HOMILY FOR THE FEAST OF SAINT ST PADRE PIO (2)

HOMILY FOR THE FEAST OF SAINT ST PADRE PIO

THEME: And You, Who do you say Christ is in your life?

BY: Fr. Diotacious Chikontwe SMA

HOMILY FOR FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 23 2022

*READINGS OF THE DAY*
Ecclesiastes 3:1-11
Psalm 143:1-4
Luke 9:18-22

*LITURGICAL COLOUR*
WHITE

*INTRODUCTION*
Today in a special way, we celebrate the feast of St. Pius of Pietrelcina, also better known as Padre Pio, a great servant of God and saintly man whose life and examples, humility, personal qualities and piety may be a great source of inspiration for each one of us as Christians.

*FROM OUR FIRST READING*
Todays first reading shows us that there is time for everything, for our every actions and interactions, for us to experience good things and the not-so-good things in life, time to be spent with our friends and relatives, with our loving family and others around us. However, there is also time for us to be spent with God and for us to be with Him, focusing our attention and our thoughts on Him rather than constantly being distracted and occupied by our ceaseless pursuits of worldly happiness and pleasures, and the many temptations of pride and desire present all around us.

*FROM OUR GOSPEL READING*
We find two questions that our Master is asking everyone of us in todays Gospel reading. The first one is “Who do the crowds say that I am?” This question forces us to look around and see how others answer this question: our neighbors, our work mates, our friends, our closest relatives etc.
And the second one is “Who do you say that I am?”
This becomes a fundamental personal question knocking at our doors of our hearts; a question demanding from each one of us:

*WHAT DO WE LEARN FROM THE READINGS OF TODAY ?*
Dear Friends, Jesus wanted to know not just where everybody else stood but where they stood. Our relationship with the Lord is very personal to each of us; it has to be that way if it is to be real. It is not just a case of going along with everybody else, echoing what everyone else says about the Lord or the church or whatever. Jesus asks each of us ‘Who do you say I am?’ and we have to answer that question for ourselves. He looks for our own personal response to him, a response that is our own and not that of others. The Lord relates personally to each of us; he is the good shepherd who calls his own by name and he looks to us to relate personally to him.

*CONCLUSION*
Let us make best use of our time and every moments and opportunities to do the will of God and to proclaim His truth and love wherever we may be. Just like St Padre Pio did. And as we celebrate this special day may St Padre Pio pray for us always.