Homily for Monday of 3rd Week in Ordinary Time Cycle II
Theme: Eternal sins?
By: Rev. Fr Oselumhense Anetor (Uromi Diocese)
Homily for Monday January 24 2022
(St Francis De Sales)
2 Sam.5:1-7,10; Mark 3:22-30
In our Catechism days, we were taught that two of the sins against the Holy Spirit are resisting the known truth, and final impenitence. Resisting the known truth, and final impenitence are eternal sins that cannot be forgiven, because they totally reject the mercy of God. Jesus came and worked wonders through the finger of God, but scribes from Jerusalem, who should know better, condemned him and accused him of being possessed by a demon. This constant disposition towards resisting the known truth is what leads to dying without true repentance for sins (final impenitence).
Don’t we see what’s happening in Christendom today? Christianity has become a household so divided today that we wonder if we no longer follow the same Christ. But we cannot be discouraged. Friends, though it can be quite difficult to preach among those already divided, Francis the Sales did it so well, and succeeded in bringing many Calvinists back to the Church. He was driven by love, rather than by a desire to win, and it is to him that we owe the injunction “whoever wants to preach effectively must preach with love.” May we, like St Francis, always learn to put love first, Amen.
Good morning dear. God bless your week ahead. St Francis de Sales, pray for us!