Homily
for August 7, 2017
Taking a
look at our first reading today, one might be tempted to readily condemn the Israelites
for their show of ingratitude but the fact is that their story is essentially
our story.
Economists
were not just blabbing when they reached a conclusion that Human needs are insatiable.
No matter how much we get, we always feel we can have more. We never stop comparing
ourselves with others, we never stop desiring things we don’t have even when we
are yet to fully appreciate what we have.
The Israelites
had just been freed from slavery but so long as they did not have all the meat
and fish they once relished, their freedom meant nothing to them. The sad
reality is that more than half of the things we have means nothing to us simply
because we never take our time to count our blessings.
Until, we
start taking stock of what God has done for us in the past, we are always going
to find ourselves complaining all the time like the Israelites. When next I catch
myself complaining, I need to really take some moments to look back and remind
myself of things I am grateful for.
Gratitude
is the cure for complaining and by extension, the cure for sadness. And when we
apply ample doses of gratitude when we are sad and depressed, the result we get
is contentment. Being content does not mean that one has gotten everything he
or she desires but that one finds himself or herself in a state of true inner
joy despite their external situation.
When the
news of the gruesome death of John the Baptist came to Jesus, it really put him
down. Jesus probably felt so depressed that he decided to withdraw to a quiet place
all by himself. But then, people noticed where he was doing and decided to
follow him.
Still yet,
Jesus did not put his personal depression above the needs of the people.
Matthew says: “he had compassion on them and healed their sick…” Not only that,
Jesus took upon himself the task of providing food for them.
What was
the secret of Jesus? How did he manage to attend to the great crowd despite
being in a state of mourning? The secret is CONTENTMENT. Jesus did not have
everything going well for him but somehow, he focused on the things he was grateful
for, that way, he was able to rise above the immediate pain in his heart.
Being
content, is not something that happens by chance. It is something you do.
Contentment is a deliberate act. Contentment is a decision; a decision to focus
only on those things you are grateful for; a decision to ignore your problems
and leave them for God rather than work yourself out trying to think of be the
best solution; a decision to accept life at it is as knowing that God only permits
what is best for you to happen to you.
Let us
pray: Lord Jesus, teach me to be grateful even when things are rough. Amen.
*Be Happy.
Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Monday of
the 18th week in Ordinary time. Bible Study: Numbers 11:4-15 and
Matthew 14:13-21).*
Fr. Abu.
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