Homily
for July 31, 2017
Sin is
defined as an offence against God. And since the world does not want to hear
about God (Divine authority), it prefers to use the word ‘bad’ (indicative of
freedom and choice).
We live in
an age where sinful actions are advertised, openly displayed and people made to
take pride in them without seeing anything wrong in them. If I call somebody a
sinner, he or she could take it as an insult, but if I call that person a ‘bad
guy’, he or she would smile and be happy.
When Aaron
fashioned the golden calf, the people did not see anything wrong with it. They bowed
and worshipped it, they even danced around it and engaged in orgies. There was
no shame in them just as the people of our age are fast losing a sense of shame.
But then,
see how our first reading ends. God says: “When it is time for me to punish, I
will punish them for their sin.” Sin is sin and it always attracts punishment
yet we know God is merciful. How foolish we would be if we deliberately sin just
because we are aware of his mercy?
If you
always pardon your child each time he or she does something bad, how would you
react if that child deliberately continues doing it and even laughs at you when
you try to correct him? You be the judge.
In our
Gospel passage, Jesus describes the kingdom of God as a mustard seed which
appears to be the smallest of all seeds but eventually becomes the biggest of
all shrubs. Character begins with little habitual acts. To become the person of
your dreams, you have to start with very little acts of goodness and holiness. Whatever
good we do this day is like a seed the eventually grows shaping us into saints
in the future.
Today we
remember St. Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus also known
as the Jesuits. Ignatius was on his way to military fame and fortune when a
cannon ball shattered his leg. Because there were no books of romance on hand
during his convalescence (healing process in the hospital), he whiled away the
time reading the life of Christ and lives of the saints. His conscience was
deeply touched, and a long, painful turning to Christ began.
Ignatius
was a true mystic. He centered his spiritual life on the essential foundations
of Christianity—the Trinity, Christ, the Eucharist. His spirituality is
expressed in the Jesuit motto, ad majorem Dei gloriam—“for the greater glory of
God.” He is the Patron of Retreats.
Let us
pray: Lord Jesus, help me to live a good life. Amen.
*Be Happy.
Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Monday of
the 17th week in Ordinary Time. Memorial of St. Ignatius Bible
Study: Exodus 32:15-24, 30-34 and Matthew 13:21-35).*
Fr. Abu.
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