YEAR A: HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF THE 15TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME (1)
“Christ be with me, Christ within me, Christ behind me, Christ before me, Christ beside me, Christ to win me, Christ to comfort me and restore me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ in quiet, Christ in danger, Christ in hearts of all that love me, Christ in mouth of friend and stranger.” Amen
YEAR A: HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF THE 15TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
HOMILY THEME: I WILL GIVE YOU REST
BY: Fr. Benny Tuazon
HOMILY: (Mt. 11:28-30) Thursday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
In today’s Gospel Jesus invites His disciples to come to Him and He will give them rest. Jesus knew it was hard to follow Him. There will be a time when the disciples will get tired and feel like giving up. Jesus reveals to them His secret. He told His disciples to learn from His humility and meekness. There is so much underestimated power in humility. Things are not always done with brute power, aggressiveness, assertiveness,attacks. The Jesus way is meekness and humility.
Let me count the ways: He became one like us, born in a manger, allowed Himself to be baptized by John, concerned Himself with the well-being of others, rode a donkey when He entered Jerusalem, washed the feet of His apostles, faced and went through His trial, suffering, and death in silence, and allowing Himself to be in the form of bread and wine in the Eucharist and stay in the tabernacle so we can approach Him anytime. Jesus could have used His power against His enemies. But He elected to spread His hands and die on the cross.
In spite of or because of the above humble acts of Jesus He saved all. Through His humility He was able to fulfil His mission. Jesus was focused in His mission. He was obedient to the Father no matter what happens. He did everything with all humility. St Augustine says: “IF YOU ASK ME WHAT IS THE ESSENTIAL THING IN THE RELIGION AND DISCIPLINE OF JESUS CHRIST, I SHALL REPLY: FIRST HUMILITY, SECOND HUMILITY AND THIRD HUMILITY” (Letter 118). Humility is the foundation of everything, including love.
What is lacking now is our faith in the virtue of humility. Jesus had done His part. He had said it and did it. His followers had proven it to be true and effective. If we really belong to this faith, we cannot but be like the Lord, humble and meek.
