DAILY HOMILIES #suffering

Today’s Gospel passage continues Jesus’ response to Peter when he tried to discourage Him from the Way of the Cross (the road of suffering, humiliation and death). Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross and follow me.” What does this mean? St. John Chrysostom said, “When you deny a person, for instance, say, a brother or a close friend, it means you would fail to defend that person or try to rescue him when you see him beaten, kicked, slapped and tortured. And so, when you deny yourself, you do not resist whatever sufferings, beatings, or humiliation come your way due to your Christian Faith.”

When Jesus took three of his closest disciples up to the Mountain and was transfigured before them, he did so to strengthen their faith, to show them that beyond the self-denials, beyond the tears, beyond the blood to be shared, beyond the beatings, persecutions, and agonies of the cross, there was something beautiful, something resplendent, something so precious that was awaiting them at the end of the day.

James zealously spread the Gospel throughout Israel and the Roman Empire, dedicating nearly forty years to preaching in Spain. According to tradition, the Virgin Mary appeared to him, instructing him to build a church in her honour. Upon returning to Jerusalem, James was martyred by King Herod, making him the first apostle to die for his faith. His followers carried his remains to Compostela, Spain, where they were discovered in the ninth century and placed in a tomb at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, a primary pilgrimage site.

No one is an island. Even God is a community of three persons. Always consult with others before making any decisions. As a Christian community, we can only remain united when we regularly communicate with one another and discuss our plans. Staying away from zonal meetings or societal gatherings out of malice is detrimental to our progress as a people.

If asking has to do with praying, seeking involves making efforts. Yes, God is interested in the efforts you are making. The man who planted the fig tree did not see any fruits for three years, so he asked the vinedresser to cut it down. The vinedresser pleaded for more time to INCREASE HIS EFFORTS; that is, to dig around it, apply manure and water it more. What efforts are you making? Before you conclude that you cannot live above sin, why not increase your efforts? Why not dig around your heart and apply the manure of the word of God? The worst thing that can ever happen to you is to trivialise sin, painting it as “normal”. Every sin is a disaster.

We all desire an easy life, but the truth is that “ease is a greater threat to progress than hardship.” Do not be afraid of embracing hardship, especially when it aims to achieve something good. Do not shy away from the cross. If you are ashamed to identify with Jesus in this world, Jesus would be ashamed of you in heaven. If you desire to true bliss tomorrow, embrace suffering today. The choice is yours to make, whether to follow the beatitudes or to disregard God and face the consequences.

Every sin carries a mark of rebellion and mistrust in God as the one on whom our life depends. That is why there is a direct and immediate punishment for every sin for direct offenders and those who aid and abet the sin. This is the message behind our First Reading

It is often said that if the devil is not fighting you, it is because you are working for hm. Many Christians today have grown lukewarm in their Christian faith, no longer letting their light shine and compromising their values. You should be worried if you are not facing persecution; it is a sign that you have aligned with the devil.

I recently heard the story of some soldiers who broke into a tea shop because it was a cold winter morning, and they needed something warm to drink. When they left, the captain left some money for the shop owner to satisfy his conscience. The soldiers felt they had a right to steal the tea since no one would dare question them, but the captain had the mind of Christ. He left money for the shop owner.

God wants us to win in the game of life, to bear fruits, and to fulfil our calling. A football player who doesn’t play well (passes the ball to the opponent and takes joy in scoring “own” goals) will soon be replaced. A cook who consistently misses the mark in the kitchen will produce food he cannot even eat. If we cannot afford to miss the mark in every other aspect of our lives, we should avoid missing the mark when it comes to our relationship with our creator.

When Job uttered this song (“I know my Redeemer lives”), he had no more reason to believe in God. He had been praying for days, and all he could see was the opposite of what he was praying for. This song reminds us of Paul and Silas, who, in prison, sang songs of praise to God. Nothing touches God as much as our ability to sing His praises despite our difficulties. By singing, Job utterly disappointed the devil, who felt that Job’s righteousness was tied to his material blessings.

Jesus tells us today, “If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Mark 8:34). Whether we like it or not, Christianity involves self-denial, self-discipline, suffering, embracing lack, and giving away one’s life for Christ’s sake. As powerful as the cross, so powerful are those pains, insults, ridicule, and shame we must put up with for the sake of our Christian Faith.