DAILY HOMILIES #Jesus

Matthew authored the first Gospel in the New Testament, which aligns closely with the other three Gospels and reinforces its authenticity. Composed in Aramaic between 41 and 50 AD, his Gospel aimed to depict Jesus as the spiritual Messiah rather than a militant figure. After Jesus’ crucifixion, Matthew is believed to have travelled to regions such as Parthia, Persia, or Ethiopia to escape persecution. The details of his death remain unknown. St. Matthew is recognised as the patron saint of bankers.

What made the workers who were hired first think they deserved more than those hired last? Did they not agree with the master to be paid a denarius each at the end of the day’s work? Why did they grumble at the Master after getting their agreed amount? They compared themselves to those hired later. Do you want peace of mind? Stop comparing yourself with others.

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.

Dear friends, in God’s vineyard, there is no need to look down on the function anyone plays. We all have different callings, but none is more important than the other. Albert Einstein said: “If the bee disappeared off the face of the earth, man would only have four years left to live.” This is just an example of how roles could be different yet complementary. Everyone’s role is different, but we all need each other.

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.

St. Paul did not stop at merely asking us to love; he clarifies the kind of love when he says, “Love is patient, kind, not jealous, not boastful, not arrogant, not rude, not irritable, not resentful, not rejoicing in wrong, bears all things, believes, hopes and endures all things and above all, love never ends.

Jesus wants us to understand today that our goodness, that is, our ability to bear good fruits, depends on how well we practice what his words teach us. By practising the word of God we hear daily, we become like a house built on a firm foundation, impossible to shake. Refusal to practice God’s words amounts to a refusal to feed the good dragon, and this leads to a cycle of perpetual sinfulness.

A blind man cannot lead a blind man. To be a good leader, one must be above his followers. You must have a vision, see the future you intend to create, and ensure your followers see it. You cannot be a good leader if you cannot see beyond your followers. Perhaps this explains our situation in this country.

It is easy to help those who help us, but Jesus wants us to go the extra mile to help those who can never (or will never) repay you. Cultivate the habit of putting smiles on the faces of everyone you encounter, no matter who that person is. When you give, Jesus says, “Never expect repayment, but your reward will be great.” (Luke 6:35). Humans are naturally ungrateful, so don’t expect people to thank you. However, nothing escapes God’s watchful eyes; He will reward you in due time.

When detached from worldly riches, we will realise that suffering, taunts, hatred, exclusion, ridicule and injustice are a blessing for Christ’s sake. It is a blessing to be attacked for doing good. You should be worried if you are not suffering anything for being a Christian. As the saying goes: “If the devil is not fighting you, it is probably because you are not a threat to him.”

Sometimes, in our hot pursuit of justice, we forget the law of love. We forget that as much as God would be pleased with our strict obedience to his laws, there is no law greater than loving our neighbour as ourselves. Like these Pharisees, sometimes we become interested in certain persons not because we like them but to find something we can use against them. Have you become an accuser of the brethren who accuses others day and night before God? (Cf. Revelation 12:10). Rather than point fingers, learn to look inwards.

Where are our watchmen today? Where are those prepared to die for speaking truth to power? Have we become carried away by the Gospel of prosperity or sold our conscience by collecting bribes from those in power? When will we realise that worshipping God goes beyond merely trying to make people feel good? It is easy to point fingers at priests and religious for not condemning the government in their sermons, but let us ask ourselves: what stops me from becoming a watchman for God?