Jesus says: “Behold, I am Coming Soon”

Homily for Saturday 1^ST December 2018

_“And behold, I am coming soon. Blessed is he who keeps the words of the prophecy of this book.” *Revelation 22:7*_

For anyone who has read the whole Bible, he or she would be familiar with this statement which actually occurs three times in the last chapter of the last book of the Bible: “Behold, I and coming soon.”

You still remember that song: Soon and Very soon, we are going to meet the lord… soon and very soon… soon and very soon…. Soon and very soon…. we are going to meet the Lord….alleluia …..alleluia ….we are going to meet the Lord.

Anyway, I think the song can also be understood to mean: “Soon and very soon, the Baby Jesus is coming to meet with us… soon and very soon…. Soon and very soon…. Soon and very soon, the Baby Jesus Christ is coming to meet with us… alleluia … alleluia… the Child Jesus is coming to us.”

The fact that Christ will come to us very soon sets the tone for Advent; the season of preparation for Christmas. From this day, we shall be singing with the Psalmist: “Maranatha! Come Lord Jesus.”

Unfortunately rather than prepare to receive the baby Jesus, many persons including Christians only prepare for the festivities surrounding the end of the year. Christmas for many is not so much about the person of Jesus Christ but about free holiday time, party time, drinking competitions and so on. No wonder, this period is characterized by a lot of anxiety and evil. Everyone seems to be in a hurry somewhere, traffic is always unbearable these days, prices of basic goods and services are tripling by the day all in the name of Christmas meanwhile Christ has nothing to do with any of these evils associated with this period.

Hear what Jesus says in today’s Gospel passage: “Beware that your hearts do not become drowsy from carousing and drunkenness and the anxieties of daily life” instead “Be vigilant at all times and pray that you have the strength to escape the tribulations that are imminent and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Forget about painting your house and start painting your heart white instead, forget about organizing a party and start organizing a truly spiritual event that Christ himself would be pleased with. Don’t go drinking or committing evil because others are doing it, spend that free time of yours in the chapel, in front of the Blessed Sacrament or in the hospital, in the home for the elderly or amongst orphans; these are places where you will find the Baby Jesus whose birthday we are celebrating.

Don’t worry if you don’t have the money or hamper to dash the people you will go home to visit (or those who will come to visit you), instead worry about the fact that Christ is not even mentioned in your discussions during such visits.

Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, as I prepare for your coming this Christmas, may it be a truly spiritual experience for me. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Saturday of the 34^th Week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Revelations 22:1-9, Psalm 95:1-7 and Luke 21:34-36).

Jesus Tweets: “Follow Me” and Andrew Left Everything Else Behind.

Homily for Friday 30^th November 2018

_“Immediately, they left the boat and their father, and followed him.”*Matthew 4:22*_

Each time I read today’s Gospel passage, I cannot but wonder how it so happened that some grown up men would abandon their Father, their entire fishing career and what brings them money to go after a total stranger simple because he said: “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men”?

How many of us would leave everything behind to follow Jesus like Andrew, Simon and the two sons of Zebedee?

Mind you, leaving everything behind may not mean literally abandoning our means of livelihood, it is actually a matter of generosity and availability for the things of God. How many of us are willing to sacrifice our time, our intelligence, our money, our resources, our connections, etc. for the sake of God’s kingdom?

Jesus said to them: “Follow me…” In this world of social media, to follow a person is much more than walking behind that person. If I follow you on twitter, facebook, whatsapp and so on, it means that I get an alert on my phone or become one of the first persons to know whatever content you put on your wall or page.

We don’t just follow anybody, we follow those we respect, those we admire, those we want to emulate and those we believe can make us better persons. We follow popular celebrities, comedians, rich and successful businessmen and women, political analysts, footballers, musicians, news presenters and so on. The question is: “Amongst all those I follow daily, is Jesus one of them?” How often do I take time to follow Jesus by reading the Bible daily?

