17TH FRIDAY HOMILY THE ORDINARY TIME — YEAR A
17TH FRIDAY HOMILY THE ORDINARY TIME — YEAR A
HOMILY THEME: “YOU DO NOT JUDGE A BOOK BY ITS COVER”
BY: Fr Francis Onwunali
On this first day in the month of August, as we stand in thanksgiving and pray for God’s abundant blessings, we join to celebrate the Memorial of St. Alphonsus Liguori, Priest and Doctor of the Church. Alphonsus was a great preacher of the gospel to the poor. His charity and apostolic spirit led him to find the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer to carry on this work. He sent his Redemptorists, as our Lord did the Apostles, into the countryside and the market towns and villages, to announce the Kingdom of God. He became Bishop of Sant’ Agata dei Goti, near Naples, and died at the age of ninety, in 1787. For his great works in moral theology, he has been declared a Doctor of the Church.
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“…the fire which both burns and saves is Christ himself, the Judge and Savior. The encounter with him is the decisive act of judgment. Before his gaze all falsehood melts away. This encounter with him, as it burns us, transforms and frees us, allowing us to become truly ourselves. ( Benedict XVI, Spe Salvi , 47)
It is a popular saying that “you do not judge a book by its cover”. This is typical of the actions of the people of Jesus’ home town of Nazareth in today’s gospel (Matt. 13: 54-58), who despised Him because of Jesus’ family background- the Son of a Carpenter. In their pride and close-mindedness, they lost out in the blessings of divine encounter. Familiarity, they say, breeds contempt, and pride goes before a fall. This could happen to us when we fail to acknowledge the goodness in others and treat them with kindness and respect. The person or opportunity we despise, could be the channel of our breakthrough.
In the first reading (Lev. 23: 1, 4-11, 15-16, 27, 34-37), the Israelites are told to remember and celebrate the key festivals (Passover, Pentecost, Atonement and feast of Booths) throughout the year, so that they and their descendants will never forget what God has done for them, through the whole Exodus and journey to the Promise Land.
Dear friends, the message today calls for humility in acknowledging God’s goodness in our lives and appreciating God’s blessings on others too. When one’s mind is preoccupied with negativity, then everything is viewed from such wavelength. How grateful am I with all I have been given in life?
I pray as we journey in life today, we will testify to the goodness of the Lord. Like the Psalmist, let us “take up a melody, and sound the timbrel, the pleasant harp and lyre…”(Ps. 81: 3-4), announcing God’s goodness and feel the positive energy in our lives. May we never despise the good in others. Have a gratitude-full day!
HAPPY NEW MONTH!!
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