Homily for Friday of the 32nd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle I
Theme: THE DAYS OF NOAH..…. “Whoever tries to save his life will lose himself, but whoever gives his life will be born again”
By: Fr. Diotacious Chikontwe SMA
Homily for Friday November 12 2021
Memorial of Saint Josaphat of Tours, Bishop
*READINGS OF THE DAY*
Wisdom: 13:1-9
Psalms: 18:2-5
Luke: 17:26-37
*INTRODUCTION*
Today, in the context of a prevailing materialist culture, many people behave as they did in Noah’s time: «People ate and drank; they took husbands and wives, or as in the days of Lot, when «(…) they bought and sold, planted and built». With such shortsighted vision, the supreme aspiration of many persons is centered in their own physical and temporal life and, consequently, all their efforts are reduced to maintain that kind of life, to protect and enrich it.
*WHY IS THE LORD REMINDING US OF THE STORY OF NOAH AND THAT OF LOT* ?
As He referred to the history of Noah and Lot, the Lord wanted all of us to know that all of us who have held true to our faith in Him and entrust ourselves in Him will not be forgotten, abandoned and will not be disappointed, for even though we may face persecution and difficulties for having believed in God, but the Lord will remember our faith and dedication, and our rewards shall be rich in Heaven and in the world that is to come. On the contrary, those who refused to believe in Him, and those who preferred to follow their own path, shall not have part in Him and His inheritance.
*THE CENTRAL MESSAGE OF THE GOSPEL OF TODAY*
Yes, brothers and sisters in Christ, many of us have made idols out of money, our wealth and possessions, our addictions and even our desire for glory and fame. All these things are the ones that we often craved after, and worked so hard to gain that we have ignored and forgotten about God. Is it not the same then as those who have preferred to worship the idols than to worship God? Let us not be believers only in name and formality, and yet in our hearts and minds, God is not present at all.
*CONCLUSION*
Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us be inspired by the faith and dedication of St. Josaphat Kuntsevych and his commitment to the Lord, Who is first and foremost in all things. Let us all strive to love the Lord all the more and commit ourselves to Him, while distancing ourselves from all those distractions and temptations that can lead us astray. May God be with us and may He strengthen us in our journey of faith through life.
St Josaphat pray for us always!
Fr. Diotacious Chikontwe SMA