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

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

HOMILY THEME: Stop Complaining; Every Challenge is an Opportunity.

BY: Fr. Evaristus Abu

HOMILY: (Read Ezekiel 47:1-12, Psalm 46 and John 5:1-16)
“When Jesus saw him and knew that he had been lying there a long time, he said to him, ‘Do you want to be healed?’ The sick man answered him, ‘Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is troubled, and while I am going another steps down before me.’” (John 5:6-7)

There are three categories of people in this world; thinkers, talkers and doers. Thinkers understand the problem, talkers broadcast the problem but only doers apply solutions to eliminate the problem. The man in today’s Gospel passage was obviously a talker. Talkers don’t listen; they just want to be heard; they are professional complainers!

Jesus asked this man a simple question: “Do you want to be healed?” (A simple yes or no question.) He burst into complaints. Are you like this man? How often do you narrate your problems to the world? Maybe it is time you repent, maybe it is time you stopped complaining and start looking at Jesus standing in front of you. Yes, you may have suffered for long but all that history is unnecessary.

This man had so much faith in the curative power of the pool of Bethzatha when it is stirred. That this water could heal when stirred shows the power of God as Ezekiel testifies in today’s first reading. Have you concluded that there is only one type of solution to your problem?
Jesus saw a lot of people there but his attention was drawn to this man because he had been there for a very long time. The truth is that even our problems are “blessings” in disguise. Stop complaining, there is still a brighter side to your situation.

After Jesus had cured this man, Jesus said something quite striking to him: “See you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse befall you.” John 5:14. What could be worse than suffering from sickness for 38 years? Living in sin! There are a lot of scary information out there supposedly coming from experts concerning COVID-19. If God wishes to cleanse humanity once again, who are we to question Him? Why not run into Noah’s ark today! Repent.

Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, increase my hatred for sin. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Tuesday of the 4th week of Lent. Bible Study: Ezekiel 47:1-12, Psalm 46 and John 5:1-16).