the other hand, He pronounces, woe to the rich, the full, and those who laugh now, for they will face emptiness and sorrow. At first glance, these words seem shocking. Is Jesus condemning wealth, laughter, and satisfaction? Not necessarily. What He condemns is a self-sufficiency that ignores Almighty God and those humans in need. Those who trust only riches, pleasure, and human strength will one day realize how empty these things are. True happiness is found in relying on God, even when life is difficult. Who do you put your trust in? Babalawo? Governor? President? Billionaires?
Remember too, that the rich are also blessed if only they acknowledge their poverty and dependence on God.
The readings today direct our minds to live for eternity and not just for today. The world tells us to enjoy now and worry later, but Jesus teaches us to live with heaven in mind. The rich man who ignored poor Lazarus was the reason he landed in hell while Lazarus enjoyed the luxury of God’s company (cf. Lk 16:19-31). Ps 49:6-13, says that people with wealth, but no understanding, no compassion, no milk of human kindness, are like dumb beasts that perish.
The choice is ours, either to choose God or something else. As for political leaders, and those who dispense our economic resources, they should consider the poor as a priority. It is imperative to respond to the needs of the poor, which are usually very basic such as good drinking water, accessible roads, little houses, basic healthcare, affordable schools for children, good and stable electricity, etc. Those in authority should consider how they can respond to these effectively and promptly, because the cries of the poor are getting louder and sometimes translating into violent or criminal behaviors and reactions.
Those who control political and economic power should stand in solidarity with the poor, advocating for the marginalized, and promoting justice and peace. They must make political decisions that favor the good of all and not just their personal interests; and combat corruption by living lives of integrity and honesty. They, and indeed, all of us, must learn to place our trust in God rather than in dishonest gains so that we can truly merit the titles “Excellency,” “Honourable,” “Distinguished,” “Majesty,” “Eminence,” Lordship,” “Man/Woman of God,” “Religious Leader,” etc.
We must all be truly committed to ethical behavior in our personal and professional lives, and have the courage to speak out against economic wastefulness and selfish legislation. This is not always easy, but it is the path that assures us happiness, fulfillment, and progress.
Dear friends, let us go away from this liturgical gathering today, determined to be like the tree planted by the water, bearing fruits and flourishing in every season.
