💖 HOMILY - OCTOBER 2 💖

First Reading - Zechariah 8:1-8

Gospel - Matthew 18:1-5,10

We all want to be appreciated and acknowledged. What does acknowledgement give us? It gives us pride and importance. The pride and importance show that we are better and greater. Our inner desire for greatness and superiority needs a consideration. The readings of today show that we gain real recognition and acknowledgment by God and our association with Him.

The first reading tells about the proud moments of Jerusalem. The prophet Zechariah fortells about the pride of Jerusalem, which is God himself, will return to Jerusalem. The pride and glory will radiate to all the nations. The return of the Lord will gather people from East and West and joy of young and old will flood Jerusalem. This beautiful hymn subsumes consolation and encouragement for the people of Israel.

The gospel mentions about the argument of disciples on 'Who is the greatest?' Jesus picks this opportunity to inculcate a real identity of a disciple. He teaches that the real greatness of his disciple lies in relation with him. He enunciates this with an example of a child. He says: "Anyone who welcomes this little child in my name welcomes me...." In the Jewish society, a child, apart from its parents, had no identity or recognition. It means a disciple is to be like a child with no desire for one's identity or recognition but draws identity or recognition from Jesus. The greatness of a disciple lies in fully being identified with Jesus.

Another example of the assertion of the superiority and greatness is seen in the statement of John who reports to Jesus about someone casting out demons in his name and their attempt to stop them. Jesus restates to not assert their superiority over them for they work on their side. It means they are also the followers of Jesus.

Dear friends, It's always our human desire to be better and greater than others. As Christians, the readings teach us, our greatness and importance lies in relation to God. The importance and joy of Jerusalem was lost in the absence of God but on the return of God it is regained, so also our importance, beauty and greatness, as Christians, lie in relation to God. In the absence of God, we can't be called His followers. The disciples, in the gospel, wanted to assert their greatness apart from Jesus and of their own. Jesus, teaches them that a disciple is to have identity of his master. It's in this relation they have their greatness. At times, we also aspire to assert our greatness and glory apart from God, the readings are our reminders that as followers of Christ our greatness is in Christ, through Christ and from Christ.

May God help us become His true followers.