Today’s Gospel passage comes from Matthew. In John’s account, we are told that Andrew was the first person to be called by Jesus and he was the one who went to tell his brother Peter about Jesus. Andrew introduced Peter to Jesus and went to the background. Not much is heard about Andrew but Peter became the first Pope. Andrew also introduced the boy who had five loaves and two fish to Jesus. Andrew was fond of introducing people to Jesus.

This characteristic of Andrew is what I call basic evangelisation. You don’t have to do the preaching, just invite as many persons as you can to join you in studying the Bible, just introduce people to Jesus, let Him do the talking and you will be amazed at that would become of them.

Just as Andrew introduced Peter to Jesus, the Feast of St. Andrew introduces the Church to the season of Advent. If you notice, advent is always the closest Sunday to the feast of St. Andrew, once you know this, you can even plan the church’s calendar for the next ten years and you will not miss. Andrew’s feast introduces us to begin our preparation for the baby Jesus.

St. Paul in today’s first reading says: “How beautiful are the feet of one who brings Good News.” Indeed, how beautiful were the feet of Andrew when he ran immediately to tell Simon Peter: “We have found the Messiah.” How beautiful are the feet of St. Andrew today as he announces to the Church: “Advent is here! Prepare your hearts for Jesus!” Indeed, how beautiful are your feet, hands, lips etc. when you talk to people about Jesus!

Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, use me like Andrew to bring people to you. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Feast of St. Andrew. Bible Study: Romans 10:9-18, Psalm 19:8-11 and Matthew 4:18-22).

Look Up and Raise Your Heads.

Homily for Thursday 29 November 2018

_“And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and upon the earth distress of nations in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, men fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world.”*Luke 21:25-26*_

Both our first reading and our Gospel passage today begin on a rather sad and tense mood, they both speak of destruction, punishment and calamity, but surprisingly also, they both end on very joyful and hopeful tones.

John concludes by saying: “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” While Jesus ends by saying: “Now when these things begin to take place, look up and raise your heads because your redemption is drawing near.”

Of course, there would be great distress upon the earth. Of course, many shall fall by sword and great signs shall appear in heaven and on earth. Surely, we all shall face judgment one day. Babylon (which signifies the great evils in this world) shall be thrown down and avenged.  But then, the message for us today is that in the midst of all these terrifying events that shall mark the end of time, there is no need for us to be afraid or go into panic attacks.

As our people would say: “A clear conscience fears no accusation.” No matter what would become of this world, those who continue to live in the light of Christ will surely be rewarded. Let us not be overcome by the pervasive evil around us. If you cannot beat them, don’t join them. Continue to raise your heads high in virtue and never give in to sin because your redemption is close at hand.

Right now, it may seem as if evil people are succeeding and there is nothing left for the virtuous. Some time ago, a young man asked me if it is possible to become rich in this country without getting into some sinful act in one way or another. He was so convinced that the hardship of the economy today leaves no room for the success of the righteous. Today’s readings answer his question. Judgment day is real. Those who seem to be succeeding today through evil means will surely face God’s vengeance one day.

Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, may I endure to the very end. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Thursday of the 34^th Week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Revelation 18:1-23,19:1-9 Psalm 100:1-5 and Luke 21:20-28).

Hope in the Midst of Persecution.

Homily for Wednesday 28 November 2018

_“And I saw what appeared to be a sea of glass mingled with fire, and those who had conquered the beast and its image and the number of its name, standing beside the sea of glass with harps of God in their hands.” *Revelation 15:2* _

I once read somewhere: “Be grateful for your troublesome landlord; if not for his trouble, you would never have been able to build your own house today.” As ironic as this may sound, I think we should always thank our enemies; those who pursue us, those who make life difficult for us. This is because these are the very persons who end up bringing out the very best of us.

Have you noticed that when someone is bent on pulling you down, the person only succeeds in digging a hole thereby further elevating you? As a little kid, there was a short fence separating our house from the next apartment. I never knew I could jump that fence until I was chased by an angry hen for disturbing one of its chicks. Later on, I tried several times to jump that same fence but I just couldn’t. That experience taught me a wonderful lesson: that even from the most painful situations, the best could come.

