💖 HOMILY - FEBRUARY 8 💖

First Reading - 1 Kings 11:4-13

Gospel - Mark 7:24-30

Our achievements and successes give us a feeling of being someone special in the sight of others. That's great! However, we are reminded today by the readings that we shouldn't be proud and arrogant because of what we have achieved and gained but let our attitude be always of a humble person. The virtue of humility is also required to approach God.

In the first reading, we hear about the failure of the king Solomon to keep the covenant of God. The king Solomon was acclaimed by all for his wisdom but his arrogance becomes a cause of the fall and division of his kingdom. He is led astray by his foreign wives to worship foreign gods (idolatry). In spite of his great wisdom, the king fails to discern good and evil in the sight of God due to his arrogance. Though God warns the king against the sin of idolatry and infidelity to Him but the king turns his deaf ears to the warnings of God. And consequently, he is rejected by God for his arrogance in contrast to David, his father, who was always humble before God.

The gospel demonstrates a beautiful example of humble faith of a gentile woman. This example of humility occurs in gentile territory as Jesus was through the land of Tyre. The conversation between Jesus and the woman represents two different attitudes; one of authority and the other of humility. The woman recognizes the authority and power of Jesus. She comes and falls on her knees for the healing of her child who was possessed. Apparently, it seems as if Jesus disdained her by comparing her with 'house-dogs'. The word ‘dog’ was a contemptuous word commonly used by Jews for gentiles. But to one familiar with the oriental world will certainly notice that Jesus is not belittling her rather provoking her; it is like the bargaining which goes on in the market – a game enjoyed by both sides. After all, Abraham even bargained with God over the number of the righteous needed for Sodom to be spared (Genesis 18.23-32)! The woman shoots back a smart repartee, and Jesus grants her request. It is not unlike the scene of Jesus and the Samaritan woman teasing each other (John 4.8-24), and a valuable reminder both of Jesus’ humour and of his frank and open relationship with women.

The emphasis must be given on the attitude of the woman who stood firm despite such contemptuous word used for her; she still remained humble before Jesus. It's her humility that wins the heart of Jesus and Jesus consequently grants her wishes.

Dear friends, our achievements, success, talents, skills and possession (money, physical strength, knowledge, position) etc. inflate us. We feel as if we were the controllers of everything but the fact is, it's not so. It's our pride that makes us feel superior and controller of everything. Human pride is deceptive. It's because of the pride or arrogance, the kingdom of Solomon, was split apart. He became arrogant and proud as if he was controlling God. On the other side, the pagan woman found favour with Jesus because of her humble faith. It's our humble faith or humility that can find favour with God and not our pride as the Proverbs 16:5 says - "The Lord detests all the proud of heart."

What do we possess that we can carry along even after death? Neither material things nor any social recognition but only ourselves with the treasure we have earned in heaven. This must make us humble before God for we are nothing but His creatures.