DAILY HOMILIES #St. Augustine

It is not easy to say “Yes” to God. However, once we say “Yes” to God, we become God’s instruments of salvation in our world. St. Teresa of Avila says, “Christ has no body now but yours. Yours are the eyes through which Christ looks with compassion on the world. Yours are the feet with which he walks to do good. Yours are the hands through which he blesses all the world.” God needs you to cooperate with Him.

The blindness of the Pharisees was caused by: 1. Envy. When you are envious of others, you are prepared to pull them down by any means, but no matter how hard you try, they remain above you. They couldn’t believe that Jesus was now doing what they themselves could not do. 2. Hatred. When you hate someone, there is nothing the person would do that would make sense. While others praised God, the Pharisees found fault: “He cannot be God because he did this on the Sabbath day.” Watch out when you become highly critical of others; it is a sign of hatred brewing in your heart.

In his conversation with the Samaritan woman, Jesus made a clear distinction between the water she had come to draw and the water Jesus was offering her: “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst; the water that I shall give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:13-14). Vanity of vanities, says the preacher, all is vanity. What do we really gain if we amass the whole world and yet lack Jesus?

In the words of St. Augustine: “God will never let his children suffer except if such suffering is ultimately for their good.” Every time you face trials, know you are on the verge of a breakthrough. Something great is coming your way; you only need to pass this test. Trials are like promotion exams we take before moving up. St. James says, “Count it all joy when you meet various trials.”

What was Solomon doing with seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines? Too much of anything is bad. St. Augustine would say: “Our hearts are restless until they rest in God.” To have God is to have everything. Never assume that the more you get, the merrier you become.

Anna experienced the peace Jesus spoke about when he said: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you.” (John 14:27). Anna recognised God in the baby Jesus because she was at peace. Do not love the world; it is never enough, it is passing away, and it can never take God’s place in your heart. Be like Anna, love God, seek first His kingdom, and you will find peace, as everything else will be added to you. (cf. Matthew 6:33)

In St. Paul’s words, Advent is a time to “avoid drunkenness, licentiousness (anything goes), quarrelling, jealousy, and indulgence of the flesh.” As Isaiah states, this is a time to allow the mountain of the Lord to be established as the highest of the mountains. In other words, this is a time for us to pay more attention to the things of God, to put God first, and to talk about God, so that those living in darkness (those who think that there is no God) may, through our celebration, begin to recognise and worship God.

One of the unique characteristics of the sycamore tree is its enormous roots, which can extend as far as sixty feet around the tree, making it an almost impossible task to uproot. Moreover, Jesus added that you could ask this tree to be planted in the sea, and it would obey you, which is another impossibility, given that a tree of that nature does not grow in the sea. In other words, Jesus is saying that with faith as little as a mustard seed, we can do the impossible.

The best way to stay vigilant is to keep busy. Just as a good security officer never sleeps while on duty, being watchful requires keeping our hearts engaged. If we are not busy, we will soon find ourselves sleeping, allowing the enemy to sow bad seeds in us (Cf. Matthew 13:25ff). The consequence of being unprepared for the end in Jesus’ words is this: “The Master will… punish him, and put him with the hypocrites; there men will weep and gnash their teeth.”

While Stephen defended himself before the council, he said: “I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God.” (Acts 7:56). This is what we profess in the Apostles Creed: “On the third day he rose again. He ascended into heaven and is seated at the right hand of the Father. He will come again to judge the living and the dead.” Do not live only for this life. There is a better home waiting for us in heaven. Do not be afraid to die in defence of the truth. Your reward will be great in heaven.

Today’s first reading is the perfect prayer for anyone called to the ministry: “Two things I ask of thee; deny them not to me before I die: Remove far from me falsehood and lying; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me.” (Proverbs 30:7-8). Just as lack can lead one to steal, having too much can lead to denying God. As the saying goes: “virtue lies in the middle.”

No matter how good you think you are, be open to criticism. Do not surround yourself with sycophants. Cherish and appreciate those who have different opinions; there is always something to learn and something you can improve on. Only a true friend will tell you to your face that you are going the wrong way.