💖 HOMILY - MAY 22 💖

First Reading - James 4:13-17

Gospel - Mark 9:38-40

The book of Ecclesiastes rightly puts it: "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity." This may outwardly appear to be a pessimistic attitude, but in fact, it gives us a deeper insight into finding the fundamental purpose of life. What is our life after all we have achieved and gained, if we are not able to possess them? The readings of today invite us to grapple with this fundamental question of life and provide us with practical guidelines.

In the first reading, James lays down practical guidelines for life. He challenges those who boast of their lives and are overconfident about their future plans. He tells them that life on earth is like mist that can disappear at any time. James reminds them that pride in life is equal to wickedness. Arrogance and overconfidence can only deceive them into believing they are in control of their lives, but the reality remains far-fetched. He admonishes believers to have an attitude of humility before God and to accept God's power over everything. Those who know this fact and yet turn a deaf ear to it, he adds, commit sin.

The gospel passage cites the corollary of arrogance or pride, which is jealousy. John reports Jesus' response to someone casting out demons in his name, manifesting bottled-up jealousy. However, Jesus responds with acceptance and tolerance. Through his response, Jesus teaches his disciples that the power of the Spirit can be manifested even outside the regular boundaries. It means the Spirit can use any person to manifest the work of God, provided the person is disposed to the Spirit. This also means that the work of the Spirit cannot contradict or oppose itself, even though it's active outside the Church, as Jesus himself says: "Anyone who is not against us is with us."

Dear friends, pride or arrogance is also accompanied by jealousy. A proud person will never allow anyone else to outwit or outshine themselves, leading to jealousy. The first reading reminds us that we don't possess anything of our own. The plans we schedule, the targets we set, the experiences we have can disappear in a moment with our lives. We need to have an attitude of humility rather than pride and arrogance, as nothing is in our control. We need to place our hope in God for our plans, expectations, targets, and goals. It's our hope in God that makes us humble to accept everything and hope for everything we decide and plan.

A close associate of arrogance or pride, jealousy is also to be tackled by patient tolerance and acceptance of the gifts of others. Jealousy can provoke us to notice the dark spots in others, but our patient tolerance and acceptance can stir us to notice the gifts in others as vested by God. Jesus teaches his disciples to accept the gifts in others. This means overcoming the fire of jealousy within.

Let's pray that we may be able to overcome our pride of life and jealousy through humility and acceptance of the gifts in others.