FR. JUSTIN’S HOMILY FOR SATURDAY OF THE 24TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME CYCLE II
THEME: OUR DISPOSITION TOWARDS THE WORD OF GOD
BY: Fr. Justin Nzekwe
HOMILY FOR SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 17 2022
The impact of the Word of God in our lives depend on our disposition towards it. When we come to the church to hear the Word of God, the preacher simply preaches on general basis, while each person understands the Word of God according to his level of openness to the Holy Spirit. That same Word of God that someone hears and decides to repent, could be the same Word of God that another person hears and thinks it is boring. Jesus used the parable of the sower to describe the various dispositions we have toward receiving the Word of God. The hearts of some are like roads, where the Word of God can be trampled upon until it dies without bearing fruits. The heart of some are like stone, and it is difficult for the Word of God to penetrate into them and grow. The heart of some are like brambles, and it choke to dead the Word of God that comes into it. And finally, there are those whose hearts are like good soil, such hearts easily receive the Word of God and it bears abundant fruits in their hearts. It is the will of God that each of us is transformed by the Word of God we hear each day. And if the Word of God does not change us, then we have a fundamental problem that can only be resolved through prayers. Most of us listen to the Word of God for entertainment sake; they simply talk about the beautiful homily and quickly forget the theme of the homily few hours later. Some people look at the preacher in the church attentively, while their minds are far away from what is being said. However the Word of God is God himself talking and directing our daily lives. We have to be able to listen and receive guidance from God, through His Words, if we call ourselves His Children.
We pray in this holy mass that God will always open our hearts and minds that the Word of God we hear each day may bear abundant fruits in our lives, through Christ our Lord, Amen.