Can you Drink from this Chalice?.

Homily for July 25, 2017

Serving God really involves giving up a lot. This is what Jesus teaches us in his encounter with James and John. Every time you feel strongly tempted to commit a sin and you refuse, you are drinking from this chalice. Every time, you do not get what you think you deserve because of your decision to do the right thing, you are drinking from this chalice. Painfully, many Christians today have a reward-centred orientation. We worship God in the hope that he would appreciate us in the end with all these luxury things we ask for or with heaven. But then, God is not an investment. Being a reward-centred Christian is a dangerous thing. We are Christians not just because we want to get to heaven or because we want to enjoy the riches of life, we are Christians because we have Christ living in us. No better way could St. Paul have expressed this fact than these words from our first reading: We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body. For we who live are constantly being given up to death for the sake of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. (2nd Corinthians 4:7ff). Let us pray: Lord Jesus, you showed us the need for suffering in the life of your servant, Saint James. May our remembrance of him today further deepen our resolve to be authentic Christians rather than reward-centred persons. Amen. St. James, Pray for us. *Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Feast of St. James. Bible Study: 2 Corinthians 4:7-15 and Matthew 20:20-28).* Fr. Abu.