DAILY HOMILIES #repent

In today’s Gospel passage, we see the power of God’s Word when Jesus Christ speaks to Levi, the tax collector. Just one sentence is enough to make Levi abandon the lucrative business of collecting taxes. Unlike Peter, Andrew, James, and John, Levi becomes an instant fisher of men when he attempts to convert his fellow tax collectors by hosting Jesus in his house.

What have you left behind to follow Jesus? In other words, what is the cost of your discipleship? What do you have to let go to remain a Christian? If truly you have not left anything behind, it means your faith is a matter of convenience. The danger in this is that you could easily fall away in moments of trials. This explains why some Christians move from one “solution house” to another, not minding if they partake in idol worship. Christianity is not only about what we stand to gain from God; it is about carrying our crosses and following Jesus’ footsteps.

To fill their churches, many preachers say: “God loves you as you are. Come the way you are.” This is why people now dress half-naked to church, and ushers now look like ladies working in nightclubs. This is why secular artists have taken over the music departments of our churches. Darkness and light cannot coexist. We cannot have darkness within us and claim fellowship with God. Don’t come as you are – change! Change to something better; you are coming into the King’s presence! This is not a social gathering. You are not here to sell your body. You are here to worship God.

Believe that you can eliminate sin. Trust that you can completely overcome your bad habits with God on your side and continuous efforts. God wants to see your efforts. Remember the saying: “Practice makes perfect.” If you fail today, get up and try again. Try a different method. Just keep trying till you get over it. No one becomes a professional athlete, tech guru, etc. in days. It takes years of consistent practice.

As John ate the scroll, we feed on God’s word daily. Jesus himself said: “Man shall not live on bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Cf. Matthew 4:4, Luke 4:4, and Deuteronomy 8:3). The book of Hebrews also adds: “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and spirit, of joints and marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). God’s word is food, but it is also a sharp sword. This explains why it tasted sweet in John’s mouth and bitter in his stomach.

In Zacchaeus, we see a “Prodigal Son” whose conscience spoke to him. After hearing about Jesus, he desired to see him, but considering his height, he climbed a tree. The prodigal son knew he no longer deserved to be in his Father’s presence, so he chose to appeal for the position of a slave in his father’s house. Like Zaccheaus, we have all sinned against God, and we have various physical and spiritual defects (such as bad habits we struggle with). However, Jesus wants to see our efforts. What am I doing to make up for my deformities?

Rather than withdraw from God’s presence because your conscience disturbs you, remember that God is more interested in healing your wounds (sin wounds us) than punishing you. There will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.

Some of us believe that so long as you have given your life to Christ (received baptism), heaven is sure regardless of what you do. This was the problem Jeremiah addressed in today’s first reading. How do you engage in horrific acts (stealing, murder, adultery, idolatry, etc.) secretly and then come publicly before God in His temple to say, “We are safe”? Do you think God is blind?

Regardless of the magnitude of our sins, God never stops loving us; He never stops believing in our inherent goodness. Like the Father in the story of the Prodigal Son, God never gets tired of waiting for our return. If God were to treat us according to our wickedness, none of us would still be alive. (cf. Psalm 103:10). It is easy to point fingers at others for wickedness. However, the truth is that we would do worse things if we were in their shoes. Before you ask God to kill anyone you consider wicked, why not ask: “Have I killed my wickedness?”

Inspired by their faith, some persons brought a paralysed man to Jesus. Matthew reports that Jesus ‘saw’ their faith. This means faith in God is visible in our actions before or after praying. A certain village experienced drought for some years. The elders met and decided the entire village would gather in the market square on a certain day to pray for rain. As they were about to begin the prayer, they noticed that only one little girl came with an umbrella. They had all come to pray for rain, but only this girl was expecting rain.

While others were scared of Paul because they judged him as a bad person who later became a Christian, Barnabas saw in Paul a very good man who had a bad past. In this way, Barnabas acted as the salt of the earth, as Jesus instructs in today’s Gospel passage. Just as salt preserves food (prevents it from going stale), Barnabas helped to preserve whatever good was in Saul until he became Paul.

Peter prayed in the name of Jesus Christ because he believed in the resurrection. Peter knew that Jesus Christ was fully alive and that Jesus was right there with him. When Peter saw the lame man begging at the beautiful gate, he remembered Jesus healed the sick, raised the dead and freed many of their predicament. Peter knew what Jesus would have done upon seeing the lame man at the beautiful gate.