HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK OF ADVENT YEAR B (1)

HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF THE FIRST WEEK OF ADVENT YEAR B.

HOMILY THEME: THE KINGDOM OF GOD

BY: Fr Benny Tuazon

HOMILY:

(Mt. 7:21, 24-27)
In the day’s Gospel Jesus tells His apostles who will enter the Kingdom. Mere pronouncing “Lord! Lord!” is not enough. External and oral piety must come from a faithful and sincere heart. It must also realized into action. Jesus proceeded to tell them the parable of the fool and the wise men. The fool built his house on sand while the wise built his house on rock. Naturally, the one built on rock will withstand threats to the house while the one built on sand will be washed away or destroyed. The word of God must be lived if it has to be like the house on rock.

This has been the fault and misunderstanding of many. There are those who see that holiness can be bought or God can be deceived with some external piety. People maybe deceived but not God. Even those who can discern cannot be deceived. The Church is not deceived by those coated “holiness.” The Church had always proclaimed the Gospel like a two-edged sword. It cuts both ways, to the leadership and the community of faithful. She knows too well that holiness involves the whole person. The Church is Holy and Sinful. Holy because she was founded by God in Jesus Christ with the Holy Spirit present. She is sinful because of her members and leadership. She is Ekklesia semper reformanda. She admits of constant renewal and repentance. She does not claim to be perfect. Yet she tries to be perfect as the Father is perfect.

When she corrects and admonishes, she is aware of her own weakness. But she is never threatened with being exposed and attacked. She welcomes it. History had proven that the Church had delivered her best teachings during crises and threats.

It is incumbent in each and everyone of us to go beyond words. We have to walk God’s talk. As the parable states, only when we live the word would our faith be standing on solid rock. It means that temptations, challenges, and difficulties can be weathered in faith.