DAILY HOMILIES #Saint

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 his admonition to the Corinthians, Paul made no negative statement about Apollos, who had been made a rival to him by the people. This is very instructive. It is the devil’s delight to see church leaders quarrel and fight over what they say. Avoid taking sides when people bring gossip; they may be plotting the stage for you to fight with your brother.

The way and manner in which we become converted vary. Some people’s conversions were rather dramatic, some not so. The “how” is not so important. What matters is that at some point in our lives, we become true Christians, true followers of Jesus, and fully convinced about Jesus. And one way we know we are converted is when we stop being shy about spreading the Good News.

Today, we particularly remember the saints we know: fellow Nigerians, relatives, heroes and heroines. They may not have been officially declared saints, but we believe they are in heaven, given how they lived. That is why a day like this is set aside to celebrate not just the Europeans whose faces appear each time we type “saints” on Google but also the many Africans who may have been forgotten due to our poor record-keeping culture.

Let us ask ourselves: “Where I am right now?” That is, which type of soil defines my current spirituality? Once we answer this question, we will know what to do. We all can produce great fruits for God’s kingdom. Think of Sts. Paul, Matthew, Peter, Mary Magdalene, etc. If they are saints today, you, too, can be a saint.

If proper statistics are taken, it would reveal that the answer to this question for most of us is zero. We do not even bother to count. When we feel offended, we rush to retaliate, end the relationship (business agreement, marriage, contract etc.) or bottle everything up – waiting for the right time to strike back.

Do not be a “Yes” and “No” person. Stop trying to serve two masters. Don’t be a “saint” in public only to become a “demon” in private. Don’t be a preacher of justice and fairness only to deny your employees of their wages. Don’t condemn corrupt politicians only to accept your share of their loot joyfully. Don’t say “yes” to God’s blessings only to turn around and say “no” to his commandments.

What is the essence of being a Christian if, at the end of this life, we fail to make heaven (become saints)? Isn’t it better that we are not Christians at all? A mediocre (average) Christian is just as good as a non-Christian and sadly there are now too many of us who settle for average; we are neither hot nor cold. (Cf. Rev. 3:15-16)

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?

As we reflect on the life of Bartholomew, we are called to look at our own lives. How committed am I to living uprightly? Do I tell lies? How close am I to God? How good is my prayer life? Do I still recognize Jesus Christ as God? Or have I come to take Jesus’ presence for granted?

Thomas was steadfast to the end even to the point of accepting martyrdom for the sake of the Gospel. St. Thomas was speared to death at a place called Calamine. His feast day is July 3rd and he is the patron of architects.