This was exactly the message John was passing on to his audience in the book of Revelations. The sea of glass mingled with fire represents the torture, the pains, the hardships, the sacrifices, the sweats, the tears and blood of Christians who were being slaughtered under the reign of Emperor Diocletian (the beast). John was assuring them of eventual redemption and glory if only they remained steadfast in the faith.

The experience of the persecuted Christians was indeed a fulfilment of the words of Jesus in today’s Gospel passage when he noted: “They will seize and persecute you, they will hand you over to the synagogues and to prisons…. You will even be handed over by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends, and they will put some of you to death. You will be hated by all because of my name.” Dear friends, consider yourself lucky if people hate you because of your Christian Faith and you desire to walk as a child of the light.

Consider yourself lucky not because of what you will suffer but because of what that suffering would produce later on. Even Jesus assures us saying: “But not a hair of your head will perish. By your endurance, you will gain your lives.”

Once upon a time, I witnessed an apprentice in a particular trade receive a very hot slap from his master. The slap was a “Grade A” slap. That it happened right in my presence was something I couldn’t stomach. I was very bitter with the master for slapping his apprentice and I threatened to stop going there. That was about six years ago. Today, that apprentice has become a master of his own. He is the one who handles my work and he does it excellently. When I asked him about that slap he got that day, he simply laughed saying: “that was only a tip of the iceberg.” He had learnt the job through the hard way and today, he is proud of every suffering he passed through.

Dear friends, the very incidence that made you shed tears will one day become your cause for joy either in this life or in the life to come. Never return hatred for hatred. If you are persecuted for your faith, remember the book of Proverbs which says: “If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; for you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the LORD will reward you.” Proverbs 25:21-22. 

Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, may I endure to the very end. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Tuesday of the 34^th Week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Revelation 15:1-4, Psalm 98:1-9 and Luke 21:21-19).

Prepare for Harvest.

Homily for Tuesday 27 November 2018

_“And another angel came out of the temple, calling with a loud voice to him who sat upon the cloud; ‘Put in your sickle, and reap, for the hour to reap has come, for the harvest of the earth is fully ripe.’ So he who sat upon the cloud swung his sickle on the earth, and the earth was reaped.” *Revelation 14:15-16.*_

Using very graphic images, John in our first reading describes the end of the world in terms of harvest. This is just in line with what Jesus in our Gospel passage taught about judgment day; how the sheep shall be separated from the goats; how those who have done well will rejoice while some will be sent to a place of crying and weeping.

In other for us not to get too attached to imagery, we must dwell on the essence of the message itself – there is nothing that we do that does not have its repercussion. For every good deed that we do and for every wrong deed that we do, we shall somehow get to receive a boomerang effect later. *The good we do as well as the evil we do comes back to us.*

Just as farmers harvest the crops they plant, we cannot expect to harvest good in places where we have sown evil. Our life on earth is very short. It is a time of planting and it is exactly what we plant, (the way we choose to live, the choices we make every day) that determines what the harvest of our lives would look like.

This day of harvest will definitely be a day of great disturbance, turmoil and sadness. As Jesus points out in today’s Gospel passage, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be great earthquakes, and in various places famines and pestilences; and there will be terrors and great signs from heaven.” Luke 21:10-11.

As you step out of your room today, let this question dwell in your mind. Harvest day must surely come; what am I planting today?

Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, may my life yield a great harvest. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Tuesday of the 34^th Week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Revelation 14:14-19, Psalm 96:10-13 and Luke 21:5-11).

Giving to God; Giving Truth with Our Lips.

Homily for Monday 26 November 2018

_“It is these who follow the Lamb wherever he goes; these have been redeemed from mankind as first fruits for God and the Lamb, and in their mouth, no lie was found, for they are spotless.” *Revelation 14:4-5*_

A few days ago, we read of how Jesus went into the temple and “began to drive out those who sold, saying to them: ‘It is written, my house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of robbers.’” Luke 19:45. In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus is still in the in the temple. Everything had now settled, and the normal worship was ongoing.

Jesus sat in a position where he could see what people were giving as their offertory and his attention was drawn to a woman who put in two copper coins. To everyone who also saw what she gave, this woman had put in the smallest amount but for Jesus, that “small amount” was bigger than what anyone else had put in.

