DATE : 9/2/2021, Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Ordinary Time (B)
EVENT : Mass of the Weekday
COLOUR:Green
READINGS : Gen. 1:20-2:4 Resp. Psalm 8:4-9; Mark 7:1-13
THEME: DO NOT PLAY GOD FOR A FOOL
Greetings beloved people of God. I welcome you to "My Catholic Homily Digest". On this Ninth day of February, I wish to reflect with you on the theme: " Do Not Play God For A Fool ". Beloved in Christ, without mincing words, I make bold to say that many of us who claim to be Christians, pious, religious, churchy, spiritual, men of God, evangelist, brother and sister in the lord, are only taking God for a fool. We wear the outer garb of religiosity, to actually conceal the filth and sordid desires and dealings that we do when no eye is watching. Thus, just like my Moral Theology lecturer, Fr. Raymond Aina, MSP, would often say, "the truest test of a person's character is that which they do comfortably, when no eye is watching". Many of us carry out shady acts, which are very offensive to the very faith we profess. Many of us live hypocritical lifestyles, publicly displaying acts of religiosity, but internally decayed. Many of us can preach so well, we can act so piously, we can comport ourselves so sanctimoniously, we can prayer so voraciously, we can counsel a fellow so impeccably, we know the Bible and doctrines of the Church so well. We even wish to be revered as living saints, by people around us. But before the presence of God, we know where we stand.
My brothers and sisters, sin is not a direct creation or intention of God. In fact, the Church believes that sin and evil is a defiant, a variation and absence of Good. Thus, since God is the ultimate good per excellent , it is impossible for sin to exist where good is. This means that, man was created good, without sin (Gen.2:27). Hence, man derives his goodness from the goodness of God. Just like the moon gets its lights from the Sun. So, it is impossible for the man who truly abides in God to be stained by sin. Hence, many of us fall prey to sin because we do not truly belong to God. Because holiness is not religiosity. In the Gospel reading of today, Mark 7:1-13, Jesus attacked the Pharisees for being religious rather than aiming at holiness. Religiosity focuses on external acts of worship. Attending Mass, being present at church programs, paying your tithe, saying your daily prayers, singing in church, preaching good homilies, fasting, receiving the sacraments, observing other religious rituals and by-laws. But holiness goes deeper than all these. Its focus is on doing the will of God, seeking his face and allowing the Holy Spirit to direct all that you say, do, and think.
Beloved in Christ, holiness is not an impossible mission. Sin is not inevitable. We have been created good for God. We carry within us the capacity for holiness. I beg you, try your best to always resist the temptations of the devil. Let us make it a conscious effort to stop sin, to stop lying, stop cheating, stop stubbornness, stop deception, stop sexual immorality, stop the hypocritical worship, stop the stealing, stop the corruption, just stop it all and repent now...May God help us all
Oh that today you would listen to his voice harden not your hearts (Ps.95:7-8).
LET US PRAY : Lord Jesus, you are holy and you have called us to be holy like you. Please give me the grace to shun every form of wrongdoing and work towards holiness of life......
The Lord be with you....... and with your Spirit.
*May Almighty God bless you in the Name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit ....Amen
@ Fada Emmanuel Nnamdi Megwara, MSP. ⛪
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