DAILY HOMILIES #God

In today’s Gospel passage, Jesus says to us: “Come to me all you who labour and heavily laden, and I will give you rest… for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Are you restless? Bring the matter to Jesus. There is no problem that He cannot handle.

Do not let anything bother you or weigh you down. Jesus did not ask: “How am I going to attend to the whole world?” instead, Jesus started with the little that was available. Start with the little you have. God will do the rest.

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 fact that “everybody is doing it” does not make it right. Hold on to your convictions. For putting Him first, God did not disappoint Daniel and his friends. Learn to give God His due, and He will never disappoint you. Even if others laugh at you or call you names, remain different.

To be rich is not a sin, but when one’s riches come from the rejection of God, such riches are not worth having. If your source of income involves going against God’s commandments, illegalities or worse still, taking the life of others, you have placed riches above God. It is better to be content with little than to derive comfort from ill-gotten wealth. It is better to accept persecution than to lose your soul for money.

You can make this world a better place. Visualise it, believe it is possible, and work it out. Be ready to make whatever sacrifice is required. Your faith will bring you success.

Prayer is therapy. Prayer is medicine. Prayer is life. When we pray, we should not be so concerned about the outcome of prayer but the privilege of being with God. Get used to enjoying prayer now because it is the only thing we shall be doing in heaven.

In our Gospel passage, Jesus teaches us that we do not know the day or the hour when we will be called to give an account of our lives. Just as it is foolishness to deny God’s existence, it is foolishness to ignore God’s instructions. Living as if your life belongs to you (and you can do whatever you like) is foolish.

The kingdom of God is me loving my neighbours as myself. The kingdom of God is me helping the poor and needy, treating people just as I expect to be treated. The kingdom of God is letting Jesus reign around me by following His teachings.

Jesus teaches us to avoid telling lies and other dishonest practices for the sake of money: “He who is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much… And if you have not been faithful with that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own?”(Luke 16:10-12) Someone once said: “If you lose money, you lose nothing. If you lose friends, you lose something, but if you lose your character (perhaps, in a bid to make money), you have lost everything.”

St. Paul says, “If you live according to the flesh, you will die.” This was the same warning God gave to Adam and Eve, but the devil convinced them that they would not die. Many Christians still do not believe they would die if they gratify the desires of their flesh at the expense of obeying God.

Sin is not just an offence against God; it is an offence against myself. As long as I do not live by God’s instructions, I can never become all that God desires for me. When a doctor tells you to choose between your favourite meal and death, I bet you will start hating that meal. To live above sin, we must hate sin. If our hatred for sin is not strong, we may abstain for a while only to return.