💖 HOMILY - JULY 27 💖

First Reading - Genesis 13:2,5-18 

Gospel - Matthew 7:6,12-14

The readings of today teach us that we should always respect and honour holy things because they manifest holiness of God.

Jesus advises his listeners to use holy things in a holy manner. The early Christians understood this in relation to the Eucharist as the holy thing to be handled by holy people or Christians. The verse 6 and following suggest that Jesus gives importance to prayers and his teachings. Therefore, the teachings of Jesus are treasures for the Christians for their lives. Thus, the teachings of Jesus to be treasured and preached respectfully. The teachings of Jesus guide us to the life of goodness as can be culled from the Golden Rule, “Whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them” (Mt 7:12), is Jesus’ positive contribution to ancient and negative Jewish principles, meaning that real Christianity consists in doing good to others by loving service and works of mercy. The passage also reminds that the teachings of Jesus inhere a narrow path or a path that is hard and difficult. By saying, "Enter by the narrow gate," Jesus challenges his followers to “enter by the narrow gate and take the hard way that leads to life.” 

The first reading shows how God affirms his promise to Abram after Abram and Lot were separated. It's interesting to note that Abram builds an altar to the Lord to mark the sacred promise of the Lord. We see that Abram honours the sacred promise of the Lord, showing his faith in it, through his gesture by building an altar.

Dear friends, let us learn to reverence and respect holy things in a holy manner. We receive the Holy Body and Blood of Jesus in the mass, let that be celebrated and received with proper disposition and respect, so also the celebration of the Word of God. The holy things are given to us and we need to pay great reverence to them lest the holiness of God is disdained and treated with contempt.

Let's become what we receive everyday in the mass; the instrument of goodness. Let's spread goodness and love and we will also receive goodness and love in return. The teachings of Jesus inspire us to become instrumental in spreading goodness through our deeds, words and thoughts. It's indeed tough and hard, all the same, this way leads us to life in Christ.

May God help us become what He wants us to be.