Homily
for September 5, 2017
The book of Proverbs teaches us: “A little sleep, a little slumber, a
little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a
robber, and want, like an armed warrior.” Proverbs 6:10-11. As much as this
saying can be applied in the physical realm (in terms of hard work and
diligence), it also makes a lot of sense in the spiritual sense.
If a little sleep can bring me poverty, then a little relaxation of my
spiritual life can land me into temptation and sin. Indeed, a little spiritual sleep
can bring the devil and his agents tearing down my spirit like armed robbers.
St. Paul tells us in today’s first reading: “When people say there is
peace and security, then sudden destruction will come upon them as labour pains
come upon a woman with child… So then, let us not sleep, as others do, but keep
awake and be sober.”
Dear friends, we can’t afford to sleep or relax in our prayer life. I only
deceive myself when I skip my prayers and say: “God understands.” The truth is
that each time I skip prayer or some spiritual activity I had planned to do,
the devil capitalizes on it and before I know it, the desire to pray suddenly
vanishes. And gradually, I find myself drifting further and further away from
God and from my holy devotions.
No wonder they say, the best time to pray is when you do not feel like
praying. If we wait for that time we feel like praying, we will never pray. There
should be a fixed time table for prayers and our adherence to it not only
increases our self-discipline, it makes us stronger against sin and other agents
of darkness.
Now, speaking about agents of darkness, you agree with me that it is not
every person walking on the street that is “normal.” That was how Jesus went to
the city of Capernaum to preach and guess what? Right inside the house of God,
there was a man with an unclean demon! It was a battle, the demon in the man
spoke rudely to Jesus but as they say; POWER PASS POWER. Jesus defeated the
demon hands down.
Be careful. Stay alert in the spirit. Don’t get caught off-guard. I once
watched a movie of how a guy met a beautiful girl along the road on his way to church
and decided to preach to her. Believe you me, from “Hi” “Hi”, things went to
smiles, and then to story-telling and before you knew it, this guy forgot
himself and started following the girl home. It wasn’t until the next morning
he regained his consciousness only to see a snake sleeping beside him on the same
bed.
Be careful, you don’t know who is who. Am I saying we are to be afraid
of demons, witches and wizards? No! My point is: DON’T BE OVER-CONFIDENT. The moment
you sense something in your spirit, act fast, don’t let down your spiritual
arsenal. Never assume you can handle it. The truth is that the longer we allow temptation
last, the weaker we become in resisting it. satan can be very subtle, like a
rat that wants to bite your leg, he begins by blowing breeze on the leg and you
will think you are enjoying only to wake up and you see the damage.
Again, I say: “Don’t Get Caught Off-Guard.”
Let us
pray: Lord Jesus, cast me not away from your presence, take not your Holy
Spirit from me but renew my spirit within me. Bring back that fire in me to be
closer to you. Amen.
Be Happy.
Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Tuesday of
the 22nd Week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: 1st
Thessalonians 5:1-11 and Luke 4:31-37).
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