DAILY HOMILIES #Jesus

How often have I driven God out of my workplace? How often have I gotten angry with people for daring to mention God in my business transactions?

Jesus knew how unpopular He would become but He also knew that failure to tell the truth was a bigger danger. This danger is what we read in today’s first reading: “Do not be dismayed by them, lest I dismay you before them.”

As long we allow Jesus to reign in our hearts and minds, poverty, captivity, blindness, oppression will have no place in our lives.

Love is kindness to others – a kindness that gives them the freedom to accept or reject; to reciprocate or to hate in return and more importantly, this kindness continues even when the other party responds with hatred.

o matter what may be the situation in your family right now, bear this in mind: first, there is no such thing as a perfect family out there just as there is no perfect human being. So stop comparing your family to another. Secondly, no matter how bad things are right now, you can still change them. Revive the daily family prayer, reawaken love for one another, bring family to church and church to family, apply discipline by first showing good examples. Sing: “My lifetime… my family… I give God my family….”

When you feel scared at any time, take it as a reminder to find a quiet corner and say a prayer to God. Remind Him that He promised to help, then visualize a positive outcome. Hold on as strongly as you can to this new outcome and watch God bring it to pass. Let your Faith counter your Fears.

Like this man, God wants to heal you this advent. Begin by going for confession.

The natural outcome of proper preparation for Christmas following these four steps above is joy. Prepare a way for Jesus in your heart, cover up the valleys, bring down the mountains, straighten the crooked lines and there is no way you will not be happy. Only a heart that truly receives Christ understands what it means to be happy.

Even to this day, God is looking for people who will be willing instruments of His blessings to people. The joy, healing, liberation, and happiness you seek from God will not come in a vacuum, it will come through people. The question is whether you are also willing to become an instrument of God’s healing power and mercies to others.

Just as Andrew introduced Peter to Jesus, the Feast of St. Andrew introduces the Church to the season of Advent. St. Paul in today’s first reading says: “How beautiful are the feet of one who brings Good News.”

God is a king that can never be destroyed. He is greater than anything we can ever imagine or think of. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning, and the end the one who made us and sustains our life. As Jesus assures us today, “Heaven and earth may pass away but my words will not pass away.”

Right there on the cross, Jesus said: “Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34). When people reject you, it does not mean you are worthless, it simply means they are ignorant of your worth. Excuse them and move on.