Fr. Emmanuel Megwara, MSP - Homily for Wednesday Week 30 Ordinary time - October 28, 2020

DATE : 28/10/2020, Wednesday of the 30th Week in Ordinary Time (A) EVENT : Ss. Simon and Jude, Apostles (Feast) COLOUR : RED READINGS : Eph. 2:19-22; Resp. Psalm 18:2-5; Luke 6:12-16. THEME: GOD HAS CALLED YOU TOO Greetings beloved people of God. I welcome you to "My Catholic Homily Digest". As the Church celebrates the feast day of two great apostles and saints, Simon and Jude, I want to reflect with us on the theme " God has Called You Too". Although not much is known to us about the life and public ministry of Ss. Simon and Jude whose feasts we celebrates today, we know that despite their flaws, Christ chose them as His apostles, and they remained faithful to their ministry, though in a more quite manner. Jude is said to be the brother of St. James the Lesser. Nephew of Mary and Joseph; blood relative of Jesus, and reported to look a lot like Jesus. St. Simon is said to be a zealot (those who have excess zeal for the Jewish law), and he brought this same zeal into his ministry as an apostle of Christ. Beloved, just like the first reading succinctly puts it, with the coming of Christ, you and I are no longer aliens or foreigners, to the kingdom of God, for Christ has called us, sanctified us, chosen us and made us co-heirs with Himself and all the saints. We are all now a part of that heavenly building which has the apostles as the foundation stones and Christ as the chief corner stone. We are stones, building up the body of Christ here on earth. As such, we need to remain available and relevant for the Lord to use us in His heavenly building project. Beloved, like today's theme read, God does not show partiality, He has no favourite, He has called all of us to be a part of His building. So, whoever makes himself available and docile, God will use him. Just like Ss. Simon and Jude, who have no special talent, charism or personal holiness, God can use anybody to bring about his salvation and purpose. He is not interested in your past or personality like Simon the zealot, He is not interested in your family or educational background like Jude, But, He is only interested in your disposition to answer the call and to remain faithful to it. I know it is a hard time in the world, especially in Nigeria to maintain your Christian values. But it is at such times as these when temptations lurks at every corner, when anger is justifiable, when looting is not seen as stealing, and when resources are scarce that God will reward faithfulness the most. I pray God to give us the grace to pull through these trying times unscathed. God bless you #End Sars, #End Political Oppression #End Bad Governance Oh that today you would listen to his voice harden not your hearts (Ps.95:7-8) LET US PRAY : Lord Jesus, fill me with courage and persevering faith to trust you. Give me the strength to cling to your promises when the world around me begins to crumble and when my zeal begin to waver, fan into me the flame of faithfulness to you...Amen