DAILY HOMILIES

The peace Jesus gives us is not the peace of material comfort but a peace that makes us happy even in poverty. Jesus says: “Foxes have holes, birds of the air have nests but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” (Luke 9:58). In truth, only in God can we find rest for our troubled hearts.

Philip and James teach us that as ordinary as we may see ourselves, we are not useless to God. Even though not much is said about them in the Bible, we cannot undermine their importance as far as the growth of the early Church is concerned.

As the saying goes: “all lizards have their bellies on the ground, no one knows which has a running stomach.” We come to church but the truth is that some of us have become like try branches; our relationship with Jesus is long dead. Today, is another day, God is giving you a second chance to reconnect again. If Paul could become a preacher, who says you, despite your past cannot do the same?

In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus says to us twice: “Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it… if you ask anything in my name, I will do it…” In saying “I will do it,” Jesus is telling us that He is both God and mediator at the same time.

Today we celebrate the fact that Mary intercedes for Africa. When Herod sought to kill the baby Jesus, Mary and Joseph took shelter in Africa. At a time when our continent is faced with the turmoil, suffering under the yoke of neo-colonialism, we need Mother Mary’s intercession more than ever.

A servant can never be greater than the Master. Let us shun every form of pride. Let us avoid taking the glory during “testimony time.” It is God who has done it, we only joined the person to pray, we are not the cause of the miracle and we dare not boast about it. Jesus says: “So you also, when you have done all that is commanded you, say, ‘We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.’” (Luke 17:10).

Jesus says to us: “I have come as light into the world, that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness.” (John 12:46).

If we are truly the sheep of Christ, we would be excited whenever we are called to join in prayers or whenever we open our Bibles to read because these are opportunities to hear the voice of our shepherd. Just as we long to hear the voice of one with whom we are in love so we shall long to hear the voice of Christ. If we are truly the sheep of Christ, our role models would not be rich and famous celebrities whose moral lives are nothing to write home about.

What kind of leader am I? Do I know my sheep by name? Am I concerned about their welfare or is leadership just a job for me (an opportunity for self-aggrandizement)? Do I show favouritism to a section of my sheep?

It is not the case that there are no good shepherds among our pastors. The truth is that the good ones are most persecuted and if you dare to be good, you are not going to have many friends. Our world does not like good people but never stop being good. Wherever you notice darkness, just shine your light. Go to Church to worship God, not the man of God.

Dear friends, no matter the reason why we may want to turn our backs on God, the truth is that THERE IS JUST NO ALTERNATIVE. St. Augustine said: “You have made us for yourself O God and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.”

For those who do not eat the flesh and drink the blood of Jesus, they are missing so much. As Jesus puts it, they do not even have life in them; they are walking-dead. “Unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.” (John 6:53).