CYCLE II: HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF THE 18TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME (1)

CYCLE II: HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF THE 18TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

HOMILY THEME: DELAY AIN’T DENIAL; BE STUBBORNLY PATIENT AS YOU SEEK GOD’S HELP

BY: Rev. Fr. Jacob Aondover ATSU

 

HOMILY: READINGS: JEREMIAH 31:1-7, PS. JEREMIAH 31, MATTHEW 15:21-28

God doesn’t change, that our prayers don’t alter his being; that our praises add nothing to his greatness is indubitable. It is very true that he blesses, protects and saves us gratuitously and not because of any merit on our part. Be this as it may, sincere, resilient, ‘stubborn’ persevering and unswerving faith in him pleases and marvels him. He therefore loves and caters for the man or woman who wouldn’t give up on him even when his/her prayers are not supposedly answered immediately. He cherishes those who go through the perils of life, the many hard times, obstacles, challenges and so on ALWAYS BELIEVING IN HIS EVER ABIDING PRESENCE AND HELP.
Today, therefore my dear friends in the Lord, I’d love to remind us all that the requisite needed for our saving is an unflinching faith in God. Yesterday we saw Peter sink into the water because he entertained doubts and fear but as soon as he called on Christ (in faith), he was saved. Today, the Canaanite woman of our gospel wouldn’t subscribe to doubt, she wouldn’t just give up and Christ attended to her cry.
After testing her faith and perseverance, and having marveled Jesus, her daughter was saved. We may do well to hang in there persistently beseeching Christ to hear us whenever we call on him. We may want to say no to doubts; we may not want to easily fall away or give up on our dreams, our prayers and aspirations even if there are delays.
How do we react to little delays from God or our brethren? Do we act with patience knowing that God always answers and grants our requests or we turn to man or the evil one for quick solutions. The Canaanite woman’s daughter may have been an only daughter, she must have been very desperate and wishing for an immediate response from Christ only for her to be put through a row of tests.
A patient who grows impatient with his/her doctor may most likely cause more damage to him/herself. A child who wouldn’t wait for his parents to get his/her desire granted but goes away angry may never get his/her request granted. The Christian who is unwilling to persist in prayer whilst showing an unswerving faith and patience may never have his/her request granted by God…
DELAY IS NOT DENIAL; be wise and persist!
FEED THE POOR.

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