Fr. Emmanuel Megwara, MSP - Homily for Saturday Week 28 Ordinary time - October 17, 2020

DATE : 17/10/2020, Saturday of the 28th Week in Ordinary Time (A) EVENT : St. Ignatius of Antioch (Memorial) COLOUR : RED READINGS : Eph. 1:15-23; Resp. Psalm 7:2-7; Luke 12:8-12. THEME: WHEN GOD REFUSES TO FORGIVE Greetings beloved people of God. I welcome you to "My Catholic Homily Digest". As we celebrate the memorial of St. Ignatius of Antioch, today, I want to reflect with us on the theme, " When God Refuses to Forgive". One of the many attributes of God is that He is an ever merciful and forgiving God. In fact, in addition to several other Biblical passages, the book of Lamentations 3:22-23, tells us that 'the mercies of God are new every morning'. But, just like every other thing that has limit, we must realise that there is limit to God's forgiveness. This is what Jesus Christ tried to communicate to us in today's Gospel, when He said that "anyone who sins against the Father or the Son will be forgiven, but anyone who dares to sin against the Holy Spirit will not experience forgiveness here and in the hereafter. Beloved, we must ask ourselves what is this unforgivable sin which Jesus warns us? It is called the sin of blasphemy. Blasphemy consists in uttering against God, inwardly or outwardly, words of hatred, reproach, or defiance. Blasphemy is a total denial of the power of the the Holy Spirit. Hence, Jesus warns us that one will be outside the purview and possibility of forgiveness if he reject the grace of God and falls into apostasy (giving up our faith and loyalty to Jesus Christ out of fear, pride, or disbelief). If someone repeatedly closes his or her heart to God and shuts their ear to his voice, they come to a point where they can no longer recognize God even when God makes his word and presence known to them. Although our Catholic faith teaches us that there are no limits to the mercy of God. What we mean that there is a point when God cannot forgive is that, God cannot force His forgiving grace upon someone who reject His mercy by refusing to ask God's pardon for wrongdoing and refusing to accept the help and grace He gives to turn away from sin and from whatever would keep us from doing His will. God gives sufficient grace and help to all who humbly call upon him. Giving up on God and refusing to turn away from sin and disbelief results from our own sinful pride, stubborn will. And hence, makes it impossible for such a person to experience forgiveness. I pray God to make our hearts docile to His mercy at all times. God bless you Oh that today you would listen to his voice harden not your hearts (Ps.95:7-8) LET US PRAY : Lord Jesus, May I never waver in my hope and trust in your merciful help and strength. Let the fire of your Holy Spirit burn in my heart and fill me with a consuming love for you always...Amen @ Fada Emmanuel Nnamdi Megwara, MSP. ⛪