YEAR A: HOMILY FOR MONDAY OF THE 1ST WEEK OF LENT (1)
YEAR A: HOMILY FOR MONDAY OF THE 1ST WEEK OF LENT
HOMILY THEME: ACT OF CHARITY
BY: Fr. Benny Tuazon
HOMILY: (Mt.25:31-46) Monday of the First Week of
YEAR A: HOMILY FOR MONDAY OF THE 1ST WEEK OF LENT
HOMILY THEME: ACT OF CHARITY
BY: Fr. Benny Tuazon
HOMILY: (Mt.25:31-46) Monday of the First Week of Lent
In today’s Gospel Jesus told the disciples the scenario when the Son of Man will come. He was referring to the end times. He used the action of the shepherd as an imagery. When that day comes, the Lord, like the shepherd, will separate the sheep from the goats. The sheep are those who had gained the favour of God and the goats are those who had been found wanting. And how will they be determined? They will be known by their actions to the least, lost, and the last. The key is to regard each and everyone as the Lord.
Doing acts of charity was one of the reminders of Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. Those actions are not limited to the minimum. We do not do good acts for the sake of doing them. We go out of our way to spread the good, big or small. It begins with avoiding the commission of sin. The world today seems to limit sins to sexual ones. How about corruption, destruction of the environment, deception, lying, disrespect, consumerism, etc. Another kind is the refusal to do good. We do not need to go far and search hard to find who are in need. We have the beggars, old people, sick, prisoners, etc. There are a lot of charitable institutions catering to the needy. We can support them in every way we can. Parish churches have a lot of social services responding to the needs of almost every needy in society. Our donations and offerings will surely go a long way. Add to that our penchant to choose who we will help be good to. We are more gracious with the rich, the beautiful, the tidy, and those in high positions. “May tinitingnan at may tinititigan.”
The first reading (Lv. 19:1-18) enumerates a lot of things we can do. Avoid lying, swearing, stealing, and defraud. It also mentions not withholding wages overnight, not cursing the deaf, or put a stumbling block on the blind.Be fair and do not spread slander among one’s kin or standby idly when the neighbour’s life is at stake. A caring world is what God wants. A caring people are what He created in the first place. Unfortunately, a lot of divisions had been made. Each nation, race, culture, family, institution, or every group wants to dominate, acquire more, and possess authority over others. Rather, all peoples must strive to help each other. Contrary to what some think or suggest, the world is enough for our needs if we only decide to share what we have. The world should be a community.Like the early Christian communities, we should come to the decision to pool all our resources and live in communion. When that happens, no one will be in need. The whole world see to it that every one’s need is given.
Is this impossible? Am I dreaming? If we believe in God as we claim, it is possible.
