DAILY HOMILIES #Actions

Reflecting on the life of Prophet Elijah, St. James concludes, "The prayer of a righteous person has great power in its effects.” It is not enough to spend a whole night praying; pay attention to what you do when you are not praying (daily life activities) and strive for righteousness.

While Isaiah uses the word “rock” to describe the unshakable nature of God, Jesus uses the word “rock” to illustrate how unshakable we become when we obey His word. There is a correlation between trusting in God (the everlasting Rock) and having peace of mind (becoming like a Rock).

The sad part was that while the scribes and Pharisees were busy multiplying the commandments, they never practised them, but they made the people believe they were holier-than-thou. Jesus could see through their hypocrisy. He knew that beyond the wearing of broad phylacteries, standing to pray in public places, and salutations in the market were empty hearts – far from God and lacking in love, which is the most important commandment of all. There are so many lessons contained in today’s readings.

If actions speak louder than words, we are called to examine ourselves today. What sort of things are our actions proclaiming about us? What are my actions in preparing for Christmas saying about my understanding of Jesus Christ?

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.

Go out of your way to help people in very critical situations and then disappear. Take some money, rush to the nearest hospital and pay the bills of someone who has no hope of paying, then, just leave quietly. Your act of kindness can trigger a positive chain reaction leading to even greater deeds of kindness.

Dear friends, if actions speak louder than words, we are called to examine for ourselves today what sort of things our actions are proclaiming about us?

In the final analysis, it is not our past that counts before God. If as Jesus noted, tax collectors and harlots were making their way into the kingdom of God before the chief priests, it means that your case is not yet hopeless!

Faith goes beyond expecting all the positive things hoped for and being assured of things not yet seen. Faith is not only what you declare with your lips, but it is also what you do. There is a modern-day crisis of faith among Christians. We claim to believe in God yet we live as if God does not exist. Our actions betray our creed.

Dear friends, if actions speak louder than words, we are called to examine ourselves today. What sort of things are our actions proclaiming about us? What are my actions in preparing for Christmas saying about my understanding of Jesus Christ?