DAILY HOMILIES #Apostle

Today’s first reading comes from the Song of Solomon, a book about married love. This reading depicts Mary Magdalene’s love for Jesus. When the others deserted Jesus at his arrest and crucifixion, Mary Magdalene was one of those who stood beside the cross. Do I stick to my faith (remain with Jesus) even in moments of suffering and pain?

Like Thomas, there are moments when we feel like asking God to prove Himself, to show us something, to answer our prayers in a particular way, or to work some dramatic miracle to make us believe again in His power. In such moments, we must listen again to Jesus’ statement to Thomas: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” (John 20:29). God doesn’t need to prove Himself repeatedly to gain our trust or make us believe in him.

Like Thomas, there are moments when we feel like asking God to prove Himself, to show us something, to answer our prayers in a particular way, or to work some dramatic miracle to make us believe again in His power. In such moments, we must listen again to Jesus’ statement to Thomas: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.” (John 20:29). God doesn’t need to prove Himself repeatedly to gain our trust or make us believe in him.

As part of our Christmas celebrations, the story of John the Beloved draws us to open our hearts to love Jesus as a friend and brother. It is not enough that we eat rice and chicken to celebrate Jesus’s birth; we must have personal relationships with Jesus. You, too, can become Jesus’ best friend today.

There is a saying: “You will know how much you are loved when you consider how quickly people forget you after your death.” Mary Magdalene wasn’t going to forget Jesus in a hurry. When she recognised Jesus, she used a personal name for Jesus, “Rabonni!” which means “Teacher”. We should all ask ourselves: “Do I have such a personal relationship with Jesus?” “Am I a friend or simply a client?

Very often, we tend to think of the Saints as extraordinary human beings or larger-than-life figures. We see them as the people who did the impossible or attained the unattainable. Saints are imperfect creatures who refuse to allow their weaknesses to prevent them from pressing forward on the journey to heaven.

As part of our Christmas celebrations, the story of John the beloved draws us to open our hearts to love Jesus as a friend and brother. It is not enough that we eat rice and chicken to celebrate Jesus’ birth, we must also enter into a personal relationship with Jesus just as John did.

ust as Andrew introduced Peter to Jesus, the Feast of St. Andrew stands at such a strategic point in the Church’s calendar as he continues to be the one introducing the Church as a whole to the Advent Season; his feast is like the Calendar Marker that reminds us of the need to start preparing for the Baby Jesus.

The difference between clients and friends is this: clients can never be satisfied, they are always grumbling and complaining! But friends would stick with you in good times and in bad times. Clients are ready to end the relationship if service is interrupted and move on but friends value the relationship more than the service. Client-minded Christians worship God for the sake of benefits but Christians who have a personal relationship with God worship Him regardless of benefits. Am I a friend to Jesus?

Like Philip and James, we are called to put our imperfections behind us and allow the Holy Spirit to use us. It will not be by your own ability but by the grace of God. Jesus himself says: “Whatever you ask in my name, I will do it that the Father may be glorified in the Son.”

According to scripture scholars, Mark was the first person to have written a Gospel as early as 64 A.D. while Matthew and Luke copied from him thereby accounting for the deep similarities in the three Gospels. Saint Mark’s journey with Saint Peter and Saint Barnabas is recorded in Acts as they traveled through Cyprus and Rome carrying the Word. Church writings accredit Saint Mark as founding the Church in Alexandria and consequently, serving as bishop there.