Homily for the Twenty-Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
Isaiah 50.4c-9a Psalm 116 James 2.14-18 Mark 8.27-35
This weekend, we welcomed two Franciscan Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary to our parish for a mission appeal. The sisters shared the work of their order in serving the poor and the aged. Because of the mission appeal, this week's homily took an abbreviated form.
In many ways, life is all one big struggle; a struggle between good and evil, between right and wrong, between God and Satan. Whether its on the worldwide stage or within our own country or in the depths of our individual souls, there is a constant struggle in our lives between two diametrically opposed sides. The natural question becomes: who will win? Will good prevail, or will the powers of evil conquer? In our personal lives, its often some of both – sometimes we make positive, loving, moral choices; and other times we succumb to pride, greed, lust, or any number of other temptations that lead us to evil. Even St. Peter, the Prince of the Apostles, said things and did things that were both for God and against God, even to the point that today Jesus calls Peter Satan. But in the end, in the big picture, when human history has come to its completion and the world is at an end, who will win? Will the powers of good, the powers of God, prevail against pride and selfishness? Or will humanity have become so sinful and depraved that Satan will be able to claim an eternal victory? From an individual perspective, it sometimes seems like the sides are equally matched. But they’re not. Because the battle between good and evil that takes place in each of our own lives and in human history is a battle waged with imperfect people. But the ultimate battle between good and evil, between God and Satan, is a battle between the one, eternal God, creator of all, and one of God’s creatures who has lost his way. The ultimate battle between good and evil is really no contest at all – there can only be one outcome. Nothing – no one – not even Satan himself – is any match for the grace and goodness of God – the one being who is all-powerful, all-merciful, and all-loving. And so with Jesus we say, “Get behind us, Satan.” In the end, you will never win. You are no match for God almighty.
1 comment:
Living in today's culture, how easy it is for us with all of the negativity and evil things that are reported, it is for us to forget this message that good triumphs over evil. Since hearing this homily, those words, "Get behind me Satan," have more pertinent meaning. Living like Christ is an on-going struggle between the concupisence that is a huge part of me and the virtuous life I try to live. Thanks Father Eric for this thought provoking homily.
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