FRIDAY HOMILY OF 10TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR B
HOMILY THEME: SEEING HUMANITY, NOT OBJECTS!
BY: Fr. Obinna Ezeaputa
1 Kings 19:9,11-16/Psalm 27:7-9,13-14/Matthew 5:27-32
Our gospel reading today (Matthew 5:27–32) is a call to radical discipleship. Jesus teaches us that our thoughts and desires are just as important as our actions. To look at someone with lustful intent is to objectify them, reducing them to a mere object for our own pleasure.
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The biblical understanding of the heart as the center of our being, where our thoughts, feelings, and desires converge, forms the foundation of this teaching. Jesus is calling us to a transformation of our hearts, to see others as persons, not objects, and to live a life of love and respect for all.
The Taliban shot Malala Yousafzai, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate, for advocating for girls’ education. Instead of seeking revenge, Malala chose to forgive her attackers and continue to advocate for education and peace.
In an interview, Malala shared that she had realized that the Taliban fighters were not just enemies but also someone’s fathers, sons, and brothers. She saw the humanity in them and chose to respond with love and compassion.
Malala’s story illustrates Jesus’ teachings about the transformation of the heart. She could have easily objectified her attackers as “enemies” or “terrorists,” but instead, she chose to see them as persons, worthy of love and respect.
This transformation of heart enabled her to respond with forgiveness and compassion, even in the face of great adversity. Similarly, Jesus calls us to transform our hearts, to see others as persons, not objects, and to live a life of love and respect for all.
Let us ask the Lord to give us the grace to purify our hearts, to see others with His eyes, and to live a life of love and service to all. Amen.
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