HOMILY FOR SATURDAY OF 12TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME. (1)

HOMILY FOR SATURDAY OF 12TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME.

THEME: I am not worthy to have you under my roof: give the word, and my servant will be healed.

BY: Fr. Deotacious Chikontwe SMA.

*READINGS OF THE DAY*
Genesis 18:1-15
Matthew 8:5-17

*LITURGICAL COLOUR*
GREEN

*INTRODUCTION*
Good morning dear brothers and sisters in Christ, today we celebrate Saturday of week 12 in Ordinary Time, Year A.

*FROM OUR FIRST READING*
In todays first reading, the Lord appeared to Abraham as he sat at the door of his tent at the hottest time of the day. When Abraham looked up, he saw three men standing near him. The Lord’s coming to Abraham took the form of the arrival of these three visitors. In showing hospitality to his visitors, Abraham was welcoming the Lord.

*FROM OUR GOSPEL READING*
We are familiar with the words of the centurion to Jesus in this morning’s gospel reading, ‘Sir, I am not worthy to have you under my roof; just give the word and my servant will be healed’. A version of what he said there is now part of the text of our Mass, ‘Lord, I am not worthy to receive you under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed’. How strange that the words of a pagan, a Roman centurion, should come to speak for all of us as we prepare to receive the Lord in the Eucharist.

*CONCLUSION*
This centurion had tremendous trust in Jesus’ word. He believed that Jesus could heal his servant with a word, without having to come to his home. In making the words of the centurion our own we too profess our faith in Jesus’ word, in the power of his word to heal us spiritually. We come to the Eucharist as broken people, perhaps broken in body, mind, heart or spirit. The Eucharist has been described as bread broken for a broken people. Before we approach for the Eucharist, we take the words of the pagan centurion in this morning’s gospel reading and we ask the Lord to heal us by his word. Before we receive the Lord in the Eucharist we profess our faith in the power of his life-giving word.

*BLESSINGS FOR THE NEW MONTH*
May God’s favour and goodness follow You today and throughout this month. Happy New Month to a new You through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Fr Deotacious Chikontwe SMA.

FOR MORE HOMILIES CLICK >>>>>