DAILY HOMILIES #Nathan

Stories have the power to penetrate our subconscious thoughts. The beauty of a good story is that it is easily remembered; this way, one can hardly forget the message. Jesus Christ explored storytelling as a communication tool during his public ministry, and the stories He told thousands of years ago continue to strike our hearts today. Through storytelling, Nathan successfully delivered an uncomfortable message to David.

In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus says: “Is a lamp put under a bushel or under a bed? For there is nothing hid, except to be made manifest, nothing secret except to come to light.” Just as light can never be hidden, Jesus wants us to know that we can never hide. There is nothing we do secretly that would not eventually come to the light; there is nothing hidden that would not be known. It is only a matter of time. It is better to do what is right than to try to cover your tracks later on.

In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus illustrates why God’s Words do not work for some persons. The seeds sown had the potential to grow, but they needed the soil’s cooperation. Jesus did not work many miracles in his hometown because many did not believe. Instead of changing the seed, we should change the soil, that is, we must believe more.

Those who told John the Baptist that Jesus was now baptising hoped it would make John sad or spark some form of competition, but to their amazement, John was pleased to hear it. Whatever you do for your church, financially or physically, should never be about competition. It should never be to promote your name or your business; it should only be about increasing God’s kingdom.

St. Joseph is a kind of Abraham; he believed the Angel’s message. Through St. Joseph’s marriage to Mary, Nathan’s prophecy in today’s First Reading came to pass. Jesus is that offspring from David’s house, whose throne is established forever. This teaches us never to doubt God. Indeed, as the Angel said to Mary, “With God, nothing is impossible.”

Like David, we take the moral high ground when we hear of others’ faults without realising we are attempting to fight the same demon we possess. When David heard Nathan’s story, he was furious and proclaimed death on the culprit; little did he know that he had just passed judgment on himself.

Giving to God expresses your faith. If your faith is large enough to acknowledge that everything you have comes from God, then like seeds sown in good soil, you would easily consider doing something to appreciate God.

While David opted to build a house for God, Mary agreed to become a living tabernacle for God. Humility is not necessarily thinking less of ourselves but giving God His due.

Each time you become enraged at the offenses of others or partake in jungle justice, ask yourself: “Am I also guilty? If I was in this person’s shoes, would I have acted differently?

God expects more from us than the rest of the world. God expects us to shine like bright stars in a world so full of darkness. God wants you to make a difference.

Right from the time of King David, God already had the coming of Jesus Christ in mind. When we really consider the promise made to David, (that his throne shall be established forever), we cannot but agree that this promise was only fulfilled in Jesus Christ. The question is: “What is it about David that made him so pleasing to God?” The answer is our first lesson for today: Humility.