7 Minute homily for 12th Sunday in Ordinary Time

 1^st Reading: Jer 20:10-13

2^nd Reading: Rom 5:12-15

Gospel: Mt 10:26-33

“Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.”

Recently on 3^rd June, we celebrated our Uganda Martyrs who most of them were very young and despite this, they decided to forfeit their lives just for the sake of Christ. They were not afraid of the king who would only destroy the body but not the soul. We as Christians should emulate this.

In our First reading, God's spokesman Jeremiah is attacked and denounced from his own people. Because of his mission he is being mocked and criticized. Whenever we do good, there will always be an opposition and rejection from some members. Despite all these, Jeremiah had confidence in God and believed that his attackers will not prevail. This reading reminds us that God is with us during difficult times, though we often fail to look for and seek God at such times. St Paul also reminds us that Christ Jesus has already justified us, given us another chance to live from the sinful state. That has never been enough, Jesus has always willed to journey with us all through our difficult and joyful experiences. If Jesus had not given us a good example of how to suffer, then it would be difficult for us to understand about suffering.

Consequently, in the Gospel, Jesus always reminded his apostles to keep in mind that they are being sent as sheep among the wolves hence be ready to face any kind of persecution. However, in the midst of all the persecutions, Jesus wants his followers to be bold enough. Thus, Jesus makes an emphasis by asserting three times the phrase 'Do not be afraid,' or 'Do not fear.' Jesus calls us to boldly proclaim the Gospel message. As the world keep on growing, taking on different trends like modernization, freedom of expression among others, it becomes hard for the gospel message to be warmly welcomed without any resistance. Despite all these, we should not be afraid of any who may attempt to persecute us or who may reject the gospel message we bring to them. Our God who calls us always justifies us and walk with us in whichever steps we make. Therefore, He sees and knows all that is happening in our proclamation of the gospel message, the difficulties and the persecutions we do encounter. Since he sees all these, He will reward us for our faithfulness.

The Apostles having been first evangelized, they are now to go out publicly to proclaim the Gospel message. It is no longer a secret but should be brought out in the light. Jesus again reminds us to fear only the Lord and not man (persecutors) who can only destroy the body but not the soul. "The fear of the Lord leads to life; one will sleep at night without danger" (Prov 19:23). It is only those who endure to the end of their lives will be saved by the mercy and grace of God to an eternity of reward and blessing in the presence of God. Our fear and trust in the Lord should always make our faith lively and bold. If Jesus himself, the Apostles, the Saints, the Martyrs did it why not us?

Therefore, let us resolve today that we will act boldly enough like the martyrs and the saints who despite being subjected to tough persecutions, they choose to remain in Jesus Christ. 

MAINA W ELIAS

II Year Theology

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7 Minute Homily for the ELEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

 1^st Reading: Ex 19:2-6a 

 2^nd Reading: Rom 5:6-11 

Gospel: Matt 9:36 - 10:8

Be compassionate…Do More, Speak Less!

There once was a parent who cherished taking his little child on walks. A visit to a botanical garden was once made by the father and son. They were there, lying down on the grass, gazing up at the sky. The father asked his son if he could hear any sounds after a brief period of silence. The son answered that he could hear the sound of the chariot. Yes, my son, the chariot is empty, the father confirmed. The father's response caught the son off guard and piqued his curiosity. The son then asked, "How do you know that it is an empty chariot if we haven't seen it yet?" After that, the father answered, "It's an empty chariot because of the noise it's making." As the chariot fills, it becomes noisier. In terms of comprehension, the tiny toddler quickly developed into an adult. We know we are in front of an empty chariot when we see someone talking too much and getting nothing done, interrupting everyone and assuming he knows more than the rest. When empty, the chariot or person creates more noise.

 Throughout the history of salvation, our God always performed great, silent deeds. Today's first reading introduces us to a God of action, of facts and deeds. God who takes the lead, like when He assembled the Israelites and suggested they form an alliance. God persuaded the Israelites of His good intentions and reminded them of all that he had previously done for them through His chosen one, Moses. Furthermore, what occurred to the Israelites is similar to what happened to the new people of God in the future. We shall learn how this new population was called and sent out in the form of twelve apostles from today's gospel. We may face the future with joyous assurance because of the security that comes from Christ's love.

 

The second reading imparts to us, as followers of Christ, a lesson of consolation, comfort, and encouragement in the love of God (Rom 5:8). Because Christ showed his love for us in the past, when our condition was unfriendly, how much more will Christ continue to show us his love in the future, now that our relationship with God has been repaired? This is what the apostle Paul, who had never been to Rome before being arrested, encourages the Romans through his letter, as well as us today.  As a result, we are liberated to celebrate the present and look forward to the future thanks to the certainty of Christ's love.

 

Jesus prepared us to work and ask for more collaborators so that we can look forward to this confident future. In fact, the gospel of today presents a challenge for us to consider apostleship. Jesus beheld the people with pity as he looked at them from the depths of his compassionate love (Matthew 9:36). Jesus realized how much work needed to be done. He realized the necessity for more helpers to carry out the merciful work of the Reign of God as a result. We still have this need today, and I can affirm from experience that it is not a lack of laborers for the master's crop; rather, it is a lack of dedicated laborers, the faithful ones. Today, we must venture outside of our comfort zone to meet God's people. Today, we must realize that wherever there are people, and not because of a tarmac road, is where the purpose is completed so far.

