DAILY HOMILIES #disciples

In the parable of a friend who needed help in the middle of the night, Jesus teaches us that even if God (like one who is already sleeping with his family at home) did not intend to answer your prayer initially, your persistence could make God go the extra mile (wake up his family) to help you.

In today’s Gospel passage, one of Jesus’ disciples asked Jesus to teach them how to pray. It takes humility to ask to be taught how to do something, just as it takes humility to take corrections when people point out our faults. The Lord’s prayer appears simple, but it is also very powerful.

To the one who opted to follow Jesus on his own, Jesus warned him: “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of man has nowhere to lay his head.” (Luke 9:58). Surely, there are so many good things we get to enjoy for being Christians, but our worship of God should not be predicated on these things. We are Christians not because of what we stand to gain from God but because we love God. As such, even when we don’t receive anything or when misfortunes come our way, we must remain faithful.

No one became successful overnight; even those from wealthy families were not always successful. There were moments of sorrow, tears and sweat. It gets very dark just before dawn. If God allows suffering in your life, do not say: “God, why me?” Instead, say: “God, help me to discover the hidden blessings behind this suffering.” Don’t think about your problems too much; some are lessons. Remember, God “has made everything beautiful in its time.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

By asking them to “take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money; and do not have two tunics” (Luke 9:3), Jesus revealed to them the power of contentment. Truly, contentment (concretely expressed as the vow of poverty) is an all-important ministry instrument.

There are different hearts: the stony heart, the rootless heart, the distracted heart, and the rich heart. There are different ways people respond when they hear the word of God, but the beauty of it all is that the word of God is so powerful that in whatever heart it enters, it does not remain stale. Something must happen. The seed must grow. Whether it bears fruit eventually depends on us and the kind of reception we give to God’s words.

In kissing the feet of Jesus in public, this woman was expressing her rejection of her past lovers. This is what we do when we publicly recite the Creed. Using our lips to confess our allegiance to God, we denounce any attachment to the devil. It is not wrong to confess our sins secretly, but the church, in its wisdom, recommends confessing “our sins to one another” (James 5:16). If you truly desire to repent of a sinful habit, talk about it in the open; this way you break your attachment to it.

God’s kingdom does not operate like our human empires where might is right, where the poor, the weak, and the little ones are trampled underfoot. The principle of greatness before God is not how much money you have or what you have achieved in life. No. The principle of greatness in God’s sight is humility and service. Jesus says: “He who is greatest among you shall be your servant.” (Matthew 23:11)

top looking at the enormity of your problems and start learning how to fix your gaze permanently on God; learn to practice being in God’s presence. When we often ask, “God, where are you?” we forget He is always there. Your situation may be so bad that you now expect only the worst to happen; everything may have gotten out of hand, and your whole world may appear to be collapsing before your eyes; know this: God is right here with you.

God is not looking for proud people who think they are better than others. God wants to work with humble people who know how much they need help. God does not call the perfect but perfects those He calls – He sent an Angel to touch Isaiah’s lips with a burning coal and absolve his sins. When was the last time you sincerely and thoroughly confessed your sins? Do you consider it too humiliating to tell a priest your secret sins?

God will never give you an assignment without the necessary tools required for that assignment. Jesus knew the battle ahead. He knew He would risk too much if He sent his disciples “empty-handed.” Jesus did not give them money. He gave them that which is more than money – authority to cast out demons and to heal diseases and infirmity.

Jesus saw all of these and referred to them as harvest and, at the same time, noted that this particular harvest lacked sufficient labourers. God wants to intervene, but He needs people. And we are the labourers. Visit the sick, help the poor, clothe the naked, and make efforts to convert a sinner. God is inviting you to labour for Him. If you are in a position to help salvage the spate of attacks on c, please do something. Labour in this harvest for God