Homily
for September 27, 2017
In our
Gospel passage for today, Jesus summons the Twelve Apostles and GAVE them POWER
AND AUTHORITY over all demons and to cure diseases. He then SENT them to
PROCLAIM the Kingdom of God and to HEAL the sick.
As
Christians, our relationship with God makes us instruments of God’s power. The
closer we are to God, the better the flow of this power through us to God’s
people. Basically, we are intercessors for the people, like Ezra, our basic duty
is praying for God’s people.
We make
sacrifices on their behalf and take on vows such as celibacy, obedience and
poverty so that we can be in good standing with God, have time for God and be
less distracted by the world for his power to flow through us.
However,
the fact that we have power and authority over demons and diseases does not
make us magicians. We recognize that power comes from God not from ourselves
and that answers to our prayers depends entirely on God.
Also, as
instruments, we do not consider ourselves higher or better than the people so we
never do anything to make them worship us. For instance, stepping on people’s
heads or jumping on their backs in the name of healing is completely wrong.
Moreover, there
is a sense of poverty that has to accompany the work of ministry. In the time
of Jesus, he told his disciples not to carry a spare tunic, nor staff, nor
bread, nor money and so on. This would translate today as not allowing money or
material comfort become the central focus or primary objective of ministering to
others.
Let us
pray: Lord Jesus, use me till there is nothing left. Amen.
Saint Vincent
de Paul, Pray for us.
*Be Happy.
Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Wednesday
of the 25th Week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Ezra 9:5-9 and Luke 9:1-6)*
Fr. Abu.
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