HOMILY FOR SATURDAY OF THE TWENTY-FIFTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A.
HOMILY THEME: UNDER THE SHEPHERD’S HANDS.
BY: Fr. Evaristus Abu
HOMILY:
As this week comes to an end and this month comes to an end as well, the words of the Prophet Zechariah are worth holding on to. They are words of hope and encouragement spoken at a time of fear and despair. These words are a promise worth holding to even for our country Nigeria today. Zechariah says:
“Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion; for lo, I come and I will dwell in the midst of you, says the LORD. And many nations shall join themselves to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people; and I will dwell in the midst of you.”
And to add to this, our Psalmist says: “The Lord will guard us as a shepherd guards his flock.”
In the midst of life’s challenges, it is easy for us to be overcome by fear. What is fear? Expecting the worst to happen based on one’s reasoning about the current situation. Fear is the opposite of faith. What is Faith? Expecting the best outcome despite one’s current situation.
At times, it is important for us to take our eyes off our national dailies and turn off the television news broadcasts and just deliberately focus on the greatness of the God that we serve. It is important to remind ourselves that we are flocks under the protection of God who is our shepherd.
Even in our Gospel passage, Jesus is telling the disciples about his imminent death and how he would be delivered into the hands of men but they were overcome by fear. Even though death is something no one likes to hear, the death of Jesus was actually good news for mankind in the long run. If Jesus had not died, we would have all perished.
It takes faith to see the brighter side! It takes faith to take a news as gloomy as death and understand it as God’s means of bringing salvation to mankind. Dear friends, let us be ruled by Faith not be fear because we are under the shepherd’s hands.
Let us pray: Lord Jesus, my shepherd, as this month ends, may my fears also end with it. Amen.
St. Jerome was born in Dalmatia about the year 340, he studied in Rome and was later baptized. Then he began to live a life of asceticism, went to the East and was there ordained a priest. Returning to Tome, he was secretary to the Pope Saint Damascus and began the task of translating the Bible into Latin as well as promoting the monastic life. He then settled in Bethlehem where he gave great help in the needs of the Church. He wrote many works, especially commentaries on the scriptures. He died in Bethlehem in year 420.
St. Jerome, pray for us and deepen our understanding of Scriptures. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you.
(Saturday of the 25th Week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Bible Study: Zechariah 2:5-9,10-11 and Luke 9:43-45).
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