Homily
for December 7, 2017.
“Thou dost keep him in perfect peace,
whose mind is stayed on thee, because he trusts in thee. Trust in the LORD for
ever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.” Isaiah 26:3-4.
The essence and joy of Christmas is
the re-assurance that God never fails; that he keeps his word and he deserves
our complete trust. The God who did not fail mankind by sending his only
begotten son Jesus to be born for us is a God who never fails. Hence as
Christmas gradually approach, our readings these days have been rather
assuring.
The prophet Isaiah today somehow
reveals the secret of overcoming worry when he said: “You keep him in perfect
peace the man whose mind is stayed on you because he trusts in you.” I mean,
the only way we can find perfect peace of mind is by trusting completely in
God. As long we try to trust in anything else other than in God, we are sure to
have sleepless nights.
The honest truth is that we have
grown over the years leaning to trust in human beings; and even when we have
experienced disappointments again and again, we find ourselves falling back in
trust. Best friends have been known to betray each other. You remember the
story of Julius Ceasar? His last words were: “Et tu Brute?” meaning: “Even you
Brutus?”
When we really look at it, no human
being deserves our trust. People will fail us, machines will fail us, even
money will fail us, all the security gadgets in the world are toys compared to
Divine Security. Only God deserves our trust.
Jesus tells us “Everyone who hears
these words of mine and does them will be like a man who built his house on
Rock.” In other words, so long as we live by the words of God and keeps his
ways, we can go to be bed and sleep freely. In keeping God’s commandments, we
have no reason whatsoever to fear what anyone can do to us. Hence the Psalmist
says: “In God alone be at rest my soul for my hope is in him.” Psalm 62:1,5.
Today is the memorial of St. Ambrose
and somehow, even in the proper readings for the memorial, we are again assured
of the need to put all our trust in God. there we hear Jesus describe himself
as the Good Shepherd; the Shepherd who sacrifices his life to protect and
provide for the sheep unlike other hirelings who flee when danger approaches.
Does it occur to me that I am just a
sheep? That Jesus is my shepherd? Why do I have so much worries, fears and
anxieties? Why do I live my life as if I am all alone; as if I am in charge of
my destiny; as if I am responsible for my future?
Why do I forget or underestimate the
place of God in my life? Why do I carry unnecessary burdens when I have a
friend in Jesus? Why do I forget to pray when I become tensed? Let us ponder on
these beautiful words of Psalm 118:5-9 -
“With the LORD on my side I do not
fear.
What can man do to me?
The LORD is on my side to help me;
I shall look in triumph on those who
hate me.
It is better to take refuge in the
LORD than to put confidence in man.
It is better to take refuge in the
LORD than to put confidence in princes.”
Let us pray:
Lord Jesus, help me to trust in you and in nothing else. Amen.
St.
Ambrose, Pray for us.
Be Happy.
Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Thursday of the
First week of advent. Bible Study: Isaiah 26:1-6 and Matthew 7:24-27).
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