FRIDAY HOMILY: 34TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME (YEAR A)

FRIDAY HOMILY: 34TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME (YEAR A)

THEME: GOD’S WORD.

BY: FR. KARABARI PAUL

‘Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.’

It is said that the Titanic sank because of cheap rivets and poor planning. Faced with a shortage of quality bolts, the shipbuilders used substandard ones that popped when the ship hit the iceberg. The words of God serve as sturdy bolts of our faith. Describing the end of time in the Gospel of today (Luke 21:29-33), Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.” God’s words are eternal as God is. It means we can always rely on His words.

Our lives must be governed by the Word of God, not our impulses, or our thoughts, or the opinions of those around us. The Bible is not God’s attempt to offer us interesting insights or good advice for our consideration; it is His fixed opinion. Jesus said, ‘‘Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock’’ (Matthew 7:24 ). This builder’s foundation withstood life’s storms. On the other hand, Jesus said, ‘’Everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them’’ is foolish and the storms of life will sweep them away (26-27). Now, Jesus didn’t condemn the second man for building an inadequate structure or failing to hear, understand, and believe His words, but for failing to act on them.

James writes, “Obey God’s message! Don’t fool yourselves by just listening to it…God will bless you in everything you do, if you listen and obey, and don’t just hear and forget” (James 1:22, 25). If you think reading, knowing, and even believing God’s Word fulfils your obligation to it, you are mistaken. Because it is God’s Word, His instructions must be obeyed. That requires not just believing it but behaving according to it. James didn’t say you would be blessed because of what you believe, but because of what you ‘do’. When Moses read God’s Word to the Israelites, they said, ‘All that the Lord has said we will do, and be obedient’ (Exodus 24:7). And that must be your rule for living, too.

When the printing press was invented, one of the first books to be printed was the Bible. An anonymous author wrote: ‘It contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the fate of sinners, and the happiness of believers. It is a light to direct you, food to nourish you, and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveller’s road map, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s weapon, and the player’s game plan. It’s a mine of incredible wealth, and a river of genuine joy. Its doctrines are holy, its precepts are binding, its histories are true, and its decisions are immutable. Christ is its grand subject, your good its design, and the glory of God its end. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe, practice it to be spiritually healthy. Read it slowly, frequently and prayerfully. Let it fill your memory, rule your heart, and guide your steps. It is given to you in life, will be opened at the judgment, and be remembered for ever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labour, and judge those who trifle with its sacred contents.’ God’s promises hold true eternally because GOD IS STILL ON THE THRONE. May God have mercy on us, bless and heal our world always through Christ Our Lord Amen. Happy New Month. Good morning.

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