How do we reconcile Jesus’ attitude with those buying and selling in the temple with his commendation of this woman’s offering? If His Father’s House, was simply a place of prayer, why should He praise a woman who gave everything she had to survive upon? The real question is: “Is Jesus interested in our offertory or in our attitude?”

Jesus is God. He does not depend on our money for his survival. The whole world and everything it contains belongs to Him. Jesus praised this woman not because of her two copper coins but because of the amount of faith that accompanied her giving. Unlike those who gave only a little of what they had, this woman had given all she had as an act of respect and honour to God. She knew she didn’t have much but still, she didn’t want to insult God by giving something just too insignificant in comparison with what she had.

Unlike those who Jesus referred to as robbers who had clearly come to the Temple to make a profit, this woman did not give with an investment mindset; to get back double or triple. She was commended by Jesus because she did not seem to care whether or not she was going to back what she had given. She cared more for God’s house than for her own personal wellbeing.

Giving is an act of worship, not something forced or done out of fear. When we give, God is more interested in our Faith than in the money itself. God always sees our hearts. He knows when we give as a form of trade and when we give not minding what would come back to us. Jesus condemns all forms of trading in the Temple but commends those who give with a sincere heart.

There is also another kind of giving that the first reading acknowledges. It is the giving of truth. The act of telling lies is often considered by many as a “normal sin” yet there is nothing normal about it. We cannot say it is normal to lie when are supposed to be Christians; followers of Christ who is the way, the truth and the life. St. John in the book of Revelations speaks of the one hundred and forty-four thousand (a symbolic number) who have washed their robes clean. One of the characteristics of washing their robes clean was that: “in their mouth, no lie was found.”

This passage should change our attitude to telling lies. Let us think of the one hundred and forty-four thousand each time we are tempted to twist the fact or to lie. Say the truth and shame the devil. Say the truth and have a clean robe for heaven. Say the truth even when it is not in your favour. Say the truth even in the face of persecution (note that John was writing to a persecuted church) and you will be among those washed in white and redeemed from the earth.

Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, train my mouth to always offer the truth. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Monday of the 34^th Week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Revelation 14:1-5, Psalm 24, Luke 21:1-4).

Worshipping Christ as Our King.

Homily for Saturday 24 November 2018

_“So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this, I was born, and for this I have come into the world, to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears my voice.” *John 18:37*_

Today is the last Sunday of this liturgical year. Today is the Sunday of all other Sundays. Today we celebrate the solemnity of all other solemnities; the solemnity of Christ, the King of the Universe. All our celebrations of Christ from His birth, through his preaching, passion, death and resurrection culminate in today’s celebration: Christ is the King and as we hear in today’s Gospel passage, this kingship of Christ is not of this world. The meaning of this is that Christ’s kingship is not like other earthly kingship. If the kingship of Christ is not like the kingships we are used to, how then is it like? If Christ is a king, where is his kingdom located and how does this kingdom relate with other kingdoms? These are some of the points we shall examine in this reflection.

*Is Christ Really a King?*

When Pilate asked Jesus if he was a king, Jesus responded by saying: “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” This response of Jesus is heavily loaded. That Christ is a King is an indisputable fact to which all our readings today testify yet this kingship is not based on public opinion but on individual faith. It is one thing to call Christ a king simply because others are saying so but a different thing to actually acknowledge Christ as “my” King and worship Him as a King truly deserves.

The sad tale of our faith is that we call Christ a king, yet we do not allow Christ reign in our lives, in our places of work, in our dressing, in our homes, in our conversations, in our hearts. Every year, we join the procession to publicly worship Christ as our king but the moment we get home, that becomes the end of Christ’s kingship for us. Sin, evil and the quest for material things begin to reign strongly in our lives.

Today, the question Christ is going to ask us is: “Are you singing, dancing, and clapping hands, kneeling, bowing and jumping up and down because I am your king or because others have said so?” If it is because others have said so, then you would soon like Pilate give the order to crucify Jesus but if you are truly convinced of Christ’s kingship, Christ would reign in your life, in your bedroom, in your smartphone, in your office/business environment, in your dealings with people, even in your most secret chambers.

*Where is Christ’s Kingdom Located?*

In our Gospel passage today, we hear Jesus say to Pilate: “My kingship is not of this world. If my kingship were of this world, my servants would fight, that I might not be handed over to the Jews.” Does this mean Christ is only the king of heaven and has no power over this earth? No. Otherwise, how then do we reconcile the statement of Daniel in our first reading who noted: “to him was given dominion and glory and kingdom, that all peoples, nations and languages should serve him…”? or with the statement in our second reading that: “every eye will see him… and all tribes of the earth will wail on account of him.”

When Christ says His Kingdom is not of this world, he was not talking about its location but its operation. Christ is the King of the Universe (heaven and earth inclusive) but the kingship of Christ does not follow worldly principles.

*How does Christ’s Kingdom Operate?*

To answer this question, let us examine the statement of Christ to Pilate: “if my kingship were of this world, my servants would fight, that I might not be handed over to the Jews.” In one stroke, Jesus summed up the essence of all worldly kingdoms while at the same time highlighting the distinguishing superiority of His Kingship. While all worldly kingdoms fight and go to war for fear of losing power, the servants of Christ do not need to fight because nothing whatsoever can threaten the Kingdom of Christ. While the working principle of worldly kingdoms is fear, the working principle of Christ’s kingdom is love.

Do you notice that earthly rulers and kings are the most fearful kind of people? They know that their own lives, as well as their very kingdom, is always at risk of perishing so they invest heavily in their personal security, using all kinds of sophisticated weapons and trained military force to defend their ever-fragile kingdoms. They are always ready to fight once threatened yet not a single earthly kingdom lasts forever. Christ did not fight with the Roman authorities to defend his power as King of the Universe, instead, he loved all men to the point of being a sacrificial lamb for our salvation. The Romans themselves were once a world power but where are they today?

If we say we belong to Christ’s kingdom, why do we engage in useless fights with people? Why do we allow hatred, bitterness, malice and lack of forgiveness linger in our hearts? Why do find it difficult to love others like Christ did sacrificially?

*Conclusion*

Yes, Christ is a King. His kingship does not depend on us. Christ remains a King whether or not we worship Him. His Kingdom is an everlasting one. Nothing whatsoever can threaten Christ’s power. Our celebration today is an acknowledgement of Christ’s superior power over this world and the whole universe. We profess to be part of Christ’s kingdom but our membership of this kingdom should not begin and end with our singing and dancing all over the streets today, we must allow Christ to reign as king in every aspect of our lives including our most secret places. As members of Christ’s kingdom, we must operate according to the principle of love, the willingness to sacrifice rather than to fight others knowing that we are part of a kingdom that is greater than all this world has to offer.

Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, I worship you as my king forever and ever. Amen.

Happy Last Sunday of the Liturgical Year. Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Solemnity of Christ the King, Year B. Bible Study: Daniel 7:13-14, Psalm 93:1-5, Revelation 1:5-8 and John 18:33-37).

Yes, I Believe in the Resurrection of the Dead.

Homily for Saturday 24 November 2018

_“But that the dead are raised, even Moses showed, in the passage about the bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob. Now he is not God of the dead, but of the living; for all live to him.” *Luke 20:37-38*_

Both our first reading from the book of Revelation and our Gospel passage today have one theme in common: the resurrection of the dead. In our first reading, we come across the story of two prophets who were very great in their prophesying but after they had finished their testimony, they were killed by the beast that ascends from the bottomless pit. Their death brought rejoicing upon the inhabitants of the earth (who were referred to as Sodom and Egypt) because their preaching brought a lot of torment to them.

After three and a half day, “a breath of life from God entered them and they stood up on their feet and great fear fell upon those who saw them. Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, ‘come up here!’ And in the sight of their foes, they went up to heaven in a cloud.” Revelations 4:12.

In our Gospel passage, some Sadducees tried to disprove the possibility of the dead rising again by bringing to Jesus a well thought out probable scenario. Their story only showed their lack of understanding of what becomes of humans when they rise from the dead. Jesus explains to them that the resurrected life is not the same as earthly life in that there is no return to the normal everyday activities as we have it now. There is no such thing as marriage or child-bearing in our resurrected form.

