DAILY HOMILIES

On the day of our baptism, God admitted us into his kingdom. However as time went on, Satan sowed very bad seeds in our hearts so instead of bearing fruits, we became weeds (useless plants) misusing God’s gifts freely bestowed on us and living below God’s expectations.

The distance between you and sainthood is just one little step in the right direction. A good act done today is like a tiny mustard seed that is sown upon the ground, or like a tea-spoon of leaven capable of mixing a large quantity of flour.

Power makes us famous and gives us control over others and things but it must surely pass away. We cannot remain in power forever. Prosperity makes us rich and wealthy but again wealth depreciates with time. Pleasure makes us forget our worries but as fast as it comes so does it disappears. None of these things bring us true satisfaction. The question now is: ‘What should we ask for?’

In our Gospel passage, we see the mother of James and John presenting her sons before Jesus: “Please permit that these two sons of mine may sit one at your left and the other at your right hand.”

Is it a sin to be rich, wealthy and lacking nothing? After all, aren’t there so many things money can do in terms of advancing the kingdom of God?

The ability to understand God’s word is a gift. Without proper guidance and the light of the Holy Spirit, the Bible can actually mislead a person.

Today we celebrate the life of a Saint whose true identity and personality has been the subject of much debate among scholars, theologians and even non-Christians. She has become like the proverbial elephant being described by four blind-folded men.

It is only those who actually do the will of the Father in heaven that deserve to be His brothers and sisters.

Indeed, faith built on signs and wonders is evil and adulterous. It is evil because it only entertains and does not move the heart to repent. It is adulterous because it makes God just an option

Last Sunday, we learnt that bearing fruits requires that we change our soil. Today, Jesus makes us understand that even within the good soil, the enemy sows bad seeds as well. Could this be the reason why it seems God is quiet at the face of evil in our world?

And it is not the case that God is powerless to destroy the wicked, it is rather the case that God is giving us ample time to repent. Before you ask God to kill anyone you consider wicked, why not ask: “Have I killed my own wickedness?”

Most often, we think of “mercy” as forgiveness we show to those who offend us. From our readings today, we learn that mercy also entails kindness, compassion and understanding shown to people who (in our eyes) deserve punishment of some sort.