DAILY HOMILIES

If we must pray when our eyes are red with tears, then let us never forget to pray when our eyes are red with alcohol, laughter and merriment because not all that glitters is gold.

See how our first reading today ends: “At that very moment, the prayers of both of them were heard in the glorious presence of God. So Raphael was sent to heal both of them: Tobit, by removing the white films from his eyes, so that he might see God's light with his eyes; and Sarah, daughter of Raguel, by giving her in marriage to Tobias son of Tobit, and by setting her free from the wicked demon Asmodeus.” (Tobit 3:16-17)

Never look down on your spouse. Be mindful of the words you use on them. a person could be insulted by a stranger and laugh it off but when that insult comes from one’s spouse, the pain is unbearable. Even if you don’t believe in what your spouse is doing, avoid making a mockery of their life’s work. In an argument or discussion, be respectful of the opinions of your spouse even if you don’t agree. At least, listen to them first. Everyone longs to be heard; it gives a feeling of importance and we all need it.

And the secret of life is this: when you help someone carry his cross, yours become lighter. If you think life is hard, look around you and you will see those dreaming to be given twice of your problems in exchange for theirs. Be like Mary, reach out, visit, help, don’t be self-centred.

God is Trinity. God is Family. To say God is Father, Son, and Spirit at the same time is to say that 1. God understands perfectly what it means to be a Father to us, his children, 2. God understands what it means to be a brother to us and 3. God understands the depth of our spirits.

Since truth is bitter, whenever we are told the truth, it tends to sound like an insult to us. No one is perfect. You are not always as good as you like to assume. Be humble, be willing to learn.

The hypocrite knows the house is dirty and smelling, he goes ahead to paint the outside walls but allows the inside to decay even more. The Christian knows the house is dirty and smelling, he begins the washing from the inside gradually, cleans everywhere before painting the outside.

There will always be people to discourage us from praying, many would tell us that prayers are a waste of time. They would try to shut us down but like Bartimaeus, we must never give in to the pressure of the crowd.

: “Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever would be first among you must be slave of all.” The key to greatness is to serve others.

“Do not appear before the Lord empty-handed… glorify the Lord generously… with every gift show a cheerful face, and dedicate your tithe with gladness. Give to the Most High as he has given, and as generously as your hand has found. For the Lord is the one who repays, and he will repay you sevenfold.” (Sirach 35:4-11).

Just as John took her home upon hearing the words, “Behold Your Mother” we also take Mary home through our devotional practices. One may ask, does Mary deserve this title? What makes her mother of the church? Mary, together with Joseph raised Jesus. She was with him throughout his hidden years of formation and remained with him all through his public ministry. Mary instigated Jesus’ first public miracle for the good of the couple in Cana.

Let us open our hearts today for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit. As we remember that day that the church was born; that day that all timidity and fear was wiped out of the believers; that day that the church received fire and utterance to spread the message across the world; we sincerely pray that God may find us worthy again to receive that fire and begin a new era of Christianity. Amen