HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE 3RD WEEK OF LENT.
THEME: “Which is the first of all the commandments?”
BY: Fr. Deotacious Chikontwe SMA.
*READINGS OF THE DAY*
Hosea 14:2-10
Psalm 80:6,8-11,14,17
Mark 12:28-34
*LITURGICAL COLOUR*
PURPLE
*FROM OUR FIRST READING*
In our first reading today, the prophet Hosea is calling on the people to repent from their wicked and sinful ways, embracing the love and mercy of God, and returning to His loving grace and compassion.The prophet Hosea lived and ministered during the final years of the northern kingdom of Israel, which were made of much of the ten of the twelve tribes of the Israelites that broke off from the rule of the House of David. This kingdom had spent most of its time in rebellion and disobedience against God, as their kings did not obey God and His Law, refusing to follow His commandments and words, and as such led the people down the path of sin and evil.
*FROM THE GOSPEL READING*
In today’s gospel, one of the scribes comes up to Jesus and asks Him an honest question that people also often ask: “Which is the first of all the commandments?”
Here Jesus lays out plainly and simply, how we must live our lives: loving God with everything we are and loving our neighbor as ourselves. The love of God comes first and the love of neighbor is firmly grounded in the love of God.
*CONCLUSION*
Christ gives us the two great commandments of love and calls us to live them but how? Through the following three important ways;
*First, Love through obedience* . God wants us to obey Him. The great opportunity to obey Him is here by doing what He gives us to do with all its ups and downs. God wants us to submit our human will to His divine will. True love is shown by obedience.
RELATED: HOMILY FOR FRIDAY OF THE 3RD WEEK OF LENT
*Second, Love through charity.* We Catholics are called to love God above all else and thus to love all men and women more than ourselves and without partiality. We cannot say that we love God if we do not live charity beyond the boundaries of our comfort zone. God is radical and calls us to love Him in others. “What you do to the least of my brothers and sisters you do this to me,” He said.
*Third, Love through prayer.* Love is the source of prayer.… It enables us to respond to God by loving as He has loved us.” To love God we need to obey and to love others more than ourselves. Becoming like Christ is the purpose of prayer. To love Christ is to become like Christ. To make this change takes prayer.
Enjoy your weekend everyone.
FOR MORE HOMILIES CLICK >>>>>