HOMILY FOR THE THIRTY-FIRST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A.
HOMILY THEME: THEY DO NOT PRACTICE WHAT THEY TEACH.
BY: Fr. Clem C. Aladi
HOMILY:
Mathew 23:3
“Double standard in Christian life.” We are the ones destroying the church because we all have failed to live by the example of our Lord Jesus christ.
Mahatma gandhi of India once said “I love Christianity but I hate christians because they don’t practice what they profess”.
Do you know how many you have caused to leave the church by your bad examples?
Do you know the how many you have weakened their faith by your actions and words.
Do you know how many children who has stopped going to church because they don’t see Christianity reflect in the action of their parents at home?
Do you know how many young girls and boys have refused to join religious life because of the scandals caused by the religious and the clergy.
Wether we like it or not people are watching us to see how we respond to the challenges of everyday life. Children watch adults and then imitate what they see and repeat what they hear. Are your words and actions something you want repeated by our children ?
Our friends, neighbours, coworkers, family members, parishoners and classmates are watching us. What evidence do we offer of our profession of faith. Why this double standard of living? You say one thing and do the opposite.You act one way in a certain setting and then act another way in different setting.
Why being hypocritic like the Pharisees and scribes whom Jesus condemned their actions today?. Some times we are good in telling other people what they should do and how they should live , but fail to follow our own instructions.
Today we challenged to practice what we preach. Honour and respect is earned by your positive actions and not by the position of authority you occupy in the church and society.
Your integrity as a person lies in the conformity of your words with your actions. A hypocritic and double standard life makes you fake such that not even a child will believe in your words. Action they say speaks louder than voice. You not only talk the talk, you must also walk the walk.
Let us live by good example Seeking to serve others in humility and avoid seeking for titles, honour and recognition. Remember you are the light of the word….Mathew 5:14.
May God give you the grace to live by good example, practicing what you preach and profess.
You are always in my prayers.
Fr. Clem C. Aladi
