HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF THE TWENTY-NINTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME YEAR A.
HOMILY THEME: DO NOT BECOME A SLAVE TO SIN.
BY: Fr. Evaristus Abu
HOMILY:
“Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness?” Romans 6:16
Sin is like a poor beggar who comes to my window asking for a tiny loaf of bread. At first I drive him away but he returns and demands for my sympathy. Gradually, I begin to feel sorry for him, then one day I try to let him have a tiny particle of bread.
The moment he receives it, he jumps with gladness but he tells me first to open the window so he can collect it. Still feeling sorry for him, I not only open the window, I even open the door as well and before I know it, sin takes over my house.
From being a miserable beggar, sin becomes a taskmaster. Each time I try to drive it away, he makes me believe I can no longer survive without him. I know what I am doing is wrong yet there seems to be no way I can stop it. I have become a slave! My acts have become habits and my habits have become addictions. I come for confession only to find myself returning to my former ways almost immediately.
St. Paul tells us this morning that there is a way to break free from this vicious circle; there is a way to stop being a slave to my passions and to sin – it is by adopting another Master. Left to myself, I cannot fight sin, all I need to do is to invite another master who in turn will fight the old master and kick him out
Hence St. Paul says: “Do not yield your members to sin as instrument, but yield yourselves to God as men who have been brought from death to life.” Yield your bodies to God. Give more time daily to prayer and meditation, let your mind be transformed daily by reading the Bible and other holy books. Whenever temptation comes, drop down on your knees and pray. Before you know it, sin will no longer have dominion over you, its power over you will just fizzle out like a candle that goes off when the wind is heavy.
When do I invite this second master? Now. There is no time to waste. Jesus tells us in our Gospel passage to be ready at all times because we do not know when or how the world will end.
Let us pray: Lord Jesus Christ, take my heart, my body and my mind; rule me. Amen.
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Wednesday of the 29th Week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Romans 6:12-18 and Luke 12:39-48).
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