HOMILY FOR MONDAY OF THE 24TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME CYCLE II

THEME: Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, just say a word and i will be healed.

BY: Fr. Diotacious Chikontwe SMA

HOMILY FOR MONDAY SEPTEMBER 12 2022

*READINGS OF THE DAY*
1 Corint 11:17-26,33
Psalm 39:7-10,17
Luke 7:1-10

*LITURGICAL COLOUR*
GREEN

*ABOUT OUR FIRST READING*
In our first reading today, St Paul is putting up to the church in Corinth to care for each other, especially for the weakest and most vulnerable. As he talks about the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. Paul is saying that we cannot recognize the Lord in the breaking of bread, at the Eucharist, while failing to recognize him in each other. As we gather to receive the body of Christ in the Eucharist we should in a special way recognize each other as the body of Christ.

*ABOUT THE GOSPEL READING*
Jesus’ healing of the centurion’s slave, described in today’s Gospel, shows us how God listens to our Faith-filled prayers and meets our needs. Centurions were reliable, commanding officers, brave captains in charge of a number of soldiers. They were the backbone of the Roman army. According to todays account of the Gospel, this centurion loved the Jews, respected their religious customs, built a synagogue for them, loved his sick servant, trusted in Jesus’ power of healing, and was ready to face the ridicule of his fellow-centurions by pleading before a Jewish rabbi.

*CONCLUSION*
The Gospel reading of today teaches us that, indeed we need to grow to the level of the Faith of the centurion by knowing and personally experiencing Jesus in our lives. We do so by daily meditative reading of the Bible, by our daily personal and family prayers and by frequenting the Sacraments, especially the Eucharistic celebration. The next step to which the Holy Spirit brings us is the complete surrender of our whole being and life to Jesus whom we have experienced, by rendering loving service to others seeing Jesus in them.

*LET US PRAY*
Lord, this Gospel teaches me it is not about what I do or who I am. It is about who you are and what you do. You are God, worthy of all praise. It is your prerogative to heal and to save. Mother Mary intercede for me, asking the Holy Spirit to bestow on me all the virtues and to share all his gifts. Faithful centurion i know you are in heaven, please pray for me.