Homily
for October 25, 2017.
“Do you not know that if you present
yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you
obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to
righteousness?” Romans 6:16
Sin is like a poor beggar who comes
to my window asking for a tiny loaf of bread. At first I drive him away but he
returns and demands for my sympathy. Gradually, I begin to feel sorry for him,
then one day I try to let him have a tiny particle of bread.
The moment he receives it, he jumps
with gladness but he tells me first to open the window so he can collect it.
Still feeling sorry for him, I not only open the window, I even open the door
as well and before I know it, sin takes over my house.
From being a miserable beggar, sin
becomes a taskmaster. Each time I try to drive it away, he makes me believe I
can no longer survive without him. I know what I am doing is wrong yet there
seems to be no way I can stop it. I have become a slave! My acts have become
habits and my habits have become addictions. I come for confession only to find
myself returning to my former ways almost immediately.
St. Paul tells us this morning that
there is a way to break free from this vicious circle; there is a way to stop
being a slave to my passions and to sin – it is by adopting another Master. Left
to myself, I cannot fight sin, all I need to do is to invite another master who
in turn will fight the old master and kick him out.
Hence St. Paul says: “Do not yield
your members to sin as instrument, but yield yourselves to God as men who have
been brought from death to life.” Yield your bodies to God. Give more time
daily to prayer and meditation, let your mind be transformed daily by reading
the Bible and other holy books. Whenever temptation comes, drop down on your
knees and pray. Before you know it, sin will no longer have dominion over you,
its power over you will just fizzle out like a candle that goes off when the
wind is heavy.
When do I invite this second master?
Now. There is no time to waste. Jesus tells us in our Gospel passage to be
ready at all times because we do not know when or how the world will end.
Let us pray:
Lord Jesus Christ, take my heart, my body and my mind; rule me. Amen.
*Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith.
It is well with you. God bless you. (Wednesday of the 29th Week in
Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Romans 6:12-18
and Luke 12:39-48).*
Fr. Abu.
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