God Disciplines Those He Loves.

(Homily for February 1, 2017).

The word ‘discipline’ is closely related to the word ‘disciple.’ To be a disciple is to be a student or to learn something from one’s teacher and since learning involves pain, it may also be referred to as discipline. As disciples of God, the book of Hebrews this morning tells us that there are times God punishes us not out of hatred but because he wants us to learn. No matter how painful an event may be, there is always something we can learn from it. In short, there is a quotation I found somewhere which states: “Never regret a day in your life: good days give happiness, bad days give experience, worst days give lessons, and best days give memories.”

If we take out time to count our blessings, we will discover that it is our most painful experiences that were most beneficial to us in the long run. I started writing not because English language was my best subject in school but because one day I was disgraced publicly in class. A man once told me that his business career began the day his dad and mum stopped giving him pocket money. The experience was painful at that time but in the end, he had course to thank God for it. Indeed, we cannot but agree with St. Paul that all things actually work unto good for them that love God. Romans 8:28. Never regret anything, never regret your painful experiences, they are your best teachers in life. Never get angry with God for allowing bad things happen to you, He is only disciplining you.

Jesus experienced something painful among his own people when he went there to preach. They looked down on him. In fact, they took offence at Jesus because they felt he was claiming to be something other than the ordinary carpenter they knew him as. But Jesus did not get angry with them, he did not curse them instead he took this experience as a lesson. He simply said: “A prophet is not without honour except in his own country and in his own house.” Dear friends, there is always a lesson to learn from pain.

Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, help me look beyond my pains that I may see your hand in them. Amen.

Happy New Month. Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Wednesday of the 4^th Week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Hebrews 12:4-15 and Mark 6:1-6).

Fr. Abu.