HOMILY FOR THE FEAST OF SAINTS CYRIL AND METHODIUS, BISHOP. (3)

HOMILY FOR THE FEAST OF SAINTS CYRIL AND METHODIUS, BISHOP.

THEME: Keep your eyes open; be on your guard against the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod.

BY: Fr. Diotacious Chikontwe SMA.

*READINGS OF THE DAY*
Genesis 6:5-8,7:1-5,10
Psalm 28:1-4,9-10
Mark 8:14-21

*LITURGICAL COLOUR*
WHITE

*INTRODUCTION*
Today we celebrate the feast of Saints Cyril and Methodius. They were brothers from Macedonia in Greece who in the ninth century preached the gospel in Moravia, the modern day Czech Republic, as well as in modern day Slovakia and Hungary. In their efforts to communicate the gospel they translated the Scriptures and the liturgical texts into the local Slave language. They understood that if they were to communicate with the local people, these important texts would need to be in the vernacular.

*FROM THE FIRST READING*
In our first reading today, we heard how the Ark saved Noah and his family amidst all the destruction of the Great Flood. The other people laughed at Noah when he built the Ark and refused to listen to his warnings and heedings, and hence, no one else save from Noah and his family were saved from the Flood.

*FROM THE GOSPEL READING*
In todays Gospel reading, Jesus warns his disciples to avoid the way of the Pharisees and of Herod who seek their own counsels rather than the will of God; they are those who oppose Christ. This can be the meaning of the yeast of the Pharisees and of Herod. It can refer to the bad influence that one person can exert in his surroundings, especially when there is corruption of self-righteousness, power and worldliness, insincerity and hypocrisy, involved. We must be careful with the mere appearance of goodness. We must strive to be sincere in our effort to exert a good influence in our surroundings.

*CONCLUSION*
Brothers and sisters in Christ, hence today let us all discern our path in life very carefully, minding the examples shown to us from the time of Noah and the Great Flood, to the sins of the Pharisees and Herod which the Lord warned His disciples against, and all the loving actions that God had done for us. Let us all also heed upon the good examples set by our two great saints and brothers, St. Cyril and St. Methodius.
May they always intercede for Us.

FOR MORE HOMILIES CLICK >>>>>