CYCLE II: HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE 22ND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME (1)

CYCLE II: HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE 22ND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

HOMILY THEME: WEEKEND VIBES WITH CHRIST AND THE MISSIONARY APOSTLE, PAUL

BY: Rev. Fr. Jacob Aondover ATSU

 

HOMILY: READINGS: 1CORINTHIANS 4:1-5, PSALM 37, LUKE 5:33-39

My dear friends in Christ, today, Paul employs two terms, ‘SERVANT’ and ‘STEWARD’ to drive home his message. For the apostle of Christ, all of us are servants of God, Jesus is the one true leader and we only further his gospel here on earth. More so, he (Christ) has handed unto our care his household – the Church as stewards. A steward in ancient Palestine was the head of the servants saddled with the responsibility of administering the estates of the master and catering for the needs of the other servants. He was indeed a great servant, a boss; yet, he remained a servant before the master.

My brothers and sisters in Christ, today too the Church fosters this idea of St. Paul that is why the Pope in all his majesty, excellence, fame and power is referred to as ‘Servant of the Servants of God’ (Servus Servorum Dei). He is the steward whom Christ has placed his teeming flock under and he strives daily to faithfully tend Christ’s flock. We are today more than ever before called to remember the words of Jesus in Mark 10:43 and Luke 22:26, that ‘he that is greatest…let him be a servant’. We therefore are challenged to go about our duties, whether as leaders of the Church or world remembering that we are only stewards called and empowered by Christ to serve the flock put in our charge.

Furthermore, Paul speaks of three judgments that confronts us come what may: the judgment of others, for Paul, this means nothing to him, but for us today, it is good we reflect on how people evaluate us and rationally decipher how best to apply same judgment. He also speaks of the judgment we make of ourselves. For Paul, this too is not worthwhile; he knew that self satisfaction, rationalization of our wrongs and his ego might influence his judgment of himself. However, beloved in Christ, if our consciences are alive, the sincere judgment we make of ourselves, condemning our ills and praising our good deeds will go a long way in building up our Christian life. Finally, Paul speaks of the ultimate judgment by God. This is everything to Paul; God’s judgment is what counts most in the lives of all Christians. We must remember that only God knows all circumstances and all the motives of man. His judgment therefore is real and all must face it; only he who made the human heart knows how to judge it. Even if we escape all judgments and close our eyes and minds on ourselves and how people judge us, we cannot run from God’s judgment. We had better prepared for it.

Beloved brothers and sisters, I urge you never to believe those who say, “Once a thief, always a thief.” The Christian claim affirms that the worst of sinners can become new in Christ; and indeed, we are entitled to become new persons, because or Master Jesus Christ was and still is, in every way new. His teachings, his life, actions, and everything about him were all new. For us to become new in Christ however, we ought to shed off our old self and put on a new one, since “no one one tears a piece from a new garment and puts it on an old one” (Lk. 5:36), neither can we put new wine in old skins, (Lk. 5:37). Conversion to Christ has to be radical, it must be a total turnover from bad to good, sin to righteousness; no double standards are involved.

HELP SOMEONE IN NEED TODAY

Discover more from Catholic For Life

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading