DAILY HOMILIES #Jesus

Courage is not merely the absence of fear; it is the knowledge that God is alive and He is with you always. Jesus knew that achieving salvation for mankind was not going to happen on a platter of gold, hence He said: “The Son of man MUST SUFFER many things, and be REJECTED by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be KILLED, and on the third day be RAISED.” (Luke 9:23).

While we must be concerned about the church as a physical building, we must remember that these words of Haggai also apply to our bodies. This is because we are the temples of the Holy Spirit. St. Paul says: “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. So, glorify God in your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

Ezra prays for the people during the evening sacrifice. Ezra wore torn garments, which symbolised contrition. Remember how the king of Nineveh tore his garments and sat on ashes upon hearing the warning of Jonah that Nineveh would be destroyed? God saw this and “repented” from the evil He had planned to do. In our Gospel passage, Jesus sends the twelve disciples into various towns and villages to interact with the people. This is the second dimension of priestly ministry.

It is not enough to hear the Word of God; we must also practice it. Many of us only remember God when we need His favours, but we toss His commandments aside daily. Instead of living as lights, we blend with the world’s darkness. Instead of behaving as family members of Jesus, we act as strangers, like the nameless and faceless crowd that flocked around Jesus.

Jesus is teaching us first to think carefully like this steward of what shall become of us after our death (when we are relieved of our stewardship) and secondly, to use “what does not belong to us now” to be charitable to others so that, like this steward, we would be welcomed into Paradise.

We all experience various soils at different times in our lives. Sometimes, we are like the seeds on the road path. Sometimes, we hear God’s Word but respond with a stony heart. Sometimes, we let money (or other material pleasures) override our love for God. Let us ask ourselves: “Where am I right now?” That is, which type of soil defines my current spirituality? Once we answer this question, we will know what to do. Remember, the only thing stopping you from sainthood is yourself. Look inwards and make amends.

According to St. Paul, those who consider pastoral ministry a money-making enterprise “fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and hurtful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. The love of money is the root of all evils; through this craving, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced their hearts with many pangs. But as for you, man of God, shun all this.” (1 Timothy 6:9-11).

Jesus did not deny the fact that this woman was a sinner, but He was willing to forgive her for her act of contrition. To receive God’s forgiveness, we must first admit our faults. Stop pretending to be a saint when you know you aren’t; go down on your knees and beg for God’s forgiveness. Go and confess to a priest. Humiliate yourself before God, and He will lift you.

Be a good person; forget about trying to please human beings (avoid hypocrisy). Just as God fought for Joseph and many others like him, God will fight for you. Those who try to kill you by giving you a bad name will start speaking in your favour.

Just as in the case of Lazarus, Jesus spoke, and the dead obeyed. What does this teach us? There is no problem that is too big for God to handle. If the dead can hear and obey the voice of God, why should I give up? What began as a sad story ended up with songs of praise to God. They glorified God’s saying. ‘A great prophet has arisen among us!’ and ‘God has visited his people!’ This very phrase was part of Zechariah’s song of thanksgiving when his power of speech was restored after the birth and naming of John the Baptist.

It was on the Cross that Jesus broke the bond that the devil held over humanity. This is precisely what Jesus meant when He said, “When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all men to myself.” (John 12:32). It was on the cross that Jesus “finished” the devil and accomplished His mission. Far from being an object of pain, shame and ridicule, the Cross has become a powerful weapon against the devil – a reminder of how Christ, the stronger man, overpowered the devil and took away his spoils. (cf. Luke 11:21-22).

Practising God’s words is like planting a tree. The more you do what the word of God says, the more you become used to it. Your natural mode of thinking and acting aligns with God’s expectations. Hence, Jesus says, “A good man, out of the good treasure of his heart, produces good.” That treasure is a combination of good deeds which have been practised over a very long time. You cannot become a saint overnight. You cannot suddenly repent from sin; you must first erect a solid foundation through practice. The saying is true: “Practice (not words) makes perfect.”