YEAR A: HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF THE 4TH WEEK OF LENT (2)

YEAR A: HOMILY FOR THURSDAY OF THE 4TH WEEK OF LENT

HOMILY THEME: Seek God’s Applause, not Human Approval.

BY: Fr. Evaristus Abu

HOMILY: “As for human approval, this means nothing to me… How can you believe since you look to one another for approval and are not concerned with the approval that comes from the one God?” (John 5:41-44)

Yesterday, we noted that the Jews could not fathom how Jesus could be both God and man at the same time. Today, we see another problem they had. They reduced their worship of God to mere eye-service. As we hear Jesus say in today’s Gospel passage, their refusal to believe in his divinity was because they sought human approval rather than God’s approval.

If we are only concerned about human approval, we could end up like Aaron who bowed to the people’s pressure and went ahead to build for them a molten calf which they took as their god. This is what becomes of us when we bow to human pressure instead of putting God first.

Do I simply do things because of what people are saying? Do I really put God first and try to please him even it means losing favour with the people around me? Am I ashamed of professing my faith or of standing for the truth just because I want people to praise me?

When God saw that the people had apostatized under Aaron’s leadership he became so angry that he almost destroyed the entire nation. Thank God Moses intervened for the people by begging God to change his mind.

In Jesus Christ, we see another Moses in that Jesus by his blood intercedes on our behalf before God as St. Paul says in 1st Timothy 2:5 “For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” Dear friends, let us always seek to please God rather than people. You may not be popular, don’t worry; people may not like you, no problem; even your neighbours or your family members may hate you, rejoice and be glad, your reward is great in heaven.

As St. Peter would say: “But if when you do right and suffer for it you take it patiently, you have God’s approval. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” (1 Peter 2:20-21).

Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, may I seek your approval only. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Thursday of the 4th week of Lent. Bible Study: Exodus 32:7-14, Psalm 106 and John 5:31-47).