DAILY HOMILIES #faith

By ‘hate’, Jesus is referring to ‘detachment.’ To better understand what Jesus means, recall what He taught in the Sermon on the Mount: “If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away; you should lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; you should lose one of your members rather than that your whole body goes into hell” (Matthew 5:29-30). Whatever could lead us to sin, including our own family members, must be cut off from us.

Paying one’s tithe is not a sin, but it should never be done out of fear. God’s blessings are not reserved for tithers only. Jesus mentioned the washing of the outside of cups and dishes, while inside their hearts were full of extortion and rapacity (the violent seizure and carrying off of another’s property; plunder). When the preacher is only interested in what he can get from the people (the inside), his words (the outside) cannot be clean.

If we are to understand hell as the place of the unfaithful, it follows that there is a place other than heaven and hell where souls go to receive either a severe or a light beating. This place is what the church calls purgatory. As the Catechism puts it: “Purgatory is the final purification of the elect, which is entirely different from the punishment of the damned.” (CCC 1030-1031) This purification is done to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven.

Jesus teaches that if your faith is as small as a mustard seed (if you have the tiniest atom of expectation), all you need to do is to speak, and mountains will begin to move for your sake. Our tongues have power, but only those who recognise it can use it. Be careful of your choice of words. You may have several challenges and difficulties, but always talk as a person of faith. Avoid the mistake of the Israelites, who, while on their journey to the Promised Land, rebelled against God by their choice of words.

This was now the second time the disciples were facing a possible shipwreck. Previously, Jesus was with them, but he was sleeping on a cushion. When his disciples woke him, he rebuked them for their lack of faith. This time, Jesus could see they were even more scared knowing He wasn’t with them in the boat, so He went to them walking on the sea. This was a lesson to the disciples, a proof that no matter how tough and challenging their journeys may be, they must never be afraid.

For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. (Luke 11:10). Asking, searching, and knocking require expectation in our hearts to be effective. Meanwhile, our expectations depend on the degree of our respect for God. Now, you can understand why Jesus “did not do many deeds of power there, because of their unbelief” (Matthew 13:58).

Leadership is not easy, but there is a secret to being successful at it: PRAYER. As a man, Moses was physically weak; he had lost his youth. He couldn’t speak coherently and confidently (hence the need for Aaron). The success of his leadership prowess came from his constant meetings with God. Every good leader must have a tent of meeting with God. We are powerless if we are not in tune with God through daily prayer.

There is a distinction between seeking God’s intervention and testing God (i.e., asking for proof of His power). Jesus worked countless miracles in the Gospels, but He only attended to those who needed help. Jesus never worked any miracles to prove that He is God. For instance, in today’s Gospel passage, the Pharisees asked Jesus for a sign, and in response, Jesus told them that only an evil and adulterous generation would seek a sign. The God who parted the Red Sea and enabled the Israelites to walk through it is still with us today. If you believe, you will see signs, but if you lack faith, no sign will be enough.

The ruler knew his daughter was dead, but firmly believed that Jesus had a solution for death. He invited Jesus to heal his daughter’s condition, much as one would ask an electrician to replace a faulty switch. Faith does not begin with the occurrence of a miracle. Faith makes it happen. Believe that no matter what you face, it is not beyond what God can handle.

When we fear God, we can rest securely knowing that He is the protector of those who place their hope in Him. We need not be afraid of danger when we know that God is with us in the same boat. In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus was highly disappointed with the disciples because they panicked during a storm. “Why are you afraid, you of little faith?” (Matthew 8:26). Whenever you begin to panic or expect the worst outcome in any situation you may find yourself, it is a reminder that you are gradually losing faith in God. To believe in God is to know that your life is in His hands and His plans for you are for your welfare.

Today, we celebrate the memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, following the celebration of the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus yesterday. The heart is the core of one’s being; it is where decisions are made. Hence, the word “heart” is used figuratively to refer to the whole person. Today, we celebrate Mary’s Immaculate Heart – we honour her as a woman who was preserved from original sin, firmly believed and cooperated with God, kept her heart pure and lived a sinless life.

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.