Appearance is Not Reality.

Homily for November 27, 2017.

“Test your servants for ten days; let us be given vegetables to eat and water to drink. Then let our appearance and the appearance of the youths who eat the king's rich food be observed by you, and according to what you see deal with your servants.” Dan 1:12-13.

When it comes to serving God, one fact we must bear in mind is that appearance is not reality. We cannot afford to be like the rest of the world and still claim we are worshipping God; there should be something different about us. We must be willing to go the extra mile, even deny ourselves of certain worldly “privileges” to truly give God his rightful place in our lives.

In our first reading this morning, we see how Daniel, Hanahiah, Misheal and Azariah went the extra mile by denying themselves of the so called rich food of the king as a way of giving God his rightful honour. Their decision to abstain from the king’s food obviously seemed like punishment but in the end, they looked better fed and more nourished than the rest of the young men.

Dear friends, let us take some moments to reflect on those things which the world counts as enjoyment but are clearly against the commandments of God. For instance, telling of lies to outsmart others, fornication, malice, worship of money, adultery, stealing, indecent dressing and so on. There are so many evils today which have somehow become “normal” and “acceptable” in our society to the extent that when we do not partake of such, we are made to look inferior, outcast and alien even among our peers.

We must learn from the Daniel experience to allow God be truly number one in our lives; to put him first in our everyday decisions; to reject what the world counts as “normal” just because it is against the mind of God. We must realize that God surely knows how to take care of his own. Even when people pity us or laugh at us because of what looks like suffering on our part, we would like Daniel find great joy in the end.

The fact that Daniel and his colleagues appeared to be poorly fed did not mean they were suffering. Indeed appearance is not reality. Never be moved by appearance. Let us not be carried away by those who commit sin in the name of “living life to the fullest” or “having the best of one’s youthful days.” It is not how far but how well.

In our Gospel passage, Jesus again pointed out the difference between appearance and reality. A woman put in two copper coins into the treasury which appeared like the smallest contribution anybody would make yet it so happened that her offertory was the greatest among all those who gave. This is because, in comparison with what the woman had, she had given God everything even though her offertory looked small.

By commending this woman’s action, Jesus is teaching us that God wants to occupy a major space in our lives. How much time do I give to God every day? Compared to my twenty-four hours, how many hours are solely dedicated to prayer and worship each day? To what extent am I willing to let go of all those things the world counts as enjoyment (rich food) for the sake of my faith in God?

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, I put my trust in you. May I never be disappointed. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. (Monday of the 34^th Week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study:  Daniel 1:1-20 and Luke 21:1-4).