Sin No More Lest Something Worse Befalls You.

Homily for March 28, 2017.

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23. The story of the healing of the man who was beside the pool of Bethzatha for thirty eight years in many ways reflects the story of our very lives.

This man so got used to his condition that he never even imagined or expected that things would be different someday. Jesus met him and asked him a question: “Do you want to be healed?” Instead of simply saying yes, he started complaining about how he never gets anybody to help him get to the pool when it is troubled.

Little did this man realize that it was not the pool itself that brought healing but God and standing right before him is God in the person of Jesus. Like this man, many of us often get attached to material structures forgetting that it is God himself who brings healing.

Again, we get so used to complaining that all we can see is negativity. Even when we are conscious of Jesus’ presence, we still assume things are only going to get worse and so we do not listen to the question Jesus is asking: “Do you want to be healed?” Failure to listen to Jesus amounts to a life of complaining.

Eventually this man was healed and when he later saw Jesus, Jesus told him: “Sin no more, that nothing worse may befall you.” In this way, Jesus made the man realize that sin has certain consequences in our lives.

The more we avoid sin, the better for us. It may be a struggle but one thing is sure, no one struggles forever. As little children, we struggled to learn how to walk, we fell many times but refused to give up; today we can even sprint like Olympic champions. In primary school, we struggled to learn A, B, C; today we are writing books.

Let us never give up in our struggles to overcome sin because every battle we sin, every temptation we avoid makes us stronger against sin. Yes, we Can! Scripture says: “Resist the devil and he will flee from you.  8 Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.” James 4:7-8.

Finally, in his vision, Ezekiel in our first reading today gives a visual representation of the graces that flow from the house of God. Just like water flowing and giving life to all across its path, we receive life, health and fruitfulness each time we are in God’s house.

Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, let your living water fill my heart and spirit. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Tuesday of the 4^th Week of Lent. Bible Study: Ezekiel 47:1-9&12. and John 5,1-3 & 5 -16).

Fr. Abu.