Short homily for Wednesday of the 7th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle II (4)

Short homily for Wednesday of the 7th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle II

Theme: If the Lord wills!

By: Rev Fr Oselumhense Anetor (Uromi Diocese)

Homily for Wednesday February 23 2022

(St Polycarp, Bishop, Martyr).

James 4:13-17; Mark 9:38-40

Look around you. How many of those you knew when you were much younger are still around? Family members, parents, friends… Death happens for real. Yea. Those we once knew are now dead and gone to the lot marked out for them. That we are still alive and active today is only because our time hasn’t come. Our very existence is dependent on God’s grace. This is therefore the time to do all the good we can.

Friends, we need to pause sometimes and ask ourselves if we’re truly doing God’s will. When the disciples asked permission from Jesus to stop the man they saw casting out devils in Jesus’ name, he asked them not to; since no one who does mighty works in the name of Jesus will be likely to speak evil of him soon afterwards. St Polycarp, whose memorial we celebrate today knew what doing God’s will meant. He was a disciple of the Apostles, bishop of Smyrna, and a friend of St Ignatius of Antioch. He was recognized as a Christian leader by all Asia Minor Christians—a strong fortress of faith and loyalty to Jesus Christ. When it was time to die, he embraced the fires with courage in about 155 AD, and was burnt to death in the stadium.

Good morning dear. God bless your day ahead.