DAILY HOMILIES

If actions speak louder than words, we are called to examine ourselves today. What sort of things are our actions proclaiming about us? What are my actions in preparing for Christmas saying about my understanding of Jesus Christ?

Have I been praying for something for so long that I now fail to realize that God has already answered my prayer? What is it that I am looking down upon now that I ought to be grateful for?

A prophecy may take time to materialize, but as long as it is coming from God and not merely from one’s imagination, it must happen. Quite sadly, we live in an age of fake prophets; prophets who see visions according to the size of people’s pockets.

There would be moments of pain we cannot escape, tears we must cry, losses we must make, and deaths we must die. These are planting seasons. They must come and they must go. If the farmer eats all his seed and fails to “sacrifice” some for planting, there would be nothing to eat in the next season. Thank God for your adversity. Whatever it is that you are going through right now is working for your good. (Cf. Romans 8:28)

Jesus is God in the midst of people. We have no reason to doubt that Jesus is the Promised Messiah. Every single prophecy about Jesus came to pass; even those that were made thousands of years before he was born. We do not need any further proof. Jesus is Truly God.

Why do I have loads of excuses for God when He has provided a shortcut for me to achieve all my desires? Jesus himself said: “seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be given to you” (Matthew 6:33). Do you believe this? Why not give God a try today?

The fact that God has showered certain gifts and blessings on us does not remove our free will. God may have called you before you were born but He would not force you to say “Yes” to this call. God who made you without your cooperation will not save you without your cooperation.

What is your burden? Jesus is saying to us today, “Come to Me.” How would you feel if the President of this country tells you, “Come and see me?” Happy and hopeful, right? So why are you still troubled? Jesus is the one saying: “Come to Me.” Go and drop the matter right at his feet and let Jesus do what He alone knows how to do best.

Surely, there are consequences for our sinful choices but God does not hate us because of our sins. He continues to love us, providing several opportunities for us to repent. We can learn to be more sympathetic towards sinners (those who hurt us) treating them as sick patients in need of recovery than as less-than-human creatures deserving only of our hatred.

One symptom of this disease is the speed with which its victims detect errors and flaws here and there. Another symptom is that people sick with this disease are never happy! In fact, they grow old quickly because of too much squeezing of faces.

John the Baptist speaks in the present tense: “Even now, the axe is laid to the root of the trees… his winnowing fork is in his hand…” Meaning “now is the time; the harvest has begun already.” Live your life like someone who knows that death is just around the corner.

Know that even if it is only one person you help, it will mean the whole world to them. Search your heart, you can hear God calling you. Just as Jesus appointed the twelve, He wants to do something through you. God does not work in a vacuum; He works through people.