Jesus ended by saying that God is not a God of the dead, but of the living; for all live to him. This statement of Jesus should affect our conception and understanding of death. If nothing, it should cushion our fear of death and soften our pain at the news of the death of a loved one. Death is not the end; it is only the beginning of true life; another kind of life; a life that does not involve marriage; a life free from all the stress and worries and troubles we face every day; a life we must look forward to. No matter how painful the death of a loved one may be, let us never forget that their death is not the end; that there is the resurrection of the dead; that one day, we shall again be united to them.

In our first reading, it is quite touching that at the death of the two prophets, there was great rejoicing by the inhabitants of the earth. This is a figurative way of describing how much people prefer darkness to light. From time immemorial, those who stand for truth and righteousness have always been hated by the majority of the human population; those who speak the truth and walk in the light of God have always been hunted. Evil sells more than good. This book of Revelation was written to console the Christians who were suffering persecution at the time. John aims to teach them that death should not frighten them or make them back out of their Christian belief because there was something great awaiting them afterwards: the resurrection of the dead.

Dear friends, trials and persecutions would come but we must remain steadfast. To the earthly minded, the worst thing that can happen to a person is to die but for us who believe in God, we know that death is just a doorway. As God’s children, we know that the worst thing that can happen to a person is to be separated from God forever. A life without God is just a dress-rehearsal for hellfire. This should scare us more than mere physical death.

Coincidentally, today the colour of vestment is red. Why? Today we remember persons who like these two prophets shed their blood for the sake of preaching the Gospel in accordance with the mandate of Jesus to “Go in the whole world and preach.” We remember, St. Andrew Dung-Lac and his companions who were killed in Vietnam while spreading the Christian Faith. May our remembrance of them today strengthen our resolve to stand for Christ even when such requires our blood. Amen.

Let us Pray: Lord Jesus give me the courage to remain steadfast in my relationship with you regardless of whatever pain and suffering I encounter. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Saturday of the 33^rd Week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Revelation 11:4-12 Psalm 144:1-2.9-10 and Luke 20:27-40).

Eating the Bitter Scroll.

Homily for Friday 23 November 2018

_“ And I took the little scroll from the hand of the angel and ate it; it was sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it my stomach was made bitter. And I was told, ‘You must again prophesy about many peoples and nations and tongues and kings.’” *Revelation 10:10-11*_

What tastes sweet in one’s mouth only to become bitter in the stomach? It is the word of God; it is the TRUTH. When we speak the truth, it is sweet in our mouths and sweet in the ears of those who hear it but when we reflect on the truth, we feel the bitterness in our stomachs. No wonder, the saying goes that “Truth is bitter.” The truth is that truth is neither bitter nor sweet.

If we say truth is bitter, its bitterness is like medicine which brings healing, life and eternal happiness. Jesus told us that He is the Way, the Truth and the Life. When we come close to Jesus, we find the narrow way, the path least travelled. As we move in this narrow way, we would become disturbed by the truth. The disturbance of the truth or rather the bitterness of the truth helps to wash away our imperfections, ignorance and blindness.

Dear friends, just as John was asked to eat the scroll, we too are called to eat the word of God every day. Jesus said: “Man shall not live on bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4 and Luke 4:4. Nevertheless, let us be warned ahead that feeding on God’s word is not like feeding on rice and chicken. This is because “the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12.

For us to truly get the full worth of God’s word, we must ensure that we do not focus only selected Bible verses. This is one issue I have with the Gospel of Prosperity. Certain verses are over-emphasized again and again and no mention is made of their proper context. The failing Nigerian economy coupled with the overwhelming hardship in the land has indeed led many preachers into feeding the people with what they like to hear rather than the whole truth. Our Churches today are entertainment centres of some sort!

