HOMILY FOR MONDAY OF THE 6TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR I. (2)

HOMILY FOR MONDAY OF THE 6TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR I.

THEME: ‘Why does this generation demand a sign? I tell you solemnly, no sign shall be given to this generation.

BY: Fr. Diotacious Chikontwe SMA.

*READINGS OF THE DAY*
Genesis 4:1-15,25
Psalm 49:1,8,16-17,20-21
Mark 8:11-13

*LITURGICAL COLOUR*
GREEN

*ABOUT THE FIRST READING*
In our firsr reading, we heard of the famous story of Cain and Abel, the two sons of Adam and Eve, the first man and first woman created by God. Cain was jealous of Abel because what he has offered the Lord was considered inferior, as compared to the offering of Abel. As a context, Cain offered the produce of his agricultural works, while Abel offered the best of his livestock as offering to God. Back then, the Lord has cursed the earth and the ground itself just as we may have heard earlier on from the Book of Genesis, as one of the consequences of man’s fall into sin. God said that man had to labour hard and the they had to endure pain and suffering, and the earth and soil themselves may resist them and their efforts to toil on them.

*ABOUT THE GOSPEL READING*
How good are you at reading signs? The people of Jesus’ time expected that the coming of the Messiah would be accompanied by extraordinary signs and wonders to give proofs of His mission. That is why in today’s gospel the Pharisees ask for a sign. But their minds are already made up that Jesus is a fake messiah because there were already false messiahs who made great claims to attract followers, such as cleaving the Jordan River in two or causing the walls of Jerusalem to fall. Their intention is to expose Him as such, and thus to undermine His authority and even, hopefully, to completely discredit Him and have Him lose popular support.

*CONCLUSION*
What about us? Every time we encounter events that are beyond human comprehension we ask God to give us signs to shed light on these events. There are certain situations that human reason cannot explain or verify. Most of the time we insist on these signs to dispel doubts in our hearts and minds.
That is why there are times that we fail to understand what God wants. Actually, He wants to reveal Himself in different ways and in different situations so that we may believe in Him all the more and have trust in Him. And this faith in Him is His gift to us, it is grace. It can only be received in humility and obedience.
May God bless all your plans for this new week.

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