DAILY HOMILIES #Jesus

The tenants in Jesus’ parable forgot they were only tenants, that the land could never be theirs. Nowadays, you hear phrases such as: “my body”, “my truth”, etc. We live in a world that has turned its back on God. A world where people live as if there is no God. It is not just your body; it is God’s temple. You don’t own yourself; you must account for your life before God. There is a day of reckoning.

The chief priests asked Jesus who authorised him to cleanse the temple. They did not know they were talking to God. Does anyone need permission to clean their house? Jesus had performed several signs and wonders that only God could do, yet none of them convinced them that He was God; their hearts were hardened. If you are waiting for anyone to give you approval before doing what is right (what God has put into your heart to do), you will wait forever.

Jesus did not curse the temple; instead, he restored its original purpose by driving out those who were buying and selling and scattering their tables. If we must bear fruit, we must constantly look inwards and cleanse ourselves of those things within us that God hates. At the end of each day, take some moments to examine your conscience and find out if there are things to be thrown away or built upon.

“There is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and lands with persecutions and in the age to come eternal life.” (Mark 10:29-30).

We are not giving Mary too much praise by celebrating her as Mother of the Church; instead, we are only recognising the honour that God gave to her by taking flesh in her womb. Mary is the Mother of the Church because she fulfilled the prophetic declaration in Genesis. She was present at all key moments in the church’s development, and as her children, it is our responsibility to take her home.

The Holy Spirit is everything to us. The Holy Spirit is our Life. He is the breath of God in the life of a Christian. Therefore, as we celebrate the Coming of the Holy Spirit today, let us incline ourselves more readily to His mighty working in our lives. If we are good Christians and bear fruit for God, keeping His Commandments means we have the Holy Spirit in us.

Avoid using others to judge your progress in life. We are social beings and tend to follow the crowd. Also, we derive a sense of achievement from knowing that we are doing better than others, especially those within our close circle. Even among Jesus’ disciples, there were rivalries and arguments about who was the greatest. (cf. Luke 9:46, Luke 22:24). Peter wanted to know if John would have to carry a heavier cross, but this inquiry was never necessary.

Jesus defines the Christian life as a missionary enterprise. “As thou didst send me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.” (John 17:18) To be a Christian is to be on a mission: to preach the Gospel and make disciples of all nations. We are not here to become wealthy or successful but to know God, love God, serve God and be happy with God forever.

Rather than praying for a long life, let us pray for a life that has a significant impact. Rather than wish death away, let us pray for the grace to accomplish our purpose on earth. Rather than fear death, let us fear sin, whatever would make us unworthy of being with the saints in heaven.

In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus likens these persecutions to the pains a woman feels when she is about to give birth: “When a woman is in travail, she has sorrow because her hour has come; but when she is delivered of the child, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a child is born into the world. You have sorrow now, but I will see you again; your hearts will rejoice…” (John 16:20-23).

By ascending into heaven, Jesus did not create a distance between himself and humanity; his Ascension confirms that we all have a final destination beyond this earth. Jesus is still with us. Jesus is always with us. In fact, we must never forget Jesus’ last words in today’s Gospel passage: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, to the close of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20).

The Holy Spirit is our helper; He gets things done. Jesus said, “If I do not go away, the Counsellor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.” Never assume you are on your own. Learn to be conscious of God’s presence in and around you every moment.