Homily for Friday of the 18th Week in Ordinary Time Cycle II
Theme: HAPPY WEEKEND BELOVED DISCIPLES OF CHRIST
By: Rev. Fr. Jacob Aondover ATSU
Homily for Friday August 7 2020
READINGS: NAHUM 2:1,3;3:1-3,6-7, PSALM, DEUT. 32, MATTHEW 16:24-28
1). Whoever does not renounce him/herself, takes up his cross to follow Christ cannot be his true follower. Whoever does not follow Christ is not worthy of heaven for Christ is the gateway to eternity. We may want to be wary.
2). Self renunciation as intended by Christ means prioritizing him (Christ) over the self, wealth, family etc. Besides, Christ owns our lives; in him we live and move and have our being, do not forget that beloved friends.
3). All followers of Christ cannot but love him more than their own selves. This entails a denial or loss of the many mundane pleasures that we’d rather harbour and imbibe.
4). For Christ’s sake, we may want to go that extra mile, take that seemingly shameful step, miss that hangout, the play/business gathering etc.
IN CHRIST:
✓•We lose the world to win heaven.
✓•We lose transient pleasures to win eternal happiness.
✓•We lose fame, power and affluence so as to gain spots beside Christ in his Father’s kingdom.
When we detach ourselves from the world prioritizing God over everything the name ‘disciple’ fits us nicely.