THEME: KNOWING THE SIGNS OF OUR TIME, Revd Fr Oluwafemi Victor Orilua, CSSp

HOMILY, FRIDAY, 25^TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A

Ecc 3:1-11, Luke 9:18-22

God’s time is a gracious moment. The only tbing that is not possible is what the time has not come. There is time for everything. In our today’s first reading, it is clear that, “for everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” Ecc 3:1.

It takes God’s wisdom to discern when our season has come. Knowing the signs of our time is a great gift. It is only those who are open to God’s directives that can know when God is ushering them into a new season in their lives. They are the only ones who will always know when the time has come to achieve certain feats in their life journey. For no one can bloom outside his or her season. When God launches his project, no one can stop it. When he says yes, no one can say no. Things happen when the necessary conditions are present. For “wherever there is a carcass, there the vultures will gather.” Matthew 24:28

In our today’s gospel, Jesus instructed his disciples not to make him known because his time has not come. There are some conditions he must meet before he announces himself. The moment Peter attested that he is the Christ of God; he charged and commanded them to tell this to no one. The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.”

Jesus warned them not to expose him before his time.  So, he listed how the rhythm of his life would be. To be raised, he must:

1. Suffered many things,
2. Be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes,
3. Will be killed.

Therefore, we must learn that, to get result, there must be a process. To jump the process is to achieve premature result or to court disaster.

Let us pray that God will grant us the power or the enlightenment with which we recognize our own season and time, so that we may work and walk smoothly on the path of our ultimate destiny.

May God keep us, that we may not miss our own season. May his perfect will be done in our lives. Amen.