DAILY HOMILIES #holy spirit

From Jesus’ response, we can see that sin by itself is just as deadly and dangerous as having a whole tower fall on top of a person, or having one’s blood mixed with sacrifices. While many felt this calamity was due to the sins of the victims, Jesus said they were not even worse sinners than others. This means that God does not punish us according to our sins, but then every sin we commit is a serious matter.

By talking about the flesh as weak, useless, and captive, St. Paul drives home the point that we cannot depend on our strength as far as avoiding sin is concerned. To win the war against sin, we must keep running to Jesus again and again. Left to ourselves, we are such wretched creatures, but thanks to Jesus Christ, by the power of His Grace, we can live above sin.

St. Paul tells us today: “Do not yield your members to sin as an instrument, but yield yourselves to God.” There is an extent to which a slave would give trouble that the master will have no choice but to let the slave go. You only become a slave when you stop resisting and give up the struggle.

What is the cure for covetousness? It is faith in God. Trust God to provide when you are kind to others. Remember that when you give to others, you are not losing anything but storing treasures in heaven. We need strong faith to know that no one ever became poor by giving to the needy. We need faith to recognise that there is a better home for us, more precious than this earthly dwelling.

Today’s first reading warns against the “Jonah complex”—the reluctance, prejudice, or anger that can make us unwilling to share the Good News with certain groups or “enemies.” We must have God’s heart for the whole world. Similarly, Today’s responsorial psalm provides the ultimate goal of the mission, which is to ensure that the entire earth sees and praises God for His saving work.

If I can keep God’s commandments or overcome temptations, I must learn to thank God because, left to my power, I can do nothing. All this boils down to the fact that we must avoid passing judgment on others while boasting about our goodness. Nevertheless, it is different when we correct others in love. This is what we see in today’s Gospel passage.

Immorality and evil in our world today are simply a direct reflection of the fact that people no longer believe God exists. It is foolish to say God does not exist. It is even greater foolishness to disobey God’s commandments, to live as though there is no authority guiding your life.

The people of Nineveh repented at the preaching of Jonah, yet many who heard Jesus preach refused to repent. Can we say Jonah preached better than Jesus? No way. The problem is not Jesus but the listeners. If we decide to harden our hearts after hearing from God, then we deserve the consequences of our actions.

Nevertheless, when Jesus says we should ask, did He mean we could ask for just anything? What did Jesus consider when he said we should ask, seek and knock? The answer to this question can be seen in the lines that follow: “If you, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!” (Luke 11:13).

Jonah was not happy that the tree which gave him shade at night would suddenly wither. Little did he know that this was precisely what he wished for the people of Nineveh. Jonah wanted justice served. Jonah failed to realise that justice can also mean offering the sinner a second chance because they still have something good in them. That tree may have committed many atrocities, but to Jonah, the tree was needed to give him shade. Think about this: those we condemn as the worst of sinners still have some good in them.

Jesus rose very early the next morning and went to a quiet place to pray. When the Holy Spirit leads us, we are stirred to pray. Jesus went to a quiet place to pray, teaching us that prayer is intimacy with God: “And whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites… go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” (Matthew 6:5-6).

Moses asked God a question you may have asked yourself several times: “Who am I?” Who am I to solve insecurity in my country? Who am I to write a book? Who am I to start a company? Who am I to become a president, boss, or leader? And so forth. Do you notice how God answered Moses’ question? “I will be with you…” This is the Good News for you today. It’s not about who you are, but who God is. When next you catch yourself asking ‘Who am I?’ know that you are asking the wrong question. You should be asking, “Is God on my side?”