DAILY HOMILIES #Jesus

Even though Jesus did not work any miracle, he promised them the greatest miracle of all time – the sign of Jonah. Jesus died on the Cross of Calvary, and on the third day, He rose again. This is the miracle of all miracles, the greatest sign that God took our human nature and lived among us. Anyone still doubting if Jesus is God is on their own.

Are you struggling to accept Jesus’s teachings? Does the cross seem too heavy for you? Ask God to help you. Prayer is the key. Jesus says: “With men, it is impossible.” Relying on your strength alone (intelligence, money, self-discipline, connections, etc.), you cannot be Christian. You must be connected to God through daily prayers to gain the strength to live out your Christian call. Jesus said: “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in me, and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (John 15:5).

Mary is blessed because she gave birth to Jesus but, more importantly, because she heard God’s word and obeyed it. She gave her fiat (I agree) to God when the Angel Gabriel announced to her that she would be God’s mother. “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38). This is the same attitude Jesus expects of us when he said “blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it.”

The people wanted to see a sign, a show of power, or a display like that of Elijah and the prophets of Baal, but Jesus didn’t put up any show. If you believe, you don’t need to see signs and wonders (proofs); if you don’t believe, a million signs will not convince you. Today’s Gospel passage begins with “Jesus had just cast out a demon.” Was this sign not enough for them?

Just as it would be foolish to trust that circumcision alone is enough for our salvation, it is foolish to assume that words enough are enough for prayer. Our words must be accompanied by faith that all things are possible with God. A deep trust in God must accompany our words. God is a Father who truly cares for his children and will go the extra mile to rescue us when we are in need.

Pretence is a virus we must delete from our lives. Secondly, when correcting others, avoid speaking behind their backs lest it becomes merely gossip and character assassination. By addressing God as our Father, Jesus shows us that we are God’s children, and this must be reflected in our behaviour. Every temptation (or trial) is a spiritual battle; if we are not fortified, we fall

That “one thing” needed is to seek God’s kingdom first. While you search for your daily bread, live righteously; pursue integrity, justice, purity, and love your neighbour as yourself. Make sure you avoid sin and entrust your difficulties to God. Don’t stay up all night worrying. Do that which is within your power and leave the rest to God. God can change your story within the twinkle of an eye. He can turn things around like He did for Job

Be kind to people based on their needs, not their skin colour, state of origin, language, or tribe. The Samaritan went out of his way to help this man even though it was forbidden for a Samaritan to associate with a Jew. Jesus wants us to be kind, especially to those who hate us, those who practice a different religion, and those who may never repay our love.

Jesus condemned Moses’ Law on divorce but excused Moses by saying he responded to the people’s hardness of heart. Today, the choice is up to us: whether to remain hardened in the heart (follow Moses’ instruction; obtain a certificate of divorce from the court) or to embrace Jesus’ stance on Marriage (take the path of sacrifice, remain with our spouses through thick and thin, remove divorce an option). Anyone who still wants to go with Moses today is not yet a Christian.

Miracles are not things we should glory in; they are signs pointing to deeper realities. Upon seeing the great fish catch, Peter immediately descended on his knees before Jesus, saying: “Go away from me, Lord, for I am a sinful man!” (Luke 5:8). No one likes to be used and dumped, but this is exactly what we do to God when we seek His blessings and refuse to obey His words.

When Job uttered this song (“I know my Redeemer lives”), he had no more reason to believe in God. He had been praying for days, and all he could see was the opposite of what he was praying for. This song reminds us of Paul and Silas, who, in prison, sang songs of praise to God. Nothing touches God as much as our ability to sing His praises despite our difficulties. By singing, Job utterly disappointed the devil, who felt that Job’s righteousness was tied to his material blessings.

Nigeria is ranked as one of the most religious countries in the world. However, Isaiah’s prophecy about Isreal is true of Nigeria – “these people draw near with their mouths and honour me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me.” (Isaiah 29:13). Nigeria is a nation badly in need of repentance. If Jonah were to visit Nigeria today, his message would be simple: “Forty days more, and Nigeria shall be overthrown!” (Jonah 3:4). This is a message we must hear as we celebrate our independence today.