HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE 13TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME CYCLE II (3)

HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE 13TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME CYCLE II

THEME: MERCY AND FAITHFULNESS

BY: Fr. Francis Onwunali

HOMILY FOR FRIDAY JULY 1 2022

At the centre stage of the message of today’s readings are mercy and faithfulness. To all those who are faithful to God’s commands, God’s mercy abounds. “Teach me

HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE 13TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME CYCLE II

THEME: MERCY AND FAITHFULNESS

BY: Fr. Francis Onwunali

HOMILY FOR FRIDAY JULY 1 2022

 

At the centre stage of the message of today’s readings are mercy and faithfulness. To all those who are faithful to God’s commands, God’s mercy abounds. “Teach me your paths, my God, make me walk in your truth” (Ps 25: 4)

In the gospel (Matt. 9: 9-13), we are presented with the account of the call of Matthew. Matthew, a tax collector, left everything when he heard the voice of Jesus: “Follow Me”. What could it be that Jesus saw in Matthew, a public sinner. To this, the Pharisees questioned His association with sinners, and Jesus answered: “It is not the healthy that needs the doctor but the sick…What I want is mercy, not sacrifice. And indeed I did not come to call the virtuous, but sinners”. Do we look down on others because we think we are better than them? God knows the heart and disposition of each person.

In the first reading (Amos 8: 4-6, 9-12), Amos chided the wealthy of the land of Judah who oppress the downtrodden. The Lord will surely fight for His own and avenge the harm and bitterness inflicted on the poor. Do you use God’s blessings on you to bless others?

Dear friends, when the Lord calls us to something, He calls us away from something else. Like Matthew, once we have answered God’s call to follow Him, there should be no going back to our old way. God mercifully guards us as the apple of His eyes (Ps. 17: 8; Zech. 2: 8) and in faithfulness, we need to remain same. Is there any of the old ways of your life you constantly fall back to? Grace is sufficient!

I pray as we journey in life today, we will acknowledge that none of us is worthy of God’s favours. So, in response to God’s merciful love, let us not go back to our sinful old ways. Let us also bless others as God has richly blessed us in Christ. “O Lord, remember me out of the love you have for your people” (Ps. 106: 4). Lord, may our footsteps in life be guided by your will and mercy. Have a mercy-full day!

Fr. Francis Onwunali

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