DAILY HOMILIES

Do not be carried away with sayings such as: “A bird in hand is better than a thousand in the wind.” As long as God is ignored in that plan, the so-called “bird in hand” will become a bone in your throat later. Our people have a parable: “If one rushes to put food into their mouth, they could easily put the food in their nose.” Although it is true that “heaven helps those who help themselves”, if such “help” involves sin, we are no longer helping ourselves but setting ourselves up for regret.

Jesus said, “By their fruits, we shall know them.” This does not only apply to persons in religious circles. One does not need to write “engineer” on their forehead to be known as one; they only need to produce engineering works. What do we make of an “author” who has never written a single page? How do we say one is an accountant if they cannot handle financial records? You do not need to announce yourself to anyone; let your actions speak for themselves.

The people wondered: “What will this child turn out to be?” This is the same question we should ask when life forms in the womb. You do not know what that baby will become tomorrow. If you are planning to abort an unborn baby, make sure you seek permission from the baby first, and make sure you also check the baby’s future.

In the Gospel passage, we come across another type of call. This one comes from Jesus himself. It is a call to EXAMINATION OF CONSCIENCE. A call to constantly look inwards to take out the logs in our eyes before attempting to remove the specks in our neighbour’s eyes. Both calls require movement and sacrifice. While Abram had to let go of his father’s land, we are called to let go of our pride by examining our own lives rather than judging.

In the feeding of the five thousand, one obvious lesson we learn is that we serve a God who is interested in our physical as well as spiritual well-being. Jesus would not allow the crowds to go away hungry. He felt their plight and worked a miracle to feed them. This same feeling of love and concern is what inspired our Lord Jesus to sacrifice His flesh and blood for us on our behalf.

This principle of seeking God's kingdom first guided St. Paul in His missionary journeys. While advancing God’s kingdom on earth, God provided for his needs. Even though he also worked with his hands (he was a tent maker), he was always content with what came to him. His passion was evangelisation. He wasn’t competing to be known as the wealthiest man in the world. In today’s first reading, St. Paul writes: “I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions and calamities; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12:10).

If we want our goods to be secure, we must store them in heaven, where thieves and robbers cannot break in and steal. How do we do this? Giving things away and helping those experiencing poverty and in need around us.

Jesus taught us a short prayer in our Gospel passage. This prayer does not use repeated/empty phrases. It gives God His due praise and glory. It begs God; it does not issue commands. It is a prayer of commitment in that it asks of God and tells God what you will give to Him. When you pray the Lord’s Prayer, you ask for your daily bread; you also promise to forgive those who sin against you. Do not be too focused on taking from God when you pray that you forget to give back to God.

Jesus warned against giving that is loud, that is, giving to attract attention, not from the heart, but to make a statement to others. Jesus teaches us that this kind of giving is not to God, but to people. Instead of receiving our reward from God, we often receive only the praise of others.

What do serpents do when they are under attack? What about doves? Do they remain in one position or try to defend themselves? Jesus is not saying we should be suicidal; instead, He is teaching us to avoid hatred for others. In the face of unprovoked attacks, we must do everything possible to defend ourselves, fight back or flee for safety. We must use every power we have to disarm, overpower or bring down our enemies, but we must never harbour hatred towards them.

In our Gospel passage, Jesus admonishes us not to engage in physical battles: “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, do not resist one who is evil. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also….” (Matthew 5:38-39).

No one is an island. Even God is a community of three persons. Always consult with others before making any decisions. As a Christian community, we can only remain united when we regularly communicate with one another and discuss our plans. Staying away from zonal meetings or societal gatherings out of malice is detrimental to our progress as a people.