Daily homily for Saturday of the 25th week in Ordinary Time Cycle I

Daily homily for Saturday of the 25th week in Ordinary Time Cycle I

Theme: Compassionate God

By: Fr Francis Onwunali

Homily for Saturday September 25 2021

Daily homily for Saturday of the 25th week in Ordinary Time Cycle I

Theme: Compassionate God

By: Fr Francis Onwunali

Homily for Saturday September 25 2021

The miracles of Jesus reveal the awesome power and majesty of God and His favour and blessing, especially towards the lowly and humble of heart. But with the miracles Jesus also gave a prophetic warning: There can be no share in God’s glory without the cross.

The word “compassion” which comes from two Latin words “cum” and “pate”, when put together mean “to suffer with”, is what Jesus presents to us today as the role of the Messiah in the gospel (Luke 9: 43-45). Jesus informs His disciples that He will be turned over to His enemies, in whose hands He will suffer and be put to death. Though they didn’t understand, they failed to ask Jesus for clarification. Often in our confusion on the challenges and sufferings that come to us we fail to seek clarifications from the Lord and to join our suffering to His as He joined with ours to give us victory.

In the first reading (Zech. 2: 5-9, 14-15), the prophet proclaimed that the rebuilt city of Jerusalem will be open to people of different nations and the Lord Himself will dwell in their midst, to experience their human condition (Incarnation), being “for her an encircling wall of fire, and will be the glory in her midst”.

Dear friends, God in Christ Jesus is willing to suffer with us, to show compassion and assure us of victory even as we suffer. Like the disciples, we may not understand it, but He calls us to seek His face and be agents of compassion. How compassionate am I with those who suffer?

I pray as we journey in life today, the word of God through Jeremiah will uphold us: “I will turn their mourning into joy, I will console and gladden them after their sorrow” (Jer. 31: 13). In our sufferings and challenges, as we join with Jesus’ suffering and death, and look forward to victory, may the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi be our companion: “We adore you, O Christ, and we praise You, because by Your holy cross You have redeemed the world”. Have a compassion-full day!

Fr Francis Onwunali

Discover more from Catholic For Life

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

Continue reading