 

Jesus' followers as a whole are on a mission. The free gift of faith has to be spread. Jesus advises praying not to persuade God but rather to change people's minds from being self-centered to being giving and willing to serve. We are God's devoted people. We are called to holiness, which is a life filled with acts of kindness and service to our brothers and sisters. Then, instead of being self-centered, let's spread this holiness by doing more and speaking less!

Edgar Cabral 

II Year Theology

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7 Minutes Homily for CORPUS CHRISTI SUNDAY 11th June 2023

 

“…True Food and True Drink” (Jn 6:55)

1^st Reading: Deut 8:2-3, 14b-16a

Responsorial: Ps 147:12-15,19-20

2^nd Reading: 1 Cor 10:16-17

Gospel: Jn 6:51-58

                                                                                                

Today, we celebrate the solemnity of the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, commonly referred to as Corpus Christi. The feast has its origins in the visions of St. Juliana of Liege in the 11^th Century.

I recently went through my WhatsApp contacts. I noticed an interesting profile picture of a classmate of mine that caught my attention. The picture showed a mother bird bleeding and the young ones drinking its blood. He explicates the picture to me and calls the bird a ‘Pelican’. The Pelican pieces itself during the drought season and allows its young ones to live by drinking its blood.

Christ is the true pelican that gives not only his blood but his whole body so that we may have the fulness of life. Unlike the faith community of Israel that ate manna and lived only for a few years, Christ offers us the true food and drink that offers us eternal life. Partaking in the Holy Eucharist of body and blood offers us satisfaction and fulness of life. Jesus desires that we may live forever. The Eucharist is a sign of koinonia (communion) with Christ. Whenever we partake in the Eucharist, we are united with Christ just as He is united in the Father (Jn 17:21). This unity extends to the entire Christian Community so that we become one family in love because the body we partake in is One (1 Cor.17:10).

In the Old Testament, God used prophets and priests to communicate his Word to the people. The people lived on “...every word that comes forth from the mouth of the Lord” (Deut 8:3). However, the word sometimes proved to be limited. Through the cause of interpretation and conveying the message, the original meaning was sometimes lost. Hence, God sent his only beloved Son in whom he himself speaks. Jesus, the Eucharist becomes a new way in which we feel the embrace and presence of God among us. God allows us to embrace him by partaking in the Eucharist, he becomes versatile and allows himself to be embraced. In the Eucharist, God touches us, flesh to flesh, he comes into our mouth, our whole person.

It is important to evaluate myself as I contemplate this Mystery. Do I believe in the real presence of Jesus in the Holy Eucharist? Or is my belief in the Eucharist only a symbolic one, one that has only to do with the bread the comes from wheat and the wine from the earthly grape? When I look at the Eucharist, what do I see? Do I see Jesus, or do I see mere bread? It is only when I see Jesus that I will embrace the Eucharist and feel the satisfaction that comes with having him in me. To understand the Eucharist is to understand Mass, for in the Mass, God becomes powerless and weak allowing himself to die so that we may have life. This is the Love we experience even when we feel that we are not worthy, because he will never take revenge. He only allows us to embrace him and promises to always be with us; in our strife, our difficulties, our addictions, because the Eucharist is God’s loving presence among us.

Akwiri Harrison CMF

II Year Theology

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Claretian Students at CYNESA Youth Conference

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7 Minute Homily for HOLY TRINITY SUNDAY

  “‘For the Lord So Loved the World that He Gave his Only Son…’ (Jn 3:16)” 

     In this 9^th Sunday of Ordinary Time the Mother Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity Sunday.

     Once upon a time, there was a woman in a certain village, who wanted to cook; but she had only one stone. And she tried to put the pot on that stone, but the pot could not stand, and she tried again with two stones, but even that it could not stand. Finally, when she added the third one, the pot could be stable. And she continued with her activity. 

     The story above gives us an insight about what we are celebrating in this Holy Trinity Sunday. We are celebrating the unity of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit as Three Divine Persons, which means that God exists as one God in Three Persons: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. We celebrate the highest Christian affirmation of the nature of God, God who is our Creator, the Lord of the history of our salvation. We celebrate the mystery of God as Lord who, in the incarnated figure of our Lord Jesus Christ lived among us. The God who through his infinity love became man for the salvation of humankind.

     Likewise, it is the same image of a Merciful, Kind, Faithful and Gracious God that the First Reading from book of Exodus 34:4b-6, 8-9 presents to us. He is the God whom Moses asks for the favor and forgiveness for the weaknesses and blasphemy that the people directed to God. And at the end, God looks with favor upon the them. Similarly, the Second Reading from 2 Corinthians 13:11-13 advises us to be united, and to live in love and peace and to be people of one heart and mind as the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit are One and united. Because, when we live united God will dwell among us.

     In the Holy Gospel from John 3:16-18 we hear about an incomparable and an unconditional love of God towards humanity. God who for loving us so much He sent his only Son our Lord Jesus Christ to redeem the world. Through today’s Readings we are called to be faithful to God and to believe in Him through our Lord Jesus Christ and to listen to him because Jesus Christ is the Ultimate Mediator and Revealer of the Father, who transmits to us the love of the Father. We learn as well to obey and listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit who is the giver of life, the Spirit of knowledge and understanding. Therefore, we, as through children of God, we should love one other and be united with one heart and mind in Jesus Christ. Let us imitate and be the most transparent example of the love of God in our midst, and to spread that fragrance of love to others. Because without love we could not be saved from our sins. Dear friends, what would this world be without love?

Antonio Nungulu Lohoca

II Year Theology

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