DAILY HOMILIES #Jesus

Apart from the fact that, as church leaders, we are prone to temptations, we could also become frustrated by our flock, as we see in today’s first reading. Moses was utterly fed up with the people’s constant complaining. (Like a parish priest whose parishioners criticise a lot). The Israelites complained bitterly about water in the wilderness of Zin. Moses was so fed up that he ignored God’s instructions. Instead of speaking to the rock, Moses poured out his anger by striking the rock twice with his rod.

When Jesus took three of his closest disciples up to the Mountain and was transfigured before them, he did so to strengthen their faith, to show them that beyond the self-denials, beyond the tears, beyond the blood to be shared, beyond the beatings, persecutions, and agonies of the cross, there was something beautiful, something resplendent, something so precious that was awaiting them at the end of the day.

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.

Let us examine our conscience. Have I become ungrateful? Have my prayers become avenues to complain against God? Do I recognise the fact that I am only a pilgrim on earth? Like the Israelites, we are on a journey to our homeland (the bliss of heaven), and nothing in this world can satisfy us. Regardless of how wealthy you are, without contentment, you are poor. On the other hand, no matter how little you have, as long as you are grateful, you are rich.

My brothers and sisters, have you written your will? If God were to demand your soul this very night, would He call you a fool or a wise person? According to St. Ambrose, “The things that we cannot carry with us are not our own. Virtue alone is the companion of the dead. Mercy alone follows us—and mercy alone gains abodes for the departed.”

Sex is reserved only for marriage because it is an act of total self-giving, and you can only give yourself to someone you are married to. Adultery is theft; it is like removing the engine from a car and still claiming to have a car. Faithfulness to one’s spouse attracts God’s blessings. The book of Proverbs teaches us: “Do not let loyalty and faithfulness forsake you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart. So, you will find favour and good repute in the sight of God and people.” (Proverbs 3:3-4).

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).

If only God could open our eyes to see his glory, ascending and descending upon the Tabernacle, we would not be able to contain ourselves as the Psalmist sings. “My soul longs and yearns to be in God’s presence. A day in God’s house is better than a thousand elsewhere!” I would rather dwell in the foot mats of God’s house than have a three-bedroom suite in the devil’s mansion.

There is a saying: “Do not spend your health trying to make money because all the money in the world cannot buy back your health.” Similarly, we can say: “Do not spend your soul trying to gain the world because all that the world contains cannot buy back your soul.” Never get so busy that you do not have time for personal prayer and daily examination of conscience (which is the act of checking up on your soul)

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.

What is the key to avoiding sin? How do we avoid worshipping the various gods in our world today? In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus describes the kingdom of God as a mustard seed that appears to be the smallest of all seeds but eventually grows into the largest of all shrubs. In other words, as the saying goes, “Little drops of water make a mighty ocean.” No one becomes a saint or a star overnight. A good character begins with good habits. You may start by observing one hour of sinlessness daily and gradually increase it.

The constant challenge before us, as Christians, is to recognise our true potential as wheat amid weeds. You are an eagle, not a chicken. You are meant to shine, like a lamp which gives light in the house, not meant to be hidden under a bushel. You are meant to fly high, not follow the crowd. You can be a Saint; do not be discouraged by the weeds you grew up with.