DAILY HOMILIES

We always select what we eat for fear of dying of food poisoning. Why, then, do we allow immoral, unwholesome or negative thoughts? Thoughts are powerful; thoughts defile - if it is happening in your mind, you are already doing it. Jesus taught that anyone who looks lustfully is guilty of adultery. When you think of killing someone, you are guilty of murder. Thoughts are not as harmless as we assume. The fact that no one can ‘see’ your thoughts does not make them okay. Stop feasting on bad thoughts.

Hypocrisy is condemning others (making them feel less in public) while committing greater sins. The Pharisees were quick to accuse Jesus and his disciples of not washing their hands. Meanwhile, their hearts were full of corruption and evil. Jesus gave the example of two men who prayed in the temple. One praised himself for all the good he had done, but his prayer did not reach God. The other man, accepting his faults, begged for mercy and went home justified. (Cf. Luke 18:10-14). Instead of pointing fingers (or calling people names), be the change. Instead of washing the dirty linens of others on social media, be a true Christian.

The Psalmist says: “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord!’” (Psalm 122:1). This was the joy the people felt in today’s Gospel passage they moment they recognised Jesus. They ran from various neighbourhoods to meet him, bringing their sick with them. Like those who touched the hem of Jesus’ garment, let us approach God’s temple, conscious that we will drink from the river of life that flows from it. According to Ezekiel, “Wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live.” (Ezekiel 47:9)

The key to being ‘the salt of the earth’ and ‘the light of the world’ is showing love to those who need it most: the hungry, the homeless, the naked, the sick, the prisoners and so on. Although Isaiah’s list is not exhaustive, he basically draws our attention to the Seven Corporal Works of Mercy, which are: Feeding the Hungry, Giving Drink to the Thirsty, Sheltering the Homeless, Clothing the Naked, Visiting the Sick, Visiting the Prisoners, and Burying the Dead.

God, very pleased with Solomon’s burnt offering, visited him in a dream and told Solomon to request anything. In response, Solomon began by giving thanks to God for all God had done for David, his father, and for putting him on the throne. Learn to count your blessings. One who has not learnt to say ‘thank you’ lacks the right to ask for more. In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus taught us to praise God before asking for our daily bread.

Very often, we are just like Herod; we gather around ourselves a bunch of sycophants and praise singers. Anyone who tells us the truth, challenges us, or criticises us is considered our enemy. Instead of accepting our faults, we find a way to eliminate such a person. Be humble enough to take criticism. You are not always as perfect as your ego makes you believe. Consider those who criticise you to be your real friends, helping you to grow.

David observed that all the problems he faced during his reign as king resulted from ignoring God’s commandments. Having painfully learnt his lessons, David concluded: “Keep God’s commandments, and everything will go well for you.” One mistake we often make is thinking we can disobey God without suffering the consequences of our misdeeds. The truth is that God’s commandments are a covenant. If we want God to do his part, we, too, must do our part.

Jesus regards us as a family; He wants us to be familiar with Him and to see Him as a friend rather than a police officer. Familiarity draws us to God. However, it can also lead to contempt. The problem with the Nazarenes was not familiarity but contempt; they were angry with Jesus. They expressed this anger by claiming to know the so-called brothers and sisters of Jesus.

Absalom’s greatest mistake was assuming that all those surrounding him were loyal to his cause. Not everyone singing your praises and cheering you on means well for you. Absalom had the privilege of hearing Ahithophel’s wise counsel, but ignored it and chose to go by Hushai’s advice because it seemed more pleasing in his ears. Absalom did not know that Hushai came from David’s camp.

Jesus physically comes into the temple as a baby, but He is the king of kings. This is why today’s Responsorial Psalm proclaims, “O gates, lift high your heads, let Him enter the king of glory.” Simeon and Anna, like everyone else, saw a baby, but they also had eyes to see beyond His form as a baby. They recognised and worshipped God in Jesus. Do you recognise God’s presence in the Holy Eucharist, or do you see only bread?

Dear friends, if we really want to live as God’s children, we must be prepared to suffer many hardships. There is always a bitter price to pay for goodness. However, in the midst of all that may come your way, bear in mind that God never sleeps. The same Joseph who was so unfairly treated would eventually become the Prime Minister of Egypt. It may even be that your own reward will not come in this life, but don’t give up, keep being good. Your efforts will never be in vain.

Stories have the power to penetrate our subconscious thoughts. The beauty of a good story is that it is easily remembered; this way, one can hardly forget the message. Jesus Christ explored storytelling as a communication tool during his public ministry, and the stories He told thousands of years ago continue to strike our hearts today. Through storytelling, Nathan successfully delivered an uncomfortable message to David.