HOMILY FOR THE FEAST OF SAINT MATTHEW 24TH SATURDAY YEAR B

HOMILY FOR THE FEAST OF SAINT MATTHEW 24TH SATURDAY YEAR B

HOMILY THEME: “IT IS NOT THE HEALTHY WHO NEED THE DOCTOR, BUT THE SICK.”

BY: Bishop Anthony Ewherido 

Ephesians 4:1-7,11-13, Psalm 18:2-5, Matthew 9:9-13

The invitation of Matthew, the tax collector, to follow Jesus is a source of encouragement to many as it reinforces the fact that God meets us wherever we are and takes us where He wants us to be. Matthew had nothing that prequalified him for association with Jesus, the reason the Pharisees were upset and complained. Jesus met Matthew in his sinfulness and unrighteousness and invited him. He dropped his old self and took on a new identity in Christ.

ALSO RECOMMENDED: HOMILY FOR THE FEAST OF SAINT MATTHEW

Once we have encountered Christ, St. Paul reminds us that we must die to our old selves and our old life of sin and put on Christ and the cloak of righteousness. Sinners need Christ and must not be made to go farther and farther away from him, the reason we must help them wherever they may be found, even in our families and Church, to return to Christ. We must also shun that self-righteous attitude that makes us think that sinners must be ostracized, as well as our desire to have communities and churches that are made up of only the righteous. That is unrealistic and actually does not exist. Our communities and Church are not finished products. They are always in the making, journeying into greater holiness and intimacy with God, in response to God’s invitation to a life of holiness, individually and collectively. That journey must give room for occasional lapses in order to for true growth to take place. The presence of sinners, or the spiritually sick, among us does not make the Church or community defective; Christ completes it all in his suffering. Such a presence is an invitation for all to be ever mindful of our need for the healing presence of the Lord and to be truly appreciative of God’s loving kindness and mercy. Let us heed Paul’s admonition in the first reading as we journey together as Church and allow love, compassion, gentleness and patience to mold us into a better representation of the Body of Christ, guided and animated by the Holy Spirit, even as we use our diverse gifts to serve the growth of the entire body into a perfect entity.

Lord, you call us to follow you; help us to respond promptly, wholeheartedly, decisively and generously. Amen.

FOR A SIMILAR HOMILY, CLICK HERE >>>>>

Dear friends in Christ, We have been sustained by your Charity for the past 11years. Here we are saddled with annual bills. Please, be kind to us with your donation. Click on the “Donate” button to get started. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!