DAILY HOMILIES

What does it mean to be rich towards God? It is refusing to live according to the passions of our flesh or following the desires of the flesh and the senses. To be rich towards God is to place priority on the things that pertain to God over and above the things that bring about our material comfort. It is taking care of our souls rather than our flesh only.

Take in a deep breath for instance and say a prayer to the Holy Spirit. It may be a short prayer and as you exhale the air, say another short prayer. Doing this little exercise can catapult you to a higher realm and make you conscious that you are not alone in this life. God is with you right here, right now. Feel his presence in the Holy Spirit.

How do we acknowledge God before people? By putting God first in every decision and choice we make. Get used to doing what is right especially in secret and you will not have a problem acknowledging God publicly.

To say holiness is impossible or that it is not easy to live differently from the world is to act like the proverbial beggar sitting on a stool of pure gold, yet asking for crumbs from passers-by.

Is it easy to crucify the flesh? No. However, the secret of overcoming these strong desires of the flesh is feeding (strengthening) our spiritual being through daily meditations, prayers, bible study, daily masses and other spiritual activities. When we feed our Spirit, the results we get include “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” Etc. (Galatians 5:22-23)

If only we make efforts to clean our insides, we would not only live happier and healthier lives, God himself would be more pleased with us.

Jesus did not perform a sign there and then for this crowd because that would be vain glory. As a minister, do I perform miracles or give testimonies to exult myself or for the genuine good of the people?

Due to Elisha’s refusal to accept the gifts, Naaman received two miracles; the miracle of the skin and the miracle of the soul (conversion, wholeness). This is what God desires of us, that we worship in spirit and truth. Even if you have nothing to offer, no money to put in an envelope, know that the thanksgiving God is interested in is your repentance from sin.

Obeying God’s commandments should never be seen as a burden or a cross. It is a privilege. We are not doing God a favor by keeping his commandments. We are even lucky that God has revealed to us in his word how we ought to live and find happiness in life.

I feel ashamed when I see Christians panicking at the thought of witches and wizards or pastors exulting the devil in their sermons, literally putting fear in the minds of their listeners without also preaching about God’s power as greater than that of the devil. Today’s Christians are willing to ascribe every single negative event in their lives to the power of the devil (including headaches) but are very slow to praise and thank God for positive events in their lives.

“And I tell you, ask and you will receive; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Luke 11:9-10). Fear not. Pray with faith.