DAILY HOMILIES

The truth is that if we really wants our goods secure, then we must store them in heaven where thieves and robbers cannot break in and steal. How do we do this? By giving things away, by helping the poor and the needy around us.

We may bless the people but we must be careful not to assume a position of authority over God whereby we begin to give God commands as we would our domestic staff.

Aren’t we being hypocrites when we pray just so that people may hear us pray? Know this: it is never between you and them, it is always between you and God.

You may be a miracle worker, you have the ability to raise the dead to life and speak in all the languages of the world but so long as you cannot love your enemies and your heart is so full of hatred for certain persons, you are not perfect.

Go into your prayer room again, wipe off the dust from your prayer books, open that clean sparking bible again, spend more time in God’s presence, and drop whatever vices, bad habits, or sinful deeds in your life. Get serious with God, let Him fight for you. Stop wasting time, fighting people.

It would be a contradiction that we are wearing green while there is no significant growth in our relationship with God. Recall how Jesus was attracted to a fig tree with leaves only for him to go close to the tree and did not find any young fruit sprouting on it?

It was this purity of heart that made God so fall in love with her as to choose her to be his mother. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus gave us a secret; “Blessed are the Pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8). Only a heart so pure can contain God as Mary did. As we reflect on Mary’s Immaculate Heart, let us look at our own hearts. What efforts am I making to guard my heart from all defilements of evil?

In the midst of all these, we are given an opportunity today to reflect and ponder on the Sacred Heart of Jesus; the heart that is so full of love, so full of mercy, so quick to forgive, so selfless, so heavenly minded, so trustworthy and caring. A heart from which blood and water flowed when it was pierced by the soldiers on the cross; blood symbolizing sacrifice and water symbolizing washing, renewal, baptism, rebirth.

In truth, forgiving and reconciling with others is a painful thing to do; more painful if the person refuses to admit his/her fault or if the person is unwilling to cooperate in your move at reconciliation. Nevertheless, consider this pain as something rendered to God for as John says, we cannot claim to love God whom we have not seen if our hearts are full of hatred for our fellow brothers and sisters who we see daily

The world is not lacking in preachers but in “do-ers” of the word.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do.

Think about what Jesus is demanding from you and those times you actually followed this path only to find happiness rather unexpectedly. In summary, suffering makes us strong. This is what St. Paul teaches in the first reading today. His prayer for us is that should we ever suffer, may we also enjoy consolation at the end.