💖 HOMILY - AUGUST 4 💖

First Reading - Leviticus 23:1-37

Gospel - Matthew 13:54-58

There is a famous saying: "familiarity brings contempt". This means when we become very familiar with someone or very close to someone, we forget to give value to that person. This is true in many cases that we see and experience in our lives. The readings of the day invite us not to judge the book by its cover. This is to say accept the importance of people and things with their inherent goodness in them rather than judge them because of their background, social stand, or economic condition.

The first reading highlights the law of the festivals introduced to the people of Israel by Moses as commanded by God. There are different festivals commanded by God, like the festival of passover, the festival of unleavened bread, the festival of the day of atonement and the festival of tabernacle. The festivals of passover and unleavened bread were introduced by Moses, as commanded by God, were to punctuate the year with the moments of expressing gratitude to God for the gifts recieved out of His goodness. At the same time, the festival of atonement was to remind people of their failures and sins, hence they could always look back to reconcile with God and their fellow men. The festival of tabernacle reminded the people of their wandering in the desert and pitching their tents for their halt for forty years untill they reached the promised land. Why those festivals? It is because they were the reminders for the people that they are what they are because of God. The festivals also reminded the people that God must be given importance in their lives despite their all activities throughout the year.

The gospel presents a grim account of the rejection of Jesus by his own fellow men among whom he once lived, spent his childhood, and his family members continued to live. The people were familiar with Jesus and his family-line. They could only observe apparent lineage, profession and the family members of Jesus but failed to observe the message of Jesus. They found it hard to believe that Jesus is the Messiah because he was from among them. Consequently, they outrightly rejected Jesus. They judged the book by its cover, hence missed a great chance to thank God for Jesus. 

Dear friends, it's not strange but we also miss many occasions to recognize Jesus in our lives and sometimes fail to recognize the message or lessons for our lives when it comes from a familiar face or a known person. In the first reading, God strikes out important days as festivals so that people will recognize the importance of God's hand in their lives. We are also given important days as Christians so that we can recount God's favours in our lives and in our families. Do we really avail ourselves of those opportunities? If we fail to do so, we also miss something very important. Secondly, the gospel challenges us to see whether we also miss to recognize Jesus in our lives as the people of his hometown did. We know about Jesus, have read about Jesus and are familiar with the doctrines and dogmas of the Church but do we really know Christ personally or have only the knowledge of Christ? If not, then we also have failed to recognize Christ and we only know about Jesus like the people of the hometown of Jesus. Thirdly, the gospel also urges us not to make a rash decision by judging others. People failed to see Messiah in Jesus because they made a rash decision. Do we also make rash decisions by judging others on the basis of their family background, appearance, or qualifications? God can make use of anybody for His purpose and work. God does not look at appearance, our background or qualification but hearts disposed to Him. Let's recognize Christ in our daily lives.

May God help us recognise Jesus in our lives and accept others with their goodness.