DAILY HOMILIES #ezekiel

We may lie to the world about who we are, but we can never lie to God. The worst kind of life (and the most miserable too) is living in pretence; projecting a false image of yourself like an actor on stage. Funny enough, the movie comes to an end too quickly, and the audience gets to know the true identity of the characters. As Jesus said: “Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.” (Luke 12:2)

Ezekiel’s prophecy of the dry bones shows us that it is not possible for there can be dead cases as far as our lives are concerned. We can always change; there is always room for repentance. We can never be too old to start learning again. Why is it that it can never be too late for God? His steadfast love never ceases; His mercies endure forever. God’s mercies are new every morning. As we often sing: “Great is thy faithfulness, O Lord. Great is thy faithfulness.”

What kind of guests would hear “Come and eat” and still refuse to show up? This is very strange! But then, this is our situation today. We reject His generous invitation by not living according to God’s mind. When we allow sin to fester in our lives for whatever excuse, we are just like the guests who gave various reasons for their refusal to attend. We prove to God that these excuses are more important than our love for Him.

The essence of the Christian life is COLLABORATION, not COMPETITION. Why engage in fights with others? A few years from now, we will all have become dust under the ground. Avoid looking down on anyone, as no one can see the future. Imagine workers employed in the morning mocking (or even maltreating) those employed in the evening, not knowing they were no better off.

Think of wealth as a tool to serve God and make life better for others, not as a god or as something requiring your devotion. Be detached from your possessions. Be generous. No matter how little you think you have, always see yourself as a blessing to anyone you meet.

Religiosity without charity amounts to mere lip service before God. It is not enough to keep God’s commandments; we must also ensure that we do not make a god of our material possessions. If we cannot give out what we have, cannot help the less privileged, and do not care about the poor, it simply means the things we have are the gods we worship.

In a culture where women were treated as property and a man could afford to “use and dump”, Jesus’ teaching on marriage aimed at restoring the dignity of women. However, to this day, many struggle to accept Jesus’ teaching on the indissolubility of marriage. For Jesus, if you do not intend to remain married for the rest of your life, don’t marry at all.

Unforgiveness is highly poisonous. Carrying hate and bitterness in your mind affects your ability to think properly; it even affects your physical and mental health. Unforgiveness is like holding hot coals in your bare hands hoping to throw them at your offenders.

One may ask, “Why are there so many steps? If someone sins against us, why don’t we move on? Through these steps, Jesus wants us to make an effort to win back one who has sinned against us. Give them an opportunity to repent before surrendering them to God. Remember: There is more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than the ninety-nine who do not need repentance.

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)

This is the night when God led our forebears, Israel’s children, from slavery in Egypt and made them pass dry-shod through the Red Sea. This is the night that God banished the darkness of sin with a pillar of fire. This is the night that, even now, throughout the world, sets Christian believers apart from worldly vices and the gloom of sin, leading them to grace and joining them with his holy ones. This is the night Christ broke the prison bars of death and rose victorious from the underworld…

Like Lazarus, who was bound all over, sin ties us down and keeps us stagnated spiritually. That is why we need Jesus in our lives. And it really doesn’t matter how deep sin may have crushed us. It is not too late today to repent and begin to live a new life in Christ.