26TH SUNDAY, YEAR B: HOMILY BY FR. JUSTIN ADIELE
THEME: “ALLEVIATING THE BURDEN OF OTHERS”
INTRODUCTION
A soldier of Alexander the Great was driving a heavily laden mule to the royal tent. The soldier noticed that the burden was too great for the mule, and he took a bag from its back and carried it on his own shoulders. Alexander happened to see this act from his quarters, and was so pleased that he called the soldier over and said to him; “That bag which you have on your shoulders is filled with gold. Take it as a gift from me. It is yours; you deserved it.” If Alexander a mortal human being could appreciate the kindness shown to a beast/animal and rewarded the soldier so richly, what then will God the eternal king reward us for kindness shown to fellow men?
THE FIRST READING (NUM. 11: 25–29)
In the first reading, we saw that God was at the fore front in alleviating the burden and lamentations of his people in the wilderness, through the dispensation of his words, goods/food (manna and meat), and right judgments (justice) to his people. God also sensed and alleviated the burden of leadership and prophecy on his servant Moses by registering and empowering 70 Elders with the spirit of Moses to assist him. If God Himself also gets rewarded for each time he alleviates our burdens, sufferings and lamentations; if His glory increases whenever he hears our cry, no wonder He remains greater than the greatest, higher than the highest, and richer than the richest.
THE SECOND READING (JAM. 5: 1–6)
In the second reading, St. James warns us that there is no gain in accumulating so much silver and gold (wealth) when there are a lot of people burdened with loads of needs around us. You cannot be so rich through the wages, salaries, pensions, gratuities, royalties and the allocations of workers, others or the people. You cannot continue to live in luxuries and pleasures at the expense of the poor or the righteous. The burden of peoples’ suffering, hardship, cries, sorrows and poverty should not be traced to your door step on account of your greed, fraud, jealousy or selfishness.
THE GOSPEL READING (MK. 9: 38–43. 47–48)
In the gospel reading, Jesus left us another lesson on alleviating the burden and problem of others. He did not forbid nor stopped the man “with no name” casting out demons in the name of Jesus. He did not forbid the man from helping out in the work of salvation. He did not forbid/stop the man from helping out to stop the works of Satan in the lives of others. You can be that man without a name (without a portfolio, without a party) for your brothers, for your community, for your state. You can be that man/person, through whom your community/brother gets water, gets light, gets good roads, gets food/meat, gets medical support, and gets justice. You can actually and graciously assist the government to alleviate the sufferings and burdens of people around you like St. Vincent De Paul group does. And God assures us that we will never lose our reward for he is ever watching from his heavenly quarters.
CONCLUSION
God sees and rewards more than Alexander the Great in the introductory story of today. We are his soldiers, his elders and the man/woman inspired by his Spirit of love and kindness to ease the burden, suffering and lamentations of the people around us. Let us remove jealousy, unhealthy competition, greed and selfishness. We can actually make the difference in our world full of pain and misery. We can actually put a smile of relief in someone’s face. We can lift just one bag of burden from our brother’s or people’s shoulder; and this act worth’s a whole lot of reward before God.
Happy Sunday!
Fr. Justin