DAILY HOMILIES

The saying goes that the road to success is never a smooth ride but an untarred road marred by so many pot-holes called “failure”, our safe arrival depends on our ability to keep going no matter how many times we fail.

The truth is that most of us do not even care to know what is inside of us. We barely examine our hearts. This is why we easily notice the specks in other people’s eyes but are blind to the logs in our eyes. (Cf. Matthew 7:3-5).

Our Gospel passage calls for a thorough examination of conscience. Are there things that I am doing under the guise of religion that God is not happy with?

God dwells in a special way in the temple. That is why Jesus would go to the temple to drive out the money changers saying: “My House (that is, God’s dwelling place) shall be a house of prayer…” (Matthew 21:13).

When Peter saw a great catch of fish which he was not expecting to see, he knew this was not about fish; that, he had just encountered God. He fell down immediately at the feet of Jesus saying: “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.”

“When you ask for wisdom, riches become your complimentary gift.” Riches without wisdom is poverty waiting to happen. On the other hand, with wisdom, riches are never far away from a person. To be wise is to be truly rich even if one has no money.

Be humble enough to accept criticism. You are not always as perfect as your ego makes you believe. Consider those who criticize you to be your real friends helping you to grow.

Keep the charge of the Lord thy God, to walk in his ways, to keep his statutes, and his commandments, and his judgments, and his testimonies, as it is written in the law of Moses, that thou mayest prosper in all that thou doest, and whithersoever thou turnest thyself.” (1 Kings 2:3)

If we claim to be like Christ, we must never forget that this world does not belong to us; that we shall all die but more importantly, that we must offer our lives for the good of others.

No matter how good we judge ourselves for leadership, without God’s hand of approval and support, we only come to nothing. No one ever became a successful leader by usurping power! If the throne is not meant for you, the crown will never fit into your head.

How often have I driven God out of my workplace? How often have I gotten angry with people for daring to mention God in my business transactions?

Jesus knew how unpopular He would become but He also knew that failure to tell the truth was a bigger danger. This danger is what we read in today’s first reading: “Do not be dismayed by them, lest I dismay you before them.”