23RD MONDAY HOMILY OF THE ORDINARY TIME — YEAR B

23RD MONDAY HOMILY OF THE ORDINARY TIME — YEAR B

HOMILY THEME: LIVING OUT THE LAW OF LOVE

BY: Fr. Isaac Awe

1 Cor 5:1-8, Psalm 5:5-7,12; Luke 6:6-11

What is God’s intention for the commandment, keep holy the Sabbath (Exodus 20:8; Deut. 5:12)? The scribes and Pharisees wanted to catch Jesus in the act of breaking the Sabbath ritual so they might accuse him of breaking God’s law. In a few penetrating words Luke records that Jesus knew their thoughts. They were filled with fury and contempt for Jesus because they put their own thoughts of right and wrong above God. They were ensnared in their own legalism because they did not understand or see the purpose of God. Jesus shows their fallacy by pointing to God’s intention for the Sabbath: to do good and to save life rather than to do evil or to destroy life.

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Christians celebrate Sunday as the Lord’s Day, to commemorate God’s work of redemption in Jesus Christ and the new work of creation he accomplished through Christ’s death and resurrection. Taking “our sabbath rest” is a way of expressing honor to God for all that he has done for us. Such “rest” however does not exempt us from our love for our neighbor. If we truly love the Lord above all else, then the love of God will overflow to love of neighbour as well. Do we honour the Lord in the way we celebrate Sunday, the Lord’s Day and in the way we treat our neighbour?

PRAYER: Lord, in your victory over sin and death on the cross and in your resurrection you give us the assurance of sharing in the eternal rest of heaven. Transform our hearts with your love that we may freely serve our neighbour for his good and find joy and refreshment in the celebration of Sunday as the Lord’s Day. Amen

Happy New Week!

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