This World is Not my Own; I Am Just Passing Through.

Homily for July 17, 2017


I think it was Jim Reeves who sang:

This world is not my home, I'm just a-passin' through,
My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue,
The angels beckon me from heaven's open door,
And I can't feel at home in this world anymore.

Oh Lord, You know I have no friend like you
If heaven's not my home then Lord what will I do?
The angels beckon me from heaven's open door,
And I can't feel at home in this world anymore.

Indeed there is no better summary for today’s readings than these few lines above.

Now there arose in Egypt a Pharaoh who did not know Joseph… How come a whole Pharaoh did not know about Joseph, how his singular advice saved the entire Egyptian Nation and its neighbours from dying of starvation? How come he came to see the Israelite nation as a threat instead of an ally? Where did such hatred come from?

The greatest mistake we make today is the neglect of history. Technology may change the way people do things but it does not change their past. Our generation today needs to be taught her history lest we repeat the mistakes of the past.

Again, on the part of the Israelites, one may ask, how come they refused to return home after the famine subsided? The same land they left upon Joseph’s invitation to Egypt was now flowing with milk and honey and the people who lived there were great giants (too much food) yet they real owners of the Land, the Israelites were languishing under Pharaoh’s persecution.

Does it ring a bell how we often become too comfortable in a foreign land that we forget we are not yet at home? Like the Israelites, we Christians today have forgotten about our real home - heaven. We forget that we are only sojourners on earth.

We want to build mansions, have lots of money and so on and so on, we even fast and pray, do all nights and beseech God to make things sweet and easy for us here on earth forgetting that Jesus said: “Seek ye first the kingdom of God and its righteousness...” Matthew 6:33.

In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus goes further to say: “Do not think that I have come to bring peace on earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword… He who does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for my sake will find it.” Matthew 10:34-39.

In other words, this world is not our own. So, we should not be surprised when Pharaoh along with his cohorts become hostile to us. They hate us because we don’t belong here. Check out the millions of Christians that are killed day in day out, consider how the powers that be try every means to silence and suppress Christianity. All these are because we are not yet home.

If out of love for Egypt, we begin to compromise our faith, swim in sin and deny God, we would be making ourselves slaves in a foreign land whereas our true homeland is flowing with milk and honey. No wonder Jesus asked: “what shall it profit you to gain the whole world and lose your soul?” Mark 8:38.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, may my love for you be greater than my love for this world. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Monday of the 15th Week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Exodus 1:8-14,22 and Matthew 10:34-11:1).

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