Homily
for August 26, 2017
Today is one of those days that the homily is primarily directed to the
preacher himself. There are times I wish I would sit in the congregation and
allow the people preach to me and really tell me to my face the hard truths I need
to know so as to make corrections where necessary.
Jesus summarizes the life of the Scribes and Pharisees (the holy
people), today saying they do not practice what they preach. The question is,
am I simply being a sign board? Do I tell people the direction to heaven
without actually going there myself?
The best form of preaching is practice. If I fail to practice the
message and apply the lessons of my homilies in my life, then I am only
deceiving myself. It is very easy to preach, it is very easy to point out the
errors in other people’s lives, very easy to see the specks in their eyes but
it is not so easy to turn the torchlight towards yourself, not so easy to see
the log in your own eyes.
I guess in anger, Jesus went further to encourage the people not to
worship their religious leaders because they are not what they claim to be. Jesus
said: “Call no one your Father, Call no one your Master…” One of the signs of
not practicing what I preach is when I begin to exult myself above others.
When I begin to behave as though I am Jesus Christ, when I make people
carry me on their shoulders as I preach, when I start marching on people’s
heads in the name of deliverance, when I start giving myself titles, when I begin
to put my picture in billboards and posters, when I begin to claim the glory
for miracles and so on and so on, then I have simply lost it.
It is a contradiction
to preach about the humility of Jesus who came not to be served but to serve while
I myself make others worship me in the name of being a man of God. I am nothing
more than a servant, my ability to preach is a gift, God uses me and I dare not
claim to be better than anyone else. Left to myself, I am just a piece of rag.
The story
of Ruth and Naomi comes to an end today with the happy union of Ruth and Boaz
whom God blessed with a child that eventually became the direct Grandfather of
David and subsequently, one of the ancestors of Jesus Christ.
Our
responsorial psalm today says it all. There is a surely a reward for being
good. Blessed is everyone who FEARS THE LORD, who walks in his ways! You shall
EAT THE FRUIT OF THE LABOUR of your hands; you shall BE HAPPY, and it shall BE
WELL WITH YOU…. Psalm 128:1-6.
Let us
pray: Lord Jesus, help me to love you with better each day. Amen.
Be Happy.
Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Saturday of the 20th Week in
Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Ruth 2:1-3, 8-11; 4:13-17 and Matthew 23:1-12).
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