If Jesus was to visit our churches today like he did in today’s Gospel passage, I bet there would be so much to throw away, so many buttocks to be flogged and so many money-changers (money-chasers) to be driven out. Jesus cleansed the temple in Jerusalem because money was gradually taking the place of God there. Today, money is still an important factor in our churches. It has gotten so bad that many are assuming they can even buy the sacraments, buy blessings or buy forgiveness. Dear friends, please keep your money at home. The church is a house of prayer not a place of commerce. God’s blessings are free of charge!

Let us Pray: Lord Jesus may truth never leave my mouth despite its bitterness. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Friday of the 33^rd Week in Ordinary Time. Year B. Bible Study: Revelation 10:8-11 Psalm 119:14-131 and Luke 19:45-48).

Worthy is the Lamb.

Homily for Thursday 22 November 2018

 

_“Then I looked, and I heard around the throne and the living creatures and the elders the voice of many angels, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands, saying with a loud voice, "Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honour and glory and blessing!.” *Revelation 5:11-12*_

In Genesis 22, 1 to 12, we encounter the story of how God told Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac as a test of his faith. Precisely in verse 7, Isaac asked Abraham, “we have fire and wood, but where is the lamb?” and Abraham said, “God would provide.” Moving into the book of Exodus chapter 12, we see Moses instructing the Israelites about the Passover. Each family was to take an unblemished lamb and smear their doors with its blood. In this way, the Angel of death would pass over their houses.

When we go through Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy and so on, we would discover that each time the Bible makes mention of the lamb, it does so from the perspective of sacrifice. In Samuel 7,9: Samuel took a lamb without stain and offered it as a burnt offering to the Lord. In verses 10 to 12, we read: “As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to attack Israel; but the LORD thundered with a mighty voice that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion, and they were routed before Israel.”

Isaiah 53, 7 we read: “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.” When Jeremiah was being oppressed for saying the truth, he said in 11, 19: “But I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter!”

Now, coming down to the New Testament, we hear John the Baptist introducing Jesus to the crowd in these very words: “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” It is at this point that we get to understand who this lamb really is.

The lamb Abraham said God would provide, the lamb that was sacrificed in Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy, the lamb Samuel offered and the prophets spoke about is Jesus Christ. As Peter would say: “You know that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your ancestors, not with perishable things like silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish.” 1 Peter 1, 18 to 19.

No wonder coming to the last book of the Bible, we hear one song: Worthy indeed is the lamb! Indeed, worthy is the Lamb “to receive the scroll and break open its seals, for you were slain and with your Blood, you purchased for God those from every tribe and tongue, people and nation. You made them a kingdom and priests for our God, and they will reign on earth.”

Today, we remember St. Cecilia, a virgin and Martyr and the patroness of choristers and musicians. The story of her life is itself a great homily. Here was a woman who was so close to God that vowed her virginity as an offering to God. Like a lamb, St. Theresa gave what was most precious to her as a gift to God and was determined to remain pure till death.

She was given in marriage to Valerian and during her wedding ceremony, she sang her heart to God. This is why she is the patroness of musicians. On her wedding night, when it was time to consummate the marriage, she told her husband of her vow and added that an Angel was protecting her. Valerian wanted to see the Angel. She then asked him to go the Appian Way where he was baptized by Pope Urbanus. Upon Valerian’s return, he actually saw an Angel beside Cecilia. Then Angel then crowned Cecilia with a chaplet of rose and lily. This incidence converted Valerian’s brother and both decided to take upon themselves the task of burying the saints who were murdered each day by the Roman Prefect. Both brothers were eventually arrested and executed for refusing to offer a sacrifice to the gods.

Cecilia spent the remainder of her life preaching until she was martyred. In 1599, her body was exhumed and it was found to be completely incorrupt. Not only was her body still fresh and intact, but there was also a sweet perfume scent oozing from it like the saint of fresh flowers. What more can we say about this beautiful lamb?

Let us Pray: Lord Jesus, worthy are you for you are the Lamb of our Salvation, teach me that there is nothing in this life that I may offer my whole being to you daily. Amen.

Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Thursday of the 33^rd Week in Ordinary Time. Year B. Bible Study: Revelation 5:1-10 Psalm 149:1-6.9 and Luke 19:41-44).