WEDNESDAY HOMILY FOR 12TH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME – YEAR B
WEDNESDAY HOMILY FOR 12TH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME – YEAR B
HOMILY THEME: WHO WE ARE MATTERS MORE THAN WHAT WE DO
BY: Fr. Obinna Ezeaputa
Our gospel reading today (Matthew 7:15–20) warns us about false prophets who come in sheep’s clothing but are actually ravenous wolves. Jesus teaches us to identify them by their fruits, not their appearances. But what does this mean?
ALSO RECOMMENDED: WEDNESDAY HOMILY FOR 12TH WEEK OF ORDINARY TIME
Hans Urs von Balthasar notes that the “fruits” referred to here are not just external works but the inner disposition of the heart (The Glory of the Lord: A Theological Aesthetics). A true prophet is not merely a talker about God’s love, but a transformed person who radiates this love to others.
Saint Damien of Molokai, a Belgian priest, volunteered to serve the leper colony on the Hawaiian island of Molokai in the late 19th century. He spent 16 years among the lepers, caring for their physical and spiritual needs, until he eventually contracted the disease himself.
What makes Saint Damien a true prophet of God’s love, as Von Balthasar would note, is not just his external works—building homes, hospitals, and churches, and caring for the sick—but his inner disposition of heart. He radiated God’s love through his selflessness, compassion, and humility.
One story that illustrates this is when a leper approached him and said, “Father, I am a leper. I have lost my fingers, my toes, my nose, my ears. What will I have left to offer to God?” Saint Damien replied, “You will offer to God your heart, which is the most beautiful offering of all.”
Saint Damien’s inner disposition was one of love, acceptance, and compassion. He didn’t just talk about God’s love; he embodied it in his very being, even in the face of severe suffering and hardship. His fruits were more than just external works; they were a transformed heart that shone brightly for all to see.
In other words, the fruit of true discipleship is not just about what we do but also about who we are. Are we people of love, compassion, and mercy? Or are we just pretending to be something we’re not?
Let us pray for the grace to be genuine disciples of Jesus, bearing fruits of love and truth in our lives. Amen.
FOR A SIMILAR HOMILY, CLICK HERE>>>>>
Dear friends in Christ, We have been sustained by your Charity for the past 11years. Here we are saddled with annual bills. Please, be kind to us with your donation. Click on the “Donate” button to get started. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
