DAILY HOMILIES

If we observe our Advent properly, our joy on Christmas day would not simply be about the fact that Jesus was born, our joy would be that we have been able to conquer certain bad habits and sinful behaviors in our lives.

How can we live above worries and the cares of life? Jesus tells us: “Watch at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place.”

God is a king that can never be destroyed. He is greater than anything we can ever imagine or think of. He is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning, and the end the one who made us and sustains our life. As Jesus assures us today, “Heaven and earth may pass away but my words will not pass away.”

aniel had so much confidence in the power of God that he went as far as opening his windows so that all the people would see clearly that he didn’t stop praying. Daniel did not seek to preserve his life. He landed in the lions’ den for praying but God raised him to life again by shutting the mouths of the lions.

Belshazzar knew what those vessels were meant for but he was trying to challenge the existence of God and he got what he deserved. Let us examine our hearts: Do I respect sacred vessels, linens, books, and other items used for liturgical worship? Do I even treat the church as God’s house?

As Jesus would advise us, we should not be so concerned about the future. Avoid running from one priest (or pastor) to another hoping they would tell your future. Bear in mind that it is not every dream that is a revelation. God is not limited to dreams.

This woman’s contribution can be likened to the act of Daniel and his colleagues. Just as they denied themselves of the king’s food, this woman denied herself of all the money she had trusting that God will provide for her.

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.

Jesus explains that in the resurrection, we are going to be like the Angels – pure spirits who would not need to marry or give birth.

The state of the temple was a direct reflection of the state of the temples of their own heart. They had driven God out and replaced Him with money. What efforts do I make on a daily basis to cleanse my heart and ensure that God remains at the centre of my life?

In a moment of temptation, don’t negotiate with the devil; act immediately. Secondly, be prepared. No one engages in a battle with bare hands. Like Mattathias who gathered an army in preparation for King Antiochus, we must prepare our spiritual arsenal through daily prayers and meditation and the practice of holiness.

Just as King Antiochus sought to persuade the boy with riches, many young men and women today have sold their souls to the devil following the mantra: “get rich or die trying.”