DAILY HOMILIES #St. Paul

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.

An adage says, “When oil touches one finger, it spreads to the others.” In other words, the evil of one person is capable of destroying others. In the same way, the good deed of one person is capable of saving the world. This is what St. Paul explains in today’s reading: “Just as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience, many will be made righteous.” (Romans 5:19).

This man, Luke, was a great writer and a trained physician. As St. Paul himself testifies in today’s first reading, Luke was right there with him in prison, looking after his physical health needs and assisting him in the mission. From the statement, “Luke alone is with me,” Luke must have also assisted with writing some of Paul’s letters.

Jesus was not afraid to tell the scribes and Pharisees the truth. Jesus knew they would hate him for this, but He was ready to die. Hence, Jesus said: “Do not fear those who kill the body… fear God who alone can kill the body and also destroy the soul.” Do not be afraid of people. Do what is right, speak the truth, and avoid sin. God will protect you. Remember, “The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom.” (Sirach 1:14 & 20).

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.

In this thought-provoking blog post, discover how faith plays a pivotal role in shaping our wholeness and understanding of life's true essence.

We all experience various soils at different times in our lives. Sometimes, we are like the seeds on the road path. Sometimes, we hear God’s Word but respond with a stony heart. Sometimes, we let money (or other material pleasures) override our love for God. Let us ask ourselves: “Where am I right now?” That is, which type of soil defines my current spirituality? Once we answer this question, we will know what to do. Remember, the only thing stopping you from sainthood is yourself. Look inwards and make amends.

According to St. Paul, those who consider pastoral ministry a money-making enterprise “fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and hurtful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. The love of money is the root of all evils; through this craving, some have wandered away from the faith and pierced their hearts with many pangs. But as for you, man of God, shun all this.” (1 Timothy 6:9-11).

Be a good person; forget about trying to please human beings (avoid hypocrisy). Just as God fought for Joseph and many others like him, God will fight for you. Those who try to kill you by giving you a bad name will start speaking in your favour.

One of the secrets of Paul’s success as a great missionary and evangelist was his ability to thoroughly examine his own conscience and admit his faults. In today’s first reading, St. Paul writes: “I thank him who has given me strength for this, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful by appointing me to his service, though I formerly blasphemed, persecuted and insulted him” (1 Timothy 1:12-13).