27/09/2026
26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year A.
Homily by Very Rev. Fr. Justin Udomah
In our journey of faith, there are some vocabularies that are very important which we should always keep in mind. Words like: integrity, commitment, humility, obedience, dignity, attentiveness, intentionality.
In the same way, there are vocabularies that we should run away from as Christians, like: pride, arrogance, carelessness, licentiousness, laziness.
Our Christian call is basically a call to commitment. We are called to do, and to be involved. The mission is building the Kingdom of God, and we should put in our best to make sure that we do it from our own platform.
We all have our different platforms according to our vocation, gifts, talents, and abilities. We are not all standing on the same platform; we are spread around with different duties.
Different calls, same Spirit given to us to minister and to build God's Kingdom in the world.
By the time we get baptized, we join the bandwagon. And the more we grow in the faith, we receive Communion and ultimately receive Confirmation. If you say you did not understand, as you grow in the faith, you should understand because there are moments of deepening the faith. And this is the moment that we understand fully.
How committed are you to building God's Kingdom? What is the quality of your yes to God? Because at the different sacramental moments, there is an invitation, and there is a response.
In the Gospel, Jesus divides this response into two: on the one hand, you see those who said no, and on the other hand, you see those who said yes.
It is not the verbal yes or no that is important. What is important is the quality of the yes or the no.
The tax collectors and harlots represent those who were not serious at the beginning, who were casual and ignorant, but as they continued, they came to the awareness that their life should be lived in accordance with the will of God. We have people like Zacchaeus, Matthew, and Paul.
The gift of life is a call to live well and to contribute to the growth of the human family, which necessarily involves building God's Kingdom on earth.
How we conduct ourselves influences people either positively or negatively.
The message also speaks to those of us who were so passionate in the beginning. We don't live that life of yes inside us. Our soul does not carry yes to God, even if we physically appear in the church. We promise, we don't keep the promise.
It is for us to place ourselves on the spectrum: where do you stand?
Again, it doesn't have to be inside the church. How are you living your life? Are you doing what God would want you to do? Are you practicing and living out those virtues? The yes you say, are you living it?
What is the quality of your membership in the ministry you belong to? Are you committed? God calls you; we do not call ourselves. Are you participating actively, not passively?
How are you nourishing the Christian life of others? How are you serving your brothers and sisters in the Church? How have you distinguished yourself? How active are you in your life of faith? When you are not spiritually alive, you cannot be alive elsewhere. Ezekiel 47 says, the blessings flow from the temple.
What stops us from being active in the faith is pride, arrogance, and selfishness.
Make a decision to do the right thing. You have to serve God, distinguish yourself, and be part of those who actively build the Kingdom of God.
Think and behave like Christ. Christ came for our sake; that is love. Sacrifice to build others up.
Humble yourself. The promise is, if you humble yourself, you will be exalted.
May God give us the grace to say yes and live by that yes. To be a part of the family, to do all we can to help, to build the Kingdom, and bring people to salvation.
