Homily
for September 16, 2017
As we come
to the end of another week, it is always good for us to review, cross check,
reflect on and examine our activities this past week. Am I making any progress
at all? Even business men will tell you that at the end of each week like this,
there is need to bring out the books and balance the records.
For the
business man, the leading questions are: “Did I make any money this week?” Did I
make more money this week than the previous week? Is my business growing? Where
do I hope to be in one or two years from now? Are there people owing me? What
plans do I have to increase?”
If these
questions are valid as far as making money is concerned, then there must be
some similar questions as far as the spiritual life is concerned. Indeed, just
as a business without record books (ledgers, incomes, expenditures, invoices,
receipts etc.) is bound to fail, spirituality without record taking or constant
review is bound to fail.
So how do
we measure spiritual progress? Do I have a spiritual journal? In practical
terms, was I a better Christian this week than I was last week? In the face of
temptation and the strong winds of life that tend to toss me here and there, do
I have what it takes to remain firm in the faith? In other words, do I have a
solid foundation as a Christian?
How do we
build a foundation in the Christian Faith and how do we ensure that foundation
remains firm? In very simple terms, Jesus tells us in today’s Gospel passage: PRACTICE
WHAT THE WORD OF GOD SAYS. Listening to spiritual messages, reading the bible
or other great spiritual writings and then feeling holy is one thing, putting them
into practice is just another business entirely.
Do I apply
the teachings of Christ in my daily life? Or am I schizophrenic (having two
different personalities within me); one that goes to church to sing, dance and
clap and shout ‘amen’ and another personality that throws off everything about God
the moment I take off my church attires?
If I don’t
practice what God’s word says, then it means I have no foundation and when
trials and difficulties come my way; when I don’t answers to my prayers, there
is a tendency to fall out of the faith like a building that crashes and crushes
those in it.
Brothers and
sisters, let us be Christians not just in name but in deeds as well. Every day,
there is need for us to ask ourselves how well we have done, practiced and
applied God’s words in our lives.
Let us
pray: Lord Jesus, help me to grow in my spiritual life daily. Amen.
*Be Happy.
Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Saturday
of the 23rd week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: 1 Timothy 1:15-17 and Luke 6:43-49.)*
Fr. Abu.
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